Tag Archives: congestive heart failure

Do You Doubt That 9 Women Can Fight An Epidemic Of Heart Failure?

How do you stay healthy when life takes more than you have to give?

That is a good question.

I want to share a story of 9 ladies who took it upon themselves to LIFT SPIRITS and then took their Mission of Love just as far as it could take them.

They made a HUGE difference in their community for many years … covertly.

The ladies weren’t doing anything huge or earth shattering, but what they did and are still doing will go a very long way to protect their neighbors from an epidemic of heart failure.

I wrote a post a while back about a small town who’s citizens never suffered from heart disease, OR congestive heart failure, because they new the real secret to good health.

If you want to read about the true story that proves that the healthiest part of your lifestyle is being surrounded by people who care about you just click on the link below.

Your support system really CAN prevent heart disease!

But make sure you come back here to read about these really special ladies.  You don’t want to miss their story.

 

9 Ladies With The Power To Fight An Epidemic Of Heart Failure

For three decades, nine women have kept a covert baking operation so under wraps that not even their husbands knew about it.

They call themselves ‘The 9 Nanas,’ and have been secretly whipping up, and delivering hundreds of pound cakes during the middle of the night in a grand scheme to help those in need.

And then before anyone can catch a glimpse of them, they quietly and quickly disappear back into their daily lives in West Tennessee.

Mary Ellen, one of the nine women, who are all aged between 54 and 72, told The Huffington Post: ‘We give new meaning to the term drive-by.’

‘We drive through low-income neighborhoods and look for homes with fans in the window. That told us that the people who live there don’t have air-conditioning.

‘Or we see that there are no lights on at night, which means there is a good chance their utilities have been turned off. Then we return before the sun came up, like cat burglars, and drop off a little care package.’

The women, who consider themselves sisters, gather in the darkness at 4am to begin their daily routine, where they whip up their cakes and deliver them in the dark.

Mary Ellen explained how they got started, 35 years ago.

One day over a card game, the women were reminiscing about the grandparents, named MaMaw and PaPaw, who raised Mary Ellen and three of the other sisters.

‘MaMaw Ruth would read in the paper that someone had died and she’d send off one of her special pound cakes. She didn’t have to know the family. She just wanted to put a little smile on their faces. And we started thinking about what we could do to make a difference like that. What if we had a million dollars? How would we spend it?’ she said.

The ladies began brainstorming, and one of the sisters suggested they all start doing their own laundry, putting the money saved to good use.

She said: ‘I admit, I protested at first. There’s just something about laundering that I don’t like. But I was outnumbered! So among the nine of us, we’d put aside about $400 a month and our husbands never noticed a thing. Their shirts looked just fine.’

The women started eavesdropping at the local beauty shop or when they were picking up groceries, and when they heard about a widow or a single mother who needed some help, they would anonymously pay a utility bill or buy new clothes for the children.

The Nanas would find out where the person lived and send a package with a note that simply read, ‘Somebody loves you,’ which would always include one of MaMaw Ruth’s special pound cakes.

For three decades, the ladies’ good deeds went undetected.

It was only when Mary Ellen’s husband started noticing extra mileage on the car and large amounts of cash that had been withdrawn from their savings account that the women were caught out.

She said in horror: ‘He brought out bank statements and they were highlighted!’

So The 9 Nanas they told the husbands about the laundry, eavesdropping and even the drive-bys. And to their surprise, their husbands offered to help.

Mary Ellen said: ‘They were amazed that we were doing this and even more amazed that they never knew. We can keep a good secret! All but three of them are retired now, so sometimes they come with us on our drive-bys. In our area, all you need is an address to pay someone’s utility bill, so we keep the men busy jotting down numbers.’

The women then moved their secret operation out of their homes and into the commercial kitchen of a restaurant owned by one of their sons.

They sneak in before sunrise and sneak out before the staff come in, and have also hired a ‘happiness coordinator,’ who, to keep her identity secret for eavesdropping missions, goes by the code name of ‘Sunny’.

Now selling over 100 of MaMaw Ruth’s pound cakes daily online at Happiness Happens, The 9 Nanas can take on bigger projects.

Recently they donated more than $5,000 worth of pillows, linens and personal care products to the YWCA shelter for survivors of domestic violence.

This August, they will celebrate their second ‘Happiness Happens Month’ by sending a cake to one person in every state who has made a difference in their own community.

Sometimes, they also pull out the phone book to send pound cakes to complete strangers.

In the last 35 years, The 9 Nanas have contributed nearly $900,000 of happiness to their local community.

Mary Ellen said: ‘Not everyone is as lucky as we were to have MaMaw and PaPaw to take care of them, to fix all those things that are wrong.

