The Great Cholesterol Myth - Oh My!!

Have you checked out Integrative Cardiologist Dr. Stephen Sinatra's Heart MD Institute site yet?  

Look at what he has published now!  I can't wait to read a copy of it.  Watch his short video introduction here, it is only 2 minutes long and gives you a brief rundown of his book and the current "cholesterol myth" that is floating around everywhere today.  If this is NEW to you, PLEASE WATCH THIS!!!

We personally use several of his recommended supplements and I believe in his reports 100%.  He is all about education now that he is retired from practicing cardiology.  I think I have read or at least skimmed every book he has authored or co-authored.

The "cholesterol myth" is really of great importance.  Many people are unaware that cholesterol has a very important role in your health and high cholesterol isn't necessarily bad.  There are many different types of cholesterol- even broken down farther then just the HDL and LDL values.  Please take a quick minute to watch Dr. Sinatra's video, this information is too important to miss, especially with statin prescriptions on the rise.

Get the book...
Get the Kindle Version.
Click here for more information to read concerning cholesterol and statin drugs.

Silver Sol, What You Must Know

Where do I start?!  This product is absolutely fantastic!

We have used colloidal silver for several years before finding this and we will never go back.  

Many people get this silver product confused with a colloid, but it is not, in fact, it is very different.  

This product is a sol, which is a molecularly bound silver versus a colloidal silver which is basically a suspension that can potentially "come loose."  

Colloidals have been known to cause argyria (blue man syndrome- permanently turning a person blue) and also there is still some controversy about whether or not the silver builds up in the body.

A sol on the other hand is not so.  With it molecularly bound to the water, the silver passes through the body killing bacteria and any other invading suspects that are disabled by it.  Since it is bound to the water it will not cause argyria (a relief!) and also heavy metal residue is not a concern either, since it passes through unmetabolized.

This is a patented product that only American Biotech has.  Amazing, huh!

This silver sol comes in many different sizes from 8 oz to a whopping 32 oz!  The gel as seen below is our first choice for burn care, insect bites, rashes, cuts, scrapes, etc.  

These two products are safe for ANY ORIFICE of your body.  It is even known to cure Malaria!

We have used this for years and LOVE it!!  I really thank the Lord for allowing this product to be invented.

There are more than 280 studies and reports that have been done on this product and continued research as well.  Plus, unlike an antibiotic it does NOT cause drug resistant strains from forming with extended use.  

It is meant to be your "first line of defense!"

We have used it personally for ear infections, eye infections, respiratory infections, bladder infections, food poisoning, sinus infections...it is a blessing from the Lord.

We carry the 16 oz and 32 oz liquid silver sol and the 4 oz gel at the moment.  You can find it here, if you are interested or at the local store.

This is a must for anyone in the health care profession where you are exposed to an array of pathogens.  It is definitely one supplement I wouldn't want to be without.

To read a copy of The ABL Difference, click here.

To read more in detail about the differences of silvers, click here.


CLICK HERE FOR AMAZING VIDEOS from Dr. Gordon Pedersen, and TONS more INFO, you will be so glad you did!

MCT Oil

I LOVE, LOVE, coconut oil...(that will require a whole post on its own though!) and this MCT Oil is right on the heels of my beloved coconut oil.

Coconut oil (to keep it short) is approximately 60% medium chain triglycerides (MCTs), which is the reason why coconut oil is more easily digested and quicker metabolized for energy than other type of fats.  MCTs are naturally-occurring in coconut and palm oils.

Although, I love coconut oil, I do like to use a liquid oil such as MCT oil when available for things like salads sometimes.  It is liquid and makes for a nice salad oil.  

It can also be pumped from a Misto sprayer to lightly cover something as popcorn.  I do not use it for high heat or to cook with (it is NOT for cooking because of its low smoke point), but mostly for salad dressings.  Coconut oil is solid at room temperature, where MCT oil is not, making it great for a cold salad.  I have used hot coconut oil on my salads and love that just the same, but time is usually the factor in what oil I go for quickly. 

