The Key to Victory over Candida (Part 4)

Feeling discouraged, frustrated and defeated I went back on my hateful eating regimen.  In the days to come I had to face more fatigue, a terrible flu and more yeast free diets... then finally, just the other night out of nowhere, it hit me.  It was like a light bulb came on illuminating something in my memory that was rather bizarre.  The first time that I had to do the yeast free diet without the help of the yeast killer I recovered very, very quickly; in HALF the time that it took me with the yeast killer in fact.  What's odd is, I accidentally had a daily intake of sugar (organic cane sugar) during that speedy recovery period.  Because I don't eat pork, my meat choices are limited; so during that week I had beef and turkey bacon.  I had bacon almost every single morning for those two weeks for breakfast.  What didn't occur to me until I was healthy again was that bacon contains sugar!  Confused?  Well, so was I!  Until last night when I remembered that comment my friend made so many years ago; "It's always the low-meat eaters and the no-meat eaters who have this problem."  It kept echoing in my brain for several minutes until I finally picked up the phone and left my doctor a long message.  This morning she called me.  When I told her that my candida overgrowth problem seems to occur most viciously when I eat vegan for just a few days, she wasn't surprised in the least.  She told me that in her own experience and the experience of other naturopaths that she knows, the sickest people who come to them are vegetarians.  She said that there ARE people who are natural vegetarians and for them it's the opposite; they do well on a vegetarian diet.  People like me, however, are meat eaters and do best when we consume a lot of meat.  THAT'S why I had such a speedy recovery.  I was eating meat three times per day everyday without fail.  The key to being victorious over candida is meat... at least for me.  Although according to TWO of my doctors PLUS a nutritionist that I'm seeing, it may be the case with many others as well.

The Key to Victory over Candida (Part 3)

Last year, I had more problems with candida.  A rash just showed out of nowhere after months and months of eating sauerkraut (homemade and without sugar or vinegar), kombucha, kefirs and yogurts.  I saw an acupuncturist who taught me to check my tongue (hours after brushing it, of course) and if there is a sheet of white on it, it means the candida is getting out of control.  Last summer is also the first time that I saw a chiropractor, now my primary healthcare provider, who had a method of finding the candida before it became a problem.  This is when I discovered, much to my frustration, that probiotics only slow down the growth of the candida, but it never really seemed to stop it.  My new doctor put me on a yeast free diet that included a yeast killing supplement that I had to take three times per day.  Despite my avoidance of all the "no-no" foods, that unrelenting candida hung around for four horrible weeks.  When it was finally gone, I didn't go back to my regular diet immediately.  I still stayed away from sweeteners (even my natural ones like honey), and I stayed away from many yeast feeding foods.  After about a week I started to introduce some foods on the yeast free list like dates and pineapple juice, but I ate them so sparingly.  Somehow, the candida still managed to come back.  So once again, I had to go on this yeast free diet, only this time without the yeast killer!  To make matters worse, my chiropractor also advised me to stay away from a long list of other foods like nightshades, eggs, gluten and many others.  That's when she advised that I just stick with meat and vegetables for a while.  I was deeply disturbed by this because it's hard to buy quality meat now.  Most meats contain at least a little GMO, or the non- grain eating animals are fed grain.  But I needed to get well so I just bought the best of what was on the market.  For two weeks I ate nothing but meat and cultured vegetables.  Not only did the candida go away after two weeks, but my body was okay with some of the other foods as well.  I was then able to eat nightshades, dairy and eggs again.  I also noticed how my energy level was way up.  I started running again, after months of feeling this daunting fatigue.  Somehow, however, this didn't last very long.  After a few weeks, my fatigue came back and I was told to lay off the dairy, nightshades and eggs yet AGAIN.  Two weeks after that, the candida returned and it brought some pathogen friends.  Back and forth and back and forth my body kept doing this abhorrent dance with candida and pathogens; I had it, I had it not, I had it, I had it not...  It was an incredible frustration, but I believed that somehow there was something out there that was going to make it stop.  I just had to figure out what it was that was going to re-balance my body once and for good.

