I've made a very important discovery, which I think might be of interest to others. In the early 1990's, I noticed what looked like a mole in my left armpit. It seemed to sprout from nowhere, and I was a little bit concerned about it so I went to see my GP about it. She said I was being unnecessarily concerned and it was nothing.
Oh well, the doctor knows best, so I left it at that. However, over the years I have noticed that this new "mole" just kept on growing. And apart from it being unsightly, it did not bother me much.
Some years my hairdresser mentioned that she was using a different kind of deodorant - one that had no harmful toxins in it. Research has shown that some of the ingredients in normal deodorant can contribute to the development of breast cancer. At that time, the "C"-word, as I heard people describe it, was a frightening concept, and I bought one of these very expensive items.
Unfortunately, it did not work for me at all, and I quickly went back to one of the commercial deodorants because it was important for me to control any body odour since I often prayed for people and it could be a real turn-off if you smell someone's armpits when you are trying to receive a blessing from the Lord!
So, for the last decade or more, I used a potent cocktail of harmful substances which blocked the pores and certainly did not solve the problem. Recently, I noticed that the "mole" was getting larger and it became a real concern for me.
I found out that there was a natural deodorant that works wonders. I was sceptical about it at first, thinking that nothing would be able to solve my sweaty problem. When a friend of mine mentioned that this deodorant was now available at Boots, I decided to go for it.
I bought my first stick of natural, mineral deodorant and have been using it now for about 5 months. I can honestly say that the result has been remarkable. The minerals kill off the bacteria that causes body odour, yet it allows the skin to breathe naturally. Within a month or so I noticed that the "mole" was reducing in size, and body odour is a thing of the past!
When I mentioned this to a friend of mine that is a trained reflexologist, she told me that the body has an awesome way of isolating dangerous substances in order to protect our bodies from their effect. I can only assume that, if I had done nothing about this matter, I could eventually have developed a cancer in that area.
There are several different types of mineral deodorants available now which you can find on the net or perhaps your nearest Health Food Store. If you haven't switched yet, please, please, please do so as a matter of urgency.
Let's do what we can at the very least, to give our bodies the best chance of health and well-being. God has blessed us with such amazing bodies, with such an amazing capacity to heal itself. Don't overload it with unnecessary burdens, and you will enjoy a better life!
With love and peace,
Salome
Thursday, 31 July 2008
Wednesday, 30 July 2008
Getting the Balance Right
Life has suddenly taken a very unexpected turn. We are staying in Suffolk with my mother-in-law for the time being, to make sure she is alright and to just be here for her. In the meantime, I am also under enormous pressure to start up a new business. All that, together with the heatwave we've been experiencing is not helping.
But what can you do when life throws you these curve balls? You simply have to adapt and roll with the punches, as they say. It might also help to look on the bright side - we are in a lovely, rural setting with little country lanes, a village church and fields of golden wheat waving in the breeze right outside the window of the room I am working in. Fresh country air - just what I needed!
So, in between hours of computer-bound work and quick meals, a brisk walk is a pleasure. The lanes are lined with trees and hedgerows and stinging nettles and pretty pink and purple wild flowers. And I welcome the shade from the overhanging trees which gives some relief from the relentless heat. People here think I should be used to it since I come from South Africa, but the truth is that we were used to a dry heat, and this heat is oppressive and clammy and makes it difficult to breathe. Richard suggested we go and live in the Arctic. Now that would bring a whole lot of other challenges!
My first trip to the Arctic circle was to a town called Pitea in Sweden in the middle of winter. I had been invited to do a three week revival at a local church, and it was a wonderful experience. In winter, the sun never really rises higher than the tops of the trees. The sky just lightens up for about three to four hours a day, and the rest of the time it is pitch dark.
Although we were snug and warm indoors, with temperatures at -40C everything was frozen solid. We took a trip to a popular tourist spot where they enjoy river rafting and hiking in summer. The river was frozen solid, and even the rapids seemed to have frozen in mid-air. It was beautiful, but perhaps a little too cold for my liking.
Well enough of the reminiscing. Here I am, trying to remind myself to keep a balance in my life. I guess I should start by going to bed at a reasonable time... before tomorrow is here!
So, I am off to bed now.
Until next time,
Salome
But what can you do when life throws you these curve balls? You simply have to adapt and roll with the punches, as they say. It might also help to look on the bright side - we are in a lovely, rural setting with little country lanes, a village church and fields of golden wheat waving in the breeze right outside the window of the room I am working in. Fresh country air - just what I needed!
So, in between hours of computer-bound work and quick meals, a brisk walk is a pleasure. The lanes are lined with trees and hedgerows and stinging nettles and pretty pink and purple wild flowers. And I welcome the shade from the overhanging trees which gives some relief from the relentless heat. People here think I should be used to it since I come from South Africa, but the truth is that we were used to a dry heat, and this heat is oppressive and clammy and makes it difficult to breathe. Richard suggested we go and live in the Arctic. Now that would bring a whole lot of other challenges!
My first trip to the Arctic circle was to a town called Pitea in Sweden in the middle of winter. I had been invited to do a three week revival at a local church, and it was a wonderful experience. In winter, the sun never really rises higher than the tops of the trees. The sky just lightens up for about three to four hours a day, and the rest of the time it is pitch dark.
Although we were snug and warm indoors, with temperatures at -40C everything was frozen solid. We took a trip to a popular tourist spot where they enjoy river rafting and hiking in summer. The river was frozen solid, and even the rapids seemed to have frozen in mid-air. It was beautiful, but perhaps a little too cold for my liking.
Well enough of the reminiscing. Here I am, trying to remind myself to keep a balance in my life. I guess I should start by going to bed at a reasonable time... before tomorrow is here!
So, I am off to bed now.
Until next time,
Salome
Tuesday, 29 July 2008
Life Is Fragile
The past few weeks have been a rollercoaster! It has brought home to me how fragile life is. And it definitely has impressed me how important it is to do whatever I can to give my body the maximum chance for health and well-being.
