Monthly Archives: June 2012

You Create Your World Every Moment

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I wish there was a fool-proof formula we could all follow to move ‘out’ of ourselves, to float above this vehicle we call our body, and observe ourselves act and react to mundane, fleeting, mostly unimportant events in our life. To see how we take things far too seriously, including ourselves!

I wish we could REALLY see, FIERCELY believe, that it is the programming of our minds that creates chaos and negativity or hinders peace and happiness in our lives.  And that if we spend just a handful of weeks working consciously to change our reactions and attitudes, we can intentionally generate a new program.

I wish we listened, quietly, with inner stillness to what others are ‘saying’ before we allowed our ever-churning brain to start preparing our response to justify what ‘we’ think.

I wish I could help you understand without a shadow of doubt that you house in your heart Divine Light that is clouded over by falsely thinking that you are separate from the Universe, from all Humanity and from Truth.  And that if you sat quietly for just 10 – 15 minutes each day, and let go of everything during those minutes, focusing on ‘seeing’ the Light flickering in your heart, and imagining it growing until if filled your being, after a while your perspective, your attitude and your knowing will be informed by that Light and life will begin to change.

What is going on with this body, in this life is a Gift intricately planned to present us with situations designed to help us learn specific lessons, (if we allow them to).  These lessons invariably expand our understanding of Who we are, Where we are going and Why it’s necessary to cultivate Acceptance and Awareness.

Without a positive attitude and strong faith in the power of our mind, we can’t heal.  Negativity changes your body chemistry, physically.  It takes hours to neutralize the toxins that negativity releases in your body. That alone should deter you from giving in to such a response. Stop, breathe and consciously choose a reaction before you say or do something you’ll regret.

It’s not easy, but practice is the only way to make it a habit.

No one is going to walk into your life and make everything better. You have to do that.

This moment is all you have.  How do you want to spend it?

Unhappy?  Fearful?  Worried?  Frustrated?  Bitter?

How about choosing to be

Happy,  Brave, Trusting, Accepting, and Grateful?

Vow to live your life as if today is the all you have…this moment the only moment. Join the abundant Joy that resonates in every aspect of Creation, and don’t let anyone shake your determination to feel good.

Excerpt taken from The HuMan Handbook

“Change is what happens when the pain of holding on becomes greater than your fear of letting go. You are using up enormous amounts of life force energy holding on to your pain and past.

Change your habits and you will quickly change your life. It only takes three weeks to “birth” a new habit. The Universe …will express anything you make into a habit.

You are the architect of the reality that you are experiencing. Forming new habits is how you will manifest what you want. Creating habits is the key to your success or failure.

Consciously creating new habits for more than 21 days is a small price to pay for what you want to manifest.”


“When things change only two things can happen with one being obvious and the other being extremely subtle. The obvious thing is that you will manifest what it is that you want to experience. The not so obvious thing is that you will surface what it is you need to heal, so that you can manifest what you want.”

E-mail your first and last name to SabrinaRose@HolisticLearningCenter.com, subject line- The Human Handbook to receive a copy.

It doesn’t matter where you are in your journey…this human handbook is a guide to mastering the inner you!

Protect Your Brain and Reverse Aging with These 2 Supplements!

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Two natural compounds produced by our tissues, L-carnitine and acetyl-L-carnitine (ALC), are similar in that both have identical chemical core structures. However, one (ALC) contains an extra component, an acetic acid bound to the core molecule (in what is known as an ester linkage). It turns out that this extra chemical piece makes a significant difference in how this molecule behaves in our body relative to its non-acetylated cousin, L-carnitine.

L-carnitine functions as a vehicle to ferry fat constituents (fatty acids) across a membrane barrier into the cell’s energy-producing machine, the mitochondria, where the fat is converted to energy. Equally important, L-carnitine works in the reverse direction, too. It ferries toxic products produced during fat metabolism out of the mitochondria. This latter step helps maintain the mitochondria as clean-burning, energy-efficient machines.

We are all aware of the fact that as we age, our energy level diminishes. This decrease in energy parallels a decrease in the plasma level of L-carnitine. L-carnitine also decreases under conditions of stress, both psychological and physical.

Acetyl-L-carnitine is just as active as L-carnitine in transporting fatty acids into the mitochondria. However, as described below, that extra acetyl group confers additional properties to this form of L-carnitine, which make it superior to its non-acetylated cousin. Both compounds increase energy Acetyl L-Carnitine or ALC Physical Energy Fat Metabolism Brain Protection Neurotransmissio.

One of the two cousins, ALC, stands out with respect to its effects on the brain and nervous system. First, ALC is more effectively transported into the central nervous system. It more readily traverses the blood-brain barrier.

