Does Coconut Milk Help With Osteoporosis?

Veggies for our Health and Wellness

Great question for most of us. I acknowledge you for looking deeper–beyond the mainstream thinking, and advertising by famous celebrities such as Sally Field, my favorite Flying Nun.

I guess the real question is: why do I have osteoarthritis, and is it a symptom of something larger going on within my system or body? Can I balance my pH with coconut milk or perhaps do I need to start adding in some additional foods that will help to give my body the balance it innately desires and needs? Is there something I can do to reverse this trend? (these comments and thoughts, are not meant to diagnosis, treat or cure.)

The body is a brilliant energy designed to be self-healing–our thoughts, and what we eat and drink have an effect in how we feel. For most of us, until we are about 40-45 our body has a great ability to buffer and neutralize the acid conditions within, but after we hit that 45 +\- marker, that ability begins to fall and people begin to show imbalance–which we label as sickness and disease or dis-ease. So what can we do?

One hundred years ago, Thomas Edison said, “The doctor of the future will give no medicine, but will interest his patients in the care of the human frame, in diet, and in the cause and prevention of disease.”

Brilliant researcher and author, T. Colin Campbell, PhD writes, “Investigations of Human populations show that our risk of hip fractures and osteoporosis is made worse by diets high in animal-based foods. Animal protein leeches calcium from the bones by creating an acidic environment in the blood. We now have a deep and broad range of evidence showing that a whole foods, plant-based diet is best for our kidneys,bones, eyes and brains.” The China Study, p.349

It is time to head in another direction. Let’s begin to think about adding foods to support in the reduction of that acidic state (one end of the equation) and support our body’s access to more alkaline foods,(the other side of the equation) so it’s not forced to steal calcium from our bones, joints, cartilage and teeth to maintain that critical blood pH of 7.365-7.4 pH. Foods that support this delicate balance include: spinach, kale,avocado,asparagus, dandelion greens, wheat grass, and alkaline-ionized water.

I also drink Kangen water which is mineral rich, alkaline-ionized with powerful anti-oxidants. Check out www.energiesofhealing.com. Another easy practical way is to add “live” powered organic greens to your shakes or stir them into water. I like the Green Organic International available at www.thepowerofph.com. See my post on greens for a super green shake you can make and drink and go in under 5 minutes!

And, the answer to your question: Does Coconut Milk Help With Osteoporosis? Coconut milk varies with a pH between 6 (still slightly acidic) and 7 pH (neutral). So, based on that information, the answer is no,coconut milk is not alkaline. And anything that is acidic would be pulling minerals from your bones. My personal testing of coconut water is the same– on the acidic side. You decide. Leafy green vegetables would be a better choice for your osteoporosis. Raw green veggies contain calcium and are alkaline too! Kale, Dandelion greens,Collard and Turnip greens being some of the best.

Be Well,

Cathy

Attending to Your Foot Chakra’s

Randy places a tuning fork on recent client’s foot

Earlier this summer I found myself sitting under a beautiful majestic mango tree, pant legs rolled high, and feet submerged to the calf in a warm water Japanese foot spa, soaking.  My feet resting upon  smooth river rocks and a few high vibrating crystals engaged in conversation and connecting with Randy, introduced to me as “The Foot Whisperer.”

How do I begin to describe foot whispering? Foot what, you say? You know foot fetishes, foot-ball and foot locker–but as healing modality, chakras, mind-body medicine, and energy blockages?

The story begins when East meets West. “Chakra” is an ancient Sanskrit word meaning wheel or vortex. Chakra’s relate directly to the energy centers within our body, and still a mystery to medical science today.

But I was there for the experience. I noticed Randy’s skill and intuition tapping into subtle energies. I know the human body is like a map really,  with key points.  When pressed can stimulate the body’s natural healing and self curative abilities as it is designed to be self-healing.   One of the minor chakras, ” The foot chakra is a vital energy center and here that Divine energy returns back to its source.” Today, we are often cut off from that source; important divine connections with Mother Earth. We wear shoes, walk upon asphalt, and concrete. Our houses elevated and separated from the subtle vibrations which emanate out of the earth. We are inner-active with the earth and the earth with us, but today it is missing in most of our lives. We need to be aware.  ” Heart rhythm connection to the Earth is definitely becoming more “present”, more enlivened and more aware of what’s needing to be done,” Declares Randy.  The Chakra system is the most important system in the human body. When you are feeling happy and things are going well, these main centers of energy are resonating and vibrating at an optimal level. When things start to go wrong and you are overly stressed, these energy centers start to shut down slowly. When these energy centers shut down, you may be prone to illness.

