Just a little shabby-chic

Hiya friendly faces, I'm nervously here to blog. Since when did I become so nervous about blogging? Hmm, it happens now and again, but lately I've had a big dose of writers block/writer's performance anxiety. I asked my inner wise owl about this, I asked who am I to blog? Can't people read the same kinda stuff I write elsewhere, probably written more eloquently or with a greater humour than here on inner beam? My answer to this doubt is Yes...and No. Pretty much the same kind of content is repeated across the world wide web, but each blog has it's own unique slant, and I know that I don't mind reading the same kind of thing said differently when it is a topic of interest to me. My wise one said none of that, that was just me making that up now, my own logic. What the wise owl actually said is: What if you did it for no-one other than your self? What if it was simply a purely pleasurable indulgence to write? No agenda, no need to fulfill, yours alone.

Hmm, I can blog, for my own pleasure only, to fulfill my own need to express and play with words and record something of interest to me- just for me? Yup, it's true, I'm not wasting anyone's time or space, there's plenty here for everyone, and if any one decides they want to check out what my flavour of the moment is then they can, at no cost to themselves. Sounds reasonable, sounds wise.

That's how I got here today, thanks to the wise owl who lives within (or on my shoulder?), whom admittedly I don't consult with enough, and today I am going to indulge myself in a little sharing of my latest joy- thinking green. I have been having an awesome time playing with creating things out of mostly cheap and re-cycled or green-ish things. For example, I've spent about 100 bucks re-decorating inside and out with materials & cushions from the op-shop, and some cheap bits and pieces from the big stores, I'm so stoked with my 'shabby-chic' improvements around the house & it feels so good because I know I didn't break the bank. Rather than buying into cosumerist thinking I actually 'rescued' pre-loved bits and pieces from antique shops and op-shops. My money-minded man was also really impressed, so I have had quite the inner beam glow about me as I enjoy my new look loungeroom, deck & meditation space.

I also made myself a new lipgloss the other day, it cost me, nothing. I had a little pot that used to have eyeshadow in it, I squeezed some paw paw ointment (lip gloss) in and then added some mineral eye-shadow, a deep earthy red colour and some white for a shimmery effect, it came out looking like chocolate- which was fine with me. I delighted in asking the bf if he liked my new lip gloss...and then how much he though it cost, following his guess-timate with a proud- ha, no, it was free!!

So much more fun to be had, I just need to find myself a few different colours of mineral eye-shadow and some more pots or tubes to put it in & I will have lots of different glosses to play with- for cheap & of no harm to me or my precious body.

That's all for now, if you have any beauty/decorating tips please do leave a comment, I am thirsty for new ideas & to keep exploring.

Happy New Year!

My addiction

Coffee, it's the devil, I suspect. It's fair to say I've been getting to know the devil intimately in recent months, the more I have, the more I want. They call that an addiction, I hate that word, I like to think I'm above it, that my willlpower is so superior that the word does not exist in my world.

I am not above addiction. I am addicted to coffee, again, *sigh*. Last time I gave up coffee I did it so half heartedly that I can't recall whether it was 2 or 3 days I 'gave up' for. While I had a thyroid condition I didn't dare drink coffee, I was already jittery and overstimulated enough, so I didn't really drink the stuff for 10 months or so. I survived without coffee easily. I had bigger issues, I was drinking herbal concoctions and freshly squeezed juices and swallowing more pills than you can count on your hands in a desperate attempt to 'win back' my health. I decided I would treat my body real nice and in return it might forgive me for my sins and health would be free to enter back into my life. This was before I knew that the true cause of my illness was actually iodine poisoning, that put a different spin on things. I then became detox focussed & decided it was also a matter of 'waiting it out' until my body found it's own balance.

Fast forward many months and I was feeling better but not great, not yet able to work but not content to lie on the couch all day either. What could I do with my time? Going out for a really good coffee and perhaps a read of the paper or some cafe style blogging became a new past time, I loved it. I wasn't doing it every day but probably every second or third. I would have just the one coffee, a treat.

