The Vital Balance Report

Joint Health, Osteoarthritis & Cetyl Myristoleate

2011-08-10T06:48:00.000-07:00

According to an article in the American Family Physician publication, Americans spend more on natural remedies for osteoarthritis than for any other medical condition. A number of these remedies bring with them unhealthy, and sometimes, unsafe side-effects. In looking for a safe, natural remedy, make sure you investigate Cetyl Myristoleate.

Harry Diehl
For over 40 years of dedicated service to the US government, Dr. Diehl worked for the prestigious , National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the Laboratory of Chemistry of the National Institute of Arthritis, Metabolic, and Digestive Diseases located in Bethesda, Maryland. In 1964, at the age of 40, Mr. Diehl became concernerned about a neighbor's pain and disability from rheumatoid arthritis. His condition deteriorated over time until he became disabled. The neighbor had a family to support, but his arthritis made that impossible. Diehl was a deeply religious man whose feelings overwhelmed him as his friend's condition worsened. Harry thought, "Here I am working for the US Government at the National Institutes of Health, and I have never seen anything that was good for curing arthritis." He decided to take the initiative to establish a laboratory in his home to immerse himself and embark on a search for something to relieve the pain and disability of his neighbor and the millions of people who suffer from arthritis.

Diehl patented his discovery in 1977, receiving a use patent for rheumatoid arthritis. He then sought pharmaceutical companies to conduct human trials with cetyl myristoleate, but none were interested in his discovery. Perhaps the lack of interest was because cetyl myristoleate was a natural substance and could not be granted a product patent, or maybe because drug companies know they will have to run through 25,000 to 35,000 substances before they find one that makes it to market. Diehl had made a major nutritional discovery, and no one was interested! Being a scientist, not a marketing expert, Diehl let his discovery lay dormant for about 15 years.

The National Institutes of Health offers this conclusion from one study: Use of a CFA topical cream is an effective treatment for improving knee ROM, ability to ascend/descend stairs, ability to rise from sitting, walk and sit down, and unilateral balance.

My personal experience, having used a cetyl myristoleate complex cream and having shared it with many others, is that this compound can appear to work miracles. I recently gave some to a woman who, now in her mid-40's, was experiencing the kind of knee trouble that made her worry that surgery, or perhaps something worse, was in her future. I suggested she give this cream a try and see what happens. "Everyone's body is different, and there's no harmful side effects with this."

Two days later, and voilà! She reported complete freedom from the problem. "I almost can't believe that its the cream, but its the only thing I did that was new."

This is the outcome for 99% of the people I've shared this with and each time is, while not a surprise, a definite delight!

In striving towards that Vital Balance in life, it has been important to me to choose safe, natural and effective tools that restore the body to it's healthy state. By living in a Wellness Home, I'm able to achieve this for myself and my family while bringing this opportunity to others.

Take 5 - Easy Steps To Bring Your Life Into Balance

2011-07-08T11:53:00.000-07:00

5 STEPS TO BALANCE

1. It may be that for Flourishing Body you only need to replace soft drinks with water each day.

2. For Vibrant Mind, you may need to write one positive thing about yourself on a small piece of paper and carry it in your wallet or planner - read it at the beginning and end of each day.

3. For Thriving Family, take 5 minutes to write one reason you are grateful for each family member - then take the opportunity to share this with them.

4. For Enriched Community, put spare change into a jar and at the end of the month donate it to your child's school or arts group.

5. For Financial Freedom, listen to the free recording on Youtube of Earl Nightingale, The Strangest Secret each day. It's 10 minutes long.

Your Power to Heal

2011-05-31T09:27:00.000-07:00

Where does the power of healing come from? Depending on your cultural and educational background it can come from drugs, herbs, needles, movement, stillness, cell salts, drumming, quantum field manipulation and many other sources.

There is a quote attributed to Hippocrates – “The natural force within each one of us is the greatest healer of disease.” This ancient wisdom is being affirmed today by science, as we learn more and more about the energy systems of our bodies. There is a way to become empowered in your own healing process.

Acupressure is just one, simple way each one of us can release and benefit from the healing energy within. Just below your collarbone, above your first ribs, you will find two indentations near your sternum. This is called your Elegant Mansion. You or your partner can press into these spots to vitalize your immune system, relieve breathing difficulties and reduce symptoms of anxiety or depression. If you are pressing them by yourself, cross your arms and keep your shoulders relaxed. Find the spots and at first, gently press. When you feel the points begin to soften, let your fingertips sink in. Breathe and let your mind release and relax.

Next, find the base of your sternum and measure three of your thumb widths up (often this is equal to 4 finger widths). This is your Sea of Tranquility. Just the name brings a sense of openness and you breathe a little easier. Using your thumb tip, press into this point. Yes, it’s hard bone under there, but if you breathe and listen through your thumb tip, you will realize the point is softening. Among other things, this point supports your immune system and relieves symptoms of tension and anxiety.

These are just two of hundreds of points within your body.
What does this have to do with the power to heal? When we are tight and tense, our power is blocked – physically, emotionally, creatively. Reducing tension and the negative effects of harmful stress is an important beginning to freeing your power to heal.

Collaborate with the healing practitioner of your choice and remember that together you are cultivating YOUR power to heal.

Summer! Sun! Fun! What Will You Be Wearing?

2011-05-25T10:52:00.000-07:00

No, that's not the Blue Moon - it's a False-color image of the Sun's corona as seen in deep ultraviolet by the Extreme ultraviolet Imaging Telescope.

"Ultraviolet (UV) light has shorter wavelengths than visible light. Though these waves are invisible to the human eye, some insects, like bumblebees, can see them! (Image of the bumblebee is courtesty of Mark Cassino.)" From NASA.

UV is the reason we even have discussions about sunscreen. Our own Earth's atmosphere protects us from a significant portion of the UV radiation coming from the Sun and other sources. Yet, according to the World Health Organization: "Small amounts of UV are beneficial for people and essential in the production of vitamin D. UV radiation is also used to treat several diseases, including rickets, psoriasis, eczema and jaundice. This takes place under medical supervision and the benefits of treatment versus the risks of UV radiation exposure are a matter of clinical judgement."

The 3 different types of UV are shown on this picture from students at the Univ of Maine.

We can see that UV-C is completely blocked by the ozone layer and our concerns are the UV-A and UV-B exposure that we receive. We know that Ultraviolet radiation creates a health risk, but what about the commercially popular sunscreen we've all been told is safe and healthy for us?

SkinBiology.com offers this information: "For decades, irresponsible cosmetic companies and a small group of very vocal, publicity-seeking dermatologists have strongly advocated that chemical sunscreens should be heavily applied before any exposure to sunlight, even on young children. They insisted that such sunscreen use would prevent skin cancer and protect your health. This was despite of a lack of any adequate safety testing of these chemicals. (It should be emphasized that most dermatologists are much more cautious and careful.)

On the other hand, over the past decade, many scientists studying cancer have come to virtually the opposite conclusion; that is, the use of sunscreen chemicals may be increasing the incidence of cancer and that sunlight exposure may actually decrease human cancer rates and improve your health"

The Food and Drug Administration’s 2007 draft sunscreen safety regulations say: “FDA is not aware of data demonstrating that sunscreen use alone helps prevent skin cancer” (FDA 2007).

The Environmental Working Group shares the latest information on sunscreen's link to skin cancer, noting that most commercial sunscreen has not addressed UV-A exposure: The International Agency for Research on Caner has concluded that:

Sunscreen use may decrease the occurrence of squamous cell carcinoma.
Sunscreen use has no demonstrated influence on basal cell carcinoma.
In intentional sun exposure situations such as staying outdoors for long periods of time, sunscreen use may increase the risk of melanoma (IARC 2001a, Autier 2009).

In evaluating sunscreens you may consider this information:

"Unsurprisingly, there is currently no sunscreen that meets all of these criteria. The major choice in the U.S. is between “chemical” sunscreens, which have inferior stability, penetrate the skin and may disrupt the body’s hormone systems, and “mineral” sunscreens (zinc and titanium), which often contain micronized- or nano-scale particles of those minerals.

After reviewing the evidence, EWG determined that mineral sunscreens have the best safety profile of today’s choices."

For an extensive report visit EWG's Sunscreen report.

As is true in all health areas, there is no silver bullet, no one magic pill kind of answer. We can take action in other ways to reduce our risk of developing skin cancer. ScienceDaily offers some excellent nutritional information: "Antioxidant vitamins with the ability to neutralize damaging free-radical molecules produced as a byproduct of normal metabolism and by ultraviolet light have been shown to be potentially important in protecting against skin cancers"

Ayushveda.com offers a simple approach to nutrition for skin cancer prevention with the added benefit of increased beauty and vitality for the skin. On WebMD.com, Georgiana Donadio, PhD, DC, MSc, founder and director of the National Institute of Whole Health in Boston reports, "Your skin is the fingerprint of what is going on inside your body, and all skin conditions, from psoriasis to acne to aging, are the manifestations of your body's internal needs, including its nutritional needs."

