Thalassotherapy & Iodine; why you need it & why you cannot live without it

Description of Thalassotherapy/ the layering of ocean components; containing whole seaweeds, ocean water and ocean minerals over the body, allowing absorption of important vitamins and minerals in a chelated form, for the purpose of achieving mind, body, balancing.

Historic points of interest in Thalassotherapy

Ancient Egypt (3000 B.C.E.) Recognized in ancient Egypt, thalassotherapy comes from the Greek words for thalasso (sea water or sea goddess) and therapeia (to heal)

Hippocrates (350 B.C.E) - the father of modern medicine, prescribes his patients ‘Go to the ocean to heal’

Euripides (420 B.C.E) - ‘The sea cures men’s diseases’

Herodotus (484 B.C.E) - Sun cure and sea cure are sovereign remedies for most diseases and particularly for women’s ailments – also in Egypt 

15th Century, Machu Picchu: Natives living at 16,000 ft elevation in the Andes mountains carry a carefully guarded pouch that contains kelp obtained from the ocean; a month's travel by foot, used to ‘protect the heart’

1578 – France; King Henri III bathed in the sea at Dieppe to heal the outbreaks of scabies by which he was afflicted – thalassotherapy practiced in England

1697-The first medical thesis published on sea water in England

1750 - Dr. Richard Russell published ‘One should drink sea water, bathe in it and eat every product of the sea in which its virtue is concentrated’ The first ‘modern’ doctor to document the medical benefits of seawater as a therapeutic instrument.

The rich & famous would gather with the Royals to elicit the therapeutic benefits of the ocean

1778 - First Institute of Thalassotherapy opened in Dieppe, France, by Lepecq de la Cloture.

1791 - John Lathan opened the first seaside hospital for the treatment of anemia and infectious diseases

1811 - Iodine Discovered in France by Bernard Courtois (1777-1838); discovered while manufacturing gunpowder for the Napoleonic wars

1823 - French Physician, Jean Lugol developed his now famous 'Lugol's Solution' for the treatment of infection diseases. Also used as a health tonic, antiseptic, disinfectant and drinking water purification for treatment of depression, obesity, slow metabolism, menstrual problems, breast and uterine fibroids, tumors, cancer and overall promoting better health.

1867 - ‘Taking to the waters’ became en vogue where royals, rich & famous would gather and experience the benefits of mind/body/balancing, by bathing in the Mediterranean and whole seaweeds.

1812 - Iodine was confirmed as a new element by independent French & English chemists; Joseph Louis Gay-Lussac & Sir Humphrey Davy.

1904 - Rene Quinton, also in France, published the medical work ‘L’eau de Mer, Milien Organique’ (Sea Water, Organic Medium). Successfully Treated: Typhoid, Cholera and infant-Cholera, gastro-intestinal infections (entercolitis, dyspepsia), cirrhosis of the liver, eczema, psoriasis and alopecia. 

1907 - Rene Quinton's 'Seawater Cure' published September 22nd in the NY TIMES - 'Coming to America'

1918-20 - Dr. David Marine discovered Thyroidism and the ‘Goitre Belt’ around the Great Lakes in North America

1924 - Iodine was added to salt in the U.S., flour and milk

1929 - Canada iodized salt, following with iodine in the flour and iodine in the milk (staples of the North American diet) 

1939-1945 - Nazi Germany fluoridated water to induce cloudy thinking

1945 - Brantford becomes 1st city in Canada to fluoridate their drinking water. (3rd city in North America) 

"Fluoridation is the greatest fraud that has ever been perpetrated and it has been perpetrated on more people than any other fraud has." Professor Albert Schatz, Ph.D
(Microbiology). Discoverer of streptomycin and Nobel Prize Winner

1950’s – Iodine was removed from milk

1980’s – Iodine was removed from flour

2008 - U.S. Dr David Brownstein, M.D. (www.drbrownstein.com) publishes 3rd Edition book: "Iodine – Why You Need it, Why You Cannot Live Without It" - National Bestseller.

2009 - Thyroidism and Goitre take place across Ontario and North American cities. Problems most common in areas furthest from the sea. Auto-Immune Conditions including Arthritis, Fibromyalgia, Crohn’s, Psoriasis, Eczema, Endometriosis, Fibrocystic Breasts, Cystic Ovaries, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) & Cancer are at an all time high.

Today: 98% Of Western Europe Has Rejected Water Fluoridation. This includes Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden. In Canada, cities in Ontario are looking to stop fluoridating of drinking water. Cambridge and Kitchener have both achieved this.

"Most physicians today would be surprised to learn that their predecessors thought of iodine as the universal nutrient and a panacea for all human ails." ~ Dr. Guy Abraham

For more information and history about iodine, seaweeds, ocean water and the therapeutic benefits, follow: www.thalassotherapyandiodine.blogspot.com

Endo Cysts be gone! (my experience in getting rid)

Prior to moving to BC, in 1994, I had suffered from cysts on my ovaries. I was living in London, Ontario at the time and one night my pain was so bad, I was rushed to the hospital. I was told it was my appendix and they strongly suggested removing it that night!? That just seemed improbable for some reason. You know when you know? Well, luckily, the pain subsided and I managed to convince them I was fine and go home. Shortly after, I moved out to the beautiful coast of BC to live in Whistler. 
The first month I was there, I had the cysts again, however it wasn't as painful, but I still checked in with the clinic for an ultrasound and that was where I was told about the cysts on my ovaries. I was told it was common for those from Ontario & Quebec?! They didn't have any nutritional advice for me unfortunately at the time either (it was 1994), but they did tell me the option to slow down the cysts was to either A/ Have a baby (Uh no), B/ go on the pill (Uh no) or C/ stop having sex altogether (fill in the blank here). I didn't do a thing to tell you the truth. I was 24 at the time and thought maybe if I reduce my stress that may help AND instinctively cut down on eating junk food. Here is the thing. That was the very last time I had pain from cysts on my ovaries and didn't have any the summer of 2007, when I moved BACK to Ontario. Yup!

