A Message from Bernadette Wulf

Greetings!

April is here with the giddy rush of spring. It could make anyone act like a fool, but not you. You're not going to be fooled by those false claims for synthetic vitamins, or by statements that there is no cure for arthritis. Everything can be healed. We just have to find out how. It may be that you will find your solution in Devil's Claw, or even simple Apple Cider Vinegar. (See articles.) Or maybe you just need to boost your nutrition levels with whole foods.

Hey, why not a sprout garden? It only takes a small space in the kitchen. I have a dish-rack set up with mason jars, tilted to drain off water efficiently. It's like my own free vitamin factory!

In this newsletter you will find some good tips on getting the creak out of your joints, finding safe, natural vitamin supplements, and using EFT for clearing your blocks to abundance. We could all use some of that!

To Your Health!
Bernadette Wulf

What's In Your Vitamin Pills?

You may have read the recent headlines about the dangers of vitamin supplements, like this one from Organic Consumers Association: "New Study in Journal of American Medical Association says Synthetic Vitamins Increase Death Risk. Vitamin supplements taken by millions of people every day for their health could be increasing their risk of death a new Danish-led study suggests." Read full article at http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_4321.cfm

All this time you thought you were doing your body a favor by faithfully taking your vitamins. Now what? How can you tell which vitamins are actually good for you and which ones to stay away from? And is it really so important to take supplements at all?

The link at the bottom of this section has an excellent article on this very subject with a chart showing how to recognize natural or synthetic ingredients on your vitamin labels. It is well worth a read.

Meanwhile, you may want to look for whole food sources that are naturally rich in vitamins and minerals. If your diet is well supplied with these nutrients, you should not need to take supplements at all, unless you are temporarily correcting an imbalance. Beta carotene is abundant in dark green vegetables, spirulina, Klamath blue-green algae, and any deep orange fruits and vegetables. Your body can make Vitamin A from beta carotene. Vitamin A is also available in free-range egg yolks, and grass-fed dairy products.

All the B vitamins are richly supplied in nutritional yeast, sprouted grains and seeds, and whole grain cereal products. Vitamin C is abundant in fresh fruits, all sprouts, and fresh-picked vegetables. Vitamin D is freely supplied by the sun in just fifteen minutes of exposure of your bare arms per day. Vitamin E is often lacking in our modern, refined diet. You will find it abundantly in the germ of all seeds and grains, and especially when they are sprouted.

A balance of minerals is supplied by seaweeds, organically grown vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, and grains.

Contrary to popular belief, dairy products are not a good source of calcium, because their overall balance of minerals can actually cause calcium loss. This effect is even more pronounced in meat and fish, both of which are very high in phosphorus. Unless you limit the amount of animal products in your diet, calcium will be pulled from the bones and teeth to balance the phosphorus in the blood. Much better to eat dark, leafy greens, sesame tahini, and seaweeds to supply needed calcium.

In nature, vitamins are combined with other factors that would not be included in a pill, so you will get more benefit from the vitamins supplied in whole foods. Also, many vitamins are destroyed by cooking, particularly Vitamin C and some of the B vitamins, so it is important to eat 70% - 80% of your food raw. This also applies to amino acids (the building blocks of protein), and minerals. In fact, I have read that you will get twice as much protein from raw foods as from cooked!

Important exception: Vegetarians, particularly vegans, must take a sub-lingual Vitamin B12 supplement in order to prevent pernicious anemia. This is also a good idea for older people who may not absorb B12 well. B12 is only available from animal products, with the possible exception of seaweeds and algae (but seaweeds and algae are not a reliable source). A sub-lingual B12 supplement is the best insurance.

With an assortment of sprouts at various stages, plus seaweeds and algae, you can pretty much supply every nutrient the body needs to thrive. Get in the sprouting habit and you can toss your vitamin pills in the trash! But if you still want to take pills, check out the link below.

Natural Vs. Synthetic Vitamins, How to Tell Them Apart

Relieve Stiff Joints and Arthritis

When I was a kid, my dad used to keep a jar of Apple Cider Vinegar and honey on the kitchen counter and from time to time he would get into a routine of doling it out every night before bedtime. I never thought much about it until many years later when I was looking for a remedy for my arthritic thumb joint. Turns out that Apple Cider Vinegar is one of the best remedies ever. One caution, though. Make sure you dilute it in water, and rinse your teeth after you take it. All that acid and sugar can eat away at tooth enamel in the same way it eats away at the irritating crystals in your joints!

