Peter McCWilliams, author of "You Can't Afford the Luxury of a Negative Thought,"
agrees we should fear some things---drinking poisons, leaping off tall buildings, and situations in which our pyhsical body is in danger of extinction."All other fears--the ones we face every day--are illusions. They should be given no more credence than television commercials, election-year promises, or people who try to sell us flowers at airports."
Ninety five percent of the things we worry about never happen. "Worry is like a rocking chair...it gives us something to do but it doesn't get us anywhere.
How often in our lives do we make a bird in the bush out to be a bear? How we talk to ourselves determines how we feel.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Dangers of Over-Medicating for Depression
My concern is about the number of people and seniors who are over-medicated, which can lead to severe depression or even suicidal thoughts. Always check with your pharmacist to see if your medications are compatable. I am aware of a senior who was put on three antidepressants and a sleep medication. She attempted suicide because of the bad interactions of these four drugs prescribed by her family doctor. A psychiatrist was able to help her get on the right medications. I prefer clients see a psychiatrist for antidepressants because they know how medications interact with each other.
If you are depressed and not on medication, check out some of the natural remedies in Dr. Balch's book, "Nutritional Healing." Fish oil is essential to help overcome postpartum and regular depression. The more alkaline your diet, the less depressed you will be.
Check out other blogs here on "Defeating Depression, Fish Oil,Twenty Tips for Beating the Blues, and other blogs on depression. Also check out the book on Amazon, "Defeating Depression & Beating the Blues."
When I have been depressed, L-Tyrosine, fish oil, B-Vitamins, and Calcium and magnesium have been very helpful. It has been twenty years since I have taken an anti-depressant and even then I had a very bad reaction to the drug.
If you are depressed and not on medication, check out some of the natural remedies in Dr. Balch's book, "Nutritional Healing." Fish oil is essential to help overcome postpartum and regular depression. The more alkaline your diet, the less depressed you will be.
Check out other blogs here on "Defeating Depression, Fish Oil,Twenty Tips for Beating the Blues, and other blogs on depression. Also check out the book on Amazon, "Defeating Depression & Beating the Blues."
When I have been depressed, L-Tyrosine, fish oil, B-Vitamins, and Calcium and magnesium have been very helpful. It has been twenty years since I have taken an anti-depressant and even then I had a very bad reaction to the drug.
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Beating the Blues for the Holidays
By Patty Butts, Ph.D., LPC, author of "Defeating Depression& Beating the Blues" (Pat Webb)
“You cannot keep the birds of sadness from flying over your head, but you can keep them from nesting in you hair.”
Like Jonah, we sometimes end up in the belly of the whale. At least that’s what it feels like. If it’s not the belly of the whale, maybe it’s the blues, melancholy or sadness. Some people feel temporarily blue because of loneliness, grief, death of a loved one, divorce, poor health, financial problems or other life stressors. These moods usually lift and the person will function normally again, but if it lasts for more than several months and interferes with daily activities, professional help may be needed.
Get moving
Depression knocks at every door, but you don’t have to invite it in as a permanent guest. Like my grandfather used to say, “Fresh fish and house guests shouldn’t stay more than three days.” If the blues stay more than a few weeks, someone needs to move, and exercise is a great beginning. Studies have shown that vigorous exercise stimulates circulation, produces an increase in endorphins and releases serotonins in the brain, the hormones that encourage contentment and cheerfulness. Aerobic exercises such as walking, jogging, swimming, dancing, jumping on a mini-tramp and biking can generate a significant antidepressant effect. Brisk walking is as effective as any other exercise.
Learn to laugh
Say “Cheese!” University studies confirm that when we use our smile muscles and humor, it increases the endorphins in our brain. Humor is the ability to look at the absurdity in our own lives and find something to laugh about. It may not eliminate the problem, but it will help overcome the effect. Life is at least as funny as it is sad. Humor can stop misunderstandings and ease tension when no other strategies will work. Consider creating a humor folder with clever cartoons and quips. These clips are good to pass on to friends and family when they are ill, recuperating or just need a chuckle to cheer them up.
Eat well
While there are many causes of depression or the blues, good nutrition plays a vital role. My No. 1 recommendation is to add essential fatty acids (EFAs) to your diet in the form of fish or flax seed oil or a blend that contains both omega 3s and omega 6s such as marine/borage lipid combination. Omega 3s, raise the serotonin level in our brain, improve moods and are found in fresh deepwater fish, flax seed or flax oil. A good quality fish oil or evening primrose oil are examples of good fats. "Fats That Heal, Fats That Kill" by Udo Erasmus is an excellent resource. Avoid saturated fat and transfatty acids. Bad fats (French fries, deep fried foods, etc.,) inhibit the synthesis of neurotransmitters by the brain because they cause the blood cells to become sticky and clump together, resulting in poor circulation, especially to the brain.
According to Dr. Norman Shealy, author of "Alternative Medicine," and Dr. James F. Balch, author of "Nutritional Healing," avoid sugar. That means honey, sucrose, dextrose, corn syrup and fruit juice. Avoid drinks or foods with aspartame because it can block the formation of serotonin and also cause headaches and insomnia. Your body reacts more quickly to sugar than it does to complex carbohydrates. The quick increase in energy by the intake of sugar is quickly followed by fatigue and depression. Stevia is an excellent sugar substitute.
Candida is a yeast-like fungus that inhabits the gastrointestinal tract, mouth, throat, genital tract and bowels and can contribute to depression and mental illness. According to Dr.William Crook, author of "The Yeast Connection," diet, antibiotics, and some birth control pills are factors that cause candida-related health problems. As yeast multiplies in the intestinal tract, villi in the intestines is unable to absorb vital nutrients needed by the brain and body. You feel hungry, your body craves sugar and bread, which contributes to more yeast overgrowth. Dr. Crook’s book is an excellent resource and has a candida questionnaire. The candisphere is a test your doctor can give to measure candida in the blood.
Remember when you are eating junk food, dead food without enzymes and empty calories, you are only feeding your mouth, not your body. Dead foods include food like coffee, sodas, candy, alcohol, pastries, peanuts, fried foods, processed foods, microwaved foods and margarine. Live foods include foods like broccoli, avocados, spinach, celery, cucumbers, limes, lemons, fish, almonds, sunflower seeds, olive oil, grape seed oil, flax seed oil, tomatoes, onions, garlic, alfalfa, peppers and sprouted wheat wraps. In the next minute your body is going to give birth to 720 million new cells. What quality of materials have you stockpiled in your body for it to use to make these new cells? When your body wears out, where are you going to live?
