3/30/2012

PH Levels have been flucutating between 5 and 6.
I am having a difficult time eating 2/3 of my meals with green foods; in part, because I keep running out of green food, and other times preference for cereal and meat win. I was able to raise the level to 6.5, so I know with harsher discipline I will get there. This is my birthday weekend, so I am taking it easier on myself, and my husband took me out for a fish fry and I chose the greasy, deep fried instead of baked. I find the irony in all of this and feel stupid for even mentioning it because if this doesn't work; that is, the PH balancing, relaxing more, reducing stress and cortisol levels, and exercising more, there may not be any more birthdays.

I do keep drinking organic, green tea and 1/3rd of our food bill is organic. Organic food is very expensive. I look forward to our local Farmer's Market opening in June, but the growers are not certified organic like the Whole Foods Co-op in Erie. Sadly, even local growers use fertilizers and pesticides.

*ON A DIFFERENT NOTE
I find myself becoming increasingly concerned with our governement's recent health care regulation for women and birth control, especially with the amount of hormones that will flush into our water shed. If I'm not mistaken - hormones, such as those found in birth control pills and hormon therapies, are not dissolved in water. Water tests do not specifically test for hormone levels in water, which is strange because high levels of estrogen cause cancer in human tissue.

3/24/2012

UPDATE

pH: 5.5 (up a point from yesterday)

I ate the same foods, w/ a few minor variations from first menu post, consisting of:

Breakfast (fried eggwhite, clementine, 1/2 whole grain cereal, green tea)
Snack (whole grain cereal, 6 almonds, handful of raisins - saved half of snack for afternoon)
Lunch (rice w/peppers, black turtle beans, spinach, garlic, and chile powder,1/2 C. canned pinapple)
Snack (other half of morning snack)
Dinner (a "Chick Filet" salad with vinegrette dressing,  a slice of multi-grain bread)
PM Snack (2 celery, 1/2 med. cucumber, handful of curly kale, 1 Straub lager)

I dare say, eating more green is helping.
The difficult part is consiously making these choices over other options.
Knowing it is affecting health helps with those kinds of decisions.

Note - other beverages included 6-8 bottles of water, 2 Tim Horton's unsweetened iced teas, and a bottle of Lipton's Diet Green Tea, which has little artificial coloring and flavoring listed in the ingredients. (I was on the road a lot yesterday. Otherwise, I would be drinking homemade, unsweetened green iced tea.  I also like chewing gum, especially after meals. Most sugar-free chewing gums contain BHT, a preservative known carcinogen, so I now buy Spry, or Glee chewing gum, which uses Xylitol as a sweetener, and not aspartame. Spry and Glee do not contain BHT. )

March 22, 2012

WEEKLY STATUS REPORT

pH Level: 4.5 - Extremely Acidic (7.0 is normal)
Time: 8:00 am
Method of Testing: Twice - Saliva and Urine, using pHion's Diagnostic Test Strips
Results: Two, separate test strip and chart comparisons in the 4.5 - 5.0 range.

Emotions: calm and stable

Stress: High
1.) Father in-law is in hospital undergoing kidney dialysis after major surgery.
2.) Reading, correcting, and making suggestions to 150 college papers, but enjoying student progress.
3.) Waiting answer from IUP Ph.D. Graduate & Teaching Assistantship committee and start date.

Energy: High

Physical Exercise: Limited to everyday activities due to time constraints.

Activities of Enjoyment: Judged inner-city, elementary student Poetry Readings at Erie Art House this week, and teaching LENG112 at Gannon University. Weather has been un-seasonably warm and sunny; that is, it's been more like summer and it's only spring. Also singing in church choir and practicing singing to tapes while driving 2-hours to and from Erie to teach. In addition to singing, also listening to local radio stations, MP3 player, and Bellaruth Naperstack's Affirmations, breathing guide, and Guided Imagery. Also spent time with husband, dog, kids, and Gabby's bunny this week; in addition to, keeping in touch with friends.

