Are You Surviving or Thriving in Today's Toxic World?

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. ~ James 1:5 ~

Environmental toxins can be found in what you eat, drink, breathe, feel and think. You may or may not be aware of them, but chances are if you follow my blog you are aware, more than most, that toxins cause many chronic health conditions, like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity and cancer.

My experiences with environmental toxins has been life-changing and lead me on a path of research to gain understanding.  It is a passion of mine to share what I learn with those I love so of course  I could not wait to tell you about the upcoming Detox Summit!


Join me online for free from August 4-11, 2014.

This Detox Summit will provide you with the information you need to:

•     Learn about environmental toxins in food, air and water
•     Understand internally-generated toxins, like thoughts, emotions and behaviors
•     Recognize toxins of all types and eliminate them
•     Focus on breakthrough solutions to gain more energy and vitality

Navigate your way through today’s toxic terrain when you register for the free, online Detox Summit today:

"Detox" is a multi-faceted term that means many things to people, from drug and alcohol detoxification to nutritional detoxification, or cleanses using food, smoothies and juices. Deanna Minich, PhD, has selected 30 experts in various areas of medicine, nutrition and personal growth to offer a well-rounded, credible approach to the issues of environmental toxins and holistic health.

Here are a few of the presenters:
Jeffrey Bland, PhD, Father of Functional Medicine
      The Science of Nutritional Detoxification
Mark Hyman, MD, Functional Medicine Expert
      Toxins and Chronic Disease: Why Detox is a Necessity for Good Health
Jeffrey Smith, Leading Spokesperson on GMOs
      Genetically Modified Foods as Toxins in Everyday Eating
David Wolfe, Superfoods Guru
      Foods to Enhance Vitality and Detox
Rainbeau Mars, Fitness Model and Actress
      A Full Spectrum, Superstar Approach to Everyday DetoxWith 30 presenters sharing their wealth of knowledge, this invaluable (and FREE) resource is intended for people everywhere!
Better yet, if you register today you’ll have access to the following FREE eBooksas soon as you register!
  
Food & Spirit Nourish Your Whole Self™ Report, by Deanna Minich, PhD
Detox Your Medicine Cabinet: 26 Herbs and Supplements that Treat Common Symptoms, 

     by Aviva Romm, MD
Top 7 Therapeutic Foods, by Kelly Brogan, MD
Ten Tips for Helping Your Loved One with Autism, by Martha Herbert, MD, PhD
Benefits of Vitamin D, by Soram Khalsa, MD

Come listen to The Detox Summit ONLINE for FREE from August 4-11, and learn to survive in our toxic world!
  To sign up click here - SIGN UP NOW!

I’ll see you at the Summit!

Debbie

Toxic Slippers and the "Less Toxic Guide"

Once I heard that if you pay attention to the things that stir you up or upset you then you will find your passion.  I must say that I am passionate about spreading the word about environmental toxins.  Maybe you do not notice them as I do, but realize that the toxins in our environment are seriously dangerous to our lives.  There are 48 million people who have connected the dots with toxins and their health complaints and consider themselves to have Multiple Chemical Sensitivities or MCS.

I stand on my "soap box" today and tell you there is a high price to pay when we take the easy road when chemicals are involved.  Toxic chemicals bio-accumulate in our bodies and produce disease.  Our bodies were designed to detoxify, but with the pervasive abundance of unsafe chemicals we are exposed on a daily basis, it is evident we all must be vigilant to reduce our toxic burden in order to have the most abundant health.

It takes time and energy to seek out natural sources that are safe if you have chemical sensitivities or are trying to avoid them.

I understand the need, at times, for something to be done fast, but all too often it is not the case, but just taking the "easy" way out.  How many times have we taken the "easy" way and exposed ourselves to toxins?

