Sore Throat Remedy

     I've been plagued with an extremely sore throat and cough this weekend.  I think sleeping for over 2 months with an air conditioner blowing right on me has contributed to this illness.  My usual remedy for sore throat is to drink hot tea, as hot as I can take it. Well, 100 degree weather just makes drinking hot tea unbearable.  I made some slippery elm and comfrey tea yesterday and drank it on ice.  It didn't soothe much.
     My mom came to the rescue last night with a tea recipe she had read about and recommended to my sister when she had strep for a few weeks.  So, I tried it this morning (after searching for fresh limes in 2 different grocery stores!) and thought I'd share the recipe.  I drank just a small amount so far, but feel much improved already.

     Heat some hot water.  While it is heating take one lime and place it in warm water ( this aids in getting the most juice from the fruit, also works on lemons).  Put 4 teaspoons of honey, 1/4 teaspoon of sea salt and 1 teabag of choice in a glass measure.  When the water is heated (not boiling) pour 1 cup over ingredients and let tea steep. Juice the lime and add to the tea.  Sip throughout the day, do not drink all at once. I poured mine over ice and it has already seemed to help soothe the soreness a lot. 
    Another favorite sore throat remedy is Listerine.  I gargle with it before going to bed and the disinfecting power works very quickly to help it heal. Salt water is another great liquid to gargle with when suffering a sore throat.  Avoiding sugar is also a must. Sugar feeds any infection.  Anytime I am sick and eat any amount of sugar, I immediately get congested and feel worse.  Of course, increasing vitamin C in any form and taking garlic are also great for killing an infection. 
     So, sore throat, beware, I am armed and ready for the battle.  I hope you will be gone soon!

Lesson Learned

     I have been suffering from a foot malady this summer and I had to share my "natural" healing experience with you.  I have what seems to be athlete's foot between two of my toes. I always get it in the summer time (when I always wear sandals). A few weeks ago it started getting very bad.  It was swollen, and felt like the infection had spread to my foot.  I had veins near my toes that were red and hot. So, I did a little research to find out what I could do to speed up the healing process.

     The first thing I read is that fresh air helps it heal. Strange that I only get it when I'm wearing sandals.  I wrote down the various ingredients that I had on hand to try and make it better.  I walked around an entire afternoon with a raw onion taped to my foot.  The only difference it made was that I walked in a way that injured my foot and it was sore and swollen the next day.  I have baptized the toe several times in tea tree oil, to no avail.  I walked another day for a few hours with a raw garlic clove stuck between the two toes.  I soaked it in Epsom salts, which only  made my dry cracked heels even drier and "crackier". I applied oregano oil, which only made me smell like a pizza and which also stung in the extreme for over an hour!  I drank lots of comfrey tea, ate tons of vitamin C, and even sprinkled natural pink salt in my shoes (which also burned very badly!!).  The apple cider vinegar really helped with the itching, but just made me feel like a pickle.  This infection was just not going away!
     All the while that I was "suffering", my husband kept telling me to try his favorite remedy: Vick's Vapor Rub.  Well, I would argue that petroleum jelly isn't "natural" and that the salve would keep the foot from getting the fresh air that it needed. I was also afraid that the Mentholatum in Vick's would make it burn like fire and I didn't want to put that on an open wound. Finally, two days ago, I broke down and very precariously put a tiny bit of Vick's on the toe and put a sock over it and went to bed.  I was surprised that it did not sting at all-- making me feel like it wasn't working. :)  However, the next morning, the swelling and redness were noticeably better.  I gingerly added even more the next night, and had even better results the next morning.  I am almost over this infection, that has lasted over a month, in just two nights.
    So, the conclusion?  Experience is the best doctor. I often go to a website called Well Tell Me that is a great resource of experience. People sharing their experience with a certain malady and telling how they dealt with it and what worked for them.  Now, every body is different, and will respond to different methods in different ways, but to know that someone else is out there going through the same thing and having ways to deal with it is very valuable information.  Yes, I did research foot infections through that site, and no, there were no mentions of Vick's vapor-rub!!  I may have to add that!

