Dragonfly News

The Official Monthly Newsletter of Song of Health
July, 2007

June 07 Newsletter
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Welcome Subscribers, to Dragonfly News. We are excited about the opportunity to share interesting and helpful information with you in our monthly newsletter, which is available to subscribers only, on the website and automatically sent to you by email. If you did not receive this issue automatically, please notify us immediately.

What information would you like to have in your newsletter? Our goal is to serve you, to help you the best we can, so that you may achieve Great Health, Great Life. We invite you to help us accomplish this by telling us what you would like to see in the Dragonfly News.
We also invite you to share your favorite recipes with us.

Please contact us at: newsletter@songofhealth.com

REMINDER: Have you checked out THE FORUM yet? It is a great place to share your ideas, ask questions, obtain information from questions already asked and communicate with other subscribers.

Thank you for your support.

ANNOUNCEMENT OF ADDITIONS/CHANGES:

A new update to the Food Resource List is included in this issue on the last page.

THE IMPORTANCE OF HYDROTHERAPY AND THE TREATMENT OF HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE AND HIGH CHOLESTEROL
By Dr. Letitia Watrous, N.D.

Recently a colleague of mine reported to me how he was treating a man with high blood pressure and high cholesterol. He put this man on his particular food intolerance diet and began constitutional hydrotherapy. After a series of hydrotherapy treatments this patient’s blood pressure returned to normal and his cholesterol of 300 dropped to 150.

It is common to have this response with traditional naturopathic therapies. This man decreased his cholesterol by 150 points! That is truly preventive medicine, without being dependent upon prescription medication to do it.

Here is why this works: With every beat of your heart, 1/3 of your total blood volume is pushed through the liver. Every time your heart beats, this occurs. By doing so, the blood is cleansed of impurities. The liver takes the poisons and processes them into compounds that are excreted in the bile and dumped into the gut to be disposed of. What the liver doesn’t do, the kidneys do. Also, the kidneys filter the blood and the toxins that are water-soluble get excreted.

If your system has an extra burden of toxins from a poor diet or from eating your food intolerance, the heart has to push harder to get more blood to filter through the kidneys and liver. The blood may actually be extra thick and hard to move, especially if you are dehydrated. (Like your car when it needs an oil change.) The over-burdened organs can’t take the load and so pressure builds up, much like a boiling pot with a tight lid. This is when you see a rise in blood pressure. The heart beats harder, pushing more. The vessels hold more pressure in hopes that the liver and kidneys can catch up. In a 120/80 blood pressure, the systolic or “top number” indicates how hard the heart is pushing the blood. The diastolic or “bottom number,” indicates how tight the vessels are holding the pressure at. A rise in blood pressure to 130 or 140/90 is dangerous. The pot is ready to blow its lid off. But the body is tough and usually can withstand a pressure of 150 or 160/95. If the bottom number is 100 or more there is a great possibility of bursting a blood vessel, creating an aneurism and having a stroke, which will leave you paralyzed, if not killing you outright. If the blood pressure stays high over a period of time, then you develop congestive heart failure. This is because the heart wears out and just can’t push the heavy load anymore.

The liver, congested and unable to keep up, lets the excess cholesterol build up in the blood. Cholesterol is natural and needed in the body. The liver mass-produces more cholesterol in a day than you can ever consume. It does this because cholesterol is the basic molecule used to make hormones, neurotransmitters in the brain, and healthy fats that cover your nerves and keep them healthy. So, the liver doesn’t break down the extra cholesterol when it has other more serious duties to perform, such as removing alcohol from the blood if you have had a beer or wine or, simply removing the normal toxic byproducts of normal metabolism, such as nitrates, formaldehydes and other toxins that are constantly being produced by your cells.

High cholesterol is only a symptom, not a disease in itself. A cholesterol count of greater than 200 simply indicates the level of burden the liver is carrying.

When you alter your diet to digest and assimilate more efficiently, then you take the stress off your liver, kidneys, and heart. Constitutional hydrotherapy treatments support the normal metabolic functions of organs and return the body to balance much faster than diet alone.

