Jesus Healing the Leper, William Brassey Hole

Matthew 8:1-13 was the Gospel reading for the Third Sunday after Epiphany in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman rite.

The humble leper

We hear about the cleansing of the leper who with humble faith asked, but did not demand, that Jesus cure him.  God can do anything He wills and often He waits for us to acknowledge submission to His will before He grants our request. This abandonment to God’s good pleasure brings us close to Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane who in agony submitted to the Father, ” Saying: Father, if thou wilt, remove this chalice from me: but yet not my will, but thine be done” (Lk. 22:42).

Because we are all sinners, our souls are leprous to one degree or another.  We all need to be made clean in the sacrament of Confession.  Our bodies, too, are often afflicted with disease and frailties.   The sicker we are, the more we need to throw ourselves on the merciful Christ with the words of that leper of long ago: “Lord, if Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean.”

Every physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual adversity we suffer can be met with these words. All are an opportunity to practice humble faith and place ourselves in the loving hands of Christ.  If we take time to think about it, our asking in this manner is an opportunity to experience peace of heart.

The humble centurion

Centurion Beseeching Jesus, William Brassey Hole

In the same gospel we hear the tale of the Roman centurion who is used to ordering others around and getting instant obedience.  But he, too, approaches Jesus with a humble heart full of compassion for his suffering servant and complete faith in Jesus’ power to heal, even at a distance.  From this encounter with the Lord we have the powerfully compelling words, “Lord, I am not worthy that Thou shouldst enter under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant shall be healed.”

From this passage in Matthew we draw the beautiful prayer we say together before receiving Holy Communion: “Lord, I am not worthy that Thou shouldst come under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.”

In the traditional Latin Mass we say this prayer three times.  Why?  Because in Hebrew expression there is no comparative or superlative as we have in English.  Thus, the triple repetition of something signifies the greatest emphasis possible in what is being said.  Since much of the Traditional Mass originates from the time of the apostles, we find this custom retained in the Latin expression of the Hebrew culture.  Thus, we, in praying this prayer three times at Mass, emphasize our great lowliness in the face of Jesus, our helplessness to cure ourselves, and our great faith in Jesus.  A second reason for the triple repetition is acknowledgement of the triune God.  Jesus is the second Person who cannot be separated from the Father and the Holy Spirit.

I write a lot from the viewpoint of suffering in this world.  Often we suffer because our souls need healing.  We need God’s help to root out anger, resentment, envy, covetousness, and many other evils from our hearts/souls.  Often, physical suffering can be eliminated or greatly ameliorated by the healing of the soul. This prayer of the centurion prepares us to receive the healing power of Christ in Holy Communion when we say it at Mass.

When we are not at Mass but on a bed of pain, we can repeat this prayer as an offering to God as we unite ourselves to the Passion of Christ and seek His aid in conforming ourselves to the will of God.

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V. Praised be Jesus Christ!

R. Now and forever!

(Click on the link above to read why I end my posts this way.

Awareness of God

Welcome to our Saturday meme hosted by Colleen at Thoughts on Grace. Visit her to read other Catholic blogger’s moments of resting in the Lord or finding Him in the ordinary.

This week was busy.  Due to problems with a neighbor, we had to get a privacy fence installed along one side of our property.  Fortunately, it only took 3 days.  One to set the posts, one to let the concrete harden, and one to nail the boards. It looks lovely.  Between now and next spring I’ll have time to consider what to plant near it.  For sure it looks like this will be a great opportunity to start kiwi vines in a sunny section.  No problem presents itself without a corresponding opportunity. Meanwhile, I am praying for the neighbor when I otherwise wouldn’t have.  Sometimes God sticks stuff  right under our noses so we can’t miss those He wants us to pray for.

Sunlight through the red, orange, and yellow leaves casts a warm glow over morning and evening.  Just looking out the window at this intangible beauty is calming and peaceful.  Physical light is important and healthy for the body as the light of Christ is important and healthy for the soul. I’ve found that part of my wellness program is getting enough sunlight. On sunny days fibromyalgia pain is much lower than on overcast and rainy days.  Meditation and prayer brings the light of Christ into my soul which starts to wither away without it.  It’s like what Colleen wrote about last week: put God first.  I’ll add, or you’ll get lost in the dark and be in a world of hurt.

We are getting a kick out of the neighbor boy who is around 9-10 years old.  He is an outgoing, enterprising young man.  When we cleared the honeysuckle from the back fence, it exposed a lot of rocks – the Ozarks gifts of the ground.  He asked if he could have some and we said yes.  The next day he was knocking on our front door offering to sell us some beautiful rocks – the ones we gave him permission to take!  I thought it was hilarious.  He is a polite boy and very intelligent with an outgoing nature.  It’s always a Sabbath moment to see today’s children growing into decent people – a good antidote to the selfish and self-centered youth that dominate the news.  The Lord is raising wheat among the weeds.  We must all pray for the wheat to stay strong and not be choked out by the weeds.

Want to subscribe to posts by email? Visit the third box in the sidebar.

V. Praised be Jesus Christ!

R. Now and forever. Amen.

(Click on the link above to read why I am ending my posts with this.)

OK, don’t go ewwww! at the idea of cabbage in anything.  My husband only used to eat cabbage under the guise of sauerkraut, but this recipe converted him and your family might like it, too.

Fall and winter are good times to haul out those soup recipes that warm the innards.  I found a recipe for hot and sour cabbage soup on the internet and changed it quite a bit to suit my gluten free needs and the tastes of my husband.  It was a great success so I’m sharing it here.

This recipe doesn’t qualify for meatless Fridays, but all you have to do is leave out the ground pork and use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth and you’ll be good to go. If you’re good at the technique of adding eggs to soup Chinese style, it will be a perfect Friday feast.

