I recently had the opportunity to attend a party at Portland’s fabulous Cheese Bar in honor of my friend Ivy Manning‘s new cookbook, Crackers and Dips.
Ivy prepared a spectacular spread for the party, which included not
only Steve Jones’ finest charcuterie and cheeses, but also a sampling of
homemade crackers, schmears and dips from the book. Always one to take
care of her friends with food sensitivities, Ivy included THREE types of
gluten-free crackers in the mix. Yay for inclusion! My favorite dip was
the decadent Bacon and Caramelized Onion Jam, unless you count the
Salted Whiskey Caramel sauce I was licking from the tips of my fingers.
(I guess you should count that.)
Crackers and Dips is not a gluten-free cookbook, but it’s
considerably more gluten-free friendly that you might initially assume.
Even I was surprised. Eleven of the 37 cracker recipes are gluten free.
Fourteen dips are safe, and the remaining four can easily be converted
with a simple ingredient (gf soy sauce, beer or bread crumbs)
substitution. The crackers I’ve sampled so far–Senbai Japanese Rice
Crackers, Macadamia Nut and Coconut Flour Club Crackers, and these
Amaranth Crackers with Cheddar and Pepitas–were knockouts and, not
surprisingly, so much fresher and more interesting than purchased
gluten-free crackers. I’m looking forward to trying out the remaining
options: Smoked Almond Thins, Brown Butter Hazelnut Crackers, Seeded
Quinoa Crackers, Flax Seed Pizza Crackers, and “A School of Gluten-Free
Fish” Crackers. Ivy also included a few naturally gluten-free choices:
Frico with Basil, Pappadums Three Ways and Vietnamese Shrimp Chips.
As I read through Crackers & Dips, I couldn’t help but
hope that more cookbook authors will take a tip from Ivy’s play book.
For all intents and purposes, this should be just another wheat-filled
baking book that I’ll never be able to touch. But it’s not. Ivy clearly
thought outside the box, and by experimenting with alternative and whole
grain flours and carefully choosing the ingredients in the dips, she
has created a book that addresses everyone’s needs. Give her Amaranth
Crackers with Cheddar and Pepitas a try (hint: they taste particularly
great with tomatillo salsa or guacamole) and I know you’ll catch the
cracker-making bug. Enjoy! ~LbR (Cracker photograph by Jenifer Altman.)
-Laura b. Russell
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
The 10 Most Shocking Things About Sunscreen
What you don’t know about sunscreen may be hurting you.
After reading study after study reporting the alarming increase in skin cancer cases over the last several years, I’ve started to wonder what sunscreen might have to do with it. I recently came across the research of Dr. Elizabeth Plourde, the author of Sunscreens Biohazard – Treat as Hazardous Waste. Dr. Plourde is a hormone specialist with 25 years of extensive medical research and writing to her credit who has recently focused her attention on the hormonally-disruptive chemicals utilized in sunscreens. I had the opportunity to speak with her recently and here are the most disturbing conclusions of her research:
1. Sunscreens are now in 97% of Americans’ blood streams and in 85% of breast milk samples.
2. The rapid increase in melanoma cases demonstrates sunscreen is NOT the answer. Sunscreens contribute to its cause because they leave the skin open to deeper penetrating radiation! The FDA only requires UV filtering, but UV rays only make up 4% of the solar radiation spectrum. Sunscreen use exposes the skin longer to near infrared (NIR) rays that account up 47% of solar radiation and penetrate deeper than UV rays.
3. Sunscreen chemicals pass through the placenta causing fetal development disruption. Fish show gender disruption due to sunscreen chemicals’ strong hormonal influences, indicating the same gender disruption can occur in human fetuses. Common in the news today are children with gender identity confusion.
4. Sunscreen is now being linked to autism. Recent statistics show that autism is continuing to rise and to increase more rapidly in boys, which highlights the importance of addressing the many connections that connect the development of autism with the use of sunscreens.
6. Coral die within 96 hours of exposure to low levels of sunscreen chemicals. The stress created by these toxins makes coral less resistant to slight temperature fluctuations.
7. Phytoplankton, the crucial bottom of the food chain, die because they absorb sunscreens’ zinc oxide until they explode.
8. Sunscreen chemicals are now ubiquitous in our lakes and rivers around the world.
9. Upon exposure to sunscreen chemicals, fish become “inter-sexed” as they develop both male and female reproductive organs. Some even stop spawning all together.
10. Sunscreen chemicals are even in muscles of the fish we eat.
All of this may seem a little overwhelming because it flies in the face of conventional wisdom and everything we have been taught by dermatologists and skincare experts over the last decade. I’m sure you may be as disturbed as I am, but I have some practical suggestions that will help you to transition into a skin-protective program from the outside in and the inside out.
-Edge On Health, Dr. Ann Louise Gittleman
After reading study after study reporting the alarming increase in skin cancer cases over the last several years, I’ve started to wonder what sunscreen might have to do with it. I recently came across the research of Dr. Elizabeth Plourde, the author of Sunscreens Biohazard – Treat as Hazardous Waste. Dr. Plourde is a hormone specialist with 25 years of extensive medical research and writing to her credit who has recently focused her attention on the hormonally-disruptive chemicals utilized in sunscreens. I had the opportunity to speak with her recently and here are the most disturbing conclusions of her research:
1. Sunscreens are now in 97% of Americans’ blood streams and in 85% of breast milk samples.
2. The rapid increase in melanoma cases demonstrates sunscreen is NOT the answer. Sunscreens contribute to its cause because they leave the skin open to deeper penetrating radiation! The FDA only requires UV filtering, but UV rays only make up 4% of the solar radiation spectrum. Sunscreen use exposes the skin longer to near infrared (NIR) rays that account up 47% of solar radiation and penetrate deeper than UV rays.
3. Sunscreen chemicals pass through the placenta causing fetal development disruption. Fish show gender disruption due to sunscreen chemicals’ strong hormonal influences, indicating the same gender disruption can occur in human fetuses. Common in the news today are children with gender identity confusion.