So, once I had fully soaked my feet, Randy began to read the energy. He can tell if you have had antibiotics, your overall circulation, and whether you have uric acid crystal formations in your feet for example. Crystal Resonation* at the feet is both a practical and useful way to perceive energy movement in the chakra system at the actual base chakra. A tuning fork is often placed on the foot chakra to create movement and begin to free those energetic “blocks”.

Just as many ancient wisdom’s have merit at their roots inherited from the Eastern cultures and philosophies, this contemporary Shaman believes “The heart Chakra will be the new root chakra and things are starting to proceed from the heart.” Randy’s special interest is in balance and movement disorders including the serious dis-ease of Parkinson’s and non-surgical options for bunion sufferers!  To reach Randy for your own personal foot whispering session, his email is: http://www.footwhispering@gmail.com. And, until you do, try to rest your feet upon the earth–wherever you live! The Earth’s subtle energies does a body good. And as for my foot session; pleasant, therapeutic and healing!

Be well,

Cathy

www.energiesofhealing.com

*As our body is a sea of energy, the right form of crystal interaction at the appropriate instance can greatly enhance coherent synaptic function.

Delicious Apple Crisp

Close up–right out of the oven–Yum!

Fall is definitely in the air and warm fruit desserts really just taste wonderful. (One of those experiential memories.) While in Seattle,  my sister delivered at huge bag of Gravenstein apples off the tree in her front yard. With Immediate celebration and gratitude to share the bountiful harvest, I set to work making a dessert that I grew up on, and I in turn made for my own family; delicious Apple Crisp. It becomes a favorite for all who taste it and I want to share it with you! For those of you who don’t create in the kitchen very often– it is an activity that can be shared with your kids participating and really takes no culinary skill–just love!

Apple Crisp-the best!

4 cups chopped apples

½ tsp. salt

¾ cup flour

1 tsp. cinnamon

1 cup sugar

½ cup Butter

Butter a shallow baking dish. Put in the Apples. Sprinkle with salt. Mix the flour, cinnamon and sugar together and rub in the butter until crumbly. Spread over the apples. Sprinkle chopped almonds over the top. Bake uncovered for 45 minutes at 350 degrees. (Serving suggestion: top with a scoop of ice cream or whipped cream on top just before serving!) Enjoy!

Be Well,

Cathy

www.energiesofhealing.com

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Rain Drums

Persis by her Rain Drum

We made a left and pulled off the pressed oil and gravel country road and gently drove the slight incline up Cedarvale Loop Road that lead to Persis’s studio. A year earlier I met her. She is a kind and talented potter who lives in the forest on the outskirts of Arlington. Our appointment was set for one. We passed the rusty coiled barb-wire fence which held a number of young apple trees, and the beginnings of an orchard. Large evergreen and deciduous trees, thick undergrowth and wild blackberry vines formed the left side of her drive as we pulled in and faced her studio. A reclaimed wood structure stood foreboding, sturdy and welcoming; broken pottery littered the entry; kiln supplies and discarded pieces in various stages of completion were stacked on open wooden shelves, forgotten.

As we got out of the car, she peered her head through the open door with a smile. I observed her familiar grey hair, glasses and charcoal denim clothes donned with chalky dust and clay, trademarks of her work.

We visited for a few minutes and her attention turned to her drums. There on her workbench lay Dried stiff animal skins and several small partially completed drums; sticks protruding. Another dozen or so larger and unique drums caught my attention as they sat safely drying on sturdy shelves against her studio wall.

