Re: A question for all the KT drinkers that went OT

[Guest guest]

Hi Sandy,

I can totally sympathize with you. I am a stay at home Mom (who's

husband wants her to return to work soon to help out with $). Our

grocery bill is insane. My husband has lived on cereal for

breakfast, frozen or canned processed foods, taco bell for dinner

and beer for years before he met me so it's a point of contention

for us. I DO understand how he feels and I DO feel very bad for

running up such a huge grocery bill but I simply cannot and will not

feed our family anything less. I buy less 'snacks' and organize my

meals and that has helped some. 3 out of the 4 of us are overweight

in my family and the last thing we need is overly processed foods,

extra hydrogenated fats & high fructose corn syrup and such.

The thing I can tell you is to google local farmer's markets. I

guarantee you'll be able to find some farmers at the market who do

not grow GMO produce and do not put pesticides and such on their

produce. By shopping with them, (they generally have these on

Saturdays from say 7-11am) you will cut out the middle man

(distributor and grocer AND transportation fees if it comes from out

of state).

Take advantage of produce that IN SEASON, you'll save money there

instead of sticking with your favorite / habitual foods. Your taste

buds will change and will soon enjoy them.

It's obvious that your grocer you were shopping with charges way too

much for organic produce! You can do 2 things...post

somewhere...local grocery stores, library, craigslist, etc for like

minded people and try to gather a decent group that want affordable,

organic produce. Then go to your local grocers (pick one that

agrees) and tell them that if they can provide organic produce, that

you all promise to purchase from them on the condition that over

time, as more and more people realize they carry organic produce,

that they make it more affordable and carry more variety.

There was a group of us that did this at our local Kroger grocery

store and now the 2 Krogers in our area carry a HUGE organic section

AND the price has come down considerably. It IS more expensive but

it IS A LOT cheaper than it used to be!! Ie: organic strawberries a

few years ago was $6.99 - $8.99 a package and last spring, they

ran .80cents -$1.00 more than regular ones sprayed w/ pesticides.

Considering my 2 yr old HOARDS strawberries and you can't remove the

peel, I'm happy with that price. As a sidenote, at first, they only

brought in organic lemons and oranges. Then organic zucchini,

carrots and some smushy apples. Within a year, the selection

doubled then after 3 yrs, 80% or so of the produce I buy is organic

from the same store. The produce mgr told me that his personal goal

is to slowly switch to all organic produce at a cost that people can

afford. Better for the people, for the produce handlers, farmers

and environment.

Eggs are about 3-4 times more than regular eggs. I'm told the best

way to get around this one (other than get your own chickens) is to

find a local farmer that sells fresh eggs & feeds them no hormones,

antibiotics, etc...non gmo feed, etc. I buy free range eggs for my

family. When the date gets close to expiring, they go on sale for

like $1.50 a dozen and I'll buy several and freeze some or just keep

them in the colder section of my fridge.

As far as chicken & beef go...ask your butcher to get some free

range chicken in for you but stipulate that you want one from a

company that does NOT feed their chickens hormones or antibiotics or

GMO feed. It's cheaper than organic since w/ organic chickens, they

literally have to keep them confined to assure they don't peck and

eat other foods they find, more maintenance = more cost for

you...free range chickens from what I understand are healthier, get

more exercise, etc. By the way, I feed my family sausage, bacon and

deli meat that contain no nitrates or phosphates. If you

occasionaly eat 'regular' sausage, bacon, deli meat, just drink some

orange juice w/ it...supposedly it helps flush out the nitrates or

counteracts with it so not much is absorbed in your body.

You could always grow the easy veggies organically at

home...zucchinis...tomato...jalapeno...corn...carrots...lettuces are

wonderful to grow at home because you don't pick the entire thing,

you just take what leaves you'll use. Since my boys are bit older

now (5 and 2), we will be doing this, this spring. That way at

least you save on SOME costs...herbs & spices are easy to grow...

Another thing to save on eating healthier is do a google search on

which produce is better to eat organic vs regular....ie: there are

some fruits & veggies that as they grow, absorb the pesticides and

chemicals in their dna, their fibers on the inside so it's better to

either avoid eating them (bean & squash family: green beans,

zucchini, squash, etc) so buy organic or limit your intake on them.

Other foods such as: avocados for example, you can buy regular and

save the money because very little to none is penetrated beyond the

skin. As far as citrus fruit goes, I DO buy organic lemons & limes

when I use the zest in recipes, if I have no plans to use the zest

or peel, I'll wash it throughly, then use up the fresh juice and

throw the rest away. Not perfect but it saves me some here and

there.

I'd rather have everything 100% organic / free range / enviro

friendly in our home but we can't afford it so I do the best I can.

I JUST NOW have opened up my eyes and am starting to educate myself

on household products I have been using and how damaging it is to

the environment and to my family. I returned / exchanged non opened

items and got enviro friendly products instead. Since I didnt have

receipts, I just marched up and told them, " We're going green in my

family and since I spend a fortune with you, I need to exchange

these for safe products for my family. " :-) I am using the opened

ones and as I run out, am replacing them. I'm doing the same thing

with our lightbulbs.

I do though need to address body care products for my family. I

tried several brands of 'healthy' baby products (5 brands to be

exact) when my older son was a baby and each time he broke out in

welts & hives, I am sure from too much natural fragrance and I am

almost certain he's allergic to lavendar so I'm using Dove unscented

on him and cetaphil on my 2yr old (eczema). I know there has to be

some products that their skin would accept and would be healthier

for them but it's just a matter of finding them! :-)

If anyone else has suggestions or such, I would LOVE to hear from

you. I also need to cut back costs and need suggestions for good

working brands for healthier household & body products.

I hope that at least some of this has helped you!!

Pat yourself on your back for making an attempt to feed your family

healhier.

Worst case, you can always travel a bit further to a Whole Foods

Market or similar store...just be sure to do all of your shopping at

once so you don't run up a horrendous gas bill.

I know it's more expensive but considering all the junk that's put

in foods, produce, meats, we don't know what damage it's doing and

what THAT could cost later in health.

Keep in mind, you'll have to try prepackaged brands if you go that

route for organic products...some taste horrendous, just keep trying

different brands and you'll find one you like.

Sincerely,

>

> Pardon me if this has been asked before but I was wondering what

is the one biggest thing that KT has done for you?

> For me it is not just what the drinking of KT has done for me but

it has made me curious about the foods that I eat and what is WRONG

with my normal (or so I thought) diet that is making me sicker and

sicker. I used to think that the food pyramid was like the do-all

and end-all. Just follow it and you will be healthy.

