2021 Updates https://www.alswinners.com/2021-updates.html
Jan - Hygiene Habits That Can Do More Harm Than Good
Feb - Seasonal shots
March – Nerve regeneration and Yummy salad
Apr – Herbs & essential oils for respiratory and mucus health
May – Dangers of wheat/gluten
Jun/Jul - Importance of pH balance
Sep/Oct - Sunscreen Chemicals
Nov/Dec - Benefits of Vitamin B1-Thiamine
January 2021
Dear PALS and Caregivers,
Hygiene Habits That Can Do More Harm Than Good
When we arrived back in Idaho in April of 2020, my nephew’s wife noted that one of their little girls had a rash on her hands and wrists. They had been trying diligently to follow all the rules set out by the “plandemic” gurus. (I gave her some aloe vera lotion which resolved the issue.) I had read that another sign of COVID-19 was a skin rash. It is interesting that the hand sanitizers are causing the rash, not the COVID-19, but what will they push on us next? Another interesting COVID-19 sign is loss of smell. I learned recently that the loss of smell is a zinc deficiency and using zinc properly in a combination with other products (even the supplement Quercetin) is a COVID-19 healing therapy.
Many years ago, I read that hand sanitizers are dangerous, but in the last year, you can’t go anywhere without hand sanitizers everywhere. Is it really as safe as they claim? It is noted that COVID-19 cases (not deaths) seem to be increasing exponentially. Could it be because they are testing incorrectly or is it the hand sanitizers that are making things worse? Good question. I don’t have any scientific answers, just speculating. Is my sarcasm running a little too deep today?
We are praying for our PALS healing in 2021.
Kay
February 1, 2021
Dear PALS and Caregivers,
Seasonal shots
Some of you may be wondering whether or not to get the COVID shot. We can’t tell you whether you should or whether you should not. Any allergies put you at risk for a severe reaction. Kim was thinking he should get it, but I shared with him a couple of articles that may have changed his mind. He has to decide, but there are some serious considerations to make.
We have been contacted by people with ALS who were diagnosed shortly after getting the jab. One of our volunteers died shortly after she received her jab.
We also know of several people who developed ALS shortly following getting shots to travel abroad. There certainly are some dangers involved there.
This is a very interesting web site about real people and the suffering and death they have received the jab. You will have to decide what is right for you.
www.thecovidblog.com
Kay Cherry
March 1, 2021
Dear PALS and Caregivers,
Here is an article I saved a couple months ago and have not shared yet. It discusses how nerves can actually be regenerated including spinal nerves, etc. Sayer Ji’s suggestions are many of what we have learned over the years and used. He also includes other suggestions. It is important to understand that although the standard medical system says nothing can be done to restore nerves, it is also important to understand that there is nothing in their training or box of drugs that can accomplish this feat. It is what the good Lord has put on the earth that accomplishes healing. Sayer's Masterclass was last month, but there is still other important information to explore on the page. Here is his article:
https://www.greenmedinfo.com/blog/6-bodily-tissues-can-be-regenerated-through-nutrition1?utm_campaign=Daily%20Newsletter%3A%206%20Bodily%20Tissues%20That%20can%20be%20Regenerated%20Through%20Nutrition%20%28SpMpYn%29&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Daily%20Newsletter&_ke=eyJrbF9jb21wYW55X2lkIjogIksydlhBeSIsICJrbF9lbWFpbCI6ICJrYXk2Ni5jaGVycnlAZ21haWwuY29tIn0%3D
Then Anthony William shared a marvelous recipe and simple recipe recently that we have tried three times and love. I have only done the very, very simple orange dressing. I have a hard time finding ripe organic strawberries so have not tried the 2nd dressing yet.
As always, we send our prayers for your healing success.
Kay Cherry
Strawberry Banana Salad by Anthony William
This fruit-filled salad is fresh, bright, and packed with flavor thanks to the herbs, fruit, and two different dressing options. Each dressing has its own unique taste and appeal, so try them both and pick your favorite, or alternate each time you make this pretty salad.
Strawberries have high levels of phenols, which act as an anti-inflammatory and are loaded with Vitamin D, which helps boost the immune system by warding off colds, flues, and respiratory infections.
Bananas are an excellent “brain food” great for heavy thinkers and are known to help build strong muscles as well as strengthen the nervous system.
Leafy greens create true alkalinity in the body, especially the lymphatic, which can become the most acidic system due to a barrage of chemicals, acids, plastics, pesticides, heavy metals, pathogens constantly entering the lymphatic passages.
For Salad
4 c. chopped strawberries (or watermelon) 4-6 bananas, chopped
4 cups leafy greens, (spinach, or butter leaf lettuce) ½ c chopped basil or sage
ORANGE HONEY DRESSING
½ c. orange juice 2 t. raw honey. Wisk together in small bowl.
STRAWBERRY BANANA DRESSING
1/3 c. chopped strawberries (organic only) ½ c. chopped bananas
1-3 T. water 1 t. lemon juice 2 basil leaves (optional). Blend till smooth.
Directions: Place fruit and greens, basil or sage in medium sized bowl. Toss gently. Add chosen dressing to salad and toss. (Kay made it first with spinach, watermelon and orange dressing and sprinkled sesame seeds on top.) Also I cut down the size for two people. Yum!
The recipe comes from Anthony William’s new book, Revised and Expanded Edition of Medical Medium.
April 2021 update
Herbs & essential oils for respiratory and mucus health
Dear PALS and Caregivers,
One of the most serious issues for ALS is the ability to breathe. That is where Kim’s serious issues began. Although we didn’t know as much about herbs and essential oils at the time as we do now, keeping the airways clear of colds and the flu is critical. Besides the oils we used on his feet to heal his spine, the oil we used the most was the Breathe oil by DoTerra. There may be other similar combination oils from other companies that would also work similarly to DoTerra’s Breathe. Breathe will help open the airways.
