Health Basics

Saturday, March 31, 2012

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome-Mucus with a Vengance

Do you suffer from excessive weight gain, heavy or painful periods, excessive facial hair, or acne? These are just a few of the symptoms of PCOS also known as Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. SO exactly what is PSOC? Read more to find out.

In order to fully understand the nature or definition of a word/condition, I often like to pick the word/condition apart using etymology which means “The study or words and their origins. Etymology is derived from the Greek word etumologíā.  Let’s take the word parts of the so called medical condition Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome and pick it apart in order to gain a better understanding of what we are actually dealing with. In order to heal or overcome any degenerative disease or condition, one must first understand the nature of the thing.
“Poly”, as a prefix, means “many.” A “cyst” is a closed sac, with its own membrane and tissues, typically filled with a liquid or other semi-solid matter. “Ovarian”, comes from the word “Ovary”, which is an egg producing reproductive organ. “Syndrome” according to Merriam-Webster is “a group of signs and symptoms that occur together and characterize a particular abnormality or condition.” It also goes on to indicate “a set of concurrent things (as emotions or actions) that usually form an identifiable pattern.” Now, let’s put this all together. PCOS is nothing more than many fluid filled sacs on the ovary that have manifested itself through a set of some sort of actions that, once forming a pattern, over time, have created a condition. According to Master herbalist Djehuty Ma’atra of dhealthstore.com, “ A cyst, like a tumor, is nothing more than an internal trash bag, more so than a tumor though. In fact, the word cyst derives from a Greek word”kystis” which means “bag”. Cysts hold pus, mucus, and other toxic waste fluids. This is all a cyst is: A BAG OF MUCUS AND PUS!” So where do these fluids or semi-solid sacs filled with mucus and pus on the ovaries come from? In order to determine this, one must take a look at how our body functions and what factors can contribute to such a manifestation.
Whenever the human body is introduced to matter that it cannot use, the body in an attempt to protect itself will engulf the matter in an effort to expel it from the body. The human body, which has many eliminative channels, will attempt to use one or more of these channels as a way to rid the body of the toxin. The human body has many channels of elimination: The skin, lungs, kidneys, liver, lymphatic system, blood and the colon. If the body is unsuccessful at eliminating the toxins, due to overload or imbalance, the toxins will stay in and create a protective barrier against the waste. We can look at a cyst as a way of the body’s intelligence system of trapping the waste in order to keep the waste from causing more harm.
Let’s answer the questions above:  “What exactly are these sacs and what it inside of them?”  The sacs or cyst found in women who have PCOS are nothing more than sacs full of waste-toxins, blood that failed to excrete during the monthly menses  and mucus matter that is useless to the body. “Geez,” you might ask, “how on earth that all of that get to my ovaries?”  Well, a combination of things can cause this to happen.  When the body is unable to fully eliminate waste and toxins appropriately, eventually blockage & congestion occur. This congestion can occur from the lymphatic system as well as one of the other eliminative channels not being able to do its job such as the skin, the colon or the kidneys. At this point,  all of the bodily systems have become overloaded. What causes this overload? Poor diet, lack of exercise, hormonal imbalance caused by use of toxic birth control pills, toxic skin care products etc. The main point to take away from this is that our bodies are not made to consume and process these types of foods and chemicals we purposely expose/feed it every day. They body does its best at trying to protect us, but eventually, a breakdown will occur and a condition or disease will manifest.  “The greatest contributing factor to the physical development of uterine, ovarian, and cervical fibroid tumors and cysts is diet, specifically the SAD (Standard American Diet) which is excessively high in animal flesh (meat) and byproduct (i.e. dairy: milk, cheese, sour cream, butter, and ice cream to name a few).”- Djehuty Ma-atra.


