A lot of you have asked what I use for skincare. I'm going to write a quick post about what I use and what I think is the best stuff out there (that's affordable at least)
The company Mychelle is my favorite right now. Her line is all natural and it really works well. You wouldn't have to use her cleansers and toners, but her creams and serums are fantastic. Anything with Hyaluronic Acid is going to make your skin look great. It draws moisture to the skin and pumps up the lines and wrinkles. You can also take it internally. There are several liquid Hyaluronic Acids that you take by the tsp. I saw a differenc in my skin 30 min later! Bum deal is that it's about $30 a bottle. But, it's fantastic for your joints too so you get a nice double deal!
Another company I like is Juice Organics. They too have a great selection of serums and creams. Sometimes I'll use Avalon Organics cream cleansers because they are pretty cheap on Vitacost.com, but I'm not a fan of their creams at all.
Reviva Labs makes an amazing Glycolic Acid cream. I get the 10% cream. A little goes a long way, so it lasts me several months. It works as well as Retin A does in my opinion (I used to use Retin A and then read it can cause birth defects). It sloughs off the dead skin so it helps with wrinkles, blackheads and acne caused by clogged pores. Using a good scrub every 2 or 3 days helps with this as well. I like Desert Essences Refining bamboo body scrub a lot. It's for the whole body, not just the face and it works fantastic!
As far as makeup goes, you really want to make sure your foundation and powder are all natural. Not every mineral makeup is okay. A lot of times it's just regular makeup with minerals added. I'm yet to find anything that doesn't have junk in it at department stores except Physicians Formula's Organics line. It's really free of junk and works well. I use their concealer and have used their powder. I haven't used the liquid foundation because I don't personally like liquid foundations. I've tried many mineral powders from Bare Minerals to the stuff they sell at health food stores. I've found that my favorite by far is LA Minerals (www.laminerals.com). Their foundations are fantastic and don't have Bismuth Oxychloride in it which can be many so many "natural" mineral makeups. Bismuth can really irritate your skin and cause allergic reations. LA minerals also has sample sizes so you can find your color and if you like a matte finish or some sheen. I really like their bronzer as well. I'm sure there are other good mineral makeups out there, it may just take some searching. You really just want to make sure your foundations are free of mineral oil, parabens, talc, & are bismuth free.
Hope this helps. Feel free to post questions or if you have a favorite makeup/skincare line...tell me about it!
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Milk..The Good, the bad, and the down right disgusting!!
I feel terrible that I haven't posted in so long! I've had several people ask me the address for my blog and they're probably bored already!!
Anyhow, I've been meaning to post something on milk for a while, so here we go!
Let's break it down first and then I'll go over each one. The good would be Raw Milk from a clean source..The bad would be Organic Pasteurized Milk, and the down right disgusting is regular old milk.
We'll start with regular milk. The thought of it churns my stomach, because I know what's in it. Regular milk is full of pesticides (from what the cows eat), hormones (injected into the cows to make them produce more milk faster), blood and puss (from the mastitis they get from the hormone injections), and antibiotics (given to the cows to clear up the mastitis). Sounds pretty appetizing, huh? To top it all off, they pasteurize it to kill all the gross germs and bacteria and homogenize it so it won't separate. Pasteurization is probably good in this case cause this milk is FULL of nasty germs..but once you pasteurize milk it dead and useless. It kills not only the bad stuff, but the good beneficial components to milk as well. This is why they "fortify" milk with synthetic Vit D. They're trying to make the milk somewhat nutritious. Too bad that D2 is not good for you either! It's D3 that is safe and beneficial to take.
Let's talk about the puss and blood because this was the real kicker for me. Because these poor cows are give hormones to make them produce more milk (rBGH), they tend to get many cases of mastitis. This doesn't stop them from milking the cow, though. So, blood and puss from the infection end up in the milk. They call this puss and blood the somatic cell count and the USDA allows a certain amount in each batch of milk.
To clear up the mastitis, they pump the cows full of antibiotics. Those wind up in your milk as well. If that isn't enough, they put it in plastic jugs that release toxins. The skim milk has powdered milk added to it to improve flavor and texture and flavored milks are the worst batches of milk (that's why they're flavored!!)
Organic Milk should be good, right? Well, as far as the hormones, puss and blood, and antibiotics are concerned...yes, but, there is no nutrient value in this milk. If you think this milk "Does a body good", you're wrong. The pasteurization kills all the beneficial nutrients, enzymes, and good bacteria. This not only makes the milk "dead", but makes it difficult to digest.
Homogenization is bad as well. Milk contains something called Xanthine Oxidase (XO). It's not a problem for us until the milk is homogenized. Because the fat molecules are smaller after homogenization, some of this XO can pass through the intestinal wall and into the circulatory system. XO can cause lesion in the artery walls of the heart! The body responds by "bandaging" the area with cholesterol. This can cause an obstruction. So, all in all...Organic Milk, although much better than regular milk, still has no value.
Raw milk on the other hand is great! Dr. Mercola states.."Raw milk is an outstanding source of nutrients including beneficial bacteria such as lactobacillus acidolphilus, vitamins and enzymes, and it is, in my estimation, the finest source of calcium available." I couldn't agree more! The main thing you want to look for is a clean, reputable source. Luckily, I've found one here in KC. Many IHOPers are using it. You can email cloverhillmilk@yahoo.com for more info. It's only $6.50 a gallon! Otherwise, you can go to www.realmilk.com and search your state for the closest supplier.
Before I found the raw milk source I used Hyvee's brand Organic Milk. It is not homogenized and is lightly pasteurized, not ultra pasteurized. If you don't have HYVEE you'll just have to check and see what's in your area.
Don't worry about the fat in milk. Butterfat is in there for a reason! It helps us absorb the vitamins and if the cow is grassfed it will have CLA (Conjugated linoleic acid) which actually burns fat!