When we moved to Ontario, our knowledge of the ocean went from what seems like the basics today, to WHOA! We were blown away when we would visit spa after spa after spa meeting with the owner and staff only to find out how many women are dealing with the effects of endo cysts as well as a myriad of auto immune diseases, including thyroidism. The fact that my thyroid was under active for the better part of my 20's and into my 30's as well as my sister and mother diagnosed with thyroid ism, was the driving factor behind all of this for me.  

The ocean contains 97% of the earth source of bio-available iodine; which our bodies require for optimal health.The ironic part is, Canada has some of the most abundant and healthiest sources of seaweeds in the world today but you would have an easier time finding Canadian seaweeds abroad than finding a Canadian seaweed in Canada to eat. There are enough harvesters but no demand in Canada unfortunately...and the only seaweeds we find Canadians eating is the DULSE, which is considered the weed of seaweeds in terms of the broad spectrum of nutrients you get from the browns, that are so abundant on either coasts.

I remember when I was young, my mother, who is from Trinidad, saying she had never heard of arthritis until she moved to Canada. Trinidad as we know, is a small island that surrounded by the ocean with mineral rich tropical fruits that contain trace amounts of iodine that they eat everyday. In Canada, like Japan, we were blessed with seaweeds. That is how it works. Indigenous foods are meant for the people that live there. Don't you think it odd the earth set itself up for the residents to have to travel from country to country to get their vital nutrients because they cannot find it in their own? Think about it - think. Okay - lots of thinking here...now keep learning...Ever since I discovered the massive and somewhat hidden history and science behind iodine; I have incorporated Lugol's Solution (potassium iodide/elemental iodine in an aqueous solution), seaweeds, sea salts and Isagenix into my body; especially now living in Ontario. Lugol's Solution has been around since 1829 and used by the medical community up until the 1950's prior to today's 'modern medicine'. I specifically got into Isagenix; because it can be challenging to eat seaweeds everyday, and on occasion I forget to take my Lugol's, at least I know I am getting kelp from my shakes and iodine in a bio-available form. AND, since it is a whole food source with B vitamins, Selenium and C vitamins needed for re-absorption, I know I am getting it in. Today, I am so thankful for my health and no more pain or problems with cysts, thyroidism, fibrocystic breast disease and anything else I may have prevented. 

People always ask, why isn't the medical community aware of this and treating people with iodine? Good news! There is a group of Doctors in the U.S. known as the 'Iodine Doctors', made up of Dr David Brownstein, Dr Guy Abraham, Dr Fletchas and Dr Shevin. They formed this group just a few years ago, in order to bring awareness back to the medical community of a what was once known as the universal medicine 100 years ago and this group is growing. This is especially important in view of that fact that 94% of people in North America are iodine deficient today. It may seem like we are beating a dead horse here, but when you know what we know, it is hard to not share when people around you don't and are suffering because of it. Either way, I know with more awareness and onus on the end of the patient to the Doctor, will take it to the next good chapter and though it may seem its getting worse - I beg to differ. I see a great divide to those that seek their own answers like I did and if it means I may not have a tight relationship with friends or family for being persistent; if they are able to prevent or stop something they otherwise didn't want, than that is the most important and the type of friend I would want for myself.
Here are some sites to visit in your leisure. I recommend to visit Dr Brownstein's site and buy his book; Iodine Why you Need it and Why Cannot Live Without It - 4th edition and give a copy to your Doctor.
www.drbrownstein.com
www.breastcancerchoices.org
Seaweeds for consumption:
https://www.seaveg.com/shop/
Course and Nutritional Information:
www.cansospagroup.com
http://thalassotherapyandiodine.blogspot.com/
https://www.facebook.com/Iodine4Health

Slow metabolism got you down?

I was just standing in line havin a giggle at one of the tabloids and noticed the story on Penny Marshall and her 'cancer fighting' drugs that caused her weight to skyrocket to 250lbs. It dawned on me that I don't think many know why they gain weight when they are on these harsh prescriptions or what weight gain reflects? Anyone who is overweight has a slow metabolism. Whether it's from medication or from poor nutrition; either way it is not the medication that causes the weight gain per say; it is the slow metabolic function that is always the reason why anyone is overweight. Plain and simple. The medication, depending on the harshness 'factor', can actually slow the metabolic rate; robbing the body of any nutrients it has left. It's interesting to note that more people die every year from side effects of synthetic prescription drugs, than they do of cancer: http://foodmatters.tv/.

The body knows what it needs and knows what to do when it is introduced to something 'fake' or synthetic, whereas we were taught somewhere along the way that they help? I'm not sure about you but I am afraid of taking ibuprofen, so I cannot imagine how my body would feel about harsh prescriptions day after day after day and me thinking this is a good thing. Poor nutrition or lack of proper nutrients also causes the metabolic rate to slow. Most importantly lack of iodine in the body puts it into a complete state of disarray; virtually coming to a halt. What happens is that blood is pumped through the thyroid gland every 17 minutes and than it is distributed to the rest of the body to feed nutrients and do what it needs to do. Since the thyroid is the main provider (not storage house) of iodine for the body and in charge of the metabolic rate, it released a tiny bit of iodine into the blood so that the body can distribute and function optimally, also helping to provide iodine for the thyroid hormones; T4 and T3. That is the quick version of it, but the biologically accurate quick version. 

Thyroid Gland

So here is the thing, if when the blood passes through the thyroid and it doesn't contain the proper nutrients and trace minerals, what happens? The same thing when you starve yourself, you slow down, the thyroid does too. The body needs nutrients, not fillers. It needs good food and if it gets all of the nutrients in a whole state, it will be able to easily recognize and synchronize the nutrients to the cells and it will show on the outside. When the body is on medication that messes with the metabolism, this means weight gain is inevitable for some, but you can always supplement your body with whole food nutrition and you would be amazed how quick your body responds. We know what the choices are in terms of eating well. I think that there are so many fast food options now that it is very hard to stick to making and eating more raw and whole foods. The same way you develop a routine to brush your teeth or do the garbage or go to the gym everyday, you must commit to being healthy. And I think we can all agree that there is one thing we all innately know about us and our health; we are what we eat.
I remember when my thyroid was slow, I was going to the gym probably 4-6 times a week and I didn't understand why I wasn't seeing results. I wasn't even partying that much or eating that much bad food. Later on I came to realize, when learning about iodine and our body's desperate need for trace minerals and whole foods, that it was probably the worse thing to do was take my body to the gym. When you have a slow metabolic rate, you cannot make it go faster by going to the gym, find out why it is slow to begin with and usually it just has to do with the nutrition levels. If you take it to the gym you are actually sweating out, whatever trace minerals you have left in the form of salt. 