My skin care kit contains a natural, non-toxic sunscreen, moderation in my sun exposure, clean, healthy water, Jade GreenZymes™, and, True Elements™ Swiss Organic Skin Care.

Whatever your plan is, make sure it incorporates Balance - Vital Balance. That is the key to success.

Osteoporosis - Bone Health Promise

2011-05-10T12:25:00.000-07:00

For older folks fighting osteoporosis, few things are as frightening as a bone fracture. If all those osteoporosis meds you see on TV were doing their job, you’d think this would be a shrinking problem. But a new study shows that bone fractures in osteoporosis patients aren’t just up – they’ve skyrocketed. These fractures increased 55 percent between 1995 and 2006, according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. House Calls August, 2009

According to Care2 Greenliving

The bone disease osteoporosis affects all the bones in your body–including your jaw bone–and can cause tooth loss. The erosion of the jawbone can result in tooth loss, mild facial deformities and pain in and around the temporomandibular joint, which connects the upper and lower jaws. Alveolar bone, the kind of bone around the roots of the teeth, is susceptible to the process of osteoporosis. It tends to erode quickly when calcium is depleted from the body.

Calcium over-supplementation has been linked to heart disease and high blood pressure. It makes sense that when the body can't deliver minerals to the bones for deposit and conversion, the minerals will end up in the wrong places. When we understand the true role and function of our skeletal system, we see how these commercially conventional treatments fail miserably.

Prescription drugs all come with negative side effects. Period. The action by which the bisphosphanates work is to limit the activity of the osteoclasts - the cells that 'recycle' old bone material. The bones are not supported in growing new healthy cells with this type of drug. Washington.edu offers this clinical observation: The bisphosphonates cause dramatic reductions in the bone formation. This is seen on bone biopsies labelled with tetracycline. The graph shows the mineralizing surface as a percentage of the trabecular bone surface. With higher doses only 0.16% of the surface is still forming bone.

The idea behind the bisphosphonates is to hold on to the weak, old bone tissue for a while and allow the slowing forming new cells to build up and thereby create higher bone density. True. If you follow this course you will most likely see an increase in bone density over a period of time.

What isn't being highly promoted are the effects of diminshed bone resorption - the 'recycling'. That material - your bone calcium - is what your body uses to fuel and feed every organ and system inside of you. Your brain, your heart, your kidneys, your intestines, your.... you name it it needs your bone calcium.

Enter Bio-Replenishment.
Bio-Replenishment is a new approach to supplementation, not a vitamin, mineral, hormone, or prescription drug. Bio-Replenishment uses the body’s own chemicals whose levels decline over the years, restoring them to youthful levels and supporting optimum function of vital tissues and organs. These include absorption, transport and utilization of nutrients, distribution of minerals, nerve impulses, muscle movement, synthesis and release of hormones.

Visit the site to see informative videos that explain this bone health revolution. Natural, SAFE, and based on your bodies native chemicals - no alien, synthetic drugs - Bio-Replenishment is worth a thorough investigation on your part.

Jade Greenzymes - Safe! Concerns Regarding Jade GreenZymes®

2011-03-23T18:09:00.000-07:00

Concerns Regarding Jade GreenZymes®

While Japan continues to suffer from the consequences of the 9.0-magnitude earthquake, the ensuing tsunami and nuclear accident, the factory and farm that produce Jade GreenZymes have not been affected. Jade GreenZymes barley grass is grown at the southwest tip of Japan, at the opposite end of the island and more than 1,000 kilometers (600 miles) from the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant. Since the winds will blow any radioactivity in a northeasterly direction, there is little chance of contamination to the growing area.

In addition, this year's growing season is already over—the Jade GreenZymes have been processed and are in the warehouse. Nevertheless, to ensure the highest quality and efficacy of our product, a third party, certified laboratory will test samples of each batch of Jade GreenZymes for radioactivity.

We will continue to monitor the situation in Japan closely and keep you updated with any developments.

Check out our earlier post about the benefits to your entire family of adding this power-packed nutrient to your day: A Green Family.

A Cleanse By Any Other Name....

2011-03-09T13:04:00.000-08:00

Recently, we had guests from Spain stay with us while they were preparing for a concert during which they would be premiering new music. They shared with us that they begin each day with an Olive Oil, Lemon & Water cleanse.

I, myself, have always felt that a gentle form of cleansing is better since it doesn't send the body into distress over the avalanche of toxins suddenly released into the digestion.

I've utilized a number of different gentle tools throughout the years that create a healthful effect such as far-infrared sauna, skin brushing, milk thistle, charcoal, Jade GreenZymes™ , and, the combination of OsteoDenx®, CalDenx™ and Lactoferrin Gold 1.8®. I'd heard of the Olive Oil Lemon being used in a day-long intense type of cleanse but hadn't heard of it being used in this milder, daily form.

So, I began to do some research.

Lance Armstrong's website had this to offer:
Olive Oil, Juice and Garlic Detox
Consider a home-remedy cleanse. One possible quick detox is a weeklong morning flush drink that consists of olive oil, lemon juice, orange juice and garlic; ginger is optional. This drink is alleged to be an easy, at-home recipe for cleansing the liver. The Baseline of Health Foundation recommends that you perform this detox after a colon cleanse, heavy metal detox and a kidney flush. This simple recipe, however, has been used alone for generations.

Another site, Breathing.com gave an extensive explanation of the many aspects of using this type of cleanse.
Phase III (mandatory):
Drink fresh, organic un-pasteurized apple juice for three days preceding the liver cleanse. For these three days, eat frugally (little) if you must and then only small amounts of raw unprocessed fruit and/or vegetable salads, but every day take at least one full quart of high quality unfiltered (you should be able to see the sediments on the bottom of the container) preferable home-made organic apple juice. The pectin in the apple juice helps to soften and flatten the stones in the gall bladder and liver. This will also help their passage through the bile ducts. This semi-fast also empties the intestines of their food content and makes the collection of stones less problematic. Use a good juicer and make up 20-30 pounds of apples into juice and refrigerate. A Foodsaver with the Mason/Barr Jar adaptor will help the juice last longer.
If sugar from the juice in relationship to candida is a problem I believe that doing this cleanse is senior to candida worries - for three to four days - as it helps rid the body of parasites. Candida is a parasite as well. Those with diabetes or severe reactions from this cleanse need special guidance from a professional nutritionist or Natural Hygienist knowledgeable in this type of cleanse. The liquid E3live mentioned previously helps the blood sugar stay in balance.

And to add to the attractiveness of this morning glory beverage, DailyMail.com tells us that the lemon juice will help you lose weight, too.

Lemon juice is also one of the most concentrated food sources of vitamin C. Not only is this great for warding off colds, but recent research at Arizona State University suggests that people who eat fruit and vegetables high in vitamin C have more efficient digestive systems and are more likely to lose weight than those who don't.

In addition, lemon juice increases the acidity of the digestive system. This helps the body absorb calcium, which is then stored in fat cells. Research has shown that the more calcium there is in a fat cell, the more fat the cells burn.

It seems the humble lemon could be a powerful aid to digestion, and a useful diet booster.

Is it truly possible that such humble ingredients that are probably sitting on your kitchen counter right now could bring such powerful benefits?

There's one very simple way to find out - try the daily drink for 7 days or for whatever duration seems right to you. If you have any medical conditions or concerns, ALWAYS consult your physician before beginning any type of health regime.

Vitality and Balance absolutely require that toxins be moved out of the body in the way Nature intended. Find one or two nurturing ways to support your body and your body will support you in return one-hundred fold.

You Are What You Breathe!

2011-02-19T15:05:00.000-08:00

Air Wellness™ Power5 Pro™

Its clear that the quality of our indoor air affects our health and wellness. A HEPA filter system has been shown to reduce the risk of heart attack. Negative ions have shown measurable improvements in adrenal function, wound healing, depression and more. For example, a RCT comparing the short-term effects of bright light, an auditory stimulus, and high- and low-density negative ions on mood and alertness in mildly depressed and non-depressed adults found that the three active stimuli, but not the low-density placebo, reduced depression on the Beck Depression Inventory scale; the auditory stimulus, bright light and high-density ions all produced rapid mood changes—with small to medium effect sizes—in depressed and non-depressed subjects.

