I came across this article Top ten reasons to avoid your doctor and I felt compelled to share.
I am in absolute agreement with all 10 reasons listed, like reason number 8:
8. Inappropriate and Unwise Dietary Advice
Most doctors are clueless about what constitutes a healthy diet. As such, they will recommend health catastrophes like artificial sweeteners, vegetable oils in lieu of butter, and fat-free pasteurized dairy products. Most will also neglect to tell you about the foods you could be eating more of to optimize your health, like fermented vegetables, raw dairy products, healthy fats (like saturated and animal-based omega-3s), grass-fed beef and more.
In addition, most are ignorant about the importance of how to cook your food – most foods are best consumed when raw or only lightly cooked, and this includes animal proteins like eggs and meat. A discussion about food quality is essential to health (i.e. getting your meat from a small local farmer instead of a confined animal feeding operation (CAFO)) but you will almost never hear this from your family physician. Wondering how to truly eat healthy? See my nutrition plan for a comprehensive (and free) guide. articles.Mercola.com July 25th 2012
Take your health and that of your family into your own hands, and do not trust those who are influenced and brainwashed by corporate greed!
Live Happy and Healthy!
Showing posts with label Natural Healing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Natural Healing. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Homemade Kefir
With fermented foods being so important in maintaining a healthy gut... healthy immune system... healthy you... and so easy to make, it's almost foolish not add these immune boosting disease preventing foods to your diet!
When I say they are easy to make, it's truly an understatement. With bacteria doing 99% of the work, all you need is a little patience. As I've posted before, my wife and I make our own sauerkraut (fermented cabbage), our own pickles (fermented cucumbers and zucchini), and now we've added homemade coconut kefir to the list.
All you need is a few young coconuts, some kefir starter, and time (about 36-48hrs).
If you want to read more about the importance of fermented foods, follow this link and watch the video at the bottom of the page (after reading the article of course).
This food contains 100 times more probiotic than a supplement.
Stay informed and stay healthy!
When I say they are easy to make, it's truly an understatement. With bacteria doing 99% of the work, all you need is a little patience. As I've posted before, my wife and I make our own sauerkraut (fermented cabbage), our own pickles (fermented cucumbers and zucchini), and now we've added homemade coconut kefir to the list.
All you need is a few young coconuts, some kefir starter, and time (about 36-48hrs).
If you want to read more about the importance of fermented foods, follow this link and watch the video at the bottom of the page (after reading the article of course).
This food contains 100 times more probiotic than a supplement.
Stay informed and stay healthy!
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Barefoot when possible
I have posted about this before, the benefits of going barefoot when possible, and still I feel compelled to reiterate my thoughts, especially when I come across an article such as the one I did today; "Born to run barefoot? Some end up getting injured".
The gist of the article is about the growing popularity of this "new trend" of running barefoot, and how many are suffering the unexpected consequences (injury). It talks about how runners are ditching their favorite sneaks for a chance to go unshod, only to find that injury is lurking around the next turn. Their stories seem to be the same, they lose the shoes, practice barefoot on the grass, and eventually take back to the streets graduating to either barefoot running or running with shoes that mimic barefoot running. In either case though the stories seem to end the same, with the runner suffering from tiny fractures in the foot.
Before I point out what I feel is the obvious reason for these injuries, I want to once again talk about why I feel so strongly about going barefoot (walking or running) when possible. For many years I suffered from what the podiatrist called "severe tendonitis" in both my feet, caused by what he claimed was my high arches as well as my overuse (running). I went down the traditional path of cortisone shots, "better" (more expensive) shoes, and eventually molded orthotics. I was told that I would most likely never be able to walk let alone run again without using these hard unforgiving man-made torture devices. So as you can probably guess it wasn't long until I gave up on the traditional rout, and decided to go the more natural road-less- followed. I purchased my first pair of MBT's or the "anti-shoe" as they call them, and never looked back. The idea behind the MBT, or "barefoot technology" as they called it at the time, was that the foot was designed to walk over softer uneven surfaces working the muscles (not tendons) allowing the foot to flex, bend, cradle, and do whatever comes naturally; basically to allow the foot to work how the human foot has evolved to work. This way of thinking says that its today's confining, overly supportive, and highly restrictive shoes that greatly restrict muscle activation and overwork the tendons. Add that to the flat, hard, man-made surfaces that humans walk on (shod or unshod), and it becomes a little more obvious as to why modern day humans suffer from so many foot injuries.
