Ocean Grown Health and Wealth

Protecting Our Breast Health... Naturally

We must keep our breasts healthy, naturally. I know how important it is so here are some facts and some personal insights.
There are a number of natural ways to get the maximum benefits of staying cancer free and minimizing menopause symptoms and controlling osteoporosis for years to come.
Some important nutrients to include in your diet to support and maintain healthy breast tissue at the cellular level are
Phytoestrogens- These function as selective estrogen receptor modifiers that block certain estrogen receptor sites on cells, and prevents bad estrogen,(cancer causing) from taking over.
The Japanese use fermented phytoestrogen(soy products) in their native country. These would include:
1. Natto-from fermented soybeans. Natto has a strong smell, has a distinct strong nutty taste. Can be eaten with rice, added to salad or put naturally fermented soy sauce in it. (On a side note, kiko-man soy sauce is naturally fermented and you can buy it at your local grocery store.)

2. Tempeh-This is fermented soybean that is processed into a cake like form. Notice this picture? It's a pizza made with tempeh, so don't tell me you wouldn't like it, or at least try it. You can even make barbecue flavor tempeh. It can also be eaten like the traditional Japanese do, as well with rice. Many smart vegetarians use this as a protein accompaniment.

There are a large variety of fermented soy products, but I have never tried them, so I am only giving you the ones I know about first hand.

Tofu is NOT a food that I would recommend to eat in abundance, unless it has been fermented. It has substances in it from the soy bean that can be harmful if eaten in large amounts and also it contains a substance that blocks the absorption of certain nutrients. If you do eat it, please limit to a couple of times a month and eat protein with it, like fish or poultry as this seems to break down the nutrient blockers in the tofu and allows better absorption of nutrients.
In addition soy is in so many foods, that you could easily ingest too much and genetically modified food, of which soy is one of the most genetically modified foods, makes me nervous, so I tend to be careful not to eat it.

Plant Lignans are found in many types of whole foods. These would include unrefined grain products like flaxseed and sesame seeds. You can also find this substance in fruits and veggies. Lignans actually replenish healthy estrogen or balance estrogen, whatever your body requires. Ain't nature grand? I love it!

Image via Wikipedia Cruciferous vegetables- contain substances the actually remove the harmful estrogens in your body. By eating a variety of broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, brussel sprouts, radishes, turnip greens, kale, collard greens, you can reap the benefits of natural foods to control your breast health.
(If you have concerns about thyroid or iodine absorption, then steam these veggies lightly to allow for optimal benefits. Research suggests that raw cruciferous foods inhibit iodine and thus reduce optimal thyroid function. I rotate my cruciferous preparation, by eating raw and steamed.
I also eat Kimchi, which is a naturally fermented food. Here is a great recipe that I use. It is delicious. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. I don't use any meat, just veggies. I use the basic recipe and then add different vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, shiitake mushrooms, etc. Even fruit like apples or mandarin oranges are yummy in this.

D-Glucarate-helps to detoxify and remove carcinogens, cancerous cells, and eliminates bad estrogens and androgens. It also helps to rid the body of environmental concerns like pesticides and cigarette smoke exposure. It is found in fruits, especially apples, grapefruits, cherries, apricots. Broccoli, brussel sprouts and alfalfa sprouts have D-Glucarate in good amounts.
Vitamin D3,(cholecalciferol)is the last topic I would like to share with you today. Taking 1,000 IU daily is a great benefit. The RDA of vitamin D is 200 IU mg and it is not enough, in my opinion. You will see others who value ultimate health agreeing with a higher amount of Vitamin D3. This nutrient protects and enhances your immune system,(there is more to the story), which helps to fight off cancer. It can be found in cod liver oil,(I take 1 TBSP), pretty much every day, which is equivalent to about 1,300 IU of vitamin D3. You can find it in salmon,(wild caught), tuna in oil,(wild caught and be careful of sources because of contamination), which is why I use a really good cod liver oil, Carlson's, if you are interested.
You can find it in eggs and cheese, although not very much.
The sun has the best natural source. You should have 10-15 minutes of sun most days. Darker skinned people need more because it is harder to absorb than fairer skinned people. Just don't burn. Your body will convert the sun's power into the vitamin D3 and use it as it sees fit. Vitamin D3 is perfect for bone health, as well so it is great for preventing osteoporosis.

I hope you learned something. Now, I am going to the store to get some ingredients for Kimchi!!
This article made me hungry, naturally!

No Wonder You Can't Lose Weight Easily Anymore

The 1000 Calorie Diet Tip

If you eat at restaurants, it's easy to eat over 1500 or 2000
calories per meal. Yikes! That's a full day's worth of calories in
one dinner...

