Lately I’ve been drinking some really good cold herbal tea. I gave some of it to a friend who had a strange rash all over his legs. The next day he came back over to tell me the itching had stopped and it seemed to get better overnight because of the half gallon tea he drank. We looked up all the herbs and their benefits online and found the herbs in the tea are more powerful than Essiac Tea. It’s made with white oak bark, plantain herb, comfrey root and leaf, black walnut hulls, red root, blue violet, burdock root and marshmallow root.

Here’s what each herb does:

White Oak Bark
This is an anti-inflammatory, good for oral hygiene and in the treatment of dental issues, helps to fight bacteria and fight cavities. It’s also helpful in the treatment of ulcers, spleen issues and weak digestion. It can also help reduce kidney stones and issues with the gallbladder. This herb has antiviral and antibacterial qualities and its a great cleanser for the entire body. It can be used on bug bites, bee stings, relieve minor cuts and burns.

Plantain Herbs
This herb is used for blood poisoning. It’s also a diuretic and a remedy for bladder and kidney problems. It soothes irritated mucous membranes. It is known to draw the poison out of snake bites and its a good treatment for scorpion stings and insect bites and poison ivy.

Comfrey Root and Leaf
This herb contains allantoin which makes cells grow faster. It helps wounds heal quickly with very little scarring. It is rich in vitamin B12.

Black Walnut Hulls
Black Walnut hulls have antiseptic, astringent, anti-fungal and antiviral properties. It helps to heal tissues that are inflamed. It also helps eliminate microbes from the bowel. It is also a thyroid stimulant.

Red Root
Red root stimulates lymph and interstitial fluid circulation. It acts as an anti-inflammatory to the spleen and lymph nodes, prevents blood that is high in fat from clumping, and smoothes stomach and intestinal function.

Blue Violet
This plant has blood cleansing properties. It also loosens mucous in the inner organs and improves skin conditions, urinary infections, bronchitis and other upper respiratory issues.

Burdock root
Used to treat skin diseases and abseccess, eczema, psoriasis. It helps to increase circulation to the skin. Destroys bacteria and fungus in the body. Promotes perspiration and eliminates toxines through the skin. It strengthens the liver, also stimulates digestion, improves kidney, gallbladder and liver function. Also good for arthritis.

Marshmallow root
This herb has a history that dates back over a thousand years as a remedy for sore throats, cough and other respiratory illnesses like whooping cough and bronchitis. It’s also used for treatment of irritable bowel syndrome and Crohn’s and gastro-esophageal reflux disease. Marshmallow root is also a remedy for psoriasis, eczema and even pink eye.

You can find many herb tinctures online or at health food stores. You can make your own tinctures and teas just by doing a little research and experimenting.

Thanks for reading!

Be Well,

Lisa Brown
www.ionizeroasis.com

sources
http://www.whiteoakbark.net/
http://www.herballegacy.com/Ahlborn_Medicinal.html
http://www.motherearthnews.com/natural-health/comfrey-root-zmaz95djzjma.aspx#ixzz2VNR3YAUF
http://www.bulkherbstore.com/Black-Walnut-Hull-Powder
http://www.herballegacy.com/Light_Medicinal.html
http://www.herbal-supplement-resource.com/marshmallow-root.html
http://drmorsesherbalhealthclub.com

The Environmental Working Group has a list of the vegetables and fruits with the highest amount of the highest amounts of pesticide residue called the Dirty Dozen. They also have a list of least likely to contain pesticides called the Clean Fifteen.

The Dirty Dozen for 2013
Apples
Celery
Cherry tomatoes
Cucumbers
Grapes
Hot peppers
Nectarines (imported) 
Peaches
Potatoes
Spinach
Strawberries
Sweet bell peppers
Dirty Dozen Plus: Kale/collard greens and Summer squash

The Clean Fifteen for 2013
Asparagus
Avocados
Cabbage
Cantaloupe
Sweet corn
Eggplant
Grapefruit
Kiwi
Mangoes
Mushrooms
Onions
Papayas
Pineapples
Sweet peas (frozen) 
Sweet potatoes

EWG says (http://www.ewg.org/foodnews/summary.php) that though the Environmental Protection Agency has been restricting the uses of the most toxic pesticides, they are still detected on some foods. For example, green beans were on last year’s Plus list because they were often contaminated with two highly toxic organophosphates. Those pesticides are being withdrawn from agriculture. But leafy greens still show residues of organophosphates and other risky pesticides. That’s why they are on the Plus list for 2013.

Tests in 2008 found that some domestically-grown summer squash – zucchini and yellow crookneck squash — contained residues of harmful organochlorine pesticides that were phased out of agriculture in the 1970s and 1980s but that linger on some farm fields.

Genetically modified plants, or GMOs, are not often found in the produce section of grocery stores. Field corn, nearly all of which is produced with genetically modified seeds, is used to make tortillas, chips, corn syrup, animal feed and biofuels. Because it is not sold as a fresh vegetable, it is not included in EWG’s Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce. Nor is soy, another heavily GMO crop that makes its way into processed food.

The genetically modified crops likely to be found in produce aisles of American supermarkets are zucchini, Hawaiian papaya and some varieties of sweet corn. Most Hawaiian papaya is a GMO. Only a small fraction of zucchini and sweet corn are GMO. Since U.S. law does not require labeling of GMO produce, EWG advises people who want to avoid it to purchase the organically-grown versions of these items.

To read this article online see: http://www.ewg.org/foodnews/summary.php

Choose organic whenever buying anything on the Dirty Dozen list. Buying local organic is best and you will find that fruits and vegetables are the ripest. Be sure to rinse and/or soak your produce with high alkaline water to remove any of the bugs, bacteria or debris.

Thanks for reading!

Be Well,
Lisa Brown
www.ionizeroasis.com

sources:
http://www.ewg.org/foodnews/summary.php

Most of us are particular about what we eat, drink and wear, but how many of us are as concerned about what surrounds us? We are exposed to hundreds, if not thousands, of toxins every single day, many of which are in our own homes and vehicles. 

The American Cancer Society explains what a carcinogen is. (http://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancercauses/othercarcinogens/...) 

Cancer is caused by changes in a cell’s DNA – its genetic “blueprint.” Some of these changes may be inherited from our parents, while others may be caused by outside exposures, which are often referred to as environmental factors. Environmental factors can include a wide range of exposures, such as:

Lifestyle factors (nutrition, tobacco use, physical activity, etc.)
Naturally occurring exposures (ultraviolet light, radon gas, infectious agents, etc.)
Medical treatments (chemotherapy, radiation, immune system-suppressing drugs, etc.)
Workplace exposures
Household exposures
Pollution

Substances and exposures that can lead to cancer are called carcinogens. Some carcinogens do not affect DNA directly, but lead to cancer in other ways. For example, they may cause cells to divide at a faster than normal rate, which could increase the chances that DNA changes will occur.

Carcinogens do not cause cancer in every case, all the time. Substances labeled as carcinogens may have different levels of cancer-causing potential. Some may cause cancer only after prolonged, high levels of exposure. And for any particular person, the risk of developing cancer depends on many factors, including how they are exposed to a carcinogen, the length and intensity of the exposure, and the person’s genetic makeup.

To read this article online: http://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancercauses/othercarcinogens/...

