Have you created one? How has it worked/not worked?

Right now, I have raspberries, chives, scallions and strawberries and they seem to do fine with little to no attention besides weeding, of course. What else could I add to the garden?

The following are the types of vegetables that are considered to have low calories and are great to eat if you’re in a diet or want to lose weight. These include carrots, cucumbers, radishes, fresh green beans, celery, cauliflower, cabbage, cherry tomatoes, mushrooms, and lettuce. Clearly, you don’t have to go all green when you’re in a vegetable diet. If you look at the choices, you can gather for yourself that these not only contain the least calories, they are packed with essential nutrients as well.

To be more specific, if you are on a low carbohydrates diet you might have been hearing that munching on vegetables is the way to go. However, just as there are vegetables that contain low and high calories, there are also vegetables that are low and high in carbohydrates. Do not generalize that just because they are vegetables they are immediately low in carbohydrates. Vegetables that are low in carbohydrates include but are not limited to sprouts, leafy greens, hearty greens, herbs, sea vegetables, broccoli, mushrooms, avocado, peppers, summer squash, scallions, asparagus, bamboo shoots, leeks, eggplants, artichoke hearts, okra and more. Of course, low calorie vegetables are also low in carbohydrates so you can take your pick.

To be cautious, here’s a list of vegetables that are starchy and are high in carbohydrates. These include beets, corn, parsnips, peas, all types of potatoes, and winter squashes. If you want to experiment on other types of vegetables, as there are many available in the produce section, you can check out their calorie and carbohydrate count on the internet to guide you on your diet.

Other types of vegetables that should be included in your diet list are those full of fiber. Don’t be confused by this statement. Though vegetables in general are good sources of fiber, there are certain types of vegetables that contain more fiber than others. Examples of these fiber-rich vegetables include brussel sprouts, carrots, cooked beans and peas, and spinach. Cruciferous vegetables are also good sources of fiber such as cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower. These vegetables are good sources of soluble fiber. Soluble fiber helps keep you feeling full and therefore makes it easier for you to resist eating too much food.

Though vegetables are generally not harmful if you are on a diet, observing the right serving sizes will help accelerate the results you want to see. The National Cancer Institute has recommended certain serving sizes for different types of vegetables. The recommended serving size if you are eating raw non-leafy vegetables or cooked vegetables is half a cup. If you are eating raw leafy vegetables, the recommended serving size is one cup. If cooked beans or peas are what you’re having for a meal, the recommended serving size you should take is half a cup. These serving size recommendations are considered not only healthy but aids in dieting as well. Since all the vegetables enumerated earlier don’t all contain the same amount of carbohydrates, it is still helpful to do a carbohydrate count on those you want included in your diet. A good point to remember when you are calculating carbohydrates is to exclude the fiber count because this is generally not included.

While you are on a vegetable diet, keeping a few tips in mind to be careful is essential. You might have lost weight but you got sick in the process so what’s good in that? When you pick out vegetables, try to go to the organic produce section. If you can’t get hold of organically grown products then exercise caution by washing your vegetables thoroughly. Vegetables that are not organically grown contain pesticides which are harmful to your health.
When you are picking out vegetables, choose the freshest among the lot. You can tell when it’s fresh if it’s brightly colored and are blemish-free or has the least amount of blemishes. In-season vegetables are guaranteed to be fresh so buying vegetables growing in their season is a good idea. You shouldn’t plan on storing vegetables for too long. Buy only the vegetables you plan to be eating in a few days. Other than that you should discard vegetables that have been stored too long. When you eat vegetables, try to leave as much edible skin on them as possible. The skin on vegetables contains their own nutrients which can benefit your health. Eating vegetables raw is also a good idea as cooking them can take away some of the nutrients and add fat from the oil you used.

As you can see, vegetables don’t seem daunting in the very least. These are great, quick and cheap alternatives to fatty foods that bring on the ounces on your weighing scale. As they are low in fat, cholesterol, sodium and calories naturally, it is no wonder that vegetables have been advocated to dieters for such a long time. If recipe is your problem, there are great recipe books or online recipes that show you great ways to make your vegetables tasty without adding unnecessary fat and taking away their nutrients. People who  eat  vegetables raw often feel additional benefits and is particularly good at this time of year.

