Summer has been eventful. There may have been some or a lot of vacation and playing with friends. This may mean eating some less than healthy foods and drinking alcohol. Now that the weather is changing and life is settling down it maybe time to get back on track. For me it's time, hence, Detoxctober. I have done a detox a couple times before consisting of purely whole plants and this is what I've learned and shared with others who have wanted to try this detox;
The purpose of a Detox is to control your tummy. It will fight you. But once you win(which you will) you will be able to decide if you want to eat healthy. The pros of eating healthy:
1. You feel great mentally and physically
2. You gain peace of mind that you are being proactive to keep yourself from a sick bed.
3. You will get closer to your correct body weight. This will make you look hot.
4. It's really good for the environment....which, whatever.
5. You will likely try new foods and enjoy them, and this will impress your friends.
The Pros of Eating Unhealthy
1. It tastes really good sometimes!
2. You can be normal and eat what a lot of other people eat.
3. You don't have to stop and consider what you put in your mouth.
4. Ordering out is a snap!
I do both eat healthy and unhealthy, but the ratio needs to be on point(try to keep it at least 85/15)!
Detox is a strict(99/1 or 100%) 4 weeks of eating healthy. As your body flushes out the junk it also craves it so your tongue will want those foods. The first two weeks can be quite difficult and will be the most challenging. This is almost a promise. There however are 3 things to keep in mind:
1. It will get easier and your taste buds will adjust and stop craving the bad and start loving the good.
2. EAT A LOT OF GOOD FOOD ALL THE TIME!! DO NOT LET YOURSELF GO HUNGRY. If you don't it'll make everything harder. This is where you addiction(most people have it) to sugar comes in. When you get hungry you will inevitably crave sugar. Don't give in. Just eat something healthy and give yourself like 10minutes (to raise you blood sugar with the complex carb).
3. I forget. It was probably really important too.
Ok now that you have most of what to expect I will tell you the detox guidelines. I will explain them and you will still have questions. Use the "Comments" if you have questions or email me!
The NOs
They sound simple and easy but it's not, until you start thinking in the DO's mind set.
Meat
Dairy
Any animal products
Refined foods
Drugs (caffeine and alcohol)
The YESs
Whole Plants!
More Whole Plants!
Lots of Whole Plants!
This includes fruits, veggies, whole grains, and legumes. Basically you should stay in the produce isle for 80% of your shopping. The other 19% will probably be grains nuts and seeds and 1% natural unrefined sugars.
NOs Explained
1.Meat you may be familiar with so I'll let that go.
2.Dairy; Eggs, Milk, Cheese, Yogurt.
2.1 Other foods that come from animal; Things like gelatin, whey, lactose...
3.Refined Sugar; You will find it's in a lot of packaged foods, a lot; High Fructose Corn Syrup, Fructose, Sugar, Brown Sugar. The exception is fruit juices and evaporated cane juice, agave, and Molasses, but even these things don't go crazy with.
4.Refined Grains; Big clue it's refined the word "enriched". It basically means they have stripped the grain of 20 some nutrients and put back in or "enriched" it with 4 or so. But it may also just read as flour or wheat flour. What you look for is 100% whole grain(wheat, millet, or brown rice). When it comes to rice stick only to brown rice.
5.Other refined or processed foods; Although they maybe vegan I try to stay away from the fake meats. Things like fake cheese or imitation meats. Any food where you don't recognize the ingredients. (some meatless patties are good if their ingredients are simple plants like lentils or grains or a mash of veggies).
YESs Explained
I really mean it. Its way better to think in can eat terms. This can make it actually fun!
For meal ideas I will refer you to my food blog; http://www.foodinyourfood.blogspot.com/
Some ideas for breakfast are:
-BP(no sugar) on toast(whole grain) is great. I like to add sliced bananas and maybe honey (on toast).
-Oatmeal. Get dry oats and add your own sweeteners(fruit, honey, maple syrup, aside from fruit go light on them) Old fashioned oats are the ones you are used to but steel cut are better for you and in my opinion tastier. They just take a while to cook so I cook a lot at once, add all the sweeteners and keep it in the fridge and reheat in the morning the portion that I want. This actually makes them really quick.
-Left overs!(my favorite)
-Fruit smoothies(with added protein)
-Plant Protein shakes.
