Superfood Hot Chocolate

I've been juicing like crazy since I've been out of the hospital. However, I still wish to get in my superfood and protein powders. Swishing them in milk and downing it is rather gross, as you can never get the powders properly mixed and you end up drinking powder chunks. Ugh! So I devised a plan, Superfood Hot Chocolate! Most of my powders I get the chocolate flavor, and then a couple things just have herb flavor. Here's my recipe:


Get a large mug and measure out how much almond/coconut milk you need. Add a scoop of each  item, Amazing Grasses Chocolate Green Superfood, Vega Shake and Go Smoothie in Chocolate, Missessence Radical Berry, MIessence, In-Liven Fermented Probiotic Superfood, a teaspoon of Merlin's Herbal Magic Root Elixer, one teaspoon of Colostrum, a tablespoon of Cinnamon and a tsp of Cayenne. 


This is a delicious way to get everything in. Click on each item for a link to details on that product. I added Cinnamon because of it's many benefits, including studies that show that it can add in healing lymphoma. Cayenne is a healthy heart herb, so I found that to be important as well. 

My Cancer Journey

Seven years ago this summer a lump in my neck turned out to be Hodgkin Lymphoma, a cancer that affects the lymphatic system. I like to joke to people that on Monday of that week, I received a promotion at work making me the General Manger of Benjamin Franklin Plumbing. On Thursday I signed the papers for my first home, and on Friday, I was diagnosed with cancer. It's not really funny, but amazing to me that so many life changing situations happened literally at once.

When I found out my diagnosis, I was relieved. I had been suffering from severe depression, to the point of suicide and had prayed that something would happen to take me from this world. I felt like I got my wish. A few weeks after my initial diagnosis, I had an appointment with an oncologist, who discovered the cancer had spread to both sides of my neck and down through my chest. This is highly unusual, and at the time I believed it happened because I wanted to die. Why I still think that may have been a part of it, I've recently learned a bit more about cancer and it's possible the biopsy they did actually cause the cancer to spread. You can read more about this in my previous post, What Your Oncologist Never Told You About Cancer.

My parents were of course extremely concerned; my Dad's reaction to the news is the reason I initially decided to live instead of letting it take me. I told my doctor I would not be going through chemo or radiation and she told me I wouldn't make it to the holidays. Seven years ago. Never allow the doctors to scare you with a death deadline, you create your own destiny.

Once making the decision to heal holistically, I checked out every book, blog, dvd, etc. that related to healing cancer. I believe that any disease, is an imbalance in the physical, emotional and spiritual bodies. Most western medicines only focus on the physical, and most of the time the symptoms rather than the actual cause. I started out by changing my diet, going on a strict vegan raw food diet for the first year. I lost over 100lbs, and completely stopped the spread of cancer. I also did some emotional healing. Check out my post on Healing With Energy Psychology for more info on this.

After a couple of years, things remained stable, and I got frustrated. I fell off the wagon, started eating junk again, ignored the emotional work, hadn't even acknowledged the spiritual work, and dove into work. I worked a lot of hours and had the weight of the world on my shoulders. In the Spring of 2009, I started having a lot of fatigue issues. I went in for my tests, and the cancer had spread like wildfire. I had cancer in my lungs, under my arms, kidney, etc. Everything on my blood tests was off the charts bad, my organs had started to shutdown, and this time my Naturopath, who normally is very supportive, told me there was nothing more to be done and to put my affairs in order, it would only be a matter of weeks. I realized at this point I couldn't jack around anymore. I had to make a choice: live or die, and that choice had to be mine. I couldn't do it for my Dad or anyone else, it had to be for me. I took a couple weeks off of work, ate lots of veggies, spent a lot of time in bed, because by this time I could barely move, and decided that I really hadn't given life a proper chance. So I made my choice.