Positive thinking
Our thoughts determine our feelings and actions. Wayne Dyer, a well known psychologist and author, has said, “When you realize that what you think about becomes your reality, you become very careful about what you think about.” When an African shaman prays for rain, he prays, “Thanks for the taste of the rain. Thanks for the smell of the rain. Thanks for the rain,” and somewhere out there it is raining.
We can change our thoughts and replace them with words from a positive song, positive affirmations or appropriate music.
Worry is like a rocking chair, it gives us something to do, but it doesn’t get us anywhere. Helen Keller said, “Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadows.”
Depression can be caused by loss, feeling trapped, guilt, and anger turned in on yourself. Acknowledge your feelings; it’s painful to lose a loved one in death or divorce. It’s distressing to have health problems. Write about your feelings. Find a support group or someone you can talk to about your pain or loss, but don’t dwell on it continuously. Widowed twice, I have felt the agony of loss and loneliness, but ultimately I had to ask myself, “How can I turn my pain into service or positive action?”
It’s normal to have a pity party when you are hurting, but make it a short pity party. My mother-in-law, Marie, was one of the most positive people I’ve known. She was in her 60s when first widowed, but said, “I’m not going to feel sorry for myself. I’ll take myself to lunch or have friends over for dinner.”
Marie frequently went for walks or to a shopping mall and said hello to everyone. She took lemonade out to the garbage man and in turn, he delivered her garbage can in the driveway next to her house. When Marie was nearly 80 she said, “I’m going to go visit the old people on the street.” The old people on the street were in their 60s.
Keep a gratitude journal. Each day write down from five to ten things you are grateful for — laughter, the giggle of a baby, sunrises, sunset, trees, rivers, forests, mountains, blue sky, rain, flowers, the song of a bird, music, a healthy heart — the list could go on forever. Develop an attitude of gratitude.
Seasonal Affective Disorder
Surveys indicate 4 to 6 percent of the general population experience winter depression. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a severe form of winter blues. Those with SAD may lose their energy, gain weight, sleep too much, suffer anxiety attacks, and crave the wrong foods.
In winter, the level of indoor light produces about a tenth of the illumination of a full day of natural light due to shorter and darker days. Doctors recommend you stay in brightly lit rooms on dark days. According to Dr. C. Norman Shealey, “Getting outdoors in bright daylight as much as possible and sitting near windows in light colored rooms can help.”
Thomas Jefferson Medical Research Facility did a 15 year study on light therapy and found that a specific band of light increased serotonin levels significantly.
Apollo Light Systems in Orem, Utah, has developed a goLite which is that specific band of light. It can be purchased at Costco for about $150. and might cost twice that amount if purchased at a retail outlet. This portable unit can be used at work, home, or even when you travel. If you are having difficulty sleeping you may want to check your circadian rhythm. For an assessment of your circadian rhythm go to www.apollohealth.com and pull up circadian rhythm, then assessment tools. Labels: beating the blues, Happy Holidays, overcoming depression
“You cannot keep the birds of sadness from flying over your head, but you can keep them from nesting in you hair.”
Like Jonah, we sometimes end up in the belly of the whale. At least that’s what it feels like. If it’s not the belly of the whale, maybe it’s the blues, melancholy or sadness. Some people feel temporarily blue because of loneliness, grief, death of a loved one, divorce, poor health, financial problems or other life stressors. These moods usually lift and the person will function normally again, but if it lasts for more than several months and interferes with daily activities, professional help may be needed.
Get moving
Depression knocks at every door, but you don’t have to invite it in as a permanent guest. Like my grandfather used to say, “Fresh fish and house guests shouldn’t stay more than three days.” If the blues stay more than a few weeks, someone needs to move, and exercise is a great beginning. Studies have shown that vigorous exercise stimulates circulation, produces an increase in endorphins and releases serotonins in the brain, the hormones that encourage contentment and cheerfulness. Aerobic exercises such as walking, jogging, swimming, dancing, jumping on a mini-tramp and biking can generate a significant antidepressant effect. Brisk walking is as effective as any other exercise.
Learn to laugh
Say “Cheese!” University studies confirm that when we use our smile muscles and humor, it increases the endorphins in our brain. Humor is the ability to look at the absurdity in our own lives and find something to laugh about. It may not eliminate the problem, but it will help overcome the effect. Life is at least as funny as it is sad. Humor can stop misunderstandings and ease tension when no other strategies will work. Consider creating a humor folder with clever cartoons and quips. These clips are good to pass on to friends and family when they are ill, recuperating or just need a chuckle to cheer them up.
Eat well
While there are many causes of depression or the blues, good nutrition plays a vital role. My No. 1 recommendation is to add essential fatty acids (EFAs) to your diet in the form of fish or flax seed oil or a blend that contains both omega 3s and omega 6s such as marine/borage lipid combination. Omega 3s, raise the serotonin level in our brain, improve moods and are found in fresh deepwater fish, flax seed or flax oil. A good quality fish oil or evening primrose oil are examples of good fats. "Fats That Heal, Fats That Kill" by Udo Erasmus is an excellent resource. Avoid saturated fat and transfatty acids. Bad fats (French fries, deep fried foods, etc.,) inhibit the synthesis of neurotransmitters by the brain because they cause the blood cells to become sticky and clump together, resulting in poor circulation, especially to the brain.
According to Dr. Norman Shealy, author of "Alternative Medicine," and Dr. James F. Balch, author of "Nutritional Healing," avoid sugar. That means honey, sucrose, dextrose, corn syrup and fruit juice. Avoid drinks or foods with aspartame because it can block the formation of serotonin and also cause headaches and insomnia. Your body reacts more quickly to sugar than it does to complex carbohydrates. The quick increase in energy by the intake of sugar is quickly followed by fatigue and depression. Stevia is an excellent sugar substitute.
