The Road Less Traveled

Our time on earth is very limited, yet what we accomplish this lifetime determines our fate for the next time around. This posting is a nudge for all of us to live our lives in a more harmonious, more loving way for reasons beyond our fathomable minds. We were all born for a reason, and no two people were brought into this world for the same purpose, but we all have one common goal and that is to manifest our destiny.

We begin to creatively express our gifts in infancy and early childhood, however these gifts are often malnourished. When we fail to listen to what our children are saying, when we take away their self expression, when we force upon them what we feel is best for them (athletics, acting, music etc), their creative self, their destiny begins to be pushed further and further away from accomplishment. It is said that "anyone who interferes with the destiny of another thing will never discover his own".

Yet, we often are fortunate enough to experience many opportunities that will help to awaken what became dormant at a young age. Many times such events occur as blessings in disguise as they present in ways that look like chaos, hurt and  loss. However, the wise person will look at such experiences as opportunities for growth and development and a chance to see the world from a new perspective. The Alchemist says that "every blessing ignored becomes a curse".

In order to achieve your destiny, to walk your path, you must first know what it is you want. Start with the most important aspects of your life such as your partnership, your job, yourself (how you want to be a better person and live a healthier more mindful and fulfilling life). The best place to start is by making a list, you can make it as large as you want, but then edit it until you get down to ten things. Then start to communicate these things with yourself and the Universe (whomever you worship or believe in) through prayer and meditation. I would encourage those who are willing to also share certain aspects with your partner as this could be a means of deeper communication and understanding of what each others needs are.

So, in the upcoming year, respond to omens, listen to your heart and follow your dreams because "when you want something, all the Universe conspires in helping you to achieve it".

Pretty in Pink

Ever since President Nixon's announcement declaring "the war on cancer", billions of dollars each year, to this day, have been, and are being spent on cancer research. His speech was given in the winter of 1971 and so far we have progressed only to conclude that conventional cancer treatment is expensive, ineffective and terribly harmful and toxic to the body. We also know that our cancer survival rates have changed very, very little for the past four decades. The drug industry is a half trillion dollar per year world wide conglomerate and North America accounts for 300 billion of this ridiculously large sum of money spent annually.

The American Cancer Society and it's conventional medical partners really aren't doing anything productive with our money. As Dr Andrew Saul simply states, "good health makes a lot of sense, but it doesn't make a lot of money". If every man, woman, child (and animal) were granted the resources to eat an abundance of fresh organic fruits and vegetables and very little, if any, processed foods or genetically modified foods, there would be an "epidemic of health" and large corporations like the American Cancer Society would be out of a very lofty and lucrative business.

The truth is that research doesn't need to be done on conventional cancer treatment, we know that it's limited to surgery, drugs and radiation. We also know that these treatments are brutal acts against the patient, they deplete energy reserves, weaken the immune system, kill both "good" and "bad" cells etc. We also know that there are safer, more effective ways to fight cancer. The research performed on the effects of drinking fresh vegetable juices to help detoxify the body and treat cancer are incalculable. Thousands to millions of people have cured diseases, including cancer by abiding to a diet of fresh organic vegetable juices, organic fruits and vegetables, various herbal supplements and organic whole grains. The problem that the American Cancer Society and the pharmaceutical industry have with this is simple- they can't make a dime on it.

The idea of this sort of old fashioned, prosaic model of healing is that it's not appealing to our modern day society. We tend to think that technology, machines and more expensive treatments are cutting edge and cream of the crop treatments. Truth is, the simpler you live, the healthier you are. The less material items you own, the more money you can spend on fresh organic produce. The less stress you have, the more emotional freedom you have etc. Next time you see organizations collecting money and donations for the pink ribbon foundation, I encourage you to think where that money is really going.

If you do have cancer or you did and have undergone conventional medical treatment or if you in fact choose to choose this treatment method, this article is not intended as a "shame on you" article. It is simply to give you more options on how to prevent re-occurrence, use nutrition and herbs as a conjunct if appealing to you and to educate society on the statistics on how and what our money is truly spent on. We are free to make our own decisions and should not be scolded for one way or the other, only educated on how to choose the path best for us.

Ways to reduce risk of cancer, combat cancer and prevent re-occurrence:

• Drink fresh organic vegetable juices each day (more so if you have cancer or are in remission). Carrot, apple, ginger, greens (kale, spinach, chard), orange. For more details on how to go about this please research The Gerson Therapy: www.gerson.org
• Watch the documentary "A Beautiful Truth"
• Take Flax seed Oil (store in the fridge and buy small quantities at a time)
• Avoid dairy or at the very least milk especially milk with rBGH in it which is an artificial hormone that has been linked to breast cancer. If it's not organic and if it doesn't state "rBGH free" on the label, then it probably contains it
• Eat miso soup and seaweed. Remove the miso from the plastic container when you buy it and transfer into a glass jar. Store in the fridge, will store well. Try to eat seaweeds from the coast of Maine, if you can't find these look for one's from the Pacific. Avoid seaweeds from Japan and other areas.
• Eat a handful of organic goji berries per day
• Resolve your stress
• Meditate
• Do qi gong (qi gong has the best results on well being and mental stability in cancer patients than any other modality. Many cancer patients have done very well with this practice).
• Resolve or forgive anybody in your life who you are holding feelings of blame, grief, worry, anger, disdain, judgment, resentment, or hate against. These tend to be with family members or the people who we're closest to. These emotions have a very powerful influence on disease and resolving disease. 
• Decrease meat consumption, increase consumption of organic fruits and vegetables and organic whole grains
• Eat a gluten free or mostly gluten free diet
• Females, reduce the time per day that you spend wearing a bra
• Maintain a journal. Express emotions, feelings, thoughts anything in a journal. This has very profound healing effects.

"You can fool some of the people all the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can't fool all the people all the time" ~Abraham Lincoln 

*I am required to state that this article is not intended to cure or treat any disease. Please seek the advice of a professional medical doctor before you begin any new health related program. You could be at risk of gaining optimum health.

Interesting Health Facts

I had a difficult time trying to hone in on one topic and decided to make a conglomeration of facts that I find extremely relevant and generally unknown or unsaid by the western medical community. Enjoy.

• 97% of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) occurs after a vaccination
• Cigarrette smoke, from anyone in the household, negates the effects of breast feeding
• Celery is one of the best foods to help reduce blood pressure
• There have been 15 cases of tetanus since 2004
• Applying ice to an injury, especially a chronic injury, will worsen the injury and increase one's risk for further damage (arthritis, tendonitis, etc) to the area
• Applying ice to plantar fasciitis, decreases one's fertility and increases menstrual disorders such as cramping and painful menses
• Cancer is only 10% hereditary (if that)
• Eggs do NOT increase cholesterol (organic, free range)
• One of the best therapies for Cancer patients is qi gong
• Supplementing with over 1,200mg of calcium per day increases one's risk for heart disease
• Cold foods such as ice cream, cold/ice water, over consumption of raw foods, interferes with and slows digestion, decreases vitamin/mineral absorption and may cause bloating, fatigue, loose stools or constipation
• Meditation increases the body's immune system
• Deep, belly breathing decreases anxiety and helps during acute attacks
• Miso soup decreases breast cancer by up to 50%
• Potatoes should be avoided by arthritic patients as they tend to agitate symptoms, however, yams are an excellent remedy for arthritis
• The United States got 2x heavier during the low-fat craze
• Since Bush's "No Child Left Behind" act, physical education and other school exercise programs and extra-curricular activities have been cut due to lack of finances and with the chief goal of improving test grades on one particular test. Many areas of the country have threatened teacher salaries proclaiming that if students don't score high enough on this test, their salary will be cut. Also,teachers have been forced to "teach the test" and shy away from their individual, creative teaching styles. The test includes lofty goals that underprivileged and minority populations are unlikely to achieve. If schools do not achieve a certain test score, their funding will be cut. This test is targeted for wealthy, Caucasian students these school's will continue to receive more money while less privileged one's will continue to get discriminated against and lose money.
• In fact, global warming does exist, if you don't believe it, look out the window

*I am required to state that one should not start a new exercise program, diet, lifestyle, herbal remedy without first consulting with a medical physician. I am not accountable for your health.

You Can Heal Yourself

I chose this subject in an effort to awaken the senses of readers as to what healing really means. Recently, I've had casual conversations with people about acupuncture and herbal medicine, mostly inquiring those unfamiliar with the territory, and many have been intrigued with acupuncture yet often respond with something like, "that sounds really great and I'm interested, but I don't know what I'd get treated for". About four or five years ago, I would have responded the exact same way. However, my perspective on healing has transformed dramatically since then and I want to take some time to reach out to you all and gently challenge and encourage you to explore what this word healing means to you and the areas of your life that may need healing.

In 2006 I was in a life threatening car accident. I had been living an active life that revolved around athletics, pushing myself physically always striving for better, more, with a go, go, go type of modern day mentality. One day, that all stopped unwillingly as my car crash left me with a severe concussion and the inability to walk without being in severe, severe pain and pressure around my body and head. My legs were taken out from underneath me, my entire life structure had been dismantled and I was left powerless and immobile in my bed for months. I literally had to be completely broken down to begin my path of healing.

I want to make a strong point in saying that one's life structure doesn't have to be shaken in order to initiate healing. However, this is often the case and is frequently the exact reason why we're suddenly thrown into suffering and illness- to awaken our body and spirit, which is quite literally saying,"hey, something isn't right here", and provides one with a direct opportunity to transform suffering into something greater. Pathology, trauma, PTSD, drug/alcohol abuse, addictions, unhealthy relationships are all external forces that challenge us to examine our truth on earth, our life path, our destiny.

Yet, you can begin healing before pathology occurs. In fact, ancient Chinese Classical texts repeatedly state that "the superior physician treats disease before it manifests". If you take initiative to heal yourself before disease occurs, you will not only be healing yourself, but your children, your ancestry and future generations as well. This may be hard to fathom, yet when you look at hereditary diseases, although they may manifest as physical illnesses, they ALL stem from emotions that get trapped in one's body. Let me repeat this because many people in the western world don't fully comprehend this concept, physical illness stems from trapped internal emotions. If you cannot work these emotions out, they will be passed onto your children and if they can't work out the lineage of emotional baggage, it will be passed onto their children etc.

