Is Modern Medicine Founded on Error?

Friday, December 07, 2007 by: Gabriel Donohoe, citizen journalist

(NaturalNews) Modern medicine is firmly founded on the “Germ Theory of Disease” promulgated by Louis Pasteur in the 1860’s. Pasteur’s 140-year-old theory is still the medical paradigm upon which Western medicine fights disease as we enter the 21st century.

But with a huge increase today in infectious diseases and the rapidly rising epidemic of cancer, diabetes, heart disease and other chronic illnesses; we have to wonder if Pasteur’s theory is really that sound.

Consider this alarming statistic from a report commissioned by the Nutrition Institute of America in October, 2003: 2.2 million hospital patients suffer Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) to prescribed medicine each year leading to the deaths of 106,000 people. In other words, over 2,000 Americans die each week from properly prescribed medicine in properly prescribed doses.

This is a serious indictment of pharmaceutical medicine which is inextricably based on Pasteur’s germ theory.

According to Pasteur:

· Germs, or microbes, cause disease
· Germs invade the body from the outside, i.e., air, water, or food
· Human blood is sterile and can only be infected by outside microbes
· Germs are monomorphic, i.e., they have only one form and can be identified by species
· Specific diseases are caused by specific germs
· Germs should be killed by pharmaceutical drugs

In the 1870s Pasteur’s germ theory was developed further by William Koch, a contemporary and rival of Pasteur, whose proofs of the germ theory are still known today as “Koch’s Postulates”. See Koch’s Postulates at (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koch’s_postulates)

Basically, Koch’s contribution to the germ theory was to prove that a specific type of germ caused a specific disease, that the germ would be found in all people suffering from that particular disease but not healthy people, and that every person exposed to these germs would fall ill with disease.

However, Koch had to abandon part of his first postulate when he discovered that healthy people could carry the germs of certain diseases and yet show no symptoms. He also had to revise his third postulate when it was shown that some people could be exposed to virulent germs yet not catch the disease.

The “proofs” of the new Germ Theory were already showing flaws.

Still, despite being highly controversial in the late 1800s, the Germ Theory was quickly adopted by the medical powers of the day. This new theory about germs invading from outside the body empowered the medical and pharmaceutical industry as guardians of human and animal health. People became dependent on the fledgling medical/drugs industry for information and protection from disease. Thus, Modern Medicine was born.

A number of eminent scientists opposed Pasteur and The Germ Theory, most notably the highly respected Professor Antoine Béchamp. Béchamp was a reserved, modest man and a much more distinguished scientist than the self-promoting chemist, Louis Pasteur. (It is believed today that Pasteur stole much of Béchamp’s work and passed it off as his own. This prompted R.B. Pearson to write a book in the 1940s called “Pasteur, Plagiarist, Imposter.”) See text at (http://www.whale.to/a/b/pearson.html)

Béchamp and other scientists believed in the theory of pleomorphism, that a microbe could evolve through many forms from virus to bacterium to yeast to fungus to mold and could even de-evolve back to a pre-virus again. Béchamp could see this evolution and de-evolution clearly in his microscope. Big Medicine rejected pleomorphism back then just as it will not even look at pleomorphic phenomena filmed and documented by scientists today, such as Dr. Robert O. Young in San Diego, California.

Another of Béchamp’s contemporaries, Claude Bernard, expounded on the pleomorphic theory and said that the inner terrain or “milieu interieur” was the cause of disease, and not microbes. It was discovered that acidic blood and tissue provide a terrain that is ideal for disease to develop. When the terrain becomes acidic, microbes evolve into pathogenic forms and carry out the work nature designed them to do – as cleaners and undertakers, scavenging inflamed or infected tissue.

The acidity or acid/alkaline balance of the blood is measured by pH, the potential of Hydrogen, see (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PH) and is a very important marker for good health. The blood will do all it can to keep its pH at 7.365, or slightly alkaline. It will even strip alkaline reserves like calcium from the bones to buffer a rise in acidity. (This can lead to a condition labelled by modern medicine as osteoporosis.)

When the pH drops, even by .1, the increase in acidity is interpreted by the microbes, already present in the body in their billions, as a sign of a dead or dying body. This prompts them to morph from benign bacteria into virulent yeast and mold so that they can reduce the body to the dust from whence it came.

Even Pasteur eventually realized the truth of this and on his death-bed said that “Bernard was right… the microbe is nothing; the terrain is everything.” But Big Medicine now chose to ignore him. They sensed that the germ theory provided a gilt-edged opportunity to amass a huge fortune.

Béchamp and others in the scientific community opposed the germ theory and advocated the theory of pleomorphism, saying:

· Acidic terrain, not germs, cause disease
· Germs are already in the body by the billions and don’t necessarily have to come from without (although that can sometimes happen)
· Blood is not sterile but can contain many microbial forms
· Germs are pleomorphic, i.e., they can change through many forms (Dr Gaston Naessens identified a microbe undergoing 16 different stages of evolution)
· Virtually all diseases are caused by acidic terrain
· Diseases can be prevented or reversed by increasing the alkalinity of the terrain

What led Professor Béchamp to formulate his pleomorphic theory was the discovery of great numbers of small grainy objects in live blood samples which he observed through his microscope. Many of his contemporaries dismissed these tiny life forms as laboratory contamination which were of no importance. But they intrigued Béchamp. He named them “microzymas” or “little bodies”.

He found microzymas present in every cell in the bloodstream, in animals, in plants, and even in rocks. He found them present in the remains of dead animals many years after the animal’s body had withered away to dust. He observed that in a healthy organism, microzymas work at repairing and nourishing all cells; but when the terrain becomes acidic, the microzymas morph into viruses, bacteria, yeast, fungus, and mold and prepare to break the host down.

Béchamp’s work was ignored, ridiculed, suppressed, and soon forgotten. Down through the years, some scientists discovered pleomorphic phenomena for themselves – Enderlein, Rife, Reich, Livingston-Wheeler, Naessens, and more recently, in the U.S., Dr. Robert O. Young (San Diego) and Dr. David Jubb (New York). Most had no recourse to the works of earlier scientists and thought that their discoveries were unique to them. Like Béchamp before them, they too found their discoveries ignored or suppressed.

All of them were fascinated with the “little bodies” that Béchamp had called “microzymas”. Enderlein called them “protits”, Livingston-Wheeler called them “Progenitor cryptocides”, and Naessens called them “somatids”. But all found that they couldn’t destroy these “little bodies” even when subjecting them to excessive carbonizing temperatures or high dosage radiation.

Dr. David Jubb calls them “Colloids of Life” and says that they are indestructible. They resist “enormous heat, radiation, and chemicals and can reside in petrochemical solution, in hot rock deep within the Earth, in meteorites and in radioactive water inside nuclear power stations. Upon the loss of life of its host, colloid of life return to the earth. A colloid of life is the unknown factor between the animate and the inanimate.” (Jubbs Cell Rejuvenation, p.14.)

