Sunday, November 29, 2015
MONSANTO Finally Found Guilty of Poisoning and Kicked Out of France!!
An appeals court in Lyon, France has upheld a 2012 ruling against Monsanto, in which it was found guilty of the chemical poisoning of a farmer named Paul François.
The grain grower said that in 2004 he became ill due to Monsanto’s weedkiller, Lasso. François claimed he suffered from neurological problems, memory loss, headaches and stammering after inadvertently inhaling the herbicide.
In François’ case, doctors determined the cause of his ill health was monochlorobenzene, a highly toxic substance that made up 50 percent of Monsanto’s herbicide, according to teleSUR. The substance sent François to the hospital, where he entered in a coma. Subsequent tests showed that the farmer suffered permanent brain disease, teleSUR reported.
In 2012, he filed suit against Monsanto for not providing a warning on the product label and won. Monsanto appealed the decision shortly after.
September's ruling, however, stamps another victory for the farmer. The appeals court said Monsanto was “responsible” for the intoxication and ordered the company to “fully compensate” François.
“It is a historic decision in so far as it is the first time that a (pesticide) maker is found guilty of such a poisoning,” François’ lawyer, told teleSUR.
In response, France has kicked out Monsanto and 35 other countries have certain bans on GE food. For the time being USA is only talking about it. Hopefully, sooner than later, we can follow suit.
Monday, November 23, 2015
The Truth About Weight Loss
When people come to my office to lose weight I must first explain to them that I am not a ‘quick fix’ doctor and that my patients are in it not to just lose weight but to create a healthier body. True health is about lifestyle changes. While my weight loss patients make adjustments in their lifestyle to follow the guidance I give them they go through 3 phases. The first phase is the transition to restore the metabolism. Once that is established then the body can start losing weight (step 2) and then the final step is to maintain optimal health.
The transition is a journey of healing. You can only be in your transition if you are improving your nutrition and lifestyle habits.
During the transition one’s hormones will change in response to the nutrition and lifestyle changes that are being made and this allows the body to heal. However, balanced hormones will not happen immediately—there are sequential steps of healing that everyone must take.
When a patient starts their transition process by improving their habits, their body will begin to rebalance its hormones. Their body will also rebuild at the cellular level with nutrients that were not available during previous poor habits. The more damaged the current metabolism, the longer it will take for this process to be completed.
When one has healed their metabolism, they are primed to lose fat weight, if needed. Once they have lost all their excess fat, they are through steps 1 and 2.
The Three Transition Stages
For most people, the transition (step 1) to a healthy metabolism consists of three main stages. Here is what you may expect as you journey through your transition to health. You begin at your initial starting point and then enter 1) a healing phase. Then you enter a 2) fat burning phase, if you need to burn fat before you finally reach a 3) healed state. Depending on your current metabolism, your body may skip the healing and/or fat-burning phases.
Let's look at each stage in more detail:
Healing phase
Fat-burning phase
Healed state
The Initial Starting Point
The initial starting point is your current metabolism type and age when you start improving your habits and begin entering your transition. Listed to the right are the four metabolism types an individual can have.
Insulin-sensitive with healthy adrenal glands
Insulin-sensitive with burned-out adrenal glands
Insulin-resistant with healthy adrenal glands
Insulin-resistant with burned-out adrenal glands
These metabolism types are not genetic but acquired. Everyone begins life insulin-sensitive with healthy adrenal glands. It is only after years of poor nutrition and lifestyle habits that you may become insulin-resistant or have burned-out adrenal glands—or have both conditions.
Your age and how long you have had your current metabolism affect the duration of your transition. The older you are and the longer your metabolism has been damaged, the longer it will take for you to complete your transition.
Insulin-sensitive
It is normal to be insulin-sensitive. You are insulin-sensitive if your body responds to all the actions of insulin, including the ability to make and store fats.
The following is what happens when you eat carbohydrates if you are insulin sensitive:
Sugar is taken up by your liver.
Excess sugar in your liver is turned into triglycerides and cholesterol.
Triglycerides and cholesterol are taken up by various cells of your body.
Sugar is also taken up by your cells.
When all the sugar and fats are in your cells, blood-sugar levels start to drop and insulin levels go back down.
