Moneysaving with Meatless Meals

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Like most people I am trying to "watch my pennies" in this economy and I have been discovering the joy of meatless meals! Even ground beef is expensive, and now that stores are eliminating "pink slime" from the mix, it's going to get worse! Substituting beans, or veggies for meat is moneysaving - and maybe a little more healthy!?

The Sauce Makes the Spaghetti

I love spaghetti but I usually add meat to whatever (cheap!) sauce I buy - a $1 can of sauce almost begs for something to make it more tasty. But I've started keeping an eye out for coupons for name brand spaghetti sauces. The name brands are usually thicker, and more flavorful, than the cheaper sauces so they lend themselves better to meatless meals.

I had come across a coupon a while back for Newman's Own Sockerooni Sauce - I love this sauce! My sister had made spaghetti for me for my birthday one year using this sauce and since then I have been standing and drooling over it in the grocery store before I reach for the cheaper, canned sauce! Anyhow, I found a coupon for fifty cents off of a jar of Newman's Own Sockerooni Sauce, so I held onto it and watched out for a sale - finally, the Giant store had Newman's Own Sauces on sale for $2 per jar - my fifty cents off coupon doubled to $1 so I got this delicious sauce for only $1!  I added the sauce to a bunch of San Giorgio Spaghetti, which I'd bought at "Sav-A-Lot" for $1, and hubby and I had enough spaghetti for dinner, and lunch the next day - for only $2! Using this yummy sauce, which contains tasty ingredients like peppers, onions, and mushrooms, the spaghetti didn't need meat.

Easy Beans and Rice

Another meatless dish I've started enjoying is beans and rice.  I just cook up some rice - (you can use long cooking rice, or instant white rice) - and then dump in a can of chili beans and heat through. The beans add substance to the rice, so I don't miss having meat in this dish, and chili beans are already flavored with chili sauce, so there is no need to add extra spices. Super simple and tasty!

Substituting Veggies

Stir-Fry

I substitute veggies for meat in stir-fry and fajitas. Instead of using a pound of meat for stir-fry, I use a broccoli, cauliflower, carrot blend.
I precook the frozen veggies a little first (because I like more tender veggies), and drain them.  Then I add a packet of stir-fry seasoning and soy sauce and/or whatever is listed to add on the stir-fry seasoning packet, and  stir-fry the mix until blended. I serve this veggie stir-fry over rice. The broccoli, cauliflower and carrots also have 'substance', so I don't miss the meat in this dish, either!

Note - If I don't have stir-fry seasoning on hand, I just mix up some soy sauce, ground ginger, and powdered garlic in some water and add to the veggies!

Fajitas

A broccoli, cauliflower and carrot mix can also be used as a meat substitute in fajitas - I precook the veggies a bit, and drain. Then I add a packet of taco seasoning and the amount of water called for on the packet and cook as directed.
I warm up some tortillas, spoon in the seasoned veggie mix, top with some shredded mild chedder cheese, and roll up the tortillas. Then I bake them for a few minutes so the cheese melts and the fajitas get hot and a little crispy. Yum!

Saving Money

A dollar saved here and there by substituting inexpensive beans, veggies, or flavorful sauce for meat in a dish adds up!

Do You Have A Favorite Meatless Dish?





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When Good Appliances Go Bad

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First There Was the Fridge...

I noticed that there was ice and frost building up in my fridge again. I've already defrosted it manually once to try to get it to keep going and now I'm going to have to do it again. I wrote a post about it here.


And Then There's The Washing Machine

I've kept my poor old washing machine going for years. It had become a "manual automatic." When the automatic dial stopped working, I turned it by hand, watching the time, allowing for each cycle to "finish" before moving the dial to the next cycle.

When it started to leak where the hoses go into the machine, I unhooked them from the back and began filling the washer manually. I'd stick the hoses into the washer, turn the water on and keep my ears open for a click that signalled the washer was filled. Then, I'd turn off the water, pull the hoses out and drop the ends into a bucket to catch stray drips.
It's been a nuisance, but when you can't afford new, you keep the old going as long as you can. My old washing machine had reached the ripe old age of 17 years.

But yesterday, in the middle of washing a load of laundry, the old washing machine finally gave out. I was in another part of the house when I heard a loud noise from the laundry room;  I thought maybe something had fallen off a shelf, but when I came closer, I could hear a metallic banging and clanging and I knew the washer had washed it's last.
I turned it off, pulled out the wet laundry, and finished washing the clothes by hand in the bathroom.
I turned the washer on just long enough for the pump to drain the water out.  

And I thought, "Now what?"

Next...

I finished the laundry and the other chores I had planned for the morning and then put on some coffee. The day had been eventful and I was tired - I needed a caffeine fix.
After a little while, I went to pour myself a cup and there was no coffee in the pot. I thought I'd forgotten to turn the coffeemaker on, or maybe I'd unplugged it when I cleaned the counter....
The coffemaker wasn't working. I checked the outlet to make sure it was okay; it was fine. I flicked the on//off switch several times to try to get it to go. Nope. Nothing. Nada.

I stood there stunned. And then I laughed at the absurdity of it - what are the odds my washing machine and my coffeemaker would both quit working on the same day?!?

And So...

I turned my coffeemaker into a manual - and this morning I made coffee by pouring hot water through coffee grounds. The first cup was warm. My second cup (and third) I had to re-heat in the microwave.

As for the laundry - Now I'll be doing some of the laundry by hand and the rest I'll be taking to the laundry mat.

And I'm hoping that defrosting my frost-free fridge will make it keep going just a while longer....

But The Poor Aren't Poor

I don't have money to replace my appliances. I might be able to afford a new coffeemaker - I once bought one for $10 at a dollar store and it lasted for a couple of years - but a washing machine or a fridge is a huge expense.

My Hubby, a heavy equipment operator, has lost two jobs during this economic downturn; now he is working again, but like many others in construction-related jobs, if it rains, he doesn't work. It's been raining a lot recently.
As for me, I am rapidly heading toward the age that people are starting to call "unemployable."

I've heard some news people in the past few weeks talking about how the poor people in the U.S. aren't really poor because they have things like refrigerators, TVs, and flush toilets. But I have to wonder how many other people in this country have had to turn their washing machine into an "automatic manual," or are having to defrost their frost- free fridge to try to keep it going a while longer? Maybe the poor in this country aren't poor compared to those in other countries, but in this country, when good appliances go bad, and there is no money to fix or replace them - then what?

And I'm wondering if my twenty-year-old TV will outlast the recession....

"Dirty" Electricity and ADHD

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Could fixing your power sources help clear up ADHD symptoms?

