Friday, December 28, 2012

You have other options...

My sister, me, Nani, my brother

When my grandmother (Nani) was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer about 3 years ago she was given very few options. In her case it was chemotherapy or nothing. It astounded me that in all these decades of treating cancer, doctors give three options depending on the cancer... chemo, radiation, surgery, or a combination.

It's appalling actually because since then, I have researched and found at least half a dozen different doctors and organizations that are having success by treating cancer patients with "alternative" medical treatments. I have written about The Gerson Therapy before along with other alternative treatments (you can find it here) but I received an email from them today with a success story that I wanted to share.
"It's now 7 ½ years since I was diagnosed with stage IV mantle cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and turned down all four of the chemotherapy drugs they wanted to put into a port near my shoulder. I'd been a member of the Gerson Institute for many years and I always figured that, if I were ever to get cancer, I'd start Gerson Therapy immediately. On the way home from Dana Farber Cancer Institute where the lymphoma specialist told me what treatment he wanted me to take, Pete and I stopped at a health food store and loaded up on organic produce. I followed Charlotte's book to the "T."  
When I returned to my oncologist's office with my follow-up lab reports a couple of months later, he exclaimed, "This is absolutely fantastic!" Then, he wrote me a letter saying, "Keep doing what you are doing. The chemo would not have cured your cancer anyway." At the five year point, I was called in to my local oncologist's office who had been ordering the lab work and CT scans since diagnosis. She said I didn't have to be followed any longer and added, "Had you taken the recommended chemo, I doubt you'd be alive today." My oncologists were very compassionate and pleased to watch me doing so well with my holistic approach.
--Joyce Forsythe
Unlike many people faced with the devastating diagnosis of stage IV cancer, Joyce already knew of alternative treatments she could turn to. She had learned of the Gerson Therapy years before by living near Dr. Gerson's center outside New York City. Joyce had also been a member of the Gerson Institute for years and heard the stories of the many patients who recovered by strictly following the Therapy protocols.  
While deciding not to take your doctors' advice may never be easy, it is easier when you have been able to learn about the alternatives before you find yourself in a situation of fear and stress. That's why your support is pivotal. As cancer rates rise and toxins in our foods, air and water become more prevalent, it is important that people learn about that there are viable alternative treatments, like the Gerson Therapy, before they become ill. 
We know that the Gerson Therapy may not be the right choice for everyone. It requires a strong commitment to a very new way of eating and living. But it is a path for many people - and could be the path for many more, if only they know about Gerson before they become ill. Please help us spread Dr. Gerson's message of hope and healing today. Help by donating The Gerson Institute directly.

I thought it important to share success stories with you because you don't usually hear about them. And you sure as hell don't hear about them from Oncologists. It's very frightening when you are sitting in the doctor's office waiting to hear the odds of survival of someone you love and being told the treatments that they do have don't even work. Hopefully this makes it into the hands of someone who can use it before they waste precious time.

If you or someone you know has cancer, please forward this to them or direct them to Alternative Cancer Therapies.

Thursday, December 27, 2012

McRib is back...YUCK!


There are so many things wrong with this sandwich I don't even know where to start. McDonald's only saving grace is that it doesn't offer the sandwich all the time. Thank you McDonald's for not allowing us to purchase another disastrous option most of the time. 

Let me preface this by saying that I do eat meat... however, I am picky about where it comes from. And the McRib shouldn't even be allowed to be called meat.

Richard Mandigo, the professor from the University of Nebraska, who developed the "restructured meat product" that the McRib is actually made of, described it as:
Restructured meat products are commonly manufactured by using lower-valued meat trimmings reduced in size by comminution (flaking, chunking, grinding, chopping or slicing). The comminuted meat mixture is mixed with salt and water to extract salt-soluble proteins. These extracted proteins are critical to produce a "glue" which binds muscle pieces together. These muscle pieces may then be reformed to produce a "meat log" of specific form or shape. The log is then cut into steaks or chops which, when cooked, are similar in appearance and texture to their intact muscle counterparts. ... Such products as tripe, heart, and scalded stomachs are high in protein, completely edible, wholesome, and nutritious, and most are already used in sausage without objection. (Original Source)

Yummmmm. Restructured meat products are going to the top of my ABSOLUTELY DO NOT F**KING EAT LIST.