Snacks
-Raw fruits and veggies! As much as you want. It really helps to grab a bunch and wash and cut them up all on one day and keep them in the fridge and take a bunch to work to snack on as you go. Some raw veggies that work include; bell peppers(orange and yellow are my favorite), cucumber, carrots, celery, broccoli, cauliflower.
-Cooked veggies. This is what has become of me. In between meals sometimes I'll just steam some veggies and eat them with salt pep and lemon(spinach of swiss chard). Whatever.
-Nuts. You can eat a lot of these because it'll be one of few places you get fat from, but remember they are packed with it. I really think it's important to go raw with nuts as often as possible. They are not usually salted so that's a bummer but roasted nuts means the oil in them is cooked and I'm not sure how hot but if it's over 300 degrees it makes the oil carcinogenic. Over cooked oil is not good. You could mix them in, raw and roasted/salted, I suppose to make the transition or use that for after you work out(salt, calories and protein!)
-Less often snacks because they are partially processed; Chips and salsa, Hummus and WW pita or veggies. whole grain chip cracker things you might find at whole foods or some place like that.Whole grain.
More pointers
Plan ahead so you don't go hungry
Buy or grow organic as much as you can(define 'can' however you like)
Important things to get organic: Berries, apples, potatoes(anything grown in the ground), Corn(and corn products) Soy(and soy product).
Make sure with veggies and fruits that you wash them pretty well, take the time, even if they are organic.
Chew your food. Really. slow down. really. It'll help with gas and bowel movements. SLOW DOWN.
You will have more gas and or bowel movements. Maybe an alarming amount but it's not "bad" it's just your body adjusting. Bowel movements could likely attribute to 10 of 15lbs of weight loss in the first week. Honestly. I don't know how you eat now but if you are normal you'll lose more weight then you would first expect. A "normal" diet of meat and dairy without a ton of fiber makes shit sit in your gut. Two things that can help gas besides chewing food and eating slowly is charcoal(in a pill, go to whole foods) and pro biotic, some kind of combo with acidophilus and Bifido(again at whole foods) and psyllium(trader joes). But you don't need need those, it will just help if you feel too uncomfortable.
The foods you will end up eating will basically burn themselves. You will have so much energy! You probably should cool it down on the work outs if you do them and build them back up if you feel comfortable. If you do work out have a plant protein shake ready to make after(rice or hemp, skip the soy) and it's a perfect time to eat fresh fruits, drink lemon water, or make a fruit smoothy to get your electrolytes back in shape the right way(suck it G2).
THe one Vitamin that you cannot get from plants(any longer) is B-12. You may want to pick up a supplement of it.
Eat a variety foods, try new foods. Sometimes instead of PB get Sunflower butter or almond. In the same vein get different kinds of nuts too; Almond, cashew, walnut, Brazil(trader joes has the best prices). Try different fruits and veggies, it's ok they wont hurt. It is important to switch it up. I mean everyone has favorites that they tend toward and eat more just don't totally get stuck there.
Ok this is a LOT of info. Let me know what your questions are. I'm ready.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Saturday, June 12, 2010
New Blog
I love the relationship between food and health. Healthy living and eating makes a big difference in how one feels in both the short and long term. If you've ever heard someone say, "You only live once, so you shouldn't worry about what you eat," then you are probably dealing with someone who has never tried really eating healthily. I would not eat healthily if it weren't for the fact that it makes me live better NOW. I'm all about instant gratification, people. This one just happens to come along with long term benefits too (hiya!). Not that I don't believe in eating rich foods in celebration of reward or, maybe it's just been a while. But eating rich food should be special. It makes you appreciate it all the more if you do it sparingly(no guilt!!!) and really a constant supply of rich food bums out your body(that effects you duh!)..
If I had it my way everyone would be required to read the books I read and spend time making decisions on what to eat based on the information they accumulated from these books. But that generally doesn't happen. I however like doing that work so I am happy to share. That's why I bring you this blog and another new one. This new one is just me telling you what I eat some days to give you ideas and inspiration for eating healthily in your home. It's the “now what do I eat if I actually do want to eat healthily” answer. It's like a recipe book / food discussion. Want to keep up? I dare you.
