The Healthy Journal

Myth: If you want to lose weight, you need to eat less and exercise more. Fact: Losing weight isn't about eating less. It's about eating healthy—cutting out the sugar, breads and artificial ingredients. It's not about counting calories, but choosing the right calories. Dump the processed foods and eat fresh, plant-based foods (vegetables, fruit, beans, nuts and seeds), which are full of nutrients. You'll shrink to a healthier weight with whatever exercise you do.

We live in a very different world today from when I grew up in the 50's and 60's. Even though there were issues with pollution and toxicity, it seemed nothing like the saturation point it appears we have reached today. We are surrounded by chemicals that cause cancer. Chemicals are in our food, clothing, furniture, water and air. Is it any wonder cancer is so pervasive today? It used to be few knew anyone with cancer. Today, we all have family, friends and neighbors confronted with the horrible diagnosis of cancer . In the Us vs. Them War on Cancer, clearly cancer has won. So what can we do? First, make the choice and act to go CLEAN. The foundation of a healthy lifestyle starts with living clean. Simply speaking, it means removing chemicals from every part of our lives that we control—in and around our homes, in our food, what we put on our bodies, furniture we buy... you get the picture. Start With Your Food Open your pantry and refrigerator and throw out anything that has a...

Ewww! Right? There seems to be an invasion of fruit flies in the Northern California region. Do you have a problem where you live? We recently moved into our new home and found fruit flies constantly plaguing us. You can never catch them. They're so wispy and tiny. As soon as you try to swat or clap them, they seem to be jetted away by the action. Those little buggers have a short life cycle. 24-hours after eggs are laid, new flies hatch and soon begin their harassment, which lasts up to 50 days. After noticing they were everywhere—other homeowners complained about them and you'd see them in stores and other establishments over a wide geographic area—I realized it was time to get serious about getting them out of our house. A simple trap is all you need to entice the little bug-eyes to their last drink. You'll be amazed at how many you catch. And you thought there were only a few in your home. Ha! They were about to take over! Throw out any overripe fruit which become breed...

I recently watched the Essential Oils Revolution Online Event. Wow! Lots to learn. I hope you all took advantage of this awesome educational forum on essential oils. I'm certainly behind on understanding what, when and how to use essential oils myself. Here is a gem from the summit—A liver cleanse formula to rub on your skin over the liver.  The application location is below the right breast at the lower right rib cage. The caster oil is a carrier oil used to deliver the oils to the area. You can also use coconut oil or vegetable glycerin as a replacement for the caster oil (which is sticky and can stain clothing). Use 1 teaspoon of carrier oil for the total 20 drops in this formula. That is a 20% dilution allowing the oils to be massaged into a larger area and absorb slowly. The dilution does not reduce the effectiveness of the oils—they simply enhance the oils and soften any reaction that a straight oil may have on the body. This formula is great for cancer conquerers, whether yo...

Last month President Obama signed weak and flawed legislation into federal law that addresses GMOs in foods . It is called the DARK (Deny Americans the Right to Know) act by those of us who believe we have the right to know what's in our food. It is a win for big chemical and biotech corporations, but a blow to the American family and the hope for a food supply that is healthy and transparent. It is also a stain on our republic as it erases any laws that states enacted (like Vermont) that require food labels to identify GMO ingredients. Plus it seems to be a clear violation of the 14th Amendment, as it would allow corporations to use QR codes instead of clear packaging on labels. Basics of the GMO Labeling Bill (aka DARK Act) Let's break it down: The words "GMO" or "genetic engineering" will NOT be required to be anywhere on the package. 95% of the ingredients that are GMO will NOT be included in the "labeling." The "labeling" that will b...

This past spring I listened to the 2016 Food Revolution Summit created by bestselling author John Robbins and his son Ocean Robbins. At the summit, John interviewed 24 of the world’s top food experts, including 16 medical doctors. More than 230,000 summit participants heard these enlightening interviews. For me they were very instructional and I learned new stuff. For others it was surely helpful for discovering a healthy lifestyle. For the next week (and maybe longer), the Food Revolution Network is replaying for FREE three of those interviews—In fact, the three most popular presentations from the summit . You’ll hear Joel Fuhrman, M.D. offer penetrating insights into exactly what foods to eat to achieve optimum nutritional excellence. Mark Hyman, M.D. will tell you about the science of nutrition and how to take advantage of the best elements of paleo and vegan diets. And Neal Barnard, M.D. will share breakthroughs in scientific understanding of how to not only prevent disease, bu...