We often hear about the health impacts of prolonged exposure to electrical and magnetic fields, including those involving cognitive deficits, neuro-developmental difficulties, and increased cancer risks. We would come to expect that some of these same invisible forces may also be at work with disorders such as ADHD.

In previous posts, we have covered how full-spectrum light exposure (within the context of seasonal affective disorders) can influence ADHD severity and symptomology.

In my reading, I recently came across an article from a few years back that caught my attention. This article was from the journal Electromagnetic Biology and Medicine, and involved a phenomenon known as "dirty electricity". The authors posited that this type of electricity, which occurs when electricity passes through several types of electronic devices such as computers or microwaves, which creates a more "noisy" spectrum (think of the analogy of a river or stream that picks up waste and debris along the way of its course) than "clean" electricity, may be a factor in a wide array of diseases and disorders ranging from diabetes to multiple sclerosis, to asthma, to fibromyalgia to neurological dysfunction (including balancing difficulties as well as ADHD-like behaviors and symptoms).

Although ADHD was not the main concern of the article (which focused more heavily on the diabetic and MS complications associated with this dirty electricity), the importance of maintaining appropriate blood sugar levels to the brains of ADHD patients should at least warrant further investigation into the matter.

By no means do I believe that this "dirty" electricity is a predominant contributing factor to a child's (or adult's) ADHD, but I did want to at least make the blogosphere aware that this may be an overlooked area of treatable potential. Some of the results of the study were intriguing to say the least.

For example, the authors found that:

• Fatigue among individuals in a building "sick" from dirty electricity is much more common than previously believed. Due to their size and range of appliances and power consumption patterns, schools are often prime candidates for being vulnerable to this dirty electricity phenomena. Fatigue and overall sickness in students and teachers may be significantly reduced if special electrical filters (called Graham/Stetzer or GS filters) are utilized. Similar results have been found in other related studies (please keep in mind that several of these are somewhat biased, i.e. published by the makers of these electrical filters. For reference, this blogger has absolutely no affiliation with Graham Stetzer and does not receive any type of compensation from the makers of these filters).

• Stress from electrical sources reduces the binding ability of insulin to its targets in the body, which can result in lower insulin sensitivity (much like the pattern of insulin resistance seen in the onset of type 2 diabetes).
  

• Furthermore, exposure to higher levels of electromagnetic fields results in an increase in production of "stress" proteins in the body. The degree of this varies, as a number of individuals carry more of a hypersensitivity to electrical fields than others. This high level of inter-individual variability makes it difficult to set concrete limits on safety concerns surrounding electromagnetic exposure.
  

• Additionally, the original article cited a case of significant improvement in balance and walking ability in and individual with multiple sclerosis following the "cleaning" of electricity in his area by using the electrical filters. Much like the phenomena of birds flying into more windows in areas near power lines (which can interfere with the bird's internal magnetic-based sense of direction), it is possible that cleaning up the power supply may have similar effects on humans.
  

Please note: it's important not to get too excited or attempt to draw too many theoretical conclusions based on these observations. Keep in mind that this individual was diagnosed with MS and it was just a case study. Nevertheless, given the previously mentioned association between ADHD and early infections the inner ear (which affects balance and coordination), the potential influence of electrical fields may somehow tie in to all of this as well. This is simply a working hypothesis of the blogger at the moment.

However, given the fact that abnormal glucose metabolism and blood sugar levels are typically depressed or less stable in the brains of ADHD patients as well as the possible connection between ADHD and areas involved with the balancing regions of the nervous system, the effects of electrical fields on the disorder may be larger than we previously realized.

**As an interesting aside, many of the brain glucose studies of ADHD patients have found that glucose metabolic differences are often more pronounced in girls and women with the disorder than boys or men. It stands to reason (at least on a theoretical basis, but not to prematurely draw any conclusions) that similar gender-based differences may exist with regards to blood sugar levels in the brain as a result of exposure to electromagnetic fields of "dirty" electricity.

Again, to reiterate that this blogger has no affiliation with the filters nor receives any compensation for endorsement of these products, it may be useful to investigate how "dirty" the power in your home, school or office really is, especially if you or a loved one have ADHD or one of the related complications listed in the original article.

**For reference sake, the cost of a meter for measuring dirty electricity runs somewhere from 100 to 150 US dollars (at least based off of what this blogger has seen), and the filters are about 35 US dollars apiece (not surprisingly the companies often recommend sets of 20 for an average home, bringing the grand total up over 800 US dollars. Not a small sum, of course!).

As of now, this blogger is undecided whether the negative impact of dirty electricity is enough to warrant the pricey purchase of these power cleanup methods and devices. The main point for this post was simply bring a lesser-known phenomena of electrical pollution and highlight at least some of the theoretical basis for exacerbating attentional deficits and ADHD symptoms.

Given the widely-encompassing health risks covering various diseases and disorders (listed in the original article and beyond ADHD), it may be worthwhile to spend some time in more personal investigation on the topic.

Nevertheless, these little-known connection (such as those between power lines and blood sugar levels) should serve to highlight the fact that ADHD is a multi-faceted disorder, and its symptoms may be governed by an ever-widening array of influential factors.

ADHD Subtype Differences and Stress

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Why ADHD Subtypes Matter: Inattentive vs. Hyperactive-Impulsive ADHD and the Cortisol Response to Stress

There is growing evidence that the three traditional subtypes of ADHD (Inattentive ADHD, Hyperactive-Impulsive ADHD and the Combined ADHD subtype) may in fact, be more accurately classified as separate disorders altogether. Although the ADHD sub typing method is still likely to persist, new biochemical studies have begun to shine light on some of the physiological differences associated with the three distinct ADHD subtypes.

Significant outward expressional differences among the different subtypes can be seen, such as a more passive, less self-directed behaviors among the predominantly inattentive subtypes and more novelty seeking, stubborn and non-compliant behaviors once the hyperactivity component is added in. Perhaps this is not surprising, given the definition of impulsivity. Nevertheless, differences in accompanying disorders comorbid to ADHD also lend credence to the idea of separating the subtypes out into unique stand-alone disorders.

It has even been posited that the disorder be subdivided further based on accompanying comorbid conditions, but at the moment this sub-classification seems unlikely. Along with comorbid conditions, age and gender differences among the ADHD subtypes have also been postulated.

Although outward behavioral expressions and phenotypes suggest stronger distinctions among the ADHD subtypes, it is the physiological and biochemical differences among these subtypes which may offer some of the most convincing evidence that a further re-classification of the disorder is warranted.