4. Sunscreen is now being linked to autism. Recent statistics show that autism is continuing to rise and to increase more rapidly in boys, which highlights the importance of addressing the many connections that connect the development of autism with the use of sunscreens.
- The ratio of autistic boys compared to girls has risen from 4:1 to 4.6:1, or approximately 5 boys to every girl. Sunscreens are more potent anti-testosterones than Flutamide, the anti-testosterone drug given to prostate cancer patients to block the action of their testosterone. This would impact male development more than female development.
- Autistic children demonstrate thyroid disruption. Sunscreens demonstrate the ability to disrupt normal thyroid development in the fetus. Abnormal thyroid affects speech and cognitive skills, both are aspects of the spectrum of autistic disorders.
- Autism rates vary by race. The MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report) 2008 reconfirms Caucasians have a higher incidence rate than either African Americans or Hispanics. More Caucasians use sunscreen than the other two groups, as evidenced by the higher percentage of sunscreen chemicals found in their blood.
- The rise in autism incidence parallels the rise in sunscreen use. In the 1970s and 1980s when sunscreens were introduced, the incidence of children diagnosed with autism was approximately 1 in 2,000. The MMWR 2008 reports that it is now 11 per 1,000.
- Vitamin D is identified as crucial to proper brain development before the age of 2. Sunscreen blocks vitamin D production and proper brain development cannot take place. The deficiencies in the brain development—as a result of low vitamin D—are being identified in autistic children.
- Aluminum is suspected as a cause of autism. Sunscreens contain aluminum—whether it is listed on the label or not—as it is used in processing the ingredients.
6. Coral die within 96 hours of exposure to low levels of sunscreen chemicals. The stress created by these toxins makes coral less resistant to slight temperature fluctuations.
7. Phytoplankton, the crucial bottom of the food chain, die because they absorb sunscreens’ zinc oxide until they explode.
8. Sunscreen chemicals are now ubiquitous in our lakes and rivers around the world.
9. Upon exposure to sunscreen chemicals, fish become “inter-sexed” as they develop both male and female reproductive organs. Some even stop spawning all together.
10. Sunscreen chemicals are even in muscles of the fish we eat.
All of this may seem a little overwhelming because it flies in the face of conventional wisdom and everything we have been taught by dermatologists and skincare experts over the last decade. I’m sure you may be as disturbed as I am, but I have some practical suggestions that will help you to transition into a skin-protective program from the outside in and the inside out.
-Edge On Health, Dr. Ann Louise Gittleman
Friday, April 26, 2013
May 18 GIG Meeting
The May GIG meeting will be held at:
PeaceHealth SW Hospital, Room #1
92nd Ave & Mill Plain Rd,
Vancouver, WA 98664
10am-12pm
Next to the parking garage,
go up the steps to the Education Center.
Our Guest Speakers are:
Janasa Herndon, MonAvie GF Nutritonal Supplements
Carol Tedder, A personal story, food/ potato intolerance
We hope you can join us!
PeaceHealth SW Hospital, Room #1
92nd Ave & Mill Plain Rd,
Vancouver, WA 98664
10am-12pm
Next to the parking garage,
go up the steps to the Education Center.
Our Guest Speakers are:
Janasa Herndon, MonAvie GF Nutritonal Supplements
Carol Tedder, A personal story, food/ potato intolerance
We hope you can join us!
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
GIG of Portland
9th Annual Gluten-Free Food Fair
May 18 2013
11am – 3pm
Mittleman Jewish Community Center
6651 SW Capitol Hwy Portland OR
$10 per person/ $15 per family –children under 12 free!
Cash only at the door
ID required for entrance into MJCC.
Free parking
Monday, April 22, 2013
Upcoming Gluten Free Food Fairs
Portland Area Gluten-Free Food Fairs 2013
Save the Dates!
May 18th Gluten-Free Food Fair
by GIG of Portland
Mittleman Jewish Community Center
6651 Southwest Capitol Hwy, Portland, OR
graindamaged.blogspot.com
Facebook.com/GIGofPortland
Oct 19th Samplefest Gluten Free Food and Health Fair
by GIG of SW Washington
St. John Lutheran Church
11005 NE Hwy 99, Vancouver,
WA
gigswwa.blogspot.com
Oct 26th Gluten-Free Holiday
Food Fair
by National Gluten-Free Business Forum
Mittleman Jewish Community Center
6651 Southwest Capitol Hwy, Portland, OR
ngfbf.net
May 18 GIG Meeting
The May GIG meeting will be held at:
PeaceHealth SW Hospital, Room #1
92nd Ave & Mill Plain Rd,
Vancouver, WA 98664
Next to the parking garage,
go up the steps to the Education Center.
Our Guest Speakers are:
Janasa Herndon, MonAvie GF Nutritonal Supplements
Carol Tedder, A personal story, food/ potato intolerance
We hope you can join us!
PeaceHealth SW Hospital, Room #1
92nd Ave & Mill Plain Rd,
Vancouver, WA 98664
Next to the parking garage,
go up the steps to the Education Center.
Our Guest Speakers are:
Janasa Herndon, MonAvie GF Nutritonal Supplements
Carol Tedder, A personal story, food/ potato intolerance
We hope you can join us!
Sunday, April 21, 2013
Surprising Food Triggers
If you're allergic to...
tree pollens avoid almonds, apples, celery, cherries,
hazelnuts, pears, parsley.
grass pollens avoid melons, oranges, tomatoes.
weed pollens avoid carrots, celery, coriander, fennel,
parsley, pepper, sunflower.
ragweed pollens avoid bananas, cantaloupe, chamomile
tea, cucumbers, honeydew, watermelon, zucchini.
-Health Magazine, May 2013
tree pollens avoid almonds, apples, celery, cherries,
hazelnuts, pears, parsley.
grass pollens avoid melons, oranges, tomatoes.
weed pollens avoid carrots, celery, coriander, fennel,
parsley, pepper, sunflower.
ragweed pollens avoid bananas, cantaloupe, chamomile
tea, cucumbers, honeydew, watermelon, zucchini.
