Springtime is upon us! In many places that means the sap is running and the kettles are boiling.. but I wanted to share a special treat that I think you may enjoy.. Ever enjoyed fresh sap? It’s refreshing, slightly sweet and full of goodness- a great way to initiate your body’s “spring clean-up” – haha.. as long as it is harvested correctly- not commercially through lines and pumps etc. That sap needs to be boiled to ensure it’s safe.

Cocoa Chaga made with sap was a favorite in our house this week, and I recommend you try it! Just fill your kettle with sap, and add some chaga chunks and cocoa- preferably roasted for best flavor- and simmer until you’ve reduced the volume by about 50% – DELICIOUS!! Let us know if you enjoyed it! Most people never hear that the sap straight from the tree can be used as a medicinal tonic..  Did you know there are other trees, besides the Maple, suitable for tapping for their sap too?Scientifically, tree sap is defined as the fluid transported in the xylem cells of a tree. The purpose of xylem cells is to transport water and soluble minerals via the sap from the roots up through the tree trunk to the branches and leaves, as well as to support the structure of the tree itself. Sap has a similar function in the tree as does blood in humans. It contains nutrients that are vital for the health and longevity of the tree, including vitamins, minerals and sugars, and in some cases hormones and enzymes. These nutrients are also vital for building the human body’s defense systems, so an individual is better prepared to maneuver through spring detoxification, in addition to having many other internal and external applications. Historically, sap was used for its anti-bacterial actions and to treat rheumatism, arthritis and other inflammatory conditions. Maple, birch and ash sap’s laxative properties are considered mild enough for children and pregnant women. The sap from these trees can also be used for their diuretic properties. But keep the sap in the refrigerator for no more than 5 days, or freeze for future use. Drinking the sap is like drinking diluted sugar water. It is suggested to drink a small amount at 3 separate times of the day. It can even be used to make coffee or tea, or in any recipe that could benefit from a slightly sweet water. One tap on a tree can easily provide enough sap for 8 people.

Enjoy!  –The worriers say keep your nose to the wheel; but perhaps we should keep our eye on the prize.   MT

And we’re not talking about sculpting Yes, this is a strange subject to most.. but hang in there for a minute- you may find that clay will provide a barrier to the increasingly toxic world around us..  Clay-eating, the practice known as geophagy or geophagia, has long been a puzzle to Western medical practitioners. Until recently, eating chalk, soil and other earth-related materials was seen as an abnormal behavior, one which deprived the diet of valuable nutrients. In the southern United States, eating clay carried a stigma; those who ate clay were labeled “dirt eaters” or “clay eaters” and diagnosed with psychological disorders. Pica, the abnormal ingestion of non-food substances, remains an official diagnosis for those who eat clay, dirt, or soil, according to the DSM IV and the American Dietetic Association. Outside of the medical field, however, anthropologists and biologists are quietly revealing a more accurate explanation for the consumption of earthen clay. Historically, clay eating has been associated with treatments for cholera and bacterial infection. In a practice dating back to Greek and Roman times and later absorbed by Christianity, holy clay tablets were widely distributed and traded throughout the Mediterranean region and Western Europe for use in religious customs and rituals, and as cures for poison and the plague. These clay tablets were listed in pharmacopeia as late as 1848. (They had to profit some how.. different subject) In fact, eating clay is a global practice that has existed among humans since their evolution from primates, and one that continues today among traditional ethnic groups as well as numerous animal species. The practice of eating clay has been studied in present and traditional cultures from areas across continents, including present-day Arizona and California, Central and South America, Sweden and Sardinia, sub-Saharan Africa, Indonesia, and Australia.

One of the most common human populations to engage in the deliberate consuming of earth-based substances is that of pregnant women. In sub-Saharan Africa, the rates of pregnant women eating soil or clay range from 28% in Tanzania to 65% in Kenya. Clay is prepared and sold in markets, or taken from termite mounds known to be rich in minerals, and eaten at an average of 30g daily.