So to get back to the article at hand, I feel that it's not the "barefoot" aspect of this growing trend amongst runners that is causing these injuries, but rather the surface they are ultimately running on that deserves the blame. Whether you are running barefoot on the street or sidewalk, or running in the many available verities of running shoes that are designed to mimic barefoot running, you can't escape the fact that the surface below your feet is NOT what we were designed to walk or run on. Even natural hard surfaces like rock or stone have some sort of curvature to them, some sort of unevenness to them. Concrete or asphalt on the other hand is flat, minus the pot holes of course, but as far as the foot is concerned there is no curvature or unevenness beneath it for which to cradle. The foot was designed (evolved) to, believe it or not, cradle the surface below, kind of like your hands would if you were walking on your hands. Hence the arch in the foot, not to mention the many muscles that make up the foot. But when we walk on a surface that is perfectly flat, from the foot's perspective, we now have muscles that don't get worked, aches that get week and need support, and tendons that get overworked. When you consider that along with the fact that these artificial surfaces like concrete or asphalt don't give and therefore magnify every shock wave generated upon impact, right back up where it originated (the foot), and you have an injury waiting to happen.
So instead of giving up on the whole barefoot approach, be conscience about where and how you are going about it. When running barefoot, or with sneakers for that matter, do it on a natural surface like the grass or the beach, and when walking on those unforgiving surfaces make sure you are wearing something that mimics "walking on softer, more natural, uneven surfaces" not simply a shoe that "mimics bare feet".
The gist of the article is about the growing popularity of this "new trend" of running barefoot, and how many are suffering the unexpected consequences (injury). It talks about how runners are ditching their favorite sneaks for a chance to go unshod, only to find that injury is lurking around the next turn. Their stories seem to be the same, they lose the shoes, practice barefoot on the grass, and eventually take back to the streets graduating to either barefoot running or running with shoes that mimic barefoot running. In either case though the stories seem to end the same, with the runner suffering from tiny fractures in the foot.
Before I point out what I feel is the obvious reason for these injuries, I want to once again talk about why I feel so strongly about going barefoot (walking or running) when possible. For many years I suffered from what the podiatrist called "severe tendonitis" in both my feet, caused by what he claimed was my high arches as well as my overuse (running). I went down the traditional path of cortisone shots, "better" (more expensive) shoes, and eventually molded orthotics. I was told that I would most likely never be able to walk let alone run again without using these hard unforgiving man-made torture devices. So as you can probably guess it wasn't long until I gave up on the traditional rout, and decided to go the more natural road-less- followed. I purchased my first pair of MBT's or the "anti-shoe" as they call them, and never looked back. The idea behind the MBT, or "barefoot technology" as they called it at the time, was that the foot was designed to walk over softer uneven surfaces working the muscles (not tendons) allowing the foot to flex, bend, cradle, and do whatever comes naturally; basically to allow the foot to work how the human foot has evolved to work. This way of thinking says that its today's confining, overly supportive, and highly restrictive shoes that greatly restrict muscle activation and overwork the tendons. Add that to the flat, hard, man-made surfaces that humans walk on (shod or unshod), and it becomes a little more obvious as to why modern day humans suffer from so many foot injuries.
So to get back to the article at hand, I feel that it's not the "barefoot" aspect of this growing trend amongst runners that is causing these injuries, but rather the surface they are ultimately running on that deserves the blame. Whether you are running barefoot on the street or sidewalk, or running in the many available verities of running shoes that are designed to mimic barefoot running, you can't escape the fact that the surface below your feet is NOT what we were designed to walk or run on. Even natural hard surfaces like rock or stone have some sort of curvature to them, some sort of unevenness to them. Concrete or asphalt on the other hand is flat, minus the pot holes of course, but as far as the foot is concerned there is no curvature or unevenness beneath it for which to cradle. The foot was designed (evolved) to, believe it or not, cradle the surface below, kind of like your hands would if you were walking on your hands. Hence the arch in the foot, not to mention the many muscles that make up the foot. But when we walk on a surface that is perfectly flat, from the foot's perspective, we now have muscles that don't get worked, aches that get week and need support, and tendons that get overworked. When you consider that along with the fact that these artificial surfaces like concrete or asphalt don't give and therefore magnify every shock wave generated upon impact, right back up where it originated (the foot), and you have an injury waiting to happen.
So instead of giving up on the whole barefoot approach, be conscience about where and how you are going about it. When running barefoot, or with sneakers for that matter, do it on a natural surface like the grass or the beach, and when walking on those unforgiving surfaces make sure you are wearing something that mimics "walking on softer, more natural, uneven surfaces" not simply a shoe that "mimics bare feet".
