fullsizeoutput_14fcc.jpegOkay, my beautiful friends, I have a challenge for you. If I told you that you could eliminate one ingredient that would make a huge, impactful difference in your health, would you do it???

It’s an ingredient that represents nutritionally-vacuous, prepared foods. It’s usually used in combination with other poor quality ingredients like artificial flavors, artificial colors, genetically modified grains, and other disease causing fats and devastating chemicals.

It mysteriously began appearing on market place shelves in the 1970’s. And then in 1984, Coca-cola and PepsiCo, made a radical announcement that they were going to be using this new substance in all of their beverage production. I remember a verbal scuffle about it at my grandparent’s home in Boston around then. My 85 year old Grandpa asked Nonna if she would pick up his “tonic” when she went to the grocery. Bostonians refer to tonic as anything that bubbles, it could be cola, orange soda, ginger ale, etc, and it was a staple in their home. But this time, she refused, stating that those companies were using it to poison us. I thought that seemed very dramatic back then and especially from her. Little did we know what was going to happen to the health of our country, but looking back, it seemed that she had a foreboding about it’s use. It’s been misrepresented for decades and is one of the leading causes of obesity, diabetes, liver failure, heart disease, and cancer. It’s been implicated in leaky gut and autoimmune diseases as well.

Any guesses??

One more clue: Advertisers and marketing experts have spent millions and millions trying to convince us that it’s just “corn sugar”, but their omission is misleading and deadly.

I’m sure by now, you’ve figured out that this body burdening chemical is High Fructose Corn Syrup or HFCS. It’s use increased more than 1000{b85f92d41f32e11536dd913cce40b22a86049444ce8ae72eb2006c7822b53637} from 1970 to 2010! Whoa!! Let’s put this another way: In 1970, Americans consumed an average of 1/4 pound of HFCS per year compared to 81.3 pounds per person per year by 2010. During that time period, obesity rates have more than tripled and diabetes incidence has increased more than seven fold. Maybe Nonna was right. With those statistics, wouldn’t you think it would be beneficial to know what HFCS actually is and what kind of impact it’s having on our lives??

Let’s start with why it appeared in the market. Money. It was cheaper to manufacture than cane sugar and mixed well with other liquids, like soda, in cake and bread mixtures and in processed foods, so without much in the way of testing, and lots of “proprietary methods” that prevented full disclosure, this product was launched into our markets and our bellies as “natural”.

Technically, I suppose that term is correct. It’s slipped in under the “natural” standards set forth by the USDA, but barely. Just because something is natural doesn’t mean it’s good for you. Take poison ivy for instance. Ultimately, high fructose corn syrup is a highly refined product. It goes through a multiple step process as caustic soda and other chemicals, are used to strip the corn to make this sugary syrup. Caustic soda has been linked to mercury contamination, which can then contaminate the high fructose corn syrup, which can then transfer to the foods you are eating. In one study, almost half of the HFCS tested was contaminated. Let’s, also, seriously consider glyphosate - chemical weed-killer - that is used prolifically on these genetically modified crops. The reports are finally being released regarding the relationship between that chemical and cancer, and it’s imperative that you steer clear of it around your home and in your food.

Okay, let’s pretend those issues don’t even matter. So what’s the difference? Isn’t sugar sugar no matter what the form??

No. Even though glucose and fructose are both “simple sugars” that provide 4 calories per gram, the body processes them differently. Glucose is metabolized by several organs, including the brain, liver, muscles, and fat tissue, and has a direct effect on blood sugar and insulin levels. This is the way nature intended. On the other hand, high fructose corn syrup, stripped and processed, is metabolized primarily by the liver, and though it does not have a significant effect on blood sugar or insulin levels, it has been shown to have:

  1. an immediate negative increase in triglycerides, which are fats in the blood, and also inhibit the removal of those triglycerides (see studies: here, here,  here, here, here, and here).

  2. Both human and animal studies show that when adulterated fructose, like corn syrup, is consumed it can lead to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (see studies: here, here, and here),

  3. which can link to endocrine disruption,

  4. decreased insulin sensitivity, and obesity (see studies: here, here, here, here, here, and here),

  5. and increased levels of uric acid causing issues with gout (see studies: here and here).

If we want to know what’s causing a health concern, we need to look at all contributing factors. If we want to adjust the trajectory of our health, we need to change what we’re eating. It’s as simple, and un-profound as that!

What do you think? Are you willing to take a 28 day challenge - read all your labels, avoid processed, and pre-pared foods, and HFCS soft drinks?? I highly encourage it, but you get to decide if your wellness is worth it.

