Are you familiar with your AGE?

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What's troubling you or a loved one these days? Is it a chronic condition like diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, etc. Perhaps it's something like a lack of energy, sex drive or a zest for life. Our lives today involve so much chronic stress and inflammatory foods it is a wonder we survive at all. Our lives are not meant for us to be mere survivors and there is one thing that is for sure; surviving is not thriving. Thriving involves quality of life while surviving focuses on quantity. So what does this philosophical posturing have to do with your AGE? Well, it is your AGE that partly determines how fast you "age" and it is the speed of your aging that helps determine your quality of life.

 What are AGE's?

AGE stands for advanced glycated end-products. They form throughout our lives in varying degrees depending on our aptitude to live healthy. In a nut shell AGE's are molecular trash formed when glucose (blood sugar) molecules bond with free amino groups like proteins, lipids and nucleic acids that may be in the blood at the same time. These free amino groups come primarily from inflammatory foods and when they bond with glucose they change structurally and become nutritionally void and useless. Not only are they useless but they accumulate in the body where they begin to change a person from thriving to surviving (more on this in a bit).

AGE's also attach themselves to LDL cholesterol and once attached the cholesterol oxidizes making it sticky. At this point it is just a matter of time before atherosclerosis and other degenerative cardiovascular conditions begin to set in.

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Where do they accumulate? 

AGE's have the ability to disrupt the life of all people but it is especially true for those who suffer with diabetes. The reason for this is because of where AGE's tend to accumulate. Diabetics suffer from a wide range of "spin-off" ailments such as heart attacks, nephropathy (kidney disease), stroke, neuropathy, eye disease and erectile dysfunction. AGE's find their way into cardiovascular tissues, nerve endings (especially those in the extremities and penis), brain tissues, and eyes. Once there they lodge themselves into the tissues and begin producing free radicals at a rate that is 50 times higher than non-glycated proteins. These free radicals alter the natural state of healthy cells in the body rendering them non-functional or potentially malignant (cancerous). The retinopathy, nephropathy, neuropathy, and atherosclerosis are directly correlated to this free radical production free-for-all. You no longer need to wonder why these conditions affect diabetics so specifically anymore. Furthermore, the free radicals produced can cause aging related issues such as thinning and graying hair, deep wrinkles in the skin, bone mineral depletion (leading to osteoporosis), a weakened immune system due to chronic inflammation, and adrenal fatigue causing loss of energy, drive and libido. The aforementioned issues can occur in anyone just in case you were thinking this only applied to diabetics. It's one for the AGE's.

How to avoid them?

High blood sugar levels over an extended period of time leads to increased glycation (associated with AGE's). Blood sugar control through exercise and a healthy eating plan, which would include eating foods that are minimally processed and fresh with low glycemic loads, will go along way in the fight against AGE's. If you are diabetic right now do not rely solely on medication for glucose control. Your blood sugar levels may be within normal range but your AGE's may still be high do to poor eating habits.

A simple way to check your rate of AGE production is through a HbA1c blood test. Traditionally used to check blood glucose levels it is also a way to gauge you AGE.

Source: Reversing Diabetes by Don Colbert, M.D.

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Constant Cravings???

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Allow me to set the scene if you will: You've decided to be healthier and with that decision you endeavored to do things right. Things like eat healthier, eat more often, engage in moderate exercise and engage in stress reduction to help shed unwanted pounds and improve overall health. A hearty congratulations goes out to you because you bridged the gap between talking the talk and walking the walk. But what sometimes happens is as you progress in this healthful turnover you may stumble with an insidious and formidable adversary that has the potential to sabotage your efforts. That adversary is called cravings!

The cravings are usually for foods (or stuff that is supposed to pass as food) that are highly refined and either salty or sugary. In other words simple carbohydrates that spike your blood sugar, increases appetite, increases insulin sensitivity (and subsequently enhances fat storage - not good) and has the potential to wreck your healthy habits. Cravings stem from a variety of reasons and being cognizant of them may prove helpful as you contend with those cravings in the future.