That last sentence has quite a resonance. Dr. Jubb is saying that colloids of life, or microzymas, are the smallest observable life forms between spirit and matter.

We still have a lot to learn about life, medicine, and healing but we need to approach these things with an open, inquisitive mind.

How long will it take modern medicine to accept that germs don’t cause disease but only appear as a result of disease? Who will fund research into the pleomorphic work begun by Béchamp, Enderlein, Rife and others? Who is brave enough to confront Big Pharma’s doctrinaire, Pasteurian approach to drug based medicine?

When a group of people are exposed to a virus or food toxin, modern medicine examines only those who get sick. What they should do is examine those who didn’t get sick. One would no doubt find that the sick people had acidic blood and tissue while those who didn’t succumb to the virus/toxin were alkaline. Therein lies the key to health.

Disease cannot take hold in an alkaline body. An alkalising diet and way of living can prevent and reverse disease. But don’t expect this to be endorsed by orthodox medicine – there’s no profit in it.

Recommended reading: “Sick And Tired…” and “The pH Miracle” by Dr. Robert O. Young, “Rethinking Pasteur’s Germ Theory” by Dr. Nancy Appleton, “Alkalize Or Die” by Dr.T.A. Baroody, “The Cancer Cure That Worked” by Barry Lynes, “Jubbs Cell Rejuvenation” by Dr. David Jubb, and “The Blood And Its Third Anatomical Element” by Prof. Antoine Béchamp.

Are you part of our healthy alkaline community? Sign up for our daily articles at:
www.phmiracleliving.com

Original Article

Green Kitchen: Curried Apples and Acorn Squash Recipe

Green Kitchen is a bi-weekly column about nutritious, inexpensive, and ethical food and cooking. It’s penned by the lovely Jaime Green.

Winter is not an easy time to eat locally in the Northeastern U.S. I hear it’s already spring in California (at least judging by the weather and produce), and Florida has its famed citrus. Though still seasonal by the time they get here, in transit those Sunshine State oranges have incurred the carbon debt and nutrient loss of shipment and storage, not to mention the wear and tear of a big chain supermarket.

Local, seasonal food is the holy grail of the conscientious urban eater. Okay, a garden would be better; there’s no trucking required, and the food is as fresh as can be. But when you live in a one-bedroom with east-facing windows that look onto another building, your growing options are scarce. (See also: last summer’s failed herb garden. The basil and rosemary died for lack of sun.)

So, I try to shop as much as possible at the greenmarket. Chatting with the farmer isn’t quite the same as getting my hands dirty, but it will do for now. At least the food comes from not-too-far away.

But February! Jeez, February, you break my heart. Sure, the seafood guys are still at the market, along with the wineries, the goat cheese lady, and the bags of locally braided pretzels, but produce is scarce. Thin on the ground. Thin in the air. Generally pretty trim. (Quoting Eddie Izzard might not help, but it makes me feel better.)

Last weekend, in terms of produce, my local farmers market boasted: mushrooms, onions, potatoes, apples, sweet potatoes, and squash. Not exactly a variety of nutrients therein. I left with an onion and two apples in my canvas bag. I knew the apples had been in storage since the fall, almost as long as the acorn squash on my kitchen table.

The squash’s stripes had gone from green to orange, but that’s the point of winter squash, right? With their thick skins and all? To stay good for months? Sure. Local from last December still equals local. Local in a lazy kitchen.

Roasting a halved acorn squash with butter and brown sugar is tasty enough, but I wanted to try something new. Inspired by this recipe from Epicurious and this one I posted on CHG a while back (plus a little old fashioned making-it-up-as-I-went) I ended up with a sweet, flavorful-but-not-spicy side dish that I’m very happy with.

Seasoning the apples and squash separately gives a little more variety to the dish; the squash receives more of the sweet-tasting garam masala, while the apples get a heavier hand with the curry powder. A splash of apple juice keeps everything moist, though you could probably roast this, too, with maybe a touch more oil.

Note: though the rind was very pretty, it didn’t make for easy eating. I added peeling to the instructions so you don’t have to pull shards of squash skin from your mouth. Additionally, the prices below reflect greenmarket/local apples, squash, and onions. In general, buying them there is fresher, kinder to the environment, and more supportive of my local economy. In this case, it’s cheaper than supermarket produce, as well.

Not having had the foresight, freezer space, or extra dough to lay in a frozen store of last summer’s veggies, I do what I can. But it’s nice, when you can, to go whole hog (whole local, grass-fed, ethically raised hog) and make an entire dish from foods (relatively) nearby.

~~~
If you like this recipe, you might also like:

• Autumn Apple Salad
• Curried Sweet Potato Stew
• Slow Cooker Pork Chops, Apples, and Sweet Potatoes

~~~

Curried Apples and Acorn Squash
Serves 4

1 acorn squash
2 apples, cubed (I used something that looked like Galas, but I bet Granny Smiths would add a nice tartness. I’d avoid anything mushy like Macs.)
1 medium onion, chopped
¼ c apple juice or cider
1 t (plus a dash) curry powder
1 T maple syrup
1 t garam masala
½ t powdered ginger
¼ t salt
dash of nutmeg
1 ½ T butter
1 T olive oil

1) Preheat oven to 350F. Line a baking dish with aluminum foil (or not, if you like scrubbing).

2) Peel and cut the squash into cubes, 1 to 1½ inches on a side.

3) In a bowl mix 1 T olive oil, 1 T maple syrup, 1 t garam masala, ½ t powdered ginger, ¼ t salt, and a dash of curry powder. Add squash cubes and toss to coat.

4) Spread into your baking pan, in as close to in a single layer as possible. Bake about 25 minutes, stirring once or twice for even cooking.

5) Meanwhile, melt 1 T butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion, a sprinkle of salt, and sauté until tender, maybe 12 minutes.

6) Add 1 t curry powder and a dash of nutmeg and stir for 1 minute.

7) Add apples and saute a few more minutes, until the apples are hot. Transfer to a bowl to wait for the squash.

Once the squash’s 25 minutes are up, add the apple mixture to the squash in the baking dish. Sprinkle with ¼ c apple juice, and stir together. Bake another 20 minutes or so, until the squash is tender.

