Bath soaks and other creative methods for detox

There's more than one way to rid your body of harmful toxins and pollutants. Opening pores with delightful bath soaks can really help. Dry brushing is another detoxification method. Whether you believe in toxins or not, they believe in you. Why let them make a home and clog up your system? Eat right, get plenty of exercise and try these detoxification bath soaks along with dry brushing to keep pores free and clear. Here are some detox methods that don't involve fasting or fads.

Flat tummy soak

Rid the body of toxins that trap fat and promote big bellies with this citrus soak. Get bikini ready with orange essential oil in your bath. Just five or six drops helps clear pores so fat trapping toxins exit the body. Combine with crunches and plenty of fluid flushing water for even more tummy flattening power.

Epsom salt soak

Grandma was “spot on” with this one. Epsom salts really do draw toxins and inflammation out of the body to promote healing. Just add a couple cups to the bath and soak those toxins right out of you. Follow up with dry brushing for best results.

What the heck is dry brushing?

Brushing dry skin with a natural bristle brush boosts circulation and frees the skin of dead cells. Dead cells block pores. Pores are the body's natural escape route for toxins. For the detoxification method of dry brushing, work toward the heart. End with a warm shower and cool rinse.

Eating right as detox

Fancy fad cleanses and flushes are completely unnecessary if you eat right to begin with. Avoid food toxins such as pesticides and preservatives that wreak havoc on your system. Get plenty of fiber and antioxidants by eating fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains and legumes. All these are natural daily maintenance detox methods.

Sweat it out detox

Toxins are eliminated naturally though sweat glands. Want to pump up the volume on this natural detoxification method? Stay home to work out so you can skip the antiperspirant until the after exercise shower. Sweat glands are concentrated under the arms. Blocking these pores with antiperspirant keeps toxins in. Try the sauna for a good sweat too.

Go organic to detox

The best detoxification method is not to encounter toxins in the first place. Use organic products for personal hygiene and cleaning. Stay away from cigarettes and smokers. Don't abuse drugs and alcohol and try your best to live pollution free.

These homemade toothpastes are fluoride and baking soda free

Are you worried about the dangers of fluoride in your drinking water and dental care products? What can you do? Some of the natural brands are fluoride free. Unfortunately, they still contain our old friend sodium laurel sulfate. What can you do? We all know about brushing with baking soda. Unfortunately, it leaves a lot to be desired in the flavor dept. So, here's some other inexpensive kitchen ingredients that keep teeth white, bright and healthy.

Non-fluoride baking soda brushing alternative

Did you know coconut oil works just as well for cleaning teeth as baking soda? The taste is much easier to take, though. Coconut oil is solid, not runny. It's about the same texture as toothpaste. It seems expensive at around 8.00-20.00 for a 16 oz. jar. That is, until you realize that jar is going to last you longer than several tubes of toothpaste with a lot left over for cooking and such. Simply put some in a separate jar for the bathroom. Add a drop or two of peppermint extract to freshen breath and you're good to go.

Note: Add a bit of hydrogen peroxide for whitening power.

Salt scrubs plaque clean.

I do a routine salt scrub once a week to keep my teeth plaque free. It makes an incredible difference in appearance. If you have issues with plaque build-up, why not give it a try? Simply pour about a teaspoon of salt into your hand. Wet a soft bristled toothbrush. Dip it in the salt. Now, brush away all that nasty plaque without fluoride rinses or strong gels.

Caution: Using salt daily may scrub away tooth enamel along with the plaque. This is a weekly or monthly treatment.

Strawberry/banana peel whitener really works!

Who knew a couple pieces of fruit could whiten teeth so well? We've all heard that rubbing the inside of a banana peel on your teeth whitens like magic. Does it work? You bet. I've tried it myself. I also heard that strawberries whiten teeth. My teeth were dingy from my old soda pop drinking habit. So, I decided to try them together. I mashed a strawberry, spread it on the banana peel and rubbed it on my teeth daily for a couple weeks. Sure enough, by the end of the two weeks, my pop stained teeth were replaced by pearly whites.

Lemon juice for teeth?

We've all heard that citrus is bad for your teeth. You wouldn't want to leave it lingering for long. Still, my grand-daughter says she has a marvelous fluoride free way of keeping her teeth super white. She brushes them weekly with a mixture of baking soda and lemon juice. I know. I said no baking soda. She does admit it tastes awful. So, since the lemon juice is the active ingredient, why not mix it with coconut oil instead? It'll be fluoride free and taste good too.

Please note: The author is not a licensed medical professional. This article is not intended to replace professional dental advice.

Why I still call myself a “Naturally Healthy Grandma”

I think I'm quite healthy, considering I have 4 chronic health issues.

After I wrote that last post, I saw the irony, though. Actually, I always have seen it. I have Lupus, Rheumatoid, Fatty Liver disease and Reynaud's Syndrome. Good heavens! How can I still call myself healthy?

Well, because that's not a literal title, of course. What I mean by that title is that I work on my illnesses with natural methods and in fact, only take man made cures when it's absolutely necessary. Such as when I'm having a flare.

Also, I have to say this, when I compare my health journey to that of friends with similar illnesses who take conventional meds, there is a clear difference.

Each time one of my friends is treated with another “miracle” conventional med, they seem to slide further and further down the health ladder. Whereas, at least my natural “cures” don't make me any sicker than I already am and in most cases, they are an improvement or a relief, even if it's a small one.