Anyhow, I've been meaning to post something on milk for a while, so here we go!
Let's break it down first and then I'll go over each one. The good would be Raw Milk from a clean source..The bad would be Organic Pasteurized Milk, and the down right disgusting is regular old milk.
We'll start with regular milk. The thought of it churns my stomach, because I know what's in it. Regular milk is full of pesticides (from what the cows eat), hormones (injected into the cows to make them produce more milk faster), blood and puss (from the mastitis they get from the hormone injections), and antibiotics (given to the cows to clear up the mastitis). Sounds pretty appetizing, huh? To top it all off, they pasteurize it to kill all the gross germs and bacteria and homogenize it so it won't separate. Pasteurization is probably good in this case cause this milk is FULL of nasty germs..but once you pasteurize milk it dead and useless. It kills not only the bad stuff, but the good beneficial components to milk as well. This is why they "fortify" milk with synthetic Vit D. They're trying to make the milk somewhat nutritious. Too bad that D2 is not good for you either! It's D3 that is safe and beneficial to take.
Let's talk about the puss and blood because this was the real kicker for me. Because these poor cows are give hormones to make them produce more milk (rBGH), they tend to get many cases of mastitis. This doesn't stop them from milking the cow, though. So, blood and puss from the infection end up in the milk. They call this puss and blood the somatic cell count and the USDA allows a certain amount in each batch of milk.
To clear up the mastitis, they pump the cows full of antibiotics. Those wind up in your milk as well. If that isn't enough, they put it in plastic jugs that release toxins. The skim milk has powdered milk added to it to improve flavor and texture and flavored milks are the worst batches of milk (that's why they're flavored!!)
Organic Milk should be good, right? Well, as far as the hormones, puss and blood, and antibiotics are concerned...yes, but, there is no nutrient value in this milk. If you think this milk "Does a body good", you're wrong. The pasteurization kills all the beneficial nutrients, enzymes, and good bacteria. This not only makes the milk "dead", but makes it difficult to digest.
Homogenization is bad as well. Milk contains something called Xanthine Oxidase (XO). It's not a problem for us until the milk is homogenized. Because the fat molecules are smaller after homogenization, some of this XO can pass through the intestinal wall and into the circulatory system. XO can cause lesion in the artery walls of the heart! The body responds by "bandaging" the area with cholesterol. This can cause an obstruction. So, all in all...Organic Milk, although much better than regular milk, still has no value.
Raw milk on the other hand is great! Dr. Mercola states.."Raw milk is an outstanding source of nutrients including beneficial bacteria such as lactobacillus acidolphilus, vitamins and enzymes, and it is, in my estimation, the finest source of calcium available." I couldn't agree more! The main thing you want to look for is a clean, reputable source. Luckily, I've found one here in KC. Many IHOPers are using it. You can email cloverhillmilk@yahoo.com for more info. It's only $6.50 a gallon! Otherwise, you can go to www.realmilk.com and search your state for the closest supplier.
Before I found the raw milk source I used Hyvee's brand Organic Milk. It is not homogenized and is lightly pasteurized, not ultra pasteurized. If you don't have HYVEE you'll just have to check and see what's in your area.
Don't worry about the fat in milk. Butterfat is in there for a reason! It helps us absorb the vitamins and if the cow is grassfed it will have CLA (Conjugated linoleic acid) which actually burns fat!
Friday, July 17, 2009
My "clean that colon for real!" cleanse
This is a cleanse that I've put together and I've seen people have incredible results! It's my modified version of Sonne's cleanse.
Most cleanse kits that you buy in the health food store are good, but don't really clean your colon because you're still eating while taking pills. They might have some herbs for liver support, etc...but overall they'll just get you moving if you've been backed up. To truly clean the colon and get out the gunk that's been there for years and years, you have to fast while you cleanse. This combination uses bentonite clay, which absorbs toxins and psyllium powder, which is a fiber that sweeps the colon and absorbs toxins as well.
I use chlorella because it is excellent for detoxing metals from the system. If you've been eating tuna or salmon on a regular basis or have metal filling in your teeth.. it's highly likely that you have mercury in your system. The chlorella will help pull that out of your system along with any other metals you my have. (A side note: Cilantro is great for metal detoxification as well! Eat it or juice it!) Also, this potent green will help with your energy level!
Non-acidic vitamin C is in the cleanse for it's anti-oxidant properties and it's ability to heal tissue and build the immune system. It also has a mild laxative effect when taken in this larger quantity.
Fish oil is added for healthy fat and for focus and concentration. This will help with the "foggy brain" you get when you fast. The Laxative-3 blend is one of the best on the market. It draws water into the colon to clean it out, rather than using herbs that stimulate and cause cramping. You also won't grow dependent on it and have to take more and more like with most laxatives.
The coffee enemas help with any headaches you might feel while detoxing. They also help flush things out and help detox the liver as well.
Most people who have done this cleanse haven't dealt with extreme hunger like with other detoxes and fasts. Some have reported extra energy after the 2nd or 3rd day! Let me know if you have any questions. You can email me at deryckamanda@gmail.com. All these products can be ordered at Vitacost.com. If it specifies enough for 2 people...you can split it with someone and half the cost with them! I believe the clay is the only thing on the list that isn't enough for two. If you split the clay, it will only last about 5 or 6 days...not the full 7-10.
Here it is!!