And if there is no proper replenishment, your thyroid continuously battles for proper nutrients, essentially panicking and fluctuating to a hyper state and eventually goitre or worse. Today, after 15 years of religiously going to the gym and sweating it out, I don't have a membership anywhere and haven't for 3+ years. And considering I don't lift weights now either, I'm amazed at how well I am doing in terms of fitness, but because my metabolism is clearly back to where it was when I was a wee thing, I am able to focus on other things I like to do. I walk 20 minutes a day and always include a wicked hill and get the muscles warm and blood pumping so that my body can properly move any toxins out and I replenish myself. At this time of year when all of the holiday parties are coming out, I am extremely thankful for knowing that I know what to do the next day after a few cupcakes...eat better!

Retailers>this the season! Tips for a successful open house

Yes it is November and tis the season for every retailer to get their shelves stocked, hire extra help and get ready for the inevitable hustle and bustle of heavy duty shoppers. Unlike most retailers, the spa industry has an abundance of opportunities to increase traffic without relying solely on gift certificates to keep the dollars flowing in January. Open Houses are not only fun, they are extremely important for making that connection to your community; the abundance just follows from there.

Here are some quick tips and guidelines to get you started: 
ACTION>Get prepared by creating a plan of action. Write down your vision of expectations; if you are going on appointments, write down how much you want it to increase or how many new clients you want. 
PLAN>Start your planning now! From your vision, write down in point form, what you think needs to get done in order to reach these goals.

1. Choose a DATE and TIME: Call 10 of your top clients and let them know the date you are looking at holding it. Be sure to share WHY you are calling THEM; they will be flattered to know you are thinking of them. 
2. MAIL INVITATIONS: You can arrange your invitations online at a low cost professional printing house. We suggest VISTA PRINT: www.vistaprint.ca. They provide low cost, yet professional looking layouts and templates of several different products from postcards to flyers.
3. EMAIL MARKETING: There are countless choices of email marketing sites available these days and most offer a FREE TRIAL. We find Constant Contact (www.constantcontact.com) to be a reliable site and best known for their choices of ready to use TEMPLATES that allow you to simply drop in your logo, pictures and write some text and voila! You can make a coupon!
4. SOCIAL MEDIA: Social Media is probably one of the BEST tools available to reach clients; yet the spa industry is very slow on getting on board with setting up their FACE BOOK pages or BLOG sites and TWITTER accounts. With Social Media, you get to attract the clients you know will like what you have to offer at your location.
5. INVITE LOCAL ARTISANS/CRAFTERS: Connect with your local community artisans and craft makers and invite them to come for your open house. Just because you don't carry their line, it will bring in some contacts of theirs and be a special treat for your regulars to see something new and different. This would be a great TEST to see if this can be something you regularly offer there AND form a new relationship with a local business! 
6. OFFER HOLIDAY SPA TREATMENTS: Think of this time of year when it is so busy and what would appeal to the average spa goer/shopper and appeal to this. Offer something out of the extraordinaire like hand treatments or scalp treatments or a treatment that will not use much product, but allow a small connect with your client and introduce them to your favourite brand. 
7. GIVEAWAYS/DRAWS: Offer giveaways throughout the evening for major discounts on in-house services. Make sure you choose a service that totally makes you stand out from the rest and will leave them floored! Have a DRAW at the end of the night for a REAL amazing package of services and products. Make sure it is NOT stock that you are getting rid of; they will want to buy more when they run out and if you don't have it; buy bye! 
8. STOCK UP: Nothing worse than attending an open house and there is hardly anything to see or buy for that matter. I have been to a few already this season and was in and out of there with money to spend. Abundance begets abundance; simply put. 
9. BRING IN PRODUCT REPRESENTATIVES: A true test of your relationship with your supplier. All product manufacturers and/or distributors should offer some sort of onsite service, especially during the holidays. See if they can offer a Gift with Purchase based on volume. 
10. FOOD AND DRINKS: You don't have to offer alcohol but this would be the time to do it. You can have a juice bar or if you are wanting to introduce any new teas or nutritional cleansing drinks, now would be the time to serve them. Spread the food in different places if you can to keep the flow moving and not limit them to the one area. If you can sell it, even better for profit! 
11. RETAIL SPECIALS: Offer a special discount on all retail products on this day only. Go for 20% off if you can and watch the products fly out the door. Otherwise sales or discounts in a spa environment any regular time of year may indicate to your customer that you are getting rid of it. 
12. INTRODUCE A NEW TREATMENT or BRAND: So many retailers are 'afraid' (my most unfavourite word) to invest in a new product line or launching a new treatment or program. Listen, if you are hosting an open house where most of your year round regulars are going to be coming through; give them something new and exciting to see or experience; it is ideal! Offer a special discount for booking a treatment that is out of this world good like 40% off your 1st treatment. 
13. SERVICE>MAKE YOUR BUSINESS STAND OUT: Service, service, service, will always prevail! Bring your business to the level of which the consumer sees your success and wants to participate.Above all, it all comes down to vibration, vibration, vibration. People love to come into a place this time of year with good energy and generosity. 
14. FOLLOW UP: Want to blow their mind? After the event, set some time aside to make a round of calls thanking them for their attendance. Do a draw after the event and announce it via Email Marketing so everyone can be involved and it is professional looking.

Otherwise, have fun. Make it simple and include any help from volunteers; both family and friends. This is the time of year to share and keep sharing. And in the retail world, your January will reflect what you put in today.

Why is Extra Virgin Coconut Oil considered the healthiest oil on earth?