• Candida albicans: Candida is a fungus that is primarily birthed in the gut usually due to intestinal flora imbalance brought on by antibiotic use, poor nutrition, sluggish digestion or any combination thereof. A good colon cleanse along with a quality probiotic can help reverse the candida invasion. Candida thrives on sugars so it releases compounds that acts on the brain to signal hunger pangs and so the cravings begin. 
• Chemical addiction: Many of the foods and psuedofoods we consume today are laced with chemical flavor enhancers that interact with the pleasure centers in our brain (e.g. free phenylalanine metabolized after drinking diet soda). This is a sure way to create cravings because physiologically one becomes addicted to the euphoria that can be created when consuming certain chemicals found in what we eat. Have you ever noticed in some people, or yourself, that mood and disposition change for the better after they have a simple carbohydrate snack (e.g. cookies, pastries, etc.) or a diet beverage or snack? 
• Psychological: Stress in our society is unrelenting and rarely handled in a positive way. In other words we as group of people have fallen short on our stress coping skills. With a lack of positive coping skills we often turn to binge eating of comfort foods. Again, it tends to be chemically laced simple carbohydrates that exacerbates the chemical addiction component of cravings. Wondering if this is true? When was the last time you saw someone become stressed and then consumed an entire bag of carrots? You are not likely to see such a thing because carrots, or any other healthy food, would not satisfy the pleasure centers in the brain without being laced by a chemical cocktail.

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What are we to do then? Is there any hope for us mere mortals who seek positive health outcomes? Fear not because there are ways to help overcome these cravings. Here are some ideas for you to consider:

• Avoid highly processed foods. These are foods that primarily come packaged in bags or boxes (e.g. potato chips and cookies). These foods are also most likely to be laced with chemical flavor enhancers that wreak havoc by causing cravings.
• Address candida issues by cleansing your colon and taking probiotics. There are several chemical free all-natural colon cleanses on the market today that could prove helpful in cleaning out the gunk, increase digestion and in turn increase metabolism. It can also pave the way to allow for proper intestinal flora balancing through probiotics. Probiotics work much better in people who do not have impaired digestive function. Balanced intestinal flora decreases candida and therefore decreases cravings.
• Eating every 3-4 hours is also extremely helpful. Not only does this increase metabolism but it helps the body maintain blood sugar at steady levels which decreases cravings. 
• Destress. I know this sounds easier said than done but it must move up your list of priorities  Breath exercises, meditation, Tai Chi, or anything of the like will start you on the right path and take care of the psychological aspects of cravings.
• Parasites are seldom considered when regarding cravings but they can have a profound effect on what a person eats especially when it comes to sweets.

The last two items that could assist you in decreasing cravings are natural supplements.

The first item is L-tryptophan or 5-hydroxytryptophan (also known as 5-HTP) help with cravings by assisting the body in serotonin production. Serotonin is generally credited with creating feelings of happiness and well-being. Because of this action L-tryptophan and 5-HTP can counteract the negative stimulus of chemical food additives on the pleasure centers of the brain. The recommended dose of L-tryptophan is 500-2,000 milligrams and should be taken at bedtime. The dose for 5-HTP is 50-100 milligrams taken one to three times per day or 100-300 milligrams at bedtime. Two notes of caution here. One, these supplements are not a substitute for eating healthy and highly processed foods should be avoided even if you decide to take these supplements. Secondly, if you are on migraine medication called triptans or on a SSRI anti-depressant you should consult with your doctor before taking either supplement.

The second item is N-acetyl L-tyrosine which raises dopamine and norepinephrine levels in the brain. The potential for a better mood, decreased appetite and decreased cravings are greatly enhanced. N-acetyl L-tyrosine should be taken on an empty stomach in the morning or early afternoon (to avoid not being able to sleep) in a dosing range of 500-1,000 milligrams.

Constant cravings? Try some of the above recommendations and be sure to allow enough time for proper assimilation and assessment (30-90 days) to see if it helps. Go in good health and take back your life!

