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	<title>Simply Kristen &#187; Natural Alternatives</title>
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		<title>Black Walnut Hull</title>
		<link>http://www.simplykristen.com/black-walnut-hull/</link>
		<comments>http://www.simplykristen.com/black-walnut-hull/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 30 Aug 2010 21:19:31 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Kristen</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Herbs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Natural Alternatives]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Recipes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.simplykristen.com/?p=1088</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[This morning I found three Black Walnut Trees on my property! Last night I was reading a friend&#8217;s blog and she made her Black Walnut almost exactly one year ago &#8211; which means the time is ripe NOW to make this tincture (which I just realized). Then, this morning a young girl stopped by wanting [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a rel="attachment wp-att-1092" href="http://www.simplykristen.com/black-walnut-hull/state-tree-nut-1-3/"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-1092" title="Black Walnut" src="http://www.simplykristen.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/State-Tree-Nut-12.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p>
<p>This morning I found three Black Walnut Trees on my property!</p>
<p>Last night I was reading a friend&#8217;s blog and she made her Black Walnut almost exactly one year ago &#8211; which means the time is ripe NOW to make this tincture (which I just realized). Then, this morning a young girl stopped by wanting to pick some of my Walnut to make a tincture! haha Good timing, since I was literally heading out to door to pick. We found a tree at the end of the driveway that had already started dropping the green balls. Good thing I knew to pick the green ones (not black) and how to make them. It was so fun!</p>
<p>Here are the (<a href="http://gredecki.wordpress.com/2009/09/20/black-walnut-hull-yeah/">copied</a>) directions on how to make your own homemade Black Walnut Hull tincture (store bought it is very expensive):</p>
<blockquote><p>Black Walnut</p>
<p>The medicine of the Black Walnut tree is found in it’s fruit — mainly the HULL of the fruit.  The walnut hull is a thick, hard, rough, green skin that surrounds the actual walnut (shell and all).   When it falls off the tree the hull begins to turn black.</p>
<p>The medicinal properties of the Black Walnut hull are mainly anti-fungal and anthelmitic (kill parasites), and these properties are not mild, if I do say so, myself.  …Yowza!</p>
<p>A tincture is a great way to draw out and preserve the properties of Black Walnut hull.  Don’t bother trying to make this into a syrup or otherwise improve the taste.  It refuses to be improved without LOTS of sweetener, and if you’re going to be using this to help kill off something like Candida albicans (yeast), lots of sweetener is just what you don’t need.  So when you  take some of this tincture, just dump it down the hatch and follow up with ginger kombucha (what?  what is kombucha?  …that news will break later)  or some other equally good goodness.</p>
<p>Below I’ve spelled out a recipe (from Hulda Clark) for making a Black Walnut hull tincture.  When you are collecting the walnuts for this recipe, it’s important that the hulls be at least 50% green in order to get the most out of them.  Don’t peel the hulls off of the walnuts.  This tincture is made with the whole “walnut ball” intact — hull and kernel.</p>
<p>Happy tincturing, and may your parasites shake in their boots.</p>
<p>Black Walnut Hull Tincture Extra Strength</p>
<p>Your largest enamel or ceramic (not stainless steel, not aluminum) cooking pot,</p>
<p>Preferably at least 10 quarts Black Walnuts, in the hull, each one still at least 50% green, enough to fill the pot to the top</p>
<p>Grain alcohol, about 50% strength, enough to cover the walnuts</p>
<p>1/2 tsp. vitamin C</p>
<p>Plastic wrap or cellophane</p>
<p>Glass jars or bottles</p>
<p>The black walnut tree produces large green balls in the fall. The walnut is inside, but we will use the whole ball, uncracked, since the active ingredient is in the green outer hull.</p>
<p>Rinse the walnuts carefully, put them in the pot, and cover them with alcohol. Sprinkle on half the vitamin C. Seal with plastic wrap and cover. Let sit for three days. Pour into glass jars or bottles, discarding walnuts, and divide the remaining vitamin C amongst the jars. If the glass jar has a metal lid, first put plastic wrap over the top before screwing on the lid. Potency is strong for several years if unopened, even if it darkens.</p>
<p>(taken from page 543 The Cure For All Diseases by Hulda Clark)</p>
<p>Take 2 tsp., all together in 1/4 cup water. Sip it, don’t gulp it. Get it down within 15 minutes. (If you are over 150 pounds, take 2 1/2  tsp. Do not take more than 3 tsp. because no additional value has been observed.)</p>
<p>**************</p>
<p>A couple extras:</p>
<p>– Instead of ceramic/enamel pot, I used a glass gallon jar for the tincturing process.</p>
<p>– The vitamin C is to preserve the green color of the tincture.  If you don’t care what it looks like, you can make it without.</p>
<p>– The less oxygen in the tincture, the better.  The jars in which the tincture is stored should be filled almost to the brim, leaving very little air-room.</p>
<p>– The storage jars, if possible, should be amber glass.  Store in a dark, cool place — refrigeration not necessary.</p>
<p>– If you don’t want to ingest 2 tsp. vodka every day, put the tincture in some warm (110 degree)  water to get rid of some of the alcohol.  Make sure the water isn’t too hot or it could damage the parasite/yeast killing properties.</p>
<p>– Black walnuts are a great source of iodine, so there’s lots of iodine in this tincture.</p>
<p>–  Black walnuts stain like crazy.  Be warned.</p></blockquote>
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		<title>Lyme Disease</title>
		<link>http://www.simplykristen.com/lyme-disease/</link>
