| Summer 2007 Organic Green Vegetables and Healthy Children by Dr. Karyn Mitchell N.D. If you do not eat organic vegetables you will not have available to you adequate vitamins, minerals, and enzymes, nor will you be able to properly detoxify the biohazards of life in the 21st Century. Without vitamins, minerals, and enzymes, you will become lethargic, anxious, and depressed. If you are not able to detoxify all of the xenotoxins that threaten your biological well being, you will most probably develop an autoimmune disorder or a major disease. Dark greens are metal binders that assist in the binding and elimination of xenotoxins. This reduces the overall toxic body burden. If your organic body is incapable of sustaining some semblance of a vibrant life, you may even eventually be incapable of reproduction. If you are a parent who is neglecting to insure that your child is not eating vegetables daily, you are placing them sooner or later at risk of a major disease. If your child loves sugar, breads, pasta, cheese, and meat, their bodies are probably bio-acidic. An acid body leaves them emotionally, mentally, and physically at a disadvantage for the rest of their lives. No one teaches you the vital importance of eating green vegetables daily. I have been able to assist parents in reversing major mental and physical health challenges simply by adding six child appropriate servings of fresh vegetables as well as two servings of fruit daily to their diet. Bone density and calcium absorption is enhanced by dark greens. An appropriate serving size is the size of that person’s fist. It is sad that parents feel they are depriving their children if they neglect to dose them regularly with the deadly “whites.” In her book, “12 Steps to Raw Foods,” Victoria Boutinko states, “Throughout history, whenever humans discovered an addictive substance, they never voluntarily stopped using it. Bread, milk, meat, sugar, and salt are probably the most addictive of all common foods. Research indicates that sweet receptors in the mouth are coupled to brain areas that release endogenous opiates— those natural morphine-like chemicals that induce a sense of pleasure and well-being. The taste of sweet in itself is enough to activate pleasure centers in the brain.” If there is resistance in children (or adults) to eating vegetables, it is because their poor little bodies are far too acidic and sugar addicted. Persevere, and jump start the greening process with sliced cucumbers (see “Cucumber Pizza” pg. 2), celery (stuffed with almond butter and topped with raisins if you’d like), fennel, and red leaf lettuce. Use Agave Nectar from cactus as a sweetener. Have your children shop with you in the organic produce department to let you know which veggies intrigue them, even if it is parsley or carrot tops, buy it and try it. Introduce a new vegetable weekly, and introduce it ten times in the upcoming months. As their bodies become more alkaline, they will be more interested in dark greens and less interested in sugars, dairy, red meat, and processed foods. “Match stick” prepared vegetables are user friendly and easily consumed by children. (See “Sticks” recipe page 2) Juicing can also be an adjunct to the introduction of greens in the diet. You may find a half of a granny smith apple juiced with cucumber, celery, and romaine lettuce a nice treat. Let them help with the juicing. Remember to pre-wash your veggies in veggie wash and store in zip lock bags with a sheet of damp paper towel. I want to clarify what I mean by organic vegetables, enzymes, and toxic metal and chemical binders. In her latest book called “Green For Life,” Victoria Boutinko compares the vitamin and mineral content of organic grown vegetables to that of “conventional” vegetables. (I have a problem with the word conventional, for it implies that it is what has always been. Prior to the chemical age following World War II, the “conventional method” of growing foods was pesticide, herbicide, G.M.O. and toxic free.) In many cases, conventional vegetables have little or no nutrient value because they are grown in depleted soils and forced through genetics to grow so quickly that the plant does not absorb vitamins and minerals from the sun and soil. Add to that the toxic ingestion of each plant’s dose of chemical pesticides and herbicides. With cancer in this country at nearly one in every two people, eating organic vegetables may assist in preventing cancer by binding metals and xenotoxic chemicals already present in the body; eating organic foods also prevents the further addition of chemical residues that are an unwanted resident of conventional produce. Enzymes are present in raw fruits and vegetables. While they are affected during the digestive process by gastric acids, they are re- assimilated in the small intestine where they provide necessary energy and digestive absorption. Enzymes are the work horses of the body. They help the regenerative process of all muscles and nerves, and reverse premature aging. If you are enzyme depleted from consuming a too dead diet, your body will “rob Peter to pay Paul.” Your body, in order to perform its daily life tasks will pull enzymes from the heart and the