Dr. Group's Chemical & Heavy Metal Cleanse

The average person is bombarded daily with toxic chemicals and heavy metals. Once these dangerous substances enter the body, they can increase free radical production by as much as a million times.

This can have deadly implications for our health, including the development of cancer, many other diseases, as well as generally poor health. Because these toxins can do so much damage, it's a good practice to cleanse your body of these heavy metal and chemical substances. The other phase of improving your health is to eliminate the sources of the toxins from your living environment and diet.

Preparing for the Chemical & Heavy Metal Cleanse

1. In preparation for the test, I recommend that you fill out our General Health Questionnaire. It will help to point out symptoms that you may have overlooked. As you remove the toxins form your body over several cleansings, these symptoms you've listed should begin to slowly clear up.
2. Check the buildup of heavy metals in your body. Natural healthcare practitioners or chiropractors can perform tests on your urine, hair or blood to determine your levels. For now, there is nothing available to test chemical residue.

To keep track of your progress while you detoxify your body, I recommend that you test your heavy metals levels every 30 - 60 days.

Supplies Needed for the Chemical & Heavy Metal Cleanse

• Plenty of distilled water or purified water (I recommend using a wellness carafe to purify your tap water). Use this water to take your Zeotrex® and to make the "Super Water" which I advise drinking during the day while cleansing Distilled Water can be purchased at any supermarket.
• Organic Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) - Purchase online or at your local health food store.
• Healthy Foods (preferably organic) see the suggested cleansing diet.
• The chemical and heavy metal cleanser Zeotrex®. (1-Bottle provides 30 days of cleansing)
• Dr. Group's Detox Foot Pads® - 6 boxes will provide 30 days of daily cleansing.

How Long Do I Need To Perform the Chemical & Heavy Metal Cleanse?

Toxic chemical and heavy metal cleansing can take a minimum of 30 days, or up to 12 months. In most cases though it takes longer than 30 days, so please be patient with your body. Since everyone is different it is hard to predict how long it will take to fully cleanse your system of stored chemicals and heavy metals.

The length of your cleansing time depends on the levels that have accumulated in your body and your daily exposure to these harmful compounds, as well as the condition of your immune system. Cleansing the body of chemicals and heavy metals should be done slowly to reduce the detoxification burden of the body.

Instructions for the Chemical & Heavy Metal Cleanse (Days 1-30)

My cleansing process is designed for 30 day cycles. I recommend 2 different cleansing products for removing toxic chemicals and heavy metal buildup from your body. Follow the daily dosage recommendations below for 30 days or until you notice improvement in your health or until testing shows that your body is free of heavy metals. If you want to achieve the best results possible while cleansing, follow my daily water intake, dietary recommendations, and other useful tips explained further down on this page.

At the end of the 30 days, you should re-evaluate your current health status or toxic load. If you still have health concerns or levels of heavy metals determined by hair, blood or urine analysis after 30 days, I suggest taking 10 days off and repeating the cleanse. Continue with this process until you are clean or your health has improved. Then, take the maintenance dosage of the products below to assist your body in removing chemicals and heavy metals on a regular basis.

What Should I Drink During the Chemical & Heavy Metal Cleanse?

Your best results will come with drinking Dr. Group's "Super Water". Calculate half your body weight; drink that amount in ounces of Super Water" every day of the cleansing process.

Example: If you weigh 150 pounds you should drink 75 ounces of "Super Water" daily. I also recommend drinking this water after you cleanse on a regular basis to maintain overall health.

How to Make Dr. Group's Toxin-Free "Super Water"

1. Prepare one gallon of Wellness Water®, or you can use purified water, preferably kept in a glass bottle. Pour out some so that you can add the ingredients below. You can add water back in to suit your taste.
2. Add 3 tablespoons of raw non-pasteurized organic apple cider vinegar to the gallon of water. Shake well. If the taste is too strong for you to handle, reduce to 2 tablespoons per gallon until you become accustomed to the taste.
3. Optional: Add the juice of ½ organic lemon and 1-2 ounces Organic Aloe Vera Juice per gallon of "Super Water". This is not necessary but will improve your cleansing results.

