NHT News. Vol. 9 No. 1 March 2013

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NATURAL HEALTH TECHNIQUES NEWSLETTER

Dr. Denice Moffat, Medical Intuitive

March, 2013                          Volume 9 Number 1

 In This Issue:

  • Notice of Price Increase for May 1st, 2013: Grandfathering in.
  • From the Desk of Dr. Moffat: Newsletter going for 9 years now!
  • Health in the News: Milk industry asking to hide aspartame in dairy products; Chicken pox vaccine associated with shingles epidemic. Scam alert! Protect the deceased against identity theft.
  • What’s New on the Website? Alexa ranking approaching one of the most popular websites in the world. Google + and Yelp reviews appreciated.
  • Case of the Month: Statin Drugs
  • Product of the Month: Pineapple
  • Media Reviews: (Movie) Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead
  • Ask Dr. Moffat: How accurate IS muscle testing?
  • Tips and Tricks for a Healthier Life Enteric Coating of Supplements; Back spasm help; Xanthan Gum; Receding gums tip; Traumeel products for trauma
  • Client Testimonials: Lip licking is nausea in a cat; Perfume and air freshener allergies.
  • Healthy Recipes: Oven-Roasted Green Beans
  • Inspiration & Perspective: God, why did you ruin my day?
  • What’s New at Our House? We totaled our pretty yellow pick-up truck. Very bummed.
  • Local Events: March 30th: 9am to 4pm.  Easter Eggs-travaganza at Eastside Marketplace in Moscow, ID. April 16th, 2013: Join the TOM’s movement: One Day Without Shoes. Sept. 13-15, 2013: 2013 Inland NW Permaculture Convergence

(Please note that full names are never used in this newsletter or on my website without the full consent of the sender or client. Some cases also encompass groupings of cases with similar symptoms and suggestions for healing in an attempt to educate the general public.)

Trending
Life in Five Short Chapters

Notice of Price Increase:

My rates will be increasing on May 1st, 2013 to $285 for an initial consult and $250/hr. for rechecks. Those of you who become clients before that date will be grandfathered in at the lower price of $185 for new people and critters within your family unit (same house) for the life of my practice (yes, even if you marry, have children or adopt anything that comes to live with you.) And they will take the grandfathered rate with them when they move out of your house. That’s a good deal. It’s my way of saying thanks to all of you who have supported and believed in me over the years.

For example, before May 1st: Initial consult $185. Recheck/Updates: Prorated at $150/hr. after that initial consult, so. . .$12.50 per 5-minute interval. I’ve noticed it normally takes 15-20 minutes for an uncomplicated recheck.

After May 1st 2013: Initial Consults will be $285. Rechecks/Updates: Prorated by the 5-minute interval at $250/hr., so that’s $20.83 per 5-minute interval.

From the Desk of Dr. Moffat:

I’m now on the 9th volume of newsletters. NINE years. It’s hard to believe I’ve been writing them that long. Each month I try to make things simpler and faster, yet that never seems to work. Each newsletter takes over 40 hours to complete. As I get busier, my number of issues per year takes a dip. I’ll keep trying to get the latest and greatest information to all of you.

When I changed over to a WordPress blog site a couple years back I lost all my newsletter indexing links, so it is rather difficult at times to find some things on the site which is now nearing 850 pages. One trick I use occasionally is to Google the topic you want and then add naturalhealthtechniques.com. I’m not that happy with how this new search box works. Actually I think it really sucks, but I can’t seem to find a better search box—I miss the old FrontPage search box because it put the most appropriate choices by relevancy at the top of the list. Oh well. Moving on.

Health in the News:

Milk Industry Asks to Hide Aspartame in 17 Dairy Products. It’s an age-long battle. The FDA declaring war on raw milk and helping in the coordination of armed government raids against raw milk farmers and distributors but now it gets worse! You could even say it’s totally insane.

Our local raw-milk dairy farms are being treated like terrorists. Now the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) and the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) have filed a petition with the FDA asking the FDA to alter the definition of ‘milk’ to include artificial sweeteners such as aspartame and sucralose. They are petitioning this information to be eliminated from the labeling on 17 different dairy products (so far). Why?

Here’s a list of foods that are targeted for this artificial sweetener project.

  • Acidified milk
  • Cultured milk
  • Sweetened condensed milk
  • Nonfat dry milk
  • Nonfat dry milk fortified with vitamins A and D
  • Evaporated milk
  • Dry cream
  • Heavy cream
  • Light cream
  • Light whipping cream
  • Sour cream
  • Acidified sour cream
  • Eggnog
  • Half-and-half
  • Yogurt
  • Low-fat yogurt
  • Nonfat yogurt

Now, if you think you won’t be affected by this proposal, then you probably don’t eat any products that include any dairy in their ingredient list. If this petition is passed, it would allow all kinds of foods to have unlisted food additives incorporated into them. How many of you have the time to grow all your own foods? This is becoming QUITE the issue.

The reasoning behind the request is that these artificial sweeteners are considered as GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) flavoring agents. The IDFA and the AMPF are arguing that nutrient content claims such as “reduced calorie” are not attractive to people purchasing dairy products for their children. They want to be known for their nutritive value, not their reduced calorie claims. How many people will this gem of an amendment affect? Probably nearly every one of us.

Most of us ingest dairy products in one form or another. Isn’t it bad enough that the larger pharmaceutical companies are spending billions so that our foods are not labeled? Are any of you concerned about GMOs in their food?

I love this classic quote from Mike Adams, the Health Ranger of Natural News:

“Consumers have always been kept in the dark about pink slime, meat glue, rBGH and GMOs in their food. And now, if the IDGA gets its way, you’ll be able to drink hormone-contaminated milk from antibiotic-inundated cows fed genetically modified crops and producing milk containing hidden aspartame. And you won’t have the right to know about any of this.”