Candida is a yeast-like fungus that inhabits the gastrointestinal tract, mouth, throat, genital tract and bowels and can contribute to depression and mental illness. According to Dr.William Crook, author of "The Yeast Connection," diet, antibiotics, and some birth control pills are factors that cause candida-related health problems. As yeast multiplies in the intestinal tract, villi in the intestines is unable to absorb vital nutrients needed by the brain and body. You feel hungry, your body craves sugar and bread, which contributes to more yeast overgrowth. Dr. Crook’s book is an excellent resource and has a candida questionnaire. The candisphere is a test your doctor can give to measure candida in the blood.
Remember when you are eating junk food, dead food without enzymes and empty calories, you are only feeding your mouth, not your body. Dead foods include food like coffee, sodas, candy, alcohol, pastries, peanuts, fried foods, processed foods, microwaved foods and margarine. Live foods include foods like broccoli, avocados, spinach, celery, cucumbers, limes, lemons, fish, almonds, sunflower seeds, olive oil, grape seed oil, flax seed oil, tomatoes, onions, garlic, alfalfa, peppers and sprouted wheat wraps. In the next minute your body is going to give birth to 720 million new cells. What quality of materials have you stockpiled in your body for it to use to make these new cells? When your body wears out, where are you going to live?
Positive thinking
Our thoughts determine our feelings and actions. Wayne Dyer, a well known psychologist and author, has said, “When you realize that what you think about becomes your reality, you become very careful about what you think about.” When an African shaman prays for rain, he prays, “Thanks for the taste of the rain. Thanks for the smell of the rain. Thanks for the rain,” and somewhere out there it is raining.
We can change our thoughts and replace them with words from a positive song, positive affirmations or appropriate music.
Worry is like a rocking chair, it gives us something to do, but it doesn’t get us anywhere. Helen Keller said, “Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadows.”
Depression can be caused by loss, feeling trapped, guilt, and anger turned in on yourself. Acknowledge your feelings; it’s painful to lose a loved one in death or divorce. It’s distressing to have health problems. Write about your feelings. Find a support group or someone you can talk to about your pain or loss, but don’t dwell on it continuously. Widowed twice, I have felt the agony of loss and loneliness, but ultimately I had to ask myself, “How can I turn my pain into service or positive action?”
It’s normal to have a pity party when you are hurting, but make it a short pity party. My mother-in-law, Marie, was one of the most positive people I’ve known. She was in her 60s when first widowed, but said, “I’m not going to feel sorry for myself. I’ll take myself to lunch or have friends over for dinner.”
Marie frequently went for walks or to a shopping mall and said hello to everyone. She took lemonade out to the garbage man and in turn, he delivered her garbage can in the driveway next to her house. When Marie was nearly 80 she said, “I’m going to go visit the old people on the street.” The old people on the street were in their 60s.
Keep a gratitude journal. Each day write down from five to ten things you are grateful for — laughter, the giggle of a baby, sunrises, sunset, trees, rivers, forests, mountains, blue sky, rain, flowers, the song of a bird, music, a healthy heart — the list could go on forever. Develop an attitude of gratitude.
Seasonal Affective Disorder
Surveys indicate 4 to 6 percent of the general population experience winter depression. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a severe form of winter blues. Those with SAD may lose their energy, gain weight, sleep too much, suffer anxiety attacks, and crave the wrong foods.
In winter, the level of indoor light produces about a tenth of the illumination of a full day of natural light due to shorter and darker days. Doctors recommend you stay in brightly lit rooms on dark days. According to Dr. C. Norman Shealey, “Getting outdoors in bright daylight as much as possible and sitting near windows in light colored rooms can help.”
Thomas Jefferson Medical Research Facility did a 15 year study on light therapy and found that a specific band of light increased serotonin levels significantly.
Apollo Light Systems in Orem, Utah, has developed a goLite which is that specific band of light. It can be purchased at Costco for about $150. and might cost twice that amount if purchased at a retail outlet. This portable unit can be used at work, home, or even when you travel. If you are having difficulty sleeping you may want to check your circadian rhythm. For an assessment of your circadian rhythm go to www.apollohealth.com and pull up circadian rhythm, then assessment tools. Labels: beating the blues, Happy Holidays, overcoming depression
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Twenty Tips for Beating the Blues
1.Say “Cheese,” or smile. It changes endorphins in your brain.
2.Try to be with or talk to positive people.
3.Practice a jolly belly laugh. Pretend you’re auditioning to play Santa Claus.
4.Exercise daily for twenty minutes or take a brisk walk.
5.Keep a gratitude journal. Write down ten things for which you are thankful.
6.Dance to lively music.
7.Try Tai Chi or qigong; it uses breath regulation and mediation to enhance the flow of vital energy in the body. It relaxes the nervous system, increases circulation, is an easy form of exercise, engages the mind and improves well-being.
8.Sing a positive song.
9.Read or write poetry. Try writing a limerick and send it off to a contest.
10.Play with a puppy.
11.Play your favorite music.
12.Watch a funny movie or read something humorous. Ask friends and family members to tell you the funniest thing that ever happened to them and write it down. Remember, laughter is a tranquilizer with no side affects.
13.Help someone else, even if it’s sending a card or a positive telephone call.
14.Focus on your successes in life and record or write them down.
15.Concentrate on positive affirmations such as, “I enjoy being happy.”
16.Pray.
17.Tap your brain’s success circuits using guided imagery or creative visualization. Play positive movies in your mind.
18.Meditate. Live in the present moment. Practice mindfulness.
19.Keep busy. When your mind is not occupied you tend to dwell on negative thoughts. Replace the negative tapes you play in your head with positive thoughts.
20.Practice deep breathing, or Kundalini Yoga.
From Defeating Depression& Beating the Blues, by Pat Webb(Butts)
Posted by Patty Butts at 10:05 AM
Labels: Tips for overcoming depression, Twenty tips to beat the Blues
2.Try to be with or talk to positive people.
3.Practice a jolly belly laugh. Pretend you’re auditioning to play Santa Claus.
4.Exercise daily for twenty minutes or take a brisk walk.
5.Keep a gratitude journal. Write down ten things for which you are thankful.
6.Dance to lively music.
7.Try Tai Chi or qigong; it uses breath regulation and mediation to enhance the flow of vital energy in the body. It relaxes the nervous system, increases circulation, is an easy form of exercise, engages the mind and improves well-being.
8.Sing a positive song.
