Essential oils like anything are not a one size fits all kind of process...the nutrients we need come from our foods & not all SNP's require supplementation. Supporting genetic defects w/ EO's is simple in the sense, less is more & it's not advisable to select them based on the plant. Certain constituents assist the metabolism of amino acids, carbohydrates & fats by stimulating cell communication. When we're talking about CBS & NOS, a more important factor is eliminating ammonia from the body that tends to build w/ a defect here. Walnuts are a super, more efficient way because they are a complete food & the body uses all the nutrients. To feed it incrementally w/ supplements creates challenges due to additives, etc. Because of this, bolstering the digestive system is imperative. The purpose for mentioning ammonia is because BH4 is used to scavenge ammonia. BH4 is also required for NOS. BH4 is produced via the transfer of hydrogen in the fermentation process. This can be assisted by including cinnamon into the diet. There is not a lot of oil in the powder; however, there is enough because less is more. As for including essential oils, it's not appropriate to say which ones to suggest because there are constituents that affect these cycles & understanding the individual genome is crucial. It's fair to say, some people see benefits, & some do not only because we're all different due to our diets, lifestyle, supplement choices, medications & genome. It is important to note, some constituents stimulate certain chemical reactions & some inhibit reactions. Two good examples are dopamine & BH4 ....There again, some SNP's are quiet, only to cause adverse reactions to certain chemicals & meds; therein, leading to yet another symptom or the feeling that something isn't working.. What I've found with my own disturbing health / SNP's as well as with my clients, is less is more. Genuine & authentic is the best way to go ... that & taking care of the digestive system along w/ 1 supplement. I happen to have well over 100 SNP's & with the assistance of a PhD in nutritional science who has been involved w/ genetic defects & the human genome for over 20 years & now a colleague of mine, I eat intentionally, use bio-individual oils & take my supplement, I am golden. I will say, I am confident in his abilities as he has developed a line of neutraceuticals & after reviewing my genome, he confirmed my approach. The effects do vary ... we see successes that last & we see some that appear to go backwards. This is when having someone to adjust the approach is beneficial. The body is a walking chemistry lab which means things change. There is a lot of information out there & having an outside professional perspective is a good idea. Essential oils are the reason we have medications. They are currently not regulated by the FDA because, for the most part, they are considered bath & body. What I can say is they do not heal the body. The body is the only thing that can heal itself. To make claims stating anything else is unfounded. Plant DNA repairs itself much like the human DNA; therefore, essential oils have the potential to modify gene expression that's all. Including them into your wellness plan assists the body to get the nutrition into the cells where it belongs & the more wholesome the nutrient source, the better the body responds.
Earlier today I was tagged in a discussion on a Facebook MTHFR page. It happened to be about the use of essential oils with specific defects, namely CBS and NOS. The following was my response. I'm sharing it here because I feel it is an important component to my position regarding the use of essential oils and how we've lost touch with their valuable nature....
Essential oils like anything are not a one size fits all kind of process...the nutrients we need come from our foods & not all SNP's require supplementation. Supporting genetic defects w/ EO's is simple in the sense, less is more & it's not advisable to select them based on the plant. Certain constituents assist the metabolism of amino acids, carbohydrates & fats by stimulating cell communication. When we're talking about CBS & NOS, a more important factor is eliminating ammonia from the body that tends to build w/ a defect here. Walnuts are a super, more efficient way because they are a complete food & the body uses all the nutrients. To feed it incrementally w/ supplements creates challenges due to additives, etc. Because of this, bolstering the digestive system is imperative. The purpose for mentioning ammonia is because BH4 is used to scavenge ammonia. BH4 is also required for NOS. BH4 is produced via the transfer of hydrogen in the fermentation process. This can be assisted by including cinnamon into the diet. There is not a lot of oil in the powder; however, there is enough because less is more. As for including essential oils, it's not appropriate to say which ones to suggest because there are constituents that affect these cycles & understanding the individual genome is crucial. It's fair to say, some people see benefits, & some do not only because we're all different due to our diets, lifestyle, supplement choices, medications & genome. It is important to note, some constituents stimulate certain chemical reactions & some inhibit reactions. Two good examples are dopamine & BH4 ....There again, some SNP's are quiet, only to cause adverse reactions to certain chemicals & meds; therein, leading to yet another symptom or the feeling that something isn't working.. What I've found with my own disturbing health / SNP's as well as with my clients, is less is more. Genuine & authentic is the best way to go ... that & taking care of the digestive system along w/ 1 supplement. I happen to have well over 100 SNP's & with the assistance of a PhD in nutritional science who has been involved w/ genetic defects & the human genome for over 20 years & now a colleague of mine, I eat intentionally, use bio-individual oils & take my supplement, I am golden. I will say, I am confident in his abilities as he has developed a line of neutraceuticals & after reviewing my genome, he confirmed my approach. The effects do vary ... we see successes that last & we see some that appear to go backwards. This is when having someone to adjust the approach is beneficial. The body is a walking chemistry lab which means things change. There is a lot of information out there & having an outside professional perspective is a good idea. Essential oils are the reason we have medications. They are currently not regulated by the FDA because, for the most part, they are considered bath & body. What I can say is they do not heal the body. The body is the only thing that can heal itself. To make claims stating anything else is unfounded. Plant DNA repairs itself much like the human DNA; therefore, essential oils have the potential to modify gene expression that's all. Including them into your wellness plan assists the body to get the nutrition into the cells where it belongs & the more wholesome the nutrient source, the better the body responds.
