Was I Eavesdropping?

The conversation was so loud I could not help overhearing it...the young blond woman with a stick figure went on at length, describing her lunch.

"Oh, I was so concerned about the fat content that I used the low fat cheese and if I use the low calorie, low fat bread I could have a grilled cheese sandwich!" she gushed. She continued her monologue, " I only use the low sodium, low fat canned soups so that way I can stay within my Weight Watcher points..."

Someone opened a discussion with the dimunutive-size 0-young blond about the good fat content of nuts, which sparked a whole new monologue about cholesterol...

The conversation trailed on but in my head I had moved on to other issues.

I guess I was the only one in that room who understands the critical nature of REAL FOOD, WHOLE FOOD, RAW FOOD. I also guess that crowd wasn't really open to the idea. And I am sure none of those folks had seen these headlines:

Raw Broccoli, Cabbage Slash Bladder Cancer Risk by 40 Percent; Cooking Destroys Benefits

Vegetables May Reduce Hardening of Arteries

Availability of fruits and vegetables improves eating behavior of schoolkids

Americans still not eating enough fruits and vegetables

On reflection, I might have suggested to this little person some super snack ideas: I could have offered her the idea of carrying a hard cooked egg in her lunch bag so when lunch was over and supper is a long way off she might get in a little protein. Maybe she never thought of slicing an apple, sprinkling a pinch of salt to keep it from darkening and sealing it into a plastic container. She's probably sick and tired of eating carrot and celery sticks. Maybe she could mix it up with colorful slices of red and green peppers or napa cabbage for dipping into some hummus? Those travel well. I may have been remiss in mentioning to her that she might enjoy packing her lunch with a few crunchy slices of pickle or an olive or two...maybe she'd like fresh slices of mushrooms with a touch of guacamole? I probably missed an opportunity to educate someone...my bad

Actually, it seems to me that the people of this nation have been programmed to believe that if it is in a box or bottle or can on a store shelf and they have the cash to buy it , it must be all right to consume. All this flap about low fat, low sodium, low calorie and no sugar gets me crazy! It is hard to resist the tempation to rant and rave.

But I'll show great restraint. I'll keep my pie hole shut and point my beloved, health-seeking readers to good places to find real assistance when it comes to eating well and being well. Here are a couple of my favorite people:

Click Here!

and
AND HERE

These experts are in the know about health and good food. I am proud to represent them on the world wide web because they both understand the importance of eating well. Please, won't you do yourself a favor by visiting these sites and taking their information to heart, and to your food table?

Leanne Ely and Kristen Suzanne

Connie Baum

Do YOU Have a Tough Choice to Make?

What is the toughest choice you ever had to make?

For me, it was the decision to place my own son into a nursing facility. It was incredibly painful for me and for him. I was sure at the time I would never be able to forgive myself for making the choice I did.

He, on the other hand, thought he had done something wrong and he was being punished by not being allowed to live at home any more.

It was an unbearably miserable time for our whole family.

You'll be pleased to know that there is a happy ending to this drama. Even though he was not expected to live much longer after his admission to the nursing home, he stayed in that facility for ten years, thriving as the years unfolded. At the end of a decade he was able to live successfully in a group home, work in a sheltered workshop, and create a whole new life for himself at the tender age of 39!

Here's hoping your family never has to make those kinds of choices. The chances are good, however, that you will be faced with not only WHETHER to place your loved one in a professional setting but WHICH facility to choose.

I have discovered a wonderful resource for dealing with this issue. It is a handbook of 'How To' prepared by a former Nursing Home Administrator and legal guardian of two nursing home residents. She knows what's really going on and can help you navigate and negotiate the process of choosing the right facility for the right reasons! The name of this book: "Nursing Home Secrets Revealed", authored by Aileen Avinedo, RN, BSN

I'm not the only one who thinks this woman has good advice. Look what this man had to say:

"This is the most comprehensive book on nursing homes I have ever read. As a physician who has visited many facilities (nursing, assisted living, and independent living) I found the information to be thorough and accurate. Aileen correctly identifies the important issues one faces when considering a long term care facility for their family member or themselves. This book is an asset for this type of search."
--Dr. Bryan F. Walther
Loveland, Ohio

Aileen Avinedo is making a difference in Senior Care. Please look carefully at the sage advice she offers. It can make a difference for you and your loved ones, too!

Click Here!

Connie Baum

No Cooking? NO KIDDING?

By now you know what a health nut and foodie I am. You know I love to cook and I am all about healthy eating habits...

Some of you have complained to me that you don't LIKE to cook. Even those of you who do enjoy food prep and were pleased to have consulted with The Dinner Diva -continue to roam the aisles of the grocery store, hang from your cupboard doors, and poke your head into your fridge to answer the family's cries, "WHAT IS THERE TO EAT?"

I have such exciting news for you!

How would you like to have access to 400 ways to eat raw foods?

Now, don't you roll your eyes! I can hear you groaning, thinking it is just awful to think of veggies and fruits and no steak dinners! I know. You have a picture in your head of what Thanksgiving Dinner looks like and it does not include freshly squeezed wheat grass!

But I know about this Raw Foods Chef who has been a competitive body builder and she has proved by using raw foods and developing programs based on raw foods that you can be really healthy and it's not a lot of bother! Impressive, don't you think?

