Update on Sauerkraut

My doctor suggested that I eat homemade, raw sauerkraut often. Since I was unable to find one that didn't contain preservatives yet was affordable, I decided to make my own. 

So, it's been a while since my homemade, spicy sauerkraut became ready for me to eat. As of today, I am still the only one eating it and have been doing so every day for about a week. Which brings me to an interesting side thought: Why do some people think that if something is homemade, it can't be good?

This recipe is a little spicy and reminds me of a mild kimchi, but it is nowhere near being something that a person like me, with acid reflux, can't have. I have to tell you - just a couple of tablespoonfuls each day on top of my salad has really been wonderful. Probiotic goodness! 

I am storing this in my refrigerator where it will continue to ferment slowly until I have used it all up. When this batch runs out, I will try a plain version without the spices, just for kicks.

Which Diet Will You Choose?

I don't think our society has ever been more driven toward becoming health conscious than it is now. I work in a library, so I often see new books on one diet or another pop up. I have to admit it. They are fun to read. But, fun or not, the books and diets don't always mesh with one another. In fact, some are quite diametrically opposed to the others and the reader then becomes confused - very confused.

For the last several years I have followed a vegetarian diet on top of the gluten-free one I had adopted prior to that. Once I noticed I was having some problems digesting milk proteins, I began to phase that out as well, leaving my diet very close to a vegan one. 

I liked the diet. I felt good with it. 

I hate to eat meat. I have never liked meat and have always had to psyche myself up before having it. Milk stuff did bad things to me. And I love veggies and fruits.

So, in essence, what I was having was a whole foods plant based diet, but I didn't know that was the term to use. I was Okay with that, but my family was not. And herein lies the problem.

Buying vegan foods (and gluten-free because I have to live that way) is expensive, that is if one has to buy meat and all of the junk that goes with an omnivore lifestyle. 

I had trouble buying everything on our budget, so I found that my diet was limited - and I maybe wasn't getting all of the nutrients that I should have been getting, and would have if I'd had more variety.

So a couple of years ago I read Grain Brain and Wheat Belly. Both of those books denounce grains and encourage people to eat an omnivore diet. I forced myself to let go of grains and focus on healthy fats (and, in my opinion, not so healthy fats with cheese and meats). 

I got sick. Something happened in my stomach or small intestines in the middle of the night and I felt like I was having an intense gall bladder attack - only I don't have a gall bladder, having had that taken out close to 20 years ago.

After a few months passed, I was in the hospital having tests done. The residual effects of that five hour stomach episode were extreme dizziness and nausea. Needless to say, the Upper GI showed a lot of acid/bile damage and GERD, but the hope is that it will heal. The medication I am taking makes me a bit nervous about my future health. Yes.....I am a firm believer in taking medicines only when completely necessary. I don't even take acetaminophen for headaches, opting to tough it out or take a nap instead.

Well, that was a year ago and I am still on the medication and still healing. But I'm getting better and still hope to get off the troublesome medicine soon.

Last month, I read The Whole30. It sounded good to me. You see, I want off of the medicines really, really badly and realy, really soon. I was grasping at straws. I tried the Whole30 diet. You're supposed to go on the diet for 30 days and then follow a Paleo diet after that - which, when you look closely, is just another form of the Atkin's diet, just a little more fruit friendly.

So, I gagged on eggs and forced myself to take in meat. With the program, you can't have any carbs other than some fruit. You eliminate dairy. You basically just eat meat, eggs, vegetables, and fruits. But the focus is heavily upon meat, meat, meat. You center your food around the meat. Always the meat.

And I caved in after six days. I couldn't handle it. I chucked it. I already knew that dairy and gluten were bad for my particular body. I was now dreading eating because I hate eggs and meat and especially love legumes (legumes are disallowed for the first 30 days and then limited). 

And I was feeling worse than ever. I know; the diet is meant to be done over 30 days and sometimes you feel worse before you feel better. At least that is what the book says. I just couldn't get that far.

So I am now back on my vegetarian, low-fat diet. I eat lots of legumes and I remain 101 pounds. I allow a little soy, which is not exactly the evil food it has been made out to be. I keep it limited - I refuse to eat processed foods with processed soy unless it is kept a secret from me. 

The bottom line is that you should eat what is best for you. Personally, I believe that dairy proteins are dangerous and meats, if eaten, should be grass-fed or free-range and only in limited amounts. I don't think fat, in excess, is ever good for anyone. 

Talk to a nutritionist, your doctor, and/or pray about it. Your gut feeling is usually right.

Menu Plan Monday - March 13

It is difficult these days to make a menu plan that is affordable yet doesn't contain unhealthy ingredients. I have found that shopping at discount stores like Aldi (which carries some organic products at a reasonable price) helps, but the choices are still limited.

It is with great interest - and trepidation - that I have been reading the book Modified, by Caitlin Shetterly. This book rips the GMO industry wide open. To be honest, I am really frightened for our children and future grandchildren. Our country has allowed our food supply to be completely altered into some sort of Frankenstein experiment that, quite "frankly", is killing us.

