FOOD INTOLERENCE TEST REPORT

I have just got back from a two week vacation.

On returning, I realized some of my symptoms were stronger and I was a little worried that all my bragging about Natural remedies had caught up with me and the disease was finally taking over my life. My skin irritation, increased tingling in my feet, poor balance and gait, frequent headaches, emotional instability, restlessness and increased fatigue are some of the symptoms that have increased.

I was quite concerned. My first thought was that the travel, along with the food, air and water, and being exposed to increased levels of toxicity may be the reason for my feeling worse.

It has also been over two years since I took the food allergy test. It is recommended that I take this test regularly every two years because the environment changes, our bodies change and the body’s needs changes. I took the test the same week I left for New York and I just got then test results yesterday.

To my great disappointment a lot of things changed. I lost a lot of foods and got back a lot of foods I could not eat before. I was upset at losing some of the foods I have become accustomed to eating like peanuts (and therefore peanut butter), mushrooms, cumin,  some curry spices, white beans, red beans,  nectarines, corn, carrots and a few others.

I got back garlic, baker's yeast, green peppers, cauliflower, and a few others.

No wonder I have been felling worse and my symptoms are stronger. I have been eating foods I should not be and this was obviously causing my body harm and exacerbating my symptoms.

I have to say one thing that is really clear -there are a lot of people out there that are awfully unhappy with their current situation, or who are incredibly frustrated that the medications just aren't making them feel better.
For those that are suffering from MS, you would think with all the information out there, it would be a little easier to find something that actually could help get rid of your fatigue, pain,  numbness, and balance problems...and point you in the right direction.
But it just seems like most doctors just want to give you meds that don't make you feel better or that make you feel worse and send you on your way.

It's not really their fault. They are conditioned to prescribe drugs, which half the time, do not work and half the time have such severe side effects that we end up taking more drugs for the side effects. We then get stuck in the vicious cycle of symptom, drug, side effect, more drugs, more side effects, more drugs and round and round we go.

Isn’t it just typical of the medical profession to simply prescribe drugs instead of asking why a certain ailment or symptom is occurring?

A simple thing like the food allergy test is enough to set me on the right path towards healing and feeling better. The medical profession will never acknowledge this and continue to pan all foods (grains, greens, fruit and vegetables) for all, without specifying that each person’s needs are as different and individual as the person himself.

I am no doctor but I can attest that the food test saved my life and has enabled me to live with this terrible illness. People often question me as to how is it that despite the MS, I still lead an almost normal life. The food test determines the foods I can and cannot eat and I stick to that list. I also take the test every two years, religiously.

I have to re-invent my diet and eating habits and have started by eliminating all the foods that I should not eat. Miraculously, all the symptoms that had re-emerged have now calmed down. If I was seeing a neurologist, he would have probably increased the dosage of the prescription drugs or changed them when all that was required was to change what I eat.
Imagine what this can do for most illnesses in the world today!

That is my two cents on our eating habits and how we are misinformed by the medical profession and the food industry.

LATEST UPDATE

I had an appointment with Doctor Chang this week. My appointments are now approximately once a month as opposed to twice a month.

All my appointments begin with a scan that measures my inter-cellular water, muscle mass, body fat, weight, waist and hip measurement. The water count was up. (It was low the last time).

This week she also asked for an impromptu blood test. The results were great. The blood cells were perfectly formed, they were not clumped and there was not a sign of any bacteria in the blood.

She noticed that my gait was not as good and I complained that I was tiring sooner and my stamina and energy level were low.
She increased my B12 intake, I get an injection three times a week and it was still not enough. She has now given me a spray once a day. She also asked that I take some protein vitamin, MAP to increase my strength.
She asked about the other areas I have complained before and they are doing just fine. My tingling is under control, my mood is stable and calm, I have good appetite and good sleep and bowel movements. It is just my gait and fatigue. But she has given me stuff to help the body cope with this.

Thank God for Doctor Chang. Thank God for her probing ways to help determine why a certain ailment is prevailing or why a certain symptom is more dominant and then she recommends a course of action based on what I am experiencing.

Enlivening Our Health

By Doctor Sheila Patel - Staff Physician and Director of Health Programming
- The Chopra Center for WeIlness.

Our health is a constant interplay between body, mind and spirit.

An imbalance in any of these areas of our lives can lead to dis-ease and can potentially keep us from feeling vital and healthy.

By harnessing our body's innate healing abilities, we can move closer to health. In fact, even with the most powerful medical treatments, we also need to engage our natural healing in that process in order for it to be successful.

To move more toward more healing, we first must identify and acknowledge what is that is currently challenging us - whether it is emotional, physical or spiritual. Once this is done, we can then engage in practices to release theses challenges.

Through the active process of release, we then open up the space to bring in healing and nourishment. This brings us closer to a state of complete balance of body, mind and spirit.

Through meditation and other practices such as yoga and mindful eating we allow our body mind and spirit to exist in their natural state of balance where health is then revealed.



I am participating in the Chopra Center's 21 Day Meditation Challenge. This was the Day 9 Pre-Meditation intro.
They have a 21 Day challenge every season and it really is always great!

It is all in the breathing...............................

A follow up appointment showed a great improvement in the rate of breathing and the ability to bring down the heart rate.

She taught me a technique to help me breathe more smoothly (for lack of a better term).
Think of a person, in a combat zone. High adrenalin, heart pumping, always on attention, cannot drop his guard. Take this person and put them in an exact opposite environment of calm, peaceful serenity and this drastic change may not bring about a change in responses.

It is important to take a few moments during the day to calm the breathing which in turn, enables the body to come out of panic mode.

Breath in , 2, 3, 4, 5, breath out 2,3,4,5. and think of yourself in a zero gravity environment. As you breathe in, feel yourself rise and as you breath out, feel yourself come down gently.