Her name is Kristen Suzanne. She is a beautiful woman with a real zest for life. She is devoted to helping us feel great, have more energy, and live longer. WHAT A CONCEPT!

Kristen is eager for us to have sound nutritional content, featuring phytonutrients, vitamins, minerals, and enzymes. And she stresses the importance of COLOR!

Does Kristen's message sound like an echo of Mother Connie's? If it does, then you know why this is such good news!

Please do yourself a healthy favor ASAP and meet Kristen Suzanne !

Connie Baum

Is This Just a Fairy Tale?

Long, long ago, in a land far away, there was a man and a woman-that would be Norm and me-who aspired to build a multi-level entrepreneurial empire of sorts, built around magnetic health products. We gathered people into our network, embracing every one. The group bonded over Executive Luncheons , training exercises, phone calls and demonstration events that all took place in the "executive suite" known as our combination living room/dining area!

The winds of change blew through all our lives. The company we all had praised for teaching us more than a college education might have disappointed us. People strayed from the group because of work schedules. Some of our people joined other companies. Some started their own businesses. We moved from the area.

You might expect that we would have closed the book on all those relationships. I am so happy to say that was not the case.

While we love every person in our circle, and still stay in touch with them, there is one woman who stands out from the others. She is the woman who always came to the 7 AM meetings on time, bearing freshly baked kolaches. She always brought a dish to share whenever we hosted an Executive Luncheon. She was fun to travel with. She always invited guests to our events and her guests were as friendly and as dear as she is. At the finish of any event I would bid the guests goodbye and turn to find this darling friend in the kitchen, engineering the clean up!

We share many things in common. We are close in age-she, too, is "33"-and we just CLICK. We have always found ways to celebrate her birthday with her. We call her frequently, just to get our "fix". She has a wonderful sense of humor, she is a devoted church member and her family means the world to her. This lady is an avid culinary artist, gardener and loves doing yard work. Whenever we get together we talk for hours and hours about health and healing.

She had another "33rd" birthday recently. It took her nearly 2 months to come and observe it but she showed up, knowing our guest room was reserved for her. She arrived in time to take in a Tea our church's Women's Fellowship hosted.

It won't surprise you, as it did not surprise me, to note that when the event had ended and people took their leave, there was Mildred, wiping tables and helping with clean up!

It should not surprise you, either, that everyone loves Mildred a special much!

We share one more thing: She followed us when we joined BioPro !

Connie Baum

Does Uncle Sam Care?

Sometimes, I think Uncle Sam only pretends to wish us well.

Something came in the mail from Uncle the other day. It is titled "Healthy is as Healthy Does." It enumerates all the things one must do to stay healthy during the colder months of the year. The piece suggests we should stay safe, be active, eat well, get enough sleep, be properly hydrated and wash our hands! SIDEBAR: Wash our hands? Does our aging Uncle Sam fancy we are still in Kindergarten? END SIDEBAR

Of course, as we might anticipate, Uncle thinks we need flu shots. I won't go there. I have ranted and raved sufficiently on that subject. But in all honesty, if Uncle wanted us truly to be well, that business about flu shots could have been left off the list and eliminated altogether.

There is a whole section in Uncle's letter dealing with Power Foods. Blueberries are good for a flavenoid boost. SIDEBAR: Who can afford to buy blueberries? END SIDEBAR

Another way to ramp up the favenoid factor is dark chocolate. Uncle consider dark chocolate will lower blood pressure and keep the arteries from plugging up. That's good news!

Sweet Potatoes, if you eliminate the marshmallows and roast them with a little olive oil, will nourish you with fiber, carotenoids, vitamins. They can be steamed, too. Uncle failed to mention that sweet taters are THE most nutritious veggie of all veggies. They also failed to mention how scrumptious sweet potatoes are.

Broccoli will add nourishment to your diet because you can enjoy this treat by steaming, sauteeing, or munching it as a raw delight. It can be dressed up with cheese or enjoyed 'naked'. Uncle Sam did not mention the undressed vegetable; he did mention the President who does not like the green goody.

Nuts have had a bad reputation for oil but almonds, for example, have high protein and mineral content. They are filling without the side effect of spoiling your appetite for dinner!

Spinach will provide you with iron, B Vitamins and fiber. It is yummy raw, cooked-add a dash of rice vinegar to perk up the flavor-or creamed. Uncle Sam never even mentioned that spinach is a whole food...

Using whole grains-organic if it's available to you-will provide rib-sticking nourishment that satisfies your palate.

Here are other foods Uncle Sam names as nutrition boosters and whole foods: citrus fruits, salmon, tomatoes, dry beans.

But Uncle never once mentioned a real Power Food: ENZYMES. We use this superfood in many ways and our favorite comes from barley grass. It is a fine powder that adds oomph to salads, fruit sauces, juices, even rice milk!

In our little kitchen I cooked some organic Northern beans this week. After these beauties were cooked I stored them in their own juice in the refrigerator to be used as needed. They made a fine addition to salads, skillet suppers, and a rich, wonderful soup. To have complete protein beans must be paired with grains. I often prepare a potful of brown rice to be stored for later use. Brown rice scattered across a bowl of fresh salad greens, topped off with barley grass powder is a really nice addition.

Well, it's true that Uncle Sam tells us some good things. And he did say something about Water. But he supports a center for disease control which is really an agency to manage disease...

