Must See Videos

HI everyone!  I am not usually the online video watcher, thats my husbands cup of tea!  However, today I was doing a little resaerch on Brominated Vegetable Oil and I found a nice video series on the Dr. Oz Show, it is short, sweet and to the point so you will not get lost in a ton of scientific jargon.  I encourage you to watch them all, they are very informative.

Brominated Vegetable Oil
http://www.doctoroz.com//videos/dangerous-chemicals-you-dont-know-youre-eating-pt-1


http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/dangerous-chemicals-you-dont-know-youre-eating-pt-2


Acrylamide--This one really bothers me because I make all my foods brown and crispy!
http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/dangerous-chemicals-you-dont-know-youre-eating-pt-3


BPA
http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/dangerous-chemicals-you-dont-know-youre-eating-pt-4

Supplies

I am feeling pretty good today, I am starting to get quite a bit of response from my blog:)  Most of the comments are I am really enjoying your blog but where can I get the supplies?  Getting the supplies is sometimes difficult especially when you live in the middle of nowhere like I do.  I am lucky enough to not be that far out that I am still able to have internet:)

I buy a good majority of my supplies online from http://www.bulkapothecary.com/.  They have almost everything you would need.  They have some of the best prices I have found online or in a store.  The products that they carry are exactly what they say.  Two of the items I will not buy anywhere else are essential oils and beeswax, I have not been able to find a better price anywhere. 

If you are not into online ordering or have little patience like me and want to try this today you can try Hobby Lobby.  The local Hobby Lobby here in Cookeville, Tn has a great selection of anything you might need and I am pretty sure most of the stores are the same.  If you want to try glycerin soap they have a nice 5lb pack of glycerin blocks for $19.99, a comparable price to online retailers.  They have ok pricing but the packages are smaller, which is ok if you do not plan on using much.

When I first started soap making I tried making my own molds out of cardboard, it works but messy!  I also have made some out of plastic pvc, good choice as long as you can cut the pipe.  Finally, I broke down and bought a couple molds from Hobby Lobby, they work great and the soap will pop right out, I have also used the soap mold to make deodorant bars.  However, to be cost effective I thought I needed to find another way.  Last year I found myself thinking of what I could use because I had to make a large batch and did not have enough molds then it came to me, silicone baking molds.  I had a box full of molds my grandma had given me from an estate sale she had went too.  They worked perfect, the soap would pop right out and it was more flexible so I did not have to worry about cracking or melting the thin plastic molds.  I know silicone baking molds can be expensive but I have found great deals at garage sales or on EBay.

I hope you check out http://www.bulkapothecary.com/, you really can get lost in this website.

I love hearing from everyone so please leave me comments or let me know what you might be wanting to try!

All Purpose Cleaner

I am a big fan of "SAFE" cleaners in my home because of my three young children.  I am always worried that they could get into the cleaners and something terrible will happen, I guess that's every person fear.  I have been using alternative cleaners for years some I made, some I bought, some I liked some, I didn't.  I have a basic cleaner to make out of something you might pitch in the trash or put in compost.

This recipe will take any jar you have that has a lid, white vinegar or apple cider vinegar, I like Braggs Apple Cider Vinegar, it has the mother in it yet, what is this you wonder I have that coming in another blog:), and any kind of citrus peels you have.  This is an all purpose cleaner you can mop, disinfect, wash walls, literately anything you can think of.

Fill the jar with citrus peels, I like to use orange and lemon peels together, pack it full.  Fill the jar with vinegar and put the lid on.  It is done, now let it sit for 1-2 weeks and it is done.  When the smell is to your liking simply take out the peels or strain the liquid out and put in another container!

I hope you give it a try and enjoy.  My pictures are not so great today, I had a moment and totally forgot to take pictures until I was done and I was not taking it out to start over!!

Great Ideas for Breaking the Sugar Addiction

Break a sugar addiction within a week using three easy steps Tuesday, September 18, 2012 by: Brad Chase(NaturalNews) Refined sugar is a drug that is similar to opiates in its power to become addicted to it. The Journal of Psychoactive Drugs stated in a study published in 2010 that sugar releases euphoric endorphins in some people's brains in a manner very similar to that of certain drugs which are commonly abused. "Sugar addiction" follows the same pathways in the brain that a habit-forming drug does. Fortunately, sugar cravings can be stopped within a week of withdrawing from the white crystals. The entire scope of drug addiction has been observed in people with sugar addiction. There are cravings, an escalation of tolerance levels, and dramatic withdrawal symptoms associated with sugar addiction that parallel that of both prescription and non-prescription "street" drugs. In addition, sugar addicts often become narcotic addicts, according to the above study. The study, performed at California State University, found that children of alcoholic parents often had a "sweet tooth," and were more likely to become alcoholics themselves when they became adults. There are also genetic markers connecting sugar addictions with alcoholism, bulimia, and obesity. Raw, organic fruits and vegetables form the first step in breaking a sugar addiction The first step in breaking a sugar addiction is to make sure all fruits and vegetables consumed are 100 percent organic. Organic fruits and vegetables are full of natural sugars, or complex carbohydrates. Not only does organic produce taste better, the complex carbohydrates break down slower than simple carbohydrates do. This means the body does not send "craving" messages as quickly to the brain. Substitute pastries with whole grain bread and raw honey While those on an ancestral diet may cringe at the suggestion, a person who is just beginning to transition from the Standard American Diet (SAD) by breaking a sugar addiction can dramatically reduce sugar cravings by eating a slice of homemade whole grain bread drizzled with raw, unpasteurized local honey. Whereas someone on the SAD might normally reach for a quart of their favorite ice cream and the better part of a bag of cookies for an evening snack, homemade bread with raw honey is a wiser, healthier choice. According to MyFitnessPal.com, there are approximately 290 calories in just one cup of a commercial brand of vanilla ice cream, along with 16 grams of fat and 30 grams of refined sugar. By comparison, a 1.5 gram slice of homemade whole grain bread contains 100 calories, 1.5 grams fat, and 18 grams of complex carbohydrates. Drizzling a whole tablespoon of raw honey onto the slice of bread adds 70 calories and 15 grams of sugar. Rather than eating 28 grams of refined sugar from a cup of vanilla ice cream alone, sugar cravings are reduced by eating 15 grams of raw honey. In addition, the destructive chemicals in refined sugar are replaced with the scientifically proven anti-microbial, anti-oxidant and appetite-regulating benefits of raw honey. Break the need for crunchy snacks with raw nuts and trail mixes Raw nuts and seeds along with natural trail mixes made with dried, unsweetened fruit are perfect for the person who is breaking a sugar addiction. Raw nuts and seeds offer protein, energy, and healthy plant fats. Trail mixes, as long as they do not contain added candy or sugar- sweetened fruit, contain an interesting combination of complex carbohydrates, proteins, and good fats which help tide an individual over until meal time. There is just enough natural sugar in trail mix to offer an energy boost without a sugar spike. Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/037337_sugar_addiction_habits_raw_honey.html#ixzz2JQVsdXAF