The Key to Victory over Candida (Part 2)

Meat was something that in the past I've tried to avoid.  During my college years, I decided to cut meat from my diet and only eat pesco-lacto-ovo-vegetarian (or what I called pesco-tarian) foods.  I remember how my energy skyrocketed.  Because of that, I stayed a pesco-tarian for years.  It was during this time, however, that I started having problems with candida overgrowth.  It was during this time that I needed to go on my first yeast free diet.  Immediately after I was done with the diet, my body had a craving.  It was the most dreadfully beastly craving for a steak.  Four years I was on this pesco-tarian diet (four years at LEAST)!  Yet immediately after my doctor said the yeast free diet was over, a big juicy steak was all that I could think about.  I actually even dreamed about steak, for crying out loud!  It never left my mind until a girlfriend (another vegetarian and another candida sufferer) had a conversation about food before we sped to the nearest steakhouse and devoured a steak together.  Other than that, and occasional homemade hamburgers (that hamburger was the work of my dear old dad whenever I visited my parents), I otherwise stuck with my pesco-tarian diet.  There came the day when the rash came back again.  I spoke with a friend (who was also a naturopathic doctor) and before she gave me a yeast killer and a probiotic, she curiously commented, "It's always the low-meat eaters and the no-meat eaters who have this problem."  This was the first time that I ever took probiotics.  Both the yeast killer and probiotic worked beautifully together.  Really dreading the yeast free diet, whenever I had a rash (a physical sign that the candida was out of control again), I would take probiotics and the rash would go away.

The Key to Victory over Candida (Part 1)

I just made a discovery that will ultimately change my whole life.  I'm still trying to process what I've learned.  It's a little difficult for me, yet it's simultaneously liberating!  I think I've figured out the key to keeping my candida overgrowth problem under control.

The secret is not cutting my sugar intake, for I do that naturally.  It's not being faithful to a yeast free diet because I would experience an overgrowth problem when I'm int he middle of such a diet.  It's not even taking probiotics, because I've been taking supplements three times per day AND eating vegan kefirs and yogurts not to mention a large amount of saurkrauts.  In my case, (and many others according to my doctor), the key to controlling candida seems to be lots and lots of meat.

Guest Post: Keeping a Healthy Body Despite Busy Schedule

It seems that in this day and age, no one is exempt from feeling the hectic hustle and bustle of every day life. Everyone feels that they do not have enough hours in the day and that there are always other things that they wish they could be doing. One thing that often gets cast aside but should be made the highest priority is one's health. Lots of people have no problem skimping on health to gain convenience, but they do not realize that they can have both. Take a look at this list of ways to keep yourself healthy despite a busy schedule.

1. Eat a good breakfast: Breakfast truly is the most important meal of the day. Start your day off right with a hearty and healthy breakfast. This will allow you to move quicker and be more productive throughout the day, which will save you time. If you don't feel that you have time to make breakfast in the morning, choose something that you can get ready the night before so eating it in the morning is more convenient and time efficient.

2. Make time for exercise: There are people who work a full time job, spend time with their family and friends, and also spend an hour at the gym every day. If they can do it, so can you! Make sure that you make exercise a priority. Your body will thank you. If you truly feel that you do not have the time to go to the gym, burn calories in impromptu ways. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Walk over your lunch break while you are eating. Jog around your house to get something instead of walking to it. Fidget while at your desk. Flex your muscles while sitting at your desk to work them. Play a little more hands on with your children. There are so many ways for a person to exercise without ever setting foot in the gym. Make sure that you are getting at least twenty minutes of exercise a day, but more preferably would be sixty minutes per day.

3. Practice good shopping habits: When you are going to the grocery store it can be very easy to pick up a bag of chips and some cans of soda, but these are certainly not the habits of a healthy person. When you are shopping, start in the produce section. Not only are fruits and vegetables healthy, but they are also very portable and convenient to eat. Also when you are shopping, stay away from anything processed. Make a habit to choose whole grains and natural products that are free of unhealthy additives.

4. Map out your day: You are less likely to feel pinched for time if you know exactly what to expect from your day. Create a detailed calendar including all of the things that you need to do. Schedule these things on an hourly or half hourly basis. This will allow you to be realistic about your achievement expectations while also being sure to add time for all of the healthy lifestyle choices you were previously neglecting.



Author Pam Johnson is incredibly health conscious  which is why she made the decision to enter the healthcare field. She is a nurse who also enjoys blogging and is a contributing writer for cheapest rn to bsn programs.

Guest Post: How To Become An Early Riser

Many people as they get older and gain more responsibility find themselves having to wake up earlier and earlier. First in our lives we are waking up early to go to school so that we can get a job later in life. When we get that job, we are getting up early to make it on time to that job. When we have children later in life we are getting up earlier to make sure they are ready to start their own days. It seems like life causes us to wake up early, yet people still have so much trouble doing so. Take a look at these do and don't tips to help yourself become an early riser in a healthy way.

