40 Ways to Avoid Xenoestrogens – A Non-Stop Threat to Your Health

 

 

 

On a typical day you probably shower in chlorinated water, put lotion on your skin, roll down the window to get some air on your way to work, eat lunch from the microwave and grab the receipt for your groceries on your way home.

Do you know that just today, you have been exposed to hundreds of chemicals called Xenoestrogens? Every one of these chemicals can be harmful, but when combined they are synergistically even more damaging.

What are Xenoestrogens?   The meaning of the word Xeno is “foreign”.  So, xenoestrogens are chemical compounds that imitate estrogen in the body.  They are also referred to as “environmental hormones” or EDC –  Endocrine Disrupting Compounds. They disrupt metabolism and the normal function of the endocrine system by competing for estrogen receptor sites.   The body sees them as a hormone, and they can block the uptake of our body’s natural hormones. This may lead to an over abundance of estrogen in the body.

One of the main functions of estrogen is to encourage cell growth and activate the proteins that speed up cell division. Estrogens work with the immune system, reproductive system, bone growth and metabolism in both men and women.  Xenoestrogens are stored in the body’s fat cells and they are not biodegradable. With too much estrogen in the body, the natural balance of hormones and trace minerals are thrown off decreasing immunity to fight of yeast, fungal or viral infections.

We are exposed to these chemicals every day in our lives. They are in the air, water, soil, new or dry cleaned clothing, body products, food and medicines like birth control and hormone replacement therapy.  Xenoestrogens are in petrochemicals (like gasoline), insecticides, pesticides and electronics manufacturing. They are byproducts of bleaching paper and incinerating chlorinated products.

Again we are at the beginning of a new experiment on the human race as many of these chemicals have only been introduced within the last 70 years. Science is  beginning to study the effects of xenoestrogens now, and unfortunately and many of the studies are only on one or two specific xenoestrogens, not how they work when combined.

With the sudden rise in obesity, infertility, early onset puberty, neurological development in all ages, diabetes, increases in ovarian, breast, testicular and prostate cancer it makes you wonder just how many chemicals our immune systems can handle.

With awareness of what to look out for, you can limit your exposure to Xenoestrogens by following a few of these tips.

Here are 40 ways you can avoid xenoestrogens and protect your health: 

Makeup/Cosmetics/Body Care Products

• Avoid cosmetics and creams that contain parabens (ethylparaben, propylparaben, buylparaben and methylparaben), propyl gallate (an antioxidant used in beauty care products), phenoxyethanol, and stearalkonium chloride, these chemicals are estrogenic. While oral substances will be 80-90% absorbed by the body, those that are applied to the skin are absorbed at 100%.  So a skin dose of these chemicals are equal to ten times the oral dose in the body.
• Avoid sunscreen that contains the xenoestrogen 4-Methylbenzylidene camphor, also known as 4-MBC or Benzophenone.
• Limit your exposure to nail polish and nail polish removing products.
• Beware of bubbles or foaming agents containing Sodium Lauryl Sulfate.
• Avoid antibacterial soaps containing Tricolsan (endocrine disrupting pesticide)
• Use chemical free toothpastes, soaps, hair care products, and deodorants.
• Use a good filter for the water in your shower, for your drinking water and or ice maker.
• Try essential oils or and naturally based fragrances in products.

Cleaning products

• Avoid using fabric softeners that allow petrochemicals to enter your body through your skin.
• Avoid using air fresheners and candles made with chemicals, as they may contain phthalates.
• Steer clear of anything containing Alkylphenol which is used in cleaning detergents.
• Use chlorine-free products and unbleached paper products such as coffee filters, paper towels, toilet paper, menstrual pads and tampons. Read more about the dangers of chlorine on our website here: Dangers of Chlorine.
• Choose biodegradable and chemical free laundry and household cleaning products.

Food

• Avoid all types of unfermented soy.
• Avoid eating foods with BHA (butylated hydroxanisole) This compound is a xenoestrogen and common food additive.
• Do not eat any GMO foods or products.
• Avoid the use of Roundup and other garden chemicals as they contain organophosphate pesticides which interfere with testosterone and are a neurotoxin.
• Check labels to avoid artificial food additives, including sweeteners and MSG. Take along our Grocery Watch List for a list of  food additives to avoid.  Click here to print your own copy: Grocery Watch List.
• Buying locally grown, organic food that is in season also reduces your exposure to pesticides, fungicides, and herbicides
• Choose organic, grass-fed, hormone free dairy products and range free meats. In non-organic meat and dairy, estrogenic compounds are used to make them weigh more or produce more.
• Peel the skin off of any non-organic vegetables and fruits.
• Eat as cleanly as possible and avoid animal fat if not hormone free.
• Try not to use food in cans, as over 85% contain BPA that is used to line the containers.
• Wash food well to remove pesticides.
• When growing your own food, use salt and vinegar to remove weeds instead of pesticides.
• Drink Milk Thistle Tea to support your liver.
• Remember to take your Fulvic Mineral Complex to help keep your trace minerals in balance and detoxify.
• Eat soluble fiber it will help to bind with toxins and reduce estrogen levels.  Eating cruciferous vegetables like cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli help the liver to metabolize estrogens.
• Use a good water filter that removes Atrazine, which is a herbicide known to turn male frogs into female ones.

Plastics

• Avoid using plastic cling wrap.
• Avoid children’s toys and baby bottles made of plastic.
• Avoid Flame Retardants used in building materials,  furniture, and clothing listed as Polybrominated biphenyl ether (PBDE’s)
• Avoid products with Phthalates and DEHP (plasticizers)
• Use glass to store your food and water in.
• Keep windows rolled up when commuting in heavy traffic or you may breathe in a higher amount of petrochemical residue.
• Do not use plastic bottles that have been frozen or heated.
• Do not use non-stick cookware or water-resistant coatings on clothes, carpets or furniture, as they may contain PFC’s or Perfluorinated Chemicals.
• If you must use a microwave, do not heat anything in plastic containers.
• Refuse receipts from stores as they contain xenoestrogenic chemicals.

Until we make a decision as a group to hold manufacturers more accountable for the chemicals that they are using in products, the best way to protect your self is with your daily individual choices for you and your family.  One choice, one day at a time, can lessen the burden on your body of this modern chemical storm that  we now live in.

Read more about Xenoestrogens in the following  books:

Our Stolen Future by Theo Colburn, Diane Dumonski and John Peterson Myers

Healthy Living in a Toxic World by Cynthia Fincher, PhD.

The Hundred-Year Lie: How Food and Medicine are Destroying Your Health by Randall Fitzgerald

By Kathleen Threet, Staff Writer at Vital Earth Minerals

 

GMO’s (Genetically Modified Organisms) A Dangerous Experiment On Your Health and Future Generations

 

What if I told you that a handful of companies with a lot of money who had created DDT, Agent Orange, Bovine Growth Hormones, PCB’s and Aspartame as an artificial sweetener were conducting a frightening experiment on your health?

The cash profits to those companies would be received long before the multi-generational effects on a person’s life or family were ever fully evaluated.  Would this make you angry enough to want to know how to take action to stop it? It is imperative to learn as much as we can about this new wicked science now.  The experiment with genetically modifying our foods is commonly called GMO.

What exactly is a GMO?  GMO’s or Genetically Modified Organisms are plants or animals that have been created by biotechnology also known as genetic engineering or GE.  The genetic material (DNA or RNA) of these species are manipulated together in a way that does not occur in the natural world.  This is done by injecting a foreign gene into a plant or by modifying the position of other genes. By combining DNA from various combinations of animal, plant, viral and bacterial sources plants  are engineered to thrive despite the application of  strong poisonous herbicides. Types of GMO corn and potatoes have actually been designed to produce their own insecticide called a Bt toxin.

Originally GMO species were developed to offer plants that were more drought tolerant, bring higher crop yields, or increased nutrition.  Since the 1950’s when they exposed seeds to x-rays and gamma rays to see the effects of radiation for the outcome of genetic mutation to the present time, there is no conclusive proof that GMO foods have achieved any of their original goals. However, to the detriment of nutrition, plants ability to tolerate high powered pesticides and chemical herbicides has increased.

Why should we be alarmed if the final results of this genetic experiment are not in yet?

The number of items that are affected by GMO’s grows larger everyday.

Are GMO’s safe?  And what is their impact on our health?

While the results on the human population may take decades to clearly see studies on animals have proven that we have a reason to fear GMO’s in our food supply. The only studies utilizing GMO foods have been done on animals and the results from those studies are astonishingly scary.

In an independent study done by plant genetic modification expert, Arpad Pusztai, rats fed GM potatoes had smaller livers, hearts, brains and testicles.  The rats also had damaged immune systems, thymus and spleen damage .  All of these results showed up after 10 days of testing and continued through 100 days of testing.  This is equivalent to 10 years in humans.  Arpad Pusztai was ultimately fired from his job when he published his findings.

When a new gene is inserted into a cell, it may produce different proteins than the ones intended.  This has already happened in a form of genetically modified corn that produced a pesticidal protein called Bt toxin.  While companies claim that the Bt toxin is harmless, mice that consumed it showed excessive and abnormal cell growth resulting in tumors.  Today, Bt toxin insecticides have already been detected in up to 93 % of the umbilical cord blood tested from pregnant women. Infant formula made from soy is being given to our children without the full understanding of how it may impact their growing bodies.  Nearly 100 people living next to a Bt corn field became ill after inhaling the pollen which produced an antibody response.

