It is a great read and offers many insights into how he and his wife raised their 3 daughters, with great success. As he writes in the first chapter;

I believe successful parenting has never been as important as it is today. For some reason, an increasing number of today’s young people seem to be going off the rails – more than in previous generations – and as such are causing their parents, their teachers and society in general, more headaches than ever before. 

Hopefully this book, How To Be A Good Parent, will give you the guidance you need, based on my experience and what I have learned since, to indeed, raise the children of the world. Children who will be well equipped to find their unique place in history and to play their part in creating a safe, secure and more peaceful world for all its peoples.

If you want your children to be decent, upright, balanced, fun kids and one day mature into successful, well-meaning, considerate and accomplished young adults, then this book is for you.

For the price of about 2 cups of coffee, you can download the Kindle edition of his new book here.

If you enjoy the book and feel it offers some good practical advice to new parents,  write a review (hopefully a positive one) and comment here to let me know. I will pass it onto James.

 I will also send you a free copy of my new child’s reader; 

Answers To 350 Quirky Questions <=====  read about it here. It is a fun read for young kids of all ages.

Good parenting has never been as important as it is today, as James writes in his opening chapter.

So I believe his Parenting book comes at a very good time.

It would also make a great present for new parents and can be sent as a gift from the Amazon site.

Here’s to Great Parenting!!

Stressed Out!

This is a phenomenon familiar to all of us…

…You have a tough day, whether it’s at your job, school or with your personal relationships.  You feel frustrated, don’t know what to do and are overwhelmed. Your mind is racing. Your stomach is churning. You’re gasping for a deep breath. So you drive home in a rage, flipping off other drivers on the highway, slam the car door, yell at the dog…

…and reach for some chocolate….or chips, cookies, donuts…whatever you can get your hands on.

Aaahhhhh! You feel better…for a while.

But unfortunately you’re noticing that your butt is wider than it used to be and it’s getting harder to see your toes.  You look in the mirror and really look…perhaps for the first time in years and see what you’ve been denying.

Welcome to the world of stress eating.

Stress eating takes its toll in many ways, the most obvious being in your girth. It can also worsen digestive problems like acid reflux, IBS symptoms, gas, bloating and diarrhea. Stress eaters KNOW that they should stop eating, but that’s easier said than done for most. Some may desperately try to resist the beckoning of the refrigerator, pantry or vending machine, but then break down in that moment of weakness and give in.

The good news is you CAN break free of stress eating. But first it’s important to understand what’s going on when you’re shoveling it in under stress…

The hormone connection

Back in our caveman days, when faced with the stress of encountering a saber-toothed tiger or similar danger, your body would gear up to deal with stress by releasing two hormones (adrenaline and cortisol). These hormones would mobilise fat and carbs stored in the body for quick energy for the “fight or flight” reaction. That’s what helped our ancestors fight off the predator or run like crazy.

Once the stress was over, adrenaline would go away, but cortisol hung around for a while to help refuel your body and bring it back to balance. One of the ways it does this is by giving you a voracious appetite that drives you to replace the carbs and fats you used up in the process of outrunning the tiger.

Now, our current stresses are much different–we’re not running from tigers anymore. Our stresses are more emotional and psychological. But your body’s reaction to that stress is the SAME.

So all those cookies, crisps, chocolate and M & M’s to the rescue.

The price of chronic stress

When you’re under longstanding chronic stress, your cortisol levels are raised and remain high all the time. This creates a buildup of abdominal fat (our primitive emergency energy supply). But the price of this is more that just a spare tire or muffin top. It also leads to depressed immune function, low thyroid function, problems with controlling blood sugar, impaired memory and concentration, burnout and eventually, chronic illness. With continual stress (and high cortisol levels) you are susceptible to conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, blood clots and colon cancer.

Break the cycle

So clearly, it’s essential to break the cycle of stress eating and chronic stress. Your health and quite possibly your life depend on it.

Here are the TOP 10 Ways To Relieve Stress And Conquer Cravings:

1) Wait 10 minutes before giving in to a craving

If you can distract yourself by answering an email, doing a load of laundry, making a phone call, feeding the cat or running an errand, you may forget about your craving.

2) NEVER go hungry or skip meals

Hunger can trigger intense cravings for sugar, so be sure to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner every day. If you are busy and miss a meal, snack on protein foods like leftover chicken or fish or raw (NOT roasted) nuts.

3) Eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables

Fresh produce is full of antioxidants and phytochemicals that eliminate the free radicals caused by stress.

4) Drink green tea

Not only is green tea alkaline (which is good for your pH), but it contains the amino acid theanine, which tranquilizes your brain and helps control cortisol levels.

5) Turn off the TV

TV exposes you to endless food commercials that are specifically designed to trigger cravings. The fast food joints are even staying open later at night so their bottom lines can benefit from your cravings.

6) Sleep more

Fatigue and sleep deprivation lead to carb cravings because carbs are a major source of energy when you feel wiped out.

7) Get some exercise

Exercise counteracts stress and cravings by releasing endorphins, the hormone that produces good feelings. It’s not necessary to join a gym or buy expensive equipment. Even walking is fine and nearly everyone can do that.

Drink a lot of water

Every system of your body depends on water to remove wastes, bring nutrients and oxygen to the cells, aid in digestion and maintain normal metabolism. In addition, many people mistake thirst for hunger, so what may seem like a craving to you could be your body telling you to drink more water. You should aim to drink at least 8 to 10 cups of water a day.

9) Eat foods with anti-stress vitamins and minerals

These include foods with vitamins A, B6, C and E as well as potassium, magnesium, calcium and zinc. Here are some good sources of each:

- Vitamin A: Carrots, sweet potatoes, greens, bell peppers

- Vitamin B6: Bananas, salmon, potatoes, chicken, turkey and spinach

- Vitamin C: Strawberries, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, oranges, cauliflower

- Vitamin E: Sunflower seeds, almonds, olives, spinach, blueberries, greens

- Potassium: Yams, spinach, avocado, lentils, winter squash, bananas

- Magnesium: Black beans, navy beans, salmon, spinach, sesame seeds, halibut

- Calcium: Greens, sesame seeds, dairy

- Zinc: Lean beef or lamb, turkey, green peas, shrimp, sesame seeds

10) And the ALL IMPORTANT number 10: **Make sure your digestion is top-notch**

All the healthy food in the world will do you and your stress levels no good if your digestion is incomplete and inefficient. Poor digestion not only worsens stress-related problems like acid reflux, gas, bloating and constipation, but it also reduces your ability to absorb stress-reducing nutrients from your foods.

So the hunger bell will continue to ring for you!

You simply need to follow the advice in Great Taste No Pain health system.

The manual, “How To End Stomach Pain Forever, Even If Your MD Says, ‘No Way!’” shows you how to create luscious meals that are a breeze for your system to digest. This reduces “gas attacks,” bloating and constipation and leads to greater nutrient absorption.

And the GTNP recipe book is loaded with scrumptious dishes that feature many of the stress-relieving foods I mentioned above.

Remember the little guys

Not only does stress cause cravings, but it also throws your intestinal flora balance completely out of whack which compromises your immune system. This makes you susceptible to every bug, cold, virus or infection around. It’s essential to make sure your body has the levels of beneficial bacteria that it needs to counteract the effects of stress and keep you healthy.

In addition to eating foods that nourish your army of good guys (like fresh fruits and vegetables) it’s a good idea to supplement with a potent probiotic product. Like Super Shield Probiotic Formula

Super Shield’s 13 strains of medical-grade beneficial bacteria are feisty and ready to claim their place on your intestinal walls, helping to fight off harmful bacteria and pathogens and beef up your immune system. In addition, these good guys also enhance nutrient absorption, which is critical to help avoid food cravings.

We can’t always eliminate stress from our lives…but we can certainly help fight its effects. Let the power of Great Taste No Pain and Super Shield Probiotic Formula help YOU fight off stress cravings, prevent a widening in your middle and enhance your overall health.

Well, occasionally I come across something that just blows my mind and I have to share it with you…. the fact that you are reading this means that you would like to look sleeker and slimmer, especially around your face – the part of you that is always visible to family, friends and work colleagues.

Did you know that there are simple exercises you can do for your face to look younger, reduce chubby cheeks and get rid of your double chin? Get rid of what is called Face Fat…

They call it “Face Fitness” and you’ll be shocked by the before and after pictures shown here.

The owner of this new and sexy program has told me that he’s already helped over 20,000 people from all over the world….including top models!