Yerba Prima Psyllium Husk powder 12 oz (enough for 2 people)
Sonne's Detoxification #7 clay
Jarrow Formulas Yaeyama Chlorella -- 200 mg - 600 Tablets (enough for 2 people)
NSI Advan-C 500 mg 300 cap (enough for 2 people)
Carlson Super Omega-3 Fish Oils -- 100 Softgels Plus 30 Softgels Free (enough for 2 people)
Enzymatic Therapy Laxative 3 blend (enough for 2 people)
Cleanse
1 Tbsp Sonne's Clay
1 tsp Psyllium powder
1/4 cup organic juice like apple, mango, etc. No orange juice.(no sugar added)
water
mix and drink
1 and 1/2 hour later take pills
6 chlorella
2 vitamin C
1 fish oil
1 1/2 hour later drink same drink...1 1/2 hour later pills and so on until you've done each 5 times that day. Take 3 Laxative pills that night. Make sure you have a bowel movement each day. If not, up the laxative pills until you do. If you’re up for it, do an organic coffee enema each night. This will speed up the cleansing and also help with energy and headaches. Just brew 2 cups organic coffee and let cool. Try and retain the enema for a few minutes. Do all this for at least 7 days. You'll probably have enough to do around 10 days. NO FOOD
Remember to come off the fast with fruits and veggies and plenty of probiotics. I recommend drinking kombucha tea during the cleanse if you’d like and afterwards as well. Jarrow Formulas Jarro-Dophilus + FOS -- 3.4 Billion - 100 Capsules is my favorite probiotic to take. You can get it from vitacost as well!!
Most cleanse kits that you buy in the health food store are good, but don't really clean your colon because you're still eating while taking pills. They might have some herbs for liver support, etc...but overall they'll just get you moving if you've been backed up. To truly clean the colon and get out the gunk that's been there for years and years, you have to fast while you cleanse. This combination uses bentonite clay, which absorbs toxins and psyllium powder, which is a fiber that sweeps the colon and absorbs toxins as well.
I use chlorella because it is excellent for detoxing metals from the system. If you've been eating tuna or salmon on a regular basis or have metal filling in your teeth.. it's highly likely that you have mercury in your system. The chlorella will help pull that out of your system along with any other metals you my have. (A side note: Cilantro is great for metal detoxification as well! Eat it or juice it!) Also, this potent green will help with your energy level!
Non-acidic vitamin C is in the cleanse for it's anti-oxidant properties and it's ability to heal tissue and build the immune system. It also has a mild laxative effect when taken in this larger quantity.
Fish oil is added for healthy fat and for focus and concentration. This will help with the "foggy brain" you get when you fast. The Laxative-3 blend is one of the best on the market. It draws water into the colon to clean it out, rather than using herbs that stimulate and cause cramping. You also won't grow dependent on it and have to take more and more like with most laxatives.
The coffee enemas help with any headaches you might feel while detoxing. They also help flush things out and help detox the liver as well.
Most people who have done this cleanse haven't dealt with extreme hunger like with other detoxes and fasts. Some have reported extra energy after the 2nd or 3rd day! Let me know if you have any questions. You can email me at deryckamanda@gmail.com. All these products can be ordered at Vitacost.com. If it specifies enough for 2 people...you can split it with someone and half the cost with them! I believe the clay is the only thing on the list that isn't enough for two. If you split the clay, it will only last about 5 or 6 days...not the full 7-10.
Here it is!!
Yerba Prima Psyllium Husk powder 12 oz (enough for 2 people)
Sonne's Detoxification #7 clay
Jarrow Formulas Yaeyama Chlorella -- 200 mg - 600 Tablets (enough for 2 people)
NSI Advan-C 500 mg 300 cap (enough for 2 people)
Carlson Super Omega-3 Fish Oils -- 100 Softgels Plus 30 Softgels Free (enough for 2 people)
Enzymatic Therapy Laxative 3 blend (enough for 2 people)
Cleanse
1 Tbsp Sonne's Clay
1 tsp Psyllium powder
1/4 cup organic juice like apple, mango, etc. No orange juice.(no sugar added)
water
mix and drink
1 and 1/2 hour later take pills
6 chlorella
2 vitamin C
1 fish oil
1 1/2 hour later drink same drink...1 1/2 hour later pills and so on until you've done each 5 times that day. Take 3 Laxative pills that night. Make sure you have a bowel movement each day. If not, up the laxative pills until you do. If you’re up for it, do an organic coffee enema each night. This will speed up the cleansing and also help with energy and headaches. Just brew 2 cups organic coffee and let cool. Try and retain the enema for a few minutes. Do all this for at least 7 days. You'll probably have enough to do around 10 days. NO FOOD
Remember to come off the fast with fruits and veggies and plenty of probiotics. I recommend drinking kombucha tea during the cleanse if you’d like and afterwards as well. Jarrow Formulas Jarro-Dophilus + FOS -- 3.4 Billion - 100 Capsules is my favorite probiotic to take. You can get it from vitacost as well!!
Thursday, June 25, 2009
How this became my passion
This is for you, Jennifer :)
I have a kooky grandma. She's pretty hilarious actually, like a character of the Golden Girls or something. She chatters a hundred miles a minute and is very opinionated. One special memory I have of going to her house, is stealing as many of her chewable vitamin C's as I could get me hands on. They were sour and I still love sour stuff! I would eat those things till my tongue started bleeding! When she caught me, she would tell me how expensive they were and that I was only allowed to have one.
Grandma had a lot more than Vit C. I remember her cabinet being stocked with different herbs and concoctions she got from who she called "The Herb Lady". I always found it interesting, but didn't really look into it until later.
In high school and the beginning of college I was really into what I though was health food. I watched my fat and drank diet soda. It's so funny to think about because I'm the total opposite now. I love fat and avoid "diet drinks" like the plague:) I changed my major in college from sociology to kinesiology, but I found I wasn't nearly as interested in the fitness side of health as the nutrition. About that time I got tired of waiting tables and asked the Lord to guide me to a new job. I was driving past Suzanne's Natural Foods and the Lord said, "There it is, go in." I went in and applied with not an ounce of knowledge for vitamins and herbs. Suzanne hired me on the spot.