Two dozen farmers reported that their pigs and cows fed GM corn became sterile and 71  shepherds said that 25% of their sheep died after eating GMO cotton plants.

Other independent studies done on animals have shown altered gene expression and cell metabolism, inflamed livers, reduced digestive enzymes, impaired blood cell growth and inflamed lung tissue.

When animals have a choice, they will avoid GMO’s.  A flock of geese that annually visit a soybean field in Illinois was observed.  The geese only ate from half of the field that was planted with non-GMO seed.

If GMO’s are not on a label, then how can I avoid them?  At this time, GMO’s are not required to be labeled in the United States and Canada.  Movement is growing in the US to require manufacturers to label any and all GMO ingredients in their products.  For the 2012 election there is a proposal in California called Prop 37 that is seeking to require this legislation to be passed.    If worldwide reaction is any warning, over 50 countries including Japan, Australia, and the European Union many have restrictions or bans against the production and sale of GMO’s.

GMO’s have a large impact on the environment and farmers.  GMO’s grown worldwide are designed for herbicide tolerance, today use of toxic herbicides has increased 15 times since GMO’s were introduced.   The appearance of new breeds of super weeds and super bugs are now requiring even stronger more toxic poisons like 2, 4-D (a major ingredient in Agent Orange) in order to be eradicated. GMO’s are a result of chemical agriculture and are sold by some of the world’s largest chemical companies.  If a country doesn’t want their product, they will find someone else worldwide to sell it to, regardless of who it may contaminate.

When GMO’s are developed they are considered new life forms in which patents are obtained.  This gives the companies that design GMO’s power to sue farmers whose fields may be contaminated with GMO’s even if the seed has only floated on the wind from a neighboring field. This is yet another stressor to the American farmer who cannot fight large companies nor lobby to get laws passed as these organisms have already been unleashed into our environment here in the US.

Currently the following products are all genetically modified:

Alfalfa                    Canola                     Soy

Corn                        Flax                         Zucchini

Rice                        Cotton                     Yellow Summer Squash

Sugar Beets          Hawaiian Papaya 

With world wide staples such as Corn, Rice, Soy, Cotton and Sugar (from sugar beets) being primary GMO crops, it is likely that you may have ingested them already in one form or another.

Other ingredients derived from these high risk foods include and are not limited to: Aspartame, Ascorbic Acid, Sodium Ascorbate, Vitamin C, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Ethanol, Farmed Fish, Flavorings – “natural” and “artificial”, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Lactic Acid, Maltodextrin, Molasses, Monosodium Glutamate, Sucrose, Texturized Vegetable Protein (TVP), Vegetable Oil, Cottonseed Oil,  and Yeast Products.

GMO’s continue to influence many other parts of our ecosystem further down the line. They may also be found in Milk, Meat, Eggs, Honey due to GMO contamination in feed sources.

The first step in avoiding GMO’s is to avoid processed food as if your life depended on it.  In the United States, GMO’s are in as much as 80% of conventional processed foods.  Many processed foods utilize High Fructose Corn Syrup, which may be made from genetically altered corn. Next, try to eat organic as much as possible. Grow your own food and use as many organic heirloom seeds as possible.  If growing food is not an option, try to support as many local organic farmers and sustainable community cooperatives as you can.

What can I do to stop the spread of GMO foods locally to prevent any further impact?

Educate yourself and watch the independent films Genetic Roulette at this link to watch http://geneticroulettemovie.com  You can watch this movie for free online until November 6th, 2012 or their website at (http://www.geneticroulette.com/) and Seeds of Freedom (http://seedsoffreedom.info/) Work to be proactive and read books and information on the web regarding genetic engineering in all forms. Anything you learn about GMO’s or GMO filled products try to pass on to family and friends.

Go to http://www.nongmoproject.org/ and print a list of current non GMO foods and products to take with you when you shop for food. These products have been tested to contain less than 0.9% GMO contamination. Ask you local grocer not to carry product known to contain GMO ingredients.

Write your favorite companies and food suppliers and urge them not to put GMO products in your favorite brands.

Write the FDA and urge them to label GMO ingredients at www.JustLabelit.org.

Take initiative and write or call your congressman to tell him to protect organic farmers at http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_25778.cfm

By Kathleen Threet, Staff Writer at Vital Earth Minerals

Sources:

http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2011/09/21/monsanto-or-organic-who-to-trust-with-your-food-infographic/

http://responsibletechnology.org/media/docs/IRT_sg.pdf

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/19/us-gmcrops-safety-idUSBRE88I0L020120919

http://www.who.int/foodsafety/publications/biotech/20questions/en/

http://www.naturalnews.com/037249_GMO_study_cancer_tumors_organ_damage.html

http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_25778.cfm

http://earthopensource.org/files/pdfs/GMO_Myths_and_Truths/GMO_Myths_and_Truths_1.2.pdf 

http://www.nongmoproject.org/

http://www.globalresearch.ca/potential-health-hazards-of-genetically-engineered-foods/

 

 

Easy Ways to Calm Joint Discomfort

The word Arthritis literally means inflammation of one or more joints. Most of us don’t realize that Arthritis refers to more than 100 diseases that affect nearly 46 million adults and 300,000 children in America alone.  There are two distinctly different categories of arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Osteoarthritis.  Between the two of them, no one is immune, from infancy to old age.

The common thread that links all forms of arthritis is; they are all diseases of the musculoskeletal system, specifically the joints where two or more bones meet.

The cause of Rheumatoid Arthritis is the topic of much discussion.  Specialists’ guesses include environmental factors; unknown; injury; stress; or chronic inflammation.  The Mayo Clinic speculates, “Your genes may make you more susceptible to environmental factors – such as Infection with certain viruses and bacteria – that may trigger the disease”.  Many people experience success by taking a very small amount of a prescribed antibiotic over a long period of time.

Osteoarthritis is easier to self-manage if caught in the early stages.  It is usually caused by wear and tear as we age, previous injuries and obesity.

Symptoms include inflammation, pain, and stiffness.  Depending on the location of the joint involved, it can lead to joint weakness, instability, and visible deformities all of which can interfere with walking, climbing stairs, opening bottles, cutting food or using a computer keyboard.

Natural Remedies for Arthritis

There are several suggested natural remedies for arthritis:

One of the most successful treatments is prolotherapy, known as nonsurgical ligament reconstruction, which is also a treatment for chronic pain.

It is simple, inexpensive and long lasting, if not permanent.  Prolotherapy gets at the root cause of the arthritic process, and has been used successfully to treat a myriad of common degenerative conditions, from osteoarthritis and sprains to herniated discs.

By injecting a natural proliferant solution into a damaged joint or area, prolotherapy stimulates the body’s natural repair mechanisms.  It starts the normal inflammatory healing reaction which stimulates the immune system to produce healing, cushioning collagen.  Collagen repairs injured ligaments, tendons or cartilage.  When naturally produced collagen is restored to an arthritic joint, the inflammation and pain disappear.  Many say the injections are almost painless and there is no recovery time.

Other important things to do to minimize arthritic pain are:

Weight Loss

Maintaining a healthy weight means there is less pressure on stressed knees and joints.  Some people see symptoms disappear after losing as little as 10 to 20 pounds.

Exercise

Gentle physical activity is actually very good for arthritis, like aerobics, walking, swimming, bike riding.

Supplements:

All supplements and enzymes that eliminate inflammation are helpful.  Glucosamine and Chondroitin help repair damaged joints, while MSM helps control pain and inflammation.  Fish oils and systemic enzymes are also extremely helpful in controlling inflammation

Please share with us your experiences with painful joints and join us on Twitter, Face book or Google Plus.

To learn more about our mineral products and quality liquid supplements please visit our website at: Vital Earth Minerals 

By Kathleen Threet, Staff Writer at Vital Earth Minerals

Please note that any advertisements that you see on this blog are placed here by WordPress.com. The Administrators of this blog have no connection to or financial interest in any of the promoted products and/or services and gain no income from any advertising displayed on this blog. Please do not click on any promotions that you do not wish to support.

 

What Do I Absorb From My Supplements?

How do you know whether you are absorbing the supplements you take?  People tend to get confused and fearful when they hear the old wives tale, “All you get from taking vitamin supplements is expensive urine”.  Usually this myth comes from uninformed medical professionals who are trained in solving health problems with chemicals, rather than natural substances.

To answer that question for yourself, you need to understand how the digestive process works.

The digestive system consists of the mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine and anus.  Digestion starts in the mouth, where the chewing process breaks down large molecules of food into smaller molecules and then mixes the food with the first phase of digestive enzymes (saliva).  You can see why it is important to chew your food completely and thoroughly until it becomes liquefied before swallowing it.

Once the liquefied food arrives in the stomach, different digestive enzymes are added and the process continues through the upper and lower colon.   Specialized enzymes are added along the way to digest and absorb proteins, fats, carbohydrates, and extract vitamins and minerals.  The digested nutrients are absorbed through the lining of the small intestine and enter the bloodstream, where the next complex process starts.  After all the nutrients that the body wants are extracted, the unusable liquid and bulk left over is discarded through the bowels and bladder.

Urine is what is left over after nutrients have been extracted and your blood has been purified by the kidneys.   If your urine contains some extra vitamins or minerals, remember, they were in your blood before they arrived in the bladder.  If the vitamin was in your blood, your body took and used that entire nutrient that it wanted, and discarded the rest.  If there are any vitamins in your urine, it is a sign that your body is well nourished and you have nutrients to spare.