pancreas. Year after year, this depletion takes its toll upon the tissue integrity. Heart disease and diabetes may follow. Remember that the adult in the family knows that health cannot be dictated by the least informed or addicted member of the family. Try to include a rainbow of vegetables and fruits soon after you focus upon the addition of greens which are high in lutein and indoles. Avocados are brain and heart healthy, containing more Vitamin E than any other fruit. Blue and purple foods contain anthocyanins and phenolics which lower the risk of some cancers and have anti-aging benefits. The white of onions and garlic contain allicin which was used for the heart and as a natural antibiotic in the previous centuries. Small potatoes contain lots of potassium and mushrooms contain selenium. Yellow and orange produce contains vitamin C as well as carotenoids and bioflavonoids for heart, vision, and immune health. Red vegetables and fruit contain lycopene and anthocyanins for assisting heart, memory, urinary health, as well as cancer prevention. Part of the problem with acidic, dead, sugared and processed foods is that they eventually cause inflammation in the colon. One problem that may develop from this inflammation is gluten-induced enteropathy, or gluten intolerance. Edema or constipation also may be an issue. Yeast loves to grow in the cool dampness created by inflammation and sluggish eliminations, and parasites find a habitat where they can grow and reproduce without excessive disturbance. The disease process is setting in, and it is not long before the immune system is so overtaxed that an infection can develop somewhere in the body. Throw in some stress and eventual antibiotics to destroy the invading bacteria and pathogens, and you now have a colon that is fully engaged in a catastrophic disease syndrome. The individual feels tired, irritable, bloated, unable to think straight or remember or retain anything, and knows something somewhere inside is not very happy. It takes many months of enzyme rich nutrition as well as rebuilding the friendly flora with probiotics before the body feels the trickle of health returning. Why not prevent this from happening to you or your loved ones? Start with good nutritional education provided from a source other than one with an economic prejudice. We are biological beings that need biological rather than chemically created processed and frozen foods. Select the best the good green earth has to offer; organic foods even taste better. Vibrant health comes with every choice that you make about what you eat. Junk food takes away from health, organic vegetables and fruit add enzymes and energy to your life. I find that often adults who make poor food choices for themselves teach their children to do the same. I had a patient with two daughters. One daughter begged her mother for fruit and vegetables and almost refused to eat the chips, boxed mac and cheese, and frozen prepared dinners that the rest of the family ate. Her younger sister refused to eat vegetables and fruit and often made fun of her older sister for being a “veg-head.” Guess who was the healthiest one in the family? It does not take a lot of work to cut an apple or rip open a bag of romaine lettuce and wash it, yet weekly I hear how hard produce is to prepare. Once upon a time all vegetables were organic. Once upon a time we had a country where people could expect their children to be healthy. All of our children, not just half of them. If children do not love vegetables it may be because: their blood is too acidic; their yeast and parasites want to be fed; or they are addicted to sugar. Are you their health solution or the largest part of the problem? Who buys the food? Make green, organic choices so your children can be healthy. ------------------------- ---------------------------- Cucumber Pizza: One medium sized cucumber. Cut it in half and chop gently at the top of the cuts on each side. Rub these two cuts together vigorously until they foam. (This removes the bitterness from the inside of the cucumber.) Rinse off the foam. Slice the cucumber into rounds. On top of the rounds place any or all of the following choices: Chopped black or green olives, chopped fresh basil, thinly sliced or chopped tomatoes, chopped red pepper, dill, Italian spices, garlic salt. Put on a plate and munch! No More Ranch Dip: Many people like to dip vegetables in horrible white toxic dressing. Make your own dip with ¼ C. raw almond butter, 6 T. olive or roasted sesame oil, 1 T. lemon juice, 1 T. Agave Nectar, herbs to season. Stir. Sticks: Julienne any of the following vegetables: Red peppers, snow peas, cucumbers, carrots, squash, celery, Jicama pronounced he-kama (most kids love this), sweet potatoes, and any vegetable (or fruit) that can be sliced into matchsticks. May add a dressing (below) or leave plain for snacks. Don’t be afraid to mix in some ants (raisins), walnuts, or raw cacao. Dressing: 1 C. Extra Virgin Olive Oil (fresh), 2-4 T. toasted sesame oil, 4 T. Bragg Aminos, Garlic (optional), 4 T. of either Agave Nectar or Almond butter, 4 T. of Lime juice (may use lemon but it has a different taste), Herbs. Stir. Oreooos: Peel and thinly slice