As scientists have sought an explanation for the historical persistence of geophagy, the body’s unique needs during pregnancy have provided the greatest clues to clay eating’s adaptive function.

Pregnancy is a period of both increased nutritional needs and increased vulnerability. In the first trimester the fetus is particularly vulnerable to toxic insult. The pregnant mother is also vulnerable due to a compromised immune system, suppressed during pregnancies in order to adapt to the presence of the fetus.

Nutrition during pregnancy is increasingly demanding, especially with regard to minerals such as iron and calcium, to support both the growing fetus and elevated blood production. Further, this period of nutritional need often occurs coincident with digestive difficulties such as nausea (morning sickness) and vomiting.

Another common feature of pregnancy is pronounced cravings. Connecting the dots, many scientists postulate that pregnant women craving earth-like substances actually represents a biological need associated with the demands of the body during this time. Taking clues from this intersection of bodily demands, three theories have been developed and studied to explain the therapeutic role of eating clay, both among pregnant women and on a broader cultural level:

• Clay’s nutritional mineral content
• Medicinal use of clay to provide relief for symptoms of nausea and vomiting
• Protection from toxins due to the actions of clay in the digestive tract.

The presence of both current and pre-historic favored clay sites in Africa and other parts of the world has given scientists the opportunity to study the chemistry and mineralogy of these edible clays as they collect evidence to support these theories.

Many of the minerals needed by the body are, essentially, dirt or rock. Though we most often consume them taken up in plant or animal form, nearly all mammalian species engage in some form of direct earth eating to prevent nutritional deficiency. An obvious example is the dietary use of salt among humans, and the frequenting of salt licks by mammals such as deer, cattle and sheep to obtain minerals such as sodium, calcium, iron, phosphorous and zinc.

Given this fact, the relationship between mineral deficiency and clay and soil eating was among the first to be examined. Scientists have hypothesized earth-eating as an adaptive behavior based on nutritional requirements, one that occurred and persisted on an evolutionary basis due to its survival benefits.

In order to test this hypothesis, Dr. John Hunter, a geologist at Michigan State University, compared the typical daily consumption of clays in Africa to the suggested dosage of several mineral supplements sold in the U.S. Testing both the mineral content and bioavailability of various clays sold for consumption in the markets of Ghana, Dr. Hunter determined that the clays compared favorably in magnesium, potassium, copper and zinc. The bioavailability of calcium in eaten clays reached 4% of U.S. Recommended Daily Allowance, with iron supplementation reaching as high as 66% of RDA.

These conclusions are especially significant as calcium intake is typically low among African populations that eat clay, and iron deficiency affects as much as 80% of the populace, made more severe by parasitic infection. According to Dr. Hunter, “These levels of mineral-nutrient supplementation point clearly to the practical value of clay eating. Normal dietary intake usually meets daily needs, and clay eating plays a supplementary role.”

A similar study simulated human digestion in the laboratory in order to determine the availability of nutrients in holy clay tablets regularly consumed in by pregnant mothers in Central American Belize. The study, published in The Geographical Review, found that pregnant women eating clay from these tablets could supply nearly 20% of the U.S. RDA for iron and calcium, and significant amounts of magnesium, copper and zinc.

The nutrition hypothesis continues to be studied. While some scientists believe iron-deficient anemia may cause a craving to eat earth, some believe it may actually be caused by eating excessive clay. Others note that, given the diversity of the cultures that historically have used dietary clays and the diverse nature of the clays themselves, it is likely that not all clays are ideal for the same set of uses or conditions, and equally likely that the ingestion of clay does not necessarily serve a single purpose.

In terms of the use of clay as a mineral supplement among pregnant women, for example, it may well be that this benefit is secondary to other benefits, such as detoxification.

Dr. Hunter also theorizes that in examples where pica may contribute to nutritional deficiencies, the problem may actually be the migration of geophagy to geographical areas lacking in clay sources. A clear example is the consumption of laundry starch. Though the craving and the cultural significance of eating clay was most likely transported to the U.S. from Africa, starch is a poor substitute for clay. Dr. Hunter states, “Lack of local clay in the concrete jungles of the North, pressures of poverty, and stress on kinship ties with the South lead to the consumption of laundry starch replacing traditional geophagy. But micronutrient minerals are totally lacking in the starch.”