So now that you have a basic understanding of how the digestive system works, let me ask you, how would it be possible for something as natural as vitamins or minerals to by-pass this process?  After all, the digestive system is not discerning at all … It grabs anything and everything that comes along, processes it and sends it to the cells … including toxins, poisons, and junk food with no nutrients at all.  The cells are not discerning either.  They take what is offered, absorb it and then go about their job of running the body, or in the case of junk, “trying” to run the body.

You’ve heard the old computer phrase, “garbage in, garbage out”.  When you feed your body garbage, the cells cannot function … or repair … or generate energy …. or fight off diseases.  Your cells are your immune system’s army.  When you feed your army garbage, they do not have the strength, brain power, or stamina to fight your battles.  They just die an early death and take you with them.

But give your body wholesome nutritious food, plenty of sleep, clean water, and supplement with a good baseline foundation of all the vitamins, all the minerals plus Fulvic, and you are giving your cells power.  You have restored their normal chemical balance and electrical potential.   What if those cells belong to a heart, liver or thyroid?  Now those organs are able to function at peak performance.

What better way is there to achieve good health than helping your own body do what it’s supposed to do?

Please share with us your thoughts on absorption and join us on Twitter, Face book or Google Plus.

To learn more about our mineral products and quality liquid supplements please visit our website at: Vital Earth Minerals 

By Kathleen Threet, Staff Writer at Vital Earth Minerals

Please note that any advertisements that you see on this blog are placed here by WordPress.com. The Administrators of this blog have no connection to or financial interest in any of the promoted products and/or services and gain no income from any advertising displayed on this blog. Please do not click on any promotions that you do not wish to support.

 

Awaken Feeling Rested without Drugs

Just an hour here or 40 minutes there can make a big impact on your life.  Most people don’t realize how essential sleep is, and how a lack of sound restful sleep can affect every area of daily life.  A good night’s sleep promotes physical health, longevity, and emotional well-being as well as giving you clear thinking and the ability to learn and retain information.

Not getting enough sleep now and then is not disastrous; it’s the chronic, long term sleep deprivation that leads to a wide array of health conditions like obesity, diabetes, paranoia, hallucinations, shorter life span and even death.  Unfortunately surveys conducted by the National Sleep Foundation revealed some disturbing statistics:

• 40 million Americans suffer from over 70 different sleep disorders
• 60 percent of adults report having sleep problems a few nights a week or more
• 40 percent of adults experience daytime sleepiness that interferes with work
• 60 percent of children experience sleep problems several nights per week

Why is sound natural sleep essential?

Your body has a natural schedule that performs specific functions during different times of the cycle.  We all have an internal 24-hour sleep-wake cycle called a circadian rhythm, or biological clock.  During night time hours the body produces melatonin, a hormone that makes you sleepy.  During this time your body repairs itself, builds up energy for the coming day, maintains health, stimulates growth, and boosts your immune system.  It also renews the mind, a key role in learning, memory and creativity.

During daylight hours, melatonin production is replaced by Orx neutrons that are essential for maintenance of the awake state.  During the awake cycle, we exercise our muscles by moving around, circulation is increased, creativity is at its peak, and we burn the energy that was produced during the sleep cycle.  Each part of the biological clock has equal importance in life.

What about sleeping pills

So if I can’t sleep, why not just take a sleeping pill or over the counter sleep inducing formula?  Sleeping pills do not allow your biological clock to function properly, giving the person taking them a false sense of having slept.  When sleeping pills are present, the body is not able to perform the sleep cycle functions properly.

Another good reason not to take sleeping pills are the side effects, including a shorter life span,  increased risk of cancer, depression, and reduced brain cell activity during the day, not to mention the increased risk of death.

The chemicals used in sleeping pills have a direct impact on the brain’s neurotransmitters. One particular neurotransmitter, which is referred as “GABA”, is affected in a significant way while on sleeping pills.  GABA is largely responsible for the nerve cell functions within the lung area. When affected, these cells will fire off and literally shut down. This can lead to serious difficulty in breathing. Other dangers can include falling, as well as impaired judgment and mental focus especially when driving a car.

What causes sleep problems?

There are many causes that are beyond the solutions outlined here, such as accidents, diseases, emotional disorders, alcohol and drug abuse, obesity or metabolic issues.

But there are many self induced causes that can be corrected.

• Eating sugar, an imbalance of carbohydrates, alcohol or caffeine after 4:00 in the afternoon
• Medications such as antidepressants, cold and flu medications that contain alcohol, pain relievers that contain caffeine (Midol, Excedrin: diuretics, high blood pressure medications, thyroid hormone.
• Depression, anxiety, chronic stress, worry.
• Lack of vitamins and minerals

Which vitamins and minerals will help me sleep?

The supplements listed below all contribute toward relaxation, day or night, helping to reduce stress, anxiety and worry, which in turn lead to clear thinking and superior problem solving.

Calcium 600 mg before bedtime will have a relaxing effect on the body, helps alleviate stress and muscle cramps.

Magnesium – approximately 250 mg relaxes muscles.

B vitamins are known to have a sedative effect on nerves.  Nutritional yeast is an excellent source of all the B vitamins in their natural balance.  1 or 2 tablespoons in a glass of milk or liquid calcium before bed.  Foods high in B vitamins are liver, whole grains, wheat germ, tuna, walnuts and peanuts, bananas sunflower seeds and blackstrap molasses.

Fulvic Minerals – 1 ounce before bedtime helps absorption of all other sleep inducing supplements and foods.  People report sounder more restful sleep after taking Fulvic Minerals

Sleep is such a commodity in our 24/7 world.  So, it doesn’t matter if you drink some tart cherry juice (to help increase melatonin production), meditate, choose to unplug from technology,  or take a warm bath as simple steps to relaxation may be the key to getting longer and deeper quality sleep.

Please share with us your tips for a good night’s rest and join us on Twitter, Face book or Google Plus.

To learn more about our mineral products and quality liquid supplements please visit our website at: Vital Earth Minerals

By Kathleen Threet, Staff Writer at Vital Earth Minerals

Please note that any advertisements that you see on this blog are placed here by WordPress.com. The Administrators of this blog have no connection to or financial interest in any of the promoted products and/or services and gain no income from any advertising displayed on this blog. Please do not click on any promotions that you do not wish to support.

 

Soothing the Causes of Chronic inflammation

Inflammation can be given many different names depending on what part of the body it is affecting. Inflammation of the joints is called arthritis; of the airways is called asthma or sinusitis; or of the nose is called allergies and rhinitis. Included in the list of inflammation created diseases are: diabetes, heart disease, irritable bowel syndrome, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, celiac disease, Crohn’s disease and much more.  Researchers at U.C. San Diego and King’s College in London have even found a link between cancer and inflammation

Why does inflammation happen?

In the presence of infections or injuries, inflammation is a natural and necessary process that activates the immune system. A healthy immune system detects attacks, destroys and remembers foreign invaders such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites and even cancer cells. Natural inflammation is your body’s way of defending you against germs and healing injuries.

Alexander Hoffman, assistant professor of chemistry and biochemistry at U.C. San Diego states, “Studies with animals have shown that a little inflammation is necessary for the normal development of the immune system and other organ systems”.

Too much of a good thing

However, considering the diseases listed above that can be controlled, eliminated or prevented by controlling excessive Chronic Inflammation, it is obvious that too much of a good thing can destroy us.

Why does healthy inflammation turn to life threatening Chronic Inflammation?

Suppression of the immune system may be #1. This is caused by the intake of alcohol, caffeine, tobacco, drugs, contaminated air and water, excess sugar, and toxic food additives such as MSG.

Free Radicals enter the body two ways. They can be introduced by external sources like x-rays, smoking, pollutants in the air, toxic chemicals and/or produced by the body. Regardless of how they are created, free radicals block the natural function of organs and systems in the body.

Free radicals create oxidation, which can be likened to rust on a piece of metal. Electrically charged free radicals attack healthy cells, causing them to lose their structure and function. The immune system sees free radicals as foreign, and develops antibodies against them, resulting in Chronic Inflammation.

For a full explanation of Free Radicals go to http://www.healthc check systems.com/antioxid.htm.

What can we do to help ourselves?

Find the elements in your specific lifestyle that is creating the problem. Check your nutrition, exercise, sleep patterns and attitude.

Nutrition

Eliminate the self-induced Inflammation causes listed above, such as smoking.

Eliminate all convenience foods. If food has been manufactured, read and understand the label before you ever bring it into your home. Do not buy anything because it claims to be “vitamin fortified” and do not believe the “no MSG” claims – they are rarely true.

A good rule of thumb is to shop the periphery of the grocery store. The natural produce, dairy, fresh fish and meats are found on the outside walls (periphery) of stores. If you go down any aisle you are in the danger zone and it is essential to read and understand labels.

Another good rule of thumb is to check your kitchen trash. How many boxes, cans, packages or jars are in there? If you are eating healthy, you will have very little kitchen trash.

Supplements

Omega 3 EFA’s Certified mercury free Krill Oil is one of the best. Flax seed oil is excellent as well.

Vitamin C. Researchers recommend as little as 200 mg to 2,000 mg. Some take it “to bowel tolerance”. In other words, increase your dosage until it produces slight diarrhea, then back off. You will need different amounts as stress and toxins change.

Vitamin D3 is needed by people who do not get a little natural direct sun on their bare skin (no sunscreen) on a daily basis.