DO... create a regular sleep pattern for yourself.
Humans are known to be creatures of habit. Your body trains itself to operate under whatever lifestyle we live, to a certain extent. In order to make your body feel comfortable doing something, you must get it into the habit for doing so. This is no different when it comes to sleeping. If you get up at the same time every day and go to bed at the same time every night, your body will adapt to this sleep schedule. You will sleep better on this schedule and wake up more rested than you ever thought possible.

DON'T... seek refuge in coffee.
So many people think "I am so tired! I need my daily cup of coffee!" If you want to take care of your body then you will not take this common but easy way out. Caffeine is a drug, even if it is not always portrayed as such. If you drink coffee every morning, your body will become dependent on it. Without this caffeine your body will start to function improperly without it. Make sure you become an early riser in a healthy way and avoid becoming a slave to the bean.

DO... exercise regularly and eat a healthy diet.
When you treat your body well, it will respond in a pleasant way. Our bodies are made to feed on exercise and nutritional eating habits in order to work to their full potential. Exercising will make your body physically tired. Although this may not sound particularly pleasant, it will allow you to sleep infinitely better. Eating healthier foods will also give you better fuel for your day and keep your body positively regulated. If your body is running on good food instead of things like processed foods, you will be less tired during the day and get better sleep at night.

DON'T... rely on large amounts of napping to keep yourself from crashing.
Although you may think sleeping as much as possible would be healthy, this is not the case. A nap any longer than twenty or thirty minutes will disrupt the sleep pattern and make it difficult for you to fall asleep when it is time. Avoid taking naps, but if you can not, make it a quick one!

Author Pam Johnson applies her passion for good health as a nurse at a hospital in Seattle. She also enjoys blogging and is a contributing writer for online rn to bsn programs

Guest Posting Intro

I would like to introduce Pam Johnson who has written two guest posts that will be published tomorrow on BWMF.  She will teach us about how to be healthy even with a busy lifestyle, and she will also teach us how to become an early riser.

I have learned a few things from her posts and I hope you find it enlightening as well.  Thank you for reading.

Gluten-Free Sourdough Starter: a four-day culture shock | King Arthur Flour – Baking Banter

Here is another recipe for sourdough starter.  Again, I don't like it as much as the teff flour recipe, but I feel that it is always good to get a number of recipes to compare.  Besides, I've never tried teff; for all I know I could absolutely DETEST the flavor and may want to try one of these.  I'll have to purchase a bunch of flour which can be a pain, but bread needs to taste good too.  So I'm going to try a couple of different recipes.

Gluten-Free Sourdough Starter: a four-day culture shock | King Arthur Flour – Baking Banter

Living Off The Land

I look forward to a life of living off of the land; something very close to the homesteader who presented the video that I posted not long ago.  The only question is how to get there from here.

It's rarely wise to make big changes quickly and immediately.  There is so much that I still need to learn about raising crops and livestock.  There is also much to learn about making such a life that is self sustaining to minimize the need for outside sources.  I'm still learning about new technologies (like ozonizing fruits and vegetables) that could help me with the many old ideas (like making my own bread or butter) that I would like to make a part of my life.  I'm learning and doing my best to implement as many as I can now.

The homesteader's video gave me some ideas that I look forward to utilizing.  I hope to one day inspire as he has inspired me.

Gluten-Free Sourdough Starter - For Dummies

Here is more on gluten-free sourdough starters.  The only problem is, it isn't always possible to get all of these different flours unless one shops online.  Even though there is nothing wrong with shopping online, it's the difference between getting what you need now and getting what you need in 4 - 6 weeks.

The fact that it's a recipe "for Dummies" is a nice touch since when I try new things like this I can feel like a klutz.  I think I still prefer the recipe where the only flour that was used was teff flour.  There are other people who may appreciate the flavor of this starter better so I thought that I'd post this anyway.

Enjoy!

Gluten-Free Sourdough Starter - For Dummies

Vandana Shiva and Globalization

I can't think of anything that Vandana Shiva has ever said that I've disagreed with.  I try to explain to others the different problems with GMOs, but I can never explain it as well as this amazing woman.  In this video, she talks about political, spiritual and ecological ramifications that can occur because of the creation of GMOs.  Everything that she talks about are things that I've known, but said in a way that I've never even thought about it.