Considerable increase in vital capacity were observed by M.A. Vytchikova and A. Minkh in 1959, with the maintenance of blood sugar and blood oxygen levels. Thus, in a group of 9 sports students, Minkh found that ergometer endurance was increased by 260% in 32 days compared with a normal control group following the inhalation for 15 minutes daily of air enriched with 1.5 million negative small ions per centimeter.

Here is the absolute standard of excellence in air filtration — combined with “green” technology. The Nikken Air Wellness Power5 Pro features multiple filter stages, including carbon filtration and a unique system that uses organic plant materials to neutralize contaminants. The final stage is a HEPA filter, just like those in hospital operating rooms, high-tech clean rooms and the laboratories of the U.S. National Institutes of Health.

Nikken added negative-ion generation to provide forest-air freshness, the exhilarating feeling produced by high levels of negative ions in natural settings. And as with all Air Wellness products, the Power5 Pro is engineered to operate without producing ozone – the toxic gas created by many home air filters that are now banned in California and other areas. The Power5 Pro features manual or fully automatic modes including sleep and quiet settings, and a sleek, lightweight design. It’s Energy Star certified to give you lower operating costs and help preserve the environment.

Here is an article from Preventative Medicine PS: "A recent published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine suggests that particulate air pollution, smog, increases the risk for myocardial infarction. The researcher, Ryan W. Allen, PhD of Simon Fraser University in British Columbia, Canada tells readers that by lowering indoor particulate air pollution levels by using ordinary high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filtration it appears that you can improve at least two markers of cardiovascular risk, microvascular endothelial function and systemic inflammation.

The researchers found that HEPA filters significantly improved endothelial function and reduced inflammation in these participants. Whether this might translate into fewer heart attacks is not yet known.

Dr. Allen stated in a subsequent news release, "Our main objectives were to evaluate the potential for a simple intervention to improve indoor air quality and reduce pollution-related cardiovascular health risks and to better understand the mechanisms that contribute to air pollution-related cardiovascular health problems."

While the exact connection between particulate air pollution and heart attack risk is suspected to involve a number of factors including oxidative stress. The researchers recruited 45 adults from 25 homes. Each person’s home was monitored for 2 consecutive 7-day periods, during which time HEPA filters were operated in the main activity room and in each participant’s bedroom. HEPA filters were operated normally during one 7-day period and without the internal filters in place during the other (ie, control) period.

The outcome was that the reactive hyperemia index, an indicator of microvascular endothelial function which marks the early stages of the atherosclerotic process and predicts cardiovascular risk and and mortality were reduced. This indicated to the researchers that blood vessels have an impaired response to changes in blood flow.

The researchers found that the air filters increased participants' reactive hyperemia index by 9.4% and decreased C-reactive protein by 32.6% but did not affect oxidative stress markers. Indoor fine-particle concentrations decreased by more than 60%.

"Our results support the hypothesis that systemic inflammation and impaired endothelial function, both predictors of cardiovascular risk, can be favorably influenced by a reduction of particle concentration.” Dr. Allen said. This research now adds to a growing body of evidence linking short-term exposure to particulate matter with a systemic inflammatory response."

No Such Thing As A Good Side-effect

2011-01-23T11:19:00.000-08:00

It turns out that if your bones aren’t healthy then neither are you and it takes a lot more than density to give your bones the health they need.

For the past 14 years prescription drugs have been the most common answer, but those come with lots of warnings and serious side effects. In January of 2008, the FDA issued an alert highlighting the possibility of severe and sometimes incapacitating bone, joint and/or muscle pain in patients taking bisphosphonates. The agency is encouraging health care professionals to assess whether severe musculoskeletal pain in patients taking these, which are frequently prescribed to treat or prevent osteoporosis, could be attributed to their use of these drugs and to consider temporarily or permanently discontinuing their use.

The severe musculoskeletal pain that prompted the alert may occur within days, months, or years after starting a bisphosphonate and should not be confused with the acute phase response that sometimes accompanies initial administration of intravenous bisphosphonates and that also may occur with initial exposure to once-weekly or once-monthly doses of oral bisphosphonates, say FDA officials. The symptoms related to the acute phase response, which may include fever, chills, bone pain, myalgias and arthralgias, typically resolve within several days with continued drug use.

In contrast, the musculoskeletal pain symptoms described in the FDA alert may or may not resolve after discontinuing use. Some patients have reported complete relief of symptoms after they stopped the drugs, whereas others have reported that the symptoms diminish slowly or not completely - meaning, you may have some of these pain symptoms for the rest of your life.

More recently, Diane Wysowski of the FDA’s division of drug risk assessment says that since the initial marketing of Fosamax, known generically as alendronate, in 1995, the FDA has received 23 reports in which patients developed esophageal tumors. Typically, two years lapsed between the start of the drug and the development of the cancer. Eight patients died. In Europe and Japan, 21 cases have been logged with 6 deaths.

Two other serious side-effects that are linked to bisphosphonate use are death of the jaw bone, known as jaw necrosis, and chronically irregular heartbeat, known as atrial fibrillation.

Bone health is optimally achieved when there is balance between bone formation and bone resorption (minerals released into the body). We did this for the first 20 years of our lives with no problem. The body was investing in our bone health at a fantastic rate. We actually replace our bones 5 times by the age of 20. Over the course of our lifetime our skeletal system is replaced approximately 10 times. So you can see that from age 20 to 80+ the investment in bone health by Mother Nature is lessened.

Imagine you could turn back time and bring a youthful, hearty investment into your bone bank with no side-effects. Imagine replenishing the very thing that gave your bones the signal to be 18 again.

Now, imagine that IT'S REAL.

The Triple Bottom Line

2010-10-05T12:19:00.000-07:00

It's HERE! It's NOW! The opportunity to own a PiMag™ Aqua Pour™!

Your purchase of one or two drawing entries puts you in the running to win a PiMag™ Aqua Pour™. Simply click on the Google Checkout button on the right for either one single entry - $15 or two entries - $25, and follow the instructions. An email confirmation will be sent to you.

Where does your entry fee go?

The proceeds of this drawing will be dedicated to creating Wellness Classrooms. These classrooms will provide school children with a healthier and more sustainable learning environment. One of the most often overlooked health issues for school children is air quality. We take for granted that because it's a classroom the air must be good for them. In fact, it's likely that isn't true. There are a myriad of sources of unhealthy, airborne contaminants: viruses, bacteria, mold spores, volatile organic compounds and more.

Learn more about Air Wellness® Technology and how it is designed to create the healthiest indoor air possible. A detailed explanation is also available on this video.

The EPA gives us one example of a school contaminant: PCBs in Caulk in Older Buildings First Step: Take Steps to Minimize Exposure

"Although this is a serious issue, the potential presence of PCBs in schools and buildings should not be a cause for alarm. If your school or building was built or renovated between 1950 and 1978, there are several immediate, relatively low cost steps schools can take to reduce potential exposure until it can be determined with certainty if PCBs are present in caulk used in the building and any contaminated caulk can be removed. Those steps include:

* Improve ventilation, including opening windows and using or installing fans where possible.
* Clean frequently to reduce dust and residue inside buildings.
* Use a wet or damp cloth or mop to clean surfaces.
* Use vacuums with high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters.
* Do not sweep with dry brooms; minimize the use of dusters.
* Wash children's hands with soap and water often, particularly before eating.
* Wash children's toys often.
* Wash hands with soap and water after cleaning, and before eating or drinking."

How does Indoor Air Quality impact student health and academic performance?
"Research links key environmental factors to health outcomes and students’ ability to perform. Improvements in school environmental quality can enhance academic performance, as well as teacher and staff productivity and retention."

Visit the IAQ Tools For Schools Program page and download the informative Key Findings pdf.

Guidelines for the drawing:

When our goal of $2500 has been raised, the drawing will be held and the PiMag™ Aqua Pour™ will be shipped directly to the winner. All future filter and other component costs are the sole responsibility of the winner or their designee.
If you would like your classroom to be considered as a recipient of Wellness Classroom technologies or if you would like to run a drawing of your own, contact Suzette Harbour at NovoHarbour@gmail.com or post a comment to this blog.

Top 3 Things Wrong With Your Sleep

2010-06-26T14:18:00.000-07:00

If you're not doing enough of it every day things can go terribly wrong. If you're not doing it the right way it will seem as if you're not doing it at all. If you're not doing it in the right environment the best parts of it won't come to you........

1. The Wrong Amount

For example, this article, Sleep: Understanding the Basics, points out that "In humans, it has been demonstrated that the metabolic activity of the brain decreases significantly after 24 hours of sustained wakefulness. Sleep deprivation results in a decrease in body temperature, a decrease in immune system function as measured by white blood cell count (the soldiers of the body), and a decrease in the release of growth hormone. Sleep deprivation can also cause increased heart rate variability."