Though the study of clay consumption has revealed the potential for digestive and nutritional benefits, scientists believe the most conclusive evidence points to detoxification as a primary benefit of clay eating throughout human history. Its use appears to be one borrowed from and shared by numerous animal species, attesting to
its practice not as an anomaly or aberrant behavior but instead a true adaptive practice contributing to survival and evolution.

One example from the animal kingdom is the use of clays by animal species that regularly scavenge for a wide variety of foods, often of varying toxicity. Researchers discovered that the ingestion of clays by such species, among them birds, parrots, rats and primates, enables a diverse diet without suffering the toxic effects of substances consumed. The chemical structure of earthen clays determines their suitability as a detoxicant.

The study of clay eating by anthropologists, geologists, nutritionists and ecologists has in the end come full circle to teach us what we least expected to discover. Historians have long placed the origins of medicine among the Greeks, with Pasteur’s breakthroughs and the development of germ theory playing an equally important role in shaping medicine as we know it today. It seems that this vantage point is exactly what caused our cultural inability to understand the true message behind the clay eater’s practice.

Puzzling over “why people eat dirt,” we labeled earth and clay as non-food substances, but we failed to see the link between clay and our own culturally sanctioned and regularly consumed non-food – conventional pharmaceuticals. We failed to understand that the internal use of clay functions as perhaps the very first medicine practiced by humans, because it seemed outside the realm of possibility that medicine could have been intelligently practiced in pre-historic times.

But good science is particularly adept at shifting paradigms when it encounters them. Timothy Johns of the McGill University School of Dietetics and Human Nutrition has published several papers examining the evolution of early medicine. He defines medicine as the learned behavior of ingesting substances to alleviate distress or maintain health. He and other researchers have placed the earliest examples of these behaviors clearly among higher primates, such as apes and chimpanzees, who consume minerals and forage for plants to perform non-nutritive therapeutic functions.

These behaviors are learned and passed to offspring, and, scientists theorize, were ultimately passed on to early man. One such example was observed and successfully analyzed by Sabrina Krief and researchers at the National Museum of Natural History in Paris. Chimpanzees were found to deliberately ingest a clay as well as leaves from a certain local tree. When analyzed under simulated digestion in the laboratory, it was found that the action of the clay developed clear anti-malarial properties in the leaves that were not present without the clay.

These and other examples are beginning to alter scientists understanding, not only of clay eating, but of the roots of medicine itself.

“Geophagy, the ingestion of nonfood, falls into the realm of medicine,” says Johns. “As a medicine to alleviate discomfort, clay is not different from any drug that humans in industrial and preindustrial societies take in attempting to modify their physiological state.”

Eating clay, far from an eating disorder, may instead be history’s earliest example of using the earth’s resources to solve medical problems. With recent evidence revealing clay’s common use in lowering food toxicity and promoting digestive health, this ancient practice may continue to have much to teach us about medicine and healing.

–Life is a gift to be appreciated; and each day the sun rises to grant you that possibility.. the rest is up to you.  MT

References

Dominy N.J., Davoust E., Minekus M. 2004. Adaptive function of soil consumption: an in vitro study modeling the human stomach and small intestine. Journal of Experimental Biology 207:319–324.

Geissler, P.W. 2000. The significance of earth-eating: social and cultural aspects of geophagy among Luo children. Africa 70:4, 653-82.

Highfield, Roger. 2008. The medicinal monkey; Roots of modern healing found in our hairy relatives. Daily Telegraph, 3 April, AL9.

Hunter, John M. 1973. Geophagy in Africa and in the United States: A Culture-Nutrition Hypothesis. Geographical Review 63: 170-195.

Hunter, J. M. and R. de Kleine. 1984. Geophagy in Central America. Geographical Review 74(2): 157-169.