What originally drew me to this book is that Shetterly suffered much the same symptoms of physical distress as I have in the past several years. For me, it is only getting worse in spite of medication. Shetterly's own journey toward finding answers came in the form of an allergist who decided that her problem was a reaction to genetically modified (GMO) corn. Once she weeded out corn completely, and put herself, her husband, and son on an organic, non-GMO diet, her health returned. In fact, her husband and son were healthier too.

If you are squeamish and hate to hear anything that can be construed as a threat to your health and well being, don't read this book or others like it. Of course, you would be burying your head in the sand and accomplishing nothing. If you are afraid of the giant GMO companies and others who are pro-GMO, again, bury your head in the sand and pray that you don't get sick. However, if you want to know more and then take action, a simple search on the internet can help you link up with groups who are trying their hardest to fight this stuff and restore health to the American people.

Okay, so what is my plan for the week?

Monday

Enchiladas (home-made filling and sauce)

Re-fried Beans

Salads

Fruit Bowl

Tuesday

Roast Beef & Root Vegetables

Steamed Asparagus

Cupcakes

Wednesday

Leftover BBQ Beef Ribs Wrapped in Flatbreads

Cauliflower

Baked Potatoes

Thursday

Grilled Chicken Thighs

Mashed Potatoes

Green Beans

Salads

Friday

Pizza & Pop

Saturday

Veggie Burgers

Salads

Vegan Baked Beans

Sunday

On Your Own

Menu Plan Monday - February 27

So far, my family HAS noticed the WFPB (whole foods plant based) meals I have tried to slip in from time to time. I am trying to cut animal products from our menus as much as I can, but to no avail - yet. I truly feel that the animal proteins are very hard on the body and can cause disease.

Since eliminating much of it from my own diet, I can say that I am feeling better every day. Last year at this time, I was rapidly losing weight and feeling dizzy most of the time. I went to the doctor to be diagnosed with a bad virus. Well, I just kept getting worse and the doctor decided it was not a virus. I underwent some tests and had no tumors but LOTS of acid reflux. I balked at taking medication but decided to go with it because, after having my belly pressed with the ultrasound, I found that the burning and nausea was unbearable. Before that, I had experienced no burning but did have some pain under my left arm that I thought, at the time, was either stress or even mild heart attacks.

So.....it is a year later and I am still on medication. The burning is there at times, but the dizzy spells are pretty much gone. I do have a "lump" in my belly that the doctor says is the duoendum (the part of the stomach going to the small intestines) filling with bubbly gas. I believe that to be so, because at those times it feels hard, I burp a lot and feel the burning. And it is always an hour or two after eating. Once four or five hours have passed, I feel great.

So, how did I get to this point even though I felt I was eating healthy? After all, I was thin, followed all of the diets that now claim we need lots of fat in our diets (which I now believe to be false), and even did some exercise? I think it was the fat I was consuming in the form of "healthy fats". I ate lots of avocados, coconut oil, and even fat from animal products, all deemed to be necessary by the latest "experts". I had even considered, before I got sick, putting our family on a Paleo diet. They would have loved it, but I don't think their bodies would have.

By this time next year, I hope to be off of the GERD medication and controlling my condition via a WFPB diet. If the rest of the family won't come with me now, they might in the future when they see how far I've come (from a sickly 85 pounds to a healthy and glowing 100 pounds - I'm only 5 feet and small boned).

My plan for the week includes plant based dishes, but my husband insists I put meat on the table as well.

Monday

Pot Roast with Vegetables

*Vegetable Stew over Spaghetti Squash

Homemade Biscuits

Cake & Ice-cream

Tuesday

Baked Ham

Mashed Potatoes

Roasted Beets, Carrots, & Onion

Wednesday

Left-over Ham

Scalloped Potatoes

Baked Beans

Thursday

BBQ Ribs

Steamed Potatoes

Salads

Friday

Pizza & Pop 

(I make my pizza without cheese and it's good)

Saturday

Hamburgers

Bean Burgers

Baked Potatoes

Applesauce

Sunday

On Your Own

To make Veggie Stew, I put a quart of pureed pumpkin or squash, a little crushed dehydrated kale, chopped onion, and some black eyed peas in a slow cooker with whatever vegetables I have on hand. This week it is snap peas, green beans, and carrots. Season with salt and pepper (and garlic if you don't have acid reflux). You could add additional herbs and seasonings to your preference. Cook on low until the vegetables are tender. Only add water or vegetable broth if it is too thick and you're worried about scorching. This is wonderful as a thick "sauce" over cooked spaghetti squash.

So Many Diets - How do you Know what to Choose?

I have been reading, with interest, about all of the various "diets" out there at the moment. How do we make sense of these diets and are they really what we should follow? I'm not going to tell anyone what to do, but I will, upfront, tell you that I try to follow a "balanced" diet. Just about all of the time, I do not have processed foods. I enjoy whole foods and especially love raw veggies. I am gluten-free (not by choice) and I try to avoid most animal products because they don't agree with my body chemistry. I juice carrots and some other vegetables at least three times a week. For the first time in many years, I have found that I can maintain my body weight and, most of the time, stay healthy and strong.

