|
All articles and tips are written by me based on years of my own research.
Bi-weekly Health Articles
August, 10, 2009
Does it Really work?
When I was young I remember getting a cold and my Grama
would make this concoction made of rock candy, brandy, honey and lemon. I can't say for sure if it worked but I wanted more
than just a swallow of that stuff because it was So-o-o-o good. The feeling of that brandy going down tingled my
chest and the right combination of honey and lemon sent my tongue to a happy place.
There are remedies that are said to work. It actually causes
more harm than good (like getting a little kid like me drunk) or simply does nothing at all. Some of it works as
a placebo (mind over matter medicine).
CRANBERRY JUICE- is said to relieve bladder problems, kidney problems
MYTH-
many doctors recommend cranberry juice for urinary tract infections, bladder issues or kidney issues. The cranberry juice
we buy from the grocery store is full of sugar, mixed with other juices or have very little cranberry juice in it. The amount
of sugar may have an adverse effect on your body and not work at all.
THE
TRUTH- Cranberry juice, the real, unfiltered, non- concentrate juice that can be found at some specialty stores, has
a bitter and tart taste to it. No sugar added. Cranberries does have a chemical in it that breaks down bacteria allowing it
to pass through the bladder and out of the body. REAL CRANBERRY JUICE WORKS, NOT CRANBERRY COCKTAIL OR FROM CONCENTRATE.
SPORTS
DRINKS- replacement of electrolytes, and thirst
MYTH- it
is recommended by many in the sports field that gaterade will replace ectrolytes (potassium stores), quench thirst and
give us a little boost for more physical activity. In fact it is used more than water.
THE
TRUTH- When we do physical activity we use tap into the glycogen (energy stores) in our bodies. The more energy we
use, the more glycogen is required. Gatorade is the fake replacement because our bodies dont have make what gatorade has in
it. Lemon water works great. Lemon has Vitamin C, calcium, sodium and potassium (the same chemical make up of what was
lost in the body, not fake stuff) that will replace what was lost during physical activity. You have also lost water through
sweating which needs to be replace with water and not juice.
LAXITIVES- relieves constipation
MYTH- laxatives
provide a relief of constipation.
TRUTH-
Many people like the feeling of emptiness they get from using laxatives and some of those people become addicted to them causing
the parastalis (muscular contractions that cause bowel to move) to not work efficiently. Laxatives are stimulants that causes
water to build up in the colon, softening the bowels to make it exit the body. It, however, leaves much behind in the colon
providing a temporary relief. Best remedy... add more fruits and vegetable (fiber) to your diet drink plenty of water. For
severe constipation, senna, castor oil and flax seed oil still works. Use with caution.
July 20, 2009
Do- Do...The # 2
When I meet with clients, my favorite question to ask is, "How often do you do the # 2?" The response
I get is usually, "Wow!, everrrryyy two to three daaayyssss?" The next question I ask is, "What does it look like?"
"I dont really look at it."
My next question is, "Does the smell run you out the bathroom?"
"Yeah, it does!"
I gotta tell you looking at "it" and smelling "it" is the key to how healthy you are.
So here are your test questions for Basic Class 101 of
Do-Do...#2:
1. Do you go at least once a day, every day?
2. It it whole, thick and peanut butter color?
3. Does it look like water, rabbit pellets, fettuchine, gummy worms, mud, black rocks or blood stone?
4. Does it ease out with comfort and very little pushing?
5. When you're wiping is the tissue pretty much clean? meaning it made a "clean escape".
6. Can folks come in the bathroom and not know you did # 2?
You passed if you answered yes to all and no
to #3, You failed if you answered no to all and yes to # 3.
What does this mean:
#1- If you dont go everyday, you are constipated or your digestion is lazy, meaning that your food
is taking way to long to make it to your colon. Eat more vegetables and whole grains, Stop eating sugar and salt. If this
doesnt help in a few day go see a doctor!
#2 & # 3- If your poop resembles anything in # 3 you have NO fiber in your diet. Poop is stuck
to the walls of your colon and you are only getting rid of a little the rest is being reabsorbed into your body making you
feel tired, giving you gas, and making your stomach bulge out. You might have an occassional back ache, this problem also
leads to colon cancer-
#4- You are contipated, you should never have to push, your body does this on it own.
#5- "Making a clean escape" One nice big log!! Smooth, no effort, leaves little smuge on the butt!!
It makes you proud to have something that awesome come out of your butt.
#6- No smell because what just left is what was left over from what you just ate. When your poop
smells, it has been there sitting in your body for as long a month!!! Rotten garbage would be best to describe it.
The remedy for you to pass this test the next time is to add more fiber and to your diet and
drink plenty of water. Fiber is found in fruits, veggies, whole grains, and beans. Fiber works like a broom in your
colon (large intestine) sweeping out undigested food and toxins. Your diet should have at least 20-25 grams a day of
fiber.