Many people following a ketogenic diet for weight loss purposes supplement with MCT oil.  I prefer using it on salads and veggies for my supplementation!

Here is where I normally find the best price on MCT oil.
Read more on Wikipedia's site about MCT oil here.

If you are looking for a Misto oil sprayer, they can also be found at your local Bed, Bath, and Beyond store.

Apple Cider Vinegar

WHAT KIND OF APPLE CIDER VINEGAR DO YOU USE?

Apple cider vinegar (ACV) has been touted for its health giving benefits for years and years.  

Even in ancient Greece, Hippocrates, (the father of modern medicine) is recorded to have prescribed ACV for many illnesses.  

Some say it helps with weight loss and metabolism, that it helps acne prone skin, improves digestion and relieves constipation, balances cholesterol and even helps reduce high blood sugar levels in type II diabetes.

I do take a shot of ACV from time to time, but almost daily it is my choice for my salad dressing companion along with a healthy oil (usually MCT oil or a high grade olive oil.)  The only ACV I do use is this one made by Bragg, it is organic, unfiltered and from non-GMO apples.  

Occasionally, I use ACV a few minutes before eating to subdue heartburn, it does the trick.

Here is a link to their website and lots more information on ACV and why you want to purchase one with "the mother."  Read up and be sure to try this ACV for all your ACV uses, I don't know of another I would recommend.

A Quick Comparison of Protein Bars

I admit, I am human! ;)

I do have weaknesses from time to time.  I try to eat as healthy as possible, but there are just moments that I am hungry and flat out don't have time to eat.  

What do I do in those moments of weakness?  I eat a Quest bar.  

Nutritionally speaking, fresh meat and veggies, with lots of healthy fat would be BEST, but in a pinch, they work.  I know some nutrition experts could pick apart the ingredients and "nit pick" it to death, but in all fairness, this is a comparison of Quest bars and any other protein bar.

They have better than most ingredients I have ever seen in a protein bar.
Let me show you what I mean... 

Trader Joe's Grocery Store

Have you ever been to Trader Joe's?  

It is not a utopia, but I like it.

They have organic produce, sprouted bread, nitrate and preservative free cold cuts, hormone and antibiotic free meats (FREE of PINK SLIME or what is known as "boneless lean beef trimmings or lean finely textured beef"), and sometimes raw cheeses.  Plus, I really like their coffee...my downfall. 

Read what they say about GMO's and their products here:

Trader Joe's Products are Sourced from Non-GMO Ingredients
"Our customers can be assured that all products in Trader Joe's private label are sourced from non-genetically modified ingredients. Our efforts began in 2001, when we determined that, given a choice, our customers would prefer to eat foods and beverages made without the use of genetically engineered ingredients. Our process has been to identify any product containing ingredients that could potentially be derived from genetically engineered crops and work with our suppliers to replace offending ingredients with acceptable alternatives."

Locally speaking there is a Trader Joe's on 59 Woodruff Rd, Greenville, (864-286-0231) but if you are not local and want to check them out for yourself, visit their store locator here.

Dr. Eades Blog

This is another blog I enjoy reading.  Dr. Eades follows a low carbohydrate diet himself, along with his wife, Mary Dan Eades, M.D.  They both are physicians and have been touting low carbohydrate living for quite some now.  

They have several books that have been published, such as Protein Power and The 30-Day Low-Carb Diet Solution, and their newest book, The 6 Week Cure for the Middle-Aged Middle.

Dr. Eades (aka Dr. Mike) just recently posted a very informative article on "Are Carbohydrates Fattening?"  You may like to read it in its entirety here.  If you really like to read and have lots of time, check out his Resource page here for a list of over 50 medical and scientific journal links.  Amazing!  Some publish only their abstracts and some publish their full text articles.

Also, if you follow a low carbohydrate diet, you may enjoy reading some of Dr. Eades (aka MD) posts too.  Her portion of their blog will have occasional recipes as does his.  A recent post of hers I was quite fond of myself, is here, Lardy, Lardy When Will They Learn?  (It appears as if never!)  Trans-fats are bad.  Lard (real, natural, pastured, (untainted lard) is not.  It's not hard, if it is a natural animal fat from a pastured animal, go for it!  If it is an unnatural oil made in a laboratory somewhere, (aka man-made) avoid it!  (A great source for organic lard online is here.)