Pre-dinner bread & butter -> 200 calories
Pre-dinner cocktail -> 150 calories

Appetizer -> This could be a 500-1500 calorie bomb on it's own!

Steak -> 300-500 calories
Potato -> 150-300 calories
Vegetable -> 100 calories
Dinner Drink -> 150 calories

Dessert - 300-750 calories
After Dinner Drink - 150

And that's only if you CONTROL yourself. If you go on a rampage,
you could be looking at 2500 or even 3000 calories in one sitting.
Those numbers are scary.

Fortunately, there are ways to avoid this dietary nightmare while
dining out. Here are 5 rules to cut 1000 calories from your
dining-out diet...

1) Plan ahead and avoid restaurants that offer huge portions.

2) Skip the bread. It won't stop you from eating your full meal
anyways, so just send it back.

3) No booze or liquid calories of any type.

4) No potates. Stick to your protein and your vegetables.

5) Reward yourself with only the tiniest bit of dessert, if at all.

It's all about taking responsibility for your choices. And yes,
choosing between the "Pain of discoipline or pain of regret". What's
your choice?

For more diet and exercise tips, visit here

What Kind Of Protein Do Health Gurus Eat?

Vegan or Not, this is a great naturally fermented, raw food supplement for gaining health! Used by Kevin Gianni and Mike Adams and it's brand new on the internet.

Trythis protein powder for health and a great alternative if you you are trying to eat better or cutting down animal protein based foods for helping the environment or staying away from non-grass fed animals.

It's also totally raw and fermented naturally. What that means is it's not heat or chemically treated so it is potent and contains essential amino acids that our bodies asolutely must have in order to survive.

Protein helps us to remain disease free, helps us recover from workouts, and keeps our metabolism and insulin levels running at optimum levels.

Simply put, it is a great food source, has a great taste and texture and if the health gurus, (and me who is an up and coming guru):>D, recommends it and uses it, then guess what? It's a great supplement so try it and see if you don't agree.

Hey, you might turn into a health guru yourself! Go check it out here to learn more.
You can also click on the ad below. Enjoy! Here's to your health.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Anti Aging Amino Acids for a Healthier Life
• How Raw Food Diet Can Benefit Our Skin
• The Difference Between Vegetarian and Vegan

Burn the Fat Baby

Burn the fat. Isn't that what it's all about? Well then, let's get the fat rolling, or should I say get the ball rolling!

Anyway, what I wanted to let you know is, there is a fat burning, appetite suppressing, energy boosting supplement, called Oceanbreakers . Click the Oceanbreakers link at anytime to learn more. I also have it on my sidebar for easy access, if you don't want to read the whole article. There's a really cool video of the company on the link, as well. So, please check it out. Of course, I think it would be worth your while to hear my viewpoint.

So, let me begin by saying, yes, you still need to change your eating habits and exercise. Yes, this is just a helper to you until you get your blood sugars balanced. This is not for starving yourself or to take the place of exercise and living a healthy lifestyle.

You need to eat 4-6 times a day. You need to build muscle. This can be very overwhelming. OceanBreakers can help you, while you get used to the changes, so you feel like you can succeed. Does that make sense?

We really do need help sometimes. It's OK to ask for it. If you need to learn control, not feel like you are depriving yourself, then please try OceanBreakers from Ocean Grown International.

The company is phenomenal and practices 'green' in their business and everyday lives. I know one of the founders of the company. He is very hands on, loves what he does and has been very successful in developing a company that relies exclusively on the oceans of the world to provide top notch nutrition and health for us.

The ingredients are awesome. Each dose has a blend of
Fucoxanthin,(brown seaweed) for burning belly fat,(white fat adipose tissue). White adipose tissue is the fat that is stored easiest and is the most dangerous for our health. Pronounced fuco-zan-thin, it creates thermogenesis,(heat)that specifically targets white adipose tissue to burn faster, without stimulating the central nervous system.

Coral Calcium Calcium is thought to balance your metabolism and assist the fat burning process. Without enough calcium your body goes into starvation mode and holds on to the fat reserves. Oh, no, we don't want that. This special calcium is mined in carefully preserved Japanese coral reefs that are strictly controlled.

Fiber It really makes you feel fuller longer, stabilizes blood sugar or insulin levels, which slows down fat deposits in those fat deposit areas. We all know where those are!

HOODIA Gordonii This herb makes you feel like you are full. It suppresses your appetite. That's a good thing, right?

That's just the fat burning ingredients.

It also has energy assistance added to the mix, just so your blood sugars won't make you feel so fatigued. it's just a helper, remember. I don't want you to rely on anything, but diet and exercise to get you on the right road to health.
The ingredients for energy maintenance are:
Ginseng, Green Tea Polyphenols, B Vitamins and Yerba Mate. I know Yerba Mate also help with appeitite control, as well as energy. I drink a cup often times before I work out. Especially on days when I would rather be home reading a good book.


