National Peanut Butter Lover's Day- PB & CO Release

I promised the nice people at PB&CO to share this Press Release and event with you.  Don't we wish we lived in New York right about now.  I'd take the day off:













For Immediate Release

Contact: David Kirschenbaum (212) 757-3130 ext. 112

David.kirschenbaum@ilovepeanutbutter.com



Art Museum Dedicated to Peanut Butter Sandwiches Opens in NYC

Peanut Butter &Co. and National Peanut Board present The Nutropolitan Museum of Art
(New York, NY) – Peanut Butter & Co. – experts in the art of the peanut butter sandwich – once again brings the classic snack to new heights by launching The Nutropolitan Museum of Art, a pop-up art gallery completely devoted to America’s favorite sandwich, the PB&J!

Working with acclaimed food photographer Theresa Raffetto and noted food stylist Patty White, Peanut Butter & Co. Founder and President Lee Zalben aka “The Peanut Butter Guy,” created 365 exciting new takes on the PB&J.  The images will be featured on the Company’s Tumblr blog www.Nutropolitan.com.  A selection of the photos will be exhibited at The Nutropolitan’s pop-up gallery at Openhouse Gallery, 201 Mulberry Street, who is also a sponsor of the event.  Prints of the photos will be available for purchase with 100% of the proceeds being donated to the Food Bank For New York City.

The exhibit will be open to the public for three days only: Friday, March 4, 2011 (10am-6pm), Saturday, March 5, 2011 (10am-6pm), and Sunday, March 6, 2011 (10am-4pm). Each family that attends will receive a free jar of Peanut Butter & Co. peanut butter and a second jar will be donated to the Food Bank For New York City in their honor. “Just by visiting the gallery, you’re making a donation.”

The pop-up gallery is being presented in partnership with National Peanut Board (NPB), whose new Energy for the Good Life subway ad campaign kicks off in March.  A selection of the striking and informative ads will be on display throughout the gallery. NPB’s annual ad campaign blankets the subways of New York City every March with tongue and cheek facts about peanuts, which delight New Yorkers each year.  This year the campaign has evolved to focus more on the health and nutrition benefits of peanuts and peanut butter, some of which may be surprising to consumers.  Peanuts have more energy-boosting protein than any other nut, more antioxidants than broccoli carrots or green tea, and are a nutrient-rich Superfood, with 30 vitamins and nutrients.

On Thursday, March 3, members of the media are invited to preview the exhibition and taste a selection of peanutty hors d’oeuvres and cocktails prepared by some of New York’s top chefs

On Friday, March 4, the exhibit opens to the public.  Invited guests from the health & fitness communities will attend seminars hosted by registered dietitian Deanna Segrave-Daly RD, LDN.

On Saturday, March 5 and Sunday, March 6, visitors will be able to make their own art in the PB&J art studio for kids and peanut enthusiasts will be able to meet some of the hard working farmers that grow America’s favorite nut.  On Saturday, from 11am to 4pm Van Leuwen Ice Cream truck will operate from in front of the gallery and on Sunday from 11am to 4pm the Treats Truck will do the same.  Both trucks will offer specials on their peanut buttery treats!

About Peanut Butter & Co.

Peanut Butter & Co.’s ten varieties of all-natural peanut butter – Smooth Operator, Crunch Time, Cinnamon Raisin Swirl, White Chocolate Wonderful, Dark Chocolate Dreams, The Heat Is On, Mighty Maple, The Bee’s Knees, Old Fashioned Smooth and Old Fashioned Crunchy – are made from a special blend of USA-grown peanuts chosen for their taste, texture and natural sweetness.  Peanut Butter & Co. peanut butter contains no cholesterol, no trans-fats, no partially hydrogenated oils, and no high fructose corn syrup.  They are also dairy-free and gluten-free.



Peanut Butter & Co.’s line of all-natural, gourmet peanut butter is available in over 10,000 supermarkets and specialty retailers including Whole Foods, Kroger, Target, and Walmart.  The Company’s products are also available in Canada, the United Kingdom, and Asia.  Peanut Butter & Co. began in 1998 as a cozy little Sandwich Shop in New York City serving nothing peanut butter sandwiches, desserts, and smoothies, among other peanut buttery treats, and was the inspiration for The Peanut Butter & Co. Cookbook (Quirk Books), now in its third printing.  For recipes, store locations and more visit ilovepeanutbutter.com



About the National Peanut Board

The National Peanut Board represents all USA peanut farming families. Through research and marketing initiatives the Board is finding new ways to enhance peanut farming and sustainability and increase consumer demand by promoting the great taste, nutrition and culinary versatility of USA-grown peanuts. For more information, visit nationalpeanutboard.org



About the Food Bank For New York City

Food Bank For New York City recognizes 28 years as the city’s major hunger-relief organization working to end food poverty throughout the five boroughs.  As the city’s hub for integrated food poverty assistance, the Food Bank tackles the hunger issue on three fronts — food distribution, income support and nutrition education — all strategically guided by its research. Through its network of approximately 1,000 community-based member programs citywide, the Food Bank helps provide 400,000 free meals a day for New Yorkers in need. The Food Bank’s hands-on nutrition education program in the public schools reaches thousands of children, teens and adults. Income support services including food stamps, free tax assistance for the working poor and the Earned Income Tax Credit put millions of dollars back in the pockets of low-income New Yorkers, helping them to achieve greater dignity and independence. Learn how you can help at foodbanknyc.org.



About Openhouse Gallery

Openhouse is an all-white, 4,500 square-foot retail gallery with an exceptional retail storefront, drive-in access, 16’ ceilings and five massive skylights. Located on Mulberry Street in the heart of trendsetting NoLita, Openhouse is the choice downtown location for cocktail parties, art exhibitions, car showrooms, product launches, editor preview events, film/print/commercial shoots, fashion shows, sample sales, and pop-up retail concepts.  Since its inception in September 2007, Openhouse has hosted such clientele as Clinique, Converse, Diesel, Delta airlines, and Piaget Watches, among others.  Openhouse provides in-house event production, branding, marketing, advertising, pr and print/design services, and has curated events like '201 Mulberry' - Quiksilver's skate ramp pop up, 'PlayBeautiful' - the 2010 World Cup Experience, and 'Park Here' - an indoor pop up park.

www.ilovepeanutbutter.com

Goodbye, Sally Cellulite!

Here's the post I've been promising about Sally Cellulite.  I've got to stop promising posts.  Short attention span.  Anyway, Cellulite: A woman's nemesis.  This is a living testament how to get them legs and boo-tay from old lady hams to yoga sticks.

The reverse happened with me.  I got rid of them, and only then did I research how the heck I unintentionally came to love my legs.  I did not see this coming.  Actually, it was a frustrating point even at the height of my fitness days.  I would run 6 miles and kill it with the lunges.  I had rock hard quads, sculpted hams and firm thighs, but still puzzling was why after getting rid of so much fat in that are I still has cellulite with a personality of its own, not severe, but enough to NOT justify all the blood and sweat.  I wasn't so much embarrassed by it as annoyed.  Even though I was constantly improving my body through exercise, I had already embraced all the flaws and the part of ourselves women always find to loathe and criticize.  What really put my panties in a bunch was that all the work I did, and no success in that area.  (Years later, the light bulb will turn on about how burning calories and eating a large extra cheese pizza with coke every week is very counterproductive in other no-duh areas.)

So, as I've mentioned, while reading about Nopal and after taking it for less than a week I came across articles that explained how a liver not properly cleaning toxins contributed to cellulite.  I stopped in my tracks, marched to the bathroom and yanked down my pants.  Like butter, baby!  Another part of the recent chronicles is how I'm fully committed to a thorough detox, via bio-energetic screening. Although I'm trying to halt an annoying disease in its tracks, a significant role for quality of life is to find the root of the disease and reverse the damage that has been done.  Yes, we have the divine ability to clear out disease.  Just because we don't know how to always do it, doesn't mean it's not out there.  Cellulite is the effect, so what is the root?

I started putting it all together and here are the things I've been doing in the last three months that whipped my legs into shorts-worthy condition?

1) LYMPHATIC DRAINAGE SUPPLEMENT - In the detox, I'm taking a specific tonic  called Drainage.  The following article clearly denotes that a poor lymphatic drainage, along with bad circulation, can trap the toxins: http://www.cellulite-exercises.com/Cellulite-and-Bad-Diet-Toxins.php

2) NATURAL LYMPHATIC STIMULATION - I haven't been sweating my tush off at the gym, but I do workouts that specifically stimulate the lymphatic system, circulation, and stretch the connective fibers from all major points : See Lovely Lady Lumps for Classical Stretch. Note: I don't even do it every day as a healthier person is capable of. (For those who rot in an office chair all week (me!), or sleep in a bed from Hades (also me), your circulation needs a hand.  Exercise and/or massage.