Vitamin E – look for natural mixed tocopherols if you can find them (d-alpha-tocopherol). Natural Vitamin E is in short supply right now.

Selenium – 200 micrograms of an organic, yeast bound form.

Inflammation reducing enzymes – the vegetarian systemic enzyme blend, “Neprinol”, formulated by Arthur Andrew Medical is an excellent one. http://arthurandrew.com/products/neprinol-afd.

Psychological Stress

The very presence of illnesses and diseases can be a major cause of stress, which in turn creates more inflammation, which feeds the disease, which creates even more stress, worry, fear, confusion, and anger. It becomes a self-perpetuating cycle, with each phase feeding the next. The disease thrives on this cycle, becoming stronger and less controllable, while the person hosting the disease feels depressed and hopeless. Stress increases your natural steroids and can eventually lead to depression.

Psychiatrist Andrea Danese explains, “Psychological stress can also trigger inflammation, since stress is really the anticipation of pain.” So if stress is one of your contributors, it is important to identify what the source is. Is there a situation in your life, or a person who is causing unnecessary stress? Is it bad money management? Is it environmental?

Next, it is up to you to take charge and responsibility for finding your own way to relieve it. For you it may be exercise, or meditation, or practicing the Presence Process (read self-help books like “The Power of Now” by Eckhart Tolle), or taking up a relaxing hobby like art, golf, or sewing. We each have our own individual coping mechanisms – it is essential for you to find the one that works best for you.

Millions of people are able to minimize or overcome the diseases we are plagued with in today’s fast paced, toxin laced society. Just remember, there is no blanket cure-all that works for everyone. We all have to find what caused our specific illness state and what we need to do individually to get the results we envision.

Please share with us your ways for overcoming inflammation and join us on Twitter, Face book or Google Plus.

To learn more about our mineral products and quality liquid supplements please visit our website at: Vital Earth Minerals

By Kathleen Threet, Staff Writer at Vital Earth Minerals

Please note that any advertisements that you see on this blog are placed here by WordPress.com. The Administrators of this blog have no connection to or financial interest in any of the promoted products and/or services and gain no income from any advertising displayed on this blog. Please do not click on any promotions that you do not wish to support.

 

Striving for pH Balance In An Acidic World

What does pH mean?

The meaning of pH is Potential Hydrogen which means the degree of concentration of hydrogen ions in a substance or solution.  It is measured on a scale that goes from 0 (Acid) to 14 (Base or Alkaline).  The higher the number indicates that the substance is more alkaline in nature and has a greater potential for absorbing more hydrogen ions.  The lower the number indicates more acidity with less potential for absorbing hydrogen ions.

This applies to our entire body as we are over 70% water.  With every body process utilizing fluids, from blood, spinal fluid, urine, saliva and intercellular fluids, pH plays an important role in our health. Our body’s biochemical reactions are either sped up or slowed down by our pH levels.  This is done by managing the speed that electricity moves through our bodies.  It also controls the speed of enzyme activity.

If a substance is higher in pH (more alkaline) the more electrical resistance the liquid holds. This means that electricity in our bodies travel slower with a higher pH.  When conditions are more acidic, electricity runs fast and resources are burned up quickly.

What can happen if your body pH is too acid?

Your body pH is key to your health and well-being.  Blood remains in a narrow range for pH at around 7.3, below or above this range can indicate warning signs of disease.  When your pH is off, oxygen to the cells is affected, microbes can mutate and grow, and enzymes that are normally helpful can become damaging.  These types of conditions leave you vulnerable to yeast, fungal, parasite infections or even cancer.

Acidosis or high acid levels can be linked to insulin sensitivity, obesity, osteoporosis, Parkinson’s, coronary artery disease, liver and kidney disease for starters. It can also cause damage to organs like the heart or brain long-term. This condition also prevents you from loosing weight, can cause premature aging and wear out your immune system by overloading it with toxins.

Our body produces and eliminates acid waste products every twenty-four hours.  If there is more acid in our system than can be released the body must store it.  This requires a buffering system to be in place as acid is corrosive. Oxygen is used in the blood to act as a binder which makes it unable to be used by the cells. The kidneys also work to remove acid from the body as it is transported by bloodstream.

How does the body use minerals to maintain pH? 

The body uses minerals to help stabilize pH levels by combining with acids to create salts that are eliminated through the kidneys and large intestine safely.  Calcium, potassium, Sodium, Magnesium, Iron and Silica are minerals that can all help you stay more alkaline.  If the body doesn’t have the minerals needed to help alkalize from our foods, it will take the calcium and phosphorus from our bones to help buffer the effects of acid.

Today, the minerals are missing in our soils, which in turn leave our foods lacking in minerals also. Our modern diet of breads, sweets, and convenience foods also contribute greatly to our acidic body state. One good way to keep your body balanced is to take trace minerals daily. Combining this with eating organic foods and many raw foods can help to keep the body in symmetry. Find ways to ward off stress as this can create acid also.

Everything we eat or take for our health has a pH ranking on the scale.  Making choices before your put food in your mouth is one of the easier ways of prevention against acidosis.  The effort to stay proactive with your pH is always worth it, because no one I know has the time to feel sick.  Increasing alkalinity can bring you benefits like sleeping better and more soundly along with increased energy.

There is an article on our website that also talks about how acid zaps your energy.  Click here if you would like to read more: http://www.vitalearthminerals.com/v/articles/Acidity_The_Energy_Zapper.html

Please share with us your tips for keeping a good pH balance and join us on Twitter, Face book or Google Plus.

To learn more about our mineral products and quality liquid supplements please visit our website at: Vital Earth Minerals

By Kathleen Threet, Staff Writer at Vital Earth Minerals

Please note that any advertisements that you see on this blog are placed here by WordPress.com. The Administrators of this blog have no connection to or financial interest in any of the promoted products and/or services and gain no income from any advertising displayed on this blog. Please do not click on any promotions that you do not wish to support.

 

Does Sunscreen Create Melanoma?

At this time of year, the usual scare tactics about too much sun, melanoma and sunscreen start hitting the news. For the media, it’s just another sensational topic to scare people and sell more magazines and newspapers. Unfortunately this false information may increase our chances of getting some form of melanoma.

Skin cancer and many of the health conditions we consider “normal” are unheard of amongst primitive people currently living in non-civilized locations. You heard that right.  People living in jungles today, without the benefit of sunscreen or processed foods rarely experience skin cancer. This is not a very good testimonial for sunscreen. In fact, statistics indicate that the higher the use of sunscreen in civilized cultures, the higher the rate of skin cancer.

Insufficient sunbathing is on the top of the list of causes of skin cancer, followed by consumption of polyunsaturated vegetable oils and margarines.

Follow the link below to an informative web site that claims lack of sunbathing causes wrinkling of the skin, cancer, weak muscles, depression, blindness and a long list of just about every disease you can name. They also document how ancient people have been harnessing the healing power of the sun for centuries, and give instructions on the proper way to sunbathe for maximum benefits. http://www.healself.org/sun.html

My mother was very sickly as a child. As a young adult, doctors gave her a few years to live. Thinking she was going to die soon, she decided to leave the gloom of Ohio and spend her last years in sunny California. There gardening became her passion. This helped her with a small but powerful lifestyle shift in diet to more vegetables and fruit.  Little by little she gained a perfect amount of healthy weight, her energy increased, and her illnesses all slipped away. When she did die at 93, she was still gardening, living in her own home, cleaning, cooking, mentally alert and physically agile.

So what is it about sunshine that gives us such amazing health benefits? Sun shining on bare skin provides one of the best sources of Vitamin D. Vitamin D promotes calcium absorption, maintains proper serum calcium and phosphate levels to enable bone growth. Sunscreen prevents Vitamin D from being absorbed, which is why sunscreen actually promotes the development of cancer.

What can develop from a lack of Vitamin D?

Rickets, osteoporosis, digestive issues, lactose intolerance, insomnia (due to non-absorption of calcium), cardiovascular disease, immune system dysfunction and hormone imbalances are the most commonly recognized Vitamin D deficiency diseases.

What about Vitamin D enriched foods?

Many packaged foods boast the addition of Vitamin D, but that may be misleading. When Vitamin D is added before the food is subjected to high heat processing, it has been destroyed. The manufacturer can still list it on the label, even though they destroyed it with heat after adding it. Or it may be D2, the synthetic and ineffective form of D.

Is milk a source for Vitamin D?

Many alternative health authorities claim that processed milk is actually unhealthy. Raw milk is digestible and nutritious because it contains health giving enzymes. Pasteurization and homogenization strip the life-giving nutrients that are present in raw milk by killing the natural enzymes. Baby deer and baby calves will slowly wither away and die if fed homogenized / pasteurized milk.

There is promising evidence that as little as 400 IU of vitamin D3 taken daily along with calcium every day may reduce the risk of as well as prostate. colon, breast and other cancers by 50% or more. Many recommend as high a 8,000 IU of D3. If you can’t get a safe amount of sunshine on your bare skin daily, be sure to supplement with extra Vitamin D3.

Please share with us your favorite ways to soak up some sunshine on Twitter, Face book or Google Plus.

To learn more about our liquid supplements and for more health information please visit our website at: Vital Earth Minerals

By Kathleen Threet, Staff Writer at Vital Earth Minerals

 

Is An Easy Meal Worth Years Off Of Your Life?

