We cannot hold a torch to light another’s path without brightening our own.  Ben Sweetland

Let’s build a great city with a tower that reaches to the skies– a monument to our greatness! This will bring us together and keep us from scattering all over the world.  (Gen. 11:4; NLT)

Let’s see…we’ve been branding ourselves as The Coaching Pair for close to a decade now.  Our very first web site used the pair of Cape Henry Lighthouses as the overall theme of our site.  The header you see above this Daily Gram is something like the third generation, but it has always included pics of us and pics of the pair of lighthouses.

We love the image of lighthouses.  It is such a graphic word-picture of what a life coach is and does, i.e., provide guidance and encouragement for those who trying to get somewhere but are casting about in the seas of life in need of encouragement and direction.

Actually, the lighthouse pair in our header is only about 18 miles away from us, but believe it or not, we had never seen them, up close and personal.  You know how it is — when you live in an area, you never do the tourist things.  It’s a shame, but I know we’re not alone in that indefensible behavior.

So, on Labor Day, 2010, we packed a water bottle, a couple of healthy energy bars, and headed for the ocean to find the two lighthouses.  We’re excited to report to you that they’re still there.  Standing tall in all their majestic glory.  We even got to climb to the top of the old one (over 100 steps to the top).

I wrote a DG when we put the new blog header up which gives a little of the history of the two Cape Henry Lights, so I won’t go through any of that again today.  But we did take a bunch of photos, like any good tourist should.  If you’re interested, they are today’s link — pics of The Coaching Pair with the Lighthouse Pair.  It was a fun day.

Prayer Power
Father, we thank You for the blessing of living so near to the Cape Henry Lights and for the historic place they hold in the establishment of our great country.  Thank You for those who had the foresight and expertise to construct them.

Link of the Day
Cape Henry Lighthouses

Photo from http://www.virginia.org/

“But the rats receiving the cornflakes and water died before the rats who were given the box….”  Sally Fallon quoting 1960 research study done at Ann Arbor University

…and don’t desire all the delicacies– deception may be involved.  (Prov. 23:3; NLT)

Most Americans have a blatant, unabashed, and outright love affair going on in their lives…each and every morning.  Many can’t wait to go to bed at night so they can wake up and start their day with their “obsession.”  This “love affair” comes in various shapes, colors, and sizes.  No discrimination here.  And to further add to the deception, they believe that what they’re doing is actually health-promoting and life-giving!

We’re bombarded with gorgeous ads and slick talkers telling us that our “lover” is full of fiber, loaded with vitamins and minerals, and will lower our cholesterol, as well as our waist size!

Quoting from Nourishing Traditions,

Whole grains that have been processed by high heat and pressure to produce puffed wheat, oats, and rice are actually quite toxic and have caused rapid death in test animals.

Breakfast cereals that have been slurried and extruded at high temperatures and pressures to make little flakes and shapes should also be avoided.  Most, if not all, nutrients are destroyed during processing, and they are very difficult to digest.  Studies show that these extruded whole grain preparations can have even more adverse effects on the blood sugar than refined sugar and white flour!

Sally Fallon actually recommends throwing away all boxed breakfast cereals — the flakes, shapes, and puffed grains produced by the extrusion process that is damaging the health of all who eat them.

Even though I didn’t eat mainstream breakfast cereals, I still occasionally used to enjoy granola and even a “health-food” type of cereal such as spelt flakes.  I wasn’t thrilled when I began seeing the light about prepared cereals, even the so-called healthy ones.

As I wrote and spoke more about eating foods the way God originally made them, I had an epiphany.  There are no cereal bushes in nature. No trees grow flakes.  Breakfast cereals are a highly processed food.  No matter how much the food industry wants to make you believe that they’re from “whole grains” and healthy, the bottom line is…it’s ALL a big, fat lie!