It is possible, for instance, that symptoms such as hyperactivity may predominate more than inattentive behaviors from prior medical problems such as childhood ear infections (which might seem counterintuitive, given that we would expect ear infections to promote hearing loss and compromise the attention side of the disorder more than the hyperactive-impulsive components). However, evidence for the biological differences of ADHD subtypes often goes well beyond earlier exposures to diseases and external stressors.

Getting to the meat of this issue are some recent studies on what is known as the HPA axis of the nervous system and the effects of this. "HPA" stands for hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal, which include three essential components of the nervous system, which plays an extensive role in the fight-or-flight response in humans. So how does this tie in to ADHD?

One of the key components of this HPA axis is hormonal fluctuation. The chemical cortisol (you may have heard of cortisol from all of those late night TV and radio ads blasting cortisol for its contribution to body fat) is actually a stress-related hormone, meaning that the body produces it in response to internal or external stressors.

The kicker here is that there is now at least some evidence that the production of this cortisol hormone may be variable among the different ADHD subtypes.

It appears that children with the predominantly inattentive component of the disorder are more likely to exhibit a high cortisol response to stress while those with the more hyperactive/impulsive subtypes (just to avoid confusion, the study actually looked at the combined ADHD subtype, which includes the hyperactive component, and not the much rarer hyperactive-impulsive subtype) may have a significantly lower boost in the stressor hormone.

This may not be all surprising, given the tendency and stereotype of the inattentive ADHD kids as being more lazy, overweight couch potatoes, while the hyperactive-impulsive kids are associated with being rail-thin fidgety and bouncing off the walls.

While this study seems to fit the bill and make sense, it is important that we try not to read too much into these results. After all, a number of other studies on the subject found little to no subtype difference with regards to HPA or the cortisol response. However, another recent study did advance this HPA notion a bit further.

This study, done by Maldonado and coworkers, found that ADHD children who exhibited more of the hyperactive-impulsive traits of the disorder had lower cortisol response levels to stressors than did the inattentive symptom dominated groups. It is important to note that the HPA/cortisol/impulsivity association has been studied extensively in the literature.

For example, an earlier study on ADHD children in Korea, the researchers concluded that "the blunted HPA axis response to stress is related to the impulsivity in patients with ADHD", as evidenced by higher error rates on attention-based tasks. To put it another way, a higher HPA axis response (including the secretion of the cortisol hormone) is thought to be advantageous as far as attention symptoms are concerned.

As an interesting side note, this blunted HPA activity subsequent "dulling" of the fight-or-flight response among the ADHD population may, in part, explain the high percentage of ADHD'ers in stressful occupations such as firefighters, EMT's, ER physicians, and combat personnel and the like. In other words, due to the reduced HPA response among most of the ADHD population, ADHD'ers are less likely to be overwhelmed in stressful situations, and may actually be at an advantage in occupations such as these. Remember, ADHD can have its advantages!

Further muddying the waters with respect to cortisol and the HPA axis and ADHD is the presence of comorbid disorders. Another recent publication addressed this issue and found that for boys with ADHD, the presence of a comorbid anxiety disorder was likely to raise the cortisol levels in response to stress for the child, but the presence of an oppositional or disruptive behavioral comorbid disorder showed a tendency to lower the cortisol response to stress in the ADHD child.

These findings show agreement with some of the earlier statements made above, given that comorbid anxiety disorders are often hallmark characteristics of either the inattentive or combined sub-components of ADHD, while oppositional or conduct disorders are seen at higher frequency with the hyperactive/impulsive or combined ADHD subtypes.

Blogger's personal note: The concept of oppositional behaviors in ADHD is somewhat interesting. It appears that there may be much more going on under the surface with regards to ADHD and oppositional/conduct disorders and dysfunction within the nervous system. These behaviors may be associated with seemingly unrelated functions among the ADHD population such as bedwetting. I don't mean to sound like a "conspiracy theorist", but for an interesting read on the subject, this blogger personally recommends an earlier post entitled Bedwetting ADHD Kids and Depressed Dads: Is there a Connection?

Returning to our topic of discussion here, it is important to remember that in the first study mentioned, it was the hyperactive-impulsive children who showed more of a blunted cortisol response to stressors, so these observations from research groups in three different countries all seem to be reaching similar conclusions.

In conclusion, we should take away from these studies that the different ADHD subtypes may exhibit distinct hormonal response differences, as well as neuro-chemical activity differences between the ADHD and the non-ADHD populations. In general the more hyperactivity and/or impulsivity we see, the lesser the HPA-derived cortisol response e would expect to see in reaction to stressful situations.

We can also see that comorbid disorders alongside the ADHD may either further dampen this HPA activity and cortisol response (as in the case of oppositional disorders), or counteract the ADHD response by boosting HPA activity and cortisol levels (as in the example of many anxiety disorders). The take-home message is this: ADHD subtype differences and the presence of comorbid disorders can play a pivotal role in the hormonal fluctuations among the ADHD population.

Can Zinc and Selenium Counteract Mercury's Effects on ADHD and Autism?

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Mercury, an unwanted side-effect of the omega-3 rich fish oil treatment strategy for both ADHD and autistic spectrum disorders may be counteracted by Selenium and Zinc:

It's a catch-22 of the ADHD world. We've been told to feed ourselves and our kids as much of the omega-3 rich cold water fish as we can muster in order to balance their dietary fats and the subsequent hormonal effects. On the other hand, we're supposed to curb our fish product consumption for fear of mercury. Are there any other options beyond digging into our wallets for the pricey low-mercury wild organic salmon of the Pacific?

Why mercury is so toxic for the brain:

In general, (as one would probably expect) if a metal or compound can be cleared from the body easily, then the risk of toxicity is generally much lower. However, if the material cannot be easily cleared from the system, it can begin to build up in specific tissues or regions of the body.

Unfortunately, the brain is one of those target organs that has an almost magnetic pull for the heavy metal. While the digestive system can partially metabolize mercury into organic mercury-containing compounds, these compounds can make their way across the protective blood-brain barrier (a barrier meant to restrict the access of chemicals in the blood from passing into the brain, however, several harmful organic compounds can make their way across this barrier with relative ease).

In general, fatty acids penetrate the blood brain barrier relatively well, and these important fish fats and oils can make perfect delivery vehicles for some of these toxic compounds. In other words, mercury in fish and fish oil products can be exceptionally hard to isolate or remove from the brain.

Further complicating the matter is the problem of oxidation, especially in the brain tissue. While all organs and tissues of the body can suffer from oxidative damage (think of the biochemical equivalent of rusting or corrosion), the brain, due to its high fat content, is especially susceptible to this harmful oxidation. It is here in the brain that the mercury can become trapped and promote these dangerous oxidative processes.