Breakthrough research

Dr. Bruce Ames, professor of molecular and cellular biology at UC Berkeley, put this idea to the test by giving rats a supplement designed to stimulate and protect mitochondria. The results so far have been very impressive.

Dr. Ames and his team fed older rats two chemicals normally found in the body’s cells and available as dietary supplements: Acetyl-L-Carnitine and Lipoic Acid. The research was reported in three articles that appeared in the February 19, 2002 issue of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Not only did the older rats do better on memory tests, they had more pep, and the energy-producing organelles in their cells worked better.

“With the two supplements together, these old rats got up and did the Macarena,” said Ames. “The brain looks better, they are full of energy—everything we looked at looks more like a young animal.”

Based on Ames’ research, we now know that the combination of these two antioxidant dietary supplements supercharges the cells’ energy production in order to maximize memory, health and longevity. This breakthrough research has even shown that the combination of these nutrients has the potential of not only slowing down aging, but of even reversing some signs of aging.

Acetyl-L-Carnitine supercharges cellular energy production

Based on dozens of studies, Acetyl-L-Carnitine has been shown to supercharge cellular energy production in order to maximize memory, health and longevity.

What does it do?

Acetyl-L-Carnitine is an amino acid that occurs naturally in the brain, liver and kidney. It transports fats to the mitochondria and is also available as a dietary supplement.

Over the course of 30 years of biochemical and clinical research, we’ve learned that ALC is a natural metabolite in our physiology and an effective treatment for age-related mental impairment.

The benefits of Acetyl-L-Carnitine supplementationbrain

ALC has been shown to:

  • Protect the brain from the effects of aging
  • Improve performance in normal healthy humans (Lino, et al., 1992)
  • Improve cognition by enhancing the production of acetylcholine
  • Delay the progression of Alzheimer’s disease and enhance overall performance in some individuals with Alzheimer’s disease (Sano, et al., 1992; Bowman, 1992)
  • Improve memory, attention span and alertness in people with Alzheimer’s disease (Cabrero, et al., 1992; Cassat, et al., 1990)
  • Improve cerebral blood flow to the brain (Postiglione, et al., 1990; Rosadini, et al., 1988)
  • Counteract depression in the elderly (Bella, et al., 1990)

We’ve examined how it’s possible to increase mitochondria function with supplementation of Acetyl-L-Carnitine. But since we know that mitochondria are also the source of free radical production, the question remaining is this:

How is it possible to re-energize the mitochondria without increasing free radical production?

Many of the damaging free radicals generated within cells are formed in the mitochondria during energy production. If you restored their energy producing capacity with ALC alone, it would cause a dramatic increase in free radical activity.

This would increase the amount of damage occurring within the cells, and would reduce any long-term benefit. Thus, while the amazing properties of ALC are truly a revolution in dietary supplements, the most desired anti-aging strategy would be to restore mitochondria function AND lower the level of free radical production coming from the mitochondria. Because the benefits of ALC slowly dissipate as increases in free radical production age the cells.

Reaping the full benefits of Acetyl-L-Carnitine

Recently, it was discovered that there are some antioxidants that could partially restore mitochondrial function in old animals and decrease free radical production at the same time. Unfortunately, most of them are synthetic chemicals that aren’t safe for human consumption. All of them except one! Luckily this natural antioxidant is very well researched and safe and approved for human consumption…

What is Lipoic Acid?

Lipoic Acid is produced by the body in trace amounts. It’s a vitamin-like compound, which is often called the “universal antioxidant”. This is because unlike most other antioxidants that offer protection only for specific water-soluble or fat-soluble environments, Lipoic Acid offers protection in both cellular environments, providing antioxidant protection in all parts of our cells and body.

What’s special about Lipoic Acid?

Lipoic Acid is invaluable in recycling or restoring other oxidized forms of antioxidants—including vitamin C, vitamin E, glutathione and CoQ10— back to their active states. Lipoic Acid also crosses cell membranes and works as an antioxidant in both water and lipid parts of the body, including the brain.

Lipoic Acid’s antioxidant benefits

Because of Lipoic Acid’s unique abilities as a natural, broad-spectrum antioxidant, research into its effects quickly branched out. Since its development in Germany in the 1970s as a treatment for diabetic complications, it is routinely given to diabetics in Europe.

Some of the findings from this extensive research concluded that Lipoic Acid has the potential to:

  • Lower body levels of toxic metals, especially mercury.
  • Help prevent heart disease by protecting LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) from oxidation.
  • Promote brain and nerve cell health by stimulating Nerve Growth Factor (NGF).