Talking about the inspiration behind her drums with my Father

We asked her about a few custom plates. She paused, “My creativity is directed toward the drums.” Pausing, she smiled and spoke softly, “I feel the large ceramic drums are almost too heavy to lug, so I am working at perfecting Rain drums–ones that can be left in the garden and play when they are hit by the Seattle rains.” I reflected the history, fascination, and popularity of the contemporary drumming circles and the primal organic musical rhythms they generated.
“Drums are the world’s oldest and most ubiquitous musical instruments, and the basic design has remained virtually unchanged for thousands of years” pens Wikipedia.

At some level they seem to talk to our cells or speak to the depth of our soul.
I owned one myself; the sounds and vibrations unique to the size, construction and materials. I took pride that mine also had been handmade, but by a native tribe member out of Bellingham. There was something special and unique about the care and personality it possessed.

We passed the rusted tin roof shed and a dark weathered board & batten exterior adored with her work. There were her rain drums. How cool! Drums to carry and play and others as interactive meaningful musical sculptures for the garden. Beautiful.

Part of the Studio complex

Artful pieces displayed near her main Studio

If you are interested in Persis Gayle’s African inspired ceramic rain drums, she can be reached at Frailey Mountain Art. Call 360.435.5152 or email at: gayle.persis0@gmail.com  And, it seems may be perfect for the tropical South Florida rains as well!

Be Well,

Cathy

Find more about me here:

www.energiesofhealing.com

Randy’s Foot Whispering: Spatial Energy Flow & Biological Presence with the Universe.

Micky’s feet . . .talking to the Foot Whisperer!

Connection with each other. Seen and unseen? What does it really mean? How does it show up in our lives? Is it real? Is it just a coincidence when we think about someone and our cell phone rings, or we receive an instant text?   Maybe an email from a long distance friend, or a knock at the back door? For me these occurrences happen much to frequently and instantly to be chance.  I know they happen to you too, so how connected are we?

This connection seems to support the great wisdom of a universal mind; certainly more powerful than the highly valued and prized intellect in our society today. Could that 95% of the “unaccounted” part of our brain be a highly tuned sophisticated receiver? Some sort of listening device that we all possess–at will? And, is it possible that animals are also able to walk between these dimensions even more easily, unburdened, and participate in this highly tuned sensory intelligence or intuitiveness that could be described as blocks of thought or simply “knowing”.

Lawrence Anthony died March 7th, 2012. He was 62. He was a legend in South Africa.  His nickname, The Elephant Whisperer.  He took it upon himself to rescue and rehabilitate elephants all over the globe from human atrocities. Two days after his passing, the wild elephants showed up at his home led by two large matriarchs.  Separate wild herds arrived to say goodbye to their beloved human friend.  A total of 31 elephants had ambled the 25 or so kilometers (about 12 miles) to get to his S. African house.  They stayed two days, and then left just as suddenly as they arrived.  How did they know?

Years ago, exhausted from the days events I fell asleep before my then teenage son came home from work.  He had taken a job at the local movie theater.  Out of the clear blue, I awoke about 12:30 am, and asked my husband if Joshua, our son, had arrived home? I got up and checked to see if his truck was parked in its favorite spot. No. No truck.  My husband immediately jumped in his car only to find Joshua unable to start his vehicle–stranded in the parking lot–and very happy to see his father.  What Universal intelligence downloaded that alert to me?

One of Einstein’s great insights was to realize that “matter and energy are really different forms of the same thing.  Matter can be turned into energy and energy into matter”.  So, at the end of the day, it is all “Energy”, right?

Esther Hicks , through Abraham, states that we think we come and we go and we come and we go–but, she channels, “We are always focused here.  Sometimes we can be seen because we have a physical body; sometimes we can’t, but we are always here.”

So are we as Einstein says above then, just different forms of Energy? And as Abraham claims, always here?  And if so, then Elephant Whisperers, and Shark Whisperers, and Foot Whisperers are simply tapping into the Universal intelligence or an unlimited abundant Source of “Energy” and knowing. And, in that knowing, subtle quiet unseen energies impart important clues to balance or lack thereof within our physical presence which we label as dis-ease.  A far-fetched concept or future key to our healing, health and wellness?

Randy at work!