Before you begin, however, please beware of imposters, disguises, and new languaging labels  for HFCS such as:

  1. Maize syrup

  2. Glucose syrup

  3. Fructose syrup

  4. Tapioca syrup

  5. Fruit fructose

  6. Crystalline fructose

  7. Corn sugar

  8. Fructose

Oh, wait, does fructose mean we shouldn’t eat fruit? Absolutely not!! The fiber found in fruits slows down the absorption of sugar, causing minimal spike. Your body was created to utilize and metabolize these nutrient dense sweet treats! Enjoy them abundantly.

Okay. That’s it. Soooo???? Who’s in???

There’s power in community! Let’s do this together!

For additional health strategies and solutions, please join us in our a Living Well Life community.

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We're all friends here, so you can be honest. Do you suffer from any of these symptoms? Or do you know someone that does??

Sound familiar?? Tired of struggling?? In this day and age, everything from our food, to our cleaning supplies, to our environment and our water are ladened with estrogen-promoting elements. Estrogen dominance is very common in women men. Knowing the signs and symptoms of this condition is imperative, and if you want to take action to resolve the issues, read on.

The following steps can help restore healthy hormonal balance within the body:

Step 1: Eliminate Xenoestrogens
We are constantly being exposed to various chemicals throughout our homes, offices, and even the outdoor environment - playgrounds, golf courses, and soccer fields are polluted with herbicides and pesticides. Most of these chemical contribute to endocrine disruption, but one of them is “xenoestrogenic” which mimics estrogen in the body creating many of the symptoms listed above. These products are the top offenders and should be avoided whenever possible. Our Living Well List of Toxin-free Alternatives will help you find replacements for many of the items below, but please feel free to message me for information or with questions that you may have about other products not on this list. Start by avoiding and/or replacing the following top offenders:

Step 2: Efficient Elimination
This step is essential as it will ensure the removal of excess estrogen, and prevent its re-entrance into the bloodstream in the case of chronic constipation, or a congested liver. Therefore, make sure you are having daily bowel movements,. If you are not, please choose from the following list and include as many as needed to have one to two bowel movements daily:

Step 3: Improve Liver Health & Estrogen Detoxification
Excess estrogen is stored in the liver. In the first stage, the liver traps harmful estrogen and converts it into a milder, weaker form of estrogen. In the second stage, it converts it into a water-soluble form, so it can be eliminated through the stool or urine. Our livers become congested due to poor dietary habits, processed foods, prescription and recreational drugs, alcohol, and toxic chemicals in the environment, so the excess estrogen gets "stuck". Supporting the liver and it’s 2,000 functions, including elimination of excess estrogen and other hormones, is essential. To support detoxification of the liver:

Releasing stored estrogen and creating a healthier environment that promotes daily detoxification, smart choices, and optimal liver function is essential for endocrine system balance. As the hormones reset a happier, healthier body, mind and spirit will result!

As always, let us know if we can help you on your Living Well journey! For more information on this and other health topics, please join us in a Living Well Life.

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Imagine you are holding a cup of coffee when someone comes along and bumps into you, making you spill your coffee everywhere.

Why did you spill the coffee?

"Well because someone bumped into me, of course!"

Nope.

You spilled the coffee because there was coffee in your cup.

If it was tea in the cup, you would have spilled tea.

Whatever is inside the cup is what will spill out.

Therefore, when life comes along and shakes you, which WILL happen, whatever is inside you will come out. It's easy to fake it, I’ve done it myself, until you get rattled and then you lose that filter and that self-control.

So we have to ask ourselves... “what's in my cup?"

When life gets tough, what spills over?

Joy, gratefulness, peace and humility?

Or anger, bitterness, harsh words and reactions?

You get to choose!

Each and every day, let's fill our cups with gratitude, forgiveness, joy, words of affirmation; and kindness, gentleness and love for others. We NEED more of that, our families, partnerships, and communities need more of that.

Then let yourself get jostled, and bumped, and tipped, and watch how you change the world!

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At Thanksgiving time, one of my greatest joys is planning and preparing a feast for our family. Inevitably as I unload my overflowing cart while checking out at the grocery store, the cashier looks at me with a semi-scowl, and says, “Ohhhh, you have to cook the meal?” The first time it happened, many years ago, I was stunned. I tipped my head and said with a smile, “No, I don’t have to, I get to! It’s an honor and a joy for my husband and I to be surrounded by our family, filled with gratefulness and good food!” This cashier tipped her head back at me, confused, then lifted her eyebrows, and said, “I like that.”

Different versions of this same scenario manifest throughout the days, weeks and years. Statements like, “You HAVE to go to the office?” Heck no! I GET to go to the office, where I can love and serve people with the purpose and passion that God instilled in me.