-Health Magazine, May 2013
Tea Up!
A key antioxidant in green tea is a great weapon against
memory loss, according to a new Chinese study. The reason?
It might boost neuron production. If you buy bottled green tea,
unsweetened options are your best bet. Or, for a touch of
sweetness, sip one with 17 grams of sugar or less per 8 ounces,
says Joy Bauer, RD, author of Food Cures.
Four to try:
Honest Tea Unsweetened Just Green Tea
Tea's Tea Mint Green Tea
Republic of Tea Pomegranate Green Tea
Argo Green Tea Ginger Twist
-Health Magazine, May 2013
memory loss, according to a new Chinese study. The reason?
It might boost neuron production. If you buy bottled green tea,
unsweetened options are your best bet. Or, for a touch of
sweetness, sip one with 17 grams of sugar or less per 8 ounces,
says Joy Bauer, RD, author of Food Cures.
Four to try:
Honest Tea Unsweetened Just Green Tea
Tea's Tea Mint Green Tea
Republic of Tea Pomegranate Green Tea
Argo Green Tea Ginger Twist
-Health Magazine, May 2013
Eat This Now
Leeks are good through the end of May. At 50 calories per cup, this
cousin to the onion is a diet-friendly powerhouse. "It's a good source
of vitamins A and C, plus iron and folate," says nutritionist Sarah Krieger,
RD, spokeswoman for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. It also has
inulin, a type of fiber that's great for digestion. Eat leeks raw or sauteed, but
skip boiling, which can slash nutrient levels.Look for firm stalks and leaves.
To prep, discard the outer dark-green leaves and cut lengthwise. Soak in cold
water until dirt is gone, then drain. Saute with other veggies in olive oil for a
side dish, or slice and use in place of onions for a sweeter, milder taste in
soups, salads and frittatas.
-Health Magazine, May 2013
cousin to the onion is a diet-friendly powerhouse. "It's a good source
of vitamins A and C, plus iron and folate," says nutritionist Sarah Krieger,
RD, spokeswoman for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. It also has
inulin, a type of fiber that's great for digestion. Eat leeks raw or sauteed, but
skip boiling, which can slash nutrient levels.Look for firm stalks and leaves.
To prep, discard the outer dark-green leaves and cut lengthwise. Soak in cold
water until dirt is gone, then drain. Saute with other veggies in olive oil for a
side dish, or slice and use in place of onions for a sweeter, milder taste in
soups, salads and frittatas.
-Health Magazine, May 2013
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Samplefest Saturday!
Samplefest Gluten Free Food & Health Fair
is today, from 9am-3pm.
St. John Lutheran Church, 11005 NE Hwy 99, Vancouver
Admission: $3.00 per person, $12.00 max per family
Cash only please, children 12 and under are free
Please bring donations for the Church Food Bank/FISH
Enjoy our $1 Menu of delicious food choices for our GIG Fundraiser
(dairy free and vegan as well)
(dairy free and vegan as well)
Samples galore, Door Prizes and more...
Cash & Checks only please for vendor product purchases.
If you have any questions, please contact Audrey: 425-761-3424/
levinaj@comcast.net or Kristi: 360-695-0862/justus323@yahoo.com
We hope to see you there!
levinaj@comcast.net or Kristi: 360-695-0862/justus323@yahoo.com
We hope to see you there!
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Stay Trim with Omega-rich Foods
Walnuts…macadamias…pistachios…pumpkin seeds…avocados. Wouldn’t you
love to start eating these “forbidden foods” again, and get off the
dieting merry-go-round once and for all? Well, you can—and actually lose
weight while you’re doing it.
Focus on the amazing omega fats—that not only brim with flavor, but are bursting with health benefits. Besides revving up your metabolism to help you lose weight, omega fats have been shown in numerous studies to help lower the risk of heart attacks, Alzheimer’s disease, arthritis, breast cancer, and even menstrual irregularities from PMS to perimenopause and beyond.
The truth is, the trimmest and healthiest people throughout the world enjoy cuisines that are far from fat-free. Take a look at the Greeks, Turks, Italians, French, or Spanish, for instance. Their Mediterranean diet—rich in omega oils—is actually considered to be the world’s healthiest cuisine. And yet it is full of olive oil, seeds, nuts, and fatty fish (such as sardines), as well as fresh, colorful fruits and vegetables. Even though they consume a diet that contains 40 percent fat, these populations are slim and boast the lowest rates of heart disease in the world.
Clearly, it’s not the amount of fat, but the type of fat that counts. As a matter of fat, about 6 grams of omega-3′s (a little over 1 tablespoon of liquid fish oil), can even target that hard-to-lose tummy fat which has the most adverse effects on the heart and blood vessels.
Coconutty
Another type of fat that I’m a fan of is coconut oil. Though not an omega fat, it does contain medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) that are much easier to metabolize than other saturated fats. Though coconut is full of saturated fat, it doesn’t really harm your heart health. That’s because much of its saturated fat consists of lauric acid, which is both antiviral and antimicrobial. Research shows it’s one of the fats that boost your good HDL cholesterol—the type that helps keep arteries clear of blockages.
We humans love the taste of coconuts, but food-borne pathogens don’t. Researchers have found that the lauric acids in coconut oil can wipe out a variety of problematic bacteria—including staph and strep—without ever encountering any resistance.
In the digestive track, lauric acid is converted into what is called mono-laurin, a substance that can kill viruses, pathogenic bacteria, and protozoan parasites. Coconut oil has been shown to kill Candida albicans, chlamydia, and H. phylori. As if this weren’t enough, lab experiments have also shown that coconut oil can increase enzyme activity—which gives you more energy. By activating these enzymes that burn fat, it may even help you lose weight!
Coconut oil is made not just from the milk inside the coconut, but results from pressing oils from the meat of the fruit. When buying coconut oil, read the label to make sure it is virgin and not hydrogenated, since hydrogenation adds toxic trans fats.
