Which Flower Remedy might you need.

This is based off the Bach Flower Guide Booklet. It will have the name of the flower remedy and the questions under it that the flower would benefit.

1. Agrimony
Do you hide your worries behind a cheerful, smiling face to conceal your pain from other?
Are you distressed by arguments and quarrels, often giving in to avoid conflict?
when you feel life's pressures weighing down on you do you often turn to food, alcohol, drugs, or other outside influences to help you cope?

2. Aspen
Do you have feelings of apprehension or anxiety without knowing why?
Do you feel that something bad may happen but you are not sure why?
Do you wake up with a sense of anxiety of what the day will bring?

3. Beech
Are you often annoyed by the habits and shortcomings of others?
Do you find yourself to be overly critical and intolerant, usually looking for what someone has done wrong and not right?
Do the incompetence and foolishness of others irritate you?

4. Centaury
Do you often neglect your own needs in order to please others?
Is it Difficult to say no to those who impose upon your good nature?
Do you tend to be easily influenced by those stronger in nature than yourself?

5. Cerato
Do you constantly second-guess your own decisions and judgments?
Do you often seek advise and confirmation from other people, mistrusting you own intuition?
Do you change direction often, even when you have asked for advise, because you feel confused and unsure?

6. Cherry Plum
Are you afraid you might loose control of yourself mentally, emotionally, and physically?
Do you fear that you may think or do something that you feel is wrong?
Do you think you may hurt yourself or others or become violent and explosive?

7. Chestnut Bud
Do you find yourself making the same mistakes over and over again as choosing the wrong type of partner or staying in a job you dislike?
Do you fail to learn from the mistakes or experiences of others?
Do you wish you would not repeat the same patterns again and again?

8. Chicory
Do you need to be needed or want your loved ones to be close by?
Do you feel unloved and unappreciated by your loved ones?
Are you possessive of those you care for, feeling you know what is best for them?

9. Clematis
Do you often feel spacey and absent minded?
Do you find yourself preoccupied and dreamy, unable to concentrate for any length of time?
Are you drowsy and listless, sleeping more often than necessary?

10. Crab apple
Are you obsessed with cleanliness and feel toxic and contaminated?
Are you embarrassed and ashamed of yourself or feel physically unattractive?
Do you tend to concentrate to much on small physical conditions such as pimples or marks?

11. Elm
Do you feel overwhelmed by your responsibilities?
Do you feel it is to difficult to handle all the many task ahead of you?
Do you become depressed and exhausted when face with your everyday commitments?

12. Gentian
Do you become discouraged and depressed when things go wrong?
Are you easily disheartened when faced with difficult situations?
Does your depressed attitude prevent you from making an effort to accomplish something?

13. Gorse
Do you feel hopeless, as if there is no reason to try to improve things?
Do you lack faith that things could get better in your life and therefore make no effort to improve your circumstances?
Do you believe that nothing can be done to relieve your pain and suffering?

14. Heather
Do you find that others may avoid you because you seem to talk too much?
Do you dislike being alone, always seeking the companionship of others, to have someone to talk to?
Do your conversations usually wind up on your interests or problems?

15. Honeysuckle
Do you find yourself living in the past, nostalgic and homesick for the "way it was"?
Are you unable to change present circumstances because you are always looking back and never forward?
Do you often contemplate past regrets?

16. Holly
Are you suspicious of others, feeling that people ulterior motives?
Do you feel great anger toward other people?
Are you full of jealousy, mistrust, or hate?

17. Hornbeam
Do you often feel too tired to face the day ahead?
Do you feel overwhelmed or bored with your life?
Do you tend to procrastinate and put off some tasked while easily accomplishing those that are more enjoyable?

18. Impatiens
Do you feel a sense of urgency in everything you do, always rushing to get through things?
Are you impatient and irritated with others who seem to do things too slowly for you?
Do you prefer to work alone?

19. Larch
Do you lack self confidence?
Do you feel inferior and often become discouraged?
Are you so sure that you will fail that you do not even attempt things?