Johns T. 1999. The Chemical Ecology of Human Ingestive Behaviors. Annual Review of Anthropology 28: 27-50.

Krief S., Huffman M.A., Sévenet T., Hladik C.-M., Grellier P., Loiseau P.M., Wrangham R.W. 2006. Bioactive properties of plant species ingested by chimpanzees in the Kibale National Park, Uganda. American Journal of Primatology 68(1):51-71.

Vermeer, Donald E., and Ray E. Ferrell Jr. 1985. Nigerian Geophagical Clay: A Traditional Antidiarrheal Pharmaceutical. Science 227:634–636.

Wiley, A.S.; Solomon, H.K. 1998. Geophagy in Pregnancy: A Test of a Hypothesis. Current Anthropology 39 (4): 532–545.

Wilson, M.J. 2003. Clay mineralogical and related characteristics of geophagic materials. Journal of Chemical Ecology 29, 1525–1547.

What if you found out that as little as 15 minutes per day spent barefoot on dewy grass, or wet sand could send enough free electrons coursing through your system to defeat ALL your free radicals? Do some research and you will be shocked! Don’t take OmegaOutlaw ‘s word for it.. the science is solid. Did you ever notice you feel better when you walk barefoot on the Earth?

Recent research has explained why this happens. Your immune system  functions optimally when your body has an adequate supply of electrons,  which are easily and naturally obtained by barefoot contact with the  Earth. Research indicates that electrons from the Earth have antioxidant  effects that can protect your body from inflammation and its many  well-documented health consequences.

The most important health consequence of Earthing is providing  your  body abundant electrons from the Earth. The scientific research and  hypotheses related to Earthing point to a major impact on the  inflammatory process as a result of this electron transfer.

Your body has evolved a means to kill bacteria using reactive oxygen  species (ROS) that are delivered to a site of injury by white blood  cells. Although very effective at this task, ROS are also very reactive  biochemically and can damage healthy tissues. ROS are usually positively  charged molecules that need to be neutralized immediately to prevent  them from diffusing into healthy tissues.

That is one of the major reasons why your body needs an abundant  supply of negative charges. Food based antioxidants like astaxanthin are  helpful but a regular supply of electrons from the earth can supply  them as well.

Nature has solved this problem by providing conductive systems within  your body that deliver electrons from your feet to all parts of your  body. This has been the natural arrangement throughout most of human  history. Negative charges have always been available, thanks to the  Earth, to prevent the inflammatory process from damaging healthy  tissues.

It is known that the Earth maintains a negative electrical potential  on its surface. When you are in direct contact with the ground (walking,  sitting, or laying down on the earth’s surface) the earth’s electrons  are conducted to your body, bringing it to the same electrical potential  as the earth. Living in direct contact with the earth grounds your  body, inducing favorable physiological and electrophysiological changes  that promote optimum health.

There is an emerging science documenting how conductive contact with  the Earth, which has is also known as Earthing or grounding, is highly  beneficial to your health and completely safe.  Earthing appears to  minimize the consequences of exposure to potentially disruptive fields  like “electromagnetic pollution” or “dirty electricity.”

Some of the recent evidence supporting this approach involves  multiple studies documenting Earthing’s improvement in blood viscosity,  heart rate variability, inflammation, cortisol dynamics, sleep,  autonomic nervous system (ANS) balance, and reduced effects of stress. (Dr. Mercola)

–Who we are is summed up largely by who we love.  MT

You’re Not Alone! Candida problems are at an all time high.. and it’s easy to get very frustrated when you realize that the majority of modern foods actually feed candida.. Many find themselves asking; what CAN we eat, or – what feeds our healthy flora?!  You may be surprised at  the answer – Fermented foods!

Every culture in our history has passed on the tradition of seasonal food fermentation, and in some regions fermenting food was a year round activity.. until modern profit-based food production began of course..  Foods that have been fermented naturally contain incredibly high enzyme counts, nutrients are much more bio-available.. and what about sugar?  The natural sugar content of the veggies or diary is consumed as food by the good bacteria’s that feed our gut ecology, therefore the sugar that feeds candida is gone and good bacteria that provides true health is present.  It is genius!!!

