changing your life

changing your life is hard to do.

believe me, i've done it, sooo many times.

everytime, i feel as if i get closer and closer to the best version of myself, and closer to knowing how to take care of myself in order to take care of others.

here are some easy tips to get a jump start on changing your life:

1. take a brisk walk, 20 minutes every day (weather permitting, of course!)
2. list, in a beautiful new notebook, 10 dreams you want to achieve.
3. surround yourself with the sacred, which means: if you don't like something you own, or it carries an upsetting energy or vibe, just get rid of it.
4. start making your gratitude lists. believe me, it works.
5. ***make your vision board!!!*** (this is my most favorite one...more about it in my upcoming post!)

health stuff: bones and joints

i have been learning so much stuff, that I barely have enough time to slow down. seriously, so much to do-- but i'm not gonna lie. this is what i wanted and i love it.

during this freezing season called winter...in NY... a lot of us are feeling and complaining about our aches and pains. if you've noticed, they lie dormant most of the year until the temperature drops very low.

i know because the surgeries and chemo damaged nerves act up like a mofo. it is not fun, but i'm also not going to let it bother me.

the inner core of our bones produces blood cells and bones also act as a storage tank for most of the calcium in our body.

joints occur where the bones come together-- i've noticed lately, my wrist and legs and elbows, even my back, are cracking much more easily, and loudly! they're usually covered by spongy cartilage. it acts as a shock absorber and should guarantee you to move around easily. wear and tear may cause this sponginess to break down.

a couple of posts ago, i wrote about magnesium...which should definitely be incorporated in all of our supplements. here's some reasons why:

1. helps with bone formation
2. stimulates calcitonin hormone (preserves bone structure by drawing calcium out of the blood and soft tissues back into the bones!)
3. lowers risk of osteoporosis
4. helps bone mineral density in postmenopausal and elderly women
5. will help you deal with stress
6. helps your cells relax
7. less inflammation and better sleep...

and so much more!

you're supposed to take between 400 to 800 mg per day! don't start at 800 though-- you don't want your poop to run away from you when you're not ready for it... lol

i hope this helps your winter stress and bone aches!!

love love love,

the globetrotting gamine

From Louise Hay's All is Well...

(pg.57)

"So what does science tell us about the mind-body connection behind negative thoughts and emotions affecting the organs of the second emotional center?

Studies have found that the rate of infertility and menstrual cycle irregularities is higher in women who have inner conflicts about being a mother and who are worried about changes in their bodies. WHile they feel social pressure to have children, motherhood may not fit in with their long term goals. The emotional stress surrounding this issue increases cortisol and decreases progesterone, which hurts successful implantation of the embryo into the uterus. It also decreases oxy tocin and increases norepinephrine and epinephrine; all of this works together to suppress sex hormones and turn off the mechanism that pulls sperm up into the uterus.

If a man is under a lot of pressure, the anxiety he experiences causes his body to produce antibodies that make sperm "impotent" as they say. "

Spirit Earth Holistics

You have to check this brand out!

http://spiritearthholistics.ca/

There are so many wonderful things they produce: hair care, body care, muscle balm, natural deodorant, soaps, bath salts...

all eco-friendly, no parabens, fair trade, First Nations authentically hand crafted!

I really can't wait for my birthday shopping spree...

I found about them at the Shinnecock Pow Wow and hope you love them!



Love love love,
globetrotting gamine

appendicitis

information from here
Appendicitis In the diagram of the colon, please locate the cecum, the appendix and the ileocecal valve. The left side of the diagram corresponds to the right side of the body.
The cecum is a small pouch where the colon begins, in the lower right section of the abdomen. Wastes from the small intestine flow into the cecum through the ileocecal valve (theoretically a one-way valve.) The appendix is a narrow tube attached to the cecum, with a channel opening into the cecum.
Waste matter can get lodged in this channel, causing the appendix to become infected and inflamed. Immediate surgery must be performed to remove the appendix before it bursts. Otherwise, the result is usually fatal.
Why does the appendix get blocked with fecal matter? Did nature make a blunder in its design?
One clue comes from the field of epidemiology. Appendicitis is a disease of westernized countries, virtually unknown in the developing world.^19,31     The reason is that the cecum was designed to be squeezed empty by the right thigh, in the squatting position. On a sitting toilet, it is physically impossible to compress the cecum.
Instead, one pushes downwards with the diaphragm, while holding one's breath. This maneuver inflates and pressurizes the cecum. It is analogous to squeezing a tube of toothpaste in the middle and causing the bottom of the tube to inflate. The pressure can easily force wastes into the appendix, with disastrous consequences.
The back-pressure can also overwhelm the ileocecal valve, whose purpose is to protect the small intestine from fecal contamination. Barium enema exams and intestinal surgeries routinely show the leakage of wastes into the small intestine.Crohn's Disease develops in the area soiled by this toxic backwash.
Despite all the straining, the cecum never gets evacuated. Residual wastes adhere to the colon wall, increasing the risk of cancer and inflammation (including appendicitis.)
By contrast, in the squatting posture, the right thigh squeezes the cecum from its base. Its contents are thoroughly expelled into the ascending colon, where peristalsis carries them away. There is no need to hold one's breath or push downwards, since the posture generates the pressure automatically.
The force is all directed upwards, so the appendix stays clean and the ileocecal valve stays closed. These organs were not "poorly designed" – as is currently taught in medical schools. Like the rest of the colon, they were designed with squatting in mind.