‘So this is our way of giving back. We want people to know that someone out there cares enough to do something. We want to make sure that happiness happens.’

Original article source:  DailyMail.co.uk


 

We all have a vested interest in making sure happiness happens.

(Did you read the post about preventing heart disease?  I’m telling you, those 9 Ladies pack some power!)

The medical merchants of the world want you to be confident that the pharmaceutical/surgical method of heart care is in your best interest.

Cracking your chest every ten years is traumatic to say the least.  It hurts like hell and it will take years off your life all by itself.

Cholesterol lowering medication (statins) causes more harm than good!

Statins and heart bypass surgery work against rather than with your healing process.

Heart disease is NOT a plumbing problem.  Heart disease IS a disease of the circulating blood.

To prevent heart disease you need to clean up your blood!

A happy heart has a much easier time of keeping blood clean than does a stressed heart.

What exactly pollutes your blood?

Certainly NOT cholesterol!  It is not garbage!

Cholesterol is GOOD stuff!

Do you know what cholesterol does?

Understanding how important cholesterol is will blow your mind. 

If you get all the facts you will understand why drugs are not the answer.

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What cholesterol does …

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  • Cholesterol is important for hormone synthesis
  • Cholesterol is necessary for the filter like abilities of cell membranes which allows you to absorb nutrients and discharge wastes
  • You must have plentiful cholesterol in order to manufacture Vitamin D from natural sun light
  • Bile salts are derived from cholesterol and play an essential role in the absorption of fats in the intestines
  • Cholesterol is a vital component of nerve coating

So, how did cholesterol get such a bad rap?

If you absolutely must have cholesterol for many reasons, can you see how taking a drug to reduce cholesterol may be problematic?

Take 3 Facts into consideration before you agree to drug yourself with cholesterol lowering medication:

  • Only 25% of your cholesterol is from diet, your body makes the other 75% because it is a life sustaining nutrient
  • Lowering your cholesterol level does NOT statistically reduce your risk of DEATH
  • Statin drugs deplete your Co-enzyme Q10 levels

Dr. Julian Whitaker says that last fact is responsible for an epidemic of heart failure.

Profit is the only reason to keep pushing these drugs.

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I hope that you are convinced that prescription cholesterol meds are not valid heart health care.

Make your decisions based on fact.

Drugging your cholesterol level does NOT statistically reduce your risk of DEATH.

However, improving your bio-chemistry with better breathing will not only reduce your risk of death, it will reduce your risk of suffering between now and then!

Make happiness happen by discovering how to feel better.

Click on the link below to find out about the most important book you will ever read.

The Medical Merchants Are Wrong!

 

Many blessings,

Carrie Tucker, RCP

The Life Breath Coach

Heart Failure Solutions

 

PS–  Remember everyday:

  • Relax and Release tension
  • Exhale Slowly
  • Be active in a way that adds Joy to your life

Plus pure water ~whole foods~sunshine~and laughter

 

Water Retention: Is That Bloated and Puffy Feeling Anything To Worry About?

Water retention

“Everyone gets a little bloated and puffy feeling, right?”

If your doctor isn’t concerned, why should you be?

It’s just a little water retention.

There Are Reasons YOU Should Be Concerned About Excess Fluid:

  1. Your body becomes completely out of balance when it holds on to fluid in an effort to protect you.
  2. Any excess fluid interferes with absorption of OXYGEN and NUTRITION!
  3. The sooner you achieve a healthy fluid balance, the less damage will be caused to your kidneys, heart and other vital organs.

Rapid accumulation of fluids can be life threatening.

Creating a healthy fluid balance may be as simple as reducing your exposure to toxins, making better food choices, or supplementation with the right amount of the right nutrient.

Be Aware That Creating Fluid Balance Immediately Could Also Save Your Life!

 

How Do You Know Whether Your Water Retention Is Life Threatening Or Not?

When your body loses the ability to maintain your fluid balance, you are on a slippery slope of deterioration.

If you have swollen ankles or a tight hard belly, have your oxygen levels checked to identify a potentially fatal problem!

Could Shortness of Breath Be Your First Sign Of Big Trouble?

 

This is a process of elimination to identify what the culprit might be.  Why are you retaining fluid? 

You want to look at all possibilities starting with the most dangerous ones!

If your water retention issue doesn’t make you feel short of breath when you climb a flight of stairs and you don’t feel overly concerned about it, then lets look at some other causes of fluid retention.

 

One very common cause of fluid retention is vitamin and mineral deficiency.

*  The American Medical Association says that magnesium is the most prevalent mineral deficiency.

