Reasons Why We Might Be Gluten Intolerant

Today, I was talking with someone about food, and she asked me a question that I thought was interesting. Why are people gluten intolerant?

My opinion on why people are gluten intolerant is simply because when the wheat is growing, it is heavily sprayed with pesticides.

I once saw a documentary where people were spraying the wheat plants that flour comes from. I was horrified by what I saw, and whenever I bought flour from that point on, I knew there were risks involved.

The woman who asked me the question explained to me that we are gluten intolerant because flour has been completely stripped of everything it originally started out with. When it gets into our systems, immediately it turns to sugar and our bodies react to this by producing antibodies to the gluten.

One more point was brought up. The woman continued to explain that for a while, she was gluten intolerant. She went off gluten and eventually was able to eat products with gluten in them. But a very important point she made was that her digestive system needed to be repaired. Once her digestive system was repaired, she could start to add the gluten products to her diet again.

Some think that the problem with gluten is that the wheat is genetically modified. The problem with that theory is that we really don't know if wheat has been genetically modified or not. At least, according to my little bit of research. Some people say that it has been genetically modified, and others laugh at that idea. So, maybe it is a contributor, or maybe it has nothing to do with the reason why people have to go on gluten free diets today.

I have heard a few stories of where people who are gluten intolerant can go to another country and eat bread without any problems. Maybe we can factor this into our research of what causes gluten intolerance. What is it that farmers in other countries do or don't do to their wheat while it is growing? Or maybe it is the preservatives and additives we put in to our products that contain gluten. It is hard to say at this point.

The main take away though is this; whatever sickness or ailments we have, we must cure them first by getting our digestive systems fixed. That is where we need to begin. Then we can go on with our research following that protocol.

What Is Wrong With Eating Cool Whip?

   OK, I know that this is the holiday season and most of us have been trained in either baking a lot or eating a lot of baked goods and products. We break the rules for this season and promise ourselves that we will do better once the holidays are over.

   So, I hate to bring up disappointing news, although for many of my readers, this subject is nothing new. I thought I would write this just in case there are those who don't know yet.

   Cool Whip is not a healthful product. In fact, many of the ingredients are toxic. I do not consider Cool Whip as a food product anyway. We use it because it gives a cool texture to food when mixed with sugar and other food items that are not good for us either.

Here is a list of the ingredients in Cool Whip:
*Hydrogenated oils
*High fructose corn syrup
*Polysorbate 60
*Skim milk
*Light cream

   I guess they are processed together to make Cool Whip what it is. I am not going to go into detail about all of these ingredients but I did find this article at: http://thescienceofeating.com/2014/09/16/dangers-of-cool-whip/

   You can read the article on your own. There is also a link on the page for a recipe for a Cool Whip type of product.

   I personally use whipped cream as a substitute for Cool Whip when the recipe calls for Cool Whip. For the confectioner's sugar used in making homemade whipped cream, I now use 'Swerve' which looks exactly like confectioner's sugar but is made from erythritol, and oligosaccharides. Here is a description of Swerve. It looks totally safe to use.

Is it really possible? Zero Calorie, powdered goodness? With Confectioners Style Swerve, even cupcake frosting can be guilt-free! Swerve is a great tasting, natural sweetener that measures cup-for-cup just like sugar! Made from a unique combination of ingredients derived from fruits and vegetables, Swerve contains no artificial ingredients, preservatives or flavors. Swerve is non-glycemic and safe for those living with diabetes. Human clinical trials have shown that Swerve does not affect blood glucose or insulin levels. The secret to our zero calorie sweetness is a combination of erythritol and oligosaccharides that provide excellent baking and cooking functionality. And with the ability to brown and caramelize, Swerve is gonna be right at home in your kitchen. There are no conversion charts needed when baking and cooking with Swerve. If your recipe calls for half a cup of sugar... you simply replace with half a cup of Swerve!

   Another product that might seem hopeful to use (but probably expensive) is 'Just Like Sugar'. Here are the ingredients for this product:
Chicory root dietary fiber, calcium vitamin C, natural flavors from the peel of the orange.

   I am not sure how this would work in a Cool Whip substitute recipe, but it might be worth a try. I have not tried this product yet, but, a friend who has a friend who is on a restricted diet, recommended it to her, and she recommended it to me.

Happy Holidays and safe baking!!!

The Power Of Fruits And Vegetables Is Being Stripped Away

They are taking away the power of the fruits and vegetables. Yep. That is right. But you ask, how are they doing that?
One way is through genetic engineering. The genetic structure of the plant is rewired to make the plant have certain desirable qualities. But no one thought, or maybe no one cared, that the nutritional value would go down in the plant.
If vegetables and fruits, as well as meats and dairy products are stripped of their nutritional value, they will not be able to serve us with good nutrition. Our bodies will become weak. The goal of the nourishment of the food we eat will no longer be able to be accomplished.
I see this as a spiritual battle as well. Satan wants to destroy human beings through whatever means possible. He works through people to accomplish his goals. Most people have no clue what is happening, but Satan appeals to their greedy hearts. It's one thing to try to produce food that can be produced in such a way that everyone can eat. It's another thing to monopolize the industry and make tons and tons of money, by depleting the nourishment of food in order to supposedly feed millions of people.
Wouldn't it be better to teach a group of people how to do farming than to try to do the farming for them? No one organization can possibly feed everyone. That is a lie from the Enemy himself. It would be better to produce nourishing food for a group of people, and to train other groups to grow their own food.
But groups like Monsanto keep getting bigger. The more money they have funding and supporting them helps them to grow exponentially while the rest of the world continues to become more and more undernourished.
Is it any wonder so many people in this country are sick? And when you think of it, who are these sick people supporting anyway?