Do-Do...the #2 is not a bad thing, its healthy, when you get the urge to spluge, Go!!, If you
cant bear to sit on a toilet you didn't clean at work, work it out, bring your own stuff to clean the toilet or train your
body to go when you get up in the morning and when you get home from work. All you do is sit on the toilet for a few minutes
each day until you body gets the message to "splurge". You will start going the same time each day.
July 6, 2009
THE YO- YO AFFECT
I was never good at playing with a yo-yo. Some people were so good at they do tricks like
"walk the dog" or "around the world" Playing with the yo- yo would be an hours on end activity and eventually after all that
use and all those tricks the string would POP.
The use of insulin in our bodies have the same affect. Insulin is a hormone that breaks down
sugar and starches we eat. When our bodies crave sugar and starches (blood sugar level goes up and down like a "yo-yo"),
the hormone insulin is back at work breaking down sugar and starches again, and again and again until the string
"POPS"...diabetes!!
Diabetes is when insulin can no longer break down sugar and starches.This causes
a series of other life threating issues in the body, like kidney failure, amputations, siezures, and coma all because our
"yo- yo string" POPPED or broke.
When we eat, do we pay attention to how much starch, sugar, processed food and alcohol
we ingest during festive times or times of stress, or bordom? Alcohol is very high in sugar and is made with starches such
as potatos or barley. We don't allow our bodies and the hormone, insulin, to get proper rest.
Most of what we have eaten on a regular basis; what has become our daily diet contains, breads,
pastas, potato, (fries, chips, fried food), boxed food, candy, cakes, pies, sodas, sweetened, drinks, juices and alcohol.
What we are actually doing is binge eating, causing so much stress and over-use on our "string" (insulin) that it just POPS...diabetes (suga- bedes as Brown would say).
Consuming these kinds of food often will make the body store all the excess as fat causing
us to be overweight. Now the heart, liver, kidneys, bones, muscles and other important organs are overused and over-worked.
Oh yeah, dont forget that we crave these kinds of foods more and more because the body is
looking for another kind of nutrient besides the starches and sugar; this happens because blood sugar levels (the yo-yo)
goes up and down, up and down, out of balance and malfunctioning. (READ THE OTHER ARTICLES ON SUGAR AND CARBS)
Diabetes can be prevented with a healthy diet, a diet full of rich colors (oranges, yellows,
greens, purple and reds); a balanced diet full of fruits, veggies, dairy, meats and healthy grains. The ironic fact about
our "binge" diet is that it lacks color, Everything is tan, or brown. Use your yo-yo with care...don't POP
the string!
June 21, 2009
Addicted to Sugar
My spirtual sisters and I often celebrate life with potluck get togethers. There is always a warning
or a compliment for that matter on how good the food is or is going to be (usually bragging on our own dishes). We refer to
our dishes as having crack in it. "Watch those greens, I added some crack in it this morning." The taste of
the food is so good we playfully feening for it like a crack patient, especially if it's the lemon pie, or strawberry
cake, or pecan and apple pie.
There is a lot of truth to our reference of "crack" in our cooking, much like sugar is as addicting
as heroine and crack cocaine. So are you a sugar addict? You are if:
- You have a candy bowl in your office, a stash in the car and in your bedside dresser.
- you hum, close your eyes, shake your head at the pure satisfaction of the taste of chocolate.
(much like an orgasm)
- you drink alcohol, alot
- you have coffee with your sugar
- you cant go a day without soda
- you cant tell the difference between PMS and a sugar withdrawl
- something sweet can happily take the place of a meal
- you sneak and eat goodies like someone is spying on you
- you eat your goodies in the car so you dont have to share when you get home.
- you eat your goodies on the way to the car
- you devour your goodies, lick your fingers and have trouble swallowing because you thought
someone was going to take it from you.
- need it to calm your nerves or make you happy
- you crashed in the middle of the day and it is the only thing on earth that will help you until
quittin time.
If you have answer yes to more than 3 you are addicted, here is why. Sugar is a simple carbohydrate (check
out carb article), it gives the body energy. The body uses this simple sugar (carb) faster for fuel or energy for the body.
Too much of simple sugar is stored as fat and no longer used for energy unless the body goes into a starvation crisis
or through extra calorie burning. Simple sugars are fructose- from fruit, Lactose- from milk, maltose from grains like barley
and glucose which is used in the body to distribute energy to the cells. Since it is burned in the body quickly, lowering
blood sugar levels then the body craves more of simple sugars for the energy boost. The blood sugar levels rises quickly and
falls even faster.
There are different names for sugars found in many foods that causes the addictions. High fructose
corn syrup, corn syrup, concentrates (sugar water), sugar and brown sugar. Most important to remember is that breads, pastas,
crackers, and most high processed foods or boxed foods are carbs too and when those kinds of carbs mix with saliva (spit)
it turns into sugar right there in your mouth.
