Tuesday, September 15, 2009

day 15

Day 15
This post includes some very personal data.

Today I begin a serious look at my food addiction ( mainly for me it is fast food, and involves running from my life, feelings, things I don't think I have any control over.) This is a 20 year struggle. I have committed to myself to begin to look at this today.

It is two fold and involves two different "parts" of who I am.

Part 1:
I believe my food addiction is grounded in my "Little Amy"..ages 8-12.
I believe it is she who runs from the things she can't control. I was sexually abused and ritualistically sexually abused from the age of 2 up to a rape by my best friends dad when I was 8. I think I have finally figured out WHY I run...I run because I can..because it is all about control. I couldn't run as a small child, but I can sure get in that car and run from my life today.

I do not eat the food in the house as part of my addiction, I am always RUNNING away from the house and eating fast food. The running away is grounded in my young child, inner child, who couldn't run as a child, away from what was happening to me. I think this is key and for the first time, today, I'm seeing this clearly.

I'm still processing this addiction. And will continue to do so in the days to come I'm sure.

Part 2:
My adult self, when out and running errands and such, makes BAD FOOD CHOICES for herself due to low self-worth and self-esteem.
I learned a long time ago in a college communications class that someone can have HIGH self-confidence and LOW self-worth and self-esteem. This is me today. I am beginning a plan on how to raise my self-worth..and part of that involves making good healthy decisions when it comes to my food choices. :-)

10:00 Thyroid meds ( 90 mg. of an old formulation of armour). I am thinking I am on too much medication for my thyroid condition. I'll post the blood work results. But my TSH is .2 (reference range is .4-4.3)This means I am on the HIGH end of hypothyroid..I feel my best when the number is around 2.5. Thyroid tests are backwards...so a high TSN means low thyroid function and a low TSH means a high thyroid function. I called Dr. Wilbrands office to see if they can change my compounded prescrition because it comes in gelcaps and I can't split the dosages. I see a new ( first ever) Endocrinologist a week from Thursday. I think being on too much medication is making me tired/fatigued in the afternoons.

Protein shake with hemp milk. fresh strawberries, minerals, sun is shining, ground flax seed and walnuts

ambertose, iron, 2 mag. lac. LAY wafer, zymez wafer, zinc liver chelate, 2 CHEWS ( Chews 4 Health for the sea veggies) ( I can't seem to eat those sea veggies so the next best thing is to get them in a supplement that you CHEW, like food), megazyme, Trophons, b-12

1:30
1/4 green pepper, broccoli, 3 leaves romaine lettuce, 2 hard boiled eggs w/sea salt, w/ 1 tbls of ranch dressing.

1 megazyme, 2 wafers, 2 mag., 2 ioderal, 1 superpill, ambertose

5:30 hand ful of mixed nuts

6:30 baked "white" potato with 2 tbls. of butter, sea salt and pepper, 2 bites of mac. and cheese ;-( 2-zinc, 2-ioderal, 1 super pill

At bed time
trophons, pro-biotic, 2 melatonin

This was my first day, in a long time, with no fast food and no soda. YEAH for me. I stayed HOME the whole day. It was not easy...a lot of crying and journaling. Realizing how much of my life has been wasted in DRIVING AWAY from my family and home. I talked briefly to my three kids that were home last night, Caleb 17, Caterina 19, and Tristan 12 and explained to them that I am going to take this thing one day at a time and I needed their help in making sure we eat at the house at night. For example, don't ask me to run by Taco Bell lol. They all agreed and thought it was nice to actually have dinner at home with each other. :-) Things will change one day at a time.

My mother quit drinking in 1976...and was sober until the day she died ( just a few short years ago). I remember her going to AA meetings and working the 12 steps. The first is to admit that you are powerless..that is a HUGE first step for me, because in admitting I am powerless can trigger my abuse as a child. But today i think I turned a corner on my addiction.

KISS- Keep it simple stupid...I like Keep It Simple Sweetie ( better) lol another AA thing.

One day down.

Adrenal Stress Index

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Adrenal Stress Index
They received test via mail on 8-25-2009

ASI-Adrenal Stress Index
TAP Free Cortisol Rhythm

6:00-8:00 a.m. 11 ( depressed) ref. range 13-24 nM

11:00-12:00 ( noon) 6 ( normal) � � 5-10 nM

4:00-5:00 PM 6 ( normal) � � 3-8 nM

10:00-Midnight 8 (elevated) 1-4 nM

Remarks:
Depressed morning cortisol, <13 nM, is suggestive of marginal HPA ( Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal) performance. Normal rhythms exhibit highest cortisol value for the day at 7-8 am.

An elevated morning/night free cortisol value may be associated with insomnia, and caused by a stress response to an emotional or mental situation, nocturnal hypoglycemia or chronic pain and overt/hidden inflammation.

What next?
a) consider appropriate dietary modifications and glycemic control that include an insulin friendly carbohydrate-to-protein balance.

b) consider initiating a mild to moderate aerobic exercise program

c) the literature resports ACTH pulse height is attenuated by use of Phosphorylated serine suppliment within 1-2 hours of time(s) of high cortisol.

d) consider the palliative use of natural or pharmaceutical anti-histamine or anti-inflammatory.

e) consider balancing the sympathetic/parasympathetic systems using established techniques, examples: meditation and Tai Chi or heart rate variability coherence ( Freeze Framing).

f) if above changes do not yeild the desired clinical and follow up test results, look for low grade or hidden inflammation and infections. Examples food intolerances, chronic gastrointestinal and other infections.

DHEA
pooled value 8 Normal adults ( M/F): 3-10 ng/ml

ISSN Insulin
Fasting <3 Normal: 3-12 uIU/mL

Post-Prandial <3 depressed Optimal: 5-20 uIU/mL

Depressed Post-prandial insulin within four hours after meal. This may be caused by a small carbohydrate load in the preceeding challenege meal or a reduction in pancreatic insulin release or synthesis. Consider a closer examination of challenege meal composition to rule out pre-diabetic tendencies.

P17-OH 17-OH Progesterone 40 Normal

MB2S Total Salivary SIgA 6 Depressed Normal ranges: 25-60 mg/dl
Borderline: 20-25 mg/dl

A depressed mucosal SIgA may be attributed to one or more of the following reasons:
1-Excessive chronic cortisol output causes a reduction in the number of SIgA producing immunocytes. Appropriate restorative treatments have been shown to produce incremental improvements in SIgA.

2-Excessive sympathic activity causes inhibition of SIgA release from the mucosal immunocytes.

3-Chronic deficits in cortisol and/or DHEA levels.

4-Possible systemic deficit in capacity to produce IgA-an inherited problem. Rule out possibility with a serum IgA test. A normal finding rules out this possibility.

F14 Gliadin Ab, SIgA ( saliva) 6 Negative Borderline: 13-15 U/mL
Posi tive: >15 U/mL
Notes on Gliadin Ab Test:
Gliadins are polypeptides found in wheat,rye,oat,barley,and other grain glutens, and are toxic to the intestinal mucosa in susceptible individuals. Healthy adults and children may have a positive antigliadin test because of subclinical gliadin intolerance. Some of their symptoms include mild enteritis, occasional loose stools, fat intolerance, marginal vitamin and mineral status, fatigue, or accelerated osteoporosis. ( Scan. J. Gastroenterol. 29:248(1994).

***I do not have a gluten sensativity. This is GOOD news.

Blood Work 8-23-2009

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Blood Work 8-23-2009
Had a CBC with Diff & plt...
all of these results were in range ( all excellent)

TSH 0.267 ref. range 0.450-4.500
Calcitriol ( 1,25 di-OH Vit D) 54.0 ref. range 15.9-55.6
T4, ( free Direct) 0.65 ref. range 0.61-1.76
Thyroid Peroxidase ( TPO) Ab 111 0-34
Antithyroglobulin Ab 1669 0-40
Triiodothyronine, Free, Serum 2.7 2.3-4.2
Hematocrit 39.6 34.0-44.0




What do these numbers tell us?
In my opinion: tsh is too low, need to back off the medication ( am going from 120 mg. to 90 mg. ) Although Naturopath says all numbers look fine. there is some speculation that the antibody numbers come down the more medication you're on. I think my numbers are coming down because of other things..such as the amalgam/mercury fillings being replaced, getting rid of wheat/gluten and grains from my diet.

Vit D and Iron ( hematocrit) are good although having a test for Ferritin levels would be a good second test for the iron levels. I get a lot of sun, and for the first hour i do not wear sunscreen, in fact I quit wearing sunscreen and after about an hour I am wearing a hat and long sleeve shirt, light white cotton. I get Vit. in that Super Pill I take twice a day as well.

Seeing as I was anemic in Nov. 2007 and my Naturopath said it might take up to 5 years to raise my iron levels..I think something is going VERY RIGHT..with my absorption of the iron. :-) This is good.

The two test for the antibodies ( which tell us how bad the autoimmune issue is, Hashimoto's) have come down since the last test and are almost in half since the first test in Nov. 2007 where they were over 3000 and not registerable on their scale ( just said over 3000). So this is yet another good sign. YES still way too high, but we're working on that.