9.Read or write poetry. Try writing a limerick and send it off to a contest.
10.Play with a puppy.
11.Play your favorite music.
12.Watch a funny movie or read something humorous. Ask friends and family members to tell you the funniest thing that ever happened to them and write it down. Remember, laughter is a tranquilizer with no side affects.
13.Help someone else, even if it’s sending a card or a positive telephone call.
14.Focus on your successes in life and record or write them down.
15.Concentrate on positive affirmations such as, “I enjoy being happy.”
16.Pray.
17.Tap your brain’s success circuits using guided imagery or creative visualization. Play positive movies in your mind.
18.Meditate. Live in the present moment. Practice mindfulness.
19.Keep busy. When your mind is not occupied you tend to dwell on negative thoughts. Replace the negative tapes you play in your head with positive thoughts.
20.Practice deep breathing, or Kundalini Yoga.
From Defeating Depression& Beating the Blues, by Pat Webb(Butts)
Posted by Patty Butts at 10:05 AM
Labels: Tips for overcoming depression, Twenty tips to beat the Blues
Elderberry Extract for the Flu
Last September,on the Dr Oz show, he said that if you think you were exposed to the flu, then start taking 4 TB of elderberry extract immediately. You should take 4 TB for three days, and the Elderberry will actually help to reduce the duration of the flu as well as reduce your chances of getting the flu.
Flu Fighter #2: Rubbing Alcohol
Dr Oz said that viruses can live for up to 8 hours on inanimate objects, so look for a bottle of rubbing alcohol with a 50% concentration. You will often see the words Ethanol or Isopropyl on the bottles as well and Dr Oz said both are fine. You can clean surfaces or inanimate objects with the rubbing alcohol to kill the viruses and germs.
He also said that germs and viruses can travel up to ten feet when you cough or sneeze. Cover your mouth.
In addition, grapefruit seed extract pills and or olive leaf pills can fight virus, bacteria and yeast. Garlge with salt water.
Posted by Patty Butts at 8:32 AM
Labels: Elderberry Extract for the flu. Germs, viruses 12/2/10 by Patty Butts Delete
Flu Fighter #2: Rubbing Alcohol
Dr Oz said that viruses can live for up to 8 hours on inanimate objects, so look for a bottle of rubbing alcohol with a 50% concentration. You will often see the words Ethanol or Isopropyl on the bottles as well and Dr Oz said both are fine. You can clean surfaces or inanimate objects with the rubbing alcohol to kill the viruses and germs.
He also said that germs and viruses can travel up to ten feet when you cough or sneeze. Cover your mouth.
In addition, grapefruit seed extract pills and or olive leaf pills can fight virus, bacteria and yeast. Garlge with salt water.
Posted by Patty Butts at 8:32 AM
Labels: Elderberry Extract for the flu. Germs, viruses 12/2/10 by Patty Butts Delete
Friday, September 23, 2011
World Traveler Loves America
My husband, David, has traveled to over 100 countries and worked in forty one as a chemical engineer and expert consultant on evaporates, mainly salt production. He has traversed the peaks of Tibet at 14,000 feet to the depth of the Dead Sea, 1388 feet before sea level. He has come face-to face with death on at least nine occasions and survived a helicopter crash.
In his words, “I have been to every continent in the world. Some famous, some not… Paris, Istanbul, Moscow, Vienna, Nairobi, Johannesburg, Peking, Shanghai, Jerusalem, Geneva, Leningrad, and Tunis. I have traveled Europe, Africa, Australia, the Middle East and Far East. I have felt suffocated and short of breath in the thin air of Lhasa, Tibet and the Solar De Hombre Muerto, Argentina.
It was a thrill to see the ruins of Ephesus, Jerash, Petra, Rome and the palaces of Topkapi, the Forbidden City, Bavaria, and England. I have walked where Jesus walked, looked out over the Jordan Valley as Moses did from Mount Nebo, sat at the same table used by Lawrence of Arabia. I have been hosted by King Hussein of Jordan, and had servants kneel at my feet and call me “Master.” (In China he was awarded an Honorary Doctoral Degree)
Still, even with the faults of the United States Government and the loss of patriotism I knew as a child, there is no place I would rather be than America. I treasure my citizenship.
In his words, “I have been to every continent in the world. Some famous, some not… Paris, Istanbul, Moscow, Vienna, Nairobi, Johannesburg, Peking, Shanghai, Jerusalem, Geneva, Leningrad, and Tunis. I have traveled Europe, Africa, Australia, the Middle East and Far East. I have felt suffocated and short of breath in the thin air of Lhasa, Tibet and the Solar De Hombre Muerto, Argentina.
It was a thrill to see the ruins of Ephesus, Jerash, Petra, Rome and the palaces of Topkapi, the Forbidden City, Bavaria, and England. I have walked where Jesus walked, looked out over the Jordan Valley as Moses did from Mount Nebo, sat at the same table used by Lawrence of Arabia. I have been hosted by King Hussein of Jordan, and had servants kneel at my feet and call me “Master.” (In China he was awarded an Honorary Doctoral Degree)
Still, even with the faults of the United States Government and the loss of patriotism I knew as a child, there is no place I would rather be than America. I treasure my citizenship.
Heart and Warm Water with Meals
Good information about preventing heart attacks. Not only about the warm water after your meal, but about heart attacks. The Chinese and Japanese drink hot tea with their meals, not cold water, maybe it is time we adopt their drinking habit while eating.
For those who like to drink cold water, this article is applicable to you. It is nice to have a cup of cold drink after a meal. However, the cold water will solidify the oily stuff that you have just consumed. It will slow down the digestion. Once this "sludge" reacts with the acid, it will break down and be absorbed by the intestine faster than the solid food. It will line the intestine. Very soon, this will turn into fats and lead to cancer. It is best to drink hot soup or warm water after a meal.
A serious note about heart attacks - You should know that not every heart attack symptom is going to be the left arm hurting. Be aware of intense pain in the jaw line.
You may never have the first chest pain during the course of a heart attack. Nausea and intense sweating are also common symptoms. 60% of people who have a heart attack while they are asleep do not wake up. Pain in the jaw can wake you from a sound sleep. Let's be careful and be aware. The more we know, the better chance we could survive.