---

Historical Background of Appendicitis Most people assume that appendicitis has always been with us. But in fact, it emerged quite recently, coinciding with the introduction of sitting toilets toward the end of the 19th century.²² According to the Medical Journal of Australia,

The epidemiology of appendicitis poses many unanswered questions. Almost unknown before the 18th century, there was a striking increase in its prevalence from the end of the 19th century, with features suggesting it is a side effect of modern Western life.³⁰

In 1886, Reginald Heber Fitz, a Harvard Professor of Pathological Anatomy, became the first doctor to recognize and name the disease. He was also the first one to propose treating it by removing the appendix.¹⁸
The conservative British medical establishment resisted the novel appendectomy procedure until after the turn of the century, when it was used to save the new king's life. In 1901, the Prince of Wales, Albert Edward, underwent an emergency appendectomy, just two weeks before his scheduled coronation as King Edward VII. His successful recovery finally convinced British surgeons that this operation was the only way to save the victims of this "mysterious" new disease.²⁰
Currently, 7% of the U.S. population will contract appendicitis at some point in their lifetime (according to www.emedicine.com). The figure would be even higher, except that 40,000 "incidental appendectomies" are performed each year (according to Harper's Index, Feb, 2002.) "Incidental" means there was nothing wrong with the appendix, but the surgeon happened to be operating on another organ nearby – in most cases performing a hysterectomy.
Appendicitis is the most common reason for a child to need emergency abdominal surgery. Young people between the ages of 11 and 20 are most often affected (according to www.KidsHealth.org).
Modern medicine recognizes that appendicitis is primarily a disease of the Western World.³¹    They attribute this to the (allegedly) greater amount of fiber in the diet of the Third World. However, the fiber theory has never been substantiated, as evidenced by this quote from www.KidsHealth.org:

There are no medically proven ways to prevent appendicitis. Although appendicitis is rare in countries where people eat a high-fiber diet, experts have not yet shown that a high-fiber diet definitely prevents appendicitis.

Many residents of the developing world, not wanting to appear "backward", feel obliged to adopt western toilets. This trend is causing health problems that were previously unknown among squatting populations. Appendicitis is one example, as reported by webhealthcentre.com, a health care portal based in India:

The Indian type of toilet is more conducive to complete evacuation than the Western toilet. With the western style closets becoming popular in India, there is a risk of increased incidence of appendicitis.

Unfortunately, western doctors have never made the connection between toilet posture and appendicitis. Their understanding of this disease has advanced little in the century since Dr. Frederick Treves performed his famous appendectomy (mentioned above) on the Prince of Wales.
Ironically, Sir Frederick (knighted for saving the king's life) lost his own daughter to appendicitis.²⁷   Despite being highly skilled at surgery, he had no idea what causes the disease, or how to prevent it.
Now his successors have a chance to redeem their profession. By informing their patients (and their children) about the health hazards of the modern toilet, they can prevent a great deal of needless suffering.

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for the love of broccoli

"Broccoli (p.43)

As a cruciferous vegetable, the protective effects  against heart disease and cancer have been well documented. In traditional Oriental medicine, broccoli is especially good for the lungs and large intestine.

Broccoli Reduces Cancer Risk:
In a review of seven cohort studies and 87 case-control studies around the world, researchers in the Netherlands reported that 67% of the studies found that the consumption of broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower lowered the risk of lung cancer, stomach cancer, colon cancer and rectal cancer.

Anticancer Nutrient Identified:
Scientists at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine reported that they had identified the ingredient  in broccoli that worked as a powerful anticancer compound in laboratory experiments. The chemical, sulforaphane, boosts the production of an important enzyme known to neutralize carcinogens before the trigger tumor growth. In addition to broccoli, sulforaphane is found in bok choy, ginger, scallions, and other vegetables.
In subsequent experiments, the Johns Hopkins scientists reported that broccoli inhibited induced breast cancer in animal tests. They particularly recommended saga broccoli, grown organically in Maine for the experiments."

Brocc it up!!

love me,
the globetrotting gamine

the correct use of herbs, part 4

(i love that)

on with the conclusion of the herb summary in Jude's Herbal Home Remedies!

Rose Hips
Rosemary
Sage
Sassafras
Sheep Sorrel
Shepherd's Purse
Skullcap
Slippery Elm
Solomon's Seal
Spearmint
Sweet Woodruff
Tag Adler

the juice chronicles

this was one of my 

favorite juices to create.

i had no idea it would come out

teenage mutant ninja GREEN

but i should have figured!!

-golden beet

-melon

-lemon

-green apples

- ginger

-celery

and it was DELISH!!

what yummy juice did you create today?

love me,

the globetrotting gamine

the correct use of herbs, part 2

part to from Jude's Herbal Home Remedies!

Calendula

• use flowers
• tea is used internally and externally 
• has been used to stop bleeding, is antibiotic and heals wounds
• treats chest ailments and craps, flu, stomach problems and to induce swelling to bring down fever

Catnip

• leaves and flowering tops
• treat colic or flatulence

Celery

• tea made from celery eases the tummy
• used as a sedative
• always use fresh celery

Chamomile

• flowers and the upper hald of the plant are used
• calmative and sedative
• treats headaches, cramps and other gastrointestinal disorders

Chicory

• flowers
• used as sedative and general tonic
• used as a diuretic

Clary Sage

• leaves and seeds are used
• used for eye disorders, clears sediments from liver and kidneys
• good for nausea and colic treatment

Cleavers

• the entire herb
• strong diuretic, used to dissolve deposits in the kidneys

Coltsfoot

• use the leaves
• this herb binds to toxins in the system and helps to eliminate them, great expectorant

Corn Silk

• great diuretic, used to clean the urinary system and as a tonic for the whole system

Dandelion

• use roots and leaves
• use as a general tonic, as well as for liver and bladder complaints

Elder

• use leaves, fruits and flowers
• elder flower tea is an excellent diuretic, use for feverish colds

Eyebright

• use seeds if you have a tendency toward kidney stones
• use in a rinse for eyes

Fennel

• use all parts
• aids digestion and helps calm nervous stomach, increases milk production

