For The Love of Food ...

Food played always an important part in my life. When I grew up in East-Germany, we never went hungry but we had to be satisfied with just the basic foods like bread, potatoes, some sausage, and cooked vegetables. We didn’t have refrigeration in the early 50’s, so the only conservation was canning and pickling. We did alright as a family since we had a big garden and grew some delicious fruits and some vegetables.
I started to experiment with cooking during my teenage years. By that time my parent had fled with our family to West Germany and we enjoyed during the winters fresh citrus fruits and more variety of food choices.

My mother is a very good cook but she could not teach me because she never measured her portions. So I learned mostly from cookbooks and in home economics. I very much enjoyed making international dishes with names I could neither pronounce nor really knew what they were supposed to taste. My family was not always excited to eat what I had cooked, especially when it included strange things like nuts in a gravy or spices they had never heard off.

Before I came the U.S. I had never opened a box to make a meal or bake a cake. I had made everything from scratch and still do when I have enough time. The flavor and spices I use are just not in the frozen dinners or come in a boxed cake.
When I later traveled to France and Italy, and very much later to the U.S. and the orient, I came to appreciate international foods.
To give myself a treat this week, I invited my daughter to watch to movie “Julie & Julia.” I have only one thing to say, it was hilarious, I laughed so hard because I could relate to so many situations in the movie and was comforted when Julia scraped potato pancake from the stove and put it back in the pan or when Julie overslept the timer and forgot to take out her “Boeuf à la Bourguignonne.”
It’s amazing how one women, Julia Child, changed to whole kitchen scenery in the U.S. and brought American women back into the kitchen. And Julie, bless her heart, went through all the trouble, in making all the 524 recipes from the “The Mastering of Art of French Cooking” without getting the approval or acknowledgement of the master chef herself. But why was she sad when Julia passed away in 2004? In her own words: she had grown to unite with Julia in spirit and action during the year she committed to the cooking project and even though they never met, she felt as if she had know her.
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Bon Appetit! Enjoy!

Kiwifruit

As one of the 19 fuits in the MonaVie drink, Kiwifruit is pact full of valualble nutrients.

It is mostly known for its outstanding content of vitamin C, containing double the amount of an orange. It is also rich in minerals and trace minerals, such as: Potassium (more than bananas), calcium, iron, magnesium, copper, manganese and chromium. It also supplies a rich amount of soluble and un-soluble amount of fiber as well as flavonoids.

The kiwifruit is a fruit of a perennial vine, it is brown, egg sized and covered with fuzz. When sliced, the fruit yields an attractive emerald green flesh with rows of small, dark, edible seeds, and a light cream colored center. Its flavor is similar to a blend between strawberry and pineapple.

History

The kiwifruit is native to the Yangtze River valley of northern China and Zhejiang Province on the coast of eastern China. Seeds were first brought from China, by missionaries to New Zealand at the turn of the century. Early nurserymen there favored the fruit and it became popular for a backyard vine. Plants were sent to the Chico Plant Introduction Station in California and still exist. Kiwifruit is also grown commercially in Italy, Chile, and South Africa.

Healthbenefits

Eating kiwi fruit is clearly a healthy choice, and it is particularly useful in these cases:
· Prevents Asthma
· Prevents wheezing and coughing, especially in children
· Protects our DNA from mutations
· Provides a healthy amount of antioxidants and vitamins
· Helps prevent colon cancer thanks to a high fiber content

How to use?

The simplest way to enjoy kiwifruit is to peel and slice it. Here are some ideas for adding extra sparkle to salads, beverages, entrees, desserts, and other recipes:
* add kiwifruit cartwheels to fresh fruit salads, coleslaw and chicken or turkey salads,
* top cereals with kiwifruit slices,
* give cheesecake a touch of elegance with a kiwifruit glaze,
* use as a garnish on pies and cakes,
* float kiwifruit slices in punch and cocktail recipes,
* blend kiwifruit into frothy fresh fruit blender drinks,
* scoop kiwifruit halves right from the skin with a spoon,
* garnish poultry and meat dishes with kiwifruit,
* fill avocado, melon or papaya halves with sliced kiwifruit,
* use as a meat tenderizer.