The Blog of Dr. Michael R. Eades, M.D.

Mary Dan Eades, M.D. (Blog is here)

A Meat & Potatoes Kind of Meal

If you or your family prefers a "meat and potatoes" kind of meal, then try this EASY recipe!
(If you aren't counting carbs that is.)

Quick Casserole Recipe:

• ground beef (grass-fed, preferably)
• potatoes
• carrots
• onions
• 1 cup of milk (raw milk, preferably)
• 8 oz of tomato sauce (plain sauce)
• seasoning salt, garlic, pepper (or your favorite(s) seasonings)

Notice, I didn't give amounts on the main ingredients.  That is because you make this according to your family's needs and or size dish you will use.  It is so easy!  The other day I had about 15 minutes to prepare dinner before I had to go out the door- (again!) and I decided to do this as a nice treat since potatoes are limited foods at our house.   It was in the oven in 15 minutes!

Enough side tracking, here is what you do:  grease your casserole dish, spread out and flatten your ground beef all along the inside of the dish, up the sides best you can get, season your meat with some spices, then slice some potatoes, next throw on your carrots, slice an onion on top, mix together your milk and tomato sauce, pour that on, shake on a few more of your spices...salt and pepper, or what ever you like best, cover with tin foil, and pop in the oven.  Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 1-1½ hours.

You are done and the family is loving you!  (My kind of cooking in a hurry!)

Cancer Control Society

Did you know there is a Cancer Control Society?   

They have been educating and holding conventions for 40 years now, consisting of Medical Doctors, Clinical Researchers, Nutritionists, and Authors on Alternative Medicine.
 
Some topics for this year's convention may include:  Laetrile Therapy, Hyperthermia Therapy, The Health Benefits of Traditional Diets, Chelation Therapy, The Role of Herbal Formulas in Cancer Management....the list goes on and on...

 Last year's convention held some speakers such as:

• Charlotte Gerson, Founder of the Gerson Institute
• Dr. Brenner, M.D., a cancer survivor himself
• Earl Mindell, R.Ph., M.H., Ph.D. author of The Vitamin Bible
• David Getoff, C.T.N.,  C.C.N. co-author of Reduce Your Blood Pressure Naturally

Click here to read and print a copy of their Prevention Diet
Click here to learn more about their 4-day convention DVDs.

Give The Gift of "Healthy" Chocolate!!

ChocoPerfection chocolate that is!  

This chocolate bar is the best tasting bar I have ever had consisting of such GOOD quality ingredients.  

A sugar free, gluten free, low carb chocolate bar that actually can help you lose weight!  Amazing.  

It is safe for diabetics in that it doesn't raise blood sugar and it is sweetened with oligofructose (FOS) or also known as inulin.  This sweetener is a prebiotic fiber from chicory root. 

How do I use ChocoPerfection bars?  We all just eat them plain, but also I chop them up for recipes that call for chocolate too.  No sugar and great ingredients...a winning combo in my book!  Plus, I love chocolate!  (Healthy chocolate.) I wanted to share this bar and site because so many people think chocolate has to be forbidden.  What a sad life that would be!

If you are looking for a last minute gift, I bet this would be a hit for the health conscious individual.

You can see their site here for more information here. 

Click here for their Low Carb Chocolate Lovers Diet!

Traditional Grains & The Healthy Home Economist

Sarah Pope of The Healthy Home Economist, is a wealth of information alone, but she has done an introduction to "traditional grains" video that is so helpful to those just starting out with proper grain preparation that I want you to check it out.

Also, her blog which has over 20,000 subscribers is definitely worth checking out too.  She has a lot of helpful videos and traditionally prepared recipes based on Weston A. Price's research and WAPF.  

If the whole concept of "traditional" food is new to you, this is a great place to start.  

The health of you and your family can benefit immensely by properly prepared food, hence proper nutrition and essentially a healthier you! 