Keep the breathing smooth and flowing like a butterfily in slow motion.

I do this, everytime I take a break, when I sit to watch TV and whenever I take a moment, I remind myself to breathe in a smooth flow rather than sudden errativ ins and outs and finally, when I am in bed trying to fall asleep.

The results in just one week , no in 5 days, were remarkable.

All my MS symptoms that had re-emerged, have since subsided and are now either gone or reduced. Eat your hearts out Neurologists!

Try it!

My symptoms

"When we choose not to focus on what is missing from our lives but are grateful for the abundance that's present....we experience heaven on earth." Sarah Breathnach

I had an impromptu appointment with my Doctor yesterday.
It seems that my symptoms have worsened. No I have not had an attack or a a relapse (thank god!) but my feet are suffering, my ankles are very weak and cannot seem to support my body, my gait is bad, my balance is bad, I am irritable, and my heart is racing and constantly feels like I am in a state of chaotic panic.

We did a blood test to find if anything was wrong. The blood was perfect. No bacteria, perfectly formed cells and strong white blood cells. There was a bit of an issue with the colon but that is always there. My B12 levels were low and I have been getting B12 snots every two days, for a while now. The cells also showed some free radical damage and heightened levels of mental stress.

The doctor said that it was this stress that was causing my symptoms to reappear. I put my body in a state of panic because my mind was in a state of panic. The body was simply reacting. I thought back and realized that this all started last week.

Last week Christine (an employee) fell ill and could not come to work. I had to go in and even though I sat at the cash register most of the time, I noticed a lot of things that were not the way I would have done them. This created an avalanche of thoughts and concerns and inevitably increased my stress levels, I was only at work for two or three days but the stress was enough to send me back, physically, to almost two years ago.

A few posts ago, I talked about stress and MS. My present condition is proof that stress causes MS symptoms to come back stronger. I still feel kind of not right. Even though I meditate daily and do my breathing exercises, eat right, and do everything right but……………..I let stress permeate my world and the effects are quite noticeable.

I am now making a list of all the things that I think need to be fixed or looked at. Once that is done, one thing at a time will be confronted and hopefully, fixed.

I have another appointment on Monday to see if things change. Doctor Chang, put me on a breathing exercise with monitors to measure my heart rate, state of calm and stress.
I just could not get it to a normal. When it did come to a normal, there was no sustainability and it went up again after a short time.

This was my longest appointment ever. I was in there for about an hour and she kept people waiting because of me.
It is quite amazing to see the distance she will go to indentify a problem. So far 99.99999% of the time, she has hit the nail on the head.

It is now up to me to bring myself back to where I was before I went in to work.

Here’s hoping…………………………….

Progress Report

My last appointment was last Thursday. I had a live blood cell analysis, a BIA and a POLYSAN test. I have never had a Polysan test before. For those who are not familiar with these tests, here is a short description of them:

Live Blood Cell Analysis
Utilizing a small blood spot and a specialized Leica microscope, elements of blood are viewed for shape and motility. This analysis gives indications regarding nutrient status, organ function and the biological terrain.

My test showed that the cells were no longer clumped. The white blood cells were strong and the red blood cells were nicely formed. However, there was some bacterial activity. This could be as a result of:
a) Too many refined carbs,
b) Gardening without gloves
c) Too much fruit and therefore too much sugar

Of course all /or most of them were true. I had eaten too many rice crackers with peanut butter during the week prior to my test, I had been gardening and I hate to wear gloves because I love to feel the soil in my hands and make plant cuttings, etc. I may not have eaten too much fruit as I am quite aware of what happens when I do. I try and limit myself to three small sized fruits like plums, nectarines or peaches, or 2 larger like papaya and mango.
We are never quite aware of the effects of food on our system. This test shows the cause and effect of doing anything wrong like eating too many refined carbohydrates, not drinking enough water, etc. I always get caught. Well this is a perfect example of bad news and good news.

Bio-Impedence Test
Small electrodes are attached to the feet and hands for approximately 5 minutes. A computer program monitors the electrical flow throughout the fat and lean tissues revealing areas where congestion/impedance is occurring. BIA measures the resistence of bodily tissues to the flow of a mild alternating electric current. Conductive pads are placed on the wrist and the ankle to measure the change in current flow between these electrodes. Since electronic current resistance is different in muscle than in fat, BIA is used to measure the proportion of Lean Body Mass: Body Fat. If abnormal, could lead to accelerated aging and more serious illnesses.
BIA provides information on:
• Nasal metabolic rate
• Body fat
• Lean body mass
• Body mass index
• Fluid retention

My muscle mass had gone down, my inter-cellular water had gone down and my body fat had gone up. I had reduced my exercises and weight training due to either laziness or being too busy to do them, my water consumption has been reduced from three water bottles a day to two because I was tired of constantly having to go to the bathroom. There truly is no escaping my negligence.

Body Scan 2010
The body scan comprises elements of the Chinese model of acupuncture with its philosophy of wellness and the modern biofeedback technology. Any physical, mental or spiritual imbalance that impedes the flow of energy and nutrients to the body’s organs will compromise the quality of one’s health, eventually resulting in illness. By using the Body Scan, we can detect these imbalances before they become physical illnesses. Thus providing the opportunity for truly preventative health care.
My tests showed some minor imbalances. The worst was between the right side and the left side of the brain. The only thing different (apart from my negligence in eating and drinking) was the introduction of the colloidal silver water over the past two months. Doctor Chang asked me to stop the colloidal silver water for two weeks and redo this test to determine whether the colloidal silver caused this imbalance or not.

Finally I did a test that was completely new to me:

Polysan Antigen-Antibody Blood Test

A blood spot is analyzed for degrees of coagulation to provide an indication for the degree of allergic sensitivity.

