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![Text Box: MERRY CHRISTMAS! (Happy Holidays…. Season’s Greetings....take your pick J )
The Knox family is choosing to enjoy this time of year, regardless of how crazy to world seems to be getting. Once again the saying “we know not what the future holds, but we know Who holds the future” gives us hope and peace that passes understanding to get us through the frustrating times…the continuing “limbo life”. Perspective changes everything, every time.
Kenny hopes to have some exciting news to share in the near future re: a couple of golf-related entrepreneurial ideas he has in the works….top secret for now and if I tell you more, then he has to kill us all! Meanwhile, he has been writing some articles about the golf swing (instructional) and also “Tales from the Tour” in which he shares some of his favorites from over the years. I’d wager his articles would get lots more hits if he added some on the current “Tiger Tales…” which is actually a very disturbing and sad predicament on which Kenny has no intentions to capitalize. However, he recalls stating when Tiger first come on Tour and Kenny was still competing on the regular PGA…his advice to Tiger: there are 2 things that will destroy your career: Injuries and Women. Looks like Tiger ignored those words of wisdom.
Any who…his articles (as well and mine on the subject of health) are posted on www.ytbgolf.com/knox
[But I am not sure how to access previous articles and will have to report on that later. Otherwise, you can email me and I’ll forward them to you.]
Over the last 4 months, I’ve spent much of my time helping with a dear friend dealing with several health issues. She is in extreme constant pain that medication barely makes any difference. One knee replacement needs re-doing; hip on same leg needs replacing; her body is riddled with arthritis. All of this leads to many other problems because of side effects of medications, lack of sleep, little appetite, etc. Being in several doctors offices often and in the hospital a few times with her has made me more aware than ever before of the “disease” business in this nation. I know that my friend, my dear mother, is suffering the consequences of ignoring the warning signs for years and NOT being more proactive about prevention. At this point, the only thing I seem to be able to do with my own Mom is provide basic needs.
But this experience is driving my passion to be even more intentional with efforts to educate, motivate, and encourage anyone who wants to listen and “LEARN to LIVE-it”. Knowing that most people are not interested in “lifestyle” changes until motivated by disease….”dis---ease”….I will do all I can to ask them to at least take Juice Plus everyday to get consistent variety of raw fruits and veggies. Research continues to reveal the powerful protection this provides and you can read these studies at www.getwellstaywell.info. Please pass this on to your loved ones as well. There’s no greater gift than the gift of better health and more energy.
VITAMIN D CONNECTION
Since my book [Forget the Die-its ~ LEARN to LIVE-it] was published, I have learned so much more about the role of Vitamin D…actually a hormone in the body. I have since started getting my levels of D3 tested in routine blood work. The initial one last SUMMER – when levels should be HIGHEST!!~
revealed I was at 31 and 32 is the low end threshold!!! Everyone who knows me, who has read my book, who has attended my seminars knows how much I stress the importance of D and of getting adequate sunshine for this hormone to be made in the body. BUT if I, Karen Knox, who definitely gets more than enough SUNSHINE (without the sunblocks that prevents the production of vitamin D) if my levels are low…then everyone must get theirs checked!!! I began a supplement of D3 (from www.hacres.com) in August and my next bloodwork in the Spring will show great improvement I’m sure. Because of its connection to so many health issues, I am including a short portion from my book on the subject. I urge everyone to at least get The China Study and read Appendix C, “The Vitamin D Connection” from which I gleaned some of the info:
One of the roles of vitamin D is controlling the development of a wide variety of serious diseases by inhibiting the conversion of healthy tissue to diseased tissue. This is accomplished mostly through its conversion to the supercharged 1,25 D. The risk of several diseases increases when levels of 1,25 D remain low. Thus it is important to determine what factors cause low levels of 1,25 D. A lack of sunshine or parathyroid gland problems can be the cause, and an acidic environment in the body blocks the kidney enzyme from producing 1,25 D. All drugs—including caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol—refined salt and sugar, exercise, stress, and almost everything other than fruits and vegetables in the diet cause acidity. Animal products in particular are very acidifying.
…calcium plays a key role in buffering the acid load, and therefore it is involved with the role of vitamin D. Dr. Campbell explains:
Calcium in our blood is crucial for optimum muscle and nerve functioning, and it must be maintained in a fairly narrow range. The 1,25 D keeps the blood levels of calcium operating within this narrow range by monitoring and regulating how much calcium is absorbed from food being digested in the intestine, how much calcium is excreted in the urine and feces and how much is exchanged with the bone, the big supply tank for the body’s calcium. For example, if there is too much calcium in the blood, 1,25 D becomes less active, less calcium is absorbed and more is excreted. It is a very sensitive balancing act in our bodies.
