Another update

My how time can change things. We are learning and growing, one thing I'm learning to say is never say never! : ) My time at the rheumatologist was short lived. Was put on Methotrexate...thought that psoriasis was spreading but it was actually an allergic reaction to this drug. So! I am off all medications....doc would be angry with me. But I'm going back to my alternative ways...doing the Pagano Diet, coupled with the Budwig protocol. Mostly Budwig. Will keep close tabs on my symptoms and seek another rheumatologist's opinion if things get worse. But I am encouraged. More later.

Words on BPA from nourishtradition.com

Food For Thought: Make mine BPA free please!

I am sure most of you have heard about Bisphenol A (BPA), the chemical found in many hardplastic reusable water bottles and canned food. Research on this chemical is conflicting, but

some has linked it to breast cancer, prostate cancer and early puberty in girls. If you would like

to read more about BPA, click here: http://www.cspinet.org/new/200804021.html

I remember when I first read about BPA my very first thought was: “ Oh NO! Not my cans of

beans!”. I use a lot of beans in my cooking and for time sake will generally use canned beans

during the week. I have had this question come up a lot so I though I would answer for those of

you who don’t already know: EDEN canned beans are BPA free. I’ve always loved this

brand of beans because they have NO sodium. Also, Eden cooks the beans with kombu (see

Chana Dal recipe for explanation of kombu), adding valuable minerals and helping to make

beans more digestible. They are a little more expensive than the other brands, but SO worth it!

By the way, 1 can of beans equals approximately 1 3/4 to 2 cups of cooked beans. I am going to

start including both quantities in my recipes from now on so those of you who cook your beans

from scratch will know how much to make. I have a bean cooking chart link on my website if

you would like to start cooking your beans from dry and need some help getting started!

Until next week, Eat Well, Be Well and LOVE Every Bite!!

The Pursuit of Holiness

Doing a personal Bible study on Holiness...using the scriptures and Jerry Bridge's book on the Pursuit of Holiness. : )

"Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord." Hebrews 12:14

Jerry Bridges begins the preface talking about how farmers do all their plowing, sowing and fertilizing, knowing in the end he is utterly dependent on forces outside himself for the final results. He can't cause the seed to germinate, or produce the rain or sunshine for growing. The farmer cannot do what God must do, and God will not do what the farmer SHOULD do. I can't attain any degree of holiness without God working in my life, but God has given me the responsiblity to do the walking, he doesn't do that for us. We pray for victory when we know we should be acting in obedience. One of Jerry Bridge's major focuses in this book is the age old struggle of "what do I do myself, and what am I to rely on God to do?" We must see what the Bible teaches on this question and face up to our own responsibilities in the scriptures. Diligence and effort are required and it is a lifelong task! As we begin to conform to one area in our lives, God reveals our need in another area. Thats why we will always be pursuing this holiness, never coming to the place where we feel we have arrived. Similar to childrearing! I'm learning this! We THINK we've arrived when our children are grown! Or at least that we've raised them and they are OFF to adulthood! Done! HA! : ) I was speaking with one of our sweet, Godly ladies at church, Linda. Her daughter just had triplets...and she had been spending the night there to help her 5 nights a week. Linda was thrilled to be able to do this, but she looked exhausted. I looked at her...I guess a lot because of my current health....I just looked at her and it dawned on me that I need the grace of God more than ever... to realize that my job is never done...it just changes. Our rest from our labors comes when we arrive on the golden shores...til then I will take one day at a time...resting in the Lord...finding strength in each day from the Giver of strength and grace...pursuing holiness daily. My children need the Lord, they need to see their parents pursuing holiness and a deep walk with the Lord. We can't give up or let up!

Update on Health!

Been a few months since I've updated...seems like a week! Time flies! Well, I've gotten even worse since I last posted. Can't remember what I posted last, but doc had me on Doxycycline...which I can only assume stirred up things in my body which caused my symptoms to get worse. I didn't even know I had psoriasis when I first went to the Rheumy...after I started meds it came out on my arms and hands. Doc said I had it from the top of my head to the bottom of my feet and I believe he was right. My joints and overall discomfort level grew after I began treatment. The only other things he had me on was an nsaid and thyroid med and estrogen. Anyway! The last appt I told him I felt worse...joints really hurt. He looked at them and said, yep...you need to be on methyltrexate. Wasn't happy to hear that. Its a drug commonly used for chemo...mine would be of lower dose by weekly injection. Let me pause here and interject a few thoughts. Everything in my life is intertwined by my life and faith in God...as should be for a Christian. Anyone that knows me knows that I HATE medications, not thrilled with doctors...in love with Barley Green...: ). But quite honestly...in the words of Dr. Phil....how's it been workin for ya?? : ) Not so good. Caused me to be very thoughtful lately about why I think like I do...examining myself in light of all that is going on. I think I will always be health conscious to a fault...but I really believe a lot of it is that I'm trying to be in control of my life,many times instead of letting God have control. Going to a doctor, taking medicatons...these things are putting control in another persons hands and not my own. Requiring faith in something outside myself. I've had 2 treatments of methyltrexate...changed the nsaid...and the last few days I have felt a definite change in my pain level and joint pain....a clearer feeling in my head. All the diet changes, lifestyle habits....none of that did a thing....I believe the meds are working. Hmmmm.....I think God is teaching me something! My ways, my research, are imperfect, as is our human bodies on this earth. I guess I always assumed natural ways are the best because that is maybe how God originally intended them to be...but as in all things...we can begin to trust in ourselves and our own reasonings....even trusting in natural alternatives themselves instead of our Lord for ultimate healing. Not even to mention the fact that God may never bring healing to me...that needs to be okay with me...because His purposes and Glory are to be pre-eminent above all else. On the other hand...to take medications, go to the doctor....while gorging on food not fit for consumption is not right either! Here I go again! lol! But there are specific Bible verses on how to treat our bodies and appetites on this earth that cannot be disobeyed without consequence. This is truth. I have such a difficult doctor too which brings more complex issues to my struggles. I'm actually beginning to feel like there may light at the end of the tunnel...through medications which baffles me! : ) And this difficult doctor may be the one God led me to....He works in unusual ways! : ) So I take one day at a time. Stronger medication may be on the horizon for me...not sure at this point. I'm assuming hes going to see what this med does first. Will keep posted!

