Drinking Right...Living Well...Healing (Part 2)

As a short follow up to yesterday's posts on healthy drinks (my next post will be on juicing and a few other healthy eating tips), I did want to mention alcohol.

Over the last few years, many have shared with me that they have heard how red wine helps cancer.
The resveratrol in red grapes/red wine has shown to be a possible antioxidant and now even comes in pill form.

However, red wine is another product that those with current cancer need to reconsider as red wine is 1) very high in sugar content (remember sugar causes inflammation in cells for those dealing with chronic illnesses, etc) 2) red wine is recommended for people who are healthy, or those in remission.  If you are interested in taking resveratrol and are someone dealing with cancer at this time, it has been suggested that resveratrol be taken in pill form to avoid the sugar in the red wine.

***Ounce for ounce, peanuts have about 25% as much resveratrol as red wine.  I snack daily on peanut butter***

Sending hope and joy on this beautiful day!

Colleen :-)

Drinking Right...Living Well...Healing

I have previously posted about sugars in the body, and so with anything that you may be drinking, it is very wise to check the labels to see how much sugar may be in any kind of drink you are purchasing or ordering.

You can research this further, but here is what I have learned is best to drink (and not to drink) in eating clean:

Drink:

1. Water, water, water!  For years we have heard this, but research shows that drinking lots of water may also help keep your acid level normal (Acidic environments cause inflammation in your cells and doesn't allow for healthy cells to grow).  Of course if you are on chemo treatments, the minimum liquids you should have (preferably water, but tea and broth are good also) is 64 ounces a day.  Use your refrigerator filtered water, a Brita filter, or other system because much of our tap water has higher acidic levels in them.  (you can test the ph level in your water to see how high the acid level is. Test strips are available online and also at Whole Foods and other specialty stores)


Also, I attended several workshops where the presenter/doctors had more concern for us drinking out of plastic bottles than anything else because of the chemicals in the plastic.  One presenter was so adamant about avoiding it with every chance you have that she preferred to have you be thirsty a little while longer than drink from a plastic bottle.  There are plenty of BPA free drinking vessels available now, so please use them instead of plastic bottles and the glass ones are even better.

**Please remember that coffee does not count and actually depletes your body of fluids.

2. Organic black and green teas (always go for organic as many teas are grown in other countries that have no restrictions with the pesticides they are allowed to use)

3. Milk substitutes:  As you have probably seen in your local supermarket, there are tons of milks to choose from nowadays!

Choose a substitute from milk (animal product) that includes Organic Coconut milk or Organic Almond milk

(**read even these labels....there are some brands that include Carrageenan in the ingredients.  Although it has not been labeled as a carcinogen, research has shown that Carrageenan causes intestinal damage in animals)  It is up to you, but soy is a well discussed issue in regards to people having any soy in their diet if they have cancer.  If you do have cancer, I would personally suggest not using Soy milk, especially with so many other options out there now.

4.  Organic Kombucha fermented tea:  Oh this is my favorite and I drink it every day! It may take adjusting to the taste...and some have compared it to having a taste between sparkling apple cider and champagne. (I think it is much more like apple cider and vinegar)  If you haven't heard, fermented drinks and food are the "in" thing for everyone and many, if not all, of the Kombuchas have probiotics in them as well.  There are a variety of flavors, but again, you will find that anything with fruit flavors are going to be higher in sugar.  So read the labels to see the sugar count.

To learn more about Kombucha and how to make your own, this is one website to take a look at:   http://whatiskombucha.com/   (**Kombucha contains yeast, so please be advised if you have any allergy to this ingredient)

Hope this is informative and gives you some options to try!

Drink up and cheers to hope and good health!

Colleen :-)

Let it all go....your healing is now and life holds nothing but this present time...

Eating Right....Living Well....Healing



This is a topic that often comes with controversy on what exactly is the best diet for those dealing with a chronic illness. I am not a nutritionist, but have personally seen the positive effects of eating a strict diet after a diagnosis of an illness. Even my doctors have asked me to list the things I am eating/doing so they could note their observations.