For example, when we see patterns of breast cancer in a family line these often reflect patterns of heart break, abuse, feelings of lack of self worth to name a few. Of course, these are generalizations and all pathology manifests differently in each individual, but typically there are certain patterns that we inherit from our ancestry. Abuse is another classic example of this; when you do not heal abuse in your family line, it gets passed onto the next generation. If one does not seek help around their abuse, it feeds on one's internal landscape and will one day manifest into pathology. Abuse is a huge topic in itself; 1 in 3 females are sexually abused and 1 in 5 males are sexually abused and these are only the reported cases. One should not feel like it is their fault for being abused, it is NEVER, NEVER one's fault for being preyed on. It should also be noted that everything before age 12 that we do or encounter comes directly from our parents or ancestry, it is not you. I strongly recommend psychotherapy and alternative medicine to help heal one's woundings from illness, whether it relates to abuse or other pathology, these two modalities that unite the mind and the body will get to the core of healing.

I know that this may be an intense posting that may activate some of you. I want this to be an empowering posting and encourage you all to take initiative to heal the places within yourself that may need attention. If you don't have money to seek healing, you don't need to start there. A great starting place is to slow your life down and take time to feel your emotions instead of ignoring and suppressing their existence. All emotions are attached to a person, an event, family etc. When you realize what they are attached to start forgiving yourself and the thing or person attached to your feelings. Also, start loving your family and instead of speaking negatively about parents, siblings, etc, think of all the positive things about them. Don't think negatively about them, they gave you the gift of life and the opportunity to manifest your destiny. Healing doesn't have to be for those who are experiencing pathology, we all are experiencing pathology, it just hasn't manifested in some of us yet and it doesn't have to. If you are experiencing pathology, it is a beautiful opportunity to heal and transform suffering into wisdom, unconditional love and truth. Be well.

"When healing is viewed as an opportunity rather than a crisis, profound things will happen".

*I am required to state: please seek healing according to what best suits you. Please practice such exercises mentioned in this blog at your own risk, I am not accountable for you please seek medical attention if need be.

Flu Season

After a summer of travel, research, spiritual deepening and growth, the blog is back. Fall has arrived and winter is approaching, with this comes the fear of germs, flu and cold season. Our nation has become obsessed with anti-bacterial, anti-germ, and the "everything must be clean" theory. Of course we don't want to be sneezing on each other and should be conscious to wash hands after coming into contact with mucus membranes such as runny nose, sneezing or wet cough, but this is in every season, not solely the fall/winter. There are some relatively simple precautions you can take to protect you and your family from the spread of winter illnesses.
The most important factor is to breast feed your children if you can. Our immune systems are developed from a very young age and the foundation that is laid then is crucial for the child's immune function throughout life. By breast feeding, you're enhancing your child's TH1 cells which deals with fighting off invasions from bacteria and viruses. If you are unable to breast feed, you should seek a formula that contains colostrum as it can provide the same benefits. When we don't breast feed or provide colostrum, then our TH2 cells become dominant. TH2 cells increase one's risk for allergies and asthma, if your child has allergies from a very young age, it is quite possible that it is due to this. Also, mom's who are breast feeding should not be overly concerned with getting a flu shot for their child (if they are breast feeding). If the mom feels it necessary to further protect the child, you can get the flu shot yourself as the antibodies will pass to the child via breast milk. This is also true of eating a balanced diet, those nutrients get channeled to the infant via the same mechanism.

If you have young children who are no longer breast feeding, again flu shots are not necessary. It is healthy for a child to get exposed to germs as it will boost their immunity. We can compare this to fruits and vegetables; the more natural hardship a fruit/vegetable faces, the more anti-oxidants it contains. When it is exposed to a variety of weather patterns cold, rainy, sunny, dry etc its anti-oxidant content increases in an effort to protect itself from the damage of the weather patterns. Whereas, fruits and vegetables that have been sprayed with pesticides and herbicides have extremely low anti-oxidant levels as well as the addition of toxic sprays because they don't have to fight back to save their lives. The same holds true in us, especially children and adolescents, when we expose ourselves to germs we boost our natural defenses. When we incessantly kill them with anti-bacterial soap or excessive hand washing, we increase our natural defenses. It should be noted that overuse of anti-bacterial soap kills not only the germs but our protective immune cells on the skin as well further decreasing our immune systems.

The best thing to do for a child is to decrease sugar intake (sugar directly decreases the absorption of vitamin C in the body), increase vegetable intake, forget the orange juice as a source of vitamin C, unless it is fresh squeezed with no additional ingredients. Orange juice is high in sugar and the vitamin C content is much less than a serving of fresh vegetables and fresh fruits. Also, be sure that your child goes to bed early, bathe them once per day and watch for warning signs of the flu so you can provide the appropriate care before the virus progresses.

Adults can prevent the cold/flu by getting appropriate rest, waking and rising at regular hours (rise between 5-7am and get to sleep between 9-10pm). Also, stress directly effects our immune systems; by managing stress we boost our immune systems; a balanced, healthy diet is crucial as well as decreased caffeine, alcohol and sugar intake. If you feel yourself coming down with a cold/flu, chop up a clove of raw garlic and add it to some warm water with 1/2 tsp raw honey and drink. This can be done up to 3 times per day. Also, there are some excellent herbs that help build the immune system such as elderberry, rose hips, echinacea, thyme and the herb licorice (not the candy!). You can combine these to make a tea and drink throughout the day.

Important Flu Facts:
Each year in the U.S., anywhere from 5-20% of the population gets the flu. The flu season lasts for about six weeks, usually sometime in late fall or early winter, taking three weeks to reach its peak, and then three weeks to subside. There are 200,000 flu-related hospitalizations per year and 36,000 deaths, with more than 60% (of hospitalizations) and 90% (of deaths) being in those over age 65. While most people recover on their own in 1-2 weeks, high risk groups include those with chronic health conditions, the elderly, and very young children. In addition, despite the hype of our last flu season, more than 99% of people infected with swine flu have recovered without needing medical treatment, and 70% of those hospitalized for it were those with underlying medical conditions.

Deciding on Vaccination:
Each year, the World Health Organization puts together a vaccine by determining the three most likely strains of flu to circulate in a given season (which must be decided at least six months in advance to produce enough vaccine in time), which are then incorporated into “the flu shot”, also known as the trivalent influenza vaccine (TIV). Additionally, there is the Live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV), which is administered as a nasal spray and contains the live virus (as opposed to the TIV, in which the virus is not alive). Though both can result in mild side effects, the main concern when considering these vaccines is the additives in the TIV. Perhaps most concerning is the addition of Thimerosal, a preservative often used in this vaccine which contains mercury. Few studies have examined the risks involved with exposure to this additive, though it is known that it is very toxic when inhaled, ingested or contacted via the skin. Thimerosal also crosses the blood-brain and placental barriers, and appears to accumulate in the kidneys and the central nervous system. The LAIV does not contain thimerosal, and so may be a safer choice, in particular for children. Some studies have also shown that the LAIV may be more effective in children than the TIV, though it is not safe for use in children under the age of two, or those over age 50. Both vaccines, however, work under the assumption that the World Health Organization was able to guess the correct strains of flu and include them in the vaccine. Otherwise, they will not be helpful for the current year’s flu season.


Taking all these facts into consideration, it is still a difficult decision whether or not vaccination is the right choice. If you are considering getting the TIV, it would at least be worth inquiring whether or not it contains thimerosal or other mercury preservatives before making a final decision. If you are additionally making a decision for your child, take into consideration their general level of exposure, their overall health, and in particular, consider using the LAIV if they are over two years. Also, keep in mind that a mother’s antibodies will protect a child who is breast-feeding regularly, which may help alleviate some of the concern for the very young. For any vaccine, but particularly with the LAIV, try not to get it when you are already sick. This could place an undue burden on your immune system and lead to more serious side-effects, especially in children



Recommendations for Cold/Flu Prevention:

• A recent study has shown that Vitamin D can be helpful in preventing the flu.  Research suggests that adults can take up to 5,000-10,000 IU per day, and children can take up to 2000 IU per day (I recommend Biotics Research Corporation‘s Bio D Mulsion Forte, which can be purchased online). 
•  Some herbs you can look for in pill, syrup, or tincture form that specifically help with prevention and treatment of the flu include elderberry, andrographis paniculata, and Rhodiola rosea (There is a great elderberry syrup called Honey Gardens Apitherapy Honey Elderberry Syrup, which is suitable for children and adults
•  Herb Pharm makes outstanding herbal tinctures. Excellent choices are Echinacea and Goldenseal extract and Immune Defense Tonic. 
• Astragalus, Echinacea, and maitake and reishi mushroom all have great immune boosting function. (echinacea's healing powers are most prominent when taken just before a cold or at the very beginning of a cold, if you take it in the middle of a cold it won't be as potent but should help decrease the length of a cold).
• There are many pre-formulated tinctures which you can find at most any health food store that will contain some combination of the above mentioned herbs in one convenient mixture (Herb Pharm‘s Immune Defense Tonic or Children‘s Winter Health Compound being good examples). 

