Why You Need Magnesium

When I was very sick in high school, my doctor finally figured out that I was severely magnesium deficient. It was so bad that it didn't matter how many magnesium capsules I took, my body just wasn't absorbing it. So my doctor gave me a series of 8 magnesium IV's. It wasn't fun, but let me tell you, I felt like a new person after those! From then on I was able to maintain a healthy level of magnesium by taking supplements. 

Since then I've learned that certain foods can contribute to magnesium deficiency, mainly the nightshade vegetables (including: potato, tomato, eggplant, and some peppers). For several years I avoided these foods and noticed improvement in several symptoms. Now I can eat potatoes in moderation and tomatoes on occasion, but I still supplement with magnesium. 

Experts estimate that 80% of Americans today are suffering from magnesium deficiency. With the depletion of the soil, increasing consumption of junk food, and high stress levels, it's no wonder so many people are magnesium deficient.

Here's an excellent article that explains why magnesium is so important for your health, symptoms of deficiency and what you can do about it.  

Magnesium is essential for so many functions in the body. I generally recommend that everyone supplements with magnesium at some level. Certain people will need more than others, but I think almost everyone can benefit from it. For instance, my mom was having trouble with heart palpitations a couple of years ago. She started taking magnesium and they completely went away. They only recur if she forgets to take the magnesium for several days. That's only one example of how necessary sufficient magnesium is for the body.

So I hope you can find a good quality magnesium supplement and give it a try. Or at least try the epsom salts bath as recommended in the article. I think you'll be glad you did. =) 

Gluten-Free or Not?

There's a lot of talk these days about the value of eating a gluten-free diet. For some people it completely turns their health around, while for others it doesn't seem to make any difference. So if you've been wondering about it, here are some thoughts I hope will be helpful.

First of all, what is gluten? It's a naturally occurring protein found in grains such as wheat, rye, and barley.

However, some people's digestive systems have a problem with gluten, either because of a condition called celiac disease, or from a gluten intolerance. (You can read more details about these two conditions here.) Anyone with these conditions needs to adopt a gluten-free diet. Also watch out for hidden sources of gluten, such as in toothpaste, lip balm, etc. 

For the rest of us, gluten-free can be a good option, depending on how it's done. 

Some people who switch to a gluten-free diet feel better, not because they are avoiding gluten, but because they are not eating so many unhealthy foods such as breads, pasta, cereals, cakes, cookies, etc. Because the modern diet is mainly "junk" food now, anyone who eats less junk and more "real" food such as vegetables, fruits, meat, etc, will of course feel better. 

However, some people do not feel better when switching to gluten-free, and that is often because they did not give up "junk" food, they simply switched to "gluten-free" junk food. There are a lot of products now that are "gluten-free" but are still not HEALTHY. Always read labels, and if necessary research the ingredients. Know what you're eating! 

Now, I believe that for most people the issue is not gluten itself, but what kinds of foods are eaten - processed, packaged foods versus fresh, organic, home-cooked foods. 

Another important factor is what kind of wheat, rye or barley you are eating. Today's version of wheat "flour" is nothing like the actual food God created. God clearly views wheat as something good and valuable. (Psalm 81:16, "But you would be fed with the finest of wheat..." and Psalm 147:14, "He...satisfies you with the finest of wheat.)

However wheat flour today has been cross-bred, modified, processed, stripped, bleached, and the result is a substance nothing like the wheat people ate in Bible times. This article explains what happened to modern wheat to make it so unhealthy.

That article also recommends buying and grinding your own carefully selected grain at home as the healthiest option. However, I realize that's not practical for many people. Personally, I buy Bob's Red Mill 100% stoneground whole wheat flour at our local health food store, and that seems to work for me. I use it to make non-yeast breads, such as irish soda bread and banana bread (recipes here.)

If you plan to continue eating wheat, just be sure you find a healthy kind of organic wheat and do your own baking. The more you eat home-cooked foods, and the less you eat processed foods, the healthier you'll be. 

If you'd like to try avoiding wheat/gluten, there are some healthy alternatives. Quinoa has wonderful reviews in the health community (here's an article about it). Organic kamut or spelt may also be good options for you. Just be careful not to replace wheat with other unhealthy foods (such as corn, which is genetically modified and nutritionally deficient). 

God created grains as good food for us. The challenge today is to find those that are healthy and closest to how God created them, not "improved" by man. 

If you have any helpful resources to share or questions about this topic, please post them in the comments. Thank you! 