Dr. Group's Heavy Metal Cleansing Diet

You're finally on your way to achieving optimal health through intestinal, liver and gallbladder, harmful organism, chemical and heavy metal and living environment cleansing! Although I give strict dietary guidelines for performing my the heavy metal cleanse, I want to share with you my general dietary recommendations for performing my other cleanses and for that matter a plan which you can use on a daily basis throughout your life.

The Heavy Metal Cleansing Diet Plan is a general plan which can be modified by you or your natural healthcare practitioner to suit your individual needs. A balanced diet, getting regular sleep and sufficient exercise, reducing your daily toxin threshold, and maintaining a positive state of mind are required to obtain maximum health. The first step in any diet plan is to understand how the body utilizes and processes the nutrients it needs.

Let's start by looking at the biorhythms regulating our body's nutritional needs.

The Human Body's Biorhythms

All creatures on this planet, including human beings, are naturally attuned to three daily body cycles. These cycles have precise and established hours set by the laws of nature.

BODY CYCLE #1 - THE ELIMINATION CYCLE

Begins around 4:00 AM and ends around 12:00 NOON.

During this cycle, the body naturally tries to purge itself of toxic waste materials and unnecessary salts, proteins, and acids. During this cycle you should consume adequate amounts of fresh seasonal fruit (preferably organic or locally grown) to support the body's natural toxin elimination cycle. Not only does fruit supply the body with living matter to draw out unwanted substances, it also ensures the intestinal tract remains well hydrated and nourished. Fresh raw fruit provides the ideal ingredients for supporting the body's Elimination Cycle.

BODY CYCLE #2 - THE ENERGY CYCLE

Begins around 12:00 NOON and ends around 8:00 PM.

During the Energy Cycle, food and nutrients are processed and stored to provide you with energy for your day. The best way to support your body during the Energy Cycle is to eat plenty of fresh raw vegetables (such as a salad) with a starch source to provide your body with the energy it needs to maintain its natural biochemical balance.

BODY CYCLE #3 - THE REGENERATION CYCLE

Begins from about 8:00 PM and ends 4:00 AM.

This is an opportunity for the body to take the time it needs to heal and regenerate. This is when the body should get quality sleep. During this cycle, the body assimilates all the foods that you consumed during the day and then processes the nutrients to regenerate itself cell by cell. If the sleep cycle is disrupted by irregular work patterns, night feeding of infants, travel across many time zones, or other factors, the body loses its ability to regenerate cells, which leads to their degeneration instead of regeneration.

General Recommended Diet Plan

Now that you've learned the basics about food mixing and optimal combinations, read on to find a ready-made diet plan that you can start today. This is no bland, uninspiring diet, either. The foods I've included (if prepared properly) are so loaded with energy and flavor, you won't ever want to return to eating the high-fat, processed foods we've become so accustomed. Eating 5 balanced meals at the recommended times each day can help restore the health of your colon, and consequently restore and enhance your overall well-being.

DOCTOR'S NOTE: I recommend getting a full evaluation by a qualified natural healthcare provider, as well as having a food allergy test performed. The Heavy Metal Cleansing Diet is a general diet plan based on the body's biorhythms as well as my clinical experience. Every person should have a custom plan-one developed to meet their specific dietary needs

SAMPLE MEALS

MEAL #1 of the Day: BREAKFAST

Have breakfast between 4 a.m. and 9 a.m. Eat organic fresh fruit or drink freshly squeezed fruit juice. Eat or drink only fruit. Try to mix up the fruits during the week. For example, do not eat bananas every morning. Try melons now and then, as they are one of the easiest foods to digest. Melons actually proceed directly to the intestines after being consumed. If they are held up in the stomach by other foods, they will decompose quickly and ferment. A melon is a great way to start the day. You can eat a variety of fruits throughout the whole morning, but never mix sweet fruits with acid fruits. It's okay to mix sweet with subacid or acid with subacid (see below). Eat as much as you want until you are full. Remember, we are supporting the body's Elimination Cycle.

