Oregano Oil? What Do I Do with That?

OREGANO OIL, did I just fall off the Oregano Truck?  Why hadn't I heard about this wonder oil before?

Last summer a friend of mine told me about Oregano Oil and how it is an immune system strengthener and that it was also good for several other healthy benefits, skin, etc.  So, being who I am, I went home and looked it up immediately, started talking to other people who had used this fragrant oil as well and I began to comprise a list of the pros and cons.   Let's get started -


History:
Oregano Oil was used by Ancient Greeks, as well as some others. However, they were one of the first. The Greeks saw the medicinal value this oil had and how it affected their health.  It was used as an anti-fungal, pain reliever, anti-bacterial, an inflammation reducer and it was known to successfully fight infections, which I imagine with all their fighting, they needed a good natural remedy!

Hippocrates used Oregano as an Antiseptic, Respiratory Cure and Stomach Ailments. Hippocrates said "Let Food be thy Medicine and Let Medicine be thy Food".   I think they were onto something!!

This herb is closely related to the Marjoram herb and is also known as wild Marjoram. 

Pros:

Skin Issues -This oil helped to keep my Roseaca under control due to it's ability to knock out organisms that were hard at work causing flare ups. I used this topically as well as in my tea. Once again, 2 drops was sufficient. Always read the instructions on the bottle as some tinctures recommend mixing with an oil.  This works great as well for skin infections and itchy skin.

Digestive Issues - Destroys organisms that supply fuel for tummy troubles.  I used 2 drops in some warm water with lemon or with tea for a calm and properly digesting system. Oregano Oil contains large properties of Thymol and Carvacrol. These relax your digestive system.

Immune System - Strengthens your system and since it's working on your gut simultaneously, you are automatically improving your health. Your gut is the tell all of your health and your immune system. When your body is keeping mucous and your sinuses are feeling congested,  try Oregano Oil for 3-5 days and notice a breathing difference. Same for your lungs, feeling congested, a few drops in juice, tea, water, and voila! you should begin feeling better!

Cons:
Ladies! Oregano Oil has been said to reduce the bodies ability to absorb iron.  This caught my eye and immediately as many women are low in iron to begin with. So, if you are using this oil on a regular basis, you may want to take an iron supplement. PREGNANT WOMEN SHOULD NOT USE OREGANO OIL.  BABIES NEED IRON!

Some people have allergies to Oregano, Mints, Basil, and Thyme.  These are all in the same family and may give you allergic reaction you didn't count on! So, avoid!!   You may want to avoid Marjoram too!

As with any herb, oil, supplement, if you are not sure if its right for you, talk to a Naturopath or Dr. and get another opinion.

SUGARS MANY NAMES

We all know sugar has a bad rap and for very good reasons.  Sugar depletes your body, raises risk of  diabetes, heart disease, contributes to obesity, asthma, mood disorders, sleep issues and the list goes on!  Of course no one forces us to eat sugar, and yet... we cannot stop, as if it were a drug and it's giving us our fix.

First off, I'd like you to aware that sugar is in most of the foods you consume on a daily basis.  Store bought Juices are loaded with sugar, your breads, pasta sauces and condiments all contain sugar.  These items usually contain High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) as well, but that's another post all together.

Being aware of what's in your food is a first step to controlling what you are putting into your body.  Sugar is labeled under a variety of names in your food.

The next time you're eating something you think is healthy, check to see if any of these sugar labels are part of your ingredients:


High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS)
Maltodextrin
Maltose
Fructose
Sucrose
Fruit Juice or Concentrate
Dextrose
Barley Malt
Glucose
Honey
Sorbitol
Mannitol
Anything with Syrup

and... these are not even all of them! 

Just remember, Sugar is not working with your body, but against it.

Take the Sugar Challenge for 7 days and see if you don't feel better after eliminating all sugars from your diet.  If you have headaches within the first few days, that's your body detoxing.  Drink extra water and eat extra green vegetables during this time.  Skip the coffee, switch to tea and skip the what?  You got it.. SUGAR!  


YOU CAN DO IT!!!

Another Reason to eat a Plant Based Diet

What are your risks from eating PORK?

Yes, we’ve all heard the frightening tales of tapeworms entering the brain, because of eating undercooked pork, so let’s add to that nightmare with this disturbing piece of information. According to Huffington Post, don’t worry about the tapeworms, but keep an eye out for their larvae, as they could be eating holes in your brain as we speak.