I think Uncle Sam is out of my loop. He did not mention even one word about Energy Medicine. If YOU want the straight skinny about health care, not disease management, go here: The Healing Codes .

Connie Baum

Are YOU a Flowering Tree?

You've read about "my guys" who make up the Toastmasters Club at our local state prison. I am honored to be their Sponsor so every Monday I am treated to speeches about varied and interesting topics.

One of my favorite speakers is a highly accomplished member of the Mohawk tribe from New York. His presentation last night moved the group and his evaluator had no enviable task in finding ways for Wolfie to improve his technique.

Wolfie often draws upon his Indian Traditions and last night was no exception.

He drew a shape on the white board which resembled the letter Y. He indicated that the Y represented a tree, and he drew a line to show the earth and roots of this tree.

He used his 7 minutes wisely in sharing about the DUALITY of the Universe. He used several examples of opposites: men/women; hot/cold; black/white and urged the audience to find the commonality in each example. He wrote 'men' on one side of the Y, 'women' on the other. The common denominator for each example was HARMONY.

He explained the lessons of his heritage with passion and gusto. He remided us that the Keys to the Kingdom lie within that harmony. The harmony of RELATIONSHIPS, THOUGHTS/FEELINGS, and ACTIONS. He talked about how all things come from one Source. We may refer to that Source as God, Creator, Allah, whatever name we choose.

Wolfie went into great detail about keeping our minds, our thoughts and feelings, our words, and our actions in alignment. He admonished us to behave with love and take actions for goodness.

As he spoke, he drew some cartoon-like circles on both arms of the Y. They were meant to be flowers. He offered to us that if we keep our heads, hearts, words and actions in line with what the Creator would have for us we could own the keys to the kingdom! We could all become Flowering Trees!

The whole room was silent and motionless until he finished. Then they erupted in applause for this welcome message, filled with hope and love. These guys respect Wolfie. They were glad to be enriched by his eloquent words, offered from a favored Leader, a Teacher, and Healer.

As he returned to his desk I was struck by the fact that Wolfie had articulated what I have learned from my association with The Healing Codes. Live in harmony. Do all that you do in truth and with love. Think and feel in postive ways to feel the harmony that your Creator offers. Truth is very simple.

I hope you will see for yourself that the Truth, just the way Wolfie described it, can be found in The Healing Codes !

Connie Baum

What Is There To EAT?

I'm no different from you. I like to take the easy road. Doesn't everybody? But when the family wants to know what is there to eat, well, I'm just glad I have a plan: SavingDinner.com and you owe it to yourself to click on her site and see what all is there.

Leanne Ely has become my new bff - best friend forever. "Why?", you ask... Well, because she has taken all the heavy lifting out of food preparation. She is the next best thing to having a sous chef in your very own kitchen!

This Wonder Woman of Culinary Craft popped up while I surfed the net, looking for anything that would make home care better for my family. She was 'living' on one of the pages of Maria Cilley's "FlyLady" website. There were generous offerings about how to stretch an ole dead chicken, easy ideas for nutritional, low cost fare for anyone's dinner table. I was intrigued...and hooked on Leanne's easy ways in the kitchen.

Her own website is chock full of how-to videos, recipes, menu plans, tips and ideas. Her ad appears on this page. You can click on that banner or you can click on any of the underlined blue print on this page. Your family may not clamor for every single idea she has there but if you only find one or two gems, you'll feel as if you've won the lottery!

Whether you are wrestling with the daily care and feeding of a brood or if you are just another foodie you will have a good experience by clicking here and visiting The Dinner Diva!

Connie Baum

"What Are YOUR Childhood Memories?"

Small towns have many advantages, as do little churches. Oh, the shrinking congregations, like ours, have people who bear more responsibility than they care to shoulder at times. Then there are the fabulous, memorable times like we had today.

We are a social bunch. Every year our Women's Fellowship likes to entertain the women of our Sister Church, another congregation whose population is dwindling, with a special event. This year it was a Tea.

The theme for the day was "Childhood Memories". The tables were decorated with toys from days gone by. Nutcups were filled to look like ice cream sodas and tricked out with personality-laden paper dolls.

Some of the ladies brought toys they'd received as small children. One woman, a grandma, brought a child sized ironing board Santa had brought her. She found out later that Santa had the same surname as her own father.

One lady brought a tiny handkerchief she described as "only being carried for dress" and recounted stories of the women in her family. Someone else brought a child sized rocking chair. There was a dolly high chair in the room.

Most people shared memories of toys and games. One who marches to the beat of a different drummer brought a doo-dad. She told about how her grandmother would make doughnuts and she HELPED by using this doo-dad to cut out the pastry treats. The look on her face clearly expressed the delight and the devotion she had felt as a child and enjoyed recounting for the group.

Other ladies brought only memories. I anticipated that the memories we'd hear today would all be good ones. This is in part because I had an idyllic childhood. It made tears in my eyes to hear the stories of women whose mothers had died in childbirth, or accounts of mommies who left their children behind by passing away. There were two guests whose memories had been swept away by fires. Their stories, their belongings, their lives, had literally gone up in smoke.