If this angers you in any way, then you may want to provide some public comment to the FDA by May 21st, 2013. Other countries have outlawed GMOs. They are protecting their people and their economy. Why are Americans putting up with this type of behavior? I’m including that public comment link here: https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2013/02/20/2013-03835/flavored-milk-petition-to-amend-the-standard-of-identity-for-milk-and-17-additional-dairy-products

Helpful Links and References for Milk Sweetener Issue:

***********

Chicken Pox Vaccine Associated with Shingles Epidemic

Chicken Pox/Shingles epidemic information has been circulating around the internet for years, so the information is not new, but every winter I do get inundated with vaccine questions. This year I’ve noticed an increase in shingles so I am including some older research in this article.

There was an article published in February, 2013 about a vaccine break where a 5-year-old girl was vaccinated with a chicken pox vaccine. The vaccine did not work properly (it ‘broke’) causing a live atypical reaction in the body—in this case shingles. These types of reactions are taken very seriously by the vaccine companies and do occur occasionally (see link below.)

An article written by Gary S. Goldman, Ph.D. (2005) The International Journal of Toxicology (IJT) revealed a higher rate of shingles (herpes zoster) in Americans since the advent of the 1995 governmental recommendations to vaccinate all children for chicken pox.

Goldman’s research uncovered three times as many deaths and five times the number of hospitalizations for shingles than there was for chicken pox. Herpes zoster is suppressed by occasional exposure to chicken pox. By eliminating chicken pox, he thinks shingles cases could continue to rise in the U.S. for up to 50 years.

Shingles and chicken pox are caused by the same varicella-zoster virus (VZV). The VZV virus becomes dormant in the body and can reactivate later in adulthood. A new shingles vaccine (Zostavax) has been developed for this. (Note: We carry homeopathic drops for shingles and chicken pox both so worry about vaccine side-effects can be circumvented—Available to clients only—sorry.)

The challenge with promoting a shingles vaccination program to adults is that adult vaccination programs have rarely proved successful. Effectiveness of the chicken pox vaccine is also dependent on natural boosting (i.e. being exposed occasionally to the live pox virus). As chicken pox declines, so does the effectiveness of the vaccine. If we eliminate chickenpox altogether, Dr. Goldman predicts it would leave our population vulnerable to shingles epidemics.

In past decades it was thought that as immune systems of older people declined, shingles increased. New research shows that the real reason for an increase rate of shingles cases may be due to a decreased exposure of the older population to chicken pox, so natural immunity is not challenged enough to suppress the shingles virus.

Helpful links and references for shingles and chicken pox association:

************

Scam Alert! Protect the Deceased from Identity Theft.

The photo on the article in the AARP magazine depicts a burglar stealing a headstone with a thumbprint of the deceased etched into the headstone.

It’s a new low in identity theft. Latest statistics reveal that nearly 2.5 million deceased Americans have their identity stolen each year. Thieves use the information to open credit cards, apply for loans, get cell phones or other services—and even sell the information to those who want to enter our country or change their own bad credit history. At one time Michael and I managed a manufactured home park. Part of our job was to run credit checks on incoming applicants. One applicant had purchased a social security number that was being used by 14 other people. This showed up on his background check. Interestingly enough, all we could share with him was that he may want to check on his credit history as other people had the same number as he did.

Ghosting: Crooks make up a Social Security number that happens to match that of someone who has died. The process is called ‘ghosting’. Apparently it takes six months for financial institutions, credit-reporting bureaus and the Social Security Administration to receive, share or register death records. During this time ‘ghost time’, unscrupulous thieves rack up charges. Since the dead do not monitor their credit. . .

What you can do as the survivor to prevent this: (Summary from the AARP Article)

  1. For the obituary, list the age of the deceased but do not list the birth date, mother’s maiden name or other personal identifiers.
  2. Keep in mind that an address listed in the obituary opens up the possibility of home burglary during the funeral time. (How low can thievery go?)
  3. Use certified mail with ‘return receipt requested’ and send a copy of the death certificate to each credit-reporting bureau (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion) asking them to put a ‘deceased alert’ on the credit report.
  4. Mail death certificates to banks, insurance companies, brokerage firms, credit card agencies and mortgage companies where the deceased held accounts with the words ‘Closed: Account Holder is Deceased’ as the reason. For joint accounts, remove the deceased’s name.
  5. Contact the Department of Motor Vehicles. Cancel the deceased’s driver’s license.
  6. After a few weeks, check the credit report of the person at www.annualcreditreport.com  to make sure there is no suspicious activity. Several months later, follow up with another request to a different credit-reporting agency.
  7. Report the death to Social Security by calling (800) 772-1213.

I thought this was excellent advice. I’m putting a copy of the article in my Wills and Eulogy file. Nobody wants the surviving loved ones who may be in shock for weeks to have to remember all this stuff! You may find an opportunity now to share the information with friends and family.

Reference: AARP Bulletin/Real Possibilities Dead Ringers by Sid Kirchheimer March 2013 page 26

Helpful Links and References for Identity Theft:

  • For more tips, visit: www.idtheftcenter.org
  • Sid Kirchheimer’s book: Scam-Proof Your Life, published by AARP Books/Sterling.

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What’s New on the Website?  

My Alexa ranking is approaching one of the most popular websites in the world. Whoo hoo! My goal for these past few years has been to get to that top 100,000 sites of all the millions and millions of sites out there in the United States. I’m currently at 122,231 in the United States but have a ways to go for the world rankings (I’m at 309,853). Having a few of you give me a review at Google +, Angie’s List and Yelp would really be helpful to me and I sure would appreciate the gesture. (I don’t really know how to do this or I would provide you with the links.)

Give away contests not working. I tried for three months to give a consult away with each newsletter, but the people who won the consults (from myself and the people I interviewed) never cashed in on the great deal! Gee, I would have jumped on that. I’ll have to try something else to give back, I guess.

