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Important Stuff
Well, we seem to have survived some of the worst fires and that we can remember in the Western Cape here in South Africa as we come to the end of a very hot summer in the Southern Hemisphere. Amazing how when you have to think of what you would take with you if you had to lose your home that you realise just how simply you could live. Mark and I have consciously worked on simplifying our lives in the last 12 years, but even so, if I had to leave it would be photographs and books, obviously after the family and pets! So maybe my life is still not simple enough!
Although these days I have to keep my life as simple as possible as I am living in two places and am off to the USA again, to spend 2 months in Southern California, Nevada (Las Vegas) and Missouri (Kansas City) doing talks. Contact Merrily on merrilybright@yahoo.com for more details and to book for talks and food demos.www.mary-anns.com/Talk diary.php for the detail online.
Living the Natural Way certainly makes all of this a lot easier to deal with, as we sleep well and have more energy now than when I was a teenager.
This month I am including some another success story as I just know how many of you are motivated by them. In this letter I answered in some detail issues about Warfarin, blood clots and heart disease and how diet affects diabetes. Carol also tells us how she came off antidepressants
Good Stuff
Hi Mary-Ann
My Mom was at your talk at Medway Chapel in the beginning of August and she was encouraged to change her eating habits. She takes a lot medication for high blood pressure, cholesterol; depression etc. She also takes Warfarin for blood clotting. For the last few weeks she has been eating only fruit in the mornings (using the right combinations) and then salads, raw veg at lunch. In the evenings she mainly keeps her meal simple but it does not always work out as she is in a retirement complex and her meals are provided. About 10 days ago she had to have her blood levels checked for the Warfarin dosage and she was told that the level showed that her blood was much thicker than usual and so her dosage was increased and she had to go back 7 days later to check again. Once again it showed that her blood was thicker usual. Could this have any connection to her changed eating plan? The nursing sister has advise her to see the doctor about this but I would like to know if there is an explanation, as I do not want the doctor to talk her out of her improved eating plan.
I am doing very well on fruit only until lunch and then having a salad; raw veg lunch. I am feeling better than I have in a LONG time. My husband who is diabetic has stopped all artificial sweeteners and we are working at ways to keep him well fed but without his sugar levels getting out of control. How does lots of fruit affect the sugar levels we had been told that he should not eat grapes etc. Would it be OK for him to also have fruit only in the mornings and should he be avoiding certain fruits?
Thanks for all the info and encouragement! Many of the ladies are working at the 100 days and even a month after your talk most are still motivated and moving forward.
God Bless - Carol
Joshua Children's Mission
Hi Carol
Pleased to hear you all doing so well; the best is for your mom to take 1-3 tablespoons pure flax seed oil a day. It has a natural thinning effect but will not interfere with Warfarin. Vegetables especially green ones are high in Vit K which naturally clots blood, but the way God intended, as when you cut yourself, not just forming clots for no reason. Flax oil is high in Omega 3 which thins blood naturally. I suggest she take 1 Tbsp a day and then increase it if the thinning effect is not dramatic enough.
The thing is if your mom does not eat enough fruit and veg she stands a much greater risk of cancer & heart disease and fruit and veg are known to decrease your risk of heart disease and diabetes. You may find that even more flax oil say 3-4 Tbsp. a day may actually allow her to discontinue her Warfarin under the supervision of her doctor of course! The most amazing thing is that animal protein contains a fatty acid, arachidonic acid, that specifically makes blood clot at the wrong times, yet doctors seldom tell their patients to not eat animal flesh (this includes fish by the way); funny how the green vegetables get blamed. The only sure fire way to reverse heart disease and unblock arteries within 2 years is to follow a vegetarian diet. In his book, “Reversing Heart Disease” Dr Dean Ornish, the renowned heart specialist, clearly lays out what kind of diet (and why) can free you from this degenerative disease.
For your husband I do recommend the Aimega capsules and BarleyLife from Aim for blood sugar. Fresh fruit is perfect for blood sugar especially when combined with a handful of nuts or seeds (raw and unsalted). Fresh fruit contains huge amounts of water soluble fibre, which is known to stabilise blood sugar. Adding nuts help because nuts are an excellent source of concentrated protein and essential fatty acids. The raw unprocessed protein is easy to digest and helps stabilise blood sugar and the essential fats help correct endocrine or hormonal function. Glucochrome is a plant extract product that contains barley grass juice that has been farmed to be exceptionally high in Chromium, then it also contains Vanadium,Gymnema Silvestre and bitter melon
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Chromium
Chromium is the major mineral involved in insulin production, and a deficiency in this mineral can interfere with the production and utilization of insulin. Indeed, a chromium deficiency can result in three conditions directly related to blood sugar: high blood sugar levels, an inability of the cells to pick up and use blood sugar (impaired glucose tolerance), and higher insulin levels.