What surprised me after my diagnosis is that I was assigned a nutritionist through my health system.  But that wasn't what I questioned.  It was the fact that she took no more than three minutes of my time to ask if I was eating fruits and vegetables and gave me the "Oh good" thumbs up sign and left to go on to the next patient.  I sat there listening to the same question being asked of each of us in the room. But I couldn't help but wonder if eating fruit was actually a wise decision for people with a chronic illness.

I researched and learned on my own that for people with an autoimmune illness, cancer, diabetes, etc. fruits are not necessarily a "good" food to put on your list.  The reason being is that fruit contains natural sugar that can act in our bodies the same way refined sugar does.

The research shows that sugar is a catalyst to inflammation in the body and this in turn can basically feed sick cells, causing illness to possibly grow further. In other words, the body does not necessarily benefit from eating fruit IF a person is already dealing with an illness.

Imagine my surprise when one day a friend picked up a "SuperFoods" juice bottle in the market for me that had a photo of all kinds of greens on it...kale, celery, grapes and green apples.....and there were 53 grams of sugar in it!  We just assume that because it is called Superfood, it has to be good for us.  But not for ALL of us.

So as a new start today, if you aren't doing it already, read labels on everything you are eating.  And although it may be tough at first, purchase as many food products (no fruit please) that are organic and have no sugar/very little sugar added.

Yes, that does mean desserts too.  Okay, I know, not an easy task, but you will be amazed within a few weeks of doing this that your body no longer craves the sugar.  (and don't go for the sugarless products....the substitutes are not good for anyone)

This is the first of some of my posts on food and eating for healing.  One link that I would like to share with you is https://foodrevolution.org/  Their message is a strong one and I believe you will enjoy perusing the website to learn more.

Happy, healthy and clean eating to you and your families!

Colleen :-)

Guidance and Light

Elisabeth Kubler-Ross wrote, "People are like stained-glass windows.  They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within"

Be guided by divine light, in good times and in difficult times.  This light will shine upon your personal path, lifting you in confidence and building on your inner strength.  Allow this to move you forward without fear, anxiety, sadness or concern.

As you become more in tune with this divine light, allow yourself to be more conscious of God's direction for you, leading you to wise decisions and choices.  Be confident that all will be revealed at the right time and in the right way.  

(Paraphrased from the Daily Word 8/20/16)

Wishing you sunshine and strength throughout your days!

Colleen :-)

Sharing Hope and Joy with you today.....

"The Blue sky opens up

further and further,

The daily sense of failure

goes away,

The damage I have done to

myself fades,

A million Suns burst forward 

with light,

when I am seated firmly in that world." 

Kabir poem

I AM joy! I AM life! I AM love!

The Power of I am.....

"I am" holds such power in our lives!!!

But we often use it to tell ourselves (and others unfortunately) all the negative things we feel about who we are.  When we look in the mirror, stand in front of others, compete, work hard at our jobs and in school, etc we often continue to point out the "flaws" about ourselves.

Yet today, is a new day to make a different choice in our lives.  Today is a day for us to start to use "I am" to recognize the wisdom, compassion, beauty, love, hope and peace of who we are and never let that go!!

With each step in our journeys, we are told how we should feel, what we should do, what steps to take next, and where "everyone else" is at the point we stand at during this time in our lives.

Now it is time to remind ourselves of how absolutely wonderful we are no matter what challenges may be happening in our lives.  And each time you state a positive note about yourself, your unconscious will work with you and your body to take that in to work in your favor.

So, grab a pencil, some notecards and write 5 "I am" statements on several cards.  Put them on your mirror, the inside of your front door, the dashboard of your car, etc and read them out loud every day.

These are hugs to yourself and you surely deserve them!!

My "I am" statements are:

I am loved.

I am courageous.

I am grateful.

I am radiant.

I am blessed by God.

Believe in the power of words, believe in you!  

Wishing you continued joy in all your days...