Two years later and obviously I chose to live. This time, instead of focusing mostly on the physical and half-hearted with the emotional, I have undergone entire lifestyle changes. Physically I got back into a healthy diet, focusing on Green Smoothies. I incorporated Superfoods into my diet, reversing many of the poor results on my blood tests. Triton, my furry 142lbs newfoundland/great dane mix got my booty shaking with daily walks. I also bounce on a rebounder, and started getting into yoga. I detox my body daily by skin brushing, make regular colonics appointments, etc. I got certified in Reiki, an energy healing tool, and receive other energy healing from my Mom. You can read about how one of the tumors in my neck shrank in under 15 minutes with several witnesses in my post Healing With Tuning Fork Sound Therapy.

Emotionally, I started doing mirror exercises, reading Louise Hay, using EFT (emotional freedom technique) to release the emotional causes of my cancer, forgiveness exercises and much more. Spiritually I recognized my connection with the Universe, meditate daily, and next week will embark on a Spiritual journey as I fly to Oregon for a Vipssanna Meditation retreat.

So how am I doing? Tumors in my armpits are breaking into pieces. The primary tumor in my neck split into two, and once piece is shrinking, while the other is slowly pushing itself out of my body. Whoa! My energy levels are up, I am still anemic, but I did go up a point on my latest blood test. I'm healing, and with a little more work and a lot of faith, I plan on ending 2011 completely healthy and free of cancer, eczema, anemia and hormone imbalances.

The things mentioned are just a few of the healing tools I have used, but the ones I found most effective. Once I return from Oregon, I will get updated tests, and I intend to kickstart a new healing program. More on this later.

What do you do to stay healthy? Have you ever faced a major disease? How did you handle it?

Best of Existing's Tricky 2010

I can't believe it's been eight months since I started this blog.  Here is a list of personal favorite posts of 2010!

Refocusing: Letting Go and Letting Love

The Ego's job is to create fear and control, but sometimes a book or experience, quote, or friend can help us kick that Ego to the curb and get in touch with our inner guidance system. The message I received will enable me to kick this healing into high gear. 

Protect Yourself This Flu Season

Drug companies push dangerous shots that contain mercury and other nastiness. A few simple holistic remedies will help you maintain health, even through the winter flu season. 

Healthy Monday's: The Protein Myth

One of the biggest questions I am asked is "How do you get your protein if you are not eating meat? There are many sources of protein for vegetarians, including nuts, seeds and dark leafy vegetables. This article also covers which items are a complete source of protein, meaning they contain all essential amino acids. 

Forgiveness

This is one of the most important lessons I've learned this year. I've experience so much healing by using this simple tool. I know it will help you as well. 

The Power of Affirmations

Louise Hay is a brilliant woman who healed her own cancer through the use of affirmations.   

12 Steps to a Healthier You

Most people have the desire to improve their health, increase happiness and live better lives. However, most efforts fail because they don't know the steps to successfully implement change in their lives. Read, print, and follow these steps to create a healthier you. 

Mirroring: Reflect on the Inner You

This tool has been tremendous in opening myself to others. Often times those who affect us the most, are the ones we need to pay the most attention to. They are a reflection of something inside ourselves. 

Superfoods Part I, Superfoods Part II and Superfoods Part III

This three-part article details 17 different Superfoods that personally healed my issues with anemia, hypoglycemia, hormone imbalance, and have reduced the inflammation in my system, which in turn has reduced the cancer. This is one of the most important sources of information I've ever received.

I'm a Reiki Gal Now!

I resisted, dug my heels in, crossed my arms, and shouted "I don't wanna" in my little kid voice, year after year.  This year I finally relented, and realized what a beautiful gift Reiki is. This is my story.

Vegan Freak: Being Vegan in a Non-Vegan World

It is so difficult to explain diet and lifestyle changes to our loved ones. Often times people become defensive, and in turn, we can have a superior attitude. This list of tips will help you co-exist with those still on a SAD (Standard American Diet). 

Love and Gratitude Friday's: Attracting Abundance

I have been using the Law of Attraction for a few years now and I'm telling you, it works.  This is a list of my favorite tools to aid you in implementing the Law in your life.

Healing With Energy Psychology

I have used many different energy psychology techniques.  In this article I discuss some of my earliest successes, which have lead to incredible healing.

No TV For 30 Days Challenge

Kris Carr originally posted this challenge on her blog CrazySexyLife.  In this article I provide tips on reducing TV in your life, how to fill in all the extra time, and challenge you to take a 30 day break from the boob tube.

