Happy Thanksgiving!!!

We’ve had a lovely day…more sun than rain. Hooray!! We had family Thanksgiving last weekend and a relative just out of the hospital yesterday, so we have stayed home today. However, I am almost as tired as I might be had we gone out! Had a busy day, doing “stuff.”

My main goal was to get the felted appliqué snowmen finished before Thanksgiving…and I did! They took more of my time than I expected, but they turned out cute and the girls love them. It’s now on to the next project!

It’s not going to be the one that I had planned. This Grandma is a softy! My granddaughter, who will be 4 in December, was telling me about sending out her birthday party invitations, and who was coming and that she was getting a new party dress, etc. Well, her mom had already said that she wasn’t getting a new dress. As we chatted on there was still more talk of this dress. It was going to be purple with butterflies on it. I suggested that her Mom had said no to the dress. She was undeterred. More birthday party talk and, of course, everyone knows that a new dress is part of the deal. She was so sincere, as any 4 year old can be…the sun will rise tomorrow…Mom and Dad will be there….syrup goes on pancakes….and a birthday party calls for a new party dress. She was not being coy or manipulative, just 4 years old. So, I called her Mom the next day and told her I would sew the new dress. She said, ”Mom, you are such a sucker!” Guilty as charged. Granddaughters do that to a person…. hence the next project.

My project for the last month, when I wasn’t working on the snowmen ornaments, was checking out recipes and ingredients needed to cook completely sugar free and fungal free. The more I look into this, the more convinced I am that I am on the right track. I’m sleeping better and my eczema keeps getting better, as does my husband’s. Eczema, psoriasis, dandruff, nail fungus, and just about any other malady that we might have, are all related to the condition of the intestines. The more good bacteria we have, the less bad bacteria will be in control, and most of us in the US have too much bad bacteria. Antibiotics have been lifesavers, but they also ruin our interior terrain! And, as all countries become more modernized, we (the collective, We) have left our traditional methods of preparing food behind. All cultures used to eat some kind of fermented food on a daily basis. A national campaign to encourage probiotics, like they have for Vit D, would be a good start.

So, I’m on to Christmas...decorating, cooking, ordering gifts, and more projects, I’m sure. Hope you all will have a very blessed, happy, and healthy Holiday Season!


Healthy Days to You...Your Smiling Maven

"Bitamins"

We took care of two of our Granddaughters this weekend. There is a reason that “young” people have children. They are such good kids, but even so, we were exhausted by the time their Mom and Dad picked them up. So much fun to have them come, but glad it’s only for awhile. We’ve had naps and now we’re fine! The little one, who’s almost four, and still has some speech difficulties, wants to do everything big people do. When I put out my vitamins before dinner she wants her vitamins put out, too. So, I’ve put her bottles on the counter and she can now get them, with Grandma’s permission. She asks, “Bitamins”?, I say “yes” and she is now so proud to be able to do for herself. When we get sat down at the table she tells me that “Bitamins keep me healthy.” Of course, I agree and am so glad that she is learning now. I don't correct her speach. She's just too funny and cute, to boot!

I haven’t heard a Dr on TV or anywhere else, for that matter, not suggest that everyone should be taking a good daily multivitamin, at the least. These days they usually add that we should all have our Vit D levels checked and then add Vit D, too. It’s interesting that the latest statistics, (2007) from the U.S. National Poison Data System, about death from Vitamins and Minerals is ZERO. Pharmaceuticals, is 1,597. The numbers can speak for themselves.

Also, I read an article about making sure that if you are in the hospital, you have an advocate at your bedside the whole time that you are there. They can ask questions like, “What is that medications? What are the side effects? What are you doing?’ Apparently, too many meds are being dispensed incorrectly at hospitals and patients get mixed up and the wrong care can be given to you, instead of the intended patient. In today’s world, a holistic Dr, like Dr. Weil, can quote statements about an herb, that has been published by many peer reviewed journals, and he can be threatened with prison and the loss of his business. He must have gotten more popular and was making enough money that Big Pharma’s were feeling threatened. Good grief!!...An herb that has been used for thousands of years to treat many different illnesses, needs a double blind, placebo controlled study and the H1N1 vaccine can be given with only the scantest of testing. OK…Sounds good to me. (Sarcasm, intended)

Love the cooler weather. The rainy NW is just fine with me. Those who are dreading possible floods, not so much! But the rain is BACK and will likely be here for quite awhile. Glad that I can stay indoors.

As Always...Healthy Days to you, Your Smiling Maven

Have a Shot.....or Not!

I’ve been asked recently about the H1N1 Flu Vaccine. “Are you getting one or what?” Well, after reading all of the articles that come across this computer, and listening to TV Docs, I have come up with some options for everyone and my personal preference.

Some of the recommendations are to get a regular flu shot and an H1N1 shot, also. Some say absolutely do not have both. Some say the adjuvant that is in the H1N1 shot is extremely dangerous, some say not. And on and on it goes. So, I have come up with 3 courses of action. My opinion only.

#1…All Pharmaceutical and All Government
Take both the regular and the H1N1 shot. That’s it and call it good.

#2…Part Pharm and Part Natural
Take the H1N1 shot, but in addition, take a good daily multivitamin,
a good probiotic, and take at least 5,000IU’s of Vitamin D3 per day.

#3…All Natural
Take a good daily multivitamin, a good probiotic, and 5,000IU’s of
Vitamin D3. Also add 1500 to 2000 mg of vitamin C. Then have
on hand a bottle of 5,000IU of VitD. (The other VitD that you would
be taking will probably be in 1,200 to 2,000 IU doses) Another tool in
your arsenal would be a product called Beta Glucan, an immune
modulator. Some suggest having a bottle of “nano colloidal silver”
available, too. At the 1st sign of the sniffles or even if you think that
you’ve been exposed, take 40,000 to 50,000 IU’s of VitD and some
Beta Glucan. The nano silver is in case all else fails.

#3 will be my choice because all authorities say that those with blood-brain barriers that have already been crossed or are immune compromised, should not take the H1N1 vaccine. That would be me. I’m already an advocate of natural medicine, so that’s the way I’m going. Hope I have answered satisfactorily those who were curious.

On a personal note. I’m doing a felt appliqué stocking for Granddaughter #5. I’m about ½ done with it. That will give all grandchildren the same kind of stocking. Then I will be learning how to operate my new serger. Thank the Lord for You Tube. Lots of “How To” videos on there. Supposed to make sewing so much faster.. Hope so, as it is all about the energy or lack of! I’ll find out soon. Dear daughter has promised to help me if I get stuck!!

As Always…Healthy Days to You…Your Maven

Alzheimers, H1N1, Autism

What do these 3 maladies have in common? Well….Let me try to get this brain in some kind of order and I’ll explain. The things that come floating thru this computer are amazing. It’s so much fun, to me, to tie it al together. I really am a “muser.”