Some of the oils we used early on were Tea Tree oil which helps with fungus issues in the lungs when diffused into the air. One time, Kim was having a very serious coughing spell. I put some cinnamon bark oil in the diffuser. We were both amazed when the coughing stopped in less than a minute. Cinnamon bark helps with mold and could help if there is mold in the home. One word of caution with cinnamon bark is that it is a very hot oil and you should not breathe the oil directly over the diffuser. Also putting it on the skin and then getting out in the sun could be an issue. If used on the skin, it should be diluted with a carrier oil like olive oil or coconut oil.
The clove oil is very good to help kill viruses. We diffused it in our home most every day all winter this past season of 2020-2021, especially if we had friends over. It smells wonderful. It is a little hot, but not as hot as cinnamon, so use a little caution. Most nights, I use 4 drops of the Breathe oil, 2 drops of peppermint oil and 2 drops of clove in our diffuser for a wonderful combination to help breathing while sleeping.
Many years ago, I learned that raspberry leaf tea was good for not getting the flu during flu season. We have a raspberry patch so I just pick some raspberry leaves and dry them on a tray in the sun. They can then be bagged and saved for the winter season to make a tea whenever the need arises.
Another oil I have used recently is Lime essential oil. Although I don’t have ALS, I have had excessive saliva for the last several years. This year I began making a tea with fresh ginger (a few slices in a cup and pour hot water over it). The longer it sits the more potent it gets. I would add few drops of stevia. When it cooled some, I added the Lime essential oil, a few drops. It seemed to help. Then on March 27, we began our trip from Yuma, Arizona back to our home in Idaho. I didn’t have regular access to making the ginger tea, so I just added the Lime drops to my water. I am finding that it works better than the tea perhaps because I am getting it throughout the day instead of just a couple of times a day. Essential oils may be less effective when heated.
Below are a couple of articles that help with mucus and respiratory issues. We believe very strongly that God put pure foods and herbs on the earth for our use so we can be healthy. In our modern life, foods have been compromised with dangerous chemicals, either in the growing process or the processing of foods. Herbs have been pushed aside for drugs that contain toxins, although herbal extracts can be a part of some drugs. Learning more about herbs and essential oils could be lifesaving.
As always, prayers for your healing success.
Kay Cherry
10 Powerful Herbs That Clear Mucus From Your Lungs & Help You Breathe Easierhttps://www.davidwolfe.com/10-herbs-clear-mucus-lungs/
Herbs & Spices that Clear Mucus from your Lungs
https://blackdoctor.org/herbs-spices-that-clear-mucus-from-your-lungs/
May 2021
Dear PALS and Caregivers,
The danger of wheat / gluten
I looked through all our updates and it appears that I have never presented the reasons why wheat/gluten is a problem for PALS except referencing its effect on speech.
Kim never felt any ill effects from eating wheat, thinking wheats only negative effect was a painful stomachache. Right after his diagnosis and news that he had gluten sensitivity, we found the book Wheat Belly by Dr. William Davis, a cardiologist. Although Dr. Davis was running 5 miles a day, he was becoming overweight. His studies of wheat began.
In the book he describes how scientists hybridized wheat to make a bigger wheat kernel for farmers to help provide a bigger crop per acre. However, they did not notice that the new wheat now had 40 times more gluten than the original wheat and contained a foreign protein that was not in the two wheats they crossed. This happened many years ago.
Kim continued to struggle with the idea that wheat was bad for him but when he read Dr. Davis’ book, he became convinced that he could no longer eat wheat. If you ask him what was the most important initial change he made, he says diet. That is where we began his healing journey. Dr. Nielsen had him take a picture of his throat. It was swollen and thick. In 30 days, it was much healthier and his speech was better.
Although the most gluten is likely found in wheat, gluten can be found in rye, barley, spelt, and oats. Although oats may not have gluten in them per se, they are often processed with wheat and could pick up the gluten from there. Gluten can be found in gravies, restaurant mashed potatoes, crackers, pasta, all baked goods, even lotions and cosmetics to name a few. Obviously, beer has gluten as it is made from barley.
Dr. Davis had a patient that was a baker and came to him because he was losing his hair. When Dr. Davis suggested he stop eating wheat, the baker was horrified. Wheat was his livelihood. After a time, he returned to see Dr. Davis. He had, indeed, stopped eating wheat and his hair grew back.
We met a friend in Texas who invited us to dinner and asked if there is anything we could not eat. We mentioned gluten. She said that works for her as she is gluten sensitive also. She would get large sores all over and they never cleared up until she went gluten free.
Dr. Davis’ book has chapters that include how wheat is addictive, causes obesity, damages the intestines, creates insulin resistance, disrupts the pH balance in the body, causes cataracts, wrinkles, Dowager’s Humps, damages the heart, the brain and the skin.
Dr. David Perlmutter, a neurologist and nutritionist, wrote the book Grain Brain and tells how the inflammation in wheat affects the portion of the brain that causes dementia/Alzheimers. His father, also a neurologist, developed Alzheimer’s and that was David’s reason for the intense research to find answers.
It is possible that gluten (which is a glue) can coat the fibrin or filter portions of the liver preventing toxins from being filtered out through the liver. Those toxins could then back up into the body and create a toxic load the body cannot resolve.
Seems to me there are some very good reasons to get wheat and all gluten out of the diet. We know how hard that is to do and also how important it is to good health.