Imagine how you will feel when people start to say “Wow, you are looking sooooo good. What are you on? I want some of that.”

Personally, I think he’s crazy to offer over $300 worth of videos and content for less than a price of a dinner for 2.

However, the special discount price is only good for limited time only – So go to: Face Fitness <== Click Here

There you’ll discover the exact formula to:

• Lose Chubby Fat Cheeks
• Get rid of Double Chin
• Take years off your face!
• Get sculpted-looking cheekbones
• Define your jawline
• Increase your inner confidence

…in as little as 30 days! So why not check it out: Face Fitness <== Click Here

And let me know how you go…

Oh Yes! He’s so confident that his system works, he’s going to give all my readers – and that includes you –  a special discount and a full 60 day guarantee.

Face Fitness <== Click Here

The Perfect Pillowcase

It’s almost bedtime as I write this and that made me think about what makes for a good night’s sleep. The fabric touching your head while you sleep can make or break a good night’s slumber. Some people prefer the smooth, cool lightweight feel of a tightly woven broadcloth pillowcase. Others like the way their heads feel against a warm, fuzzy flannel material. You can experiment to see what type of fabric you prefer. I prefer a smooth, soft cotton pillowcase.

When you find the one that feels best on your face and next to your head, you’ll sleep better. And a good night’s sleep will lead to more energy in the morning!

Instead of rushing through chores or tasks, why not slow down and savour the moment? Some of these moments may only happen that once. You can do this by becoming more attuned to the sights, smells, sounds and feel of the objects around you. So stop and let all your senses go to work to help you enjoy the full sensual experience of that moment. That is mindfulness!

Whether you are washing the dishes, folding laundry or walking the dog, you will find that mindfulness puts you more thoroughly in the moment. With all your senses alert and aware, you will feel calm, curious and alive.  And you will accomplish so much more.

No-one Likes Being Ignored

We humans like contact with other humans—and we don’t like being ignored, even by strangers; this from a study published in Psychological Science. When we are ignored by others, we get stressed and lose momentum. Keep this in mind when walking in your neighbourhood or through the office.

Help people feel more connected and energised by acknowledging their presence—even with a gesture that seems as small as making eye contact. And we all know that a smile costs nothing but brings great rewards.  It’ll come back to you!

A Great Read For Kids

I’ve just launched and published my first ebook on Amazon. It is available as a Kindle reader book here. WooHoo!! – I am at last a published author. The first of many, I hope.

I am still developing a eye- catching cover and that will be added soon. But if you have young kids and want an exciting new e-book for them to read, learn from, laugh at and really get into and enjoy, grab your copy now. It can be read on a Kindle, iPad, smart phone or other tablet.

To learn about Kindle and grab yours if you don’t already have one, have a look here.

Kindle Touch, Wi-Fi, 6″ E Ink Display – includes Special Offers & Sponsored Screensavers

AND…. if you are prepared to send a review ( 5 star positive I would hope), I would be happy to refund the $4.97 purchase price to your PayPal account. Just send an email to stufish7@gmail.com  with your PayPal email, and a copy of your review and I will gladly refund your purchase price.

Do you want a great read for your kids that will keep them enthralled for hours? Well…I have compiled and researched 350 Crazy Quirky Questions and The Answers that your children definitely find fascinating. This book has over 60 pages of funny, entertaining and enlightening facts about life and our world and is a great read for young boys and girls – and for their parents. Questions such as:

Bright Kids Read!

Q: Where does belly button fluff come from?

Q: What kills more people each year – Sharks or Coconuts?

Q: Which is stronger – a man or a horse?

Q: Why does poo stink?

Q; What makes a Hot Air Balloon rise?

Q: In which countries are there no snakes?

And hundreds more quirky questions, with all the answers. Many answers are accompanied by pictures, and you will continually hear your kids say WOW! when they read the answers.

So help your children learn amazing facts, have fun round the dinner table, learn general knowledge and trivia that will make the whole family laugh. Go grab your own copy now!!

Put on some rhythmic music that you like—and get ready to move. Begin by standing in a relaxed position, knees slightly bent and arms at your sides.

As the music begins, shake your whole body, starting with your feet and legs and moving up the body. Involve your whole body for about 5 to 10 minutes.

Stop—and see how you feel.