According to the current box labeling, the sandwich consists of just five basic components - a pork patty and BBQ sauce with pickle slices, onions and a sesame bun.
But, as Time magazine points out, a closer examination of McDonald's own list of ingredients reveals that the sandwich contains a total of 70 ingredients, including azodicarbonamide, a flour-bleaching component that is often used to produce foamed plastics (think gym mats and the soles of shoes). In fact, "the compound is banned in Europe and Australia as a food additive," says Time. Other ingredients include ammonium sulfate and polysorbate 80. (Original Source)

Why does anything need 70 ingredients? PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE... do not eat this! If you want something covered in BBQ sauce at least get something in it's original form like a chicken wing or real ribs... not something that was conjured up in a laboratory and made of chemicals in a factory. These should come with a warning label like cigarettes do. This will cause: cancer, heart disease, chronic inflammation, digestive issues, arthritis, obesity, diabetes, and on and on and on...

YUCK!

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Is it a Christmas Miracle... or ear candling?


So normally I get sick at least once during the Christmas season. It's usually a combination of lack of sleep, too much stress, and/or burning the candle at both ends. Anyway I cut it, I get sick. This year, even though I was surrounded by sick people, I (knock on wood) haven't gotten sick yet.

I have a crazy suspicion that I know why I didn't get sick. There was one day a few weeks back that I started to feel like I was getting sick. It was the kind that starts in the back of your throat and it feels like your ears hurt. I got home and planned on sleeping it off, but before I got into bed I candled my ears. Then I got on the phone and before I knew it, it was like 2 hours later and I felt completely better. That was odd!

Yesterday morning I woke up and felt the same I'm-definitely-getting-sick feeling. So I immediately candled my ears, and it pretty much went away.

One of the things that I've noticed (it's about to get really REAL) in my ear candling experiences is that when I've had mine done and I haven't been sick the ear wax comes out like a waxy powder. When I've done it, either to myself when I feel like I'm about to get a cold or to my friends after they've become sick, the ear wax comes out in dark clumps. Gross I know, but it's something to think about. I have heard it said by a few doctors I respect that the ear wax in your ears is the perfect breeding ground for colds and infections.

Welp... I'm sure some could argue that this is just a theory, but I'm convinced. And I'll be candling my ears every time I feel like I'm coming down with something.

That is all. You can go back to your day :)

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Hi.... I'm Jess. I think I used to write a blog

It's been a while. Sorry! Fortunately, I have nothing healthy to report to you. I have been keeping my head above water for the past few weeks and everything, aside from the occasional workout and occasional green juice, has fallen by the wayside.

The only thing I've cooked in the past 3 weeks has been my WORLD FAMOUS banana bread. Lucky you because I am about to share the once-secret recipe with you.



  • 2 c. whole wheat flour
  • 1 c. brown sugar
  • 1 stick organic butter (softened)
  • 2 farm eggs
  • 5 overripe (black) bananas
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 2 splashes vanilla extract
  • spices: ground ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Mix together sugar and salt, butter, eggs, bananas, and spices.
  3. Add in flour a little at a time until all is mixed in. 
  4. Bake for 1 hour, or until knife comes out clean from the middle of pan
They key to my moist-ass-banana-bread is the 5 overripe bananas. Any less and it just isn't the same. A great breakfast on a cold morning. 

Enjoy!

Friday, November 30, 2012

Breast Cancer Insanity

There's nothing better than checking my email first thing in the morning and reading an article about another young girl deciding to remove her breasts because she is trying to prevent breast cancer. 