We always pray that you can find your right healing answers.
Kay
June/July 2021
Importance of pH balance
About 20 years ago in getting an after 50 year old checkup, I was told that I could have osteopenia (a made up disease as a precursor to osteoporosis.) I was tested and found my bones needed help so was prescribed Fosamax to take every day. That was really my beginning journey to finding natural health cures. I realized how dangerous Fosamax was after a time and refused to take it after 2 years so was told to walk 10,000 steps a day to help my bones. That should have been the first advise instead of a drug.
I then found an article by Dr. David Williams that discussed how the SAD (Standard American Diet) was hard on the bones and why we need to balance the acidity and alkalinity of our body with the foods we eat. Dr. William’s article was copyrighted, but I found this article on Dr. Josh Axe’s site and it does a very good job of explaining the importance of our bodies being on the alkaline side of the balance for all disease issues not just the bones. Disease loves to live in an acidic body. This could be why diet change is such an important part of a healing ALS protocol.
I will note a couple of things to be cautious of. Dr. Axe mentions eating whole wheat bread. I believe that is a no-no for ALS. He also mentions that rice is okay, but rice has recently been known to contain arsenic. Since ALS is a toxicity issue, anything toxic should be eliminated.
Those struggling with speech issues should eliminate all dairy at least for a time. If you have access to raw milk, that could be a different issue. Still dairy and wheat and MSG can create too much glutamate and affect speech in a negative way.
I hope this article will help you understand the importance of what goes in your body and the affect it has to keep you healthy or sick.
Use your best judgement (not necessarily your taste buds) for what you feel is best for you in guiding you to a more alkaline body and less disease.
https://draxe.com/health/ph-balance/
There are likely many sites on the internet with information about a proper pH balance. Here is another one with excellent information, some of the information is the same as the previous article. So if there are conflicts between different points of view, use your intuition as to what is best for you. Both sites contain foods that should not be on an ALS diet. You likely are aware of what those are so pay attention to what is good for ALS.
This is the link; https://natureslinkwellness.com/services/ph-balancing/
If it does not work, follow the instructions below.
You can also go to www.natureslinkwellness.com. Click on Resources and the first link is “Health and wellness articles. From there in the search window enter: acidity. It comes up as the PH Balance. There is some really important information in the article and then a list of acid foods divided in 3 categories and a list of alkaline foods listed in 3 categories. If you choose a really acidic food once in a while, then you can find very alkaline foods to help balance it.
Prayers for your success,
Kay
Sept/Oct 2021
Sunscreen Chemicals
Getting Vitamin D from the sun is a very economical way to absorb that immune enhancing vitamin which is actually a hormone. However, too much sun also has it's problems, like skin cancer. You never want to burn. Years ago my doctor told me never to go out in the sun without sunscreen. I don't think she has looked at the ingredients to realize that many sunscreens contain cancer causing ingredients. I have not seen her since. Here is an article I found that discusses sunscreen ingredients so you can make better choices.
It should be noted that if you are very light skinned, you can burn much more easily. If you are dark skinned, you have a harder time absorbing Vitamin D.
https://www.colorescience.com/blogs/blog/what-sunscreen-is-safe-understanding-healthy-and-safe-sunscreen-ingredients
Work on being as healthy as you can,
Kay
November/December 2021
I found this information on Vitamin B1 and was surprised how much a Vitamin B1 deficiency relates to ALS. Much of this information came from www.draxe.com. This is a very valuable website for health information.
Vitamin B1 – Thiamine
1. Helps with energy
Thiamine is used to help extract energy from the foods you eat by turning nutrients into usable energy in the form of “ATP.” Foods with thiamine help convert molecules found in carbohydrates and proteins so the body can utilize these macronutrients to carry out various functions.
2. Protects Your Nerve Endings
Your nerves are delicate and vital to sending messages from your brain to other parts of your body. Each nerve is protected by a myelin sheath that is replenished with thiamine or B1. A vitamin B1 deficiency can allow the myelin sheath to break down, leaving the nerve vulnerable to permanent damage and atrophy of the organ or the limb around it. Proper levels of thiamine help your body communicate better.
3. Improves Cardiovascular Health
Thiamine helps produce a chemical called acetylcholine, which relays messages between the brain and the cardiovascular system. Plenty of vitamin B1 can help those with congestive heart failure by restoring some of the communication between the muscles and blood vessels that support the heart. A deficiency in this vitamin can lead to irregular heart function, including palpitations and fluctuating heart rate.
4. Protects Vision
Thiamine plays a role in preventing or slowing the onset of cataracts and can protect you from this degenerative condition. It's also useful in preventing glaucoma. The vitamin does this by influencing muscle and nerve signaling, which is crucial for conveying information between the eyes and the brain. Thiamine helps preserve these special cells and maintain their healthy function.
5. Vital Anti-aging Properties
Thiamine contains antioxidant properties that help your cells renew and protect them from damage by free radicals. The body needs to replace cells that wear out and die; free radicals are molecules that inhibit this regrowth and the formation of new cells. When the population of free radicals is too high, visible signs of aging occur, including dull and dry skin, wrinkles, and age spots. Antioxidants help reduce the amount of damaging free radicals, allowing your cells to renew naturally and keeping cancerous growths from forming.
6. Aids Digestion
Vitamin B1 helps your body produce the hydrochloric acid your gut needs to digest your food. It's crucial to have a healthy balance of acids -- many digestive complaints are a result of such an imbalance. Problems in the stomach mean when your food passes through your digestive system in larger chunks, your gut isn't able to fully extract all the nutrients. This can lead to malnourishment or a deficiency in other vitamins and minerals. A good amount of hydrochloric acid can also improve appetite, enabling those who have difficulty eating to nourish themselves.