One morning an article came in and it talked about finding “nano” particles in the brains of deceased Alzheimer patients. These “nano” particles were from sunscreen. How they knew that, I don’t know, and I have long since deleted the article. I understand that there are probably many things that contribute to Alzheimer’s, but this is just one more piece to the puzzle. This is also another example of an “unintended consequence.” We are told to slather on sunscreen, which is loaded with chemicals, and we never question what those chemicals might do to us in the long run. The Natural Health community is of the belief that skin cancer is really the result of our diet. So while we try to avoid skin cancer, we block the production of Vit D and all of it’s health giving benefits.

Then I received an e-newsletter from the Vit D Council. They had letters from Doctors who had anecdotal evidence, that Vit D was having a positive impact on swine flu patients. Immediately after receiving that letter, another one came in from a Dr. who was replying to the previous newsletter. This Dr. (A) has a practice with another Dr. across the hall. The other Dr. (B) does not test his patients Vit D levels and does not think that it matters. Dr. (A) has been testing his patients for 2 years and has them on 2000 to 5000 IU’s a day. Dr. (B) is having 1 in 10 patients present with swine flu. Dr (A) has had no H1N1 patients at all. Anecdotal, yes, but I’ll take it.

Then, I think I’ve talked about this before, autistic children going on Vit D and changing their diet. They remove sugar and grains and add probiotics and live foods and VitD. It’s having a very positive effect on these children. They are now doing a study of pregnant women who have previously given birth to an autistic child. They are giving the mothers “mega doses” of Vit D. Seems to me that during pregnancy is kind of late, but maybe it will help. I’m sure I’ll read about the results in a few months.

Yes, all of these conditions are affected by Vitamin D. We’ve gotten so busy living and working indoors, taking natural and traditional foods out of our diets, and putting chemicals in our bodies or on them (which in most cases is the same as ingesting them), that we are now living in a world of unintended consequences. Antibiotics and vaccines are life savers in some instances, but they kill a part of our bodies that we desperately need. Your immune system needs a flourishing mixture of bennificial bacteria. You must replenish your gut bacteria after antibiotics. Probiotics can be purchased in any health food store. Sunscreen is nice for the protection from sunburn on tender skin, but we need the life giving natural sunlight for production of Vitamin D and possibly other vital nutrients. Even when we get outdoors, most of us do not get enough sunlight to keep our Vitamin D levels at optimal levels. Vitamin D3 supplementation is essential.

We in this country have finally realized that hydrogenated oils are detrimental to our health. Maybe someday we’ll realize that the chemicals that we put on our bodies can be detrimental, too.


Another topic. I was listening to a viral comment about a supplement that is taken to relieve acne. So, I went online and looked up the ingredients. Hmmmm, I thought, aren’t most of these ingredients anti-fungal? So, off to google I went. The product contained 1200 IU’s of Vit D3. I knew that Vit D is, among other things, an anti-fungal. It also contained Burdock root, Horsetail, and Biotin (a form of B vitamin). Sure enough, they all have anti-fungal properties. No wonder the product works. It starts wiping out the overgrowth of candida and “voila!”, the acne clears up. Would have loved to have some of this when I was a teenager.

Well, I started writing this 2 days ago. My life is so hectic...NOT!! I have finished one of my needle craft projects and the other one is coming via the "Brown Santa" next week. I always add too many "things to do" before Christmas. Oh well, that really is where the fun comes in!

As Always...Healthy Days to You...Your Smiling Maven

Organic...Means What?

Well, I only thought that I was back, last time. I had a virus, at the time, but was so relieved to be in an air-conditioned home, I didn’t realize how bad it really was making me feel. It’s been 5 weeks tomorrow that MDH and I came down with this. I think I can safely say…It’s GONE!!! Dr’s office said that they feel that it turned into something like a food allergy. Whatever it was, it wasn’t fun. I finally started to feel almost normal last Friday. Still get really tired…what else is new? Just couldn’t get motivated until this mornings newsletters came thru. So before I talk about that, I’ve been wanting to post about the “organic” nonsense. So, I will…quickly.

As usual, the news media jumped on the negative news. Ground breaking NEWS!!, organic foods do not have more nutrients than non-organic foods. Really?...That just doesn’t sound right, I said to myself. Besides, the word organic does not refer to the nutrient content of the food, it refers to the content of what’s not in the food, such as pesticides and herbicides. So, I waited for the “push back”. Along it came, in several different articles, not the MSM, however. Sure enough, the research that was used for the “organics not better” article was debunked and yes, the nutrition content of organic fruits and vegetables is better than non-organic. I won’t go into all the reasons or references, but most people already know this. So I mused to myself, "Who would profit from a report like this?" Remember…follow the money. Then I read an article that wasn’t even referring to organic foods that the UK and the European Union are limiting certain seeds and farming practices. Hmmmm? Could this be true? Along comes another article that our dear House of Representatives has managed to pass a bill that would in essence do away with organic farms, hormone and antibiotic free meats, and organic and raw dairy products. It hasn’t been passed by the Senate yet, but who knows? The bill is called the “Food Safety Enhancement Act 2009. It would wipe out the small organic farmer and it is feared the large one, too. Yes…follow the money. Can you say Monsanto? Just to name one big agribusiness conglomerate. If organic can be passed off as "not better", it is easier to shut them down. And so it goes. Not just in this country, but around the globe. A person could get depressed by all the nonsense that is going on.

However, this morning I was reading a newsletter from the Vitamin D Council. They were talking about the studies that have been done on the flu and autism. The reports are showing that the people who had a negative reaction to the flu vaccine were deficient in Vit D! Also, that children with autism aren’t necessarily the ones who are Vit D deficient, it’s their mothers! The mothers were deficient when they were pregnant and the children with the genetic predisposition to autism, got it! It makes sense. This correlates to the rising incidence of autism of recent years. The mothers who started wearing sunscreen, several years ago, were trying to follow Drs. orders, but it had an unintended consequence. We fooled with Mother Nature…Not good! Wow!!! So, young mothers and young mother wannabes, take your vitamin D and maybe back off on the sunscreen. It would probably be good to keep babies and very young children sun screened, but older ones, maybe just the face. Don’t want your girls mad at you when they turn 40 and the wrinkles start showing up! Boys, not so much problem in that department. Vitamin D, so vital to our well being for our whole lives,in areas, of our lives, where we didn’t even realize such a vitamin, that we have taken for granted, is so essential. Bottoms up on the D3!!!

Also, got the quilt done in time for my granddaughter’s birthday. Just made it. Her Mom tells me that she started sleeping with it right away and watches her morning show on TV all snuggled up with it and she even shares it with the little sister! There’s a picture on tickle monsters. So glad that she is enjoying it.

I've started a new project. I seem to have to have a project in my hands when I sit down. I am so over the summer. One of these days I'll have to take an interest in my flowers, but not right now! As Always...

