Annie is MFC’s expert on ways to save money with natural and safe homemade products, and has taught us that making our own laundry soap is very easy.  We no longer have to worry about toxic ingredients or the high cost of natural store bought detergent. 

Try your hand at making your own, it’s simple and fun.

3 pint water
½ bar of grated Kirks Castile Soap
1 cup Arm and Hammer Washing Soda (NOT baking soda)
1 cup Borax
2-3 Gallon Bucket to mix in

-Mix Kirks castile soap in a saucepan with 3 pints of hot water and heat on low until dissolved
-Stir in Washing Soda and Borax. Stir until thickened, and remove from heat.
-Add 1 quart of Hot water to the 2 gallon bucket.
-Add soap mixture and mix well.
-Fill bucket completely with additional hot water and mix well.
-Set aside for 24 hours or until mixture thickens. You may add additional hot water if the mixture becomes too thick.

Mix well before each use. Use ½ cup per load. You may add ¼ cup of Borax to heavily soiled loads. For a fabric softener use distilled white vinegar.

Did You Know…..
1 cup Borax and 1 cup Washing Soda makes  great inexpensive automatic dishwasher soap. Use distilled white Vinegar in your rinse compartment.

Summer is just around the corner and gardens are in full bloom!  I wanted to share with you an article I found that lists different flowers that can be eaten.  Edible flowers make a beautiful addition to any dish but especially salads and desserts.  As an added bonus, edible flowers are not just visually pleasing - they also supply the nutritional benefit of phytonutrients similar to those found in colorful fruits and vegetables.
Here is the chart – enjoy!
http://homecooking.about.com/library/weekly/blflowers.htm

I’ll start this blog by freely admitting that I tend to go overboard on things I like, especially if they’re related to health, but I have to tell you how excited I am about our new product – Essential Electrolytes!  It’s a lemon-lime flavored powder that supplies several electrolytes, including magnesium.  For a complete list of ingredients you can click here .

I’ve been testing this product for a few months prior to us bringing it into our product line, and I wanted to share with you some of my experiences:
• One night I was having terrible foot cramping for no apparent reason, so I took a dose of Essential Electrolytes (I’ll abbreviate as EE from here on as a special treat to acronym lovers out there) dissolved in a big glass of water.  Within 30 minutes, the cramps that had been happening on and off for over an hour went away!
• Last month I had a dull headache that lasted for several days which I realized on day 3 was most likely due to not drinking enough water.  I increased my water intake and also took 3 or 4 doses of EE over the day and by the afternoon the headache was gone.
• A chiropractor I work with gives a dose of EE to her patients before adjusting them and has found that it helps them hold the adjustment and not suffer any “detox” reaction from being adjusted.  I have started taking it before I go to have any kind of body work (massage, acupuncture, or chiropractic) done, so I get the most for my money!
• A horse trainer I know who is an outdoorsy type (as most horse trainers are) was feeling very fatigued, and he remembered a conversation we’d had about electrolytes in the past so he went to Marilyn Farms and bought a bottle of EE.  He said that after incorporating it into his routine he feels “back to his old self” and has joined me on the bandwagon of promoting electrolytes.
• When I started writing this blog I had a slight headache at the base of my neck (you know, the kind you get after sitting at a desk staring at a computer all day long) so I took a scoop of EE in a small cup of water and now I feel so good I think I’ll stare at my computer all night, just for fun!  Okay, I’m kidding about that but I do actually feel better and it’s only been 5 minutes since I took it.

So are you convinced?  If not, that’s okay.  But if so and if you have a story to share about electrolytes I’d love to hear it!  Please post it in the comments section.  I’m getting better about responding to those – really.

It’s barbecue season and I’m getting a lot of questions from people about which seafood is the safest to eat, so I thought I’d post some info in this week’s blog.  The contaminant that is of most concern in fish is mercury, so this list focuses on that.  The data below is compiled from www.nrdc.org. 

High Mercury Levels – Limit consumption to once/month

Bluefish, Grouper, Mackerel, Marlin, Orange roughy, Seabass, Shark, Swordfish, Tilefish, Tuna (Ahi, Yellowfin, Bigeye, Albacore)

Medium Mercury Levels – Limit consumption to once/week

Bass, Carp, Cod, Croaker, Halibut, Lobster, Mahi mahi, Monkfish, Perch, Sablefish, Skate, Snapper, Tuna (Canned Chunk Light, Skipjack), Sea Trout

Low Mercury Levels – Eat as often as desired

Anchovies, Calamari, Catfish, Clam, Cod, Crab, Crawfish/Crayfish, Flounder, Haddock, Hake, Herring, Mackerel, Mullet, Oyster, Perch, Plaice, Pollock, Salmon, Sardine, Scallop, Sole, Tilapia, Trout, Whitefish, Whiting

For those of you who don’t want to carry a list of seafood in your pocket when you go grocery shopping, I wanted to include some general rules when buying fish to help you make the right choices.

