Why I became a Nutritionist!

I assumed for many years that I needed to become a Nutritionist to save my dad’s life. He suffered from colon cancer. I begged him to change his eating habits and cut out meats and coffee, trying to convince him not to go through chemotherapy and resort to natural remedies. Nothing could change his mind since his Oncologist suggested chemotherapy. After painful surgeries and agonizing years of chemotherapy, he passed away in 2005.

I now believe that nothing could have changed his mindset, not even his own daughter.

Do you ever wonder why you have become, what you are? Why does the universe have such riddling ways planed for each one of us?

My digestive health was always questionable, and I did get into health and nutrition way before my father’s diagnoses. Not until, my dad has passed away have I fully committed to a healthy diet. I was desperately trying to figure out what could have caused his cancer in the first place and totally ignoring my own health. He never smoked, had extremely little alcohol and ate home cooked meals at every meal. Where was the problem?

Is cancer hidden in the genes?

Just like my dad, my aunt (my father’s older sister) passed away from cancer. She was quite a large woman my aunt. They never diagnosed her with colon cancer, but they diagnosed her with cancer in all organs and tissues. By the time she went to the doctor, the cancer has spread all over.

This mystery sent me on a seven year quest of more learning, reading and much more research!

Just this year, my Mother in Law got diagnosed with pre-cancerous polyps and badly damaged intestines which needed immediate surgery. She is also a health nut. My Mother in Law eats well, does not smoke, does not drink and prepares her own foods. Where is the culprit for all this madness?

Finally after 7 years all is clear! What I have discovered is, that it was genetic, but not what one would think! Cancer is not genetic. Now one would wonder, what is the underlying cause? This is going to surprise some, but bear with me; the pieces are coming together!

Many family members suffer from food intolerances or food allergies. It was so obvious –Gluten Allergy and Gluten Sensitivity. There is a difference between symptoms of wheat intolerance and gluten intolerance symptoms. Also, it is possible to experience Celiac Disease symptoms but test negative for Celiac Disease. Even adults can develop food allergies, do not neglect the thought that certain conditions can be brought on in adulthood despite not showing any signs in their youth.

I had couple pieces of the puzzle, but the picture did not make sense until my boys, 10 and 6 showed weird symptoms and too many unexplainable infections. My 10 year old suffers from sinus infections and pollen allergies for a couple of years now as does my younger son. Recently my older son got diagnosed with anemia which was specially puzzling to me. I’m a nutritionist. We eat natural beef and foods high in natural iron. What was going on?

Sebastian is the little guy he had trouble with his tooth enamel for years, funny white bumps on his arms and cheeks, just like I used to have when I was little. He suffered from tonsillitis since he was a toddler with frequent ear infections and colds, funny, just like his mommy!

These are all symptoms of a suppressed immune system caused by an autoimmune disorder of the small intestine triggered by gluten! Symptoms of this autoimmune disorder are also vitamin, mineral and a nutrient deficiency!

Important to recognize is that conventional clinical tests can determine Celiac Disease to some degree,  but inconclusive or negative results in these tests do not mean; free from gluten intolerance. Quite frankly, most people experiencing hidden and significant gluten intolerance symptoms, have tested negative for Celiac Disease. These individuals are categorized as Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitive, or NCGS. The scary part is that, only because individuals are not positively diagnosed with Celiac Disease by doctors, does not mean that they could not suffer the same outcome from your gluten sensitivity – Colon Cancer!

As a now Gluten-Free Family, I do suggest an elimination diet. If one is not familiar with these allergy testing approach, please research: Elimination Diet.

More information on Gluten Intolerance and Celiac Disease, as well as symptoms, can be found on this site Gluten Intolerance Symptoms.

I’m thanking my dad for paving my way, so I could diagnose my children quite early with this nasty food intolerance. Some children, like me, go undiagnosed for years until they develop symptoms that are extremely hard to pinpoint in adulthood.

My Dad with my son Pierce

Be proactive and research your family”s history. Colon Cancer does not mean cancer it means that the digestive system and immunity are compromised by something!

Wishing your family best health and like always…

Stay Healthy and Keep Juicing … oh, and gluten-free!

Monika Baechler

Sticking with it in 2011 – Week 5 – Caffeine is highly toxic – more than marijuana or speed!

The scientist noted that a good way to measure the toxicity of drugs was to compare the number of completed sides in the web. The more toxic the chemical, the more deformed the spider’s web. Based on their findings so far, it appears that caffeine is quite highly toxic – more so than even marijuana and speed. The scientist noted that a good way to measure the toxicity of drugs was to compare the number of completed sides in the web. The more toxic the chemical, the more deformed the spider’s web.

(Noever, R., J. Cronise, and R. A. Relwani. 1995. Using spider-web patterns to determine toxicity. NASA Tech Briefs 19(4):82. Published in New Scientist 27 April 1995.)

Studies never state that coffee or chocolate as a whole is good for you, never! Instead they say that one particular ingredient is good for you. No matter how the big companies twist or turn it, one is very clear to many scientist and specialists – coffee is unhealthy!

What are some of the experts and doctors saying?