Ingredients for 6 servings

• 60 oz. of chicken broth
• 1 lb. cooked and crumbled ground pork
• 1 small head of green cabbage, cored and shredded
• 2 large stems of bok choy, chopped
• 8 oz. of sliced, fresh mushrooms
• a couple of green onions chopped
• ½ tsp. minced garlic
• 1/3 cu. apple cider vinegar or white vinegar
• 1 ½ tsp. sesame oil
• ¼ cu. gluten free soy sauce
• 1/3 tsp. cayenne pepper
• either 1 tsp. ground fresh ginger root or ½ tsp. ground ginger (you can put in a dash of Chinese five spice if you like, also, which I do)
• If you want the soup to have more bite, add an ounce or two of Szechwan sauce or a few shakes of Tabasco sauce.

My personal tips for making this soup

Because of my various neurological issues, I bought a good sized Salad Shooter which makes shredding the cabbage really easy.  Busy moms or arthritis and fibromyalgia patients, if you have to do a lot a shredding or slicing, this kitchen helper is great for keeping your hands and arms from wearing out or getting sore.

To keep the amount of fat down, I cook the pork sausage and drain off the fat before adding it to the broth.  I like to simmer the soup after bringing it to a boil long enough to make the cabbage fairly transparent.  This could take a couple of hours.

Leftovers?  Yum.  Economical? Yes.  Ground pork costs less than ground beef in our area, and cabbage is also inexpensive.  I use organic chicken broth and cut it with 2 cups of distilled water to bring the cost down, too.

Want to subscribe to posts by email? Visit the third box in the sidebar.

V. Praised be Jesus Christ!

R. Now and forever. Amen.

(Click on the link above to read why I am ending my posts with this.)

Here’s another health related post based on my personal experience.

A friend who works out at the therapy pool when I do told me about Ionic-Fizz Magnesium Plus.  Coincidentally, my Natural Health Doctor had mentioned that people with fibromyalgia are known to be seriously deficient in magnesium. Because I had severe muscle pain for over two months from slicing a roast, he suggested I get a magnesium supplement.

Off I went to the health food store and found this product.  It says on the label it’s good for bone and cardiovascular support and is great for leg cramps.  Hmmm… I thought.  If it stops leg cramps, what would it do for my incessant muscle cramps in my back – the kind of cramps every fibro sufferer has to deal with.

Here’s what happened since I began taking this supplement in February.  The arm pain lessened in a few days and was gone in a few weeks.  The muscle cramps disappeared. I still have burning muscle pain but I can now get through Sunday Mass without squirming and twisting to resolve cramps in my back and around my ribs.

Not knowing all of what magnesium could do, I began noticing another very welcome effect.  I’m a sugar addict.  One of those people who can’t open a box of candy without eating the whole thing.  It runs in the family for generations and has resulted in diabetes in some of my relatives.  Taking this product brought my sugar cravings to an abrupt halt.

Addictions are a result of faulty brain chemistry.  I know this intellectually, but handling it correctly is quite another thing.  Magnesium brings about a proper chemical balance in the brain and helps control blood sugar levels.  This is really important for people suffering from fibromyalgia because most of us are insulin resistant and have blood sugar problems.  My sugar cravings have disappeared and I am finally starting to lose weight.

Pure Essence Labs makes this product.  Here’s what they say about magnesium:

Magnesium is the world’s most overlooked nutrient. Without it, calcium cannot be efficiently deposited to bone tissues. When calcium does not reach the bones, it can form arterial plaque, bone spurs, kidney stones, etc. It can also cause calcification of brain cells, thus undermining mental function.

Over 80% of Americans fail to get even the minimum daily requirement for magnesium. Less than one in 20 get the amount that progressive nutritionists suggest. Magnesium deficiency can lead to osteoporosis, insomnia, cardiovascular problems, migraines, muscle cramps (especially cramps in the legs at night), constipation, poor mental function, lack of energy, high blood sugar levels and countless other problems.

This is what they say about why getting minerals in this fizzy form works better:

The smallest, simplest, purest forms of minerals are “ions.” Calcium and magnesium can be absorbed into the blood in this pure, ionic form through a process of passive diffusion. They can also be bound to amino acids in the stomach, and then absorbed through an active transport system in the first few inches of the small intestine.

Minerals that are bound to amino acids are called “chelates.” Because these minerals are reasonably well absorbed, many nutrition companies try to make chelates in industrial processes. However, commercial chelation processes are not nearly as efficient as the chelation that occurs in the stomach. So, many of the minerals that are sold as chelates are nothing more than mineral salts that are extremely difficult to digest.

Naturally, the harder these salts are to digest, the harder they are to absorb. Since digestion loses power as we age, the older we grow, the less valuable such minerals become. And, even if we could digest them well, the body chemical used to digest them is the hydrochloric acid made in the stomach. Since this is the same digestive juice used to digest protein, the more of it we use to break down minerals, the less efficient our protein digestion will be.

This means that the best mineral supplements are those that are in their free, ionic form. Because they require no digestion, they can be immediately absorbed through passive diffusion, or joined to amino acids in the stomach, and then absorbed via the active transport mechanism. Pure mineral ions are the only minerals that can absorbed in both these ways.

Here’s a partial list of conditions that could indicate a magnesium deficiency and be helped by taking this product:

ADD/ADHD

Alzheimer’s

Angina

Anxiety Disorders

Arrhythmia

Arthritis – Rheumatoid, Osteoarthritis

Asthma

Autism

Auto Immune Disorders – ALL Types

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Congestive Heart Disease

Depression

Diabetes – Type I & II

Eating disorders – Bulimia, Anorexia

Fibromyalgia

Gut disorders – Ulcers, Crohn’s Disease, Colitis, Food Allergy

Heart Disease – Arteriosclerosis, High Cholesterol, High Triglycerides

High Blood Pressure

Hypoglycemia

Insomnia

Kidney Stones

Lou Gehrig’s Disease

Migraines – ALL Types

Multiple Sclerosis

Muscle Cramps

Muscle Weakness, Fatigue

Obesity – Especially Associated with High Carbohydrate Diets

Osteoporosis (just adding magnesium reversed
bone loss)

Parkinson’s Disease

PMS – Including Menstrual Pain and
Irregularities

Raynaud’s

Stroke

Syndrome X – Insulin Resistance

Thyroid Disorders (low magnesium reduces T-4)

Many people with fibromyalgia or other chronic pain issues suffer from quite a few of the above problems.  Magnesium in sufficient amounts taken by this method may be a partial answer for many to start feeling better.