3) DIET - While I'm knee-deep in detoxification I have been forced -gratefully- into an extremely clean and natural diet.  So, while getting rid of the old toxins and not reintroducing new ones, all the yucky muck has been gradually scrubbing it out and not accumulating new junk.  It's not completely 100% avoidable, but let's say 90% of my habits have been house-flipped.

What toxin exposure I've removed:

• over the counter and pharmaceutical medications (used extremely sparingly)


• processed foods, i.e. refined breads and sugars, preservatives


• artificial additives (including sweeteners like Splenda and Truvia...It contains a form of ethanol...I know!),


• color dyes


• most cosmetics and toiletries with strange and unpronounceable names


• chemical cleaning products


• unclean waters via kitchen faucet and shower filters


• drinks: alcohol, coffee, and caffeine

Basically, it's really hard to get so clean overnight unless you've had it with thunder thighs (which like I said, I had come to embrace), or are becoming aware of unknown dangers in recent times, or like me, have absolutely no choice.  It takes dedication, patience, and sometimes, a bit of el cash-o.  It's better to go gradual if you know you'll just hang it up in 2 weeks, especially if you got a million things going on.

POST EDIT: I DON'T RECKON YOU WOULD HAVE TO REMOVE EVERY SINGLE TOXIN FROM YOUR LIFE.   BUT I'M GUESSING THE OBVIOUS ONES WOULD HELP REDUCE THE PROBLEM, SUCH AS DRINKING COFFEE EVERYTHING AND EATING A CLEANER DIET.  YOU MAY NOT NECESSARILY HAVE TO TOSS EVERYTHING YOU OWN.  IF YOU ARE A RELATIVELY HEALTHY PERSON, A FEW CHANGES MIGHT BE ENOUGH.  THESE ARE JUST CHANGES I MADE; DON'T KNOW WHICH ONE OR WHICH COMBINATION DID THE TRICK.

Additional helping habits undertaken: Drinking close to a gallon of water a day to flush more crap.  Eating vegetables that helps clean toxins.

4) LIVER: The detox, and now the Nopal, are helping me clean out the liver.  Whatever traces are left (and there is some, especially on the right leg which incidentally, the right side of my body has always been extremely stubborn..coincidence?), I'll be making sure the liver is working at its maximum to cure the inevitable inhaled or ingested toxins that now have hope of being destroyed or detained.

5) HORMONES: the last token I found in my research of how I an serendipitously controlling cellulite.  This one is a hard one for all women living in a toxic world.  Even our facial moisturizer can have chemicals that mimic estrogen and unwittingly create imbalance in us.  The only reason I'm hormonally balanced (or at least closer than I used to be), is mostly discovering what foods and medications were throwing off my adrenal glands (where stress and hormones are managed), and a hormone spray from the holistic medication in the balancing detox protocol.  It doesn't mean I'm not prone to some mood swings and crying, but let's just say I don't throw things at the wall as often.  Thoughts, actions, and mildness are usually stable.

Wrapping-It-Up: It seems the only hereditary thing about cottage cheese is that our mommas' livers also did not have an optimum metabolism and lymphatic system, not that they doom us to central and localized toxic fats for all of eternity.  It does not mean a lack of health overall, it just means some tweaking could be implemented in our lifestyles.  If we take to listening to our bodies,  it's basically telling us less french fries and more green beans.  Now that we know where the culprit lies, we can start trying to fix it.  Even thin girls can have dimply legs; and it's probably the one who can eat burgers and don't gain a pound.

Those are the secret nuggets I claim to have universal privy to.  But I don't.  It seems really easy for five simple steps to fix a life-long problem.  My theory is just that it's not common knowledge and not a lot of people in certain clusters are on the clean diet bandwagon.  It's pickin up speed I tell you.  Note: for more severe cases, it might not be so easily reversible, according to links included in the post.

Disclaimer:  This is not professional advice and does not intend to impose a change of lifestyle or imply that those who are not following a clean diet are unhealthy.  This is a reach out to those who are looking for theories, methods, and ideas, to try and improve a specific aspect of  their current habits or health regimen.  My intention is to be humbly share my experience, not to be all high-and-mighty because I eat brown rice and organic cereal.   I'm just a schmuck trying to feel better.

Some articles for your enlightenment:

Cellulite and the Connection to The Liver and Lymph System « Essential Oils… more than basic Aromatherapy.

Reduce Cellulite by Reducing Toxins (Oh yes, Celery is mentioned)

Lumps made of fat and toxins (A lovely testament that women have it rougher than men.)

I'm staying home from work today.  I feel like P. Diddy.  I brused my teeth with a bottle of Jack.  So long as I'm going to be drunk in the mornings, I might as well take up drinking, eh?  Alcohol will kill whatever I got.

My head and eyes are swollen and my brain can only be described as having some activity on the seismic scale.  When I walk it feels like my body parts are not communicating with each other.  I'm going back to sleep after breaking my fast and watching Dr. Oz (which is not my cup of tea). I swear I'm going to lose all the Oprah and Oz fans if I come clean on my view of them.  I kid, Oz isn't so bad...  Oprah is.

Usually, I scramble and search for the point in time where I went wrong to set off severe symptoms.  I'm trying to learn not to blame myself for something I did, I ate, I took, and later ended up knocked down.  I can't prevent from causing every single flare no matter how much money I spend on organic food, how many pee-tasting potions I drink, or how much I deny my cats hugs and kisses (mildly allergic).  Buuut I'm stubborn and still chastise myself when I 'think' I know what I did.  Still beating my self up for the Vicodin I took yesterday.

My husband knows more about painkillers and medicines than half the doctors that are getting shut down in Florida do.  He warned me and was adorably vigilant in the way I took them.  I took them as needed, and only half.  But after taking them awhile, their effectiveness wears off and the moods begin to wobble.  I was desperate yesterday. I've read that Lupsters end up paying hard if they don't manage stress and sleep like handling a Faberge egg. I haven't slept well in 3 days (out of discomfort and/or missing my 'body pillow'), was in pain, and tried to re-do the spare room without help, but I knew I had to make it to work today. Mmm hmm. Not gonna happen.  Being knocked out by the pill sure lessened the morning pain, I woke up okay in that department.  But I woke up sad and crying.  For no reason.  Watching Dr. Oz here on the screen, he would say that my dreams were subconsciously telling me there is something wrong in my life.  Ya think?  But he would need to be given the proper intel: narcs change your brain chemistry, Doc. Simple.

Once I called in sick, after much deliberation and harassing my sister via text and leaving Husband messages for when he wakes up in Miami about how I wanna make that money to get a food processor and need to be at work and the world was going to fall apart if I didn't go assist administratively, it was like I finally had that cosmo and I relaxed.  My body is tired and stressed.  And for someone who has an inflammation and an oxidative stress disease, I'm attending my full-time job way too much.

I continue beating myself up and telling myself I need to save my time off for the chiropractor, for the rheumy doc, and maybe indulge the idea that I can take a real vacation day soon.  Trying to reason with yourself when your brain ironically would rather sing Ke$ha songs to protect you from hurting yourself... is not a good idea.  Take that dollar-sign from the universe and stay home.  Don't I always say pay attention to your body?  I'm the first to admit I that taking your own advice is harder than pooping with someone standing outside the door.

The benefit of today: I had a real breakfast.  I ditched Quaker for a new man, Bob's Red Mill Rolled Oats that all these hippies are talking about.  Quaker has never claimed to be gluten-free and there's risk of cross-contamination.  And yes, they we're much fresher tasting and yummier than the processed ones.  Soymilk, a monkey-sized banana, blueberries, and  quarter-sized dollop of peanut butter.

So, here's what I was working on writing last night before my brain started to party in its skull:

This draft was supposed to be an I CANT HAVE PIZZA rant.  By the time I'm ready to post it, the winds of food have changed.  Brownies are too sweet, fast food seems so plastic-y, and I put the ice cream right back in the freezer after having two sorry spoonfuls.  I don't even know who I am anymore, but I'm crushing on this new mysterious stranger.  This detox may kick my a$$ energy0wise, but the progression is noted.   I feel cleaner.  My appetite is not dangerous anymore, I'm desire healthier things, I don't want to kill people who eat a slice in front of me.  Well, yes.  I still do.  But I didn't know I had accepted my situation until today (that was yesterday).  Three recent things have happened:

Number 1: I walked into a Taco Bell and didn't long for the gastric caress of a grilled stuff burrito (I went to get tickets to Nuclear Cowboyz, not a Chalupa).  The smell of crumbled mystery meat simmering in grizzle didn't appeal to me.  I stopped to identify what was the longing sensation I was feeling: It was the emotional connection of being stuffed and indulged once I've gobbled the burrito without ever tasting it.  It was the immediate satisfaction.  Two weeks ago, I would've caved and ate it in front of my cats making them promise not to tell my husband.