Mercury and corn syrup: A hidden danger for the ADHD child?

The sugar/hyperactivity debate has been around for ages, although most of the recent evidence often refutes this commonly held assertion. Nevertheless, several nutritionists swear by their convictions about this association. So who is right?

This blogger personally believes that there is an association between sugar and ADHD-like symptoms, but this connection is likely due to secondary factors. Let me explain:

Consumption of high concentrations of sugary foods and beverages can be a metabolically taxing and stressful process on the body. The enzyme systems necessary to metabolize high quantities of sugars are dependent on an ample supply of vitamin and mineral "cofactors" (these will be discussed in more detail later on in this post), or agents that help the enzymes function propertly.

If overtaxed (as by consuming large quantities of soda or candy, for example), these vitamin and mineral cofactors can be rapidly depleted. Common cofactors such as iron, copper, zinc and selenium can be depleted in glucose (sugar) metabolism.

Interestingly, deficiencies in zinc and iron (especially when comorbid sleep disorders including restless legs syndrome are present alongside the ADHD) are common in the ADHD population. In fact, iron may be the underpinning biological factor in an alleged genetic link between ADHD and restless legs syndrome. We will be discussing the role of selenium in ADHD shortly.

Additionally, this depletion can have an effect on the antioxidant levels of the individual including a lowering of levels of pools of the important antioxidant reduced glutathione (we will be investigating the importance of glutathione later on in this post). There is some evidence of ADHD symptoms in adults being at least partially attributed to antioxidant imbalance.

In addition, the insulin rush, surge and fallout from consumption of a sugary meal can also wreak havoc on hormonal balances (including adrenaline, a chemical cousin to several neuro-chemical agents which are often seen to be off-kilter in most ADHD cases). We will save this discussion and go into more detail on the role of sugar consumption and hyperactivity and attentional deficits in later posts.

Returning to the main topic of our post (from our tangent here!), some forms of sugar may also have other hidden dangers with relevance to our post here on mercury and ADHD and related disorders. The processing and manufacturing of high fructose corn syrup (one of the most common and readily available sweetening agents in North America and much of the Westernized world), may actually leave detectable levels of mercury in the sweetener (which, the study also attributes to causing a zinc loss).

As a result, consumption of high levels of corn syrup at least has the potential to up our intake of mercury. If the mercury/autism/ADHD connection holds true, then this is one more (indirect) way in which sugary foods can increase the risk of inattention and hyperactivity associated with the disorder.


Can chelation therapy be used to effectively remove the mercury in our systems?

Our first thought might be to enlist the help of chemical agents which could pull the mercury or other toxic (and easily oxidizable metals) out of our systems.

A recent study has highlighted some possible alternatives on the mercury-fish-ADHD dilemma. One of the strategies involves the use of chelating materials. The word "chelate" comes from the Greek word "claw", and refers to an important chemical property in which a non-metallic compound can tightly bind to or "pick" up a specific type of metal and pull it away.

Ethylenediamenetetraacetic Acid or EDTA, is one of the most well-known chelating agents for removing metals and mineral deposits from hard water, and even has some reported health implications for removing crusty hardening from human arteries.

In theory, it sounds like this may be a good treatment option for removing toxic metals or oxidizing agents from the brains and digestive tracts of children with ADHD and related disorders (i.e. the autism-mercury controversy?).

On the flip side, chelation therapy can be dangerous, especially for children, due, in part, to the fact that the chelating agents are often non-specific for their target metals. This highlights a classic problem in medical research, the rift between theory and practice.

For example, some versions or derivatives of EDTA can "pick up" or remove significant amounts of the important mineral calcium (which, in addition to its role in skeletal function is an extremely important mineral in regulating heart rhythms, and optimizing nervous system function, among other things) along with the desired heavy metals lead and mercury. Cases of deaths due to this chelation therapy for autism have been reported, and recent clinical trials for chelation therapy for autism have been halted.

Enzyme systems: Nature's alternatives to organic chelating agents?

Fortunately, our bodies contain a number of powerful enzymes which not only can protect our brain and other important organs from oxidative damage, but actually help remove harmful or toxic materials from our systems.

However, in order for these enzymes to work at optimal levels, they must be constantly equipped with adequate levels of helpful nutrients or cofactors. Cofactors, often come in the form of our dietary vitamins and minerals, such as zinc, iron, magnesium, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, vitamin C, etc., and are required by numerous enzymes in order for the enzymes to work at peak efficiency. Not surprisingly, several of these cofactors have been discussed for their relevance to ADHD in earlier postings of this blog (see links on nutrients listed above)

This is why nutrient deficiencies can be so hazardous, because literally hundreds or even thousands of enzyme systems may be in jeopardy if our bodies are deficient in just a handful of nutrients.

Two of these important enzyme system and enzyme products are the metallothionein enzyme and the peptide glutathione (which is not an enzyme, but is synthesized via several enzymes and is sensitive to the balance between oxidant and antioxidant levels).

Metallothionein has been implicated in a number of studies concerning the enzyme's relationship to autism. One theory holds that children with autism have either lower levels of this enzyme or higher levels of antibodies to the enzyme (in which the body essentially attacks its own enzyme system as part of the idea of autism being an auto-immune disorder).

While a small amount or research out there supports these claims, it is important to note that these findings are far from universal. In fact, most of the recent body of literature refutes the claim outright. One study in particular negated both the observation that metallothionein was lower in autistic children or that higher levels of antibodies to the enzyme were present in autistic children. On the other hand, lower levels of the antioxidant glutathione are often seen in cases of autism.

(Blogger's note: the reason I'm going into so much detail about autism is because the high degree of symptomal overlap between ADHD and disorders of the autistic spectrum, as well as the high degree of overlap between nutrient deficiencies concerning the two disorders).

The role of selenium and zinc in the processes of the enzyme metallothionein and the antioxidant glutathione:

We have seen in previous cases how boosting levels of one metal in the body can offset the negative effects of another such as the case of iron combatting the harmful effects of lead in ADHD.

It appears that the metallothionein function in autism is intricately tied to copper-zinc ratios, and an excess of copper (or deficiency of zinc) can hinder this enzyme's effectiveness (the presence of heavy metals such as mercury are believed to be at least partially responsible for this skewed zinc-to-copper ratio). Interestingly, significantly higher copper to zinc ratios have also been seen in ADHD children in recent studies. In addition, the transport or delivery of zinc to its desired targets may be dependent on the antioxidant functions of glutathione and the mineral selenium.

While copper and zinc balances have been studied extensively with their relationship to ADHD (here's an earlier post on ten ways zinc can counteract ADHD symptoms, or how zinc can boost the effectiveness of ADHD medications), selenium may be a "sleeper" as far as important minerals for ADHD symptom treatment goes.