Everybody “knows” that caffeine makes you more alert and clearheaded. Think again. A cup of coffee gives you a wakeup jolt because it triggers a stress response. Your adrenal glands are prompted to kick out the same stress hormones that are released when you perceive an external threat or danger. Your muscles tense, your blood sugar elevates for extra energy, your pulse and respiration rates speed up, and your state of alertness increases so you’re ready to wrestle with or run from environmental dangers. You may be only sitting at your table or desk drinking a cup of coffee, but your body doesn’t know that. It’s preparing for action. The Memory Solution by Dr Julian Whitaker, page 261

Caffeine and nicotine overstimulate the adrenal glands. When these substances, other stressors, and a generally poor diet are combined, the adrenals can enter into a state of emergency. They become depleted of important vitamins, such as B-complex vitamins and vitamin C. Complete Encyclopedia Of Natural Healing by Gary Null PhD, page 233

Cut your coffee, black tea, chocolate and soda intake down to ONE serving a day at first! As you cut coffee and caffeine slowly, you should eliminate it altogether. Coffee is elevating your insulin level and spikes blood sugar. High blood sugar is known to lead to sugar and food cravings! Coffee is also known to aggravate the stomach lining and cause mild to severe symptoms. Eliminate coffee all together and drink more water or herbal teas instead. You will also save about $1000 a year skipping the coffee shop. Don’t be surprised if your body reacts to the caffeine detox with day-long headache.

Dangers of caffeine could be an eBook on its own, there is just so much to write and even more to find out. Be smart and research the dangers of caffeine and coffee for yourself.

Again: Detox headaches are absolutely normal and medically nothing to worry about. If you can’t stand the headache anymore because of work responsibilities or housework, a small aspirin is known to help.

Until next week,

Monika Baechler

(1) http://www.ajcn.org/content/37/3/416.short

Sticking with it in 2011 – Week 4 – The 3 White Poisons

OUT WITH Processed White Flour!

For some, these nutritional facts will be shocking and scary! To some, this will be the necessary eyeopener to change their diets once and for all!

You will think twice before eating your next sandwich on white bread or any processed breads or serving peanut butter jelly sandwiches to your kids. Studies show that alloxan, the chemical that makes white flour look “white” and “clean”, destroys the beta cells of the pancreas. Without the beta cells, the pancreas is not able to produce insulin!  That’s right; you may be devastating your pancreas and putting yourself at risk for diabetes and Pancreatic Cancer, all this to taste spongy “clean” looking bread!?

Scientists have known of the alloxan-diabetes connection for years; in fact, researchers who are studying diabetes commonly use the chemical alloxan to induce the disorder in lab animals. In the research sense, giving alloxan to an animal is similar to injecting that animal with a deadly virus, as both alloxan and the virus are being used specifically to cause illness. Every day, consumers ingest foods made with alloxan-contaminated flour. Would they just as willingly consume foods tainted with a deadly virus? Unless they had a death wish, they probably would not. Unfortunately, most consumers are unaware of alloxan and its potentially fatal link to diabetes because these facts are not well publicized by the food industry.

How does alloxan cause diabetes? According to Dr. Hari Sharma’s Freedom from Disease, the toxin alloxan damages the beta cells of the pancreas, causing the cells to malfunction and die. When these beta cells fail to operate normally, they no longer produce enough insulin, or in other words, they cause one variety of adult-onset type 2 diabetes. Alloxan’s harmful effects on the pancreas are so severe that the Textbook of Natural Medicine calls the chemical “a potent beta-cell toxin.” However, even though the toxic effect of alloxan is common scientific knowledge in the research community, the FDA still allows companies to use it when processing foods we ingest.

If you’ve been eating white bread for years and you have a family history of diabetes, you still have a good chance of recovery. Studies show that you can reverse the effects of alloxan by supplementing your diet with vitamin E. According to Dr. Gary Null’s Clinicians Handbook of Natural Healing, vitamin E effectively protected lab rats from the harmful effects of administered alloxan. Now, I know you’re not a lab rat, but you’re also a mammal and vitamin E is definitely worth adding to your daily regimen of nutritional supplements, especially if you have a history of eating foods made with white flour and are at high risk for diabetes.

The next time you serve your child processed white bread, buns and McDondald’s, I want you to think about the fact that you might be damaging your child’s pancreas to the point where he/she gets diabetes or worse -cancer!
If you take your health and life seriously, then you can’t ignore Week 4! Got it? Good!

• NO Processed Sugars – you know why
  
• NO Foods with Processed White Flour
• NO Artificial Sweeteners
  

Now, if you just had a bagel with cream cheese, a muffin and a coffee with a pack of sweetener – I think  you can do better at lunch time!

Enjoy your Week 4

Monika Baechler

www.monikabaechler.com

How to Raise a Healthy Child (page 3)

How involving children in kitchen activities can help them eat healthier.

Even small children can help out in the kitchen. Always remember to tell them about some kitchen safety lesson first.

• Wash your hand with soup before working in the kitchen
• Don’t run with utensils, don’t run in the house! Period.
• Stay away from the hot stove

Cooking with kids can take longer than cooking alone, especially when you just start introducing the basics. Keep in mind the various benefits that children will be developing, from an increase in fine motor skills, to advances in math, measurements and direction taking, as well as a sense of confidence in the kitchen. Cooking together is also a great time to bond for parents and children, take advantage of the fun and the laughs. (7)

Start with simple tasks like mixing and measuring baking ingredients, pouring liquids and washing fruit. Older kids can graduate to harder tasks like chopping fruits, vegetables and preparing salads.

Just remember to be patient with children. Give directions as often as possible and let them know how well they’re doing. Spills can happen if children help in the kitchen and it’s a welcoming opportunity to teach them how to clean up. (7)

Kids who get to touch and prepare foods are more likely to sample it. For that reason, why not let them pick out a new vegetables at the market and figure out a way to cook it together? I bet he or she will be excited to try the weekly vegetable.

