Thursday, September 5, 2013

Our Stressful Lives Cause Havoc!


 I’ve fallen and can’t  get up!
 

This actually happened to me a few days ago!
I woke up feeling a little groggy that day, not having slept very well and then, I ran around completing chores around the house, cleaning, sorting, organizing and half way during the day, my body starting shutting down. I felt like I was about to get an MS attack.
“There goes my 6 year claim of being attack free.” I said to myself.
Thankfully, it was not an attack.
What it was, was a cause and effect. This was an effect. The cause.....?
I had been in Toronto  the previous week, visiting friends, family and my doctor and it was quite hectic. My routine was out of whack - no exercise, no meditation, less water, improper diet, traffic stress in Toronto, being overwhelmed by the number of cars and people everywhere, meeting with friends and family,  the physical and emotional excitement, and the list can go on.
It took two days to get there, eight days of running around meeting people and over exerting
myself, and then, two days to return, followed by my household chores and sorting things
out, laundry, cleaning, tending to my plants, etc.  I did not stop.  I was not drinking enough,  not
consuming enough essential oils (to help myelin support) and definitely not providing any
opportunity for my body to re-energize itself. 
On top of that, the day after we got back, I drove to Halifax, and went to Costco, drove
back, and then sat at the computer writing a letter against some ‘unjust cause’ until 2:00am.

The cumulative effect of all this physical and mental stress, caused my body to simply shutdown.

Did it ever shut down! One moment I was fine and the next, I could not move. I tried to stand up but my legs could not support my body. My knees buckled and down I went. No matter what I did, I could not get back up again. I crawled around the room, trying to lift myself but my arms had  also lost their strength. I really thought this was the end.

 



All I could do was pound on the floor so Michael (my caregiver, who was downstairs cooking) would hear me. By this time, my head started hurting and I was sure I was having an attack.
Michael heard the pounding and came upstairs to see what was going on and found me on the floor. He lifted me and almost had to  carry me to the sofa. 

He immediately wrote to Doctor Chang and she called as soon as she got the message.
It was not an attack. It was ‘adrenal fatigue’ after having been physically and mentally stressed for over a week.

I had also somehow reduced my consumption of essential oils.
Apart from the fish oils,  I need to consume good oils like coconut oil, flax seed oil, cold pressed olive oil and grape seed oil. All that socializing and eating out had cost me!
Doctor Chang also  asked me if I was doing my calming breathing exercises. I  told her, I was, but had not done them for over a week. I had also not meditated since we left for Toronto, over 10 days ago!

Is it a surprise that after over ten days of `go go go” my body had enough?  

It is always a cause and effect.

Had I gone to the hospital, they would have probably just treated the symptoms and given me some steroids. They do not care why a symptom exists, They care that it exists and will prescribe poisons to mask the symptoms.

Thank God, I am still drug free!

So now I have to make more positive changes to my life:

1.       Increase my consumption of essential oils – avocados, coconut oil for cooking, and cold pressed olive oil on my salad

2.       Resume breathing exercises, regular exercises and meditation

3.       Reduce getting stressed over almost everything. (Ha ha!)

4.       Eat  lots of protein and brightly coloured vegetables. Since I am on a paleolithic diet, I do not  consume any carbohydrates and therefore my energy  drains faster.

5.       Think  ‘happy thoughts’, do ‘happy things’ and speak ‘happy words’ while avoiding unnecessary physical and mental stress. I need to adapt the ‘what gets done, gets done and what does not get done will get done some other time’ mentality. Most times I do.

Reinventing Life everyday has become my way of life.

I was on a 'high' from all that socializing and activity and now, it was time to slow down and resume my regular pace of life.

People do not realize how the stresses of daily living harm the body.

My body is already weak to begin with and this affected me drastically.
Imagine what it is doing to all those ’healthy’ people who are constantly stressed, trying to meet deadlines, who have to look a certain way, dress a certain way, contend with irate people, traffic, bad news on the tv and radio, and  then, on top of it all, be poisoned by the toxicity of our daily living!!!!!!
All these stresses individually and combined, really do create havoc in our lives.

It is not just our food and drink that need attention, it is everything  from what we see, what we breathe, what we hear, what we think, our stress levels, how we treat people, how we treat ourselves, how we interact with the people in our lives, to the clothes we wear and the air we breathe.

The combination of all the things we consume  (physically, mentally and emotionally) will and do affect us (positively or negatively).
We want only those things that affect us positively.
if we falter, it is important to get back on the wellness path as soon as possible.