Wellness is a way of life and while we likely won’t ever feel like we did at age 20, taking a natural healing approach can help us improve our quality of life and our mental outlook. God meant for our bodies to be in balance and our bodies constantly strive for it.

My doctor and I are always looking at new and developing approaches to correct the systemic issues I face.  Progress over the past year has been slow, steady, and significant. I hope that readers will find clues for their own solutions in my posts.

The most important thing I’ve learned is to keep looking for ways to address health issues using natural methods that keep stress on the body down.  From personal experience I can also say that a healthy body is an asset to a healthy spiritual life.

One of my happiest childhood memories is running around with my brothers and sisters, barefoot in the grass. Mom and Dad didn’t like us to be outside without our shoes but something about kids and bare feet just go together. Today the science of health and wellness shows that walking barefoot in the grass can be a simple and cheap way of feeling better.

It’s been awhile since I’ve posted on a health topic because in my coping with fibromyalgia I’ve hit something of a plateau and didn’t have much additional to write concerning wellness. However, the subject of the benefit of negative ions has caught my eye recently and I want to share with readers how they can contribute to our sense of well being no matter what our health issues are.

I’m not a scientist so I’ll try to keep this simple.  If you want more info on studies that have been done, The Benefits of Negative Ions is a good place to start.  These paragraphs caught my eye:

Metabolism, which is the process of acquiring nutrients from the blood and excreting waste out of the body, is extremely important to the human cells. The more Negatively Charged Electric Ions there are in the blood, the more efficient the cell’s metabolism process.

On the contrary, the more Positively Charged Ions there are in the blood, the slower and less efficient the cell’s metabolism. This causes the body’s cells to become weak and the body will tend to get sick more easily and aged faster….

The benefits of negative ions:

• Strengthen the functions of autonomic nerves
• Reinforces collagen (tissues that are resilient and tension-related)
• Improves the permeability of the cell’s prototype plasma membranes (improves metabolism)
• Strengthens the body’s immune system

A number of companies are marketing negative ion products but you don’t need to spend money to get the amount of negative ions you need.  Adjusting your lifestyle to include more of the outdoors will make a difference.  Here are some easy ways to do it:

You know how great it feels to sniff the air after a thunderstorm?  The air is filled with negative ions.  Dust and pollen particles have been washed away and the air is really fresh.  Step out the door or sit on a covered porch during a rainstorm and you’ll feel refreshed.  If there’s no lightening, be like a kid and go play in the rain.

Take a walk on a nature trail or get near a waterfall.  Sit on a beach or swim in a lake, ocean or natural stream.  The earth itself is loaded with negative ions and direct body contact with it transfers those ions into our bodies.

Go barefoot in the grass in your yard for 15 minutes to a half hour every day. While you’re at it, expose your skin to the sun to take in the amount of vitamin D you need.

Take a long shower and breathe in the steam. We take in negative ions through skin contact and breathing.  Even elderly people or those confined to wheelchairs can use bath benches or chairs to enjoy a long shower.

One of the more important benefits of exposure to enough negative ions is the effect of reducing depression. Chronic pain patients have big problems with depression, immune disorders, blood sugar balance, and other systemic problems.

Since I have decided to spend at least 40 minutes a day in the yard, I am making sure that some of that time I spend barefoot.  Even if it is hot and humid, walking barefoot in the grass in the shade – or even sitting barefoot in the grass is something I can do.  In southern Missouri I can do this three seasons out of the year.

God’s creation is His gift to us to live in.  I didn’t realize how much better I could feel by spending more time in it.

Want to subscribe to posts by email? Visit the third box in the sidebar.

V. Praised be Jesus Christ!

R. Now and forever. Amen.

(Click on the link above to read why I am ending my posts with this.)

Awareness of God

Welcome to Sabbath Moments hosted by Colleen at Thoughts on Grace. These moments are times when we are with God, or recognize His presence in our lives.

This week I have been following the plight of the Japanese after the earthquake and devastating tsunami, and praying that God have mercy on them.  Most especially I am concerned about the people in shelters with no heat, scant water and food, and those who have lost loved ones. Some of the photographs have served as sources of Lenten meditation, to which I have devoted extra time for the conversion of the Japanese and relief of their suffering.

Spring is advancing and I can tell because the energy level of my fellow therapy pool friends is up.  It’s always good to see familiar faces and new faces, too, as we all are working on improving our quality of life.  I am especially grateful to God that we have the money to belong to the rehab center. I don’t think I could keep up strengthening my muscles and controlling the fibro pain without regular workouts in the therapy pool.  It is also a great blessing to be with others who are dealing with the same kind of thing I am in a positive way.

The sound of cheerful birds in the mornings is giving me the itch to get veggies planted, but it is too soon.   We will be getting help this coming week to ready our soil – another blessing.  This morning I woke to blooming forsythia, a sure sign that the worst of winter is over!

Want to subscribe to posts by email? Visit the third box in the sidebar.

V.  Praised be Jesus Christ!

R.  Now and forever.  Amen.

(Click on the link above to read why I am ending my posts with this.)

Awareness of God

Welcome to Sabbath Moments, a meme hosted by Colleen at Thoughts on Grace.  Visit her to see what other bloggers are contributing and join us in sharing if you can.

(1) This week I was delighted to discover daikon radishes at our health food store.  I am not a radish lover, but in many of the Japanese movies I own, I see daikons used in scenes involving cooking, eating, or taking vegetables to market, so I’ve wanted to taste some.

Daikons are huge – way bigger than your biggest carrots.  The store had organically grown daikons from California bundled in threes – the smaller radishes.  I saw a giant daikon in a movie that had to be 2 ft. long at least!

Daikon radishes

These Asian radishes are white in color and mild.  As with asparagus beans, you get a lot of veggie for your money along with great taste. You can also cook and eat the greens at the top. My husband loves radishes and his only complaint was they didn’t have as much “bite” as the ones we typically find at the grocery store.