7. Reduces Alzheimer's Risk
The antioxidant properties of thiamine can help slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease and dementia. Experts believe free radical damage is part of what causes these memory conditions and a healthy amount of antioxidants could improve the prognosis. Some successful studies supplemented the diets of people with Alzheimer's with 100 mg of thiamine. Many of the subjects reported symptom relief after taking vitamin B1 over the course of several weeks.
8. Stimulates Memory
Thiamine can help clear your mind and improve your short-term memory. The boost the vitamin offers your nerves and nervous system communication also benefits the brain. Studies have shown thiamine can improve certain nervous conditions such as multiple sclerosis and Bell's palsy, as well. Vitamin B1 can help reduce cognitive memory loss and promote better communication within the brain.
9. Enhances Red Blood Cell Production
Vitamin B1 plays an important role in the production of red blood cells. It stimulates proper function of the liver and kidneys, which supplies the hormones necessary for your bone marrow to create red blood cells. A healthy balance of red blood cells allows more oxygen to be delivered to all parts of your body, improving skin and hair texture, boosting energy levels and concentration, and promoting the healthy function of your systems.
10. Aids Those with Metabolic Disorder
Thiamine can help people with metabolic disorders, pre-diabetes, or type 2 diabetes manage their symptoms and slow the progression of these diseases. It can regulate metabolism and help your body digest food more easily, avoiding blood sugar spikes and crashes and thereby reducing cravings. The vitamin also helps preserve tissues that might be affected by these conditions. Nerve damage is common in people with diabetes; consuming vitamin B1 can help prevent or slow this symptom. It can also boost eye health; vision deterioration and blindness is another potential side effect of diabetes.
Foods with Vitamin B1
Eating a variety of thiamine foods has many benefits, both for physical and mental health. The human body does not produce its own thiamine; therefore it must be ingested from foods in the diet. Unlike other nutrients that can sometimes hard to get enough of, such as vitamin D or magnesium, thiamine is usually pretty easy to acquire from foods, assuming you eat enough calories overall — making thiamine deficiency easy to overcome.
What is the best source of thiamine? Some of the healthiest thiamine-rich foods include yeasts (like nutritional yeast), sea vegetables, certain whole grains, green veggies like asparagus and peas, seeds, beans, and fish. Benefits of eating thiamine foods include gaining more energy, staying focused and alert, protecting your memory, lifting your mood, and protecting your heart.
What Is Thiamine?Thiamine (sometimes spelled as thiamin) is also known as Vitamin B1 and is a water-soluble vitamin that’s commonly found in many plant and animal-derived foods. As a water-soluble vitamin, thiamine rapidly breaks down once it’s consumed and is flushed from the body more easily than fat-soluble vitamins, which can accumulate. Thiamine is stored primarily in the liver, but storage only lasts at most 18 days — which is why you need to consume thiamine foods regularly.
How is thiamine used in the body? It is involved in many of the most important metabolic processes of the body. Like most of the B vitamins, thiamine helps our bodies use energy from foods and is vital for cellular functions. When you eat thiamine-rich foods, they help the body convert carbohydrates to energy, which is important for your metabolism, focus and overall strength. It also plays a role in healthy liver function and is needed for healthy skin, eyes, hair and nails.
How much thiamine/vitamin B1 do you need per day? Most foods are a good source of thiamine. The recommended daily allowance for thiamine is 1.2 milligrams a day for men and 1.1 milligrams a day for women. (2) Breastfeeding and pregnant women need more, about 1.4–1.5 milligrams per day. For adults with low levels of thiamine, the usual dose of thiamine is five to 30 milligrams daily in either a single dose or divided doses for one month. The amount that you need depends on your sex, age and level of activity. Factors like stress, exercise, illness and pregnancy all increase your need for thiamine foods.
The absorption of thiamine occurs in the duodenum, a part of the digestive system, by an active process that converts to its active form called thiamine pyrophosphate. Some of the reasons you might need higher amounts of thiamine are if don’t get typically get enough thiamine from your diet, if your body eliminates too much or if you absorb too little.
Top 15 Thiamine FoodsWhat foods contain thiamine? Here is a list of the top thiamine-rich foods to include in your diet:
Are high-protein foods like meat, fish and pork a good source of thiamine? Most foods high in protein do provide some thiamine — plus they are good sources of other B vitamins, like B12 and B6. Fish and pork are especially high in thiamine. I don’t recommend eating much or any pork products, considering pork is usually found in processed meats and can contain additives, lots of sodium and contaminants. A better option is to get thiamine from wild-caught fish, especially types like herring and salmon.
Final note from Kay: Certainly you don't need to eat all of these foods some of which are not recommended for those with ALS, but there are many to choose from to help improve your thiamine intake.
You are always in our prayers to find success in healing.
Kay
Jan - Hygiene Habits That Can Do More Harm Than Good
Feb - Seasonal shots
March – Nerve regeneration and Yummy salad
Apr – Herbs & essential oils for respiratory and mucus health
May – Dangers of wheat/gluten
Jun/Jul - Importance of pH balance
Sep/Oct - Sunscreen Chemicals
Nov/Dec - Benefits of Vitamin B1-Thiamine
January 2021
Dear PALS and Caregivers,
Hygiene Habits That Can Do More Harm Than Good
When we arrived back in Idaho in April of 2020, my nephew’s wife noted that one of their little girls had a rash on her hands and wrists. They had been trying diligently to follow all the rules set out by the “plandemic” gurus. (I gave her some aloe vera lotion which resolved the issue.) I had read that another sign of COVID-19 was a skin rash. It is interesting that the hand sanitizers are causing the rash, not the COVID-19, but what will they push on us next? Another interesting COVID-19 sign is loss of smell. I learned recently that the loss of smell is a zinc deficiency and using zinc properly in a combination with other products (even the supplement Quercetin) is a COVID-19 healing therapy.