Endometriosis is a painful condition in which endometrial tissue, which lines the uterus, can appear in the pelvic cavity and elsewhere in the body where it doesn?t belong. Endometriosis is one of the most frequent diseases in gyneacology, affecting 15-20% of women in their reproductive life, contributing to 5% cases of infertility.
Scientists do not know exactly how the tissue ends up where it doesn?t belong but there are a number of theories which I mention below.

Regardless of where it is located this endometrial tissue will behave in the same way as the uterus lining by responding to monthly cycling of hormones and bleeds during menstruation. In the case of Endometriosis, because the shed endometrial tissue and blood in other parts of the body can not leave the body through the vagina as the menstrual blood can, it forms scar tissue and painful adhesions. Endometrial growths are most commonly found in the pelvic cavity and can grow on ovaries, pelvic ligaments, tubes, bowel and bladder.

There are a few theories as to how the tissue manages to migrate. Some suggesting retrograde flow of menstrual blood and seeding or attaching to other tissues, while others suggest endometrial cells being laid down in the wrong places during the embryologic development of the foetus. This theory emerged as it could not be explained how endometrial tissue reached the brain though the retrograde flow of menstrual blood? Many women experience retrograde flow into the abdominal cavity via the fallopian tubes, but this is usually picked up by the immune system and cleaned up by macrophages. Yet another theory suggests that endometrial growths start from stem cells and are caused by a combination of factors. Endometriosis can cause heavy and painful periods, abnormal bleeding and infertility.  

As endometriosis has been associated with the presence of auto-antibodies and the presence of other autoimmune diseases, scientists are now suggesting that endometriosis is an autoimmune disease.  

Although genetic predisposition, environmental factors and altered immune and endocrine function are believed to play a significant role in endometriosis, the true cause still remains unclear.

How does endometriosis lead to infertility?

If the endometrial tissue grows within the fallopian tubes it can block them. Due to inflammation there are a high number of macrophages in the area which can destroy the sperm and interfere with implantation. Ovulation may or may not occur, and even if it does occur there may not be enough progesterone to support the implantation. The risk of ectopic pregnancy is higher than usual. Anti-endometrial antibodies may be responsible for the high incidence of miscarriages and poor implantation often associated with this condition.

Here are 8 ways you can treat endometriosis – naturally

Endometriosis is viewed as an estrogen dependent condition and the endometrial implants have been shown to reduce in size when estrogen levels in the body normalize or drop. Studies have found that inflammation resulting from bleeding of the endometrial implants each month actually increases estrogen activity. Another contributing factor is low progesterone which can lead to anovulatory cycles.

1.    Eat organically grown food and avoid exposure to commercial insect repellants. Studies have found that exposure to chlorinated hydrocarbons (e.g., DDT, PCB, pentachlorophenol, hexachlorocyclohexane) has been associated with an increase in rates of miscarriage and endometriosis.

2.    Avoid soft plastics. This includes drinking out of plastic water bottles, storing your food in plastic food wrappers, wearing surgical gloves, buying products in food wrap and touching printing ink with your hands. What do all these have in common? They contain Phthalates and PVC. Known endocrine disruptors and estrogen mimickers, linked to asthma, negative developmental and birth defects, immune system dysfunction, endometriosis and infertility.

3.    Reduce your intake of animal products. The first line of natural treatment for endometriosis is to minimize intake of animal products due to the high content of hormones, pesticides and herbicides which are known endocrine disruptors.

4.    Eat bitter foods to support clearance of estrogen via the liver. They are grapefruit, lemons, limes, rocket, endive, romaine lettuce, artichokes. To the same end drink dandelion and St. Mary?s thistle tea.

5.    Avoid allergens and take immune system supplements. As you?ve seen the immune system plays a role in endometriosis. As such you want to make sure you provide your immune system with all the key elements required for optimal function. They are vitamin C, vitamin E, betacarotene, zinc and selenium and probiotics. In addition have an IgG 90 foods intolerance test. This will show you what foods you are intolerant to. These need to be avoided to help balance the immune system.  

6.    Exercise regularly to improve circulation, toxin and waste removal. Exercise also boosts your metabolism (which is good for your endocrine function) and immune system. Bothe of which are crucial in treatment of endometriosis.