• ACID FRUITS: Lemons, oranges, pineapples, strawberries, grapefruit, kumquats, tomatoes, tangerines, lime, sour grapes, and sour apples. (These fruits have the greatest detoxification power)
• SUBACID FRUITS: Apricots, apples, pears, nectarines, sweet plums, cherries, mangos*, raspberries, kiwi, blackberries, blueberries, and cranberries
• SWEET FRUITS: Bananas, papaya, dates, prunes, sweet grapes, cantaloupe, coconuts, mangos*, peaches, pears, watermelon, dates, figs, pomegranates, honeydew melon, and persimmons

*Mangos are both Sweet & SubAcidic

MEAL #2 of the Day: MID-MORNING SNACK

(Should be eaten halfway between breakfast and lunch)

For a nice brunch, you can snack on 1 of the following items:

Choose option #1, #2, #3 or #4. (For example, you might eat #1 on Mondays, #2 on Tuesdays, #3 on Wednesdays, and so on.) Remember to chew your food well before swallowing.

1. RAW NUTS OR SEEDS: My favorite! It's said that a handful of seeds will provide the body with 12 to 14 hours of energy. Many people have reported that after eating seeds for their mid-morning snack for three months, they noticed a 300 to 400 percent increase in their energy levels. Make sure your seeds or nuts are raw. Roasted seeds have lost their life force. For more flavor, you can mix in some hempseed oil, garlic juice, balsamic vinegar, or organic apple cider vinegar.
   Choose From The Following Organic Seeds & Nuts:
   • Almonds
   • Brazil Nuts
   • Cashews
   • Flax Seeds

   • Grape Seeds
   • Hazelnuts
   • Hemp Seeds
   • Macadamia Nuts

   • Pine Nuts
   • Pistachios
   • Pumpkin seeds
   • Sesame Seeds

   • Squash Seeds
   • Sunflower Seeds
   • Walnuts
   • Wheat Berries
   Siberian cedar nuts have one of the highest life-force energies and are the most nutritious and medicinally valuable pine nuts in the world; you can purchase these from www.energyoflife.ca. I also recommend that you read the book series, Anastasia by Vladimir Megre, which will open your eyes and touch your soul.
2. ORGANIC SUPER GREEN FOOD SUPPLEMENT: Supplement with a high-quality organic green powder mix (wheat grass or a chlorella supplement), in a 20-ounce glass of purified water and add 1 teaspoon of Organic Apple Cider Vinegar. This is fast and easy and provides your body with the nutritional value of five full salads! I use 1 ounce of the E3 Live mixed in water.
3. ORGANIC GOJI BERRIES: If you're not familiar with the remarkable health benefits of Tibetan Goji Berries, do yourself a favor and try them. They pack more nutritional value into each bite than just about any other food. Eat a couple handfuls to curb your appetite before your lunch meal
4. ORGANIC AVOCADO: Cut your avocado and sprinkle with fresh ground black or white pepper and squeeze fresh lime juice over it before eating. The pepper will help speed up your metabolism and the avocado contains the enzyme lipase. Foods containing lipase are the ones with naturally occurring "good fat." New research from UCLA indicates organic avocados are the highest fruit source of lutein (a carotenoid that helps prevent eye disease) among the 20 most frequently eaten fruits. In addition, researchers found that avocados have nearly twice as muchvitamin E as previously reported, making them the highest fruit source of this powerful antioxidant. Avocados also contain four times more beta-sitosterol than any other fruit. Some studies have found that the avocado's beta-sitosterol content, combined with its monounsaturated fat content, helps to lower cholesterol levels.