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Sharing Information on Health

I am trying to combine and share on several different sites, my health journey.
So when you see something like days 10,11,12 won't be posted that's coming from my daily blog on my health ;-)

I'm setting up a NEW Autoimmune board in yahoo. A place to present ALL that I have found..I want it to be available to everyone who wants to see it and read it so they can make their own best choices on what their "plan of actions" needs to be.

I'm still posting on my other health board Healing The Body as well.

One day i will probably just be posting in one spot ( when the Cafe is open and running I won't have time to be here as often.)

Anyone reading this post needs to pass the word along to anyone you know who has an autoimmune issue or any health issue as the autoimmune board will be a excellent resource for them in the weeks/months/years to come.

Enjoy your day!
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Reviewing TESTS and starting anew

Days 10,11,12 won't be posted as I don't have time ;-).
Went to see Dr. Doris Compton ( restorativeendocrinology.com) on Friday (11th) and went over the mineral test results and the Saliva/ Cortisol test results. Also reviewed my blood work.

From this information I am formulating a new plan of action ( which will follow), am planning to start it Monday ( Sept. 14th), but have already been on 2 days of new supplements ( Sat. and Sun.) from Dr. Doris.

I will post the test results and what they tell me about what's going on with me.

I realized this morning, don't ask me why it didn't occur to me before, but trying to figure out "what" to do is NOT EASY, it's just now coming clear to me how complicated my own health picture has become. I long for simplicity in my life and my health...as I have read a lot of information and talked to a lot of people and everyone says something different.

What I am trying to do with the NEW autoimmune board I am setting up in Yahoo is to present ALL the information I know of on autoimmune diseases and work with people on a "plan of action" for their own lives.

It would seem to me that people need all the information, what has worked for others, what hasn't worked and then design a plan on what they want...starting FIRST with what they CAN CONTROL. We can't do anyting about genetics BUT I think too many people have bought into the medical professions excuse of "this is in your genetic history there is nothing you can do about it". Bullshit..I say to that. There IS EVERYTHING you can do about it! Depending on your food choices and your lifestyle choices those gene EXPRESSIONS may or MAY NOT materialize and manifest in your physical body. THERE ARE MANY choices to be made on YOUR PART. I don ot believe you are an aimless victim.

Onward!

On my new plan I will still be 90% raw on most days as EVERYTHING I read on raw is good information. And seems to work for just about 100% of the people that eat that way and live their lives that way. :-)

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

The Eat Right America Foundation

Our mission is to promote
scientific research and
public education to prevent
dietary-caused disease,
the major cause of
chronic illnesses
and premature death
in modern countries



Eat Right America Educational and Research Foundation.
The medical profession and the public at large will not embrace nutritional interventions to prevent and treat disease unless well-documented in the scientific literature. Today almost all research funding is directed to "drug-research".

Results from preliminary medical studies have depicted that headaches, asthma, kidney disease, hypertension, diabetes and heart disease can all be improved, effectively treated and even "cured" via nutritional excellence. Nutrition for many diseases can be more effective than drug treatment.

Finding a "drug-cure" helps the bottom line of medical and pharmaceutical industries it will not help the average business. It is a response to dietary-caused diseases that has failed. Treatment is expensive. The average cost to traditional health insurer for the first 90 days after a heart attack is over $40,000. With the exception of a very few congenital conditions, every heart attack is a preventable and needless tragedy.

According to a study published in the January/February 2005 in Health Affairs more than 15 percent of the nation's gross domestic product (GNP) went to health care in 2003. The 2003 percent increase was greater than the growth in the U.S. economy as a whole. Health spending rose faster than federal revenues. It is eating away at our profitability.

The rising occurrence of obesity compounds these problems. Obesity is a totally preventable and reversible condition.
The sobering facts are that:


•More then 1 out of 3 Americans are obese. 85% of all Americans die from diseases that can be avoided by adopting a healthy diet

•Corporations will bear the brunt of these costs.

•This crisis threatens to undermine the American economy.

The solution is always obvious in retrospect. Yet, in the moment of crisis, we are unable to see it because it is often hidden in plain view. What is needed is the right question.





Skyrocketing health care costs are a radical problem and require a radically different way of thinking. The question is not: "How can we reduce cost of health care?" That question has a never ending list of answers. The questions that we should be asking are:


Can I prevent these costs from being incurred in the first place? If so, what are the impediments to prevention and how can we remove them? If diseases are preventable then how can we induce people to take the necessary steps to prevent them? These questions will lead to a more comprehensive solution.

Dr. Fuhrman and our advisor board of respected physicians and scientists have been studying this problem for several years. This includes studying and identifying the underlying impediments that prevent people from being able change. It starts by understanding our basic psychological wiring and physiologic nature of food addiction.

Wellness is more than just the absence of disease. It is a multi-dimensional indicator of your physical, emotional, and social state. Total wellness is characterized by superior health and is marked by a socially connected, disease free and long life span.

Difficult problems require a new way of thinking. Traditional diets don't work-they fail to consider the complexities of human nature and the workings of the human hunger drive. Traditional approaches to wellness are inadequate and do not address the underlying impediments to wellness. Our approach is based on the latest scientific research and clinical experience and it is based on modeling excellence. We are in desperate need of funding for studies to demonstrate the effectiveness of this approach to disease and to bring the results of the research to the public for implementation.

Raw vs. cooked

Raw vs. Cooked?
Certainly, there are benefits to consuming plenty of raw fruits and vegetables. These foods supply us with high nutrient levels and are generally low in calories too. Eating lots of raw foods is a key feature of an anti-cancer diet style and a long life. But are there advantages to eating a diet of all raw foods and excluding all cooked foods? The answer is a resounding “No”. In fact, eating an exclusively raw-food diet is a disadvantage. Excluding all steamed vegetables and vegetable soups from your diet narrows your nutrient diversity and has a tendency to reduce the percentage of calories from vegetables in favor of nuts and fruits which are lower in nutrients per calorie.

Raw vegetables are dramatically low in calories and we probably only absorb about 50 calories a pound from raw vegetables. Our caloric needs cannot be met on a raw food diet without consuming large amounts of fruits, avocado, nuts and seeds. This may be an adequate diet for some people, but in my 15 years of medical practice catering to the community of natural food enthusiasts, raw foodists and natural hygienists, I have seen many people who weakened their health on such raw food, vegan diets. Frequent fungal skin and nail infections, poor dentition, hair loss and muscular wasting are common on such fruit-based diets.

Unfortunately, sloppy science prevails in the raw-food movement. Raw food advocates mistakenly conclude that since many cooked foods are not healthy for us, then all cooked foods are bad. This is not true.

The idea that stirs the most enthusiasm for this diet is the contention that cooking both destroys about fifty percent of the nutrients in food, and destroys all or most of the life promoting enzymes. It is true that when food is baked at high temperatures—and especially when it is fried or barbecued—toxic compounds are formed and most important nutrients are lost. Many vitamins are water-soluble, and a significant percent can be lost with cooking, especially overcooking. Similarly, many plant enzymes function as phytochemical nutrients in our body and are useful to maximize health. They, too, can be destroyed by overcooking. However, we cannot paint with this brush of negativity over every form of cooking.

Only small amounts of nutrients are lost with conservative cooking like making a soup, but many more nutrients are made more absorbable. These nutrients would have been lost if those vegetables had been consumed raw. When we heat, soften and moisturize the vegetables and beans we dramatically increase the potential digestibility and absorption of many beneficial and nutritious compounds. We also increase the plant proteins in the diet, especially important for those eating a plant-based diet with limited or no animal products.

In many cases, cooking actually destroys some of the harmful anti-nutrients that bind minerals in the gut and interfere with the utilization of nutrients. Destruction of these anti-nutrients increases absorption. Steaming vegetables and making vegetable soups breaks down cellulose and alters the plants’ cell structures so that fewer of your own enzymes are needed to digest the food, not more. On the other hand, the roasting of nuts and the baking of cereals does reduce availability and absorbability of protein.

When food is steamed or made into a soup, the temperature is fixed at 100 degrees Celsius or 212 Fahrenheit—the temperature of boiling water. This moisture-based cooking prevents food from browning and forming toxic compounds. Acrylamides, the most generally recognized of the heat-created toxins, are not formed with boiling or steaming. They are formed only with dry cooking. Most essential nutrients in vegetables are made more absorbable after being cooked in a soup and water-soluble nutrients are not lost because we eat the liquid portion of the soup too.

Recent studies confirm that the body absorbs much more of the beneficial anti-cancer compounds (carotenoids and phytochemicals—especially lutein and lycopene) from cooked vegetables compared with raw. Scientists speculate that the increase in absorption of antioxidants after cooking may be attributed to the destruction of the cell matrix (connective bands) to which the valuable compounds are bound.

Another fallacy promoted in the raw food movement and on the web is that the fragile heat-sensitive enzymes contained in the plants we eat catalyze chemical reactions that occur in humans and aid in digestion of the food. This is not true. Plant foods do not supply enzymes that aid in their digestion when consumed by animals. Our body supplies exactly the precise amount of enzymes needed for digestion; we are not ill equipped to digest normal food. The plant enzymes are broken down into simpler molecules by our own powerful digestive juices and even those that are absorbed as peptide size pieces (or with some biologic function) do not function to catalyze human functions. So it is not true that eating raw food demands less enzyme production by your body. A healthy body produces the precise amount of enzymes needed to digest the ingested food appropriately and the enzymes our body uses for other processes are unique to our human needs and are not present in plants. We make what we need from the proper materials.

