Hospitals Can Be Dangerous Places……

I recently had my own “Suzanne Somers like” hospital experience and I’m still reeling!  Don’t get me wrong – I totally believe in the necessity of good hospitals and medical doctors and that they save many lives everyday.  Unfortunately, I also believe that the situation below, probably happens way to often.

Scene 1:  Emergency Room Saturday 7:30 a.m. I had gotten in the middle of a dog fight the night before and suffered several deep wounds on Friday evening.  FYI - Never, ever put your hand between fighting dogs and NO - A dog’s mouth is not cleaner than a human’s. Anyway, long story short – I woke up Saturday morning with 102 temperature – NOT GOOD. I drove myself to the ER.  I’m told within just a few minutes,  I’m being admitted and IV antibiotics are started.  I can understand the concern and the preventative measures.  This is what hospitals are for.

Scene 2:  About 7:00 Saturday evening, the hospital attending on duty shows up.  She pulls up a chair very close to my bed and with a grim, serious face, proceeds to tell me, “The x-ray of my hand in the ER revealed a disturbing finding”. Exact words folks, “You have a bone lesion in your hand and unfortunately, it’s the kind consistent in people with lung cancer. It has nothing to do with the injury, trust me I questioned the radiologist. I want to get some chest x-rays right away”.  And, depending on what the hand surgeon says, we may also need a MRI to get a better look at the lesion”.  I am away to x-ray within 30 minutes.  Not kidding!  I said out loud –  ”OMG! Did my dog just save my life?”  And, I’m thinking, “I guess I’m going to get the opportunity to live what I believe (not that I really want to)”.  I’m convinced that destroying the cancer with toxic chemo you also destroy the body’s ability to heal itself.  A body that can heal itself can survive cancer (the short story).  You see – I believe everything happens for a reason.  (I had the MRI the next morning).

Can you imagine! Here I am in the hospital with a dog bites and this doctor is sitting in front of me seriously telling me she thinks I have cancer.  She doesn’t know anything about me.  After delivering the bad news, she tells me, “The good news is – all my blood work looks great and I’m healthy, which is a big plus” (except for the cancer thing).  She doesn’t ask me if I have any family members are friends there.  She doesn’t say, “This could be nothing”.  She leaves telling me she’ll be back early in the morning.  Wow – I got a great night’s sleep!  After going plant-based, I’ve been able to totally come off the blood pressure medicine I had taken for 10 years. It’s been almost 2 years now.  I thought I was handling the news pretty well, but my blood pressure said otherwise.

Scene 3:  The doctor enters the next morning to tell me my chest x-rays came back clear, (I swear, she seemed disappointed).  It took her about 2 minutes to deliver this news along with, there is still a chance the lesion is malignant, and the surgeon will be in later to talk to me about it.  About 3:00 p.m., he shows up to confirm I have a bone lesion in my hand.  I ask if the MRI confirmed malignancy.  ”Oh no! (he said), We won’t know that until we remove it.”  So the MRI was unnecessary and useless?  ”Oh no – it gave me a better look at what I’m dealing with”.  I am instructed to make an appointment with his office for Wednesday (3 days later).  I did not.

Scene 4:  Nurse shows up a few minutes later and I ask if I can go home now.  She goes and asks the doctor and I’m released with prescriptions in hand for pain and antibiotics (or so I thought), I couldn’t seem to find them – that’s a whole other blog!

Okay – so I don’t have lung cancer and I guess there is a small chance that have some kind of malignant thing in my hand – but I doubt it.  I’m pretty sure if I wanted to pursue this, which I don’t, I would find out the location of the so-called lesion, is in the exact same spot where I received a really bad cut when I was a girl. It severed nerves and still sends pain up my arm if I hit it.  I’m sure there was some scar tissue left over from that healing.

MORAL OF THE STORY - Stuff happens and sometimes the hospital is unavoidable.  If you do wind up in the hospital:

1.  Question everything! Speak up!  Try to have someone with you taking notes and asking questions when the doctor visits.

2.  FACT – Hospitals are the best place to pick up a bug or infection.  Get out of there as soon as possible!

3.  Do your best to avoid doctors and hospitals. Take responsibility for your health through diet and exercise.   “The REAL solution to America’s “Healthcare Crisis” is to “GET HEALTHY”!  Good Food For Thought…..