In her book, Nourishing Traditions, Sally Fallon tells of a research study done in 1960 at Ann Arbor University. Eighteen rats were divided into three categories.  One group received cornflakes and water; one group was given water and the cardboard box that the cornflakes came in; and the third group received rat chow and water.

The third group remained in good health throughout the experiment.  The rats eating the box and water became lethargic and eventually died of malnutrition.  But the rats eating cornflakes and water died BEFORE the rats eating cardboard!

“Before they died, the cornflake rats developed schizophrenic behavior, threw fits, bit each other [sound like any kids you know?], and finally went into convulsions.  Autopsy revealed dysfunction of the pancreas, liver and kidneys and degeneration of the nerves in the spine — all signs of insulin shock.”  Could one deduct that there was actually more nutrients in the cardboard box than in the actual cereal?

Wanna re-think that love affair?

Prayer Power
Father we’re so thankful for the wonderful healthy food that You have provided for us to eat…food that nourishes our body and satisfies our taste buds.

Link of the Day
Dirty Secrets of the Food Processing Industry [scroll down until you see "Packaged Cereals"]

Photo by paulswansen

“Everyone of us is the sum total of his thoughts.  He’s where he is because that’s exactly where he wants to be whether he will admit that or not.”  Earl Nightingale

Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”  (Mark 9:23; NKJ)

Nightingale’s quote given above is what many would call  a “hard saying,” i.e., very hard or difficult to understand.  However, I would suggest that it’s not really that the quote is difficult to understand, but rather that it is difficult to believe — it just doesn’t seem to fit what most of us are willing to admit about ourselves.  It’s like looking in a mirror and not being at all happy with the reflection we get back.

Maybe you’ve never heard of Earl Nightingale.  Or maybe you’ve heard the name, but can’t quite put it together with who he was or what he did.  Actually, back in the 50’s Earl Nightingale cut a record (some of our readers may not even know what that is), and it turned gold, i.e., sold over a million copies).  Quite an accomplishment in and of itself, but made even more noteworthy in that the genre of the record was spoken word — the only spoken word recording to ever go gold.

All that to say that Nightingale’s message is pretty significant.  And another gentleman whom you’ve undoubtedly heard of, Mark Victor Hansen, of Chicken Soup fame, has made Nightingale’s recording available to all on his web site.  I do hope you will take advantage of the incredible opportunity to listen to “The Strangest Secret.”  Better still, download it to your computer so you can load it on your mp3 player and listen to it again and again.  It can…and will, if you let it, change your life.

Enjoy The Secret…and enjoy your week.  It can be your best ever — it’s your choice.

Prayer Power
Father, we thank you that the technology of the Internet makes it possible for all to hear Earl Nightingale’s classic recording.  And thank you for Mark Victor Hansen’s generosity in making that recording so available.

Link of the Day
The Strangest Secret

“I believe the natural health community will achieve yet more significant victories in several important areas of public health.”  Mike Adams

So don’t get tired of doing what is good. Don’t get discouraged and give up, for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time. (Gal. 6:9; NLT)

In yesterday’s Daily Gram, Jerry wrote about the victories we’re having in the natural health arena.  The link with Mike Adams article brings hope and encouragement.  If you weren’t able to read the article for whatever reason, I decided to highlight some of the victories since they’re so noteworthy.

Trans Fats known as the “fat that kills” receives a great deal of negative press.  Most everyone has heard from someone that these health destroying fats are not “good for the heart.”  If you see “partially hydrogenated vegetable oil” in an ingredients list, avoid it…like the plague that it is.

Mike Adams writes that these dangerous fats “have absolutely no place in a healthy food supply.  In time, they will probably be banned altogether.”  Hooray!

High-Fructose Corn Syrup has been exposed for the evil sweetener that it truly is.  People are finally realizing the dangers of this refined sweetener.  Food manufacturers are now switching away from HFCS and using more natural refined ingredients such as evaporated cane juice.