We sang familiar children's songs such as "Me and My Teddy Bear" and "Oh, Playmate, Come Out and Play With Me". We oohed and aahed over the tea sets and dishes, tops and paper dolls that lined the tea tables. We marvelled at the displays featuring doll houses, replete with miniature furnishings. We all nodded when primers and Little Golden Books were trotted out for show and we silently mourned that metal jacks and Pixie Stix are no longer sold in today's marketplace! How times do change!

As the morning passed and we chatted as girls are prone to do over home made cinnamon rolls, fresh fruit, juices, and coffee, I could not help thinking about these women's hearts. I wondered to myself if each person there truly knew the beliefs that live in each of their hearts. Are they living their truths? Are they feeling loved?

Quite naturally I am not privvy to another's "heart junk" nor would I choose to be. I trust that each of these precious souls is at peace with their childhoods. I trust their hearts are healed from any wound that may have been incurred. Furthermore, I pray that none of them ever NEEDS The Healing Codes .

Connie Baum

Have You Heard...?

I freely admit that yesterday Mother Connie ranted and raved about flu shots.

Maybe there is something in the ethers, because today I found something sitting in my Inbox which speaks to the very same topic of my rant:

"What You Don’t Know about the Flu Shot CAN Hurt You"

was the headline. I went on to read the article and learned that last year's record was not so hot: 50% of the injections were ineffective. This came, by the way, from a place called "Vitamin Research Products," an entity promoting healthy aging.

The article went on to say that side effects were a serious issue, as well.

What Big Pharma and Big Medicine do not appreciate is that the human body heals itself. Healing takes place from the TOP DOWN, the INSIDE OUT, from LEFT to RIGHT and from the PRESENT to the PAST.

You may remember the story I related about Jerry, whose healing process caused him grief, for which he "credited" me. I was only the facilitator. His body did the honor of detoxifying so Jerry could heal.

As the body heals itself the head will be the first to find relief. (TOP DOWN)

The body excuses the waste. (INSIDE OUT) The LEFT SIDE is more likely to find comfort before the RIGHT SIDE. It is very possible to dream wild dreams, have memories pop up, seemingly out of nowhere, and encounter people you have not seen in eons. (PRESENT TO PAST)

This is the reality of healing. The body does not heal because of Big Pharma and their high priced, toxic concoctions. The body does not heal because Big Medicine writes permission slips to send to Big Pharma.

It is crucial to support the immune system. It is our responsibility! By drinking good, clean, Water that is loaded with antioxidants, by eating plenty of raw vegetables and fruits, by supplementing our diets with whole foods nutrition, getting adequate rest, exercise and thinking good thoughts will offer far more benefits than any old shot! Besides, drinking 2 oz of Limu morning and night is the least painful way to beef up your health.

Beyond the suggestions I have described on this post and in order for you to be truly well from your heart, I would also direct you, with love and in truth, to The Healing Codes !

Connie Baum

Can We Just Get Our Priorities Straight?

It's that time of year: There is an awful lot of hype in the media, on bulletin boards everywhere, and in clinics across the country about getting flu shots.

I suppose there is a school of thought that espouses the notion that flu shots will prevent people from getting the flu.

I have MUCH better solutions for avoiding the flu.

The way I see it, we need to take responsibility for our own well being and that includes keeping our immune system supported and healthy and strong and vibrant. As we age, that immunity diminishes. That gives me all the more reason to take action to prevent illness.

Support for the body's immune system is not only important but it is amazingly easy, and you won't have to dip into your trust fund to make it happen. Drink plenty of good, clean, pure, healthy Water , for starters. Eat an abundant amount of fresh fruits and vegetables, including the peelings, as much as possible. Get enough sleep. Take power naps, if you must; you deserve to be rested. There are mushroom formulas that enhance immunity, there is a plethora of supplements available. You can buy bottles of liquid minerals, you can purchase homeopathic cell salts (sometimes referred to as biochemical tissue salts) for very little money and you CAN avoid the flu without injecting toxicity into your cells!

Moving your body regularly can serve your immunity very well. Aging decreases vitality but exercise can increase your well being in every way.

Keep your life, your blood, your body as clean as a whistle. Dry brush your skin. Deep breathe. Detoxify. Dr. Sherry Rogers admonishes us to "DETOXIFY OR DIE" and it's true. The more junk we ingest, the more junky thoughts we have, the more junky air we breathe, the worse we will feel and the more "heart junk" -Dr. Alex Loyd's term- we will accumulate.

Keep your immune system in check by making sure there is a balance between what goes INTO your body and WHAT COMES OUT. It is wise to have good fiber in your diet by using raw foods, peelings and all. Using your body by moving about will help elimination, as will drinking good water. I am reminded of this truism: "Cold water constipates. Warm water lubricates. Hot water eliminates." Keeping your immune system up to par is key to your good health and well being.

Avoid electromagnetic exposure like the plague: microwave ovens produce foods that are altered and not good for human consumption. This compromises your immunity!

Also not good for human health are all the prescription drugs that the American public has come to demand. Every presciption carries with it side effects and none of those side effects enhances anyone's health. This would include flu shots.

OK, I admit I have probably told you way more than you wanted to know and you may not have found the remedies you seek. Hang with me, boys and girls. On these posts you will find many ways to avoid the plague of the flu bug and other health disasters. I pledge to you that I will assist you in reordering your priorities, starting with good, clean, healthy, pure Water !