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Tumeric, A Must for Every Diet!
I came across this article in today's health news, Turmeric may protect heart after surgery, and couldn't resist...
For some time now I have known of, sang the praises of, and have regularly consumed one of nature's true super foods... Turmeric!
I have heard this root pronounced a dozen different ways, but no matter how you slice it one thing remains a constant; its incredible anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, anti-cancer, anti-disease properties!
I first got hooked on this super root/spice about 6 years ago when I attended a lecture by Dr. Michael Murray a well know authority in the field of natural medicine and the author of many bestselling books such as "Healing Foods" and "Natural Medicine" to name a few. He talked about a particular indigenous tribe in India who consumed turmeric as a staple (the core) of their diet. And although many of the surrounding cultures in this region still incorporate this root in their diet, it was no longer the staple it once was prior to the invasion of a more "westernized" diet. One of the remarkable findings was that brain cancer amongst these people was non-existent, despite its presence in the neighboring communities. When the bodies of deceased members of this tribe were autopsied they found that the brains were stained orange/yellow in color, the same color in fact as curcumins (the yellowish pigment in turmeric that gives it its color). The conclusion drawn was that their consumption of turmeric is the reason for the absence of cancer amongst the people.
Since that day (6 years or so ago) my diet has changed and evolved many times over as I've learned more about what it truly means to eat healthy. About the importance of avoiding foods that promote inflammation and consuming those that inhibit it. And amongst all the changes one food has remained a constant in my diet; turmeric. It's anti-inflammation, anti-cancer, anti-disease properties fit my idea of the perfect diet to a 't'. Whether it's on my eggs in the morning or in my self-concocted 'health' shake that I have every day, I consume about 4+ teaspoons of it.
For some time now I have known of, sang the praises of, and have regularly consumed one of nature's true super foods... Turmeric!
I have heard this root pronounced a dozen different ways, but no matter how you slice it one thing remains a constant; its incredible anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, anti-cancer, anti-disease properties!
I first got hooked on this super root/spice about 6 years ago when I attended a lecture by Dr. Michael Murray a well know authority in the field of natural medicine and the author of many bestselling books such as "Healing Foods" and "Natural Medicine" to name a few. He talked about a particular indigenous tribe in India who consumed turmeric as a staple (the core) of their diet. And although many of the surrounding cultures in this region still incorporate this root in their diet, it was no longer the staple it once was prior to the invasion of a more "westernized" diet. One of the remarkable findings was that brain cancer amongst these people was non-existent, despite its presence in the neighboring communities. When the bodies of deceased members of this tribe were autopsied they found that the brains were stained orange/yellow in color, the same color in fact as curcumins (the yellowish pigment in turmeric that gives it its color). The conclusion drawn was that their consumption of turmeric is the reason for the absence of cancer amongst the people.
Since that day (6 years or so ago) my diet has changed and evolved many times over as I've learned more about what it truly means to eat healthy. About the importance of avoiding foods that promote inflammation and consuming those that inhibit it. And amongst all the changes one food has remained a constant in my diet; turmeric. It's anti-inflammation, anti-cancer, anti-disease properties fit my idea of the perfect diet to a 't'. Whether it's on my eggs in the morning or in my self-concocted 'health' shake that I have every day, I consume about 4+ teaspoons of it.
Monday, December 12, 2011
Go Bare... foot that is!
A recent article "Barefoot running: bad or beneficial" has prompted me to write about a nonfood topic that I feel I have enough personal experience to comment on. When it comes to feet there are two sides of the fence; those that believe the over abundance of cushioning and support in modern day shoes and sneakers are crucial for maintaining healthy feet, and those that feel all of the cushioning and so called support in today's footwear simply restricts natural movement, obstructs muscle activation, and prevents natural gate corrections by driving 2+ inches of rubber between your foot and the ever changing environment beneath it.
I stand walk and run on this more nontraditional side of the fence, and I have the best kind of data and facts to back it up... my own recovery from painful foot injuries that was only made possible from the motivation and desperation that came to me as I limped out of the podiatrist's office disgusted disappointed and fed up for the last time.
