Archives

As the new year approaches quickly, most of us have thought about resolutions – kicking an old, nagging habit, swearing off certain foods, committing ourselves to getting in shape, and so on. While millions of us resolve to stick to our goal, by mid-January, the new year is in motion and we usually find that thing we wanted to give up or take on a mere memory. Maybe next year, right?!

So I was thinking about this miserable cycle that we sometimes find ourselves in – the pressure we put on ourselves to change through self-control and obedience. Only to find we end up exactly where we started, only now, frustrated, fatigued and fed-up. But then I thought, who are we to think we can change by our own power? (And, yes, I’m going to breach the faith boundary in this post...just stick with me!) After all, how can we exert control over a body that we didn’t create? Sure, scientists and doctors have figured out a lot about how we humans work, but as Dr. Lerner, author of “Body by God: The Owner’s Manual for Maximized Living” so succinctly states, “if we took everything we know about how God designed and created the body, multiplied that knowledge by a trillion and then added infinity, we still wouldn’t have even a glimpse of understanding what He has done.” So I implore you to look to the Creator, our body’s Engineer, when attempting to make a change.


First, we must rest in the notion that God didn’t just think up every fiber of our being, contrive our organ systems and their endless functions, grant us with five senses (including our taste buds!), drop us off here and expect us to have it all together. Especially when we’re bombarded with endless temptations. No, as Joshua 1:9 says, “Be strong and of good courage; be not afraid nor dismayed for the Lord is with you wherever you go.” Pretty cool. So go ahead, trust that whatever your undertaking may be, you are provided direct strength from the One whose “hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.” (Job 12:10) Our bodies are a gift from Him so if our goal aims to enhance that gift, He’ll give us the strength to do it.

Lastly, God is a God of second chances and we are a fallen race. So, expect slip-ups and disappointments, don’t give up and press on toward your goal. I was reading Nehemiah 9 today (stick with me...), where the Israelites have just rebuilt Jerusalem and confess their sins to God. The chapter’s nine paragraphs outline God’s treatment of His chosen people from the beginning of creation until that time (about 440 B.C.). It abounds in praises, “You alone are the Lord...You made the heavens...gave life to everything...the multitudes worship You...”, then goes on to describe the blessings He had given to their descendents: “...chose Abram...made a covenant with him...kept your promise...sent miraculous signs and wonders...came down on Mount Sanai and spoke...gave them just regulations...”

But, surprise, surprise, the people faltered and "became arrogant and stiff-necked...did not obey...refused to listen...failed to remember...rebelled...made idols...”

God’s response? “...did not abandon them...continued guidance...gracious and compassionate, slow to anger...gave good Spirit to instruct them...”

And Israel? “But they were disobedient and rebelled...again did evil...”

The cycle goes on and on but each and every time, God “in [His] compassion, delivered them time after time.” And He continues to do so to this day. So, why not treat ourselves the same way our Creator treats us, allowing ourselves the grace to slip-up, not looking back or throwing in the towel, but pushing on until we've accomplished our goal?

We Three Branches, existing for the purpose of improving your health and well-being, challenge you to think of how you can better your gift. (Our bodies are not our own – they’re God’s). It could be cutting back on coffee and sodas or giving up fast foods. Or taking it further and giving up processed foods or even all refined sugar! Or maybe its cleaning up your indoor air by slowly eradicating those things you hold so dear: scented candles, perfumes, toxic cleaning products, dryer sheets!? (More info on this later...) Or making the switch from tap to purified water or conventional to organic foods? Pulling away from the desk and computer for mental reprieve? Going to bed earlier? Saying no to the microwave? The list goes on... just remember that the toxins, chemicals and unhealthy materials that we eat and breathe harmfully effect our minds and bodies. Is there something that causes us pain, anxiety and inactivity, affecting our mood and robbing us of strength and health? If so, you should consider tackling it in 2010!



