Clean Eating

I find myself dealing with "normal" age related health issues.  Normal...bla.  Fatigue, weight gain, slowing metabolism and so on. 

I, however, disagree that it is just inevitable for me to sink into this lower quality of life.  I do think that it has EVERYTHING to do with what is being put into my body. 

From the air we breath to the food we eat to the supplements and pills we take, all of these enter with unknown and potentially toxic tag on's. 

Lately I have been feeling like I just want fresh cleansing foods that can scrub my insides and clean out the build up.  I haven't been drawn to foods I usually can't keep my grubby's off of.  Mostly foods that contain processed ingredients. 

Let me tell you that the feeling I get when I have had a meal of raw and unprocessed foods is amazing.  I can feel the health pulsing through my whole body.  I think clearer, which for me is good because I tend to get a little flighty.  I stand taller, because I don't feel weighed down by the nutritionally empty toxin filled food.  I have more energy, which every one tells you but until you experience it yourself it means nothing.

I am going by a fast that I did when I was pregnant.  I wanted to be able to fast and pray but knew that I needed to keep eating for mine and the baby's health.  In prayer, the HOLY SPIRIT laid this out for me.

Simply put nothing that has been processed and packaged. 

No-No's are:

Bread, cereal, rolled oats, pasta, milk, cheese, sugar, processed sweeteners, packaged meals, restaurant food, meat (unless I grew it and butchered it myself), fish (same as meat except I had to catch and fillet it myself)

Yes's are:

Raw fruits and vegetables, frozen (by me) fruits and vegetables,  home canned fruits and vegetables, beans and lentils cooked from dry, brown rice, steel cut oats, potatoes, herbs and some spices (you know taco seasoning is a no no but if you put your own together with cumin and red pepper and the like than it's okay)

This just sounds so good, yet so intimidating.  How in the world can I maintain meals for my family without Mac and Cheese or pizza?  Well, I think we will just have to adjust, and we will find that we feel better.  Enough so that when we do eat Mac and Cheese again it will be such an unpleasant experience that we will never turn back again.  We haven't eaten at the un-named (largest) burger fast food restaurant in so many years, that when we did stop there on a road trip recently, we all got so sick to our stomachs we will never return.  Even though we all ate salads with chicken, apples and white milk.

As the HOLY SPIRIT helped me when my son was allergic to so many foods, by telling me to make a list of what we can eat and not focus on what we can't.  We will do this.  I know that anything GOD asks me to do HE will give me the resources to do it.

Do this routine before every shower: 50 jumping jacks, 5 pushups, 20 crunches, 20 mountain climbers, and 30 second plank.

Sugar Free Smoothie

Yummm Great new smoothie treat. I just decided to try to freeze it into popsicles for the kids.

1 13.5 oz can coconut milk
2 small bananas
1/2 cup pineapple juice
1/2 cup sweet pitted cherries
2 Tbs unsweetened cocoa powder
10 oz Spinach

Place all ingredients in the blender and blend until smooth. If intended for a smoothie add ice and blend again until smooth. For freezer pops pour into cups and insert popsicle stick. Place in freezer until frozen.

Environmentally responsible Ant Killer

The ants came in today in full force.

This picture shows you how they all swarmed to the trap I set for them.

Using Borax Soap

Sugar

And Water

I took about a 1 1/2 cup Borax 1/2 cup sugar and enough water to make a pourable yet thick paste. I drizzled a thin line around the perimeter of the house. I also put a piece of parchment paper on my kitchen counter covered it with some paper towel and drizzled a bit on the towel. For the little ones who were already in my house.

They are attracted to the sugar and they will take it back to the colony and the soap will kill them. You should then have about a 15 foot clear space around your home and they should not come back in.

Backyard Weeds?

The bugs are out in full force here and I thought it would be a good idea to share why we can enjoy going out without worrying about them. If we were to

get bitten or stung we know there is a plant growing right in our yard that can take care of it right away.

The Plantain. No not the banana. It is a common weed that many try to get rid of. My kids actually like to just eat them off the ground where ever we are. Of course you want to be sure that if you are in a public place you have a way to wash off your plantain.

You take a leaf of the plant and chew it a bit just to break it up then you place it on the sting or the bite. It will almost immediatly dissappear. You leave it on for about 10 to 15 minutes and when you take it off you will hardly know there was anything there. I usually just use medical tape to hold it on. You can't keep your kids still enough for 10 minutes so they can get the full affect.

Look this one up and see if you can find new ways to make it useful. Enjoy a worry free summer.


Check out the section on Uses in this one. It describes the way to take care of a bee sting. I also do the same application for bug bites.

http://herbgardens.about.com/od/medicinalherbs/p/Plantain.htm

The rest of these are just good information on how to use this great herb. I just learned on one of them how to make it into a cough syrup. Awesome.

http://www.vitaminstuff.com/herbs-plantain.html

http://www.prairielandherbs.com/plantain.htm

http://www.herbs2000.com/herbs/herbs_plantain.htm

http://www.ageless.co.za/herb-plantain.htm

CROSBY MINT FARM (of St. Johns, Michigan/Mint City, USA)

"In addition to having what appears to be the oldest surviving still in the country, the Crosby Farms operation also appears to be the oldest mint farm in continuous operation in the United States. The key word here is "continuous" - that it has cultivated and processed mint since J.E. Crosby purchased the property before World War I." Ephraim K. Smith, President; Heritage Production, Inc.

