Is Gluten really the problem? My journey continues... knowledge=power

Gluten Free!?

Is Gluten really the problem...

Much of what I am hearing from people today is that they seem to have "stomach and/or bowel issues", along with other health problems. Consisting of a variety of symptoms  ie:  Bloating, gas, constipation, diarrhea  and stomach pains.

People I know and meet are going Gluten Free... including myself!
The problem is that going Gluten Free doesn't really help resolve all the issues!

It seems to be a deeper problem.

Inflammation at the root of all illness

GMO- Genetically Modified

The more I read about GM foods... the more I realize I don't want to eat it! None of it!

GMO labeling-why we need it!

That's why my diet is consisting more and more of real whole foods.

I feel better eating this way!

Not only are my stomach issues resolved eating this way...

Parkinson's symptoms are better!

Tremors are better controlled and my muscle rigidity is much better.


It works with my alternative treatment using Herbs and Aminos for my PD.

Breakfast today

Sweet Potato Smoothie-
1/2 cooked peeled sweet potato (frozen)
1/2 raw shredded peeled sweet potato
1/2 banana (frozen)
1 C Almond Milk (homemade)
1/2 c spring water
1/2 shredded carrot
sprinkle of each ( to taste)
 turmeric, cinnamon, nutmeg, cayenne
3 ice cubes

I found this website yesterday Young and Raw



I thought that the diet plan they offer looked great. Well planned and not too expensive! Only $39 for 30 day meal plan and lots of information to help you get started and stay on track.  If your looking for a way to improve your health... take a look at what your eating. You may want to start eating real whole food.

Top 10 Anti-Inflammatory foods

Til next time...
Keep the faith, keep moving!

Pomegranates... A taste treat that is well worth the effort!!! Now in Season.....

Pomegranate 

This morning I had a Pomegranate for Breakfast.

If you have never had one, I highly recommend giving it a try!

I discovered this wonderful fruit 2 years ago... prior to that I had never had one!!!

It takes a little bit of preparation time to cut it and get all the seeds out. Well worth it!

I love the fresh taste of it's heavenly seeds and the juice!

Nutritional value .... Pomegranate

Pomegranates   (click on link for more reasons to eat/drink Pomegranates) are in Season right now and available at most local grocery stores... My local Walmart had large Pomegranates for $1.99 each. They are a special  taste treat for me.... I hope you will give it a try!!!

I am in the mood for Guacamole and veggie chip's ... so I will be dehydrating some sweet potato chips and making some Guacamole today!

Here's my most recent version of Guacamole...

2 ripe Avocado's ...mashed with fork
lime juice to taste... about 2-3 t
Cilantro to taste... about 1/4 c. to 1/2 c. chopped
l/4 c red onion chopped finely
2 garlic cloves chopped finely
2 serrano chile's chopped finely
salt to taste

Sweet potato chips ... dehydrated version

1-2 Sweet potatoes   peeled and sliced very thin
soak slices in Bragg's aminos for about 15 minutes
then sprinkle with nutritional or brewer's yeast
Spread each slice onto a dehydrator screen and dehydrate for 8-10 hours or until desired texture

I love these chips with guacamole dip.... I have it for a snack or sometimes just eat this for lunch!

You could also eat non gmo organic chips with the quac dip !!! If you are not into dehydrating your own chips!!!

GMO or Not GMO??? What are you eating? IMPORTANT Information.... A Must READ!!!