A strong note on dairy if you choose to use it at all: Know your source, and use grass fed, raw and preferably cultured dairy products.

Factors that can trigger overactive candida:

-       Poor quality water

-       Intake of wheat, dairy, sugar, alcohol, trans fats and refined foods

-       High stress

-       Intake of antibiotics or other medication

-       Impaired immune system

-       Impaired liver function

-       Use of birth control pill

-       Environmental toxins

-       Cleaning products

-       Vaccines

-       Adrenal Fatigue

There is too much going on

Not only are we multitasking more so than ever before in history, but we also are exposed to so many “stressors” every day.  Even if you have mastered to art of not taking things personally and realizing mentally stressing about things just adds more strain and doesn’t help with manifestation, the fact is we are experiencing a lot of stressful impact on our bodies:

• Artificial lights
• Constant sound pollution
• TV’s and computer screens
• Lack of calm, deep, breathing combined with low oxygen in our atmosphere
• Lack of barefoot electrical grounding
• Lack of descent water
• Chairs and car seats
• And the list goes on….

The reality is we have many components in our daily lives that create a constant stress on our physical and mental body’s.  This puts a strain on our immune system and allows candida to activate more easily. And clearly we are all aware from a young age that our body is MOSTLY water.. yet many people just drink any water that’s offered to them.. bad move! Be sure of what you are drinking, it’s source, and certainly avoid treated tap water and bottled water like the plague. Do some research on water additives and what filters you can use in your situation. Take action now- You don’t want to shower or cook with bad water either!

Solutions

Research the best probiotics and water filters. Find a nice recipe for some great fermented foods, erhaps starting simple with a sauerkraut or kimchi, kombucha or kefir and start your own yummy pro-biotic factory.  Get a grounding mat to use while you are on the computer, and get creative about grounding your feet daily. (Grounding footwear, barefoot if weather permits)  Go for a quiet walk as often as possible, take your shoes off and breath deeply.  You are now set for a regenerative life free of candida and other degenerative lifestyle strains.  Grow heirloom herbs and “smart” veggies that have the highest nutrient content and the lowest sugar content. There’s more information available than ever on our health and how to treat our bodies. Many people put more time into researching and maintaining a car than their life! Not us! 

– When we listen as enthusiastically as we speak our lives turn in a wonderful new direction.  MT

First:

These observations are not meant to completely shoot down age old grains and their preparation, such as soaking, sprouting and fermentation  to make the grains easier to digest. These preparation methods remove or  deactivate some of the anti-nutrients commonly found in grains, and fermentation  is especially effective when trying to make grains more digestible. Besides that, an awareness of the source (such as GMO & chemical contaminations in the mix) is a big factor in the decision making process.  Traditional  guidelines and advice from medical doctors can often lead people to believe that cereal grains are the foundation of a healthy diet. The food  pyramid, now renamed the food plate, dictates that people should eat several  servings of whole grains each day to provide an adequate supply of vitamins,  minerals and fiber. This advice is given despite the fact that humans are poorly  adapted to the consumption of cereal grains and that the scientific literature  shows that grain consumption is linked to several health problems.

1) High-carbohydrate density and increased insulin load

Carbohydrates in general are more readily converted into a simple form of sugar, glucose, not long after they are  consumed. Insulin is secreted and allows glucose to be transported into various  cells throughout the body. Individuals who aren’t very physically active don’t have the need to continually refill their muscle and liver cells with glycogen,  and these cells often start to become insulin-resistant on a grain-based diet.

2) Antinutrients

Grains are the reproductive material of the plant, and  plants don’t make the reproductive material to give away for free to animals.  Cereal grains contain Lectin, Phytic Acid, Protease Inhibitors and other  anti-nutrients that potentially disrupt normal gut physiology when they are consumed over time. Regular consumption of anti-nutrients in grains may lead to poor mineral absorption, and auto immune disease. More studies  on human subjects are needed to fully understand the detrimental effects of  Lectins and other anti-nutrients on human health. (Sprouting & fermenting elimimates most of these issues however.)