I WISH I was brought up on this oil let me tell you. About 6 years ago, my brilliant sister shared some information about Extra Virgin (or Virgin to some) Coconut Oil being healthy for you? Of course, knowing she is rarely wrong and was previously my source for the hottest global health tonic discoveries; we checked it out. Luckily, my partner has an extensive science background and including Chemistry and was equally excited and if not, more excited about why it is so healthy than me; we haven't looked back.
VCO (Virgin Coconut Oil) is a medium chain fatty acid (saturated fat) that doesn't break down when heated to high temperatures of up to 177 degrees Celsius. It is raw and extracted from the flesh of the coconut within a very short time of being cut open. What this means in terms of being healthier than most and if not all other cooking oils available today in Canada, is that it doesn't require the use of insulin, so it maintains sugar levels for diabetics and doesn't require much energy to break down/metabolize it, if any. In fact, when you take the suggested 3 tablespoons per day of it, VCO actually helps those that are overweight to lose weight because it helps regulate the metabolism. The reason why so many are obese is simply because their metabolic rate has slowed due to poor nutrition - not lack of exercise, that is just a short-term solution. If your body has slowed it's metabolic rate due to lack of good nutrition and you force it to exercise, that is probably 10 times worse than if you didn't. That might even put your thyroid gland into a hyper or hypo-state!
Virgin Coconut Oil or Extra Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO) also helps with normalizing the body's temperature, it lowers high blood pressure, regulates the heart, clears up clogged arteries, helps regulate the thyroid, boosts energy and the immune system as well as a myriad of other health benefits that will continuously show up as you incorporate it into your life. We LOVE it and share this information with everyone when we do our Thalassotherapy and Nutritional courses, as it helps to support and maintain a healthy lifestyle and especially for those that suffer from auto immune diseases. Because we teach about holistic therapies from the ocean, this talks about the immune system and getting healthy fats into the diet to synchronize and boost metabolism and immunity. 

Stay away from oils that have a 'smoking point'

Everyone seems to think that Extra Virgin Olive Oil is the answer but, yet, you cannot heat up any imported olive oil to high temperatures and especially the commercial brands that are out there, not to mention the endless shelf life of VCO! Now you can find very expensive Extra Virgin Olive Oil with a low acid content that is healthier to eat and cook with, again not even close to the benefits of VCO. The hype with VCO will happen too, so when it becomes mainstream like olive oil did a few decades ago, you will notice many different 'brands' and ways of marketing healthy coconut oil. When we first moved to Ontario from BC, we thought we would have to travel to Toronto to get it, but our local Good Health Mart in Belleville, Ontario, kindly ordered us the 2 Gallon version and we use this. It takes us about 6 months to go through it at $125 and that is a bargain since we are talking antiviral, antibacterial, antimicrobial and nutrients it offers! 
Just be smart about the part where it says UNREFINED or CERTIFIED ORGANIC or EXTRA VIRGIN or VIRGIN...these are key. You want these. If the bottle talks about the MCT's and the high Lauric value; great, but make sure it is the key points! Marketing is great in Canada and the U.S.; have you noticed? I love figuring it too! It's easy once you look at things in a certain way; well the body is the same way. It knows fake foods and it knows real foods and when it gets really good food; it shows. Your eyes are brighter, your mood is brighter, your skin is brighter and you are brighter...(see more on the brain benefits: http://www.youtube.com/watch Dr Mercola.

When you body gets bad oil or a bad form of oil, it becomes defiant, really. You may not realize because you are blaming the broccoli or the salad or the beans or something else the morning after, however the results of eating bad fats doesn't show up right away either. It takes a while for the body to figure out bad fats and so usually what happens initially is cravings for salty or sugary foods. Bad fats kinda bring your mood down, so you naturally crave something you 'think' would boost your mood. This is why good fats is also good. I think if more women in Canada over the age of 30 ate Extra Virgin Coconut Oil everyday, that we would have less sensitivities and moodiness and menopausal issues occurring; plus fitter mamas! Don't you think that would be great? Healthy fats are good because you are what you eat, but...you want what you need. And if you are not feeding it to your body, it's gonna get is somehow! We are basically made of salt, fat, water, etc. and if we don't feed our body the main components on good functioning, it robs your body of it somewhere. Either from your skin, causing psoriasis or eczema or from your arteries or joints! And if your body, that needs fat, isn't getting good fats, but fake fats, it starts to slow down and get real sick. Most don't realize when the body is dehydrated of fat, it really is thirsty for fat, not more water! Water is what our bodies need to help push toxins out, but the toxins are not leaving unless your body feels satiated and satisfied you are taking care of it...I know. 

The funny thing is, there are countries that have coconuts growing in their backyard and they don't use VCO for cooking or for eating, but only for the skin and hair. That is perfect, because it is great for skin and hair, but wouldn't you like to live like your ancestors did; healthy and fit and joyously enjoying FAT?! It was only in the 50's that a DR published a document that saturated fats were the main cause of heart disease so the non saturated fat companies went on a band wagon with the marketing against VCO and that is how we got to know 'canola oil' or 'safflower oil' and don't get me started on those!
In terms of VCO and cooking with it; it is perfect for the vegetarian diet and totally healthy for young children. It contains over 50% lauric acid; which is the most important essential fatty acid in building and maintaining the body's immunity. The only other source found in such high concentrations as in VCO is mother's milk.
So when you are looking for VCO, go to the health food store (not the typical commercial 'health stores') that carries a variety. We have noticed a few brands like 'Heartland' and 'Nutiva' here in Ontario that have gallon sizes. This is what you want to get since it is a WAY better price and since it doesn't have a shelf life; no rush! There are MANY brands in the larger metropolis', but if we can find it in our town of 4000 people in Ontario, you can where you are! And don't be shy to ASK for IT from your favourite grocer either. We have been pleasantly surprised to find it in Loblaws and some other chains that are throughout Canada. Also, there is a difference in VCO's for those that don't like the 'coconut taste'; you can look for the VCO without the aroma, however it has been twice pressed now and therefore is no longer a first pressing. You always want the first pressing; but at least you are getting the benefits of the MCT's. Now don't be shocked by the price and compare it to the commercial brands of oils you have been using in the past and including olive oils and safflower oils or sunflower oils; there is no comparison. It is not expensive. I always say (now I do anyhow), buying raw and organic doesn't cost, it pays! 
And when people see me for the first time in a long time after losing all of this weight, they ask how I did it and I love saying "I eat lots of fats and lots of salt"  it's not an accurate statement since both are unrefined and raw in nature, however I always like a stimulating conversation. Remember do your own research and don't hesitate to ask questions. All info  is based on proven science and happy to share more links and articles written by very important individuals in the health industry! Me? I have my own reasons:)

sea salt = trace minerals?

