Category: loreeebee.ca

Himalayan Salt, What is it and Why is it Good for You?

Himalayan Salt
~ Loreeebee ~ 6 Comments

Himalayan salt consists of pink crystals from the sea salt beds within the pristine conditions of the Himalayan mountain range in Asia, reportedly the purest salt available in the world.  

Contains Minerals, not Toxins

The absence of toxins and contaminants plus the presence of numerous trace elements makes Himalayan salt much healthier than highly processed, bleached, and chemically cleaned table variety.  The 84 minerals and elements present, including magnesium, potassium, sulfate, calcium, and sodium chloride, are already naturally occurring in our bodies, meaning their consumption does not expose our organs to unwanted, unnatural, and potentially dangerous ingredients.  These elements and minerals within Himalayan salt are present in colloidal form which means they are easily absorbed by our bodies.

Health Benefits of Himalayan Salt

  • prevents muscle cramps, cellulite, arthritis, kidney or gallstones, and gout
  • improves lung and vascular function (circulation) as well as sleep patterns
  • increases hydration and libido
  • reduces blood pressure and signs of aging
  • creates a healthy cellular pH
  • eliminates heavy metals and other toxins
  • strengthens bones

Why Table (Iodized) Salt is Not Healthy

The only minerals that table salt contains are chloride and sodium; all others are stripped in processing.  The iodine added to table salt is synthetic or unnatural so our bodies cannot absorb it properly.  Table salt also contains chemical agents to prevent the product from caking in the container it is packaged in.  Unfortunately, these chemical agents also prevent table salt from being absorbed efficiently in our bodies so the chemicals deposit and build up, creating potentially dangerous conditions within our organs.  Our cells then have to use up to twenty times the amount of water to neutralize the sodium chloride within the table salt.

Sea Salt vs Himalayan Salt

Sea salt from elsewhere in the world is healthier than regular table salt, but our oceans are becoming increasingly polluted from oil spills and chemical dumping. Sea salt is now also processed heavily as well.

Conclusions

The crystals of Himalayan salt are also beneficial as a bath soak, promoting relaxation and rejuvenation of the skin.

Himalayan salt is by far the healthiest salt available to us today and is readily available in most grocery stores.   If you love the taste of salt added to your food, try it soon to take advantage of the many health benefits this small change can add to your life.

 

Gluten Intolerance, 10 Signs

gluten intolerance
~ Loreeebee ~ Leave a comment

This article from MINDBODYGREEN.COM, was one of the first I read on the subject years ago when I first suspected I suffered from gluten intolerance.  I thought then that it had some good information, worth passing on.  It now bears repeating as much of it still applies. I have modified it slightly to fit in here on my blog:

More than 55 diseases have been linked to gluten, the protein found in wheat, rye, and barley. It’s estimated that 99% of the people who have either gluten intolerance or celiac disease are never diagnosed.

It is also estimated that as much as 15% of the US population is gluten intolerant. Could you be one of them?

If you have any of the following symptoms it could be a sign that you have gluten intolerance:

1.  Digestive issues such as gas, bloating, diarrhea, and even constipation, with constipation particularly in children after eating gluten.

2.  Keratosis Pilaris, (also known as ‘chicken skin’ on the back of your arms). This tends to be a result of a fatty acid deficiency and vitamin A deficiency secondary to fat malabsorption caused by gluten damaging the gut.

3.  Fatigue, brain fog, or feeling tired after eating a meal that contains gluten.

4.  Diagnosis of an autoimmune disease such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis, lupus, psoriasis, scleroderma, or multiple sclerosis.

5.  Neurologic symptoms such as dizziness or feeling of being off-balance.

6.  Hormone imbalances such as PMS, PCOS, or unexplained infertility.

7.  Migraine headaches.

8.  Diagnosis of chronic fatigue or fibromyalgia. These diagnoses simply indicate your conventional doctor cannot pinpoint the cause of your fatigue or pain.

9.  Inflammation, swelling, or pain in your joints such as fingers, knees, or hips.

10.  Mood issues such as anxiety, depression, mood swings, and ADD.

 

How to Test for Gluten Intolerance

The single best way to determine if you have an issue with gluten is to perform an elimination diet where you would take it out of your diet for at least 3 weeks and then reintroduce it. Please note that gluten is a very large protein and it can take months and even years to clear from your system so the longer you can eliminate it from your diet before reintroducing it, the better.

The best advice is that if you feel significantly better off of gluten or feel worse when you reintroduce it, then gluten is likely a problem for you.  In order to get accurate results from this testing method, you must eliminate 100% of the gluten from your diet.

How to Treat Gluten Intolerance

Eliminating gluten 100% from your diet means 100%. Even trace amounts of gluten from cross-contamination or medications or supplements can be enough to cause an immune reaction in your body.  The 80/20 rule or “we don’t eat it in our house, just when we eat out” is a complete misconception. Research has shown that for those with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity eating gluten just once a month increased the relative risk of death by 600%.

My Intolerance of Wheat

Many of these facts remain relevant today, almost twenty years later.  I myself have been eating gluten-free for almost ten years.  I say gluten-free although I was diagnosed with an intolerance to wheat, not gluten.  Gluten-free is wheat-free, but not vice versa, so I say gluten-free when eating outside of my home. 

Occasionally I “cheat” and consume something with a bit of wheat in it, but usually regret it later with stomach cramps and diarrhea, depending on just how much wheat I consumed.  I know I probably should not do that, but it does keep me eating healthy.  This cheating is not recommended for someone with celiac disease or a sensitivity stronger than mine. 

photo credit to Polina Zimmerman on Pexels.com

Expiry Date, Can we Predict Our Own?

expiry date
~ Loreeebee ~ 1 Comment

On what would have been my mother’s ninety-third birthday, I am pondering whether or not we can predict our own expiry date. Sounds morbid, I know, but this thought has crossed my mind many times since my mom passed away suddenly and much too early at the age of sixty-five.

How Much Does Genetics Count for our Expiry Date?

As mentioned, my mother died at the age of sixty-five. My father was seventy-eight although I believe he would have lived longer if my mother had. He was devastated upon her early demise and never really recovered. His broken heart gave out twelve years later.

So, is my own expiry date closer to sixty-five or seventy-eight, or somewhere in between? I realize there are many other factors involved, but I admit these thoughts have affected many choices I have made recently as I approach the dreaded sixty-five year marker.

Is Sixty the new Forty?

I certainly hope so. I think I am healthier and fitter than my parents were in their sixties. If this holds true, maybe my expiry date will be extended for good health. Although each decade seems to bring its own health issues, mine have been relatively minor, especially since I have the wheat thing figured out.

Early Retirement

One of the decisions made due to a potential early expiry date was to retire early, at the age of fifty-two. Well sort of. I accepted a severance package to leave my position within a hospital laboratory at that age but started a landscaping business the very next day. That was ten years ago already. Time does indeed fly when you’re having fun! This season I have cut back on my gardening services to spend more time with my recently retired husband.

Retirement Plans

With both of us retired, we are hoping to kickstart the cottage renovations we have been considering for several years now. Unfortunately, these renovation plans always seem to find a way to get postponed, with one delay after another. The latest delay was due to the recent storm and the ensuing and extensive cleanup here in Ontario.

Travel, something many of us have missed over the past few years during the pandemic, is also in our retirement plans. We may need more months and years to fit all the plans in.

Enjoying the Fruits of our Labour

Thinking about expiry dates only increases the urgency to accomplish items on our to-do list, including renovations. After all, it is important to enjoy the fruits of our labour!

photo credit