[Guest guest]

Sandy, I have recently undergone this change myself, so I'm aware of your

misgivings and what you are going thru. I don't know where you live but in

most places in the U.S. Trader Joe's is a good place to start. In my area

we have a chain called Henry's. If you go to www.localharvests.org and use

their locator you will find what store's are available in your area.

Organic, and especially grass-fed meat products do cost more, there is no

way around that. The GOOD NEWS is that once you switch to the really GOOD

foods, you won't be eating nearly as much. They are so much more nutrient

dense than what we have been used to that your body just cuts out early and

says OK thats enough for now. Not only that they smell heavenly while in

preparation. Actually I am eating very little now by comparison and my

weight is dropping slowly due to the Kefir, Kombucha, VCO combination-

those also tend to lessen the appetite. Once I switched to Organic and

Unprocessed my appetite dropped even further, but I enjoy my food more and

digestive problems are quickly clearing up. The process of making the

switch was expensive- there just isn't any way around that because you need to

completely restock all your staples. But once that is accomplished I found

that my actual expenditures are far less than they once were. Its the

convenience foods that are expensive- the sugary snacks, etc. Those things

were really running up my bills, now of course those have been eliminated.

I buy organic whole grains from Tropical Traditions and grind my own flours.

Some of these are also available in bulk at Henry's.

Just do a little at a time as your budget allows, no one said you had to do it

overnight, Just keep working on it a little at a time and it won't be such a

shock to your budget. Congratulations on your decision. If more of us

would refuse to buy the crap they try to pawn off onto us, they would have to

change their way of thinking. Oh, and don't be fooled by the BIG AG phoney

Organic foods that are now flooding the market. Read those labels and you

will see they aren't any different that regular processed foods. They somehow

got the authorities to lower the standards for " organic " so they could jump

on the bandwagon and gouge us with even higher prices for their crappy foods.

Stick with FRESH fruits and vegetables ( Organic of course- or organically

grown by local farmers whose practices you can trust. Getting certified costs a

lot of money and not all of them can afford to do that)

Grass- Fed, Pasture Fed meats are costly but worth every penny - again

you won't be eating as much of these, and once you get used to the taste you

would never think of going back to the Factory farm meats.

Huggs

zoe

Thursday, January 25, 2007, 9:52:26 PM, you wrote:

Pardon me if this has been asked before but I was wondering what is

the one biggest thing that KT has done for you?

For me it is not just what the drinking of KT has done for me but it

has made me curious about the foods that I eat and what is WRONG with

my normal (or so I thought) diet that is making me sicker and sicker.

I used to think that the food pyramid was like the do-all and end-all.

Just follow it and you will be healthy. Apparently so many of us are

proving that to be false. And I am not talking about only the

McsAholics but even people like me who seldom eat out and don't

buy anything pre-cooked. I love to cook but it is very disheartening

to learn that with my best efforts I was still poisoning us with the

over-processed foods even down to the flour for my bread.

But.... I was following the pyramid! The one that told me how to eat

right and be healthy.

How do you all afford to eat right? Organic meat is something I have

never even seen. Where do you get it? Organic vegetables are like 3Xs

higher than regular and veggies are too high to start with.

We are eating up all of my stores of canned goods and frozen foods

because I can't bear to let them go to waste but when we finish them I

want to buy no more canned goods or non-organic meat, wheat, etc but

where do you find them within a reasonable budget or is good health

only for those with the money to buy the goods?

I am not saying that I won't sacrifice a lot of less important things

to eat right but I feel like I am caught between a rock and a hard

place as far when I am shopping and I am considering a pound of

carrots and then a pound of organic carrots at 7Xs the price. Five

organic lemons they were charging 5 dollars for. I am not kidding. I

did that today and came home with the cheaper ones thinking they

surely can't hurt me that bad. ( it is like new car sticker shock

over and over again.

How do you cope with it all?

Sorry I went off topic but I had a rant coming on I guess. <shrug> I

suppos that if I wasn't so sick and sick of being that way I would

still be blissfully unaware huh?

Sandy.

[Guest guest]

Sandy, I have recently undergone this change myself, so I'm aware of your

misgivings and what you are going thru. I don't know where you live but in

most places in the U.S. Trader Joe's is a good place to start. In my area

we have a chain called Henry's. If you go to www.localharvests.org and use

their locator you will find what store's are available in your area.

Organic, and especially grass-fed meat products do cost more, there is no

way around that. The GOOD NEWS is that once you switch to the really GOOD

foods, you won't be eating nearly as much. They are so much more nutrient

dense than what we have been used to that your body just cuts out early and

says OK thats enough for now. Not only that they smell heavenly while in

preparation. Actually I am eating very little now by comparison and my

weight is dropping slowly due to the Kefir, Kombucha, VCO combination-

those also tend to lessen the appetite. Once I switched to Organic and

Unprocessed my appetite dropped even further, but I enjoy my food more and

digestive problems are quickly clearing up. The process of making the

switch was expensive- there just isn't any way around that because you need to

completely restock all your staples. But once that is accomplished I found

that my actual expenditures are far less than they once were. Its the

convenience foods that are expensive- the sugary snacks, etc. Those things

were really running up my bills, now of course those have been eliminated.

I buy organic whole grains from Tropical Traditions and grind my own flours.

Some of these are also available in bulk at Henry's.

Just do a little at a time as your budget allows, no one said you had to do it

overnight, Just keep working on it a little at a time and it won't be such a

shock to your budget. Congratulations on your decision. If more of us

would refuse to buy the crap they try to pawn off onto us, they would have to

change their way of thinking. Oh, and don't be fooled by the BIG AG phoney

Organic foods that are now flooding the market. Read those labels and you

will see they aren't any different that regular processed foods. They somehow

got the authorities to lower the standards for " organic " so they could jump

on the bandwagon and gouge us with even higher prices for their crappy foods.

Stick with FRESH fruits and vegetables ( Organic of course- or organically

grown by local farmers whose practices you can trust. Getting certified costs a

lot of money and not all of them can afford to do that)

Grass- Fed, Pasture Fed meats are costly but worth every penny - again

you won't be eating as much of these, and once you get used to the taste you

would never think of going back to the Factory farm meats.

Huggs

zoe

Thursday, January 25, 2007, 9:52:26 PM, you wrote:

Pardon me if this has been asked before but I was wondering what is

the one biggest thing that KT has done for you?

For me it is not just what the drinking of KT has done for me but it

has made me curious about the foods that I eat and what is WRONG with

my normal (or so I thought) diet that is making me sicker and sicker.

I used to think that the food pyramid was like the do-all and end-all.

Just follow it and you will be healthy. Apparently so many of us are

proving that to be false. And I am not talking about only the

McsAholics but even people like me who seldom eat out and don't

buy anything pre-cooked. I love to cook but it is very disheartening

to learn that with my best efforts I was still poisoning us with the

over-processed foods even down to the flour for my bread.