Petra Under Her New Sunlight

I don't know what she was thinking when I first turned this light on. She moved to a part of the cage where the light wasn't as bright. She doesn't understand yet, that this light will be just like sunlight from the outside, and will help her body to form the vitamin D3 she needs to have in order to have strong bones.

I had to remove the top part of her cage, which was the playpen platform bottom situated at the top of her cage. She never liked playing on it anyway. 

Also got her a moon light. Not sure what it will do, but it is supposed to help keep a bird calm at night. I did not take a picture of it because when I turned out the lights, it was too dark to take a picture of it.

Here is a close up picture of Petra in her cage, under her sunlight. I have to make sure that the cord is out of her reach. It will be interesting to see if this light helps bring back the colors in her feathers. She is also started on Featherrific and another product from Avi Tech to help with feather plucking. I will keep everyone updated on this adventure. 

We spend a lot of time making sure our food and environment is safe for us. It would be wise to do the same thing with our pets. I don't understand the mentality where people think it is ok to give inferior food to animals. Animals can get sick just like humans, and when they do, it costs a lot of money to try to get them well. 

Safe And Natural Care For Birds

My bird, Petra, is 28 years old. When we bought her, she was six weeks old and we were told that she would live to be about 25 years.

From the beginning of our lives with Petra, I have been seeking the best way to care for her. I got on an emailing list for conures (a type of parrot) and asked a lot of questions. I got a lot of help from the people on that list.

I put a couple of pictures of Petra on Facebook the other day. I got a lot of interesting results, which will end up helping me to care even better than before.

Petra, unfortunately, plucks the feathers off her chest. She didn't do this at the beginning of her life, but somewhere down the road, she picked up this terrible habit. Needless to say, my pictures of Petra resulted in a lot of people feeling sorry for her. What had I done wrong or left out that she would not look as pretty as all the other conures whose pictures were also posted into this Facebook forum?

Someone was impressed that Petra was 28 years old and asked me what it was that I did to end up with a bird that is that age, when she should have only lived to be 25. I came up with a list of things I did. Some were to protect her. Some had to do with how I fed her. There were other things I did as well. I thought I would write some of them here, and hope they will help other bird owners.

Now that people feel sorry for Petra, after seeing her with her bald chest, I went on the Internet and studied some more and also asked the other bird owners for wisdom. I will write those ideas on the bottom. I just ordered some products and hope they work to help Petra to stop pulling out her feathers!

Bird Health And Safety Tips:
1. Never cook with Teflon or other non-stick pans around the bird.
2. Never give the bird avocado, chocolate, alcohol, or mushrooms.
3. Use organic produce whenever possible (I have heard of birds dying by eating the toxins in the plant)
4. Do not smoke around the bird or use candles.
5. I open the curtain to let sunshine in during the day.
6. I feed half of a seed mixture and half pellets (approximately).
7. Keep cats away from birds.
8. Make sure bowls are clean. Give clean water a couple of times a week.
9. I put powdered calcium in the bird food (this helps with egg laying too).
10. I have a video player and a radio on in her room.
11. Never let a draft reach your bird. Keep the cold air from coming through windows and doors.
12. Give the bird time out of the cage. A playpen is a good idea. Probably about 4-6 hours is good.
13. I take out peanuts from the bag of bird seed. Peanuts can contain a mold that is harmful to birds.
14. Interact with your bird. Birds thrive on interaction.
15. If there is ever a threat of fumes or chemical toxins in the air, protect the bird by insulating the doors or windows to keep out the fumes. Birds lungs are very sensitive.
16. I have a bird heater attached to her cage and use it when it is cold out.

It is good to cover the bird's cage at night, but I am not sure how necessary it is.
Here are some new things I am going to try:

1. Bach's Rescue Remedy - was recommended to help calm a bird, and maybe help reduce feather plucking. (Already came in the mail. Using it on my cat as well).


Rescue Remedy can be used for an immediate calming effect in any stressful situation,or when your pet needs help overcoming a variety of emotional or behavioral problems.Remedy can help your pet with-Visits to the vet, Fear of loud noises, Excessive barking or hissing, Shock, trauma or mistreatment,Loss of companion, Separation anxiety, Adapting to new surroundings.Rescue Remedy is suitable for use on pets of all shapes and sizes. 
(Amazon.com description)

 2. Featherbrite - Full Spectrum light bulb. Replaces real sunlight in room.

• BIRD full spectrum bulb simulating sunlight is designed for the health of parrots
• Can have a positive effect on a bird's physical and mental well-being
• Simulates natural sunlight; enhances Vitamin D synthesis; use year round as window filtered sunlight is not beneficial to your bird
• Compact spiral fluorescent bulb with a standard screw in base
• 5500k, 91cri with UVA 5% and UVB .04%. 1450 lumens

(Amazon.com description)
3. Featherbrite - Moon light - looks like a night light but gives effect of genuine moonlight.