To learn more about the MonaVie fruit drinks and beverages, please visit my website: http://www.the-team.biz/mv991215

Colloidal Silver Kills Germs – Is it a Replacement for Anti-biotics?

The (Colloidal) Silver Bullet

By Kurt Grange

Before the Second World War, colloidal silver was considered a universal antibiotic substance, useful with more than 650 infectious conditions. Is it just as useful today?

A Distinguished Place in History

Silver occupies a distinguished place in folklore and science as a metal of substance. When used in bullets, silver dispatches werewolves, vampires and lesser monsters to the netherworld. As a precious metal, it is treasured in jewelry and coin. As an industrial metal, it displays phenomenal electrical and thermal conductivities.
Perhaps a little less known is silver’s prowess in medical science. As a colloid—particles of silver dispersed in water—silver was considered a universal antibiotic substance and one of the best sources of antibiotic treatments prior to 1945.
Since then, colloidal silver’s use and effectiveness in medicine and wellness has been successfully tested at the UCLA School of Medicine as well as by respected medical and naturopathic practitioners. For years hospitals used colloidal silver to treat burn victims and to place in newborn’s eyes.
Outside the medical realm, colloidal silver is widely used in industrial and consumer applications such as water, shower, air and furnace filters. NASA uses a silver-based filtration system for all space flights and space stations. Some of the best-known bandage brands impregnate their products with silver.
Effective Against Germs

Antibiotic-resistant germs are now considered to be epidemic in the United States, accounting for a growing number of serious infections disorders. Many forms of bacteria, viruses, and fungus utilize a specific enzyme for their metabolism. Silver acts as a catalyst, effectively disabling those enzymes so that the disease microbe cannot reproduce.

* While most manufactured antibiotics are effective against a half dozen or so bacteria each, colloidal silver is useful against more than 650 different infections conditions, according to some studies*.

Colloidal silver has proven to be toxic to all tested species of fungi, bacteria, protozoa, parasites and many viruses.

* More importantly—unlike conventional antibiotics—infectious agents cannot build a resistance to silver.*

“There is no known disease-causing organism that can live in the presence of even minute traces of the chemical element of simple metallic silver,” according to Larry C. Ford, M.D., at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, UCLA School of Medicine. According to the book "Colloidal Silver, The Antibiotic Alternative," colloidal silver can assist the body in a myriad of ways. “It is believed that colloidal silver will prove to be one of the greatest rediscoveries in preventative, natural health care,” according to the book.
Non-Toxic, Non-Addictive

According to researchers, colloidal silver, when properly prepared, is non-toxic, non-addictive and has no known side effects.

* It does not sting, and the body develops no tolerance to it.*

Neither does it harm the liver, kidneys or any other part of the body. It is an antiseptic anesthetic, which encourages the growth of new healthy cells.

*Colloidal silver appears to be safe for children and pregnant and nursing women. It is tasteless, odorless, contains no free radicals, is harmless to human enzymes and has no adverse reactions with medications. Taken internally, it may improve digestion, help prevent colds, flu and all organism-caused diseases.*

It can be used as a douche, atomized, nebulized or inhaled. Applied externally, it has been shown to help with things such as skin abrasions and burns (including sun burn). It can also be dropped into the eyes and ears to help the body overcome infection.
A word of caution: use only a product that can be obtained through a reputable commercial source.

Never use a “homemade” colloidal silver solution internally.
Kurt Grange, Ph.D., N.D., is a nutritional biophysiologist and author.

I reprinted this article because most people have never heard of the application of colloidal silver. I received it as part of a newsletter from RBC Lifesciences, a networking company I have been part of for the last 14 years. They carry a high quality product called: Silver 22.