A Cheerful Reminder =)

I know how overwhelming health challenges and life in general can feel at times. It's easy to listen to discouraging and negative thoughts. Yet that's when we need to hold onto joy and good cheer the most. 

It's vital for both our health and our lives, that we continually refocus our thoughts in a positive direction. Here are some of my favorite verses that help me embrace joy and practice good cheer.

The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to Him in song.  -Psalm 28:7

But may the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; may they be happy and joyful.  -Psalm 68:3

A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit.  -Proverbs 15:13

All the days of the oppressed are wretched, but the cheerful heart has a continual feast.  -Proverbs 15:15

A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.  -Proverbs 17:22

This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.  -Nehemiah 8:10b

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy,  -1 Peter 1:6-8 

I'm so thankful that in Jesus we have both the ability and the reasons to be full of joy and cheer! 

Whatever you're going through today, may God put a joyful song in your heart. =) 

(Here's a song that always cheers me up!) 

Meats You Shouldn't Eat

Some health advocates say vegetarian is the best diet. And while there are some good things about a vegetarian diet, I agree with Jordan Rubin that a diet including meat is the healthiest kind. Of course, it's very important what kind of meat you choose to eat. 

Meats to Avoid - 

Pork - There's a reason why God listed pork as "unclean" meat in the Bible. Biology clearly explains why pork meat is so unhealthy for human consumption. 

Briefly - God created pigs as scavengers, thus they will eat anything. Because of the way they're made, they don't detoxify well, so their meat is full of all the toxins they've ingested, as well as many different kinds of parasites and viruses (including some that are extremely dangers to humans). 

There is no such thing as "organic" pork. It's all contaminated, not to mention that most pork products also have added preservatives, chemicals, and toxins, along with all the antibiotics, hormones, etc. that the pigs have been fed. 

If I haven't convinced you to avoid pork yet, please read these two articles containing all the gruesome details about pigs and pork meat.

http://theherbdoc.com/ConsumerEducation/Reference/PorkFacts.htm 

http://draxe.com/why-you-should-avoid-pork/

Fish - In Jesus' day fish was a staple in people's diet. And ideally, fish is healthy as it contains omega 3's (healthy fat) that the body needs. However, as this article explains, because of the increasing toxicity of the ocean, fish is no longer a healthy choice. Mercury contamination in fish has increased substantially in recent years. And mercury toxicity causes many health problems, including damaging your central nervous system. 

With these facts in mind, it's best to avoid fish, since there's no way to control the level of toxins in fish whether farm-raised or wild-caught.

If you're concerned about how to get enough omega-3 fats without fish, check out this article which explains how flax seeds can supply necessary omega-3's. 

Processed Meats - The facts are clear on processed meats, such as hot dogs, pepperoni, sausage, lunch meats, etc. They are full of unhealthy chemical additives which significantly increase your risk of several different cancers as well as heart disease and diabetes.

One study about hot dogs linked hot dog consumption in children to a greater risk of the child developing leukemia. That's pretty scary. And completely avoidable. 

Non-organic meats - One reason meat gets a bad rap is not because "meat" is bad, but because of what's in the meat. 

Non-organic meats contain antibiotics, hormones, pesticides, and many times drug-resistant bacteria. Not to mention things like "pink slime" and "meat glue," both very nasty. 

This is why it's so important that if you can't afford to buy all your food organic, at least buy organic meat. 

Some healthy meats to consume are - 

Organic, grass-fed beef - I buy Laura's Lean Beef. It's more expensive than non-organic, but totally worth it! It's healthy and tastes great. =) 

Organic, grass-fed lamb - If you have a local ranch in your area, that's often a good source of organic lamb and beef. 

Organic chicken & turkey - It's a little harder to find "organic" chicken or turkey, so if you can't find any, at least look for products that are free-range, antibiotic free, and all natural. (Generally speaking I also avoid ground turkey...whole turkeys or turkey breast is better.)

Organic, free range eggs - Eggs are a wonderfully healthy food that God created. But if they're not organic, they'll be full of chemicals and toxins, not to mention other nasty things that contaminate eggs produced by "conventional" egg factories.

I'm thankful that in spite of all the chemicals and toxins in the world today, there are companies working to produce healthy food. Let's do our part to consume foods that will help, not harm, our bodies.

Dangerous "Smart Meters"

I've mentioned "smart meters" before, but I want to focus on them again today. Most people are completely unaware of this very serious health risk. Electric companies have already installed "smart meters" in several states, many times without giving customers information about them. And the health problems are already mounting. 