Pumpkinny Plum Dressing
How about going omega tonight? Try this smoky recipe for plum dressing. It’s great on raw or cooked veggies and is a terrific dip for your gluten-free crackers.
-Makes 1 Cup
1 cup pumpkin seeds
1 cup filtered water
2 umeboshi plums
2 tablespoons flax oil
Wash and dry pumpkin seeds, then dry roast them in a skillet over medium heat until they puff up and pop. Place roasted seeds in a blender and grind to meal-like consistency. Add water to the blender and continue mixing. Add plums and oil, blending until desired taste is reached.
-Edge On Health, Dr. Ann Louise Gittleman
Focus on the amazing omega fats—that not only brim with flavor, but are bursting with health benefits. Besides revving up your metabolism to help you lose weight, omega fats have been shown in numerous studies to help lower the risk of heart attacks, Alzheimer’s disease, arthritis, breast cancer, and even menstrual irregularities from PMS to perimenopause and beyond.
The truth is, the trimmest and healthiest people throughout the world enjoy cuisines that are far from fat-free. Take a look at the Greeks, Turks, Italians, French, or Spanish, for instance. Their Mediterranean diet—rich in omega oils—is actually considered to be the world’s healthiest cuisine. And yet it is full of olive oil, seeds, nuts, and fatty fish (such as sardines), as well as fresh, colorful fruits and vegetables. Even though they consume a diet that contains 40 percent fat, these populations are slim and boast the lowest rates of heart disease in the world.
Clearly, it’s not the amount of fat, but the type of fat that counts. As a matter of fat, about 6 grams of omega-3′s (a little over 1 tablespoon of liquid fish oil), can even target that hard-to-lose tummy fat which has the most adverse effects on the heart and blood vessels.
Coconutty
Another type of fat that I’m a fan of is coconut oil. Though not an omega fat, it does contain medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) that are much easier to metabolize than other saturated fats. Though coconut is full of saturated fat, it doesn’t really harm your heart health. That’s because much of its saturated fat consists of lauric acid, which is both antiviral and antimicrobial. Research shows it’s one of the fats that boost your good HDL cholesterol—the type that helps keep arteries clear of blockages.
We humans love the taste of coconuts, but food-borne pathogens don’t. Researchers have found that the lauric acids in coconut oil can wipe out a variety of problematic bacteria—including staph and strep—without ever encountering any resistance.
In the digestive track, lauric acid is converted into what is called mono-laurin, a substance that can kill viruses, pathogenic bacteria, and protozoan parasites. Coconut oil has been shown to kill Candida albicans, chlamydia, and H. phylori. As if this weren’t enough, lab experiments have also shown that coconut oil can increase enzyme activity—which gives you more energy. By activating these enzymes that burn fat, it may even help you lose weight!
Coconut oil is made not just from the milk inside the coconut, but results from pressing oils from the meat of the fruit. When buying coconut oil, read the label to make sure it is virgin and not hydrogenated, since hydrogenation adds toxic trans fats.
Pumpkinny Plum Dressing
How about going omega tonight? Try this smoky recipe for plum dressing. It’s great on raw or cooked veggies and is a terrific dip for your gluten-free crackers.
-Makes 1 Cup
1 cup pumpkin seeds
1 cup filtered water
2 umeboshi plums
2 tablespoons flax oil
Wash and dry pumpkin seeds, then dry roast them in a skillet over medium heat until they puff up and pop. Place roasted seeds in a blender and grind to meal-like consistency. Add water to the blender and continue mixing. Add plums and oil, blending until desired taste is reached.
-Edge On Health, Dr. Ann Louise Gittleman
Saturday Samplefest
Samplefest Gluten Free Food & Health Fair
is next Saturday, April 20, 2013, from 9am-3pm.
St. John Lutheran Church, 11005 NE Hwy 99, Vancouver
Admission: $3.00 per person, $12.00 Max per family
Children 12 and under are Free
Please bring donations for the Church Food Bank/FISH
Enjoy our $1 Menu of delicious food choices for our GIG Fundraiser
(dairy free and vegan as well)
(dairy free and vegan as well)
Samples galore, Door Prizes and more...
Cash & Checks only please for vendor product purchases.
If you have any questions, please contact Audrey: 425-761-3424/
levinaj@comcast.net or Kristi: 360-695-0862/justus323@yahoo.com
We hope to see you there!
levinaj@comcast.net or Kristi: 360-695-0862/justus323@yahoo.com
We hope to see you there!
Saturday, April 13, 2013
Dining Out - Helpful Tips
Is it gluten free?
That's a good question.
Is the meat dusted with flour?
Is the sauce thickened with a roux?
Does the salad dressing contain soy sauce?
Is the meat served on toast?
Are there croutons in the salad?
Did you know?
Fish stock contains shellfish.
Mayonnaise and meringue contain eggs.
Marzipan contains almonds.
Albumin is from egg.
Whey is from milk.
Cooking oils can contain peanut or soy.
Crab can be imitation and contain eggs or wheat.
Bar drinks can contain milk, egg or nut extracts.
Specialty coffee drinks can contain eggs.
Soup stocks can contain gluten.
Meat marinades can contain gluten.
Soy sauce contains gluten.
-Living Without Magazine June/July 2009
Is the meat dusted with flour?
Is the sauce thickened with a roux?
Does the salad dressing contain soy sauce?
Is the meat served on toast?
Are there croutons in the salad?
Did you know?
Fish stock contains shellfish.
Mayonnaise and meringue contain eggs.
Marzipan contains almonds.
Albumin is from egg.
Whey is from milk.
Cooking oils can contain peanut or soy.
Crab can be imitation and contain eggs or wheat.
Bar drinks can contain milk, egg or nut extracts.
Specialty coffee drinks can contain eggs.
Soup stocks can contain gluten.
Meat marinades can contain gluten.
Soy sauce contains gluten.