This one is popular, “Yuck, you have to go to the dentist?” No way! I love my teeth and I GET to go to the dentist where she makes sure they are healthy and strong!

Ever heard this one?? “I HAVE to do laundry.“ No, you don’t, but if you want clean clothes for yourself and your family, you GET to! Or you can hire yourself an “Alice” and never HAVE to do it again! 🙂

Here’s another: “Ewwww, you have to pay bills?” Nope, I’m grateful for the resources needed to GET to pay them! If you don’t like paying bills now, train yourself to be blessed every time a check goes in the mail and be thankful that you have the money to pay it. Resentfulness will breed bitterness. And bitterness will cause negativity to fester and permeate your life. As the child of a generous and abundant God, I have no room for that nonsense!

So if you find yourself with a list of “have-to’s”, there are a couple of choices:

1. Either change the way you think about what you GET to do, or

2. Change what you’re doing!

It’s really that simple. Each moment of your life is a gift that you GET to live. Your perspective creates the difference between obligation and privilege!

You GET to choose, but just remember, the JOY is in the get-to!

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Continuing our cancer prevention and education campaign, let’s talk about how what we put in us, body, mind and spirit, either helps us or harms us….

Studies are proving that only 5-1 of breast cancer cases are genetic. That means that the other 90-95 is due to personal choices and environmental toxicities, which puts you back in control. Just think!! By changing your diet and lifestyle, you could reduce your lifetime risk of developing breast cancer by 95. WOW!!! Prevention is so much more effective in overall well-being. By being proactive, and doing the things that you would do to “treat” cancer, hopefully you will avoid it entirely.

I see so many people in our office that are trying to overcome illness and disease. A very small percent, maybe 5, come in because they want to avoid illness and disease. They would like to create a prevention-based lifestyle, and they want to learn and know what to do live their best lives. This is most definitely a conscious decision that they make. They know that means changing their habits, their diets, and their emotional energy. Maybe they’ve watched a loved one suffer, or experienced a health scare of their own, but whatever the case, they have determined the value of better health, doing what’s necessary to gain it and keep it, is worth the effort.

There are some basic guidelines. We know to reduce the risk of cancer we need to increase the effectiveness of our immune system, as well as reduce inflammation, balance gut bioses, enhance antioxidant activity, optimize circulation, and control blood sugar. Following are some ways to rebalance your inner system with those elements in mind:

1. Have your spine evaluated for subluxation. In 1975, Ronald Pero, Ph.D., chief of cancer prevention research at New York's Preventive Medicine Institute and professor in Environmental Health at New York University, began researching the most scientifically valid ways to estimate individual susceptibility to various chronic diseases. He has conducted a tremendous amount of research in this area that includes over 160 published reports in peer reviewed journals. Pero's team measured 107 individuals who had received long-term Chiropractic care. The chiropractic patients were shown to have a 200 greater immune competence than people who had not received chiropractic care, and a 400 greater immune competence than people with cancer or serious diseases. Interestingly, Pero found no decline with the various age groups in the study demonstrating that the DNA repairing enzymes were just as present in long-term chiropractic senior groups as they were in the younger groups. Pero concluded, 'Chiropractic may optimize whatever genetic abilities you have so that you can fully resist serious disease...I have never seen a group other than this show a 200 increase over normal patients.' #getchecked

2. Clear your mind and energy field of negative emotions. Practice forgiveness. Turn off the news. Listen to classical music. Keep a “junk journal”. This is something that Lily shared with me recently. Write down all the worthless thoughts that pop into your mind and at the end of the day, release them by burning the page or shredding it. If you feel like these negative energies are trapped, seek a qualified Body Code practitioner to help identify and release those emotions that are stuck, and while you’re at it, make sure that you do not have a heart wall. A heart wall is layers of emotional baggage that is preventing you from giving and receiving pure love. These heart walls prevent strengthening of relationships with other people and also with our Creator. They hold us back from being the human beings that we were created to be. Studies have shown that our thoughts can make epigenetic changes in a nano-second, so think healthy thoughts. Please. Thank you. I love you.

3. Choose eating plans with a heavy emphasis on organic, non-gmo fruits and vegetables. All plant foods contain phyto-nutrients that aid healing. Along with those food groups, herbs also have properties that protect against and inhibit the proliferation of cancer while strengthening, cleansing and repairing the body. These include green leafy vegetables, cruciferous vegetables, like broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, sea vegetables, like kelp and dulse, fruits, especially berries and dark grapes with seeds and skins, garlic, ginger, turmeric and green tea, among many others. A diet containing an abundance of organic plant foods, approximately 80, provides layers of nutritional protection. Using herbs and spices like rosemary, oregano, cayenne, curry, basil, cilantro and black pepper are also highly beneficial for optimizing health.