What she said in this video inspired me.  How I'm connected to the earth is something that I don't think about anymore, at least not as deeply as I used to.  I think about where things come from and where things go, but when I think of the overwhelming beauty of how everything flows it's overwhelming.  It makes me more desirous to make the changes that I've been wanting to make for a long time.  Some of these changes I admit I've been scared to make, but determined to make them anyway.  I look forward to making the changes that connect me to earth and life on a level that is both intellectual and spiritual.

Amazing Homesteader

Here is a homesteader if I've ever saw one!  He really found a way to be an American, and still escape the system.

He talks about how to get cheap land and a home that is both cheap, livable and expandable.  He also talks about how to get electricity and water that you DON'T get from a company.  So he has very little if any bills to pay for his home.  He doesn't pay mortgage, he doesn't pay for water, he doesn't pay for electricity and he pays very, very little for propane.

Enjoy his presentation!  I hope you learn something, for I certainly did.

Teff Flour Starter

Here is a recipe that uses teff as a sourdough starter.  The teff flour alone worked well for this woman which I found wonderful.  It's better than hunting for four or five different flours.  My only problem is, I can't seem to find organic teff flour in my town.  I'm not finished looking, but I was a little discouraged when I found out that the grocery store (a health food store) where I get most of my food does not have organic teff flour.

I hope you enjoy this presentation.  It's nice to know that you don't need yeast in order to make your bread rise.  Besides, I actually prefer the flavor of sourdough breads over other breads.  I'm actually salivating thinking about it because it has been soooo long since I've had sourdough or any bread at all (besides manna bread).

Colonics

Colonics sound pretty extreme.  The very sound of it scared me the first time that I heard of it.  It's funny how this video kept labeling it as an "enema" because it is far more intense than that.

I spoke with a spa that gives colonics and they said that the people who benefit the most from colonics are people who suffer from constipation and many other digestive issues.  But there are so many other benefits that can come of clearing the colon.  Usually when I have a fever, I put a castor oil pack on my abdomen and that breaks the fever and speeds up recovery.  The majority of probiotics and candida lives in the colon and is our defense system; except when candida grows out of control.  This brings up another good question,  can people with candida overgrowth benefit from colonics?

If it is something that you would like to explore, the following video is to give you some detailed information about colonics.

Alpacas

I've posted that I am pondering raising sheep and rabbits for fiber, but I'm starting to fall in love with the idea of raising alpacas.  I don't know what they provide besides wool (with the exception of meat which I could never raise them for), but it still seems worth it.

Sheep's wool is very coarse; for that I've had to really think about sheep.  Alpaca wool is said to be much softer than sheep's wool.  Again, because of the wonderful sheep cheese and yogurt provisions, raising sheep sounded like a good idea.  Some alpaca owners feel that alpacas are more social creatures; in other words they are easy to build a relationship with.  Because of that and their softer wool, I was inclined to look into the possibility of raising alpacas instead of sheep.

I'm not going to pretend to be an expert on alpacas, I just started learning about them.  If anyone has any further info to share, your comments will be more than welcome.

Raising Livestock for Fiber

I've always wanted to raise certain types of livestock for wool.  Sheep and angora rabbits are the ones that I've been considering the most.  I've considered these two because of the other products that they could provide.  Sheep cheese and yogurt are both amazing; and rabbit dung is fabulous for crops and flowers.  One good thing about rabbit dung is unlike some other types of dung (like chicken dung), you could use it right away.  There is no need to compost it first.  Along with those these provisions, I would also have some wool!

I'm not really a big fan of how sheep are sheered which is a downside.  I've seen how sometimes people literally sit on sheep while sheering them. I perfectly understand that sheering them is good for them in the summer; I mean, who wants to have such a warm coat when it's so hot out?   It's just that there are much gentler ways of harvesting the wool without causing the poor creature so much discomfort.  Why make it such an unpleasant experience for them?

I've also seen angora rabbits' wool getting cut.  It makes me sad that some actually tie up the rabbits before cutting them.  The rabbits don't really seem all that uncomfortable, but rabbits tend to stay still even when they are uncomfortable.  It isn't really necessary to do it like that.  I've seen people just sit the bunny on their laps while cutting the fur.  This may take more time, but then the rabbit doesn't have to feel scared or uncomfortable.

The more I learn, the more excited I become about these creatures.  I look forward to learning more.  If any of you raise sheep or angora rabbits, I welcome any information or advice.