-Living Without Magazine June/July 2009
April 20 Samplefest 2013
Samplefest Gluten Free Food & Health Fair
is next Saturday, April 20, 2013, from 9am-3pm.
St. John Lutheran Church, 11005 NE Hwy 99, Vancouver
Admission: $3.00 per person, $12.00 Max per family
Children 12 and under are Free
Please bring donations for the Church Food Bank/FISH
Enjoy our $1 Menu of delicious food choices for our GIG Fundraiser
(dairy free and vegan as well)
(dairy free and vegan as well)
Samples galore, Door Prizes and more...
Cash & Checks only please for vendor product purchases.
If you have any questions, please contact Audrey: 425-761-3424/
levinaj@comcast.net or Kristi: 360-695-0862/justus323@yahoo.com
We hope to see you there!
levinaj@comcast.net or Kristi: 360-695-0862/justus323@yahoo.com
We hope to see you there!
Thursday, April 11, 2013
Overlooked Autism Risk Factors
Environmental factors—including EMFs and mercury—may put children at risk.
April marks Autism Awareness Month, and as statistics continue to skyrocket, it’s something every parent and future parent should educate themselves about. A quarter century ago, autism spectrum disorders (ASD) were extremely rare—only 1 out 100,000 children. Today experts estimate that 2 to 6 kids out of 1,000 will have autism. And boys are four times more likely to develop ASD than girls.
This incredible jump in autism rates has led scientists to explore environmental factors, especially in utero. Mercury—in contaminated seafood as well as vaccines—and other heavy metals (like cadmium and nickel) are prime suspects. Other likely culprits include toxic biofilms, molds, infections like Lyme disease, pollutants (including methylene chloride, quinoline, styrene, and vinyl chloride), and viruses.
Maternal deficiency in vitamin D during pregnancy is another risk factor for ASD in their children. Even pregnant women stressed by the effects of hurricanes in their third trimester appear more likely to give birth to autistic children.
If that weren’t enough, research is beginning to link electromagnetic fields (EMFs)—from cordless and mobile phones, cell phone and microwave towers, electronic and wireless devices—with ASD. In one unpublished study, alternative physician Dietrich Klinghardt, MD, discovered that a pregnant woman’s body voltage as well as children’s body voltage—measured in their bedrooms—predicted autism and other serious neurological disorders. He considers EMFs “synergistically causal,” increasing the production of toxic microbes.
“Cell phones have not been proven safe for adults, children, or pregnant women,” says Christine Hoch, executive director of Moms for Safe Wireless. Both before and after birth, children are especially sensitive to EMFs, because their developing nervous systems are fragile, their brain tissue is more conductive, and their smaller skeletons are more easily penetrated by this radiation.
“Just after conception, most fetuses are burdened with heavy metals and toxins from their mothers,” explains Hoch. “After birth, most children are able to detoxify these unwanted substances. Those whose detoxification pathways don’t work as well develop neurological conditions including autism.” A 5-year study, published in the Journal of the Australasian College of Nutritional & Environmental Medicine, suggests that EMFs from mobile phones, cell towers, and other wireless devices are “accelerating” factors in autism.
This kind of radiation also impacts fertility, and several studies suggest low-level microwaves can interfere with the genetics in the ovarian follicles. “What that means in everyday language,” says Barrie Trower, a retired British military intelligence scientist who consults for governments on microwave effects, is that “this particular mitochondrial genetic damage is irreparable.” Furthermore, if a woman whose eggs are harmed by this kind of radiation has a daughter, she will also “carry that genetic deformity, and her daughter will carry it, and her daughter will carry it.”
Every mother wants to protect her baby, but technology is moving so fast these days, it’s hard to always know what’s best.
For example, a wireless baby monitor or camera in the nursery probably seems like a great way to check in on your child. But a less expensive 50 MHz baby monitor or wired camera monitor would do the job—without exposing your tot to potentially harmful radiation.
Around the world, the warning bells are beginning to sound. The Israeli Health Ministry warned that cordless phones and their base units emit as much radiation as mobile phones. The Russian National Committee on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection recommend restricted use of wireless telecommunication devices for anyone 18 and under. In this country, by contrast, wireless devices are increasingly popular—with no pre-market testing. Go figure!
Since Americans are on their own with EMF risks, here are some ways to protect your fertility and lessen children’s radiation risks:
• Keep cell and cordless phones or other wireless devices out of the bedroom.
• Always use e-readers (like a Kindle) and laptops away from your body.
• Never put cell phones in your pocket, and don’t use them in low signal areas because more power is required, zapping you even more.
• Don’t use wireless devices in a car, bus, or train, as metal reflects EMFs causing the waves to bounce around with greater impact.
• Text, rather than talk, or use an air tube headset or speaker mode on your mobile phone.
Treating over 500 children with autism spectrum disorder, Tamara J. Mariea, CCN, has reported improving her patients’ symptoms without changing any of their previous treatment—simply by lowering the level of EMFs in her clinic! For more tips on protecting future generations, visit www.momsforsafewireless.org. For information on remediating EMFs in your own home, check out www.buildingbiology.net.
Dietary Influences
Today, as many as 1.5 million Americans have some form of autism, and increasingly, complementary therapies are proving beneficial. Dietary treatments have been used since the 1920s to improve behavior. Scientific evidence, for instance, suggests that food additives and sugary foods contribute to hyperactivity, a symptom of ASD.
Allergies appear to underlie hyperactivity and irritability in autism, finds one recent study. And many children with ASD experience gastrointestinal disorders. A 2-year study of 72 Danish children shows that a gluten and casein-free diet significantly improves autistic and hyperactive behavior.
“In approaching this very complex disorder, a one-size-fits-all approach is not likely to produce the hoped for results,” adds my friend and colleague, nutrition educator Marcia Zimmerman. Restrictive diets may impair the health of these children, especially if “significant nutrients such as calcium, magnesium, iron, and B vitamins are removed from their diet,” making supplements important too.