3) Gluten

Studies and anecdotal reports indicate that gluten intolerance  is much more common than previously thought, and many asymptomatic individuals  react to gluten with some type of inflammatory response. Ask around, and you may find that the number of gluten sensitive people you know is shocking.. and many just don’t know why they “ache” yet- share this possibility!

4) Insoluble fiber

While most fruits and vegetables contain heart-healthy,  soluble fiber that promote good gut flora; cereal grains are high in insoluble  fiber that shouldn’t be eaten in excess. (one more reason for fermenting grains)  More insoluble fiber is often recommended for healthy digestion, despite the fact that healthy gut bacteria (ie: acidophilus) is the key to relieving constipation and achieve healthy bowel movements long term.

5) Dietary imbalances

Cereal grains have several dietary shortcomings,  and a grain-based diet can disrupt adequate nutritional balance. Cereal grains  are poor sources of fiber, minerals, vitamins and protein compared to animal  products, fruits and vegetables. They contain no vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin  B12, calcium nor sodium, and several animal studies show that grain consumption  can induce vitamin D deficiencies and alter the metabolism of several  minerals. Grains on the whole only supply a few essential amino acids, very few essential fatty acids and are also characterized  by a high omega-6 to omega-3 ratio.

OmegaOutlaw recommends research, and moderate, balanced lifestyles. Consider all the facts and then act!

Short Duration Interval Work For A New Body! 10 Minutes 3 Times A Week  Is Plenty!

Don’t waste time “trying” everyone’s favorite new idea. Get to the facts. You have better things to do with your time. OmegaOutlaw wants you to get as fit and healthy as possible so you can live your life! Weight loss and physical conditioning shouldn’t take a lot of time..

Boiled down to basics, consider the following, and feel free to do your own research:

Fact 1: Low-intensity, long duration aerobic training is catabolic in nature. This means that it produces lots of free radicals without promoting significant amounts of repair peptides, enzymes and hormones. The net effect is a wearing down of bodily resources. Low intensity duration activities are  also more likely to negatively affect lung volume unless supplemented with high intensity interval training, which challenges the lungs to rebuild.

Fact 2: High-intensity training also produces free radicals but it triggers an abundance of repair peptides, enzymes and hormones to be released. The net effect of this is healthy tissue repair and favorable effects on body composition and anti-aging qualities.

What does this look like to you? OmegaOutlaw doesn’t want to step on toes, but we really suggest that long distance / long duration running or workouts are NOT good long term habits. To have high-quality of life in the 21st century, we must understand and work in harmony with our bodies’ “non-modernized” performance. Which leads to fact 3: Intermittent fasting and high-intensity, short duration exercise are genetic requirements that help our bodies thrive, adapt and evolve with better survival characteristics. This includes a strong fit muscular system, a titanium immune system and an efficient digestive tract. Get fit, lose fat, feel good and ENJOY IT!

Research, decide, and act!

Wake up and smell the mushrooms!! That’s not a jab, just a gentle OmegaOutlaw nudge.. haha. As you know, we’re here to help, not to profit.. In the world of natural health, “medicinal” mushrooms are known as some of the most potent immune boosters and disease fighters. Perhaps the most potent of all is the Agaricus Blazei Murrill mushroom, known in its native Brazil as “The Mushroom of God”; however many others have also proven to be very effective and popular.
This is a guide to benefits, not a field guide by the way.. don’t go picking later- lol Perhaps not all have to be included in your diet, but here’s a look at some of the very best:

Cordyceps Oglossoides Mushroom
Cordyceps,  (pictured above) like many mushrooms contains complex sugars (especially beta 1,3 glucan) and other nutrients (nucleosides, triterpenoids) which seem to strongly nourish and activate various components of the immune system, useful in fighting cancer, chronic fatigue and many immune disorders. It also seems to have value in treating nephritis, may help the immune system recognize tumors that otherwise might escape immune surveillance, and has amazing effects on the cardiovascular and nervous systems, and an anti-aging effect.
Agaricus Blazei Murrill Mushroom