In conclusion, eating lots of raw foods is a feature of a healthy diet. I always encourage people to eat more raw food. One of my common statements is—the salad is the main dish. Raw food is necessary for digestive efficiency, proper peristalsis and normal bowel function. Certain foods, especially fruit, avocado and nuts undergo significant change with cooking and are best eaten raw. Baking, frying, barbecuing and other high heat cooking methods that brown and damage food form acrylamides, which are carcinogenic. Browning and other high heat cooking methods should be avoided. Cooking techniques like steaming vegetables, stewing foods in a pressure cooker and soup making, do not have these drawbacks. They do not brown foods or form acrylamides.

Eating raw food is necessary for good health and is an important feature of a healthy diet. But that does not mean that one’s entire diet has to be raw to be in excellent health. It also does not mean eating an all raw diet is the healthiest way to eat. It is healthier to expand your nutrient density, your absorption of plant protein and your nutrient diversity with the inclusion of some conservatively cooked food in your diet.

Link LB ; Potter JD. Raw versus cooked vegetables and cancer risk.
Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2004; 13(9):1422-35.

Ismail A ; Lee WY. Influence of cooking practice on antioxidant properties and phenolic content of selected vegetables. Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2004; 13(Suppl):S162.

Is Cancer Preventable? Dr. Fuhrman

Is Cancer Preventable?
We live in an era where the majority of Americans think that diseases strike us because of misfortune, genetics, or unknown factors beyond our control. When serious disease “strikes,” we run to doctors and expect them to fix us with a pill. Most people have no idea that most diseases—including cancers, heart disease, strokes, and diabetes—are the result of nutritional folly and are avoidable. Have you ever wondered why, despite the billions of dollars spent on cancer research over many decades, and the constant promise of a cure which is forever "just around the corner", cancer continues to increase? In spite of more than 20 billion dollars invested in cancer research in the last ten years, the death rate from cancer has increased steadily for the last 75 years in line with increases in overweight and heart disease. Once quite rare, cancer is now the second major cause of death in Western countries such as Australia, the U.S.A. and the United Kingdom. It is not true that this increase in cancer is due to people living to be older and thereby having a greater chance of contracting cancer. Cancer has increased in all age groups, and has been linked in population studies to dietary and life-style factors that promote the particular forms of cancer that are predominant in those populations. Has the “War on Cancer” been lost? The fact is that we now have good evidence to understand the complicated biology of cancer causation and educated individuals can dramatically reduce their risk of ever getting cancer. Not only has cancer incidence been increasing, but the age at which people die of cancer has not increased. The five year survival statistics of the American Cancer Society are misleading because we are diagnosing more cancers at an earlier stage of the disease, so the claims that patient are living longer with cancer is also false. More women with mild or benign diseases are being included in statistics and reported as being 'cured'. The bottom line is that we are feeding a cancer research establishment and the drug industry that will never win the war on cancer. Cancer is a disease of lifestyle choices that cause cancer and when we finally decide to work together to prevent cancer we will begin to win some battles and eventually the war. A report in the New England Journal of Medicine assessed progress against cancer in the United States for 35 years concluding that despite progress against some rare forms of cancer, which account for 1 to 2 per cent of total deaths caused by the disease, the overall death rate had increased substantially since 1950: "The main conclusion we draw is that some 35 years of intense effort focused largely on improving treatment must be judged a qualified failure." The report further concluded that ". . . we are losing the war against cancer" and argued for a shift in emphasis towards prevention if there is to be substantial progress.Environmental causes of cancer include lifestyle factors such as smoking, a diet high in processed foods and animal products and low in fresh fruit & vegetables, food additives, pollution, and drugs and medical procedures. Despite the general recognition that 85 per cent of all cancers are caused by environmental influences, less than 10 per cent of the (U.S.) National Cancer Institute budget is given to nutritional, lifestyle and environmental causes. Less than 1 per cent of the National Cancer Institute budget is devoted to nutrition studies. Our medicine-centered culture and the idea that doctor and drugs are the answer to our every expanding disease-care crisis has permeated our economic climate and has become woven into the social fabric of our society. Treating disease is enormously profitable and big businesses and medical institutions are sustained by almost worthless drug treatments and cancer therapies. The status quo is sustained by the fairy tale that a miracle cure is just around the corner. Your body is a self-repairing and self-healing machine. Human cells have all the features necessary to protect themselves from chemical damage to their DNA that eventually results in carcinogenic changes. A cancer cell is essentially a normal cell whose DNA has been damaged to the point that it can no longer control its replication. The process that is creating our modern epidemic of cancer is twofold. One aspect involves the exposure of our cells to damaging stresses such as chemical carcinogens, radon, acrylamides, high levels of saturated and trans fats and excess animal protein. At the same time, we have a woefully insufficient dietary intake of plant-derived nutrients, which include thousands of newly discovered and undiscovered phytochemicals that are essential for normal human cell function. Our cells have built-in, powerful mechanisms to remove or destroy toxic substances, inhibit DNA damage, repair broken DNA cross-links, and remove cells that are injured or abnormal before they become cancerous, but only if our nutritional requirements for antioxidants and phytochemicals are met.In recent years, the term phytochemicals has been used to refer to the thousands of newly-discovered nutrients supplied by plants that— in addition to vitamins and minerals—are necessary for maximal immune system protection and for the promotion of cellular detoxification and repair. Most of our knowledge about what constitutes the optimal cancer prevention diet comes from both human population (epidemiological) studies and animal studies. Populations that have a high intake of natural, unrefined plant foods such as fruits, vegetables, seeds, nuts, and beans always have a low incidence of cancer, proportional to the intake of these phytochemcal-rich plant foods.Examining data from numerous epidemiological studies, the World Cancer Research Fund concluded that the evidence that fruits and vegetables can reduce the risk of oral, esophageal, lung, stomach, colon, pancreatic, bladder, and breast cancer was convincing. No single substance in a plant-based diet accounts for this relationship; rather, it is the synergistic effect of multiple phytochemical compounds (which number in the thousands).Even though other factors such as chemicals, pollution, and smoking play a role in cancer etiology, the scientific literature still illustrates that a better diet offers dramatic protection even against non-dietary cancer promoters. For example, the Fiji Islands (where smoking rates are high) still has a dramatically lower incidence of lung cancer than Hawaii (where smoking rates are lower). This protection against lung cancer even in heavily smoking Fiji Islanders was shown to be the result of the high intake of green vegetables in Fiji. (1) The National Cancer Institute recommends eating 5 servings of fruits and vegetables each day. However, scientific studies suggest that this is still inadequate. More is better and much, much more is much, much better at reducing cancer risk. It is a national disgrace that very few Americans follow this very minimal recommendation to eat 5 servings of fruits and vegetables daily. A healthy anti-cancer diet receives the vast majority of its calories from fresh vegetables, fruits, beans, nuts and seeds. These should not be seen as the add ons; rather they must be the core of any diet that can be considered healthy.I have spent the last twenty years reviewing over 60,000 scientific articles on the relationship of diet and nutrition to cancer and I have to say that the evidence that we can prevent the vast majority of human cancers is overwhelming. I have comprised a body of knowledge in my books, newsletters and other writings available here at this website to inform and educate people who want to take back control of their health destiny. My purpose is to let people know they do not have to have a stroke, get demented in their later years, suffer with heart problems or get cancer. They can choose to live in a manner that can increase healthy life expectancy and they can do it in a way that is fully pleasurable and tastes great.. 1. Le Marchand L, Hankin JH, Bach F, et al. An ecological study of diet and lung cancer in the South Pacific. Int J Cancer 1995 Sep 27; 3(1):18-23. 5