• Latest in technology
• Bird night light providing parrots a soothing environment and helps reduce stress from fear of darkness relieving "nightfright"
• Long life mini light

(Amazon.com description)

4. Avitech Avicalm - Helps birds to become calm.


Avitech AviCalm calming supplement works miracles on screamers, feather pickers, nervous nellies, pluckers, chewers and just plain aggressive birds. It is a safe, non-sedating calming supplement that uses a compound found in green tea, FDA registered L-Thea nine which promotes a feeling of well-being without drowsiness. It is non-toxic and cannot be overdosed. Avitech only uses the certified and tested human food additive form of L-Thea nine in its AviCalm formula and receives a certificate of analysis for every lot delivered to ensure purity, the absence of heavy metals and not evidence of coliform organisms. The L-Thea nine is combined with malt dextrin, a non-sugar food-grade carbohydrate to allow for great taste and easy dosing. Just sprinkle over food. Use AviCalm together with Featheriffic! for optimum results. Birds love the taste. You'll see the difference! Made in USA.
(Amazon.com description)

5. Featheriffic - Helps bird's feathers

• A vitamin condition feather formula - special ingredients for pet birds
• Featheriffic will help grow healthy beautiful feathers, a parrot nutritional food supplement
• Formulation contains coarse ground corn that attracts birds and aids in acceptance
• Sprinkle on top of your parrot's food

(Amazon.com description)

I hope this has been helpful for you and your bird. I have not tried the last 4 items listed, but will receive them next week. These items are Amazon Affiliate links, which simply means I will get credit with Amazon if you click on the link and order a product. Thank you for your support!

My New Really Tasty Safe Snack

          This is an improvised version of a peanut butter cup. I broke off 6 little rectangles of a Green & Black's Organic chocolate bar (85% cocoa) and topped it with a big dab of Smucker's Organic Peanut Butter.

       Yum. Especially after chewing two large magnesium tablets, that, in my opinion, cannot be swallowed! Unless, you are a horse, of course!

The finished product! Organic peanut butter on top of
organic chocolate (85% cocoa)

You should be able to get Smucker's Organic peanut butter at your grocery store. I'm sure any good brand of peanut butter that is organic will be fine. 

Here is a description of the chocolate bar from Amazon: Green & Black’s Dark 85% organic dark chocolate is perfect for the chocolate lover who wants to experience the full, intense flavor of organic cocoa combined with the best ingredients. We use 85% cocoa solids balanced with just enough sweetness to bring out a unique and memorable taste and finish it with a delightful touch of organic vanilla. A pack of 10 makes it easy to keep this special treat on hand.

The candy bars you get from the grocery stores has lots of sugar and other undesirable ingredients. You want to find the highest percentage of cocoa solids in the bar. 

Too much of anything will end up not being good, so choose your snack items carefully. A little bit of chocolate goes a long way. I'm sure that there are tons of recipes using both chocolate and peanut butter on the internet. This one recipe is just a simple version of something more elaborate. 

If interested in ordering Green & Black's Organic Chocolate, or learning more about this product, click on the picture below (an affiliate link).

Green & Black's Organic Chocolate Bar, Dark 85% Cacao, 3.5 Ounce (Pack of 10)

Here are a couple of articles on the benefits of cocoa:
http://www.medicinehunter.com/cocoa-health-miracle
http://www.livestrong.com/article/331715-cocoa-powder-health-benefits/


"Over the past dozen of years or so, a steady stream of science has emerged, showing that cocoa and the confection made from it (chocolate) possess extraordinary life-imbuing and disease-fighting properties. Most notably, cocoa demonstrates significant benefits for the cardiovascular system, helping to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke, reduce the risk of high blood pressure, and even reduce the risk of cancer. Furthermore, cocoa consumption is associated with reduced cognitive decline in old age". - See more at: http://www.medicinehunter.com/cocoa-health-miracle#sthash.3KIpuSTq.dpuf

"Many people crave chocolate and avoid it because they are under the impression that it is fattening and unhealthy. Although a lot of chocolate products are unhealthy and calories dense, it is due to the addition of substances such as sugar and not to the cocoa itself. In fact, cocoa powder, which comes from the cocoa bean, is highly nutritious, and it can provide numerous health benefits." http://www.livestrong.com/article/331715-cocoa-powder-health-benefits/

Update: I took the idea of this tasty snack and became more creative with it. I melted the chocolate over low, low heat and placed the melted chocolate into a silicone candy mold. Then I put a dollop of the peanut butter on top of the melted chocolate in each mold. Then it has to go in the fridge and harden. Really, really good though!

Melted Organic Chocolate Bar

Finished Product! Yum!

Fast Food, Fat Profits & My Comments

This video is so interesting and enlightening. But, we could feel hopeless after watching it.

Could there be logical reasons why cancer and diabetes are escalating? Given our food environment in America, we can come up with some good reasons why we are a nation filled with unhealthy people.

I have never seen what a bottle of 'Chubby' soda looks like, but in the video, the bottle is quite small. But the amount of sugar in a bottle of Chubby is equal to the sugar in 7 doughnuts. Chubby is marketed for children.

"It's all about money" says one of the people in the video. How right he is! "Who is profiting from this current situation? Certainly not the children." announces one person.

Cheap food is heavily subsidized. Wow. A nice sized hamburger is cheaper than an apple. Sad. How we devour these things without even thinking about the consequences.