I'm a big promoter of detoxing before you try to changing over to healthy, healthy foods. Most people are not used to whole plant- based diets and they just don't crave the stuff I eat. That can change. You can teach your pallet. Detoxing for 3 weeks is the quick and dirty way to do it. It allows your body (not just your tongue) to tell you what it really likes! Ever eat a lot of cookie dough? Like a lot? Chances are you didn't feel like a million bucks afterwards..., It effects your decision not to eat it for your every meal. That principle of choosing food not just based on cravings is brought to a new level. Do you feel deprived because you don't eat cookie dough at every meal? No probably not. Same goes with learning to love plants. I don't feel deprived from not eating meat or dairy of refined foods at every meal. I feel good. If you knew what I ate like before my days of a veganish diet you would agree. If I can change, then you can change too, and enjoy it.
Now this blog is not going to not be overly formal. I hate following recipes. Once I learn one I try to just remember general ratios and fly but the seat of my pan. HA! SO I'm not going to go into that too much. Sorry if that makes you nervous, but most of the stuff I make is fool proof anyway.
I've always liked the quote "There is no food in your food!" from the movie Say Anything. So that’s the name of my blog;: "food in your food" foodinyourfood.blogspot.com. Please come visit, get ideas, see what I'm up to, and correct my spelling and grammar.
One general trend you will see when I make meals at home is that I try to think in 3 groups and get them in my dinners/lunches. colorful veggies, grain, and protien.
If I had it my way everyone would be required to read the books I read and spend time making decisions on what to eat based on the information they accumulated from these books. But that generally doesn't happen. I however like doing that work so I am happy to share. That's why I bring you this blog and another new one. This new one is just me telling you what I eat some days to give you ideas and inspiration for eating healthily in your home. It's the “now what do I eat if I actually do want to eat healthily” answer. It's like a recipe book / food discussion. Want to keep up? I dare you.
I'm a big promoter of detoxing before you try to changing over to healthy, healthy foods. Most people are not used to whole plant- based diets and they just don't crave the stuff I eat. That can change. You can teach your pallet. Detoxing for 3 weeks is the quick and dirty way to do it. It allows your body (not just your tongue) to tell you what it really likes! Ever eat a lot of cookie dough? Like a lot? Chances are you didn't feel like a million bucks afterwards..., It effects your decision not to eat it for your every meal. That principle of choosing food not just based on cravings is brought to a new level. Do you feel deprived because you don't eat cookie dough at every meal? No probably not. Same goes with learning to love plants. I don't feel deprived from not eating meat or dairy of refined foods at every meal. I feel good. If you knew what I ate like before my days of a veganish diet you would agree. If I can change, then you can change too, and enjoy it.
Now this blog is not going to not be overly formal. I hate following recipes. Once I learn one I try to just remember general ratios and fly but the seat of my pan. HA! SO I'm not going to go into that too much. Sorry if that makes you nervous, but most of the stuff I make is fool proof anyway.
I've always liked the quote "There is no food in your food!" from the movie Say Anything. So that’s the name of my blog;: "food in your food" foodinyourfood.blogspot.com. Please come visit, get ideas, see what I'm up to, and correct my spelling and grammar.
One general trend you will see when I make meals at home is that I try to think in 3 groups and get them in my dinners/lunches. colorful veggies, grain, and protien.
Monday, October 12, 2009
The China Study
I would like to dedicate this post to the book, The China Study, Startling Implications for Diet, Weight Loss and Long-term Health . In my post about Healthcare I included an excerpt from the introduction of this book. I was excited by the introduction alone. The rest this book as been exceedingly interesting. I mostly like it because it taught me a lot about the role of animal protein in our diets and it backs a lot of what I already believe--and have written about here-- about food and health. I understand that following my beliefs doesn't necessarily give these professional opinions validity. However the 30 years or responsible research from which it was based on does. I will always put the heaviest trust in my own experiences, but the findings and conclusions of Dr. Campbell does not flow against what I've already experienced in my journey with food and the trends I've personally noticed in health.
It is clear that Dr.Colin is an independent and critical thinker about the results of science in his studies. He relies more on his findings than the popular attitudes of his prestigious peers or his contrary upbringing(he grew up respecting the dairy farm he was raised on). This to me is key in respecting his conclusions.