Dietary Prevention of the Cold//Flu:

• Decrease sugar intake (raw honey is not considered a sugar)
• Skip the chicken noodle soup and go for the vegetable soup (in Chinese medicine, chicken should be avoided during sickness as it will exacerbate symptoms). There's also a greater abundance in anti-oxidants, vitamins and phyto-chemicals in vegetable soup
• Decrease or omit for the time being caffiene, alcohol, and other stimulants
• Add a splash of brown rice vinegar to vegetables as it increases the absorption of vitamins and minerals that each vegetable has to offer
• Garlic, onions, leeks and pungent foods to expel the pathogen. However, avoid overly spicy.
• Avoid greasy, fatty and fried foods
• Protein builds our immune system. Obtain healthy sources of protein from legumes, fresh pacific fish and occasional grass fed anti-biotic free bison or beef, organic free-range eggs are a great choice as well
• Decrease intake of dairy. Dairy foods produce phlegm and should be avoided when sick
• Immune Boosting Tea: 2 parts elderberry, 2 parts echinacea, 1 part licorice, 1 part thyme, 2 parts peppermint

Warning Signs You Should Know:
The above information is not to suggest that the flu is not a serious illness, however. Emergency warning signs of the flu include: difficulty breathing, pain or pressure in the abdomen or chest, confusion/delirium or sudden dizziness, or severe and persistent vomiting. In children, look out for fast or difficult breathing, a bluish color to the skin, difficulty waking up or interacting, dehydration, extreme irritability and not wanting to be held, fever accompanied by a rash, or symptoms that get better and then return with a fever and a cough.


*I am required to tell you not to take supplements or vitamins without first consulting a licensed health care professional. If you have questions, please ask. Also, the decision to vaccinate is solely up to you and your family.

Article by Heathar Shepard and Ashely Brown

What's Really Causing Early Puberty in Females?

The question of what's causing early puberty in females has been a hot topic on television and popular internet sites this past week. The healthy age of menarche (a females first period) is 14. However, the age of menarche and breast development is dropping significantly, in some cases almost by 50%. So, what is causing early menarche? The media is portraying that it has to do with food additives and increasing rates of obesity in youngsters. There is validity in these two causes, yet there is a primary reason behind food additives and obesity that they aren't telling you.

The primary cause of early menarche is due to the increasing use of anti-biotics, steroids and hormones that are fed to our animals, particularly cow's and chicken's. Conventional farming allows the use of anti-biotics, steroids and hormones to treat the animals if they have infection and to fatten animals up more rapidly. Our two primary meat sources, beef and chicken, are packed into crowded living spaces, movement is restricted, they are fed food that is extremely hard and sometimes impossible for them to digest. Seldom, if ever, do they see sunlight and they are so crammed into their living space that they eat, sleep and live in each other's feces. With such awful living conditions, infection is very common, health is extremely poor and as a result the quality of their meat, eggs and milk suffers as well. Cow's are over-milked and in turn experience soreness, inflammation, and infections in their milk ducts; anti-biotics are supplemented to combat such cruel and unusual punishment. Hormones and steroids are fed to chickens and cattle to make the cuts of meat larger so to appeal to our western slogan "bigger is better".

In fact, bigger is not better as we are mirroring the affects of modern technology in our children. When we encourage factory farming and use steroids and hormones in our food sources, we ingest those substances and they become active in us. Our reproductive systems are made up of hormones and when we add synthetic hormones on top of what is naturally occurring within, our bodies get confused and harmed and start producing hormones at an increased and irregular rate. Such hormones are mimicked in us and cause early menarche and the rapid development of the reproductive organs. Menarche before age 14 is considered early and unfortunately increases one's risk for cancer's of the reproductive organs including breast, uterine and cervical.

Another cause of early menarche and reproductive cancers is due to the excessive use of plastic. When we heat up our foods in plastic or store them in plastic containers, chemicals in the plastic leak out into our foods. This causes substances known as pseudoestrogens which mimic the naturally occurring estrogen within our bodies. Our common use of bottled water poses a major concern in this area. Bottled water is very poorly regulated and typically is the same or even worse than tap water (depending on where you live). I've mentioned in previous articles about where to purchase a water filter that is much superior to bottled or tap water, is better for the environment and is free of pseudoestrogens.

By eating a diet abundant in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes, we can significantly reduce our child's risk for early menarche. One of the best ways to reduce this risk is to decrease dairy products in the diet, particularly, milk, yogurt, cheese and cream. You can make healthier choices by buying organic milk, (preferably goat's milk), organic cheeses (preferably goat's or sheep cheese) and organic yogurt (preferably goat's). Goat's and sheep's milk constitutionally have a different, more digestible form of protein that is much healthier for our bodies. Adults should look into purchasing and eating raw goat's/sheep's cheeses and milks as these are far superior to other forms. Also, by limiting you and you're child's intake of dairy, you will create a healthier landscape and decrease risk of diseases. Also, look to buy organic, free-range, grass-fed eggs and meats to improve you and your child's health.

Big G get's a Big "F"

Our food and drug administration has decided, finally, that Americans aren't getting enough whole grains, vitamins, minerals and fiber from our diets. Thank Goodness someone is paying attention. However, I wouldn't hold your breath. The bright idea loses it's shine when they call on the big guns which they refer to as Big G or General Mills, to solve the problem. General Mill's is as corporate as Goldman and Sachs with it's agenda being money, greed and bigotry. General Mill's quite literally throws sugar, artificial flavors, corn syrup, dyes, corn (promoted as "whole grain") and a number of GM's cereals contain a substance called BHT into a box. They also add in fortified vitamins which are not in usable form to our bodies.

Back to BHT. BHT is a chemical compound used to protect against the rancidity of fats and oils. BHT is also an additive in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, jet fuels and rubber petroleum products, to name a few. BHT has been shown to be a common allergen which could cause your child to behave out of the ordinary. It is also a known carcinogen and tumor promoter. When we try to conquer nature by using science, we lose, every single time. By preparing our own foods from fresh ingredients, we bypass the need for chemical preservatives and additives. We need to leave the boxes on the shelf, or in our wood stoves, and pick up some cooking utensils so we can pass the art and beauty of preparing and cooking healthy, wholesome meals down to our children. When we teach them to open a box and pour it in a bowl, we're crippling them instead of empowering them.

General Mills goes on to use phrase slogans on the front of their boxes such as "whole grain", "good source of calcium and vitamin D", "Good source of fiber". Here's corporatocracy at its best; conventional, pesticide laden corn that's probably been sitting around for quite some time and starting to mold. That isn't exactly a whole grain. The vitamins they fortify cereals with such as, calcium, vitamin D, iron, and B vitamins are synthetic, yes, they're fake. These vitamins cannot be absorbed in our bodies, instead they are stored in fatty membranes or hopefully they find there way out via urine or defecation, hopefully. The dyes that they add for attractiveness such as Blue dye #1, can "trigger a number of behavioral, learning and health problems". These dyes have also been shown to be carcinogenic, increase nervousness, and lack of concentration they are also derived from petroleum oil. A nauseating (literally) 15 million pounds of dyes are added to U.S. food supplies each year. It is known that each added dye is like ingesting a small dose of cancer. This isn't exactly what we should be feeding our children nor ourselves.

As for the fiber. Unfortunately, it's still not looking too good. With the highest fiber amounts coming in around 3-5 grams with 46 grams of sugar for a 3/4 cup of cereal, that amount of fiber couldn't excrete a rabbit pebble. Try eating 3/4 of a cup of sugary cereal and see if you get satiated. Chances are you won't be or if you miraculously are the probability of you being hungry in about an hour is almost 100% (if you are a healthy individual). Bottom line- these cereals are at the forefront of what's initiating obesity in our youth as well as type II diabetes in children and young adults. In order to change the health of society, we need to change the way we eat. Stop buying chemicals in a box, start purchasing true whole grains such as oats, brown rice, quinoa, amaranth, buckwheat and polenta. The FDA tries to outwit us via its sly advertising methods especially targeting children. We can stop this by discontinuing our purchase of such products. Overall, General Mill's and our FDA get an "F".

If you don't have time for a hot breakfast in the morning, here are some healthy cold cereal choices. Top with berries, ground flax seeds, and goat, rice or hemp milk:

Arrowhead Mills:

• Spelt Flakes
• Oat Bran Flakes
• Kamut Flakes
• Amaranth Flakes

Nature's Path:

• Rice Puffs
• Kamut Puffs
• Millet Flakes
• Flax Plus Flakes

Also, check your local farmers market for whole grain, homemade, local, organic granola.

The Art of Chewing

Chewing one's food thoroughly improves digestion and assimilation of nutrients. Many westerners tend to hurry through meals without taking time to truly savor and be grateful for what is on our plates. Once we begin chewing, carbohydrate break-down is initiated; the more fully we chew the less stress our other digestive organs have to face when it becomes their turn to further break-down and assimilate food. It is recommended that foods be chewed at least 50 times or so (until the food is of liquid form) to make carbs, proteins, fats, oils, minerals etc. more absorbable. Also, improper chewing can cause symptoms such as bloating, gas, digestive upset, stomach pain, hiccups, belching and can cause one to be undernourished. Saliva is the substance that initiates the digestive process and releases enzymes that initiate the break-down of nutrients. Further, chewing foods to liquid form can be calming, more nourishing and less taxing on our digestive systems.

The Proof is in the Pudding
Studies have shown that by chewing food thoroughly, as oppose to swallowing foods whole or in larger pieces, increases the amount of beneficial enzymes released and there is also an increase in the amount of toxins released from the body! An additional study demonstrated that proper chewing is linked with decreasing rates of cancer. Also, a study performed in the U.K. displayed that thorough chewing can enhance both long-term and short-term memory.

Enhancing Brain Health

Dementia and other degenerative brain diseases tend to have a gradual onset. One major cause of dementia, or memory deterioration, is due to the increase in prescribed medication, particularly in the elderly as this is a common side effect to nearly all prescribed medications. Other causes of brain deterioration include: diets high in saturated fat, animal protein, fried foods, MSG (monosodium glutamate), baking powder containing aluminum (aluminum free baking powder is available in health food stores), alcohol, cigarette and marijuana use, high consumption of tuna or other large fish such as sword fish, shark and king mackerel as they contain high amounts of mercury.

One of the most superior brain foods is fish, particularly fish oil. The most crucial time to introduce fish oil is while your child is in the womb or even better while trying to conceive. Omega-3 fatty acids along with DHA and EPA, also included in fish oils, are key in brain development. It is also important during breast feeding for the mother to take fish oil as it will be transported via breast milk to the infant. As the child weans off of breast milk, it is still important to supplement the child with fish oil. However, not all fish oil is created equally. I've stated before that Nordic Naturals Cod Liver Oil is far superior to other brands, and this still holds true. All of Nordic Naturals fish oil goes through a strict cleansing that removes any PCB's, mercury, and other environmental toxins from their oils. Other brands do not do this so there is a risk of ingesting mercury and other toxins from these other oils. If your concerned that you won't be able to get your child to swallow cod liver oil, Nordic Naturals sells fish oil that are chewable gummies flavored with real fruit. This is a healthy and easy solution for the child if there is resistance to swallowing a mouth full of oil.

