LAUGHING /HUGGING /LOVING - GREAT MEDICINE!

They say laughter heals the worried beast(breast).
Why are you worrying?
If you can change something you don`t need to worry and if you can`t change it you worst don`t need to worry...plus most of us are worrying over things that have nothing to do with us.... for example a lot of us worry over our children's problems which we can do nothing about!
We worry about our spouses and their trials that they alone can solve....we need to get over it and get along with our lives!
We need to laugh more as Mac Anderson from 'Simple Truths' tells us to do in Laughter is an instant vacation.
Mary Manin Morrisey just had a 'National hug someone' day ...when my son was a baby, my husband who is a psychiatrist and not a hugger used to tell me I should hug my son at least 4 times a day if not more as children who get lots of hugs grow up to be loving people.... He was preaching to the converted as I used to hug this child and kiss him from birth as I had never seen a more fabulous child (don`t we all think that?) he being cute and fat certainly helped until said husband used to say " you don`t have to overdo it" but I`m here to tell you as a child growing up in a beauty salon with lots of 'aunts' adding to the hugging ,today my son is a hugger and a loving man...his daughter is hugged and kissed non-stop so I have passed that one on!
And by the way love triggers hormonal changes in your body that have a profound impact on your health ...Yes you can truly die from a broken heart!
If you were not healed from laughing and hugging today , it felt good trying didn`t it? I know for sure you enjoyed feeling the LOVE.
These things do work....as Johnny Coleman would say "IT WORKS IF YOU WORK IT"

TURMERIC

I get interesting articles all the while and as I think that our fight begins with us being informed I have to pass them on and leave you to assess the pros and the cons then decide! The following AICR story :"Can Curry Kill Cancer Cells?" provides much "food' for thought - there is no doubt that spices are good for us and if cayenne pepper is the king of herbs then turmeric must be the queen of spices....no harm eating this full-of-flavour spice while they continue to check just how powerful it is and exactly what it does for us.

New headlines tout the anti-cancer potential of curcumin. Is there a savior in your spice rack? You may have seen some recent headlines touting the ability of curcumin to inhibit stomach cancer in the lab. (Curcumin is the active ingredient in the spice turmeric, which lends curry its distinctive yellow color.)
These new findings with stomach cancer cells are only the latest to suggest that this hotly studied spice may possess anti-cancer potential. AICR has funded several grants involving curcumin; in these and other studies, curcumin seems to reduce the formation and growth of breast and colon cancer cells.
The laboratory evidence is impressive. However, we still know relatively little about curcumin’s effect in humans. In some laboratory studies, benefits are only seen from amounts of curcumin that far exceed the quarter-teaspoon of turmeric typically found in a serving of curry dishes.
Using modest amounts of turmeric, as is the tradition in Indian and North African cooking, is safe for most adults. Using large amounts might have some negative effects, from mild stomach upset to disturbing liver function or exacerbating existing gallbladder disease; we clearly need more research on this.
Recently, some studies have suggested that curcumin could have synergistic effects with compounds in onions or cruciferous vegetables. If borne out by further research, it’s possible that relatively small amounts could prove to exert important protective effects.
All Curry Powders are Not Alike
Although curcumin content will vary from one batch of the spice to another, the curcumin content of curry powder is even more variable, because curry powder is not just one spice, but a mixture of turmeric, cumin, fenugreek and other spices.
But whatever its potential anti-cancer power, turmeric provides flavor and color. You might consider adding a little extra turmeric when cooking, even if you start with a commercial curry powder as your base.

So what do I do ? I use straight turmeric! And remember when you are using curry don`t forget the cummin......

