What’s New in Treating ADHD

Ask Dr. Sears

Once children began sitting more and moving less, as well as eating more junk food, the number of children diagnosed with ADHD went up. Any correlation? In fact, studies are now proving mother’s wisdom of going outside to play. The more hyperactive children are advised to get outdoor exercise, the better they behave and learn. One such program was done at a school in Naperville, Illinois, where they began a zero period trial – having children come to school early for a half-hour of vigorous exercise before regular class started. Other programs, such as the ABC (Activity Bursts in the Classroom) for Fitness™, put together by my friend Dr. David Katz, Director of Yale University’s Prevention Research Center, has found amazing results by getting kids moving. Dubbed the “recess before Ritalin” approach, some schools are finding that vigorous exercise programs have increased children’s attention, improved their behavior, and lessened the need for medication in those children previously labeled with “ADHD.”

Read article here:
http://www.askdrsears.com/news/sears-family-blog/whats-new-treating-adhd

The Scarecrow (Chipotle Commercial)

This film is not attacking average farmers, it is bringing awareness about factory farming. It's like a cartoon version of Food Inc.

6 Bodily Tissues That Can Be Regenerated Through Nutrition

August 21, 2013 at 12:23 pm
by Sayer Ji – GreedMedInfo.com

It may come as a surprise to some, especially those with conventional medical training, but the default state of the body is one of ceaseless regeneration. Without the flame-like process of continual cell turnover within the body – life and death ceaselessly intertwined – the miracle of the human body would not exist.

In times of illness, however, regenerative processes are overcome by degenerative ones. This is where medicine may perform its most noble feat, nudging the body back into balance with foods, herbs, nutrients, healing energies, i.e. healing intention. Today, however, drug-based medicine invariably uses chemicals that have not one iota of regenerative potential; to the contrary, they almost always interfere with bodily self-renewal in order to suppress the symptoms against which they are applied.

Despite the outright heretical nature of things which stimulate healing and regeneration vis-à-vis the conventional medical system which frowns upon, or is incredulous towards, spontaneous remission in favor of symptom suppression and disease management, over the course of the past few years of trolling MEDLINE we have collected a series of remarkable studies on the topic…

Nerve Regeneration

There are actually a broad range of natural compounds with proven nerve-regenerative effects. A 2010 study published in the journal Rejuvenation Research, for instance, found a combination of blueberry, green tea and carnosine have neuritogenic (i.e. promoting neuronal regeneration) and stem-cell regenerative effects in an animal model of neurodegenerative disease. Other researched neuritogenic substances include:

– Curcumin
– Lion’s Mane Mushroom
– Apigenin (compound in vegetables like celery)
– Blueberry
– Ginseng
– Huperzine
– Natto
– Red Sage
– Resveratrol
– Royal Jelly
– Theanine
– Ashwaganda
– Coffee (trigonelline)

There is another class of nerve-healing substances, known as remyelinating compounds, which stimulate the repair of the protective sheath around the axon of the neurons known as myelin, and which is often damaged in neurological injury and/or dysfunction, especially autoimmune and vaccine-induced demyelination disorders. It should also be noted that even music and falling in love have been studied for possibly stimulating neurogenesis, regeneration and/or repair of neurons, indicating that regenerative medicine does not necessary require the ingestion of anything; rather, a wide range of therapeutic actions may be employed to improve health and well-being, as well.


Liver Regeneration

Glycyrrhizin, a compound found within licorice, and which we recently featured as a powerful anti-SARS virus agent, has also been found to stimulate the regeneration of liver mass and function in the animal model of hepatectomy. Other liver regenerative substances include:

– Carvacrol (a volatile compound in oregano)
– Curcumin
– Korean Ginseng
– Rooibos
– Vitamin E

Beta-Cell Regeneration  

Unfortunately, the medical community has yet to harness the diabetes-reversing potential of natural compounds. Whereas expensive stem cell therapies, islet cell transplants, and an array of synthetic drugs in the developmental pipeline are the focus of billions of dollars of research, annually, our kitchen cupboards and backyards may already contain the long sought-after cure for type 1 diabetes. The following compounds have been demonstrated experimentally to regenerate the insulin-producing beta cells, which are destroyed in insulin dependent diabetes, and which once restored, may (at least in theory) restore the health of the patient to the point where they no longer require insulin replacement.

– Gymenna Sylvestre (“the sugar destroyer”)
– Nigella Sativa (“black cumin”)
– Vitamin D
– Curcumin (from the spice Turmeric)
– Arginine
– Avocado
– Berberine (found in bitter herbs such as Goldenseal and Barberry)
– Bitter Melon
– Chard (yes, the green leafy vegetables)
– Corn Silk
– Stevia
– Sulforaphane (especially concentrated in broccoli sprouts)


Hormone Regeneration

There are secretagogues, which increase the endocrine glands’ ability to secrete more hormone, and there are substances that truly regenerate hormones which have degraded (by emitting electrons) into potentially carcinogenic “transient hormone” metabolites. One of these substances is vitamin C. A powerful electron donor, this vitamin has the ability to contribute electrons to resurrect the form and function of estradiol (estrogen; E2), progesterone, testosterone, for instance. In tandem with foods that are able to support the function of glands, such as the ovaries, vitamin C may represent an excellent complement or alternative to hormone replacement therapy.


