Traditional Diet Guidelines

Here's a great list to live by, in regards to a lifestyle of traditional healthy eating:

• Eat whole, unprocessed foods

• Eat beef, lamb, game, organ meats, poultry, and eggs from pasture-fed animals

• Eat wild (not farm-raised) fish, shellfish, and fish roe from unpolluted waters

• Eat full-fat milk products from pasture-fed cows, preferably raw and/or fermented, such as raw milk, whole yogurt, kefir, cultured butter, whole raw cheeses, and fresh and sour cream

• Use animal fats, especially butter, liberally

• Use traditional vegetable oils only- extra-virgin olive oil, expeller-expressed sesame oil, small amounts of expeller-expressed flax oil, and the tropical oils- coconut oil and palm oil

• Eat fresh fruits and vegetables- preferably organic- in salads and soups, or lightly steamed with butter

• Use whole grains, legumes, and nuts that have been prepared by soaking, sprouting, or sour leavening

• Include enzyme-enhanced lacto-fermented vegetables, fruits, beverages, and condiments in your diet on a regular basis

• Prepare homemade meat stocks from the bones of chicken, beef, lamb, and fish and use liberally in soups, stews, and sauces

• Use filtered water for cooking and drinking

• Use unrefined salt and a variety of herbs and spices for food interest and appetite stimulation

• Make your own salad dressing using raw vinegar and natural, traditional oils

• Use natural sweeteners in moderation, such as raw honey, maple syrup, date sugar, coconut sugar, dehydrated cane sugar juice (sold as Rapadura or sucanat), and stevia powder

• Avoid alcohol

• Cook only in stainless-steel, cast-iron, glass, or good-quality enamel- don’t use aluminum cookware

• Do not use a microwave oven

• Use only natural, food-based supplements

• Get plenty of sleep, exercise, and natural light

• Think positive thoughts and practice forgiveness

Cholesterol: Part II

In my own path to find the truth about fats and an overall healthy diet, I found many studies on this particular topic. When I went back to original studies, and not someone else’s interpretation of the study at hand, I was overwhelmed. There are too many for me to include here but three, of particular interest, that I will.

All of these studies involved women and high cholesterol levels. The first was published in the journal Circulation in 1992. A workshop was conducted at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, which found that high cholesterol levels in women, even as high as 1000 mg/dl, is not a risk factor for heart disease. On the contrary, they found that low cholesterol is much more dangerous, resulting in acute bouts of depression, lethargy, and memory loss (to name a few).

The second is a 1989 study published in the Lancet in Paris. They found that women with very high cholesterol levels actually lived the longest and also had the least amount of morbidity (death with disease). Women with very low levels had five times the death rate. Lastly, in 2003, the British Medical Journal published a study from the researchers at the University of British Columbia, which concluded that statin drugs (cholesterol reducers), offer no benefit in preventing heart disease for women. Some patients even complained of memory loss and depression shortly after beginning the drugs.

So what is to blame for coronary heart disease? In large part, oxidized cholesterol:

Contrary to what you’ve heard, cholesterol is not the cause of heart disease, but rather a potent antioxidant weapon against free radicals in the blood. Naturally produced in the body and naturally present in the foods we eat, it’s a repair substance that actually helps heal arterial damage.

However, heat and oxygen can damage cholesterol just as they do fats. Damaged, or “oxidized”, cholesterol can injure arterial walls and lead to a pathological plaque buildup in the arteries. Both of these changes can result in heart disease.

That’s why we recommend that you avoid foods that contain damaged cholesterol, such as powdered eggs and powdered milk (which manufacturers add to reduced-fat milk, yogurt, and other dairy products to give them body-without stating this fact on the label). Ironically, when you choose reduced-fat milks in order to avoid heart disease, you consume the very form of cholesterol that can cause heart disease (Enig, M., et al, p. 52).

Cholesterol: Part I

According to conventional medicine today, cholesterol is the villain. The common belief is that it is the primary cause in growing numbers of coronary heart disease and obesity, even in children. This is called the lipid hypothesis, which is a three-step process. Step 1 is when you eat a diet high in saturated fats and cholesterol (animal fats), resulting in high levels of cholesterol in the blood. This in turn, leads to atherosclerosis (step 2), which then clogs blood vessels, and finally, coronary heart disease (step 3).