BPA, known as the “plastics chemical” receives more bad press every day.  I wrote about it recently being a hormone disruptor, meaning it interferes with the normal healthy functioning of the hormonal system of the body.  (see my Early Puberty article and my Why Should I Care article.)

Mike writes, “The outcry against BPA has even gone mainstream now, with mainstream news organizations covering the issue with greater frequency. Momentum is clearly building in favor of legislation that would outlaw BPA in all plastic food containers.”

MSG, otherwise known as monosodium glutamate or the “taste that kills” is a man-made, destructive food enhancer. Mike says, “We’ve also been victorious in a very big way against MSG (monosodium glutamate), the chemical taste enhancer that’s used in sausage, beef jerky, salad dressings, gravy mixes, and all sorts of fast food. (It’s found in practically everything served at KFC, for example.)

“While we haven’t yet succeeded in banning MSG, we have raised awareness to such an extent that even soup companies are now competing with claims of having “No MSG” on their labels. As the public learns even more about MSG, we can expect to see more food companies removing it from their products.”

On a personal note, I can still remember the first time I unknowingly consumed MSG…and one of the worst headaches that followed.  I’ve also witnessed my mother having seizures after she unknowingly consumed MSG.

Mike goes on to talk about several other arenas on the horizon in which more significant victories will occur in the future.

Aspartame he feels will be fully exposed and banned.  (One of my personal crusades is to inform people of this harmful substance.)

Water fluoridation…Mike says to “expect to see an end to the criminal act of dripping a toxic, pharmacologically active chemical into the water supply without the consent of those who consume it.”

Mercury fillings, vaccines and GMO’s top off the list.

Wow. So for those of us walking in the path of natural health, let’s be encouraged.  We’re making progress even though at times it seems as if we’re moving at a snail’s pace.

Prayer Power
Father, thank You for encouraging our readers this day with hope and health.

Link of the Day
Ten Worst and Best Foods

Photo by The Gifted Photographer

“The natural health movement has gone mainstream! More and more mainstream consumers now understand the dangers of toxic chemicals and the promise of nutrition and natural remedies. Modern medicine as we know it today is on the way out, and the age of “better living through chemistry” is thankfully coming to an end.”  Mike Adams

Truth stands the test of time; lies are soon exposed.  (Prov. 12:19; NLT)

Over the past year, I have repeatedly written in our Daily Grams that in spite of the much ballyhooed victories in the courts and legislatures by the traditional health care (aka sickness care) establishment, we are ever so slowly winning this war.  (See for example, the Earthsave article, the Hot Kitchen article, and the But Mom article.)

Yes, the public loses an occasional skirmish or battle, but the bottom line is that the “sleeping giant” is awakening and declaring that “Enough is enough!”  The consumer is increasingly ignoring the main-stream media and seeking out the truth for themselves.  Increasingly, the food manufacturers are having to bow to the economic realities brought about by consumer demand, or lack thereof.

Mike Adams of Natural News just posted a fantastic article which I have made today’s Link of the Day.  The title, “Natural health movement achieving key victories over HFCS, MSG, GMOs and more,” says it all.  The article is fun to read because it is filled with good news (almost an oxymoron these days).

While I encourage you to read (or at least scan the entire article, I especially encourage you to pause long enough in the section that addresses Vitamin D and watch the video that is part of that section.  It is mind-blowing!  Or at least it was to me.

So, sit back, enjoy some “good news” and keep on asking the good questions.  I’ll say it again, “We are winning!”  Hallelujah!!!

Prayer Power
Father, we thank You that the truth about the superiority of the Original Manufacturer’s Design is finally emerging in this greed-driven society.