So there you go, I am as naturally healthy as one can be when fighting several chronic conditions. I believe that's due to my refusal to take certain recommended prescription medicines that have disastrous side effects and stick to healthier alternatives.

I believe that treating illness naturally is the way to go if you want to extend your life as far as possible. That makes me a Naturally Healthy Grandma. I'm as healthy as one can possibly be when dealing with this. I think I've earned the title.

Surprising cause of my fatty liver disease

Histological section of a murine liver showing severe steatosis. The clear vacuoles would have contained lipid in the living cells, however the histological fixation caused it to be dissolved and hence only empty spaces remain.

I've had the inclination to tell you all about this for a while. In fact, ever since I was diagnosed with fatty liver after an GI ultrasound several years ago. The reason for the ultrasound was that it had recently been discovered that I have had untreated Lupus since I was a young child. The doctors were checking to see what, if any, damage this had done to my system, since I was having some considerable digestive issues.

Their findings came up showing advanced fatty liver disease, which, with a proper diet, can be reversed in most cases. Unfortunately, time has shown that mine is not a reversible case. I've even gone about 95% vegan to no avail. But here's the interesting part.

It seems that my fatty liver was not caused by the Lupus.

Nor do I have a long history of drinking to excess. Now, I did have a short time period where I overindulged in my late 40's for about a year and a half. I was honest with my doctors about that. Still, they don't feel that would have led to the amount of damage done to my liver. Instead, they have determined that the cause of my fatty liver disease is likely my former long term addiction to soda pop.

Yes, you heard me right. Soda pop. I've always loved one particular brand which I won't mention here so as not to cause an uproar or a lawsuit. Anyway, when I worked as assistant manager in a convenience store for 2 years, I drank a lot of it. We were allowed all the free fountain drinks we wanted. And let's face it, double shifts require caffeine sometimes. And once I left, I continued to drink a lot of it, out of habit.

Now folks, fatty liver may not seem like the worst thing that I could have. But trust me, it's no picnic. In fact, it's downright horrendous. I can't flush my liver because my water intake is limited. I tried milk thistle, as well as conventional meds to no avail. Turmeric is a no go because it's too spicy for me to handle.

Not meaning to be graphic but a lot of what I eat comes right back to me. I have to basically under-eat if I want to keep anything down. I also have extreme acid reflux, due to my compromised liver, so when it does come up, it tastes like pure acid and absolutely fries my throat. It's incredibly painful.

Needless to say, I no longer drink soda pop.

I also cannot have a lot of sugar, which worsens the damage. I can't eat spicy food at all. Greasy foods are obviously bad too. I get sick immediately if I do sometimes. Other times, it takes an hour or two before I react.

My meal portions are about half the normal size most of the time. I can't eat past about 4:00. Plus, I'm not ever hungry. Which means that I have to be very cautious, so that I do actually eat something, at least for breakfast and lunch. I have learned that eating dinner invariably equals puking, so that's out.

The docs have told me that at this point, I just have to deal with it. What's worse? If I take conventional prescribed meds for Lupus and my other conditions now, eventually they will destroy my already damaged liver. The doctors, of course, want me to continue taking them, even with the risk. I'm not willing to do that. So I am off all regular meds. I take prednisone for flares but I can't take it regularly. Basically, I'm just trying to control these monsters with diet and lifestyle changes. Some of them work well. Others don't work at all but they do keep things down to a dull roar.

And of course, with Lupus, Rheumatoid and Reynaud's pounding on my door, my fatty liver is not the worst issue I have to deal with.

Anyway, here's the deal. If you drink soda pop, regular or diet, do yourself a favor and get off it. You do not want this miserable life I live. You do not want to constantly watch everything you eat and drink, sometimes to no avail. I cannot stress this enough. You may already have damage and just don't realize it. The symptoms sneak up on you. I never knew until it was too late. But it's not too late for you. 

Please, get off the soda pop now.I wouldn't wish this on anyone.

Lupus water cure update

Folks, I wanted to give this update a little time to be sure I was reporting my symptoms accurately. When I first started drinking a gallon of water a day as a Lupus cure, there were some issues. I've gotten those ironed out now. Not only that, I've been able to stop taking my Lupus maintenance med. Which was prednisone, for anyone who's interested.

Lupus, and/or the prednisone has brought severe, albeit occasional, acid reflux into my life. If you haven't had the pleasure of living with this horrendous monster, I assure you, it's a hundred times more “fun” than you might think. It's not just a tummy ache, folks. I described some of the symptoms in my last post.

My acid reflux symptoms worsened when I started drinking more water. I have ascertained through a ton of research that the reason is that due to the disease and/or prednisone, my kidneys and liver are not functioning properly. I believe that if I continue on with the methods I am using to reverse my illness, the damage to my organs will reverse as well.

Meanwhile, because my liver and kidneys are compromised, they simply can't handle the volume of water suggested in this cure. Ask any doctor and they will tell you that reducing water in patients with digestive organ malfunctions is commonplace treatment.

Therefore, about a week and a half ago, I decreased my water intake to a half gallon a day, which is still more than I was drinking before I started the water cure. I intend to increase that amount gradually as I heal. And I am healing. But how do I know this?

I know this because at the same time that I changed my water intake to a half gallon a day, I also stopped taking the maintenance dose of prednisone that I've been on for over 2 ½ years. And I don't feel any different. In fact, I actually feel better.