But.... I was following the pyramid! The one that told me how to eat

right and be healthy.

How do you all afford to eat right? Organic meat is something I have

never even seen. Where do you get it? Organic vegetables are like 3Xs

higher than regular and veggies are too high to start with.

We are eating up all of my stores of canned goods and frozen foods

because I can't bear to let them go to waste but when we finish them I

want to buy no more canned goods or non-organic meat, wheat, etc but

where do you find them within a reasonable budget or is good health

only for those with the money to buy the goods?

I am not saying that I won't sacrifice a lot of less important things

to eat right but I feel like I am caught between a rock and a hard

place as far when I am shopping and I am considering a pound of

carrots and then a pound of organic carrots at 7Xs the price. Five

organic lemons they were charging 5 dollars for. I am not kidding. I

did that today and came home with the cheaper ones thinking they

surely can't hurt me that bad. ( it is like new car sticker shock

over and over again.

How do you cope with it all?

Sorry I went off topic but I had a rant coming on I guess. <shrug> I

suppos that if I wasn't so sick and sick of being that way I would

still be blissfully unaware huh?

Sandy.

[Guest guest]

thanks for all of the suggestions.

I've not even thought about the products I clean with although I

have been looking into making wood ash soap since we have a wood

heater for our heat and an over-abundance of trees on our property.

I have 3 chickens and although one does not lay, we generally get 2

per day with one days without.

I am even looking into buying a goat for milk kefir and cheese.

I tried planting some veggies last year and don't know why I can't

be successful at growing a crop. I used to have a lot of luck at it

but I also used to douse them with pesticides if I even saw a bug. :0

(

Anyway I will keep trying that.

I am very thankful that I can brew my own KT and make kefir

otherwise they would have to be sparingly used whereas now I can

drink them whenever I have the urge...which is often.

We literally have ONE grocery store in this one-horse town. Piggly

Wiggly. Just like in Driving Miss Daisy and the mentality of most of

the people I have met is quantity NOT quality is what is best. I

have offered them KT and scobys and not one person has shown the

slightest interest in partaking of it without me " forcing " it on

them .

Soooooo, I know that there is a WFS in Roswell, which is about 130

miles round trip for me so I will probably make the trip and if the

foods are somewhat reasonable I will try to make it there a couple

times per month.

My granddaughter poses the biggest problem when she is with us. She

won't eat anything that doesn't come from Mcs or Pizza Hut

(which is how her mother eats) and since we don't have one in this

town I have to scramble around to feed her what she will eat. I did

get her to drink some KT. It was my best batch so far and VERY fizzy

and I consider that PRogreSS! I am surprised that her body did not

go into shock from eating something with actual food value.

Anyway, thanks for taking the time to answer my tired rant and " Way

to Go " with the Kroger in your area. Hopefully more diehards

skeptics like me will begin to see the light and real food will

become the norm instead of the exception.

Sandy

> Hi Sandy,

> I can totally sympathize with you. I am a stay at home Mom (who's

> husband wants her to return to work soon to help out with $). Our

> grocery bill is insane.

[Guest guest]

Hi everyone,

That's great your grandaughter tried your KT!!! Hooray!!! Perhaps

you can make her smoothies with your kefir? My sister & I make our

kids smoothies almost daily w/ it and they love it. If they need it

sweetened, I just put a little Stevia in it (Sweet Leaf brand).

I didn't realize where you live! Maybe you can do a google on some

co-ops? You may have to drive a distance to meet the delivery truck

if it's off his route but I do know that they exist. I can promise

you that there is AT LEAST one more person either in yours or

neighboring town that is struggling too. Don't give up, keep trying

to find like minded people...you can go in on the products on the co-

op and split the cost.

As for your granddaughter, my 5yr old has the same tastes...so I

give him 'healthy' junk food :-) but also will serve a fresh veggie

and the rule is, we started out by him being required to take 1

bite. If he liked it, he could eat it, if not, I complimented him

on being polite and a big boy by trying it. I did this w/ mostly

organic baby spinach salad (I DID douse shredded cheese and Ranch on

it) and now he LOVES it and generally has 2 helpings of salad. I

figure I'll taper off the Ranch next and not put so much on.

Healthy junk food:

Grass fed / Organic Beef cheeseburgers served w/ whole grain

hamburger buns :-)

Baked Oven french fries...baked oven sweet potatoes...

Macaroni from scratch OR my kids love the brand, " Back To Nature "

boxed macaroni. We had to try several organic brands before we

found one we liked.

Homemade pizza...your own organic, wholesome ingredients.

Amy's brand Organic frozen pizza snacks

Homemade chicken strips (either fried or baked 'til crunchy)

spaghetti, lasagna made w/ organic ingredients...I cook mine long

and chop up various veggies and the kids have NO

CLUE...zuchinni...spinach...mushrooms...onion...garlic....

Kids LOVE stuff sweetened w/ Stevia, maybe the smoothie or KT would

be a good way to start her off in the right direction. My kids LOVE

fruit flavored KT, my younger one goes nuts when I'm drinking it.

Even my very picky older son calls the grape one, " Healthy Grape

Soda " :-)

With my older son, as he would ask me to buy him 'commercialized'

products, I would always read the ingredient list and explain to him

what was in it. He would more often get angry w/ the manufacturers

on putting such unhealthy ingredients to make kids sick and fat than

me not buying it. You DO have to check the ingredients list but

there are organic brands that contain much healthier ingredients.

Occasionally, I let him pick out a junk cereal or snack bar but it's

always known as a unhealthier choice that we eat on occasion, then

enjoy it so as not to make him feel guilty about eating it (we eat

Oreos every now and then and dunk it in milk :-) or bake our own

cookies & cakes). It just takes a while to find your

replacements...we started out with boxed cereals. If you want some

suggestions to keep on hand that we've had good luck with,please

email me directly so I don't upset too many people w/ the topic.

The best of luck to you!! :-)

>

> thanks for all of the suggestions.

[Guest guest]

Perhaps your daughter and granddaughter would benefit from watching

the movie, 'Supersize Me'. My husband loves fast food and so does

my 5yr old, I showed it to him last year when he was 4 and he got

it. When we were travelling and stopped for fast food, he asked

me, " Why are getting me this junk food?! " :-)

Also, chicken hot dogs on whole grain buns are yummy.

(No nitrates).

>

> thanks for all of the suggestions.

> I've not even thought about the products I clean with although I

> have been looking into making wood ash soap since we have a wood

> heater for our heat and an over-abundance of trees on our property.