		<comments>http://www.simplykristen.com/lyme-disease/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 13 Jul 2010 03:33:56 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Kristen</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Children's Health]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Natural Alternatives]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Nutrition]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Do I have Lymes disease]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Find a Lymes Doctor]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lyme]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lyme Diseasae]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lyme Literate Doctor]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lyme symptoms]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lymes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lymes Disease]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.simplykristen.com/?p=1043</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I&#8217;ve been hearing about Lyme Disease for the last several years, and how it can be a root cause for a range of disease&#8230;. such as arthritis, hypo-thyroidism, fibromyalgia, and a host of other health problems. My friend Brenda has spent hundreds of hours researching Lymes and helping her family member fight this difficult battle. [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em>I&#8217;ve been hearing about Lyme Disease for the last several years, and how it can be a root cause for a range of disease&#8230;. such as arthritis, hypo-thyroidism, fibromyalgia, and a host of other health problems.<br />
My friend Brenda has spent hundreds of hours researching Lymes and helping her family member fight this difficult battle. So, she wrote a guest post about her experience and provides very brief description of what it is, how you get it, and what to do if you think you  might have it&#8230;. Just in case you or someone you love ever needs to know this information! </em></p>
<p>When I married my man, I thought his mother and siblings sure did a lot of complaining about aches and pains and went to a doctor or chiropractor more than was necessary. But since finding out in the last couple years that their mother had Lyme for over 35 years and had passed it to 4 of her 6 children, I now understand why they seemed so unhealthy to me. One brother got especially bad after going through some real stressful situations and became bed ridden. After years of doctors, tests, surgeries, and traveling to clinics, he was diagnosed with chronic Lyme. The info was overwhelming to him, esp. with brain fog, so he came to our house for a couple weeks while I researched, cooked his special diet and just tried to help him understand the protocol and diet his Lyme Dr. put him on. His was a long hard road, but in about 18 months he was near 100%. This experience really sparked my interest and when I realized how huge and complicated the Lyme world is, I couldn&#8217;t resist the challenge of learning more. <span id="more-1043"></span></p>
<p>Now that I understand a lot about Lyme, I&#8217;ve been able to help quite a few friends consider the fact that they may have Lyme and helped them find a diagnosis, hope, and healing. One friend, after moving to our community, was flat on her back with pain, fatigue, racing heart, and air hunger. She had some health issues previously, but the stress of the move really brought out the worse. After many tests she was diagnosed with several conditions and at the time I met her it was Epstein Barr Virus. After 10 minutes of hearing her story I encouraged her to get a Western Blot done at IGeneX Labs. She did indeed have Lyme and is now following a Lyme protocol under a Dr&#8217;s. care.</p>
<p>Here is some basic information about the disease:</p>
<p>First off, Lyme Disease is the most misunderstood and misdiagnosed disease in America. Caught in its early stages, following a known tick bite, it is easy to treat. But when a person has no idea that they&#8217;ve contracted it and the bacteria is left to thrive in the body for years, it becomes a chronic condition that is VERY difficult to treat.</p>
<p>When one contracts Lyme (via ticks, mosquitos, mother to baby inutero or breastfeeding, sexually transmitted, and through many bodily fluids) the Lyme bacteria, a spirochete named Borrelia Burgdorferi, enters the bloodstream and, because of its spiral shape, can drill its way into tissue, muscle, and every organ including the brain. Thus it effects every and any area of the body and can manifest itself as a rheumatoid, musculoskeletal, or neurological disease. Because of this, a person infected with Lyme can and will experience a variety of health problems and after consulting Dr. after Dr. and test after test will only have their symptoms addressed while the spirochete is growing and multiplying inside them. And along with Bb (Borrelia Burgdorferi) come many vector-borne co-infections, Babesia, Bartonella, and Ehrlichia. They each carry their own set of pathogens which add to the complexity of the disease and treatment needed.The symptoms of Lyme disease are too many for me to type out, so here is a link to a fairly exhaustive list: <a href=" http://www.timeforlyme.org/signs-symptom-list.html">Symptoms of Lyme</a></p>
<p><a href=" http://www.timeforlyme.org/signs-symptom-list.html"></a><br />
If you or someone you know has nagging health issues and have been through a myriad of tests and Dr. visits, have unexplainable pain, fatigue, or have a nagging feeling that something isn&#8217;t right in spite of the many positive health changes you&#8217;ve made, I think its time to consider the possibility of Lyme. It is truly the fastest growing epidemic in the nation. For every three people who have Lyme, there is an expected one more with a maximum possibility of two more and and expected increase of at least 80,000 Lyme disease cases per year and up to a maximum increase of 160,00 per year by the year 2012.</p>
<p>Getting accurate test results is also very difficult because the CDC (Center for Disease Control) has established such rigid criteria for standard testing. So, if you&#8217;ve been tested for Lyme through your Doctor&#8217;s office using an ELISA screening test and it was negative, that doesn&#8217;t mean you don&#8217;t have Lyme disease. Only a few medical professionals understand the complex pathogenesis of  Lyme disease because this information is not taught in medical schools, conferences or seminars. This makes it difficult to recognize, diagnose, and treat. The best way to be properly diagnosed is clinically, by a LLMD (Lyme Literate Medical Dr.) or a holistic/natural Dr. who is familiar with Lyme. There are a couple labs that specialize in Lyme testing that have a good percentage of accurate results: <a href="http://igenex.com/Website/">Igenex</a> and <a href="http://www.centralfloridaresearch.com/">Central Florida Research</a>.</p>