Fenugreek

• use seeds
• soothes lining of stomachs and intestines

Ginseng

• use the root
• considered a near cure-all.
• used as a tonic for all systems of the body and as an aphrodisiac

Goldenseal

• use the root
• helps in ailments of both the stomach and liver

Horehound

• use flowering tops and leaves
• use for bronchial and stomach disorders, good for sore throats and colds, an expectorant

Hollyhock

• use roots and leaves
• leaves can be used uncookes in salads or cooked as a side dish
• an emollient
• good to use during colds, or if prone to kidney stones

Irish Moss

• use dried plant
• bronchial disorders, kidney problems
• use in cough syrups

Kelp

• contains iodine
• use to purify blood as well as for goiters

Kidney Beans

• tea made from the beans and pods is considered to be of a diuretic nature
• helps to clean kidneys and ureters of gravel

Lavender

• use the flowers for a pleasant, sedative tea
• use for releasing tension and headaches

Lemon Balm

• use the leaves
• make a tea with a sedative action
• use to induce sweating to reduce fevers
• regulates menstruation

what i want: the welles step

Seven Advantages of Squatting

1. Makes elimination faster, easier and more complete. This helps prevent "fecal stagnation," a prime factor in colon cancer, appendicitis andinflammatory bowel disease.
2. Protects the nerves that control the prostate, bladder and uterus from becoming stretched and damaged.
3. Securely seals the ileocecal valve, between the colon and the small intestine. In the conventional sitting position, this valve is unsupported and often leaks during evacuation, contaminating the small intestine.
4. Relaxes the puborectalis muscle which normally chokes the rectum in order to maintain continence.
5. Uses the thighs to support the colon and prevent straining. Chronic straining on the toilet can cause hernias, diverticulosis, and pelvic organ prolapse.
6. A highly effective, non-invasive treatment for hemorrhoids, as shown by published clinical research.
7. For pregnant women, squatting avoids pressure on the uterus when using the toilet. Daily squatting helps prepare one for a more natural delivery.

navel expo

what a great time my friends and i had at the navel expo!
it's really sparked a bigger passion in me on my pursuit of everything health and wellness.

i have so much to tell you about it...

like how i sipped bentonite clay (not a good idea! just gulp it down!)

like how i met interesting people...

how many more items are on my to-buy list is crazy!!
(like a vitamix, please!!!!)

hope to see you there next year!

love me,
the globetrotting gamine

to detox!

what would detoxify your liver and why!

• taurine: "

Taurine is the amino acid of anxiety control and stress management because it will lower cortisol and helps people be less anxious. The benefits of taurine don’t stop there. It also improves athletic performance and reaction time, making it useful for athletes.

• It supports insulin health, can prevent diabetes, and elevates energy production. Taurine is a potent brain nutrient, lowers blood pressure, protects the heart, helps with detoxification, and fights inflammation. Sounds like we could all use a little extra!
  It’s best to lay the building blocks for success before you start taking taurine because this amino acid is an excellent addition to a protein-rich diet and supplement plan that ensures you aren’t deficient in any of the essential nutrients. For example, be sure your omega-3 to -6 fat ratio is balanced because this will help taurine work its magic.
  
  This article will focus on the ten best benefits of taurine for a lean body composition and excellent health. Taurine can give you that extra boost by improving your mood, motivation, and helping you feel all around better.
  
  1)    Take Taurine For Less Stress
  Stress will kill you. And make you fat and unhappy. Even the most serene individuals often say they’d like to have less stress in their lives. Taurine can help us get there.
  
  Taurine is an amino acid that calms the nervous system by facilitating the production of the neurotransmitter GABA, which stands for gamma-aminobutyric acid. By helping to raise GABA levels, taurine will allow your body to manage anxiety so that your thoughts don’t go spiraling out of control and you don’t get the associated cortisol and adrenaline spikes that go with anxiety and stress.
  
  Research shows that taurine supplementation can lower anxiety in stress-producing situations, thereby allowing for greater work output and performance. One study in Advances in Experimental Medicines and Biology found that giving rats a taurine treatment prior to an anxiety-inducing exercise maze resulted in less anxious behavior and better speed through the maze a rat group that were given a placebo.
  
  A second study in Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior found similar results in that taurine lowered anxiety and increased performance on a test that combined cognitive and physical elements. In this study, also performed on rats, found that those that received the taurine demonstrated greater social interaction, which as an indicator or less stress and anxiety.
  
   If you have low taurine, your nervous system will be over-responsive to stress. A chronically excited nervous system means persistently high cortisol, and naturally, fat gain. If you have any experience with fat loss, you know that the body is most agreeable about giving up its fat stores when it is calm and not stressed or overly stimulated. The simple stress-lowering effect of supplementing with taurine will help you improve body composition and lose weight.
  
  2)    Eat Meat For Best Results With Taurine
  Taurine is an organic acid that is derived from the amino acid cysteine. There is some debate as to whether taurine should be classified as an amino acid because it does not contain a carboxyl group in its molecular structure. In fact, taurine behaves more like a neurotransmitter because of how it calms the nervous system, and the key point is that getting an adequate amount will make you healthier.
  
  Taurine can be synthesized in the pancreas if sufficient cysteine is available. For best results you should get taurine in the diet and take a supplement. Resistance trainees and athletes will deplete this nutrient since it is involved in fat use for energy production and stress management. For example, baseball pitchers and track throwers tend to be deficient in taurine and magnesium due to all the high velocity throws they perform.
  
  Foods that are natural sources of taurine are meat and animal products such as seafood, meat, milk, and eggs. Vegetarians and vegans are known to be chronically deficient in taurine. One of the worst things about nutrient deficiencies associated with the vegan diet is that their lack of taurine will them very anxious. With the added stress and over-stimulated nervous system that goes with taurine deficiency, vegans are in for a rough time.
  