Number 2: For lunch I found myself eating an apple, a handful of blueberries, roasted edamame, hummus, and celery sticks, and felt very satisfied and proud.

Number 3: I found this website http://hungryhungryhippie.com/. Please also see the Favourite Links page for the other website I added as well.  My life is about to change.  Now I'm sure this great lady doesn't want to be put on a pedestal and I won't, but I find her fantastic.  With so many diet restrictions,  I haven't found a flexible, easy diet (because I get fatigued too fast when I make complicated and long meals) that makes palatable sense to me other than a macro diet, and the answer to that is: yea right!  I'm hungry and always will be.  Her diet matches my diet.  It's interesting, versatile, and crunchy.  I have been perusing (that word is  so pretentious for wannabe writers) her website for two days now and couldn't wait for the weekend to start trying some of her ideas.

For dinner I had leftover brown rice, threw a butternut squash in the oven, and mashed half a little hass avocado all folded in with the rice like sour cream.  And oh.my.god!  Food-gasm!  First I've had in a long time since I've been banned from what-we-consider regular food.  I made yummy noises that I shouldn't be making when Husband is out of town.  Chelios and Mishka were terrified.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="350" caption="It's a celly pic, so pardon the quality. "][/caption]

Detox process is in full gear.  I am not craving crap anymore.  Or veggies that kick me around.  I'm not lactose intolerant but out of my own free will, I kicked the dairy habit.  Cheese naturally produces morphine and opiates after all; why do you think we GOTTA HAVE it on everything?

More mini updates:

• I've had to drop the green tea.  Too twitchy, even though on low caffeine.  Slso acidity rate was becoming obvious, tummy burns.  It helped with inflammation immensely though, so that sucks.  Sticking to ginger tea and might try Turmeric tea.


• That celery juice...added pure aloe vera, cinnamon and ginger to the blender. Bellisimo!


• I now need a tofu press and a more fierce and bigger food processor that'll whip foods hiney, literally and figuratively.  Eating completely different requires change in thinking, budgeting, and accessories.  I wish it required a new wardrobe too.

So, I've had friends offer to cook for me only to find out that they have no idea what to make, even if they're willing to change up their menu.  Another conundrum was the first time I rattled off the list of things I couldn't eat to my sister so she can cook for me when I visit her back home.  She waited for me to shut my gluten-free no-pie hole and rightfully asked: "Well, what CAN you eat?".  (Also coming to posts near you)

Here is an example of my green-light foods, I'm on a rotating diet of  (all foods must be organic or at least whole, artificial,dye, and preservative free)

• Lentils (mine and Husband's fav)


• Brown Rice


• Jasmine rice


• Black Beans


• Eggs (I'm doing Egglands best, but intend to switch to organic, range-free, from the farms where they don't kill the irrelevant male chicks :( )


• Tortillas (Salvadorian style)


• Salmon


• Non-spicy spices


• All herbs


• Corn Cereal


• Rice Crackers


• Rice Cake


• Hummus


• Peanut Butter


• Almond butter


• Apples


• All kinds of berries


• Bananas


• Avocado


• Asparagus


• Broccoli (I don't care for cooking broccoli. Stinks.)


• Watermelon


• Celery


• Carrot (sticks)


• Cucumber


• Onion


• Soups w/o strong spices


• Occasional Grass fed turkey or chicken (hardly ever, don't care for the taste of dead animals)


• Occasional Greek non-fat yogurt or white cheeses

Just added to my list:

• Butternut squash... where have you been all my life?

It sounds boring to someone accustomed to a different diet, but I'm not bored by it.  I love it.  And when you can't just go out and pick up a burger, you get really creative mixing and matching.  Recipes and pictures will write themselves eventually.  This week has sucked for energy and activity so when I feel whole again, I'll share how I've been managing to cook lately.

(Drastic conclusion cut-off.)

Inheriting Aztec Healing Secrets - (the Nopal)

My ancestry traces back to the Aztecs and I always thought one day I would inherit a place on the throne as a Central American princess or get the title to a private  Maya or something; maybe in 2012 where the universe's consciousness  shifts.  Considering that I went U.S.A. all the way, I strayed from my roots.  Now that I have chronic issues everyday, I'm going back to my roots.  Tortillas, beans, and cactus are saving my life.

In-Juns

When we think of the Aztecs we tend envision a great ephemeral civilization of wild, savage, barbaric, Indians with crazy human rituals.  We know little about them as a thriving people.  What we do know we have picked up on what schoolbooks and movies present to us.  Well, as usual, history has been flubbed and made to be perceived a certain way and the truth is coming out.  This wonderful book 1941 New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus is providing a developing accurate account of who the natives in this new world were and how advanced they really lived.  Not just South America, but the ones here in North America.  Read some true stories of Pocahontas, John Smith, and Squanto.  Recommended reading.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="224" caption="1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus"][/caption]

The reason I bring this up is because they, and many other desert dwelling natives, had an understanding of nature and its relationship with humans.  They ate a balanced diet from agricultural farms they rose up, they healed the sick and lived active, intelligent lives.  Many South American countries still practice some of the secrets (secrets to us anyway) and they have been using Nopal for centuries.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="288" caption="The Spanish call it tuna."][/caption]

Cactus Medicine, Cactus Juice, Cactus Huevos, Cactus Shish-kabob

A large population is getting fed up with pharmaceutical side effects and are delving into ancient healing methods.  Enter this cactus plant, Nopal.  You can't hit up the internet for a search without some recent boomer marketing operation promoting the desert cactus and it's "prickly-pear" fruit juice.  However, the real Americans have been using them in their diet for a long time now.  I wasn't kidding that they eat it with eggs or grill it like a steak.  Sans spikes.

It is ripe with healing benefits.  Loaded with vitamins and minerals.  It's a natural detoxifier.  It's a superfood, the buzzword of the year.  Like I've mentioned before, America has deviated from attending to the maintenance of important organs such as the liver, spleen, or gallbladder.  We need to keep these functioning at optimum levels to cleanse our body from the toxins we ingest.  Medicines and processed foods are wreaking havoc on our liver, causing us to have multiple mysterious symptoms.  And we think to ourselves, oh we just need a vitamin, I need to sleep more or the next fad supplement, and we'll get over it.  Unless something tragically breaks down, we have not been trained to infer, "We need to make sure our organs are doing their jobs because this symptom is an indication that something needs our attention."

The liver is where our toxins are cleaned.  Where there is toxin overload, which could be anything from alcohol, sugar, medications, etc., we begin to feel drowsy, forgetful, foods make us feel heavy, bad breath, muscle soreness, acne or skin breakouts, belly fat, the list goes on.  The liver is overworked and can even swell up from working over time.

And here is why I'm writing about Nopal.  A friend of mine, also chronically ill since her teen years, once had her gallbladder explode and leak  its toxin content into her entire bloodstream.  Imagine having all the by-products and dirty compounds your body stores for elimination floating around in your heart, head, brain, skin. Enough said.  In the hospital, her liver was shutting down from trying to handle the overload.  The doctor was setting her up for a transplant.  A family-friend, Peruan, told her about Nopal.  Prepared it for her.  Forced her to eat the slimy plant.  Three weeks later, the doctor was baffled that her liver was almost at normal functioning again.  No transplant needed.

I'm personally in need of detoxification to reverse my autoimmune from attacking my beloved body parts.  My body is in toxic overload.  I would also say I need to assist my body in further detoxification, not just the currently accumulated junk.   I'm doing a holistic detox, but diet is also a huge factor in short-term and long-term success.  As we speak, I'm also experimenting with America's indigenous and ancient plant to see if my symptoms get some relief.

But Wait...There's More!!

I'm sure you want to hear more about the belly fat.  This is an inexpensive, and kind of yucky but effective way, to slim down.  It absorbs sugars and carbohydrates, regulating the glycemic levels when reacting to insulin.  Yup, it is used to control diabetes and deal with excess fats and glucose.  Does it really help?  It's already helped me in digestive aid and inflammation in that frontal area where all the main organs hang out.  So a fortified si!

So far, less tummy aches, digestive issues, clearer and softer and more vibrant skin, less phlegm/mucus  in throat and sinuses (which needs to be controlled for those of you that suffer this chronically, it means you might have a candida or fungal overgrowth), regularity (I could have made this graphic but I won't.  However, many with Lupus have this issue.), better metabolism, less tires around my waist.