All of these ingredients are in one supplement. That's amazing. They aren't in huge quantitites so your body can absorb it for the maximum benefit. Sometimes I see advertisements for products where they put in such high doses of ingredients you can't possibly absorb it all and you know where it ends up! I know, too much information.

I really wanted to let you know about this supplement. I truly believe in it and don't hesitate to recommend it to my coaching clients. Sometimes you do need a little help. Quite honestly, if you aren't eating right and moving your bod, you aren't going to get there. Simply put, you are what you eat.

It's OK, though to get some help. Nobody is perfect, that's for darn sure. That's why there are Health Coaches. People need people. They need the motivation, accountability, feedback, to get a new and different perspective. You with me?

If you need help to control your appetite and your mouth/hand coordination, then this is a great way to satisfy your cravings until you can get them under control. Don't torture yourself by salivating all over! Just kidding. But you know what I mean.

You know the late night thoughts that seem to pop up. You are sitting there at the end of the day, relaxing, watching the TV, when uncontrollable cravings start taking over your brain waves. You know you shouldn't eat, because you just got through with dinner an hour ago. What's going on? Well, as you lose weight, your blood sugar can influence the way you even think, quite honestly. It's a physical urge, as well.

There are also those of you, and I am one, so I really understand this, that have emotional ties to food. This supplement is so perfect for that. For me, when I didn't have my emotions under control I would have paid a king's ransom for this supplement to get me through those times when a bag of chips or a quart of ice cream seemed to be the only thing to soothe me.

With the ingredients in this 'cocktail', anyone who just eats out of boredom or loneliness, can benefit. You will NOT feel the need for food quite honestly.
Oceanbreakers, taken between meals, twice daily, will get you through that struggle, that guilt, the never ending feeling of failure.

You know exactly where I am coming from. You are going along, fine all day, and then, boom! It hits you, those urges, for whatever reason, and off you go. It's like you don't have any control. Eat now, think later mode. Does it sound familiar?

Oceanbreakers is like having your cake and eating it too. It is your stepping stone. It's a way to get you to the point of having control, and finally developing healthy eating habits. Finally understanding that you can really know what it's like to really feel good about yourself.

I know when I lost all my weight, I felt like I could conquer the world. My personality finally bloomed. I enjoyed meeting people, being around life. I wanted to pursue my dreams, passions, of helping other people climb on the health train.
Frankly, my weight held me back. I knew how people thought. They looked at the outside. They were judging me, not accepting.

Those of you that are going through this, know what I mean. It's the worst, depressing, heartbreaking feeling. No, you shouldn't accept it, and you can do something about it. I am offering you support that I believe in and know it is safe, effective and works.

Please, I just ask you to consider the consequences of not trying to break out of that fat prison. Just think about getting some help. OceanBreakers can be a great help mate, if you need that extra support.

That's all, just some help for a while.

Related articles by Zemanta

• green tea for weight loss

Wake Up! You Need Sleep To Lose Weight

I love to sleep! It's one of my most favorite things to do, so I honestly don't mind talking on the subject. I'm an expert at it, really. I do it every night, for several hours at a time. I can't wait to spend hours buried in pillows and blankets. I take it seriously and I really go deep. In fact, I don't really have to think about it. That's the beauty of it, it comes naturally. There are no responsibilities. The only place you have to be is between the sheets.
Sleep is the easiest part of losing weight. No exercise required. The only movement are your eyelids closing and your in and out breathing. That feeling of drifting off, letting your body take you to never land and really knowing it's alright to go into that peaceful place.
So many people don't think sleep is important and don't give it the attention it deserves. I say, practice makes perfect!
I just wanted to let you in on some interesting aspects of the state of sleep, so you might reconsider how you rank sleep with your lifestyle. You might want to slow down and examine those bedsheets a little closer. Here are some under cover, lights out activities that take place, that might give you a reason to want 'snore' sleep.
Just think about it for a moment. All mammals have to sleep. Sooner or later unseen physiological forces coax us into lullaby land. Some creatures require as much as twenty hours a day, like felines. Even newborn human babies sleep 18-20 hours a day. With the epidemic of obesity, insomnia and sleep problems nowadays, a definite link between the two is undeniable.
I must admit I lost some sleep because it was so fascinating to me. Let me show you what I found.

Cortisol
By not getting enough shut eye, the hormone cortisol, which is produced in an area inside the adrenal cortex, increases, which stimulates your appetite and I don't even have to tell you what stuffing down lots of carbs does to your waist line. Now, you may start to understand why you crave carbohydrates. As well, cortisol influences glucose levels which then increases insulin, that leads to greater body fat storage. If that wasn't enough to make you stop and sleep, it lowers your leptin levels, which controls your appetite, or I should say it increases your appetite and you crave carbs again. All of this activity takes place unknown to the average human being, who thinks that by staying awake they get more accomplished and enjoy life to the max! You are certainly maxing out on life, taking more from your body that will lead to diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, thyroid disfunction, and the list goes on!