For more information on adrenal fatigue, see:

 


Sunday, July 28, 2013

JUICING OR BLENDING

I am not a religious juicer but I do it now and then and always enjoy my creations, which range from exotic to weird - let's say eclectic. 
I still always enjoy them.

A lot of gurus have talked about juicing.
Juicing extracts the juices and discards the rest.
I just put everything in the blender/food processor and drink it while chewing at whatever is left unblended.

I make smoothies, home-made ice creams, blended fruit and vegetable juices,  and will sometimes add dairy free milk (any of your choice), filtered water, spices like cinnamon and/or turmeric, and whatever else I can think of.

The ingredients depend on what I have in my fridge or freezer.




A few weeks ago, I was at the grocery store and they had over ripened organic bananas in their discount section. I bought a whole lot and froze them.
A few months ago, friends of mine brought me 8 cases of mangoes. I peeled them, cut them into chunks and froze them.
Costco had organic frozen Blueberries and I got some.

Last week, I made a Mango Ice Cream that was dairy free, sugar free and preservative free. Just frozen mangoes, and a little dairy free milk. That's it. I loved it!


This morning I made a blend using Organic Kale (stems and leaves) Organic Cucumber, frozen organic Blueberries, frozen organic Bananas, coconut cream, turmeric, and filtered water, and I am loving that too.

(I have to start my own little jingle,something similar to “pa ra ra,  ra ra – I’m loving it”. That’s taken!
 
Anyway, here is what I used:

  • 1 cup organic Kale –stems and leaves
  • ½ organic cucumber (with the peel and seeds)
  • 1 medium frozen organic banana cut into chunks (remember to peel)
  • ½ cup frozen organic blueberries
  • ¼ block of 100% coconut cream shaved
  • ¾ cup filtered water
Put it all in the blender, Set in on High Pulse and…………. till everything is blended. For a smoother consistency, blend for about 3-4 minutes or more.
It did not look that great butit was quite tasty.
I could not taste the coconut and will make a milk and cool it down or freeze it an use frozen coconut cream cubes, and add some coconut milk or coconut water.
 
I could have had the blender run longer for a smoother drink but I was too impatient.
I could have used dairy free milk instead of water to make a nice creamy smoothie but I didn’t think about it.
I could have put it in a fancy glass with two celery stems and an organic strawberry but I didn’t.
 
I always do things in a way that feels right at the time and this felt right just the way it was.
 
It is a hot sunny day and this drink is/was delicious, cooling, refreshing and nutritious.
 
I just put it in a large mug as I did not want to go back and forth to serve a glass at a time. I consumed it all before even I finished writing this article.
 
 


 
 
I think I will make some more mango ice cream later this afternoon!

 
Eat Healthy, Drink Healthy, Breathe Healthy, Think Happy and Healthy - Be Healthy!
It is not that complicated!

Friday, July 5, 2013

Multi Tasking Begins With the Self

I have been away and when I returned, I got busy with organizing the garden for the planting season.

A lot has happened:

Firstly, I noticed  a lot of things going wrong: my gait is a little worse, I tire more easily,my right leg is weaker, and my tingling has increased considerably.

I think I am detoxifying more as I have increased the detoxing supplements and the more I detoxify, the sicker I get. But this just seemed like something else was wrong. So I decided that it was time to make some changes. In the last month, I have made the following changes:

  1. I started exercising everyday. I used to exercise everyday and decided to exercise every alternate day instead. Now I have gone back to exercising everyday - stretch cords weight training, leg exercises, counter push ups, sit ups and strength exercises. I even bought an exercise bike to help strengthen the legs and feet (the right leg is noticeably weaker).
  2. I started a new foot exercise - I sit on a straight chair, raise one leg at time so it is parallel to the floor and write the alphabet in the air. I went a step further and started two letter words, then three. One of the symptoms of MS is loss of muscle mass and control and I need to re train my weak leg to become strong again.
  3. I allocate a few hours a day to writing -either for my blogs, my books in progress or just writing exercises. I found several writing prompt websites and these help to get the creative juices flowing.
  4. I joined the local writing club and absolutely love it. I have been recommended to join another in the nearby town.
  5. I started volunteering. Now, I cannot do as much as I would like but I do what I can and it feels great.
  6. I work in the garden as much as I can, even if it means sitting and re potting plants, dividng the perennials or re-designing the garden. It helps to do some physical work.
  7. I have set goals - Education Goals, Personal Goals, Household Goals, Personal Growth Goals, Financial Goals, Professional Goals and Health and Wellness Goals. These keep me from wavering. Whether I achieve them or not is not the point. I work toward achieving them. They will often change, depending upon my circumstances but I have a game plan to guide me and that is what is most important.
The art of muti-tasking begins withthe Self and I find myself busier, now that I am retired and I like it!