But the most intriguing discovery was Lipoic Acid’s anti-aging effects on old animals.

Lipoic Acid was also found to:

  • Improve memory in aged animals by restoring age-related brain cell receptor defects.
  • Protect brain cells from damage caused by toxins and chemicals.
  • Recycle CoQ10 back to its antioxidant form in the body, enhancing the antioxidant protection of this important antioxidant.
  • Normalize elevated lipid peroxide levels in aged animals, reducing the risk of oxidation damage, cardiovascular disease, and cancer.
  • Restore antioxidant protection in old animals to normal, young animal levels.

Supporting Study from the National Institutes of Health (NIH)

(R)-alpha-lipoic acid-supplemented old rats have improved mitochondrial function, decreased oxidative damage, and increased metabolic rate.

Source

Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, USA.

Abstract

A diet supplemented with (R)-lipoic acid, a mitochondrial coenzyme, was fed to old rats to determine its efficacy in reversing the decline in metabolism seen with age. Young (3 to 5 months) and old (24 to 26 months) rats were fed an AIN-93M diet with or without (R)-lipoic acid for 2 wk, killed, and their liver parenchymal cells were isolated. Hepatocytes from untreated old rats vs. young controls had significantly lower oxygen consumption and mitochondrial membrane potential. (R)-Lipoic acid supplementation reversed the age-related decline in O2 consumption and increased mitochondrial membrane potential. Ambulatory activity, a measure of general metabolic activity, was almost threefold lower in untreated old rats vs. controls, but this decline was reversed (P<0.005) in old rats fed (R)-lipoic acid.

The increase of oxidants with age, was significantly lowered in (R)-lipoic acid supplemented old rats . Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, an indicator of lipid peroxidation, were increased fivefold with age in cells from unsupplemented rats. Feeding rats the (R)-lipoic acid diet reduced MDA levels markedly.

Both glutathione and ascorbic acid levels declined with age, but their loss was completely reversed with (R)-lipoic acid supplementation. Thus, (R)-lipoic acid supplementation improves indices of metabolic activity as well as lowers oxidative stress and damage evident in aging.

Click Here for Study.

NOTE: Consult with your Doctor or Nutritionist before starting any new supplement regimen.

~ Be Well! ♥

Do Statins and Aspirin Play a Role in Cancer Prevention?

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What are Statins?

  • Statins are a type of drug that blocks the enzyme HMG-CoA reductase, which the body needs to make cholesterol
  • Statins help to treat and prevent heart disease by lowering blood cholesterol
  • Research suggests that statins may lower the risk of certain cancers such as colorectal and skin cancers. This is because statins work against cellular functions that may help control tumor initiation, tumor growth, and metastasis
  • Two cardiovascular clinical trials have demonstrated a significant reduction in skin cancer among patients taking lipid-lowering drug

According the National Cancer Institute..

Animal research and ongoing observation of people who take statins suggest that these drugs may lower the risk of certain cancers, including colorectal and skin cancers. Statins’ known benefits in preventing cardiovascular disease, along with years of strong evidence that these agents are relatively safe, have led researchers to explore whether statins have the potential to prevent cancer. People should not take statins for cancer prevention outside of a clinical trial.

Specifically, statins reduce (or block) the activity of the enzyme HMG-CoA reductase and thereby reduce the levels of mevalonate and its associated products. The mevalonate pathway plays a role in cell membrane integrity, cell signaling, protein synthesis, and cell cycle progression, all of which are potential areas of intervention to arrest the cancer process.

Potential Side Effects

Although generally well-tolerated, statins have been associated with muscle pain (myopathy) and liver toxicity (hepatotoxicity). People who take statins should be monitored by their health care providers for these reasons.

Clinical Trials

NCI’s Cancer Prevention Clinical Trials Consortia initiated a trial for people at increased risk for colorectal cancer who also have been found to have aberrant crypt foci (ACF), in 2005.  ACF are clusters of abnormal cells in the lining of the colon and rectum that have been associated with the development of colorectal tumors. Using existing technology, ACF represent the earliest stage of detectable risk for colorectal cancer.

Patients diagnosed with stage I or II colon cancer are eligible for this trial after they have undergone surgical treatment (resection) to remove their primary tumor. Patients may also have received post-surgical (adjuvant) therapy. Study participants will be stratified (categorized) according to whether or not they have a family history of colorectal cancer, whether they regularly take aspirin and at what dose (none, 81 mg, or 325 mg), and whether they received prior adjuvant therapy. They will then be randomly assigned to take either rosuvastatin (Crestor) or a placebo pill daily for 5 years.

