Diet

Wolfberries &Blood Oxygen

Liz James · August 19, 2020 ·

Kristine Lucius asked me the following question over on my FB business page (The Wellness Prepper) about this picture that pops up from time to time regarding NingXia Red……

**She wrote, ” Does it (goji berries/ aka wolfberries) help blood cells receive oxygen?”.**

**Here is my response: **While I cannot say that the picture itself is accurate (although it probably is in my opinion), I can tell you that what you are looking at is acidic blood versus alkaline blood (pH). Acidic blood will be clumpy like that. Healthy slightly alkaline blood is oxygen rich (acidic blood is oxygen poor). Alkaline blood flows more freely, is not apt to be clumpy, and allows for higher oxygen content.

To better explain the effects of wolfberries on the blood, I think you all will enjoy this short video put together by a John Hopkins trained Medical Researcher and Oncologist. His video looks at the effects of goji berries on the blood, and how they effectively reduce the acidity of the blood, as well as appearing to do a bit more. I think you’ll find it fascinating! (I did!). (9minute video)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40mvty0EM2o

I will add that Charlie and I both had our blood evaluated in this very same way at the clinic on the YL Ecuador farm at Platinum Retreat….. it was FASCINATING, and I learned that this type of “microscopic blood reading” can yield a wealth of information about your health!

#TheEcuadorFarmoughttobeoneveryoneslifegoallist
#NingXiaRedChallenge2020
#knowbetterdobetter
#sharingiscaring
#ThanksYL

Rabbit Trail – Exosomes

Liz James · July 30, 2020 ·

Confession time: Occasionally I end up down rabbit holes. #thatprobablydoesntsurpriseyou 😁 We’ve certainly had plenty of rabbits and plenty of holes in 2020! Rabbit holes are not a bad thing tho, if you come out learning something new in the process. #neverquitlearning

I have heard the term “exosome” bandied around recently, and it has intrigued me for a number of reasons. I finally took the time over the last few days to learn more about these little extracellular organelles and the part they play in our lives. It’s been many years since I was in college, and since exosomes were discovered while I was in pharmacy school… well, that’s probably why they weren’t a part of the curriculum way back in the 80’s! So, I’m going to unpack what I’ve learned as briefly as possible and will let you draw your own conclusions.

*What are exosomes?

👉They are little packets of debris (mainly proteins, lipids, toxins, and RNA fragments) that are encapsulated and released from our cells. From there, they float around in the space between our cells and then either bind to other cells or are eliminated by the body. If they bind to other cells, they become heroes or villains depending on what they are carrying, as they then pass information along to the “receiver” cells.

In a HEALTHY body, exosomes are:
👉A critical component to our immune system (having both immunosuppressive and immuno-activating roles).

👉 Neuroprotective (especially of the brain) AND play a part in normal cellular communication within the central nervous system.

👉Supportive of cardiovascular function

👉A type of trash service for our body (if our cells didn’t have this feature, they would die) necessary to keep a happy balance within our cells.

😵In an UNHEALTHY body, exosomes can spread rogue information, and in doing so, they become part of disease pathology.

👉Some pathogens (a bacteria, virus, or other microorganism that can cause a body to malfunction) take advantage of exosomes to infect other host cells and/or evade immune response.

👉Diseases found to have an “exosome gone bad” component include neurodegenerative diseases (including Alzheimer’s and Parkinsons), certain liver diseases, heart failure, and many cancers.

*Interestingly, exosomes are the same size as viruses and have the ability to cross the blood brain barrier. For this reason, exosomes are being looked at as drug delivery systems. Hero or villain? You decide.

*Also of interest… it is the contents of the exosome that the ‘rona PCR testing measures. (That’s another story for another day as the PCR testing was never designed to do what it’s being asked to do).

So what causes exosomes to form? … in short, environmental threats to the body. They work in a positive way to help us adapt to environmental changes at a cellular level, but they can only do so much so fast. In those situations, what is meant for good becomes bad.

If exosomes transfer information from cell to cell, we need to make sure it has ample opportunity to transfer healthy information and not damaged goods.

There are some things we can control (and we should do so if we want to remain healthy). These little organelles are trying to do right by us!

☠️Toxic substances (pathogen debris, heavy metals, chemicals in processed foods, medications, environmental, household, or common skincare items that have toxic ingredients) lead to an increased trash payload within cells. Use your nontoxic products Young Living has available to you, eat “clean” organic food, and always keep risk versus benefit in mind when considering using something with a known toxin profile.
#alltheThieves

*Psychological Stress (chronic fear or anxiety being big ones) are also damaging at a cellular level. Prayer, meditation, yoga, regular outdoor activities, exercise can all be very helpful here and many of our essential oils support a healthy emotional body.