Everybody needs a new adventure every now and then, and this was mine.  Will I buy them again?  Probably.  They make good snacks if you’re on a weight loss program and delicious additions to various salads and dishes, too. If you’d like to know more about daikons, many ways to use them and their excellent nutritional value, visit What’s Cooking America?

(2) Yesterday we had mild weather and sunshine.  It was a perfect time to go out and start weeding the vegetable garden.  The large amounts of snow we had made the ground perfect for pulling up the grass and weeds, roots and all.  Sunshine and exercise are very important for us humans, especially those of us with systemic diseases. You can bet I was thanking God in my heart for the chance to get fresh air and do something relaxing.  Good thing, too, because today it’s overcast and freezing.

Want to subscribe to posts by email? Visit the third box in the sidebar.

V.  Praised be Jesus Christ!

R.  Now and forever.  Amen.

(Click on the link above to read why I am ending my posts with this.)

Rays of God's Blessings - A Moment of Delight, Photography by Yun, http://www.yunphoto.net/en/

An interesting thing happened on the way to improved quality of life for me in 2010.  Not only did God bless me with an excellent Natural Health doctor who has guided me toward a clearer mind (goodbye fibrofog), He helped me develop my writing voice and skills through blogging.

The best surprises are always from the Lord! It’s only in retrospect that I see what regular blogging has done for me.

• I’ve found wonderful blogs by Catholic/Christian bloggers that have given me opportunities for interaction on faith and Catholic living.

• My spiritual life has improved.  I see what God is doing for others as they risk sharing His miracles in their daily living.

• I’ve made valued friends I’d love to meet in person and have a good chin wag with.  Maybe someday that will happen.  If not, that’s OK.  We can continue to encourage each other via comments and show our caring that way.

• The big surprise: writing has become a wellness skill for me. It means a lot that what I’d hoped to do when I started this blog – help others in some way – is happening and I feel good about that.

Where will writing take me?  I’m not sure, but I hope to be able to bring in a little income to supplement our Social Security. Here’s where you wonderful readers can help me.

Lend Me a Hand – A Corporal Work of Mercy

I’ve joined Suite101 and am learning ways to promote my work to others who can benefit.  This past week I posted a first person article on simple goal setting skills anyone can use, but it’s especially geared to people who may be tempted to discouragement because they suffer from disabilities such as fibromyalgia, arthritis, and other afflictions where quality of life is easily compromised.

It was after I had written and posted the article that I realized the kind of goal setting I wrote about is a wellness skill. I want to inspire others and give them hope. We can’t truly function well without skills, inspiration and hope.

The Blogger's Tool

What you can do:

• If you have time, read the article. It won’t take long.

• If you know people who can benefit from it, send them a link and encourage them to read it.

• If you can write a blog post about it and link to it from your blog, that would be immensely helpful.

• Tell me what you think about it, and, if you wish, suggest other topics I can pursue that would help others.

We are made of body, mind, and soul/spirit.  I’ve learned that when one is in trouble, the other two also need help.  Wellness applies to all three.  I want to write more for Suite101 that will be both practical and uplifting.

God bless you, dear readers, and thanks for reading my blog.

Want to subscribe to posts by email? Visit the third box in the sidebar.

V.  Praised be Jesus Christ!

R.  Now and forever.  Amen.

(Click on the link above to read why I am ending my posts with this.)

May this coming year be one of great blessings for all my readers!

We went to Dallas as usual for the holidays and spent time wrapping up details of my parents’ estate.  Fortunately we all get along very well and were able to agree with no conflict on who would get what of Mom’s jewelry, etc. This is all thanks to a sister, brother, and niece who did a great job of organizing and listing everything in an Excel worksheet, even left over household items. Our plans are now to write what we know of various items and decide who we want to pass them on to when we are gone – or before, as I plan to do.

Mom gave me a bracelet that she was given by her grandmother, and I have pieces from her mother.  It occurs to me that if we did not live in a country that has known peace within our borders for 150 years, it would not be possible to do any of this. Looking at European cities after World War II gives only a small idea of what was lost of family histories and possessions, let alone friends and relatives.

On the other hand, since we are destined for a place where worldly possessions and family histories are of no account, I am continuing my attitude of detachment and believe that the most precious thing we can leave to further generations is a good example of living a good Christian life. My parents did that by having a good marriage that lasted 65 years.  That takes dedication to duty, sacrifice, and changing what needs to be changed in ourselves.  Now is only the means to the end.

How did you do on your 2010 New Year’s Resolutions?

More than anything I wanted to improve my mental functioning, and thanks to my natural health doctor, I did.  It has taken a lot of work and has been more than worthwhile.

I also set a goal for myself to have 100 articles posted to the internet, which seemed almost impossible to me at the time.  With 320 posts on this blog, four on http://www.editingandproofing.com/blog, and about 25 articles in other places on the web, I more than met it. One of the biggest helps to achieving this was not only my health improvements, but also fellow bloggers who host memes I enjoy participating in.  Thank you, faithful hosts!

So how did you do in 2010?  If you didn’t accomplish your resolutions, don’t fret.  There’s always 2011.  Keep things simple and realistic.  You might surprise yourself.

V.  Praised be Jesus Christ!

R.  Now and forever.  Amen.

(Click on the link above to read why I am ending my posts with this.)

Living gluten free since April has made a world of difference for me, mostly in the area of having more energy and not being depressed. I’m sure it’s because all the nutritional supplements I take are now being properly absorbed.  The fibromyalgia issues have improved marginally, so there’s still more work to be done, though.

Dr. Mercola has written a lot about grains, and in Intermediate Plan: Carbohydrates he recommends avoiding all grains. In his article he tells why.

What has surprised me about going gluten-free is that I don’t crave the grains – cakes, cookies, pies, etc. I once did. My friends ask how I can give them up.  The secret is that all I have to do is think about how I felt before I went gluten free and how I feel now and that takes care of the urge.  Psychologists call it negative conditioning, I think.

True, you can use other grains, and good recipes abound at Living Without for gluten free cakes, cupcakes, etc.  But somehow, I just can’t get into it. Instead, I’m having fun taking off other recipes that people without my problems enjoy and making them work for my husband and me.