 

A lot of people are still unaware of the devastating effects that MSG creates.   MSG (Monosodium Glutamate) has been linked to strokes, epilepsy, learning disabilities, schizophrenia, and degenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s and much more.  Did you know that MSG could be the sole culprit of our the current gross obesity epidemic in America?

Of course most of us know about the little annoying side effects like headaches, upset stomach, lethargy after eating and dull thinking processes.  But you have to remember that these minor symptoms are simply precursors to the more serious diseases listed above.  Those are pretty serious conditions to bring on yourself by eating processed, convenience and fast foods.

MSG tricks your taste buds into thinking the food you are eating is high in protein. By fooling the body and brain into thinking the food is nutritious, it encourages you to eat much larger quantities.  Manufacturers love it because they can use less actual food in a product, add fillers and water and the consumer never knows the difference.  It’s very good for the bottom line, because the cost of MSG is a fraction of the cost of an ingredient like chicken, or beef.

When labs need obese rats, they simply inject them with MSG.   It increases their appetite by as much as 40%.   When you eat food loaded with MSG, the less satisfied you feel and the hungrier you become, which drives you to eat more food . The cycle goes around and around until you become morbidly obese.

The MSG industry has produced a lot of misleading hype about the safety of MSG, falsely linking it to the beneficial amino acid glutamate.  Their central lie is that the manufactured glutamic acid in processed food is identical to the beneficial and essential glutamic acid created by the body and found in natural foods and supplements.  They are NOT metabolized the same, they are NOT the same.  We all need a moderate amount of natural glutamate.  That’s why nature put it in our produce.

To complicate our lives even more. MSG has about 300 different names, including the innocent sounding name  “Natural Flavoring”, which has recently been approved by the FDA.  That means a label can claim “no MSG” and still be loaded with it because the manufacturer simply used one of the other 300 names.  Have you ever noticed names on the label like Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Plant Protein Extract, Yeast Extract, Textured Protein,  or Hydrolyzed Oat Flour? They sound pretty healthy, but they all hide MSG within the clever titles.

An excessive intake of glutamate is well-known by neuroscientists to be a problem in many disease states.  That statement refers to the large amount of artificial manufactured MSG found in processed foods, as well as the excessively high doses body builders consume to produce large muscle mass.

This health problem should be called the American Restaurant Syndrome.  Go to the web site, http://www.msgtruth.org/whywe.htm for a list of the worst American Restaurant offenders and to find out why today, Chinese restaurants may be the healthiest places to eat.

If you want to enjoy good natural energy, clear brain function, maintain a healthy weight and remain disease free the first step is to avoid  MSG in any form.

Please share with us your recipes and ideas for quick healthy meals or why you avoid MSG by joining us on Twitter, Face book or Google Plus.

To learn more about our mineral products that help to naturally detox your body or to download a copy of our Grocery Watch list please visit our website at: Vital Earth Minerals

By Kathleen Threet, Staff Writer at Vital Earth Minerals

 

Dancing Toward The Golden Years Naturally

Dancing is one of the many ways we demonstrate joy in life.  In order to jump, spin and rock we need to have solid and durable bones.  Many people don’t realize that bones are living, ever-changing, and thriving rigid organs. They are classified as an organ because they contain two different types of tissue, spongy bone and dense bone, functioning together for a common purpose. Researchers at Columbia University Medical Center have shown that bones are part of the endocrine system that helps control the metabolism of sugar, weight, and the potential development of diabetes.

Bones serve so many functions in the body that they are deserving of more attention and care than we give them. They protect internal organs, support the body, produce blood, store minerals, control pH balance, and detoxify.

What can cause osteoporosis? 

Many factors from hormonal changes in menopause for women with decreased estrogen to the fact that calcium absorption can lesson in elderly digestive tracts can lead to fragile bones. Many seniors are on medications, some of which can interfere with the ability to take in calcium. If you are on anti-seizure medications and glutococortoid medications like cortisone used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, asthma, or Crone’s disease you may be at risk for osteoporosis. Other medications that may put you at risk include heparin, cancer chemotherapy drugs, lithium, thyroxine, and methotrexate. Excessive use of antacids can create conditions where osteoporosis can start. Other conditions like anorexia and alcoholism can also lead to thinning bones.

Osteoporosis may affect a loved one, especially women over 50 and men over 70 as they have a much higher risk for brittle bones. It is the most common type of bone disease and is the loss of bone density. When the body fails to build new bone or when too much old bone is reabsorbed by the body, then osteoporosis can occur. While this affects women more often due to them having lower peak bone mass it can affect men as well.

The hardness or density of our bones weakens with age and we lose some of the minerals in our bones. This makes a bone much easier to break. Once a break or fracture occurs in the hip or spine – not only is it very painful, it may take much longer to heal. For many this has become one of the first signs that they have osteoporosis. If this happens, then they are already in an advanced stage of osteoporosis.

How can I approach brittle bones naturally? 

Eating calcium rich diet, staying active daily and taking vitamins and minerals are some of the easy ways to avoid getting weak bones. Knowing what to take can be important. Making sure that you are getting enough calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, vitamin D, vitamin K and strontium can help your bones now and as you grow older. Keep in mind that if you take strontium you need to take it at a time opposite your calcium as these two minerals will compete for absorption.

Based on a study done by Stephen J. Genius and Thomas P. Bouchard at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada, the following is a Combination of Micronutrients (COMB) Protocol for Bone Health that was based on using non-medicine based means to reduce bone fractures.

1. Docosahexanoic acid or DHA (from Purified Fish Oil): 250 mg/day

2. Vitamin D3: 2000 IU/day

3. Vitamin K2 (non-synthetic MK7 form): 100 ug/day

4. Strontium citrate: 680 mg/day

5. Elemental magnesium: 25 mg/day

6. Dietary sources of calcium recommended

7. Daily impact exercising encouraged

One of the amazing things about this study is that the price of the protocol listed above is less than $3.00 per day. Compared to what a bone fracture would cost this is outstanding!

Prevention is your greatest asset in working to avoid osteoporosis. Encourage your friends and family to walk with you and enjoy a healthy diet and lifestyle as this is the best way to stay stronger and more independent longer.

Please share with us ways that you have learned to deal with weak bones and your experiences by joining us on Twitter, Face book or Google Plus.

To learn more about our calcium magnesium and mineral products please visit our website at: Vital Earth Minerals

By Kathleen Threet, Staff Writer at Vital Earth Minerals

 

Wait a second! Was that excitement or an Arrhythmia?

 

What is Arrhythmia?

When the electrical activity in the heart gets off rhythm, the heart can beat too fast, too slow or with an irregular pace, it’s called an arrhythmia.  Some arrhythmia’s can be life threatening and while a few are simply annoying.

What can cause it and what are the side effects?

Hormones like birth control pills or diuretics can cause the heart to feel like it is skipping a beat.    It can be caused from coronary artery disease, changes in the heart muscle, injury from a heart attack, after effects of surgery and electrolyte imbalances in the blood, such as sodium, potassium, chloride and bicarbonate.  Some skips can be a side effect of taking anti-arrhythmic drugs such as beta blockers.

Side effects of arrhythmia can include dizziness, fainting, shortness of breath, discomfort in the chest, extreme tiredness and fear.

What can I use that is natural?

While it is important to follow your doctor’s advice once an allopathic treatment program has been started, many people have great success in preventing episodes by supplementing with electrolytes, calcium and magnesium.  Research indicates a deficiency of calcium or magnesium can play an important role, as calcium and magnesium work together to sustain a healthy rhythmic heartbeat.

Minerals are very important to heart function.  The nerve cells within the heart use minerals to maintain each and every heart beat at intervals of milliseconds.

 Tips to manage irregular heartbeats

Dr. Sinatra, an integrative cardiologist, suggests making sure that you avoid alcohol, caffeine and sugar which can all provoke an irregular heartbeat as a key.  Other tips include restricting the time spent on wireless technologies and using stress relieving systems like yoga, prayer and meditation to soothe your nerves.  He recommends taking Magnesium (200-400 mg) and Co-Q10 (180 mg) as the combination that he uses at high altitude to avoid irregular heartbeats.

Get checked out

If you suspect that you have problems with an irregular heart beat, it is important that you see a doctor for help with diagnosing it.  Testing can be done to determine the possible causes and severity of arrhythmia with your doctor or cardiologist.  Treatments from a doctor to treat arrhythmia can include physical maneuvers, medications, electrical shock treatments, and electrical cauterizing the specific malfunctioning area with heat, cold of laser probes.

There are ways to help to manage this condition that can use an integrative approach that combines both natural and conventional methods.

To share with us your experiences or ways that you have managed your own issues with an irregular heartbeat, we invite you to join us on Twitter, Face book or Google Plus.

To learn more about our minerals and calcium magnesium products please visit our website at: Vital Earth Minerals

By Kathleen Threet, Staff Writer at Vital Earth Minerals

 

Why Elemental Calcium Is Best For You and Your Wallet

Calcium is the 5th most abundant mineral in the body and perhaps the most complicated to understand. It is needed to sustain the strength of our bones and teeth. It controls muscle and nerve reactions (remember the heart is a muscle), glandular secretions, dilation and contraction of blood vessels and is essential for proper blood clotting.

Calcium supplements are often used for treatment and prevention of osteoporosis, hypertension, premenstrual conditions, irregular heart beat, minor sleep disorders, muscle function, and helping the body maintain alkalinity.

With so many important jobs to do in the body, you want to make sure that your calcium is absorbable and economical.