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Food: The Most Popular Pharmaceutical
Introduction I just read an article on ‘retiring the phrase ‘real women’’ which reminded me of a thought I have had for the last several weeks with regards to food. Every time I watch television (which is not all that often) I see grocery store commercials referring to food and natural food. Driving through cities I often see similar references letting the public know they actually have natural foods in addition to the artificial products on the shelf. My goodness, when did food become a synthesized habit rather than a natural requirement for sustaining our existence? When I was a child, we blessed our food; acknowledging the love that brought it to our table and the purpose it fueled. And for all I know, many people still do offer grace before eating; however, I cannot help but wonder if that has become just as much of a synthesized habit as the food being consumed because we are actually hoping and praying for ‘real food’. McChemicals Most of what we buy today is riddled with chemicals; additives, preservatives, artificial colors and flavorings, fillers, and the incremental secret ingredients NOT listed on the label because the FDA says it is okay. Oddly enough, there is a war on drugs; yet, we eat the most unnatural foods ever known to man. It used to be that food was simple; combining various ingredients to create different flavor experiences as well as compliment other dishes. Sadly due to difficult times, food needed to be ‘stretched’ so we developed ways to do just that in order to feed our hungry families. It did not take long for ‘man’ to discover the money making benefits to this thought process; hence, the birth of processed foods. While the intention was to be able to assure we did not go hungry, the result was the exact opposite. Today, we are a society of malnourished addicts fighting the wrong drug war. Drugs I believe it is time we start telling it like it is. We crave a lot of the junk foods because we are hooked on the chemicals used to fabricate them. I learned this first hand with Diet Coke. Many people claim to be addicted to sugar and / or caffeine. In fact, some have gone so far as to say this is why I ‘have to have a Diet Coke’; I need my caffeine fix. I beg to differ. My diet consists of some of the cleanest foods around with the exception of the occasional soft drink; so, why do I drink it? Because I am no different than any other human; I enjoy life and will intermittently partake in some things that taste good but are not exactly healthy. That being said, I am aware that when I go without a Diet Coke for a certain amount of time, I begin to feel ‘off’. I believe this has a lot to do with having such a healthy diet. So not soon after I enjoy a sip or two, I begin to sense a relief. I know for a fact when I drink a cup of coffee or caffeinated tea, I do NOT have the same result which is why I say I am hooked on the chemicals in Diet Coke and not the caffeine. And what is even stranger is the aspartame in Diet Coke depletes my body of the mineral magnesium which would make a person question why the body would desire more of something that is essentially causing it harm ….. hmmmm? My best educated guess is drugs! Defeating the Fog Drinks are not the only consumables laden with chemicals. However, until we have an appropriately equipped lab for identifying ALL of the harmful ingredients in the items we eat and drink, we will never truly know what we are ingesting that continues to ‘call our name’ when we are without it for any great length of time. In spite of this, there are things we can do to break the compulsions and ‘cleanup’; the first thing being to eliminate the phrases ‘organic, natural and / or real food’ and demand that junk food no longer be called food at all. Take a look at the following definitions: Food [ food ]
Now here is the word pharmakeia: Pharmakeia is the Greek word for pharmacy which literally means ‘to drug or poison’. Ancient Greeks used this word for their sorcerers who used drugs to produce altered states. When food is watered down with additives and chemicals, it is no longer nourishing the body; causing it to go into altered states which then craves more of the same stimulants and / or depressants. The more we allow this to go on, the hungrier we become. The best way to overcome what is happening to our food supply is to revert back to the ways of our ancestors and eat simply. It is time to delight in the cleansing and healing benefits of food and choose to occasionally consume foodstuff because it is fun or the ‘thing to do’; not the other way around. Natural, organic and real food is not a luxury; FOOD is a necessity. Junk is junk and I dream of the day when companies will have the courage to debunk the junk and restore spiritual wellness to our society by telling the truth. Conclusion We have reached the time in our society to rethink what we consume. Sadly this is challenging due to the poisons filling our bodies; however it is possible. Awareness of what is, is the first step; the second one is to make conscious choices that encourage our bodies and minds to heal. In doing so, we will rediscover our voices and continue making wiser choices. Life is our right and we have plenty of all that we need. By eating whole food we are sustaining the body, reducing the need to consume large amounts. Foodstuff manufacturers are no different than street drug dealers. They are cutting our food sources with additives which cause harmful addictions that perpetuate the hunger and buying cycle. We must not only wake up to what we want, we must wake up and call crap what it is. We are junkies with a narrow focus. It is time to start a drug war on the foodstuff companies and demand our lives back! Let’s face it, we’re trained! We are about as trained as Pavlov’s dogs; probably even more so.
