Orange Tree Lady

There is an orange tree outside of my window. I never paid much attention to it until a couple of days ago.
It seemed I could make out a shape on the rough, textured bark. It was a shape of woman's torso.
Two perfectly placed swelling marked the breasts. And at the bottom right was another bump.
This third swelling seemed to ruin the tree sculpture however.

The first thing that came to mind was that it looked like a fibroid. It was exactly where I had mine as well.
Oh, those days struggling with fibroids were really difficult, and I'm glad it is in the past.
And yet, there is a fear that lingers.
A fear that if I'm not perfectly stringent on my diet, that it will return.
There have been frantic nights when I fall into a panic when a sensation or two
felt out of place.
It was usually gas.
But I don't want the fear to be my motivator to be healthy.
B/c fear is only a temporary solution.
It will keep things in line only for so long.
I want my motivation to be having energy to live my life, to go my yoga class, to go to work, having healthy, glowing skin, having positive thoughts, and the like.

Fear is so crippling.
It makes healthy eating a chore, and nobody likes 'chores.'
But the idea of being the best me. Being the happy me is what gives me fire. Suddenly going to the kitchen isn't a dread, it's an adventure. My creative juices start to flow, and I seek out ways on how I can jazz up my salad, what new herbal tea to drink, or what new cooking experiment to try.
It's a completely different perspective and attitude.
Now, it's true that prevention of illness plays an important role. It does keep me in check. It's the preliminary stage.

So, what of this orange tree lady outside my window?? What is she trying to tell me?
I like to think that she is saying, "look how far you've come! Do more and teach me too!"

Ok, I'm gonna turn on my Creative power and rev up my Creative engine.
There is so much good stuff out there to learn about. Stuff that builds and strengthens.
From the earth.

I have this amazing friend named Rina who whips up natural desserts from fruits, carobs and all things healthy like frozen banana slush and delicious carob balls that taste just like chocolate. Such a blessing! She has her own story of healing. But this is what I'm talking about.

And I don't need to be super-rich to create. Creativity is such a wide venue that can take form in so many ways. It doesn't even have to be limited to food!
Dr. Northrup writes how fibroids can be a physical reaction to not fullfilling one's dreams.

Statistics show that many African American women suffer more from fibroids than any other group. Whether the stats are true is a different post, but either way, let's make sure it is not the reality. Creativity begins in the mind. But we have to beware the things in life that take away from it, like negative thinking or friends. This includes any television, magazine, or media with unhealthy and negative messages. Excessive sexuality also detracts from our powers.

But to get creative begins with brainstorming. What's possible? How far can I take things? Contrary to popular belief, we are not stuck. Things might seem difficult, but we can make things move. So, what ideas do you have? Do I have? A different hair style? Learning a new language? Writing poetry? Buying a potted plant? Taking an art class? Giving a singing class?

All right, Orange Tree Lady, I hear your message. Get more creative, do more, and live more!! I can do it!

G-d bless!

Sugar and Fibroids

Here's an article linking white sugar/flour/high glycemic load and fibroids.
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE62F55R20100316

excerpt:
"Scientists are not sure why diet might affect the growth of fibroids. One possibility, however, is the effect of foods on blood sugar. Higher-carbohydrate diets can lead to higher insulin levels, which are in turn linked to levels of other hormones thought to encourage fibroid growth."

Why arent scientists sure about diet affecting fibroids. Diet effects EVERYTHING. But the mainstream may not want ppl to know that.

In any case, I wanted this article just to emphasize that white sugar/white flour plays a big role in fibroid growth.

And it's not only diet, but as Dr. Northrup points out in her book, Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom, fibroids may also be linked to emotional frustration in one's life.

To my absolute glee, this actually fits with the ideas in Chinese Medicine. Writes Beinfeld and Korngold that "when powerful emotions are squeezed down and held back, qi (a person's energy) becomes congested. When this occurs over a long period of time, blood begins to congeal forming lumps and masses."

Fibroids

more on this later....

G-d bless!

Check out:
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE62F55R20100316

Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom, Northrup

Nature's Remedies, Vijay Fadia

Battle of the Raging Hormones

I'm at war.


I'm at war with people who think, for some odd reason that I need more hormones, ie. estrogen. Excuse me!!! G-d made me just fine! Nonetheless, you've got companies injecting stuff like bovine growth hormone(BGH 1), insulin-like growth factor (IGF 1) into milk and xenoestrogens into pesticides for one.



And the poor cows. Dairy companies demand more yield of milk, so the cows are injected with BGH 1and IGF-1 that sort of supersize their mammary glands-which, I'm sorry just is not natural. Indeed, many of these cows get sick and require antibiotics. So, add some antibiotics into the mix!!

In modern dairy farms, because cows are milked even when they are pregnant, there are 33 x more of estrogen compound than in a non-pregnant cow.



So, what's so bad about some more hormones in the milk anyways? What's the big deal? What do do you want from my life???!!!



Hmm....

where shall I start...?

Insulin growth hormone1and bovine growth hormone1 are similar and are related to growth of breast cancer cells.

"IGF-I is critically involved in the aberrant growth of human breast cancer cells." M. Lippman. J. Natl. Inst. Health Res., 1991,

Excess estrogen has been linked to increase in certain cancers.

Xenoestrogens which are basically imposter estrogen hormones that are put in pesticides and other products causing a toxic form of estrogen to be produced in the body leading to all sorts of problems. Can someone say uterine fibroids? Cervical cancer? Depressed thyroid function?

Need I say more?! (Uterine fibroids really hit home for me. )



So who says I need milk and cereal for breakfast? Who says I need a grilled cheese or Mac-n-cheese for lunch? Who says I need to stuff myself with junk?
Who says?

Next time for breakfast, I"ll try some old fashioned oatmeal. And for lunch, I"ll have some grilled chicken. Is this the end of milk drinking? And what about calcium? I'll address these topics abit later. Each thing at it's proper time.

Anyways, like I said I'm at war.

But changing how I eat and more importantly how I think is really tough! I can't say I've got all the answers, but I don't want to be stupid!! As they say, "knowing is half the battle."


G-d bless!