Cancer CURES Exist

I know too many people affected by cancer.

  

                     Family members,   friends,   children,    parents.

                                       My heart breaks every time.  

Something inside of me whispers that cancer is somehow the result of the world we live in today, the foods we eat, the air we breathe...and that the chemicals used to cure it are only making things worse.  How many times do you hear of someone "going into remission" only to find new tumors in another location later on in life?  Chemotherapy is harsh and I know first hand that it kills.  Some might argue that it also cures but how can something truly cure that kills everything it comes into contact with, has a skull and crossbones on its labels and requires special handling to transport?  And that is what we allow them to inject into our loved ones' bodies to "heal" them of cancer?  Low immune system response, hair loss, taste buds die off, weight loss, muscle wasting, dizziness, nausea.  These are all the side effects of the treatment used to rid cancer, not cancer itself!  

I have done countless hours of research on cancer and it's cures over the past few years.  I was touched immensely by someone I was acquainted with that was battling and hospitalized for months on end.  God drew me to this older gentleman and I found myself researching and talking with his wife about what I could do to help.  Something gnawed away inside of me telling me that God held the answer and healing was possible through His creation.  I have been AMAZED at what I have learned through the process that still, years later, hasn't ended.  Sadly, though, his life did.  It had been simply too long, too harsh, his body too weak and full of infection and literally hundreds of side effects from all the medication competing to dominate his body.  My desire is not to see it happen again...at least not in my close circle of friends and loved ones. And yet a year later, it did, again.  A close family member began the fight and though receptive to some of the things I had learned regarding natural cancer cures, was not able to keep up with the regimen, lost his will to fight, and allowed his immediate family to turn back to conventional chemotherapy.  He passed away during his first chemo treatment.  All this to say that cancer has affected me personally.  I understand the pain, fear and uncertainty associated with it and it's outcome.  

HOWEVER, the story doesn't end there.  I came across this article and it's everything summed up into one list of cancer prevention strategies and includes a documentary that is worth seeing.  

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2013/08/03/natural-cancer-treatment.aspx

I'l let it speak for itself.  I urge you to make time to educate yourself on "the other side" of the story even if cancer hasn't yet affected you personally.  Sadly, it will at some point.  There are simply too many factors in our world today for it not to.  Ultimately, I know that God is our healer but sometimes believing for healing without changing our lifestyle is the same as praying for weight loss but not changing what we eat.  

Action begins and ends with our faith but the middle must contain the sustenance of right choices to keep us going.

EDIT:  Only a few hours after this post was written I have received news of yet another person, a parent of a friend, losing her battle to cancer.  My heart is overwhelmed once again and pained for my friend and the suffering her mother endured for so long.  :(

Deodorant Dilemma - Solved?

Ok so I live where the climate is HOT.  Notice I said HOT in all caps not just "hot".  Anyways, I have tried nearly every deodorant on the market and either the smell bothers me (I'm very sensitive to scents) or it simply doesn't work and then my own smell bothers me.  

After becoming more health conscious and learning about the possible connection between the aluminum in most deodorants/antiperspirants and breast cancer, I started looking at other options.  

Trust me, I have days when it's overwhelming to take in so much information about what's "bad" for us that has become so commonplace in today's world.  As a Christian, surely it's important to pray protection over our bodies and before we eat but I also feel that it's equally important to respect and guard the bodies that God has given us.  As we learn more, we do more.  As we gain insight, we change our ways.  As we move towards understanding, we should also move towards action.  Is it hard?  Yes, but no harder than it is living in a world not my own.  I am not here to live an easy convenient life.  There are times that yes of course, convenience takes precedence, but when it's something easy enough to change that will benefit my health it's worth moving forward with.  That's how I felt with cutting out the aluminum-laden deodorants.  Why place my body at a risk for a life threatening "illness" later on in life simply because I didn't want to be inconvenienced?  

