I couldn’t resist sharing a picture of my adorable nephew, Jacob (seen “reading” labels on the right)… but figured I would also take this opportunity to reiterate my position on the importance of being a “Conscious Consumer”.  Yes, we are often manipulated by the media.  Yes, we are easily drawn to fast, convenient, highly processed “food”.  However, there is a growing consumer awareness promoting fresh, organic, and real food spreading across the nation.  This makes me very happy, even if we still have a big battle in front of us.

Education is definitely a critical component to this movement, and the Internet is abuzz with videos, websites, blogs, memes, posts, tweets, and more talking about health and nutrition.  It is important to reach a wide audience.. early adopters as well as those just jumping on the train to better living.  We must communicate factual and functional information to both parents as well as children.

We all know the phrase “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks”.  While this doesn’t always hold true, I’m a strong advocate of teaching children about food, how to cook, and to know how to recognize ingredients and read labels.  Of course, the best foods, like fresh fruits and veggies don’t really come with labels.  :-)

As Summertime rapidly approaches, one of my favorite healthy dishes to whip up is CEVICHE.   Personally, I am allergic to shellfish, so my ceviche is typically made with a fresh white fish (snapper, halibut, bass, etc), or perhaps sometimes tuna.  Simply dicing up some fresh (never farm-raised) fish, mixing up with lemon and/or lime juice, garlic, peppers, onions, cilantro… let it marinate for 4-24hrs…  my mouth is watering just thinking about it!

Some quick notes about ceviche’:

1)  Mix in glass or stainless steel bowl

2) Play around with the ingredients.. the picture here is 3 different tuna-based ceviches.. different flavors, textures, etc.

3) Great snack on gluten free crackers or on cucumbers, or wrapped in lettuce.  Perfect for parties too!

4) Make sure to cover fish with enough liquid to let the fish “cook” evenly.  The acid in the lemon/lime “cooks” the fish.. Also good to know when camping.

5) Share your favorite ceviche’ recipes with friends, family, and ME!

I just ordered myself some organic, loose leaf tea.  Self Heal ((Prunella Vulgaris), Holy Basil (Tulsi), and a blend called Persephone’s Tea (organic Dandelion root, organic Eleuthero root, organic Burdock root, organic Milk Thistle seed, and organic Yellow Dock root).

Brewing tea is a great way to heal and nourish the body, either as a whole, from things like stress or a cold, or perhaps you want to focus on a specific organ such as the liver.  Plus, it’s a nice and easy way to stay hydrated too.

Whether hot or cold, tea has been a cultural staple for centuries and is a simple way to support your health.  Enjoy a single herb or create your own blend.

I prefer to sweeten my tea with some local, raw honey or stevia.   -DR

DRUG COMMERCIALS

Aren’t commercials for drug advertisements interesting? Something caught my attention while watching one recently. No, not the jaw dropping, long list of potential side effects, which may or may not include the infamous “may cause anal leakage”. The caution of “Do not drink alcohol excessively while taking this medication” is what peaked my interest. So does that mean the drug company feels it is ok to drink excessively when not taking this drug? Anything to excess is potentially unhealthy, hence the word excess, meaning more than needed, necessary, and/or out of balance. (My definition by the way)

Shouldn’t a pharmaceutical company’s purpose always be to promote health and healthy living? Isn’t that the reason we take drugs and medicines; to feel better, live well, and to enjoy life? I believe the original intention may have been, but as the need for manufacturing grew, the focus shifted towards increasing sales and profitability. The individual in need of a remedy became the customer in need of a product. The more dis-ease and un-health, the more products are sold.

Ok. The point of this post is not to go on a rant about drug companies, otherwise known as “Big Pharma”. It was just to propose a rephrasing for their advertisement.

Doc Rob suggests something like:

“When considering your health, it is never advisable to drink alcohol to excess, and always best to consume it responsibly and in moderation, but please avoid drinking, or take extra care not to drink excessively when taking this medication”

Hey, at least it would show they cared a little, right?

DR

POTLUCKS:

Potlucks are a great way to spend time with friends, and can also be economical. Both are factors which should be considered for healthy living. Sharing a meal, catching up with friends, and celebrating life are always good for mind, body, and spirit.

Community has always been a focus of mine, and when times are time and money is tight and stress levels are high, kicking back with some friends, popping open a bottle of wine, and nourishing our lives with good food and positive energy can work miracles.

So break open those cook books, try out a new recipe, and ring up some friends.   All the best in health and happines…Bon Appetite!                                                                

– Some have hesitation when they hear “colloidal silver”, and I don’t blame them. For years colloidal silver preparations were compared to making “bath-tub” gin in your home. Quality was poor and as a result, many people experienced side effects. However, silver is a natural anti-biotic, anti-viral, anti-fungal, etc. and this product is scientifically prepared to be both safe and effective.   So much science is brought into SS, that it is being called “Silver Hydrosol” vs colloidal silver.

Sovereign Silver is offered in both bottles with droppers and sprays. Good for both internal and external applications, from sore throats and sinus infections, to cuts and scrapes. Oh, and it tastes like water so don’t worry.     *Also available in homeopathic gel.