GM (Genetically Modified) News

GENETICALLY ENGINEERED CORN PRODUCING HERBICIDES IN YOUR GUT?

A widely cultivated variety of genetically engineered corn may be slowly poisoning American consumers. Dupont's Pioneer Liberty Link corn was bioengineered to withstand high levels of the toxic herbicide glufosinate. Enzymes in the plant actually break down the herbicide, making it less toxic to the plant, thereby allowing farmers to apply higher levels of herbicides to the plant and surrounding weeds. Scientists are now finding that enzymes in the human gut are likely "reactivating" the herbicide within our bodies. A recent study on rats found that 10% of the chemicals were reconverted back to the toxic herbicide within the digestive tract of the animal. Another study on goats found a full 30% of the herbicide was rebuilt in the gut. Glufosinate is known to cause nerve damage and is a likely endocrine disruptor. Scientists are also concerned that by reactivating the toxic chemical in the digestive tract, it is likely killing off beneficial bacteria necessary for healthy digestion.
Learn more: http://www.organicconsumers.org/2006/article_637.cfm

GENETICALLY ENGINEERED COTTON KILLING SHEEP AND GOATS

In India's Warangal district of Andhra Pradesh, government officials have ordered an investigation into the deaths of hundreds of sheep and goats who appear to have been poisoned by eating genetically engineered (GE) cotton. "They just became very dull and lifeless and died," said one shepherd, Pendala Venkatamma. Sheep and goats regularly graze on traditional cotton, but after 4-5 days of eating Monsanto's genetically engineered bT cotton, the animals'stomachs swelled, and they died. Although Monsanto denies its cotton could have this effect, government officials have launched a scientific investigation. "We have immediately alerted the animal husbandry department to give us the details of villages where this has happened and... their findings regarding this" said Poonam Malakondaiah, Agriculture Commissioner.

Learn more: http://www.organicconsumers.org/2006/article_646.cfm

Splenda Not Only In Food/Its Symptoms

Eight percent of the artificial sweetener Splenda is currently sold to pharmaceutical companies for over-the-counter cold remedies, lozenges and vitamins sold in America. The following symptoms have been noticed within a 24-hour period following consumption of Splenda products:

* Skin -- Redness, itching, swelling, blistering, weeping, crusting, rash, eruptions, or hives (itchy bumps or welts). These are the most common allergic symptoms that people have.

* Lungs -- Wheezing, tightness, cough, or shortness of breath.

* Head -- Swelling of the face, eyelids, lips, tongue, or throat; headaches and migraines (severe headaches).

* Nose -- Stuffy nose, runny nose (clear, thin discharge), sneezing.

* Eyes -- Red (bloodshot), itchy, swollen, or watery.

* Stomach -- Bloating, gas, pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or bloody diarrhea.

* Heart -- Palpitations or fluttering.

* Joints -- Joint pains or aches.

* Neurological -- Anxiety, dizziness, spaced-out sensation, depression.
From Mercola.com

The Top 4 Reasons Your Liver Gets Clogged

1. Pharmacueticals and over-the-counter drugs. One of the side effects just about every single drug is that it overloads your liver. The AMA has admitted that prescription drug side effects have now risen to become fourth leading cause of death in America. Ironically, this means that prescription drugs are now killing more people than the diseases they are supposed to be curing.
2. The hundreds of Poisons in the food you have eaten. More than 70,000 plus synthetic chemicals are in commercial use today. Of those less than 7% have been tested for adverse effects. Benzene, a known cancer-causing chemical that causes liver tumers, leukemia and other diseases of the blood is found in plastic bottles, polypropylene containers and in soda. 79% of diet sodas were contaminated with hazardous levels of benzene. Also found in food, fruits, veggies, etc are pesticides, insecticides, herbicides, preservatives, etc.
3.The toxic air you are breathing. The air inside American homes is up to 70 times more polluted than outdoor air and toxic fumes from common household cleaners cause cancer along with what's in your drapes, wood furniture, plastics, beds, and clothing.
4.Polluted water. Drinking tap water is toxic, but your shower leads to even greater exposure to toxic chemicals. This is because the chemicals evaporate out of the water and are then inhaled, making it even more toxic than drinking it. Plus you absorb toxins through your skin.
(This info was from a Dr. Schulze's newsletter.)

Biotin Deficiency

Eating the raw whites of eggs can cause a biotin deficiency. Signs of biotin deficiency are red around the eyes, mouth, and nose and brittle fingernails, thinning hair and or loss of color. Take biotin for a few weeks if you are deficient. Sally Fallon recommends eating raw yolks in smoothies. The best way to eat cooked eggs are over-easy or soft boiled. I have raw eggs in my egg-nog. This is fine just don't eat too many raw egg whites or save the whites and use in a cooking recipe. The whites are good for you they just need to be cooked. There is a long article on this at mercola.com.

Asthma

-vitamin E is very good. Make sure it's the correct type. Do your research.
-proper omega 3 to omega 6 ratio. Take cod liver oil, use butter, don't use canola or veg. oil or margarine etc.
-antibiotics are linked to causing asthma and allergies. Avoid them.
-tylenol may cause asthma
-polyunsatuated fats contribute to asthma
-non breast fed babies have a higher risk for asthma
-Chiropratic care can help
-pasteurized homogenized milk is bad for asthma sufferers
-Don't use anti-bacterial soap.
-exercise is beneficial and deep breathing exercises. Blow up balloons as exercise everyday.

Suffering

However great your suffering may be, consider that you have probably deserved them and that they are still far less than your guilt, since you have so often deserved hell. The time of suffering is the most precious time of all; spend it, not in complaining, but in eliciting acts of conformity with the will of God. Kneel down at the Redeemer's feet; lovingly kiss His sacred wounds, unite your sufferings with His and say at last: Lord, do not spare me here, but be merciful to me in the next world.

Always receive with thanksgiving the little crosses that God sends you. All punishments in this world are genuine acts of mercy.

[This is from The Gift of Self to God by Fr. Nicholas Grou, S.J.]

Master Cleanse

The Master Cleanse
· Is a 10-40 day liquid only diet that dissolves and eliminates toxins and congestion that have built up and been stored throughout areas of the body.
· Frees up energy within the body (since the body normally uses 35% or more of its energy to digest food, which can now be used to release toxins and rejuvenate the body.)
· Cleanses the kidneys and the digestive system
· Purifies the glands and cells throughout the entire body
· Eliminates unusable waste and hardened material in the joints and muscles
· Builds a healthy blood stream, enhances the senses, and helps clear the mind
· Relieves pressure and irritation in the nerves, arteries, and blood vessels
· Helps the body increase alkalinity, better assimilate nutrients, build body tissue, fight off disease, and control weight.
· Helps treat a large amount of ailments from joint and muscle pain to headaches, ulcers, skin ailments and much more.

LEMON DRINK for your Master Cleanse
you need:
2 tablespoons FRESH squeezed lemon or lime juice (approx. 1/2 lemon)
2 tablespoons genuine organic maple syrup, Grade B (the darker the better)*
1/10 teaspoon (a small pinch!) cayenne pepper, gradually increase (the more BTUs the better)
300 - 500 ccm (10-14 oz) pure water
In a 300ccm (10-ounce) glass (to allow for 227ccm and mixing room): 2 tablespoons fresh (and organic, if possible) lemon or lime juice (absolutely no canned or frozen juice). 2 tablespoons real (and organic, if possible) grade B or C maple syrup. (Don't use Grade A maple syrup or maple-flavored syrup. They are over-refined, which means that they are mostly refined sugars and lack essential minerals.) A small pinch of cayenne pepper (to taste). Spring or purified water, between room temperature and medium hot (but not cold) – fill to 1/4 liter (8 oz). Mix all the ingredients by thoroughly stirring or shaking, and drink. Or, in two 1 liter bottles: Juice of 3 lemons, divided equally between the two bottles (about 85ccm or 3 oz per bottle) An equal quantity of grade B or C maple syrup in each bottle (about 85 ccm or 3 oz per bottle) A pinch of cayenne in each bottle Spring or purified water (fill bottles to the top) Mix all the ingredients by thoroughly shaking; then drink throughout the day. Use fresh lemons or limes only, never canned or frozen lemon juice. Use organic and vine ripened when possible. Also, mix your lemonade fresh just before drinking. Don't mix it up in the morning for the whole day. You can, however, squeeze your lemons in the morning and measure out the 2 tablespoons when needed.
* YL Clinic says you can use Agave instead of the maple syrup. Tom Woloshyn (who studied with Stanley Burroughs himself) disagrees. Clinic says if you have diabetes or hypoglycemia, use molasses. If you feel weak or have a sugar imbalance you can add a scoop of Power Meal. Or you can try Master Amino Acid Profile (MAP) for protein without any residuals or strain on the body more info here: http:/www.weightlossessentials.com/aminoacid.html
SALT WATER FLUSH:
Drink an oral salt water enema upon arising. To do this, add 2 level teaspoons of uniodized sea salt (celtic seasalt is best) to a quart of lukewarm water (the one-quart juice bottles in which most organic juices come work very well or a quart canning jar). Shake well, then drink the entire quart. It's also good to massage the colon as well. Make sure you use uniodized sea salt; regular or iodized salt will not have the same beneficial effect. This oral enema will flush out your entire digestive tract and colon from top to bottom, usually within an hour, prompting you to eliminate several times, clearing out the plaque and debris from the walls, and the parasites that have been living there.
Lemonade Drink:
Drink the lemonade mix every 1 to 2 hours. Take no other food, but do be sure to drink plenty of purified water in addition to the lemonade drink. Drink as much of this lemonade as you want, but make sure that you drink at least twelve 1/4 liter (8 oz) glasses. The lemonade contains all the vitamins and minerals you need. This can be combined with supplements for colon cleansing such as Bentonite or Psyllium Seeds. You don't have to start your fast on the morning of the first day. You can begin later in the day, even if you've already eaten. Once you begin, however, eat nothing more while you're on the fast. It's also a good idea to read Stanley Burrough's book, The Master Cleanser. Note: Diabetics, refer to the special instructions on page 19 of The Master Cleanser.
Note: Bentonite is the only product known to remove plaque from the walls of the intestine and colon. The plaque in your stool will look like egg shells on the outside of the bentonite "gel." Bentonite works most effectively when the colon is empty of food. It grabs the plaque which has been loosened by the lemon juice and the resting/fasting process. The salt water enema pushes out the bentonite gel and the plaque and debris that is stuck to it and in it. The salt water further cleanses the walls as it passes through, resulting in shiny clean walls.
Herbal Laxative:
Each evening you can drink an herbal laxative tea to help with elimination, do this right before bed time. (I don't recommend this).
GOING OFF LEMONADE FAST
Burroughs recommends a minimum of 10 days on this. You can safely do 40 days or more.
First Day: Start with 4 oz. [1/8 liter] fresh squeezed orange juice mixed with 4 oz. water. If it goes well, drink several more 8 oz. [1/4 liter] glasses of fresh orange juice during the day. Sip slowly. Dilute with water if needed.
Second Day: Drink several 8 oz. [1/4 liter] glasses of orange juice during the day -- with extra water, if needed.
In the evening make a vegetable broth (no canned soup). Use seasonal leafy and root vegetables such as: beets and beet tops, turnips and turnip greens, kale, carrots, onions, parsley, celery, potatoes, okra, one or two inds of legumes, squash, beans, a little salt, cayenne pepper and dehydrated vegetables or veg. powder may be added for flavor (no MSG or hydrolyzed protein).
Cook lightly. Drink the broth, eating only a few bites of the vegetables.
Third Day: Orange juice in the morning. At noon have some more soup with some of the vegetables. No meat, fish, eggs, bread, pastries, tea, milk, or coffee. For Dinner, have the vegetables in the soup.
Fourth Day: Orange juice or lemon and maple syrup in the morning. Fruits, vegetables, seeds, nuts for lunch. Salad or fruit for dinner.
Fifth Day: Eat normally but no junk food, dairy, tea, coffee, white flour or white rice, heavy animal proteins. If, after eating is resumed, distress or gas occurs, go back to the lemonade diet for a few days until the system is ready for food.
(Excerpt from "Healing for the Age of Enlightenment" by Stanley Burroughs -Stanley Burroughs Master Cleanse - available through Essential Science Publishing.)