Neurocysticercosis (NCC), a fancy term for brain tapeworms, is the most common parasitic disease of the nervous system, Medscape reveals. Let’s break this down for you.
Brain tapeworms produce larvae that can latch themselves onto the cranium in the form of large white cysts. Now, larvae are used to traveling through a pig’s bloodstream and attaching to its muscles. So, in turn, if you eat undercooked pork you’re eating larvae. Sounds delicious right?
When the larvae enters a human it still thinks it’s inside a pig and as a result, “It flows through the bloodstream and gets stuck inside fluid-filled cavities in the brain, then latches on and masks itself from the immune system. These larvae can form vast networks on the brain and completely mangle its function if not treated,” Huffington Post explains.

Someone who comes in contact with such larvae can enter into a coma, lose motor functions, have violent seizures and even go blind.
According to Dr. Theodore Nash of Maryland, who spoke with Discover Magazine, more than 2,000 people in the United States have tapeworms, while 29 million (or more) may have them in Latin America.

Luckily, there is a cure called praziquantel. However, there are side effects such as brain swelling, along with problematic seizures. A full proof treatment is still in the works.
Are you ready for another “comforting” fact? Tapeworms can lay up to 50,000 eggs each in your intestine. To avoid such a nightmare, all you have to do is cook meat all the way through and wash your hands methodically. Here’s another tip. Just stop eating meat all together and you’ll have no worries of tapeworms and larvae.

To learn more, read the full article by Discover Magazine who recently wrote an expose

Source :http://www.ecorazzi.com/2012/05/19/if-you-ate-pork-tapeworm-larvae-could-be-eating-your-brain/

GRATITUDE, NOT ATTITUDE - Food For Your Soul

Gratitude not Attitude is really a philosophy that when practiced, reminds you that everything you need, you already have.  When you enjoy what you are surrounded by, you do not wish for more.  You delight in what is right in front of you.  You live in the moment and feel the joy of the people around you or perhaps you are a better friend, better human.

The best recipe for Gratitude, not Attitude is:
Stop right where you are
Breathe in all the positives
Appreciate the people in your life, past and present
Share your wisdom

Smile and be kind daily and remember your focus is being grateful

I like to begin my day with meditation.  I use the first 5-10 min. or so to focus on gratitude.  I do not wish for things I do not have, or didn't get or want but I cannot have them.  I focus on the love I do have, the people in my life who are blessings, my son, my dog, my home, and creature comforts that make my life easier. I focus on a mantra I created for myself, honoring loving, gratitude I feel.

It's not to say that I don't have heartaches or challenges or obstacles that need to be overcome, it's to say that I am not focusing on what I cannot change, however I am appreciating the positives, now. 

Each night before you go to sleep, write down a few things you were grateful for throughout your day.  It can be as simple as being in gratitude to the person who asked "How are you today" to you having the opportunity to open a door for someone.  Daily Kindnesses.  It can be your child's laugh or funny story, it can be a moment in nature that caught your eye and captured your heart.  The point is, reflect, feel and write.

Sincerely,
In Gratitude

EMOTIONAL EATING ISSUES

Emotional Eating Issues are a concern for many people, women and men.  Ranging from over eating, not eating at all or binge eating and purging, to just eating enough to survive.  These issues have been more publicized about teen girls, young women and women in general vs. men, however, more men have come forward about eating issues throughout the years and it is a serious, potentially life threatening disorder for any involved.

Girls, Women, Boys and Men are surrounded by images growing up of magazine models, celebrities, mothers making statements about their own bodies, fathers making comments about women, girls talk with their friends about what types of bodies boys like, and sometimes a boy will tell a girl why he likes or dislikes her body, and the dislike talk from a boy, a guy or a man is the kiss of death of self esteem to that girl who may be on the cusp of her own self doubt and esteem. There are some girls who will not let a comment tear them down, however, there is a large number that will remember it and either live by it, become it, or become the opposite.  The list of negative messages we all here goes on and on.  Self Image is splashed in every ounce of marketing to every age group.

As a society I believe we have an obligation to ourselves, to our children, to our neighbors, to our parents, to our spouses, our siblings, our nieces and nephews and to the earth to live with as much respect as possible towards one another. Feeling worthy and respected and loved and having a healthy self esteem is hard to come by for some and those feelings of a lack of love affect their every bite or every purposeful starvation act.

Listen to those around you and recognize when someone really needs help for a eating disorder. A Food Disorder is really a symptom of pain much deeper.  The word Dis-Order speaks volumes to the chaos that one puts themselves through rationalizing or avoiding their "dis-order" on the inside, emotionally.  It is the longing in the human condition to want to feel loved, worthy and to think healthy thoughts about ourselves.  We owe it to ourselves to get help when needed and receive much needed help and much deserved care for our souls.

For more information about Food Related Disorders, go to the National Eating Disorders Organization.

Why Lemon and Warm Water in the Morning?

What can Lemon Juice and Warm Water do for you? 

 
Well for starters drinking it in the morning will help your body get going.  By get going, I mean it alerts and awakens your lymph system, digestive system and the smell of lemon makes one feel refreshed.

