ADD, ADHD- what I think

As a licensed school counselor, and a mental health counselor...there's a lot of similarities I see in cases where children are incorrectly diagnosed...and sometimes, it starts with their nutrition.

How many of these students are consuming the S.A.D (Standard American Diet) that consists of meats, genetically modified fruits and vegetables, junk food, fast food, processed food, dairy, cold cuts, and all kinds of fake sugars...not to mention vaccinations? No one person has ever studied the effect of all the vaccinations and all these diets together to see what they can result in.

In the same respect, kids will be kids. Some will be quiet, some loud...some running, some sitting...some thoughtful, and some outgoing...this is a fact.

So, why not address the nutrition and activity of our children rather than send them off to get a new prescription for them?

For example, if a child detoxes, Mom or Dad begin juicing organic fruits and vegetables for them, they begin eating an all organic diet...do they wonder what they would change? Or is that more complicated than just going to pick up a prescription and drug their children?

What about adding a supplement like Ginko Biloba...the benefits are endless, including:

1. improves cognition and memory
2. boosts blood flow to brain
3. destroys free radicals (which cause dis-eases like cancer)
4. protects brain cells from premature death
5. improves selective attention
6. long term verbal and non-verbal memory
7. improves antisocial and hyperactive disorder
8. can manage impulsivity and forgetfulness

You should use 60-120 mg, 1 to 2 times daily. DO NOT TAKE THEM WITH BLOOD THINNING DRUGS!

It's worth a 28-day trial to do all this, rather than have your child take a trial medication!

love love love,

the globetrotting gamine

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

Fluoridation (eew)

"Fluoridation (p.116)

Fluoride, a compound that protects against tooth decay, was added to many municipal was added to many municipal water systems beginning in 1945. At present, an estimated 2/3 of the American people live in communities with fluoridated water. While fluoridation has reduced cavities, rates of other orders have increased, including damage to the bones, thyroid gland, and immune function. As a result, several European countries, icluding Sweden, Denmark, Holland, Germany and Belgium have discontinued treating water with fluoride. France and Norway never started it. In the U.S. Kansas, Pennsylvania, Washington, and Hawaii have recently rejected proposals for fluoridization, and in 1998 voters in Santa Cruz refused to allocate money for fluoridation following a mandatory law passed by the California legislature.

Fluoride, a compound of calcium and fluoride that occurs naturally, is used in Oriental medicine as a tranquilizer. Prozac, the modern anti-depressant drug, utilizes fluoride as an active ingredient. In food, fluorine naturally occurs in rice, rye, parsley, cabbage, sea vegetables, and bancha twig tea."

Alleged Attacks By Fluoride:

• damages bones
• linked to a lower IQ
• produces Alzheimer like symptoms
• it's a byproduct of the A-bomb 

wow.

that's why it sucks.

what do you think?

love me,

the 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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about BGH in your food

we all know hormones in our foods (meats, chicken, dairy) really sucks. an excerpt from "let food be thy medicine" by Alex Jack tells us a little about the Bovine Growth Hormone (BGH).

"Bovine Growth Hormone (p.37)

BGH is a genetically engineered hormone fed to dairy cows to boost milk production. WHile the FDA approved its use in 1995, health and consumer groups have expressed concerns about its safety and demanded that it be labelled.

Monsanto, the manufacturer, has sued natural foods stores and companies that label its product BGH free, claiming that such labels unfairly parage a legal product. A compromise on the issue of labeling was reached for the first time in 1998 when organic food companies in Illinois and Ben & Kerry's ice cream settled a lawsuit against the state in which natural foods suppliers won the right to explain to consumers that they oppose recombinant BGH and would not use it on their products, though the FDA has found no significant difference between BGH-treated and untreated cos.

About 25% of the milk sold in the U.S. is made from cows treated with BGH."

It goes on to say that in regards to being related to cancer..."In a review of the evidence linking dairy and breast cancer, researchers with the Physician's Committee for Responsible Medicine contend that the FDA's approval of BHG, genetically engineered bovine growth hormone, was based on faulty assumptions and studies. WHile the FDA concluded that it did not differ chemically from natural BGH, studies indicate that BGH differs by 1 to 9 amino acids. The FDA also assumed that BGH is not orally active in humans and that its activity is destroyed during pasteurization, both of which have been contradicted by subsequent studies."

Ick.