What is the right amount for you? According to the National Sleep Foundation statistics Americans sleep an average of 6.9 hours per night on weekdays and 7.5 hours per night on weekends. According to emedicinehealth.com - "In adults, sleep of 8-8.4 hours is considered fully restorative. In some cultures, total sleep is often divided into an overnight sleep period of 6-7 hours and a nap of 1-2 hours.

Some people may need as little as 5 hours or as much as 10 hours of sleep every day. The period of time a person sleeps depends also on the fact whether he or she has been deprived of sleep in previous days. Sleeping too little creates a "sleep debt." This debt needs to be adjusted by sleeping for longer periods over the next few days. People who sleep less have an impairment of judgment and reaction time."

Not every source agrees on the best way to refill your sleep bank - but for most just going to bed an hour or so earlier at night may be the simplest formula. Create a quiet time without tv, computer or bright lights starting at 9 pm, then plan to put all lights out by 10 pm. Remove every possible electric device from the bedroom and make it dark. Calming breathing exercises are helpful to settle the mind and relax the body.

2. The Wrong Way

Yes, Virginia, there is a wrong way to sleep. Leaving lamps, tv or music players on will interfere with your sleep pattern. The onset of darkness signals the body to increase the level of melatonin in the body.

According to WebMD - "Your body has its own internal clock that controls your natural cycle of sleeping and waking hours. In part, your body clock controls how much melatonin your body makes. Normally, melatonin levels begin to rise in the mid- to late evening, remain high for most of the night, and then drop in the early morning hours.

Light affects how much melatonin your body produces. During the shorter days of the winter months, your body may produce melatonin either earlier or later in the day than usual."

Every source agrees that a regular sleep pattern is critical to receiving the optimum benefits from your sleep. There is even evidence that irregular sleep patterns can contribute to the occurrence of migraines as noted here - “Sleep routine is very important,” Dodick says. “People with migraines need to go to bed at the same time and wake up at the same time every day. If they get up at 6 a.m. during the week they need to do the same thing on Saturday and Sunday.”

3. The Wrong Environment

We've already discussed the need for reducing light and electronic devices in your sleep environment. Two other critical factors in the optimum sleep environment are your mattress and your air.

Some key qualities an excellent mattress will have:

1. made with organic and sustainably produced materials, such as natural latex rubber and organic cotton and wool covering

2. naturally antimicrobial

3. specially designed surface nodules that provide subtle, effective massage

4. RAM™ - patented radial-axis magnetism that produces a series of overlapping magnetic fields

The air you are breathing will either deepen your sleep or create stress on your body's filtering system, which prevents you from experiencing restorative sleep. Air that is clean and ionized will support your body in sleeping more deeply. Several studies have been done that show the positive effects of negative ions for example:

Effective Pain-Killer. In Philadelphia Dr. Kornblueh studied brain-wave patterns and found evidence that negative ions tranquilised persons in severe pain. Burn cases at Northeastern were immediately put in a windowless, ion-conditioned room. In ten minutes, usually, the pain was gone. Morphine, customarily administered in such cases, was never necessary. Patients were left in the room for 30 minutes with the treatment repeated three times every 14 hours. In 85 percent of the cases no pain-deadening narcotics were needed. Northeastern's Dr. Robert McGowan reported "Negative ions make burns dry out faster and heal faster with less scarring."
A great deal of research was also carried out by Dr. Albert Krueger in California - One of his first discoveries was that a surprisingly small amount of negative ions could kill and take out of the air, the types of bacteria that cause colds, influenza and respiratory infections. He then went on to keep large groups of mice in various concentrations of ions, some positive, some negative and some in normal balance. In 1960 a scientific paper was published on the results. The conclusions were almost identical to those of Dr. Sulman. An excess of positive ions led to overproduction of serotonin which initially created hyperactivity, leading to exhaustion, anxiety and depression. He also found that an excess of negative ions appeared to have a calming effect, and a reducing of serotonin levels in the brain. (Negative ions were actually substituted for a pharmaceutical tranquiliser on one occasion - with identical results). The series of experiments were then extended to include rats, guinea pigs and rabbits as well as insects and plants. The results consistently supported the original findings. On one occasion, mice were kept in a sealed container until the oxygen was almost used up and they were on the verge of suffocation. The remaining air was negatively ionized - and the mice revived!

Courtesy of D J Clarke Electronics.

Its commonly understood that a trip to the mountains or to the shore will bring an infusion of energy - what may not be as commonly known is that this is directly related to the higher occurrence of negative ions in these locales. This chart provides more detail.

It's no wonder we don't feel wonderfully energized when we spend time in the office, or in our car. Most of us have experienced the shift in energy following a storm as well. Providing clean, ionized air while sleeping is definitely a step in the right direction for experiencing optimum benefits during the night.

"Positive ion exposure, or the lack of sufficient negative ions, may cause serotonin hyperfunction syndrome or "irritation syndrome." This condition may include sleeplessness, irritability, tension, migraine, nausea, heart palpitations, hot flashes with sweating or chills, tremor or dizziness. In addition, elderly persons may become depressed, apathetic and extremely fatigued.

Human mood disorders (depression) are effectively treated with drugs which specifically block the reuptake of serotonin into the presynaptic axon terminal, for example fluoxetine (Prozac) and Zoloft. This suggests that positive ions may play a part in this condition and the condition may be safely treated with negative-ion therapy." Nikken Research Institute White Paper

Sleep may be the most a natural thing in the world - and it should be. What gets in the way for us are the conditions in which we live today. Too much light at night, high levels of stress, poor air quality in our homes, poor mattress quality - there shouldn't be metal springs underneath you while you sleep.... the list goes on and on. You can take control over this most important time in your day - correct the amount of sleep, the way you sleep and the environment in which you sleep. Make your home a Wellness Home - make your life a 5 Pillars life.

Sweet dreams.

5 Steps to Creating Health and Balance In Life

2010-06-22T14:16:00.000-07:00

"As we all know, our results are only as good as our plan. My mentor, Mr. Shoaff, taught me that it's not what happens that determines the major part of our future, because what happens, happens to us all. Instead, he taught me that the key is what we do about it. If we start the process of change by developing a plan, doing something different in this next year than we did the previous year, it won't matter how small those efforts start." Jim Rohn

What areas of your life could benefit from change? Would you like to see more physical health? What about greater peace of mind? Do you have the kind and amount of time you'd like with your family? Are you free to make the kind of contribution to society that you'd really like - that will make you proud of who you are? Would receiving abundant financial compensation for your work make it easier to achieve those other goals?

The first six months of the year have nearly passed. It isn't the usual time to make resolutions, but if there can be Christmas in July why not evaluate those New Year's resolutions and make course corrections if they aren't taking you where you want to go?

HOW CAN I MEASURE MY PROGRESS?

I suggest you make a small circle, about the size of dime, on a piece of paper. Then draw a circle about the size of a salad plate around it. Make 5 dots on the smaller circle at evenly spaced intervals. Each dot represents the key areas of health and balance. The outer circle represents having achieved total balance in these areas.

Draw a line straight out from the first dot on the small circle -this one represents Flourishing Body - toward the outer circle which represents 100%. Let the line end where you feel you are between 0 and 100.

Repeat this for Vibrant Mind, Thriving Family, Enriched Community and Financial Freedom. The lines may all be different lengths, some may reach the 100%, in other cases, none of them will reach the 100%.

Take a different color pen or pencil and trace a line connecting the ends of the 5 lines you've just drawn. If that were a bike tire how smooth would your ride be? If the lines don't reach 100% is your tire under-inflated and are you struggling to make headway in your journey?

This exercise can give you some idea of where you are in your life - would you like to reach 100% in each of the areas of health and balance? If so, write one action that you can do today to move yourself in the direction of balance.

5 STEPS TO BALANCE

1. It may be that for Flourishing Body you only need to replace soft drinks with water each day.

2. For Vibrant Mind, you may need to write one positive thing about yourself on a small piece of paper and carry it in your wallet or planner - read it at the beginning and end of each day.

3. For Thriving Family, take 5 minutes to write one reason you are grateful for each family member - then take the opportunity to share this with them.

4. For Enriched Community, put spare change into a jar and at the end of the month donate it to your child's school or arts group.

5. For Financial Freedom, listen to the free recording on Youtube of Earl Nightingale, The Strangest Secret each day. It's 10 minutes long.

As Jim Rohn said at the beginning of this post: If we start the process of change by developing a plan, doing something different in this next year than we did the previous year, it won't matter how small those efforts start. A plan doesn't have to be huge in order to begin the process of change. So, take one small step this month in each area - really small.

Enjoy your progress and let your success with these small steps build your confidence that bigger changes are possible and that you can be, do and have the life you dream.