When I was growing up, I remember table salt being a staple at the table and predominantly my choice over the pepper (if there was a pepper option). What I didn't know is that that table salt was iodized back in the late 20's to help control the outbreak of goiter that was occurring around the Great Lakes at the turn of the century. However the salt itself, was and still is a refined salt, meaning, it has been processed from its natural state and therefore the molecular structure and benefits, depending on its origin, are completely stripped and can be very harmful to the body to ingest or soak in. There have been several types of processed salts introduced over the last century that are toxic when heated and reprocessed, and all has been related to so much occurrence of obesity and heart disease and stroke. Ironically sea salt, in its natural and unprocessed state, is actually good for you. In fact, our bodies' blood plasma was proven to be chemically identical to that of ocean plasma by Dr. Rene Quinton, in France at the turn of the 20th century in his book: "L'eau de mer milieu organique" - (1912: Ed. Masson) Reprinted: Ed. ENCRE 1995: http://oceanplasma.org
When digested or soaked in, the body responds very positively to sea salt and becomes balanced; called homeostasis. Technically, Homeostasis is 'The maintenance of an equilibrium within a living organism'. In other words, when the body stays the same on the inside no matter what is happening on the outside. And when the body is introduced to any healthy food, either transdermally or through regular digestion, the body's immunity gets stronger; able to fight flu bugs when needed for instance. Did you also know that unrefined sea salt or Pink Himalayan salts contain over 70 trace minerals, that our body needs and very much responds to, especially when we add it to our raw food or other food recipes? Trace minerals are important for us because we need them in order to synchronize our nutrients to our cells. Otherwise, without the presence of trace or chelated minerals in our foods or vitamins, there is little absorption going on. They are called 'trace' minerals because we only need a little of them at a time as they are only introduced to us naturally by the earth in trace elements. People get sea salts and Pink Himalayan salts mixed up. Both are good and both from the ocean and the pink Himalayan you are usually guaranteed the source, where as sea salts could be from any ocean any where in the world and sometimes it is processed or bleached. You want to ensure that any food you are eating, you know the source is clean and there is very little process or no processing at all. The sea salts, or, let's call them trace minerals here, help the body absorb more nutrients from our foods and they also help us digest even more trace minerals from the foods that contain them when we eat. So just like anything good for our body, they help us to live a healthy long life and survival rate. Without trace minerals, the body is very much lost in terms of its functionality; it breaks down quicker. Here is something interesting that we teach, is that 97% of the earth's iodine and trace minerals are in the ocean. So how it is supposed to work is that the trace minerals travels through our soil, and we get it from our foods that are picked fresh. People talk about organic vs non-organic and most don't realize that it's not only about the chemicals being sprayed into the soil and onto the seeds or flower, its about the lack of nutrients and trace minerals that are not in foods, making it harder and harder for our bodies to be and stay healthy. That is why so many of us crave foods even after having, what we would call an average meal. When the body is not satiated, it will indicate hunger; so we are to feed it with whole foods including good fats and good salts, because it is looking for this. Herbicides and pesticides get rid of any remnants of trace minerals through farming, so literally when you eat food that is not grown organically, you are missing out on ALL of the trace minerals you are supposed to be getting on a daily basis, plus introducing your body to a bunch of fillers that are virtually worthless in nutrient value. When the body gets this over and over again, it eventually slows down everything because it realizes it may not be getting anything valuable in awhile. And unfortunately, lack of trace minerals doesn't just show up like a cold or a flu bug, it shows up in very different and sometimes subtle ways down the road, like psoriasis, eczema, arthritis, thyroidism, heart disease, etc. So many are confused and are staying away from any salt, therefore completely depriving their bodies of any trace minerals at all. So the foods they eat, are of less value than if they had some sea salt on them. What is most unusual to me is when people are told that any salt is bad for them, when millions of people live and millions more flock to the ocean and mineral baths every year to absorb the wonderful elements, 24 hours, 7 days a week and come back feeling like a million! You ever notice someone who is your age, that looks and sounds better? Chances are they are getting their trace minerals.

So there I was in Paris, no money...and a pack a schmokes

We all have stories to share of overcoming some bad habit; whether it be taught or self-taught, either way, everyone can relate to some rate of success when they say they are going to do something and getting it done with great satisfaction. I think 3 of the top 'bad' physical habits that most seem to want to kick would be smoking, poor eating habits and drinking coffee everyday; of course everyone has their opinion, hence the blog.

I personally smoked for 15 years of my life. And as many smokers tend to learn, my mother smoked as well as siblings and such. Like my siblings, I eventually learned to quit and quite honestly knew I would someday even when I started, which is probably why I surrounded myself with many non-smokers and healthy minded people; I was the lucky one I guess. It's funny because I remember hiding up in my room when I was in high school and sitting by the window, blowing the smoke out and thinking that I wouldn't get caught by my parents. I also hid it from some of my friends! I didn't smoke a lot at first, just when I got home from the bars and later on in the bars. I stuck with smoking well into my 20's taking it out to BC; known as Canada's healthiest province and....continued to smoke there. I eventually developed a want to quit, every time someone said, "You smoke?" made me think, "I KNOW?!" So eventually I quit. I didn't quit right away however, I found something to replace my time and kept me busy and that I loved to do, and than I used that as a reason to focus and quit. At the time, I was totally into going to the gym and spending time outdoors. Whistler was a good distraction and so were all of the amazing and talented people you could meet in one small place. When they became the first city in Canada to ban smoking indoors; that was timely! Eventually I traveled around the world, where everyone seemed to smoke everywhere, literally! Torturous for someone just trying to give up. Luckily, I didn't enjoy the taste of cigarettes from other countries as much so that helped me even more grow less and less interested. One thing I did notice, was how much everyone smoked and in certain parts of the world. When I got back it was just a short few weeks before I permanently stopped and moved down to Vancouver. Within a few weeks, I did notice my urge to want to drink coffee more (that story later) and other habits, including walking and going out! I knew I had to figure some things out ahead of time and find my foods, I wasn't expecting to like everything healthy but I also knew that I was going to find my favourites, there is so much choice, you just have to 'do something different'. Glad I did and do. But eventually I found my groove and figured out the better habits both socially and nutritiously to fulfill whatever it was at the time that my body was looking for. Immediately I noticed my energy increased and I was more sensitive to taste so my favourite foods tasted even better. My breathing was better and I didn't get sick, hardly at all. I did have a breakdown about 6 months after quitting smoking with some friends on the patio on a holiday weekend. It only took a few puffs before I had to stop. I thought to myself, I have no idea how I started that habit, but man, was I happy I didn't like it anymore. I just never imagined I would be quitting after all those years, but I somehow knew I would. How's that hey?