www.drfuhrman.com

Organic Vs. Conventional ~~Dr. Fuhrman

Organic vs. Conventional?
The Environmental Protection Agency reports that the majority of pesticides now in use are probable or possible cancer causes. Studies of farm workers who work with pesticides suggest a link between pesticide use and brain cancer, Parkinson’s disease, multiple myloma, leukemia, lymphoma and cancers of the stomach and prostate. (1) The question remains, however, does the low level of pesticides remaining on our food present much of a risk?Some scientists argue that the extremely low level of pesticide residue remaining on produce is insignificant and that there are naturally occurring toxins in all natural foods that are more significant. The large amount of studies performed on the typical pesticide treated produce have demonstrated that consumption of produce, whether organic or not, is related to lower rates of cancer and increased disease protection. Certainly, it is better to eat fruits and vegetables grown and harvested using pesticides than not eat them at all. The health benefits of eating phytochemical rich produce greatly outweigh any risk pesticide residues might pose.If it is available, organic food is certainly your best bet to limit exposure to toxic chemicals. Foods with the most pesticide residue are spinach, strawberries, peaches, raspberries, blackberries, grapes, cherries, apples, and celery. Imported produce is also more likely to contain higher levels of pesticides. (2)Organic food usually has more nutrients than conventional. (3) One study performed at the University of California at Davis found that foods grown organically had higher amounts of flavonoids, which have protective effects against both heart disease and cancer. The researchers found that flavonoids were more than 50% higher in corn and strawberries. They theorized that when the plants are forced to deal with the stress of insects, they produce more of these compounds, which are beneficial to humans. (4) Overall, organic foods taste better, and organic agriculture protects farmers and our environment. 1. Sanderson W.T. , Talaska G, Zaebst D, et al. Pesticide prioritization for a brain cancer case-control study. Environ Res. 1997;74 (2): 133-144. Zahm SH, Blair A. Cancer among migrant and seasonal farmworkers: an epidemiologic review and research agenda. Am J Ind Med 1993;24(6): 753-766.2. Reynolds JD, International pesticide trade: Is there any hope for the effective regulation of controlled substances? Journal of Land Use & Environmental Law, 1997;13(1). Whitford F, Mason L, Winter C. Pesticides and food safety. Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service pp22, Jan. 17, 20053. Worthington V. Nutritional quality of organic versus conventional fruits, vegetables and grains. J Alt Coml Med 2001; 7(2): 161-173.4. Grinder-Pederson L, Rasmussen SE, Bugel S, et al. Effect of diets based on foods from conventional versus organic production on intake and excretion of flavonoids and markers of antioxidative defense in humans. J Agric Food Chem 2003; 51(19): 5671-5676.


www.drfuhrman.com

Sunday, September 6, 2009

Avoid Bromide for Thyroid Health


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Dr. Mercola's AVOID Bromide for Thyroid health
Avoid This if You Want to Keep Your Thyroid Healthy Posted by: Dr. Mercola September 05 2009 Bromides are a common endocrine disruptor. Because bromide is also a halide, it competes for the same receptors that are used in the thyroid gland (among other places) to capture iodine. This will inhibit thyroid hormone production resulting in a low thyroid state.Iodine is essential for your body, and is detected in every organ and tissue. There is increasing evidence that low iodine is related to numerous diseases, including cancer. Various clinicians and researchers have found iodine effective with everything from goiter to constipation.Bromide can be found in several forms. Methyl Bromide is a pesticide used mainly on strawberries, found predominantly in the California areas. Brominated Vegetable Oil (BVO) is added to citrus drinks to help suspend the flavoring in the liquid. Potassium Bromate is a dough conditioner found in commercial bakery products and some flours.Sources: Natural Thyroid Choices: BromideIodine 4 HealthDr. Mercola's Comments: If you are like most people, you probably haven’t spent much time thinking about how much bromine you’re absorbing from your car upholstery or your Mountain Dew. But bromine toxicity is a definite danger from some surprising sources, and it can wreak havoc on your health.Bromines All Around YouBromines are common endocrine disruptors, and are part of the halide family, a group of elements that includes fluorine, chlorine and iodine. What makes it so dangerous is that it competes for the same receptors that are used to capture iodine. If you are exposed to a lot of bromine, your body will not hold on to the iodine that it needs. And iodine affects every tissue in your body -- not just your thyroid.You are already exposed to far too much chlorine and bromine. Bromine can be found in a number of places in your everyday world, including:•Pesticides (specifically methyl bromide, used mainly on strawberries, predominantly in California) •Plastics, like those used to make computers •Bakery goods and some flours often contain a “dough conditioner” called potassium bromate •Soft drinks (including Mountain Dew, Gatorade, Sun Drop, Squirt, Fresca and other citrus-flavored sodas), in the form of brominated vegetable oils (BVOs) •Medications such as Atrovent Inhaler, Atrovent Nasal Spray, Pro-Banthine (for ulcers), and anesthesia agents •Fire retardants (common one is polybromo diphenyl ethers or PBDEs) used in fabrics, carpets, upholstery, and mattresses •Bromine-based hot tub and swimming pool treatments According to van Leeuwen, who has extensively studied the effects of sodium bromide on thyroid function:“Although the bromide ion is widely distributed in nature, the main route of exposure in humans stems from bromide residues in food commodities as a result of the abundant use of bromide-containing pesticides, like methylbromide and ethylene dibromide, for soil fumigation in intensive horticulture and for postharvest treatment.”One clinical consequence of overexposure to bromine is suppression of your thyroid, leading to hypothyroidism, which will be discussed shortly. Another is bromide toxicity.Bromine -- The Bully of the Halide GroupWhen you ingest or absorb bromine, it displaces iodine, and this iodine deficiency leads to an increased risk for cancer of the breast, thyroid gland, ovary and prostate -- cancers that we see at alarmingly high rates today. This phenomenon is significant enough to have been given its own name -- the Bromide Dominance Theory.Aside from its effects on your endocrine glands, bromine is toxic in and of itself. Bromide builds up in your central nervous system and results in many problems. It is a central nervous system depressant and can trigger a number of psychological symptoms such as acute paranoia and other psychotic symptoms.In fact, in an audio interview, physician Jorge Flechas reported that, between 1920 and 1960, at least 20 percent of all hospital admissions for “acute paranoid schizophrenia” were a result of ingesting bromine-containing products.In addition to psychiatric problems, bromine toxicity can manifest as the following:•Skin rashes and severe acne•Loss of appetite and abdominal pain•Fatigue•Metallic taste•Cardiac arrhythmiasBaby Boomers might recall a popular product from the 1950s called Bromo-Seltzer. These effervescent granules, developed by the Emerson Drug Company of Baltimore, were used to treat heartburn, upset stomach, indigestion, headaches and hangovers. Bromo-Selzer’s original formula contained 3.2 mEq/teaspoon of sodium bromide -- hence the name. The sedative effect probably explained its popularity as a hangover remedy. Bromides were withdrawn from the American market in 1975 due to their toxicity.Bromo-Selzer is still on the market, but no longer contains bromide. Bromines in Your Bread Box: Potassium BromateThe ban on bromines have not prevented them from sneaking into your foods and personal care products.You probably are not aware of this, but nearly every time you eat bread in a restaurant or consume a hamburger or hotdog bun you are consuming bromide, as it is commonly used in flours.The use of potassium bromate as an additive to commercial breads and baked goods has been a huge contributor to bromide overload in Western cultures. Bromated flour is “enriched” with potassium bromate. Commercial baking companies claim it makes the dough more elastic and better able to stand up to bread hooks. However, Pepperidge Farm and other successful companies manage to use only unbromated flour without any of these so-called “structural problems.”Potassium bromate is also found in some toothpastes and mouthwashes, where it’s added as an antiseptic and astringent. It has been found to cause bleeding and inflammation of gums in people using these products.Sodium Bromate and BMOsMountain Dew, one of the worst beverages you can drink, uses brominated vegetable oil as an emulsifier. Not only that, it contains high fructose corn syrup, sodium benzoate, more than 55 mg of caffeine per 12 ounce can, and Yellow Dye #5 (tartrazine, which has been banned in Norway, Austria and Germany.) A weapon of mass destruction -- in a can.Even drinking water can be a source of bromide. When drinking water containing bromide is exposed to ozone, bromate ions are formed, which are powerful oxidizing agents. Such was the case in 2004 when Coca Cola Company had to recall Dasani bottled water.Sodium bromate can also be found in personal care products such as permanent waves, hair dyes, and textile dyes. Benzalkonium is used as a preservative in some cosmetics.Finally, bromine and chlorine were the most common toxic elements reportedly found in automobiles, according to the blog of David Brownstein, MD (March 2007). They showed up in the seats, armrests, door trim, shift knobs and other areas of the car. Think about how much time you spend enclosed in your outgassing Chevy… windows up with no air circulation.The United States is quite behind in putting an end to the egregious practice of allowing bromine chemicals in your foods. In 1990, the United Kingdom banned bromate in bread. In 1994, Canada did the same. Brazil recently outlawed bromide in flour products. What’s taking us so long? Another case of our government protecting big industry -- instead of protecting you.Iodine Levels and Cancer RiskIodine levels have significantly dropped due to bromine exposure; declining consumption of iodized salt, eggs, fish, and sea vegetables; and soil depletion. In the U.S. population, there was a 50 percent reduction in urinary iodine excretion between 1970 and 1990. What’s this doing to our country’s health?The Japanese consume 89 times more iodine than Americans due to their daily consumption of sea vegetables, and they have reduced rates of many chronic diseases, including the lowest rates of cancer in the world. The RDA for iodine in the U.S. is a meager 150 mcg/day, which pales in comparison with the average daily intake of 13800 mcg/day for the Japanese.There is a large body of evidence suggesting that low cancer rates in Japan are a result of their substantially higher iodine levels. Iodine has documented antioxidant and anti-proliferative properties.A strong case can be made that your iodine RDA should be closer to what the Japanese consume daily, if breast cancer rates are any indication. Low iodine can lead to fibrocystic breast disease in women (density, lumps and bumps), hyperplasia, and atypical mammary tissue. Such fibrocystic changes in breast tissue have been shown to reverse in the presence of iodine supplementation after 3-4 months.If you are interested in being tested for iodine deficiency, the urine iodine challenge test is the best way to assess your iodine level. Bromine and Your ThyroidAdding to the negative health effects of bromine, the damage to your thyroid health deserves special mention. As stated in the first part of this article, bromine exposure depletes your body’s iodine by competing with iodine receptors. Iodine is crucial for thyroid function. Without iodine, your thyroid gland would be completely unable to produce thyroid hormone. Even the names of the different forms of thyroid hormone reflect the number of iodine molecules attached -- T4 has four attached iodine molecules, and T3 (the biologically active form of the hormone) has three--showing what an important part iodine plays in thyroid biochemistry.Hypothyroidism is far more prevalent than once thought in the U.S. The latest estimates are that 13 million Americans have hypothyroidism, but the actual numbers are probably higher. Some experts claim that 10 to40 percent of Americans have suboptimal thyroid function. Many of these folks may actually have nothing wrong with their thyroid gland at all -- they may just be suffering from iodine deficiency.Seven Tips for Avoiding Bromine and Optimizing IodineTrying to avoid bromine is like trying to avoid air pollution -- all you can do is minimize your exposure. That said, here are a few things you can do to minimize your risk: 1.Eat organic as often as possible. Wash all produce thoroughly. This will minimize your pesticide exposure.2.Avoid eating or drinking from (or storing food and water in) plastic containers. Use glass and safe ceramic vessels.3.Look for organic whole-grain breads and flour. Grind you own grain, if possible. Look for the “no bromine” or “bromine-free” label on commercial baked goods.4.Avoid sodas. Drink natural, filtered water instead.5.If you own a hot tub, look into an ozone purification system. Such systems make it possible to keep the water clean with minimal chemical treatments.6.Look for personal care products that are as chemical-free as possible. Remember -- anything going on you, goes in you.7.When in a car or a building, open windows as often as possible, preferably on opposing sides of the space for cross ventilation. Utilize fans to circulate the air. Chemical pollutants are much higher inside buildings (and cars) than outside.Avoid Unfermented Soy Another major contributor to thyroid dysfunction that I did not discuss above is unfermented soy. Soy isoflavones can wreak havoc on your thyroid.Kaayla Daniel's groundbreaking book, The Whole Soy Story: The Dark Side of America's Favorite Health Food is a powerful exposé that reveals the truth about the soy myths that have infiltrated our culture.It's ironic that soy has become so accepted as a health food when, as Dr. Daniel states, thousands of studies link soy to malnutrition, digestive distress, immune-system breakdown, thyroid- and hormonal dysfunction, cognitive decline, reproductive disorders and infertility--even cancer and heart disease. So if you want to keep your thyroid healthy, you’ll definitely want to avoid unfermented soy products of all kinds, including soy milk