In addition to the health risks, there are other good reasons to say no to "smart meters." My mom wrote a letter about this for the people in our neighborhood, so I'll share it here. 

Regarding Smart Meters

(by Jan Harris)

Because my daughter has various environmental illnesses and is has to be careful about electro-magnetic frequencies, I've studied a lot about the "smart meters" over the past two years.

Here is some information you might want to know.

REASONS TO REFUSE THE SMART METER - 

1. HEALTH:

Many people are now negatively affected by electromagnetic fields because there is so much exposure to them in our environment today (ie: cell phone towers, wifi, power lines, etc).

Like cell phones, Smart Meters produce pulsed Radio Frequency (RF) radiation, but at much higher levels and on an almost continuous 24/7 basis.  

RF has been labeled a possible class 2B carcinogen (cancer-causing agent) by the World Health Organization on the same scale as lead and diesel fuel.  

Smart Meters contain 100 times more RF exposure than a cell phone, says a UC (Univ. of CA) nuclear expert. (YIKES!)

Adverse health effects for many people have been widely reported to the CPUC after installation of their Smart Meter. 

Symptoms reported include headaches, inability to sleep, nausea, vertigo, ringing in the ears, heart palpitations, skin rashes, etc. Some people have even had to move to another state (to 'dead zones' where there are few EMF's) after installation of "smart meters," in order to recover from the excessive radiation and subsequent damage to their health. 

2. COST:

The power company states that your electric bill will go down. However, in both TX and CA after the meters were installed, electricity rates went up.

3. LOSS OF PRIVACY:

Because the "smart meter" works through “standard internet protocol,” it is possible that your information could be hacked. Also, the company will have records of your "life patterns"--when you get up, when you go to bed, time spent watching TV, when you're gone for the week-end, etc. 

4. LOSS OF CONTROL:

Because the meter gives the company the ability to monitor your electricity usage, it also gives them the power to control that usage as well. At any given time, they can remotely reduce the electricity to turn off your heating/AC, etc

Eleven California counties and 44 cities and 18 British Columbian Councils have placed a moratorium on further installations, I think we too should err on the side of caution.

WEB SITES WITH GOOD INFORMATION:

http://stopsmartmeters.org/

http://www.smartmetersafety.com/

Thank you Mom for sharing those facts with us. The bottom line is that there is NO benefit from "smart meters" for the customers. There are only health risks and loss of personal freedom. 

In FL we can "opt out" of having a "smart meter" installed, but with an added fee to our monthly electric bill. (However I believe the deadline for this "opt out" is the end of March, so if you live in FL take action quickly!) I'm thankful for this option, however the reality is that if everyone else in our neighborhood has a "smart meter" installed, the combined radiation will still be overwhelming. That's why it's SO important that each of us first takes action to avoid having a "smart meter" installed (if possible), but also that we share this information so that more people can be protected from the harmful effects.

(For more details about the dangers of EMF's and how to minimize your exposure, you can read my blog post about it here.)

So what can you do? This website lists some action steps you can take. Also, feel free to forward this post or any of the above websites about "smart meters" to others. Let's do our part in protecting our health, and continue to trust God to do His part in sustaining us in this toxic world. 

What About Iodine?

Last week I recommended switching to himalayan salt instead of using table salt or sea salt. Himalayan salt has trace minerals and some naturally occurring iodine. However, it doesn't have added iodine like most sea salt does. So most people will need to add more iodine intake. I undertook to find out how to add enough iodine to the diet naturally. 

I confess, my research about iodine was rather frustrating. It's quite a multi-faceted topic. I'll share some articles that go more in depth, but here I'll try to keep it as simple as possible.

1) Amount of Iodine needed - 

The Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) for Iodine in the USA is 150 micrograms/day (or over 200 mcg for pregnant/nursing women). However, many people in Japan regularly consume over 13 milligrams (or 13,000 micrograms). So there is debate among health proponents about how much iodine we actually need...is it 150 micrograms? or 6-12 milligrams? That's quite a drastic difference.

My thought is that each body probably varies in how much iodine it needs. If you've been iodine deficient, you might need higher levels for a short period of time in order to build up once again. Then you could probably maintain with a lower level. I think the best thing is to consult with a trusted health provider and possibly do a simple test to see if you are iodine deficient and need more iodine in your diet. (Generally speaking the articles I read did not recommend iodine supplements, as having too much iodine in the body can also cause problems.)

