Last night on the CBS Hit Show “CSI: Miami“ (Bad Seed, 10/19/09), the show centered around two people that had been poisoned. It turns out, that both had been exposed to bacteria. One person had eaten bacteria that was exposed to E-Coli and the other had eaten corn that had been genetically modified (GMO) and produced with bacteria to control insects from eating the crop. The bacteria in the GMO food ended up having problems and in the end, the person died from Botulism.
So it got me thinking about our food supply. Of course, I’ve known about genetically modified foods. But so many people I talk to, have never even heard of it nor do they know what it means. So I thought I would talk about it and educate you about this as this is one very serious thing that is poisoning our food supply and robbing us of our health.
So what does genetically engineered or genetically modified food really mean? In the simplest terms, this means that a food’s DNA has been altered by a scientist in a laboratory. This process is done for several reasons, but the primary reason is MONEY. One of the theories is that if they can adjust the DNA of the plant to resist insects, then they can protect the crop from damage.
The foods involved in this are many. Seeds of Deception website has extensive information about this topic. They say that these are the percentages of foods involved in being GMO: soy (91%), cotton (88%), canola (80-85%), corn (85%), Hawaiian Papaya (more than 50%), zucchini and yellow squash (small amount), and tobacco (Quest brand). Of course keep in mind that since a very LARGE percentage of chickens, pigs and beef are being fed corn (to fatten them up), those animals are also ingesting those GMO crops. Then those same animals are being slaughtered and served to us as food. And yes, we are ingesting those crops even if we’re not directly eating them.
So what are the health risks to humans? Well of course the food manufacturers and the FDA would like you to believe that consuming these foods is perfectly safe for humans. But I disagree. There is much research and literature online about the dangers of “tweaking” our food supply (see resources and links below this post). The bottom line for me is that nature didn’t intend our crops to be “tweaked”. It’s bad enough that commercially grown produce is doused with herbicides and pesticides. But now we have to worry about some scientist in a lab purposefully manipulating the gene in the crop and worse, inserting bacterias to make them resistant to insects?! Doesn’t this sound crazy? As a Naturopath, this is abhorrent to me as I know the human body is designed (and functions optimally) when consuming foods that are as close to natural as possible. Eating foods that are GMO is about as far away from this as you can get! Those chemicals are not good for us and it is my personal opinion that our tainted food supply is directly contributing to the rise in allergies, digestive complaints, cancers, muscle and nerve diseases and the list goes on and on.
I urge you to review some of the websites listed below. Watch the video from the CSI: Miami (Bad Seed, 10/19/09) show. I know it was “only a TV Show”, but there was ALOT of truth about what was shown on the show. Also, one of the forefront researchers into GMO issues is Jeffrey Smith. Here’s a wonderful 10 minute video given by him that will also open your eyes to this serious problem:
Educate yourself about this important topic. Of course, always buy organically grown produce. I am not a fan of grains for human consumption; I don’t believe we are genetically designed to eat them, but if you must, be sure when buying corn and soybeans that you seek out the ones that are “NON-GMO”. When buying meat or chicken, buy the ones that are grass fed and free range chickens. Also it’s obviously crucial to get meats and eggs that have ”no hormones or antibiotics”.
Lastly, please feel free to share this information with friends and family. Our health is directly related to what we put in our mouths….make sure you’re putting natural and whole foods. Skip the poisons and the manipulated foods. Your body and your health will be better for it!
Tags: Natural Therapies, Nutrition/Food, Resources
As a natural health practitioner and educator, I feel I must again point out about the flu vaccine and the potential for problems. Unfortunately, with the vast media attention from news TV, radio, online and newspapers, most people are being bombarded with how important it is to do the flu vaccine. The pharmaceutical industry is really pushing these drugs, but I urge you to please do your own research and educate yourself about the potential for problems.
Below is a video link of a story done on a young woman who has had a very severe, very rare reaction to taking the flu shot. My personal opinion is that even though the risk is “rare”, I really don’t feel like being that 1 person in 1,000 or 10,000 or 100,000 that gets the reaction! What about you?
There are MANY natural things you can do to protect yourself from the flu. Some are as simple as making sure you wash your hands thoroughly multiple times per day. My belief is that by protecting our homes and bodies by utilizing natural and holistic therapies, we are strengthening our immune system and that of our family as well. This is a far superior way to prevent the flu and much preferred than risking our most precious commodity (our health and life!) to a risky shot. If you’re unclear what you need to do to stay healthy and well, Contact Me today and let me help you!