There is also a little topic called CELLULITE, that I'm careful to say has not been cured by this, buuuutt it has a strong connection to cottage-cheese legs and dimply butts.  Nopal did not get rid of my cellulite, but something in the recent months has smoothed out my legs and thighs like a baby's bottom.  It happened while I wasn't looking.  Hell, I wasn't even doing lunges.  Last thing I cared about was sporting short shorts if I could barely tolerate my aching knees.   An article about Nopal brought out an interesting relation between cellulite and that thing I'm not telling you about just yet.  This is how I'll keep you coming back to my site.  CLIFFHANGER!!!

In a few posts, I will talk about how this stuff comes to be a torment to most women and how it can go away.  I used to think it was impossible and solely genetic.  There is hope!  For now, start looking up your nearing Latin or Mexican supermarket.

Painless Ways to Eat a Cactus

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="188" caption="Licuado de Nopal - If you're also a Mexican food lover, check this delicious website out. From the Muy Bueno Cookbook"][/caption]

• The link above shows an easy and painless way to make a smoothie and shares a quickie account about the author's friend with beautiful skin and thin frame.

• The way I started taking this before I researched information is very raw and caveman like. I just scrape off the plant's defensive spines with a paring knife...carefully, cut out the edged lining, drop in the magic bullet, and started taking 2 tablespoons 3 times a day. My mom actually told me this is how a Spanish friend of her takes it, one who has nursed herself to health naturally.

• The easiest way is to buy it in pill, powder, or juice form. To get the full benefits I prefer the plant in its natural state.

The taste is bitter and strong, not gross.  It's a powerful vegetable like taste; like an onion trying to overthrow all the other veggies.  The texture is horrible.  Gooey and slimy like oysters.  But it's over in 2 seconds.  I haven't tried the recipe above but something tells me that it is more pleasant than my method.  I thought I would never be able to swallow it down, but I'm not scared anymore.

Up to date, there is no better superfood that I have found, as strange and alien as it might be, it's worth expanding our minds and letting another culture get their say in modern times.  Let's use it.

General Info about Nopal and Prickly Pear:

http://www.gardenguides.com/78690-benefits-nopal-cactus.html

http://www.seacoast.com/topic.php?health=nopal+cactus

http://www.zimbio.com/Health+and+Nutrition/articles/jWDdABIq0LJ/Nopal+Cactus+Health+benefits+Nopal+Cactus

http://www.desertbloom.net/Benefits.aspx (The best link if you only choose one)

http://www.desertbloom.net/whatis.aspx Testimonials

So Frickin Cute I Could Die! Yes, I'm Talking About PB.

As adamantly opposed as I am to the shameless packaged marketing for portion-control foodstuffs -as if we humans are too useless to figure out that we have enough brain matter and will power to learn how to measure a serving size- I surmise there is usually an exception to everything.  And I found it:



I've said it before and I'll say it again, " Peanut butter is a pure manifestation that God loves us."

And the fact that someone added chocolate to it is amazing-a!  It would've been more economical for me to just buy a jar of Dark Chocolate Dreams, but why bring the temptation home to eat it straight from a spoon, when the little teensy weensy package is so much frickin cuter!

Oh yes my friends, this is all natural healthy peanut butter.  No high corn fructose syrup or preservatives.  It's obviously not a whole food, for it has added and mixed ingredients for the lovely combinations.  And yes, I'm still sticking to the no-unnecessary-sugars promise, but I used the Smooth Operator which at 7 grams per serving, you are still within normal ranges of the glycemic index; no insulin spikes.  This is perfect for the times when treats are on the table.

I've gotten to love my pure peanut butter churned right in front of your eyes at Whole Foods (the one that looks like baby diarrhea but tastes like chewy clouds), but to find a dreamy nom-nom mixed in with another all-time favorite yum-yum is like hitting jackpot.

It's labeled gluten-free.  Why, you ask? Isn't it obvious? Many unsuspecting jarred, pre-packaged,  or canned foods, are secretly laced with wheat fillers like modified food starch.  So even something as simple as PB in a jar can sometimes be a risk for those on the watch for gluten.  For the longest time, I couldn't for the life of me figure out why eating tuna from the pouch (switched from can) would still numb the right side of my face (not a pretty picture, but morbidly hilarious).  A stamp of GF insurance saves a lot of tummy aches and more serious symptoms.

More PB LOVE

More awesomeness continues.  There is a whole restaurant and store dedicated to this healthy (in moderation) food.  It's in New York, branded the Peanut Butter & Co.  How amazing would it be to order a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and a glass of milk at a restaurant? And not from the kids' menu! I insist you click this: http://ilovepeanutbutter.com/. I bet you peed on yourself a little too, huh?

I actually knew about this a few years ago when the cost of the jar was $5, but because of the price I had forgotten about it.  Due to its popularity and the magical workings of supply and demand, the price has gone down some if you buy it in major retailers.  Walmart had it for $3.46 a jar.  Not sure if Whole Foods carries it but I think I've seen it.

Note: I interject to sadly admit I dislike patronizing Walmart with a passion.  Though I know their peanut butter comes from a humane work place, I know that 4 year old Chinese and Salvadorian little fingers are manufacturing the t-shirts and shoes in a sweatshop.  I'm nor a protester or activist, but I think this problem is currently out of our hands.   It's bigger than the average and/or unaware citizen living from paycheck-to-paycheck.

Let's see if we can move on...PB flavors.

• Smooth Operator


• Crunch Time


• Cinnamon Raisin Swirl


• The Heat is On (Spicy! How cool is that? Not that I can have spicy. Insert sad emoticon here.)


• White Wonderful Chocolate


• Dark Chocolate Dreams


• The Bee's Knees (with Honey)


• Might Maple


• Old Fashioned Smooth


• Old Fashioned Crunchy

And isn't it ridiculous that you give the gift of Peanut Butter?

click to see Gift Assortments

Can you tell I love peanut butter (In moderation, I repeat. Sort of.)?  I swear I can smell it.  If after my detox I find that I can eat whole wheat bread and pectins again,  one of the first things I'll have is a good ol PB&J.

P.S. I can't even think of going here.  But you can:

This blog seems to have creeped into health topics more than actual housewifing.  My inflammation levels lately are not allowing for too many ambitious projects (to my dismay),  but there are projects in the works.

Matter of fact, before Husband is off again to save Florida, last night we made an executive decision to start fixing up our 'fun' room.  I insisted I build the medium bookcase from Walmart to start fixing up the spare room (which has been accumulating clutter for a year now, but lacking in the organizational items department).  It's a plain 'ol Mickey Mouse piece of furniture, but my collection of books and such have been sadly awaiting display from the dusty cardboard boxes they were originally moved in.  Newlyweds had to choose their next piece of furniture carefully if you need a new mattress, so we settled for a makeshift piece of wood.  We have pieces of art  musical instruments that are serving as shelves and laundry baskets that the cats have claimed possession of.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="210" caption="Yes, Husband actually bought me one of these! And I love it."][/caption]

While he's gone this week, my mission is to start purging any rat-pack items that are taking up space.  You know, the little pieces of junk that had sentimental value at the time you saved it, and later can't figure out why in the name of Chelsea Clinton you thought it was special.  Pre-marital apparel that is irrelevant.  Correspondence that was too miscellaneous to file and somehow important enough to be saved.  Doo-hickeys ordered from the wedding registry that can only be explained by the drunken power of the shopping gun (pre-vow hysteria).  His valuable collection comics and action figurines.  An iron.  Ha, what is ironing?

I will do it as time and health allows, for there are many other things to keep up, such as the cooked meals from scratch I must prepare (no convenient food for this delicate flower, not even sandwiches), the boring laundry, the messy cats, the personal maintenance, the minuscule chores that add up to tidy house.  Actually,  so long as my health is on hold,  Husband made the suggestion that maybe we ought to hire a maid to help out every once in a while.  So this is love.

ON BEING OLD FASHIONED

Please understand, it is not my desire to hand over my duties to another woman.  I am Spanish and its in my blood to clean and cook for my man.  No illness can take that away from me.  But unlike many of the Spanish, I'm not prideful down to the core.  To have a clean and organized home is more important than pretending I can work full-time, deal with 24hr pain and exhaustion, maintain a sane identity, and still wear a genuine smile for when my guy comes back from toiling under the sun.  Many women are overworked, overstressed, and neglecting themselves, by having to take on multiple roles.  They manage it well and deserve praise, but they do not deserve the wear and tear that comes with it.  These are the times we live in and we must find ways to adapt.  I'd rather scrub my own  toilets and afford a new dress rather than have a Maria do it (Oh, don't be so sensitive.  My mother was a maid for the wealthy in NY and her name is Maria), but  we'll have to have reallocate some monies if and when this is will come into effect.  I appreciate His perceptiveness in the matter and that he offered it before it even occurred to me.  It don't think it will be more than once or twice a month, but now I know I have the option with Husband having made it clear he understands that this one is out of my hands.