Just last week we had the exterior of our house power washed and the chemicals overloaded me, so I have been working to detoxify my body with specialized nutrients, sweating in the far infrared sauna, reducing my total body load in my safe "haven" with my Austin air purifier, plus rehabilitating my nervous system with Quantum Neurology, the most awesome technique I have ever experienced.

On Sunday, however, a few minutes in my safe " haven" did not turn out as I expected.   It was baffling to me, so I left the room and thought straightening up the house would make it go away. Usually, moving my body helps me to feel better, but not this time.  I took my best detox nutrients and returned to my "haven" only to continue with the worst foggy brain.  As I sat on the bed struggling to focus and read I spied shoes....bedroom slippers to be exact, that I had gifted my husband last year at Christmas.

Those shoes had been very difficult for me to tolerate last year and they have spent 11 months in "exile "in our garage airing out. Only they never did! My sweet, unsuspecting husband had no idea when he left them near his closet that I would be made ill by them.  I immediately removed the shoes and my brain fog began to clear, although it took a while for me to recover.


I ask you...What toxic chemicals belong on house slippers?  Isn't my brain and cognitive function more important to protect than slippers?

Yes!
 
While it is not possible to escape all toxins in our world we can make the effort to seek out safer  products, but I am most excited to share the do-it-yourself recipes listed in the Less Toxic Guide that I am sharing with you today.


I step off my "soap-box" now and leave you with this comprehensive  Less Toxic Guide to help you to live less toxic in our toxic world. 

A Favorite Place....Nags Head, NC

 

My family and I had a little getaway to our favorite place... Nags Head, North Carolina.  Since I have readers from around the world, I thought you might enjoy a few snapshots from our trip. The beach in May is quiet and a peaceful place.  I love quiet and peaceful. 

Everyone, including the dog had a great time.

This trip is always a "test" for my detox pathways. A few years ago, I became ill very quickly from the toxins in the carpet in my families cottage. This time I was improved and I was able to stay a few days with my Austin air purifier following me from room to room.  That is better than last trip when we had to leave the next day after a miserable night.  I even tried to sleep in the car. This year I felt extremely tired much of the trip.  Fatigue just might be one of my early warning signs, but when my body reached its limit this time I became nauseous.  I don't know how I did it, but I had forgotten some of my key supplements that support detoxification. It was time to pack up and head back home.

I can truly say that my chemical sensitivities have taught me to enjoy the moment, because I don't know how long my tolerance will last.  I cherish these times with my family and posting these pictures here will encourage me to keep on my race. 

Environmental toxins are real, even  though you may not notice them.

Just in case you missed it, Diane Eblin of The Whole Gang recently blogged her story about remodeling and her chemical sensitivities.  She shares two juicing recipes that look fabulous for detox. 

Coconut Shortbread - (Free of: gluten, grains, casein, eggs, corn, sugar)

The doorbell rang and there she stood, a cute young girl from the neighborhood holding a bag in her hand.  At that point I knew she had some pretty important goods in her bag. You see, she was delivering Girl Scout cookies to my husband. I accepted the bag of cookies, but dared not peek inside the bag or lay my sugar-free eyes on them.  The memories of shortbread cookies and Thin Mints I ate pre-gluten-free are somehow etched in my mind.  When I was a Girl Scout I sold cookies, but truthfully, I probably bought more for myself to eat.  After all, a year was a long time to wait for those cookies....

I suppose my tactics of looking the other way has come in handy over the years in turning my health in the right direction.  I know myself and that means I know my weaknesses all very well.  Cookies and sugar were my weakness.  Notice I said "were," okay?  But like any reformed sugar addict I know I must be careful to avoid thoughts of cookies with sugar. So as I walk past the bakery case in the grocery store, or accept goodies at my front door,  I direct my eyes elsewhere.  Why tempt myself? 

 

Sugar is fuel to the fire.

A few months ago the test came back.  The test that meant I had high levels of yeast overgrowth still going on in my body...yes, after all these years of treatment and adhering to my sugar-free diet.  What a bummer for sure.  But then it was a good thing, at least, to have a medical doctor who believed my story and could test yeast and therefore guide me in a more rigorous treatment plan.