MEAL #3 of the Day: LUNCH

Vegetable and Starch Meal

Have lunch between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Choose 2 to 3 alkaline vegetables (no acidic ones) and combine with a salad of fresh spinach, mixed lettuce, and greens (such as arugula, beet greens, or kale). Organic salad dressing or a mixture of oil and organic apple cider vinegar are excellent complements. Select only the red or dark-green leafy types of lettuce. Iceberg-type lettuces are usually hybrids and contain virtually zero nutritional value. Spinach (and baby spinach) is an excellent source of nutrients, and besides that it tastes great in salads. You may also mix some raw seeds or nuts of your choice into the salad.

Choose Two or Three Starchy Foods From Below To Accompany Your Salad:

• Beans
• Beets
• Cauliflower
• Chick Peas
• Cooked Barley

• Lentils
• Millet
• Oatmeal
• Ezekiel Bread
• Potatoes (Red, Baked)

• Rye
• Pumpkin
• Rice (Brown or Wild)
• Sauerkraut
• Seven Grain Bread

• Yams
• Squash
• Sprout Bread
• Sweet Potatoes
• Whole Grain Pasta

If these can be eaten raw, then it is best. Otherwise, I would recommend you steam, boil, or bake.

MEAL #4 of the Day: MID-AFTERNOON SNACK

(Should be eaten halfway between lunch and dinner)

These options will be the same as your mid-morning snack (listed above). Choose options #1, #2, #3, or #4 (For example, you might eat #1 on Mondays, #2 on Tuesdays, #3 on Wednesdays, and so forth)

MEAL #5 of the day: DINNER

Vegetable + protein + fat

It's best to have dinner between 6 and 8 p.m. As with lunch, eat a large, fresh vegetable salad (with only alkaline vegetables) before anything else. Mix 2 tablespoons of organic flaxseed oil, cold-pressed olive oil, hempseed oil, or grape seed oil into your salad. This dressing will provide more flavor as well as the essential fatty acids your body needs.

Although you need to pick one protein source for dinner, I strongly recommend you avoid meat. If you absolutely must have meat on occasion, limit it to 1-2 servings per week and make sure it's organic. Meat should come from animals raised without harmful antibiotics and hormones.

SOME GREAT SOURCES OF HEALTHY PROTEIN:

• Eggs
• Lamb
• Veal
• Rabbit
• Legumes*
• Hemp Milk

• Raw Goat Milk
• Fermented Soy
• Range-fed Beef or Buffalo (Bison)
• Cottage Cheese (Other Organic Cheeses)
• Cold-water Fish (Cod, Halibut, Sole, Haddock)
• Wild Game (Deer, Squirrel, Duck, Quail, etc.)

If the foods listed above don't interest you, I would strongly recommend you give Sunwarrior Protein a try.

*Legumes include beans and peas, and can be a good source of protein if eaten with mixed vegetables (in a salad) or with a complete protein (seeds, nuts, meat, and eggs). On their own, legumes are incomplete proteins and contain only certain amino acids.

If you want a little extra seasoning for your meal, Celtic or Himalayan Crystal Salt is an excellent substitute for regular table salt and Braggs™ Liquid Aminos blend can perk up any dish!

Make sure you don't overdo eating at dinnertime. Let your appetite be your guide and (I'll say it again) chew your food thoroughly!

I Heart Isa Moskowitz: Vegan with a Vengeance : Over 150 Delicious, Cheap, Animal-Free Recipes That Rock

From Amazon: In Vegan with a Vengeance, Isa Chandra Moskowitz, host of the community access vegan cooking show The Post Punk Kitchen, brings the do-it-yourself, community-driven ethos of punk rock into the kitchen. Her cooking philosophy embraces being kind to animals (all recipes are completely animal-product free) and your wallet—while being creative and having fun in the process. She emphasizes staying clear of corporate brand-name foods, and says that cooking should be an innovative, experimental, and completely real experience. This one-of-a-kind cookbook offers 125 recipes for all meals of the day, from stuffed mushrooms to tofu pizza, gingerbread cupcakes to pasta with "alfreda sauce," and is full of tips and tricks on how to keep your diet vegan, inexpensive, and liberated.