The Paleo Diet seems like a rehash of the Atkins Diet to me. With this diet, all processed foods are eliminated. That is wonderful. However, this diet is heavy on meat and animal protein. Grains and starches are cut out of the diet. Legumes and dairy are also avoided. Nuts, berries, some vegetables, and meat are the staples. This diet assumes that human beings evolved and that the diet is the original cave-man diet. I feel this is the real downfall of this particular diet. The Bible says that man is created in the image of God and the original diet was a vegan, raw foods diet (remember, there was no death until Cain killed Abel) and God only allowed meat into the diet after Noah's flood. If you want to say that is where the cave-man diet started, I guess I can give you that.

The Eating to Your Blood Type Diet is also interesting. With this diet, you eat certain foods (and avoid others) according to what blood type you have. For instance, if you are an A positive, you would follow these guidelines:

 "When we discuss 'diet,' we are not talking necessarily about a weight loss plan, that's a side benefit to following this plan. We are actually discussing diet in the more traditional sense, meaning a way to eat," explains, Dr. D'Adamo. Type As flourish on a vegetarian diet - if you are accustomed to eating meat, you will lose weight and have more energy once you eliminate the toxic foods from your diet. Many people find it difficult to move away from the typical meat and potato fare to soy proteins, grains and vegetables. But it is particularly important for sensitive Type As to eat their foods in as natural a state as possible: pure, fresh and organic. "I can't emphasize enough how this critical dietary adjustment can be to the sensitive immune system of Type A. With this diet you can supercharge your immune system and potentially short circuit the development of life threatening diseases." (http://www.dadamo.com/txt/index.pl?1003)

I think this is extremely interesting, because I am a type A and I do best with a vegetarian diet. Hmmmmm. 

The Hallelujah Diet is a vegan one that follows the premise that God gave a vegan diet to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. I have no problem with that. Those following this diet eat 80-85% of their food raw and the other 15-20% of their food cooked. The biggest problem I've had trying to follow this diet in the past is that I hate to give up coffee. I know, bad reason. It is also expensive, especially if you are the only person in the family who is willing to eat this way. I literally have to make two meals - one for me and one for the others in my family. So.....I do what I can and let go of the rest. This is the place that I turned to for help in learning to juice, by the way. They have great recipes and invaluable support.

The Daniel Plan is fairly new and, if you ask me, is probably the closest thing to following a balanced diet that I can find. Suzanne Somers follows a similar diet, but does not incorporate the religious aspect that Rick Warren does with this plan. Animal products are used, but should be organic and grass fed. Grains are rarely used and gluten is eliminated. Convenience foods are eliminated. This is a good all around plan for many.

I hope you have found a "grain" that you can use from this information. I believe that if we at least take the step to eat less convenience foods and more real foods, we'll all be a little (or a lot) healthier. 

Protecting Your Pet from Dangerous Dog Food

With all of the clatter about GMOs in food and whether or not chemicals in the name of fertilizer are damaging to our nation's (and world's) people, we might be forgetting about the dangers these very things cause to our beloved pets - and even farm stock, like chickens.

As we speak, Purina, a Nestle company, is in the middle of a lawsuit that claims their Beneful line of dog food causes serious problems, including death. The ingredient that is causing all of the concern is propylene glycol, an ingredient that is in anti-freeze. And we all know what happens to dogs that eat anti-freeze. If you want a clear definition of what this compound is, you can read it straight from a website that is devoted to just that, propylene glycol.  Be aware, however, that they are promoting its use and emphatically believe that it is a safe component - for everyone.

Purina says that the levels of glycol in the dog food is "safe" and that propylene glycol is also added to people food. That statement should concern you and here's why: It's in almost everything you can buy - if it's a convenience food. Some products that include propylene glycol in their lengthy list of ingredients include, but are not limited to:

• Some cake mixes. I pulled a box of Duncan Hines Classic White  mix and found propylene glycol listed right after flour, vegetable oil, and shortening - near the top of the list. Manufacturer's list ingredients in order from the highest amounts to the lowest. Betty Crocker and some other brands also use it extensively in their cake mixes. Yikes! I found it in Pillsbury's Gluten-free Funfetti Cake Mix!
• Some ice-creams. Edy's Slow Churned Peppermint has it listed in the middle of the ingredient list. Their brand of Red Velvet Cake flavor has it listed near the end of the ingredient list. It's near the top of the ingredient list in Blue Bunny's Sweet Freedom Vanilla Ice-cream Cones. Not every brand, or flavor, of ice-cream uses propylene glycol. Check the ingredients before you purchase if you want to be sure.
• Cold Stone Creamery (in the same store as our Tim Horton's), uses it a LOT in their ice-cream products. My husband's favorite ice-cream, Culver's Frozen Custard, does not contain any propylene glycol as far as I can tell. I could only find the ingredient list for vanilla custard online. I intend to e-mail the company, however, and ask them point blank. If you're concerned, you should do the same. An honest company will shoot you an honest answer.
• Betty Crocker ready to use frosting uses propylene glycol in their products. It's right toward the top of the ingredient list. Other brands could use it as well, so check the label!
• Food Coloring - McCormick's food coloring and egg dye lists it right after water. Guess what? It's also in Baker's Imitation Vanilla Flavoring - again, right after water.