It was about 4 years ago when I was diagnosed with severe tendonitis in me feet, which started in one and eventually affected both, and would plague me for 2 years. In that time, especially in the beginning I followed the more traditional path of primary care doctor, pain meds, specialist (Podiatrist), more pain meds, a few noninvasive procedures some costly and not covered by insurance, lots of rehab, and molded orthotics which in turn lead to many more disappointing visits to the podiatrist's office. That's when I stepped out of traditional shoes and into a radical belief that today's modern day foot problems are caused by the very shoes and sneakers that were supposed to protect them.
The foot and ankle consist of more than 26 bones 33 joints and over 100 muscles tendons and ligaments and together they make up this very complex anatomical structure that allows us to stand walk and run upright. Unfortunately when we walk and run shod in today's over restrictive and overpriced footwear we prevent their natural movement and severely limit muscle activation that leads to muscle atrophy and will eventually lead to injury affecting either the feet, the ankle, the knee, and or the back. Our bodies were designed to walk on softer uneven surfaces causing the muscles in our feet to constantly flex and contract with our toes working almost as fingers slightly cupping the ground beneath them; none of this is possible in a pair of traditional running or walking shoes, heck you can't even feel the ground let alone any subtle changes in the landscape. It has also been observed that when running (unlike walking) we should strike the ground with the padded forefoot first and then come down with the heel as apposed to the heel first approach used by shod runners. And the former makes more sense, it is the most padded part of your foot and your weight is already forward by nature.
To get back to my story though, I went from the useless crutch the medical community calls an "orthotic" to bare feet when I walk (or run) on natural surfaces and MBT's when I walk on manmade surfaces. If you've never seen or heard of these shoes they are sort of half moon shaped on the bottom forcing your foot to travel a further more complete distance while activating the muscles that are traditionally not used with classic shoes or sneakers. I prefer these over barefoot on manmade surfaces because they do give some padding and shock absorption when walking over surfaces that are hard and flat (unnatural).
I have since been able to do something the podiatrist told me I never would... walk without orthotics!
I stand walk and run on this more nontraditional side of the fence, and I have the best kind of data and facts to back it up... my own recovery from painful foot injuries that was only made possible from the motivation and desperation that came to me as I limped out of the podiatrist's office disgusted disappointed and fed up for the last time.
It was about 4 years ago when I was diagnosed with severe tendonitis in me feet, which started in one and eventually affected both, and would plague me for 2 years. In that time, especially in the beginning I followed the more traditional path of primary care doctor, pain meds, specialist (Podiatrist), more pain meds, a few noninvasive procedures some costly and not covered by insurance, lots of rehab, and molded orthotics which in turn lead to many more disappointing visits to the podiatrist's office. That's when I stepped out of traditional shoes and into a radical belief that today's modern day foot problems are caused by the very shoes and sneakers that were supposed to protect them.
The foot and ankle consist of more than 26 bones 33 joints and over 100 muscles tendons and ligaments and together they make up this very complex anatomical structure that allows us to stand walk and run upright. Unfortunately when we walk and run shod in today's over restrictive and overpriced footwear we prevent their natural movement and severely limit muscle activation that leads to muscle atrophy and will eventually lead to injury affecting either the feet, the ankle, the knee, and or the back. Our bodies were designed to walk on softer uneven surfaces causing the muscles in our feet to constantly flex and contract with our toes working almost as fingers slightly cupping the ground beneath them; none of this is possible in a pair of traditional running or walking shoes, heck you can't even feel the ground let alone any subtle changes in the landscape. It has also been observed that when running (unlike walking) we should strike the ground with the padded forefoot first and then come down with the heel as apposed to the heel first approach used by shod runners. And the former makes more sense, it is the most padded part of your foot and your weight is already forward by nature.
To get back to my story though, I went from the useless crutch the medical community calls an "orthotic" to bare feet when I walk (or run) on natural surfaces and MBT's when I walk on manmade surfaces. If you've never seen or heard of these shoes they are sort of half moon shaped on the bottom forcing your foot to travel a further more complete distance while activating the muscles that are traditionally not used with classic shoes or sneakers. I prefer these over barefoot on manmade surfaces because they do give some padding and shock absorption when walking over surfaces that are hard and flat (unnatural).
I have since been able to do something the podiatrist told me I never would... walk without orthotics!
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Wild Health... As Nature Intended!
So I have been reading this book Wild Health: Lessons in Natural Wellness from the Animal Kingdom by Cindy Engel, and I have to say this is a must read for all those that follow a more natural path to health and wellness. It is a very informative book packed with many examples of how wild animals not only stay healthy but rid themselves of sickness naturally, if and when it occurs. With the countless natural remedies out there for the taking and the animals instinctiveness to seek them out when in need is nothing short of amazing to me. Even with many of these herbs being toxic if consumed in excess or at the wrong time or alone (instead of in combination with another herb), it seems wild animals have mastered natures medicine cabinet.