  A supplement will help non meat eaters, but including organic grass-fed and wild meats and animal products is suggested because this will also provide a nice dose of DHA and EPA omega-3s. Plus, you’ll get extra carnitine (essential for fat burning and works synergistically with taurine),  creatine (great for body composition and performance), and conjugated linoleic acid (helps prevent prostate and breast cancer).
  
  Doses of up to six grams a day of taurine have proven to be very effective in protecting heart function. Smaller doses are typically used to improve brain function and prevent epilepsy.  Two to three grams a day is a safe place to start, and you can increase intake up to six grams. There’s no evidence of negative health effects from supplementing with taurine.
  
  3)    Take Taurine to Burn Fat
  Taurine is stored in the gallbladder in bile, and it helps the body digest food, particularly fats. Taurine helps the body metabolize fat, making it essential for energy production and a lean physique. But, it’s also necessary for many aspects of health because “good” fats play a role in the health of every cell in the body.
  
  The value of taking taurine to support fat burning and lose weight is apparent with a recent study in the Journal of Biomedical Science that compared the anti-obesity effects of taurine and lotus leaf extract in rats who were fed a high-fat diet. Researchers measured triglycerides, cholesterol, and body weight gain in rats after six weeks in which they were fed either a normal diet, a high fat diet, a high fat diet with lotus leaf (a plant that is known to have fat burning benefits), or a high fat diet with lotus leaf and taurine.
  
  The group what received the taurine in addition to the lotus leaf showed the most favorable cholesterol levels and blood lipid profiles of all groups. The taurine and lotus leaf were most effective at minimizing fat gain, especially visceral belly fat fain. The group that received just lotus leaf also gained less fat than the rats that only received the high-fat diet and no supplement, but researchers point to the added taurine as the best way to facilitate fat metabolism in the body.
  
  The nutrient carnitine is responsible for the transport of fats into the cells to be used for energy in the body. By raising the level of muscle carnitine, you support the fat burning process, but you also must have adequate taurine for this to happen.  Taurine plays a role in the initial phase of fat metabolism, while carnitine takes the fat into the cell to let your body burn it up!
  
  4)    Take Taurine for Insulin Health
  Taurine is a well known supplement for preventing diabetes and improving insulin sensitivity. Taurine makes the cells more sensitive to insulin binding and glucose uptake by multiple mechanisms. First, taurine has what is called an “anorexigenic” effect on the hypothalamus gland, meaning that it minimizes feelings of hunger by improving energy production and metabolism.  A recent study in the journal Amino Acids found that the anorexigenic action of taurine enhances the role of insulin in the control of food intake and helps stall body fat gain.
  
  Taurine doesn’t just improve an already functioning metabolism. It has an antioxidant effect and has been found to lower chronic inflammation in the hypothalamus that results in greater insulin production by the pancreas, which in turn produces higher insulin levels and obesity. A related means by which taurine improves metabolism is by neutralizing free radicals in pancreatic cells called “beta cells.” Healthy beta cells are essential for gradual and modulated insulin secretion, and they help with glucose injection into cells for energy use.
  
  A more concrete action of taurine on body composition is its ability to improve resting energy expenditure. Another new study in Amino Acids  found that increasing taurine levels in rats increased fat burning during rest by activating two pathways (taurine improved them by as much as 70 percent) that play a role in insulin sensitivity and glucose disposal.
  
  The benefits go on with data showing that taurine can protect cardiac tissue from oxidative stress, in part because of its antioxidant effect and partly because taurine increases the enzyme that sends the message to allow glucose to enter the cell for energy use. As mentioned above in number 1, taurine supplementation has been shown to activate the GABA hormonal system, which has the ability to protect brain tissue from damage due to a stroke.  Another Amino Acids study showed that taurine helped minimize oxidative stress and protect the brain via GABA’s inhibitory action in calming the nervous system.
  
  5)    Take Taurine To Raise Testosterone
  Taurine has been proven to raise testosterone production in males, while not raising the concentration of estradiol, an estrogenic hormone. A study in Amino Acids measured the effect of taurine on testosterone and related sex hormones in rats and in test tubes. In both studies, results showed that taurine stimulated testosterone production, but only if the amount of taurine administered, which was administered in drinking water, was below 400 microgram/ml—above 400 micrograms/ml testosterone production was blunted.
  
  The ideal dose in rats appears to be 10 microgram/ml of taurine.  In the test tube study, when taurine was not administered, testosterone production went down, indicating that for normal testosterone production,  taurine is necessary. A suggested dose based on studies ranges from 3 to 5 grams of taurine a day for an 85 kg man.
  
  More support for taking taurine for reproductive health is a study that showed taurine supplementation can prevent testicular oxidative stress and cell death, which leads to decreased sperm production, testicular toxicity, and reduced testicular weights. In this study, researchers treated rats with a toxin that is known to cause oxidative stress and abnormalities in the testes. Taurine treatment prevented nearly all of the abnormalities that were caused by the toxin and helped maintain normal reproductive health in the rats. The protective mechanism appears to be taurine's antioxidant effect in the body, and as shown in the first study mentioned above, it may play an intrinsic role in male testosterone production.
  
  Obviously, having adequate testosterone levels is essential for the ideal male body composition because testosterone improves lean mass development and fights fat gain. Plus, it’s well known low testosterone in men is linked with poor health, particularly bad metabolism and the development of diabetes. Taurine is one nutrient among many that should be attended to for adequate reproductive health in both men and women (don’t worry ladies, taking taurine won’t raise testosterone production or make you big, but the research shows it can support metabolism and lower stress levels in women as well as men). Along with taurine, carnitine, omega-3 fatty acids, magnesium, zinc, and vitamin D are all essential for health and body composition.
  