20. Mimulus
Do you have fears of identifiable things, ie, illness, death, pain, heights?
Are you shy, overly sensitive and often afraid?
Do you often worry about everyday situations, ie, traffic bills, etc?

21. Mustard
Do you feel depressed without knowing why?
Do you feel moods swing back and forth?
Do you feel gloom, which seems to quickly appear for no apparent reason and then lifts just as quickly?

22. Oak
Are you exhausted but feel then need to struggle on against all odds?
Do you have a strong sense of duty and dependability, carrying on no matter what obstacles stand in your way?
Do you neglect you own needs in order to complete a task?

23. Olive
Do you feel utterly and completely exhausted, both physically and mentally?
Are you totally drained of all energy with no reserves left, finding it difficult to carry on?
Have you just been through a long period of illness, stress, or strain with no relief?

This is only 23 out of 38 Remedies. This is an example to see how a certain flower remedy can focus in on certain aspects and views of life. I have even seen a person select a certain flower for themselves, and then their spouse will pick a different one for them. At times we can not see how we appear to others. I absolutely believe in the Bach remedies, they have helped me and my family too many times to doubt there help.

I invite you to visit the official Bach Flower remedy site, Bachremedies.com. To find the right flower for you. Once there you can got to REMEDY CHOOSER at the top and then type the desired effect you are looking for. If you really like the guide that I was using to help you see if that is the remedy for you please feel free to contact me for more of the other Flowers if you feel these and the website did not help you enough.

Have a Blessed and Healthy Day!!

The Bach Flower Remedies

For those of you who are not familiar with this company, they are amazing. A man named Edward Bach discovered the unique way of extracting the essence of certain flowers and their effect on our emotions.
Created in 1930 Dr. Bach who was a medical doctor and bacteriologist, formulated 38 Flower Remedies. These help to manage the emotional demands of everyday life and helps to center the negative attitudes and feelings into balance and perspective. When you know which flower is more beneficial to you, can manage those taxing times and moments. It works to free the body's own healing abilities and helps to promote an overall wellness.
The top two remedies we use in our house are the Rescue Remedy and Rescue Sleep. As a very busy mom, student , and running full time business. I love the effect that the Rescue Remedy has one me. I know when I start to feel overwhelmed, it would be a great time to just drop a few droplets under my tongue to bring a sense of calm into my day. I use to have a few drops as normal practice before leaving for Mass, knowing the kids would be taxing through the service. It helps in more ways than just stress.
My three year old daughter has a BIG fear of spiders and I have found when she has a run in with a certain pest, she will be calmed more after a few drops. In that sense it can actually help to reduce the traumatising effects of a memory and feeling of despair and stress. It is a safe homeopathic remedy for the whole family.
The Sleep Remedy, which we call the nightmare spray, help the mind and body relax just enough to be able to fall into a nice calming sleep. I find if the kids have a restless sleep a couple sprays helps the mind to forget the uncomfortable dreams they where just having. It has almost the same effects as a lavender aromatherapy, but more effective. There is nothing it the remedies to be like a drug, how they sometimes leave you tired or over tax the body. These are simply natural, powerful, and effective ways to help the body to heal, mentally and physically.

When to use Rescue Remedy.

Work Related stress
Childbirth/care
Sudden Bad news
Auto Accidents
Traffic Jams
Interviews
Dentist Doctor appointments
Arguments
Presentations to superiors or large groups
Large work loads
School Exams
Trauma
Or any other stressful occasion, Rescue remedy is you inner calm, ON CALL.

These are just of the products that you can take. There are 38 in all, and all help to center certain feeling, whether fear, anger, inpatients, and MORE.

Tomorrows post will be identifying the right one for you.
Have a Blessed and Healthy day!

Sugars can be in hidden forms

It is considered LEGAL deception.......??