One of the things she talks about is the contradicting views regarding the health of wild animals based on observations recorded of domesticated (or wild captive) animals. Whether it be lab rats or industrial (large scale) farm animals, when the animal is not given access to its natural habitat an accurate conclusion on the state of their ability to avoid and combat sickness and disease cannot be drawn. It was thought for many years (and still is today) that contact with wild animals is to blame for sickness and disease of farm animals, but in reality it's the poor immune systems of domesticated (or captive) animals that are to blame.
Cindy makes the point that in nature wild animals carry many pathogens, but it's their immune systems ability to keep the balance between the good and bad bacteria within the body at a safe HEALTHY level, that truly makes for a healthy animal.
One of the things she talks about is the contradicting views regarding the health of wild animals based on observations recorded of domesticated (or wild captive) animals. Whether it be lab rats or industrial (large scale) farm animals, when the animal is not given access to its natural habitat an accurate conclusion on the state of their ability to avoid and combat sickness and disease cannot be drawn. It was thought for many years (and still is today) that contact with wild animals is to blame for sickness and disease of farm animals, but in reality it's the poor immune systems of domesticated (or captive) animals that are to blame.
Cindy makes the point that in nature wild animals carry many pathogens, but it's their immune systems ability to keep the balance between the good and bad bacteria within the body at a safe HEALTHY level, that truly makes for a healthy animal.
Friday, September 9, 2011
A Natural Approach to Healing
This is a topic I have wanted to post about for some time now, but wasn't really sure how to make the transition from allergy free cooking to natural healing... well I think I have since made that transition over that past few years, so here is my official unofficial introduction.
I have been intrigued by this subject (Natural Healing) for some time now and have been practicing it religiously since I became aware of my food allergies. I have come to understand that any ailment the body is struggling to cope with, whether it be allergy related (both food and seasonal as well as asthma related), structurally based (tendonitis/arthritis/muscle and joint pain/etc.), or disease based (cancer/heart disease/diabetes/etc.) they are all diet related and all have some common link to inflammation.
Our bodies are stressed beyond levels that they were ever designed to be subjected to, and from nearly every aspect of our lives. We live in a very 'man-made' toxic world, and its how our bodies individually deal with these toxins that ultimately dictate our overall health. Whether they are the unavoidable toxins such as pollution from cars, factories, or the billions of tons of jet fuel dumped into the atmosphere every day, or those toxins we can avoid like the cancer causing chemicals in our food, drinking water, hygiene products, cleaning products, and in most all of the everyday products we come into contact with, the truth is our immune systems are being taxed to the extreme and it's our (your) job to do something about it!
I will conclude my introduction into a natural approach to healing with this basic creed for living healthy...
Stay healthy by eating organic locally sustainably grown foods whenever possible and 100% organic GMO free minimally processed foods to complement your diet; use only 100% chemical free organic hygiene products; use only 100% naturally derived household cleaning products, and avoid all products containing toxic chemicals.
I have been intrigued by this subject (Natural Healing) for some time now and have been practicing it religiously since I became aware of my food allergies. I have come to understand that any ailment the body is struggling to cope with, whether it be allergy related (both food and seasonal as well as asthma related), structurally based (tendonitis/arthritis/muscle and joint pain/etc.), or disease based (cancer/heart disease/diabetes/etc.) they are all diet related and all have some common link to inflammation.
Our bodies are stressed beyond levels that they were ever designed to be subjected to, and from nearly every aspect of our lives. We live in a very 'man-made' toxic world, and its how our bodies individually deal with these toxins that ultimately dictate our overall health. Whether they are the unavoidable toxins such as pollution from cars, factories, or the billions of tons of jet fuel dumped into the atmosphere every day, or those toxins we can avoid like the cancer causing chemicals in our food, drinking water, hygiene products, cleaning products, and in most all of the everyday products we come into contact with, the truth is our immune systems are being taxed to the extreme and it's our (your) job to do something about it!
I will conclude my introduction into a natural approach to healing with this basic creed for living healthy...
Stay healthy by eating organic locally sustainably grown foods whenever possible and 100% organic GMO free minimally processed foods to complement your diet; use only 100% chemical free organic hygiene products; use only 100% naturally derived household cleaning products, and avoid all products containing toxic chemicals.
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