Tags: Alternative Medicine, Colds, Flu, Natural Therapies, Naturopathic Doctor
In case you missed The Oprah Winfrey Show the other day, Dr. Mehmet Oz was on the show talking about Americans being addicted to prescription medications. The show was primarily about pain-relieving, anti-anxiety and anti-depressant related medications; those being the primary drugs that people get addicted to.
It was an intense show and although I know that Americans take too many prescriptions, I wasn’t prepared for the statistics. The DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency) reports that more Americans are addicted to prescription drugs than heroin, cocaine and ecstasy COMBINED! They report that over 6 million people are addicted to prescriptions. YIKES! Those are staggering numbers.
Are you one of them? Chances are that either you, or someone you know, is taking a prescription. Unfortunately, Americans are being brainwashed by assuming that because the drugs are being prescribed by your physician, that they are safe. The real truth is, that is simply untrue. Have you ever stopped to read the multiple pages of “Side Effects, Contraindications, Warnings and Interactions” that you receive when you pick up your Rx? You should. It <should> be a wake-up call for you. We have to do a better job about managing our pain or depression, rather than reaching for a drug.
I agree with Dr. Oz when he states that, “…..many people taking prescription drugs—legally or illegally—are hiding from their real problems. Instead of addressing painful emotions or aches, addicts swallow a quick fix.” Also, “We use these pills to numb ourselves to what’s really happening in our life, which is often a wake-up call to make a change.”
Of course one of the main problems with all of this drug taking is that people don’t realize that they have options. I’m sure you have flipped through a magazine, watched TV or even listening to the radio have heard an ad about a fantastic new drug that can “cure what ails you.” We are constantly being bombarded by the media about drugs. Ads for drugs are everywhere and again, most people don’t realize there are other ways of dealing with what ails them. Instead of addressing the cause of what is the problem, we like to mask over that symptom with a drug. We do live in a world where we want instant gratification. We want it fixed now and we don’t want to be uncomfortable while we’re fixing it.
I have met with countless clients over the years who have been addicted to anti-depressant and anti-anxiety drugs. In my opinion, this is the worst kind of addiction. In the beginning I know they thought it was harmless enough. Just a little “help” to get them over the divorce/loss of job/boyfriend troubles, etc. Then it turned into numbing. I always know when I’m talking to someone who is addicted because when I ask them a question, they can’t answer it. The question is: How do you feel? The drug has numbed them out so much, that they are unable to get in touch with their emotions and express themselves. Whether it’s mad, sad, happy, or even depressed, they can’t get there at all. The problem is, when they are ready to get off the drug, of course the predominant emotion is FEAR. They are scared to FEEL. They don’t know it at the time; but that’s what it boils down to. People are afraid to feel.
My personal opinion is that it’s those very emotions that can actually HELP people get better. The anger they feel is there for a reason to try to tell them something about their life. If they are depressed, they need to look at WHY and work on fixing that. Drugging yourself so you don’t have to FEEL is not the way to handle it.
If you’re on prescription meds, you can get off. You will need help, as doing it on your own is not advised. You certainly will need nutritional help as your diet plays a HUGE role in the way your brain chemistry works. As you start to have withdrawals from a drug, your brain chemistry does get affected and eating certain foods (and not eating others) can make this process significantly easier. You will also need nutritional supplementation to help your body physically deal with the damages from the drugs and help to boost your immune system. And of course, talking with someone (a qualified therapist, priest, etc.) can help you with the emotional side of this and help you work through whatever it was that is making you anxious or depressed in the first place.
The important thing is to remember this: You do have options to help yourself heal from addiction to prescription medications. There are MANY different natural healing modalities that work as good (if not better!) than prescriptions. Are you willing to work on yourself? Are you ready to address the real cause of what’s wrong? Can you face the uncomfortableness of your life and make those changes? Can you put yourself and your body and health first in your life and do what’s in YOUR best interest? If you are then it’s time to have a talk with your regular physician and discuss their approach for very slowly weaning yourself off of the meds. The next conversation should happen with a qualified natural health practitioner that can help support you nutritionally to make this as easy as possible. And lastly, get in touch with a good therapist or priest…someone you trust and with whom you can discuss your innermost thoughts. You don’t have to be addicted nor take the medications forever; there is help out there for you.
Tags: Alternative Medicine, aromatherapy, Essential Oils, Herbs, Natural Therapies, Naturopathic Doctor, Nutrition/Food
Well this is a great news story put out by Fox News. A noted Infectious Disease Physician has stated publicly that the Flu Vaccine is dangerous and will not give it to his children.
It is important to educate yourself and your family so I encourage you to take a moment to watch the video. Remember there are many natural supplements and foods that will help support your body and your immune system during the cold / flu season. Please Contact Me to learn more.