Here are some ways to protect yourself and your family:

1. Live as close to nature as possible. Avoid areas with heavy traffic and factories. 
2. If you exercise outdoors, do so in early morning hours when the air is cleanest. Also be sure to check the air pollution if you live in big cities. 
3. Open windows in your home often to get fresh air.
4. Use 100% natural hygiene products. If you put it on your skin you will absorb it into your blood stream. If you spray it on or near you, you will inhale it. This includes body soaps, shampoos, hairsprays, colognes, perfumes, cosmetics and lotions.
5. Make sure your care’s exhaust system is in good working condition. 
6. Don’t use chemical air fresheners in your home or car. 
7. Choose natural fabrics that touch your skin like sheets and clothing.
8. Avoid candles made of synthetic scents.
9. Eat a diet of mostly raw organic fruits and vegetables. 80-100% is best. Fruits and vegetables are full of antioxidants and will keep your immune system strong.
10. Wash your fruits and vegetables in high alkaline water to clean.
11. Avoid plastic containers whenever possible.
12. Clean air conditioner filters often. Use natural, high filtration types.
13. Breathe as much fresh air as you can. Take advantage of living near the ocean or going out after it rains.
14. Use safe cookware. Avoid Teflon. 
15. Choose composite fillings for teeth instead of amalgam. 
16. Fill your house with live plants such as philodendron, English ivy, spider plants, bamboo, corn plants and bromeliads. These will help to absorb ammonia, formaldehyde, sulfates and trichloroethylene. Be sure they are safe for cats or dogs.
17. Use plain clay litter for cat litter box. Many cat litters contain chemicals that are harmful to cats and humans over time. 
18. Avoid dry cleaning. 
19. Avoid florescent lighting whenever possible.
20. Use essential oils in place of flea and tick repellant on dogs. Check for alternatives for cats as they some oils are toxic to cats.
21. Use acidic water for cleaning and sanitizing floors, washing tiles and cutting boards. Acidic water can replace many cleaning products and saves you money. It can also be used to remove stains from clothing. Acidic water works better than popular window cleaners. 
22. Change your water filter when it is needed. 
23. Get a shower filter to reduce the amount to chlorine you absorb through your skin. Studies show that after a 10 minute shower in chlorinated water, your blood levels of THMs can potentially increase by as much as a staggering 700%. 
24. Reread your labels of items you commonly buy. Many companies change formulas.

Thanks for reading!

Be Well,

Lisa Brown
www.ionizeroasis.com

sources
http://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancercauses/othercarcinogens/generalinformationaboutcarcinogens/known-and-probable-human-carcinogens
http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/10/26/senate.toxic.america.hearing/index.html
The Detox Miracle Sourcebook by Dr. Robert Morse

When was the last time you walked barefoot in the grass or on the beach? Remember how good it feels? Being barefoot in the sand, grass and dirt has amazing health benefits. Our bodies are able to release the electrical charge and free radicals we carry around with us all day. This is called earthing.

How does it work? Here is an explanation from Runbare.com (http://www.runbare.com/earthing)

Think of it this way. The earth is a giant car battery with a liquid metal core. It carries a strongly negative charge. And anything above the ground (such as in the air or insulated from the ground) carries a positive charge. This is why lightning strikes oocur, and why we need to “ground” or protect all of our electrical and electronic equipment, to keep them from sparking or short circuiting. In essence, to ground something is to plug it back in to the earth, which is actually the third prong on our electrical outlets (called a ground).

Human beings, and all organisms for that matter, are electrical in nature as well. We get ekgs, mri’s, and all sorts of electrical tests to measure our health, hearts, and bodies; our nervous system works on electrical impulses, and even the heart beats with an electrical charge (which is why you may get a pacemaker if it starts getting out of tune).

We are electrical in nature, and like electrical equipment and electronics needs to be properly grounded to function well (if you’ve ever listened to an ungrounded radio you know what I mean, you’ll hear tons of static and background noise until it’s grounded), we need to be grounded for proper health and well-being and for proper functioning of our bodies.

At no point in our history have we been this disconnected or insulated from the earth. We wear insulated rubber-soled shoes rubber does not conduct electricity, but insulates or prevents its conduction or transmission), drive insulated cars with rubber tires, and live in insulated homes; AND we even practice YOGA on insulated rubber mats.

This insulation allows us to build up a charge throughout the day, particularly as we’re swimming a sea of electrical transmissions and wires (in our phones, our appliances, our walls, beneath our feet (look at the electrical cords down by your computer) and all around us. So we’re insulated from the ground, AND surrounded by electricity.

What does this mean? Well, as you’ve seen in the winter-time (when you may inadvertently, or DELIBERATELY zap the person standing next to you) we carry a HUGE charge on and in our bodies.

And that charge turns out to be quiet harmful to our bodies. It disrupts our nervous system, confuses our minds (like that noise on the ungrounded radio going on through our brains), creates inflammation throughout the body (free radicals are positively charged particles with no way to be drained) and raises our cortisol levels (those pesky fight-or-flight stress hormones that keep us on edge, can put us in a panic, and wreak havoc on entire system, and in particular our blood-pressure, when they’re constantly being produced and have no way to drain).

All of these things occur, or build up, because we’re ungrounded and have no way to drain them. However, once we go barefoot outside, such as when we’re barefoot running or barefoot walking, they instantly begin to drain as we plug back in to the earth. However, most of us can’t spend 24/7 in direct contact to the Earth. We’re sitting at our computers at work for 9 or more hours per day, then we’re commuting in our insulated cars, and next thing you know you’re busy at home taking care of the family. Fortunately, there are Earthing products that help ground us even when we’re indoors. Direct contact to the Earth is always preferred, but if you can’t make it happen all the time, these products are the next best thing.

We’ve all felt that amazing “ahhhhhhhh” sensation of stress and pressure draining away at the end of the day when we slip off our shoes and go barefoot through the grass or on the beach.

That sensation isn’t just in our heads, it’s real. When we connect with the earth barefoot, we’re LITERALLY draining that tension away, because we’re draining off that positive electrical build-up we’ve generated in our bodies.

Studies show this helps with reducing blood pressure, inflammation, helping regulate our sleep and other body functions, levelize blood-sugar levels, and preliminary studies show even helps with many auto-immune system diseases.

These are HUGE health benefits, and all available to us if we simply slip off our shoes and feel the earth beneath our feet.

To read this article online: http://www.runbare.com/earthing

Try it yourself. Go barefoot outside for 30 minutes and see how you feel after. You can walk, sit or stand on the dirt, grass, sand or concrete. Notice how you feel before and after.

Thank you Juan for this suggestion. If you have any ideas or health related questions you want to read about in our newsletters, please email me. I love to hear from you.

Thanks for reading!

Be Well,

Lisa Brown
www.ionizeroasis.com

sources:
http://www.runbare.com/earthing
http://www.heartmdinstitute.com/health-topics/alternative-medicine/grounding-earthing/106-grounding-healthy-heart?showall=&start=1
http://www.foodrenegade.com/earthing-on-dr-oz/
http://www.earthing.com

Did I get your attention? Good. This post is mostly for the ladies but men can still read and share it with the ladies in their lives.

A little over a year ago my sister gave me a bra. It kinda resembled a thin version of a sports bra. It was called a genie bra or a miracle bra. I remember the first time I tried it on, it offered little support compared to the under wire push ups I’ve worn most of my life but I immediately liked it. It was so comfortable I wore it all the time and ended up getting more. It’s not binding and doesn’t show lines in my clothes, I don’t rush to take it off as soon as I get home.

Recently Sara Gates of Huffington Post wrote Do Women Need Bras? (http://www.huffingtonpost.com...)

Women who go braless may actually have the right idea, new research suggests.

According to the results of a 15-year study in France published Wednesday, bras provide no benefits to women and may actually be harmful to breasts over time.

“Medically, physiologically, anatomically, the breast does not benefit from being deprived of gravity,” Jean-Denis Rouillon, a professor at the University of Franche-Comté in Besançon, told France Info.

Conducting the study at the university’s hospital, Rouillon measured and examined the breasts of more than 300 women, aged 18 and 35, taking note of how the additional support provided by bras affects the body over time. (It should be noted the study does not mention breast size.)

Overall, he found that women who did not use bras benefited in the long term, developing more muscle tissue to provide natural support. As France’s The Local notes, Rouillon also noticed that nipples gained a higher lift, in relation to the shoulders, on women who went braless. When bras are worn, the restrictive material prevents such tissue from growing, which may actually accelerate sagging, the study concluded.

Capucine Vercellotti, a 28-year-old woman who participated in the research, found that she breathes easier without the constraints of a bra.

“At first, I was a little reluctant to the idea of running without a bra, but I got started and after five minutes, I had no trouble at all,” Vercellotti said, according to the Agence France-Presse.

To read this article online: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/...

Constricting bras don’t do really support anything. They cut off your circulation, cause back pain, squeeze, chafe and cause you to sweat. They slow the circulation to the breasts which isn’t healthy, so why do we wear them? If you put your arm in a sling for a month do you think you would notice some muscle loss from not using it?