Almond Milk all the way <3

cashew, and hemp, too!

love me,
the globetrotting gamine

the correct use of herbs, part 3

(took this from here )



from Jude's Herbal Home Remedies:


Licorice

• use the root
• has estrogen properties so use during and after change of life
• use for all blood and bronchial problems

Marsh Mallow

• use the root
• soothes inflammations and irritations of the urinary and alimentary systems
• will dispense throat tickle.

Mullein

• flowers and leaves are used
• used for bronchial problems, inhibits bacteria growth, antibiotic properties

Nettle

• use leaves and upper part of plant
• used to relieve arthritis pains

Nutmeg

• use in small doses to help stomach disorders and digestion
• use in a small dose ONLY

Pansy

• whole herb
• mild expectorant, for colds and asthma
• good tonic for the heart

Pennyroyal

• use leaves
• relieves stomach
• stimulates uterine muscles

Peppermint

• leaves and flowering tops are used
• removes hardened mucus from alimentary and bronchial systems
• used for stomahc discomfort

Plantain

• roots and leaves are used
• antiseptic properties
• removes toxins from system

Pokeweed

• early shoots, roots and berries are used
• the chemotherapy of the herbs, strong purge
• duplicates effects of cortisone which stimulates entire glandular system
• violent laxative and diuretic to clean the whole system

(this is ironic because chemo doesn't make you poop. it keeps it all in.)

Prickly Lettuce

• leaves and gum are used
• strong sedative to treat insomnia
• removes hardened excretions from the bronchial system

Purslane

• use the herb above the ground
• good cleanser for kidneys

Raspberry

• leaves and fruit are used
• stimulates kidneys and soothes uterine muscles, known as a woman's herb
• roots are known for astringent properties

Red Clover

• flowering tops are used
• great blood purifier and tonic
• skin disorders caused by impurities of the blood so take the tea on a regular basis if you are not allergic

alkaline water vs. acidy drinks

I've been researching alkaline vs. acidity for a while now and there's no mistake for which one is better for you. I have been drinking alkaline water for about 5 months now and I feel fantastic, and don't crave coffee, sugary drinks, or need energy jumps throughout the day.

A little article about this, I found here! :

Water is a very powerful tool for improving and maintaining health. Alkaline antioxidant water is unlike any other water because it is more than just “water.” It's a health drink. Daily use of alkaline antioxidant water may be the best form of natural health maintenance and improvement you can adopt.

Structured alkaline antioxidant water contains greater concentrations of ionized H20 molecules which have been restructured through electromagnetic means in a way that creates a greater probability of physiologically desirable “cluster” sizes. This causes more free electrons to be available in the water as well as greater hydration potential. The “free” electrons can act as antioxidants while the six sided or “hexagonal” water molecule clusters enhance the proper hydration of our cells. All of this results in many patients feeling a generalized sense of well-being and improved health when they drink alkaline antioxidant water. These 6-sided clusters found in ionized, structured, alkaline water appear to allow for the fastest internal rehydration possible.

Alkaline antioxidant water is produced through means that favor the development of 6-sided water molecules resulting in what we call hexagonal water. Hexagonal water is water which has undergone hydrogen bonding which favors its peculiar structure and energy state. In water such as regular tap water or water from municipal water sources, you can get structures involving up to 12, 13, 16 or greater number of water molecules. Such water does not promote optimal health in the same way that hexagonally structured water does.

Alkaline antioxidant water can increase the general efficiency of all systems of the body. There are many benefits to this. One of the benefits I appreciate most is that alkaline antioxidant water is many times more hydrating and better tasting that tap water. That's one of the greatest things I have identified because people will drink more water. It's smooth, refreshing, and satisfying.

The percentage of hexagonal units found in water, as well as their stability, appears to depend on a number of factors, including toxin levels, mineral content, motion, and energetic influences that water is exposed to. For example chlorine, fluoride, and many pollutants typically found in municipal water sources decrease the ability of water to form significant numbers of hexagonal units. Tap water typically has a very low percentage of these structures. By switching from tap water to alkaline antioxidant water, one may greatly improve the functioning of the body by supplying it with truly rejuvenating, clean, healthy water.

The hexagonal water affects health by improving the body's ability to use the water effectively. With alkaline antioxidant water, the water is also purified. Substances commonly added to municipal water, such as chlorine, are removed from alkaline antioxidant water before the water is consumed. The alkaline antioxidant water processor removes many harmful toxins from drinking water for good.