I started this stronger anti-yeast plan and complications temporarily put a stop to my treatment.  The toxins released from the yeast die-off were overwhelming my body.  I've been through this numerous times, but this time was different.   After consulting with my doctor, now I have a revised plan that will address the nutrient detoxification needs, as well as killing off the bad level of yeast overgrowth, restoring the good bacteria, and gut repair.

I'm a bit nervous, but I am gaining my confidence by increasing the detox nutrients and noting as I write this post that my brain is clearer already. 

Since diet is extremely important to good health and especially crucial when treating yeast overgrowth, I knew if I wanted anything that resembled a Girl Scout cookie, I would have to create my own cookie to be stevia-sweetened with no starches or grains. Clearly, my favorite Girl Scout cookie was the shortbread.  Plain shortbread.  I know, a bit boring, but that is what I liked.  I'm happy now that a simple shortbread was my favorite cookie, so now it's very easy to create something that satisfies the shortbread desires for this once upon a time Girl Scout...

Thank you to the Girl Scout Shortbread cookie for inspiring me to make this healthier cookie for myself and anyone else wanting to eat grain-free and sugar-free along with me. 

Coconut Shortbread

I use my electric mixer for this recipe.

In the mixing bowl add and mix well:

• 1 tablespoon chia seed meal
• 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons unsweetened organic applesauce

Then add the following ingredients and continue to mix together:

• 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons organic coconut oil or organic palm shortening
• 20 drops stevia 
• 1/8 teaspoon sea salt
• 3/4 cup organic coconut flour

Press out the shortbread dough with hands onto parchment paper into a 9" circle on your baking pan. I use my round pizza pan. 

Bake 350 degrees for 12 minutes.  

The coconut oil version browned slightly on the edges, but the palm shortening version did not.

Allow to cool a little before cutting and handle carefully to avoid breaking.  Refrigerating the shortbread will help it hold together but we like it hot even if it does crumble. 
My boys like to eat this "bread," as they call it, and slather butter all over the top. Sometimes jelly, too.   There are ways to make everyone happy in this household.

A few notes:

1. The 58% fiber content of coconut flour puts it at the top of the fiber chart compared to other flours.  Wheat bran, while known for high fiber, is much lower at 28% fiber.   This increase in fiber goes along with my new plan to combat yeast overgrowth. So one more reason that this "cookie" is a winner for me or anyone wanting to increase their dietary fiber.   Just remember with the high fiber content it is important to drink lots of fluids.  Be sure to have your favorite hot tea or glass of water with your shortbread cookie. 

Thank me in the morning.  :)

2.  Do you have an overgrowth of yeast? If you think you might have a yeast problem contributing to illness, Dr. Crook's questionnaire may you help to find out.

3.  FAQ - The benefits of coconut oil at Tropical Traditions.


More Girl Scout Cookie recipes on the web:
If shortbread isn't your thing, my friend, Jules Shepherd, compiled a list of Gluten-free Girl Scout Cookie recipes on the blogosphere here.

Energizing Spring Smoothies

Here in North Carolina, Spring is bursting out all over. Green grass is growing again. Lovely bluebirds are nesting in their houses.  Flowers and trees are blooming.  Snakes, yes, a few black snakes, have been spotted.  And the boys are eager to play with water guns.  The unusually cold Winter has past and now it's time to wake up.

 

My body has been craving fresh greens and it began begging to detox. Yes, my body talks to me in subtle ways if i just pay attention.

To follow my bodies lead, I created this Energizing Spring Smoothie with organic vegetables and a few organic berries that I enjoy and tolerate.  I love the way my body feels much more alive after I drink this.  My cells say "thank you for my food" and reward me with energy to enjoy the beautiful world that is waking up all around us.

  So here is my favorite creation to welcome Spring.