> I have 3 chickens and although one does not lay, we generally get

2

> per day with one days without.

> I am even looking into buying a goat for milk kefir and cheese.

> I tried planting some veggies last year and don't know why I can't

> be successful at growing a crop. I used to have a lot of luck at

it

> but I also used to douse them with pesticides if I even saw a

bug. :0

> (

> Anyway I will keep trying that.

> I am very thankful that I can brew my own KT and make kefir

> otherwise they would have to be sparingly used whereas now I can

> drink them whenever I have the urge...which is often.

> We literally have ONE grocery store in this one-horse town. Piggly

> Wiggly. Just like in Driving Miss Daisy and the mentality of most

of

> the people I have met is quantity NOT quality is what is best. I

> have offered them KT and scobys and not one person has shown the

> slightest interest in partaking of it without me " forcing " it on

> them .

> Soooooo, I know that there is a WFS in Roswell, which is about 130

> miles round trip for me so I will probably make the trip and if

the

> foods are somewhat reasonable I will try to make it there a couple

> times per month.

> My granddaughter poses the biggest problem when she is with us.

She

> won't eat anything that doesn't come from Mcs or Pizza Hut

> (which is how her mother eats) and since we don't have one in this

> town I have to scramble around to feed her what she will eat. I

did

> get her to drink some KT. It was my best batch so far and VERY

fizzy

> and I consider that PRogreSS! I am surprised that her body did not

> go into shock from eating something with actual food value.

> Anyway, thanks for taking the time to answer my tired rant

and " Way

> to Go " with the Kroger in your area. Hopefully more diehards

> skeptics like me will begin to see the light and real food will

> become the norm instead of the exception.

> Sandy

>

>

> > Hi Sandy,

> > I can totally sympathize with you. I am a stay at home Mom

(who's

> > husband wants her to return to work soon to help out with $).

Our

> > grocery bill is insane.

>

[Guest guest]

I'm a bit behind in my emails, so forgive me if this has already been

addressed.

I want to say, I commiserate with you. Organic food has a higher

price attached, and unfortunately, not always because it costs more

to produce. Some of the larger, conventionally grown and processed

food companies have jumped on the organics bandwagon to reap ever

higher profits. But, no doubt, organics are healthier. So, how does

the average working stiff incorporate these healthier choices without

breaking their banks?

A few ideas:

The best place to start your change-over to Organics is in the dairy

and meat that you consume. Overall, it is way more healthy for the

earth and the animals and yourself if you go for the organic dairy.

The amount of toxins needed to provide food for the cows is so much

more than the amount needed to grow your veggies. Plus, toxins

accumulate in the fat cells, so consuming butter and cheese and milk

from conventional dairy has many more dangers than eating

conventionally grown vegetables. Way more chemicals used, way more

consumed, in dairy and meat than any other foods.

Also, go local. It can be hard if you live in the city to find local

farms, but not impossible. Try to get to Farmer's markets where you

can talk to the farmers about their methods. Many small scale farmers

practice sustainable methods but have not jumped through the

expensive red tape to get certified organic.

Grow your own! There is a great old book called " Anything Grows "

about growing stuff wherever you live, apartment balconies to front

porches, kitchen windows, to big ol' gardens in your backyard. It is

a great resource for anyone, especially those who don't think they

could possibly grow anything. If nothing else, grow tomatoes!

You have to do a lot of thinking and research, but it's good to be

informed. Find out as much as you can about the food that you buy.

For instance, Organically Grown produce may be irradiated before it

gets into the grocery store, depending on where it's coming from and

where it goes. You may be better off buying your apples from the guy

down the street, even though he sprays around the bases of his trees

during the dormant times, than buying apples that were grown a

thousand miles away, organically, but sprayed during transport to

keep them fresh. KWIM? Also, some foods just have a higher

concentration of pesticides and herbicides. The ones with the thin

skins and higher water concentrate tend to be the ones you'll want to

watch out for and buy organically if you can. Always buy organic

strawberries and tomatoes. Lemons, carrots...well, organics are

better, but if you can only afford non-O, don't sweat it too much.

And then there's the whole issue of eating seasonally, and what is

available only locally. I've heard of people who don't eat ANYTHING

grown further than 100 miles away from where they live. They have a

limited diet, but ultimately, it is so much better for you to eat

according to the seasons and what grows where you live. It really is

what you should be mostly eating, for optimum health, I think. I've

always thought it strange to eat sushi in Las Vegas, for instance.

Look into buyer's co-ops, where you can buy directly from the

distributors (Mountain People's Warehouse/United National Grocers is

one that comes to mind) for a minimum order of $500.00 or so. Also,

Cow Shares are all over the place, where people buy into a cow that a

farmer takes care of, then get to share in the raw milk. Use the

internet to learn more. Trader Joes is a great place to shop for

healthier grown foods, and is cheaper than most places. I've also had

some luck with finding little organic treasures cheap at Grocery Outlet.

Okay, I've gone on long enough. I hope that's of help to you.

Blessings,

Beth

> Pardon me if this has been asked before but I was wondering what is

> the one biggest thing that KT has done for you?

> For me it is not just what the drinking of KT has done for me but it

> has made me curious about the foods that I eat and what is WRONG with

> my normal (or so I thought) diet that is making me sicker and sicker.

> I used to think that the food pyramid was like the do-all and end-all.

> Just follow it and you will be healthy. Apparently so many of us are

> proving that to be false. And I am not talking about only the

> McsAholics but even people like me who seldom eat out and don't

> buy anything pre-cooked. I love to cook but it is very disheartening

> to learn that with my best efforts I was still poisoning us with the

> over-processed foods even down to the flour for my bread.

> But.... I was following the pyramid! The one that told me how to eat

> right and be healthy.

> How do you all afford to eat right? Organic meat is something I have

> never even seen. Where do you get it? Organic vegetables are like 3Xs

> higher than regular and veggies are too high to start with.

> We are eating up all of my stores of canned goods and frozen foods

> because I can't bear to let them go to waste but when we finish them I

> want to buy no more canned goods or non-organic meat, wheat, etc but

> where do you find them within a reasonable budget or is good health

> only for those with the money to buy the goods?

> I am not saying that I won't sacrifice a lot of less important things

> to eat right but I feel like I am caught between a rock and a hard

> place as far when I am shopping and I am considering a pound of

> carrots and then a pound of organic carrots at 7Xs the price. Five

> organic lemons they were charging 5 dollars for. I am not kidding. I

> did that today and came home with the cheaper ones thinking they

> surely can't hurt me that bad. ( it is like new car sticker shock

> over and over again.

> How do you cope with it all?

> Sorry I went off topic but I had a rant coming on I guess. <shrug> I

> suppos that if I wasn't so sick and sick of being that way I would

> still be blissfully unaware huh?