New Blog..6 Months Changing my life one meal at a time

Hi everyone...
you can follow my food blog..if you're interested..
90% RAW for 6 months.
I am writing down everything I'm eating and putting in my mouth.

I will be posting here as well with other health related matters.

One day i will combine the three places in which I post information.

For now this seems to be working for me.

I have new blood tests results to share...will detail it when I get the mineral test and the saliva test back ( hopefully next week). BUT for now my antibody numbers are coming down..they were over 3000 in Nov. 2007..last year they were around 2200 and now they are at 1169 as of about 3 weeks ago. :-) YES! Something is working!

be well,
Amy

Sunday, August 30, 2009

Reversing Diseases IS Possible

http://www.cohenresearch.com/disease_prevention.php

This is an interesting read.
Just because I am posting it doesn't mean i AGREE with 100% of it..as I am still out on an absorbable calcium coming from coral ;-)

Your thoughts?
~Amy~

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Seeing Dr. Lang's associate Dr. Doris Compton.
I encourage anyone who is interested in their health to go to restorativeendocrinology.com and buy the three CD set of Balancing Female Hormones. It is GREAT information and you need it!

I saw Dr. Doris last week. we did a mineral analysis ( nails, no hair since i have none lol) mailed that in Friday of last week. I mailed the indepth adrenal test Monday and also got blood work done Monday ( CBC, all the thyroid tests, and Vit. D). Got a great deal on the blood work at Directlabs.com they have a special running for thyroid tests until the end of the month.

Bought some more books on fasting. Am being thrown off another board in yahoo because of the way in which people "take me" and what i have to say. Truely i didn't mean to get anyone upset. Maybe I should read the fine print. To each their own, I just didn't realize they were so INTO the book they follow that they can't look outside of it for a second. Healing Traditions is the name of the book they follow...which says meat is ok( organic)...not sure that's true for me.

Still looking for answers.

Still walking along the path.

Writing again..YEAH!
~Amy~

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Am Back From Vacation and Trying to Catch Up

Nice vacation but back to work.
I read a book over vacation and am now processing what I read..it was healing and fasting.
I am also in touch with Dr. Janet Lang and am seeing one of her specialist hopefully in the next week.
I saw the new dermatologist yesterday..not impressed and she is sending me down to Washington University to see if they can help me. She won't say the car accident triggered the hair loss..which we all know it did. WHAT exactly happened we don't know. SO...
I'll be back with more soon.
Enjoy your day!

Sunday, August 2, 2009

Thyroid/Adrenals/Hashimoto's TOP DOC FRESH LOOK

WOW! you have to listen to this information and please send anyone you know who needs it to the link as well.

IF you have a thyroid issue you have an adrenal issue!
Hashimoto's starts in the GUT!
ALL things can be reversed.
Bio identicals need to be used according to the bodies design...nothing will make exactly what your body could no matter how close they are to the body.

This is GREAT information. Please share!

podcast link is:

http://www.modavox.com/voiceamerica/vepisode.aspx?aid=39870

Saturday, August 1, 2009

RawandJuicy.com her personal story

The Nightmare Begins

My nightmare began at the end of 1996. At 25 I was what society would consider healthy. A low-fat diet, daily exercise, and drinking water instead of pop. I ate what I thought was a well balanced diet and I was fit and very active. I felt good, had a great boyfriend, now husband, and life was good.. How drastically everything would change.

Migraines & Stiff, Hard, Painful Muscles

I started to fall ill. Terribly ill. It began with a migraine that came one day and never left. Accompanying the migraine was a pain at the base of my skull and severe muscle tightness, and pain. My muscles in my neck and shoulders became as hard as rocks and nothing I did would relax them.

Over the next six years I would bounce from various types of doctors and specialists in the allopathic medical community (conventional medicine) with various symptoms, but the ones that were always a constant were the migraines and the debilitating muscle pain and fatique. It was literally never ending.

No doctor could help me and my list of symptoms kept getting longer. Added to the debilitating migraines and muscle tightness, fatigue and pain was.. 50lb weight gain, extreme excitability/nervousness, panic attacks, shortness of breath, great loss of libido, painful intercourse, fibrocystic breasts, irregular heart beat, chronic sinus infections and yeast infections, lowered immune system and more.

My body was quite simply falling apart. I felt like a 20-something trapped in the body of an 80 year old.. But not a healthy 80 year old, a dying 80 year old.

Hair Loss, Loss of Libido

I started losing tons of hair. I remember calling my husband in to the shower and showing him a handful of hair. I just started crying. He attributed it to the fact that I always colored my hair. He didnt understand and didnt really talk to me about my illness. I really resented that but I know understand he was just scared and didnt know how to help me.

But hair wasnt the only thing I lost. I lost all desire for being with my husband sexually. In fact I became repulsed by the thought of having sex. I completely lost my libido as well as my vaginal fluids. Sex became extremely painful. It would cause bleeding and pain and it soon became non-existent.

The Cure Is Worse Than The Disease

I was taking all of the drugs the doctors were prescribing to me but none of them helped me. No matter what drug I would take I would have side affects from it. The cure was for me worse than the disease.

HYPERSENSITIVE TO EVERYTHING

I had become chemically hypersensitive and couldnt tolerate any drugs. I continued to take Excedrin migraine as they seemed to give me some relief.. But only if I would continually take them. I was taking 6 and 8 during the day. Then at night I would have to take Tylenol P.M to knock myself out otherwise I would not sleep at all.

I became digestively hypersensitive and developed leaky gut. My stomach would bloat out to the size of a 9 month pregnant women from foods though I couldn't narrow it down to anything in particular. It would happen with almost everything.

I became sensitive to noises.. mostly because I had migraines constantly and all noise drove me literally insane. Bright lights and sun were also very bothersome. I couldn't be outside without sunglasses as my eyes would water uncontrollably and make my headaches even worse.

It was if I was ALLERGIC TO EVERYTHING!!

Suicidal Thoughts

I was suicidal from the pain. I was merely existing, not living. I didnt want to live anymore as the pain was too much for me. I wasnt even 30 years old, the thought of even having to live to the age of 50 in the condition I was in was depressing, frightening and horrifying.

Going Crazy

Every muscle, joint, bone, tissue, fiber of my being hurt. Not just mild pain, severe pain on a constant basis. As new symptoms came on some of the others would disappear but the main ones.. The migraines and the debilitating muscle pain and fatique were always a constant. It sounds unrealistic to be in that much pain and for it not to go away. I know. I couldnt believe it myself. I started thinking I had to be crazy because the doctors tests and x-rays couldnt find anything wrong with me. I started to question my own sanity. I started telling myself, you are not sick, you are not sick, your body feels fine, you are not in pain.. But I was in pain, excruciating pain. If someone can get well from positive affirmation alone I assure you that I would have done it. But it is not as simple as that.