That being said, I am old-fashioned enough to believe the woman's place is in the house or societal matters.  Power to stay-at-home moms and a certified housewives.  This is the way nature intended it.  The men go away to hunt, the woman nests, gathers, and takes care of the children/cats.  When the man comes home depleted and ready to regenerate, the woman is not cranky because she just got home from dealing with idiocy in the workplace, she is not losing her head from scrambling to make a pre-packaged dinner for the man, she is not to tired for bedroom-duty at nighttime, she has time to look nice for her man so he does not have to think of his wife as the wispy-haired, spoon-waving, sauce-covered-t-shirt, rambling madwoman that this society has made of women! (Note: I know there are women out there who handle this with grace, I don't imply to total population of working women are at tipping point.  However, to those keeping up appearances, make sure your chi is not fried internally).

My point is that the stress levels are imbalanced because man has to help woman do chores and help with the kids' homework when he should come home to relax after breaking his back all day.  Woman should have time to spend time raising and watching the younguns at playtime.  We should be balanced people because we are given the mental and physical capacity of carrying our family-roles adequately.

This is not just my personal opinion...if you're curious as to why couples are constantly butting heads even in loving marriages, check out this shiny jewel. I've been reading about human and marital relationships since I was 19 and this one by far has rocked my world the most.  The science involved in balancing stress hormones and the way nature intended men and women to relate and compliment each other is mind-bending:

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="200" caption="Click to link for excerpts"][/caption]

Many couples believe that they must sacrifice themselves and their needs in order to please their partner. But this attitude needs to be adjusted. Yes, compromise is required of every relationship – but you don’t make these changes and give up on yourself in the process. The art is in finding fair and reasonable compromises. John Gray introduces new ways to make this happen in a life filled with stress.

Men have traditionally been the breadwinners and women traditionally the managers of the home and children. But there is increased pressure in today’s society for women to work outside the home and thus there is a diminished pressure on men to be the sole provider. Women are expected to do so much in addition to their traditional roles, which have never been tweaked or redistributed, while they now work full-time jobs. Women have a never-ending to do list and stress is at an all-time high. Men are dealing with their own levels of stress. As a result, relationships become filled with misunderstandings, friction, and a sense of helplessness.

-John Gray, Ph. D

WELLNESS GOALS

As I was mentioning above, my goal this week is to maintain myself physically while improving the state of my home, treading delicately so that I don't overdo it.  (Another note: last weeks 30 mins of moderate cardio plus 30 mins of Classical Stretch: no bueno.  My body is not ready, my muscles did not heal well from what should be non-strenuous exercise.  This week will alternate workouts daily rather than knock out two in one day, or skip if necessary).

I have to reinforce some health tips regarding nutrition, anti-inflammatory foods, and basic bodily upkeep.  I urge my friends and readers to try a few of these if you feel or look stressed and rundown.  For those who argue that you have no inflammatory problems, I believe you, but we do live in a country with a pro-inflammatory diet.  Without noticing, our bodies could be struggling too hard on their own for balance.   Help it be ready for the next time flu season comes around. (Also, incredibly helpful for those with asthma and allergies). It's easy to forget, if I may speak for us all, but worth the reminders:

• Drink a gallon of water a day - Already bought my purified water.  Lugging it around everywhere.  Moves the toxins faster, clears skin, lubricates all systems, basic life force, reduces the need to imbibe other caloric drinks, constant hydration diminishes chances of headaches.

• Reduce sugar - Every other week, no sugars other than fruit.  No sweetened drinks.  Sugar encourages diseases such as inflammation-based ones, candida, and cancer.  I'm addicted to it like cocaine (even natural sugars) which is a subject for another day.  If you're not ready to quit, and least cut out all refined sugar.  Look out for hidden sugars in breads, microwave dinners, pre-packaged foods.  After 50 grams of sugar a day, you've surpassed the allotted daily nutritional recommendations and it will begin to turn into fat if you're not moderate to heavily active.

• Green Tea - 2 to 3 times a day.  This is an anti-inflammatory and highly beneficial drink.  Thankfully, I was forced into quitting my coffee addiction.  Dropping this tasty daily or trice-a-day comfort is not for wimps in the Starbucks splattered world.  The truest hazard of coffee are refined and processed beans (information rather recent to me) which cause even more acidity, free-radical damage, and chemical changes in the body.  Pro-inflammatory.  Nothing wrong with caffeine in moderation and Green Tea is enough to get tiny jumps in the day without the overload.

• Ginger Tea - Another anti-inflammatory gem.   An alkaline drink for an acidic world.  This one AND green tea combined do wonders for my swollen hands and feet.  Although the swelling is not always obvious (obvious being a purplish-red, rubbery, weak and impossible to slip out wedding ring), if your hands hurt immensely when you hit or bump them softly on surfaces, you might have internal inflammation.  The first time I truly came to understand how severe my inflammation was a time I dropped my keys on my sandal-covered feet and I had to sit down, cry, and wait for pain in my leg and head to stop.  It shouldn't hurt that much.

• Celery Juice Every Day - I swear by this alkalinic drink.  Every time I overdo it with the dairy or sugars.  Even with the amount of acidic tea that helps calm inflammation, balancing is still required.  I have recently started to add aloe vera in the blender.  Not only good for inflammation but for digestive aid, vitamins, minerals, enzymes, etc.  Click here for the ton of benefits from this spiky plant.  You can buy it in liquid form if you're afraid of touching the goo.

• NO GLUTEN. PERIOD.  - This one for all with food sensitivities and allergies.  The belly ache and anxiety is immediate!  I have gotten careless with this one, although much better.  It goes hand in hand with the sugar goal, because almost every gluten product has some form of sweetener added.  No more cookies and Starbucks bakery, no matter how stressed I get.   Food is not love - Monica from Friends. For those who know you have an unhealthy diet and wanna get on the ball, reducing your gluten (breads, pasta, baked goods) will help your body streamline digestion.  Might be worth looking into new grains that deserve our attention.  Well, they're not new, but not common: quinoa, amaranth, millet, etc.
  

• Vitamins and Supplements - Organically, we shouldn't need to take a multivitamin or extra supplements.   We should be getting all our nutrients and minerals from local game and agriculture.  But we eat from supermarkets where everything is shipped from all over the world, not indigenous to our area, temperature, and atmosphere.  That little pyramid of food groups, not so balanced.  Therefore we end up lacking here and there in essential nutrients.  If you don't have a diet full of fruits and veggies, a multivitamin shall cover the basics.  The fish oil will cover some other bases.  And depending on your personal needs, there is always Echinacea, milk thistle, calcium, magnesium, etc..  It's good to find out where our deficiencies are and help them.  I 'm going to stick to my vitamins like never before because I tend to forget them when I'm healthier.  If you need overall health and balance, look into Green Vibrance and the Magic Pill.

Before I had the correct diagnosis and my body was being ravaged by migraine medications (a misdiagnosis), the Magic Pill brought me back to almost full balance.  If it can work on an ill person, if you're already close to healthy it may do wonders for you.  To healthier people, the difference may not be too obvious but it doesn't mean it's not working.  Green Vibrance has almost the same ingredients as the Magic Pill.  The difference is that is contains tons of vitamins, superfoods, active probiotics, and helps complete some veggie intake.  Shop around at bodybuilding.com, vitacost.com,  and dpsnutrition.com.  If your husband drinks a lot of protein shakes (or you), dpsnutrition has great deals for vitamins and the magic pill.

Those are just some mini-goals for now. Pay attention to what your body tells you.  It's the best advice I've gotten as I've learned how to deal with my Wolfing around.

Deceptively Awesome, Poisonous Vegetables - EXPOSED!

(This is a long entry but if you or anyone you love suffers arthritis, any of the "itis-es", or chronic pain...it might interest you.  These are very little known facts that are only recently being studied, no thanks to our lovely FDA and USDA.  If you don't want french fries ruined for this group of people, don't read it. I'm serious. I'm exposing the vegetables because we're not on speaking terms.)

Imagine slobbering over your favorite food: a cheese pizza spilling all over its crust, slurping comfort mashed potatoes straight off the plate with no hands, a honky cheeseburger dripping condiments on your chin.  You're so enthralled you don't notice the stains on your white dress and your eyes are rolling to the back of your head. You don't want this moment to end.

Now, imagine I come and slap it out of your hands.  Splat.

You blink at me, unsure of what just transpired. It stings a bit.  You're confused, but it doesn't process.  You start to take another bite, not defiantly but more because you are sure I did not just do that! One eye stays on me are your meal approaches your lips. But this time I snatch it and sit on it. That's when you punch me and your own hand ends up on fire. You say it was worth it. It was and it wasn't.