7.    Include foods that promote circulation and waste removal The following foods and spices promote circulation and waste removal cayenne, basil, chives, eggplant, garlic, ginger, kohlrabi, leek, nutmeg, pepper, rice, rosemary, scallion, spearmint, turmeric, cinnamon, lemons, zest of lemon, seaweed.

8.    Increase your fibre intake to improve estrogen clearance from your intestines including: adzuki beans, psylium husks, apples, other legumes, nuts and seeds.

9.    Take a high quality fish oil (make sure the one you choose is tested for mercury and stabilized with vitamin E (to protect it from oxidation)). Fish oil reduces inflammation associated with endometriosis, minimizing associated pain and improving the odds of healthy implantation. I recommend Krill oil (the plankton whales and other fish eat) as it?s less likely to be contaminated. You can get it here. Ideally you want to have 1000mg three times a day with food. Store it in the fridge.

10.    Take an iodine supplement there is an established link between hypothyroidism and endometriosis and so taking an iodine supplement can correct underactive thyroid function.

Sprouts were a good idea!

Where do most scallions come from?

All vegetables should be organic, if possible. Green vegetables, including juiced grasses and sprouts, must be the foundation of a good cancer diet. The fiber, enzymes, chlorophyll, minerals, and many nutrients are essential for your cancer diet. Juicing vegetables and grasses will help get more nutrients into the body. However, some whole vegetables should be eaten in order to get the fiber. Fiber is critical to a cancer treatment. As with all juices, if you make the juice from the actual foods, the juice should be drunk immediately after they are prepared. In cases where many small doses of a fresh vegetable juice are needed to be taken, the juice can be refrigerated during the day.

You should have organic, fresh salads/vegetables/juiced grasses/sprouts for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Many of the other foods that are allowed on this diet should be mixed in with the salad, except for the vegetable juices.

Vegetables that are known anti-cancer foods include broccoli, asparagus, beets, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, cucumbers, egg-plant, green and yellow squash, fresh green beans and peas, peppers, spinach, mustard greens, collards, kale, lettuce, okra, parsley, scallions, radishes, Swiss chard, watercress, sea vegetables, such as nori, wakame and niziki, wheat grass juice, barley grass powder, turnips, and sprouted grains or beans. Also eat lots of garlic and onion.

A warning about sprouts. Even sprouts purchased in health food stores have been shown to have very dangerous bacteria in them. Wash them very well, but it is even better to make them yourself.

Only whole almonds, whole macadamia nuts and whole walnuts are allowed on a cancer diet. Cashews are strictly prohibited. Almonds and macadamia nuts both have laetrile, and both are acceptable. Walnuts have the very critical omega 3. Other nuts should be used very sparingly. Peanuts (which are not really nuts) and cashews both have too much fungus and should not be used at all. Nuts should be used sparingly.

By a very wide margin, the best foods in the world are wheatgrass juice, barley grass juice, spirulina and chlorella. Only a small number of vegetables can even come close to these superfoods. However, most people are not going to sprout grass (search the Internet for the phrase: “wheatgrass kits” if you want to do it). Thus, many vendors make a variety of qualities of parsley powder, kale powder, barley powder or powder made from a wide variety of vegetables, herbs, and grasses. Such foods are absolutely required for a cancer treatment.

Legumes, are allowed to be eaten by cancer patients, but only in moderation and only to stabilize the weight of the patient or to provide protein.

Soy products are a highly controversial issue among alternative health experts. Some experts love some soy products, and others hate all soy products. It is up to your own judgment on this issue. All soy products should be avoided except fresh soy sprouts. Soy sprouts have an impressive number of anti-cancer nutrients and are acceptable as part of your salads, if you can make your own soy sprouts.

Whole grains can be used only when a cancer patient is fighting dangerous weight loss. If the weight loss is uncontrolled, they should consider a cachexia treatment plan, based on Hydrazine Sulphate. Yeast, which every cancer patient has throughout their body, converts complex carbohydrates into simple carbohydrates, so even whole grains should be avoided when possible. In any case, avoid commercially stored grains and potatoes. Another reason to avoid even whole grains is that over the decades the soil has become acidic and because of the soil many whole grains have more fungus than they did many decades ago. Corn and rice (because of the way they are stored) are grains that should be totally avoided.