*Here are some good things that happen to your body once you stop smoking:

Within 8 hours:

carbon monoxide level drops in your body
oxygen level in your blood increases to normal

Within 48 hours

your chances of having a heart attack start to go down
your sense of smell and taste begin to improve

Within 72 hours

your bronchial tubes relax and make breathing easier
your lung capacity increases

Within 2 weeks to 3 months

your blood circulation improves
your lung functioning increases up to 30 percent

Within 6 months

your coughing, stuffy nose, tiredness and shortness of breath improve

Within 1 year

your risk of smoking-related heart attack is cut in half

Within 10 years

your risk of dying from lung cancer is cut in half

Within 15 years

your risk of dying from a heart attack is the same as a person who never smoked

There are many other good reasons to quit smoking:

• You'll set a good example for your children
• Your smoking will no longer affect the health of people around you
• You'll save a lot of money - a pack of cigarettes a day adds up to more than $3000 a year!
• You'll have more energy to do the things you love
• You'll pay lower life insurance premiums *provided by Health Canada.

How deep is our skin?

I always say if you want to test your skincare for toxicity, dilute some of it into water and water your plants with it regularly. This is a test yes, but this analogy helps those to think about what they are putting on their skin AND if they are a good gardener what they are putting in their garden. Now the good gardener would definitely think twice about this - and even the ones that use chemicals in their garden would think twice about this however as it turns out the chemicals that are used for treating your lawns are actually found in some of our skincare here in Canada; special isn't it? The western diet has allowed North Americans to believe that if it's on the shelf or advertised or your friends do it, than it must be okay? The standards in North America in terms of ingredients that are allowed into our food and skincare is astronomically low and unfortunately turned Canada and the US into the top consumers for chemical cosmetics globally! In fact, we allow ingredients into our food and skincare that have been banned by the European Union for over a decade. Hence the BUZZ on 'DETOX' and 'Nutritional Cleansing'...we are definitely toxic! It is now said that the average North American should detox every season in order to get their bodies back to balance. Funny, if we just kept eating unprocessed and organic fruits and veggies and the medical world kept using IODINE regularly, we would be in tip top shape! Now, after living through the last couple of decades, even if we were to go back to our 'old traditional ways' of cooking, it would take up to 20 years for our bodies to cycle out the toxins; if you make it that far!
When we teach about nutritional cleansing and the importance of whole ingredients for your body and skin, I tend to use the 'garden' or the 'wild' as an example simply because our skin is not that thick and when you look at the earth, the soil is super super super deep; but yet when you throw chemicals directly into the soil, you notice how things die within weeks or days or hours? Ever wonder what it's doing for you?
Did you know the best way to take your vitamins is trans-dermally; through your skin? So that means that literally everything you put onto your skin is absorbed and yet, most don't think about this when they put on their 'white creamy' skincare and products and what that will do, not to mention that they are looking for the results the label tells them they are going to experience the next morning!? Wow.
So how about prevention or slowing aging and making the body healthier so the immune system is strong? I always say, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure and today everyone knows this to be true...not that everyone is practicing this, but still, day by day, there is more awareness and though it seems that the stats are against us, the dark ages of the cosmetic industry and food industry here in Canada and the U.S. are soon to be over. From contrast always comes beauty and good so set yourself apart and make the decision based on the fact you want to live a LONG and healthy life. Me? I'm going for 150!

End of a 30 Day Cleanse...The Beginning of Something New

me at almost 230lbs

I was always intrigued with the thought of making some extra money on the side and quite honestly, who isn't? When I was living in Whistler over 10 years ago a few people at my work were into Amway. I remember astigmatism I had about multi-level marketing for some reason...still influenced by others I suppose and quite honestly couldn't get excited about the products. Ok, so a few years pass by and Rod and I were introduced to another 'mlm'. We knew the people who were already doing it and decided to try it out. By the time we got the products, we were not impressed with the ingredients whatsoever I have to say so this was an expensive lesson. There were only a few products also and were not so cutting edge; you could find better in a health food store and for the same price, so I really wasn't expecting to find anything that we would like for ourselves. About 5 years passed and a colleague of ours and her husband were on Isagenix and introduced us and we didn't think the products met the standards in terms of trace minerals, whole foods source, organic, super foods, nutritional standards, vegan, etc. so we kindly thanked them for the info they shared and since went on from there. Now both have a very similar high standard so we didn't totally close the door on this; we watched for a bit and did more research. After 2 years passing and watching their business grow and hearing about another trip they are taking and another vacation and so on, we came to a point in our life that we took another look at it. I have to say, we were more than pleasantly surprised to know the nutritional cleansing system products were much better than we imagined. We also learned about the formulations and how they work so well with the North American diet, sparing the 'ups and downs' with a little fat here and a little sugar there so when they go OFF the Isagenix cleanse, they don't put on the weight they just lost. You get addicted to feeling good - so why stop? It's meant to be a support system and in many ways than just the one.

me today...