And that's what happened to me.  I had inklings that some foods were having adverse reactions.  I continued eating normally, but with suspicions.  Eventually, they were verified by elimination.  You would think I was talking about starchy foods here as I do have a wheat allergy.  That's not it;  leaving you to think maybe this is when she found out cookies are off the list. Nope.  Not it.  I can work my way around sugary treats (if I'm cleared for sugar): can you say gluten-free brownie (no flour)?

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="256" caption="via gfdfw.blogspot.com; Thank you Bonefish Grill"][/caption]

I'm talking about vegetables. Wha she sayyy? Well some are faux-vegetable fruits, but otherwise known as healthy victuals, right? Wrong.

Apparently, there is a group of vegetables living secretly out there that are naturally toxic. More harmful to some than others, so some of you may come out of this article safely.

Of course, it's the fun ones: tomatoes, potatoes, spicy peppers, bell peppers. The miraculous functions of the body help you clean out foreign agents that enter via mouth, skin, orifices...(fading out).  But in a chemical-overload world it can gradually affect our cleaning abilities at such high rates and begin to effect harm, defying nature's intendion to battle it out for us so we can enjoy sucking ketchup packets dry (I never did that. Sure didn't.)...

Well, just see for yourself in the following article (Random blue lettering will denote my personal commentary, in the voice of Tina Fey. The narrative itself, Alec Baldwin.):

http://www.getting-started-with-healthy-eating.com/nightshade-vegetables.html

Potatoes

During World War I, when the blockade of Denmark prevented the importation of food, the people of Denmark survived largely on potatoes as well as whole grain bread and porridge, cabbage, and milk. The death rate in Denmark actually fell during this time, as Mikkel Hindhede of the Laboratory for Nutrition Research in Denmark reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 1920.

Hindhede noted that based on previous experiments, an exclusive diet of potatoes with fat will sustain good health for at least a year.

Additionally, both potato broth and raw potato juice have been used for healing purposes.

Tomatoes

Tomatoes are a staple of the healthy Mediterranean diet, along with olive oil, and other whole grain and vegetable foods. Mmmmm (rubbing tummy with closed eyes.)

Tomatoes are the best and most common source of lycopene, the pigment that makes tomatoes red. Lycopene is a carotenoid, a cousin of beta-carotene. It's a unique antioxidant that, especially in food form, fights cancer and heart disease. It even survives heat and thus concentrates in cooked tomatoes.

Chile Peppers

Chile peppers are rich in Vitamin C and carotenoids. Besides being fun for their sharp taste and stinging sensation, they will clear your sinuses and are particularly good for colds.

That stinging sensation is the result of capsaicin, one of the nightshade alkaloids.
Stinging. So.... let me get this straight?

Alkaloids

Nightshade family plants manufacture drug-like chemicals within their tissues. These chemicals are of a type known as alkaloids.

Nicotine is the most well known of the nightshade alkaloids. It's produced by the tobacco plant, which is a nightshade plant.

A number of drugs and pesticides are derived from nightshade alkaloids. Drugs include belladonna, atropine, and scopolamine; some pesticides are based on nicotine.

A few of the nightshade alkaloids:

* Nicotine (tobacco)
* Solanine (potatoes and eggplant)
* Tomatine (tomatoes)
* Capsaicin (chile peppers)

Commence riotous pandemonium!  Protest the smoking of vegetables!

Green potatoes are toxic due to the alkaloid solanine. When potatoes are exposed to light, the potatoes' increased production of solanine causes the green tint. Do not eat green potatoes! They are toxic enough to cause poisoning.

Potato sprouts also contain enough solanine to be toxic. Cut out the sprout and its eye before use.

Due to these alkaloids, the leaves and stalks of these plants are poisonous. The ripe fruits and tubers also contain the alkaloids, but in much smaller amounts.

Capsaicin is what is so hot about hot peppers; it has both medicinal use and potential subclinical toxicity. Ay ay ay! I'm the only non-spicy latina. Gotta go back to bland.

Chronic Pain

In some people, the nightshade vegetables appear to cause arthritic pain, arthritic deformity, nerve pain, and other central nervous system problems. Preach!

When Norman Childers of Rutgers University reviewed the veterinary literature about livestock that grazed on nightshade plants, he connected the reported illness, crippling, and death to arthritis and other manifestations of chronic pain in humans.

The alkaloids found in common nightshade vegetables are powerful, with effects on various tissues, including the membranes of the cells of the body. They bioaccumulate: they remain unprocessed by the body and simply accumulate in tissues.
Lord have mercy!

In addition, nightshade alkaloids are cholinesterase inhibitors, just as organophosphate pesticides are. They affect the central nervous system and cause, among other adverse effects, pain. No pain, no gain?

Avoidance For Pain Relief

For sufferers of chronic musculoskeletal pain of any cause, Dr. Sherry Rogers, MD recommends eliminating the nightshade family for a three-month trial. Serious time. According to Dr. Rogers and Dr. Childers, most people with chronic pain get major or complete relief from nightshade avoidance.

This requires:

* Avoidance of nightshade vegetables and nightshade spices
* Avoidance of tobacco (or co-workers who blow smoke in your face, literally ruining the waking next hour)
* Avoidance of nightshade ingredients in processed food

Basically, I need to check into rehab.

Chile pepper or paprika is in cola drinks (hence "Dr. Pepper" as well as the more famous brands), snacks, breadings, meat flavoring, and more. Frequently these spices are listed on the label only as "Spices," "Flavors," or "Natural Flavorings." I've learned this the hard way. Over and over. So, maybe I'm not quite learning it so much as just knowing it.

Potato starch, often in processed foods, may be listed only as "starch" or "protein" on labels. A true heartbreaker for I thought I had green light on some of the most finger-slurpin treats. Better than average flour mixes. My husband would eat my GF brownies! Which was fine because I was on the floor after I finished mine. (If you have no food allergies, I recommend this.  It would be healthy and delicious to ease up on wheat products.  American's accidentally eat too much wheat anyway.):

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="391" caption="All containing potato starch! Which explains why in less than 5 minutes of eating, I'm doubled over in agony, everwhere, conflicted whether I should desist the madness, or suck it up and sit in a vat of numbing ice and sleep it off. "][/caption]

Potato starch is a frequent filler in medications and vitamin supplements. Sneaky, sneaky.

More on How To Do A No Nightshades Diet

Unhealthy And Addictive Uses Of Nightshade Vegetables

The nightshade alkaloids appear to be addictive, which is amplified by the vegetables' abuse in unhealthy foods.

I believe the combination of nightshade alkaloids with addictive food processing methods makes the following so addictive:

ABANDON ALL HOPE, YE WHO ENTER HERE:

* French fries made with trans fats, MSG, additives
* Pizza made with trans fats, white flour, artificial flavors, MSG, additives
* Commercial Mexican food made with trans fats, MSG, additives
* Commercial Szechwan food made with MSG, additives
* Commercially breaded foods
* Cola drinks
* Chile pepper in processed food

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="236" caption="Speaking of which, this was taken on my cell phone. They actually SELL raw neurotoxins for about $1. Pop rocks and coke for your brain. "][/caption]

That's right...EXPOSED.

List of Nightshade Vegetables (Solanaceae Family)

Culinary Vegetables

Bell pepper (sweet pepper)

Italian pepper

Chile pepper Before my diagnosis, when I switched over to a natural diet, I quadrupled the amount and types of spices I would experiment with, not noticing all the while that it only makes perfect sense that food that makes you tear and lips crack might also have other adverse effects. Indian food, I will miss you dearly. Mexico, adios.

Examples of varieties:

fresh
Anaheim
Fresno
Jalapeño
Pimiento / pimento
Poblano
Serrano

dried
Ancho
Cascabel
Chipotle
Guajillo
Habañero
Pasada
Pasilla

Eggplant
Potato
Tomato
Tomatillo

Spices
Cayenne
Chili powder (some ingredients of)
Curry (some ingredients of) (WAIT I DIDN'T KNOW THIS ONE...HAND ME THE PAPER BAG. STAT!!!!)
Paprika

Sauces
Ketchup I will never love another french fry. Doesn't matter anyway because I can't eat potatoes.
Tabasco Parting is such sweet and spicy sorrow.

Culinary Fruit
Cape gooseberry
Goji berry
Pepino
Tamarillo

Other
Tobacco I could use this case against co-worker habits. Mwahahaha. (Yes, just breathing it makes my head pound and my brain irate.)

End of Article.