The wide range of chronic disorders is diverse with the ratio between males and females being quite equal. Various facts and the limited ability to take care of one's own body are associated with the cause of these chronic conditions. Dr. Enderlein, Professor at the University of Berlin, said in 1910, that the development of the chronic disorders depends on the environment within the human body, that is the internal milieu and the milieu of the respective organs. The fashionable medicine treats those disorders with painkillers, immune suppressing remedies, antibiotics and of course with cortisone. However, another treatment option is the use of holistic therapies. Holistic medicine is able to offer the patient with a chronic disorder a different perspective regarding the development of the condition, along with an associated treatment.
In this treatment regimen it is important to remember several points.
1) Most acute illnesses, or the so-called recurrences of a certain illness are always a trial of the body to eliminate toxins from the system. These toxins have accumulated over time and are indicative of the level of function of the human system. The four primary eliminatory organs: bowel, kidney,lung and skin must be functioning in proper manner to facilitate the removal of these wastes. Treating with antibiotics or suppressive medicines will prevent the elimination of these
toxins. If the first attempt at elimination was suppressed, after a time the organism will try to expel these toxins by a different manner. Initially, elimination is via the intestines. Next the pulmonary system, or the kidney, and finally the skin will be called to assist in ridding wastes from the body. If the elimination is not allowed the toxin will be stored in the cells of the organ, or in a unique storage area- the connective tissue. One must take note that every attempt at toxic expulsion is often viewed as a new disorder and the specific fashionable treatment will prevent the body's effort at elimination.

What stood out from this test is the antibodies to malaria. I have not lived in Africa for over 20 years. When I lived there, I had Malaria many times. The body still carried the antibodies to malaria so Doctor Chang gave me something for that.

In this way, rather than giving me pills and a treatment regimen that is one for all, my treatment is tailored to my condition and what is wrong with my body . In particular, that, which may exacerbate my condition.

In the meantime, my processed carbohydrate intake has been reduced, my exercise and weight training is back and my water intake is on the increase. Let us see what my test next week shows.

As luck would have it, I sat next to someone who had a severe cold at the mosque. (I do not why they come when they are ill.) I have spent the past three days battling this infection.

The thing is that every time my body suffers an infection, my symptoms come back stronger. My legs are weak and my walking is worse.
That is the bad news.
The good news is that the cold lasted only a few days.
My body in general is doing quite well and it fought the cold. It is on its way out now and I am feeling a lot better. Not completely well but a lot better.

Is it a wonder why I have not suffered any further MS attacks or relapses? I am constaly being looked after. As soon as something goes wrong, it is looked at. There is constant preventative maintenance. Not damage control but preventative maintenance.

If we could all live our lives this way, the world would be a much more healthier place!

Stress and Multiple Sclerosis

By Julie Stachowiak, Ph.D.,

Stress and MS Relapses

While there have been few studies examining the relationship of stress and MS symptoms, MS patients often report that stress causes their symptoms to worsen. Because stress interacts with the immune system, it could be possible that stress may trigger a worsening of MS symptoms or a relapse.

In a 2006, Australian researchers conducted one of the first studies to seriously examine the relationship of stress and MS relapse. This study followed 101 people with MS for 2 years and asked about their stress levels and stressful events every three months. They found that the greater number of acute stressors that a person reported predicted relapse. They also found (not surprisingly) that people who were having a relapse reported more stress. Chronic stress and stress severity did not predict relapse, only the number of acute stressors. Individuals who used social support (friends and family) to cope with stressors reduced their risk of a relapse.

Stress and MS Symptoms


Many people with MS note that their symptoms seem to worsen during times of stress. This makes sense from a physiological viewpoint. During times of stress, certain hormones are released in the brain. These hormones slow down the activity of the sections of the brain responsible for reasoning and decision making. It is logical that for people with MS, this “slow down” would result in an increase in cognitive symptoms. However, no researchers have proven that this is true.
Stress from MS
While there isn’t clear proof that stress can cause MS symptoms, there is no doubt that having MS is stressful. There are many emotional, physical and even financial challenges in having MS that contribute to both chronic and acute stress. Some examples are:
• The unpredictable nature of MS
• Appearance of new symptoms
• Concerns with health insurance
• Concerns with employment
• Needing help from others
• and many more
Every person with MS should develop a proactive system for coping with stress.
Coping with Stress from MS
There are many ways of coping with stress. Here is a sample of some stress-reduction approaches that people living with MS should consider developing:

• Social Support: When a relapse occurs or symptoms worsen, you may need help to get to your doctor’s office, fulfill your responsibilities or just make dinner. Cultivate your network of friends and family. Keep close ties with the people you can depend on. Let them know how important they are in your life. When you are feeling good, try to help them.

• Relaxation: Relaxation is the best way to combat stress in your body. When you are under stress, your body releases certain stress-related hormones. By relaxing, you can reverse this process. A breathing technique known as the relaxation response has been proven to reverse the effects of stress in your body. You can also learn meditation, yoga or gentle stretching. Anything that relaxes you is great – a lukewarm bath, candles, music or whatever works for you.

• Planning: We don’t like to think about times when symptoms worsen, but having a plan in place will make everything go easier. Think about what would change in your life if you were having a relapse. Who would take you to the doctor? Who would watch the kids? What about work? Go through your typical day and consider how you could deal with each complication. Talk to the people you would need to depend on before you need them. Set aside a little ‘relapse fund’ for takeout, massages and anything else you might need. Creating a relapse plan for MS can make a big difference when things are difficult.
Stress as an MS Cause

A study in Denmark used national health registry data to examine if stress could be a cause for MS. This study found 21,000 parents who had child that died. They compared them to almost 300,000 other parents. In the group that had lost a child, 28 people (or 1/750) developed MS. In the comparison group, 230 people (or 1/1300) did. The people who had lost a child were 1.5 times more likely to develop MS. If the child was lost unexpectedly, the risk increased to more than twice as likely to develop MS.