Yeast (Baker’s and Brewer’s) should be completely avoided. This is another reason for avoiding processed bread and other bakery products. Japanese research links breast cancer with the ingestion of goods baked with yeast. The problem is mycotoxins, which are waste products of yeast. There are many health problems that can be directly attributed to yeast, including arteriosclerosis, obesity, and AIDS. No flour (using yeast) can be used in a cancer diet, not even if whole grains are used!

All beef, all pork, all fish, all turkey, all chicken, all dairy, and eggs, should be forbiden during a cancer treatment. The only exception is that if a person is fighting weight loss, some fresh, freshwater fish can be eaten if that is the only thing the cancer patient will eat (e.g. they won’t eat beans or other legumes). Avoid all dairy products, including butter, all cheeses and all malts, except cottage cheese or skim milk when used in the Budwig Diet. One exception is that pregnant and nursing women should eat two eggs per day because the choline is necessary for the baby’s brain development and the baby takes precedence since two eggs a day is not life-threatening to a cancer patient. If a person must have milk, the only acceptable variety is unprocessed goat’s milk, from organically grown and grazing goats.

Meat also uses up the two critical enzymes trypsin and chymotrypsin, which are critical to allowing the immune system to kill cancer cells, though more potent enzymes have now been found. Vegetable proteins do not use up those enzymes. Another reason to avoid meat is the accumulation of fecal matter in the colon. The colon should be relatively clear during a cancer treatment so that the body can absorb as many nutrients as possible. “All foods which ferment in the bowel should be avoided. Absolutely no meat or fish!

Diethylstilbestrol has been shown by the FDA to cause cancer of the uterus, breast and other reproductive organs. This is an artificial sex hormone widely used in food production. Dangerous residues of stilbestrol are in 85% of all the meat sold in the United States. This is the main reason why 15 countries around the world now refuse to import American meat. 21 nations have a total ban on the use of stilbestrol in food production or processing. Nitrosamines cause cancer of the liver, stomach, brain, bladder, kidneys and several other organs. When chemical preservatives and color enhancers are ingested, they cause the body to produce nitrosamines. Another source is nitrates and nitrites, which are heavily added to meat during processing.

Meat is a dead matter, low in minerals, and produces uric acid in excess which is a waste product. The incidence of cancer is in direct proportion to the amount of animal proteins, particularly meat, in the diet. However it is true that devitalized, processed, and sugared food can also cause cancer even in vegetarians. Far more often though, when cancer strikes, those eating the junk foods are also eating meat. Nations and groups which consume less meat have less cancer. Hospital records show that Seventh-day Adventists, who eat little or no meat, suffer far less from cancer than the average meat-eating American. Dr. Willard J. Visek, research scientist at Cornell University, stated that the high protein diet of Americans is linked to the high incidence of cancer in the U.S. Another cancer physician, who also worked with hundreds of cancer patients, said that anyone who does not eat meat, eats only good food, and does all he can to protect his liver, may never get cancer. Cancer would be almost unheard of if no devitalized food or meats were eaten. Cancer cannot exist where there is a pure bloodstream.

Cancer cells are able to grow by making the amino acids of protein available for their growth at the expense of the body as a whole. Meat, especially red meat, being the most readily assimilable protein, becomes a banquet for cancer cells. Emphasizing the use of plant sources of vegetable protein such as legumes and beans that contain cancer-fighting compounds should be a prominent part of an anti-cancer diet.

Meat does have some nutrients that help prevent and deal with cancer. Meat does have nutrients that are good for your immunity system. Meats have a low glycemic index, which is good. The problem is that meat overall does far more harm that good to your cancer treatment. However, there are situations where eating meat, especially turkey or chicken, is not only acceptable, but advised. For example, if a person has been on a very restrictive liquid diet for two weeks or more, it would be advisable to eat some meat to rebuild the protein in the person’s body. Also, consider a person who weighs very little (i.e. less than 120 pounds) when they begin a cancer diet. A cancer diet typically causes a person to lose weight, but by eating some meat while on the diet, the weight of the person may stabilize before it gets too low.

All man-made sweeteners (e.g. aspartame, NutraSweet, Equal) and fat substitutes should be avoided. These items are most often associated with brain cancer, but everyone should avoid them. This is one of many reasons soda pops are out of the question. Soda pops are also acidic. here is only one acceptable sweetener in a cancer diet, Stevia, which is an herb.

