Hi all... I am sorry I have been away for so long. I have been dealing with a new health challenge. It has been consuming my life lately. Just to be honest, I haven't been faithful to my raw food diet and that is the reason for these new issues I am facing. Well I will write more about it later when I am up to talking about it. For now I came across article on Cancer and Asparagus: Here is the Article.......


Several years ago, I had a man seeking asparagus for a friend who had cancer. He gave me a photocopied copy of an article, entitled, `Asparagus for cancer' printed in Cancer News Journal, December 1979..I will share it here, just as it was shared with me:

I am a biochemist, and have specialized in the relation of diet to health or over 50 years.. Several years ago, I learned of the discovery of Richard R. Vensal, D.D.S. that asparagus might cure cancer. Since then, I have worked with him on his project We have accumulated a number of favorable case histories. Here are a few examples:


Case No. 1, A man with an almost hopeless case of Hodgkin's disease (cancer of the lymph glands) who was completely incapacitated. Within 1 year of starting the asparagus therapy, his doctors were unable to detect any signs of cancer, and he was back on a schedule of strenuous exercise.

Case No. 2, a successful businessman 68 years old who suffered from cancer of the bladder for 16 years. After years of medical treatments, including radiation without improvement, he went on asparagus. Within 3 months, examinations revealed that his bladder tumor had disappeared and that his kidneys were normal.

Case No. 3, a man who had lung cancer. On March 5th 1971, he was put on the operating table where they found lung cancer so widely spread that it was inoperable. The surgeon sewed him up and declared his case hopeless. On April 5th he heard about the Asparagus therapy and immediately started taking it. By August, x-ray pictures revealed that all signs of the cancer had disappeared.. He is back at his regular business routine.

Case No. 4, a woman who was troubled for a number of years with skin cancer. She finally developed different skin cancers which were diagnosed by the acting specialist as advanced.. Within 3 months after starting on asparagus, her skin specialist said that her skin looked fine and no more skin lesions. This woman reported that the asparagus therapy also cured her kidney disease, which started in 1949. She had over 10 operations for kidney stones, and was receiving government disability payments for an inoperable, terminal, kidney condition. She attributes the cure of this kidney trouble entirely to the asparagus.

I was not surprised at this result, as `The elements of materia medica', edited in 1854 by a Professor at the University of Pennsylvania, stated that asparagus was used as a popular remedy for kidney stones. He even referred to experiments, in 1739, on the power of asparagus in dissolving stones. Note the dates!

We would have other case histories but the medical establishment has interfered with our obtaining some of the records. I am therefore appealing to readers to spread this good news and help us to gather a large number of case histories that will overwhelm the medical skeptics about this unbelievably simple and natural remedy.


For the treatment, asparagus should be cooked before using, and therefore canned asparagus is just as good as fresh.

I have corresponded with the two leading canners of asparagus, Giant and Stokely, and I am satisfied that these brands contain no pesticides or preservatives. Place the cooked asparagus in a blender and liquefy to make a puree, and store in the refrigerator. Give the patient 4 full tablespoons twice daily, morning and evening. Patients usually show some improvement in from 2-4 weeks. It can be diluted with water and used as a cold or hot drink. This suggested dosage is based on present experience, but certainly larger amounts can do no harm and may be needed in some cases.

As a biochemist I am convinced of the old saying that `what cures can prevent.' Based on this theory, my wife and I have been using asparagus puree as a beverage with our meals.


We take 2 tablespoons diluted in water to suit our taste with breakfast and with dinner. I take mine hot and my wife prefers hers cold. For years we have made it a practice to have blood surveys taken as part of our regular checkups. The last blood survey, taken by a medical doctor who specializes in the nutritional approach to health, showed substantial improvements in all categories over the last one, and we can attribute these improvements to nothing but the asparagus drink.

As a biochemist, I have made an extensive study of all aspects of cancer, and all of the proposed cures. As a result, I am convinced that asparagus fits in better with the latest theories about cancer. Asparagus contains a good supply of protein called histones, which are believed to be active in controlling cell growth. For that reason, I believe asparagus can be said to contain a substance that I call cell growth normalizer. That accounts for its action on cancer and in acting as a general body tonic. In any event, regardless of theory, asparagus used as we suggest, is a harmless substance. The FDA cannot prevent you from using it and it may do you much good. It has been reported by the US National Cancer Institute, that asparagus is the highest tested food containing glutathione, which is considered one of the body's most potent anticarcinogens and antioxidants.

Please spread the news. The most unselfish act one can ever do is paying forward all the kindness one has received, even to the most undeserved person.

I hope you are blessed Amberlea

Eating Fruit is so important, a friend of mine sent me this and I thought I would share, it is well put and I am already a believer in fruits and veggies. The key is the enzymes the fruit provides and the healing that one can obtain is awesome. I have my fruit juice and then a green smoothie after for my breakfast. It is also recommend to eat fruit 20-30 minutes before any meal on a empty stomach. Your diet should contain only 15% fruit, 10% seeds,nuts, grains, legumes, coconut oil, olive oil.... 60% sprouts and vegetables. The other 15% will come from "craving foods." ...Amberlea

Dr Stephen Mak is a friend of mine at the BSF course. He told me he treats terminal ill cancer patients by using "un-orthodox" ways
and many patients have recovered. He believes in the natural healing ability of the body against illnesses. See the article below.