  6)    Take Taurine and Fight Oxidative Stress
  Taurine is an awesome, if lesser known, antioxidant. Its ability to abolish free radicals and keep cells alive and healthy is partly due to how it helps maintain homeostasis and balance in the body. Taurine can aid the detoxification process, while also minimizing the stress and insulin response.
  
  The antioxidant action of taurine in the body makes it a treatment for various types of inflammation, including those already mentioned  (from insulin resistance and high triglycerides, from exposure to toxins, from high cortisol levels), but it’s also been shown to counter the progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease that is due to a disordered metabolism. Research shows taurine reduces fat gain in the liver and minimizes liver inflammation and injury.
  
  The integrated benefits of omega-3s and taurine in the body were demonstrated in a new study published in theInternational Journal of Molecular Medicine that measured the inflammatory status  of fat tissue in response to a diet that included supplemental sardine protein. Sardines contain some of the highest concentrations of EPA and DHA omega-3s of all fish, making them an excellent dietary addition, and they also contain taurine and vitamin E, another potent antioxidant.
  
  This study found that giving rats sardine protein along with a diet that was high in fructose (a carbohydrate source that is known to negatively alter metabolism) minimized fat gain, improved glucose uptake into cells, lowered oxidative stress markers, and improved inflammatory status. This research calls our attention to the need for a combined integrative approach when using taurine—adequate omega-3 fats are helpful, and other antioxidants and essential nutrients make everything work better in the body.
  
  7)    Take Taurine To Perform Better and Recover Faster From Training
  Taurine supplementation will increase force production, improve endurance and performance in both aerobic and anaerobic system sports, and speed recovery from intense training. One recent study showed that intense exercise significantly lowers muscle taurine levels, but that administering taurine during the exercise session counters the loss of taurine and helps improve work capacity.
  
  In this study, rats that were given taurine during a run to exhaustion test had better physical endurance than those that didn’t receive the supplement. Plus, following the exercise tests, urinary loss of creatine and other biomarkers were reduced. This means that taurine administration improved recovery and reduced the effects of muscle fatigue making it a useful performance enhancer.
  
  One reason taurine improves performance and time to exhaustion is its ability to improve fat burning. One study showed taurine ingestion prior to a prolonged cycling time trial resulted in better performance and a 16 percent increase in total fat oxidation compared to a control group.  Taurine also helps the fast-twitch muscles produce peak force by supporting the contractile properties and countering fatigue. It’s likely a combination of better energy production and the ability of taurine to maintain homeostasis in the body that play a role in increasing force in type 2 muscle fibers.
  
  The antioxidant effect of taurine will also improve recovery from intense training. A study in the journal Cell Biochemistry and Function found that giving rats taurine for 15 days prior to an intense downhill run that involved repeated eccentric muscle actions significantly lowered evidence of muscle damage and oxidative stress. Researchers suggest that raising muscle taurine levels can improve recovery by minimizing the buildup of byproducts that cause muscle fatigue and damage during very intense training.
  
  8)    Raise Muscle Taurine Levels For Cardiovascular Health 
  Taurine will protect the heart and lower blood pressure, and raising muscular levels has been shown to improve the exercise capacity of patients with heart failure. A recent study in the Journal of Cardiology compared the effects of 500 mg of taurine three times a day with a placebo on patients with left ventricular heart failure. The patients who received the taurine significantly increased exercise distance, and they improved their functional mobility over a two-week period, while the placebo group demonstrated no changes. Researchers suggest taurine improves calcium homeostasis, which aids cardiovascular function, and has “an overall beneficial effect on the macrovascular system.”
  
  The cardiovascular benefits of taurine are abundant and convincing. Multiple studies have shown taurine will lower blood pressure (it is particularly effective at preventing hypertension that is linked to insulin resistance and poor metabolic health), and a recent study in the Journal of Biomedical Science found that taurine and magnesium levels along with body mass index and total cholesterol were most directly related to the lowest cardiovascular risk in a population of healthy Japanese.  Researchers suggest the combination of elevated taurine and magnesium stores support heart health in this population, and that the Japanese have higher levels of these nutrients due to the presence of fish in the diet.
  
  One research group writes that taking taurine to prevent heart disease “may be of great public importance,” while another suggests that it is essential for “good health and longevity,” and that individuals should attend to both their magnesium and taurine levels for best results.   
  
  9)    Sleep Better With Magnesium and Taurine
  Take taurine for better sleep, but make sure you are getting a magnesium supplement that your body can absorb as well. Together these nutrients are the answer to abolish stress, calm the nervous system, and help you sleep better. You’ll also have a better overall mood. People who are deficient in either magnesium or taurine are at greater risk for depression and poor motivation.
  
  Magnesium is well known to calm the nervous system, while countering fatigue. Similarly, taurine raises GABA levels, calming the nervous system and lowering anxiety and stress hormones that hinder rest.
  
  10)    Take Taurine For Better Brain Function
  Take taurine for better brain function. Taurine can delay the cognitive decline that comes with aging.  It can improve learning and retention in older individuals and will aid the development of cognitive function in children.
  
  Interestingly, research shows taurine will improve reaction time and minimize sleepiness in sleep-deprived individuals when paired with caffeine. A new study in the British Journal of Surgery tested the  effects of a placebo, caffeine, or caffeine with taurine on surgery performance in sleep-deprived novice surgeons. The caffeine plus taurine reversed the negative effects of reaction time due to fatigue and minimized feelings of sleepiness, although not to baseline levels.
  