Having family meal times can prevent unhealthy eating habits in your children

For many families, eating together has become a lost tradition. The facts are on the table: eating dinner together every night keeps the doors of communication open. It’s the perfect time and place to reconnect and to show your kids that they are your priority. Find out more about your children’s likes, dislikes, and daily life. Having this information can help you guide your children toward positive activities and behavior. (8)

Why are family meal times important?

1. Having sit-down dinners and taking time for your children shows that you care and that your children are important to you
2. Girls who have five or more meals a week with their families are one-third less likely to develop unhealthy eating habits, which can range from skipping meals to full-fledged anorexia (9)
3. Family dinners are a perfect time and place to get involved in your child’s activities and learn more about friends.
4. Parental involvement and influence is an important role in preventing substance abuse (8)

How to put this into a workable plan?

• Limit computer and all media types to 1-2 hours a day
• give them a chance to play outside for at least 30-60 minutes daily
• make sure they get enough exercise 30 – 60 minutes
• monitor their water and fluid intake
• limit their sugar intake
• provide their meal with sufficient whole foods, raw and steamed or broiled
• Let them help in the kitchen

• plan a sit-down meal at least once a day

I wish you and your family good health. If you enjoyed this publications, please don’t forget: Caring means sharing, please share with your friends on Facebook. Keep in touch by subscribing to my eNewsletter.

Stay Healthy and Keep Juicing!

Monika Baechler

1. kidshealth.com
2. Water.org.uk Wise-up Children!
3. Dr. Mercola’s article “This Addictive Commonly Used Food Feeds Cancer Cells, Triggers Weight Gain, and Promotes Premature Aging”
4. Nancy Appleton, PhD, author of the book “Lick the Sugar Habit”
5. Professor Gary Null “Complete Encyclopedia of Natural Healing”
6. “Enzymes: The Fountain of Life”, by D.A. Lopez
7. National Network for Child Care – NNCC. Part of CYFERNET, the National Extension Service
8. American Dietetic Association. Making the Most of Mealtime, last referenced January 31, 2008.
9. The Importance of Family Dinners IV, The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University, September 2007.

previous 1 2 3

What every Mother ought to know about Danger-Foods to small Children!

Peanut butter: Children can be allergic to peanuts or develop reactions like skin disorders. Don’t give peanut butter to small children under 2. Peanuts are heavily sprayed with chemicals and are grown on land saturated with synthetic fertilizers and it might also have a carcinogenic fungus aflatoxin. Only use organic peanut products sparingly or avoid all together to be safe.

Keep your children safe and…

Stay Healthy!

Monika Baechler

Some Parents ought to be slapped!

Enough is enough. When will parents realize that they are responsible for the health of their children and their grandchildren. Stop feeding your kids fast foods, Take-Outs and microwave oven meals! All I hear is whining and complaining from parents who say that they don’t have time, money or the know-how to prepare a homemade meal? Really, that is your excuse? Isn’t it just laziness? North Americans watch three, four or five shows at night and during the day and it adds up to 13 years in one’s lifetime. The weekends are mostly reserved for TV and food, they sit around on the weekends doing nothing. How is it possible that there is no time to care for our children’s health or your own health for that matter?

You are the parents and you only make the decision what to feed your kids. Not the other way around. “But I feel so guilty if I don’t take her/him to McDonald’s for lunch”. Is that your final answer? You feel guilty? Don’t you think you should feel actually guilty for taking your child there in the first place? I do get it, It’s so much easier, faster and more convenient to drive up and let them eat what they want. At least they leave you alone for a while. Right?

What about, “I’m just not a great cook! I have no idea how to prepare a nutritious meal from scratch!” This answer is unacceptable as well, with all the different cooking shows out there and youtube videos you can not be serious. Better yet, ask your neighbor, your friend, your mom or aunt to teach you. It is so simple to take action and responsibility. If your mother didn’t teach you how to cook homemade meals – shame on her too. Don’t make the same mistake.

Would you let your kids eat from a garbage pile? Why not? You’re already feeding your children dead food. You heard me “DEAD FOOD”. There is nothing nourishing in a burger with fries. It has been processed, poisoned and killed. Oh, excuse me, you are feeding your kids the chicken nuggets with apples and milk. Well of course, that does sounds much better! The nuggets are all leftover garbage meat (if you actually can call it meat), filled with poison like antibiotics and other medicine, shaped in a neat little shape and then fried in hot, rancid, carcinogenic oil bath. The apples are soaked in chlorine so they don’t turn brown and the milk is filled with lots and lots of more chemicals, antibiotics and hormones to really make sure that your kids get the daily toxin and poison requirement of the day. There you have it! The perfect meal for your precious little one, a child you brought into this world  whom you promised to take care of with all your strength and means.

Whole foods are simple, inexpensive, wholesome and a necessity to our and our children’s health. Period.

Whole foods are simple, inexpensive, wholesome and a necessity to our and our children’s health. Period. Most behavior problems arise from malnutrition and deficiencies. What about learning difficulties or social problems. Even allergies like asthma will be gone by providing our children with home made foods from whole foods, the way mother nature made them. (not your local fast food chain)Now you can argue with me about this topic all you want, and if you do argue with me, that means that you are feeding your children manufactured crap and you are trying to defend your actions and thoughts.

The only right thing to do here is to acknowledge your mistakes and work towards a healthier and more nutritious home for your kids and family.

