How to De-clutter Your Mind

Ever feel like you're living with demons. Why is it that men and women behave the way they do? Being under constant stress can sometimes be debilitating - the strongest person can't fight it. The coping mechanisms employed have to be constantly changing, especially when you have someone who's running commentary of every move you are making to a third party, it gets even more difficult to cope.

Try having to live within a cluttered environment that you call your house. It is like every room is cluttered and when you try to clear one area more stuff appears. So you look to run outside in the warm weather to create a space that's clear to keep your own head cleared for at least the warmer months of the year. In the meantime, you will try to continue the de-cluttering exercise on the inside.

Then enters the third party talked about earlier. This person marvels at the fact that you would seek to improve your living conditions as if this is how it should remain. What do they have to benefit? They once said that they would get an inheritance but whose inheritance are they really expecting to get? Is it that of the unsuspecting fool that they are manipulating in the most subtle way possible?

These are questions that will be answered eventually when the real person shows up and all the secrets are revealed to the same unsuspecting fool who thinks that they are the one doing the manipulating. Remember, though that the Bible says that whatever is done in the darkness shall be revealed in the light so prayer has to be the constant answer too, along with all the other coping mechanisms.

Being manipulated by someone that is close to you is very hard to detect when the manipulator is cleaver or maybe bi-polar, only a psychiatrist can really discover. It is said that they also know how to manipulate them as well so what can an untrained person really do to safeguard himself?

Tribute to Whitney Elizabeth Houston

Whitney has given us so many great songs throughout her illustrious career. The lyrics of "I Look to You", this one is so prophetic:

"My levee's have broken, my walls have come crumbling down on me" tonight you are finally free of all the pain.

"The rain is falling, defeat is calling I need you to set me free", God answers every call and tonight your call has been answered,

"Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah" if only Whitney had stuck to that 1st solo performance in the church may be the end would be different.

Only last month, I Googled her name to check to see how she was doing as I remembered her. It hurts to see how her life spiraled out of control.

In life, it only takes one struggle or bad decision to find yourself on the path to destruction. I am reminded by Matthew 7:13 and reflect on those words - "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it".

Let's therefore take stock and remember that we're all here on borrowed time no matter what we do or achieved eat a huge serving of "humble pie" because it's not in our control.

God our Father, Your power brings us to birth, Your providence guides our lives,and by Your command we return to dust.

Lord, those who die still live in Your presence, their lives change but do not end, R.I.P. Whitney "I will always love you".

Beyonce Baby - Blue Ivy's Photo

This is an appropriate time to remind people of Stevie Wonder's famous song,"Isn't She Lovely"?

With all the difficulty in some of our lives, it's good to think about positive things, beautiful people and continue to dream big for ourselves and our children. When God blesses you with a healthy child, you have to be eternally grateful and pay homage.

Gossip is proving to be heart healthy so if you choose to engage in gossip about Beyonce not being pregnant, that she hired a surrogate to have her baby and all this kind of negative stuff shut yourself. Some of us will find it so funny that we laugh heartily so you did do a public service in this regard.

New Perils in Our Food Chain

A recall on your turkey -- a little late, I'd say.
Makes me glad I ate a Tofurkey! This is serious stuff.

Reprinted from Gina Smith's Blog (Steve Wozniak's friend)

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - An Ohio-based company is recalling 46,941 pounds of turkey and ham products that officials fear could cause listeriosis, a potentially fatal disease, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said on Friday.

HoneyBaked Foods Inc. is voluntarily recalling the meat, which includes cooked, glazed and sliced ham and turkey, USDA said in a statement.

The meat, which was produced between September 5 and November 13, may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, which can bring about high fever, headaches, neck stiffness and nausea, USDA said.

Healthy individuals are not usually susceptible to the illness, but it can cause infections to infants, the elderly, or people with HIV or cancer. It can also cause miscarriages.received any reports so far of illness related to the meat products.

Focus on Prevention of Disease

Finding natural ways to prevent degenerative diseases has become increasingly important as many new environmental hazards impact on our body and its ability to cope. Our liver that most important gland in the body that regulates blood clotting, mineral balance in the tissues, elimination of toxic substances, digestion of fats, release and storage of nutrients can become overworked, overloaded with too many fatty foods and undernourished.