You eat again and the whole process starts all over
Insulin-resistant
Eventually, from sustained high levels of insulin, you become completely insulin-resistant. All your cells are completely overfilled with fats and sugar, and they barely respond to the action of insulin. At this point you usually have high triglyceride blood levels. (High triglyceride levels are not indicators of insulin resistance only. Smoking, stress, birth control pills and drinking alcohol can raise triglyceride levels in your bloodstream also, but that does not necessarily mean that you are insulin-resistant. Do not diagnose yourself as insulin-resistant from your triglyceride blood test alone.)
When you are insulin-resistant, you have high fasting insulin levels, you usually carry your excess fat weight around your midsection and you have one or more of the following symptoms or diseases.
Abnormal cholesterol profiles: High triglyceride levels with low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels and high apolipoprotein B levels.
Hypertension: Sustained high blood pressure.
Type II diabetes: Sustained high levels of sugar in the bloodstream.
Coronary atheroscelrosis: Plaques in the heart arteries which may cause a heart attack when they rupture.
Cerebral atheroscelrosis: Plaques in the brain which may cause a stroke when they rupture.
Cancers: Abnormal cell growth. Breast, prostate and colon cancers are the most common cancers associated with high insulin levels.
Stein Leventhal Syndrome (SLS): SLS is a female clinical condition of infertility (anovulatory menstrual cycles), acne and/or facial hair.
There are three paths that lead to insulin resistance:
Years of high insulin levels due to poor nutrition and lifestyle habits.
Years of high adrenaline and/or cortisol levels due to poor nutrition and lifestyle habits.
Years of high insulin, adrenaline and cortisol levels due to poor nutrition and lifestyle habits.
If you recognize that you are on any of these paths, now is the time to change your habits!
Your Goal
Your goal is to stay or become insulin-sensitive and to have healthy adrenal glands or to heal them. Therefore, the goal metabolism to have is insulin sensitive with healthy adrenal glands and then and only then will the weight loss start happening! Know that there is hope and weight loss just has to be approached holistically with the ultimate goal is changing how your body responds to insulin. This way you lose weight AND keep it off!
The transition is a journey of healing. You can only be in your transition if you are improving your nutrition and lifestyle habits.
During the transition one’s hormones will change in response to the nutrition and lifestyle changes that are being made and this allows the body to heal. However, balanced hormones will not happen immediately—there are sequential steps of healing that everyone must take.
When a patient starts their transition process by improving their habits, their body will begin to rebalance its hormones. Their body will also rebuild at the cellular level with nutrients that were not available during previous poor habits. The more damaged the current metabolism, the longer it will take for this process to be completed.
When one has healed their metabolism, they are primed to lose fat weight, if needed. Once they have lost all their excess fat, they are through steps 1 and 2.
The Three Transition Stages
For most people, the transition (step 1) to a healthy metabolism consists of three main stages. Here is what you may expect as you journey through your transition to health. You begin at your initial starting point and then enter 1) a healing phase. Then you enter a 2) fat burning phase, if you need to burn fat before you finally reach a 3) healed state. Depending on your current metabolism, your body may skip the healing and/or fat-burning phases.
Let's look at each stage in more detail:
Healing phase
Fat-burning phase
Healed state
The Initial Starting Point
The initial starting point is your current metabolism type and age when you start improving your habits and begin entering your transition. Listed to the right are the four metabolism types an individual can have.
Insulin-sensitive with healthy adrenal glands
Insulin-sensitive with burned-out adrenal glands
Insulin-resistant with healthy adrenal glands
Insulin-resistant with burned-out adrenal glands
These metabolism types are not genetic but acquired. Everyone begins life insulin-sensitive with healthy adrenal glands. It is only after years of poor nutrition and lifestyle habits that you may become insulin-resistant or have burned-out adrenal glands—or have both conditions.
Your age and how long you have had your current metabolism affect the duration of your transition. The older you are and the longer your metabolism has been damaged, the longer it will take for you to complete your transition.
Insulin-sensitive
It is normal to be insulin-sensitive. You are insulin-sensitive if your body responds to all the actions of insulin, including the ability to make and store fats.
The following is what happens when you eat carbohydrates if you are insulin sensitive:
Sugar is taken up by your liver.
Excess sugar in your liver is turned into triglycerides and cholesterol.
Triglycerides and cholesterol are taken up by various cells of your body.
Sugar is also taken up by your cells.
When all the sugar and fats are in your cells, blood-sugar levels start to drop and insulin levels go back down.