A cardiologist says if everyone who reads this message sends it to 10 people, you can be sure that we'll save at least one life. Read this & Send to a friend. It could save a life. So, please be a true friend and send this article to all your friends you care about.
For those who like to drink cold water, this article is applicable to you. It is nice to have a cup of cold drink after a meal. However, the cold water will solidify the oily stuff that you have just consumed. It will slow down the digestion. Once this "sludge" reacts with the acid, it will break down and be absorbed by the intestine faster than the solid food. It will line the intestine. Very soon, this will turn into fats and lead to cancer. It is best to drink hot soup or warm water after a meal.
A serious note about heart attacks - You should know that not every heart attack symptom is going to be the left arm hurting. Be aware of intense pain in the jaw line.
You may never have the first chest pain during the course of a heart attack. Nausea and intense sweating are also common symptoms. 60% of people who have a heart attack while they are asleep do not wake up. Pain in the jaw can wake you from a sound sleep. Let's be careful and be aware. The more we know, the better chance we could survive.
A cardiologist says if everyone who reads this message sends it to 10 people, you can be sure that we'll save at least one life. Read this & Send to a friend. It could save a life. So, please be a true friend and send this article to all your friends you care about.
Saturday, July 2, 2011
My comment
Congratulations Heather. You truly are a miraculous survivor. My first husband died of mesothelioma when we were expecting our fourth baby. May God bless you in all that you do. I am also a survivor of liver cancer.
Treatment for Pleural Mesotheliona
Alternative Approach to My Cancer Care
By: Heather Von St. James, This is a guest post
Every cancer patient and survivor I know, has their life divided into two distinct parts. The life before cancer, and the life after the diagnosis... My life forever changed on November 21st, 2005 when I was given a pleural mesothelioma diagnosis, just 3 1/2 months after the birth of my first and only child.
Just what IS pleural mesothelioma? It is a rare cancer of the lining of the lung that is particularly brutal with a typical mesothelioma life expectancy of only a few months after diagnosis. Mesothelioma is almost always associated with asbestos exposure.
I am one of the lucky ones, I have survived 5 1/2 years since I chose to do an extreme surgery called an extra pleural Pneumonectomy. What this surgery consists of is removing the tumor, the entire left lung and all surrounding tissue! Including the diaphragm, and lining of the heart, which was replaced with surgical gore-Tex and also the removal of my 6th rib. During the surgery I had a heated chemo wash, to further ensure the destruction of any cancer cells.
When one is given a cancer diagnosis, something strange happens, you will do what ever it takes to get rid of it, and also do anything to feel better. With all of the chemical warfare going on inside of my body, I felt compelled to seek out alternative therapies that would not interfere with the chemotherapy. I knew I had to do the chemo and radiation but also knew there were other things I could do to make the journey easier. I sought out various forms of healing work, Reiki, Energy work, good old fashioned prayer with my pastor, and also when I started feeling better, I started yoga. As luck would have it my sister, who was my caregiver directly after surgery, is also a Reiki master and would do daily sessions of Reiki on me which helped me relax, and helped me sleep, when I went home to MN and she home to OR, we made "Reiki Dates" where I would call her, and over the phone she would even perform Reiki. And it had the same result! I sought out prayer with my pastor, as much for mental and physical reasons as spiritual. My faith in God and his healing is a big part of my journey, many prayer sessions were had, and each one grounded me in my faith and my resolve to beat this disease. The energy work and yoga go hand in hand with the other therapies, all about calming the mind, strengthening the body and spirit.
I believe that these approaches along with the traditional medicine prescribed have really helped me, not only LIVE, but THRIVE.
By: Heather Von St. James, This is a guest post
Every cancer patient and survivor I know, has their life divided into two distinct parts. The life before cancer, and the life after the diagnosis... My life forever changed on November 21st, 2005 when I was given a pleural mesothelioma diagnosis, just 3 1/2 months after the birth of my first and only child.
Just what IS pleural mesothelioma? It is a rare cancer of the lining of the lung that is particularly brutal with a typical mesothelioma life expectancy of only a few months after diagnosis. Mesothelioma is almost always associated with asbestos exposure.
I am one of the lucky ones, I have survived 5 1/2 years since I chose to do an extreme surgery called an extra pleural Pneumonectomy. What this surgery consists of is removing the tumor, the entire left lung and all surrounding tissue! Including the diaphragm, and lining of the heart, which was replaced with surgical gore-Tex and also the removal of my 6th rib. During the surgery I had a heated chemo wash, to further ensure the destruction of any cancer cells.
When one is given a cancer diagnosis, something strange happens, you will do what ever it takes to get rid of it, and also do anything to feel better. With all of the chemical warfare going on inside of my body, I felt compelled to seek out alternative therapies that would not interfere with the chemotherapy. I knew I had to do the chemo and radiation but also knew there were other things I could do to make the journey easier. I sought out various forms of healing work, Reiki, Energy work, good old fashioned prayer with my pastor, and also when I started feeling better, I started yoga. As luck would have it my sister, who was my caregiver directly after surgery, is also a Reiki master and would do daily sessions of Reiki on me which helped me relax, and helped me sleep, when I went home to MN and she home to OR, we made "Reiki Dates" where I would call her, and over the phone she would even perform Reiki. And it had the same result! I sought out prayer with my pastor, as much for mental and physical reasons as spiritual. My faith in God and his healing is a big part of my journey, many prayer sessions were had, and each one grounded me in my faith and my resolve to beat this disease. The energy work and yoga go hand in hand with the other therapies, all about calming the mind, strengthening the body and spirit.
I believe that these approaches along with the traditional medicine prescribed have really helped me, not only LIVE, but THRIVE.
Friday, June 24, 2011
Clinical Hypnosis
The other day I did clinical hypnosis for weight loss with a young mother of two pre-schoolers. She fell asleep because she was so exhausted.
Clinical hypnosis is just like guided imagery and you can do self hypnosis for weight loss. Sometimes you can download free weight loss hypnosis scripts and record them so that you can listen to them anytime you want. If you have questions or comments, email me at pattyb2heal@yahoo.com
Clinical hypnosis is just like guided imagery and you can do self hypnosis for weight loss. Sometimes you can download free weight loss hypnosis scripts and record them so that you can listen to them anytime you want. If you have questions or comments, email me at pattyb2heal@yahoo.com
What to do if you are depressed.