Get a comfortable bra like a genie, miracle or coobie or get really brave and just go completely braless for a month and see if you ever go back to wearing a harness again.

Thank you for reading.

Be Well!

Lisa Brown
www.ionizeroasis.com

sources
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/apr/12/pros-and-cons-of-bras
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/11/women-bras-study-france-false-necessity_n_3062114.html

How often do you use cilantro also known as coriander? Did you know that cilantro has so many medicinal uses that it is none as the life saving herb?

I wrote this post back in 2011, when I was healing myself naturally with fruits and vegetables. (http://healthybodynow.net/benefits-of-cilantro/)

Cilantro nutritional benefits include minerals – calcium, potassium, iron, manganese and magnesium. Cilantro contains high amounts of vitamin A and vitamin K. It also has beta-carotene, riboflavin, niacin, folic acid, and vitamin C.

Perhaps most importantly, cilantro is a natural and inexpensive way to detoxify the body. There is ample information that credits cilantro as being one of nature’s best chelators. A Japanese medical doctor named Dr. Yoshiaki Omura discovered that organisms flourish and hide in parts of the body where heavy metals, such as lead, aluminum and mercury collect. He found that these organisms protect themselves with the toxic metals and this is what causes infections to recur. He recognized that using cilantro helps to advance the excretion of lead, aluminum and mercury from the body and this technique increased the body’s ability to heal from both viral and bacterial infection. The compounds in cilantro will help to loosen heavy metals from blood, tissue and organs and then assists in the transportation of these metals out of the body.

The benefits of cilantro include lowering blood pressure, guards against bacterial infection from Salmonella, reduces swelling, helps in the prevention of urinary tract infections, relieves arthritis, helps reduce nausea, reduces cholesterol, reduces cellulite, improves digestion, relief for stomach aches, eases mood swings associated with premenstrual syndrome, reduces cramping, promotes liver function, disinfects and detoxifies the body, lowers blood sugar, helps with insulin secretion, works as a natural anti-fungal and antiseptic for skin, works as a lung expectorant and helps conjunctivitis and other stresses on the eyes. Cilantro is an amazing cure-all, green herb!

Adding this mega herb, cilantro, to your juices and smoothies makes them very green and fresh tasting. The best way to get the most juice from cilantro is by using a twin gear or triturating juicer machine. I also enjoy adding cilantro to my smoothies.

To read this online: http://healthybodynow.net/benefits-of-cilantro/

My favorite way to add more cilantro to my diet is to put it in salsa and also chop it up well and add it to my salads.

Many people consume lots of cilantro and also bentonite clay before and after they have their amalgam fillings removed and find it very helpful.

Thanks for reading!

Be well,

Lisa Brown
www.ionizeroasis.com

sources
http://healthybodynow.net/benefits-of-cilantro/
http://institutefornaturalhealing.com/2011/06/doctor-accidentally-discovers-natural-chelation-therapy-in-vietnamese-soup/

How much time do you spend indoors, either in front of your computer, on your cell phone or in front of a television? Lately I’ve made it a point to spend at least 2-3 hours a day outside every day during the week unless it’s raining. On weekends when I’m not working I spend as much time as I can outside. Since I started this a month ago, I’ve noticed I feel better, my breathing has improved, my energy has increased and I feel happier and more alive.

Here are 5 benefits of being outdoors from Harvard Health Publications. (http://www.health.harvard.edu/...)

1. Your vitamin D levels will go up
Vitamin D is called the sunshine vitamin because sunlight hitting the skin begins the circuitous process — the liver and kidneys get involved — that eventually leads to the creation of the biologically active form of the vitamin. Over all, research is showing that many vitamins, while necessary, don’t have such great disease-fighting powers, but vitamin D may prove to be the exception. Epidemiologic studies are suggesting it may have protective effects against everything from osteoporosis to cancer to depression to heart attacks and stroke. Even by conventional standards, many Americans don’t have enough vitamin D circulating in their bodies. The good news is that you’ll make all the vitamin D you need if you get outside a few times a week during these summer days and expose your arms and legs for 10 to 15 minutes. Of course, it has to be sunny out.

There are some snags. Vitamin D production is affected by age (people ages 65 and over generate about a fourth as much as people in their 20s) and skin color (African Americans have, on average, about half the levels of vitamin D in their blood as white Americans).

Another problem: sunscreens are most effective at blocking the ultraviolet B (UVB) light, the part of the spectrum that causes sunburn, but UVB also happens to be the kind of light that kick-starts the generation of vitamin D in the skin.

The either-or of sunscreen and sunshine vitamin has stirred up a lot of controversy and debate between pro-sunscreen dermatologists and the vitamin D camp. But there is plenty of middle ground here: some limited sun exposure on short walks and the like, supplemented with vitamin D pills if necessary, and liberal use of sunscreen when you are out for extended periods, particularly during the middle of the day.

2. You’ll get more exercise (especially if you’re a child)
You don’t need to be outside to be active: millions of people exercise indoors in gyms or at home on treadmills and elliptical trainers. Nor is being outside a guarantee of activity. At the beach on a summer day most people are in various angles of repose.

Still, there’s no question that indoor living is associated with being sedentary, particularly for children, while being outdoors is associated with activity. According to some surveys, American children spend an average of 6 hours a day with electronic media (video games, television, and so on), time that is spent mainly indoors and sitting down. British researchers used Global Positioning System devices and accelerometers, which sense movement, to track the activity of 1,000 children. They found that the children were more than doubly active when they were outside.

Adults can go to the gym. Many prefer the controlled environment there. But if you make getting outside a goal, that should mean less time in front of the television and computer and more time walking, biking, gardening, cleaning up the yard, and doing other things that put the body in motion.

3. You’ll be happier (especially if your exercise is ‘green’)
Light tends to elevate people’s mood, and unless you live in a glass house or are using a light box to treat seasonal affective disorder, there’s usually more light available outside than in. Physical activity has been shown to relax and cheer people up, so if being outside replaces inactive pursuits with active ones, it might also mean more smiles and laughter.

Researchers at the University of Essex in England are advancing the notion that exercising in the presence of nature has added benefit, particularly for mental health. Their investigations into “green exercise,” as they are calling it, dovetails with research showing benefits from living in proximity to green, open spaces.

In 2010 the English scientists reported results from a meta-analysis of their own studies that showed just five minutes of green exercise resulted in improvements in self-esteem and mood.

Mind you, none of the studies were randomized controlled trials. The intuitive appeal of green exercise is its strength, not the methodological rigor of the research supporting it. It’s hard to imagine how a stroll in a pretty park wouldn’t make us feel better than a walk in a drab setting.

4. Your concentration will improve
Richard Louv coined the term “nature-deficit disorder” in his 2008 book Last Child in the Woods. It’s a play on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Researchers have, in fact, reported that children with ADHD seem to focus better after being outdoors. A study published in 2008 found that children with ADHD scored higher on a test of concentration after a walk through a park than after a walk through a residential neighborhood or downtown area. Other ADHD studies have also suggested that outdoor exercise could have positive effects on the condition. Truth be told, this research has been done in children, so it’s a stretch to say it applies to adults, even those who have an ADHD diagnosis. But if you have trouble concentrating — as many do — you might see if some outdoor activity, the greener the better, helps.

5. You may heal faster
University of Pittsburgh researchers reported in 2005 that spinal surgery patients experienced less pain and stress and took fewer pain medications during their recoveries if they were exposed to natural light. An older study showed that the view out the window (trees vs. a brick wall) had an effect on patient recovery. Of course, windows and views are different than actually being outside, but we’re betting that adding a little fresh air to the equation couldn’t hurt and might help.

To read this article online: http://www.health.harvard.edu/...

Another reason to go outdoors and into nature is for the sound healing. The most powerful sounds are those from water such as the ocean, waterfalls, creeks and thunderstorms. The sounds of birds chirping, the leaves of trees blowing in the wind, crickets and frogs can be very soothing. Going for a hike in the woods or a barefoot walk on the beach is some of the best therapy you can give yourself.

Thanks for reading.