4. Being stressed is distress for your body. We are ALL affected by it including younger and younger children as they manage the stress of school, youth activities, peers, their environment and the residual stress that they feel from their parents. There are so many new opportunities and innovative ways to “do life”! To gain peace in your world, open your mind to the possibilities. Be diligent and aggressive at making choices that maximize balance in your day-to-day lifestyle. This was the conclusion from a study done in 2010 and published in Future Oncol’s December edition. “In modern lifestyle societies, chronic stress has been associated with the pathogenesis of many diseases, including cancer. Chronic stress results in the activation of specific signaling pathways in cancer cells and the tumor microenvironment, leading to tumor growth and progression. Elucidation of these pathways is essential for the development of novel approaches to block the deleterious effects of stress biology on cancer growth and metastasis.” Go to your happy place as often as possible! https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3037818/

5. Supplement your well-balanced food plan with nutrients known to reduce inflammation, spark vitality, and increase immune function. Supplements are, well, supplements! They can not take the place of a nutrient-rich diet, but they can help accelerate health and well-being! I am a proponent of on-going elimination of stealth pathogens. These viral, bacterial, and fungal bad guys are sneaky, and so we must be diligent in our attack. We recommend cycling, or pulse dosing, several herbal heavy-hitters, like Echinacea, Thuja, Neem, Cat’s Claw, and Artemisia, and depending on the client and their circumstances, we may also recommend Lemon Balm, Burdock and Sanicle. If you do energy testing, you can check yourself to see which combination is right for you. We also advocate the use of L-lysine, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, balanced ratio of Omega-3 & 6, Iodine, and B-12 in doses that are appropriate for balancing the body. There are also several protocols designed to attack irregular cells to increase wellness. They are more complex, but if this is something that you need more information about, please let us know.

6. Optimize gut function with probiotics and fermented foods, like sauerkraut, organic pickles, kombucha, beet kvass, kefir to balance viral biome, fungus biome, and bacterial biome. The gut is the storage facility for your immune system. It’s where huge colonies of cancer-fighters can proliferate and be on the defensive for pathogenic invaders. Feed them well.

7. Activate your lymphatic system by moving your body! One of the funnest and most effective ways to get lymph fluid flowing is by using a rebounder, aka mini-trampoline. You can be as gentle or aggressive as you’d like, but I recommend getting one with a handlebar if that’s the case! 🙂 Walking 30 minutes a day is just as effective. There was an impressive study released recently that concluded that walking 30 minutes a day could reduce the recurrence of breast cancer by 50!

8. Connect to your Creator! Nurture that relationship. Read about how much He adores you. Find out about the special purpose that you were created for in the love letter that He wrote to you! Allow this gratitude to fill you up to overflowing until you are blessing everyone around you with a word of encouragement or a simple smile! This will reset your soul and allow your spirit to discern the necessary steps to take on your journey to your living well life.

9. Focusing on all the glorious things that we can do to promote health should keep us busy being well, but I wanted to touch on some important things to AVOID when building up your wellness muscles! 1) All processed foods, which includes ALL PROCESSED FOODS: “The term processed food is any food that has been purposely changed in some way prior to consumption. It includes food that has been cooked, canned, frozen, packaged or changed in nutritional composition with fortifying, or preserving or altering in some way.” 2) Fast food: see previous statement 3) Refined white sugar: feeds cancer cells and other pathogens 4) Smoked meats: processed meats contain high levels of nitrites, sodium, and sugars. Many of these meats are preserved by smoking them, which adds flavor, but also increases exposure to carcinogens. 5) Vaccinations: “This vaccine has not been evaluated for its carcinogenic or mutagenic potentials or impairment of fertility.” This phrase or one similar can be found on just about every vaccine package insert and should be an encouragement to do more research and to evaluate the risk to benefit ratio of being injected. Most vaccines contain carcinogenic substances, such as formaldehyde, mercury, aluminum, and Polysorbate 80, all linked to cancer, neurological issues, and interference with metabolic and cellular processes.

10. One last thing… Avoid overwhelm. Make small shifts that support sustainability of your new lifestyle! Simple steps are steps.

The choices that we would make to treat illness are the same choices that we should be making to prevent cancer and other debilitating diseases. Addressing the nutritional deficiencies by feeding the organs, glands and cells of the body whole foods brings it back into a state of true wellness. You can create your own personalized protocol by listening to the needs of your body, and providing the tools and building blocks that it requires to recreate itself in perfect harmony. These new daily habits will then become a permanent part of your living well life.