Sleep: 6-8 hours

Diet: This area needs tweeked since pH is extremely acidic. Two articles, one by Robert Challum's Better Nutrition article titled "Do you Pass the Acid Test?" and Molly Siple and Brian Leatart's Natural Health provide food suggestions for neutralizing the acidic climate within the body. Challum writes fruits and vegetables will neutralize pH, and Siple and Leatart provide a slide-chart of fruits and vegetable with varying degrees of effectiveness of specific vegetables. This will take some practice with food preparation and grocery shopping to select and change diet. For example, Siple and Leatart suggest "eggplant, string beans, sauerkraut, mushrooms, cauliflower, corn, broccoli, peas, onions, sweet potatoes, squash, asparagus, carrots, spinch, and sweet peppers" in the vegetable section. Fruits include "melon, papaya, avocado, dates, figs, and persimmons." Effective grains include "whole grains, buckwheat, hominy, and millet. Legumes - "soybeans and lima beans." Animal products "seafood, eggs, and duck." Dairy is limited to "most cheeses, milk, and butter" and NO yogurt as it converts to sugar in the body, and sugar creates acid in the stomach and kidneys. Natural sweeteners that neutralize best are "maple syrup, brown rice syrup, and honey." Condiments include "dutch processed chocolate, garlic, and hot peppers." Beverages list "mineral water, tea, and beer." (Wine is out, beer is in.)

The Acid-Alkaline Food Guide: A Quick Reference to Foods & Their Effect on pH Levels by Larry Trivieri Jr. and Susan E. Brown PhD (Aug 15, 2006) looks helpful - available at Amazon.com.

Relaxation Ability: Not a problem. Awareness of tension withing the body is becoming more easily identified and removed for better energy flow, with the breathing and relaxation exercises of Dr. Andrew Wiel and Bellaruth Naperstack.

Qi Gong is also proving helpful for relieving tension and creating positive energy flow within the body. Six repetitions of three, basic-beginner exercises www.taichi18.com are practiced 2-3 times daily.

3/18/2012

Breakfast 9 am (same as yesterday, but not as much water)
- 1 Eggwhite gently fried in Earth Balance organic butter substitute (made from sunflower oil)
- 1/2 C. combination of Aldi's bran flakes, Kashi organic shredded wheat, & 1 tsp. of Bob's Red Mill Whole Ground Flaxseed Meal
- 1 clementine
- organic Green Tea
- 12 oz. glass of tap water *added 1 tsp. of lemon juice to first, morning water

Lunch 1 pm
- tossed salad with organic boc choy, iceburg lettuce, tomato, onion, celery, organic sugar snap peas, organic daicon, organic Shitake mushroom, garlic, and extra virgin olive oil & redwine vinegar
- 1/3 C. chopped beef (leftover from Thursday's Beef on Weck) warmed in the microwave in a ramekin
- 1 C. of bargain basement barbecued potatoe chips
- 1 Poppy Seed and Almond muffin, with angel-cream filling (from Bi-Lo)
- 24 oz. iced tap water

Snack 3 pm
- 9 almonds, small handful  of walmuts, 1/2 pear

Dinner 5 pm
- small tossed salad (leftover from lunch)
- Corn Beef, organic cabbage, and carrots
(nibbled on chicken flavored ramon noodles, and a handful of carob)
- 24 oz. iced tap water
- 3 Pamela's Mini organic Ginger Snapz

- 9 Willie Wonka Gobstoppers (It's Sunday, and in addition - it's Lent so sweets are only an option on Sundays. Potato chips are only consumed on Sundays or special occassions, as well.)

- caffiene free Green Tea

1 Glucosamine Chondroitin MSM (with 2,000 IU Vitamin D3) Supplement
600 mg Calcium Supplement

3/17/2012    HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY

Douglas Dupler writes abouit Qi Gong (Chee-Kung), which is similar to Tai Chi and in short, respects the energy and meridians within the body (www.tqhi.org). There is an example of Qi Gong at www.taichi18.com. The video mentions an unheard of herbal supplement, but the excercises look safe. Incorporating the exercises into a daily routine seems challenging, but possible in the morning.

Dr. Andrew Wiel and Bellaruth Naperstack's stress reducing CDs are helpful, but doing the guided imagery before bedtime is not effective; in fact, stimulates and promotes wakefullness, not sleep.