Fish oil decreases inflammation and pain throughout the entire body, especially the brain. It prevents any blockage and/or inflammation in the brain and allows the cerebral fluids to flow unimpeded. As an adult, fish oil is also crucial to prevent inflammation and diseases such as ADHD, dementia and Alzheimer's. The American diet tends to be high in omega-6 oils, these include: soybean oil, corn, meat, dairy, eggs, fowl, safflower oil , margarine etc Omega-6 fatty acids increase inflammation, especially when omega-3's are absent from the diet. By decreasing one's intake of omega-6 fatty acids and adding fish oil to the diet and other omega-3 sources, one can enhance brain health, heart health, decrease inflammation and other degenerative diseases such as cancer.

There are other sources of omega-3 fatty acids that also benefit the brain, especially when used in conjunction with fish oil. These include: Flax seeds (be sure to grind as this releases their omega-3 properties; ungrounded flax seeds tend to be hard on the digestive system and the omega-3 properties aren't released unless ground be sure to refrigerate after grinding), chia seeds, hemp seeds (contain a perfect balance of omega-3:omega-6 fatty acids), wild caught fish such as sockeye salmon, Alaskan salmon, wild Coho Salmon and anchovies. Other foods that increase brain health are: walnuts (shaped like a brain!), green leafy vegetables, purslane (a green that can be added to salads or stir-fry's), cauliflower (also brain shaped), and of course following the anti-inflammatory diet will help with maintaining healthy brain function as well.

One cannot discuss brain health without mentioning the benefits of ginkgo. The ginkgo tree is an ancient tree and is regarded as a "living fossil" and "one of the oldest trees in the world". It is a beautiful representation of yin and yang as there are both male and female trees. A female tree cannot produce seeds unless it is adjacent to a male tree or if part of a male tree is inserted into a female tree. A female tree can further produce seeds if it is planted next to water as it's reflection can initiate reproduction. Ginkgo is said to enhance longevity and vitality as the tree itself can grow to great heights and live for thousands of years even under extreme stress such as Atomic bombings, lightening strike and treacherous storms. It enhances circulation and is known as a brain tonic as it increases cerebral circulation and overall brain health. Ginkgo is also known to benefit the heart, kidney's, spleen, stomach and the lungs. Another herb that enhances cognitive function is gotu kola. Gotu Kola is an Ayuvedic herb that can be easily incorporated into the diet by making a tea with other herbs such as peppermint and rose hips.

CAUTION: I am required to state that: One should consult a physician before taking supplements especially if one is on blood thinners as omega-3's and Ginkgo act as natural, plant-based blood thinners.

Preventing Heart Disease Part II

The previous posting "Preventing Heart Disease Part I", was a strongly opinionated article on the 21st centuries main cause of death. My goal is not to put fear into the readers rather, it is simply to tell you what our society and health care systems fail to portray to us. The concept of controlling our emotions is paramount to health and wellness and is one that doctors too often dismiss. Instead, they prescribe anti-depressants or anti-anxiety pills to band aid up the emotion. Most non-western doctors such as Naturopaths and Chinese medical doctors, treat the patient primarily from their emotional stance. Unstable emotions cause the "qi" or energy to become trapped in individualized sensitive areas of the body resulting in pain, swelling, rash etc. When we can locate the area of stagnation and open up the constricted area it's like opening a flood gate so the water/energy/emotions can rush through and nourish what is on the other side.

When we engage in heart-mind nourishing activities such as meditation, qi gong, yoga, tai qi, we tap into our hearts and step out of our minds. Circulation improves, mood improves, anxiety and depression decreases. Additionally, parasympathetic tone increases; our parasympathetic nervous system is known as the "rest and digest" system, it slows everything down and allows our bodies to relax. Whereas, the sympathetic nervous system is known as the "fight or flight" system; it is constantly stimulated via the go, go, go mentality that our society has become accustom to. Being in this system on a regular basis increases anxiety, increases heart rate, stops digestion, and severely depletes our kidney/adrenal systems. The kidney/adrenals are like our battery; it is where we pull our energy from and is also where we can replenish our stores via the heart-mind nourishing activities and via proper sleep habits. When we continuously pull energy out of the battery and never restore it, that's when pathology begins to manifest.

Nutritionally, if we want to build and cleanse the arteries we must consider a naturally occurring substance called lecithin. Lecithin is found in the yolk of eggs, all legumes (beans) including yellow and black soy beans. Other beneficial foods for the arteries include: brown rice, radish, horseradish, cabbage, broccoli, asparagus, parsley, flax seeds, hemp seeds, chia seeds, mushrooms, seaweeds, buckwheat, almonds, hazelnuts, raw honey and all of the foods listed in the previous post and in the anti-inflammatory diet. It is important it be cautious of over consuming  pungent foods such as radish, horseradish, raw garlic, cayenne pepper etc as these benefit the heart in moderation. A small amount is quite beneficial to the heart yet too much actually depletes the heart and weakens its function. It is also important to note that too much salty foods harm the heart, so it is important to watch one's sodium intake. Additional foods that are detrimental to the heart include coffee, trans-fatty acids such as partially hydrogenated oils, hydrogenated oils, palm oils, high fat diets, high sugar diets, fast food and fried, greasy foods.

Consuming a diet with an emphasis on vegetables, whole grains, omega-3 rich fish, berries and small amounts of meats while participating in heart-mind exercises is very beneficial for heart health and overall health as well. Balanced and unblocked emotions are the key to opening one's heart and preventing disease. The great ancient Chinese physicians always consider the heart in all disease as they believe that "all diseases come from the heart".

"Only a reductionist science would need to "prove" the ridiculously obvious: that our hearts are perceptual organs, crucial to our humanness" -Authors Journal Nov, 2003

Preventing Heart Disease Part I

Currently, heart disease is the number one cause of death in the United States for both males and females. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) may have a genetic component, especially if a family member (commonly a first line family member such as a mother or father) has a premature (before age 50-55) heart attack or stroke. Precursors for CVD include: diet, stress level, hypertension, quality of sleep, lifestyle, lack of exercise and dental hygiene including amalgam fillings (mercury capped teeth). Heart disease, even genetically related, can be less threatening, and in many cases, even preventable with proper diet, lifestyle reform and stress management.

I want to be sure to highlight the potentially number one cause of heart disease-we hear so much about "heart healthy" foods and how they can prevent the silent killer. Yet, an often disguised component to heart disease is that we as westerners live too much in our heads and not in our hearts. Simply put, we live too much in our head brain and not in our heart brain. We are constantly running from one thing to the next, everything is always go, go, go and there is never any down time for our hearts.

To truly lessen the degree of heart disease we quite literally need to start paying attention to our hearts. Stress and emotional instability further causes us to live more in our heads and by doing so we shut off our ability to listen to what are hearts are truly longing for. Eventually, we are forced to slow down when we have acquired heart disease, that is, when the heart has become so shut off from the rest of the body that it now becomes our pathology. However, if we can entrain our mind to our heart we will decrease mental chatter and will live less in our heads and more so in our hearts. This is also a major reason that individuals who are not overweight also have heart disease; above all, emotional stability far outweighs any other preventative method.

So, how does one go about living more in their heart? It can be as simple as taking ten minutes before rising and ten minutes before bed to sit quietly and meditate. Once you get in a steady routine, start increasing the time you spend sitting by 1-5 minutes per week. And just a fore warning to all you meditators out there, don't get frustrated when mental chatter surfaces during your practice. Everyone experiences mental chatter, with the exception to a holy man or an experienced monk. The goal of many meditative practices is to be able to recognize the mental chatter, not get frustrated with it but instead let it pass and refocus on the breath. A great beginning place for meditation is to focus on the breath. Aim for long, relaxed belly breaths with the tongue resting on the back of the front teeth. Another way to get more in tune with our hearts is to find a moving meditative practice such as yoga, qi gong or tai qi.

As far as diet is concerned, the anti-inflammatory diet, outlined in a previous posting, is a great way to prevent heart disease. Some foods that are specific to the heart include:

• Hawthorne berry- must be taken daily for at least a month to start having heart healthy effects; sold in bulk in the herb section and can be made into a tea with mint, also sold in pill form
• Pomegranate- best medicinal qualities are found in the whole fruit, many people drink the juice- however, the juice has far too much sugar and will not have the same preventative effects as the fruit
• Onions, garlic, leeks-all members of the allium family, high in antioxidants and have the special quality of thinning the blood; they decrease the instance of clot formation and decrease cholesterol levels as well
• Omega-3 fatty acids-also decrease clot formation, naturally thin the blood, important for brain function especially in the developing fetus and brain health for adults; Nordic Naturals sells the best quality fish oil specifically cod liver oil lemon flavor (lemon naturally preserves the oil) which should be refrigerated upon buying
• Celery-the number one food for preventing and curing high blood pressure
• Avoiding chlorinated water- this includes drinking, bathing and unfortunately swimming in chlorinated pools. Some facilities are starting to offer salt water pools and my last posting includes a very reputable drinking water filter they also offer a shower filter as well that filters out many chemicals including chlorine. Chlorine wrecks havoc on our arterial lining as well as many other systems in the body. We tend to make things too clean these days and by doing so we add chemicals that kill the germs but also are destructive to us as well
• Cayenne Pepper- Adding a small bit of this medicinal pepper to a few meals per week in the summer can be very beneficial to the heart. A friend of a friend of mine was at work and experienced a heart attack a few years back. He conveniently had a bottle of cayenne pepper on his desk and took the entire bottle. When he got to the hospital his blood work came back normal and he suffered zero damage
• Green leafy vegetables-sauteed kale, chard, spinach, arugula contains numerous phytonutrients that contribute to heart health

Reversing Obseity

Obesity is reversible. In fact, all diseases have the potential to be reversible- miracles happen everyday leaving conventional doctors speechless, stunned and baffled. We tend to think of obesity as excess fat. Yet, underneath the accumulation or excess as we would call it in Chinese medicine, there is almost always an emotional expression that is hibernating. The act of eating is joyful, it brings pleasure and is an unconscious means of suppressing emotions that we long to act on.