With that said, I do believe that mothers can make a change if they are organized and are taught how to do it right. Why do I say Mothers? Well, Mom is the Head of the household. She buys the food, brings it home and cooks the food (zapping it in the microwave). Not only does the Mother buy the groceries but she also budgets the food money (sometimes anyway).

Every time you’re thinking about the next meal, I want you to have one thought: Would Monika approve of this meal I’m about give my family? If the answer is “no” or “maybe not”, I want you to rethink your menu. Wholesome meals are very easy to prepare, they sometimes take less time and money then ordering from your local pizza delivery place. Think about it! Sometimes I spend less then $20 on three days of groceries. Vegetables, whole grains and fruits are not more expensive than manufactured crap that comes in a box. Take out all the processed foods off your grocery list and only add whole grains like millet, brown rice and whole wheat pasta (there is more), vegetables and fruits. Your bill will be much, much less.

Eating healthy, nutritious home cooked meals is less expensive

This morning for example: it was fast, delicious and inexpensive

Breakfast Banana Smoothie with dates

• 2 bananas
• 2 cups almond milk
• 3 dates
• 2 tbsp silken tofu
• add 2 servings of green+ (green food supplement)

blend everything until smooth, done! The boys gobble it up in seconds, and I mean seconds!

Grain and vegetables dishes and fruit dessert are not only feeding the mind and body, they also feed the soul. If you feed your children’s soul, you will experience a more balanced family life without frustration and conflicts. Some kids are very angry and troubled because of malnutrition, deficiencies and toxic livers. Whole grains and vegetables will balance hormones and toxic blood from over acidity.

One more thought. If you’re still using dairy products, make sure you are only choosing organic whole milk. Organic means without any antibiotics or hormones given to the cows. Just to be clear, dairy is not a necessary food group. Not even for children – specially not for children. Milk is mucus forming and very hard to digest for little tummies. Children get many ear infections because of milk products as well as other allergic symptoms, but that is a topic for another blog.

Today I would like to leave you with this:

“Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders. Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations. But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it.” Buddha

Stay Healthy!

Monika Baechler

P.S. Your pediatrician got 6 hours of Nutrition Education and I studied Nutrition and Asian Nutrition since 1999, who are you going to trust? Think about it!

Essential Fatty Acids and why we can’t live without them

So, how important are the Essential Fatty Acids you ask? Very important. They are so vital to life, that humans could not live without them. Two out of the three families are considered essential. They are alpha linolenic acid (ALA) from the omega-3 family and linoleic acid (LA) from the omega-6 family.

Do you know all three of the fatty acid families?

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

• Alpha linolenic acid (ALA)
• Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)
• Docosahexanoic acid (DHA)

Omega-6 Fatty Acids

• Linoleic acid (LA)
• Gamma-linolenic acid (GLA)
• Arachidonic acid (AA)

Omega-9 Fatty Acids

• Oleic acid

It’s really hard to believe but all the fatty acids are important. Our body requires about twenty fatty acids to function properly. The big difference is that alpha linolenic acid and linoleic acid can’t be manufactured by the body and have to be taken in with the diet.

Alpha linolenic acid is a member of the omega-3 fatty acid family. Most of the sources you hear about is probably eating fish and flaxseeds. Some easily accessible foods that contain ALA are walnuts, canola oil and green leafy vegetables. You can even get eggs with omega-3′s.

LA belongs to the omega-6 family. Linoleic acid can be found in foods like Flaxseed oil,flaxseed meal, hempseed oil, hempseeds, grapeseed oil, pumpkin seeds, pine nuts, pistachio nuts, sunflower seeds (raw), olive oil, olives, borage oil, evening primrose oil, black currant seed oil, chestnut oil, chicken plus many more.  Corn, sunflower, soybean, and cottonseed oils are also sources of linoleic acid, but can be refined and may be nutrient-deficient if they are not cold pressed. Some olive oils even say, “Cold Pressed Extra Virgin Olive Oil” that would be the best. Always remember that heat destroys EFA’s . I’m pretty sure that most of these sources are available in your grocery store or whole food store.

Why do we need Essential Fatty Acids?

Essential Fatty Acids are fital for cells to carry out normal functions because fatty acids are part of the cell membranes. Some of the important parts they play are:

• Healthy Brain development and function
• Balanced mood
• Healthy circulation
• Healthy kidney functions
• Pain and inflammation regulation
• Healthy immune function
• Vital for healthy skin, hair and nails (if you want to grow your hair out, you need lots of healthy EFA’s for support)

There are some known physical signs of fatty acid deficiency, some of them are:

• Diabetes
• Asthma
• Arthritis
• Fatigue
• Hair loss
• Dry heels, hands, feet
• cardiovascular Disease
• Cancer
• Depression
• Memory loss
• Hypertension, plus more…

All these healthy fats can go bad and rancid! Making sure you keep all your omegas stored in the fridge ensures a safe storage for your EFA’s. (Essential Fatty Acids) Don’t overdo it with the healthy fats, they are good for you and good for your body but stay withing the suggested guidelines for the daily recommended amount. With only two tablespoons of flaxseed meal you can be on your way to a happier and healthier you. Don’t forget, EFA’s hate the heat, keep them cold and mostly don’t cook with them. EFA’s should be consumed cold in salads, mixed in with smoothies, drinks, on top of healthy cereals and soups. Add the EFA’s at the end of the cooking process when you serve your meal, this will make sure all of the EFA’s are undamaged.