Releasing Romantic Illusions

In Gabrielle Bernstein's wonderful book Add More ~Ing to Your Life: The Hip Guide to Happiness, she discusses how we sometimes make our intimate relationships "special", which can lessen our own loving relationship with ourselves.  

Loving Tuesday's: Love Yourself

Self love is so important.  Enjoy this beautiful post filled with tips, quotes and pictures to help you create a loving relationship with your self. 

Comment, re-post, sign up to be a follower and spread the word! Thank you for a wonderful 2010, let's start 2011 off with a BANG!! 

Namaste

Shanna

 

Balancing the Mind

This month I've been terribly out of balance.  Actually, if I'm really honest with myself, I've been out of balance for a long time.  I snapped a bit a few weeks ago, when I realized how caught up I was in The Attack of the Should's.  Since then I've done a lot of fictional reading, very little in the healing department, a tad bit of writing and pretty zero socially.  Monday, I woke up and decided, screw Facebook, Squidoo, Twitter, Blogging, Email, chores, etc., today I'm going to do all those things I desire, but never have the time for.  I started out with a killer Superfood Smoothie, did a Ho'oponono meditation, a prayer meditation I'd borrowed from my Mom in July, rebounder, practiced yoga for the first time in two years, got out my Oracle Cards, walked Triton, did a full body Reiki session on myself and set up a Girls Date Night.  Guess what?  I still had time to write, play on the Internet, watch TV, read and whatever else I might have wanted to do.  Which tells me that we are capable of accomplishing all the things we desire, we just have to prioritize and balance ourselves.

I've always been a pretty left brained person; I crave order, discipline, schedule, etc.  However, lately I've been more right brained, free wheeling, creative, no real order or schedule.  Balance is finding that middle ground.  I need some stable things in my life, but maybe i can be flexible in the when and how, or switch it up when creativity strikes or new opportunities come up.  This is something we could all benefit from. 

Meditation, yoga and rebounding are all great tools for balancing one's self.  Incorporating one or more into your day will help stabilize and balance you out.  When you get up in the morning, look in the mirror and say "I love myself and I am balanced."  You can also do affirmations while rebounding; it's powerful and fun! Balancing our energy is also extremely important.  If your energy meridians are crossed, it can throw you out of wack.  Check out Donna Eden's 5 Minute Energy Routine for balancing your energy. 

What do you do to regain Balance?

P.S. Cutting down on TV will free so much time, check out the No TV for 30 Days Challenge for tips on cutting back on your TV viewing.

Healthy Eating Monday's: Green Smoothies

Last Monday's blog So You Want to Eat Healthier and Feel Better... discussed items to remove from your diet for a healthier lifestyle.  This week I though we'd talk about adding healthy items to your current diet.  The Green Smoothie is a fantastic way to get more of those elusive fruits and veggies in your diet. Greens are an essential part of our diet.  They contain chlorophyll, which increases brain power, cleans out diseased tissue, eliminates parasites and bacteria buildup, removes heavy metals, builds red blood cells and increases energy.  Eating Greens Will Extend Your Life!!!

So why smoothies?  One, I find that most people who are just getting into greens, have no clue what to do with kale, collard greens, dandelion greens, etc.  Two, most people do not properly chew their food.  Greens need to be broken down very finite, to break apart the cell structure that releases most of the properties in the food.  By blending them, they are already "pre-digested" and your body can more easily assimilate them. 

Green Smoothies are typically 40% greens and 60% fruit to start.  As you become more used to them, start adding more greens and less fruit.  I recommend drinking a quart a day to get the highest intake of greens.  My Dad started doing this a year ago and he immediately noticed a difference in how his body functioned.  These smoothies are great tasting and easy to make.  Check out this article on Green Smoothies for some incredible recipes. 



After you get used to drinking these, why not add some Superfoods to your smoothie to get even more from it!  I would also recommend follow this inspirational blog Green Smoothies Blog by green pioneer Victoria Boutenko.  It includes great information articles, recipes, alone with a plethora of stories from people who have healed their bodies of many diseases by implementing Green Smoothies into their diet.  I highly recommend it. 