Artificial sweeteners
Aspartame
Barbados molasses
blackstrap molasses
buttered syrup
caramel
carob syrup
corn syrup
dextran
dextrose
diastatic malt
diastase
dried corn syrup
ethyl maltol
glucose
glucose solids
golden syrup
molasses
honey
maple syrup
nonnutritive sweeteners
refiner's syrup
saccharin
sorbitol
sucrose
turbinado sugar

These are all listen on your labels of boxes, cans, and others. These are listen as NUTRITIOUS
and they all mean SUGAR!! You might even find these nutrients, ha ha, to be 4 or 5 all in the same boxes or cans,

Here is a nice piece of information about Produce

Did you know that you can tell if a produce is 1. organic, 2. Conventionally grown, or 3. Genetically engineer(GE or GMO). It is very easy to explain. Just look to the PLU code on the sticker.
1. Organic produce will have five numbers and will always follow with a number 9. Example 94011. That is bananas.

2. Conventionally grown produce will be the ones that have been gown with fungicides, chemical fertilizers, and herbicides. These will only have 4 numbers listed on the PLU. Example 4011.

3. GE or GMO's will have 5 numbers as well but they will follow the number 8. Example 84011.
Most genetically engineered produce are designed and altered in a way that they are lacking in enzymes. This way they last longer from harvest to the store. Yes, you have the benefit of your fruit and veggies to look better, but they will be unable to be digested as well, and the body can not absorb what it can not digest. If items are not broken down correctly then you are eating a non-food. It will cause a nutrient debt within the body and is void of the nutrients needed in daily task.

OK, so you have the choice between a Organic item. That has only beneficial mineral, vitamins, and enzymes. Or a Conventional item that is loaded with chemicals that have been linked with causing a multitude of cancers from breast, prostate, and many more. Lastly there is the GMO items that are not able to be digested correctly cause IBM, gas, constipation, bad .absorption,...shall I continue? What would your choice be?

The message of today was to just let you see there is a system to the numbering of the produce department. Now you can know the differences without asking and not knowing what you buying.

As always,
Have a blessed and healthy day!

Gone Camping

We went camping again. One of the best ways to get outside and breath all that fresh air!!!!
I will be posting again on Monday. Everyone enjoy your weekend and make wise food choices!

Have a Healthy and Blessed day!!

Therapies for Alzheimer's

If your loved one has Alzheimer's, or believed to have it, make sure to be advised by Physician. I would like to think you are seeing one that believes in natural approaches or at least open to them. You can always try to find a Naturopathic Doctor, they will have more insights to these treatments.
First if you do not have Alzheimer's but are worried about the Aluminum in the body. You can always start but drinking more Green juices. A green Juices is all Vegetables and Fruit that are green. (celery, spinach, green lettuces, avocado, zucchini, cucumbers, kale, leeks, broccoli, grapes, kiwi, Norri, kelp, asparagus, collards, cabbage, beet tops.) You can make you own combinations, but all of these will help to detoxify the body and blood, and help balance the PH, allowing the body to heal. I would recommend doing a juice fast once a week, to help replenish and detox the body from every day heavy metals. When you Juice fast the body still receives its needed nutrients, and also help the organs to rest from processing the "bad" in the body. In addition to that. Start them on a complete organic diet (start with dirty dozen). These contain more traces minerals that are beneficial to the brain, chromium, magnesium, selenium, and zinc.

If the symptoms of the disease have begun there are steps you can take. Since every degree of degeneration is different from person to person, please be evaluated by a qualified health professional. They can help you make the best decisions on which of these treatments are right for you.
As we age the digestive system has been so taxed that the ability to produce proper stomach acid is diminished. Look at healing this problem and eating foods according to proper digestion. If the digestion is lacking, we can not absorbs the nutrients properly. Vitamin B6 and B12 along with iron are commonly deficient in later years, these also effect the memory.

Some clients have also received injections of B complex. Injections are used so the vitamins are absorbed right into the blood and used according by the body. When oral B-complex is used you can not be sure how much is broke down for use. SAMe, S-adenoslymethionine, is also increased because it is a amino acid that is in virtually every cell of the body. Alzheimer's studies show this to be lacking in extremely low levels.

Lecithin, has a substance know as choline, can enhance production of acetycholine. In a past post you see how this helps with the neurotransmitters. Lecithin, can also help alleviate anxiety, a natural Valium if you will, minus the drug effects. This they see very helpful in the confusion that comes with the disease.