Thanks for the email on fruits and juices. It is one of the strategies to heal cancer. As of late, my success rate in curing cancer is about 80%. Cancer patients shouldn't die. The cure for cancer is already found. It is whether you believe it or not? I am sorry for the hundreds of cancer patients who die under the conventional treatments.. Very few can live for 5 years under the conventional treatments and most live for only about 2 to 3 years. The conventional treatments do not make any difference because most cancer patients also live for about 2 to 3 years without undergoing any treatment. It is difficult to cure those cancer patients who have undergone chemo and radiotherapy as their cells are toxic and weak. When there is a relapse, the cancer will spread very fast as the resistance is poor.
Thanks and God bless.
Dr Stephen Mak

EATING FRUIT...

It's long but very informative

We all think eating fruits means just buying fruits, cutting it and just popping it into our mouths. It's not as easy as you think. It's important to know how and when to eat.

What is the correct way of eating fruits?

IT MEANS NOT EATING FRUITS AFTER YOUR MEALS! * FRUITS SHOULD BE EATEN ON
AN EMPTY STOMACH.

If you eat fruit like that, it will play a major role to detoxify your system, supplying you with a great deal of energy for weight
loss and other life activities..

Let's say you eat two slices of bread and then a slice of fruit.
The slice of fruit is ready to go straight through the stomach into the intestines, but it is prevented from doing so.

In the meantime the whole meal rots and ferments and turns to acid. The minute the fruit comes into contact with the food
in the stomach and digestive juices, the entire mass of food begins to spoil....

So please eat your fruits on an empty stomach or before your meals! You have heard people complaining every time
I eat watermelon I burp, when I eat durian my stomach bloats up, when I eat a banana I feel like running to the toilet, etc,
Actually all this will not arise if you eat the fruit on an empty stomach. The fruit mixes with the putrefying other food and
produces gas and hence you will bloat!

Graying hair, balding, nervous outburst, and dark circles under the eyes all these will NOT happen if you take fruits on an empty stomach.

There is no such thing as some fruits, like orange and lemon are acidic, because all fruits become alkaline in our body,
according to Dr. Herbert Shelton who did research on this matter. If you have mastered the correct way of eating fruits,
you have the Secret of beauty, longevity, health, energy, happiness and normal weight.

When you need to drink fruit juice - drink only fresh fruit juice, NOT from the cans. Don't even drink juice that has been
heated up. Don't eat cooked fruits because you don't get the nutrients at all. You only get to taste. Cooking destroys all
the vitamins.

But eating a whole fruit is better than drinking the juice. If you should drink the juice, drink it mouthful by mouthful slowly,
because you must let it mix with your saliva before swallowing it. You can go on a 3-day fruit fast to cleanse your body.
Just eat fruits and drink fruit juice throughout the 3 days and you will be surprised when your friends tell you how radiant
you look!

KIWI: Tiny but mighty. This is a good source of potassium, magnesium, vitamin E & fiber. Its vitamin C content is twice
that of an orange.

APPLE: An apple a day keeps the doctor away? Although an apple has a low vitamin C content, it has antioxidants &
flavonoids which enhances the activity of vitamin C thereby helping to lower the risks of colon cancer, heart attack & stroke.

STRAWBERRY: Protective Fruit. Strawberries have the highest total antioxidant power among major fruits & protect the body from cancer-causing, blood vessel-clogging free radicals.

ORANGE : Sweetest medicine. Taking 2-4 oranges a day may help keep colds away, lower cholesterol, prevent & dissolve kidney stones as well as lessens the risk of colon cancer.

WATERMELON: Coolest thirst quencher. Composed of 92% water, it is also packed with a giant dose of glutathione, which helps boost our immune system. They are also a key source of lycopene, the cancer fighting oxidant. Other nutrients found in watermelon are vitamin C & Potassium.

GUAVA & PAPAYA: Top awards for vitamin C. They are the clear winners for their high vitamin C content. Guava is also rich in fiber, which helps prevent constipation. Papaya is rich in carotene; this is good for your eyes.

Drinking Cold water after a meal = Cancer! Can u believe this?? For those who like to drink cold water, this article is
applicable to you. It is nice to have a cup of cold drink after a meal. However, the cold water will solidify the oily stuff that
you have just consumed. It will slow down the digestion. Once this 'sludge' reacts with the acid, it will break down and be
absorbed by the intestine faster than the solid food. It will line the intestine. Very soon, this will turn into fats and lead to cancer.
It is best to drink hot soup or warm water after a meal. A serious note about heart attacks HEART ATTACK PROCEDURE':
(THIS IS NOT A JOKE!) Women should know that not every heart attack symptom is going to be the left arm hurting. Be aware of intense pain in the jaw line. You may never have the first chest pain during the course of a heart attack. Nausea and intense sweating are also common symptoms. Sixty percent of people who have a heart attack while they are asleep do not wake up.
Pain in the jaw can wake you from a sound sleep. Let's be careful and be aware.. The more we know the better chance we could survive.