Butter is Better

     I read this today and had to share.  I avoid margarine as much as possible, mostly because I detest the flavor and texture.  I love using butter in all baking and it is perfect slathered on a warm piece of homemade bread.  Remember that balance is the key to healthy living. Yes, butter is fat, but it is good, God-made fat. Wouldn't you rather eat something that was present in the Garden of Eden and specifically made for consumption by mankind than to fill your body with oils and chemicals that taste terrible and have drastic effects on your health?  Read on:

     "Margarine was originally manufactured to fatten turkeys. When it killed the turkeys, the people who had put all the money into the research wanted a payback so they put their heads together to figure out what to do with this product to get their money back.
It was a white substance with no food appeal so they added the yellow coloring and sold it to people to use in place of butter. How do you like it? They have come out with some clever new flavorings....

DO YOU KNOW.. The difference between margarine and butter?
Read on to the end...gets very interesting!

Both have the same amount of calories.

Butter is slightly higher in saturated fats at 8 grams; compared to5 grams for margarine.

Eating margarine can increase heart disease in women by 53% over eating the same amount of butter, according to a recent Harvard Medical Study.

Eating butter increases the absorption of many other nutrients in other foods.
Butter has many nutritional benefits where margarine has a few and only because they are added!
Butter tastes much better than margarine and it can enhance the flavors of other foods.

Butter has been around for centuries where margarine has been around for less than 100 years.

And now, for Margarine..
Very High in Trans fatty acids.
Triples risk of coronary heart disease ...
Increases total cholesterol and LDL (this is the bad cholesterol) and lowers HDL cholesterol, (the good cholesterol)

Increases the risk of cancers up to five times..

Lowers quality of breast milk

Decreases immune response.

Decreases insulin response.

And here's the most disturbing fact... HERE IS THE PART THAT IS VERY INTERESTING!

Margarine is but ONE MOLECULE away from being PLASTIC... and shares 27 ingredients with PAINT

These facts alone were enough to have me avoiding margarine for life and anything else that is hydrogenated (this means hydrogen is added, changing the molecular structure of the substance).

Open a tub of margarine and leave it open in your garage or shaded area. Within a couple of days you will notice a couple of things:

* no flies, not even those pesky fruit flies will go near it (that should tell you something)

* it does not rot or smell differently because it has no value ; nothing will grow on it. Even those teeny weeny micro-organisms will not a find a home to grow. Why? Because it is nearly plastic. Would you melt your Tupperware and spread that on your toast?

Share This With Your Friends.....(If you want to butter them up')!"

     Yes, there are supposed "good" versions of margarine, but they are still fake versions of the real thing.  Remember, those of you that think that no-fat or low-fat is good, your brain is made of fat.  If your body does not consume enough fat, your brain will suffer.  Have you ever seen a fat alzheimers patient?  Brain scans of those who suffer from alzheimers show that the brain has literally disappeared or disintegrated.  Beware of what you eat.  Balance your life with a little bit of butter, your body and your brain (and your tastebuds) will thank you!

Foods that Heal: Apples

     In continuing our "Foods that Heal" series, I have been studying up on the benefits of apples.  My mom always said "Apples are the most portable nutrition", and they are.  They are wrapped up in the perfect convenient packaging, easily carried with you to eat and toss the core.  Let's look at some of the benefits of this super food.

     Of course, the old adage is "An apple a day keeps the doctor away", and it is so true, but what else does an apple a day keep away?

AN APPLE A DAY:
  
*keeps the orthodontist away-- I had the worst crooked teeth as a young girl.  I remember a huge gap between my two front teeth, due to the fact that one of them came in completely sideways.  I carried a lunch to school every day, faithfully packed by my mom every morning, and every single day there was an apple in there.  Mom always checked up on us each evening to make sure we ate all of our lunch.  I honestly believe that eating raw, hard to chew vegetables and fruits help align your teeth.  Sinking your teeth into that apple and pulling a bite off pulls those teeth and lines them up!

*keeps the Prilosec away-- We have an epidemic of giant proportions in our country. People are suffering from acid reflux, and are told by the doctor that their body is producing too much acid.  Actually, the opposite is true.  Your stomach has a "door" on the top of it.  It opens to let in food when you eat and is supposed to close.  Your stomach produces acid so that the food can be digested.  Fresh, raw fruits and vegetables aid in the digestion process, and your stomach knows this!  If it does not have enough raw enzymes to assist in digesting your food, the "door" stays open until you send some down.  If the "door" doesn't close, then the acid comes up in your throat and gives you that burning sensation.  Many who suffer with this problem would benefit greatly just by simply eating a whole apple about half an hour before eating a meal. (By the way, if you were to go to the drug companies websites and read about these types of medications, you would discover that, besides having harmful side effects, the companies state that this type of drug is not to be taken for more than 14 days.....hmmm, seems like everyone is on it permanently.)



