A Cup A Day – The Benefits of Drinking Tea

A Cup A Day – The Benefits of Drinking Tea.  Now, here is a topic close to my taste buds.  Wonderful, wonderful tea.  In all it's many shades and potency, herbal, wild, cultivated, grown everywhere there are ideal conditions.
Offered in many styles and methods, preparations and so forth, tea is, inescapably, one of Nature's best "medicines".  

http://blog.homecure.com/

"One of the world’s oldest beverages, tea is the second most commonly consumed liquid on earth besides water. Maybe one of the reasons is the myriad of health benefits associated with drinking tea. If you are not drinking tea yet, you’re missing out on a convenient, potent and delicious health beverage; here are some healthy tea facts that might surprise you:

1.) Tea has less caffeine than coffee. A cup of tea contains approximately 30 mg of caffeine, versus 135 mg in a cup of coffee.
2.) Tea adds to your necessary daily fluid intake, unlike coffee and other beverages which may have a diuretic effect.
3.) Tea has no calories, unless you add milk or a sweetener.
4.) Tea increases your metabolic rate.
5.) Tea contains potent antioxidant properties.
6.) Tea may reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke.
7.) Tea builds strong bones.
8.) Tea contains fluoride and tannins for healthy teeth and gums.

9.) Tea boosts your immune system.

10.) Tea possesses cancer-fighting properties.

Black, Green, White, Oolong and Red TeasIt’s hard to believe, but Black, Green, White and Oolong teas (the four true teas) come from the same plant, known as Camellia sinensis, grown in many parts of the World. The major differences between them are the amount of processing each goes through. Black teas are processed the most and White teas the least. This results in the Black teas having a stronger and bolder taste, while the Green and White teas are much lighter tasting. In addition, Green, Black and Oolong teas come from the upper leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant, while White tea is derived only from the tips of the leaves.
Red teas usually refer to Honeybush or Rooibos teas made from a blend of different plants. Research has shown that Red teas are the healthiest of all the available teas. They have more antioxidant properties than Green teas.
Honeybush (Cyclopia intermedia) is a shrub native to South Africa. This deliciously sweet tea is smooth tasting, lacking the typical bite found in most Green and Black teas, because it contains virtually no tannins and is caffeine free.
Rooibos (Aspalathus linearis) is another plant from South Africa. Rooibos only grows commercially in one small corner of the world – South Africa’s Cederberg district. The soil conditions, rainfall and sunshine of the district can’t be duplicated anywhere else on earth. In order to protect the future of the industry, environmental controls in the area are stringent. Growers take great care to ensure that the fragile Cederberg ecosystem isn’t tempered with or altered. People from this part of the World drink Rooibos tea purely for enjoyment, but also to help relieve insomnia, irritability, headaches, nervous tension, hypertension, skin problems, and stomach cramping and colic in infants. This tea contains no oxalic acid, making it a good beverage for people prone to kidney stones.
Herbal Teas
When you drink a cup of peppermint or chamomile tea you are actually not consuming tea. You are drinking a “tisane” or an “infusion”. Tisane is French for ‘herbal infusion’ and is simply an infusion of dried herbs or fruits. Tisanes and herbal infusions are not true teas since the Camellia plant is not used. However, they are generally referred to as teas since the preparation, enjoyment, and health benefits are similar. Many herbal teas are consumed for medicinal reasons and are naturally caffeine free.
What’s In A Tea Bag?Almost all teas in tea-bags are blends and usually of a lower quality than loose teas. Tea blending may occur in one tea-planting area (e.g. Assam) or the blends may be a combination of teas from diverse tea plantations. The aim of blending is to give the consumer a stable taste over the years and a cheaper price. For only the best quality and taste, we recommend using loose tea, whether brewing a cup of herbal tea or true Camellia sinensis.
How To Brew A Perfect Cup Of Tea
For one cup of hot tea: Measure 1 teaspoon of dried tea of your choice and place into a container. Bring 1 cup of water to a rolling boil and pour over the tea and steep to desired strength. Strain and enjoy.
For a cup of iced tea: Follow the above instructions and chill with ice."


http://blog.homecure.com/

A Cup A Day – The Benefits of Drinking Tea. I hope you have enjoyed this article on tea and it's healthful gifts to us all .  Presently, I am sipping on a favorite that is very calming, nourishing and lovely to drink.  Tulsi Tea by Organic India.  It is Holy Basil herbal tea and loaded with antioxidants and other healthful benefits  I purchase my supply at Vitacost.com.  They have the best price and I buy in bulk. 