If you have questions, please email here. We are here to guide you on your quest for best!

Next up: Carcinogens, endocrine disruptors, industrial chemicals, and heavy metals… What are you putting ON your body?? Follow along here: a Living Well Life.

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We are always on the lookout for health and wellness information for our clients and the members of our private group, a Living Well Life. When something seems illogical or nonsensical, it causes us to ask questions and wonder why. I noticed a significant shift in the number of clients that had high levels of glyphosate on their Zyto reports, so I began a quest to uncover the mystery of these out-of-range scores in people that were leading a toxin-free lifestyle. It became clear, very quickly, that the link was wine… dirty, nasty, toxic wine. I realized just how pervasive this poison had become, so read through and hang on, there’s a solution at the end.

I have some good news and some bad news and then some good news again!

GOOD NEWS: Wine is full of polyphenols, naturally-occurring antioxidants found in many fruits and vegetables, that are created to protect the harvest from fungus, bacteria, and other harsh growing conditions. When you drink the wine, it helps protect you by neutralizing the free radicals that stress your system and cause disease. Natural, organic wines have a diverse variety of polyphenols including resveratrol to lower inflammation, procyanidins to protect cells, and ellagic acid which helps regulate blood sugar. According to a 2007 study from Finland, “wine drinkers have a 34 lower mortality rate than beer or spirits drinkers.”

BAD NEWS: One of the sneakiest and worst chemicals that show up on my clients’ scans is glyphosate, the chemical produced by Monsanto, the same company that manufactured Agent Orange and DDT. We know glyphosate as Round-up. It’s used as a broad spectrum weed-killer and pesticide, and in the USA alone, more than 300 million pounds of this poison are applied to genetically-modified crops annually. Glyphosate herbicides do not dry, wash or cook off and they have been proven to be neurotoxic, carcinogenic, endocrine disruptors and a cause of liver disease at very low levels. Glyphosate is being implicated in cancer, increase in autism spectrum disorder, asthma, food allergies, and auto-immune disease, just to name a few. Genetically modified seeds are the only ones that can withstand this chemical assault, but overuse has created glyphosate-resistant weeds, so conventional farmers have begun applying even more chemicals, like 2,4D, to their fields. You can read more about that chemical here: http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/24Dgen.html

And guess what? U.S. vineyards are one of the most heavily sprayed crops in the world. Because of chemical overuse and the contamination that is throughout our soil, even organic crops test positive for glyphosate. That’s not all though, many vintners also include Mega Purple and Ultra Red coloring agents in their product for enhanced visual appeal, and added sweetness. It’s estimated that 25 million bottles produced annually include these chemicals. Other additives that you should be aware of are:

1. Sawdust is another shortcut to provide tannins and an oaky flavor at a lower cost.

2. Commercial yeast, genetically modified, is another additive that speeds fermentation, but can create a histamine reaction and head pain.

3. Sugar is added during fermentation, and is used to speed the processing time, and increase alcohol content.

4. The FDA has approved 76 different additives for use in winemaking. These include things like metals, toxic chemicals, fish bladders, and more.

Okay, there’s more BAD NEWS: Myclobutanil is an aggressive fungicide that is used in California vineyards. That state accounts for 50 of this toxin used in the entire United States, and 60 of that is used exclusively on wine grapes. The side effects from this toxin include birth defects, infertility, and organ damage. Other negative side effects reported are severe caustic effects or burns, and manifestations might include persistent vomiting, drooling, pain with or inability to swallow, and abdominal pain. Upper airway edema, and severe bronchospasm can also develop. Eye or skin exposure can cause severe irritation and burns. The fungicide can cause narcosis ranging from somnolence to coma. Other reports indicate that Myclobutanil can disrupt metabolic processes such as inducing hypoglycemia, uncoupling oxidative phosphorylation, inducing metabolic acidosis, causing methemoglobinemia, and causing electrolyte abnormalities. I’m sure that is the last thing that you are considering as you are enjoying a glass of wine with friends.

Along with pesticides, herbicides and fungicides, this conglomeration of additives has certainly helped us to solve the food stressor additives and glyphosate mystery in our clients. Sadly, none of these additives need to be disclosed on the label. It’s definitely a buyer beware situation.