 

Energizing Spring Smoothie

 serves 2

(I use organic produce)

1 apple, cored

2 carrots, peeled and cut up

2 handfuls of fresh spinach

4 frozen strawberries or frozen cherries

1 small handful of frozen blueberries

juice of 1 lemon

1 Tablespoon hemp Protein Powder (I use Navitas Naturals Brand, because it is not processed with almonds.)
filtered water

Place the ingredients in a high powered blender like a Vita-mix and add water to reach approximately the 1 cup mark on the blender.  Blend together and enjoy.

Optional: add 1 Tablespoon Maca Root Powder (Maca does alter the taste, but it provides energy.) 

Energizing Spring Smoothie

Just to let you know our boys like fruitier smoothies and were not interested in tasting this recipe after they saw it blended.  But for me it's not how it looks, but how I feel that is important. My husband really likes this recipe and therefore I created this to share with him.

If you are like our boys, you may like Navitas Naturals' recipe for Super Chocolate Energy Blast!


As we poured this smoothie into the glass, a drop splashed on the floor and guess who licked it up?  Yes, Beau, our golden retriever.  Here I snapped the picture at the same time as he jumped onto the table! I guess he liked the taste, but since chocolate is dangerous for dogs he wasn't allowed to taste anymore. Even with those pleading brown eyes looking up at me, I had to say no.  

I wish you great health. 

Super Chocolate Energy Blast

Then shall your light break forth as the morning, and your health shall spring forth speedily: and your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.  Isaiah 58:8

I like this video by Dr. Vicki Peterson. She explains how to tame the sugar monster by eating more vegetables and berries.  I can't think of any better reason to enjoy your smoothies.
 

A Wake-Up Story

Most of the time I like to share recipes that we enjoy in our gluten-free journey, but today I want to share a video, A Wake-Up Story, by Healthy Child Healthy World that touches me and reaches deep within my soul.

I am one of those people who got the wake-up call that made me realize the devastating effects of chemicals and the toxic load we all, yes all, carry in our bodies. Environmental illness is real, but we can change this world, one home at a time, by sharing friend to friend ideas to make our homes and world a healthier place.

Preventing Autism

Since beginning my gluten-free, casein-free and sugar-free diet, I have developed a deep connection in my heart for children with autism. The first cookbook I bought was Special Diets for Special Kids I, a gluten-free and casein-free diet cookbook written by Lisa Lewis, the mother of a child with autism. I needed recipes and this book was like a beacon of hope for me. Whenever I felt overwhelmed by my food requirements, I would think of these families and wonder how they managed this diet with young children. Then I would get over my pity party.

I have always been curious about the similar issues that I have in common with these children and not have autism. It is astounding to know that 100% of children with autism have yeast issues like myself.

Today on my blog, I am featuring a video that answers many questions concerning autism. Donna Gates, the founder of the Body Ecology Diet, explains the diet that she has seen heal children of autism.



With my doctor's recent recommendation, I have been adding fermented foods to my diet as Ms. Gates speaks of in her video. Now I am in love with sauerkraut! My husband made this for me and we ate it so fast I didn't even get a picture to show you. We laugh about the feeling of the cabbage squeaking between our teeth. This is a new sensation I have never experienced with food. How great to find food that heals and tastes so good!

I feel this diet change will greatly enhance my immune system and speed healing. I hope you gain new insight from this video of the power of healing foods...there is hope.

Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. Psalms 25:5

Attitude of Gratitude

I began learning to cook gluten-free late in the year of 2002. At the time I was seeking to understand more about the candida diet when I discovered how gluten grains feed candida. I had been eating a low carbohydrate, dairy-free and sugar-free diet, but not gluten-free . At this point I had been so sick that I was willing to do anything to heal myself of this persistent infection and began attempting to cook gluten-free.