Cardiac Cell Regeneration

Not too long ago, it was believed that cardiac tissue was uniquely incapable of being regenerated. A new, but rapidly growing body of experimental research now indicates that this is simply not true, and there is a class of heart-tissue regenerating compounds known as neocardiogenic substances. Neocardiogenic substances are able to stimulate the formation of cardiac progenitor cells which can differentiate into healthy heart tissue, and they include the following:

– Resveratrol
– Siberian Ginseng (Eleuthero)
– Red Wine Extract
– Geum Japonicum
– N-acetyl-cysteine

Another remarkable example of cardiac cell regeneration is through what is known as fetomaternal trafficking of stem cells through the placenta. In a recent article we discussed the amazing process known as “fetal microchimerism” by which the fetus contributes stem cells to the mother which are capable of regenerating her damaged heart cells, and possibly a wide range of other cell types.


Cartilage/Joint/Spine Regeneration

Curcumin and resveratrol have been shown to improve recovery from spinal cord injury. Over a dozen other natural compounds hold promise in this area, which can be viewed on our Spinal Cord Injury page. As far as degenerative joint disease, i.e. osteoarthritis, there are a broad range of potentially regenerative substances, with 50 listed on our osteoarthritis research page.

Ultimately, regenerative medicine threatens to undermine the very economic infrastructure that props up the modern, drug-based and quite candidly degenerative medical system. Symptom suppression is profitable because it guarantees both the perpetuation of the original underlying disease, and the generation of an ever-expanding array of additional, treatment-induced symptoms.

This is the non-sustainable, infinite growth model which shares features characteristic of the process of cancer itself – a model, which by its very nature, is doomed to fail and eventually collapse. Cultivating diets, lifestyles and attitudes conducive to bodily regeneration can interrupt this pathological circuit, and help us to attain the bodily freedom that is a precondition for the liberation of the human soul and spirit, as well.

Source: http://www.undergroundhealth.com/6-bodily-tissues-that-can-be-regenerated-through-nutrition/

Activated Charcoal – the Secret to Total Body Detox

by Danica Collins
http://undergroundhealthreporter.com

Did you know…the secret to total-body detox is…activated charcoal?

With the winter holiday season in full swing, there is much talk about detoxification. Typically this talk focuses on quick fixes to remedy the discomfort and bloating caused by weight gain.

But there is a far more important, and far less well known, kind of detoxification: an activated charcoal detox.

Understandably, idea of swallowing a spoonful of what is essentially ash many not immediately appeal to you. However, the type of activated charcoal benefits recommended for detoxification purposes is completely odorless, tasteless, and safe to consume.

According to Dr. Al Sears, a cutting-age integrative medicine practitioner, the reason activated charcoal benefits have such an impressive detoxifying effect is that it flushes out all the toxic heavy metals (such as arsenic, copper, mercury, and lead) that are stored in your body—sometimes for decades. “An activated charcoal detox leaves you feeling like a new person,” says Sears, “pumped up, recharged, and bursting with energy. As if you were suddenly 20 years younger.”

Activated Charcoal Benefits An Impressive Record of Therapeutic Uses

Charcoal has an impressive and time-tested record as a treatment for a variety of ailments. Current scientific research has confirmed the validity of most ancient uses of charcoal, as well as pioneering new applications. It has been shown that activated charcoal can…

• Reduce damage caused by high cholesterol, coronary disease and arteriosclerosis.
• Counteract pathogens.
• Work as an antidote for virtually all drugs, chemicals and poisons.
• Relieve intestinal complaints.
• Extend life and correct common age-related problems.

Perhaps its most significant therapeutic use is one of its most established: complete detoxification of the body.

A “Wild” Study on Activated Charcoal

The best long-term study on activated charcoal benefits as an all-purpose detoxifier was conducted by Professors David O. Cooney, of the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Wyoming, and Thomas T. Struhsaker, of the department of Biological Anthropology and Anatomy at Duke University.

The two theorized that the reason the Red Colobus monkeys on the African island of Zanzibar eat charcoal from burned tree stumps and cooking kilns might be to counteract dietary toxins.

First, Cooney’s team tested the adsorptive properties of several different types of charcoal (adsorption is the adhesion of atoms, ions, or molecules from a gas, liquid, or dissolved solid to a surface, and it’s a key element in detoxification). Cooney and Struhsaker determined that their hypothesis had been correct—charcoal has an incredible detoxifying effect on the body.

While naturally occurring charcoal, like the kinds the monkeys ate, has powerful adsorptive powers, Cooney and Struhsaker confirmed that medicinal-grade activated charcoal benefits are far more effective.

Charcoal ADsorbs, Not ABsorbs

If you’re considering using charcoal for detoxifying, it’s important to understand the difference between absorptive and adsorptive. When something is absorptive, that means it soak ups other substances, but when something is adsorptive, that means it holds other substances in a thin film on its outside surface.

The reason you should be aware of this is that the more finely-ground the charcoal you use, the greater the surface area, and the more adsorptive capacity it will have! Look for powdered activated charcoal with the smallest particle size possible.

According to Dr. Al Sears, a cutting-age integrative medicine practitioner, high-quality activated charcoal is “so potent that one gram of it—an amount the size of your fingernail—can adsorb enough toxins to fill the square footage of four tennis courts.”

Some Tips on Trying Activated Charcoal

Activated charcoal benefits can be found for an affordable price at almost any health food store. Integrative health experts maintain that it’s best to take it in powder form, mixed into a liquid, so that the body can most easily absorb it. The starting dose recommended by Dr. Sears is between 20 and 30 grams, taken in divided doses throughout the day, for a period of 1 to 2 weeks.