Here are some other helpful links:

http://ezinearticles.com/?Uses-For-Colloidal-Silver&id=2587605

http://www.colloidalsilversolutions.com/csuses.html

http://www.csilverhl.com/15401.html

Summer Reflections

The sun being the source of life, light and warmth for us humans is often shown as a symbol for God. In Genesis, God created the sun, calling it good. The purpose of the sun is to give light to the earth and separate day and night (Gen 1:14). The sun is necessary for man’s well-being, and sustain life as we know it. God, in his infinite wisdom, created a solar system, capable of giving life, warmth and food (photosynthesis). All of this is done in the fine balance of distance, gravity, and atmospheric protection from the deadly sun rays. The whole system supports our life on earth while still expanding on the larger scale.
It appears that the Sun was worshipped as a personified, life-giving deity in Babylonian, Egyptian, Greek, Roman, and other major civilizations of history. For a culture who viewed the Sun as a god, it was not a far next step to feature their god with a face, such as the common symbol face in the center of the Sun's rays.
Sanskrit names for the Sun can be translated as fixity, steadiness, firmness, and strength of purpose. In terms of astronomy, the Sun simply is. The Sun rises day after day regardless of weather conditions, the behavior of humanity or the placement of planets in the sky. It traverses its set path, always giving light and heat and asking nothing for itself in return.

There is a beloved Aesop tale about the North Wind and the Sun. As the story goes, the wind and the sun were competing with each other: who would be the stronger. They came to an agreement that they would test their strength on a traveler who was going by. By whoever’s strength the traveler would take his coat off, would be the winner. The north wind tried his very best, he blew and blew, and as it got colder the traveler would only wrap his coat tighter and turn away from the strong wind.

Then it was the sun’s turn. She let out her warm rays, and before you know it, the traveler warm feeling very good and comfortable and behold, he took off his coat.
The moral of the story being that the gentleness of the sun is more powerful than the harshness of the wind.

On our journey of life we often encounter harshness, criticism, and all kinds of obstacles. But don’t we all long for a kind word, some encouragement, some appreciation? Just like the sun warms us with its golden rays, strangers, friends, and even family members with a sweet smile and an honest complement can do a lot to make our day go better. Let’s bring sunshine into other people’s life.

How to stay on top your attitude and create more positivity in your life, please visit:

http://www.the-team.biz/

Forgiving Myself

Recent health challenges, hip joint arthritis, forced me to some deep soul searching. As the x-rays and MRI show I have a degenerated hip and my right leg grew about an inch longer, which made me limp. I am determined to correct this misshape naturally.
I first got acupuncture for the pain, then massage to loosen the muscles around the bones, and then chiropractic adjustments. All the while the pain didn’t stop. My leg was somewhat adjusted to the point where with a lift in my left shoe, the difference was only about ½ inch.
Now I am faced with a tough decision which brings me to my soul searching. Do I want to get a hip replacement (or if my bones are strong enough) a resurfacing of the femoral bone stock, Resurfacing Hip Arthroplasty; get my life back and become active again? Or do I want to do it “my way,” which means toughing it out, continue vitamin therapy and diet adjustments? The latter, I am forced to do anyway to protect the rest of my body parts.
That brings me to self-forgiveness. I have known for a long time what is good for the body, how to do exercise and healthy living. But this problem challenges me to the core of my belief system, mainly do I feel guilty of not being more perfect to do the right things all the time? Or can I accept being human with all of our shortcomings and wrong habits, even addictions?