<p>If you discover that you have Lyme you&#8217;ll want to begin treatment as soon as possible. There are many different opinions and protocols out there for curing Lyme and the best place to start is with education. Read, read, and read some more. Here are some good books to start with:<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Top-Lyme-Disease-Treatments-Conventional/dp/0976379716/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1278115808&amp;sr=8-1-fkmr1">The Top Ten Lyme Disease Treatments</a><br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Cure-Inside-Epidemic-Pamela-Weintraub/dp/0312378130/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;s=books&amp;qid=1278115869&amp;sr=1-1">Cure Unknown</a><br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Lyme-Diet-Nutritional-Strategies-Healing/dp/0981978495/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;s=books&amp;qid=1278116037&amp;sr=1-1">The Lyme Diet</a></p>
<p>And you can also find Lyme forums or contact someone you may know of who has suffered from Lyme and find out what works for others.</p>
<p>Because of the spirochete&#8217;s ability to morph into 3 different and hard-to-treat forms, due to the complexity of co-infections, and because everyone is different depending on their health and lifestyle before and since contracting the disease, you will need to experiment and find the best treatment plan for you. A Doctor who is experienced in this is the best route to go, IMO. You can search for Dr. referrals in your area here at the <a href="http://www.lymediseaseassociation.org/">Lyme Disease Association</a>: In left side bar under &#8220;Resources&#8221; click on &#8220;Doctor Referral&#8221;.</p>
<p>Many of us don&#8217;t want to hear the idea that we may have a DISEASE. We, or our Doctor, want to address our health issues for what they are- inflammation, leaky gut, adrenal fatigue, thyroid problems, depression, pain- and treat them through meds, diet, detox, and/or supplements. And we will experience some relief and healing so we think we&#8217;ve found the answers. What we don&#8217;t realize, until we really understand Lyme disease, is that all these conditions have been brought on BY Lyme. And if we don&#8217;t KILL the Lyme bacteria, Borelliosis, we will fight those maladies forever and never really attain healing.</p>
<p>- Brenda</p>
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		<title>Iodine</title>
		<link>http://www.simplykristen.com/iodine/</link>
		<comments>http://www.simplykristen.com/iodine/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 26 Jun 2010 14:47:02 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Kristen</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Children's Health]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Natural Alternatives]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Nutrition]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pregnancy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[breast cancer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[do I need iodine?]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[fluoride]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[hypothryoid]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Iodine]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[iodine deficiency]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[kelp]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[pregnancy hypothyroid]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[weight loss]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.simplykristen.com/?p=1015</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I&#8217;ve been reading about this chemical element for the past few months. Here are some things I found most interesting: Iodine deficiency is the leading cause of preventable mental retardation. The LEADING cause! I could not believe it! Everyone thinks that because iodine was added to the salt &#8211; that we are okay. But even [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a rel="attachment wp-att-1017" href="http://www.simplykristen.com/iodine/iod_kristall/"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-1017" title="Iodine" src="http://www.simplykristen.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/Iod_kristall-446x238.jpg" alt="Iodine" width="446" height="238" /></a><br />
I&#8217;ve been reading about this chemical element for the past few months. Here are some things I found most interesting:</p>
<ul>
<li>Iodine deficiency is the leading cause of preventable mental retardation. The LEADING cause! I could not believe it! Everyone thinks that because iodine was added to the salt &#8211; that we are okay. But even in developed countries there is a serious problem of Iodine Deficiency.</li>
<li>There is a correlation between Iodine Deficiency and Breast Cancer &#8211; And Iodine Deficiency and Hypothyroidism. The thyroid gland and breast tissues actually hold Iodine (and use them).  Here is an interesting article by Dr. Howenstein, MD, called <a href="http://www.newswithviews.com/Howenstine/james37.htm">Iodine Is Vital For Good Health</a></li>
<li>Iodine is put into animal feed as a supplement.</li>
<p> <span id="more-1015"></span></p>
<li>There are A LOT of different types of Iodine&#8230;.. Iodine &#8211; 131, Iodine 124, Iodine, 129, etc. Some are used to enhance our health and some are used as Radiation Treatments to destroy cancers. For a chemistry lesson read more at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iodine">Wikipedia</a>.</li>
<li>There is some evidence that the fluoride we encounter in our water system and toothpaste prevents proper absorption and use of the Iodine we need. This is complicated to me, as the two Chemical Elements are similar and can be combined (I GUESS??). I didn&#8217;t take high level chemistry. Can you tell?</li>
<li>Iodine shouldn&#8217;t be added just because or recklessly. As in any food element &#8211; it&#8217;s best in a whole food source so the body can process it correctly. This article from  <a href="http://www.naturalnews.com/008902_hypothyroidism_thyroid_gland.html">Natural News</a> recommends taking Kelp (it&#8217;s a whole food) to regulate your Iodine levels. They claim that taking Kelp can help a too skinny person gain weight and an obese person loose weight (again, linking thyroid function to proper Iodine absorption).</li>
<li>There is an opposing view point that says too much Iodine messes with the thyroid and makes it not work properly. I&#8217;m really not sure about the evidence, but I&#8217;ll post the links so you can have the information yourself:                                                                            <em><a href="http://www.dietsinreview.com/diets/jillian-michaels-master-your-metabolism/">Jillian Michaels, Master Your Metabolism</a><br />