The sad part is, the public isn't really even aware of this. Those who are skilled at marketing are doing a good job and making a lot of money using the techniques of the 'lust of the flesh' when it comes to food and eating habits.

Watch the video. It is about 23 minutes. You will never be the same.

 

Co ops That Are In My Area That Might Be Of Interest To You

Co ops

I am involved in several food/supplement/farmer's market co ops. If anyone is interested in joining these co ops, please send me a message at awestruck@bellsouth.net. You need to live in the Orlando/East Orlando section of Florida because that is where the pick ups are. I don't make any money on these co ops, but we work together to make them work. They are all perfectly legal too.

1. Frontier Wholesale club - Buy Frontier products in bulk, as well as other natural and organic brands. Sells herbs, spices, teas, seasonings, cleaning products, etc.

2. Grass-fed milk that has not been pasteurized. This is grown on a local farm. The cows are A-2 Jersey cows, which are the best for milk drinking (note: legally, we have to have a label indicating that the milk is 'for pet consumption only'). With the purchasing of milk, free range eggs can also be ordered. Also, most of the time, goat's milk will be available too. I am avoiding using the 'r' word because I don't want it to come up in any searches that would be hunting down this type of milk.

3. Fresh For Less - Organic vegetable and Fruit co op. Meets in Tuskawilla every other week. Order a whole share of vegetables and fruits for $50, or split the order with someone for half the price. There are others who also host this co op in their area in Central Florida. Let me know if interested, and I can find out where the other places are located.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Non-co op ideas

I also do essential oils and Juice Plus+. If anyone is interested in the essential oils, there is a class on Thursday evenings to learn about them. There is tons of information on the Internet concerning the benefits and uses of essential oils. Please let me know if there is an interest in this. This is not a co op opportunity like the ones above. If interested in Juice Plus+ also send me an email. Both are excellent ways to bring good health and to help remove toxins from our bodies and to help enable us to heal ourselves.

awestruck@bellsouth.net

All the opportunities listed here (with the exception of the oils and Juice Plus+) are specific to the Central Florida area, mainly Longwood, Sanford, Winter Springs, Winter Park, Altamonte, Oviedo, Geneva, Chuluota, East Orlando, South Orlando, and Maitland. The essential oils class meets in Winter Springs on Thursday evenings. If you live further away, but would still like to be part of the co ops or classes, that is fine as long as you don't mind the drive!

More Information On A-1 Cows and A-2 Cows and Why It Matters So Much

We already hit on the subject of why milk is bad for you and at the same time, milk is an excellent food. There are many factors for this dilemma, some of which have to do with the way the cow is treated, what it is fed, and whether it is given antibiotics or growth hormones or not. But there is another factor involved. It has to do with whether the cow is an A-1 cow, or an A-2 cow.

   A-2 cows win the contest when it comes to producing nourishing milk. I am not a scientific type of person, so I probably would not serve my readers by trying to explain the dynamics behind all of this. All I understand is that something in the chemical makeup of the protein that is made by the cows, is different for A-2 and A-1 cows, and this difference can affect whether people can tolerate or digest the milk properly.

Most cows in America are A-1 cows, and that fact accounts for the reasons why many people claim milk is bad for you. It has something to do with the casein that is part of the protein. Many people cannot handle the casein produced from A-1 cows, but many are able to digest, without difficulty, the casein from A-2 cows.

So, instead of my trying to go any deeper into this, I would like to recommend a book on this subject. As I was studying this a couple of days ago, this book kept popping up. It is used by others who are also researching milk and how it affects our bodies.

"Devil In The Milk" by
Keith Woodford

There is a good amount of information on the Amazon page concerning this subject. One other consideration we have to take is that there are dairy lobbyists out there who are promoting dairy products to support dairy agriculture. They are not lobbying necessarily because they have your best interests in mind. 

On the other end of the spectrum, I have seen people completely give up all dairy products because of the bad rap that milk has gotten. While it is true that milk from the grocery store is probably not very nourishing, there is a milk available from farms that give their cows tender loving care, and the farmers do sell the milk that their cows produce. It takes some research to find where these places are. 

When Is Milk Bad For You?

We hear a lot about milk today, and some of it is very accurate, while other parts are not good, concerning milk drinking.

There are a lot of articles on the Internet as well as books written by health experts who are telling us that milk is bad for us to ingest. I also know of people who have watched documentaries and have completely turned to vegan and will no longer drink any milk. There are circles of people in the health field who tout almond or rice milk, and shy away from consuming regular milk. Why?

   If you know anything about the way we get our conventional milk, you might understand what the uproar is all about. The process used, from start to finish, is not good, to say the least.

   Cattle that is used to produce the milk we buy in the stores (or through vending machines) live on farms owned by larger companies. First of all, the cows are not allowed to roam, and for good reason; there is little roaming room on this farms. These agricultural farms are owned by large corporations and have to produce a lot of milk. The companies own several of these farms and they are all, pretty much operated the same way. The cattle are not kept clean and the milk has to be mass produced in order to make enough money to continue the process.

   The next problem, is that the cow is fed products that they were not made to eat. Corn and grains are easy to produce and much of that has been genetically modified in order to be able to produce a lot of corn. Tons of corn is used to feed farm animals because it is cheap. But because the cow cannot digest corn or grains properly, the cow does not stay healthy and has digestive problems. Cows living on these agricultural farms do not live as long as cows which live on smaller, local farms where they can have more tender loving care.