Last week, my father-in-law went into hospital for what he thought would be a fairly minor operation. He had some adhesions in the bowel which caused him a lot of pain, and he decided he wanted them dealt with.
Even thought the doctors recommended him not to have surgery, he insisted they went ahead. On Tuesday they did key-hole surgery on his bowel, and on Wednesday morning he collapsed and had to be resuscitated. They operated again to find out what was going on, and found that his small intestine had perforated. This caused scepticaemia, and although he was given excellent intensive care, he passed away on Thursday evening.
It has been a very difficult time, and both my husband and I have said that we need to be even more diligent in keeping our general health and well-being in excellent shape. God created our bodies to be the most marvelous wonders of nature, but so many times we simply take it for granted!
Before I was told that my heart was in failure, I kept a gruelling schedule and worked 20 hours a day, seven days a week, ate over-processed, nutritionally-deficient, toxin-loaded junk food nearly every day of my life. With that kind of overload it is no wonder that my heart finally could not cope with the stress I was under.
Even just one thing could have ensured a completely different outcome: sufficient sleep! Our bodies repair and heal during our sleep. Most of this repair goes on between 10pm and 2am in the morning. By going to bed between 1am and 4am every night, I missed out on the optimal repair-sleep. And 4 hours of sleep is not nearly enough to keep the body healthy.
These days I cannot function without at least 8 hours of sleep. I have learnt to listen to my body and respect its needs. It helps me cope so much better with stress and with life in general.
I get really upset when I see how some youngsters overload their bodies with alcohol and drugs and late-night boozy-sessions without a thought for tomorrow. I guess it is because I have realized how precious our health is, and how it can impact us when we get older. Perhaps I can't save eveyone, but hopefully I can reach a few!
Last week, my father-in-law went into hospital for what he thought would be a fairly minor operation. He had some adhesions in the bowel which caused him a lot of pain, and he decided he wanted them dealt with.
Even thought the doctors recommended him not to have surgery, he insisted they went ahead. On Tuesday they did key-hole surgery on his bowel, and on Wednesday morning he collapsed and had to be resuscitated. They operated again to find out what was going on, and found that his small intestine had perforated. This caused scepticaemia, and although he was given excellent intensive care, he passed away on Thursday evening.
It has been a very difficult time, and both my husband and I have said that we need to be even more diligent in keeping our general health and well-being in excellent shape. God created our bodies to be the most marvelous wonders of nature, but so many times we simply take it for granted!
Before I was told that my heart was in failure, I kept a gruelling schedule and worked 20 hours a day, seven days a week, ate over-processed, nutritionally-deficient, toxin-loaded junk food nearly every day of my life. With that kind of overload it is no wonder that my heart finally could not cope with the stress I was under.
Even just one thing could have ensured a completely different outcome: sufficient sleep! Our bodies repair and heal during our sleep. Most of this repair goes on between 10pm and 2am in the morning. By going to bed between 1am and 4am every night, I missed out on the optimal repair-sleep. And 4 hours of sleep is not nearly enough to keep the body healthy.
These days I cannot function without at least 8 hours of sleep. I have learnt to listen to my body and respect its needs. It helps me cope so much better with stress and with life in general.
I get really upset when I see how some youngsters overload their bodies with alcohol and drugs and late-night boozy-sessions without a thought for tomorrow. I guess it is because I have realized how precious our health is, and how it can impact us when we get older. Perhaps I can't save eveyone, but hopefully I can reach a few!
Monday, 14 July 2008
NOTHING WITH A FACE - ARE YOU KIDDING ME?
Man, that must have been the toughest part of changing my lifestyle - cutting out the meat! I grew up in a household where barbeques (or "braais" as we South Africans call them) were a regular happening. And I mean regular.
My Dad was a real hard-core South African. He worked hard, and he played hard. And he loved the South African 'veldt' - that is the 'sticks' for you Aussies out there, or the 'wild outdoors' for some of you. Winter time was hunting time and every year, Dad and about 3 of his buddies would set off to a game farm somewhere remote to replenish the freezers for the year.
We usually joined the party of six "Big Game Hunters" after two weeks of men-only hunting. It was the greatest time for us as children. The campsite consisted of these large, comfortable tents set up in a clearing in the bush, a central spot for the campfire where all the cooking, socializing and story-telling took place, and just on the outskirt - away from the hustle and bustle - was the little creature comforts that no South African lady would do without. It was a Bush Shower rigged on the biggest tree around, with tarpaulin to preserve our modesty and of course the "portaloo" which worked with chemicals and magically dissolved any deposits made therein.
The set-up was ever so exciting. The adults all had their own tents, and all the girls congregated in one tent, while all the boys occupied another on the other side of the camp. Our tents were kitted out with stretchers and sleeping bags which kept us ever so snug in the freezing cold winter nights.
At night, sound traveled really far in the bush, and we could often hear a pride of lions roar in the distance. Even though they might have been a few miles away, the sound was still frightening! On one of these camping trips we had feline visitors to the campsite. My uncle heard scratching noises around the tent. He crawled out and walked around the tent but saw nothing. The next morning, upon inspection, he found leopard prints that followed him all the way round. What excitement for us all!
My biggest treat was to be allowed to go out on a days shoot with my Dad and a few others. I had very keen eyesight and was quick to spot the elusive Kudus as they flitted through the undergrowth which provided the perfect camoflage for their dark, striped skins. Kudus were prized for their delicious meat, and the best bilting and Kudu steak was a special treat.
Springbok and Thompson's Gazelle was more prolific, so we often had that on the menu. But once a buck had been shot down, it was taken back to the campsite and skinned and hung to dry in order to preserve the meat. The skin was then salted and tanned and used for all kinds of things.