A preliminary, (pre)cancer-fighting food list (from today's menu):

Breakfast 8:30 am
- 1 Eggwhite gently fried in Earth Balance organic butter substitute (made from sunflower oil)
- 1/2 C. combination of Aldi's bran flakes, Kashi organic shredded wheat, & 1 tsp. of Bob's Red Mill Whole Ground Flaxseed Meal
- 1 clementine
- organic Green Tea
- 24 oz. bottled water (awakening until snack) *added 1 tsp. of lemon juice to first, morning water

1 Multi-vitamin, 1000 mg Vitamin C Supplements

Morning Snack 11:00 am
- combination of 12 almonds, 1/4 C. whole walnuts, 1/2 fresh pear
- Choice Black Tea with 1 tsp. honey

1 Glucosamine Chondroitin MSM (with 2,000 IU Vitamin D3) Supplement
600 mg Calcium Supplement

Lunch 1:30 pm (leftovers from yesterday's lunch)
- celery; green, red, and orange fresh peppers; gently chopped, fresh Shitake mushroom; fresh garlic, 1 whole fresh gently chopped tomato; 1 tsp. hot green chile pepper w/ dash of chile powder, sauteed in and Earth Balance butter - then added 2 C. of pre-cooked rice, and a dash of sea salt & pepper.
(re-heated in microwave)
- added a 1/2 can of cold, boneless & skinless sardines in olive oil,
and sprinkled a handful of raisens on top
- decaffienated Green Tea
- 3 organic Pamela's Simplebites Ginger Mini Snapz cookies
- 24 oz. +/- of bottled

another 600 mg Calcium Supplement (to equal 1,200 mg daily)

Afternoon Snack 4:30 pm
- combination of 12 almonds, 1/8 C. whole walnuts, 9 Kashi organic shredded wheat
- 1/2 over-ripe banana
- 12 oz. bottled water
- 24 oz. diet pepsi

Dinner 7 pm
- Little Ceasar's Buffalo Chicken Wing Pizza, no dressing or celery (2 med. slices)
- 1/2 C. cold, fresh organic Sugar Snap Peas (absolutely delicious!) - Whole Foods Co-op (WFC)
- 1/2 C. peeled and sliced organic cucumber
- 12 oz. glass of iced tap water
- hot, Alvita caffeine free Red Clover Tea w/ 1 tsp. local, organic Honey Red Bamboo honey (WFC)
- 3 organic Pamela's Simplebites Ginger Mini Snapz cookies

Bedtime Snack 10 pm
- combination of 1/4 C. whole wheat oat cereal, 2-3 T. organic regular-cut oatmeal, 2-3 T. bran cereal, 9 Kashi organic shredded wheat, 1 T. Bob's whole flaxseed
- 1/2 over-ripe, cold banana (other half consumed earlier in the day, this half refridgerated)
- 12 oz. glass of iced tap water

3/14/2012

Fresh fruits and veggies are the best way to balance PH, and I am still in the process of learning which foods fall into the Alkaline side, and which foods will tip to the Acidic side of the scale. Of the many food lists I've looked at, it seems cucumbers, onions, and garlic raise PH (Alkaline side) and oranges, walnuts, wheat products, pasta, dairy, meat, and eggs lower PH (Acidic). I am still looking for a credible and reliable source for the food list.

In the meantime, I shopped for fruits and veggies at Whole Foods Co-op on 16th Street in Erie today. They sell organic, chemical free produce and products. A lady in front of me said she spent 200 bucks the last time she was in there. You can buy a share of the store for $100 (one time fee) and receive 15% off your total bill, once-a-month. 

3/13/2012
(corrections made to this post on July 24, 2012)
It's been a month since my biopsy.

A friend lended me her stress reduction CDs.
Doctors Andrew Weil and Martin Rossmann, and Bellaruth Naperstack use guided imagery.
I find it lends itself to a new perspective on the mind & body connection and I honestly feel much better after listening.

I spend 15-30 minutes with guided imagery before bedtime.
Naperstack's CD includes affirmations, which can be done in the car.
Guided imagery cannot be done in the car or while operating machinery.

POOL / BODY CONNECTION
I made a connection to my swimming pool today.
PH levels are important and are checked weekly in the summer.
The phamphlet reads that a pool with high pH creates scale (barnicles), and low
pH (too acidic) is corrosive and creates holes. I think it's the same with the body.
So, yes - I checked my pH by peeing on a test strip (Phion Test Strips).
My pH happens to be on the low side. 

I had a hunch pH could be related to ulcers and cancers.
My father-in-law had a serious ulcer and I wondered if his pH was
also too low. Because I was brought up in a home where both parents
were hospital professionals and was surrounded by medical books,
I mentally compared my father-in-law ulcers to the corrosion you would find in a pool
if the pH were too low. (God Bless his soul, he was going through all of this as I
was having all of my tests done.) In comparison, I thought my pH would be high because I
defined my calcifications as growths. In other words, at first I thought of
my unusual cell growth as liken to the scale growth in a pool.  But that is wrong.
High alkalinity leads to scale.  My body is not alkaline but the opposite.
That is, my pH registers as too acidic, which causes corrosion or, holes in pipes.
Nevertheless, I am still led to believe that a correct pH balance of 7 is necessary for good health.