> Sandy.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I'm a bit behind in my emails, so forgive me if this has already been

addressed.

I want to say, I commiserate with you. Organic food has a higher

price attached, and unfortunately, not always because it costs more

to produce. Some of the larger, conventionally grown and processed

food companies have jumped on the organics bandwagon to reap ever

higher profits. But, no doubt, organics are healthier. So, how does

the average working stiff incorporate these healthier choices without

breaking their banks?

A few ideas:

The best place to start your change-over to Organics is in the dairy

and meat that you consume. Overall, it is way more healthy for the

earth and the animals and yourself if you go for the organic dairy.

The amount of toxins needed to provide food for the cows is so much

more than the amount needed to grow your veggies. Plus, toxins

accumulate in the fat cells, so consuming butter and cheese and milk

from conventional dairy has many more dangers than eating

conventionally grown vegetables. Way more chemicals used, way more

consumed, in dairy and meat than any other foods.

Also, go local. It can be hard if you live in the city to find local

farms, but not impossible. Try to get to Farmer's markets where you

can talk to the farmers about their methods. Many small scale farmers

practice sustainable methods but have not jumped through the

expensive red tape to get certified organic.

Grow your own! There is a great old book called " Anything Grows "

about growing stuff wherever you live, apartment balconies to front

porches, kitchen windows, to big ol' gardens in your backyard. It is

a great resource for anyone, especially those who don't think they

could possibly grow anything. If nothing else, grow tomatoes!

You have to do a lot of thinking and research, but it's good to be

informed. Find out as much as you can about the food that you buy.

For instance, Organically Grown produce may be irradiated before it

gets into the grocery store, depending on where it's coming from and

where it goes. You may be better off buying your apples from the guy

down the street, even though he sprays around the bases of his trees

during the dormant times, than buying apples that were grown a

thousand miles away, organically, but sprayed during transport to

keep them fresh. KWIM? Also, some foods just have a higher

concentration of pesticides and herbicides. The ones with the thin

skins and higher water concentrate tend to be the ones you'll want to

watch out for and buy organically if you can. Always buy organic

strawberries and tomatoes. Lemons, carrots...well, organics are

better, but if you can only afford non-O, don't sweat it too much.

And then there's the whole issue of eating seasonally, and what is

available only locally. I've heard of people who don't eat ANYTHING

grown further than 100 miles away from where they live. They have a

limited diet, but ultimately, it is so much better for you to eat

according to the seasons and what grows where you live. It really is

what you should be mostly eating, for optimum health, I think. I've

always thought it strange to eat sushi in Las Vegas, for instance.

Look into buyer's co-ops, where you can buy directly from the

distributors (Mountain People's Warehouse/United National Grocers is

one that comes to mind) for a minimum order of $500.00 or so. Also,

Cow Shares are all over the place, where people buy into a cow that a

farmer takes care of, then get to share in the raw milk. Use the

internet to learn more. Trader Joes is a great place to shop for

healthier grown foods, and is cheaper than most places. I've also had

some luck with finding little organic treasures cheap at Grocery Outlet.

Okay, I've gone on long enough. I hope that's of help to you.

Blessings,

Beth

> Pardon me if this has been asked before but I was wondering what is

> the one biggest thing that KT has done for you?

> For me it is not just what the drinking of KT has done for me but it

> has made me curious about the foods that I eat and what is WRONG with

> my normal (or so I thought) diet that is making me sicker and sicker.

> I used to think that the food pyramid was like the do-all and end-all.

> Just follow it and you will be healthy. Apparently so many of us are

> proving that to be false. And I am not talking about only the

> McsAholics but even people like me who seldom eat out and don't

> buy anything pre-cooked. I love to cook but it is very disheartening

> to learn that with my best efforts I was still poisoning us with the

> over-processed foods even down to the flour for my bread.

> But.... I was following the pyramid! The one that told me how to eat

> right and be healthy.

> How do you all afford to eat right? Organic meat is something I have

> never even seen. Where do you get it? Organic vegetables are like 3Xs

> higher than regular and veggies are too high to start with.

> We are eating up all of my stores of canned goods and frozen foods

> because I can't bear to let them go to waste but when we finish them I

> want to buy no more canned goods or non-organic meat, wheat, etc but

> where do you find them within a reasonable budget or is good health

> only for those with the money to buy the goods?

> I am not saying that I won't sacrifice a lot of less important things

> to eat right but I feel like I am caught between a rock and a hard

> place as far when I am shopping and I am considering a pound of

> carrots and then a pound of organic carrots at 7Xs the price. Five

> organic lemons they were charging 5 dollars for. I am not kidding. I

> did that today and came home with the cheaper ones thinking they

> surely can't hurt me that bad. ( it is like new car sticker shock

> over and over again.

> How do you cope with it all?

> Sorry I went off topic but I had a rant coming on I guess. <shrug> I

> suppos that if I wasn't so sick and sick of being that way I would

> still be blissfully unaware huh?

> Sandy.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

>I do though need to address body care products for my family. I

>tried several brands of 'healthy' baby products (5 brands to be

>exact) when my older son was a baby and each time he broke out in

>welts & hives, I am sure from too much natural fragrance and I am

>almost certain he's allergic to lavendar so I'm using Dove unscented

>on him and cetaphil on my 2yr old (eczema). I know there has to be

>some products that their skin would accept and would be healthier

>for them but it's just a matter of finding them! :-)

The children may also be reacting to propylene glycol and various -parabens

that the best products are now leaving out. Do check labels. Not all

" green " products are created equal.

But! The great news is that KT and KT cream have done wonders for people

with eczema, applied externally, adults and children. Also of course

drinking it, but external application does wonders.

Thanks for yours and for the other posts on this subject. It's great to

have advice from folks just making these kinds of changes. I made the

commitment decades ago to buy as much organic/green everything as I could

find and afford. I made the commitment because I wanted to help create a

market for organic, and I can say confidently that my decision helped make

the changes we see today which are so encouraging. Anyway, I can't really

offer the kind of insight and advice about how to get started that yall

have been able to. So, thank you.

P.S. The " Natural Value " brand has very good products and they keep their

prices very low compared to other brands, very good quality. I really like

them. They make plastic wrap and ziploks without the plasticizers, so they

are MUCH more safe for use. Also, unbleached waxed paper and sandwich

bags. As well as a range of food products and other household items. And,

I've heard of at least one other brand been founded with the idea of value

for money in organic/green products.