So what has this book told me thus far? Among the biggest ideas featured is that our relationship to animal protein and health is often related to chronic and fatal illness. There is a very significant link to animal protein ( in meat and dairy) and cancer growth. This to me is significant. I would describe this relationship like this; Cancer is damage to your DNA caused by a carcinogen, I'll call it a cut on your hand. Animal protein then, is you picking the scab on your hand. In the body this protein hinders our ability to detoxify the carcinogen. The more you do it the worse your cut and infection gets. There is a direct relationship with how much and how often one picks the scab and how much more infected or healed your hand is. Now if you do the right things, like eat whole plant-based foods, then that's analogous to treating the cut and pushing your hand to be whole and healthy. If you do both--treat your hand well and pick the scab--your hand may or may not heal. Even if you have been picking your scab and then stop picking at a point and treat it your hand it would still get better!
This is a bittersweet science to believe in. It's good news for the those who have the ability to change or make lifestyle choices to consume the best foods that are available to them. This however is terrible news for those who don't believe food makes a strong enough difference in how they feel or the effects food has on their health. I grew up in the latter category and I am happy I changed my mind. I am happy for my own health and the astronomically higher chances of good health in the future I have because of it. What I can't do it change the mind's of everyone I love, and maybe I shouldn't. Their experiences should teach them more then I ever could. Reading this book however could be a good idea if you are at all curious about food and health and need science in your decision making.
It is clear that Dr.Colin is an independent and critical thinker about the results of science in his studies. He relies more on his findings than the popular attitudes of his prestigious peers or his contrary upbringing(he grew up respecting the dairy farm he was raised on). This to me is key in respecting his conclusions.
So what has this book told me thus far? Among the biggest ideas featured is that our relationship to animal protein and health is often related to chronic and fatal illness. There is a very significant link to animal protein ( in meat and dairy) and cancer growth. This to me is significant. I would describe this relationship like this; Cancer is damage to your DNA caused by a carcinogen, I'll call it a cut on your hand. Animal protein then, is you picking the scab on your hand. In the body this protein hinders our ability to detoxify the carcinogen. The more you do it the worse your cut and infection gets. There is a direct relationship with how much and how often one picks the scab and how much more infected or healed your hand is. Now if you do the right things, like eat whole plant-based foods, then that's analogous to treating the cut and pushing your hand to be whole and healthy. If you do both--treat your hand well and pick the scab--your hand may or may not heal. Even if you have been picking your scab and then stop picking at a point and treat it your hand it would still get better!
This is a bittersweet science to believe in. It's good news for the those who have the ability to change or make lifestyle choices to consume the best foods that are available to them. This however is terrible news for those who don't believe food makes a strong enough difference in how they feel or the effects food has on their health. I grew up in the latter category and I am happy I changed my mind. I am happy for my own health and the astronomically higher chances of good health in the future I have because of it. What I can't do it change the mind's of everyone I love, and maybe I shouldn't. Their experiences should teach them more then I ever could. Reading this book however could be a good idea if you are at all curious about food and health and need science in your decision making.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Apples
I'm kind of a pain when it comes to them. I really want people to eat apples. Even though I'm not the biggest fan of their taste. I used to hate it as a kid when my mom sent me a lunch with a red apple for "dessert" ek! "Unacceptable," I thought. Truth is they do have a bit of sugar in them, but their taste would not compared to the Swiss cake rolls I really wanted.
My relationship(and appreciation) changed when I discovered that I had acquired an unwanted mental, physical, and emotional reaction to coffee. I have an intolerance or allergic reaction that makes me anxious, depressed, and obsessive several hours after I drink coffee or colas. Once I realized this was happening I quit caffeine immediately. It was definitely not worth the buzz, and I never looked back. What was nice is eventually I stopped yo-yoing with the caffeine buzz and crash and I slept better.
I still did have a problem to solve. My diet was still just the usual American fare so I needed a boost for my 4am shifts at work and supplement other times if I didn't get enough sleep. I forget if I was told or I just accidentally just ate one, but I started to notice that eating the previously unacceptable food did me a lot of good. It became my "cup of coffee" whenever I was feeling low energy.