FDA's New Food Safety Act Encourages Food Irradiation

I just read the article below (click on the link below) on the OCA website.  It's not exactly news.  Everyone who is aware of the FDA's rules know what they are doing to food.  This is why there are so many who are encouraging people to raise their own food.  I know it isn't as easy as it sounds, but if you're working towards it then you are exactly where I am.  I encourage you to keep facing the obstacles that stand in your way and keep going until you find success.

FDA's New Food Safety Act Encourages Food Irradiation

Dr. Burzynski's Cancer Treatment Wins

There are many drug free therapies for cancer; and Dr. Burzynski's is not one of them.  I still give the man a "woot, woot!" on his victory.  Anyway, it should be the decision of the patient which treatment they would like to have for their ailments, for there are so many.  If the treatments work, they have the right to choose it without the FDA breathing down their necks or pointing in the direction that they "should" go.

Dr. Burzynski's therapy, though not naturopathic, is NOT based on the cut, poison, burn therapies.  The best part is that his therapy works!  The FDA has taken this poor man to court for several years because it isn't mainstream therapy, yet the man has NEVER broken the law nor has he done anything that was not approved by the FDA.

The Unsavory Truth About the McDo**ld's McR*b

I love hearing stories about the nasty things that Mickey D's puts in their food.  It reminds me of why it is such a blessing that I have given up the inedible slop that such places have the nerve to even call food.

GMOs are only a part of what I would worry about if my loved ones eat there.  There is a reason why their food is so cheap.  Think about it, when you buy quality items, you pay for it, right?  There is a reason people label Whole Foods as the "Whole Paycheck" store; yes, people can spend and obscene amount of money there.  The reason is because many of the things that they sell at Whole Foods are of high quality.  The higher the quality, the higher the price.  Why would Ronald McD sell his food at a high price, when he can get inedible slop to taste good for $0.99?  Think about what you've seen in the video below before you run out to buy some more Mc R*b.


The Unsavory Truth About the McD*n*ld's McR*b

HB 108 Food Freedom Act; Wyoming

I can't believe it, but I have some MORE good news!  Many states are fighting against unjust laws that were created to protect corporate interests.  HB 108 is the new house bill for the Food Freedom Act in Wyoming.  It allows for the people to sell homemade foods.  In other words, this nonsense about stopping or fining young girls who open lemonade stands will stop.  The young lemonade sales girls will be under the protection of this law because this law also provides and exemption from licensing or inspection; which seems to be the favorite excuse of the law men who shut them down.

Don't misunderstand me, the lemonade stands aren't what I'm worried about, but it is an example of how much of our rights have been taken away.  If this bill becomes a law, family farms can thrive in Wyoming.  This will make it a VERY desirable place to live for so many people including myself.

This is the bill that I've been waiting for and for THIS, I wish I were a Wyoming resident so that my voice and vote would count.

Italian Court Reignites MMR Vaccine Debate

FINALLY!  Someone heard the cries of parents and admitted to the fact that vaccines can cause autism.  I'm sad that they pointed once again to the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella shot) as opposed to the true culprit which is the thimerosal, but I won't complain because this court ruling brought us SOMEWHERE in this fight at least.

Dr. Andrw Wakefield studied vaccines; he seemed to focus primarily on MMR.  He was widely discredited and accused of fraud before the world went back to pressuring parents to vaccinate their children.  This story about the Italian family who's boy experienced autism immediately after taking an MMR vaccine, forces all of us to revisit many questions about the safety of vaccines.  Maybe Wakefeld was on to something after all.





Italian Court Reignites MMR Vaccine Debate

Hot Tubs

My hubs and I love soaking in hot tubs.  We always used to take our swim gear on road trips in case we stay at a hotel that has one.  I have one problem with hot tubs though; bromine!  That is some nasty stuff, bromine.  I can't believe I used to soak in hot water that was full of that stuff knowing now that the skin absorbs some of that stuff... disgusting!  I found and posted about natural pools several months ago, but I haven't posted about natural hot tubs... until now!

There are many ways to keep a hot tub clean without the use of bromine.  I was surprised to hear that ozone was one way that some do it.  Obviously, this is a cleaning method used when everyone is out of the tub since ozone is so toxic.  There are also other cleaning products that I will be exploring.  Some that I heard are just enzymes that keep the tub clean when it is not in use.  Of course, these enzymes don't hurt the skin.  In fact, if anything, I would imagine that it's good for the skin.

I'm looking at a variety of these hot tubs that are made of wood and use no synthetic chemicals in them.  If anyone has any further information about natural hot tub products, please, don't be shy about commenting.