While selenium is unlikely to unseat "heavyweight" minerals such as zinc, iron and magnesium for ADHD treatment, selenium is an important mineral for maintaining proper antioxidant balances, either directly (as an antioxidant itself) or indirectly (via its incorporation into selenium-dependent enzymes). The latter is evidenced by a number of important enzymes such as the dependence of the important antioxidant enzyme glutathione peroxidase on selenium.

However, given selenium's wide range of potential benefits (selenium has been implicated as an anti-cancer agent in a number of studies), it appears that this often unheralded mineral may be a useful auxiliary agent in ADHD treatment.

To conclude this message, we must remember that nutrients often work best in combos, not in isolation. This (in this blogger's humble opinion), is why so many nutritional methods which attempt to combat ADHD often fail, in that they often fail to see this interconnection between nutrient interactions. They often instruct the individual to ramp up the dosage of only one or two nutrient which are believed to be deficient, and neglect to take into account the important roles of these supporting nutrient systems as a whole.

We have seen in other postings how omega-3 fatty acids often work well with antioxidants, as well as omega-3's and carnitine for treating ADHD via nutritional methods. Vitamin C can work in tandem with vitamin E as an antioxidant supplement duo, and recent evidence suggests that vitamin C and flax oil may also be a good combo for ADHD as well. Several studies have indicated that magnesium works well with Vitamin B6 (as well as other B vitamins) as an ADHD treatment method. Zinc may also work well with omega-3's as well as vitamin B6, and now, as we have seen, potentially with selenium, as an antidote to mercury's oxidative and toxic effects.

It is imperative that we recognize the importance of these nutrients both alone and in combination, including their potential abilities to counteract chemical agents which may either cause or exacerbate ADHD symptoms.

Hot Pink Chicken

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I've been watching too many episodes of the Food Network show "Chopped". 
It is addictive to watch as the chefs take mystery ingredients and turn them into culinary masterpieces. But at some point, I ceased to be an observer and became an armchair chef. I started thinking, "I could do that. Grab a few ingredients and turn them into something wonderful."

I should've stayed in my armchair.

I'd bought a pack of boneless chicken breasts on sale ($1.99 per pound - great stock up price!);  I'd been craving fruit, and I'd bought a can of pineapple. So, when I was trying to decide what to make for dinner one night I thought, "chicken, pineapple... ha! Sweet and sour chicken!"
But I'd never made homemade sweet and sour chicken and wasn't sure what else the recipe called for, so I went online to find out - there were a lot of recipes!
As usual for me, though, I decided to not follow a particular recipe - I read what the basic ingredients are and then wing it.

With the ingredient ideas in mind, I headed for the kitchen, strutting like a "Chopped Champion," ready to attempt sweet and sour chicken.
After cutting up the chicken and a green pepper, I grabbed a bowl and started on the sauce.
"Pineapple juice...check. Vinegar...check. Sugar....check" and I tasted it. Too sweet.
More vinegar.
Too sour.
More pineapple juice.
Too sweet.
"It needs a little something else."
I added a little bit of diced onion to the chicken and green pepper frying in the skillet.

Some recipes called for soy sauce, some didn't. I added a few shakes and tried it again. The sauce tasted good, but the color was ugly; I was used to a nice red sweet and sour sauce. In some of the recipes people had used ketchup to color their sauce, but after finally getting the mix to taste right, I didn't want to upset it's balance by adding flavorful ketchup. I used the alternative - red food coloring.
Drop, drop into the bowl and stir.
"I wonder how much I should put in?" Drop.
Drop.
"The sauce is usually really red"
Drop.
Drop. Drop. Drop.

I tossed some pineapple into the pan with the chicken and veggies and prepared to finish the sauce.
The last ingredient I needed was cornstarch - which I didn't have. I substituted flour, stirred the mix vigorously, and added it to the pan.
Too much flour! As soon as the cold liquid hit the hot pan, it turned to batter!
Trying not to panic, I stirred in some water to loosen up the concoction. That worked okay, but then I watched in amazement as my lovely, pale chunks of chicken absorbed the red food coloring - and turned a shade of hot pink! 
"Oh, my goodness!" I said aloud as I stirred and stared at my pink chicken.
Then the sauce transformed...into gravy...into a color which I think may have been mauve.

I made some instant rice - I followed the directions on the box exactly - and then served up my odd dish....

Ah, those talented chefs on "Chopped" make it look soooo easy!
But if you ever come to my house for dinner, you may get treated to an unusual meal of hot pink chicken in mauve gravy over wonderful rice.

We could eat it in the living room.

while sitting In the armchairs

and watching "Chopped."

Webcams and Empty Nest Syndrome

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When I saw the two balls of white fluff huddled together in the corner of a wooden box, it was love at first sight - I had discovered the owlets known as "Maggie" and "Boomer." I watched them on Ustream, checking in daily - sometimes several times per day - to see what they were doing. When my insomnia had me up late in the night I'd watch them move around the nest box, and listen as they made little noises while they waited for "Mom" or "Dad" to deliver a tasty treat. I fretted, like a mother hen (!?) over whether or not they were getting enough to eat!  

My addiction to "Maggie" and "Boomer" only increased when I visited the blog about them - there were videos, updates on how many treats they'd received in the night, and still photos of the "babies."

For weeks I've watched the little owlets, and in that time they've gone from wobbly fluff balls, to almost full- grown owls. Just recently, when they were nearing the time when barn owls usually make their first trip outside the nest box, I felt like a distant owl "mom" as I watched late in the night hoping to see their first adventure into the world. At one point little "Maggie" peeked out of the box, bobbing her head around to see what was "out there." I cheered silently, "Come on Maggie! You can do it!"  She almost made it out before she retreated back to the safety of a cozy corner. I stayed awake, watching and waiting, until I couldn't keep my eyes open!

The next morning when I read that later that night both owlets had made it to the outside, I felt like I'd missed baby's first step.

Now, it won't be long before the little owlets leave the nest to make their way in the world. I will miss watching them! I thought briefly that they could just stay in the nest and never leave. It's comfortable and safe in the nest; the parents bring them their food. They could live right there like that forever...
but then they would never achieve their full potential as adult owls.
And at that moment, I understood in a small way, what it must feel like to experience "empty nest syndrome."

