I recommend to my clients that they do not undertake any detoxification program without first making sure that their colon is going to be able to handle the burden of eliminating those toxins from their body. If the colon is not functioning correctly, toxins will build up in the bloodstream and overburden the body. The body will feel quite ill, and it can be a very dangerous situation.
How do I determine if a colon is working correctly? I ask how about a person's bowel habits. Many people consider themselves "normal" if their bowels move once every day or even every other day. Folks, this is not "normal", nor even desirable. What's best for the body is that you have a bowel movement for every meal that you eat during the day, which usually means 3 or more a day. Yep, you read it right.
So, if you're not operating this way, I'd say you're constipated, and I'd put you on a diet to get that colon working more regularly BEFORE we do a cleanse.
Fiber is the key; especially insoluble fiber. That's the kind of fiber that doesn't break down in the digestive process--it acts like little scrubbers as it moves through the digestive tract, carrying waste material with it. You get this kind of fiber from raw vegetables, psyllium seeds and husks, the skins of fruits and vegetables, and seeds. Also important to note: when you're eating a high-fiber diet, drink adequate water! You need water to move the food through your body. Eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day is a good amount.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Liver-Nourishing Foods
Ann Louise Gittleman, M.S., C.N.S., breaks what she calls "Liver-Loving Foods" into five groups: 1) Crucifers, 2) Green, Leafy Vegetables and Herbs, 3) Citrus, 4) Sulphur-Rich Foods, and 5) Liver Healers. I'll expand upon these categories here, recommending that for the seven days before you cleanse your liver that you eat at least one food from each group daily.
1) Crucifers: caggage, broccolli, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, broccoli sprouts. These help to convert fat-soluble toxins into water-soluble substances that the body can eliminate through the urine. They also contain indole-3-carbinol and sulforaphane, which support antioxidant activity and neutralize chemicals and drugs in the liver. That's very important for detoxification.
2) Green, Leafy Vegetables and Herbs: chard, collard, dandelion and mustard greens, cilantro, escarole, parsley, kale, watercress. These foods are full of chlorophyll, which purifies blood. Their high magnesium content also feeds the liver's enzyme-producing function. Cilantro chelates mercury. Isn't that interesting?
3) Citrus: orange, lemon, and lime. The high Vitamin C content supplies the liver with the nutrients necessary for the production of glutathione, an important liver-detoxifying antioxidant. Vitamin C also binds heavy metals and toxic sulfa drugs for elimination from the body.
4) Sulfur-Rich: garlic, onions, egg, and daikon radishes. Sulfation is a process that the liver uses to eliminate toxins. These sulfur-rich foods give the liver the necessary nutrients to carry out this process. Daikon radish also aids in fat digestion and metabolism.
5) Liver Healers: artichoke, asparagus, beets, celery, dandelion root tea, nutritional yeast, whey. These foods will support the liver quite nicely during its detoxification process.
1) Crucifers: caggage, broccolli, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, broccoli sprouts. These help to convert fat-soluble toxins into water-soluble substances that the body can eliminate through the urine. They also contain indole-3-carbinol and sulforaphane, which support antioxidant activity and neutralize chemicals and drugs in the liver. That's very important for detoxification.
2) Green, Leafy Vegetables and Herbs: chard, collard, dandelion and mustard greens, cilantro, escarole, parsley, kale, watercress. These foods are full of chlorophyll, which purifies blood. Their high magnesium content also feeds the liver's enzyme-producing function. Cilantro chelates mercury. Isn't that interesting?
3) Citrus: orange, lemon, and lime. The high Vitamin C content supplies the liver with the nutrients necessary for the production of glutathione, an important liver-detoxifying antioxidant. Vitamin C also binds heavy metals and toxic sulfa drugs for elimination from the body.
4) Sulfur-Rich: garlic, onions, egg, and daikon radishes. Sulfation is a process that the liver uses to eliminate toxins. These sulfur-rich foods give the liver the necessary nutrients to carry out this process. Daikon radish also aids in fat digestion and metabolism.
5) Liver Healers: artichoke, asparagus, beets, celery, dandelion root tea, nutritional yeast, whey. These foods will support the liver quite nicely during its detoxification process.
Cleanse to Lose Weight
I've told many of you privately in consultation that the liver is a key element in weight loss. The main idea underlying successful weight loss is detoxification of the body. Since the liver filters the blood of toxins, it's important to make sure it's clean. Our increasingly polluted environment means that our livers have to do more and more work, causing them to store toxins, becoming toxic themselves. When the liver becomes so overburdened that it can't do its work properly, the entire body suffers. Many common health complaints are the result of a toxic liver. Headaches, skin rashes, mood swings, depression, memory problems, high cholesterol and yes, even weight gain, can be linked to a toxic liver.
If you're reading this, you are fortunate. Please don't get caught up in the fad diets. You may lose weight for awhile...and it might only be water weight in the end, but you'll gain it back because the underlying problem will not have been addressed. Permanent, safe weight loss is only possible through detoxifying the body.