Hot and Sour Soup Season

This past few weeks the pollens have been awful for hay fever.  We have a lot of hay fever symptoms at our house and when the antihistamines don’t work it can be frustrating.  Whenever the weather is like this, I crave hot and sour soup.  Last week I decided to try to make it myself instead of getting it from the local Chinese restaurant.  Fortunately, it passed the hubby test. Maybe you might enjoy it, too.

Here’s what I put together:

• 32 oz. chicken stock
• 1 lb. crumbled ground pork, cooked and drained
  
• 1/2 lb. fresh bean sprouts
• 1 small bunch of chopped green onions
• 8 oz. fresh sliced mushrooms
• 1/2 tsp. ground ginger
• 1/2 tsp. minced garlic
• 1 can water chestnuts
• 3 stalks of bok choy
• 1 chopped red bell pepper (it gives a visual punch to the mix)
  
• 1/4 cu. gluten free soy sauce
• 1 1/2 tsp. sesame oil
• 1/3 tsp. cayenne pepper
• 1/3 tsp. ground red pepper flakes
• 1/3 cup distilled white vinegar

Pour chicken stock into a large pot.  Stir in the ground pork. (I cook it first and rinse the fat off using a colander.)  Simmer for about 15 minutes.  Add all the other ingredients and cook 5 minutes more.  Adjust seasonings to taste.

My favorite Chinese restaurant uses corn starch for a thickener, but I didn’t use that because I am trying to keep grain consumption to a minimum and because there is too much genetically modified corn out there.

I guarantee this will clear your sinuses.  It is great for sore throats, too.

V.  Praised be Jesus Christ!

R.  Now and forever.  Amen.

(Click on the link above to read why I am ending my posts with this.)

Crucifixion c. 1648, Giulio Carpioni, oil on canvas, Gallerie dell'Accademia, Venice

Today is the feast of the Exhaltation of the Holy Cross, the instrument by which we are saved. This series on redemptive suffering is a fitting subject for the week in which we contemplate the power of the Cross and the Seven Sorrows of Mary in the Church’s liturgical calendar.

Government Complicity in Disease and Killing from Genetically Modified Foods

While pro-life groups are focused on the need for redemptive suffering to atone for public sins of abortion and euthanasia, a direct and obvious killing of our fellow human beings,  another more subtle attack on our fellow humans comes from the corruption involved in bringing genetically modified foods to market and the negative effect these foods have on humans and animals.

***

Let me interject here: I am an American who loves her country and is grateful to God for allowing me to be born and live here.  Speaking of the public and national sins of our government is a patriotic call to stop the corrupt practices in the legislatures and courts leading to suffering and death around the world. We were founded on Christian principles but today those principles have been abandoned by all too many.  I am part of the “me” generation responsible for the fulfillment of anti-God secular humanist ideas that are bearing poisoned fruit and feel I must speak out against them and for the restoration of Christ’s Gospel of Life in every heart.

***

I bring up the evil fruit of the genetically modified food practice as an example of a great injustice done by corporations and governments (not just America) in complicity to enrich themselves at the cost of the health and lives of those affected by it. Dr. Mercola has a number of articles on the subject at his web site, and suffice it to say, trusting the government regarding foods raised, sold, and consumed is hazardous to your health and ultimately to the future of man. This is, of course, gravely morally wrong from so many angles I can’t name them all.

Just because we can do something does not mean we should do it.

Just because we can alter DNA does not mean we should, even if the project starts out with the most noble of purposes, such as addressing world hunger.  The means does not guarantee the desired end, and to embark on paths without proper care and proof that the path taken is morally right calls motives into question and leads to unintended consequences.

What are a few unintended consequences of the proliferation of GM crops?

Studies on third generation hamsters fed GM soy show that nearly all were sterile and hair grew inside their mouths.   A study on rats by Russian scientists showed that more than 50 percent of the babies from mother rats that were fed GM soy died within three weeks, compared to a 10 percent death rate among the controls. What will happen with humans?

GM crops of cotton, soy, corn, sugar beets, canola, etc. were bred to resist Monsanto’s herbicide Roundup and other weed killers.  The high percentages of these crops coming to the grocery stores is putting people at risk, both in the consumption of fresh vegetables and in processed food.  The ubiquitous use of high fructose corn syrup is spreading the genetic modifications to food everywhere.

Genetically modified seeds are escaping farms and growing uninhibited in the wild, unable now to be controlled.  Wildlife won’t eat GM foods.  They seem to recognize something is wrong.  But the GM foods can choke out natural food sources and wildlife will starve.

Dr. Mercola says of Monsanto:

Monsanto contaminates the fields, trespasses onto the land taking samples, and then sues, saying they own the crop.  Meanwhile, Monsanto is taking many other steps to keep farmers and everyone else from having any access at all to buying, collecting, and saving of normal seeds:

1.  They’ve bought up the seed companies across the Midwest.

2. They’ve written Monsanto seed laws and gotten legislators to put them through, that make cleaning, collecting and storing of seeds so onerous in terms of fees and paperwork that having normal seed becomes almost impossible.

3.  Monsanto is pushing laws that ensure farmers and citizens can’t block the planting of GMO crops even if they can contaminate other crops.

4.  There are Monsanto regulations buried in the FDA rules that make a farmer’s seed cleaning equipment illegal because it’s now considered a “source of seed contamination.”

Monsanto has sued more than 1,500 farmers whose fields had simply been contaminated by GM crops.

Monsanto has inserted a gene in it’s genetically modified seeds that render the offspring’s seeds sterile, forcing farmers to buy new seed every year. Doesn’t this cause food price inflation, interfere with the farmer’s profit margin and ability to provide for their families? Doesn’t this increase government costs of food stamp programs our taxes support? How many other ways is this immoral?

A little known but significant consequence of the collusion between Monsanto, the American government and the government of India is the high suicide rate among Indian farmers.

According to AlterNet, a leftist (progressive) activist news site that accuses “right wing” news media of vitriol and “hate talk” (just because a media outlet is admittedly “left wing” does not mean we cannot glean useful information from it):

“Since GM seeds are patented by Monsanto, their repeated use each year requires constant licensing fees that keep farmers impoverished. One bad yield due to drought or other reasons, plunges farmers so deep into debt that they resort to suicide. One study estimates that 150,000 farmers have killed themselves in the past ten years.”