One more thing, it’s not wise to hide healthy supplements from children.Do not sneak it in their foods.  How will they learn to add healthy nutrients into their foods when they are off to college without mom? Always tell your children about why it is important to eat delicious nuts and seeds or other whole foods. Let your children know that the healthy oils helps their brain keep up with the learning in school. Which child doesn’t want to do well in school? Hiding facts doesn’t help them in the long run!

Stay healthy!

Monika Baechler

“Sticking With It in 2010″ The New Years Resolution Help book

“Sticking With It in  2010″

How can you be successful and stick with your New Years Resolution past January?

8-week program to help you develop positive habits and sticking with them for life – starting today!

This is a FREE gift to you, no kidding, this 8-week program to help you with your resolutions this year is a FREE gift to you for the New Year, enjoy!

By Monika Baechler

Download for FREE

Here is a Method That is Helping the Swiss to stay Slim

Salad, comes from the Latin word herba salata and literally means salted vegetables. The Greek and Romans enjoyed salad often and ate the raw greens and vegetables with salt and herbs, hence the name salad – salted vegetables.

Growing up in Switzerland I never got the concept of eating your salad before your meal. It was just something my Hungarian family didn’t do. As a teen I started to understand why one should eat the salad first and follow it with soup and main course. You can cut calories by about 500. Another reason is, the vinegar in the salad dressing will get your stomach acid going so it can be ready to digest the main dish you are about to eat. Smart eh?

Raw salads should consist of:

• leafy greens
• raw root vegetables
• the fruit of the vegetable like tomato, zucchini and peppers
• as well as nuts and seeds

Switching your vegetables everyday is your best bet. You can switch also the colors and spices from spicy to sweet dressing and so forth.

Can you imagine how easy it would be for everybody to loose weight with eating a plate of raw veg salad everyday. Salads don’t have to be rabbit food. Salads are colorful, exciting, tasty, juicy and most importantly healthy and delicious. The crunch will satisfy your cravings and make your jaws work, the more you chew the more vitamins and minerals you get out of your food. It will also take you longer to eat your salad, since chewing raw vegetables is really hard work. Longer meals means less calories consumed and less calories consumed mean less pounds on the scale. Let me explain the last sentence, taking your time with eating means your stomach has the time it takes – about 20-30 min – to signal your brain that you are in fact full. Eating slowly also means that when your brain tells you that you are full you can actually stop eating before emptying the whole plate or bag of chips.

Salads as appetizers should always be on a vinaigrette base and not a cream, mayo or cheese base. Calories from the vinaigrette dressing is less than the mayo base and less will stick to your salad and vegetables as well to your thighs. Keep mayo and cream sauces to a minimum and replace them with a natural yogurt base.

How to put it all in action:

• eat fruit salads or fruit smoothies for breakfast
• serve freshly prepared salads as a appetizer
• introduce children to raw vegetables with hummus dips
• have a leaf and vegetable salad as dinner

Are you aware that raw vegetables are really inexpensive? Yes, I’m not kidding. In season vegetables and fruits are inexpensive and available in you grocery store as very fresh and delicious produce. Fresh and local produce is very high in vitamins and minerals. Always choose the local produce vs the imported ones, it’s healthier and the price is better. Buying a cart full of vegetables is less expensive than buying all the junk food and manufactured empty calories. Your body does not get any satisfaction from eating manufactured foods, so pile up your cart with lots of local veg and fruits the next time you go to the local market.

These days we love to start our main meals with some salad or have a raw salad as dinner. Even as a snack it’s great. Children particularly love the crunchy stuff with dips and sauces.

Stay Healthy!

Monika Baechler

How to fight the Aging Process and strengthen your Immunsystem

Fasting is the abstinence from solid food and addictive substances like alcohol, coffee and drugs for a specific time. This is for therapeutic maybe even for religious purposes. Fasting will support your body by resting your digestive system. Do you know why this is so important? Now that you are fasting, your body can use the energy (calories) you are getting by juice fasting to use elsewhere in your system to heal and repair “stuff”

• I had a client who healed a very old knee wound he sustained in a car accident.
• Couple clients that cured Hemorrhoid after years of suffering.
• A Lady who cured syndrome x
• IBS gone after years of suffering for a teenager

Fasting for 3 to 5 days is considered a short term fast. If you go longer it’s a long term fast. I have seen people go 40 or more days on a juice fast. In our days, I do NOT recommend a water only fast. It is very harsh on our bodies and involves major detox symptoms, which may need hospitalization if you are very toxic to begin with. For expert fasters it is possible to finish a water only fast but don’t go over 10 days. The best idea anyway for seasoned fasters is to combine a juice fast with a water fast. This is done as follows: 5 days juice fast followed by 2-3 days of water fast, again continued by 5 days juice fasting and so forth.

People with blood sugar problems could be adversely affected by a juice fast. I recommend to fast only if you talked to your doctor. (They will not agree with your decision anyway)  If you have syndrome X (insulin resistance) please use only vegetable juices instead of sweet fruits. You can add some granny smith apples for lunch, but do not use them for breakfasts or by themselves and always dilute the juices.
I do believe, that people with high blood sugar can extremely benefit from a juice fast. Your body could in fact “reboot” and use insulin in a more efficient way, if you stick to a changed and improved diet after your fast. (more about the diet later)

Did you know that your body can not get to the nutrients in your vegetables and fruits because it’s encased in fiber? Some 90% of the nutrients in produce we eat are eliminated with the vegetable fiber as it passes through the body. This is why juicing is so important these days, the full 100% of the nutrients in the vegetables and fruits can be absorbed by our body, since the juicer does all the work for you and separates the juice from the fiber in the process. Our system can digest and absorb the juice in about 30 minutes without weighing down the digestive system.