4. When pharmaceutical antibiotics are unavoidable.  Began taking a heavy duty probiotic (good bacteria) immediately.  Along with killing the bad bacteria, the antibiotic destroys all your good bacteria (your natural immune system).  Without the good stuff available in your system to fight the bad stuff, you have a good chance of contracting a viral, bacterial, and fungal infection when the antibiotics are stopped.

FYI – Try “Antiseptine” natural antibiotic ointment for cuts and scrapes. (I’m allergic to the ingredients in common over the counter chemical ointments).  Antiseptine has all of my favorite anti-fungal and anti-bacterial solutions in one jar (coconut oil, aloe vera, tea tree oil, etc.). Find it online or you can make your own.  The web is full of  effective natural remedy recipes.

SAY NO to GMO – You have until February 27th to make your voice heard!

“Government of the people, by the people, for

the people, shall not perish from the Earth”.

Abraham Lincoln

Make your voice heard at: www.federalregister.gov/articles/2011/12/27/2011-33009/dow-agroscience-llc-availability-of-petition-plant-pest-risk-assessment-and-environmental-assessment

 and at http://www.cornucopia.org/2011/12/action-alert-say-no-to-dow-chemicals-ge-corn-petition/ to sign a petition

 going directly to President Obama and US Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Learn more about GMO foods at http://www.saynotogmos.org/

 Dear Readers – I put in my 2 cents below  - Will you speak up?

“With the ever-increasing cancer rates, obesity, and chronic disease in our country, I find it hard to fathom the connection between what we eat and our health is not being made.  Health care cost is at  epidemic proportions along with all the disease and with no end in sight.  According to CMS.gov the National Health Expenditure has reached 17.6% of the GDP and an average of $8,086 per person.   The answer is not in forcing people to buy insurance so healthcare providers can get paid for more open heart surgeries  and chemotherapy and big  Pharma can sell more drugs.  I very seldom watch TV anymore and when I do I’m amazed at the amount of drug advertisements.   Every other commercial is a drug for this and a drug for that.  Drugs companies spend billions of dollars convincing the sick, that they have the magic pill.  I was shocked the other day to hear an advertisement for the new drug “Provigil”, to treat “shift work disorder” – really?  Half of the 60 second spot was taken up with the side effect disclosure of which included death of course.  Who benefits from all this advertising?  I don’t think it’s the poor shift worker who now needs more drugs to deal with the side effects of his “shift work disorder” drug. 

The answer to all this madness is not in a pill –  It’s in preventing illness before it cost thousands of dollars.  The answer is in getting healthy.  Supply and demand still works.  Decrease the demand for a product or service and the cost goes down for everyone.

Studies have proven time and again, that pesticides and toxins cause cancer and disease, along with poor nutrition.  Maybe it’s  time our elected officials put our money where their mouth is – how about a few more dollars spent on subsidizing  clean produce?  You say America needs to get healthy and then you subsidize the very foods that are making us sick and fat, like GMO corn.

No benefit will be gained by promoting the market for GM food.  I read the news and I am aware of the problems already surfacing with cross contamination of organic fields for instance, and the fact Monsanto’s pesticide and herbicide formulas have produced crops more and more resistant to the pests and weeds they were designed to resist. The same has happened with antibiotics as the misuse of these miracle drugs has increased, creating stronger and more resistant strains of deadly bacteria.   Where does this end?  When our food source is gobbled up by super bugs or so contaminated it’s not fit for human consumption, or when a new bacterial epidemic wipes us out?

If the government is really interested in the health of America, you will not allow this deregulation.   Corporate profit is the only benefactor of such a decision.

Americans can no longer but on blinders and allow profit to dictate how we eat.   We have the right of not only knowing what is in our food supply, but the right to choose.  I choose good health for myself and by doing so affect the gene pool positively for the next generation.

Demand good food and the supply of bad food will end automatically.   Supply and demand – simple…..

Thanks for reading and sharing……And thank you “saynotogmo.org” for all of your important, thoughtful research.  I’m playing it forward.