Note: I should also warn you that you will likely go into a detox when you start implementing Green Smoothies in your diet.  This could include increase in bowel movements, breakouts, runny nose, etc.  Don't panic!! Your body is filled with toxins, from the food we eat, the environment, etc.  You WANT to eliminate them from your body!! This initial detox will simmer down a bit after a few days/week once your body gets rid of the worst of the worst.  You will then notice that your bowel movements are likely to always be more frequent, but thankfully your skin will clear up and your nose will as well.  Check out my blog on detox tools later this week to ease this process.

Ok, healthy lords and ladies, go out there and Green It Up!!!

Love List

Crazy Sexy Cancer survivor Kris Carr recently started a fabulous trend at her blog CrazySexyLife, the Love List. Love Lists are just an acknowledgement of things we adore.  You can put a list together anytime, keep adding to the one you've got, shout out a new love daily, whatever rocks your boat.  It's a sweet reminder of the beautiful loving world we live in. Check out Kris' lists (which she will be posting every Wednesday) here:
Love List: Chandeliers & Airstreams
Love List: Flea Markets & Snapshots

You can also check out Gala Darling's version Things I Love Thursday and follow the conversation on Twitter #lovelist. 

Here's my Love List for this lovely Tuesday in August

Triton
I LOVE spending time with my wonderful puppy dog, going to the park, walking down the Trolley Trail, watching him play with his artichoke, car rides where both his head AND tail hang out the window, random people taking pictures of him on the plaza, the busboy at Eden's Alley asking about him every time I go in, taking him to eat on the patio at restaurants, chasing squirrels, giving him baths, swimming at the dog park, cuddling on the sofa, he's my number one :)







 Superfoods smoothies, shiny clean house, blogging, werewolves, musicals, meditation, raw cacao, meeting lovely new lady friends, Doreen Virtue, the rose garden at Loose Park, Ben&Jerry's Smores, coconut oil, zinc, Twitter, Reiki, being an ~ing girl, rebounder, affirmations, gratitude, forgiveness, teddy bears, LOVE LISTS, meetup.com, Her Future




LOVE THIS SONG!!

Squidoo, Warehouse 13, Eureka, Kris Carr, snail mail, meeting my Spirit Guides, Thai food, Laura Bell Bundy, Pandora, mini-golf, pecans, journaling, dancing it out, running barefoot in the grass, smiling, laughing, Naughty Monkey shoes, dolphins, ocean sounds

Jane Austen spinoff books Mr. Darcy's Daughters
This oil spill benefit zazzle store Art for Oil Spill
Gabrielle Bernstein Videos Gabrielle Bernstein on Vimeo
This beautiful gal's blog My Hip Guide to Happiness

The Magical, Mystical Unicorn

HUGS!!!

What's on your Love List?

Superfoods: Honorable Mentions Part III

If you missed my previous posts on Superfoods, check out Superfoods: Eating for Optimal Health Part I and Superfoods: David Wolfe's Top 10 List Part II This post I'll discuss some of the foods David Wolfe listed as Honorable Mentions.

1. Acai. Acai has one of the highest antioxidant content in the world, neutralizes free radicals, contains high level of essential fatty acids, helps regenerate stem cells, very low glycemic level, and fights cancer. "A recent University of Florida Study...showed extracts from acai berries triggered a self-destruct response in up to 86 percent of leukemia cells tested."

2. Camu Camu Berry. This berry is know as the Vitamin C Sun King. It contains the world's highest vitamin C content. It also supports immune function, improves eyesight, creates beautiful skin, supports strong collagen, decreases inflammation, reduces stress, and improves lung health.

3. Chlorella. This algae contains more chlorophyll per gram than any other plant. Chlorophyll rejuvenates the blood, cleanses out the bowels, and detoxes the liver. Chlorella restores white blood cells, increases resistance to viral infections and is an excellent treatment for those suffering from Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Disease. It also aids in digestion, is one of the highest sources of protein on the planet and is extremely rich in vitamins and minerals.