Source: http://undergroundhealthreporter.com/activated-charcoal-benefits#axzz2EmARznBq

Proper Food Storage: 10 Fruits & Veggies to Keep Out of Your Fridge

Written by Kristi Arnold
http://www.organicauthority.com

The home refrigerator was a great technological advancement for food storage. Yet sometimes for our fruits and veggies, it doesn't keep foods fresher longer. Instead, it can make them mealy, mushy or even inedible. Keep these 10 fruits and vegetables on the counter, in a hanging fruit basket or in a dark, dry cupboard rather than your refrigerator to keep them at their best.

1. Bananas: The cold of the refrigerator will blacken the skin of the banana fruit. It also ripens the banana fruit and can make it mushy before its time. Keep bananas on the counter or in a hanging fruit basket.
2. Tomatoes: The refrigerator will make tomatoes mealy and dull. Keep tomatoes on the counter away from sunlight. If your tomatoes are underripe, place them on a windowsill to ripen.
3. Avocados: Avocados need to ripen off the tree, so leave them on the counter until they're completely ripe. Once they've ripened, you can use the fruit crisper drawer to stall the ripening process before you cut open your avocados. If you're storing cut avocado, leave the pit in the half you're storing. Rub lemon or lime juice over the top of the cut flesh to slow browning and store the avocado half in an airtight container. When you're ready to use the avocado, you may need to scrape off a layer of discoloration, but the remaining fruit will be green. If you make guacamole, toss the pit into the airtight container to keep the leftover guacamole green, too!
4. Melons: Whole melons like cantaloupe, watermelon and honeydew should be kept at room temperature before they're cut to keep antioxidants at their most potent. Once cut, keep melons in the refrigerator for up to four days.
5. Citrus: Oranges, limes, lemons and grapefruit can be stored on the countertop for up to a week. For longer food storage, and for more delicate citrus like tangerines, choose a ventilated bag in the refrigerator's fruit crisper instead.
6. Apples: Apples are best kept on the counter or in a hanging basket for the first week after being picked. If you plan to have them longer, you can chill them in the refrigerator for a few days.
7. Stone Fruits: Peaches, nectarines, apricots and plums ripen at room temperature. If you plan on eating them right away, store them on the counter. For longer-term storage, you can place them in the fruit crisper once the fruit is ripe.
8. Potatoes: The cold temperatures break down starches in the potato. That breakdown makes the potatoes gritty and overly sweet. It's best to keep potatoes in a cool, dry and dark place like a cupboard.
9. Onions: Humidity in the refrigerator makes onions moldy and mushy. Keep them in a hanging basket or a cupboard out of direct sunlight. Once the onions are cut, place them in an airtight container in your vegetable crisper.
10. Garlic: Store garlic in a cool, dry and ventilated container. If kept in the refrigerator, garlic will lose its flavor. Be sure to use the cloves of garlic within 10 days of breaking open the head of garlic.

Read our tips on storing fresh fruits and vegetables for more information.
Keep in touch with Kristi on Twitter @VeggieConverter and Pinterest

Your Vitamins May Be Doing More Harm Than Good

Your Vitamins May Be Doing More Harm Than Good,
We’ll Show You How You Can Check
Jun 24 www.realfarmacy.com

Next time you go to purchase those multivitamins do a little digging, you may be surprised to find out that your “vitamin” is not made by who you thought. Did you know that more than 95% of the vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that you can buy at “health food” stores and close to 100% of those sold in other stores are now made by the same few pharmaceutical and chemical companies who supply them to most all the vitamin and mineral companies?

Many popular brands of vitamins are “fortified” with the synthetic counterpart of the nutrient claimed to be in the pill. There are many reasons for these synthetic ingredients but the main reason they are used is to increase the bottom line; it is much cheaper to source different chemical byproducts to simulate a chemical make-up than it is to extract minerals and vitamins from growing healthy food. After the money is saved by sourcing dangerous chemicals instead of real ingredients, Big Pharma and their “chemical brothers” can now spend billions making you think that these imitation vitamins are good for you; for every dollar pharmaceutical companies spend on “basic research,” $19 goes toward promotion and marketing.

Below is a list of 5 toxic ingredients contained in versions of the most popular vitamin on the market today, Centrum, made by Pfizer. Less than a year ago, Pfizer was being sued for making false claims about their Centrum multivitamins and there alleged ability to promote “breast health” and “colon health.” The reality is that these supposed “vitamins” are merely synthetic chemical counterparts that do not carry the same benefits as the naturally occurring minerals and, in fact, can cause a myriad of damaging health effects.

First toxic ingredient

Ferrous Fumarate

C4H2FeO4

Ferrous fumarate is the anhydrous salt formed by combining ferrous iron with fumaric acid and used as a hematinic (a preparation used to improve the quality of blood). Unfortunately, inorganic iron is pro-oxidative, stimulating the damaging effects in the body of substances known as free radicals. There is evidence linking high inorganic iron intake to cardiovascular disease and cancer. Excessive iron accumulates in the liver, and may feed bacterial and viral infection. Iron is found, in a healthy body, in the form of metalloproteins, because in exposed or in free form it causes production of free radicals that are generally toxic to cells. In its “free” form iron binds avidly to virtually all biomolecules so it will adhere nonspecifically to cell membranes, nucleic acids, proteins etc., causing substantial damage. When, for instance, iron binds with LDL, it oxidizes it, resulting in obstruction.

Second toxic ingredient

Chromic Chloride

CrCl3

Although trivalent chromium like Chromic Chloride is far less poisonous than the hexavalent form, it is definitely a toxic substance, known to exhibit genotoxic, mutagenic, teratrogenic (reproductive hazard) and is on the Hazardous Substance list. Its main use is in the metal industries for chromizing; in the manufacture of chromium metal and compounds; as a catalyst for polymerization of olefins and other organic reactions; as a textile mordant; in tanning; in corrosion inhibitors; as a waterproofing agent.