Food Inc. - Watch It Now!

Food Inc. is a documentary that was released in 2009, examining the corporate farming practices and the economical and environmentally unsustainable industrial production of meat and food in America.

This is one documentary you really must see.  If you have never seen it or want to see it again, click here. 

To find out how you can take part of the Food Inc movement, click here.

 Or maybe one of their latest topics might interest you:

• New Proof:  GMO's Cause Tumors, Organ Damage, and Premature Death in Rats
• Meat Map:  How to Dodge Antibiotics in Your Food
• 18 'Food Inc.' Facts Everyone Should Know

Meet Dr. Mercola

Dr. Joseph Mercola is one of the most controversial alternative physicians at the moment.  Why?  Probably because he has taken a stand against most accepted aspects of conventional medical practice.  

Dr. Mercola has appeared several times on the Dr. Oz Show and also the TV series The Doctors. (The Alternative Health Controversy was the show's title on Dr. Oz, click here if you would like to see it.)

Dr. Mercola is also an advisory board member to several professional organizations such as:

• American Nutrition Association
• Price-Pottenger Nutrition Foundation
• Weston A. Price Foundation
• Bio-Solar Proto

On his site, you could spend hours and hours reading all his information.  If you have never been there, please click here and see what you are missing.

Here are two of the most current articles:  Toxic Taps: Lead is Still the Problem and  Top 10 Packaged Foods You Shouldn't Buy.

Flackers!

Hats off to Dr. Allison Levitt M.D., who has created these healthy and amazingly good crackers!  

Actually, though they are Flackers !  

Made with wholesome ingredients and loaded with nutrition and fiber from flax.

Flax seeds are a rich source of omega 3 fatty acids, fiber and plant lignans.  I have made a similar cracker at home using flax seeds, water, and seasonings with my dehydrator, but I will tell you, these Flackers are a much easier option!  Organic ingredients, gluten free, and naturally sugar fee!

Now, you have a healthy option to use with your dips and snacks.

MSG Education

Monosodium Glutamate is dangerous.  Why?  Cause it is hidden in so many foods insidiously AND it is a known neuro-toxin! 

MSG is disguised in many foods under names other than monosodium glutamate, be a detective and read your labels!

Maufacturers get away with MSG in their foods and not labeling it as such because if an ingredient they use in a product has a processed free forming glutamic acid (thereby known as MSG) but they did not actually add "MSG" itself, they can label the food as "MSG free" when in actuality it DOES contain MSG.

Truth in Labeling.org is a website totally devoted to MSG education and avoidance of substances that contain high percentages of free forming glutamatic acid, please check them out and READ!!
They also have two blogs:
COPING WITH MSG  (http://copingwithmsg.blogspot.com)
EVIDENCE OF MSG TOXICITY  (http://evidenceofmsgtoxicity.blogspot.com)

A Great Gift! Wise Traditions Journals

These journals are such an excellent value in information and price.  WAPF offers these journals with a membership fee of $40.  Not only are they a great addition to your resource library, but they would make an excellent gift to anyone seriously interested in their health.   Plus they are portable!

Take a look at the contents of the Summer 2012 edition:

FEATURES 

• Unintended Consequences Sylvia Onusic, PhD, shows how pharmaceutical drugs deplete nutrients
• Vaccination Update Leslie Manookian's film, The Greater Good, is bringing greater awareness
• Raw Milk Up Close Beverly Rubik, PhD, looks at raw and pasteurized milk through the microscope
• Getting at the Gut Kim Schuette, CN, treats mental disorders with WAPF nutrition and the GAPS Diet
• The Mighty Highlanders Stanley Fishman describes the diet of these fierce warriors

