PAIN

PAIN........my latest background thought.......I've heard of people having to go to pain clinics saying they are always in pain, I always thought it was in their mind until I met breast surgery with expanders installed to stretch the skin.
Now don't get me wrong, I understand what is happening ,I look at my poor little chest wanting to tear apart at the middle seam, BUT I am not going to take oxycodon, oxycotin, morphine etc etc to relieve the pain NO none of those are for me....if panadeine cant help - tough - I have to bear it, so bear it I will as I understand this pain is going to stop when I take out expanders and put in implants so I'm not risking getting addicted to painkillers , but friends I now know why people DO get addicted to prescription pills. I go to bed which means no sleeping if I try to turn - waking in the morning and trying to raise myself with all sorts of stabbing pains across my chest, trust me it's not easy....I keep asking myself if a concave chest wouldn't have been easier , my friends tell me easier on the pain but not easier on the eyes and "ms. vain" me might not be trying to push past this bout of cancer with a concave chest.
I who have had 23 surgeries can easily tell you that # 24 has been the absolute worst.I am depressed ,I am in pain, I feel deformed no matter how I'm reassured, I feel old, I feel as if life is passing me by!
I will certainly let you all know after my surgery to put in implants, how I feel as one thing I know for sure is that it must get better as it cannot get any worse!

THE CONTENT OF REFRIGERATORS

A friend said to me this morning "do you know we are the only specie that drink another species' milk".......try telling people that cows milk not good for them they look on you like you are crazy, but there must be a reason why so many black people are lactose intolerant ...just not good for us people! Check out this interesting article from one of my favourite raw food teachers NOMI SHANNON.

Observations Made while on a Road Trip: What I learned about the content of Refrigerators
While on a road trip awhile back, I learned a lot about what the average person has in their refrigerator. It is sad to see so many people (non raw food people) eating in such a limited way in both quantity and variety in order to keep their weight in check when they could be eating a lot and enjoying it so much if they were 50% or more raw.
The Worst Offenders
Low Fat anything such as yogurt, pudding, cheese, milk, margarine, cookies, etc Little containers of fruit in liquid: is it really that much easier to peel the top off than to simply peel and eat a tangerine or an orange. This stuff has a very long shelf life which means: dead food.
Canned Goods (any): soups, pudding, beans, fruits, vegetables, spaghetti-o's. These items belong in a bomb shelter, not your kitchen! Most items that come in a can, a jar, or a box are not good for you.
Food not fit to Eat: Be willing to throw away old produce and be willing to shop more often. Shop more; buy less.
Out-dated food: I do not believe in bottled salad dressing, it is so easy to make your own and you can be pretty sure most store bought dressings use inferior oils which have a good chance of being rancid anyhow. But if you do use this type of thing, do not use past the date on the jar, this goes for your dried herbs and spices as well. One kitchen I visit from time to time has a noxious chemical mix of many outdated items both in the refrigerator and the pantry. It's not good to use packaged foods but it's even worse to use old, outdated, rancid packaged foods.
What I learned about how the average person uses their refrigerator.
Most people I visit have fairly new refrigerators. But I didn't see anyone utilizing their refrigerator well. For example highly perishable food like milk (shouldn't be there if you are raw anyhow) should not be kept in the door. Keep items in the door that will be OK with frequent exposure to room temperature. Always close the door right away all the time. Utilize the drawers! Many times I saw produce piled high on the refrigerator shelves rather than in the drawers that were designed to keep fruits and vegetables fresh. (One friend who juices daily has a mess of a refrigerator with no room to put anything because all her juicing produce is piled high on the bottom shelf, but the drawers are totally empty!) The smallest drawer is colder and meant for meat and cheese, I keep the most perishable items in there like basil, baby greens and seed cheese, and the larger drawers hold the rest of the produce. This leaves the shelves free for many other items, like that huge nut loaf you are making for dinner or the giant platter of zucchini pasta with pesto and marinara you are bringing to the church pot luck. Or the watermelon or the jug of water....
Spend a few minutes one day each week getting rid of almost spoiled produce, left- overs, outdated items and organizing the refrigerator. My day for doing this is Sunday night, because Monday is trash pick up day. It can't hurt to wipe off any spills or dirt either.
There are so many kitchens without a blender. Wow. What a way to live! And, where is the lemon/orange/citrus squeezer/juicer? Without exception all homes I have been in that do not own one or both of these items, are homes where the people have a poor diet. A highly unscientific but nonetheless accurate observation. Invest in a decent blender. Not only will it save you a lot of time, you will be able to make things you can't even dream about now.