Our own Foot Whisperer, Randy Eady’s official title is an Integrative Energy & Spatial Healing Therapist, Specializing in Balance and Movement Disorders.   His real interest lies in treating Parkinson’s Disease with non-drug therapy.  He utilizes simple devices and begins to awaken and re-engage the brain, feet and balance. As a healer, is best described as contemporary shaman.  He works as intermediary between the natural everyday physical world and the unseen energetic connection to just “knowing”. What will Randy “see” in your feet?

If you would like more information on Parkinson’s Disease,  balance disorders, or non-surgical bunion correction, Randy can be reached at: footwhispering@gmail.com.

Be Well,

Cathy

www.energiesofhealing.com

Morning Mediation

Bright green parrots screaming, flying wildly over head
Jet plane passes on , familiar loud reverberation
Fish tail palms , rustling leaves–brushing, swaying, summer breeze
Quietly, sitting, breathing, noticing
And life goes on

Orange and white cat meows
Another plane zooms on
Morning coffee ritual waits
Motorcycle passing on the street
Leaves falling silently to the ground.
Quietly, sitting, breathing, noticing
And life goes on.

Another plane passing overhead
Orange cat meows again–meow–meow–meow, relentless–meow.
Flowers swaying from the breeze; welcome glorious summer’s end.
Silence comes briefly, and is gone; broken, distinct, conflicting;
The throaty Harley ambles on.
Quietly, sitting, breathing, noticing
And life goes on.

Little birds chirp their cheerful tune
Car drives on
In the distance I hear the siren racing frantically to its call–echo–echo–echo.
Cars passing, kids playing, baby crying, A/C back on
Quietly, sitting, breathing, noticing
And life goes on

Silently I breathe
Gentle wind blows
Warming Sun, reaching rays, invisibly touching, laughing, adorning my skin
Meow, cat rubbing against my leg.
Birds are back, cackling, calling, singing out
Squirrels warns, sentinel alert, A/C unit on, plane thunders, racing, rushing far above-destination unknown.

Meow, Meow, Meow

Here I am to meditate,
Quietly, sitting, breathing, noticing
And life goes on

White noise in my mind, always turning, always working, always thinking
Another plane above

Dog barking, doors shutting, starlings squawking, more planes flying on
Silently I breathe quieting my mind–ah finally, quietness a reflection of my soul.
Oops, another plane, another horn, a/c cycles once again, noisy parrots back, green.
Blending, expanding, growing, witnessing, feeling, . . . The Question . . . The Moment.
Quietly, sitting, breathing, noticing
And life goes on.

Cathy Silver
9.3.2012

“That’s why so many of us teach meditation. Because when you stop thought, you stop resistant thought. When you stop resistant thought, then you let it in. That’s why we teach appreciation, because when you’re in appreciation, you are not in the mode of resistance, and you are letting it in. ”
— Abraham

www.energiesofhealing.com

“Greens” A New Food Group?

Forest green, avocado green, lime green, Kelly green , electric green or moss-green to name a few “greens”. Each conjures up a different image. Each descriptive color green may trigger a unique memory; each may hold a different meaning. Did you know Green is the second favorite color after blue, and occupies more space in the spectrum visible to the human eye? Energy practitioners know green as the color of the heart chakra. Interior Designers know it relaxes us, soothes us and gives as a sense of harmony. Nutrition coaches know it for the color of health and well-being! Ugh, your Mother was right? How does “green” support our health and well-being?

Ah, well-being? Was Mother Nature trying to tell us something? Today, For all of its recommendations and accolades, green is most commonly missing in our daily diet. Green Vegetables, especially dark and leafy are essential to a healthy body and healthy immune system. Green vegetables help to replenish our alkaline mineral reserves and help to filter out pollutants. They strengthen your blood and respiratory systems. Nutritionally greens are very high in calcium, magnesium, iron, potassium, phosphorous, zinc, and vitamins A, C, E, K. They are loaded with fiber, folic acid, chlorophyll, micronutrients and phytochemicals. ( Various bioactive chemical compounds found in plants, such as antioxidants, beneficial to human health.)