From vowing to eat one less Oreo before bed to adding a morning jog to your routine, there’s not a goal too small or an aim too large. Little things add up and before you know it, the habit, not the resolution, will be a mere memory.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Love,
Marilee, Kelly and Allison

It seems like everywhere we go, we're bombarded by sweet, fragrant smells, most of which we associate with clean air. Air freshener labels make bold promises, even touting "all-natural" ingredients. But au contraire! Most of these products are releasing hazardous chemicals into our air.

A recent investigation of 14 common air fresheners by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) found hormone-disrupting chemicals known as phthalates in 12 products, including some fresheners marketed as "all-natural" and "unscented." None of the air fresheners listed phthalates on their labels.

Phthalates interfere with hormone and testosterone production and children and unborn babies are particularly vulnerable to these toxins. The State of California notes that five types of phthalates - including one detected in air fresheners - are "known to cause birth defects or reproductive harm." Still, phthalates are used in many common consumer products - to soften plastics in children's toys, as sealants and adhesives in nail polish, and as solvents in perfumes and fragrances.

I felt compelled to write this blog after a personal experience with one of these little air demons. On a road trip to Forth Worth yesterday, I noticed that my head started hurting every time I got in the car, but would subside a bit when we made stops and got out. It persisted all night but got gradually better...until I got BACK in the car for the ride home today. As we were unpacking this afternoon, my fiance found a Little Tree air freshener lodged under my seat. While I am probably more sensitive than most (and other factors could be involved), I can't help but take note of this "red flag" my body was sending me. It didn't like it and was signaling me in the form of a headache. My fiance had noticed a stuffy nose. Again, another signal.



The Pthalates Information Center says, "[Pthalates] do not accumulate in animals or humans; inside the body, they break down quickly and are excreted. Most important, in their long history of beneficial use, there is not one known case of them ever having caused anyone any harm."

Color me stupid, but I don't see how a known chemical that's nearly impossible for our liver and detox organs to recognize and break down can be harmless. Instead, it enters our blood stream and if our detox organs are vulnerable (from previous exposures, eating poorly, bad indoor air quality, etc.), accumulates and manifests in the form of headaches, stuffy noses, rashes, and more. And even if your body isn't sending you one of these signals, this doesn't mean you are unaffected. Our bodies respond differently and at different times. Regardless, it's better to be safe than sorry!

Air fresheners are used indoors, heightening the threat of exposure to users and their families. They are ubiquitous outside the home, in offices, retail stores and public restrooms. Air fresheners are not regulated by the federal government, and companies are not required to list ingredients on their labels. (Believe me, I've searched...)



More and more information is coming out on the harmful effects of air fresheners and perfumes and I strongly believe that they will one day be a fad of the past. There are so many (healthy!) alternatives in the form of beeswax candles, essential oils, etc. that make it easier to avoid these harmful pollutants.

http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1664954,00.html
http://www.phthalates.com/index.asp?page=4

It's time for a lesson on the organs of elimination....Since everything that goes into your body must go out, it's important to understand that the quantity and quality of what you consume will determine the quantity and quality of your elimination.

The organs responsible for direct elimination to the outside of the body are the kidneys, lungs, intestines, and skin. If these organs aren't working properly or are weak then waste starts to build up.

When we over eat (which is easy to do this time of year!) it puts stress on the organs of elimination as they put in the extra work to remove the excess food intake. The body is very adaptive and does everything it can to adjust to what it's being fed, but if the organs of elimination are stressed they will give signals, or warning signs, that something needs to change.

We all too often just cover up these warning signs (skin rashes, headaches) with creams and pills instead of getting to the root of the problem. This may temporarily help relieve the symptom but you're only hurting yourself in the long run if you ignore what your body is trying to tell you...that there's a deeper issue. We'll go into more detail later, but for now, know that symptoms and topical issues are just outward manifestations of what's going on inside your body. And this is usually due to excess and buildup.

It's not always going to be a walk in the park to read the signals and know the root cause for sure, but here's what Marilee has taught us about the signals or warnings that the organs of elimination give when they are stressed...