I became a sponge over the next two years. I loved everything about the health food industry! I gave up diet coke and started adding healthy fats into my diet. About a year into working there I said, "Lord, I want to do this for a living...not work as a health food store, but help people change there lives!" He said, "Grab that magazine off the shelf and look at the back page." There it was..Clayton College of Natural Health. I started my correspondence work the next month, and I'm still working on it! I finished my BA the year I got married, and I've been slowly, but surely trying to finish my Doctor of Naturopathy degree.
It's been hard to stay plugged in since I've had kids. Working in the industry kept me up to date on all the latest and greatest products and nutritional stuff. So in that respect, I really miss working at a Health Food store. I go through my phases of reading books and researching, but then I get exhausted from a week of chasing toddlers and slack off.
There are a few websites out there that are great. My favorite by far is Dr. Mercola on mercola.com. Some people say he's a quack, but he'll put out an article backed with research on something I've believed for years, but I didn't have the research behind. For example...the sun is good for you! Vit D is one of the most important things you could give your body! I don't buy his products because I know how to get similar things for cheaper, but I think he makes great stuff. Sign up for his newsletter and you'll get blown away!
A great book to invest in is Prescription for Nutritional Healing. It's like my health bible. You can look up just about any ailment and it will tell you what to take. Although I can tell the authors are vegetarian by how it's written, I agree with pretty much all their "prescriptions". They have it on amazon for less than $12! And it's a BIG BOOK!
Overall, my recommendations for people are a hodge-podge of mercola, things I've read, and insight the Lord's given me over these last 8 years or so. There is so much more I'd like to learn about like sound and light therapies, iridology, and muscle testing, but I need to finish what I've started first :) I still love all your questions and comments. It keeps this stay-at-home momma on her toes!
Hope this gives you a better idea of where I come from. Bless you all!
I have a kooky grandma. She's pretty hilarious actually, like a character of the Golden Girls or something. She chatters a hundred miles a minute and is very opinionated. One special memory I have of going to her house, is stealing as many of her chewable vitamin C's as I could get me hands on. They were sour and I still love sour stuff! I would eat those things till my tongue started bleeding! When she caught me, she would tell me how expensive they were and that I was only allowed to have one.
Grandma had a lot more than Vit C. I remember her cabinet being stocked with different herbs and concoctions she got from who she called "The Herb Lady". I always found it interesting, but didn't really look into it until later.
In high school and the beginning of college I was really into what I though was health food. I watched my fat and drank diet soda. It's so funny to think about because I'm the total opposite now. I love fat and avoid "diet drinks" like the plague:) I changed my major in college from sociology to kinesiology, but I found I wasn't nearly as interested in the fitness side of health as the nutrition. About that time I got tired of waiting tables and asked the Lord to guide me to a new job. I was driving past Suzanne's Natural Foods and the Lord said, "There it is, go in." I went in and applied with not an ounce of knowledge for vitamins and herbs. Suzanne hired me on the spot.
I became a sponge over the next two years. I loved everything about the health food industry! I gave up diet coke and started adding healthy fats into my diet. About a year into working there I said, "Lord, I want to do this for a living...not work as a health food store, but help people change there lives!" He said, "Grab that magazine off the shelf and look at the back page." There it was..Clayton College of Natural Health. I started my correspondence work the next month, and I'm still working on it! I finished my BA the year I got married, and I've been slowly, but surely trying to finish my Doctor of Naturopathy degree.
It's been hard to stay plugged in since I've had kids. Working in the industry kept me up to date on all the latest and greatest products and nutritional stuff. So in that respect, I really miss working at a Health Food store. I go through my phases of reading books and researching, but then I get exhausted from a week of chasing toddlers and slack off.
There are a few websites out there that are great. My favorite by far is Dr. Mercola on mercola.com. Some people say he's a quack, but he'll put out an article backed with research on something I've believed for years, but I didn't have the research behind. For example...the sun is good for you! Vit D is one of the most important things you could give your body! I don't buy his products because I know how to get similar things for cheaper, but I think he makes great stuff. Sign up for his newsletter and you'll get blown away!
A great book to invest in is Prescription for Nutritional Healing. It's like my health bible. You can look up just about any ailment and it will tell you what to take. Although I can tell the authors are vegetarian by how it's written, I agree with pretty much all their "prescriptions". They have it on amazon for less than $12! And it's a BIG BOOK!
Overall, my recommendations for people are a hodge-podge of mercola, things I've read, and insight the Lord's given me over these last 8 years or so. There is so much more I'd like to learn about like sound and light therapies, iridology, and muscle testing, but I need to finish what I've started first :) I still love all your questions and comments. It keeps this stay-at-home momma on her toes!
Hope this gives you a better idea of where I come from. Bless you all!
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Ask me your questions and I'll give you your answers!
I'm having a really hard time thinking of a new blog post....so I thought I'd ask you to help!! You tell me what you want to know and I'll start blogging my answers. Hope this works!!
Thursday, May 21, 2009
B12 the Super Vitamin!
Sorry for the long hiatus. I've been ultra tired with this pregnancy (I'm tired anyhow with 2 toddlers) and it has fried my brain. Anytime I tried to write something, nothing would come to mind. So, having read an inspiring article from Dr. Mercola on B12..I am revived. I've been a fan of B12 for a while and after reading this article I'm off to buy some soon. My prenatal is a one daily and in my opinion doesn't have enough...for me at least!
So...let's run down some of B12 benefits and what it does in our bodies!