Approximate Calories, Fat, Fiber and Price per Serving
237 calories, 9.6 g fat, 5.8 g fiber, $0.93 (4 servings)

Calculations
1 acorn squash: 345 calories, 1g fat, 13g fiber, $1.00
2 apples: 143 calories, 0.5g fat, 6.5g fiber, $1.25
1 medium onion: 106 calories, 0g fat, 3g fiber, $0.75
¼ c apple juice or cider: 30 calories, negligible fat or fiber, $0.15
1 t (plus a dash) curry powder: negligible calories or fat, 0.5g fiber, $0.04
1 T maple syrup: 52 calories, negligible fat or fiber, $0.25
1 t garam masala: negligible calories, fat, fiber, $0.02
½ t powdered ginger: negligible calories, fat, fiber, $0.01
¼ t salt: negligible calories, fat, fiber, $0.01
dash of nutmeg: negligible calories, fat, fiber, $0.01
1 ½ T butter: 153 calories, 17g fat, 0g fiber, $0.11
1 T olive oil: 120 calories, 14g fat, 0g fiber, $0.12
TOTALS: 949 calories, 38.5g fat, 23g fiber, $3.72
PER SERVING (TOTAL/4): 237 calories, 9.6g fat, 5.8g fiber, $0.93

Original Article

Symptoms & Diseases Confused

In this very revealing and thought-provoking presentation, Dr. Young helps us to to take a clear-eyed look at how illogical current medical thinking is about diagnosis of symptoms, naming diseases, and then prescribing drug treatments. If you want to know the real CAUSE of some common dis-ease conditions, read on!

“Disease or should we say Dis-ease names like cancer,
diabetes and osteoporosis are misleading and misinform
patients about dis-ease prevention.

There is a curious tendency in conventional medicine
to name a set of symptoms a disease. I was recently
at a compounding pharmacy having my bone mineral
density measured to update my health stats. I
spotted a poster touting a new drug for osteoporosis.
It was written by a drug company and it said
exactly this: ‘Osteoporosis is a disease that causes
weak and fragile bones.’ Then, the poster went on to
say that you need a particular drug to counteract this ‘disease.’

Yet the language is all backwards. Osteoporosis isn’t
a disease that causes weak bones, osteoporosis is
the name given to a diagnosis of weak bones. In other
words, the weak bones are the result of excess acidity,
and then the diagnosis of osteoporosis followed.

The drug poster makes it sound like osteoporosis
strikes first, and then you get weak bones. The
cause and effect is all backwards. And that’s
how drug companies want people to think about
diseases and symptoms: first you ‘get’ the dis-ease,
and then you are ‘diagnosed’ just in time to take
a new drug for the rest of your life.

But it’s all an illuision. There is no such
disease as osteoporosis. It’s just a made-up name
given to a pattern of symptoms that indicates
you are over-acid which causes your bones to
become fragile.

As another example, when a person follows an
unhealthy lifestyle that results in a symptom
such as high blood pressure, that symptom is
actually being assumed to be a disease all by
itself and it will be given a disease name.
What disease? The dis-ease is, of course,
‘hypertension’ or ‘high blood pressure.’
Doctors throw this phrase around as if it
were an actual dis-ease and not merely
descriptive of patient physiology.

This may all seem silly, right? But there’s
actually a very important point to all this.

When we look at symptoms and give them disease
names, we automatically distort the selection
of available treatments for such a dis-ease.
If the dis-ease is, by itself, hypercholesterolemia
or high cholesterol, then the cure for the dis-ease
must be nothing other than lowering the high
cholesterol. And that’s how we end up with all
these pharmaceuticals treating high cholesterol
in order to ‘prevent’ this dis-ease and lower
the levels of LDL cholesterol in the human patient.

By lowering only the cholesterol, the doctor can
rest assured that he is, in fact, treating this
‘disease,’ since the definition of this ‘disease’
is hypercholesterolemia or high cholesterol and
nothing else.

But there is a fatal flaw in this approach to
disease treatment: the symptom is not the cause
of the dis-ease. There is another cause, and
this deeper cause is routinely ignored by
conventional medicine, doctors, drug companies,
and even patients.

Let’s take a closer look at hypertension or
high blood pressure. What actually causes high
blood pressure? Many doctors would say high
blood pressure is caused by a specific, measurable
interaction between circulating chemicals in the
human body. Thus, the ill-behaved chemical
compounds are the cause of the high blood pressure,
and therefore the solution is to regulate these
chemicals. That’s exactly what pharmaceuticals
do — they attempt to manipulate the chemicals
in the body to adjust the symptoms of high blood
pressure. Thus, they only treat the symptoms,
not the root cause.

Or take a look at high cholesterol. The conventional
medicine approach says that high cholesterol is
caused by a chemical imbalance in the liver, which
is the organ that produces cholesterol. Thus the
treatment for high cholesterol is a prescription
drug that inhibits the liver’s production of
cholesterol (statin drugs). Upon taking these
drugs, the high cholesterol (the ‘disease’)
is regulated, but what was causing the liver to
overproduce cholesterol in the first place?
That causative factor remains ignored.

The root cause of high cholesterol, as it turns
out, is primarily an over acidic lifestyle and
diet. A person lives an acidic life or who eats
foods that are acidic will inevitably cause the
body to go into preservation mode and produce more
cholesterol to neutralize the excess acid thus
showing the symptoms of this so-called dis-ease
of high cholesterol. Its simple cause and effect.
Eat the wrong foods and don’t exercise, and you’ll
produce too much acid which will cause the body to
release cholesterol from the liver to bind up
that acid which can be detected and diagnosed by
conventional medical procedures. You see it is
not the cholesterol that is bad it is the acid
producing food we eat and the lack of exercise
that is bad. Reduce the acid producing foods
like beef, chicken, pork, dairy, coffee, tea,
soda pops, etc., and start exercising every day
and you will reduce the protective cholesterol
that is saving your life from acids that are
not being elimnated from an acidic lifestyle
and diet.

Yet the root cause of all this is actually poor
lifestyle and food choice, not some bizarre
behavior by the liver. If the disease were to
be accurately named, then, it would be called
Acidic Lifestyle and Food Choice Dis-Ease, or
simply ALFCD.

ALFCD would be a far more accurate name that
would make sense to people. If it’s an acidic
lifestyle and foods choice dis-ease, then it
seems that the obvious solution to the dis-ease
would be to choose a lifestyle and foods that
aren’t so acidic. Of course that may be a bit
of simplification since you have to distinguish
between healthy alkaline lifestyles and foods
and unhealthy acidic lifestyle and foods. But
at least the name ALFCD gives clients or patients
a better idea of what’s actually going on rather
than naming the dis-ease after a symptom, such
as high cholesterol. You see, the symptom is not
the dis-ease, but conventional medicine insists
on calling the symptom the dis-ease because that
way it can treat the symptom and claim success
without actually addressing the underlying cause,
which remains a mystery to modern medicine.

But let’s move on to some other dis-eases so you
get a clearer picture of how this actually works.
Another dis-ease that’s caused by poor lifestyle
and acidic food choice is diabetes. Type 2
diabetes is the natural physiological and metabolic
result of a person consuming refined carbohydrates
and added sugars in large quantities, undigested
proteins from beef, chicken, and pork without
engaging in regular physical exercise that would
compensate for such dietary practices.