The list of the good things that are in apples is amazing. Patrick Quillian's book that features apples cider vinegar lists all the nutrients(that scientist know of) in whole apples and I counted somewhere in the field of 400 nutrients. Things like furmeric acid, which can help with psoriasis. That's 1 of 400ish that I picked at random. So apples have a ton of good stuff in them and I can feel them working when I chow down. Caffeine usually messes with people. Often there is a wired distracted feeling until it's out of your system and then you crash. This doesn't happen with apples. It's not the same kind of high. The boost isn't as big but it certainly is a huge help. Your brain is actually helped by the food instead of only keeping you awake and because of the carbs your body is just not going to crash like that.
Since this discovery I'm a pretty heavy apple pusher. People that spend the most time around me know if they mention they are sluggish or over tired I will suggest or command that they eat a nice Red Delicious or Fuji(in my experience the redder the better). And if they are smart enough to listen they are happy with the results. Again, I don't really like the taste and maybe you don't, but it's still worth a try...
My relationship(and appreciation) changed when I discovered that I had acquired an unwanted mental, physical, and emotional reaction to coffee. I have an intolerance or allergic reaction that makes me anxious, depressed, and obsessive several hours after I drink coffee or colas. Once I realized this was happening I quit caffeine immediately. It was definitely not worth the buzz, and I never looked back. What was nice is eventually I stopped yo-yoing with the caffeine buzz and crash and I slept better.
I still did have a problem to solve. My diet was still just the usual American fare so I needed a boost for my 4am shifts at work and supplement other times if I didn't get enough sleep. I forget if I was told or I just accidentally just ate one, but I started to notice that eating the previously unacceptable food did me a lot of good. It became my "cup of coffee" whenever I was feeling low energy.
The list of the good things that are in apples is amazing. Patrick Quillian's book that features apples cider vinegar lists all the nutrients(that scientist know of) in whole apples and I counted somewhere in the field of 400 nutrients. Things like furmeric acid, which can help with psoriasis. That's 1 of 400ish that I picked at random. So apples have a ton of good stuff in them and I can feel them working when I chow down. Caffeine usually messes with people. Often there is a wired distracted feeling until it's out of your system and then you crash. This doesn't happen with apples. It's not the same kind of high. The boost isn't as big but it certainly is a huge help. Your brain is actually helped by the food instead of only keeping you awake and because of the carbs your body is just not going to crash like that.
Since this discovery I'm a pretty heavy apple pusher. People that spend the most time around me know if they mention they are sluggish or over tired I will suggest or command that they eat a nice Red Delicious or Fuji(in my experience the redder the better). And if they are smart enough to listen they are happy with the results. Again, I don't really like the taste and maybe you don't, but it's still worth a try...
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
A Note On Healthcare.
An excerpt from "The China Study" by T. Colin Campbell, PhD
I usually want to laugh when I hear about another new whole food that "can help in the fight against cancer." Why? Because ALL plant-based whole foods from the ground do that. Eating the regular diet of white breads, deli meats, a selected few types of veggies sometimes adding acai berries or pomegranate to your diet will not keep you safe from the possibility or cancer. What we need to know is that these fresh whole foods are the primary foods we should be eating. Then, if we choose, we can supplement with convenience foods. Our country's current thought on food and health is backwards. Right now, the idea is to consume whatever is tasty and easy and then go to the doctor when you get to your 40s and fight cancer. Instead, we should educate ourselves on what is right for us and learn to love the foods that have been feeding our species for thousands(or millions) of years now. If we do, we will lead an extremely more vibrant and healthy life while avoiding long stays in the hospital.
I may not know or understand the details of what is happening in Washington right now, but I have a pretty good clue what is going on in people's kitchens, as well as the quality and perspective on health in the doctors office. That's what needs reform. If not I believe that we will be giving a nice hand to nice people for more rat race type drugs, and doing almost nothing to really stop a bad cycle of sickness.
By any number of measure, America's health is failing. We spend far more, per capita, on healthcare than any other society in the world, and yet two thirds of Americans are overweight, and over 15 million Americans have diabetes, a number that has been rising rapidly. We fall prey to heart disease as often as we did thirty years ago, and the War on Cancer, launched in the 1970s has been a miserable failure. Half of Americans have a health problem that requires taking a prescription drug every week, and over 100 million Americans have high cholesterol.This is a problem with our heath care system that needs to addressed much more than all other problems with access. I completely understand that there are very useful technologies and procedures of Allopathic healthcare, a large one being emergency care. For example, if I am hit by a car and break bones, no amount of kale will heal me. I would like my bones reset quickly, which would involve action from a team of doctors, possibly even surgery. While other facets of our current, traditional health care sometimes can help people at the last minute by exposing their bodies to various chemicals, inevitably it can do a myriad of harmful things that may be permanent. And this traditional way of approaching sickness almost never makes determined efforts to change the underlying problem.