* proper digestion, food absorption, iron use, carbohydrate and fat metabolism
* healthy nervous system function
* promotion of normal nerve growth and development
* helps with regulation of the formation of red blood cells
* cell formation and longevity
* proper circulation
* adrenal hormone production
* healthy immune system function
* support of female reproductive health and pregnancy
* feelings of well-being and mood regulation
* mental clarity, concentration, memory function
* physical, emotional and mental energy
Sounds like a pretty important vitamin, huh? This is why they give b12 shots to the elderly. Deficiency can cause a whole plethora of issues and can contribute to diseases like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.
But, a lot of us are deficient in B12 and have no idea. Especially vegetarians and vegans. B12 is found in meats and eggs..so if you don't eat those you're very likely not getting what you need. There are clear signs of deficiency-
1. mental fogginess
2. problems with your memory
3. mood swings
4. lack of motivation
5. feelings of apathy
6. fatigue and a lack energy
7. muscle weakness
8. tingling in your extremities
9. depression
10. pernicious anemia
11. sleep problems
Lack of B12 has also been connected to neurological and neuropsychiatric conditions, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, cancer, and birth defects.
This is what really got me back on the B12 bandwagon. It's not just a lack of folic acid that can cause spinal bifida and such, but also a lack of B12! Infertility and repeated miscarriages can also be linked to a lack of B12.
And here's a little something for all you avid coffee drinkers out there. Coffee can reduce your B12 by up to 15%! Just another reason not to drink the stuff. Some day I'll write about my thoughts on coffee. Also, chronic heartburn or GERD can affect B12's absorption.
Not all B12 is equal. Sprays are the best, sublinguals are great too. And my favorite form is methylcobalamin which is the same form that the B12 shot is. On vitacost.com you can get Pure Advantage B12 spray for less than $10. There are several sublinguals on Vitacost for under $10 as well.
Hope this was informative and helpful!
So...let's run down some of B12 benefits and what it does in our bodies!
* proper digestion, food absorption, iron use, carbohydrate and fat metabolism
* healthy nervous system function
* promotion of normal nerve growth and development
* helps with regulation of the formation of red blood cells
* cell formation and longevity
* proper circulation
* adrenal hormone production
* healthy immune system function
* support of female reproductive health and pregnancy
* feelings of well-being and mood regulation
* mental clarity, concentration, memory function
* physical, emotional and mental energy
Sounds like a pretty important vitamin, huh? This is why they give b12 shots to the elderly. Deficiency can cause a whole plethora of issues and can contribute to diseases like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.
But, a lot of us are deficient in B12 and have no idea. Especially vegetarians and vegans. B12 is found in meats and eggs..so if you don't eat those you're very likely not getting what you need. There are clear signs of deficiency-
1. mental fogginess
2. problems with your memory
3. mood swings
4. lack of motivation
5. feelings of apathy
6. fatigue and a lack energy
7. muscle weakness
8. tingling in your extremities
9. depression
10. pernicious anemia
11. sleep problems
Lack of B12 has also been connected to neurological and neuropsychiatric conditions, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, cancer, and birth defects.
This is what really got me back on the B12 bandwagon. It's not just a lack of folic acid that can cause spinal bifida and such, but also a lack of B12! Infertility and repeated miscarriages can also be linked to a lack of B12.
And here's a little something for all you avid coffee drinkers out there. Coffee can reduce your B12 by up to 15%! Just another reason not to drink the stuff. Some day I'll write about my thoughts on coffee. Also, chronic heartburn or GERD can affect B12's absorption.
Not all B12 is equal. Sprays are the best, sublinguals are great too. And my favorite form is methylcobalamin which is the same form that the B12 shot is. On vitacost.com you can get Pure Advantage B12 spray for less than $10. There are several sublinguals on Vitacost for under $10 as well.
Hope this was informative and helpful!
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
My Daily Regimen
Here are a few things that I take daily and that I recommend others take as well. There is a Gold and a Platinum version of some things on the list. The Gold is the best that I can afford. Platinum is what I would take if I had the money to purchase it. Sometimes you gotta do the best you can with what you have. That's what I try to do. Granted my regimen has changed some since I've gotten preggo. Right now I just take my Fish oil, Prenatal, Vit D, and Red Raspberry leaf.
1. A great Prenatal (of course this applies to all of you women of childbearing age!). The very best in my opinion is New Chapters Prenatal. Their whole food vitamins surpass all others. They actually ferment the vitamin so it turns into food. You don't get nauseous when you take it on an empty stomach either. I love New Chapter anything, but sadly it's super expensive. My second choice, which is what I take, is Rainbow Lights Prenatal One Daily. It's just one pill a day (New Chapters Prenatal is 6 a day I think) and it is a whole food vitamin as well. It's processed different than New Chapter, but I still think it's a good vitamin...especially for the price!
2. Fish Oil- Please refer to my blog post on fish oil for more info. I take Carlson's liquid Fish oil in orange flavor. It tastes like orange oil. They do make pills for those who don't want to swallow the oil. The platinum side of this is Krill Oil. It's packed full of antioxidants and is absorbed better than fish oil. Again, it's just really expensive!
3. Vit D- I feel like a different person since I've been taking Vit D during the winter months. Sometimes I think I have SAD (Seasonal Affected Disorder). The best cure for SAD is Vit D!! It has a huge list of other benefits other than boosting your mood. It's one of the best things to combat the Flu, helps you absorb your calcium, prevents cancer, and much much more. Think of it as the new Vit C. If you're coming down with something take a few thousand IU of Vit D! I take 2000-4000 IU a day. I'm pretty sure they're upping the RDA from 400 IU to 2000 IU if they haven't already. Don't worry about D in the summer if you're outside a lot without sunscreen, you'll get plenty!