The name ‘diabetes’ is meaningless to the average
person. The disease should be called Excessive Acid
Dis-Ease, or EAD. If it were called Excessive Acid
Dis-ease, the solution to it would be rather apparent;
simply eat less sugar, eliminate all animal proteins,
eggs, dairy, drink fewer soft drinks, exercise and so
on. But of course that would be far too simple for
the medical community, so the dis-ease must be given
a complex name such as diabetes that puts its
solution out of reach of the average patient.

Another dis-ease that is named after its symptom
is cancer. In fact, to this day, most doctors and
many patients still believe that cancer is a physical
thing: a tumor. In reality, a tumor is the solution
of cancer, not its cause. A tumor is simply a
physical manifestation of bound up acidic cells
so they do not spoil other healthy cells. The
tumor is the solution to cells damaged by acids
not the problem. The truth is cancer is not a
cell but an acidic liquid. When a person ‘has
cancer,’ what they really have is cancerous tissues
or latent tissue acidosis. They are absorbing
their own acidic urine. It would be a far better
named for the dis-ease: Cancerous Tisssue Dis-Ease(CTD)
or Latent Tissue Acidosis or LTA.

If cancer were actually called Latent Tissue Acidosis,
it would seem ridiculous to try to cure cancer by
cutting out tumors through surgery and by destroying
the immune system with chemotherapy. And yet these
are precisely the most popular treatments for cancer
offered by conventional medicine. These treatments
do absolutely nothing to support the patient’s
immune system and prevent the build up of acids
in the tissues. That’s exactly why most people who
undergo chemotherapy or the removal of tumors through
surgical procedures end up with yet more cancer a few
months or a few years later. It’s also another reason
why survival rates of cancer have barely budged over
the last twenty years. (In other words, conventional
medicine’s treatments for cancer simply don’t work.)
The main reason is current medical science wrongly
perceives cancer as a cell when in reality cancer
is an acidic liquid, like lactic acid.

This whole situation stems from the fact that the
dis-ease is misnamed. It isn’t cancer, it isn’t a
tumor and it certainly isn’t a dis-ease caused by
having too strong of an immune system that needs
to be destroyed through chemotherapy. It is simply
latent tissue acidosis. And if it were called
latent tissue acidosis dis-ease or urine in the
tissues dis-ease, the effective treatment for
cancer would be apparent.

The kidneys are responsible for eliminating acids
out of the blood and recycling alkalinity back into
the blood. When we have an over-acidic lifestyle
and diet this puts stress on the kidneys which
can cause them to breakdown. The result is kidney
dis-ease caused by circulatory acids. If acids
are not eliminated out of the blood they will
then be thrown out into the tissues leading to
latent tissue acidosis and eventual cancerous
tissue. Medical science uses dialysis to purify
the blood from acidity and prevent latent tissue
acidosis. If one will stop their acidic lifestyle
and diet and begin to alkalize the blood and
tissues this will support the kidneys and
prevent kidney disease and the need for
dialysis.

There are many other dis-eases that are given
misleading names by western medicine. But if you
look around the world and take a look at how
dis-eases are named elsewhere, you will find
many countries have dis-ease names that actually
make sense.

For example, in Chinese medicine, Alzheimer’s
dis-ease is given a name that means, when
translated, ‘feeble mind disease.’ In Chinese
medicine, the name of the dis-ease more accurately
describes the actual cause of the dis-ease which
is caused by acids or urine on the brain, whereas
in western medicine, the name of the dis-ease
seems to be intended to obscure the root cause
of the dis-ease, thereby making all dis-eases
sound far more complex and mysterious than they
really are.

This is one way in which doctors and practitioners
of western medicine keep medical treatments out
of the reach of the average citizen. Because,
by God, they sure don’t want people thinking for
themselves about the causes of dis-ease!

By creating a whole new vocabulary for medical
conditions, they can speak their own secret
language and make sure that people who aren’t
schooled in medicine don’t understand what
they’re saying. That’s a shame, because the
treatments and cures for virtually all chronic
dis-eases are actually quite simple and can be
described in plain language, such as making
different alkaline food choices, getting more
natural sunlight, drinking more alkaline water,
engaging in regular physical exercise, avoiding
specific acidic foods, supplementing our diet
with green foods and green drinks and alkalizing
nutritional supplements and so on.

See, western medicine prefers to describe
dis-eases in terms of chemistry. When you’re
depressed, you aren’t suffering from a lack of
natural sunlight; you are suffering from a ‘brain
chemistry imbalance’ that can only be regulated,
they claim, by ingesting toxic chemicals to alter
your brain chemistry. When your bones are brittle,
it’s not acidic brittle bones dis-ease; it’s
called osteoporosis, something that sounds very
technical and complicated. And to treat it, western
doctors and physicians will give you prescriptions
for expensive drugs that somehow claim to make
your bones less brittle. But in fact, the real
treatment for this can be described in plain
language once again: regular physical exercise,
vitamin D supplementation, mineral supplements
that include calcium and strontium, natural sunlight,
and avoidance of acidic foods such as soft drinks,
white flour and added sugars.

In fact, virtually every dis-ease that’s prominent
in modern society — diabetes, cancer, heart
disease, osteoporosis, clinical depression,
irritable bowel syndrome and so on — can be
easily described in plain language without
using complex terms at all. These dis-eases
are simply misnamed. And I believe that they
are intentionally misnamed to put the jargon
out of reach of everyday citizens. As a result,
there’s a great deal of arrogance in the language
of western medicine, and this arrogance furthers
the language of separation. Separation never
results in healing. In order to effect healing,
we must bring together the language of healers
and patients using plain language that real people
understand and that real people can act upon.

We need to start describing dis-eases in terms
of their root causes, not in terms of their arcane,
biochemical actions. When someone suffers from
seasonal affective disorder or clinical depression,
for example, let’s call it what it is: Sunlight
Deficiency Disorder. To treat it, the person simply
needs to get more sunlight. This isn’t rocket science,
it’s not complex, and it doesn’t require a
prescription.

If someone is suffering from osteoporosis, let’s
get realistic about the words we use to describe
the condition: it’s really Acidic Bones Dis-ease.
And it should be treated with things that will
enhance bone density, such as nutrition, physical
exercise and avoidance of acidic foods and drinks
that strip away bone mass from the human body to
neutralize the excess acids in the blood and
tissues.

All of this information, of course, is rather
shocking to old-school doctors and practitioners
of western medicine, and the bigger their egos
are, the more they hate the idea of naming dis-eases
in plain language that patients can actually
comprehend. That’s because if the simple truths
about dis-eases and their causes were known,
health would be more readily available to everyday
people, and that would lessen the importance of
physicians and medical researchers.

There’s a great deal of ego invested in the medical
community, and they sure don’t want to make sound
health attainable to the average person without
their expert advice. Many Doctors want to serve
as the translators of ‘truth’ and will balk at
any attempts to educate the public to either practice
medicine on their own.