Connie Baum

Hey, Dave: "May I Borrow a Page From YOUR Book?"

I have many luxuries in my life. One of my favorites: the late night comics. I particularly enjoy David Lettermans' Top Ten lists. I am using his format to present some ideas that may appeal to you.

SIDEBAR: Please understand I am not the comedian Mr. Letterman is, so don't expect Dave's brand of humor here. END SIDEBAR

The TOP TEN REASONS why you might use Cinnamon:

• 10 - Gas Studies in India and Japan revealed that taking honey and cinnamon powder may relieve your tummy of flatulence.
• 9 - Flu A Spanish scientist discovered that honey contains a natural ingredient which kills the flu germs, saving a patient from flu's misery. (Can you say, "Cost effective and pain free"?)
• 8 - Indigestion By sprinkling cinnamon powder on 2 Tablespoons of honey before meals, the acidity is relieved and the heaviest of meals is easily digested.
• 7 - Upset Tummy Honey taken with cinnamon powder can cure stomach ache and clears stomach ulcers from the root.
• 6 - Common Cold When you feel a cold coming on you'd be wise to take one Tablespoon lukewarm honey with 1/4 Teaspoon of cinnamon powder for three days. This process will take care of most coughs and clear the sinuses.
• 5 - Cholesterol Two Tablespoons of honey and three Teaspoons of cinnamon powder mixed into 16 ounces of tea Water has been found to reduce the level of cholesterol in the blood by 10% within two hours!
• 4 - Bladder infections By taking 2 Tablespoons of cinnamon powder and one Teaspoon of honey in a glass of lukewarm Water and drinking immediately it is possible to destroy germs in the bladder.
• 3 - Fatigue Using 1/2 Tablespoon of hney in a glass of Water that's sprinkled with cinnamon powder increases the vitality and strength of the body within a week. It would be a good practice to dry brush the skin at 3PM when fatigue sets in and then drink this tasty concoction. SIDEBAR: Folks who work outside the home have permission to skip the dry brushing part of this remedy! END SIDEBAR
• 2 - Weight Loss Drinking honey and cinnamon powder boiled in one cup of water daily in the morning half an hour before breakfast, on an empty stomach, and again at night with your tummy empty will reduce the weight of even the most obese person. Drinking this mixture regularly will allow the body not to accumulate more fat.
• AND THE NUMBER ONE REASON TO USE CINNAMON AND HONEY IS...

Longevity! Tea made with cinnamon powder and honey, when taken regularly, arrests the ravages of old age. Take 4 spoonsful of honey, one spoon of cinnamon powder and 3 cups of water. Boil to make like tea. Drink 1/4 cup three or four times every day. It will help keep your skin soft and fresh and it will ARREST OLD AGE! By doing this you can increase your life span and you'll find that as you age you are performing chores the way a much younger person does.

Mother Connie has written a number of health related articles which appear on http://www.ezinearticles.com/ so if you seek more information you can log onto that site and search for articles by Connie Baum

Here's hoping you find this list helpful to your well being. You are reminded that since it is critical to use good Water in preparing these solutions, we refer you to High Tech Health .

Wishing you well,
Connie Baum

Could You Pass The Salt, Please?

Time was when salt, a highly prized commodity, was used as a medium of exchange, the way we use cash today.

In this culture, salt is a wonderful, low cost, low tech remedy for a number of life's discomforts. Especially SEA SALT.

For example, a simple tap or two of the salt shaker into your palm will empty enough salt to quiet a tickly cough, in many cases. The pH of the body is apparently rebalanced by the addition of that little pinch of salt. The best results come from SEA SALT, because it is just salt with the water removed. No additives, no toxicity.

SEA SALT can be a good remedy for mommies-to-be, too. When that wave of nausea hits, a pinch of salt or a bit of salt in water that is very slowly sipped can alleviate the misery in short order. According to the Macrobiotic way of thinking, expectant mothers are becoming more Yin-expanded-and the salt creates a condition in the body that is more Yang-contracted.

Salt makes a wonderful exfoliant. As the days cool and we are more prone to dry skin, it is very soothing to rub SEA SALT on our skin at bath/shower time. The salt stimulates the skin and the lymphatic system, as well as the circulatory system and it feels tingly and invigorating. It all rinses off in the shower or tub. And of course, all the dead skin cells are sloughed off and away with the salt.

Soaking in a tub of SEA SALT water can be helpful and soothing. I like to run a tub of VERY hot water, add a cup of SEA SALT and soak until the water cools down. Sometimes I add more hot water. Other times I end my soak in the interest of time. Soaking in salt water draws out any toxicity and it assists with joint discomfort. Besides, it just feels good.

No doubt you have all heard 'The Lecture" about how bad salt is for you. I have good news: that simply is not true. Especially if you use SEA SALT! Dr. Batman Helidj taught us that there are two oceans in the body for balance: the ocean of water and the ocean of salt. When those two oceans are in balance, health is prominent. Imbalance of those two oceans is caused from too much acidity in the diet, in the water, even in the air we breathe!

I know a guy who had an infection in his foot. When he used SEA SALT in his food and drank less fruit juice and more pure water, the foot improved significantly. Observing that process was enough to make a believer out of me!

SEA SALT is low tech, low cost health care. Commensurate with our culture today, we can refer to High Tech Health for great pure water, up-to-date ways of balancing the body's pH, and products that enhance the well being of the entire family!