DEPARTMENTS

• President’s Message: Healthy Grains
• Letters: Letters to the Editor of Wise Traditions
• Caustic Commentary: Sally Fallon Morell takes on the Diet Dictocrats
• Homeopathy Journal: Joette Calabrese describes treatments for pain and injury
• All Thumbs Book Reviews
  • Thumbs Up
    • Wheat Belly
    • Supernutrition for Babies
    • The Meat Fix
    • True and False about Diet
    • 8 Steps to a Pain-Free Back
    • Tender Grassfed Barbecue
    • The Art of Fermentation
    • The Complete Idiot's Guide to Fermenting Food
  • Thumbs Down
    • The End of Illness
    • The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding
• Tim's DVD Reviews
  • Thumbs Up
    • Well Fed Family - Breads
    • The Greater Good
    • Food Beware
    • Sweet Suicide

• Farm and Ranch: Joel Salatin answers critics of pasture-based farming
• Soy Alert: Kaayla Daniel, PhD, on soy in animal feed and the Odwalla Chocolate Protein Monster
• Legislative Update: Judith McGeary, Esq, on the latest legislative concerns
• A Campaign for Real Milk: 
  • The Sad Case of Pasture Maid Creamery
  • Letter From Mark Mcafee, Ceo Organic Pastures Dairy, To The Centers For Disease Control
  • Raw Milk Farmer Needing Help
  • Letter To An Iowa Legislator
  • Raw Milk Updates
• Healthy Baby Gallery: More Wise Traditions babies!
  

Some of My Favorite Cookbooks

My Maria Emmerich Cookbook Collection-not complete YET!

Here are some of my favorite cookbooks!  I have MANY, MANY cookbooks, but for weekly or even daily use, these are my favorites.  They all are authored by, Maria Emmerich.  I have done a post on her before as a nutritionist, which she is, but she is also a great "alternative-type" recipe producer.   
She educates people that 4 carbohydrates = 1 teaspoon of sugar in your bloodstream regardless where those carbohydrates come from.

(Meaning a simple carbohydrate or a complex carbohydrate all are broken down into SUGAR.)

Hair Care & Argan Oil

What would you do with hair like this?  Use Argan Oil!  We have found that this oil is so beneficial in the care of hair.  It is not greasy (in that it leaves a greasy mess in your hair), but is quickly absorbed by the hair shafts, simmering down frizz and unruliness.   It can be applied to wet or dry hair.                                                                                    

We found this oil at Sally's Beauty Supply and have really liked it ever since.   So, if you are in need of some sheen and care, try argan oil and hopefully you will be glad you did.  Start off applying it in small amounts or it will take a few days to completely absorb if you apply too much at once.

Also, in regards to supplements for boosting your hair growth and strength, I have found these few daily supplements to help:
     
           Biotin (about 1,000mcg)
           MSM (2-3,000mg-preferrably one that is heavy metal free
           Zinc (no more than 50mg)

Wheat Belly & Dr. Oz

My daughter came in the house the other day all excited to see something on Dr. Oz's Show that we have been talking about for quite some time now.  While at a family member's house, she saw the Dr. Oz Show and understood what Dr. Davis was explaining about wheat.  (It is nice to know that this stuff hits home with your children even when they don't say a lot about it.)

On December 3rd, 2012,  Dr. Oz originally aired a show about "Frankenwheat, Could you be Addicted?"  

I was planning on posting about Dr. Davis and his book, Wheat Belly very soon, but since this show just recently aired, you may like to watch it for yourself too.  I am already a believer that modern wheat is bad for you, but this is a nice introduction for many people who just don't know or never heard.

Click here to see the Dr. Oz Show with Wheat Belly's author, Dr. Davis (3 Parts).

If this is new information for you, be sure to read this article related to the show as well.

Dr. Davis has his own site here, at Wheat Belly Blog.  His blog is loaded with information and wheat free recipes. 

Where to Find Grass Fed Beef and Why

Grass fed beef is the superior, natural fed beef.  Period.

Today, most beef you buy from the supermarkets are from a CAFO (Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations.)  

This means they are not allowed to free range on pasture for their natural feed (GRASS), but they are confined to small lots and fed grains (corn is the main grain among others=unnatural.)  

Google search CAFOs if you aren't familiar with them, it will bring a whole new awareness of our "industrialized" food.

Click here watch this short 15 min. video about the concerns of CAFO meat.