Lets Do Fresh Dinner Rolls Tonight!

I am an avid bread lover nothing I can do about it.  I wanted to cut our bread in my diet I just do not have the will power right now!  The only alternative that leaves me with is to make my own bread so I can control the ingredients.  There is nothing I enjoy more than warm bread with our dinner, sadly the warm bread is usually me popping open a can of refrigerated dinner rolls.  These dinner rolls are good but what is in them? 

On several occasions I have tried to make dinner rolls or biscuits for dinner but they taste like baking powder or are hard as a rock and nobody appreciates that!  Today I wanted to give this a try again, I was home all afternoon waiting a good friend from out of state to stop by and I thought lets do dinner rolls but I was out of eggs now to look through some recipes.  I recently found a recipe on Pinterest(follow me Tasha Otte) I wanted to try so I looked it up, just my luck it needed no eggs, the decision was made.

Here we go:

4-5 cups of flour
1 tsp salt
1/3 cup sugar
1 1/2 tbsp yeast
1 cup milk
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup water

1. Combine 1 1/2 cups flour, salt, sugar and yeast in large mixing bowl.  Mix well.
2. Heat milk, butter, and water until hot in a saucepan or microwave.  Heat till warm, not boiling.
3. Add hot liquid to the dry mix in the large bowl. Mix well for about 2 minutes, will smooth out.
4. Add a 1/2 cup of flour at a time and mix well.  Today I added 4 1/2 cups of flour.  Add flour until a ball forms.  The ball should be well formed and not wet or sticky.
5. Knead 3 times.  Place dough ball back into the large mixing bowl.  Place the bowl in a warm spot and cover, make sure it is not drafty or too cold or bread will not rise properly. Let rise 15 minutes.
6. Get a 9 x 13 baking pan and spray with non cook spray.  Turn oven on 350 degrees.
7. Punch down dough and form small balls and place them in the pan.  Repeat until done, you can make all the same size or various sizes.
8. Let rise for 15 minutes, covered in the same warm spot.
9. Bake 20 minutes until golden brown!

This is a simple recipe I hope you will enjoy, I finally found a recipe that turned out yea me!  Everyone enjoyed them, we had about a half a pan leftover, looks like bread tomorrow too.  I am thinking this would be great to make into cinnamon rolls, another roll in a can my family enjoys!

Another place you can find me at is Homestead Creations-Enjoy the Simple Life on Facebook!

The ingredients.

 The dry ingredients getting ready to mix.

Milk, water, and butter getting heated.

Forgot to take an earlier shot of me adding the liquid to dry ingredients but I think you got it.

Mix Well.

Keep adding flour until you get a nice ball.

 Knead 3 times.

Form a ball again.  Place in bowl and let rise.

Hard to tell but this has risen alot, punch down and form small balls.



The pan is full and ready to rise.

The rolls are done rising and ready for the oven.

Baked to perfection twenty minutes later.

 

Please give this a try, I amm sure you will enjoy!

Homemade Granola Bars

Ok folks, here we go I am jumping on the train to rid my life of processed foods!!!  Its gonna be difficult, and I am sure there will be cravings, but we can do this.  I am starting with homemade granola bars, my kids love the varieties at the grocery store, no brand in particular they are all loaded with things we can't even pronounce!  Lets not wait any longer:

Homemade Granola Bars

2 1/2 cups quick oats
1/2 cup rice krispies
1/4 cup coconut(I leave this out, no one likes coconut here)
1/2 cup chocolate chips(mini or regular), mini m&m, mini marshmallows--be creative
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup soft butter
1/4 cup honey
1/2 tsp vanilla

Mix all ingredients(except last 3) well in a large bowl.  Add last three ingredients, mix well this is kinda hard, I usually end up using my hands.  Once you have this all mixed use a 8x8 or 9x13 pan, spray with cooking spray or use nothing and spread the mixture evenly in the pan.  I like the 9x13 the bars tend to hold together better.  Bake the bars in the oven at 350 for 18-20 minutes.  When they are done let them cool for 10 minutes then score them and let them finish cooling.  When cool try to get them to pop out or cut in pan and remove.  Wrap them up with wax paper or put in a ziploc, they will stay fresh for at least a week but they won't last long. 

The ingredients.

The first six ingredients, mix well.

Add the last three ingredients, mix well.

This looks pretty good, it will not be solid it will feel loose.

The granola bar mixture in a 9x13 pan.

Out of the oven and cooled for ten minutes, I scored this pan to make 16 rectangle granola bars.

 

 

I have them removed from the pan, mine look a little messy, the kids were impatient so I had to get them out early.

 

This is a kid friendly project, they love to help!  I hope you try this and enjoy.

Detox the Bathroom Part 4 Lotion

I love lotion, I buy lots of it and my dry skin never seems to get better.  I have bought every kind of lotion possible cheap, expensive, good smelling and no luck.  I have tried regular lotions from box stores and special lotions from herbal and health food stores and nothing has come close to working like the Beeswax Lotion that I make in a few easy steps!  I found this recipe on the internet a couple years ago on a blog and actually did not try to make it, I thought I did not have time, I was wrong it takes little time.  I wish I would have done this sooner!