In Dr. Mercola’s September 3, 2010 article: Blood on our Farms: Is Monsanto Responsible for 1 Suicide Every 30 Minutes? he writes:

According to the National Crime Records Bureau of India, more than 182,900 Indian farmers took their own lives between 1997 and 2007. It estimates 46 Indian farmers commit suicide every day. That equates to roughly one suicide every 30 minutes!

Some will argue that natural events are to blame, such as lack of rain, but crop failures have occurred before, and it didn’t push thousands of farmers to end their lives by drinking pesticide.

No, the increased desperation can be traced directly back to the use of patented, and therefore expensive, seeds, and the unconscionable tactics of Monsanto.

Monsanto has been ruthless in their drive to use India as a testing ground for genetically modified crops. Over the past decade, millions of Indian farmers have been promised radically increased harvests and income if they switch from their traditional age tested farming methods to genetically modified (GM) Bt cotton seeds.

So, they borrow money to buy GM seeds, which need certain pesticides that were previously unnecessary, which requires even more money. When rain fall is sparse, the GM crops actually fare far worse than traditional crops – a fact that these farmers oftentimes don’t learn until it’s too late and they’re standing there with failed crops, spiraling debts, and no income.

And by next season, they have to do it all over again because the GM seeds cannot be saved and replanted. They must be purchased again.

India has started a government program for families whose farmers have committed suicide from these policies.  Is this not an incentive to kill oneself if one wishes to provide for his family and is prevented from doing so by corporations in collusion with government?  The Indian government is subsidizing suicide. Do you think American legislatures, courts and congress are blameless in this?  I don’t.

Redemptive Suffering Atones

This discussion on public and national sin with Monsanto and other corporations engaged in similar actions is just a vehicle to show the drastic state of affairs in this world regarding our offenses toward God.  I write this to demonstrate the need for faithful and loving souls who are daily developing their relationship with God to offer themselves in union with Christ on the cross to our heavenly Father.

The problems I’ve identified are too big for a single person to solve, but God in His mercy can solve everything.  We need mass conversions to Christ and people living in a loving manner towards each other.  We need trust in God and living His law of the dignity of the human person, a dignity trampled upon every day in ways we cannot even imagine.  Let us never think that because we are not cloistered monks or nuns we cannot affect the world for good. St. Therese of Lisieux and St. Jose Maria Escriva showed us the little way.  The lover (us) counts no cost in giving himself to the Beloved (God) any more than Jesus did not count the cost in sacrificing Himself for us.

Whatever God asks of us, He give us the grace to do.  Each of us has a spiritual and temporal work to do that no one else can.  Let us always seek to do God’s will in joyful trust. Especially let us ask God to see ourselves as He sees us, and to see the world as He sees it.

More articles will follow soon on expiating public/national sin.  If you want to learn more about GMOs visit Dr. Mercola’s web site and search “genetically modified foods” for many more articles.

V.  Praised be Jesus Christ!

R.  Now and forever.  Amen.

(Click on the link above to read why I am ending my posts with this.)

This is the hottest, most unrelenting summer heat we’ve known since arriving in southern Missouri in 1993, but the asparagus beans love it.  They are living up to their reputation of being disease resistant, but have attracted the weirdest looking beetles I’ve ever seen. Beetles gross me out, but after spraying with Neem for several weeks, hardly any are left.

These guys are about 1 1/2 inch long, black, with legs that are hair-thin.  The right front leg has something like a fin attached.  They line up 4-5 in a row down the length of the bean and darned if I can figure out what they’re doing.  I’ll spare you a photo because I can’t bring myself to look at them long enough to focus a camera.  I can’t find anything on the internet about these bugs so I don’t know if they’re good or bad, but something has been chewing holes in the older leaves. The newer growth seems fine.  If anybody out there thinks you know what these beetles are, let me know because I’d like to find out more about them. At one point there were so many of them they were crawling on the tomatoes, too.

This morning I went out and clipped quite a few beans to go with the ones I harvested the past two days.  The two gallon bowl was full with beans draping over the sides so it was time to chop and steam them for freezing. They taste delicious in stir fry, Italian food, egg fritatas, or as a side dish.  Over the past few days the vines have been flowering prolifically.  The color is gorgeous so I wanted to share it with readers and took this photo this morning.  We are going to have a huge new harvest very soon.  I highly recommend these beans for simple gardeners like me.

Some things I’ve learned about growing and harvesting these beans:

1. They like full sun.  The second batch of beans I planted by the east gate didn’t get as many hours of light as the 5 I put elsewhere, so they were slower to produce.  However, they are doing well and covered with blossoms like the first batch.  They are just a little behind the others in production.
   
2. What is really weird is that the ugly beetles that got on the full sun batch didn’t bother the shadier batch even though they are planted not far from each other.  I can’t figure that one out.
3. Clipping the beans with scissors is the easiest way to harvest them.  If you clip them just at the top of the bean and below the nodule of the flower, you will get more flowers and more beans.
4. Every flower produces two beans.  Sometimes one bean is ready to harvest before its twin.
5. If you harvest when the beans are 15-18 inches long they cook faster than if you wait until they are 24 inches long.  Beans that are 12 inches long or less are so tender and delicious you can eat them raw.
6. The beans seem to hide behind the leaves.  I have to look at the plants from different angles and move the leaves to make sure I haven’t missed any that are ready to harvest.  Several times I missed beans and let them mature and dry out.  I’ve collected the beans inside the pods and will use them to start new bean plants next year.

Outside of the yucky beetles, I have to say that this vegetable is as easy to grow as the tomatoes.  Spraying with Neem has kept pests off everything.  For people who don’t want to exert too much physical effort and still provide healthy organic food for the table, and especially if you have a bunch of kids to feed, these beans really are an excellent crop. You get so much produce from a very small space it’s amazing.

