Coconut Oil "Milkshake"

Just a quick note to those trying to add coconut oil to their diet, but aren't quite sure how. The naturopath I saw about my son's terrible headaches suggested he try adding coconut oil (and coconut water) to his diet. So, I mixed two teaspoons of coconut oil with a teaspoon of agave syrup and added a cup of laban (the drinking kind, without salt). Voila! A sweet coconut "milkshake" that my son happily gulped. Once a day from now on. Job done.

Curious about why you should add coconut oil to your diet? Read more here at Wellness Mama.

Coke beat Pepsi in this

It isn't sales or taste or look. This time it is about reducing the carcinogen in caramel colour in their drinks. Scientific studies on mice and rats have produced "clear evidence" that the chemical 4-methylimidazole (4-MEI), a by product in the production of caramel colour, is a toxic carcinogen.

California took the initiaive on this in 2011 by banning the carcinogen in their state, and requiring all cola products to be marked with a cancer warning label. This is quite significant. First cigarettes, and now cola.

Both CocaCola and PepsiCo said they would comply, not only with their products sold in California, but also eliminate the chemical from the rest of the United States as well. Now, a year after that statement, Pepsi is sill high in 4-MEI, while Coke has either greatly reduced the 4-MEI in a study done in 10 states.

This does not mean that Coke or Pepsi will be eliminating 4-MEI from their products sold outside the US.

The FDA still says that the small amount of 4-MEI found in cola products is safe for human consumption. But, if we know that it causes cancer in rats and mice, then why not err on the side of caution? If you are the kind to have a cola every now and again with a burger or bbq, then this should not be too much of a concern. But, those who drink a cola or two (or more) a day, should seriously consider making it a once-in-a-while drink. The 4-MEI is found in both diet and regular colas.

For more read:

natural news
USA Today

Calcarea Phosphorica - Tissue Salt Number 2

Calcarea Phosphorica (Calc Phos) comes in the 6X potency of and is Number 2 in Dr. Schuessler's Tissue Salts.

Please note:  My advice in this blog should never replace a doctor's advice.  If you are currently taking prescription medication, please check with your practitioner before taking anything else.  Also, I take a conservative approach in dosage suggestions as this is a highly individual therapy.  These are general guidelines only.

What Calc Phos can be used for 

• Relaxes muscle tension, and improves circulation. 
  
• Great for rebuilding after an illness, such as flu.
• Muscle fatigue, cramps, headaches.  Magnesium phosphate (tissue salt number 7) needs this salt in order to work properly in the body.  So, it is a good idea to take them in conjunction.
• Excessive sweating at menopause.  The monthly menstrual cycle that is used to discharge the body of protein and acidity is no longer active in menopause and therefore the body will cleanse itself with excessive sweating. 
• Give it to kids with growing pains.  There is calc phos as an ointment that can be rubbed into the limbs that hurt as well. (not available in the UAE.  If you see it, please write a comment and tell us where!)
• Good for those with anaemia as it is of vital importance for new cell formation
• Predispositions to colds, headaches or skin eczema.
• Indigestion

How do I know if I would benefit from Calc Phos?

Some signs and symptoms to help you decide:

• Face has a waxy, cheesy, warm ivory look to it.  It may be over the wings of nose, ears and forehead, or extend to the entire face.
• Teeth develop slowly. Teeth decay easily
• Tendency to sore throats and hoarseness
• Craving for salty or smoked food (smoked turkey, bacon)
• Food seems to lie in a lump in the stomach
• Icy cold feet due to poor circulation
• Growing pains
• Loss of or poor appetite
• Headaches and migraines
• Feel worse after coffee

How to take Calc Phos

As with all tissue salts, it is absorbed in the mouth.  So, no gulping or chewing or being hurried about it!

For chronic conditions:

chronic headaches or migraines - fatigue - easily catches colds or sore throat - weakness - tooth problems

Take 2 pills half an hour before or after meals, three times a day. Do this for two weeks and see if there is a difference.  Chronic conditions that have lasted years will take longer to get rid of. 

Or, you can do like I do and dissolve 5 pills in a large bottle (mine is 24 oz) and sip over the course of a few hours.  I find this very effective because I get my water in, and I don't forget to take my calc phos.  I do this two or three times a week because I tend to get tension headaches, I feel worse after coffee, and osteoporosis runs in my family so I take extra precautions. (If your headaches are really bad, you can put up to 10 in the water bottle)

For bone rebuilding after break or fracture:

Take it as long as the cast is on and for one to two weeks after you take it off.

Growing pains in children:

Should be treated as for a chronic condition.  Don't wait for the growing pains to strike in order to give this.  Give them 1 pill before or after their meals.  If this doesn't work, give them 2 pills each time. Alternatively you can add 4 pills to their water bottles they take to school.  I do this for my own son. General dosage guideline for children is to take half the adult dose.  See the paper inside the box for details.