Choline helps the liver burn up fatty acids so a diet high in choline can reduce the incidence of degenerative diseases such as hardening of arteries by deposited cholesterol. Choline is found in abundance in brown rice, wheat germ, brewer's yeast, soya beans and breast milk - another good reason to breast feed your baby.

Seaweed or kelp is one of the richest sources known of vital minerals, approximately 30 in all and certain vitamins. It can be helpful in treating indigestion and constipation but it's only noticeable over several months. It can be used instead of salt but it's an acquired taste. Its mineral content makes it an excellent substitute for processed table salt.

Next month we'll look at 2-more substances that can help us cope with our continuing battle against degenerative diseases and the role that the environment plays in the development of these diseases.

Menopause - "the change of life", Symptoms, Alternative Treatments

What is Menopause and what does food have to do with its symptoms?
FREE Recipe Enclosed

Menopause is also called "the change of life". Biologically, this heralds the end of a woman's reproductive years but it is important to realize that it's not a death sentence.

It's the end of ovulating (the ovaries stop producing the hormones estrogen and progesterone) which many think is only important in reproduction. However, these two hormones act on many different organs in the body. There are cells in the vagina, bladder, skin and breasts that all have estrogen receptors which need this hormone to stimulate these receptors for normal cell function. Estrogen is also needed to keep the skin smooth and moist.

Knowing that estrogen is needed not only for a sexual function will allow a woman to understand that this is just a transition to a new phase in her existence on the planet.

Here are some natural, easily available foods that can be added to one's diet to make this transition smooth and enjoyable:

1. Uncomfortable hot flashes: gotu kola, chasteberry and dong quai relieve hot flashes; make dishes using black beans and tofu and/or soy beans.

2. Vaginal dryness/itching: open a vitamin E capsule and apply the oil. For itching: inserting a tampon with 3-4 drops of tea tree oil for up to 3-hours will give immediate relief.

3. Breast tenderness: use 500-1000 milligrams of evening primrose oil for one month - this is a natural estrogen promoter.

4. Avoid salt: use onions, garlic, celery and lemon juice to flavor food. Make salads from a wide variety of greens (dandelion, mustard, beet, turnip, chicory greens, kale, Swiss chard,) to meet all your mineral needs; especially, the heart-healthy minerals magnesium, potassium and calcium.

5. Dryness and aging of the skin: drink 2-quarts of steamed distilled water daily to help prevent drying of the skin and mucous membranes. In winter, it helps to sleep with a vaporizer in your room, add a few drops of lavender (good to relieve stress).

6. Natural estrogen promoters: brew fennel and raspberry iced tea to replace soda drinks.

Finally, avoid stress or use yoga, relaxation techniques and/or exercise to effectively manage it. Mother nature has given us a powerful weapon - food, a natural diet guide, to use to ease some of the symptoms that plague us. It can be one of the tools used to help give us that quality of life as our life expectancy increases.

FREE Recipe:
NoDiet Pear/Banana Smoothie

1 8-oz. glass soy milk (almond milk)
1 tsp vanilla essence
1 can pears drained or ripe, fresh pears cut into quarters
1 medium banana cut into pieces
4-6 raspberries
grated nutmeg to garnish

Method: in a blender combine all the ingredients, except the nutmeg - blend until smooth. Serve chilled, garnish with nutmeg.

Diabetes - How to Control it with Food

FREE Recipe Enclosed

It is estimated that 5.5 million Americans are being treated for diabetes. The National Institute of Health reports that undiagnosed diabetes has caused millions of people to lose their vision. Complications from diabetes are the third leading cause of death in the U.S.A. A simple urinalysis can often detect unsuspected diabetes.

What is diabetes?

It occurs when the pancreas stop producing the hormone insulin or the body is unable to use the insulin it produces. Glucose, our body's fuel, cannot enter our cells without the presence of insulin. If insulin is not present or does not work, glucose will build up in the bloodstream and eventually shows up in the urine. Small blood vessels narrow as the blood sugar level rises, the blood vessels carry less blood and circulation is restricted. There are two types of diabetes - Type I (insulin dependent) must have insulin injected daily to control blood sugar level. Type II (non-insulin dependent) is associated with obesity.