Case of the Month: Statin Drugs and Cholesterol

Statin Statistics: Approximately 1 in every 4 adult Americans over the age of 45 is currently using statin drugs to “prevent heart disease.” Reference: https://www.greenmedinfo.com/blog/consumer-alert-300-health-problems-linked-statin-drugs  I once had a young man (age 12) who came to me that was on statin drugs. Do these companies really know how children will react to these drugs? This boy was eating fast food and cafeteria food more than ten times each week!

What are Statin drugs and how do they work? Statins are a class of drugs that lower the level of cholesterol in the blood by reducing the production of cholesterol by the liver by blocking a specific enzyme that helps make cholesterol. (The other source of cholesterol in the blood is dietary cholesterol.) This enzyme is called hydroxy-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (HMG-CoA reductase). Whew.

 

statin drugs

The most commonly prescribed statin drug- Lipitor.

Names and types of statin drugs include:

  • Advicor (lovastatin/niacin extended-release)
  • Calan (Verapamil)
  • Covera-HS) (Verapamil)
  • Crestor (Rosuvastatin)—most potent
  • Isoptin (Verapamil)
  • Isoptin SR (Verapamil)
  • Lescol (Fluvastatin)—least potent
  • Lipitor (Atorvastatin)—most potent
  • Livalo (Pitavastatin)
  • Lovastatin (Mevacor)
  • Pravachol (Pravastatin)
  • Simcor (simvastatin/niacin extended-release)
  • Verelan (Verapamil)
  • Verelan PM (Verapamil)
  • Vytorin (simvastatin/ezetimibe).
  • Zocor (Simvastatin)

Note: Baycol (Cerivastatin) was withdrawn worldwide because it caused rhabdomyolysis ten to ten thousand times more than other statin drugs.

People often ask if the following drugs are statins. They are not:

  • Bistolic (Nebivolol) Bistolic or Bystolic belongs to a group of drugs called beta-blockers which affect the heart and circulation. Bystolic is used to treat hypertension (high blood pressure).
  • Plavix (Clopidogrel) Plavix is a blood thinner used to treat people who have recently had a heart attack, stroke, or disease of the arteries.
  • Questran (Cholestyramine) helps reduce cholesterol (fatty acids) in the blood especially low-density lipoprotein (LDL) (“bad” cholesterol). It’s also used to treat itching caused by a blockage in the bile ducts of the gallbladder. Read more: https://www.pdrhealth.com/drugs/questran
  • Tricor (Fenofibrate) is not a statin drug. Tricor is in a drug class called anti-lipemic medications and is used with diet and other medications to lessen the amount of lipids (fatty substances such as cholesterol and triglycerides) in the blood. Tricor also increase the amount of good cholesterol (HDL).
  • Zetia is a cholesterol-lowering medicine that works in the small intestines to block the absorption of cholesterol. Zetia, along with a low-fat diet, is used to reduce cholesterol levels either alone or in combination with other medicines, such as statins or fenofibrates.

What are the dangers, side effects and intolerances of statin drugs?

These were gleaned off the internet. Supposedly over 300 symptoms have now been associated or linked to taking statin drugs. Here’s the short list:

  • Abnormal liver tests
  • Acidosis
  • ALS
  • Amnesia
  • Anemia
  • Angina (Statins use up CoQ-10 which helps to oxygenate the heart)
  • Blood pressure
  • Cancer
  • Cataracts
  • Confusion
  • Constipation
  • Death
  • Demyelination
  • Diabetes Type II
  • Diabetes Mellitus in post-menopausal women: https://www.naturalmedicinejournal.com/article_content.asp?article=330
  • Diarrhea
  • Erectile dysfunction
  • Exercise intolerance
  • Fibromyalgia (from lack of CoQ-10 as a result of taking statins)
  • Forgetfulness
  • Frequent fevers
  • Genetic mutations
  • Hair loss
  • Headache
  • Increased fasting serum glucose levels
  • Increased HbA1c
  • Increased salivation
  • Insomnia and disrupted sleep patterns: https://www.pharmalot.com/2007/11/mercks-zocor-may-keep-you-up-at-night/
  • Kidney failure
  • Liver failure
  • Loss of muscle cells
  • Loss of taste and smell
  • Memory impairment or memory loss
  • Mitochondrial damage
  • Muscle enzyme challenges
  • Muscle pain
  • Muscle cramps
  • Myopathy or Rhabdomyolysis (inflammation of the muscles)
  • Nausea
  • Neurotoxicity
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Peripheral neuropathy
  • Rash and skin disorders
  • Retinal Ganglia cell damage
  • Thyroid disease
  • Unexplained joint or muscle pain
  • Vomiting
  • Weakness

Note: Do NOT use these drugs during pregnancy—serious adverse effects on the developing fetus may occur by binding and preventing cholesterol from forming fat soluble vitamins which, in turn, could become less-than-available to the fetus. Also, the brain is made from cholesterol. Our body’s need some cholesterols.

Drugs/food interacting with statins includes:

  • Boceprevir (Victrelis)
  • Clarithromycin (Biaxin)
  • Cyclosporine (Sandimmune)
  • Diltiazem (Cardizem, Dilacor,Tiazac)
  • Erythromycin (E-Mycin)
  • Grapefruit juice (greater than one quart/day)
  • Itraconazole (Sporanox)
  • Protease inhibitors (Indinavir, Crixivan, Ritonavir, Norvir—all used in treating AIDS)
  • Telaprevir (Incivek)
  • Telithromycin (Ketek)
  • Verapamli (Calan, Verelan, Verelan PM, Isoptin, Isoptin SR, Covera-HS)
  • Voriconazole (Vfend)

Statins and CoQ-10: Some physicians recommend that people taking statins such as Lipitor, Pravachol or Zocor also take Coenzyme Q10. These cholesterol-lowering drugs deplete the body of this crucial vitamin-like substance, and supplementing with CoQ-10 may help protect the muscles from damage. Unfortunately, CoQ-10 does not work for everyone.

