And, may I add, it was sooo nice to talk to you and hear your voice for the first time last night. :grouphug: You made me laugh, you made me smile, and now you know that I'm not a 67-year-old man sitting in the tropics lurking in a perverted manner with a beer gut and a white tank top :lol:. Lovely talking to you, my dear friend. Made my day. :D

You're most welcome. I hear you and totally understand about your dh not being open to dietary changes. It's hard. :grouphug: Exercise helps a lot. The only thing I have to say is that if his blood pressure is VERY high, he needs to be cautious about more strenuous stuff like running, and possibly P90X. Just maybe he should check with his physician. For very high blood pressure, they generally recommend exercise, but more mild exercise.

These are all wonderful. Thank you so much :grouphug:. I've copied and pasted. This is for an event tomorrow. I won't be having any myself (hcg diet), but the dc decided that for this time, we'll go with Kell's recipe. I do plan on trying them all, however. :D

:iagree: We're Baha'is (the 2nd-most widespread religion in the world - not numbers, just widespread). Although most world religions believe in monotheism, etc. - and in fact, have many spiritual beliefs in common, the Golden Rule is pretty much universal. This is a version of what we have in our classroom. Thought to share. Just to add, in case anyone is curious, we believe in: The Oneness of God (there is one God) The Oneness of Religion (all religions are in essence, one) The Oneness of Mankind (we are all one - and to do away with all forms of racial, national, gender, etc. prejudice)

Thank you both. Have added it to my Wish List :). It was a little amusing yesterday. Dh was sitting near me while I was reading this thread. I asked him, quite reluctantly, since that's been my attitude towards teaching this sort of stuff ;), if it's necessary to teach all this. His response: "Well, yeah! (sort of like "duh???)" I then said, "Really?" He said, "Yep, what were you thinking? Of course all that needs to be taught." I guess you just had to be there. :lol: ;) Just saw your siggy line. You're doing great with all these goals and challenges. :D

Is this the one you're talking about? And, would you say that it's a good book for someone who has had no other background in this? Is this a good one to start off with? If not, then can anyone recommend anything else? Thank you. :)

I haven't yet read all the replies. I just want to say that YOU'RE the adult and your religious preference is your own choice. :)

What can you suggest to top a Poked Holes Cake that will be: a White Cake with Sweetened Condensed milk and Cream of Coconut poured into it, other than the flaked coconut? Anything else? If not, if only flaked coconut works ... do you have any recipes or ideas for other Poked Holes Cakes? I like quick and easy - using boxed cake mixes ;). Thank you. :)

I hear you about spending too much. When my dc were younger, we also used a CM approach. But now that they're older, it's not as practical and it's just not enough for us. I love the CM approach. :) Thank you for this. Off to look at it. :)

Ladies, just a reminder: The lymph-rich areas you want to stimulate include the arms, armpits, chest, face, neck, behind the knees, and towards the groin. Always brush towards the heart. Try to gently dry brush your bre@sts daily as well. Focus on the lymphatic system - you can google or look up any anatomy book for locations of all the lymph nodes. http://www.womentowomen.com/detoxification/lymphaticsystem.aspx This is important. Peela and her thermographer, I think, were talking about this sort of thing. I'm off to go and learn. My thermography lady said the same thing - bre@st massage daily is key. http://www.webnat.com/articles/LymphaticSystem.asp

You're most welcome. Just do what you can :grouphug:. It's a long-term approach. If you need tips on triglycerides and cholesterol, I can share them here, or, better yet, perhaps you can start another thread. I have posted on them before, quite recently, I think. You could do a search. Others here have fabulous advice. I just love these boards :D.

Classical Music – If you listen to 12 minutes of classical music just 3 times a week, in 4 months your systolic (upper) blood pressure may be 7 to 9 mmHg lower. Sit up straight and improve your posture. Your blood pressure can drop by up to 40% as a result of acupuncture! Don’t smoke – obviously Drink hard water, not soft water. Soft water leaches heavy metals like lead out of pipes and faucets. Calcium and magnesium make water hard. Your body needs both of them. Why put toxic metals into your body when you could put essential minerals in it instead? Drinking hard water is associated with lower blood pressure, possibly because of its magnesium content. The toxins in soft water can contribute to high blood pressure. If you have a water softener, buy bottled water for cooking and drinking. BOOK The High Blood Pressure Solution by Dr. Richard Moore