The bottom line is that MANY animal AND human food produced and sold in the stores contain some form of propylene glycol. Perhaps they are in levels safe for human (and animal) consumption - but what about amounts that someone ingests from multiple products in one meal, over many days?

If you want to read an informative article about this very topic, I suggest this one. Another, equally good, article can be found here.

Why are Pets Dying of Cancer?

These days, our dogs and cats seem to be dying of cancer and other previously assumed to be people diseases at an alarming rate. In fact, cancer is now the number one killer of canines older than six. The question is, why?

According to many holistic veterinarians, the cause could very well be vaccines. Many veterinarian records of pets with itchy skin and allergies suggest that vaccines - as early as the first puppy shots - triggered disease. 

In 1996, a group of 58 dogs with a deadly form of autoimmune disease,  immune-mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA), were studied. The common denominator in these cases is that every one of the dogs were immunized one month prior to the onset of the disease.

Now, we do know that people are often badly affected by immunizations. A case in point could be the large number of patients and their families citing very bad side effects from the HPV vaccine. People are also developing serious autoimmune diseases and cancer (which is also an autoimmune disease) at alarming rates, although we don't often hear about this in the mainstream news.

It has never been completely proven that the MMR vaccine causes autism, as far as those powers that be in the United States are concerned, yet there are those who hold firm to this belief, in this country and elsewhere. 

So, we can understand how vaccines can be dangerous in people and in animals. In animals, they might be even worse, as veterinary medicine tells us pet owners that it is important to vaccinate our pets each and every year. I question why this is necessary - surely a booster or two is enough, isn't it? Human beings don't vaccinate each and every year throughout our lives (except that flu vaccine that, I believe, is unnecessary and dangerous as well). We understand that this could be deadly. So why do we do it to our pets? 

Another cause of cancer in dogs and cats, which I believe is a HUGE one, is the current state of pet food and the GMOs contained in them. If you look at the ingredients in popular, and expensive, dog foods, you will find corn or other grains as the first ingredient, or somewhere close to the beginning of the list. Why? Because it is a cheap filler. Corn, wheat, and soy have been genetically modified since the 1990s. We are seeing what GMOs are doing to people, yet only a handful of folks are fighting back. Why aren't we all crying out to the government to require GMO labeling on ALL foods given to our people and animals?

Again, it's money that's talking.

Other than genetically modified ingredients, pet foods overwhelmingly contain other bad ingredients. By the way, so do an enormous amount of processed human foods. Check the packaging. But back to pet food, ingredients such as monosodium glutumate, food coloring, and preservatives abound within. Check out this list against your own pet's food labels. Are you feeding your cat or dog poison? Yikes!

The bottom line is that we are ignorantly causing our own pets disease and early death because of the foods and vaccines we innocently feed them. My West Highland White Terrier in the picture at the top of this post has had two rounds of the recommended vaccines. We can't legally get away with not getting rabies shots, but we will not be giving her the other shots as she ages. As for pet food, we look at the labels carefully. We feed her Taste of the Wild grain-free dog food. I am not pleased with every ingredient on the label. For instance, canola oil is one of the most genetically modified foods on our planet. 

I would buy holistic dog and cat food (we also have two cats) if I could afford it. I cannot, but I am determined to do the best I can to prevent not only my family, but my pets, from contracting and dying from cancer or other serious autoimmune diseases. It is up to us as responsible pet owners to care for our pets. When God put the first man, Adam, in the garden, He gave him the task of caring for creation. It was there for Adam to enjoy, but it was also there for him to tend. May we take that job seriously.

References:

1. Falconer, DVM, W. (n.d.). Vaccination Safety. Retrieved January 9, 2015, from http://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/vaccination-safety/
2. Japan and the HPV Vaccine Controversy - AGE OF AUTISM. (n.d.). Retrieved January 9, 2015, from http://www.ageofautism.com/2014/04/japan-and-the-hpv-vaccine-controversy.html 
3. Jordan, P. (n.d.). Cancer in our Pet Population. Retrieved January 9, 2015, from http://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/cancer-in-our-pet-population/ 
4. MMR Vaccine Caused Autism in Two Children According to Federal Vaccine Court. (2013, January 14). Retrieved January 9, 2015, from http://healthimpactnews.com/2013/mmr-vaccine-caused-autism-in-two-children-according-to-federal-vaccine-court/
5. Pet Food Ingredients Revealed! (n.d.). Retrieved January 9, 2015, from http://www.naturalnews.com/Report_pet_food_ingredients_8.html
6. Taste of the Wild. (n.d.). Retrieved January 9, 2015, from http://tasteofthewildpetfood.com/products/ingredients/ 

NEGU - An Interview with Eric Rees

Eric Rees is the father of Jessie Rees, the little girl who started a fire within the hearts of many to do something about childhood cancer. He has written a book, Never Ever Give Up: The Inspiring Story of Jessie Rees and her JoyJars and was gracious enough to answer some questions about the book, Jessie, and NEGU. Visit NEGU at negu.org to learn more.

Never Ever Give Up is immensely personal. Why is it important to share your daughter’s story?