Participants will have physical exams every 6 months during the 5-year study period and will undergo complete colonoscopies within 180 days before randomization, and at 1, 3, and 5 years afterward. Doctors will follow the participants for the development of adenomatous polyps, the incidence of metachronous colorectal cancers, and the recurrence of their primary colon cancer.

“We’re also very interested in aspirin because we know that it has some benefit in preventing colorectal polyps and cancer. So, this study is designed to accept people who currently take aspirin as long as they agree to continue their aspirin over the course of the study,” added Dr. Bruce Boman (Protocol Chair), National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project.

And what about Aspirin?

Like statins, aspirin is widely used to protect the heart. The long-term use of aspirin has been shown to provide protection against the development of colorectal polyps and cancer. Since statins and aspirin are often used together, researchers are interested in exploring their ability, when combined, to prevent colorectal polyps and cancer. A recent case-control study examined the effects of a daily statin and low-dose aspirin, individually and together, on the development of colorectal tumors. The researchers found that using both drugs together reduced colorectal cancer risk more than the use of either drug alone. Consequently, one of the secondary endpoints in the NSABP-P-5 trial is to see if the combination of rosuvastatin and aspirin has either additive or synergistic effects.

For More Information

Call NCI’s Cancer Information Service at 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237). The toll-free call is confidential.

Haight Street and Roasted Vegetables with Tea Leaves

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I had an appointment with my anthroposophic Doc in San Francisco yesterday.  I’ve been having vertigo that lasts for a few seconds when I lay down, and inner ear congestion, so I sought her help.  She is an amazing woman with more accomplishments than I can ever remember.  She studied Psychology and Pre-medicine (1959) , earned her medical degree from the Medical College of Pennsylvania, and trained in Adult Psychiatry at St. Vincent’s Hospital in New York City.

 

She then received a fellowship in Child/Adolescent Psychiatry at Children’s Hospital in Washington, D.C. and served as a psychiatrist in the Peace Corps. She trained in classical Homeopathy in Greece and continued her studies in Osteopathic Manipulation and Craniosacral Therapy at Michigan State Ostepoathic College. Her integrative medical studies then took her to France, where she studied Auricular Medicine and later Homeopathy in Germany. Her studies then led her back to UCLA where she completed the “Doctors Course in Acupuncture”!!

Now in her late 70′s, she lifts weights (earned her last championship title in 2007), paints, plays classical piano, treats patients, and more.

Anyway, it’s always a wonderful experience visiting her home/office.

Haight Street, San Francisco

J and I drove in 4 hours early since he had a meeting on Haight Street with contractors bidding for a remodel on a new building his bosspurchased to turn into another Rasputin Music store.  I hadn’t been to Haight in a number of years.  My niece RC and I used to go to a Middle Eastern restaurant across from the building where J has his appointment, to enjoy the food and belly dance to live music.

Everyone knows that one aspect of San Francisco’s charm is the wonderful Victorian architecture.  The intricate wood work and eye-catching colors never cease to please me.

A lovely Victorian on Haight St., San Francisco

Haight Street is best known as the principal street in San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury district. The Haight-Ashbury district is famous for its role as a center of the 1960s hippie movement. College and high-school students began streaming into the Haight during the spring break of 1967.

Hunter S. Thompson labeled the district “Hashbury” in The New York Times Magazine, and the activities in the area were reported almost daily.  During that year, the neighborhood’s fame soared as it became the haven for many of the top psychedelic rock performers and groups of the 60′s.

I’m sure we all remember the Summer of Love, the social phenomenon in the summer of 1967, when about 100,000 people converged on the

Haight-Ashbury triggering a major cultural and political shift.

The ‘Peace Cafe’ located in the Red Victorian, is neighbor to a Vintage Costume and Rental store.  We got ourselves something to drink from a cafe across the street that J likes, decorated with huge paintings on canvas based on “The Wind in the Willows”, and a counter person who remembered J from last week and how he liked his Chai Latte!

The trip pooped us out, but we still stopped at Whole Foods on the way home, since I had run out of veggies and Almond Cheese.

My daughter and her fiance were dropping by for dinner, so after resting for half an  hour, I decided to roast the Veggies, bake some Cod filets with Ginger and Green Onions, and steam Butternut squash with a hint of coconut oil, salt and pepper. For a salad I made Slaw with Red and Napa Cabbage.

Roasted Rainbow Vegetables

8 Servings

 ~I only use veggies that are Organic.