GOOD NEWS: There are, in fact, many organic and biodynamically grown crops from small family vintners around the world. That means, even though use of chemicals has risen 26x’s, or 2600, in the last 50 years, these privately owned vineyards do not use them, and are adamantly opposed to them. They are also made without additives like the ones mentioned above. Another benefit to these speciality farms is their ability to experiment with different methods of farming, like dry farming. The vines that are grown on these lands get natural rainfall only, which causes their roots to grow deep, up to 50 feet more than conventional farming, so they are absorbing a multitude of nutrients through the rich soil. Because there is no sugar added, these small batch farms create wines that can be part of a ketogenic diet. Low sugar and carb count is optimal for ideal health. They are also:

1. Low in alcohol, with a maximum of 12.5 alcohol content which provides a more elegant taste, pairs better with food, and allows you to experience the benefits of wine, like improved heart function, and lower insulin response.

2. Low in sulfites. While all wines contain some naturally occurring sulfites, below 75 ppm is optimal. The US average is 350 ppm. The lower the sulfites, the more alive a wine remains.

Natural wines are “hangover free”. They do not cause brain fog, or head pain, and they promote better sleep and a healthier gut biome! Because wine is a living drink, the probiotics that are active will protect your gut from pathogens and reduce inflammation. Enjoying 3-5 glasses per WEEK is ideal. More than that and it will begin to kill off healthy gut flora colonies, cause inflammation, and raise cholesterol. Just like with everything else, moderation is the key.

DITCH! These are the 6 worst chemical offenders:

1. Beringer

2. Sutter Home

3. Yellow Tail

4. Robert Mondavi

5. Gallo

6. Barefoot

I’m sorry, friends. I am not much of a wine drinker, but even those labels are recognizable to me.

SWITCH! This is a short list of natural, organic wines and they are all around or under $25 per bottle:

1. Monte Bernardi

2. Pacific Rim

3. Grgich Hills Estate

4. Annona Montepulciano d’Abruzzo

5. Badger Mountain

6. Domaine des Bacchantes

In case that seems as daunting to you as it did to us, there’s an even simpler solution. Terry and I recently joined Dry Farm Wines for their curated collection of natural wines. We let them take the guesswork out of tracking down the highest quality, best tasting wines in the world. You can read more about them here: https://www.dryfarmwines.com/pages/pennybottle?rfsn=617206.7b163, and if you join their Social Club, you can get a bottle of their finest for just one penny!

And for staying until the end, here are 5 helpful tips to increase your enjoyment of chemical-free, organic wine:

1. Many small lot wines are small production, so, if you love it, buy more.

2. Low in sulfites means fresh. Depending upon the wine, you might want to open it a year or two from the release date.

3. Let it breathe. Many of these wines are young reds and need aeration.

4. Wineries are transparent! If you want to find out just how organic your wine is check out the websites for information about the growing and production practices of the wineries.

5. Curate your own organic wine list. Learn the qualities that you like such as “velvety” and flavors like “blackberry”, then look for those words in other wine descriptions and most likely – you’ll love it.

Cheers to toxin-free living!!

For more vital information for creating a toxin-free lifestyle, in, on and around you, please join us at a Living Well Life!

Early detection for all cancer makes sense. The medical community would like for us to believe that mammograms provide that early detection, but they DO NOT. By the time a mammogram can detect cancer, it has typically been growing, multiplying and duplicating for 7 years. That’s a LONG time. Typically, if it shows up on a mammogram, it’s also detectable in a breast self-exam. Christine Northrup writes, “Studies have shown that by the time a tumor has grown to sufficient size to be detectable by physical examination or mammography, it has in fact been growing for about seven years achieving more than 25 doublings of the malignant cell colony. At 90 days there are two cells, at one year there are 16 cells, and at five years there are 1,048,576 cells–an amount that is still UNDETECTABLE by a mammogram.” That’s definitely not early detection.

And there’s a more sinister side to mammograms. Things that your doctor may or may not know. Mammograms have an unacceptably high rate of false positive diagnosis which leads to unnecessary treatments including chemotherapy, radiation, mastectomy, and other toxic treatments. Realize this too - that because of the stress of the misdiagnosis, many of those women actually get breast cancer within several years. It’s a common day version of the ancient aboriginal bone-pointers, and their rituals which create a psychosomatic response so strong that it causes disease or death. It’s very real, because our minds are very powerful. The psychological effects alone for a woman with a false positive finding were the same after 6 months for women with a diagnosis of breast cancer. So sad. Studies have shown that for every 1 woman out of 2,000 that is saved, 10 women are injured. Really.