Third toxic ingredient

Magnesium Stearate

Mg(C18H35O2)2

Used to make large scale production tableting of supplements and drugs possible, this chemical excipient is produced through reacting sodium stearate with magnesium sulfate, in a way similar to the production of other hydrogenated oils. Magnesium Stearate has shown to cause death from inhalation of the powder.

Fourth toxic ingredient

Manganese Sulfate

MnSO4H2O

The Material Safety Data Sheet classifies this chemical as a hazardous substance. Toxicological data indicates it is tumerigenic, mutagenic and teratogenic (adversely effects reproduction).

Fifth toxic ingredient

Sodium Selenite

Na2SeO3

An inorganic form of selenium with known toxicity. Studies have shown it may cause tumors, genetic mutations, interfere with reproduction, and cause birth defects. Although it is an essential antioxidant when found in food as biologically active selenium, inorganic selenium as selenite has a pro-oxidative effect.

 

---

What can you do to make sure your vitamins are not just chemical cocktails with ostensible health benefits?

Below is a list of precautions one can use to avoid purchasing synthetic vitamins.

Cheryl Myers, FoodMatters.tv:

Step 1

Look for the words “100 percent natural” on the product’s label. Some product labels may contain the words “natural,” but manufacturers can claim “natural” on their nutritional products if at least 10 percent of the product comes from natural food sources. The Organic Consumers Organization recommends looking for products that contain “100 percent plant-based” or “100 percent animal-based” on the product’s label.

Step 2

Find the “food source” list on the products label. If the product’s label does not contain a list of natural food sources, then the product is synthetic. Look for food sources such as yeast, fish, vegetable and citrus.

Step 3

Identify whole foods in the ingredient list instead of the particular nutrient. Dr. Ben Kim, a chiropractor and acupuncturist with his own radio show, says to look for foods on the list of ingredients that contain a certain vitamin, such as “acerola cherry powder,” which contains vitamin C. If you can identify “vitamin C” in the ingredient list, Kim says you can almost guarantee that the vitamin is synthetic.

Step 4

Look for salt forms on the product label, a synthetic added to supplements for increasing the stability of the vitamin or mineral. Some of the salt forms to look for include acetate, bitartrate, chloride, gluconate, hydrochloride, nitrate and succinate.

Step 5

Learn how to read the product’s label by looking for keywords that indicate the supplement is synthetic. Words that end in “ide” or “ate” indicate that the product contains salt forms, which are synthetics.

For instance, if you see chloride, hydrochloride, acetate or nitrate on the list of ingredients, the manufacturer used synthetics for the product.

Additionally, the letters “dl” that appear before the name of an ingredient indicates the supplement is synthetic. As an example, look for “fish oils” when buying a vitamin A supplement. If the product’s label states “palmitate,” it is a synthetic vitamin A supplement.

Common Synthetic Vitamins to Avoid

Vitamin A: Acetate and Palmitate

Vitamin B1 (Thiamine): Thiamine Mononitrate, Thiamine Hydrochloride

Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin): Riboflavin

Pantothenic Acid: Calcium D-Pantothenate

Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine): Pyridoxine Hydrochloride

Vitamin B12: Cobalamin

PABA (Para-aminobenzoic Acid): Aminobenzoic Acid

Folic Acid: Pteroylglutamic Acid

Choline: Choline Chloride, Choline Bitartrate

Biotin: d-Biotin

Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid): Ascorbic Acid

Vitamin D: Irradiated Ergosteral, Calciferol

Vitamin E: dl-alpha tocopherol, dl-alpha tocopherol acetate or succinate

The Dangers of Using Hand Sanitizer

Written by Kirsten Hudson  
http://www.organicauthority.com/health/not-so-handy-the-dangers-of-using-hand-sanitizer.html

Hand sanitizers seem like a good idea when you find yourself in a dirty situation. No soap at a rest stop bathroom. A sneezing seatmate on a bus. A port-o-potty. Just whip out your hand sanitizer and squeeze out a glop. No problem. Right? Not exactly. Hand sanitizers have been proven to kill bacteria, but they also have a dangerous side. Discover what lurks in these supposedly “clean” products.

Triclosan

Triclosan is an ingredient added to products to prevent bacterial growth. It’s found in everything from soaps to toys to clothing. And, also in hand sanitizers. If the label on your hand sanitizer reads “antibacterial”, it likely contains triclosan.
If you really look at it, triclosan is quite the pointless chemical. The FDA has found no health benefits of triclosan. Even though it kills bacteria, it may contribute to making bacteria resistant to antibiotics. In other words, it helps create super bacteria.
The FDA even noted that “at this time, the agency does not have evidence that triclosan in antibacterial soaps and body washes provides any benefit over washing with regular soap and water.” Now, after 40 years, the FDA is finally working to review triclosan, but it will likely be a while longer before triclosan is completey removed from products. Do your hands a favor and choose a hand sanitizer without triclosan on the label.

Parabens

Many conventional hand sanitizers are loaded with parabens, chemicals used to prevent microbe growth in products. They’re often found in personal care products that contain water, like shampoo, conditioner, body wash, soaps and, yes, hand sanitizers. Linked to cancer, endocrine disruption, reproductive toxicity, immunotoxicity, neurotoxicity and skin irritation, parabens are pretty nasty. These four common parabens: ethylparaben, butylparaben, methylparaben and propylparaben are ones to watch out for on hand sanitizer labels.