Buttons, Blinkies, and Blankies

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The Lessons of a New Blogger


I went googling for information on "buttons" for my blog. I'd noticed them on other blogs; some I knew were links to other blogs and web pages, but some were lovely victorian drawings or pictures with nice statements like "live for today."
One of the first places I found on my blog button search was a site called  The Cutest Blog On The Block. When I looked at the site, I let out a Homer Simpson "doh!" noise because I hadn't known what that site was about; I'd noticed their sites button on quite a few blogs and I thought it was an "award." (So, I'm a new blogger!) I'd even looked at some of those blogs more closely to try to figure out why someone had given them an award for being "cute"!

A New Word

I looked around the site for buttons and then I discovered "blinkies." I'd seen a lot of "blinkies" but hadn't given them much thought. I didn't even realize they had an actual name. Intrigued, I went on an internet blinkie search. There were blinkies with phrases, picture blinkies, cartoon blinkies - blinkies of every kind. I even found sites for blinkie collectors!

Now I just had to have a blinkie for my blog; but maybe something small, and not too annoying. I decided to search for "welcome blinkies." I didn't find exactly what I had in mind - I wanted something happy.
So I searched for "happy blinkies" - a couple of times. But the search engine seemed to want me to search instead for "happy blankies." I'd type in "happy blinkies" and it would ask, "did you mean to search for "happy blankies?"

Eventually, curiousity led me to click on "happy blankies" just to see if there was such a thing - yep. There are indeed "happy blankies" .

The search ends for the day

I ended my search at that point - it was starting to all sound like baby talk. All the blinkies, and blankies and happy blinkies and happy blankies was getting to me - I was beginning to have a tantrum, need a ba-ba, and be overcome with a desire to play with my toes.

If At First You Don't Succeed

Later, I returned to my blinkies discovery mission and found information on how to make them, and even blinkie generators!




I made the above blinkie at Text Space

A Big Bright Blinkie!

I made the above blinkie at http://www.animated-gifs.eu/animations.htm#blinkies


Other Resources -

Making Blinkies - Animated Sigs and Tags

Tutorial: Make a Blinkie In Photoshop CS

And now I will return to the search for a lovely "welcome" button for my blog....



Update: I found the pretty "welcome" button located at the top right sidebar at Shabby Blogs!

Want To Try Camping?

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Pennsylvania State Parks is offering a First Time Camper Program! If you've never been camping, this is a great way to give it a try.

The cost is just $20 and includes two nights of camping, rental gear, and instruction from expert campers!

Get back to nature and enjoy the great outdoors!

For more information - http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/first-time-camper/index.htm

Memorial Day Weekend Staycation

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Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial start of Summer!

No money in the budget for a weekend getaway? Try these ideas for a fun "staycation"!

1. Finish what housework and chores you can before the weekend. Just because you can't get away for the weekend doesn't mean you have to carry on as usual! Mix it up - give yourself the weekend off!

2. Pick up some paper plates, plastic utensils, and styrofoam cups at a dollar store to get yourself into vacation mode and save yourself some cleanup time!
Throw a Summery plastic tablecover on your dining room table to give your place a vacation feel!

3. Plan a Barbecue! Barbecue needs like grills, charcoal,  hot dogs, and burger are on sale this week at many stores. Look for coupons, too, and save yourself some money!

4. Visit cool places right on your computer with webcams!  Webcams are the ultimate in arm-chair traveling!
See what's going on in New Orleans this weekend with this webcam!
Enjoy watching boats on a canal in Amsterdam with this webcam!
Want to see, and listen, to what's happening at Myrtle Beach? Check out this cool webcam!
Take a look around http://www.earthcam.com/ to find lots more.

5. Put on some music! Still have 45's and LP's? Old CD's? Enjoy some music from your younger days!  Do you still remember how to do The Hustle? Can you recall the words to "Don't Worry, Be Happy?"

6. Take a nap! It's the weekend, your chores are done - indulge yourself with an afternoon nap!

7. Pitch a tent in the backyard and camp out at home. Have a sing along. Tell ghost stories. Watch the sky for shooting stars so you can make a wish! Eat smores!

8. Watch a movie online. Youtube has a selection of free movies to stream.  Also check out Hulu!
Try a movies you've never seen - how about a campy, old, 1950's B movie?
Don't want to watch online? Some local libraries have cheap movie rentals available.  

9. Still want to get out? Go local! Visit a local museum and learn things about your home town you may never have known. Check out a Farmer's Market - many of them will be open this weekend and the strawberries are wonderful this year! Stroll through town and see if there are new shops to explore.

10. Play a game! Ever played badminton? Horsehoes? Outdoor, active games are fun and great exercise. You might even find these games on sale this week at your local department store!
Or try a board game - Monopoly and Scrabble are always favorites.
On a budget? You can pick up a deck of cards inexpensively at a dollar store and learn to play "rummy".

Whatever you decide to do - have a safe and enjoyable weekend!


Some Resources -

Learn to make smores - http://www.kraftbrands.com/honeymaid/smores/Pages/how-to-make-smores.aspx

Find lots of grilling tips - http://www.kingsford.com/

Home Remedies For - Ear Infection Home Remedies

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A large percentage of the population will have at some point in their lives suffered from an ear infection. Earache can be debilitating and extremely painful. Whilst it is important to seek medical advice there are lots of home remedies that may help in combating ear infections.


The ear is split into three main sections and is a complex system. Most ear infections fall into one of two categories, Otitis media which tends to affect the middle part of the ear and is common in younger people and Otitis externa which affects the outer ear. Neither infections are contagious. Otitis Media is a swelling of the Eustachian tube and is often the result of heavy colds or other infections. Otitis externa is an infection that develops in the ear canal and is usually the result of water accumulating in the ear canal or due to the moisture that occurs in the ear sometimes referred to as swimmers' ear. These moist conditions provide excellent breeding grounds for infections and bacteria.

Infections can also be caused by damage to the layer of skin that covers the ear canal. Many ear infections require medical intervention but there are remedies available that may help to ease the pain.

The following remedies are for information only and should not be seen as an alternative to qualified medical advice.

Nature has provided us with many examples of how pain can be beaten without resorting to man made medicines. Man has used nature to fight infection throughout the ages and more and more people are trying home remedies before they turn to more modern techniques. Garlic oil is seen as one of the best home remedies for ear infection.

Garlic is known to have antibacterial properties and can help fight infection and destroy harmful bacteria found in the ear canal. Garlic oil can be heated until warm and then a few drops can be slowly introduced to the ear.

Another popular remedy is to treat the infected ear with drops of colloidal silver, as it contains antibacterial and antiseptic qualities both of which play a vital role in the treatment of infection. As with garlic oil sufferers have reported that the pain of an ear infection has been reduced and the infection has been controlled quicker. Silver has been used in medicines for centuries and Hippocrates, who is often referred to as the 'father of medicine' remarked on its disease fighting qualities.