 All of this leads to another problem that has to be resolved. Cattle living on agricultural farms owned by corporations do not have as good resistance to sickness and disease, so, in order to keep them from getting sick, they are given antibiotics. So, when we drink milk that comes from these cows, we, in turn, get some antibiotics in us. The other problem is, cattle are also given growth hormones. The growth hormones can get into our bodies when we drink milk. There is a thought that perhaps this is the reason why girls begin to develop into women much earlier than they used to.

  Last of all, the milk produced on these farms is pasteurized and homogenized. This is necessary because the milk will travel to many places and it would be easy for bad bacteria to form in it. If someone were to get sick from drinking this milk, they could sue the corporation responsible for producing the milk. This would take a big chunk out of their budget that they cannot afford. Because the living conditions of the cattle on these farms is unsanitary, it would enable bad bacteria to grow easily if the milk is not pasteurized. The farmers have to take every precaution available to protect themselves from losing their businesses.

   Some of the health experts seem to think that our bodies cannot handle casein, which is the main protein presented in milk and cheese. There also are different breeds of cattle. Some produce what is known as A-2 Beta Casein, which is the protein that cows originally had but more recently, there had been a mutation in the cows which resulted in A-1 Beta Casein, which is not good for us. Most of the milk we drink comes from A-1 cows.

  Now, for the other side of the coin. There are farms throughout our country that allow their cows to roam. They are not penned to one place. Many of these farms do not feed their cows the generic corn products or grain that are served on the large, corporate owned farms. They do not give their cows antibiotics, nor do they inject growth hormones. There is no need for this on small farms, where the cows can be managed and cared for individually.

   The cows which live on these farms live on grass. As long as the grass is not treated with pesticides, the milk will be safe to drink. The grass is the correct nourishment for these cows and they thrive well on it. Also, the grass provides nourishment for us that does not come from the milk that the cows on the industrialized farms can give.

   Where do you get this milk that is safe and nourishing to drink? There are places here and there that produce this milk and sell it. What makes this situation hard, is that the FDA does not want people to drink raw, grass-fed milk, so, because of their authority and supposed concern for safety, they are cracking down on farms and farmers who sell raw milk. Laws have been produced to prevent or scare people away from buying raw, grass-fed milk. Articles pop up here or there with false or little information on why raw milk would be harmful to drink. Regardless of all this, raw milk can still be obtained in most places. Farmers markets carry this milk, many times. There are groups which manage the orders for obtaining this milk from the farms. Some states still do not allow raw milk to be sold.

  I think if raw milk is in demand, laws could change. Grass-fed milk will be more easily obtainable. If we sit back and do nothing, nothing will happen. We will be stuck with having to buy conventionally sold milk from our stores, and the large, corporate owned agricultural farms will continue to bring in the big bucks and their business will continue to thrive, and ultimately, will overshadow the farms the sell raw milk.

   Did I mention, that pus has been found in conventionally produced milk?

* http://www.foodrenegade.com/healthy-milk-what-to-buy/
* http://www.snowvillecreamery.com/a1-and-a2-beta-casein-in-cow-milk.html

Read 'Devil In The Milk'

* http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2014/03/a1-milk-a2-milk-america

There is an area in Central Florida where A-2, grass-fed, raw milk can be obtained. If interested, please send me an email at awestruck@bellsouth.net

There are also places around here that sell raw milk (not sure that the cows are A-2). Let me know if you are interested. 

If you live in a place where you are not sure, check out the farmer's markets in your area. Join health groups in your social media. Sometimes, they are hard to find, but you can usually find them after looking for a long time.

One more word of caution: Many states do allow the sale of raw milk, but there are laws for some states that prohibit the transferring of the milk from one state to another. It is best to look for the milk in the area in which you live, before trying to obtain it from another state. 

Also, if you do find raw milk in your area, make sure the standards for cleanliness are met. If a farm is not kept absolutely clean, animals can carry disease that ends up in the milk and the recipient can also get sick. Most local farmers are smart enough to keep their milking areas sanitized, but it is good to check first to make double sure.

Don't throw the baby out with the bath water! You can have your milk and drink it too, that is, if it is raw, grass-fed milk. 

Homemade Almond Milk

I really did not believe that one could take almonds and make milk out of them but here it is. You have to soak the almonds in water and place in the refrigerator for eight hours or more. Then you drain the almonds and put them in a blender and add a couple of cups of water. Blend them and strain. You can find the full recipe in the recent issue of Mother Earth Living. 

My Kitchen Is A Lab, And I Am The Guinea Pig

My husband commented one time about my kitchen being a lab. I thought about it for 2 seconds and realized he was right.

On any given day, I may have a concoction going, or there may be several things brewing around the house.

Today, I am fermenting cabbage that will hopefully turn into sauerkraut in a couple of days. I had sourdough starter sitting on the counter to make bread with today. Pasta was made this morning and is cooking in the slow cooker with a cheese sauce over it. There are a few other things going on as well.

Got out my big dehydrator and am drying peppers and fruit to put into my cereal. (The peppers will probably be for my bird.)

So much fun. So time consuming though. But it will be worth it.

Oh, I also have my oil box in the kitchen, and regularly reach for my oils for whatever the need is, whether cooking or for some other reason.

Last week, I made yogurt and kefir. What to make next week? Maybe ricotta cheese?