Can taking Glucosamine/Chondroitin supplements increase your cholesterol? There may be people who react negatively to glucosamine. If you are on a glucosamine supplement and have had a recent increase in your cholesterol, you may want to stop taking it and have your cholesterol levels retested after a couple of months. (Is it the glucosamine or the fillers in the cheaper and poorer quality brands that people are reacting to? I’ve noticed that not all glucosamine supplements are the same and hardly anyone tests strong on chondroitin for some reason.) Reference: https://www.peoplespharmacy.com/2009/07/06/glucosamine-and/

Studies involving statin drugs and ALS: Dr. Beatrice Golomb’s statin study (read about the association between taking statins and having ALS symptoms here: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19591530 )

FDA statin warning: https://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm293330.htm

Alternative, Natural Remedies and Foods to Use in Place of Statin Drugs:

Warning: There are many alternative treatments for lowering cholesterol. But, before you add any supplements or alternative therapies to your diet, talk to your health care provider—it’s kind of hard to overdose on good food, which is the most effective treatment for decreasing cholesterol. Some supplements may interact with other medication you may be taking or have dangerous side effects.

Supplements and Foods that May Lower Cholesterol

Some herbal and nutritional supplements that may lower cholesterol include:

Other natural treatments for decreasing cholesterol include losing that excess weight, managing stress and exercising more.

Helpful Links and References for Statin Drugs:

Product of the Month: Pineapple

Alias Names: Ananas, Nanas, Pina.

The Scientific name for the pineapple is Ananas comosus. Ananas comes from the Tupi word meaning “excellent fruit” and the word pineapple was coined because it looks like a pine cone (so, what’s with the apple part then?) Anyway, pineapples are second only to bananas as America’s favorite tropical fruit. Although the season for pineapple runs from March through June, they are available year-round in local markets.

History: Pineapples were originally discovered in South Africa as an indigenous plant. From there it traveled to the Caribbean, Hawaii, southern California, Guam, Thailand and the Philippines. Christopher Columbus brought some of the plants back to Europe. Southeast Asia currently dominates the world in pineapple production producing almost 2 million tons of pineapple each year.

Uses: Pineapples are consumed both fresh and cooked, canned, or juiced, and are found in a wide array of cuisines including dessert, fruit salad, jam, yogurt, ice cream and candy—and as a complement to meat dishes. The juice can be used as a meat marinade, but you can’t use the fresh juice to make jelly or Jell-O/gelatin desserts because it won’t set up. Processing the juice kills these enzymes. In the Philippines, the leaves of pineapple are used as a textile fiber for making wallpaper.

Nutritional Benefits of Pineapple: One cup of pineapple has 82 calories and provides the following nutrients—many of which act as natural antioxidants to help in the prevention of oodles of diseases:

Raw pineapple is also abundant in the proteolytic enzyme bromelain, found mostly in the stem and fruit. Bromelain breaks down protein. So, for those of you who eat too much meat and suffer from indigestion afterwards, (especially those with blood type A) pineapple and supplements including bromelain would be a logical addition to your daily regime of supplements.

The Following are the Benefits of Pineapple:

  • Dissolves mucous
  • Facilitates good digestion
  • Fights cough and colds
  • Helps colitis
  • Helps fight inflammation
  • Helps overcome sinusitis
  • Helps prevent morning sickness
  • Helps prevent production of tooth plaque
  • Inhibits tumor growth
  • May help prevent formation of blood clots
  • Protects against macular degeneration
  • Provides energy
  • Strengthens bones
  • Strengthens the immune system

In Germany, bromelain is approved as a post-injury medication because of its ability to reduce inflammation and swelling. In Europe, pineapple is used post-operatively to cut mucous after sinus and throat operations.

What is Bromelain? Bromelain is a complex mixture of substances (called cysteine proteinases) that can are extracted from the stem and core of pineapple but, there are slight differences in the stem vs. the core enzyme structures. These substances are what are responsible for the wide variety of health benefits derived from pineapple. OK, so maybe we should chew more on the pineapple core instead of throwing it away!

Protection against Macular Degeneration: In a study involving over 110,000 women and men published in the Archives of Ophthalmology results indicated that eating three or more servings of fruit per day may lower your risk of age-related macular degeneration (ARMD), the primary cause of vision loss in older adults, by 36%, compared to persons who consume less than 1.5 servings of fruit daily.

How to Choose and Cut a Pineapple:

 

Check pineapple for ripeness

Check pineapple for ripeness. The center leaf should easily pull out with a small tug.

  • I’ve had good luck with pulling out the center leaf. If it pulls out easily with a gentle tug, you’re probably going to get a great tasting, sweet pineapple (although I noticed someone had pulled the center leaves out of a whole table of pineapples on purpose at the grocery store the other day and none of them were ripe. It’s a gentle tug, not a yank! They even put the leaf back so the next person would be fooled!)
  • Look for pineapples that are heavy for their size.
  • Pineapples should be free of soft spots, bruises and darkened “eyes,” all of which may indicate that the pineapple is past its prime.
  • Pineapple stops ripening as soon as it is picked, so choose fruit with a fragrant sweet smell at the stem end.
  • The area closer to the base of the fruit has more sugar content so is sweeter and more tender.
  • Avoid pineapple that smells musty, sour or fermented.
  • Color may not be a good indicator of ripeness as the pineapples are exposed to chemicals which convert to ethylene which ripens them in a warehouse somewhere.
  • For the most antioxidants, choose fully ripened pineapple.
  • Leaving the pineapple at above 45 degrees and above (or room temperature) for a day or two will make it softer and more juicy but not any sweeter.
  • Kept in the refrigerator, a pineapple can keep for up to a week (I’ve read several different time periods but they ranged from 3-10 days.)
  • Pineapple that has been cut up should be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container to protect it from oxidizing and to keep the enzymes working as optimally as possible.
  • Freezing pineapple greatly affects its flavor.
  • As with many fruits and vegetables, pineapples are sprayed with chemicals to protect them from pests and to turn them yellow after being picked. I wipe off the cutting board after cutting off the skin and before cutting the fruit into chunks so that any chemicals won’t contact the flesh.