it says on pg 220: &#8221;Don&#8217;t supplement with iodine. Many &#8220;holistic&#8221; nutrition websites recommend that you take supplemental iodine or kelp to support your thyroid. Don&#8217;t. The average American diet has plenty of iodine-and when the thyroid gland senses high levels of iodine in the blood, it will release even less thyroid hormone.&#8221;<br />
The <em><a href="http://thyroid.about.com/od/newscontroversies/a/toomuchiodine.htm">New England Journal of Medicine article</a> </em> published new research from China that looks at the relationship between iodine intake and thyroid disease. Reporting in the June 29, 2006 issue, the researchers concluded that &#8220;more than adequate or excessive iodine intake may lead to hypothyroidism and autoimmune thyroiditis.&#8221;</em></li>
</ul>
<p>I personally take Iodine as a supplement in Kelp form. I think I need it because I have a family history of hypothyroidism and have personally experienced pregnancy induced thyroiditis.</p>
<p>So, there ya go! I recommend everyone know there thyroid functioning levels (You can get a blood test from your doctor) AND make sure you are consuming enough <strong>whole foods </strong>that are high in Iodine. It sure helps me!</p>
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		<title>Fat is Good!</title>
		<link>http://www.simplykristen.com/fat-is-good/</link>
		<comments>http://www.simplykristen.com/fat-is-good/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 16 Jun 2010 18:38:24 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Kristen</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Herbs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Natural Alternatives]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Nutrition]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Dr. Schultz super slim]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[good healthy fats]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[lose weight]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[nursing mom lose weight]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[nursing mom weight loss]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[raw milk]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[weight loss]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.simplykristen.com/?p=1002</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[If you follow my Facebook page you might have read that I need to lose some baby weight! I had my third child five months ago and have still not lost the extra. I had no trouble with the first two kids. But, now I realize what people mean when they say &#8220;with three kids [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a rel="attachment wp-att-1005" href="http://www.simplykristen.com/fat-is-good/butter1/"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-1005" title="butter1" src="http://www.simplykristen.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/butter1-446x369.jpg" alt="" width="446" height="369" /></a></p>
<p>If you follow my <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Simply-Kristen/121321427885309">Facebook page</a> you might have read that I need to lose some baby weight! I had my third child five months ago and have still not lost the extra. I had no trouble with the first two kids. But, now I realize what people mean when they say &#8220;with three kids everything changes&#8221;. Things aren&#8217;t all that much <em>harder</em>&#8230;.. just totally different. Every minute feels like it&#8217;s filled with something, and then trying to walk with three little children is quite different than walking long distances with one or two even in the stroller.</p>
<p>Most people when they want to lose the extra think &#8220;how can I cut calories and fat?&#8221; Well, cutting calories can ultimately help&#8230; but NOT cutting the fat. You don&#8217;t want to cut the fat. Good fat is good for you. I&#8217;ll scream it again! Good fat is GOOD for you.<span id="more-1002"></span></p>
<p>Whole fresh milk (more information about what is &#8220;fresh milk&#8221;? link to <a href="http://www.morethanalive.com/The-Untold-Story-of-Milk?s=raw%20milk">The Untold Story of Raw Milk)</a>, fresh butter, coconut oils, olive oils, fish oils, and animals fats are all foods I try hard to incorporate in our diet. Did you notice canola oil, margarine (read more from Body Ecology, <a href="http://www.bodyecology.com/07/07/05/benefits_of_real_butter.php">20 Reasons Butter Is Better</a>) , low fat butter, and soy (yuck yuck) are not included on that list? Here is a really good article from the Healthy Home Economist about the important fats we need in our kitchen &#8211; <a href="http://thehealthyhomeeconomist.blogspot.com/2010/04/five-fats-you-must-have-in-your-kitchen.html">Five Fats You Must Have In Your Kitchen</a> and WHY you need them.</p>
<p>Okay, so what am I going to do &#8211; other than not cut out the fats?</p>
<p>1. Eat a good breakfast and no food after 7pm, unless I forget to take my vitamins during the day (then I&#8217;ll have to eat a little something &#8211; hehe)</p>
<p>2. Drink loads of water</p>
<p>3. Walk 2 miles a day &#8211; 4-5 times a week</p>
<p>4. Do about 20 pushups and 50 sits ups a day</p>
<p>5. Do this <a href="https://www.herbdoc.com/index.php?option=com_content&amp;task=view&amp;id=18&amp;Itemid=39">Dr. Schultz</a> wieghtloss package called &#8220;Super Slim&#8221; for 30 days. I get this in the mail in a few days, and I&#8217;ll let you know how it goes.</p>
<p>6. Not have too high of an expectation. Just hope my clothes fit a little loser in 30 days.</p>
<p>I am still nursing, so I can&#8217;t be crazy about anything. I also hold onto a little bit of weight while I nurse&#8230;. but I&#8217;m about 10lbs over that heavier nursing weight.</p>
<p>There, I wrote it in my blog. Now I have to do it. *wink*</p>
<p>I&#8217;ll let you know in 30 days if I&#8217;ve been successful and what I think worked and what didn&#8217;t.</p>
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		<title>Enemas: How and Why</title>
		<link>http://www.simplykristen.com/enemas-how-and-why/</link>
		<comments>http://www.simplykristen.com/enemas-how-and-why/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 11 Jun 2010 12:11:52 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Kristen</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Audio Podcast]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Natural Alternatives]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Nutrition]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.simplykristen.com/?p=972</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Ene-whats!?