Blurred Vision

Somewhere in all this hell my vision started to get blurry, really blurry. So much so I didn't like driving. I couldn't read traffic signs, I couldn't make the 'outlines' of images out. I went to eye doctors but surprise, surprise, they could find nothing wrong with me. My vision didn't even change. How can this be? Was I really going crazy? I couldn't understand how one person could have so much wrong with her yet no text could find out what it was.

The Fake Smile

All the while I was trying to 'pretend' to family and friends that I was 'alright'. I had to go about daily life.. I had to function. I had to work, I had to pay bills, I had to be a part of society. No x-ray, mri, ctscan or blood test could find anything wrong with me. Every test said 'you are not sick'... but I was in torturous pain. If I had to go around family and friends I would take Excedrin migraines, make my appearance, and then come home and drop in exhaustion from the pain and pretending. Sometimes pretending to feel 'good' was actually harder than living in pain. It was if someone painted a fake smile on my face. I didnt want anyone to see me in pain or crying. I was ashamed and embarrassed by my illness.

My husband watched me cry every day from the pain. My muscles were so hard, so sore, he couldn't even touch me to massage me to try and alleviate some of the pain. Thank God for a wonderful man! He stuck by me every step of the way and helped me with everything. Normal every day chores, like washing the dishes caused me terrible pain. I would have to the dishes sitting on a stool because my legs were to sore to hold me up. I could not bend over to tie my shoes without an intense feeling of strangulation. I would start to black out every time I bent over. My husband would tie my shoes for me many days as just tilting my head downward would cause me to feel as if I were going to pass out.

Loss of Feeling

I also started to loss feeling in my face and my extremities. One day it was so bad my mother thought I was having a stroke and rushed me to the doctor. After about 10 minutes in his office the symptoms started to subside. This loss of feeling would come and go over a period of a couple of years but my doctor could never find a 'reason' as to why it was happening.

I was having loss of feeling in my face and extremities but I was also having loss of feeling to the world and life in general. I was merely existed, not by any stretch of the imagination living.

My Immune System Was Shutting Down

I soon was catching every cold and flu bug. But when others would catch it and be sick a few days. I would catch it and literally have it for weeks on end. I was always sick. I was never well. Not even for one day. I was in constant pain on a daily basis.

Sinus & Yeast Infections

On top of everything else I was fighting a constant losing battle between sinus infections and yeast infections. I was living with chronic sinus infections and taking the doctors antibiotics. My body reacted violently against taking the antibiotics, and why shouldnt it? By taking them I was putting toxins in my body. The antibiotics caused me to get severe yeast infections. The kind that are so bad you dont want to have any clothes on and you dont want even move. Some women I am sure will be able to relate to this. It is pure hell. It burns, itches and hurts.

Somewhere in this nightmare the insomnia began I dont remember when but it was hard hitting. For years I didnt get more than 2 or 3 hours of sleep a night, some nights even less. But it was never a full 2 or 3 hours of sleep, that was a total count for the entire night. I would sleep an 20 or 30 minutes, wake up and toss and turn for 15 or 20 minutes and then a fall back asleep for another short period of time, and wake up again and do it all over again. On and on all night long.

I dont remember when the insomnia started but I remembered how it started. I started to have a horrible sensation just as I would start to fall asleep. All of a sudden just as I was dozing off my entire body would jump and I would let out a gasp. I would grab my husband and it would scare him half to death. Whats wrong? He would say, I would only reply I felt like I was going to die. I have no idea what this was but it was so horrific that I actually became afraid of falling asleep. Even though it was just a brief second of time, it was the most horrible feeling in the world. There are no words to explain it.

Panic Attacks

Panic attacks started around this time to. Every morning I would dread my husband leaving for work. I had a paralyzing feeling that he would die and not come home. It became difficult for me to go out in public. I went from someone who loved being the center of attention, to someone who couldnt even deal with looking the check-out girl in the grocery store in the eyes. Even just driving became almost impossible, I felt an overwhelming fear that I would run off the road or a car would swerve in to my lane.

Memory Loss

Memory loss would rear its head down the road too. Im not just talking about forgetting a phone number or forgetting to pick up something at the grocery store, I am talking serious memory loss. I remember one day being in the car with my husband and I got off the exit ramp and just sat there because I didnt know which way to turn to get home. It wasnt like a forgetfulness, it was more of a not knowing. It scared me and I started crying. My husband shrugged it off that he gets that way too but I know he doesnt this was something different. We were only 5 miles from home. It was a road we took for years.

My speech became slurred, which was part of the reason I also didnt like to be in public. I knew what I wanted to say in my head but getting it to come out was another story. I stuttered and changed subjects in the middle of a sentence. I didnt want to get in conversations with anyone for fear that I would be talking and forget what we were talking about.

Add To The Mix Heart Problems

While new symptoms kept appearing I continued to go to doctors and take their prescription drugs. Sometimes the drugs would help me but only as long as I was taking them, as soon as I stopped taking them I was sick again.

One trip to a nurse practitioner for either a sinus infection or a yeast infection, I cant remember, ended up with me in the hospital. She gave me a sulfa drug and I broke out in hives all over my body. I had told the nurse practitioner that I thought I was allergic to Sulfa, she asked me why, I told her I thought I got a rash, she prescribed it anyway. Like an idiot I took it. I took it for 10 days and it did nothing, I didnt get a rash, but it also didnt help my sinus infection. I went back she gave me another round and my body fought back violently! That next day I had hives covering every inch of my body. I was running a high fever and my throat started to close. I called my mother in law who rushed me in to the clinic. They gave me a shot of adrenalin to the chest to prevent my throat from closing. This went on for two more days with the nurse practitioner meeting me and my husband there in the middle of the night twice to pump me with adrenaline. I was too sick to fight back and my husband was to trusting in conventional medicine to ask any questions. A day later my mother carried me in during the day and told them to call the hospital. I remained there for three days.

In the hospital a heart specialist came in the room and told me I needed heart surgery. Scared to death, tubes coming out of me, and all alone I sat there speechless watching him draw a picture of a heart with a bunch of wires coming out of it. I said nothing. I just kept nodding.

The doctor never came back in the room. I told my husband he told me not to worry about it. Needless to say I had a few choice words for him as I was worried about it. From that point my heart started causing me serious problems. My panic attacks increased in severity to the point of running my life. My heart hurt so bad I couldnt even walk to the mail box to get the mail. I was constantly winded. Going from one room to the next wore me out. I was in my 20s why did I feel like a dying 80 year old? What was wrong with me?

I Wanted To Die, But Opted For Surgery

I was desperate, suicidal from pain and something had to give. My husband called me from work one day because he saw an advertisement about a new clinic that was performing sinus operations. We discussed it and thought it might be an option. I called and made an appointment. I met with the doctor and I was so relieved to hear him say that he found polyps and a devated septum. Could it be true? Could I have surgery and get rid of my sinus problems and other pain? He said not everyones migraines go away but many peoples do. I was positive this is what I needed. This too was a horrible mistake.

Once again instead of getting better I got worse. Much worse. I had such a violent reaction to the surgery that when I came home I vomited for an hour straight. But that was just the beginning. By the time night hit I was running a high fever and shaking so uncontrollably my husband was sitting on me to keep me from shaking. He was sitting on my legs and holding my shoulders up against the back of the couch. I shook so hard blood ran from my nose. I begged him not to take me to the hospital, I thought if I went I would die there. I really thought I was dying that night and I wanted to die at home. My husband called the doctor at home three times that night and each time he said shes just having a reaction to the anesthesia. Oh yeah, did I mention that my nose was ripped during surgery, this made me stay under an hour longer. I still have a scar.

A week went by I was suppose to be better. I was worse. A month went by I was suppose to be better. I was not. The ENT (ear, nose and throat doctor) suggested I go and see his friend a neurologist. This would be the second neurologist I would see. He had me keep a sleep journal which was very easy as I simply was not sleeping. I was now literally years with not one decent nights sleep.

He put me on celebrex for my joint and inflammation in my neck and shoulder muscles. He also put me on ambien to help me sleep. My body reacted violently again. Now pills that were suppose to be knocking me out were keeping me wide awake.

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!

I threw my sleep journal, celebrex and ambien in the garbage. My husband started going to doctors appointments with me because I was very much ready to call it quits. We started looking for another doctor.

FIBROMYALGIA

I ended back up at a doctor who treated me years early when I first started falling ill. A general practitioner/osteopath. He had years earlier tested my blood, did x-rays, etc. but never found anything wrong. He did do chiropractic on me and had me sit in traction for months but I never got better. I stopped going after I spent thousands of dollars out of my pocket and had nothing to show for my money. I didnt have insurance and I couldnt afford to keep going. I didnt see any point in it either as I wasnt having improvement and I didnt really understand why I needed to be cracked.