My Review: One of my favorite cookbooks of all time by my favorite vegan chef, I've used the heck out of this book. Her corn chowder is a staple, and I love the mocha chip muffins. This book not only provides deliciousness, but provides great tips along the way. This one is a MUST have!

New Health Plan, Life at Mom's, More Spiritual Lessons

Fun card from my friend Jocelyn, my friends have been WONDERFUL!!

I've been home, and when I say home, I mean my Mom's house, from the hospital for almost two weeks now. It's been an interesting transition because a) I'm not in my own home b) I haven't lived with another person in a decade c) It's been longer than that since I've lived with my Mom d) We've had Home Health Care people (nurses, physical therapist, occupational therapist, etc) in and out all week e) and my biggest accomplishment was I learned how to shower myself again (which I'm proud of).

My book stash

All in all, stressful, but BRILLIANT at the same time. Today is my 31st birthday and I'm so grateful for all the lessons I've learned this past year. I've been in the hospital three times; I spent the best weekend of my life at Kripalu with my mentor Gabrielle Bernstein and met my Spirit Junkie Sisters, who have supported me all the way. I also had the worst vacation of my life with my Spring trip to Oregon; dropped out of a Vipassana meditation retreat, got rained on at the beach, and lost in Portland. Visited the Harry Potter theme park, yipee! I suddenly have a new family; soon to be step Mom, 5 grown "brothers and sisters" and 2 young ones, and numerous uncles, aunts, etc. My Dad is happier than I've ever seen him. My cancer is dissolving and recent events provided me with a new Soul Sister. Overall, I am grateful and looking forward to homemade manicotti and some delicious chocolate cake concoction from  Eden Alley. I also hope to venture out once or twice this weekend; one to spent a lovey Sunday afternoon at a local ice cream parlour, Murray's with my new family. 

Delicious green smoothie, I call it the Kindness Smoothie (spinach, mint, cacao nibs, bee pollen, honey, banana, and a probiotic)

Having my Mom as a caretaker, I have a pretty dedicated health plan, which already is working. My blood pressure, which has been low for several months, is now normal. I can already do many things for myself that shock the physical/occupational therapists. One of the things on my list, CoQ10 has a testimonial from a guy who had an infraction rate (it's how much blood your heart is pumping through your veins) of 22% (mine is 20% and normal is 55-75%) and in six months went up to 50%! There are also similar stories of people doing this with something call Limu Juice, which has a special seaweed. In orange juice, it's not bad. I'm doing both, plus Hawthorn Berry for my heart. 

Written in a card by one of my Spirit Junkie Sisters

We've also started QiGong exercises, a Chinese technique that moves the Chi and has healed millions for the last thousand years or so. Very simple, slow exercises. I also have arm exercises to build up my strength and muscle and will be starting a simple yoga in the next week. I am also doing a healing technique called the Healing codes, which is similar to EFT in some ways, but more about shifting energy. I do it in combination to the Violet Flame, a healing prayer/meditation. 

Re-reading Spirit Junkie for the Wild Sisterhood book club

I'm excited to be healing, and look forward to having a fantastic birthday, and incredible summer at Kripalu. I also have done some writing, and have three pieces coming out in three different publications over the next month!! I will post more details when I have them. 

Also, don't forget I have two other blogs, Radical Self Love and Enlightened by Books. 

Gratitude and Love,

Shanna

My First Night In ICU

Buried beneath my Darth Vader mask

I call out "is it time?"

"Am I ready to let go?"

Warmth envelopes me, releasing my fear, 

pulling me into a deep, peaceful sleep.

