Damn Mosquitos!

I don't know about you, but these past few weeks I've been getting eaten alive!! Mosquito's seem to love me, which is strange because they tend to love those who love sugar (sweet blood) and I am not a sugar lover...well sometimes ;0 Over the past few years I've become really sensitive to mosquito's and I get extremely red and swollen. Very swollen actually! My bites look like huge tennis balls! I feel like the mosquito's are getting worse each year, perhaps they are GMO mosquito's?? Just a thought?!

Being that it's almost July, I've got a long way to go til summer is over and so I will have to endure the stinging, itching and swelling for quite a few more weeks! I'm sure we've all used mosquito repellents to ward off these pesky bugs, and most repellents contain DEET. DEET does work to ward off bugs, since it helps to mask the smell of carbon dioxide which attracts mosquito's in the first place. Our skin and breath give off carbon dioxide gas, so we become tasty meals for mosquito's! Concentrations of about 10-30% of DEET can repel mosquito's for about 3-5 hours. BUT...at the end of the day, DEET is a chemical and over use can potentially harm us. Our skin is very porous and anything we put on our skin will be absorbed. BUT....there are natural ways to help with the nuance of itching and redness from bites, so here are a few suggestions:

- As funny as it may seem, mosquito's love the color black. So if your prone to getting bitten, avoid wearing black!
- Taking a high dose of B vitamins, particularly vitamin B1 (thiamine) helps to repel these little buggers! B vitamins get excreted through our urine and skin so our sweat and moisture combined with this vitamin help to repel them. 100mg to 200mg should do the trick.
- Apple cider vinegar mixed with a little water can be applied directly to the bite and will help with itching and redness.
- Take homeopathic Apis Mellifica 30CH to help with any swelling or allergic reactions to insect bites. You can also find apis gel to apply topically for the relief of pain and itching
- Rubbing alittle bit of lemongrass oil on your skin works as a great repellent
- Tea tree and eucalyptus essential oils are natural mosquito repellents as well and can also be applied to bites.
-Calendula cream/gel is also a great topical treatment for irritation caused by bites and also great as a first aid for cuts, wounds and abrasions, as well as for sunburns.
-StingStop is a gel you can find in most health food stores that contains citronella and is great for itch and pain as well as for cold sores.
-And lastly, if you're out in the woods and are getting eaten alive and don't have anything to apply to your bites, you can pick up some plantain (which grows almost everywhere). You would pick a few leaves, chew it....yes...chew it.....and once it becomes a mushy paste in your mouth you can apply it to your bites to stop the itch. It works like magic and because I spend a lot of time outside in the garden, I use plantain often! Plantain is also great for cuts or wounds. Here's a picture of what it looks like so you can familiarize yourself with plantain before you go chewing some random weed! So I hope this info helps you and your family stay free of mosquito bites this summer so you can enjoy doing more activities and less scratching!!!

Soaking up some D!!

I'm sure we're all enjoying the sunshine(minus the few rainy days)!! I can't wait for it to get super hot- so I can soak up some rays and get my tan on! There is just something about sitting in the sun that truly revitalizes you...and that's thanks to all the vitamin D! But I can't help but noticed how cautious everyone is about being in the sun and the slathering of sunscreen every 30mins!! So.....I think it's about time we get our facts straight about the benefits of vitamin D and how so many of us our lacking this vital nutrient.

Most of us know that Vitamin D is essential in helping us to maintain health bones, and in children, it is especially important for proper growth and bone development. Since it is a fat soluble vitamin, it actually acts more of a hormone in our body than a vitamin. Studies show how important it is for pregnant mothers to supplement with D since it aids in the development of the immune system. Lack of this nutrient can cause an increase risk of autoimmune disorders. One study showed that children supplementing with 2000IU of vitamin D in the first year of life were 80% less likely to develop type 1 diabetes!!

So how much D do we need? Spending 15-20 minutes everyday in the sun will help you synthesize anywhere from 10,000 - 20,000 IU of D, WITHOUT SUNSCREEN! Your body cannot synthesize vitamin D if you are wearing sunscreen. I recommend that you ask your Doctor for a vitamin D test (25-hydroxy test)to measure your vitamin D levels so you can than gauge how much vitamin D you really need. Most Doctors are recommending supplementation of only 1000IU which I personally think is too low! If I can't get outside I take anywhere from 3000-5000IU a day with my fish oil in the morning. It's best taking your D with some fat since it is a fat soluble vitamin. But again...get tested so you know how much to take!