The water is working but it may take time. It's not just the water, though. Because at about the same time that I decreased the water, I also increased my determination to go all the way vegan. I have been vegetarian for years and started going vegan a few years back.

I've only had a few pieces of cheese in the past couple weeks. I intend to stop eating it altogether. Cheese was my last non-vegan food. I am a former cheese hound! Unfortunately, dairy products promote the inflammation that I'm battling, so they have to go!

Note: The other changes that helped me greatly were eating/juicing more green leafy vegetables and taking high doses of Vitamin D. Omega 3, B12 and Vitamin C. You see, when your system is sick, you need more than a normal dose because part of the dose goes to heal you and the rest is to sustain your normal functions.

So, as it turns out, at least at this point in my “cure” the cure that helps me most isn't a single change, but a combination of changes. My belief is that by continuing to seek out the issues that caused my Lupus tendencies to surface in the first place and addressing them one by one, I will continue to improve.

And yes, I still have bad days. But each time I address one of these issues, I feel a little better. And that's more than any doctor or conventional medicine has ever done for me. I'll keep you posted!

Note: The author is not a licensed medical professional. This article is in no way intended to replace professional medical consultation. It is the author's personal experience. Results may vary.

Day 2 of the Lupus water cure

So, some interesting things happened yesterday. Gross, but interesting. So, if you're not into gory details and/or feel uncomfortable with TMI illness posts, it's probably better that you don't read on. I mean, I like the page views but I'm not here to ruin your day (or your appetite) for sure.

Let's start with this morning, though. This morning I woke up, looked at my hand and gasped. I've been in a flare zone lately, so my right hand, which is where this all started, eons ago, has been particularly swollen and distorted. But this morning, about ¾ of the swelling was gone.

Now, I'm not one to jump to conclusions and I just started this drink a lot of water thing yesterday. It could be that my flare is simply going away. They do wax and wane like that. However, it's certainly encouraging and worth a mention.

Now for the grossness. I don't want to get too graphic but I spent a lot of time in the restroom yesterday. And yes, some of it was eliminating the overwhelming amount of water I was drinking. However, there were solids too, if you get my drift. It seemed as if I was flushing toxins. If you've ever tried a toxin flush, you know how it goes, right? And that's what it felt like.

And now for the really gross part. Ya, there's more. Along with Lupus meds and Lupus itself, many people have digestive issues in the form of acid reflux. I get it from time to time, although lately, due to green juicing, it hasn't been making an appearance. And thank goodness for that because it's nastier than it sounds.

Oh boy, now here's the really disgusting part. Last night, I ran to the bathroom at about 1:00 am and, sorry, there's no delicate way to say this, to vomit. There was no stopping it. And what came up was particularly strange. It was pure water mixed with a crap ton of stomach acid. The taste it left behind was indescribably horrid. I had to brush my teeth multiple times before it was gone.

I have no idea what this means or what caused it. Maybe my stomach couldn't take the extreme amount of water. Maybe I had excess acid that the water helped cleanse me of, albeit in a backwards manner. I don't really know what to think but I figured that if you're planning on trying this water cure, you would want to know what might possibly occur. Again, I apologize for the graphic details.

So there you go. I'm now starting day 2 with a little less excess everything in my system. Which is, I think, a good thing? Only time will tell. So far this morning, I have guzzled down nearly a quart of water. It's getting a little easier to drink mass quantities, even after just one day.

You see, with Lupus, I don't have much of an appetite, even for water. So that part is a good thing, anyway, even if the cure is a bust. At least I'm drinking more water, which we all should, of course.

I probably won't update you every day, but I thought all the changes were worth a mention, since some of you are trying this and might want to know what lies on the horizon. Today, I'm taking my home-schooled granddaughter on a field trip so I hope this isn't another “cleansing” day. LOL

Wish me luck!

Lupus - Trying the water cure

The other day, I came across an interesting and simple cure for Lupus that may or may not work. But since I found it widely suggested and with testimonials in some cases, I'm willing to try and also to share my results, if any, to help anyone else who may need it. The cure is water. That's it. Drink more water. Lots and lots of water.At least a gallon a day.

Oh, and salt was also mentioned. However, in my case, I have a definite and actually quite horrendous, salt addiction. So, I don't believe I need to add any more salt than what I already consume to my diet. Now, if you feel you might be missing the electrolytes provided by salt, you might want to try it with the added salt. 

Note: A search for “Lupus water cure” brings up various articles on the whole process.

As for me, I've decided that adding more water to my diet won't hurt, may not be a cure but will help me for sure. I used to drink a lot of water when I was younger. Not so much now, even though drinking more water is part of the “Goodbye Lupus” diet I've been following. I've been slacking on water consumption for many years. So what's the harm in trying out this water cure? None at all. It could just be the factor I've been missing, since I clearly don't drink enough of it. I'll update you on my progress.

Something weird, a side note, I guess, about my Lupus journey is that I've learned that conventional doctors, although most are well intended, are taught, not to find the cause of an illness, so that they may cure it based on what you were lacking, but to come up with “magic pills” for you to take that may or may not work in the short run and pretty much never work in the long run.

Most conventional doctors do not want to hear anything about curing disease with diet and lifestyle changes. It's not their fault. It's what they're taught. I harbor no resentments. I'm just saying that I'm glad I have Lupus, in a way, or I never would have figured that out.Chronic illness can be a real eye opener, not to mention a mind and heart opener.