These help me have a little more structure and focus. I think it is important to have focus so that I am more productive, always learning and upgrading my skills, and constantly improving my physical and mental well being.

I also re-established my routine:


  • Starting the day with 32 ounces of water and continuing to drink a minimum of 8 glasses of water throughout the day.
  • Exercising a little throughout the day. I will do 70.............. yes 70 counter push ups, three times a day. I drink so much water that I am constantly going to the bathroom. After I finish my business, I do 70 counter push ups.
  • Meditating at least once a day, sometimes more than once, depending on my stress level.
  • Having a protein breakfast and eating smaller, more frequent meals throughout the day.
  • A little physical work like cleaning, dusting, organizing and/or gardening, everyday.
  • Allocating  time to pray, calm the spirit and give thanks.
  • Reading more - My attention span seems to be affected by the MS and I want to be able to read a book a day. I will start with a book a week and take it from there.
  • Sleeping on time and getting a good minimum of eight hours of sleep every night. Doctor Chang has always said that the body heals when it sleeps and that, I need to sleep till I wake.
  • I had my Food Sensitivity Test but I was not very pleased with it. It only covered 160 foods and I need it to be more comprehensive. I am going to get another test done. This last one showed strong sensitivities to: beef, wheat/gluten, almonds, papaya, eggs and red kidney beans.
 
 


Hopefully,these changes will bring a new sunrise in my journey towards better health!





Wednesday, April 17, 2013

OUR SO,,,,,, SO,,,,,,, TOXIC LIVES!

I have said this over and over again and I will say it yet one more time - We live in an increasingly toxic world and our bodies are under constant attack.

How many of these toxic 'cover-ups' infest your daily lives?

- Hormone-pumped meat from cows, pigs or chickens and antibiotic-laced dairy from commercial cattle
 - Conventionally grown and chemically sprayed fruits and vegetables
 - Package foods and desserts that are loaded with hidden sugars or artificial sweeteners and artificial ingredients
 - Whole grains that we are told are healthy but which are actually packed with allergenic ingredients like gluten, which as been linked to countless health problems including auto-immune disorders
 - Medicines like Advil, Aspirin,Tylenol or 'one-size-fits-all' prescription drugs
 - Plastic water bottles and food containers and Styrofoam
 - Cleaning and laundry supplies
-Make up and Personal Care products








 

                                                           
 
 
 
 
These foods and household products are packed with chemicals and deadly toxins which cause a number of complications in our bodies.
 
Ask yourself:
Why do we feel more tired than we did years ago?
Why are we facing more medical issues today than we ever did?
 
It is because our lives are constantly subject to poisons that have been introduced to make produce and livestock bigger fatter, hardier,  to make our food last longer,  and even insects do not go near it. There are man-made products going into our bodies, we are ingesting chemicals and all these are in the form of:
 
  • Pesticides, herbicides and fungicides
  • Heavy metals like mercury, aluminium and lead
  • Genetically modified food which will alter your DNA
  • Hormone and antibiotic residues in our bodies
  • The toxicity of 'daily living'- our food,water and air
  • Man-made fibres and clothing
  • Toxic make up and the personal hygiene products
  • Cleaning agents in our home
 
 
Here is an excerpt of an article I recently read:
 
From the Desk of Yuri Elkaim, BPHE, CK, RHN
 
Did you know that millions of people are exposed to unsafe doses of pesticides in their foods every single day?
 
 A1998 study by the Environment Working Group looked at 13 organoposphates which are derivatives of nerve gases developed by Nazi Germany.
These pesticides have been widely used for 40 years against scores of agricultural pests.
 
The study investigated these pesticides across 82,000 samples of fruit and vegetables and cross-referenced them with children's eating patterns between 1991 and 1996.
 
Their findings were shocking..........showing an estimated 1.1 million children under the age of five were eating food that contains an unsafe does of one or more pesticides.
Of these, 106,000  exceeded the FDA's safe daily dosage level by 10 times or more!!!
 
Findings from a 2002 study in the journal Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, revealed that compared to drinking water and inhalation, processed food intake results in a 1000 to 100,000 fold higher to pesticides.
 
Children and adults alike are at a risk of being exposed to deadly amounts of toxins. When pregnant women are exposed to pesticides and other chemicals, their developing babies are exposed too!!!
 
Is it a wonder why there is a substantial increase in babies born with autism?
Is it a wonder why so many kids develop ADD?
Is it a wonder why we are so ill and obese?
 