You will be amazed by the quiet and sense of peace that follows, according to James S. Gordon, MD, director of the Center for Mind-Body Medicine in Washington, DC, and author of Unstuck (Penguin), who created this form of dynamic meditation to help people break through sadness and feel energized.

Repeat this whenever you feel a little down, or are looking for that extra energy to get you through the day!

The answer is, of course:  ”The same way I do — through my diet.”

It is the Beef and Dairy Councils who have tried their best to convince us that meat and dairy are the only and best sources of protein, by beating this into our heads through advertising.

The fact is, meat and dairy are just two of many sources of protein, and they’re not the best sources. Because they happen to be among the most difficult to digest and create acid waste in your body.

So what’s the danger with meat and dairy?

It’s all in what they leave behind. You see, a food is considered “acid creating” when the residue from it following digestion is acidic (with a pH less than 7). I’ve written about acid vs alkaline in a previous post – read it here.

When your body is working like it should, it can eliminate this residue (acid waste) and maintain its desired slightly alkaline state.

But when you eat too many acid creating foods, your body may get to the point where it can’t keep up with the waste elimination. This causes a buildup of wastes which can seep into your bloodstream and wreak havoc throughout your body. When this happens, it can affect your ability to absorb all the nutrients from your foods — including amino acids (the building blocks of protein).

So, chances are excellent that you can eventually get to use very little of the protein you’ve just eaten from that steak. Plus they’re tough to digest, as meat and dairy demand a tremendous amount of digestive enzymes to be broken down. What makes this worse is the fact that most people eat meat and dairy together with foods that make the digestive process even HARDER on your system. This typically results in a LOT of acid being produced and leads to poorly digested food–which also hampers nutrient absorption.

A protein by any other name

What most people don’t realise is that your body doesn’t use protein from meat or dairy in the same form in which you eat it. Instead, it breaks the protein down into its individual building blocks (amino acids). Then your liver puts the proper building blocks together and creates the (human) protein that you need……poor overworked liver doing it’s job again.

So it’s important that you eat foods that provide a wide variety of amino acids. That way, your body always has the building blocks necessary to create all the protein you need.

Other sources of protein

So that encourages better digestion and nutrient absorption, which means that you can actually “use” more of the protein you derive from these foods…and feel less pain!

Learn a lesson from a cow

Here’s an interesting fact for you: Cows (and other animals of strength and endurance, including gorillas) eat nothing but plant foods. Imagine–cows with their huge bones, massive muscles and enormous bodies don’t eat meat yet they have no trouble with protein deficiency. That’s amino acids in action!

If you need guidance on how to get your amino acids and still love your foods, look no farther than the Great Taste No Pain health system. The manuals in the Great Taste No Pain health system explain the health implications of eating too many animal products and show you exactly which foods are acid forming versus alkaline, so you’ll know all the BEST sources for your protein while helping to minimize acid waste buildup in your body.

The 176-page recipe book portion of the system contains many mouth-watering recipes featuring a wide variety of amino acid sources, so you’ll love every bite of getting your protein. You’ll learn how to balance your meals between acid and alkaline foods, so you can still eat acid forming foods you love (like meat!) yet help maintain a proper acid-alkaline balance.

And if you’re a die-hard meat and dairy lover, I’ll also show you the best foods to eat them with to make them more easily digested.

Check it out right away…and get all the protein YOU each and every day.

Haven’t taken the Great Taste No Pain test drive?  Why not?  Get over to  Great Taste No Pain Free Report and feel the power of Great Taste No Pain.

Wrinkle Free?

When you eat like Adam Richman from the show “Man vs. Food” on a regular basis and have stomach issues or weight problems, the connection between the problem and the cause is clear. But what about the people who seemingly have a “good diet” yet are overweight or have pains, infections, headaches and other vague symptoms whose cause isn’t quite so obvious? What’s going on with them?

I’ll tell you… There are two very important factors that influence your entire state of health from head to toe and have a huge impact on whether you are plump or svelte.

They are NOT your blood pressure, cholesterol or blood sugar. While those are important things too, the 2 factors that give the biggest bang for your health buck are:

1 – Your pH

2 – Your gut flora

Your most important number is your pH. Human blood naturally has a pH of 7.365 — which is slightly alkaline. And since blood is our “life force” – nourishing all of our organs and tissues, it’s vital to maintain its alkaline pH. On the other hand, when your pH dips toward the acidic range, you literally start to break down. This dip doesn’t have to be huge.