If you are dairy intolerant and you knew that later on in life the ice cream you are eating now would cause you to be paralyzed with a stroke or die of congestive heart disease, why would you eat it?

We all can make the choice to take care of ourselves or to ignore the problems and expect someone else to fix them for us later on. Unfortunately, later on is too late and all you can do then is to manage the disease progression with prescriptive medications. But this is a downhill slide and some folks go down that slippery slope faster than others.

Prevention is the cure. Constitutional hydrotherapy and food intolerance diet is the cornerstone of prevention. Let’s take care of ourselves.

In Health,

Dr. Letitia Watrous

SHARING EXPERIENCES
By Sandra Strom, CEO

NATURAL AND SPIRITUAL OPTIONS

When we are blessed with a method of healing that works for us it is wise to follow the path. Honoring our food intolerance diets is the first step toward achieving and maintaining great health and well-being. Yet, there will come times in our lives that our strong fortresses become weakened. Stress; unknowingly dipping into our food intolerances; traumatic experiences, such as death, divorce, accidents and injuries; loss of some sort that may throw us into temporary states of depression; chemical imbalances; exposure to outside toxins and other compromising incidences may throw us out of balance, may cause us to “lose a piece of ourselves.” It is also wise to be open to other natural – and spiritual - options that can help us to become strong again. Remember…Attitude is a major contributor to how we feel and how we can affect others’ well-being also.

I recently met up with Dr. Lewis Mehl-Madrona, M.D., PhD. and an Associate Professor of Family Medicine and Psychiatry at the University of Saskatchewan. He is a friend and supporter of our efforts in practicing and promoting the Carroll Food Intolerance Test and way of life, and we greatly honor his work as well. About ninety percent of “Dr. L.’s” medical practice is using Native American healing methods. He is also a well-known author, having written three books: Coyote Healing, Coyote Medicine and Coyote Wisdom, and his fourth book, Narrative Medicine, is to be released next month. He was in Portland, Oregon at a speaking engagement and book-signing a couple weeks ago, and his presentation inspired me so much that I want to share a couple of his teachings with you:

Surround yourself with people who love and care about you and have positive attitudes toward you. When we gather with positive-minded family, friends and/or acquaintances and we keep our own attitudes uplifted with hope and love for ourselves as well as for others, then we create an environment necessary for exuding well-being and the highest good for each other. Instead of feeding disease we spread feeling good. Adversely, if we hang out around persons with negative attitudes who habitually find fault with others and continually harass, reprimand and otherwise abuse, then we set ourselves up for a fall.

Dr. L. described a situation with a patient of his who lived in a very abusive household with little respect afforded her by both husband and children. She rarely smiled, was depressed and basically a downer to be around. She was so unhappy with her situation but was doing nothing to help herself by changing her conditions, and she consequently developed cancer. Dr. L. took her to see a Native American healer who suggested that she look in a mirror until she saw a happy face smiling back at her. She was told to hold on to that face, to remember what that face felt like and to continue to remind herself to maintain that happy face. He also told her, in the Native American way of offering advice by telling a story, to run from that which is causing her cancer. In other words, run from the environment that is making her sick and killing her inside. It is believed, in the Native way of being, that we first become sick spiritually and it then shows itself in our physical being.

Do not gossip about others. Gossiping is unhealthy energy, which causes adverse effects for both parties – the ones throwing the energy and the ones receiving it. Dr. L. pointed out that when someone is being gossiped about it is usually because the gossiper believes that person is sick in some way. So, to talk negatively about them is not going to help to improve their condition, be it physical, mental, emotional or spiritual. It is energy-consuming, which causes more stress and illness. I’d like to add that whatever we put out in the Universe returns to us, one way or another, sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly.

Likewise, healthy people are attracted to positive forces. It makes sense to want to spend time in the company of healthy people, so in order to accomplish that we must focus our minds on positive thoughts –-- about others, our surroundings and ourselves.