Allyn Rose is on the left
Astounding: Miss America contestant will have both breasts removed, and she doesn't have cancerOriginal Source
Allyn Rose, 24, has announced she'll have a double mastectomy after the Miss America pageant is over.

She doesn't have cancer.

"If I were to win [the contest]...I would have this incredible platform to speak to my generation..." Rose said.

http://www.washingtonpost.com

Rose has been making the rounds of media outlets, announcing her intention, promoting what can only be called the medically-assisted culture of self-mutilation.

Read Mike Adams' devastating article about the new study showing mammograms produce vast over-diagnosis of non-existent cancers, leading to cut-burn-poison treatments.

http://www.naturalnews.com

The case of Allyn Rose goes even beyond that. She has received no diagnosis of cancer. This is now a growing trend: precautionary mastectomies.

In Rose's case, it's about a marker, called Wiskott-Aldrich, which signals a very rare immune disorder, almost always found in boys.

Rose has been called a carrier. She is without symptoms.

But because this marker is said to run in her mother's family, because her mother died at a young age, as a result of breast cancer, and because, we are told, breast cancer "runs in her mother's family," Allyn Rose has decided to have both her breasts removed.

Medical literature claims a high correlation between this Wiskott-Aldrich marker and cancers. But breast cancer specifically?

The director of the Wiskott-Aldrich foundation, Dr. Sumathi Iyengar, told the Washington Post's Reliable Source there was only some anecdotal evidence pointing to a possible connection.

I spoke with Dr. Iyengar and she was much more emphatic, stressing there is "no evidence" proving a link between the Wiskott-Aldrich marker and breast cancer.

On this basis, a healthy young woman of 24 is having both her breasts removed; she has been hailed as a hero; and she will go on the road and function as a promoter for her cause.

Naturally, Allyn Rose is working with the Susan Komen Foundation, notorious for its propaganda about the need for mammograms and "early diagnosis" and treatment.

What message will Rose be sending to young impressionable girls who want to gain status, recognition, and praise? The answer is obvious. Suddenly, popularity and acclaim are just one surgery away.

Major media outlets are playing along, of course. Where are the medical reporters raising objections? Nowhere.

Jon Rappoport
Original Source 

WTF??? Does no one see how horribly messed up that is? The Susan Komen Foundation should be shut down and everyone arrested for promoting this absurdity. This poor (by poor I mean stupid) girl is getting her breasts removed because she thinks it will prevent her from getting cancer. Nothing, aside from lifestyle changes will prevent anyone from getting cancer! If she has an impaired immune system she should start juicing. She's only 24. Ugghhhh! 

I hope she doesn't win Miss America for the sole reason that if she does she's going to start spewing her garbage about how every young girl should get a double mastectomy before she is even diagnosed with breast cancer. 

I'm done with my rant. Have a nice day!

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Anxiety Level: ORANGE


On a scale of 1 to 10, ten being insanity, I've been around a level 7 lately. It's a combination of my overflowing to-do list and drinking regular coffee instead of decaf, and not regularly physically exerting myself. Luckily (for everyone else) only my nails and cuticles have been effected. Which brings me to my super important topic of today.

I am going on record as saying I AM COMPLETELY DONE BITING MY NAILS AND CUTICLES. 

I took a look at my toe nails the other day and was like Wow! I have really nice toe nails. (Thank God I don't have an insane urge to bite them!!). Then I looked at my nails, which right now look like a hyena was gnawing on them, and was thoroughly embarrassed and fed up. I could have really nice nails if I could just keep them out of my damn mouth.

So the task at hand is to cognitively train myself to believe I am not a nail biter. Stressful situation or not, I am not a nail biter.

I know I'm not curing cancer with the information I'm talking about, but it might make me a little less neurotic and therefore improve my quality of life.

Does anyone else have any tips that helped them stop???

P.S. I've tried the pepper nail polish- nothing. I actually like pepper.

