212 years ago, the first vaccine was administered. Since then, vaccines have been developed for hundreds of diseases and illnesses. They were developed with the general idea to expose our bodies to a small dose of whatever disease/illness we're wanting to ward off in an attempt for our bodies to boost their immunities to fight it naturally.
Let me repeat myself slowly so I know you've heard me.
You are being injected WITH THE DISEASE you're trying to ward off.
Are you listening?
When you are given a pertussis vaccine, you're being given WHOOPING COUGH.
When you go in for a chicken pox vaccine, you're being given CHICKEN POX.
When you get your H1N1 vaccine, you're being given H1N1.
HELLO?!?!?! Does anybody see anything WRONG with this?
Our bodies are designed to fight off disease and illness naturally. When we become ill, our bodies develop certain symptoms: coughing, sneezing, vomiting, fever, etc. Let's take a fever, for instance. If you have an aquarium, you know that you can't turn the thermostat up too high on it or what happens? The fish die, right? The same is true for our bodies. Our bodies can tell when there's something not right. It turns up its internal thermostat naturally and burns off the bad "fish" or bacteria/virus/etc. When you take a fever reducer, you're allowing those bad "fish" to not just hang out, but you're giving them optimum body temperatures to multiply, essentially making yourself sicker. Let the fever burn itself out. Trust your body to do what it needs to do.
The same is true for all this vaccine business. You may never be exposed to H1N1 (for example), but if you are exposed and you're living a healthy lifestyle (healthy in this sense meaning a balanced diet, exercise and taking the proper amounts of vitamins/supplements) and taking precautions (such as proper hand washing, encouraging children to cough into their elbow, etc), you will not get sick.
Did you hear me?
You. Will. Not. Get. Sick.
The key to staying healthy isn't in MEDICINES or VACCINATIONS, it's in taking the right steps so your body can do what its been designed to do. The more you fill it with pharmaceutical remedies, the less likely it is to do its job. Your body will turn on you.
As far as meds & vaccines go, ask yourself these questions:
1) Who has created these medicines and vaccines?
2) Who is telling you that you NEED these medicines and vaccines?
(Hint: the answers are the same.)
I'm not a doctor and you don't have to take my word for anything. I'm simply telling you what I know to be true for myself and my family. I've done the research. I've read the articles. I've experimented with medicines as well as herbal supplements. I know what works. I know what doesn't. You can believe me or not, but for God's sake, instead of just succumbing to public paranoia, do the friggin' legwork before you poison yourself or your family.
Can our bodies heal themselves?
YES THEY CAN!
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Monday, October 5, 2009
Some basics
Obviously a balanced diet and exercise routine will help you feel & look better. We know that. That's been instilled in us since health class in elementary school. Food pyramids, PE class and all of it. We know this. It isn't new information.
But there are some basics, too that you need to know if you're going to tackle any weight/fitness/health issue.
1) Hydration
You've heard that you need to drink 8 glasses of water a day. What you may not have heard is WHY. Our bodies are designed perfectly to heal and protect us...as long as we're giving it what it needs to do this. Water not only helps with maintaining good skin & hair, but it flushes toxins from our bodies. When we work our muscles, those muscles put off toxins that can ultimately damage our health. Whether you're in the gym 5 days a week or just folding a load of laundry, you're working muscles. Obviously, the more the muscles are worked, the more toxins they produce, but either way, you have to get the toxins out of your body. Plain water is the best way to do this. The more you drink, the better, but at a minimum, you should be drinking eight 8oz glasses each day. If you're awake twelve hours a day, that's only a bottle of water every three hours.
When you don't get enough water, you will feel it. Chances are your body will retain water (think PMS bloating, for instance). Your ankles may get puffy, your face may feel swollen. You'll notice it when you get up in the morning - those sheet marks on your face? They're not from sleeping too hard on wrinkled linens. They're from not being hydrated. Same with the wrinkles toes & fingers when you're in the bath too long.
How do you know you're getting enough water? Your pee should be almost clear. (Yes, I know that's graphic.)