Things that maybe deficient and/or to increase are Magnesium, Selenium, Vitamin C, Zinc, Taurine, Melatonin, Omega-3's, natural hormones, Trytophan, and Tyrosine. There are many things that can be lacking and need increasing. Most of these can be balanced with the food choices mentioned above, and then increasing certain amino acids and enzymes.

You want to also look into a product by Life Extension Foundation called Cognitex. This is a combination of elements that are considered brain boosting, consisting of the much needed choline. Also vital for building cell membrane's in the brain. The product also contains vinpocetine which improves blood flow and utilizes oxygen to the brain.

As always, you have alternatives and choices in your health and wellness. This information is here to show you there are natural approaches and treatments. Before stopping or starting anything, be sure to have Physician on board will decisions.

Have a Healthy and Blessed day!!

Alzheimer's

This is a topic very important to me. If you have ever known a loved one to have this horrible disease, you would understand why I will be so passionate about this topic.

I remember when my grandfather first started showing signs that his memory was slipping. He was getting more frustrated everyday with the fact that simple things were just out of his reach. He was upset when he could not remember what to call the vacuum, or that he was eating pancakes for breakfast. At first you think it is funny and must be old age. Then it slowly got worse and he was losing his way home, or ending up in the wrong town. Back in the mid 80's they were not able to identity Alzheimer's. So, he got worse and we had to watch as he withdrew into himself, slowly not knowing us and were he was. It was heart breaking to to see such a strong and wonderful man lose of himself, and have to rely on others for his care. Even his body suffered from the disease losing body mass, the shell of the man that was left looked nothing like the man I knew. He was always there, but the pain showed everyday on him. It was a fast four years that we watched the man we love leave us. In the end he could barely talk and had lost the functions of walking a few years before.

This is why I am so passionate about nutrition, everything I have learned in school tells me about what we can do to limit the outcome of the disease. Most diseases we bring on out selves because we don not take the TIME to eat well balanced meals. We would rather something fast and tasty then look at whether we should be eating such foods.

The disease affects the hippocampus and cerebral cortex of the brain. This is where memory, language, and cognition are located and these are the first to be affected from damage to the neurotransmitters, which are responsible for communication. When the neurons located in the front of the brain are damaged, or destroyed, this affects the acetylcholine. Acetylcholine is the transmitter responsible for quick reactions and muscle activity. When someone suffers from Alzheimer's they can have symptoms with difficulty in communication, loss of memory, difficulty concentrating, and reduced motor skills.

One of the top most concerns that implicates the onset of Alzheimer's is Heavy Metal Toxicity. There have been autopsies on victims of Alzheimer's and they fins a high level of aluminum and mercury deposits in the brain, in areas associated with dementia. When you think of the amount of aluminum that we take in on a normal day its alarming the amount that can possible be stored in the brain. There is aluminum in the canned products you are consuming, the deodorant you wear, the baking soda in your baked goods, the cans of soda or beverages, and the list goes on. We did not start seeing the amount of Alzheimer's patients until we changed out processing of foods. There were always patients that had certain levels of dementia but not to this level, that was gave it a classified name- "Alzheimer's"

It is not just the aluminum, but also the normal American diet today is severely lacking in nutrients that we are causing a nutrient debt within our bodies. Not only are we taking in heavy metals toxic to us, but the foods we eat are laced with preservatives, chemicals, high fructose sugars, trans-fatty acids, and more. These additives are what further impairs our bodies and MINDS from healing and continuing in a strong healthy state.

I know you may be wondering "well what are we to eat". There are many alternatives, one is making your own food from scratch. We have strayed from the natural preparations of food. The normal American diet is not an ideal diet for healthy and vitality.
You health is in your hands.
If you are looking to change, make a point to do so today. Do not put off allowing your body to heal and have a longer life for you and your family. There are ways to detoxify the body of these metals, and supplements that can be taken to slow down the disease. I will be discussing these tomorrow. If you have a loved one that you wonder if they have this disease, please see your Physician and change your diet TODAY. I am more than happy to help give ideas to change the diet and you can always email me questions, address at top of blog, or comment.

