Ten Ways to Strengthen Immunity

This list is adapted from Gut and Psychology Syndrome.  I strongly recommend this book to anyone dealing with chronic health issues.  Some of the items listed may surprise you!

1. Cold pressed oils: olive oil, fish oils, nut and seed oils.
2. Fresh eggs (free-range organic), particularly raw egg yolk.
3. Onions and garlic.
4. Freshly pressed vegetable and fruit juices. Juiceman juicer
5. Eating greens regularly:  parsley, dill, coriander, spring onion, and garlic
6. Probiotic Supplementation and fermented foods.
7. Contact with animals: horses, dogs, etc. Having a pet is very beneficial to a child's immunity.
8. Physical activity outside in fresh air.
9. Swimming in unpolluted natural waters: lakes, rivers, and sea.
10. Exposure to sunlight and sensible sunbathing (helps you make vitamin D).

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If you spend $40.00, your membership fee is waived and you get wholesale prices for a year!


Gut and Psychology Syndrome                   Juiceman Juicer N.W. Walker D. Sc.

Refreshing Lemon Mint Ginger Tea: Natural Cleanser

I find that whenever I have a flairup, I need to really watch what I eat and focus on cleansing.  The body does most of its cleansing between bedtime and 10am.  It is best not to interfere with this natural process by eating heavy foods before that time.  This tea is very refreshing and aids the body's natural cleansing process.

Lemon Mint Ginger Tea

Ingredients:

1 organic green tea bag
1 lemon
1/2 inch fresh ginger
2 drops peppermint oil
raw honey (if desired)

Boil water and remove from the heat.
Add ingredients
Brew for 7 minutes
Enjoy!

My Breakfast Shake

I manage my weight and energy by avoiding carbohydrates before lunch time.  I find that if I start out eating protien, I feel satisfied and do not crave carbs all day.  When I used to eat breakfast cereals, I gained weight because I was always munching on carbohydrate snacks.  I mentioned my shake in previous posts like "Bikini Belly: The Fringe Benefit of Healthy Digestion" and "Fibromyalgia Fourty, Younger than Thirty."  I use ProtoClear Protein Shake because it, not only provides protien, but also vitamins and minerals.  This shake is really good for people with Fibromyalgia because it also contains supplements that help to clean the liver and the digestive system.  I serve it to my husband and daughter as well.  They actually like the way it tastes!  Here is my recipe:

MY BREAKFAST SHAKE

Ingredients:

1 cup Plain Yogurt (organic or homemade)
1/2 cup frozen berries
1/2 tsp flaxseed oil
1/2 tsp olive oil
1 tsp cinnamon
1 scoop
ProtoClear
3/4 cup
Almond Milk
Vitamix Blender or
Cuisinart Food Processor

Combine ingredients in the blender or food processor.
Blend until smooth and enjoy!

Healing Food List: What to Eat When You Feel Tired and Bloated

If you are like me, you may often suffer from bloating and exhaustion.  This is particularly true for when I eat pasta and bread.  In my search for holistic solutions, I have been inspired by a couple of books that I am studying:  Gut and Psychology Syndrome and Signs and Symptoms Analysis.  Both books contain lists of foods that are helpful to anyone suffering from digestive disorders.  How do you know that you have digestive problems?  One sign is that you may feel bloated and tired immediately after eating a food that contributes to the inflammation of your digestive tract.  Here is a list of Harmful and Helpful Foods.  I keep it on my refridgerator to help me stay on track:

HARMFUL and HELPFUL FOODS for HEALTHY DIGESTION

Harmful Fats:
Vegetable oils
Corn oil
Canola oil
Margarine

Helpful Fats:
Olive oil (not for cooking)
Coconut oil (good for cooking)
Ghee (made from organic butter)
Organic Butter
Flaxseed Oil
krill oil or www.mynsp.com/desinou


Harmful Sweeteners
Corn Syrup
Sugar
Fructose
Sucrose
Maple Syrup
Agave Nectar
Molasses

Helpful Sweeteners
Raw Honey
Stevia
Dates
Cinnamon

Harmful Protein
Canned Fish, preserved, salted, smoked, or canned
Meats, processed, smoked, or preserved
Sausages (unless prepared without sulfites/nitrates)
Bologna

Helpful Protein (stewed or baked)
Salmon (Wild Alaskan)
Mahi Mahi
Talapia
Beef
Lamb
Pork
Chicken

Protoclear Protien Shake
Eggs (soft scrambled, soft boiled)


Harmful Carbs
Wheat
Oats
White rice
Pasta
Rye bread
Spelt
Corn
Corn starch
Wheat germ
Cereals
Tortilla Chips
Potato chips
Pretzels