With Patience

Reasons for Vegans

MARKET STREET COOKING CLASS – September 10, 2011

“REASONS FOR VEGANS”

I’m counting down the hours to my debut “Vegan” cooking class.  Here’s the kicker – The students are mostly non-vegans.  I’ve always loved a good challenge!  Over the last couple of years, I’ve been obsessed with making vegan fare that appeals to the masses.   My motto is, “The taste buds don’t care if it’s plant or animal as long as it’s delicious!”.  So what did I do, I peddled my food to Market Street and SOLD!  The only requirement is I couldn’t use “Healthy or “Vegan” in the title of my class (a little tricky, but doable).  The following is what I hope everyone in class will take away along with my “Coconut Sweet Potato Pie” recipe. I promise your holiday guest will be begging for this recipe – vegan or not!   (See Recipe Below)  Stayed tuned for the highlights and more recipes from this class and others.

While researching a solution to my own weight issues, I discovered the link between obesity and our acidic American diet.  Like many women my age, I had gained 20 lbs. it seemed overnight.  What I discovered is our country’s animal based diet is making us sick and fat.   Obesity is a result of a body out of balance and one of the first signs of chronic illness.  Without going into too much detail, our bodies have an optimum pH balance. We pay attention to the “pH Balanced” when purchasing hair and skin products, but don’t think twice about how the pH of the foods we eat affect our body.  Our insides are pH sensitive just like our outside.  If acidic products destroy your skin and hair can you imagine what’s going on inside?  All animal products are on the acidic side of the pH scale with very few exceptions.  Most sugars and saturated fats are acidic.  I applied what I had learned and in the end, I lost the 20 pounds in short order.  Now my problem is keeping weight on!  It’s great to know I’ll never worry about my weight again.  The answer is a simple as, eating more often, eating more plants, walking in the sun, and “down time”.

Plant based proteins are less acidic, easier on our bodies and the fact is we need way less protein than the average American diet consumes, (mostly from animal sources).  These proteins also contain the unhealthy saturated fat, linked to heart disease,  among other killers.  Even while the USDA recommends drastically reducing saturated fat, they do a good job of veiling the sources of this fat by giving it technical names like cholesterol, saturated fat and “solid fat”, instead of calling it “animal”.  (Ask me about where the majority of government food subsidy dollars go). This excess protein taxes every digestive organ – the pancreas, liver, gallbladder, stomach, kidneys.  The average American eats 3 x what the body needs in protein. This excess animal protein is linked to an increased risk of osteoporosis (mineral loss as the body leaches calcium from our bones to neutralize the excess acid in our system).   This would explain why osteoporosis is on the rise in our country even with a huge emphasis on dairy (which is also protein).   Breast cancer, kidney disease, cataracts, arteriosclerosis; among other chronic diseases have been linked to excess animal protein.   A 120 lb. woman needs about 50 grams of protein a day (1 – 5oz. chicken breast and a cup of lentil soup).      Sadly, Americns have been conditioned to include animal protein for breakfast, lunch and dinner.   Only until recently has vegetable sources been acknowledged as acceptable sources of protein by the USDA and the information is vague.  When in reality,  the 9 or 10 essential amino acids not produced by the body are readily available from plant sources.   Soybeans, quinoa, greens (kale, collard, mustard, spinach, etc.) and potatoes are great examples of plant-based foods packed with these essential amino acids.  The foods on the menu for this class alone, provides approximately 44 grams of protein and all essential amino acids!  The fact is – we have a biological requirement for amino acids (the building blocks of protein), – NOT PROTEIN, according to Madelyn Fernstrom from the University of Pittsburg.  You can choose to get your amino acids from plant or animal.  Check out “Forks over Knifes” and the “China Study” for more clues to good health.  Another good study resource is www.vrg.org.  All information is referenced.  

There’s a big misconception that vegan and vegetarians are protein deficient.  Not true.  A plant-based diet with variety can have all the protein a body needs.  The fact is, vegetable protein is a superior, cleaner protein.  Just ask famous marathoner Scott Jurek, or tri-athelete, Brendan Brazier  what gives them their edge.  And, if you need another reason for adding more plant-based meals to your diet consider this – how about cutting your grocery bill in half and doing your part to save the planet and the animals.  To raise a cow for slaughter, you have to feed and water the crop and then feed and water the animal.  Much more cost-effective feed just feed and water the crop!   Another plus, plants are whole foods packed with fiber that fill you up and keep you satisfied.   No more dieting! - Eat as much as you want – Never be hungry.!  And, plant-based protein can be up to 50% less expensive than animal based protein.  How does it stack up?