A pH of even 6.99 (just below neutral) will cause major health problems. You see, every whole number on the pH scale means a hundred-fold difference in acidity. So if someone had a blood pH of 6.365, that’s 100 times MORE acidic than someone with a 7.365 pH. So a small swing means a LOT more acid.

When your pH is too acidic, your organs can’t function like they should (or at all). Aches and pains crop up and worsen because acid in your tissues causes inflammation. Diseases and tumors (including cancer) can develop. It has been proven in labs time and again that tumors thrive in an acidic environment, but die in an alkaline one. Acid wastes accelerate ageing (and wrinkles) because acid robs your skin of the oxygen it needs. (You also see this with smokers because smoke does the same thing.)

Excess weight and obesity result because, like all of your organs, your digestive system can’t work like it’s supposed to when it’s overworked by acid. When you have poor digestion, wastes aren’t eliminated like they should be and so you get BIGGER. Plus, too much acid in your system destroys the nutrients in your food — and that means you continue to feel hungry even after eating because your body isn’t getting nourished. That too adds to your “bottom line.” So, as you can see, an acid pH is not good.

Now on to factor number 2… The proper gut flora balance.  70-80% of your immune system lies in the beneficial bacteria that reside in your gut — also known as your intestinal (or gut) flora. These friendly inhabitants help destroy pathogens and carcinogens you ingest, they keep your intestinal wall strong to prevent bacteria and viruses from seeping into your bloodstream and even help break down some of your foods.

Your friendly bacteria also help your system digest your foods, which encourages proper elimination and a healthy body weight. But when dangerous bacteria are allowed to overgrow and have the “upper hand” in your gut, the friendly bacteria can’t do their job…and you pay the price with a weakened immune system, being susceptible to every bug and virus around. Plus, harmful bacteria can literally eat away at your intestinal lining, making it porous. When this happens, poorly digested food molecules and toxins can seep out of your gut wall and travel throughout your body, causing inflammation from head to toe. This can cause fibromyalgia, migraines, arthritis, atherosclerosis, food allergies and more.

I hope you’ve gotten the message that having a slightly alkaline pH and properly balanced intestinal flora are crucial if you desire any measure of decent health and want to avoid beached whale jokes. They also happen to be very easy to achieve.

There are just 2 simple steps

1 - Grab a copy of the bestselling digestive health system, Great Taste, No Pain

The manual “Foods That Create Acid, Foods That Take It Away” will teach you what foods to eat to encourage an alkaline pH (and what ones to avoid). You would be shocked to know which supposedly bad foods actually help to boost your pH. In “How To End Stomach Pain Forever, Even If Your MD Says, ‘No Way!’” you’ll learn things about processed and fast foods that will blow your mind, and how to create sinfully delicious meals that are easily digested, with no pain or excess acid production. And you’ll absolutely LOVE the dishes in the GTNP recipe book — including the desserts!

Great Taste No Pain has sold more copies than any other digestive health system ever published. Get started on YOUR alkaline pH and the lifelong health it can help you achieve.  Note: If you happen to be sensitive to gluten, then Great Taste No Gluten is for you.

2 – Take Super Shield Probiotic Formula daily.

Many factors can throw off your intestinal flora balance, including diet, environmental toxins, medications, stress and lack of sleep. Super Shield probiotic formula was formulated to give your beneficial bacteria the boost they need to keep the harmful bacteria in check, help with digestion and keep your immune system strong. Super Shield’s unbeatable combination of 13 medical-grade probiotic strains will help beef up your gut’s supply of helpful bacteria and keep them strong, no matter what toxins, bugs or viruses may come your way.

See why Super Shield is the world’s most powerful probiotic formula here. Get your intestinal flora balanced and you’ll swear that you’re healthier than every single person you know. So there you have them–the 2 key factors behind looking and feeling REALLY good.

Godwin said goodbye to his 20-year health nightmare!

Hi Sherry,

You are God sent.

You have turned my “Over twenty years of a health nightmare” into a sunlit brand new day of increasing vibrant life, all in a short period of time. Numerous surgeries and medications did not do it for me. Finally, I prayed that God would hear me and that most, if not all my major health problems will be taken care of.

