Plant a Fruit Tree

Trying to eat more fruit?  Why not plant a fruit tree?  Even if you don't live in a warmer climate, with the large variety of fruit trees available, many will survive in areas that get quite cold.  Some trees will even bear fruit if grown in containers, which can be moved to a more sheltered area when the mercury drops.  While you enjoy your bountiful harvest, every year, your property values will likely also increase.  Here in Florida, did you know that your property value increases $1,000 for each mature citrus tree?  That's quite a return on your essentially maintenance free, $20-$50 investment for only a few short years to sit and wait. 

One mature tree will likely produce more fruit than your family can eat all by yourselves.  Why not see if a neighbor would also plant a different variety, so when the trees start producing you can swap?  You can maybe even sell your excess to a local farm stand, keep your neighbors supplied, or donate your excess to a local food bank or church to help feed those in need?

Before you buy, do your homework.  Online resources and local nurseries are a great place to find out information on which trees will do best in your area, growing habits and size of a mature tree, how long you will have to wait to get fruit, what maintenance or pruning will be required or not, if a second tree is needed for pollination or not, and how much fruit you can expect from a mature tree.  Check out local smaller nurseries before opting for the big box retailers.  You will likely get much more valuable growing information, a healthier tree more fitting for your climate, and help support your local small businesses.

Grow your fruit organically and you can really benefit.  You can reduce the amount of pesticides and fungicides your family ingests, and your cost, versus what you would pay for organic fruit elsewhere, will save you bundles!

Breast Cancer Prevention

Do you feel frustrated with the cost of breast cancer screening?  Sick of all the false positives that require further screening or biopsies, and spending thousands of dollars just to have them tell you that it's nothing.  Tired of the helpless feeling that it may just be a matter of time before you get it, and the only thing you can do is just keep checking to make sure to catch it early enough to save your life?  Do you cringe at the thought of that painful annual test, but feel like it is all you can do?  Do you feel like with all the money going towards breast cancer research, they should have better answers as to how you can prevent this disease by now?  You are not alone.

With my personal family history, with my maternal grandmother and mother both being survivors, I have been very vigilant to keep on top of this with my own health.  The more I read and learned about natural health options, the more I am disturbed with how society treats this disease and the lack of valid information being shared by many physicians.  There is much more information out there than what most doctors will tell you, since they typically only tell you what the official statements and recommendations are from the American Cancer Society and the American Medical Association.  So many doctors are afraid to step outside those recommendations for fear of malpractice or judgement by their peers.  Fortunately, today, there are more and more doctors who have begun asking more questions to see what else has been found in various medical studies, in addition to just settling for the typical canned answer they are used to hearing.

Both my mother and grandmother were diagnosed with Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (DCIS) resulting in mastectomies.  This is the most commonly diagnosed type of breast cancer.  My grandmother also went through radiation therapy.  My mother was first told to also go through radiation therapy with chemotherapy.  Thankfully, before doing so, she asked for a second opinion.  A very wise doctor told her that based on the type of cancer she had, if it was his wife, he would not recommend either radiation or chemo.  He felt that since her cancer had not spread to the lymph nodes and so much tissue had been surgically removed, she should just opt out of both therapies due to the radical negative side-effects on the healthy tissues and the immune system.  My mother has now been a survivor for over 20 years with no recurrences.  Thank goodness she followed this doctor's advise and did not do any further unnecessary damage to her body with these commonly over prescribed treatments for this type of diagnosis.

After what I have learned through person experience, research, and speaking with my OB/GYN, I truly believe that my family's risk for breast cancer has been elevated for generations simply due to hereditary hormone imbalances causing estrogen dominance.  Hormone imbalance and estrogen dominance is much more common than most women realize.  Low testosterone and/or progesterone symptoms parade around in a majority of women's lives every day, but are simply excused as a symptom of stress, lack of sleep, lack of motivation, depression, etc.  Most women are misdiagnosed, told it is all in their head, or prescribed medications that don't work and cause other side effects.  I plan to do another blog post about my story.  You will likely be surprised at how many symptoms I had, that you also share.

Please read these two articles below.  They will open your eyes to alternative screening options for breast cancer and preventative changes you can make in your daily lives with diet and exercise. 

How to Starve Cancer Out of Your Body - Avoid These Top 4 Cancer-Feeding Foods

This "Life Saving" Tool May Lead You Straight to Invasive Breast Cancer 

Almost 68% of Women over 40 Have Fallen for This Trap

Restless Legs driving you buggy?