4. Probiotics- Probiotics are a lot more than just Acidophilus. Commercials have made us belief that we'll get everything we need from a cup of sugar filled yogurt. Although it's better than none at all, a multi-strain pill/powder is better in my opinion. I'm not saying all yogurt is bad. Especially if you make your own with raw milk and don't add tons of sugar. There are several strains of bacteria that aren't in the yogurt that are in the pill form though. A lot of those strains help prevent sickness, sinus issues, and food poisoning. My probiotic is Jarrow-dophilis plus FOS. It has 6 different strains of bacteria plus FOS, which is like fertilizer for the bacteria. I don't have a platinum for probiotics. Jarrow-dophis is my favorite and it's reasonable!
5. Antioxidants- We've all heard of antioxidants. They are everywhere now! They even started putting them in 7-up! All antioxidants are not equal though. There is a scale that measures antioxidant levels called the ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity). Even an apple has antioxidants, just not much compared to blueberries for example.
I take New Chapter's Supercritical Antioxidant. New Chapter's extraction process is far superior to just taking these herbs dry. It is so strong, they have to use a gelatin cap rather than a vegan capsule, because it will literally eat through a vegan capsule. You've gotta eat with these pills too because they are so strong! This antioxidant contains Turmeric, Green Tea, Rosemary, Parsley, Ginger, Peppermint, and clove. This combo was originally sold with a label appealing to smokers because it is so potent and did a great job in studies combating the oxidization and junk from the smoke! If you want to look young inside and out, take this product. It is my favorite and is reasonably priced on Vitacost.com.
Of course I take a new thing here and there... stuff for skin, stuff for my heart (I have a rapid heartbeat thing), and sometimes even for my hormones. I take Ionic Fizz Magnesium Calcium by Pure Essence when I feel like I need some Cal/Mag or I want more regular bowel movements (Magnesium makes you go!) And you can read my other post on Coconut oil, Kombucha, Tulsi, and there will be others to come. This is just my unwavering stuff that I commit to take every day. Hope this is helpful. A lot of people ask what I take every day so here it is. I love questions so ask away!
1. A great Prenatal (of course this applies to all of you women of childbearing age!). The very best in my opinion is New Chapters Prenatal. Their whole food vitamins surpass all others. They actually ferment the vitamin so it turns into food. You don't get nauseous when you take it on an empty stomach either. I love New Chapter anything, but sadly it's super expensive. My second choice, which is what I take, is Rainbow Lights Prenatal One Daily. It's just one pill a day (New Chapters Prenatal is 6 a day I think) and it is a whole food vitamin as well. It's processed different than New Chapter, but I still think it's a good vitamin...especially for the price!
2. Fish Oil- Please refer to my blog post on fish oil for more info. I take Carlson's liquid Fish oil in orange flavor. It tastes like orange oil. They do make pills for those who don't want to swallow the oil. The platinum side of this is Krill Oil. It's packed full of antioxidants and is absorbed better than fish oil. Again, it's just really expensive!
3. Vit D- I feel like a different person since I've been taking Vit D during the winter months. Sometimes I think I have SAD (Seasonal Affected Disorder). The best cure for SAD is Vit D!! It has a huge list of other benefits other than boosting your mood. It's one of the best things to combat the Flu, helps you absorb your calcium, prevents cancer, and much much more. Think of it as the new Vit C. If you're coming down with something take a few thousand IU of Vit D! I take 2000-4000 IU a day. I'm pretty sure they're upping the RDA from 400 IU to 2000 IU if they haven't already. Don't worry about D in the summer if you're outside a lot without sunscreen, you'll get plenty!
4. Probiotics- Probiotics are a lot more than just Acidophilus. Commercials have made us belief that we'll get everything we need from a cup of sugar filled yogurt. Although it's better than none at all, a multi-strain pill/powder is better in my opinion. I'm not saying all yogurt is bad. Especially if you make your own with raw milk and don't add tons of sugar. There are several strains of bacteria that aren't in the yogurt that are in the pill form though. A lot of those strains help prevent sickness, sinus issues, and food poisoning. My probiotic is Jarrow-dophilis plus FOS. It has 6 different strains of bacteria plus FOS, which is like fertilizer for the bacteria. I don't have a platinum for probiotics. Jarrow-dophis is my favorite and it's reasonable!
5. Antioxidants- We've all heard of antioxidants. They are everywhere now! They even started putting them in 7-up! All antioxidants are not equal though. There is a scale that measures antioxidant levels called the ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity). Even an apple has antioxidants, just not much compared to blueberries for example.
I take New Chapter's Supercritical Antioxidant. New Chapter's extraction process is far superior to just taking these herbs dry. It is so strong, they have to use a gelatin cap rather than a vegan capsule, because it will literally eat through a vegan capsule. You've gotta eat with these pills too because they are so strong! This antioxidant contains Turmeric, Green Tea, Rosemary, Parsley, Ginger, Peppermint, and clove. This combo was originally sold with a label appealing to smokers because it is so potent and did a great job in studies combating the oxidization and junk from the smoke! If you want to look young inside and out, take this product. It is my favorite and is reasonably priced on Vitacost.com.
Of course I take a new thing here and there... stuff for skin, stuff for my heart (I have a rapid heartbeat thing), and sometimes even for my hormones. I take Ionic Fizz Magnesium Calcium by Pure Essence when I feel like I need some Cal/Mag or I want more regular bowel movements (Magnesium makes you go!) And you can read my other post on Coconut oil, Kombucha, Tulsi, and there will be others to come. This is just my unwavering stuff that I commit to take every day. Hope this is helpful. A lot of people ask what I take every day so here it is. I love questions so ask away!
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Stevia
Those of you who know me, know that I love my stevia!! I love sweet tea and other sweet drinks, and stevia is what I use to quench my craving. Some of you have probably already tried stevia and noticed it had a bad aftertaste. Well, I would agree with you. Most brands have a bad aftertaste, but I've found one that has little to none! The brand is KAL. Whole foods and many other health food stores carry it. If not, you should be able to find it online. It's pretty expensive (around $12-15) for a small bottle, but this bottle has several hundred servings! Kal's stevia is so potent, it just takes the smallest pinch to sweeten a whole glass! They also make a vanilla syrup for coffee and recently I've even seen that they make packets for travel.