FoodnSport | The 80/10/10 Diet

I've heard quite a bit about the 80/10/10 diet.  There is an 80/10/10 diet for many different ailments; but of course the one that I've been researching is the one for Candida overgrowth.  I've struggled with that problem on and off for as long as I can remember.  I don't get the rashes anymore, but that's because my doctor has a way of detecting it before it gets that bad.  Although it is possible to get rid of this problem, it is a long and difficult process; unless there are specific protocols out there that I know nothing about.

I know very little about the 80/10/10 diet for Candida, but the little that I know leads me to believe that it is a vegan diet.  I'm not sure if this is the way for someone like me.  I don't mean that just because I enjoy meat, for I already know that I can go many years without eating meat.  Milk and eggs, which I would have to give up on a vegan diet as well, I cut from my diet months ago so living without that wouldn't be a problem.  My problem is that my health increased last year when I increased the amount of meat that I ate.  Both my doctor and acupuncturist took one look at me and expressed how happy they were that I looked so much better after eating more meat for just a period of two weeks.  I like having this much energy and feeling this well and I don't want to lose that.  I'm scared that being on a vegan diet may make things worse even if it was to get better after several months.

For those who could do it, it's something to look into.  For people like me, however, I'm going to keep researching and post when I find something significant.  Please don't be shy about sharing what you have found as well.

FoodnSport | The 80/10/10 Diet

I Bee Dreamin'

Bees are beautiful, highly intelligent and highly necessary creatures.  There is no way that I could have a beehive now, but I definitely made it a part of my homestead dream.  I look forward to the adventure of beekeeping one day

I don't just want the bees for honey, although it is a big part of the reason.  They are also very necessary for pollinating plants that bear food.  The wind isn't as reliable as our brilliant, hard working little neighbors who do all of that work so willingly.  Also, they add to any natural environment.

Alternative Beverage "Coffee Substitute" Recipe

I just recently heard of chicory root.  I may have taken it before, my acupuncturist may have put some in the tea that she gave me to drink 2X per day for example; but I didn't know about it or what it does until now.

Chicory itself is in the same family as endives, but the root is said to have a nutty flavor almost like coffee.  Many caffeine free coffee substitutes use roasted barley and chicory to achieve that coffee flavor.  I'm looking forward to trying it.  To avoid flavoring, which many of these coffee substitutes products have, I may actually put a coffee flavored beverage together myself.  I used to like coffee beverages (coffee itself, cappuccino, lattes and other such), but I can't deal with the caffeine and I consider decaffeinated as simply not a healthy way to go since I'm always uncertain of the process that decaffeinated beverages have to go through.

Below is a recipe for a coffee substitute.  I've never tried it myself, but I look forward to trying it or my own version of it.

Alternative Beverage "Coffee Substitute" Recipe

Milk

Cow's and goat's milk are the most popular forms of milk on the market right now.  Of course sheep's milk is also around, but I've personally seen more sheep cheese and yogurt than milk.

Raw cow's milk is fairly easy to find.  Raw goat's milk is much more difficult, although it's not impossible.  I recently met a goat farmer who is sensible about the great disadvantages of GMOs, but because of all the craziness coming down on farmer's heads, the prices of everything is going up.  Some are ready to call it quits, others are struggling through it and JUST managing to keep their heads above water.  I desperately miss the milk from my dairy farmer, but because I'm to stay away from cow's milk for a while, I haven't been purchasing.  Once the dairy sensitivity is gone, my doctor suggested trying goat's milk for a while.  I already know of a farmer who is desperate to avoid GMOs so I'm holding on to her number; but to be safe I'll keep looking hoping that I have a choice about which farmers to go to.

Health Basics - Are seedless fruits dangerous to your health? Part II

I've done some research trying to find an answer (or different answers) to my question about how seedless fruit are grown when the purpose of fruit is to reproduce.  In fact, several sources defined fruit as a botanical ovary.  What is an ovary but a container that holds eggs or in the case of botany seeds?

On one hand I read that fruit can grow seedless if it hasn't been pollinated and on the other hand, I read that seedless fruit has been "developed" by scientists.  The former suggests a mutation which I would actually still eat, the latter suggests bio-tampered food and this I wouldn't touch with a 10 foot pole!

I'm still searching for an answer.  If anyone has a suggestion, hypothesis or solid information, I'm open to hear it all.

Health Basics - Are seedless fruits dangerous to your health?

Over the last few years I've had questions about seedless fruit.  A (fruit bearing) tree bears fruit so that it can spread seed and reproduce.  What kind of seed can a tree spread with seedless fruit?  It simply does not make sense.  I have therefore stayed away from seedless fruit for years even when they are organic.