So, back to the water. My plan is increasing my few glasses of agua to a gallon a day. I have two months of prednisone left in my prescription. Wouldn't it be grand and glorious if, after two months of adding more water to my diet, I didn't need another prescription? One can dream. Yes?

I do know that inflammation is very often caused by dehydration and that was the first symptom I had. Inflammation from hell, that is. Debilitating, crippling, overwhelmingly painful inflammation. So, I'm thinking that even if the water cure isn't a complete cure, it may at least improve how I feel in that area, yes?

And that would be great because my right hand is starting to distort from the inflammation. To the point where it looks like I'm permanently giving Spock's live long and prosper sign with the wrong fingers split. Is that Lupus irony laughing at me? I don't know, but it is actually kind of funny. Live long and prosper? Really, Lupus, really? Talk about rubbing it in. Geesh!

Chronic illness changes all the rules

When you feel like this, not all things are possible.

The other day, someone gave me some wonderful inspirational advice. While there's certainly nothing wrong with that, this particular bit of wisdom just didn't fit for someone with chronic illness. It was about getting a regular job and getting out in the world.

Now, I do try to get out more than most people who are sick. However, I have no small amount of limitations. And as for working a regular job, well, as enthused as I may be, it's just not happening right now. I used to be a real go-getter. I still am inside. The problem is that chronic illness changes all the rules.

Turning can't to can.

Oh boy. This is a great rule, isn't it? I've always followed it. Concentrating on what I can do works pretty well for me. Unfortunately, with Lupus, not all my “cant's” are able to turn into cans. Life just isn't that simple with chronic illness. There really are things that I absolutely can't do now, no matter how hard I try. That doesn't stop me from trying, of course. It's just that my success rate is minimal.

If you eat right, exercise, etc.

I do all that all the time. In fact, I'm going vegan, take all the recommended supplements, stay as active as possible and do everything else that's good for me. I take excellent care of myself. I feel much better because of it. However, this is a chronic illness. It's not going away. I will likely have it for the rest of my life.

No matter how well I eat or how many times I go to the gym, I will most likely have a shorter lifespan than the majority of people. The truth is, although it's a good rule, it works best for healthy, young people. I'm lucky to see the improvement I have. Not everyone with chronic illness does. Sometimes it's just too little too late.

Positive thoughts bring positive results.

Once again, this is very true. Unfortunately, it's not as true for those with chronic illness as most of us would like it to be. I can dream sky high dreams and grow my little ball of sunshine all day long. I can share that positivism with everyone around me. I do, most days.

Problem is, chronic illness isn't comparable to a bad attitude. It doesn't go away just because you paste a happy grin on your face. Oh, I try. I will never stop projecting happiness. Still, there is a limit to how far a positive attitude can take you when you have a chronic illness.

I'm far from being a naysayer.

Still, as positive as I try to remain with this illness, I do find myself becoming frustrated by people's good intentions and advice. The problem is not their sincerity or their thinking. The problem is that some normally excellent advice simply doesn't apply to someone with chronic illness.

I understand that people who aren't sick daily may have a hard time seeing loved ones chained to their house or even their chair. It may seem that a sick person is lazy or unmotivated. That's simply not the case. They're usually just too sick to do much more.

Do you know someone with chronic illness?

If so, try to understand that they work through the pain daily. They often suffer from constant exhaustion. Sometimes just holding their head up is hard. If you catch them on a good day, they may be celebrating by overdoing it a bit. That doesn't mean they'll be up to that every day. It doesn't mean they are capable of living a “normal” life or working a “normal” job.

Why? Because there will quite frequently be those other days. So, trust them to know what's best for them, based on how they feel and doctor's recommendations. Life is hard with chronic pain and illness. It just doesn't go by the book.

People with chronic illness don't need your advice, but they may need a helping hand from time to time.

Remember, the best thing you can do is just love and accept them for who they are and respect their struggles without condemnation. Because, like it or not, people with chronic illness have to live by a different set of rules than you do. Your advice, no matter how well intended, just doesn't work for them.

Chronic illness is a whole different ball game. Just be glad you're not in it and respect those who are to deal with it the best they can. It's the right thing to do.

Modeling your behavior after your kids

What are you up to these days? Is it something you'd want your kids doing? Is it healthy? Because, if not, maybe it's not such a good idea for you either. Seriously, folks, aside from example, if there are things you're doing that you wouldn't dream of letting your kids do, where is your head at?

Now, I realize, obviously, parents have sex. Otherwise, you wouldn't be a parent, now would you? You don't want your kids having sex too young. That's not what I'm speaking of. And yes, parents might have an alcoholic drink occasionally.

Still, have you ever asked yourself, “If I know the reasons I don't want my kids partying all night, being irresponsible with their money, throwing temper tantrums or cursing like a sailor, why do I feel it's OK for me?”

I feel so much better when I take my own advice, don't you?

And isn't that a great way to discipline yourself? By thinking about whether your behavior is something you would condone from your children, or in my case, grandchildren? Also, if we insert example back into the equation, how can you live with such a double standard?

You do know that kids emulate their parents, yes? In fact, I believe that I read somewhere that children learn more through example than they do through disciplinary measures, restrictions or those heart to heart talks many parents engage in.

Ya, I don't get it. When I told my kids at a young age they shouldn't drink to excess, smoke, party like it's 1999, etc. I had my own behavior to back it up. They saw that I practiced what I preached.