This doesn’t mean that the stress of being stuck in traffic can cause MS. The type of stress the researchers studied was a very specific and deep stress. The loss of child can profoundly impact parents. Researchers were not able to assess how the parents coped with the loss of a child. There was no data on depression, grief duration or coping methods. The interesting finding here is that the emotional impact of the loss of a child increases the risk of MS. There is something more complex than simple physiological mechanisms impacting MS risk.

Sources:
Brown RF, Tennant CC, Sharrock M, Hodgkinson S, Pollard JD. Relationship between stress and relapse in multiple sclerosis: Part I. Mult Scler. 2006 Aug;12(4):453-64.
Brown RF, Tennant CC, Sharrock M, Hodgkinson S, Pollard JD. Relationship between stress and relapse in multiple sclerosis: Part II. Mult Scler. 2006 Aug;12(4):453-64.
J. Li, MD, MSc, C. Johansen, MD, PhD, H. Brønnum–Hansen, MSc, E. Stenager, MD, N. Koch–Henriksen, MD, PhD and J. Olsen, MD, PhD. The risk of multiple sclerosis in bereaved parents. NEUROLOGY 2004;62:726-729


I think the article should be called Stress and Disease or Stress and Health.

All of us, whether ill or not should develop coping mechanisms.

I personally try to reduce the stress in my life by simply avoiding what causes me stress.

I always need order around me; so slowly and steadily, everything in my life has been organized and arranged the way I want it. When things are not in order, my stress levels are heightened. Therefore, as much as possible, I am surrounded by order and the lack of chaos.

I avoid bad news. My day starts by listening to the classical station on the radio. It is on through out the day and even in my car. I used to listen to the news talk stations but found that I got too wound up in the debates and discussions. I do not read newspapers and do not listen to the news. There is too much bad news and negativity in them.

Meditation , yoga and spiritual therapy are of the greatest help to maintain a calm, sane mind. I do my yoga and breathing exercises every morning as soon as I wake up and meditate soon after I have finished with my yoga. During the day, I am constantly praying or having a conversation with the Divine (whatever that may be, whoever that may be),
It is important to feed the spirit so that the spirit can help carry the burdens of the world. I should say volunteer work and the fulfillment that comes with it, falls under this category.
I cannot do as much volunteer work as I would like to but I still do my share while a keeping my limitations in mind.

Retail therapy, which is one of my favorite therapies, also helps. I love browsing and sometimes I will just go into a store and go around browsing. I do not have to buy, I just enjoy looking. This takes my mind of everything else that is bothering me. It really is like a meditation!

Reading and music also play a huge part in keeping my stress level to a minimum. Whether it is spiritual music, classical or New Age, the genre does not matter. It just relaxes me. I read short stories because my attention span is short. Writing that make me think and ponder are of great help in keeping me sane. Puzzles help keep my mind alert. I enjoy sitting in my back yard and reading while listening to classical music. The birds, squirrels and the light rustling of leaves, the chimes, all help keep my sane.

Finally, there is the happiness therapy. I surround myself with love and laughter. I watch TV shows that make me laugh, I read jokes in the Reader's Digest when I am in the bathroom (there is nothing else to do there anyway).
I am lucky to be surrounded with people who love me, be it friends or family. A hug here, a kiss there and a gesture of kindness, all help.
Talking to my loved ones keeps me from constantly pondering on thoughts that would otherwise, increase my level of stress.

It is important to find what heps reduce the stress in your life and keep these close to you, always. Do not become a victim of circumstances. Change the circumstances where and when you can.


The only limits in our life are those we impose on ourselves.
- Bob Proctor

Gratitude is an attitude that hooks us up to our source of supply.
And the more grateful you are, the closer you become to your maker,
to the architect of the universe, to the spiritual core of your being.
- Bob Proctor

We come this way but once.
We can either tiptoe through life
and hope we get to death without being badly bruised
or we can live a full, complete life
achieving our goals and realizing our wildest dreams.
- Bob Proctor

Choose today to break through whatever limits that are holding you back from living your greatest life.
Whether you live with MS, another illness or any other mental, physical, emotional or spiritual challenge, you can introduce small changes to your lifestyle to learn to live with pride, joy and acceptance. It is these small changes and coping mechanisms that will be intrumental on your journey toward healing.
I know they were and continue to be for me.

If for any reason you falter and fall off your wagon, get on it again and again and again.

Thought For Everyday.............................

Fill every thought with determination,
Every step with courage
and every word with love.

A new attempt at healing my body...........

I have started a new treatment – Colloidal Silver (Ionic Silver)

It is made by taking 2 silver electrodes and placing them in 100 % pure water (distilled water) and passing a current through the water. Microscopic particles of silver go into the water and as long as it’s pure, they stay in that tiny particle size.

Silver has the property of not combining with organs or tissues of the body. It just passes through it. While passing through it, the ionic silver will kill any single celled organisms it comes in contact with.
The ions of silver are positively charged and they only adversely affect single celled organisms, like viruses, bacteria and fungi. When the silver ions come into contact with these organisms, it discharges their negative property, therefore killing them.

In order to ensure that the good bacteria in the intestines are maintained, I take pro-biotics twice a day. This is not the pro-biotics in the ‘belly dancing causing’ yogurt that takes two weeks to work, but actual pills that are strong enough to work almost instantaneously.

The intention is to kill any and all one celled things in my body. This will then enable my body to start healing itself. There is a theory that viruses or bacteria are responsible for MS as well as many other ‘incurable illnesses”.
Once the organisms in my body are dead, I will then begin a regimen of intravenous hydrogen peroxide in small doses, (administered by a knowledgeable Doctor) so as not to harm the body by over-dose. This will provide extra oxygen to my body so that my cells and organs can get stronger, and then repair whatever damage has occurred in my body due to illnesses and toxins ingested over the years.