"Life is largely a process of adaptation to the circumstances in which we exist. The secret of health and happiness lies in the successful adjustment to the ever-changing conditions on this globe; the penalties for failure in this great process are disease and unhappiness."
Hans Selye

Also, not thinking of what I did in my own life but remember that I am the product of a long ancestral lineage. It is not just what I did but what I inherited not just through my DNA but through thought patterns, emotional behavior, and my spiritual merits. In The Divine Principle (SIN) 4.5, we are talking about the four inherited sins:

· Original sin (coming from Adam and Eve)
· Inherited sin (coming from our immediate ancestors)
· Collective sin (coming from our social, ethical or country connections)
· Personal sin (coming from what I did in my own life)

This is the time we have to clean up our lives substantially.

Some years ago I participated in a Radical Forgiveness seminar. We would sit around the room and share our feelings and answer specific questions related to forgiveness and letting go of negative emotions.
The core of Radical Forgiveness is:
“Without exception, everything that happens to us is divinely guided, purposeful and for our greater good.”
Colin Tipping

So, my guilt is out of place, accepting what is and asking: "How to make the right decision,” is a better choice.
I also did Emotional Release Therapy on the guilt part and feel very peaceful this morning.
If I have any excuse for all this mess, it is that I was born with left-brain thinking. My personality is analytical, detail oriented and always critical. Over the past few years I tried very hard to be more artistic and whole brain oriented. I learned to cake-decorate, making swirls and curls, which I enjoyed tremendously. I also paid more attention to intuitive impulses, listening to the small voice inside and follow its direction. This is very satisfying because following our conscience keeps us in contact with our God, the universal energy, the standard of truth and love which has always our best interest in mind.
On a last note, I was reading this morning that the trend for the New Millennium is, that we are transitioning from the Information Age into the Inspiration Age. It is my personal desire to create more balance in my life and allow my right brain to assert itself the same as the left side. Certainly, if computers and robots do all of our work, we can focus on what is truly important in life, how to be true human beings, live according to the will of God and make this world a better place for all of us.

Above letters are the Chinese Meaning of Forgiveness.

Dry Skin Brushing

I have done dry skin brushing off and on over the years. When I did my colon cleanse last week, I was reminded that dry brushing is a good way to renew another important organ, the skin.

What is Dry Brushing?
· Dry brushing is a simple technique for skin renewal and detoxification.
· Form of massage, exfoliation, and acupressure,
· Skin brushing encourages new skin cell turn over which in turn aids the body in eliminating toxins from all the major organs via the body's largest eliminating organ, the skin.
· Helps to build immunity against bacteria, viruses and infections by cleansing the lymphatic system and stimulating the production of disease fighting immune cells.
· Can help to improve the appearance of cellulite.
· Improves the function of the nervous, digestive, and circulatory system·
· Detoxing dry skin brushing is an invigorating, inexpensive way to improve your overall appearance and health on a daily basis.



Did You Know that the Skin is:
* Largest most important eliminating organ in the body and is responsible for one quarter of the body’s detoxification each day?
* Eliminates over one pound of waste acids each day in the average adult, most of it through the sweat glands?
* Functions as our third kidney?
* Receives one third of all the blood circulated in the body?
* Is the last to receive nutrients in the body, yet the first to show signs of imbalance or deficiency? Pimples, blackheads, or blotches?

Benefits of Dry Skin Brushing:
1. Removes cellulite
2. Cleanses the lymphatic system
3. Removes dead skin layers
4. Strengthens the immune system
5. Stimulates the hormone and oil-producing glands
6. Tightens the skin preventing premature aging
7. Tones the muscles
8. Stimulates circulation
9. Improves the function of the nervous system
10. Helps digestion
11. AND it’s easy, inexpensive and invigorating!

How to do dry skin brushing
Buy a natural body brush. Find a brush with a long handle that lets you reach personal areas like your back and butt. Brush all body parts in circular motion, either starting with your feet or at the head (always brush toward your heart). It only takes a few minutes (5-15 minutes before showering). When you begin to dry brushing, you will notice your body feeling more awake and this will not only lead to more balanced skin moisture, but you will feel more energized and awake. Your skin will feel tighter and firmer with time and will feel softer, smoother and more moisturized.