As the sun rises I know,

I still have much to do.

I am healing every day

My body, weak, will regenerate.

It's what it's born to do. 

I Heart Isa Moskowitz: Vegan Cookies Invade Your Cookie Jar: 100 Dairy-Free Recipes for Everyone's Favorite Treats

From Amazon: Don’t run. Don’t hide. Vegan cookies are going to invade your cookie jar, one delicious bite at a time. Join award-winning bakers Isa Chandra Moskowitz and Terry Hope Romero (authors of the hit cookbook Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World) as they continue their world-domination mission—with dairy- and egg-free batches of everyone’s favorite treats.


Vegan Cookies Invade Your Cookie Jar includes more than 100 irresistible recipes for cookies, bars, biscotti, brownies, and more. Discover festive desserts that are sure to impress family and friends at any occasion, from birthdays to bake sales. Or simply tempt yourself with:


· Magical Coconut Cookie Bars
· Chocolate Chip Cream Cheese Brownies
· Peanut Butter Crisscrosses
· NYC Black & Whites
· Key Lime Shortbread Rounds
· Call Me Blondies
· Macadamia Lace Cookies


Throughout the book, Isa and Terry share their best mixing, baking, and decorating techniques and tackle age-old cookie conundrums. Learn the secrets of vegan-izing name-brand favorites (Nutter Betters, anyone?), whipping up gluten-free batches, and even making cookies you can eat for breakfast. When vegan cookies invade your cookie jar, it’s yummy to give in!

My Review: Well, I think the title of this blog says it all. Isa is a goddess in the kitchen and this book is filled with all sort of deliciousness. The Cowboy Cookies and Magic Cookie bars are my favorite, however the blondies were quite delicious. I plan to continue exploring many of these recipes; any taste testers out there?

Congestive Heart Failure: My Recently Discovered Disease

According to the Mayo clinic, heart failure  "means your heart can't pump enough blood to meet your body's needs. Over time, conditions such as narrowed arteries in your heart (coronary artery disease) or high blood pressure gradually leave your heart too weak or stiff to fill and pump efficiently."

Cardiologist measure the heart using what they call the "infraction rate". Essentially, the pumping potential of a healthy heart is 55-75%, mine is 20% (up from 15%!). Because of this, my heart can't keep up, hence the crazy fluid leakage. 


NOTE: I COULD NEVER HAVE HAD CANCER AND WOULD STILL HAVE DEVELOPED HEART FAILURE. THIS IS A COMPLETELY SEPARATE DISEASE I HAVE DEVELOPED!!


I say that for all the naysayers who will say now "if only she had done chemo" and shake their head. Well, if I had done chemo, I would be dead. My slowly deteriorating heart would surely have given out. And as far as cancer goes, my tumors continue to shrink and heal. 


So what now? I have started some heart herbs, CoQ10 and Hawthorn Berry. I am drinking 8oz Limu juice, a seaweed that has proven to heal heart failure. I am doing some emotional work with the Healing Codes and Violet Flame. I have incorporated QiGong in for exercise and some arm exercises to strengthen my body. We are continuing our previous healing, getting really focused. I alternate between a green smoothie and superfood smoothie. Items include E3 Alive, Colostrum, Missessence Radical Berry, Bee Pollen, Raw Honey and Marine Phytoplankton. I have also been drinking MSM and D-Ribose, great for rebuilding hair, nails, and healing skin. I spend time visualizing my healing, talking to my angels and doing meditations. A good night's sleep is helpful for anyone. I KNOW I will heal, and in four months I will be vacationing in the Berkshires of Massachussetts at Kripalu, hanging out with my Spirit Goddess Gabrielle Bernstein and all my Spirit Junkie Sisters at Gabby's Loveatarian Retreat. 

CONTEST: SEEKING FOLLOWERS!!