  • 1 cup chopped Red Cabbage
  • 1 cup coarsely chopped Onion
  • 3 Zucchini, cut in half lengthwise and sliced 3/4″ thick
  • 3 Carrots, sliced 3/4″ thick
  • 1/2 large Eggplant, cut in chunks
  • 2 cups Butternut Squash, cut in bite size chunks
  • 2 Sweet Potatoes, cut in bite size chunks
  • 7 -10 cloves Garlic, halved if large
  • 2 Tbs. Green Tea leaves (reserved from making tea, or soaked)
  • 2 Tbs. Olive Oil
  • Sea Salt
  • Black Pepper
  • 1 tsp. Caraway Seeds
  • 1 tsp. Cayenne Pepper

Pre-heat oven to 425ºF ; 220ºC.

Combine veggies in a large bowl with tea leaves. Add Olive oil and toss to coat thoroughly.

Sprinkle with Sea Salt, Black Pepper, Caraway and Cayenne. Toss again until evenly coated with the spices.

Spoon Veggies into a large ceramic or glass baking dish that has been lightly sprayed with Coconut or Olive oil.

Roast veggies for 30 minutes, toss them with spatula and continue to roast for another 10-15 minutes or until carrots are tender.

Adjust seasoning, and serve hot.

~ Bon Apetit! ♥

Carcinogens Linked to Cancer Stem Cells, but Spinach Can Help

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Reblogged from The Science Bulletin:

Click to visit the original post

Researchers at Oregon State University have for the first time traced the actions of a known carcinogen in cooked meat to its complex biological effects on microRNA and cancer stem cells.

The findings are part of a growing awareness of the role of epigenetics in cancer, or the ways in which gene expression and cell behavior can be changed even though…

Read more… 423 more words

Actually Reverse the Symptoms of Aging and Increase Vitality!

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WATCH this Video, then read this post!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

A good friend of mine who is a Nutrition Counselor at a large well-known Medical Center told me about this product after she tried it.

Since then I’ve met a dozen people who have been taking AgeLoc for a few months, and each has some pretty amazing story.  Here are some of the changes they are experiencing: A notable shift in energy level, ability to exercise for longer periods of time, improvement in one person’s hearing,  gray hair growing in dark again, an improvement in bladder control, and just a good overall feeling.

My boyfriend J, a person who won’t take a pill for any reason whatsoever, volunteered to start taking these since I am hesitant to try something new without a lot of study and proof!  You know your boyfriend loves you when he agrees to be your guinea pig! Well, it’s been a month and even he admits that he likes what’s going on.  He says even his ‘skin’ feels different.

Age-Related Vitality Loss

Deep inside each of our cells, tiny cellular “power plants” called mitochondria create the chemical energy that fuels our bodies. These little guys never sleep as they  continuously deliver the energy molecule ATP that powers our cellular processes.

As we age, the efficiency, size, and number of our mitochondria declines and energy production is unable to keep up with our bodies’ demands. Some declines in efficiency of our mitochondria are associated with age-related changes in gene expression. These changes are represented by the changes we see in the activity patterns of the Youth Gene Cluster (YGC) associated with aging.

Gene expression can be influenced through lifestyle choices as well as nutrition. With AgeLOC science the company has been able to develop products that support the healthy expression of these YGCs to help people feel more like they did when they were younger.

Initial research findings from an exclusive partner, LifeGen Technologies, have revealed several potential ingredients shown to oppose age-related changes in expression of key gene groups associated with aging. So Pharmanex, the Scientific Research company that makes this product, is able to identify, target, and reset a specific YGC related to vitality.

Data suggests that some nutrients work well in the muscle while others work best in the brain.

According to Pharmanex, AgeLOC Vitality is formulated with a carefully selected blend of ingredients to:

  1. Promote healthy Youth Gene C activity associated with youthful vitality.
  2. Support three dimensions of vitality that typically decline with age—physical vigor, mental acuity, and sexual drive.
  3. Raise and sustain baseline energy levels.

Testimonials:

“ageLOC Vitality has helped me to train more and train harder than I ever have before. This is the first time I’ve noticed a significant difference after taking a product. My speed is better, my balance is better and my cardio is far beyond what it has ever been in the past.”   -  Tandi S., MMA Fighter

“I was totally amazed with ageLOC Vitality. I felt this surge throughout my body…as though all my circuits were being turned on! I noticed that I had no longer needed my usual afternoon pick me up, and started to feel this clean, healthy, even flow of energy that I used to feel and take for granted. It feels so good to feel this good again!”  -  Mickey E., Body Builder

“After taking ageLOC Vitality for 30 days, I raced in this year’s Death Ride – one of America’s toughest cycling events.  I had the fastest seat time ever, even with high headwinds on Carson Pass. This was definitely the best I’ve ever felt. I wasn’t ever winded on the early passes and didn’t crash and burn on Carson. After lunch, I only stopped once before top of Carson and I skipped a bunch of rest stops that I usually need to take.”  -  Mike F., Cyclist

From what I can tell in talking with people who have been taking AgeLoc, this is in fact what is happening.  Now that J has given me the green light, I am jumping on the band wagon too!