You should absolutely avoid eating refined sugar and refined grains and anything else refined. These things not only feed the fungus and yeast in your body, they also feed the cancer cells. The yeast in flour makes things even worse. Do not eat anything where yeast, fungus or mould is used, added or is a part of. Refined sugar and other simple sugars also interfere with your immunity system. These substances also interfere with getting Vitamin C and oxygen into the cancer cells. Sugar also depletes the body of key minerals and other nutrients because of its acidity. It is not the acidity that directly destroys the minerals, the acidity causes the body to use the minerals to regulate the pH level in the body. The same is true of all acidic foods.

The chain reaction caused in the body by acidic foods (due to the body’s attempts to keep the blood at a level pH) is the cause, or a major contributing factor, to almost all chronic diseases, including cancer. It would take an entire book to describe how the body keeps its pH normal, and the ramifications of these processes.

Honey is a case of both the good and the bad. Honey contains simple sugars, the fructose (38 percent) and glucose (31 percent) feed cancer cells. The good news is that honey contains powerful phenolic antioxidants. However, like grape juice, it should be avoided.

The only fruits that are allowed on this diet, without restrictions, are unsweetened lime, unsweetened lemon, and avocados. That is it. Lemons are actually a required part of any cancer treatment because of their beneficial effect on the liver and because they get oxygen into the body. Lemon juice and lime juice should be taken primarily just before bedtime. One exception to this general rule is special fruit “fasts,” such as the Johanna Brandt Grape Cure. When the body gets nothing but a potent fruit mush, it is a potent cancer healing program. Another exception to these general rules are for those on a cesium chloride protocol. They are allowed to eat fruits rich in potassium in order to meet their potassium quota.

There are some mushrooms that are used in cancer treatments, generally as supplements. Realizing that some mushrooms kill cancer cells, but are at the same time primarily a fungus, take heed. Mushrooms are one of the good and bad foods. Use with caution. The good news about mushrooms is that they do contain polysaccharides, which are essential to the immunity system. Mushroom supplements such as beta glucan are certainly acceptable to a cancer diet.

Seaweed is also high in polysaccharides, and anti-cancer properties. It is highly recommended. Brown seaweed has at least 3 nutrients that kill cancer cells; furanone, fuecoiden, and algenic acid.

Refined salt may be a major cause of cancer. Refined salt, the wrong fats, margarine and butter are the main causes of red blood cells sticking together, causing them to absorb less oxygen and making hemoglobin a free meal for yeast and fungus. The clumped together red blood cells do not get as much oxygen into the cells of the body. Also, the clumped together red blood cells cannot pass through the smaller arteries/capillaries, meaning much less (if any) oxygen gets to cells in these areas of the body, and some of these cells may be turned to anaerobic (i.e. cancerous). On the other hand, natural sea salt has a very similar mineral content as human blood. It is truly a health food as long as you don’t eat too much of it. Sea water salts are actually a complex blend of trace minerals, as well as calcium and magnesium salts. This complex blend is essential to life.

Other foods you should absolutely avoid are trans fats, meaning trans fatty acids or partially hydrogenated oils. Trans fatty acids may be one of the major causes of cancer. They become part of the cell’s wall (replacing cholesterol) and make the cell wall rigid or sticky and can make the cell anaerobic (i.e. the first step to becoming cancerous) because large oxygen clusters cannot get into the cells. Like refined salt, these fats also destroy the electrical charge of red blood cells, causing them to “stick” together. When this happens, among other things, the red blood cells do not get to many cancer cells, meaning the cancer cells get far less oxygen (if any), meaning they thrive because they are anaerobic.

Another bad food for cancer patients is polyunsaturated oils. Polyunsaturated oils (e.g. corn oils sold in supermarkets everywhere) promote the growth of small blood vessels (by promoting the production of “bad” prostaglandins). This is bad for cancer because it allows tumors to grow new blood vessels. However, these small blood vessels are good for preventing strokes. Thus, while on a cancer diet avoid polyunsaturated oils.