 I had three goals for sharing Jessie’s story; increase awareness of childhood cancer, give people facing personal hurdles in life hope and to create a wave of compassion through personal acts of kindness. 

You did not fully share the extent of Jessie’s illness to your other two children. Do you think this was the right move? Why? 

Every parent has to make decisions that they feel are best for their children.  Stacey and I felt it was best to hold on to the fact God could heal Jessie at anytime.  In addition, we wanted everyone living with “hope”, which is a very powerful thing in life no matter what age.  Was it the right move? After talking with Shaya and JT afterwards they were both thankful they didn’t live with this dark cloud over their lives each day.  They did an amazing job loving their sister and being there for her.  Looking back, we wouldn’t have changed a thing.

1.      Jessie had a strong faith in God. How did she draw strength from her relationship with God during her treatment?

 Jessie did have an amazing faith in God which inspires me daily.  She would pray for herself, listen to worship music during treatments and do her nightly devotions with her mommy.  She drew her strength from Phil. 4:13 and asked God daily for support.

1.      Over 80,000 JoyJars have been distributed internationally. How have you accomplished so much in such a small time frame?

We are actually nearing 100,000 JoyJars in all 50 states and 28 countries.  We just received a request from Lima, Peru.  Social media has been the best channel of communication for us.  Jessie simply just started at Children’s Hospital of Orange County and it grew week by week. We now partner with over 275 children’s hospitals and 175 Ronald McDonald Houses.

1.      Do you have advice for other Christians who may be questioning God’s plan? 

I don’t know if I would call it “advice” but I would let them know they are not alone in their feelings. I questioned God many times and still do.  I don’t question His love for me or Jessie.  I questioned His choice in using Heaven as a healing agent.   But now that time has past, I see His plan.  Jessie was an Angel sent to Earth with a message (Never Ever Give Up) and a mission (childhood cancer).  How else can you explain how one twelve year old girl, fighting cancer, choose to give to other kids and started a global movement of compassion that has raised millions of dollars to “care” for children/families fighting cancer around the world.  My only answer is, God had a plan!

In addition, I would encourage them to realize God’s plans don’t always match up to our own plans but He is still a loving and caring God.  Faith in God is all about “believing” in our hearts and heads that God loves us no matter what and when we fully depend on Him, He will show us the way. 

Tell us more about the Jessie Rees Foundation. September is National Childhood Cancer Awareness month. How can we help? 

The Jessie Rees Foundation is a global childhood cancer charity dedicated to ensuring every child fighting cancer has the support and resources to Never Ever Give Up.  We fulfill our mission by 1) encouraging courageous kids to NEGU, 2) assisting courageous families to NEGU, 3) rallying communities to NEGU for courageous kids, 4) mobilize athletes to NEGU for courageous kids and 5) inspire the world to NEGU for courageous kids.

Each year in the US, the month of September is dedicated to “childhood cancer awareness”.   If you have a social media platform, please join our Going Gold campaign and help raise awareness of this devastating disease. 

Quitting Coffee?

Just wanted all of my readers to know about some products that are healthier than non-organic, chemical laden coffee. I am trying to quit the caffeine habit and have tried substituting other, lesser spiked, drinks.

Tazo has a great organic chai that has half the amount of caffeine in a cup than coffee. I have tried the chocolate and the vanilla and I love them both. The chocolate tastes a lot like mocha coffee (in my mind) and fools me into thinking that I'm getting a full blast of caffeine when I'm not, at least not that full blast as my normal cup of java.

I have also been drinking Teecino hazelnut tea. It tastes like coffee and is caffeine-free. This tea has barley in it, which is NOT gluten-free, but the tea IS gluten-free when brewed in its bag or other paper filter. If you are sensitive to gluten, make sure you use the paper filter or tea bag to ensure that you don't get the gluten. However, if you have Celiac's, you might want to skip it altogether and find another substitute, like pure roasted dandelion root, to be extra careful.

Natural and Non-GMO Products I Love

In case you haven't heard, October is Non-GMO month. It's time that we bring more awareness to the problems of GMOs in our food and personal care products. Let me give you a little history of our own family's touch with GMOs. My husband works in route sales with a major snack foods corporation. We have always supported that company by buying their brand of snacks and goodies - after all, they do supply my husband's paychecks. The problem with those snacks is that most of them are made using GMOs - like corn, soybean oil, cottonseed oil, beet sugar, and the list goes on. Top all of that off with GMOs in other food products, even some of our favorite gluten-free goodies, and you have a recipe for a health disaster.

Almost two years ago, my then 14 year old son came down with a very dangerous auto-immune disease called Henoch-Schonlein Purpura. This disease attacks the body by inflammation centering mostly in the upper intestines and kidneys. It also mainly attacks children under the age of 14, but people even in their 60's have been known to get it. It is also considered to be rare, but, like other auto-immune diseases, is on the rise.