Tags: Alternative Medicine, aromatherapy, Cleansing, Colds, Essential Oils, Flu, Herbs, Natural Therapies, Naturopathic Doctor
Well yesterday it happened. I got that funny little strange sensation that told me I was “coming down with it.” I woke up feeling good; had my usual Power Smoothie and was bouncing off the walls.
But then about 10:00 am, I hit a MAJOR slump. All of a sudden, my energy took a nose dive. This is not normal for me! I usually have fantastic energy and feel good all the time. First the energy crashed; then I noticed that my body started aching and my muscles were sore; particularly my neck and shoulders. This is a pattern I’ve noticed in myself in the past. For me, it generally starts that way and I always notice achiness and tightness in my neck and shoulders.
And then the real kicker: I wasn’t hungry. Those of you that know me know that I LOVE to eat! And for me to not be hungry, is a pretty big deal. So I knew something was up and knew I only had a little bit of time to fix the problem.
All of these symptoms happened over several hours and by 2pm, I knew I was going down. Of course I always follow my protocol of 10 Tips to Stay Healthy During the Winter Season. But since now I was in an acute situation, I knew I had to take some immediate action.
So, I immediately drank 3 more ounces of my favorite immune-fighting juice, NingXia Red from Young Living. I normally drink 1-2 ounces every day, but when I got home yesterday afternoon, I drank 3 more ounces. Then I put Thieves Essential Oil (proven effective against bacteria) all over the bottom of my feet and covered them with warm socks; I put ImmuPower Essential Oil (for strengthening immunity) over my Thymus Gland in the center of my chest; RC Essential Oil (to help my lungs) went all over my chest and lung area and lastly, I put PanAway Essential Oil (for pain relief)over my neck and shoulders. Then I curled up and went to sleep for about an hour.
WOW! Boy did I feel 150% better after putting those oils on me and giving my body some extra rest (even though it was basically in the middle of the day, I know I needed it).
The lesson here is to: LISTEN TO YOUR BODY. When it starts to give you that little nudge that something is out of whack, PAY ATTENTION! Give yourself some rest; extra supplementation and extra pampering. By doing so, you may very well avert a cold or flu that might potentially cause you to be sick for a week or more!
I am happy to help you improve your immune system and keep yourself healthy during this time. Feel free to Contact Me for help.
Tags: Alternative Medicine, aromatherapy, Colds, Essential Oils, Flu, Herbs, Natural Therapies, Naturopathic Doctor, Nutrition/Food
No matter your age, even if you’re in your 70’s or 80’s or even 90’s, it’s NEVER too late to make changes in your lifestyle that can directly have a positive impact on your health!
Every day I see patients that struggle to regain their health. Some come in with lists of prescription meds that they are taking that they want to stop taking. Other people come in who are just starting to have some health challenges, they’re not on prescription meds yet, but their physician may be threatening them with the prospect of having to start them. And yet other people, have a severe debilitating or even life-threatening illness. It’s NEVER too late to start to make changes and it doesn’t matter which one of the three categories you belong too…..you can improve the quality of your life. Chances are good — even excellent — that you can have visible and positive changes in your health and get your life back.
But there is a rule when it comes to your health, particularly when you come to visit with a natural health practitioner:
80% of what needs to be done is YOUR responsibility.
20% is the practitioner’s.
What this means is that YOUR the one that will have to stop eating garbage. YOUR the one that will have to make time to exercise. YOUR the one that will have to work on nurturing, growing or ending a toxic relationship that is making you emotionally and physically sick. YOUR the one that will have to take all the supplements and follow the regime that your health practitioner has given you. There are no quick fixes, no magic pill or bullet. Make no mistake…the supplements, the diet and lifestyle changes, exercise and stress control can help you obtain a level of health you never thought possible. But in the end, it is up to YOU to make that choice to do it.
Are you ready? If so, I can help you! Contact Me today and let’s get started.
Tags: Alternative Medicine, Natural Therapies, Naturopathic Doctor, Nutrition/Food
Well my phone is already ringing off the hook this morning with all the media attention to the Swine Flu. Since I am in the San Antonio area (which is where there are several documented cases), we are getting alot of media attention here; probably even more than the national news is getting!
So the predominant question is, “What can I do to prevent infection and keep my immune system strong in case of exposure?”
Here’s some suggestions I have for keeping your body healthy and your immune system strong ALL the time: Click here to continue reading »
Tags: Alternative Medicine, aromatherapy, Essential Oils, Natural Therapies, Naturopathic Doctor
On the heels of all the controversy surrounding 13-year old Daniel Hauser for refusing chemotherapy, I thought I would point out some positive aspects about the benefits of choosing natural and alternative therapies: Click here to continue reading »
Tags: Alternative Medicine, aromatherapy, Essential Oils, Herbs, Natural Therapies, Naturopathic Doctor, Nutrition/Food
Those of you that follow this blog, know that I am a BIG fan of EFT. If you haven’t heard about it, be sure to read the post I did on EFT so you can get up to speed about it. I’ve known about it for years and have been using it successfully with my patients during all this time.