I used to have restless legs.  (Notice the past tense?)  I found an easy, fast, and cheap way to say "Good-bye" to restless legs.  I don't know how many nights I would be sitting on the couch at night watching TV, trying to relax, and I felt like I just couldn't keep my legs in one spot for too long without moving them.  It's hard to describe.  Just a nagging need to move them every few minutes.  Are you a restless sleeper?  Could be the same thing making you stir all night long and keeping you from a good night's sleep.

While researching info for my Dad's osteoporosis, after he broke is hip this summer, I stumbled upon this.  I found that restless legs are likely a symptom of magnesium deficiency.  Some of you may already know that magnesium is a key element in calcium absorption, very important for building strong bones.  Through my research I found references to studies on people living in parts of the world where osteoporosis is almost non-existent in the population.  Really?!  The factor that appears to be the key is the ratio of magnesium to calcium in their diets.  In those populations, the diets consisted of a large percentage of fresh veggies, especially green leafy veggies, and essentially no processed foods in their diets at all.  They live off the land.  The ratio in their diets of magnesium to calcium was typically 2:1 or even 3:1, 2 to 3 times as much magnesium as calcium.

In the typical American diet, so many foods, especially veggies, are over processed, grown in soil that has been leached of many important vitamins and minerals, or we just don't eat enough veggies.  Organic veggies have far more nutrients than conventionally grown, primarily due to the soil they are grown in.  The typical ratio of magnesium to calcium in the American diet is 1:2, twice as much calcium as magnesium.  The focus with many food manufacturers is supplementing things such as milk, cereals, etc. with calcium, but no mention of magnesium.  If our food wasn't so overly processed, the good stuff would still be in there and wouldn't need supplementing.  Without enough magnesium, the calcium cannot absorb into the bones properly, resulting in brittle bones.  Too much calcium, with no way to absorb it all, and your body starts depositing it in parts of the body where it shouldn't be, such as in breast tissue, muscles, and blood vessels.  Ever heard of calcification in the breast tissue when you have gotten your mammograms done?  The doctors and radiologists watch these calcifications very closely, since many times they are a precursor to abnormal breast cell growth or even breast cancer. 

Researchers estimate that about 1 out of 5 American women over the age of 50 have osteoporosis. About half of all women over the age of 50 will have a fracture of the hip, wrist, or vertebra (bones of the spine).  Obviously, whatever most of us are doing in America is not working very well.  Those heavily advertised, expensive, pharmaceutical solutions are not the solution, either.  They come with a whole new set of issues.

Enough of the background of why and how.  Here is the solution I found that worked for my restless legs:  Supplement your diet with Magnesium, if you are not getting enough.  Not all forms of magnesium supplements are equal, though.  Many of the cheaper forms of magnesium that many vitamin manufacturers include in multivitamins, surprisingly, either don't include enough magnesium or use a form that is not easily absorbed.  Look for 100% Chelated Magnesium.  Also, when considering and comparing the strength of the supplement, the important numbers to look for is the "Elemental" Magnesium.  Any other numbers are really not important.  I found a supplement by Doctor's Best brand that contains 200 mg Elemental Chelated Magnesium in 2 tablets.  Depending on your deficiency, you will likely feel improvement in your restless legs, as well as your sleeping habits, after only 2 to 3 days.  I started with 2 pills twice a day.  Once in the morning, and once before bed.  After you improve your deficiency, you will likely need to cut back on your dosage to maybe only one pill, once a day, maybe less if you are getting more by adding more green leafy veggies to your diet.  You will know if you are getting more than your body needs if you start having soft bowel movements.  Remember the old ads for Milk of Magnesia?  Yes, magnesium is the active ingredient.  So, it will help you go if you are feeling a little stopped up, too.  Everyone is different and everyone's diet will vary, too, so your adjust your dosage accordingly.

You may even want to stop supplementing your calcium for a period of time, to be able to get your ratios in check.  Some doctors have suggested that their research has shown by stopping calcium supplementation (relying on calcium from only dietary sources) and focusing on magnesium supplementation, osteoperosis can be slowed, stopped or even reversed.  Some doctors also have suggested that this will cause your body to pull calcium from parts of your body where it has built up, but shouldn't have, and draw it into your bones where it needs to be.  Some other vitamins that are also key in this process are vitamins K2, and D3.  Important vitamins that many Americans are also typically deficient in.  Direct sun exposure for 15-20 minutes a day without sunscreen is a very good source of vitamin D.  Vitamin K is also found in high percentages in leafy greens.  Dad will be going back for another bone scan in a few months.  It will be interesting to see how his diet changes and supplements have changed his bone density over the year's time.