1.       Wild caught fish is almost always better than farm raised fish.  The only exception to this rule is wild caught fish from polluted waters. 

2.       Fish from cold water, such as Alaska, will have less mercury than fish from warm water, such as Asia.  Due to ocean currents there tends to be less pollution in colder water.

3.       Larger predatory fish will have accumulated more mercury than smaller fish.  This is due to the simple fact that they are eating more fish over a longer period of time, and storing that mercury in their bodies.

It has been proven over and over again that the benefits of eating fish outweigh the risks, so don’t be afraid to make seafood a regular part of your diet!

The weather has been kind of stormy here lately which always makes it harder for me to sleep.  Over the past few years I have found that I sleep much better and feel happier overall if I take a dose of magnesium before I go to bed.  I usually alternate between 2 or 3 tablets of Marilyn Farms Mag Calm and 1 scoop of Marilyn Farms Essential Calm in a small glass of water.  Either choice provides about 300 mg of magnesium in a very absorbable form (chelate, glycinate, and citrate are the best – avoid magnesium carbonate and oxide if possible).  This dosage puts me right to sleep and I wake up feeling pretty good (though I would feel better if my early bird husband would sleep a little later so I could enjoy my rest without feeling guilty).

The best way to figure out what dosage of magnesium works for you is to start with a small dose (about 100 mg) and gradually work your way up over the course of a few days.  You’ll know you’ve had enough magnesium when you start to have loose stool.  When that happens, just reduce your dosage back to whatever you were taking the day before you had loose stool (for example, if 400 mg gives you diarrhea, go back to 300 mg) and take that for maintenance.  Needs for magnesium will vary based on stress and activity levels as well as how much you’re getting in your diet. 

For more info on magnesium as well as a list of foods that contain magnesium, see this website:

http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocenter/minerals/magnesium/
NOTE: This blog is not intended to replace the advice of a qualified healthcare practitioner.  If you are being treated for impaired kidney function, you should not use magnesium supplements without the consent of your physician.

I love to make my own butter.  It is very easy to do, and never fails to impress (I love making things that seem difficult and impressive, but are really simple!  Shhhh… don’t tell my secret!)!  I also like doing this, because it allows you to control the quality and freshness of the butter that you and your family eat ( and we love to eat butter!). 

By using organic, fresh, raw (if possible, or lightly pasteurized) cream, you are ensuring a very high quality butter.  It also allows you to be creative while saving money.  Purchasing a high quality “fancy” butter at a store can be expensive, but by making your own you save money, while having the opportunity to “customize” your butter for each meal (ex:  Honey/ sage butter, herb butter, garlic butter, etc.).  Have fun – and enjoy!

Items Needed:  

·         Good quality heavy cream

·         Food processor

·         Any goodies you want to add to butter (ex: salt, herbs, garlic, honey, sage, etc.)

How to Make Butter:

1.      Pour approximately two cups of heavy cream into food processor 

2.      Pulse food processor until the cream separates into butter and buttermilk.  This will take several minutes.  Hold down the pulse button for several seconds each pulse, and continue for 3+ minutes.  The cream will thicken into whipped cream before it separates.  You will know when it is ready when you have visible, yellow curds of butter, and a separate watery substance.  This is your butter and buttermilk! 

3.      Gather the butter in your hands, and squeeze the buttermilk out 

4.      Discard buttermilk, or keep for drinking or baking 

5.      Put butter in a bowl.  Using a large spoon or scraper, press the butter to remove any remaining buttermilk.

6.      Press additional ingredients, if any, into butter.  I made agave nectar & sage butter… yum!

7.      Form into some type of shape, and refrigerate.

8.      Before you use the butter, I would recommend that you take it out of the fridge at least an hour before use.  It can get very hard when cold.

9.      Spread liberally on tasty bread, or anything else – and ENJOY!

For this week’s entry, I thought to share with you a few interesting facts about cholesterol that will be covered in more detail at our webinar this Saturday (to register click here).  Here they are!

 People with higher cholesterol are more likely to live longer, healthier lives than their counterparts with low cholesterol.
 Cholesterol is absolutely necessary for memory and learning, which may be why two common side effects of statin therapy are memory loss and cognitive decline.
 People with low cholesterol are more likely to experience mood disorders such as depression and exhibit violent behavior.  In fact, some researchers attribute the rise in domestic violence and child abuse over the past 30 years to the increased use of cholesterol-lowering medication.
 Exposure to heavy metals is usually followed by a rise in blood cholesterol, possibly because cholesterol acts as a “raft” to get toxins out of the body quickly.
 Every cell in your body makes cholesterol.  In fact, only 15% of cholesterol in your body comes from your food – the rest of it is synthesized by your body because it is that important!
 Fatty plaques in the arteries are actually a sign that there is underlying inflammation in the body.  Cholesterol rises as a response to this inflammation to try to repair damaged portions of blood vessel walls – cholesterol is NOT the root cause of artery plaques, inflammation is!
 If you are stressed about the results of your cholesterol test, it is likely that your results will be higher than they would be if you weren’t stressed.  Stress causes cholesterol levels to rise, and they may not return to normal for 24 hours or more.   
NOTE: Please talk to your physician before making any dietary or supplement changes.  This blog is not intended to replace the advice of a qualified healthcare practitioner.