Fragrance

If your hand sanitizer has a scent, it’s also probably loaded with toxic chemicals. Because fragrance is considered proprietary information, companies aren’t required to disclose the ingredients that make up their secret scents. So, theoretically, they could be just about anything—even hundreds of chemicals. According to the Environmental Working Group, “fragrance mixes have been associated with allergies, dermatitis, respiratory distress and potential effects on the reproductive system.” Eesh. Look for unscented hand sanitizers to avoid slathering chemicals on your skin.

Bacterial resistance

By now we’ve all probably heard about super bacteria. Products like hand sanitizers and antibacterial soaps are leading to an increased risk for developing treatment-resistent bacteria. Certain strains of bacteria are becoming resistant to even our most powerful antibiotics. Yet, many people continue to use hand sanitizers labeled “antibacterial”. If you see “antibacterial” on the label, choose a different hand sanitizer.

Better options

Remember that soap and water are your best for really getting your hands clean. But when that just isn’t an option, turn to a natural hand sanitizer. Many of your favorite natural beauty brands are now making hand sanitizers without any yucky chemicals. I love Dr. Bronner’s Organic Lavender Hand Sanitizing Spray. Made with just organic ethanol, water, organic glycerin and organic lavender oil, it gets hands sanitized without any unnecessary ingredients. It smells nice too.

Follow Kirsten on Twitter @kirsten_hudson, Google+ and Pinterest.

6 Ways to Prevent Cancer in Your Home

*Click here to see larger image and more information

Why is Wheat Toxic?

Modern wheat a "perfect, chronic poison," doctor says
September 3, 2012

(CBS News) Modern wheat is a "perfect, chronic poison," according to Dr. William Davis, a cardiologist who has published a book all about the world's most popular grain.

Davis said that the wheat we eat these days isn't the wheat your grandma had: "It's an 18-inch tall plant created by genetic research in the '60s and '70s," he said on "CBS This Morning." "This thing has many new features nobody told you about, such as there's a new protein in this thing called gliadin. It's not gluten. I'm not addressing people with gluten sensitivities and celiac disease. I'm talking about everybody else because everybody else is susceptible to the gliadin protein that is an opiate. This thing binds into the opiate receptors in your brain and in most people stimulates appetite, such that we consume 440 more calories per day, 365 days per year."

Asked if the farming industry could change back to the grain it formerly produced, Davis said it could, but it would not be economically feasible because it yields less per acre. However, Davis said a movement has begun with people turning away from wheat - and dropping substantial weight.

"If three people lost eight pounds, big deal," he said. "But we're seeing hundreds of thousands of people losing 30, 80, 150 pounds. Diabetics become no longer diabetic; people with arthritis having dramatic relief. People losing leg swelling, acid reflux, irritable bowel syndrome, depression, and on and on every day."

To avoid these wheat-oriented products, Davis suggests eating "real food," such as avocados, olives, olive oil, meats, and vegetables. "(It's) the stuff that is least likely to have been changed by agribusiness," he said. "Certainly not grains. When I say grains, of course, over 90 percent of all grains we eat will be wheat, it's not barley... or flax. It's going to be wheat. "It's really a wheat issue."

Some health resources, such as the Mayo Clinic, advocate a more balanced diet that does include wheat. But Davis said on "CTM" they're just offering a poor alternative.

"All that literature says is to replace something bad, white enriched products with something less bad, whole grains, and there's an apparent health benefit - 'Let's eat a whole bunch of less bad things.' So I take...unfiltered cigarettes and replace with Salem filtered cigarettes, you should smoke the Salems. That's the logic of nutrition, it's a deeply flawed logic. What if I take it to the next level, and we say, 'Let's eliminate all grains,' what happens then?

"That's when you see, not improvements in health, you see transformations in health."


Watch Davis' full interview in the video HERE.

15 Easy Ways to Detoxify Your Body Today

15 Easy Ways to Detoxify Your Body Today
May 11  RealFarmacy.com

Our bodies are surprisingly good at detoxification but these processes can easily become overwhelmed due to the volume of toxins to which we’re exposed from our air, water, food, pharmaceutical and over-the-counter drugs, and many other sources.
These detoxification processes also rely on many critical nutrients (you’ll discover which ones below) to function properly. Fortunately, there are many easy things you can do to help your body eliminate harmful toxins. Here are 15 easy ways to detoxify today based on my book, The 4-Week Ultimate Body Detox Plan:

1. Eat pectin-rich organic apples. Pectin binds to toxins in the intestines to escort them out of the body.

2. Drink a freshly-made veggie juice daily. This can be as easy as throwing a couple of handfuls of leafy greens into a blender with some frozen berries and water.

3. Drink a large glass of purified water with the juice of one fresh lemon in the morning. Lemons have over 20 proven anti-cancer compounds.

4. Eat blueberries daily. They are rich in anthocyanins that reduce inflammation in the body and brain, as well as help reduce allergies and excess weight.

5. Remember to breathe. Oxygen kills bacteria, viruses, and helps us to feel more energized. Breathe deeply as much as possible.

6. Eat at least a half cup of organic legumes daily. If they cause you gas, build up slowly and add a digestive enzyme with cellulase (breaks down the fiber in beans). Fiber in beans helps keep the bowels eliminating properly.

7. Find the positive in every day. Smile and laugh. A positive attitude reduces the number of stress chemicals in the body. And, as the adage says, “laughter is the best medicine.”

8. Take turmeric daily (a teaspoon in a small glass of water), added to soups or stews, or in capsule form. It contains the phytonutrient curcumin that is one of the most powerful liver protectors and healers. The liver is largely responsible for detoxification.