There are many factors that play into obesity; emotional, poor diet, lack of exercise, depression, sedentary job, sedentary lifestyle, environmental toxins, hypothyroid, fibromyalgia, arthritis, type II diabetes. There is no one cause to obesity just as there is no one cause to disease. There is also no one treatment for any disease, including obesity. Obesity is a process and when treated in a healthy way can take a few to several years to obtain desired results. The greatest assets any one person can have to overcome disease and obesity is persistence, positivity and will.

We can reverse obesity by reforming our lifestyle, including diet, physical activity, stress management, and via learning how to express and detoxify emotional baggage. We are taught in the west to suppress emotions; joy is the only accepted emotional state. We tell people, don't cry, don't be angry, don't worry, if you're depressed take Zoloft (pharmaceutical drug for depression) and we cram these emotions deeper down into our beings. All diseases come from the heart and it starts with the emotions.  It is accepted in non-western cultures to express every emotion, in a healthy state -if you're angry don't injure someone, don't yell at your spouse, but go into a room and yell or hit your pillow. Anger in Chinese medicine is the most harmful emotion and is fueled by fear; it is also associated with wind. So, when you are angry, don't suppress or hurt anyone, but allow yourself to healthfully let off some steam, quite literally- let the wind out.

Obesity is a process, it is a shedding of layers (as is all disease). But when we start detoxing the root causes and factors that play into obesity, the weight, suppressed emotions, fatigue and lack of self worth all begin to be released. We need to begin my shedding external toxins that contribute to illness and obesity such as: caffeine, cigarette smoke, heavy metals, air and water pollutants, cosmetics (buy organic), household cleaning products (buy 7th generation of make your own), pesticides and herbicides, pharmaceuticals and preservatives. The latest research has shown that there are over 80,000 synthetic chemicals registered for use in the United States!!! The centers for Disease Control and Prevention have reports that display hundred's of these chemicals that reside within our bodies. It is proven that chemicals such as those listed above, can disrupt and interfere with our immune, endocrine, nervous and reproductive systems. To combat disease and obesity we must eliminate these synthetic materials that set the terrain up for disease.

Unfortunately, fad dieting doesn't touch these underlying issues. We are always looking for a magic pill or drink etc to help us get better or lose weight without doing any work. Staying healthy and reversing disease is very possible, but it requires a keen attention to detail, motivation and you must work at your health to gain results. If you are not healthy, than what else truly matters?

Here are some tips on how to lose weight in a healthy manner:

• Avoid processed foods
• Eat organic fruits and vegetables
• Decrease the number of times you eat out
• Eliminate coffee, alcohol and impure water (buy a water filter best one on the market: premium 10 stage water filter by enviro products http://www.newwaveenviro.com/premium-10-stage-water-filter-p-86.html)
• Eat meats that are free range, organic when possible
• Eliminate soda
• Eliminate fast food
• Decrease charbroiling and grilling
• Eliminate artificial sweeteners (use honey, agave, maple syrup or stevia instead)

Dietary

• Eat a rainbow of fruits and vegetables, however, one should eat twice as many vegetables as fruits
• Eat brown rice, wild rice or lentils as your sole grain intake 1/2 cup = serving size. It is recommended to eat lentils over brown rice as they have a higher protein content and less carbohydrates than brown rice
• 2-4 servings of protein per day, 1-2 servings being fish from cold water sources such as sockeye salmon, cod, mackerel, red snapper; if you're anemic or of menstruating age 1-2 servings of free range bison per week is permitted and encouraged
• Drink fresh vegetable juices. If you have a juicer or are up for purchasing one, this can be key to your weight loss as it encourages elimination and provides vital minerals and nutrients to your system
• Use only extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil, flax oil (not for cooking only for salad dressings, or 2-3 Tbs can be taken per day, store in fridge), grape seed oil or cod liver oil (take 1 tsp per day)
• Avoid alcohol, caffeine, tobacco or other stimulants; nuts, seeds, dairy, processed or refined foods, grains except wild or brown rice
• Drink juices and/or shakes throughout the day if hunger comes on. Shakes can be made with hemp or rice milk, berries, vegetable juices from your juicer and hemp protein or organic whey protein can be added if you are not allergic to dairy. I encourage the addition of chlorophyll or spirulina 1/4 tsp per shake (can be taken 2x per day) to increase intake of healthy minerals
• DO NOT START ANY WEIGHT LOSS PROGRAM WITHOUT FIRST CONSULTING A PHYSICIAN (if you need help finding a reliable, supportive physician please contact me and I can help you do so)

"If people let government decide what foods to eat and what medicines they take, their bodies will soon be in as sorry a state as the souls who live under tyranny". ~Thomas Jefferson

Anti-Inflammatory Recipes with Turmeric

Mexican Beans
This dish is a great side dish to a Mexican meal, it is also great on top of rice and Mexican spiced vegetables and/or meat/fish/tofu. Black beans benefit the kidneys and reproductive function, they're also great for the blood and yin fluids. Pinto beans are an excellent source of calcium and both legumes (beans) are an excellent source of fiber. Chili powder contains a powerful substance called capsaicin which has powerful anti-inflammatory properties, decreases pain, improves circulation, benefits the cardiovascular system, benefits the prostate, clears congestion and helps balance blood sugars. Turmeric is the number one anti-inflammatory herb thus far, remember it must be added to oil such as extra virgin olive oil and black pepper to be absorbed in the gut. Pepper increases the body's absorption of turmeric by two thousand!!

1 Can Black Beans (or you can soak 1 Cup black beans over night, and cook the next day)
1 Can Refried Pinto or Black Beans
1/2 Medium Red Onion
2-5 Cloves of Garlic
2 tsp Cumin
1-2 tsp Turmeric
2 tsp Oregano
1/2 tsp Chili Powder
2 TBS Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 tsp Black Pepper
Pinch of Sea Salt
1 Handful Cilantro

Pour olive oil in a medium sized pot and heat on medium heat. Dice onions and place in pot and cook for 5-10 minutes. When onions are translucent, pour in your beans, be sure to leave a little of the liquid from the black beans to add in as well. Add in your spices and place on low-medium heat. Stir regularly to avoid sticking to the bottom of your pot. Let cook for 10-15 minutes. About 2-3 minutes before you remove beans from stove, add in your minced/crushed garlic. Garnish with chopped cilantro. Serves 4.

Scrambled Eggs (or Tofu/Tempeh!)
Chicken eggs build the blood and the yin of the body. They have an ascending action and therefore are beneficial in cases of diarrhea and for preventing miscarriage. They are also beneficial for anemia, those with a dry, thin constitution, and benefit dry eyes, throat and lungs. Eggs are one of the best sources of protein for those who are deficient in protein. Contrary to popular belief, eggs, particularly the yolk, is a healthy source of fats, cholesterol and nutrients. Actually, eggs contain a substance that acts as an anti-cholesterol agent therefore blocking the absorption of harmful cholesterol into our bodies. Be sure to cook eggs slowly to not damage the health properties they contain. Try to buy local, organic, free range eggs from your farmers market. Commercial eggs, even many organic brands shave their chickens beaks, and use starvation to promote molting. Local farmers tend to treat their chicks humanely and most include omega-3's in their diet and allow them to roam freely.

4 eggs (or 1-2 cups tofu/tempeh)
Handful of Greens (spinach, arugula, kale, chard)
1/2 Cup Onions
1 tsp Black Pepper
1/2 tsp Turmeric
Pinch Sea Salt
Handful Parsley
1 1/2 TBS Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Gently beat the eggs in a bowl. Heat your skillet on medium-low (about 4) and add in olive oil. When skillet is warm add in onions and let cook 5-7 minutes then add in greens and cook until greens are almost fully cooked (about 1 minute). Add in eggs, pepper, turmeric and sea salt. Cook until eggs are done to your liking. Garnish with parsley. Serves 2.

Dahl
Lentils benefit the heart, circulation and the kidney/adrenals. They promote cellular regeneration, aid physical growth and are healthy for the colon. They also help regulate blood pressure, blood sugar levels, decrease stress and balance the hormones. Red lentils have an additional benefit of nourishing the blood.

1 cup Red Lentils
1/2 tsp Turmeric
3+ tsp Fresh Ginger
1 tsp Cumin
3-4 Cloves Garlic
1 Medium Onion
2 Bay Leaf
2 TBS of the following seeds- fenugreek, anise, cumin, mustard
2 TBS Ghee (olive oil will also work)
Sea Salt to taste

Soak red lentils overnight. When ready to prepare, drain and cook lentils with turmeric and sea salt, cook on medium heat. Add 1/2 of the ground cumin and ginger when lentils come to boil. Remove when lentils are soft and water is mostly absorbed (adjust water amount as needed to prevent lentils from drying out while cooking). In a separate pan, heat ghee on medium heat. Add mixed spices (all the seeds) and cook until seeds crackle. Then add bay leaf and the remaining ginger. Fry for 2 minutes then combine with lentils. Remove bay leaves and serve over rice. Serves 4.