Hydrogen Peroxide is water with an extra molecule of oxygen. When delivered intravenously, the hydrogen peroxide breaks down to water and oxygen. This enables the cells to be oxygenated and promote better healing.

I have started with 2 glasses of colloidal silver water each day. This is in addition to the alkaline water I take regularly.

Before the intravenous hydrogen peroxide treatment starts, I will be adding drops of hydrogen peroxide to my colloidal silver to help break down the particles of silver even more. This will enable the silver to reach more areas of the body.

In this way, I try new treatments that make sense to me to keep me on this road to better health and improved life with MS.

Do I know if this will work? No but I keep my fingers and everything else crossed.

March 23rd Appointment

I had my Live Blood Cell Analysis yesterday.

The blood work was good.
The cells are formed well and the clumping is still there but a lot less. This clumping is as a result of not digesting proteins well.
The blood work also showed that the white cells were strong and healthy and also that the organs were doing well.

However, the tingling in my feet has increased over the past three weeks and something has caused it to worsen. We could not pin point what has changed. I thought it was because of my exercise. I have a strict exercise and weight training routine for every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. I thought that the exercises, however vital, were too much and causing my tingling to return. Dr. Chang did not think so and she said to continue with the exercise as it was very important to build muscle mass, especially with the MS.

I have been off all my supplements for over three months since I started the alkaline water and my mineral count showed as low. This is probably to do with the digestion of protein and am taking a supplement - Wobenzyme, to help digest the protein and break it down. I have just started this today.

Overall it was a good report. Keep doing what I am doing with extra care to eat more proteins, more legumes, organic vegetables and less carbohydrates.

I was quite pleased.

Things are not looking up but, they are not looking down either and the 'no change' is better than 'worse'.

The good thing about my treatments is that when a symptom comes back, instead of prescribing a pill to camouflage the symptom, my doctor asks, "Why is it here?" and "What is causing it to re-appear?".
Since I already know how there is a cause and effect to everything in my life, the effect is my tingling and all I have to do is find the cause.

This way, my treatment progresses with exact answers to why, what and when. It is not left to the imagination or explained as the natural progress of the illness. It needs an answer and we will not stop till we get it.

We are also entertaining a new idea - Hydrogen Peroxide treatment. There are nothing but good things about Hydrogen Peroxide treatments and Dr Chang said it would be worth a try. There are some negative effects - hyper oxygenation but I do not know enough to write about it yet.

Right now, I am content with the progress.

In the mean time, I still continue to teach Adult Literacy classes every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, story telling for kids on Fridays and a religious class on Saturdays.
This is what keeps me occupied and fulfilled.

It is all very rewarding, especially when I see a light bulb go on in my students' heads.

Whenever one sun sets, another rises................................... somwhere.

I Have Good News and Bad News is a part of my life...............

I have just returned from a follow up appointment with my Naturopath.

I had another blood test and there was a drastic improvement as compared to the previous one. The blood cells were not clumped like the last time. The blood showed a marked improvement. I am still off all the pills and despite that, there is a drastic improvement.

This is good news.

Yay to the Magnesium Citramate and the Alkaline water.

Now I have to maintain this. My blood has not been this good since November of 2009. It took over a year to get it to where it was because of toxicity, my trip to the West Coast, overdoing it emotionally, mentally and physically.

Back to the great care, recognizing limits and thanks to the alkaline water, things are back to where they were.
It has been a long journey but well worth it.

The bad news is that I cannot travel in the near future because it will only set back the progress made so far and I was so hoping to go to Kenya to visit my family.

Life continues as must I. The striving toward better health despite my Multiple Sclerosis is a journey, not a destination and the journey is ongoing.

I can speak to my family on Skype instead. I know they understand.

GRATITUDE

The struggle ends when the gratitude begins.
- Neale Donald Walsch

If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, Thank You, that would suffice.- Meister Eckhart

Gratitude is the memory of the heart.- Jean Baptiste Massieu

Appreciate again and again, freshly and naively, the basic goods of life, with awe, pleasure, wonder and even ecstasy, however stale these experiences may have become to others.- Abraham Maslow

Never let frustration or disappointment tarnish your appreciation for all that is good in life. Every day say Thank You to the source of all that is good.

Latest Update.......... I Have Good News and Bad News

My last appointment with my Naturopath was a little disappointing.

While I continue to relentlessly maintain a gluten free, sugar free, dairy free, egg free and chemical free lifestyle, I have also recently added alkaline water. I already had a reverse osmosis water filter. The alkaline water was in addition to the reverse osmosis water.
It ended being another good news bad news scenario (It seems this is the story of my life).

Apparently all my supplements plus the alkaline water were giving me a much stronger dose of minerals than my body could handle and I suffered a severe dose of diarrhea for over four weeks. My already compromised immune system was weakened and I caught a cold. These were some of the bad news.

This led to my blood cells drying out and my latest blood analysis showed that there is a lot of clumping in my cells

I have since stopped all pill vitamins and everything seems to be quite normal. This, ironically is also good news.

Despite being off most of my pill supplements for over three weeks , I am feeling quite well. This was the best news.

My hands and feet get cold and that can only be because of the quality of my blood and therefore, poor circulation. This was another bad news.

I am now trying to improve my blood by sipping my water instead of drinking a lot at a time. Maximum intake of a half a glass every half an hour.
This gives the body and the blood cells a chance to absorb the water rather than have it just flow right through me.

In a week, I will introduce a fruit juice and/or Magnesium Citrimate to my water to encourage absorption.

The blood did show an elimintation of heavy metals. (This can only be as a result of the alkaline water). This was another good news.

I have another test in three weeks and I am hoping to turn this around. In the meantime, more water and more greens to help with elimination and hopefully the blood test will show some positive changes.

Here's hoping......................................