9. Eat more raw fruits and vegetables. They contain enzymes that aid digestion and improve nutrient absorption. Many nutrients are needed for efficient detoxification, including: beta carotene, folic acid, niacin, pantothenic acid, riboflavin, thiamin, vitamin B12, pyridoxine, vitamin C, vitamin E, calcium, copper, germanium, iron, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, selenium, sulphur, and zinc, among others.

10. Switch from chemical cleaning products to natural ones. Chemical cleaning products contain toxins like formaldehyde, chlorine, petroleum products, ammonia, perchloroethylene (“perc”), and many other harmful chemicals that research links to cancer, skin conditions, asthma, and other serious health conditions. Baking soda, vinegar, or orange oil work well. No chemical cleaner removes stains as well as orange oil.

11. Eat at least three of the best detoxifying foods daily: broccoli, garlic, spinach, cabbage, sprouts, blueberries, and ginger.

12. Drink plenty of pure water to help flush toxins from your body. Almost every process in your body depends on proper hydration to function smoothly.

13. Help remove toxins in your intestines by using aloe vera juice (about a quarter cup) or drinking a few cups of slippery elm bark, marshmallow root, or rhubarb root tea (about one teaspoon of the dried herb per cup of water).

14. Take a probiotic supplement with live cultures on an empty stomach daily (morning or evening works well). The beneficial bacteria kill harmful bacteria and yeasts and help to heal the lining of the intestines.

15. Get at least 30 minutes of vigorous physical activity daily. Sweating is one of the best ways of removing harmful toxins, including heavy metals, from the body.

New App Lets You Boycott Koch Brothers, Monsanto And More By Scanning Your Shopping Cart

Clare O'Connor, Forbes Staff

The consumer economy: retail, and the people reinventing it.

5/14/2013

 

You can scan the barcode on any product and the free app will trace its ownership all the way to its top corporate parent company, including conglomerates like Koch Industries.

Once you’ve scanned an item, Buycott will show you its corporate family tree on your phone screen. Scan a box of Splenda sweetener, for instance, and you’ll see its parent, McNeil Nutritionals, is a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson.

Even more impressively, you can join user-created campaigns to boycott business practices that violate your principles rather than single companies. One of these campaigns, Demand GMO Labeling, will scan your box of cereal and tell you if it was made by one of the 36 corporations that donated more than $150,000 to oppose the mandatory labeling of genetically modified food.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/clareoconnor/2013/05/14/new-app-lets-you-boycott-koch-brothers-monsanto-and-more-by-scanning-your-shopping-cart/

How to Make a Better Strawberry Pallet Planter

Lovely Greens
Monday, 6 May 2013

 

Dandelions : Edible and Medicinal Uses

3 skinny smoothie recipes

May 1, 2013

By Vivian Gomez

Smoothies can be a refreshing alternative to heavier meals in the scorching summer months.

Banana-oatmeal breakfast smoothie

Recipe via Chiquita Banana

Ingredients

• 2 whole bananas, preferably with brown flecks on peel
• 2 cups ice
• 1/3 cup plain low-fat yogurt (Greek yogurt with honey)
• 1/2 cup cooked oatmeal
• 1/3 cup almonds (optional)

 Place all the ingredients in a blender, leaving the ice for last. Blend on high for at least 30 seconds or until thick.


Papaya smoothie

Ingredients

• 2 cups papaya, peeled, seeded and cubed
• 2 cups fat-free milk
• 1 cup plain low-fat yogurt (Greek yogurt with honey)
• 2 cups ice

 Place all the ingredients in a blender, leaving the ice for last. Blend on high for at least 30 seconds or until smooth.


Avocado pear smoothie

Recipe via Martha Stewart

Ingredients

• 1 ripe avocado (about 7 ounces)
• 1/2 cup silken tofu drained
• 1 cup pear juice
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 2 cups ice

Quarter, pit, and peel avocado. Place avocado, tofu, juice, honey and vanilla in a blender, leaving the ice for last. Blend until smooth.

Eco-friendly answer to Roundup

Got Weeds? Use Vinegar, Not Roundup
http://www.agardenforthehouse.com/2011/06/got-weeds-use-vinegar-not-roundup/

NEED PROOF THAT VINEGAR IS A WEED-TERMINATOR? Just look at the weeds growing along a pea-stone path in my Herb Garden. These were photographed yesterday afternoon, just moments before I sprayed them with cheap, undiluted, store-brand white vinegar. Here’s what all that greenery looked like this morning:

I’d say those weeds are deader than dead. And that’s why I use vinegar on the gravel paths, brick walk-ways, and blue-stone patio here at A Garden for the House. For me it has proven an effective, eco-friendly answer to Roundup.

And speaking of Roundup, this year Monsanto, the product’s evil manufacturer, agreed with the New York Attorney General’s office to discontinue their use of the terms “biodegradable” and “environmentally friendly” in ads promoting Roundup. Why? Because these terms were bald-faced lies. Roundup is neither biodegradable nor environmentally friendly.

The next time you want to murder your weeds, why douse them with something that will remain in the soil for who knows how long? Maybe you should reach for vinegar instead. Vinegar is cheap. It’s easy to use. I keep gallons of it in my garden shed.

How to Apply: You can use a watering can, a spray bottle or a pump-sprayer to apply vinegar. I use a pump-sprayer, because it is more efficient. Be sure to rinse your sprayer after use, or metal parts (if any) can corrode.

Make your application on a warm, sunny, calm (not windy) day. Vinegar is not selective; it can potentially harm plants you wish to keep, should you accidentally spray them. As I said earlier, I use vinegar on walkways, where grass and ornamental plants are not an issue.