We enrolled for the 30 day nutritional cleanse, and a little nervous I have to say; changing lifestyle habits and daily routines for a whole month while others know you and expect to see results:) And I did! I felt regularly energetic, no dips and such. We both lost about 10+ lbs each and look and feel great. I continue with the Isalean shakes and the fish oil supplements because they passed the test, plus the GREENS and other. We really like the benefits and the business model is outstanding in terms of being lucrative, easy and definitely motivating. We find with our education and understanding of the ingredients and the body's ability to adjust, digest and balance, helps us to help others when starting out. It's not about losing weight, it is about cleansing the body from the everyday toxins we are exposed to. Even if you eat all organic and raw, if you live in North America, you should do a nutritional cleanse every season; can you imagine if you are not eating organic and raw foods what kind of build up there is in your colon? Its for your health and if you have kids; share the good habits, it will help you and them excel! As far as the weight loss goes, at one point in my life I reached 230lbs and it wasn't that long ago, so if I can commit myself to myself and do the program, than anyone can. It`s delicious and so easy. Good nutrition has been shown time and time again to help the body heal and fight disease, it allows us to live long and healthy lives so that we can enjoy all of our years and die naturally like we are meant to; from old age, from length of life....not heart attacks and thyroid conditions or something caused by years of being on synthetic drugs. We love to share our experiences with you...stay tuned!

Changing my tune...discovery of healthy thinking

Talk about age of awareness. Wow. No doubt this is a good time to be living with so much change taking place in so many areas; technology, education, ways of thinking, religious beliefs, social attitudes, entrepreneurship, spirituality, communication, etc. "I wish I knew than what I know now" type thing.

Personally I believe that many people have been aware for many years and those of us that are just beginning to open our eyes are now noticing the difference. We watched the biography of Werner Erhard last night.Do you know this name? In the early part of the 70's, he had introduced a program called est training all about the modern teachings of 'transformation' to the 'main stream crowd' and became an icon for 2 decades all across the United States. He had workshops that were 3 or 4 days long in various locations; charging $250 with upwards of 600,000 attendees at any given time. He positively influenced many important leaders of today including Harvard professors, U.S. Presidents and celebrities, all went to his workshops to learn his profound, yet simple way of looking at oneself and 'letting go' or 'starting new' as he would put it into his own words, because reality is not real; it's our own interpretation. Millions attended and hundreds of thousands of people sought and found personal relief and transformation. You would think we would know about this man and apparently those that may remember him would know about the controversy that surrounded his workshops/programs and virtually everything he did; this was media influenced unfortunately and led him to closing his doors and moving away permanently. Since than, Werner continued and continues today to teach around the world in places like Asia and Europe; teaching those how they can leave their past behind and live now. I do recommend those that haven't heard of this man and are into transforming oneself and/or practice connecting to our higher selves. He didn't have much personal education, he just seemed to be in-tune with how we all think and was able to reinterpret this back to whomever he was coaching at the time; its fascinating to see and learn about. A man with little or no formal education and hardly any spiritual guidance, influenced successful leaders of today just because he was inspired to do so. Wow. We all have this ability to inspire, achieve and be what and whomever we choose to be. I know many who inspire others every day simply by living the life they choose to live and being happy; no microphones, no stage, no tickets, no charge. You just have to choose the path and why not opt for happiness or happy thoughts - they are much easier to think, no? So simple.

Lack of Iodine: Growing up with monthly reminders

I remember when I was growing up and just discovering the perils of turning into a woman; my experience with menstrual cramping was out of this world. No seriously wasn't I the only one? As I discovered later 

on in life, there were a lot of us going through this monthly living 'hell' that I called it at the time; behind closed doors, staying home from work or school or just drudging through the day trying to stay lucid...yes this bad. I am sure someone can relate. Okay, so what about the tender breasts every single month? Experience that? How about now? You know what I noticed is that my tender breasts or should I say the proper term; Fibrocystic Breast Disease, wasn't really prevalent until my late 20's and early 30's. And probably up until now, I would be suffering from painful breasts every month; IF I hadn't discovered why I was suffering from this and it's not just from our monthly period ladies, that is just the gift we have been given as woman; to have monthly reminders of what is happening in our body so that our bodies can communicate to us what adjustments we need to make.

So you remember what I had written previously about most North American women lacking iodine today compared to only 10% about a 100 years ago: well as it turns out, our 'indicators' are these monthly symptoms and if we have sufficient amounts of iodine in our bodies, we wouldn't suffer from painful breasts and/or Fibrocystic Breast Disease and we also wouldn't suffer from menstrual cramps. Seriously, that stage in our life and currently in our life, would be virtually eliminated if it weren't for this one crucial element that is needed by every human on this planet; but that North American's are missing today. Wow. 

97% of earth's iodine is found in the sea!

Read it again. There is more, but for now - this is something more to read and think about and share. If you have suffered from any of the following conditions or know of anyone suffering from auto immune diseases such as: Anemia (low blood iron), Thyroidism, Arthritis, Psoriasis, Eczema, Fibrocystic Breast Disease, etc. Here are links for you and suggested reading material that is both comprehensive and fascinating, that you can share with your physician, nutritionist, esthetician, RMT, Naturopathic Doctor or whomever you are seeking health advice from these days:

*www.drbrownstein.com

www.altcancer.com

www.breastcancerchoices.org

*recommended reading: Thyroidism; Why We Need It, Why We Cannot Live Without It and share it with your Doctor!

Eating to fill your void...

