If you don’t know much about HFCS, read this description from Wikipedia. The first paragraph tells you  most of what you need to know:

In the US, HFCS is among the sweeteners that have partially replaced sucrose (table sugar), due to governmental subsidies of U.S. corn and an import tariff on foreign sugar, raising the price of sucrose to levels above those of the rest of the world, making HFCS cost-efficient for many sweetener applications. Critics of the extensive use of HFCS in food sweetening argue that the highly processed substance is more harmful to humans than regular sugar, contributing to weight gain by affecting normal appetite functions, and that in some foods HFCS may be a source of mercury, a known neurotoxin. The Corn Refiners Association disputes these claims and maintain that HFCS is comparable to table sugar. Studies by The American Medical Association suggest “it appears unlikely that HFCS contributes more to obesity or other conditions than sucrose” but calls for further independent research on the subject. HFCS was classified as generally recognized as safe (GRAS) by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1976. Over 85% of the corn syrup produced in the United States is a genetically modified product.

So, according to a standard source….. HFCS:
1. Is extremely refined
2. Causes more weight gain in humans than standard table sugar
3. Contains mercury (a neurotoxin)
4. Is over 85% genetically modified. Here (Science Fiction Horror Story) is a simple read about genetic modification

I’ve also noticed videos online talking about how fructose feeds cancers and causes WAY more growth (of that cancer) than glucose by itself. Video from CNN

AND I’ve seen commercials telling people that HFCS is just the same as table sugar.
Watch this commercial spoof, it contains more information!

So, uh…. do you try to avoid HFCS?

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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’t resist the challenge of learning more.

Now that I understand a lot about Lyme, I’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’s. care.

Here is some basic information about the disease:

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’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.

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: Symptoms of Lyme

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’t right in spite of the many positive health changes you’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.

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’ve been tested for Lyme through your Doctor’s office using an ELISA screening test and it was negative, that doesn’t mean you don’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: Igenex and Central Florida Research.

If you discover that you have Lyme you’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:
The Top Ten Lyme Disease Treatments
Cure Unknown
The Lyme Diet

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.

Because of the spirochete’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 Lyme Disease Association: In left side bar under “Resources” click on “Doctor Referral”.

Many of us don’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’ve found the answers. What we don’t realize, until we really understand Lyme disease, is that all these conditions have been brought on BY Lyme. And if we don’t KILL the Lyme bacteria, Borelliosis, we will fight those maladies forever and never really attain healing.

- Brenda

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• 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 – that we are okay. But even in developed countries there is a serious problem of Iodine Deficiency.
• There is a correlation between Iodine Deficiency and Breast Cancer – 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 Iodine Is Vital For Good Health
• Iodine is put into animal feed as a supplement.
• There are A LOT of different types of Iodine….. Iodine – 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 Wikipedia.
• 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’t take high level chemistry. Can you tell?
• Iodine shouldn’t be added just because or recklessly. As in any food element – it’s best in a whole food source so the body can process it correctly. This article from  Natural News recommends taking Kelp (it’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).
• There is an opposing view point that says too much Iodine messes with the thyroid and makes it not work properly. I’m really not sure about the evidence, but I’ll post the links so you can have the information yourself:                                                                            Jillian Michaels, Master Your Metabolism
  it says on pg 220: ”Don’t supplement with iodine. Many “holistic” nutrition websites recommend that you take supplemental iodine or kelp to support your thyroid. Don’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.”
  The New England Journal of Medicine article 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 “more than adequate or excessive iodine intake may lead to hypothyroidism and autoimmune thyroiditis.”

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.

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 whole foods that are high in Iodine. It sure helps me!

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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 “with three kids everything changes”. Things aren’t all that much harder….. just totally different. Every minute feels like it’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.

Most people when they want to lose the extra think “how can I cut calories and fat?” Well, cutting calories can ultimately help… but NOT cutting the fat. You don’t want to cut the fat. Good fat is good for you. I’ll scream it again! Good fat is GOOD for you.

Whole fresh milk (more information about what is “fresh milk”? link to The Untold Story of Raw Milk), 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, 20 Reasons Butter Is Better) , 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 – Five Fats You Must Have In Your Kitchen and WHY you need them.

Okay, so what am I going to do – other than not cut out the fats?

1. Eat a good breakfast and no food after 7pm, unless I forget to take my vitamins during the day (then I’ll have to eat a little something – hehe)

2. Drink loads of water

3. Walk 2 miles a day – 4-5 times a week

4. Do about 20 pushups and 50 sits ups a day

5. Do this Dr. Schultz wieghtloss package called “Super Slim” for 30 days. I get this in the mail in a few days, and I’ll let you know how it goes.