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Good Fats and How They Help You Control Your Weight

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For most of us we know the old nutritional mantras like "eat healthy", "exercise", "stay away from fat". These mantras are true and should be followed but some extra thought should be given to the one about fat. In our craze to lose weight many doctors, nutritionist, dietitians and the like unfortunately began lumping all fats into the same category. It is vitally important to point out that not all fats are made the same and knowing which fats to consume in their proper quantities and which fats to stay away from in their totality is one significant key to overall health and weight loss.

Fats, Weight Gain, and the Brain

In the 1960's total calories derived from fat in the average American diet was about 45%. Americans managed to decrease their fat consumption to 38% in the 80's and down to 35% in the 90's. Remarkable, right? However, despite a steady decline in overall fat consumption in the U.S. we are still heavier. Much heavier.

Fats have become a modern day dietary boogie man sacrificed for the pursuit of good health. Interestingly, our brain is approximately 60% fat in the form of cholesterol. The fats are necessary for proper brain health. Speaking of our brain health and cholesterol, the FDA issued stronger warnings in July 2012 about how cholesterol lowering drugs could lead to cognitive dysfunction such as memory loss, confusion and fuzzy thinking. We need our fats!

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Good Fats vs. Bad Fats

Being properly informed about which fats to consume and which to stay away from is important as a matter of course so lets take a look at which fats to stay away from first.

• Trans Fats - These highly toxic fats had long been a cornerstone of the American diet for years.They are man-made fats that create inflammation, raise cholesterol levels and lead to adverse cardiovascular conditions such as arteriosclerosis and atherosclerosis. Trans fats is also a leading contributor to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, obesity and cancer. These poisonous fats can be found in fast foods, processed foods like crackers, cookies, pies, cereals and bread (just about anything that comes in a box), margarine, shortening and deep-fried foods. 
• Hydrogenated Fats - These are the "new" trans fats since many people are starting to catch on to the fact that trans fats are terrible for you. Make no mistake, however, hydrogenated fats and oils are notoriously harmful to our bodies and a detriment to our health. All the things highlighted above that trans fats do to our bodies just keep that in mind here. In 2007 the FDA nearly banned Crisco because of trans fat issues but the not-so-happy compromise ended up being hydrogenated fats. Be watchful because the words "hydrogenated" or "partially hydrogenated" will appear on ingredient lists of both products in grocery stores and on restaurant nutrition information guides.
• Refined Polyunsaturated Fats - These are fats that were heated during the manufacturing process to a temperature that rendered them rancid and therefore toxic. These fats help contribute to weight gain since they tend to increase insulin resistance in the body. Most salad dressings and vegetable oils such as sunflower, corn, cottonseed, safflower and soybean oil contain these fats. For your health and safety insure the salad dressings and cooking oils you use are not refined. Search for cold pressed or expeller oils to use.
• Deep Fried Foods - These foods are are cooked in super heated oils that become rancid because of the high heat. The oils are absorbed by the food that it is frying because oil displaces water in high heat situations. These rancid oils are consumed and are extremely detrimental to the body causing significant inflammation and has been known to be a carcinogen.
• Saturated Fats - This is partially a spin-off from deep fried foods but they also include fats from other familiar sources such as milk, cheese, processed meats, pork, red meat, butter and the skins of poultry. While all deep fried foods should be avoided some of the other items may be perfectly fine unless you consume them in excessive amounts. Saturated fats, excessively consumed, can lead to inflammation increasing cholesterol and setting you up for systemic and chronic cardiovascular issues.  

Now we will discuss the good fats. These are the fats that help build and maintain our brain, cardiovascular systems, endocrine systems and help reduce inflammation. Without these fats it would be difficult to produce certain hormones, cholesterol (for inflammation control) and reduce free radicals in the blood and tissues. Good fats are also great sources of fuel second only to carbohydrates. A word of caution, however. There is a such thing as too much of a good thing. While we do need to incorporate these fats into our diets we do not need to over do it. In a bit we will discuss how much and how often to consume these beneficial fats but first things, first. Let us identify these valuable fats and what they do for us:

• Omega 3 - An essential fatty acid that is well known for reducing inflammation, lowering triglyceride levels, supporting immune function, prevent or reverse insulin resistance, prevention and treatment of heart disease and helps the body release stored fat. Sources of omega 3's are cold water fish and fatty fish (cod, salmon, herring, sardines) and flax seed and flax seed oil. There are three forms of omega 3 with two forms found in fish (EPA and DHA) and one form found in flax seed and flax seed oil (ALA) it is a good idea to get a healthy mix of both sources or take a high quality supplement. It is estimated that approximately 99% of Americans are deficient in omega 3's. 
• Omega 6 - This fatty acid Americans tend to get readily usually from grain sources and meat sources (because they tend to be grain fed). This necessary fat helps the body produce the type of prostaglandins that allows for inflammation which is a necessary bodily function when repairs are required to take place. The ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 should be around 4 to 1. Most Americans consume way too much omega-6 in the form of processed foods which distorts the ratio to 20 to 1. Healthy, unrefined sources of omega-6 (the kind you should focus on) include expeller or cold pressed oils, most seeds and nuts, and grass fed chicken or beef. Avoid omega-6 from grain fed poultry or beef, refined oils (corn, soy, safflower and cottonseed), processed foods, fast food and restaurant food.
• Omega 9 (including Monounsaturated Fats) -  These fats can actually be produced by the body from converting other fats and therefore are not considered to be essential. They are often left out of the conversation concerning fats but are very beneficial nonetheless. They have anti-inflammatory properties and have been shown to lower LDL cholesterol which is a major benefit for almost everyone consuming a Western style diet. Foods high in these fats include olives, olive oil, avocados, hazelnuts, pumpkin seeds, and sesame seeds to name a few things.
• Certain Saturated Fats - This may seem counter-intuitive but hold on just a second. The saturated fats found in, around and on the flesh of animals should be avoided whenever possible. This is not healthy. However, short-chain varieties of saturated fats are an excellent source of fuel for the body and are easily digestible which makes them healthier and less likely to increase cholesterol. The good version of saturated fat can be found in unrefined coconut oil and palm kernel oil.

Conclusion

It is far too simple a matter to completely dismiss fats from our eating regimes. The good types of fat are vitally important to our health whether it applies to weight maintenance, cardiovascular issues, hormone support and proper brain function. To figure out how much of the good fats to consume calculate your average caloric intake for a given day. Your healthy fat intake should be 20-35% of your total calories. Incorporate the good fats, eliminate or sharply curtail the bad ones and live a healthy, balanced, and productive life!

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A Healthy Liver Equals A Healthy You Update!

We have come to the end of the first cleansing cycle for our livers. It is certain that this juice combination is powerfully strong and invigorating. If you have followed along I'm sure you agree. I'm also sure you would agree that it takes a bit of getting used to because of its potency.

Still our liver health is certainly worth the cleanse. Just think of these powerful natural juices coursing through your liver to help re-energize and tone the organ that is so vital to our health and well being. Help your body power away the impurities and fatty deposits that have built up over time from poor eating habits, smoking, alcohol use and prescription drug use. Of course there are other ways to cleanse the liver with some being more pervasive than others. The current state of your health should be the determining factor as to how much, how long and how detailed your liver cleanse should be.

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If you are seeing this post and have no idea about the liver cleanse that has been discussed allow me to refer you to "A Healthy Liver Equals a Healthy You" where all will be explained! Go in good health.

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Slogans We Hold Dear: An Exercise in Thought

"Words to live by". How fitting to begin this article about slogans with a slogan. Especially in light of the fact that we often "live by" the words that others have given to us with little to no explanation , exposition, or further thought. How dangerous! There is no doubt that some of the slogans we find very familiar in our lives require little explanation beyond the words themselves but I have found a few that on the surface seem perfectly fine but after quiet reflection began to be bothersome. Bothersome because an entire idea surrounding the phrase cannot be formulated without expounding on it. I believe what happens then is a form of limitation that now governs our lives because, after all, they are words we live by which in turn helps to make an incomplete life. This is important to consider because slogans have seemingly replaced thought in our culture today. We find this in examples like when then President George Bush uttered the words "Mission accomplished" when it was obvious to anyone who cared to look that it had not been. Or another slogan like "Change" uttered by now President Obama when, again, if anyone cared to look they would find that nothing has changed. Many people, however, did not and do not care to look and believed/believe both slogans still to this very day because not much thought has gone into their meanings. We cannot allow the "words we live by" to be void of meaning and be one of the causes of an incomplete life. Here are a few other examples that you will find very familiar:

Opportunity only knocks once - The Honda Year End event comes to mind when I think of this phrase. You've probably seen the Honda commercials around Christmas when the animated character called Mr. Opportunity come a'knockin'. At the end of the commercial he simulates knocking on the television screen to entice would be customers to buy a car because this event only comes once (a year!). The savvy ad executives for Honda is playing on the old adage about opportunity only knocking once. But is this true? In my own experience I have had opportunities presented to me which I considered golden but unfortunately I was not prepared at the time to seize upon it. When this happens to us we tend to feel a bit bitter or sullen over the missed opportunity. The primary reason for this is we have been programmed over and over again that this time will be the last time and an opportunity missed is gone forever. In his book Meditations of a Leader: Think on These Things, John Maxwell summarizes the root meaning of opportunity. To paraphrase, the term "opportunity" is derived from the Latin phrase "ob porter" which described a ship from those days that waited for the tide to turn in their favor so that they may safely enter a harbor. From time to time a ship and her crew, for whatever reason, would miss the in-going tide and be forced to wait until the next tide that would carry them in. Usually the crew of this ship, being disappointed of course, would make themselves ready for the next tide because surely it would come again. This is how we should conduct ourselves when we miss an opportunity. Instead of sulking let's busy ourselves with preparing for the next tide to come in. Opportunities, much like the tide, will go away only to return at some future time. Be ready! Of course I must point out the irony of the Honda Year End Event and the fact that it too most certainly returns just like any other opportunity.

Experience is the best teacher - Who doesn't know someone who can't seem to get it right? They continue to make the same mistakes over and over again. It could be in the arena of love, business, family or any number of other areas. It happens to the very best of us. Sometimes what we want stands in direct contradiction to what we need and that's where we can become blind to our own plight. We continue day after day, year after year to beat our heads against the wall. The wall is a metaphorical representation of experience and our head is no match for it. That is until we analyze why we continue to beat our heads against the wall and make the necessary adjustments to stop the self abuse. But if the wall (i.e. experience) is the best teacher why would we hit our heads against the wall more than once? The answer is rather simple. Analyzing our experiences and making adjustments accordingly is what allows us to grow from lessons learned through our experiences. Frankly speaking, not many people do this. Nelson Boswell stated "The difference between greatness and mediocrity is often how an individual views a mistake".The emphasis is on viewing or analyzing one's mistakes or successes. To analyze one's own actions requires discipline and time and a true desire to grow. Analyzing your experience and making needed adjustments is the best teacher!

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Knowledge is power - This is an immensely popular saying. For years I have had people tell me in various venues for various reasons that "knowledge is power". Why is it power?  Does knowledge somehow find a way to animate itself, walk around and impose its will on others? Of course not. Can knowledge make otherwise lazy and unproductive people get up and do something. Not at all. Can obtaining degree after degree guarantee success on the field of life? Again the answer is no. So what is it about knowledge that makes it powerful? Put simply: its use. A more accurate phrasing, in my opinion, would be "the use of knowledge is power". The gathering of knowledge is a very important initial step and must not be overlooked but the power resides in its use. Cavett Robert, one of America's greatest public speakers and a best selling author once said "Never forget that the only material which can be used in building a life is positive action". Get up, get moving and actually use the knowledge you have gained!