Will vinegar kill every weed in every garden? That I can not say. I only know that it has kept my pathways free of unwanted growth.

Update: Many of you have asked if I dilute the vinegar with water. No, I do not. I pour it directly from jug to pump-sprayer.

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Sleeping without Ambien

Working on sleeping without Ambien...it's been difficult. I started taking natural sleeping aid (serotonin w/ melatonin, and magnesium) that I found at the local health store and it helps get me sleepy. Plus I'm using the tapping technique to work on my anxienty. Last night I fell asleep in under an hour and stayed asleep! Yay!!

This is the tapping technique video that is helping me with my anxiety:

 

Save money using household items

Most people are watching their dollars and working off a budget to make ends meet. Many are also now looking for natural alternatives to live a more wholesome and chemical free life. Following are a few ways in which you can have both of the above. These uses are becoming more prevalent and are easy to do it yourself. So, here are great easy uses for common household items to make your life more chemical free and your wallet a little fatter.

1) Toothpaste: Buff a CD/DVD
 Apply toothpaste to a cotton ball and wipe the disc. Wash with water afterwards and you’ve got a brand new disc!

2) Cornstarch: Untangle Knots
 Sprinkling cornstarch into tough knots, such as shoe laces helps loosen them.

3) Walnut: Buff Dings out of Wood Furniture
 Get rid of unsightly scratches and dings on wood furniture by rubbing a walnut on the areas. The blemishes will vanish quickly and your furniture and pocket book will be saved.

4) Club Soda: Make Your Breads Fluffier
 When baking, where recipes call for water, add club soda instead to make pancakes, waffles and any other breads fluffier.

5) Salt: Keep Windows Frost Free
 Pour a cup of salt into a liter of water. Sponge the liquid onto the inside of window to prevent frost from forming during the winter months.

6) Rubbing Alcohol: Remove Permanent Marker
 Dab the surface that has the permanent marker on it with a cloth or cotton ball covered in rubbing alcohol to make it disappear quickly.

7) Chap stick: Stops Bleeding When Nicked Shaving
 Cut yourself shaving? Just swipe some chap stick over the cut to stop that constant bleeding. No more tissue squares!

8) Apple Juice: Removes Dandruff
 Don’t ask how it works, but it does! Instead of buying a special shampoo, just wash your hair in apple juice to rid your scalp of pesky dandruff.

9) Aspirin: Get Rid of Armpit Stains on T-Shirts
 Grind up an aspirin tablet or two, then make a paste out of it using water, lemon or vinegar. Spread the paste on the stained area and let sit for an hour before washing.

10) Olive Oil: Make Pets’ Coat Shinier
 Add a bit of olive oil to your pet’s food to give them a healthier, shinier coat of fur.

11) Newspapers: Clean Windows and Mirrors
 Instead of using a spray and a streaky cloth, use only newspaper to clean off your mirrors and windows for a streak-free finish.

12) Baking Soda: Remove Bugs from Windshield
 Mix baking soda with warm water to make a paste. Spread the paste over your windshield for fifteen minutes. Then wipe or spray off with a hose.

13) Bleach: Extend Life of Flowers in Vase
 Add a few drops of bleach to vase water to prevent the build-up of the slime caused by bacteria. It works just like chlorine in a swimming pool.

14) Kitchen Dish Soap: Flea-Killing Dog Shampoo
 Kitchen dish soap (not dish detergent) can double as dog shampoo for its flea killing abilities.

15) Coke: Remove Blood Stains from Clothing
 Soak the stain in coke until the stain is dissolved, then wash the clothing as usual. Wash before the coke dries, though.

16) Honey: Remove Blemish Overnight
 Have a blemish you need to get rid of by tomorrow? Put a dab of honey on the blemish and cover it up (it’s best to use a Band-Aid) and the honey’s natural antibacterial properties will clean out the bacteria by the morning.

17) Wax Paper: Clean Can Opener Gears
 Run a few small strips of wax paper through the can opener to clean out of the bits and pieces that have built up in the gears throughout the year. The wax will also rub off on the gears to protect for future use as well.

18) WD-40: Remove Crayons from Walls
 Use the lubricant and a cloth to remove stubborn crayon marks from the walls just by spraying the wall and wiping with a cloth.

19) Chalk: Keep Ants and Slugs Out of the House
 Ants and Slugs Won’t Touch Chalk. So, simply draw a line in front of your doorway where you are having problems with these pesky critters and they won’t cross it, meaning they won’t be able to get into your house.

20) Vinegar: Kills Weeds and Helps Flowers Grow
 Vinegar is a magic wonder when it comes to gardening. It not only kills weeds but they help flowers grow as well. Douse vinegar all around your garden to prevent weeds from popping up and to help your flowers to grow healthy and strong.

21) Mayonnaise: Remove Bumper Sticker
 Spread mayonnaise on the bumper sticker and let sit for at least thirty minutes. Then, rub the sticker off with a towel, leaving a clean bumper!

22) Tin Foil Ball: Replace Dryer Sheets Permanently
 Instead of using a dryer sheet ball up one or a few sheets of tin foil and toss it in the dryer. It removes the static electricity from your clothes and one can last up to a year.

23) Banana Peel: Polish Leather Shoes
 Use the inside of a banana peel to give shoes a professional and natural shine that will last for quite some time.

24) Mouthwash: Cure Athlete’s Foot
 Pour mouthwash on cotton balls and then swab your feet. The alcohol will disinfect the bacteria completely if you continue this for a week or so.

25) Baking Soda: Clean BBQ Grill
 Mix a cup of baking soda with half a cup water to make a paste. Dip your brush into the paste and scrub the grill. The caked on pieces and black residue will come off much quicker and using baking soda is much safer and cheaper than using cleaning chemicals.