My Dad was extremely skilled when it came to cutting up the meat. Once we got home, he would string the carcass up on the patio and I loved helping him cut the meat into its different sections. He made biltong by curing and hanging strips of meat to dry, he cut shoulders and legs for the most delicious venison dishes, and cut tender steaks made sausages from other portions.
Whenever I returned home for a visit, Dad would haul out a prized piece of venison, simmer it for days in his special recipe until the meat simply fell off the bone, and we feasted on this for days.
We had barbeques at least 4 or 5 days of the week. These were great social events, and my Dad's skills with a good braai were widely revered. So the consumption of meat was a deeply ingrained in our culture.
And now I had to stop eating meat? This was the most difficult decision I have ever had to make. It took me years to get to the place where I could actually stick to this resolution - and the crunch came when I had a health scare that gave me the wake-up call of my life.
In March, 2007 my Cardiologist looked concerned when he checked my blood pressure at one of my follow-up visits after a valvuplasty which relieved the symptoms of Rheumatic Heart Disease. At this point, I was feeling so unwell I did not think I could carry on living anymore, and I actually asked him if they would consider me for a valve replacement.
Now, I knew what this would mean : I would have to be on medication for the rest of my life, and the valve would only last 20 years. I was frightened and desperate and sad and angry all at the same time, but I simply felt too ill to cope.
When he asked my why I wasn't on Warfarin, I simply told him that no-one had ever suggested I should be on it. In the back of my mind something registered that Warfarin was not good, and that it would change my life for the worst forever! When my Mom told me it was essentially rat-poison, I made the decision there and then that I will not do that to myself. The cardiologist also put me on blood-pressure tablets which had the most awful side-effects. After 3 weeks I stopped taking them and decided to take responsibility of my own health and well-being.
I had learned enough over the years to know that conventional medicine just treats symptoms with medicine that is often toxic to the body and which always has some negative effect as a "bonus". Now I'm not against doctors. If it hadn't been for these wonderful people I probably wouldn't have survived the St. Vitus Dance that ended my dreams of Olympic gold. But these days I am far more discerning about the treatment I accept for problems that could be sorted out by natural means.
From my research and personal investigations into the reasons and causes of high blood pressure and strokes etc, I had found out that eating meat has a very negative effect on a person's blood. If you compare the blood of raw vegans to the blood of vegetarians and carnivores, you will make an amazing discovery. The blood of a regular meat eater is slow-moving and clumps together. The blood of a vegetarian that includes cooked pastas and rice and potatoes etc, is less sluggish and moves a bit more freely. In contrast, the blood of raw vegans flows freely and quite effortlessly.
It appears that a raw, vegan lifestyle has a positive impact on the blood flow through our system. The first big change I made was to stop eating meat immediately. For three months I had power-smoothies for breakfast, and I made green smoothies for lunch and dinner. These green smoothies consisted of lettuce, spinach, tomatoes, spring onions, carrots, beansprouts, Flax Seed oil, lemon juice and garlic.
The impact on my health was phenominal. Within three months my blood pressure was back to normal, and I felt great! Every morning I woke up without as much as a pain anywhere in my body, and my energy levels were through the roof.
I literally woke up and shouted "Yippeeee". Instead of feeling tired - constantly tired without any rhyme or reason, I felt alive and well!
When I saw my cardiologist earlier this year, he was mega impressed that I had managed to come off all my medication and that my blood pressure was normal! "Whatever you are doing, keep on doing it because you are doing great!" was his parting words.
Now I don't know about you, but for me, it was worth it. Changing my lifestyle to get my life back - it's a No-Brainer" for sure.
So, on this note, I will sign off and say :
Be Healthy and Be Raw!
My Dad was a real hard-core South African. He worked hard, and he played hard. And he loved the South African 'veldt' - that is the 'sticks' for you Aussies out there, or the 'wild outdoors' for some of you. Winter time was hunting time and every year, Dad and about 3 of his buddies would set off to a game farm somewhere remote to replenish the freezers for the year.
We usually joined the party of six "Big Game Hunters" after two weeks of men-only hunting. It was the greatest time for us as children. The campsite consisted of these large, comfortable tents set up in a clearing in the bush, a central spot for the campfire where all the cooking, socializing and story-telling took place, and just on the outskirt - away from the hustle and bustle - was the little creature comforts that no South African lady would do without. It was a Bush Shower rigged on the biggest tree around, with tarpaulin to preserve our modesty and of course the "portaloo" which worked with chemicals and magically dissolved any deposits made therein.
The set-up was ever so exciting. The adults all had their own tents, and all the girls congregated in one tent, while all the boys occupied another on the other side of the camp. Our tents were kitted out with stretchers and sleeping bags which kept us ever so snug in the freezing cold winter nights.
At night, sound traveled really far in the bush, and we could often hear a pride of lions roar in the distance. Even though they might have been a few miles away, the sound was still frightening! On one of these camping trips we had feline visitors to the campsite. My uncle heard scratching noises around the tent. He crawled out and walked around the tent but saw nothing. The next morning, upon inspection, he found leopard prints that followed him all the way round. What excitement for us all!
My biggest treat was to be allowed to go out on a days shoot with my Dad and a few others. I had very keen eyesight and was quick to spot the elusive Kudus as they flitted through the undergrowth which provided the perfect camoflage for their dark, striped skins. Kudus were prized for their delicious meat, and the best bilting and Kudu steak was a special treat.
Springbok and Thompson's Gazelle was more prolific, so we often had that on the menu. But once a buck had been shot down, it was taken back to the campsite and skinned and hung to dry in order to preserve the meat. The skin was then salted and tanned and used for all kinds of things.
My Dad was extremely skilled when it came to cutting up the meat. Once we got home, he would string the carcass up on the patio and I loved helping him cut the meat into its different sections. He made biltong by curing and hanging strips of meat to dry, he cut shoulders and legs for the most delicious venison dishes, and cut tender steaks made sausages from other portions.