"The Missing Ingredient for Long Lasting Energy and Focus for School (or Work)*"

"The Missing Ingredient for Long Lasting Energy and Focus for School (or Work)*".  I looked at this type of product for about 5 years and even tried some.  YUK!, that is until I found two whey products that are delectable and powerful super nutrition.  One of them is by Dr. Mercola, and here is what he has to say, excerpted below. You can read the full article by clicking on the link in the text.
http://proteinpowder.mercola.com/Miracle-Whey-Protein.html?e_cid=20110910_DNL_HRL_1
"Ever had one of those days that just seemed to get started on the wrong foot… and as a result the whole day seemed ‘off’?
Perhaps it had something to do with how you began the day…
Isn’t it time to rethink lightning speed breakfasts of nothing but processed ‘stuff’ containing who-knows-what? Why not ADD a speedy, wholesome, energy-infused drink to your breakfast to boost the value of whatever else you eat?*

No longer do you (or your child) have to sit at your desk feeling droopy or lethargic all morning because you had to get up ‘too early’ for work or school. Or rely on a ‘junk food’ breakfast.
Ideally it would be best to prepare a wholesome breakfast from raw whole foods that you enjoy and that nourish and sustain you. However, many of us simply do not have the time to do this every morning, or wake up late and are unable to squeeze something healthy in.
A healthy option would be one made from high quality, whole, raw foods which flood your body with the ‘master’ antioxidant –and also supply you with high protein levels that help keep you going without that mid-morning ‘crash’ you might get from carb-heavy breakfasts.*
What could be better?
I’m sure you’ll also be happy to know that my recommendation provides for immune health support – something every parent wants for their children (especially during the school year), and adults want for themselves.
Plus, you’re going to love how quick and easy this is. It takes about one minute to mix liquid and powder… You can drink it by itself or add a couple free range organic raw eggs and maybe a few fresh berries. You’ll have an extremely nutritious drink to add to your breakfast that’ll help get your day started off on the right foot.
Your body is designed to be healthy. If you provide it with the raw materials it needs such as healthy foods, exercise, pure water, sufficient sleep and avoidance of toxic influences, it will move away from less-than-optimal health and towards health.
One of the ways your body achieves this is by using antioxidants to limit free radical damage that can undermine your health.
Free radicals are reactive particles that bounce around your cells, damaging everything they touch. They become active (or reactive) due to stress, poor diet, toxins in your environment, and even as a result of the process of metabolism.
They can accelerate aging.
Fortunately your body has a number of antioxidants that help to sweep up free radicals and neutralize them so they can't rob you of your good health.

You have an antioxidant network comprised of vitamins, minerals, and special chemicals called thiols (glutathione and alpha-lipoic acid).
But the thiol glutathione has a unique role. It seems to have claimed lead status, and keeps all the other antioxidants in line and performing at peak level.*
Glutathione is one of the most powerful antioxidants in your body. It is present in every one of your cells. It's different from other antioxidants in that it is actually inside your cells. It can maximize the activity of all the other antioxidants, including vitamins C and E, CoQ10, alpha lipoic acid, and the fresh veggies and fruits you eat every day.*
So the main function of glutathione is to protect your cells and mitochondria from oxidative and peroxidative damage.* As might be expected, the aging process reduces your body's ability to produce glutathione.*
Since glutathione is so incredibly capable at thwarting those free radicals, you'd think there'd be a big rush to make it into a supplement. And you'd be right.
But glutathione doesn't appear to be as effective in supplement form as it is in real food.
Most oral glutathione supplements are poorly absorbed and often a waste of your hard-earned money. And ironically, glutathione supplements may actually interfere with your body's ability to produce glutathione naturally over time. "
http://proteinpowder.mercola.com/Miracle-Whey-Protein.html?e_cid=20110910_DNL_HRL_1

"...the overall top food for maximizing your glutathione is high quality whey protein. It must be cold pressed whey protein derived from grass fed cows, and free of hormones, chemicals, and sugar.
Quality whey provides all the key amino acids for glutathione production (cysteine, glycine and glutamate) and contains a unique cysteine residue (glutamylcysteine) that is highly bioactive in its affinity for converting to glutathione.
Glutamylcysteine is a bonded cysteine molecule (cysteine plus glutamate) that naturally occurs in Bovine Serum Albumin – a fragile immune component of whey. This unique cysteine is exclusive to whey and rarely appears in other protein foods – which makes whey protein the best glutathione-promoting food source.*
Furthermore, whey provides critical co-factors, immunoglobulins, lactoferrin and alpha Lactalbumin (also a great source of cysteine), which together help create the right metabolic environment for high glutathione activity.*

Why Supplement Your Diet with an All-Natural Whey Protein Powder?

"Particularly as you age, your body gradually loses its ability to produce critical amino acids -- the essential proteins you need for energy production, immune actions and protein buildup in the muscle.