6. Not have too high of an expectation. Just hope my clothes fit a little loser in 30 days.

I am still nursing, so I can’t be crazy about anything. I also hold onto a little bit of weight while I nurse…. but I’m about 10lbs over that heavier nursing weight.

There, I wrote it in my blog. Now I have to do it. *wink*

I’ll let you know in 30 days if I’ve been successful and what I think worked and what didn’t.

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www.simplykristen.com/audio/EnemasHowandWhy.mp3

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.

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It was fine with me thinking it was unhealthy, I didn’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.

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 finally try a cup and MUCH to my shock I enjoyed it.

The coffee I enjoyed was made with freshly ground beans, and loaded with sugar and cream. So, the sugar part wasn’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’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 – the difference is incredible – so yummy!

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.

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’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!

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’s the health difference of store bought white bread (with a million bad ingredients) and homemade freshly ground wheat bread.

There are also issues about coffee that make it unhealthy like some of the decaffeination process’. The most popular (and cheapest) method is the use of chemical solvents.  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.EU 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. Wikipedia

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’t have the chemical residue. Sounds like a better option doesn’t it?

Now onto the health benefits of coffee – 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’s, Alzheimer’s, and Colon Cancers. I read this article from Web MD and was pretty impressed with all the listed benefits.

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?

If you enjoy coffee and would like a place to buy the kind of healthy coffee I wrote about, try Cane Creek Coffee. It’s the only homebrewed coffee I’ve ever enjoyed and it’s natural, free of chemicals, and roasted the old fashioned way. You can even get a free sample – No Strings Attached. Tell ‘em I sent you!

Write in the comment section about the inflammation issue, and remember to ‘like’ my facebook page, where I update daily. I enjoy seeing you all there! Simply Kristen Facebook

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My husband and I are in the final stages of production for our second DVD with Bulk Herb Store – 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 – I learn something and am inspired all over again!

I’ve uploaded two excerpts from the video for you to see – and really excited about it.

Herbal Art Project – Excerpt from “Making Herbs Simple: Volume 2 (HD)

Poison Ivy Remedy – Excerpt from “Making Herbs Simple: Volume 2 (HD)

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! 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…..if you can’t do it that’s fine, we’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 – 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.”

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 – and I forgot the extras of the video – 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 – so so so funny! Can’t wait for everyone to see it.

Coming Soon!

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www.simplykristen.com/audio/AllAboutWater.mp3

Human bodies are almost 70% water. The earth’s surface is almost 70% water.  Our lives are truly centered around water! We harness its power for electricity, we build near water, we play in water, and most importantly…..we drink water.
Since water is so very important, I wanted to dig around and find the answers to common and controversial questions like: How much water do we really need? What kind of water is right for you? What’s in the tap water we drink? And what’s the best way to store water?
The answers I found in this podcast were really surprising – especially the part about tap water! Whew! Listen to my interview with Wanda and find out more.

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A little less than four years ago I was home from a sadly typical hospital birth experience, tired, sore and having a *lot* of trouble nursing my precious newborn girl. After a few helpful phone calls with a lactation consultant, she recommended  the herbs Blessed Thistle, Fennel, and Alfalfa to increase my milk supply. I thought to myself “What!? She is not recommending an FDA approved drug to help me? This probably won’t work…..” 

But, I decided to try it and the herbs DID help! I was able feed my baby without both of us ending up in tears at the end of the nursing session. At that moment I became a true believer in herbs! it’s amazing how one comment can turn your life upside down, for after that experience my husband and I began to see all the resources God gave us through His wonderful creation!

Just the other day I took some photos of 3 “weeds” in our yard that are edible and healthy. Oh- I could go on and on about our quest of researching and successes we’ve had with whole foods, natural birth, baking, gardening, animal husbandry…. but wait, this is a post about herbs  

There are hundreds of herbs, many right in your yard, that are useful for nutrition and healing. But after some careful consideration I decided that if I HAD to limit my herb cabinet to 5 items Echinacea, fresh Garlic, Eucalyptus Essential Oil, Elderberries, and Red Raspberry Leaf would be the keepers. Here’s why:

Echinacea

Recent research has shown that Echinacea boost T-cell production (or your “disease fighter” cells), it also has antibacterial and antiviral properties. Surprisingly enough, you have probably seen this herb in your neighbor’s flower garden, people call it Purple Cone Flower. It tall, beautiful, and considered the King of Herbs!

I use this herb in teas, tinctures, and salves. And I truly notice a difference in the length and severity of illness – The more echinacea I take, the less the virulent the virus is, it’s amazing! My favorite way to take echinacea is mixed with peppermint, rosehips, elderberry and ginseng- THAT is a super immune tea!