I started my homework and read labels to find a more natural deodorant that would work for me.  Sadly, I found the same stinky problem with most that I tried to switch to.  For a while I settled for something aluminum-free because, let's face it, something is better than nothing, but I still wasn't happy.  Especially when I read the ingredients a little closer.  Propylene glycol, otherwise known as antifreeze, was at the top of the list.  Never would I go into my garage and apply antifreeze anywhere on my body so why would I want it as an ingredient in my deodorant?  Back to the drawing board.  I wanted something aluminum free, propylene glycol free and paraben free (also linked to cancer).  And I think I have finally stumbled upon my answer and it looks like I'll be saving money too!  

Did you know you can MAKE your own deodorant?  

I'm all about home making my own items...call me a hippie....but I enjoy it.  I feel accomplished saving money and seeing how simple ingredients can truly make a difference naturally and effectively.  This deodorant contains ingredients you would probably find in any kitchen today:  coconut oil (this SHOULD be in your kitchen, if it's not then stay tuned!), corn starch (or arrowroot powder) and baking soda!  So simple...would it work?  

I decided to throw together a little paste of just baking soda and coconut oil.  No measuring just mixed together until it looked good and let me tell you - I have been using just that for a few weeks now and it is working amazing!  Better than anything I have ever bought at the store.  Yes it's a bit messier to apply but I will be learning next how to put this homemade concoction into an old deodorant stick and using it from there.   

For the actual recipe this is based off of, I'm going to link you over to another site here.  There's a great video and a lot of FAQ to peruse, not to mention tons of comments to gain some other insights and tips.  If you decide to try this out with me, definitely drop me a comment and let me know how it's working for you!

NOTE:  This is NOT an antiperspirant.  You will still sweat though it definitely seems lessened.   

Allergy Relief - Naturally

Is it just me or are allergies BAD lately?  Sinus pressure, headache, post nasal drip, congestion, runny nose, itchy watery swollen eyes.  Oh my.  I really personally loathe taking any kinds of medication, even for allergies.  Most are mere chemical concoctions that mess with the body's natural processes and come with a host of side effects.  I reserve them for emergency use only and usually I choose suffering silently (well, ok it's not all that silent between the whining and the nose blowing) over med taking.  However, did you know there are NATURAL things that can help the body cope with seasonal allergies?  Obviously, I haven't been keeping up with them or I wouldn't be as miserable so as I write it is serving as a good reminder.  

First of all, where do allergies come from?  

It's our body's disproportionate response to something that is heeded as a danger.  It can be defined as an auto-immune response in the sense it involves the body's immune system attempting to rid an invader.  Allergies can worsen/develop when the immune system is not supported or is weakened.  Things like vaccines, a standard american diet void of fresh fruits and veggies, an overabundance of sugar, lack of sleep, and an overworked adrenal system (or STRESS).  You might notice that many more people today suffer allergies than they did back in the 70s and 80s.  We see food allergies as if it's a new trend and it seems allergists are giving more shots nowadays than ever.  I am sure the air quality, toxins in our environment, the lean towards processed foods and increase in vaccinations in children all comes into play here.  

So what can be done? 

• Raw apple cider vinegar (ACV)
• Taking 1-2 Tbs a day mixed into water or juice really makes a difference.  It seems to provide an immune system boost and I really don't understand why.  I have noticed a huge difference in my son since I have had him on it as well.  Make sure it's RAW though.  Bragg's is a common brand.  It's nasty stuff, don't drink it plain!  Mixed in apple juice masks the taste the best.

• Local raw honey
• Local unprocessed honey contains small amounts of local allergens naturally and ingesting them does essentially the same thing as an allergy shot.  Again 1-2 Tbs a day is ideal.  You probably won't find this in your grocery store, call around to the farmers markets and find out where you can get some.  It's worth it.  Try not to heat it though as heating kills off some of the enzymes and you want all the goodness you can get out of it.  Spreading it on toast with some butter, mixing into a glass of water along with the above ACV, or simply taken on a spoon.  However you can get it in. 