Fried Rice
1 onion chopped
1 clove garlic
1 tbsp olive oil
1 10 oz package of frozen peas
4cups brown rice

Cook brown rice until desired texture (see past post about how to make B. rice)

Then in separate pan, saute onions and garlic in oil until translucent, add peas, stir in rice. You can and egg, green onions, and others of your favorite items for fried rice. I also love to add some Norri seasoning and get the natural sodium instead of using the table salt.

Back to school

With school around the corner, I wanted to mention some nutrition advised for the school schedule.


It is vitally important to make sure that you are sending your children to school with a good head start. We make sure they are dressed, teeth brushed, and homework done, but do we make sure they have a complete and healthy breakfast? You want to make sure their day does not start laced with sugar, that can make it difficult to concentrate on task through the day. The average child does not even eat half of the fruits and vegetables needed on a daily schedule. It is important to make sure the breakfast has whole grains for substance, fruit for energy that last through the day, and maybe even yogurt for a great source of calcium.

I prefer to pack my kids lunch even though the Schools lunch schedule says they include a fruit and vegetable. They usually use processed meats, starches (mostly white flour), and the fruits and vegetables are not always fresh but out of a can. When you eat items that have been processed and stored in Aluminum cans then aluminum leaches into the foods, and that heavy metal can cause lots of damage in later years. It is one of the top causes of Alzheimer's. Also, when the fruits or vegetables are processed in aluminum cans they are lacking the enzymes needed for digestion. When the food does not digest correctly, it causes many imbalances and not to mention physical discomforts like cramps, constipation, or gas.

When I pack their lunches I try to have a three day diet. I make sure to be rotating the fruits and vegetables every three days. that way it is not the same thing everyday. Change it up. Be sure to have a vegetable or TWO in there, and a fruit. For the bread use a non enriched whole grain. I stay away from sweets in their lunch. These will cancel the good things you put in there to eat. Unfortunately, we do not see them at lunch and we do not want them to eat the sweets over the good whole foods. I also, like to put in some sides like a granola bar or wheat pretzels since these are a great source of fiber and they are also filling. If your child is in after school sports, be sure to pack a healthy snack to consume before they practice. Cottage cheese is another favorite for the lunch snack or after school time.

It breaks my heart sometimes to see children's lunch boxes with sugary treats and then you wonder why they are emotional or not able to concentrate. It's all about eating for A's and eating for health.

Try to stay away from the sugary cereals, bring more whole fruits and vegetables in to the daily diet. I also love to pack an extra water container because they are also not drinking enough water through the day. It is best to use a reusable watering container instead of the plastic water bottles. These leach the plastic toxins into the water they drink here look at the ads I have to the left if you are looking for great products to reuse and have for lunches.

Have a Healthy and Blessed Day!

The Mighty Egg

Eggs are one of our favorite breakfast items. They are a great source of Iron, Vitamin A, Vitamin D, and riboflavin. They are considered to be complete protein and great way to start off the day. In my house we try to have a balanced breakfast with grains, fruit, and either eggs or yogurt. Be creative because kids like to have variety, but keep it healthy.

A lot of Americans research has come out that the yoke of the egg is high in cholesterol. The yoke of the egg does have cholesterol and they are taking eggs out of the diet even for children. This is a mistake because the body is able to metabolize this type of cholesterol. The body is able to transfer this into Vitamin D when out in the sun. As long as the children are not having any heart health problems than they should eggs in their diet. Maybe not everyday but at least 2 to 3 times a week.
The real issue of eggs should be the source of them. Although they are rich in nutrients, some are a produced in less than ideal living conditions. Today's chicken are being held in cages with no room for walking, in temperature controlled room with artificial lighting, and feed by machines. The way they live on a daily bases is sure to have an effect on their eggs. Chickens were meant to forage around for whole grains and incests that give their eggs the nutrients they need for development. What is just as alarming, if not more, is the chemicals added to the feed for assembly line chickens. These chemicals include hormones, antibiotics, pesticides, and even tranquilizers. These are designed to produce eggs, with little concern for the chickens that are producing them. Think of them as biological egg producing machines. All the chemicals the chicken ingests is passed to the egg and then passed to us when consumed. If you consume an organic egg it will be better for you. By organic, I mean the chickens that have been free ranged, free from hormones, and antibiotics that the mass produced eggs have.