If you’re interested in trying any of NuSkin’s products contact me. I can set you up to view or purchase at wholesale (20 – 30% less than the posted online price) click HERE.

~ Be Well! ♥

A New Look for CUTC, and Coconut Cilantro Chutney

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My there were a lot of words beginning with “C” for such a short post…

You may have noticed that CookingUpTheCure (CUTC – pronounced Cutsie! yeah, I know but I can’t resist..) has a new look.  I’ve switched to the new theme called Sundance.

My Chiropractor encouraged me to transition  this blog to a “.com” site, so I wanted to give the blog a cleaner, leaner and more professional look while I ponder the pros and cons of a transition.  I hope this new theme accomplished that!

Do you think it would be a good move?  I’d love to hear your opinion or experience.  I don’t want to lost the interactive nature, since I get such good questions and ideas from you all!

 

~*~*~*~*

One of my sweet 30-something nephews came over for lunch today.  (Since I am the youngest of 7, and arrived 8 years after my closest sibling, I have older nephews and nieces).

We hadn’t really visited for some time since he lives an hour away. We caught each other up on news over chicken tacos, chicken Thai curry, whole wheat couscous, kale salad and spinach flat bread (I like eclectic meals).

I realized that I didn’t have a chutney to serve, since most are so full of sugar I rarely buy them.  Then I came this recipe…funny how my thoughts often trigger an unexpected but related event.

Next time I will have some of this on hand to serve.  It’s goes very well with fish too, and takes just minutes to whip up.

 

Coconut Cilantro Chutney Recipe

  • 3/4 c. shredded unsweetened Coconut
  • 3/4 c. fresh organic Cilantro, coarsely chopped
  • 1 small seeded organic Serrano chili,  quartered
  • 1/2 c. light coconut milk (or green tea)
  • Juice of 1/2 organic Lime
  • dash of Sea Salt

 

Place all but Lime juice in blender, or food processor, and pulse until consistency is almost smooth.

Pour into a bowl and mix in lime juice. Taste and adjust seasoning.

As a variation you may add 1 clove of garlic to veggies, or a 1/2 inch slice of ginger.

Makes about 1 cup of chutney.

 

~ āp kā khānā svādiṣṭa ho! ♥

Blood Sugar and Weight Loss Support in a Bean?

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A friend of mine told me about green coffee bean extract a few weeks ago, and I have finally found a minute to do a little research.

My sister who lives in London, and my older brother both have Type II Diabetes.  I am always looking for natural ways one can keep blood sugar levels in line, because sometimes we all cheat on our diets!

I posted the list of Foods that Help Lower Blood Sugar, so add this to them.

I don’t subscribe to TV, but I understand Dr. Oz had a show on the benefits of Green Coffee Bean extract. After doing a little digging here’s what  found:

Green coffee bean extract is a powerful anti-oxidant

Friday, May 18, 2012 by: Dr. David Jockers

There are two major types of coffee plants; Arabica and Robusta. The highest quality green coffee bean extract comes from the Arabica plant which is higher in the polyphenol anti-oxidants chlorogenic and caffeic acids. The majority of coffee drinkers are missing out on much of the benefits that coffee contains. The deep roasting process significantly reduces the anti-oxidant content.

Additionally, coffee is one of the most widely pesticide/herbicide sprayed crops in the world. Studies have shown over 1000 toxic chemicals in roasted coffee. It is essential to use organic coffee that is free of these dangerous chemicals that mimic hormones, congest our liver, kidneys and bowels and promote cancer growth.

Another powerful carcinogen is produced when high temperature cooking (baking, frying & roasting) damages sugars which then interact with the amino acid asparagine. This chemical reaction creates the potent carcinogen acrylamide. Instant and deeply roasted coffee has been shown to have significantly more acrylamide than brewed coffee.

There are many great health benefits associated with coffee consumption. A recent 2011 study indicated that individuals who consumed the most coffee had the lowest risk of type II diabetes. The researchers found that the chlorogenic acid reduces the release and creation of excess glucose in the body.

Blood sugar balance

Blood sugar balance is an absolutely critical measure of healthy aging in the body. Too much sugar and grains in the diet will lead to blood sugar imbalances. The body then goes through spirals of hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia. These blood sugar imbalances cause inflammation in the body that damage hormonal control systems, organs, and immune function.