A lot of retailers think of organic as a way to make big profits. So, look

for a store that seeks to bring organic to people, all people, and who

looks for how to save the buyer money. However, in our area too, by

customer demand, the local regular grocery stores both carry a range of

organic products throughout the store, as well as organic produce. The

organic section is equal in size to the commercial stuff. That's

definitely a way to go. But it never hurts to stress that you expect them

to make a profit but not gouge. And yes, many produce managers prefer to

work with organic because it's a lot better for the producer workers'

health-- many produce workers leave the field or have to wear protective

gear because the commercial stuff gives them contact dermatitis (severe

skin rashes) and respiratory problems.

Another possible route is to get in touch with the organic distributors

that service your area and find out what it would take to become a buying

club-- many of them have programs where people can form groups, with

purchase minimums, and make a monthly order. This can save lots of

money. Smaller groups that can meet the minimums often share the work of

placing the order and organizing it together, sometimes one or two people

share the work of administering the buying club, and the other members pay

4% of their order total (before taxes and bottle deposits) to them for the

administration costs (mostly time). Once a month the order comes, and

people come together to pick up and pay for their purchases. We belong to

such a group; in this area (northern Calif) there are lots of buying

clubs. The name of the distributor we work with is: UNFI.com I just

visited that website and I don't see any information about forming buying

clubs there, but I have emailed them for information and will report to the

list what I am able to find out.

--

~~~ There is no way to peace; peace is the way ~~~~

--A.J. Muste

[Guest guest]

Another thought on cleaning products. There are many natural, inexpensive

alternatives to the toxic products on sale in the markets. Products with

chlorine bleach or ammonia are toxic to humans, and they release molecules

in the air which we breathe in and each little dose adds up to, it does

affect us.

But, you can make your own out of nontoxic/less toxic alternatives. Here

are a couple of links. There are books to buy, but this is free info:

http://www.care2.com/channels/solutions/home/14

For basic cleaning info and about the 5 Basics

http://www.care2.com/channels/askannie/2001/04/08

For recipes for cleaners

In addition, there is the protocol for a sanitizer that kills EVERYTHING,

including mold, mildew, all bacteria, all viruses, including drug-resistant

ones in hospitals like staph, tuberculosis, etc. And, it's totally

nontoxic. This protocol is now being used in hospitals in place of toxic

and expensive chemicals, because it works where the chems don't.

You take two spray bottles. One is filled with distilled white vinegar,

undiluted. The other bottle is hydrogen peroxide, 3% solution they sell in

the brown bottle for first aid; simply screw another sprayer mechanism

directly onto the brown bottle, they are interchangeable. The two sprays

have to be kept separate until use. Then, spray one, then the other onto

whatever surface you want to sanitize. Works better than chlorine on all

organisms. (But beware, this stuff will kill the KT culture as well, like

any sanitizer, it kills the good organisms too.)

Hydrogen peroxide deteriorates when light hits it, which is why they sell

it in the brown bottles. By putting the sprayer directly onto the brown

bottle, it preserves it.

wishing you well,

--V

~~~ There is no way to peace; peace is the way ~~~~

--A.J. Muste

[Guest guest]

,

Thank you for the mention of Natural Value for plastic products! My

5yr old's preschool SPECIFICALLY requests that their snacks either

be individually wrapped or come in a ziploc baggie so it can be

tossed afterwards (wasteful in my opinion and not teaching the

children well and I do plan to address them). I will ask my local

grocers to order Natural Value's baggies for me. They carry the

plastic wrap, which you mentioned before to wrap the GT KT lids

with, which I did buy and it works just as well as the mainstream

regular brands :-).

Thank you also for being so kind with your words. Since some of my &

(others) posts are regarding overall health, I would have hoped

that regulars on the board weren't too upset since some of them

weren't exactly pertaining to KT so thank you.

I am so very thankful to all of you who take your time to post.

Especially from you, 'pioneers' :-) who led the way to push green

and organic products in our American marketplace. My hat is off to

you who made the committment when it wasn't so easy to gain access

to these products in past. Learning from this board, I have already

just in a few weeks learned so much that I have incorporated in my

family's life and I have also passed on valuable information to my

friends and extended family via email. Thank you, thank you.

RE: propylene glycol and various -parabens.

I will look for that and try some 'green' products on them that

doesn't contain them, THANK YOU!!!! I know that I tried California

Baby & Burt's Bees Baby Line (I LOVED how it smelled so I was

heartbroken that he reacted so badly to it - he broke out in painful

red welts all over his body where I applied the lotion.) I also

tried 3 other lines I can't recall their names. Have you ever read

the cetaphil bottle? I cringe as I wash my baby with it since it's

full of chemicals I don't understand. Since my 'baby' (2yrs old) is

younger than the recommended age (that I have read in various

resources) to give him KT, I am reluctant now to bathe him in KT

cream / soap since it will penetrate his pores. Granted, I'm sure

the cetaphil is worse!! Blah!

I AM looking forward towards making KT soap for myself and thought

I'd try it on my older son too. Does anyone know how to make KT

soap??

Speaking of...does anyone give their babies / toddlers KT? If so,

how much? My best friend and I were giving our babies KT (about 1-2

oz each) and they love it but since I've been reading more on it,

I've read some resources say not to give it to to a child under

4yrs, some under 3yrs of age, some under 2yrs of age so I thought

I'd back off giving it to him and wait...any thoughts??

By the way, for those that were considering...I contacted an organic

co-op in my area and found out that I get 2 weeks of organic produce

for $40.00. Considering that most people who are apart of this one

are vegetarian, I am assuming that it's a lot of produce since it's

to feed families for 2 weeks. If I can just figure out how to store

it all (I don't have room in my fridge for 2 weeks of produce w/ the

bottled KT that I want too!), then I'm going to try it out. :-)

Thank you!!

>

>

> >I do though need to address body care products for my family. I

> >tried several brands of 'healthy' baby products (5 brands to be

> >exact) when my older son was a baby and each time he broke out in

> >welts & hives, I am sure from too much natural fragrance and I am

> >almost certain he's allergic to lavendar so I'm using Dove

unscented

> >on him and cetaphil on my 2yr old (eczema). I know there has to

be

> >some products that their skin would accept and would be healthier

> >for them but it's just a matter of finding them! :-)

>

> The children may also be reacting to propylene glycol and various -

parabens

> that the best products are now leaving out. Do check labels. Not

all

> " green " products are created equal.

>

> But! The great news is that KT and KT cream have done wonders for

people

> with eczema, applied externally, adults and children. Also of

course

> drinking it, but external application does wonders.

>

> Thanks for yours and for the other posts on this subject. It's

great to

> have advice from folks just making these kinds of changes. I made

the

> commitment decades ago to buy as much organic/green everything as

I could

> find and afford. I made the commitment because I wanted to help

create a

> market for organic, and I can say confidently that my decision

helped make

> the changes we see today which are so encouraging. Anyway, I

can't really

> offer the kind of insight and advice about how to get started that

yall

> have been able to. So, thank you.