Whenever I returned home for a visit, Dad would haul out a prized piece of venison, simmer it for days in his special recipe until the meat simply fell off the bone, and we feasted on this for days.
We had barbeques at least 4 or 5 days of the week. These were great social events, and my Dad's skills with a good braai were widely revered. So the consumption of meat was a deeply ingrained in our culture.
And now I had to stop eating meat? This was the most difficult decision I have ever had to make. It took me years to get to the place where I could actually stick to this resolution - and the crunch came when I had a health scare that gave me the wake-up call of my life.
In March, 2007 my Cardiologist looked concerned when he checked my blood pressure at one of my follow-up visits after a valvuplasty which relieved the symptoms of Rheumatic Heart Disease. At this point, I was feeling so unwell I did not think I could carry on living anymore, and I actually asked him if they would consider me for a valve replacement.
Now, I knew what this would mean : I would have to be on medication for the rest of my life, and the valve would only last 20 years. I was frightened and desperate and sad and angry all at the same time, but I simply felt too ill to cope.
When he asked my why I wasn't on Warfarin, I simply told him that no-one had ever suggested I should be on it. In the back of my mind something registered that Warfarin was not good, and that it would change my life for the worst forever! When my Mom told me it was essentially rat-poison, I made the decision there and then that I will not do that to myself. The cardiologist also put me on blood-pressure tablets which had the most awful side-effects. After 3 weeks I stopped taking them and decided to take responsibility of my own health and well-being.
I had learned enough over the years to know that conventional medicine just treats symptoms with medicine that is often toxic to the body and which always has some negative effect as a "bonus". Now I'm not against doctors. If it hadn't been for these wonderful people I probably wouldn't have survived the St. Vitus Dance that ended my dreams of Olympic gold. But these days I am far more discerning about the treatment I accept for problems that could be sorted out by natural means.
From my research and personal investigations into the reasons and causes of high blood pressure and strokes etc, I had found out that eating meat has a very negative effect on a person's blood. If you compare the blood of raw vegans to the blood of vegetarians and carnivores, you will make an amazing discovery. The blood of a regular meat eater is slow-moving and clumps together. The blood of a vegetarian that includes cooked pastas and rice and potatoes etc, is less sluggish and moves a bit more freely. In contrast, the blood of raw vegans flows freely and quite effortlessly.
It appears that a raw, vegan lifestyle has a positive impact on the blood flow through our system. The first big change I made was to stop eating meat immediately. For three months I had power-smoothies for breakfast, and I made green smoothies for lunch and dinner. These green smoothies consisted of lettuce, spinach, tomatoes, spring onions, carrots, beansprouts, Flax Seed oil, lemon juice and garlic.
The impact on my health was phenominal. Within three months my blood pressure was back to normal, and I felt great! Every morning I woke up without as much as a pain anywhere in my body, and my energy levels were through the roof.
I literally woke up and shouted "Yippeeee". Instead of feeling tired - constantly tired without any rhyme or reason, I felt alive and well!
When I saw my cardiologist earlier this year, he was mega impressed that I had managed to come off all my medication and that my blood pressure was normal! "Whatever you are doing, keep on doing it because you are doing great!" was his parting words.
Now I don't know about you, but for me, it was worth it. Changing my lifestyle to get my life back - it's a No-Brainer" for sure.
So, on this note, I will sign off and say :
Be Healthy and Be Raw!
Friday, 11 July 2008
ENJOYING THE GREAT OUTDOORS
It's summer time here in the northern hemisphere and I just love it. It's hot, it's uncomfortable but it's summer!
There is no better time in England when the days drag on until 10pm and the nights are sultry and hot and we can sleep with all our windows wide open. I love the fresh air, the slight breeze moving the curtains just ever so slightly and the sound of birds waking up at about 3:30, 4:00am when the sky starts to lighten up after the night hours.
It also means that we get to make lots and lots of Vitamin D. Yipppeee! Our bodies need vitamin D - it is one of the best ways that our bodies fight cancer. It is so important that we get some exposure to the sun every day. Now I don't mean hours and hours until you look like a lobster and feel like a sizzled sausage. It is important to be sensible about our exposure to the sun, but at the same time we need to get a certain amount of sunshine on as much of our skin surface as possible. A good excuse to strip down to your swimsuit and let the sun kiss your skin! One last thought here : be careful with those sunscreens. They are toxic to the body and are best avoided. It is far better to simply stay covered up or in the shade at the height of the sun's strength during the day. The best time to get exposure to the sun's rays is early in the morning (perhaps before 10 am) or late afternoon (after 4 pm).
The second great benefit of the hot summer weather is most definitely the opportunity to get active. There is this one spot on our walking trail where these huge old chestnut trees line the path and fill the whole sky above us. Every time we walk down that path, I imagine myself in a great big natural cathedral. I love walking in my "Cathedral of Green Trees" where I can breathe in and enjoy the fresh air and talk to the Lord about anything and everything that comes up.
Sometimes I will take a little break and catch my breath, and just take the time to absorb my surroundings. I long for open spaces and wide blue skies, and this is the closest I can get to it. There is something so healing to be out in nature - the smell of fresh earth, the sounds of birds chattering away in the safety of the trees high above and the rustle of leaves as the wind rushes through them.
So, next time you want to veg-out in front of the television, pack a picnic and head for the forest or the seaside and do your health a great, big favour - enjoy yourself and have fun!!!
With love and joy,
Salome
There is no better time in England when the days drag on until 10pm and the nights are sultry and hot and we can sleep with all our windows wide open. I love the fresh air, the slight breeze moving the curtains just ever so slightly and the sound of birds waking up at about 3:30, 4:00am when the sky starts to lighten up after the night hours.