Therefore, the need to supplement with these amino acids increases as you get older and increases even more in times of high physical stress, like after a workout, or when recovering from injury or illness.
 That's where whey protein comes in...
Whey protein contains all the essential amino acids*. Plus it boasts the highest protein quality rating among all proteins. Thus, it is a complete protein.
Whey protein is a by-product of the cheese manufacturing process. At one time it was discarded or used for animal feed, but researchers later realized whey protein has incredible benefits for humans.
High-quality whey protein can have dramatic effects. Benefits include:

• Supports your immune health*
• Boosts your energy*
• Supports your joint and muscle health*
• Supports your beneficial gut bacteria*
• Promotes your muscle strength, endurance and recovery*
• Protects all your tissues' cells via its antioxidant properties*
• Provides critical amino acids and proteins for overall optimal health*
• Supports your body's optimal metabolic rate and fat burning level*

You can quickly see why whey protein is so beneficial for anyone living an active lifestyle.
Personally, I enjoy drinking shakes from whey protein powder -- there's no better way to greet the day or finish a workout than with a tasty cold protein shake.
To boost the protein content even further, I sometimes add two organic, free-range eggs that I purchase from a local farmer. It’s an excellent post-workout meal… it keeps me going all morning.
But, finding a protein powder that contains the right proteins, in the most effective blend, with the most nutritionally beneficial outcomes, AND actually tastes good can be a real challenge... "
http://proteinpowder.mercola.com/Miracle-Whey-Protein.html?e_cid=20110910_DNL_HRL_1
"The Missing Ingredient for Long Lasting Energy and Focus for School or Work (or Work)*".  I have been using protein powder whey for about 3 months now and I can say it really, really makes a difference in my energy and strength.  It also has increased my stamina which is much appreciated by any person who is dealing with the effects of aging upon the physical body.

Supersize Chi: The Spiritual Cost of Over consumption.

Supersize Chi: The Spiritual Cost of Over consumption. Oh, Wow!  This article really says it like it is.  It requires a real, deep, focused, honest look at oneself after reading this power packed information. 
Like many of us, I struggle with this gnarly issue of over consumption myself. 
I love, love, love so many things.  Yikes!   
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kelley-harrell/supersize-chi-the-spiritu_1_b_954683.html
"In a culture in which more is better and excess is revered, the ramifications of consumerist decadence on spiritual wellbeing are pervasive. The urge to overconsume is everywhere. Try finding a unit price of a single item that is cheaper than buying in bulk. Economic considerations aside, the commercial appeal to the baser hunter-gatherer mentality always pushes, "Why have one when you can have three?!" Value meals, bulk household supplies, combo insurance premiums, BOGO clothing ... You name it, we bloat it, then encourage all our friends to join in. We over eat, we over consume, we overspend, frequently all at once."


"True to capitalist form, when we identify such a cultural dilemma we not only exploit it, we make it entertainment. Obesity, hoarding, and clutter litter prime time slots on network programming. Ironically, we sit on our couches and tune in to watch other people lose weight on NBC's "The Biggest Loser." TLC hosts the reality television show "Hoarding -- Buried Alive," programming that precariously peers into the lives of those who not only can't stop over-consuming, but can't throw away evidence of it."  Animal Planet raises the bar higher, presenting "Confessions: Animal Hoarding,"

"... delving into the lives of people who keep pets as possessions, often to the detriment of owner and animal. The trend has even caught on in contemporary fiction. To be released next year, "Coveted" by Shawntelle Madison, is the first installment of an urban fantasy literary series about a female werewolf hoarder. To date, the main character is a werewolf who hoards holiday knickknacks. It's easy to look at these extreme examples of overconsumption and believe that these people are different, they are ill, unlike us. What does that judgment say about our culture, over all? We consider excess a cultural right, perhaps even a means to greater social mobility. Having more stuff fills our needs, right? If that's true, why, then, do we see the pattern of overconsumption and clutter creating immobility, and how does that stagnancy affect us spiritually?

Individuals who overeat, over-consume and hoard may be poorly balanced spiritually. The etheric field is comprised of the body, the chakra system, the body's meridians, and the subtly perceivable electrical and ethereal space around the whole works. What we call life force (chi, ki or prana, depending on your cultural influence) moves smoothly throughout the etheric field when we're healthy, connecting us with the etheric fields of others, of the planet, etc. When we're not well, the flow of life force gets out of balance; thus, we don't connect so well with our environment.


"Looking specifically at the chakra system -- seven or more primary energy bridges roughly visualized along the spine -- we can see and measure our stages of development in the formed world. Roughly speaking, our upper spiritual chakras allow us to connect into the soul realm; thus, they connect us with our spiritual purpose. The lower earth chakras root us into the nature realm, giving us the tools to manifest our purpose. When chakra imbalance manifests in overactive Earth chakras and under-active spiritual chakras this state indicates more energy is devoted to material "stuff" than to tapping into the soul's needs. The imbalance can also occur the other way. An overactive crown and under-active root indicates too much emphasis on escapist dreaming of spiritual plans, leaving us without the motivation to actually enact them." 


"When we fall out of etheric balance, we generally don't feel well emotionally, physically or both, and our lives stagnate. We care less about taking care of ourselves and our space. In short, when we stagnate life goes on, literally and figuratively piling up around us. Clutter without mirrors the clutter within. In our ideal state of divining our spiritual needs and bringing them into being, we're healthy, connected to our space, and balance our consumption according to true need.