Many sufferers chew on liquorice bark and they have found it to be useful on two fronts. Liquorice is known to help reduce the constriction of airways which can alleviate the moisture issues in an infection and chewing stops the ear canal from remaining stiff.

Another popular home remedy that helps is the application of heat to the affected area. Heat helps blood flow which can help reduce pain and will aid the body fight infection. The pain of ear infections can be reduced by laying with the affected ear on a heat pad. Others put rice or barley seeds in a sock and then warm it in a microwave as a simple alternative to a heat pad.

Some people swear that the use of other oils such as onion oil can be just as good as the more traditional home remedy that uses garlic oil.

If a particular method works for people they will continue to use it. There are sure to be many more tried and trusted remedies in use and they will, if applied sensibly and properly, cause no harm. Anything that can help should be considered as the pain associated with ear infections is constant and severe. Whilst they may not entirely solve the problem they can help to ease the suffering of the individual. Many people who can usually cope with a degree of pain find that ear infections are completely different as the pain involved could almost be described as unbearable.

People have been trying home remedies for centuries and often there was no medical advice available to them. They relied on what nature had taught them and it is still possible to try these alternatives but it is important to remember that whilst alternative home remedies will help short term they can never be a substitute for expert advice.

Natural Remedies for - CFS Chronic Fatigue Immunodeficiency Syndrome

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From time to time we have all experienced some level of fatigue. It may have occurred as the result of some strenuous task or exercise routine we have undertaken. This is of course a perfectly natural physical response and not anything to become concerned about as it is just the body's way of saying it has had enough and needs a rest.


However, there is a syndrome known as Chronic Fatigue or CFS is an entirely different and debilitating condition. Sufferers cannot just have a rest and get up feeling fine again after a few hours as would be normal for the rest of us. This condition is an immunodeficiency problem and those who experience this problem often contract other illnesses or health problems. It has even been noted that issues such as heart disease and/or depression are connected to CFS.

Believed to be triggered by a viral infection such as flu the symptoms include fever, headaches, sore throats, extreme tiredness, joint and muscle pain. It is interesting to note that many sufferers of this condition have been found to be nutritionally deficient. CFS has also been linked to EBV (Epstein-Barr Virus). As you may or may not be aware viral infections cannot be successfully eliminated with the use of antibiotics; getting better is down to the body's own immune system's ability to overcome the virus. Thus, if the immune system is run down the sufferer can be ill for months or years even unless they take steps to start building up a strong immune system.

Boosting the immune system can be done with a combination of approaches, such as improving the quality and nutritional value of the food that is eaten as well as taking supplements such as vitamin D3, a good multivitamin/mineral combination and getting enough rest. Personally, I would recommend using both approaches for those who can afford to do so.

One very important issue to highlight here are supplements and the quality of supplements that can be bought over the counter. Buying cheap supplements is a complete waste of money. Those bottles you find in the grocery or drugstore/pharmacy that contain 5,000 vitamin pills for 99cents or 99pence or whatever, are not going to make the slightest bit of difference to the body as it is unlikely the system will be able to absorb the contents. Nurses often refer to these type of vitamin pills as bed pan bullets, they come out of the body in exactly the same state in which they entered. Whole and practically untouched. These cannot serve any helpful purpose to anyone.

In order for vitamins to do what they are supposed to they have to be processed in very special ways. It is for this reason therefore that the more you spend on a vitamin the more effective it will be. If middle of the range vitamins do not fall within an individual's budget then they should not waste money buying cheap ones, instead use that money to buy good fresh fruits and vegetables or even organic if possible; but do stay away from a million vitamins for under a dollar/pound as you could as well thrown that money down your loo/can whatever you may call it.


Returning to CFS it is more than likely that anyone who is diagnosed with it also has a weak immune system. Eating to boost your immune system will certainly not do any harm and in all likelihood you will start to feel the benefits within a couple of weeks. Your symptoms may not vanish overnight but anything that eases the unpleasant and often painful effects of CFS can only be a good thing for the person concerned.

Adding good quality protein from fish and meat will also help though if you are a vegetarian nuts and other high protein vegetables/soy etc can be eaten instead. Keeping the body well hydrated by drinking 6 to 8 glasses of water a day will also prove beneficial; aside from hydration water also helps to flush toxins out of the system.

To conclude, it is important that anyone suffering from CFS should consult with his or her doctor before self-treating with supplements or any other natural remedies.