The Beeswax lotion is oil based, no water so it should not turn rancid.  When a lotion is oil based when you apply it your hands use a small amount, it will actually feel oily, do not stress as I did, do not wipe it off.  Please give it about five minutes, keep rubbing your hands together and it will all work in.  This lotion is different than store lotions because it contains pure ingredients that will totally hydrate your skin versus the store lotions will numerous fillers that just dissolve in your skin and you are reapplying lotion an hour later.

I encourage you to try to make this lotion, I would not do with out it.

Ingredients

1 cup olive oil(can use other oils like jojoba or almond oil)
1/2 cup coconut oil
1/2 cup beeswax pellets(2oz if solid) I usually keep the block beeswax around You could lessen this or maybe omit the lotion is just a little thinner and works great in a pump bottle.
1 vitamin E capsule
essential oil
1 tsp honey--I added this for the great healing powers of honey and a little bit sweeter smell

I use a mason jar(wide mouth is easiest) place the first 3 ingredients in the jar.  Place water in a saucepan so that the water gets to be about 1/2-3/4 of the way up the jar, do not get water in the jar.  Heat the pan on medium to melt the ingredients together in the jar.  Keep stirring, once it is all melted remove the jar from the pan, stir, now place in a cool spot to get to room temperature, or the impatient people like me can put it in the fridge.  You will need to stir it every 15 minutes to prevent it from separating.  I would never remember if I did not set my kitchen timer.  I made a new batch last night and I had to stir it about 7 time until it was done.  Once it is to a nice "lotion" look it is done!  Remove the jar from the fridge and add the contents of the vitamin E capsule, this helps to stabilize it.  If you want to add essential oils to scent now is the time!  I usually do not scent it I like the natural scent the beeswax and honey create.  You can simply put a lid on the mason jar and you have not only an awesome lotion to use but a pretty bottle sitting on your bathroom counter.

 

The ingredients.

This is the beeswax--this is a little over 2 oz.

This has olive oil, coconut oil, beeswax, and honey all ready to melt.

 The same.

 

 

In the pan, the water is a little over half way up the side of the jar.

Everything is all melted and looks nice and clear.

 

 This is after being in the fridge for almost 2 hours and 7 good stirs.

 

Once again thanks to my oldest son Matt for being my helper so I can take pictures:)  The lotion has a nice consistency and rubs on well.  My skin is sooooo soft it just amazes me.

 

Please try this, it so easy and you can toss out some more of the chemical laden lotions that do nothing for the money you pay for them.

 

Oxheart Tomatoes

I have always loved to garden, ever since I was a little girl.  In 2002 when I met my husband he was building a greenhouse to raise tomatoes, maybe it was him maybe it was the produce but we have been together ever since!  We grew our business to include several farmers markets we would visit every week!  I really enjoyed this work, each year it got easier because we could get more equipment to help with the planting so I could plant more tomatoes.  About three years ago while I poured over Non GMO seed catalogs a funny looking tomato caught my eye, an Oxheart Tomato.  How interesting I thought it looks like a heart, even if it tasted terrible people would still buy them because they were pretty!  I know it sounds bad but over the years, even in produce, pretty or eye catching sells even if it tastes terrible.

I wanted to tell everyone about some of my favorite seeds since the planning is going on now for spring gardens. We went ahead and planted about 200 of the Oxheart Tomatoes that year, what a success, not only were they pretty but they tasted unbelievable.  Everything I have ever read on Oxheart Tomatoes says they need full sun, I have to disagree, we planted them with the shade of the woods that first year and they grew some prolific fruit.  The Oxheart Tomatoes do need plenty of water, water them every couple days if it does not rain and you will be set all season, even when it cools off.

The fruits of the Oxheart Plant often times average about 1lb each!  I especially like to can the Oxheart because they have a thin skin(alot of tomatoes get a hard outer skin) and they peel right off or if your like me just grind them into what you make and you never know they are there.  The Oxheart tomato is sweet and juicy but actually really meaty too so it in my eyes is almost dual purpose to make sauce and ketchup. 

The Oxheart Tomato plants like to roam so I encourage you to cage them or have room for the to spread, because they will. 

Tomatoes tend to be pretty high in acid and some people can not eat them.  The first year we planted the Oxheart Tomatoes my father had his gallbladder removed and could not handle anything with a hint of acid.  That is easy enough to deal with but he loves tomatoes and who can resist a great looking and smelling tomato in the summer heat, not many people including my dad!  He helped me pick on day for a farmers market and he had to try one.  He said it tasted wonderful and surprisingly he did not get sick.  He ate them like they were going out of style after that.  Another helpful hint about Oxheart Tomatoes is if you tend to get canker sores from tomatoes, like I do, you should be good to go!

I encourage you if you want to plant a garden or already do try the Oxheart Tomato, I sell the seed in my EBay store "from our natural homestead", well give me till Sunday I am working on those listings now!  If your are not a seed starter try your local greenhouses some of them still sell the Oxheart in plant form!

Useful Produce Codes

I learned something today!  I worked in the grocery business for about five years so I knew the produce codes, four digit is conventional produce and if it starts with "9" followed by four digits it is organic.  I was saddened to see that this world has become so genetically modified that we now need a produce code to tell us what produce has been genetically altered, WOW!  I am glad to see this though because we use a lot of produce!  Keep your eyes open:)

Potty Training and Vinegar?

I have a 2 1/2 year old son, my baby, who was potty trained fairly well in the summer.  Well we moved and that all went out the window!  I gave him some time, but during this time he fell in love with the cartoon Rugrats, which is super cute, except the eating bugs and baby talk, but I love it.  However, I think he thought he could continue to wear diapers like Tommy.  Let the battle begin.

I admit I have been soft on him since we moved so far away from our whole family, I felt guilty.  We have been here in Tennessee for almost 3 months and its time to potty train.  Last week I was down to about 6-7 seven diapers and I told myself your creating a budget, diapers are not going to be in it.  So on Monday I fought him and fought he would not put the underwear on, grrrr.  He would not tell me he had to pee either so I was mopping up puddles, one reason why I am thankful for the laminate flooring and hardwood floors, not carpet!  Well I diapered him in the evening for bed, until the next day. 