😷Cancer

☢️Radiation

*Infection (this is where pathogen debris comes in). This can largely be avoided with healthy habits that keep an immune system strong.

*Injury

*Immune Response

😧Chronic dis-ease

📡Electromagnetic Frequency (ie: electro-smog). Please review the many posts I’ve written about this! Do not underestimate the damage that EMF (especially 5G) can do. There are steps we can all take to minimize the damage done within us.

Knowledge is empowerment, but only if you use it.

Are we not wonderfully and powerfully made? 😘

xoxo~ liz
www.goodmedicine.info

#sharingiscaring
#showyourexosomessomeTLC
#ThanksYL

Sunshine Benefits

Liz James · July 22, 2020 ·

One of the fringe benefits of cleaning up your body (ie: ditching toxic ☠️ products) is pretty evident during the summer months. 🌞Sunburns and sun damage (tho they can still happen) usually become a less common occurrence.
Before I began cleaning up my diet, my skin care & personal care products, and our household cleaners and chemicals, it was not uncommon for me to get a decent sunburn a couple times a year. In college (years ago!), I got a few really memorable ones.😳
#thebabyoilyears #ThanksYLforallthetools
#ThievesHouseholdCleanerforthewin
Sun exposure is super beneficial on many levels, not the least of which is its role in the body’s ability to synthesize Vitamin D. We should strive for daily exposure to the sun, not hide from it! Many people fear going out in the sun because they burn so very easily, and while melanin plays a part in whether or not you are prone to sunburn, the reality is that the risk of sunburn and sun damage rises the more “polluted” the inside of your body is. I’m a blonde haired blue eyed farm girl, and have lived this fact.
There is a second part of this equation tho.
🌞In addition to ditching toxins, seek out foods that are high in antioxidants (like blueberries, wolfberries, kale, dark chocolate, beans, and pecans). These help bind up the damaging free radicals from both toxins and excess sun exposure.
I love that NingXia Red is loaded with both wolfberries and blueberries! It is a daily staple in our home.
🌞You’ll also want to eat foods high in lycopene. Lycopene is an antioxidant AND it also absorbs both UVA and UVB radiation. Reach for watermelon, tomatoes, red bell peppers, asparagus, red cabbage, and mangos as often as you can!
🌞Omega-3 Fatty Acids come into play as well! Does that surprise you? They help maintain our skin’s integrity and aid in a proper inflammatory response. In other words, they help our body cope with a little too much time in the sun. Walnuts, salmon, cod liver oil, flax, hemp and chia seeds are all loaded with Omega-3’s.
I try to get a handful of walnuts in my diet daily, but I ALWAYS take my OmegaGize3 (item #3097)!
🌞Foods high in beta carotene are also important. Beta carotene converts to Vitamin A in our body, and committing to a diet rich in carrots, dark leafy greens, butternut squash, sweet potatoes, cantaloupe, apricots, and red bell peppers over time (10 weeks according to one study) provides natural sunscreen protection.
🌞Green Tea contains a flavanol known as EGCG
(epigallocatechin gallate) which has been found to help reduce skin damage from UVA light and also help support healthy collagen (the protein responsible for our skin’s elasticity).
Young Living’s organic Vanilla Lemongrass green Tea (item # 32205) is just as good iced as it is hot. ☕️ Organic tea (and coffee) is so very important because the traditional non-organic processing methods are loaded with ☠️toxins.
🌿Young Living does have an amazing sunscreen (SPF 50 item #24137) that is toxin free (most on the market are loaded with unhealthy ingredients)…. So this was a welcome addition in our home when it became available a few years back!

Enjoy that sunshine friends! 🌞It’s one of God’s ways of smiling on us and it’s an absolutely free health and wellness tool we all have access to.
Be well!
xoxo~ liz

#usethegiftsGodgaveus
#sunshineispowerfulmedicine
#ThanksYL
#ditchthetoxins

Schooling at Home

Liz James · May 29, 2020 ·

I, Stephanie Gregory, am a mom of four wonderful people ranging in ages 5 years old to 28 years old! I am PASSIONATE about the subject of children and their well-being and as a former home-school teacher strengthening their emotional, spiritual, mental, and physical health is the priority.