raw sweet potatoes, yams, or apples. Butter slices with almond butter, and top with another slice. May even mix the apples with the potatoes. A great snack for after school. Raw Mashed Potatoes: (Recipe adapted from Nomi Shannon, the “Raw Gourmet.”) ½ head of cauliflower. Wash in veggie wash and rinse. Place in a food processor with S blade, or blender with 1 T. of lemon juice. ¼ c. of extra virgin olive oil, 1 small clove of garlic or ½ tsp. garlic salt, ½ tsp of poultry seasoning, ½ tsp of Bragg Aminos or dash of sea salt. If you have it, add ¾ tsp of psyllium powder. Alive In 5 Raw Gourmet Meals in Five Minutes by Angela Elliott has many awesome easy snack and vegetable ideas that are quick to create. Have fun. And remember my personal favorite below! Fruit Ice Cream: 1 bag of frozen fruit (Blueberry is my favorite) ½ c of ice or almond or oat milk. 1 frozen chopped banana. (We freeze any bananas that are getting too ripe, and replace each banana that we use in our “smoothie.” Blend until smooth and creamy. (I add 2 T. flax oil) Another variation is: P.B. and J. Smoothie: ½ c. almond milk, 4 T. Almond Butter, 4 T. cacao nibs, 1 C. frozen raspberries, 1 frozen banana. May also add cinnamon or vanilla. I also add to this 2 T. flax oil. Blend until smooth. |
| Dr. Karyn Mitchell, N.D., Ph.D 603 Geneva Rd St. Charles, IL 60174 630-443-9930 or 815-732-7150 mitchell1972@comcast.net |
| Newsletters |
| Winter 2008-09 |
| Questioned by Life ©2008 Dr. Karyn Mitchell N.D., Ph.D In 1969 I was a freshman student at the University of Iowa emersed in both a cultural revolution and a challenging core course called “Religion In Human Culture.” Both events changed my life dramatically. As often is the case, I never suspected at the time that what was happening inside of me would be more impactful than what was happening in the outside world. What has remained from the experiences of both is the awareness that what we believe to be most challenging events of our lives is only secondary to what we can gain from those experiences. It was in that core course that I first learned of Victor Frankl, the holocaust survivor who, from those horrifying experiences wrote a book called “Man’s Search for Meaning.” Since I was still just a teenager at the time, I felt that the book was overwhelming as the message was about daily survival when there was no other reason to live: “We who lived in concentration camps can remember the men who walked through the huts comforting others, giving away their last piece of bread. They may have been few in number, but they offer sufficient proof that everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of human freedoms--to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way. It did not really matter what we expected from life, but rather what life expected from us. We needed to stop asking about the meaning of life, and instead to think of ourselves as those who were being questioned by life--daily and hourly. Our answer must consist, not in talk and meditation, but in right action and in right conduct. Life ultimately means taking the responsibility to find the right answer to its problems and to fulfill the tasks which it constantly sets for each individual. When we are no longer able to change a situation--we are challenged to change ourselves.” Frankl’s mother, father, brother, and wife all died in concentration camps. He survived four Nazi death camps including Auschwitz.A 0 He was able to transcend the threat of personal extermination daily by being aware that while he was stripped to bare naked existence, he had the freedom to control his own attitude about it. The Nazi’s could hold his physical body prisoner but not his spirit. He knew that his love for his wife would get him through the worst of times. Love was the glue for his sanity. What I remember wondering about Frankl’s book is, how could human beings throughout history be so vicious to other people? Frankl concluded that there are only two races of humankind: decent people and indecent. He said that no society is free of either of them, whether they be decent guards in Nazi prison camps or indecent prisoners who would abuse other prisoners for personal gain. Suffering is inevitable it seems, but how we react to it afterward makes all of the difference. What do we as individuals do when we are faced with severe personal trials or events beyond our control that create fear, doubt, despair, and disillusion? If we focus only upon the worst of it; upon negativity, worry, or anger, we are only feeding fear. Obsessive thoughts are always based upon fear. These thoughts are not reality based and are often exaggerated. It is the fear behind obsessive thoughts that driv es up our anxiety level. Many people are obsessed with worry about what they have lost or may lose with the current economy. It is extremely unfortunate for all of us in the world who are enduring these tough times. People are angry, fearful, and feel cheated for all of their hard work and past earnings seem to be now slipping away from them. We must try to replace fearful thoughts with positive thoughts and reality based thinking. It is the unreal “what ifs” that keep us in an emotional and