Friday, October 30, 2009

Tofu scramble

Sorry I haven't posted for awhile. We have had lots going on. I have been playing around with tofu recently. I like it but my husband isn't a huge fan. He will eat it though. Here are 2 tofu scrambles that I have made recently and was happy with. They are pretty simple which is why I like them. It is true that not everyone can have soy products so please be knowledgeable of whether or not you are one of those people.

1 package firm herb infused tofu....I like Central Soy brand b/c it is local to Kansas and nonGMO... cut into chunks
2 medium sized chard leaves...torn into pieces
6 cloves garlic..chopped
1/4 cup yellow onion... chopped
1 carrot...chopped
4-5 cherry or grape tomato...sliced in half
olive oil
paprika & black pepper to taste
2 purple potatoes...sliced...these are usually small

Add enough olive oil to a sauce pan to coat the bottom. Set burner to medium heat. Throw in the purple potatoes and let them fry or cook until tender then add the onions, garlic, carrot & tomato cook for a couple of minutes and add tofu chunks paprika to taste and black pepper to taste. Saute all for about 15 minutes and serve. You can also use hickory smoked tofu which is nice or plain tofu but I like the flavored ones b/c that is less you have to do to give it flavor. Mushrooms would also be a nice addition. Serving with brown rice or quinoa is also great.
We love purple potatoes. We try to avoid potatoes mostly except sweet potatoes but these are so very appealing. I think kids would like them mixed in with other veggies because they are purple and that is something different and more interesting than a white potato. But we don't have kids so I have not tested the theory. Although my husband can be like one with food so if it appeals to him it is safe to say it will appeal to the kiddos too.
I want to recommend 2 other blogs that I have fairly recently found and really like for recipes,etc. vegandad.blogspot.com & nutritioncoachkaren.blogspot.com.
Have a positive day!

Friday, October 23, 2009

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72D3M7VNABU Our Children will accuse Us video clip.
This ia a powerful video clip. It addresses an issue that is most important in the world today about conventional farming practices with the mass use of chemicals and the reprocutions that has on all of us. It reminds me of a story from a girl that I used to work a 2nd job with. She met a guy from Minnesota and moved to his hometown which was a small farming community to be with him on his family's farm. He now farmed it. She came back here for a visit and over lunch I asked her what it was like on the farm and in the small town. She enjoyed it very much and liked the small farming community but she was concerned about a couple of things. The family farm was now being farmed with chemicals and her boyfriend had to dress in Hazmat- like gear on the days that these chemicals were sprayed in order to go out into the fields. She worried about his health and said that his response to that is that his father farmed this way and he was ok so far. She also said that the surronding farming communities and the one she lived in all coordinated the days that they sprayed because those chemicals become airborne and it is easier for the communities to know which days the windows have to stay shut, the kids can't play outside and in general everyone including the animals stays inside if it is all done on the same day. I remember being shocked by this info. It is scarey!! That is the food that is sold to us in markets,grocery stores and resturants. Wow! right? Imagine that just for a minute. The days of grandma & grandpa's natural farm is almost long gone. There are those farmer's that use organic farming methods successfully and provide food that is not laced with chemicals that make us sick & kill us. These farmers are the Rock Stars and they deserve to be recognized and our deep appriciation for their hardwork, efforts & caring. We need to be educated on these topics and we need to encourage these organic practices. So many people worry about the cost of organic food but let me tell you that a hospital,doctor and meds will cost a hell of a lot more than a shopping cart of organic food. Plus organic foods in a conventional grocery store,in my experience, cost almost double the price of the same thing from a health food store. An example...I buy a sprouted grain organic bread at my local Whole Foods for $2.99 and that same bread at another popular Kansas City conventional grocery store that has a larger than most organic food department costs $4.79 as of this week. It is no wonder to me that people freak out about organics being expensive. Whole Foods gets the bad rep of being overly pricey but if you shop there and look in other stores you will soon find that it is not really true. And if more people would do there shopping in the healthfood stores organic foods would become the preference. It is the choice between real clean foods or chemical laced & unnatural nutritionally void foods.

