get the lead out

Through a recent series of events I found myself in the office of a local naturopathic doctor taking a test for heavy metals. I was anticipating a high level of mercury but was surprised at the large amounts of aluminum, cadmium and lead present. The doctor said five or more metals are cause for concern and my test showed 14 metals in various amounts.

I was scheduled to start IV chelation this past week but after getting more information I've decided to do an intense heavy metal detox first and then make my decision regarding IV therapy. 

I started a healing log so I can target my eating towards foods that will help with the elimination of the toxins. I'm researching foods and adding vitamins and supplements along with the oral chelation the doctor recommended.

I now know that hair analysis is a more accurate test of metal toxin levels than the tests that measure what is being excreted from the body (which only measures those metals currently moving in the body). Heavy metals can be stored deep in tissues of the body. 

The plan in my mind at the moment is to detox from now until sometime in August and then retest (only this time using a hair analysis). I know it doesn't follow scientific procedures to retest using a different test, however, I want to use the most accurate measure possible. Neither test is cheap and I can't justify doing a second test at this point just to get accurate baseline numbers when it is already obvious that there are too many metals present.

Your prayers for the Father's healing hand as well as self-disciple with food and lifestyle changes needed for healing are greatly appreciated.

juice day

Today I've invited a friend over to do juicing together.

Sara and her husband want to start eating healthier and hopefully loose some weight in the process. We'll spend the morning working with her juicer (that she has never used) my faithful Hurom Slow Juicer along my newest kitchen gadget, the Nutribullet. 


I stopped at the fruit market yesterday and grabbed some fruits and veggies to add to those already in my kitchen. We have berries and leaves, nuts and seeds, heads and bunches, roots and recipes all waiting to we whipped and squeezed into yummy healthy creations.

celebration

 

Unedited

After twenty one days of juice, salads, fruit, nuts, veggie soup, a couple of healthy pumpkin muffins and two bites of chicken soup with soppy cornbread I rewarded myself with one Cup 'o Chocolate Joe this morning.

Jay's request at the close of our annual detox was a steak dinner from the grass fed beef we recently purchased. Last night we chewed our way into a London broil that had my already tense (my body exhibiting my pre-wedding photography stress) jaw muscles over the threshold into miserable (but the pain didn't stop me from enjoy the flavor). 

My dreamed about reward didn't involve meat but caffeine and chocolate and sweet agave syrup. 

Yum!

the souped up version

good medicine

I'm working with old photos today and revisited this funny moment when Keith dressed up in some very large clothes Jay bought on dollar day.

Somedays 
you just need a good belly laugh.

beet week

 

Last week was designated "Beet Week" at our house. My beets had been ready for harvest before I went to Michigan but I wanted to use them fresh and try some new recipes with them. 

We had Roasted Beets 'n' Sweets,   

 

Quinoa and Beet Salad, 

and our favorite Beets and Bacon (renamed to reflect the taste more accurately). 

Each recipe turned out to be a keeper but the Beets and Bacon earned the "I could eat this every other meal" award.

c is for clean: book report #3

After my homemade laundry soap experience I ordered a book (don't remember where I saw it recommended) the Naturally Clean Home, 150 Super-Easy Herbal Formulas for Green Cleaning by Karyn Siegel-Maier. I've been making my way through the chapters organized by areas in the home: Bath, Kitchen etc. The first chapter, Why Clean with Herbs?, included a starter kit list for the recipes in the book. I ordered some liquid Castile Soap and several essential oils that I was missing and continued to read while waiting for my products to arrive. When the order arrived in the mail box I organized my herbal cleaning kit and made my first concoction; Tough Dirt & Grease Formula kitchen floor cleaner. Typically I use a splash of white vinegar in a bucket of warm water to clean my kitchen tile. This recipe used the hot water and vinegar along with castle soap, washing soda and essential oil (I used peppermint). I enjoyed washing the floor knowing I had the scrubbing value of the washing soda as well as the healing properties of the peppermint. I even got rid of some skid marks that have been hanging around. Now I'm excited to try more healthy cleaning formulas.

5 green days

Foam on the top of my "green" drink

Today was day five of my annual 21 day detox. Day one was miserable as my body reacted to all the toxins breaking loose and being flushed out of my system. Day two was somewhat better. Today I felt good enough to make the trek up Silly Mountain (our first climb since Lily's surgery and triple digit temperatures).

goldilocks and the three...

breads

banana bread for party on Sunday....worship, shared meal, and hiking