Eucalyptus Essential Oil

Sprinkled in the shower, the steamy scent of Eucalyptus opens plugged nasal passages and airways, helping my kids (and me) breathe better whenever they get stuffy. For sore throats and colds, I drop a few drops on a washcloth and place it near the (sometimes loud) breather.

Eucalyptus oil is also known to kill the bad bacteria in our throat and lungs. What could be better- Kills the bad stuff, opens the passages, and soothes the throat. Definitely a keeper!

Warning! Eucalyptus oil can burn the skin, so keep it out of reach of the kiddos.

Elderberry

If you live anywhere near creeks, you have seen the Elder Tree! It’s small and shrubby with stems that have wart-like bumps. It ranges from 5-12 feet in height and blooms a white flower from about June to July. These blooms mature into a purplish black berry- that is Elderberry and the part of the tree you want to use (the roots, bark, and leaves are toxic).

Elderberries have been known throughout the ages as THE flu herb. You may even recognize the natural flu medication Sambucol, that is Elderberry syrup.
I most often use Elderberry in teas or syrups, and it tastes great! We’ll take a swig of a yummy Elderberry syrup anytime I know we’ve been exposed to a nasty cold or flu bug, and I think it works great!

You can make your own syrups or tinctures, or buy it. Here is a brand I’ve used with great success, and my kids really like it!

Red Raspberry Leaf

If there ever was an herb made perfectly for women- it’s Red Raspberry!

It’s use is known to:
-Strengthen and tone the wall of the uterus and entire female reproductive system.
- Decrease profuse menstrual flow.
Alleviates morning sickness and nausea.
Prevent hemorrhaging during labor (by strengthening uterus).
Assist labor, and relieve after pains. Increases and enriches milk for lactation.

Red Raspberry Leaf is also full of vitamins! Calcium, iron, magnesium, vitamin A, and vitamin C- just to name a few. I drink a cold mixture of Red Raspberry Leaf, Nettle, Peppermint, and Alfafa daily. I absolutely love it!

Garlic

You know the smelly root, but did you know it’s the ultimate natural healer? Currently, it’s being studied because scientists have found out it’s one of the only things that kills the dreaded Staph infections.

Properties: Antibacterial, antiviral, antiseptic, antiparasitic, antifungal, anthelmintic, immune-stimulating, hypotensive, diaphoretic, and antispasmodic. Whoa! 

It’s Active against: Tuberculosis, Shigella dysenteriae, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans, Escherichia coli, Streptococcus, Salmonella, Proteus mirabilis, influenza, and many many more. 

Uses: We use garlic anytime we start feeling run down….. you know how the beginning of a cold or virus feels! 

Eating it: I’ll chop up a clove into tiny pieces and just swallow it like a large vitamin. However, everyone else in the house prefers it on a spoonful of honey followed up by a swig of water. Come to think of it- I bet it decreases disease transmission simultaneous because people don’t want to get too close to the stinky family- HAHA! 

Poultices: Just like everything else, garlic soaks into your skin and gets into your bloodstream. To make a poultice, break off two or three large cloves and lay them on your counter. Get some hot water together, and place the cloves on a clean cloth. Smack the garlic cloves with the bottom of a heavy glass a few times till you can see the juices coming out- and you get hungry for homemade lasagna! Now fold the cloth over and pour warm/hot (but not boiling) water over it. Let it sit for a few seconds then squeeze out the excess water. Place the warm (not hot) poultice on the chest, the back, and the soles of the feet (rotate) for about a minute each. You can do this several times a day. This also works well for babies who won’t swallow fresh garlic.

Garlic Oil for earaches: Slightly warm a few tablespoons of olive oil with crushed (fresh) garlic in it. Let it sit a few minutes then thoroughly strain out all of the garlic. Now use as standard ear drops (make sure it is not hot!). You can also use a garlic poultice over or behind the ear for suspected mild infections. 

Warning: it can burn the skin, don’t leave on directly on skin for more than a minute or two. 

Important note: To utilize all the medicinal qualities of garlic it must be used within 15 minutes of the clove being crushed. chopped, or bruised. After that, the Allicin loses 90% or so of its effectiveness…. So sorry, you’ve got to remake that garlic oil and poultice each time.

Now it’s your turn! Comment and tell me the herbs you use most often!

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www.simplykristen.com/audio/OrganicDoesItMatter.mp3

You’ve heard, “You are what you eat”, so listen and find out what you’re made of!

Rebekah Anast, owner of a health forum, tells us all about what the food labels really mean. She answers: What does Genetic Modification, Organic, Natural, Free Range, MSG, and Hormone Free mean and how does it affect our bodies? Also, what to do if you can’t afford standard grocery store Organic prices.

I learned a lot while interviewing Rebekah, and I think you will too!

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