So why is stevia better than organic sugar, agave syrup, and other natural sweeteners?? Well, it's a natural sweetener with no calories, no sugar, and no glycemic index! It won't raise your blood sugar. And unlike nutrasweet and splenda, it doesn't have any negative side affects! Stevia has some medicinal benefits too. It helps balance glucose and also helps in lowering blood pressure.
A new product called Truvia is now on the market. It is not pure stevia, but is two compounds from stevia that have been isolated from the whole plant. There isn't a lot of research on how Truvia affects the body. In my opinion, when you try and "improve" on how God made something, it's going to be inferior in some way or another. Supposedly Coca Cola is going to start using this stevia compound in a new Diet Soda. I've personally tried Truvia and I still prefer my Kal Stevia.
So why is stevia better than organic sugar, agave syrup, and other natural sweeteners?? Well, it's a natural sweetener with no calories, no sugar, and no glycemic index! It won't raise your blood sugar. And unlike nutrasweet and splenda, it doesn't have any negative side affects! Stevia has some medicinal benefits too. It helps balance glucose and also helps in lowering blood pressure.
A new product called Truvia is now on the market. It is not pure stevia, but is two compounds from stevia that have been isolated from the whole plant. There isn't a lot of research on how Truvia affects the body. In my opinion, when you try and "improve" on how God made something, it's going to be inferior in some way or another. Supposedly Coca Cola is going to start using this stevia compound in a new Diet Soda. I've personally tried Truvia and I still prefer my Kal Stevia.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
The Wonders of Coconut Oil
Although Fish oil is my favorite and in my opinion the healthiest fat, Coconut Oil comes in a close second. Coconut oil has Lauric Acid. The only other natural source of Lauric Acid is breast milk. Lauric Acid is antiviral, antibacterial, and anti fungal. Although Coconut Oil has been given a bad rap in the past because it's a saturated fat, it poses no risks for you. Not all saturated fat is bad. Fats are categorized in chains (short, medium, and long) and coconut is a medium chain fat. It is easily metabolized and has antimicrobial properties. It is the long chain fats that are so dangerous.
I can also assure you that coconut oil will not cause you to gain weight. There is such a "fat" phobia here in the US! Coconut oil can actually cause you to lose weight. They gave coconut oil to cattle years ago to try and fatten them up, but they ended up slimming down. Coconut stimulates your metabolism by increasing your thyroid's activity.
Coconut oil is one of the only oils that is safe to cook with at higher temperatures. Olive oil is wonderful for salads and such, but as it's heated the molecular structure of the oil changes causes it oxidize. This is a horrible and toxic thing to put in your body! Corn, soy, safflower, sunflower and canola oils are the same way. Plus these oils are omega 6 oils which just contribute to our Omega 6 to Omega 3 ratio imbalance that I talked about in my fish oil post.
And this is not all folks!! You can rub this stuff all over your body! It was my ultimate fave while I was pregnant. It smells wonderful, has anti-aging benefits and protects your skin from free radicals! If you love to get a tan and slather up with baby oil, switch to coconut! It will help fight the sun damage! Coconut oil aids in exfoliating the outer layer of dead skin cells, making the skin smoother. It also penetrates into the deeper layers of the skin to strengthen the underlying tissues. It's also great for wrinkles!
So if you want to lose weight, strengthen your immune system, moisturize and keep your skin from aging....Coconut oil is for you!! Eat it off the spoon, mix it in your shake, or spread it on toast. A tablespoon or two a day will suffice! I've recently been using Coconut Butter for supplementing and the oil for cooking. The coconut butter is creamier and more palatable for me.
Coconut milk has a lot of the benefits too! I love to add coconut milk to my cooking. It makes things so creamy and delish! The coconut water is now a popular product too. It's full of potassium and other electrolytes. If only we lived in the tropics and could go pick fresh coconuts!!
A couple tips.... Make sure the Coconut oil is unbleached and unrefined!! It should say Extra Virgin Cold Pressed on the label. Any health food store will carry it. Same goes for the coconut butter.
I can also assure you that coconut oil will not cause you to gain weight. There is such a "fat" phobia here in the US! Coconut oil can actually cause you to lose weight. They gave coconut oil to cattle years ago to try and fatten them up, but they ended up slimming down. Coconut stimulates your metabolism by increasing your thyroid's activity.
Coconut oil is one of the only oils that is safe to cook with at higher temperatures. Olive oil is wonderful for salads and such, but as it's heated the molecular structure of the oil changes causes it oxidize. This is a horrible and toxic thing to put in your body! Corn, soy, safflower, sunflower and canola oils are the same way. Plus these oils are omega 6 oils which just contribute to our Omega 6 to Omega 3 ratio imbalance that I talked about in my fish oil post.
And this is not all folks!! You can rub this stuff all over your body! It was my ultimate fave while I was pregnant. It smells wonderful, has anti-aging benefits and protects your skin from free radicals! If you love to get a tan and slather up with baby oil, switch to coconut! It will help fight the sun damage! Coconut oil aids in exfoliating the outer layer of dead skin cells, making the skin smoother. It also penetrates into the deeper layers of the skin to strengthen the underlying tissues. It's also great for wrinkles!
So if you want to lose weight, strengthen your immune system, moisturize and keep your skin from aging....Coconut oil is for you!! Eat it off the spoon, mix it in your shake, or spread it on toast. A tablespoon or two a day will suffice! I've recently been using Coconut Butter for supplementing and the oil for cooking. The coconut butter is creamier and more palatable for me.