LIFESTYLE AND ANY OTHER TIPS Any form of stress can increase the blood pressure, but obviously chronic stress is the most harmful, because it’s not a temporary condition. You need to set aside time to use some form of daily stress reduction like deep breathing, meditation, or prayer. Not dashing off a quick note to God to ask for calmness, but rather taking 10-30 minutes a day to do some form of active stress reduction. Do something on a regular basis to lower your stress. Laughter – funny movies, books, and looking at the humorous side of things, even in the midst of tragedy Take a night out – movies, concerts, plays, artistic events, and even sporting events – these have been found in a major study to have a strong influence on longevity Togetherness – just being with friends and loved ones Positive, Proactive Approach – If necessary, get professional help to overcome excessive negativity or fatalism Hypertension is a common symptom of a congested lymphatic system. Things that help to clear up the lymphatic system and that should be done very regularly: Rebounding • Deep Breathing – few minutes morning and evening • Dry Body Brushing • Massage and/or Reflexology • Swinging Only small, frequent meals should be eaten The way you sleep may also be important in helping control high blood pressure. Try sleeping with the head end of your bed elevated 8 to 12 inches above the foot end (use concrete building blocks). On rising, sit up slowly and dangle your feet over the edge of the bed for a few moments before standing. Those who get 5 or fewer hours of sleep a night are twice as likely to develop hypertension compared to those who get 7 hours. Don’t lift anything heavy Try talking less. Virtually any communication can raise blood pressure. Speaking can cause blood pressure to increase by 10 to 50 percent.

REGULAR EXERCISE 30 minutes of mild to moderate aerobic exercise done for 3-6 days a week can lower your blood pressure. If you think you have no time, ask yourself if you have time to recover from heart disease, or if you have time to spend sitting in doctors’ offices With high blood pressure, the priority is relaxation. Intense, unpleasant exercise can actually increase stress levels and even blood pressure in the long term. It’s far better to exercise at an easier pace but for a longer time. Build up your exercise levels gradually and slowly if you’re just starting out. A brisk walk is enough. Walking is very beneficial in reducing systolic blood pressure. Gentle Rebounding (see lymphasizing tip below) Many yoga poses and the regular practice of yoga help relieve symptoms of high blood pressure. Yoga is fabulous for high blood pressure. Do housework. Doing roughly 50 minutes of housework daily can lower blood pressure. Housework is great exercise, plus living in a clean, organized home can help reduce stress. Breathe deeply. Slow breathing and practices such as yoga or tai chi decrease stress hormones, which elevate rennin, a kidney enzyme that raises blood pressure. Try 5 minutes of deep breathing every morning and night. Inhale deeply and expand your belly. Exhale and release all of your tension.

Hawthorn Berries/Hawthorn Standard Extract Regulate blood pressure and break down cholesterol 900 mg capsules of hawthorn berries Gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) is an omega-6 fatty acid that is found mostly in plant-based oils. GLA can be gotten from several plant-based oils including evening primrose oil, borage oil, and black currant seed oil. Most of these oils also contain some linoleic acid. GLA may help reduce high blood pressure, either alone or in combination with the omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), found in fish oil. In one study, men with borderline high blood pressure who took 6g of blackcurrant oil had a reduction in diastolic blood pressure compared to those who took placebo. Another study examined people with intermittent claudication, pain in the legs while walking that is caused by blockages in the blood vessels. Those who took GLA combined with EPA had a reduction in systolic blood pressure compared to those who took placebo.

