All posts tagged healing

February 20, 2013 · Blog

10 Reasons to Eat Chia Seeds

Ch Ch Ch Chia! Do you remember Chia Pets? Those tacky fluffy animals? Little did we know back in the day, that those little seeds were undercover super foods waiting to be discovered!

Now we know. Chia seeds are making a comeback. This time they can be found in health food stores and on websites galore for about $1 per ounce. They really are “super” food.

In the Aztec and Mayan cultures, Chia was used as a high-energy endurance food. It was great nourishment used before battle and long distance marches.

Top 10 Reasons to Eat Chia Seeds

1) Provides long lasting energy: Chia seeds form a gel when mixed with liquid because of the soluble fiber that coats the seed. Researchers believe that this gel-forming action also takes place in the stomach, helping to slow the conversion of carbs to sugar. This gives your body a steady stream of energy instead of a quick spike and crash.

2) Soothing to the colon: The swelling action of chia seeds helps to clean and sooth the colon. It absorbs toxins while lubricating and strengthening peristaltic action.

3) A complete protein: Chia seeds are a source of complete protein containing all 9 essential amino acids.

4) Rich in omega 3s: Chia seeds are the richest vegetable source of omega 3 fatty acids. They have the perfect balance of omega 3 to omega 6.

5) Rich source of calcium: Chia seeds are rich in calcium. They also have magnesium and boron, which aid in the absorption of calcium.

6) High in age-defying antioxidants: That means they fight free radicals. It also gives them a long shelf life (over 2 years). This shelf stability is not found in flax seeds or sesame seeds.

7) Helps curb your nighttime snack attack: Eaten as a pudding after dinner, chia can help us from getting hungry late at night.

8) Weight loss aid: Chia seeds prevent the absorption of some of the food and calories that we eat, they keep you full for hours.

9) Cuts Cravings: Being deficient in minerals can create a craving for foods. For example if you’re low on calcium you may feel compelled to eat lots of cheese and ice cream. You can add calcium to your food by sprinkling on the chia! By balancing your minerals with chia, you can curb cravings that might tempt you.

10) Reduces inflammation: High levels of essential fatty acids in chia have anti-inflammatory properties on the body. By aiding in the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins and reducing C-reactive protein, an inflammation marker. Omega-3s reduce joint stiffness and pain. Studies have shown that reduced inflammation lowers the risk for heart disease, arthritis and certain types of cancer.

Check out the recipe for Chia Seed Pudding.

November 14, 2012 · Blog

A Very Personal Story

“Waaaa, waaa, waaa” said the baby. Cute, you think? I don’t think my mom thought so. I did not sleep through the night for a full year after I was born. So… neither did my mom.

I had severe stomach pain that was not just “colic”. I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease. As my mom told me, she took me to a doctor in New York City who specialized in gastro-pediatrics. I don’t know how she found him, but leave it to my mother to find the best. I do remember his wood paneled office and his big desk that I could barely see over.

Back in the day, doctors didn’t only use pharmaceuticals. They healed people. They used nutrition. This wonderful doctor put me on a Specific Carbohydrate Diet or the SCD for short. It is basically a diet that omits any type of grains, beans, and legumes, and is mostly made up of animal protein, vegetables and some fruits. My mom thankfully, strictly adhered to the diet. I was kept on it until I was four years old.

For me, it wasn’t so bad. I actually felt special. My mom made me special meals, and frozen juice pops to eat when those ice-cream truck bells began to ring. I had never tasted sugar so I had no idea what the fuss was about.

At age 4 I was pronounced, “healed” and I was back to a regular diet that I was then able to tolerate. In a family that had our share of learning disabilities, I had none. In fact I was always an honor student. What does that have to do with anything, you ask? Read on…

Years later as my interest in nutrition became strong; I thanked God that I was spared from 4 years of eating sugar, but I questioned the diagnosis I was given for Celiac. Everything I read assured me that Celiac was incurable. I recently discovered I was wrong as could be! It was curable, and I was cured!

I have come to believe, very strongly I might add, that everything can be cured with food and other natural modalities. I have seen it all. Proper nutrition can do miracles and more.

With a lot of experience and all my studies, I came up with a very specific diet that was truly healing a lot of my clients. It helped people who suffered from constipation as well as others who had stomach issues and severe depression. I developed it by focusing on controlling insulin levels and getting a good ecology going in the digestive tract with the very best quality foods. Yessiree I was on to something good!

It was then that I started connecting the dots. If I had not been on that SCD diet when I was a baby, would I have learning disabilities? What else did it save me from?

I happened to have a copy of Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBrides’ book “Natural Treatment for Gut and Psychology Syndrome” (GAPS) that I just received from Amazon. It was sitting on my coffee table just waiting to be read!