So what about sunscreen? It's very important to shield yourself from the sun, especially if you have very fair skin. You definitely do not want to burn your skin, as this can pre maturely age your skin and cause a lot of oxidative damage. Wearing large brimmed hats, sitting under the shade, wearing long sleeves; these are all great sun shielders! I get very weary with all the sunscreen's out on the market. Have you ever read the ingredients?! The toxic ingredients! I'd rather not put that on my skin, and there are some great natural sun screens out there by ALBA, BADGER and DESERT ESSENCE ORGANICS. If you ever do burn your skin, make some green tea and rub the tea bag over your burn. The antioxidants from the tea help protect your skin from further damage. Aloe is also a great burn soother as it can actually seep through 3 epidermal layers of skin to regenerate new skin cells. And who says you need to spend your money on expensive creams!

So go soak up some immune supportive, bone building vitamin D and enjoy the summer months!

Morning Pick Me Up!

I am sooo very behind on my blogs and can't believe how busy I've been since getting back from Beautiful BC. I promise to share some amazing info with you regarding the conference I went to, but I've got to get my notes in order before I get ahead of myself!! AND...I promise I will share some amazing photos with you shortly as well. I must warn you though...you will be jealous of the beautiful scenery Vancouver has to offer...so be prepared! All in all, my trip was great! I fell in love with Vancouver and can't wait to go back. Aside from the amazing city, I thoroughly enjoyed the conference and got to hear some incredible talks on Vitamin D, Cancer, Health and Pregnancy, and also picked up some great books and loaded up on some supplements! But....lets put that aside and let me share with you an amazing Morning Picker Upper!! A drink loaded with minerals, healthy fats, electrolytes, antioxidants and vitamins! I thought I would share this drink with you because it truly is a nourishing smoothie that just really makes you feel good- inside and out! I came across this smoothie last summer when I was reading CLEAN- by Alejandro Junger. I've mentioned his book before, and it really is one of my favorites! Anyhow, last August, after getting back from Cuba, I caught a not-so-friendly bug and was feeling quite ill for afew weeks! So, I made myself this smoothie almost every morning and it was soooo great! It brought me back to life! So here's the recipe:

UBER GREEN SMOOTHIE

1 1/2 cups almond milk (Almond Fresh or Almond Breeze...or make your own!!)1/2 cup coconut water (either from fresh coconut or VitaCoCo or ONE brand)
2 leaves dark green Kale or Swiss Chard- coarsely chopped
1/4 avocado (squeeze some lemon on the remaining avocado, put in the fridge and eat the next day)
1/2 cup mango chunks (fresh or frozen)
1/2 cup ice

Blend all ingredients until smooth. This smoothie looks rather green!! If you plan on sharing it with your kids...it might not go over so well. Or you can tell them it's Shrek food!! The mango gives this smoothie a really nice sweetness, and the avocado gives it a great creamy texture. Even though the Kale/Swiss Chard is rather bitter, you can't taste it in this drink because it's masked from all the other ingredients! It's a really great morning drink because it's loaded with energizing nutrients.

Kale provides you with beta carotene, vitamin C, iron, manganese and calcium.
Avocado is loaded with vitamin C, vitamin K, magnesium, phosphorus and potassium and of course...lots of healthy Omega 3 and 6.
Mangoes provide vitamin C, vitamin A, fiber, vitmain B6, and lots of potassium.
Almond milk is a great substitute for dairy as it's not as mucus forming, and much easier to digest. Most almond milk on the market has added calcium, and it also loaded with vitamin E.
Lastly...my favorite....COCONUT WATER!! It really is the best way to quench your thirst. A few facts about this amazing nut (or fruit, or seed?!?!?)

- It contains Lauric acid, which gets converted into Monolaurin in the body and has anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties.
- It is a universal donor, being identicial to human blood plasma
- It's a natural isotonic beverage, the same level we have in our blood
- Has saved lives in 3rd world countries as an IV!

So drink up this green goodness and I promise you will feel AMAZING!!

Beautiful B.C.