Our son's kidney took a big hit. We spent the first year dealing with this disease at a large children's hospital because none of the smaller hospitals would deal with it because of its severity. The kidneys are still damaged. Almost two years later, they are still leaking blood daily. He sees a nephrologist every 3 months in a large city downstate, 3 1/2 hours from our home. He used to have to go monthly. This is a daily fight and we don't really know what is just down the road. Our son has had 5 CT scans and several MRIs in the last two years (the last one a month ago when he had to have an emergency appendectomy). What is all of that radiation going to do? We can only hope and pray that cancer, another auto-immune disease, does not later develop.  

We, along with our son's doctors, spent a lot of time trying to pinpoint the trigger that caused this disease to flare as it did. The concurrence is now the vast amount of chemicals and bio-engineering in our food supply. I have always gardened, but now I focus on more than simply growing some of our own food. I try to buy organic or food that the labels clearly state are Non-GMO verified. Whatever we can do to protect ourselves is worth the extra trouble or cost. If I told you the medical expenses we have accumulated over the past two years, you would be shocked. Spending more on organic food is not that expensive when compared to 17 hospital visits in less than a year's time. I kid you not.

So.....with that background, I'd like to tell you of a few products that I have found to be useful and wholesome.

  Bee Friendly Skin Care sent me a coupon to try their skin care cream. This cream is mainly bee's wax and extra-virgin olive oil. I have been using it on my psoriasis and have had good results. I also use it on my body and my face. Wonderful stuff.

Muir Glen Organic tomatoes might be something you already know about. Did you know that they are enrolled in the Non-GMO Project? Yes! We had a horrible year growing tomatoes, so when I find Muir Glen on sale, I gobble them up. Something that struck me the last time I opened a can: They do not use BPA, a dangerous chemical, in the linings of their cans. Double yes!

Meijer Naturals are Non-GMO. They are slightly higher than their regular Meijer brand items, but the extra cost is worth it!

Frito-Lay's Simply Blue Corn Tostitos are gluten-free, organic, and Non-GMO. I love them!

There are lots of other healthier options out there; you simply have to look for them. Buy organic when you can and avoid GMOs as much as you can. Use the Non-GMO Verified shopping site.
 

The Many Uses of Coconut Oil

If you have been following natural cures and healthy eating plans, you already know about the benefits of coconut oil. As an avid user of coconut and coconut oil, I thought I would post some interesting facts and uses.

• Make an all-natural insect repellant that utilizes coconut oil as its main ingredient.

• Oil pulling: essentially swishing coconut oil in your mouth for 20 minutes and then spitting it out.

• Making cold pressed soap.

• As a homemade lotion for the skin.

• To replace shortening in recipes

• Spread a little on toast - it's surprisingly good.

 There are many, many uses for coconut oil. I grease my baking pans with it. I tried to do the oil pulling (above) but I'm not sure it was working right for me. I couldn't get past the first 10 minutes of swishing the oil in my mouth without gagging and almost swallowing it. Perhaps you will have a better time of it. Instead of oil pulling to remove toxins, I will continue to drink fresh juice I make with my juicer. That has worked wonders for me.

Our Adventure with HSP

Our family has had an adventure for the past month. It's an adventure we wish never to take again. We had an adventure with Henoch-Schönlein Purpura (HSP).

About a month ago, our 14-year-old son, Ryan, started having severe stomach pain after taking a dose of Amoxicillin. He had battled chronic sore throats all winter and the hope was to clear things up with an antibiotic. 

The next day the pain was so intense that we had him in the emergency room. Prognosis? Stomach ache. *Send him home*

This went on for a week - take him to the E.R., be told he just has a belly ache, then, *Send him home* We took him to the pediatrician who put him through a battery of tests that included ultrasounds and an Upper G.I. They found blood and protein in the urine but still nothing much was said.

After the week was up, we had a new development. A ridiculous rash developed all over his body. The brunt of it was on his legs, though it was everywhere. We took him to another emergency department, this one at a larger hospital 1 1/2 miles away. The diagnosis this time?  HSP.

Since that diagnosis, Ryan has had three hospital stays, two of them in a very large children's hospital in our state. This hospital is reported to be one of the best in the country. I'm inclined to agree. In fact, as I write this, we are in his hospital room. Ryan is scheduled to go home in the morning. 

HSP is an autoimmune disease that typically shows up after an upper respiratory illness. More times than not, a rash resembling hives occurs along with horrible stomach pain. I'm talking pain so bad it is a 10 out 10. Along with the rash and stomach pain comes joint pain - true arthritis. It is not uncommon to have blood in the urine and the stool. Capillaries inflame and burst in the skin and the internal organs. Ryan's stomach pain was caused by inflammation in the upper bowel. A child is born with HSP antibodies. It stays dormant until something "triggers" it and makes it active in the body. Nobody knows for sure what triggers it, though there are more cases of it in the winter and early spring. It seems to follow illnesses in many children.

The real dangers with HSP are what it can do to the kidneys and the intestines. Ryan's kidneys were affected so the nephrologist on call last week did a biospsy to assess what damage might already be done. Since the symptoms of HSP and Lupus are pretty much the same, the biopsy was important in that through it she was able to rule out Lupus. While Ryan's kidneys don't appear to be damaged too badly, they could shut down later and go into complete kidney failure. Because of that danger, the nephrologist will be keeping an eye on him for the next couple of years. Our first appointment with her is in five weeks.