Be Well,
Lisa Brown
www.ionizeroasis.com

sources
http://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletters/Harvard_Health_Letter/2010/July/a-prescription-for-better-health-go-alfresco?utm_source=mental&utm_medium=pressrelease&utm_campaign=health0710
http://heapro.oxfordjournals.org/content/21/1/45.long
http://www.naturalnews.com/028203_nature_deficiency_self_healing.html#ixzz2XLH1fSiT

It’s summer time and that means it’s also watermelon season! I’ve eaten at least ten so far! Eating just watermelon for a few days is great, inexpensive, delicious way to detox and cleanse your body.

Here are 9 reasons to eat watermelon.

1. Eating watermelons get the lymphatic system flowing. 
2. Watermelons contain citrulline which is an amino acid that the body uses to make arginine. This helps to remove ammonia from the body. The cells of the body use it to line the blood vessels to make nitric oxide which relaxes blood vessels, helps to lower blood pressure and promote cardiovascular function. 
3. Watermelons are 93% water. 
4. Watermelon contains the cancer -fighting phytonutrient lycopene. 
5. Eating watermelon helps to clean the kidneys from toxins. 
6. Watermelon is one of the best foods for weight loss.
7. Watermelon contains vitamins A, C, B1, B6, magnesium, thiamin and potassium.
8. Watermelon seeds contain calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, phosphorous and protein. 
9. The rinds also contain nutrients and can be juiced or added to smoothies. Be sure they are organic.

How do you pick a good, ripe watermelon?

Look for melons that are firm and symmetrical. Turn the watermelon over and look a worn, yellowish spot. This is where the watermelon was growing in the sun. If it doesn’t have this spot it might have been picked too early. Some people say thumping it works too. Position the melon 2 inches from your ear and tap it with your hand. If it sounds hollow it is ripe. If it sounds solid it is not.

Watermelons make delicious smoothies. Just put cold, watermelon slices, seeds included, in your blender. To make it even more refreshing, throw in some organic mint leaves. It’s one of my favorites. I also like to squeeze a lemon or lime over my watermelon sometimes.

Be sure to eat all melons by themselves. They digest fast and cause any other food to ferment in the stomach.

Thanks for reading.

Be Well,
Lisa Brown
www.ionizeroasis.com

I walk on the beach every morning, if the weather permits and lately I’ve been finding lots of dying bees on the beach. My friends that live in other parts of the country have also been noticing this too. I’m sure you’ve probably heard the news about the 50,000 bees that died in Oregon and the 37million bees that died in Elmwood, Canada a few weeks ago. Do you know the impact the dying bees will have on our food supply? We wouldn’t have much left to eat.

Bees are responsible for pollinating tomatoes, blueberries, cocoa, cranberries, vanilla, tamarind, raspberries, plums, avocados, apricots, rose hips, pears, mangos, broccoli, coconuts, tangerines, cabbage, cauliflower, coffee, strawberries, cherries, limes, lemons, onions, figs, cucumbers, squash, kiwis, turnups, cashews, celery, hazelnuts, peaches, almonds, cotton, sunflower, melons, currants, pomegranates, sesame, guava, blackberries, asparagus, brussel sprouts, apples, carrots and many more. Can you imagine?

Albert Einstein supposedly said “If the bee disappeared off the face of the earth, man would only have four years left to live.”

How can you help? Here are 7 things you can do to help these important pollinators from Care 2 Care.(http://www.care2.com/greenliving/7-ways-to-help-honey-bees.html)

1. Add your name to the petition urging the EPA and USDA to ban neonicotinoids, a widely used class of agricultural pesticides that is highly toxic to bees and believed to play a crucial role in colony collapse disorder. The EU has just enacted a ban on neonicotinoids and we must follow Europe’s lead as there is literally no time to waste.

2. Let dandelions and clover grow in your yard. Dandelions and clover are two of the bees’ favorite foods – they provide tons of nourishment and pollen for our pollinators to make honey and to feed their young. These flowers could not be any easier to grow – all you have to do is not do anything.

3. Stop using commercial pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers – these chemicals are harmful to the bees. And they’re also harmful to you, your family, and our soil and water supply, too. Definitely not worth it!

4. Eat more honey and buy it from a local bee keeper. This is a pretty sweet way to help the bees (sorry, I can never resist a good pun.) Unlike big honey companies, local bee keepers tend to be much more concerned about the health of their bees than they are about their profits. And their products do not have to travel far to reach your kitchen, either. You can almost always find local honey at your farmers’ market and it may also be available at your local health food or grocery store. It may cost a little more than the commercial options, but it’s well worth it.

5. Plant bee-friendly flowers. This not only helps the honey bees, it will also make your yard more beautiful and can also provide you with a bunch of great culinary herbs.

In addition to the dandelions and clover I mentioned above, bees love many other flowers, including: bee balm, borage, asters, lavender, thyme, mint, rosemary, honey suckle, poppies, sunflowers, marigolds, salvia, butterfly bush, clematis, echinacea (see the bee partaking of some coneflower goodness below) blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, fennel, yellow hyssop, milkweed, goldenrod, and many more. You can also just buy one of those pre-mixed packets of wildflowers with good results. And, if you’re ever in doubt, choose native plants as they will be best suited to the climate you live in and can help support the bees throughout the season.

6. Buy organic. Organic food and fibers like cotton and hemp are produced without the use of commercial pesticides, fertilizers and herbicides, making them inherently more bee-friendly than conventionally grown products.

7. Share this post with your friends, family, neighbors and co-workers to help build more “buzz” for honey bees.

Read this article online: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/7-ways-to-help-honey-bees.html#ixzz2Y1JimMmg

Also leave a bowl of water outside your home. Bees are thirsty. If you put it near plants or garden you will have bees come to your flowers, herbs and plants and pollinate them.

Please tell Home Depot and Lowe’s to stop carrying Roundup Herbicide and neonicotinoid insecticides. http://org.credoaction.com/petitions/tell-home-depot-and-lowe-s-to-stop-carrying-roundup-and-similar-pesticides?source=facebook-share-button&time=1372791315

Sign this petition to help save the bees too. http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/673/611/950/

Thanks for reading!

Bee Well,
Lisa Brown
www.ionizeroasis.com

sources
http://www.thepost.on.ca/2013/06/19/bees-dying-by-the-millions
http://www.nrdc.org/wildlife/animals/files/bees.pdf
http://rt.com/usa/oregon-dead-bees-memorial-403/
http://www.queenofthesun.com/get-involved/10-things-you-can-do-to-help-bees/
http://www.fastcoexist.com/1682095/this-robotic-bee-just-took-flight-to-pollinate-crops-and-maybe-spy-on-you

Remember the days when you were a child and you would wake up feeling totally refreshed and full of pure energy? Imagine feeling that way every day. Eating a clean diet of ripe, raw fruits and vegetables will make a huge difference in your vitality, but it’s not just what you’re eating, it’s when you’re eating that is just as important.

Most people eat a late dinner and then snack at night. I’ve been guilty of this too. Some people have a huge meal and then go to bed a few hours later. These habits result in feeling sluggish in the mornings. The body needs time to repair and heal but when it has to digest food while you are sleeping, it hardly gets enough time to do everything that needs to be done.

Raw food chef and author, Paul Nison wrote The Daylight Diet. Paul explains digestion and daylight even further.(http://www.healthkeepersmagazine.com/article.php?id=1151990&s=1)

“It’s sunlight that really gets digestion moving. Obtaining and maintaining good health is actually pretty simple: abide by the laws of nature that manage your body; straying from these principles will result in damage to your body.

Think of it this way: Take the law of gravity. There is no altering that law and denying it can have disastrous and even tragic results. Therefore, no one questions the law of gravity. We don’t have to justify it, because we can witness how it works.

The correlation between the sun and digestion is another example of one of the laws of nature. Exposure to sunlight promotes easier digestion. Digestion and assimilation become weak and imperfect if we are not exposed to the direct rays of the sun on a daily basis. Defying this natural law will not result in the same immediate damage as breaking the law of gravity, but over time, serious damage will take place.

How does it work?