With all the information coming out about how important our GI tract is to our health, I wanted to know all the ins and outs about - everything! Well, enemas falls into this category and my friend Jillian shares with us how to do an enema, why they are so beneficial, and all the different types.

Yup, I have a lot to learn about this subject. For example, did you know that enemas were so popular at the court of King Louis XIV of France that the duchess of Burgundy had her servant give her an enema in front of the King (her modesty being preserved by an adequate posture) before going to the comedy.To read more, click here.

So, listen to my interview and be enlightened to the world of enemas - I certainly was!

* Enemas should not be done on a regular basis. Consult a healthcare professional if you have persisting symptoms.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-974" title="Enemas: How and Why" src="http://www.simplykristen.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/EmemasHowandWhy-e1276172233769.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" /></p>
<p><a href="http://www.simplykristen.com/audio/EnemasHowandWhy.mp3">www.simplykristen.com/audio/EnemasHowandWhy.mp3</a></p>
<p>Ene-whats!?</p>
<p>With all the information coming out about how important our GI tract is to our health, I wanted to know all the ins and outs about &#8211; everything! Well, enemas falls into this category and my friend Jillian shares with us how to do an enema, why they are so beneficial, and all the different types.</p>
<p>Yup, I have a lot to learn about this subject. For example, did you know that enemas were so popular at the court of King Louis XIV of France that the duchess of Burgundy had her servant give her an enema in front of the King (her modesty being preserved by an adequate posture) before going to the comedy.To read more, click <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enema">here</a>.</p>
<p>So, listen to my interview and be enlightened to the world of enemas &#8211; I certainly was!</p>
<p>* Enemas should not be done on a regular basis. Consult a healthcare professional if you have persisting symptoms.</p>
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		<title>The Coffee Question</title>
		<link>http://www.simplykristen.com/the-coffee-question/</link>
		<comments>http://www.simplykristen.com/the-coffee-question/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 02 Jun 2010 19:56:25 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Kristen</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Family Life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Natural Alternatives]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Nutrition]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[coffee]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[decaffeination products]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[free coffee]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[free coffee sample]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[healthy coffee]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[honduran coffee]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.simplykristen.com/?p=933</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I used to think coffee was unhealthy because of the chemicals, sugar, caffeine, and coffee enhancers people add to it. I know now that I was right&#8230;. about most of it, and dead wrong about some things. It was fine with me thinking it was unhealthy, I didn&#8217;t drink it. Then, a few years ago [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a rel="attachment wp-att-940" href="http://www.simplykristen.com/the-coffee-question/coffee-beans/" target="_self"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-940" title="Coffee Beans" src="http://www.simplykristen.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/Coffee-Beans-446x318.jpg" alt="" width="446" height="318" /></a><br />
I used to think coffee was unhealthy because of the chemicals, sugar, caffeine, and coffee enhancers people add to it. I know now that I was right&#8230;. about most of it, and dead wrong about some things.</p>
<p>It was fine with me thinking it was unhealthy, I didn&#8217;t drink it. Then, a few years ago my husband started his own business and was working from home. He kept asking for coffee (he used to get it at his work)! So, we bought a coffee maker and I still had no desire for it. I thought it tasted like the instant coffee that my relatives drank. <span id="more-933"></span></p>
<p>We also have friends that are hardcore coffee drinkers. They get their beans whole and grind them fresh each time for their cups of java. While at their house I decided to <em>finally </em>try a cup and MUCH to my shock I enjoyed it.</p>
<p>The coffee I enjoyed was made with freshly ground beans, and loaded with sugar and cream. So, the sugar part wasn&#8217;t so great, but the cream was organic fresh cream (you know, the kind you skim off the top of a gallon jar). I think the key was freshly grinding the beans and drinking it right away. You know how most wheat bread is kind of gross? It&#8217;s because the ground flour goes rancid (the oils go bad). But man oh man, when you freshly grind those wheat berries and make cookies, muffins or bread &#8211; the difference is incredible &#8211; so yummy!</p>
<p>Wheat is healthy right? Wheat berries that are ground, stripped, chemically process, and stored are not healthy. The same is true for coffee beans (or berries). Those that are grown and picked without chemical processes, then roasted properly (without cheaper, chemical forms) and then ground before drinking are a whole different ball game than the heavily processed boxes you find at the grocery store.</p>
<p>Then there are all the additives that people buy to put in their java. White sugar is a no no. Ultra homogenized and pasteurized cream is also something that is not healthy. And here&#8217;s the worst one of all, the popular Coffee Mate with these ingredients: partially hydrogenated soybean oil, sugar, dipotassium phosphate, sodium tripolyphosphate, sodium stearoly lactylate, polysorbate 50, gellan gum, sodium citrate, natural and artificial flavor, and beta-carotene color. Yuck!</p>
<p>But, what if you used honey, sucanat, raw sugar, a stevia sweetener, or no sweetener at all, then added a dollop of fresh, organic cream? My oh my, it&#8217;s the health difference of store bought white bread (with a million bad ingredients) and homemade freshly ground wheat bread.</p>
<p>There are also issues about coffee that make it unhealthy like some of the decaffeination process&#8217;. The most popular (and cheapest) method is the use of chemical solvents.  <em>The process is usually performed on unroasted (green) beans, and starts with steaming of the beans. They are then rinsed with a solvent that extracts the caffeine while leaving the other essential chemicals in the coffee beans. The process is repeated anywhere from 8 to 12 times until it meets either the international standard of having removed 97% of the caffeine in the beans or the EU standard of having the beans 99.9% caffeine-free by mass.<a title="European Union" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Union">EU</a> standard of having the beans 99.9% caffeine-free by mass. Coffee contains over 400 chemicals important to the taste and aroma of the final drink; it is, therefore, challenging to remove only caffeine while leaving the other chemicals at their original concentrations. </em> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decaffeination">Wikipedia</a></p>
<p>But some coffees are not decaffeinated that way, a complicated soaking process is used that is free of chemicals. 99.9% of the caffeine is said to be removed and you don&#8217;t have the chemical residue. Sounds like a better option doesn&#8217;t it?</p>
<p>Now onto the health benefits of coffee &#8211; which I found the most surprising! Coffee has extremely high levels of antioxidants, and is connected in the prevention of all sorts of diseases like Parkinson&#8217;s, Alzheimer&#8217;s, and Colon Cancers. I read <a href="http://men.webmd.com/features/coffee-new-health-food">this article </a> from Web MD and was pretty impressed with all the listed benefits.</p>
<p>I still have one question about coffee that maybe you can help me with. There is a connection with inflammation and the use of coffee. Do you think its in connection to the healthier chemical free coffees? Or to the highly processed stuff? Or is it the coffee bean itself?</p>
<p>If you enjoy coffee and would like a place to buy the kind of healthy coffee I wrote about, try <a href="http://www.canecreekcoffee.com/">Cane Creek Coffee</a>. It&#8217;s the only homebrewed coffee I&#8217;ve ever enjoyed and it&#8217;s natural, free of chemicals, and roasted the old fashioned way.  You can even get a free sample &#8211; No Strings Attached.  Tell &#8216;em I sent you!</p>
<p>Write in the comment section about the inflammation issue, and remember to &#8216;like&#8217; my facebook page, where I update daily. I enjoy seeing you all there! <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Simply-Kristen/121321427885309">Simply Kristen Facebook</a></p>
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		<title>Detergents: The Real Deal</title>
		<link>http://www.simplykristen.com/detergents-the-real-deal/</link>
		<comments>http://www.simplykristen.com/detergents-the-real-deal/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 21 May 2010 02:19:04 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Kristen</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Audio Podcast]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Natural Alternatives]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.simplykristen.com/?p=898</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Sudsy, soapy, bubbles that clean! Did you know that most (if not all) of our cleaning supplies contain detergents - even ones that clean your teeth or makeup that remains ON your skin throughout the day. Some big agency described detergents (or sodium laureth/lauryl sulfate) as a skin irritant that is okay as long as it is washed off immediately. Hmmm....... I bet these detergents are lingering longer than we realize. And, that is what this podcast is about: how common detergents are and what their effect is.