Meat, dairy and processed foods should
be avoided
 One MUST examine the diet in order to discover the main culprits of this toxic waste matter that has accumulated in the body in the form of these cysts. Unfortunately meat, dairy, refined grains and starches, processed foods, caffeine, sugar and its artificial representatives (aspartame, sucralose, Acesulfame K etc) are the main culprits. All of the above are extremely acidic to the body and forms mucus in the body.  Dairy, particularly cow’s milk and cheese are the most mucus forming. Our bodies were not designed to process this stuff and it does great harm to the body. You may have been socialized and programmed to believe that you need dairy such as milk and yogurt for strong bones and teeth but this is not true.  Milk and other dairy products such as cheese, yogurt, ice cream, butter, cream cheese, sour cream etc, particularly the way they are produced today are full of hormones, cow feces, industrial chemicals and a host of other harmful toxic ingredients. It’s no wonder the body is trying to trap it all.

Now you may ask, “well if it’s that easy, how come my Doctor has me on all of these meds and has not provided me with a clear dietary regimen/alternative in an effort for me to feel better?”  Well to answer that you would need to understand how modern medicine works:  Healthy people are not profitable. But chemically, drug dependent people are. They are lifelong patients with the ability to provide consistent, residual income for the physician as well as the pharmaceutical company.

Healing naturally from Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, like any other pathology, must be approached by treating the person as a whole, not just the symptoms. Modern medicine is very good at treating the symptoms that present themselves as a result of PCOS such as acne, excessive hair growth, elevated insulin levels, high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels among others because that is what they are trained to do. Treating symptoms in my opinion is a never ending cycle of drug dependency with no relief. Why suffer from a pathology/disease when you don’t have to?  I am a firm believer that any disease can be reversed. With the proper knowledge and execution, anyone can heal.

 

Friday, March 30, 2012

You eat ALL of THAT????

Yes, I eat drink all of this!
So since I've had the twins, I've been juicing like CRAZY! For one I don't have much time to make an elaborate meal and secondly I need loads of extra vitamins minerals and other nutrients because I am breastfeeding. So I figured the best way to make sure I'm getting an adequate intake of phytonutrients is to juice in addition to my regular food intake. I've been juicing about twice a day. Each day I like to switch it up so I don't get bored. Here is what I had yesterday :



  • Green Chard
  • Kale
  • Broccoli
  • Cauliflower
  • Cilantro
  • Celery
  • Carrot
  • Apple
  • Pineapple
I typically will add an apple or piece of pineapple to take the edge off the greens. This makes the juice take on a sweeter flavor. If you are new to juicing and aren't sugar sensitive I would suggest doing this until you are used to drinking green juices.

There are countless benefits to juicing. Its easy on the digestive system. Its easy for the body to absorb the vitamins and minerals that the whole food has to offer because the juice is in liquid form. It's fast and convenient for those on the go and you don't have to worry about not getting the proper amount of fruits  and vegetables each day. It provides TONS of energy. It will give you the pick me up you need to get your day going. Its low in calories and did I mention how super easy it is?

What's your favorite juice combination and what benefits have you noticed from juicing on a regular basis? Leave a comment and let me know.

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Protein Packed and Fabulous

So today for lunch I had a craving for a burger. Not some dead, slaughtered animal flesh type burger that would wreck havoc on my digestive system.and make me fall asleep, but definately something that would be filling and hit the spot. So I made from scratch this hearty,  zesty, veggie burger. What's in it?  A lil bit of this and a lil bit of that: Oats,  carrots, pinto beans, parsley,  chia seeds, almonds,  sunflower seeds and loads of organic herbs and spices. It all comes together in this delectable patty topped with lettuce, tomatoe, avocado slices and BBQ sauce. (Since I hate ketchup.) Each ingredient is chock full of vitamins, minerals and other phytonutrients. The chia seeds provide me protein and enough energy to run a marathon. For this and other fabulous Vegan/raw food recipes visit Angela Liddon's blog. When you whip up a batch of these bad boys, be sure to share them with any meat loving friend. They are sure to be a hit. Switch up the beans. The recipe called for black beans but I was in a pinto bean kind of mood today.  Add a nice green leafy salad and your meal is complete.  Enjoy!


Friday, March 23, 2012

Why am I so Extra?