Magnesium is a valuable electrolyte, if you are deficient you will have fluid balance issues!

*  You may quickly shed water weight when you address deficiency!

You may be carrying a significant amount of excess water around, and not even be aware of it.

Click on the link below to check the list of water retention symptoms to see if you should be worried.

Signs Of Water Retention

 

Many blessings,

Carrie Tucker, RCP
The Life Breath Coach
Heart Failure Solutions

 

PS– Remember everyday:

  • Relax and Release tension
  • Exhale Slowly
  • Be active in a way that adds joy to your life

Plus pure water ~whole foods~sunshine~and laughter

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Food Matters!

Have you seen the trailer for the new movie?  I stumbled across it on You Tube and began jumping for joy.

At LAST an effort to get the message out!

You are what you eat!

Are you killing yourself with the food choices you make?

Food Matters!

Food Matters is an educational organization based in the UK.

They offer tutorials on every disease process you may be addressing.  Educate yourself so you will not be fooled with misinformation and you will feel confident to resist your doctors urge to drug your symptoms without taking action to address cause.

As the “Life Breath Coach” I recommend that my clients supplement their nutrition while they learn what to put in their shopping cart and what to avoid.

Vemma is my supplement of choice because they have a safe track record even with their weight loss line of products!

I’m hearing awesome testimonials of folks getting OFF of drugs for blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar!

This is GOOD stuff!

Nutrition Matters

 

Many blessings,

Carrie Tucker, RCP

The Life Breath Coach

Heart Failure Solutions

 

PS– Remember everyday:

  • Relax and Release tension
  • Exhale Slowly
  • Be active in a way that adds Joy to your life

Plus pure water ~whole foods~sunshine~and laughter

What Foods Help Get Rid of Fluid Retention?

Fruit & Nuts, Juhu Beach

Today one of my clients asked me what they could eat to get rid of fluid retention.

It isn’t an easy question to answer because there are many causes of fluid retention that will not be healed by eating foods that make you pee.

Some foods can make you retain fluid by slowing down your kidneys, while others can help your kidneys work better.

Anemia, protein deficiency, and an abnormally high need for one or more vitamins or minerals can cause fluid retention as well.

Keep in mind that fluid retention is NOT  simple to treat.

Maybe you aren’t even aware that those difficult to lose pounds are actually fluid rather than fat!

You don’t lose fluid weight the same way you lose weight from fat!

You can burn fat, but you don’t “burn” water you release it!

This subject can be a bit overwhelming, so don’t let yourself get complacent!

Fluid retention drains your health!

 

Cover the simple stuff first:

  •  sip water all day even when you feel bloated (unless your doctor advises you not to because of kidney failure)
  •  have your hormones checked
  • treat all low oxygen levels with supplemental oxygen

The most common cause of fluid retention is dehydration!  So sip all day and if you are on fluid restriction, it’s a good idea to stick to water with fresh lemon.

Hormones are another issue that could be causing your fluid retention and your doctor can evaluate if this is a problem for you.

Low oxygen levels are potentially fatal, so you want to look for them when you are active and distressed as well as when you are sleeping!

 

Discovering what foods help get rid of fluid retention is only slightly helpful early on in your disease process.

Is this the information you were looking for?

Foods that cause you to release fluid:

  •  celery
  •  onion
  •  parsley
  •  garlic
  •  peppermint
  •  eggplant
  •  cabbage
  •  cranberries
  •  asparagus
  •  corn
  •  cucumber
  •  grapes
  •  watermelon

Some sources say to reduce intake of parsley and celery to avoid water retention.  They are both high in chlorophyll so it’s no wonder they are hugely helpful in addressing the issues that may contribute to fluid retention.  A list of foods high in magnesium will help as well.  Magnesium is the “relax mineral” so it helps fluid retention in several ways.

Herbs that help you to release fluid:

  •  uva ursi
  •  buchu
  •  horse chestnut (also used to promote leg vein circulation in Europe for many years)
  •  dandelion root or tincture (good for kidneys, adrenal glands, and liver)
  •  Dong Quai (also soothing to intestines and bladder)

Be careful with herbs, like drugs, they are potentially harmful!

 

Fluid Retention can be very uncomfortable.

The discomfort of fluid retention can be eased with the use of essential oils.

Essential oils, used in baths, gargles, mouthwashes, vaporizers, inhalants, as well as compresses and massages can be helpful:

  •  cypress
  •  geranium
  •  juniper
  •  lavender
  •  rosemary

 

Fluid BALANCE is the goal, and many foods can be helpful in righting your fluid balance.

