" More … "

More than the greatest love the world has known,

This is the love I give to you alone,

More than the simple words I try to say,

I only live to love you more each day.

More than you'll ever know, 

Longer than always is a long long time, 

I know I've never lived before and my heart is very sure,

No one else could love you more ...

~ Frank Sinatra ~ More ~

***

It has been quite fun to introduce more foods in our diet, specifically super foods.  So what is a “superfood”?  It is a marketing term used to describe foods with great health benefits.  Interestingly, the term is not in common use by dietitians and nutritionist, as many dispute the claimed benefits by advocates.

… Spirulina is a simple, one-celled organism that got its name from the 

Latin word for 'helix' or 'spiral' because of its spring-like physical characteristic. Its scientific name is Arthrospira platensis, and it belongs to the cyanobacteria family … 

Nevertheless, we’ve been enjoying the benefits of goji berries, cacao & Spirulina.

Spirulina, technically is not a herb, as this cyan bacteria boasts is fair share of health promoting properties.  Incredibly high nutrients, Spirulina is a natural “algae” harvested from non-contaminated ponds and bodies of spring water.  Vegetarians looking for high natural iron content gravitate towards this food.  And like anything else, it comes with its controversy ... regarding its high B-12 content and if this particular form is a complete and absorbable form.

So how can pond scum be good for you?  It is hard to imagine a plant that can nourish your body by reinforcing your immune system with an abundance of good stuff ... 

• Spirulina is 65% protein and amino acids including the essential fatty acid gamma linolenic acid (GLA) which supports anti-inflammatory properties
• Spirulina contains Omega 3, 6 & 9s
• Spirulina is extremely high in Chlorophyll which helps remove toxins from the blood and boost the immune system
• Spirulina has a high concentration of bio-avail iron which helps with anemia 
• Spirulina is a great source of B-1(thiamine), B-2 (riboflavin), B-3(nicotinamide), B-6 (pyridoxine), B-9 (folic acid), vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin A and vitamin E
• Spirulina has over 26 times the calcium in milk
• Spirulina is a great source of potassium, chromium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorous, selenium, sodium and zinc

When choosing a type of Spirulina, make sure to choose one that is organic, as others can have nitrate compounds as additives.  We simply add it, and the other super foods, to our veggie juices and smoothies every day.  The phosphorous makes for a nasty taste so it is great to disguise it within.  

Although there are no known side effects, our bodies react differently based on our current state of health.  Some of the most prominent reactions include slight fever due to elevation in metabolism and body temperature, dark green waste matter, rash and itchy skin due to temporary colon cleanse, and sleeplessness due to detoxification process and a sign to rest and heal.

Disclaimer: Spirulina is a powerhouse of essential vitamins and minerals ... and a potent detoxifier.  People with severe seafood or iodine allergies should be aware as well as those who are pregnant, nursing or have hyperthyroidism.  Always consult with your doctor regarding contradictions prior to taking Spirulina.

" Joints ... "

"I can feel it in my joints

It aches and creaks and

There's no point

In growing old

Oh this life I've made on my own

Is lonely with the love I've known

Where are you

Is where I want to be

Where are you"

~ Holly Miranda ~ Joints ~

***

Today I want to talk about joints ... yes that's right good old fashion joints.  I still remember the day when I tried to get out of bed only to fall hard on my bedroom floor.  I was 14 years old.  My parents were frantcially worried about what was causing my loss of mobility.  Openly they talked about if I had missed a vaccine, something, anything ... they feared the worse.  After an emergency visit to our family doctors office and routine tests, the diagnosis ... severe joint pain aka Arthritis.  Huh?  It didn’t make sense ... wasn’t arthritis an “old person’s” dis-ease ... my grandmother struggled with it and it hereditary as most of my aunts and mom lived with it.  So I bought into what the doctors told me ... the idea of a lifetime of one medication after another.

So what is Arthritis?  Arthritis means inflammation of the joint which may be caused by wear and tear, infection, injury or auto immune process.  Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis that affects the big joints in the body.  Rheumatoid arthritis initially destroys the connective tissue arond the joints before affecting the bone while gout is caused by elevated levels of uric acid in the body.  Unfortunately arthritis is still very present in our family ... luckily I have reversed this in my body while on the Gerson Therapy ... btw, now on week 45.  And although my primary intention is to fully recover from my cancer diagnosis, I can attest to minimal arthritic pain in my body after living with it for almost 30 years.

How?  Well the Gerson Therapy is so powerful as it naturally boosts your body’s own immune system to heal cancer, arthritis, heart dis-esae, allergies and many other degenerative dis-eases.  With the abundance of nutrients from fresh, organic juices consumed every day and superdoses of enzymes, minerals and nutrients, diseased tissue is broken down.  Plus the enemas aid in eliminating the lifelong buidup of toxins from the liver.  For me, the diagnosis of arthritis does not have to mean a lifetime of medication anymore.  

Regardless of the type of arthritis one suffers from, this therapy offers phenomenal relief ~ restoring joint function and enjoying a life free from pain.  For more information, have a read of “Defeating Arthritis, Bone and Joint Diseases” by Charlotte Gerson.

"Potatoes ..."

"I don't have time
To feel the pain
Why should I feel?
I can't complain ...
Heeeeey ...Potatos in the dark
Pickles in the light
Cabbage on wheels
Drive around"

~ Caffeine ~ Potatoe ~

***

Today as I was getting my tatters ready for baking I started to wonder exactly how many of these suckers I have eaten over the last 33 weeks.  On the Gerson therapy, we are required to have at least one baked potato for lunch and one for dinner.  So, loosely calculating ... close to 500 potatoes thus far on the therapy.  Holy tatters Batman!!! ~ that is a whole lotta carbs no?  And I say carbs for a reason ... you see for the longest time, I stayed away (as most of you do) from loading up on carbs.  The myth "carbs make you fat".  Well that sure as heck is not the case.  Carbs don't make you fat, the "toppings" make you fat ~ oils, butters, creams, dressings, dippings, and fixings.  And if you really think about it ... it makes sense.  Now this is referring to real carbs, not packaged, processed and canned.  We all know that well, that stuff is just not good for us at all.

One of the main principles in the Gerson therapy is to provide the body with a high potassium and low sodium diet.  Within Charlotte Gerson's book "Healing the Gerson Way", she writes about her father's discovery around these two minerals and how their imbalance in the body can lead to serious health issues.  Once sorted, our bodies can heal as they are made to do so.  Yet the average diet is far from this.  Most diets these days are rich in sodium which lead to various dis-eases including cancer.  So why is sodium so bad for us?  Well sodium itself is not "bad" but remember the saying ... everything in moderation?  To the point, excess sodium feeds tumours allowing them to grow.  

So back to why I ingest soooooo many potatoes.  Well, to get my diet back to the higher potassium and lower sodium ratio, the more potatoes the better ... because potatoes are enriched with potassium.  An average size potato has 110 calories and 750 mg of potassium compared to 10 mg of sodium.  Also as an added bonus, potatoes are the cheapest source of potassium.  As you know all of our produce is organic, but we can still purchase a 5 lb bag for ~ $8.  Not bad when you consider an average bevy at the Starbucks is ~ $5.

So as I eat my potatoes twice a day, I can't help but smile and think of a few potato funnies to share with you.  They may make you laugh, but at the very least, may peak your craving today for potatoes ...

• What do you call a baby potato? A small fry!
• What do you say to an angry 300-pound baked potato? Anything, just butter him up.
• What does a British potato say when it thinks something is wonderful? It’s mashing!
• Why did the potato cross the road? He saw a fork up ahead.