Institute for responsible technology March 2009 edition Thanks to the Institute for Responsible Technology for access to this article! Genetic Engineering (GE) or Genetic Modification (GM) of food involves the laboratory process of artificially inserting genes into the DNA of food crops or animals. The result is called a genetically modified organism or GMO. GMOs can be engineered with genes from bacteria, viruses, insects, animals, or even humans. Most Americans say they would not eat GMOs if labeled, but unlike most other industrialized countries, the U.S. does not require labeling. This Non-GMO Shopping Guide is designed to help reclaim your right to know about the foods you are buying, and help you find and avoid GMO foods and ingredients. Tips for avoiding GM crops TIP #1: BUY ORGANIC:   Certified organic products are not allowed to contain any GMOs.  Therefore, when you purchase products labeled “100% organic,” “organic,” or “made with organic ingredients,” all ingredients in these products are not allowed to be produced from GMOs. For example, products labeled as “made with organic ingredients” only require 70% of the ingredients to be organic, but 100% must be non-GMO. TIP #2: LOOK FOR“NON-GMO” LABELS:   Companies may voluntarily label products as “non-GMO.” Some labels state “non-GMO” while others spell out “Made Without Genetically Modified Ingredients.” Some products limit their claim to only one particular “At-Risk” ingredient such as soy lecithin, listing it as “non-GMO.” TIP #3: AVOID AT-RISK INGREDIENTS:   Avoid products made with any of the crops that are GM. Most GM ingredients are products made from the “Big Four:” corn, soybeans, canola, and cottonseed, used in processed foods. Some of the most common genetically engineered Big Four ingredients in processed foods are: Corn Corn flour, meal, oil, starch, gluten, and syrup Sweeteners such as fructose, dextrose, and glucose Modified food starch* Soy Soy flour, lecithin, protein, isolate, and isoflavone Vegetable oil* and vegetable protein* Canola Canola oil (also called rapeseed oil) Cotton Cottonseed oil Sugar Anything not listed as 100% cane sugar *May be derived from other sources In addition, GM sugar beet sugar recently entered the food supply. Look for organic and non-GMO sweeteners, candy and chocolate products made with 100% cane sugar, evaporated cane juice or organic sugar, to avoid GM beet sugar. TIP #4: BUY PRODUCTS LISTED IN THIS SHOPPING GUIDE   Keep this Guide with you whenever you shop. Store it inside your reusable shopping bag, put it into your coupon holder or check book, or leave it in your car. FRUITS & VEGETABLES Very few fresh fruits and vegetables for sale in the U.S. are genetically modified. Novel products such as seedless watermelons are NOT genetically modified. Small amounts of zucchini, yellow crookneck squash, and sweet corn may be GM. The only commercialized GM fruit is papaya from Hawaii—about half of Hawaii's papayas are GM. MEAT, FISH & EGGS No genetically modified fish, fowl, or livestock is yet approved for human consumption. However, plenty of non-organic foods are produced from animals raised on GM feed such as grains. Look for wild rather than farmed fish to avoid fish raised on genetically modified feed, and 100% grass-fed animals. Meat and Fish: Non-GMO Vital Choice Organic Prairie Eggs: Non-GMO Egg Innovations Organic Eggland's Best Organic Land O'Lakes Organic Nest Fresh Organic Organic Valley Pete and Jerry's Organic Eggs Wilcox Farms Organic ALTERNATIVE MEAT PRODUCTS Many alternative meat products are processed and include ingredients that can be genetically engineered, so give the ingredient lists close attention to avoid the Big Four at-risk ingredients, especially soy. Non-GMO 365 Brand (Whole Foods) Amy's Bountiful Bean Sunshine Burger The Simple Soyman Vitasoy Wildwood White Wave May contain GMO ingredients Boca, unless labeled organic (Kraft) Gardenburger Morningstar Farms, Morningstar Farms Natural Touch, unless labeled organic (Kellogg) BABY FOODS & INFANT FORMULA Milk or soy protein is the basis of most infant formulas. The secret ingredients in these products are often soy or milk from cows injected with rbGH. Many brands also add GMO-derived corn syrup, corn syrup solids, or soy lecithin. Non-GMO Baby's Only     (certified organic products) Earth's Best Gerber products HAPPYBABY Mom Made Meals Organic Baby Plum Organics May contain GMO ingredients Beech-Nut Enfamil Good Start Nestlé Similac/Isomil DAIRY PRODUCTS & ALTERNATIVE DAIRY PRODUCTS Some U.S. dairy farms inject the genetically engineered hormone rbGH, also called rbST, into their cows to boost milk production. Organic dairy products are rbGH-free and do use GM grains as feed. Products with a label that indicates cows free of rbGH or rbST may come from cows fed GM feed. Many alternative dairy products are made from soybeans and may contain GM materials. Dairy Products: Non-GMO Certified Organic Alta Dena Organics Butterworks Farm Harmony prHills Dairy Horizon Organic Morningland Dairy Natural by Nature Organic Valley Radiance Dairy Safeway Organic Brand Seven Stars Farm Straus Family Creamery Stonyfield Farm Wisconsin Organics Nancy's Organics Produced Without rbGH National Nancy's Natural Dairy Alta Dena Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream Brown Cow Farm Crowley Cheese of Vermont Franklin County Cheese Grafton Village Cheese Great Hill Dairy Lifetime Dairy West Coast Alpenrose Dairy Berkeley Farms Clover Stornetta Farms Joseph Farms Cheese Sunshine Dairy Foods Tillamook Cheese Wilcox Family Farms Midwest and Gulf States Chippewa Valley Cheese Erivan Dairy Yogurt Promised Land Dairy Westby Cooperative Creamery East Coast Blythedale Farm Cheese Crescent Creamery Derle Farms (milk with    “no rbST” label only) Erivan Dairy Yogurt Farmland Dairies Oakhurst Dairy Wilcox Dairy (rbST-free    dairy line only) Alternative Dairy Products: Non-GMO Belsoy EdenSoy Imagine Foods/Soy Dream Nancy's Cultured Soy Pacific Soy Silk Soy Delicious Sun Soy Stonyfield Farm O'Soy Tofutti VitaSoy/Nasoya WestSoy WholeSoy Yves The Good Slice Zen Don May contain GMO ingredients Colombo (General Mills) Dannon Kemps (aside from    “Select” brand) Land O' Lakes Parmalat Sorrento Yoplait (General Mills) May contain GMO ingredients 8th Continent GRAINS, BEANS & PASTA Other than corn, no GM grains are sold on the market. Look for 100-percent wheat pasta, couscous, rice, quinoa, oats, barley, sorghum, and dried beans (except soybeans). Prepared Meals: Non-GMO Annie's Natural Pasta Bob's Red Mill (organic line) Eden certified organic grains Kamut Lundberg Family Farms Sunridge Farms Vita-Spelt pasta Packaged Meals: Non-GMO Amy's Annie's Homegrown certified    organic macaroni & cheese Casbah (Hain-Celestial) Dr. McDougall's Right Foods Fantastic Foods Ian's Natural Foods Lotus Foods Lundberg Farms Rice Sensations Organic Planet Seeds of Change certified    organic boxed meals May Contain GMO ingredients Betty Crocker meals (General Mills) Knorr (Unilever) Kraft Macaroni & Cheese Lipton meal packets (Unilever) Near East (Quaker) Pasta Roni and Rice-a-Roni meals (Quaker) CEREALS AND BREAKFAST BARS Cereals and breakfast bars are very likely to include GMO ingredients, because they are often made with corn and soy products. Non-GMO: Ambrosial Granola Barbara's (organic line) Cascadian Farms Eden EnviroKidz Golden Temple Grandy Oats Health Valley (organic line) Lundberg® Purely Organic Rice Cereal Nature's Path Nonuttin' Omega Smart Bars Peace Cereal Organic Simple Sweets Sunridge Farms Ruth¹s May Contain GMO Ingredients Betty Crocker meals    (General Mills) Knorr (Unilever) Kraft Macaroni & Cheese meals Lipton meal packets (Unilever) Near East (Quaker) Pasta Roni and Rice-A-Roni    meals (Quaker) General Mills Kellogg Post (Kraft) Quaker BAKED GOODS While baking ingredients such as wheat flour, rice, kamut, and oats are not genetically modified, many packaged breads and bakery items contain other GMO ingredients such as corn syrup. Non-GMO: Arrowhead Mills (organic line) Bakery on Main Bob's Red Mill (organic line) Dr. McDougall's Right Foods Dr Oetker Organics French Meadow Natural Ovens Bakery    (organic line) Nature's Path Rudi's Organic Bakery Rumford Baking Powder May Contain GMO Ingredients Aunt Jemima (Pinnacle Foods) Betty Crocker (General Mills) Calumet Baking Powder (Kraft) Duncan Hines (Pinnacle Foods) Hungry Jack (Smucker's) Pillsbury (Smucker's) FROZEN FOODS Many frozen foods are highly processed. Keep an eye out for the Big Four at-risk ingredients and stay away from frozen foods that contain them, unless they are marked organic or non-GM. Non-GMO: A.C. LaRocco Amy's Kitchen Cascadian Farms Organic frozen    meals and vegetables Cedarlane Helen's Kitchen Ian's Natural Foods Linda McCartney frozen