Day 2 was worse, he would put the underwear on, better I thought!  I was wrong, that just meant when he peed it was more laundry because the underwear were soaked! I was annoying myself because I felt like every five minutes I was asking do you need to go potty and he just gave me the look.  So at my wits end I took away Rugrats, total devastation.  This was about 11 a.m., I was making lunch and put on a boring show and he laid on the couch and cried to sleep, I felt so bad.  When he woke up I asked if he had to pee, he said no!  I said ok, well we finished the day with 2 more accidents and no Rugrats. 

Day 3 I was still up for the battle he wasn't breaking me I was potty breaking him.  So he had an accident on my big comfy chair, I took away Rugrats again and the look he gave me was precious it was like he said fine you win!  After that he went, huh I knew he could!  We have been accident free since then, except a #2 today but I can live with that:)  Anyway you might wonder how did you clean it up, my secret is vinegar.

I am not a fan of vinegar scent, I totally opposed it for years when my husband told me to use it.  I started making fabric softener a few years ago with vinegar I was surprised my clothes smelled fine.  My husband began using it around our farm to disinfect, a nice alternative to bleach!  So one day I tried it, I just took mixed a half a cup of vinegar with a gallon of water and put it on my dry mop, it smelled like vinegar, but only for a couple minutes and it was shiny clean.  I could live with that.  Vinegar is great at disinfecting and totally getting rid of smells.  When the task of potty training happened this week I was glad I had my gallon of white vinegar(I really like Braggs Organic Apple Cider  but have not found any since we moved) under the sink and ready for action.  I mixed some of this up a couple times a day and mopped the floor and cleaned my chair and you would never know what I used.  The smell was totally gone! I have been converted to vinegar, I have many other things I use vinegar for but that will be another post!

The Juicer!

My husband and I have been talking the last couple months about getting a juicer and introducing it into our diet.  We are on a mission to cut out all the processed foods we possibly can.  It is such a difficult task though!  I mean I really thought I cooked alot of unprocessed meals but there is always something there.  For example, tonight I made pasta with a homemade sauce.  It was great but I did not have any spaghetti noodles from my stash I made so I had to substitute some boxed noodles, they were at least whole grain but still processed with things that I have no idea what they are.  I have been trying to keep homemade noodles on hand but I love pasta and so do the kids so that is a daunting task! 

Another goal in getting rid of the processed foods is getting away from food in a tin can. Wow that's gonna be hard.  When I say that to people alot of them tell me but they are safe now they have a white lining, I usually do not even respond, and think all those years ago they told you tin cans were safe without the white lining:)  Its ok though we are products of what we are told by the media.  At our house we use a ton of canned cream soups, canned tuna, and soup beans, these items are in alot of things I cook.  I could always buy dry beans and cook those, maybe I could buy tuna fresh, but the cream soups I might have a breakdown without those.

On the other hand, we love fresh fruits and veggies.  We have them all the time.  My kids snack on grapes, carrots, celery, berries, and melon(in season) all day, my husband and I are right there with them.  I just wash them or cut them up and we "graze" them all day, way better than chips!  We have sold produce for over 10 years now and over these years I have met alot of people who juiced, honestly when I first heard this I was apprehensive.  As the years went by I have learned from my customers and researched and there are some awesome benefits.  I have to say I do not think we will totally go to juice, I might be able to but my husband loves meat too much. 

When a person juices you will create a healthier you with more energy and vigor, sounds good too me with three small boys!  In addition to this, alot of people love to juice to lose weight, that sounds good too, never did lose all the belly weight from pregnancy.  What is even better is the fact you need 5-9 servings of fruits and vegetables a day, who has time for that, well we can when we juice get it all done with 1 glass!  I am pretty excited about this because we, as a family need this to become healthier and its better for the earth too!

When you juice you have none of these:

• No Preservatives
• No Added Sugar
• No Artificial Coloring
• No Artificial Flavoring

We have looked for a while and talked to many people.  Surprisingly, we kept being sent to www.powerjuicer.com, they actually have a really nice product at a fair price.  What we really liked about the juicer was that we could try it for a month at $14.95 and if we did not like it we did not have to keep it.  I took care of that today and ordered one.  I should have it in 7-10 days so be ready for some great pictures and recipes!

Cinnamon and Honey

My cousin who is a bit of a health nut, like me after a couple bad car wrecks posted this today and I just had to share it.  I will have some wonderful posts starting tomorrow.  Today my mother in law came here(to Tn) from Ohio and she brought my cookbooks and recipes books of things I have made and created when we lived in Ohio!  I am so excited, I hope your ready.

Cinnamon and Honey

Drug companies won't like this one getting around. Facts on Honey and Cinnamon:
It is found that a mix of honey and Cinnamon cures most d...iseases. Honey is produced in most of the countries of the world. Scientists of today also note honey as very effective medicine for all kinds of diseases. Honey can be used without side effects which is also a plus.Today's science says that even though honey is sweet, when it is taken in the right dosage as a medicine, it does not harm even diabetic patients. Researched by western scientists:

HEART DISEASES: Make a paste of honey and cinnamon powder, put it on toast instead of jelly and jam and eat it regularly for breakfast. It reduces the cholesterol and could potentially save one from heart attack. Also, even if you have already had an attack studies show you could be kept miles away from the next attack. Regular use of cinnamon honey strengthens the heart beat. In America and Canada, various nursing homes have treated patients successfully and have found that as one ages the arteries and veins lose their flexibility and get clogged; honey and cinnamon revitalize the arteries and the veins.

ARTHRITIS: Arthritis patients can benefit by taking one cup of hot water with two tablespoons of honey and one small teaspoon of cinnamon powder. When taken daily even chronic arthritis can be cured. In a recent research conducted at the Copenhagen University, it was found that when the doctors treated their patients with a mixture of one tablespoon Honey and half teaspoon Cinnamon powder before breakfast, they found that within a week (out of the 200 people so treated) practically 73 patients were totally relieved of pain -- and within a month, most all the patients who could not walk or move around because of arthritis now started walking without pain.

BLADDER INFECTIONS: Take two tablespoons of cinnamon powder and one teaspoon of honey in a glass of lukewarm water and drink it. It destroys the germs in the bladder....who knew?