Some may wonder what is the difference with a brown egg from a white egg, or one with spots. Nutritionally, nothing different just the breed of chicken that has laid the egg.

Basic Crepes with peaches
Filling
1/3 cups whole wheat flour Yogurt and chopped peaches
1/2 tsp sea salt
2 cups 2% milk, more if needed
3 large eggs room temperature
2 ounces of butter

In one bowl mix flour and salt together. In other bowl mix together milk and eggs. Pour liquid mixture in to dry bowl and whisk together. Mixture should be a buttermilk consistency. Let cool for about 30 minutes.
Warm the crepe pan , or 8 inch pan, brushing with butter and pour in 1/3 cup of batter on pan and move pan around until all batter reaches the outside of the pan coating bottom of pan evenly. Cook until top is set an bottom is golden brown (about 1 minute)
Use a spatula to loosen sides and flip quickly, allow the other side to brown to a golden color for about 45 seconds. Remove the crepe to another plate and cover. Repeat until all batter is gone. Remember to brush pan with butter between each crepe. Makes 15 large crepes.

I like to fill the inside of the crepe with yogurt and chopped peaches, or favorite fresh fruit.

Chelation Therapy

Chelation Therapy has been seeing a great amount of popularity since it was started in 1948. It was started by a group of physicians in Detroit Michigan that started using it as an antidote to lead poisoning. It was then that they saw that it was doing a great amount of positive things. They noticed that it was improving vision, hearing, lowering and loss of angina, more mobility and function in walking, and reduction in arteriosclerosis.

Chelation has to be one of the most interesting therapies. I think that if it was being used more, thousands would not be suffering from heart problems. It has been used in treating strokes, diabetes, memory loss, cardiovascular disease, peripheral vascular disease, damage due to long term smoking, abuse of alcohol, and MOST importantly heavy metal toxins.

The procedure used is done using an IV with a slow drip of a drug called ethylene diamine tetracetic acid, also known as EDTA. It is administered along with various nutrients in the arm. A client may receive up to 30 treatments the first year and ten decrease through the following years. Chelation is a Greek word meaning "CLAW". The heavy metals and excess calcium bind to the carrier molecules that are picked up by the claw and then removed through the kidneys. The body has to work way too hard to remove the foreign elements like heavy metals, excess calcium, and elements that harden the tissues. It is said in the natural health field that Chelation therapy can be an alternative to coronary bypass surgery. It has been successful in reducing the need for invasive procedures. Not to say that it is for every person, but it would be something to look at as an alternative to surgery. Most of the case studies show people that take the treatments change their diet and involved themselves in exercise.

For those who are in pain from angina and even have trouble walking may not be able to exercise. In most study cases the clients found such relief that they were able to start walking more and then exercises. It was interesting too, that in the case studies they did not only find relief of their arteriosclerosis, but also other areas like vision, carpal tunnel, blood pressure, memory improvements, and many more. In regard to the diet it was mentioned that most turned to a very low animal protein if at all.

Zucchini Tacos

3 Zucchinis sliced Julian
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp cumin whole seeds
1/2 yellow onion chopped
1 tbsp chili powder
10 soft taco shells

Pour oil in pan and warm. Add cumin and stir lightly brown. Add onions cook until translucent. Add Zucchini and chili powder, stir until zucchini is just cooked (but not mushy you still want some firmness in the vegetable). Ready to serve with cheese, lettuce, and tomato. Don't forget the chopped cilantro as a garnish. Even the kids love this absolutely wonderful taco. For those of you that love meat, you can add some ground turkey or beef to the mixture at the end. I love to go veggie once a week, try it.

Have a Blessed and Healthy Day!