Link of the Day
Natural health movement achieving key victories over HFCS, MSG, GMOs and more

Photo by Ariston Collander Photography

“The majority of people are ready to throw their aims and purposes overboard and give up at the first signs of opposition or misfortune. A few carry on despite all opposition until they attain their goal. Weak desires produce weak results.”  Napoleon Hill

Ants–they aren’t strong, but they store up food for the winter.  (Prov. 30:25; NLT)

We’ve been battling ants!  I’m sure many of you can relate.  Thankfully they’re outside the house this time.  Our driveway suffers from a couple of cracks, but fortunately for the ants, the cracks provide profitable employment.  At first we noticed a “couple” of little hills in the cracks of the cement.  A “couple” grew to several and several grew to many.  Jerry has used ant dust to help deter these mighty pests.

It looked like we had won the battle.  Alas, the tenacious little critters have returned with a vengeance.  What was in that ant dust, anyway?  As I stood there watching them this morning on our way to the gym, I noticed how industrious those little buggers are.  They never quit!  They just keep on doing whatever it is they’re doing…with the greatest of persistence.  They don’t give up!

There were no other vehicles at the gym when we pulled in.  A beautiful Monday morning…no rain, no snow, no hurricanes, yet no one else was there.  Hundreds of people belong to this gym.  When Jerry and I first joined this new facility almost three years ago, there was an occasional day when we would be the only two in the gym.  However, that quickly changed and at times there wasn’t a treadmill to be had.  Things got busy.  But here we were on a Monday morning having the entire gym to ourselves.

As I worked out I thought of the persistence of the ants.  They keep on, keepin’ on, no matter what’s going on around them…even in the midst of ant powder supposedly formulated to eliminate them.

Living a healthy lifestyle, making the right food choices, getting adequate exercise, all requires persistence.  No, I don’t always “feel” like going to the gym and working out but deep down in my heart, I know the persistence of doing so pays off.  Do I always “feel” like making a big green salad with lots of vegetables?  No, but I know I’ll reap great dividends both now and in the future if I make that choice today.  Driving thirty minutes one way across town to get the best prices on organic food isn’t something I look forward to doing but I know our bodies and minds will be happier and healthier for doing so.

Persistence does pay off.  And who knows, someday I might actually build an ant hill.

Prayer Power
Father, thank You for the grace to be persistent in all that You’re calling us to walk in.

Link of the Day
The Power of Persistence: Doing Whatever It Takes

Photo by pml

“Every activity worth doing has a learning curve. Riding a bike, learning to read, using Facebook… the early days are rarely nothing but fun.”  Seth Godin

Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning.  (Psa. 30:5b; NKJV)

What is your comfort zone preventing you from doing?  We all have one, and it can be your greatest friend or your greatest foe.  When your comfort zone screams in protest in an attempt keep you from doing something really stupid and/or life threatening, it’s a good idea to pay heed.  But some of us have gotten so comfortable with our comfort zone that we pull back any time it registers even the slightest concern.

This line of thinking was precipitated by another fantastic blog post by one of my favorite authors and blogger Seth Godin which I have made today’s Link of the Day.  Godin re-frames a person’s comfort zone using a very interesting series of three graphs which simply looks at the progression of both joy and hassle over time.

The simple fact is this — as one steps out of their comfort zone and into the unknown waters of the discomfort zone, fear and a certain amount of hassle comes with that.  If the hassle is not replaced by the sought-after joy relatively quickly, many people, if not most, will retreat back to the safety of their comfort zone, sometimes even with a vow to never, ever go there again.  The hassle is what Godin calls “The Red Zone.

The powerful point of his post is that, depending on the size of the Red zone, one needs a cheerleader, which Godin graphically depicts as a little green dot, to keep the person motivated through the hassle until he/she breaks through into the joy.

And that, dear friends, is one of the major roles of a life coach.  Life coaches are trained to be a person’s greatest encourager, advocate, and motivator to help them move forward through the hassle as they move closer and closer to their goal (joy).

Think about it — if one stays in their comfort zone, they never grow beyond what they already know how to do.  Sounds a lot like a ride on a hamster wheel to me.  How incredibly boring!  So find something new and exciting that you would like to do, and either push through the hassle on your own, or solicit the help of a life coach.  But life is just too short to do the same ole, same ole, day after day after day.