meals Mom Made Meals Plum Organics Kids The Simple Soyma May Contain GMO Ingredients Boca, unless labeled organic    (Kraft) Celeste (Pinnacle Foods) Eggo Waffles (Kellogg) Gardenburger Green Giant frozen meals    (General Mills) Healthy Choice (ConAgra) Kid's Cuisine (ConAgra) Lean Cuisine (Nestle) Marie Callender's (ConAgra) Morningstar Farms, Morningstar    Farms Natural Touch, unless    labeled organic (Kellogg) Rosetto Frozen Pasta (Nestle) Stouffer's (Nestle) Swanson (Campbell's) Tombstone (Kraft) Totino's (Smucker's) Voila! (Birds Eye/Unilever) SOUPS, SAUCES & CANNED FOODS Many soups and sauces are highly processed, so give the ingredient lists close attention to avoid the Big Four at-risk ingredients. Soups: Non-GMO Amy's Fantastic Foods Health Valley/Westbrae Imagine Natural Natural/Hain ShariAnn's Organics Walnut Acres certified organic   Sauces/Salsas: Non-GMO Amy's (organic line) Annie's Natural Eden Emerald Valley Kitchen Green Mountain Gringo &    certi?ed-organic salsa Muir Glen Organic pasta sauce    & salsa Seeds of Change certi?ed-     organic pasta sauce Walnut Acres certi?ed-organic     pasta sauce Canned Food: Non-GMO Amy's Annie's Natural Eden ShariAnn's certified organic beans Westbrae certified organic beans Yves Veggie Cuisine (Hain Celestial) May Contain GMO Ingredients Chef Boyardee, Healthy Choice    (ConAgra) Campbell's products (including    Healthy Request, Chunky,    Simply Home, and Pepperidge    Farm) Hormel products Progresso products    (General Mills) Sauces/Salsas: May Contain GMO Ingredients Bertolli (Unilever) Chi-Chi's (Hormel) Classico (Heinz) Del Monte Healthy Choice (ConAgra) Hunt's (ConAgra) Old El Paso (General Mills) Pace (Campbell's) Prego (Campbell's) Ragu (Unilever) May Contain GMO Ingredients Chef Boyardee Dinty Moore, Stagg, Hormel    (Hormel) Franco-American (Campbell's) CONDIMENTS, OILS, DRESSINGS & SPREADS Unless labeled explicitly, corn, soybean, cottonseed, and canola oils probably contain genetically modified products. Choose pure olive, coconut, sesame, sunflower, safflower, almond, grapeseed, and peanut oils. Also choose preserves, jams, and jellies with cane sugar, not corn syrup. Non-GMO Annie's Bountiful Bean Bragg's liquid amino Carrington Farms Flax Seed Crofter's Organic Drew's salad dressing Eden Emerald Cove Emerald Valley Kitchen Emperor's Kitchen Follow Your Heart Harvest Moon Mushrooms Ian's Natural Foods I.M. Health SoyNut Butters Maranatha Nut Butters Miso Master Muir Glen organic    tomato ketchup Nasoya Newmans Own Organic Ruth¹s Spectrum oils and dressings SushiSonic Asian Condiments The Simple Soyman Vegan by Nature Buttery Spreads Vigoa Cuisine Wholemato May Contain GMO Ingredients Crisco (Smucker's) Del Monte Heinz Hellman's (Unilever) Kraft condiments and dressings Mazola Pam (ConAgra) Peter Pan (ConAgra) Skippy (Unilever) Smucker's (except their “Simply    100% Fruit” line of preserves) Wesson (ConAgra) Wish-Bone (Unilever) SNACK FOODS Look for snacks made from wheat, rice, or oats, and ones that use sunflower or safflower oils. There is no GM popcorn on the market, nor is there blue or white GM corn. Snacks: Non-GMO Barbara's (organic line) Bearitos/Little Bear Organics    (Hain Celestial) Eco-Planet Eden Garden of Eatin' Grandy Oats Hain Pure Snax/Hain Pure Foods Health Valley Ian's Natural Foods Kettle Foods Kopali Organics Late July Organic Snacks Mary's Gone Crackers Nature's Path Organic Namaste Foods Newman's Own Organics    & Newman's Own    (except salad dressing) Simple Sweets Sunridge Farms Energy Bars: Clif Bar   Genisoy Bars Lara Bar Luna Bar               Macrobars Nature's Path Nutiva Odwalla Optimum Energy Bar Organic Food Bar Weil by Nature's Path Organic May Contain GMO Ingredients FritoLay (Lay's, Ruffles, Doritos,    Cheetos, Tostitos) Hostess Products    (Interstate Brands) Keebler (Kellogg's) Kraft (Nabisco, Nilla Wafers,    Oreos, Ritz, Nutter Butter,    Honey Maid, SnackWells,    Teddy Grahams, Wheat    Thins, Triscuit) Pepperidge Farm (Campbell's) Pringles Quaker Oats Company May Contain GMO Ingredients Balance Bar Nature Valley snack bars and    granola bars (General Mills) Nabisco Bars (Kraft) PowerBar (Nestle) Quaker Granola Bars CANDY, CHOCOLATE PRODUCTS, & SWEETENERS Many sweeteners, and products like candy and chocolate that contain them, can come from GMO sources. Look for organic and non-GMO sweeteners, candy and chocolate products made with 100% cane sugar, evaporated cane juice or organic sugar to avoid GM beet sugar, and watch out for soy lecithin in chocolates and corn syrup in candies. The sweetener aspartame is derived from GM microorganisms. It is also referred to as NutraSweet® and Equal® and is found in over 6,000 products, including soft drinks, gum, candy, desserts, yogurt, tabletop sweeteners, and some pharmaceuticals such as vitamins and sugar-free cough drops. Chocolate: Non-GMO Chocolove Endangered Species Chocolate Green & Black's Organic Chocolate Kopali Organics Nonuttin' Newman's Own Nonuttin' Candy: Non-GMO Jelly Belly Pure Fun Confections Reed's Crystallized Ginger    candy (certified organic) St. Claire Organic Sunridge Farms Sweeteners: Non-GMO Eden Sweet Cloud Nonuttin Newman¹s Own May Contain GMO Ingredients Hershey's Nestlé (Crunch, Kit Kat, Smarties) Toblerone (Kraft) Ghiradelli¹s Chocolate   May Contain GMO Ingredients Hershey's Lifesaver (Kraft) Nestlé SODAS, JUICES & OTHER BEVERAGES Most juices are made from GMO-free fruit (avoid papaya though, as it could be GMO), but the prevalence of corn-based sweeteners—e.g. high-fructose corn syrup—in fruit juices is cause for concern. Many sodas are primarily comprised of water and corn syrup. Look for 100-percent juice blends. Non-GMO After the Fall organic juices Big Island Organics Blue Sky Cascadian Farm Crofters Organic Eden Frey Vinyards Odwalla Organic Valley Quinoa Gold Mixerz All Natural Cocktail Mixers R.W. Knudsen organic juices    and spritzers (Smucker's) Santa Cruz Organic (Smucker's) Sea20 Organic Energy Drink Teeccino Herbal Caffe Walnut Acres Organic Juices May Contain GMO Ingredients Coca-Cola (Fruitopia, Minute    Maid, Hi-C, NESTEA) Hansen Beverage Company Hawaiian Punch    (Procter and Gamble) Kraft (Country Time, Kool-Aid,    Crystal Light, Capri Sun, Tang) Libby's (Nestlé) Ocean Spray Pepsi (Tropicana, Frappuccino,    Gatorade, SoBe, Dole) Sunny Delight (Procter and    Gamble) Special Note:   This guide was compiled based on company statements, not genetic testing. Any product labeled as Non-GMO indicates that its manufacturing process is designed to avoid GMOs, but consumers should be aware that GM contamination is possible due to natural pollen movement, weather events, seed contamination, or human error. Hence there is no guarantee such products are 100% free of GMOs. INVISIBLE GM INGREDIENTS Processed foods often have hidden GM sources (unless they are organic or declared non-GMO). The following are ingredients that may be made from GMOs. Aspartame baking powder caramel color cellulose citric acid cobalamin    (Vitamin B12) corn gluten corn masa corn oil corn syrup cornmeal cornstarch cyclodextrin cystein dextrin dextrose diacetyl diglyceride fructose fructose    (crystalline) glucose glutamate glutamic acid gluten glycerides glycerin glycerol glycerol    monooleate glycine hemicellulose high fructose    corn syrup    (HFCS) hydrogenated    starch hydrolyzed vegetable protein inositol invert sugar    (colorose or inversol) tamari isoflavones lactic acid lecithin leucine lysine malitol maltodextrin maltose mannitol methylcellulose milo starch modified starch monosodium    glutamate MSG oleic acid Phenylalanine phytic acid sorbitol soy flour soy isolates soy lecithin soy protein starch stearic acid inverse syrup tempeh threonine tocopherols    (Vitamin E) tofu trehalose triglyceride vegetable fat vegetable oil Vitamin B12 Vitamin E xanthan gum Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) although usually derived from corn, is probably not GM because it is not likely made in North America. To learn more about GMOs, consult the books Genetic Roulette: The Documented Health Risks of Genetically Engineered Foods by Jeffrey M. Smith or Your Right to Know: Genetic Engineering and the Secret Changes in Your Food by Andrew Kimbrell.   Information on GMOs is also available at www.centerforfoodsafety.org and  www.HealthierEating.org. Copyright 2008 Center for Food Safety and Institute for Responsible Technology. No part of this booklet may be reproduced in any form without written permission from both parties. For large print quantities or electronic distribution requests, contact: info@responsibletechnology.org or info@centerforfoodsafety March 2009 edition Return to the NUTRITION Page
Home Page Visit Our Sponsors Become a Sponsor Join us Please read our DISCLAIMER