From Wikipedia here is the nutritional breakdown of the beans:

They are a good source of protein, vitamin A, thiamin, riboflavin, iron, phosphorus, and potassium, and a very good source for vitamin C, folate, magnesium, and manganese.

In a serving size of 100 grams (3.5 oz.) of yardlong beans there are 47 calories, 0 grams of total fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 4 mg sodium (0% daily value), 8 grams of total carbohydrates (2% daily value), and 3 grams of protein (5% daily value). There is also 17% DV vitamin A, 2% DV iron, 31% DV vitamin C, and 5% DV calcium. (Percent daily values are based on a 2000 calorie diet. Individual daily values may be higher or lower depending on individual calorie needs.)

If you’ve missed them and are interested, you might like to read my two other postings about asparagus beans:

The Asparagus Bean Surprise

The Asparagus Bean Surprise II

Regular readers know that art and beauty are part of my wellness plan, spiritually and physically.  This past week I was learning how to use some brushes in Corel Painter 11 and posted a painting I did of a friend’s cat from a picture she let me use.  For the fun of it, I opened my Adobe Photoshop Essentials to see what else I might be able to do, and found a couple of special effects I really liked. Not all subjects would be well suited to this, but Pogo surely is.

Here is Pogo’s portrait:

Here is Pogo carved in stone:

Here is Pogo on an old piece of crumpled art paper:

I’ve signed all of these so if you’d like to use them please:

1. credit me wherever you use it,
2. make a small donation by clicking the donate button and,
3. link to this site if you use it on the internet.

I can’t decide which version I like the best.  Which one is your favorite? if you have time to think about it, other than making a portrait for the owner, how else could the images be used? I am open to ideas because sometime soon I will have to start marketing my work and could use some inspiration.

In yesterday’s article Estrogen Dominance: Causes and Cures I discussed some of the causes of estrogen dominance.  Today I want to briefly cover another way of being overexposed to estrogens.  If you are estrogen dominant, in addition to avoiding things I mentioned in the above article, you need to be careful of overexposure to phytoestrogens.

Phytoestrogens (phyto = plant) are naturally occurring estrogenic compounds.  They are in herbs, spices, and some plant foods, among which is soy, which I will discuss lower down in this article. These compounds are weaker than the xenoestrogens or natural estrogen produced by the body, but if you are already experiencing estrogen dominance, it is best not to consume even these.  As the site Energetic Nutrition says:

Some of the strongest phytoestrogen containing substances are soy, the lignans found in flax seed products, red clover, black cohosh, chasteberry, and dong quai. Soy includes soybeans, soy milk, tofu, tempeh, textured vegetable protein, roasted soybeans, soy granules, soy protein powders, miso, and edamames.

Over consumption of phytoestrogenic foods or herbs on a long term basis may actually increase the risk of estrogen dominance significantly. Furthermore, phytoestrogens have been shown to inhibit the conversion of T4 to the active T3 thyroid hormone, and can trigger hypothyroidism. It is suggested that those with a history of thyroid imbalance, or suffering from estrogen dominance, should consume a minimum amount of phytoestrogens.

The very serious soy problem

Dr. Mercola has numerous articles on soy and the health problems its consumption causes.  In addition to its role in causing or exacerbating estrogen dominance, in certain forms it is one of the most harmful foods we can consume and it is ubiquitous on grocery store shelves. He writes:

Dow Chemical and DuPont, the same corporations that brought misery and death to millions around the world through Agent Orange, are now the driving forces behind the promotion of soy as a food for humans. They are financing anti-meat and anti-milk campaigns aimed largely at those concerned about animal welfare and the environment, trying to convince them that imitations such as “soymilk” are not only healthier than the real thing, but better for the earth too…

Unlike the Asian culture, where people eat small amounts of whole soybean products, western food processors separate the soybean into two golden commodities–protein and oil. And there is nothing natural or safe about these products.

Says Dr. Kaayla Daniel, author of The Whole Soy Story,

“Today’s high-tech processing methods not only fail to remove the anti-nutrients and toxins that are naturally present in soybeans but leave toxic and carcinogenic residues created by the high temperatures, high pressure, alkali and acid baths and petroleum solvents.” [Yesterday I wrote about xenoestrogens in solvents and plastics which are derived from petroleum.  Exposure to these stresses the body and processed soy products can pack a double whammy of not only intake of phytoestrogens but xenoestrogens - two for the price of one.]

Dr. Daniel also points out the findings of numerous studies reviewed by her and other colleagues — that soy does not reliably lower cholesterol, and in fact raises homocysteine levels in many people, which has been found to increase your risk of stroke, birth defects, and yes: heart disease.

Other common health problems linked to a high-soy diet include:

• Thyroid problems, including weight gain, lethargy, malaise, fatigue, hair loss, and loss of libido
• Premature puberty and other developmental problems in babies, children and adolescents
• Cancer
• Brain damage
• Reproductive disorders
• Kidney stones
• Weakened immune system
• Severe, potentially fatal food allergies

The danger of genetically modified soy

Most soy, perhaps about 80 percent or more, is also genetically modified, which adds its own batch of health concerns.

The last thing a person suffering from fibromyalgia, estrogen dominance, insulin resistance, chronic fatigue and other related systemic health issues is exposure to genetically modified food.  This added burden on the body to process chemical structures it does not recognize can lead to allergic reactions and other side effects. A sick person is made even sicker. Dr. Mercola writes in his article Genetically Modified Foods – What to Know Before You Eat Them:

Sections of the protein produced in GM soy are identical to known allergens, but the soybean was introduced before the WHO criteria were established, and the recommended additional tests were not conducted.

If this protein in GM soybeans is causing allergies, then the situation may be made much worse by something called horizontal gene transfer (HGT). That‘s when genes spontaneously transfer from one species‘ DNA to another. While this happens often among bacteria, it is rare in plants and mammals.

But the method used to construct and insert foreign genes into GM crops eliminates many of the natural barriers that stop HGT from occurring. The only published human feeding study on GM foods ever conducted on GM foods showed that

parts of the gene inserted into GM soy ended up transferring into the DNA of human gut bacteria.

Furthermore, the gene was stably integrated and it appeared to be producing its potentially allergenic protein. So, years after people stop eating GM soy, they may still be exposed to its risky protein, which is being continuously produced within their own intestines.

