Stop That Sore Throat

So I created the cure for the common cold (find it here) that doesn't mean you won't suffer to some degree. My family was hit twice in four months with RSV. Kids from daycare were all hit and stayed home, One coworker after the other, as well. Everyone kept saying "Wow, what a tough cold!" Little did they know, that's no cold. RSV is no joke. In addition to all the cold symptoms, there is a pretty heavy degree of muscle weakness and exhaustion. My littlest was put on a nebulizer for wheezing. As a mom, going to that level for an illness is a little scary. My little guys unfortunately cannot gargle, so I bought a whole cabinet of cold remedy stuff. A few really worked well especially Zarbee's Child Natural Cough Syrup and Little Remedies Little Noses Decongestant Nose Drops. These were just life savers. 

For us adults, this method is amazing. I was at my cold's peak, my remedy curbed a lot of the symptoms that could have been worse, but I started to get a sore throat. I have the best gargle in the world, I whipped it up, gargled away. Woke up the next day, like it never happened. I continued once a day and whenever I felt it coming on. Take that RSV!

Four ingredients you will need: water, hydrogen peroxide, oil of Oregano, and sea salt. That's it. And in minimal amounts. I put about 1/4 cup of hydrogen peroxide in a glass jar, about 4 drops of oil of oregano (yes, only 4 drops, trust me) and enough salt to make it salty, no more than a tablespoon is needed. Top off with filtered water and keep it in a dark place.

I, of course, have provided a little research for your reading pleasure. Every ingredient has its purpose. And it seriously works.

Hydrogen Peroxide

 A study published in Nature found that hydrogen peroxide plays a role in the immune system. Scientists found that hydrogen peroxide presence inside cells increased after tissues are damaged..  which is thought to act as a signal to white blood cells to converge on the site and initiate the healing process. ~Wikipedia,

Oil of Oregano

Oil of oregano contains a compound called carvacrol, which has been shown to help break through the outer cell membranes that help protect bacteria from the immune system. Studies have shown that oil of oregano is effective at killing bacteria, and could also help the immune system take action against viruses, fungi and parasites.~Dr. OZ

Sea Salt

Sea salt helps to neutralize acids by restoring the pH balance in the throat region, thus alleviating the pain and burning sensation in the throat. The salt will also dissolve excess mucus and increase blood flow to the throat in order to speed up the healing process. Gargling with sea salt and warm water can help relieve the pain of coughs and the symptoms of dryness in the throat due to the common cold. It can help to relieve and eliminate that dry, itchy or scratchy feeling one might have. One reason for this is that salt absorbs moisture and causes osmosis; for example, if a person puts salt on a tomato or a cucumber more liquid will come out of it. Likewise, in a person’s mouth, salt absorbs by drawing moisture and harmful bacteria from swollen tissues; thus providing relief. Moreover, an environment composed of salt will block harmful bacteria from growing in the first place.~Living Food 101

March: Clean Eating

So once again, it is 4 am and I am blogging away. This is become quite a trend. Seems anytime my little ones wake up in the middle of the night I cannot get back to sleep. So I started blogging, makes pretty good use of my time, I think.  My french press is my best friend at this hour. It is the fastest and quietest way to my hazelnut coffee. So off we go with the next blog post.

It is March and I am a few days behind on guiding you through a progression to a clean diet. I promise to make a full graph of every month in the near future. For now, here is the next step. It is time to think outside the box. This is a giant step towards better eating habits. For this whole month, start cutting back on anything that comes in a box.

So most of your pantry and fridge is going to start looking pretty healthy at this point. There are exceptions to each month's rules, of course. The idea here is to cut back and eventually cut out additives, preservatives, and overly processed foods. I'll still buy a box of rice, or cereal, or even pasta. But there will be a serious minimum of ingredients.

In future months, sugar and gluten will get cut out as well. For now, we will take a step in the right direction. Do you need a few tips for cutting back or switching gears on your shopping habits? Buy natural peanut butter like Adams Peanut Butter instead of JIF. When looking at canned food, pick ones with low sodium , or fruit packed in it's juice versus syrup. And ultimately, go on your own quest and research the good, the bad, and the downright dangerous. This article by the Center for Science in the Public Interest has a great list of food additives and whether or not they should be consumed.