Ad from a magazine.  Of course, a doctor will tell you otherwise!

  (This type of drug turns off some of the acid producers in the stomach, causing a worse problem where the food is not digested and therefore you receive no nutrients.)

*keeps the inhaler away-- Apples have been known to promote healthy lung function. It has been found that good lung function was associated with high intakes of vitamins C, E, and beta-carotene, citrus fruits, apples, and fruit juices. However, those who studied these facts, after they took into consideration factors such as body mass, smoking history and exercise the only food that seemed to make a significant difference was apples. It was found that eating five or more apples a week was linked to a slightly better lung function. So, keep those lungs functioning correctly by including apples in your diet!

*keeps the fat away-- Okay, now I have your undivided attention!  The skin of raw apples contains pectin, which when eaten, forms a gel in your stomach.  This gel inhibits the absorption of fats and  also helps to suppress your appetite and make you feel full! Plus, when your stomach has the proper amount of digestive enzymes, the digestion process will be more efficient, eliminating bloating and belly aches.  My kids know that the cure for a tummy ache is some raw apple! Another benefit of having good digestive processes is that the problem of bad breath is also reduced!

*keeps the yellow teeth away-- Another area that we are constantly reminded of the advertising industry is that of having beautiful, white teeth.  Apples help keep your teeth white by helping your body begin the digestive process in your mouth.  Eating an apple helps your strengthen your saliva with the enzymes in the apple.  Strong saliva washes over your teeth and helps to dissolve the plaque that can turn your teeth yellow.

*keeps away the cataracts, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, cancer, etc.-- There are so many other benefits to eating apples.  Try one today, or better yet, one with each meal.  They are sweet, and delicious, so why not incorporate them in your everyday eating routine? Apples are also antibacterial, antiviral and anti-inflammatory, and they contain lots of fiber to keep things running smoothly.  We could all benefit from at least one apple a day!
    *By the way, it was not an apple on the tree of the knowledge of good and evil that Eve ate in the garden, causing her to sin!!  But perhaps, apples were what grew on the tree of life!!

The Theology of Sickness

     My pastor (and my father-in-law) preached a message Sunday night that ran right along the lines of my blog on keeping healthy. So, with his permission, I wanted to share it with you readers.  I hope you find it as interesting as I did.
     The Bible lists many reasons that sickness is allowed to come into our lives.  When sickness comes, our job is to determine the reason that God sent it and then act accordingly.

10 Biblical Reasons that Sickness Comes

#1.  Sickness unto Death   II Kings 13:14  Now, we all know that there will come a day that we will die, and we have to die of something!  We know that "it is appointed unto man once to die..." Heb. 9:27.  So, why do we fight it?  We need to be willing to determine if that is God's purpose in sending the sickness. Maybe it is just our time to go.  The doctors keep saying, "We could try one more thing." , adding more and more burden of expense to your family after you do go. If it seems that this is the time, take it gracefully. God will give you the strength you need.

#2 Sickness as a Chastisement for Sin Exodus 15:26  Often sickness is sent because God is dealing with an area of sin in our lives.  An illness should trigger an automatic reaction to search our hearts and see if there is sin that needs to be confessed and forsaken.

#3 Sickness for the Glory of God  John 9:1-3 Often God just wants to show His power in our lives. He wants to receive the glory for an illness that suddenly is healed and can only be attributed to Him! He delights in showing His power on our behalf.

#4 Sickness because of poor stewardship of the body.  Phil. 2:25-30 This passage mentions Epaphroditus  who had worked so hard for the work of the Lord that he neglected to care for himself and therefore became sick.  We often neglect the most obvious reasons that we get illnesses and they often come because of our lack of attention to the needs of our body. God created our bodies to  need a balance of nutrition.  When we lack something, the balance of our health gets out of line and sickness comes. Our current FDA approved foods lack the vital nutrients that our bodies need to function. Go back to the Garden of Eden and remember what it was that God intended for us to eat.  Food in its most natural state will keep your health in balance. Our bodies are a gift that God has given to us and we are to take care of them responsibly so that we are able to do the tasks that He has intended for us.  If we are ill, we will not be able to bring Him the glory that He desires.  How many people do we know that  have been put out of commission because they neglected the care of their bodies? Do you leave the care of your health in the hands of your doctor or do you seek ways to care for it on your own?  It is YOUR responsibility!