---

           © 1995—2013    The Chiropractic Resource Organization    All Rights Reserved

Gluten Free Diet may be worth a look.....

Take a look and read about it for yourself ....

A Gluten Free Diet may be worth looking into for overall better health and  "Brain Health".



Click on the links

Signs-your-gluten-intolerant  This information may give you insight into why to may have bloating, gas and even brain fog after eating a meal that has gluten in it.

Dr. Perlmutter ...extensive research on how Grain affects the Brain.


Keeping the Faith....

Laurel

Bill Clinton goes "Vegan"

Bill Clinton changes his diet!

Vegan,  plant based diet helpful in President Bill Clinton's quest for regaining his health!

This was from a post on my blog over 2 years ago ... thought it worth mentioning again!!!

If you would like details about why and how Bill Clinton changed his diet from the "American Standard Diet" to eating primarily a plant based  "Vegan Diet" and the research he personally did about becoming healthier.

Here is a link you will find helpful.

Plant based diet He gives clear cut reasons, why he felt the need to take charge of his own life and diet.

It really rings true for me and why I personally feel  the need to change my own diet... it is a work in progress!

I try to stay focused on my  health ... some days are easier than others!!!

Juiced this morning

1 green apple
1 piece ginger
3 carrots
4 cups mixed greens
1 cucumber
1/4 teas turmeric   may have Healthful benefits against Parkinson's

Keeping the faith,
Laurel 

I choose to learn everything I can to help myself... Understanding Parkinson's - How the Brain is affected!

I choose to learn everything I can  to help myself. (This information was posted originally by me on November 1, 2011 ... I think it is worth looking at again!)

The link below will take you to an article and diagram of how the brain is affected when you have Parkinson's Disease.

Understanding Parkinsons  I read this and actually understood it. I mean really got it!!!  A light bulb went off in my head and it just all made sense to me... It helped me to understand the reason for the tremors and muscle problems that are associated with Parkinson's. And the purpose and thought behind the creation of the traditional drugs prescribed for PD, how they are suppose to work... and why they eventually don't work!


Reading this and seeing how the Brain is affected by Parkinson's Disease made me realize how what I take into my body in the form of food, medicine and or herbs/vitamins can affect how my brain and body function together.

What you eat and when .... Parkinson's Medication/ what to eat and when-Protein and Carbohydrates. It can be confusing!?

I use a natural source of Dopamine via the herb Mucuna Pruriens to treat symptoms of Parkinson's and have found that it seems to work better or worse... depending on what and when I eat.

Wanting to get the most benefit from the herbs ... I started to research how what I am eating is interacting with the herb that I am using.