• Eating local fresh vegetables
• Again, same as above.  Locally grown veggies will contain small amounts of the allergens.  When you can buy fresh carrots grown locally over store bought organic, do so!  Lettuce, beets, broccoli, cauliflower, etc.  Whatever you can find local, eat it.

• Vitamin C
• Taking a good dose of Vitamin C helps to tone down the immune response to allergies.  I could write a whole post on choosing a good Vitamin C supplement but we'll save that for another day.  For now, get something you can afford and start taking it.  You can safely take high doses of nearly any vitamin you would naturally find in food if you choose a "whole food supplement".  Your body will recognize it as food and process it as such, too.  Starting with 1000mg is a decent start but you can take more if you aren't noticing changes in a week or so.  If you notice diarrhea, back off your dosage.  This will be your key on finding what's ideal for your body.

• Get a good home air purifier
• This really does make a difference.  Before I buy anything I research.  I read comments and ratings.  I compare prices and models.  Do your homework and keep in mind you will have filters to replace so work that into your budget.  We have one unit downstairs that we keep running but last night I turned it up to high and feel much better today.  Ideally having another unit upstairs would be best but they are not cheap.  We have one called BlueAir.

• Nasal irrigation
• For many this sounds odd and uncomfortable...and ok I'll be honest, it is a little of both.  But it helps.  Neil Med is a reputable company that makes nasal rinses and you can do this in various ways.  The netipot is common and works well.  Follow the directions and use it anytime after you've been outdoors or exposed to your allergen and then keep up with it at least once a day.  It helps to cleanse the nasal passages and keep allergens from taking up residence in there. 

Please note that the allergies I am referring to are NOT food but environmental outdoor allergies.  This advice does not replace that of a medical professional and should not be deemed as such.  I am not a doctor, do not play one on tv and am merely offering ideas based on my personal experience and research.  For more details on treating allergies naturally call a local Homeopath, Naturopathic Doctor, Osteopath or even Chiropractor.  

Good luck and if you try any of the above, do let me know how you fared in the comments!

Read The Ingredients!

My husband teases me that I have taken all the fun out of eating by label reading.  It's become more than something I "should" do to something that is just a natural habit.  I can no longer run into the store for a loaf of bread or jar of BBQ sauce without scouring over the labels in search of the best option of the bunch.  I care less about the cost (we follow a budget, trust me, I DO care) than I do about what I will be putting into my family's bodies.  And it's hard.  It's stressful.  It's frustrating.  So much of today's food comes in a box or package and contains added ingredients and things I would never consider consuming individually, and yet it's become the norm of our society.  My conviction tells me strongly that the sharp rise in cancer and auto immune disorders might have something to do with the fact that the majority are not concerned about what chemicals, preservatives or additives they might be ingesting.  If they didn't exist in the Bible, I just don't think our bodies were created to process them!  So what do I look for when label reading?  Here's a few items that can very easily cause me to put the item back on the shelf no matter how tempting it looks or how badly my kids are begging for it:

• High fructose corn syrup
• Food dye (especially Red #40)
• Modified food starch
• Carageenan
• Hydrogenated oils
• Soybean oil
• Autolyzed yeast extract
• MSG
• Splenda

Keep in mind that ingredients are listed in order of the most to least used.  If one of the top three ingredients contains one on my "no" list, it goes back.  If the offending ingredient comes nearer to the end I might be swayed to get it as a "treat" once in a while.  But it won't be on my regular shopping list.

I find it gets harder and harder to eat well and avoid some of these things.  But it IS possible.  It's called clean eating and it's what I strive for.  I still eat chocolate - but I make sure it's as close to it's pure form as I can get it.  I drink coffee - but it's organic decaf.  My kids like hot dogs every once in a while - but they are organic uncured 100% beef.  They like Mac N Cheese too - but it's Annie's organic.  It takes a shift in the budget (there aren't as many coupons for healthy options!) and the mind but it can be done and in the end, I think it's worth it.  I truly believe that how we teach our children to eat today will either nurture them for a lifetime of health...or set them up for a laundry list of medical problems later.  At the very least, start label reading and know what you're eating and feeding your loved ones.  You might be surprised.