Healthy Days to You...Your Smiling Maven

I'm Back!!!

Wow! All I can say is WOW!!! The last week or so has been very eventful, to say the least!! The weather here in the cool North West has been very warm, unusually warm. We are going on 70 days with no appreciable rain, so the weatherman says. So, it’s been hot and dry. Most people love it. Me…not so much. Well, I was doing sort of OK, MS wise, but somehow I guess my body just said, “That’s it!” After about the 5th day of temps in the house above 75 degrees, my symptoms started to flare. I started to have the old “ice picks” jabbing thru my ear and my walking was becoming very difficult, and various other pains that come on when I have a flare-up. I thought that I was handling it. Apparently NOT!! I didn’t up my fluid intake enough and I wasn’t using ice-packs to cool down. MDH came home one evening to find me “cooked.” I don’t know how he got me upstairs and into the shower, because I couldn’t walk. Somehow I showered and washed my hair and then lay on the bed with ice packs on my chest and neck. The house was about 80 degrees and I had been drifting in and out of consciousness for a couple of hours, with an afghan over me. I had been chilly. Hint, Hint. It’s 80 degrees in the house, (hotter outside), your face is hot and dry and your extremities are cold. Something is not right! I suppose the prudent thing to do would have been to go to the hospital, but we didn’t realize how really bad I was. We got some fluid into me and some juicy fruit and kept the ice-packs on all night. The next day I was better, but still couldn’t take care of myself. The things MDH has to do to live with me in this body. He decided “That’s it!” We now have air conditioning! The air-conditioning man “flipped” the switch yesterday!! Oh Happy Day!!! For those who can dance, there is dancing and singing and smiling!!! This wasn’t on our list of things to get done this summer nor someplace to sink some money, but one hospital visit, even w/ insurance, could just about pay for this “coolness.” MDH says, “Don’t worry about it.” After all these years, he just doesn’t understand that “worrying”, is my job!

I apparently had hyperthermia, not a heat stroke, but close. Whatever it was, not fun for all involved. Needless to say, I lived with ice packs and drank 2 quarts of water and sugar free sports drink and ate lots of watermelon, until yesterday. Today, diet and H2O consumption is back to normal.

So I have talked to my sister and told her the story. She says “we don’t sweat”, meaning our family. It’s taken all these years to learn this? I know that I have never liked the heat, even as a child. As an adult, I thought that the reason that I couldn’t take the heat was because of the Multiple Sclerosis. Maybe that and a body that does not work properly, in more ways than one!

At any rate, life is back to normal, or new normal…it doesn’t have to stop anymore when it gets too hot. I have just over a week to get the quilt done. I think 'll just make it!

As Always, Healthy Days to You....Your Smiling Maven

A Little of This and A Little of That!!

That’s what one of my granddaughters said to me this weekend and that will be the way this post is tonight. My granddaughters never cease to amaze and delight me. This one is almost 6 and she made this comment with a head tilt, hand gestures, and a giggle and a smile. How do these children learn to mimic so well? One of the serendipities of life is being a grandparent. Our son brought two of his daughters to our house for fireworks. They had already been to a local parade, but he felt it was time for them to enjoy the fireworks of his childhood. The weather was beautiful…unlike many of the fourths in the Pacific Northwest! They stayed until after dark…way past their bedtime! Some of the neighbors had fireworks and grandchildren, also. We had quite a show. It was magical for me. The weather was wonderful, the moon was rising between the fir trees, the fireworks were close enough overhead so that we could appreciate all the beautiful colors, and I had a very happy granddaughter on my lap! The other granddaughter was next to her Poppa and Daddy and the whole neighborhood clapped in appreciation for everyone’s efforts when it was over! One of those times that will always be remembered.

Then we also had a family reunion on the 5th. All the grandchildren were together and my niece’s son also. Still lovely weather, although a bit warm for me. My daughter and her husband hosted the event. What sweethearts! Never enough time to visit...or rather I remember what I would have liked to ask after the event! Great time anyway!

Then Monday morning, after a miserable night, I thought I had “weathered” the hot temperatures of the previous week and all the extra activity. By noon I knew that I hadn’t “skated”. The random pain and tourniquets had started and I spent the next day and a half sleeping a few minutes at a time….day and night. Much better now. We’ll have to get a couple more fans for the next round of warm weather. And of course, my diet has been extremely good since Sunday! At least I have learned how to reverse these symptoms and put the brakes on this unwelcome “monster” without running to the Dr.

Update on the quilt. I did get all of the squares finished before the 1st of July. I’ve got the 1st border on half of the squares and I think the rest should go on fairly smoothly. I’ve got just a month!

Have only read a little…However, one of the blogs that I read was talking about the President of France making a comment about outlawing the wearing of “burkas.” The blogger was talking about the attire being so demeaning and stifling. And then, out of the blue, he mentioned that also wearing this attire opened up these women to osteoporosis because of lack of Vitamin D! Even in the political world!

As Always...Healthy Days to You...Your Smiling Maven

Almost Back to Normal

The healing continues! HOORAY! Still have some bruising and the "tourniquet" around my hip. The main thing for me is to regain my "normal" balance. Patience is a virtue. Right? It's not that I haven't been reading, it's just that I have a deadline to have this quilt finished for my granddaughter. Time is going by way too fast! The reading that I have done is about...Wait for It...Vitamin D. Didn't mean to but it is still the Vitamin du Jour! It was even in one of my newsletter's that very seldom talks about vitamins and supplements. But there it was. Couldn't avoid it once I had opened the link. However, in my e-letter from the Vitamin D Research Council, there was a very interesting article about dark skinned people who live north of 35 degrees latitude. Seems that there is a serious condition of childhood rickets in their children. The problem is that it can present itself as bruising and tiny fractures and the parents can be charged with child abuse. The real problem is that the "experts" who read the x-rays haven't seen "normal" bones of these children for decades and so they cannot give an accurate diagnosis. Upon giving Vit D supplementation, the problem clears up. Those that have done research, have also found, that when children, who are normal, present with autism symptoms (around 15 to 18 months of age), can revert to normal with high doses of Vit D. Very interesting indeed!!

I still have two squares to finish for this quilt and then the lattice work and putting it all together. The squares should be done in about 4 days, if I concentrate. It is really starting to look terrific! The granddaughter has seen the pieces and she is excited for it to be done, too. Then it will be off to the next project!!! Always need a project! As Always...

Healthy Day to You...Your Smiling Maven

Healing an Obstinate Body

Well…Hello!...I am healing, despite this body’s performance today. I will return to yesterday’s level, but today so far is a bit touchy. The drop-foot that I developed after my fall has mostly gone away. That is good, because it makes getting around very difficult, even in my home and especially outside the home. It’s one of the reason’s that I’ve hardly been out, besides my very attractive black eyes. Today, it’s all about balance…you know…zigging when I should be zagging. This too will pass.