Water is a very dynamic substance. When we take the water through the ionization process, we cause changes that occur in a fraction of a second. We create an energetic effect which causes the water to be structured in a way that improves the body's ability to use the water optimally and maximize the benefits of the water.

You get better interaction from vital enzymes, vitamins, structural, and antioxidant molecules because all of these substances operate in a water environment. The better the quality of the water, the better it is for the body.

The effects of this may be seen in many ways including improved sleep, enhanced sense of well-being, better exercise endurance, improved elimination of cellular wastes, clearer thinking, increased overall hydration, less discomfort, better skin health, and enhanced overall health.

People are able to produce alkaline antioxidant water in the comfort of their own homes. Some of the processors used to produce alkaline antioxidant water offer a filtration system that is 50 percent better than what is used in hospital or compounding pharmacies today.

Alkaline antioxidant water is nature's best. It's the kind of water you find flowing freely from many of the world's best natural springs.

Modern lifestyle, diets, and pollution promote acidic metabolism in the typical individual. Having a mild and harmless alkaline influence in the form of water can go a long way in buffering and protecting one's health against the harmful chronic effects of an acidic metabolism. Alkaline antioxidant water can help you resist disease and slow the aging process. In the body, alkaline water helps to buffer a chronic state of acid stress.

This improves the body's ability to maintain good health and proper overall functioning. Therefore we would expect to observe the helpful benefits of increased ionization and alkalinity in a combination which would include the effects of antioxidants, the micro clustering of the water, the alkalinity of the water, and the improved taste and texture of the water.

People often ask me if there is any instance in which the alkaline antioxidant water would be less than beneficial. Individuals with cervical spinal stenosis should not drink alkaline antioxidant water.

If you are a normal individual, I sincerely do not think you could drink too much properly produced alkaline antioxidant water. You should start out with alkalinity at near neutral levels then gradually increase the alkalinity as your body demonstrates tolerance to the alkaline antioxidant water. I have been watching peoples' reactions to alkaline antioxidant water for months and I have not seen anyone have a problem except two patients with cervical stenosis.

If a person starts out slowly and follows the basic guidelines, as well as consults one's physician if he or she is on any type of medication, I believe the water will offer very good and beneficial results. I advise most people to drink about six glasses per day. I believe the proper use of alkaline antioxidant water is the single most important thing that one can do for his or her health.

(The above article appeared in “HEALTH NEWS” - Vol. 18 No. 6, Tel: (800) 597-2585; Web: <www.healthnewsweb.com> - Email: info@healthnewsweb.com

Dr. Raymond Dent states - “Alkaline antioxidant water can help you resist disease and slow the aging process.” - and also, “Alkaline antioxidant water is nature's best. It's the kind of water you find flowing freely from many of the world's best natural springs.”

the juice chronicles

i'm a little insane when it comes to my juice.

most days i juice once.

when i'm home, twice.

there's a constant stock of various juices

in my fridge

to boost my immunity throughout the day!

it's an addiction

and one i'm happy to have!

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

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.

juice recipe!

 all organic, all shown on the picture to the left...
melon, red apples, carrots, banana, cucumber, green apple, ginger

note:: melon moves the lymphatic system!

de
lic
ious!

let me know if you try this!

love me,
the globetrotting gamine

tuesday craftiness, part 7

i call this
the mermaid bracelet.

the colors are reminiscent
of the sea
and i had been looking for
something like it
everywhere!

i hope you all like it!

i'll be making a lot more of these <3

love me,
the globetrotting gamine

tuesday craftiness, part 6

the first necklace i ever created
though i think i could have done something
a little different with the ribbon

but practice makes perfect.

this little owl
makes a perfect gift
(and actually goes along swimmingly
with a ring i purchased years ago!)

i hope y'all like it!
love me,
the globetrotting gamine

beets, the properties and the juice

i love juicing beets.
there isn't only the health benefits
but the beauty benefits as well..
(lip stain! cheek stain! stain on your hands! stains on your counters! lol)

if you do juice a beet, please keep in mind that if your pee or poop turn pink afterwards for a few days, it's ok!! that means it's working as a thorough detox through your liver and the rest of your system!

benefits of beets:

• Beets contain sodium, magnesium, calcium, iron and phosperous! They are also considered a fiber food and contain vitamins A and C as well as niacin
•  Beets contain folic acid which is necessary for the production and maintenance of new cells
• Studies have shown that beets guard against cancer, especially colon cancer.
• . Medical studies have also shown that including beets in your diet helps protect a body against heart disease.

gotta love beets...

in my beet juice (i usually juice half a beet at a time...) i add carrots, green apples and ginger usually!!

try it-- you won't be disappointed!

love me,

the globetrotting gamine

Royal Raymond Rife

I just wanted to educate you all on the success (and non-quackery) of Rife. 