Could you please pass the sea salt? Thanks. And please, do remember to visit our friends at High Tech Health !

--Connie Baum

Broccoli, Anyone?

Oh, the news about broccoli is going to make your mother so happy! She may say, "I told you so!" but that's okay. The news should please everybody.

The prestigious Johns Hopkins University has learned that the dark green cruciferous my be helpful in dealing with chronic lung diseases.

Now, your mother may not have been a researcher at Johns Hopkins, but she did chide you about eating your veggies, I am sure. That's a mother's JOB, after all.

The report I read had a whole lot of big medical words and letters. I wondered as I read it if I might be looking at jargon or code! At any rate, studies have linked chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, COPD, and improvement in the condition when broccoli is used in the diet.

I can just hear the gears in your brain shifting right now. You are already stressing over what to DO with broccoli. Not to worry. I have the answer to that for you. The Dinner Diva will be too happy to come to your rescue in that department!

Leanne Ely never lacks for ideas when it comes to food. Whether you are looking for economical ways to use broccoli or any other food, for that matter, Saving Dinner stands ready to assist you.

The mother in me wants to remind you that raw vegetables have the most enzymes and nutrition. I have some broccoli beside me as I write this and I am enjoying little florets dipped in hummus. How fast and easy to prepare! How economical and delicious it is!

It's no wonder I'm healthy! Here's hoping my own mom would be proud to know I listened to her. So would The Dinner Diva, I think.

What Takes YOU Out of the Game?

When some event occurs in our lives that takes the wind out of our sails, we are not likely to stop and analyze “What just took me out of the game?” It makes no difference whether we have a relationship crisis, missed a business opportunity, or just suffer from the issues of people living their lives. For any event that takes us out of the game, we would be wise to STOP and ask ourselves a few pertinent questions, ‘post mortem’, if you will.

Jack Canfield wrote about this in his book, “Hearts at Work”. He suggested that it’s important to get to the root of the problem of events that take us out of our game. Author Canfield offers us the following EQUATION regarding the events that affect us adversely:

E + R = O
E represents “Events”
+
R stands for "Reactive Response"
=
O means "Outcome"

This formula never varies. It is ALWAYS correct. Our response is the only variable. Whenever an event in our life occurs, we react with a response. The outcome is the result of our response to any event.

To give you an example, let’s look at the economy. Try as we might, we are unable to control the events surrounding the ups and downs of the stock market. No matter what response we may have, there is no changing the Federal Reserve’s interest rate. These are EXTERNAL events. Our RESPONSE has to do with our attitude, our life experiences, the pictures made by our hearts and sent to our brain.

The same is true for INTERNAL events. When we are tempted to cheat or lie, those are internal responses to events we experience. Our reaction, our response is entirely from within.

To achieve an optimum outcome, we must look closely at our response. How did we react? If we don’t like the results of the event, something is NOT working for us. That reminds me of Dr. Phil’s famous question, “How’s that workin’ for ya?”

These ideas are the stuff of the real world. These are notions of the NOW. Dealing with our responses and fine tuning them takes great energy. Energy Medicine is an extremely useful tool in managing our reaction responses to life's external and internal issues.

Please stay tuned. You can look forward in days to come to getting a “Do It Yourself Kit” for dealing with events that take you out of your game.

For more information about what it is that takes you out of your game, or keeps you from playing your A Game, please visist http://www.ezinearticles.com/ and look for items authored by your humble blogger.

The Healing Codes

Care For A Drink?

We all know by now that water is basic to life. I've mentioned to you that our bodies are made of it and you no doubt recall the doctor who alleviated his patients ulcer misery by simply using water. We understand that hydration is not important; it is critical... ...but did you know that WATER CAN READ?

This is fascinating to me. Dr. Masuru Emoto did great work in the study of water by freezing water and photographing the crystals. Water that had been exposed to the word 'love' froze into beautiful designs. Water that had been exposed to words like 'hate' or 'ugly' froze into hideous misshapen forms! Entire lakes that had been the location for prayer sessions and meditations had particular beauty in the formation of the crystals.

The lesson I took from this is that I can pour a glass of water and place it on a paper with any word I like: love or abundance or forgiveness-whatever my situation dictates. The water READS the word or message and as I drink the water, I am taking in that quality.

I can hear the skeptics: "How can you PROVE that?" My response: "Easily and quickly!" It is possible to test by using kinesiology. If you test the strength of muslces prior to using the water and again after using the water there will be a noticeable difference. The energy in the water affects the strength of the muscles.

Quite obviously, it's good for us to ingest high quality water. If you drink good, clean water that is loaded with anti-oxidants, it is possible for all the mineral content to permeate the cells of your body. This enhances your well being immensely. Such a unit can be had from High Tech Health . The unit they have will even strengthen your immune system.

As my mother always advised, "Drink your water!" My challenge to you is to write something positive for your water glass to rest on. It will be interesting to know how that affects you. Those effects will be subtle; they won't jump up and wave at you, but you should notice an overall improvement in the way you feel, the quality of your sleep, and even in the way your skin appears.

I mean it when I say, "I wish you well."

High Tech Health

Water, Water Everywhere...

Are you interested to reverse your health's deterioration?