Now, I'm not saying I'm perfect, you guys. For example, there was a brief time period once my kids grew up where I slipped up a bit, possibly chasing after my lost youth. It was over quite quickly once I realized my error. It happens to the best of us. I get that.

When I was raising them, though, it just didn't feel right or make sense to tell them not to do things because they were bad for them if I was doing those same things myself.

Plus, we should be as kind to ourselves as we are to our kids. If it's not good for them, it's not good for us either, you know?

So there you go. Be nice to yourself. Care as much about how your life turns out as you do how your kids' lives turn out. You don't have to be perfect but why not address your behavior just as you would your childrens' behavior? Why have a double standard for them to question?

And yes, we are all different. I get that for some people, the behaviors I mentioned might be acceptable. Still, whatever your values are, don't just insist that your kids live by them. Live by them yourself. I guarantee your life will be better.

PS - Have a little kid fun, too. Jump some rope. Play some games with the kids. It's just as good for you as it is for them!

Doomsday preppers: Don't forget to invest in your health!

Stockpiling won't do you much good if your health is bad.

Are you prepping for doomsday or the inevitable zombie apocalypse? Got lots of water on hand? Canned your homegrown veggies? Stockpiled your weapons? What else is there? Well, you might want to think about your health. Frankly, I think my chances of long term survival are pretty slim with these illnesses I have. If you're not in tip top shape either, did you ever consider adding improving your health to your prep list? Otherwise, those stockpiles aren't going to do you much good, are they?

How fast can you run?

I hear those asteroids and meteors are pretty darn speedy. One minute you see them; Next minute, you're charcoal. In fact, their average speed is 25km per second. Can you top that? You better strap on those running shoes and practice for doomsday marathons. You never know when one might strike. This is one time it's important to be the leader of the pack.

How's your grip?

You might have to hang off a cliff or a tall building to wait for rescue. You know? Like in the movies? Unless you have arthritis, like me... If that's the case, let’s just say you might as well forget any survival techniques requiring an iron grip. If not, why not try some exercises to increase your gripping power? At the very least you'll be able to open those mason jars full of garden goodies.

How's your dental health?

Not likely to be many dentists left after doomsday. You don't want to end up hacking at your teeth with an ice skate like Tom Hanks in Castaway. Man, that must have hurt. Plus, I hear dental decay causes infections that travel through your bloodstream to the brain. You'll want your full mental capacity when those zombies roll into town. Better get to a dentist before they arrive.

How's your diet?

To keep up your immune system, you'll want to be sure your diet is nutrient dense. That means eating plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes. You'll need them after doomsday too, providing you're not one of the doomed. So remember to can those fruits and veggies for optimum nutrition.

Here's some nutritious non-perishables you might not have thought to stockpile:

*Beans (for protein: no meat available)

*Grains (for your daily bread)

*Rice (carbs for energy to fight off demons and marauders)

*Nuts and seeds (for Omega brain power)
*Canned or dried fruits and veggies

Note: All these goodies are long lasting and nutritious.

Yes, if you're a doomsday prepper, be very health conscious. You won't be much good to yourself or anyone else if your health condition is lacking.

Healthy living is three fold

Sometimes in the quest for good health, we miss the reality that good health isn't just about caring for our physical well being. In fact, sometimes we forget to do even that. And trust me, I have been there. When you're raising 3 kids on your own, followed by helping to parent your grand-kids, you kind of get left in the dust sometimes. Anyway....

Here I am, 56 years young, trying to recover my lost physical, mental and emotional well being. Yes, being healthy is three fold for sure. Right now, my main concern is the Lupus and Rheumatoid that runs in my family. It caught up with me when I was busy looking after the kids/grand-kids and making sure they were healthy.

Still, it has become clear to me that my emotional and mental health have suffered some serious blows over the years too. In some ways, they're harder to heal than the chronic illnesses I've been saddled with. Emotional scars run deep.

I've also always had a hard time communicating with other people, you guys. Writing helps for sure, but at some point you have to deal with (gasp) real people. And heck, I have a hard enough time just ducking the blows on social networking.

I'm getting better at this, though. I've actually even worked up the nerve to come out about being HSP. That's a fancy term for being overly empathetic and sensitive. I'm not bragging, believe me. I would much rather be “normal” sometimes.

It would be great not to feel everything so deeply that it's distracting. Or not. I guess what I'd really like is to be my same caring self but be able to detach a little too. So that's what I'm trying to do. And for me, it feels a little like not caring, but I know the reality is that I need to focus on healing myself and let other people do the same.

Because of course, that's healthier for them too. Also, I am not immortal. Surprise! Who knew? So if my peeps have issues after I'm gone, I'd like to know that they are up to the challenge. Practice makes perfect, yes?

So maybe my readers, who are used to me bubbling, gushing or bellyaching over every little thing have noticed the change. And maybe you haven't. Because, hey, you have your own lives, right? But I'm trying like crazy to focus on self improvement lately.

Because physical health is not the only kind of health that matters. Healthy living is three fold and all my folds need help! LOL

It's all about balance, I think....

What is a healthy balance, exactly?

Now, folks, I abhor it when people hit me with that “everything in moderation” crap. You see, to me, that's just another way of saying you have no intention of giving up your bad habits so you're just going to engage in them a little bit. You know. Not enough to kill you, but just enough to satisfy you. That seems like a cop-out to me. But I do believe in healthy balance for sure. And yes, there is a difference.