Fast forward another couple of months and I'm bored and feeling worthless, disturbed by not feeling that I was making a contribution to society (a value of mine). Depression was a knockin' on my door. The answer? I got myself a job, which created an issue for me as fatigue became an uncomfortable part of my day.  I felt myself a little bored and quite tired, I started to reach for the coffee, just one a day with a couple of black teas to supplement. I also sought out a little bit of sugar, just a little bit. Things were changing, vege juice drinking and a sugar free life were taking a step back while sugar and coffee stepped forward. 'We can make you feel better instantly' my old mates caffeine and sugar said. 'Don't we make your work day so much more bearable?' they asked, inviting me to trust them, to make them my new allies. What's the harm, I told myself, it's just a little bit...and 'everyone does it'.

Oh the naivety, or the willingness turn a blind eye, it is dangerous. Fast forward 3 months and here I sit, in bed, taking the day off, after crashing out big time on a coffee and sugar binge. On Sunday I enjoyed a couple of glasses of bubbly, some yummy coffee and a piece of cake and some chocolate- it was a party and I knew my time was soon up in terms of eating sugar and drinking coffee, so I made the most of it. Little did I know that the end of my shenanigans was near, in fact, TOMORROW. After my 'party girl' antics on Sunday I woke up on Monday, not having had enough sleep, my body already set up to fail, in terms of my adrenal glands being overworked and my blood sugar levels compromised.

I felt tired driving to work, once at work I continued to feel tired, I sat in a meeting and noticed anxiety coming up, it felt like my blood sugars were dropping (so early in the morning??).  I went to lunch at 1 where I ordered a protein packed lunch, which came rather slowly, I enjoyed a coffee as I waited. I still felt so tired, lunch came, I ate and looked at the cakes cabinet, which one might I have? I ordered a little slice and decided I'd best have a coffee to go with it, it wouldn't hurt because I was so tired (delusional thinking).

Upon finishing my lunch and coffees and sugar I felt weak, I was still so tired, I felt anxious and foggy headed. I just needed to go home, so I did. The rest of the afternoon was awful, I felt so sick and so tired and anxious at times, it was a rollercoaster of adrenaline and peaks and valleys in my blood sugar levels. I tried to keep snacking on healthful foods to rid of the symptoms. I recognised what had happened, I had been 'using' these drugs, sugar and caffeine for months now, they'd become an increasingly regular part of my life and they were draining me of my energy as they dropped me lower and lower than before. The sugar was taking essential minerals from my body in order to become whole so as it could be digested in my body. It was messing with my pancreas and who knows what else, it was affecting my mood greatly- sugar blues, yeah. The coffee had been creating a false sense of energy, using up more and more of my reserves, overworking my adrenals and leaving me emptier than before with every cup. I KNOW all of this and the dangers associated with these 'drugs', I have experienced it before, my body is sensitive. Why on earth do I get sucked in?

Today it stops, today I rest in bed, allowing my reserves to re-build, I am committed to finding new ways to support my own energy and to find joy in places other than coffee and cake. Wish me strength....

Body Balance

Today is the day for Body Love, we are looking at the balance of your body's Ph a.k.a it's alkalinity or acidity. You may know all about this, or like me up until recently, you may know zilch.

Alkalising is a truly important topic, whilst on Inner Beam you will mostly find talk about emotional, mental and lifestyle balance, it is essential that we pay attention to the physical aspect in order to be the brightest we can be.

What does Ph mean?

Ph often refers to water, if you've ever had a backyard pool you would know that someone has to keep an eye on the Ph levels. I remember those hot summer days waiting with anticipation as Mum tested the pools Ph before advising us that it was safe or that we'd have to wait a while until she had fixed it. If the Ph is too high or low then the water is unsafe, a similar concept applies to our bodies.

Our bodies are made up mostly of water, so the analogy of a pool being like our body isn't too far fetched. When the water in the pool is greenish blue and slimey it is completely unsafe to get in; the Ph is out of wack and who knows what kind of organisms are growing in there. When the pool is crystal clear all we want to do is get in there, it is a healthy pool and it looks safe.

The same applies to our bodies, we too can have internal environments that are lovely and clear and functioning healthily, or that are an environment where bacteria and all sorts of things can grow. Here's a thought, if you had super x-ray vision and could see inside your body, in particular your digestive system- which kind of swimming pool would you like it to represent?

Why do Ph levels in my body matter?