Another spiritual factor influencing the drive to overconsume is commonly called soul loss, or what I think of as "soul shelving." When we suffer a trauma from which we feel we aren't moving on, the shamanic narrative interprets that state as a facet of the soul having become inaccessible. Everyone experiences soul loss at some point, as it is a natural state of healing and growth. When we need access to that soul aspect and can't reconnect with it problems arise, such as chronic patterns of depression, distress in relationships and in fulfilling personal obligations. If soul "loss" isn't recognized for the spiritual lack that it is, we attempt to fill ourselves with anything that will temporarily make us feel alive. In a compromised spiritual state, it's too easy to think that we can buy happiness. Superficial filling distances us emotionally from what we don't want to deal with. What we can't feel, we can't heal. Eve Ensler shared similar insight on emotional filling and its dissociating effect on the state of her health in a recent presentation "Suddenly, my body." Her story expresses the epitome of the common belief, "If I ignore it and fill myself with something else, it will go away." It didn't for Ensler. It doesn't for anyone. When we examine such stagnancy through the lens of soul loss, we become able to integrate our power into a focused, functioning drive toward wellness in our personal lives."


"In an animistic worldview, all things are connected. What, then, is the collective soul price? The immediate impact lies in the earth, itself. Disregard for the self reflects disregard for the environment. In his book, "Green Psychology: Transforming Our Relationship to the Earth," Ralph Metzner describes that interconnectedness as resulting in ecocide. Modernized humans, by virtue of how we live, are at war with Nature. The trash from living lavishly has to be discarded in some ocean, some forest. 


The resources to supply our demand have to be extracted from some precious naturescape. By harming the planet we're harming ourselves, and vice versa. On a level closer to home, we look again at the etheric field, through which every thing is connected. What we don't heal in ourselves we pass on to others. It shows up in our relationships, our children, our work performance. It affects how we live in the space around us, how we treat ourselves and others. Our obligation to heal our spiritual wounds lies not only with ourselves but to every thing.


"Promising is the fact that within that connection lies the power to heal over-consumption and clutter. When we begin to declutter our lives, we create a domino effect of wellness. By becoming mindful of our own living style, we can stop the cycle of excess. We become aware of what we need versus what we want. We become aware of others' needs. In that awareness we take better care of our surroundings and learn to foster their health, as well. When we make peace with the state of our physicality, we unearth the sources of emotional and spiritual needs and we begin the journey to heal them. We start to feel empowered. When we feel better we incorporate better living patterns for ourselves, our health improves, and we raise the life force of every thing. In that union, how we choose to live in our personal lives and space truly does affect the life force of All Things.   Bless us all with radiant well being by taking exquisite care of yourself."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kelley-harrell/supersize-chi-the-spiritu_1_b_954683.html

Supersize Chi: The Spiritual Cost of Over consumption.  Here is the truth of the matter:  I would like to add this statement from the author. When we make peace with the state of our physicality, we unearth the sources of emotional and spiritual needs and we begin the journey to heal them. We start to feel empowered. When we feel better we incorporate better living patterns for ourselves, our health improves, and we raise the life force of every thing. In that union, how we choose to live in our personal lives and space truly does affect the life force of All Things.   

Bless us all with radiant well being by taking exquisite care of yourself."  AMEN.

Still Carrying Around This Potent Neurotoxin Next to Your Brain?

Still Carrying Around This Potent Neurotoxin Next to Your Brain?  I didn't know much about this topic until my personal physician who is also a homeopathic
medical doctor told me about toxic poisoning from amalgams. 

 It took almost ten years to take care of 

the problem, because you do dump a lot of toxins into your blood stream as they leach from their former housing.  

Moreover, you do get sick.  Well worth the cost 

if this is a medical 

concern to you.

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/09/04/mercury-poisoning-from-silver-fillings.aspx?e_cid=20110904_SNL_Art_1

"Sadly, only one in four people is aware that silver amalgams contain mercury, and the dental industry is capitalizing on that ignorance. Part of the problem is that the very name "silver fillings" seems to imply they are made of silver, a misdirection that has kept a good majority of consumers in the dark for a long time. Alas, amalgams consist of more than 50 percent mercury. When confronted about this, the industry response is that the term "silver" is meant to denote the color, not the constitution…

However, dentists have also been actively persuaded to keep this information under tight wraps, and they are under no obligation whatsoever to inform their patients about the mercury content of amalgam fillings. As recently as 2009, the FDA ruled that no warning shall be issued to patients—not even to young women and parents of young children—that the mercury from the amalgam fillings is a reproductive toxin and a neurotoxin, despite the fact that pregnant women and young children are at greatest risk from mercury toxicity.