There are 14 million new cancer cases each year with an expected 70% increase in the next 20 years. But did you know that 90% of cancers are preventable? Natural cancer treatment and prevention is possible. In the post Health Sites You Should Subscribe To , I identified six websites you should sign-up to receive email updates. Here's another to add to that list: Cancer Tutor . The “Cancer Tutor” website is a product of the natural medicine cancer researchers of the Independent Cancer Research Foundation, Inc. (ICRF). Every one of the 350+ articles and chapters was written by a natural medicine cancer researcher. If you are in the throes of dealing with cancer, discover your natural cancer treatment on Cancer Tutor . As background, check out  14 Questions and Answers About Cancer that could save your life.

Recently I changed my juicing/smoothie routine to maximize the nutrition I get. Seasonal fruit boosts the nutrition of your smoothies with added fiber and antioxidants. First, I juice veggies (kale, chard, mixed baby lettuce, carrots, celery, cilantro, beets, ginger, etc). Then I transfer the juice to my blender and add a piece or two of fruit (apple, cantaloupe, mango, pears, fresh berries, etc) and blend for one minute. What this combination accomplishes is a highly nutritious drink with concentrated nutrients from the veggies and blended fruit with all the benefits of eating whole fruit. Adding a variety of fruits to your diet has great benefits. They provide essential nutrients and vitamins including potassium, Vitamin C, and folate. Fruits also provide necessary fiber, which helps moderate the effect their sugar has on insulin, thus reducing diabetes and heart disease. In addition, fruit adds such beautiful color to any meal! Best to get fruit from a local source and in season, wh...

Tip Turmeric and Black Pepper is a cancer-fighting dynamic duo. Turmeric is naturally high in a powerful anti-inflammatory compound called curcumin. Black Pepper contains an alkaloid called piperine that significantly enhances the bioavailability of curcumin. Spice up your food with these two power house health condiments, which is found in curries and thus many recipes in Indian cuisine. ( Source:  foodmatters.tv )

In a March post Learn How to Heal Cancer Naturally , I outlined what you can expect in the future from this blog to help you be more knowledgable about your health—how you can achieve it and maintain it. Become your own advocate for health. All while feeling amazing and loving the food you eat. Truly! There's nothing more delicious than REAL food—plant-based (fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, intact grains, spices and herbs). ...But I digress. The following are sites that I subscribe to and I recommend you do too: The Truth About Cancer I hope you had a chance to view the 9-part video series The Truth About Cancer: A Global Quest . If you did, you were likely blown away with all the non-harmful treatments and protocols out there that can heal cancer (and BTW often heal any other health issues you might have). Ty Bollinger and his team continue to bring you health articles, doctor interviews and occasional recipes. Subscribe to their email newsletter at The Truth About Cancer  at the...

Tip Cabbage, broccoli, brussels sprouts and other cruciferous vegetables are shown to prevent a number of cancers. However, if these veggies are cooked or frozen, the cancer-fighting phytonutrient called sulforaphane is unavailable. But wait! If you add a little ground mustard powder after cooking, you replace the enzyme needed to release the suforaphane. (Source: Foodmatters.tv )

Tip Drizzle tomatoes with a little olive oil. Besides being a tasty combo, you get great nutritional benefits. Tomatoes are naturally rich in lycopene, which is a carotenoid believed to protect against cardiovascular disease and cancer. Olive oil actually helps us absorb lycopene. So pour it on! ( Source: Foodmatters.tv ) PS Don't forget there's still time to see Episode One of The Truth About Cancer: A Global Quest .

Okay, dear readers, here's your first step to being an expert at healing cancer. First, you need to understand your risk of getting cancer. Most people have just a fuzzy picture (at best) of what their personal risk of getting cancer really is. This powerful quiz will give you a much clearer picture... and it takes only 42 seconds! Even better, you'll find out how to best prevent cancer based on your results. Take this quiz that will take less than a minute to discover your personal risk for cancer. What you may be SURPRISED to discover after you take this 42 second quiz is there are now many (non-drug, non-surgery) advances in fighting and preventing cancer. You'll want to know about them, you probably haven't heard of most of them yet, but the bottom line as you'll see is... You can prevent cancer.  And you can defeat it if you have it. It starts with discovering your current cancer risk level, so take this important quiz right now . It may just be the best 42 ...

I've been writing this blog now for 5 years. Occasionally I've tweaked what I cover as time moved along. Many asked for recipes, so I provided recipes... but in protest. I'm generally not a recipe person. I'm a seat-of-the-pants chef. I tend to cook simple meals and draw from what I have in my fridge and pantry. Even if I use a recipe, I'll make changes to fit the ingredients I have on hand as well as the food I eat. At this point I've given you my take on how to be healthy, specifically how to avoid cancer and even heal from cancer even if you have a genetic predisposition as I have. New visitors to Healthy Journey Cafe can use the Start Here tab for great content to help with lifestyle changes that will produce health. Thank you all who subscribe and follow this blog. I hope I have made a difference in your life. This is a very passionate subject for me. My heart aches when I see so many take the medical route, which I believe is harmful. I have seen too many...