Balti Fish Curry

2lb Thick Fish Fillets (cod, red snapper, haddock) rinse and cut into large chunks
2 Bay Leaves, torn
2/3 Cup of Ghee or Extra Virgin Olive Oil (or blend the two)
2 Large Onions Chopped
1/2 TBS Sea Salt
2/3 Cup Water
2 Handfuls Fresh Cilantro

Marinade
1/2 TBS Garlic and Ginger Paste (mince mix together to make paste)
1 tsp Ground Coriander
1 tsp Ground Cumin
1/2 tsp Ground Turmeric
1/4-1/2 tsp Chili Powder
Pinch Sea Salt
1 TBS water

Prepare the marinade ahead of time (30 minutes-4 hours before the meal) by mixing the garlic and ginger paste, coriander, cumin, turmeric and chili powder together with sea salt in a large bowl. Gradually, stir in the water to form a thin paste. Add and cover the fish chunks with the marinade. Tuck the bay leaves underneath, cover and place in fridge.
When you're ready to cook the fish take out of fridge and let sit for 15 minutes before hand. Melt ghee in large skillet over medium heat. Add the onions and a pinch of sea salt cook and stir frequently for about 8-10 minutes. Slowly add the fish and bay leaves to the pan and stir in the water. Bring to a boil then immediately lower the heat and cook for 4-5 minutes. Occasionally, stir the sauce and spread over the fish to make sure all the fish gets equally cooked. When fish begins to flake, remove from heat, remove bay leaves and serve. Garnish with cilantro. Caution to not brown the onions in this dish! If desired you can eat over rice.

Anti-Inflammatory Recipe-Pea Soup

This soup is great for summer time! It includes mint which is cooling and is a great remedy to aid digestion and heal an inflamed gut/stomach. Some studies also suggest that mint has anti-cancer properties. Peas have a sweet flavor and therefore benefit the Spleen/Stomach while decreasing the effects of an overactive liver (anger, headache, eye pain, pain on the side of the ribs, fatigue, loose stool alternating with constipation); Peas also harmonize Stomach qi by helping to relieve rebellious Stomach qi-hiccups, belching, coughing, they also treat constipation. This is a simple and nourishing recipe, enjoy!

2 Bags Frozen Organic Peas
1 Medium Onion
2-3 TBS Ghee (you can substitute extra virgin olive oil if you prefer)
1 Handful of Fresh Mint
2 Cups Vegetable Stock
1/2-1 tsp Black Pepper
Pinch of Sea Salt

Directions:
Set out peas to thaw. Heat stove to medium and add ghee to your frying pan. Dice the onion and add it along with sea salt and pepper to pan, let cook for 7-10minutes. Add 1 1/2 bag of peas, fresh mint and veggie stock-add in just enough veggie stock so it covers the peas. Cook for 3-5 minutes. Remove from heat and place in blender. Quickly blend so soup has a slightly chunky consistency. Remove from blender and add in remaining 1/2 bag of peas. Place back on the stove and heat for 1-2 more minutes. Serves 4.

Anti-Inflammatory Diet

All disease is a result of inflammation in the body. Arthritis-inflammation of the joints, atherosclerosis- inflammation of the arteries, Alzheimer's inflammation in the brain, cancer inflammation to a specific area or system in the body, crohn's- inflammation of the intestines, MS- inflammation to the myelin fibers etc. Eating can be an extremely empowering act. When we reform the way we eat, we can change the status of our health and well being; we can change our health simply by choosing what we put into our mouths, it only requires grocery's, education and the will to change.

The Standard American Diet, or the SAD diet, is just that, sad! In fact eating the typical SAD diet has been proven to increase rates of depression along with a host of hundreds of other mental and physical pathological disorders. The SAD is high in omega-6 fatty acids (when eaten in less than a 4:1 ratio with omega-3 fatty acids increases inflammation), low in omega-3 fatty acids (healthy fats that decrease inflammation), high in trans fatty acids, saturated fat, sugar, processed ingredients, dyes, MSG, corn, wheat, soy, dairy and thousands of additives that we cannot pronounce or that have been invented for the sole purpose to addict people to food! Yes, our government is sick and they are making us sick in the meantime! (This information is readily documented some sources include the book Fast Food Nation or any book by Michael Pollen or watch the documentary Super Size Me. If you'd like more sources, please ask and I can provide you with such information).

One might ask what's wrong with corn, wheat, soy and dairy? The big three (corn, wheat and soy) are inexpensive, conventional crops that the government subsidizes. They are sprayed with pesticides, herbicides and chemicals to prevent them from bug infestation and they're not just sprayed a little here and there, they are heavily sprayed. Then these foods are added into other foods along with the dyes, inflammatory fats and so on and into our mouths they go. Dairy cows are fed diets high in grains and omega-6 fatty acids. They cannot digest grains so they commonly get infections, have stomach problems and are given anti-biotics from illness from their diet or from sore nipple inflammation due to over milking. It's a vicious cycle that has become part of our social norm. Go to a picnic or social gathering and your likely to have jell-o pudding, hot dogs, pork, burgers, bbq, macaroni salad etc and I will guarantee you that all of the ingredients will contain corn, wheat, soy and dairy. These four foods make up over 70% of the SAD, and this isn't counting sugar. This lifestyle is pro-inflammatory, pro-disease and has become the norm. We have to start changing what we eat so we can change the health and well being of our society.

The anti-inflammatory diet emphasizes whole, plant based foods with healthy protein sources such as cold water fish, eggs, small amounts of red meat, and organic non GMO soy foods such as tempeh and tofu. This diet is targeted at reducing the foods that are pro-inflammatory, reduce the instance of disease and encourage health. It emphasizes buying organic foods, yet if these are not available to you than choose conventional foods until you can transition to organic. Unfortunately, organic foods are not subsidized by our government, therefore they tend to cost slightly more than conventional foods. However, if we reduce our intake of pop/soda, packaged foods, fast foods, eating out, and purchasing things such as fancy cars, televisions, fancy clothing, alcohol and cigarettes, you will have more money to contribute to enhancing your health via diet.

I want to emphasize that this should be called a lifestyle versus a diet. A diet tends to be short term and actually really harmful to your health. Diets tend to be depriving and help one lost weight in the short term only to soon gain it back plus additional weight in the long run; they also tend to emphasize really unhealthy foods and "light" foods that have been processed, and contain additives and ingredients that are damaging to health. The anti-inflammatory lifestyle is a way of life. It emphasizes purchasing and consuming foods that have medicinal and life enhancing properties. Below I have listed the basics of the anti-inflammatory lifestyle with some educational information as well. I hope that this post has been empowering and helpful. If you have any further inquiries or specific questions or health issues regarding this topic, please feel free to ask.

Anti-Inflammatory Lifestyle

Protein
Be sure to include a protein source with every meal as this is crucial to regulating blood sugar and maintaining energy to avoid the "crash" 1-2 hours after meals. We tend to be protein crazy in our society. No need for large steaks or cuts of meat at every meal. One serving of meat every 2-3 days is healthy and extremely important to help maintain iron levels as to not become anemic. Anemia is common in vegans and non-meat eaters and can lead to neurological conditions, blood sugar imbalances, poor mental function and decreased memory. Choose grass-fed, free range meat, organic if possible. Bison (buffalo) has the highest content of iron of any meat I've found thus far. It is much lower in saturated fat than beef, contains more nutrients and is an excellent way to help cure iron deficiency anemia. Consume 1-2xper week, 1 serving is about the size of your fist. Turkey and organic free range eggs are also healthy choices. Fish can be eaten 1-2x per week but I caution eating fish from the Gulf or Atlantic ocean due to the ongoing BP oil spill.
Healthy Sources:
Bison
Turkey
Eggs
Sockeye Salmon (also great anemia and low iron levels); high in omega 3 fatty acids which fights inflammation
Alaskan Salmon
Mackerel
Red Snapper
Herring
Anchovies (caution in those with high blood pressure as these tend to be very salty)
Almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, almond butter
Garbanzo beans, kidney, adzuki, black, pinto, lentils, mung beans
Goat Milk Yogurt 1x per week (top with flaxseeds to fight tumors)
Goat cheese, Sheep cheese in moderation

Carbohydrates
With our wheat crazy nation I tend to encourage eating grains that are wheat free (more on this topic soon!) Instead, choose grains such as rice, quinoa, millet, oats, amaranth, corn (organic very important). To increase nutrient absorption, nutrient availability and digestion, soak grains for 6-12 hours before eating. If you plan out your meals the night before you can soak grains overnight for the following day or can soak for lunch or dinner upon waking. Eat 2-4 servings per day.
Brown Rice
Quinoa (red or yellow)
Millet
Amaranth
Corn (blue or yellow, try to buy organic)
Oats
Rice Bread

Fats
Once America hit the "no fat" and "low fat" craze everyone began gaining weight and becoming diabetic. This is because they replaced the fats with sugar. Eating fats in a healthy and balanced ratio is extremely important and vital for health and cell membrane production. Increasing the intake of omega-3 fatty acids is a great way to decrease inflammation in the body. It is recommended to take 1 teaspoon of Nordic Naturals Cod Liver oil per day (away from meals that include fish). Fats should be a part of every meal. When baking choose coconut oil. For salads extra virgin olive oil or sesame oil is encouraged, for sauteing at medium temperatures extra virgin olive oil is best and for sauteing at high temperatures (not recommended) grape seed oil can be used. Please purchase organic oils in glass jars. Let me say that again, please purchase organic oils in glass jars! Fats and oils can be very pro-inflammatory if not purchased in this way.
Healthy Oils
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Sesame Oil
Coconut Oil
Grapeseed Oil
Ghee (butter with the milk solids removed; balances the hormones and tissues of the body, promotes healing to the GI tract including ulcers and colitis, has anti-viral and anti-cancer properties and is used in the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's disease)

Vegetables
Go crazy with organic vegetables! These are our best weapons against disease and inflammation and when used in abundance with the whole diet your body will thank you. They are high in anti-oxidants, fiber, disease fighting agents, phytochemicals, and nutrients. Again, organic is the gold standard so try your best to seek out organic. Be creative with your veggies, below are some healthy choices:
Broccoli
Cauliflower
Cabbage
Brussels Sprouts
(if you have thyroid issues please cook veggies containing goitrogens as they interfere with thyroid function, the first four vegetables are examples of these)
Greens- swiss chard, kale, arugula, spinach, mustard greens, beet greens (it is best to eat cooked greens versus raw especially for those who are anemic)
Celery
Sweet Potato
Japanese Potato
Carrot
Onion
Peas
etc

Fruit
It is best to eat fruits from non-tropical regions (for the most part). Fruits are extremely high in anti-oxidants and when eaten in moderation can be an excellent dessert or addition to breakfast. Berries and cherries seem to have some of the highest anti-oxidant properties yet found! Please try to buy organic, especially strawberries which tend to be a very high sprayed crop. Try to avoid dried fruit as they are very high sources of sugar (even if they say sugar free)
Raspberries
Blueberries
Blackberries
Marion berries
Strawberries
Cherries
Apricots
Peaches
Plums
Pears
Apples
Nectarine

Spices and Other
Flaxseeds and hemp seeds are excellent sources of omega 3 fatty acids and can be sprinkled on top of meals. Flaxseed oil can be purchased and taken as a supplement however, the oil goes rancid quickly and should be consumed within a month. Flaxseeds, flax oil and hemp seeds/oil should be stored in the fridge. Spices can be very medicinal and can add to the synergistic effects of the other enhancing nutrients in meals. Turmeric has been recognized currently as the #1 most powerful anti-inflammatory identified thus far. Please experiment with these herbs and spices as a means to enhance flavor and your health! Bon appetite.