As I was pondering this, I stumbled into your website, ordered your Great Taste No Pain plan and followed your advice. In a matter of weeks, pounds of weight were dropping, sleep apnea started to loosen its deadly grip on me and my energy level gradually crept up.

Plus my ulcer subsided without anymore antacids, my mind started becoming clearer, minor things that drove me crazy at work suddenly seem insignificant and my productivity got better. I can write a book on this but I have to keep it short for now.

Thank you Angel Sherry and keep up the good work because I am sending a lot of people to your website. GOD BLESS YOU!

Yours faithfully,

Godwin

But it doesn’t stop there. Because it’s also crucial to look at what may be causing liver problems and how to minimise or prevent damage to what can arguably be called the most vital organ in your body.

Liver Abuse

Our poor livers are abused day in and day out. Environmental pollution, prescription drugs, chemical food additives, chlorinated water, household chemicals and pesticides all dump loads of stress on our livers. But the biggest abuser of your liver is probably: YOU.

Too Much Alcohol

Yes, many people are the like the boss I described above, demanding more and more of their hard-working liver and not giving it any breaks. So many people live on fast food, junk food, drink too much alcohol and overuse prescription and OTC drugs.

In between their daily coffees, lattes, sodas and G2s, they might squeeze in a few sips of water. Maybe not. They smoke, use recreational drugs and eat WAY too many refined carbs.

Am I talking about you?

As you can see, your liver isn’t something you can be without. No liver = No you. Steve Jobs’ liver failed him…and he’s gone. Pretty simple.

How to have a healthy liver

First and foremost, there’s the obvious — reduce the toxins coming into your body, that your liver has to filter. If you smoke or do drugs, stop. Drink mainly water throughout the day. And limit that alcohol consumption to an occasional drink or two.

But one of the most critical steps to having a healthy liver is to keep digestion efficient so that it can accomplish its task of toxin elimination. That is what the Great Taste No Pain health system was designed to do.

Great Taste No Pain shows you the foods to eat together to keep your digestion efficient and shows you the exact health-creating, alkaline, high-fibre foods to eat. No guess work at all. With smooth digestion and adequate fibre, your liver can eliminate toxins through the bile-fibre process I mentioned above. Plus, the alkaline foods will help keep your pH alkaline, which is essential for good liver functioning (and the health of ALL of your organs). Read my earlier post on this here.

In addition, when your foods are broken down like they should be, you don’t run the risk of poorly digested food molecules entering your bloodstream and creating even MORE work for your liver to filter them out. The Great Taste No Pain system shows you how you can enjoy delicious REAL foods — not foods loaded with chemicals and additives that your liver has to clean out of you.

Learn more about Great Taste no Pain here.

Keep that gut wall strong too

In addition, to have efficient digestion and a strong (not porous) intestinal wall, it’s crucial to have a healthy population of beneficial gut flora. Problem is, because of our diets loaded with fast/junk food, refined carbohydrates, soda and alcohol, most people are walking around with seriously imbalanced intestinal flora–also known as dysbiosis. Foods such as these feed the bad bacteria in your gut and starve out the good.

Super Shield Multi Strain Probiotic Formula can support you in turning that around for you FAST. I have just started taking Super Shield and will do a full review here within a couple of weeks.

Super Shield is packed with 13 of the most potent, feisty strains of friendly flora that are ready and waiting to set up residence in your gut. In there they will help digest sugars and fibre, and keep your gut wall strong (so toxins can’t leak out into your bloodstream and stress your liver).

Let the combination of Sherry Brescia’s Great Taste No Pain and Super Shield help to keep your liver (and ALL of your organs) working properly well into your golden years.

Martha and her husband are keeping their livers clean:

Hi Sherry,

Thank you for taking the initiative to pursue eating right and sharing it with us. I stumbled across your site as I was looking for something on the internet. The more I read the more I identified with what you said.

I vaguely remember hearing about this type of eating years ago but dismissed it as too difficult to follow.

I am 68 and was feeling tired and lacking energy; very frustrating for an ambitious person. My husband and I did a serious bowel and liver cleanse under the watchful eye of a professional, which helped a great deal. We are following your plan to keep ourselves clean.

Also I was on meds for heartburn and am now off them and as long as I eat the way you suggest there isn’t even a hint of heartburn.

I am telling anyone who will listen to check out your website. My desire is for everyone to feel top notch and have a happy life. I have the Great Taste No Pain manual and cookbook, as well as the Great Taste No Gluten manual and cookbook.