Chromium increases the ability of insulin to bind to cells and leads to increased insulin sensitivity of body tissue. This leads to the body being better able to absorb and use the blood sugar. In other words, chromium helps the insulin "travel guide" get to more doors and oils the key that the travel guide uses to unlock our cells to the blood sugar. Studies have indicated that chromium does lower blood sugar and insulin levels in those with Type II diabetes.
The U.S. National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine has noted that current data suggest that chromium supplementation can be useful for people with glucose intolerance, Type II diabetes, gestational diabetes, and steroid-induced diabetes.
Vanadium
Although as early as 1899 it was found that a form of vanadium resulted in a decrease in blood sugar levels, it was not until the late 1970s that vanadium's insulin-like action was first described. Vanadium may activate insulin receptors-making the cells more receptive to insulin's "key"-and through this, exert insulin-like action.
This has been supported in two small clinical trials. In one, eight patients with Type II diabetes received 50 mg of vanadium sulfate two times per day for four weeks. The abstract of this study notes that the vanadium was well-tolerated and resulted in modest reductions of blood sugar and hepatic insulin resistance. (Metabolism 45, no.9 (September 1996):1,130-5.)
In another small trial, six patients with Type II diabetes were given vanadium. The authors note that after three weeks, insulin sensitivity was improved (J Clin Invest 95, no.6 (June 1995): 2,501-9). In another trial, the effects of vanadium were compared in moderately obese nondiabetic and Type II diabetic subjects. The authors note in their abstract that "In conclusion, small oral doses of vanadyl sulfate do not alter insulin sensitivity in nondiabetic subjects, but it does improve both hepatic and skeletal muscle insulin sensitivity in NIDDM [Type 11] subjects in part by enhancing insulin's inhibitory effect on the breaking down of fats. These data suggest that vanadyl sulfate [vanadium] may improve a defect in insulin signaling specific to NIDDM." (Diabetes 45, no.5 (May 1996): 659-66.)
Bitter melon
Bitter melon grows in tropical areas, including parts of the Amazon, East Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, and throughout South America. It is used as a food as well as a medicine. Bitter melon does much the same as chromium: it improves the body's ability to use blood sugar and improves glucose tolerance-that is, the body's ability to get the blood sugar into the cells.
In one small study, using 100 ml of bitter melon juice was found to improve glucose tolerance by 73 percent in a standard glucose tolerance test. (J Ethnophormacology 17 (1986): 277-282). In another small study, an aqueous extract of bitter melon fruit was found to decrease blood sugar levels by 54 percent. (Phytotherapy Res 7, no.4 (1993): ~ 285-289.)
It also has an important additional benefit: at least one animal study has noted that bitter melon fruit juice results in an increase in the number of beta cells-the cells that produce insulin-in the pancreas of diabetic rats when compared with untreated diabetic rats. The authors of the study suggest that bitter melon may cause a renewal and recovery of the insulin- producing beta cells of the pancreas. (Diabetes Res Clin Proct40, no.3 (June 1998): 145-51.)
Gymnema sylvestre
Like chromium and vanadium, Gymnema sylvestre works to help increase glucose tolerance. Like bitter melon, it may help the pancreas produce insulin. Gymnema has been used with patients suffering from both Type I and Type II diabetes. In one study with 27 Type I diabetic patients, the Gymnema extract reduced the insulin requirements and lowered the fasting blood glucose levels. The abstract notes that gymnema extract enhances the ability of the pancreas to produce insulin, possibly by regeneration/revitalization of the residual beta cells in Type I diabetes. (J Ethnopharmacol 30 (1990): 281-294.)
An animal study supports this. In diabetic rat pancreas, extracts of Gymnema were able to double the islet number (clumps of pancreatic cells) and beta cell number (insulin-producing cells). These results show that Gymnema may improve the health of the pancreas. (J Ethnopharmaco/30 (1990): 265-279.)
As far as Type II diabetes goes, in one study, Gymnema extract was administered for 18 to 20 months to 22 Type II diabetic patients taking conventional medication. All the patients showed a significant reduction in blood sugar levels, and five of the 22 diabetic patients were able to maintain their blood sugar levels without conventional drugs. Similar to the above studies, the results also showed higher levels of insulin in the blood, indicating that the insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas may be regenerated/repaired in Type II diabetic patients on Gymnema supplementation. (J Ethnopharmacol 30 ( 1990): 295-300.)