Today I received a call from the Medicare people. They were conducting a poll about Medicare’s performance. I didn’t want to take the time but agreed anyway. First question was “How do you rate your health?” 1st option was “Excellent” and they titrated down from there. I, of course, answered excellent, since I do consider myself in excellent health, generally. I can pass a basic physical exam with “flying colors.” Then the questions turned to physical activity. My answers, of course, were completely opposite from the first question. After four questions, I had to interrupt the lady and tell her that while I considered myself in excellent health, I did have a physical disability which curtailed my activities severally and this questionnaire was not designed for someone like me. I’m guessing this was a waste of taxpayer dollars, in general, and certainly in my case. We discontinued to survey. And the government thinks they can run our healthcare. They haven’t run, successfully, any financial entity, yet! I have no hopes that things will change

I subscribe to 5 e-newsletters pertaining to health and read other papers and books. They all keep talking about Vit D. More and more research keeps being published about this vitamin. It is becoming "main stream" how vital adequate levels of VitD is to our health. Low levels or below adequate levels leave us open to all sorts of illnesses, not the least of these is multiple sclerosis. More research needs to be done. I’ll just keep reading and keeping myself as healthy as possible. We can only hope that this government will not follow Finland. They have just outlawed alternative health treatments, unless administered by a Dr. That is effectively…no more alternative treatments, since allopathic Drs. do not know or do alternative treatments.

I’ve seen it quoted recently that “We live in interesting times.” Sometimes I think that a little less interesting would be just fine...As always...

Healthy Days to You...Your Smiling Maven

Not Vitamin D

New vitamin! Yahoo!!! Not really new, just new for me to talk about. It’s B12, something that many elderly people and vegetarians are deficient in because the human body cannot produce this vitamin and it is also a vitamin that can only be found in certain foods. That food has been traditionally thought to be beef as the best form of B12. However, new research from the University of Oxford, in England and the University of Bergen in Norway has found that a diet of fish and dairy products elevated blood levels more significantly than other traditional foods. The human body can metabolize vitamins from these sources better, apparently. Good news for me, since I eat fish and I have recently added yogurt to my diet. In fact the person writing the report specifically recommended yogurt for the dairy product. I’m guessing that is because there has been other research that claims the human digestive track has shown signs of producing b vitamins with the right gut flora. That falls under the category of maybe yes, maybe no. All I know is I have been feeling terrific lately, which as is turns out is not a “good thing”.

I was feeling so good that I did too much and now I have paid for it. No stitches but lots of blood and a very frightened husband. So today I’m sitting inside doing almost nothing. Not fun. Someday I may learn that I am not capable of the things that I used to do…someday…maybe!

So, was my feeling terrific because of the B vitamins, the enhanced Vitamin D, getting rid of more fungus, or adding coconut oil to my diet. Don’t know but I think I’ll keep up the diet and supplements. More care will have to be exercised when venturing outside of the home! Poor husband! He has to watch me all the time….maybe I should be more careful, if for no other reason than to be more considerate of him. Yep, I think that’s it!

As Always, Healthy Days to You....Your Smiling Maven

Sunshine and Probiotics

Wow!! A person would think that I was really busy and had a life! Not! Just busy doing “stuff”, especially since it has been very rainy in the great northwest and being outside has been kind of “not fun”.

So, I’m off to the races again on Vitamin D and Probiotics. You can groan now, but the evidence keeps mounting that these two “supplements” are vitally important to our health. A new study just published in the journal “Postgraduate Medicine” states that probiotics help boost the immune response to the flu virus. Seems like a good thing to have during flu season, maybe the rest of the year, too. Also, the “New England Journal of Medicine” has published an article stating that almost ½ of critically ill patients in hospitals are deficient in Vitamin D. The article goes on to say that Vitamin D is crucial to overall good health and that low levels leave us vulnerable to many illness. It says that most flu and cold viruses are more prevalent in the winter months when Vit D levels tend to be lower. Makes sense.

Also, just read an article that says that this country used to have 50 applicants to medical school for every opening available. Now it is estimated that we are short 200,000 doctors. It is suggested that giving away national healthcare is impossible for this reason alone. We can cover all US citizens, but we cannot provide care for all citizens. Forget the financial aspects, it simply cannot be done logistically.

I’m glad that I am generally healthy and don’t need a Dr. very often. MDH and I are going to work at staying that way. We’re not too thrilled with the state of “doctor care” now. What’s it going to be like in the future? We’ll stick to our vitamins, enzymes, probiotics, and natural foods. It’s working pretty good, so far!

Healthy Days to You...You're Smileing Maven

May Rain Brings May Flowers!!

OK...So the weather has been awful today and I haven't an excuse for not posting. Today the sky fell! Wow! Did it ever rain!!! So I've been inside...no greenhouse activity. Granddaughter #5 arrived. She is just darling and I did get her quilt done. Now I'm working on one for granddaughter #1. I have a need to always be working on a project. I think there is an old saying about busy hands.

The yogurt making is getting better. We found a raw milk dairy, so I am not making my yogurt with adulterated product. In this country we have done to our dairy products the equivalent of what we have done to our wheat products...in my opinion!! We've stripped them of all enzymes and most vitamins and minerals. In so doing, they become anti-nourishing and indigestible. So, my yogurt has all of the fat per serving that it is designed to have. I also do not super heat the milk. I'm going to be exploring more recipes for making raw milk yogurt. I want all of the enzymes and probiotics and vitamins and minerals possible. The probiotics are especially important to me. The more that I research, the more convinced I am that once a food is out of its natural state there is little nutritional value left and it is difficult for our bodies to digest it or absorb the few nutrients that are left. I've read articles that refer to this processed food as "anti-nutritive".

So, I will keep experimenting with yogurt recipes. Lots of fun, anyway! The sun is supposed to come out again in a couple of days. So, I will not complain about the rain and cold.

As Always...Healthy Days to You, Your Smiling Maven

Where Have I Been???

Can you tell, the good weather has arrived? I’m out in the greenhouse as much as possible. I just about have all of the “winter” cleanup done and then it’s time to start planting things for outside pots. I actually put a blooming geranium outside last night and today my hummingbird started to fly around the patio. He comes back about this time every year. So much fun to watch him, I just wish that I had something really good in bloom, for him. I think it’s a him, he’s very shiny and bright green. Anyway, I haven’t been reading very much, nor am I particularly interested, too much fun outside. Also, I needed to finish the quilt for granddaughter #5. It’s done, except for her name. She’s to be here on the 30th.

Making my own yogurt is the “new” activity. I bought a 1 quart yogurt maker and have made two batches of my own. Don’t know if this was a good idea or not. The jury is still out on this one. It is kind of interesting and since I don’t eat yogurt, as is, but put it in smoothies, the different consistency is just fine. I still drain the whey and use it in various “dishes”. We’re still on our “diet” and still feeling good!...except we fell off the wagon over Easter and both of us paid for it. MDH was quite miserable for a couple of days. He didn’t even whimper when I told him NO! on Monday when he wanted a food that is OK when we’re feeling good but not OK when we’re not. We’re both feeling so much better since getting sugar and grains out of our diet. It’s amazing the difference no sugar, yeast, and grains can make. What a change!