Ryan's case was not all that typical at first. It still isn't. He had the stomach pain for a week before the rash appeared. Every doctor we saw has said the same thing, "This is the worst case of HSP we have ever seen." That is a bit frightning. 

It has been a month since HSP first reared its ugly head. Ryan is not completely over the disease - it has to run its course and has not completed that course yet. The team of doctors here agree, however, that he should be over the hump and be on the way to recovery. There's no way to know for sure whether or not he'll have another flare (relapse). I'm praying not.

The treatment for HSP is limited. There is no cure.  The inflammation can be controlled with different medications. Sometimes anti-inflammatory drugs such as Naproxen or Ibuprofen work well. Ryan started out with Naproxen. It worked for a few days until he relapsed with worse stomach pain and rash. He also began bleeding internally so badly that he was ambulanced to the children's hospital 3 1/2 hours from home. The medication was severely harming his kidneys.

Steroids are another option to reduce inflammation. That is what he is taking now, along with muscle relaxers and Tylenol. The pain, as of tonight, is a 1 out of 10. That is so much better! 

As a mom who has had to watch her child suffer with terrible pain for the past month, I can tell you that this is one terrible disease. It typically affects children aged 15 and younger, but can also affect adults. Watching a child suffer and knowing you can virtually do nothing to alleviate that pain is awful. I cannot imagine how I could have handled it had one of my kids had this at a younger age.

One thing I do know is that once HSP is triggered, it lasts for a month or two then just simply goes away. Almost always it stays away for the rest of that child's life.

Prayer has made all of the difference in our lives. People from all over have told us that they have been praying for Ryan and for our family. We are leaning on the Lord for help to get us through all of this. My husband and I have had to miss a lot of work. Our income reflects that. We have had 9 ER visits in the last month along with 3 hospital stays of an average of 3 days at a time. Ryan has kept track of his "pokes" with needles: 39

My conclusion is this: GOD IS GOOD. He will see us through this.

Book Review - Invisible by Ginny L. Yttrup

Invisible is written by Ginny L. Yttrup and is published by B&H Publishing Group.

In this newest novel by Ms. Yttrup (author of Lost & Found and Words), four key characters sketch out their thoughts in what works to make gripping reading.

Ellyn is a chef, cafe owner and a "large" woman who is hiding from her past while hiding behind more weight than she wishes to carry. Her burden is heavier than she is. When a love interest pops into the picture, she literally wants to pop out.

The love interest is Dr. Miles Becker, a handsome widower who feels the Lord telling him that it's okay to finally move on after losing his wife to cancer. His faith in God is unwavering, yet he questions His plans for his life.

Twila is a cute 26-year-old anorexic girl who has to face the cause of her disorder. In doing so, can she triumph over the pain and learn to live again?

Sabina is a beautiful woman with a PhD. One would think that with all of her exotic looks and success in business that she would have it altogether. Still, she is hiding from her past and tries to become invisible to her husband and to the world in order to heal. Little does she know that the healing she is seeking comes only from God.

These characters find their lives intertwining in ways that can only be described as miraculous as they find healing and worth that they never knew could be.

This is one novel that I couldn't seem to put down from page one. The text is written in the present tense, keeping everything moving at a fast pace but making it almost seem personal. I found myself caught up in the individual "stories", but more so in Ellyn's. I don't know if I resonate more with her or not or maybe I just like the tension between her and Miles. No matter the reason, I had tears in my eyes as I read the Ellyn's final entries at the back of the book.

This is one inspiring book that I think you will enjoy.

*I received a copy of Invisible in exchange for my honest opinon. Opinion expressed is my own.*

Living Healthy - God's Way

This month I re-read a book I'd originally read in the 1990's. That book inspired me to eat and live a healthier lifestyle. The inspiring Stormie Omartian wrote it:

The with which I am struggling is that of PEACE. Yeah. That's step one. Without perfect peace, you can't expect to do everything else and be healthy - completely healthy. I love God and strive to please Him in all I do. However, I have a hard time trusting Him completely when the going gets tough. I want to give Him everything, but then I want to grab the wheel when I don't think God is moving fast enough.

How about you? Are you doing something special to become healthier? I'd love to hear about it.

Food Should Taste Good - Good News for Conscientious Snackers

I had the pleasure of trying a couple of great tasting varieties of tortilla chips this weekend. I am a health conscious gluten-free eater who has a difficult time finding room for chips!

Food Should Taste Good snacks are made without GMOs. Good news! They are certified gluten-free which is a must for those of us with celiac's and gluten sensitivities or allergies. A good deal of them are also completely vegan. YES! Please note that there are some flavors that include some animal products - cheddar, white cheddar and chocolate. If you are eating a totally vegan diet, you will want to check the packages carefully.


Food Should Taste Good products are made without artificial ingredients, including that horrible chemical MSG. They are also without trans fat, preservatives, and cholesterol. They do have fiber and real food ingredients. I wasn't thrilled to see some sugar on the bags, but at least it is in the form of evaporated cane juice. I can handle a little of that now and then because it is natural, not refined sugar.

