Build Strong Bones. Drink Tea.

Today I’m going to tell you how you can provide your body with the ingredients it needs to build, repair, and maintain strong and healthy bones, muscles, teeth, and veins drinking Dr. Christopher’s Super Calc Tea. First, let’s take milk off the shelf by discussing how it works to deplete calcium from the body.

Cut the Milk

Let me get straight to the point by saying affirmatively that you don’t need milk to keep your bones strong. Americans have been inundated by statements made via advertising campaigns paid for by the Dairy Association that milk consumption leads to strong, healthy bones. If this were true, osteoporosis would be long gone in this country. Not only do people drink milk by the gallons, but many juices, cereals, and breads that line the grocery store shelves are fortified with calcium. Despite the consumption of calcium enriched foods, calcium related diseases persist.

Calcium deficiency may be indicated by the following:

• Muscle Cramps
  
• Vericose veins
  
• Hemorrhoids
  
• Tooth decay
  
• Achy body
  
• Osteoporosis
  

So why do these conditions persist despite the amounts of milk and calcium consumed?

Let me offer this explanation:

The standard American diet consists of too much animal protein, refined sugar, and refined flour. These foods acidify the blood. To neutralize the acid condition of the blood, the body pulls calcium and phosphorous from the bones and veins.

So people drink milk to replenish calcium. Problem: the calcium in the milk is bound to the protein casein. The calcium neutralizes the stomach acid, and the protein cannot be broken down. Thus, the body cannot even use the calcium in the milk. Additionally, the milk is pasteurized and completely void of any enzymes that could assist with digestion of the milk.

So people take calcium pills to replenish calcium. Problem: those supplements are made of inorganic isolated minerals, very little of which is absorbed by the body.

What you need is whole plant calcium that will be taken in with all the nutrients working in synergy to create healthy cells. Recommended sources are the following:

• Kelp & seaweeds
  
• Dark green leafy vegetables
  
• Citrus fruits on an empty stomach
  
• Super Calc Tea!
  

Below is a recipe for Dr. Christopher’s Super Calc Tea formulated to replenish calcium deficiency. Make it and drink it freely. I do!

Super Calc Tea

• 6 parts horsetail grass
  
• 4 parts comfrey leaf
  
• 3 parts oatstraw
  
• 1 part lobelia
  
  
• Optional: 1-3 parts hibiscus petals for flavor and a pretty color
  

Use 1 teaspoon of herb to 1 cup of distilled water. Let the herbs sit in the boiling water for about 30 seconds, then cover, let cool, and strain. Add a few tablespoons of raw honey or to your desired sweetness and 1/3 the volume of raw apple cider vinegar. This mixture will keep in the refrigerator indefinitely. Drink ½ cup per day. You might find the vinegar to be off-putting, but after just a couple days, your body will crave it!

By the way, you can purchase the above-listed herbs at Mountain Rose Herbs



This tea provides abundant silica and calcium as well as high quality glucose so the nutrients accompanying the glucose will be taken in readily by the cells.

To avoid further calcium loss, avoid calcium robbers such as meat, dairy, and refined foods.

This article has been entered in to the Mountain Rose Herbs Recipe Contest!


Sources:
Kal Sellers at www.kalsschool.com
Traci’s Transformational Health Principles by Traci & Kal Sellers

Read more...

Rejuvelac Smoothie for Healthy Digestion

This week I successfully brewed my own rejuvelac! I have been using it as the liquid base in my daily green smoothie and would like you to consider trying it as well. You might be thinking, "Rejuva-what?" Keep reading, and I will explain.

A brief introduction to rejuvelac:

What is it?
Rejuvelac is a fermented beverage used to replenish intestinal microflora and help rebuild digestion.

How is it made?
Rejuvelac is made by fermenting sprouted grain in water over a 2-3 day period.

What does it taste like?
Rejuvelac is slightly fizzy with a hint of lemon flavor. Most people do not like it at first but get used to it. It is not something I would sip out on my deck on a sunny afternoon, but that is why I put it in my smoothies! Nutrition without repulsion!

Below, I describe how to make my rejuvelac.

1.  Start by sprouting 1 cup of wheat berries (or other grain such as rye or millet) in a 1 quart mason jar.

Sprouting Procedures:

• Rinse the wheat berries once. If you have a sprouting screen to put over the mouth of your mason jar, this will make the process much easier, but a screen is not necessary.
  
• Put the grain into your mason jar, fill with pure water, and let it soak for 8 hours or overnight.
  
• Next, drain the grain, rinse once, and drain sufficiently. If you have the sprouting screen, leave the jar tipped into a bowl at a downward slant to allow air to circulate and the grain to continue to drain. If you do not have the screen, drain well and leave the jar open and tipped sideways on your counter.
  
• Let the grain sit for another 8-12 hours and rinse again.
  