Thoughts on Haiti

This natural disaster in Haiti has given me a lot to think about. Could I survive 7 days without food and water? An 84 year old just did!
Am I spiritually tuned to know to stay calm and let go and let God knowing that there is a bigger plan than the one I can see in front of me...sitting with a broken bone could I bear the pain? Would I say yes, free me by cutting off my leg without an anesthetic.....could I watch my 4 year old slipping in and out of consciousness due to a head injury while doctors tell me he needs surgery to survive but there is no neurosurgeon around but I hear help has arrived....
Everyday it goes on and on and I think yes this is the day it will be better but it gets worse.
I honestly believe there are hundreds of people under the rubble that the dogs can`t sniff and the rescue workers can't hear. How does it feel to be tombed alive?
For somebody who eats like me, could I eat chemical rations when I know it's going to make me violently sick and there are no bathrooms. Did fruit shake off the trees -are any fruit trees left? I don`t see any.... would I have the strength to walk to other towns that look greener hoping to find a fruit or a vegetable? Port-Au-Prince is not Haiti folks,its only the Capital!
Have we all gotten the lesson?
The Jewel of the Caribbean - the first Black nation to be granted Independence reduced to rubble because of years of corruption and neglect.....yes all who kotched up 'Baby Doc'and his father before him...when you watch your TV now do you feel? Are you comfortable in your skin or because they are black it doesn't matter? John Maxwell's piece in last Sunday's Observer No, Mister! You Cannot Share My Pain! is a history lesson for anyone who cares to know the truth about how Haiti became one of the poorest countries in the western hemisphere.
We in Jamaica need to reflect on how corruption has taken hold in our society - have you noticed the absence of steel in the 5 story buildings in Haiti? One announcer this morning said although the earthquake that hit Cayman was not as strong they have better building codes anyway. I remember when I was building my house, at each stage a man would come from the parish council to make sure I had enough steel etc. in it before I could continue. That doesn`t happen again. You now pay a man at the parish council and build what you want, how you want, with what you want!
We all need to remember the good old Jamaican saying and "Tek Sleep Mark Death!"

CAYENNE PEPPER

Cayenne pepper is recommended by every holistic practitioner I know and I am a Scotch Bonnet pepper eater who was told no Scotch Bonnet is too acidic, I must eat cayenne pepper instead......so those among us that love pepper here it is, Cayenne Pepper has all the heat you need and is good for you(but I still need a little of the scotch bonnet flavour!). The following is from the Cayenne Pepper Health Benefits website:

If cayenne pepper (Capsicum minimum or Capsicum fastigiatum) is not the king of herbs it is certainly a prince among them. Its health benefits are many and varied and are truly astonishing.
Many people from around the world recount amazing results from using cayenne pepper(or capsicum as it's sometimes called) for simple healing as well in the battling and elimination of challenging health problems.
Cayenne pepper powder comes from red hot chili peppers that are not only good to eat but are great for your health. Where does cayenne come from? The fruit or body of the peppers are dried then ground down, pulped and baked into cakes, which are then sifted to make the spice known as cayenne pepper. In case you may be slightly confused, red hot chili peppers are sometimes referred to as "cayenne peppers" as well.
Consider this: cayenne pepper, through the instrumentality of its secondary metabolite capsacin, is scientifically proven to kill prostate cancer cells, among other fantastic health benefits, and that is just the beginning as to the benefits of this humble, nondescript herb.Cayenne pepper is great for circulation, can rebuild blood cells, lowers cholesterol, emulsifies triglycerides, removes toxins from the bloodstream and improves overall heart health. It's even a great insect repellent.
As mentioned, it can also heal ulcers, which seems contradictory considering its native calidity or heat. It immediately equalizes blood pressure in your system, shrinks hemorrhoids, and heals the gall bladder.
It can be used as a diuretic as well helping in elimination both with urine and with the built-up fecal matter in the intestines. It has wonderful, scientifically-proven antifungal properties as well.
Just the cayenne pepper and heart health linkage is enough to make this a truly remarkable medicinal herb, but its uses and benefits go far beyond that remedy.
Capsicum, or cayenne pepper, truly is a king among the herbal family and is one of the greatest health secrets of all time. This is by no means a comprehensive list. So, why haven't you heard of it? Because of money. I'm convinced Big Pharma knows about the remarkable healing properties of cayenne pepper but they are not in the business of healing people but in making money.In 2008 in the U.S. alone, Big Pharma sold $160 billion dollars of drugs -- $160 billion!!