Image Growth Hormone
This important sleep induced hormone regulates fat and muscle cells. The highest growth hormone values occur during your sleep between ten o'clock at night until two o'clock am. It actually allows more muscle growth and repair when you are sleeping.

Circadian Rhythms
We have a circadian rhythm that is perfectly in tune with night and day. Each cell is affected and communicates to all the other cells, to be awake and functioning in the day time and to sleep at night. This 'cell talk' changes at night. It lowers our body temperature so we sleep better, as well as works on damage control from what we have thrown at it throughout the day.
Ever used the expression, I can't think clearly today or my mind is fuzzy? Was it because you had a bad night's sleep?
Sleep is a natural state of bodily rest and we all need a certain amount.
If someone thinks they can go on 5 or 6 hours of sleep, needs to reevaluate. Your sleep cycle has several phases , which requires a certain amount of time asleep in order to complete the cycle. Each cycle has to have a certain time to go through each phase and they repeat several times during the night. You body requires 7-9 hours to do what it is supposed to do. Let it! If you burn the candle at both ends, it will burn down and then out!

Metabolism
If we don't get enough asleep time our metabolisms heads south. There was a study done by Bonnet and Arend in 2003 about how our bodies burn fats and calories. The study group that slept 7-8 hours had a much higher metabolism than the group who slept less or didn't have normal sleep patterns.
I read that elephants only sleep about 4 hours a night. Now, what does that tell you about how much sleep you need for weight loss? I would be getting more than 4 hours of sleep, that's for sure!

Caffeine and Chocolate
I would never suggest anyone give up chocolate or caffeine. I don't want a boycott on my blog! I'll just say that specific chemicals in caffeine and chocolate interferes with or binds to the same receptors that adenosine, a neurotransmitter which helps us feel fatigued and sleepy. Some people are more sensitive than others, so you need to judge for yourself. That's all I'm saying on that subject.

Melatonin
Melatonin is specifically manufactured by your body for sleep. It is made when trytophan is converted to serotonin and produces melatonin. If the cortisol
levels are too high, then guess what? The tryptophan, serotonin,and melatonin connections won't happen. Melatonin is so important that it has an effect on leptin, which is an appetite controlling hormone related to fat. Together insulin and melatonin regulate leptin at night while you are sleeping to control your appetite. Otherwise, you would be up in the middle of the night breaking your fast, (that's where the word breakfast comes from), raiding the fridge.

Lights Out For Better Sleep
When I go to bed at night, before I lay me down to sleep, I create my dark dungeon for deep sleep. I use a dark colored sheet for my window. I notice drapes, even with blinds, aren't enough to keep out all the light so my body is in total darkness. I do this because it helps keep the melatonin at levels for a good night's sleep. Even if a body part is exposed to light, it will slow down or stop melatonin production. So, seal up any light from a hallway or night light or clock. Just drape with a cloth. You need total darkness for this to work. My husband calls our bedroom 'the cave'.
Now, I have seen 'experts' on sleep say to do something relaxing, like watching tv. or reading in bed. Humm... not so sure about that. You would be awake, right? The lights would be on. Not such a good idea if you want to sleep. However, a white noise, like a fan or a CD of ocean waves, etc., would be perfect, especially if you live near a busy street or are easily disturbed by bumps in the night. If you get up and go for a walk, then you are stopping melatonin production and your sleep cycle is stopped. If you really can't sleep and it's that bad, then get up. You aren't sleeping anyway, right? It happens to the most seasoned sleeper. Just read on about help for that.

De-stressing Before Lights Out
One cup of baking soda and one cup of epsom salts, with a few drops of lavender oil in a hot bath, soak for twenty minutes. Reading before going to the bedroom would be fine. Try not to read work related material, so you don't lay in bed and think about it. If you can't sleep and you just are tossing and turning, then think about what it is that is keeping you awake. Talk it through. I pray and ask for God to knock me out, literally, and He does it. Whatever it is, I know thinking about it and not sleeping is a horrible feeling. We all do it.
If insomnia seems more like a part of your sleep cycle,(by the way, there was nothing in the sleep cycles about insomnia being part of sleep phases), then just an occasional intruder, then you might want to talk to someone about it. I mean that. It doesn't have to be a psychologist. Just have someone who will listen and not judge you. I tell my clients the same things I am telling you. Sometimes they don't have anyone who will listen, and that's where I come in. It helps to unload and share. I always explore sleep as part of my coaching arsenal. If you do meditation, that would be great. I think just some simple deep breathing if you aren't into yoga type meditation, is perfect. You just breathe in 3,4 or 5 breathes, and slowly exhale twice as many counts, 6, 8 or 10. This gets the parasympathetic nervous system involved, so you really get the tension out of your body and mind. Do this for about 4 or 5 minutes. Put your hand on your abdomen, and focus on how the breaths come out. Make sure your stomach is involved, not just shallow breaths. I often do this while I am in the hot bath with my baking soda, epsom salt, lavender oil soak. It feels so very, very nice. I feel like melted butter. Just pour me into the bed.