Now you may be thinking you're home free; that it doesn't apply to you.  And you may be right; but there are many alternative ways to have an optimum lifestyle and diet is the key.  Too much of any good thing is not a balanced diet, even certain veggies.  I lived with vague symptoms until I turned 27 years old, to be put on an anti-inflammatory diet and suddenly started feeling better.  I always felt healthy during vegetarian and vegan diets, but something was missing.   It built up until it was too late and only a few months ago I was enduring the most severe times of my life.  As a matter of fact, we couldn't understand why every time I ate my organic and simply seasoned salmon I'd still end up stressed and bawling my eyes out 15 minutes later.  Who knew paprika was the culprit?  If you tend to feel sick after you eat almost every time... start getting curious and researching.  If you feel great when you skip dinner, sleep overnight, skip breakfast, and feel sickly again at lunch...be open to suspicion.  PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR BODY.   It's trying to tell you something.

I imagined it was all in my head many times, that I was being paranoid; people thought I was ridiculous, a hypochondriac. Even doctors scoffed at my suggestions and referred me to psychiatrists. Not anymore.  If my Rheumatogolist did anything to ease the pain in my life, it was to point me in the right direction. So the best place to start is an ANTI-INFLAMMATORY DIET.  Understanding it makes for a successful experiment.  Your bones might start cracking less if you decide to do humor this diet, or all of a sudden you might lose  8 lbs of straight up inflammation like it happened to me.  If you could never get rid of belly fat or lose weight no matter how many salads full of colorful veggies you forced down your throat, check this book out.  The inflammation is can very invisible.  People will multiple sclerosis do as similar diet.  Some go hardcore and do the Paleolithic Diet (great for gluten-free and Multiple Sclerosis inductees) and live extremely wholesome lives after this; great moods and sharp minds.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="201" caption="The Inflammation Syndrome"][/caption]

P.S. Given the information, I really don't know if this means you can have just a measure of these veggies if they're not processed, but it would seem so if you're generally healthy.  However, with my personal toxicity level, I'm leaving them out until Dr. Dana checks my food sensitivity readings after the detox. There is still hope, although not guaranteed, that I may be able to reintroduce certain foods in my life once my blood gets a good scrubbin.  I will not count on it, but it's nice to have it in the bottom of the hope bag.  I may choose not to go back to a more leniant diet even if my body gets clean, only because with my post-damage genes it might be safer. And I'll stay thin without so much struggle.

It's not easy to cut some things out of your life, even if they're not healthy for you. But sometimes after enough lashings you learn your lessons. And I'm staying away from the pasta. If not, I have a friend ready to roundhouse any cherry tomatoes I try to pop right out of my crackling knuckles.

Coming soon:

Stay tuned in the next few days and behold the story of what such a crass and sudden restriction of delicious vegetables does to a woman.  Hear the heartbreaking ups and downs of a love affair with tomatoes. See the horror of relapse, the concerned relatives, and wait until you hear about the secret escapades with the forbidden fruit, it will be ugly...  Outright, gory... And sssaucy. Will she overcome this healthy addiction, gone compl-lete-ly wrong? Next on 20/20.

All the young ones are out! It's Friday night!

All the old ones are putting on stretchy pants and cuddling in their couch with a date or cat. Who's with me?!

I'll be at home tonight with two meowing carpets interrupting my movie.  Husband is out of town.  Although he will be missed greatly and certainly not taken for granted, this is the perfect time to catch up with everything I should've done while he was gone the first half of the week, or just to have some quiet time without having to feed his voracious appetite every two hours.  I choose for a bit of both.  I just about killed myself with a gluten-free brownie, via Bonefish Grill.  The taste: so worth it.  The five-finger-death-punch: not worth it.  Won't be doing that again (ask me again after another stressful work week).  I'm currently remedying the situation with celery juice, a successful new tradition in my home.  This tonic has saved a little piece of my comedic life.

Tonight I will do my usual Classical Stretch since I've been surprisingly more flexible and agile lately.  I daren't expound on it for fear that this feel-good is a fluke or just the wonders of not having to sustain pain at work for 8 hours tomorrow.  But I will also push a small boundary.  Small and careful, for I'm known to break my own records and then break my fragile bones.

I'm will face off with the elliptical.  A frenemy that I haven't confronted for months.  Fifteen minutes. Level One. Versus my ex-45 minutes, level 8, interval climb.  The second I feel my ankles or knees complain, I'm down. Off. Try again at another time.  I'll keep you updated on how that turns out.  It may be that I'm not ready to exert anything and I'm just mentally in a good, but deceptive, place.

Okay! New items I've tried:

Giovanni 50/50 Clarifying Shampoo and Conditioner

Amazing-a! Although not as organic as Kiss My Face Everyday Shampoo.  Still safe.  This one suds up yummily.  Nice and slimy.  A little product goes a long way.  I can tell the healing of damaged hair is not immediate, but its long lasting.  My hair is already thicker.  Husband couldn't believe I hadn't blow dried my hair on the first try.  Free of sulfates and all that other crap that destroys hair.  No parabens, existing in most average shampoos that are known as carcinogenic and estrogenic.  So if you want to keep your colored hair looking hued much longer, these are great. Click for the inexpensive link of $4.43 each.  I, the idiot, paid $8.99 for each at Whole Foods. You raped me, WF!

Alba Moisturizing Cream Shave - Unscented

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="76" caption="Alba Moisturizing Shave Cream"][/caption]

I have always used sensitive skin foaming shaving gels and still would get nicks and dry ucky skin.  Fail!  This shave cream was divine.  Unscented was a plus for my recently angry skin.  I've been getting hives from who knows what allergy.  This left me all silky and touchable and desirable....ask the cats.  5 stars. Again, buy at Vitacost, my dears. WF didn't accost me this time, but Nutrition S'mart mishandled me in Tampa.  I spent $5.... $3.75 online.  What I spend on gas, I would have saved on time and energy for shipping.

Kiss My Face Summer Liquid Rock

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="60" caption="Kiss My Face Summer Liquid Rock Deodorant"][/caption]

Three thumbs down. I don't know what came over me, but I didn't read the label cautiously as I threw it in the cart.  Still cheaper at Vitacost, but somehow I missed the part about it being a roll-on.  I saw "liquid rock" and assumed it was a stick.  I didn't even know they still made those wet, sloppy rolly-bally majiggers because in my mind, why would consumers keep demanding such a product?  Ugh.  Unless you're into that slap noise a damp armpit makes, don't try it. At least it smells great, cause now I have to give it use.  No giving away THAT personal a toiletry.  Next time, I will get the STICK, which was what I was suggested by a friend.  No parabens or aluminum, so you don't get cancer in one of the embarrassing body parts.  Also, this is a major lymph node site.  I know because during the initial stages of detox, this is the first location where I experienced the pain of toxins clearing out.  Very strange place to have issues.

Namaste Foods Vanilla Cake Mix - Allergen Free

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="128" caption="Namaste Vanilla Cake Mix"][/caption]

Worth the risk for cake, but a disappointing outcome.  Completely allergen free was the selling point! No histamine ingredients.  Not even potatoes which is my personal foe.  (I'll explain the potato thing in the near future). Costs about the same at Vitacost compared to both other two health food stores around here.  It might have turned out better if I had made a different cake. I'm not sure.  But it had a bit of a butt taste.  A soapy butt.  The baking soda was too prevalent and I had to drown out the funk with pineapple and ice cream.  I even had a whole spunky entry ready for you guys called Down in the Dump Cake featuring a jolly mix of happy cake recipe and depression straight-talk; with fabulous step-by-step pictures and all.  But it doesn't matter because I burnt the pecans and didn't put the memory card in the camera.  Great blogger am I!

Namaste has a great line of flours and mixes for all kinds of baked goods. Anyway, I have some left over and I might try one last experiment with it.  It may not be as great as butter and all-purpose wheat flour.  But butt cake is better than no cake.  I can't believe it's come to that.

Country Life Omega 3.6.9 Ultra Concentrated

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="129" caption="Country Life Omega 3.6.9. Ultra Concentrated"][/caption]

I could literally kick myself.  If I'm too tired, you can take a whack at it.  On sale, I paid $26 for these $30 supplements.  On Vitacost: $17.30.  Never again.  As much as I love shampoo and soft legs, this is the most prized find as of yet.  With Wolf disease (lupus) and similar conditions, it is common for hair to thin out, fall out, or have trouble receiving nutrients.  I'm not sure why or how.  As a matter of fact, it was the symptom that lead me to re-test myself for the lab results that would determine my problems.  I haven't found a legitimately source that can explain this, not even after a $1,000+ scalp biopsy from a Dermatlogist that was more of a bad comedy than anything else.  Hair means 75% percent of a women's appearance and self-confidence.  I go through many lengths (unintended pun...yay) to keep it healthy and affixed to my stubborn cranium.  A kind knowledgeable floor agent at WF (more so than my doctors) suggested that I exaggeratedly increase my flax oil and seed intake, and all things fishy.