Here is a great website that was brought to my attention by a fellow researcher:

www.cholesterol-and-health.com

I highly encourage you to look at this website, which gives an accurate view of the benefits of cholesterol.  For more info, please tune into our webinar, “The Truth About Cholesterol,” which will air on Saturday May 16th. 

To register click here.

Recent news reports have been filled with information on the swine flu epidemic.  This strain of flu is of concern because, unlike seasonal flu, it has the ability to jump from species to species (in this case, from infected pigs to humans who handle them – not necessarily humans who eat them) which means that it is capable of mutating.  This has happened in the past with other flu strains, but this time around it is of more concern because it is quickly spreading from human to human.  The apparently quick movement of the virus has people worried that it will mutate so quickly and so often that drug companies will not be able to produce specific vaccines in time to help people before they come in contact with the virus.

This may sound very scary, but it is important to remember that in many cases people have made a full recovery from this type of flu.  To put it in perspective, common seasonal flu kills between 250,000 and 500,000 people annually.  As of the writing of this blog, an estimated 150 people have died from swine flu in Mexico.  I am not making light of this virus – it is a very serious concern with dangerous possibilities, but it is entirely possible that the virus will mutate to a less virulent form and “fizzle out” over the coming weeks.  With all the media hype it’s easy to forget that possibility.  The elderly, children, and those with compromised immune systems are usually the most at risk for contracting the flu but in this case everyone should take precautions.

As mentioned above, there is no vaccination for this flu and medications are only helpful after you already have the virus.  Prevention is going to be your best bet!  Here are some basic health tips for flu prevention:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water.  Hand sanitizer can be used in a pinch, but soap and water is preferable because it actually removes physical particles instead of just sterilizing them.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth - especially when you’re out in public.
• Get enough sleep (7-10 hours, depending on your personal needs).  Lack of sleep can lead to immune system suppression.
• Stay hydrated, which is vital to keeping the immune system functioning.
• Eat a healthy diet that contains plenty of whole foods such as meat, poultry, fish, eggs, vegetables, and fruit.  Nutrition is foundational to proper immune function.
• Include coconut oil in your diet.  Coconut oil contains lauric acid, a fatty acid with natural anti-viral properties.
• Minimize allergenic foods such as pasteurized dairy and wheat flour, which may suppress the immune system.
• Avoid white sugar, which directly suppresses the immune system.  Replace sugar with natural sweeteners such as stevia and xylitol – not with artificial sweeteners, which are difficult for the body to process.
• Include plenty of immune-boosting herbs in your diet such as garlic, ginger, onions, and cayenne.  If you can’t get enough of these foods in your diet or want additional support, use a tincture such as Marilyn Farms SuperForce.
• Use immune-supporting supplements to your advantage.  Some of the essentials include:
  • Vitamin C, which supports immune cell function.  For information on dosing vitamin C visit read this article on Vitamin C for Cold and Flu
  • Zinc, which is necessary to make immune cells.  For food sources and dosing visit http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocenter/minerals/zinc/
  • Echinacea-based herbal blends, which boost immune cell formation such as Marilyn Farms Immune Boost, Virus Defense, or Cold n’ Flu
  • Elderberry, which has anti-viral properties
  • Probiotics, which are healthy bacteria that shield the gut.  They can be eaten in cultured foods like yogurt or taken in pill form (Custom Probiotics)

If you have general symptoms of cold or flu, please stay home, take care of yourself, and contact your doctor.  And above all, don’t panic – it’s bad for your immune system!

NOTE: Please talk to your physician before making any dietary or supplement changes.  This blog is not intended to replace the advice of a qualified healthcare practitioner.

Yes, this blog is titled correctly – there are actually benefits to having relatively high levels of cholesterol.  I’m not posting this as a sensational statement to increase sales of fast food.  I’m posting this to help you see that there is much more to cardiovascular health than getting your cholesterol levels checked.  Also, you can’t ignore the studies that prove over and over again that people with higher levels of cholesterol live longer and healthier than those with very low levels of cholesterol.  The link below will take you to a detailed article that includes scientific references on this topic:

http://www.westonaprice.org/moderndiseases/benefits_cholest.html

If you’d like to learn more about cholesterol and how it relates to your health, please attend next month’s webinar which is appropriately titled “The Truth About Cholesterol.”  Click here to register: http://www.marilynfarms.com/index.php?main_page=mfc_product_info&products_id=460&zenid=b702c04304fa811c27a007d51a6d44db