A word of caution though, for those of you who are like me in this area. Cultures like yogurt and kefir must be in separate places while they are culturing. The strains of the cultures do go through the air and can land in the containers of the different things that are growing on your counters.

I used to grow a ginger bug. I kept it in my den, so that it wouldn't become weak because of something else I am growing. I did have kombucha growing and kept it in the same room as the cream cheese I was making. Not sure if any cross contamination went on.

Bulgarian Yogurt

Homemade cheese being brushed
with brine

Red Cabbage in Perfect Pickler jar

Homemade Kefir

Lemon Soap

Did you know that you can make soap in a slow cooker? It is called 'Hot Processed' soap, and I have yet to make it. It requires grain alcohol, which is kind of expensive. I now have the slow cooker to make it in and will have to try it sometime. Will have to see if I can find a good deal on quality grain alcohol sometime soon.

The Perfect Pickler - A Way To Make Fermented Food Without The Canning Process

I just opened up my kit for the Perfect Pickler. It comes with a little booklet with recipes, a wide-mouth cap and gasket, brine overflow cup, and fermentation lock.

I think that making sauerkraut is a little more work than the other recipes though, because you have to cut out a piece of the cabbage that is about the same size as the lid.

The web site for the Perfect Pickler is www.perfectpickler.com. They also have some videos and instructions. You can also find some Perfect Pickler videos on Youtube.

Here is an amazon link to the Perfect Pickler. It is my amazon affiliate link. There are other associated items as well as reviews on the product.



You might be asking, why should we even eat fermented foods? What are the benefits?
Fermented foods, like pickles and sauerkraut, contain probably trillions of beneficial bacteria that we need to have. In our modern Western diet, we are lacking many nutrients. We have a lot of diseases that we didn't have years ago, and we wonder why.

Hippocrates believed that all health begins in the gut. He is probably at least partially, if not completely correct.

Here is an excerpt from www.eatingwell.com, written by Lisa D'Agrosa M.S. R.D.

The trillions of tiny creatures living in our bodies have been making headlines lately—and for good reasons. These good bacteria—particularly those in our gut—may improve digestion, boost immunity and—according to some preliminary studies—they may even help us get leaner. Research is still emerging on just how important these mighty microbes might be for our health, but the early results are promising. There’s plenty you can do now to encourage their growth. The most effective way is by eating foods packed with probiotics—good bacteria that live in your gut and show up in fermented foods. Add these seven fermented foods to your diet for a healthy dose of probiotics.

This helps us understand the importance of eating fermented food. I remember hearing a story told by my mom, of a lady who was a friend of the family, who was found to have terminal cancer. The woman chose to make cabbage soup every night. She never died of cancer. 

I don't think that the cabbage soup was necessarily fermented, but it does show the power of the cancer inhibiting properties of cabbage. Combine a vegetable like cabbage with the process of fermentation, and see what a powerful food it turns out to be!

So, the choice is up to us. We can spend some quality time in the kitchen, making things that will benefit our health, or, we can just go to the grocery store and pick up almost any kind of food item that is already made. We know that making pickles and sauerkraut involves work, but what rewarding work it is! It can benefit us immensely if we just follow the rules, work hard, and don't live our lives for convenience.

Almost finished. Now it has to
sit for 4 days. Had to add an apple
to it in order to make the level
higher.

The Warning About Eastern Medicine

Maybe you haven't noticed yet, but Eastern medicine is way better than Western medicine. The philosophy behind Eastern medicine is basically that your body heals itself if given the proper elements. But, there is a problem.

I have been researching health and healing for the past several years now. Most of my research is done by professionals who upload their articles and share their wisdom on the Internet. I must say, I have learned quite a bit. But, there is a warning, and I will explain.

Many of the practitioners of Eastern medicine also incorporate their spiritual ideas based on their tradition. Much of their medical practice is tied in with their religious beliefs.

For example, many will put an emphasis on things like finding or sending good vibes. They incorporate ideas like meditation and using mantras. On the outset, it might not look dangerous, but if you listen to their suggestions of words to use when chanting or things to meditate on, you will find things that encourage you to tell yourself how great you are, or that you 'can' do it. A lot of what they teach sounds similar to the prosperity Gospel or something from the Therapeutic Movement.

I actually saw a post today telling us why we should trust the Universe. One person commented saying that he or she trusts in the One who made the universe. Someone else replied to that saying that we are the universe. Another instructor teaching a class informed us that we are the Creator. I guess this confirms the world's idea of man being the measure of all things.

While I love all the medical aspects of what I am learning, and I have a lot of respect for those who are teaching Eastern medicine, I am very concerned that we could end up doing the same thing they are doing. Can we separate the spiritual aspect from the reality and benefits of the medical knowledge? Or will we be the ones telling our patients and those we care for to chant certain words or send good vibes somewhere?

This teaching or thinking seems to be everywhere. If we are not careful, and unless we are well grounded in the Word, I am afraid that we will get sucked up into these activities that are opposed to God.

All I can say is, please be careful and discerning. In almost every area of alternative medicine, this kind of thing is continually popping up. From chiropractors to aromatherapists, these ideas are being incorporated. Please take the good out and throw out the bad.

The Reason Why We Strive To Be Healthy

The reason we take measures to take care of our bodies is not so much that we live a long, long life, although that is a wonderful benefit, but, the reason more specifically is, that we can be fully functional and not living in unnecessary pain until the day we take our last breath.