Glucose overload is another major cause of blood sugar imbalances. This happens when glucose is released into the bloodstream by the muscle and liver tissues even though the blood sugar is already elevated. The common sign of this is elevated fasting blood sugar levels. At night, the individual has elevated glucose-6-phosphatase (G6P) enzyme activity that causes an elevated release of blood sugar from the muscle and liver. The body is basically eating these tissues.

The latest evidence shows that healthy fasting blood sugar ranges are between 65-85 mg/DL. Meanwhile, post meal ranges (2 hrs after) should never go above 120 mg/dL. When levels test higher it is a clear indication of oxidative stress damaging cells and tissues of the body.

The major anti-oxidant in green coffee bean extract, chlorogenic acid, has been shown to profoundly inhibit the release of the G6P enzyme which significantly stabilizes blood sugar levels. In one clinical study a dose of 400mg of green coffee bean extract showed a 32% reduction in the post meal blood glucose spike. This translates into someone who would have an extremely dangerous 160mg/dL blood sugar level down to a safe post-meal level of 109mg/dL

Stable blood sugar allows for better energy, mental clarity, hormone function, detoxification capabilities and weight loss. Raw green coffee bean extract along with other superfoods such as cacao and cinnamon all show great results in stabilizing blood sugar and improving overall bodily functions. The combination of these three also synergizes to create even greater effects in the body.

Due to the diuretic effects of caffeine in the coffee it is necessary to consume extra water. The water should ideally be from a natural spring or have gone through a deep filtration process to remove environmental toxins.

Sources:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20171062
http://greencoffeebeanbenefits.com/

And a second reference that states:

There are many reasons you may not be losing weight. If you started lifting weights, then chances are you are building muscle, which would negate any fat loss. This is good because muscle burns more calories than fat, so chances are you’ll see nice weight loss results down the road.

Second, if you do not sleep enough or aren’t eating enough, your body’s metabolism will slow down, negating the powerful weight loss properties of green coffee extract. Women should eat at least 1,200 calories per day and men should eat at least 1,500 calories per day.

Third and finally, the most likely culprit is that you’re still eating too much. Studies have shown that humans tend to under-estimate their caloric intakes by 25-40% on a normal basis. Therefore, you could be eating 300-600 calories more per day then you think you are.

Another likely culprit for overeating is due to emotional eating. Dr. Oz recently tackled this problem that affects a large percentage of the population. You see, when we are sad our dopamine levels are significantly lower. To increase these pleasure chemicals in our body, we eat junk foods, which have chemicals designed to increase these dopamine levels.

To combat this, Dr. Oz recommends taking saffron extract,  a natural extract from a flower grown in tropical regions. Saffron extract replaces the dopamine levels you are lacking, which prevents you from snacking on unhealthy foods.

Source:
WebMD article: Green Coffee Beans May Aid Weight Loss (click on Title).

CAUTION: If you have hypertension, or a medical condition that cautions against the consumption of Caffeine, do not take this product.  Always check with your doctor before starting any Supplement.

~ Be Well! ♥

Giant Lemons and Broccoli-Carrot Slaw

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Giant Lemons Rain Down on California Homeowner!

I have two lemon trees and an orange tree in the back yard along the fence.

The regular lemon tree has grown 5 feet above the fence, almost dwarfing the orange tree next to it, which in turn dwarfs the Meyer lemon next to it.

A few years ago we notice an unusual phenomenon with the regular lemon tree. First of all twice a year we could hardly keep up with the abundant fruit on the tree, and I use a LOT of lemons.  We gave many away to family and friends, and i froze some of the juice and made lemonade and lots of our favorite salad dressing.

But what we notices was that at the very top of the tree, the lemons grew to be the size and shape of Pomelos (or large grapefruit)! They have the same thick, thick skin, and a tiny fruit inside. The flavor is not the same as the regular lemons.. a little less tart and less juicy! Sometimes they fall off before we have a chance to grab them.

From the height of the fence and above, we seem to have a Jack and the Beanstalk type of tree.  No one could really explain what was going on, since all the lemons below were perfectly normal.

You can see in the photo there are about 4 huddled next to each other, haughtily looking down at the tinier lemons with sour sneers.

Last year, J was pruning the tree and he noticed that the giant lemons seemed to be growing on much thicker and thornier stalks that grew from the bottom or the tree. It seems that maybe these are suckers producing the hefty fruits.??

If the tree had been grafted I assume all the lemons would have been the same size.  Weird, but the kids love them. J’s younger daughter took one to school for show and tell… actually it was show and GUESS!