2) Sleep
When it comes to sleep, you're going to have to follow the whole "Do as I say, not as I do" thing, I'm afraid. I am HORRIBLE about maintaining a good sleep schedule. I know what I need to do. I just don't always do it. Six to eight hours is a good amount of sleep. Ideally, you should go to bed at the same time each night and wake up the same time each morning in order to keep yourself on a schedule, urging your body to function the way it should on a schedule, as well.
Stress and illness can wreak havoc on your sleep schedule. This shouldn't come as a surprise. What might surprise you, though is learning that sitting around all day without doing anything physical can also cause sleeplessness. If you aren't exerting your body in any way, it has nowhere to spend the energy you're taking in. That energy *has* to be spent somewhere. If you're working out, that energy is spent during your work out. If you're not, though, that energy seeps out during the time when you *should* be sleeping. That's where you get that late night "second wind."
3) Eating well
Obviously eating healthy foods are going to contribute to overall better health & weight loss. But instead of seeking out "low-fat," "low cal," or "diet" foods, you should be looking at the labels and choosing natural, organic or whole foods. If you look at the label and you can't pronounce the first few ingredients, put it back. For those who don't know, the list of ingredients on a label are listed in the order from highest concentration to the lowest. Let's look at the label for "Hawaiian Punch- Fruit Juicy Red", for instance:
INGREDIENTS:
Water, high fructose corn syrup and 2% or less of each of the following: concentrated juices (pineapple, orange, passionfruit, apple), purees (apricot, papaya, guava), citric acid, natural and artificial flavors, pectin, gum acadia, glycerol ester of wood rosin, sodium hexametaphosphate, red #40, blue#1, sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate (preservatives), ascorbic acid (vitamin C).
Water is the first ingredient. This isn't bad. High fructose corn syrup. This is a manufactured ingredient, which means it's not natural. The third ingredients listed are a very small percentage of fruit juices. What this means is that there is more corn syrup in this juice than there is actual juice. There are also dyes & artificial flavors added, which are also, obviously, unnatural. While these ingredients are approved by the FDA, that doesn't mean they're GOOD for us. It simply means they're not going to kill us. Our bodies don't know how to process things like "sodium hexametaphosphate" and will oftentimes react negatively to them: nausea, diarrhea or constipation, headaches and more severe reactions. Why put yourself through that? Read labels.
There are more basics I'll add later, I'm sure, but this should help you get started.
"Dieting" doesn't have to be hard, just pay closer attention to what you're doing. Most of this is common sense.
But there are some basics, too that you need to know if you're going to tackle any weight/fitness/health issue.
1) Hydration
You've heard that you need to drink 8 glasses of water a day. What you may not have heard is WHY. Our bodies are designed perfectly to heal and protect us...as long as we're giving it what it needs to do this. Water not only helps with maintaining good skin & hair, but it flushes toxins from our bodies. When we work our muscles, those muscles put off toxins that can ultimately damage our health. Whether you're in the gym 5 days a week or just folding a load of laundry, you're working muscles. Obviously, the more the muscles are worked, the more toxins they produce, but either way, you have to get the toxins out of your body. Plain water is the best way to do this. The more you drink, the better, but at a minimum, you should be drinking eight 8oz glasses each day. If you're awake twelve hours a day, that's only a bottle of water every three hours.
When you don't get enough water, you will feel it. Chances are your body will retain water (think PMS bloating, for instance). Your ankles may get puffy, your face may feel swollen. You'll notice it when you get up in the morning - those sheet marks on your face? They're not from sleeping too hard on wrinkled linens. They're from not being hydrated. Same with the wrinkles toes & fingers when you're in the bath too long.
How do you know you're getting enough water? Your pee should be almost clear. (Yes, I know that's graphic.)
2) Sleep
When it comes to sleep, you're going to have to follow the whole "Do as I say, not as I do" thing, I'm afraid. I am HORRIBLE about maintaining a good sleep schedule. I know what I need to do. I just don't always do it. Six to eight hours is a good amount of sleep. Ideally, you should go to bed at the same time each night and wake up the same time each morning in order to keep yourself on a schedule, urging your body to function the way it should on a schedule, as well.