So back at this doctor he flips through his charts and says to my husband and I, "Shelly you've been coming in her since Jan. 1997 with these exact same symptoms.. Did you have a car accident a fall, blow to the head, anything around that time." I told him "No". My husband agreed. We couldnt come up with anything.

He had me stand up and pushed on some points on my body. Each point hurt. I explained that for years Ive been living this way. I told him no matter where you touch my body, no matter how lightly you touch it, I am in pain. Serious pain! My eyes filled with tears. Every inch of my body hurts and I told him so. He told me he thought I had Fibromyalgia and went on to explain that it was incurable. He said he could give me drugs to make it a little more 'livable', but that it could not be cured. He told me to go home and research it on the internet. I left with a prescription for Prozac. He told me that they didnt know exactly why but that Prozac helped alleviate the pain of some Fibromyalgia patients.

I was pissed and felt like bursting in to tears. I felt Prozac was for depression or mental problems and I did not want to take it. It took everything I had not to lose my cool. We took the prescription and we left. My husband convinced me to take the Prozac and against my better judgement I did.

I just didnt believe I had Fibromyalgia. Yes, I did have all the symptoms of Fibromyalgia but I also had many other symptoms that werent associated with Fibromyalgia like the severe pain at the base of my skull, and the inability to bend over without feeling as if I was going to pass out. It didnt make sense to me.

God Was Guiding Me

Like a good patient not only did I take his drugs, but I took his suggestion and turned to the Internet to do research on Fibromyalgia. God was leading me in the right direction, but it would still be a few years until I realized what he was really trying to tell me. While searching for Fibromyalgia information I found a story of a women who had fallen ill after having taken the birth control injections of depo-provera. All of a sudden a light bulb went off in my head. The doctor asked me what happened around January of 1997 and I couldnt remember, but then it hit me, that was around the time I started on the birth control injections.

I called the doctors office who gave me the birth control injections and told them to look in their records and see when my first injection was. It was in November of 1996. It all made sense.

Hindsight is 20/20

In the very beginning as I started to fall ill I remember that I questioned the birth control injections. I know some of you reading this will ask, why didnt you just stop taking them? Well hindsight is 20/20 as they say. I was stupid, yes. I was foolish, yes. But I am human and I made a huge mistake. Millions of people are making this same mistake and trusting their health to dangerous prescription drugs on a daily basis.

I Put My Story Online

Shortly after I read that womens story I put my own story up on the internet at http://www.abcinternetmarketing.com/depo-provera Almost instantly women all over the world started emailing me to tell me their own horror stories about what happened to them as a result of the birth control injections depo provera. At that point I turned my back on conventional medicine. I refused to believe Fibromyalgia was incurable. I couldn't continue with life if it meant dealing with this severe pain on a daily basis.

Lost In The Maze of Alternative Medicine

I did leave conventional medicine, but very unfortunately, I jumped out of the frying pan and into the fire. I decided to try alternative therapies. But there too I was lost. Nothing was working. I was lost in the maze of alternative healing. I spent thousands of dollars but I never got well. I tried homeopathic remedies, whole system health scan, cranio sacral therapy, deep tissue massage, eft, etc., etc., but nothing worked. The pain was still there and on the homeopathic drops I was once again getting worse. I told myself at that point.. 'You have two choices.. 1) get well or 2) die'. Again I was suicidal from the pain and the frustration that nothing I did would alleviate the pain.

On The Right Path But Making A Wrong Turn

Once again God was leading me but I wasnt seeing things clearly.

My next doctor was a homeopathic doctor in my home town. He was treating me with spinal manipulations and homeopathic remedies. He also was the first person who talked to me about raw food and fasting. Before you get an appointment with him you are giving information to take home on what to expect with his treatment. There was mention of what books to read, books on fasting and chiropractic. His information also said that our diet should consist of at least 75% raw food.

I read a couple of the books he requested, which had a huge impact on my health, and started increasing my intake of raw food. However he put me on the diet Eat Right For Your Blood Type. This diet did not work. I couldnt eat most of the food that was supposedly beneficial to my blood type and the foods had no problems with and really enjoyed, like tomatoes were suppose to be bad for me. Yet I continued to follow the diet as a good patient. I did not get well. Once again I was worse instead of better.

While ultimately this doctors treatments and diet plan failed me as conventional medicine had failed me, I still learned very valuable information from him. Had I not seen him I may have never learned of raw food, fasting, and colonics. Eventually as I was again was sliding down hill, this doctor told me I needed a colonic. God was still working to try and guide me in the right direction. There were a lot of bumps and turns on the path I was taking but he was still leading me.

I Called Paula

I had meet a nutritionist previously who worked with one of the many doctors I was seeing. I knew she did colonics so I gave her a call. She knew I had been on 75% raw for months, but also had been eating chicken, mozzarella cheese, yogurt and others things that I was allowed on the Eat Right For Your Type diet.

I Went Raw

Paula put me on a 30 day raw food diet, followed by a two week juice fast. After those six weeks I went to a vegan diet which was 'high raw' 80 to 90% raw. Currently I am 100% raw and feeling MARVELOUS!! I don't know if I will go back to cooked vegan foods ever.. too early to say, but I don't think I will. If it's not broke why fix it right?

More Than Dietary Changes

I had to make more changes than just dietary changes however, I also had to make strict lifestyle changes. I had to encorporate daily exercise, fresh air (at least 1/2 hour outdoors daily), sunshine, rest (both physical and mental), I had to let go of all negativity too. I had to let go of any anger or hatred that I held towards others.. I also had to remove myself from being around negative people. You can all probably relate to this. Do you have anyone in your life that puts you in a bad mood just because they are always so negative and in bad moods? If so, you will have to stay away from these negative people. It is an entire dietary and lifestyle change that must be made.

I also had to remove many other chemicals from my life. I had detoxed my body, for the most part, as I am still doing some detox. But I had to detox my home too. I threw out all of my household cleaning supplies, as well as personal and beauty care products and replaced them with safer alternatives.

Learning and UNLearning

On my road to recovery I had a lot of learning and unlearning to do. I continued to read I had a lot of 'un'learning to do. Everything I had been taught about nutrition and health was wrong. The doctors drugs are not safe. Conventional medicine does not cure, it suppresses.

Only our bodies can cure, and they can only do that if we set for them the proper conditions to do so.

When Life Gives You Lemons Make Lemonade

While depo provera was by far the worst thing that has ever happened to me in life, it was also the best thing to have ever happened to me too! Had I not fallen so desperately ill I do not know if I would have ever made a change to this new lifestyle of a plant-based vegan raw food diet, exercise, physical and mental rest, sunshine, pure water, and fresh air. I believe everything that happens to us in life happens to us for a specific reason. I wholeheartedly believe that God intended for me to learn the lessons of the true cause of and cure to disease, and our bodies innate ability to heal itself. I believe that is why I had to take the journey I did. Whether it was just to help myself, or whether it was for the purpose of being able to share my information with others.. I'll never know. One thing is for certain, I'm thankful for it.

A FREE e-book "Dying To Get Well"


To: ALL Charitable Organizations Fighting Disease

We, the undersigned, feel the great importance and urgency to share with the public the truth about the human bodies ability to heal itself when one sets forth the proper conditions for healing to take place. People all over the world are reversing their illnesses/diseases naturally, solely by dietary and lifestyle changes. Even extreme, life-threatening diseases such as advanced cancer are being reversed via these natural and safe methods. The numbers are too large to be disregarded.

The fact that the undersigned are all experiencing new found health by foregoing the drugging and surgeries of conventional medicine is not coincidence. It can not be ignored. These are not miracles. These stories are proof that when we stop putting toxins in to the body, detox the body, and nourish the body with what it needs to maintain optimum health; then reversal of disease, either in whole or part, will take place.

This is not new information, just information that has been, and is still being covered-up. We, the undersigned, implore the employees and volunteers of all charitable organizations working to fight disease, to read, accept and investigate the truths we are sharing with you in this petition. If it is true that the reversal of disease is of your utmost concern, then the testimonies within this petition should inspire you to at the very least, consider raw foodism/natural hygiene as a non-harmful, natural solution to the reversal of the disease.

For myself personally, I have reversed the torturous daily pain of so-called "incurable" Fibromyalgia as well as severe LGS (leaky gut syndrome), daily migraines, chronic constipation, and chronic sinusitis. I did not reverse these diseases while on the drugs conventional medicine was telling me would 'help' me. My conditions always only worsened when following the advice of my doctors in conventional medicine. The reason being you can not cure a body by filling it with toxins. The toxins of prescription drugs are not the only culprit, the toxins of the SAD (standard american diet) are equally as devastating. The natural steps I took to reverse my disease can be found in my book Dying To Get Well. I send free e-book copies to anyone who requests it. Additionally I will send a free e-book copy to any worker or volunteer of any charitable organization that is working to find a cure to any disease. Please simply send me an email to shelly@rawandjuicy.com with 'PLEASE SEND FREE COPY OF DTGW' in the subject line of the email.

There are far too many suffering needlessly simply because they do not know there is another option, a safe and natural option to heal themselves. The pharmaceutical companies, conventional medicine, and the food industry all play a huge role in keeing our stories,the truth about the reversal of disease, under cover. Please don't do the sick and dying this same injustice. If you are truly fighting to find a cure HERE it is in front of you in black and white. Will you ingore us too?