May we always live in the solution and not the problem. May we always be willing to help another fellow being to rise above what is causing them to suffer, teaching them by example. May we always help each other to achieve…

GREATH HEALTH - GREAT LIFE!

FOOD RESOURCE LIST UPDATE

The following are test results for patients from Dr. Jared Zeff:

NOTES OF INFORMATION

The office of Dr. Zeff shared this information with us:

Earlier this year Dr. Zeff contacted Customer Service at Tillamook County Creamery Association, makers of Tillamook Butter and Cheese. He inquired, “Do you use iodized salt or plain salt in your salted butter or cheese?” They responded: “The salt used in our cheese production is sea salt obtained from the dehydration of sea water and contains no additives. Household salt is iodized, the salt used in our cheese in not. The salt used in our salted butter is sea salt and mined salt and neither one contains iodine.”

Silver Hills Bakery answered a query of a patient of Dr. Zeff’s (and a Song of Health Subscriber) regarding ingredients in their bread: “Our production manager has confirmed that there are no caking agents of any sort in our yeast, which is what the potato would be used for. Also, there is no iodine in our sea salt.”

(Editor’s Note: Most yeast is derived from potato.)

NEW RECIPES

SALADS

REMINDER: DO NOT EVER EAT HEAD LETTUCE (ICEBERG). ALWAYS USE ROMAINE, SPINICH OR FRESH GREENS AS A SUBSTITUTE. Besides, they taste much better.

CAESAR SALAD
(Adapted by Sandra Strom from The Fanny Farmer Cookbook)

1 clove garlic
½ cup olive oil (fruit people use sunflower oil)
2 heads romaine
½ cup grated Parmesan or Romano cheese, or crumbled bleu cheese
2 lemons (fruit people use 3 Tbsp. rice vinegar)
1 egg (optional)
1 cup croutons, preferably homemade

Combine garlic and oil and let stand (several hours if possible). Tear the romaine in pieces and place in a bowl. If desired, sprinkle with salt and pepper (exotic blend is best). Add the cheese. Squeeze the juice from the lemons (or the vinegar) over the salad. Remove garlic from oil. Add ¼ cup of the oil. Pour the remaining oil over the croutons. (If eliminating the croutons, pour all the oil over the salad.) Break the egg over the salad and mix gently until well blended. Add the croutons and toss again.
Serves 6

COLE SLAW
(Contributed by Sandra Strom, CEO Song of Health)

Basic ingredients:
4 cups cabbage, shredded
2 cups carrots, grated
2 Tbsp. parsley, chopped
Toss ingredients. Pour dressing of choice over salad and toss well.

Variations:
Add any of the following:

Fruits:
1 cup apples, diced
1 cup pineapple, diced
1 cup raisins
¼ cup pomegranate seeds
¼ cashews, almonds, walnuts or pecans, chopped
2 Tbsp. sesame seeds

Vegetables:
1 cup corn
1 cup green peas
1 cup red pepper
¼ cup sunflower seeds
1 cup water chestnuts, chopped
¼ cup sweet or green onions

Get creative! What fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts or seeds do you like? Add ‘em in! FOR DRESSING USE HERBED OIL AND VINEGAR, MAYONNAISE, FRENCH, CREAM, ETC.

FRESH FRUIT OR MELON SALAD
(Contributed by Sandra Strom, CEO Song of Health)

This is the easiest thing in the world. Choose your favorite fruits and melons (fruit people use melons only).

The secret to an appetizing, beautiful salad is 1) using fresh ingredients (other than the dried ingredients, such as raisins) and 2) the arrangement of items.

First, in a glass or ceramic bowl, make a bed of one evenly sliced solid-type fruit, such as apples, oranges, grapefruit, etc. (not bananas – keep those for one of the top items so they don’t get mushy from the juices) by laying the slices slightly on top of each other, all going the same direction.