Stress and illness can wreak havoc on your sleep schedule. This shouldn't come as a surprise. What might surprise you, though is learning that sitting around all day without doing anything physical can also cause sleeplessness. If you aren't exerting your body in any way, it has nowhere to spend the energy you're taking in. That energy *has* to be spent somewhere. If you're working out, that energy is spent during your work out. If you're not, though, that energy seeps out during the time when you *should* be sleeping. That's where you get that late night "second wind."
3) Eating well
Obviously eating healthy foods are going to contribute to overall better health & weight loss. But instead of seeking out "low-fat," "low cal," or "diet" foods, you should be looking at the labels and choosing natural, organic or whole foods. If you look at the label and you can't pronounce the first few ingredients, put it back. For those who don't know, the list of ingredients on a label are listed in the order from highest concentration to the lowest. Let's look at the label for "Hawaiian Punch- Fruit Juicy Red", for instance:
INGREDIENTS:
Water, high fructose corn syrup and 2% or less of each of the following: concentrated juices (pineapple, orange, passionfruit, apple), purees (apricot, papaya, guava), citric acid, natural and artificial flavors, pectin, gum acadia, glycerol ester of wood rosin, sodium hexametaphosphate, red #40, blue#1, sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate (preservatives), ascorbic acid (vitamin C).
Water is the first ingredient. This isn't bad. High fructose corn syrup. This is a manufactured ingredient, which means it's not natural. The third ingredients listed are a very small percentage of fruit juices. What this means is that there is more corn syrup in this juice than there is actual juice. There are also dyes & artificial flavors added, which are also, obviously, unnatural. While these ingredients are approved by the FDA, that doesn't mean they're GOOD for us. It simply means they're not going to kill us. Our bodies don't know how to process things like "sodium hexametaphosphate" and will oftentimes react negatively to them: nausea, diarrhea or constipation, headaches and more severe reactions. Why put yourself through that? Read labels.
There are more basics I'll add later, I'm sure, but this should help you get started.
"Dieting" doesn't have to be hard, just pay closer attention to what you're doing. Most of this is common sense.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
I never even thought about this.
My twelve-year-old hugged me tonight.
She wrapped her arms around my waist and hugged me.
Normally, this wouldn't constitute anything newsworthy; she hugs me all the time and is plentiful with her affection. Tonight, though, she said "Mom, I can get my arms wrapped all the way around you and grab my wrists!"
I asked her "Was this not the case before?"
She answered, "No, mom. I could touch my fingers, but I couldn't grab my wrists. You're doing so good, Mom!"
That, my friends, is progress.
She wrapped her arms around my waist and hugged me.
Normally, this wouldn't constitute anything newsworthy; she hugs me all the time and is plentiful with her affection. Tonight, though, she said "Mom, I can get my arms wrapped all the way around you and grab my wrists!"
I asked her "Was this not the case before?"
She answered, "No, mom. I could touch my fingers, but I couldn't grab my wrists. You're doing so good, Mom!"
That, my friends, is progress.
Friday, October 2, 2009
Boosting immunity
Somebody just asked how to boost your immunity.
THIS is it. I use it religiously.
I've always been pretty skeptical when it comes to herbal remedies and I think we all know where I stand on medication, so for me to stand behind ImmuCore, you know I'm not blowing smoke.
My chiropractor recommended it to me a couple years ago when I'd been fighting sinus infections. He is able to kick my body back into shape through adjustments, of course, but sometimes our bodies are so reliant on outside help that they don't stay in adjustment like they should. He suggested I try this to help that.
Whenever I feel myself getting run down, sniffly, stuffed up, nauseous or any other number of symptoms, I take two ImmuCore. Typically that's enough for my body to take over and build the T-cells it needs to fight off whatever is trying to take over. If it helps a little bit, but doesn't take away the symptoms, I'll take another one an hour later. If, by then, I'm not feeling better, I schedule an appointment with my chiro and have him adjust me. These steps always take care of the problem.
I'm amazed at how well this product works for me and my family. Because of ImmuCore and my chiropractor, I don't even have a regular medical doctor anymore. Ironically, I'm healthier for it!
THIS is it. I use it religiously.
I've always been pretty skeptical when it comes to herbal remedies and I think we all know where I stand on medication, so for me to stand behind ImmuCore, you know I'm not blowing smoke.