My Delicious Green Shake

Consuming more greens gives you a healthy glow, beautiful skin, & more energy. It helps your body with blood purification, cancer prevention and improved circulation. If that’s not enough, greens improve liver, gall bladder and kidney function. They clear congestion especially in the lungs by reducing mucus. And as an added bonus, they promote subtle, light and flexible energy.

There is a wide variety to choose from and easy to incorporate into what you eat. Enjoy them often. My personal favorite is my green breakfast shake. Easy, quick, portable, delicious, energizing and fun and a great way to start the day! CHEERS! “To your good health.”

Another variation of my green smoothie:

3-4 handfuls of organic baby spinach
2-3 large organic kale leaves, rinsed
1 avocado (including the pit if your blender can handle it.)
Scoop of raw organic powered greens such as Green Organics International –www.thepowerofph.com
1 frozen banana
1/2 -3/4 frozen raspberries
1/2 organic cucumber sliced.
And fresh lemon and some Organic Flax Oil to taste if you like

Blend and enjoy! I make a big pitcher and put the extra in jars in the fridge. Always ready for a quick snack, or with me in the car. 🙂

Be well,

Cathy

www.energiesofhealing.com

Caution Ahead-Pesticides on Produce

The average conventionally grown apple has 20-30 artificial chemicals on its skin, even after rinsing!

We teach our children to look both ways before they cross the street, insist they wear seat belts and know if we drive using good judgment, we are less likely to have a problem. Logically, the same could be said about food.  So why would we feed our kids poisonous food? Below, the “Pesticide Residue Alert”. Just like a yellow traffic sign warns us to be cautious–potential danger ahead–while driving, these “signs” give us options when we shop for our fruits and vegetables.

Think of Organic as Health “Assurance”

Produce with the Most Residues – In order from Most Contaminated  

1.    Apples                                                  7. Grapes
2.    Celery                                                   8. Sweet Bell Peppers
3.    Strawberries                                       9. Potatoes
4.    Peaches                                             10. Blueberries (domestic)
5.    Spinach                                              11. Lettuce
6.    Nectarines (imported)                12. Kale/Collard Greens

Produce with the Lowest Levels of Residues – In Order from Least Contaminated
1.    Onions                                          9.  Cantaloupe (domestic)
2.    Corn                                            10.  Kiwis
3.    Pineapple                                  11.   Cabbage
4.    Avocado                                    12.   Watermelon
5.    Asparagus                                 13.   Sweet Potatoes
6.    Sweet Peas                               14.   Grapefruit
7.    Mangoes                                   15.   Mushrooms
8.    Eggplant

Delicious Organic Apples–oh what a feeling!

Experience the energetic nature of Organic food. More favorable? Notice how you feel.  More vital?   Maybe just to make the choice to buy Organic apples for your kids to eat . . . and slowly begin to incorporate the rest as budget allows.  It is an investment in you; a long-term lifestyle choice.  The journey  of a thousand miles, begins with one step–yours.

“Observing ourselves does not require thinking, or judging, or analyzing.  It only requires observing.” Saying Yes to Life

Be Well,

Cathy

www.energiesofhealing.com

COWS MILK; It’s high time to question its value.

Substitute for a healthier alternative

“Neither kids or their parents are learning about how milk has been linked to Type 1 diabetes, prostate cancer, osteoporosis, multiple sclerosis or other autoimmune diseases, and how casein (the main protein in dairy foods) has been shown to experimentally promote cancer and increase blood cholesterol and atherosclerotic plaque.”  p. 294 The China Study, by T. Colin Campbell

I probably could not bring up a subject anymore “un-American” than suggesting not to drink cows milk and stay away from dairy. I am talking about some not-so-nice and startling truths. Maybe it is time to ask, who is running things anyway? That was rhetorical; we all ready know. But I am here to remind you, big business, special interests and clever marketing distort the truth and are misleading. They have their interests in mind–not yours!