So, where do we start? The colon is actually first. That's a subject for another post. After cleansing the colon, then detoxifying the liver is in order. I highly recommend Ann Louise Gittleman's book, "The Fat Flush Plan" and "Fast Track Detox Diet". She, too, believes that the liver is key in losing weight. Her method has been used successfully with many people so it has a good history. Read her book to understand "body burden"--the effect that environmental chemicals have on our liver. She presents the information very well. I'm not going to duplicate her fine efforts here.
What I will do, however, is send you to another post of mine, which is "Liver-Nourishing Foods" so that you can begin to nourish your liver prior to detoxifying it. See you over there!
If you're reading this, you are fortunate. Please don't get caught up in the fad diets. You may lose weight for awhile...and it might only be water weight in the end, but you'll gain it back because the underlying problem will not have been addressed. Permanent, safe weight loss is only possible through detoxifying the body.
So, where do we start? The colon is actually first. That's a subject for another post. After cleansing the colon, then detoxifying the liver is in order. I highly recommend Ann Louise Gittleman's book, "The Fat Flush Plan" and "Fast Track Detox Diet". She, too, believes that the liver is key in losing weight. Her method has been used successfully with many people so it has a good history. Read her book to understand "body burden"--the effect that environmental chemicals have on our liver. She presents the information very well. I'm not going to duplicate her fine efforts here.
What I will do, however, is send you to another post of mine, which is "Liver-Nourishing Foods" so that you can begin to nourish your liver prior to detoxifying it. See you over there!
Monday, November 10, 2008
What's the Best Form of Calcium?
We know we need calcium. Our bones, teeth, nerves, muscles all demand calcium. It's elemental! But there's so much information and mis-information about the subject "out there"--what's a body to do? Good question. In fact, it's such a good question it was one of MY main questions for years. Finally, I think I've managed to sort the fact from the fiction and I'll pass along my findings to you, in the hope that you might something of value for yourself. At any rate, if I can save someone from having to do the kind of research I did--or save someone from osteoporosis because they didn't take the correct kind of calcium for them, it will be worth it.
Please note: bone health is a very complex subject and cannot be fully explored in a blog post, but appropriate calcium sources are definitely part of that picture. This blog post will only address the various forms of calcium and how they are utilized. The rest of the picture comes later, usually with the assistance of a qualified natural health practitioner.
Calcium comes in many forms. There's calcium carbonate, osyter shell, citrate, microcrystalline hydroxyapatite, malate, succinate, and on and on.....Which one should I take? Ah, that's the $64,000 question--actually much more than $64,000 because your future health depends on that decision, and if you don't get the right form of calcium, or if it's inadequately absorbed, it will cost you much more than $64,000 to deal with the after-effects!
Personally, I believe the key to what type of calcium to take is how well it will be absorbed in YOUR body, which is called "bioavailability". Calcium citrate, citrate-malate, and hydroxyapatite have very good bioavailability records. Additionally, sea greens and calcium from dark green, leafy vegetables and herbs such as nettles, have high bioavailability rates, as well.
Knowing the "good" sources of calcium listed above, the next question should be, "How can I tell what MY bioavailability rate is?" Part of the key to that is in your digestion. Hydrochloric acid production is a key factor in the decision as to what form of calcium your body can absorb. If you are under the age of 50 and in reasonably good digestive health, you may safely assume that calcium carbonate (one of the less expensive forms of calcium) will be adequately absorbed. That's because its absorption is dependent upon HCL for breakdown. If you have frequent heartburn, indigestion, or gas (commonly associated with incomplete protein digestion) you may have inadequate HCL production. A very inexpensive supplement called betaine hydrochloric acid can remedy the situation.
On the other hand, if you're over 50 and/or have inadequate HCL production, you might want to consider calcium citrate or calcium citrate-malate. Neither of these two forms of calcium depend upon HCL for breakdown, so they are considered more bioavailable. They are a little more expensive, but if there is any doubt about your HCL production, I would recommend one of these.
Another bioavailable form of calcium is microcrystalline hydroxyapatite (sometimes called MCHC or just hydroxyapatite.) This is a very absorbable form of calcium, and I have seen it combined with calcium citrate in some supplements, which I consider to be a good combination. Some researchers believe that this form of calcium has promise to rebuild bone, halting and even reversing osteoporosis.
Of course, any approach to calcium should include dietary factors. There are many fine herbs available that supply calcium, and no diet should be considered complete that does not include dark, leafy greens at least several times a week. There's a lot of calcium in a serving of collard greens. Our ancestors knew this, instinctively.
Don't forget the magnesium when you take your calcium. Most good calcium supplements supply magnesium along with the calcium. A good ratio is at least one half as much magnesium as calcium.
There are other nutrients that aid in calcium absorption, but that's a discussion for another day.
Please note: bone health is a very complex subject and cannot be fully explored in a blog post, but appropriate calcium sources are definitely part of that picture. This blog post will only address the various forms of calcium and how they are utilized. The rest of the picture comes later, usually with the assistance of a qualified natural health practitioner.