Raise Serotonin Levels by exercising, smiling, and laughing.
Say “Cheese,” use your smile muscles. The brain can’t tell the difference between a real smile and a phony smile. Smiling and laughing both raise serotonin levels.
Walk in the sunshine or on a cloudy day get a sun tan.
Exercise-walk, swim, dance, jog, biking, jump on a mini trampoline, do Thai Chi or yoga.
Help Eliminate Depression by:
Expressing Gratitude. Write down five things you are grateful for each day.
Helping Others
Positive Affirmations: download at www.healingyourspirit.com.
Journaling: Write down your feelings and write about the things that are causing you stress or depression. Consider rewriting your situation as you would like it to be.
Books: Defeating Depression & Beating the Blues (available at the library) The Attitude of Gratitude
For every problem under the sun,
There is a remedy or there is none.
If there be one hurry and find it—
If there be none, never mind it.
“If we realize that what we think about becomes our reality, we become very careful about what we think about.” Wayne Dyer
You cannot keep the birds of sadness
From flying over your head
But you can keep them from
Nesting in your hair.
Say “Cheese,” use your smile muscles. The brain can’t tell the difference between a real smile and a phony smile. Smiling and laughing both raise serotonin levels.
Walk in the sunshine or on a cloudy day get a sun tan.
Exercise-walk, swim, dance, jog, biking, jump on a mini trampoline, do Thai Chi or yoga.
Help Eliminate Depression by:
Expressing Gratitude. Write down five things you are grateful for each day.
Helping Others
Positive Affirmations: download at www.healingyourspirit.com.
Journaling: Write down your feelings and write about the things that are causing you stress or depression. Consider rewriting your situation as you would like it to be.
Books: Defeating Depression & Beating the Blues (available at the library) The Attitude of Gratitude
For every problem under the sun,
There is a remedy or there is none.
If there be one hurry and find it—
If there be none, never mind it.
“If we realize that what we think about becomes our reality, we become very careful about what we think about.” Wayne Dyer
You cannot keep the birds of sadness
From flying over your head
But you can keep them from
Nesting in your hair.
Monday, April 25, 2011
Mother Nature kisses the Earth
Life is what happens while you are having a pity party. Eagles soar, tulips bloom, rainbows radiate colors, babes are born, birds hatch eggs. couples become engaged, women window shop, doctors save lives, miracles happen, people sing in church, children pray, choirs praise our Lord, mother's wipe tears, a toddler's first steps, the poor are fed, hearts are filled with love, mother nature kisses the earth, streams ripple over rocks, and ocean waves glide across white sands. With so much going on, is there really time to have a pity party?
Monday, April 11, 2011
How Sugar Affects Behavior
How Sugar Affects Behavior (from "Little Sugar Addicts)
How do you know if your child is sugar sensitive? "I've never known parents who didn't know," chuckles DesMaisons. "Usually the kids really, really want sweet stuff. They don't want to eat protein—they only want to eat sweets." This is particularly acute during snack times. "The most critical issue for children is when their blood sugar drops," DesMaisons points out. "If your child is being horrible and you give them something sweet, and they are immediately nice—they are sugar sensitive."
In her book Little Sugar Addicts, DesMaisons suggests looking at your child's behavior, health, and emotional state: Does your child ask for sweet foods all the time? Have unexpected meltdowns that end in tantrums or tears? Is she impulsive, wildly dramatic or goofy, restless, or known as a motor mouth? Does she have a hard time paying attention or lock in on a task and then forget to do anything else? Look at your child's health too. Does she have a lot of allergies or persistent ear infections? Is she overweight? And what is her general mood? Does she cry easily and frequently? Is she moody or does she exhibit a low self-esteem?
All of these traits may sound like normal childhood behavior—for parents of toddlers this may simply seem like everyday life! But, "the terrible twos are a myth," says DesMaisons, stating the behavior can be a direct result of diet. "Mood swings, inability to concentrate, temper tantrums, and the most significant—low self-esteem are all the affects of too much sugar in your child's diet."
Your little one's body doesn't handle or process sugar the same way as an adult. In fact, you may be surprised at just how acutely different a child's body responds to even a seemingly small amount of sugar. For example, look at one can of soda. "If you have an adult who drinks a 12-ounce can of soda (40 grams of sugar)," explains DesMaisons, "they are having one gram of sugar per four pounds of body weight. But, if you give a can of soda to a 40-pound child, the dose relationship is very different. For a child that is the equivalent of four cans or a six pack."
How Sugar Impacts Kids
What does sugar do to kids? The effects are threefold and involve three inter-dependent aspects of their brains and bodies: blood sugar, and serotonin and beta-endorphin levels.
When we eat carbohydrates, such as sugars and starches, our blood sugar rises and our bodies release insulin. Insulin then helps to fuel the body. But for children who are sugar sensitive, this careful balance of food and fuel is disrupted. Blood sugar rises more quickly and reaches higher levels than normal. As result, a greater amount of insulin is released, and sugar is absorbed more quickly into our cells. This creates that "sugar high" we've all felt. And it subsequently creates that nasty crash—defined by feelings of exhaustion, spaciness, and irritability.
An important brain chemical affected by sugar is serotonin. "Serotonin is a chemical that quiets the brain," writes DesMaisons. It is what makes us all have that feeling of well-being and peacefulness. When a child has low serotonin levels, she feels out of control, depressed, and overwhelmed. "Sugar sensitive children have lower levels of serotonin than other children," adds DesMaisons. By changing diet, these beneficial levels can be raised, creating more self-confident, in-control children with a much happier outlook on themselves and the world around them.
Beta-endorphins, another brain chemical affected by sugar, are what DesMaisons calls, "the brain's own pain killer." Children who are sugar sensitive are much more sensitive towards both physical and emotional pain. Trips to the dentist are far more traumatic, and feelings are hurt far more easily than in children who eat less sugar. But even more importantly, beta-endorphins are strongly associated with self-esteem. Children with normal beta-endorphin levels feel confident and secure. However, children who eat too much sugar, which heightens these levels, then "feel inadequate and unworthy, even if they are smart," once the sugar wears off, writes DesMaisons.