HealthyBratt, the forum moderator from www.welltellme.com is here with us today. She will answer questions like:  What is Sodium Laureth Sulfate (the most common household detergent)?  What does it do to the body?  And, how to avoid it?

Now, go look at your shampoo, liquid soaps, laundry detergent, and everything else to see if Sodium Laureth Sulfate or other detergents are on the ingredients list. You may be surprised!

Recipes mentioned:

Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse:

1. 5-3 Tablespoons of Apple Cider Vinegar in 3 cups of water

1. Wash body and hair with soap.

2. Rinse with Water

3. Pour Apple Cider Vinegar Mix, start with hair and end with lower body (be sure to close your eyes!)

4.  Rinse with Water]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-900" title="Detergents: The Real Deal" src="http://www.simplykristen.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/Detergents-The-Real-Deal-e1274107160776.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" /></p>
<p><a href="http://www.simplykristen.com/audio/Detergents-TheRealDeal.mp3">www.simplykristen.com/audio/Detergents-TheRealDeal.mp3</a></p>
<p>Sudsy, soapy, bubbles that clean! Did you know that most (if not all) of our cleaning supplies contain detergents &#8211; even ones that clean your teeth or makeup that remains ON your skin throughout the day. Some big agency described detergents (or sodium laureth/lauryl sulfate) as a skin irritant that is okay as long as it is washed off immediately. Hmmm&#8230;&#8230;. I bet these detergents are lingering longer than we realize. And, that is what this podcast is about: how common detergents are and what their effect is.</p>
<p>HealthyBratt, the forum moderator from <a title="http://www.welltellme.com" href="http://www.welltellme.com/">www.welltellme.com</a> is here with us today. She will answer questions like:  What is Sodium Laureth Sulfate (the most common household detergent)?  What does it do to the body?  And, how to avoid it?</p>
<p>Now, go look at your shampoo, liquid soaps, laundry detergent, and everything else to see if Sodium Laureth Sulfate or other detergents are on the ingredients list. You may be surprised!</p>
<p>Recipes mentioned:</p>
<p>Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse:</p>
<p>1. 5-3 Tablespoons of Apple Cider Vinegar in 3 cups of water</p>
<p>1. Wash body and hair with soap.</p>
<p>2. Rinse with Water</p>
<p>3. Pour Apple Cider Vinegar Mix, start with hair and end with lower body (be sure to close your eyes!)</p>
<p>4.  Rinse with Water</p>
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		<title>Next DVD Coming Soon</title>
		<link>http://www.simplykristen.com/next-dvd-coming-soon/</link>
		<comments>http://www.simplykristen.com/next-dvd-coming-soon/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 20 May 2010 15:34:32 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Kristen</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Children's Health]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Herbs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Homesteading]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Natural Alternatives]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Nutrition]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Recipes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Herb DVD]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Herb Video]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Making Herbs Simple]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.simplykristen.com/?p=842</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[My husband and I are in the final stages of production for our second DVD with Bulk Herb Store &#8211; actually it is already at the “presses”. Making Herbs Simple  II is a fabulous addition for anyone’s herbal collection, especially beginners. It’s funny, but everyone time I watch it, whether to edit, spell check, or [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-863" title="Making Herbs Simple Volume 2" src="http://www.simplykristen.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/MHSVol2-446x577.jpg" alt="" width="446" height="577" /></p>
<p>My husband and I are in the final stages of production for our second DVD with Bulk Herb Store &#8211; actually it is already at the “presses”. Making Herbs Simple  II is a fabulous addition for anyone’s herbal collection, especially beginners. It’s funny, but everyone time I watch it, whether to edit, spell check, or some other project &#8211; I learn something and am inspired all over again!</p>
<p>I’ve uploaded two excerpts from the video for you to see &#8211; and really excited about it.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5Fq-HNRR28" target="_blank">Herbal Art Project &#8211; Excerpt from &#8220;Making Herbs Simple: Volume 2 (HD)</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=io0Ng8c7JqM" target="_blank">Poison Ivy Remedy &#8211; Excerpt from &#8220;Making Herbs Simple: Volume 2 (HD)</a></p>
<p>It really was a fun project to work on, I remember shooting the Mullein Steam segment and the sun being so incredibly bright and then my husband added a light reflector, which only makes it more bright!<span id="more-842"></span> My eyes were tearing and I could hardly open them. All while he is impatiently saying “No, you can’t wear sunglasses in a video&#8230;..if you can&#8217;t do it that&#8217;s fine, we&#8217;ll just get someone else.” Have you ever worked with or for your husband before? Do you notice how it doesn’t quite mesh when he treats you like a minimum wage worker? Well &#8211; it only fired me up, thinking “If someone else could do it, then I’m definitely going to have to do it, even if my eye makeup is totally smudged.”</p>
<p>But, seriously this is a great DVD because it incorporates herbs into our daily life; like cooking, the perfect brew for women, making salves, homemade cards, what herbs you can find in your yard. Oh &#8211; and I forgot the extras of the video &#8211; they are absolutely hilarious. At one point the ladies on camera (Debi and Shoshanna) did not know we were rolling and we just let them go at it &#8211; so so so funny! Can’t wait for everyone to see it.</p>
<p>Coming Soon!</p>
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		<title>Activated Charcoal Helps Flood Victims</title>
		<link>http://www.simplykristen.com/activated-charcoal-helping-flood-victims/</link>
		<comments>http://www.simplykristen.com/activated-charcoal-helping-flood-victims/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 14 May 2010 14:13:04 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Kristen</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Children's Health]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Family Life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Natural Alternatives]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[2010 flood]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[activated charcoal]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[bacteria in flood waters]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[charcoal]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[diarrhea]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[flood]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[flood waters]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[nashville flood]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sickness]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sickness flood]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[throwing up]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.simplykristen.com/?p=889</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[What a salacious title! Even so &#8211; it describes our last two weeks. Living on the outskirts of Nashville, we were hit by the torrential rains and flooding. Since we (used) to live on the banks of Cane Creek we knew we had a chance of flooding. One year ago &#8211; exactly &#8211; a &#8220;100 [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://www.simplykristen.com/activated-charcoal-helping-flood-victims/flood3/" rel="attachment wp-att-930"><img src="http://www.simplykristen.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/flood3-446x334.jpg" alt="" title="Our house while the water was rising" width="446" height="334" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-930" /></a><br />