But in reality, health (and a connection with
spirit) is attainable by every single person.
Health is easy, it is straightforward, it is direct
and, for the most part, it is available free of
charge. A personal connection with our Creator is
the same if we ask humbly in prayer for a
relationship with Him, and guidance.

Don’t believe the names of dis-eases given to you
by your doctor. Those names are designed to obscure,
not to inform. They are designed to separate you
from self-healing, not to put you in touch with your
own inner healer. And thus, they are nothing more
than bad medicine masquerading as modern medical
practice.”

Are you part of our healthy alkaline community? Sign up for our daily articles at:
www.phmiracleliving.com

Original Article

Seek And You Will Find The Cure For Cancer

From: Marjoa-Leena Hirvonen

Life is a journey and now I’m going to tell about my own journey and why it led me to the pH Miracle

I was raised in the countryside where I learned to know what is right and wrong by experiencing and evaluating. I became an indivual with a common sense.

I was interested in nature and it gave me everything I needed (and still does). That’s why I studied biology and chamisty at the University. By coincidence I hung into pharmaceutical industry without any earlier experience/understanding about it. I have now been working there for 25 years with 23 years in oncology (cancer care) therapy area. The latest years with opinion leaders mainly.

During these years I learned a lot about cancer and met both patients (patient organizations) and doctors. In the congresses I was wondering why numbers and statistics pay such a big role. Etiology of cancer was described in a way I couldn’t accept. When I discussed this with doctors they told me that it doesn’t indicate an individual patient but is true on a population level. However many patients felt quilty and claimed themselves. Connection between body-mind-spirit was not presented because in medicine (and all natural sciences) everything has to be measured before you can believe on it.

In clinical trials, treatment quidelines and even in golden stantards there is a hypothesis (set years ago) where diagnosis, prognosis and treatments accordly are based on and nobody ever critizises it. The hypothesis gets variations according to the treatment/drug which is in case.

Big Pharma is finanzing most of the clinical trials and cancer care is the fastest growing business segment of all therapy areas. Signal transduction, viral vaccinations in cancer etc., new molecules are worth tens of thousands per month. Imaging technique finds the smallest lesions and the cure is more aggressive and lasts longer. Both older and newer treatment protocols have side-effects and a variation of medication is needed to avoid those.

The following is how I got personally involved into cancer and had to re-evaluate my values.

My own experience about the cancer is strong – I was devastated as I thought that I’ll never get cancer because I’m so healthy.. However I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2003 and had surgery (local resection; lumpectomy) and radiotherapy. Within the first year there wasn’t a day when I didn’t think about my cancer.

A couple of years later I lost my voice. Diagnosis was Dysphonia Spasmoides (SD), the most severe voice disorder.. I was offered Botox to my vocal cords, I didn’t accept it after having red Cochrane Library -results about Botox and it’s efficacy in treating SD. This was the first time my eyes were clearly opened. Why were doctors are offering Botox in the whole world without being able to show clear evidence.

I analyzed my way of living and came to the conclusion that breathing is my problem and it causes my SD plus emotional stress, inbalance in general.

I travelled to Tampa to a voice rehabilitation course and learned that breathing is very sensitive when a person is facing a crisis. Keeping breath to stop more worries to come. And like Pavlov’s dog you learn in which situations this is needed and soon it becomes a habit.

Body-mind-spirit arouse as a key to my life in theory but not in practise. That’s why…

After being disease-free for six years from breast cancer an inner voice (unconsciusness) said: go to MRI. And so the recurrence of my breast cancer was found as two metastases in the same breast area. I understood that now it is not curable any more. I was offered chemotherapy and endocrine therapy for the rest of my life after that. I started chemo as I had learned that it is necessary in these advanced cases.

This period of time was a real chaos. I was reading scientific articles about my prognosis and this knowledge nearly killed me. I told my family members and friends that I wont’ live so long.

At the same time I got some strange strength to change my attitude. I was reading a lot and found out that the biggest wisdom is lying just in the crisis. I learned that the universe leads us and we have to follow whatsoever happens.

My affirmation at that time (and still is) was:

In each moment and everywhere I have everything I need. I’m in the right place of my life doing the work, which I like most. I can use all my talents and use them right. On everything I do God is guiding me and giving inspiration. I think, speak and act as is right. I enjoy my life and make other people enjoy their lives. I am creative and active, looking for the data and seeking the truth.

I used chemo for one cycle and was gathering information on other options. Found out that chemo in itself causes asidosis and oxidative stress, which according to my understanding is the cause of my cancer. So I wanted to stop it. I got hormone therapy instead as I’d learned that oestrogen is the bad thing and should be eliminated. I used hormones for two months and stopped using them as well because strange things started to happen.

I had found something interesting from the Internet and met a person who I knew is doing microscopic blood analysis. This is what I’ve been looking for and didn’t hesitate. I contacted Dr. Young and we agreed that I would travel immediately to his ranch and can have nutrition plus microscopic analysis training at the same time.

I met this person, Dr Young, who belongs to the 0.1% of persons who can fly as a wild bird, free, but knowing where he is going to. As I have noticed, there are persons who are highly educated though have no common sense, take the direction which is given. Persons who are intelligent, but through the whole world history intelligence can be used to false, even fatal purposes (Hitler, Stalin). Then: there is a tiny group of persons who have wisdom. It is to be seen as humanity, open mind, spiritual vision, awareness of the truth, love and care. Dr. Young is such a person, absolutely.

What he is teaching makes sense and is simple to understand. He says: there is only one physiological state of imbalance – the over-acidification of the body. He has documented this and shown in practice. I fully agree. Cause and effect relationship – this is needed as well as our own commitment to our well-being.

The secret of life is duality as Dr Young puts it. I have seen it in my life as well. You have to experience darkness before you find the light, feel unhappy before you understand what happiness means. Follow opinion leaders before you dare to take your own steps.

I have learned through my hard times the relativeness of things. Meaning of strong and weak varies. A person can look strong but is weak and vice versa. A person can be strong strong, strong weak, weak weak or weak strong. But weakness is the original strength.

Why I want to take weakness/strength – duality in this context? Because if you have a disease you are an object, seen as a weak link of the community. System (hospital, clinic, whatsoever) is taking the lead and you are suited into the needs of the system. It is not the purposeness, reliveness of your needs which is the driving force. At the pH Miracle Center this is different. You as the subject are actively taking part in your ‘destiny’.

‘Doctor managed perfect in the operation, but the patient died’; this is still true in many cases in medicine. Dr. Young’s approach is holistic and lasts as long as a person maintains the lifestyle.

Ecological footprint is commonly discussed nowadays. I’d like to raise a new footprint designed just for Dr. Young: Give a meaning for the Universe -footprint. (in this case big footprint is ideal). For me he has given the meaning – to help people to learn to know about the pH Miracle. And it’s my duty to the universe to do it. My own cancer is gone and I have found a new level of myself. Pleomorphism, Dr. Young’s clever idea, can happen in a human being as well. Unbalanced, unhappy without direction, with fear —> balanced, happy, with faith, aware of what, why and how. Ruin off the previous concepts if there is something better to be offered. There is now and I have ruined the previous ones.