A Seven-Step Solution
Sugar and addiction are strongly linked. "While not deadly like heroin," writes DesMaisons, "sugar similarly affects beta-endorphin. It impacts the same neurochemical system as heroin, although not as intensely." And breaking that addiction can be a long and difficult process. DesMaisons understands that this is a problem faced not just in family's homes, but at school, and in the world at large. She suggests that the best way to approach finding a solution is to first focus on your family and home. Strive to make change there first, then supply your child with the tools to make healthy and smart food choices when she is out of your care.
The first true step is to take a look at your and your spouse's or partner's diet. "I've written four books, and this is the hardest book I've ever done," says DesMaisons of Little Sugar Addicts. "[This] is really about the parents and not the children."
DesMaisons suggests keeping a food journal and becoming aware of your role as nutrition model for your children. She gives the analogy of an oxygen mask on a distressed airplane: In case of an emergency, flight attendants tell us to first administer the oxygen masks to ourselves, then tend to family members or loved ones. This advice applies here as well; assess your own diet and sugar intake before you take steps to improve your child's diet.
DesMaisons lays out seven steps to fight sugar and its effects:
1.Eat breakfast with protein; and do it within the first hour of waking, suggests DesMaisons, to beat a drop in blood sugar. Quinoa and millet are high in protein.
2.Make connections between food and mood. Never reward a child with food—especially sweets.
3.Change snacks and drinks. Children under the age of 18 should eat every three hours to prevent a drop in blood sugar. In addition to good, well-balanced meals, your child should get several high-protein snacks throughout the day.
4. Eat protein lunches. Foods like cottage cheese, almond butter, fish, and nuts are all essentials.
5.Shift to whole grain food. Cut any white flour breads and pastas from your diet.
6.Take out the sugar. ("Notice that taking out sugar is not step one. It is step six," writes DesMaisons.)
How do you know if your child is sugar sensitive? "I've never known parents who didn't know," chuckles DesMaisons. "Usually the kids really, really want sweet stuff. They don't want to eat protein—they only want to eat sweets." This is particularly acute during snack times. "The most critical issue for children is when their blood sugar drops," DesMaisons points out. "If your child is being horrible and you give them something sweet, and they are immediately nice—they are sugar sensitive."
In her book Little Sugar Addicts, DesMaisons suggests looking at your child's behavior, health, and emotional state: Does your child ask for sweet foods all the time? Have unexpected meltdowns that end in tantrums or tears? Is she impulsive, wildly dramatic or goofy, restless, or known as a motor mouth? Does she have a hard time paying attention or lock in on a task and then forget to do anything else? Look at your child's health too. Does she have a lot of allergies or persistent ear infections? Is she overweight? And what is her general mood? Does she cry easily and frequently? Is she moody or does she exhibit a low self-esteem?
All of these traits may sound like normal childhood behavior—for parents of toddlers this may simply seem like everyday life! But, "the terrible twos are a myth," says DesMaisons, stating the behavior can be a direct result of diet. "Mood swings, inability to concentrate, temper tantrums, and the most significant—low self-esteem are all the affects of too much sugar in your child's diet."
Your little one's body doesn't handle or process sugar the same way as an adult. In fact, you may be surprised at just how acutely different a child's body responds to even a seemingly small amount of sugar. For example, look at one can of soda. "If you have an adult who drinks a 12-ounce can of soda (40 grams of sugar)," explains DesMaisons, "they are having one gram of sugar per four pounds of body weight. But, if you give a can of soda to a 40-pound child, the dose relationship is very different. For a child that is the equivalent of four cans or a six pack."
How Sugar Impacts Kids
What does sugar do to kids? The effects are threefold and involve three inter-dependent aspects of their brains and bodies: blood sugar, and serotonin and beta-endorphin levels.
When we eat carbohydrates, such as sugars and starches, our blood sugar rises and our bodies release insulin. Insulin then helps to fuel the body. But for children who are sugar sensitive, this careful balance of food and fuel is disrupted. Blood sugar rises more quickly and reaches higher levels than normal. As result, a greater amount of insulin is released, and sugar is absorbed more quickly into our cells. This creates that "sugar high" we've all felt. And it subsequently creates that nasty crash—defined by feelings of exhaustion, spaciness, and irritability.
An important brain chemical affected by sugar is serotonin. "Serotonin is a chemical that quiets the brain," writes DesMaisons. It is what makes us all have that feeling of well-being and peacefulness. When a child has low serotonin levels, she feels out of control, depressed, and overwhelmed. "Sugar sensitive children have lower levels of serotonin than other children," adds DesMaisons. By changing diet, these beneficial levels can be raised, creating more self-confident, in-control children with a much happier outlook on themselves and the world around them.
Beta-endorphins, another brain chemical affected by sugar, are what DesMaisons calls, "the brain's own pain killer." Children who are sugar sensitive are much more sensitive towards both physical and emotional pain. Trips to the dentist are far more traumatic, and feelings are hurt far more easily than in children who eat less sugar. But even more importantly, beta-endorphins are strongly associated with self-esteem. Children with normal beta-endorphin levels feel confident and secure. However, children who eat too much sugar, which heightens these levels, then "feel inadequate and unworthy, even if they are smart," once the sugar wears off, writes DesMaisons.
A Seven-Step Solution
Sugar and addiction are strongly linked. "While not deadly like heroin," writes DesMaisons, "sugar similarly affects beta-endorphin. It impacts the same neurochemical system as heroin, although not as intensely." And breaking that addiction can be a long and difficult process. DesMaisons understands that this is a problem faced not just in family's homes, but at school, and in the world at large. She suggests that the best way to approach finding a solution is to first focus on your family and home. Strive to make change there first, then supply your child with the tools to make healthy and smart food choices when she is out of your care.
The first true step is to take a look at your and your spouse's or partner's diet. "I've written four books, and this is the hardest book I've ever done," says DesMaisons of Little Sugar Addicts. "[This] is really about the parents and not the children."
DesMaisons suggests keeping a food journal and becoming aware of your role as nutrition model for your children. She gives the analogy of an oxygen mask on a distressed airplane: In case of an emergency, flight attendants tell us to first administer the oxygen masks to ourselves, then tend to family members or loved ones. This advice applies here as well; assess your own diet and sugar intake before you take steps to improve your child's diet.