  Researchers suggest that the combination is ideal because caffeine provides the stimulus, while taurine has a calming affect that functions as an anti-fatiguer. Green tea paired with taurine and carnitine can be very effective when in a sleep-deprived state because this mixture helps to manage anxiety and improve energy and focus."

the above was taken from the website: http://www.poliquingroup.com/ArticlesMultimedia/Articles/Article/782/Ten_Benefits_of_Taurine.aspx

• dandelion: Digestive Aid – Dandelion acts as a mild laxative that promotes digestion, stimulates appetite, and balances the natural and beneficial bacteria in the intestines. Kidney – This weed-like superfood is a diuretic that helps the kidneys clear out waste, salt, and excess water. This inhibits microbial growth in the urinary system too. Liver – Dandelion has been shown to improve liver function by removing toxins and reestablishing hydration and electrolyte balance. Antioxidants – Every part of the dandelion plant is rich in antioxidants that prevent free-radical damage to cells and DNA, slowing down the aging process in our cells. Cancer – Dandelion acts against cancer to slow its growth and prevent its spread. The leaves are especially rich in the antioxidants and phytonutrients that combat cancer. Diabetes – Recent animal studies show promise that dandelion helps regulate blood sugar and insulin levels. High Blood Pressure – As a diuretic dandelion increases urination which then lowers blood pressure. The fiber and potassium in dandelion also regulate blood pressure. Cholesterol – Animal studies have shown that dandelion lowers and control cholesterol levels. Gallbladder – Dandelion increases bile production and reduces inflammation to help with gallbladder problems and blockages. Inflammation – Dandelion contains essential fatty acids and phytonutrients that reduce inflammation throughout the body. This can relieve pain and swelling. Immune System – Animal studies also show that dandelion boosts immune function and fights off microbes and fungi. Dandelion leaves, flowers, and roots are all edible. They have a slightly bitter flavor that can be minimized by harvesting them in the fall or spring. Cooking cuts the bitter flavor as well though the leaves make a great addition to raw salads. Dandelion is generally considered safe in food and medicinal levels. Some people may have allergic reactions to dandelion. Anyone with an allergy to ragweed, chrysanthemum, marigold, chamomile, yarrow, or daisy should avoid dandelion and anyone pregnant, nursing, or taking prescription drugs should talk to a health care professional before adding something new to their diet. - "
• See more at: http://www.sunwarrior.com/news/11-health-benefits-of-dandelion-and-dandelion-root/#sthash.Ux4W4zJH.dpuf 

• milk thistle: "Milk thistle was approved in 1986 as a treatment for liver disease and it is widely used to treat alcoholic hepatitis, alcoholic fatty liver, cirrhosis, liver poisening and viral hepatitis. It has also been shown to protect the liver against medications such as acetaminophen, a non-aspirin pain reliever.
  The active ingredient, or liver-protecting compound in milk thistle is known as silymarin. This substance, which actually consists of a group of compounds called flavonolignands, helps repair liver cells damaged by alcohol and other toxic substances by stimulating protein synthesis. By changing the outside layer of liver cells, it also prevents certain toxins from getting inside. Silymarin also seems to encourage liver cell growth. It can reduce inflammation (important for people with liver inflammation or hepatitis), and has potent antioxidant effects. Antioxidants are thought to protect body cells from damage caused by a chemical process called oxidation. Our Milk Thistle is not standardized to an exact amount (as it is made from pure dried natural herbs. Milk Thistle naturally contains about 70 - 80% Silymarin (and many other constituents thought to work in harmony).
  This herb benefits adrenal disorders and inflammatory bowel syndrome, and is used to treat psoriasis (increases bile flow).
  Milk thistle has some estrogen-like effects that may stimulate the flow of breast milk in women who are breast-feeding infants. It may also be used to start late menstrual periods. Milk thistle's estrogen-like effect may also have some usefulness for men with prostate cancer."   

The above information about milk thistle was taken from http://www.herbwisdom.com/herb-milk-thistle.html

• globe artichoke : Globe Artichoke for Healthy Liver and Gall bladder Function
  "The artichoke plant is a member of the thistle family, and like the popular milk thistle, it greatly benefits the liver, protecting against toxins and infection. A Mediterranean homemade recipe uses fresh artichoke leaf juice mixed with wine or water as a liver tonic. Globe Artichoke may protect and regenerate the Liver – similar to Milk Thistle (due to Cynarin)
  Globe Artichoke increases the contractive power of the Bile Duct, thereby improving the flow of Bile from the Liver to the Gallbladder via the Duct"

The above information is from http://thenaturalresponse.org/globe-artichoke-loves-your-liver-loves-your-pancreas-and-so-much-more/

WHEW!

That's a lot of information!

You GOTTA love your liver <3

LOVE,

The Globetrotting Gamine

the juice chronicles

taken, created, drank by me!

these are on my instagram-- please click the link to the top right of the page. you're more than welcome to follow me!

love me,
the globetrotting gamine

ear candling, eew.

(top is left ear, bottom photo is right ear)

i can' tell you how frustrating it was
not being able to go to a doctor
and have the wax removed from my ears.

my doctors and oncologists didn't allow me...
then after my stem cell transplant,
i FINALLY went to the ear nose and throat doctor.

he didn't want to remove the wax from my ears, either!

so i thought, what the hell?
and complained to one of my dearest friends.

she recommended ear candling,
that she had done it
and it was not a big deal:
no pain, just some crackling.
the heat draws the wax out!!

so here's the deal:

• you put a hollowed out "candle" in your ear while your laying your head on one side on a flat surface.
• the person helping you light (matches, people) the top end of the "candle".
• there's a bowl of water waiting nearby.
• when it looks like the ash from the "candle" is about to fall, the person snips off the end with a scissor, into the bowl.
• the person helping you will tell you when your "candle" is close to the bottom, and inform you when it's done.

all the snap crackle and pop is worth it- it doesn't hurt at all!

so sorry to be gross, but that's what had come out of my ears (after 2 years of buildup...pretty damn yucky)

you are to repeat ear candling every 6 months :)

benefits of ear candling:

• include relieving tinnitus (ringing in the ears),
•  helping to relieve sinus pain and pressure, 
• assisting with headaches, 
• relieving severely itchy ears (often caused by yeast, mold or dairy allergies)
• improved lymphatic fluid flow through the body, 
• improved color perception
• Acts as a catalyst to clear nerve endings & promote healing

i've read different things, like the "powers that be" or the FDA, deem this illegal. 

um, why?