Many years ago, I read that hand sanitizers are dangerous, but in the last year, you can’t go anywhere without hand sanitizers everywhere. Is it really as safe as they claim? It is noted that COVID-19 cases (not deaths) seem to be increasing exponentially. Could it be because they are testing incorrectly or is it the hand sanitizers that are making things worse? Good question. I don’t have any scientific answers, just speculating. Is my sarcasm running a little too deep today?
We are praying for our PALS healing in 2021.
Kay
February 1, 2021
Dear PALS and Caregivers,
Seasonal shots
Some of you may be wondering whether or not to get the COVID shot. We can’t tell you whether you should or whether you should not. Any allergies put you at risk for a severe reaction. Kim was thinking he should get it, but I shared with him a couple of articles that may have changed his mind. He has to decide, but there are some serious considerations to make.
We have been contacted by people with ALS who were diagnosed shortly after getting the jab. One of our volunteers died shortly after she received her jab.
We also know of several people who developed ALS shortly following getting shots to travel abroad. There certainly are some dangers involved there.
This is a very interesting web site about real people and the suffering and death they have received the jab. You will have to decide what is right for you.
www.thecovidblog.com
Kay Cherry
March 1, 2021
Dear PALS and Caregivers,
Here is an article I saved a couple months ago and have not shared yet. It discusses how nerves can actually be regenerated including spinal nerves, etc. Sayer Ji’s suggestions are many of what we have learned over the years and used. He also includes other suggestions. It is important to understand that although the standard medical system says nothing can be done to restore nerves, it is also important to understand that there is nothing in their training or box of drugs that can accomplish this feat. It is what the good Lord has put on the earth that accomplishes healing. Sayer's Masterclass was last month, but there is still other important information to explore on the page. Here is his article:
https://www.greenmedinfo.com/blog/6-bodily-tissues-can-be-regenerated-through-nutrition1?utm_campaign=Daily%20Newsletter%3A%206%20Bodily%20Tissues%20That%20can%20be%20Regenerated%20Through%20Nutrition%20%28SpMpYn%29&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Daily%20Newsletter&_ke=eyJrbF9jb21wYW55X2lkIjogIksydlhBeSIsICJrbF9lbWFpbCI6ICJrYXk2Ni5jaGVycnlAZ21haWwuY29tIn0%3D
Then Anthony William shared a marvelous recipe and simple recipe recently that we have tried three times and love. I have only done the very, very simple orange dressing. I have a hard time finding ripe organic strawberries so have not tried the 2nd dressing yet.
As always, we send our prayers for your healing success.
Kay Cherry
Strawberry Banana Salad by Anthony William
This fruit-filled salad is fresh, bright, and packed with flavor thanks to the herbs, fruit, and two different dressing options. Each dressing has its own unique taste and appeal, so try them both and pick your favorite, or alternate each time you make this pretty salad.
Strawberries have high levels of phenols, which act as an anti-inflammatory and are loaded with Vitamin D, which helps boost the immune system by warding off colds, flues, and respiratory infections.
Bananas are an excellent “brain food” great for heavy thinkers and are known to help build strong muscles as well as strengthen the nervous system.
Leafy greens create true alkalinity in the body, especially the lymphatic, which can become the most acidic system due to a barrage of chemicals, acids, plastics, pesticides, heavy metals, pathogens constantly entering the lymphatic passages.
For Salad
4 c. chopped strawberries (or watermelon) 4-6 bananas, chopped
4 cups leafy greens, (spinach, or butter leaf lettuce) ½ c chopped basil or sage
ORANGE HONEY DRESSING
½ c. orange juice 2 t. raw honey. Wisk together in small bowl.
STRAWBERRY BANANA DRESSING
1/3 c. chopped strawberries (organic only) ½ c. chopped bananas
1-3 T. water 1 t. lemon juice 2 basil leaves (optional). Blend till smooth.
Directions: Place fruit and greens, basil or sage in medium sized bowl. Toss gently. Add chosen dressing to salad and toss. (Kay made it first with spinach, watermelon and orange dressing and sprinkled sesame seeds on top.) Also I cut down the size for two people. Yum!
The recipe comes from Anthony William’s new book, Revised and Expanded Edition of Medical Medium.
April 2021 update
Herbs & essential oils for respiratory and mucus health
Dear PALS and Caregivers,
One of the most serious issues for ALS is the ability to breathe. That is where Kim’s serious issues began. Although we didn’t know as much about herbs and essential oils at the time as we do now, keeping the airways clear of colds and the flu is critical. Besides the oils we used on his feet to heal his spine, the oil we used the most was the Breathe oil by DoTerra. There may be other similar combination oils from other companies that would also work similarly to DoTerra’s Breathe. Breathe will help open the airways.
Some of the oils we used early on were Tea Tree oil which helps with fungus issues in the lungs when diffused into the air. One time, Kim was having a very serious coughing spell. I put some cinnamon bark oil in the diffuser. We were both amazed when the coughing stopped in less than a minute. Cinnamon bark helps with mold and could help if there is mold in the home. One word of caution with cinnamon bark is that it is a very hot oil and you should not breathe the oil directly over the diffuser. Also putting it on the skin and then getting out in the sun could be an issue. If used on the skin, it should be diluted with a carrier oil like olive oil or coconut oil.