The main reason it is discouraged, combining fresh fruit with protein, starch and fat is because it causes indigestion. The fruit breaks down quite quickly but can’t be absorbed because your gut is waiting for the other foods you ate to digest. In the meantime, since you’re not absorbing the sugar from the fruit – the bacteria in your gut has a fiesta causing toxic fermentation and gas.

Cooking a little fruit into your porridge is okay. Or a little fruit in a protein smoothie… Alright. The key word here is “little.”

Otherwise, eat fruit separate from meals. But only when you are truly hungry. First thing in the morning is good because your blood sugar is usually a little low anyway. Or eat it before or after you exercise.

Most people are a diabetic disaster waiting to happen — drinking soda pop constantly and eating donuts day after day. And here the health-conscious are fretting over what a little piece of fruit will do to their blood sugar.

Relax! A small portion on an empty stomach is perfectly fine. Yes, it may require your pancreas to produce a little bit of insulin – but that’s the pancreas’ job. Of course, if you’re type 2 diabetic you may be better off avoiding sweet fruits altogether.

I hope this helps

Amberlea

Hi all.. I decided to take a break from magnesium for today and share a smoothie with you. It comes from Victoria Boutenko.

In the wintertime, we like to put ginger in our green smoothies. Curiously, we don’t like to use it much in the warm season. Lately I have been putting one inch of ginger root in my smoothie daily and today’s one tasted so wonderful that I decided to share its recipe with you.

1 bunch dandelion greens or any greens will do
1 ripe mango (with peel if it’s organic, but without pit)
1 ripe banana
½ inch ginger root
2-3 cups water

Blend well and enjoy.

Juicing a little fresh ginger into your glass of vegetable juice can aid the pancreas in its sugar metabolism as well as improve the absorption of nutrients in the small intestine.

Fresh ginger can also warm the body up considerably, especially in the winter.

For a warm ginger tea, you can heat up a cup of water with a 1/2 inch piece of ginger cut up in it, strain, stir in a teaspoon of honey and enjoy!

Here's a raw Ginger Ale recipe from Montel Williams....

1/2 cup of a natural seltzer like Perrier
1/2 inch piece ginger, peeled
1 lime
1/2 lemon
3 tbsp. honey
1 cup of ice

Blend on high and serve with an orange slice.

Facts about Ginger
Ginger dates back over 3,000 years to India. Ginger is native to Southern Asia and has long been a staple addition to Asian cuisines. It is quite popular in the Caribbean Islands, where it grows wild in lush tropical settings.

Traditional Ayurvedic Medicine has recommended ginger for many gastrointestinal and blood diseases. It is used for abdominal bloating, coughing, vomiting, diarrhea, and for the treatment of inflammatory joint diseases, such as arthritis and rheumatism. A little piece of ginger goes a long way. Look at the multiple benefits:
Enhances natural resistance for cold and flu.
Reduces inflammation.
Supports healthy digestion, offering 180 times the protein digestive power of papaya.
Soothes digestion.
Contains at least 12 anti-aging constituents that inactivate free radicals.
Supports blood platelet health and cardiovascular function.
Twenty-two known constituents inhibit inflammatory 5-lipoxygenase, supports prostate health.
May increase absorption and utilization of other nutrients and herbs by 2 to 2.5 times.
Ginger is a good source of Dietary Fiber, Vitamin E, Vitamin B6, Iron, Magnesium, Potassium and Selenium, and a very good source of Manganese.

Hear is a picture of froth from my juice today! similar to the creme on an espresso. YUM YUM dim sum...

Enjoy your smoothie

Amberlea

The Magnesium Miracle Part 4

Who is deficient? The most frequent question asked about Magnesium is "How do I know I need more Magnesium?" and "should I take Magnesium supplements?" Everyone could benefit from extra supplementation. However, there is a long list of possible symptoms and behaviors that can identify your need for Magnesium. The following 100 factors in 68 categories can help you recognize Magnesium deficiency. There's no way of knowing how many factors correlate with any one person's Magnesium deficiency, but if you find yourself ticking off a few dozen, you may want to see how many of your symptoms improve when you take Magnesium supplements.