There is a direct connection between the optic nerve and digestion. When sunlight hits the optic nerve, electrical impulses are transmitted, activating many processes of the body, including digestion. Nerve impulses send messages that tell the body to produce certain enzymes, gastric juices and other processes of digestion. Similar to the act of chewing, when the optic nerve is stimulated by sunlight, the digestive organs prepare for food. When the sun goes down, there is less light stimulating the optic nerve, and digestion slows down. This declaration does not sit well with people who take pleasure in eating late at night. As I acknowledged in the introduction, people will continue to look for excuses to indulge in their addictions, but ignorance of divine and natural law is why numerous people encounter disease. This is not a mystical, New Age idea. Just as God breathed air into man and gave him life, He designed our organs with capabilities no man-made machine can fully reproduce. Please do not misunderstand: I am not claiming that digestion grinds to a halt once the sun goes down. What I am saying is that eating after the digestive system slows down in the evening goes against the laws of nature and will result in a decline in health."

To read more http://www.healthkeepersmagazine.com/article.php?id=1151990&s=1.

Paul goes on to explain that the artificial lighting, television and music stimulates us and causes us to be hungry at night and changes our body cycles. When it’s dark outside, our indoor lighting should be dimmer.

I also agree with what he says about sunglasses. Paul says sunglasses trick the brain that it’s dark outside and actually increases your chances of getting sunburned. I’ve gone without sunglasses for the last few months and I haven’t gotten sunburned. I am also careful not to be out in the sun too long and I use coconut oil which has a little bit of natural SPF.

I know many of you won’t like the idea of not eating at night but it’s worth a try right? Or if not converting completely how about just eating a little earlier and cutting out the late night snacking and dimming the lights in your home and on your computer or laptop and maybe light some candles?

Thanks for reading.

Be well,
Lisa Brown
www.ionizeroasis.com

Have you tried hulled hemp seeds yet? They are one of nature’s most perfect foods because they are high in omega 3 and omega 6, contain essential amino acids plus they taste great! Oh and don’t worry they will not make you high.

Here are 8 Reasons to Eat Hemp Seeds from Healthy Body Now.net (http://healthybodynow.net/benefits-of-hemp-seeds-8-reasons-to-eat-them/)

They taste really good in almost everything! They have a nutty flavor. You can add a few spoons to your smoothies, salads, soups, oatmeal, puddings, cereals, dressings and use them in raw recipes.

Hemp seeds are a nutritionally complete food. They contain all of the essential amino acids and all 20 amino acids.

Hemp seeds are easily digestible and do not cause the bloating and gas like other proteins. 3 tablespoons of hemp seeds equals 11 grams of protein.

There are two types of protein in hemp seeds, 65 % is edestin and 35% is albumin. Edestin protein is very close to our body’s own globular protein in our blood plasma. Albumin is also a high quality protein.

Hemp seeds are the most balanced sources of essential fatty acids with an omega 6 to 3 ratio of 3:1. Most experts concur the ratio of omega 6 to omega 3 should be consumed in the range of 1:1 to 5:1 get the maximum benefit. Omega 3′s can help to reduce inflammation, lower your risk for cancer, arthritis, heart disease, improve brain function and be helpful for people with atherosclerois. The gamma-linolenic acid can help reduce nerve pain in diabetics too.

The extracts from hemp seeds can help to improve memory and learning. They help to stimulate calcineurin which is a brain enzyme that plays a key role in brain synapse activity. A study at the University of Michigan showed that calcineurin increased both immune and brain function in mice.

Hemp seeds are excellent for your digestive system. The seeds have a bulking and laxative effect. This cleans the walls of your colon.

Hemp seeds contain glutamic acid. This is a neurotransmitter that helps us deal with work related and psychological stress.
You can find raw shelled hemp seeds at health food stores and also online. Remember to store them in the refrigerator after opening.

To read this article online: http://healthybodynow.net/benefits-of-hemp-seeds-8-reasons-to-eat-them/

One more reason to use hemp seeds is they make an excellent substitute for milk.

Here’s the recipe for Hemp Milk, makes 4 cups.

Ingredients:
4 cups cold ionized water
1/2 cup hemp hearts
4 dates (remove the seeds)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:
Put all the ingredients in a high speed blender for a few minutes. Strain it using a nut milk bag or strainer. Keep in fridge for 3 days in air tight container.

Thanks for reading!

Be Well,

Lisa Brown
www.ionizeroasis.com

Every one of us has a our own unique eco system, a microbiome, which is home to more than a hundred trillion microbes. We have to keep these on track to help us stay well. How do we do this?

Here are 7 ways to maintain good gut health by Dr. Frank Lipman from Mind Body Green.com. (http://www.mindbodygreen.com/wc/dr-frank-lipman)

1. Attention, germaphobes! Step away from the hand-sanitizer.

These days most of us spend the majority of our lives indoors, hermetically sealed into cars, homes and offices, frequently dousing ourselves in antibacterial cleansers. Sure, we’re “clean,” but we’re also severely limiting our exposure to a wide diversity of microbes, whose presence in our guts (and on our skin) have a protective, immunity-boosting effect. To combat this health-compromising, sterile lifestyle and strengthen your immune system to boot, take a deep breath, step away from the Purell and start exposing yourself – microbially, that is.

2. Bring the great outdoors in.

One of the best, and also most pleasurable ways to increase your microbial exposure, is to simply open the windows and let the microbes flow! Welcome them into your home, your car, your office – the more, the merrier, and the better for your microbiome. Next, get outside and get your hands dirty – as in, do some gardening, plant some flowers, mow your lawn or do any activity that will connect you and your immune system with the trillions of microbes in the soil. No need to roll around in the mud like a hippie at Woodstock, just get your hands dirty every now and then, literally.

3. Don’t kill off healthy microbes in the first place with foods that mess with your microbial balance.

Topping the list of microbe-whacking villains: processed foods, genetically-modified-anything, sugar and wheat. Also doing the microbial perp walk are factory-farmed meats, which come loaded with antibiotics at no extra charge. The problem is, instead of nourishing the body with life-enhancing, microbiome-supporting nutrients, these foods have the opposite effect. They introduce irritants, allergens, carcinogens and inflammation into your body, thus setting you up for a variety of chronic illnesses.

4. Take as few courses of antibiotics as possible.

This will help minimize the carpet-bombing effect antibiotics have on gut microbes. Antibiotics indiscriminately take out everything in their path — including the good gut flora your body needs to support long-term health. When your doc or dentist prescribes antibiotics, politely but firmly ask if they’re absolutely necessary. If the answer is yes, insist on the shortest course possible.

5. Stop me if you’ve heard this before – but plants are really, really good for you!

What a shocker, eh? Seriously though, plant-heavy diets are especially helpful for improving your microbial diversity, so hit the produce aisle hard and frequently. Why? Because plants give your microbes something to chew on, to break down, to digest and extract the nutrients from – you’re literally feeding the little critters what they love and need to survive. So what’s in it for you? A balanced microbiome that’s healthy, strong and well-armed to fight off chronic health problems, inflammatory conditions, heart disease, cancers, and even dementia. My advice? Pile on the plants and enjoy.

6. Protect your microbes with probiotics.

If you have to take an antibiotic, take probiotics as well, and take them away from each antibiotic dose to help maintain the diversity of your gut flora. Not on antibiotics? Take probiotics anyway. Doing so will keep your microbiome full of live, beneficial organisms, which will help keep digestion, immunity and overall health on track. Look for probiotics that deliver 20 to 50 billion live organisms per dose and contain a combination of different strains of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria. (I may be biased, but Be Well Probioticscontain the 5 best-researched, most viable and stable strains bacteria known today.) Take probiotics as directed, once or twice a day, preferably with meals.

7. Enjoy a delicious bowl of probiotics, with a side of prebiotics.

Show your microbiome some love by feeding it with probiotic foods, like good, old-fashioned, fermented foods (preferably organic). These fermented goodies like sauerkraut, kim chi, kombucha, and pickled veggies encourage the growth of good bacteria. Add to that some pre-biotic foods, those non-digestible short-chain fatty acids that help your good bacteria flourish. To get your dose, try eating more artichokes, garlic, beans, oats, onions and asparagus.

To read this online http://www.mindbodygreen.com/wc/dr-frank-lipman

How’s your gut health? Did you know your gut is your second brain and it contains a very complex nervous system with about 500 million neurons. It is responsible for your digestion, your cravings, and plays an important role in your mental and physical well being. So take care of your gut and your gut will take care of you.