Now let’s cut one of those babies up, shall we?

Step 1: First, chop off the top and the bottom. Either plant the top or toss it into the garbage. It takes forever for the top to compost.

Pineapple top bottom off0

Step 2: Cut off the skin. Toss the bottom, skin, and core onto the compost pile fruit side up for the birds.

Pineapple cut skin off0

Step 3: Cut slabs of flesh from the center core. You’ll toss the core and cut the slabs into chunks.

Pineapple slice into wedges0

Step 4: Cut slabs into chunks, eat it and/or package up the chunks in an airtight container. We use glass because the pineapple can pick up the flavor from plastic or metal containers.

Pineapple chunk it toss core0

Pineapple’s effects on inducing pregnancy and labor: Pineapple is not thought to induce labor, but rather is thought to act as a cervical ripening agent that stimulates prostaglandin production (this has not been scientifically proven.) Some women have sworn by this though.  Reference: https://www.givingbirthnaturally.com/foods-that-induce-labor.html

Allergies: Pineapple is not a commonly allergenic food, is not known to contain measurable amounts of oxalates or purines and is also not included in the Environmental Working Group’s 2010 report “Pesticides in Produce” as one of the 12 foods most frequently containing pesticide residues. In fact, pineapple is often used as a fruit in allergy avoidance diets partly for these reasons, and for its bromelain (digestive enzyme) component.

What if eating pineapple makes your tongue hurt? Chinese people dip the pineapple in salty water for a few seconds. It neutralizes the tingling on the tongue that many people get when they eat raw pineapple. (Thanks to one of my Facebook friends for sharing that information.)

The Pineapple Fast for Parasites:  From their website: “Whether you want to restore the elasticity of your lungs, ward off parasites or just detoxify, a pineapple fast may be what your body craves. Pineapple helps clean lungs naturally, in part because it contains the enzyme bromelain.” They go on to say how the bromelain somehow magically realizes that the parasite is foreign and dissolves both the parasite and the larvae. Gee, if it does that to living things, how would it know not to dissolve other living/healthy tissue? This doesn’t make sense, so I would not assume that pineapple kills parasites. Actually I think that bromelain focuses on dead proteins.  Sorry to be the bearer of skepticism here. Just my scientific mind working. Read more: https://www.wikihow.com/Do-a-Pineapple-Fast-for-the-Lungs

How to grow a pineapple: Pineapple is an herbaceous perennial which grows best in tropical zones 8-10 but can handle temperatures as low as 28 degrees for short periods of time. Prolonged cold retards growth, delays maturity and causes the fruit to be more acid. Pineapples produce under a wide range of precipitation ranging from 25 – 150 inches, depending on variety, location and degree of humidity. They are successfully grown in southern Florida and coastal areas of southern California. The small plant adapts well to container and greenhouse gardening and makes an interesting potted plant.

An adult pineapple reaches the height of 2-1/2 to 5 feet tall with a spread of 3-4 feet. Pineapple plants like well-drained, sandy loam, acid soil (pH4.5-6.5) with high organic content and they don’t like persistently wet roots. You can make the soil more acidic with the same products you would use to plant hydrangeas and blueberries (often sulfur-which is not good for people allergic to sulfur and sulfites by the way).

Pineapple can be grown as a house plant by cutting or twisting the top off the pineapple before cutting it up to eat, letting it dry on the counter for two days, then either sticking the top into some soil or starting it in a shallow dish of water (like you would a carrot) and a new plant will grow. Slips and suckers are the chosen part of the plant when used in commercial operations.

It takes about two years for the pineapple plant to bloom producing approximately 200 lavender, purple or red flowers (depending on the variety) on each plant. These flowers coalesce together to form the pineapple that is harvested. When grown commercially, the pineapples are picked before they can be pollinated by hummingbirds or bats which stimulate the plant to produce dark, very hard seeds. Like broccoli, the main flower (pineapple) is harvested before the flowers open. Suckers form around the biggest pineapple at its base. These are broken off and used as starts to produce more pineapple plants.

Pineapples starts are planted outside during the summer months. A ground cover of black plastic is commonly used, both as protection from weeds and for the extra heat the plastic seems to absorb. Black plastic also helps to conserve moisture. Plants are spaced 12 inches apart, crowns about 2 inches deep and suckers and slips 3 to 4 inches deep. The plants usually produce for about four years.

The ripe flesh ranges from nearly white to yellow. The fruit grow to twelve inches tall and can weight from 1-10 pounds when fully ripe. Ten pounds. . .can you imagine?

Pests of the pineapple plant include mealy bugs (they cause wilt), scale, mites, ants, bacteria and at least one virus.

Helpful Links and References for Pineapple:

Media Reviews: (Movie) Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead

Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead (Movie 2010)

Reviewed by Dr. Denice Moffat

Fat sick and nearly dead

Joe Cross of the movie, Fat Sick and Nearly Dead juicing out of the back of his car.

I’ve had some pretty tough cases these last couple of months, a few of which seemed they would have had the same diagnosis as Joe Cross, who made the movie, Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead.

Joe Cross, a professionally successful but physically bankrupt entrepreneur was 100 pounds overweight, dismally unhealthy and loaded up on copious medications for eight years. On steroids—the last ditch effort for doctors who don’t have anything else to offer—Joe was suffering from a debilitating autoimmune disease. His journey to health seemed impossible at best.

It has always been my theory that the body actually WANTS to be healthy. Autoimmune disease only occurs when all the organs in the body are trashed from excess toxins. Joe was an example of this. His skin broke out into hives around the clock and with any kind of pressure. He itched 24/7/365. I’m sure he wondered how long he had to live or suffer from this malady as many of the chronically ill people do who find my website.

Joe, like many chronically sick patients, ate many many meals each week in restaurants, ate massive amounts of refined and processed foods, and minimal to no fresh fruits and fresh or cooked vegetables.