Can you imagine us not needing Lipitor to reduce cholesterol and remove plaque from our arterial walls? All you would need to do is take cayenne pepper?.....not in this life my dears... cholesterol drugs like Lipitor make billions of dollars for their makers - yes you read right - billions with a B. I have friends who so love cayenne they take it in their water..........that's okay I`ll continue sprinkling it on my food!

TOO MUCH PROTEIN?

In Nomi Shannon's newsletter last week the usual question rears its head again "How will I get enough protein on a raw food diet?" She says its usually the first question people ask. We are obsessed with protein... Here is Nomi's response with lots of information for you!

Most of us have been raised with the notion that a lot of protein is good for us. The meat and dairy industries depend on that attitude. But, ponder this for a moment: What is the most perfect food for a human being when it needs it most,as a newborn infant? You guessed it - it is mother's milk. There is no other time in the life of a person when growth will be so dramatic.The infant will triple or quadruple in size in its first year and needs more protein to grow on than at any other time in its entire life span. And just how much protein is in mothers milk? The answer may surprise you. The amount of protein in mother's milk is 2.5 to 3.5 per cent ( compare that to the amount of protein in cow milk at 30 per cent). A baby cow needs to gain hundreds of pounds of mass in its first year, while it's relatively small brain does not need to grow very much, quite obviously different than the needs of a human baby.
If the amazing growth in the first year of life is beautifully served by the amount of protein in mothers milk, why would any human being ever need more? The answer is, he/she does not need more protein than that. One of the biggest mistakes in a SAD (Standard American Diet) is the consumption of too much protein. One of the saddest and most dramatic effects of a high protein diet is a negative calcium balance leading to osteoporosis. Habitual consumption of high protein forces the calcium in the body to act as a buffer to the high acid state created in the digestion of protein. The current medical advice to consume more and more calcium in the form of milk products, oyster shell calcium and over the counter digestive aids such as Tums cannot reverse the calcium loss in the bones due to excess protein consumption. Excess protein robs our bones of the very substance they need to maintain their strength. Osteoporosis is not a disease due to calcium deficiency; it is due to a lifelong consumption of too much protein.

BET YOU DIDN`T KNOW ALL OF THAT, DID YOU?

FRUCTOSE - THE WORST OF THE WORST!

According to several sources, scientists have proven for the first time that fructose, a cheap form of sugar used in thousands of food products and soft drinks, can damage human metabolism and is fueling the obesity crisis. Dr.Mercola's newsletter summarizes these findings as follows-

"Fructose, a sweetener usually derived from corn, can cause dangerous growths of fat cells around vital organs and is able to trigger the early stages of diabetes and heart disease.Over 10 weeks, 16 volunteers on a controlled diet including high levels of fructose produced new fat cells around their heart, liver and other digestive organs. They also showed signs of food-processing abnormalities linked to diabetes and heart disease. Another group of volunteers on the same diet, but with glucose sugar replacing fructose, did not have these problems."

YOU CAN READ THE ARTICLE IN ITS ENTIRETY AND WATCH THE VIDEO "MINI MEDICAL SCHOOL FOR THE PUBLIC" DONE BY Dr. Robert Lustig. IT WOULD HELP YOU TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WE ARE FACING AND HOW TO PREVENT WHAT WE WILL SURELY REPENT!
TRY AND GET YOURSELF ALL THE INFORMATION YOU CAN THIS YEAR AS IN JAMAICA WE HAVE GONE FROM SODA TO BOX DRINKS....DO WE KNOW WHAT KIND OF SUGAR IS IN THESE SUGAR-AND-WATER-WITH-LITTLE-FLAVOURING-AND-NUFF-PRESERVATIVES DRINKS THAT WE MARCH OUR CHILDREN OFF TO SCHOOL WITH EVERYDAY?
REMEMBER 'ALL SUGAR IS NOT SUGAR'

MICHAEL POLLAN - YEAH!!!!!!