The vast majority of the public has been led to believe, over the past five decades, that this hypothesis is fact. However, there is extensive scientific evidence that actually contradicts this information! “Fundamentally, the war on saturated fats stems from a misperception about the effects of saturated fatty acids on cholesterol levels (Enig, M. & Fallon, S., Eat Fat Lose Fat, pp. 23-24).“ Unfortunately, because of misinformation and poor evaluation of the data on this subject, recommended total blood cholesterol levels are getting lower and lower, and animal fats are looked upon with open hostility. But what is cholesterol?

Cholesterol is often referred to as a fat, but it’s actually a heavyweight alcohol with a hormone-like structure that behaves like a fat, being insoluble in water and in blood. Cholesterol, however, has a coating of a compound called a lipoprotein, which makes it water soluble so it can be carried in the blood.

Lipoproteins are described in terms of their density. Generally speaking, high-density lipoproteins (HDL) carry cholesterol away from the cells to the liver, and low-density lipoproteins (LDL) carry cholesterol to the cells. We speak of HDL as “good” cholesterol and LDL as “bad” cholesterol. However, both HDL and LDL play critical roles in body chemistry (Enig, M., et al, p. 24).

Benefits of Cholesterol:

• Your body uses cholesterol to make hormones that help you deal with stress and protect against heart disease and cancer.

• Your body needs cholesterol to make all the sex hormones, including androgen, testosterone, estrogen, progesterone, and DHEA.

• Your body uses cholesterol to make vitamin D, vital for the bones and nervous system, proper growth, mineral metabolism, muscle tone, insulin production, reproduction, and immune system function.

• The bile salts are made from cholesterol. Bile is vital for digestion and assimilation of dietary fats.

• Cholesterol is needed for proper function of serotonin receptors in the brain. Since serotonin is the body’s natural “feel-good” chemical, it’s not surprising that low cholesterol levels have been linked to aggressive and violent behavior, depression, and suicidal tendencies.

• Mother’s milk is especially rich in cholesterol and contains a special enzyme that helps the baby utilize this nutrient. Babies and children need cholesterol-rich foods throughout their growing years to ensure proper development of the brain and nervous system.

• Dietary cholesterol plays an important role in maintaining the health of the intestinal wall. This is why low-cholesterol vegetarian diets can lead to leaky gut syndrome and other intestinal disorders.

• Finally, the body uses cholesterol to repair damaged cells. This means that higher cholesterol levels are actually beneficial. Meyer Texon, M.D., a well-known pathologist at New York University Medical Center, points out that indicting fat and cholesterol for hardening the arteries is like accusing white blood cells of causing infection, rather than helping the immune system to address it.

A Gingerbread Tradition

One of my favorite traditions, from my childhood, has to be when we would create an entire gingerbread village for Christmas. Of course, we had enough people to make houses (10 children plus 2 adults)! My mom always spent extra time landscaping the village. There were vast lakes with overhanging waterfalls, frozen in time. Miniature ice skaters danced playfully on their mirrored surfaces. Bears slept in caves, pine trees with tiny red berries begged to be eaten, and new-fallen, powdered sugar snow accented the scenery.

Each of us made blueprints of the house we would build and my mom cut out the shapes and baked them, equipped with stained-glass candy windows! My mom was responsible for the church, with its steeple pointing towards the heavens and the windows depicted beautiful mosaics. It truly was a masterpiece, year after year. I don't have to0 many pictures that showcase what I'm talking about, but I've included a few. I'll try to find some more.

'Tis the Season

Inside My Medicine Cabinet

First of all, I guess I should clarify that I don't really have a medicine cabinet, rather a tackle box filled with my medical and emergency supplies. However, Inside My Medicine Tackle Box does not have quite the same ring. Moving on...

I firmly believe in being as prepared as possible for any emergency situation, especially since I have kids. I also take a holistic approach to medicine, so some of the items in my medical tackle box might sound unfamiliar, but here goes:

Tools and Miscellaneous Supplies

Large and small nail clippers
Tongue depressors
Small pen light
Cotton swabs
Thermometer
Surgical scissors
Dissection kit (from my Anatomy and Physiology classes, but it comes in handy)
Ice packs
Water bag
Matches
Emergency blanket
Disposable gloves

Bandages, etc.

Various sizes and shapes of self-adhesive bandages
Various sizes and shapes of gauze, self-adhesive and non-adhesive
Pre-wrap
Various sizes of kinesiology tape
Surgical tape
Mole skin
Adhesive strips (great for sealing wounds, instead of having to use stitches)
Skin glue

Wound care, etc.