This farm is being foreclosed on and the redemption period is over on August 14th, 2009, the first day of the St. Johns 25th Annual Mint Festival! The bank will own the farm and will be in a position to start eviction proceedings.

With enough inventory to pay the debt, $325,000 worth of mint essential oil products needs to be sold byAUGUST 14TH

Please visit http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102640802846&s=3305&e=001f4sCvwQ-kw-pcci94HTi-RyarBRrbSgoHnuVT3I5dTNlpMO51UzWWA0-Nw-OAGk7CbaJdfG0dc01bkgw8-ByQGmt9ATiAIEvVlDuUiRLu6YGWt6c02BG4Q==

or call 1-800-345-9068 EXT. 101

Any purchase will go towards our goal!!!!

Check the Headlines...
Clinton County News
Lansing State Journal
Chicago Tribune

You can help by:

1. Placing an order at http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102640802846&s=3305&e=001f4sCvwQ-kw8G02jIjbAY1qvTWzyP_wxjzpE9Y8tCJJI4LPoLCzyFpTZkZ26ehTe9NyfqLUWJZ8ktEbGDRYd5wJMTT9zTC9zuRJTkbP4RWsg=or donating your mint oil to a charity.

2. Call 1-800-345-9068 ext 1012. Please pass this email to everyone in your email address book!!!

3. If you have a blog, please post our story?!

4. Join the facebook Preserve Historic Mint Farm Group

5. Twitter our MINT story! and follow us on Twitter

6. Join the Get Mint Trading Co fanpage

7. Print copies of this email and pass out your to friends, retail stores, schools, church groups...and any social group or network

8. Call your local TV stations, Newspapers, how about emailing or calling about Oprah?!

9. Learn about the uses of mint on our YouTube Channel

10. Visit the Crosby Mint Farm on August 15th & 16th to show your support during our first annual Mint Jam!

Call 1-800-345-9068 for info!http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102640802846&s=3305&e=001f4sCvwQ-kw_DBe2tqr9T7vl6htJ189fTrwIKFlG6j54s3QFHM3ToRPjjIsI_SP9hCKBqxEajmBE4HWaYIX9p2QNTDEAg75SsDM0G6EglK6hMkFCcjRsMww==

BUY NOW

Uses of Mint
Eases migraines and tension headaches
Promotes healthy gums, tongue and teeth
Reduces congestion and sinus problems
Treats muscle tension and arthritis
Aids in digestion and IBS
Helps relieve menstrual and abdominal cramps
Attacks cold and flu viruses
Fights acne, razor bumps and get a closer shave
Cools the skin on muggy days
Soothes sore and tired feet
Asthma
Arthritis
Anti Viral
Anti Bacterial
Anti Funga

Uses for Peppermint Oil

Create your own healing peppermint massage oil which can be applied topically to help relieve a headache. Mix equal parts of peppermint essential oil and extra-virgin, cold pressed olive oil and gently massage into your temples, jaws and the back of your neck. Do not wipe off the oil when finished, rather allow it to absorb fully into your skin.

**I just take a bit on my finger and massage it on my temple. Most of my headaches start at the top of my neck. I rub a bit there too.**

Use a peppermint steam treatment, particularly if your headache is caused by sinus pressure. Boil a small pot of water and remove from heat, adding 10 drops of peppermint essential oil. Drape your head with a towel and lean over the steaming water, inhaling deeply for 10 minutes.

**My kids don’t sit for this. If they are feeling this bad they are lying down. If they feel good enough to sit up then they won’t sit still for this. So one way to use steam for them is to just drop a few drops in a small saucepan of water and let it simmer on low heat for a while. Soon the smell will fill the air.**

**But if the congestion is so bad they cannot breath try the next tip.**
Relax in a warm peppermint bath to help reduce muscle tension as you inhale the healing peppermint vapors and relieve a headache. Simple add 10 to 15 drops off peppermint essential oil to a warm bath and soak.

**This is great for kids especially if they are wheezing from the congestion of a cold. I shut the door to the bathroom and turn on the hot water really high. Then you could plug the tub and drop in the oil. DO NOT place the baby in the tub because it is to hot. Sit there with the baby next to the tub. Just let this be a relaxing time for you to bond with your child.**

**If your child is coming down with a cold rub the oil on the bottom of their feet to help them breath. The nerve endings in their feet will absorb the oil into their system and help fight the invading viruses or bacteria.**

**My kids sometimes wake up with pain in their legs. I rub a few drops of oil on the sore leg and send them back to bed. It works just as well as children’s Tylenol and is all natural. I also do this for myself if I have sore muscles.**

**Kellie's notes. These are just ways I have used this oil. I found out these techniques either by way of mouth or by my own experimentation.**