PS  Stay tuned for further posts on WHY some of these ingredients are avoided and what they do to your body.  Eat well!

Why GLUTEN FREE Has Been GREAT For Me!

Unless you live under a rock the whole "gluten free" movement is nothing unheard of.  Grocery stores have entire shelves dedicated to "GF" foods and most of this is brought about by the more common diagnosis of Celiac's Disease (whose symptoms include gastrointestinal problems).  But did you know that is just one SYMPTOM of gluten sensitivity/intolerance that is actually medically proven?  ONE among SO many others and yet the medical community remains quiet about it.  Check out some of the symptoms that can virtually disappear with the elimination of gluten from your diet:

• Headaches
• Insomnia
• Brain fog
• Poor endurance and exercise recovery
• Fatigue
• Heartburn, gas, constipation or diarrhea
• Acne
• Eczema
• Frequent colds
• Weight gain or inability to lose weight (or gain it!)
• Arthritis
• Anemia
• Infertility
• Irregular cycles
• Mood disorders

There are others but I won't overwhelm you completely.  Trust me, my eyes were opened when I learned all this and all it takes to determine if going gluten free is for you is by trying it.  It takes 2 weeks for the gluten to be completely removed from your system.  After that point symptoms should begin improving if they are in fact, caused by or aggravated by, the gluten in your diet.  

Perhaps you've heard of all this gluten talk and have no idea what gluten is?  It's a type of protein found in wheat and other related products (like barley and rye) that acts almost like a glue.  When I used to homebake bread I would add extra gluten to give it the nice smooth stretch feel like store bought breads have.  Imagine if gluten acts like a glue, what it might do to your insides!  Because it's so hard to process and breakdown it causes the in-absorption of other vital nutrients in our diet and can actually change the acidity of our stomach acid!  

But it's natural, shouldn't it be healthy?  Sadly, it's been tampered with by human hands.  Wheat is not what it used to be and can actually be considered a genetically modified product and actually contains much larger amounts of gluten than it used to.  Our bodies were not created to have to process this protein as much as we have been!  Let's face it - breads, pastas, pizza, cereal, hamburger buns, most snacks and "bars" - all contain gluten and copious amounts of it.  I guarantee you this is NOT how our ancestors ate and now we are paying the price and seeing our bodies degrade before our very eyes.  

I've been gluten free for some time now and have never felt better.  I didn't have a bunch of symptoms on that list but decided to try it anyways.  Looking back I realize that so many things had become "normal" to me that I was ignoring them.  Without them, life is much more vibrant and my body is thanking me!  Here's my personal list of the benefits I have experienced since being gluten free:

• More energy
• Sleeping better
• Less hot flashes (was getting them at night)
• Running FASTER than ever
• Lost weight I never thought I'd lose (I'm a mommy, had a section, I thought it was inevitable!)
• Thinking clearer
• Adult face acne clearing up
• Eczema I've had for years, gone

When I "cheat" I usually notice right away - I feel bloated and gassy (and I never felt that before), extremely tired (we're talking can't function fatigue) and cannot sleep at night.  It's worth it to me to keep cheating to a minimum!  It's been a learning curve as I replace foods in my diet but I am focused less on shopping the "GF" aisles at the store than I am simply adding in extra servings of meats, veggies and fruits where the wheat-laden foods used to be.   Sure I'll buy substitutes here and there but my meals are not built around them nor are they regulars in my house.  Trust me, when you feel better you won't miss the foods you think you can't live without!  

Are you ready for a gluten free challenge?  I'll be adding future posts with other tips so stay tuned and get started.  Two weeks is your minimum but I would recommend a month to allow your gut to adjust and give your body time to heal.  Report back!

Why I think butter is better!