I’m writing to let you know about a recently released documentary about EFT that I think you’re going to be interested in. If you’ve experienced EFT for yourself, you know that it Click here to continue reading »
Tests at the University of Manchester, UK have found that certain essential oils contain the properties that have killed the deadly MRSA bacteria within 2 minutes of contact. This is exciting news in the world of essential oils! Unfortunately, mainstream medicine will probably still want to use dangerous antibiotics to try to treat any infection. But it’s nice to know that essential oils are more powerful, SAFE and they work.
The essential oil blend “Thieves” from Young Living has 5 single essential oils in it: Clove, Lemon, Cinnamon Bark, Eucalyptus and Rosemary. These oils all have been found to be anti-viral, antiseptic, antibacterial and anti-infectious essential oils. Studies have been conducted at Weber State University in 1997 demonstrating this blend to have killing power against microorganisms.
If you want to learn more about essential oils, ask me! Or point your mouse to: Young Living Essential Oils
Tags: aromatherapy, Essential Oils, Natural Therapies, Resources
There is quite a debate going around about coffee. Depending on who you read, there are theories that suggest drinking coffee is actually good for you. It does have antioxidant value associated with it, so that can definitely be a good thing.
But for me, its how you’re drinking your coffee that matters. Personally, I don’t like the taste of coffee, so it was necessary for me to “doctor it up” to make it tolerable! I think in and of itself, coffee probably does Click here to continue reading »
Tags: Alternative Medicine, aromatherapy, Cleansing, Essential Oils, Naturopathic Doctor
Have you ever seen these words on a cereal box, a loaf of bread or flour? Have you stopped to think about what it means? This post is going to talk about these two words and the detrimental impact they have on our food supply.
Enriched……You’ll see this most commonly on flour, breads, tortillas and pasta. What this means is that during the refining process, valuable nutrients are stripped away. Most commonly, this refining process is done with wheat and results in white flour. The wheat grain, when processed, contains the hull from the kernal and is brown. Food manufacturers strip that hull (bran) away in the refining process, resulting in white flour. In that process, valuable nutrients are lost. Then, B Vitamins are “enriched” into the flour because they were stripped away when the flour was made.
Fortified… Foods like dairy products, orange juice, cereals and juices. These foods have additional vitamins and minerals added to them to increase their nutritional value. Often food manufacturers will have on the label “fortified with essential vitamins and minerals”; but in the natural health world that is just code for trying to cover a very important fact! They are trying to hide the fact that there is a significant amount of high fructose corn syrup and/or sugar in that box. This particularly happens with cereals. Recently, some food manufacturers are going to “whole grain” cereals; don’t be fooled! Just because they are using whole grain, doesn’t make this a healthier option. The sugar content is simply unacceptable in most of these products.
Obviously, if your diet is consisting of a lot of packaged and processed foods, if you’re shopping down the isles of the grocery store instead of on the outside of the store (where the fruits, vegetables and lean meats are located), you’re missing valuable nutrition from your diet and are likely on toxic overload. Processed and packaged foods are detrimental to our health. They don’t contain the necessary nutrients to keep our body in good working order. Most of the patients I see are on a mostly processed and packaged food diet, which is why they are looking for some natural health care! When these types of foods are routinely eaten, nutritional deficiencies and imbalances within the body will occur. This processed food diet can result in a lot of health symptoms: allergies, headaches, blood sugar imbalances, ADD/ADHD type of symptoms, digestion problems, fatigue, joint pain, sleep problems and stress. That’s quite a list! Remember the golden rule: if it comes in a bag or a box and you got it from the isles of the grocery store, chances are that it’s processed and has little value to sustain a superb level of health. Remember to shop on the outside of the grocery store and if you do need to get a few things within the isles of the grocery store, be sure to read your labels!
Nature doesn’t need to have “enriched” and “fortified” foods. If you’re eating the diet that nature intended that is predominantly vegetables, fruits, lean meats and nuts/seeds, you’ll see that you’ll have no need to purchase anything that has been “enriched” or “fortified”. Nature has provided everything we need to obtain a superb level of health.
Bottom Line is: If we have to “enrich” and “fortify” vitamins and minerals in our food, then we shouldn’t be eating that food at all! Stick with natural and whole foods like fruits, vegetables, lean meats and nuts/seeds. This will result in a strong and healthy body!