It also means that we get to make lots and lots of Vitamin D. Yipppeee! Our bodies need vitamin D - it is one of the best ways that our bodies fight cancer. It is so important that we get some exposure to the sun every day. Now I don't mean hours and hours until you look like a lobster and feel like a sizzled sausage. It is important to be sensible about our exposure to the sun, but at the same time we need to get a certain amount of sunshine on as much of our skin surface as possible. A good excuse to strip down to your swimsuit and let the sun kiss your skin! One last thought here : be careful with those sunscreens. They are toxic to the body and are best avoided. It is far better to simply stay covered up or in the shade at the height of the sun's strength during the day. The best time to get exposure to the sun's rays is early in the morning (perhaps before 10 am) or late afternoon (after 4 pm).
The second great benefit of the hot summer weather is most definitely the opportunity to get active. There is this one spot on our walking trail where these huge old chestnut trees line the path and fill the whole sky above us. Every time we walk down that path, I imagine myself in a great big natural cathedral. I love walking in my "Cathedral of Green Trees" where I can breathe in and enjoy the fresh air and talk to the Lord about anything and everything that comes up.
Sometimes I will take a little break and catch my breath, and just take the time to absorb my surroundings. I long for open spaces and wide blue skies, and this is the closest I can get to it. There is something so healing to be out in nature - the smell of fresh earth, the sounds of birds chattering away in the safety of the trees high above and the rustle of leaves as the wind rushes through them.
So, next time you want to veg-out in front of the television, pack a picnic and head for the forest or the seaside and do your health a great, big favour - enjoy yourself and have fun!!!
With love and joy,
Salome
Tuesday, 8 July 2008
Cutting The Toxins
Today, there is very little we can buy from an ordinary grocery store that can be called food in the true sense of the word.
Nearly everything is treated, pasteurized, filled with preservatives, nutritionally blasted with microwaves, sprayed with poisonous toxins and packaged and sold as "FOOD". It is no wonder that we have seen such an increase in auto-immune diseases in the last 50 years.
Cancer is at epidemic rates, a huge amount of children suffer from asthma, diabetes is becoming a real problem in adults and children, ADHD, ADD, Multiple Sclerosis, cardio-vascular heart disease, Aids, the list goes on and on. Most of the "new" diseases that have become a problem in our modern society are known as auto-immune diseases.
What are these auto-immune diseases? Basically, when the immune systems breaks down to the point that it cannot protect the body and fight disease or cellular abnormalities anymore, the body starts to attack itself. How can we help our immune system to recognize new cells as our own - thus protecting, feeding and fixing them? By making sure we give our cells the right building blocks. Live cells need live food - vitamins, minerals, enzymes and phyto-nutrients. All of these are obtained from uncooked, living, organic food.
The shocking truth is that most of these diseases can be avoided by eating the right foods, supporting the immune system properly, combined with a regular exercise program. I know what you are going to say, "I don't have the time" or "I am too tired at the end of the day" or even "I simply couldn't be bothered.
When I was younger, I was an exercise junkie. I loved just swimming for hours and hours - to get lost in the rhythm of the strokes, and the solitude as you glide through the water without the world encroaching on your thoughts or your space. These days, I exercise because I have learnt that it is imperative to get the lymphatic system moving so that it can clear out any toxins from the body. That's why we go out come rain or shine and walk at our favourite spot here in south-west London - Nonsuch Park!
Why aren't more people taking care of themselves? Because no-one has told them that they can take control of their own well-being. They simply do not know that the "fastfood" they consume as a treat is actually feeding their body with zero-nutrient foods. It might be easier to take the kids out for a quick meal at the local drive-in restaurant, but the long-term consequences are not worth the dollar-savings.
In order to cut the toxins from processed food, I had to have a c-change myself. I have never had any confidence in the kitchen. For years I traveled the world, eating out in hotels, restaurants, invited to other people's homes for delicious meals and sharing evenings at a friend's home being cooked for. I never had to spend time in the kitchen. Combine that with a sister who is a gourmet cook, my confidence in the cooking department was below zero!
But, here I was, learning to cook from scratch. Lentils and brown Basmati rice, sweet potatoes and nut pate's, wonderful salads with everything that I would normally have cooked or steamed before eating. The RAW-revolution in my kitchen was in full swing.
When I look at preprepared food now, I scan the list of Ingredients and you would be shocked to find how many E-Numbers are lurking in there. It reminds me of the "Twinkies" in America that has a shelf-life of about 300 years ! Does that mean if you eat loads of those, you won't decompose for 100's of years after you go to a better place?
Food for thought, isn't it.
Until next time,
Stay healthy!
Nearly everything is treated, pasteurized, filled with preservatives, nutritionally blasted with microwaves, sprayed with poisonous toxins and packaged and sold as "FOOD". It is no wonder that we have seen such an increase in auto-immune diseases in the last 50 years.
Cancer is at epidemic rates, a huge amount of children suffer from asthma, diabetes is becoming a real problem in adults and children, ADHD, ADD, Multiple Sclerosis, cardio-vascular heart disease, Aids, the list goes on and on. Most of the "new" diseases that have become a problem in our modern society are known as auto-immune diseases.
What are these auto-immune diseases? Basically, when the immune systems breaks down to the point that it cannot protect the body and fight disease or cellular abnormalities anymore, the body starts to attack itself. How can we help our immune system to recognize new cells as our own - thus protecting, feeding and fixing them? By making sure we give our cells the right building blocks. Live cells need live food - vitamins, minerals, enzymes and phyto-nutrients. All of these are obtained from uncooked, living, organic food.
The shocking truth is that most of these diseases can be avoided by eating the right foods, supporting the immune system properly, combined with a regular exercise program. I know what you are going to say, "I don't have the time" or "I am too tired at the end of the day" or even "I simply couldn't be bothered.
When I was younger, I was an exercise junkie. I loved just swimming for hours and hours - to get lost in the rhythm of the strokes, and the solitude as you glide through the water without the world encroaching on your thoughts or your space. These days, I exercise because I have learnt that it is imperative to get the lymphatic system moving so that it can clear out any toxins from the body. That's why we go out come rain or shine and walk at our favourite spot here in south-west London - Nonsuch Park!