Thanks for reading.

Be Well,

Lisa Brown
www.ionizeroasis.com

When was the last time you went for a walk in the forest? Just last week I was walking through the beautiful redwoods of Humboldt County. I was felt so good to be there I felt I could stay there forever. I always feel re-energized after walking through a green forest.

Shinrin-yoku is a Japanese word that translates to “forest bathing” and it means to spend time in the woods for the therapeutic effects. You breathe in phytoncides that are released by plants. They help to reduce stress, lower blood pressure and give a boost to your immune system. In fact, research about forest bathing shows it could also help prevent and fight cancer.

Healthy parks, healthy people says (http://www.hphpcentral.com/article/forest-bathing)

“Some of the most interesting evidence of the health benefits of nature is coming out of Japan, and revolves around the popular practice of ‘Shinrinyoku’ or ‘forest bathing’. The practice was introduced in 1982 in a prescient move by the Forest Agency of Japan to encourage a healthy lifestyle and decrease stress levels. Forest bathing has now become a recognized relaxation and stress management activity in Japan – but studies conducted in the last few years shows forest bathing is also increasing a component of the immune system that fights cancer.

Qing Li is a senior assistant professor at Nippon Medical School in Tokyo who is studying forest medicine. He is currently the president of the Japanese Society of Forest Medicine, which was established in 2007. Dr Li has conducted a number of experiments to test the effects of forest bathing on our moods, stress levels and immune system.

In one study the Profile of Mood States (POMS) test was used to show that forest bathing trips significantly increased the score of vigour in subjects, and decreased the scores for anxiety, depression and anger – leading to the recommendation that habitual forest bathing may help to decrease the risk of psychosocial stress-related diseases.

Other studies on immune function looked into whether forest bathing increases the activity of people’s natural killer (NK) cells, a component of the immune system that fights cancer. In two studies, small groups of men and women respectively were assessed before and after a two-night/three-day forest bathing trip. During the trips the subjects went on three forest walks and stayed in a hotel in the forest. Blood tests were taken before and after the trip, revealing a significant boost in NK activity in the subjects in both groups. The increase was observed as long as 30 days after the trip. Follow-up studies showed a significant increase in NK activity was also achieved after a day-trip to a forest, with the increase observed for seven days after the trip."

See more at: http://www.hphpcentral.com/article/forest-bathing#sthash.PrlJtjNQ.dpuf

I knew it wasn’t my imagination. I’m making it a point to go out to the forest as often as I can, how about you?

Thanks for reading,

Be Well,

Lisa Brown
www.ionizeroasis.com

Every day for the last three weeks I was away in Northern California I ate lots of blackberries. They grow wild on the roadsides and fields almost everywhere up there. Some of the blackberries were so sweet they tasted like candy. I bought some yesterday at the store and they are expensive but definitely worth every penny because of the nutritional value.

Here are some facts about blackberries you may not have known from Huffington Post. (http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/01/31/blackberry-facts_n_2581622.html)

1) Much like spinach, raisins, apples, plums and grapes, blackberries are rich in bioflavonoids and Vitamin C, but other nutritional benefits include a very low sodium count and having only 62 calories to a cup.

2) The dark blue color ensures blackberries have one of the highest antioxidant levels of all fruits. Antioxidants, well-known for lowering the risk of a number of cancers,are a huge bonus, but be aware the berries are best consumed in their natural state to get the full benefits.

3) The berries are known by a variety of names, which include brambleberries, bramble, dewberry, thimbleberry and lawers.

4) Consumption of blackberries can help to promote the healthy tightening of tissue,which is a great non-surgical procedure to make skin look younger. Prolonged consumption also helps keeps your brain alert, thereby maintaining clarity of thought and good memory.

5) The high tannin content of blackberries provides a number of benefits to reduce intestinal inflammation, alleviate hemorrhoids and soothe the effects of diarrhea. It is important to incorporate berries in your diet in a variety of ways. Have them as a snack or in your cereal or even as a smoothie.

6) Traditionally, the leaves and barks of the plant have also been consumed. The leaves of blackberries have been used to treat mild inflammation of the gums and sometimes even sore throats.

7) The astringent tannins are effective in oral hygiene when used as a gargle or mouthwash.

8) The leaves can also be used in a refreshing cup of tea or enhanced as a therapeutic drink. Not everyone will like the flavor, so to mask the bitter taste, honey or another form of sweetener may be added.

9) The healthy dose of Vitamin K aids in muscle relaxing, so some women use the berries to alleviate labour pains. As part of a regular diet, the juice can also be used to regulate menstruation as it is very effective in helping blood to clot.

10) And finally, if you have noticed that your blackberry plant has turned orange, destroy it. This is a serious fungal disease that cannot be cured.

To read this article online: http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/01/31/blackberry-facts_n_2581622.html

The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition published a 2006 study that showed blackberries have the highest antioxidant content of any other foods. Walnuts and strawberries were followed. Blackberries have an ORAC (oxygen radical absorbance capacity) score of 5347 per 100 grams.

Thanks for reading.

Be well,

Lisa Brown
www.ionizeroasis.com

sources
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/01/31/blackberry-facts_n_2581622.html
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=faq&dbid=42

I read an article today that was warning readers to stay away from fructose, as in high fructose corn syrup except she also mentioned avoiding fruits. High fructose corn syrup and fructose in fruits are totally different. The author has a Master’s in Nutrition and a BS in Biochemistry so I know many people will heed her advice. I remember when I first started my fruit cleanse I had warnings from others about how it would cause my blood sugar to rise and that I would have health problems. None of which happened, in fact I feel better than ever and my energy level remains high throughout the day.

Dr. Robert Morse explains it best here in his article The Truth on Sugar. (http://drmorsesherbalhealthclub.com/myths.php)

“As the engine in your car needs a carbon-based fuel to run, so does your physical body. Of the main constitutients, your body needs to function amino acids, fatty acids, and sugars are primary. However, it is sugar mixed with oxygen that your body requires to run the machine. To understand sugars better, simple definitions of sugars are necessary.

Monosaccharides:
A single or simple sugar, e.g., glucose, fructose, or galactos, also known as carbohydrates.

Poly or Disaccharides:
Starch or complex sugars consisting of several glucose/fructose bonds depending upon the type of starch or carbohydrate.
Your body uses digestion to separate the simple from the complex. In other words, your body can’t use proteins, it can only use amino acids. So the body must break down a complex amino acid structure (called a protein) intoamino acids; fats to fatty acids; and starch or complex sugars to simple sugars. With this factual information, it should start to become evident that sugars are a big factor in health! Your body mixes glucose or fructose with oxygen to achieve cellular energy known as ATP (adenosine triphosphate). Without ATP a cell will weaken and become attacked (mainly by parasites), or bonded with a virus, or antigen.

You must understand your body does not use proteins for energy. It is only the adrenaline or epinephrine in meat that is energetic. This is a problem in that your adrenal glands are supposed to supply your body with adrenaline, when needed, for nerve function.

When you consume complex sugars, as in anything complex, your body now has to deal with the overload of simple sugars and now has to store them as fat, excrete what it can, and use the fungal family to help it rid itself of all the unneeded sugar (since sugars are mostly carbon bonds that are broken down into carbonic acid.) Now we are back to excessive acidosis.

The same is true with proteins and fats. A lot of man’s toxemia comes from excess proteins, fats, and sugars, which are broken down into acids, stored and/or parasitically acted upon. With a stagnant lymphatic system, this creates: systemic acidosis, body odors, culturing of parasites (bacterium, fungi, protozoa’s, etc.) all of which starts the inflammatory (immune) response leading to the atrophy of the body.

Fruit (sugars) and Candida (fungus):

It is said, “Sugars feed Candida”. I hope with the above understanding you can see through this myth! If you put out a piece of cheese, a slice of bread, and some grapes or a ripe banana on the counter in your kitchen, which one is going to grow mold (fungus) on it first? It will be a race between the bread and cheese. The fruit will only grow mold as it begins to ferment, since the cheese and bread are already fermented.