By the way, if you go looking for a coach, give me a call.  I just happen to be quite close to a pair of them.

Prayer Power
Father, give us the grace to discern when our comfort zone is protecting us as a friend or restraining us as a foe and then act accordingly.

Link of the Day
How big is your red zone?

“’Endocrine disrupting’ chemicals that mimic or interfere with the body’s natural sex hormones are partially responsible for early puberty in girls, according to a study conducted by researchers from Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York.”  Mary Wolff

The words of the godly lead to life; evil people cover up their harmful intentions.  (Prov. 10:11; NLT)

It seems every week I’m reading more and more about the effects that chemicals are having on our brains, our bodies, our air, our land, and our society as a whole.  Having personally experienced my own health demise at the hands of chemicals, I know that “better living through chemistry” is not necessarily so.

Previous research has been published on the effects of chemicals on young girls and early puberty.  However, there is now new evidence to substantiate this even more.  I’ve seen the article with today’s title in several publications.

Apparently, researchers monitored 1,151 girls in the U.S. between the ages of six and eight for up to two years, regularly measuring the levels of phthalates, phenols, and phytoestrogens in their urine.  They discovered that some of the chemicals appeared to delay puberty and others hastened it.  Phthalates or phytoestrogens caused the strongest effects.

Quoting from the article, “Phthalates are a class of chemicals widely used to make cosmetics, adhesives, detergents, packaging, paints and inks, food and pharmaceutical products, and soft plastics for everything from medical equipment to toys and sex toys. Although the European Union has banned their use in cosmetics due to health concerns, they are still legal in the United States.”

Phytoestrogens are naturally occurring plant compounds that mimic the action of the hormone estrogen in the body.

Phenols are industrial chemicals, and include the infamous plastics hardener BPA, otherwise known as Bisphenol-A.  BPA is also used to make linings for food cans.

On a personal note, many years ago when my health first began to deteriorate, I was seeing a well-known environmental physician.  During a battery of tests to determine what was happening with me, I was injected with various chemicals to note reactions.  When I was injected with a miniscule dose of phenol, I lost my hearing!  I kept shouting and saying, “I can’t hear!”  They quickly neutralized the dose and my hearing returned.

Researcher Mary Wolff says that early pubertal development in girls can have adverse social and medical effects, including cancer and diabetes later in life.

She goes on to say that “We believe that there are certain periods of vulnerability in the development of the mammary gland, and exposure to these chemicals may influence breast cancer risk in adulthood.”

Today’s link is yet another article I just discovered linking obesity along with chemical exposure contributing to early puberty.

Prayer Prower
Father, we are so grateful for the wisdom that You give to us.  We don’t need to walk in fear knowing that we can lean on You and trust You for giving us understanding and truth on how to live well.

Link of the Day
Obesity, Chemical Exposure Causing Some Girls to Hit Puberty at Age 7

Photo by timsamoff

“There is no incurable disease.”  Dr. Jordan Rubin

For whatever is in your heart determines what you say.  (Matt. 12:34c; NLT)

I’m doing something in this Daily Gram that we’ve never done before and have resisted doing for almost three years now.  Today’s link is going to be to an audio file (mp3) that is close to an hour in length.

Way too long for most, and because of that many, if not most will make the choice to skip it.  “I just don’t have time.  I’m too busy!.”  I know, because I’ve been there many times and those quotes are from my own lips.  All I can say is, that’s a bad choice.  I’m breaking all the rules of blogging by including that audio link because I truly believe it can save your life one day, or maybe the life of someone close to you.

BTW, you can simply right click on the link and click on “Save Link As” or “Save Target As” depending on your browser, and download the mp3 file to put on your iPod, other mp3 player, or desktop to listen at your convenience.  I strongly encourage you to do so.