Snacks
I would say a carb, small serving, like a graham cracker or 1/2 peace of whole wheat toast, or something like that. It will raise your blood sugar quickly and then it will make you feel drowsy when the sugar drops. Eat it an hour or so before hitting the hay.
Maybe some yogurt or kefir, too. People say milk is good because it contains tryptophan which is a natural tranquilizer, but it doesn't have much, unless you use fermented dairy like yogurt or kefir. If you like to drink milk, then drink it. It would be better than an alcoholic beverage or pop. Also, the traditional chamomille tea has a chemical flavanoid called Apigenin that relaxes the body.

Exercise
Yes, exercise. Not right before bed, though. Exercise releases those feel good endorphins and helps with being tired at the end of the day. I know for myself, if I do something earlier in the day that is out of norm physically, like a new strength training set up or a different hiking route, something that makes my body move differently, I am more tired and ready for bed. Just think about that and try a different way to exercise.
Well... did I put you to sleep or did I wake you up to the facts that you absolutely need a good nights sleep in order to be successful at weight loss. Learn to love it and welcome it. Instead of gaining weight, you will lose weight with your eyes closed, literally! Sweet dreams and sleep tight.
Please feel free to let me know about your sleep tips and 'tragedies'. I am going to start offering a great nutritional supplement to help with sleep. It helps with the melatonin production pathways, so keep watching.

Related articles

• Lack of Sleep Means Pain, Weight Gain [via Zemanta]
• Sweet Dreams: The Secrets of Sleep [via Zemanta]
• Less than 6 hours sleep 'increases heart risk' [via Zemanta]

How to Start Being Healthy

Core Health Coach
Monday, March 3, 2008


Do you look around and wonder why we are so unhealthy? There are so many of us, two thirds of the population that are overweight or obese. Why? How? I have been thinking about this since my last post. Every time I closed my eyes at night or tried to imagine what I could share with you, this subject kept agitating me, haunting me, drawing me to it.

I wanted to approach it in a way that would really matter to you. Why would you want to hear, yet another theory or approach to weight loss or what's wrong with society? So, I am not going to dwell on the negative, but bring some positives into the conversation. I won't throw around a bunch of statistics, or health risks. I think we all are sick of percentages and the next way we can die of unhealthy lifestyles. Let's talk about ways to begin the process of taking back our seemingly insurmountable fight for health and wellness, which inevitably leads to weight loss.

Desire

What you need to remember as well, is your desire to begin. If you lack that willingness to make change, then don't proceed until you are, or else you will once again, be discouraged. It doesn't have to be an overwhelming feeling either. Maybe you just have questions or concerns and need someone to discuss what you are thinking or feeling. Putting things in perspective can quite frequently help you to get off the fence and begin to put your life plan into action. Take as much time as you need. This is for the rest of your life remember. No, you aren't going to be perfect, but you are going to move forward. Don't beat yourself up if you take a step backwards. You just keep moving ahead and remain optimistic. I would urge you to keep talking to someone who can listen. Don't keep it bottled up, or it will actually cause you to continue in your current circumstance.






How

Just a few examples are how we eat. Look at the grocery store aisles. They are lined with cheap prepackaged, processed, chemically laden products . Just grab some frozen meals or some packaged fake food, sealed and kept from rotting on the store shelves with food preservation methods that cannot possibly sustain life. It isn't life sustaining! Look at what we are becoming!

The fast food restaurants remind me of pornography. They invite, tease, excite, stimulate, and what do you get? Addicted! You need ever more and each time you get farther and farther from health and wellness. Fast food is filled with addicting chemicals, both in smell, taste, and sight, while cheapening the price because they don't value nutrition or health. At what price you ask? Us, you, as a healthy, vibrant, productive member of society. What then?

How do you get a hold on you? How do you get away from that addictive urge? Why can't you get motivated and stay motivated and really and truly gain health? The multi-billion dollar companies spend a lot of time and money trying to get you to stay addicted. That's it in a nutshell. Their intent is to make a profit at the expense of 'humans being'. Take a look at the cigarette industry. Need I say more? We are letting the food industry destroy and manipulate our bodies, minds and spirits. They are making our lives cheap, fast and easy. Do you want to understand how to be who and what we were intended to be? Let's begin then.