I found detailed information via a blog Parkinson's Disease Nutrition written by a Registered Dietitian



If you are using  Sinemet, Madopar or any of the agonist's to treat symptoms of Parkinson's ... and want to get a better understanding of how food interacts with Parkinson's Drugs... check out  The Parkinson's Disease Nutrition blog

Your Colon .... Is it the key to Health? Improving your Colon may be the real "first" step to improving your health!

If we want to Improve our Health...maybe we need to start here!

If your interested in finding out how our "gut" affects our overall health.

Take some time ....Follow the links .... Read the information and/or watch the video's


Understanding the connection to our gut health and illness in general may help us to understand why we are sick!

Parkinson's Disease: A Role for the Immune System.


How-your-gut-flora-shapes-your-immune-system


Parkinson's-may-be-linked-to-immune-system

Journey-to-the-center-of-your-colon

Mood-gut-bacteria-and-the-immune-system

Gut Bacteria May Trigger Diseases such as Rheumatoic Arthritis

Immune Response to Gut Microbiota May Contribute to Crohn’s Disease

How Immune System Peacefully Co-Exists With 'Good' Bacteria

Immune Cells Implicated In Parkinson's Disease

The topic today ... Have you ever thought about why or how you got Parkinson's Disease?

I originally asked this question on my website back in 2005. At the time not very many people were asking that question or related it to the Environment that we live in.

I  thought that if we could all share our stories, somehow it would help to unravel the mystery of this serious illness... or maybe give us a little insight... connect the dots,  so to speak.

I even heard from a board member from a Neurological Center in Phoenix. He told me I was a natural  advocate and asked if I would  be interested in joining the board.... 


Due to unforeseen personal events in my life... getting a divorce! I did not follow up with any of the responses from anyone who responded to my postings.

The timing seems right to ask the question again!

Have you ever thought about why you  have Parkinson's Disease?

Adding Superfoods to your diet .... could it protect and/or improve your overall health!?

This morning I would like  to share with you information about some foods that are considered to be  Superfoods 

If their is one thing that I have learned in my journey over the last 10 years living with Parkinson's Disease...

What I eat directly affects how I feel... keeping that in mind.

I have tried to incorporate eating healthier, cleaner, greener food. It's not always easy!

Reading about and refreshing my memory about Superfoods and how they can help my general overall health helps me to re-focus.

This information is shared via links that you can click on ... giving you the opportunity to read about each one individually and determine for yourself ...is it worth adding to your diet?

Greens

Fruits and Nuts

Bee

Seeweed

Herbs

Oprah/Health/Best-Superfoods-
 

A non traditional approach to Parkinson's Disease ...turn symptoms on and off with our Brain!???

Information for a non traditional approach to relieving symptoms ...posted by Clement Meadmore someone who suffered from Parkinson's Disease .

You may be able to relieve symptoms by intentionally recreating the symptom.
Sounds hard to believe... Sounds too simple to really work.

As I sit here this morning with tremors in my left leg and left arm (I have not taken any of my herbal form of dopamine yet this morning)... making it difficult to type.  I try shaking my arms and hands very fast  intentionally to take control of the tremor. I start and stop this several times over several minutes.
At the end of this experiment.... I notice that my tremors which were out of control a few minutes ago... are now quiet. This feeling of stillness in my body last a few minutes... then the tremors start again.

Obviously will  require much more dedication on my part to see if their are any significant, long lasting positive effects. But seems to be a fairly easy task to repeat throughout the day.

Question to myself ....Am I willing to give it a try!

To tell you the truth ... I'm not sure! It sure seems easier to take my Herbs and Amino's to help me control my symptoms! Unfortunately, their  is no easy solution to this illness called Parkinson's.



I am providing a link to this information for those of you who would like to decide for yourself  if it is worth trying.  It doesn't cost anything.
Warning! Does require reading and taking responsibility for doing the necessary work to help yourself.


Is it possible to Overcome Parkinson's symptoms with intentional recreation of symptoms, turning them on and off with our Brain

Disclaimer: This article was written by Clement Meadmore (deceased) a  Sculptor and Parkinson's Patient.  No medical or scientific references were claimed. Therefore, we are on our own to do more research into this topic.  

For those of us with Parkinson's Disease the future may be brighter... Integrative Medicine may play an important role.

Studies that give us an insight into possible genetic link to the Immune System/Parkinson's. Amino Acid therapy-AMA offers continuing Education classes on Amino Acid therapy for Parkinson's.

Why  Integrative Medicine may prove beneficial.


Genetic link to Immune System and Parkinson's

Holistic therapy and Parkinson's

Amino Acid therapy of Parkinson's/ A Case Study

AMA continuing medical education class on this treatment of PD with Amino Acids.

Hope for my recovery from Parkinson's Disease has always consisted of Integrated Medicine.

I saw many Neurologists when first being diagnosed in 2004 with Parkinson's.
Including Neurologist's at the Mayo Clinic and Barrow's Neurological Center located in Arizona. All suggested prescription drug treatment for my symptom's. All explained the short term life of those prescription's with a list of possible side effects. All said their was no cure for Parkinson's. All gave me a bleak outlook for the future.   I was 47 years old then.

I tried several of the agonist's that are currently prescribed for Parkinson's.
The agonist's caused severe side effects for me. The side effects were too detrimental, so after taking the agonist's for a couple of years. I decided to stop using them.

I tried Intravenous Glutathione therapy at an Alternative Naturopathic Clinic... it was great in the beginning. During this time I felt great. The tremors were gone and I had tremendous energy and it made me feel great! I slept better and overall just felt really good. Unfortunately, as time went by the amount of Glutathione had to be increased and the positive results seemed to go away. My tremors returned and even progressed from just my left arm to include my left leg.

At the suggestion of a Naturopathic Physician I tried a compounded form of Carbidopa, not Sinemet. Sinemet is a combination drug. The Carbidopa that I used was only Carbidopa. It worked fantastic... from the first pill I took ... It gave me temporary Euphoria... It alleviated all my symptoms. No more shaking! Again I felt great!

Again it didn't last... After about 3-5 months, I had to increase the dosage. With the increased dosage came side effects. We tried adding the herb Mucuna Pruriens to the mix of what I was taking... it helped for awhile but I couldn't figure out what dose to take. Larger dosage of the Carbidopa was giving me dystonia. And the combination of Mucuna and Carbidopa bothered my stomach to the point I would vomit regularly.