Calcium comes in many forms. There's calcium carbonate, osyter shell, citrate, microcrystalline hydroxyapatite, malate, succinate, and on and on.....Which one should I take? Ah, that's the $64,000 question--actually much more than $64,000 because your future health depends on that decision, and if you don't get the right form of calcium, or if it's inadequately absorbed, it will cost you much more than $64,000 to deal with the after-effects!
Personally, I believe the key to what type of calcium to take is how well it will be absorbed in YOUR body, which is called "bioavailability". Calcium citrate, citrate-malate, and hydroxyapatite have very good bioavailability records. Additionally, sea greens and calcium from dark green, leafy vegetables and herbs such as nettles, have high bioavailability rates, as well.
Knowing the "good" sources of calcium listed above, the next question should be, "How can I tell what MY bioavailability rate is?" Part of the key to that is in your digestion. Hydrochloric acid production is a key factor in the decision as to what form of calcium your body can absorb. If you are under the age of 50 and in reasonably good digestive health, you may safely assume that calcium carbonate (one of the less expensive forms of calcium) will be adequately absorbed. That's because its absorption is dependent upon HCL for breakdown. If you have frequent heartburn, indigestion, or gas (commonly associated with incomplete protein digestion) you may have inadequate HCL production. A very inexpensive supplement called betaine hydrochloric acid can remedy the situation.
On the other hand, if you're over 50 and/or have inadequate HCL production, you might want to consider calcium citrate or calcium citrate-malate. Neither of these two forms of calcium depend upon HCL for breakdown, so they are considered more bioavailable. They are a little more expensive, but if there is any doubt about your HCL production, I would recommend one of these.
Another bioavailable form of calcium is microcrystalline hydroxyapatite (sometimes called MCHC or just hydroxyapatite.) This is a very absorbable form of calcium, and I have seen it combined with calcium citrate in some supplements, which I consider to be a good combination. Some researchers believe that this form of calcium has promise to rebuild bone, halting and even reversing osteoporosis.
Of course, any approach to calcium should include dietary factors. There are many fine herbs available that supply calcium, and no diet should be considered complete that does not include dark, leafy greens at least several times a week. There's a lot of calcium in a serving of collard greens. Our ancestors knew this, instinctively.
Don't forget the magnesium when you take your calcium. Most good calcium supplements supply magnesium along with the calcium. A good ratio is at least one half as much magnesium as calcium.
There are other nutrients that aid in calcium absorption, but that's a discussion for another day.
Eat Breakfast to Lose Weight
There have been some interesting studies lately that have indicated that people who eat a hearty breakfast actually lose more weight and keep it off than people who eat fewer calories for breakfast or skip breakfast. Eating half your daily allotment of calories in a good breakfast consisting of a protein, fruit, and complex carbohydrate, and then eating the remainder of your allotment for lunch and dinner resulted in weight loss that was not regained. This was evidenced in a study conducted by Venezuelan and U.S. researchers who put women on diets where some ate the 610+ calorie breakfasts and some did not. They found that both groups of women lost approximately the same amount of pounds. However, in the four months following the weight loss, those who were eating the larger breakfasts actually were not only able to keep the weight off, but actually lost more weight, while the small-breakfast group gained most of the weight back. Did you realize that eggs are actually very satisfying and contrary to popular belief, when you eat the WHOLE egg, your cholesterol level is not adversely affected? Something to think about....
Friday, November 7, 2008
Introduction
Having decided to join the modern age of computer advertising, I followed a friend's advice and created this blog. I've been "out there" for some time, having been a natural health professional for approximately 20 years, but only recently have realized that I have much to offer that can be shared via a vehicle such as this rather than in my one-on-one consulatations and therapy sessions. One-on-one therapy sessions still hold a valid place with any practitioner,of course, but there is common knowledge that should be available to all.
Therefore, this is my introduction to any of you who care to follow my blog, check back occasionally, or just access it for specific information. I will be posting instructions on cleansing, ideas to think about regarding health issues, my favorite health-related reading list, and other things I feel pertinent to today's particular health challenges. I hope I'll make many friends through this endeavor, and bring enlightenment to the dark places in our current way of viewing health care. Good health to you all!
Therefore, this is my introduction to any of you who care to follow my blog, check back occasionally, or just access it for specific information. I will be posting instructions on cleansing, ideas to think about regarding health issues, my favorite health-related reading list, and other things I feel pertinent to today's particular health challenges. I hope I'll make many friends through this endeavor, and bring enlightenment to the dark places in our current way of viewing health care. Good health to you all!
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Flower Remedy Dosage Bottle
Fill a one-ounce glass dropper bottle nearly full of purified water. Do NOT use distilled water. Add a small amount of brandy (1/8 to 1/4 of the bottle), if desired, as a preservative. To the water and brandy mixture, add two drops of each chosen flower essence. Before use, rhythmically shake or lightly tape the bottle in order to keep the essences in a more potent or energized state.
Use 4 drops from the dosage bottle on or under the tongue at least twice a day. I recommend early morning upon awakening and just before sleep, as a minimum.
Use 4 drops from the dosage bottle on or under the tongue at least twice a day. I recommend early morning upon awakening and just before sleep, as a minimum.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