CHOLESTEROL: Two tablespoons of honey and three teaspoons of Cinnamon Powder mixed in 16 ounces of tea water given to a cholesterol patient was found to reduce the level of cholesterol in the blood by 10 percent within two hours. As mentioned for arthritic patients, when taken three times a day, any chronic cholesterol-could be cured. According to information received in the said Journal, pure honey taken with food daily relieves complaints of cholesterol.

COLDS: Those suffering from common or severe colds should take one tablespoon lukewarm honey with 1/4 spoon cinnamon powder daily for three days. This process will cure most chronic cough, cold, and, clear the sinuses, and it's delicious too!

UPSET STOMACH: Honey taken with cinnamon powder cures stomach ache and also is said to clear stomach ulcers from its root.

GAS: According to the studies done in India and Japan, it is revealed that when Honey is taken with cinnamon powder the stomach is relieved of gas.

IMMUNE SYSTEM: Daily use of honey and cinnamon powder strengthens the immune system and protects the body from bacterial and viral attacks. Scientists have found that honey has various vitamins and iron in large amounts. Constant use of Honey strengthens the white blood corpuscles (where DNA is contained) to fight bacterial and viral diseases.

INDIGESTION: Cinnamon powder sprinkled on two tablespoons of honey taken before food is eaten relieves acidity and digests the heaviest of meals

INFLUENZA: A scientist in Spain has proved that honey contains a natural 'Ingredient' which kills the influenza germs and saves the patient from flu.

LONGEVITY: Tea made with honey and cinnamon powder, when taken regularly, arrests the ravages of old age. Use four teaspoons of honey, one teaspoon of cinnamon powder, and three cups of boiling water to make a tea. Drink 1/4 cup, three to four times a day. It keeps the skin fresh and soft and arrests old age. Life spans increase and even a 100 year old will start performing the chores of a 20-year-old.

RASPY OR SORE THROAT: When throat has a tickle or is raspy, take one tablespoon of honey and sip until gone. Repeat every three hours until throat is without symptoms.

PIMPLES: Three tablespoons of honey and one teaspoon of cinnamon powder paste. Apply this paste on the pimples before sleeping and wash it off the next morning with warm water. When done daily for two weeks, it removes all pimples from the root.

SKIN INFECTIONS:Applying honey and cinnamon powder in equal parts on the affected parts cures eczema, ringworm and all types of skin Infections.

WEIGHT LOSS:Daily in the morning one half hour beforebreakfast and on an empty stomach, and at night before sleeping, drink honey and cinnamon powder boiled in one cup of water. When taken regularly, it reduces the weight of even the most obese person. Also, drinking this mixture regularly does not allow the fat to accumulate in the body even though the person may eat a high calorie diet.

CANCER: Recent research in Japan and Australia has revealed that advanced cancer of the stomach and bones have been cured successfully. Patients suffering from these kinds of cancer should daily take one tablespoon of honey with one teaspoon of cinnamon powder three times a day for one month.

FATIGUE: Recent studies have shown that the sugar content of honey is more helpful rather than being detrimental to the strength of the body. Senior citizens who take honey and cinnamon powder in equal parts are more alert and flexible. Dr. Milton, who has done research, says that a half tablespoon of honey taken in a glass of water and sprinkled with cinnamon powder, even when the vitality of the body starts to decrease, when taken daily after brushing and in the afternoon at about 3:00 P.M., the vitality of the body increases within a week.

BAD BREATH: People of South America, gargle with one teaspoon of honey and cinnamon powder mixed in hot water first thing in the morning so their breath stays fresh throughout the day.

HEARING LOSS: Daily morning and night honey and cinnamon powder, taken in equal parts restores hearing.

Remember when we were kids? We had toast with real butter and cinnamon sprinkled on it!

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Fluoride, is it safe?

Fluoride is something we hear alot about, especially at the dentist or as an ingredientin toothpaste, I know it is some brands of infant water.  My mom would never let us get fluoride treatments at the dentist, I never knew why, really at that age did not care.  I have not given my children fluoride treatments partly because my mom did not do it and my sister in law has told me about fluoride and what it does.  I steered away from the infant water with fluoride, never did break the tootpaste habit!  I am working on that now, just wait I will have a great recipe:)  I received an email this morning from a fellow farmer I knew in Ohio, that tells all about fluoride and what it can do to you in elevated levels.  I am going to post this email to my blog today because it is well written and too the point.  I hope you enjoy!

Sent: Sunday, January 20, 2013 10:45 AM

Subject: Fluoride Does Not Prevent Tooth Decay - It Makes You Stupid and Sick

It Can Impair Your IQ, Yet Nearly Everyone Drinks It Daily There are now at least 25 studies that show how this can shrink your IQ, even at levels as low as 0.3 to 3 parts per million. And other studies point to serious health problems like dementia, bone cancer, and even blindness. Don't be fooled...

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2013/01/20/fluoride-denialism.aspx?e_cid=20130120_SNL_Art_1&utm_source=snl&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20130120

You’re Still Told Fluoridation Prevents Tooth Decay, but Science Proves Otherwise

By Dr. Mercola

Despite widespread public health adoption, water fluoridation has come under close scrutiny over the past quarter century. Time has stripped away fluoridation's rosy glow. Once touted as the magic solution to dental caries, fluoride's benefit for your teeth – IF there is any, which is still debatable – comes with overshadowing downsides.

No matter which scientific studies you examine, or which population trends you view, the only rational conclusion is that fluoride's health dangers far outweigh the marginal dental benefits it might offer. The science is very clear about the following:

· Fluoride is a toxic industrial waste product that is a poison to your body and in no way a "nutrient," offering no benefits at all to the human body. The fluoride added to water supplies can be contaminated with lead, arsenic, radionucleotides, aluminum and other industrial contaminants. Additionally, the fluoride added to municipal water supplies is not pharmaceutical grade.

· Fluoride exposure comes from tap water, most toothpaste and many antibiotics, including ones given to farm animals. There is a large variation in exposure levels, making it impossible to accurately predict these variables for any person, family or community.

· Fluoride exposure for many can easily reach toxic levels. For example, poison control should be called if you swallow a quarter milligram of fluoride from toothpaste. Meanwhile just ONE glass of water can contain this amount of fluoride.