Imagine for a moment that your body is like a pool of algae and slimy green, the pool's filter just would not cope. Our body's main filters are the kidneys and liver, do you want them to have an easy task of simply filtering the odd bug and a little sunscreen or do you want them to be dealing with non stop green slime? Do you want your digestive organs providing a home for all sorts of nasties to procreate or do you want it to be functional and an environment for good helpful bacteria?

If after all this pool and algae talk you are still tuned in...you might like to find out more by reading my post 'Alkalising my Body'. You will discover how to test your own Ph and strike the alkalised balance yourself!

Please note that this article is based upon my own research and personal experience, I do not claim to be an expert in the field. If you have further questions or concerns I recommend you seek advice from a health care professional such as a dietician, naturopath or your doctor.

Wheat is No Friend of Mine

Image from thespartandiet.blogspot.com

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The chances are that you or someone you know has discovered that they are 'intolerant' to wheat. In alot of ways I dislike the term intolerant. I am 'intolerant' to wheat, dairy and sugar. To others this could make me sound fussy, overly sensitive or a hyperchondriac. I've had such thoughts about myself too, I have wondered 'what's wrong with me?'.

If you've experienced similar worries I am here to reassure you that it's not us, it is the *insert refined food here*. Our bodies are intolerant to such foods because they have been messed with in labs, on farms and in big factories. They are no longer recognisable from their original form.

According to Foodintol there are alot of people experience food intolerance, here are the statistics they provide:

Dairy Intolerance (includes Lactose intolerance) 3 in 4 people

Yeast sensitivity (eg. Candida infections) 1 in 3 people

Gluten sensitivity (inc. Celiac and Wheat intolerance) 1 in 7 people

Fructose or Sugar sensitivity 1 in 3 people

Food allergy 1 in 100 people

How do I know if wheat is bad for me?

Chances are that wheat is not good for you, because it is super refined. White flour is actually bleached (yes the main ingredients of your toast, cereal, muffins etc. have been bleached- yuck!). Unless it's an organic product it's also a safe bet that alot of nasty chemicals have been used to fertilise the wheat and to keep bugs away from it on the farm, that does not make for a good start in life for an edible plant.

To be more specific, symptoms of wheat intolerance include: lethargy (particularly after consumption) bloating, nausea, stomach aches...and the list goes on. For a more comprehensive list I recommend doing some research online. For further information you can talk with your General Practitioner or visit a Naturopath.

If wheat is an ancient grain, why was the wheat we eat today developed in the 1960s?

If you thought wheat was an ancient grain, you are not alone. The truth is that it was adapted from other grains in the 1960s for ease of farming. One such grain used in the development of common wheat is Spelt, which is indeed and ancient grain and dates back to BC.

To suit modern day farming practices the new 'wheat' was developed to be resistant to heavy use of chemical fertilisers. It was also dwarfed so as the entire crop grew to the right length to allow for ease of harvesting.

When you consider that the kind of 'wheat' humans ate pre 1960 was different to what we have now and it was changed so as chemicals could be used with ease in crops, it starts to make sense why so many of us just can't 'tolerate' it. We are the first generations who have been eating this kind of wheat for all of our lives or atleast a great portion.

What is the future of wheat?

Call me crazy, but it is my hypothesis that this trend of genetically modified food (aka plants that have been messed with) will have to be reversed, because more and more people will be waking up to the detrimental effects this 'new' chemical resistant wheat and other such refined foods are having on our health. Increasing health issues will occur among the population, particularly those who remain clueless about the impact refined foods have on their bodies. Eventually the cost of 'lifestyle' related illnesses will escalate to a point where mainstream science and health care practitioners will be forced to wake up and realise what has gone wrong. The Government will freak out over costs and will take measures to clean up our supermarkets and the poisions we are currently being allowed and encouraged to consume. The result being that we will need to get back to basics and eat food in its original form, the kinds that our bodies not only tolerate but draw nutrition from.

If I don't eat wheat, what will I eat?

Disclaimer: This article includes some research and lots of opinion, please look into the topics discussed for your self and make up your own mind. If you are concerned about symptoms then speak with a holistic health care practitioner who can help you to return to good health.

References:

Wikipedia

Wrongdiagnosis

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