To make matters worse we are leading our youth down a path of disease earlier and earlier in their lives. One third of young people in this country are overweight or at risk of becoming overweight. Increasingly, they are falling prey to a form of diabetes that used to be seen only in adults, and these young people now take more prescription drugs then ever before.
These issues come down to breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
I usually want to laugh when I hear about another new whole food that "can help in the fight against cancer." Why? Because ALL plant-based whole foods from the ground do that. Eating the regular diet of white breads, deli meats, a selected few types of veggies sometimes adding acai berries or pomegranate to your diet will not keep you safe from the possibility or cancer. What we need to know is that these fresh whole foods are the primary foods we should be eating. Then, if we choose, we can supplement with convenience foods. Our country's current thought on food and health is backwards. Right now, the idea is to consume whatever is tasty and easy and then go to the doctor when you get to your 40s and fight cancer. Instead, we should educate ourselves on what is right for us and learn to love the foods that have been feeding our species for thousands(or millions) of years now. If we do, we will lead an extremely more vibrant and healthy life while avoiding long stays in the hospital.
I may not know or understand the details of what is happening in Washington right now, but I have a pretty good clue what is going on in people's kitchens, as well as the quality and perspective on health in the doctors office. That's what needs reform. If not I believe that we will be giving a nice hand to nice people for more rat race type drugs, and doing almost nothing to really stop a bad cycle of sickness.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
The Pill
(There are hundreds of things to say but I'm gonna keep this short and sad.)
I've never taken it. Maybe it's because I was raised by a woman who was the type to have 4 natural births. Maybe it's because I was raised by a woman who was raised Catholic. My Mom and I never talked about the pill, I think I'm just my mother's daughter. When it came time for it to maybe be useful I still didn't take it. At that point I knew enough about myself to know I was way too sensitive to the stuff I consumed, that I would be a mess from all the hormones. That at the time was all I had going for me. Later on I got the drift on how little drug companies and doctors take responsibility for my health. I also figured I probably couldn't rely on common knowledge to tell me every time something wasn't good for me. I just followed the old physics law/adage; every action has a equal and opposite reaction. The pill is one of these actions. If you are someone who at least understands protests against non-organic foods I would assume you can appreciate my problem with the pill. To me it's the same line of logic.
So my hunch on the fact that it's really dangerous comes from what we can deduce from what most people do know. While taken, it confuses ones body enough into thinking it's pregnant. If taken longer than 9 months at a time it's asking to do something unprecedented for the body. And I don't know anyone that takes a break from it every nine months. External estrogen abuse in women is analogous to external testosterone abuse for men, and for some reason this relationship resonates loudly in culture for men, and almost not at all for women.
Now those are just clues, not good reasons to believe that the pill is harmful. In doing some other light online research I've come across research reports from The Journal of Sexual Medicine. In 2006 they did a study on women taking oral contraceptives. What they reported was that women using the pill had 4 times the amount of SHBG, which is the protein that blocks testosterone from being used. The SHBC stayed twice as high in the women even after they discontinued the pill for 6 months, which was a surprise to the researchers who now have to test to see if the change is permanent. While estrogen is more present in the female body there still is a need for testosterone to keep your hormones in balance. The result, they have said to not having enough of this "unbound" testosterone alone with other hormones in the pill causes a myriad of sexual problems for women including decreased desire, arousal, and lubrication and increased sexual pain. These elements of the pill may also lead to metabolic, and mental health problems. YIKES
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/35663.php
I point that study out to show that there are researchers who know this and somehow this isn't passed on knowledge to the pill consumer(for all I know). The other way I look at it is it just makes sense that pumping your body with hormones will not keep things normal, now or in the long run. It just leads me to think about how breast cancer depends on estrogen levels in the body, why wouldn't an estrogen pill influence that or other cancers women seem to "inherit".
It seems a bit ironic that while many pill users take it early in life to enjoy sex without the consequence of children, they could be taking the fun right out of it for themselves in the long run. That seems a little tragic.