· Fluoride is a cumulative poison that has been proven to cause wide-ranging, serious health problems, such as damage to your bones, brain and endocrine system.

· Dental caries can be prevented with means other than fluoridation, thereby avoiding the adverse effects of fluoride.

Fluoride is Found in More than Just Your Drinking Water

Fluoride is found in all natural waters to some degree. It can be extremely high in groundwater, depending on a number of factors, such as the types of rocks and minerals of that region. Drinking water is the largest fluoride source, adding to your exposure from dental products. But you may not be aware that fluoride is also present in some surprising places:

· A variety of vegetables and fruits, grains, taro, yams, cassava, meat, poultry and fish (especially canned fish), milk and tea; most natural foods have only minor levels of fluoride, but there are a few exceptions. Tea leaves, for example, tend to concentrate fluoride from the soil; deboned meat and poultry can be very high in fluoride due to contamination from bone particles during processing.

· Processed foods and beverages such as sodas, juices, sports drinks, baby foods, etc., are often high in fluoride.

· Air can be tainted with fluoride, particularly in areas with greater industrial pollution from coal burning and phosphate fertilizer production; fluoride exposure can also be a problem after volcanic eruptions, as was discovered in southern Iceland.

· Pesticides and cryolite,¹ a fluoride-containing mineral used as a pesticide on dozens of food products in the U.S.

· Non-stick pans emit a fluoride gas when heated.

Summary of Fluoride's Potential Health Hazards

It's important to realize that fluoride is a cumulative toxin, which over time can lead to more serious health concerns than dental fluorosis (spotting on your teeth). Skeletal fluorosis from fluoride toxicity can be crippling and even deadly. The neurological effects are also quite disturbing. There are now 25 studies showing fluoride is associated with diminished IQ, even at levels as low as 0.3 to 3 parts per million, which overlaps the range in many American communities (0.7 to 1.2 ppm). Studies have shown fluoride toxicity can lead to the wide-ranging problems listed below.

Increases lead absorption	Disrupts collagen synthesis	Hyperactivity and/or lethargy	Crippling skeletal fluorosis and bone fractures
Genetic damage and cell death	Increased tumor and cancer growth	Disrupts immune system	Inhibits antibody production
Brain damage, and lowered IQ	Dementia	Arthritis	Severe eye problems, including blindness
Impaired thyroid function	Bone cancer (osteosarcoma)	Inactivates 62 enzymes	Muscle disorders

Causes of Dental Caries

Dental caries are caused by demineralization of your teeth (enamel and dentin) by the acids formed during the bacterial fermentation of dietary sugars. Demineralization is countered by the deposit of minerals from your saliva, or remineralization, which is a slow process. Enthusiasts report that fluoride prevents dental caries by enhancing mineralization.² However, dental caries are not caused by a lack of fluoride, just as depression is not caused by a lack of Prozac. Some of the primary causes of tooth decay cited in the literature include:

· Consistent use of refined sugar, sugary soft drinks, and processed foods in general

· Children going to bed with a bottle of sweetened drink in their mouth, or sucking at will from such a bottle during the day

· Poor dental hygiene and poor access to and utilization of dental health services, usually related to socioeconomic status

· Mineral deficiencies, like magnesium, which can weaken bones and teeth³

· More than 600 medications promote tooth decay by inhibiting saliva⁴

By far, excess dietary sugar is the most significant factor. The World Health Organization (WHO)⁵ and most dental experts agree upon this fact. The evidence for dental caries being a function of social class is weak,⁶ at best. The massive consumption of sugar in the Western diet, particularly fructose in high fructose corn syrup, fuels the fire of tooth decay.

Does Fluoride Help Prevent Tooth Decay?

Fluoride advocates often claim that the reduction in tooth decay that's occurred since the 1950s is a benefit of fluoridated water, but the facts just don't add up. For example, in 1999 the CDC claimed that dental caries declined precipitously during the second half of the 20th Century. But what they failed to mention is that tooth decay rates "precipitously declined" in ALL Western nations, regardless of whether or not fluoridation was used – and most of those countries did NOT fluoridate!⁷

The American Dental Association (ADA) has helped the CDC in trying to pull the wool over your eyes. For years, the ADA has warned that if you stop fluoridating your water, your rates of tooth decay will increase. Indeed, if fluoride were effective in preventing caries, you would expect to see an increase in tooth decay when fluoridation is stopped. Yet, this is NOT what we see!

This makes it rather ridiculous to argue that water fluoridation is having any sort of health benefit. The science should be as obvious to these government agencies as it is to us, yet they continue to deny and misrepresent the truth, under the pressure of powerful lobbyists holding the purse strings for the "fluoride industry." When we examine the trend of dental caries over time, comparing those who are fluoridated to those who are not, it's easy to understand why so many people are now against fluoridation– including me. I have long advocated against the use of fluoride, as I believe there are far better – SAFER ways to improve your family's dental health.

Scientific Studies You Can't Ignore

The following demographic studies and fluoridation trends make it clear that fluoridation has very little to do with whether or not you develop cavities.

· In Japan, fluoridation has been virtually nonexistent since the 1970s, yet rates of dental caries have declined since that time – in spite of their increased sugar consumption.⁸

· In the town of Tiel in the Netherlands, water fluoridation was discontinued in 1973, and by 1993, rates of dental caries had declined.⁹

· In the town of Kuopio, Finland, water fluoridation was stopped after 1992. In 1995 and 1998, dental caries had either decreased or stayed the same.¹⁰

· In two towns in former East Germany, a significant fall in the prevalence of dental caries was seen in the twenty years following cessation of water fluoridation.¹¹

· In Cuba, water fluoridation was discontinued in 1990, and in March of 1997, dental caries had significantly trended downward.¹²

· In Canada, "the prevalence of caries decreased over time in the fluoridation-ended community while remaining unchanged in the fluoridated community."¹³

Excessive Fluoride Negates Any Potential Benefit

Bill Osmunson is a full-time dentist with a Masters Degree in Public Health. According to Dr. Osmunson, some studies suggest, when viewed in isolation, that fluoride may offer a minor benefit to your teeth. However, when you factor in the excessive amounts of fluoride we're ingesting from multiple sources, any small benefit is lost under the weight of fluoride's toxic effects.