To be or not to be – by Shakespeare. And, Shelley Young has said in other words prefer being instead of doing. Awareness and enlightment. These two things I have experienced during my visit at the ranch. Each person from the personnel tells the same story about Dr. Young. His dedication, vision and open mind. And this is true. Wild bird flies.

I would like to express my deepest gratitude and honour to Dr. Robert and Shelley Young and the personnel at The pH Miracle Center.

Seek and you’ll find. Knock, and the door will be opened.

Marjoa-Leena Hirvonen
Tapiontie 18 B
Fl-02720 ESPOO
Finland
masi.hirvonen@gmail.com

Are you part of our healthy alkaline community? Sign up for our daily articles at:
www.phmiracleliving.com

Original Article

Flat Stomach Foods – Eat These Fat Burning Foods

As well as your regular exercise, you shall also need to include some flat stomach foods in your diet to help quicken the trimming of your waistline. Here are 2 flat stomach foods for your consideration:

1. Eggs

Do you know that eggs are very high in protein and they can assist you in burning belly fat? You might have read about the danger of eggs, about how excessive eggs consumption can make your cholesterol shoot up. However, latest research has shown that eating eggs doesn’t lead to the increase of serum cholesterol levels. If you are still not comfortable with eating too many eggs, then simply discard the egg yolk and consume only the white egg as the white contain most of the proteins in an egg.

Eggs are very high in vitamin B, particularly vitamin b12. They also contain Vitamin A, D, E and K. Take note that there are very little food which contain vitamin D, and one of them is egg. Vitamin B12 can help to break down your fat.

2. Oatmeal

Oatmeal is not among the most delicious flat stomach foods, but they are very good for us. Eating a lot of oatmeal shall help to lower your cholesterol. Why? Because oatmeal is soluble fiber laden. Soluble fiber will flush out bad digestive acids from our system and this will reduce blood cholesterol.

When you buy your oatmeal, buy those which is unflavored and unsweetened. I know the taste is not really great, but it’s for your own benefit. If you can’t bear the oatmeal taste, then add fruits such banana, apple, raisins, honey or strawberry.

Remember, even though you exercise regularly, foods still play a major role in making you lose weight. So start eating these flat stomach foods today.

Original Article

Top 10 Links of the Week: 2/26/10 – 3/4/10

Great googly moogly, it’s been a big week here at the castle. (Yes, we live in a castle. The internet connection’s a little spotty, but the gruel is fantastic.) Thank you times infinity to both Lifehacker and BoingBoing, and to readers both old and new. It’s been wonderful.

And with that, the links!

1) Money Saving Mom
How I Plan My Freezer Cooking Day + Free Planning Worksheets!
31 Days to a Better Grocery Budget: Stop Making Excuses and Commit to Change
Crystal is on a massive roll this week, and listing all the stellar posts would take up about half this countdown. These two are just the first parts of ongoing series, which can be found all over her site. Get over there and start saving gazillions.

2) Get Rich Slowly: A Cautionary Tale
Oh no he di’int! Guest poster Maria spills the tale of her ex-boyfriend, an emotional and financial leech. The story is simultaneously shocking and relatable, not least because it illustrates the difficulty of maintaining economic objectivity in relationships. A great read, though some of the thread commentary might make you choke on your orange.

3) Stonesoup: Tips for Kitchen Glory – How to Get Rave Reviews for Your Cooking
In its own way, prepping a tasty meal can be a lot like standup comedy. It’s a skill (writing/cooking) with a valuable outcome (laughs/food) for which you receive recognition (clapping/burps). In this neat little post, Jules tells us how to increase the kudos.

4) Consumerist: Restaurant Bans Customer for Not Tipping Enough
Long story short: regular customer with a history of stiffing servers is charged an out-of-nowhere mandatory 18% gratuity on her party of three. She complains, and next time she shows, the restaurant refuses to seat her unless she coughs up an 18% tip. On one hand, tipping is voluntary. On the other hand, if you can’t tip, you shouldn’t eat out in the first place. (Edited because I got my facts wrong. Thanks, Krista and Anon.)

5) New York Times: Don’t Tell the Kids
Full disclosure: I had a bunny burrito once, and it was delicious. So this article on the re-emergence of rabbits as versatile, delicious, recession-ready meat made me salivate a little. Sorry, Bugs.

6) The Kitchn: How-to Tutorials Galore Home Hacks Roundup
The Kitchn comps their multitude of February posts on basic culinary skillz. As always, it’s thorough, informative, useful, and accompanied by a beautiful picture of an otherwise messy task.

7) The Atlantic: Europe to Antioxidants – Take a Hike
This one’s a bit dense, but essentially: you know how food manufacturers label their products with stuff like “A great source of ANTIOXIDANTS!” or “We shot this full of ANTIOXIDANTS, even though we’re not really sure what they do outside of foods in which they naturally occur!” European regulators aren’t standing for it. Tres bien! Molto buono! Sehr gut! However you say “very good” in Swedish!

Grist: Study suggests Junk Food Taxes May Beat Healthy Food Subsidies
Fascinating. In a recent study, psychologists created their own grocery store and told a bunch of moms to buy food for a week. They discovered two things:

1. When they lowered the cost of healthy food (simulating a subsidy), the mothers bought a little more of it, but spent the savings on junk food.
2. When they raised the prices of junk food (simulating a tax), the same women cut back on junk and bought significantly more healthy food.

It means (for the purposes of this single study) that taxing junk is more effective than subsidizing the good stuff. Hunh.

9) New York Times: Bridezillas on a Diet
Around 70% of brides-to-be try to drop weight before the big day, and about a third use dangerous methods (pills, fasts, etc.). Not good. But more importantly, can we drop the term “bridezilla” already, since it’s now being used as a code word for “engaged woman who expresses a preference about something”? Yeah, some ladies morph into buttercream-crazed harpies, but most of us are happy to be having a big honkin’ party. It’s reductive, man. (Does saying that make me a bridezilla?)

10) Weight Watchers: The Most Flavorful Cheeses
Fellow OPs, you have a friend in cheeses. Sweet/savory piece via Words to Eat By’s own Debbie Koenig.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

AV Club: Taste Test – Durian
Denizens of The Onion try the world’s stinkiest fruit and document their reactions. My favorite: “It looks like a bunch of baby aliens inside. I keep expecting them to turn over and say ‘mama.’”

Food Politics: Research Alert – Childhood Obesity and How to Fix it
Marion Nestle: compiling relevant articles about a significant political initiative, so you don’t have to.

