I was making up a batch of my 5 Minute Versatile Cookies and thought I would share with you my banana hack!
Here is a video to show you what I mean:
I have had these bananas for quite a while… I think going on two weeks and they are perfect. I actually wished they were just a little riper because they would mash much easier when I make the cookies. 🙂
Anyhow, if anyone knows why this works, please share!
Have a great day! I have to go and take amazing cookies out of the oven now! They smell amazing.
The other day my 14 year old daughter, Sivanna, decided that she wanted to make a hot chocolate station in our kitchen. This would include hot chocolate mix, marshmallows, snacks and of course festive cups to drink the hot chocolate out of.
So she went ahead and made her hot chocolate area and it was a cute idea. She asked about getting some Christmas mugs or cups to put in the collection. I then remembered that I had donated the ones we had last year to charity. Something just did not feel right about these mugs.
Speed ahead to today. I opened my email this morning to see an email from Tamara Rubin “Lead Safe Mama” whom I follow because of my work with heavy metals and health.
Sure enough she has a whole article on the tops of Christmas cups and decorations called:
“Hello! I’m here to ruin Christmas for you! Do you know how toxic your Christmas decorations are?”
Unfortunately heavy metals are with us to stay. Unlike biodegradable materials, heavy metals never break down so we must learn how to navigate our world with these metals in it and do our best to avoid them at all costs!
The best tool that I have found for testing for heavy metals in the body and brain and well as for indicators or nutrient deficiencies is hair mineral analysis testing. You can learn more about that here if you are interested:
“When faced with a dilemma, take a moment to sit with the issue. Don’t rush to decide what to do. Intend to let Divine inspiration flow to you, and it will be so.”
Christiane Northrup, M.D.
We All Face Challenges & Dilemmas
Let’s face it, we all have to face challenges and dilemmas in our lives.
I have learned that the less that I ‘push through’ but more so that I allow things to flow toward a solution, the easier I handle dilemmas. Just like a river flows over and around debris and obstacles, so it is for us in the earthly world as spiritual beings.
Trust is one of my favorite words and forces. I trust that things will work out and that solutions to dilemmas will present themselves. And when I trust and I believe this to be true, it happens. 🙂
I use TRUST as a verb and I expect good outcomes. This is what creates the natural flow to solutions.
So the magic formula is to drop resistance or another way to say this is to stop arguing with what is.
Next is to use trust as a verb and trust that things will work out and that solutions will present themselves.
And lastly, believe. Believe that things are always working out for your highest good because when you believe it, it is true for you. Very simple.
And never forget that life really is this:
“It’s all make- believe“
So with that said, I for one, make-believe in my story that things work out for me. I use MAKE-BELIEVE as a verb also. 🙂 Something to think about.
It seems that not a day goes by and I am presented with information around heavy metals and the havoc they wreak!
This morning I ran across this article about Heavy Metals and ADHD. It is from:
and is titled: “Heavy Metals’ Effect on Susceptibility to Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: Implication of Lead, Cadmium, and Antimony”
I will post the link at the bottom of this post for your reference.
Here is an Abstract from the study but in simple terms those with ADHD were tested and high levels of heavy metals were present.
Abstract:
Background: Heavy metals are known to be harmful for neurodevelopment and they may correlate to attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In this study, we aim to explore the relationships between multiple heavy metals (manganese, lead, cadmium, mercury, antimony, and bismuth), neurocognitive function, and ADHD symptoms. Methods: We recruited 29 patients with ADHD inattentive type (ADHD-I), 47 patients with ADHD hyperactivity/impulsivity type (ADHD-H/I), and 46 healthy control children. Urine samples were obtained to measure the levels of the aforementioned heavy metals in each child. Participants’ cognitive function and clinical symptoms were assessed, respectively. Results: We found ADHD-H/I patients demonstrated the highest antimony levels (p = 0.028), and ADHD-I patients demonstrated the highest cadmium levels (p = 0.034). Antimony levels were positively correlated with the severity of ADHD symptoms that were rated by teachers, and cadmium levels were negatively correlated with the Full Scale Intelligence Quotient. Lead levels were negatively correlated with most indices of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children–Fourth Edition (WISC-IV), but positively correlated with inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity symptoms (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Lead, cadmium and antimony were associated with susceptibility to ADHD and symptom severity in school-age children. Eliminating exposure to heavy metals may help to prevent neurodevelopmental disorders in children.
The question becomes what do we do about this? The first thing I recommend is testing for the presence of heavy metals in the body and brain and the testing I use as a Board Certified Nutritionist, is Hair Mineral Analysis.
Hair Mineral Analysis is a screening test to measure the levels of up to 60 essential minerals and toxic metals. With correct testing and interpretation, one can construct a comprehensive metabolic profile of the human body and in turn develop a protocol for helping to remove these heavy metals from the body and balance nutrients.
If you would like more info about the Hair Mineral Analysis testing, you can find it here:
Once results are received it is much easier to come up with a game plan based on variables such as nutrient deficiencies present, types of heavy metals and the overall toxic load.
It is unfortunate that we have to deal with so many toxic intruders and outside pathogens that can interfere with optimal health; however, luckily, when we identify them, we can work at elimination and also use nutritional intervention to offset various deficiencies etc.