I need your help! Thursday is my birthday and if you read my blog Existing's Tricky you know I have a project called "31 Things Before I Turn 31" Now, there are a few items I won't get done before the 29th, partially due to lack of interest and some due to health. HOWEVER...you can help me with ONE. FOLLOW MY BLOG!!! My goal is 100+ followers and I have 96. IF JUST 5 OF YOU DO THIS I WILL HIT MY GOAL!!!. 

EXTRA INCENTIVE. SIGN UP TO BE A FOLLOWER, POST A COMMENT WITH YOUR EMAIL (VERY IMPORTANT!!!) AND YOU WILL WIN AN ENTRY FOR A MYSTERY GOODIE BASKET FILLED WITH SNACKS FROM TRADER JOES, BOOKS, DVD'S, AND MUCH MUCH MORE!!! BETTER YET, RETWEET THIS AND GET ANOTHER CHANCE TO WIN. SHARE THIS ON FACEBOOK AND YOU WILL GET ANOTHER CHANCE TO WIN. LET'S BEAT MY GOAL!!! PSSST, IF YOU DO REPOST ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER BE SURE TO MENTION IN YOUR COMMENT. ALSO, ALREADY A FOLLOWER? POST ON TWITTER AND/OR FACEBOOK TO STILL ENTER. 

• SO FOLLOW ME 
• REPOST ON TWITTER
• FACEBOOK
• LEAVE A COMMENT SAYING YOU DID 1, 2 OR ALL THREE  
• INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL. 

GOT IT? GOOD! NOW GET TO IT!!

Photos: Pre-Cancer to Now

My body has transitioned so much these past eight years. It's gone from a Women's size 18 to emancipated. Pictures speak volumes, and I want to share with you how my body has changed. Saying that, in a few months, when my arms gain muscle, my hair regrows, and I get my sexy back on, I'll show you those as well. ;)

This is the beginning, right around diagnosis time. Me at my heaviest. But good grief look at that beautiful hair!!

This is from 2006, about two years into my diagnosis. I would say I was a size 12-14 here. Look at my gorgeous hair!! Ok, not going to cry.

This is from 2009, I was getting quite skinny. Check me out in my skinny jeans!

Beginning of 2011. Still plenty of hair, but I notice now that my arms are starting to get pretty small.

When I saw this I cried. I didn't know who is was. I asked my Dad "who is that emancipated creature on my camera, where are the pictures we took of me?" It took me several minutes to realize, that IS me. These were taken just this week on the day I came home from the hospital. You can see the water weight bloating my stomach, but my god, my arms!! And my face! If you had a closer look you would see I've lost a great deal of hair, and am getting a bald spot. This is where I'm at now. 









As my heart heals, the liquid will release. As we start my arm exercises, fill me with TONS of nutrition, and heal my heart, My body will return. I would like to look like I did in 2009. I feel like it's my healthiest look. Next week I will explain Congestive Heart Failure, how I have developed a condition completely separate from cancer, what we're doing about it, and life at my Mom's house. This July I'm going to Kripalu for Gabby Bernstein's Loveatarian workshop, and I plan on having a lovely head of hair, strong arms, strong heart, and much smaller tummy. 

Health Benefits of Female Masturbation

I posted a blog on my Radical Self Love blog called "Masturbation is Not a Dirty Word." People can be very touchy on this subject, but it's important to realize that sexual health is as important as any other aspect of your health. This is some info I pulled from the internet. So read my article, read this, and go get it on with yourself!

The health benefits of masturbation

Generally speaking, women have been socialized to believe our sexual needs and desires are less important than those of our partners. It is in our physical and emotional best interest to give our own needs and desires a seat at the table. Because of cultural taboos, many women feel that the urge to masturbate is somehow wrong, or they feel guilt or shame. There is enormous potential for healing through honoring our sexuality, expressing it, and experiencing it with joy.