Making a decision to re-boot his life, Joe decided to turn back to Mother Nature full-time for 60 days. He first committed to juicing for 60 days, then continued to follow a healthy eating program by eating “only food that was grown on trees or dug out of the ground, foods made by the sun, water and the earth” Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead is a documentary of his commitment—and he shows how YOU can do this too.

Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead is an inspiring film of one man, Joe Cross who took on the challenge to regain his health by using his body’s own ability to heal itself. In this process, he is sending ripples of health throughout the world and helping millions with his film, sharing his story and all the time traveling with his juicer and generator–making fresh juice from purchasing the freshest fruits and vegetables from local farmers and juicing it right on the spot.

Joe says:

“It is amazing what can happen. I can vouch for this by first-hand experience. After 60 days of juice and another 70 days of eating just fruit, vegetables, nuts, beans and seeds I was 100 lbs. lighter and off all medication. Iʼve been that way ever since.”

A must-see film that fits into the categories of world-changing media movies such as Super-Size Me (2004), Bag it (2010), Fresh (2009), King Corn (2007) and Who Killed the Electric Car (2006).

What I liked about this movie is that it teaches the benefits of using juice as a healing method. It breaks down the scientific basis of juicing into understandable language on how the juices interact with your tissues to make the body healthy. The movie is promoted with an online support community called Reboot Your Life, available at www.jointhereboot.com

Helpful Links and References for Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead:

Testimonial: Dr. Moffat: Watched the fat, sick DVD. Cried because it was so inspirational. My husband is excited to try. I don’t know what else to say. Eek!

Ask Dr. Moffat:

Hi Dr. Moffat, Bob here in Arizona. I had a consultation with you a few years back which I found very beneficial. I’m writing because I know you’re an expert with muscle testing and I’d like to ask if you would please answer a question for me. Five months ago my website/business suffered a severe loss: I lost 80% of my income. I have tried to use muscle testing to guide me and let me know what I can do to revive my business. I even asked “source” if it can accurately help me and it responds with a “yes.”  Yet I find that when I try to muscle test about my business, the answers I get seem to be inaccurate. I don’t understand, because all the answers I get about my health are accurate. Can you please give me a tip or technique I can use to try and get accurate muscle testing information about the problems of my business? I have a feeling you may know the answer and I recall how sincere and helpful you were during our consultation. Please help if you can. Bob F.

Dear Bob. I tracked back to that five months ago and Google did something to their algorithm which affected millions of websites. Mine was kicked in the butt as well, but because I try to keep up on that by checking my rankings at www.alexa.com about every other month, I saw there was a problem and spent extra time updating pages, writing new articles, joining oodles of “social networks,” getting a Facebook account and whining to others that were going through the same challenges. Gosh, it’s a never-ending set of challenges to keep things on top of the charts—especially when you’re the head cook and bottle washer with no employees. I feel your pain!

With that said though, I’ve already won the lottery (say my Guides) but it has not manifested in my bank account quite yet, so I keep purchasing tickets.  And I agree with you, my muscle testing seems very accurate for health issues, but then, I’ve learned how to ask quite pointed and meticulous questions about health with a couple decades of experimentation. Maybe I’m not asking the right questions for outside the health arena.

Also, I’ve found that time means nothing to the other side. They do want what we want, but they can see the bigger picture that we cannot. There is perfect timing in this. I find it helpful to focus on the lessons we’re in the process of learning in all this when we feel we’ve been ‘done wrong’ or are having challenges. Key into the positive and stick with what feels right and good to do. Sometimes these things are a gift from the Universe to push us into the directions that we spiritually need to go. Sometimes one door is closing so we can use bigger and better talents and connections to make a positive difference in our world. And perhaps some of this is a faith-building adventure. I’ve especially found this in times of financial stress. I try to focus on the concept that I am well cared for and that God will provide—and that the Universe is ALWAYS conspiring for our good. We need to have faith in that.

I’ve never considered myself psychic in the way that I could foretell the future, but I think by using muscle testing in the way that you’re trying to use it, you  are attempting to tap into the future. Sometimes your guides can’t always let you become privy to certain information because that would be interfering with your free will or it would be like helping you to slide by some of the lessons you signed up to complete in this lifetime.

One way of using muscle testing that has worked for me financially though is to make a list of all the ideas I have to promote an idea or business opportunity, then muscle test the top 5 items that would be most efficient, beneficial (in terms of money and time spent) and that would connect with the highest and best good of all concerned. Once I have the top five items identified, I then ask how many hours per day or week I should spend doing those activities. This helps me to focus more and panic less.

I hope that helps and that this all makes sense. Denice

Tips and Tricks for a Healthier Life:

Enteric Coating of Supplements: Thanks to Diane in Maine for this information. She emailed me with some information on what chemicals are used to enteric coat tablets, two of them being phthalates and polyethylene glycol. Phthalates were talked about in the movie Bag it as being an endocrine disrupter. It makes plastic more pliable so when your infant chews on its rubber duckie the substance is being absorbed into the system causing the boy babies to feminize and the female babies to masculinize. Sheesh!

Why do they have to use this kind of crap in the process of making tablets—medicines and health supplements both!?  Well, these substances prevent the stomach acid from digesting the substance inside the coating before it can reach the blood via the small intestine. Many companies use these products (highly reputable companies included) and they are even found in vegi-caps.

Vegetable cellulose is another substance used in supplements. This is really hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC). If you see a “P” added to the HPMC, as HPMCP, it means that the phthalate compound has been added. Phthalate is derived from phthalic acid, a derivative of naphthalene, (moth balls)—a known carcinogen.

Can you see why we need to support truth in labeling? Life is so complicated.

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Dr. Moffat: I unintentionally  popped my hips back into place and now my lower back is in spasm. I took some Aleve. Do you have any other helpful hints I can use? Jessica

Jessica: Yes. Have someone gently tap the side of the back that is not in spasm. Kind of like lightly beating a drum. The spasming side is trying to compensate for the muscles being too weak and loose on the opposite side. This should not cause any pain. If it’s painful then you’re either doing the technique incorrectly or you really need to see somebody to help you! By thumping the weak muscles you can reset the Golgi tendon apparatus on the ends of the myofibrils (the muscle fibers). Good luck!