Turmeric- stimulates apoptosis in cancer cells (cell suicide), inhibits angiogenisis (the addition of blood vessels which increases the spread of cancer), enhances the effects of chemotherapy and radiation, decreases inflammation. Best added to meals with black pepper and extra virgin olive oil to bring out all its medicinal properties.

Ginger-Anti-inflammatory, prevents motion sickness, decreases nausea effects from chemo/radiation, anti-parasitic
Black Pepper- protects DNA; please buy organic as conventional black pepper is a highly sprayed crop

Cumin- Digestive tonic, carminitive (helps relieve gas and flatulence)

Garlic- crush to release its healing properties and increase assimilation; anti-bacterial, anti-biotic, reduces carcinogenic effect of burnt meats, promote apoptosis, regulate blood sugar

Cayenne Pepper- Can be used topically for pain relief from arthritis, shingles, neuralgia and pleurisy (check out Dr Christopher's Cayenne Ointment). Reduces platelet aggravation (the formation of heart disease), decreases blood pressure and promotes sweating, improves digestion and circulation. Caution when using the cream start with a small amount as it can be hot until your body adjusts to the ointment.

Sage- Anti-inflammatory, stimulates the immune system, stimulates the adrenals, relieves stress, anti-cancer

Mustard Seeds- Stimulate circulation, treats bronchitis, relieves inflammation especially in joints.

Breast Cancer Prevention

Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer in women, yet lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in both men and women. Many people attribute cancers, particularly breast cancer, to hereditary causes. However, this is a very common and HUGE misconception. Heredity/genetics actually plays less than a 10% role in causes of cancer, whereas lifestyle and environment play a whopping 90%. Often, if we live and eat according to our ancestors who have been overcome with not only cancer but any chronic illness, we are as likely as them to acquire similar pathologies.

In Chinese Medicine, cancer is a form of excess; it is an uncontrolled, abnormal growth of cells that can be triggered by many different variables such as environmental toxins, polluted water, emotional imbalances, poor diet, birth control, pseudoestrogens (as is used in hormone replacement therapy), microwaves, heating plastic in microwaves, drinking from plastic water bottles/containers, inability to let go of past events, not knowing one's purpose in life, alcohol, cigarette smoking, poor sleep and staying up too late, to name a few. generally, a healthy immune system can fight off exposure to such circumstances, yet if one is exposed to many of these, especially over a long period of time, one's risk of cancer significantly increases.

This information is not being shared in an effort to put fear into the readers, our government, news teams, and cinema's do a good enough job of that already. This information is being given to you in an effort to spread the knowledge of how to prevent this disease and how to fight it off if one is overcome with cancer. There are cures for cancer, there are cures for almost all diseases, it starts with education and the power of belief. Cancer has been healed for centuries using diet alone. The American Cancer Society and Oncologists put fear into us about there being no cure for cancer and it being a deadly, hopeless disease. This is completely wrong and misleading. The worst thing you can do to a cancer patient is disempower them. Cancer is a calling for one to rise up and seek their true meaning and purpose in life. But you will never hear those words coming from a medical doctor because they are not taught that and if you choose to seek out non-western medical treatment they lose money.

Western medicine is great at treating many acute, emergency situations such as stitches, emergency surgeries, wounds, heart attack etc. Western medicine is very, very poor at treating chronic diseases. Cancer, crohn's, arthritis, IBS, high cholesterol, depression, insomnia, muscle/joint injuries, Lyme's disease, parasites, thyroid imbalances, psoriasis, etc. all chronic illnesses, chronic being the symptoms have been present for over two weeks, such incidences should not be handled by a western physician. These illnesses are very often healed by Naturopaths, Chinese medical doctors and body workers.

In Chinese medicine, breast cancer is seen as a disturbance between the pericardium (heart protector) and the liver. Most cancers involve a malfunction in the liver as it is our main detoxifying organ. It is also in charge of circulating the blood, a healthy liver allows one to plan, endure and have a vision it also allows us to keep growing and moving forward in life. Depression, a main cause of cancer in the eyes of Chinese medicine, is almost always caused by a sluggish liver. The pericardium protects the emperor/ess (heart), in a healthy state, it puts up clear boundaries and brings joy forth to the heart. Toxic emotions, lifestyles and diets all increase the risk of harming such organs ultimately increasing one's risk of disease.

Here are some simple ways on how to prevent/heal Breast cancer:
1) Go to sleep before 11pm and wake between 5-7am (the earlier to bed the better)
2) Find something healthy that brings you great joy and make a habit interact with it on a daily basis
3) Eat a healthy diet consisting of lots of vegetables, particularly cruciferous vegetables-->broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, cabbage
4) Decrease the amount of animal fat intake such as dairy, cheese, beef, chicken, eggs; if you eat such foods, it is healthy to do so in moderation 2-3 times per week when doing so, purchasing organic meat, dairy and eggs is extremely important. Chicken and beef are very poor choices, especially conventional brands as they tend to be fed diets high in fat, antibiotics, growth hormone and sorry to say but they are almost always fed in overcrowded lots where they sleep, eat and drink in each other's feces. What the animals are fed and what is injected into them gets transferred to us when we put it into our mouth's. The hormones and diets that these animals eat have been specifically linked to increases in cancer, particularly breast cancer and many other diseases as well.
5) Supplement with 1 tbs of Nordic Naturals Cod Liver Oil daily (store in fridge to keep fresh)
6) Take 1-3 tbs or gel caps of organic flax seed oil per day (store in fridge to keep fresh)
7) Find healthy ways to balance your emotions (yoga, qi gong, walking, art, music)
8) Stay off of synthetic hormones such as birth control and HRT (hormone replacement therapy). There are many, many other healthier, safer ways, especially with HRT!
9) Stop drinking alcohol. Drinking as little as 3 drinks per week significantly increases ones risk for breast cancer
10) No bras with underwire! Wearing bras with wiring blocks the flow of lymph and can block/clog the flow of lymph in the breast causing tumors to form.
11) Seek out your life purpose
12) No underarm deodorant. There are some organic brands that sell underarm deodorant made with natural ingredients, yet almost all, if not all synthetic brands of underarm deodorant contain aluminum which has been found to cause breast cancer.
13) Perform regular self-breast exams. These are best preformed a few days after your last menstrual cycle. If you palpate up to a couple weeks before menstruating, the breasts could be slightly more lumpy than usual.
14) The coffee culprit. I encourage quitting cold turkey. Coffee intake greatly increases one's risk of breast cancer. Seriously, stopping or greatly reducing can save your life.
15) Go to Thailand. Thailand has the lowest instance of breast cancer in the entire world. Maybe it's because the eat so many fresh vegetables and turmeric. I doubt they wear secret underarm deodorant and they're probably a lot more mobile than us American folk. Props to Thailand.

What's for Breakfast?

As we rise in the morning and scramble to get out the door for work, breakfast usually gets the back burner. While some just plain go without, the other percentage tends to grab an energy bar, a bagel, coffee and/or boxed cereal. Those who eat something tend to do so in a rush, chomping down while gathering up what they need for the day or while lacing their shoes and grabbing the egg sandwich as they race out the door.

The old saying that "breakfast is the most important meal of the day" is partially true. I don't give breakfast full credit because all 3 meals are important in maintaining and sustaining energy throughout the day, for blood sugar stabilization, for mental functioning and for overall health and well being. Breakfast does jump start our metabolism and helps to literally "break the fast" from the period of dinner through sleep. However, if we put fuel in our tanks that our bodies cannot run on, if we rush a meal, or skip a meal then we're starting our day off at a disadvantage.

One major problem is that we don't wake up in time to have a relaxed and nutritious breakfast. Instead of incessantly hitting the snooze button we need to make it a priority to arise and nurture ourselves. It is important to sit in the company of family or community and share meals together. Also, food should be chewed thoroughly as swallowing big bites and lack of chewing harms stomach qi. Stomach qi is the energy produced by our stomach's; it is in charge of breaking down, and descending our food which eventually gets transformed into our blood. When we eat hurriedly, standing up, take large bites or forget to chew thoroughly, our digestion is inhibited and may cause belching, acid reflux, nausea, stomach pain/cramping and can prolong and/or interfere with the entire digestive process therefore affecting our quality of blood.

We also need to take quality of food into consideration. Bagels, most boxed cereals and most bread products tend to spike blood sugar providing a quick boost of energy soon tapering off to hunger again a couple hours after breakfast. Such products are also lacking in several nutrients, and tend to have added vitamins which are not absorbed well, if at all, in the gut. Top that with cream cheese, jelly, conventional cheese or margarine and we have a caloric, toxic mess which is not the way to start off our morning.

Breakfast can be simple, pleasurable and extremely nourishing when we are educated and take the time to do so. When we allow time for breakfast and sit with our children or families and eat nourishing, healthy foods it not only benefits us for the day, but it teaches our children the importance of sharing meals together and eating healthily so that they can build healthy habits at a young age and set the example for their families when the time comes. Here are some healthy tips on how to do so:

Forget most boxed cereals, instant cereal (oatmeal), bagels, most packaged breads. Instead, choose whole oats, gluten free oats, rice bread, whole grain bread from your local farmer's market, or amaranth. Stir almond butter, sunflower seeds, hazelnuts or walnuts into your oats or amaranth. Additionally, a little hemp, rice, or raw cow or goat milk can be added, as well as berries and flax or hemp seeds. Not enough fuel for your tank? Add a boiled or scrambled egg on the side.