Colloidal silver spray (as an alternative to Bactine)
Herbal salve (as an alternative to Neosporin- I have one with Pau d' Arco, Calendula, Plantain, and such)
Aloe gel (100% pure, great for burns)
Oreganol (This particular brand of oregano oil is great for serious fungal infections, spider and snake bites, etc.)
Zinc oxide cream (Weleda makes a good one, it's great for diaper rashes and various skin rashes)
Insect sting and bite gel (Sting Stop by B&T is a homeopathic formula I use for minor stings and bites)

Colds, Ears, and Eyes

Immune system formula (like System Well Ultimate Immunity by Nature's Way)
Cough drops (organic and sweetened with stevia or other natural sweetener)
Nasal spray (I have one with grapefruit seed extract, xylitol, and saline)
Olive leaf throat spray
Herbal eye drops (I use a homeopathic and herbal blend with fennel, clover, eyebright, in an isotonic solution)
Ear oil (Wally's Ear oil has garlic and other anti-fungal/healing herbs)

Tooth, Gums, and Mouth

Clove oil (helps numb tooth and gum pain)
Tooth and gum ointment (Perio Rub by Nature's Answer makes one with clove, olive leaf extract, phytoplenolin, and many other therapeutic herbs)
Cold sore gel (Herpanacine has l-lysine, astragalus, sarsaparilla root, and additional anti-oxidants)

Pain and Inflammation

Arnica gel (Boiron, for contusions and other aches)
Turmeric (reduces inflammation, increases circulation, etc)
Pain relief spray (Stop Pain with menthol, glucosamine, chondroitin, boswellia, etc)
DLPA (helps body and mind cope with pain, neurally)

Homeopathy in Your First Aid Kit

Homeopathic remedies are prescribed on the principal that 'like cures like'. They are constructed by placing a tiny amount of the remedy in a dilution. I have a kit at home, which looks like a mini chest of drawers, that is filled with some of my favorite remedies. I don't think it's any secret that my husband and I shun the conventional medical world. Personally, I choose to take our health in our own hands. Along with treating ourselves, we have been treating our children (since they were just babies) with homeopathy, as needed.

My basic philosophy is to try the simplest route first, then move on to the next phase if necessary. I have detailed the steps to healing in another article. Here is a list of my favorite remedies to have on hand, along with arnica montana (which I also wrote about in another article):

allium cepa- headache, burning, tearing eyes with runny nose, toothache, and earache. Also used for allergies, hayfever, and laryngitis.

antimonium tartaricum- respiratory conditions, rattling of mucus with little expectoration, drowsiness, chills, and spasmodic cough.

apis mellifica- swelling, pain, and inflammation associated with insect bites and stings.

arsenicum album- restlessness, exhaustion, feelings of despair, fear or worry, depression.

belladonna- high sudden fever and perspiration, hot, red skin, flushed face, spasms, scarlet fever.

bryonia alba- aching muscles aggravated by motion, stitching pains.

calcarea carbonica- chills and susceptibility to cold, night sweats, commonly used for teething.

chamomilla- teething pain with irritability.

cinchona officinalis- diarrhea with gas and bloating.

colocynthis- sharp pains, cramps, colic, abdominal pain often with nausea, vomiting or diarrhea, menstrual cramps.

drosera rotundifolia- violent coughs with exhaustion, cramps, absence of thirst, shivering, nosebleeds. Also used for growing pains, bone pain, stiffness or hoarse voice.

dulcamara- conjunctivitis, cystitis, wheezing cough. Also used for hives, ringworm, itchy crusting eruptions and large smooth warts.

eupatorium perfoliatum- stiffness and bone pain associated with the Flu.

ferrum phosporicum- low or mild fever associated with cold and Flu.

hepar sulphuris calcareum- painful and hoarse dry cough.

Arnica

As far as first aid remedies go, arnica (Arnica Montana) is one of those staples everyone should have, especially those with kids. I keep the 30 c homeopathic pellets, a well as a fast-absorbing gel, in my kit at home. Additionally, I keep trial sizes inside a small clip-on kit I take with us on hikes and camping trips.

Arnica is a yellow-orange flower, similar to the daisy in appearance. It is a native to the mountains of Europe and Siberia, though cultivated in North America. It is commonly prepared in homeopathic formulas and is available in many forms: cream, ointment, liniment, salve, tincture, and tablets.

The beauty of Arnica lies in the fact that it treats a wide variety of conditions, such as bruising, sprains, muscle aches, wound healing, rheumatic pain, inflammation and swelling, and other ailments associated with overexertion or trauma. Homeopathic formulas of arnica are also considered safe, even for small children.