Lemons naturally assist in hydration and staying hydrated helps you to avoid, adrenal fatigue (which I am working with right now). When your body is seriously lagging and is in a state of chronic dehydration, your adrenals cannot do their best to control your cortisol levels, which manages how you manage stress.  These two little glands are vital to keeping your body and mind in a top functioning state.

Lemons contain Vitamin C, an antioxidant, which helps to boost your immune system and keep your skin clear as it assists in ridding your body of toxins.

Lemons are an Alkaline Food which means they are not acidic.  One would think they are acidic because they are a citrus fruit, however they are an Alkaline which is needed to keep the body healthy and balanced.  Too much acidity knocks your body into a state of panic and it has to work overtime to fight off infections and illness of all kinds. 

The Vibrant and Tangy Lemon is not to be overlooked!  Enjoy!

Republicans Question Healthier Eating Proposals.

By MARY CLARE JALONICK, Associated Press – 42 mins ago

WASHINGTON – House Republicans are pushing back against Obama administration efforts to promote healthier lunches, saying the Agriculture Department should rewrite rules it issued in January that would make school meals healthier. Republicans say the rules are too costly.
The legislation is expected to be approved by the House Appropriations Committee Tuesday.
The bill also questions a government proposal to curb marketing of unhealthy foods to children and urges the Food and Drug Administration to limit rules requiring calorie counts be posted on menus.
The overall spending bill would cut billions from USDA and FDA budgets, including for domestic feeding programs and international food aid.
Chris Crawford, a spokesman for Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Jack Kingston, a Georgia Republican, said that Republicans are concerned with the cost of many of the Obama administration proposals and that the proposals may be overregulation.
Crawford said the marketing guidelines, released last month, are "classic nanny-state overreach." Though the guidelines, which would restrict which foods could be marketed to children, are voluntary, many companies are concerned that they will be penalized if they don't follow them.
"Our concern is those voluntary guidelines are back-door regulation," he said, deploring the fact that kids can watch shows that depict sex and drugs on MTV, but "you cannot see an advertisement for Tony the Tiger during the commercial break."
The school lunch guidelines are the first major nutritional overhaul of students' meals in 15 years. Under the guidelines, schools would have to cut sodium in subsidized meals by more than half, use more whole grains and serve low-fat milk. They also would limit kids to only one cup of starchy vegetables a week, so schools couldn't offer french fries every day.
The starchy vegetable proposal has been criticized by conservatives who think it goes too far and members of Congress who represent potato-growers. They say potatoes are a low-cost food that provides fiber and other nutrients.
The Republican spending bill also encourages the FDA to limit new guidelines that require calories to be posted on menus to restaurants, asking that grocery stores, convenience stores and other places whose primary purpose is not to sell food be excluded from the rules.
The effort would dial back many of first lady Michelle Obama's priorities in her "Let's Move" campaign to curb childhood obesity and hunger.
"This shows a very clear trend in trying to undermine some of the important gains in nutrition policy," said Margo Wootan, director of nutrition policy at the advocacy group Center for Science in the Public Interest.

Mediterranean Diet aids in preventing Alzheimer's Type Diseases

Doctors: Diet could help prevent Alzheimer's

by Erica Heartquist, KGW Staff

Posted on May 20, 2011 at 7:21 AM

Updated Friday, May 20 at 8:45 AM

PORTLAND -- What you eat could help prevent or even delay the onset of Alzheimer's Disease.
Doctors are taking a different approach to the treatment of the disease, by hoping to prevent it in ways similar to the prevention of heart disease.
"We know from observational studies that people who eat a Mediterranean diet are far less likely to get Alzheimer's-type diseases," said Doctor Miles Hassell, a doctor of internal medicine at Providence St. Vincent Hospital.
A nutritional lifestyle can keep the body and the brain healthy as long as possible, he said.
That means avoid packaged foods, drinks, sugars and artificial sweeteners, which Dr. Hassell said will make you want to keep eating sweets.
"Just learn to enjoy less sweet foods," he said. "Some of the studies show that if you reduce the sugar intake over a short term, hours and days even, you can see improvement in cognitive function. It's modest, but it appears to be real."
He recommended eating approximately ten servings of vegetables a day, plus nuts, and whole grains, and away from corn syrup.
"I would really just get rid of most of the refined carbohydrates. So the sugars, the white flour products, the pastries, the scones, the pastas, and replace them with true whole grain products," said Dr. Hassell.
He added that it's also good advice to get outside, be active, walk around. Don't just sit still.
"Make that a priority. It's as important as brushing your teeth and going to your job," she said.
In addition, technology can now help doctors measure disease progression.
Using newly discovered biomarkers, scientists can look at plaques in the brain, which may be associated with Alzheimer's. Subtle shrinking of the brain's memory center can happen 10 to 20 years before symptoms develop.
"Historically, anything that prevents a disease usually slows down a progression of the disease as well. So our bet is that we will find that this will slow down the progression," Hassell added.
Experts recommend patients with Alzheimer's go on diets that slowly decrease carbohydrate intake over a nine-week period.
Hassell also said that people who eat less food overall seem to have better cognitive functions.