mental turmoil. While fear may be a thief of peace, we are the ones victimizing ourselves and robbing ourselves of precious time. Time where we could be celebrating life in the moment as a precious gift. Victor Frankl wrote: “Everything can be taken from a man or a woman but one thing: the last of human freedoms to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way. Fear may come true that which one is afraid of.” Do not allow these tough economic times to dictate your thoughts and enslave your spirit. Condition your mind to think and feel positive about what the future holds. If we create our reality with our thoughts, then think in terms of abundance, gratitude, and blessings. FIVE THOUGHTS FOR A POSITIVE FUTURE: 1.) In every moment I choose to feel that the best is happening for my highest good. 2.) I embrace positive views and attitudes and avoid negative messages and news. 3.) I co-create a happy life by living in the moment and avoiding the fear creating “what ifs.” 4.) I define my life in terms of being rather than doing. I am not my work but rather my soul seeking it’s true destiny. Like a cat, I always land on my feet. 5.) Suffering may be unavoidable, but I will not be a victim of it. I conquer all fear to live a powerful, positive, happy life that I now embrace. TEN IMMUNE BOOSTING IDEAS FOR WINTER ©2008 Dr. Karyn Mitchell N.D., Ph.D. For Educational Purposes Only 1.) Avoid vaccines. Have Oscillococcinum Flu Remedy and Zicam Cold Remedy Nasal Gel in your medicine cabinet. Last year the flu vaccine failed completely, yet caused illness and coughs to linger for months. 2.) Take Vitamin B Complex, 2,000 i.u. of D3, and 2-3,000 mg of Vitamin C daily. New research indicates that flu is a vitamin D deficiency. 3.) Rest. Try to go to bed by 10:00 p.m. One study concluded that every hour of sleep before midnight provides a better quality of sleep than after midnight. 4.) Avoid alcohol and sugar. Eating or drinking 8 teaspoons of sugar (a can of soda or bowl of=2 0ice cream can contain up to 12 teaspoons) reduces the white blood cells ability to kill germs by 40% and lasts for 5 hours. Sugar free soda is a biohazard of toxic chemicals. The average American now consumes 2-3 pounds of sugar per week. Prior to 1900 the average was 5 pounds per year, cancer and cardiovascular disease were virtually unheard of before 1900. Glucose, a form of sugar, is cancer’s preferred food. 5.) Eat plenty of raw vegetables and fruit. 6 servings of vegetables daily and 2 servings of fruit. 6.) Detoxify gently. Winter is not the time to overdo anything. I prefer warm to mildly hot epsom salts baths, saunas and ionic footbaths. Do not shower in the morning as you remove the protective oil layer of the skin. 7.) Use a neti pot saline rinse at the end of each day to cleanse nasal contaminants. 8.) Do oil pulling in the morning upon rising. Swish sesame oil in the mouth for several minutes, spit and rinse with warm water or water with baking soda. Then brush your teeth for two minutes. Never eat or drink in the morning until you have cleansed the bacteria that has been breeding in your mouth overnight. 9.) Have regular lymphatic drainage, deep tissue, or swedish massage. 10.) Remember to exercise or walk at least 30 minutes daily. Sweating is important. WHAT DO WE DO IN THESE TIMES? Steve Mitchell Just for today do not worry. How many times have you heard this or said it? Do you really believe it? To worry is to fear the outcome or result of a situation. It consists of negative energy. If we fear something we are sending negative energy to it. Most things strive on energy and can’t tell whether it is negative or positive energy that is being sent its way. But do we want this situation, whatever it may be, to strive and grow on the energy we are sending its way? So, we need to stop sending negative energy out. Focus on the positive. The current economic situation we are in has some silver linings. Less houses, strip malls, and buildings are being built, this is, to my way of thinking, taking a step in saving our planet, someday we may need those 1.2 million acres of farm ground per year that we are turning into parking lots. Fewer things are being bought, so there is less pollution being produced. And we are importing less goods from countries that don’t have our best interest in mind when they send food products and toys laced with toxins. And so on. We are expending a lot of our individual energy by worrying about this or any situation. There may be bad things happening to some of folks, but worrying about it doesn’t help, you have to be positive, look on the bright side, see what there is good about it. Most of the readers of this newsletter are Reiki students; visualize a positive outcome to what is going on and send Reiki to your perceived outcome. Some of you have taken the Reiki Mystery School/Transformational Reiki Class, it is time to dust off the Kotama symbol and write out your goals, put your list under the candle for 21 days. Let’s all of us start a trend, stop worrying and be positive, be pro-active, be that small ripple on the water and let your positive attitude grow to those around you. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
