Why Mick’s in Red Ribbons

I was informed (by a very handsome and tall friend of mine, to whom I just happen to be married) that this is Red Ribbon Week.  I had never heard of it before.  Maybe you have, but if you haven’t, or if you aren’t privy to the details, I’ll fill you in a little. 

Red Ribbon Week was started because friends wanted to honor the sacrifices of people like Kiki Camarena, who was murdered in 1985 when working undercover for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.  It’s sad that it takes tragedies to wake us up, but it is always great to remind people of the dangers of drugs.

This also opens up a great opportunity to remind people of the dangers of all drugs, including alcohol, prescription drugs, and over-the-counter drugs.  They are all toxins to our bodies.

"The art of medicine consists of amusing the patient while nature cures the disease." ~ Voltaire

Last week's Mick’s in Pain focused on some of the dangers of ibuprofen.  We all know there are side effects with any medicine.  Of course there are.  They are toxins!  Our bodies were not created to need outside sources for healing, so why not strive to do all we can to keep from taking medication and filling our bodies with toxins?  Yes, there are some people who really need medication, and they are under crisis care… but if there’s any way to improve the situation, wouldn’t they want to… and if you’re not in crisis, don’t you want to try something else that's not a chemical?

Don't let  it take another tragedy to wake you up!

I like the Red Ribbon Week Pledge:  No use of illegal drugs, no illegal use of legal drugs!  Even better, I like the slogan:  “Let Your Light Shine:  Live alcohol, tobacco, and illegal drug free!”  Can we also try to add to that “totally drug free!?”  It seems impossible, but it’s worth at least striving for:  100% ME drug-free!

“Nevertheless, I will bring health and healing to it;

I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security.”
Jeremiah 33:6 (NIV)

~

Mick’s in Pain

What do you do for pain?

All this mountain climbing and vacuuming is making me a bit sore.  How about you?

What do you do for minor aches and pains?  Do you take ibuprofen or aspirin, etc., or do you prefer the more natural way with blueberries, bromelain, etc.?

Even though there is research trying to link ibuprofen and Alzheimer’s in a good way, there is still danger.  “Ibuprofen may cause life-threatening heart or circulation problems such as heart attack or stroke, especially if you use it long term.” (Drugs.com) … Plus…  “Long-term use of NSAIDs carries a risk of gastrointestinal problems.” (US News Health Buzz)

What are some of those GI problems?

“Internal bleeding may be caused as a side effect of medications (most often from nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen and aspirin) and alcohol.  These substances can cause inflammation and bleeding of the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum, the first part of the small intestine as it leaves the stomach.” (MedicineNet.com)

“According to a new study in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, the use of low-dose aspirin increases the risk for GI bleeding, with the risk being increased further with accompanying use of cardiovascular disease-preventing therapies, such as clopidogrel and anticoagulants.  In patients who took proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), bleeding risk decreased.” (Science Daily via EurekAlert!)

“It is estimated that approximately 120,000 people are hospitalized each year with gastrointestinal bleeding due to NSAID use.  Conservative estimates are that 16,500 die as a result.” (Jeff Sargent on Natural Health Informer)

I used to take ibuprofen on a regular basis, but I am surprised and very glad to be able to say I haven’t taken any ibuprofen (nor cold meds) for a year!  It’s an amazing process:  change what you put into your body (such as sugar, grains/flour, bad oils, etc., which cause inflammation and toxicity), and eventually you can cut out some of the other things you used to feel like you had to put into your body (toxins, like pain relievers, allergy medicines, etc.).  Some people refer to the bad stuff as man-made foods and the good stuff as God foods.  I like that.  It’s a good reminder.

Which would you rather do… be uncomfortable for a little while, as you change your intake… or… risk your health for some temporary relief?  I think I know which one your family would choose for you.

“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do,

do it all for the glory of God. “

1 Corinthians 10:31 (NIV)

~

Mick’s Sum-up for the Week

Toxins come from everywhere, basically.  When we’re not careful about what we’re choosing, then it seems almost hopeless.  We get bombarded from all directions.

I want you to understand, for your sake and the sake of your family, that you do have a choice!  You can strive to do all you can to keep the common cold, chronic illnesses, heart disease, and cancer out of your family… with success.

If it’s difficult to imagine how these actions now can affect future health as seriously as that, then maybe this will speak to you a bit more loudly.  Getting toxins out of your body can help you get rid of pounds and body fat that is holding on so tightly!

Your body knows toxins are bad for your organs, and so it tries to protect your organs with body fat.  Weird, huh?  So, in a sense, body fat is a good thing.  Well... sort of.  It’s a good thing, because it’s acting as protection for survival.  It’s a bad thing, because it means you have toxins in your body.  Hmmmm…  yuck!

