“Somebody said that it couldn’t be done…” Edgar Albert Guest

For I can do everything with the help of Christ who gives me the strength I need. (Phil. 4:10; NLT)

Some said we couldn’t last. I would have been quick to agree if challenged. We signed on for a year agreeing to write five posts a week. (Hence the moniker Daily Gram.) After we reached our one-year goal, we decided to keep going, but relaxed our standards to four a week.

All that to brag by saying that this is officially Daily Gram number 700! Can you believe it? Yes, we’ve been writing this blog for just shy of three years now.

There’s one more thing that makes this particular Daily Gram unique. A good friend of mine, who actually encouraged me to start a blog a good year ahead of when Dr. Joseph (then known as Randy) Peck convinced Sharon and I to start blogging, wrote a blog post himself last week. I’m referring to John Chasteen who writes a blog known as Hey Coach John.

John’s blog (today’s Link of the day) was all about smart phones–and he ended his post by saying that his whole post was written on his I-phone. I was impressed! It made me wonder if I could write a Daily Gram on my Droid. Well I did it! This is it. But let me assure you, I won’t be doing it again any time soon.

PS–In the interest of full disclosure, I must confess that I had to go to the computer to add the color and the links.

Blessings to you!

Prayer Power
Father, we thank You for technology and how it has made so many things possible that were unimagined just a few years earlier. Guide us to use it wisely and responsibly.

Link of the Day
The Whole World in the Palm of Your Hand

“Every human being is the author of his own health or disease.”  Buddha

Whatever you eat or drink or whatever you do, you must do all for the glory of God.  (1 Cor. 10:31; NLT)

You never appreciate how valuable your health and wellness really is until it starts to erode — or disappear.  Here’s a quick list of tips that can keep you out of your doctor’s office and out of your local pharmacy as well.

1. Eat several meals a day — Heresy!  I’m trying to shed a few pounds.  Well, one of the secrets to losing fat is to eat several times a day.  Snacks, healthy snacks that is, help keep your blood sugar levels stable, and reduce the desire to overeat when you do sit down to a full meal.  And no, healthy snacks don’t include candy bars and donuts.
2. Watch those liquid calories — I’m not advocating calorie counting, but rather, avoiding useless calories.  You can pretty easily consume 1,000 liquid calories a day if you remain unaware.  Watch out for those double mocha lattes.  Water is always your best choice — which leads me to the next tip.
3. Drink lots of water every day — What’s lots?  We recommend a half-ounce of water for every pound of body weight (ounces = body weight ÷ 2).  Yes, that’s a lot of water for many of us.  But you don’t have to immediately start drinking that amount.  Assess where you are now and set a goal to drink a little more each day until you get to where you ought to be.  You’ll be amazed how much better you will feel.  And by the way, drinking an 8-oz. glass of water before each meal will help you eat a lot less too.
4. Exercise three to five times a week — It doesn’t have to be a lot, walking will do.  Just do it.  An accountability partner or exercise buddy helps immensely with this discipline.  Please understand that exercise is not optional to wellness.  Again, assess where you are and do a little more each day until you are where you ought to be.  The penalty for non-compliance is not pretty.
5. Eat a big breakfast — “Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and supper like a pauper.”  Unfortunately, our culture has taught us just the opposite.  Following tip #1 above will make this much easier.  A big meal  just before retiring is never a good thing to do.
6. Toss your scales — The issue is never pounds, it’s always fat.  Scales don’t measure fat, at least not directly.  Your goals should always be focused on how your clothes fit and feel.  Scales have a tendency to divert your attention away from the important and also cause discouragement and despair.

So that’s it.  Six quick tips to heath and wellness.  None of them hard; none of them expensive — unless you choose to not do them.  Then the price cannot be calculated.

Prayer Power
Father, help us to see and recognize the long-term cost of the way we live.  Grant us the discipline to do what we can before it’s too late.

Link of the Day
What does the Bible say about health?

Photo by kate at yr own risk

“Most consumers don’t know it, but antiperspirant deodorant products often contain extremely toxic chemicals and heavy metals that can cause severe harm to the human nervous system.”  Mike Adams

Make them sweat! That will teach them to listen to these liars!  (Ex. 5:9b; NLT)

With the summer temperatures being in the triple digits, there’s a whole lot of sweatin’ going on.  Some people such as my husband will have sweat trickling down their brow and rolling down their arms within ten minutes of just standing in the heat.  So, what’s a sweaty person to do?