Trust no one. Try everything.



"Disease organisms such as those of tuberculosis, cancer, sarcoma, typhoid and others may be observed to succumb when exposed to certain lethal frequencies peculiar to each individual organism, and directed upon them by rays conveying a wide ranges of waves." ~The Smithsonian Institution 1944

Royal Rife and Antoine Bechamp discovered cancer is in fact a pleomorphic fungi that cannot transform into some 16 advanced forms when the body's pH is slightly alkaline.

https://www.facebook.com/RoyalRife?ref=br_tf



http://educate-yourself.org/cn/cancercurethatworked1997.shtml


and here is the bullshit wikipedia and the government tells us:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ineffective_cancer_treatments#Ineffective_treatments

love me,
the globetrotting gamine

antioxidants

this info on antioxidants, also from this book!

Antioxidants:

Antioxidants are natural substances in plant-quality foods that possess health gving benefits. WHole grains, vegetables, and fruits contain a variety of active phytochemicals known as antioxidants that help control the oxidation of free radicals, normal but highly reactive substances which in excess can injure cell membranes. Natural antioxidants include phenolic compounds, terpenoids, pignments, and some forms of vitamins a, carotenoids, vitamin c, vitamin e, and selenium. foods with the highest antioxidant activity include soybeans, cabbage, ginger, garlic, licorice, umbelliferous vegetables, and citrus fruits. antioxidants reduce the rik of cardiovascular disease, hypertensions, diabetes and several forms of cancer. 

Inspirational Heroes: Tamara St. John

For anyone who knows me, I research to the point of sheer exhaustion. Having cancer definitely woke me up and even though I went through "conventional treatment", waking up and doing this research will never have me go down that route again.

Today, I write about an inspirational heroine, Tamara St. John, who cured her cancer naturally and is an all-around wellness guru. Just a trip down her facebook page can educate one so much more than a trip to your doctor's office. 

We need more people out there like her.

Of course, people are free to do what they will with information they receive from everywhere. If you don't feel comfortable with what your doctors are telling you, speak up. If you don't feel comfortable taking charge of your own health, don't. 

As a counselor, I am not a diagnostician. All I can say is, take care of you. Educate yourselves!

Here, the incomparable Tamara St. John answers some of my questions that I thought would be beneficial to any health-nut enthusiast, cancer-killer, and curious peep.

Many thanks to Tamara! Love you, and keep it up! We all learn so much from you!

Q: What prompted you on the quest for all things health and wellness?

A:  When I found Cancer is what changed my life to begin healing my own Cancer since I was without money or insurance. 

Q: Your other passions include..... hiking, ice skating, exploring.

Q: What inspires you?

A.    I inspire myself to keep going.  There is no one person that motivates me to keep going, it is all within and with God’s power.

Q. Has your research and knowledge changed your life?

A.   Yes, it brought me to the truth about how people can become their own doctors and heal themselves if they take the time to listen to their bodies, detoxify their bodies properly, and change their diet.

Q:  What would you say to someone who challenges the health and wellness lifestyle?

A.    Anyone who doesn’t believe that diet and detox makes a difference in health has not used the two correctly.  Many are so brainwashed by western medicine’s theory of drugs and surgery that they don’t bother to know the truth.

Q: How would you encourage a new-comer to a healthier, happier lifestyle?

A.    All I do is provide the knowledge for people to make their own decisions on health.  It usually takes an illness for someone to change their diet for the better.

Q: Where can we find some of your work?

A.   My book; “Defeat Cancer Now” details how I healed my Cancer naturally and which treatments I had chosen, as well as how to detoxify the body properly and change of diet.  The book can be found via my website at www.Tamarastjohn.com

Q: Are there any resources to begin a newbie on their own quest?

A.    I share daily tips on being healthy and healing the body naturally on my Alternative Health Solutions facebook page at www.facebook.com/alternativehealthsolutions1