In today's fast paced world, where everything is expected to be quick, fast and in a hurry, I pride myself on being considered "extra." At the ripe age of 32, I am a wife and mother of 4. Yes, that wasn't a typo. Many of the lifestyle choices I have made may be considered "extra." For example, I make a consorted effort to make sure my family has access to the best nutritionally available foods possible. This means, buying organic/locally grown fruits and vegetables, drinking pure, clean water, steering clear of processed foods, additives and perservatives and limiting our sugar intake. For the average American family, where both parents work outside of the household, this may seem like an impossible task, perhaps even "Extra."

Being "Extra" is all about priorities. "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."-Matthew 6:21 KJV. Once I became a mom, my priorities took a dramatic shift. I grew to realize that faster does not always mean better. Sure we now have many modern conveniences that our ancestors could only dream of having, but what have we traded as a result? Below are just some of the ways I have chosen to be "extra" in an effort to provide my family and I with the best life possible.

  • Ditch the microwave-Is it possible that millions of people are unknowingly sacrificing their health in exchange for the convenience of microwave ovens? In short, consider the following:
      • Microwaving prepared meats causes the formation of d-Nitrosodienthanolamines, a well-known carcinogen. (Cancer causing agent)
      • Microwaving milk and cereal grains converts some of their amino acids, the building blocks of life, into carcinogens.
      • Thawing frozen fruits in the microwave converts their glucoside and galactoside containing fractions into carcinogenic substances.
      • Extremely short exposure of raw, cooked or frozen vegetables converts their plant alkaloids into carcinogens.
      • Carcinogenic free radicals are formed in microwaved plants, especially root vegetables as well as decreases their in nutritional value.
    • Overall, microwaves kill EVERYTHING that goes into them and converts the resulting matter into a cess pool of cancer causing components. Our family has stopped using our microwave. If it were up to me in would be in the trash, however it sits in the corner, nice and clean and only gets used if we have guests who just have to use it. If we want to heat up food, it is done the old fashioned way-on the stove or in the oven. It's safer and the food taste way better anyway. My kids are worth it.
  • End your illustrious affair with the supermarket-Over 80% of the items sold in supercaskets, I mean, supermarkets contain GMO's (genetically modified organisms), High Fructose Corn Syrup, Monosodium Glutamate (MSG), artificial sweeteners (Aspartame, Sucralos Acesulfame K), preservatives, pesticides, hormones and other neurotoxins. If you are new or unfamiliar with GMO's it would do you some good to research it. I will do a post on GMO's soon. Don't get me wrong, supermarket's have their place, but in the grand scheme of things, there's not much benefit from doing most of your grocery shopping there-either financially or nutritionally. The food is overpriced and essentially void of anything beneficial your body can use. Opt instead to shop at a farmer's market or find a local CSA program. (Community Supported Agriculture Program) TO find a CSA program near you, click here.
    • I do our grocery shopping at our local farmer's market. EVERY week without fail, I am there to pick the most freshest ORGANIC fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, grains, and on occasion meat and fish. The health and well being of my family has positively benefited from this "Extra" behavior. I am at an attractive weight without dieting, I no longer need glasses, my husband's high blood pressure is managed without medication, my kids have bright eyes, vibrant energy, excellent cognitive skills, no allergies, and strong, untainted immune systems. The money we save in groceries has helped us cope with these high gas prices.
These two things, among others are just a few of the things that I do that may be considered "Extra" to some, but for me, it's a matter of living versus existing. How many people do you know, perhaps yourself included are going day in and day out tired, lethargic, relying on Starbucks to get you by? Your hair is dry, brittle, breaking or even falling out? You may suffer from anxiety or depression, you don't sleep well or at all. Your kids are always sick. They either suffer from chronic ear infections, asthma, eczema or a snotty nose that just doesn't ever seem to dry up? Your pediatrician tries to convince you that having 10 colds and 6 ear infections a year is normal. They send you home with antibiotics, but your kid never seems to get any better. If they do, 3-4 weeks later you are right back at square one.

I am "Extra" out of love and necessity. My family is worth it. We deserve a high quality of life and we do not have to settle for chronic degenerative illness. I don't accept that. I reject that and I reject the notion that I am "Extra." I my friends am "Extraordinary!"