Chicago Tribune: New charge on dinner tab is in bad taste
Some San Francisco eateries are adding surcharges to bills, claiming they’re for the waitstaff’s health insurance. It’s kind of like the IRS taxing you, “for our kids education.”

New York Times: The Claim – To Cut Calories, Eat Slowly
Grandma was right. Again. In fact, the only thing she was ever wrong about was this newfangled rock & roll.

NY Daily News: Rich Icelandic couple sued by former tenants for installing ‘ugly’ Ikea kitchen
Unrevealed in the article: the rich couple’s names are Tyler Durden and Marla Singer.

Slashfood: Does Cooking Make us Human?
Ha! Suck it, monkeys!

AND ALSO

“This Too Shall Pass” by OK Go
This is all over the interwebs, and deservedly so. MAKE Magazine designed a complex, delightful, four-minute Rube Goldberg contraption for OK Go’s latest video, which appears to be filmed in one take. Mind blowing.

(Photos courtesy of Make Friends with Food.)

Thank you so much for visiting Cheap Healthy Good! (We appreciate it muchly). If you’d like to further support CHG, subscribe to our RSS feed! Or become a Facebook friend! Or check out our Twitter! Or buy something inexpensive, yet fulfilling via that Amazon store (on the left)! Bookmarking sites and links are nice, too. Viva la France!

Original Article

Probiotics Side Effects Facts

Sometime due to lack of proper knowledge, lots of unhealthy steps are taken by us and at last will have to suffer because of it.
As we knows about Probiotics Health Benefits, and the best Probiotics should start showing their benefits within a week or two, some minor side effects may be experienced but these quickly disappear in most cases. Especially diarrhea and constipation are often relieved within a day or two of beginning a regimen of supplements.

Probiotic side effects are usually very mild and do not last for an extended period of time.Digestive problems are linked with probiotic use. Gas and bloating occur most frequently since the bacteria growth and activity had dramatically increased. They produce gas as part of their cycle and its presence is one of the probiotic side effects. If the balance is not in harmony yet, the gas can build up. It can expel in the form of flatulence, belches, and burps. If combined with eating a probiotic rich diet, the amount of gas produced can escalate. However, once the balance of bacteria is reached, these probiotic side effects will subside quickly.

Other probiotic side is related to the digestive issues. Excessive drainage syndrome occurs if too much Probiotics are introduced too quickly. This can cause the immune and digestive systems to kick into overdrive. The effects of Probiotics are headaches, constipation, bloating and diarrhea. The condition can be alleviated by reducing the amount of Probiotics being consumed. After a time, the amount can then be gradually increased. This allows time for the body to learn to deal with the probiotic effects of taking the bacteria.

Probiotic side effects only affect some people. In fact, the majority of people experience no side effects of Probiotics what so ever. Probiotics are introducing a bacterium into the body that the body already knows. So the chances of a healthy immune system having issues are very slight. In fact, the bacteria will likely have more positive effects that negative. As the cultures grow and multiply, immune, digestive and vaginal health should improve. If you have recently undergone antibiotic therapy, the probiotics will definitely help. Antibiotics kill all bacteria including the good guys. Probiotics can help restore the balance. If you have any questions about probiotic side effects, consult with your doctor. That professional can help you make an informed choice.

Original Article

Probiotics Health Benefits Tips for Healthy Lifestyle

In a medical science terms, Probiotics is one of the microbe that protects It`s host and prevents disease.

Now here I want to share most important Probiotics Benefits for our healthy lifestyle but there are several Probiotics Side Effects also considerable which we can not ignore.

Probiotics are known as like their activities that they block harmful bacteria and stop them from multiplying. They also serve as our body’s secondary protection against invading bacteria.

Probiotics work by attaching themselves to the colon wall secreting substances which inhibit the growth of the bad bacteria. They basically cause the bad bacteria to starve off and die.

It also includes decreasing lactose intolerance, prevention of certain cancers, lowering cholesterol and blood pressure, preventing infections, improving the immune system, diarrhea relief, improving absorption, relief from colitis and irritable bowel syndrome.

Natural foods that promote healthy Probiotics include miso soup, sugar free soy or dairy yogurt, sauerkraut, some types of cheese, Kim chee, buttermilk, sour cream, pickles and other fermented or pickled foods.

Probiotics are best utilized when used in conjunction with a balanced exercise and nutrition program. There are also a good number of probiotic supplements available these days that come in capsules or enhanced yoghurt products like Active yogurt which is something I personally use to help keep my probiotic level high. I have felt a significant improvement in my life as a result of Probiotics.

Reduction in cholesterol levels, Relief of irritable bowel syndrome, Relief of constipation in the elderly are another health benefits of Probiotics.

Original Article

Replacements for Partially Hydrogenated Oils

Now that partially hydrogenated oils (trans fats) have been removed from many processed foods, which substitutes are acceptable and which should be avoided? Most of the foods previously made with trans fats now use saturated fats from palm, palm kernel and coconut oils. As far as I know, these tropical oils have not been shown to cause heart attacks or other health issues in any large population studies. However, they raise levels of the bad LDL cholesterol, while Canola oil (high in monounsaturated fat) and soybean oil (high in polyunsaturated fat) do not (American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, July 2006). I believe that they are more healtful than saturated fats from animal sources, and certainly better than the trans fats they have replaced.

Fats in nature are always a combination of saturated, polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats. They are classified by their dominant fat. For example, most of the fat in meat and tropical oils is saturated, while the fats in most vegetables are primarily polyunsaturated. Here are my recommendations:

• Look for foods made with monounsaturated or polyunsaturated vegetable oils. Many food manufacturers now use trans fat-free oil from sunflower, soy, and cottonseed oils. (Wendy’s switched to non-hydrogenated corn and soy oil in 2006. McDonald’s now uses trans-fat free canola and soybean oils).
• Olive oil is high in healthful monounsaturated fats and is an excellent choice for salad dressings and low-temperature stir-frying.
• Saturated fats from plants (tropical oils) appear to be more healthful than animal saturated fats, as far as we know today.
• Avoid prepared foods that contain ANY partially hydrogenated or trans fats; always read the list of ingredients.
• Limit or avoid foods prepared with saturated animal fats such as lard and butter.
• French fries should be freshly sliced and cooked with a vegetable oil such as canola. (Many frozen french fries still contain partially hydrogenated oils).
• Make your own snacks using vegetable, nut or seed oils.

Always read the list of ingredients to make sure there are NO partially hydrogenated oils. Many products labeled “zero trans fats” contain up to a half gram of trans fats per serving because the FDA allows them to do this. Partially hydrogenated oils (trans fats) raise bad cholesterol and lower good cholesterol. Just five grams of trans fat a day can increase risk of heart disease by 25 percent. They are also associated with increased risk for breast (American Journal of Epidemiology, November 2008) and prostate cancers (Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention, January 2008).

Overall, snack foods and prepared foods should be a very small portion of your diet. Most of the food you eat should be vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans and other seeds.