The article below doesn't really answer my question.  There are many watermelons and grapes that are both seedless and certified organic.  Forgive me, but I find that to be disturbing..

Health Basics - Are seedless fruits dangerous to your health?

How to Put a Fish Pond in Your Backyard • Ron Hazelton Online

I've been dreaming of a fish pond for a while now.  I'm trying to gather as much information about it as I can.  This is where your comments and futhermores would be most valuable because this is a topic that I know so little about.  I'm learning everyday, but I still have a way to go before I actually build one.

The pond that was built in the video (click on link below) was not for fishing, but for containing pet fish.  It still gave me some information on building the pond itself; I therefore found it useful nonetheless.  Enjoy!

How to Put a Fish Pond in Your Backyard • Ron Hazelton Online

Why I Would Like To Raise Chickens

Some "free range" chickens live in a semi-confined environment where there is a passageway in and out of the chicken confinement house, but it's soooo small that the chickens often don't see the outdoors.  How the heck those chickens are "free range" I'll never understand.

This is part of the reason why it has been on my heart to raise chickens myself.  I had a chicken in my backyard for a few weeks.  She sort of wondered into my yard one day and stuck around.  I believe my neighbor's dogs probably killed her like they have killed several feral cats in the neighborhood.  While she hung around, however, I learned that most of what a chicken eats already lives in the ground.  The lentils and millet that I gave her, she would have as a treat.  Keep in mind, this happened at a time when I thought that the best thing to feed chickens is grain.

Someone posted a picture of two eggs on facebook.  One egg was from a confined grain fed chicken and the other was from a free range chicken who ate what lived in the ground.  The egg yolks appeared so different in color.  The sickly egg was a soft yellow color while the well nourished egg was a bold deep orange color.  I've been so aware of what the eggs that I buy look like since then.  I would look to see if the yolks were yellow or deep orange.  Many of them were somewhere in between which I still find disturbing.

If I raise my own, at least I KNOW they will be nutritious eggs.  I don't have to rely on another and wonder if the chickens have ever been confined, fed GMOs or worse.

Building a Chicken Coop

Here is some more information about raising food for yourself.  This video gives step by step instruction on a DIY project; building a chicken coop.  I used to be against coops because I've always felt that a free range chicken should be truly "free range" without the restraints of a coop.  After speaking with farmers, I realized that preditors will not only steal eggs but entire chickens as well if you don't have a way of keeping them out. The coop isn't to trap the chicken as much as it is to protect them.

Personally, I could raise chickens for eggs, but I would never be able to slaughter them for food.  I eat chicken, but I didn't give the chickens that I eat names and I've never watched them grow from babies to adults.  I get attached to animals VERY easily and I could never be a vegan, so I'll just have to continue buying chicken from someone else.

For whatever reason, if you would like to raise chickens here is a video on how to build a coop.

on Howcast

Building a Backyard Fishing Pond

I'm so glad to get back to the subject of homesteading.  Talk of the fight for health freedom may be necessary, but it can also be frustrating and therefore tiresome.  Amen to the battles that we have won so far and thanks to all who continue to work through their frustrations to see our rights restored.

This is a video that offers advice about building fish farms.  I wouldn't want a fish farm, although I do think of raising a small fishing pond just to feed my family.  This video gave some details that I haven't thought about or even read about.  If like me, you're thinking of raising fish for food, this is a good video to watch.

I hope find this video to be as educational as I did.

on Howcast

Ban The Frankenfish

I feel that the frankenfish is a huge threat.  Once frankenfish is released into the environment, salmon becomes property of Monsanto.

Everything else that they have done doesn't even compare to this because what this would mean is that there a particular form of life on earth that is owned by a corporation.  Do you comprehend that?  Salmon, ALL salmon will be owned by Monsanto.  I truly hope that I'm not the only one who sees how incredibly sick this is.  I used to like salmon, although I avoided it because of mercury that doesn't mean that I wanted to see their extinction.  I still had some hope that water could get cleaner one day and fish would be a healthy food again as a result.  Once frankenfish is kicked into play, that spells out extinction for salmon because they want to mix their frankenfish with the normal salmon and they will breed monster fish until there isn't any salmon left.