None of this is good for anybody, let alone people suffering autoimmune conditions and hormonal imbalances.  Our bodies are complex chemical factories and temples of the Holy Spirit.  To care for them as God intends us to do we cannot simply go to the store and take what we want off the shelf. In today’s age with government corruption at such deep levels the FDA approves many things it should not, and does it without enough testing for bad effects.  It is up to us as individuals to take charge of our health and do the best we can to feel good as we go about our daily business.  Moreover, we need to stop eating ourselves sick and start eating ourselves well.

I encourage readers to sign up for Dr. Mercola’s newsletters ( they are free).  I have learned a great deal from them and hope you will benefit, too.

Normally I would not talk about my health issues except to close friends, but what I am learning is important to many people who may be being mis-diagnosed and feeling worse every day.  In keeping with my mission to share how I am getting better so others may also benefit, I am willing to disclose personal information.  Everyone is different and needs customized treatment for health problems, but being informed and not giving up is basic to recovery.  One growing health problem is estrogen dominance, which creates many systemic health problems.

Estrogen dominance is apparently not well understood by many in the health professions.  I, like many other women, had a hysterectomy due to fibroid tumors.  Today, such surgery can be unnecessary if estrogen dominance is the cause.

It’s only recently that I have learned about this condition which I’ve had since my teens.  Every OB-GYN I ever saw couldn’t tell me what was causing such unpleasant symptoms that only got worse with age.  Getting rid of my uterus didn’t solve the problems, either, but now things are different – and better, too.

Generally speaking, we have no one cause for estrogen dominance.  It can be a result of:

1. Stressful living – the worse the stress the more the adrenals are taxed which causes other endocrine system problems,
2. Hormonal imbalance (see above for a major contributing cause),
3. Hormone therapy,
4. Glandular dysfunction,
5. Environmental estrogens (xenoestrogens).

Dr. John R. Lee. M.D. (RIP) has done outstanding work on the subject of estrogen dominance and the troubles it causes. He is a recognized expert for his excellent research and treatment plans.   Dr. Lee’s books are available from his web site, along with updated information on research into this problem.  It is maintained by his wife and others who worked along with him for many years.

How do you know if you have an estrogen dominance problem? I am going to give you only the most severe signs of estrogen dominance.  For the less severe visit Energetic Nutrition to determine if this could be a problem for you or someone you know.

Severe symptoms of estrogen dominance:

1. Uterine fibroid tumors
2. Endometriosis
3. Fibrocystic breasts
4. Polycystic ovary syndrome
5. Breast tumors
6. Infertility (men and women)
   
7. Accelerated aging
8. Miscarriage
9. Anxiety and panic attacks
10. Autoimmune disorders
11. Fibromyalgia (now being thought to be an autoimmune problem)
12. Men with estrogen dominance grow breasts larger than normal and babies exposed in the womb may have abnormalities attributable to xenoestrogen exposure.

What to do about estrogen dominance

Next to reducing as much stress as possible in life, taking control of estrogen exposure from the environment is critical, as estrogen dominance is an ever-growing health problem. Xenoestrogens (xeno = foreign) are found in many plastics, pesticides, fuels and drugs, not to mention food and water.  They are difficult for the liver to detoxify.  Anyone with an estrogen dominance problem should do everything possible to reduce exposure to xenoestrogens – in fact everyone should reduce exposure so as not to develop estrogen dominance at all.

A partial list of typical sources of xenoestrogens are:

1. Commercially raised animals which have been fed chemicals to speed up weight gain and move them to market faster
2. Canned food and beverages which now come with plastic lining that gives off xenoestrogens
3. Plastics, plastic wrap, styrofoam cups, plastic water bottles which give off xenoestrogens when heated
4. Pesticides
5. Paint, lacquers and other solvents
6. Personal care products such as soaps and shampoos
7. Cosmetics
8. Birth control pills and spermicides
9. Tap water (estrogens in urine go through waste treatment plants and are returned to water supply)
10. Car exhaust and fumes given off by new carpets and furniture
11. Cosmetics
12. Air fresheners and perfumes

A simple way to reduce estrogen dominance in the body

Of course, a key way to reduce estrogen dominance is to limit exposure to xenoestrogens as much as possible. This is why natural health doctors advise buying organic meats and vegetables, drinking out of glass or stainless steel rather than plastic, using reverse osmosis water systems or distilled water for drinking and cooking, etc.  For the most informative site I’ve found on health topics visit Dr. Mercola’s web page by clicking it in my blogroll.

The generally prescribed way to reduce estrogen dominance, which you may still have even if you have had a hysterectomy, is to use progesterone to create an appropriate balance between the two hormones. However, my natural health doctor who cannot prescribe hormones gave me another way.  It is very simple.

Estrogens are made by endocrine glands and also taken into the body via xenoestrogen exposure. They circulate in the blood and are filtered by the liver which puts them into the small intestine where they are absorbed once more into the body unless you have a way to bind them so they can be passed out of the body through elimination. My doctor recommended that I use Benefiber® at every meal. This soluble fiber seizes the estrogens dumped into the small intestine by the liver and any that might be in the food.  It prevents their re-absorption into the bloodstream.

Since thin or thinning hair is a symptom of estrogen dominance in women, I know that the Benefiber® is working because my hair is starting to come back and I have only been doing this for a couple of months.  Other moderate symptoms are abating and I am beginning to allow myself to hope that my fibromyalgia will improve.  Granted, leaving gluten out of my diet and taking large amounts of B vitamins as prescribed by my natural health doctor are also helping my hair growth.

If you think any health problems you have could be related to estrogen dominance, in addition to the sites I’ve linked to above, go to the Women to Women web site and read more.

I am sold on getting help from natural health doctors because I want a holistic approach to health and have found that my NHD has helped me more than anybody else I’ve seen.  Most of the fees and supplements will not be covered by insurance, but feeling better is more important to me than having office visits and prescription drugs paid for by insurance. It’s a matter of priorities in the budget and I am committed to not having some things that I want in favor of improving health which I need.