Perhaps you’ve heard that your deodorant or antiperspirant is dangerous to your health, but you’re not sure why or what to do about it?  Antiperspirants are different than deodorants.  Antiperspirants work by clogging, closing, or blocking the pores that release sweat by using aluminum as the active ingredient which prevents the body from releasing sweat. Deodorants work by neutralizing the smell of the sweat but don’t actually prevent sweating.

According to a study conducted in 2004 by Dr. Kris McGrath, a Chicago allergist, immunologist, and internist, there is a connection between antiperspirants, underarm shaving, and cancer.

According to a recent post by Dr. Mercola, McGrath “believes the culprits in these antiperspirants are the toxins in aluminum salts such as aluminum chlorohydrate. He says they don’t normally penetrate the skin enough to cause a problem–unless the skin is shaven. If you disrupt the skin by shaving, it can open up the door, because just under the skin is the lymphatic system, which is connected to the breast.”

In Dr. McGrath’s study, “more than 400 Chicago-area breast cancer survivors recalled their lifetime history of using antiperspirants and underarm shaving. He found that women who perform underarm shaving more aggressively had a diagnosis of breast cancer 22 years earlier than the non-users.”

I stopped using traditional deodorants many years ago with the realization that my body was sensitive to the chemicals they contained.  I’ve tried many of the more natural ones available on the market.  Many people use and think the stones or deodorant crystals are good.  I developed a rash with intense itching when I used those. I soon learned that most of them contain aluminum salts.

The first thing to do, (if you haven’t already) is to eliminate the use of any and all antiperspirants. The body was meant to sweat.  Sweating is good for us!  Don’t interfere with that process.  When looking for a natural deodorant to help with odor control, make sure it doesn’t contain parabens or propylene glycol.  Parabens are used as preservatives, and the label may say, methyl paraben, ethyl paraben, propyl paraben, butyl paraben, or isobutyl paraben.

Today’s link from Mike Adams is a great article on the dangers of antiperspirants and commercial deodorants.  He also offers some acceptable brand names for personal use.  I’m currently using one from Aubrey Organics.

PS–When I wrote this article, I had no idea that Jerry was going to post the article, The Price of a Pretty Face and a Sweet Smell, but the two articles sure go hand in hand.

Prayer Power
Father, thank You for Your love and care for our readers.  Bless them with health and wisdom this day.

Link of the Day
Beware of aluminum in deodorant products

Photo by Finizio

“It’s confusing out there in the unregulated marketplace where consumers don’t have a right to know everything that is in products we use on our bodies and even ‘natural’ personal care products can be full of toxic chemicals.”  The Story of Stuff Project

You drink wine by the bowlful, and you perfume yourselves with exotic fragrances, caring nothing at all that your nation is going to ruin.  (Amos 6:6; NLT)

Click here to view this video on your iPhone or to download to your computer.

This is a well-done, hard-hitting, animated video that reveals the hidden price we all pay to look good, smell good, generally not be offensive to our fellow man.  Thanks to Mike Adams of NaturalNews.com for bringing it to our attention.

Lest our male readers think this doesn’t pertain to them, the following quote from a faq document on the producer’s web site should put that argument in perspective, “Surveys show that on average, women use 12 products containing 168 ingredients every day, men use 6 products with 85 ingredients, and children are exposed to an average of 61 ingredients daily.  The large majority of these chemicals have not been assessed for safety by the industry-funded CIR safety panel.”

And the product labels don’t provide much help here as federal law doesn’t require that all ingredients in cosmetics be listed.  OK, but surely the FDA would not allow products that are harmful to be sold in the marketplace, right?  The problem with that line of defense is that the FDA does not have the authority even require that manufacturers test for safety, let alone to impose product recalls of harmful cosmetics.  Nor are manufacturers even required to report injuries that do occur.  So there’s not much help from our benevolent uncle on this front.

But my favorite product says it’s all natural and/or hypoallergenic, safe for young children (even babies).  Well that dog won’t hunt either.  By and large, cosmetic marketing claims are unregulated and unsubstantiated.  I’m not saying it’s all hype — some are more reliable than others.  How do you know which are which?  Good luck!  You’re on your own.

I’m certainly not making a case that we should all walk around unkempt and reeking with BO, but this video certainly makes a good case that the consumer must take responsibility for their own health and wellness.  You can’t expect anyone else to “watch your back.”

Prayer Power
Father, another situation where man’s greed has trumped social responsibility.  Give us grace to discern the truth.