Helpful foods, vitamins, and minerals:

  •  brazil nuts
  •  fish
  •  Vitamin B6
  •  Vitamin A
  •  Vitamin C
  •  magnesium (would a list of food sources help?)
  •  selenium

 

Give your attention to a few other concerns that effect fluid retention!

Avoid constipation, eat foods high in dietary fiber:

  •  grains
  •  beans
  •  fruits

 

AVOID the following:

  •  table salt (for severe fluid retention use only potassium chloride)
  •  sugary foods and drinks
  •  too much protein OR not enough protein
  •  unhealthy fats
  •  being still for long periods of time
  •  crossing your legs
  •  tight clothing
  •  alcohol
  •  smoke
  •  coffee
  •  black tea
  •  processed foods
  •  fast foods
  •  white flour foods

There is no quick fix for fluid retention but it is likely to cause oxygen and nutrition problems because it interferes with absorption.

Better safe than sorry!

 

Get your oxygen levels checked and nourish yourself with a quality nutritional supplement.

Heart Failure Solutions recommends Vemma products because of their safe track record.

Click on the link below and learn more about what nutrition can do for you!

Nutrition Is Your Medicine

 

Many blessings,

Carrie Tucker, RCP

The Life Breath Coach

Heart Failure Solutions

 

PS– Remember everyday:

  • Relax and Release tension
  • Exhale Slowly
  • Be active in a way that adds Joy to your life

Plus pure water ~whole foods~sunshine~and laughter

Fluid Retention Steals Your Health, Want To Stop It?

Female feet on scales

When you retain fluid oxygen and vital nutrients can’t get where they need to go!

Fluid retention is such a big problem because the extra water in your system is in the way!

When oxygen and other vital nutrients cant’ get where they need to go, you deteriorate!

If you don’t want your health to fade, watch for signs that you may be retaining water:

  • When you press your fingernail firmly into your thumb-pad, does it stay deeply dented for more than a second or two
  • When you press the tip of your finger into the inside of your shinbone, does your nail make a dent?
  • Do your ankles ever swell?
  • Does your shoe size increase as you get older?
  • Do your rings sometimes not fit?
  • Is your tummy ever tight and swollen?
  • For women, do you suffer from breast tenderness?
  • Does your weight fluctuate by several pound within the space of only twenty-four hours?

You should be concerned if you recognize water retention symptoms, even if your doctor isn’t!

 

Fluid Retention TO DO LIST:
Continue reading Fluid Retention Steals Your Health, Want To Stop It?

Is Your High Cholesterol Medication Killing You?

The hazard symbol for toxic/highly toxic subst...

“My cholesterol medications are killing me?”

Not fast enough for you to take notice, but YES they are!

Is there a way to lower cholesterol without risking your life?

You likely think that eating a diet low in saturated fat is the most effective way to lower your cholesterol, but it might surprise you to know that physical activity and sugar intake have a whole lot to do with what your lab tests point to.

Cholesterol medications are given to you to correct your lab results from your blood tests.

Are you aware that lowering your cholesterol level will NOT statistically lower your risk of death?

Your doctor is happy to prescribe a pill that will bring down your cholesterol level, but is it really the best course of treatment for you?

 

Do You Know the Side Effects of the Drugs Your Doctor Wants You To Take?

There are 3 major classes of “lipid-lowering drugs”

and

They all have side effects

Ask your pharmacist which type has been prescribed for you, so that you will be able to realistically look at the side effects you may be facing should you choose to begin  drugging yourself.

The oldest cholesterol-lowering drugs are Bile Acid Sequestrants.

These drugs cause poor absorption of fat-soluble nutrients. (vitamins A,D,E,and K)

You already have enough reason to avoid this drug.  These vitamins, especially E, are extremely important to your heart health, and supplementing won’t help if you are on this type of drug.

Bile Acid Sequestrants have a laundry list of side effects

  • bleeding disorders from Vit K deficiency
  • vision issues due to insufficient Vit A
  • interferes with absorption of thyroid medications
  • causes poor absorption of antibiotics
  • inhibits the absorption of several heart drugs

It doesn’t make sense to take a drug with undesirable side effects when there is a safe alternative that also binds with and removes cholesterol.

The alternative is dietary fiber.

 

The next group of drugs, Fibric Acid Derivatives, are down right deadly

The second class of drugs is generally used to lower triglyceride levels,  though it is unknown exactly how these drugs work.

They do cause a number of uncomfortable side effects.

  • nausea
  • loose stools
  • flatulence
  • muscle cramps
  • rashes
  • problems with skin and hair

It gets WORSE!

The World Health Organization conducted a six-year study of 10,000 patients using Atromid-S, a Fibric Acid Derivative.