4 oz. Salmon @ $3.00 per serving    = 22 grams protein, 2 grams saturated fat

4 oz. Porterhouse Steak @ $4.00 per serving = 22 grams protein, 9 grams saturated fat

1 cup lentils @ 20 cents per serving = 17.9 grams of protein, 0 grams of fat

We have the solution to America’s Health Care Crisis – GET HEALTHY!  “Supply and Demand” still works – Lower the demand for healthcare and the cost will plummet.  Demand “good food” and the “bad food” will disappear.  President Bill Clinton is a prime example of how you can eat your way to good health.  Good food for thought…….

 

 

Oat Pie Crust                                              (Preheat oven to 425 degrees)

 

Makes 2 crust

1 ¾ cup oat flour (Bob’s Red Mill)

2 tbsp dark coconut palm sugar

¼ tsp sea salt

6 tbsp Earth Balance Vegan Butter (cold)

¼ cup ice-cold water more or less

1.   In food processor add flour, salt and sugar – pulse a few time to mix.

2.  Add butter and pulse until butter is roughly cut in (8-10 seconds).

3. Turn processor to on and add water slowly through feeder tube until dough begins to clump and cleans the edge of bowl. (DO NOT LET FORM A BALL).  If too wet and sticking to sides add a little more flour (1 tsp at a time).  If too dry add more water (1 tsp at a time.

4. Remove from processor, knead dough a few times and cut in half.  Press each half into a round disk, wrap in plastic and let rest in freezer for a few minutes while toasting pecan, coconut mixture.  (Freeze one)

5. Roll out onto floured parchment for a 9” pie crust. Transfer to pie plate and finish edges as desired.  (I like to place my pie plate upside down on to rolled out dough and then flip it, press it into place and peel off the parchment – BAM!)

6. Bake at 425 degrees for 10 minutes.  Move to cool spot while you make filling.

Note – You can make this in a bowl.  Just mix the dry ingredients together.  Cut in butter with hand mixer or 2 knives.  Make well in middle of dough and add water.  Mix until it holds together.  And, of course you can buy a gluten-free crust from your local whole foods market.

 

 Sweet potato Coconut Pie                                             Preheat oven to 375 degrees

4 tbsp Earth Balance Butter

1/2 cup coconut flakes

2 tbsp ground flaxseed

1/2 cup chopped pecans

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/8 tsp cardamom

1/2 cup low-fat coconut milk

1 tbsp lemon juice

3 tbsp. dark rum

1 tsp vanilla extract or flavoring

3 tbsp Grade A pure maple syrup

3 tbsp coconut palm sugar or Stevia

2 cup sweet potatoes (prepared fresh or canned)

1 ripe banana smashed

2 tbsp arrowroot powder

2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp nutmeg

1 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp allspice

1/4 tsp sea salt

1. Make pie crust first.
2. In large sauté pan over med high melt butter.  Add coconut, flax, pecans, brown sugar and cardamom.  Toast mixture for 3-5 minutes until sugar is caramelized, stirring frequently (do not burn pecans).  Set aside.
3.  In large mixing bowl, whisk together, milk, rum, lemon juice, vanilla, coconut palm sugar, maple syrup. Then mix in sweet potatoes and banana.
4. Blend together in small bowl, arrowroot, baking powder, salt, and spices.  Add to wet ingredients and beat mixture until light and fluffy about 3 minutes.
5. Spread pecan mixture into bottom of prepared pie crust and pour sweet potato mixture evenly on top.
6.  Bake for 45-50 minutes or until crust is brown and pie is set (doesn’t jiggle like jello).

Serve with a simple, elegant cream cheese drizzle (see below) and garnish with pecan halves.  I promise your holiday guest will be begging for this recipe – Vegan or not!

 

Cream Cheese Drizzle                   (enough for 1 pie or cake)

 

¼ cup Earth Balance Vegan Butter (soft)   4 oz Tofutti Vegan Cream Cheese

3  tbsp confectioner’s sugar                           ½ tsp vanilla extract

1 tsp fresh lemon juice                                   (a little water if you want it thinner)

In small mixing bowl, whisk all ingredients until very smooth a creamy.  Drizzle over your favorite pie or cake.   How about some homemade cinnamon rolls…yum.