Remember: Nature uses the parasitic kingdom to clean and eliminate that which is not needed, damaged, or in someway loses its ability to support life in a healthy way. Fermentation and putrefaction are the processes of decay, or breakdown, which require parasitic action. Healthy cells and lymph do not require parasitic action. Of course this includes the cells in your body. With this understanding, what type of sugar could feed Candida (yeast, fungus, molds, warts, etc.)? That’s right… STARCHES and EXCESS COMPLEX SUGARS!

SUGARS (FRUIT) AND CANCER:

“Sugars feeds cancer” is another tremendous myth. To claim sugars feed cancer is to deny what decades of science has proven. To starve the body for a sugar is to starve the cell of its energy. This causes cancer.Starvation, acidosis, and ketosis damage cells. A damaged cell is on its walk down the road to A-typical and becoming a cancer cell. This is also true of proteins and refined fats or too many supplemented fatty acids.

Remember: The body is simplistic. More is not better. Less is often times better e.g., fasting of all types, under-eating, etc. Acids feed cancer as acids create inflammation and the parasite response to the above. As previously stated, glucose and fructose are both simple sugars. To say a fruit feeds cancer is also saying vegetables feed cancer. This is all stupid thinking! Even the American Cancer Society recommends a high fruit and vegetable diet!

There are many properties that make fruit superior to vegetables. Fruits are higher in antioxidants and astringentsand will move your lymphatic system far better than vegetables. This is why one sees a lymphatic response when fruit is consumed. That is what you want! Fruits, also being a simple sugar, are superior for diabetics, pancreatitis,hepatitis, and all other gastric and intestinal conditions. Fructose does not require insulin or extensive digestive enzymes. Fruits’ magnetic (electrical) energy is the highest of all foods, making them superior brain and nerve foods. They will bring energy to the body where most other foods take it away. NEVER FEAR THE USE OF FRUITS! I cleaned up a lymphoma case in France once in 45-days on grapes, a stomach cancer case in 56-days, the list goes on and on…

Detoxification and Fruits:

Superior deep-tissue detoxification can only take place with fruits. Vegetables, because of their lower energetic, antioxidant and astringent properties, and their complex cellulose structures will only detoxify you so far, and then you will reach a plateau. I see this all the time in various detox and health retreat centers around the country. I have a lot of clients who have tried these “detox centers” and then call me out of desperation. They are always craving fruits! Add fruit and botanicals to the mix and you will have a superior way to win over the cancer you created."

To read this article online: http://drmorsesherbalhealthclub.com/myths.php

Ripe, organic fruit is the best thing you can eat. Don’t take my word for it, experience it yourself. Eat it on an empty stomach for breakfast and throughout the day. Try eating all fruit during the day for few weeks and see how you feel. You will feel a change in your energy levels, you will also feel cleaner, and see improvements in your ability to focus for longer periods of time and feel better. I have recommended fruits to several of my friends who were also skeptics but now all 5 of them feel fantastic and don’t want to return to their old ways. I do have to warn you, you might experience some detox symptoms. I did but they were very minor and subsided after a few weeks. Just remember this is not caused by eating fruit but rather the fruit cleansing and bringing buried issues to the surface.

Check out these links of personal stories of people who eat mostly fruit.

http://www.loving-it-raw.com/raw-food-health.html

http://eatfruitfeelgood.com/

Thanks for reading.

Be Well,

Lisa Brown
www.ionizeroasis.com

I am not ashamed to admit I don’t wear deodorant or antiperspirant. I don’t smell either. Since I have changed my diet and I eat mostly raw I don’t need it. Like most people, for years part of my morning ritual was applying deodorant after showering. It seemed to stay on me forever. I remember trying to scrub it off and it always seemed to leave a film.

When my close family members were diagnosed with Alzheimer’s I started to read labels of products they used everyday and I decided I would avoid these. So almost overnight I made changes and found safer, natural products. Deodorants was one of the first products I replaced. I used a natural brand for many years but this last year I quit using it altogether.

The reason we sweat is to cool our bodies down and when we sweat we release toxins. We have lymph nodes in the armpit area and all over our bodies. These lymph nodes are like tiny septic tanks that are used by your lymph system to filter, neutralize, bond and destroy toxins and antigens. So wouldn’t it make sense to let them do their job and not inhibit them by rubbing toxic ingredients on them?

Most deodorants and antiperspirants have these known toxins in them.

Aluminum is linked to prostate cancer, breast cancer and Alzheimer’s. People without fully functioning kidneys are warned not to use antiperspirants.

Parabens used in many antiperspirants and deodorants have been shown to mimic the activity of estrogen.

Phthalates are known as “endocrine disruptors” because they mimic the body’s hormones and have been proven in laboratory tests to cause neurological and reproductive damage.

Atriclosan is toxic to human health and the environment.

Propylene Glycol is an irritant to the skin and can cause immune system toxicity or allergies.

Alternatives for deodorant and antiperspirants can be found at most health food stores but use caution and read your labels. Just because it’s sold in a health food store does not necessarily mean it’s healthy. Some of the crystal deodorants on the market are just as toxic.

Baking soda mixed with coconut oil is said to be a good natural substitute. Rubbing cut lemons on under your arms is another alternative.

Remember anything you put on your skin is absorbed into the bloodstream so if you can’t eat it, don’t put it on your skin.

Thanks for reading.

Be Well,
Lisa Brown
www.ionizeroasis.com

sources
http://www.thedailygreen.com/environmental-news/latest/phthalates-47020418
http://health.howstuffworks.com/skin-care/underarm-care/tips/is-antiperspirant-toxic.htm
http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/substances/toxsubstance.asp?toxid=240
http://www.lifescript.com/health/centers/breast_cancer/articles/are_antiperspirants_safe.aspx
http://enewspf.com/latest-news/science/science-a-environmental/45247-antimicrobials-alter-stream-communities-and-lead-to-resistance-study-finds.html
http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredient/705315/PROPYLENE_GLYCOL/
http://healthwyze.org/index.php/component/content/article/327-beware-of-deodorants-especially-the-safe-and-all-natural-ones.html

Have you ever had a papaya? The last few days I’ve been enjoying ripe, delicious papaya. I’ve been making tropical smoothies and papaya slices. Papaya is loaded with vitamins, especially vitamin A. It’s also great for the digestive system.

Here are some Healing Properties of Papaya from My Yoga Online: (http://www.myyogaonline.com/healthy-living/health-and-wellness/the-health-benefits-of-papaya)

“Below is a summary of the healing properties of papaya:

Increases quality of proteins in whole organism.

Revitalize the human body and maintains energy and vitality.

Encourages the renewal of muscle tissue.

Supports cardiovascular system.

Boosts the immune system.

Helps with the digestive system, by breaking down the proteins and supporting production of digestive enzymes.

Papaya can be use also externally as a treatment for skin wounds that don’t heal quickly, for this you can use papaya peel or ointments made out of papaya. Can also be used in the treatment of cuts, rashes, stings and burns.

Prevents cataract formation as it is loaded with vitamin A, potassium, folate and fiber. It also contains lutein and zeaxanthin—substances which help protect our eyes from age-related blindness

Due to high vitamin A content, it lowers the risk of emphysema in smokers and passive smokers.

Alleviates inflammation.

Helps with the nausea and constipation.

Can benefit people suffering from colon cancer and other forms of cancers (It’s the only fruit with the enzyme Papain- currently being studied for possible relief of cancer therapy side effects and rheumatoid arthritis) and aliments of cardiovascular and gastrointestinal systems.

Helps in the prevention of atherosclerosis, diabetes and heart disease.

Aids in the treatment of ulcers, dissolve membranes in diphtheria and reduces swelling, fever and adhesions post-surgery.

CAUTION: In relation to Papain supplements: Pregnant woman should only use them under medical supervision. But ripe papaya is safe to eat during pregnancy.

Lastly, Papaya has 33% more vitamin C than oranges!!"

To read this article online: http://www.myyogaonline.com/healthy-living/health-and-wellness/the-health-benefits-of-papaya

Be sure to eat some of the seeds of the papaya too. They contain enzymes called papain and alkaloids called carpaine that are very effective at killing worms and amoebas.

Beware of genetically modified papaya and other gmo fruits and vegetables.

Thanks for reading!