As you may imagine, I experienced many challenges. Internet research was new to me, and I didn't know anyone who had ever done this. I kept working in my kitchen turning out many failures. The bitter taste of too much stevia is forever etched in my mind. Then there were the rock hard biscuits that reminded me of those made by Elly May Clampett from the TV show, The Beverly Hillbillies. Can you hear that laughter? Just ask my kids about the goldfish crackers and they will give you a look with big eyes and a screwed up face and tell you how awful they were. We look back on those days now and laugh, because we all learned a valuable life lesson: our greatest struggles can become our greatest victories - we just need to keep trying and not give up.

It's kind of funny to me that recently Linda, The Gluten-Free Homemaker nominated me for the Attitude of Gratitude award. For you see the week before I received the nomination it had been a very difficult week where I struggled with the symptoms of detoxification. During this process I couldn't find much to feel grateful for when my cognitive abilities were diminished and my body presented with weakness at the shedding of many stored toxins. I'm grateful for making my way through the week and the past years of this process knowing I'm avoiding what could have been something worse down the road.

Now I have the honor to hand this award to one of my friends, Cathy, who writes about her life and beautiful family while going through the process of healing her rheumatoid arthritis with natural supplementation, a gluten-free diet and alternative doctors. I admire her attitude of gratefulness even while she might be in pain. Her friendship is a precious gift that I would never have known if I had not been gluten-free. Thanks Cathy for being an inspiration!

Your instructions are:

• put the logo on your blog or post
• nominate at least 10 blogs that show an an attitude of gratitude
• link to your nominees within your post
• comment on their blogs to let them know they've received this award
• share the love and link to this post and the person who nominated you for the award
• tell us how you've come to have an attitude of gratitude

Thank you Linda for nominating me and sharing your story and wonderful gluten-free recipes with us.

Exodus 15:2

The Lord is my strength and my song;
he has given me victory.
This is my God, and I will praise him—
my father’s God, and I will exalt him!

Bless you all,

Debbie

The Simple Detox Cocktail Solution

I have been thinking about the New Year and I decided that my first post of 2009 should be a recipe that is completely healthy and healing. Last night before falling asleep I knew just what I wanted to share with you. This recipe could be the most important thing you do for your health...long term.

The Detox Cocktail recipe comes from my favorite health book, Detoxify or Die, written by Sherry Rogers, MD. It is a very simple solution to rid the body of toxins by targeting both phases of detoxification.

* a heaping teaspoon of Vitamin C Powder
* 300-600 milligrams of Lipoic Acid
* 400-800 milligrams of glutathione (in the form of Recancostat)
Have it with 1-2 big glasses of water

According to Dr. Rogers,

Not only does the detox cocktail help detoxify and get rid of all sorts of environmental insults, but it also helps dump out stored heavy metals like mercury. But this only happens once you have caught up and don't have any other chemicals currently to detoxify.

Scientists have shown clearly that environmental chemicals in the bloodstream oxidize or burn holes in our genetic material called DNA. This genetic damage from environmental chemicals leads to changes that cause cancer and other diseases. But glutathione and ascorbic acid have been shown to protect against this (Lenton, Heuser, Gregus). As well, a dose of 4-6 grams of vitamin C a day can cause tenfold elevation of the natural killer cells in 78% of patients (Heuser). Natural killer cells are our first line of defense needed to fight off infection as well as cancer cells. It's a win-win situation; there's no way you can lose by the daily use of the detox cocktail.

Since I have not confirmed the gluten-free status or personally tested all the supplement brands that Dr. Roger's recommends, I decided not to list them. There are more details in her book regarding the specifics of each product or you may contact me for more information. I use brands that are chosen by my naturopath to compliment my treatment. I like Pure Encapsulations Buffered C Powder, Designs for Health Lipoic Synergy, and Recancostat 100. These work well for me and are a fantastic starting point to better health.

Toxins are inescapable, but now you know that there are solutions. It is easy to see that detoxification is the key to prevention of many diseases.

My best wishes to you for a healthy New Year filled with love and great gluten-free dishes.