As blood calcium goes up, 1,25 D goes down, and when blood calcium goes down, 1,25 D goes up. Here’s the kicker: If calcium consumption is unnecessarily high, it lowers the activity of the kidney enzyme and as a consequence, lowers 1,25 D. In other words, routinely consuming high-calcium diets is not in our best interests (Campbell, 2005;365-366).
The September 2008 (Vol. 5, No. 9) issue of The Blaylock Wellness Report was devoted to “Vitamin D’s Hidden Role in Your Health”.
(To subscribe: www.newsmax.com/blaylockreports or email me for this issue and you can see if you like this opportunity for expanding health education)
The article reveals the D’s connection to flu, cancer, brain function, heart disease, ADD/ADHD, autoimmune disorders, multiple sclerosis, depression, seizures, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, autism and more. The more I learn, the more I am amazed that we are even alive! But it surely helps to explain why so many are not healthy. Needless, senseless suffering. Focus on fueling the body for healing, health and energy and watch what can happen.
I love when readers send me articles and recipes. Here’s a link to more info on Vitamin D that has resources on foods to get it from and more recipes (Thanks, Elvis – Larkin, not Presley J ) ~
Make Strokes Less Deadly with This Vitamin “Having a stroke is a definite life crisis. But what if you could reduce the chances that it'll be deadly?” Read more.
Helpful hints to Survive the Holidays and get off to a easier start on the New Year’s Resolutions:
Eat large portions of salad and vegetables first at the holiday meals. This will also to fill you up so you have less room later for the foods with less nutrition.
Drink very little or no alcohol in social situations. Substitute with fresh juices or water. Alcohol can decrease judgment, so you could binge.
For desserts, eat what you like, but cut the portion in half and eat slowly for more enjoyment. Better yet, have healthier alternatives available like the ones in recipes below.
Wear snug-fitting clothes and avoid elastic waistbands when possible to help you get the signal to stop eating before becoming over-stuffed!
Control emotionally and socially-triggered eating by drinking a non-calorie beverage like water with lemon or eating a low-calorie snack like celery or carrot sticks.
Substitute other enjoyable activities to take focus off the temptations of food. Spend more time talking and listening to friends and meeting new ones. Take a walk before or after the meal to burn extra calories and keep metabolism high.
These tips are included every December newsletter because THEY WORK J
RECIPES
Quite often I am asked, “what do you do with bananas when they are over-ripe?” Answer:
LOTS of recipes! To slow the ‘rotting’ process, once bananas are completely yellow or at the first sign of a brown spot, keep refrigerated. The skins will turn dark from the cold, but the banana inside will last a few more days. After that, peel & freeze them in sandwich baggies. Use frozen bananas in shakes and breads. Here’s a favorite banana-nut bread recipe:
BANANA NUT BREAD
Sift together: 2 c. wheat, 1 ½ c. white flour (IF freshly milled, use all soft white wheat)
2 tsp. Baking powder (Rumford brand – no aluminum!)
1 tsp. Sea salt
1 tsp. Baking soda
1 tsp. Stevia white powder extract (KAL brand is favorite)
Mix together & add to dry ingredients:
3 beaten eggs
½ c. applesauce, natural unsweetened
½ c. light olive oil
2 c. mashed ripe bananas
6 TBsp. almond, rice or soy milk
¾ c. sugar or honey
1 c. chopped nuts (pecans & walnuts)
Mix well; divide into 2 bread pans or approx 30 muffin tins sprayed w/ olive oil.
Bake loaves 50 minutes; muffins 20 minutes. Check center for doneness.
Hot Apple Cider
6 cups apple cider
1/4 c. maple syrup
2-4 cinnamon sticks*
6 whole cloves*
6 whole allspice berries*
1 orange peel, cut into strips
1 lemon peel, cut into strips
Use a crock pot for easy heat ‘n serve, or on stove-top, bring to a heat slowly and simmer about 40 minutes before serving.
* on spice isle at grocery
IF you have cheesecloth and cotton string, it works best to wrap all the seasoning items into it for easier serving.
Kilmer's spice tea (Thanks, Rocky!)
4 qt water - bring to boil
4 large decaf tea bags
Steep for an hour, then add
2 cups grape juice
1/3 c. lemon juice
1/2 c. natural/raw sugar
1 tsp. stevia white powder extract
4-5 cinnamon sticks
several whole cloves
Serve when all heated.
Great leftover, too!
That’s all for 2009! Let’s look forward to a Happier, Healthier 2010 by implementing REAL Health –CARE reform that works.
Your Partner in Prevention,
Karen Knox
850-342-3322
Karen@learntoliveit.com](newsletter_files/image002.gif)