Continue to layer the bigger fruits first in the same fashion. Then add sliced strawberries, bananas, plums, peaches, nectarines, passion fruit (persimmon) and/or other delicate fruits. Sprinkle blueberries, black-, Marion-, boysenberries, raisins, nuts, etc., on top.
Decorate with a few sprints of fresh mint leaves or lemon balm around the sides of the bowl.

Hint: Squeezing fresh lemon or lime juice over the salad will help to keep fruit from turning brown. It also gives the salad a fresh, zesty flavor.

Topping: If desired, in a separate bowl serve fresh whipped cream flavored with honey and vanilla or with maple syrup.

Wa-la! You have a beautiful, colorful salad ready to serve at the most elegant of parties.

SALAD DRESSINGS

HERBED OIL AND VINEGAR
(Contributed by Sandra Strom, CEO Song of Health)

1 cup olive, sunflower, sesame or vegetable oil (or combinations)
½ cup – ¾ cup (depending on individual taste) vinegar or combination of vinegar and lime or lemon juice
1 clove garlic
pinch of salt and exotic pepper or cayenne, optional
Herb options:
Rosemary, thyme, oregano, basil, parsley, lemon balm (one or more)
Dill, celery seed (one or more)
Cilantro
Curry powder
Mustard seed, ground

Mix desired ingredients in a bottle or jar with cover and let set. When ready to serve shake well to blend.

Variations:
Add a few drops onion juice
Add a few drops Tabasco sauce or Hot Sesame Oil
Add 2 Tbsp. homemade catsup or tomato juice
Add 1 Tbsp. honey

CREAMY FRENCH DRESSING: Just before serving add ¼ cup heavy cream or sour cream and shake well.

MAYONNAISE
(The following recipes are adapted by Sandra Strom,
CEO from Fannie Farmer Cookbook)

Hints: Olive oil imparts a wonderful flavor but it tends to cause the mayo. to separate more than other oils.
If you do not plan to use the day it is made, add 1 tsp. hot water.
If mayo. separates (usually because the oil was added too quickly), put an egg yolk in a separate bowl and slowly add the mayo. to it, beating it in gradually.

Have all ingredients at room temperature:

¾ cup olive or vegetable oil
¼ tsp. dry or 1 tsp. prepared mustard
½ tsp. honey
pinch of salt
few grains cayenne
1 egg yolk
1 Tbsp. vinegar
1 Tbsp. lemon juice (fruit people can omit)

In blender add mustard, honey, salt and cayenne. Add egg yolk and vinegar. Blend on low speed. Beat in 1 tbsp. of the oil, a drop or two at a time. Then add the rest of the oil in a slow stream. If the oil settles on the top, stop the blender and carefully stir in the oil with a wooden spoon. Have the mixture perfectly smooth each time before adding more oil. Continue the process until all the oil is carefully blended in and the dressing is as thick as whipped cream. Stir in the lemon juice. If the mayo is too thick you may increase the lemon juice.

Variations:
For Chicken Salad: Add chutney or curry powder.
For color or flavor: Add tomato paste or tomato catsup.

Cream Mayonnaise

1 cup mayonnaise
½ cup cream

Beat cream until stiff. Stir gently into mayonnaise.

Whole Egg Mayonnaise:

1 egg
½ tsp. dry or 1 tsp. prepared mustard
pinch of salt
1 Tbsp. honey
2 Tbsp. lemon juice or vinegar
1-1/2 cups olive or vegetable oil

In blender, beat egg until thick. Add mustard, honey and lemon juice or vinegar and beat well. Slowly add oil in a stream, constantly beating at slow speed. Do not over-beat once mayo is thick or it will cause it to separate.

AVOCADO MAYONNAISE
(Adapted by Sandra Strom, CEO from Fannie Farmer Cookbook)

1 avocado
2 Tbsp. cream, evaporated milk, soy or grain milk
1 Tbsp. lemon juice or vinegar
1 tsp. prepared mustard
Paprika, salt, Tabasco to taste

Mash the avocado flesh with a fork. Add the remaining ingredients and beat well.

Together, we strive for. . .
GREAT HEALTH - GREAT LIFE!

Song of Health Webmaster