Helpful Carbs
Brown Rice
all kinds of friut
all berries
Celery
Bok choy
Broccolli
Asparagus
Beets
Apricots
Cabbage
Brussel Sprouts
Carrots
Cauliflower
Collard greens
Cucumber
Kale
Lettuce
Lima beans
Onions
Peas
Peppers
Tomatoes
Parsley
Squash
Spinach
Zucchini

Harmful Cheeses
Processed or cheese spreads
Chevre
Cottage
Cream cheese
Gjetost
Gruyere
Mozarella
Neufchatel
Primost
Ricotta

Helpful Cheeses
Asiago
Blue
Brick
Brie
Camembert
Cheddar
Colby
Raw Cheddar
Colby
Edam
Gorgonzola
Gouda
Havarti
Limburger
Monterey Jack
Muenster
parmesean
Port du Salut
Roquefort
Swiss
Romano
Dry curd cottage cheese
Homemade Plain Yogurt (see recipe in my blog post from April 2010)

You can SAVE MONEY by using my Nature's Sunshine account to order supplements.  All you do is order at least $40 worth and you get a free membership to order at wholesale prices for a year! www.mynsp.com/desinou


Gut and Psychology Syndrome

Make Your Own Organic Yogurt!

Making your own yogurt is not only good for your digestive system, but it is also great for your budget. I was spending $40-$60 a month on premium organic yogurt. With the current economy, I realized that I had to find a better way. Now that I make my own yogurt, I have cut my cost in half!

As I mentioned earlier in "Bikini Belly: The Fringe Benefit of Healthy Digestion," nurturing the digestive system is key to achieving optimal health. The live cultures and enzymes in yogurt help to protect the digestive system by fighting off "bad Bacteria" and creating an environment that allows you to absorb the nutrients in your food.

A healthy digestive tract fosters physical and emotional well-being. Healing the digestive tract is one strategy used to treat depression, ADD, Anxiety, Autism, and Fibromyalgia.

Recipe for Home-Made Yogurt:

8 cups organic whole or 2% milk
1 packet of yogurt starter culture (or 2 TBS yogurt)
Yogurt Maker

Pour 8 cups of organic milk into a stainless steel pot.
Turn the heat to medium high.
Use a metal spoon to stir constantly.
Bring the milk to the boiling point (it will start to rise up the sides of the pot).
Let it boil for one minute and remove from heat.
Let the milk cool to very warm temp (a little hotter than baby bottle temp).
Pour mixture into glass jars and place in the yogurt maker for seven hours.
Refrigerate one hour before eating.

I Hate Multi-Level Marketing!

I have been roped into several multi-level marketing schemes over the years and have regretted it each time.  From kitchen ware to essential oils, to chocolate, they all make me so mad!   The cost of the items are so heavily inflated that you are manipulated into selling the product just to be able to afford them!  If that is not bad enough, shipping charges are usually ridiculous!  I have sworn off all MLM's. 

Without changing my opinion, I trust Nature's Sunshine.  They are honest and straight forward.  There is no manipulation involved.  I have accepted them because they have excellent quality nutritonal products at very reaonable prices.  Shipping is just a few dollars and my products arrive in just a couple of days.  I signed up in order to save even more money on my supplements and recieve rebates on my purchases.

To find out more information, please visit my website http://www.desinou.com/

Bikini Belly: The Fringe Benefit of Healthy Digestion

I will never forget what a twelve year old boy once said to me: "When are you going to have your baby?" My response: "My baby is two years old!" I was not fat, but I had to admit that I looked like I was two months pregnant!

A bloated belly is often caused by inflammation of the gut. It happens as an allergic reaction to foods like dairy, processed foods, sugar, wheat, and other grains. The bloating occurs as tissue becomes inflamed because the victim lacks the enzymes required to digest the offending food items. You may have experienced the sensation when your pants feel tight after eating a plate of spaghetti and garlic bread.

Eliminating the offensive foods was an important first step in healing my digestive system. The other fringe benefit, was that I lost 20 pounds! I replaced the cereal and milk that used to be my breakfast with a protein shake. I found that eating protein first thing in the morning kept me feeling full. I stopped craving breads and sweets through out the day! Here is my shake recipe:

1 cup plain organic yogurt
1/2 cup organic blueberries
1tsp flaxseed oil
1 cup plain almond milk
1 scoop Protoclear protein powder (GMO free)

Combine ingredients in a blender and enjoy!


In addition to eating foods that do not contain sugar or wheat, I also help my digestive tract to heal by taking a digestive enzyme (Food Enzymes) with every meal. The enzymes help to make sure that I am absorbing the nutrients from the foods and vitamins that I consume. Finally, I take pro-biotics to encourage the growth of good bacteria. All these things combined promote healthy digestion. The fringe benefit is that I could wear a bikini if I wanted to.

Please visit my website for more resources and information: http://www.desinou.com/