13 Dangerous Food Additives

Propyl Gallate This preservative, used to prevent fats and oils from spoiling, might cause cancer. It's used in vegetable oil, meat products, potato sticks, chicken soup base and chewing gum, and is often used with BHA and BHT (see below).
BHA and BHT Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT)are used similarly to propyl gallate -- to keep fats and oils from going rancid. Used commonly in cereals, chewing gum, vegetable oil and potato chips (and also in some food packaging to preserve freshness), these additives have been found by some studies to cause cancer in rats. If a brand you commonly buy uses these additives, look for a different variety, as not all manufacturers use these preservatives.
Potassium Bromate This additive is used in breads and rolls to increase the volume and produce a fine crumb structure. Although most bromate breaks down into bromide, which is harmless, the bromate that does remain causes cancer in animals. Bromate has been banned throughout the world, except for in the United States and Japan. In California, a cancer warning would likely be required if it were used, which is why it is rarely used in that state.
Monosodium glutamate (MSG) MSG is used as a flavor enhancer in many packaged foods, including soups, salad dressings, sausages, hot dogs, canned tuna, potato chips and many more. According to Dr. Russell Blaylock, an author and neurosurgeon, there is a link between sudden cardiac death, particularly in athletes, and excitotoxic damage caused by food additives like MSG and artificial sweeteners. Excitotoxins are, according to Dr. Blaylock, "A group of excitatory amino acids that can cause sensitive neurons to die." Many consumers have also personally experienced the ill effects of MSG, which leave them with a headache, nausea or vomiting after eating MSG-containing foods. To find out more about the side effects associated with MSG, as well as a complete list of which foods contain it, see our past article MSG: If it's Safe: Why do They Disguise it on the Labels?
Aspartame (Equal, NutraSweet) This artificial sweetener is found in Equal and NutraSweet, along with products that contain them (diet sodas and other low-cal and diet foods). This sweetener has been found to cause brain tumors in rats as far back as the 1970s, however a more recent study in 2005 found that even small doses increase the incidence of lymphomas and leukemia in rats, along with brain tumors. People who are sensitive to aspartame may also suffer from headaches, dizziness and hallucinations after consuming it.
Acesulfame-K Acesulfame-K is an artificial sweetener that's about 200 times sweeter than sugar. It's used in baked goods, chewing gum, gelatin desserts and soft drinks. Two rat studies have found that this substance may cause cancer, and other studies to reliably prove this additive's safety have not been conducted. Acesulfame-K also breaks down into acetoacetamide, which has been found to affect the thyroid in rats, rabbits and dogs.
Olestra Olestra is a fat substitute used in crackers and potato chips, marketed under the brand name Olean. This synthetic fat is not absorbed by the body (instead it goes right through it), so it can cause diarrhea, loose stools, abdominal cramps and flatulence, along with other effects. Further, olestra reduces the body's ability to absorb beneficial fat-soluble nutrients, including lycopene, lutein and beta-carotene.
Sodium Nitrite (Sodium Nitrate) Sodium nitrite (or sodium nitrate) is used as a preservative, coloring and flavoring in bacon, ham, hot dogs, luncheon meats, corned beef, smoked fish and other processed meats. These additives can lead to the formation of cancer-causing chemicals called nitrosamines. Some studies have found a link between consuming cured meats and nitrite and cancer in humans.
Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil The process used to make hydrogenated vegetable oil (or partially hydrogenated vegetable oil) creates trans fats, which promote heart disease and diabetes. The Institute of Medicine has advised that consumers should eat as little trans fat as possible. You should avoid anything with these ingredients on the label, which includes some margarine, vegetable shortening, crackers, cookies, baked goods, salad dressings, bread and more. It's used because it reduces cost and increases the shelf life and flavor stability of foods.
Blue 1 and Blue 2 Blue 1, used to color candy, beverages and baked goods, may cause cancer. Blue 2, found in pet food, candy and beverages, has caused brain tumors in mice.
Red 3 This food coloring is used in cherries (in fruit cocktails), baked goods and candy. It causes thyroid tumors in rats, and may cause them in humans as well.
Yellow 6 As the third most often used food coloring, yellow 6 is found in many products, including backed goods, candy, gelatin and sausages. It has been found to cause adrenal gland and kidney tumors, and contains small amounts of many carcinogens.
Sucralose (Splenda) See past post
This post was taken from sixwise.com titled "12 Dangerous Food Additives"

Coconut Oil

This was taken from Mercola.com.

HISTORY: The Japanese military occupied the Philippines and other South Pacific islands, where bloody battles were being fought. The supply of coconut oil was effectively cut off from the United States. Although coconut oil had been popular both as a cooking oil and ingredient in numerous food products, the occupation continued to interrupt the supply for several long years as the war slowly dragged on. Enter good old American ingenuity (in this case, not so good for your health).Manufacturers began to develop alternative sources of cooking oils, and the polyunsaturated oils phase was born. By the time the war was over, there was a lot of money at stake in the promotion of these polyunsaturated vegetable oils. By the end of the 1950's, public opinion had turned totally against saturated fats like butter (and coconut oil). Saturated fats were blamed for raising cholesterol, and cholesterol was now viewed as the evil enemy, the culprit responsible for the steep rise in heart disease. Butter, eggs and coconut oil were out. The new vegetable oils were in ... and erroneously viewed as "heart-healthy". Coconut oil continued to be demonized by the vegetable oil industry throughout the ensuing decades. Adding insult to injury, the soybean industry began to condemn the use of tropical oils, particularly coconut oil. And I'm sure you realize the reason why -- competition ... and millions and millions of dollars. Unfortunately, the tropical oil industry, centered in poorer nations like the Philippines and Indonesia, could not afford to counter the negative propaganda spread by rich American industrial conglomerates. Science and good health took a back seat to profits, as they have on more than one occasion ...

BULLET POINTS: Reducing your risk of heart disease and your risk of cancer and degenerative diseases...
Promoting weight loss when and if you need it...
Supporting your immune system health ...
Supporting a healthy metabolism ...
Providing an immediate energy source for you ...
Helping to keep your skin healthy and prevent age-related damage ...
Supporting the proper functioning of your thyroid gland ...
Preventing infections due to harmful bacteria, viruses, yeasts and other micro-organisms
Stable enough to resist heat induced damage while it also helps you prevent heart disease, lower cholesterol and even lose weight.

INTERESTING INFO: Coconut oil isn’t stored as fat but is burned for energy. Your metabolism speeds up with coconut oil so you will burn more calories each day, accelerating weight loss.

Coconut oil is comprised of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs), also called medium-chain triglycerides or MCTs. Coconut oil is nature’s richest source of these healthy MCFAs.
MCFAs are smaller than LCFA (long chain fatty acids). They permeate cell membranes easily, and do not require lipoproteins or special enzymes to be utilized effectively by your body.
MCFAs are easily digested, thus putting less strain on your digestive system. This is especially important for those of you with digestive or metabolic problems.
MCFAs are sent directly to your liver, where they are immediately converted into energy rather than being stored as fat.
MCFAs in coconut oil can actually stimulate your body's metabolism, leading to weight loss.
The long chain fats nearly always go to fat storage, while the MCFAs are burned for energy
Since your metabolism speeds up with coconut oil, you will burn more calories each day, accelerating weight loss (and probably your activity & energy level)
Coconut oil has often been compared to carbohydrates in its ability to be "burned" for energy. However, since insulin is not involved in the process of digesting the MCFAs in coconut oil, you won't get those carb-related spikes in your blood sugar level. This is especially good news for those of you with diabetes or other blood sugar issues.
In fact, the ability of MCFAs to be easily digested, stimulate the metabolism and turned into energy has entered the sports arena. Several studies have now shown that MCFAs enhance physical or athletic performance.
Additionally, research has demonstrated that, due to its metabolic effect, coconut oil increases the activity of the thyroid. And you've probably heard that a sluggish thyroid is one reason why some people are unable to lose weight, no matter what they do.

Besides weight loss, there are other advantages to boosting your metabolic rate. The healing process accelerates cell regeneration to replace old, worn-out or damaged cells. And your immune system functions better overall.

Incredibly, coconut oil contains the same compound—lauric acid – as mother’s milk! And lauric acid is the predominant type of MCFA found in coconut oil.
In fact a great volume of research has been done esetablishing the ability of lauric acid to fight dangerous micro-organisms – things you don’t want to deal with -- like viruses, bacteria, yeasts, fungi, parasites and molds

HOW TO USE: Whenever you fry, stir-fry or sauté veggies, eggs, poultry, fish or whatever, use coconut oil for a healthy light flavor ... Toss some coconut oil into your smoothies or juiced drinks for a burst of lauric acid ... Make your own mayonnaise with coconut oil ... Use it on your salads for a tropical flair

Coconut oil is ideal for skin care. It prevents the formation of destructive free radicals, and can prevent your skin from developing skin blemishes caused by aging and overexposure to sunlight.