Why aren't more people taking care of themselves? Because no-one has told them that they can take control of their own well-being. They simply do not know that the "fastfood" they consume as a treat is actually feeding their body with zero-nutrient foods. It might be easier to take the kids out for a quick meal at the local drive-in restaurant, but the long-term consequences are not worth the dollar-savings.
In order to cut the toxins from processed food, I had to have a c-change myself. I have never had any confidence in the kitchen. For years I traveled the world, eating out in hotels, restaurants, invited to other people's homes for delicious meals and sharing evenings at a friend's home being cooked for. I never had to spend time in the kitchen. Combine that with a sister who is a gourmet cook, my confidence in the cooking department was below zero!
But, here I was, learning to cook from scratch. Lentils and brown Basmati rice, sweet potatoes and nut pate's, wonderful salads with everything that I would normally have cooked or steamed before eating. The RAW-revolution in my kitchen was in full swing.
When I look at preprepared food now, I scan the list of Ingredients and you would be shocked to find how many E-Numbers are lurking in there. It reminds me of the "Twinkies" in America that has a shelf-life of about 300 years ! Does that mean if you eat loads of those, you won't decompose for 100's of years after you go to a better place?
Food for thought, isn't it.
Until next time,
Stay healthy!
Monday, 7 July 2008
DID MY PRE-CONCIEVED IDEAS STOP ME?
For years I walked around thinking that "vegans" are people who walk around in 'Jesus' sandals and long, flowing, floral skirts with long matted dreadlocks which haven't seen a bottle of shampoo in years, and banners that proclaim, "Don't Eat Fluffy" or "Stop Wearing Fur"!
This was definitely not the category that I would put myself into. I certainly did not fit the "anarchistic" profile that I associated veganism with. All my friends and associates were as "normal" as I was. There was nothing that could beat a good roast dinner. And salad was always a side-dish to bowls of utterly delicious-smelling pasta with chicken and bacon sprinkled with cheese and baked in the oven.
It took a series of very sad events to give me the wake-up call I needed! I was ministering in the south-west of England for a wonderful pastor-friend of mine. His wife was a cancer survivor of seven years, but while I was doing meetings in their church over the period of a few years, the cancer returned and this time she did not make it. Even though we had prayed for her and she was determined to receive her healing miraculously, our efforts were in vain.
Within a year, this friend of mine had been diagnosed with bowel cancer and died as well. But that was not all. There was a third person that I was asked to pray for that also lost the battle with cancer. I was devastated, because I had learned that cancer was a winnable war, that there were things we could do to prevent the development of this disease and I also knew that people like Dr. Malkmus had been healed of cancer completely by following the original diet as described in the Bible in the Book of Genesis.
I was determined to find out all I could about the prevention of disease and to help those that I had failed to help through prayer. My biggest frustration was that, even though I had shared my knowledge about natural cures with these people involved, they did not take it on board. The old saying about a "horse" and "water" really is true.
At the same time I was battling my own health issues. My body did not respond very well to the daily medication I was on. The two heart operations knocked me for six, and I can only guess that it was the radiation from the x-ray machine they use to see what they are doing while they are fiddling about in my heart through key-hole surgery that weakened my system as it did. Perhaps it was the amounts of anastheatic they had to administer during these marathon sessions. I don't know. All I know is that it took me at least a year to feel better, even though they had managed to open the Mitral Valve to a 50% capacity!
I started to take radical action! Someone had introduced me to some nutritional products that work on a cellular level and I started taking massive amounts of these supplements which improved my health slightly.
The next step was to cut out all milk and milk products. I changed to Soya Milk, and used that for a while. I still drank coffee from time to time, and Soya Milk was tolerable in coffee. Stopping cheese was a problem, but I started to cut down on my intake of cheese. Eventually I switched from Soya to Rice Milk, and that is what we have most of the time now.
Coffee and tea is a thing of the past. It is really an eye-opener to realize what a social event coffee or tea is in this country. We mostly drink pure, re-mineralized water which we take with us wherever we go. If someone doesn't know us, we get strange looks because we always arrive with our neoprene-bag with two glass bottles of water which we have instead of coffee or ordinary tea.I sometimes have green tea or Rooibos tea, which we used to drink in South Africa and I find quite delicious.
Until next time,
Be well and be blessed!
This was definitely not the category that I would put myself into. I certainly did not fit the "anarchistic" profile that I associated veganism with. All my friends and associates were as "normal" as I was. There was nothing that could beat a good roast dinner. And salad was always a side-dish to bowls of utterly delicious-smelling pasta with chicken and bacon sprinkled with cheese and baked in the oven.
It took a series of very sad events to give me the wake-up call I needed! I was ministering in the south-west of England for a wonderful pastor-friend of mine. His wife was a cancer survivor of seven years, but while I was doing meetings in their church over the period of a few years, the cancer returned and this time she did not make it. Even though we had prayed for her and she was determined to receive her healing miraculously, our efforts were in vain.
Within a year, this friend of mine had been diagnosed with bowel cancer and died as well. But that was not all. There was a third person that I was asked to pray for that also lost the battle with cancer. I was devastated, because I had learned that cancer was a winnable war, that there were things we could do to prevent the development of this disease and I also knew that people like Dr. Malkmus had been healed of cancer completely by following the original diet as described in the Bible in the Book of Genesis.
I was determined to find out all I could about the prevention of disease and to help those that I had failed to help through prayer. My biggest frustration was that, even though I had shared my knowledge about natural cures with these people involved, they did not take it on board. The old saying about a "horse" and "water" really is true.
At the same time I was battling my own health issues. My body did not respond very well to the daily medication I was on. The two heart operations knocked me for six, and I can only guess that it was the radiation from the x-ray machine they use to see what they are doing while they are fiddling about in my heart through key-hole surgery that weakened my system as it did. Perhaps it was the amounts of anastheatic they had to administer during these marathon sessions. I don't know. All I know is that it took me at least a year to feel better, even though they had managed to open the Mitral Valve to a 50% capacity!