Hard work is good for you. Goofing off is good for you too. But neither one is good for you if you do it too much, or leave the other one out entirely. You feel me?

So when I talk about healthy balance, I'm talking about doing good things in moderation, not doing everything you want to in moderation. Because not everything you enjoy is good for you. Got it?

But wait, let's back that up. Because I want to assure you that in no way am I perfect in this department. There are plenty of things that are bad for me that I engage in, in moderation. The point is, though, I know that's not a good plan and I'm working on it. I'm not allowing myself the luxury of complete defeatism just yet.

I guess I'm just not built that way.

But neither am I perfect, as I said. Oh man, I sure wish I could live the way my Dad did sometimes. He pretty much always “stuck to his guns.” He really made sacrifices in order to assure that he was doing the right thing. Always.

But being as how I have not yet achieved the status of his greatness yet, I must humbly admit that some of my balance does include those bad habits. It's just that I know it shouldn't. You know?

I now find myself struggling to strike a good, healthy balance, by leaving behind those bad “everything in moderation” theories and striving to do better. It's a journey, folks. But I will get there.

And what I'm trying to say here is that I believe a healthy balance should not include unhealthy things. Do you agree? I'd really like to know.

Where do I begin to get mentally healthy?

Somebody must a' kicked me around some.

Lately, I'm really on this peace kick. But what's my first step toward peaceful mental health? Where do I begin? Well, they say let peace begin with you so I'm working from the inside out. I don't know if anyone noticed, but I've been trying to be a lot nicer lately. And folks, it ain't easy or natural for this fed up Grandma to be nice.

I used to be super nice before the world started using me as a soccer ball. Oh, I've been kicked around some alright, Tom Petty. And then some more after that. But you know what? I'm not one to lay around and revel in my abandonment, either. I do not plan to live like a refugee like the song says.

What I plan to do is to restore that nice little girl I used to be to her former glory. Or at least as close as possible. Because being nice to people is what I'm best at. It makes me feel good about myself. It makes me happy to see other people happy.

Now, I'm also not taking it too far this time. I'm not planning on helping people to the point where they no longer deem it necessary to help themselves. Because, first of all, that's not healthy for them. And secondly, it leaves me resentful and miserable.

There is a fine line.

Sometimes being nice to people means saying no because it's the best thing for them. Standing on one's own two feet is the greatest feeling ever. So why would I take that away from someone I care about? Well, I did and I have and let me tell you, it's not the smartest move for my health either.

So, here we are, back at the starting line. Step one toward being mentally healthy for me is to be nice to people without being an absolute pushover. Now, step one for you might be different. But for this Grandma, it's the perfect beginning to a happier, healthier mental state.

Naturally healthy grandma with Lupus?

Taking gentle hikes keeps me healthy.

Sometimes I wonder if people who read this blog look twice at the title and think, “What? How on earth can she call herself a naturally healthy grandma? Doesn't she have Lupus, Rheumatoid and Reynauds syndrome?” Why yes. Yes I do. And so, for my new readers, who might not know my reasoning behind the blog title, I decided to write this, as an FYI.

Lupus runs in my family. So does Rheumatoid. Not sure about the Reynauds, but I'm assuming that since it's often a companion of the other two, it's likely that some of my ancestors suffered from it too. So, even though I'm sick, I have healthy habits now. Pl,us, my inherited Lupus came mainly from my ancestors.

But wait. Lupus is a tendency of sorts. And if you lead an unhealthy lifestyle and follow an unhealthy diet, you increase the likelihood that the tendency toward Lupus will flare into a full blown disease. Unfortunately, I used to have very unhealthy habits, which caused Lupus to take the upper hand, so to speak.

Now, though, I truly am healthier, even though I'm sick. I move more. I eat right. And just an aside, I have been a vegetarian, leaning toward vegan, for a long, long time. That has nothing to do with it. The problem was never that. The problem was junk food.

I ate cheese and chips and cookies. Lots of them. I drank gallons of soda pop. So, even though my diet did not include meat products, it did include tons of fat, salt, sugar, white flour and all the other food evils of a modern society. I'm doing much better now. I'm keeping myself better by doing better. And yes, I still eat some of those things. Just not so much of them.

The other issue was and is having the forced sedentary lifestyle of a writer. So many of my writer friends are sick like me. In fact, probably about ¾ of the people I know with chronic illness are writers. Therefore, I am really making an effort to get up and move, even when I don't feel like it or I have work to do.

Some day, the temptations will take a back burner, so to speak and I will transition all the way to Veganism, which I believe is about as naturally healthy as one can get. And some day, with practice and perseverance, I will be able to move a lot more than I do now.

But you know, even as it is now, I get healthier every day. I am on the path to better health now. And that's why I call myself a naturally healthy grandma. I am using naturally healthy ways to keep myself healthier than I normally would be if I didn't change my lifestyle.

How do I know it's working? Well, sadly, as mentioned above, I have a lot of friends with chronic illness. And even more sadly, the reason that I know I'm doing the right thing is that when I compare their struggles to mine, I see that their illnesses are much further along and progressing more rapidly than mine, even when other factors are identical.

And yes, I know, chronic illness is not always predictable. It can come and go for no reason at all. But I still think that by adopting a naturally healthy diet and lifestyle, I am increasing my longevity and slowing the progress of these illnesses considerably.