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Xanthan Gum: One Gluten-Free Thickening Agent

Gluten intolerant people are always trying to bake and they explore different substances that will create the same texture as gluten. Xanthan gum is one of those substances, but is it the best choice?

What is Xanthan gum? Xanthan gum is a thickening agent named after the bacteria Xanthomonas capestris—a common bacteria which causes cauliflower to turn black when it rots. Ewhh. It is “generally safe and only causes mild irritations in some people” said one source. Hmmm.

Xanthan gum is purchased in a powdered form. The fine powder has the ability to create a cloud in the air when being handled. This powder may accumulate in your lungs resulting in respiratory distress. It clogs the alveoli so makes it difficult for the oxygen to exchange within the lung. Be sure to handle it carefully and dump it slowly into recipes so it doesn’t poof up.

The Xanthomonas capestris bacterium is reproduced by feeding it soy and corn so, if you have those allergies, you may be sensitive to xanthan gum.

Guar gum and cellulose gel are common alternatives as well. Guar gum can cause migraine headaches I’ve noticed in some of my clients. One woman who consulted with me for her headaches discovered that the Doritos she was eating had guar gum in them. Her headache manifested about 32 hours after ingesting the chips. We eliminated the chips from her diet and all those headaches went away.

While xanthan gum is produced using some sort of corn product, guar gum is produced using a legumes. People trying to avoid corn or GMO foods should probably avoid xanthan gum, because these days corn is usually GMO.

Side effects of xanthan gum for some people include:

  • Gas and bloating
  • Abdominal cramping
  • Diarrhea
  • Respiratory distress (mechanical)
  • Fluid retention
  • Rashes

References:

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Receding Gums Tip: Dr. Moffat: You suggested on your website that White Oak Bark would not rebuild receding gums or work for bone loss, BUT if you add 70% Dr. Christopher’s Bone & Tissue dried herbs to 30% White Oak Bark, the receding gums will restore up to 90% and the bone will regenerate fully. . .even in the elderly. Also carrot, spinach, a little ginger and green apple juice (8 oz./day) will help to rebuild mouth structures internally. All the best. A friendly Dr.

Dear Friendly Dr. (Sounds like Dear Abby, doesn’t it?): Thanks for the input. I’ve noticed that gum massage (about 4 minutes/day) also helps to increase circulation and repair to the gums. I also suggest eating more fish—especially fish like sardines which have been pressure cooked and still have the bones in them.

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Hi Dr. Moffat, I was in a car accident yesterday and was sore as would be expected. I took 8 enteric coated baby aspirin, but my stomach doesn’t seem to like that, even with the enteric coating. I’m drinking more Keifer. I was wondering if there is anything else I can do or take for the soft tissue injuries. Many thanks. Sharon.

Holy Cow, Sharon! 8?! My stomach would burst a hole in it. Yes, try Traumeel tabs or Arnica Montana homeopathics. You can get these items at the local health food store (and should have them in your medical supplies area of the house). We like Traumeel and take it after a long day in the yard. It seems to help as well as aspirin without the side effects. You’re testing that you need up to 4/day (1 tablet every 4 hours for about 4 days). Traumeel comes in a gel form too. You can use this to rub onto the sore spots. I’m not testing you need a chiropractic adjustment at this point, but it seems like there is some extra energy in your left shoulder area. Soft tissue stuff the guides say. Does it hurt? Denice

Hi Dr. Moffat: Yes, mainly the left side is affected. I can’t even carry my purse or hold the dog’s leash on that side.

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Client Testimonials:

Hi Denice, I’m still having some issues with my cat, Amanda—runny bowels and some vomiting. She is on the Bacterial System Immune Stimulator drops and is eating some food now. Anything else I could be doing with her? Thanks very much, Kathleen.

Kathleen: I’m retesting you should be giving her 15 drops/day of the bacterial drops instead of 8 drops/day. Can you get some Nux vomica 30X at the health food store for her and give her 3/day for 2 weeks. Is she licking the air or smacking her lips?—the sign of nausea in a cat/dog. This homeopathic is for nausea. Denice

Denice, yes, I have Nux. Yes—she is licking. Thank you so much. Kathleen.

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Hi Denice: My daughter wrote me an email saying that she’s doing OK health-wise at her boarding school. When she smells the perfume and room fresheners, she takes her drops. She shared with me that they are really working for her. She said that if she doesn’t take them her head starts to feel funny. Can you please send her more of the Perfumox and Sick Building Detox drops and charge my card? Thanks. Helen.

Helen: Can do. They are in the mail as I write this. Thanks for the business! Denice

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Healthy Recipes: Oven-Roasted Green Beans

I obtained this recipe in part from reading Cook’s Illustrated magazine. They have an amazing content in that magazine sharing every reason for doing or not doing something to make the flavor and curb-appeal tantalizing.

For this recipe use garden fresh or the freshest beans you can purchase. These beans are sweet, crisp and tender. Roasting can also be used for the somewhat older beans. When roasted they are deeply caramelized with full-flavor. Roasting also encourages the Maillard reaction—a chemical response that creates flavor through browning. Cook’s Illustrated (Rebecca Hays is the Chef for this recipe) says this recipe disappears ‘faster than a tray of french fries’. This recipe uses half the fat you’ll find with the same bean recipe served in places like China Buffet. If you line the pan with foil it makes for easier cleanup. Enjoy!

roasted green bean recipe

Roasted Green Beans with Sesame seeds.

 Roasted Green Beans

Serves 4

  • 1 pound Green Beans, stem ends snapped off
  • 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
  • Table Salt and Ground Pepper
  1. Adjust oven rack to middle position; heat oven to 450 degrees. Line rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil; spread beans on baking sheet. Drizzle with oil; using hands, toss to coat evenly. Sprinkle with ½ teaspoon salt, toss to coat, and distribute in even layer. Roast 10 minutes.
  2. Remove baking sheet from oven. Using tongs, redistribute beans. Continue roasting until beans are dark golden brown in spots and have started to shrivel, about 10-12 minutes longer.
  3. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper, transfer to serving bowl, and serve.