A good Fish Oil – such as Carlson’s If you have high blood pressure, high triglycerides, or other signs of heart disease, 3-5 grams is helpful. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you’re taking medications to make sure there are no negative interactions. Fish oils thin the blood just like aspirin, gingko biloba, and garlic. You don’t want to thin your blood so much that it causes bleeding. Niacin reduces high blood pressure You can’t get enough niacin in your diet to achieve blood pressure benefits To gain a cardiovascular benefit, you need at least 500 mg. At this dosage, many commonly experience flushing, which subsides within an hour. So, it’s best to avoid taking it right before leaving the house or going to sleep. These symptoms can be minimized if the niacin is taken with aspirin or a meal. In fact, flushing is a positive sign that blood vessels are dilating in response to the niacin, and patients who flush ultimately raise their HDLs and lower their triglycerides more than those who don’t flush. Niacin is more effective than niacinamide. CAUTION: Do not take more than 2000 mg daily. Very high doses can damage the liver. One capsule of 500 mg per day is the usual recommendation. Be careful if you have prediabetes or diabetes. Niacin can raise levels of blood glucose. This effect is generally mild, though, and doesn’t outweigh its heart-protecting benefits. But it’s good to consult with your doctor before taking it. Also use caution if pregnant, have glaucoma, gout, liver disease, or peptic ulcers. Resveratrol A powerful antioxidant Helps with heart health – may prevent angina attacks, heart attacks, and stroke Reduces blood pressure Prevents blood clots Take at least 100 mg of trans-reseveratrol daily Resveratrol is nontoxic and there is essentially no known toxic dose – in other words, it’s not easy to overdose on it But for general prevention, stick to the recommended dosage on the label There are two forms of reseveratrol available: cis- and trans-. Trans is much better absorbed than cis, which is less expensive also. CoQ10 Supports heart - The largest concentration of this nutrient is in your heart. Therefore, it’s essential for heart health. The more severe a person’s heart disease is, the higher their deficiency of CoQ10. Lowers blood pressure When your antioxidant levels drop – most dramatically after age 30 – CoQ10 is the first to plummet, causing the little engines in your cells to become less adept at repairing themselves. Consider taking CoQ10 if you are over 35 The recommendation is 100-200 mg per day of the best absorbed hydrosoluble softgel available. This nutrient is particularly essential if someone is on statin drugs like Lipitor Foods include: almonds, broccoli, potatoes, eggs, rice, spinach, and wheat. CoQ10 may cause insomnia (may be better to take this in the morning) and can reduce the efficacy of Rx blood thinners. Lypocene lowers blood pressure

SUPPLEMENTS Don’t depend only on supplements. Diet is very important. Vitamin C lessens overall inflammation and inhibits the production of C-reactive protein Plays a role in keeping blood pressure down Vitamin C with bioflavonoids – 500-1000 mg daily - If you’re prone to heartburn or acid reflux, avoid ascorbic acid – and opt for Ester-C. 400- 1000 IU Vitamin E is very important. Vitamin E improves heart function. Take d-alpha, NOT dl-alpha. 2000 mg Potassium Only take supplemental potassium if your health care practitioner advises it. It’s better to take a dietary approach. Potassium tends to balance your blood pressure Potassium will also establish a natural diuretic effect to help clear salt out of your body. In an 8-week study, 70 per cent got a reduction from potassium. CAUTION: If you have kidney problems, check w/your doctor before significantly increasing your potassium or before taking potassium supplements. 200-1000 mg Magnesium daily Magnesium influences how the heart and blood vessels contract and relax. It promotes dilation of the arteries, reduces resistance to blood flow and helps lower blood pressure Low magnesium is a hidden risk for high blood pressure A high magnesium intake is associated with lower blood pressure There’s no fixed amount of magnesium that each of us needs. It can vary from 200-1000 mg per day Your body knows how much you can tolerate from bowel tolerance – take as much magnesium as your bowels can tolerate Add 100 mg of magnesium to your nutritional supplements, and increase it by 100 mg every few days until your stools are soft, but not uncomfortably loose. Calcium, magnesium, and many other minerals are best absorbed when they are bound to an acidic carrier such as citrate, aspartate, picolinate, or amino acid chelate. Minerals need an acidic base to break down and get used. The most absorbable forms are magnesium citrate, glycinate taurate, or aspartate, although magnesium bound to Kreb cycle chelates (malate, succinate, fumarate) are also good. Avoid magnesium carbonate, oxide, sulfate, and gluconate. They are poorly absorbed (and the cheapest and most common forms found in supplements). Most minerals are best taken as a team with other minerals in a multi-mineral formula.