Alcohol intake- more than 7 drinks per week, Anger, Angina, Anxiety, Apathy, Arrhythmia of the heart, Asthma, Blood tests with low Calcium, low potassium, low Magnesium, Bowel problems: Undigested fat in stool, Constipation, Diarrhea, Alternating constipation and diarrhea, IBS, Crohn's, Colitis, Brain trauma, Chronic Bronchitis, Caffeine(coffee,tea,chocolate), more than 3 servings per day, Chronic fatigue syndrome, Cold extremities, Concentration difficulties, Confusion, convulsions, Depression, Diabetes: Type 1,2 and Gestational, Fibromyalgia, Food intake imbalances: a) Limited in green leafy vegetables,seeds, and fresh fruit. b) High protein, Food cravings a) Carbohydrates, b) Chocolate, c) salt, d) junk food, Gagging or choking on food, Headaches, Heart disease, Heart- rapid rate, High blood pressure, Homocysteinuria, Hyperactivity, Hyperventilation, Infertility, Insomnia, Irritability, kidney stones, Medications, Digitalis, Diuretics, Antibiotics, Steroids, Oral contraceptives, Indomethacin, Cisplatin, Amphotericin B, Cholestyramine, Synthetic estrogens, Memory impairment, Mercury amalgam dental fillings, Menstrual pain and cramps, Migraines, Mineral supplements, a) take calcium without Magnesium, b) Take zinc without Magnesium, c) Take iron without Magnesium, Mitral valve prolapse, Muscle cramps or spasms, Muscle twitching or tics, Muscle weakness, Numbness of hands or feet, Osteoporosis, Paranoia, Parathyroid hyperactivity, PMS, Polycystic ovarian disease, Pregnancy: A) Currently pregnant, b) pregnant within one year, c) History of preeclampsia or eclampsia, d) postpartum depression, e) Have a child with cerebral palsy, recent Radiation therapy, Raynaud's syndrome, Restlessness, Sexual energy diminished, Shortness of breath, Smoking, Startled easily by noise, Stressful life or circumstances, Stroke, High sugar intake daily, Syndrome X, Thyroid hyperactivity, Tingling of hands or feet, Transplants of the Kidney or liver, Tremor of the hands, Water that contains the following: a) Fluoride, b) Chlorine, c) Calcium, and Wheezing....

Until next week..

Amberlea

The Magnesium miracle 3

WHAT DOES MAGNESIUM DO? Magnesium's hundreds of activities in the human body can be divided into five essential categories.

1. Magnesium's is a cofactor assisting enzymes in catalyzing most chemical reactions in the body, including temperature regulation.
2. Magnesium produces and transports energy.
3. Magnesium is necessary for the synthesis of protein.
4. Magnesium helps to transmit nerve signals.
5. Magnesium heips to relax muscles.

1. Cofactor in chemicals reactions Enzymes are protein molecules that stimulate every chemical reaction in the body. Magnesium is required to make hundreds of these enzymes work and assists with thousands of others.

2. Producing and transporting energy. Magnesium and the B-complex vitamins are excellent examples of energy nutrients, because they activate enzymes that control digestion, absorption, and the utilization of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. Because Magnesium is involved with hundreds of enzymatic reactions throughout the body, deficiency can affect every aspect of life and cause a scare of symptoms. Of the 325 Magnesium-dependent enzymes, the most important enzyme reaction involves the creation of energy by activating adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the fundamental energy storage molecule of the body. ATP may be what the Chinese refer to as QI or life force. Magnesium is required for the body to produce and store energy. Without Magnesium there is no energy, no movement, no life, It is that simple.

3. Synthesizing protein. Magnesium is used in synergy with dozens of other vitamins and minerals to create structural components of the body. Under the direction of Magnesium, enzymes and nutrients modify the building blocks from food to create the body. Without Magnesium, there is no body. RNA and DNA, which contain the genetic blueprints for the formation of all the protein molecules in the body, are also dependent on Magnesium.

4. Transmitting nerve signals Magnesium permits a small amount of calcium to enter a nerve cell, just enough to allow electrical transmission along the nerves to and from the brain, then forces it back outside. Even our thoughts, via brain neurons, and dependent of Magnesium.

5. Relaxing muscles. Calcium causes contraction in skeletal muscle fibers, and Magnesium causes relaxation. When there is too much calcium and insufficient Magnesium inside a cell, you can get sustained muscle contraction: twitches, spasms, and even convulsions. Smooth muscles directed by too much calcium and insufficient magnesium can tighten the bronchial tract, causing asthma: cause cramping in the uterus and painful periods; and cause spasms in blood vessels, resulting in hypertension.

Who is deficient? Next week.....

Amberlea

Hello all...

The Magnesium Miracle part 2

A 1967 medical paper recommended magnesium, with some exaggerated unscientific enthusiasm, for conditions as varied as skin ulcers, depression, vertigo, heartburn, worms, kidney stones, jaundice, and gout. Most of these conditions are still treated with magnesium, and current research supports its use for a long list of ailments that you will read about in " The Magnesium Miracle" The amount of research on the topic of magnesium is staggering. Dr Dean has put it all together and sifted through thousands of pages of scientific studies, each of which begins with the acknowledgment that magnesium is of therapeutic value in treating a myriad of symptoms.