One thing I can say about it, though, is that my husband and I found out it’s true… and the right detox works!  It’s an amazing transformation!  Once your body can get rid of toxins, it feels free to let go of the body fat, and you feel healthier, because you are healthier… and as a bonus, you trim down!  Wow!

If you don’t believe me, you might believe the article Detox to Loose Weight by Walter Crinnion in The Vitamin Shoppe’s magazine “Amazing Wellness.”  The detox I mentioned as a recommended choice is Daily Detox.  However, this article lays out a detox system for you to put together yourself at home, too.

So, what’s the summary of the week?

Remember to read the ingredients list on everything!  Watch out for those toxins!  Don’t be fooled!

Warning: 
It seems ironic that the ingredients in some products of companies supporting cancer awareness are actually toxic ingredients, as is addressed in the articles Susan G. Komen for the Cure Isn’t Curing Anything by Amy of the blog “Just West of Crunchy” and Pinkwashing: What’s Wrong with “Think Pink” and Breast Cancer Awareness Month by Susan Melgren in “Natural Home & Garden.”

Some more articles to help you watch for toxins:
Oral Report by Lisa Turner
Save Your Skin by Sherrie Strausfogel
Better With Age – A Tip for Every Day of the Month by Lisa Turner
Toxicity Data by Maximized Living
'Natural' breakfast cereals loaded with pesticides and GMOs by Mike Adams, Health Ranger
 
 

“Then the eyes of those who see will no longer be closed,
and the ears of those who hear will listen.
The fearful heart will know and understand,
and the stammering tongue will be fluent and clear.
No longer will the fool be called noble
nor the scoundrel be highly respected.”

Isaiah 32:3-5 (NIV)

 

~

It’s a Mick's of Toxins

With all this talk of toxins, you may be wondering, “Where do we find toxins and why are they everywhere?”

It’s crazy.  I never used to worry about this stuff.  I thought only "extremists" got hung up on avoiding everything “normal.”  I had no desire to be part of that life.

Then I started thinking beyond myself.

It finally hit me.  Why do I want to be selfish and not change my lifestyle to make a healthier family?  Why do I want to curse my children and my husband with unhealthy living, just so I don’t have to go out of my comfort zone?

I love my family more than that!

So, I took a deep breath, and dove in.

I really dove in!  I chose to stop buying anything now considered “junk food” by the new definition.  All recipes were altered to follow guidelines I was given, and really yummy new recipes jumped to the top of the list of favorites.  The kitchen got emptied of its toxic items:  food and hardware.  Ingredient lists were read on EVERYTHING, and the kitchen, bathrooms, and laundry room were filled with new healthy choices.

Shopping and cooking took a bit longer in those first days (and months).  OK, more than a bit… but it had become a decision as serious as life or death.  Do I want to make things easier on me, at the risk of filling my  husband with toxins, killing him slowly, and possibly leading him into a life of torture with such illnesses as Alzheimer’s Disease?  Do I want to teach my children to live in such a way that would increase their risks of suffering from heart disease or cancer?

Simply, the answer to all of that is, “NO!”

I still don’t consider us extremists or nutcases.  We simply look at ingredients of all things we purchase, and do our best to minimize the toxins we allow into our home and our bodies.
What kinds of things do we look for, and what can we normal, ordinary, every-day families do about it? 

The Toxic Top 10 is a great reference, for example:

• Cleaning/Personal Care Products:  When considering ingredients, if you can’t eat it, don’t use it.
  
• Pesticides and Herbicides:  Follow the list of Clean 15 and Dirty Dozen
  
• Meats/Protein:  There are so many hormones and antibiotics injected into our food sources these days, and there are many harmful effects.  We look for grass-fed beef, raw-milk products, free-range poultry and eggs, and we avoid pork.  A great source is:  Beyond Organic
  
• Preservatives/Additives/Rancid Fats/etc.
  • Neurotoxins/Excitotoxins: We do not consume any product with any artificial/chemical sweetener, such as sucralose/splenda, aspartame, saccharin, ace-k, neotame, nor with MSG (see next bullet).
    
  • MSG: There are many products with this in it. Many of you already know the effects MSG can have on a body, because you’re already suffering from such things as headaches. Other MSG-containing ingredients to look out for are yeast extract, torula yeast, autolyzed or hydrolyzed vegetable proteins.  Mike Adams has a book to help you look for the things to avoid in the grocery store. Pick up a copy of Grocery Warning System to fill your grocery cart with healing foods, and stop being one of the 95% of Americans who fill their carts with ingredients known to cause cancer!
    