3 Levels of Pet Pest Protection

2010-06-22T11:07:00.000-07:00

The NRDC - Natural Resources Defense Council - has a complete list of flea and tick protection products and rates them according to safety. They even have a way for you to check the products at the store:

Now you can check products on the go: Text "pets" and the name of the product to 69866. You'll receive a text back with toxicity information and alternatives.

For a pdf of the products and the associated risks visit SimpleSteps.

This summer its easy to be clear about the safest way to protect your pets, your children and our environment. Keep your home free of unnecessary toxins - maintain vitality and balance and make your home a Wellness Home.

50 Names For Toilet Paper; 1 Source

2010-06-19T13:07:00.000-07:00

Toilet paper is one of those things you may not appreciate until you've run out - at the critical moment. It's also one of those items whose source isn't talked about alot, much like the reason for the item itself.

Well here's the dirty little secret behind tp. There are actually brands that use virgin wood - yes, wood harvested from freshly cut trees. Trees cut for no other purpose than to mash the wood into pulp to clean ... those unmentionables.

The solution is simple - as so many are.

Use the power of your dollar to vote to preserve trees for more dignified, far more important tasks than ....... you know.

It's possible and indeed, preferable to use recycled fibers for tp, tissues, paper towels and other disposable paper products.

Not only will you be saving the trees, you'll be saving our ...... you know. We need all the forests we can get to restore our air and keep us, in particular our children, safe.

The NRDC has a helpful list to guide you as you wean yourself and those you live with away from virgin wood disposable paper products. Give it a try - what do you have to lose?

The other extremely important issue to become aware of is how the papers are bleached. Look for the PCF abbreviation - processed chlorine-free. This protects our waterways and your body.

TP Roll faces courtesy of Reactor Fire.

Fountain of Youth - Blades of Grass

2010-06-07T22:54:00.000-07:00

Sometimes the solution is just that simple - as simple as blades of grass. It needs to be the correct type of grass, of course. Just going out and cutting your lawn then juicing it won't really do the job. Researchers and scientists have taken a close look at barley grass and its relative, wheat grass, and have shared findings about what seems to be, as some say, a virtual fountain of youth. Sounds like a pie in the sky promise, indeed, but there is science to back it up. Here are just a few sources.

Dr. Howard Lutz, who is director of the Institute of Preventive Medicine in Washington, D.C., has said this about barley grass: "(Barley grass is) one of the most incredible products of this decade. It improves stamina, sexual energy, clarity of thought, and reduces addiction to things that are bad for you. Barleygrass juice also improves the texture of the skin, and heals the dryness associated with aging." For the complete article, visit: Barley Grass Juice

Barley Grass contains perhaps the most balanced nutrient profile of all green plants. Many of the vitamins, minerals and enzymes present in Barley grass act as powerful antioxidants protecting our body from free radical damage, enhancing our immune system and improving cardiovascular health by reducing oxidative stress on cholesterol and the body as a whole.

Although barley grass clearly contains vitamins and minerals that are beneficial to the body, the health benefits of these substances have not been subject to in-depth clinical studies. The nutrient concentration in barley grass products varies with the conditions under which the plant is grown. Like other natural supplements, commercial barley grass is not standardized; therefore, different crops contain varying amounts of nutrients.

Read more at: Barley Grass and Its Benefits
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution

Dr. Hagiwara in Japan and Biologist Dr. Jasuo Hotta, a specialist of gene engineering at the University of California at La,Jolla, found that when powdered barley juice was added to damaged cells, the DNA within the cells repaired itself twice as quickly as DNA in cells receiving none. Current theories are that both cancer and aging result when genes fail to repair themselves. The full article can be found here.

Grasses are literally a storehouse of enzymes – without enzymes, life is not possible. Enzymes are the “spark of life” because they maximize the life energy of indogenous enzymes – those contained within our body. Like cells, enzymes lose their internal life-span capacity as well as their ability to neutralize toxins – especially important as we are exposed to more and more toxic substances we ingest, inhale and apply to our body.1 Anti-aging must occur from the inside-out. Skin and body rejuvenation is largely dependent on enzyme activity; wheatgrass juice provides just that….the spark to ignite the cellular renewal processes.

The body can instantly convert chlorophyll into fresh blood because its molecular structure is almost identical to that of human blood – supporting the anti-aging theory by maintaining healthy, clean blood to sustain health and vitality. With a continual natural renewal of blood supply, the body will age but does not manifest negative effect or appearance because of it.

More information at The Science Behind Wheatgrass

What in the World is PiMag™ Water?

2010-05-08T08:35:00.000-07:00

We are made mostly of water - every cell. Water is the currency that allows the exchange of nutrients and toxins. Imagine the oil of you car - if you don't replace it on a frequent basis it gunks up and decreases the efficiency and power of your engine.

That's water - only our replacement schedule is minute by minute.

It isn't just any water that will create the optimum efficiency and health in our bodies - just like some oil for your car is optimum.

Here is PiMag™ Water - it's an efficient filtration and enhancement system that saves money and gives your body the water that Mother Nature intended.

The Lifecycle of a Blockbuster

2010-04-18T11:53:00.000-07:00

This past December NPR reported on the development of Fosamax from a new drug into a blockbuster - this is what the industry calls a drug that makes billions of dollars in sales.

According to the article one of the decisions - what level of bone density constitutes a disease - was made arbitrarily. "Anna Tosteson is a professor of medicine at the Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice and Dartmouth Medical School who attended the meeting. She says that over a two- or three-day period the experts in the room went back and forth and back and forth, looking at research and trying to decide precisely where on a graph of diminishing bone density to draw a line.

"Ultimately it was just a matter of, 'Well ... it has to be drawn somewhere,' " Tosteson says. "And as I recall, it was very hot in the meeting room, and people were in shirt sleeves and, you know, it was time to kind of move on, if you will. And, I can't quite frankly remember who it was who stood up and drew the picture and said, 'Well, let's just do this.' "

It's important to remember that not all decisions to apply a pharmaceutical remedy are based on solid fact-based science. Sometimes it's arbitrary, other times it's a profit-driven decision. Originally Fosamax was designed for women in their 70's who'd already experienced a fracture. In hindsight, that seems a perfectly rational use for this drug. The desire to increase sales inspired Merck to create a demand in younger populations - a decision that has put millions of women needlessly at risk for the potential side-effects, some of which are fatal.

Is bone health important? Absolutely. Do synthetic chemicals ever contribute to a state of wellness and greater balance in the body? Never.

The solution is a safe, natural, clinically-proven combination that restores the bones' youth and vigor. This brings health to the skeletal system, which in turn, creates greater balance throughout the body. Check out the Bone Health Pak here.

A Green Family Is A Happy Family

2010-04-12T11:00:00.000-07:00

You might think from the title that we're talking about an eco-friendly family - and yes - that is a great focus for a family to have. Another type of green is the phytonutrient kind. Anybody got a picky eater? Ever heard one of your children groan when you put a serving of kale in front of them? Ever groan when someone put a serving of kale in front of you?

A thriving family requires approximately 5-9 servings of fruits and vegetables each day per person. This can be quite a trick, since broccoli is rarely considered a breakfast treat.

What's a Serving Size? (from the FDA website)
Here's what the National Cancer Institute recommends as a serving of fruit and vegetables:
1 medium fruit or 1/2 cup of small or cut-up fruit
3/4 cup (180 milliliters) of 100 percent juice
1/4 cup dried fruit
1/2 cup raw non-leafy or cooked vegetables
1 cup raw leafy vegetables (such as lettuce)
1/2 cup cooked beans or peas (such as lentils, pinto beans, and kidney beans)

There is a simple way to, literally, pour green nutrition into your children without complaints and maybe even, with some compliments. The source of this wonder food is green barley extract. Green means they'll be getting all the important components of vegetables. Barley means it's a grass known to be a supernutrient. Extract means it's the juice of the perfectly matured barley grass cold-processed into a powder form that mixes with anything room temp or cold.

Some Data

What's miraculous about this wonder extract is that the mineral content can be anywhere from 10 x's to 1,000 x's other vegetables. The vitamin content is higher, across the board, compared to other vegetables. As a percentage of weight, barley grass extract is 45% protein and contains essential fatty (healthy) acids needed for good nutritional balance. The protein in green barley extract is composed of 19 of the 22 known amino acids - 8 of them we must get from our food. Our bodies do not synthesize them. (from The Essential Guide to Green Barley Extract, Dr. Patrick Millsap)

There's lots more data on this wonder food. Chlorophyll, super-oxide dismutase, immune system boosting......

How, on the good, green earth, will this help your family thrive?