The reality is that women who “self-cultivate” experience a wide range of health benefits, and here are just a few:

• Masturbation helps prevent cervical infections and helps relieve urinary tract infections. While it’s general knowledge that regular masturbation can reduce the risk of prostate cancer in men, studies are showing that female masturbation can also provide protection against cervical infections because when women masturbate, the orgasm “tents” or opens the cervix.
  
  In her book Sex: A Natural History, Joann Ellison Rodgers describes how the process of tenting stretches and pulls the mucous within the cervix, allowing for a rise in acidity in the cervical fluid. This increases “friendly” bacteria and allows more fluid to move from the cervix into the vagina. When“old” fluid moves from the tented cervix, it not only lubricates the vagina, but also flushes out unfriendly organisms that can cause infections.
  
  Many women with urinary tract infections report the desire to masturbate when they feel a UTI coming on, and for a good reason: masturbating helps relieve pain and it flushes the old bacteria from the cervix. It’s the body’s way of getting the bacteria out.


• Masturbation is associated with improved cardiovascular health and lower risk of type-2 diabetes. In a number of studies, women who experienced more orgasms, and overall greater frequency and satisfaction with sex — whether with a partner or not — were shown to have greater resistance to coronary heart disease (CHD) and type-2 diabetes.


• Masturbation can help work against insomnia naturally, through hormonal and tension release. Many women masturbate as a means to wind down after a hectic day or to fall asleep at night, but they often don’t know that there’s a hormonal reason why it works. Dopamine, or the “feel-good” hormone, is on the rise during the anticipation of a sexual climax. After the climax, the calming hormones oxytocin and endorphins are released, making us feel the warm afterglow that helps us sleep.


• Orgasm increases pelvic floor strength. There are so many benefits to having a healthy pelvic floor. In the “plateau” stage of orgasm, the pelvic floor gets a real workout. The clitoris surges with increased blood pressure. Muscle tone, heart rate, and respirations increase. The uterus “lifts” off the pelvic floor, increasing pelvic muscle tension. This strengthens the entire region, as well as your sexual satisfaction.

Psychological and emotional benefits of masturbation

Women most often cite fatigue as the reason for a decrease in, or loss of, libido. I haven’t met a tired woman yet who cares a bit about sex. Appropriately so, as a tired body is focused on taking care of itself. The second most common reason women tell me they have decreased interest in sex is their dissatisfaction with their appearance. Given the often unrealistic yet prevailing standards of American beauty, it is challenging for many women to feel attractive. Masturbation is one way to honor our sexuality conveniently and privately.

Because we are in control of our bodies when we masturbate, we can learn a lot about who we are. We can cultivate positive feelings about our miraculous bodies, giving us confidence from the inside out and the potential to heal any past negative sexual experiences.

These are all good reasons to reconsider our views on masturbation, but there are also several other reasons why masturbation can help us feel more confident and connected:

• Improves our mood. Masturbation helps relieve depressive emotions. As we become aroused, the hormone levels of dopamine and epinephrine soar in our bodies. Both of these hormones are mood-boosters. Many studies show that women who report personal satisfaction with their sex lives live a better quality of life overall.


• Relieves stress. In her book For Yourself, noted sex therapist Lonnie Barbach explains that the stress resulting from avoiding sex can create the kind of body imbalances we mentioned earlier. She writes that masturbation can help relieve emotional stress by taking time for ourselves, amidst the demands of home, family, and work.


• Strengthens our relationship with ourselves. When we know, love, and nurture ourselves on emotional and physical levels, we gain confidence and grow through self-awareness. Being able to recognize, articulate, and experience what brings pleasure is a powerful step toward fulfillment.


• Strengthens sexual relationship with partner. Many couples have different sexual drives and needs. Masturbation is one way to meet personal needs not met by a partner. It can be shared with a partner. Witnessing a partner masturbate can teach us what methods our partners use so we can learn what they enjoy. It can also open the lines of communication between partners who otherwise might be assuming that the “routine” is still working.