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Beer & Wine Pros & Cons

Alcohol is one of those confusing things for most when trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Should I or shouldn't I. It is a matter of choice in my opinion but it should be an informed choice.
I am not preaching against it because for many years I indulged generously. I was a beer loving girl. I have not had a drink of anything alcoholic since 2/07 and I do not miss it. Here is what I have learned about wine & beer from the Nutrition Almanac by John Kirschmann.....
Alcohol is nothing but pure carbohydrates topped off by lots of calories.
Wine is something we are told is good for us one day and bad the next. In moderation wine might have some benefits to the cardiovascular system at about 2 glasses per day. White & red wine raise HDL cholesterol which is the good cholesterol. Red wine seems to offer more effective benefits because the skins contain polyphenols. Polyphenols fight cancer,heart disease, bacteria and thin the blood to prevent clots. White wine does not contain the skins of the grape thus it does not provide these benefits. Wine boosts estrogen levels,kills bacteria, discourages gallstones and inhibits viruses. Red wine is known to trigger migraine headaches and any wine in excess can cause liver,brain and heart problems.
Beer contains magnesium. It might also prevent blockages of arteries in the heart and raise HDL cholesterol. It also causes elevated blood pressure,gout,and cancer of the urinary tract,lung,rectum and breast. The amount consumed increases these risks. Even moderate amounts increase the chance of heart attack. Those beerbellies that we usually talk about with affection and laughter are the result of damage done to the walls of the stomach taking away its' firmness. Beer in excess causes a malabsorption of protein which is needed to keep the stomach firm. In those with beerbellies the stomach structure is weak and the digestive system has expanded. Pretty gross if you ask me.
So do the pros get outweighed by the cons? That of course is a personal choice. Paraphrasing a quote I like moderation kills. Moderation to me is an excuse but that is me. I used to drink...alot. Not saying that I was an alcoholic but enough to have a good time. Now I know I don't need it to have a good time or to relax. There are better ways that do not pose a health risk. I enjoyed it socially. I am not against alcohol but I do think that having the proper information about what we are consuming is important.

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Hope every second

Today has been wonderful. Dare I say perfect! It was finally sunny and dry outside..great Fall weather. We had a fun brunch with my mother-in-law and ran a few errands then went to the arboritum which was beautiful and one of our favorite nieghborhood parks. Right now I am listening to Paul play guitar and sing one of his songs. I looove days like these. Life is wonderful and I am often reminded of that even in the midst of craziness. I was telling Paul this morning that the past 3 years have been crazy. It amazes me to think back on them. I got sick with the brain abcess and almost clocked out. Made it out of the hospital after 1 month and spent 1 year in rehab therapies relearning how to walk,talk normally,etc. then the cancer bomb hit Paul. Chemo, diet changes, retraining our thoughts, lots of learning, finding Kris Carr and her books. Our great friend Melecia passed from her 2nd battle with cancer,my daddy passed from cardiac arrest 2 days after my birthday and Paul's dear grandpa passed. Wow! That's CRAZY but we have moved forward stronger with each event and positive. It brings tears to my eyes but they are tears of joy and gratefulness at all of the things we have endured and continuously deal with in a positive manner. I am so proud of us. Hope fills our lives every second. I am so proud of my husband it is overwhelming and listening to him right now doing what he loves just reassures me that he is healing. :}

Great quote

"If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude." Maya Angelou

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

More on beneficial properties of common fruits

Continuing on with fruit talk...

Cherries both sweet & tart may be beneficial in protecting the arterial walls of the heart and may also be protective against cancer as part of a cancer prevention diet. The red tart variety contains anthocyanins that have anti-inflammatory properties.

Blueberries rank high in antioxidant activity. They also have powerful anti-inflammatory compounds. The phytonutients possessed block damage to blood vessels including those in the brain. They also prevent bacteria from clinging to the walls of the bladder thus fighting urinary tract infections. They control diarrhea also. Blueberries are an antiviral and contain natural aspirin. Raw is more beneficial than cooked.

Cranberries prevent bacteria from clinging to tissue thus prevent urinary & kidney infections. They also prevent bacteria from sticking to teeth and forming plaque. The anthocyanin in them protect cholesterol from oxidation and thins the blood. They can also prevent kidney stones.

Melons are the most alkaline fruits. They contain potassium,calcium, iron,etc. Cantaloupe contains betacarotene, glutathione and vitamin C which protect the heart and prevent cancer.

Watermelons contain the powerful antioxidants lycopene & glutathione which fight bacteria and prevent blood clots.

Even though these fruits have several great benefits remember that fruits are naturally high in sugar which for some is an issue so just be smart about how much you consume. Mix them up too.

Monday, October 12, 2009

a few beneficial friuts

I was reading my Nutrition Almanac by John Kirschmann tonight and thought I would share some helpful info. of fruits.