26) Coffee Grounds: Fertilizer
 Coffee is full of nutrients and vitamins that are very beneficial to soil. That’s why some people include it in compost piles. If you want to get the most out of your coffee, pour the grounds on areas where you want more grass or flowers.

27) Olive Oil: Shaving Cream
 The smoothness of the oil can replace the need for shaving cream, and it also provides great moisture.

28) Dryer Sheets: Gets Rid of Static Electricity
 Use dryer sheets to remove static electricity from things such as clothing, TV screens or your own hair. Tame fly away strands by running a dryer sheet over them.

29) Freezer: Freeze Candles to Make Them Last Longer
 Put candles in the freezer for at least 2 hours before using. Once you burn them, the wax will melt at a much slower pace, making them last much longer!

30) Two glasses of water: Cure Headache
 Water is the cure to most common headaches. To make the headache go away quickly, drink two cups of water very quickly.

31) Lemons: Deodorize Garbage Disposal
 Toss whole slices of lemon into the garbage disposal then run it. The acidity of the lemon will rid your sink of all odors and leave a fresh scent that usually lasts for a few months.

32) Alka Seltzer: Remove Burnt-On Grease and Food Stains
 When letting your pots and pans soak, throw in one or two Alka Seltzer tablets and the caked on residue from cooking will come off easily when you scrub/wash.

33) Apple Cider Vinegar: Relieve Diarrhea
 Mix two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar into eight ounces of water to soothe your stomach. The taste may not be the greatest, but the antibacterial properties of the vinegar will end the unpleasantness of the bowel problems.

34) Toothpaste: Remove Scratches from Glass
 Apply toothpaste to scratch, then rub with a cloth until the scratch is gone. Make sure the glass is clean beforehand.

35) Cheerios: Relieve Pain from Poison Ivy, Chickenpox and Sunburns
 Pound one to four cups of Cheerios into a powder and add to your bath to soothe your skin while you soak. You may not feel relief while in the tub, but you will soon after.

36) Buttons: Sort Earrings
 Organize your earrings and prevent them from becoming entangled by using spare buttons as holders for each pair.

37) Corn Oil: Prevent Hairballs for Pets
 Add a few drops of corn oil to your pets’ food to prevent hairballs from forming. The thick oil helps the fur pass through the animal’s system much quicker and easily.

38) Whipped Cream: Remove Gum from Hair
 There are many remedies for removing gum from hair, but this is a lesser known one. Give it a try rather than peanut butter the next time you’re in need.

39) Coke: Remove Oil Stains from the Driveway
 Oil stains are very difficult to remove pavement, but one method guaranteed to work is Coke. The highly acidic drink will eat away at the oil until clean.

40) Brown Sugar: Facial Scrub
 A scrub is good to do about once a month to remove dead skin and bacteria built up in pores and remove excess oil from the skin. Brown sugar does just as well as expensive products and will definitely result in a clearer and smoother complexion.

41) Dryer Sheet: Lint Brush
 You already know that dryer sheets remove lint in the dryer. Well, it can do the same thing out of the dryer, too. When you’re in a fix, use a dryer sheet. It works just as well as a lint brush, and if you like the scent, it’s an added bonus.

42) Newspaper: Deodorize food containers and Food Drawers in the Refrigerator
 For that stinky Tupperware or smelly refrigerator drawer that is too much to deal with, toss in a sheet of newspaper overnight before you deal with it. The paper will absorb the smell greatly reducing it or eliminating it completely.

43) Olive Oil: Unstick a Zipper
 The oil will help the zipper slide more easily, fixing the problem!

44) Salt: Cool Something Quickly
 You know that feeling when you’re having a BBQ and someone asks for a drink and you realize that no one has put them in the cooler? There’s nothing worse than a warm drink on a hot day. Chill a drink quickly, by adding salt and water to your ice. The drinks will be cold in a matter of minutes; saving your party and making you look smart all at once.

45) Scotch Tape: Prevent Wall from Chipping When Nailing
 The wall can leave unsightly chips when hammering in a nail. Prevent this by simply placing a piece of scotch tape over the area you’re going to nail. The wall will be held tighter, preventing chips from occurring.

46) Alka Seltzer: Soothe Insect Bites
 Dissolve two tablets into a glass of water. Then use a cloth or cotton ball to apply it to the affected area. The red will go down and most importantly, the itchiness will vanish usually in fifteen minutes.

47) Lemon: Whitens Whites
 Add about half a cup of lemon juice to your load of whites to makes them extra white. You can use lemon juice with bleach or detergent, so don’t worry about mixing chemicals with the acidic lemon.

48) Banana Peel: Whiten Teeth
 This may sound a little odd, but rub the inside of a banana peel on your teeth twice a day for two weeks and you will receive the same effect from a teeth-whitening kit. Plus, you’ll save yourself money and the hassle of using chemicals.

49) Hair Dryer: Free Photos Stuck on Pages
 If you have a photo stuck on a page that you can’t get free, try using a blow dryer on the back of the page. It will loosen the photo from the page and the adhesive holding it there.

50) Banana Peel: Heal Most Skin Problems
 Bananas are the magical fruit, because they heal many common problems on the skin. By rubbing the peel on your skin, you can heal bruises and cuts and eliminate rashes, itching and warts. Basically if you have a common skin problem, it can be cured by this fruit.

I hope you can put some or all of these to good use to save money and make your home a safer environment. There are tons more DIY uses for common household items like these. make sure to share the info with your friends! ♥