I started to take radical action! Someone had introduced me to some nutritional products that work on a cellular level and I started taking massive amounts of these supplements which improved my health slightly.
The next step was to cut out all milk and milk products. I changed to Soya Milk, and used that for a while. I still drank coffee from time to time, and Soya Milk was tolerable in coffee. Stopping cheese was a problem, but I started to cut down on my intake of cheese. Eventually I switched from Soya to Rice Milk, and that is what we have most of the time now.
Coffee and tea is a thing of the past. It is really an eye-opener to realize what a social event coffee or tea is in this country. We mostly drink pure, re-mineralized water which we take with us wherever we go. If someone doesn't know us, we get strange looks because we always arrive with our neoprene-bag with two glass bottles of water which we have instead of coffee or ordinary tea.I sometimes have green tea or Rooibos tea, which we used to drink in South Africa and I find quite delicious.
Until next time,
Be well and be blessed!
Saturday, 5 July 2008
FROM RAGING CARNIVORE TO FULLY FLEDGED VEGAN
It is a well-known fact that South African children cut their teeth on Biltong. What on earth is that, you may well ask. Biltong is a delicacy, one of those things that makes a true, blue South African's mouth salivate. It is basically dried, cured meat that used to be served up with pride as a starter, a snack or just simply a treat at every and any occasion when I was growing up as a youngster.
It was Dad's privilege to cut the strips of dried meat into manageable slices and then share these precious cuts around the room as we all sat around enjoying an evening's banter.
Of course, once I had moved to the UK there was definitely no way of getting my hands on any biltong, unless it was smuggled in, in someone's hand luggage to avoid confiscation. The first thing I would do when I arrived back in South Africa on any trip home, was to buy R10.00 worth of Biltong and spend the next few hours consuming it.
When, about 10 years ago, a wonderful couple called Kevin and Barbara Finlay came over to minister at the Bible Institute where I was teaching it was difficult to accept that they did not WANT any meat because they had adopted the "Hallelujah Diet". This was incomprehensible to all of us and we did not want them to miss out on the lovely meals that we cooked up for them, and they graciously obliged and ate whatever we served up.
It was while lecturing at this Bible School that my heart failed. I did not know that I had a valve that was 95% closed up. I had no idea that the irritating cough I had developed was actually fluid that had accumulated around my heart to try and protect it. I certainly was not aware that my heart had totally enlarged due to the build-up of blood-flow behind the valve as it failed to push the blood through to the rest of my body. And I had no idea that the overwhelming tiredness I felt all the time was my body's desperate cry for a rest!
From that first introduction to the "Hallelujah Diet" to my own total surrender took a bit longer than it should have. Over the years I tried to "Go Veggie", but every time I had the opportunity to eat meat I would gladly and willingly partake.
The important thing was that it started to register in my consciousness somewhere that certain foods were not good for my. According to Dr Malkmus who has helped thousands of people with the Hallelujah Diet, we must
The good news is: I did it! Slowly, incrementally, over the years I have made the changes that made the difference. Join me as I walk through my journey in the next few weeks.
With many blessings to you all,
Salome
It was Dad's privilege to cut the strips of dried meat into manageable slices and then share these precious cuts around the room as we all sat around enjoying an evening's banter.
Of course, once I had moved to the UK there was definitely no way of getting my hands on any biltong, unless it was smuggled in, in someone's hand luggage to avoid confiscation. The first thing I would do when I arrived back in South Africa on any trip home, was to buy R10.00 worth of Biltong and spend the next few hours consuming it.
When, about 10 years ago, a wonderful couple called Kevin and Barbara Finlay came over to minister at the Bible Institute where I was teaching it was difficult to accept that they did not WANT any meat because they had adopted the "Hallelujah Diet". This was incomprehensible to all of us and we did not want them to miss out on the lovely meals that we cooked up for them, and they graciously obliged and ate whatever we served up.
It was while lecturing at this Bible School that my heart failed. I did not know that I had a valve that was 95% closed up. I had no idea that the irritating cough I had developed was actually fluid that had accumulated around my heart to try and protect it. I certainly was not aware that my heart had totally enlarged due to the build-up of blood-flow behind the valve as it failed to push the blood through to the rest of my body. And I had no idea that the overwhelming tiredness I felt all the time was my body's desperate cry for a rest!
From that first introduction to the "Hallelujah Diet" to my own total surrender took a bit longer than it should have. Over the years I tried to "Go Veggie", but every time I had the opportunity to eat meat I would gladly and willingly partake.
The important thing was that it started to register in my consciousness somewhere that certain foods were not good for my. According to Dr Malkmus who has helped thousands of people with the Hallelujah Diet, we must
- Eat nothing with a face
- Stop consuming all milk and milk products
- Avoid all refined, white flour
- Banish all refined, white sugar from our diets
- As far as possible, eat everything in it's raw, organic, uncooked state
The good news is: I did it! Slowly, incrementally, over the years I have made the changes that made the difference. Join me as I walk through my journey in the next few weeks.
With many blessings to you all,
Salome
Friday, 4 July 2008
The Value of Words
We have known for years how important our words are. Words create life or death, words can build up or break down. Really, our words are a reflection of our soul, our deepest innermost being.
The Bible says that we can have whatsoever we say. Think about this principle. Our words are so powerful that they create our reality! A few years ago, someone I respect and admire tremendously as a wonderful man of God, a mentor and true example as a man of faith, Gordon White, experienced some health problems. Even though he was very poorly in the natural, Gordon's confession was that he was getting better.
He continually spoke the Word of God concerning his healing, and today, he is traveling the world again with his wife Barbara, changing lives and impacting people with their prophetic message. It was wonderful to see the improvement in Gordon's well-being following major surgery. He just kept on getting better and better.