The clove oil is very good to help kill viruses. We diffused it in our home most every day all winter this past season of 2020-2021, especially if we had friends over. It smells wonderful. It is a little hot, but not as hot as cinnamon, so use a little caution. Most nights, I use 4 drops of the Breathe oil, 2 drops of peppermint oil and 2 drops of clove in our diffuser for a wonderful combination to help breathing while sleeping.
Many years ago, I learned that raspberry leaf tea was good for not getting the flu during flu season. We have a raspberry patch so I just pick some raspberry leaves and dry them on a tray in the sun. They can then be bagged and saved for the winter season to make a tea whenever the need arises.
Another oil I have used recently is Lime essential oil. Although I don’t have ALS, I have had excessive saliva for the last several years. This year I began making a tea with fresh ginger (a few slices in a cup and pour hot water over it). The longer it sits the more potent it gets. I would add few drops of stevia. When it cooled some, I added the Lime essential oil, a few drops. It seemed to help. Then on March 27, we began our trip from Yuma, Arizona back to our home in Idaho. I didn’t have regular access to making the ginger tea, so I just added the Lime drops to my water. I am finding that it works better than the tea perhaps because I am getting it throughout the day instead of just a couple of times a day. Essential oils may be less effective when heated.
Below are a couple of articles that help with mucus and respiratory issues. We believe very strongly that God put pure foods and herbs on the earth for our use so we can be healthy. In our modern life, foods have been compromised with dangerous chemicals, either in the growing process or the processing of foods. Herbs have been pushed aside for drugs that contain toxins, although herbal extracts can be a part of some drugs. Learning more about herbs and essential oils could be lifesaving.
As always, prayers for your healing success.
Kay Cherry
10 Powerful Herbs That Clear Mucus From Your Lungs & Help You Breathe Easierhttps://www.davidwolfe.com/10-herbs-clear-mucus-lungs/
Herbs & Spices that Clear Mucus from your Lungs
https://blackdoctor.org/herbs-spices-that-clear-mucus-from-your-lungs/
May 2021
Dear PALS and Caregivers,
The danger of wheat / gluten
I looked through all our updates and it appears that I have never presented the reasons why wheat/gluten is a problem for PALS except referencing its effect on speech.
Kim never felt any ill effects from eating wheat, thinking wheats only negative effect was a painful stomachache. Right after his diagnosis and news that he had gluten sensitivity, we found the book Wheat Belly by Dr. William Davis, a cardiologist. Although Dr. Davis was running 5 miles a day, he was becoming overweight. His studies of wheat began.
In the book he describes how scientists hybridized wheat to make a bigger wheat kernel for farmers to help provide a bigger crop per acre. However, they did not notice that the new wheat now had 40 times more gluten than the original wheat and contained a foreign protein that was not in the two wheats they crossed. This happened many years ago.
Kim continued to struggle with the idea that wheat was bad for him but when he read Dr. Davis’ book, he became convinced that he could no longer eat wheat. If you ask him what was the most important initial change he made, he says diet. That is where we began his healing journey. Dr. Nielsen had him take a picture of his throat. It was swollen and thick. In 30 days, it was much healthier and his speech was better.
Although the most gluten is likely found in wheat, gluten can be found in rye, barley, spelt, and oats. Although oats may not have gluten in them per se, they are often processed with wheat and could pick up the gluten from there. Gluten can be found in gravies, restaurant mashed potatoes, crackers, pasta, all baked goods, even lotions and cosmetics to name a few. Obviously, beer has gluten as it is made from barley.
Dr. Davis had a patient that was a baker and came to him because he was losing his hair. When Dr. Davis suggested he stop eating wheat, the baker was horrified. Wheat was his livelihood. After a time, he returned to see Dr. Davis. He had, indeed, stopped eating wheat and his hair grew back.
We met a friend in Texas who invited us to dinner and asked if there is anything we could not eat. We mentioned gluten. She said that works for her as she is gluten sensitive also. She would get large sores all over and they never cleared up until she went gluten free.
Dr. Davis’ book has chapters that include how wheat is addictive, causes obesity, damages the intestines, creates insulin resistance, disrupts the pH balance in the body, causes cataracts, wrinkles, Dowager’s Humps, damages the heart, the brain and the skin.
Dr. David Perlmutter, a neurologist and nutritionist, wrote the book Grain Brain and tells how the inflammation in wheat affects the portion of the brain that causes dementia/Alzheimers. His father, also a neurologist, developed Alzheimer’s and that was David’s reason for the intense research to find answers.
It is possible that gluten (which is a glue) can coat the fibrin or filter portions of the liver preventing toxins from being filtered out through the liver. Those toxins could then back up into the body and create a toxic load the body cannot resolve.
Seems to me there are some very good reasons to get wheat and all gluten out of the diet. We know how hard that is to do and also how important it is to good health.
We always pray that you can find your right healing answers.
Kay
June/July 2021
Importance of pH balance
About 20 years ago in getting an after 50 year old checkup, I was told that I could have osteopenia (a made up disease as a precursor to osteoporosis.) I was tested and found my bones needed help so was prescribed Fosamax to take every day. That was really my beginning journey to finding natural health cures. I realized how dangerous Fosamax was after a time and refused to take it after 2 years so was told to walk 10,000 steps a day to help my bones. That should have been the first advise instead of a drug.
I then found an article by Dr. David Williams that discussed how the SAD (Standard American Diet) was hard on the bones and why we need to balance the acidity and alkalinity of our body with the foods we eat. Dr. William’s article was copyrighted, but I found this article on Dr. Josh Axe’s site and it does a very good job of explaining the importance of our bodies being on the alkaline side of the balance for all disease issues not just the bones. Disease loves to live in an acidic body. This could be why diet change is such an important part of a healing ALS protocol.