You eat again and the whole process starts all over
Insulin-resistant
Eventually, from sustained high levels of insulin, you become completely insulin-resistant. All your cells are completely overfilled with fats and sugar, and they barely respond to the action of insulin. At this point you usually have high triglyceride blood levels. (High triglyceride levels are not indicators of insulin resistance only. Smoking, stress, birth control pills and drinking alcohol can raise triglyceride levels in your bloodstream also, but that does not necessarily mean that you are insulin-resistant. Do not diagnose yourself as insulin-resistant from your triglyceride blood test alone.)
When you are insulin-resistant, you have high fasting insulin levels, you usually carry your excess fat weight around your midsection and you have one or more of the following symptoms or diseases.
Abnormal cholesterol profiles: High triglyceride levels with low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels and high apolipoprotein B levels.
Hypertension: Sustained high blood pressure.
Type II diabetes: Sustained high levels of sugar in the bloodstream.
Coronary atheroscelrosis: Plaques in the heart arteries which may cause a heart attack when they rupture.
Cerebral atheroscelrosis: Plaques in the brain which may cause a stroke when they rupture.
Cancers: Abnormal cell growth. Breast, prostate and colon cancers are the most common cancers associated with high insulin levels.
Stein Leventhal Syndrome (SLS): SLS is a female clinical condition of infertility (anovulatory menstrual cycles), acne and/or facial hair.
There are three paths that lead to insulin resistance:
Years of high insulin levels due to poor nutrition and lifestyle habits.
Years of high adrenaline and/or cortisol levels due to poor nutrition and lifestyle habits.
Years of high insulin, adrenaline and cortisol levels due to poor nutrition and lifestyle habits.
If you recognize that you are on any of these paths, now is the time to change your habits!
Your Goal
Your goal is to stay or become insulin-sensitive and to have healthy adrenal glands or to heal them. Therefore, the goal metabolism to have is insulin sensitive with healthy adrenal glands and then and only then will the weight loss start happening! Know that there is hope and weight loss just has to be approached holistically with the ultimate goal is changing how your body responds to insulin. This way you lose weight AND keep it off!
Wednesday, November 11, 2015
Trimona Bulgarian Yogurt Is The Best!
What makes this organic cow milk yogurt different is two amazing things. The cows are grass-fed and the yogurt is not strained. Their motto, "Let the Greeks have their philosophers, leave the yogurt to us," makes me laugh every time I read it. Bulgaria is proud to have the history of producing the healthiest yogurt in Europe dating back 4,000 years ago. Russian Nobelist Ilya Mechnikov attributed yogurt as the reason why Bulgarians lived so long. He studied the yogurt and linked aging to toxic bacteria in the bowel and showed that fermented milk inhibits these germs from growing by seeding the intestine with good bacteria. Mechnikov named the yogurt microorganism Lactobacillus bulgaricus.
I'm so glad Trimona has kept the tradition of making Bulgarian yogurt and knows the importance of not only organic but grass-fed and full fat yogurt. If the fat is taken out of the yogurt so are the natural enzymes so the body doesn't know how to break down the food. All yogurt that you eat should be full-fat. It's hard to find but not impossible. If the store isn't selling Trimona then I will buy the full fat FAGE yogurt. And to tell you up front because Trimona isn't strained it has a slightly sour taste which I think is delicious!
Bulgarians know how important consuming fermented foods are for gut health and eat about 400,000 tons of their yogurt. The importance of fermented food can be found at www.westonaprice.org or my blog.
For my vegan friends try the best coconut yogurt. Anita's yogurt is a little expensive but totally worth it!
Tuesday, November 10, 2015
Own Your Power With a Balanced Solar Plexus
The 3rd chakra or solar-plexus is located just above the naval and below the rib cage. It is our energy center and it is where our Will Power comes from; our ability to achieve, self-esteem, raw emotions, and self-discipline are all governed by the solar-plexus. It is where we can have a mental understanding of our emotional self.
The solar-plexus not only governs the emotional and mental aspect of your psyche but also your psychic experiences. Often a feeling of intuition or “gut feeling” in a certain situation will benefit you greatly if you listen to it. All aspects of the digestive tract, including the assimilation of nutrients are controlled by the 3rd Chakra.
When this Chakra is in balance you will be in complete control over your emotions and thoughts. Your ego will have no unwanted influence over your actions. You will know without a doubt, and accept your place in the Universe, have self-love and, in turn, have a great appreciation for all the people in your life and the uniqueness that they bring to world. When in tune, your Solar-plexus will radiate warmth and joy through-out your entire being, and to others who come into contact with you.