Granddaughters #1 & #4 were her for a visit yesterday. They went to the back yard with their buckets and shovels and in no time they were playing in the mud and water. They were so happy. Our daughter said it reminded her of her brother and herself many years ago, in the same area. Kids are the same the world around when it comes to mud and water, I think! It was a lovely afternoon. Wish we had taken some pictures. Oh well, another time.

As you can tell, I’m busy and still being health minded. I just haven’t taken the time to delve into a particular health subject. As usual…

Healthy Days to You…You’re Smiling Maven

Sunshine...and More Sunshine!!!

Spring has SPRUNG!!!...here in the beautiful and previously damp NW! We had an absolutely wonderful, sunny day. It is amazing how just a little time outside, doing simple chores, can lift a person’s spirits. I didn’t even realize that they needed to be lifted.

Well, I am now following the writings and newsletters of 2 different MD’s and one researcher who all subscribe to the theory that almost all of us here in the USA have an overgrowth of fungus, and it is mostly at the root of all our illnesses. I read a very good paper last night on how candida cells mimic and transform themselves to look like different cells in our bodies. Such as brain cells or membranes of the human body. This causes our immune system to be fooled and when they attack candida cells they also attack other cells that look like candida, which are really our healthy cells, such as brain cells,(resulting in multiple sclerosis) or joint tissue (resulting in rheumatoid arthritis). Hence, autoimmune diseases. This is a very simplistic explanation of this article. The website for this paper is www.nutritioninstitute.com/Multiple_Sclerosis.html It is a short but very good read.

There is still more research being published on VitD. It is a very important supplement that has been ignored for far too long. Also, probiotics are still in the news and in the advertising budgets of several companies...yogurts and Milk of magnesia to name two of them. Despite the fact that they are commercials and the company is more interested in their profits than our health, probiotics really are “pro-life” and really are one of the most important dietary additions that we can do for ourselves.

We are still on our sugar free, wheat free, and yeast free eating plan. It is definitely different but we’re thinking it is well worth it. MDH really likes not having to get up at night, anymore, and I’m sleeping better, too. We also have more energy, which is always nice!

Time to work on the baby quilt. It’s almost done and the baby is almost here! Spring is going to be so wonderful!!!

Healthy Days to You...Your Smiling Maven

ADHD...REALLY?

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Many nutritionists, doctors, researchers, and parents are now saying that this is a made-up and bogus disease…oopps…Disorder. It breaks my heart to hear about another child being put on these dangerous drugs. Besides the physical danger, the psychological impact on these children can also be devastating. I’ve read an article written by a Natural Health Editor who quotes a newly released study from the New York Medical College of Family Medicine. This is a very sad part of the article, to me. Here’s the quote…“When children are labeled as deviant and placed on Adderall or other drugs to treat ADHD, their self-confidence is undermined and they lose their ability to perform well and to study without them. Children who have lost faith in their own abilities are destined to lose their individuality and their ability to think and advocate for themselves. They are destined to grow into adults who are unable to participate in and defend their democracy.”

“Prescriptions for Adderall or any of the other ADHD drugs send children a clear message that something is wrong with them because they are unable to tolerate endless days of sitting in a seat doing irrelevant tasks and busy work. It teaches them that the problem is not with the school or the education system; the problem is with them.”

It is very easy for such a disenfranchised student to slip into being an unproductive and non-participating member of society. These students are open to self-destructive behaviors and have an inability to form meaningful relationships. Some estimates are that 15% of our students are on these drugs.

So then, what to do? Of course, my first suggestion is nutrition, which would include probiotics. That’s another blog! Discipline and exercise would also need to be incorporated into the child's regimen.

However, if a change in diet doesn’t help, a parent might want to look into bacteria, specifically bartonella and babesia. Yep! Our little friends that are transmitted by ticks, and in some cases by fleas or other biting critters. Probably, if you do not have a leading researcher of parasites and infections of the human body in your area, the best place to start would be a lab that does specialty blood work. Sometimes a compounding pharmacist might know of a clinic or Dr. in your area who is well versed in the field. A veteranarian might be able to help, also. If all this fails, get on the internet. Your child’s future is at stake!

As always...Healthy Days to You...Your Smiling Maven

Still more Vitamin D!!!

I’ve been reading for the last few months that VitD, lack of, has a lot to do with developing Multiple Sclerosis. That horse has left the barn!!! Well, finally today a report came floating across this computer screen, from the Vitamin D council, that says a number of epidemiological studies suggest VitD has a treatment effect in MS, not just a preventive effect. Yahoo!!! So, it is suggested that while we are waiting for more studies to be done, a person could take some initiative and have their VitD level checked and make sure it is in the “high normal” range. It is suggested that 10,000IU a day may be in order. Wow!!!
Guess I’ll up my intake again and have my level checked again this summer. Should be interesting to say the least!

Another article came through about a gene variant and lack of VitD as being linked to the development of MS. This research suggests that vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy and the early years may increase the risk of the offspring developing MS later in life. This area of research is apparently referred to as epigenetics. In other words, the heritable changes or gene expression may be caused by mechanisms other than the underlying DNA sequence. Vitamin D or insufficient amounts of VitD can cause a gene, with this particular variant, to “malfunction”. I think that I can promise you that my mother probably had low levels of VitD. We’ll never know. I’m just glad that my daughters and granddaughters are taking supplemental VitD. So much more research to be done on Vitamins, in general, and genetics. Optimal health for all!! What a good goal!

Healthy Days to You...Your Smiling Maven

Ready for Spring!!!

It’s nice to feel “well” again!! I’ve had 7 days of being attacked by a virus and it has not been fun! MDH and I came down with this last Tuesday afternoon. It’s been a slow slog for me. He was over it on Saturday. So, today I rewarded myself with a facial. I had the dry nose after having the red nose and the rest of my face felt like sandpaper. So I gave myself a microdermabrasion and some super hydrating moisturizer and my skin feels so much better. I could face the real world now. Sort of like spring cleaning!

I also decided that I could actually get some work done on the new baby’s quilt. It’s such a pleasure to have the “umph” to do things. I’d think that I would be used to dragging this body around by now, but I’m not. “Dragging” is not my speed. I even felt so good that I told MDH that I felt well enough to run to the store. He gave me that “Look” and a very stern “NO, Don’t even think about it!" Pushing myself and being surprised that I’m out of energy is just the way it is! So, I went out to the greenhouse instead and messed around in there for a few minutes. That was fun and Yes, it proved him right. I was exhausted very quickly.