So, there you go. That's why I call myself a naturally healthy grandma, even though I have 3 chronic illnesses. It's because despite or even because of those illnesses, I am healing myself gradually and naturally, one step at a time.

Is it really possible to cure Lupus with diet?

Recently, this naturally healthy grandma ordered a naturally healthy cure book for “her” Lupus. The book is by a doctor who has been Lupus free for 10 years. She used a raw vegan diet (tons of fresh fruit and veggies) (no processed foods allowed) combined with powerful green smoothies and a gallon of filtered water a day to rid her body of all signs of Lupus.

Now, this doctor was much sicker than I am now, which is saying a lot for her amazing recovery. I'm pretty freaking sick, you guys. However, her Lupus had escalated to the point where her kidneys were impacted. She had blood sugar issues and had also suffered several mini strokes. Right now I am on a journey to follow her lead and try to cure my Lupus with her “Goodbye Lupus” diet. I figure that if it worked for her issues, curing mine should be no problem.

So, is it possible?

Well, to be honest, I have no idea if this will lead to a permanent cure. There are no guarantees in life, after all. However, I am showing some improvement already after just a few short weeks. Also, to be fair, I have cheated on the raw thing a few times, so my results may not reflect hers until I become more disciplined and/or until more time has passed.

What kind of results am I seeing?

The main issues that have started resolving themselves at this point in my journey are digestive. Before I started this diet, I was, to put it bluntly, worshiping the porcelain god on a regular nightly basis. Most nights of the week would find me awake and suffering from extremely painful acid re-flux, unable to digest most of what I had eaten that day. To put it delicately, what won't go down has nowhere to go but back up.

Now the good news.

Since about a week after starting this diet I am no longer having those late night episodes. You have no idea how much of a relief that is. This week, I had one night where the acid re-flux reared it's ugly head for what I am hoping was the last hurrah. It was a very mild attack, though and not nearly as intense as it used to be. So at least where the digestive issues are concerned, I believe this diet is helping.

So, even if that's all the benefit I get from purchasing this book, it's certainly worth the time, money and effort. It's no fun feeling as if you have a horrendous case of food poisoning on a nightly basis for sure. I'm so thankful for the reprieve from that issue.

To what do I owe this relief?

Well, those green smoothies are an absolute powerhouse of nutrition. In addition to the dark leafy greens, they also contain organic powdered greens with added vitamins, chlorella and spirulina, which, among other things are wonderful for moving things along, if you know what I mean. And then there is that gallon of daily water. That certainly doesn't hurt the digestive process. It likely provides extra lubrication and also flushes a lot of toxins from the system. Not to mention the fact that banishing chemical ridden tap water from the diet is always a good plan.

So there you go. Cross your toes and fingers for me. This naturally healthy vegan grandma is taking things to a whole new even healthier level. I may just beat this Lupus thing, after all. And even if I don't, at least I will be getting some awesome nutrition to help me fight it and feel better doing so. Wish me luck!

Note: This is not a paid revue. The author of this post has no affiliation with the author of the book mentioned.

Just another crazy day in the life at Grandma's house

Let me take you through an average, awesomely crazy day for us here at Grandma's house. It was February and I believe, if my sensory perception is correct, it was at least 70 degrees out. But that's not all. Gary spent the day serving on a jury, which necessitated me giving him a ride back and forth. There was also the matter of getting Tia back and forth to work. Nope, that's not all either.

On the way to buy home-school workbooks, we brought “our” found cat to Pet Smart where they discovered she had a microchip. So, after a bunch of phone calls, etc. she's back with her new owners.

It was also spring poop-scoop day. Which generally occurs when it's been hot enough and dry enough to make it a more pleasant task, if you get my wind drift.

So, off I went to the backyard with rake, shovel and contractor bags in hand to start that fun as heck job. Meanwhile, I had mentioned to my oldest grand-daughter, Amber, that it might be fun to build a tiny fort for the younger two, which she started gathering scrap wood for.

The idea was that she and the littlest grand-daughter, Aja would build the little house while I spent the afternoon scooping poop. Fun times and a great plan, right? Turns out, though, they needed more than my not-so-technical advice.

So, before you know it, I was hammering away with them, having done only 1/3 of the yard. Surprise! Building a tiny play house is way more fun than scooping poop. Who knew?

Now, due to the fact that our nail gun was malfunctioning and we couldn't find the saw to cut the boards to size and a few other issues, like the umbrella nearly taking Amber off to sky-land, we had to settle for a really, really, tiny house play house (with a tarp roof instead of the cool umbrella roof we were going to make.)

In the process of all this, I heard my phone ringing in my pocket. Turns out that I had butt dialed my brother in NY. In fact, my sister-in-law called to inform me that my butt had called so many times in a row (her estimate was 20) that she took the phone off the hook, thinking it was a telemarketer. Yes, they still have an old house phone. And they do have caller ID, but for some reason my name didn't show up on it.

We had a great laugh over the whole thing, then my brother got on the phone. Now, anyone who knows my brother and I very well, knows what that means. We are the thinkers of the family, for sure. Some might even go so far as to use those two dirty words (conspiracy theorists) when referring to us. Really what we are though is just two compassionate people who are good at connecting the dots.

We don't think anyone is conspiring against us, not really, anyway. We don't believe aliens are trying to kidnap or poison us or anything all that crazy. We just basically think the planet is fucked and humans are responsible. Well, that's the short of it, anyway. If you want the long of it, you'll have to listen in sometime. Because this blog is too short for that.