Reducing sodium lowers blood pressure in some people, but not everyone. One reason could be a sodium/potassium imbalance. You do need a lot of potassium. In one study of people with high blood pressure, a diet low in sodium and high in potassium worked better than just lowering salt intake. Eat more fresh vegetables and fruits, which tend to be high in potassium Learn to enjoy the taste of foods as they are—nibble on garden fresh greens and herbs Avoid processed foods, especially bouillon and commercial soups, breads and crackers, cheeses, chips, cured meats (bacon, bologna, corned beef, ham, salami), pretzels, and salt-cured foods (olives and pickles). Pure maple syrup has almost no sodium while commercial pancake syrups do. Read the sodium content on ingredient labels. Many so-called “natural†meats and poultry found in the supermarket have added sodium. A half-cup serving of Prego’s Heart Smart Traditional Italian Sauce has 430 mg of sodium even though it doesn’t taste salty. Eat at home more often. Restaurant food—particularly fast food—is notoriously high in sodium. A Premium Caesar Salad at McDonald’s has a whopping 890 mg of sodium—without the dressing! Always taste your food before you salt it. Try squeezing on a little lemon or lime juice first. Stimulate your sense of smell and increase flavor by adding more aromatic herbs to your meals. Start your day off right. Bagels are not only high in carbs but also sodium (up to 440 mg per serving). Cow’s milk and cheese are high in sodium – keep your dairy intake low When you reduce your sodium intake to 2.5 grams a day (2500 mg) or less, you are reducing your risk for hypertension – especially if you’re over the age of 60. Traditional Chinese medicine suggests that salt cravings are the body’s attempt to balance too much sugar or alcohol in the diet. Watching your intake of these substances can help you cut out salty processed foods—while contributing to healthy weight loss and lower blood pressure. Simple carbohydrates – particularly white bread, potatoes, and pasta – can send blood pressure soaring.

EAT LESS Getting the salt out of your diet requires one basic strategy: Eat more natural foods (fresh fruits and vegetables, legumes, eggs, lean poultry and meats, unsalted nuts and seeds, and whole grains). Seafood, kelp and other sea vegetables contain sodium but add much-needed iodine as well. Iodine is necessary for the thyroid gland to function correctly. Lowering your salt intake is not good enough. Eliminate ALL salt from your diet. Read all labels carefully and avoid those food products that have “soda,†“sodium,†or the symbol “Na†on the label. Start with the “% Daily Value†of sodium, and never buy foods that contain more than 16 percent of the Daily Value or foods that have a sodium content of greater than 300 mg per serving. Canned foods should be limited. Even things like ketchup, dips, relishes, mustard, and salad dressings are packed with /sodium. Also peruse the ingredients label for sodium in all its various forms: baking powder or soda, disodium phosphate, monosodium glutamate (MSG), sea seal, sodium alginate, sodium aluminum sulfate, sodium ascorbate, sodium benzoate, sodium bisulfite, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, sodium caseinate, sodium erythorbate, sodium hexametaphosphate, sodium hydroxide, sodium nitrate and/or nitrite, sodium pectinate, sodium propionate, sodium pyrophosphate, sodium saccharin, and sodium sulfite. Understand as well, the meaning of “sodium-free†and similar claims. “Sodium-free†means that a food contains less than 5 mg of sodium per serving. “Very-low-sodium†means a food has less than 35 mg per serving. “Low-sodium†means a food contains 140 mg or less per serving. You probably add 5 percent of your daily salt intake from your shaker or salt grinder. You can cut some by substituting sesame salt (or gomasio, a combination of sea salt and ground sesame seeds, popular in Asian and macrobiotic cooking). Make your meals come alive with savory salt-free seasonings like cumin, curry, chili, and cayenne. The good news is that for most people, it’s easier to cut down on salt than to reduce fat or sugar. Just don’t reduce sodium too quickly. Be especially vigilant about processed foods – salad dressing, pasta sauce, instant hot cereal.

When all else fails, try a temporary vegetarian diet. Plenty of whole grains, beans, vegetables, and some fruit – will give you plenty of nutrients needed to keep hypertension at bay Try a vegetarian diet for at least 3 weeks, but preferably for 3 months, or if you really can’t – try eating like a vegetarian once a week. Choose a black bean burger over beef, for example, or stir-fry tofu instead of pork. Vegetarians have one-third to one-half less hypertension than non-vegetarians You can include fish – but make sure you get good-quality fish Beet Juice The nitrate content of beet juice helps lower blood pressure, research has shown. Try to do a detox fast for 3-5 days each month. Juicing veggies as often as possible is very beneficial. Tea is high in antioxidants and its flavonoids fight hypertension. Drinking 1-3 cups per day has been found to lower blood pressure. Green, white, oolong, and/or black tea – are all good Hibiscus tea is excellent also. Look for a standardized extract of hibiscus. Many herbal teas contain hibiscus. Look for herbal blends that list it near the top of the chart of ingredients. Sesame seeds lower blood pressure and cholesterol even better than Rx drugs! Cook with sesame oil and eat sesame seeds every day. Sesame seeds are a good source of minerals (calcium, magnesium, and potassium) that counteract the effects of too much sodium in the diet. I love Seaweed Gomasio from amazon and use it instead of salt - loaded with minerals and sesame seeds. Grapes have natural pressure-lowering compounds Regularly eating 1 cup of yogurt (plain, Greek-style) daily can help get blood pressure under control. Nutmeg lowers blood pressure. Try to get ½ to 1 teaspoon a day. Lypocene lowers blood pressure. Eat more tomatoes – more beneficial when cooked in olive oil Chicken Soup – The broth is rich in collagen proteins that can significantly lower blood pressure. Make your soup with chicken legs and feet – they contain the highest amounts of collagen protein. ½ ounce dark chocolate every other day or so – at least 70% cocoa – dark chocolate contains flavanols that make blood vessels more elastic.