Americans: Our #1 problem is the Food and Drug Administration, which has partnered with the American Dental Association to cover up the mercury, to make you think you are getting silver instead of mercury in your mouth. The FDA intentionally conceals the warnings about amalgam deep in its regulation -- so parents will never see them. On its website, the FDA gives dentists the green light to continue to deceive consumers with the term "silver fillings"
"Americans are ready for the end of amalgam." This was the theme of the testimony to the U.S. Department of State on August 18 by former West Virginia state Senator Charlotte Pritt. Yes, Americans are ready. But FDA is not. So let's send them a message.
Nine months ago, FDA scientists advised the agency to disclose the mercury to all patients and parents, and to stop amalgam for children and pregnant women. Yet FDA sits – sits actually in the pocket of the American Dental Association – ignoring its own scientists.
Please write the Director of FDA's Center for Devices, Jeff Shuren, jeff.shuren@fda.hhs.gov Ask Dr Shuren why FDA continues to ignore the scientists and covers up the mercury from American parents and consumers. Ask when FDA is going to get in step with the world on mercury."

Dr. Jeff Shuren, Director
Center for Devices, U.S. Food & Drug Admin.
10903 New Hampshire Ave.
WO66-5431, Room 5442
Silver Spring, MD 20993-0002
Telephone: 301-796-5900
Fax: 301-847-8149
Fax: 301-847-8109

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/09/04/mercury-poisoning-from-silver-fillings.aspx?e_cid=20110904_SNL_Art_1

BEWARE! Amalgams Must Be Removed PROPERLY

"It should be clear that there's simply no such thing as a safe mercury filling. However, please do NOT make the mistake of having your amalgam fillings removed by a dentist who is not properly trained in safe amalgam removal. Doing so could expose you to tremendous health risks, due to the large amounts of mercury vapor being released during the removal process.
Research has shown that if you do not take proper safety precautions during the removal process, mercury levels in your blood can rise three to four-fold, which may result in acute toxicity.
SO PLEASE …
Make sure to use a so-called biological dentist that is trained in properly removing mercury fillings. Some things that need to be done to keep you (and your dentist) safe during the procedure include:

• Providing you with an alternative air source and instructing you not to breathe through your mouth
• Using a cold-water spray to minimize mercury vapors
• Putting a rubber dam in your mouth so you don't swallow or inhale any toxins
• Using a high-volume evacuator near the tooth at all times to evacuate the mercury vapor
• Washing your mouth out immediately after the fillings have been removed (the dentist should also change gloves after the removal)
• Immediately cleaning your protective wear and face once the fillings are removed
• Using room air purifiers

For a complete description of how to safely remove mercury amalgam, see this PDF created by the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology (IAOMT). The proper procedure is also explained in the featured video.
Here are several sources to help you locate a dentist trained in biological dentistry:

• Consumers for Dental Choice's Campaign for Mercury-Free Dentistry
• IAOMT's database
• International Academy of Biological Dentistry and Medicine
• The Holistic Dental Association

Avoid making the same mistake I did 20 years ago when I had all my amalgams removed by a competent dentist who was an elder at the church I attended. Unfortunately, he was clueless about mercury toxicity and used no precautions and as result I got kidney damage. Additionally, I had to remove all the crowns he put in because they were metal. It was a very expensive and health damaging mistake.
I also suggest you get healthy BEFORE having your fillings removed, as you want your detoxification mechanisms optimized prior to removal. To remove mercury that has already accumulated in your body, I highly recommend reviewing my Mercury Detoxification Protocol, which details the things you can do right now to help rid your body of this toxin. If your mercury levels are seriously elevated, you should work with a knowledgeable health care practitioner to help you through the detoxification process. "

Still Carrying Around This Potent Neurotoxin Next to Your Brain?  Read a great deal more on this topic and natural ways to help yourself.  Link below:

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/09/04/mercury-poisoning-from-silver-fillings.aspx?e_cid=20110904_SNL_Art_1

The Common Toxin that Can Be FAR More Damaging than Pesticides and Heavy Metals

The Common Toxin that Can Be FAR More Damaging than Pesticides and Heavy Metals.  We have had to deal with this problem a number of times here in Northern California.  Especially during prolonged seasonal wet cycles from November through May.  I felt it really important to publish excerpts from this well documented and researched article by Dr. Mercola, on what mold can do to you physically.  It darned near killed me.   


The timing is such that everyone who lives in areas where mold is a problem can have a "head's up" on some very practical things to do to avoid mold development during the forthcoming fall and winter seasons.



"Mold in your home, school or workplace can pose a number of serious health problems that you may not realize are related to mold exposure. This article is part of a series of articles I'm writing about this silent health threat. The focus of this particular article will be on some of the more serious medical conditions—some deadly—with which mold has been associated.
For an overview of mold—where you might find it, how to identify it, and how to get rid of it—refer to this previous article.
In a previous interview with mold expert Dr. Jack Thrasher, he estimated that as many as 40 percent of American schools and 25 percent of homes have mold infestations, unbeknownst to the people occupying those buildings. It follows that adverse health effects of mold may be reaching pandemic levels.
Growing right along with mold are what are called "gram negative" and "gram positive" bacteria. Just like mold, they require moisture and organic material to thrive and are often found growing in the same places as mold, and the synergistic action between mold and bacteria further worsen inflammatory health conditions. Oftentimes, bacterial infections occur alongside fungal infections and make treatment more complicated.
Everyone is potentially at risk for toxic mold exposure, regardless of your geographic region, climate, socioeconomic status, race, age or gender. As with most other medical challenges, knowledge is your most powerful weapon."