#5 Sickness to turn the heart toward God II Corinthians 12:7-10  God often sends sickness so that our hearts can be closer drawn to Him.  How many times have we seen the Lord work in the hearts of people when a serious diagnosis is given?  A life threatening illness will almost always get people to think of the future and how they need to be ready.  We have also seen many who have a malady that may last throughout their lifetime, and yet they work through the problem bringing glory to God by forgetting themselves and allowing Him to shine through.  Our example is the Apostle Paul, who had some sort of physical problem that he entreated the Lord for 3 times, yet, he allowed God to receive the glory. He learned not to see it as suffering, but as a special opportunity to be humbled and to allow God to be strong in his weakness.

#6 Sickness that comes as a result of guilt Psalms 32:3-4  A lot of sickness that is brought into our lives comes because of sin that we know of that needs to be dealt with. Our conscience weighs heavily and literally brings physical sickness as we agonize over what we have done and how we need to make things right.  Even worry can cause upset of the balance of health.  Taking care of spiritual needs is healthy!

#7 Sickness as a result of providential events Isaiah 38:1  Sometimes a sickness is sent because it is just part of God's plan for you.  He is in control and as we acknowledge His sovereignty in our lives we will realize that we can be used in any way by Him for His glory.

#8 Sickness that is incidental  Sometimes, we just get sick!  We come in contact with germs, they enter our body and we become ill. Our kids play outside and find bacteria and it causes problems.  There are sicknesses that just come because that is the way life is!

#9 Sickness that is communicable  Leviticus 13&14, Romans 1:27  The book of Leviticus is filled with laws that God laid down for the children of Israel.  God didn't just pull a bunch of "do nots" out of a hat. He had a purpose in every one of those laws.  Chapters 13 and 14 particularly deal with avoiding germs and serious illness that comes from contact with certain things.  Romans deals with sickness that comes as a result of sexual sins and the consequences of those.

#10 Sickness that is demonically induced  Acts 5:16; Job 2:7  The Bible obviously states that there are sicknesses that are brought on by demonic forces.    We believe that Christians cannot be possessed by demons, so this may not pertain to you. However, consider the story of Job.  Perhaps your sickness is a test of your faith.  God allows Satan to do things to test us to see how we will respond.  Will you respond in faith or in doubt? Will you allow the illness to strengthen your faith or cause shipwreck of your testimony?


    Keep these reasons in mind the next time you become sick or have been diagnosed with something serious. Search your heart and seek the Lord's purpose for the sickness. 


*Used by permission from Pastor Dan Deatrick.  You may listen to the entire sermon at:  http://www.fbcwayland.org/sermons

Super Granola

       This past weekend I made a recipe that I had never made before, though I had eaten it many times.  I was rummaging through my recipe box and found "Mom's Granola".  My mom concocted this recipe many years ago and it was the main ingredient at our family breakfast table all my growing up years.  So, I decided to try it out on my kids.  They were more than enthusiastic, and I have already made a second batch because they scarfed down the last one so quickly!
     I called it "Super Granola" for many reasons: it's super easy, super yummy, and super healthy for you!  Your kids will think you are super mom if you make this for them and you'll feel super because it is so much better than store bought cereal.  Here's the recipe:

Preheat oven to 300.  Combine in a large bowl:

               6 cups old fashioned rolled oats

               3/4 cup wheat germ

               1/4 cup sesame seeds

               1 cup walnuts ( I had pecans)

               1/2 cup powdered milk

               1/4 cup flax seed

                1/2 cup flaked coconut

    Then combine in a small saucepan:

                 1/2 cup brown sugar

                 2/3 cup honey

                 1/3 cup butter

                 1/3 cup oil (I used coconut, of course!)

                 2 tbsp water

                 1 1/2 tsp vanilla

Heat on low until just melted.  Don't let it boil or your brown sugar and butter will turn to caramel!