• You will rinse it 2 or 3 times a day until the sprouts are tiny and just emerging from the seed. This will take 1-2 days.
  
• Put the sprouts in your blender with some water to cover and blend on high for 5 seconds.
  
• At this point, you are ready to begin fermenting!
  

2.  Put the ground-up grain back in your mason jar and fill the jar up with pure water.

3.  Add a dash of raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar or fresh lemon juice to make the solution slightly acid and help the fermentation process along.

4.  Add about 10 slices of fresh ginger root for an interesting flavor.

5.  Cover the top of your jar with a cheese cloth or other cloth that will allow air to come through. Secure the cloth with a rubber band.

6.  Let your sprouted grains soak for 72 hours, no more. Warm temperatures will speed the fermentation process. It that case, it will be done earlier. A white film on top is good. If the film turns colors, throw the grain away and start over. Give the jar a gentle spin 2-3 times a day. Expect some bubbling to show at the top.

7.  After you have let the solution ferment, strain out the grain fragments and store the liquid in a clean, sealable jar. There you have your rejuvelac!

8.  Give it a taste. It won't taste spectacular, but it should be slightly fizzy and lemony.

9.  Make a green smoothie with a banana, lime, greens, and frozen pineapple.

10.  Discard the used grain.

Now, I want to tell you a little more about the benefits of rejuvelac to convince you that this process is worth the effort.

In our guts exist colonies of bacteria which exist symbiotically with us. These probiotic microorganisms are naturally occurring and serve many important purposes such as the following:

• Protecting against foreign bacteria, yeasts, fungi, and infections
  
• Producing and absorbing vitamins, enzymes, and oxygen
• Improving skin health
• Correcting digestive dysfunction

Antibiotics are the opposite of these probiotics and will seriously compromise your digestive health. If you have ever taken antibiotics, it is necessary to rebuild that healthy ecosystem.

Stress is another killer of healthy gut bacteria. Stress can alter the pH of the system and endanger the delicate balance of microflora.

Microflora is also affected by the food we eat. It lives primarily on bits of undigested plant food. An unhealthy diet may allow less desirable microflora to overgrow and other helpful microflora to die leading to an imbalance. This means we should continuously include in our diets plenty of raw plant food that is high in fiber. Keep in mind that many processed and packaged foods contain anti-biotic substances such as preservatives, pesticides, fungicides, sterilizing agents, etc. that can damage your microflora. Even the chemical additives in your tap water such as fluoride and chlorine can throw off the delicate balance of your digestive ecosystem.

To keep your digestive microflora healthy and plentiful consider the following:

1. Begin consuming more raw, fermented foods such as vinegar, miso, kombucha, and rejuvelac. In addition to my rejuvelac smoothie every morning, I drink 2 tablespoons of raw, apple cider vinegar. I drink it down like a shot. If this is too scary for you, don't hesitate to sweeten it with a bit of raw agave or raw honey. Apple cider vinegar is alkalizing as well as a digestive tonic.
   
2. Eat plenty of raw, organic produce that will provide indigestible starches and cellulose on which the microflora thrives.
   
3. Take a high quality probiotic supplement. If I ever suffer indigestion after consuming a heavy meal, I take 2-3 probiotic supplement capsules, and the stomach ache is gone in less than 30 minutes. Probiotics that have worked for me are Natural Choice Pro-5 Probiotic Blend, Dr. Mercola's Complete Probiotics, and NSI Probiotic 10-20. Read a great article on probiotics here.
   

Sources:
http://www.jonbarron.org/detoxing-health-program/2008-10-27.php
http://www.kalsschool.com/Newsletters/tabid/198/Default.aspx#friendly_flora

Read more...

7 Steps To A Much Healthier Life

So you want to get healthy, but don't know where to start. Here I break it down for you into what I think are the first and foremost steps in turning your health around. Don't overwhelm yourself and try all seven steps at once. Take it one week at a time. Become successful with step 1 for one week before implementing step 2. Here we go.

Step 1. Replace ALL soda and bottled beverages with pure water.

Most soda and bottled beverages contain high levels of refined sugar and/or toxins such as aspartame and sucralose. I strongly believe that if you are drinking one or more bottled beverages per day, cutting this habit is the number one thing you can do for your health right now. The sugar (typically high fructose corn syrup) in soda and bottled beverages is not metabolized the same way as other sugars and has been conclusively linked to obesity and diabetes. Choosing diet soda is not the answer either. Many studies have shown that people who drink diet beverages gain weight anyway. Additionally, the sugar substitutes are toxic chemicals that can cause other health problems and should not be ingested under any circumstances.

A reason to avoid soda other than the fact that it contains harmful chemicals, is that soda is an acidifying beverage. Disease thrives in an acid environment. Otto Warburg won the Nobel Prize for demonstrating that the main cause of cancer is an oxygen deficient/acid environment. Additionally, calcium loss will result as the body attempts to remedy the acid condition with alkalizing substances such as calcium. Hmmmm... it sounds like that might be coming from your bones...