Coconut milk has a lot of the benefits too! I love to add coconut milk to my cooking. It makes things so creamy and delish! The coconut water is now a popular product too. It's full of potassium and other electrolytes. If only we lived in the tropics and could go pick fresh coconuts!!
A couple tips.... Make sure the Coconut oil is unbleached and unrefined!! It should say Extra Virgin Cold Pressed on the label. Any health food store will carry it. Same goes for the coconut butter.
Monday, March 9, 2009
What to buy organic/What not to worry about
Being on a budget definitely limits what I can buy organic. Thankfully there is a list of foods that register the highest in pesticides and a list of ones that are the lowest!! This has been great because i was buying things like organic banana's and there was no need to!!
Highest ranked in pesticides:
Butter (it's because of what the cow's eat!!)
Meat (again, the feed is the culprit)
Strawberries
peaches
spinach
apples
celery
bell peppers
potato
grapes
lettuce
Green beans
cherries
pears
nectarines
Lowest on the list are:
Avocados
onions
pineapple
asparagus
broccoli
bananas
cabbage
kiwi
frozen sweet corn
mango
eggplant
frozen peas
Organic food have been found to have higher levels of antioxidants and nutrients than conventionally grown. Another thing you want to look out for is GMO (genetically modified organism) foods. Most corn (chips, popcorn, tortillas, etc) and soy products are now GMO unless they say non-GMO on the label. They've also begun to sell produce that is genetically modified. A typical number on produce is 4 digits long. For example a banana is 4011. An organic banana is 94011. But a GMO banana is 84011. Look out for 8 before the 4 digit PLU on produce!! I've yet to find one, but it doesn't hurt to look. Especially at stores like Walmart.
Hope this helps you make easier decisions on what to buy organic and what not to worry about so much!!
Highest ranked in pesticides:
Butter (it's because of what the cow's eat!!)
Meat (again, the feed is the culprit)
Strawberries
peaches
spinach
apples
celery
bell peppers
potato
grapes
lettuce
Green beans
cherries
pears
nectarines
Lowest on the list are:
Avocados
onions
pineapple
asparagus
broccoli
bananas
cabbage
kiwi
frozen sweet corn
mango
eggplant
frozen peas
Organic food have been found to have higher levels of antioxidants and nutrients than conventionally grown. Another thing you want to look out for is GMO (genetically modified organism) foods. Most corn (chips, popcorn, tortillas, etc) and soy products are now GMO unless they say non-GMO on the label. They've also begun to sell produce that is genetically modified. A typical number on produce is 4 digits long. For example a banana is 4011. An organic banana is 94011. But a GMO banana is 84011. Look out for 8 before the 4 digit PLU on produce!! I've yet to find one, but it doesn't hurt to look. Especially at stores like Walmart.
Hope this helps you make easier decisions on what to buy organic and what not to worry about so much!!
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Recipe website
I found an amazing website tonight that I'd love to share. The food looks fantastic. It is all vegetarian, and packed with nutrients. Hope you enjoy! The desserts look fab!
http://www.101cookbooks.com
http://www.101cookbooks.com
DIY Laundry Detergent
This is being posted by popular demand. I've been "trying" to use natural detergent for a while. I used a few different brands and non of them really got my clothes clean. I ended up using Purex Naturals for a while, and I'm sure it's not very "Natural" at all. Then, I came across a site that told you how to make your own Laundry Detergent! I got right on it because it saved me tons of money and didn't put chemicals all over our clothes! The recipe I use is my own version of one I found on the site. I didn't have the patience to grate a bar of soap, so I use Dr. Bronners liquid Castile soap in Lavender.
2 cups Washing Soda
2 cups Borax
1/2 cup Dr. Bronners liquid castile soap
1 quart boiling water
Basically, pour the boiling water over the Washing soda and borax and stir to dissolve. Pour in the Dr. Bronners and stir. Pour into whatever container you want. I use an old laundry soap bottle. Use 1/4 cup per load!!
You can also use vinegar as a rinse and a fabric softener. You can add it to a Downy Ball with some essential oils for extra fragrance. Don't worry, your clothes won't smell like vinegar!! I have a front loader so I add it to my fabric softener compartment.
Oxi-clean or the generic equivalent makes a good alternative to Clorox too. I put a couple scoops in with my whites. And don't bother buying the health food stores "non-chlorine bleach". It's just hydrogen peroxide! You can buy that for $1 at walmart!
I have nothing but good things to say about this detergent. My clothes get super clean and I save tons of money!! Hope you enjoy. Here's the original link! http://tipnut.com/10-homemade-laundry-soap-detergent-recipes/
Oh, and I found the Arm and hammer washing soda at Price Chopper. Sometimes it can be hard to find.
2 cups Washing Soda
2 cups Borax
1/2 cup Dr. Bronners liquid castile soap
1 quart boiling water
Basically, pour the boiling water over the Washing soda and borax and stir to dissolve. Pour in the Dr. Bronners and stir. Pour into whatever container you want. I use an old laundry soap bottle. Use 1/4 cup per load!!
You can also use vinegar as a rinse and a fabric softener. You can add it to a Downy Ball with some essential oils for extra fragrance. Don't worry, your clothes won't smell like vinegar!! I have a front loader so I add it to my fabric softener compartment.
Oxi-clean or the generic equivalent makes a good alternative to Clorox too. I put a couple scoops in with my whites. And don't bother buying the health food stores "non-chlorine bleach". It's just hydrogen peroxide! You can buy that for $1 at walmart!
I have nothing but good things to say about this detergent. My clothes get super clean and I save tons of money!! Hope you enjoy. Here's the original link! http://tipnut.com/10-homemade-laundry-soap-detergent-recipes/
Oh, and I found the Arm and hammer washing soda at Price Chopper. Sometimes it can be hard to find.
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