2) Natural sources of iodine - 

I found several foods listed as sources of iodine, some with higher amounts than others. 

Some foods with the higher amounts of iodine seem to be cranberries and organic raw milk products - milk, cheese, and yogurt. (Note: I don't recommend eating processed dairy products as they are full of hormones, antibiotics, and all kinds of toxins. If you consume dairy make sure it's organic and raw if possible.) 

Eggs, strawberries, and navy beans also contain iodine in medium amounts.

A few foods with lesser amounts of iodine, but still some, are bananas, green beans, and dried prunes.

One article listed onions, garlic, pineapple, and artichokes as sources of iodine (however I didn't see those listed other places, so I don't know how much iodine they contain.) 

Theoretically, if you're eating himalayan salt plus plenty of fresh, healthy foods, including the ones listed above, you may be able to maintain a healthy amount of iodine. Though again, it's probably best to work with a health provider to assess your specific level of iodine need.

Also, I should mention that seaweed and sea vegetables contain high amounts of iodine. However, it's difficult to find a product that is organic and not contaminated with toxins, since the oceans have become so polluted. But if you find a reputable source of organic kelp or seaweed, that could also be a good way for you to add iodine.

3) Avoiding Iodine deficiency - 

This article from Dr. Mercola covers the whole topic of iodine. He also explains how bromine exposure replaces iodine in the body and leads to iodine deficiency. So one way to avoid iodine deficiency is to avoid exposure to bromine (which is in baked goods, plastic, soft drinks, medications, pesticides, etc.). If you're eating healthy, organic foods, drinking pure water, and living as chemical-free as possible, you will limit your exposure to bromine, and hopefully avoid its negative effects. 

As I said, this is a complex issue. Iodine is something our bodies vitally need, but it's not a simple matter of taking an iodine pill every day. It's important to assess how much iodine your body needs and then figure out a plan that works for you.

Personally, so far I'm really enjoying the Himalayan salt (great flavor and good source of trace minerals), but I'm still trying to figure out how to get enough iodine. I've been experimenting with using half himalayan salt and half iodized sea salt. But that's a lot of salt to get down in one day...so I'm still working on it. 

I hope these thoughts have been helpful. If you have an information to add, please share it with us in the comments. 

The Great Salt Debate

For many years now there's been a debate about whether salt is good for you or bad for you. Common practice is to tell those with high blood pressure to eat a low-salt diet. And foods labeled "low-sodium" are supposedly healthier for you. 

Well, let's see if we can sort through the information and misinformation about salt. 

First, I like to start with God's perspective, since He created us and everything in this world. Consider these words from God about salt: 

Leviticus 2:13 - Season all your grain offerings with salt. Do not leave the salt of the covenant of your God out of your grain offerings; add salt to all your offerings.

Mark 9:50 - Salt is good...have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with each other.

Colossians 4:6 - Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt....

These are just a few of the passages in the Bible that talk about salt. 

-God told the Israelites to add salt to the offerings they brought to Him. 

-Jesus told His followers to have salt in themselves (figuratively speaking). 

-And God compared salt to grace. 

I think it's pretty clear that God views salt as a good thing. 

So if salt is good for us, why all the bad press? 

Well, the second thing to consider is what kind of salt we're talking about. Regular table salt is actually so refined and processed that it is no longer like salt, thus it's not good for you. Man has taken a good thing - salt, and "improved" it until it's now a bad thing for the body. 

If you want to read all the details on this, I recommend this excellent article by Dr. Mercola which exposes the salt myth. 

But if you've been eating normal table salt, it's not a good thing for you.

For the last few years I've been using sea salt instead of regular table salt. And sea salt is definitely better than table salt. However, I recently realized that even sea salt is not entirely good for you either. Because of the pollution of the oceans, sea salt is now more processed and not as healthy.

The best option for salt these days seems to be himalayan salt, which has not yet been polluted and also contains trace minerals. 

(Here's a brief article explaining the differences between table salt, sea salt, and himalayan salt.)

I found some himalayan salt at our local health food store, and I'm looking forward to trying it. 

If you're worried about himalayan salt not being "iodized," don't panic. =) It does contain some naturally occurring iodine. However, if you switch to himalayan salt after eating iodized salt, you'll want to be sure to add more iodine to your diet. 

I'll address this issue of iodine next week. It's rather a lengthy topic, so I want to give it full attention in its own post.

Any questions about salt?