All herbs and spices are acceptable, except black pepper and other highly acidic spices. Several herbs, such as Sheep Sorrel and Black Walnut, are known to be strong anti-cancer foods. Turmeric, which contains curcumin, is a spice that is a potent anti-cancer food. As with all foods, the storage of herbs can cause them to be high in fungus.

You can forget about eating at a restaurant, big or small, formal or informal, unless it has a menu specifically for organic, raw foods.

Condiments are absolutely forbidden. One of the most acidic foods on earth is black pepper (black pepper is a major cause of acid reflux disease). Avoid soy sauce, pickled vegetables, relish, green olives, sauerkraut, and cucumber pickles.

Basically, any “refined” or processed food that contains sugar, refined salt, aspartame, MSG, trans-fatty acids, coloring, other additives, or refined flour should be avoided. The cooking of food kills critical enzymes needed for digestion.

While it is true that cooking does release some vitamins, by a very wide margin, overall it is better to eat food raw, if it can be safely eaten raw.

Stop smoking (no matter what kind of cancer you have), because smoking puts more than 100 carcinogens in your body. Tobacco is also very high in sugar, fungi and yeasts. Part of this is due to they way tobacco leaves are processed. Alcohol (which is a “primary mycotoxin”), which interferes with all treatment plans. Completely avoid caffeine because it restricts the blood vessels, meaning less oxygen gets to the cancer cells. It is also acid-forming and mucoid-forming.

Peanuts are perhaps the number one food that should be avoided because they are so high in fungus. Foods that have little resistance when they are growing, are frequently high in fungus. Corn, rice (because of the way it is stored) and potatoes, and any foods with corn, rice or potatoes, should be avoided, also because of fungus and the way they are stored. Cashews are another food high in fungus.

Avoid processed apple juice. Avoid oranges, tangerines, and dried fruits, for a variety of reasons. Do not microwave any foods during a cancer diet.

Every cancer patient should drink as much natural water (i.e. natural spring water or natural artesian water, processed with ozone) as they can, up to a gallon a day. Also, a cancer patient should get as much exercise as reasonable. Exercise pumps the lymph system and helps get toxins out of the body. Even if a person can do no more than lift 3 pound weights for 10 minutes while sitting in a chair, it will help.

Kitchen gardening is a lot of fun. Most people would tell you that kitchen gardening will bring out your creativity. Remember that you will be merely using window boxes so this is not going to be a really big garden. You will probably grow herbs and some vegetables.

Growing your own greens in a kitchen garden can provide salad greens anytime.  With the red tomatoes, the green scallions, freshly picked cucumber, and crispy lettuce straight from your window boxes, your dinner table will be very colorful and alluring. You do not have to worry about chemicals used by commercial farming. You should stay away from those harmful fertilizers.

It is easy to make a kitchen garden especially when you are using window boxes. Most houses already have window flower boxes. If you want to, you can use the existing window flower boxes and turn them into a small kitchen garden. Instead of flowers, you can use some herbs and other vegetables. Here is a brief guideline for your window flower boxes kitchen garden.

Find an adequate space for your garden and throw in a few good seeds, put organic fertilizer and maybe some kitchen waste, and water.  That’s it. It’s as simple as that. Now that you have your own kitchen garden, you need to maintain it. You need to take good care of your plants. You do want to eat fresh vegetables, right? You also need to closely watch your window boxes, especially if you are using wood. But there is no need to worry if you are using the PVC window boxes.

There are actually some more things to think about when you start your kitchen garden aside from the seeds and fertilizer. You also need soil, window flower boxes, handy tools, and supports.  You need to pick seeds for the kind of vegetables everybody in the family would love to eat.  Otherwise, it will be such a waste of time and effort. It might not cost much but the long hours you have spent and the bending you have done will go unrewarded. 

You might encounter some difficulties when you are gardening for the first time.  Who would not?  But making a kitchen garden using window boxes is one of the easiest forms of gardening. Besides who ever said that there are no such things as growing pains?  You will learn a lot along the way and later on you will be able to make some improvements.  You might even become an authority on kitchen gardening.  Take this opportunity as a learning experience.  You will learn patience, responsibility, about the insects, soil conditions, selecting the right plants, how the weather affects your garden, and a lot more.  Just keep going just as you do with your window flower boxes.  Now they are a beauty to behold.  Just be diligent and your rewards will be bountiful.