Update!

Haven't had a chance to update in a long time! Joints have steadily declined...definitely began going downhill these past few months. Developed new joint swelling on my wrist so i decided a trip to the Rheumatologist was in order. Doctor was beyond rude...bad bedside manner an understatement. But I was determined to hear him out since he's reportedly one of the best in the country. He diagnosed me with Psoriatic arthritis...an incurable (so they say) disease that can involve internal organs...heart, lungs etc. and also the eyes. Yuck. Usually a person would have psoriasis first, then develop this arthritis. I am in the small minority who developed this arthritis first. IF I believe this diagnosis. Lol...always one to question I am. I PROMISE I was a good, humble patient when I was in there and he was STILL extremely arrogant. Don't want to go into all he said. Well, one positive thing is I had researched the use of antibiotics in treating arthritis because many times there is an infection involved in the start of it...this particular doctor agrees and put me on a high daily dose of doxycyclone. As well as a NSAID. I think the nsaid has helped a lot with the pain...will take time to see how the antibiotic does. Will get blood work back in 2 weeks.

ALSO! A friend told me about Green20 by Liv International. Loved the idea and have jumped on board with this. will keep posted on how my body reacts to it...so far so good! I love it and it has given me energy and a sense of wellbeing so far.

Update again soon~ ; ) Cathy

Green Tea Extract May Help Treat Uterine Fibroids

A new study has found that an extract from green tea may be a useful treatment for uterine fibroids, a condition that affects 40 percent of women of reproductive age, commonly causing vaginal bleeding, anemia and fatigue.

Dr. Ayman Al-Hendy, director of clinical research at Meharry Medical College, and his colleagues found that a polyphenol in green tea known as epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) was capable of killing human leiomyoma cells in tissue cultures and was able to shrink fibroid lesions in lab animals.

After eight weeks of treatment with EGCG, lab mice with induced uterine fibroids experienced significantly smaller fibroid growths than control subjects who were given a placebo. In fact, one mouse showed no signs of uterine fibroids at the end of the trial.

The researchers state that green tea extract "might be particularly useful for long-term use in women with a low fibroid tumor burden to arrest tumor progression and avoid the development of severe symptoms that necessitate major surgery."

The next step for the team is to conduct controlled trials using human participants.

Oil Pulling...fascinating!!

I discovered this from a book called The New Arthritis Cure. I have an old root canaled tooth, front tooth, that is infected...I need to have it pulled and am disturbed that this could be a cause of infection that has spread and caused many of my health problems. I can't afford a holistic dentist so will have trust a regular dentist to pull it...am concerned about that. But anyway! I ran across this oil pulling information, have been doing it for several weeks and it is making a huge difference in the infection! I still need to pull the tooth I'm sure, but listen to this information!

Oil pulling is an age old method of oral hygiene that comes to us from Ayurvedic medicine of India. Essentially, oil pulling is rinsing your mouth out with a spoonful of vegetable or coconut oil, much like mouthwash. The major difference is you swish it in your mouth for 15-20 minutes, I use the coconut oil. When you swish it, the oil attracts microorganisms and "pulls" them out of the teeth and gums. Studies show it is more effective at reducing dental plaque and gingivitis. Oil pulling should be vigorous to work the entire mouth. You don't gargle, just work it around the teeth and gums. You need to spit it out when done, don't swallow it because it will be filled with bacteria, toxins, mucous and pus. Yuck! You should do it first thing in the morning on an empty stomach before brushing your teeth. If you have an acute infection do it twice or three times a day. It may initially increase the drainage of mucous, in the beginning you may need to spit it out early, clear your throat and sinuses, get fresh coconut oil and continue. Coconut oil will be hard if its not summer, but do not microwave to soften, you will damage the lauric acid. Melt over low heat or put in dish over hot water. Testimonies abound with this, not only clearing up infections but that teeth become tighter, cleaner and whiter. It is weird at first but just another healthy daily habit that is no big deal!

Thought for the Day...

We have to pitch our tents where we shall always have quiet times with God, however noisy our times with the world may be. The measure of the worth of our public activity for God is the private profound communion we have with Him.

My Utmost for His Highest, Oswald Chambers