More on tropical oils
More on trans fats
Best diet

Original Article

The $25 Food Project Finale: Recipes, Conclusions, and an Exit Interview

Our Project has come to an end. The Husband-Elect, a six-foot, 205-pound man in his mid-30s, has been successfully fed for a week on $25. Needless to say, we are celebrating with beer.

Thanks to everyone who wrote throughout with suggestions (especially wosnes and CJ). Your ideas were super helpful, especially during a mid-week culinary rut, when my sinuses threatened to take over the world.

Included below is a breakdown of the week: the final numbers, an analysis of what worked and what didn’t, the Husband-Elect’s exit interview, and recipes made over the last seven days. I’d love to hear what you think and what you would have done differently.

In the meantime…

THE NUMBERS

Final cost total: $24.99
Daily cost average: $3.57
Daily calorie average: 2631 calories
Daily fat average: 86.7 g fat
Daily fiber average: 38.4 g fiber
Daily average prep time: About 48 minutes per day, total

The fat and fiber are a little higher than recommended, and the calorie intake means he’ll probably lose some weight over the course of a year. I’m satisfied, though still kicking myself for not including protein. Maybe next time.

About the prep time: staying within a strict budget means you gotta cook at home. For me, 48 minutes a day is worth it. Your mileage may vary, and that’s okay.

THE THREE MOST UNEXPECTED FINDINGS

1) Husband-Elect was always full at the end of the day (sometimes egregiously so). I never thought he would go hungry, but I figured the budget restrictions would mean some deprivation. It wasn’t so.

2) Including produce was tougher than expected. Stating the obvious: when your budget is this limited, fruit and vegetables are expensive, at least compared to a box of pasta. Since produce isn’t very calorie dense, serving it and still hitting that daily 2600-calorie number was rough. We managed, but with effort.

3) How much the average adult male eats compared to the average adult female. Honestly? It was eye opening. At 5’ 9”, I am not a small woman, but the comparative amount of calories, fat, protein, and fiber he required blew me away.

About that last part: I have a newfound, monstrous respect for those of you who feed athletes, teenage boys, larger guys, and anyone who requires a lot of calories in general. I shudder to think what this project would have been like using my mountainous younger brother, who makes The Rock look like Steve Buscemi.

WHAT WORKED OUT

• Starting with a big chunk of meat and stretching it as far as it would go. I used a 3.5-lb pork shoulder over and over: in tacos, on top of egg noodles, as a breakfast side, in a peanut sauce, etc. It always felt significant, even when it was only a few ounces.
• Making a big pot of chili at the beginning of the week. Dense, nutritious, and filling, the veggie-and-bean dish became the basis for a lot of lunches. I only wish I had used it in more creative ways.
• Coupons, shopping from the circular, and unexpected discounts. I found fantastic bargains on potatoes, canned tomatoes, dried egg noodles, and organic salad greens. Staying flexible with the plan and keeping an eye out for bargains was vital.
• Big, healthy breakfasts. They kept Husband-Elect sated for a good chunk of the day, and I didn’t have to scramble to make up the calories later.
• Baking. Ain’t nothing wrong with a few homemade cookies, which are usually cheaper and always better tasting than store bought.
• Starches. Potatoes, pasta, rice, oatmeal – some not terribly healthy, others outrageously so. But they filled him up for little cost, and it helped.
• Fruit. Especially bananas. Versatile, cheap, nutritious, portable, readily available. We always have a big bowl, and now I know why.
• Peanut butter. How did people live before peanut butter? Thank you, George Washington Carver or Mr. Jif or whomever.

WHAT DIDN’T WORK OUT

• Using too few generics. Tiny flavor differences, huge price differences. Buying house brand foods would have halved the cost of some dishes.
• Not allowing for more snacking and grazing. I mentioned this a few days ago, but it’s tough to avoid eating when the urge strikes, whether you’re on a budgetary diet or an actual diet.
• Low-fat foods. I buy skim milk and 2% cheese, because he can’t tell the difference and I prefer them for myself. When you’re trying to pack in so many calories, these are not helpful. It made me wonder how households manage when one person is trying to lose weight, while the other is eating normally.
• Canned beans. I should have bought dried. They would have gone much further.
• Coffee. It’s not terribly expensive, but it has no real nutritional value, either. Two cups on Sunday almost killed my budget.

EXIT INTERVIEW WITH THE HUSBAND-ELECT

How do you feel?
I feel well fed, but I think I was somewhat overfed. During the experiment I felt like dinner was too much, and by the time I got home from work I wanted less more often. With a full breakfast and healthy lunch followed by a hearty dinner, my stomach was bloated each night.

Do you feel like you ate too little, just enough, or too much?
I think I ate a little too much. Again, dinner every night was an enormous meal after being filled for much of the day. Fantastic food, but I think I could have had less each night, maybe a smaller dinner with a little healthy snack later. I’m not much of a dessert person, and although it was a nice treat, I wouldn’t want a dessert every night for a week ever again.

What was the best part about the week?
I think when you got linked to by Boing Boing and Lifehacker. Also peanut butter spread on banana bread. Yes I know I’m contradicting my previous dessert statement, but something like that glorious combo is a magical rare treat, not something to toss in to fill out a calorie count. And when I say magical, I mean at least a third level cleric healing spell magical.

What was the worst part about the week?
The worst was being told I could have bacon on Saturday and Sunday then having that dream ripped away and replaced by something not bacon.

Has it changed any of your opinions on money and food?
It certainly has. It’s reminded me that it’s nice to have some cash to treat oneself, and I’m grateful that I can afford a dinner out and a beer sometimes, because I missed them. On the other hand, I’ve always enjoyed a home cooked meal, and this past week I got plenty of them. I also appreciate that YOU love these things so much, so I can enjoy it with you, and stuff my face. Thanks!

What are you going to eat tomorrow?
Pizza and beer and nachos and lobster and ostrich. In a slurry. Or maybe sushi. With a salad.

Do you like the shirt I’m wearing?
It’s ok. I think you’re much cuter in the plaid blue and white number your sister gave you.

RECIPES

These are the foods that got us through the week. Some aren’t terribly healthy, but all are inexpensive and tasty as heck.

Banana Ice Cream with Peanut Butter
Brown Gravy
Easy Vegetarian Bean Chili
Gingersnap Oatmeal
Light Banana Bread
Maple Morning Polenta
Pancakes
Peanut Sauce
Roasted Chickpeas
Slow Cooked Puerto Rican Pork
Snickerdoodles
Traditional Mashed Potatoes
White Bean Dip

A grocery list is forthcoming. In the meantime, readers, I’d love to hear what you have to say. The comment section awaits!

~~~
If you like this article, you might also like:

• The Argument for Spending More on Food
• The Case for Frozen Food
• Spend Less, Eat Healthier: The Five Most Important Things You Can Do

Original Article