Forgive and forget - "I'll forgive you but I won't forget"! Have you heard this before? Have you said this before? This is one of the most often misunderstood phrases in the phraseologist tool box. The misunderstanding of what it means to forgive and forget defies logic and therefore most people reject it even if they think they believe it. The problem resides in the fact that most people cannot erase their memories. With this handicap, if it could be described as such, it becomes impossible to fruitfully employ this ideology. To help clear up years of confusion surrounding this phrase it would be helpful to study the origins of the word "forget". The Greek word for a lack of memory is amnesis. The a- means "not or without" and -mnesis means "memory". It should look familiar because it is where the English word "amnesia" is derived. For the sake of this article the more important derivative of the Greek word is "amnesty". Amnesty is the quality of forgiving a violation and not holding that violation against the violator. This is the true nature of "forgetting" which doesn't mean to wipe from one's memory but to not hold a past harm against the person who has hurt you. In this way you no longer have to defy logic by trying to conduct a memory wipe to truly forgive someone. A true test of forgiveness is the ability to remember what someone has done to you and be able to not be hostile, angry, upset or experience any other negative emotion towards that person. Many of the sacred writings of ancient text highlight this truth in many ways over and over again if you care to research what is being espoused here. "Love lets the past die", said Lewis Smedes and I imagine that love is the root that allows true forgiveness to grow.  

In our modern age we are often the victim of covert and overt manipulation whether it be for good or not. Good or bad it is a must we open our minds and eyes and take a look at truths we hold dear with much thought and contemplation of its meaning. We must teach ourselves and teach our children to look deeper, to question, to observe broadly. The list above is a start and will expand upon itself as there are many truths we hold on to without question in the realm or politics, medicine, food "science", etc., etc. What slogans or truths have you heard over and over again that gives you pause and makes you think there must be more to it?

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A Healthy Liver Equals a Healthy You!

Did you know that among many other very important assignments the liver is the chief organ responsible for blood cleansing and metabolism? Once the liver becomes diseased or all together unhealthy you become unhealthy in general. Should your liver become fatty because of prescription medication use or from eating  insanely processed foods your metabolism slows down. The slower your metabolism the more you begin to weigh. A malfunctioning liver, sedentary lifestyle and poor diet is a disastrous recipe for poor health.

Let us endeavor, therefore, to cleanse our livers has we begin to adjust our way of eating if you have not done so already. Here is a list of ingredients and instructions for the liver cleanse:

Ingredients

• Lemons or Limes
• Garlic
• Ginger
• Olive Oil

Directions
- Squeeze one cup of fresh citrus juice (lemon and/or lime, grapefruit juice can be blended to help with taste). Mix the juice of 1-2 cloves of garlic and raw ginger juice into the citrus juice. Add one tablespoon of high quality organic olive oil. A small amount of spring water can be added but the more sour the mix the more helpful it will be for your liver. Do not eat for one hour after taking the cleanse. Once the hour has elapsed consume one cup of organic Polari tea or any other organic lever detoxifying tea. Do this for 10 days followed by 3 days off and then another 10 days for two cycles (will total 20 days of cleansing total). After that do this cleanse twice a year once in the spring and once in the fall.

How to make it:  Squeeze enough juice from grapefruit and lemons to produce at least a cup (8 oz). I took two cloves of garlic (skinned) and about 2 inches of ginger and put it in a blender with approximately 3 oz. of water. I blended the garlic, ginger and water as finely as possible and then strained the juice through cheese cloth. 

Place two layers of cheese cloth in the bottom of a bowl and pour the contents of the blender over it. The cloth will trap the solid pieces leaving the juice behind. When you remove the cloth squeeze the solids through the cloth for additional juice. 

Now mix the juice from the citrus with the juice from the garlic and ginger. You should have between 12-16 oz. of juice total. Take 3-4 oz. a day per the instructions. Refrigerate the leftover juice.

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I began this cleanse on Monday 1/28/13 and would like to share with you some of my experiences thus far.

Day 1: I was truly overwhelmed by the extreme taste of this concoction. The lemon and grapefruit juices were very acidic as you can imagine I'm sure. The juice from the garlic and ginger caught me a bit off guard with the heat they produced on the way down. One thing is for sure: any bacteria, germs or viruses in the path of this juice were obliterated instantly! I made what I think is a wise decision by cutting it with a little water. Once I ingested the juice a sure sign of increased metabolism begin to set in. Perspiration dotted my ample brow and I felt a surge of great energy. About 45 minutes later I consumed the tea and found it to be both pleasant and soothing.