Pineapple is an antiviral and antibacterial. It contains manganese which is good for the bones and a natural enzyme called bromelain that aids in digestion and is a powerful anti-inflammatory.
Apples reduce cholesterol and are anti-inflammatory. They also fight bacteria and viruses including colds, stabilize blood sugars, help prevent cancer and aid the cardiovascular system. They also contain boron boosting the action of estrogen and contain bulk fiber. Two or three apples a day offer benefits.One won't get the job done.
Figs have iron,magnesium,potassium and calcium as well as significant amounts of fiber. It is said that they can shrink tumors.
Dates contain calcium & boron and a high amount of natural aspirin. They are also linked to lower pancreatic cancer rates.
Oranges are high in vitamin C and protect against respiratory infections,viruses and gum disease. They are also associated with lowering the risk of pancreatic cancer.
Grapefruits lower blood cholesterol and can reverse clogged arteries. It is also high in vitamin C. and antiviral. They retard tumor growth and fight pancreatic & stomach cancers
lemon and lime contain antioxidants that block cancer. Also high in vitamin C. Lemon is an astringent, diuretic and good for sore throats sunburn and hiccoughs.
Kiwi fruit is high in vitamin C and in traditional Chinese medicine is used to fight breast and stomach cancers.
Grapes only the red ones have a great cancer fighting property. They are high in the antioxident Quercetine. The skins inhibit blood clotting and raise good HDL cholesterol levels as does grapeseed oil. In studies they also act as antiviral and antibiotic agents.
Raspberries are antiviral and anticancer containing natural aspirin.
Strawberries are antiviral and block cancer forming substances. They also benefit the cardiovascular system and are high in fiber.

That is all for now. It is a great time of year to stock up on the antiviral and antibacterial fruits.

Info on oils & fats as well as honey

Learning about oils & fats is quite a process. There is much to know. Fats and oils are made up of carbon chains but are compact and simple. A fat chain is a linear arrangement of carbon atoms. Fats have hydrogen added to them making them hydrocarbons structurally related to petroleum. Each carbon atoms is able to attach 4 other atoms. When all of these spaces are filled the fat is saturated. When spaces are left open the oil or fat is unsaturated. Saturation determines the melting point of fat so the greater number of open spaces the more likely it is to be a liquid. Oils are present in many grains,vegatables and some fruits. As long as they remain part of the whole food they can be healthful but once removed they are subject to a host of destructive practices. When unsaturated the carbon chains of fats & oils can have open spaces filled with oxygen instead of hydrogen atoms. When oil is heated this process takes place rapidly. Rancidity results. Oxygen atoms are not tightly held and are very reactive. Free radicals are the compounds that hold them. The reactive oxygen will oxidize or burn other molecules like vitamins. Overheating changes fats altering thier molecules. These molecules are less useful and the body handles them differently. They are now potentially harmful. Heating oils between 375 & 400 F is bad news. Most vegatable oils are heat processed. Some oils are cold pressed like olive,peanut and coconut oils meaning these oils contain fewer impurities. Antioxidants are needed in people containing large amounts of polyunsaturated oils to scavenge for free radicals. There is a lot more to know in this arena for instance some oils are not good for cooking like flax but some can take the heat like grapeseed.
Also intersting is Honey. Honey is mostly fructose and glucose. It contains various sugars from the nectar of the flower it was taken from. It is absorbed relatively slowly probably b/c of its high fructose content.. It is delicate and easily damaged when heated. Heating should be avoided. Raw or uncooked honey is what we should be looking for. Cooked refined honey is what is sold in most grocery stores. Honey is refined b/c certain flowers produce a strong dark honey that many people do not like so it is cooked and filtered to remove these things and the result is an acid off flavor that is significantly different from raw honey.
I get this information from a book called Diet & Nutrition a holistic approac by Rudolph Ballentine, M.D.

Saturday, October 10, 2009

minddump

"IT'S KIND OF FUN TO DO THE IMPOSSIBLE." WALT DISNEY

“Take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.” – Elie Wiesel

I like these quotes alot. The second one I took off a blog about simple things we can do to aid animals and help end animal cruelty. That is a BIG deal to me. But I like it because it speaks to so many other things including how we treat ourselves. Sometimes we have to stand up to ourself and retrain learned thoughts...make change happen. We can be our own worst tormentor. I have changed a lot of the ways I think and do things. One idea that has stuck with me is that when we protest we are bringing energy to the thing we are protesting which is the opposite of what we are trying to do. I never have thought of it that way but it makes sense. An example for me is this. I believe in PETA and the things they stand for and the work they do but they have a bad rep. amongst people who don't really understand the organization as being a bunch of extremist animal lovers who cause problems. That rep. doesn't get the point across. While I still support them and get why they do some of the things that they do I also get that negative energy has been brought about. So while I have always been ready & willing to stand in a protest line if I believe in the cause I now think about what the outcome of the action might be first. Give me a peace protest and I am there. I want energy focused on that topic. I am definately not saying we shouldn't speak out..not at all but we need to be aware of the energy that our actions conjure. I do believe silence gets us further in the hole. We all have opinions, beliefs, etc. and we have the right to express them.