What a salacious title!</p>
<p>Even so &#8211; it describes our last two weeks. Living on the outskirts of Nashville, we were hit by the torrential rains and flooding. Since we (used) to live on the banks of Cane Creek we knew we had a chance of flooding. One year ago &#8211; exactly &#8211; a &#8220;100 Year Flood&#8221; hit and our house had about 4 inches of water come into it. We were not living there at the time &#8211; but at least we knew our house had the propensity to flood. Many in the area had no idea. <span id="more-889"></span></p>
<p>So, when the rains began and the creek started to rise my husband wisely removed us and our vehicles from the property (our house is a lot higher than where we park the vehicles). After we were settled into an out of town friend&#8217;s home (on a hill!) he went back and lifted everything off the floor and carried many things to the upstairs office. All the while thinking &#8220;Well, it probably won&#8217;t flood into the house, but just in case.&#8221;</p>
<p>The next day when he went to check on everything &#8211; but on the way stopping to rescue several families &#8211; he saw 6.5 feet of water in our downstairs!! He literally boated to our place and saw our couch floating in the living room.<br />
After helping many others &#8211; and after the waters receded we were left with mud mud mud! I used to think of flooding as just water, clean water even, but flooding usually involves about 3 inches of muddy slime on everything also.</p>
<p>Just so you aren&#8217;t too worried about us, I&#8217;ll let you know that so so so many people have been incredibly generous with the their time and resources and we really are okay! We are staying with family in South Carolina and our place was cleaned out and whatever could be was salvaged. Since it was a rental we don&#8217;t have the issues of replacing and repairing the structure.</p>
<p>So, what is in the flood water besides mud? Mostly poo! Septic systems overwhelm and break, the cow field next to us was cleaned off, and the waters running from the cave (think bats) was also freshly scrubbed. That is a lot of poo &#8211; and a lot of bacteria &#8211; and a lot of other human made products that spill and shouldn&#8217;t become mixed with water that goes and touches everything and everyone. While our little kids were not at the clean-up for very long, it&#8217;s hard to keep their hands out of their mouth &#8211; or even clean them with no running water and the soap covered in sludge.</p>
<p>That gets to where charcoal helped us out big time!<br />
So, onto the day when we were leaving to drive to SC. My almost five year old daughter began throwing up, and throwing up, and throwing up. This is my kiddo that uses her digestive system to eliminate! Anytime she is exposed to something her system doesn&#8217;t like &#8211; her gut gets rid of it. If a stomach virus, or bad food comes her way &#8211; we know it because she throws it all up. It&#8217;s a good method! And what a lot of bodies should do, rather than writhing in pain for days.</p>
<p>Even though we knew she&#8217;d be okay within 24 hours or so, we couldn&#8217;t drive like that, but didn&#8217;t really have anywhere else convenient to go. So, my friend mixed up activated charcoal in applesauce. My daughter was completely cured within 10 minutes. Completely. Going from puking and diarrhea every 10-20 minutes to begging to go outside and play is a HUGE improvement.</p>
<p>So, how does Activated Charcoal work?</p>
<p><a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/drug-information/dr602267">Mayo Clinic</a> says this:<br />
<em>Activated charcoal is used in the emergency treatment of certain kinds of poisoning. It helps prevent the poison from being absorbed from the stomach into the body. Sometimes, several doses of activated charcoal are needed to treat severe poisoning. Ordinarily, this medicine is not effective and should not be used in poisoning if corrosive agents such as alkalis (lye) and strong acids, iron, boric acid, lithium, petroleum products (e.g., cleaning fluid, coal oil, fuel oil, gasoline, kerosene, paint thinner), or alcohols have been swallowed, since it will not prevent these poisons from being absorbed into the body</em>.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.bulkherbstore.com/ACP-2?s=activated%20charcoal">Bulk Herb Stor</a>e says this:<br />
<em>This powerful substance has been used as an effective anti-poison remedy for centuries. It works as an adsorbent of toxins in the digestive system, relieves gases, can eliminate fungi, viruses and bacteria, and may promote recovery from food poisoning. Preliminary research shows that regular high dosages may lower cholesterol and fat levels.</em></p>
<p>And I believe them both! Activated Charcoal proves in our nasty flood water case to be extremely effective in absorbing whatever toxic substance my daughter came into contact with. And what a blessing to NOT have to drive 10 hours with a sick child. I assume that activated charcoal would not have worked if the throwing up was caused by a true stomach virus, even so, I&#8217;ll try it again next time!</p>
<p>Thank you Activated Charcoal! I have found a new emergency remedy.</p>
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		<title>Canning and Herb Storage</title>
		<link>http://www.simplykristen.com/canning-and-herb-storage/</link>
		<comments>http://www.simplykristen.com/canning-and-herb-storage/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 20 Apr 2010 23:54:16 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Kristen</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Audio Podcast]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Herbs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Homesteading]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Natural Alternatives]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[canning]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cans]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[herb storage]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[money saving]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.simplykristen.com/?p=792</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Canning - the idea used to intimidate me MAJORLY! I saw pretty canned jars at my grandmothers house and in old-timey stores and thought there was some sort of magic involved in getting vegetables and fruit to look so pretty and stored properly. Well, I was wrong! After doing this interview with Sarah about Basic Canning I tried it and it wasn't so bad. I did apple sauce, plum sauce, pear sauce, and peaches! It was much easier than I thought.