People ask, “Why can’t I just pick the cheapest calcium and hope it will work? How can I tell the difference between brands on the shelf?” Here is a way you can figure it out on your own.

The Supplement Facts panel contains important information, but not everyone understands what it is actually telling you, especially the milligram listing pertaining to “elemental” calcium versus calcium by weight.

The “elemental” measurement is so important, that if it is not listed as “elemental” you need to know how to do the math to figure it out.

When carbon plus oxygen bonds with other elements they form the specific molecule we call Calcium Carbonate. Each form of calcium (citrate, carbonate, orotate) bonds with different elements that make up that calcium molecule. When the combination of all these molecules are weighed in a laboratory and listed on a bottle label, they are simply listed as XX mg of calcium.

An “elemental” calcium listing means the laboratory has isolated and measured the calcium by itself, and has not included all the other elements. “Elemental” calcium is the amount of actual calcium that is available for assimilation and absorption. Different forms of calcium have different amounts of available calcium. If the word “elemental” is missing, the actual available calcium may be very small. It may also imply that binders and fillers have been added to the product.

If the listing does not say “elemental”, you can do the math and figure it out for yourself. Go to the “% daily value” column, and remember this is per serving. Multiply that amount by 1000 and that will give you the amount of actual calcium you are getting in each serving. For example, if 60% is in the % per daily value column, multiply that times 1000 (0.60 X 1000 = 600). You are only getting 600 milligrams of absorbable, usable calcium in that specific formula.

Each form of calcium contains different elemental calcium amount. Here are a few examples:

Calcium Carbonate – 40%

Calcium Phosphate – 31 to 38%

Calcium Gluconate – 9%

Calcium Lactate – 13%

Calcium Citrate – 21%

Microcrystalline Calcium Hydroxyapatate (MCHC) – 20%

So why not just choose the highest one? Because there are other factors to consider, such as how easily they are absorbed, how expensive that specific form of calcium is, whether they contain contaminants such as lead (Carbonate), or radioactivity (coral calcium).

Having multiple forms of calcium available to choose from, all offering different absorption and solubility can be confusing. Research indicates that inorganic forms of calcium such as carbonate, phosphate and dolomite are so poorly absorbed they may not be worth taking. Calcium carbonate may be affordable for some, but is not absorbed well by people with low stomach acid like the elderly. Unfortunately, these are the least expensive formulas in the marketplace.

Next down the list are Calcium Gluconate and Calcium Lactate. Both have high elemental calcium, but low solubility.

Calcium Citrate and MCHC Calcium are rated very high in absorbability and assimilation by researchers. They both offer a low pH, a neutral taste, high elemental calcium and bioavailability. Even though they are more expensive than their cheaper cousins, Citrate and MCHC stand out as the most effective and economic options.

Increase the effectiveness of your calcium by spreading the dose out two or three times a day. Choosing a chewable can make this task much easier. Put your daily dose in a dish and munch on them throughout the day. Some chewables taste so good that you will enjoy using them for a little energy pick-me-up and taste treat.

By understanding all the factors that boost calcium utilization and absorbability, you will maximize your health benefits and get the greatest value for your dollar.

To learn more about our minerals and calcium magnesium products please visit our website at: Vital Earth Minerals

You can also share with us why you take calcium and what factors you use in choosing supplements at  Twitter, Facebook or Google Plus.

By Kathleen Threet, Staff Writer at Vital Earth Minerals

 

Save Money And Boost Your Health Results With This Blueprint

The most confusing aspect of planning a supplement program is how much of which nutrients and what forms of nutrients should we take.  What most people don’t realize is that they need to start with a base-line program that forms the foundation of their nutritional program. We wouldn’t think of building a house without a foundation, as it supports the entire structure.

The foundation of every supplement program should contain all 16 vitamins and all 72 minerals, in their most natural forms.  If you take a single nutrient to solve a particular problem, and leave the rest of them out, none of them will work very well.  Here’s an example of what is needed for Calcium absorption.  You may be surprised at the process.

Calcium directly needs the following to be absorbed: Copper, Magnesium, Manganese, Zinc, Fluorine, Sulfur, Chromium, Phosphorous and Iron.  Now it gets more complicated, because for all the above minerals to be used they each have their own co-factor need.  For example Copper needs Cadmium, Gold, Calcium, Iron, Phosphorous, Sulfur, Zinc and Molybdenum.  In order to absorb Calcium, you need a minimum of 24 other minerals and each of those minerals has their own requirements.

Magnesium needs Calcium, Iron, Phosphorus and Manganese to be absorbed.  Even minerals that seem toxic like Cadmium help Zinc to absorb.  Arsenic assists selenium and iodine to absorb.  All 72 minerals, and 16 vitamins have unique interdependent relationships with each other as they have a lengthy list of cofactors that are needed to facilitate absorption.

This is the simple reason why we all need to supply our bodies with all 16 vitamins and all 72 minerals and trace elements as our foundation program.  Next, will you chose pills, capsules or liquids?  It doesn’t matter how powerful or complete the formula is, if it is in a form that cannot be absorbed.  Research indicates that pills, or tablets, offer an absorption rate of zero to maximum 18% (Physicians Desk Reference Guide).  Capsules (including gel caps) can take 20 to 30 minutes to break down and convert to a liquid in the stomach offering 20 to 45% absorption.  Liquid supplements include chewables, and powders that are put in a liquid drink, offer 98% absorption, because absorption starts in the mouth.

The taste buds on your tongue are the sensors that activate the body to start producing the enzymes needed to process the nutrients.  This prepares the stomach to have the right combination of enzymes to best absorb a supplement.  When pills or capsules arrive in the stomach they are a mystery.  The body isn’t quite sure how to process them.

People ask why should I take vitamins when I just see them come out in my urine shortly after I take them?  This is proof that the body has accepted them and that they have been absorbed.  For instance, many B vitamins are like this, as they are water-soluble and assimilate quickly.

For a health boost and to save money, if at all possible start with a liquid, a chewable or a powder that you put in a liquid and drink.  Only take isolated nutrients in addition to a baseline foundation that contains all the vitamins and all the minerals.

To learn more about our minerals and high potency liquid vitamin – Super Multi or our liquid Fulvic Minerals and Humic Minerals please visit our website at: Vital Earth Minerals

You can also share with us your reasons for taking liquids over capsules with vitamin and mineral supplements at  Twitter, Facebook or Google Plus.

By Kathleen Threet, Staff Writer at Vital Earth Minerals

 

Myth: Everything You Need Is In Your Food

We can no longer follow the old truism that “All the Nutrients You Need Are In Your Food”.  Modern man broke the system that used to make that statement true.  It used to be so simple; all we had to do was eat vegetables and fruits from these healthy plants to get all the nutrients we need. Today, our produce is nutritionally void now … that means the vitamins and minerals are so low in our produce that they no longer keep us healthy.

In the olden days, healthy plants manufactured an abundance of Fulvic.  Fulvic is the only substance that can dissolve rock based minerals in the soil, and uptake them into the plant.  When plants and trees have plenty of minerals and Fulvic, they can manufacture vitamins.  People and animals need a proper balance of vitamins and minerals to maintain health and reverse diseases.

Many factors combined have resulted in foods becoming “nutritionally hollow”.  Modern farming methods have thrown the entire cycle out of balance.  Our farming soils are weak, which results in sick plants that cannot manufacture the nutrients we need to stay healthy and fight illness and disease.

The increased use of pesticides and irradiation on our produce leaves a finished food with poisons and lower nutrients.  The chemicals used in pesticides contaminate the soil, and kill the good microbes that produce essential Fulvic.  The use of hybrid seeds and crop management based on economics further drains our foods of their minerals and vitamins.

So, how can you tell if plants are healthy or not?  We’ve been told that healthy plants are disease and pest free. Bugs and pests are Nature’s garbage disposers.  When a plant is not healthy enough to provide nutrients for people and animals, nature provides bugs to destroy it.

I had a hard time really believing this until someone gave me a very sick Fichus tree.  It was loaded with scales and had so few leaves on it I didn’t think it could survive.  This pathetic plant became my personal experiment. I wanted to know if it was true that healthy plants fight their own diseases, so I fed it Fulvic Minerals and Humic Minerals every two weeks faithfully.  Almost immediately new leaves began to sprout, but the battle with the scales continued.  Then little by little the scales began to thin out.  Today that sickly tree has so many big healthy leaves it could be a show plant, and there isn’t one single scale on it anywhere.  All I did was to provide the nutrients Nature would have provided under healthy growing conditions.

Calcium and Magnesium are two of the most important minerals in the body as they are used daily from the cells to your bones. Just one percent of Calcium is stored in your blood for controlling your heartbeat and blood pressure.  The other ninety-nine percent is held within your bones and teeth. Calcium also helps with the actions of enzymes and to help fluid flow throughout the cell membranes. Adequate amounts of calcium can help to reduce the risk of colon and rectal cancer.  Calcium also helps your nerves.

Magnesium is an important mineral co-factor needed to allow the body to utilize calcium. It is used for carbohydrate metabolism and elimination. Magnesium is vital for rejuvenating the nerves and muscles. People who have diabetes, chronic malabsorption or who take diuretics may also need extra magnesium.  A lack of magnesium can add to irritability.

Now you can understand why it is essential in today’s world to add a full spectrum of all the vitamins and all the minerals to our daily diet with an abundance of calcium and magnesium. While you still want to eat vegetables and fruits, supplementing assists in laying a solid foundation for energetic health.