4. Incan Berries. This delicious berry actually exceeds the goji berry in protein. It's also an excellent source of beta-carotene, vitamin c, and bioflavonoids. The combination of bioflavonoids and pectin in this berry makes is a great detox tool. They also have a mild laxative effect.

5. Kelp. This sea vegetable is mineral rich, helps restore thyroid functioning, improve metabolism, contains iodine which allows our organs to function more effectively, prevents cancer of the digestive system and aids in eliminating other forms of cancer. It is also a great memory tool and aids in speedy healing.

6. Noni. This fruit is most often found as a fermented beverage or in powder form. It is full of antioxidants and aids in skin elasticity, cell regeneration, defense against free radicals, anti-inflammatory, and detoxes the body.

7. Yacon Root.  This plant is an excellent substitute for traditional sweeteners. It's a great blood sugar balancer and ideal for diabetics. It is great for colon health, creates healthy flora in the body and promotes the growth of probiotics.

I realize this is a lot of information and can be overwhelming. I suggest starting small. Pick a few Superfoods that you feel would benefit you and start adding them to your smoothies. A couple of other foods that I would label "superfoods" are wheatgrass, fermented foods, spinach, sprouts and avocado. If you are just starting out, these simple foods are easily accessible and will greatly aid you in your health journey.  Wheatgrass can be purchased fresh or frozen; frozen wheatgrass is great in smoothies. Fermented foods, such as sauerkraut, kimichi, and miso aid in digestion. Spinach, while not as high as Spirulina, is also a great source of Iron and Protein and available in any supermarket. Avocado's contain essential fatty acids that aid in eyesight and skin health. Be brave! Get out there and start experimenting. Let me know how you are doing and any recipes that you've created.

Superfoods: David Wolfe's Top 10 List Part II

Yowza!! I'm buzzing off my Superfood Smoothie. I went nuts and stocked up on all sorts of yumminess. Today's smoothie: Spirulina, cacao, maca, incan berries, goji berries, mulberries, camu camu, marine phytoplankton, coconut water, aloe vera, bee pollen, royal jelly, banana and a touch of agave. Woowee!! I may have gone a bit overboard, but I was so excited when my shipment arrived from The Raw Food World Store.  Hopefully my shipment from Sunfood will be here tomorrow! As promised, I've prepared a summary on the Top 10 Superfoods, according to David Wolfe.  Keep in mind that the information provided is only a sampling of everything these foods provide.  Most of the foods listed are complete sources of protein, filled with minerals, amino acids, and heal a litany of diseases. My information for each Superfood has only a fraction of the healing information available.  For more details check out David Wolfe's Book on Superfoods.

1. Goji Berries.  If you watched David Wolfe's video, you'll remember he emphasized how important goji berries are in Chinese Medicine. This tantalizing berry is known as the "longevity berry".  Rumor has is a Chinese man named Li Qing Yuen drank a soup made from goji berries daily and lived to be 252 years old! They are a complete protein source, contain 19 different amino acids, 21 trace minerals, are extremely high in Iron and one of the highest antioxidant foods in the world.  Antioxidants protect us from free radicals and counter the creation of cancer cells.  Goji berries also support the adrenal glands, boost immune function, increase alkalinity, improve eyesight and much more.

2. Cacao (Raw Chocolate). This is chocolate in it's purest form.  The Mayans considering this nut to be the food of the Gods and traded it as money instead of gold. Cacao is nature's number one weight loss and energy boosting tool.  Raw cacao supports supports heart function and contains the highest concentration of antioxidants of any food in the world! It contains a great deal of trace minerals, including zinc, copper and Vitamin C. It is the number one source of Magnesium, incredibly high Iron content, helps balance blood sugar and oxygenates the blood.  Cacao also produces Serotonin, which helps us feel good.

3. Maca. Maca is a member of the cruciferous family. This incredible veggie supports and balances your hormones, heals depression, increases libido, supports the Endocrine system, and provides thyroid support.  In men, Maca has proven to heal many issues involving the prostate.