Remember, fluoride is a cumulative poison.

When authorities try to determine the safety and efficacy of fluoride in drinking water, they calculate estimated water consumption based on a location's average temperature, humidity, geology, and the "average" health status of the people living there – all factors that are so highly variable that any effort to estimate them are little more than a wild guess. How can a decision about "dosing" fluoride in your water be even remotely scientific. Dr. Osmunson explains:

"Is it appropriate to put in a substance into water, where some people may drink less than a liter a day and others drink up to 19 liters a day? That's a huge difference in the dosage amount of fluoride that they are getting. And what about the other sources?

Once fluoride became accepted as wonderful, we started putting it in toothpaste and of course there are the pesticides, the cryolite, and the post-harvest fumigants. And then there are the dental fillings, the dental topical treatment, the fluoride varnishes in the medical products, and the Teflon pans... I started to look at how much we are getting. We're getting much more – two to three times more than when they started fluoridation."

Early on, there were some convincing studies showing fluoride made teeth harder and more able to withstand acids. However, when Dr. Osmunson delved deeper into the literature, he found that the evidence supporting fluoride really wasn't as strong as it first seemed, and fluoride didn't appear to reduce tooth decay to any significant degree. In fact, there's even substantial evidence that populations with less fluoride have less decay. If you would like to hear more from Dr. Osmunson, I invite you to watch our 2011 interview on this topic.

Click HERE to watch the full interview!

Download Interview Transcript

Top Ten Ways to Avoid Fluoride

F.A.N. is one of the leading organizations that is working feverishly to eliminate fluoride from the water supply. Dr. Paul Connett is one of our Health Liberty partners and we deeply appreciate and applaud all his organization's hard efforts. We have reprinted their excellent recommendations on how to decrease your fluoride exposure below.

1) Stop Drinking Fluoridated Water:

Tap water consumption is, on average, the largest daily source of fluoride exposure for people who live in areas that add fluoride to the water. Avoiding consumption of fluoridated water is especially critical for infants. If you live in area which fluoridates its water, you can avoid drinking the fluoride in one of three ways:

1. Water Filters: One way of avoiding the fluoride from tap water is to purchase a water filter. Not all water filters, however, remove fluoride. The three types of filters that can remove fluoride are reverse osmosis, deionizers (which use ion-exchange resins), and activated alumina. Each of these filters should be able to remove about 90% of the fluoride. By contrast, "activated carbon" filters (e.g., Brita & Pur) do not remove fluoride. For more information on water filters, click here.

2. Spring Water: Another way to avoid fluoride from tap water is to purchase spring water. Most brands of spring water contain very low levels of fluoride. Some brands, however, do contain high levels (e.g., Trinity Springs). Before consuming any bottled water on a consistent basis, therefore, you should verify that the fluoride content is less than 0.2 ppm, and ideally less than 0.1 ppm. You can find out the level of fluoride level in some of the popular brands here. You can also find out the fluoride level by calling the number on the water label. (Most companies have this information readily available.)

3. Water Distillation: A third way to avoid fluoride from the tap is to purchase a distillation unit. Water distillation will remove most, if not all, of the fluoride. The price for a distillation units varies widely depending on the size. Small counter-top units cost as little as $200, while large units can exceed $1,000.

If you don't know if your area is fluoridated, you can find out by contacting your local water department. If you live in the U.S., you can also find out by going to FAN's State Fluoride Database.

2) Don't Let Your Child Swallow Fluoride Toothpaste

Fluoride toothpaste is often the largest single source of fluoride intake for young children, and is a major risk factor for disfiguring dental fluorosis. This is because children swallow a large amount of the paste that they put in their mouth. In fact, research has shown that it is not uncommon for young children to swallow more fluoride from toothpaste alone than is recommended as an entire day's ingestion from all sources.

If you have a young child, therefore, we recommend that you use a non-fluoride toothpaste. If, however, you do use fluoride toothpaste, it's very important that you supervise your children while they brush to make sure they use no more than a "pea-sized amount" of paste, and that they fully rinse and spit and after they finish. And, lastly, do not purchase candy flavored toothpaste (e.g., bubble-gum and watermelon) as these toothpastes (which still contain adult-strength concentrations of fluoride) increase the risk that your children will swallow it (and actually want to swallow it).

3) Do NOT Get Fluoride Gel Treatments at the Dentist

Although dental researchers have stated on numerous occasions that fluoride gel treatment should ONLY be used for patients at highest risk of cavities, many dentists continue to apply fluoride gels irrespective of the patient's cavity risk. The fluoride gel procedure requires the patient to clamp down on a tray for 4 minutes and uses an extremely concentrated, acidic fluoride gel (12,300 ppm). Because of the fluoride gel's high acidity, the saliva glands produce a large amount of saliva during the treatment, which makes it extremely difficult (both for children and adults) to avoid swallowing the gel.

Even when dentists use precautionary measures such as suction devices, children and adults still ingest significant quantities of the paste, which can cause incredibly high spikes of fluoride in the blood (for up to 15 hours). These fluoride levels place patients, particularly children, at risk for stomach pain, nausea and vomiting, and places a person at risk for short-term kidney damage, harm to the reproductive system, and impairment to glucose metabolism. The next time your dentist asks you whether you want a fluoride gel treatment, say NO.

4) Eat More Fresh, Less Processed Food

When water is fluoridated, it is not just the water that is fluoridated, but all beverages and foods that are made with the water. As a general rule, therefore, the more processed a food is, the more fluoride it has. The good news is that the naturally occurring levels of fluoride in most fresh water (e.g., spring water) and most fresh food (e.g., fruits, vegetables, grain, eggs, milk) is very low. Use this fact to your advantage by trying to shift as much as you can from processed foods to fresh. Also, since processed beverages (e.g., sodas, reconstituted juices, sports drinks) contribute far more to fluoride intake than processed foods, it is most important to focus on reducing your consumption of processed beverages. For more detailed information on how you can cut down on your fluoride intake from processed foods, see FAN's Grocery Store Guide: 7 Ways to Avoid Fluoride in Beverages and Food.