PS the statistic is that 100 million women world wide take the pill.
I've never taken it. Maybe it's because I was raised by a woman who was the type to have 4 natural births. Maybe it's because I was raised by a woman who was raised Catholic. My Mom and I never talked about the pill, I think I'm just my mother's daughter. When it came time for it to maybe be useful I still didn't take it. At that point I knew enough about myself to know I was way too sensitive to the stuff I consumed, that I would be a mess from all the hormones. That at the time was all I had going for me. Later on I got the drift on how little drug companies and doctors take responsibility for my health. I also figured I probably couldn't rely on common knowledge to tell me every time something wasn't good for me. I just followed the old physics law/adage; every action has a equal and opposite reaction. The pill is one of these actions. If you are someone who at least understands protests against non-organic foods I would assume you can appreciate my problem with the pill. To me it's the same line of logic.
So my hunch on the fact that it's really dangerous comes from what we can deduce from what most people do know. While taken, it confuses ones body enough into thinking it's pregnant. If taken longer than 9 months at a time it's asking to do something unprecedented for the body. And I don't know anyone that takes a break from it every nine months. External estrogen abuse in women is analogous to external testosterone abuse for men, and for some reason this relationship resonates loudly in culture for men, and almost not at all for women.
Now those are just clues, not good reasons to believe that the pill is harmful. In doing some other light online research I've come across research reports from The Journal of Sexual Medicine. In 2006 they did a study on women taking oral contraceptives. What they reported was that women using the pill had 4 times the amount of SHBG, which is the protein that blocks testosterone from being used. The SHBC stayed twice as high in the women even after they discontinued the pill for 6 months, which was a surprise to the researchers who now have to test to see if the change is permanent. While estrogen is more present in the female body there still is a need for testosterone to keep your hormones in balance. The result, they have said to not having enough of this "unbound" testosterone alone with other hormones in the pill causes a myriad of sexual problems for women including decreased desire, arousal, and lubrication and increased sexual pain. These elements of the pill may also lead to metabolic, and mental health problems. YIKES
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/35663.php
I point that study out to show that there are researchers who know this and somehow this isn't passed on knowledge to the pill consumer(for all I know). The other way I look at it is it just makes sense that pumping your body with hormones will not keep things normal, now or in the long run. It just leads me to think about how breast cancer depends on estrogen levels in the body, why wouldn't an estrogen pill influence that or other cancers women seem to "inherit".
It seems a bit ironic that while many pill users take it early in life to enjoy sex without the consequence of children, they could be taking the fun right out of it for themselves in the long run. That seems a little tragic.
PS the statistic is that 100 million women world wide take the pill.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Antibiotics
It makes me a little nervous. As I grew up I heard more and more concern about over-use or mis-use. When my mom was in charge of my health I went to the doctor a lot more when I was sick with a bad cold or flu. The doctor took 10 minutes with us and then always prescribed an antibiotic or antiviral. We eventually just stopped filling the drugs. Now when I get colds or flu I don't go to the doctor, and I still get better. If I want to get better faster I get rest and eat more vitamins. Seems to work just as well to me... Now I don't know everyone's medical history who may be reading this so I'm not suggesting you follow my example. Antibiotic are definitely needed in many cases(i.e. surgery,) but based on my experience some doctors will order something everytime you come in. Maybe it's based on knowledge or maybe it's based on liability...I can't be sure. Antibiotics have now become a sort of crutch in the population that has inhibited our bodies from evolving with the bacteria. After all our bodies healing from these colds or flues IS our bodies getting strong with the bacteria on it's own. I would worry, but now I found nature(the best chemist) has still got somethings up its sleeve. One I will highlight in this here post; tea tree oil.
At first it to me was kinda freaky. At work when a bottle would break of the stuff you knew it immediately. It has such a strong and distinct odor. It's a kind of smell that someone could really hate. It certainly wasn't pleasant to me at first, but what I found out is the trend in nature that strong sensory stimulates are cues to sit up and pay attention to the pieces of nature that may effect us. I think soon I'll do some research on spices based on this principle. They have enough flavor and smell in a tsp. of spice to change the taste and smell of portions of food meant to feed 2-4 people! There has to be something to that.