Growing up, our family drank more milk than the Albertson family down the street–with their 8 kids; we were half that number. My Mother was quite proud of that accomplishment and boasted frequently. Even now, as these words roll off my keyboard, they would be considered blaspheme within my childhood home. Yet, did you know, Countries that use the most cows milk and its products also have the highest fracture rates and worst bone health? Americans consume more cow’s milk and its products per person than most populations in the world. So Americans should have wonderfully strong bones, right? (Nope.) Studies show American women 50 and older have one of the highest rates of hip fractures in the world. 1 (p. 205) The China Study

Dr. Thomas Rau, MD, Medical Director of the Paracelsus Clinic Lustmuhle, made the following comments when it comes to milk and dairy:
“The only cow dairy allowed (for his patients)are small amounts of organic butter and cream from time to time, because my concern is with the proteins, not the fat. Even if you are not allergic to cow’s milk, I discourage its use. Because of the way milk is collected, processed and distributed in the United States, it is possible source of many contaminants, not least being the artificial estrogen DES given to cows to boost their milk production on large corporate farms. This drug causes unexplained infertility in humans as well as cancer, and traces are present in the milk of cows treated.
Problems such as osteoporosis arise not from drinking too little milk, but from ingesting too much animal protein. It is acidity in the bloodstream caused by eating too much protein that leaches calcium and other minerals from the bones and cartilage. Numerous studies as far back as 1988 have documented this; though it is only recently, with the latest results, that the public is being made aware. Eating plenty of leafy green vegetables and whole grains will give you all the calcium you need. Combining this good diet with moderate weight-bearing exercise will result in healthy bones.Every time you drink a glass of cow’s milk, eat a container of yogurt or cottage cheese, or dig into a slab of Cheddar, your immune system is assaulted. Most people who believe they are lactose intolerant are actually suffering from an allergy to the proteins in the milk, not the lactose, which is a simple sugar.

Women in particular are beset with this problem because before and during menopause, to avoid osteoporosis they are strongly encouraged by their doctors—and the dairy industry, which has a very powerful lobby—to drink excessive amounts of milk. And look at all the symptoms that crop up at this time in their life: fatigue, depression, lack of muscle strength, indigestion, acid reflux, insomnia, thyroid insufficiency.”

There are many alternatives such as unsweetened almond, coconut or rice milk. So Delicious makes a great Cultured Coconut Milk Yogurt.  Instead of cheese for an afternoon snack reach for a stalk of celery and almond butter; even hummus and sliced cucumbers are refreshing and filling.   Balancing your system and constantly lightening your toxic load is an intelligent and powerful way to lead a healthy and active life as long as you can.

Be Well,

Cathy

www.energiesofhealing.com

Three new choices for you to try–have fun! See which one your family likes best.

Good Vibrations

Fresh and delicious baby spinach salad adorned with red raspberries

“Everything you eat becomes your fingernails, your eyelashes, your hair, your skin cells, your organs and your awareness. You want your body to vibrate at the same level as the essential Universe–not the grocery store. The vibrant life frequencies and Earth nutrients provided by a delicate fresh-picked lettuce or fresh-squeezed orange are exactly what your subtle senses need for their nourishment, ” so writes Elia Wise in her book, Letter to Earth Vibrationfrequencies and subtle energies are all around us and influence our well-being. Sometimes we don’t realize the impact until we run into someone who exudes anger, impatience or rudeness as noted by my dear sweet friend Sarah during dinner conversation. The opposite can be felt when we experience a sincere smile, thank you or simple courtesy. These “vibes” in life also apply to the food we eat. Whether acknowledged or not, affects our cells, the way we see life and our navigation through it; we are what we eat on every level.

Last night, good, good, good vibrations at Seasons 52 was the underlying melody, even though the Beach Boys were missing. The entire experience emulated this feeling. The selections available were beautiful, fresh and organic. Sarah, our server was a delight–and her smile was infectious. Presentations were colorful and artfully displayed.

Cathy, Sarah and Charlene having dinner at Seasons 52!

Our wonderful energetic smiling Sarah!

You don’t always have to eat out to experience the organic goodness. In fact enrolling your family can be just as meaningful and fun. Organic food more closely resonates to the true being and nature of who we are as energetic beings. See if you can begin to make choices that allow your true balance to shine!

I highly recommend the culinary experience of Seasons 52. Their menu changes with the seasons and is inspired from the fresh appeal of a farmers market. For locations visit http://www.seasons52.com.

Be well,

Cathy

www.energiesofhealing.com