Friday, October 9, 2009

Friday morning rant & Louise Hay recomendation

This morning has started off less than desirable. Paul woke me up 15 minutes before my alarm was to go off to tell me that the furnace is not coming on. I get up at 5am so he told me this at 4:45am. Ok...no problem. We have dealt with this before. I tried to reset the ignitor switch but that did not work so I left a message for our heating & cooling guys at 7 am. It will be taken care of and should be under warranty. Then I start on the mountain of dishes in the sink. I wash dishes every morning so it is not a big deal but this morning it is bugging me. I look around and notice that my kitchen is a mess actually my house is a mess. So I start cleaning as much as I can at 5:45 am. Where is that cleaning fairy my mom used to always summon. I need her..Ahhhh! The one thing that is really bugging me is the 3 boxes of medicine samples in the dining room that were given to us by a friend who is a drug rep. thinking they would be good for Paul and help us to save money but we were advised against him taking them by our docs so they need to be trashed. The bottles are recyclable though and so are the boxes but that means emptying every single little bottle. I have avoided the task but this morning I started it. It will take me a few days to accomplish but I can't just through away those plastic bottles an feel ok about it. Man I need to meditate or something. I am on overload this morning and I still have to go to work. So a little dose of Louise Hay is what I needed. Her affirmations rock. http://www.louisehay.com/affirmations/index.php Check her out. She posts a dailey affirmation each day or you can get her book You Can heal Your Life and put together your own.
Sorry for the rant I do not usually put them on here but I needed to vent and it segwayed into a great recomendation so...Iam off to check my head before continuing on with the day.

Have a positive one,
Keri

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Great quotes beliefs

"God does not reward or punish you. He has given you the power to reward or punish yourself by the use or misuse of your own reason and will power."


" Happiness depends to some extent upon external conditions, but chiefly upon mental attitudes."

Paramahansa Yogananda of Self Realization Fellowship

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Our vision board







These are pictures of our vision board. A vision board is a place to post up images, etc. of the things you want to manifest in your life. You should look at your vision board everyday. The top image is a vision paper really. we did not have a board to use at the time but it can be anything just get it made. Ask, Believe, Recieve...from The Secret.

My latest batch of sprouts


These are my latest homegrown sprouts
They are Clover Sprouts
So good on sandwiches,veggie wraps and salads. Sprouts are nutritious and so easy to grow at home all year around.

Chia seeds & almond milk

I just finished a breakfast that excites me...Homemade almond milk with chia seeds. The same little seeds used to sprout green hair on chia pets. Chia seeds offer great nutritional value. They are high in omega 3 fatty acids, have protein, iron, magnesium, phospherous, calcium,and more. They also turn into a gel in the body which slows the process of carbohydrates being turned into sugars. Chia seeds were a staple of the Aztecs & Mayans diet. It is said that just 1 to 2 tablespoons would sustain a warrior for up to 24 hours. I first had them this past July in Santa Monica at our favorite raw foods resturant. I have been hunting for them here at home ever since. I finally found them yesterday at our local herb store.
Almond milk is pretty easy. Soak 1 cup almonds 4 to 8 hours in fresh water. add 1 cup soaked almonds to 4 cups water and blend. Strain through cheesecloth or a fine mesh strainer squeezing the excess milk from the cheesecloth. Store in the fridge. Pretty tastey and healthy!