Link of the Day
The Story of Cosmetics: Frequently Asked Questions

“These primitives stand forth in sharp contrast to those subsisting on the ‘impoverished foods of civilization’ – sugar, white flour, pasteurized milk, and convenience foods filled with extenders and additives.”  Dr. Weston A Price

Your teeth are as white as newly washed sheep. They are perfectly matched; not one is missing.  (Solomon 6:6; NLT)

How many of our readers have a story to tell about their wisdom teeth?  My own story was such a nightmare that I’ve worked hard to forget the entire experience, which was over thirty years ago.  However, when I read articles such as the one mentioned below, some of that horrible memory seeps back into my conscious mind.  And when someone is telling me that they’re scheduled to have their wisdom teeth removed, I remain strangely quiet.  I’m not about to inflict further terror into their heart and mind by sharing what I endured.

“Wisdom teeth, also called the Third Molars, are the furthest back teeth, erupt between the ages of about 16 and 25 years old and are the last teeth to come in. In a large percentage of the population, these third molars either come in improperly or get ’stuck’ behind other teeth, leading to infections and other dental problems. According to most dental sources, these ‘impacted’ wisdom teeth are considered ‘Normal’ due to the human evolution towards a smaller jaw. In the research of isolated cultures by a curious dentist, however, his findings prove that impacted wisdom teeth are a problem caused by nutrition and NOT evolution.”

Did you catch that?  Impacted wisdom teeth are caused by poor nutrition.  Earlier this week I wrote a post about poor nutrition contributing to Anorexia Nervosa.  Now, we read that poor nutrition causes impacted wisdom teeth.  I’m referring to a recent article in NaturalNews.com by Kerri Knox, RN, entitled “Poor Nutrition Causes Impacted Wisdom Teeth.”

In the mid 1930’s, a dentist by the name of Dr. Weston Price set out to study some of the most isolated cultures on earth. His travels took him to the Swiss Alps, to the African jungles and to the tundra of northern Canada. In each village, Dr. Price took measurements and pictures of the faces and teeth of people who still ate exclusively as their ancestors had for generations. Most had never, or almost never, eaten processed foods such as sugar or white flour.  His findings were shocking!  In every case, people who had never eaten processed foods had healthy and functional ‘wisdom teeth.’

Kerri Knox goes on to say, “In order to make sure that this was not due to genetics, Dr. Price also did studies of the people from these villages who had migrated to the nearby cities and had begun eating processed foods.

“He consistently found that cultures in which there were no processed foods, the adults all had healthy, erupted and functional third molars; those who DID eat processed food had impacted wisdom teeth in the same percentage as the other city dwellers.”

Sad to say, this ‘politically incorrect’ theory that poor nutrition contributes to the modern day problem of impacted wisdom teeth is vehemently denied by the dental industry.

Prayer Power
Father, we bless our readers this day with health; from the top of their head to the bottom of their feet.

Link of the Day
Price-Pottenger Nutrition Foundation

Photo by purejuice2

“Coffee milk is a drink similar to chocolate milk; however, instead of chocolate syrup, coffee syrup is used. It is the official state drink of Rhode Island.”  Wikipedia

They offered him wine drugged with myrrh, but he refused it.  (Mark 15:23; NLT)

Unless you’re from New England, you’ve probably never heard of coffee milk.  It is literally milk that has been “drugged” with coffee.  We had the privilege of living in Rhode Island for almost two years and simply could not believe how pervasive coffee milk was among the Rhode Islanders.  We were told that it was not uncommon to put coffee milk in baby bottles and feed to infants.  Amazing!!!

This DG is not about coffee milk, but it is about coffee for kids.  Yesterday, AOL posted an incredible article titled “Kids and Coffee: A Growing and Unhealthy Trend.”  I’ve included it as today’s link.  It’s alarming to read that the National Coffee Association reports that the fastest growing group of coffee drinkers is teenagers and young adults.  That would be bad enough, but it doesn’t stop with teenagers — it extends down to include children.

Quoting from the AOL article, “The biggest problem, however, is that children and teens aren’t reaching for that cup of black coffee. They prefer the so-called mochaccinos and Starbuck’s Frappuccinos, which are loaded with sugar and calories. In fact, some of these drinks can have more than double the empty calories of soda.”