Alkalize or Balance Your pH

Well, here is the post I've been wanting to write for a long time. Much of what is written below was taken from the article, "The Easy Way to Health", by Pearl Barrett from "Above Rubies", issue 66

Why alkalize? "Acidosis is the foundation of all diseases. It decreases energy in our cells, decreases our ability to eliminate toxins, makes us more susceptible to fatigue and illness and makes cancer cells thrive." As parasites and candida thrive in an acidic environment, an alkaline environment kills them. Acidosis also can cause chronic headaches.

How to alkalize:

LEMONS! Sqeeze fresh lemon juice in your water. Drink this with a straw as this is not good have your teeth come in contact with so much lemon. NOTE on lemons: It's one of the most alkalizing foods we can consume. They have 4x's the vit. C of oranges. They enable the liver to make more enzymes than any other food. They relieve indigestion such as heartburn, bloating, and belching. They are antiviral, antioxidant, astringent, antifungal, an immune stimulant and diuretic and a potent anti-carcinogens that prevent cancerous cells from spreading. Lemons cleanse the lymphatic system, invigorate skin tissue and increase blood flow. They counteract anxiety and depression, drain excess water retention and reduce uric acid which is responsible for arthritis and gout. They lower cholestrol. Their high mineral content is one reason why they are so alkalizing. They contain 48% potassium which nourish the teeth and bones. It is important to consume lemons while pregnant for strong bones for the baby.

After lemons and watermelon, the next most alkalizing foods are greens. Tabouli is great for this as it has parsley and lemons in it. If you are into supplements alfalfa is cheap and full of vitamins and minerals like iron, calcium, magnesium and potassium and natures best source for vit K which helps protect against osteoporosis. It is a great source of chlorophyll and is up to 50% protein(?). [There is some controversy as to whether or not alfalfa is good for you.]

Eat millet. It is highly alkaline and inexpensive. You can use it like oatmeal for breakfast with fruit and syrup (100% maple) or like rice with any dish. Millet has the highest calcium of all the grains and is rich in B vitamins. The only other alkalizing grains are buckwheat and quinoa.

The most important thing to do is avoid all sugar and refined foods. These are extremely acid forming. The highest is artificial sweetners. Not all acid forming foods are bad. Meat and cheese are acid forming. Most nuts are acid forming, except almonds and Brazil nuts but all nuts are still beneficial in their raw state. Cold pressed olive oil is alkaline. Almost all raw and dried fruits and raw and steamed veggies are alkaline. Juicing is a great way to alkalize. Maple syrup and honey are alkaline, but use them in moderation.

A woman's menstrual cycle often has an effect on her pH level where she becomes more acidic during it, which can cause headaches.

Red Palm Oil (Virgin Palm Oil)

Taken from the article, "I Love Fat", written by Serene Allison from Above Rubies, issue 66.

-Rich "in natural carotenoids, tocoplerols and tocotrienols which are powerful super antioxidents."

-"...Richest source of tocotienols which are not found in any other vegetable oil." "Tocotrienols inhibit the proliferation and growth of human breast cancer cells in culture. Gamma tocotrienol is three times more potent in stopping the growth of breast cancer cells than tamoxifen, a drug widely used in the treatment of this cancer."

-"...prevents cancer and stops the growth of existing cancer cells."

-"It is naturally rich in vitamin E for a healthy heart"

-"Red palm oil is a must for stroke victims and for those who have a family history of this problem. It keeps the blood thin and free flowing. This miracle "cure all" actually dissolves dangerous arterial plaque that can lead to heart attack. ...78% of arterial plaque is oxidized fat, stuck there by our modern diet filled with bad trans fats"

-"The antioxidants in red palm oil act as scavengers. They prevent and eat up the free radicals that are the instigators of most our modern diseases-Alzheimer's, senility, rheumatism, heart attacks, arthritis, asthma, Parkinson's disease, cancer, spinal muscular atrophy, macular degeneration, and stroke.

-"It can make you slender! It can trim body fat by 27 percent. Research shows it can melt off those stubborn pounds. 'The secret is palmolein, a compound in red palm oil that hepls your liver break down sugar for energy before it can be stored as fat,' expalins nutrition researcher, K.C. Hayes, Ph.D."
-"Reduces risk of diabetes by a whopping 58%.
Naturally rich in retinal for great vision.
High in essential fatty acids.
Rich in beta carotenes-15x's more than a carrot and 300x's more than tomatoes.
Prevents aging.
Easy to digest and absorb.
Excellent source of energy.
Safe for cooking" ("Research revealed that cooking with red palm oil, even at high temperatures showed no adverse affects on blood lipids.")
"Resistant to rancidity."

Coffee (Revised 3/29/06)

Below are some bullet points on coffee. Much of it is conflicting. I suggest you go to Mercola.com and westonaprice.org and do the research. Many of the "pros" listed below are suspect.

PROS

-A lower risk of type 2 diabetes
-A reduced risk of gallstones
-A lower risk of colon cancer
-Improved cognitive function
-A reduced risk of liver damage in people at high risk of liver disease
-A reduced risk of Parkinson's disease
-Improved endurance performance in long-duration physical activities
-Have an 80 percent lower risk of Parkinson's disease
-A 25 percent reduced risk of colon cancer
-An 80 percent lower risk of liver cirrhosis
-A 50 percent lower risk of gallstones
-A lower risk of alcohol-induced pancreatitis
-Finally, coffee has also been found to benefit asthma, headaches and mood and prevent cavities.

CONS

-caffeine always raises blood pressure.
-Worsening of PMS symptoms in some women
-Reducing fertility in women while trying to conceive
-Insomnia, anxiety and irritability
-Heartburn and indigestion
-An increased risk of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women
-A possible increase in the risk of heart disease (studies are conflicting)
-Another recent study of more than 3,000 coffee drinkers in Greece found that coffee drinkers had higher levels of inflammatory substances in their blood than non-coffee drinkers. Inflammatory substances have been linked to higher rates of heart attack and stroke.
-While fast caffeine metabolizers who drank coffee showed a reduced risk for heart disease, "slow caffeine metabolizers" who drank two or more cups of coffee a day:
Were at least 36 percent more likely to have a non-fatal heart attack than those who drank little or no coffee and were more at risk if under the age of 50. This group was up to four times more likely to have a heart attack. There currently is no way to tell whether or not you're a slow metabolizer of caffeine, so what's the answer?

Hurrying

The following excerpts were taken from an article by Rev. Ronald Rolheiser, OMI, that was written several years ago.

Hurrying:
-Robs us of the simple capacity to be in the moment.
-Can constitute an obstacle to spiritual growth and holiness.
-Is a form of violence exercised upon time, an attempt , as it were, to make God's time our own, our private property.
-We exercise a form of greed and gluttony.

God didn’t make a mistake in creating time. He made enough of it.
When we hurry too much and for too long we end up doing violence to time, to ourselves and to our blood pressure.

Essential Oils

-Essential oils contain trace elements of nutrients, enzymes, vitamins, minerals, antibodies, and antifungal, antibacterial, anti-infectious, antiseptic, and immune-stimulating properties.
-The chemical structure of essential oils can penetrate the cell membrane and transport oxygen and nutrients into the cell.
-Essential oils support the immune system inhaled or topically applied. They can also be taken internally if it is theraputic grade. [Young Living is the only brand I know for sure that is theraputic grade.]
-Essential oils increase ozone, negative ions and atmospheric oxygen, which inhibit bacterial growth, promotes healing, purifies the air, and destroys odors from mold, cigarettes, animals, etc.
-Essential oils can make chemicals non-toxic by fracturing their molecular chain structure.
-Essential oils work as natural chelators, bonding to metallics and chemicals ferrying them out of the body.
-Diffused essential oils work as an outstanding air filtration system, helping to remove dust particles from the air.
-Essential oils do not accumulate in the body; they are metabolized in the cells like other nutrients.
-Essential oils have frequencies that promote health and fight disease. The average frequency of a healthy human body is 62-72 Hz. If the frequency drops to 58 Hz cold and flu symptoms appear; 55 Hz, diseases like Candida take hold; 52 Hz, Epstein Bar; and 42 Hz, Cancer. Processed foods have a frequency of zero.
-Essential oils create an environment where disease, bacteria and viruses cannot live.

This information was taken from a handout written by Dr. Gary Young, N.D.

Fluoride Facts

-Fluoride is the active ingredient in Prozac and many other tranquilizers and deadly nerve gas (Sarin). The first places ever fluoridated were Nazi concentration camps in WWII to control prisoner behavior.
-After earlier experiments and studies, 98% of Europe in now non-fluoridated. Interestingly, while only 9% of England is fluoridated, they force all of Northern Ireland to be fluoridated.
-Most commercial water filters cannot remove fluoride from water. Reverse osmosis works but is quickly ruined by the corrosive nature of fluoride.
-The American Academy of Pediatric dentistry has no proof of fluoride safety or effectiveness.
-Fluoride causes fluorosis (mottled, brittle teeth prone to fracture).
-Fluoride is the only chemical added to U.S. municipal water that is used to mass medicate, rather than render water safe to drink.
-Fluoride is cancer causing in rats, mice, and humans.
-The type of fluoride added to water is hazardous waste by-product of aluminum, uranium, and phosphate fertilizer industries.
-Hip fracture rates are much higher in fluoridated communities.
-Recent large-scale studies in U.S., Australia, and Canada show no difference in decay rates of permanent teeth in fluoridated and non-fluoridated water.
-Fluoride is more toxic than lead even in minute doses. It accumulates in and damages the brain/mind development of children, produces abnormal behavior in animals, and reduces human I.Q.

This was given to me by my Young Living sponsor.

Arthritis and/or Inflammation/ Pain

1. Most important: eliminate sugar and grains from your diet. This has been proven to give amazing relief.
2. Take ginger. This has pain relief and stomach-settling properties. Eating fresh is best: add to salad, grate on main dishes, or add to fresh vegetable juice. Or you can steep grated fresh ginger in boiling water for ten minutes.
3. Take Boswellia, "Indian frankincense". This has an active anti-inflammation ingredient boswellic acid. This has been shown to significantly reduce inflammation.
4. Take fish oils not only for its anti-inflammatory properties, but because it is so important for your cells and your general well being and health.
5. Eat animal based omega 3 fats. Reduce your intake of omega 6. The ratio should be 1:1.
6. Eat fresh pineapple for its Bromelain. You can also take this in supplement form.
7. Take either Evening Primrose oil, Black Currant oil, or Borage oil. BTW dry skin in winter shows a deficiency of that these oils will help correct.
8. Cayenne cream (Capsicum cream) helps by depleting the body's supply of substance P, a chemical component of nerve cells that transmits pain signals to the brain. This is just for immediate pain relief.
9. Epsom salt baths. 2 cups of Epsom salt in a bath as hot as you can stand it for 20 minutes. Don't do this if you are a male and your wife is of child bearing age this could make you sterile, not the Epsom salt, but the temperature of the hot water.