You can find out more and learn more on 30dayjuicefast.com. Information about how to start and try a juicing day or how to buy a juicer are some of the things you will find. Videos are also available and a documentary as well.

Do you have Anemia – Iron- deficiency?

People who have anemia, which means “no blood” in Greek, do have plenty of blood. The problem is that the red blood cells are not carrying their usual capacity for energy-giving oxygen like in healthy people.

When you are not getting enough iron in your diet or you are loosing blood like women as a result of menstruation, the oxygen-carrying capacity of your blood can drop suddenly.

You will feel the effects pretty rapidly. Anemia can bring on low energy, sluggish and weak feeling and brain fog or a feeling of cloudy brain. Oh, you will feel pretty cold all the time. The estimation in the US is about one-third of women have low iron stores and are at high risk to develop anemia.

Fortunately, it’s a very easy problem to correct. The antidote is a very delicious and easy to get – FOOD.

How hard is it to get enough iron in food? Well, it’s not as hard for meat eater as for vegetarians. Meats contain a large amount of iron. For example, 3 ounces of blue mussels has 3 milligrams, and 3 ounces of roasted turkey has 1 milligram of iron. If you are a vegetarian you will have to pay extra attention to your iron intake. A 1/2 cup of canned pumpkin has 2 milligrams and kidney beans and lentils have 3 milligrams in a 1/2 cup. There is enough iron in these foods but the problem could be something called bioavailability.

Bioavailability means: how well our bodies absorb the nutrients we eat. Did you know, that there are two different levels of bioavailability. Iron which we get from meats it’s called heme iron (from hemoglobin – red blood cells) and it’s very easily absorbed by our bodies. The plant based iron found in plant foods is called nonheme, this iron is not so easy to absorb.

If you combine iron foods with vitamin C, you can boost the bioavailability of the iron in the food. You don’t have to worry how much iron food with how much of the vitamin C rich foods, it’s not very important.

How can you boost your iron stores?

Let’s see, if you like clams, meats, legumes and vegetables your in luck, they all contain a good source of iron. Just remember that vitamin C can boost your iron absorption by up to 50%, which is a huge amount. Great vitamin C amounts are in tomatoes, potatoes (eat with skin), lemon dressing on salad, orange juice, pinaplle juice.

NEVER eat iron foods with calcium foods (dairy). They kind of clash and calcium hinders you from absorbing the iron. Keep calcium and iron rich foods apart, at least 3-4 hours.

Vegetarian be ware! You have to watch out and make sure you put extra thought into iron rich foods. Good options are cream of wheat cereals, pumpkin seeds, lentils, kidney beans, pinto, black beans, and split peas. Make sure you supplement your diet with B12 Vitamins if you are a strict vegetarian. Low B12 Vitamins in the body could cause fatigue and tingling in your hands and feet.

Cheers

Monika

Vitamin & Supplement Glossary

Amino Acids. The building blocks that make up proteins. Humans need 20 different amino acids to function properly. Some are made by the body. Others, called essential amino acids, must be obtained from foods.

Antioxidant. Substances, like vitamins A, C, E, and beta-carotene, that protect your body from the damage of oxidation caused by free radicals.

Botanicals. Substances obtained from plants and used in food supplements, personal care products, or pharmaceuticals.

Daily Value. Found on food and drink nutrition labels, this number tells you the percentage of the recommended dietary allowance provided by one serving of the food or drink in question.

Fat Soluble. Fat-soluble vitamins, such as A, D, E, and K, are absorbed by the body with dietary fats. Your body stores excess fat-soluble vitamins in your liver and body fat, then uses them as needed. Ingesting more fat-soluble vitamins than you need can be toxic, causing side-effects like nausea, vomiting, and liver and heart problems.

Fortify. To increase a food or drink’s nutritional value by adding vitamins, minerals, or other substances. For example, milk is fortified with vitamins A and D.

Free Radicals. An atom or molecule with at least one unpaired electron, making it unstable and reactive. When free radicals react with certain chemicals in the body, they may interfere with the ability of cells to function normally. Antioxidants can stabilize free radicals.

Herb. Herbs are plants used as flavorings in cooking, but herbs can also be used as supplements for health or medicinal reasons.

Megadose. Supplements that provide more than 100% of the daily value of the body’s required vitamins and minerals.

Micronutrients. The name given to vitamins and minerals because your body needs them in small amounts. Micronutrients are vital to your body’s ability to process the “macronutrients:” fats, proteins, and carbohydrates.

Minerals. Nutrients found in the earth or water and absorbed by plants and animals for proper nutrition. Minerals are the main component of teeth and bones, and help build cells and support nerve impulses, among other things.

Multivitamin. A pill, beverage, or other substance containing more than one vitamin.

Oxidation. A chemical reaction in which oxygen combines with a substance, changing or destroying its normal function. Oxidation can damage cell membranes and interfere with a cell’s regulatory systems.

Phytochemicals. Health-protecting compounds found in fruits, vegetables, and other plants. Phytochemicals (sometimes called phytonutrients) include beta-carotene, lycopene, and resveratrol.

Prenatal Vitamins. Specially formulated multivitamins that ensure a pregnant woman gets enough essential micronutrients. Prenatal supplements generally contain more folic acid, iron, and calcium than standard adult supplements.

Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA). The amount of nutrients needed daily to maintain good health in most people.