In conclusion, because my pH is well below 7, I now think of a calcification as corrosion
that was created by a high pH, and then the cells that rushed in to fill the void became suspicious matter because the new tissue did not respond correctly to the corrosion and filled in the space all wrong (because of a pH that is too acidic and couldn't deal with it).
You can compare the process to a black hole to some extent, in that even a hole has content.

I could be all wrong in this hunch, but the events have helped me to pay closer attention
to the foods my family and I consume, the removal of un-necesssary stress, and exercise.

3/7/2012

I had an MRI at Hamot's Heart Center in Erie. It took about 20-minutes.
Classy FM was playing into the headphones as the machine clanged, pinged, and caboomed
as I prayed a full rosary. My doctor wanted a baseline, in addition to regular mammograms.

THE BEGINNING - Monday, February 13, 2012
My radiologist told me I needed a breast biopsy to identify a suspicious microcalcification in my left breast. The film revealed a tiny jagged, white spot among smaller white spots. They were not in a cluster, but spread out like planets in a night sky.

BACKGROUND - Emotion/Stess/Diet
The news alarmed me because I am in a Ph.D. program and had my life planned out. But I had been ingesting crazy chemicals, like 20 cups of cheap tea ($1/box at Walmart) with two packets of equal and a couple tablespoons of cheap creamer per cup. In addition to that, I ingested a cup of Cool Whip per night with some frozen fruit. I don't eat a lot of high fat or sugery treats, other than one, cream filled donut on Sundays and 20-30 pieces of Willy Wonka's Gobstoppers on Saturdays. I have two slices of Little Ceasar's pizza on Saturday nights and two glasses of red wine on Friday nights with a small snack or meal.  My emotional status was high stress, but is now waning. I was constantly fighting with my dear husband about stupid things, like closing the drapes to maintain heat and lower bills. I prefer the sunshine - to which he has succumbed to as of late. I had returned to college in 2005 and graduated in 2009 with a teaching degree, then started a Master of Arts in English program and graduated in 2011.  I am currently an adjunct professor and teach two freshman English Critical Analysis and Composition classes. I also work in a low to moderatly-stressed railroad administration office. In 2010 and 2011, I worked for Chautauqua Institution in a very high-stressed job. Over the past 7 years, I would agree my stress levels have been high, but manageable and not uncomfortable except when I slept only 5 hours per night during my student teaching for a year. I taught religious education during this time, which was relaxing and fun for me. I also attend church regulary and volunteer for those in need. I wrote once-a-month for a newspaper supplement, but gave that up when I started my master's program. I have two children in college now, and a loving and caring husband who cooks and does laundry. He is also the primary bread winner in our family, but I wrote out the bills, until lately. I went through menopause without a lot of hoopla. We began practicing Natural Family Planning around the mid 1990's and I have not taken birth control or used devices since the early 80's. A family doctor had prescribed birth control pills to regulate menstruation when I was 16, and I stopped taking them when I was 20 when I found they were making me feel depressed. I had a copper-7 IUD, which was later replaced with a plastic IUD, which failed. The IUDs spanned a period of one year. Realizing my partner had no interest in the same values I did, I threw away the birth control and left. Ten years later I met my current husband, and had two normal childbirths. I didn't take any hormone replacements during menopause, or feel the need to. My hot flashes were only at night, and mood swings were sometimes troublesome, but nothing to run to the doctor about. I didn't have a lot of breast swelling or tenderness. Because I have low blood sugar, I eat 6 small meals a day and aim for foods high in protien. At times I consumed power bars high in fat and calories, until I realized I was gaining weight and so became more consious of nutrition labels on power bars. For the past 30 years, I have chosen whole wheat bread over white, multi-grain cereals, fruits, and vegetables. I use a microwave oven for most cooking. I drank 4-5 glasses of soy milk per week from 2005 until now. When I read more than once that soy could be responsible for raising estrogen in the body, I gave it up. More on that later. I was an aerobics intructor from 2008 to 2010 in the colleges I attended, occassionally ride a bicycle and swim in our pool in the summer months, and now ride an recumbant bicycle for 15-minutes (5 miles) per week with a target heart rate of 135.

I discussed work related stress problems with my doctor when I was in my early twenties.