We live in a toxic society, and a society that perpetuates sickness with everything around us. All of this, of course, is done under the guise of 'convenience' because we have been taught the convenience is the most valued thing around.

We live for today, and take short cuts whenever possible. We have microwave ovens wherever we go. It takes too long to heat something up by any other means and we have to get back to what we were doing. Stores sell tons of food items where the only preparation is adding water or milk, and then viola, the dinner is served. Clean up is minimal.

Take the opportunities that we have, for us to go to a fast food restaurant and get something on the go. We don't only do these things on Sunday, after the church service. Anytime time gets tight, we rush to the nearest hamburger joint or pizza place.

I am not necessarily going to say it is wrong to go to a fast food place or buy prepared food from the grocery store. But what is the trade off? This applies to all of us, especially today in America.

America is one of the sickest nations in the world. This should be surprising since we are also one of the top technologically inclined nations of all nations anywhere. There are many articles written and much research has been done on the correlation of how we live and why we are sick today. Yet, nothing really changes. The fast food places are still packed. We continually hear about friends and relatives who develop cancer at an early age. We lose friends and family members to cancer all the time. We wonder when our turn will come.

But my question is, do we have to succumb to sicknesses like this? Is this specific to America in the 21st century? Is there anything we can do to help solve this problem?

I do believe we can work with this. We can take measures that should help us to have better health. That doesn't mean that if we all took these measures and applied them to our lives that no one would get cancer or any of the other dreaded diseases that so many are getting today. But it is a step in the right direction and can be helpful.

    There does seem to be a correlation between what we eat, touch, and breathe in. We can do some things to get rid of toxins in our bodies. The question is, do we want to pay the price for having good health and feeling good physically, or would we rather satisfy our taste buds and not make any changes in the way we prepare our food? Can we take the time and do some research or listen to trusted people who have studied the affects of what we eat and how it affects our bodies? Can we learn how to nourish our bodies so they will be able to fight off sicknesses and disease? Can we learn how to eliminate toxins from our environment or is that too much work for us who live in a society that demands instant results and gratification?

The choice is ours. We are fortunate to be able to have this choice. We can choose to live the fast paced life or we can choose to live our lives carefully and healthfully. What we do will not only determine how long we live, but it will also determine the quality of our lives. Which is the best choice for you?

A Good And Safe Waffle Iron

I had spent the last couple of years analyzing waffle irons. I do not like the ones that have a non-stick coating on them. So, I searched but never found what I was looking for until someone suggested using a ceramic waffle iron. I found one on amazon.com and I love it. So grateful for the suggestion and that I asked the question in the forum at the right moment.




This is just like the one I got. Amazon has other ones as well, and this particular brand has a couple of different colors offered too. Using this one has been easier than using the one I had prior to this. There is no need to spray or butter the plates. The finished waffles come right off. The cleanup is easy too.

There are a lot of recipes on the Internet for making waffles. I have even seen sourdough waffle recipes. By now, there may even be gluten free recipes.

If you do ever get a waffle iron like this one, please read the instruction booklet that comes with it. This applies to any appliance we get. Don't assume you know everything about the machine if you have never used one before.

I Like My Teeth Nice And Clean - Update

I went to the dentist not too long ago, and the hygienist was cleaning my teeth. She mentioned a couple of times that my teeth were very clean. She also commented that she noticed less tartar on my teeth (guess my teeth made an impression on her for her to remember my teeth condition from the last time she did my teeth). So, the oils seem to be helping. I will continue on with this and see how we do next time.

I Like My Teeth Nice And Clean

All of my life I have suffered with problems with my teeth. When I was 8 years old, I had to have 8 teeth pulled out at the same time. Definitely was not fun.

Fast forward many years later; As an adult, I still get cavities. I have a light case of gingivitis, and have had at least 8 root canals and crowns put on my teeth. It's about time I find something that will help me have clean teeth, or, at least a clean mouth, free from bacteria that will end up rotting my teeth.

A couple of years ago, I made my own toothpaste. I did not like the way it turned out, but it must have made my teeth very clean, for the dental hygienist told me a couple of times, how impressed she was on how clean my teeth were during that visit.

  What did I use to make my teeth that clean? If I remember back, I used a homemade toothpaste that contained peroxide and baking soda. I put it in a jar, but it did not come out easily. But perhaps it really did work.

  Now that I am using essential oils, I have another idea to keep my teeth clean. When I put toothpaste on my brush, I put a drop of frankincense, a drop of clove oil, and a drop of myrrh essential oil. The clove will take care of infections that are in the area inside the mouth.

  My big concern today is for the root canals and crowns I have. There is some information out there saying that root canals are very dangerous. The reason why they are dangerous is because they are blocked and the canals are still open. Germs can hide in there and live inside the canals. If my immunity ever became compromised, I could get very sick. That is the reason for the clove oil. Clove oil is very strong and will kill germs. If you use clove oil, you must be careful. One time I got it on my face around my lips, and my face felt like it was burning all day!

   When I was a kid, I had teeth problems, mainly with abscesses. My mom would put something called a 'polaris pad' inside my mouth where the abscess was. I still remember the taste. It was the flavor of cloves.

   When I brush my teeth in a couple of minutes, I am going to use spearmint essential oil on the top of the toothpaste. This will be a good note to go to bed on.