"The Most Dangerous Types of Water You Can Drink............ by Dr. Mercola"

I get Dr. Mercola's Newsletters quite regularly. To subscribe to this great newsletter, please go to www.mercola.com

Including one that is just as unhealthy as soda... another which has 36 harmful pollutants... and this 'healthy water' which invites devastating health consequences as it condenses the toxic byproducts into your drinking supply and sucks the good minerals out of your body.

Read this before you consume another drop... With all the different types of water out there and the hype that goes with each, it can be very easy to get confused about which water is really best for your health. So, if you find yourself struggling with the environmental concerns of bottled water versus the potentially dangerous chemicals in tap water, I understand.

Unfortunately not all of us live close to a mountain stream where we can fill up our water bottles and drink some of the best water on the planet for free – the way nature designed it. Most of us live in large urban areas and need to rely on commercial water distribution systems that are often loaded with chlorine, disinfection by-products, fluoride, and many other toxins.

Here’s the sobering truth… Every year a greater number of contaminants are uncovered in public and private water supplies. And with each passing day, we learn more about how these substances have the potential to jeopardize your well-being. Let me ask you… when was the last time you checked to ensure the water you and your family are drinking is truly safe? And I mean, really checked?

WHAT IS IN YOUR GLASS OF WATER?

If you’re like most people, you probably take your drinking water for granted. You crack open a bottle or turn on the filter on your tap and pour yourself a nice tall glass of cool, sparkling water. Did you know that the cleanest-looking water isn’t necessarily the healthiest? Sometimes the greatest dangers with drinking water can’t be seen, tasted, or even smelled. Impurities in your drinking water can come from a number of sources. There are many different toxic synthetic chemicals used in society today. And, unfortunately, the list grows longer every year. To make matters worse, even some naturally occurring substances can be harmful when they end up in your drinking water. Then there’s the question of water treatment and the myriad contaminants that can result from the process of disinfection.

Finally, distribution systems and pipes create hazards all on their own. To be sure, your drinking water is subject to many, many potential points of contamination. And honestly, these potential hazards can vary from water source to water source…

Five Sources of Water – What You Need to Know About Each

1.Tap Water – Easy, quick, convenient. But how many pollutants lurk in your water? And what is your associated health risk? More on this in just a moment…

2.Bottled Water – Did you know that 40% of bottled water is actually TAP WATER? With or without added filtration – you’re paying through the nose for it. Worse, an independent test by the Environmental Working Group found arsenic, DPBs and 36 other harmful pollutants hiding in bottled water. Read more about this below… Plastic bottles are a less than optimal idea too. They can contain the potentially hazardous chemical BPA. And the devastating environmental impact is staggering.

3.Distilled Water – Use with caution… Long-term use can invite health problems, because its minerals are evaporated out. So to try to maintain mineral balance, it sucks minerals out of your body. What’s worse, the contaminants in the water are more concentrated in the finished distilled water. You can just imagine what that does to your health…

4.Alkaline Water – Although there is some controversy on this, I and most experts believe that this water should be used for short-term detoxification only (1-2 weeks max). Additionally the alkalinization process does NOT filter the water so you need to carefully evaluate the water filter for the specific alkaline water unit it’s using.

5.Vitamin Waters – Don’t be fooled… Vitamin waters contain high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), artificial colors, additives, preservatives, and caffeine. Even worse… they use distilled water to produce these products – which as you just read, is one of the worst types of water you can consume.

So, to complete the full circle back to tap water… What the Government Isn't Telling You About Your Drinking Water Passed by Congress in 1974, and amended in both 1986 and 1996, the EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Act was intended to ensure safe public drinking water. It’s been documented that each year there are over 200,000 violations to the Safe Drinking Water Act – involving over 20 percent of water treatment facilities. However, I have no information that your particular water treatment facility had violations. EPA standards are based on a 175 lb. male drinking water with only one chemical present. It’s scientifically recognized that if 2 or more chemicals exist at the same time in your tap water, the synergistic toxicity of those two chemicals greatly magnifies the negative effects. Imagine what happens when you have 6 or 7 chemicals in your water...

HOW YOUR LOCAL WATER COMPANY MAY BE JEOPARDISING YUR HEALTHh

To make your water safe to drink, your local water treatment plant most likely adds chlorine, chlorine dioxide, or chloramines to the water. The practice of adding chlorine to drinking water began in the late 1800s and by 1904became the standard in water treatment, and for the most part remains so today. Chlorine isn’t necessarily used because it’s the safest or even the most effective means of disinfection. It’s used because it is the cheapest and it is highly effective at eliminating water borne infections that are all too common in countries like India and Mexico.. While chlorine effectively kills the harmful, disease-causing microorganisms, an unwanted side effect typically occurs at the same time. Water supplies naturally contain organic matter, such as decaying vegetation. The chlorine-containing disinfectants react with this matter, generating toxic chemical disinfection byproducts, or DBPs for short. And here’s the point that I want you to grasp… Chlorine itself is relatively harmless. Research reveals that the disinfection byproducts (DBPs) produced from chlorine are potentially harmful to your health! In other words, it’s typically the disinfection byproducts, the DBPs – not chlorine –that are responsible for the potential toxic effects of chlorinated water.