The GAPS Diet, based on the SCD, is the one people are using to cure all psychological problems: Autism, Dyspraxia, ADD, Dyslexia, ADHD, Depression, Bi-polar, Schizophrenia, and more. The research and studies that are highlighted in the book, show a very distinct connection to all those problems with the condition of the digestive tract. It is truly amazing!!

Ready for the clincher? The Doctor who cured me, Dr. Sidney V. Haas, was the inventor of the original diet, the SCD! I discovered this at 11:30 at night when my whole household was asleep. I did a low squeal as I flipped-out from the news in the GAPS book!

Dr. Haas developed this revolutionary approach in 1951, and cured me in the early 60’s. All later variations such as the GAPS Diet, are based on his work. I had no idea he was “the man”.

Well that is the craziest, most destined thing I ever saw! He cured me, got my gut and brain working, and now I hope to carry on doing his work? Mind blower don’t you think?

And so it goes. I am dedicating my life to helping people heal their guts and minds in the way mine were healed; in a natural, painless, healthy way. I have so much gratitude to God, my mother, and Dr. Haas for healing my body and mind, what better way to show it?

October 10, 2012 · Blog

Joy’s Best Home Remedies

What do we do when our prevention efforts fail and we or our kids get sick? We thank God that our immune systems are going to get a boost and our bodies are detoxing! That’s what.

What are the colds, stomach aches, fevers, and viruses really all about? It is your body cleaning house and takin’ out the garbage. It’s a good thing, really. The less you put in the less needs to come out.

We also want to pull out an arsenal of home remedies to help heal us and move things along. So here are some of my best home remedies for our most common illnesses. Print them out and keep them somewhere safe so you can take a look when things get tough.

For colds;

Use a good cool air humidifier. (check out the ones I have on “shop”)
Have a lot of hot drinks and soups.
Use saline spray for stuffy noses.
Make a tea with a few slices of lotus root to dry up mucous and quiet coughs. It is good for all respiratory problems

lotus root

Ginger

For coughs and sore throats;

Do the same as for colds but use ginger compresses on throat and chest.
Gargle with warm water and sea salt.

For ear infections;

A drop of warm olive oil in the ear is very soothing.
According to Chinese medicine an ear infection is caused by a stagnation in the kidneys, do a ginger compress on the kidney (same side as infection).

For stomach ache, nausea or vomiting;

The most soothing thing is a hot water bottle. (I have great ones on my amazon store, just click on “shop”)
Always have umeboshi plums (on my website “shop”) on hand. They’re
instant relief for nausea and stomach aches (some headaches too).
Chamomile tea and ginger tea work well.
For constipation I always recommend the old time favorites like prunes, prune juice, probiotics, and lots of water. Hot water and lemon first thing in the morning helps. I also recommend sitting in a squat position with knees up and stomach/colon massages are very effective.
If all else fails an old fashioned enema bag works wonders (you can find that as well here on my website “shop”).

For fever:

Most of the time it is good to let the fever run its course. However a fever over 103 in adults and over 102 in children are cause for concern. Consult your health-care advisor if natural methods do not work or if a fever lasts longer than 2 days.

**Call your healthcare advisor immediately for a child under three months of age who has a fever of 100.6 rectal or more, a child three to six months old who has a fever over 101 F rectal. Call immediately if your child has suffered a seizure from the fever or if a feverish child shows a rash.**

Apply a tofu plaster on the forehead, changing it every hour.
Dissolve 1 tsp of kuzu (white starchy powder, you can find in your health food store) in 1 cup of apple juice over a low flame. Drink to help bring down a fever.
If you can, purchase a far infrared blanket (made of ceramic fibers). If you wrap someone with a fever in it, the fever will come down quickly.
A warm bath is an old favorite (never cold!!). It will immediately bring down fever.
Drink 1 tbsp. raspberry jam dissolved in a cup of hot water with a splash of lemon juice and sit under warm blanket. This will induce sweating and bring down the fever.

One of the best home remedies I know, and used on my own children is Palm-Healing, also known as comforting. You rub your hands together hard, until you feel them tingly and electrified. Then put the child on your lap and calmly breath with the child while placing your hands on the effected area:

For tummy ache- on the tummy.
For ear ache-place one hand over the ear, the other on the kidney.
For a chest cough- place the hands on the chest and throat.

Trust me, this is a powerful healing tool and it works like a charm. If nothing else your child will feel very loved , protected, and cared for. Awww!!

In the coming week I will be posting video instructions for the Tofu Plaster, the Lotus Root tea, and the Ginger Compress. Check back often.