4. Bee Products (Raw Honey, Bee Pollen, Royal Jelly). It's extremely important when researching bee products to support beekeepers that use cruelty free, organic practices. Not only is this more humane, but you will get a much better product. Also, if possible, purchase your Bee Pollen from a local source.  Pollen has proven to greatly reduce allergies, and locally sourced pollen will better protect you from possible allergens in your area.  My Mom gives her dog Aurora bee pollen for allergies and has noticed a significant different in her skin condition, scratching, and other signs of allergies. Bee Pollen is also highly alkaline, neutralized free radicals, increases hormone levels, increases strength and muscle definition. Royal Jelly is fed exclusively to the Queen Bee. This product is extremely high in protein, regulates nerve fibers, B-Vitamins, and treats hormonal imbalances.  A study published in 1960 by the American Association for Cancer Research Inc. found that "whole royal jelly, when premixed with tumor cells before inoculation, has been shown to inhibit completely the development of transplantable AKR leukemia..."

5. Spirulina. This superfood contains the highest concentration of any protein on the planet. It's also one of the best sources of Iron and great for anemics. This bad boy contains all eight essential amino acids, rich in vitamins and minerals, chlorophyll, an anti-inflammatory, balances brain chemistry, a blood builder, immune booster, high in antioxidants, and contains Gamma-Linolenic Acid, which gives us soft silky skin and healthy hair.

6. AFA Super Blue-Green Algae.  Another great green, this algae improves digestion, is a great blood builder, has over 40 trace minerals, is an excellent source of B-Vitamins, a complete protein source, inhibits the growth of cancer cells, reduces inflammation, and protects against free radical damage.  It also contains Phenylethylamine, dubbed the "love chemical" which increases our feelings of joy.

7. Marine Phytoplankton.  The favorite food of whales, this is one powerful food source. Essentially, it is life.  "The makeup of Marine Phytoplankton is exactly what human cell membranes need to carry out their metabolism. Research indicates that Marine Phytoplankton contains every nutrient needed for the creation and maintenance of new cells...Phytoplankton is 100 percent bio available to the human body; when you eat it, not a single part of it is wasted. This is astounding because even the healthiest foods contain less than 50 percent absorb able and available nutrition. " Check out David Wolfe's video from my previous blog entry for some cool info on this amazing product!

8. Aloe Vera. This amazingly beautiful plant is a great healer and easy to grow at home. Topically Aloe heals many skin problems including burns and eczema. You can also drink it, I suggest buying "George's", this brand is not the slightest bit bitter, in fact it tastes just like water. Aloe is great for all types of digestive problems, including Crohn's Disease, it aids in relieving fungal infections, kills yeast, and is great for weight loss.  Aloe Vera also reduces inflammation, reduces cancer tumors, normalizes blood sugar, produces white blood cells, promotes healthy kidneys and increases the elasticity of our skin.

9. Hemp Seed.  This controversial seed is also one of nature's richest sources of complete protein, only exceeded by Spirulina and Blue-Green Algae. Hemp Seeds are extremely high in Omega 3 and 6 essential fatty acids, are a great source of fiber, an anti-inflammatory, high mineral content and contain 18 amino acids.  There are a lot of great Hemp Protein Powders on the market, making this a very easily accessible Superfood.

10. Coconuts. Forget sports drinks, coconuts are one of the highest sources of electrolytes in nature. Coconuts improve digestion, aid in fighting off viruses, symptoms of hypoglycemia, regulate hormone production, support the thyroid, increase metabolism, support healthy cholesterol, alleviate kidney stones, aid in urinary tract infections and are a great source of raw saturated fat. Fun fact: "Young coconut water is nearly identical to human blood plasma, making it a universal donor. During the Pacific battles of World War II, between 1941-1945, both sides in the conflict used coconut water--siphoned directly from the coconut--to give emergency plasma transfusions to wounded soldiers."

I realize to the average reader that some of these Superfoods sound rather foreign and sketchy on the taste factor.  Never fear, Super Smoothies are here!! Any and all of these items can be tossed together to create a kick ass, healing taste sensation. Coconut water is also great on it's own and makes an excellent sport drink. Most of these products can be found in your local health food store or Whole Foods. For the harder to find products, I recommend checking out The Raw Food World for great deals, fast service, and a monthly informative newsletter with coupons. Tomorrow Superfoods Part III will debut, where I will cover David Wolfe's Honorable Mentions, along with a few suggestions of my own. If you missed Part I, click here to check it out: Superfoods: Eating for Optimal Health Part I.