I tried two varieties: Sweet Potato and Multigrain. I love them both. the sweet potato flavor tastes very good and does not leave a salty or greasy taste in my mouth. The multigrain flavor is bursting with seeds and great taste.

 

You might wondering how the cost of these snacks compare with the more mainstream brands. They are a little higher, as you might expect for better quality snacks. They are less than most of the certified gluten-free products on your grocer's shelf, however. I found them at $2.99 at my local Meijer store.

You can find more information their website. 

*I received free product in exchange for my honest review. Opinions expressed are my own.*

Thirty Days of Thankfulness - Day 19

I am extremely thankful that I was able to get my health turned around in the last couple of years. I found out what foods to which I am allergic - gluten and garbanzo beans. I eliminated gluten from my diet about three years ago. Last year I had to eliminate garbanzo beans as well. In July of last year, I began dieting by eliminating sugar - then eliminating most animal products. Doing those last two things resulted in me losing 40 lbs and feeling better (and younger) than I have in many years. Exercise is important. I added walking as much as I can.

I also added something that has helped me tremendously. I had acid reflux so bad that I would grab my stomach and double over in pain, unable to move or barely breathe for a good five minutes when an "attack" happened. I went to the doctor and ran tests. It was determined that I had a problem at the top of stomach that is quite common in smokers - in spite of the fact that I have NEVER smoked even once in my life. This "problem" keeps stomach acid at the top of the stomach, leaking into the esophagus.

The doctor then put me on acid reflux medication (omeprazole, over the counter). It worked, but it was expensive. Then, I found out that these medications cause osteoporosis! Well, I don't need that! Through tons of research, I came to the conclusion that I needed to use foods and supplements to create a less acidic body. I now take barley grass (organic) tablets every morning. Sometimes I take several throughout the day, depending on what I'm eating. I eat a mostly vegan/raw foods diet. Those two changes have eliminated my stomach pains and acid reflux. The only times I get a bit of reflux is when I eat something I know that I shouldn't.

Praising God for my renewed health!

Thirty Days of Thankfulness - Day 18

My family is finally recovering from a really nasty throat infection - similar to strep but not strep. Ryan and Amanda (above) had to stay home from our church's Ingathering dinner today, but they are getting well. Yay!

Menu Plan Monday - October 29

Take a moment to think - really think - about the food that you stuff into your mouth every meal, every day. Do you realize that it might not really be "food"? That's a question that I've been asking myself since I first began to realize that my health was suffering from the way I had been eating for so many years.

First off, I found out that eating gluten was literally killing me. My gall bladder was the first to go bad but leaving me suffering for seven years before the doctors I visited (and paid heavily) noticed that it was stretched three times the normal size because of the enormous amount of gall stones held within. Prior to that revelation, they accused me of having "nerve problems" and needing a tranquilizer. Now, mind you, I had never really eaten a high fat diet, just one that included lots and lots of gluten. If you research the connection between gall bladder disease and gluten sensitivities (including Celiac's Disease), you might be quite surprised at what you find.

Later, this naturally skinny person started gaining pounds and pounds, struggling with my weight but not getting anywhere with all of the diet programs I tried. Finally, I threw my hands up in the air and proclaimed that I would be healthy by eating "God's way." In normal lay terms, that means food as natural as I could get it. I did that and literally shed pounds overnight. I am now a trim 104 pounds (don't panic - I'm only 5 feet tall!) and feel healthier than I've felt since I was 18.

Now, to get back to food really being food, I have to say that finding out what foods were making me sick (gluten and garbanzo beans) and eliminating them from my diet was huge. Then, taking the vast array of stuff that was left, I began eating whole foods - foods that are the way they are found in nature as much and as often as possible. I had to turn my nose almost any canned or boxed good. No more processed foods for me! Fresh veggies (frozen or home canned in the winter), fresh fruits (again, frozen and home canned are other good options), nuts, seeds and seed sprouts, and sometimes gluten-free breads are my staples. I buy foods organic when I can and soak them in salt water for a time before eating when I can't (always rinsing well after the soaking). Yes, I splurge on coffee and stuff like that now and again.

Processed foods aren't really food. Even home processed items like heavily sweetened desserts and homemade meals made with lots of canned soups, etc. are questionable. Genetically modified junk is definitely not really food.

Before sharing my meal plan, I want to share with you an organic, gluten-free corn pasta I tried today. It is free of GMOs and is low on the glycemic index. It is SamMills Pasta d'oro, 100% corn pasta. I used rigatoni and wow, is it good with some chunky pasta sauce over the top. It reminded me of the rigatoni my mom used to make, only this one doesn't have wheat flour in it to make me sick. The price at Wal-mart was very good too, if I remember correctly.

Now, for the menu plan:

Monday

Velvety Carrot Soup

Beef Goulash

Side Salads

Tuesday

Honey Mustard Brussels Sprouts

BBQ Pork Riblets

Fried Potatoes

Wednesday

Macaroni & Cheese with Sausage

Cheesy Califlower

Thursday

Oven-fried Chicken

Mashed Potatoes

Green Beans

Garden Salads

Friday

Pizza & Pop

Saturday

Fettucini

Garlic Bread

Side Salads

Sunday

On Your Own