Mammograms are “strongly encouraged” after the age of 45 and many doctors are pushing for patients to begin those annual exams before 45, but listen to this: Mammograms produce a considerable and CUMULATIVE amount of radiation exposure, which can stimulate cancer growth and support metastasis - the spread of cancer to other parts of the body. When a woman follows the protocol to have a mammogram performed every six months to a year, she is getting as much radiation as those who were a mile away at Hiroshima! This should help clarify and put it in perspective: Radiation from 1 mammogram is equivalent to 1000 chest x-rays. The very exam that is suppose to “prevent” cancer actually stimulates cancer cells. No matter what anyone says, that is not okay. And another thing… instinctively I believe women have known that pressing the breast tissue into a vise-like grip is dangerous. And they were right. Research is now proving that the “smashing” of breasts in the mammography machine causes mutation of the cells.

You might be saying to yourself, “Hmmmm, I’m reconsidering mammograms, but what can I do?”

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1. Consider scheduling a breast thermography exam. Thermography is a no contact, radiation-FREE, state-of-the-art screening procedure that uses heat detection to locate areas of temperature differences in the body, not just the breast tissue. Most pathological processes demonstrate a form of increased heat, and some neurological processes show excessive cold, or hypothermia. As an example, breast disease can be detected by looking for areas of excessive or increasing heat that may indicate areas of angiogenesis, that's the increase of blood vessels supplied by a growing tumor. This technology detects irregular cells PRIOR to tumor formation, which IS early detection. It measures inflammation throughout the body not just breast tissue giving a better overall picture of a person’s health. If you live in Ohio, there are two centers that we recommend, and if you’d like that information, please email me at lisa@alivingwelllife.com.

2. Research shows that a home breast exam is equally as effective as mammography at detecting growth but without the radiation, so continue doing them. Set a date with yourself in the shower on the 1st day of the month. If you are pre-menopausal, plan on doing the breast self-exam 3 days after your period ends when the breast tissue is less tender and hormones are stabilized. After checking for visual changes, like color and texture, also symmetry, dimpling, bumps or indentations, check for any lumps or thickening in your underarm area using a circular motion. Repeat on the other side. Be sure to check the nipples. Then lay down to repeat the exam. You can use a self-help guide from google, or simply feel for changes in the breast tissue.

3. Studies are proving that only 5-10 of breast cancer is genetic. That means that the other 90-95 is due to personal choices and environmental toxicities, which puts you back in control. By changing your diet and lifestyle, you could reduce your lifetime risk of developing breast cancer by 95. WOW!!! Want to know how, what and why?? Stay tuned. I’ll be posting more information in the next couple of days in our private a Living Well Life group, as we continue our month-long journey into breast cancer prevention. Please join us.

Cancer is serious. As much as we would love to see a cure, or progress in treatment, it’s been slower than most would like. Through our clinical experience, we’ve seen many people die from their disease, and just as many that have died from their treatment. It’s heart-breaking, and we grieve with these families. We’ve also seen many people survive their diagnosis through holistic treatments, conventional treatments, or a combination of both, and we celebrate with grateful hearts these victories.

So as you go forth, please remember that these suggestions are merely that. We fully encourage our patients and clients to ask LOTS of questions, listen to all the recommendations, do their own research, and choose what’s right for them!

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We’ve never donated to a cancer fund. Ever. And it’s not because we are cheap, or that we don’t care. We do care. We care about truth-telling. We care about sharing helpful and relevant information that the pharmaceutical industry and the cancer “awareness” organizations are not talking about. Information that will actually help you prevent cancer. In this day and age, the sad truth is that we are ALL aware and affected by it in one way or another. Who needs more awareness? What we need are people making a difference. People that are risking their lives to find solutions to this devastating disease. I’ll talk about that in a later post, but for today, I want you to understand the premise behind cancer charities, the largest and most recognizable being the Susan G. Komen foundation with their pink ribbons.

The Susan G. Komen fund wants you to believe they are “finding the cure”, but guess what? In 20 years, the number of women that got a diagnosis of breast cancer went from 1 in 20 to 1 in 7. Someone is doing a pretty lousy job of finding that cure. And that’s if they’re really looking to begin with. And guess what else? Those same companies that paint their chicken buckets pink, and adorn their soup cans with ribbons, continue to use saturated fats and MSG known to increase the risk of breast cancer. Their cans are lined with BPA, a known endocrine-disruptor, responsible for changing mammary gland tissue and function because that chemical liner mimics estrogen. Even sugar-laden cupcakes and cookies are pink. If they wanted to make a difference in the cure for cancer, they could start by eliminating the very things that are causing it.

Cancer - all aspects - including treatment is a multi-billion dollar industry. And a substantial part of that income is from mammographies. Peter Gotzche, director of Nordic Cochrane Collaboration, concludes that screening employees are financially motivated. They tend to inflate the benefits and discount the harms to get a new “customer”. What they don’t talk about is that these very screenings may save 1 in 2,000 lives, but harm 10 in the process. What?! Why would we sacrifice 10 for 1???? It makes no sense. It just cannot be justified unless you are gaining financially from the exploitation of these machines and those exams.