On any given day, if someone looks at us the ‘wrong’ way, BAM! it’s on. What ‘on’ is depends on how we are raised. Some of us yell; some shut down and walk away; others become obnoxiously arrogant and many times bitchy all because we are reacting to circumstances. However, it really isn’t that simple because the situation perceived as prompting our reaction is not exactly what triggered it. On any given day, many of us not only have this moment to think about, we are streaming thoughts from days gone by as well as projecting those experiences onto times to come. In other words, our heads are consumed with chatter, reducing our ability to clearly be here, right now. We’ve accepted this as normal, and for all intents and purposes it is normal since nearly all of us have a monkey mind running our lives. This is how we get through our days! Our parents did it / do it, as did their parents. We’re breeding generations of worriers and multi-taskers; however, we’ve upped the game when it comes to mental multi-tasking. Unfortunately, this particular skill isn’t highly marketable and most definitely interferes with our ability to interact with other human beings on a heart level. Each of us is engaged in our own private (his)story, feeding the monkeys with more and more of our what if’s, should’s, doubts, resentments, and fears completely negating any experience with the person in front of us. And be that as it may, there’s no reason to feel bad because he or she is more than likely doing something similar with you! (Keep in mind, nine out of ten times, we aren’t even responding to the situation at hand, we are lost in the zoo, grooming the monkeys of the past as well as the future.) Now, just for a moment, let’s visit another zoo; the one contained within the mind of the person in front of you. They, as are you, are accustomed to being treated a certain way, albeit good and bad. You see, each of us is trained in our attention getting skills. If we had to work it good with some people in order to get any attention, we will repeat what we know until we get what we want. Over time, these habits become so familiar we don’t even realize we’re doing it. Sometimes the reaction is good and sometimes not so good; however, we are in the limelight AND it also gives us great reasons for why some people are good to have around and why others suck and need to be eightysixed from our life altogether. With this said, in order to actually change our experience of people and life, it’s necessary to release the monkey. Unconditional love is a gift AND it does not have to be reciprocated (expecting it in return is not unconditional). Bring peace to your heart and mind; give people the opportunity to be themselves and love him or her for ‘where they are’, anyway. Let me ask you, what would it be like if instead of raging at you because you spent too much money, your partner simply held a safe place, discussing why this expenditure didn’t work and what he or she would like to see differently? If you’re not following me, allow me to expand. What if you were used to being yelled at for certain choices throughout most of your life and now you’re being treated in an entirely different way; a loving way? How would that strike you? My guess is it would potentially stupify you or worse because it is a very unfamiliar response to receive. Yet, THIS is what I propose will fundamentally shift our lives; when we actually interact with one another in the moment rather than nurture the monkeys of yesteryear AND days to come! So, without further delay, here are my five recommendations for practicing unconditional love. I’ve applied them and frequently encourage my clients to do the same: 1) Respond rather than react Reactions stem from prior experiences. We are re-acting out old times. Put another way, in a split second something sparks our memory whether we know it or not and in a blink of an eye, our behavior is very reminiscent of another time and possibly another place. In other words, we find ourselves re-performing a familiar act because it’s what worked then so why not now? Responding, on the other hand, is a disengagement from the monkey, long enough to become centered in order to generate warmth and understanding from the heart. It’s these heartfelt moments that create new ways of being for all involved. So the next question begs: same soup, different bowl, sir; otherwise known as insanity?. Or, follow the beat of your heart and learn a new dance? 