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

I need sleep!

So in lieu of the fact that everyone in my life is getting sick right now, I am in serious "I NEED SLEEP" mode. Sleep is the one thing that if I let myself go I will get sick. And it is just not an option for me right now. SO last night I slept for 11 hours. And tonight I am planning on doing the same. Coincidentally, I just saw this article from Dr. Mercola on common sleep mistakes that people make.

  1. Using the snooze button. While a few minutes more in bed may be tempting, using the snooze button could backfire as interrupted sleep can increase your fatigue. GUILTY!
  2. Irregular sleep schedule. A regular routine of going to bed and getting up around the same time each day will help promote better sleep, while constantly interrupting your schedule can easily lead to insomnia and fatigue. GUILTY!
  3. Taking long naps during the day. GUILTY!
  4. Eating sugar before bedtime. Sugar alters the chemical balance in your body, which can contribute to impaired sleep. UMM...SOMETIMES...
  5. Drinking coffee or caffeinated beverages too late in the day. GUILTY!
Since I am in the middle of a crazy work schedule right now, I have found it really hard to maintain taking care of myself. I haven't worked out consistently in like a month, I've barely been juicing, and I've been eating out a lot. But the one thing I know I need to stay on top of is my sleep.

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Giving thanks that I don't have to cook on Thanksgiving

In honor of the Thanksgiving dinner that I will not be cooking this week, I will present to you some short Mark Bittman videos of some really simple, delicious, and healthier alternatives to mashed potatoes and stuffing. *Disclaimer: There is nothing wrong with mashed potatoes and stuffing. This is what I would be cooking if I was having dinner at my house. One of these days...


Braised Turkey



Herb Stuffed Duck


Layered Vegetable Torte




Butternut Squash Salad (raw)





Braised Artichokes



Walnut Torte


Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Daily Yoga

That's me... just kidding! Maybe someday

I recently fell off the workout wagon and it is starting to show. I'm not gaining weight, but I'm not sleeping as well as I do when I work out regularly, and I've been waking up with seriously stiff muscles in my neck and back. This usually happens every year when we are under the time pressure of get-everything-setup-before-Thanksgiving-or-we-won't-be-selling-Christmas-trees.

I recently bought a hot yoga package which I am trying to find the time to use, AND I just realized that there is a workout channel on On Demand. DUH!!!! I can just do yoga in my living room! So that's what I'm doing everyday from now on. I'm going to do at least 20 minutes of yoga every day.

Today was my second day doing it... I'll keep you posted!

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

I love bibb lettuce


Since discovering how much I love bibb lettuce salads with other kinds of lettuce just don't compare. I probably wrote about this before, but the best way to make a salad with bibb lettuce is just add dressing. The second best way is what I'm about to tell you. I discovered it on the menu at my FAVORITE restaurant/bar/nightclub over the summer and I just made it myself.

I'm not exactly sure how they make the apricot vinaigrette so I winged it:

  • handful of dried apricots (organic, unsulfured)
  • raw apple cider vinegar
  • raw olive oil
  • water
  • bibb lettuce
  • Gorgonzola cheese
  • walnuts
  1. Soak the dried apricots in water overnight (they will take their original shape when done)
  2. In food processor, add apricots (including water from soaking), oil and vinegar, blend.
  3. Toss lettuce and dressing in bowl.
  4. Top with crumbled Gorgonzola cheese (organic) and crushed walnuts.
AMAZEBALLS! While the dressing is not exactly the same, it gives a similar sweet effect. This is definitely one of those things I could eat every day.

One thing about nuts. EAT THEM! (unless you are allergic) They are packed with vitamins, minerals, and healthy fats. There is nothing wrong with eating fat if it comes from the right source! Right source- fruits, vegetables, nuts. Wrong source: hydrogenated oils, fried foods, candy bars, etc. You get the point.  

And I'm eating my second bowl right now. 
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