Kidneys

• Frequent urination (more than 3-5 times per day which is average). Women tend to urinate more than men. Getting up at anytime in the night to urinate indicates a weakening of the kidneys. (A weak kidney condition is not kidney disease.) Many healthcare practitioners may say that frequent urination is good, but ultimately too much fluid can weaken the kidneys and also the heart.

• Chronic back pain in area of the kidneys (low back)

• Frequent infections including candida, athlete's foot, toenail fungus, ear aches, and sore throats

• Hypersensitivity to sodium and chronic fatigue

Skin

• Dry and flaky skin (usually in smaller patches here and there) and dandruff. This is because the fat that is stored underneath the skin becomes too concentrated and begins to close off the pores, ducts, and glands leading to the surface of the skin that produce lubricating substances to moisten the skin. This signals that the skin is losing some of its ability to be an active, vital organ of elimination.

• Warts, calluses, rashes, moles, and acne signal that excess is beginning to accumulate under the skin.

• Note: The skin is the last organ of elimination so if you have a rash, excess moles, etc. then that means the other organs couldn't handle the build-up.

Lungs

• Congestion in the lungs and respiratory disorders like asthma, bronchitis, etc. Too much food or poor quality food can make the lungs become congested and sticky making breathing restricted or obstructed.

Large Intestine

• Diarrhea, constipation, or combination of both

• Diverticulosis, spastic colon, polyps, blockages, etc. are signs that the large intestine is being overworked.

This may seem like a lot to swallow (ha), but if you think about it, it's simple economics - input and output. Just try to be aware of what you're putting in because if your organs of elimination can't break down and detoxify all that's thrown at 'em, they're bound to get backed up! So just remember there's more to consider than just worrying about calories when we overeat or eat poor quality, processed food.

During this hectic holiday season, it's way too easy to curb our hunger by munching on candied popcorn or the all-too-famous peppermint bark...especially since these things seem to pile high in our kitchens. All the sudden, that "I'm gonna be good" snack in your fridge just isn't holding a light to these delish holiday alternatives. So maybe it's time for your "good" snack to actually taste good. For a sweet treat that's almost as convenient as cutting a slice of your grandmother's pound cake, try Manna (or Essene) Bread from Whole Foods or other health food stores. It's simple, nutritious and delicious...and has been around for thousands of years. In fact, Moses refers to this staple food in Exodus:

"...on the sixth day [the Lord] gives you bread for two days...The people of Israel called the bread manna. It was white like coriander seed and tasted like wafers made with honey...The Israelites ate manna forty years, until they came to a land that was settled..."

The main difference is that Manna bread is sprouted, or allowed to germinate. As Wikipedia so eloquently explains, "When grains, seeds and nuts are germinated, their nutritional content changes and they retain their natural plant enzymes which are beneficial digestion of the seeds and nuts in the digestive tract. As well as retaining the enzymes, they also retain the nutrients that would otherwise be destroyed by cooking. Sprouting encourages the growth of good bacteria, help to keep the colon clean, and are high in protective antioxidants. In its cooked form, wheat can cause mucus congestion, allergic reactions and constipation. In is sprouted form, the starch is converted to simple sugars, meaning that many wheat intolerant people are able to eat sprouted wheat bread without any problems."

So, let's compare our options: today's "bread", consisting of bleached and demineralized white flour and sugar, ordinary (and most likely polluted) water, hydrogenated veggie oil, hormone-filled butter and eggs and chemicalized table salt...OR manna bread, made of sprouted grains, nuts and seeds and filtered water, making it naturally moist and sweet. It's high in protein and fiber with noadded salt, no oils, no sweeteners and no leavening agents. Now that's "bread"!

Other sprouted options include Ezekiel 4:9 and Alvarado Street Breads, also found in multiple flavors at your health food store. They even come in English muffins and hot dog buns! But, remember to keep these breads in the fridge or even freezer since they don't contain preservatives that extend their shelf-life.