Supplements. Vitamins, minerals, herbs, or other substances taken orally and meant to correct deficiencies in the diet.

Vitamins. Naturally found in plants and animals, vitamins are vital to growth, energy, and nerve function. There are two types of vitamins used by the body to support health: fat-soluble and water-soluble.

Water-Soluble. Water-soluble vitamins like B-6, C, and folic acid are easily absorbed by the body. Your body uses the vitamins it needs, then excretes excess water-soluble vitamins in urine. Because these vitamins are not stored in the body, there is less risk of toxicity than with fat-soluble vitamins.

Currants stop Cancer before it starts?

It’s not the high value of vitamin C that excited researchers. Gary D. Stoner, Ph.D., director of the cancer chemo-prevention program at the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center in Columbus says, ellagic acid is a member of a disease-fighting family of compounds know as polyphenols. Raspberries, strawberries, and grapes also contain polyphenols. In laboratory studies, ellagic acid has been shown to be a powerful antioxidant, meaning that it helps neutralize free radicals, harmful oxygen molecules that are missing one electron.

What are free radicals? Well, free radicals are harmful oxygen molecules which are missing an electron. So they try to replace it with one from your healthy cells, therefore causing cellular changes which could lead to cancer. Ellagic acid has also been shown to block the effects of cancer-causing chemicals in the body at the same time it stimulates the activity of enzymes that fight cancer growth. Because of these two reasons, ellagic acid in currants, make it a powerful ally for blocking cancer.

Doctors are not really sure how much currants you would have to eat to get the cancer fighting effect. Dr. Stoner speculates that four to six servings of fruits (including currants) and vegetables a day is enough to substantially lower your risk of developing cancer.

Please be smart, only if you eat healthy whole foods like fruits and vegetables plus follow a exercise program can you prevent degenerative deseases. But including cancer-fighting foods like currants you could enhance the effect!

How do I get rid of Dark Circles under my Eyes?

I get lots of questions about dark circles under the eyes or tired eyes. Let me burst your bubble right now, there is no cream that can replace the tips I’m about to tell you. There is no wonder cream out there, that can help you with the dark circles and puffy tired eyes. But you already knew that…

Dark circles under the eyes is a sign of poor digestion and/or poor kidney functions. There, I put the whole truth out there and you did not have to spend a cent for it.

Of course will I also tell you the steps to fix the problem and get rid of those nasty dark circles and get beautiful rested eyes like young girls have back.

The first thing is to detox your body and all your major organs, like lungs, kidney, liver and so forth. You don’t have to go to Hydrotherapy but it is necessary to clean the colon by eating fruits, vegetables, whole grains and vegetable juices every day. You should also use some sort of fiber colon supplement if possible.

Drink plenty of water, unsweetened tea and vegetable juices every day to clean your kidney and assist your liver with the detox. You will feel better and more energetic in about three days. Don’t be alarmed if you have some headache or feel tired during the first couple of days, it’s part of the detox. Just let your body do it’s work so YOU can do your job and live a healthy life.

Don’t eat any sugar, candy, pops, coffee (one cup if you have to) meat or pastry for at least 2-4 weeks. After these weeks you will feel like a new person. You will feel and look at least 10 years younger and have more energy then you ever had in your life.

You don’t believe me? Go ahead and try it, I dear you! Try the 2-4 weeks and report back to me, and let me know how you did. Did you lose weight, did you get rid of gas? Do you look and feel younger?

If you have digestive problems like gas, bloating or other issues with your digestive system, I do recommend to take Digestive Enzymes and Probiotics as well as a fiber supplement.

Good Luck to you, and let me know how it worked out for you.

Monika

If this or an other article helped you and you enjoyed it, please donate to monikabaechler.com, thank you!

Hypochlorhydria, Low Stomach Acid

Hypochlorhydria is the condition of low stomach acid.

We’ve all heard about excess stomach acid and heartburn, but what about the condition low stomach acid? It’s believed to be involved in indigestion, premature aging, food sensitivities, nutritional deficiency, bacterial overgrowth, yeast infections, weak hair, skin, and nails, plus other conditions. Most of the times, people thinks they have excess stomach acid. Instead their acid levels are to low, and that’s why they have trouble digesting the food. Taking more anti acids can actually worsen the condition.

Are you asking yourself why we need stomach acid?

1. Without stomach acid, we can’t digest and absorb the protein we eat. That’s because stomach acid is needed to produce an enzyme called pepsin, which breaks down protein.
2. Fat and carbohydrate absorption also rely on stomach acid. Stomach acid causes the release of secretin, which then “tells” the pancreas to produce enzymes that digests fat, protein, and carbohydrates.
3. Stomach acid helps keep the digestive tract sterile, preventing the overgrowth of bacteria as well as yeast. Low stomach acid can lead to bacterial overgrowth or chronic Candida yeast infection.
4. Stomach acid is needed to properly absorb vitamins and minerals.

Solution to your problem is very easy, inexpensive and very delicious! You probably wonder, why did my Dr. never tell me it was this easy? Well, lets face it, Dr’s. are great, but we usually forget: Dr’s. are no Nutritionists and definitely no Registered Dietitian.

Sauerkraut and pickles, as well as pickled beets will be your best friend for the next couple of weeks. Eat any of these condiments at least 3 times a day. Have some pickles or beets with your sandwich at lunch, incorporate the beets in your raw food salad. It’s very easy to build up your stomach acid again. In the beginning you could have some pineapple with your protein foods to help and ease digestion.