I will note a couple of things to be cautious of. Dr. Axe mentions eating whole wheat bread. I believe that is a no-no for ALS. He also mentions that rice is okay, but rice has recently been known to contain arsenic. Since ALS is a toxicity issue, anything toxic should be eliminated.
Those struggling with speech issues should eliminate all dairy at least for a time. If you have access to raw milk, that could be a different issue. Still dairy and wheat and MSG can create too much glutamate and affect speech in a negative way.
I hope this article will help you understand the importance of what goes in your body and the affect it has to keep you healthy or sick.
Use your best judgement (not necessarily your taste buds) for what you feel is best for you in guiding you to a more alkaline body and less disease.
https://draxe.com/health/ph-balance/
There are likely many sites on the internet with information about a proper pH balance. Here is another one with excellent information, some of the information is the same as the previous article. So if there are conflicts between different points of view, use your intuition as to what is best for you. Both sites contain foods that should not be on an ALS diet. You likely are aware of what those are so pay attention to what is good for ALS.
This is the link; https://natureslinkwellness.com/services/ph-balancing/
If it does not work, follow the instructions below.
You can also go to www.natureslinkwellness.com. Click on Resources and the first link is “Health and wellness articles. From there in the search window enter: acidity. It comes up as the PH Balance. There is some really important information in the article and then a list of acid foods divided in 3 categories and a list of alkaline foods listed in 3 categories. If you choose a really acidic food once in a while, then you can find very alkaline foods to help balance it.
Prayers for your success,
Kay
Sept/Oct 2021
Sunscreen Chemicals
Getting Vitamin D from the sun is a very economical way to absorb that immune enhancing vitamin which is actually a hormone. However, too much sun also has it's problems, like skin cancer. You never want to burn. Years ago my doctor told me never to go out in the sun without sunscreen. I don't think she has looked at the ingredients to realize that many sunscreens contain cancer causing ingredients. I have not seen her since. Here is an article I found that discusses sunscreen ingredients so you can make better choices.
It should be noted that if you are very light skinned, you can burn much more easily. If you are dark skinned, you have a harder time absorbing Vitamin D.
https://www.colorescience.com/blogs/blog/what-sunscreen-is-safe-understanding-healthy-and-safe-sunscreen-ingredients
Work on being as healthy as you can,
Kay
November/December 2021
I found this information on Vitamin B1 and was surprised how much a Vitamin B1 deficiency relates to ALS. Much of this information came from www.draxe.com. This is a very valuable website for health information.
Vitamin B1 – Thiamine
1. Helps with energy
Thiamine is used to help extract energy from the foods you eat by turning nutrients into usable energy in the form of “ATP.” Foods with thiamine help convert molecules found in carbohydrates and proteins so the body can utilize these macronutrients to carry out various functions.
2. Protects Your Nerve Endings
Your nerves are delicate and vital to sending messages from your brain to other parts of your body. Each nerve is protected by a myelin sheath that is replenished with thiamine or B1. A vitamin B1 deficiency can allow the myelin sheath to break down, leaving the nerve vulnerable to permanent damage and atrophy of the organ or the limb around it. Proper levels of thiamine help your body communicate better.
3. Improves Cardiovascular Health
Thiamine helps produce a chemical called acetylcholine, which relays messages between the brain and the cardiovascular system. Plenty of vitamin B1 can help those with congestive heart failure by restoring some of the communication between the muscles and blood vessels that support the heart. A deficiency in this vitamin can lead to irregular heart function, including palpitations and fluctuating heart rate.
4. Protects Vision
Thiamine plays a role in preventing or slowing the onset of cataracts and can protect you from this degenerative condition. It's also useful in preventing glaucoma. The vitamin does this by influencing muscle and nerve signaling, which is crucial for conveying information between the eyes and the brain. Thiamine helps preserve these special cells and maintain their healthy function.
5. Vital Anti-aging Properties
Thiamine contains antioxidant properties that help your cells renew and protect them from damage by free radicals. The body needs to replace cells that wear out and die; free radicals are molecules that inhibit this regrowth and the formation of new cells. When the population of free radicals is too high, visible signs of aging occur, including dull and dry skin, wrinkles, and age spots. Antioxidants help reduce the amount of damaging free radicals, allowing your cells to renew naturally and keeping cancerous growths from forming.
6. Aids Digestion
Vitamin B1 helps your body produce the hydrochloric acid your gut needs to digest your food. It's crucial to have a healthy balance of acids -- many digestive complaints are a result of such an imbalance. Problems in the stomach mean when your food passes through your digestive system in larger chunks, your gut isn't able to fully extract all the nutrients. This can lead to malnourishment or a deficiency in other vitamins and minerals. A good amount of hydrochloric acid can also improve appetite, enabling those who have difficulty eating to nourish themselves.
7. Reduces Alzheimer's Risk
The antioxidant properties of thiamine can help slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease and dementia. Experts believe free radical damage is part of what causes these memory conditions and a healthy amount of antioxidants could improve the prognosis. Some successful studies supplemented the diets of people with Alzheimer's with 100 mg of thiamine. Many of the subjects reported symptom relief after taking vitamin B1 over the course of several weeks.
8. Stimulates Memory
Thiamine can help clear your mind and improve your short-term memory. The boost the vitamin offers your nerves and nervous system communication also benefits the brain. Studies have shown thiamine can improve certain nervous conditions such as multiple sclerosis and Bell's palsy, as well. Vitamin B1 can help reduce cognitive memory loss and promote better communication within the brain.