My favourite food person has a great little food interview in this months 'Oprah' try and read it he always makes so much sense 3 things that you know would stick with me is "Don`t buy things that your grandmother or great-grandmother- depending on your age - wouldn't recognize as food she wouldn`t know what Splenda with fiber is" so ..don`t buy it and you know what I`m always harping on he's very generous he says "don`t buy things with more than five ingredients" I say one ingredient........the other thing that hit me was "don`t eat 'foods' with ingredients that a normal person doesn`t have in her pantry, ETHOXYLATED TRIGLYCERIDES? who cooks with that?"
He also says something that I`m always preaching about the fact that it's better to pay the grocer than the doctor.............
I just love him try and read the article "HOW TO BREAK BREAD (AND POOR EATING HABITS)" It's short and to the point!

Grapefruit - wonder fruit!

I think that grapefruits helped my mother live a good, healthy life till her death from loneliness and heartbreak at 83.....(ever since her husband died she just did not want to go on without him).
On reading an article from FOOD.GATHER.COM , I`m even more convinced about its health benefits as my mother had half a grapefruit every day for as long as I can remember! Here is the article entitled "Grapefruit Enhances The Liver's Ability To Remove Cancer-Causing Toxins".

I was interested to find out that grapefruit is not only a excellent source of vitamin C, but this fruit also helps eliminate toxins including carcinogens. Below is an explanation from The World's Healthiest Foods of how grapefruit helps our liver do this important work.
"Grapefruit juice significantly increases the production and activity of liver detoxification enzymes responsible for preparing toxic compounds for elimination from the body.
The liver clears out toxins, including carcinogens, using a two step process called Phase I and Phase II detoxification. In the first part of this process, Phase I, enzymes belonging to the cytochrome P450 family, work on the toxin to make it more attractive to enzymes involved in the second part of the process, Phase II. Unfortunately, the action of Phase I enzymes often renders the toxin not only more attractive to Phase II enzymes, but even more dangerous, and some foods contain compounds that only increase the activity of Phase I without also turning up Phase II.
Grapefruit increases the activity not only of the Phase I enzyme CYP1A1, but also that of NAD(P)H:quinone reductase 1, a Phase II detoxification enzyme that protects cells against oxidative stress and toxic quinones.
The end result: grapefruit works in both Phase I and Phase II to enhance the liver's ability to remove cancer-causing toxins."
*Check with your healthcare practitioner about consuming grapefruit juice if you're taking pharmaceutical drugs.

So although it's sour or tart or whatever you want to think... have it ..It's good for you !

BEST AND WORST 2009

BEST

The best thing for me all year is Barack Obama always looking at his wife with such warmth and love

Obama getting his Health Reform Bill passed

Bolt Bolt BOLT!

The Jamaican athletes ( ESPECIALLY THE WOMEN)

Obama inauguration (history making)

MJ music revival (DIDN'T REMEMBER HOW INFECTIOUS HIS MUSIC IS)

MJ`s children (he did a good job)

No hurricanes in the Caribbean

People getting health conscious

WRIGHT STYLE COMING BACK

WORST

WORSE thing for me this year is Chris Brown mashing up his young life and career( hope he will come back he is too talented to be finished)

MJ's death ( I don`t know when I will recover) HOW UNECESSARY!

Our Jamaican politicians on both sides ( ESPECIALLY SHAW )

Taxing poor people - not the right way to go!

Lou Dobbs and the birthers

Taylor Swift's ascension courtesy Kayne West

The Tiger affair (isn`t that he and is wife`s business?) HOW BORING! You mean because he`s unfaithful I musn't enjoy watching him play???????

People continuing to eat badly and repenting after the event!

AND THE CHANGE I WANT MOST TO SEE FOR 2010
Parents at these lavish birthday parties instead of gifts could we make out cheques to some needy children?