Common pH myths

1. Being too acidic is the real problem, if everyone were alkaline then everyone would be healthy.  So not true!  The reality is, we have cyclical variance in our body pH, and we are supposed to spend time each day in an alkaline and in an acidic environment.  Staying only alkaline will cause cellular disruption which can lead to chronic disease including cancer!
2. Fruits and veggies make the body alkaline, meat makes it acidic. Another false statement, the reality is, meat can make someone acidic, or it can make them alkaline, this really depends on their metabolic state.  In fact, in certain people, a diet of high fruit and veggies with low protein and low fat can also make the body more acidic.  The impact is dependant on body balance, including parasympathetic and sympathetic function.  Identifying the state of the body is key.
3. Urine pH indicates body pH.  This is partially true, but not entirely true.  Urine pH indicates the pH of the blood, HOWEVER, the pH of the ...

This Observer and Eccentric article about eating organic for health even on a budget has a great interview with Dr. Julie and Elizabeth, highlighting just how important and feasible it is to maximize your health and sustain nutritional food.  Check it out!

http://www.hometownlife.com/article/20130819/ENT/308190011/Local-mom-goes-organic-budget

Essential fatty acids are needed for many aspects of how our body works, however essential fatty acid supplements may not be.  They regulate membrane fluidity, which has an impact on nutrient absorption, and utilization, and they have impacts on prostaglandin production which affects pain and inflammation.  Yet, haphazard supplementation with these fats can come with difficulty.  Fish oils are prone to rancidity, and some evidence suggests that without proper process and cofactors, excessive and long term supplementation with fish oil may, in fact, cause issues with inflammation.  Seed oils too can be rancid causing damage to the cells.  So, what does one do to maintain cellular membranes and keep damage at bay?

Supplementing with essential fats may not be the key.  A body in homeostasis, which is regulating cellular and metabolic functions well, does not need supplementation of essential fats.  Fish consumption is not compulsory, evidenced by many world populations who have never con...

A recent study from Nanjing University in China has shed some light onto the phrase “you are what you eat.”  Researchers found that mRNA from rice was present in the bodies of people who commonly ate rice.  To understand why this may be significant, mRNA codes for DNA, other strands of RNA code for protein synthesis, and others turn genetic expression on and off.  It is not currently known what mRNA from rice would do in the body, but the question must be considered: If RNA from rice is found in those who commonly eat rice, then is RNA from every food we commonly eat found in our bodies?  How significantly does this affect our health? Furthermore, what does this mean about the risks of consuming GMO foods?

Although this study was not aimed at GMO foods, its discoveries have prompted grave concern among the health community.  If mRNA from normal foods can be found in our bodies, what kind of RNA could be present from genetically modified foods?  The process of genetic modification invo...

Your Libido is a direct reflection of your health.

When used in a healthy way, sex actually can build Qi, enhance mental and emotional balance and decrease stress. It is a natural, vital process and a great way to perk up a relationship that has been strained. Yet, as we age, it has become common dogma that sex drive must diminish and this is simply not true. Aging should have no noticeable effect on the sex drive if the Qi has been sustained. Women often present to physicians expressing a dramatically diminished libido, among other hormonal complaints. Sadly, since the topic of sex is still deemed too difficult to talk about openly, many doctors equate a low libido with depression, and rush to remedy the problem with pills. But there are other ways, and no, it is not depression.

Sex is a process governed by the Qi of the liver and kidneys. Consequently, if we have not cared for these organs in our youth, when we reach a certain age, they will start to show signs of wear. Jing is th...

Do you tend to leave before the grand finale?
Think about it, in an interest of saving time, or beating the crowd do you leave before the best parts? It seems like a lot of people do, which makes me wonder, just how much are they missing out on?  At the fireworks in Plymouth the other night, I sat amazed as car after car began to leave about 15 minutes into the fireworks. I assume they were trying to beat the hoard that would be lined up trying to get home after the show, but the grand finale is the best part and getting to it is a lot of fun too. I had to ask, do these people do this in their life too? If so, just how much do they miss or abandon before it has the chance to come to fruition and don’t they miss all of those awesome experiences?

Thinking about this has led me to explore just how many ways leaving early could manifest throughout our lives.  If we adopt a plan to lose weight, for example, change our diet, begin to get more exercise, drink water, sleep on a regular schedu...

Naturopathic Medical doctors are REAL doctors, despite what many would think.  I know what people say about Naturopathic doctors, I have heard it from friends, and friends of friends, have seen comments on blog posts, and message boards, suggestions of: "Why don't you see a real doctor." There is even a site called quack watch that labels ND’s as absolute quacks. I also know that when people set out to explore natural medicine, sometimes their family becomes certain that they have lost their mind. Usually, the objection comes as something a friend of theirs told them about how someone went to an ND and within a few minutes was told that they had certain problems, were then prescribed $500 dollars worth of supplements. Honestly, I wish I could say that this was rare, and that it almost never happened, but sadly I cannot. However, knowing how to pick an ND and what questions to ask and then therefore how to educate your loved ones who are honestly only expressing normal concern for your ...

To many, Chinese medicine represents a strange practice involving needles and weird terms and identifications of patterns that talk about organs in non-medical ways all leading to some sort of treatment. It is confusing for anyone with no experience in this sort of medicine to understand why it helps. In the west, acupuncture has made its greatest inroads in the field of pain management, as it has tremendous benefit with both chronic and acute pain. However, acupuncture excels at treating conditions related to hormonal imbalance, stress, fatigue, and even digestive issues. It can do this because the mechanism of acupuncture is not only local but systemic as well, and when applied in a classical way, has the ability to identify why a person is sick and exactly how to help them heal.

     To understand, first imagine the body.  On our body there are over 365 regular acupuncture points, added to this are hundreds of other extra points. Within the 365, there are 12 primary meridians trave...

Recently, when working on research for an upcoming book that my husband and I are writing, I came upon some emerging information regarding GMO bacteria that has made me wonder about the popular use of probiotics in conventional medicine. As the world community grows continually aware of the risks associated with GMO food, many have taken steps to eliminate GMO foods from their diet. However, GMO bacteria are not widely understood and their use in the making of supplements has gone virtually unnoticed. 

Bacteria are often the producers of common supplements through processes of fermentation. However, they are also often the supplement themselves in the form of probiotics. Probiotics represent essential bacteria needed for gut balance, immune system function and even mood control. Many recognize their role in digestive health which has led to copious use of them in everything from yogurt to even milk. However, a GMO bacteria, much like a GMO food cannot be considered to be the same as i...

     Many fats are good fats; in fact, some like pasture-raised meaning grass-fed butter like Kerry Gold from Ireland are great fats and should be a major part of everyone’s daily diet.  Of course, this is the point where many begin to mentally panic, remembering every time their doctor has warned them about saturated...