I didn't realize it at the time; was I bored? Plain and simply bored? - or just not doing what I like to be doing? Hmmmm? I thought I figured that was it and most people think that too - they think "OH they are unhappy with themselves" That is the question I guess. Youngest of 4 girls and highly charged and self educated on how to survive in that family; I went on a journey of finding myself and proving to myself how incredibly resourceful and happy I truly was. Isn't that what life is truly about - not who has the most and who has the most friends, but who is the happiest. Have you met people who are truly happy and you could care less about what they did for a living or where they lived and who they were, you just liked being around them? Even a perfect stranger? Does it make you think why? Good energy perhaps....and if like attracts like and you were also feeling good; chances are you would attract those that think and feel like you. It's funny because growing up, I didn't know about the law of attraction (wish I did!) and I always wanted to be around and do the most fun people and most positive people, but only when I was feeling good about myself. I remember going through a stage in my 20's and I couldn't seem to meet any friends - like ANY? That was choice I later discovered and more later I discovered about mind/body/balancing and how to make it easier on myself to feel good through eating better foods. I thought it was all about exercise - wrong! I think I went to the gym for 10-15 years - got some satisfaction absolutely! But I worked hard to get there and didn't realize you don't have to. Look at the East! Do you see fitness gyms and weight loss centers there? Do they watch their diet like NA's do? No, they don't. They also smoke A LoT! But do they suffer from all of the health problems that North Americans do? Why is it that North Americans think that auto immune diseases are world-wide? It's simply not true; perhaps those on a western diet of carbs, carbs, and more carbs and non-living foods. We totally are what we eat and the more we dumb ourselves with these empty calories, the more we are going to not get 'it'. A friend of mine who is suffering from hyper thyroidism (and extreme weightloss); her homeopath actually told her to stay away from iodine?! Can you imagine? A homeopath; someone educated into alternative medicine actually doesn't know that everyone in the world requires iodine - everyone! It was and still is the 1st recognized element that is needed by man - why is this missing from the teachings? In fact I don't remember learning this in Chemistry - does anyone? Well over 50 years ago - every DR in NA and the world was using iodine for everything under the sun. Now? Bupkiss - blows my mind! 

Fall 2010

Okay - so what does iodine have to do with being obese and unhappy and/or sick? A LOT! In fact, if we don't have iodine, which again our body requires, our bodies shut down and our metabolism halts - so does everything else in our body unfortunately; cells regenerate slower, brain functions slower (yes slower - think 'Homer'), hormones....SLOWER, reflexes...slower, etc. I think you get the point. Have you also noticed how many people are inflamed? Do you know what I am talking about? I will eventually explain that in my next couple of blog pages. I always try to give people something they can relate to and in Ontario I find the garden seems to be most understood. So take your garden...its alive right? When your plants are missing certain say...nutrients, they show it right? If a plant is missing IRON & ZINC take for instance, young leaves would turn yellowish with spots all over turning yellow than red or purple, eventually falling off...that is what happens in a plant. Now remember the plant will show you within a few days (or weeks) what it is missing because the cell system is not as big as ours is; that would show up in months or years. So when someone changes their diet either by eating more healthy or by eating less healthy, the body shows it within a few weeks (depending on who it is of course), but generally speaking, you would notice weight-loss or weight-gain - correct? Okay, do you think that is the only thing going on? Do you really  think it is all about the weight gain? That is just the early symptoms of what is happening - that is the wonderful thing about the body, the earth the atmosphere - its incredible at communicating - INCREDIBLE! The weight thing - whether more or less is just an indicator - yes, an indicator; for you to take ACTION. Same way every month woman in North America suffer from breast tenderness or painful ovaries, these are indicators of lack of iodine  - yes lack of iodine. We store it in our breasts and ovaries and our brain and just a little is needed by the thyroid. For men it is the prostate, brain and thyroid. So what happens when we don't have any or are low? A number of things happen - imagine the body not getting the element it needs to survive? Scary - good chances are you who is reading this, is lacking....or have none at all. You might not fully understand what I am saying and that is your indicator? What the woman's body does is to go look for it in our body and while it is looking - everything slows down - all production stops! So while it is looking for it and cannot find it, our body again, indicates that we are missing it with fibrocystic breast disease (tender breasts) and there are only a few DOCTORS in Canada that actually understand this? Only a few?! (there's a niche) Yet - here I am explaining it to you and it sounds so simple. And if not, you should read this book (a few times): 'Iodine; Why You Need It, Why You Cannot Live Without It', by Dr David Brownstein: www.drbrownstein.com and check your iodine levels because the first sign of lack is...lack of concentrating AND...cloudy brain...otherwise known as Cretinism. So much to say...but for now over and out - I have a raw dinner to make and eat - with my favourite additive - seaweed!

evolution of diet; day 3

Wild Walk Tour with David Wolfe; August 2010

When you start thinking about doing a blog, it can definitely mess with your thoughts...what do I, Ria, have to say that is interesting enough for others to want to visit and read and follow with every breath of their day, thinking Ria, this and Ria that - 'Ria is Awesome'. 'Ria is the light of my day' 'Yo Ria - she da best man' 'Ria, ria, bo bia...Ria!' Oh - sorry. So than I realized some things and I realized some more things; err, at least I did, and you discover everyone in fact should have a blog. Why? Because there are no 2 individuals out there in the world that think exactly alike so therefore there is going to be something from everyone and the more we share, the more we become aware. Plus, I feel far too motivated and satisfied these days that if there is one out there, that likes what I am saying and it changes their life for better; wow - talk about satisfying!

So the above picture is a picture with David Wolfe and I was invited by Grail Springs owner to do the tour up in Haliburton, this past weekend. It was at a cottage on the lake 10 mins north of Haliburton; beautiful location with about 100 or more raw foodies and David Wolfe fans sitting about and 'basking' in the most perfect day. I wasn't aware of David Wolfe a few months ago until Madeleine had shared and so I checked it out on You Tube to see "How come I know this name?" http://www.davidwolfe.com/ 

Raw food, Raw Chocolate and Environmental Technologist Extraordinaire. I wouldn't know how to describe him because there is so much to what he stands for and what he will stand for. Over 17 years on a RAW food diet, David has inspired many to live their life to its potential by informing others and passionately painting this amazing way to enjoy life. His motto is 'Live the Best Day Ever' and he simply believes every day is better than the next.

David did a great presentation on every subject about raw eating & nutrition, unhealthy and healthy foods, superfoods, etc. It was OUTSTANDING! Shortly after we went for a hike into the forest, where he shared incredible insights on mushrooms of North America; most intriguing, the Reishi and Wild Canadian Chaga mushrooms - highest ORAC/antioxidant value and many other incredible medicinal properties. In fact, there are over 29,000 species that have yet to be classified in the Appalachia alone! 

We loved our day and from this day, I found myself wanting to eat more raw and less cooked foods...simply because of all of the days info. I had always thought about making this next step in my world of health and so I guess here he was; giving me every reason in the world to! So today is Day 3 of eating 80% RAW and 20% COOKED food. So far so good; I obviously have the energy to type! Thanks for visiting and PLEASE learn about David Wolfe or just look him up - da bomb!