Working with the plants and seeing how they are recovering from the cold and dark winter is very encouraging. Kind of like the human body when we remove the undesirable things that are making us ill. Thriving is so much easier with proper temperature, fluid, and nourishment. The goal is to stay on this path. Spring really is just around the corner!!

Healthy Days to You...Your Smiling Maven

Health...In Nutshell

A few days ago someone asked me what I considered important things to do for a healthy body. This person had recently decided that something needed to change in her life or she might end up like some of her relatives and she didn’t like the picture of what she had to look forward to. So, could I tell her what I considered some of the best things that I had done? I said of course, but let me organize some of my thoughts and I’ll post something on my blog.

First, let’s break this into different areas of bodily needs. 1---Diet 2---Supplements 3---Physical Activity 4---Emotional or Spiritual Health

1---Diet…. Perhaps the most important change to a person’s diet, in my opinion, is to eliminate refined sugar. Yep…It’s very difficult, but I think it is the most crucial diet change to do. I’m still struggling but the less sugar I consume the better I feel. The fungus connection and the havoc sugar reeks on a body is incredible. It’s not called “White Death” for nothing. The other thing to add to one's diet would be some kind of probiotic or fermented food. Also, add as much fresh vegetables and fruit as budget allows. Thoses 5 to 7 servings per day on the food pyrimid are crucial.

2---Supplements…. Until recently, I would have suggested a good, all natural multi vitamin 1st. They are still important, but if you have to choose, I consider Vitamin D to be the most important supplement. Without adequate vitamin d, our bodies are at great risk for any number of diseases. I just received another newsletter about Vit. D. Very crucial to have adequate levels during pregnancy….. Another blog.

3---Physical Activity…. This is another area that is so easy to ignore. We say to ourselves that we are too tired or I’ll do it tomorrow, or I’ve been really busy today, so that must count. The experts tell us to get our heart rate up for 20 minutes at least 3 times per week. If you’re confined to a wheel chair, that is really difficult, but I’ve read that there are some yoga movements designed for just this situation. This is another area where I struggle. To my generation, exercise was for P.E. class in high school.

4---Emotional or Spiritual Health….This is an area of life that we tend to think has nothing to do with our physical health. However, research shows that those who struggle emotionally tend to be less well physically. A person has to make their own Spiritual Peace with their God or just figure out how to keep it all together. If you need help there are plenty of loving and qualified Pastors. Also, there are great self help books to guide you thru turbulant or trying times. Since I’ve been blessed with a deep and abiding faith from childhood, this is an area that is second nature to me. My faith is not always on my sleeve, but there none the less. Also, I have a very loving and supportive family. Yes, I’m very grateful for my blessings and very thankful.

This is just a thumb nail sketch of some basic things that I consider are important to one’s overall good health. Start here and read, read, and read some more. New things are being published every day that pertain to our health. Ask questions, ask for clarification, and ask some more.

Healthy Days to You…Your Smiling Maven

Candida...Not Candy

Well…Hello! It’s been awhile. I’ve been busy with “busy work”. I’ve been making a quilt top for Granddaughter #5, who is soon to be with us, and tweaking my diet, and just “stuff” in general. Life…it can get out of control, sometime.

However, the “tweaking” is what I want to talk about tonight. I’ve been working on ridding my body of excess fungus for about 3 years. I’ve also sort of “fallen off the wagon” and hit a plateau. So, I’ve been reading and thinking and doing the “Hmmmm” thing, a lot. Why do we Americans have so many chronic illnesses and other countries do not?...until they start adopting the standard American diet. What is in our diet that is so different than theirs?

Possible areas to explore…More refined foods than theirs….More vaccines given at an earlier age…Different oils used for cooking and all areas of food preparation…Different grains…Different grain storage (commercial storage)…More cooked foods as opposed to raw foods? I could go on if I really wanted to think about the different areas that I’ve read about. But, tonight I’m looking at fungus.

One of the newsletters that I’ve been following since I’ve been ridding myself of candida, is “Know the Cause”, by Doug Kauffman. Yes, he’s very one sided. Basically, he insists candida overgrowth is the primary cause of all of our health challenges. He just might be right. I’ve read other articles that are similar to his. He has quite an informative web site. On there is a video that is an interview between Kauffman and an oncology doctor from Italy. It shows pictures of cancer and how it is being cured simply by flooding the cancer with sodium bicarbonate. Yes, alkalizing the body. This I’ve read about before. There are other videos on the site and I’m going to do some more research. Meanwhile, I’m being a bit more strict on dietary intake, especially in the area of sugar and grains. I’ll keep you posted.

I’m also going to a Nutralite seminar later in the month. I can hardly wait. The presentation is going to be mainly about inflammation. Of course, Kauffman insists that inflammation is caused by fungus. It will be an interesting evening and I’m sure I’ll have a lot more to think about!!! Until then…

Healthy Days to You....Your Smiling Maven

No More Statins!!!

Good News!!! No Great News!!! My friend called and with the information that I gave her, she was able to have an intelligent, informed discussion with her Dr. and she is now off all statins. She is so relieved and happy...and I am happy for her. She has had all available tests for heart disease known to man and they could not find anything wrong with her. But because she had high cholesterol, and was uninformed or under-informed about her health options, she was put on statins. She has been worried and frightened for 20 years about an eminent heart attack, even though all of her tests came back negative for heart disease, but because she had high cholesterol, she was told that she could have a heart attack at any minute. Her Dr. has agreed, now, to help her manage her condition, naturally! I'm thrilled for her.

The last time she talked to her Dr. about getting off of these drugs and about all of the side effects that she was experiencing, she was told "You can either die from high cholesterol or you can die from kidney failure. It's your choice." What a difference a little knowledge makes!

If you are confronted with this kind of a situation, do a little research before blindly following the pharmaceutical industries plan for your life!!

Healthy Days to You..Your Smiling Maven

Note... This blog is in regard to my post on Jan 26th.

Stop the Insanity!

That’s what the writer of the article says and I have to agree with him! Why do we have a “war on drugs” and then we pump our children full of drugs? Legal drugs are almost as dangerous in some cases as illegal drugs. New research has been published in the journal of Pediatrics that reveals that ADHD drugs prescribed to children are causing them to have hallucinations. Some of these children are experiencing bizarre psychotic effects with these mind altering drugs that are molecularly identical to street drugs. I find myself internally weeping for these children. Our country has decided that a spirited, busy, happy child is a sick child and needs to be turned into a zombie for an adult’s convenience. IMHO The article is at NaturalNews.com—ADHD Drugs Cause Hallucinations in Children. Very enlightening, since I just learned that some young people who spent their childhood on these drugs are now having mental problems as adults. Of course, these young people have spent a little time experimenting with street drugs also. They have spent the majority of their lives on some kind of mind numbing drug. I remember their mother telling me that she loved shopping at Costco because she could get all sorts of pre-prepared food and then throw it in the microwave and dinner was done. I remember wincing at the time and saying “No, no, don’t do that.” All those children needed was a good diet and a little discipline and a mommy and daddy on the “same page”. I fear that this numbing of our children is happening way too often.

