Natural Health and Wellness

I love this entertaining and certainly thought provoking video. Chocolate, Cheese, Meat, and Sugar: Physically Addictive Foods Neal Barnard MD discusses the science behind food additions. Willpower is not to blame: chocolate, cheese, meat, and sugar release opiate-like substances. Dr. Barnard also discusses how industry, aided by government, exploits these natural cravings, pushing us to eat more and more unhealthy foods. A plant-based (vegan) diet is the solution to avoid many of these problems. Neal Barnard is the founder of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM).

One of my favorite, eye-opening movies on the impact of food and health. You can watch the entire video online!

Here is an excerpt of an article by Sherry Baker, Health Sciences Editor written in Natural News.com on how grape seed extract combats leukemia. "Now there's another reason to appreciate the healthy phytochemicals contained in grapes. Researchers from the University of Kentucky have found a natural substance in the fruit that's deadly to malignant leukemia cells. The powerful cancer fighter, derived from grape seeds, triggered the death of 76 percent of leukemia cells exposed to the extract in a laboratory experiment. The scientists just reported this study in the January 1, 2009, issue of Clinical Cancer Research , a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research. They also published data that reveals the cell signaling pathway that grape seed extract impacts to trigger the death, or apoptosis, of leukemia cells. The University of Kentucky researchers concluded the extract "turns on" a protein known as JNK that regulates the cancer...

Up until today, I have spent my entire life moaning about the wind!   I live against a mountainside and overlook the ocean, so we do get a lot of wind.  My husband has just returned from a trip overseas and he brought me a wind chime for the back garden.  Oh, how I love the wind now........I cannot wait for it to be windy, the sounds of the chimes are just gorgeous.  I think the lesson here, is to always look for the good in everything........

While driving my children to school this morning, I literally drove through a rainfall of white feathers.  I really believe in Angels and that when we find white feathers, they are messages from Angels.  A dear friend of mine lost her husband 5 months ago and when I sent her a text message telling her that I had just driven through a rainfall of feathers, she replied by saying "Beautiful, his way of thanking you for your friendship". 

Good Morning Blog Friends (and those who follow Footsteps In Eden Relfexology on facebook and twitter, too.) Via a great reflexologist (and mentor to many of the rest of us reflexologists), Kevin Kunz, I have the opportunity to share this educational and fun interactive hand reflexology chart with you. Ever wonder where to press on your thumb or fingers or palm of your hand to make other parts of your body feel better? Have a look. Play with it. Play with your hands. :o). You may be surprised by the effects. Alternating pressue (inch worm style) from thumb or fingers works well. Click on the "reflexology hand chart" widget to the right of this blog post to begin. To learn more about reflexology and how it may benefit you and your family, please visit Footsteps In Eden's website . Photo: www.multimedia-stock.com

Laying aside the main topic of health & wellness and reflexology here. Taking the moment to share and celebrate our growing family. Introducing our two newest grandchildren: Faith Meron Watson & Asher Melese Watson These children are sister and brother. Their new parents are our son and daughter-in-law, Amy & David Watson. 2 yr old, Isaac, has been waiting for his new siblings, and will be excited to meet them, too. Learn more about this family's adoption journey and view additional photos of these beautiful children at www.EthiopiasCalling.blogspot.com As we prepare to welcome these two special blessings from Ethiopia, Africa, into our family in the next couple of months it seemed appropriate to share the video below. "You Raise Me Up" is one of my favorite songs. It is sung here by Josh Groban and the African Children's Choir. (Please ignore the "donate to American Idol" messages on the screen. This is not a promo for them.) Enjoy the video!