Would you like to remove your body's accumulation of toxins?

If you had clean tap water that was also an anti-oxidant would you be grateful?

Is your digestive tract over-acidic? Would you like relief? In only 30 days?

Bottled water is pricey and not always good for you. What if you could get a healthier choice for less cost?

Our bodies are mostly water and our brains, even more so. It's not important to have good water. It is critical. Water is a solvent and good water can clean out your insides, make your blood flow more easily, alleviate pain, and can even help you to lose weight. Good water will improve the look and feel of your skin, hair and nails. You'll minimize the creak of achey joints and your elimination will be easier, too.

Having good water has made a ginormous difference in our family's lives. But you shouldn't take my word for it. Scope it out for yourself. I trust you to make good decisions about your own health.

Go Here: High Tech Health . Look for their water ionizer. Improve your health as soon as is humanly possible. You won't regret having better health, will you?

Watch for information about how water READS, coming soon to a blog near you. Stay tuned. Mother Connie will keep you up to date about water.

Eat Your Vegetables!

Here's news you can use: Baby carrots are not good for you.

I know, I know, my mother told me the same thing your mothers told you: that carrots are good for you.

Not baby carrots.

Those cute little carrots in the handy packs that feature easy-to-use veggies are not what they seem to be. While they appear to be small carrots, in reality they are really crooked or deformed root veggies that are crammed into a machine that shapes them into "COCKTAIL CARROTS" or "DESIGNER CARROTS". Sidebar: Who makes UP these fancy names? End Sidebar.

That's not the worst of it. Here is the really bad news: After the machine gets the carrots to look just so---they are dunked into a bath of water and chlorine. The chlorine is, ostensibly, to preserve them. Remember, these pieces have been skinned, so they are even more receptive to the toxic dose of chlorine.

Chlorine is a highly poisonous agent. It is a known carcinogen.

If you have ever bought these little goodies you know that they get a white film on them after sitting in your fridge for a few days. This is the chlorine oozing out! YUCK!

We ingest vegetables to maintain our good health. Knowing that baby carrots are not really what they appear to be, from now on, we will all be wise to choose from the selection on the produce counters of organic carrots, if we do not grow our own products. That will be the surest way of saving our well being and Saving Dinner !

For more information about clever ways to provide health enhancing, nourishing, interesting meals for your family please look at The Dinner Diva's website: Saving Dinner .

And, please, DO eat your vegetables!

`Run, Run, Run!

ANOTHER of those pesky emails arrived again! I refer to the messages that tell you there is to be a marvelous event to raise money for one of the many diseases for which they are close to finding a cure! They want you to run or walk or stay up all night and, oh, by the way, bring your cash. And, while you are at it, please bring 200 of your closest friends AND THEIR MONEY!

Now, I have BEEN to suppers and auctions and other events that were held because someone had a catastrophic illness and could not begin to pay the costs of being so sick...I do have empathy for people who are in such a pickle...but I'm here to tell you that the approach taken by Big Medicine and Big Pharma is all backwards and inherently WRONG.

People do not hurt because they lack ibuprofin in their system. They do not become ill from not having enough pharmaceuticals in their bodies. They do not become well simply because someone cut their body open...

We do not become ill in our bodies UNLESS and UNTIL we have thoughts and feelings that do not match the truth that is in our hearts. I suspect you may perceive this as too simplistic an idea. It IS simple, this matter of being, getting, staying well.

Energy Medicine is one tool that is highly effective in managing your health.

Let's talk about your TEETH, for example. If you eat some chocolate, you might have residue from the sugary frosting on your teeth. Could you clear this residue away by using a hair dryer to clean it off? Of course not! You would use your toothbrush. You might even use one of those high powered electric jobbies. You might floss. You might even rinse your mouth with a mouthwash or plain ole water! These are tools to clean your teeth.

What are some of the tools to use in Energy Medicine?

Prayer * Meditation * The Healing Codes

These are powerful tools. They assist us in pulling the heart junk out of our hearts. They help us to create images with truth in love that assist in healing from deep inside ourselves. It is important, no, CRITICAL, for us to get out of our own way and let our Creator heal the issues we face. Energetically. In truth and love.

For me, the issue is crystal clear. I might run for the proper tool. I will pray for those who are ill or in misery. I shall make every effort to rid my heart of the junk as best I can as often as I can. But I'll be dipped in dew before I'll support Big Medicine and Big Pharma.

There is more information regarding health and healing by your humble blogger appearing on www.ezinearticles.com and you are welcome to visit that site to view those items.

Perceptions of the Heart

Kayla had an issue with money that made her feel fear, rage, resentment and those negative feelings were 'registered' in her life, her body, and her sense of lack.

Dr. Alex Loyd asked Kayla to recall a childhood memory and see if those feelings could appear again in her mind's eye. He asked her to visualize the memory.

Almost without hesitation, Kayla was transported in her mind to the time when she was five years old. She was at the top of the stairs, having a tantrum and her dad went out of the door on his way to work. She also remembered a time when she had swallowed 2 pennies. To retrieve them, her father had held her by her heels and shaken her.

On a scale of 1 - 10 Kayla reported feeling that as a 5 year old child, her misery was 'in her throat' and her fear number was 10.