Symptoms

1. This blood sugar imbalance can lead to increased urination and thirst.
2. Poor wound healing, double vision and hunger.
3. Dizziness, sweating and numbness or tingling of the lips.
4. The inability to notice sweetness until 1 1/2 teaspoons of sugar have been added to an 8-oz. glass of water.

Type II diabetes can be easily controlled with diet and exercise in combination with oral medication that boost the effect of the insulin produced. Diabetes is a serious disease. If you have this condition, you should definitely be under the care of a doctor. However, there are natural remedies that can help normalize blood sugar levels.

Fenugreek Seed: contains a soluble fiber called mucilage that contains six compounds that help regulate blood sugar levels. It also increases blood level of HDL (good) cholesterol while lowering total cholesterol, thus preventing cardiovascular disease, a hazard for people with diabetes.

Bay Leaves: help the body use insulin more efficiently at levels as low as about half a teaspoon. In experimental animals, bay leaves have been shown to lower blood sugar levels.

Butcher's Broom (Sweet Broom): is popular in Europe for reducing leg discomfort due to poor circulation (use moderately and avoid completely if you have high blood pressure).

Onions and Garlic: onions, especially the skins are one of the best sources of quercetin which can help with the eye problems associated with diabetes, namely diabetic retinopathy. Garlic has the ability to reduce blood sugar levels.

Beans: are high in soluble fiber that reduces the rise in blood sugar after meals, delay the drop later on and help to maintain blood sugar close to desire levels.

FREE Recipe:
NoDiet Diabeany Soup

2 cups of water
1 tsp. of safflower leaves steeped in 1-cup of hot water for 5-mins and strained
1 washed, unskinned onion
8-ozs. kidney beans (if can version is used, reduced cooking time to 30-minutes)
2 carrots chopped
6 cherry tomatoes, chopped
1/4 cup broccoli spears
1 celery stalk, chopped
4 cloves garlic, chopped
1/4 tsp. turmeric
4 bay leaves
1/4 tsp. fenugreek seed
1/4 tsp. paprika
1/4 tsp. black pepper
2 tbsp. ketchup
1/4 cup sour cream (2-tablespoons barley powder)
2 tbsp. parsley (chopped to garnish)
sea salt (optional) lemon juice is better

Method: Combine all the ingredients, except parsley, sour cream and ketchup in a saucepan or crock pot bring to a boil, lower the heat and allow to cook slowly for 1 1/2 hrs. add sour cream and ketchup during the last 15-mins. Take out the onion and remove the outer skin. Serve with chopped parsley sprinkled on top.

Almonds or Statin Drugs for High Cholesterol?

It is great to see that the University of Toronto played a key role in the recent study of how eating almonds, soy protein and vegetables could lower one's cholesterol as effectively as statin drugs. We have long advocated to our friends and family that we are what we eat. The things we do to our bodies we would not do to our cars.

For example, would we run our car without a tune-up at certain mileage intervals? The body's tune-up is cleansing at certain intervals - perhaps, at the change of each season or could be when we switch to Daylight Saving Time. Would we run our car without oil changes? The oil change for our body is daily physical activity to keep our motor (heart) working in peak condition and keep oxygenating our blood so it can flow easily.

Recently, a colleague used a natural diet guide (my accumulated knowledge and creative cooking recipes) that is very similar in composition to the Portfolio Diet, along with 40-minutes of exercise 4-times a week to lose weight. She had not been following her own advice - had been working 16-hour days and neglecting "herself" to her own detriment.

She was lucky that we saw the warning sign (unexplained hypertension). She had done her annual physical and all her results were good: normal cholesterol levels, etc. except that she was overweight. For her medium frame, she was carrying several pounds over the normal maximum of 140-pounds and she knew. After all, she had never been so heavy even when she was pregnant with her children. Her body was screaming, "Help Me!” we listened, followed-up with immediate action to restore her health and rescue her from imminent heart disease.

If only we can get more doctors to encourage overweight individuals to look seriously at diet and exercise as a way to heart health and not look to weight loss surgery, we would be well on the way to "an ounce of prevention being better than a pound of cure".

This study was conducted during American Heart Month (February) and just in time for National Nutrition Month (March). Thanks to the Almond Board of California, the University of Toronto Research team, (Dr. David Jenkins and Dr. Cyril Kendall) Loblaws Brand and all who made this study possible for bringing it to the attention of us, the public.