Canning your own food has a lot of nutritional benefits. With home canning you avoid things like  MSG, salt, added sweeteners, and artificial coloring--Yuck! There are also some major economical reasons to can. If you grow your own food, it's a free way to store it through the winter months, and it's safe from power outages (freezing foods is subject to constant electricity). Also, foods can be much cheaper if you buy them in season and from a local farmer. The extras you buy can be canned and enjoyed all year long.

Canning really is an important skill - one missed by too many in my generation. I'm thankful I finally learned - and you can too. Just listen.

I also talk to Shoshanna about how to properly store your herbs - so they retain their medicinal values and stay fresh and tasty. Great info there too!]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-829" title="Canning and Herb Storage" src="http://www.simplykristen.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/Canning-and-Herb-Storage-e1271803326133.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" /><br />
<a href="http://www.simplykristen.com/audio/CanningandHerbStorage.mp3"> www.simplykristen.com/audio/CanningandHerbStorage.mp3</a></p>
<p>Canning &#8211; the idea used to intimidate me MAJORLY! I saw pretty canned jars at my grandmothers house and in old-timey stores and thought there was some sort of magic involved in getting vegetables and fruit to look so pretty and stored properly. Well, I was wrong! After doing this interview with Sarah about Basic Canning I tried it and it wasn&#8217;t so bad. I did apple sauce, plum sauce, pear sauce, and peaches! It was much easier than I thought.</p>
<p>Canning your own food has a lot of nutritional benefits. With home canning you avoid things like  MSG, salt, added sweeteners, and artificial coloring&#8211;Yuck! There are also some major economical reasons to can. If you grow your own food, it&#8217;s a free way to store it through the winter months, and it&#8217;s safe from power outages (freezing foods is subject to constant electricity). Also, foods can be much cheaper if you buy them in season and from a local farmer. The extras you buy can be canned and enjoyed all year long.</p>
<p>Canning really is an important skill &#8211; one missed by too many in my generation. I&#8217;m thankful I finally learned &#8211; and you can too.  Just listen.</p>
<p>I also talk to Shoshanna about how to properly store your herbs &#8211; so they retain their medicinal values and stay fresh and tasty. Great info there too!</p>
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