For rebuilding after flu and colds:

Take it as for the chronic conidition above.  Take it for 10 days unless you feel you still need it.  If so, continue for another week.  If you are still weak or suffering the ill effects, see a practitioner as there may be another remedy you need as well.

Acute attack of headache or growing pains:

Dissolve 2 pills in the mouth and wait 10 minutes.  Then take another 2 tablets. Then wait.  Then take another 2.

Osteoporosis is a delicate case.  If you are already taking prescription medication, then you must check with your doctor first.  I would never, ever advocate going against a doctor's advice.  But, there are many people out there that I know who are borderline and not taking anything.  So, to those of you: please take this!

Junk food:

Needs to be minimised as it creates acidity in the blood.  When the body is acidic it will use calcium phosphate to bind with this acid for elimination, and in that way bring the body back into balance.  Sometimes those who display symptoms of anemia can be treated successfully with calc phos.

Important note: Do not take Calc Phos at the same time as Ferrum Phos (tissue salt number 3).  If you want to take both you must space it out by half an hour, otherwise they will cancel each other out.

Bentonite Clay and my first detox

The Ayurvedic doctor at Breath and Health handed me a paper bag filled with a concoction of powders and medicinces, and with a smile told me to take the bentonite clay with water three times a day.  She said it was the most important part of my 7-day detox.  I thought "nothing to it," and happily went home.

Then I mixed it with a spoon of pysillium husk and tried to drink it.

Although there was no taste or smell, it was like drinking cement, and I quickly spit it back out for fear it would get stuck in my throat and choke me to death.

Drinking the bentonite clay

On day three of my detox, and after much patient and gentle encouragement by the doctor, I finally worked up the nerve to sprinkle a little of the clay on orange juice and gulped.  It went down! I wan't choking!  I added a bit more to another glass and gulped again.  There was no taste or smell.  It is the consistency you have to overcome. And, I drank another glass of orange juice right after just to wash the remains away.

I waited a couple of hours to see if it was going to glue my intestines together, but nothing happened.  No heartburn or stomach aches or pains.

Why is bentonite clay so great? 

My doctor wasn't kidding when she said it was the most important part of my detox that I had chosen to do to flush out a host of unnecessary antibiotics and their candida legacy.

When mixed with water, bentonite clay becomes negatively charged.  When this happens it will attract positively charged toxins.  It bulks up as it engulfs the toxins and then moves out of the body, taking all the toxins with it.  Bentonite clay also has important minerals in it such as magnesium and calcium.

Bentonite clay can:

Cleanse the liver, colon and skin
Balance bacteria in the digestive tract
Improve nutrient assimilation
Strengthen the immune system

Here is what Natural News has to say:
"In addition, bentonite clay can also eliminate food allergies, food poisoning, colitis, viral infections, and parasites. It is an effective treatment for arthritis, cataracts, diabetic neuropathy, pain, wounds, diarrhea, stomach ulcers, animal and insect bites, acne, anemia and alcoholism; it is effective in treating all digestive conditions and aids in weight loss. Bentonite clay also re-mineralizes cells and tissues, alkalizes the body and is very effective in protecting our bodies against radiation."

How to use bentonite clay

If you have never taken bentonite clay before, the best thing you can do is see a medical (complementary or allopathic) who can assess your case and tell you exactly how best to use the clay for your benefit.  If you have never taken the clay before, this is almost a must. If you have any intestinal issues, you should see a practicioner first. 

Take the clay two hours away from a meal or other medications or supplements so that it doesn't absorb them.

Take bentonite clay with pysllium husk which is a great fiber for cleansing the intestines.  It will push out the clay and toxins.

In my own experience using bentonite as part of a detox and in conjunction with a colonic works really well.  That way you can be sure the clay does get washed out, taking those nasty toxins with it.

The Wellness Mama has a list of ways to use bentonite clay, both internally and externally.  But, again, if it is your first time to drink it, please please see a practictioner who has experience with it and knows your case.

Side Effects of bentonite clay

Generally speaking there are no side effects.  But, since bentonite clay does bulk up in the intestines it can lead to some mild constipation.  That is why you should take extra fiber like psyllium husk with it to push it out.  I also read that people with hypertension should not take it.  Cautions are also for women pregnant or breastfeeding.


More details about Bentonite Clay

To have your salmon and eat it too?



about.com food

 I think if I read one more article about how to get more omega-3s into my diet by "eating oily fish such as salmon," my head will explode. Salmon may not be so great of a diet option as you may think.  Here's why:
Salmon Problem One:  If omega-3 is so essential, then the powers that be must have put it in more than just oily fish.  Afterall, what do landlocked countries eat?  Do they just not get any omega-3? Of course not.  Omega-3 can be found in other sources, like flax seed, walnuts, free-range eggs and grass-fed livestock, to name a few.