It was at this time that I found the website  Patientslikeme.com
After several postings on this site, someone sent me a message and asked If I heard of the work being done with Amino Acids and Parkinson's. I had not heard about this and that is how I came to learn of the treatment that I started in April of 2009 and continue to use now. Amino Acid therapy of Parkinson's/ A Case Study

I went to the website and got a referral to a licensed Naturopathic Physician trained in using this Protocol. I went to see her in April of 2009 and continue to see her today.

The treatment is not without challenges... it is not a cure.
It has allowed me to quiet my tremors for long periods of time throughout the day with out side effects.
My Pd has not progressed. It is in my left arm and leg. Again this treatment is not without challenges and the expense is considerable.
Overall this treatment has worked best for me and I choose to continue to follow this path.
The expense is well worth it to me... my life would be impossibly difficult to manage without it. So I make the financial sacrifices it requires in order for a better quality of life.

My Naturopathic Physician uses traditional and alternative methods in my overall treatment. She treats me and sees me as a whole person... not a disease or an illness. We discuss my treatment plan and I actively play a part in my care and treatment. She actually listens to me when I tell her something is working or not working.

I feel confident and comfortable sharing information with her... I'm the one with Parkinson's Disease and I actively research and read as much information as possible on the subject of Health and Diet. She steers me in the right direction when I get off center... my own intuition has guided me positively and played a big part  in my journey to recovery.

She supports me with sound advice from years of training and practicing Naturopathic Medicine.

If you are interested in learning more about Naturopathic Medicine and finding a Naturopathic Physician you can go to this site for comprehensive up to date information.

If you live in an area where Naturopathic Physician's are hard to find... you can talk to your Medical Doctor or Neurologist and ask them to read the above information or have them attend an AMA continuing medical education class on this groundbreaking treatment of PD with Amino Acids.



We are all unique and are all affected differently. We deserve to have access to as much information available with the most up to the date information in our fight against Parkinson's Disease.



Integrative Medicine may be key in playing a big part of our future ...we all need to be the best we can be.









Genetic link discovered between immune system

Learning how to treat symptoms of Parkinson's Disease....

I was doing some searches this morning for information  regarding treatments for Parkinson's Disease and am really amazed at the amount of information that is available to us via the Internet today.

When I was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease back  in 2004 their wasn't much information available with regards to different types of treatments for the Disease. Most of the treatment information I found was with the traditional allopathic drug approach via Sinemet.

Very little Alternative treatment information was published at that time.


Now, I would say that their is almost too much information available.  It can be overwhelming to someone who has been newly diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease.

The standard treatment is still to treat symptoms with Sinemet.  But now they have also added a host of agonists to the regime that are suppose to help relieve symptoms of the disease.

Unfortunately, for some, the new drugs and/or agonists just seem to complicate the original  symptoms of the disease with new symptoms from side effects of the drugs. Anyone who has Parkinson's Disease, will tell you that adding more symptoms... to our already burdened body, is not a good thing!

What I have learned over the past 8 1/2 years of living Parkinson's Disease is this...

Everyone is different . I chose Alternative treatment...because that is what spoke to me the strongest.

If you have been recently diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease... I  urge you to seek out as much information as possible, from as many resources as possible. Trust your gut instincts... you know your body better than anyone. If your doing or taking something that is making you feel worse... or you aren't getting the results you want to feel better. Don't give up hope... keep searching for the treatment that suits you and gives you the results you want.

Remember, you can feel better! It takes hard work and determination to get the results you want. Read, read, read!!! Learn as much as you can so you can help yourself. Don't depend on your Doctor or Pharmacist to know everything. You have to take an active part in your daily healthcare...  Knowledge is Power!


My website address is  www.newfacesofparkinsons.com ... if you would like to read what I originally published in 2005 through 2010... It contains my personal story and journey of living with YOPD and how I chose my treatment in the early years of being diagnosed with Parkinson's.

In 2011, I started communicating via my new blog. If your interested in following up with my personal story and what I am doing now... follow the link below:     

What I am doing today to treat Parkinson's Symptoms 
Diet, Exercise, Water, learning to Breath/relaxation play an important role along with supplemental Amino Acids and the herb Mucuna Pruriens.

updated August  30, 2013

My thoughts on Parkinson's Disease today...

When I first started to research about Parkinson's Disease  back in 2004 their really wasn't much information available about how it affected someone like me. Female and age 47.  The information I found was grim and didn't offer me much hope.  You can read more about my story at my website newfacesofparkinsons.com  

I started out researching the typical allopathic treatments... which included reading about the drug Sinemet, along with other drugs that were being used at the time. Reading about all the side effects associated with these drugs... made me feel that it wasn't right for me. I never responded well to drugs in the past... so it was just a gut intuition thing that didn't feel right for me.

It was a natural choice for me to look for alternative treatments for Parkinson's...That's just who I am. Everyone is different and we each have to follow our own Path.

Nowadays their is a plethora of information out there... some of it free and some of it not free. I've read a lot of it. Some of it good and some not so good.

My Personal Experience is this...

In the eight years since being diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease, what I have learned is this...

Parkinson's Disease is different for everyone. What helps one person, may or may not help someone else. You have to do your own research and try what works for you. Listen to your gut instincts. If something sounds to good to be true... it probably is. It's true ... their is no known cure for PD at this time. But, that doesn't mean you can't feel better and function better. What you put in your body plays a huge part in how you feel.

I can take a variety of herbs and supplements (and I do) but the biggest difference comes from what I put into my body via food. Using Food combining to reduce inflammation in my body seems to also help with my symptoms. Breathing...taking time to learn how to breathe and reduce stress. Drinking enough water  is equally important.  Finally exercise... got to move to feel good.  They all  play an extremely important roll in how I feel. 

If you are reading this blog and have recently been newly diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease. Please read as much as you can to help yourself. Whether you choose Allopathic care or Alternative care or a combination of both. You need to be aware of all the methods available so you can help yourself.

Parkinson's Disease is not a death sentence... but it does change your life. 

I choose to be in control of my life... I can make a difference. I do it everyday!

Experimenting with food... Parkinson's symptoms get worse!!!

I decided to try an experiment on myself... via the food I put into my body.

The results were pretty drastic. It proves to me that what I eat has a tremendous effect on the severity of my Parkinson's symptoms, along with irritating my stomach.