 

how can it be dangerous if someone is watching you while the candle is lit in your ear?

isn't it more dangerous to drink? to cross a busy street? to take prescription medicine?

how can something that's been around since biblical times be dangerous? crazy people.

maybe the "benefits" work! duh.

gotta love the people that say "wax will drip into your ears" (it doesn't-- it's not that kind of candle.), it won't work (HELLO, SEE ABOVE PHOTOS!).

maybe not everything is quackery. 

this DEFINITELY isn't!!

love me,

the globetrotting gamine

enzymes again.

The article below is from here

What are Enzymes and Why are they important?

According to Enzymes: The Fountain of Life, by D.A. Lopez. They are a measure of our life and immunity. “The immune system depends heavily on enzymes to conduct its protective functions. When enzyme activity stops, life stops and the person or organism dies!” In other words, enzymes are our supply of the vital energy of life.

For every chemical reaction that occurs in the body, enzymes provide the stimulus. 

No mineral, vitamin or hormone can do any work without enzymes. A simple way to explain what enzymes do is this: Enzymes are the Managers of a company and vitamins and minerals are workers. The Manager tells the workers what and how to do, while the workers job is to carry out the job. Without the Manager (enzymes) absolutely no work gets done!

Important are also co-enzymes, which help some enzymes function (not all enzymes have co-enzymes). Various vitamins and minerals also act as co-enzymes. Magnesium is an example. It activates many functions and has lots of responsibilities. If it's not available to the enzyme, the enzyme can't work.

There is no breathing, no digestion, no growth, no blood coagulation, no sense peception, and no reproduction without enzymes. Each enzyme has a very specific job and one job only. Enzymes are made by the body and are involved in all body processes, including breathing, thinking, talking, moving and immune function. Our body manufactures digestive enzymes, which are mainly manufactured by the pancreas but also in the mouth, stomach and small intestine. Enzymes are very critical for digesting food properly.

Many nutritional studies have shown that a regular diet of cooked, microwaved or canned foods causes the development of chronic degenerative diseases and premature aging followed by early death. How is this possible? Cooking food destroys the important plant enzymes. They are more heat-sensitive than vitamins and are the first to be destroyed during cooking. They are destroyed by being heated above 118 degrees Fahrenheit and are deactivated or destroyed by pasteurizing, canning, and microwaving. 

What happens to our Enzyme-Stores?

Your body makes enzymes. When you were young, you had an abundant supply of enzymes. You felt on top of the world. Your energy level seemed never ending. You had "enzymes to burn" which burns all sorts of foods/calories on high efficiency and without discomfort.

So what if you don't have enough digestive enzymes to digest your food properly? What happens to all the gunk in your colon? Well, undigested food can remain in the intestine and be converted into toxins. Overconsumption of cooked foods can lead to digestive leukocytosis, a condition of increased white blood count. A rise in white blood cells is a clear sign that the immune system is mobilized. This mobilization brings on an infection-like waring and poisoning as well as an added stress on your immune system. The concept of the immune system being stimulated every time a person eats was first reported in 1897 by Rudoph Virchow, the father of cellular pathology.

As you get older, you SLOWLY begin to lose this enzyme efficiency. Your body is desperately trying to make up for the junk foods, pastries, sodas, cooked foods and all processed foods you are eating. The pancreas is enlarging so it can produce more digestive enzymes, which is a sign of inflammation - like an enlarged liver or heart.  For years you don't even notice the changes. Suddenly you are less able to eat the spicy and fatty foods you love. Sometimes changes are brought on by pregnancy. Small digestive discomfort can be the first signs that your body is enzyme depleted.

Professor Jackson of the Dept. of Anatomy, University of Minnesota, has shown that rats fed for 135 days on an 80 percent cooked food diet resulted in an increase pancreatic weight of 20 to 30 percent. What this means is that the pancreas is forced to work overtime with a cooked food diet. "Although the body can manufacture enzymes, the more you use your enzyme potential, the faster it is going to run out..." wrote Dr. Edward Howell, who pioneered research in the benefits of food enzymes.

A young adult of 18 may produce amylase (digests carbohydrates) levels 30 times greater than those of an 85 year old person.

So what? I like fast food - take out dinner and processed food!

Although the enzyme-producing organs continue to function over the entire course of a healthy life (if you're lucky), they eventually wear down, especially with the "standard American diet" (SAD-Diet). Symptoms of low enzyme production could be seen as early as in your 30's or 40's.

Still think you are fine eating all the junk, processed foods and take-out dinners? 

Why do I feel sick and have digestive difficulties all the time?

You’re running low on the enzymes you need to fuel your  life. The process of depleting your enzymes is a slow one, and most likely you didn't notice your energy and vitality disappearing until one day something you once loved to do was suddenly too much work and food you loved to eat is impossible to digest!

ome of the health conditions associated with deficiencies of each of the four basic enzymes:

• Protease (digests proteins) - Anxiety, low blood sugar, kidney problems, water retention, depressed immunity, bacterial and viral infections, cancer, appendicitis, bone problems such as osteoporosis, arthritis, and bone spurs.

• Amylase (digests nonfiber carbohydrates) skin problems such as rashes, hives, fungal infections, herpes, and canker sores, lung problems such as asthma, bronchitis, and ephysema, liver or gallbladder disease.

• Lipase (digests fats) high cholesterol, obesity, diabetes, hardening of the arteries and other cardiovascular problems, chronic fatigue, spastic colon, dizziness.