Eggs

'[Eggs] are an inexpensive nutrition powerhouse containing high quality protein, 13 essential vitamins and minerals including folate, vitamin B-12, vitamin D, and nutritive compounds - all within a 70-calorie package'
Ten eggs a day would make your arteries cleaner and sharpen your memory too. (NOTE: Be sure to include those yummy yellow yolks, because that's where all the goodness is!) And eggs are just the first in a long list of 'forbidden foods' that you can and should start enjoying again... Egg-eaters have a much lower rate of heart attacks and strokes than egg-avoiders. Much preferred are egggs from pastured raised chickens, they have the proper omega 3 to omega 6 ratio of 1-1. Conventionally raised eggs have 1-19. Although pasture raised chickens are superior, eating conventionally raised eggs is still better for you than not eating eggs.
Most of this was taken from ...?

How to Iron a Shirt

Iron the collar and cuffs first then the sleeves. Next start at the buttons or buttons holes and go around till you get to the other side. finally touch up the shoulders.

Kidney-Bladder Flush

Here is an easy kidney-bladder flush recipe. I don't remember if it's the best one or not, but it can only help. In a glass quart jar put the juice of one lemon and one lime or 2 T of fresh lemon juice per 10oz of water some cayenne pepper (1/10 t.) and some organic 100% maple syrup to taste(2 T). Then add pure water (I use R/O water, spring is good too) to fill the jar and shake and drink all at once or throughout the day. Acctually, this is a well known "Master Cleanse" done for 10-40 days. this is basically all you consume (at least 60 oz a day) with the exception of a quart of lukewarm water with two level teaspoons of celtic seasalt in the morning.

Splenda's Sour Side Effects

from Mercola.com:
Splenda's Sour Side Effects

* Shrunken thymus glands (up to 40 percent shrinkage)
* Enlarged liver and kidneys
* Atrophy of lymph follicles in the spleen and thymus
* Reduced growth rate
* Decreased red blood cell count
* Diarrhea
Please read the article below if you or someone you know eats splenda.
http://www.mercola.com/2000/dec/3/sucralose_dangers.htm#

Tylenol Most Common Cause of Liver Failure

From Mercola's blog:
TylenolAcetaminophen poisoning is now the most common cause of acute liver failure in the United States. Attempted suicides account for many cases, but almost half are the result of unintentional overdose.

Some 36 percent of Americans take acetaminophen at least once a month, making it the most widely used pain reliever in the United States. Taking more than the recommended dose, however, can lead to fatal liver injury.

And those who had unintentionally taken overdoses usually have even worse outcomes than those who has done so intentionally, since unintentional overdoses are usually not recognized as such immediately.

Researchers examined the case histories of almost 700 liver-failure patients over a six-year period. They found that:

* Cases of acute liver failure blamed on acetaminophen use rose sharply from 28 percent in 1998 to 51 percent five years later.
* More patients overdosed unintentionally on acetaminophen (48 percent) than did so intentionally (44 percent)
* Sixty-three percent who accidentally overdosed used a prescription acetaminophen compound while 38 percent had been taking two acetaminophen meds at the same time.
* Some patients had been taking less than 4 grams of acetaminophen daily before their livers failed.

The data suggests that consistent use of as little as 7.5 grams of acetaminophen a day may be hazardous. Rather than resulting in chronic illness, acetaminophen injury has a threshold of safety that, when exceeded, can have immediate and devastating results.

What Tylenol Does To Our Environment

Even an over-the-counter drug like acetaminophen -- the most widely used pain reliever in America -- can become toxic when combined with chlorine, according to a study by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

When acetaminophen is combined with chlorine during the disinfection process, it forms a minimum of 11 new products, two of which are toxic. Makes sense, considering acetaminophen is one of the more widely detected man-made chemicals in the environment, according to a study of 139 streams by the U.S. Geological Survey.

All the more reason to ensure the water you're drinking is clean and pass up acetaminophen for safer, healthier options.

Olestra in "Light" Chips

From Mercola's blog:

You may remember an article I wrote a little over a year ago warning against the dangers of olestra and Frito Lay's blatant deception in changing their "Wow" chips to "Light" chips. Now a consumer group is demanding they put warning labels on chips with the dangerous fat substitute.

The group is speaking out after a Massachusetts woman's lawsuit and over 20,000 consumer complaints. After eating the fake fat, she experienced stomach cramps and bathroom ugency. Olestra can also cause:

* Decreased absorption and blood levels of fat soluble nutrients
* Significant gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, including diarrhea, loose stools and more severe GI effects
* Increased risk of dehydration due to greater water loss through diarrhea

Frito-Lay, however, still claims warning labels aren't needed, one spokesman even referred to them as "extremely safe and well tested." Outrageous! And unfortunately, just one of many fake health foods confusing consumers.

Soy Update

From Mercola's blog:
A recent study indicated that mice carrying a genetic mutation linked to altered heart growth and function in humans had markedly worsened heart problems when fed a soy diet as opposed to a soy-free (milk protein-based) diet.

The harmful effects of a soy-diet have been attributed to the presence of phytoestrogens, plant-derived estrogen-like compounds that interact with the estrogen receptor. The research revealed substantial growth (hypertrophy) of the heart of male mice fed a soy-based diet.

I have long stressed the ultra-damaging effects of soy. It is not a health food, an answer to world hunger, a disease-preventative or even safe. It is an agent that causes:

* Malnutrition
* Digestive distress
* Immune-system breakdown
* Thyroid dysfunction
* Cognitive decline
* Reproductive disorders
* Infertility
* Cancer
* Heart disease

Discernment of Spirits

First find out what the Church teaches regarding it. If there is still ambiguity consider the following:

1. The devil never impels to virtue; nature usually inclines to the convenient and easy.
2. Does this thing I want to do conform to my state in life?
3. The devil agitates and fills with restlessness; God gives peace to the heart.
4. Humble obedience to our superiors.
5. What does my Spiritual Director say about this?

These were from a hand-out at a day of recollection. These are some things to consider when making a decision. Always pray when making a decision. If it is a small decision say a 'Hail Mary' if it is a life altering decision you may need to make a retreat to hear God's will for you and say many Rosaries.
The following link is to a chapter on discernment of spirits in Fr. Hardon's book on the Spiritual Exercises. It is much more detailed.
http://www.therealpresence.org/archives/Christian_Spirituality/Christian_Spirituality_030.htm

A Great Source of Calcium

Unhulled sesame seeds are incredibly rich in calcium and are one of the highest sources of bio-available calcium. They are also a rich source of minerals and are packed with vitamin E, which strengthens the vascular and nervous system. They are also very alkalizing. They are good to throw into smoothies. They probably should be soaked first, over night or for at least seven hours. If you do it too long they get bitter.

A very easy snack recipe is to grind sesame seeds (when dry) in a coffee grinder till you hear the motor slow down, it will be just about a paste consistancy. Mix with raw honey, organic coconut oil and cinnamon. Roll it into little balls, keep in the refrigerator or freezer (if you won't eat them in a day or two). The hulled sesame seeds (whiter) aren't quite as strong in flavor or as high in calcium, but are still very high in minerals and you may prefer the taste. I just made a batch with unhulled organic seeds it tasted very good. The honey and cinnamon are key.

This info and recipe were mainly from Rejuvenate Your Life Recipes for Energy by Serene Allison.

10 Year Old Girl Saves Lives

The Sun - UK; 01-02-2005,

PHUKET, Thailand - Quick-thinking 10-year-old Tilly Smith is being hailed as a hero after saving her parents and dozens of fellow vacationers from the deadly tsunami - thanks to a school geography lesson.

Tilly warned the doubting adults at a resort that a massive tidal wave was about to strike - just minutes before the deadly tide rushed in and turned the resort into rubble.

Tilly's family, from Surrey, England, was enjoying a day at Maikhao Beach last Sunday when the sea rushed out and began to bubble.

The adults were curious, but Tilly froze in horror. "Mummy, we must get off the beach now!" she told her mother."I think there's going to be a tsunami."
The adults didn't understand until Tilly added the magic words: "A tidal wave."

Her warning spread like wildfire. Within seconds, the beach was deserted - and it turned out to be one of the only places along the shores of Phuket where no one was killed or seriously injured.

Last night, Tilly was being hailed as a savior.

"I think it's phenomenal that Tilly's parents and the others on the beach are alive because she studied hard at school," said Craig Smith , the American manager of the JW Marriott Hotel where Tilly's family was staying.
He said a tsunami is not like you see in the movies, where a huge wave wells up on the horizon and can be seen for miles off shore. It is more like a sudden surge of water," he said. "There's very little warning. She's a hero."

Tilly shrugged off the attention and modestly said, "Last term, my geography teacher, Mr. Kearney, taught us about earthquakes and how they can cause tsunamis. "I was on the beach, and the water started to go funny. I recognized what was happening and had a feeling there was going to be a tsunami."

"When the water went back, I was like most people on the beach. I wanted to walk down and look at what was going on," she recalled. "It was only when Tilly explained what she thought was going to happen that I had second thoughts.

"We ran off the beach as fast as we could and went to the first floor of the hotel where it would be safe. Minutes later the water surged right over the beach and demolished everything in its path.

"It was terrifying to watch but I'm very proud of her."