What did I eat...

I had French dip sandwich with au jus and french fries, I had this 2x during the week... I drank Strawberry Marguerita's... I had Mexican food -Shrimp Burrito with traditional rice and beans. Corn Chips and Salsa. I had tuna fish sandwich on Wonder whole grain white bread... Kettle potato chips... Sierra Mist Soda... White Zinfandel Wine... Dairy Queen Chicken Salad with French dressing.  Egg Salad with Mayonnaise on Wonder whole grain white bread... Subway Pizza with spinach, green peppers, onions cheese and marinara from their meatball sauce. I ate Chinese buffet ....mix of all types of veggies, meats and fried rice... I had frozen pepperoni pizza with cheese. I ate candy... tootsie pops!!! lots of them.

I did have some Fresh fruit for breakfast.... plums, cantaloupe, watermelon, bananas or a Enlgish muffin with butter and strawberry preserves... or I ate no breakfast at all.

I did not do food combining or eat organic foods... I just ate what is typically available via the restaurants in town. And via purchases from the grocery store. I did not drink very much water... and I did minimal exercise.

If you look at the list of things that I ate... you wouldn't really say that it looks bad!!!

But for me it was disastrous!

By the 2nd day of eating this way... my stomach felt bloated and I had extreme pain and a distended abdomen. By the 4th day... my tremors were out of control. I could not get calm, no matter how much of the herb that I normally use to help alleviate my symptoms... I tripled the dosage and it not help... my leg, arm and hand shook like crazy. I could not sit still!  I had cramps in my arm, hand, foot and leg.

I felt horrible... physically and mentally.

What I learned is this... The type of food that I put into my body is the key to how I feel. 

I am back to eating a mostly vegan diet... with occasional organic chicken and/or beef. I seem to do better when I eat less meats or if I do eat them... eat them in small amounts with dinner.
Vegetables... I am trying to purchase most of my produce at the local Farmer's market... or get organic what I can from the  local grocery store. And am eliminating gluten and sugar from my diet!

Already feeling better!!! Stomach bloat is going down and tremors are again controllable, via my herbs.

What a difference a few days makes!!!

Eating healthy food ... makes me feel better!   It's not always easy... but well worth it in the end!

Best Veggie Chili...

Best Veggie Chili Ever…

1 small yellow onion      chopped
1 small red onion           chopped
1 large clove garlic         minced
1 jalapeno pepper          chopped   
1 banana pepper            chopped
1 zucchini                       chopped
1 green bell pepper        chopped
1 yellow pepper              chopped

I sautéed all of the above in virgin unprocessed coconut oil until veggies started to get tender. I then added my spices, I don’t use a measuring spoon when adding my spices, so I don’t have exact amounts… I will  do my best to give you estimated amounts.

Turmeric           ½ -1 T.
Chili Powder     1-  2 T.
Cumin Powder   ½ - 1 T.  I like the Smokey flavor it gives the chili
Onion Powder    ½ - 1 teas.
Garlic Powder     ½- 1 teas.
Az Rub  Chipotle style     1  teas.

Mixed into the veggies until all veggies covered with spices…. Let it simmer for about 5 minutes.

I then added -

1 can of organic diced tomatoes

This didn’t seem like it made enough juice to cover the veggies so added the following:

These were from the local  farmer’s market-

2 small whole tomatoes
5 cherry tomatoes
6 baby organic carrots

I put them into my bullet blender and it made a tomato juice, which I then added to my chili mixture.

I then added 6 Organic Sundried tomatoes in olive oil  (I drained the oil off of them, then chopped them  into small pieces)  to the chili. I then decided to add about 1 T. of the oil from the jar of Organic Sundried tomatoes to my chili.

Final touch …. I added 1 can of Organic tri beans (it is a combination of kidney, pinto and black beans) to the Chili.
 
I let the Chili simmer for about 45 minutes… it got pretty thick! 

I tasted the Chili before it simmered for the 45 minutes and thought it was good … but after it had simmered for the 45 minutes it was awesome! I couldn’t stop tasting it.  I decided that I better walk away and let it cool down so I could put it away for dinner tonight.

I personally think this is my best veggie Chili ever!  It has layers of flavor, it is not spicey at first bite, but as it lingers in your mouth you get a little heat that is just enough… and as for missing the meat… I didn’t miss it at all. 

This has all of the flavor of a meat chili and is a good food combining recipe…  as far as I can tell.

Note: For best results … Start off using less spices and season to your own taste!  I usually start off with small amounts of spices and then season and adjust to my taste buds as I am cooking.  When adding Chili powder and Cumin powder to recipes, it is my experience that they take a little cooking time to come to their full  flavor. You can always add more later if you want more of the smokey flavor or more heat!

What's really important? ....

Diet and Exercise and drinking lots of water are critical to feeling your best... whether you have an illness like Parkinson's Disease or just want to feel and be the best you can be... what you put into your body plays such an important role in being healthy.

Eating a predominantly plant based diet with occasional organic meat, chicken and wild fish, works best for me.  Too much protein interferes with the herb that I take which helps my body to produce the dopamine that it needs to function properly.

Also eliminating sugar from my diet seems to make a big difference on the severity of my symptoms. I was reminded of this recently while talking to someone whose husband was recently diagnosed with PD. Her Doctor recommended eliminating sugar and going on a Vegan Diet!

Books of Interest
Recently I read the "The Coconut Oil Miracle" by Bruce Fife. And after reading about all the benefits of this luscious substance...I've Decided to incorporate it into my diet.  I have been making these wonderful creamy soups with Organic unprocessed Coconut Milk. I have also added Organic Raw virgin Coconut Oil to my diet... the benefits of this delicious oil seem endless.

Recipe
My latest adventuresome recipe sounds kinda strange... I had made cooked greens this week combining Kale and Collards with onion and some spices, but did not eat all of it. And not wanting to waste these delicious greens... I decided to try it out in a soup.

I used the leftover greens, added 1 ripe tomato, a handful of baby carrots, a shake of Turmeric, 1 mild jalapeno pepper,  a little Bernard Jensen's Seasoning and a Tablespoon of Red Miso along with 1 can of Organic Coconut Milk and put it all in my Vita Mix blender.  Voila!!! A wonderful soup. It had a little kick to it from the pepper, but it wasn't overwhelming.  I thought it was great and what a good way to turn leftovers into a delicious meal.