Since its probable I would break bank and die of mercury poison from eating salmon every day,  I opted for a good Omega 3.6.9.  The previous one I had was a cheapo from Target.  It was eh.  Better than nothing.  But this one, in one week its slowed down the onset of muscle pain, inflammation is manageble, and hair looks more nourished (consider the use of new hair products too).  I was even comfortable enough to bust out my 4"ers for a quickie date before Husband had to ship off again.  Hindsight is 20/20, so flats would've been smarter; but to even think about sexy over convenience doesn't cross my mind as much as it does a healthy person.

A good combination of the omegas help: cardiovascular, skin, brain, and immune health.  It fights inflammation and inflammation is that precursor to ANY and ALL diseases (recent findings that I may talk about in the future).  Basically, everything that goes wrong when your body is out of balance.  If you've been inexplicably off lately and can no longer blame it on the full moon, try your luck with this.  It even helps you lose weight (if you're doing your part) since everything in your blood and other traveling byways are functioning at its maximum.  It's greasing the wheels.  This could be why I feel so confident that I'm ready to do some pedaling on the cardio monster. If I recommended any one product on here, it would be the Omega supplements. At Vitacost.

BVLGARI - Au the blanc

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="145" caption="BVLGARI - au the blanc"][/caption]

No. It's not organic and it's not economical.  But it was an anniversary gift Husband searched far and wide before being able to find it in his scarce spare time.  I don't wear many scents if ever.  But this line of fragrant products was in the all-inclusive resort we stayed at in San Jose, Los Cabos, for our honeymoon.  I've been lugging around my one left-over miniature body lotion and rationing it out for special occasions.  This year, he knew how to win me over.  Though it came late, it came with perfect timing after a rough month of aches, pain and mostly frustration.  I want to melt in the Pacific Ocean every time I smell it.  It takes me back with a longing passion to those perfect days, luxurious service, and natural foods (yes, I found an organic resort!).  The nostalgia that quickly became attached to the scent is forever sealed.  And no headaches! Bellisimo!

There you have it.  The latest review of things that will aid your temple to concentrate on resisting the heavy influx of chemicals coming our way and give you a bit more peace of mind.  They are inexpensive, they usually work better for immediate results, and for long-term revitalization.

Next on Stimulating the Economy I shall probably explore a good leave-in conditioner and if enough research is done, a good facial moisturizer.  Oh, and homemade cleaning products too.  If you are curious about other organic products and you have any particular suggestions or inquiries, I just might experiment as well since the goal here is to transform all my household products to natural anyway.  Okay, I'm off to pedal myself back to Cabo. Toodaloo!

P.S. I've already had one reader/friend/fresh newlywed try one of the last products I recommended and her face has already begun to smoothen, cleanse, heal, clear up.  And..she found it on sale!  I wouldn't lie to you, see?

P.P.S Disclaimer: I'm not a professional.  These are not suggestions approved by the FDA, not necessarily expert or doctor recommended, yada, yada, yada.  I'm an experimenter healing myself naturally and excited to share the improvements with those in the journey to find wellness as well.  Try at your own risk or share the products you've found with the coming readers.  Grazie.

Pacing myself, Schmacing myself

Living with chronic fatigue and inflammation, the trick is to learn how to pace yourself. Pacing myself is something I've never known and might never learn.

Tonight, there is no in-depth and motivated housewifing or organic products to share.  I left work a few minutes earlier so that I may go home and rest since I felt some stress shoving up against the threshold.  The plan was nap, then exercise, then housewife.

But once I was home free, it was so breezy and sunny out....

The plan turned into: go shopping for things that weren't on the list, reorganize the pantry, refry yesterday's batch of black beans, make dinner, wash dishes, pass out hopelessly at 6pm with swelling from head to toe, swollen throat and mild flu-like symptoms.

Dang it.

My strength may or may not pick up again and the inflammation may or may not decrease.  At this point, I have to coddle my bratty immune system if there exists any chance of finishing my plans or I'll end up watching all of Wednesday's NBC line up.  If I do feel better, I'll be making more celery juice for wellness and taking advantage of some exotic plants I found during my earlier fake-energy boost exploration.  I discovered a Latin supermarket and bought aloe vera and nopal, the spiky gooey plants that have been Aztec medicinal secrets for centuries.  Getting in touch with my Indian roots. I don't know how to use them and their exact health benefits, but if I figure it out, I'll let you know.

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So here is a little treat I prepared a few days ago. Check it out: I created a new page, a link tab of favorite blogs.  The list will be ever increasing, but just a few for now. Gotta pace myself.

http://housewifingaround.wordpress.com/favourite-links/

Shout-out to friends: To those of you who know I have meeting tonight, Husband is out of town so we're going together tomorrow to another one. Will miss you.

The Murder of Two Silver Hairs

Dying hair is not considered much in terms of long-term safety, more so about how long can you go before you drench your hair in paint again.  I certainly viewed it this way the few times I've dyed my hair and required follow-up maintenance.  But times have changed and the collective group of women willing to be educated are aware of the chemicals dangers in existence and on the rise.  Last night, I had the responsibility of considering whether I will dye with my mane with Naturint Permanent Hair Color, claiming to be safer than regular dyes (already purchased), or skip the vanity and leave as is, or experiment with Henna dye.

The following article about the risks , although very neutral, had me in a stupefied state.

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0820/is_n253/ai_21034492/




I don't dye my hair frequently and I don't want to anymore. As a matter of fact, I've sprouted two "gray" hairs more akin to a silvery snow that I've grown fond of.  I don't care to see them go.  But from my last ventures into hair color, I have slight discoloration. It's only visible in the sun from my natural dark brown/black hair, but its there.  I was even going to name my two strands of wisdom but if I'm going to darken them out, there is no point in becoming attached.

Growing up, I had an uber-conservative mom when it came to beauty.  She never died her hair, barely wore make-up, and other practical fixins considered to be normal in society for a lady.  She grew up a poor and humble country girl where these things were not needed for survival.  She once told me if I ever dyed my hair, I would not be her daughter.  Being raised in Miami where the masses all have the same sun-bleached brain, there was no way I could not join the sheep herd and dye my woolen hair.  But the peer pressure and curiosity got the best of me.  Against momma's will,  my best friend and a Loreal bottle  colored my hair into the color of a rusty trumpet.

Mom remained in smoldering silence when she saw the hot mess.  Of course, money had to spent on salvaging my straw mop head.  The chemicals must have reached portions of my brain because I can't remember who footed the rescue bill, but I do know she let me remain her baby girl.  As usual, my dear 'ol momma was right.  We just have an innate preference for the natural in my family, whether its the way we were brought up or our indifference to popular opinion.  I want my God-given hair to stay as it is.  At this point in adolescence, I went back to black.

Naturally, an unwritten ethos from a whimsical spaz is easy to forsake in times if fashion kicks and identity switches.  I dyed it for my wedding with some lighter and with some golden tones to catch and glimmer in the sun's reflection.  A year later, I'm back to my natural kick and want it dark again.  And I'm apprehensive.  Should I leave it and wait a few years until it grows back all dark, or hasten the restoration of balance?

We can't protect ourselves from all every and all chemicals. "Every year 1700 new chemicals are approved -- that's an average of five a day." (The Autoimmune Epidemic).  We can buy a water filter for our kitchen faucet and still have residual chemicals, or drink bottled water that's been leaching plastic particles in the overheated truck its being shipped in.  I'm doing a full on detox, but when the pain is insufferable I must take some man-tinkered pill. We can use everything organic, but we step outside and we're breathing smog.  But I can make a decision for my next move whether to invite a risk that's I'm suddenly painfully aware of.  Where is the balance?

I was feeling the stress of all the tiny decisions that come with having a hypersensitive, body begging nature to overpower my faulty immune,  whilst living in a highly toxic city and society.  Considering I was going to dye my hair anyway with regular dye, using a healthier one will not kill me today.  Just like we can't prevent your kids from every stupid decision that comes across their head, like trying to give yourself blond highlights without a pro in the room, I cannot prevent myself from every dirty little compound that might affect me.  I've learned how to read one more label and to research even deeper before purchasing products that we're never much of a concern before.

My hair is a solid chestnut brown and is looking pretty healthy.  The product itself was great and I would recommend it to anyone who colors their locks regularly and would like a healthier option.  But the paranoia I went through about scabbing, follicles rejecting my hair, and a Lupus flare-up: not worth it.  Not to mention my friend's dad was talking to me about cancer half the time.  Next time  I go with the henna. Or grow it out. I already miss the two little testaments of time that were trying to make a point.