If you imagine that to get the incredible health benefits from green barley extract, you'd have to somehow ingest a couple of pounds of it a day .... think again. This supernutrient is also dense - a mere teaspoon and a half gives an amount of nutrition equal to several pounds of mixed greens. Several pounds of mixed greens - kids don't normally eat several pounds of mixed greens every day!

A teaspoon and a half - for an adult. A half teaspoon for a child under 12 (infants much less) and you can rest easy that whatever else happens in the day, your child has the nutritional shield of rich minerals, vitamins, essential fatty acids, critical amino acids, chlorophyll and much more.

Prevent Cancer

Cancer has become the second leading cause of death of children according to the Harvard University Gazette. Green barley grass extract is a very powerful agent for increasing alkalinity in the body. Cancer cells have been shown to be unable to survive and multiply in an alkaline environment. According to Cancer Solutions "a positive correlation was shown between the chlorophyll content of vegetable extract with the vegetables’ antimutagenic activity (Sarkar, 1994). Chlorophyll is of considerable interest as an anticarcinogenic substance because it is so abundant in the green vegetables that humans consume." In the case of green barley grass extract the chlorophyll is more readily absorbed since the fiber of the plant has already been removed.

A Dream Come True

Imagine a thriving, healthy, balanced family. Your thriving, healthy, balanced family. You've helped to create that by adding the perfect amount of this wonder food to a smoothie, juice, chocolate almond milk, or yogurt. It was easy, it was painless and the peace of mind is ..... well ..... priceless.

Breathe for Health, Breathe for Life

2010-04-12T10:59:00.000-07:00

We do it 20K times a day and most of the time don't think about it - why should we? It's on auto-pilot - most of the time. When we experience stress, however, we often do begin to notice our breathing - we may feel we can't quite 'catch our breath', or we may realize that we're shallow breathing. There's no doubt, how we breathe profoundly affects our health and well-being.

I've learned a few different breathing methods over the years. There actually are different methods described by different traditions. I'm most practiced at the Yoga breathing I learned from a wonderful teacher, Connie Clews. I've also learned a distinctive style from my excellent Gyrotonics instructor, Mark Grayson. It involves something I'd never learned or considered before - using the lungs as a bellows. Here you can watch Roger Drummer, my favorite herbologist, demonstrate the Breath of Fire.

Some interesting things to know about breathing...

"Since the lungs process air, they are the only internal organs that are constantly exposed to the external environment. Central to the human respiratory system, they breathe in between 2,100 and 2,400 gallons (8,000 and 9,000 liters) of air each day—the amount needed to oxygenate the 2,400 gallons (9,000 liters) or so of blood that is pumped through the heart daily." NatGeo

"Another important aspect of deep breathing, one that is frequently overlooked, has to do with the strength of the diaphragm and its coordination with the secondary breathing muscles. When we were young, unless we were very quiet and sedentary (which, by the way is becoming more and more common as children watch more and more television), we kept our diaphragm strong and coordinated through constant hollering, screaming, shouting, singing, running, jumping, twisting, playing, and so on. As adults, however, the most intense exercise many of us give our diaphragm is talking. As a result, a diaphragm that was designed to be able to move comfortably five to six inches through the vertical direction, today often moves comfortably just one to three inches. Combine this with the chronic tension and poor posture that so many of us experience in our lives, and our diaphragm often becomes misshapen and smaller than it should be. All of this contributes to the fast shallow breathing we see in so many people."
Dennis Lewis, AuthenticBreathing.com

And for some more helpful info from the NIH, visit How the Lungs Work, National Heart Lungs and Blood Institute.

Being aware of the breath is a fundamental support of glowing health and vital balance. It's a simple practice to fit into your day - no equipment necessary, it can be done right now, right where you are.

Water Facts ........ Just The Beginning

2010-04-09T19:23:00.000-07:00

*The average adult consumes about 10,600 gallons of water over a lifetime.

* The EPA estimates 9.7 billion pounds of industrial wastes are yearly released into US waters.

* An EPA survey discovered the carcinogen nitrate in more than half of the drinking-water wells tested across the country.

* In 38 states, 74 different pesticides were found in drinking wells.

* Four out of every five of the nation's 1000 worst hazardous waste dumps leak toxins into the ground water.

*Of the 2.5 million underground gasoline storage tanks, as many as 25% leak gas into local ground water, says the EPA.

*The 30-million acres of lawn in the US receive 2.5 times more pesticides than farm crops. These pesticides eventually end up in local water supplies.

*THMs or trihalomethanes are a byproduct of chlorine reaction with organic material in water, like leaves and decaying vegetation. THMs are suspected causes of some birth defects and certain kinds of cancer if consumed regularly in drinking water.

The Acid Link to Disease

2010-04-08T17:40:00.000-07:00

"The countless names of illnesses do not really matter. What does matter is that they all come from the same root cause...too much tissue acid waste in the body!"
Theodore A. Baroody, N.D., D.C., Ph.D.

What Are The Facts Of pH?
According to PreventDisease.com, pH (potential of hydrogen) is a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a solution. It is measured on a scale of 0 to 14—the lower the pH the more acidic the solution, the higher the pH the more alkaline (or base) the solution. When a solution is neither acid nor alkaline it has a pH of 7 which is neutral.

The body has an acid-alkaline (or acid-base) ratio called the pH which is a balance between positively charges ions (acid-forming) and negatively charged ions (alkaline-forming.) The body continually strives to balance pH. When this balance is compromised many problems can occur.

It is important to understand that we are not talking about stomach acid or the pH of the stomach. We are talking about the pH of the body's fluids and tissues which is an entirely different matter.

Water is the most abundant compound in the human body. Each day we must replace 2.4 liters which equals a little over a half gallon. To be specific, 8 or 9 glasses of water each day. While this may sound like alot of drinking, consider this: the brain is 70% water, lungs are 90% water, lean muscle tissue is 75% water and about 83% of our blood is water. You can drink less than recommended, but which system would you choose to short-change?

If you are drinking reverse-osmosis or distilled water you are actually drinking water that is slightly acidic - the body must respond by balancing the pH. It does this by donating more minerals, such as calcium, to the various body systems. If you are drinking coffee, alcohol or any type of soda the same problem occurs only to a greater degree.

The solution is to provide your body with clean, minerally-balanced, energized water such as Nikken PiMag™ water. Optimized is best. This floods your body with a properly pH balanced liquid that nourishes all those organs listed above while maintaining a healthy pH.

Water that properly hydrates your body is even more appealing to drink - the body itself will be attracted to water that is structured and energized in ways that give optimum nourishment.

Learn more about this "water of life", then choose to give yourself the gift of excellent water. Your brain will thank you.

Wow! Exciting News!

2010-02-09T10:26:00.000-08:00

It's a joy to be in partnership with a company who truly cares about people and who works to bring balance in the 5 areas of life: body, mind, family, society, finances.

Here is a story that is truly amazing.

Flame Retardants, Toxins: A New Study Released

2010-02-02T11:55:00.000-08:00

There's important, new information on the effects of common flame retardant chemicals and fertility.

Here's an excerpt: "for every ten-fold increase in blood levels of four PBDE chemicals tested, there was a 30 percent decrease in the odds a woman would conceive a child during a month." You can read the full article at NaturalNews.com

You can also visit the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences for the abstract of the study. "Conclusions: We found significant decreases in fecundability associated with PBDE exposure in women. Future studies are needed to replicate and confirm this finding."

There is an action you can take to lower your risks. Learn about a Wellness Home - clean, energized air, clean, balanced water, restorative, safe sleep, whole-food, organic nutrition - give your body the tools it needs to combat the environmental stresses of your world. Visit this site to learn more.

Something's Gotta Change

2010-01-10T16:00:00.000-08:00

Do you know someone whose child has been diagnosed with autism? 30 years ago it was rare; today the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show it occurring in 1 in 110 births. One out of 110 children is receiving a diagnosis of autism making this the fastest growing developmental disability. This is up from last year's numbers when it was 1 out of 150. It's heartbreaking for the families - and it's affecting your community whether it's in your family or not.

Autism Speaks, the nation's largest autism advocacy organization gives information on autism as well as ways to become involved. No specific culprit has been identified as the cause for this growing epidemic, but many point to the increase in synthetic chemicals used in furniture, clothing, mattresses and toys. Another source of exposure to these synthetic chemicals is in the food that is grown using conventional farming practices - these synthetic fertilizers and pesticides are found in nearly every water source in the world today.

These toxic chemicals have been found in humans everywhere. According to Dozens of words for snow, none for pollution, in the November, 2005 issue of Ode Magazine, "Arctic mothers had seven times more PCBs in their milk than mothers in Canada’s biggest cities."