We are all in a boat which we did NOT choose. Are you Excited? Frustrated? Scared? It really doesn’t matter….. The only thing that matters is:

Are you going to lead your family through these unchartered waters or.. sit back and watch the ship go down? 🆘

I am going to be so bold as to predict that you ❤️love your children too much to sit back and watch the ship go down. But how? It will take patience and grit.

To successfully navigate these unknown waters, the following skills must be applied with INTENTION and 😀A POSITIVE ATTITUDE:

1. Have a Command Center – Depending on your kids’ skills/age, it may be in one central place or an individual space for their workspace. Either way, you/they need to be able to put their hands on their work easily and consistently. Organize the priorities! “A place for everything & everything in its place.”😉

2.“All Hands on Deck” the family meeting 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦- Communicate with a positive attitude. Have your diffuser going with Young Living’s Citrus Fresh, Clarity,or Lemon and Peppermint to keep brains thinking clearly. This is where you set the ground rules, schedules, tasks, consequences, and ⏰time blocks. This is also where you problem-solve. You can receive feedback about what works and what does not work. However, only allow problems to be discussed if accompanied by a suggested solution.💡

3. Establish Respect – This means MANNERS. Yes, Miss Manners is alive and well on this happy ship. If you have let things slide in the past, time to start a new program or someone will have to walk the plank. Being around one another 24/7 requires patience, slowing down and listening👂 to how we communicate. If you fail to do this, your happy ship 🚣‍♀️starts taking on water.

4.“Be the Captain of your own Boat.” A negative attitude trickles down.
*Be the number one encourager in your home!
*Honor each child’s learning style.
*Be flexible

5. Home Economics just got on the books! 📕This long forgotten art is back in town! Here is your chance to instruct on the “how-to’s” of cooking, swabbing the deck, maintenance, pet/child care, and healthy self-care. Using Thieves Household Cleaner assures your family is safe from toxins! Never has it been more obvious than now how taking care of our bodies and minds impacts our lives, as well as the lives of others. No matter how much education you have or how much money you make, if you are not healthy…..your boat sinks!

6.Make It FUN!!! 🎤Sing – Laugh – Be Silly! Making memories last a lifetime! Your kids may tell you to quit, but secretly they want permission to be silly too. Hug and kiss and tickle! Sailing with your family is fun!

7.Take Breaks Often. Getting outside is part of the curriculum. 🌞 Vitamin D is essential to our well-being. The outdoor time is as necessary as the seat work.

8.Incentivize – We all have areas of weakness. Recognize your child’s struggles and help them strengthen 💪those areas by offering incentives for their effort in these areas. It will be different for each child or adult.

9. God gave your children to you specifically! No one cares more about them than you do. Great teachers are great facilitators. This is your chance to be a great facilitator! Help your children learn for themselves. Equip them with the tools and skills required to find the answers. It is a life skill everyone needs. Look at our situation now. We are all having to learn new ways. Teach them while they are young how to learn, and they will be able to adapt easily to situations they encounter.

10.Focus – There are two types of focus that I would like to present. Diffusing certain essential oils helps with both! One is the ability to stay on task. This takes training. Staying focused takes intention, consistency, incentives, and grit. The second focus is our attitude. This is a place where we, as parents, can model a positive attitude toward every situation. Bad and good things happen to everyone. It is part of humanity. Having a positive attitude equips us to be a part of the solution and not a part of the problem.

11.Patience with yourself and others is imperative. Squalls happen. We all make mistakes. Oil up, put your oars back in the water, and do better next time. Lead by example by NOT getting discouraged with failure.

12.Carefully select who and what you let in YOUR head and theirs. What are you and your children listening to in the way of conversation, music, and screen? Is it encouraging and helpful? If not☠️, just say “No”. Again, go back to #4 if this is questionable.

13.Establish a bedtime routine. 💤 Sleep is so important for overall health. Turn off devices, as well as Wifi before bed. Baths🛀, reading, yoga or stretching can also help relax the body and mind. See what works for your ship. Diffuse Peace and Calming, Lavender, Raven, or Cedarwood in each bedroom throughout the night so that everyone wakes up refreshed and recharged!

😄Above all….
ENJOY EACH OTHER!
Cherish this time together! Ride the waves! 🏄‍♀️
It will be over before you know it!
⛵️ HAPPY SAILING!

Hummus

Liz James · May 16, 2020 ·

There’s hummus among us! I love me some good hummus, and y’all…. fresh made is soooooo much better than the store bought stuff! Give those chickpeas a whirl….

That’s what the world needs these days……. whirled peas 😉.

Enjoy your weekend!

xoxo ~ liz

#worldpeacewhirledpeas
#Iloveagoodpunny
#ThanksYL