In order to make changes in your life, you need to know you already have the abilities. They are already within you. Yes, it's true. What you want is a way to understand your abilities and put those attributes into practice, to make changes. Some people can take giant leaps, once they understand, while others of us need to take small incremental steps. Either way is fine, as long as it's your choice and not some company trying to get you to eat their food or do their plan. That sets us all up for failure. Your life is not a diet or someone else's life plan. It's your life and your plan. Always remember that. Let me explain so you can really implement one thing into your life, and start to make your life what you want it to be.

Why

First, I would like to ask you what do you want? Really and truly, if you want to get healthy or even start, you need to ask yourself the question, why am I doing this? Take some time, because this is the root of how you will be making your choices for healthy living. The root is the why and the trunk is, what works for me? Have you accomplished something, like losing weight or finishing a project? Did you have a supportive spouse or did you journal or did you pray? Perhaps you went away on a retreat, or perhaps you need to do one of the above in order to be successful. Have you ever failed, and said if only... When you are truly committed to attaining something, and we are talking about health and wellness, incorporate part of your strategies with one or more if only... Just trying an approach you have not done before often makes a huge difference in your self esteem or success. You made the choice, you chose what works and you implemented it. Become addicted to the goodness in you and see what a difference it can make towards your wellness goals.

Plan

If you smoke and you really can't quit because you have tried, then don't! Instead, concentrate on some other life plan, like nutrition or exercise. When you are ready to stop smoking, you will then see that smoking does not fit your goal of health and wellness. When you see a positive change, more positive changes are on the horizon. It won't be fast and it certainly won't be easy, but as you progress and see the direction you have laid out for yourself, then smoking cessation will just follow naturally, as part of the process. You will have the ability to successfully stop because all the other roadblocks have been taken away and you will have set yourself up for success. When you begin to look at your positives, the bad will always be there, but it won't be the focus. It won't be able to keep you repressed or oppressed. You will begin to see your purpose and your abilities will sustain you up and get you over the hurdles.

Another idea is to ask people what your good points are and use them. Let's say your family and good friends think you are a great cook and you love it, yet you just don't seem to have the time to cook everyday, all day long. Well, if you really enjoy it, pick a day, like Saturday, once a month and cook up a storm. Use pure, fresh, natural foods and freeze them! Wow, we just beat the food companies at their own game. You made the plan and prepared your favorite foods, froze them and now you can eat your own nutritious, pure whole foods, that our bodies crave, harmonize with and were designed to eat. Make it a family day. Have your significant other or your kids make up menus and decide by drawing straws or rotate the menus. Have a couple night and tell each couple to bring a healthy ingredient(s) for pre arranged meals, and make up large portions and split them for each household.

If you don't want to be that grand, make a large crock pot of soup. When I make soup and I am pushed for time, I will throw a free range frozen chicken, whole with some free range chicken broth, some extra bones I have saved and frozen from a previous chicken, whole carrots, or I break them in half, some whole celery, I cut an onion or two in half, some handfuls of organic spinach, organic frozen peas, parsley, sea salt, pepper, fresh garlic, thyme, or if I have something that I need to use up like swiss chard or whatever else I have or want to put in it. I cook it over night and I have several days of delicious, health building, immune boosting, cholesterol lowering, phytonutrient dense meals, made very cheap, quick, and easy. It takes less time than driving to the fast food drive-thru, wasting gas and not being controlled by anyone and sticking to my life plan of health, joy, happiness and giving back to the planet. On a side note, eating whole, unprocessed foods, is good for the environment, as well. Here is a life plan to begin your course of action for the right nutrition on your journey to health and wellness.

What

1. Eat whole, natural foods.
2. Eat grass fed beef, lamb, game, pastured chicken, free range eggs, all fed naturally, no antibiotics, hormones or grain fed.
3. Eat raw dairy, from grass fed cows, including butter, cheeses, etc.
4. I suggest using fermented foods like raw milk yogurt, kefir,( I have a local source), and fermented vegetables and fruits.
5. Healthy fats like extra virgin olive oil, virgin pure coconut oil, raw butter from grass fed cows.( I save my cream from my raw milk and make butter. It is NOT time intensive or difficult) Email me and I can tell you a really easy way to make it.
6. Eat fresh fruit and vegetables, organic if possible. I go to a large discount grocery store which carries a fair variety of organic fruits and veggies. I stay away from expensive items like red peppers or asparagus in the winter. Eat darker colored vegetables and fruits , 5 or more servings daily, lightly steamed, in soup, or raw like a salad or fermented, like kimchi,http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/233839 . Very easy to prepare. By the way, Corn is NOT a vegetable.
7. Use whole, organic grains sparingly. In our society grain seems to reign supreme. If you notice, a lot of people are diabetic and obese. Too many grains raise insulin levels and lead to disease.
8. I use and suggest stevia, agave nectar, raw honey sparingly, pure grade B maple syrup for sweeteners. DO NOT use any artificial sweeteners! They actually stimulate the appetite and do contribute to obesity and cancer.
9. Prepare soups with bones from beef, lamb, chicken, etc.
10. DO NOT use fluoridated water, especially with babies and children. See video