To verify the point, just look at the link I sent out last week describing the 20 worst drinks in America.  Number 11 on the list was Starbucks Peppermint White Chocolate Mocha with Whipped Cream that weighed in with 660 calories, 22 g fat (15 g saturated), and 95 g of sugar (equalivent to 8½ scoops Edy’s Slow Churned Rich and Creamy Coffee Ice Cream). ” In this 20-ounce cup, Starbucks manages to pack in more calories and saturated fat than two slices of deepdish sausage and pepperoni pizza from Domino’s. That makes it the equivalent of dinner and dessert disguised as a cup of coffee,” writes the author of that alarming exposé.

Is it any wonder that kids like this stuff?  Do kids like ice cream?  Duh!  Where oh where did the parents go?  Unfortunately, in all too many cases, they are right there with their children paying for that kiddie koffee as they purchase their own cuppa sugar and cream-laced “joe.”

Prayer Power
Father, sometimes we just don’t know how to pray.  What will it take to wake us up to what we’re doing to our own bodies?  And then we blame You when we contract one of the many life-style diseases.

Link of the Day
Kids and Coffee: A Growing and Unhealthy Trend

Photo by Damien M.

“After years of treating patients with eating disorders, it’s become painfully apparent to me that psychiatry misunderstands anorexia.”  James Greenblatt, MD

Then you will gain renewed health and vitality.  (Prov. 3:8 NLT)

I recently read an excerpt from a new book entitled, Answers to Anorexia: A New Biological Breakthrough Treatment that is Saving Lives written by James Greenblatt, MD.  Dr. Greenblatt says, “Psychiatrists have confused the obvious effects of anorexia nervosa (depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive behavior) with its causes. Thus, they’re treating depression, panic attacks, compulsions, obsessive behavior, and other psychological conditions in an effort to quell anorexia, when it’s actually the starvation that is causing these conditions in the first place.”

Through the years I’ve known of women who have struggled with various eating disorders.  I too had been taught that anorexia was a psychological disorder and I would look at “emotional and psychological” reasons for this aberrant behavior.  However, in my quest to regain my own health, I discovered that nutritional deficiencies in the body can create many problems including those that seem emotional or psychological in nature.  When the brain is malnourished, it can’t function properly.

Dr. Greenblatt says something very similar.  “Approaching anorexia nervosa as a psychological disorder does not take into account the brain’s physiological response to a shortage of essential nutrients. Regardless of culture, psychological traits, or family pressures, the results of starving remain the same: a malnourished mind.”

He goes on to say that “research from as early as the 1970’s has suggested zinc deficiency may play a role in the development of anorexia nervosa. The signs of symptoms of zinc deficiency include decreased appetite, weight loss, altered taste, depression and amenorrhea. Zinc is one of the most prevalent trace elements found in the brain. Meat and fish are the best sources of zinc and many plant and wheat products impair absorption of zinc.

“Adolescents are typically eating diets low in zinc and high in inhibitors of the absorption of zinc! Controlled research studies have supported the use of zinc in the treatment of anorexia nervosa, yet the medical community has been slow to integrate zinc therapy as a component of a multifaceted treatment program. Other nutritional deficiencies are prevalent in patients with eating disorders. A recent study of anorexia nervosa and omega-3 supplementation showed improvement in patients supplemented with 1 gram of essential fatty acids in addition to standard treatments.

“It is important to understand that anorexia is not an illness that people choose. We may choose to diet and lose weight, but we don’t choose to become delusional about our health and weight. We don’t choose to incessantly obsess about food and how and what we eat. After eating patterns are altered, brains are changed. This spurs on further weight loss and pathological eating behaviors. Anorexia nervosa is complex, puzzling, and biologically and emotionally malignant.”

The article ends with Dr. Greenblatt saying that even though there are predisposing factors to developing anorexia such as societal pressure to be thin, family dynamics, etc., the true cause of the disease is malnourishment of the brain. So, there is much hope for families coping with this ill-understood malady.

Prayer Power
Father, thank You for hope, thank You for wisdom.  We seek You for both.

Link of the Day
Answers to Anorexia: A Breakthrough Nutritional Treatment That Is Saving Lives
Meet Dr. Greenblatt

Photo by minor9th

“We live in a society that’s fascinated with all things big. It’s inherently American to push for something bigger and better than anyone else has.”  Scott Hume

Pride goes before destruction,  (Prov. 16:18a; NKJ)

The obvious answer to the perhaps inane or naive question posed in the title is probably always a resounding “Yes!” but one has to wonder what drives people to bring it on themselves.