Please, please, please click *here* and let your voice be heard.  If salmon must be extinct, then so be it.  But IF we must give these jokers our food, they better know they aren't getting it without a fight at the very least.  

http://action.fooddemocracynow.org/sign/stop_gmo_salmon_now/

Just Another FYI

There are many who still believe that GMOs are safe.  They actually believe every word that these corporations tell them despite the fact that data has been tampered with or even fabricated.  To all of the people who think that, I hope you try to remember the pictures of the rats who had cancer tumors the size of their heads.  You know, the ones who have been fed GMOs their whole life?

Still think GMOs are safe huh?  Yeah, well listen to this farmer's story.  I hope this will help to change your mind.

GMO Food Fight: Round Two 2013

Wow!  It's only January 3rd and things are already looking really, really bad... for Monsanto!  Connecticut and Washington are following in California's footsteps as far as trying to pass laws that will label GMO foods.  Vermont tried to pass labeling laws before Monsanto threatened to sue the state and they are STILL giving labeling laws another go!  Go'head Vermont!!

It ain't over 'till it's over Monsanto!  I still don't see labels on my food and I haven't heard the fat lady sing.

GMO Food Fight: Round Two 2013

Homestead Act of 2010 attracts first settler

Okay, so there really IS a new homestead act; in fact there are a few of them.  Several states including California, Florida, Kansas and Georgia reawakened the old homestead act of 1862 for the sake of populating rural areas.  What we are talking about here is free land...  did you catch that?  I'll say it again; what we are talking about here is FREE LAND.  Yes, these four states as well as a few others are GIVING away land.  Now, depending on the state, there are some required fees, but as far as I've seen it's not even kinda close to what it would normally cost to buy land.

I guess homesteading is something that I really need to look into even if I decide that it isn't for me in the end.  There is a good chance that it is because all of the states that are doing this happen to be states that aren't high on my list of places that I want to live.  Not that there is anything wrong with these states, I've lived in California for almost eight years and loved it, for example.  I often wish I could go back, but the path that I'm on right now simply doesn't lead me to California or any of the other states mentioned for many reasons.

I found the following article interesting and thought that other future homesteaders may want to read it.

Homestead Act of 2010 attracts first settler

January's Book: The Homesteading Handbook

I've been hearing much talk of modern day people homesteading.  I admit I thought modern families living off of their land were romanticizing the idea of homesteading; for the homesteading act of 1862 was repealed in most states by 1976 and Alaska repealed in 1986.  Little did I know, in the last few years homesteading acts in several states around the nation have actually been implemented!

I've become inspired by the idea of homesteading.  I don't know if it's something that I'm going to pursue, but my hubs and I are sure having fun doing the research.  There is a lot about this idea that is tempting; at the same time, however, there is a lot about this that is scary.

This month I thought that a book that offered information on homesteading would be cool.  There are many who are toying with the idea and I would like to post information to help others make a decision about it.  This month's book, "The Homesteading Handbook" will be a nice start to those who are looking into a life on a homestead.

GMO Bans

Washington state put some serious restrictions on GMOs which is encouraging.  This whole talk, in fact, was encouraging.  I was most delighted to hear about different states and cities in the US who are becoming educated about GMOs and are starting to push back, organize and move to restrict or ban GMOs.

The government can become dangerous once they start trying to control our health.  I feel elated each time I'm reminded that I am so not alone.

Natural Treatments For Fibroids

Fibroids just make things difficult.  There are so many foods and cosmetic products that contain fake estrogen.  The fake estrogen (or xenoestrogen) can cause all sorts of havoc including uterine fibroids.  In Dr. Jon Lee's experience, women who avoided xenoestrogens (as well as phytoestrogens which makes it more complicated) for three months were able to just heal on their own.

This video gives more information on this matter including information that was mentioned before.  I found it to be very good.  It doesn't just talk about the physical aspect of treating fibroids, it talks about alternative treatments from so many angles.  If you suffer from uterine fibroids, this video will give you so much to chew on.  Trust me; it will be worth it!

Free Land; Are you Ready to Try Homesteading? | Eartheasy Blog

I've been hearing a lot about homesteading from colleagues.  I used to believe that what people mean by homesteading in the modern world was just a name they gave to their life of living off of the land; which isn't entirely wrong, it's just not the complete idea.  As I've researched, I've found that there is more to modern homesteading than I thought. There seems to even be a rumor of a homesteading act of 2009 which I would like to know more about.

Below is an article written by a homesteader.  It talks about the good the bad and the challenging aspects of homesteading.  In a world  where there is so much that is toxic, homesteading sounds like heaven to people like me.

Free Land – Are you Ready to Try Homesteading? | Eartheasy Blog