"Scientific research has been emerging that connects mold exposure with various health conditions for which the causes were previously unknown. For example, in 2010, Fisk et al published a meta-analysis showing a substantially significant association between residential dampness and mold with respiratory infections and bronchitis. Dr. Michael Gray has compiled a database of conditions reported in the literature of adverse health effects of fungi in man and other species. These include, but are not limited to, the following conditions—some common and some relatively esoteric:



http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/09/03/molds-making-you-ill.aspx?e_cid=20110903_DNL_art_3

Mold CAN Hurt You

Many common health problems may be associated with mold exposure, but very few people have connected the dots. This is why it is SO important for you to be aware of the seriousness of this problem and become familiar with what to look for.
From a toxicity point of view, some mycotoxins (toxic substances produced by mold) are actually far more toxic than heavy metals, in terms of concentration. Mycotoxins also tend to affect more biological systems in your body than do pesticides or heavy metals, partly because fungi have the ability to dodge your immune system by rapidly mutating, while at the same time producing chemicals that suppress your immune system.
If your immune system is stressed in any way, or if you are extremely sensitive and have allergy-like reactions to a variety of agents (see Multiple Chemical Sensitivity syndrome or MCS), then you may be even MORE sensitive to mold than the average person and have chronic symptoms directly related to mold in your environment. But even if you are generally healthy, mold can still pose a significant risk if you are caught off-guard.

Deadly Mycotoxins Can Cross Into Your Brain From Your Nose and Eyes

Mycotoxins are chemical toxins present within or on the surface of the mold spore, which you then unwittingly inhale, ingest, or touch. These mold toxins are extremely potent and often affect nearly every organ system in your body. Some effects resemble radiation sickness. Some are neurotoxic and produce central nervous system effects, including cognitive and behavioral changes, ataxia and convulsions. Approximately 70 percent of the people with confirmed exposure to toxigenic molds exhibit significant neurotoxicity.
Scientists believe that mycotoxins are the organism's way of holding a competitive edge by defeating other organisms that are trying to thrive in the same environment—like humans, for example.
One of the reasons mycotoxins are so toxic is they can cross directly into your brain. According to Dr. Thrasher, your olfactory neurons are in direct communication with your brain—there is no barrier. Anything you have inhaled or smelled, even if it doesn't have an odor, can go directly into your brain via these olfactory neurons. Mycotoxins have even been found to enter your brain via optic muscles and optic nerves. This lack of a blood-brain barrier has been confirmed in scientific studies.
This creates the potential for mold-induced sinusitis to lead to serious brain complications if left untreated.
More than 200 mycotoxins have been identified from common molds. Mycotoxins interfere with RNA synthesis and may cause DNA damage. Mycotoxins, even in minute quantities, are lipid-soluble and readily absorbed by your intestinal lining, airways and skin. Even spores that are no longer able to reproduce can still harm your health due to these mycotoxins—in other words, "dead" mold spores are every bit as dangerous as "live" ones. The spores do not produce the toxins—rather, it is thought that the toxins are produced when the spores are produced, by the mold colony.
The mycotoxins that have probably received the most attention by researchers are the trichothecenes, produced by Stachybotyrs chartarum and Aspergillus versicolor, two of the molds I'd like to discuss due to their especially toxic effects."

The Common Toxin that Can Be FAR More Damaging than Pesticides and Heavy Metals.  I hope that you will make use of this health warning and protect 
yourselves because the medical costs to deal with a mold problem are in
 the tens of thousands of dollars.  


On top of all that misery, you have the other burden of what it takes to fix your home.   It was extremely costly as we found out.  

The Forbidden Food You Should Never Stop Eating

The Forbidden Food You Should Never Stop Eating.  In a word: Fat.  But, are you aware of which kind of fat is toxic to your body, ie: canola/rapeseed oil, soy oil, etc. and which is wholesome, ie: organic palm, organic virgin coconut oil, organic virgin olive oil and other food sources?  Dr. Mercola offers a great deal to help you to adjust
from an unhealthy diet to one that will be satisfying as well as healthful.

"Conventional medical authorities say that consumption of saturated animal fats is bad for you and causes heart disease.

But a hundred years ago, fewer than than one in one hundred Americans were obese, and coronary heart disease was unknown. The Procter and Gamble started marketing Crisco as a new kind of food -- the first commercially marketed trans fat. Crisco was originally used to make candles and soap, but with electrification causing a decline in candle sales, Procter and Gamble decided to promote the fat as a “healthier” all-vegetable-derived shortening
According to LewRockwell.com:

“Feeding high doses of fat and cholesterol to omnivores, like rats and dogs, does not produce atherosclerotic lesions in them ... In fact, it turns out that people who have highest percentage of saturated fat in their diets have the lowest risk of heart disease ... The last word on this subject should go to Julia Child ... Enjoy eating saturated fats, they’re good for you."