Great connections

Dr. Mercola   An excellent website with links to the most current and breaking health news in the world. 
How we can all help ourselves by making better choices.

Energise for Life awesome website for living an alkaline balanced lifestyle. Free info and recipes!!!

Hope your having an awesome day!!!

Please feel free to make comments and or suggestions....I am always interested in your feedback!

I am back....

I can't believe I am finally writing on my blog again!  Hooray!!!

The challenge of trying to get access to my blog via my laptop has been challenging, to say the least!

Either my computer isn't working properly or I don't have access to the internet....

Updates!!!

I am still using the Neuroassist protocol with guidance from my Naturopathic Physician, Dr. Dana Keaton of Phoenix, AZ. 

It's always a challenge... my body is constantly adapting to the regime and I am continually having to change dosages of Mucuna and Amino Acids.  Fortunately, I am still able to find several hours of relief each day from my symptoms. ie:  tremors and muscle spasms/contractions in hands, arms, legs and feet.
It is during these few hours of  relief time that I do my shopping, housekeeping, cooking, reading, writing and exercise. Some days are better than other's... I just try to appreciate this time and do things that I like to do.

Food does play a huge role in how my body reacts to Mucuna Pruriens.  I have actually discovered that the Mucuna works best if I don't eat anything prior to taking it. (waiting at least 30-60 minutes before eating anything)... and not taking it with the D5 or Cys replete.  This seems to cause the least stomach issues for me.

I am still trying to use Food Combining principles when making choices for what I eat.... trying to get my body more alkaline.

Today I made this delicious soup. I think that I have to call it "Heaven in a bowl".... it is probably one of the best soups I have ever made... and it is so simple!


1/2 red onion - chopped
2 red potatoes  - peeled and chopped
1 sweet potato  -  peeled and chopped
6 small baby carrots - chopped
4 cherry tomatoes - cut in half
1 sundried tomato
1 cup spring water

Simmer all of the above ingredients until tender,  Using a vita mix blender or any high powered blender, add small batches of soup to blender and puree until smooth. Add 1 can of Organic Thai  Kitchen brand coconut milk to the soup in the blender and 1 T. red miso and continue to blend til all is blended well.
That's it! It is ready to eat and enjoy!

 Please let me know if you try this and what you think of this simple to make soup.  I thought it was awesome!!!

Surprising health benefits .

Continuing my journey .... How my body is affected by the food I eat.


This week I have been introduced to '"Fermented foods" . I chose to try  Raw Sauerkraut. 
I encourage you to click on the highlighted words above and read about the positive effects that fermented foods can have on restoring ""gut health".
I did a little  research on gut health and how it affects your overall health... click the link above, you may be surprised how it is all interconnected.

...You will remember that I have been struggling with 'stomach" issues... bloating, pain, indigestion, burping/gas and vomiting. All the signs of poor "gut health".  I tried probiotics and enzymes... neither did anything to help my stomach issues.... actually, I think they may have made it worse at times.

I have decided to look at traditional old fashioned food that helped people with digestive issues in the past. I came upon eating fermented sauerkraut... not the kind you buy in the grocery store, it is processed and does not have the beneficial healthy bacteria/enzymes that Raw Sauerkraut contains.  I started eating it this week... so I will let you know if it has a positive effect on my stomach problems.

Coconuts
Since starting on this 75% raw food journey... I have been enjoying many types of smoothies.
Coconuts- the meat and the milk have become a favorite add in to many of my smoothies... of course I am always interested in the health benefits of what I am putting into my body... so here is a look at why Coconuts, including coconut oil are a good addition to my diet. I found this article very interesting, as it pertains to the reason why middle chain triglycerides, may have health benefits . If you click on this link  health benefits it gives more positive insight as to why they are a good addition to my diet and how to use them in everyday recipes.

Smoothie
Coconut Milk from 1 Coconut
2 frozen bananas
3 soaked dates
1-2 T cacao powder unsweetened
1/2 C almond milk
1 ripe avocado
agave to taste

Blend together and enjoy!






Just Sharing
If you are like me and have pain associated with Parkinson's Disease... I find using Castor oil packs can help to alleviate the inflammation if used on a regular basis.

Castor Oil  Packs
Have you ever heard of or used a Castor Oil Pack?  I have used them for pain and inflammation and they do help.  I take a clean cotton cloth, pour castor oil onto it then place on the area I have pain, put plastic over it, (so oil does not get on anything else)  then place heating pad on to the area and leave it on for about 30 minutes.

What have I been eating?

Good question...

I have been eating a wide variety of food over the last 5 1/2 weeks.  I have documented some of the recipes that I thought tasted pretty good and would like to share them with you.

Dinner  last night  
I had some Bok choy and mushrooms and wasn't sure what I was going to do with it... so I googled bok choy and mushrooms and found a recipe that I thought worth making...Ginger-Sesame-Chicken-With-Bok-Choy-Onion-and-Mushrooms-354779
 
This is my version based on what I had on hand-

I sauteed in olive oil til translucent  1/2 onion chopped, 1/2 small Japanese eggplant chopped, and1 large clove garlic, added salt and pepper to taste.
I added 2 T chopped ginger to the above ingredients and sauteed for a few more minutes. I then added the broth recipe(below) and simmered for about 5 more minutes, until it thickened a little. I chopped up the bok choy that I had on hand and placed on top on the veggies and broth... I stirred the bok choy gently, until wilted  into the veggies and broth and served on top of quinoa that I had stuffed into a half of a baked acorn squash. The broth had a slightly sweet flavor from the agave and a tiny heat from the crushed pepper.  Next time I might add more crushed red pepper for a little more heat.  Otherwise it was very good!

Broth
1/2 C beef broth
3 T braggs aminos
2T pinot noir wine
1 T white wine vinegar
1 T agave
1 teas corn starch dissolved in water
1/2 teas peanut oil
3/4 teas crushed red pepper

I usually make enough quinoa at a time so I can use it for a couple of days... whether it be for breakfast with blueberries and raw cashew milk or dinner with some type of vegetable. It seems to be a good staple to have on hand.

Raw cashew milk is another staple I like to keep on hand ... it is a good base for smoothies. All you need to add is frozen bananas and frozen berries with a scoop of good protein powder and you have a good meal or snack.