Breads can be topped with almond butter and flax or hemp seeds with a side of seasonal fruit. Take advantage of the anti-oxidant rich berries that are currently in season!

Scrambled eggs sauteed with extra virgin olive oil, a pinch of turmeric and black pepper is an excellent cancer fighter. Have high cholesterol? One of the biggest myths is that egg yolks increase one's cholesterol. They may be true if we choose conventionally raised eggs that have been fed soy and wheat meal as well as antibiotics. However, when we choose organic, omega-3 eggs, particularly from the farmers market, we actually can lower cholesterol. The yolk is also an excellent of B-vitamins including biotin which helps to maintain energy and manage stress. Top eggs with fresh herbs such as basil, sage, oregano and thyme and enjoy with a side of miso soup, brown rice (cooked the night before/leftover from dinner), rice or whole grain bread.

If you're a coffee drinker caution to females as the intake of coffee has been linked to much higher risks of breast cancer rates. A cup here and there is often a healthy dose of antioxidants however, if drank more than 1-2 times per week can result in addiction, decreased adrenal function, and an increase in cancer and heart disease. Be cautious of drinking French pressed coffee as it is linked with an increase in atherosclerosis. If you drink coffee, try to buy organic, fair trade as often as possible; experiment by gradually replacing coffee with green tea. Oolong, Hojicha, Jasamine and Sencha are good morning teas which are packed with antioxidants, as well as cancer and heart protective properties. In the afternoon, particularly after 3pm, try Puerh tea. Puerh is a type of green tea which is great for the Kidneys and is one of the most highly prized teas in China praised for its health benifits and healing properties.

Breakfast No, No's:
Orange juice, bagels, most boxed cereals, instant oatmeal, apple juice, cream cheese, vegan cream cheese, conventional eggs, bacon, ham, buttermilk pancakes, donuts, muffins, coffee cake; breakfast diners and restaurants are usually the body's worst nightmare unless you live in an area which has healthy eateries, try to avoid eating out for breakfast.

Want juice? If you have a juicer or want to invest in a juicer, this is the gold standard of juices. When juicing, there are no added sugars, you get an abundance of antioxidants in the fresh fruits and vegetables and this is one of the best ways to help cleanse a sluggish liver. Juicing is also highly recommended for chronically ill individuals suffering from auto-immune disorders and chronic illness such as cancer and heart disease.

Take the time to enjoy your breakfast!

Anti-Cancer Grocery List

I received a couple requests for an anit-cancer grocery list. Please keep in mind that it is always a wise and healthy choice to buy local, organic foods when possible. Such choices can make all the difference. This list is a continual evolution of my research and experiences. Please continue to check in with me if you're interested in updated versions. Here are my latest findings:

Carbohydrates:
Brown Rice, Quinoa, Amaranth, Gluten Free Oats, Millet, Corn Meal, Wild Rice, Brown Rice Crackers, Gluten Free Crackers
-Buy 2 grains plus one cracker if desired per week and use throughout the week
Fats:
Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Coconut Oil, Sesame Oil, Ghee
-Olive oil is great for stir-frying and sauteing at medium temperatures and is great as a salad dressing with herbs; Coconut oil is best for baking and cooking at high temperatures; sesame oil is great for cooking at low temperatures, adds flavor to Asian cusine when added at the end of cooking or for raw foods; Ghee is excellent for cooking at medium to high temps and there has been excellent research on its cancer preventitive properties
Vegetables:
 Broccoli, Cauliflower, Cabbage, Brussels Sprouts, Leafy Greens: Kale, Collards, Swiss Chard, Spinach, arugula, Carrot, Beets, Onions, Leeks, Shallots, Chive, Asparagus, Celery, Turnips, Parsnips, Yam: Garnet or Japanese, Potato:Red, Purple or Yukon
-Buy at least 7 different veggies per week and eat throughout the week; pureed asparagus eaten between meals is great for those with cancer
Mushrooms:
Shiitake, Miatake, Cremini, Portobello, Chantrelle, Enokidake, Oyster
-Shiitake and portobello tend to be the most readily available in stores; if you have a choice between the two, shiitake have the higher cancer fighting and antioxidant properties
Fruit:
Tomato, Berries: Raspberries, Blueberries, Blackberries, Boysenberries; Lemon, Cherries, Apricot, Pomegranate
-Best eaten at the end of meals as a dessert. When choosing, buy fresh versus dried. Fruit intake should not outweigh vegetable intake. Berries and fruits are great for breakfast in smoothies as well.
Legumes:
Peas, Lentils, Mung Beans, Kidney Beans, Black Beans, Pinto Beans, Garbanzo Beans, Adzuki Beans
-Buy one bean per week and eat throughout the week; 1 Cup should last one person 2-3 days. Great source of fiber and great source of plant protein
Spices:
Ginger, Turmeric, Garlic, Basil, Rosemary, Thyme, Mint, Sage, Cilantro, Parsley
-Ginger and turmeric have excellent anti-inflammatory properties; add to stir-fry's throughout the week, bean dishes, and soups; add fresh basil, thyme, sage, parsley to salads, garnishes to dishes, soups or add into eggs.
Miscellaneous:
Sea Salt, Miso, Seaweed, Rice Bread, Other Gluten Free Bread, Almond Butter, Agave, Honey, Maple Syrup, Wheat Free Soy Sauce, Hemp Milk, Rice Milk, Almond Milk
-Miso reduces breast cancer risk by 50% buy 1 jar in fridge section should last at least a month, seaweed is very detoxifying; gluten free breads are great for breakfast with almond butter and fruit, sandwiches topped with tomatoes, veggies and free-range turkey; alternative milks great in smoothies
Occasional/Treats:
Raw/Organic Sheep or Goat Cheese 1-2xper week, Products made from gluten such as wheat, spelt, rye; Chocolate
-Chocolate has mild antioxidant effects, great snack when eaten in moderation (less than 1x per week)
Avoid:
Milk, Cream, Sugar, GMO soy, non-organic soy, non-organic corn, Cows milk including cheese, yogurt, cottage cheese etc; Alcohol, Corn Syrup, high fructose corn syrup, Fruit+Sugar (desserts with fruit + sugar on top);agave, *honey and maple syrup do not count as sugar
-These foods tend to be pro-inflammatory and can increase one's risk of many diseases; honey, agave, maple sugar are all healthy choices in moderation
Suggested Supplements:
New Chapter Miatake Mushroom Extract, Flaxseed Oil, Cod Liver Oil, Evening Primrose Oil, Vitamin D3, Astragalus
-All have anti-cancer properties and have the effects of boosting the immune system

Macrobiotic vs Vegan

Macrobiotic and vegan diets are very similar in comparison. Vegan followers eat zero animal products; strict vegans also buy and wear vegan clothing. Such lifestyles are generally followed for ethical and moral reasons to prevent testing on animals and the immoral killing of animals as well. Although, the macrobiotic diet doesn't place an emphasis on animal products, it definitely suggests that one consume mostly fish with small amounts of fowl (turkey) and red meat (preferably bison) as animal protein sources. It also places a strong emphasis on fermented soy products such as miso and tempeh as a rich sources of protein and vitamin content.The macrobiotic diet also takes animal rights into account as it strongly suggests to purchase wild fish vs farm raised fish and small amounts of grass fed, humanely raised animals versus commercial farming methods where animals are packed into small areas, fed unhealthy diets and antibiotics to help speed growth and prevent illness from unhealthy living conditions.

The vegan diet tends to place more of a focus on animal rights; some also choose the vegan route to decrease the risk of many common diseases such as cancer and heart disease. The macrobiotic lifestyle tends to place more of a zen focus taking in account equal rights for humanity, the earth and the continuous development of spiritual health. It is also a diet closely followed by those with cancer as a preventative and cure. One of its goals is to decrease the effects of modernization and the instances of crime, violence and big business corporations that are negatively influencing us all including our youth. The macrobiotic lifestyle further focuses on natural healing methods, including herbal medicines, meditation, moving meditation such as qi gong and tai ji, and holistic modalities such as massage, acupuncture and naturopathic medicine.

Generally, it is wise that individuals who are what Chinese medicine refers to as "excess" types to be on a vegan diet for a short period of time (2-6 months). Excess type refers to one who has consumed the Standard American Diet (SAD) which tends to focus on the consumption of conventional meat, eggs, butter, sugar, fast food, white flour and corn syrup. Excess individuals also tend to be slightly overweight or obese. Individuals who are more "deficient" tend to do better with the macrobiotic diet where it emphasizes animal products such as fish and small amounts of meat which can help to healthily build ones vitality, or qi.

The downfall of the vegan diet is that individuals who are on it for prolonged periods of time, specifically deficient types, tend to have decreased energy, decreased immune system function and become deficient in critical vitamins and minerals that are typically only found in animal products. Levels of B12 and iron are the most critically lost in this diet yet can be found largely in red meat specifically bison and fish specifically sockeye salmon. B12 and iron are critical components in making up the blood, they can also be found in lesser amounts in all types of seaweed.

Ideally, even the most robust individual should consume animal products but should do so in small amounts and should focus primarily on wild fish such as sockeye salmon, cod, mackerel, haddock and Alaskan salmon as meat sources. Typically, one should consume roughly one pound of meat per week, including meats and fish and these should be consumed more so as side dishes or condiments instead of main courses whereas, vegetables and whole grains should dominate the plate. Long time vegans and deficient individuals should include small amounts of red meat (bison) and poultry (turkey) as well as red colored fish such as sockeye and other kinds of wild salmon to help build their blood and increase vitality. Vegetables that help to nourish the blood and increase iron amounts in the body include beets and beet greens, seaweeds, molasses and Chinese red date called jujube date.