AIM GlucoChrom™
AIM GlucoChrom™ is a unique combination of chromium, vanadium, bitter melon, and gymnema sylvestre. These substances have been used both traditionally and by health practitioners for years to help maintain healthy blood sugar levels. Working together, they provide the body with a natural way to balance blood sugar levels. You can order directly from the Aim company at the wholesale prices by contacting any of the consultants on our website www.naturalwaynetwork.net or www.mary-anns.com or by contacting Barbra at info@mary-anns.com
Then he must be going for a walk daily, building up to at least 20 min a day. It is the best way to balance blood sugar.
Blessings and Kind regards Mary-Ann
Carol
Joshua Children's Mission Western Cape
Hi Carol this is awesome! Well done
If you reduce the animal protein a bit more to maybe every 2nd day your kidneys will cope even better
As for weight loss, this is very normal whether over or underweight to start with as the body goes through a catabolic phase where it breaks down unhealthy tissue and only when this is complete will your body start to rebuild that unhealthy tissue with healthy tissue -called the anabolic phase.
On Average this takes most adults who have followed a typical Westernised diet 2 years. As you have only been at this for 7 months you may need to wait awhile. DO NOT try and force your body to put on weight unnaturally, it needs to do the rebuilding WHEN IT IS READY.
To make sure your hormonal system (which is the system that control weight, immune function, heart function, kidney function, skin , liver and lung function) works efficiently you need a good source of plant derived Omega 3 and 6 in the correct balance and to make sure you can convert these fats to the important derivatives DHA and EPA you MUST have dark green leafy vegetables in abundance as they contain the right calcium to phosphorus ratio. Aimega contains the Omega 3 & 6 in the perfect ratio and BarleyLife the correct balance of nutrients not only for the conversions but for the acid alkaline balance, immune function and hormonal function which controls your kidney function.
I have been taking both for just on 10 years now (as has the rest of my family including 4 grandchildren) and would not go a day without it. Together with the Natural Way guidelines this maintains your health. If you tell enough friends about how well you do on the products and encourage them to do the 100 days to health and try the Aim products mentioned, you could within a few months receive a rebate from the Aim Company that not only covers the cost of your products but can give you a healthy income. Contact Barbra on info@mary-anns.com if you need to get a member number and some advice on how to get going.
Herbal Fiberblend is essential to give your colon a good clean out, as most people carry around 1-10 kg of old fecal matter. Once you have finished at least 1 month on HFB, your colon will be relatively clean. You should take HFB on each day that you eat animal protein as animal protein cantinas no fibre and is known to clog the colon for up to a week in some people. Even though the bowels work daily they may be effectively getting rid of last week’s fecal matter! And this slow transit of food is a major cause of colon cancer. Unless your diet contains no animal protein, I suggest you take HFB.
As for your nails, they seldom break from lack of calcium; they more often break when inorganic minerals are deposited in the nail matrix. Dairy products and mineral supplements will do this. You may have taken supplements and consumed considerable quantities of these and dairy products previously and now your tissues are releasing the inorganic minerals and they are making your nails brittle. The weight loss would indicate your body is in the breaking down or cleaning phase so this ties in.
Keep well and God bless you with wisdom, strength and grace
Kind regards
Mary-Ann
Kitchen stuff
Recipes from week 28
Spicy Rocket and sweet potato salad
3-4 medium sweet potato – thinly sliced and dry roasted until crisp
½ cup cubed haloumi cheese roast gently alongside potato until golden brown
2 pkts. rocket
2 tbsp. mint leaves
3 sliced leeks, gently roasted with potato and cheese
Layer ingredients on a platter topping with the cheese and serve with dressing
Dressing
2 heaped tbsp. Chilli/plain tomato Pesto
juice of one lemon
½ tsp. Cumin powder or 1 tsp. Seeds
Mary-Ann’s Garlic and Herb salt to taste
2Tbsp Mary-Ann’s Olive oil
Polenta gnocchi with basil dressing
½ pkt. Polenta
500g ricotta cheese
1 pkt finely shredded spinach OPTIONAL
Mary-Ann’s seasoning Salt to taste
Cook the polenta according to instructions on packet. Add the spinach 10-15 minutes before the end. Remove and stir in Ricotta, season and shape into mounds between two oiled dessert spoons. Place on a non stick baking tray and grill until golden brown
Serve on a bed of thickly sliced, grilled tomatoes and serve with following dressing.
Dressing
1 packed cup, fresh basil
½ cup Virgin olive oil
1-2 tsp. Mary-Ann’s Garlic and herb salt
freshly ground black pepper
Blend well and serve dribbled over polenta.
Spiritual Stuff
Proverbs 16:3
Roll your works upon the Lord [commit and trust them wholly to Him; He will cause your thoughts to become agreeable to His will, and] so shall your plans be established and succeed.
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