Day 2: My wife joined me on this day and we partook together. Today was definitely easier than yesterday as I was already prepared for the strong flavors of grapefruit and lemon. I didn't cut it with water this time. I simply took a deep breath and gulped it. Afterwards I followed it with about 6 oz. of water. Once again I could feel the heat but it didn't seem as intense this time. Day 2 is in the books with 8 days to go in the first round of the cleanse.

Day 3: Wouldn't you know it. I already got the hang of this! I blended the batch and mixed in the olive oil afterwards as usual and downed it like a champ! Rhonda tried to to leave a little bit in the glass but she went ahead finished it off after I spotted her 'unintentional' oversight (emphasis mine). No short cuts here, sweetie!

Day 4: Doing the grab and gulp is working like a charm and that heat just keeps on coming. Not only does this combination juice boost metabolism but it also invigorates. Today's workout, which came post juice, was met with more energy than usual. I'm sure my liver and kidneys are quietly thanking me for a good cleansing!

Day 5: By now it is nothing to consume the juice. In fact it is becoming more and more pleasant. One thing for sure is that eating a short time before drinking the juice does mitigate the heat felt. Every other time I drank the juice I most felt the heat because I hadn't eaten prior to consuming the juice. I'm sure this slowed the assimilation of the juice considerably. I recommend not taking the juice within an hour or two of consuming a large meal.

I will discontinue logging my consumption daily at this point. This cleanse requires a little time and energy to mix the necessary ingredients but the mission is a worthwhile one. I will check back with you and the end of day 10 which will be the culmination of the first of two rounds the cleanse. May we all advance in great health!!!!

The Problem with Sandy Hook

The problem with Sandy Hook is more pervasive than the considerations of most people. The problem with Sandy Hook is insidious and dark. The problem with Sandy Hook resides quite unexpectedly in the collective hearts and minds of our 'great' society. The word great appears in quotations because we as a society no longer do things that 'great societies' do. Our fast food, reality T.V., drone assassinating mentality numbs our minds to the point of non-questioning compliance. So much so our hearts have become hardened against the cries for help from within our borders and callous toward the cries of those beyond. Numb minds can no longer register and contend with the constant assault against, and erosion of, our 'inalienable rights' or manufacture and distribute the one thing that could actually help us - love for one another. As we analyze the problem that is Sandy Hook we are forced to analyze the problem with ourselves.

Guns, Gun Control and Politicians

Politics, and by extension politicians, does not and cannot solve social ills. The best we can expect politically is a re-action to a problem instead of pro-action which is usually reserved for self-serving political ventures and not for social upliftment. Legislation does not solve social issues and more legislation will only fool us into thinking we are better off socially. Can more gun control legislation change a depraved heart or a demented mind? What more can words on paper do for the wounded and fractured psyches roaming our streets and terrorizing our playgrounds, schools, shopping malls, and churches? 

The reason why more laws appeal to us so much is that the problem is relegated to the politicians so they can 'do something' while we excuse and exonerate ourselves from any responsibility. After all it is easier to medicate and ignore the people who annoy us as opposed to taking time to speak sincerely with them. It's easier to cast aside and denigrate the 'freaks' and others that do not look like us or conform to our norms instead of embracing our differences and try to learn from one another. From Columbine to Virginia Tech to Sandy Hook Elementary and all the mass killings in between we still fail to collectively connect the dots.

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What's Missing?

The Apostle Paul wrote in a letter to Timothy that there would come a time when people would love themselves and money more than anything else. He also said that people would be without natural affection and self-control all the while being fiercely mean and unappeasable. Whether you believe in the bible or not no one can reasonably deny that people excessively loving themselves and being willing to hurt others in the process is on the increase. How can you tell? Pay attention to those around you who think very highly of themselves even when you both know they are doing something dead wrong on a continuous basis. Add a little dash of arrogance and voila! you have a lover of self. We can find copious examples of 'lovers of self' on reality television shows where, generally speaking, any type of behavior is excusable and acceptable. This extends into the world of finance and corporations where you don't need to look very hard for examples of money hungry scoundrels. Some people (e.g. Bernie Madoff) and some corporations (e.g. Enron, Goldman Sachs) typify what it means to love money even if it means hurting people in the process of taking it. Both points deals with affection, or the lack thereof, meanness and the inability to appease people. It has become increasingly noticeable that some people are easily moved to anger with little to no ability for anyone or anything to assuage their anger. There is much video evidence of angry, bitter people behaving poorly (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-z0_YH2UGw).