In a few short days I'll be heading off to Vancouver to attend the 39th Annual International Conference for Orthomolecular Medicine. Whew!! That was a mouth full! I've never been to Vancouver before and I'm really looking forward to spending time in a city that is full of greenery and has one of the smallest carbon footprints of any major city in North America. I can't wait to check out the cafes, the restaurants, and STANLEY PARK, which has just over 150,000 trees! Oh ya....and the seminar! So....what exactly is Orthomolecular medicine? Orthomolecular was a term used by Linus Pauling, (who by the way won TWO nobel prizes) that is based on the use of optimum doses of nutrients, such as vitamins, minerals, amino acids, fatty acids, and trace elements. All these nutrients are substances natural to the body and when used in correct doses, can resolve imbalances or deficiences. Linus Pauling, back in the 60's, suggested that mega doses of vitamin C may be helpful in dealing with cancer. Of course, he was scrutinized by the medical community, but having two nobel prizes under his belt, his studies couldn't be ignored! In 1979 he wrote a book with Dr. Ewan Cameron (a surgeon) titled- Cancer and Vitamin C. If you could get your hands on this book, it describes the impressive results from their trials with vitamin C. I would pay a visit to http://www.orthomed.org/index.html to learn more about Orthomolecular medicine and about the leading researchers and pioneers who study the relationship betweeen health and disease with nutrition. I still can't understand how Medical doctors today (some...not all), don't understand the importance of eating a healthy diet. Most doctors think cutting back on sugar by replacing it with splenda, or lowering the intake of fat by consuming margarine is a 'health conscious, preventative nutritious choice!!' These are FAKE FOODS PEOPLE!! Aside from fake, they are highly toxic. Eating closest to nature is what will keep you healthy, and yes...that means eating BUTTER NOT MARGARINE! If we could combine Allopathic Medicine with Orthomolecular Medicine, we would see people suffering from disease actually get better!!

During this Orthomolecular conference, I'll be learning about- The Origins of Modern Disease, Nutrition and Pregnancy, A Diet for Longevity, The Importance of Iodine (an underutilized nutrient), Cancer Care, Toxic Chemicals and Mental Health, and much much more!! I can't wait! I'll have so much to share with you all when I get back. So enjoy your week, and I'll be back with lots of great info and probably some amazing Vancouver pics!

Bye for now!

Roasted Portobello Sandwich w/ Sun-dried Tomato Aioli

At my house, as soon as the days get warmer, the barbecue gets used often! I love grilling veggies on the barbecue, but my parents prefer to grill meat!! So...here is a recipe that is oh-so-good, that I swear will get meat lovers everywhere drooling!

This recipe is taken from the book- CLEAN FOOD by Terry Walters. I've made a few of my own tweaks to the recipe.

Portobello mushrooms are so meaty and full of flavor which make them a great substitute for meat in recipes. This sandwich is so full of yummy-ness (yes...that's a real word?!?!) that I'm sure it will become a staple in your house this summer.

Ingredients:
- Portobello mushrooms (1-2 per serving)
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 1 tbsp minced fresh herbs of choice (thyme, oregano, parsley, basil)
- Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
- Sourdough bread or Nordico Oval bread from-Artisano Bakery (www.artisanobakery.com)- 2 slices per serving
- Roasted red peppers, sliced into 1/2 inch strips
- Avocado, thinly sliced
- Romaine or fresh spring mix lettuce
- Mustard (honey dijon)- optional


Aioli:
- 6 sun dried tomatoes
- 1 garlic clove, peeled
- 1 1/2 cups grapeseed oil mayo or I like to use vegenaise and I add a touch of sriracha hot sauce to the mayo
- 2 tbsp freesh italian herbs of choice
- pinch of sea salt



Preparing Aioli- soak dried tomatoes in hot water for 15 mins. or until soft. With food processor/blender running, drop in garlic. Process until minced. Squeeze excess water form tomatoes and add them along with mayo to the food processor. Scrape down side of the processor as needed and blend until smooth. Add herbs, salt and process lightly. Transfer to a container and refrigerate to allow flavors to blend. This aioli will last approx. 4-5 days in the fridge.

Roasting Portobellos- Preheat oven to 400F. Line cookie sheet with parchment paper. Wipe mushrooms with a damp towl to clean. Discard stems and rub smooth side with olive oil. Place smooth side down on cookie sheet and sprinkle insides with italian herbs, pepper and pinch of salt. Roast for about 8-10mins. until soft. Remove and set aside.

OR....

Grilling Portobellos- Grill on high heat for approx 10-12 minutes. I like to marinate my mushrooms in some olive oil and garlic for about half an hr before grilling.

Assembling- Slice bread and lightly toast. Spread aioli on toast and top with roasted portobello, roasted red peppers, avocado and lettuce. Spread mustard on second piece of toast and top sandwich. Serve warm.