1. Anxiety and panic attacks.. Magnesium normally helps keep adrenal stress hormones under control.
2. Asthma.. Both histamine production and bronchial spasms increase with Magnesium deficiency.
3. Blood clots. Magnesium has an important role to play in preventing blood clots and keeping the blood thin without any side effects.
4. Bowel disease. Magnesium deficiency slows down the bowel, causing constipation, which could lead to toxicity and malabsorption of nutrients as well as colitis.
5. Cystitis.. Bladder spasms are worsened by Magnesium deficiency.
6. Depression. Serotonin, which elevates mood, is dependent on Magnesium. A Magnesium-deficient brain is also more susceptible to allergens, foreign substances that in rare instances can cause symptoms similar to mental illness.
7. Detoxification.. Magnesium is crucial for the removal of toxic substances and heavy metals such as aluminum and lead from the body.
8. Diabetes.. Magnesium enhances insulin secretion, facilitating sugar metabolism. Without Magnesium insulin is not able to transfer glucose into cells. Glucose and insulin build up in the blood, causing various types of tissue damage.
9. Fatigue.. Magnesium-deficient patients commonly experience fatigue because dozens of enzyme systems are under-functioning. An early symptom of Magnesium deficiency is fatigue.
10. Heart disease.. Magnesium deficiency is common in people with heart disease. Magnesium is administered in hospitals for acute myocardial infarction and cardiac arrhythmia. Like any other muscle, the heat requires Magnesium. Magnesium is also used to treat angina, or chest pain.
11. Hypertension.. With insufficient Magnesium, blood vessels may go into spasm and cholesterol may rise, both of which lead to blood pressure problems.
12. Hypoglycemia.. Magnesium seeps insulin under control; without Magnesium, episodes of low blood sugar can result.
13. Insomnia.. Sleep regulating melatonin production is disturbed without sufficient Magnesium.
14. kidney disease.. Magnesium deficiency contributes to atherosclerotic kidney failure. Magnesium deficiency creates abnormal lipid levels and worsening blood sugar control in kidney transplant patients.
15. Migraine.. serotonin balance is Magnesium-dependent. Deficiency of serotonin can result in migraine headaches and depression.
16. Musculoskeletal conditions.. Fibrositis, fibromyalgia, muscle spasms, eye twitches, cramps, and chronic neck and back pain may be caused by Magnesium deficiency and can be relieved with magnesium supplements.
17. Nerve problems.. Magnesium alleviates peripheral nerve disturbances throughout the body. such as headaches, muscles contractions, gastrointestinal spasms, and calf, foot, and toe cramps. It is also used in treating the central nervous system symptoms of vertigo and confusion.
18. Obstetrical and gynecological problems.. Magnesium helps prevent premenstrual syndrome and dysmenorrhea (cramping pain during menses), is important in the treatment of infertility, and alleviates premature contractions, preeclampsia, and eclampsia in pregnancy. Intravenous Magnesium is given in obstetrical wards for pregnancy-induced hypertension and to lessen the risk of cerebral palsy and sudden infant death (SIDS) Magnesium should be a required supplement for pregnant women.
19. Osteoporosis.. Use of calcium and vitamin D to enhance calcium absorption without a balancing amount of Magnesium causes further Magnesium deficiency, which triggers a cascade of events leading to bone loss.
20. Raynaud's syndrome.. Magnesium helps relax the spastic blood vessels that cause pain and numbness of the fingers.
21. Tooth decay.. Magnesium deficiency causes and unhealthy balance of phosphorus and calcium in saliva, which damages teeth.

Drugs such as painkillers, diuretics, antibiotics, and cortisone, many of which are inappropriately used for the aforementioned conditions, further deplete Magnesium and other minerals, allowing symptoms to get completely out of control. Surgery, malnutrition, third-degree burns, serious injuries, pancreatic inflammation, liver disease, malabsorption disorders, diabetes, hormonal imbalance, and cancer are all seriously stressful medical conditions requiring increased amounts of Magnesium.

Well, I realize there is so much to be said about this topic, I will highlight some of the things I feel are important and made me make a change in my magnesium intake. You can find Dr. Carolyn Deans book " The Magnesium Miracle" on amazon.

Until Wednesday.

Amberlea

The Magnesium Miracle: Part 1

Do you know that most of us today are suffering from certain dangerous diet deficiencies which cannot be remedied until depleted soils from which our food comes are brought into proper mineral balance? The alarming fact is that foods ( fruits, vegetables and grains) now being raised on millions of acres of land that no longer contain enough of certain minerals are starving us-no matter how much of them we eat. The truth is that our foods vary enormously in value, and some of them aren't worth eating as food. Our physical well-being is more directly dependent upon the minerals we take into our systems than upon the precise proportions of starch, protein or carbohydrates we consume. Laboratory tests prove that the fruits, the vegetables, the grains, the eggs, and even the milk and the meats of today are not what they were a few generations ago. No man today can eat enough fruits and vegetables to supply his stomach with the mineral salts he requires for perfect health, because his stomach isn't big enough to hold them! And we are turning into a nation of big stomachs. -From the 74th Congress, 2nd session, senate document no. 264, 1936

It is hard to believe that this Senate document about mineral deficiency was written as long ago as 1936. Today farmlands are even more mineral-deficient and fertilizers still don't fully replace those minerals. Magnesium is one of the most depleted minerals, yet one of the most important. We imagine that medicine has advanced to the stage of miracle cures, yet it's not technology that we're lacking but basic nutrients that power our bodies and give us our health.