To really complete the meal, add an organic, high quality nut butter to this toasted treat. (We love Rejuvenative Foods brand...expensive but best quality and taste)


Now we're ready to face the holiday weather and stress without the highs and lows that sugar and processed foods leaves us with. I mean, if Moses and his people can last for 40 days on this stuff, I think it'll hold us over 'til the next meal! (Not to mention, it's VERY low in fat...)

*You can also buy manna bread online at: http://www.mannaorganicbakery.com/

A simple yet major way to help improve your health is to turn off your cell phone at night. Now, you're probably thinking "But I charge my phone at night," or "It's my alarm clock." But we're here to tell you that those benefits don't outweigh the cons of continual exposure to cell phone radiation...especially at night!

Sleep is the time that your organs detoxify and repair, when your body can finally rest and heal from working so hard all day. If you have a cell phone next to you (especially your head), or anywhere in your house for that matter (since radio frequencies can penetrate through walls), then it's disrupting your body's ability to fully rest. Think of your cell phone as keeping your cells on alert all night long. This makes you less prone to healing if you are sick, and more prone to get sick if you're not. It can also affect things like your mood and stress levels.

A joint study involving Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit and researchers in Sweden found that cell phone use immediately prior to bedtime disrupts sleep patterns. They found that radiofrequency released from mobile phones appeared to cause insomnia, headaches and difficulties in concentration.

"If you have trouble sleeping, you should think about not talking on a mobile phone right before you go to bed. The study strongly suggests that mobile phone use is associated with specific changes in the areas of the brain responsible for activating and coordinating the stress system," Dr. Arnetz told BBC N ews.

According to Dr. George Carlo, who headed Wireless Technology Research, the world’s largest program to date addressing the health impacts of wireless technology, says that electromagnetic radiation puts major stress on the body. Basically, it causes the cells to go into sympathetic (fight or flight) lock-down mode. This keeps nutrients from getting into the cell and toxins from getting out, which leads to a cascade of events including cellular death and disrupted cellular communication (both inside the cell and between cells). That then causes a range of health problems that can show up in different ways depending on the biology of the person.

According to Dr. Becker, "it is well-established that exposure to any abnormal electromagnetic field produces a stress response. If the exposure is prolonged, the stress-response system becomes exhausted, and the competency of the immune system declines to below normal. In such a state, animals and humans are more susceptible to cancer and infectious diseases."*

In addition to the response of healthy cells to electromagnetic radiation, things like viruses and bacteria respond as if they are under attack and reproduce rapidly in order to survive.

And we just want to add that since becoming aware of the effects of electromagnetic fields on the body (we attended a 5 day seminar in Florida this past August!), we prudently avoid radiation whenever we can. And making little changes has made a huge difference. Many of our friends and family now shut their phones off at night and we've had so much positive feedback. Try it out and let us know if you can tell a difference.

There you have it. Sorry to go into so much detail but we want you to understand why it's important to turn off your cell phones at night. Remember to charge it before you go to bed. If you have to charge it when you're sleeping then plug it in at least 6 feet away from you and keep it turned off. This is because chargers emit a whole other type of electromagnetic radiation (a DC magnetic field)...but we'll save that for another post! Oh, and get an inexpensive battery powered alarm clock if that's your excuse. I know you can get one for $10 at Radio Shack.

Happy Sleeping!

*Becker, Robeli O. Cross Currents. New York: Penguin Group (USA) Inc., 1990, p. 195.

We all know this holiday season comes with good cheer, great friends and often a relaxing beverage. We'd love to impart some words of wisdom if you do decide to indulge!

First for the lesson: Though alcohol affects every organ of the body, its most dramatic impact is on the liver whose cells normally prefer fatty acids as fuel (and package excess fatty acids as triglycerides). But when alcohol is present, the liver cells are forced to first metabolize the alcohol, letting the fatty acids accumulate. This permanently changes liver cell structure, making it harder to metabolize fats.

And while we've all heard that a glass of red wine can help fight heart disease, the truth is, most positive associations between the two are probably due to confounding factors that weren't considered. Dr. Ron Jackson of the University of Auckland states that "Any coronary protection from light to moderate drinking will be very small and unlikely to outweigh the harms…Do not assume there is a window in which the health benefits of alcohol are greater than the harms."