The Sun

Happy New Year

A great New Year's resolution to help you have a happy New Year is to go to daily Mass. What better way to love our dear Lord than to assist at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and receive His Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity? Satan does not want you to go to Mass. He will try every means to get you to not go. He will even use seemingly good excuses to get you to not go, and if you should go he will try to distract you while there. If you are aware of this and ask the Blessed Mother to help you to get to Mass and protect you while there you will avoid many pitfalls and be able to overcome Satan's ploys. If we who believe don't attend, who will? Now, many people with young children don't even try; this is a mistake. There are times when it is prudent not to go, although these instances should be rare. If your children know that you want to go everyday and you try to go everyday and they see you making the effort to go everyday, they get a real good idea of the importance of Holy Mass. You will find that this is the best way to start the day, but more importantly it is the best way to show your love for God when you are able. Sometimes it is impossible to go: the car has broken down and you have no one to pick you up or there is no daily Mass in your area; or charity prevents you from going: your child is sick and you must attend to him, etc. If you can't make it to Mass for some really good reason try to have an in-home prayer time with the children where you read the readings for the day and do a Spiritual Communion with them. The graces you receive when you are truly unable to go can be just as great as when you can go. For those who work: do all you can to find a Mass time that will allow you to go, even to the point of asking your pastor to add a Mass, or possibly consider switching jobs or changing your work hours if possible. Remember to have 'the love of God' be your motive for going each and everytime. God bless your New Year.

GM news

Proponents of genetically modified (GM) foods often characterize fears about these crops as "unfounded" and "unscientific."

Welcome to "founded" and "scientific."

Australian government researchers developed a plan that looked good on paper. The common bean contains a protein that inhibits an enzyme that pea weevils need to digest starch. So (the thinking went) just genetically modify pea plants with the bean protein and you've got a weevil-resistant pea plant. Early trials showed that the genetic change was effective in controlling the pea weevil.

But there was one small problem. When scientists for CSIRO (Australia's national research organization) tested the GM peas on mice, the peas triggered allergic lung damage. The same results occurred with both cooked and uncooked peas. Further investigation showed that the structure of the bean protein was slightly different when it was expressed in the pea. The CSIRO team speculates that this minor difference may be the factor that caused the lung damage.

The result: The ten-year program to develop a GM weevil-resistant pea plant has been discontinued. No tests on humans are planned.

In an article in the journal New Scientist, Jeremy Tager noted that if a private company had been developing the new GM pea plant, the results of the mouse study would probably never have been reported.

This is from HSI.

Treating Pneumonia vs. Bronchitis

The following is from HSI:

The primary difference between treating pneumonia and treating bronchitis can be summed up in one word: antibiotics.

Dr. Spreen: "When I started practice (1985), almost any symptom of bronchitis got a Rx for antibiotics. Later on, with more news about 'superbugs,' antibiotic resistance, and antibiotic overuse, the prescriptions for antibiotics decreased for bronchitis (which already had several reports of those drugs not being effective). Today it sort of depends on the doc, as some will still prescribe an antibiotic to get a patient out of the office (and not wanting to deal with the 'please doctor DO something' syndrome). However, most docs today will try to avoid antibiotics for bronchitis, especially the first time around.

"For bronchitis (an inflammation of the larger airways that lead to the lungs, but don't include gas-exchange tissues) I'd be going heavy on vitamin C, the absolute minimum being 1,000 mg three times/day, and preferably (in my opinion) a loading dose of 3,000-5,000 mg with 1,000-2,000 mg/hour more like it for the aggressive types. If bronchitis tends to be chronic, vitamin A (not beta-carotene) and zinc should be thrown in there to help protect mucosal surfaces that may be chronically nutrient-deficient.
"Plus, I'd add Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA), as it's the best antioxidant that can reach fat-soluble spaces, along with NAC (N-Acetyl Cysteine), which is known to be good for lung tissue to keep bronchitis from possibly progressing into something worse."

That "something worse" that Dr. Spreen refers to is pneumonia, which is most commonly treated with antibiotics. But he also notes that "antibiotic use mandates the addition of probiotics (acidophilus, bifidus, etc.) to re-establish the 'good-guy' bacteria after the antibiotics kill off both good and bad bugs.

"If a true purist wanted to try avoiding the antibiotics to fight pneumonia, ideas would include those from bronchitis (above), plus hyperthermic treatments (sweating in the tub...bacteria don't survive well in temps above 102F), and the addition of colloidal silver, olive leaf extract, and grapefruit seed (not grape) extract. These antibacterial/anti-viral agents would need to be in high doses and would also require adding probiotics, of course.

"There is always derision involved by conventionalists concerning the use of colloidal silver, who argue that there is no use in the human system for silver...and they're right. That's what's so interesting about it; bacteria have enzyme systems that are blocked by the silver, while no human systems have to worry. That's also why nearly all water filter systems are impregnated with silver. One last thing: the dose for antibacterial effect is far below a dose that would cause argyria (silver toxicity), which causes a grayish tint to the skin."

Dr. Spreen also notes that pneumonia and bronchitis are conditions that require a visit to a doctor or health care professional.

I would like to add that you should take lots of garlic as it is a natural antibiotic.

Ugly Churches

Ugly churches seem to show a lack of love and faith of Jesus in the Eucharist. St. Peter Julian Eymard wrote:

The ages of faith thought they could never do enough to heighten the splendor of Eucharistic worship: witness their basilicas, their sacred vessels, their vestments, which are masterpieces of art and magnificence.

These marvels were the work of faith; the worship and honors paid to Jesus Christ are the measure of the faith of a people, the expression of its virtue.

Let honor therefore be given to Jesus Eucharistic. He is worthy of it; He has a right to it.

But He will not be satisfied with exterior honors. He requires the worship of our love: the service of the heart and the submission of the mind...He that loves the Eucharist is always in quest of it. He frequently speaks of it. He needs Jesus; he is forever tending toward Him; he offers Him all his actions, all the pleasures of his heart, his joys, his consolations. He turns everything into a bouquet for Jesus Eucharistic.

MSG

This table displays some hidden sources of MSG:

These ingredients ALWAYS contain MSG:
Glutamate, Glutamic acid, Monosodium glutamate, Textured protein, Hydrolyzed protein, Monopotassium glutamate, Calcium caseinate, Sodium caseinate, Gelatin, Yeast extract, Yeast food, Autolyzed yeast.

These ingredients OFTEN contain MSG or create MSG during processing:
Flavors & Flavorings, Seasonings, Natural flavors and flavorings, Natural pork flavoring, Natural beef flavoring, Natural chicken flavoring, Soy sauce, Soy protein isolate, Soy protein, Bouillon, Stock, Broth, Malt extract, Malt flavoring, Barley malt, Whey protein, Carrageenan, Maltodextrin, Pectin, Enzymes, Protease, Corn starch, Citric acid, Powdered milk, anything Protein fortified, anything Enzyme modified, anything Ultra-pasteurized.

Some unexpected sources of MSG:
Salad dressings, Frozen meals, Packaged and restaurant soups, Cheese, Reduced fat milk, Chewing gum, Ice cream, Cookies, Vitamin enriched foods, Beverages, Candy, Cigarettes, Medications, I.V. Materials, Supplements, particularly minerals.
This is from Mercola.com

Silver Amalgams: Replace Them or Not?

Because silver amalgams have mercury in them and mercury is a poisonous toxin it has been suggested to have them removed from your mouth and replaced with composite fillings. There are several things to consider and weigh. First of all don't even consider replacing them if the dentist doesn't know the proper protocol. There are very few dentists that actually do it properly. Most dentists release more mercury in your system than if you had left them in. I think Hal Huggins might have a link where dentists are recommended that do it correctly. Another very important thing to consider is that if you have a silver amalgam filling removed and replaced you will eventually lose the tooth. Why? Most all alternative fillings shrink with age, at least a lot more than amalgams do. With shrinkage you normally get a bit more decay and every time they are replaced you loose a little more tooth where eventually there won't be enough tooth left to fill. Then they want to do a crown, then a root canal, and then removal, which are never really healthy options. Another thing to consider is what the composite is made of? Is it compatible with you? Make sure you don't have allergies to anything put in your body. The present day composites are better than when they first came out. The best thing to do is make sure you never get a cavity!

High Fructose Corn Syrup

The following notes were taken from this article: http://www.westonaprice.org/modernfood/highfructose.html. Go to it if you're interested in reading the whole article.
-Fructose converts to fat more than any other sugar.
-copper deficiency, when tests were done on rats fatal organ abnormalities occured.
-HFCS delivers a double danger compared to sugar.
-Fruit contains fiber which slows down the metabolism of fructose and other sugars, but the fructose in HFCS is absorbed very quickly.
-... research on other hormonal factors suggests that fructose actually promotes disease more readily than glucose. Glucose is metabolized in every cell in the body but all fructose must be metabolized in the liver.6 The livers of test animals fed large amounts of fructose develop fatty deposits and cirrhosis, similar to problems that develop in the livers of alcoholics.
- Pure fructose contains no enzymes, vitamins or minerals and robs the body of its micronutrient treasures in order to assimilate itself for physiological use.
-While naturally occurring sugars, as well as sucrose, contain fructose bound to other sugars, high fructose corn syrup contains a good deal of “free” or unbound fructose. Research indicates that this free fructose interferes with the heart’s use of key minerals like magnesium, copper and chromium. Among other consequences, HFCS has been implicated in elevated blood cholesterol levels and the creation of blood clots. It has been found to inhibit the action of white blood cells so that they are unable to defend the body against harmful foreign invaders.8
- Fructose reduces the affinity of insulin for its receptor, which is the hallmark of type-2 diabetes. This is the first step for glucose to enter a cell and be metabolized. As a result, the body needs to pump out more insulin to handle the same amount of glucose.
Also please read the following article, Six Reasons Why Corn is Making You Fat: http://www.mercola.com/2004/apr/10/corn_fat.htm

Virgin Mary + Katrina's Wake

Someone from my homeschool group forwarded this to the group:
This is the tail end of a story in the Burlington Vermont Free Press. It is written from an entirely secular viewpoint, but it ends with a poignantly spiritual twist. This is a diary by a volunteer nurse from Vermont who went down to New Orleans last month to help. I thought it was worthwhile to pass along the last entry in her diary which described this unusual observation concerning the Virgin Mary.

HOME: Nov. 6

I have been home for several days. My old routine, my kids, my life is pushing back the memories of what I have just experienced. The memories keep crashing in but one thing keeps coming back.

Traveling around -- no matter where I went, no matter the destruction I saw -- I kept seeing statues of the Virgin Mary. And they were never damaged.

Mary stood up tall in areas ravaged from raging floodwaters and wind and wild destruction. It didn't matter if she was plastic, stone or concrete, whether she was on the lawn, mounted on something, in-laid in something, always she seemed there, one hand up to the forces of nature giving the sign of protection. I thought it was coincidence, a series of flukes.

But while down there, I met another team of medical volunteers who had been stationed in a different part of Louisiana -- a bayou shrimping area hit hard by Hurricane Rita.

The team showed us pictures of the town that had taken a direct hit; Rita had steam-rolled the city flat. All except a church called Our Lady of the Sea.