Take a really big bite and enjoy!!!

Nature provides all we need

I attended an amazing seminar this weekend on Pediatric care which was taught by Dr. Robert Abell, a Naturopathic Doctor who lives out in Austin, Texas. He shared some amazing protocols for treating childhood ailments, but he also shared a great story about a 6 year old boy he treated back in 2001. It was quite a jaw dropper. So...the story goes....in 2001, this 6 year old boy came into his office and had been diagnosed with asthma, rhinitis, and sinusitis. He was on approximately 10 different medications to treat his 'diseases' and had been taking these meds continually for 3 years...not one day break from his meds! AND....if he missed a day of his meds, his sinusitis got really bad. So...this isn't the worst part. This child had SEVEN nasal/respiratory surgeries!!! SEVEN!!!! Can you imagine the trauma this poor child had been through almost his entire life!? With each surgery, his parents were told that there is no way...NO WAY....that his infections would recur....BUT....they always did! So....they go to visit Dr. Abell in April 2001. He starts the boy off on some very simple protocols...some probiotics and some UNDA numbers. UNDA numbers are a combination of plant remedies in a homeopathic dilution.....remedies the way nature intended! So, 2 weeks go by, the little boy is doing great. Another 2 weeks go by, he's still great and then Dr. Abell gets him off all his meds! His parents obviously freak out, fearing that their son will get an infection from being off of his meds, but no.....he's perfectly fine! So finally, after treating the boy for about a year, and giving him some very simple protocols, their son is CURED of asthma, rhinitis and sinusitis. To this day, the boy who is now 15 has never had ANY respiratory problems. The best part is that he was treated initially by 'TOP' UCLA physicians. The mother wrote a letter to these doctors asking for them to contact Dr. Abell and discuss the protocols he used to cure their son and not once did he recieve a call. So even though Dr. Abell isn't reading my blog....I would just like to applaud him and all the Naturopathic Doctors who truly understand disease, physiology and work to treat root causes of disease, not just symptoms. I truly believe we can always rely on nature to heal.

Oh Sweet Sugar....

Glazed doughnuts, chocolate chip cookies, pecan pie, creamy puddings, cakes, candies...oh the joy of sweetness! We all love to indulge in a sweet treat, but a treat no longer it is! We eat sugar waaaaay to often. In the old days, sweets were truly a treat and were few and far between. Generally, these treats were sweetened with raw honey, or real maple syrup...the good stuff! Nowadays, our sugar fix comes from highly refined sugar. This highly processed sugar is virtually in every packaged food in the grocery store and probably lurking in all of your cupboards! It also goes under the alias- high fructose corn syrup, dextrose, fructose, glucose, maltodextrin, maltose...just to name a few. Consuming just 4 tablespoons of sugar a day has been linked to numerous diseases and imbalances in the body. Here are just a few:

- Lowers ability of enzymes to function
- Impairs structure of DNA
- Raises adrenaline levels in children
- SIX tablespoons paralyzes phagocytes, which suppresses the immune system by almost 90%
- Causes hormonal imbalance
- Contributes to a weakened defense against bacterial infection
- Causes free radical formation in the blood stream
- Increases fasting levels of glucose in the blood
- Candidiasis (yeast infections)
- Overstresses the pancreas, causing damage

These are just 10, of the 124 known diseases and imbalances caused by sugar! Not only do you need to worry about processed sugar, but you also need to be watchful of artificial sweeteners! Aspartame, sucralose, cyclamate, acesulfame potassium...these are definite NO NO'S!!! The fact that they are called ARTIFICIAL says it all!! Do we really need to consume something unnatural, something foreign to the body, something ARTIFICIALLY made??!! NO WAY! These artificial substances are known neuro toxins. What this means is that they can actually alter brain chemistry and specifically act on nerve cells...not a good thing! You must avoid these at all costs. Even though we may be consuming small amounts of these artificial substances at a given time, consuming them on a daily basis, day after day, adds up to quite a bit over the years!

Lately, I've been using stevia or xylitol, more plant based natural sweeteners. But above all, my favorite is agave nectar! This sweet treat comes from the cactus plant, and I like to add it to my tea or even my baking. The dark agave tastes similar to maple syrup and it is yummy!

The best sweet fix of all is FRUIT! Fruit is nature's candy. Aside from being sweet, fruit is loaded fiber, vitamins, antioxidants and lots of supportive nutrients. So ditch the sugar, and eat more fruit to fix your sweet tooth!