Last week, I wrote a Daily Gram about the 20 worst drinks in America.  Later in the week, I happened upon an article in USA Today about a foot-long cheeseburger.  Can you imagine that?  Three burgers, three pieces of cheese with a mere 850 calories swimming in 20 grams of saturated fat.

Turns out, according to USA Today anyway, that this is part of a trend for fast food chains to focus on “concocting more items intriguingly low in price but large in size.”

You know, it’s easy to blame the “evil” fast food chains, the “evil” food manufacturers, the “evil” advertisers, et al.  But who is really to blame for such insanity?  It can only be me and you.  After all, we’re the ones who keep sticking our hands in our jeans and giving all these “evil” entities our money.  After all, that’s what they’re in business for — to satisfy my demands and your demands.  If we weren’t giving them our money, they wouldn’t be doing what they’re doing.

So, if you want to see even more ridiculous, people-killing behavior from the marketplace, just keep playing the victim and blaming someone else for the health crisis that’s occurring in our country.  People are amazing!

Long live the orthorexia nervosics! (They will! )

Prayer Power
Father, we have seen the enemy and it is us.  Grant us the ability to see what we are doing to ourselves.

Link of the Day
12-inch burger?

Photo by Combined Media

“I counsel aspartame victims worldwide and witness nine out of ten clients restore their health by following the Aspartame Detoxification Program. Recovery from Aspartame Disease begins with detoxifying your body of all residual chemical toxins from aspartame’s chemical structure of phenylalanine, aspartic acid and methanol and their toxic by-products.”  Dr. Janet Starr Hull

Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; Teach a just man, and he will increase in learning. (Prov. 9:9; NKJ)

In my recent Daily Gram I outlined the difference between Diet Coke and Coke Zero pointing out that they both contain caffeine, phosphoric acid, and the artificial sweetener, aspartame.  Coke Zero actually contains two artificial sweeteners with the second one being acesulfame potassium or AceK.

Today we take a trip to a local grocery store to look at another common food that most people enjoy.  However, do you know what’s really in that smooth, sweet “treat” you’re thinking is so good for you?  Deceived again?

Watch the video to learn more.

Prayer Power
Father, thank You for bringing the correct information to our readers on how they can learn the truth and take the best care of their bodies that they possibly can.

Link of the Day
Dangers of Aspartame Poisoning

“Essentially it’s a mocha Blizzard made with Oreo cookies and topped with whipped cream and an
oversize Oreo. The result is a beverage with more calories than two Big Macs and more sugar than any other drink in America.” [sugar equal to 41 Oreo cookies]

Do not carouse with drunkards and gluttons, for they are on their way to poverty.  (Prov. 23:20, 21a; NLT)

What a title!  Who ever even thinks of the 20 worst of anything?  It’s always the 20 best.  And that’s as it should be.  Whatever you focus on will grow, therefore focusing on the 20 best is the proper emphasis.

However, not focusing from time to time on the 20 worst can lead to apathy and generally being uninformed.  And that’s certainly the case here.  I’ve attached a mind-boggling pdf today entitled the “20 Worst Drinks in America 2010.”

When a friend sent me this earlier in the week, I couldn’t believe my eyes.  I found myself, on the one hand saying, “How could anybody drink one of these atrocities?” and on the other hand recognizing that “Hmmmm…that sure sounds tasty!”

Sharon and I talked about this after she read it and I made the comment that before she came along to clean up my eating habits, I would have not even thought twice about being totally driven by my taste buds and drinking one (or more) of these potions and loving it.  She pointed out that 30 years ago (before she came along) the worst of the worst was nothing like what’s being offered up here by the best of the worst.  That was before aspartame, super-size me, high-fructose corn syrup, and the multitude of other toxins which are regularly introduced into our food supply for the uninformed and unthinking masses to “enjoy.”

Folks, please read this list and think about what it might mean to take in over 2000 calories, over 130 grams of fat, and over 150 grams of sugar (like eating 30 Chewy Chips Ahoy Cookies) in one beverage.  Gee, how about a Triple Whopper with cheese to go with it?

P.S., As best as we can tell, the original of this document came from http://eatthis.menshealth.com/slideshow/20-worst-drinks-america-2010#title, but believe me, it’s easier to read the pdf than it is to fight through all the pop-ups and other distractions provided by menshealth.com.

Prayer Power
Father, please wake us up to see what we are allowing to happen to our food supply.  Grant us the grace to recognize how detrimental some of these “treats” really are to our health.

Link of the Day
20 Worst Drinks in America 2010

Photo by gfpeck