One formula to address the question "how much water should I drink everyday?" is to drink half your body weight in ounces. For example, if you weigh 150 pounds, you should drink 75 ounces of water. I suggest you get a large water bottle and take it with you to work and wherever you go. If you are not used to drinking this much water and find yourself going to the bathroom very frequently, just stick with it for a week, and your body will adapt.

Step 2: Eliminate fried foods.

Fried foods are detrimental for two reasons. 1. They contain trans fat and/or 2. They are usually fried in vegetable oil. So, what is so bad about these two facts?

1. Trans fat is an artery-clogging fat that is formed when vegetable oils are made to be solids at room temperature. This kind of fat is not found in nature and has been linked to cancer, neurological disorders, birth defects, nutritional deficiency, among others and should be completely avoided. Start reading the labels on any packaged food and look for "Hydrogenated", "Partially Hydrodenated", and "Shortening". Strictly avoid these foods. Also, note that fast food is loaded with this fat and should be avoided.

2. Vegetable oils such as sunflower, safflower, canola, and soybean oils are polyunsaturated fats which are highly susceptible to heat damage. Heat causes oxidative damage creating free radicals. Translation: these oils after heat exposure become cancer causing.

The bottom line is, there is absolutely no reason your body would want you to eat french fries or doughnuts.

Step 3: Eat a fresh, green salad every day.

Most of us could really benefit from a daily dose of fresh, raw vegetables. This could be a great source of natural vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients. Don't turn it into a bad food by adding a chemical-laden dressing bought at your local grocery store. Olive oil (extra-virgin, cold-pressed) with a dash of balsamic vinegar or lemon juice makes an easy dressing. Add minced shallot, dijon mustard, or garlic powder for more flavor. If you have any fresh herbs around, don't leave those out.

I make a wonderful, vegan, Ceasar copy-cat dressing made with an Almond base. It does take some preparation, but will make your salad taste as good as junk food. You can pile it on and not feel the least bit guilty. For a quick solution, try the Quick & Tasty Dressing For One. Find the recipes in my blog archives. There are so many online sources for quick, homemade, healthy dressings. Just do some looking around.

If you struggle to get the greens in every day, read my article on the easiest way ever to consume your salad every day!

Step 4: Avoid processed foods and fast food.

These kinds of foods are high in calories, low in nutrition, high in the wrong kinds of fats, and full of strange chemical ingredients. They will only serve to take away from your overall health. We are all looking for ways to save time, but do not sacrifice your health by going to the drive-thru or putting a packaged meal in the microwave. It is not worth it. How much is your health worth to you? My health is absolutely worth a little extra time and a little extra money. Cutting corners is not a good strategy for health. Avoid foods that are far removed from their natural states. You really are what you eat -- Remember this! What you eat literally becomes a part of you. Build with high quality, natural substances that will keep you strong and well-functioning for the entirety of your life. Here is a simple rule to follow: if it has more than 5 ingredients or ingredients that you can't pronounce, don't eat it. All fast food falls into this category.

Step 5: Eat fresh fruit for breakfast.

When you wake up in the morning, before you eat anything, grab a piece of fresh fruit. This fruit wakes up your system, requires no effort for the body to digest, promotes elimination, and is alkalizing, cleansing, and nourishing. Fruit should only be eaten on an empty stomach. Combining fruit with starches and proteins causes gas and bloating. Thus, the morning is a perfect time to get your fruit for the day. Remember: Fruit First!

Step 6: Find an enjoyable form of exercise and schedule it in to your day.

Exercise is very important to overall health. You can improve cardiovascular health, bone density, circulation, flexibility, and more with exercise. People come up with a lot of excuses for not exercising. A big key to success is to schedule it into your day; make it mandatory, not optional. Also, make it fun! If you hate running, don't run.

Believe it or not, but you can get great exercise with just 4 minutes a day! That takes away your lack of time excuse, doesn't it? All you have to do is pick four exercises and do each one as hard as you can for 20 second intervals with 10 seconds rest in between for one whole minute. After four minutes, you should feel like you got a work out. Here's an example for you to start with:

1. Full Body and Cardio: Squat Thrusts. Start standing with your feet shoulder width apart. Drop down to a crouching position and put your hands on the floor. Thrust your legs out behind you then jump back to a crouch. Stand up and repeat. Advanced variation: when you thrust your legs out behind you, do a pushup before coming back to the crouch. Also, jump up in the air when you come up to a standing position.

2. Upper Body: Pushups. If you are a beginner and struggle with pushups, start with an incline. Put your hands on a bench or wall.