A few decades ago, researchers noticed that in the mountain region of Ideate near Sao Paulo, Brazil, a regular part of the local inhabitants` diet was a mushroom known as “Cogmelo de Deus” or “Mushroom of God”. The researchers also noted that the local inhabitants were extraordinarily healthy and had a very low incidence of disease, which they attributed to this magical mushroom.
The “ABM” mushroom contains Beta-(1-3)-D-glucan, Beta-(1-4)-a-D-glucan & Beta-(1-6)-D-glucan. Known collectively as Beta-glucans, these long-chain polysaccharides are the most potent immuno-potentiating (immune enhancing) substances yet found. They also have very powerful anti-tumor properties. When human subjects are given AMB in their diet, a 3000% increase of NK cells, a type of anti-tumor white blood cell known as Natural Killer cells, is seen in the blood within 2-4 days.

In addition to beta glucans, agaricus also contains derivatives of ergosterol, a potent anti-tumor agent; double stranded RNA, an anti-viral agent; proteoglycans and protein bound polysaccharides of low molecular weight, which are immune enhancers; and, protein bound polysaccharides of high molecular weight, vitamins B1 and B2, proteins in the form of amino acids, niacin, iron, and calcium. There are many verified reports from around the world of this mushroom being used successfully in late stage cancers that had been determined hopeless and some clinics in Europe base their entire treatment protocols on agaricus blazei murrill mushroom extracts and other complimentary botanicals. In fact, in many published studies, the rate of positive  impact on all cancers has been in the high ninety percentile range, even for stage 4 lung cancer, where many complete remissions are often seen in just a few weeks.

Coriolus Versicolor – the Asian “Turkey Tail” mushroom

Coriolus Versicolor mushrooms contains polysaccharides [PSK] and polysaccharopeptides [PSP])and are effective for acute leukemia and stomach, esophagus, colorectal, lung cancer; PS is effective with many types of cancer (at least early and mid-stage cancer), including lung cancer and particularly stomach & colon cancer. The NCI reportedly stated that PSK has been “contemplated for use against… mammary cancer, gastrointestinal cancers, such as those of the esophagus, stomach… colon; lung… brain tumors” and that PSP “has … anti-tumor activities, inhibiting Ehrlich ascites tumors, leukemia, and sarcoma… gastric tumor, lymph, and monocytic leukemia”; good to take during chemo & radiation – including acute leukemia patients.

Shiitake Mushrooms

Shiitake mushrooms lower cholesterol and improve immune system function, good for preventing high blood pressure and heart disease, for controlling cholesterol level, building resistance against viruses, and fighting diseases such as AIDS/HIV and cancers. Shiitake mushrooms are often available fresh and are very flavorful when used in cooking. If you cannot find them fresh, they are available as a supplement also.

Maitake Mushrooms

Are high in nutrients including Vitamins B-2, C, D, niacin, magnesium, potassium, fiber, and amino acids, contains the polysaccharide compound beta-1.6-glucan which naturally stimulates the immune system and lowers blood pressure. Beneficial for obesity and diabetic patients, the Maitake mushroom may be best known for its cancer fighting ability. Tests in mice prove that it blocks tumor formation and boosts the immune system. Available fresh or as supplement.

Reishi Mushrooms

The Reishi mushroom can increase the production of interleukin 1 and 2, resulting in inhibition of tumor growth. Studies show that Reishi can have a number of other positive effects on the body such as analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-viral (through its interferon production), lowers blood pressure. It also acts as a cardiotonic by lowering serum and increasing the production of interleukin 1 and 2, which results in inhibition of tumor cholesterol, expectorant, anti-tissue, liver protecting and detoxifying, protection against ionizing radiation, antibacterial, and anti-HIV activity. Available fresh or as supplement.