You also have to change your eating habits! Stay away from to fatty and to heavy foods like pizza, fried foods and heavy desserts. If you need more information try this “Digestive Pain Gone In As Little As 1 Day…”

Keep up the good work, and eat healthy!

If this or an other article helped you and you enjoyed it, please donate to monikabaechler.com, thank you!

Zinc for hormones, libido and fertility.

Zinc is needed to make so many hormones, keep your immune system healthy, skin regeneration and healing, growth, eye health, blood-sugar metabolism. It is very well known to keep your sex-life juicy and keep you fertile. You don’t know how important zinc is until you have a zinc deficiency. Zinc deficiency sings are hair loss, poor wound healing, poor immune function, diarrhea, skin conditions like acne, white spots on the nails. The most important for women is hair loss and low libido. If you feel disconnected from your husband and just don’t feel like sex or snuggling up at all, you must be zinc deficient.

Daily optimal intake is 15 – 30 mg of zinc and toxicity is very rare, you would need to get more than 150 mg a day and that would lead to immune system suppression, or digestive upset or anemia.

Great sources of zinc are oysters, herring, shellfish and red meat. For vegetarians it’s whole grains, legumes and nuts. Why do you think everybody is talking about oysters being a aphrodisiac? Because it’s full of zinc and zinc helps you with low and not existing libido. Tomorrow, get your honey out for oysters and some seafood, you might get lucky!

Have a great night out!

Monika

Some other Zinc Sources are:

If this or an other article helped you and you enjoyed it, please donate to monikabaechler.com, thank you!

Claustrophobia

Claustrophobia is a fear of small places. a very smart natural Doctor ones said, that claustrophobia is a phosphorus deficiency and it can be cured by eating lots of celeriac and strawberries.

Celeriac is a root vegetable and taste delicious prepared as a raw salad. Grate it or cut matchsticks it and dress it with a light yogurt or mayonnaise salad dressing or a vinaigrette. Mmmm…

You can also make a outstanding veg soup with celeriac but make sure you DO eat the broth, cause the vitamins and minerals are cooked into the broth also.

And the very wise Doctor also said that children learn better if they eat enough phosphorus like strawberries. Try it, it can’t hurt!

Monika

If this or an other article helped you and you enjoyed it, please donate to monikabaechler.com, thank you!

Welcome to the Baechler Health and Nutrition Blog

Do you care about living a long healthy life, getting degenerative diseases, saving your children and grandchildren from obesity and illnesses, getting cancer and paying healthcare? Because if you don’t, then this blog is not for you! Thanks for visiting.

If you do care about those things – then read on:

Sadly and ironically in a land of plenty, on a continent of excess, many people are so highly deficient in vitamins and vital minerals as a horrific result of our food productions and processing methods. These deficiencies will lead to all sorts of horrible degenerative diseases, because dead food leads to dead cells. The question is not if – the question is when.

So you are telling me that you eat whole grains and organic foods and make sure you only buy whole wheat bread and so forth. Now consider this, most maufacturers make exceptionally poor-quality organic foods available, for example the organic white sugar and various organic cane juices and cane juice powders, which are simply refined sugar – unless it specifically says “unrefined”. Most of the time the word “organic” is used to mask an unwholesome food. Only because it says “organic” that doesn’t mean it’s good for you or your children. Manufacturers use the highly obsessed over big “O” to lure consumers to buy bad foods and it nearly fools everyone and it is one of the most deceiving and sickest marketing games today.

Even harder to metabolize and worse for your health than white sugar are the refined oils. If the product is not labeled with “unrefined,” then they are refined and these commonly used canola and other oils are the worst foods that can be eaten.

There is no Right- for- all- Diet, and with diet we always refer to the daily foods you eat not a calorie or fat reduced way of eating. Some people need to be vegetarians because of the love for animals or are even vegens.  Others prefere to eat raw-vegens or just raw. Not every body is suited for one kind of diet and every body has to figure out for themselves which diet is right for them. You can also be in between raw and whole foods, for example if you eat 60-80% raw but sometimes like to eat some broiled fish with steamed vegetables or some organic broken bone and vegetable soup.

All you really have to remember is this: 100% Whole Foods or at least 95%.

1. Eat a varied and abundant organic vegetables and fruits (organic most of the times or all the times)
2. Eat organic, range-fed animals without antibiotics added and grain fed animal products, about 4 ounces daily (animal protein is optional)
3. Choose a variety of plant seeds like roasted pumpkin seeds, ground or soaked flax meal and legumes
4. supplement with sea vegetables and micro-algae, including chlorella, wild blue-green algae, and spirulina
5. add healthy exercise every day

The perfect balance in your body is one of the most important things, the balance between acidity and alkalinity. Let me give you an example: Meat, fish, sausage, eggs, noodles, white bread, processed foods and sugar are very acidic to our bodies, but most veg, salads, tofu, fresh herbs, fruits and many more things are very alkaline (acid neutralizing) to our bodies.

Many people don’t pay attention if they have heartburn or a sour stomach, but they really should. That is a very specific sign that you are in deed acidic and need to change your diet and lifestyle. Yes I now, I’m preaching about the healthy lifestyle again and eating right blah, blah, blah…

But listen, do you want to end up like older friends and relatives, sick with all kinds of industrialized illnesses like, gout, arthritis, migraines, type 2 diabetes, cancer, obesity…? No? I didn’t think so. If you’re experiencing some or more of these symptoms you can reverse them with a whole food diet.

If this or an other article helped you and you enjoyed it, please share this with your family and friends.

Stay Healthy!

Monika Baechler