5) Buy Organic Grape Juice and Wine

In the United States, many vineyards use a fluoride pesticide called cryolite. As a result, the levels of fluoride in U.S. grape juice and wine (particularly white grape juice and white wine) are consistently elevated. Indeed, in 2005, the USDA reported that the average level of fluoride exceeded 2 ppm for both white wine and white grape. The levels of fluoride in red wine are also elevated (1 ppm), and so are raisins (2.3 ppm). If you buy grape juice and wine, or if you are a heavy consumer of raisins, buy organic. In the case of wine, if don't want to spend the extra money on organic, consider purchasing a European brand, as Europe uses far less cryolite than the U.S.

6) Reduce Your Tea Consumption (and/or Drink Tea with Younger Leaves)

Be careful of drinking too much tea, particularly bottled and instant varieties. The tea plant accumulates high levels of fluoride, and excess intake of tea is known to cause a painful bone disease called skeletal fluorosis. Some teas though contain high levels of health-boosting antioxidants. Not only are antioxidants good for health in general, they also help to protect you from fluoride toxicity.

In the ideal scenario, one could drink tea with high levels of antioxidants but low levels of fluoride. Recent research suggests that this might be a somewhat obtainable goal. It has recently been shown that the antioxidant levels in tea are far higher in young leaves, than old leaves. This is important because young leaves also happen to have lower levels of fluoride. Indeed, it has been proposed that the fluoride content of tea is an indicator of its quality: the higher the fluoride, the lower the quality, and vice versa.

If you love tea, therefore, try to purchase varieties that are made from young leaves (e.g., "White tea"). This will allow you to maximize tea's known benefits, while reducing its known harm.

Towards this end, avoid bottled and instant teas as they have been to contain low-quality leaves that have very low levels of antioxidants. With bottled and instant tea, therefore, you get the risk (fluoride) without the benefit (antioxidants).

Another option is to drink yerba matte – a caffeinated herbal tea from South America that contains very low levels of fluoride (< 0.2 ppm).

7) Avoid Cooking with Non-Stick Pans

Some research has found that cooking with non-stick-coated pans can significantly increase the fluoride content of food. If you have non-stick pans, consider switching to ceramic or another type of safe pan.

8) Don't Take Cipro and Be Mindful of Other Fluorinated Pharmaceuticals

Many pharmaceuticals are fluorinated, which means they contain something called a "carbon-fluorine bond." Although the carbon-fluoride bond is strong enough to resist breaking down within the body, this is not always the case.

Some fluorinated drugs have been found to metabolize into fluoride within the body and this greatly increases a person's exposure to fluoride. The most notable example is Cipro. Other fluorinated chemicals that are currently known to break down into fluoride include fluorinated anesthetics (Isoflurane & Sevoflurane), Niflumic acid, Flecainide, and Voriconazole. If you are taking any of these drugs, find out if there are any safer alternatives available.

9) Minimize Consumption of Mechanically-Deboned Chicken:

Most meats that are pulverized into a pulp form (e.g., chicken fingers, chicken nuggets) are made using a mechanical deboning processes. This mechanical deboning process increases the quantity of bone particles in the meat. Since bone is the main site of fluoride accumulation in the body, the higher levels of bone particle in mechanically deboned meat results in significantly elevated fluoride levels. Of all the meats that are mechanically deboned, chicken meat has consistently been found to have the highest levels. Thus, minimize consumption of mechanically-deboned chicken.

10) Avoid Fluoridated Salt

If you live in a country which allows fluoridated salt to be sold, make sure that the salt you buy is unfluoridated. Consumption of fluoridated salt can greatly increase a person's fluoride exposure. To see a list of countries that allow fluoridated salt, click here. (From: www.fluoridealert.org)

If Water Fluoridation Doesn't Prevent Tooth Decay, Then What Does?

Many of the researchers who found decreased rates of dental caries after cessation of water fluoridation credited fluoridated dental products (such as toothpaste) and fluoridized salt. Many researchers seem to be unable to believe your dental health could be independent of fluoride, in some form or another. The WHO even recommends fluoridating milk! Researchers also credit improved dental hygiene, increased awareness of the importance of dental health, dental health plans, fissure sealants, and better nutrition as potential factors.

I'm not a fan of fluoridated toothpaste or fluoridated anything else – in order to remain within the "safe limits," you'd have to use such a small amount of fluoridated toothpaste that one tube would last you several years. But I AM a strong advocate of proper nutrition and good dental hygiene.

Tooth decay is generally believed to be caused by acids in your mouth, typically created from sugar being metabolized by bacteria (Streptococcus mutans). You typically don't find dental caries in primitive societies that don't consume excessive sugar. Environmental chemist and anti-fluoridation activist Dr. Paul Connett agrees that sugar is a huge problem, stating:

"We need education, not fluoridation. That education would have a double dividend. By avoiding high fructose sugar, we'll not only score a huge benefit with dental decay but also with obesity and health."

Dr. Osmunson has some interesting insights on the cause of tooth decay as well. He explains how historic studies on fluoridation showed that naturally occurring fluoride also happens to be found in areas rich in calcium and other minerals. This higher mineral content, as opposed to higher fluoride, might be the real reason some people have lower levels of tooth decay.

Preventing Tooth Decay, Safely and Naturally

The evidence for fluoridation is based on misused and misinterpreted data. Fluoridation is ineffective and may offer no benefit at all for your teeth, not to mention placing your overall health in jeopardy. Here are my basic guidelines for optimizing your dental health, safely and naturally:

· Avoid fluoridated water and fluoridated toothpaste.

· Minimize your sugar and grain consumption. Keep your fructose intake to less than 25 grams per day. Avoid processed foods.

· Make sure you consume a diet rich in fresh, whole foods, fermented vegetables, and grass-fed meats, which will ensure you're getting plenty of the minerals that are so important for strong bones and teeth.

· Practice good oral hygiene, as explained by Dr. Osmunson in the interview above; get regular cleanings from a mercury-free natural dentist.

· Consider oil pulling with coconut oil, which is a powerful inhibitor of a large variety of pathogenic organisms.