WEIGHT LOSS Even a 5-10% weight loss can greatly help reduce blood pressure. It helps to have a positive, determined attitude (not so easy, but it really does help). A defeatist attitude won’t work. Address your emotional and physiological cravings. Use emotional answers to emotional problems. Food is only a temporary fix. Control your portions. Chew your food well. Reduce your portions and wait 15 minutes before taking seconds. Change your diet. Eat more dense foods that turn to sugar more slowly – beans, fish, and chicken. Concentrate on eating some protein (including beans and tofu) with each meal. Eat lots of vegetables. Drink water throughout the day. Exercise more EAT MORE Potassium balances your blood pressure Potassium is found in bananas, avocados, prunes, potatoes, sweet potatoes, beet greens, and yogurt – most fruits and vegetables contain potassium Eat fresh vegetables twice a day and fruit at least once a day, to give you enough potassium with very little sodium. Potassium will also establish a natural diuretic effect to help clear salt out of your body. In an 8-week study, 70 per cent got a reduction from potassium. Don’t just increase your intake of potassium-rich foods, You need sufficient magnesium before potassium can be raised. Fortunately, many foods that are high in potassium are also high in magnesium. They include nuts, green-leafy vegetables, and beans. Eat some of them every day. Magnesium promotes dilation of the arteries, reduces resistance to blood flow and helps lower blood pressure Low magnesium is a hidden risk for high blood pressure A high magnesium intake is associated with lower blood pressure Magnesium is also available in whole grain foods and soy products Your diet and supplements should be high in magnesium. Whole Foods – fresh fruits and vegetables Nuts, seeds, soy, cold-pressed vegetable oils

Lots of tips here. Sorry if it's overwhelming. BLOOD PRESSURE Have your blood pressure checked at least once a year. If it’s greater than 120/80, check it more often – check it 3 separate times at the same time of day. Normal: Below 120/80 Pre-Hypertension: 120/80 to 139/89 Hypertension: 140/90 Although high blood pressure often shows no signs, the usual symptoms are: • headaches • dizziness • noises or ringing in the ears • hemorrhages in the eyes • sweating • rapid pulse • shortness of breath • vision disturbances • heavy snoring High blood pressure and diabetes are related. The two often appear together, especially in obese patients. If you have mild hypertension or are at risk, get tested for diabetes. If your blood pressure is high and your doctor has put you on meds, you could be taking them for the rest of your life. They’re not only expensive, they can have side effects like fatigue, nausea, headaches, abdominal cramping, congestive heart failure, depression, and poor memory. Rx and OTC drugs should be reserved for situations after all else fails. Read about the methods below. Discuss them your doctor, and give them a 3-month trial. Then have your doctor monitor you and tell you how to get off your meds safely. Increase your physical activity Lose excess weight Limit salt Stop smoking for good

I wish we had all these ingredients here :(.

I went back and forth on the whole abridged thing when my dc were younger. After lots of research on various forums (as well as Susan Wise Bauer's specific recommendation for these wonderful books, dh (who ONLY reads classics - he's a book-elitist snob :lol:) and I, decided that since the Troll Books are so nicely abridged and illustrated, we'll do as many of those as we can. We have most of the series. For other books, once the kids are older, we will read the originals - particularly British Literature, which we love - The Hobbit, LOTR, Dickens, Pride and Prejudice, and so on. Reading aloud (or for oneself) should be enjoyable. If not, the child will tune you out :banghead:. Personally, for me, Heidi was the first classic that I read and loved. The first Dickens was A Christmas Carol, followed by Oliver Twist. This is the cover of one of our favorite Troll books: I'm sad that they're all out of print, but we got most of them in Trinidad on a visit, and amazon has them used also. They are, without a doubt, our favorite abridged books. And we have many.

I haven't read the entire article yet, but I am planning to soon. I also really want to see this documentary.