To open up the detox pathways and help the body eliminate toxins, I like Oxi-Key with one of the highest levels of catalase and SOD. These antioxidants are major quenchers of damaging free radicals that radiation of all kinds appear to create.
-Edge On Health, Dr. Ann Louise Gittleman
April marks Autism Awareness Month, and as statistics continue to skyrocket, it’s something every parent and future parent should educate themselves about. A quarter century ago, autism spectrum disorders (ASD) were extremely rare—only 1 out 100,000 children. Today experts estimate that 2 to 6 kids out of 1,000 will have autism. And boys are four times more likely to develop ASD than girls.
This incredible jump in autism rates has led scientists to explore environmental factors, especially in utero. Mercury—in contaminated seafood as well as vaccines—and other heavy metals (like cadmium and nickel) are prime suspects. Other likely culprits include toxic biofilms, molds, infections like Lyme disease, pollutants (including methylene chloride, quinoline, styrene, and vinyl chloride), and viruses.
Maternal deficiency in vitamin D during pregnancy is another risk factor for ASD in their children. Even pregnant women stressed by the effects of hurricanes in their third trimester appear more likely to give birth to autistic children.
If that weren’t enough, research is beginning to link electromagnetic fields (EMFs)—from cordless and mobile phones, cell phone and microwave towers, electronic and wireless devices—with ASD. In one unpublished study, alternative physician Dietrich Klinghardt, MD, discovered that a pregnant woman’s body voltage as well as children’s body voltage—measured in their bedrooms—predicted autism and other serious neurological disorders. He considers EMFs “synergistically causal,” increasing the production of toxic microbes.
“Cell phones have not been proven safe for adults, children, or pregnant women,” says Christine Hoch, executive director of Moms for Safe Wireless. Both before and after birth, children are especially sensitive to EMFs, because their developing nervous systems are fragile, their brain tissue is more conductive, and their smaller skeletons are more easily penetrated by this radiation.
“Just after conception, most fetuses are burdened with heavy metals and toxins from their mothers,” explains Hoch. “After birth, most children are able to detoxify these unwanted substances. Those whose detoxification pathways don’t work as well develop neurological conditions including autism.” A 5-year study, published in the Journal of the Australasian College of Nutritional & Environmental Medicine, suggests that EMFs from mobile phones, cell towers, and other wireless devices are “accelerating” factors in autism.
This kind of radiation also impacts fertility, and several studies suggest low-level microwaves can interfere with the genetics in the ovarian follicles. “What that means in everyday language,” says Barrie Trower, a retired British military intelligence scientist who consults for governments on microwave effects, is that “this particular mitochondrial genetic damage is irreparable.” Furthermore, if a woman whose eggs are harmed by this kind of radiation has a daughter, she will also “carry that genetic deformity, and her daughter will carry it, and her daughter will carry it.”
Every mother wants to protect her baby, but technology is moving so fast these days, it’s hard to always know what’s best.
For example, a wireless baby monitor or camera in the nursery probably seems like a great way to check in on your child. But a less expensive 50 MHz baby monitor or wired camera monitor would do the job—without exposing your tot to potentially harmful radiation.
Around the world, the warning bells are beginning to sound. The Israeli Health Ministry warned that cordless phones and their base units emit as much radiation as mobile phones. The Russian National Committee on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection recommend restricted use of wireless telecommunication devices for anyone 18 and under. In this country, by contrast, wireless devices are increasingly popular—with no pre-market testing. Go figure!
Since Americans are on their own with EMF risks, here are some ways to protect your fertility and lessen children’s radiation risks:
• Keep cell and cordless phones or other wireless devices out of the bedroom.
• Always use e-readers (like a Kindle) and laptops away from your body.
• Never put cell phones in your pocket, and don’t use them in low signal areas because more power is required, zapping you even more.
• Don’t use wireless devices in a car, bus, or train, as metal reflects EMFs causing the waves to bounce around with greater impact.
• Text, rather than talk, or use an air tube headset or speaker mode on your mobile phone.
Treating over 500 children with autism spectrum disorder, Tamara J. Mariea, CCN, has reported improving her patients’ symptoms without changing any of their previous treatment—simply by lowering the level of EMFs in her clinic! For more tips on protecting future generations, visit www.momsforsafewireless.org. For information on remediating EMFs in your own home, check out www.buildingbiology.net.
Dietary Influences
Today, as many as 1.5 million Americans have some form of autism, and increasingly, complementary therapies are proving beneficial. Dietary treatments have been used since the 1920s to improve behavior. Scientific evidence, for instance, suggests that food additives and sugary foods contribute to hyperactivity, a symptom of ASD.
Allergies appear to underlie hyperactivity and irritability in autism, finds one recent study. And many children with ASD experience gastrointestinal disorders. A 2-year study of 72 Danish children shows that a gluten and casein-free diet significantly improves autistic and hyperactive behavior.
“In approaching this very complex disorder, a one-size-fits-all approach is not likely to produce the hoped for results,” adds my friend and colleague, nutrition educator Marcia Zimmerman. Restrictive diets may impair the health of these children, especially if “significant nutrients such as calcium, magnesium, iron, and B vitamins are removed from their diet,” making supplements important too.
To open up the detox pathways and help the body eliminate toxins, I like Oxi-Key with one of the highest levels of catalase and SOD. These antioxidants are major quenchers of damaging free radicals that radiation of all kinds appear to create.
-Edge On Health, Dr. Ann Louise Gittleman
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Samplefest 2013
Our next Samplefest Gluten Free Food & Health Fair
is on Saturday, April 20, 2013, from 9am-3pm.
St. John Lutheran Church, 11005 NE Hwy 99, Vancouver
Admission: $3.00 per person, $12.00 Max per family
Children 12 and under are Free
Please bring donations for the Church Food Bank/FISH
Enjoy our $1 Menu of delicious food choices for our GIG Fundraiser
Samples galore, Door Prizes and more...
Cash & Checks only please for vendor product purchases.