In Everyday Toxins, Ode Magazine details the story of 35 year old, Jeremiah Holland who'd been "chosen as a test subject in a project conducted by the Oakland Tribune, which studied the effect of toxic chemicals in the human body. So as not to create too much panic, the editorial staff chose a family that the newspaper’s advisory counsel of scientists felt would be at low risk. The family eats organic food, avoids chemical cleaning products, has no carpeting in their house and doesn’t buy lots of new furniture and electronic equipment: in short, the newspaper selected Jeremiah Holland and Michele Hammond and their two children Mikaela, age five and 18-month-old Rowan."

The crazy, truth-is-stranger-than-fiction, story of these chemicals is that they are all approved on a 'safe until proven dangerous' basis. Any chemical producing company can make, market and sell any chemical as long as it hasn't been proven dangerous to humans.

How is this related to the distressing increase in autism? We don't know for sure. There probably won't be a human double-blind study on this one - the number of factors to control for is pretty unwieldy.

What can you do today, right now, for you and your family? Become educated about environmental toxicity issues. Choose to drink clean, minerally balanced, energized water. Be aware that the EPA has stated the danger of indoor air toxicity and learn about the most efficient way to protect your famil y. Vote with your dollar - purchase local, organically grown foods. Choose to clean your home with only safe, non-toxic cleansers. Filter your shower water. Give your family a healthy, clean environment while they are home.

May you never know what you've prevented.

Post Script added on February 8, 2009
Read about the latest report from University California.

The Calcium Thief

2010-01-07T11:38:00.000-08:00

Here is a good post describing the effects of drinking soda. The cascading effects result in depleted bone mass since the bones must supply 700mg Calcium to the digestive tract to maintain healthy function. When the soda binds with the minerals and leaches them out of the body, that requires additional Calcium from the bones to restore balance.

What do you think happens to the person who drinks soda after soda, or 32 ouncers? Can the bones supply an indefinite amount of Calcium? No. There is an unfortunate trend resulting from the lifestyle choice - teens with the bone density of 80 year olds.

Please visit Peaceful Parenting blog.

Set Your Sails For The New Year

2009-12-27T12:06:00.002-08:00

All I Want For Christmas Is No Crows Feet

2009-11-18T08:58:00.000-08:00

A safe, easy solution exists that will give your body the opportunity to naturally produce more collagen around the eye area - it's called the Nikken Kenko Sleep Mask. Unlike topical applications of collagen or other chemicals, the effects of the Kenko Sleep Mask are long lasting. Wear it night after night and see the actual repair and rejuvenation of the skin around your eyes. This isn't a coverup technique - you can actually restore health to your skin and look better on top of it.

According to a study done in England in 1990 by Fraser McDonald a magnetic field increased the production of fibroblasts in rat cells. Fibroblasts are cells found in mammals that are the building blocks of collagen - the original Anti-Wrinkle ingredient. Since collagen production in our bodies decreases with age (what doesn't?) we get wrinkles.

The Nikken Kenko Sleep Mask is a terrific choice for a holiday gift. You, your loved one or friend will enjoy more restful sleep with light blocked out fully and be receiving a gift more priceless than myrrh - youth!

Visit www.Nikken.com/Harbour, order yours today and begin enjoying a virtual time machine for your eyes and face. As a special incentive, all orders placed between now and Dec. 31, 2009 will receive a full 20% discount (at checkout). That's wholesale pricing for the longest lasting benefits you can find.

Your friends will ask "how do you look younger everyday?" When mine do, I smile and say "I just step into my time machine each night." Start your Nikken Wellness Home with the Kenko Sleep Mask and reap the benefits of safe, natural, healthy solutions to Anti-Aging.

Future's So Bright I've Gotta Wear Shades

2009-11-08T15:04:00.001-08:00

Where do we store our greatest treasures? If we want them to last and retain their values we make sure to keep them in the best environment possible. For us this means living in a Wellness Home which includes clean energized air, clean, pH balance water, restorative sleep, organic, whole-food nutrition, natural, side-effect-free tools for repairing injuries and the means to enjoy it all with our loved ones. Nikken, International has many solutions for creating just such a healthy home.

To add to your Nikken Wellness Home check out this great tool - the TWave Trio Laundry System. Using these products as laundry detergent replacements helps your family, your environment and your bank account.

For more information visit Green Planet Fox Valley's web article.

Dr. Brad Nelson Emotion Code

2009-10-12T11:12:00.000-07:00

Balance Restored - Bodies Renewed

2009-07-31T22:05:00.000-07:00

The Body Magnetic - A Heartwarming Story

2009-06-13T17:30:00.000-07:00

Restoring balance can have unexpectedly positive results. Here is a story from a friend who experienced what seems like a miracle.

Carol K., March 6
Testimony from a 57 year old female:
Twenty months ago (July, 2007) I woke up with a sore neck. Within a week I was experiencing pain significant enough to warrant a visit to my primary physician. Since that time I have not had one day without significant pain. Diagnosis: Multilevel degenerative disk disease with multilevel posterior spurs. Translation: Constant pain. On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being very severe, I have never had less than a 7 (when on pain medication) with a usual threshold of 8. I have been very pro-active in my search for some relief as I was unable and unwilling to live this way. Some (not all) of what I have tried. 2 x-rays, 2 MRI’s, 2 physicians specializing in pain management, 2 chiropractors, physical therapy, cortisone, and numerous medications to include pain pills, topical creams, and muscle relaxers. I also underwent a 3 process “procedure” where my nerves were injected with cortisone and then were burned (destroyed) in the hopes of ending the pain. It was a painful process which put me into bed rest as my body “rebelled” (chills, fever, pain, vomiting) after such an invasive procedure. Not once did my pain level go below a 7. My 2nd MRI was performed in September, 2008. My condition had worsened. In January of 2009, I was told that I was looking at paralysis. I said, “Do you mean I will be paralyzed to my waist”? He replied, “You will have the paralysis from your neck to your feet”. He then referred me to a surgeon. On February 7, 2009 I was babysitting (about the only thing I can do these days) when my heating pad (my constant companion) was noticed by my employer. I explained why and she immediately gave me 2 of the Power Patches. You would have to know me (for the skeptic I am) to fully appreciate how desperate for relief I must have been to try something so “out of the box”. I was a hospital employee for over 18 years (non-clinical) and the daughter of a nurse. My experience has always been to rely on the “science” of medicine. I was given the Power Patch on February 7, 2009. I put it on my back then went to bed. I woke up with NO PAIN!! It has been over 30 days. My spinal pain affected my neck, shoulders, and of course my back. My reflexes in my fingers had become so pronounced that they would “twitch”. Even my jaw was beginning to feel “tight”. Since February 7th, I have not taken one pain pill, not one “session” with the heating pad, and I canceled my weekly appointments with my very able chiropractor (his adjustments kept me up and moving though never without the pain). I’m looking forward to seeing him though as you can’t argue with success! I canceled my appointment with the surgeon. My friend said “it’s a placebo”. I said I don’t care though I know that’s not the truth. Why is it when we take a “pill” that helps us we never hear “it’s a placebo”? I can only tell you that overnight my life was given back. I have 2 grandchildren and I am back climbing slides with them at the park and “racing” our boats at the nearby creek. Will it last? I don’t know. I do know that this “respite” of freedom from pain has been a precious gift.

Drum Roll, Please........

2009-04-19T16:03:00.000-07:00

Karen G - dancer, drummer, teacher

I recently went back to an incredible physical activity that I wasn't prepared for - being a drummer in a band. I was relearning proper techniques, but in the meantime, I had created some injury to my hands and wrists from drumming improperly. I was experiencing quite a lot of discomfort and my hands were swollen. I was afraid I would have to give up drumming and I just didn't want to do that.

I'd remembered that Suzette had helped my son, who is a drummer, with his elbow, and also me with my foot when I'd had a Salsa dance injury. I asked her if she had anything that could help me keep my hands free from the extreme discomfort and stiffness they were experiencing while I built up my drumming techniques.

I purchased the CM Cream, the Joint Formula and 2 KenkoTherm Ankle wraps. I turned the ankle wraps into fingerless gloves for my hands and used the cream and supplement faithfully.

Within 1 week there was, I would have to say, an 80% improvement. Over the next couple of months I could decrease my dosages of both cream and supplement and even got to the point where I didn't have to wear my 'gloves' 24 hours a day like I'd had to in the beginning. My hands were flexible, I wasn't experiencing swelling and tightness in them and it got me to a level of playing where I'm able to use proper techniques in my drumming. If I have a flare up I just go right back to using the cream, supplements and wraps on a more consistent basis. I'm so pleased that I got to build up my drumming skills and recover from my initial injuries without the use of any kind of invasive stuff and I play drums every weekend now!

Then, I had a knee injury and once again I went to Suzette and said "I don't know what I did, what do you think would help?" She handed me a tiny magnet, a Power Patch, and I put it on my knee. Within 24 hours my extreme discomfort was absolutely gone.