And there, in the photos, stood the statue of the Virgin Mary, one hand up facing the ocean and the other arm wrapped around two children. A tablet rested at her feet saying, "Protect our children."

I'm not sure what it means. Perhaps it's a reminder that beneath all the rubble, deep inside the souls of the exhausted nurses and doctors and rescue workers, deep inside the people of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast, there is still strength, still hope, still something powerful.

And maybe, too, we all need to get a statue of the Virgin Mary and put her on our front lawns.

Heart Attack part 2

I forgot to mention that if you have a heart attack or even if you haven't there are several things you should do to prevent one from occurring.

-First cut out all processed food. This is important because processed foods contains toxins, anti-nutrients, and tax your immune and digestive systems. Some things in processed foods that should be avoided are: MSG which can come under many different names, this is a neurotoxin; high fructose corn syrup; enriched white flour, the iron in this is not assimilated in our bodies and men usually have too high of iron which makes them cancer susceptible also white flour is converted into sugar almost immediately after eating it; refined sugar, this shuts down your immune system because it's being used completely to regulate your blood sugar level; vegetable oils or partially hydrogenated fats, these are the real culprits for heart disease and also bombard your system with free radicals which can make you susceptible to cancer.

-Make sure you take cod liver oil every day (get a good brand that does not test positive for mercury, Carlson's is good), this is important because we need the omega 3 essential fatty acids as our food has been stripped of it and we are also very deficient of vitamin D and being vit D deficient makes you cancer susceptible among other things.

-Exercise till you sweat, certain toxins are only released through your sweat.

-Drink pure water and enough of it. Chlorine and fluoride among others are toxin poisons which tax your immune and clog your liver system.

-Get enough regular good sleep. Have a set bed time and keep it as much as possible.

-De-stress. Stress is a huge cause of heart attacks. Prayer is the best way to do this as it's the only way to have true peace. Increase your trust in God by prayer and the Sacraments. Go to daily Mass. Nothing is better for you than receiving Jesus Christ: body, blood, soul and divinity. Go to confession as this is a great way to unburden yourself and find instant peace that comes from knowing your are forgiven. Read the Bible. Other ways to eliminate stress are: deep breathing, de-clutter your house, organize your home and everything in it, and set your relationships in order. Tell your family members you love them then show them that you do. Forgive others.

-Eat the proper foods: whole foods, organic if possible; good fats; bone broths; organic raw fresh dairy or cultured or fermented dairy products and veggies such as kefir, yogurt, homemade sour kraut, etc.

-Be thankful as a grateful heart is a happy heart.

Eczema

For Eczema, from Mercola.com:
-switch from pasteurized milk to real, raw milk.
-stop all gluten products
-provide beneficial omega-3 fish oil;-Carlson's cod liver oil is best as it provides extra vitamin D.
-Exposure to sunlight on the affected skin is also frequently of benefit.
-There is also some benefit for providing an essential omega-6 fat like GLA. This can be obtained inexpensively from borage oil, but my [Mercola's] favorite is the more expensive primrose oil. One can use from 500 to 2600 mg of the Evening Primrose oil.
Dr. Mercola says: They all seem to respond amazingly well to the above protocol.
Taken from other sources such as westonaprice.org:
-good bacteria helps, found in kefir, yogart, homemade sourkraut. All with live bacteria.
-eat bone broths,the gelatin is beneficial along with all the trace minerals
-don't eat artifical sweetners
-don't eat soy
(Researchers have found a link between increased risks of certain cancers and the use of two prescription creams commonly used to treat skin conditions in children has initiated a growing concern among scientists. This concern prompted scientists to propose adding stronger warnings to the product labels. The two brands of cream under investigation are Protopic and Elidel.)
For an article on raw milk: http://www.mercola.com/2004/apr/24/raw_milk.htm

Heart Attacks

In the event of a heart attack it has been recommended to immediately take a shot of Scotch. I read this a while back somewhere. It explained why this helps. (It immediately dilates your veins/arteries or something like that?) I have seen this help someone who was having chest pains/possible heart attack. So always have some Scotch on hand.

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor. Do what you feel you have to. Consult a doctor if you are so inclined. Anything on my blog is information I'm passing on to you, it's not meant to diagnose or anything like that. God bless you.

Psoriasis "Cures"

Apparently what works for some doesn't work for others. Here are some suggestions that have worked for some.
- "Some get relief by cutting out all traces of gluten from their diet. As so much gluten is hidden, it's possible that it could be the common factor, but most people inadvertently eat hidden gluten and then assume the diet is not working. In some research where the patients had a controlled gluten free diet, the majority had a reduction or complete clearing of their symptoms."
-Herbs that seem to help are: Nettle Leaves, Silymarin and sarsaparilla.
-Essential Fatty Acids in fish oil and flax seed oil will help psoriasis.
-Adelle Davis says that lecithin could cure it, several tablespoons a day.
-lack of Vit. D and sun is a big factor. Take cod liver oil, sit in the sun in summer.
(This was taken from HSI, Health Science Institute.)

Soy

* High levels of phytic acid in soy reduce assimilation of calcium, magnesium, copper, iron and zinc. Phytic acid in soy is not neutralized by ordinary preparation methods such as soaking, sprouting and long, slow cooking. High phytate diets have caused growth problems in children.
* Trypsin inhibitors in soy interfere with protein digestion and may cause pancreatic disorders. In test animals soy containing trypsin inhibitors caused stunted growth.
* Soy phytoestrogens disrupt endocrine function and have the potential to cause infertility and to promote breast cancer in adult women.
* Soy phytoestrogens are potent antithyroid agents that cause hypothyroidism and may cause thyroid cancer. In infants, consumption of soy formula has been linked to autoimmune thyroid disease.
* Vitamin B12 analogs in soy are not absorbed and actually increase the body's requirement for B12.
* Soy foods increase the body's requirement for vitamin D.
* Fragile proteins are denatured during high temperature processing to make soy protein isolate and textured vegetable protein.
* Processing of soy protein results in the formation of toxic lysinoalanine and highly carcinogenic nitrosamines.
* Free glutamic acid or MSG, a potent neurotoxin, is formed during soy food processing and additional amounts are added to many soy foods.
* Soy foods contain high levels of aluminum which is toxic to the nervous system and the kidneys.

For articles on soy go to://www.westonaprice.org/soy/index.html

The Real Dangers of Antiseptics, Disinfectants & Antibacterial Agents

from Mercola.com

-most are not effective against ALL types of germs, thus some overgrow
-the combination of several different types of these is highly toxic, and causes stress for your immune system
-ALL chemicals that kill germs will kill people, if used in sufficient concentrations or over many years.
-these chemicals disturb your natural balance of healthy microflora.
-over a period of time, all substances applied to your skin are absorbed through it and affect the body's internal metabolism
-the emulsion of the soap, when tiny traces are introduced into your eyes and nose, sends your immune system into disarray and contaminates your delicate tissues.

Soft Drinks

by George E. Meinig, DDS, FACD
All soft drinks are made with a solution of phosphoric acid. This is, in part, what gives them their kick. Phosphorous is a very active element, having the ability to combine with calcium. Most people have a poor calcium intake. The phosphorus then pulls the calcium from their storage warehouse - that is, their teeth and bones. The result is osteoporosis - that is, loss of density of bones, back and disc trouble, pyorrhea and, of course, decayed teeth. The sugar, three to six teaspoons full per six ounces of soft drink, of course, multiplies the problem.

I would like to add that diet soft drinks are worse. See below the post on aspartame. Splenda is also very bad. I will have a post on that in the future.

Caffeine/Arthritis

by George E. Meinig, DDS, FACD
Caffeine has a detrimental effect on one's calcium-phosphorus balance and on one's blood sugar. Some people drink weaker tea than coffee so they may not get quite as much caffeine, but most people drink more tea than coffee so it ends up the same. There is 100 to 150 mg. of caffeine in a 6 oz. cup of coffee, while tea is usually 60 to 75 mg. Coke (12 oz.) runs 40 to 72 mg., while 6 oz. of cocoa runs about 50 mg.
Ernie Banks, star baseball player for the Chicago Cubs, was suffering so much from arthritis in his knees that he could barely stand. A nutritionist was consulted on recommendation of his friend, Billy Williams. He soon discovered Ernie was drinking tea in huge quantities. Hot, cold, iced, any way he could get it.
This caused a severe calcium-phosphorus imbalance which is common to rheumatoid arthritis. The tannic acid in tea doesn't help much either. Tannin is used to cure leather and biting on a tea bag is a good way to stop a bleeding tooth extraction wound, but I don't think either of these goodies qualify it for a human beverage. Along with the detrimental effects to the calcium balance is a lowering of blood sugar. Also the University of Hawaii Nutrition Department found a serious depletion of vitamin B1 in tea and coffee consumers.
My report on Ernie Banks didn't say whether he used sugar in his tea but most people use excessive amounts in order to make the stuff likable. Sugar, of course, compounds the calcium-phosphorus problem.
Ernie's knees were well in 60 days with the switch to water instead of tea.

I think this was taken from either westonaprice.org or price-pottenger.org

Ten Reasons to Throw out your Microwave Oven

From the conclusions of the Swiss, Russian and German scientific clinical studies, we can no longer ignore the microwave oven sitting in our kitchens. Based on this research, we will conclude this article with the following:
1). Continually eating food processed from a microwave oven causes long term - permanent - brain damage by "shorting out" electrical impulses in the brain [de-polarizing or de-magnetizing the brain tissue].
2). The human body cannot metabolize [break down] the unknown by-products created in microwaved food.
3). Male and female hormone production is shut down and/or altered by continually eating microwaved foods.
4). The effects of microwaved food by-products are residual [long term, permanent] within the human body.
5). Minerals, vitamins, and nutrients of all microwaved food is reduced or altered so that the human body gets little or no benefit, or the human body absorbs altered compounds that cannot be broken down.
6). The minerals in vegetables are altered into cancerous free radicals when cooked in microwave ovens.
7). Microwaved foods cause stomach and intestinal cancerous growths [tumors]. This may explain the rapidly increased rate of colon cancer in America.
8). The prolonged eating of microwaved foods causes cancerous cells to increase in human blood.
9). Continual ingestion of microwaved food causes immune system deficiencies through lymph gland and blood serum alterations.
10). Eating microwaved food causes loss of memory, concentration, emotional instability, and a decrease of intelligence.

(This is taken from a long article from Mercola.com.)