If you have any questions, please contact Audrey: 425-761-3424/
levinaj@comcast.net or Kristi: 360-695-0862/justus323@yahoo.com
Please come join us! Thank you.
levinaj@comcast.net or Kristi: 360-695-0862/justus323@yahoo.com
Please come join us! Thank you.
Acupuncture Hits The Spot
- It’s effective for carpal tunnel, cramps, migraines, and more.
An issue of the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology found “convincing evidence on the effectiveness of using acupuncture to treat pain, as it stimulated the production of endorphins [feel-good hormones] and serotonin [a neurotransmitter than regulates mood] in the central nervous system.”
This TCM technique has even been found to relieve chronic pain—headaches and even migraines, lower back and neck pain, and osteoarthritis of the knee. And researchers at the University of Pennsylvania find this calming and relaxing therapy to be cost effective.
A randomized study in the Journal of Clinical Oncology shows that acupuncture is a safe, non-drug option for joint pain in women being treated for breast cancer. Not only did this technique significantly lessen pain’s severity, but the women receiving acupuncture also noticed improvements in their overall wellness.
That’s not all: This ancient art can improve pregnancy rates in women undergoing fertility treatment and increase sperm counts in men. In addition, acupuncture has been used to treat depression, lessen stress, and can even alleviate anxiety at the dentist’s office.
Dr. Ann Louise’s Take:
I’m a great believer in the power of the body’s own healing frequencies—the internal electromagnetic system that sends chemical and electrical messages 24/7 to keep you alive and functioning well.With acupuncture, electrical stimulation or hair-thin needles are applied to certain points in the body—along meridians that (when mapped) look remarkably like electrical circuitry—to remove any blocks to your body’s natural flow of energy and relieve pain. To find a qualified acupuncturist near you, go to www.nccaom.org or call 904-598-1005.
“Acupuncture strengthens and balances the body’s own electrical currents,” says Martha Howard, MD, medical director of Wellness Associates in Chicago. Western researchers have begun seriously studying acupuncture and its benefits in recent decades—so much so that Chinese practitioners are now turning to these studies in their own traditional practice!
Star Wars Meets Ancient Healing
That’s not to say that Asian healers have ignored this practice—in fact, they’ve created a space-age version, laser acupuncture. Margaret A. Naeser, PhD, LAc, a research professor at Boston University School of Medicine who has been studying this “Star Wars” technique since 1984, finds low-level cold-laser very safe—and gentle enough to use on infants.
Cold-laser acupuncture appears to strengthen electrochemical energy in the cells, improving their ability to repair themselves via several different pathways. This technique is something professional athletes have used for years to stay in top shape—and out of pain. Many sports trainers use cold-laser therapy to treat injuries (sprains, strains, and contusions).
Evidence also suggests that low-level laser acupuncture increases the activity of the potent antioxidant superoxide dismustase (SOD). Ironically, dangerous electromagnetic fields (EMFs)—to which we’re increasingly exposed from cell phones, PDAs, and Wi-Fi—only weaken SOD and other critical antioxidants that enhance cellular health.
For Added Support
Besides working with a licensed acupuncturist, consider supplements that can zap EMFs—and enhance your body’s natural electromagnetism. Electropollutants target your cell membranes, so sufficient mineral levels are critical for your body to produce SOD. For a baseline study of your own mineral levels, have a Tissue Mineral Analysis (TMA), which provides a 2- to 3-month blueprint of deficiencies and excesses in your body.
If you’re low in minerals that protect against EMFs, try Trace Lyte Minerals, a homeopathic combination of organic minerals that strengthens cell walls, protecting them from environmental and other damage. Even people who can’t tolerate other supplements because of digestive difficulties can benefit from these minerals.
-Edge On Health, Dr. Ann Louise Gittleman
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Samplefest 2013
Our next Samplefest Gluten Free Food & Health Fair
is on Saturday, April 20, 2013, from 9am-3pm.
St. John Lutheran Church, 11005 NE Hwy 99, Vancouver
Admission: $3.00 per person, $12.00 Max per family
Children 12 and under are Free
Please bring donations for the Church Food Bank/FISH
Enjoy our $1 Menu of delicious food choices for our GIG Fundraiser
Samples galore, Door Prizes and more...
Cash & Checks only please for vendor product purchases.
If you have any questions, please contact Audrey: 425-761-3424/
levinaj@comcast.net or Kristi: 360-695-0862/justus323@yahoo.com
Please come join us! Thank you.
levinaj@comcast.net or Kristi: 360-695-0862/justus323@yahoo.com
Please come join us! Thank you.
Gallstones Can Really Be A Pain
- Prevent painful gallbladder problems naturally. Over 25 million Americans have gallstones—yet only 1 million get diagnosed annually. Sudden, sharp pain in the upper abdomen, under the breastbone, near the right shoulder, or between the shoulder blades usually signals gallstones, hardened cholesterol deposits ranging in size from a grain of sand to a golf ball.
While 90% of people who have these stones experience no pain, anyone with intense abdominal pain—so severe that you can’t get comfortable or sit still—needs immediate care. Yellowing of the skin and the white of the eyes or high fever with chills are other signs of gallstones. Other less dramatic symptoms of gallbladder problems include rib cage sensitivity on the right side, light-colored stools, and nausea.
Age, female gender, overweight or obesity, pregnancy, diabetes, certain medications (cholesterol-lowering drugs or hormone therapy), a low-fiber diet, and rapid weight loss (from yo-yo dieting) can increase your risk for gallstones. This painful disorder has also been linked to food sensitivities like dairy or gluten intolerance, and even salmonella bacteria.
Spring is an ideal time to support your gallbladder—and neighboring liver—with seasonal detox.
With all those fresh spring greens, it’s easy to add more vegetable to your diet, lowering the risk of gallstones. The Green Life Cocktail in Fat Flush for Life can purify your system in one green sweep. Just mix 1 teaspoon of pure wheat grass or Liver-Lovin’ Formula (containing taurine to boost bile production) with 1 teaspoon of Flora-Key (packed with beneficial bacteria) in 8 ounces of Cranberry H20.