Right now, at almost 53 I feel stronger than ever. I know that if I experience an injury I have healthy choices that work fast and work well without any negative side effects. I know I'm stronger and its with the help of Nikken - thank you!

The Water of Life - Changes For The Better

2009-04-10T15:50:00.000-07:00

PiMag AquaPour by Nikken

We got our PiMag water filtration system over a year ago and feel really good about the decision. The water tastes great, it's easy to use and maintain and reminds us to drink more water. Although I can't gage exactly how much our health has improved since we started using PiMag water I truly believe in it's positive effects. Since we started drinking PiMag, we've quit smoking, after struggling to quit for over 5 years! I've lost weight, work out weekly, eat less meat, my partner has become a vegetarian, and we enjoy eating fresh fruits and vegetables everyday! My partner now takes fewer pharmaceuticals than before we started drinking PiMag water, although that was her decision and you will have to decide for yourself what's best. Now how can water do all that you ask? I don't actually know, but we are made mostly of water. So, we started drinking better water and then started making better decisions about our health that's what we do know. It easily paid for itself many times over in saving on not buying cigarettes or going out to eat as much. Zette Harbour is great and introduces us to many other ways to improve our health, we are so glad we listen to her!

Thank you Zette!

Allyson Nakasone
1130 Islay Street
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401

The Law of Joy

2009-02-02T12:25:00.000-08:00

Being human means we each, regardless of conscious intention, face moments, days or even longer periods of trial and strife. During these times experiencing Joy may seem impossible. It may seem as though Joy cannot and does not exist as a consequence of the circumstances we find ourselves in.

We have an idea that Joy is what we feel when things happen as we'd like them to.

Joy, like gravity, is always present. If we're feeling an absence of Joy it's because our vision simply becomes clouded during times of stress or sadness and we lose our awareness of the Law of Joy.

The Law of Joy is that Joy is omnipresent. It is a characteristic of the Universe - something like having a heart to pump our blood is a characteristic of being a human. Just as our daily existence requires oxygen, so does the existence of the Universe require the existence of Joy. In fact, the creation of all that is only became possible through the presence of Joy.

This "materia prima" is woven into the fabric of the Universe and therefore into our very selves. Just as we are often unaware of our breathing, and just as we are completely unaware of the atoms of oxygen floating thru our bodies, so often we remain unaware of the elemental and trans-sensory essentials which makeup the fabric of our being.

Joy is available to us 'on demand'. Experiencing the feeling state of Joy is only one aspect of the nature of this element. However, that is the measure by which we typically determine the existence or non-existence of Joy.

When we feel separated from Joy it is merely an illusion constructed by our minds. Joy is always here. We need only choose to clear the mental blocks which cloud our ability to connect to this Joy or accept that for right now, an emotional experience of it may not be possible.

The mind may have a purpose in keeping us from this union. Perhaps it is being used as a tool to stimulate openness to growth and change. After all, we've usually been taught somewhere along the way that we remember the painful lessons more deeply. This is a limited and limiting tool; shutting out our awareness of Joy can mutate into a habit. The habit can develop a life of its own and soon it may be using the rationale of growth to create painful experiences.

In fact it is possible to receive lessons and grow while remembering our essential Joyful natures. It is even possible to experience painful feelings while maintaining an awareness of the intrinsic presence of Joy in the very fabric of our beings.

Choosing to acknowledge the omnipresence of Joy does not mean not having painful, sad or difficult feelings. It does not mean dancing giddily on the surface of life giggling and laughing.

Joy, like oxygen, permeates our very cells, only we've been given the free will to choose to open our hearts and minds to it - or not.

The Body Magnetic

2009-02-01T22:02:00.000-08:00

Optimum and healthy function of the body depends on a number of factors. One that is often overlooked is the quality of magnetic field that surrounds us. As reported by Ode Magazine, the Russian cosmonauts were the first to demonstrate just how valuable the Earth's magnetic field is to our health. After spending long periods in space, they got sick. It was called 'space sickness' and it was eliminated by the installation of a magnetism generator in the space station.

The importance of magnetism can be traced down to the sub-atomic level of life. Each atom with it's fluffy cloud of electrons is profoundly affected by the magnetic field it is subjected to. Each cell of the body, composed of those atoms, is also profoundly affected by the magnetic field it is subjected to.

Nikken, a worldwide wellness company, has been providing magnetic health technology for over 30 years. The science of magnetism has evolved from ancient Egyptians to Chinese medicine to NASA technololgies. The exact nature of magnetism is briefly explained on a Nikken website: "Every object exists within a magnetic field. Earth itself is a giant magnet, with negative and positive (north and south) poles."

Magnetic attraction and electricity are two parts of a single phenomenon called electromagnetism. The two are interrelated; for example, electric current creates a magnetic field, and in an electric motor, magnets are necessary to produce electrical power.

These two energies — electricity and magnetism — depend on each other and together they represent one of the fundamental components of the universe.

All life depends on some combination of various natural phenomena: sunlight, warmth, certain forms of radiation, elements such as carbon, oxygen and nitrogen. Electromagnetism is another of these preconditions that make life possible."

According to Ode: "Back in the 1970s the American physician Robert O. Becker, now professor emeritus of orthopedic surgery at the State University of New York, warned that our health would be affected by artificially generated electromagnetic frequencies. Becker, who was twice nominated for the Nobel Prize for health, is convinced that the increase in these frequencies is directly linked to the rise in rates of cancer, birth defects, depression, learning disabilities, chronic fatigue and Alzheimer’s.

His argument: “All matter living and non-living is an electromagnetic phenomenon. The material world, at least as far as physics has penetrated, is an atomic structure held together by electromagnetic forces.” His concern: “The human species has changed its electromagnetic background more than any other aspect of the environment.”

Science Daily released an article 10 years ago that tells the story of how magnets have been clinically shown to relieve severe depression. Unlike pharmaceutical or surgical treatments, magnetic solutions have no side effects.

January, 2008 the University of Virginia proudly announced a successful study by Thomas Skalak. His research showed the magnets ability to reduce swelling at sites of trauma to soft tissue in mice. “If an injury doesn’t swell, it will heal faster—and the person will experience less pain and better mobility,” says Skalak.

Achieving optimum physical energy and health isn't possible unless we take into account the air we breathe, the water we drink, the nutrients we ingest and absorb through our skin, our level of fitness, and, finally, the electromagnetic environment within which we live. You can't see it, you can't really even feel it, but over time you can feel its effects.

Why Be Financially Free?

2009-02-01T12:48:00.000-08:00

It's a question each one of us would do well to answer. It's also important to define what Financial Freedom means for each one of us.

CONSIDER THIS:

Financial Freedom means being at choice. Choose whether to spend the day at a desk waiting for the minutes and hours to drag by - or - choose to spend that day with someone important to you. Maybe it's a child, maybe a spouse, maybe a close and valued friend. Being in balance includes nurturing our relationships. Sometimes it will be you who needs a day to contemplate your life, your goals, your dreams. Taking this kind of time brings a richness and joy to life.

Financial Freedom means decisions to enrich your life and the lives of others won't be made based on how much you don't have. You can choose to fund the organizations that are doing the good work you have a passion for. You, yourself, can fund projects you believe in. Financial Freedom means power to change the world for the better - in your hands.

Financial Freedom means developing beyond basic survival needs and, as Abraham Maslow describes, reach self-actualization. Becoming 'real', as the Skin Horse tells us in The Velveteen Rabbit, does sometimes hurt, but when you are real, you don't mind being hurt. We all have been given gifts - we often think that they've been given to us for our enjoyment - the opposite is true, our gifts are for us to give to the world.

Financial Freedom means being brave enough to enter, what for many is, new territory. A land of empowerment and accountability. The opposite of Financial Freedom is 'security' and that word has a strong appeal. The key to moving into this new, empowered realm is to recognize that security is impossible - there's just no such animal in the universe - it's a trick of the mind that we are told from a very early age to learn. And learn we do.

OKAY, I'M READY TO EVOLVE!

It isn't easy, although it's very simple. There are many 'shelf-help' gurus to shine the light on your path to Financial Freedom. My highest recommendations go to Earl Nightingale, The Strangest Secret Ever Told, Noah St. John's Afformations and Nikken, Humans Being More Training. The real 'secret' to these tools is to actually use them. There are specific, assigned actions prescribed by each one - the only way to guarantee that they work for you is - for you to do the work.

Yes, Financial Freedom is actually a muscle - if yours has atrophied from lack of use it will take effort, vision, unwavering commitment and a genuine desire to be of service in the world to create Financial Fitness.

"Success is the progressive realization of a worthy ideal." Earl Nightingale