A skewed view

In the past few years my views on what is healthy and not has been completely challenged 100-fold.  It's been frustrating to say the least.  Being healthy was a goal I've always strived for and to learn that many of the things I was consuming were not so, was an eye opener.  For a while I denied everything and held onto what I learned in school, read in textbooks, saw on commercials and heard from doctors.  But after a while things started coming together and making sense.  My hope is that my posts on the subject will encourage you to do your own research with an open mind as you seek the best way to nourish the body that God has given you.

Butter = Health?

Like Paula Deen always says, "Everything's better with butter."  I agree.  Well, everything's better with bacon AND butter.  But I'm not talking about Smart Balance or margarine or Butter Buds or any of that fake stuff out there.  I'm referring to the real deal actual BUTTER.  The kind from a real live cow NOT a chemistry lab like some of the stuff out there.  Here's why:

• Butter is a great source of Vitamin A - vital for thyroid and adrenal gland health and proper immune system functioning
• Butter is rich in selenium, an anti-oxidant important in combating free radicals in our body
• Butter helps protect against cancer because of its saturated fats and linoleic acid.  (I know, exact opposite of what you would think, right?)
• Butter contains Vitamin D which aids in proper absorption of calcium
• Butter helps protect against cavities - probably because of the calcium uptake mentioned above
• Butter is a great source of Omega 3s - another important anti-oxidant sorely lacking in our standard American diet (also known as "SAD")

If your thoughts on butter are what mine used to be your eyes are now rolling wondering how someone can be so gullible, right?  However, I'd like to challenge your thinking just a bit more.  

How margarine got it's fame.

Did you know that butter was replaced with margarine made from hydrogenated oils which were cheaper to produce during the depression?  Butter was left for the very well off who had access to cows and hence fresh milk and cream.  However, it didn't take long for suppliers to realize what a great opportunity they had been given and marketing began.  Afterall, margarine can last longer AND save you money - win win situation!  Not really.  The rise of heart disease began AFTER the introduction of this pseudo "food" in the 20s.  A link often ignored.  Same thing with obesity for those of you thinking that consuming butter (and whole milk and cream) will make you fat.  Consider the diet of your ancestors.  Some of you are lucky enough to have special food recipes passed down from generations and I'm guessing the the ingredient list doesn't call for processed food ingredients or margarine.  Am I right?  Our ancestors ate WHOLE foods in their original state and were much healthier for it.  Ah, those were the days.  Back when heart disease was rare and obesity was unheard of.  Yup, those same days when consuming real butter was "normal".

Incorporating butter.

So now that we got that straight are you ready to give real butter a try?  If you have access to a local farmer selling raw cream and butter - get thee over there and talk prices!  I'll leave the discussion about consuming raw over pasteurized for another day but it's worth looking into if you're interested.  I hear that my good friend Google has a lot of information on the topic.  As far as accessible store bought butters, a grassfed organic will be your best bet because it contains the highest amounts of omegas  and other vitamins.  For my family, I buy Kerrygold brand and will buy sticks of whatever brand of organic I can for baking.  Yes, it costs more but I feel the health benefit outweighs anything else so it's worth it to me.  If I have to cut back when things are tight I'll forgo the organic sticks and buy regular.  However, you always want to read labels and be sure the butter you are buying is nothing more than cream and salt.  It should not contain oil or other additives.   

My disclaimer

Keep in mind, my journey towards health and everything else is full of grace.  I'm not perfect and am still learning.  This is simply where I am at in my walk and hoping it will help you in yours.  If you have other tidbits to share, please do so in the comments but please remember I am NOT an expert.  I am merely a work in progress like the rest of you striving to make the best choices I can with the information that I have.

More info

Want more info?  I figured you might.  For some reading with your morning buttered toast...or whenever you feel like reading more about butter:

http://www.westonaprice.org/food-features/why-butter-is-better 

http://chetday.com/healthybutter.htm

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/12/07/why-is-butter-better.aspx