A startling investigation in newborn babies born in the US in 2004 revealed that, of the 413 industrial and consumer product chemicals, these babies showed an average of 200 contaminants in their blood!
The analysis tested for pollutants including mercury, fire retardants, pesticides and a chemical used in the production pf Teflon, PFOA. In total, the babies`blood showed signs of 287 chemicals including 209 never before detected in umbilical chord blood.
 
The toxic substances are secretly hiding in what may seem harmless, like in the food we eat, the water we drink and even in the air we breathe, the carpet you walk on barefoot and your skin care products!
 
The toxicity that we are exposed to far exceeds anything in our history and recent statistics confirm that U.S Industries manufacture and import close to 75,000 chemicals. The current regulatory system does not require comprehensive testing of chemicals before they use them in consumable products.
 
The EPA (the agency that was created to protect human and environmental health) has issued regulations to control only nine of these 75,000 chemicals since the enactment of the Federal Toxic Substances Control Act in 1976.
 
Things are not better in Canada. Why are these chemicals even allowed in our consumables?
 
This means that there are tens of thousands of possible toxic chemicals entering our bodies WITHOUT US EVEN KNOWING IT, because the organizations and governments that have vowed to protect us are too busy turning a blind eye to this poisoning!
 
These statistics are mind boggling:
Each year, we unknowingly consume over 4.5 Billion Pounds of pesticides, 1 Billion of which are 'conventional' pesticides used in the agriculture industry and in our home and garden products!!!!!!
An average of 14 Pounds of toxic chemicals are being deposited in YOUR BODY every single year!!!
 
Every single day we are being exposed to a toxic chemicals in our food, our drinking water, our homes and places of work,our cars and in our kids' schools.
 
HOW IS THIS TOXICITY AFFECTING OUR HEALTH?
 
 
 
It is not complicated!
It should not be hard to undestand how exposing our bodies to a tidal wave of chemicals and poisonous pesticides cannot affect our lives.
 
Pesticides act like neurotoxins in the body. They may not necessarily do damage overnight but their cumulative effect is extremely dangerous. THEY BIO-ACCUMULATE IN YOUR BODY AND RESIST BREAKDOWN IN WATER. THEY TEND TO ACCUMULATE AND STORE FAT TISSUE WHERE THEY CAN REMAIN FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME. As a result neurotoxins like pesticides, herbicides and fungicides have all been shown to cause disruptions to the neurological system and the brain.
 
A 2011 study published in the journal of Environmental Health Perspectives revealed that people exposed to two types of pesticides (paraquat and rotenone - mainly used in agriculture) were 2.5 times more likely to develop Parkinson's disease. Research on animals had already linked paraquat to Parkinson's.
 
Rotetone directly inhibits the function of the mitochondira, the sturcture responsible for making energy in the cells, meaning - cellular death. In the nervous system, this cellular death causes devastating effects.
 
Paraguat increases the production of oxyge derivatives which cause significant damade to important structurein the body's cells
 
BUT...........................WHO CARES? The corporations and governemtns only want to make money, even if it is at the cost of human lives!!
 
Imagine a swarm of termites eating away at the foundationof your home, along with a stealth like invader whose sole purpose was to disable the electrical and plumbing in your home. This is what is happening in our bodies right now!
 
Other research has shown that a high level exposure to these synthetic neurotoxins causes abnormalities in the liver function, skin and in the nervous system.
 
And it is not just the pesticides.........................................
 
FoodAdditives and Preservatives - like tartrazine, potassium benzoate, MSG, biphenyl, aspartame and hundreds of others - which can be found in all packaged foods, act like a morticians`s embalming fluid on your body! (We really are really the living dead)!!
These preservatives - used to ewnahance shelf life, colour and the flavour of man-made foods - have been well documented to cause ailments like asthma, hyperactivity and cancerous growths i animals and human beings.
 
Plastics are well known to leak estrogen-like chemicals (xenoestrogens) into foods and water, creating unsuspecting hormone imbalances in both men and women, including early onset puberty in girls, and more cysts and cancerous growths
 
Genetically Modified Foods (GMO`s) have been shown to disrupt the integrity of your DNA!
A new research out of France which studied the effects of Monsanto`s Genetically Modified Corn (the most common corn in the world) on rats over a two-year period created a huge frenzy after releasing shocking pictures of rats distorted by tennis ball-sized tumors after eating GMO corn!
 
Scared yet?
 
The purpose of this article is not to scare you but to inform you of the poisoning of our world by government sanctioned billion dollar corporations.
 
We have to take our lives into our own hands and do something about it.
We can lay blame and cry tears till the (grain fed) cows come home but until we take matters into our own hands and take responsibility for our own bodies, nothing is going to happen.
 
What have we done to our Beautiful Blue Planet?