As always, I hope that you found this helpful and feel free to reach out with any questions you might have for me. I am always happy to help.
About 1 in 54 children has been identified with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) according to estimates from the Centre for Disease Control.
There has been a lot of research conducted around Autism Spectrum Disorder and I found a good resource in regard to heavy metals and autism. It is from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. I will post the link below and I highly recommend reading the full article.
Here is an exerpt:
The researchers observed higher levels of lead in children with autism throughout development, with the greatest disparity observed during the period following birth. They also observed lower uptake of manganese in children with autism, both before and after birth. The pattern was more complex for zinc. Children with autism had lower zinc levels earlier in the womb, but these levels then increased after birth, compared to children without autism.
The researchers note that replication in larger studies is needed to confirm the connection between metal uptake and autism.
“We think autism begins very early, most likely in the womb, and research suggests that our environment can increase a child’s risk. But by the time children are diagnosed at age 3 or 4, it’s hard to go back and know what the moms were exposed to,” said Cindy Lawler, Ph.D., head of the NIEHS Genes, Environment, and Health Branch. “With baby teeth, we can actually do that.”
Patterns of metal uptake were compared using teeth from 32 pairs of twins and 12 individual twins. The researchers compared patterns in twins where only one had autism, as well as in twins where both or neither had autism. Smaller differences in the patterns of metal uptake occurred when both twins had autism. Larger differences occurred in twins where only one sibling had autism.
The findings build on prior research showing that exposure to toxic metals, such as lead, and deficiencies of essential nutrients, like manganese, may harm brain development while in the womb or during early childhood. Although manganese is an essential nutrient, it can also be toxic at high doses. Exposure to both lead and high levels of manganese has been associated with autism traits and severity.
****************************************
Heavy metals are very much present in our world today. I myself, have tested very high in lead.
One of the ways to help determine the presence of heavy metals and nutrient deficiencies which can come about through displacement when heavy metals are present, is through Hair Mineral Analysis testing.
This is a service that I have provided for a few years now and find it very helpful for anyone interested in their health or the health of their children.
The lab that I use is licensed by the Ontario Ministry of Health and you can learn more about hair mineral analysis here:
Please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions or would like to chat about this and as always, I hope that you found this helpful in some way.
Here is a handy comparison chart to see if you are dealing with a cold or the flu.
Complications
Potential Complications of a Cold: Sinus congestion, difficulty breathing, earaches, and low energy.
Potential Complications of a Flu: Bronchitis, pneumonia, low-energy, lethargy, and can be life-threatening.
Helpful Suggestions
No matter what one is dealing with plenty of rest is ALWAYS a good idea. Your body needs all of its energy stores to deal with the situation so ‘pushing through‘ is NEVER a good idea and may prolong your sickness and even make it worse.
A women resting in bed surrounded by white sheets and pillows
Drink plenty of liquids to help stay hydrated and to move impurities out of the body. If you have a sore throat drink things like warm lemon water and honey. Here is a recipe also for sore throats:
If you are dealing with a fever, remember that fevers are there for reason. You might want to read this post about fevers and see how miraculous they can be:
And as always, prevention is the best medicine there is. We cannot always prevent these illnesses but we can take measures to support our bodies, minds and our immune systems every day of our lives. In this way, we are more resistant to pathogens and invaders.
Here is a link that might inspire you to do just that! We don’t want to be like a pot of water just waiting to boil over. The tipping point always comes. 🙂
Eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables is extremely helpful in providing the body and mind with the nutrition they need to stay active and healthy. There are also many excellent supplements to help also and when it comes to Immune Support, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, and Zinc are three very important ones that can be of help.
There are countless uses for them and they are nutritional powerhouses to boot!
If you have a sore throat or feel one coming on, take the juice of one lemon and add to one cup of lukewarm water and 1 tsp of salt.
Gargle with this mixture for about 1 minute and do so for 3 times a day.
I hope you found this helpful and I would love to hear how this works for you. And even doing warm water, lemon and honey is super helpful for a sore throat. Just another option 🙂
I since have an amazing update. I am just thrilled!
While I was writing that blog post I drank this Turn Down supplement. I used warm water and it was so soothing and calming. I liked it so much that I made myself another one to sip on. So I ended up having two 8 oz servings.
It made be very relaxed and sleepy so when I finished writing my last blog post I went back to bed. It was around 6:15 am. And here is the awesome part….
I did not wake up at all until 11:15 am and when I did wake up I felt like I had slept for 10 years. I felt amazing. And it gets better. I am gonna get personal here. I went to the bathroom and had this amazing soft and gentle poop. I knew right that that not only did the Magnesium in this product soothe me and put me to sleep but it helped me to relax the colon and bowel and thus an amazing morning bowel movement!
It felt like Win-Win-Win I tell ya. I am still feeling amazing and couldn’t wait to share this product review here.
What did I take?
Isotonix Turn Down packetsIngredients in Isotonix Turn Down
There are fabulous ingredients in this supplement but I really want to point out the Magnesium, Calcium, Vitamin C, and L-Tryptophan among others! And I was pleasantly surprised to see 500 IU’s of Vitamin D3!
There has never been a better time than now to make sure that you are getting an adequate intake of Vitamin D.
MaggiesVitamins 