Monday, October 5, 2009

For the ladies

Hi ladies,
I wanted to share some great things with you. I have had an amazing breakthrough. I get horrible painful cramps that radiate down my legs when my periods start. I also get nauseous and vomit several times during the first 2 days of my period as well as sweat. It is awful. So I asked our Naturopath for some advice and she told me that many times women experience symptoms like these during their periods b/c the liver is not functioning properly and getting rid of the toxins. These toxins build up and wreck havoc with hormones causing all kinds of similar symptoms. So she suggested I try taking something to support my liver and see what happens. My gyno wanted to give me pain meds which I did not want for several reasons one being those aren't getting to the root of the problem. So I have been taking milk thistle supplements for one month now to support the liver. I was also told about raspberry leaf tea. So I got that too. I started drinking it about 3 days ago. This is the second day of my period and I have not thrown up once or felt like I needed to nor have I had a problem sweating. I have had very minor cramps,tolerable,that did not radiate down my legs. So basically my period is tolerable this month unlike the last several months. YEAH! This is happy dance stuff. Just thought I would share b/c I know that a lot of women suffer like I do during that time of the month.

Saturday, October 3, 2009

70's Earth Mother sweater story :}

Saturday nights are my preferred grocery shopping nights because the store is usually not crowded on Saturday nights. So, I went to the store tonight by myself this trip because Paul wanted to work on music and said he didn't have the patience. I really really like Whole Foods so grocery shopping is not a choir and I do tend to linger and look at everything with exception of the meat isle :{. I am happily strolling down the isles and I get to the bulk section which is on one side of the isle and sweeteners, flours, &spices are on the other side. I am looking at all of the salts which are right next to the sweeteners when a woman pushes her cart up next to mine and just looks at me. I look back at her and she asks me if I know anything about any of these making a sweeping motion over the sugars and agave. I ask her if she has a sugar restriction and tell her I know a little. So we start talking about agave nectar and then stevia. Then she asks me if I can tell her how to make her recipe with agave nectar. Hmmmm. Then another woman comes up next to us and starts asking me questions about agave and if she can use it in her recipe. I am thinking hmmm what made these ladies just ask me this stuff? why did they think I would know? My conclusion...I am wearing my new favorite sweater that is not new but reminds me of sweaters that 2 of my sisters and my mom had when I was a little kid. I call it my 70's Earth Mother sweater and oh yeah I did also just happen to sample the patchouli lotion in the body care isle and my cart is full. So I must look like 70's Earth Mother who shops here alot and therefore knows her stuff. I am usually pretty happy in there too amongst the confused looking faces. What is funnier to me is that the cashier and the guy bagging my groceries looked all concerned and said "shopping alone tonight huh?" Referring to the fact that Paul wasn't with me. I said yes and then one of them said "oh so he just wanted to stay home?" I am thinking why are you asking all concerned why my husband isn't with me but thinking to myself it is funny and kinda nice that they recognize us like that. We might as well move in seriously. We are there a lot. It was a funny shopping experience that made me smile a few times. I think it is the sweater! we have been doing a lot of work on ourselves over the past year and so maybe 70's Earth Mother is the real me!
Fresh stevia from the Farmer's Market. First time buying it ever so we will be trying it this week. We have used agave nectar for about 2 years now & love it but it would be better for us to use stevia when we can. That is my understanding anyway. So we will give it a go.
I really like Paul Nisson. He is a raw foods chef,author & lecturer. His lectures are fun,informational,inspiring & motivational. This is a link to a lecture he gave about 3 years ago.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=221362955412797330&hl=en#

Thursday, October 1, 2009

supplements

Last night we took a short class on supplements with a registered clinical dietician. we have taken several classes from this person and we trust her. She knows her stuff. She started off the class by telling us that she was not speaking to any specific individual's needs as far as the info went and that without knowing an individual's specific health issues and seeing medical data on that individual she was unable to speak specifically. So this was a general knowledge kind of class that covered her 7 favorite supplements.