9. Enhances Red Blood Cell Production
Vitamin B1 plays an important role in the production of red blood cells. It stimulates proper function of the liver and kidneys, which supplies the hormones necessary for your bone marrow to create red blood cells. A healthy balance of red blood cells allows more oxygen to be delivered to all parts of your body, improving skin and hair texture, boosting energy levels and concentration, and promoting the healthy function of your systems.
10. Aids Those with Metabolic Disorder
Thiamine can help people with metabolic disorders, pre-diabetes, or type 2 diabetes manage their symptoms and slow the progression of these diseases. It can regulate metabolism and help your body digest food more easily, avoiding blood sugar spikes and crashes and thereby reducing cravings. The vitamin also helps preserve tissues that might be affected by these conditions. Nerve damage is common in people with diabetes; consuming vitamin B1 can help prevent or slow this symptom. It can also boost eye health; vision deterioration and blindness is another potential side effect of diabetes.
Foods with Vitamin B1
Eating a variety of thiamine foods has many benefits, both for physical and mental health. The human body does not produce its own thiamine; therefore it must be ingested from foods in the diet. Unlike other nutrients that can sometimes hard to get enough of, such as vitamin D or magnesium, thiamine is usually pretty easy to acquire from foods, assuming you eat enough calories overall — making thiamine deficiency easy to overcome.
What is the best source of thiamine? Some of the healthiest thiamine-rich foods include yeasts (like nutritional yeast), sea vegetables, certain whole grains, green veggies like asparagus and peas, seeds, beans, and fish. Benefits of eating thiamine foods include gaining more energy, staying focused and alert, protecting your memory, lifting your mood, and protecting your heart.
What Is Thiamine?Thiamine (sometimes spelled as thiamin) is also known as Vitamin B1 and is a water-soluble vitamin that’s commonly found in many plant and animal-derived foods. As a water-soluble vitamin, thiamine rapidly breaks down once it’s consumed and is flushed from the body more easily than fat-soluble vitamins, which can accumulate. Thiamine is stored primarily in the liver, but storage only lasts at most 18 days — which is why you need to consume thiamine foods regularly.
How is thiamine used in the body? It is involved in many of the most important metabolic processes of the body. Like most of the B vitamins, thiamine helps our bodies use energy from foods and is vital for cellular functions. When you eat thiamine-rich foods, they help the body convert carbohydrates to energy, which is important for your metabolism, focus and overall strength. It also plays a role in healthy liver function and is needed for healthy skin, eyes, hair and nails.
How much thiamine/vitamin B1 do you need per day? Most foods are a good source of thiamine. The recommended daily allowance for thiamine is 1.2 milligrams a day for men and 1.1 milligrams a day for women. (2) Breastfeeding and pregnant women need more, about 1.4–1.5 milligrams per day. For adults with low levels of thiamine, the usual dose of thiamine is five to 30 milligrams daily in either a single dose or divided doses for one month. The amount that you need depends on your sex, age and level of activity. Factors like stress, exercise, illness and pregnancy all increase your need for thiamine foods.
The absorption of thiamine occurs in the duodenum, a part of the digestive system, by an active process that converts to its active form called thiamine pyrophosphate. Some of the reasons you might need higher amounts of thiamine are if don’t get typically get enough thiamine from your diet, if your body eliminates too much or if you absorb too little.
Top 15 Thiamine FoodsWhat foods contain thiamine? Here is a list of the top thiamine-rich foods to include in your diet:
- Nutritional Yeast — 2 tablespoons: 9.6 milligrams (640 percent DV)
- Seaweed (Such as Spirulina) — 1 cup seaweed: 2.66 milligrams (216 percent DV)
- Sunflower Seeds — 1 cup: 2 milligrams (164 percent DV)
- Macadamia Nuts— 1 cup: 1.6 milligrams (132 percent DV)
- Black Beans — 1/3 cup dried, or about 1 cup cooked: 0.58 milligram (48 percent DV)
- Lentils — 1/3 cup dried, or about 1 cup cooked: 0.53 milligram (44 percent DV)
- Organic Edameme/Soybeans — 1/3 cup dried, or about 1 cup cooked: 0.53 milligram (44 percent DV)
- Navy Beans — 1/3 cup dried, or about 1 cup cooked: 0.53 milligram (44 percent DV)
- White Beans --1/3 cup dried, or about 1 cup cooked: 0.53 milligram (44 percent DV)
- Green Split Peas — 1/3 cup dried, or about 1 cup cooked: 0.48 milligram (40 percent DV)
- Pinto beans — 1/3 cup dried, or about 1 cup cooked: 0.46 mg (39 percent DV)
- Mung Beans — 1/3 cup dried, or about 1 cup cooked: 0.42 milligram (36 percent DV)
- Beef Liver — 1 3 oz. piece cooked: 0.32 milligram (26 percent DV)
- Asparagus — 1 cup cooked: 0.3 milligram (25 percent DV)
- Brussels Sprouts — 1 cup cooked: 0.16 milligram (13 percent DV)
Are high-protein foods like meat, fish and pork a good source of thiamine? Most foods high in protein do provide some thiamine — plus they are good sources of other B vitamins, like B12 and B6. Fish and pork are especially high in thiamine. I don’t recommend eating much or any pork products, considering pork is usually found in processed meats and can contain additives, lots of sodium and contaminants. A better option is to get thiamine from wild-caught fish, especially types like herring and salmon.
Final note from Kay: Certainly you don't need to eat all of these foods some of which are not recommended for those with ALS, but there are many to choose from to help improve your thiamine intake.
You are always in our prayers to find success in healing.
Kay