11. Use sea salt that has a color like pink or gray. It contains trace minerals. I use Celtic sea salt
12. Drink alcohol in moderation
13. Please stop smoking if you do.
14. I make my own salad dressing with extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar or raw vinegar, fresh lemon, garlic, sea salt, and a little Stevia or raw honey for sweetness.
15. Use stainless steel, cast iron or glass for cooking. Use a little non-stick spray instead of teflon.http://www.abc.net.au/health/thepulse/s1576391.htm
16. I would recommend and do use whole food, cold processed, fermented supplements. I would suggest Garden of Life products. You can find them on the web at www.gardenoflife.com or a local health food store.
17. Get plenty of sleep, more in the winter.
18. Exercise in moderation. Our bodies were designed to move. If you are just starting out, you need to go slow and only what you want to do. If you like to walk, then do so. If you like to play basketball, do that. Just move! Enjoy it.
19. Learn stress management. Most of the trips to a doctor are caused by stress. Slow down and enjoy life. Make relaxation and peace and quiet a priority. Go take a nice hot bath with baking soda and epsom salts, while inhaling some lavender essential oil and then go to bed.
20. Make your life your own. Don't get caught up in 'everybody else is doing it syndrome'. Decide to do one small positive change. I am going to discuss this further.
21. Laugh, Love and Forgive.
22. Eat ONE meal a week that you choose, any restaurant.
23. This is for you to fill in_______________________________________________________________.

All of these suggestion will allow your brain, gut and fat cells to harmonize with each other. Most people that are aware of true health and longevity have these same principles and philosophies. Weston A. Price Foundation make these basic suggestions. Dr. Mark Hyman, author of UltraMetabolism, understands the whole person and how that correlates with ultimate health. Just pick 1-3 items from the list above and begin at your own pace.

Traditional doctors are not trained in health and wellness or the steps to attain it. They can write a prescription for a pill or treat a symptom, but the whole person is not part of their education or practice. The patient doesn't usually have a lot of say, either. I don't think it works. It obviously isn't.

Final Thoughts

So, what else can we do? Share your thoughts and plan of action with someone you can trust, like a spouse, significant other or a Health Coach. It is just a suggestion because that is what Health Coaches are trained to do. You pick what works for you. By sharing, you immediately unload, begin to develop strategies, sort out all the obstacles and pick 1-3 objectives. By further developing a plan with time frames for implementation, such as exercising. You decide when you will start, how long you will work out and how many times a week. Discuss this with your trusted person.
Again, a Health Coach can facilitate the answers with you, in an unbiased, non-judgmental arena. I found a great website for finding your inner strengths. It is a quiz that guides you to your greatest character strengths. I would suggest going here, www.authentichappiness.com
To sum up this writing, a question to ask yourself is, what are my gifts, my assets, my positive attributes? Take more time focusing on the positives of your life, and you will begin a shift in the right direction. Use your inner strengths in your every day life, and inevitably you will begin to see the way to your health and wellness. Have gratitude everyday and forgive yourself and others. Set up a time frame for 1-3 changes and check back with your 'coach' to evaluate your progress at a pre arranged date. Nothing is fast, cheap and easy, if it's worthwhile. I think we are all worth it!

What Is Kefir

What is Kefir?

I love Kefir! I love drinking it, preparing it, and teaching others about the life giving value of kefir. To be able to get the information out in written word has been an answer to prayer. Kefir is such a health giving, easy to prepare drink. The general population, who struggle with health issues, would do well to get the information I am about to share and to begin drinking it everyday.

So, back to the question, just what is kefir? To begin with, kefir, pronounced KUH-feer is a fermented, probiotic, beverage filled with enzymes, complete proteins, amino acids, vitamins and minerals. A little history lesson tells us the first recorded people to consume kefir as a large part of their diet were from the Caucasus region over 1,400 years ago. This area is the dividing line between Asia and Europe, surrounded by Russia, Turkey, The Black Sea, The Caspian Sea, and Iran. The people that live here are known as Centenarians. Kefir continues to be a daily addition to their diet. I get goose bumps when I think about a living organism, so ancient, and I get to partake of it!