Over-active Solar-plexus Chakra
If your chakra is over-active you may be judgmental or critical – and you will easily find fault in others. You may be demanding and have extreme emotional problems, being very rigid or stubborn (it’s either your way or no way). Often anger, or aggressiveness result from an over-active chakra. You may always be planning to do things, but never doing, and your work or interests become a priority over things you have to do (a workaholic). You may also be a perfectionist and can’t settle on something that is already good enough, it always has to be better.
Under-active Solar-plexus Chakra
If this chakra is under active it can cause severe emotional problems. You may have a lot of doubt and mistrust towards the people in your life, and worry too much about what other people might think about you. You may also run on “auto pilot” avoiding your feelings of depression or anxiety; you may feel afraid or alone when you start to look at what you have been avoiding. You also may feel that you are not good enough and be seeking a constant approval of others, this can lead to a need, or dependency on the people in your life.
Physical Symptoms of a Solar-plexus imbalance: Poor digestion, weight problems, ulcers, diabetes, hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, arthritis, pacreas, liver or kidney problems, anorexia, bulimia, hepatitis, intestinal tumors, food allergies and colon disease.
Healing the Solar-plexus
There are many ways one can begin to balance their Chakras.
Affirmation for the Solar-plexus:
Oh I feel it in my gut
A swirling mass of confusion, indecision and contempt
Breathe, breathe deep all the way down to the pit
On the breath bring all that is good
Whatever that may be to your center
Remember what you are good at
You have a gift to share
You have power to make a difference
I don't have to blame, judge or force you
I don't have to fix it and make it all right
I will breathe deep and remember to honor myself and others
I will exhale all that I don't need and inhale Love
Thank you, I am powerful
Like the unique perspective I bring to the table
I will move forward with self respect and integrity in tact
I will act generous with my gift
Color of the solar-plexus is associated with the color yellow. Picturing a beautiful yellow sunflower where the chakra is located can have an instant affect. Yellow Candles or surrounding yourself with pictures of yellow things can begin to bring this chakra into balance.
Organs/Glands governed by the solar-plexus: Large Intestine, Stomach, Digestive System, Adrenal Glands, Pancreas, Liver, Lungs.
Stones that help the solar-plexus: citrine, topaz, yellow calcite
Aromatherapy/Essential Oils for the Solar-plexus: Best is lemon, followed by Rose, rosewood, sandalwood, chamomile, rosemary, myrrh, frankincense.
Healing the Solar-plexus with Nature: The Solar-plexus’ Element is Fire. Taking a walk out in the sun is extremely beneficial. Sitting in front of a camp fire, or fire place can have an instant healing effect. Fire breathing from Kundalini Yoga will help too.
Solar plexus Chakracise – do the twist, belly dance or hola hoop for at least 70 seconds.
Wednesday, November 4, 2015
For the Health of It: Pumpkin Seeds
Pumpkin seeds are a wonderful source of B vitamins, many minerals, including zinc, and essential fatty acids. They contain hormone building elements.The oils in these seeds not only support normal sexual function (see my video on the High Libido Diet), but also help protect against heart disease. They have traditionally been used for porstate disorders. They supply a safe and natural source of tryptophan. These seeds are anti-parasitic as well.
Pumpkin seeds are an excellent source of unsaturated fatty acids: oleic fatty acids as well as omega 3 and omega 6. Oleic acid has strong beautifying properties. The anti-inflammatory, antioxidant omega 3 fatty acids are great for the body too.
The zinc found in pumpkin seeds can help with skin conditions including warts and acne. Zinc helps improve the ability to smell and taste and promote digestion. Because of the high levels of zinc along with being rich in magnesium pumpkin seeds are a wonderful food for the prostate. Chronic prostate inflammation is linked to a lack of dietary zinc and in Germany pumpkin seeds are an approved treatment for benign prostatic hypertrophy (Fortschritte er Medizin, 1996, vol.10)
Pumpkin seeds are a true aphrodisiac, because, in men, they pump the prostate full of zinc, build seminal fluid and increase sperm count. In women they build hormones and build sexual fluids.
Raw pumpkin sees are on of the best sources of tryptophan. Tryptophan works with zinc to improve one's mood and increase levels of serotonin in the brain which helps alleviate depression and stress.
To eat pumpkin seeds to get rid of parasites eat a handful of raw seeds twice a day on an empty stomach for one week and then take a week off and then repeat this process again for another week. If eaten with garlic, pumpkin seeds are even more effective. The amino acid cucurbitin in pumpkin seeds is likely responsible for this anti-parasitic effect. Cucurbitin is believed to paralyze worms causing them to loosen their grip and then allowing them to be expelled from the body.