In fact, I'm about at the end of my page. So, the rest of the day was filled with doing housework, picking up Gary and Tia, buying girl scout cookies, making spaghetti and watching re-runs of Stargate Atlantis, during which, Gary started snoring loudly, then sat up and declared he was going to bed. Yup. Just another day. And believe it or not, I left a lot of stuff out!

Setting a healthy example

Healthy and yummy! It's a win/win.

You know, the older I get, the more I realize the importance of passing on good, healthy habits to my kids and grand-kids. Doing so may save them from chronic illness or at least keep the symptoms of any inherited illnesses they may acquire down to a dull roar. And for me, that's doubly important.

The Lupus and Rheumatoid that I'm fighting are both prevalent in my family. I'm told that they come from my Dad's side. That means my kids and grand-kids may unfortunately inherit those Lupus and Rheumatoid tendencies from me, as I did from him.

But you know, that's not all. You see, even if I didn't have these chronic illnesses, I would want the healthiest future for them. Doesn't everyone want their descendants to live long, happy, healthy lives? And of course, the more we learn, the more we realize that healthy habits are vital for disease prevention.

I've even heard that lifestyle choices can impact the physical condition of the future gene pool. In other words, unhealthy people produce unhealthy people. Who knew? But even if this weren't true, there's something else to consider.

Monkey see, monkey do? We all know that kids whose parents smoke often pick up the habit themselves. And so it follows that people who have unhealthy habits are likely passing those on, not just through physical changes, but through example.

I always say it's the best teacher. Example, that is. I'm sure I could find a study that proves it, but I think it's fairly obvious, don't you? We've all seen whole families of athletes or whole families of couch potatoes, right? It's pretty common.

So, when I make these positive changes for my health and the health of the planet, I'm not just doing it for my own sake. I'm doing it for my kids and grand-kids too. So they don't ever have to go through what I do with these illnesses.

Because I know that focusing on my own good health isn't just good for me. It's good for them too. Plus, I'm not ready to say goodbye to them yet. We have a whole lot of good times to look forward to and a lot of moments to share. Throwing that all away for a lousy ice cream cone just feels selfish to me.

Stay healthy, my friends. If not for yourself, than for your loved ones. Because one of the best gifts you can give them is a healthy example to follow.

Sorry, sweetie, I won't poison myself to line your pockets with gold

Sorry, we're not going there. At least not until it's necessary.

OK, so maybe the title sounds a bit condescending, but this naturally healthy Grandma is ticked off. I'm so tired of these rheumatology fellows (fresh out of medical school and newly brainwashed) pushing drugs that I don't need on me. And I'm even sicker of their supervisors backing them up in the name of funding.

I used to think that was just a conspiracy theory, but speaking from experience, I can now tell you it's the truth.

You may disagree and you're certainly entitled to your opinion. But when my doctors recommend that I take a medicine that's been proven lethal to more than a few patients and is not intended to be given to those who do not tolerate meds well, like me, I smell something stinky and it's not my feet.

That's because:

*I have a very low tolerance for most medications and my doctors all know it. In my lifetime, there have only been 2, count them, 2 prescription medications that I can tolerate. That would be prednisone and penicillin.

*The reason they are supposedly suggesting this medicine is because I have not been able to tolerate any of the other meds except prednisone, which is coincidentally inexpensive, been around a long time and does not earn them any bonus money.

*The physicians website (not web-MD or the equivalent) I consult with specifically states that this new medicine they want me to try should not be given to anyone with tolerance issues. In fact, the first thing you see if you have access to this site is a huge warning label to that effect in red and black. The site is restricted to licensed physicians. I got around that. Shhhhh

*I have caught my doctors flat out lying to me concerning the side effects of the last medicine “we” tried that I also could not tolerate but which they do receive funding for dispensing in an effort to keep me taking it, even though it was not improving my condition in any way whatsoever, according to their own lab tests.

You guys, I'm pretty much done with the kinds of doctors we have these days. I'm having a lot of promising results with changing my diet, taking high dose nutritional supplements and exercising more frequently. So much so that I have myself down to 5 mg. of prednisone daily. Plus, the way I am feeling (which is about 90% better) indicates that I will be able to eliminate prescription drugs within a year or so.

Now, I'm no fool. I know there's a chance with the Lupus that there may come a time when I absolutely have to try extreme measures. It's just that I know this is not that time.

So the real question is, “Why would you put someone who is doing better using natural methods on a more extreme drug?” And the logical answer is because it benefits you, the doctor, monetarily. (Because it's certainly not beneficial to me, the patient in any way.)

Sorry, sweetie, I won't poison myself to line your pockets with gold. Thank-you and have a nice day. I don't hold it against you. I know you're just doing what you've been brainwashed.... I mean taught to do. I'm off to look for a real doctor. You know, one who thinks of me as something more than an ATM machine.

Arthritic bathtub adventures

One time I got stuck in the bathtub.
Arthritis would not let me out.
I tried several different positions.
Ended up with a toe up the spout.
I twisted my leg to one side.
I tried getting onto my knees.
Just when I thought that I had it.
I slipped back in due to a sneeze.
I finally managed a handhold,
and pulled my way over the rim.
As I flopped on the floor,
someone opened the door,
and gave me a sarcastic grin.