Two new lab studies show that substances in garlic and onion protect against gallstone formation—and may even reduce the size of stones. Other research suggests that coffee helps prevent gallstone formation—and Spring Fat Flush includes 1 cup a day.
Because of fenugreek’s favorable influence on cholesterol metabolism, a Canadian experiment finds this seed reduces cholesterol involved in gallstone formation. And Alternative Medicine Review reports preventive effects with vitamin C, iron, and lecithin.
For Advanced Detox
A castor oil pack stimulates the gallbladder and liver, while helping to draw toxins out of the body. It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3!
You just need 100% pure, cold-pressed castor oil, wool (not cotton) flannel, and a heating pad. Then follow these simple steps:
1. Fold the wool flannel into 3 or 4 layers, and soak it in castor oil.
2. Place the soaked flannel in a baking dish, and heat slowly in the oven until it’s warm to your touch.
3. Lie down, gently rub 3 tablespoons of castor oil on your abdomen, and then place the soaked flannel on your tummy.
4. Cover the soaked flannel on your abdomen with plastic wrap or a plastic garbage bag.
5. Finally, cover this with a heating pad that’s comfortably (not too) hot for 1 hour.
When you’re finished, wash the oil from your tummy. You can keep the oil-soaked flannel in plastic for further use, since this oil does not become rancid as quickly as other oils.
For spring detox, I recommend using the castor oil pack once a day for 3 successive days, then take 3 days off, and use it for another 3 days. If you suffer chronic fatigue or frequent infections, consider using this pack daily for 2 weeks out of every month while on Spring Fat Flush.
-Edge On Health, Dr. Ann Louise Gittleman
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Prevention Anti-Cancer Foods and Recipes
Eating a healthy diet that's loaded with fruits, vegetables,
and other plant foods can lower your risk for many types
of cancer. But which foods are best? Here are some of them
and the benefits they offer.
Beans are loaded with phytochemicals that may protect cells
from damage that can lead to cancer.
Berries are good sources of fiber, vitamin C, and other
antioxidants.
Dark green, leafy vegetables such as leaf lettuces, Swiss chard,
spinach, and kale are rich in fiber, folate, and carotenoids.
Garlic contains many cancer-fighting compounds, including
quercetin and allicin.
Grapes and grape juice are excellent sources of antioxidant
resveratrol (particularly the red and purple varieties).
Broccoli is rich in vitamins C and K, folate, potassium, and fiber.
It's wise to fill at least two-thirds of your plate with fruits,
vegetables, beans, and whole grains.
15 Cancer-Fighting Foods
Beans, Blueberries, Broccoli, Brown rice, Carrots, Garlic,
Green Tea, Kale, Kiwi fruit, Mushrooms, Onions, Spinach,
Tomatoes, Tuna, Walnuts
-Natural Choices Magazine, April 2013
and other plant foods can lower your risk for many types
of cancer. But which foods are best? Here are some of them
and the benefits they offer.
Beans are loaded with phytochemicals that may protect cells
from damage that can lead to cancer.
Berries are good sources of fiber, vitamin C, and other
antioxidants.
Dark green, leafy vegetables such as leaf lettuces, Swiss chard,
spinach, and kale are rich in fiber, folate, and carotenoids.
Garlic contains many cancer-fighting compounds, including
quercetin and allicin.
Grapes and grape juice are excellent sources of antioxidant
resveratrol (particularly the red and purple varieties).
Broccoli is rich in vitamins C and K, folate, potassium, and fiber.
It's wise to fill at least two-thirds of your plate with fruits,
vegetables, beans, and whole grains.
15 Cancer-Fighting Foods
Beans, Blueberries, Broccoli, Brown rice, Carrots, Garlic,
Green Tea, Kale, Kiwi fruit, Mushrooms, Onions, Spinach,
Tomatoes, Tuna, Walnuts
-Natural Choices Magazine, April 2013
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Did You Know?
Chard is a member of the goosefoot family, so
named because of its resemblance to the shape
of a goose's foot. This leafy green is a powerhouse
of nutrition. Its rainbow-colored varieties are filled
with vitamins A, C, and K. But this is just one of
the many leafy greens that are known for their health
benefits. Leafy greens are filled with vitamins, minerals,
and fiber that may help protect against heart disease,
diabetes, and cancer.
-Natural Choices Magazine, April 2013
named because of its resemblance to the shape
of a goose's foot. This leafy green is a powerhouse
of nutrition. Its rainbow-colored varieties are filled
with vitamins A, C, and K. But this is just one of
the many leafy greens that are known for their health
benefits. Leafy greens are filled with vitamins, minerals,
and fiber that may help protect against heart disease,
diabetes, and cancer.
-Natural Choices Magazine, April 2013
Monday, April 1, 2013
Tip of the Month
Broccoli has lots of vitamin C, carotenoids, vitamin K,
and folic acid. Steam it just enough so that it's still firm
and add a sprinkle of red pepper flakes and a spritz
of lemon juice.
-Center for Science in the Public Interest
and folic acid. Steam it just enough so that it's still firm
and add a sprinkle of red pepper flakes and a spritz
of lemon juice.
-Center for Science in the Public Interest
Samplefest 2013
Another GREAT Samplefest Gluten Free Food & Health Fair
is coming up on Saturday, April 20, 2013, from 9am-3pm.
St. John Lutheran Church, 11005 NE Hwy 99, Vancouver
Admission: $3.00 per person, $12.00 Max per family
Children 12 and under are Free
Please bring donations for the Church Food Bank/FISH
Enjoy our $1 Menu of Delicious Food Choices for our GIG Fundraiser
Samples galore, Door Prizes and more...
Cash & Checks only please for vendor product purchases.
If you have any questions, please contact Audrey: 425-761-3424/
levinaj@comcast.net or Kristi: 360-695-0862/justus323@yahoo.com
DON'T MISS IT!!!
levinaj@comcast.net or Kristi: 360-695-0862/justus323@yahoo.com
DON'T MISS IT!!!