On this mild summer day, what better way to use some of the lemon juice than to dress one of my all-time favorite salads that I invented to get the kids to eat Broccoli! It also gets some cider vinegar in our diet (huge health benefits).

Recipe

  • 6 c. Trader Joe’s organic Broccoli Slaw, or 4 cups chopped up organic Broccoli and 2 c. shredded carrots
  • 1 c. organic Parsley, finely chopped
Dressing
  • 1 large or 2 medium organic Garlic cloves, mashed in mortar and pestle with 1/2 tsp. Sea Salt
  • 3-1/2 Tbs. Vegenaise
  • 1-1/2 Tbs. Bragg’s Apple Cider Vinegar
  • 1 Tbs. Lemon Juice
  • 1/4 tsp. Black Pepper
  • 1/2 tsp. Celery Seed (or you can add 1/2 c. fresh Celery, chopped

Combine veggies in a large bowl.  (I chop the TJ mix a little so the pieces aren’t so long and unwieldy.)

In a small bowl combing dressing ingredients, whisking until well combined. Taste and adjust seasoning.

Pour over veggies and toss to coat.

Note:  This is a light dressing, not meant to look like the thicker Slaw dressing we’re used to.

~ Bon Apetit! ♥

First CUTC “Fighting Disease With Food” Info Session a Success!

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On Sunday, I held the first Cooking Up The Cure (CUTC) informational session : Fighting Disease with Food. A good friend of mine who is a Nutritionist joined me.

Since she is closed on Sunday, my sweet acupuncturist kindly offered her lovely offices space to me.

Snuggled amid a forest of trees, and furnished with gorgeous Asian pieces, her office has a wood porch that runs the length of the back of the building bordering the creek. It was the perfect setting for a relaxed and health related talk.

The front entry of my acupuncturist’s office.

The back porch where the squirrels hang out

She scatters  sunflower seeds along the porch railing for the squirrels every day, as does my Chiropractor in the office adjacent to hers.  One squirrel saw the lights on, and stood begging against the sliding glass door as I began my talk, then resorted to jumping on the screen and hanging upside down to get our attention.  It was hilarious, and the squirrel stole the show.

Having this first talk at Susan’s office was especially symbolic, since it was in her office 2 years and a month ago, that I discovered the tiny lump in my breast. It was as if I had come full circle to close one chapter of my life, and begin a new one.  I also had the final needed cosmetic surgery 18 days ago, another ending to the 2 year process of healing.

I developed a PowerPoint presentation that included recent studies funded by the NIH (National Institutes of Health) which found that certain foods, spices or vitamins are proving to be just as effective (and in one case MORE effective ) as Chemotherapy in the treatment of Cancer, and others that have linked Autism and Depression to low Antioxidant levels.

I talked Antioxidants, Carotenoids, the Fantastic Foods and Spices and Super Supplements that are being recommended as part of a Complimentary treatment approach to many serious illnesses, and why it’s critical to maintain high Antioxidant levels either by eating the MINIMUM 7 – 10 servings of low-sugar fruits and a wide spectrum of colorful vegetables EVERY day, OR by taking a high quality pure Antioxidant Supplement (click here to learn about Lifepak Nano)* to ensure our body is able to fight back if attacked by disease.

Attendees got their palms scanned by our Biophotonic Scanner, and were either surprised or pleased with their reading. A number of attendants will be taking our Tëgreen* supplement which has the equivalent catechins (the major component of green tea extract, have highly beneficial physiologic effects.) as 7 cups of green tea.
• Tegreen 97(R) enhanced insulin sensitivity
• Improved glucose-lipid metabolism
• Increased fat burning and decreased body fat percentage
• Lowered body weight associated with inhibited angiogenesis.

I baked some Black Bean Dark Chocolate Bars and made a Quinoa Salad which I cooked with Green Tea, as samples of the Anti-Disease Diet. Both were a hit.

Each participant received CUTC Info packets that included the list of Fantastic Foods; a laminated list of Foods and their Antioxidant values; a reusable grocery list to take along when shopping for high antioxidant, vitamin packed foods; excerpts from the book  Beating Cancer with Food; several Anti-Cancer recipes, and more.

It was so successful that I am having another one in Berkeley in a couple of weeks, open to a slightly larger audience.  I want to keep it small enough to engage with attendees and have a meaningful discussion.

We will follow-up with the first group in two months to re-test their antioxidant score and make sure modifications to their diets or new supplements they are adding, are working.

I feel so privileged to have had the opportunity to share what I know with this lovely group of people.  It was a happy Sunday for me.

* For more information on these supplements send me an email.  If you are interested in trying them I can offer you a 20% discount from the online published price.

Cheers! ♥