The Potentially Dangerous Effects of Disinfection Byproducts, or DBPs

Some of the more dangerous DBPs created from the chlorination of water include trihalomethanes (THMs) and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). These chlorine byproducts can trigger the production of free radicals in your body. Three Disinfection Byproducts, or DBPs, You Want to Avoid… At All Costs Here are some of the more dangerous chlorination byproducts and their associated suspected side effects: Trihalomethanes (THMs): Cause cancer in laboratory animals Trigger the production of free radicals in your body Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs): Lead to central nervous system depression and drowsiness Can irritate skin and mucous membranes Haloacetic Acid (HAAs): Is a Class B2 probable human carcinogen May cause liver disease in test animals at very high levelsAre They in Your Drinking Water? According to a recent New Scientist report, a comprehensive survey of U.S. drinking water reveals that drinking water may contain a host of hormonally active chemicals. Some of the most frequently found substances included: MTBE (Methyl-tert-butyl Ether) – a chemical added to fuel to raise octane number; a potential human carcinogen at high doses Atrazine – a U.S. herbicide banned in the European Union; a known endocrine disruptor, it feminizes wildlife and lab animals, is linked to reproductive problems in lab animals, impairs immune function, and is linked to both breast and prostate cancers in humans Granted, the levels detected were low. But let me ask you: do you really want to drink someone’s recklessly discarded fuel boosters and pesticides? I certainly don’t. Incidentally, the U.S. government does not regulate or set rules for pharmaceuticals or any of these other compounds in your drinking water, except for one: the herbicide Atrazine.

WHY YOUR BODY NEEDS HEALTHY WATER

Your body depends on clean water for countless functions. Your body depends on clean water to perform its daily functions, such as digestion, temperature and blood regulation, respiration, and detoxification.

In particular, your body’s ability to flush out toxins and properly assimilate nutrients depends heavily on an abundant intake of clean, chemical free water. The more stress, toxins, and pollutants your body battles with each day, the more water it needs.

The quantity and quality of the water you use largely determines your body’s ability to shed excess fat and properly maintain your body’s largest organ, your skin. While your entire body is 72 percent water, your skin is 80 percent water. Plentiful water is needed to maintain your skin’s elasticity and moisture barrier. Your blood is over 90 percent water and uses water to transport oxygen, nutrients, and antibodies throughout your body. I’m often asked what is the ideal amount of water to drink on a daily basis.

HOW MUCH WATER DOES YOUR BODY REALLY NEED?

Eight glasses of water a day is a good start, but your body may need more A good rule is to use the color of your urine as a guide. When you’re well hydrated, your urine should be clear, or nearly so. Please note this guideline does not work when you are taking B supplements with riboflavin which will turn your urine bright yellow.

It’s been estimated that over two-thirds of all people don’t drink enough water, and suffer from some degree of dehydration. Did you know that just a 5 percent drop in body fluids can cause a 25 to 30 percent loss of energy? Unfortunately, many people turn to stimulants like caffeine and sugar to boost their energy level when they feel drained. Problem is, these substances only increase your need for more water, as well as potentially cause a myriad of other health issues. Next time you feel a drop in your energy, pour yourself a cool, tall glass of water and see if it doesn’t make a difference in how you feel!

THE MOST POPULAR SOLUTION......BUT IS IT THE HEALTHIEST?

Drinking bottled water opens up a whole new set of health and environmental concerns. Is drinking bottled water the solution? Evidently, many people believe so. Bottled water represents, by far, the fastest growing segment of the beverage industry with annual sales exceeding $11 billion.

How has the bottled water industry created such a demand for a commodity that’s available for free? By slick marketing tactics and taking advantage of lax governmental regulations. Playing the message that bottled water is cleaner, and therefore healthier, the bottled water industry has successfully created one of the most incredulous scams of the century.

Here’s how you’ve been duped: Studies reveal that about 40 percent of bottled water is actually regular tap water with possibly no additional filtering treatment. The EPA standards that apply to public water supplies do NOT apply to bottled water There are no restrictions protecting against a source of bottled water being located near industrial facilities or waste dumps. Overall, bottled water is less regulated than tap water. A recent Environmental Working Group test uncovered 38 contaminants in 10 brands of bottled water, including DBPs, nitrate, caffeine, arsenic, Tylenol, bacteria and industrial chemicals.

THE PROBLEM WITH WATER BOTTLES The alarming environmental impact of discarded plastic water bottles In the time it takes you to read just this one short sentence, over 8,000 empty water bottles are being thrown away worldwide. According to the Container Recycling Institute, in the U.S. alone, more than 67 million plastic water bottles are discarded each day. That’s enough empty plastic water bottles to… Fill 5500 garbage trucks each day. Bury Manhattan Island one foot deep each day. Wrap around the planet 149 times each year! Not easily degraded, empty plastic water bottles have become a major contributor to worldwide pollution. In fact, water bottles make up a sizable portion of the garbage patch of discarded plastic swirling in the Pacific Ocean just a few hundred miles off the coast. This enormous plastic “stew” is currently larger than twice the size of Texas and growing rapidly!

The waste issue is not the only problem. According to the Sierra Club, the U.S. alone uses 1.5 million barrels of oil to produce all the water bottles we toss each year. And along with oil, comes unwanted toxins. The processing of plastic water bottle releases toxic compounds such as nickel, ethylbenzene, ethylene oxide, and benzene into the environment.

MSG (a slow poison)

Here's an interesting article that that I found in my in-box:


The food additive MSG (Mono-Sodium Glutamate) is a slow poison. MSG hides behind 25 or more names, such as Natural Flavoring." MSG is even in your favorite coffee from Tim Horton's and Starbucks coffee shops!

I wondered if there could be an actual chemical causing the massive
obesity epidemic, and so did a friend of mine, John Erb. He was a research
assistant at the University of Waterloo in Ontario , Canada , and spent
years working for the government. He made an amazing discovery while
going through scientific journals for a book he was writing called The Slow
Poisoning of America ..

In hundreds of studies around the world, scientists were creating
obese mice and rats to use in diet or diabetes test studies. No strain of
rat or mice is naturally obese, so scientists have to create them. They
make these creatures morbidly obese by injecting them with MSG when they are first born.

The MSG triples the amount of insulin the pancreas creates, causing
rats (and perhaps humans) to become obese. They even have a name for the
fat rodents they create: "MSG-Treated Rats."