I just read another article, as I was researching something else, that spoke of an overgrowth of Candida being responsible for children’s behavior and allergy problems. A change of diet can make a big difference in a child’s life. A parent might want to look into no sugar and adding probiotics. You might be pleasantly surprised!

I seem a little down, but I‘m not really. We’ve had a good weekend and even had a little sunshine! And I’m working on a quilt for Granddaughter No5. She’ll be here before we know it! All of the girls are so different. It will be fun to get to know her, too! As always...

Healthy Days to You, Your're smiling Maven

No Side Effects!!! Say What?!!!

I don’t know how to express myself tonight. I’m sad, I’m angry, and I’m disgusted at the shape of our health care system.

Last night we had a lovely evening with old friends. We had meant to get together sooner, but with the weather and other obligations, it had just been put off. Finally, an evening of laughter and solving all of the problems of the world, if you know what I mean! Nothing like getting a bunch of red-necked Christians together, we can take care of everything! However, toward the end of the evening, our friend, a woman in her late 60’s, told us that she had just been diagnosed with kidney failure. She supposedly was not in any eminent danger of dying, but that was going to be the outcome. Meanwhile, she was to continue on her Statin drug.

Well, I guess you know alarm bells went off in my head!!! I didn’t say anything at the time because I had nothing in front of me to quote. As we were driving home I said to MDH that I thought I had read recently about statins giving people some of the symptoms of which she had shared. I guess you know that first thing this morning I was on the computer and immediately I had read all sorts of side effects from statins that matched our friend perfectly. They do not have a computer so had not done any research themselves. Just going along to get along with the allopathic medical community. “They know what they’re doing. Don’t they?” NOT!!!

I called our friend, not knowing how my meddling might be received. She nearly burst into tears. Bless her heart, she had been praying that something or someone would help her. I told her I didn’t know if I could help her but that I had found some information that she and her husband could read and maybe they and their family could go forward with more confidence.

As I told her what I had found, she wanted to know where I had found this information. I told her and then…This just astounded me… she told me that she had talked to three friends, all of whom were pharmacists and one nurse friend and they had all told her that the Statin drug that she was on did not cause any of these symptoms. "What???" The information is right there on the pharmacy sight, in plain view. It lists the side effects and contraindications. Are these people bound by an archaic code or something and are not allowed to say what the negatives are for a pharmaceutical? According to one site, the particular Statin that she is on had the FDA, in 2004, issue a Public Health Advisory notifying professionals of a revised package insert. The changes were in response to adverse event reports related to muscle toxicity which can cause rhabdomyoliysis and kidney failure. “No, no negative side effects.” Yes, sarcasm of the highest order!!!

I will give her this information and then they will have to decide what to do. In the MS community, firing a doctor is something that is done on a regular basis. That would be my suggestion. But since she is not my mother or sister, the suggestion will remain unsaid. I wish her health and peace and will continue to pray for her.

A lesson here is a person has to be their own health advocate. “Take two aspirins and call me in the morning”, is long gone. Being computer literate in today’s world is a must!


Healthy Days to You...Your Smiling Maven

Turkey Noodle Soup...With Love

Just want to share about the meal that we had last night. It was pretty much from “the ground up”. Last Thanksgiving, at the end of the meal, I told my son-in-law to put the turkey carcass in a bag and I would take it home and make turkey noodle soup, sometime. He did and the next day I made turkey broth and then picked the bones clean. Then I put everything in the freezer. I was a little concerned, when I was making the broth, what it would taste like, because this was a deep-fried turkey and in places it was pretty crisp.

So, this last weekend we decided that enough time had passed since the holidays and turkey soup sounded pretty good. I pulled all of the broth and turkey meat out of the freezer and started them defrosting the night before. Then I chopped all the vegetables in the morning and set the table around noon. In other words, I paced myself. Then it was time to sauté the veggies and add the herbs. As I am a vegetarian, I had MDH taste the broth as I was putting it all together and he pronounced it just fine. I was still concerned that it might be too salty. It had originally been a fresh turkey, but I don’t think it was organic, so hard telling what was put in it before it reached the store. Anyway…The family arrived and it was time to add the noodles. Soon we were sitting down to turkey noodle soup, garlic bread, and crudités. Will wonders never cease? I made a good meal. The children ate the soup and SIL and MDH had two big bowls of it. When I asked if they would like to take what was left, there was no argument. Packed it up we did. “Thanks for lunch tomorrow!” says SIL. So nice to have a successful meal for everyone, instead of a disaster as sometimes happens.

As I said, don’t know what chemicals had been put into the turkey before I got a hold of it, but everything I did was all natural. Such a satisfying feeling to know that I served my family a healthy, natural meal, better yet, they liked it!!

All of the table linens are washed, ironed, and put away. It’s fun to serve my family when I have the time, energy, and good ingredients! So glad I still can.

Healthy Days to You, Your Smiling Maven

Weird or What?

It seems to me, we humans are a weird bunch. I was talking with a lady the other day, who has been taking 7 prescriptions and feeling miserable. You know…one for the problem, one for the side effect, and one for the side effect’s side effect. Well, a friend got her started on some Nutralite Vitamins. I asked her what affect they were having. She was all smiles and said that she was feeling so much better and was so thankful. Then she said that she had a hard time remembering to take them. WHAT??!! I didn’t want to embarrass her and point out the obvious that she had no trouble remembering to take a prescription that made her feel awful.

This is not the 1st time that I have heard this. Is it because the Dr., the perceived authoritarian, has ordered us? Is it because we think that the prescription is free? (Silly us, we pay for that health insurance one way or the other.) Are we brain washed by the pharmaceutical industry and their ads on TV? (Have you listened to the side effect precautions at the end of the ads?) Do we not really want to be rid of our illnesses? Whatever it is, it seems to me that reason is very easily thrown out the window when we need to personally take charge of our own health.

Tomorrow I am attending the funeral services of my dear 90 year old aunt. She had a lot of illnesses, but always recovered, except this time! One of the things that she did for herself was to eat well. I remember her eating a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables, always. She also liked to share them, too. Very seldom did I leave her home without a new kind of vegetable or fruit, in season, that she was trying. She also remembered old home health remedies and lovingly shared them. Of course, when we were younger we didn’t want our Mom to give us anything natural. It might taste bad!!! She will be so very much missed. Heaven is the more fortunate for her presence.

Meanwhile, I’ll just keep smiling and trying to help where I can.

Healthy Days to You, Your Smiling Maven

Glutathione...just the bit on the topic!

I said I’d do a post on glutathione and here it is. It is said “Time flies when you’re having fun.” I must be having fun, because if someone had asked me when I last posted, I would have said “just a few days ago”. NOT... It’s been eleven days. WOW! I have been reading, however.