To learn more about fulvic minerals or to view our supplement line of products: Vital Earth Minerals

You can also share with us your reasons for taking vitamin and mineral supplements at  Twitter, Facebook or Google Plus.

By Kathleen Threet, Staff Writer at Vital Earth Minerals

 

Eat Every Color to Manifest Your Zeal

Over this past weekend, I had a chance to visit my uncle who continues to amaze me with his high energy levels.  He showed me pictures of him scaling 14,000 foot peaks here in Colorado and glaciers in the Alps.  When I asked him what some of the secrets to his vitality are as he nears 70, he told me that he is very conscious of what he eats every day.  He reminded me that it is easier to make the effort to eat better when it gives him the endurance to do the things he loves rather than to worry about the health issues that a poor diet can cause.

Our recommended daily level of vegetables and fruits are 9-11 per day, but not many people actually achieve that. Aim to have over 75 percent of a plate each meal filled with colorful fruits and vegetables.  Eating foods raw or lightly cooked can help to ensure nutrients are preserved in salads, smoothies, hummus or pates.

It takes a team to build something robust. Enlist the help of three or more different colored crews of fruits and vegetables. By remembering to eat the full rainbow spectrum you can renew your commitment to wellness.

Red Crew – Contain lycopene which helps decrease the risk of cancer and anthocyanins that are strong antioxidants.  Foods included in this group are beets, cherries, apples, tomatoes, rhubarb, cranberries, strawberries, radishes, watermelon, papaya, raspberries and pomegranate.

Orange Crew – Contain beta-carotene which may help to reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer.  Good choices are carrots, squash, peaches, oranges, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, grapefruit and yams.

Yellow Crew – Contain Vitamin C which works as an antioxidant and co-factor for enzymatic reactions that help the body to heal. Easy picks here include lemons, corn, pears, apricots, grapefruit, cantaloupe, rutabagas, pineapple and squash.

Green Crew – Contain  lutein which helps eye health and lowers the risk of cataracts.  They also contain Folate which is needed to repair DNA and produce healthy blood cells. Many choices for your greens lie in broccoli, cucumbers, olives, asparagus, kale, green peas, spinach, chard, limes, zucchini, celery, avocados, kiwi fruit and brussel sprouts.

Blue and Purple Crew – Contain  anthocyanins which are effective flavanoid antioxidants.  Blueberries, plums, beets, mulberries, cabbage, figs, elderberries, prunes, grapes and blackberries are all foods that you can use.

White  Crew – Contain the nutrient Allicin which has antibacterial and anti-fungal properties and anthoxanthin – a flavanoid.  Foods like garlic, onions, pears, coconut, cauliflower, shallots, parsnips, mushrooms, horseradish, turnips, potatoes and white beans are great choices.

By choosing nutrient dense foods, you can find ways to energize your body that avoids processed ingredients that contribute to inflammation and illness over time. Exercising increases the body’s need for nutrients. Cravings of healthy foods are the body’s way of trying to fill the need for specific items needed for nourishment.

My uncle makes sure that he also eats plenty of whole grains like oats, rice, barley, quinoa along with beans and lentils to give the body the fiber that it needs.  Fiber can help to diminish cravings, maintain a feeling of fullness, and keep your digestion optimal. An easier way to maintain a healthy weight is to concentrate on eating foods with higher nutrients and fiber. Avoiding trans-fats, sugars, and anything processed/refined to ease insulin resistance that contributes to poor health.

I know that I will think before I eat with the hope that I can be filled with the same passion for life as my uncle.

To learn more about ways to eat healthier or to view our products: Vital Earth Minerals

You can also share with us your tips for high energy living at  Twitter, Facebook or Google Plus.

By Kathleen Threet, Staff Writer at Vital Earth Minerals

 

Laugh At Stress To Sustain Your Thyroid

The thyroid is a gland that is located in the neck that is in charge of regulating our metabolism. Thyroid works to turn proteins, carbohydrates and sugars into energy within each cell.

When thyroid levels are too high (hyperthyroidism) the heart can race, quick weight loss and bulging eyes are clues.  Thyroid levels that are too low (hypothyroidism) can result in fatigue, weight gain and sensitivity to cold.

Some basic warning signs that you may have a thyroid problem developing are:

• Sudden weight gain or weight loss
• Mood swings including depression and anxiety
• Hair, skin or nail changes such as dry hair and skin or ridged, brittle nails
• Menstrual problems for women
• High cholesterol levels
• Swelling or discomfort in the neck
• Increased feelings of fatigue or insomnia
• Intestinal problems such as bloating and constipation
• Low body temperature

In our society where communication can be clocked in seconds, it is too easy for our mind and body to suffer from the effects of stress.  One massive worry can cause an increased heart rate, abdominal discomfort and difficulty in concentrating.  This worry compounded daily and weekly turns into headaches, chronic insomnia or substance abuse. Over time, the adrenal glands continue to produce higher and higher levels of cortisol that creates a bigger burden on us physically, mentally and emotionally.

Cortisol is a steroid hormone instrumental in converting the thyroid hormone in the body.  Too much or too little cortisol can stop the activation of thyroid.  When adrenal glands are too depleted low thyroid can also result.  Cortisol in high doses actually breaks down the body’s tissues.  It can harm the portion of our brain, called the hippocampus that is involved in memory. Continual stress can also damage the ability of the liver to detoxify the body.

Some easy natural ways to relive stress are:

• Laugh – Tell a joke, read or watch something funny. Try to remember a time you laughed so hard your stomach hurt.
• Meditation and journaling -to clarify your thoughts and emotions.  Find ways to help you relax and slow down.
• Talk to a friend -or perhaps a counselor about things that are bothering you.
• Ask yourself this question about your stressful situation – Will this really matter in five years?
• Set good boundaries – be clear on what is within your power to control and within your circle of influence.
• Exercise – getting active for 30 minutes helps to balance the body. Yoga and deep breathing for even a couple of minutes can help to soothe you spirit and help you refocus on what is important.
• Make sure that you take care of your health. – Focus on fresh vegetables and fruits that are good sources of vitamins B, C, and E to counteract free radicals.  Eat plenty of protein as it provides the amino acid tyrosine that the thyroid is made from. Make sure that you are getting magnesium which acts as a natural muscle relaxer.
• Stay hydrated as dehydration can increase cortisol levels.
• Prepare to get quality sleep as sleep deprivation can affect your thyroid levels.

In addition to stress, it is smart to minimize excessive coffee and sugar that can over stimulate the thyroid and adrenal glands.  Avoid plastics and products containing BPA and phthalates as they have been proven to decrease thyroid levels.  Shun pesticides as they are similar in molecular structure to thyroid and can block its absorption.

To learn more about ways to help your thyroid or to view our products: Vital Earth Minerals

You can also share with us your tips for improving thyroid levels and your favorite ways to relieve stress at  Twitter, Facebook or Google Plus.

By Kathleen Threet, Staff Writer at Vital Earth Minerals

 

Powerful Bones Are Needed For Peak Longevity

No one ever thinks that to reach middle age or older, your body has been making moment to moment decisions inside of each cell of your skeleton.  Each bone is a combination of protein bound to crystals of mineral.  While a bone appears solid, it is actually cell structure that brilliantly forms new bone and also removes old bone throughout life. These processes, called modeling and remodeling, occur so that every ten years or so our entire skeleton is replaced.

The skeleton is a warehouse for phosphorous and calcium that are used in body organs, blood levels, muscle and nerve tissues.  If there is insufficient calcium or phosphorous then governing hormones remove them out of the bone fiber to serve other parts of the body. Our bones are hollow by design to allow our bodies to absorb an impact without breaking while also being the strong framework for our muscles.

As we age, our bodies slow down the process of making bone because we stop needing to grow taller.  At age 30 is approximately when this happens.  This combined with poor diet, lack of exercise, changing hormone levels, and being indoors or in cars all of time can make our bones so much more fragile.  The good news is that things like hip fractures, poor posture, weak teeth, or delicate bones are all preventable.  A few lifestyle changes one day and one bite at a time can create an immense difference in your quality and length of life.

Here are a few tips to strengthen your bones:

• Get active and work at it every day. Standing and sitting do not create bone mass. Try walking, swimming or dancing.  Use stretch bands, push ups or free weights to improve muscle mass. Resistance training actually aids us in creating new bone. Yoga, balance training and Tai Chi can all work too.  Aim for a minimum of ten minutes a day – three times a day.  Whatever you do – please do not stop! Once you stop exercising, the body then returns to the same bone mass level as when you started.
• Make sure that you are getting enough Vitamin D, as it is needed for calcium to be absorbed effectively.  You can get it in foods like sardines, herring, tuna, mackerel, liver, cheese and eggs.  By sitting in the sun for just 20 minutes a day, your body will naturally make Vitamin D. Our need for this vitamin increases as we age from 200 IU till age 50 to 400 IU till age 70 and then 600 IU over 70.  One cup of milk or fortified orange juice has 100 IU of Vitamin D.
• Avoid soft drinks, too much coffee or caffeine, too much salt, smoking and too much meat in your diet.  Each of these factors can block you from absorbing calcium. Alcohol actually robs you of calcium.
• Eat foods that are high in calcium. Try a variety from turnip greens, kale, broccoli or cabbage.  Dairy products like milk, yogurt, cottage cheese, or cheddar cheese can help.  Sardines, salmon, tofu and pinto beans are also good food sources of calcium.