Magnesium regulates more than 325 enzymes in the body, the most important of which produce, transport, store, and utilize energy. Many aspects of cell metabolism are regulated by magnesium, such as DNA and RNA synthesis, cell growth, and cell reproduction. Magnesium also orchestrates the electric current that sparks through the miles of nerves in our body. Magnesium has numerous physiological roles, among which are control of nerve action, the activity of the heart, neuromuscular transmission, muscular contraction, vascular tone, blood pressure, and peripheral blood flow. Magnesium modulates and controls the entry and release of calcium from the cell, which determines muscular activity. Without magnesium, muscle and nerve functions are compromised and energy is diminished. We are operating with the power turned off. Muscular weakness, soft bones, anxiety, heart attacks, arrhythmia, and even seizures and convulsions can result.

More than seventy-five years ago, scientists declared magnesium to be an essential mineral. Each year since then, research has revealed more ways in which magnesium in indispensable to life. Yet it is continually being lost from the natural food supply. There has been a gradual decline of dietary magnesium in the United States, from a high of 500 mg/day at the turn of the century to barely 175-225 mg/day today. The National Academy of Sciences has determined that most American men obtain about 80 percent of the recommended daily allowance (RDA) and women average only 70 percent. In addition, most magnesium researchers find that the RDA is inadequate to prevent magnesium deficiency, making the above statistics of even more concern. In spite of this concern, few medical doctors are sounding the alarm, so it is left up to you to inform yourself and protect your health and that of your family. " The magnesium miracle, Carolyn dean, M.D., N.D."

Over the next few week I feel I must share the Miracle of Magnesium and what it has done for me and my family. I really had no idea about how important vitamins and minerals are for our health. Later after I give you some facts about Magnesium I will share how it has helped me and my husband Mike. I will try to write a few times this week, so if you want to check back please do....

Amberlea

It has been a very long month, please try to understand. I like you and the nicest thing I could do is not try and drag you through a mess with me. (personal,diet and otherwise) I have made it through the other side and manage to put good things in my mouth. I think that trying to write in this blog everyday is to much for me right now. So I have decided that once a week on Wednesdays will work best for me and my family. Then I won't get so overwhelmed and not write anything at all. So there we have it on Wednesdays you can check my blog and see what is going on with me. Thanks for your understanding. Amberlea

The Amazing Cucumber

I bet every fruit and vegetable is a miracle food on this level....

This information was in The New York Times several weeks ago as part of their "Spotlight on the Home" series that highlighted creative and fanciful ways to solve common problems.

1. Cucumbers contain most of the vitamins you need every day, just one cucumber contains Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, Folic Acid, Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium and Zinc.

2. Feeling tired in the afternoon, put down the caffeinated soda and pick up a cucumber. Cucumbers are a good source of B Vitamins and Carbohydrates that can provide that quick pick-me-up that can last for hours.

3. Tired of your bathroom mirror fogging up after a shower? Try rubbing a cucumber slice along the mirror, it will eliminate the fog and provide a soothing, spa-like fragrance.

4. Are grubs and slugs ruining your planting beds? Place a few slices in a small pie tin and your garden will be free of pests all season long. The chemicals in the cucumber react with the aluminum to give off a scent undetectable to humans but drive garden pests crazy and make them flee the area.

5. Looking for a fast and easy way to remove cellulite before going out or to the pool? Try rubbing a slice or two of cucumbers along your problem area for a few minutes, the phytochemicals in the cucumber cause the collagen in your skin to tighten, firming up the outer layer and reducing the visibility of cellulite. Works great on wrinkles too!!!

6. Want to avoid a hangover or terrible headache? Eat a few cucumber slices before going to bed and wake up refreshed and headache free. Cucumbers contain enough sugar, B vitamins and electrolytes to replenish essential nutrients the body lost, keeping everything in equilibrium, avoiding both a hangover and headache!!

7. Looking to fight off that afternoon or evening snacking binge? Cucumbers have been used for centuries and often used by European trappers, traders and explores for quick meals to thwart off starvation.

8. Have an important meeting or job interview and you realize that you don't have enough time to polish your shoes? Rub a freshly cut cucumber over the shoe, its chemicals will provide a quick and durable shine that not only looks great but also repels water.

9. Out of WD 40 and need to fix a squeaky hinge? Take a cucumber slice and rub it along the problematic hinge, and voila, the squeak is gone!

10. Stressed out and don't have time for massage, facial or visit to the spa? Cut up an entire cucumber and place it in a boiling pot of water, the chemicals and nutrients from the cucumber with react with the boiling water and be released in the steam, creating a soothing, relaxing aroma that has been shown the reduce stress in new mothers and college students during final exams.

11. Just finish a business lunch and realize you don't have gum or mints? Take a slice of cucumber and press it to the roof of your mouth with your tongue for 30 seconds to eliminate bad breath, the phytochemcials will kill the bacteria in your mouth responsible for causing bad breath.

12. Looking for a 'green' way to clean your faucets, sinks or stainless steel? Take a slice of cucumber and rub it on the surface you want to clean, not only will it remove years of tarnish and bring back the shine, but is won't leave streaks and won't harm you fingers or fingernails while you clean.