Superfoods: Eating For Optimal Health Part I

This past week I've been a bit sluggish. I've been sleeping alot (like, until 2pm), have less energy when I'm up, zero creativity, and more or less have been planted on the sofa watching early episodes of Stargate SG-1 and Scarecrow and Mrs. King. I wondered what could be causing this shift and I realized that I've slacked a bit, not intentionally in a few departments. With the heat, Triton and I haven't been walking as regularly, and unfortunately I haven't replaced our walks with another form of exercise.  Instead of doing my energy routine twice a day, it's been more like once a day or every other day recently.  And although I eat pretty well, I haven't been eating optimally for my health.  Meaning, while carrots are superfantastic, Spirulina kicks some carrot booty, plus some.  Generally I get the "goods" in my daily smoothie, but this past month the laziness bug has kicked in and I've swapped my Superfood Smoothies for processed Naked/Botthouse Farm beverages. Monday I started back up on my smoothies, and in just two days I've noticed a huge difference. I started getting up earlier day by day, I've been writing again, I have more energy, and even took Trition for a very sweaty sticky walk this evening.  I decided I need to kick things up a notch, and checked out David Wolfe's book "Superfoods: The Food and Medicine of the Future" from the library. He's an incredible resource of information, and inspired me to really get gung ho in regards to my diet.  Since the beginning of the cancer parade, I've had a few items that consistently show up in a bad way on my blood tests.

1. Low levels of Hydrochloric Acid.  What does this mean?  Essentially hydrochloric acid is the stuff that breaks down your food in a digestible format that your body can use and distribute for all it's various functions. So all those pills, veggies, etc. have had very little effect because my body is unable to absorb most of it.
2. Anemia.  I have an extremely low iron count, in fact generally I'm only a point away from a blood transfusion. This tends to freak the doctors out. My Naturopath literally cannot understand how I get up each day based on the results of my blood test.
3. Hypoglycemia. My blood sugar is all over the place, and I've always bounced between being at risk for hypoglycemia and diabetes. Neither one screams fun times.
4. Hormonal Imbalance. Now this one has been on and off over the years. I've had long periods of time where everything is perfect, my cycle is regular and life is good. However, I've been wacky since about Thanksgiving, I think I've had maybe three menstrual cycles, which is not good. It freaks me out just a bit because I only have half an ovary, due to some benign tumors they cut out in my early twenties, so my understanding of this part of my body is really weak. Note to self: See a gynecologist.

Everything else is awesome! When I first starting going in for blood tests five years ago, EVERYTHING was off the chart's bad. Hemoglobin levels, kidney enzymes, you name it, the results sucked. For the past year everything has been in balance except for those four items, plus my inflammation levels.  The level of inflammation in my body has always been off the charts bad, which is the cancer, however, slowly by surely it's edging towards happier levels. However, I think the other issues are making the process much slowly.  If my body didn't have to put all it's effort on getting me to function on a basic level each day, the cancer would probably dissolve quickly.  Hence the interest in Superfoods. 

David came up with a list of his "Top 10 Superfoods" and "Honorable Mentions." Each item on his list has everything I need to eliminate anemia, hypoglycemia, hormonal imbalance, cancer, and my digestive issues. 

David's Top 10 Superfoods:
Goji Berries, Cacao, Maca, Bee Products (Honey, Bee Pollen, Royal Jelly, Propolis), Spirulina, AFA Blue-Green Algae, Marine Phytoplankton, Aloe Vera, Hempseed, Coconut.

Honorable Mentions:
Acai, Camu Camu Berry, Chlorella, Incan Berries, Kelp, Noni, Yacon

I feel this is an extremely important and eye opening subject, so I'm splitting this into a three-part blog.  For now, check out this video of David Wolfe discussing various Superfoods.  Check back on Friday for Part II, where I'll break down the Top 10 Superfoods and share why they are so "super"!