Phellinus Linteus Mushroom

Made up primarily of polysacharrides, the Phellinus Linteus mushroom suppresses cancer growth, angiogenesis and invasive behavior of breast and other cancer cells through the inhibition of AKT signalling. It also stimulates the immune system and induces apoptosis (cell death) in cancer cells.

Empower yourself and your health with ongoing natural health education!!

Sources included:

“Cancer`s Natural Enemy” by Tony Isaacs, NaturalNews

Got Wild Rice?

While the flavorful grain of wild rice is familiar to most of us, the elegant plant from which it comes deserves to be better known. Wild rice is the common name of two closely related species (Zizania aquatica and Z. palustris). But despite their common name, they are not closely related to domesticated rice (Oryza sativa) at all. Surprised? Probably not right.. what modern food bears any resemblance to our native “foodshed” anymore. This awareness is a big part of the Omega Outlaw mission.

Wild rice plants are some of North America’s tallest native grasses, at times growing up to 10 feet above the surface of slow-moving waters. Their delicately arching flowers are arranged in two sexes at the top of each arching stem – males on the bottom, females on the top. In late summer and early fall the fertilized females swell to become the much sought after grain (called a coryopsis) which is designed to pierce the soft underwater mud like a harpoon.

Wild rice is usually associated with the Great Lakes region of North America, and certainly it is there that wild rice achieves its greatest productivity, covering acres and acres of wild waterways. There, it is famous as a staple food source for many Native American nations. But the range of this plant and its history as a food crop extends far beyond the Great Lakes, from the Great Plains to the eastern seaboard and from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico.

Try this versatile recipe served hot or cold, alone or as a “sweet side”

WILD RICE WITH REAL MAPLE SYRUP

• 1 cup wild rice, rinsed and drained
• 4 cups water
• 1/2-teaspoon salt
• 1 cup real maple syrup

Place the wild rice, water, and salt in a 3-quart saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, partially covered, 45 to 60 minutes or until the rice is soft. Fluff lightly and cook uncovered until all the liquid is absorbed (several minutes). Refrigerate 2 hours or longer. Pour the maple syrup over rice. Mix and chill 1 hour. Serve as is, or top with whipped cream and raisins. Makes 6 servings.

We’ll Miss You Zig! Thanks for all your inspiration. You brought smiles to the faces of tens of millions and taught us how to overcome our obstacles.

This isn’t a typical Omega Outlaw topic, but Zig wasn’t a typical guy..  Zig Ziglar died Wednesday at age 86, a deep-throated motivational speaker whose clever way with words inspired millions to stop looking for shortcuts to success — and instead earn it the old-fashioned way by rolling up their sleeves and getting to work.

“Zig Ziglar” was a trending term on Twitter, Yahoo and Google today, social media outlets that were unfathomable when a young Ziglar returned from world war II and landed a job in sales.

It was on the job that Ziglar developed a curiosity about human nature — What made a man tick? Why did some succeed where others failed? — that ultimately led to a thriving career in motivational speaking.

Ziglar’s speaking career came later in life, something that no doubt added to his appeal to many Americans who felt that after a certain age there was nothing to do but give up.Ziglar’s first book, “See You at the Top,” was published in 1975 when he was 49.

He would go on to rub elbows with U.S. presidents and former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, according to the Associated Press.

Ziglar’s personal assistant told the Associated Press that Ziglar was suffering from pneumonia when he passed away at a hospital in the Dallas suburb of Plano.

A devout Christian, Ziglar credited his faith and his red-headed wife, Jean, with much of his success. The couple had celebrated their 66th “honeymoon” on Monday. (Watch the video below to find out why Ziglar and his chose to celebrate “honeymoons” instead of anniversaries, and his sweet little joke about his wife’s hair color.)

To today’s audiences, Ziglar’s words might seem kitschy and a little bit corny, or involved wordplay. Among them: ”Failure is a detour, not a dead-end street” and ”You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.” Excerpts credit:LA Times