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/09/01/enjoy-saturated-fats-theyre-good-for-you.aspx?e_cid=20110901_DNL_art_1

"The demonization of saturated fat began in 1953, when Dr. Ancel Keys published a paper comparing saturated fat intake and heart disease mortality. His theory turned out to be flimsy, to say the least, but the misguided ousting of saturated fat has continued unabated ever since. Fortunately, the truth is finally starting to come out, as medical scientists have begun to seriously question Keys' findings."

"Time to Put Ancel Keys' Theory to Rest.  Keys based his theory on a study of six countries, in which higher saturated fat intake equated to higher rates of heart disease. However, he conveniently ignored data from 16 other countries that did not fit his theory. Had he chosen a different set of countries, the data would have shown that increasing the percent of calories from fat reduces the number of deaths from coronary heart disease.

And, as illustrated in the featured article, when you include all 22 countries for which data was available at the time of his study, you find that those who consume the highest percentage of saturated fat have the lowest risk of heart disease.
Furthermore, many have now realized that it's the trans fat found in margarine, vegetable shortening, and partially hydrogenated vegetable oils that is the true villain, causing far more significant health problems than saturated fat ever could!
Still, despite the scientific evidence, the low-fat dogma remains a favorite among most government health authorities. Case in point: the most recent food chart issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in December of last year, recommends reducing your saturated fat intake to a mere seven percent of caloric intake—down from its previously recommended 10 percent… "

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/09/01/enjoy-saturated-fats-theyre-good-for-you.aspx?e_cid=20110901_DNL_art_1


"Carbohydrates, Not Fat, is the Root of Obesity and Heart Disease
Heart disease is so common today, it's hard for people to remember that a mere 100 years ago, this disease was really uncommon. As Dr. Donald Miller writes in the featured article:

"There were 500 cardiologists practicing in the U.S. in 1950. There are 30,000 of them now – a 60-fold increase for a population that has only doubled since 1950."

Such an explosion of heart disease indicates that something has changed that is contributing to this epidemic.
What is that "something"?
Our diet!
Most likely, the studies that have linked the so-called "Western diet" to an increased heart disease risk simply confirm that sugar and refined carbohydrates are harmful to your heart health. Because although the Western diet is high in red and processed meats and saturated fats, it's also alarmingly high in sugar and refined carbs like bread and pasta. And, as concluded in the last study listed above, when you reduce saturated fat and increase refined carbohydrates, you end up promoting obesity, heart disease and diabetes...
Gary Taubes has also done an excellent job of explaining the connection between carbs and obesity and its related health issues in his book Why We Get Fat: and what to do about it.

 "In a nutshell, eating fat and protein does not make you fat—carbohydrates do.I firmly believe the two primary keys for successful weight management and reducing your risk for diabetes, heart disease and other weight-related health problems are:

1. Severely restricting carbohydrates (sugars, fructose, and grains) in your diet, and
2. Increasing healthy fat consumption  

1. Healthy Fat Tips to Live By "So please remember, you do need a certain amount of healthy fat, while at the same time you'll want to avoid the unhealthy varieties. The easiest way to accomplish this is to simply eliminate processed foods, which are high in all things detrimental to your health: sugar, carbs, and dangerous types of fats.

After that, these tips can help ensure you're eating the right fats for your health:

• Use organic butter made from raw grass-fed milk instead of margarines and vegetable oil spreads. Butter is a healthy whole food that has received an unwarranted bad rap.
• Use coconut oil for cooking. It is far superior to any other cooking oil and is loaded with health benefits. (Remember that olive oil should be used COLD, drizzled over salad or fish, for example, not to cook with.)
• Following my nutrition plan will automatically reduce your modified fat intake, as it will teach you to focus on healthy whole foods instead of processed junk food.
• To round out your healthy fat intake, be sure to eat raw fats, such as those from avocados, raw dairy products, and olive oil, and also take a high-quality source of animal-based ."

 http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/09/01/enjoy-saturated-fats-theyre-good-for-you.aspx?e_cid=20110901_DNL_art_1

The Forbidden Food You Should Never Stop Eating.  My fats include organic virgin coconut and olive oils, pure, organic butter, Asian hot oils, curry oils, so on.  I particularly love coconut oil for what it does to  your hair, skin and nails.  It is a 
very nurturing oil, and wonderful to cook with.  Here is where I buy it in bulk online to save money.  http://tropicaltraditions.com   One gallon of virgin organic coconut oil
lasts me about 6 months. 

16 Reasons Why You Can't Stick to Your Diet

16 Reasons Why You Can't Stick to Your Diet. No kidding.  What an impossible, nerve wracking, agonizing task it is to diet.  It is so necessary to maintain optimal weight to maintain optimal health, but WHY? does it have to be so blasted difficult that a person surrenders in defeat.  Dr. Mercola has some excellent views on this topic excerpted here:

"Your "Diet" Could be Making You Fat

When many people want to lose weight, they start off by going on a "diet." This usually means cutting calories, eating lots of salads, skipping breakfast and/or restricting food intake even if you feel hungry. Usually "diets" are viewed as a short-term sacrifice intended to get the weight off, at which point many people revert back to their old eating habits and subsequently regain the weight.