A raw food kitchen or even a healthy life style kitchen is a very different place from the average kitchen - when I moved recently I bought the smallest stove ever and even now only one burner is used and it's usually to heat water or for the kettle ..........the smells are different too, I wake during this season to the smell of ripened guavas and avocados - purple and green are everywhere ...

NONI - GOOD FOR YOU

Check out this interesting piece on Noni Juice from Sigrid Gaffga-Ribbe. My suggestion is that you should have it fresh as you have to be strong to take the smell of the fermented version and that is coming from someone who tries to drink it everyday no matter what! Sometimes when I walk around and watch the Nonis lying rotting on the ground while the people pass with a soda in their hand I could cry ....

Here are the Top 5 out of 1000 Health Benefits Derived from fresh extracted NONI Juice:

Anti-inflammation – Researchers from the University of Hawaii found Noni fruit juice to have inflammation-reducing constituents and the ability to suppress the COX-2 enzyme responsible for inflammation and pain.
The immune system – Noni juice is a powerful natural food supplement to add to your diet because of its ability to stimulate your immune system into action. By drinking Noni juice daily, your body’s immune system is optimized to respond against the invasion of outside bacteria, germs and viruses as it fights them off and protects you from infection.
The circulatory and cardiovascular systems – Noni fruit juice contains scopoletin, which has been shown to lower high-blood pressure by dilating constricted blood vessels. Noni also stimulates the body to produce nitric oxide and it relaxes and expands blood vessels, alleviating stress on the arteries and the heart providing valuable benefits for improved health.
The digestive tract - Noni aids the digestive enzymes to efficiently break down food more thoroughly to absorb nutrients taken into the body from the foods eaten.
Emotional and mental well-being – Noni is believed to boost serotonin in the brain that has been shown to aid in clearer thinking, better focus and concentration and an elevation in mood and sense of well being.

A little info on Okra

Now that I'm back rigid on raw foods ....I will give you a little info on why people like me eat like this. Okra is one vegetable that to me is so much nicer raw as it's not slimy (the reason why most people don't like it)it's crisp as the slime is to do the marvels inside not outside the body........
The superior fiber found in okra helps to stabilize the blood sugar by curbing the rate at which sugar is absorbed from the intestinal tract. Okra's mucilage binds cholesterol and bile acid carrying toxins dumped into it by the filtering liver. Okra helps lubricate the large intestines due to its bulk laxative qualities. The okra fiber absorbs water and ensures bulk in stools. This helps prevent and improve constipation. Unlike harsh wheat bran, which can irritate or injure the intestinal tract, okra's mucilage soothes, and okra facilitates elimination more comfortably by its slippery characteristic. Okra binds excess cholesterol and toxins (in bile acids). These, if not evacuated, will cause numerous health problems. Okra also assures easy passage out of waste from the body. Okra is completely non-toxic, non-habit forming, has no adverse side effects, is full of nutrients, and is economically within reach of most individuals unlike over-the-counter drugs.
Okra fiber is excellent for feeding the good bacteria (probiotics). This contributes to the health of the intestinal tract.
Okra is a supreme vegetable for those feeling weak, exhausted, and suffering from depression.
Okra is used for healing ulcers and to keep joints limber. It helps to neutralize acids, being very alkaline, and provides a temporary protective coating for the digestive tract.
Okra treats lung inflammation, sore throat, and irritable bowel syndrome.
Okra has been used successfully in experimental blood plasma replacements.
Okra is good for summer heat treatment.
Okra is good for constipation.
Okra is good in normalizing the blood sugar and cholesterol level.
Okra is good for asthma. Okra's vitamin C is an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, which curtail the development of asthma symptoms.
Okra is good for atherosclerosis.
Okra is believed to protect some forms of cancer expansion, especially colorectal cancer.
Eating okra helps to support the structure of capillaries.
Some information shows that eating okra lowers the risk of cataracts.
Okra is good for preventing diabetes.
Okra protects you from pimples and maintains smooth and beautiful skin. We understand the reason why Cleopatra and Yang Guifei loved to eat okra.