As far as moderation, the liver can only metabolize about half an ounce of ethanol per hour (approximately one drink, depending on a person's body size, food intake, etc.). And if you drink more than the enzymes can handle, the excess alcohol circulates until the liver enzymes are finally able to process it. So don't drink like a fish...

...instead eat some! Yep, that's right. You have always heard about eating a "balanced meal". Well, every food or drink lies somewhere on the expansive-contractive spectrum, meaning it has either a tightening or loosening effect on the body. Without getting too weird or detailed, just know that alcohol is very expansive (like sugar) and in order to balance this out, you should eat something contractive like meat, fish or a salty food. We recommend complementing your beverage with a fresh, wild fish like salmon or halibut.


We often get asked, "If I DO drink, what's the lesser of the evils?" We'll keep it short. When reaching for a brew, avoid the typical light beers that are loaded with preservatives and chemicals and go for an ale like Sierra Nevada or Fat Tire that's made with all natural ingredients. Craving wine? There are so many inexpensive organic options available today (Avalon Organics) that avoid the use of sulfites, a preservative and food allergen. Also, non-American wines tend to be more pure. As for hard liquor, we're NOT fans. But, if you gotta do it, don't combine them with sweet mixers but choose club soda instead (better choice than tap water!)

And, above all, be safe and have a wonderful weekend!

Source: The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism

...That's what everyone will be asking if you bake this little delight for Christmas. It's Marilee's delicious pecan pie recipe.

Allison and I gave it a whirl for the first time over Thanksgiving and it was a hit! No one would ever guess that it's healthy...but it is!

So, here's the recipe...

Preheat oven to 325 degrees and oil pie plate

*Use organic, preservative free ingredients

Egg Filling:
3 cups pecans
4 eggs
2 t. vanilla
1 cup pure maple syrup
Pinch of salt

Oatmeal Cookie Crust:
1 ½ cup rolled oats
¼ cup sesame seeds
½ cup spelt flour
½ t. salt
½ t. cinnamon
¼ cup walnuts
½ t. vanilla
½ cup ghee (clarified butter)
3 T. honey (melt honey and butter together)

Mix crust ingredients and press into pie plate. Bake 10 minutes. Set aside.

Prepare filling. Wisk eggs, vanilla, maple syrup, and salt in a bowl.

Increase temperature to 350 degrees and toast pecans in oven for 10 minutes.

Stir nuts into filling mixture and pour into baked pie shell.

Reduce back to 325 degrees and bake for 30 minutes or until set. Cool before serving.

Sorry the pictures aren't the best....far from step by step. Please forgive us, for this was pre-blog and we're still amateurs. We made a pumpkin pie as well, as you can see in the pictures, but we're going to have to tweak that recipe before we share it with you. It needs some work.

Happy Baking!!

In 1945, at the time of the atomic bombing of Japan, Tatsuichiro Akizuki, M.D. was Director of the Department of Internal Medicine at St. Francis's Hospital in Nagasaki. Most patients in the hospital, located one mile from the center of the blast, survived the initial effects of the bomb, but soon after came down with symptoms of radiation sickness from the fallout that had been released.

Dr. Akizuki fed his staff and patients a strict diet of brown rice and miso soup, seaweed, Hokkaido pumpkin and sea salt. Most importantly, he prohibited the consumption of processed sugar and flour.

As a result, he saved everyone in his hospital, while many other survivors perished from radiation sickness.

Since the damage done by radiation is mostly carried out by free radicals (the bad guys!), it's so important to integrate antioxidants in your diet to negate the effects. Having a high-quality green tea is an excellent choice. Dr. Marshall of Premier Research Labs sells a green tea concentrate that is so powerful it goes directly to your blood stream. We will be offering this once our website goes live!


So if you have recently been exposed to high levels of radiation like Medical Imaging Devices or a plane ride (natural radiation has bad effects as well), we highly recommend that you avoid processed foods and focus on quality Miso Soup (you can buy a paste from Whole Foods and mix it with water) and green tea. The Hokkaido pumpkins are available at Whole Foods as well and make a delicious side dish!