2) One great way to accomplish giving a heartfelt response is by NOT taking things personally. Remember, 90% of the time, people are not talking with you or to you; they are reacting to something else going on in their head! The sooner we begin to see this AND get out of our own head, the sooner we will be spreading the love. 3) Acknowledge and verbalize your feelings when appropriate. In times of upset, many of us feel like raging, crying, jumping up and down, etc. However, what I typically hear is a fear of the emotion lasting for longer than desired. So, we hold it in doing more harm than good OR we let loose the hounds, wreaking havoc on everyone in it’s wake. Neither is a beneficial option because they are reactions bringing us to an acknowledgment of the feelings. This response is a kind way of honoring both you and everyone else involved. It’s you stating your discomfort which in turn lets the other person know exactly what’s going on without harm to either one. Greater things are possible from this point. 4) Along the same lines as number three, take a moment or two to acknowledge your perception of how the other person is feeling as well. This keeps the heart interaction flowing and opening the door up for tremendous connection and healing. 5) Once you’ve reached this point, you’ll be able to determine the best way to proceed. Often times, the situation warrants waiting a little while before engaging any further and by letting the other person know you are open to talking just not now, demonstrates a desire for a peaceful interaction as well as a genuine interest in them. This is a BIG DEAL because there are so many people walking around this planet feeling like they aren’t worth the time or good enough to be loved, and your request to carry on at another time will give them something extraordinary to work with in lieu of feeding those darn monkeys. Alzheimer’s is on the rise. Go ahead, Google it, and you’ll find the numbers are astounding!
In March of this year, the Connecticut Post reported that the costs of caring for those living with this horrific condition was expected to reach $200 billion dollars! However, I do not share this dollar amount with you because I’m concerned about the money. Not even close; I’m passionate about the quality of our lives and when something like Alzheimer’s is increasing,, that tells me something is very ‘wrong’ and with awareness, can be reduced and quite possibly prevented. My grandmother left this planet in 2006 with the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s. Her last lucid words to me were: ‘I refuse to live this way’; even though she couldn’t quite grasp what ‘this way’ was. She was angry, frightened, trapped, removed, and most importantly hungry for love which was rapidly slipping from her grasp. Oddly enough, her death certificate reflected the starvation factor claiming she died from complications due to anorexia. Hmmmmm…. Yet, my passion began revealing itself many years prior to the onset of her condition because she was not the first in her family. She was one of 13 faced with living in this manner. Some opted to stick it out; and some, like her, chose not too. Regardless of the road he or she took, I was, and remain, determined to reduce my chances, substantially! 1) I stopped using antiperspirants and started using essential oils as a deodorant. Jasmine, patchouli and sandalwood to be exact. It smells differently on every body; AND apparently pretty good on me because to this day, I am approached by perfect strangers and asked what perfume I’m wearing. The reason for this step is due to the aluminum in antiperspirants which is absorbed directly into the blood stream and has been linked to Alzheimer’s 2) I eat intentionally. I don’t eat so much of this and so much of that on a daily basis. I simply eat what my body is asking for; paying attention to how I feel and what’s driving my hunger. With that said, there are some basic guidelines: greens, whole grains, low glycemic, lean protein from vegetable sources, unprocessed, simple clean foods. To put it another way, I follow an anti-inflammatory, alkaline forming lifestyle. Studying holistic nutrition and FOLLOWING my own recommendations has proven to be truly effective. Not only is my mind as sharp as ever, I’m physically strong, I have no gray hair (confirmed by my hair dresser), few time lines, and my hormones are in check. PLUS, no signs of gum disease, cavities OR any indicators of early onset! 3) Identify your craving for sugar. My guess is you don’t really need or want the sugar; you’re actually craving a sweeter life and using sugar as a substitute. I digress … So yes, excess sugar intake (which is also on the rise due to all the Fat Free products out there and the subsequent flavor enhancers put in it’s place) leads to Type 2 Diabetes. What does this have to do with Alzheimer’s? Plenty, they’re linked. Those living with Type 2 Diabetes are at high risk for developing this difficult condition. So, whether you are predisposed to Diabetes or already have it, there are ways to not be a statistic, reverse those numbers, get it under control and reduce the chance of being another statistic. 