So what does a truly healthy diet entail?
For the majority of people, severely restricting carbohydrates such as sugars, fructose, and grains in your diet will be the key to weight loss. Refined carbohydrates like breakfast cereals, bagels, waffles, pretzels, and most other processed foods quickly break down to sugar, increase your insulin levels, and cause insulin resistance, which is the number one underlying factor of nearly every chronic disease and condition known to man, including weight gain.
As you cut these dietary villains from your meals, it is important to replace them with healthy substitutes like vegetables, proteins and fats.
Your body prefers the carbohydrates in vegetables rather than grains and sugars because it slows the conversion to simple sugars like glucose, and decreases your insulin level. When you cut grains and sugar from your meals, you typically will need to radically increase the amount of vegetables you eat, as well as make sure you are also consuming protein and healthy fats regularly. I've detailed a step-by-step guide to this type of healthy eating program in my comprehensive nutrition plan, and I urge you to consult this guide if you are trying to lose weight. "



http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/08/31/16-reasons-why-you-cant-stick-to-your-diet.aspx?e_cid=20110831_DNL_art_3

"Why Eating Low Fat is the Weight Loss Kiss of Death

For most Americans, when they think of a diet that promotes weight loss, they think of a diet that shuns butter, nuts, red meat, cheese, and virtually any other food that's high in fat. But let me stress to you that eating healthy fat does not make you fat! The sooner you let go of this deeply engrained myth, the sooner you will be able to reach your weight loss goals, as many people replace healthy fats in their diet with refined carbs, sugar and fructose -- which is the exact opposite of what you need to do to lose weight.
So let me repeat: eating healthy fats is conducive to weight loss.
When you eat fats as part of your meal, they actually slow down your food absorption so that you can go longer without feeling hungry.
Case in point is the fat conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), found in grass-fed beef and full-fat raw dairy products from grass-fed cows (raw butter, raw milk, raw-milk cheese, etc.), is also associated with reduced body fat and weight.
A study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that people who ate 3.2 grams of CLA a day had a drop in fat mass of about 0.2 pounds a week (that's about one pound a month) compared to those given a placebo. Research also shows that women who ate at least one serving of full-fat dairy a day gained 30 percent less weight over a nine-year period than women who ate only low-fat (or no) dairy products.
When it comes to weight loss, I believe there are two primary dietary recommendations that directly conflict with most people's dietary choices but could make a very big difference for them:

1. Severely restricting carbohydrates (sugars, fructose, and grains) in your diet
2. Increasing healthy fat consumption

Strength training is also important for weight loss, as one of the most time-efficient ways to burn more calories is actually to gain more muscle! For every pound of additional muscle you gain, your body will burn an additional 50-70 calories per day. So, if you gain 10 pounds of muscle, you will automatically burn 500-700 more calories per day than you did before.


Furthermore, your muscles also participate in the regulation of glucose and lipid metabolism and insulin sensitivity, protecting you against obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Virtually everyone, from kids to seniors, can benefit from strength training; unfortunately many still make the mistake of equating weight training with "bulking up." Please understand that strength training is not just about "looking good." It's also an important part of maintaining a healthy weight, strengthening your bones, and improving posture, range of motion and functionality of your body."


http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/08/31/16-reasons-why-you-cant-stick-to-your-diet.aspx?e_cid=20110831_DNL_art_3


16 Reasons Why You Can't Stick to Your Diet:  I am a bit of a rebel when it comes to deciding what is best for my body and what is plain, ordinary, everyday bull----.  When I was a Critical Care Registered Nurse Clinician, who specialized in  critical care,cardiac nursing, including open hearts, I was always amazed and frustrated in how often the doctors changed their thinking on a specific item of food to be excluded from a cardiac patient's diet.   Example: low sodium, or regular sodium, caffeine, or no caffeine, solid foods vs semi solids like jello, and so on.  Then there was the issue of cardiac rhythms
that were constantly redefined by some snooty nosed "professors of cardiology" at Harvard Medical School, usually.  Months later a new term would appear and that was the "flavor of the day" mentality.  So, this is why I have never bought into the myth of low fat diets making you slim.  The exact opposite is true.   I use healthy fats like pure creamery butter and most of all, I use pure virgin coconut oil for all my cooking, baking and frying:  http://tropicaltraditions.com, where you can buy it in bulk.  I use a gallon bucket in three months.  
I found that eliminating all gluten foods from my diet, like wheat and various grains like oats, rye, etc. and by eliminating all lectin producing foods like peanut butter and other nut butters and legumes from my diet, painful symptoms produced by those two food groups were totally ameliorated.  Plus I lost twelve pounds just from ditching the gluten foods.  Sure, I miss them, but not the misery gluten causes the body.  Especially with the GMO wheat grown in this country that is screwing up the body even more.