Salmon Problem Two:
With the demand for salmon climbing, there is simply not enough wild salmon to supply all the hungry mouths. Enter:  Salmon Farming.  There is a hefty debate over whether salmon farming produces salmon fit to eat or not, and whether the contamination of the farms into the surrounding waters bring more harm than good. And, whether it is worth an increase in cancer risk to get more omega-3.

A study in Science magazine that tested 2 metric tons of farmed salmon found that the farmed salmon contains ten times the level of contaminants than wild salmon.  And, those contaminants include PCBs and dioxins, which have been proven to have a negative impact on the fetus with issues ranging from lower IQ to endocrine problems.


Salmon farm



So, should I eat salmon or not?

The recommendation is to eat farmed salmon no more than once a month in the US, and no more than once every FOUR months from European farms.  And, Europe is where we in the UAE get our farmed salmon.

If I don't eat fish, where else can I get omega-3?

Those who recommend avoiding fish altogether due to mercury levels in the waters, let alone contaminants from farm fed fish, eat the following foods:

meat and dairy from grass-fed livestock (preferably raised without hormones or antibiotics)

free-range chickens and their eggs

flax seed



The incredibly important Omega 3 and Omega 6 balance

The issue with the omegas is the balance.  The ideal balance for omega 6 to omega 3 has been said to be 3:1 or even 2:1.  But, with today's diet and lifestyle the average person's omega 6 to 3 ratio is estimated at 20 or 25 to 1. 

The book Anti Cancer, A New Way of Life by Dr. David Servan-Schreiber does a marvelous job of explaining why omega 3 and 6 are important in balance, and why we are getting too much omega 6. (It is a great book with a lot of insight into how the medical and pharmaceutical industries work, as well as why cancer has become so rampant, and how to avoid it).   

Read a more comprehensive article about non-fish sources of omega-3 and why the omega 6 to 3 balance is so imporant.

Further Reading:

For more information on the debate for and against eating farmed salmon you can read the transcript of the debate on the Salmon Scare on the PBS site. 

You can access the full article on the salmon farming study in Science Magazine for free, but will have to register.

Read a quick overview of the health benefits of omega-3 on WebMD

As mentioned above, an easy to read article that can sum up the omega 3 to 6 balance and how to get non-fish sources of omega 3 is here.

"There is sufficiency in this world for man's need but not for man's greed." Gandhi

10 Uses for Honey



Life Hackery



1. Mix honey with lemon for a cleansing face mask.

2. Put a little honey on lips to soften.

3. Put honey in bath water for a sweet smelling, and softening bath

4. In the morning, before breakfast, drink a glass of warm water with honey and lemon.  It is supposed to jump start the fat burning, and cleanse the liver.  But, I have tried this. It went well for the first three weeks.  Then my stomach started to dread the mornings, protesting and disagreeing with the lemon and honey.  Some people can do it. I say it is great maybe twice a week as micro-detox after an overindulgent meal the previous night.

5. Rub honey into elbows and knees to soften.

6. Removes parasites.  Make a mixture of about 2-3 teaspoons honey, 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar in a tall glass of water and drink.  Adjust to taste.  This drink has been promoted to burn fat and have a plethora of benefits.

7. Drinking honey in water every day helps ease the effects of colitis.

8. Dab on cuts.  Honey contains hydrogen peroxide, which helps clean wounds and heal quickly.



9. Dab on pimples.  The antiseptic properties work here as well.

10. Relaxes nerves!  Put it in a herbal tea or on your breakfast cereal.  It gives you energy, but calms your nerves at the same time.

Turkey bans 26 GMOs

Green Prophet recently published a story about the Biosecurity Board in Turkey unanimously banning 26 genetically modified organisms.  However, some genetically modified corn and soy will be allowed for animal feed, which means meat-eaters will still be exposed to GMO's.

The ban is good news for us in the UAE as we are seeing an increasing number of Turkish food products on our store shelves.  Pastas, bottled water, and dairy products are the few that immediately pop to mind. (although, maybe we give the dairy a miss as the cows will most likely be eating genetically modified corn)

Why should we avoid GMOs?

Organic Authority has a well explained list of 8 reasons we should not use GMOs, including:

1. We still don't fully understand how it will effect our health. 

2. Reduces genetic diversity, and therefore genetic resilience, ultimately putting crops at greater risk.

3. In America items containing GMOs are not labeled.  Why not?  What are they trying to hide? While the US is busy covering up the trail of GMOs, the EU, Australia, Japan, the UK and many more have banned GMOs. It begs the question:  what do companies like Monsanto know that they are not telling us?

Read the full list of 8 reasons to not buy products with GMOs at Organic Authority.

GMO corn and rats
There was one study done on Monsanto genetically modified corn fed to rats.  The rats grew massive tumours.  The scientists methods were questioned, as should always happen in a healthy scientific debate.  Read more about this debate and the very scary potential GMOs can have on the mother nature network.  Warning:  the pictures of the rats are not easy to look at.