(Notes: I used Toasted Sesame Oil for half the oil. I should have toasted the Sesame Seeds and added them last as they didn’t brown at all when I mixed them in before tossing them onto the foiled baking sheet.)

Optional Items: Red Pepper Flakes, Goat Cheese, Sun Dried Tomatoes Olives, Red Onion, Walnuts, Garlic, Ginger, Sesame Seeds

Add any aromatics (garlic and ginger) halfway through cooking and they won’t scorch. Adding a spoonful of honey or maple syrup creates an appealing glaze and creates more caramelization. Add any raw ingredients such as toasted nuts or seeds, fresh herbs or crumbled cheese when the beans have finished cooking to provide textural interest.

Reference for Roasted Green Bean Recipe: https://www.cooksillustrated.com/magazine/?extcode=K00MDXZ00

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Inspiration & Perspective:

God, why is this happening to me?

Me: God, can I ask You a question?

God: Sure

Me: Promise You won’t get mad?

God: I promise.

Me: Why did You let so much stuff happen to me today?

God: What do you mean?

Me: Well, I woke up late.

God:  Yes.

Me: My car took forever to start.

God: Okay.

Me: At lunch they made my sandwich wrong and I had to wait.

God: Hmmm.

Me: On the way home, my phone went dead, just as I picked up a call.

God: All right.

Me:  And on top of that, when I got home, I just want to soak my feet in my new foot massager and relax, but it wouldn’t work! Nothing went right today. Why did You do that?

God: Let me see, the death angel was at your bed this morning and I had to send one of My Angels to battle him for your life. I let you sleep through that.

Me: (Humbled) Oh!

God:  I didn’t let your car start because there was a drunk driver on your route that would have hit you if you were on the road.

Me: (Ashamed)

God: The first person who made your sandwich today was sick and I didn’t want you to catch what they have, I knew you couldn’t afford to miss work.

Me: (Embarrassed) Okay.

God: Your phone went dead because the person that was calling was going to give false witness about what you said on that call. I didn’t even let you talk to them so you would be covered.

Me: (Softly) I see, God.

God:  Oh and that foot massager?  It had a shortage that was going to throw out all of the power in your house tonight. I didn’t think you wanted to be in the dark coming into the weekend. You would have had to pay extra for an emergency call to get that all corrected.

Me: I’m sorry God.

God: Don’t be sorry, just learn to trust Me. . .in all things, the good and the bad.

Me: I will trust you.

God: And don’t doubt that My plan for your day is always better than your plan.

Me: I won’t God. And let me just tell you God, thank you for everything today.

God: You’re welcome my child. It was just another day being your God and I love looking after my children.

Author Unknown

What’s New at Our House?

Great inspiration this month. Michael and I needed that reminder. We’ve spent the last few weeks renting cars, talking with insurance agents and going to medical doctors, chiropractors and massage therapists. We ended up purchasing a truck with payments that won’t accept our snow plow. Our  pretty yellow truck was our only vehicle and we only had only three days to find a new vehicle without having to pay extra for the rental car. I’ve been in accidents before, but have never had my vehicle totaled! Michael was driving and we had Maggie in the back seat driving home from my mom’s house. Fortunately he was able to slam on the brakes and only hit him at about 35 mph instead of 60 mph. We feel sorry for the man who was at fault, but grateful that he didn’t have his small children in his own vehicle. It’s been a notch above normal stress around here. I’m looking forward to relieving that stress with the oncoming gardening season. And I have plans to build a pop-can solar panel so have been reviewing youtube videos on how to do that.

Bummer.

Bummer.

Local Events:

March 30th: 9am to 4pm.  Easter Eggs-travaganza at Eastside Marketplace in Moscow, ID. The Easter Bunny is hiding more than seven thousand eggs inside of the Eastside Marketplace!  On Saturday, March 30th at 11:00 a.m. sharp!  Children 5 & younger are invited to come and find all of those candy-filled eggs!!  Afterward, your children are invited to make crafts and take a walk at First-Step Internet’s Cake Walk!  Plus, one hundred GOLDEN eggs are also hidden, and if you find them, you’ll get a special prize!  It’s ALL happening at Eastside Marketplace’s Easter EGGS-travaganza, coming up on Saturday, March 30th at 11am Sharp! More Info: https://www.eastsidemarketplace.com/

April 16th, 2013: Join the TOM’s movement: One Day Without Shoes is TOMS’ annual day to bring global awareness to children’s health and education by going without shoes. And read about the event here: https://www.toms.com/get-involved/#one-day-without-shoes and get updates at https://onedaywithoutshoes.com

Sept. 13-15, 2013: 2013 Inland NW Permaculture Convergence at the MiVoden Retreat Center – Hayden Lake, Idaho.  More Info: https://inlandnorthwestpermaculture.com/  MiVoden summer camp is a 35-minute drive north of I-90. They have a large commercial kitchen which we can staff and bring in our own food.  There is a large, beautiful dining room with a breathtaking view of the lake which can hold everyone at once, plus another huge room adjacent to it for plenary sessions.  There is ample space for tenting and for RVs plus small cabins for rent, a great outdoor stage/ gathering area, a heated indoor pool area, a hot tub, and rooms with digital presentation capabilities. One change is switching from conference to convergence.  The first two INPCs were conferences that focused on education, workshops and presentations for permaculturists and the general public. The 3rd INPC will be a convergence of people who are already into permaculture and there will be more information on movement building such as permaculture education, permaculture consulting, networking, how to set up and run local groups, etc.  There will also be how-to workshops with practical information. We would love to see people do demonstrations and hands-on activities. The convergence is for people who have completed permaculture design courses as well as people who are excited about permaculture.