Anyway back to tea tree oil. The first time I remember using a TTO product were the cleansing pads for your face. I was usually too lazy to wash my face at night so I figured it may be a way to get around that(btw I still don't wash my face at night and now I don't even bother with the cleansing pads, and I'm really OK with that). It seemed to really help clear up the little blemishes and blackheads I had. I was impressed. Since then I've found many ways to use the stuff instead of an AB. And that's really what TTO is, anti fugal/antibacterial/antiviral. Here are a list of things that you could use TTO instead of a prescription(that maybe harmful or useless).
cold sores
acne
nasal ulcers
dental abscess/toothache pain
sore throat/throat infection
cuts/scrapes/scratches/abrasions
ear infection
boils
ringworm
insect bites
athlete's foot
canker sores
oral hygiene
dandruff
ear mites
fleas
oily skin
blisters
sun burns
warts
rashes
runny nose
asthma
tuberculosis
bronchitis
chicken pox
shingles
measles
flu
strengthens the body's immune system
bad breath
inflamed gums
plaque
yeast infections
Now of course to treat with TTO there are different methods, and they hardly ever involve consuming it. A lot of the time you should dilute the stuff too. Do your own research, but meanwhile maybe pick some up to have on hand instead of some neosporen.
It seems to me that if this stuff has been working for a long time doing these jobs they may also last longer than the AB prescription. And I don't think TTO oil will turn your teeth gray either.
Another side note. It seems to me that there are a lot of antiseptic/antibacterials in nature besides TTO another one being raw honey. I read in my book Garlic, Honey and Apple cider Vinegar that honey has shown to be better at healing small cuts then the dressing they may give you at a hospital.
PS In creating these posts the editor and I talk about many different facets of my arguments and theories. I don't include everything in the interest or keeping it short and sweet. I encourage anyone with questions comments or even rebuttal to contribute these in "comments". I openly admit that I don't have supreme knowledge on any of said subjects, and am very open to learning more.
At first it to me was kinda freaky. At work when a bottle would break of the stuff you knew it immediately. It has such a strong and distinct odor. It's a kind of smell that someone could really hate. It certainly wasn't pleasant to me at first, but what I found out is the trend in nature that strong sensory stimulates are cues to sit up and pay attention to the pieces of nature that may effect us. I think soon I'll do some research on spices based on this principle. They have enough flavor and smell in a tsp. of spice to change the taste and smell of portions of food meant to feed 2-4 people! There has to be something to that.
Anyway back to tea tree oil. The first time I remember using a TTO product were the cleansing pads for your face. I was usually too lazy to wash my face at night so I figured it may be a way to get around that(btw I still don't wash my face at night and now I don't even bother with the cleansing pads, and I'm really OK with that). It seemed to really help clear up the little blemishes and blackheads I had. I was impressed. Since then I've found many ways to use the stuff instead of an AB. And that's really what TTO is, anti fugal/antibacterial/antiviral. Here are a list of things that you could use TTO instead of a prescription(that maybe harmful or useless).
cold sores
acne
nasal ulcers
dental abscess/toothache pain
sore throat/throat infection
cuts/scrapes/scratches/abrasions
ear infection
boils
ringworm
insect bites
athlete's foot
canker sores
oral hygiene
dandruff
ear mites
fleas
oily skin
blisters
sun burns
warts
rashes
runny nose
asthma
tuberculosis
bronchitis
chicken pox
shingles
measles
flu
strengthens the body's immune system
bad breath
inflamed gums
plaque
yeast infections
Now of course to treat with TTO there are different methods, and they hardly ever involve consuming it. A lot of the time you should dilute the stuff too. Do your own research, but meanwhile maybe pick some up to have on hand instead of some neosporen.
It seems to me that if this stuff has been working for a long time doing these jobs they may also last longer than the AB prescription. And I don't think TTO oil will turn your teeth gray either.
Another side note. It seems to me that there are a lot of antiseptic/antibacterials in nature besides TTO another one being raw honey. I read in my book Garlic, Honey and Apple cider Vinegar that honey has shown to be better at healing small cuts then the dressing they may give you at a hospital.
PS In creating these posts the editor and I talk about many different facets of my arguments and theories. I don't include everything in the interest or keeping it short and sweet. I encourage anyone with questions comments or even rebuttal to contribute these in "comments". I openly admit that I don't have supreme knowledge on any of said subjects, and am very open to learning more.
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