But, I love my Tobacco, Processed Foods and Soft Drinks...

Smoking, Chewing Tobacco - Worse than Bad!  Nicotine is one of the most addictive drugs in the legal market that anyone over the age of 18 can legally purchase.  Most people who smoke began before they turned 18 and have had 20 years of smoking under their belts by the time they are 35. Emotionally, this habit is the hardest to break and brings out many an aggravated person in the early stages of quitting.  Many people need help to quite smoking and thankfully there are many gums, patches and other nicotine tools to help you lessen the withdrawal effects from not having this chemical in your body. Not only is the nicotine itself bad, the other chemicals they use to produce cigerettes or chewing tobacco is not pure, it is loaded with chemicals and compounded with a variety of known toxic ingredients like tar, ammonia (cleaning agent), carbon monoxide (poison gas know as the "silent killer") cyanide (rat poison) and even formaldehyde (used to preserve) and that is just the tip of the iceberg! I just wrote this and it scares me because I know who people who still smoke.  At this point and time in history when we know the breakdown of how this toxicity destroys ours arteries, brains, lungs and bodies, we have to make the choice to change this bad, bad habit. Cancer and Heart Disease and Smoking are directly related to one another.  I know this addiction can be broken because I smoked for about 20 years and it was by far one the most healthiest decisions I've ever made for myself and my family.  The discomfort and aggravation you feel is well worth it when you truly absorb what the benefits are from quitting.  Love yourself more and make the change...

Soft Drinks, Diet or Regular - Bad! Some people drink their soft drinks, like coffee in the morning. Without it, you feel like you are missing something from your routine. Perhaps it's what they drink so they will not eat and or maybe it's tastes good to wash down your daily lunch. Emotionally you want it, you crave it, you can taste it if you think about if long enough. Soft drinks are filled with sugar, chemicals and are not a necessity to feed your body and be productive. If you can, ditch them now and stick to an occasional soft drink and make it a treat. The new information that continues to surface is relating an percentage increase of strokes and pancreatic issues, and other health issues related to the daily dose of soft drinks, diet or not. Even though this is not conclusive, the researchers are constantly changing what the effects are so its an easy loop hole excuse to continue drinking them, however, if I were constantly consuming something that was being labeled as "dangerous" or "bad", I would just stop to be on the safe side.

Processed Foods, Everywhere...  These are my favorites! Chemicals and Artificial Flavors are taking over our bodies and our brains. Science is discovering more and more that foods that are fake filler foods are causing harmful consequences to our bodies.  For example, not only are trans fats and dyes making your body not able to function at it's highest level of energy, your brain is actually making you think you want these foods due to their chemical compounds mixed together.  You have to re-train your brain to think about and feel how these foods are affecting you now and long term.  Yes, it is hard to step away from these crunchy, salty, yellow or red, sugar loaded foods that may make you sluggish and are not working in favor of your health, however if you try eating other foods, like an apple with cinnamon or strawberries with stevia you can slowly reduce the processed foods each week and make a difference in your very own life.  Be your own best parent and do for yourself what you suggest for your children to do.

Daily Reminders

Hug your children every single day and say I love you  --- Food is not my enemy ---Be forgiving, even if you are not forgiven --- Forgive Yourself --- Smile everyday, even when you want to cry --- Music is good for the soul ---Portion control is vital --- Listen, don't always talk ---Organization is key ---Sometimes "it" is exactly what "it" seems --- Fresh flowers every week brightens your home --- Be kind to others, who knows what kind of day they are having --- Never stop learning --- Laugh at yourself --- You don't have to tolerate being treated disrespectfully --- Call people and connect, don't text or email all the time --- My Mom really does know a thing or two --- Laugh with your friends --- Cherish life, Understand it can be taken in an instance ---It's OK to be afraid of the future --- Read as much as you can --- Flossing actually does help --- Life is not always fair--- Ask someone working, how is your day ---Reach out and help those who need it --- Get out of the house and breathe fresh air --- Don't be afraid to cry, outloud --- try many new recipes, make your friends eat them ---Take a walk when you are feeling blue --- Talk to old friends ---Love your body, folds and all --- Remember where you come from --- Do not procrastinate--- No, I don't always know what someone is thinking ---Love is magical and good ---Love can hurt deeply --- Apparently I don't have it "all in the bag" --- Always have faith in yourself and don't give up ---