• Cellulase (digests fiber) Gas and bloating, acute food allergies, facial pain or paralysis, candidiasis (bowel and vaginal yeast infections)

• Catalase is a metabolic enzyme that focuses on free radical damage in the human body and helps ease some of the metabolic stresses associated with the process of digestion

In his incisive book Enzyme Nutrition, Dr. Edward Howell suggests that detrimental organ changes occur when we consume too many cooked and processed foods. The pancreas swells, the brain shrinks, and the pituitary and thyroid glands enlarge. It is my contention that as we continue to denature our food source, we are contributing to the degeneration of the human species.

captivating curacao

"Born To Run"

In the day we sweat it out on the streets of a runaway American dream 
At night we ride through the mansions of glory in suicide machines 
Sprung from cages out on highway 9, 
Chrome wheeled, fuel injected,and steppin' out over the line 
h-Oh, Baby this town rips the bones from your back 
It's a death trap, it's a suicide rap 
We gotta get out while we're young 
`Cause tramps like us, baby we were born to run 

yes, girl we were

Wendy let me in I wanna be your friend 
I want to guard your dreams and visions 
Just wrap your legs 'round these velvet rims 
and strap your hands 'cross my engines 
Together we could break this trap 
We'll run till we drop, baby we'll never go back 
h-Oh, Will you walk with me out on the wire 
`Cause baby I'm just a scared and lonely rider 
But I gotta know how it feels 
I want to know if love is wild 
Babe I want to know if love is real 

Oh, can you show me

Beyond the Palace hemi-powered drones scream down the boulevard 
Girls comb their hair in rearview mirrors 
And the boys try to look so hard 
The amusement park rises bold and stark 
Kids are huddled on the beach in a mist 
I wanna die with you Wendy on the street tonight 
In an everlasting kiss 

1-2-3-4!

The highway's jammed with broken heroes on a last chance power drive 
Everybody's out on the run tonight 
but there's no place left to hide 
Together Wendy we can live with the sadness 
I'll love you with all the madness in my soul 
h-Oh, Someday girl I don't know when 
we're gonna get to that place 
Where we really wanna go 
and we'll walk in the sun 
But till then tramps like us 
baby we were born to run 

Oh honey, tramps like us
baby we were born to run 

Come on with me, tramps like us
baby we were born to run "

--Bruce Springsteen

wheat grass and acai!

if any of you know me,
i alternate juices daily
(and if you KNOW ME, i force you to drink a lot of different juices, teas, concoctions and potions...)

but wheat grass is awesome, and i know i've posted about it before.
it has so many health benefits, it's crazy.
(and it makes you feel great, too!)

• Wheatgrass juice contains up to 70% chlorophyll, which is an important blood builder
• Chlorophyll contains enzymes and super- oxide dismutase, a copper-containing protein found in mature red blood cells. 
• Wheatgrass juice contains crude chlorophyll (as opposed to pure) and can be taken orally and as a colon implant without side effects. In addition, scientists have never found wheatgrass to be toxic in any amount when given to either animals or humans.
• Chlorophyll is antibacterial and can be used inside and outside the body as a natural healer. The United States Army exposed guinea pigs to lethal doses of radiation. The guinea pigs fed chlorophyll-rich vegetables such as cabbage and broccoli had half the mortality rate as those fed a non-chlorophyll diet.
•  Chlorophyll can be extracted from many plants, but wheatgrass is superior because it has been found to have over 100 elements needed by man. If grown in organic soil, it absorbs 92 of the known 115 minerals from the soil.
• Liquid chlorophyll has the ability to get into the tissue, where it can actually refine and renew them.
• Liquid chlorophyll washes drug deposits from the body.
• Chlorophyll neutralizes toxins in the body.
• Chlorophyll helps purify the liver.
• Wheatgrass juice can dissolve the scars that are formed in the lungs from breathing acid gasses. The effect of carbon monoxide is minimized since chlorophyll increases hemoglobin production.
• Wheatgrass is high in oxygen like all green plants that contain chlorophyll. This is beneficial because the brain and all body tissues function at an optimal level in a highly- oxygenated environment.
• Wheatgrass juice is a superior detoxification agent compared to carrot juice and other fruits and vegetables.
• Wheatgrass contains a full spectrum of vitamins and minerals, including the thirteen essential ones, combined with dozens of trace elements and enzymes.
• Wheatgrass juice is an effective healer because it contains all minerals known to man, and vitamins A, B-complex, C, E, l and K. It is extremely rich in protein, and contains 17 amino acids, the building blocks of protein.
• Massage 6 ounces into the scalp and cover with shower cap for 15 minutes to help eliminate dandruff.
• Wheatgrass juice is great for blood disorders of all kinds.

(note** this made me want wheatgrass, so i just juiced some with 2 green apples and one huge lemon!)

(this wheatgrass info was found here: http://thechalkboardmag.com/50-reasons-to-drink-wheatgrass-everyday )

Acai Benefits:

• rich in plant sterols that provide cardio-protective benefits to our cells. It does this by preventing blood clots, improving overall blood circulation, and relaxing the blood vessels.
• extremely high in anthocyanins, a form of plant antioxidant associated with the ability to lower cholesterol levels in the blood stream
• berries have powerful detoxification capacities in the human body and are a well-known traditional source of dietary fiber
• may prevent the typical irritation associated with respiratory distress.
• One study published in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry found that polyphenolic compounds extracted from acai reduced cancer cell proliferation by 56-86%. It is thought that acai’s phytochemcials can stop the process of carcinogenesis on a molecular level, killing off tumorous cells before they multiply. Acai berries are not a cure for cancer; but hopefully more research will examine their benefits and potential role in the fight.
• combat fatigue and exhaustion