Making sure that you have the calcium you need, so your bones aren’t stripped of it may not always be done by diet alone.  The personal experience of loosing bone mass through extreme hyperthyroidism brought one of our founders, Jody, to help create our liquid calcium formula. To learn more about our liquid or capsule calcium or to view our liquid minerals visit: Vital Earth Minerals

You can also share with us your tips for great bone building exercises or recipes at Twitter, Facebook or Google Plus.

By Kathleen Threet, Staff Writer at Vital Earth Minerals

 

Ways to Help Your Digestive System Thrive

 

Your digestive tract includes a complex conduit over 30 feet long that holds some of the simplest keys to good health.  It delivers every nutrient, vitamin and mineral needed to nourish and sustain us. When you absorb the best of what you eat: your entire body benefits.

By using some of the following tips, you can help your digestive system to thrive.

• Be conscious and choose foods that are fresh, good quality and when you can- organic.  Blend cooked vegetables and raw foods into your diet as raw foods contain enzymes which help with digestion.  Also pick foods that are rich in fiber.
• Relax and slow down while eating.  By taking a moment to breathe and feel grateful while you enjoy the smells and flavors of food, you are priming your body for better digestion. Your colon is guided by your autonomic nervous system which is interconnected with your emotions. This explains why many people cannot eat when they are upset or angry. When a person is upset, the fight or flight response kicks in and can actually shut down digestion until the perceived threat has passed.
•  In the mouth breaking down carbohydrates (sugars and starches) is the very first step. It helps to chew your food very well to a liquid state if possible.  This gives the digestive enzymes in saliva a chance to start working.  It also frees up energy for the stomach and intestines to do their tasks.
• Be aware of how long it takes foods to digest.  Proteins, like fish, meat, chicken, milk, eggs have an average digestion time of 4 hours.  Starches, such as grains, sweet potatoes, cooked grains and beans digest on average in 3 hours.  Vegetables, including leafy greens, broccoli and cauliflower digest in approximately 2 ½ hours.  Fruits, like apples, bananas, berries and pears digest in about 2 hours.  Melons like cantaloupe digest quickly in around 15-30 minutes.  This is why some people try food combining only certain foods to make sure everything they eat is optimally assimilated.
• Make sure that you stay hydrated with fresh pure water throughout the day.  Coffee, sodas and colas can dehydrate your body. Use caution when drinking too much fluid with your meals as it can dilute the enzymes and stomach acids used to disintegrate food.
• Try foods that are proven to be wonderful for digestion.  Pineapple contains bromelain which assists in digesting proteins.  Olive oil helps to make other fats easier to digest.  Apples contain fiber called pectin that moves the bowels.  Papayas have high levels of papain, a digestive enzyme, along with fiber and antioxidants.    Don’t forget herbs and spices like garlic, cayenne and parsley – to stimulate digestion or basil, rosemary or peppermint to soothe a sour stomach. Fermented foods like miso, pickles and sauerkraut along with those with natural probiotics like yogurt and kefir can also ease digestion.

The quicker you absorb vital nutrients in your body the quicker they are available to create the energy to work, heal, and play.  This is one of the main reasons why we choose and developed liquids for our line of products. To learn more about our liquid formulas visit: Vital Earth Minerals

You can also share with us your love of good health at Twitter, Facebook or Google Plus.

By Kathleen Threet, Staff Writer at Vital Earth Minerals

 

Humic or Fulvic: Which mineral is the right one for you?

 

Picture an ancient rainforest teeming with plants, nuts, berries, tropical flowers and surrounded by freshwater streams.  These lush plants were broken down over time and were then encapsulated by volcanic material and kept pure.  This is the beginning material for our organic whole food based Humic minerals.  This Humic material is the source from which Fulvic minerals are extracted.

The simple difference is that Fulvic works inside the cells or within each of the cell walls.  Humic primarily works outside the cells on the organs and body systems such as the immune and digestive systems.

Let’s start with Humic minerals. Humic has the higher concentration of essential trace minerals and amino acids.  It removes toxins in the stomach, allowing the immune system to function at its best. It stops viruses from binding with cells in the body.  It lessens inflammation naturally in the body. Humic actually helps to correct cellular mutations which can stop cells from becoming malignant.

Fulvic works within each cell.  It brings minerals and nutrients from your food into the cell and on its way out it flushes toxins and waste materials out. Fulvic works to boost the electrical energy inside the cells as a natural electrolyte. Fulvic minerals also improve the enzyme production and reaction inside of each cell.

As the soils that our food is grown in are increasingly depleted of minerals, it is a good idea to make sure that you are supplementing your diet with the best minerals available.

We make a difference by making sure that our processing methods are gentle and natural. We never use harsh chemicals or heat to process our minerals.  To learn more about how minerals can help visit: Vital Earth Minerals

You can also share with us your love of good health at Google Plus, Facebook  or Twitter.

 

Super Charge Your Immune System

Wintertime can leave you feeling cold, stressed or worn down.  One of the best ways to beat this is by taking Humic and Fulvic extracts as a part of your daily health routine.

Humic and Fulvic are organic plant based minerals that help to purify and energize the body.  The strength of Humic and Fulvic lies in their ability to supercharge cellular activity.  They spread throughout the system, boosting immune function, oxygenating, chelating and removing toxins.  They also assist in banishing free radicals and balancing hormones.

When Humic and Fulvic are present in the body, nutrients (from both food and dietary supplements) are dissolved into the simplest ionic form, ready to be utilized by the body.  Imagine a substance that seeks out and attached itself to nutrients within the body, and then processes those nutrients in a way so the body receives the maximum benefit.

Humic and Fulvic minerals essentially prepare nutrients to inter-react with each other. Those synergistic relationships are what fuel cellular energy.  Better cellular energy translates into better physical energy and stamina, improved mental clarity and concentration, sounder sleep, resistance to colds and flu, reduced body acidity and boosted immune system function.   Humic/Fulvic is a powerful aid in controlling body acidity because it neutralizes acid in body fluids.  The more PH balanced your body is the stronger your immune system is. To read more about the raw strength of  these minerals visit: Vital Earth Minerals

To learn more about Fulvic and Humic Minerals and better ways to stay healthy  join us on Twitter, FaceBook and Google Plus.

By Kathleen Threet, Staff Writer at Vital Earth Minerals

 

Building A Healthy Foundation

 If you are building a house, starting a garden, or working to maintain a healthy mind and body, it’s always a good idea to start with a solid foundation.

So, for our first company blog, I thought I would share our mission statement and what it was that our three owners actually set out to accomplish when they started Vital Earth Minerals over ten years ago.  Our owners vowed to create products that were of high quality and did not have be purchased through a multi-level marketing company. They also wanted to make sure each and every product in the line was amazingly effective.

The philosophy that healthy cells make healthy bodies is the backbone of everything that we do.  All of our products specifically target the rebuilding and strengthening of the cells and all their many functions.  If the individual cells that make up all of our organs, vessels, bones and breath are not working optimally then dis-ease starts to creep in.  If the body isn’t in balance, the emotions, mind and spirit follow.  Illness is an all too common battle for everyone.

The foundation of all of our products are Fulvic and Humic; crucial ingredients because of their impact on the absorption of nutrients, as well as the amazing responses they enable in the body.  To learn more about the differences in Fulvic and Humic Minerals click here : Humic or Fulvic which is right for you?

It was these philosophies, along with the personal driving passion to help heal sick loved ones that guided them.  They are committed to finding natural solutions for vibrant health even if the current state seems impossible.  Jody Ahrens, one of our owners, had a personal experience battling Grave’s Disease for several years.  By using our products, changing her diet, and keeping a positive focus she beat it.  To read Jody’s Story click here:  Jody’s Story.

We welcome your comments and feedback and look forward to sharing this journey to health along with things that we love and are inspired by.

By Kathleen Threet, Staff Writer at Vital Earth Minerals

 

Come Sit Down On The Floor And Play

Ok, so is anyone else wearing a bit thin from the craziness of the holiday season?   Shop, cook, wrap, mail, repeat…

It seems that time goes warp speed, with you breathing stress while running around trying to decide if you can get away with only a bow on that gift– no paper needed -or how many items your oven and stove can cook at once.  When did the winter solstice become a time where the person who cuts in front of you at the post office also tries to mow you down in the parking lot while yelling “Merry Christmas” out the window at you?

Peace on Earth and goodwill toward men the card greets me.  Do we even know what that means now or how it would look if we tripped over it? I know for me that some of that peace comes after dinner, shared gifts and when the real talking starts. The kids are playing with their toys and the adults are finally relaxed enough to share the truth of what is in their hearts. Accepting and allowing yourself and others to be who they are is one of the greatest gifts you can give.

My nephew, who is four, said it best at a party the other night.  While in a flurry of lights, music, Santa, Christmas cookies, and a cool punch fountain he stated clearly what he wanted.  He simply wanted someone to sit on the floor and play with him.   And imagine the delight for us both, when I did. Giggling at me, he said “Fire trucks don’t fly!”  I told him that mine did with a wink.

May you each share smiles with family, friends, and the light of living in the next week.  True health and spending time with those that we love are always my favorite gifts anyway, with or without the bow and colored sprinkles.

How do you find peace and share goodwill during this time of year? What are your favorite healthy traditions? Share your thoughts with us here or on Facebook http://on.fb.me/urZFvk and Twitter @TryVitalEarth

By Kathleen Threet, Staff Writer at Vital Earth Minerals