The audio file is an interview between two of my mentors, Alex Loyd, N.M.D. (whom I know personally and have worked with for years) and  Jordan Rubin, Ph.D., N.M.D.  Dr. Loyd has recently written the best-selling book The Healing Code, and Dr. Rubin has written several books, probably the most notable being The Maker’s Diet.

During the course of the 55-minute interview, Dr. Loyd asks Dr. Rubin a series of four questions:

1. What is the primary reason that modern Americans suffer from illness and disease?
2. What is your personal story of health and restoration?  [The photo above is a before and after photo of Dr. Rubin.]
3. What are the keys to extraordinary health?
4. What is the #1 key to recovering one’s health?

As a hint to the answer Dr. Rubin give to the last question, he relates the following belief — “If a clinical study were done where 100 healthy people were brought into a physician’s office for a routine checkup and they were told that they have cancer with six months to live, I believe that 30-50 would die in six months.”

Please find the time to listen to this interview.  I am totally convinced that if you do, you will thank me for posting it, and Drs. Loyd and Rubin for the life-changing information they provide.  Blessings on you all.

Prayer Power
Father, I thank You for the miracle of the Internet that makes information like that shared by Drs. Loyd and Rubin so accessible to virtually everybody.

Link of the Day
Secrets of Dynamic Living audio series — Dr. Jordan Rubin

“Real cacao chocolate is a superfood that is full of powerful antioxidants that help neutralize free radicals and the effects of aging.”  Ani Phyo

The land was filled with seed-bearing plants and trees, and their seeds produced plants and trees of like kind. And God saw that it was good. (Gen 1:12; NLT)

I recently received a “sweet” gift of two, raw food dessert cookbooks.  (Is that an oxymoron?)  With tantalizing photography and delectable sounding recipes, the food almost jumps off the page.  Raspberry Ganache Fudge Cake, Peach and Pistachio Cobbler, Lemon Pudding Filled Coconut Cupcakes are the types of recipes found between these mouthwatering pages.

The author doesn’t shy away from chocolate.  However, she doesn’t use your “Hershey’s” kind of cocoa powder.  If you’re new to cacao powder, she does a great job of telling us about it.  I’ll quote mostly from her book.

All chocolate comes from a huge berry called the cacao pod, the fruit of the cacao tree.  A pod contains 30 to 40 seeds or beans and each bean is made up of small cacao nibs.  Cacao powder is ground nibs with the fat removed, and is usually raw.  Cocoa powder, on the other hand is “Dutch processed” using alkaline salts to help it dissolve more easily in liquid, and has lowered antioxidant values.

Real cacao chocolate is a superfood that is full of powerful antioxidants that help neutralize free radicals and the effects of aging.  Cacao also supplies us with micronutrients like potassium, zinc, magnesium, and iron for radiant skin, healthy hair, and strong nails.

The flavonoids in cacao have been demonstrated in laboratory studies to have a greater antioxidant effect than blueberries, red wine, and green tea. A 1.5 ounce serving of cacao has as much antioxidant power as a glass of red wine.

The author does go on to say that the only downfall is the caffeine that’s naturally in all chocolate.  Caffeine does trigger a stress response and a surge of adrenal hormones.  So, moderation is a key.  I was given some cacao nibs and they are quite bitter.  However, I’ve used them in some recipes and they add flavor and crunch.  I currently have organic cocoa powder on hand.  However, I’ll buy raw cacao powder when that is finished.  Feel free to let us know if you’re using raw cacao powder, won’t you?

BTW, the name of the cookbook I’ve referred to is Ani’s Raw Food Desserts by Ani Phyo.  Today’s link offers more scientific information on cacao by Heidi Fagley.

Prayer Power
Father, we’re amazed by Your mighty Hand that guides and directs us each day.

Link of the Day
Raw Cacao: Turn Chocolate Cravings into Super Nutrition

Photo by coconut wireless