Irradiation

Irradiation exposes food to extremely high doses of ionizing radiation
in order to kill bacteria. This process destroys essential nutrients
and hastens their depletion during storage and cooking. Irradiation
also creates known toxins and carcinogens in food, such as benzene and
toluene, and a new class of chemicals, called "unique radiolytic
products" some of which the FDA has never tested for safety.

Research on irradiated foods has linked them to a wide range of health
problems in humans and animals, including reproductive dysfunction,
genotoxicity, cytotoxicity, fatal internal bleeding, and, in some cases,
cancer. There is no research on the health effects of consuming
irradiated foods over a long period of time, and no population has ever
consumed irradiated foods as a substantial part of their diet.

Food irradiation also perpetuates the unsanitary environment found in
many feedlots and slaughterhouses, where animals wallow in their own
filth and are slaughtered at extremely fast linespeeds. Workers in
these facilities are often the victims of numerous accidents that result
in serious injury or even death. By treating food after it has been
processed, irradiation will only allow these conditions to continue and
even worsen, increasing the likelihood that meat will be contaminated by
excrement and other carriers of dangerous pathogens, and risking the
lives of workers.

(I'm not sure where I got this from)

Calcium-Rich Foods

by George E. Meinig, DDS, FACD
What should we eat in order to get needed calcium in our diet? One cup of milk yields 288 mg. of calcium. A cup of lima beans contains just half that amount while collards contain almost 100 mg. more than milk itself.
People generally feel quite guilty about not drinking milk. Many seem to feel there is no other source of calcium. As a matter of fact, most foods contain some calcium. Those with the highest values are almonds, having 361 mg. per cup, while other nuts run a little below 100. Fish is an excellent source having 328 mg. for 3 ounces of sardines, salmon 159, mackerel 157, and oysters have 226 mg. per cup.
Vegetables are not devoid of calcium, though the values are somewhat lower. Most beans run 100 to 125. Turnip greens run 376.
A cup of whole wheat flour has 49 mg. and one ounce cheddar cheese yields 206 mg. while cottage cheese in the same amount has only 27 mg.
Primitive man's source of calcium was fish and the bones of small animals. Most of these can be chewed, including fish bones, if small bites are taken. For the most part these are pleasing to one's taste. The ends of chicken bones are edible and soft enough to be easily chewed by most individuals.
From the above figures it should be apparent that the government's recommended daily allowance of 800 to 1,400 mg. of calcium can be obtained without the use of milk. There are a number of detrimental problems concerning milk[pasteurized and homogenized]. In brief, if one insists on using it we only recommend raw certified milk or cream or raw from a source that can be trusted for quality.
Most people in other areas of the world who have had long healthy lives have not used milk as such but have usually used cultured products such as yogurts, buttermilk, cheeses, etc. The action of bacteria in dairy products changes numbers of the detrimental properties inherent in straight milk products.

Eighth-grade final exam from 1895

This is the eighth-grade final exam from 1895 in Salina, KS, USA. It was taken from the original document on file at the Smokey Valley Genealogical Society and Library in Salina, KS, and reprinted by the Salina Journal.

8th Grade Final Exam: Salina, KS -1895

Grammar (Time, one hour)
1. Give nine rules for the use of Capital Letters.
2. Name the Parts of Speech and define those that have no Modifications.
3. Define Verse, Stanza and Paragraph.
4. What are the Principal Parts of a verb? Give Principal Parts of lie, play and run.
5. Define Case, Illustrate each Case.
6. What is Punctuation? Give rules for principal marks of Punctuation.
7 - 10. Write a composition of about 150 words and show therein that you understand the practical use of the rules of grammar.

Arithmetic (Time, 1.25 hours)
1. Name and define the Fundamental Rules of Arithmetic.
2. A wagon box is 2 ft. deep, 10 feet long, and 3 ft. wide. How many bushels of wheat will it hold?
3. If a load of wheat weighs 3942 lbs., what is it worth at 50cts/bushel, deducting 1050 lbs. for tare?
4. District No. 33 has a valuation of $35,000. What is the necessary levy to carry on a school seven months at $50 per month, and have $104 for incidentals?
5. Find cost of 6720 lbs. coal at $6.00 per ton.
6. Find the interest of $512.60 for 8 months and 18 days at 7 percent.
7. What is the cost of 40 boards 12 inches wide and 16 ft. long at $20 per metre?
8. Find bank discount on $300 for 90 days (no grace) at 10 percent.
9. What is the cost of a square farm at $15 per acre, the distance around which is 640 rods?
10. Write a Bank Check, a Promissory Note, and a Receipt.

U.S. History (Time, 45 minutes)
1. Give the epochs into which U.S. History is divided.
2. Give an account of the discovery of America by Columbus.
3. Relate the causes and results of the Revolutionary War.
4. Show the territorial growth of the United States.
5. Tell what you can of the history of Kansas.
6. Describe three of the most prominent battles of the Rebellion.
7. Who were the following: Morse, Whitney, Fulton, Bell, Lincoln, Penn, and Howe?
8. Name events connected with the following dates: 1607, 1620, 1800, 1849, 1865.

Orthography (Time, one hour) I had to look this up!!
1. What is meant by the following: Alphabet, phonetic, orthography, etymology, syllabication?
2. What are elementary sounds? How classified?
3. What are the following, and give examples of each: Trigraph, subvocals, diphthong, cognate letters, linguals?
4. Give four substitutes for caret 'u.'
5. Give two rules for spelling words with final 'e'. Name two exceptions under each rule.
6. Give two uses of silent letters in spelling. Illustrate each.
7. Define the following prefixes and use in connection with a word: bi, dis, mis, pre, semi, post, non, inter, mono, sup.
8. Mark diacritically and divide into syllables the following, and name the sign that indicates the sound: card, ball, mercy, sir, odd, cell, rise, blood, fare, last.
9. Use the following correctly in sentences: cite, site, sight, fane, fain, feign, vane, vain, vein, raze, raise, rays.
10. Write 10 words frequently mispronounced and indicate pronunciation by use of diacritical marks and by syllabication.

Geography (Time, one hour)
1. What is climate? Upon what does climate depend?
2. How do you account for the extremes of climate in Kansas?
3. Of what use are rivers? Of what use is the ocean?
4. Describe the mountains of North America.
5. Name and describe the following: Monrovia, Odessa, Denver, Manitoba, Hecla, Yukon, St. Helena, Juan Fernandez, Aspinwall and Orinoco.
6. Name and locate the principal trade centers of the U.S.
7. Name all the republics of Europe and give the capital of each.
8. Why is the Atlantic Coast colder than the Pacific in the same latitude?
9. Describe the process by which the water of the ocean returns to the sources of rivers.
10. Describe the movements of the earth. Give the inclination of the earth.

It gives the saying "he only had an 8th grade education" a whole new meaning, doesn't it?

Apple Cider Vinegar

From Donna Gates' News for Health and Healing:

Apple cider vinegar (ACV) is an important staple on The Body Ecology Diet. An acidic food, it helps keep your blood slightly alkaline. While the BED is a sugar-free diet, if you should eat something containing sugar, apple cider vinegar can be used as an immediate "antidote." If you should eat too much salt and feel a pinching feeling in your kidney area or soon start to suffer from a headache, a glass of apple cider vinegar in water is, again, a perfect "antidote."

Drink a glass or two of apple cider vinegar in water each day if you suffer from viral conditions or if you have achy joints. If you aren't crazy about the sour taste of this drink, simply add several drops of stevia liquid concentrate.

While we do not advocate the use of sugar, we also know it is impossible to live in this world without an occasional moment of weakness. So, instead of feeling guilty for eating that piece of wedding cake at your best friend's wedding, simply pour a tablespoon or two of ACV into a large glass of water and drink slowly. Your blood will soon tip back into that slightly alkaline, healthy pH range. ACV also helps control cravings for sugar and recent research helps explain why.

Apple cider vinegar may help dieters eat less!
Swedish researchers recently reported the results of a study showing that vinegar increases a sense of fullness yet reduces the body's insulin response to a carbohydrate.
Subjects were fed bread and given a drink of water with 2 - 3 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar. Two hours later their blood sugar and insulin levels were measured. There was a significant (25%) reduction of both.

Excess sugar in the blood is dangerous. Our cells only accept sugar when we are moving rigorously and exercising. The rest of the time they shut out excess sugar. Excess sugar is stored as fat and leads to heart problems. Besides making us bloated, overweight, susceptible to diabetes and other diseases, sugar is one of the reasons we humans age so quickly. Few of us exercise enough, yet we eat an excessive amount of carbohydrates. No wonder 65% of America is overweight.

You can also increase your intake of apple cider vinegar by sprinkling it on green vegetables and using it in salad dressings.

St. Claude on Detachment

"It is such a great good to possess nothing but God and to be deprived of all the pleasures that we can taste...that we ought to consider all loss an advantage that places us in this state."

Moths

To keep moths from your grains put a bay leaf in each bin. Hopefully this will work. I've been battling moths for a few weeks now. I think they came in with some dates.

How to Avoid Mosquito Bites

This really won't help anyone now since this isn't mosquito season, but as I am trying to eliminate my pile of notes I am going to post it anyways. these are different things that supposedly will help. Ab has used vinegar and said it worked.

-Take one vitamin B-1 tablet every day.
-Take garlic or eat garlic.
-Rub tree tea oil on your skin, or lavendar, citronella, cedar, rose, geranium, tickweed or eucalyptus oils.
-Don't eat bananas. Mosquitos supposedly will love you if you eat them.
-Rub vinegar on your skin.
-If you are acidic they'll like you. Balance you Ph.

Animals, Pets, and the Catechism

I did not write the following, but thought it interesting:
The Church allows us to use animals for good purposes. We are not to misuse animals, or cause them unnecessary pain and discomfort, but they may be used for legitimate needs--food, clothing, they may be used for work, medical testing, education, etc.
The animal rights groups in England have succeeded in shutting down a place that bred guinea pigs. The man interviewed said the guinea pigs were used to study human respiratory diseases and now those tests are in jeopardy. Our society is full of people who deny the difference between human and animal.
The Catechism states in section 2417 and 2418:
"God entrusted the animals to the stewardship of those whom he created in his own image. Hence it is legitmate to use animals for food and clothing. They may be domesticated to help man in his work and leisure. Medical and scientific experimentation on animals is a morally acceptable practice if it remains within reasonable limits and contributes to caring for or saving human lives.

"It is contrary to human dignity to cause animals to suffer or die needlessly. It is likewise unworthy to spend money on them that should as a priority go to the relief of human misery. One can love animals, one should not direct to them the affection due only to persons."