13. Using a pen and made a mistake? Take the outside of the cucumber and slowly use it to erase the pen writing, also works great on crayons and markers that the kids have used to decorate the walls!!

Simple Green Smoothie
1 banana
1 peeled orange
1/2 bunch kale
1/2 bunch romaine
About 16 ounces orange juice

Pineapple Berry Green Smoothie
A few pieces pineapple
1/2 pack blueberries
A few strawberries
1 pear
1/2 bunch chard
1 bunch parsley
About 16 ounces orange juice

Blueberry Pear Green Smoothie
1 banana
1 cup blueberries
1 pear
1 peeled orange
1/2 bunch collards
1/2 bunch red leaf lettuce
About 16 ounces orange juice

These make a whole vitamix container of smoothie, about 2 liters! Using fresh squeezed oj makes it sweeter, allowing for more greens than when just using water. Experiment with different fruits and greens: bok choy, cilantro, spinach, different varieties of kale and lettuces, etc.

Amberlea

Happy New Year

Can you believe it....its 2010!! I can't, I remember being excited it was 1990, then 2000. Where has time gone for me. Although so much has happened in the last 10 years, time sure goes by quickly. I have been away for the Christmas holidays. My family and I had a great retreat in Heidelberg at a friends house. A wonderful Christmas together, and I am so happy to see how my family is loving our new home and country! I have been doing a lot of reflecting...and I have come to some very important conclusions. The holiday season is a very difficult time for me to start with, then to add a huge life change like my raw diet, makes it all the more difficult. Over the past two months I have made some bad food choices, and suffered the outcome of those choices. I am not mad at myself because I have learned so much about my body. I am one who definitely learns from my mistakes. When I ate some food that wasn't on the raw diet my body reacted to it so quickly and painfully that I noticed immediately. Little things that was added to my raw food also made a difference in how I felt. How much green juices I have in a day also made a big difference. After being on the raw food for almost a month, with no mistakes, my breast tumor shrank about a inch and a half and stopped hurt altogether, pretty amazing to me. But when I gave in to the call of'Taco Bell'....it started to hurt and grow again, now when I eat something that is not good for me it hurts and grows more. now it is bigger that before. Several other thing are hurting also.

So it is a new year and a new beginning for me with food and my family with me. My husband Mike, as of today, is joining me on the diet, and I am so excited about that! He has even given up his coffee, for those of you that know him that is a miracle in itself. ( I know that he will most likely have some here and there but it is better than his six cups s a DAY!) My kids love the green juices and always ask for more, the vegetables are another issue, But we are working on that. I do not expect the kids to go 100% raw at this time for several reasons...but for now we on the right track with them.

This year is going to be a good year, A year of new Health, new choices and new beginnings! I am very excited with some new paths I am headed down. With food, my marriage, the way we are raising our children, my relationships with friends, and with my Lord! So much has happened over the last 10 years for the better in my life. I am looking forward to this year because I am in a special place with Jesus...and so many other places in my life. The issue of food is a big one also but not the most important one. Of course my new diet is going to keep me alive so I can do all the things that the Lord has called me to do. Most of all it will teach me more and more about self- control and discipline. When you conquer discipline in one area of your life it is much easier to have discipline in other areas as well. So I am excited!

Have a Happy New Year and make some positive new resolutions about what you put in your mouth. It will make all the difference in how you feel, so I have learned!!!!

Love Amberlea

P.S. I made that pumpkin pie recipe just into a soup and it was amazing and the best soup I have made yet, Just go slow on how much agave you add because it came out a little sweet. Make sure you eat it with 2 days.

Merry Christmas!

I hope you are all blessed this week, My family is sick but I am praying for all to be well before Christmas. I want to leave a quick note with a great recipe I just came across I haven't had it yet, but I plan on making it in a few week. I placed a nut order from the U.S. and when that comes in it will be my dinner for a few days.

I am have a few problems again, My smell sensitivity has come back, I am getting motion sickness, and I feel my vertigo acting up also. There is something that I am eating that is not agreeing with me. I am going to figure it out soon, I am not sure how though. But I am clever!

Have a Merry Christmas and God bless you!

Raw Pumpkin Pie

Crust

1 cup almonds, soaked overnight, drained, and dehydrated

[NOTE] Soaking Nuts: Nuts have high amounts of enzyme inhibitors. These enzymes are useful in seeds and nuts because it prevents them from sprouting prematurely. Soaking nuts will neutralize these enzyme inhibitors and make these nuts easier to digest and the nutrients easier to absorb. you should always soak your nuts then dehydrate them again for storage,

1 cup pecans, soaked overnight, drained, and dehydrated
1 cup date pieces (or pit whole date and chop up)
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon Celtic sea salt
water to help press out pie crust
In a food processor, blend the nuts until evenly ground. Add the dates, vanilla, cinnamon, and sea salt and continue to blend until it begins to form a ball. Remove the dough and press into your pie plate. Use some water to help spread out if necessary. Dehydrate crust at 105 degrees for a few hours.