Stuffed Peppers with Quinoa

I made stuffed peppers last night with a little healthier spin on them.  Have you ever tried quinoa?  Pronounced KEEN-wah.  Quinoa is a gluten-free ancient grain originating from South America.  It is a very good source of protein, fiber, B vitamins, and iron.  Quinoa can be substituted for rice in a variety of recipes to make them healthier.  You can also reduce the portion of meat in the recipe, if you choose, due to the high protein content. 

Uncooked quinoa is a tiny round seed about 2 mm in diameter.  Some quinoa comes pre-rinsed.  If not simply rinse it under running water in a strainer for a minute or two to wash off the coating that is naturally on it.  If it's not rinsed your quinoa will taste like soap.  It cooks up similar to rice, with one cup quinoa to 2 cups of water, but only needs to cook for 15 minutes.  It will be tender, but still chewy, and a white spiral-like thread appears around each grain. 

Stuffed Peppers - serves 6 - modified recipe from Emeril Lagasse

6 large bell pepper, green, yellow or red with tops cut away and seeds removed
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped bell peppers (the edges of the tops you cut off earlier)
1 cup ground meat, such as turkey, pork, or beef or a combination
1/2 cup diced baby portabello mushrooms (optional)
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1/4 cup finely chopped fresh parsley leaves, or about 1 tablespoon dried
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
pinch red pepper flakes
2 cups cooked quinoa, rice, or other grain
8 - 15 ounces tomato sauce
water

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F.  Get your quinoa or rice going first, so that will be finished by the time you need it. 

In a large pot of boiling water, parboil the peppers until just tender, 2-3 minutes.  Remove with tongs or a slotted spoon and allow to dry.  I placed mine right in the baking dish now, so I can skip the little extra water normally added to the dish when baking later.

In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat.  Add the garlic, allow to brown slightly, then add the onions and chopped peppers.  Cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 3 minutes.  Add the meat, parsley, mushrooms, and seasonings.  Cook until meat is browned, breaking up lumps, about 6 minutes.  Drain off fat if necessary.  Add quinoa and tomato sauce, stir well, remove from heat, and adjust seasoning to taste, if needed.

Stuff the bell peppers with rice mixture and place in a baking dish.  Bake until peppers are tender and filling is heated through, 20-30 minutes.  When done, remove from the oven and allow to rest for 10 minutes before serving, if you keep your kids away long enough.  That didn't happen last night.  Enjoy!  Leftovers taste even better the next day.

Must Have for your Medicine Cabinet

My favorite thing in my medicine cabinet is Tamanu Oil.  You say, "What is that?  I've never heard of that before!  How can something I have never heard of before be a must have in my medicine cabinet?  If its so great why haven't I heard of it?"  I really think the many doctors, pharmaceutical companies, personal care and first aide product companies don't want to spread the word because they would lose too much business.  Either that, or they just don't know about it.  That is my personal take on it anyway.  It is a cold pressed oil, think olive oil, that comes from a nut that grows in Southeast Asia.

100% Cold Pressed Organic Tamanu oil is truly amazing.  I first heard about it from an expert in lesser known natural medical alternatives from around the world who appeared on the Dr. Oz Show.  I don't even remember his name, but I would sure like to thank him.  He said that it was good for everything about the skin.  Being a soap maker, I was intrigued.  I searched for it on the Internet to find out more about it, then ended up ordering some online.  That was the best money I have spent in a long time.

Tamanu oil has an amazing variety of properties that you don't find in too many products all at the same time.  It works as an anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, antibiotic, and anti-microbial topical treatment.  It will even help lighten age spots and reduce the appearance of scars, and it smells good too.  I thought it sounded too good to be true, but I wanted to try it anyway.  I use it for minor cuts, scrapes, rashes, burns, minor abrasions of the skin, etc.  It really seems to speed healing by a few days in many cases, takes the sting out of the "ouchies" almost immediately, reduces the typical itching sensation you typically get with healing or scabbing because the oil keeps it moist and prevents cracking and drying of the area, and the little scars you sometimes get with nastier boo-boos are non-existent.  It will clear up minor blemishes and even acne in just a few days!  If you can get it up and under and around the nail, it will even help eliminate toe nail fungus, the culprit in common toe nail discoloration. (Must be applied 2-3 times a day till the nail grows out.)  Just imagine how many creams, ointments, lotions, prescriptions, and co-pays you could eliminate with just one product! I'm hearing some major jingle in those pockets, not to mention eliminate some clutter in the bathroom!  Those benefits were already impressive, but let me tell you about two other applications that totally blew my mind and saved who knows how much money in medical expenses. 