My chiropractor recommended it to me a couple years ago when I'd been fighting sinus infections. He is able to kick my body back into shape through adjustments, of course, but sometimes our bodies are so reliant on outside help that they don't stay in adjustment like they should. He suggested I try this to help that.
Whenever I feel myself getting run down, sniffly, stuffed up, nauseous or any other number of symptoms, I take two ImmuCore. Typically that's enough for my body to take over and build the T-cells it needs to fight off whatever is trying to take over. If it helps a little bit, but doesn't take away the symptoms, I'll take another one an hour later. If, by then, I'm not feeling better, I schedule an appointment with my chiro and have him adjust me. These steps always take care of the problem.
I'm amazed at how well this product works for me and my family. Because of ImmuCore and my chiropractor, I don't even have a regular medical doctor anymore. Ironically, I'm healthier for it!
It's that time, ladies
True story.
I was watching old episodes of Beverly Hills, 90210 last fall. The episode where the girls do a self exam and Brenda discovers a lump came on. Now, I'll be the first to admit, I'm *NOT* good about remembering to do my checks monthly, so the show was a good reminder.
I didn't know how good.
So at Aaron Spelling's insistence, I felt myself up. I'm all over Lefty. Scar tissue and glands, but no lumps. Awesome! Righty...bah bah bah....checkin' it out...gland....scar tissue....gland...gland...lump....gland....gla....whoa. WTF? What was that? God, it feels like a rock! So I check it from another angle. Hmm...still pea gravel. Shit.
I don't panic, per se, because I've found lumps before. But this one isn't squishy like the other ones so I am concerned. I call my doctor and make an appointment. Upon her examination, she decides that despite my age & health history a mammogram wouldn't be a bad idea. I had the mammogram and ultrasound, both of which determined that there was something there. The radiologist thinks that my lump is probably related to my breast reduction in 1997. Sometimes with reductions there can be fat necrosis (dead tissue) and that necrotic tissue can develop calcium deposits, which is what she thinks is showing up on the scans. She gave me a couple of options as to how we could proceed. Having had a family history of breast cancer, I chose to have it biopsied. As it turns out, the fear I felt was unfounded. It turned out to be the calcium deposit on the scar tissue. They removed almost all of it through the biopsy and while that whole thing was another giant mess (allergies to the medical glue, more necrotic tissue, blah blah), I still have both my boobies.
So this is a reminder, ladies.
Do your exams.
Set aside a day, schedule it on your calendar. Plug it into your Blackberry, Set an email reminder. Do whatever it takes, but do your self exam. It could save your life.
I was watching old episodes of Beverly Hills, 90210 last fall. The episode where the girls do a self exam and Brenda discovers a lump came on. Now, I'll be the first to admit, I'm *NOT* good about remembering to do my checks monthly, so the show was a good reminder.
I didn't know how good.
So at Aaron Spelling's insistence, I felt myself up. I'm all over Lefty. Scar tissue and glands, but no lumps. Awesome! Righty...bah bah bah....checkin' it out...gland....scar tissue....gland...gland...lump....gland....gla....whoa. WTF? What was that? God, it feels like a rock! So I check it from another angle. Hmm...still pea gravel. Shit.
I don't panic, per se, because I've found lumps before. But this one isn't squishy like the other ones so I am concerned. I call my doctor and make an appointment. Upon her examination, she decides that despite my age & health history a mammogram wouldn't be a bad idea. I had the mammogram and ultrasound, both of which determined that there was something there. The radiologist thinks that my lump is probably related to my breast reduction in 1997. Sometimes with reductions there can be fat necrosis (dead tissue) and that necrotic tissue can develop calcium deposits, which is what she thinks is showing up on the scans. She gave me a couple of options as to how we could proceed. Having had a family history of breast cancer, I chose to have it biopsied. As it turns out, the fear I felt was unfounded. It turned out to be the calcium deposit on the scar tissue. They removed almost all of it through the biopsy and while that whole thing was another giant mess (allergies to the medical glue, more necrotic tissue, blah blah), I still have both my boobies.
So this is a reminder, ladies.
Do your exams.
Set aside a day, schedule it on your calendar. Plug it into your Blackberry, Set an email reminder. Do whatever it takes, but do your self exam. It could save your life.
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