This is very sad to me and comes with many health concerns such as:  unnatural use of antibiotics and hormones, possible E. coli bacteria formations from a diet of grains.  Not only is grass fed beef naturally higher in Omega 3 fatty acids it is lower in the overall fat percentage it contains, and higher in vitamins and minerals; all among the thought of a humane life on a pasture.  

Confined lot beef is higher in Omega 6 fatty acids - which most people already consume way too much of.

Please click on the links below to read more about how pastured products compare with industrialized products...but be sure you have some time, because the information is overwhelming!

To read more about the Health Benefits of Grass Fed Products, click here.

To locate grass fed beef, and other pastured animal products, in YOUR area, click here.

Click here for another source for LOCAL pastured meat and eggs, plus more!

Picture Credit 

Low Carb Spinach Squares

This is definitely a favorite of mine!  

I love spinach and cheese and this recipe has them both.  This makes a great meal (for me!) or an excellent side dish.  Great cold or hot!  What's not to love already?!  (Thanks to Gale for the great idea!)

Spinach Squares:
-1/2 cup chopped onion
-1/2 cup blanched almond flour
-1/2 cup coconut flour
-5 eggs (beat well)
-1 pound of grated cheddar cheese (grate yourself-better than pre-shredded stuff)
-2 boxes of frozen spinach, thawed and drained
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
-1/2 tsp sea salt
-1/2 tsp seasoned salt
-1 cup milk

Mix together and spread in a greased 9 x 17 inch casserole dish.  Bake at 350 degrees for about 35 minutes.  Let set for 5 minutes.

Nutrition and Physical Degeneration

This book started my nutritional research years ago...Nutrition and Physical Degeneration ... 

I knew there was so much more to health and wellness when I began reading this.  The information is priceless.  

If you can find this book at your local library, it is another one worth reading.  

The information is lengthy, it will take you sometime to get through, but amazing at what was discovered only years ago about nutritional effects on your body.  

This book was written by Dr. Weston A. Price, whom the WAPF (Weston A Price Foundation) remains ongoing research and educational teaching of his work.

Copper River Wild Salmon

  
Copper River Seafoods Wild Salmon is by far one of the best frozen, wild caught, salmons I have ever had!  Actually, the whole family thinks so too.  From what I see, this fish is truly wild caught in Alaska.  Finding good salmon is getting harder these days.  

Either they are farm raised and advertised "wild" or "dyed" with a chemical to turn their flesh pink/red, so to find salmon that truly is from Alaska is a "great catch" indeed.  (From what I gather if fish comes from Alaska, it is probably not farmed, since Alaska doesn't allow farming.) 

For you local folk, I actually found this bag at our local Sam's Club.  So, next time you shop, look for this salmon and give it a try... just be sure you cook it in a healthy oil!  (We baked ours with a dab of coconut oil and seasoning, skin side down (see recipe below - delicious!)
 

For this salmon:
Thaw vacuum sealed pieces in cool water.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Place skin side down on pan.
Spray with coconut oil spray or just dab on coconut oil in generous amounts.  

Season and bake (sea salt, pepper, or a favorite "fish" seasoning) for approximately 25-30 minutes, until desired texture. 

Enjoy with a low carb side dish or make extra and eat cold the next day!

Use your favorite fish seasonings :)
 

Making An Herbal Infusion

First things first, if you are going to make an herbal infusion (aka herbal tea) and you are expecting to receive benefit of it's herbal properties, PLEASE USE DISTILLED WATER!

If you do not, you may not be absorbing all the important properties of the herbs into your water as you could be if the water was distilled.  Since distilled water is pure water having all other matter (organic and inorganic) removed from the distillation process, the water therefore has the ability to more readily absorb the herbal constituents of the infusion.

This is such an important part of making a true herbal infusion, but it is the most overlooked step.  Herbs are God's gift to us and getting the most benefit from them is only to our help.


Next, when making a tea, if the herb is loose, a good estimate is approximately 1 teaspoon of herb to 1 cup of hot water.  Lastly, steep for about 15 minutes and then you are ready to enjoy your tea and all of its benefits for you.

Picture Credit