This study found that Atromid-S actually increased the overall death rate by 44 percent.

It did lower triglycerides levels enough to reduce the risk of heart disease and death by heart attacks, but the increased mortality from other causes more than canceled this benefit.

The excessive deaths caused by this Fibric Acid Derivative were associated to:

  • gall bladder disease
  • cancer
  • pancreatitis

Lopid is anther Fibric Acid Derivative and according to the Physicians’ Desk Reference, has similar side effects.

Additional things to keep in mind:

  • These drugs should not be used with blood thinners or “Statin Drugs” (which will be discussed next).
  • If you have gall bladder, liver, or kidney problems, you should not use these drugs.
  • They are hard on the liver, and liver function should be closely monitored while taking them.

The Alternative is to eliminate sugar and other refined carbohydrates, and add a large dose of fish oil.

Even triclyceride levels in the thousands are relatively easy to treat with dietary changes.

========================================

The third class of drugs is known as:

Statins

All of the generic names for these drugs end with “statin”, which is where the name comes from.  They include some of America’s best selling drugs:

  • Lipitor
  • Zocor
  • Mevacor
  • Pravachol
  • Lescol

There have been 5 major studies of these drugs that prove that they lower risk of heart disease and death by heart attack, and other causes.

The medical community has been so impressed by these studies that they have gone overboard recommending these drugs.

The FDA actually approved Mevacor for use in people with normal cholesterol levels, and no sign of heart disease!

Some experts predict that half the population will be taking these drugs in the future, and there is a push to have them reclassified to over-the-counter status.

The National Cholesterol Education Program guidelines recommend aggressive drug therapy.  If fully implemented, 36 million Americans, one in every 5 adults, would be taking cholesterol-lowering drugs.

Statin drugs are helpful only when concentrated effort with lifestyle changes and natural therapies fail.

Despite the current infatuation with these drugs, they are NOT without RISK.

Side effects of Statin drugs include:

  • liver toxicity
  • gastrointestinal symptoms
  • rashes
  • blurred vision
  • muscle inflammation and weakness
  • rhabdomyolysis

Rhabdomyolysis is a condition involving muscle breakdown, and can be FATAL!

One statin drug, Baycol, was voluntarily recalled in August 2001 after being linked to 31 deaths.

Every one of the drugs in this class works in a similar manner and has similar side effects.

According to Public Citizen, a Washington D.C. consumer group, other statin drugs have killed an additional 81 Americans.

Julian Whitaker, M.D. warns of another adverse effect of statin drugs that he feels has contributed to the deaths from rhabdomyolysis.

It is not listed in the Physicians’ Desk Reference or the drug inserts, but Dr. Whitaker calls it:

“the most chilling of all the statin side effects”.

Statin drugs work by inhibiting the action of an enzyme that is required for the synthesis of cholesterol in the liver.

This enzyme is also necessary for the manufacture of co-enzyme Q10 (CoQ10).

Statins deplete the body of CoQ10.

CoQ10 is essential for energy production.  The heart is the hardest working, most energy consuming of all the muscles in the body, and therefore hardest hit by deficiencies.

Dr. Whitaker says:

“I consider the CoQ10 deficiencies caused by the growing use of statin drugs to be in large part responsible for our current epidemic of heart failure.”

You should hear what he has to say about the negative effects of statins on your brain.  The brain contains an abundance of cholesterol.  It is not difficult to see how these drugs would affect your ability to think and function.

Suicide and violent behavior have been linked to very low cholesterol levels for a long time.

Pretty serious reasons to take a closer look at statin drugs!

========================================

Don’t fall prey to the hype surrounding these “miracle” drugs.  Educate yourself as to why you should give diet and lifestyle changes a REAL try.  There is help available when you open yourself to a new way of thinking about food and activity.

Alternatives to taking these risky drugs are to eat more fiber and less saturated fat and simple sugar.  Be more active and take CoQ10 and other supplements that can support you in your health building effort.

If you have no other choice but to take a statin drug, in is very important that you also take at least 200 milligrams of CoQ10.

Keep in mind that other natural alternatives may be helpful in lowering your cholesterol level:

  • fish oil
  • omega 3 fatty acid supplements (flaxseed oil)
  • inositol hexaniacinate (niacin and B vitamins, which has been found just as effective as statins in lowering cholesterol)
  • red yeast rice and other cholesterol-lowering supplements.

Nothing else matters if you don’t have good health.

Get Your Copy of The Cholesterol Lie and Arm Yourself With Knowledge That Can Save Your Life!

Click on the link to get your copy

The Cholesterol Lie


 

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