It really brought it home to me that I had to watch what I said. When my heart failed, I struggled to rise above the events that happened around it, and I have to admit, my confession slipped! It was only when my darling husband started challenging me on my negativity that I realized that I was digging a hole for myself.
Even though I was confessing healing on the one hand, I was still complaining about how tired I felt, how difficult it was for me to get through the day, how breathless I got, how much I have lost. The list is endless.
On the positive side, I spoke these words of prayer every day: "Father, I thank you that your miracle working power is flowing in me and through me". It was no surprise when people started to experience miraculous healing when I prayed for them at a Healing Seminar a few years ago. That miracle-working power was not only touching my physical body but it was starting to flow through me to others. What an awesome God we serve, Who uses broken vessels to pour His glory through.
Scientists are even now saying that the Bible was right all along about speaking out what we believe!
Not only is it important to watch what we say, but we also need to be aware of what we want for our future. My confession now is so very different. I am aware that every word counts. We cannot speak one idle word over ourselves, our circumstances or even our loved ones!
I am healed and made whole by the power of Almighty God.
I walk in His blessings and His abundance for my life.
All my needs are met and the Lord supplies more than I can even ask or think.
I live in a beautiful home by the sea in the best environment for me.
I am happy and fulfilled in my marriage.
I eat the best organic foods ever.
I enjoy abundance in every area of my life.
I am a blessing to everyone that comes into contact with me.
I enjoy giving of my material good to meet the needs of those around me.
I travel the world to share this abundance of God's grace in my life.
Isn't it wonderful to know that we can change our circumstances by agreeing with God's Word.
Let's do it!
Salome
The Bible says that we can have whatsoever we say. Think about this principle. Our words are so powerful that they create our reality! A few years ago, someone I respect and admire tremendously as a wonderful man of God, a mentor and true example as a man of faith, Gordon White, experienced some health problems. Even though he was very poorly in the natural, Gordon's confession was that he was getting better.
He continually spoke the Word of God concerning his healing, and today, he is traveling the world again with his wife Barbara, changing lives and impacting people with their prophetic message. It was wonderful to see the improvement in Gordon's well-being following major surgery. He just kept on getting better and better.
It really brought it home to me that I had to watch what I said. When my heart failed, I struggled to rise above the events that happened around it, and I have to admit, my confession slipped! It was only when my darling husband started challenging me on my negativity that I realized that I was digging a hole for myself.
Even though I was confessing healing on the one hand, I was still complaining about how tired I felt, how difficult it was for me to get through the day, how breathless I got, how much I have lost. The list is endless.
On the positive side, I spoke these words of prayer every day: "Father, I thank you that your miracle working power is flowing in me and through me". It was no surprise when people started to experience miraculous healing when I prayed for them at a Healing Seminar a few years ago. That miracle-working power was not only touching my physical body but it was starting to flow through me to others. What an awesome God we serve, Who uses broken vessels to pour His glory through.
Scientists are even now saying that the Bible was right all along about speaking out what we believe!
Not only is it important to watch what we say, but we also need to be aware of what we want for our future. My confession now is so very different. I am aware that every word counts. We cannot speak one idle word over ourselves, our circumstances or even our loved ones!
I am healed and made whole by the power of Almighty God.
I walk in His blessings and His abundance for my life.
All my needs are met and the Lord supplies more than I can even ask or think.
I live in a beautiful home by the sea in the best environment for me.
I am happy and fulfilled in my marriage.
I eat the best organic foods ever.
I enjoy abundance in every area of my life.
I am a blessing to everyone that comes into contact with me.
I enjoy giving of my material good to meet the needs of those around me.
I travel the world to share this abundance of God's grace in my life.
Isn't it wonderful to know that we can change our circumstances by agreeing with God's Word.
Let's do it!
Salome
Tuesday, 1 July 2008
LIFE'S A ROLLERCOASTER...
I can hardly believe that it is already Wednesday - we spent the week-end in a village near Brighton, where Richard attended a conference, and I got to read and enjoy the sunny weather and see old friends.
What a treat to find out that they are as into a healthy lifestyle as we are! Water filters everywhere, nuts and seeds galore, as well as regular visits to the local farm shop not far from them.
The biggest testimony to the healthy lifestyle that we aspire to was to meet the 4 1/2 year old that has never had any sweets, sugar, junk food etc. She was gorgeous! No tantrums, no bad behaviour, just the sweetest, best behaved and highly intelligent child I have seen in a long time. Way to go, Mom!
So, I guess today my soliloque will have to be about the value of raising a child the natural way. What are we allowing our children to become, by feeding them cheap and nasty pre-packaged, nutrient-deficient junk food? It breaks my heart to think that most children are growing up today, thinking that certain chain-food restaurants are a "treat".
To see this beautiful young little girl drink her goats milk with acidopholous in to improve digestion, then lick a spoonful of Manuka honey as a treat after dinner was simply heart warming.
Now there is an example to follow!
What a treat to find out that they are as into a healthy lifestyle as we are! Water filters everywhere, nuts and seeds galore, as well as regular visits to the local farm shop not far from them.
The biggest testimony to the healthy lifestyle that we aspire to was to meet the 4 1/2 year old that has never had any sweets, sugar, junk food etc. She was gorgeous! No tantrums, no bad behaviour, just the sweetest, best behaved and highly intelligent child I have seen in a long time. Way to go, Mom!
So, I guess today my soliloque will have to be about the value of raising a child the natural way. What are we allowing our children to become, by feeding them cheap and nasty pre-packaged, nutrient-deficient junk food? It breaks my heart to think that most children are growing up today, thinking that certain chain-food restaurants are a "treat".
To see this beautiful young little girl drink her goats milk with acidopholous in to improve digestion, then lick a spoonful of Manuka honey as a treat after dinner was simply heart warming.
Now there is an example to follow!
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