  • Sugar:  We stay away from buying foods with sugar, high fructose corn syrup, and we go so far as to stay away from even natural ones (to keep inflammation down as much as possible), such as evaporated cane juice, rice syrup, barley malt, honey, and agave nectar (although we sometimes splurge with allowing agave-sweetened foods or honey).  We can choose alternatives for our Sweeteners.
    
  • Rancid Fats/Oils:  Mark’s Daily Apple touches on what to avoid.
  
  
• Pots and Pans:  We threw out our Teflon and other unsafe non-stick kitchen items.
  
• Environment/Biotoxins/Molds:  Check around your house, and keep it as safe as possible.  Fight off toxins with a detox for your body, like the one my family uses:  Daily Detox
  
• Medicines:  Stay away!  Find alternatives, when possible!  Incorporate 5 simple steps to healthy living, to reduce inflammation and toxicity, and to get your brain’s messages throughout your entire body, and to have healthy cells that can function properly.  Then your body can begin to heal, and  you can eventually get off your meds.  (My husband and I did!  Yay!)

Some extra links for more research:
The Stinky Facts About Smelling Good
Propylene Glycol
Fluoride Alert
Natural News:  Chemicals
Natural News:  Organic Foods
Natural News:  Ingredients
Natural News:  Products to Watch
Grocery Warning System
Dr. Russell Blaylock:  Excitotoxins
SLS
Journal of the American College of Toxicology:  SLS
Other Chemicals to Avoid

“Give the people these instructions,

so that no one may be open to blame.

Anyone who does not provide for their relatives,

and especially for their own household,

has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”

1 Timothy 5:7-9 (NIV)

~

FMS in the Mick’s?

I need to be totally honest with you.  I do not truly know what it is like to have brain fog.  I cannot say I fully understand.  However, I have had to deal with it second-hand.  It is difficult enough to watch someone trying to function in life while in a fog.  I can’t imagine the stress of being in that fog.  I am sorry that those of you with brain fog have to deal with it.  Please realize, though, that I am writing this blog to try to help you know you don’t have to live with it.  There is a way out of the fog!

Today’s topic is related to brain fog.  One of the symptoms of FMS is brain fog.
I’ve seen hope glimmering in my husband’s eyes, as he sees the fog lifting… and as he feels his quality of life improving dramatically, after dealing with FMS for years.  Yes, he’s a guy and he was diagnosed with FMS, even though the statistics say it’s a 7:1 ratio of women to men with FMS. (CDC)

What is FMS?
FMS = Fibromyalgia Syndrome = difficult to diagnose = frustrating for those with it, because of comments like, “It’s all in your head.”

How is FMS diagnosed?
“To receive a diagnosis of FM, the patient must meet the following diagnostic criteria:

• Widespread pain in all four quadrants of the body for a minimum duration of three months
• Tenderness or pain in at least 11 of the 18 specified tender points when pressure is applied”

Progress has been made by Dr. Bruce Gillis to give hope to FMS sufferers that doctors can determine that their symptoms are not just in their heads.  He has developed a blood test that is 95% accurate in detecting fibromyalgia.  It looks at cytokines in the blood.  What do cytokines do?  “The simple answer is that cytokines are small protein molecules released by nerve and immune cells that send signals to other cells in the body to do things like alter cell functions and increase/decrease the regulate of genes.  In the case of fibromyalgia, these messengers cause the central nervous system to create the widespread body pain characteristic of fibromyalgia as well as other physiological, hormonal and behavioral changes.”  These cytokines are related to inflammation in the body.

Toxicity and inflammation are two major factors involved in the pain of FMS.  Once they are decreased, there is a definite decrease in symptoms.  My husband is living proof.

Not only is decreasing toxins and inflammation a great start to combating FMS, but so are improving nutrition and focusing on spinal care.  After all, didn’t God give you a system in the body that will heal itself, if the stuff that isn’t supposed to be there will just get out of the way and let it do its job?!

The Fibromyalgia Fact Sheet even lists chiropractic as one of the alternatives to help improve an FMS victim’s quality of life, since “increasing attention is being devoted to the central nervous system as the underlying mechanism of FMS.”  Take note: ”Increasing rest, pacing activities, reducing stress, practicing relaxation and improving nutrition can help minimize symptoms and improve quality of life.” (National Fibromyalgia Association)

Again, we’re back to focusing on 5 simple items to change your quality of life:  attitude, spine/nerve system health, nutrition, exercise, and toxins.