I am not one to spout off advice without due diligence in research. Nor do I believe and follow a single website for its claims. Research defined is, the systematic investigation into and study of materials and sources in order to establish facts and reach new conclusions. 

So you may find listening to me on this subject certain contradictions to popular cleaning eating beliefs. That is because... I've done my research.

For example, I am perfectly content having fluoride in my toothpaste. On the other hand, I could do without food dyes and MSG in my food. And believe it or not, hold on now. I am just fine with GMO's. Yep, GMO's I said it. Go ahead and crucify me to the organic Gods. 

In the meantime, I will follow up this blog with a few others going into more detail about additives, preservatives, and what they do to your body. Also, tips on how to make the transition.

February: Clean Eating Plan

Well, I suppose this is truly when you begin this journey. The first true step towards a better you. This month drink more water. Specifically, your body weight divided in half is the magic number of ounces to shoot for. Without revealing too much here, I for example have a goal of 64 ounces of water a day. bottled water makes it easy the ounces are listed so I can keep track.

In turn, I also will slowly let go of the daily Diet Pepsi I consume. I'll have to find an alternative for my afternoon kick. Red Bull probably isn't the answer. Although I am no so sure lemon water is going to cut it. hmm, I suppose I need to investigate the alternatives.... Pretty good list here on Every Day Health. I think iced tea is a great alternative. At least, until I kick caffeine altogether.

January: Clean Eating Plan

I suppose this is more like "Month 1" since it is already February and you are starting now. I used January as a month of observation. I wanted to really think out my plan, which month I would do what, what would I cut, what would I add, and just how bad is said diet right now.

I observed that I eat way too much fast food, I don't drink enough water, I am hardly exercising (who would, it is Idaho and it is freezing!) and where did all the veg go in my diet? All that must change.. starting in February I am not putting down this cheeseburger.

The Month by Month Plan to Clean Eating

So I'm just going to dive right into this one. I say that but I have contemplated how I wanted to do this for some time. I have a condition called Endometriosis. It is painful, has required surgery every few years, caused infertility and loss of pregnancy, I got pretty sick and tired of being sick and tired. We were not getting pregnant, a hysterectomy is all that was being suggested to me, and I was feeling more and more determined to just figure it out myself.

I had an "ah ha" moment over the silliest thing. Chicken eggs, omega 3 chicken eggs. I randomly thought, how do they get omega 3 into the chicken egg? So this day and age being what it is, I googled it. They feed the chickens Omega 3 rich foods. That's it... a simple you are what you eat ( and so is your baby maker.)

I knew that diet was going to be my answer. I tirelessly researched my condition, hormones, the effects of different foods in my body. How it effects pain, estrogen, etc. I came up with a diet that would cure me of my pain and just maybe would help me carry to term. And so I began... abruptly.

The next day I went full fledged into a diet that should be more or less eased into. No sugar, nicotine, alcohol, gluten, soy, preservative, chemicals, dairy, red meat, or caffeine. I added more greens, varying grains, protein alternatives, I found exceptions to the rule that made it bearable. And slowly I adjusted to feeling better than I ever had before. I was pain free.

I am going to cut through the rest of the story since 3 years later I am picking this all back up. I started this clean diet and 6 months later I was pregnant. I did have to take hormones the first trimester, but finally I had my son. I did lose the diet however, once I got pregnany all my little sugar fiend wanted was glazed doughnuts. If anyone reading this has ever had a craving, you know how this story ends already.

Well my second pregnancy was no different. Both pregnancies I caved on this diet. And now, I am all done being pregnant. I have my two beautiful boys Maximus and Cassius. It's time to do something for myself. I want this healthy diet back. I am not going to be so abrupt this time around. I have devised a month to month plan. Each month I cut something out and add something in. By the end of the year I should be feeling pretty darn good.

Each month I will blog the next step on the plan. I'd love so support and to give some as well so feel free to join in!