Aspartame

Taken from the Cure Zone: Aspartame is, by far, the most dangerous substance on the market that is added to foods. Aspartame accounts for over 75 percent of the adverse reactions to food additives reported to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Many of these reactions are very serious including seizures and death as recently disclosed in a February 1994 Department of Health and Human Services report.(1) A few of the 90 different documented symptoms listed in the report as being caused by aspartame include:
Headaches/migraines, dizziness, seizures, nausea, numbness, muscle spasms, weight gain, rashes, depression, fatigue, irritability, tachycardia, insomnia, vision problems, hearing loss, heart palpitations, breathing difficulties, anxiety attacks, slurred speech, loss of taste, tinnitus, vertigo, memory loss, and joint pain.
According to researchers and physicians studying the adverse effects of aspartame, the following chronic illnesses can be triggered or worsened by ingesting of aspartame:(2)
Brain tumors, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, chronic fatigue syndrome, parkinson's disease, alzheimer's, mental retardation, lymphoma, birth defects, fibromyalgia, and diabetes.
Go to: http://curezone.com/foods/aspartame.asp to find out more re: aspartame.

The Tremendous Value of Holy Mass

(These are taken from an old pamphlet)
1. At the hour of death the holy Masses you have heard devoutly will be your greatest consolation.
2. Every Mass will go with you to Judgment and will plead for pardon for you.
3. By every Mass you can diminish the temporal punishment due to your sins, more or less, according to your fervour.
4. By devoutly assisting at Holy Mass you render the greatest homage possible to the Sacred Humanity of Our Lord.
5. Through the Holy Sacrifice, Our Lord Jesus Christ supplies for many of your negligences and omissions.
6. He forgives you all the venial sins which you are determined to avoid. He forgives you all your unknown sins which you never confessed. The power of satan over you is diminished.
7. By piously hearing Holy Mass you afford the Souls in Purgatory the greatest possible relief.
8. One Holy Mass heard during your life will be of more benefit to you than many heard for you after your death.
9. Through Holy Mass you are preserved from many dangers and misfortunes which would otherwise have befallen you.
10. You shorten your Purgatory by every Mass.
11. During Holy Mass you kneel amid a multitude of Holy Angels, who are present at the Adorable Sacrifice with reverential awe.
12. Through Holy Mass you are blessed in your temporal goods and affairs.
13. When you hear Holy Mass devoutly, offering it to Almighty God in honor of any particular Saint or Angel, thanking God for the favors bestowed on him, etc., etc., you afford that Saint or Angel a new degree of honor, joy,and protection on yourself.
14. Every time you assist at Holy Mass, beside other intentions, you should offer it in honor of the Saint of the day.

The following are taken from the Pieta prayer book:
1. The Mass is Calvary continued.
2. Every Mass is worth as much as the sacrifice of Our Lord's life, sufferings and death.
3. Holy Mass is the most powerful atonement for your sins.
13. Every Mass wins for you a higher degree of glory in Heaven.
(The others are the same as listed above only numbered differently)

7 Steps for Achieving Goals

by Brian Tracy
1. Decide exactly what you want in each area of your life-be specific!
2. Write it down clearly and in detail.
3. Set specific deadlines, if it's a large goal break it down into sub-deadlines and write them down and in order.
4. Make a list of everything you can think of that you are going to need to achieve your goal. As you think of new items, add them to your list.
5. Organize items on your list into a plan by placing them in proper sequence and priority.
6. Take action immediately on the most important thing you can do on your plan. This is very important.
7. Do something every day that moves you toward the attainment of one or more important goals. Maitain the momentum!

High Blood Pressure

Things to do if you have high blood pressure:
1. Eat lots of raw cloves of garlic. Eat it on your salads and in your
soup (squeezed in your bowl) or you can take garlic caps. My grandmother brought her blood pressure down this way when she had it really high and was hemorrhaging from the nose profusely.
2. Eat good fats: raw organic butter, coconut oil, lard, and raw animal foods (raw dairy and meat), extra virgin cold pressed olive oil.
3. Eat bone broths, organic leafy green veggies especially salads, live sour kraut. My mom says eating bananas helps too. These foods are high in potassium, which you need to lower you blood pressure.
4. Take cod liver oil every day
5. Avoid all processed foods and commercial salt, use Celtic sea salt.
6. Avoid alcohol, coffee, soft drinks, and fruit juices from concentrate
7. Temporarily cut down to miniscule amounts of grains or avoid completely for a few weeks.
8. Exercise!
9. Pray, meditate, talk to God. This is good for you soul and it helps reduce stress, but most importantly you're loving God.
10. Do deep breathing exercises and make sure you breath deeply.
Many people in America especially breath shallowly thus causing stress and a lack of oxygen.
11. Get enough regular sleep
12. Drink enough good water.

Some of this was taken from Dr.Thomas S. Cowen's The Fourfold Path to Healing, most of these suggestions were from my Mom and Dad who both recently lowered their blood pressure this way (eating lots of garlic, taking cod liver oil and avoiding the above mentioned foods and eating the correct fats and foods.)These are good suggestions for everyday healthy living.

"Red palm oil is a must for stroke victims and for those who have a family history of this problem. It keeps the blood thin and free flowing. This miracle "cure all" actually dissolves dangerous arterial plaque that can lead to heart attack. ...78% of arterial plaque is oxidized fat, stuck there by our modern diet filled with bad trans fats"

Some tips to stick with a healthy diet

Some of these tips (I think) were taken from notes from Mercola's site
1. Plan every meal for a week
2. At least a third of all foods should be raw
3. Find ten healthy recipes you like and rotate them
4. Prepare meals in advance if possible like make your lunch before you go to bed or at breakfast, take out the night before what your going to make for dinner the next day, soak your grains or legumes a day in advance, etc.
5. Have eggs for breakfast, either soft boiled, over-easy, or raw in a smoothie
These tips will help you to eat the right foods and not give in to cravings.

Osteoperosis

Here are some notes I took when researching Osteoperosis. I cannot list where I found the information. In the future when I do research I will site where I found it.
1. A clean liver can reverse it. Do a liver cleanse.
2. Take magnesium. A lack of magnesium can lead to osteoporosis. You can get magnesium from eating organic leafy greens (non-organic doesn't contain it). Eat organic nuts and seeds everyday. If you take it in supplement form, which you propably should do in addition to eating the above foods, take it with Calcium in 1-1 ratio.
3. Don't drink pop. Pop will throw off your mineral balance and your body will leach calcium from your bones to compensate.

OTC pain pills/Kidney disease

"One major culprit is taking over-the-counter pain pills such as aspirin, Motrin, Advil or Tylenol, which can cause kidney damage. About 15 percent of the people on dialysis (an artificial blood-filtering process used to clean the blood of malfunctioning kidneys) are getting this treatment as a result of the damage that Tylenol and/or aspirin did to their kidneys. So, avoiding Tylenol and aspirin will be very important to preventing kidney disease."
[I don't remember where I copied this from]

Teethgrinding

If your child grinds their teeth it could mean they have high levels of mercury, which you can get from vaccinations and amalgam fillings. You would probably want to do a detox program to get rid of the mercury. It also could mean stress. Try to find out why the child is stressed and work at removing it or dealing with it.

Pray for the repose of the soul of:

Sgt. 1st Class James S. Ochsner
He is the son of Deacon Bob who was the mentor Deacon for Rich when he was in the Deacon program. He was killed in Afghanistan Nov. 15. He was scheduled to come home next week. He was in the service for 18 years, this was his 4th tour of duty in Afghanistan. He is survived by his wife and two children.

7 Qualities of a Person of Hope

Here's another list by someone I can't give credit to.
1. Cheerful, joyful
2. Confident
3. Energetic
4. Peace of soul
5. Sense of victory
6. willingness to sacrifice
7. perspective of heaven

Forming the Will

I'm sorry I can't give credit to the person who came up with this list.This is just a list someone gave me. I'm trying to eliminate a stack of notes I have so I thought I'd put them on my blog. I'm sure some of these suggestions are good especially the first one.
1. Never linger in bed.
2. Be faithful to positive and life giving demeaner.
3. Spend and hour a day in study.
4. Be punctual.
5. Reflection in writing.
6. Finish what you start.
7. Never go to bed w/o fulfilling your spiritual commitment.
8. Spend time every day or once a week with someone you don't want to.
9. Have a daily/weekly schedule and keep it.
10. Never show anger.
11. Stick to your diet.

Safe Alternatives to Pain Medication

-Ginger: anti-inflammatory
Steeped in boiling water or tea or grated in fresh vegetable juice
-Fish oils: anti-inflammatory properties
reduces joint inflammation and promotes joint lubrication
-Bromelain: enzyme found in pineapples
-CMO: found in raw butter from cows eating fresh green grass
-Evening Primrose, Black Currant, and Borage oils (GLA)
-Cayenne Cream: AKA capsaicin cream
-Coconut oil: good for your cell's overall health.
-Epsom salt bath: immediate pain relief
-Essential oils that have anti-inflammatory properties (some of these are for topical use only, some are for both internal and external use): Basil*, Bergamot*, Birch, Roman Chamomile, Cinnamon Bark, Eucalyptus, Fennel, Geranium, Helichrysum, Hyssop, Lavender, Lemongrass, Melaleuca, Myrrh*, Orange, Patchouly, Peppermint, Sage, Spuce*. (*stronger)

Quote

Here's a quote from Ann Coulter: Liberals churn out hysterical slander daily, but insist on acting like they are the ones under attack.

Food Good for Your Liver

Foods that are supposed to be good for your liver are: watermelon, grapefruit, avacados, fig, cherry, papaya, Japanese plum, kiwi, lychee(what's this?)

Nail Fungus

Things to treat nail fungus with: vinegar, tea tree oil, corn meal paste [I don't know about this one], Vick's Vapo Rub(5-6 applications per day for 2 weeks), Eucalyptus oil, Thyme oil. Actually any anti-fungal natural thing could be tried some anti-fungal things are: garlic, cedarwood oil, cinnamon oil, clove*, geranium*, lemongrass, marjoram, melaleuca**(sp), myrrh, orange, oregano*, peppermint, rosemary, rosewood*, sage*, sandlewood, and thyme*. Most of these I found on a list from an essenial oil piece of literature. The ones starred are supposed to be stronger.

Periodontal Disease

Does anyone know how to get rid of Periodontal disease naturally, without going to a dentist and having your roots scraped?