3. Lower Body: Lunges. Take a big step forward with one leg and bend the knee until your thigh is parallel to the floor. Your knee should not extend beyond your toes. Your leg should make a right angle. To do this in one place you can push that forward leg back to meet your back leg. Or do it walking style by bringing the back leg to meet the forward leg. Then repeat the exercise with the opposite leg.

4. Abdominals: Flutter Kicks. Lay on your back with your hands under your bottom. Raise your legs to about 45 degrees off the floor. Alternate bringing one leg up and one leg down while keeping them straight. This should look like a flutter.

You can find hosts of bodyweight exercises to mix and match. I just happened upon a site today that has a whole circuit of exercises listed, described, and illustrated. That website it located here: http://mazzland.com/wrestling/3rdperiodcircuit/ Another good site with bodyweight exercises by category is found here. Also do a Google search for "Body Weight Exercise". You will find plenty of great exercises that don't require any equipment. Take some time and jot down a few four-exercise combinations. After you wake up in the morning and have eaten your fresh fruit, you will have a daily workout ready to go.

No more excuses!

Step 7: Begin supplementing with high quality superfoods.

It is a well known fact that most of our soil is very depleted of nutrients which in turn causes our food to be less nourishing. It can be very difficult to get all the vitamins and minerals our bodies need even when eating a wide variety of vegetables all day long. Supplementation provides a way to ensure daily that we are not becoming deficient in essential nutrients. Be aware that not just any multi-vitamin is going to provide that assurance. Most multi-vitamins sold at your favorite drug store are basically worthless. Synthetic versions of isolated vitamins are not well absorbed by the body. The solution is to find a superfood from nature as close to its natural state as possible and minimally processed. The following are my top three recommended daily supplements:

1. Spirulina
2. Chlorella
3. Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Spirulina and Chlorella are micro-algae that grow in fresh water. These micro-algae contain an astounding array of nutritional elements including vitamins, macrominerals, trace minerals, essential fatty acids, protein, nucleic acids, chlorophyll, and phytochemicals. They are thought to contain every nutrient required by the human body. These micro-algae are not only nourishing but also cleansing and detoxifying. Spirulina and Chlorella should be taken on a daily basis as a food. You do not have to worry about overdosing.

I recommend that you purchase Nutrex Hawaiian Spirulina from vitacost.com. This is a high quality Spirulina for only $0.09 per gram. Buy Kyoto Chlorella from swansonvitamins.com. This is a quality Chlorella for only $0.12 per gram. If you take 10 grams of Spirulina and 5 grams of Chlorella every day, that is an investment in your health of $1.50 per day. This is much cheaper than paying for cancer, depression, or other degenerative diseases. Make it a life-long habit.

Omega-3 essential fatty acids are essential because the body has to get them from the outside; it cannot manufacture them when needed. Omega-3 oils are found in flaxseeds, walnuts, marine oils, and fatty fish. Omega-3 fatty acids are important for cognitive function, mental health, cardiovascular health, joint health, and preventing cancer. The reason we should supplement with omega-3 is because the standard American diet provides for too much omega-6 fatty acids. The ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 should be about 1:1. However, with the popularization of vegetable oils, Americans consume these fatty acids in the ratio of about 20:1. An excess of omega-6 fats actually causes serious health problems. An omega-3 supplement will greatly help balance consumption of these oils.


Now that you have read through my first seven suggestions for your road to health, go back to the top and make a resolution to implement step one starting right now. These seven steps are by no means the complete picture, but my purpose for this article is to provide a starting point without getting into complicated, health-nut details (that will come later!).

Start here. Conquer the first 7 steps. And keep reading the Lemon Letter to fill in the gaps and continuously improve your health.

Read more...

The Power of Cayenne

Cayenne is not just a red hot chili pepper used in cooking, rather it has a multitude of medicinal functions. Cayenne contains a natural compound called capsaicin, which helps promote healthy cardiovascular function. Consider cayenne to be one of your main herbal first aids. Some of the things that cayenne can do for you include the following:

• Boost blood circulation throughout the body including the brain thus improving brain clarity and memory
  
• Strengthen the heart, arteries, capillaries, and nerves
  
• Normalize blood pressure
  
• Stop internal and external bleeding
  
• Improve indigestion, poor digestion, and stomach ulcers
  
• Open the breathing passages in asthmatics
  

Cayenne is the greatest herbal aid to circulation and can be used on a daily basis. It can be used for multiple emergencies such as heart attacks, strokes, fainting, bleeding, arthritic pain, and inflammation. Some herbalists add it to nearly every formulation. Fortunately, it is an inexpensive supplement. For example, you can get 300 250mg capsules from Swanson Health Products for $5.99. One bottle could last 10 months.

Healthy Tip: Try gargling cayenne in water to treat your sore throat.

Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cayenne_pepper
http://www.healingdaily.com/detoxification-diet/cayenne.htm

Read more...