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

Thursday, July 30, 2009

Raw Food Diet To Rid Body of All Disease Activity

RAW FOOD DIET TO RID BODY OF ALL DISEASE ACTIVITY

by zmombomb, Aug 18, 2008 12:13AM
i FOUND THIS ON THE NET..... READ THOROUGHLY!!!


Back in the Sun -- No More Lupus! My Story
by Debbie Seliga
Living Nutrition Magazine vol. 5

I feel like a walking miracle! Not a day goes by without my taking time to to appreciate my self-healing body. I just completed my first healthy year after living for 19 years with lupus, a chronic condition which my doctors told me was medically incurable.

When I was 33 I began having health problems that seriously affected my life: fatigue, exhaustion, migraine headaches, rashes, skin lesions, sun sensitivity, hair loss, joint pain, and more. Previous to this I led an active lifestyle with my husband and two young sons, enjoying aerobics, running, swimming and skiing.

Doctors were amazed when they learned of all my symptoms -- they said I looked like the picture of health. Examinations and tests proved unsuccessful in determining the cause of the problem. Two years later I saw a dermatologist (my 5th doctor) who diagnosed skin lesions on my scalp as a mild case of psoriasis. When a clump of hair the size of a silver dollar fell from the back of my head, I insisted on a biopsy. The results came back positive for "Discoid Lupus." The doctor prescribed Prednisone and Placqanel, and explained that there is no cure nor any know cause for this condition.

After four months I decided to discontinue the medication because of the long-term effects. Staying out of the sun helped me the most, but that was not always possible. Thus, I applied sunscreen strength 50 daily, wore long sleeves, slacks and a hat outside. I sought to learn about lupus by joining the Lupus Foundation and reading on my own. Most people with lupus whom I met shared a common hopelessness about the "disease" and agony over the drug treatments.

My search for information lead me to a chiropractor trained in nutrition and the Bioenergetic Synchronization Technique. He encouraged me to give up red meat plus the "four whites": salt, sugar, flour and dairy. He also introduced me to juicing and the principles of proper food combining. I made these changes and immediately my energy improved, headaches disappeared and other symptoms were lessened. This gave me new determination to find the missing pieces of the puzzle.

The more my body unclogged and cleansed, the better I felt. This motivated me to eat a vegetarian diet and then a vegan diet. I found that if I wavered from eating only the good foods my existing symptoms would become worse and past symptoms would return. While I felt much better, the sun still exacerbated my symptoms and the lupus still dictated my activities.

The summer of 1995 was the worst of my life. It was hot, humid and sunny and my symptoms suddenly became more severe than ever. I saw my rheumatologist for a complete work-up. She listened and examined me carefully, but all she could offer was prescription drugs. I went home scared and discouraged. The reality of the situation forced me to evaluate everything I was doing and why I felt so miserable. I decided my system still needed more cleansing, not toxic drugs.

That week I decided to exercise more frequently. I began by walking every morning for for a half hour or more in the woods. During these walks I gained deeper insight into my health, and it became apparent that exercise helped my body process and remove toxins.

Later in 1995 my son Todd introduced me to the book, "Mucusless Diet Healing System" by Professor Arnold Ehret. It discusses the value of eating raw fruits and vegetables for conquering any illness. During the two weeks of following Ehret's transitional diet I gained more energy and became symptom-free except for the sun sensitivity. The less cooked food and more raw food I ate the better I felt and more energy I had to resume an active life. I no longer had any doubts that I would be able to conquer the lupus. I was much better, even though the sun sensitivity remained.

During my long ordeal I always drew strength from my loving family's support. Todd's keen interests in completely overcoming his own health challenge (severe tendonitis) and fine tuning his raw food eating led him to find David Klein over the internet, and in the spring of 1997 Todd visited David in California. Todd's experience with David's valuable health mentoring led me to speak with David and then Roe Gallo. They offered welcome words of encouragement and new insight into the lupus. They explained that lupus symptoms are nothing more than indications of the body's level of toxemia. I realized that I needed to eat 100% raw all of the time to allow my body to heal. This understanding gave me new emotional strength. It was time to end this journey with lupus.

I stopped polluting my body with sunscreen and began exposing my bare feet to the sun for five minutes each day, with encouraging results. In mid June 1997 I was feeling well and confident enough to try wearing shorts and a t-shirt. Walking outside, the sun rays hit my legs and gave me the most electrifying sensation of my life! The energy from the sun radiated throughout my body. From that feeling I knew I had conquered the lupus!

Today I continue to eat 100% raw fruits and vegetables and work at balancing and simplifying my life. Learning of "the 100% raw food solution" not only helped give me my life back, it has also given me a natural mind-body-spirit connection that is beyond description. At age 51 I am healthier and more energetic than at any other time in my life!

I swim, bicycle, hike, kayak and rollerblade with my family -- in the sun! I now live each new day more easily and joyfully.

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Forgot to mention

Used muscle testing ( kinesiology) before the filling was replaced..very weak on that tooth. Did muscle testing again afterwards...was as strong as an ox. YEAH!

~Amy~

On the other side

About 3 hours after having 1 amalgam/mercury filling removed.


I have a headache, and my mouth is a bit sore, but that's to be expected.

All in all I didn't have a panic attack..partly due to the fact that the dentist is GREAT. And his staff is great as well. Puts you at ease.

I trust that my highest good is being met with getting these fillings replaced.

I have my next appointment in about a month..the 31st of August to get the next one out.

I would love to hear from anyone who has had their fillings replaced.

I'm tired but good.

Getting My Mercury Fillings Out/Replaced

today at 2:30...2 of them..will detox for four weeks and get the other two out.
I'm hoping this shows a big difference in my over all health picture in about a year.
Stick with me and find out.

YES I'm a bit nervous but I need to do this for my health. I tend to "panic" but will get through this no matter what it takes.

See you on the other side lol

~Amy~

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Cortisol Numbers

--- In Thyroid_Helpers@yahoogroups.com, "Amelia" wrote:

Ok there are 2 sets of numbers.
Test was through Dr. Fischer and she used BioHealth Diagnostics Laboratory

I am improving although not perfect yet, we are close.

Date Collected: 7-12-08
Cortisol
morning (6-8 a.m) 26.5 (abnormal) Normal Ranges 13.0-24.0
noon (12-1 p.m.) 7.1 (normal) Normal Ranges 5.0-8.0
afternoon (4-5 p.m.) 3.3 (abnormal) Normal Ranges 4.0-7.0
night time (10 pm.-12 a.m.)1.2 (normal) Normal Ranges 1.0-3.0

Cortisol Sum 38.1 (normal) Normal Ranges 23.0-42.0
DHEA-S Average 1.89 (abnormal) Normal Ranges 2.0-10.0

Total Cortisol/DHEA-S Ratio 20.0 (abnormal) Normal Ranges 5.0-6.0



***************************************************************
Date Collected: 3-17-09 (approx. 8 months later)
Cortisol
morning (6-8 a.m.) 18.6 (normal) same ranges as above
noon (12-1 p.m.) 4.2 (abnormal)
afternoon (4-5p.m.) 3.1 (abnormal)
night time (10p.m.-12 a.m.)1.9 (normal)

Cortisol Sum 27.8 (normal)
DHEA-S Average 4.51 (normal)

Total Cortisol/DHEA-S Ration 6.2 ( abnormal)

Getting Mercury/Amalgam Fillings Replaced Tomorrow

I'm a bit nervous about tomorrow, but will keep my mind on some other things today, like the rooster crowing outside my office door lol have to try and get the chickens contained somehow so I am not up at 6 a.m. when I don't want to be. LOL

So my Dr. Rose put me on a mercury detox supplement and I've been taking that the last few days..will take two a day until tomorrow and then three a day until gone.

I know this is something I need to do for my overall health. The game is already being played in my head..I don't want to get my hopes up too high. I've read many places though that you can't "balance" your hormones with mercury still in your mouth because it is a endocrine disruptor. So I will take this journey and be glad I did, not expecting too much but being very pleased when positive changes occur.

Being Misunderstood

Well once again it has happened on one of the yahoo thyroid boards. The moderator has mis- understood what I've said, jumped to conclusions and because I don't conform to everything she says I need to do, I'm in denial and close minded.

This makes me sad. I want support in who I am and what I'm doing, I don't need someone to make assumptions about me and then accuss me of being close minded. I think I'm anything but that.

Trying to "explain" myself will only make things worse as she has already "formed" her opinion about me.

So why even go to the boards? I don't know, I guess I can help in some way.

Maybe I just need to stick with the blog and leave the rest alone.

I've been kicked off too many boards to mention, mainly because I don't conform to what is being said on the boards. But I think most people deserve ALL the solutions, not just one. Everyone is different and I don't believe in the "one solution fits all" idea.

The world is on purpose, of that I am sure, and I will trust that whoever gets to the boards are suppose to be on those boards and get whatever information they are to get.

I think the thing that did "it" this time was the talk about the metaphysical side of wellness and dis-ease. This gets to "weird" for most people and it's only, I think, because they truely do not understand it.

Oh well...on to other things for today.