4) Include quality fats into your diet. Studies have identified benefits of using coconut oil in place of canola, vegetable or safflower oil. I also recommend raw hemp seeds added to breakfast cereal, included into baked goods and so on. Hemp seed is considered a complete protein supplying fiber, omega 3′s and 6′s, vitamins B, A, D and E along with calcium and other nutrients. Making hemp seed a part of your regular diet not only offers optimal brain health, it protects your heart, reduces the risk of diabetes (isn’t nature fabulous?), cancer, enhances skin tone, promotes weight loss due to it’s anti-inflammatory effects (gotta love momma nature) and it keeps your digestive track clean! Not to be excluded is olive oil. A good friend recently pointed this out and she is correct; olive oil has a naturally occurring compound, oleocanthal, which has been found to alter the structure of neurotoxic proteins possibly linked to the progression of Alzheimer's. As it is with anything, information is subjective and no one has any definitive answers. What I do know, is prevention far outweighs reaction and a wholesome, intentional eating plan does wonders for our wellbeing. 5) Neurobics (my word) ~ keep your mind busy! Yes, physical activity is important, so, by all means keep moving; just change up the routine. We get bored with the same old thing, day in and day out. Even our bodies plateau with the same workouts; the same holds true for our minds. Avoid driving the same route to work, school or the store; mix it up. Try out different yoga practices; do puzzles, play board games, card games, the game of Twister; anything to keep the mind stimulated and creating new connections. And one more for good measure …..PLEASE touch people. The magic of our touch triggers so many good things in the body, keeping the mind active, in addition to keeping the heart happy! What better way to reduce the risk feeling poorly? In honor of good health and wellness ….here’s to you and your family! I was behind a woman in the coffee shop earlier this morning when I heard her faintly mutter, 'I guess I'll eat something healthy today.' I was astounded! Who was she trying to convince? Herself or those around her? And, for that matter, what was she trying to convince us of? That she knows better OR that she has joined the buzzword bandwagon?
From the second I heard her words, I was riddled with questions AND in awe of what this society has created! I'm sure I've heard this type of remark plenty of times in the past; yet, for some reason, it hit me between the eyes this morning. As a species, we have become spoiled by convenience. We've lost our ability to know what we need, when we need it and from where to get it. In other words, we've come to rely on our intelligence rather than our wisdom. As a matter of fact, this intelligence has become our greatest weapon of mass destruction and is rapidly taking the planet down. However, it's never too late! We may not be able to turn back the hands of time; yet, the possibility of stopping the progression of additional massive breakdowns is HUGE, which starts with reconnecting to our own basic needs. This level of internal and personal awareness gives rise to our innate ability to act in alignment with the needs of those around us as well as the planet; creating worldwide synergy. Now, how does one woman's comment on making a healthy food choice lead to this thought process? To me, she represented society's resistance to shifting our heady approach to life and actually trusting our body to know beyond a shadow of a doubt what it needs to be healthy and well. And since we are a microcosm of the macrocosm, there is no denying we ignore Mother Earth's little indicators as well because we think we know better. I'm not saying that we're oblivious to what would better serve us; not at all! There are scores of people around the world making every attempt to raise our awareness; we just happen to be addicted to some very damaging habits and until we redefine what healthy really is, it will forever be a buzzword for selling over processed chemical laden foods. Did you know that only 1% of a product has to be organic in order for it to have the word 'organic' on the label? And if this is the case for organic matter, imagine what's going into the 'nutritious' foods we see on the shelves (which is what this woman bought this morning ~ a 'healthy version of a nutrition snack bar). Up until 4 months ago, I ate something similar several times a day because 1) they were supposed to be healthy AND 2) they convenient ly fit into my very active life. Then, one morning, fruit sounded exceptionally good, so I rolled with it. In fact, I did this every day for weeks and slowly but surely, the bars vanished from my cupboards never to return. What else disppeared? About 7+ pounds; yet, I do not believe it had anything to do with calories. I eat as much if not more than I did before, it's just a different type of nutrition: clean, unadulterated AND simple; something my body could process efficiently. Interestingly enough, the more I followed these new eating habits, the clearer my thinking, the stronger I felt emotionally and physically and the healthier I was / am overall. How interesting! Rather than taking the word of something outside of me, I listened to my body and found the buzz to being healthy! |