DesMaisons lays out seven steps to fight sugar and its effects:
1.Eat breakfast with protein; and do it within the first hour of waking, suggests DesMaisons, to beat a drop in blood sugar. Quinoa and millet are high in protein.
2.Make connections between food and mood. Never reward a child with food—especially sweets.
3.Change snacks and drinks. Children under the age of 18 should eat every three hours to prevent a drop in blood sugar. In addition to good, well-balanced meals, your child should get several high-protein snacks throughout the day.
4. Eat protein lunches. Foods like cottage cheese, almond butter, fish, and nuts are all essentials.
5.Shift to whole grain food. Cut any white flour breads and pastas from your diet.
6.Take out the sugar. ("Notice that taking out sugar is not step one. It is step six," writes DesMaisons.)
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Ovarian Cysts, Fibroid Tumors and Turmeric
Ovarian cysts and fibroid tumors often involve blood stagnation, according to Paul Pitchford, author of "Healing with Whole Foods." Turmeric in the diet helps dissolve these growths. Since the ovaries and uterus are not a well-circulated area and growths there resist treatment, a concoction of turmeric, licorice root, and cinnamon bark can help speed up the reabsorption of these growths.
Avoid all sugars, red meat, fatty acids and white flour.
Foods and spices which disperse stagnant blood are turmeric, chives, garlic, basil, peach seed, leeks, ginger or ginger tea, Rosemary, nutmeg and aduki beans.
Avoid all sugars, red meat, fatty acids and white flour.
Foods and spices which disperse stagnant blood are turmeric, chives, garlic, basil, peach seed, leeks, ginger or ginger tea, Rosemary, nutmeg and aduki beans.
Raditaion Concerns? Foods that Counteract Radiation
According to Paul Pitchford in his book, "Heaing with Whole Foods," buckwheat contains the glucoside rutin, which protoects against the effects of radiation. Apples and fresh sunflower seeds contain pectin which bind radioactive residues and removes them from the body. Bentonite clay and lecithin also have this action. Lecithin dosage is 1 teaspoon daily. Barley grass is also helpful.
External treatment in any type of radiation exposure is a bath of one pound sea salt and one pound of baking soda. If there is serious radiation exposure, use this bath three times a week for a month.
External treatment in any type of radiation exposure is a bath of one pound sea salt and one pound of baking soda. If there is serious radiation exposure, use this bath three times a week for a month.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Grandparents Visitation
I received this email this morning from a grandmother of a move-away-mom.
"My son is heart broken. His ex-wife took the kids and moved to another state. When my son phones and tries to talk to his son my grandson says, "I'm lost, I'm lost". It rips my son's heart out."
For a while my son and grandson lived with us. As I walk through my home and see the puzzles, the books, and the toys that Mathew used to play with, I cry. I wonder when and if I will see him again. I miss him and his exuberant energy.
While in the grocery store the other day I was startled to see a little boy who looked like Mathew and I started to cry.
"My son is heart broken. His ex-wife took the kids and moved to another state. When my son phones and tries to talk to his son my grandson says, "I'm lost, I'm lost". It rips my son's heart out."
For a while my son and grandson lived with us. As I walk through my home and see the puzzles, the books, and the toys that Mathew used to play with, I cry. I wonder when and if I will see him again. I miss him and his exuberant energy.
While in the grocery store the other day I was startled to see a little boy who looked like Mathew and I started to cry.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Signs and Symptoms of Bone Loss
Dr. Susan E. Brown, author of "Better Bones, Better Body" lists six signs and symmptoms of bone loss.
1.Receding gums. Receding gums are quite common and can be attributed to a variety of factors, one of which is bone loss. Our teeth are connected to the jaw bone and if the jaw is losing bone, gums can recede. Vitamin D 3 can help reverse bone loss.
2. Decreased grip strength. This can be improved. Check out her article on exercise and bone health on the "Woman to Woman" site.
3.Weak and brittle fingernails.
4.Cramps, muscle aches, and bone pain.Cramps can be caused by a number of things. but leg and foot cramps that occur at night are often a signal that your calcium, magnesium, and/or potassium blood levels have dropped too low during the night. If this situation were to persist over time, excessive bone loss could occur. At the Center for Better Bones, I recommend that women experiencing nocturnal calf and foot cramps take their calcium–magnesium supplements closer to bedtime.
5.Height loss.
6.Low overall fitness. Osteoporosis has been linked to overall decline in physical fitness, as measured by aerobic capacity, muscle strength, and even balance. If your general fitness declines, it is likely that bone mass will also decline. Instead of feeling scared or worried by these changes, take the opportunity to put more attention on your personal health and longevity by taking care your bones. Even women who have been sedentary their whole lives can make significant gains, including better physical coordination, when they undertake a moderate, self-paced exercise program designed for their needs. And even people in their 80’s and 90’s have the ability to adapt and respond to both endurance and strength training. For ideas, read her article on exercise and bone health.
Strong bones are your fountain of youth
1.Receding gums. Receding gums are quite common and can be attributed to a variety of factors, one of which is bone loss. Our teeth are connected to the jaw bone and if the jaw is losing bone, gums can recede. Vitamin D 3 can help reverse bone loss.
2. Decreased grip strength. This can be improved. Check out her article on exercise and bone health on the "Woman to Woman" site.
3.Weak and brittle fingernails.
4.Cramps, muscle aches, and bone pain.Cramps can be caused by a number of things. but leg and foot cramps that occur at night are often a signal that your calcium, magnesium, and/or potassium blood levels have dropped too low during the night. If this situation were to persist over time, excessive bone loss could occur. At the Center for Better Bones, I recommend that women experiencing nocturnal calf and foot cramps take their calcium–magnesium supplements closer to bedtime.
5.Height loss.
6.Low overall fitness. Osteoporosis has been linked to overall decline in physical fitness, as measured by aerobic capacity, muscle strength, and even balance. If your general fitness declines, it is likely that bone mass will also decline. Instead of feeling scared or worried by these changes, take the opportunity to put more attention on your personal health and longevity by taking care your bones. Even women who have been sedentary their whole lives can make significant gains, including better physical coordination, when they undertake a moderate, self-paced exercise program designed for their needs. And even people in their 80’s and 90’s have the ability to adapt and respond to both endurance and strength training. For ideas, read her article on exercise and bone health.
Strong bones are your fountain of youth
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