Dr Mercola -Falling for This Myth Could Give You Cancer

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How much control do you really have over your own life in general, and your health in particular?
These questions have puzzled many since the beginning of time.
Now, the emerging science of epigenetics is offering some answers that put true control within your reach.
According to some scientists, changing your health may be as "simple" as changing your thoughts and beliefs.
"Contrary to what many people are being led to believe, a lot of emphasis placed on genes determining human behavior is nothing but theory and doctrine," writes Konstantin Erikseni .
"We are free to make decisions that impact our lives and those of others. …
Our beliefs can change our biology.
We have the power to heal ourselves, increase our feelings of self-worth and improve our emotional state."
Epigenetics Shatters "The Central Dogma"
Eriksen goes on to discuss something called "The Central Dogma" of molecular biology, which states that biological information is transferred sequentially and only in one direction (from DNA to RNA to proteins).
The ramification of buying into the central dogma is that it leads to belief in absolute determinism, which leaves you utterly powerless to do anything about the health of your body; it's all driven by your genetic code, which you were born with.
However, scientists have completely shattered this dogma and proven it false. You actually have a tremendous amount of control over how your genetic traits are expressed—from how you think to what you eat and the environment you live in.
You may recall the Human Genome Projectii , which was launched in 1990 and completed in 2003. The mission was to map out all human genes and their interactions, which would than serve as the basis for curing virtually any disease. Alas, not only did they realize the human body consists of far fewer genes than previously believed, they also discovered that these genes do not operate as previously predicted.
In the featured article, Eriksen describes the experiments of John Cairns, a British molecular biologist who in 1988 produced compelling evidence that our responses to our environment determine the expression of our genes. A radical thought, for sure, but one that has been proven correct on multiple occasions since then.
Eriksen writesiii :
"Cairns took bacteria whose genes did not allow them to produce lactase, the enzyme needed to digest milk sugar, and placed them in petri dishes where the only food present was lactase. Much to his astonishment, within a few days, all of the petri dishes had been colonized by the bacteria and they were eating lactose. The bacterial DNA had changed in response to its environment. This experiment has been replicated many times and they have not found a better explanation than this obvious fact – that even primitive organisms can evolve consciously.
So, information flows in both directions, from DNA to proteins and from proteins to DNA, contradicting the "central dogma." Genes can be activated and de-activated by signals from the environment. The consciousness of the cell is inside the cell's membrane. Each and every cell in our bodies has a type of consciousness. Genes change their expression depending on what is happening outside our cells and even outside our bodies."
Your Emotions Regulate Your Genetic Expression
As if genes changing expression in response to environmental factors such as nutrients wasn't enough, other researchers have demonstrated that this "environment" that your genes respond to also includes your conscious thoughts, emotions, and unconscious beliefs. Cellular biologist Bruce Lipton, PhD., is one of the leading authorities on how emotions can regulate genetic expression, which are explained in-depth in his excellent books The Biology of Belief, and Spontaneous Evolution.
Science has indeed taken us far beyond Newtonian physics, which says you live in a mechanical universe. According to this belief, your body is just a biological machine, so by modifying the parts of the machine, you can modify your health. Also, as a biological machine, your body is thought to respond to physical "things" like the active chemicals in drugs, and by adjusting the drugs that modify your machinery, doctors can modify and control health. However, with the advent of quantum physics, scientists have realized the flaws in Newtonian physics, as quantum physics shows us that the invisible, immaterial realm is actually far more important than the material realm. In fact, your thoughts may shape your environment far more than physical matter!
According to Dr. Lipton, the true secret to life does not lie within your DNA, but rather within the mechanisms of your cell membrane.
Each cell membrane has receptors that pick up various environmental signals, and this mechanism controls the "reading" of the genes inside your cells. Your cells can choose to read or not read the genetic blueprint depending on the signals being received from the environment. So having a "cancer program" in your DNA does not automatically mean you're destined to get cancer. Far from it. This genetic information does not ever have to be expressed...
What this all means is that you are not controlled by your genetic makeup. Instead, your genetic readout (which genes are turned "on" and which are turned "off") is primarily determined by your thoughts, attitudes, and perceptions!
The major problem with believing the myth that your genes control your life is that you become a victim of your heredity. Since you can't change your genes, it essentially means that your life is predetermined, and therefore you have very little control over your health. With any luck, modern medicine will find the gene responsible and be able to alter it, or devise some other form of drug to modify your body's chemistry, but aside from that, you're out of luck… The new science, however, reveals that your perceptions control your biology, and this places you in the driver's seat, because if you can change your perceptions, you can shape and direct your own genetic readout.
This new science also reveals that you are in fact an extension of your environment, which includes everything from your thoughts and belief systems, to toxic exposures and exposure to sunlight, exercise, and, of course, everything you choose to put onto and into your body. As Dr. Lipton is fond of saying, the new biology moves you out of victimhood and into Mastery—mastery over your own health.
It is a supreme confirmation of my favorite saying, "You Can Take Control of Your Health."
How Nutrition Alters Genetic Expression
Two years ago, a study performed by the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University was showcased at the annual Experimental Biology convention. The study demonstrated how "histone modifications" can impact the expression of many degenerative diseases, ranging from cancer and heart disease to biopolar disorder and even aging itself. According to Rod Dashwood, a professor of environmental and molecular toxicology and head of LPI's Cancer Chemoprotection Program, as quoted in a press releaseiv:
"We believe that many diseases that have aberrant gene expression at their root can be linked to how DNA is packaged, and the actions of enzymes such as histone deacetylases, or HDACs. As recently as 10 years ago we knew almost nothing about HDAC dysregulation in cancer or other diseases, but it's now one of the most promising areas of health-related research."
In a nutshell, we all have tumor suppressor genes, and these genes are capable of stopping cancer cells in their tracks. These genes are present in every cell in your body, but so are proteins called "histones." As Dr. Jean-Pierre Issa at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center explainsv , histones can "hug" DNA so tightly that it becomes "hidden from view for the cell." If a tumor suppressor gene is hidden, it cannot be utilized, and in this way too much histone will "turn off" these cancer suppressors, and allow cancer cells to proliferate.
Now here's where epigenetics comes in … certain foods, such as broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables, garlic, and onions contain substances that act as histone inhibitors, which essentially block the histone, allowing your tumor suppressor genes to activate and fight cancer. By regularly consuming these foods, you are naturally supporting your body's ability to fight tumors.
Certain alternative oncologists also tap directly into the epigenetic mechanism, such as Dr. Nicholas Gonzalez, who uses a three-pronged approach to cancer based primarily on nutrition and detoxification, and Dr. Stanislaw Burzynski, who treats cancer with a gene-targeted approach. His treatment uses non-toxic peptides and amino acids, known as antineoplastons, which act as genetic switches that turn your tumor suppressor genes "on."
A Healthy Lifestyle Supports Healthy Genetic Expression
So the good news is that you are in control of your genes … You can alter them on a regular basis, depending on the foods you eat, the air you breathe, and the thoughts you think. It's your environment and lifestyle that dictates your tendency to express disease, and this new realization is set to make major waves in the future of disease prevention -- including one day educating people on how to fight disease at the epigenetic level. When a disease occurs, the solution, according to epigenetic therapy, is simply to "remind" your affected cells (change its environmental instructions) of its healthy function, so they can go back to being normal cells instead of diseased cells.
You can begin to do this on your own, long before you manifest a disease. By leading a healthy lifestyle, with high quality nutrition, exercise, limited exposure to toxins, and a positive mental attitude, you encourage your genes to express positive, disease-fighting behaviors.
This is what preventive medicine is all about. It's not about taking any one particular nutrient as a supplement to fix one specific "part" of your biological machinery... The more people become willing to embrace this simple truth, the healthier everyone will get.
It's also worth pointing out that epigenetic effects begin before birth.
Epigenetic research from 2009 showed that rat fetuses receiving poor nutrition in the womb become genetically primed for a nutrition-poor environment. As a result of this genetic adaptation, the rats tended to be smaller. They were also at higher risk for a host of health problems throughout their lives, such as diabetes, growth retardation, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and neurodevelopmental delays. Again, while some are tempted to blame such "predispositions" on bad genes, the KEY factor is nutrition, i.e. the cellular environment.
If you're ready to address your dietary choices, read through my comprehensive nutrition plan, which will give you tips and tools for eating healthy, dealing with stress, and living a lifestyle that will support your epigenetic health.
You can also turn your genes off and on with your emotions too. Many, if not most people carry emotional scars; traumas that can adversely affect health. Using techniques like energy psychology, you can go in and correct the trauma and help regulate your genetic expression. My favorite technique for this is the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), but there are many others. Choose whichever one appeals to you, and if you don't sense any benefits, try another, until you find what works best for you.
Please, remember that 'You CAN Take Control of Your Health.'