Be well,

Lisa Brown
www.ionizeroasis.com

Do you use your acidic, beauty water feature on your ionizer to rinse your skin and hair? It will help to improve your complexion to remove dirt and oil without the use of strong chemicals. It can also help relieve dry skin, acne, eczema and psoriasis. If you rinse your hair with acidic water it is good for the scalp and will leave it very shiny.

Here are 5 other ways to get great skin by Starre Vartan of Mother Nature Network. (http://www.mnn.com/lifestyle/natural-beauty-fashion/blogs/5-surprising-ways-to-get-great-skin)

How have I learned the information below? From speaking with skin experts, makeup artists (natural and conventional) and testing out literally thousands of products over the last 10 years that I’ve been reviewing natural beauty products.

1. You don’t need to wash your face with hot water to get it clean: In fact, hot water can cause redness and irritation in people with sensitive skin, and for those with normal skin, it can still dry out delicate facial skin, leaving it more susceptible to all kinds of issues, from red, flaky dermis to acne. Wash your face with mildly warm to air-temperature water. It will get the job done without irritating your skin. The same goes for the rest of your body; it may feel good to burn it up in the shower, but especially as cool weather draws closer, this is guaranteed to irritate your skin.

2. Oil is good for your skin, not bad: Many vegetable oils are old-school ways of moisturizing the skin that we have long ignored. (I can’t be the only one who has heard stories of her great-grandmother lathering her hands up with olive oil and then wearing cotton gloves to bed). You can wash your face with coconut oil or slather it on after you’ve showered; same with sesame oil and olive oil (go with the smell you prefer). After using an oil a couple of times, you will notice that your skin — whether oily or dry — evens out and is either less oily or more naturally moisturized. Most new formulations of high-end beauty products contain skin-protecting oils because they work (use argan or sea buckthorn oils on your face if you want to start with a lighter lipid first).

3. You don’t need to scrub to exfoliate: Scrubbing with most drug-store brand cleansing scrubs is much too harsh for most skin types (more frequent and harder face-washing can actually exacerbate acne, so lighten up). Instead of using toxin- and chemical-packed scrubs in a tube, exfoliate naturally using fruit. As long as you are not allergic (obviously), rubbing the inside skin of a fresh mango, mashed strawberries, or fresh pineapple chunks directly on your face, leaving the natural, fruit acid AHAs on there for a few minutes, then rinsing off, is the best exfoliator you can get. This method may be a little too much for extra-sensitive skin, but works well for all other skin types.

4. What matters most for healthy skin is not what you put on it, but what you eat: A healthy diet with lots of fresh fruits and veggies, lots of water (and maybe a skin-benefiting tea), minimal alcohol and plenty of sweat-drenching exercise will make skin glow more than any expensive cleanser or moisturizer. You’ll feel great too.

5. Chocolate doesn’t cause acne, but bread and pasta might: There have never been any conclusive studies linking chocolate-eating to acne, though there have been some that connect high-glycemic foods to breakouts.

To read this online: http://www.mnn.com/lifestyle/natural-beauty-fashion/blogs/5-surprising-ways-to-get-great-skin

Thanks for reading!

Be Well,

Lisa Brown
www.ionizeroasis.com

There are two types of people. Those who eat kale and those you should. I don’t know who said it but I like it. 

Did you know kale is one of the best green vegetables you can eat or juice? I like to add some kale to my smoothies and salads. I also love to juice it.

Here are the Benefits of Kale Juice from Healthy Body Now. (http://healthybodynow.net/kale-juice/_)

“Kale juice is considered by nutritionists to be the most nutritious vegetable juice in the world with extremely powerful antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. Kale juice is great for boosting your immune system. Kale juice is high in beta carotene, vitamin C, vitamin K, lutein, zeaxanthin, and calcium. Kale juice contains sulfur-containing phytonutrients called sulforaphanes which have potent anti-cancer properties. The sulforaphanes are formed when kale is chopped, juiced, chewed or blended and triggers the liver to produce enzymes that aid in detoxifying cancer-causing chemicals. These are called glucosinolates and they give our body the upper hand in dealing with exposure from the toxins we get from foods and/or the environment.

Most people think dairy products are the best choice for calcium. But the truth is that dark leafy vegetables like kale are the best!

Kale juice also contain oxalates, naturally occurring substances found in plants, animals, and human beings. When oxalates are accumulated in the body, they can form crystals and may cause health problems. People with gallbladder or kidney problems may want to avoid eating kale or drinking kale juice, spinach and other vegetables containing oxalates. Many people rotate their greens that they use in their green juice to avoid these problems.

Kale juice is high in Vitamin K and therefore should be avoided by anyone taking anti-coagulant medications such as warfarin. The combination of the two may decrease the effectiveness of warfarin, which could be very unsafe to you if you were to develop a blood clot. Other vegetables that contain vitamin K are collard and mustard greens, spinach, broccoli, dandelion, brussels sprouts, parsley and swiss chard.

Kale and kale juice are sometimes referred to as a “goitrogenic” foods. Contrary to popular belief and according to the latest studies, foods themselves are not “goitrogenic” in the sense of that they cause goiters when they are consumed or even when they are eaten in excess. In fact the foods that are commonly called “goitrogenic” such as the cruciferous vegetables including broccoli, cauliflower and soy foods, do not interfere with thyroid function in healthy persons even when they are consumed daily. But under certain circumstances, they may interfere with thyroid function. The term “goitrogenic food” makes it sound as if something is wrong with the food, but that is simply not the case. What causes problems for certain individuals is not the food itself but the mismatched nature of particular substances within their food to their specific health circumstances."

To read this article online: http://healthybodynow.net/kale-juice/

Be sure to use organic kale because otherwise it is one of the vegetables that has high amounts of pesticide residues.

Another thing you can do with kale is make kale chips. Kale chips are excellent. Cut curly kale up into pieces and massage mixture of olive oil, lemon juice with zest and chopped garlic. Let sit for 20 minutes and put into a dehydrator for 20-30 minutes, flip them over for another 20-30 minutes and then enjoy! If you don’t have a dehydrator you can put them on a baking sheet in the oven on 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes on each side until crispy. They are a delicious and nutritious snack!

Thanks for reading!

Be well.

Lisa Brown
www.ionizeroasis.com

Have you ever tried oil pulling? Its an ancient Ayurvedic remedy that is reported to cure many different ailments and illnesses from hormonal disorders to heart disease.

To oil pull you first want to scrape your tongue with a tongue scraper or toothbrush, then you put a teaspoon of coconut oil or sesame oil into your mouth and swish it around for about 20 minutes and spit it out. You can also add a few drops of essential oils like oregano or peppermint, then you brush your teeth as you normally would.

Here’s what Jess Ainscough from Yoganonymous.com says about oil pulling. (http://www.yoganonymous.com/the-benefits-of-oil-pulling-why-i-love-it-how-to-do-it/)

Oil pulling has many benefits. So many, in fact, that I bought a whole book on the topic called Oil Pulling Therapy: Detoxifying & Healing the Body Through Oral Cleansing by naturopathic physician Bruce Fife.

“The oil acts like a cleanser. When you put it in your mouth and work it around your teeth and gums it “pulls” out bacteria and other debris,” says Fife.

“As simple as it is, oil pulling has a very powerful detoxifying effect. Our mouths are the home to billions of bacteria, viruses, fungi and other parasites and their toxins. Candida and Streptococcus are common residents in our mouths. It is these types of germs and their toxic waste products that cause gum disease and tooth decay and contribute to many other health problems including arthritis and heart disease. Our immune system is constantly fighting these troublemakers. If our immune system becomes overloaded or burdened by excessive stress, poor diet, environmental toxins and such, these organisms can spread throughout the body causing secondary infections and chronic inflammation, leading to any number of health problems.”

The Benefits of Oil Pulling include brighter, whiter teeth, healthier gums, prevents bad breath, increased energy, clearer mind, decreased headaches, clearer sinuses, alleviated allergies, better sleep, clearer skin, regulated menstrual cycles, improved lymphatic system and improved PMS symptoms.

To read this article online: http://www.yoganonymous.com/the-benefits-of-oil-pulling-why-i-love-it-how-to-do-it/

Thanks for reading!

Be Well,

Lisa Brown
www.ionizeroasis.com