Because of the healthy goodness that can come from pumpkin seeds I feel I have to let you know that there are no known side effects or reports of toxicity regarding pumpkin seeds so eat your heart's desire!
Pumpkin seeds are an excellent source of unsaturated fatty acids: oleic fatty acids as well as omega 3 and omega 6. Oleic acid has strong beautifying properties. The anti-inflammatory, antioxidant omega 3 fatty acids are great for the body too.
The zinc found in pumpkin seeds can help with skin conditions including warts and acne. Zinc helps improve the ability to smell and taste and promote digestion. Because of the high levels of zinc along with being rich in magnesium pumpkin seeds are a wonderful food for the prostate. Chronic prostate inflammation is linked to a lack of dietary zinc and in Germany pumpkin seeds are an approved treatment for benign prostatic hypertrophy (Fortschritte er Medizin, 1996, vol.10)
Pumpkin seeds are a true aphrodisiac, because, in men, they pump the prostate full of zinc, build seminal fluid and increase sperm count. In women they build hormones and build sexual fluids.
Raw pumpkin sees are on of the best sources of tryptophan. Tryptophan works with zinc to improve one's mood and increase levels of serotonin in the brain which helps alleviate depression and stress.
To eat pumpkin seeds to get rid of parasites eat a handful of raw seeds twice a day on an empty stomach for one week and then take a week off and then repeat this process again for another week. If eaten with garlic, pumpkin seeds are even more effective. The amino acid cucurbitin in pumpkin seeds is likely responsible for this anti-parasitic effect. Cucurbitin is believed to paralyze worms causing them to loosen their grip and then allowing them to be expelled from the body.
Because of the healthy goodness that can come from pumpkin seeds I feel I have to let you know that there are no known side effects or reports of toxicity regarding pumpkin seeds so eat your heart's desire!
Monday, November 2, 2015
Passion is in the Sacral Chakra
The Sacral Chakra is your passion and pleasure center and it is located in the pelvic area above the root chakra, below the belly button. While the Root Chakra is satisfied with survival, the 2nd chakra seeks pleasure and enjoyment.
The gift of this chakra is experiencing our lives through feelings and sensations. When balanced, the second chakra is the center of feeling, emotion, pleasure, sensuality, intimacy, creativity, friendliness and connection.
The main challenge for the second chakra is the conditioning of our society. When the sacral chakra is not balanced we can have trouble handling our emotions. We live in a society where feelings are not valued, where passion, and emotional reactions are being frowned upon. We are being taught not to "lose control". And we get disconnected from our bodies and our feelings.
As if this was not enough, we also experience the wounds of our collective cultural struggles over many sexual issues of our society. On one hand sexuality is magnified and glorified, and on the other hand it is rejected. This results in either blocked or excessive second chakra issues.
The sacral chakra is related to feelings of guilt and kidneys, constipation, muscle spasms, bladder, and large intestine. Carnelian agate, tiger’s eye, and orange calcite can help balance this chakra. The sacral chakracise are pelvic thrusts upward for at least 15 seconds and then circular in the clockwise direction and then counterclockwise, then clockwise again for at least 45 seconds.
Deep Blue is an amazing oil for the sacral chakra! It was developed for sore muscles, aches and pains and since a blocked sacral chakra can cause muscle spasms when I started using Deep Blue to open up the sacral chakra I was getting amazing results! The Wintergreen, Camphor, Peppermint, Blue Tansy, German Chamomile, Helichrysum, and Osmanthus oils found in Deep Blue work together as the perfect soothing blend.
Affirmations can also help. They can be said at any time of day and used with Emotional Freedom Technique.
Sacral Chakra Affirmation
I am creating a life
That has an ebb and flow
Allowing me to grow
Into the individual I AM.
A person of immeasurable value,
comfortable with others and able to assert
my passions without manipulating
and stealing power.
Comfortable in my own skin I express
creatively who I am.
I accept your appreciation and nurturing of
me as I do for you in a healthy relationship.
Oh when I go the other way and fight the
flow to get my way I suffer so from guilt and
shame and have to find an addiction to blame.
No, I will go with the flow and let go of the
need to control, I will let go of the past,
I do not need all the drama to last.
I will take the passage within creating a life
of magical moments for us to share.