Speaking of gaining financially, you can go to the SGK 2009 IRS form 990 to see the breakdown of their financials, including income and expenses. Let’s start with their income. This is taken from research published in Natural News: “The Komen Foundation owns stock in General Electric, one of the largest makers of mammogram machines in the world. It also owns stock in several pharmaceutical companies, including AstraZeneca (now AzkoNobel). AstraZeneca has long been a Komen booster, making educational grants to Komen and having a visible presence at the Race For the Cure. At the 1998 Food and Drug Administration hearings, the Komen Foundation was the only national breast cancer group to endorse the AstraZeneca cancer treatment drug tamoxifen as a prevention device for HEALTHY but high-risk women, despite vehement opposition by most other breast cancer groups because of its links to uterine cancer. The organization’s biggest sponsors are — surprise! — the corporations that profit from cancer through chemotherapy and radiation. To them, Komen for the Cure isn’t really about finding a cure for cancer; it’s about promoting cancer so that they can sell more drugs and radiotherapy that keep more patients locked into a cycle of dependence on toxic cancer treatments.” Does anyone else feel sick when reading these statistics?? As far as expenses, less than 10, a dime for every dollar, goes towards the “cure”, but 90 of the $134,999,587 reported in 2010 went to marketing, fundraising, screenings, treatment, administrative costs, and salaries. It’s disgusting. And maddening. And frustrating. And sad. But now, we know better.

So we do not support the Susan G. Komen for the Cure, and we do not support their pink-washers. In fact, we avoid anything that’s pink in the month of October. It’s our own little way of standing up for the truth about cancer. Here’s more information about pinkwashing and what you can do about it. With Breast Cancer Action’s Think Before You Pink Toolkit, you’ll get the resources, information, and tools you need to understand the truth behind pink ribbon marketing, the conflicts of interest in the cancer industry, and why so many women are still being diagnosed and misdiagnosed—and help others learn about it, too.

I have to leave you with this doom and gloom tonight, but over the next several weeks, I will be sharing with you ways that you can be proactive in the prevention of breast cancer. So stay tuned to our private Facebook group, a Living Well Life. And if you know someone that may benefit from this information, please add them with their permission! Thank you for sharing!

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Ooooo, how I love finding new and exciting ingredients that are packed with robust nutritional goodness! This Black Garlic was at Whole Foods a couple of weeks ago, and I was fascinated by it! I purchased it and then it sat waiting for it’s recipe debut! Today was that day!

Black garlic is a product of a fermentation process that lasts for 30 days with an additional  45 days of oxidation. This process causes the black pigmentation to develop along with a mellow flavor and soft texture, and it is well worth it! I used it tonight to replace raw minced garlic in a tossed caprese salad with basil, tomato and romaine lettuce along with fresh mozzarella and balsamic vinegar. It was DELICIOUS!

There are some anecdotal uses for black garlic that include boosting the immune function, and studies like this one have shown that it reduces inflammation in the liver specifically.

Many of Black Garlic’s benefits come from over 100 active compounds found within this superfood vegetable. One of the major components is the highly touted S-allyl cysteine which is being tested and evaluated for use as a potential cholesterol lowering agent and as a chemo-preventive.

Another study demonstrated it’s incredible anti-oxidant properties as well as certain tumor-reducing agents. The abstract revealed that black garlic provided 25more potency than white garlic and was instrumental in helping to prevent Alzheimers Disease, Rheumatoid Arthritis, and similar inflammatory diseases. You can find that study here.

For those looking to lower their cholesterol naturally, take a look at this 2014 study from Korea. It demonstrated a marked increase in HDL (good cholesterol) and a significant reduction of LDL (bad cholesterol). And because of the decrease in the Apolipoprotein B blood lipid markers, the study proved that it was beneficial for the cardiovascular system with no adverse effects!

Fermentation of the garlic provides more stability and 100bioavailability which means that it will be assimilated effectively with instant nutrient absorption. For best results, black garlic should be consumed as a food item rather than a supplement, and the garlic cloves can be swallowed whole as you would a capsule rather than chewed if desired. Bonus: no bitter aftertaste, upset stomach, or bad breath!

I am always amazed at the complexity and the diversity of the healing foods that were created FOR us and are available TO us! I know that I will begin cooking with this potent superfood as often as I can find it, and may invest in my very own Black Garlic Fermenting device like this one , so that we can use it consistently for flavorful foods and healthier bodies!

For more information on hints, tips and tricks for a healthier life, please join our private Living Well Facebook group.

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