Pour the sugar mixture over the oat mixture and mix well.  Spread onto a greased flat pan.  Bake for 20 minutes, then stir.  Return to the oven for another 15-20 minutes until golden brown and slightly crispy around the edges.  Let cool and then break up with a butter knife and store in a glass jar. Enjoy for breakfast, or any other time as a quick snack!  You can substitute many other grains and nuts.  You can also add raisins, cranberries or other dried fruits, just stir them in after it has baked and cooled.  Enjoy!

"Give us this day..." Part 2

     After reading up on the benefits of daily bread, I think I could have titled this blog "Foods that Heal : Bread".  I am finding some interesting (and convicting!) information!  Psalm 104 is praising the acts of our Creator in taking special care of His creation, and in verses 14 and 15, it mentions the many things that God has given to take care of our needs: "He causeth grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth; And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man's heart."  Wow, did you know that daily bread will strengthen your heart?  It says it right there in the Scripture!
    The premise of the last discussion on bread emphasized the fact that bread is something that should be worked for.  Even praying for your "daily bread" really means that you are praying for work!  In working for our daily bread we are made more grateful for the abilities that God has given us to work for what we need.  How different our society would be if people realized the gratification that comes from a hard day's work and the rewards that come from laboring for your needs. 
       The emphasis of this blog is primarily on the health benefits of eating fresh, made-daily bread.  If we were to go back in history and study the progression of bread making throughout time, we would see an interesting path.  God originally designed grain as one of the most complete foods, and the balance within the grain is vital for the health of those who eat it.  When the whole grain is ground into flour and baked, it brings about the results that God intended it to. However, when one part of the grain is left out, the balance is destroyed and the benefits are wasted.  We find throughout history the desire to eliminate the "healthy look" of  whole grain flour.  Man has succeeded in eliminating the dark color, and continues to seek ways of making a softer, whiter bread.  Did you know that even the ancient Egyptians succeeded in producing a whiter, softer bread?  Even the Romans were onto this scheme.  They found a process to condition the grain with salt water to make it more refined.  It was in Rome that the color of one's bread took on a cultural significance.  Refined flour was reserved for only the wealthiest people.  You could tell one's social status by the color of their bread!  The drive for whiter bread came to head in Rome, when the government initiated a program of milling the grain for people.  In their pursuit of ever whiter bread, they even added chalk and alum to the flour, which caused many health disorders.  When the demand became so great, the government was soon providing flour to every household, taking away the need for working for the bread!  Sound familiar? Since then, wheat flour has been bleached to achieve the white effect.  For years, grain mills used nitrogen trichloride, but this chemical was banned by the FDA several years ago.  Now, flour is bleached with chlorine dioxide (approved by the FDA), which is an even more potent bleaching agent
     Whole grain spoils and becomes moldy in a very short time.  This caused problems for those who were trying to store bread and sell it to the masses.  By taking away the germ of the wheat, which contains the oil, and the outer covering, which contains the fiber, the wheat flour can be stored for much longer periods of time.  This process removes about 25 vital vitamins and minerals and the proteins.  Vitamins and minerals work together in your body to help your body use them. When one is taken away, the remaining vitamins are useless.  The germ of the wheat is a rich source of Vitamin E.   Studies have shown that a diet that lacks Vitamin E can lead to heart disease.  Hmmm, so real bread does strengthen man's heart!
      Because grain begins to deteriorate immediately after the grain is cracked, then fresh ground flour is the best choice for daily bread.  God instructed us to pray for daily bread, not weekly or monthly.  If you were to place a piece of store bought bread on the counter in a plastic bag and also place a piece of homemade bread in a similar bag and watch them for a few days, which one do you think would get moldy sooner?  The homemade bread, of course.  The absence of preservatives and the presence of the whole grain will make it go rancid much sooner.  It is the best choice for your daily intake of bread.
     So, as a result of this reading, I am currently praying for a grain mill.  I purchase whole wheat flour to make my bread, but even that is not the best.  Grinding the wheat and using it immediately is the best choice for daily bread. Yes, it is more work, but in the end the benefits will far outweigh the work put out to make it.  After all, that was God's intention in the first place. "In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread....' Genesis 3:19
*More to come on the health benefits of daily bread...........