Dr. Loyd asked Kayla to visualize that scene again but this time, he requested that Kayla be taken OUT of the picture and become merely an observer. Had Kayla needed support, she could have asked for Divine Assistance, or for someone who loves her to be with her. Kayla felt strong enough to go it alone. As an ADULT, Kayla felt the stress of this scene in her right shoulder, neck and abdomen. As a 5 year old, Kayla noticed the agony in her forehead and temple.

"Ask that 5 year old Kayla what it is she needs to feel okay," coached Dr. Loyd. "Tell 5 year old Kayla that you want to help her. Hold her hand and remind her she is not alone." Dr. Loyd continued..."Now, give little Kayla a kiss and a hug and reassure her that her daddy will come home tonight."

After a moment, Dr. Loyd asked, "Kayla, look through little Kayla's eyes and see if you can find the UNTRUTH in this scene. "I am asking you to find the 'therefore' you have believed all these years that is a false belief, an untruth."

The untruth that Kayla was able to perceive: "They don't love me if they leave me without a kiss and a hug."

Gently, Dr. Loyd pressed on. "Big Kayla knows in her intellect that this is not true, so hold little Kayla's hand and look into her eyes. Tell her that you won't leave. Be sure little Kayla believes this as truth. See if you can help little Kayla to know that her belief has been a lie and that believing that lie is hurting her. Remind her that little Kayla is loved and she is important and has value."

Big Kayla took a deep breath. JUST THAT QUICKLY, Kayla noted that her stress and pain in her body had been eliminated and she felt relaxed!

Dr. Loyd suggested that Kayla repeat this exercise as many times as she might choose on a daily basis in order to reprogram her wounded heart and live without stress. I suspect her financial picture will brighten, as well.

Kayla was open to change. She seemed to have a high percentage of ability to work with her image making apparatus. Dr. Loyd offers that you and I can do this ourselves as often as we like. We need to see the picture of a memory in our mind's eye, note the emotional component we FEEL IN OUR BODY and write them down.

If we confront our truth in love, identify the "therefore" or wrong interpretation, the result is that the negative emotions just go away.

I will warn you, though: Expect to yawn. Yawning is a healing response!

For more information regarding confronting your truth in love, please click here:
The Healing Codes
and listen carefully to the stories of all those who have experienced finding the "therefores" and have experienced the joy of changing the perceptions of their hearts!

Seven Steps

When we moved to my favorite husband's home town it never occured to me that the "center" of our social life would revolve around the State Correctional Institution. But it seems it has. We were invited to attend a Symposium there for the 7th Step Program.

We had no idea what 7th Step is or what it accomplishes. We were in for such a treat!

No doubt you have your concept of how it is to enter a prison. I can assure you this facility is not as frightening as you might imagine. We began our evening at the Gate House, where officers were congenial and we exchanged friendly conversation. We were searched for contraband- like chewing gum and other things inmates ought not to have. Then we were escorted to the gym for the event. There were any number of incarcerated men who greeted us en route. When we arrived at our destination I was astonished to see every member of the group lined up like soldiers, waiting to welcome and thank us for coming. They squeezed and pumped our hands in warm, firm handshakes; most were up for a quick hug and everyone was smiling! The tables and chairs were lined up - just so - and on each table we found a program for the evening's event and their Newsletter. The art work for these had been done by talented artists of the group.

Some of the guys had familiar faces because they are also Toastmasters and we had met some when we attended Indian Symposiums at the facility. Others were not so familiar but they were gracious and generous hosts.

There were two other guests besides Norm and myself. Both men spoke eloquently and directly about the men's accomplishments. One is a professor of law at Peru State College. The other is a State Senator from Omaha. Both are good and faithful friends of their hosts, having addressed them on many, many occasions in the year of the club's existence.

It took a long time to give out all the awards because every man in the room received recognition and two generous rounds of very loud applause. These are men who probably have not received much in the way of recognition in their past and were happy to be honored for becoming better people. One man, a Sr., received a certificate that had his name written as a 'Jr. ' His face lit up and he announced, "I am doing this program for my family. I will make sure that my son, Michael, Jr. gets this award. It is his." The crowd roared their approval by giving him thunderous applause and a standing ovation.

The purpose of the 7th Step organization is to make a difference and reduce recidivism. The seven steps help the men to "get real" and "man up" in order to give quality to their lives inside the walls and make productive lives on the outside when they are released. The goal is FREEDOM in the best sense of the word. I asked several of the fellows about their plans upon their release and they were eager to tell about what they have in mind. What impressed me about that was everyone's sense of wanting to give back to society in positive ways. They are ready to be accountable, to serve by teaching others, to work hard to make society a better place to be.

I have to mention about our meal. It was listed prominently on the program and I wondered how on earth they would manage that with skimpy finances and all. Well, I needn't have given it a thought. When it was time to eat, we were invited to the buffet table, where there was a selection of cheeses, sausage and chips and cookies. Of course, there was never a moment during the entire evening when any guest had an empty cup. We were offered kool aid, soda pop, coffee, water and these were bottomless cups!

As the speakers shared with us and as the certificates were awarded, my mind wandered to the lessons of The Healing Codes . I understand that the reason our jails and prisons are so full is that so many hearts have been wounded. I can't help wondering how much better this whole world would be if only our hearts could be healed.

I can't speak for Norm, but for my part, my heart was deeply touched last night.


The Healing Codes