Kefir is usually made with milk. Other preparations with coconut milk, or fruit juice can be made, but the grains have to be adapted for this use.What if you can't drink dairy? I will talk about that in a bit.

Kefir is not the same as yogurt. Briefly, yogurt supports the good bacteria you already have in your gastrointestinal system. Kefir, on the other hand actually helps the gut to form a 'clean mucus' on your intestinal walls, which allows the good bacteria and yeasts that are unique to kefir to actually repopulate your intestines. In Addition, the mucus helps heal and plug up leaks in your intestinal wall, which can lead to leaky gut syndrome. With just a cup a day of this 'wonder food' you can rebuild your immune system. Are you beginning to see why I love Kefir?

Dr. Huffnagle, Ph.D., is affiliated with the University of Michigan Health Systems. He is one of the leaders in research on probiotics. Dr. Huffnagle recommends after taking prescribed antibiotics which means 'against life', to take probiotics' for life', to replace, replenish and repopulate the microflora in your gut back to where it should be. Kefir is filled with these friendly probiotics.

This true health food is loaded with an amino acid called tryptophan. It is well known for its relaxing effect on the nervous sytem. This tangy tasting beverage has high amounts of calcium and magnesium, which is great for the nervous system as well. Traditionally prepared kefir contains high amounts of phosphorus, which is the second highest mineral in the human body. This helps metabolize and synthesize carbohydrates, fats, and proteins for cellular reproduction and maintenance of energy. If this isn't enough its packed with Vit B12, B1, Vit K, and biotin that further assists folic acid and pantothenic acid . In addition, Vit B12 has such a large molecule we have a hard time assimilating it in our bodies. Due to the fermentation or 'predigestion' of kefir it is much more readily absorbed and available.

So, what if I am lactose intolerant? Not to worry. Again, the fermentation breaks down the lactose, which is what most people tend to have problems with, into lactate, which is easily digested.

Kefir is so nourishing and balanced it is a factor in building a healthy immune system. It has been used for patients with AIDS, CFS, herpes, and cancer. Regular used of this 'wonder food' can curb food cravings because it balances and provides the required nutrients that an undernourished body lacks. The naturally occurring bacteria and yeasts work symbiotically towards health when consumed regularly.

And now, I have saved the best for last. What actually makes the kefir? I won't keep you in suspense any longer. It comes from kefarin, or kefir grain. It looks like a tiny cauliflower with the naked eye, but is so much more. Usually round with very irregularly shaped projections and crevices, the grains can only come from other grains. Scientists still can not agree how the grains form. What is the 'magic bullet'? They suspect it is a microorganism called Lb. Kefirnofaciens, because it is unique to kefir.

An interesting note is, you cannot grow kefir grains from commercial kefir starters. It only supplies a limited number of microorganisms selected by the manufacturer. The kefir must be started with the starter culture or it dies if not fed. Kefir grains can actually produce new, healthy strains of bacteria. I think that is amazing!

If you want to know more about all the microorganisms found in kefir, go to Dom's Kefir site www.chariot.net. He is the guru of kefir. There, you will find facts, history, recipes, and healthy benefits from years of research. I can only touch on all the attributes of kefir in this article.

I have been asked about preparing kefir. I am not able to go into great detail, but I will give you a basic outline. You need some kefir grains, some milk, a glass jar and about 12-24 hours. That's about it. The proper grains to milk ratio are placed in a glass jar. Gently swirling the mixture from time to time allows the grains to incorporate into the milk. Don't seal the jar because the carbon dioxide that releases during fermentation won't have anywhere to escape. A cloth or a loose lid on your jar will be fine. Just enough to keep bugs, dirt, etc. out. When the brew is complete, you will see runny curds on the jar when swirled, almost like buttermilk. If it tastes good to you, it is done. Twelve hours should be minimum, so the fermentation can complete its cycle. If you are lactose intolerant, leaving the kefir out of refrigeration for another 24-48 hours, after straining the grains out, will help to lower lactose even further. I will be giving an exact recipe for kefir in a future blog.

There is no need to rinse the grains. The shape of each grain, the protrusions and crevices, contain yeasts and bacteria on the surface. If you disrupt it by 'rinsing', you will slow down the production of grains and the fermentation process. Freezing grains does call for rinsing, but I need to save that for another day.

Now, do you know what kefir is? If you do, I have completed my mission. To share, teach, enlighten, and make you curious or excited enough that you will begin enjoying and reaping the health benefits of this time tested, life extending food. Maybe, you will grow to love it, like the centenarians and myself!

Click Here to Email me!!I am a certified Biblical Health Coach, and welcome friends and comments!

Note: This article was written by Judy Ritsema, contributing editor Natural Balance magazine which will be available in the winter 2008 edition.

Watch the latest videos on YouTube.com