Check out these excerpts from Organic Consumer's Association Newsletter -
"When acid crystals harden in the joints and tissues of any animal, the joints become stiff and the tissues become hardened...

"Now, when body tissues hold all the precipitated acid crystals they can, the crystals next appear in the bursae and joints of the body, resulting in arthritis and bursitis. One to two teaspoons of Apple Cider Vinegar with one to two teaspoons of raw honey in a glass of water daily will help relieve the stiff aching and prematurely old joints. You be the judge. See how elastic and well-oiled your joints will become!

"... The malic acid content of the Apple Cider Vinegar dissolves calcium deposits in joints, while Apple Cider Vinegar acts to balance the acid-alkaline pH levels in the body and helps to oxygenate the blood."

Apple Cider Vinegar is an old folk remedy that has been used successfully for hundreds of years. It has even helped my thumb joint. If you have stiff joints, why not give it a try?

Another Arthritis Pain Solution

Excerpt from Smart Publications Newsletter

"Devil's Claw Extract Reduces the Pain Associated with Osteoarthritis and Other Musculoskeletal Complaints.
What is Devil's Claw?

"Devil's Claw (Harpagophytum procumbens) has been used for more than half a century in Europe for musculoskeletal pain, and during that time has become an established treatment option. The European Scientific Cooperative on Phytotherapy (ESCOP) now recommends Devil's Claw extract for painful osteoarthritis and the relief of low back pain.

"Research has shown Devil's Claw extract to be equal to or better than ibuprofen, acetaminophen, and other NSAIDS for pain relief. Most notably, this natural plant extract is an analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and antidiabetic1 and offers a safer alternative to the now "suspect" COX-2 inhibitors—such as Celebrex® and Vioxx®*—especially since research has found it to be equivalent to them for relieving pain...

"If you have osteoarthritis—especially of the knee, hip, or spine—there are a number of studies showing there's a good chance you'll get relief from Devil's Claw. And if you suffer from low back pain, you may benefit as well.

"In fact, studies show that Devil's Claw has proved to be so effective that it allows individuals to lower their dose of other drugs used to treat arthritis pain."

The experts say Arthritis is "incurable," so we're not allowed to say "cure," but it sounds like Devil's Claw could certainly offer a lot of relief!

EFT for Abundance

A few years ago, I used EFT to clear a lot of my limiting habits and beliefs about money and it really helped. It works for any type of abundance issues, so I thought I would offer a sample session so you can try it on yourself. We'll focus on financial abundance this time.

Visit the link to my EFT page at the bottom of this section to view a chart of tapping points and read the basic EFT recipe. Here we go:

Adapted from a case study by Carol Look on the emofree.com website -

1. EFT SETUP PHRASES:

While tapping the karate chop spot on either hand, repeat these phrases out loud, (or change the words to fit your exact situation).

"Even though I'm so worried I don't notice the flow of money in my life, I choose to notice and appreciate it right now."

"Even though I'm not noticing the abundance in my life, I deeply and completely love and accept who I am and how I feel."

"Even though I haven't been able to appreciate all the money in my life, I accept who I am and how I feel."

I have indicated where to tap while saying each of the phrases below. You may repeat the positive round more than once if you wish.

***Phrases that focus on the problem***

Eyebrow: "I'm too worried about money."
Side of Eye: "I always seem to need more money."
Under Eye: "I want to appreciate everything today."
Nose: "I'm always afraid I will run out."
Chin: "I have missed so much beauty in my life."
Collarbone: "I'm too concerned to stop and notice the abundance I have."
Under Arm: "I expect my money supply to be limited."
Head: "I'm not good enough to deserve as much as I want?"


***Positive focus on the solution***

Eyebrow: "I choose to relax and appreciate what I have."
Side of Eye: "I love being so observant."
Under Eye: "I love relaxing and noticing."
Nose: "I appreciate so much beauty and abundance in my life."
Chin: "I didn't know life was so prosperous."
Collarbone: "I appreciate so much daily abundance."
Under Arm: "I love noticing the little things."
Head: "I'm grateful for so much abundance every day."

Then tap on the following phrases as you complete one more round:

Eyebrow: I love knowing we all deserve abundance.
Side of Eye: I choose to notice the opportunities in my life.
Under Eye: I appreciate the prosperity in my life.
Nose: I love appreciating myself, my friends, my opportunities.
Chin: I'm grateful for all the new channels for abundance.
Collarbone: I appreciate exactly who I am and what I have.
Under Arm: I appreciate all the lessons I have learned.
Head: I am so grateful for all the prosperity in my life.