  Certain oils should not be swallowed so take care to spit out after you brush your teeth, especially with the oils like myrrh or cypress. They are good for the mouth (gums) but should not be taken internally (swallowed).

For information on the toothpaste I use go to:

If you are interested in the oils, send me a message at awestruck@bellsouth.net

My Mock Fresca Drink With Added Zip

Here is a homemade recipe I came up with. Instead of buying 'Fresca' from the store, I can sort of make my own version, without the additives and sugar.
This one also has some extras in it that are good for you and support good health. If you are interested in obtaining these ingredients, please contact me for more info.

Mock Fresca Drink With Added Zip

* Crushed ice
* 5 drops Stevia or to taste
* 4 drops 'Slim and Sassy' (essential oil)
* 2 drops Zendocrine (essential oil)
* 3/4 cup Club Soda
* 3/4 cup Pure Grapefruit Juice (Use Organic if Possible)

Take a stainless steel or glass cup and add crushed ice. Place drops of Stevia on top of the ice. Place drops of essential oils on top of the ice too. Add the club soda and grapefruit juice. Use a straw if desired.

Here is a page with information on 'Slim and Sassy'. It is a metabolic blend that helps manage hunger and helps support metabolism http://www.doterratools.com/documents/Slim__Sassy_Essential_OIl_Blend_Product_Information_Page.pdf

Here is a page with information on 'Zendocrine' - It is a detoxing blend. http://www.doterratools.com/documents/Zendocrine_Detoxification_Blend.pdf

Tastes very much like Fresca. Everything

 

 

 

in this is completely natural and safe. 

Nothing artificial

Help For Restless Legs, Finally!

I have had restless legs since I was a child. I used to think that they were, what we call, 'growing pains'. Long after I was done 'growing' I still had restless legs, especially at night.

Not only did I have restless legs, but I also have, what I figured out to be as I diagnosed myself based upon a book on insomnia, is 'primary insomnia'. It is basically an insomnia that it hard to cure.

The insomnia got worse when I was in my 50's. I actually could not fall asleep, and the scary part was that even Benadryl didn't help most of the time, anymore.

I went for sleep studies. I used melatonin. I did research on the Internet and tried many different recommended supplements. Nothing happened. I still could not get to sleep or stay asleep for very long. I went to different doctors. Each one had their suggestions, but again, nothing really helped.

So, since I can't sleep at night, I decided to just stay up until I got things done around the house, or things I never got to during the day. I actually felt fine at 2 am. Everything was there during the night that I needed to have during the day. But try getting up at 7 or 8 am in the morning!

Not only do I have a problem with insomnia, but also have a hard time with restless leg syndrome, known as RLS. RLS was there every night, along with insomnia. They seem to work well together.

Again, many of the suggestions were fine and worked for most people, however, they did not work for me. I resolved myself to the fact that I would have to take this dreaded medicine that one doctor told me I would have to be on for the rest of my life once I started taking it.

I had heard about the side effects of this drug as well. I try to avoid taking any kind of drug if I have to. I thought that perhaps this would be a drug I could take only as needed, which ended up being every other night instead of every night.

The drug helped very well when I took it. But the RLS got so bad, I even had it during the day, especially if we were traveling or if I had to sit for a long time.

Months ago, I started using essential oils in a diffuser. I also put them on my hair at night!! I put them on my face, on my legs, and on the bottoms of my feet. I have a couple of diffusers in the house now and use them continually. But there is a difference in some of the problems I have been having with sleep and with RLS.

My original thought was to try to help my husband sleep well. I basically gave up on myself, but I thought if he could sleep well, that would even be helpful to me. He has a hard time breathing at night, so I have been putting the oils in the diffuser and on his pillow to help him with that. He even said that he is sleeping better now. But what I didn't realize was how well all this was going to help me sleep. Most of the time, when I do the essential oils ritual in our home at night, I can fall asleep and stay asleep for a much longer period of time than before. When I take a nap, I fall into a deep sleep many times. I have the diffuser going for that as well.

For the RLS, I use a combination of essential oils. Basil, Vetiver, an oil combination called, 'Aromatouch' which has helped many with RLS. I add wintergreen and fractionated coconut oil. as well as  Ylang Ylang.

Another thing people have said about RLS is that you have to have magnesium, or even just minerals. I tried mineral supplements, but nothing much happened. I upped my magnesium, but still had RLS. I do take large doses of magnesium now, and that may be helping as well. I take a magnesium supplement three times a day, then I take 2 magnesium malate tablets (they are huge and I have to chew them. Yuk!) at night. All this really seems to help with both insomnia and RLS.

I haven't had to take the RLS medicine for a over a month now, and I have had a much easier time falling asleep at night. All these new measures really seem to work.

Disclaimer: This is something that works for me. If you struggle with these same symptoms, I cannot guarantee they will work the same for you. It is good to do research and if you have the time and money, to experiment. Also, check with your physician or family doctor to find the root of your problem and see if there are alternatives that will work. If you are dependent on taking a certain medicine, do not go off that medicine unless you are absolutely positively sure that you can go with out it. Again, check with your doctor and ask for his wisdom.

If you are interested in learning about these oils, send me an email at omasworkshop@bellsouth.net

I bought two of these diffusers.
They work well and they stay
on for three hours. You can
also turn off the light.