>

> P.S. The " Natural Value " brand has very good products and they

keep their

> prices very low compared to other brands, very good quality. I

really like

> them. They make plastic wrap and ziploks without the

plasticizers, so they

> are MUCH more safe for use. Also, unbleached waxed paper and

sandwich

> bags. As well as a range of food products and other household

items. And,

> I've heard of at least one other brand been founded with the idea

of value

> for money in organic/green products.

>

> A lot of retailers think of organic as a way to make big profits.

So, look

> for a store that seeks to bring organic to people, all people, and

who

> looks for how to save the buyer money. However, in our area too,

by

> customer demand, the local regular grocery stores both carry a

range of

> organic products throughout the store, as well as organic

produce. The

> organic section is equal in size to the commercial stuff. That's

> definitely a way to go. But it never hurts to stress that you

expect them

> to make a profit but not gouge. And yes, many produce managers

prefer to

> work with organic because it's a lot better for the producer

workers'

> health-- many produce workers leave the field or have to wear

protective

> gear because the commercial stuff gives them contact dermatitis

(severe

> skin rashes) and respiratory problems.

>

> Another possible route is to get in touch with the organic

distributors

> that service your area and find out what it would take to become a

buying

> club-- many of them have programs where people can form groups,

with

> purchase minimums, and make a monthly order. This can save lots

of

> money. Smaller groups that can meet the minimums often share the

work of

> placing the order and organizing it together, sometimes one or two

people

> share the work of administering the buying club, and the other

members pay

> 4% of their order total (before taxes and bottle deposits) to them

for the

> administration costs (mostly time). Once a month the order comes,

and

> people come together to pick up and pay for their purchases. We

belong to

> such a group; in this area (northern Calif) there are lots of

buying

> clubs. The name of the distributor we work with is: UNFI.com I

just

> visited that website and I don't see any information about forming

buying

> clubs there, but I have emailed them for information and will

report to the

> list what I am able to find out.

>

> --

>

>

>

> ~~~ There is no way to peace; peace is the way ~~~~

> --A.J. Muste

>

[Guest guest]

AWESOME! I will set up the vinegar / peroxide set tomorrow!

With flu season and little ones who bring all sorts of things in

from preschool, this is especially beneficial.

>

> Another thought on cleaning products. There are many natural,

inexpensive

> alternatives to the toxic products on sale in the markets.

Products with

> chlorine bleach or ammonia are toxic to humans, and they release

molecules

> in the air which we breathe in and each little dose adds up to, it

does

> affect us.

>

> But, you can make your own out of nontoxic/less toxic

alternatives. Here

> are a couple of links. There are books to buy, but this is free

info:

>

> http://www.care2.com/channels/solutions/home/14

> For basic cleaning info and about the 5 Basics

>

> http://www.care2.com/channels/askannie/2001/04/08

> For recipes for cleaners

>

> In addition, there is the protocol for a sanitizer that kills

EVERYTHING,

> including mold, mildew, all bacteria, all viruses, including drug-

resistant

> ones in hospitals like staph, tuberculosis, etc. And, it's

totally

> nontoxic. This protocol is now being used in hospitals in place

of toxic

> and expensive chemicals, because it works where the chems don't.

>

> You take two spray bottles. One is filled with distilled white

vinegar,

> undiluted. The other bottle is hydrogen peroxide, 3% solution

they sell in

> the brown bottle for first aid; simply screw another sprayer

mechanism

> directly onto the brown bottle, they are interchangeable. The two

sprays

> have to be kept separate until use. Then, spray one, then the

other onto

> whatever surface you want to sanitize. Works better than chlorine

on all

> organisms. (But beware, this stuff will kill the KT culture as

well, like

> any sanitizer, it kills the good organisms too.)

>

> Hydrogen peroxide deteriorates when light hits it, which is why

they sell

> it in the brown bottles. By putting the sprayer directly onto the

brown

> bottle, it preserves it.

>

> wishing you well,

> --V

>

>

> ~~~ There is no way to peace; peace is the way ~~~~

> --A.J. Muste

>

[Guest guest]

Here's another, more extensive site that looks good, with lots of ideas and

recipes, all based on the Basic 5 ingredients.

