The Bigger Picture

Wow!  So, it seems like so much has changed in our family since we started this natural way of life (and this blog)!  What I find remarkable (yet, overwhelming) is how one small change has led to a BIGGER vision and a healthier lifestyle.

Here are a few things on my "big picture" to-do list:

• Learn how to soak beans
• Beans are sooo good for us, but not the canned kind.  My family loves beans and we are not receiving the nutritional benefits from them.
• Go green with cleaning products
• I'm planning on purchasing Watkins.  So far, I have loved their products.  We've switch our glass cleaners, cleaning wipes and all purpose cleaners over.
• Do a cleanse
• I think this is very important to rid my body of toxins and give me a fresh start.  I'm hoping to do the Candida Diet -I think I'm in need; however, I want to wait until I'm done nursing my son.  If anyone wants to join me on this cleanse, I'd love the support that would bring!
• Work out REGULARLY
• Yeah, I'm not very good at this.  I walk...which my husband tells me is not a work out ;).  So, I'm joining the Y and getting a personal trainer.  Sweating is a great way to release the toxins in our body.  I may be thin, but I am out of shape and lack muscle!

My purpose for this change is I want to be around to see my kids grow up, get married, and play with my grand kids.  I want to be healthy!  Too often we wait until we're ill, go to the doctor, get our meds, and wait for the meds to make us better.  We need to be asking ourselves why are we getting sick!  When we think of health care we think of going to the doctor, right?  So much money is spent on TREATING the illness when we should be working on PREVENTION.  That is my intent - to keep my family far away from the hospitals, far away from medicine, and the traditional American way. If we would ALL focus on prevention I think our "health care" would be different.  Instead of a co-pay for medicine and doctors visits, how about our employers give us gym memberships and a fresh produce allowance?  We could even go so far to say employees would have to meet  fitness requirements.  That would keep us HEALTHY and out of the hospitals.  Isn't that what we want?

Some may be asking how we stay "well".  First, let me say, we do get sick.  We get colds, snotty noses, I've been thrown up on BUT I believe the severity, duration and frequency of these illness is so much better than otherwise would be.  My kids have never been to the doctor for an illness.  I'm not saying there won't come a time when we'll have to go to the doctor, but we try to prevent illness as much as we can. 

Everyday, we take supplements to support our immune system (my kids too):

• Juice Plus - this is NOT a vitamin.  It is a whole food...it's like eating fruits and veggies (think of it as a salad bar in a capsule).  Good food promotes good cells and that is what JP does.
• Pro-biotic - promotes good bacteria - you can buy it at your local health food store
• Fish oil - getting some of that great omega 3!

When I feel a cold coming on, I get my zinc out and double up on my Juice Plus.  It has done wonders!

Aside from supplements we also go to the chiropractor regularly.  Every week we get adjusted.  This has also kept us healthy.  Once again, we go to the chiropractor when we're WELL - not when we're sick and hurting.  We are to maintain our bodies (like a car).  Most people will do anything to be well.  Nothing else matters to us when we're sick then to be healthy again.  Prevention is key!  What do you do to stay well?

This was kind of an impromptu blog session!  I hope you all are staying healthy!  I'm excited to see how more changes will impact my family's life :).

Got Milk?

Just recently I've educated myself more on the subject of dairy.  This, I believe, is a touchy subject.  First of all, let me ask what YOU think about milk.  Do you feel it is a necessity in your diet?  Do you think milk is essential to maintaining good health?  Three years ago I would have answered yes to all the above questions. Now, I believe that milk is nothing more than a toxic beverage.

What I'm about to share with you are facts.  Facts that I feel everyone should know.  When I tell others that my kids don't drink milk (besides breast milk) the majority of people are confused.  How on earth can kids develop big, strong bones with out milk?

What Cow's Milk was Designed For

God created cow's milk to feed baby cows.  As I've heard it so eloquently put by a few people...cow's milk is designed to turn a baby calf into a 400 pound cow.  Humans create milk for their babies, but there comes a point where a baby will ween from nursing.  Even cows don't drink cow's milk when they grow up.  We are not designed to consume cow's milk at the capacity the majority of Americans are consuming it.  Some would argue that we should not consume ANY dairy.

The Facts

Dairy does not prevent osteoporosis.  Shocking, huh?  Milk may contain calcium; however, milk also causes the body to RELEASE even more of it.  For those of you that are are confused or probably shocked, let me rephrase.  No matter how much calcium you are getting with milk, you will always end up losing more. Dairy products contain sodium and animal protein, both of which encourage calcium loss.  Japanese rarely consume milk and we (milk drinking America) have a higher incidence of osteoporosis.  I assure you the research is there.  Be careful when you do your own research and be aware that most of the studies done on milk are done by the American Dairy Council. 

Dairy is toxic to our systems.  In 1994 a new foreign protein (growth hormone) was introduced into the American milk supply.  Twenty-seven countries decided NOT to put this protein into their milk because they weren't sure how safe it was.  We, on the other hand, decided to use this new protein.  The United States has the highest rates of cancer on the planet.  Women who consume a western diet (high fat, animal based diets) have higher breast cancer rates than countries who consume little to no dairy.  In fact, countries that consume little to no dairy virtually have no breast cancer.

The BEST way to get your calcium is by consuming your collard greens along with turnip greens, broccoli, and beans.

There is so much more that could be said on this topic.  Americans have been brain washed into thinking milk is a nutritious beverage, when it's not.

Finally, I have included a link that I found very interesting.  Did you know that food allergies have increased by 265% in America.  Something tells me that our food has changed not our kids.  This video does a wonderful job of explaining why there are so many food allergies and the science behind it.  She even touches base on the subject of milk.

Why Food Allergies have Risen