Remaining in the vein of poor behavior what ever happened to self-analysis? Awareness of one’s shortcomings and adjusting accordingly in a positive way is both helpful to individuals and society as a whole. The days where we took a good look at ourselves and blushed or cowered with embarrassment over poor decisions seem to have almost disappeared from the face of the earth. There is a complete lack of conscience. The unfortunate fact is without conscience we cannot see the wrong in the actions of ourselves or others who are behaving in the same manner we are. Blinded by our own lack of self-awareness of negative actions and any culpability we should feel we are also blind to the causes of the high levels of irrational violence that is plaguing our communities. Do we as a nation wink at violence? No doubt! Preemptive wars against people who haven't harmed us doesn't seem to bother the average person even after it has been acknowledged that we were 'mislead'. No protest in the streets to hold those accountable for the senseless deaths of thousands of soldiers and tens of thousands of civilians who did nothing more than live in the wrong country at the wrong time. So desensitized to violence are we that the killing of over 80 people by drones in a month and a half (Dec 2012-mid Jan 2013) hardly rates as news. But who cares about them; they're terrorist, right? We no longer care about kidnappings, secret prisons, the suspension of habeas corpus or the mass killing of others abroad. 

I'm sure there are some who are reading this article that believe in the complete infallibility of America and its policies but most assuredly America is led by people and people do make mistakes. And a mistake even with good intentions is still a mistake. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, essentially, in his sermon "The Drum Major Instinct" that America's pride and arrogance has caused it to do unnatural things in the world. These unnatural tendencies have led to some of the most tragic examples of man's inhumanity to man. Pride and arrogance can be haunting and has a way of showing up in unexpected places. That is because what we send out into the world is what we tend get back.

Despicable acts and violence doesn't bother us anymore partly because our music, television, and video games along with a healthy dose of apathy has thoroughly desensitized us. The University of Michigan Health System notes that the average American child will observe 200,000 acts of violence by the age of 18 with most of these acts going unpunished and is often accompanied or associated with humor. A full 2/3 of all TV programming has at least one violent act. Violence with humor in the absence of any perceived punishment equals at best desensitization and at worst fuel for broken minds and broken spirits to do whatever they will to be done.

What does all of this have to do with Sandy Hook or any other mass shooting you ask? Great question. What we are getting back from the energies we send out are people with broken minds who have a predilection towards violence and destruction. They desire greatly to harm as many people as possible before surrendering to the only way out that they can see through suicide. These are people who have been ignored and isolated from the rest of society. These are people who are medicated instead of ministered to. It has become very easy and familiar to get people to pop a pill rather than to engage them in some meaningful way. It takes a great deal of pride and arrogance to think that some pharmaceutical chemical cocktail can ultimately replace human interaction. It takes a great deal of apathy to be so unconcerned with our children, friends, and neighbors that we routinely ignore them instead of nurture them out of love and respect. In addition, comfort and complacency allows us to ignore our inhumane actions abroad and this same complacency allows us to be apathetic in our actions at home. When moral degradation, technological distractions and pharmaceuticals replace wisdom, support and love we can expect the Columbines and Sandy Hooks to continue. 

Guns have always been tools that can either be used as a means of protection or destruction. As a tool it can also be used as a means of distraction to take our collective eye off of the real problem. Ultimately it is the people who would do us harm we need to be concerned about and no amount of legislation will ever erase the darkness that lurks in the hearts and minds of man. Only through our capacity to love and exercise wisdom can we hope to eradicate a plague that threatens to consume us.

In the final analysis the problem with Sandy Hook is us and the solution lies within us. 

A Synergy of Fat Burning Herbs That Feels Like Exercise in a Bottle!