Euterpe Oleracea ~ Have you heard of it?

One way or the other you have heard about it, it takes number three among the fruit juices in the supermarkets after oranges and pomegranates. I am talking about Acai. In “The Perricone Promise,” Dr. Nicholas Perricone hones it the number one superfood. What is all the buzz?



Have you heard of acai?
I had the privilege to hear Dr. Alex Schauss, world’s foremost acai berry researcher and senior director of natural and medicinal products research for American Institute for Biosocial and Medical Research (AIBMAR). He is one of the first scientists who discovered the nutritional benefits of the amazing Acai berry. Dr. Schauss was the first to perform an ORAC (oxygen radical absorbance capacity) analysis on the Acai berry.
But first, let me tell you a story about how the natives of Brazil discovered the Acai palm tree...

There was a village in the Amazon region that was rapidly increasing in population which led to food becoming scarce. The tribe leader, Itaki, declared that no woman may bear a child and if she did, the baby would be sacrificed. Shortly after, Itaki's daughter, Iaca learned that she was pregnant. When her father heard about it, he was both excited and abhorred because he knew that this child would be treated the same as all others during this trying time.
The child was born and sacrificed; Iaca was devastated--she cried day and night and did not eat anything for days. One of the nights in her hut, she heard her daughter's cry from the jungle. Iaca ran into the forest and found her daughter by the side of a slender palm tree. Attempting to embrace her child, the image disappeared. Her tribe’s people found her the next day dead but with a smile on her face. Her eyes were still wide open looking up at the bountiful dark purple fruits on top of the palm tree. They started eating the berries, satisfied their hunger and renewed their energy.
Itaki declared that the fruit would be named after his daughter Iaca. They just spelled Iaca backwards and called it Acai.

History proved this was an acai palm, which can be enjoyed by eating the hearts of palm or acai berries.
Dr. Schauss’ studies have shown that this little berry is one of the most nutritious and powerful foods in the world! People could live on if for months and be well nourished. The taste of the berry is something like a vibrant blend of berries and chocolate. Hidden within its royal purple pigments is the magic that makes it nature’s perfect energy fruit. Acai is packed full of antioxidants, amino acids, and essential fatty acids. In our local supermarket it appeared mostly in form of juice blends, or as freeze dried powder. The reason being, as Dr. Schauss explained is, that the berries are spoiling very rapidly upon harvest.
The University of Florida (2006) conducted a series of tests on the Brazilian acai palm berry. The results showed that the high levels of antioxidants found in the berries are capable of destroying cultured human cancer cells.

Here are some the health benefits of the acai berry:
· Remarkable concentration of antioxidants that help combat anti-aging.
· Synergy of mono-unsaturated fats (healthy), dietary fiber, and phytosterols, to help promote cardiovascular benefits and digestive tract health.
· Low glycemic (sugar) index which makes it ideal for diabetics
· Perfect essential amino acid complex equal to the protein of an egg.
· Valuable trace minerals, vital to muscles.
· Increases energy and stamina
· Boots immune system

Another important benefit of the discovery of the acai is the influence on the Brazilian ecosystem. The rainforest has been destroyed at a rapid rate; according to the Brazilian government the Amazon will have lost 25% of its original area by 2020 through deforestation, mostly for clearing land for farming and harvesting the palm tree for lumbar and the heart of palm. Since the palm tree can be harvested for the acai year after year, no trees have to be cut down which will help the world’s climate as well.
I hope I didn’t overwhelm you with this specific information. I just wanted to give you a short introduction to how food and nutrition can influence our state of health. Small adjustments in our diet may not show up until later in life, but in the long-run can add years to our lives. Prevention is the best cure. Let’s help each other to stay well.

For more information on acai and to purchase the MonaVie juice, please visti:
http://www.the-team.biz/mv991215/tabid/148/Default.aspx