Maybe this week, as we're spotlighting toxicity, we need to look at what we’re putting in our bodies, and make sure it’s not toxic.  If we’ve had a history of taking medications, having vaccinations, living with mercury fillings in our teeth, cleaning with chemicals, eating unhealthy fats and sugars, and living in toxic environments, then we should figure out a way to rid our bodies of the toxins we’re continually taking in and the toxins already stored there.  Find a detox something like Daily Detox and allow your body to function like it’s supposed to!

FMS is serious business, and it needs to be addressed.  I’ve witnessed the depression that accompanies FMS, and I can believe the suicide rates are higher among FMS sufferers. (CDC)  Please, please, please do not give up hope!

Yes, granted, there are medications out there.  Doctors don’t know what else to do, so they help to mask some of the symptoms with pain medications and others.  However, after a while, the body can adapt and then the symptoms will increase again, even with the medications.  Plus, the medications are increasing the toxicity of the body.

So, why not try something else?  What can it hurt?  If you need more information, go back through this Mick’s up Life, and read up on the 5 things I’ve emphasized for living as a healthy family.  Think about it:  You’ve tried everything else.  Why not this?  Then you can give all the glory to the God who made you in such a way that your body can heal itself!  Just think of it!  Amazing!

“But as for me, afflicted and in pain—
may your salvation, God, protect me.

I will praise God’s name in song
and glorify him with thanksgiving. “

Psalm 69:29-30 (NIV)

 

~

Mick’s in a Fog

Have you felt like you’re not as sharp as you used to be?  Do you feel fatigued?  Are you wondering why you’re in slow-motion, while the world is moving faster than ever?

You might be dealing with Brain Fog. 

Some of the symptoms of Brain Fog are (Brain Fog is Real and is a Common Symptom - by Lisa Cruz): 

• Lack of focus
  
• Forgetfulness
  
• Loss of mental acuity
  
• Decreased mental stamina
  
• Decrease in creativity
  
• Confusion
  
• Lack of spatial awareness
  
• Absentmindedness or spaciness
  
• Decreased attention span
  
• Decreased short term memory
  
• Difficulty finding words

What can cause it?

Dr. Lawrence Wilson defines Brain Fog as “feelings of mental confusion or lack of mental clarity.” (BRAIN FOG by Lawrence Wilson, MD)  He goes on to say nutrition and lifestyle are the beginning of the solution to the problem of Brain Fog, which has many causes.

Toxicity is one of the main causes.  We are bombarded by toxins every day, everywhere we turn.  Heavy metal toxicity not only causes Brain Fog, but it can also produce other chronic conditions such as Autism, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Depression, Multiple Sclerosis, and a host of other serious disorders.

What can you do about it?

Getting regular chiropractic care to keep the signal passages clear from the brain to the rest of the body… getting exercise to increase oxygen… getting the right nutrients in your body… and getting away from toxins as much as possible… if all working together, will help to clear up brain fog.  (Again, it’s the simple lifestyle of incorporating the idea of 5 Essentials for healthy living.)

The way my family has decided to deal with toxins in the body is with a product called Daily Detox.  I am not advertising.  I don’t get any kick-backs by telling you about it.  There are other products out there, and maybe there are even some very similar to it, but I’m just letting you know what I found out about this one.  It’s not a periodic cleanse.  It’s not a fad.  It’s not a fast.  The product has recently changed a little bit, with the inclusion of a new manufacturer, however the idea of it is that it includes a vitamin B complex and a glutathione enhancer (the most powerful antioxidant naturally produced in the body) to give your body’s natural detoxing system a boost (using such ingredients as milk thistle).   With this detox system, the toxins are drawn from the cells… and as a side note, proper nutrition allows for healthy cell walls to have a more efficient process of getting bad things out and good things in.  So it’s a cleanse at the cellular level.  It also has activated carbon, which acts as a magnet, drawing toxins to it.  Then, since the body cannot process it, the carbon and the toxins are totally eliminated from the body.
When toxins are eliminated, your body can start to heal, and your thinking can become clearer.

Depending on the toxicity and acidity levels of the body, the healing process will happen at different rates for different people.  It’s a process, so be patient.  If you’re really serious about healing, be sure to improve everything together:  attitude, nutrition, exercise, spine/nerve system care, while working on decreasing toxicity.

I’ve seen it happen!  I’ve witnessed Brain Fog clear up!  It is possible!  My husband can testify to it!

There is a light at the end of the tunnel.  The fog can lift!

“Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober,
set your hope on the grace to be brought to you
when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming.”
1 Peter 1:13 (NIV)

~

It’s a Mick’s up with Cancer Information

It seems everywhere we turn we are reminded it’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  I think it’s a great tribute to all those who have suffered because of this and other cancers.  It is my guess that those people do not wish the same suffering on anyone else, and so we, as their loved ones, should take it seriously enough to be taking all possible precautions to be cancer-free. 

Here are some stats: "Breast cancer death rates have declined steadily since 1990.  The drop has been larger among women under 50 (3.2% per year) than among women over 50 (2.0% per year).
 An estimated 230,480 women will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in 2011.  Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the United States, after skin cancer. Breast cancer accounts for nearly 1 in 3 cancers diagnosed in women." (Learn About Cancer)

As you find out, when you take the quiz on Breast Cancer Myths Debunked: you are not doomed to cancer from genetics; you should keep a healthy weight; signs of cancer are not always obvious; alcohol intake increases your risks; sweating helps your body detox; breastfeeding decreases your risks.  I highlighted these particular statements, because they emphasize where I’m headed with this week’s toxicity topic. We determined in Mick's Max Workout that you are not doomed to being out of shape.  Well, take heart: you are not doomed to cancer, either.  Don’t give up, even if you have a family history of cancer.  There is hope!  Do what you can to take precautions.  Since we’re addressing minimizing toxins this week , the last of the 5 Essentials my family follows, it’s a great time to tie it all in with awareness. 

Thankfully, I have not had to deal with anything so serious in my life at this point.  The closest I got personally was when a lump was detected a few years ago.  I wasn’t yet 40 years old, but I was sent for a mammogram and the results caused enough concern to send me for an ultrasound.  I’m thankful it didn’t get further than that.  The test determined it is a cyst.  Even though my husband and I had prepared ourselves for the worst, we were ever-so-thankful for that good news.  Now, he and I are doing what we can to avoid another scare, as well as pass the lifestyle on to our kidderz.

I think it’s important to take precautions, but I have my reasons for not liking the idea of regular mammograms.  There are some debates about the safety and the necessity of mammograms, which gives more attention to alternative techniques, such as Digital Tomosynthesis.  Most of us will be relieved to hear the recommended age to begin regular mammograms is now 50 years old, and then only every-other year.  You can read more at:  Science Daily, Can Tomosynthesis Find Breast Cancer Better Than Mammography, Healthy Body Daily

“Perhaps most troublesome is that mammograms aren't lifesaving for all women, though many people assume they are.  Statistics vary, but at best, they only reduce the risk of dying from breast cancer by up to 20%.  ‘We've made it sound like every cancer can be found early and cured, and that's not true,’ says Susan Love, MD.  Mammograms miss many cancers, particularly the fast-growing, aggressive ones that are most likely to strike women under age 50.  ‘Mammograms are best at finding the slow-growing, low-grade cancers, not the worst ones,’ she says.” (Lauren Gelman of Prevention)

Early detection is a wonderful thing. Don’t get me wrong.  This Spring, early detection allowed my mother-in-law to begin addressing decisions to change her lifestyle (improving her exercise and already-healthy diet) to combat the cancer cells in her body before it was too late, and now she is on the road to healing.  We plan on having her around for a very long time!
 
"’The most important thing young women can do right now to reduce their risk of breast cancer down the road is to develop healthy lifestyle habits, such as limiting their alcohol intake, maintaining a healthy weight, and adding exercise to their routine,’ says Susan Brown, RN, director of health education at the Susan G. Komen for the Cure.” (Beth Howard of Prevention)

A Maximized Living Webinar coming up this month of October will cover the following topics:

• Breast Cancer Statistics Today
  
• What the Government is doing to address the epidemic
  
• Where is all the research money going?
  
• The difference between early detection/treatment and prevention. What does cure mean?
  
• The facts about breast cancer causes
  
• What you can do to prevent breast cancer and raise awareness!

Also, hear how companies offering bad nutrition choices, which can lead to cancer, are jumping on the bandwagon of breast cancer awareness:  Susan G Komen for the Cure Isn't Curing Anything

Mick’s sum up:
We should all be responsible enough to take precautions, when it comes to taking care of our body.  Some ways to try to avoid cancer are exercising, healthy eating, and keeping toxins low.  Mick's in the Oxygen last week explained Exercise = oxygen = healthy cells!  Later posts will discuss the nutrition and toxins.  What better reason to be on the road to a healthier lifestyle than for your family!?!  What’s stopping you?!

Take care of the body God gave you…

and then you can take care of the family God gave you!

“Well done, good and faithful servant!

You have been faithful with a few things;

I will put you in charge of many things.

Come and share your master’s happiness!’”

Matthew 25:23 (NIV)