When I heard this, I was shocked. I went into my kitchen and checked
the cupboards and the refrigerator. MSG was in everything -- the Campbell's
soups, the Hostess Doritos, the Lays flavored potato chips, Top
Ramen, Betty Crocker Hamburger Helper, Heinz canned gravy, Swanson frozen prepared meals, and Kraft salad dressings, especially the "healthy low-fat" ones.

The items that didn't have MSG marked on the product label had
something called "Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein," which is just another name
for Monosodium Glutamate.

It was shocking to see just how many of the foods we feed our children
everyday are filled with this stuff. MSG is hidden under many different
names in order to fool those who read the ingredient list, so that they
don't catch on. (Other names for MSG are "Accent, "Aginomoto," "Natural
Meat Tenderizer," etc.)

But it didn't stop there.

When our family went out to eat, we started asking at the restaurants
what menu items contained MSG. Many employees, even the managers, swore they didn't use MSG. But when we ask for the ingredient list, which they
grudgingly provided, sure enough, MSG and Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein were everywhere.

Burger King, McDonald's, Wendy's, Taco Bell, every restaurant -- even
the sit-down eateries like TGIF, Chili's, Applebee's, and Denny's -- use MSG
in abundance. Kentucky Fried Chicken seemed to be the WORST offender: MSG was in every chicken dish, salad dressing. and gravy. No wonder I loved to eat that coating on the skin -- their secret spice was MSG!

So why is MSG in so many of the foods we eat?
Is it a preservative, or a vitamin?

Not according to my friend John Erb. In his book The Slow Poisoning
of America , he said that MSG is added to food for the addictive effect it
has on the human body.

Even the propaganda website sponsored by the food manufacturers lobby
group supporting MSG explains that the reason they add it to food is to make
people eat more.

A study of the elderly showed that older people eat more of the foods
that it is added to. The Glutamate Association lobbying group says eating
more is a benefit to the elderly, but what does it do to the rest of us?

"Betcha can't eat [just] one," takes on a whole new meaning where MSG
is concerned! And we wonder why the nation is overweight!

MSG manufacturers themselves admit that it addicts people to their
products. It makes people choose their product over others, and makes
people eat more of it than they would if MSG wasn't added.

Not only is MSG scientifically proven to cause obesity, it is an
addictive substance. Since its introduction into the American food supply
fifty years ago,MSG has been added in larger and larger doses to the
pre-packaged meals,soups, snacks, and fast foods we are tempted to eat
everyday.

The FDA has set no limits on how much of it can be added to food. They
claim it's safe to eat in any amount. But how can they claim it's safe when
there are hundreds of scientific studies with titles like these:

"The monosodium glutamate (MSG) obese rat as a model for the study of
exercise in obesity." Gobatto CA, Mello MA, Souza CT , Ribeiro IA. Res
Commun Mol Pathol Pharmacol. 2002.

"Adrenalectomy abolishes the food-induced hypothalamic serotonin
release in both normal and monosodium glutamate-obese rats." Guimaraes RB, Telles MM, Coelho VB, Mori C, Nascimento CM, Ribeiro. Brain Res Bull. 2002 Aug.

'Obesity induced by neonatal monosodium glutamate treatment in spontaneously hypertensive rats: An animal model of multiple risk factors."
Iwase M, Yamamoto M, Iino K, Ichikawa K, Shinohara N, Yoshinari Fujishima.
Hypertens Res. 1998 Mar.

"Hypothalamic lesion induced by injection of monosodium glutamate in
suckling period and subsequent development of obe sity." Tanaka K, Shimada
M, Nakao K Kusunoki. Exp Neurol. 1978 Oct.

No, the date of that last study was not a typo; it was published in
1978. Both the "medical research community" and "food manufacturers" have
known about the side effects of MSG for decades.

Many more of the studies mentioned in John Erb's book link MSG to
diabetes, migraines and headaches, autism, ADHD, and even Alzheimer's.

So what can we do to stop the food manufactures from dumping this
fattening and addictive MSG into our food supply and causing the obesity
epidemic we now see?

Several months ago, John Erb took his book and his concerns to one of
the highest government health officials in Canada . While he was sitting in
the go vernment office, the official told him, "Sure, I know how bad MSG is.
I wouldn't touch the stuff." But this top-level government official refuses
to tell the public what he knows.

The big media doesn't want to tell the public either, fearing issues
with their advertisers. It seems that the fallout on the fast food industry
may hurt their profit margin. The food producers and restaurants have been
addicting us to their products for years, and now we are paying the price
for it. Our children should not be cursed with obesity caused by an addictive food additive.

But what can I do about it? I'm just one voice! What can I do to stop the poisoning of our children, while our governments are=2 0insuring financial protection for the industry that is poisoning us?

This message is going out to everyone I know in an attempt to tell you
the truth that the corporate-owned politicians and media won't tell you.

The best way you can help to save yourself and your children from this
drug-induced epidemic is to forward this article to everyone. With any
luck, it will circle the globe before politicians can pass the legislation
protecting those who are poisoning us.

The food industry learned a lot from the tobacco industry. Imagine if
big tobacco had a bill like this in place before someone blew the whistle on
nicotine?

If you are one of the few who can still believe that MSG is good for
us and you don't believe what John Erb has to say, see for yourself. Go to
the National Library of Medicine at http://www.pubmed.com/. Type in the words "MSG Obese" and read a few of the 115 medical studies that appear.

We the public do not want to be rats in one giant experiment, and we
do not approve of food that makes us into a nation of obese,
lethargic,addicted sheep, feeding the food industry's bottom line while
waiting for the heart transplant, the diabetic-induced amputation,
blindness, or other obesity-induced, life-threatening disorders.

With your help we can put an end to this poison.
Do your part in sending this message out by word of mouth, e-mail, or by
distribution of this printout to your friends all over the world and stop
this "Slow Poisoning of Mankind" by the packaged food industry.

Blowing the whistle on MSG is our responsibility, so get the word out.

(I am trying to trace the author)