The first one we talked about was the general multivitamin. Capsule forms are superior to tablets form. Capsule form are bioavailable or recognizable to our cells. Tablets are not. She had several stories about the tablet form being excreted with the brand name stamp still visible on the pill or a patient of hers who works in a GI lab who says she sees piles of the tablets built up in the intestines just sitting there. She advises to avoid "oxide" forms of minerals. Oxide means rust. It is generally not possible to get a good one a day (single dose) capsule. A gasp sounded throughout the room at this news and those of use who had our vitamins in tow or the books about the vitamins we take (that was me) were asked to look at the label and say what the serving was. Ours was 4 capsules per day to get the full mg listed on the label. I know that with all of the vitamin stuff I have been doing lately I never have paid attention to that but yeah that ours are capsules. Magnesium is important because it allows cells to accept insulin. Avoid oxide or carbonate forms. Look for gluconate,citrate or malate forms. They are better. The oxide and carbonate forms are not used by cells and can cause bad diahria. Magnesium is usually low in people with kidney issues,indigestion issues, problems with foggy brain. It is helpful for high blood pressure,migraines,fibermyalgia and insulin resistance. It is an essential mineral in the body and needed for bone,protein & fatty acid formation. As well as the making of new cells, activating B vitamins,blood clotting, relaxing muscles and forming ATP (the energy our bodies run on). The secretion and action of insulin also requires it. It is found naturally in beans, dark green veggies, fish and meat. It can compete for absorption with other minerals especially calcium. Calcium suprised me.It should be taken alone at least 90 minutes from the taking of anything else which cause another gasp in class. So check those multivitamins. They might contain calcium which causes an interference when taken with other minerals or medicines. It can block absorption. Those women's multivitamins usually have high doses of calcium. Less is best when it is in a multi. we can gemerally only absorb 600 mg at a single dose. Avoid calcium carbonate. Calcium citrate or malate are better Should be a 2 to 1 ratio of calcium to magnisium. It is the most abundant essintial mineral in the body. It is needed to form teeth & bones, required for blood clotting and transmission of sigmals to nerve cells as well as muscle. It is found in tofu,green leafy veggies,sardines & canned salmon. It should not be taken by people with hyperathyroidism or chronic kidney disease without consulting thier doctor. Fish oil is an omega 3 fatty acid. It contains EPA (elcosapentaenoic acid) & DHA(docosahexaeonic acid). It is a regulator of prostaglandins. If prostaglandins rise so does inflamation and pain. EPA competes with arachadoic acids which are bad in the body.Total EPA/DHA should be 2400 mg to 3600 mg. daily. Make sure your fish oil lists the EPA/DHA amounts otherwise what's in it? There are those things on the market. Heavy metals are a normal filler in this supplement and that is not good. Pay attention to the total mg per serving and the total mg of EPA/DHA. EPA in particular causes prostagladins to go down. This is a blood thinner so if you take a blood thinner you must be cautious and consult with your doctor. Cheap fish oil is no good and can cause problems. it should not be taken 10 days before a surgical procedure. Fish oil helps with inflamation pain ,depression, heart disease, high triglycerides and a host of other health issues. CoQ10 is a high strength antioxident. It is also called ubiquinone a name that means widespread b/c it is ubiquitous in the body. It is used by the body to transform food into ATP, the energy our bodies run on. Aging changes our ability to make it naturally as do statins. CoQ10 has the ability to cross into cell walls. It aids the mitocondria in the cells. It is taken generally using body weight as a guide for dosing. So a person weighing i at 150 would take a 150mg dose. Certain health conditions get higher doses. More than 200 mg per day needs to be split up in the day. It is best taken in the morning because it helps us produce energy. It is good for diabetes,congestive heart failure,migraine headaches,high blood pressure. If a person with congestive heart failure takes it they must consult their doctor before discontinuing use.Vitamin D3 is highly bioavailable. D3 in smaller doses is more effective than high doses of D2(this is usually the prescription grade formula) D3 is useful for reducing cancer risks,depression,fibermyalgia pain& bone mass production. Normal ranges have changed and are now between 45 to 100 ug/dl. Getting tested for your level is the only way to know it. The test is called 25-hydroxy-D. If you spend a lot of time outdoors but use sunscreen or immediately shower when you ome in you are not absorbing it from the sun. Vit. D from the sun is absorbed through the skin so it sits there for awhile sometimes. It is ok to take D3 with calcium. It aids in calcium absorbtion. Probiotics are significant in the promotion of the immune system. They aid the villia i the intestines and help keep the microflora in balance. The immune system begins in the gut. Probiotics inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria.promote good digestion, increase the resistance to infections. They produce substances called bacteriocins which act like natural antibiotics and kill undesirable microorganisms. Examples of probiotic strains are Acidophilus,bifidobacterium bifidum,lactobacillus acidophilus,lactobacillus casei. . It is prefered that a variety of strains be take like 10-14 at 20-25 billion strain units per dose. 25 billion VFU's is a good dose. Yogurt only has maybe 5 million units of 1 or 2 strains so it is not significant. Best to take at night and must be protected from the heat. L-Glutamine is an amino acid used to improve gut villi in the small intestine. It helps to restore WBC after chemo and protects against the flu and colds after being exposed. It is an abundant amino acid in the body involved in more metobolic processes than any other amino acid. It is converted to gluclose when the body requires more gluclose as an energy source. It is used by white blood cells and is to important immune function.

So there you go. It was interesting. Hope this is helpful.