Thanks again.

Martha J.

Plus that you need to not only do your work, but that of your co-workers’ as well.

And you have to do all this extra work with no overtime pay…AND by the way, your pay is being cut, too.

Oh, and that nice office or comfy cubicle you have? That’s gone. You get a table and a hard chair in a room with no windows, and the heat and air conditioning have been turned off, so dress accordingly.

How do you feel?

Overworked? Stressed? Not cared about? Unappreciated? Well….that’s probably how your liver feels right now.

Your Liver

When it’s working properly, your little 4-pound liver:

- Manufactures 13,000 different chemicals

- Maintains 2,000 internal enzyme systems

- Filters 100 gallons of blood daily

- Produces 1 quart of bile each day

You can’t live without it because your liver performs more than 500 unique bodily functions that are ALL critical to life and health.

Here are four of the most critical:

1- The liver manufactures bile for the digestion of fats: in addition to breaking down fats, bile helps your body absorb vitamins A, D, E and K and turns beta-carotene into vitamin A. Bile is also the “exit vehicle” for toxins that your liver filters out of your system. The toxin-drenched bile gets absorbed by fibre in your intestines and is escorted “out the back door” when you have a bowel movement.

2- The liver makes & breaks down cholesterol, estrogen and testosterone ; most people are misinformed as to where cholesterol comes from. Although you do get some cholesterol from food (animal fat), the bulk of it is made by your liver. If your liver is working properly, it converts cholesterol that you get from your diet into bile and temporarily slows down its own production of cholesterol until more is needed.

So truly, the health of your liver is a HUGE indicator of whether you’ll have a cholesterol problem and an increased risk of heart disease.

And as far as hormones go, poor liver function can lead to hormone imbalances in both men and women.

Conditions such as PMS, fibrocystic breast disease, ovarian cysts and cancer of the breast, ovaries and uterus are associated with elevated estrogen, and that can be the result of the liver not breaking the estrogen down like it should.

3- The liver controls regulation of blood sugar: your liver works with the pancreas and adrenal glands to regulate your blood sugar. If too much sugar comes quickly to the liver from your intestines (like when you eat refined carbohydrates), it converts the sugar to triglycerides–some of which are stored as fat and others put into your blood to be reconverted to glucose in your cells.

This cycle is crucial because it’s the primary way the sugar you eat can be controlled and slowly released into your blood…otherwise you are vulnerable to obesity and heart disease.

4- The liver filters the blood and removes toxins: about 2 quarts of blood pass through your liver EVERY SINGLE MINUTE for detoxification. As long as your liver stays healthy, it can quickly break down 99% of the toxins you take in before they enter your circulation and your tissues. These include toxins such as coffee, alcohol, nicotine, drugs, pesticides and food additives.

Without this filtering and detox mechanism, it’s not a matter of if, but when we will get sick, develop a disease and even die.

So now you’re probably thinking, “Gee, I wonder if my liver is OK.”

Here’s a scary statistic: Your liver can continue to function when as much as 70% of its capacity is lost! Many people today have livers that are functioning at only 25-30% of capacity and are deluded into thinking that they’re healthy, when in reality they’re a walking time bomb.

Liver Health Quiz

Answer the questions below using the following rating system for how often you experience each symptom:

0 = Never

1 = Sometimes

2 = Often

3 = Always

How often do you experience each of the following?:

1. Intolerance to greasy foods

2. Foul smelling stools

3. Constipation; hard stools

4. Bitter taste in your mouth

5. Grayish skin or yellow in the whites of your eyes

6. Bad breath not related to a dental problem

7. Excessive body odour

8. Fatigue, sleepiness or headache after eating

9. Dry skin or hair

10. Pain in the right side of your abdomen

11. Water retention

12. Pain in big toes or pain that radiates along the outside of your leg

13. Blood in stools

14. Elevated blood cholesterol (over 200)

15. Elevated triglycerides (over 115)

Your total score: ____________

Score of 0 – 2: Liver problems are probably not a concern for you

Score of 3 – 6: Liver problems may be a concern for you

Score of 7 or more: Liver problems are very likely a concern for you

If you suspect liver problems, it’s important to see a doctor and have the necessary tests done.

More on how to look after your liver in my next post.