Almost everything that I have read, whether it is from a retail site or a research site,says glutathione is a very important and crucial antioxidant in our bodies. It is said to be our “Master antioxidant”. Sufficient amounts, in our cells, seems to be very critical to our well being. The same diseases kept being repeated. Our health and longevity depends on glutathione!

As I understand it, genetics is only a portion of the reason that humans get diseases. Polymorphisms, in a gene, and environmental effects, i.e., toxins, bacteria, viruses, and other free radical onslaughts, all contribute to a lack of health. In other words, nature and life, all have a hand in our diseases. I’m going to put a few quotes on here. The researchers and Drs. can all say it better than I.

"Without glutathione, other important antioxidants such as vitamins C and E cannot do their job adequately to protect your body against disease." Allan Somersall, Ph.D., M.D., and Gustavo Bounous, M.D. FRCS(C) in Breakthrough in Cell Defense

"No other antioxidant is as important to overall health as glutathione. It is the regulator and regenerator of immune cells and the most valuable detoxifying agent in the human body. Low levels are associated with hepatic dysfunction, immune dysfunction, cardiac disease, premature aging, and death." Lorna R. Vanderhaeghe & Patrick J.D. Bouic, Ph.D. in The Immune System Cure

"Raising glutathione levels is a good thing, no matter how you do it. There are several theories about how to do this and all are slightly different. Some believe that NAC will do it, it certainly has the right chemical structure. Others think that only bioavailable glutathione is the way to go.... However you elevate your glutathione levels, it is a good thing to do!" - Douglas T. Dieterich, M.D. in a response to a patient query at a forum on TheBody.com, an AIDS and HIV Information Resource.

"One reason why it is so important to maintain high levels of glutathione is that it is crucial for the detoxification of carcinogens. Packer states that most people do not inherit "cancer genes"; rather, they have a genetic weakness in their detoxification system. Glutathione is an extremely important part of the detoxification system, and thus of our defenses against cancer. Interestingly, whey protein has also been found to raise glutathione levels. Glutathione may also be one of the most important keys to longevity. Centenarians have been found to have higher levels of glutathione than would be expected for their age. Boosting one's glutathione levels ...should be one of the first items on anyone's anti-aging agenda." - Ivy Greenwell in The Antioxidant Network, A brief review of "The Antioxidant Miracle," by Lester Packer, PhD and Carol Colman

"As Dr. Lombard points out in his book, "The Brain Wellness Plan"...the brain’s high fat content renders it especially vulnerable to free radicals, so that the body has defined specific ways to protect brain cell fatty acids through special antioxidants.... Glutathione is one of the most powerful antioxidants in the body. Depressed glutathione levels are associated with the increased generation of free radicals found in Parkinson’s patients, for example, and contributes to further brain cell death." - Excerpts from the Willner Window Radio Show aired in May 98


These quotes are just a part of the information. I think glutathione is such an important nutrient, it would be worth a person’s time to do some research on their own. Just google glutathione and off you go!

A few topics jumped out at me often. These included, Parkinson’s, MS, diabetes, thyroid problems, premature ageing, and skin care or skin whitening, also, the ability of the body to utilize Vitamins A, C, and E and B complex vitamins. There definitely is some disagreement on supplements of glutathione. Some say supplements are worthless, others say only bio-available glutathione is absorbed by the body, still others say “My product is the only one that works.” All I know, the whey that I have been taking (from yogurt) has produced wonders in my skin, in less than a month. If the outside is getting healthier, I have to believe that the inside is doing the same. What I've seen so far is marvelous!

I'll take results, any day.
Your Smiling Maven

Mysteries are being Solved!!!

Hi! And Happy New Year to everyone!! We’ve started the year with snow again today. So pretty, and I’m so glad that I didn’t have to go anywhere! However, our snow is nothing compared to Spokane and area! Wow!! I think I wouldn’t want to be there. Remember, spring is just around the corner!!

Well, I received the neatest Christmas gift from MD Sister! And I’ve been reading it ever since it entered the house. It’s a book called “Nourishing Traditions”. I think that I mentioned it in a previous post. It has spurred me on to more reading and more research and more Hmmm, “Could that be why…?” So very interesting and thought provoking. You know when you’re on the internet and you’re reading an article and it has a link or a word or something and you just keep clicking and reading. That’s what I have been doing. The book started the search and I learned so much that I just couldn’t stop.

I was reading some reviews of a particular supplement and up popped the letters “MTHFR”. Probably doesn’t mean too much to most of you, but those letters refer to a gene that has to do with B vitamins. As you know, if you’ve read this blog, I had gene testing for oxidative stress and how my body metabolizes B vitamins. My oxidative stress levels came back OK. I metabolize anti-oxidants just fine. However, my body does not metabolize B vitamins, efficiently. So...what does that mean. Genetic testing is so new that most Dr.s are not current in the field. So, it’s been up to me to do the research and figure it out, for now.

So, this review was from Australia. I find that they and European countries seem to be “less owned” by the pharmaceutical companies, so they are more open to natural or alternative health solutions. This study claims that most people who test positive for the MTHFR polymorphism cannot absorb folic acid very well. So then, off to folic acid deficiencies. This leads to methylation pathways. The next is what I found.


“Defects in methylation lay the appropriate groundwork for the further assault of environmental and infectious agents resulting in a wide range of conditions including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, thyroid dysfunction, neurological inflammation, diabetes, chronic viral infection, neurotransmitter imbalances, atherosclerosis, cancer, aging, schizophrenia, decreased repair of tissue damage, improper immune function, neural tube defects, Down’s syndrome, Multiple Sclerosis, Huntington’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, as well as autism.” Wow!! Several of these diseases are prevalent in my extended family. Thyroid, Parkinson’s, diabetes, and Multiple Sclerosis, are some that stick out.

And then I started looking into early and on-going symptom, such as dry, brittle hair, cracked and peeling lips, eczema, and digestive problems. All of these symptoms I have and more and most of my relatives have some, if not all. My granddaughters are starting to present with some of them, also. So, we need to be able to absorb more vital nutrients, especially B vitamins. Back to the book!!!

“Nourishing Traditions” tells of old and “ancient” ways to prepare food to make vitamins and minerals more available to our body’s metabolism. 1st and easiest is draining the whey from yogurt and incorporating that into one’s diet. I have, and am noticing a difference, already. My skin is in pretty good shape, but without changing anything in my skin care regime or my supplements, it is sooo much smoother and softer. Not just my face….my arms and legs, too. My lips are smoother, also. It’s been 2 weeks, plus, and my hair is beginning to feel like hair, for the first time in my life. Turns out that whey has glutathione in it, which is considered the master antioxidant. Glutathione is going to have to be a post of its own. And my brain has glazed over, so goodnight, for now!!!

Stay tuned…
Your Smiling Maven....
We're going to get healthier!!!