When my daughter was 4, she went through a phase, like most kids, where she had a bad habit of picking her nose.  Despite the seemingly continual attempts to stop this habit, it continued for quite a while.  At one point I noticed she had gotten a little red, raw looking area just below her nose.  By the next day, the area below her nose had doubled in size and small areas on her arms and even her legs and torso were starting to appear the same way.  She complained of severe itching and couldn't keep her hands off.  My husband recognized this as something he had seen growing up called impetigo, also commonly called infantigo.  My mom, who had worked for a Dermatologist, also agreed.  This is a VERY aggressive bacterial infection that spreads like wildfire.

Now it was Saturday, and the doctor's office is closed.  What to do?  I looked up this infection online to see what to expect, how it is typically treated, and how I could ease my daughter's symptoms until the doctor's office opened on Monday.  Online I found that no home remedies were suggested except washing hands very well and all the time to help reduce spreading, and the typical treatment was high does of systemic antibiotics over a week or two, maybe longer, and the resulting scars typically take months to disappear, and may be permanent.  I freaked!  With the size of the one area alone, right below her nose, I could only imagine the torment she would face if that scar was there for an extended period of time.  I remembered that I had the Tamanu oil, and all of its claims to be antibacterial, antibiotic, and helps improve the appearance of scars.  I applied it with a cotton ball immediately to all the areas I could find in a head to toe search, including using a cotton swab to get the area up her nostril to make sure it didn't spread up that way, as well.  I applied it 3 times a day.  The itching eased, which stopped the scratching and resulting spreading.  By the next morning, Sunday, the redness had totally gone out of all the areas and I didn't find any new areas.  This was a major improvement considering how rapidly the areas spread over 24 hours the day before.  I was feeling relieved and amazed that I had seemed to get it under control, but my husband was still freaking out and encouraging me to get her in to the doctor Monday morning.  He had seen such bad cases on his brothers as a child, that he didn't want to take any chances.  By Sunday evening, many of the areas had started to scab, and some of the minor areas had even started to shrink or disappear!  I couldn't believe my eyes.  The improvement was so dramatic, that by Monday, I didn't even call the doctor.  Even my husband had agreed that it looked like it was well on its way to recovery, so much so that we probably wouldn't need the doctor after all.  By the end of the week, even the initial spot under her nose and a large area behind her knee had healed up so well you couldn't even tell it was ever there!  The only clue was that her legs had been pretty tan and some of the skin around the spot on her leg was not as tan.  Truly AMAZING!

Without getting this post too long, I also would like to tell you about my dad, a diabetic since age 24, now in his 70s.  He used Tamanu oil for a nasty injury on his big toe that seemed like it was not healing at all.  He has neuropathy in his feet, nerve damage common in diabetics, so he didn't feel it when something heavy dropped on his big toe.  It got all swelled up, black and blue and red, and appeared to be infected.  After a few days of showing little to no improvement, they were considering having a doctor check it out.  Diabetics have a difficult time healing in their extremities typically anyway, but this really didn't look good at all.  I was worried that if it didn't get better, it could turn into gang green and may ultimately end up getting amputated.  Unfortunately, this is not that uncommon for diabetics.  I carefully applied the tamanu oil to every area I could get to, and applied it generously around the nail area so I would seep under the nail.  Told my parents to apply it 2-3 times a day and keep it elevated.  By the next day a majority of the redness and swelling was showing significant improvement.  Finally!  Long story short, in a matter of a couple of weeks, it had healed up beautifully.  Lost the nail, but that was expected.  That was quicker than most scratches heal up on his legs.  We couldn't believe it.

A little goes a long way with this stuff, and it has a shelf life of 12-18 months, so don't buy too much.  I have had mine a little longer, and it still seems to be working fine, but I don't know how much longer it will hold up.  When I bought mine, the best price I could find, figuring in shipping, was at http://mountainroseherbs.com/.  There are other places that sell it also, so check around for the best price.  Hope you give it a try and experience the amazing healing powers of this natural oil personally.  By the way, I was not paid for this endorsement.  I am simply speaking from experience and hope my experience can help you out as well.