[NOTE] Pie crust thickness will depend on which size pie pan you use, that is, 8-inch to 10-inch.

Filling

4 cups raw pumpkin or sweet potato, peeled and shredded
1 cup macadamia nuts, soaked overnight and drained
1 avocado, peeled and seeded
1 cup raisins, soaked for 1 hour, just to soften
4 to 6 pitted dates, in 1 cup filtered water
1 cup Agave ( start with a half cup then more for desired sweetness)
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
1 teaspoon Celtic sea salt
4 tablespoons ground psyllium, from the health food store. It helps to firm up the filling.

Place the pumpkin, macadamia nuts, avocado, raisins, dates and soaking water, Agave, vanilla, pumpkin pie spice, and salt into a blender and blend until smooth. Add the psyllium and continue to blend well. Let the mixture sit in the blender for approximately 10 minutes to congeal a bit. Blend one more time. Pour into the pie crust. Dehydrate for another 1 to 2 hours. Serve warm or refrigerate for a few hours or over night.

Recipe by chef Cassandra Comerford. She had her classical culinary training from Kendall College in Chicago and specializes in vegetarian and vegan cooking, raw foods, sugar-, dairy-, wheat-, and gluten-free baking.

Day 45...

Hello all.

I am having a hard time again, its the evil potato thing. I have been craving potatoes so much lately. I asked Mike to go to the store and get me some potatoes. He said he would go in a while. Later he came into the room and said he felt that I was feeling weak at the moment, and he needed to be strong for me. "Lets go and make some raw food together" I jumped up with joy and said: " you want to make food with me?!?" We made a raw fennel and spinach soup, ( it was amazing soup! ). Later he juiced some green juice for me and the kids. When I am weak he is strong. The scriptures say the same thing about Jesus. When we are weak He is strong for us and gives us the strength! Almost everyday for the last 2 weeks Mike has gotten up early and made me enough green juice for the day and the kids also. He has been going to the store every time he is out to get us fresh vegetables and food. I don't know if I have ever been more inspired to take care of my health, than when mike began to walk through it with me! The best Christmas present is my husband!

My Fennel Soup

2 handful's Spinach
1 med fennel
1 garlic clove
1/2 avocado
1/2 red apple
2 celery stalks
1T. tamari or soy sauce or nama shoyu
1T. coconut oil
Agave to taste
Cumin to taste ( I like alot)
Gram Marsala
salt and pepper if needed

Blend all together and enjoy. If you like things hot but raw, put in a pan and heat on stove ( never in a microwave) until you can keep your finger in the soup for 4 seconds without being burned. This is a easy soup for me because I usually have most of the ingredient on hand except for the fennel. I hope you enjoy this it is one of my favorites!

May the Lord bless you, and keep you...

Amberlea

Day 38

I wanted to share with you a email that my sweet friend Jayne sent me in response to my question about why I felt so bad after I cheated. This is a great response and very encouraging to me I hope it is helpful to you also.. All is ok today, but I feel bogged down from the last few days. Other than that as Jayne said I am back on the raw horse..

Until tomorrow

Amberlea


Hi Amberlea...I Wanted to let you know I'm holding you in my thoughts and prayers. Also wanted to encourage you to "get back on the horse" (after reading your last blog entry). Because of all your physical issues and most are so serious....you really don't have the liberty to play around w/ the food you choose to eat....it's way too soon. I know you know that now. Really, until you are safely free of all your physical aliments (particularly the tumors and liver issues)...you MUST stick with the program.

Can you eat cooked? I would say give it 6 more months of all raw...than the only cooked should be your cooked...not restaurant cooked. You don't know what other ingredients are in the restaurant's food to make it "tasty" or to preserve the color or prolong it's cooked life. All kinds of chemicals/preservatives/colorings etc. Especially fast food... may tasted good...but your body is your best barometer.

Even I (without any of your health issues) can have problems eating restaurant food. My body tells me the next day...my eyes...my tummy. Every now and than I succumb to eating some dish from the co-op deli (scrutinizing the posted ingredients looking for problematic foods...like canola oil)....and even still...I pay for it the next day.

When someone starts eating more healthfully (whether it's raw or some other approach) and see big improvements in how they feel...they frequently take liberties prematurely. This is human nature. Food can be a big addiction...that's why any addiction leads to huge problems. It is constantly in the background beckoning our taste buds. Also there's a huge addictive emotional component to our past food cravings.

When you do really really need to eat something cooked....only you should prepare it so you know exactly what it consists of. Than (at least until you're better)...very simple cooking. Like a baked potato...or lightly steamed veggies. Watch your starches as they become sugar in your body...and until your cancer is gone you have to be oh so careful about this.

I hoped I've answered your question in your last blog entry...as why you reacted as you did. You took in food that was poison to your system. It looked innocent...it was not. All restaurant food has hidden ingredients that you cannot account for...not even to address that it was not organic.

I hope you've recovered from that outing...and are more resolved than ever to stay true to what you know is working for you. Don't be discouraged....you are getting stronger!

Love, Jayne