Forget everything you’ve heard about FAT… For decades, medicine and pop culture have told us that eating less fat (and exercising more) is the secret to sustained weight loss, health, and longevity. Yet Americans are sicker and fatter than ever! Clearly, something isn’t adding up. My good friend, New York Times bestselling author Dr. Mark Hyman is on a mission to separate the FAT from Fiction during his upcoming event, The Fat Summit January 25 - February 1 . Register for Free now ! In The Fat Summit January 25 - February 1 , Dr. Hyman will interview 30+ of the world’s top experts, as they reveal the truth about fat—and what it really takes to lose weight, feel great, and reverse chronic disease. Here’s a look at what you’ll discover: Why eating more fat (and less sugar) actually leads to weight loss  Whether or not children should eat a high-fat diet  How carbohydrates impact hunger  The research on red meat (does “grass-fed” really make a difference?)  Ho...

Gut dysfunction can be linked to virtually every disease and can cause conditions like fatigue, depression, food sensitivities, chronic pain, allergies and more. The Heal Your Gut Summit from January 18-25, will help you understand how these conditions are by and large preventable! Why Attend?  Your gut is the cornerstone of true health, which is why Dr. Josh Axe, Donna Gates and Dr. Eric Zielinski have gathered together more than 30 gut health experts from around the globe to share the evidence-based tools you need to regain control of your health! Register for FREE here! The Heal Your Gut Summit will teach you about:  Healing the gut to boost immunity and fight cancer  Losing weight by improving digestive health  Solutions to recover from irritable bowel syndrome  Balancing hormones and increasing libido  Reversing allergies and autoimmunity with foods and herbal remedies  Attend and listen to the following experts (over 30 in all!):  Josh Axe...

Happy New Year!  Hope you are ready to enjoy 2016. Have you set some goals? Making some productive changes in your life? Perhaps adding more plant-based whole food to your eating? Great! I'm cheering you on ( crowd roar )! For food, supplements, eco-friendly household and personal care products you buy on a regular basis (or even those occasional purchases), I have a great money saver for you. I recently subscribed to Thrive Market and saved $79 over what I would have paid at my local discount market. Yup! That's right! Example: Bragg Apple Cider Vinegar $2.95 at Thrive Market is $3.68 at my local discount grocer. The Smart Way to Save Money on Healthy Food Thrive Market offers something for anyone who wants to eat healthy and live well. Thrive has a really nice, curated mix of products to choose from that are the best-in-class organic, non-GMO, vegan, raw, paleo and gluten free. Whatever your healthy shopping desires may be, you can find exactly what you’re looking for. Lik...

In the short time I've been writing this blog, I'm thrilled to say the tide is turning. Manufacturers have seen a shrinking of their bottom line because YOU have voted with your shopping dollars and shunned foods that contain artificial ingredients (preservatives, coloring, etc) and too much sugar. Last month an article in the New York Times reported that a seismic shift in how people eat has caused big food companies to scramble. Manufacturers are responding by changing their ingredients to reflect the demand for healthier food. I originally wrote about the dangers of manufactured food, particularly in breakfast cereals, back in 2011 called The (Mad) Science of Food Packaging . Let's look at what is coming out of the research labs of the food companies and celebrate the victories consumers have achieved. In Food Makers Try to Paint With Nature's Palette , the Wall Street Journal reported how food companies were replacing artificial ingredients with real food alternati...

Instead of medications or getting a flu shot, boost your health with a daily shot of health. Taking two shots a day (even one shot a day) of this health drink—one in the morning and one in the evening—will give your immune system a kick. But don't expect it to make-up for an unhealthy diet of processed foods and sugar. Nope! Shot of Health from   Ancestral Nutrition yield ~14 shots category Drink cuisine Vegan ingredients 1.5 C filtered water 7 Tbsp apple cider vinegar (ACV) Juice of 1 lemon or 1 drop lemon essential oil 1 Tbsp raw honey 5 Tbsp of collagen (if you have it) directions 1. Combine in glass jar and shake until blended. 2. Store in fridge. 3. Take 1 to 2 shots (one morning, one evening) daily I just took my shot for today and, I should add, it blows your hair back. Woo! BTW if you use Bragg's ACV (which I highly encourage), you'll be getting a dose of prebiotics as well. Prebiotics is food for the good bacteria in your gut. For more information on pro and pre...