Just like any addiction and bad habit, you make a decision to stop choosing and eating those foods. Start
reducing the amount you eat and get rid of all temptations. Learn what good carbs are. Substitute your sugar with fruits,
yams to name a few. It is ok to treat yourself to a wonderful treat now and then for a taste. Dont choose cheap goodies
like junk food and candy. Go for the really good quality desserts (things you would pay for over the counter) gourmet sweets
and just taste it, enjoy it and walk away. You can do it.
Week of May 18, 2009
part 2- To Salt or not to Salt?
Many of us have reduced salt diets because
of high blood pressure. The thought of not having "food with your salt" gives you the feeling that food just would not
taste the same again. You are right. We have become accustomed to adding salt before we taste our food.
Natural foods such a vegetables, grains
and even meats are made with thier own unique flavor. We have to discover what those natural flavors really taste like
without the salt.
There are options in breaking the habit
of having salt in your food. Using vegetables such as peppers, onions, garlic gives food a great flavor. Saute them
them add them to your dish or just cook them along with your dish. Herbs such as fresh basil, oragano, thyme, bay leaves enhances
the natural flavor to your food. Celery is one of the vegetables that have a natural salt content. Juice it and add it to
soup stock or just as an addition to a marinade.
I love Braggs Amino Acid (found in most
health food stores), it does give your food a great "salt/ seasoned" flavor without the effects of salt. Real sea salt is
much saltier than the traditional table salt that you only need a tiny bit, it goes a long way. Plus sea salt has a different
effect on the body than the traditional salt.
I challenge you to not use salt in any
of the food you prepare. You might see a difference in your weight (from water retention), the way your joints feel, limited
bloating, and your eyes may appear clearer from lowered blood pressure.
TO SALT OR NOT TO SALT (part I)
Remember back in the day when salt,
pepper and napkins decorated the dinner table? Remember how your grandmother use to tell you to stop putting all that salt
on your food, she put enough in it when she was cooking? And remember how you have sat at the table with someone and the question
you wanted to ask them was, “Would you like food with your salt?”
The unfortunate result of using
all of that table salt have left many with high blood pressure, retained water and arthritis to name a few. So how could something
that adds mouth watering flavor be so harmful? Table salt is denatured or processed to the point where it is stripped of nutrients.
To make table salt, it has to be chemically treated, high heat is used then they add anti-caking agents to prevent moisture
and sticking, then add iodine.
Our bodies naturally have a high
water content and it also has a sodium content. The sodium that is naturally made in our bodies maintains electrolytes, and
the rhythm of our hearts. We have almost the same content as the ocean, lots of water seasoned with sodium/salt that has just
the right amount of minerals that brings nourishment. Common table salt does not.
Sea Salt has been the hype and many
companies are now adding sea salt to their products. Sea Salt is taken from salt water or the ocean, dried in the sun. It
has a slightly grey color and does not pour freely or easily. Sea Salt is digested in the body because it comes from water
and imitates the salt and mineral content in our bodies. It actually has the total opposite effect on our bodies reducing
water retention, lowering cholesterol, plus many more great benefits.
DE-MYSTIFYING CARBS
“Don’t eat that bread”, “I’ll pass on the
pasta, I will have a salad instead.” “I read somewhere that carbs will pack on the pounds.” If you have
said or thought these thoughts or wasn’t sure how to add them to your diet
without packing on the pounds, wasn’t sure what foods were actually carbs, or became dizzy and foggy- minded in the
middle of the day because all you ate was a salad; then keep reading.
The biggest myth about carbs is that they will make you fat. The biggest
misunderstanding about carbs is that they are only found in breads and pastas. The most important fact about carbs they are
the main source of glucose for the blood that fuels the cells, red blood cells and the brain.
Carbohydrates are one of the 4 nutrients (water, protein and fat) that
supply the body with needed energy. Carbs are also known as brain food. I can’t imagine someone not feeding their brain
( hence, brain fog). Foods like fruits, vegetable, grains and beans are carbohydrates. What a lot of folks don’t know
is that milk and milk products are the only foods that contain carbs that comes from animals.
Two types of carbohydrates are simple and complex. Simple carbs are foods
like fruits (fructose), milk (lactose) and sugar (sucrose) they are burned quickly in the body giving you a “sugar”
boost. Sometimes when we over eat simple sugars they may cause a rise in blood sugar levels, when they drop we crave more.
Too much of this will cause the excess sugar to be stored as fat, and cause the body to go haywire leading to illnesses like
diabetes. Got it?
Complex carbs are found in veggies, beans, peas, and grains. These are
burned more slowly in the body; they are heavier containing insoluble fiber (not digested) and soluble fiber (digested). Fiber
is so important to the body sweeping the intestines of toxins and waste then it is expelled through the bowel. Complex carbs
may be more filling making you feel fuller for a longer period of time.
So, it is ok to eat carbohydrates. Choose foods that are in it natural
state such as fruits, veggies, bean, peas, grains (oats, wheat, rice, barley) and grain based breads and pasta (Ezekiel 4:9).
Eat in moderation, chew till creamed, enjoy your meal, and eat for the glory of God and not your appetite.
|