Marilee, Kelly and I urge you to look at food as a powerful remedy. This is a perspective that has been lost in this day of processed foods, convenient snacks and meals-on-the-go. But food is medicine...the kind that has been present and effective since the beginning of time...the kind that has no symptoms or side effects except good taste and natural healing!

Source: Tatsuichiro Akuziki, M.D. Nagasaki 1945, London Quarter books, 1981.

Did you know that one chest CT scan exposes you to more than 100 times the radiation dose of a single chest x-ray?! So one CT scan is like getting 100 chest X-rays or more, depending on the machine!! And that researchers are now saying that radiation from CT scans done in 2007 will cause 29,000 cancers and kill nearly 15,000 Americans!

We're not trying to scare you here, but we do want you to be aware of the risks that go along with getting x-rays, CT Scans, Mammograms, and other diagnostic imaging tests (especially when they are not absolutely necessary.)

If you or someone you know is in a position to get imaging done, please ask the doctor to go over the risks and benefits with you, and make sure the testing is absolutely required for the decision making process. Because if it's not, then I would think twice before subjecting your body to high amounts of radiation when (in most cases) it is already in a weak and vulnerable state.

Read These Two Articles

New York Times article Study Finds Radiation Risks for Patients

msnbc article 15,000 Will Die From CT Scans in One Year

Watch These Two Short Videos

msnbc Nightly News Report

clip with Dr. Rita Redberg

What you eat is important, but if you don’t digest it, you're not getting the necessary nutrients from your foods.

The most complicated foods for the body to digest are carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are any food that is not a fat or a protein and includes grains, beans, vegetables, and fruits, nuts, seeds, sugar, starches, herbs, spices, etc. Carbohydrate digestion starts in the mouth when we chew our food. The salivary glands secrete mucus into the mouth which lubricates the food prior to swallowing. Saliva contains the following enzymes:

• Amylase is secreted from the parotid glands and breaks down carbohydrates
• Protease is secreted from the submandibular glands and begins protein digestion
• Lipase is secreted from the sublingual (under the tongue) glands to initiate fat digestion

The importance of this step in the digestive process is often overlooked. Chewing is necessary to expose as much surface area as possible on the food particles so that enzymes can begin digestion. If the food isn't chewed thoroughly, this puts a stress on the digestive system, especially if the meal has a lot of carbohydrates and if you have any digestive weaknesses. (People with chronic illness or digestive difficulties really should chew their food until it is a liquid!) This takes stress off the body and can do much to help repair the digestive tract. There is a well-known phrase, "drink your solids and eat your liquids," which meant in essence, "chew really well."

In addition, enzymes found in the food also begin working in the mouth. Raw food is full of enzymes while cooked food is devoid of inherent enzymes. Vegetables that contain cellulase are covered with a thin coating of cellulose. Human enzymes cannot penetrate cellulose and if the cellulose is not removed by cooking or fermentation, then it must be chewed thoroughly. If the cellulose is not broken down, then you may have bad gas when eating raw food.

After swallowing, the food moves through the pharynx and esophagus, which are the pathway to the stomach. When food enters the upper part of the stomach it begins to stretch the stomach. The lower part of the stomach remains flat and closed while the upper part opens up to accommodate the food. During the time that the food sits in the upper section, acid secretion in the stomach is minimal for at least 30 – 45 minutes. Digestive enzymes from the saliva and in the food itself are still at work. The more digestion that takes place here, the less work the body has to do later! If the food is cooked and then shoved down your throat, minimal digestion is taking place. Taking digestive enzymes can help to digest the cooked food and should be taken toward the beginning or in the middle of the meal (especially if eating cooked food or a high carbohydrate meal).

And all of this takes place before the stomach begins its own digestive process! And we thought the stomach did all the work. But, in reality, we can do ourselves a whole lotta good by chewing, chewing, chewing...!