http://www.healthy-home-cleaning-tips.com/make-your-own.html

--V

~~~ There is no way to peace; peace is the way ~~~~

--A.J. Muste

[Guest guest]

>

> By the way, for those that were considering...I contacted an organic

> co-op in my area and found out that I get 2 weeks of organic produce

> for $40.00. Considering that most people who are apart of this one

> are vegetarian, I am assuming that it's a lot of produce since it's

> to feed families for 2 weeks. If I can just figure out how to store

> it all (I don't have room in my fridge for 2 weeks of produce w/ the

> bottled KT that I want too!), then I'm going to try it out. :-)

>

> Thank you!!

, Just a thought here and I hope that I don't get into

trouble myself but I got a free refrigerator from Craigslist.com

It is a totally free website where you can advertise or buy from.

We furnished most of our home from there. If you can't find a free one

but have the room for another, you can find one very cheap.

We store our ginger beer, KT, and kefir in ours. I also want to start

making cheese.

Also, If anyone knows where I could get a milk goat in Georgia, I

would love to find one.

Kombucha and kefir are changing my life in a big way and I am willing

to go as far as I have to to keep up the progress of a happier and

healthier lifestyle.

I really would like to STRESS that a perchance post on an odd website

led me to kombucha, which led me to kefir and so on.

I never knew. Kombucha is saving me and my family I think from any

further sickness. There are so many pills for each of our ailments but

what has caused those ailments in the first place?

It is making me aware of what good food really means and that is

amazing for soneone who has been in the food service business for most

of her life.

When working for the State of Georgia, we went to seminars to learn

which foods were good and which were not, how to prepare them etc etc.

There was never any mention of probiotics or whole grain meal or good

oils (that was a laugh) or any fermented foods.

It was that pyramid that was drummed into us by people who knew no

more than we did because they had a degree.

Sandy

[Guest guest]

>

> By the way, for those that were considering...I contacted an organic

> co-op in my area and found out that I get 2 weeks of organic produce

> for $40.00. Considering that most people who are apart of this one

> are vegetarian, I am assuming that it's a lot of produce since it's

> to feed families for 2 weeks. If I can just figure out how to store

> it all (I don't have room in my fridge for 2 weeks of produce w/ the

> bottled KT that I want too!), then I'm going to try it out. :-)

>

> Thank you!!

, Just a thought here and I hope that I don't get into

trouble myself but I got a free refrigerator from Craigslist.com

It is a totally free website where you can advertise or buy from.

We furnished most of our home from there. If you can't find a free one

but have the room for another, you can find one very cheap.

We store our ginger beer, KT, and kefir in ours. I also want to start

making cheese.

Also, If anyone knows where I could get a milk goat in Georgia, I

would love to find one.

Kombucha and kefir are changing my life in a big way and I am willing

to go as far as I have to to keep up the progress of a happier and

healthier lifestyle.

I really would like to STRESS that a perchance post on an odd website

led me to kombucha, which led me to kefir and so on.

I never knew. Kombucha is saving me and my family I think from any

further sickness. There are so many pills for each of our ailments but

what has caused those ailments in the first place?

It is making me aware of what good food really means and that is

amazing for soneone who has been in the food service business for most

of her life.

When working for the State of Georgia, we went to seminars to learn

which foods were good and which were not, how to prepare them etc etc.

There was never any mention of probiotics or whole grain meal or good

oils (that was a laugh) or any fermented foods.

It was that pyramid that was drummed into us by people who knew no

more than we did because they had a degree.

Sandy

[Guest guest]

>

> By the way, for those that were considering...I contacted an organic

> co-op in my area and found out that I get 2 weeks of organic produce

> for $40.00. Considering that most people who are apart of this one

> are vegetarian, I am assuming that it's a lot of produce since it's

> to feed families for 2 weeks. If I can just figure out how to store

> it all (I don't have room in my fridge for 2 weeks of produce w/ the

> bottled KT that I want too!), then I'm going to try it out. :-)

>

> Thank you!!

, Just a thought here and I hope that I don't get into

trouble myself but I got a free refrigerator from Craigslist.com

It is a totally free website where you can advertise or buy from.

We furnished most of our home from there. If you can't find a free one

but have the room for another, you can find one very cheap.

We store our ginger beer, KT, and kefir in ours. I also want to start

making cheese.

Also, If anyone knows where I could get a milk goat in Georgia, I

would love to find one.

Kombucha and kefir are changing my life in a big way and I am willing

to go as far as I have to to keep up the progress of a happier and

healthier lifestyle.

I really would like to STRESS that a perchance post on an odd website

led me to kombucha, which led me to kefir and so on.

I never knew. Kombucha is saving me and my family I think from any

further sickness. There are so many pills for each of our ailments but

what has caused those ailments in the first place?

It is making me aware of what good food really means and that is

amazing for soneone who has been in the food service business for most

of her life.

When working for the State of Georgia, we went to seminars to learn

which foods were good and which were not, how to prepare them etc etc.

There was never any mention of probiotics or whole grain meal or good

oils (that was a laugh) or any fermented foods.

It was that pyramid that was drummed into us by people who knew no

more than we did because they had a degree.

Sandy

[Guest guest]

That's a great idea, thanks! My husband did mention to me that soon,

I'd need an second fridge but that by buying one, would defeat the

whole purpose of trying to save money! :-) He's not all the way on

board by the way of all of my health kicks...he's seen our grocery

bill creep up and is wanting to see it go back down. Thanks!!

-- In original_kombucha , " kismetsmine "

wrote:

>

>

> >

> > By the way, for those that were considering...I contacted an

organic

> > co-op in my area and found out that I get 2 weeks of organic

produce

> > for $40.00. Considering that most people who are apart of this

one

> > are vegetarian, I am assuming that it's a lot of produce since

it's

> > to feed families for 2 weeks. If I can just figure out how to

store

> > it all (I don't have room in my fridge for 2 weeks of produce w/

the

> > bottled KT that I want too!), then I'm going to try it out. :-)

> >

> > Thank you!!

>

> , Just a thought here and I hope that I don't get into

> trouble myself but I got a free refrigerator from Craigslist.com

> It is a totally free website where you can advertise or buy from.

> We furnished most of our home from there. If you can't find a free

one

> but have the room for another, you can find one very cheap.

> We store our ginger beer, KT, and kefir in ours. I also want to

start

> making cheese.

> Also, If anyone knows where I could get a milk goat in Georgia, I

> would love to find one.

> Kombucha and kefir are changing my life in a big way and I am

willing

> to go as far as I have to to keep up the progress of a happier and

> healthier lifestyle.

> I really would like to STRESS that a perchance post on an odd

website

> led me to kombucha, which led me to kefir and so on.

> I never knew. Kombucha is saving me and my family I think from any

> further sickness. There are so many pills for each of our ailments

but

> what has caused those ailments in the first place?

> It is making me aware of what good food really means and that is

> amazing for soneone who has been in the food service business for

most

> of her life.

> When working for the State of Georgia, we went to seminars to

learn

> which foods were good and which were not, how to prepare them etc

etc.

> There was never any mention of probiotics or whole grain meal or

good

> oils (that was a laugh) or any fermented foods.

> It was that pyramid that was drummed into us by people who knew no

> more than we did because they had a degree.

> Sandy

>

[Guest guest]

That's a great idea, thanks! My husband did mention to me that soon,

I'd need an second fridge but that by buying one, would defeat the

whole purpose of trying to save money! :-) He's not all the way on

board by the way of all of my health kicks...he's seen our grocery

bill creep up and is wanting to see it go back down. Thanks!!

-- In original_kombucha , " kismetsmine "

wrote:

>

>

> >

> > By the way, for those that were considering...I contacted an

organic

> > co-op in my area and found out that I get 2 weeks of organic

produce

> > for $40.00. Considering that most people who are apart of this

one

> > are vegetarian, I am assuming that it's a lot of produce since

it's

> > to feed families for 2 weeks. If I can just figure out how to

store

> > it all (I don't have room in my fridge for 2 weeks of produce w/

the

> > bottled KT that I want too!), then I'm going to try it out. :-)

> >

> > Thank you!!

>

> , Just a thought here and I hope that I don't get into

> trouble myself but I got a free refrigerator from Craigslist.com

> It is a totally free website where you can advertise or buy from.

> We furnished most of our home from there. If you can't find a free

one

> but have the room for another, you can find one very cheap.

> We store our ginger beer, KT, and kefir in ours. I also want to

start

> making cheese.

> Also, If anyone knows where I could get a milk goat in Georgia, I

> would love to find one.

> Kombucha and kefir are changing my life in a big way and I am

willing

> to go as far as I have to to keep up the progress of a happier and

> healthier lifestyle.

> I really would like to STRESS that a perchance post on an odd

website

> led me to kombucha, which led me to kefir and so on.

> I never knew. Kombucha is saving me and my family I think from any

> further sickness. There are so many pills for each of our ailments

but

> what has caused those ailments in the first place?

> It is making me aware of what good food really means and that is

> amazing for soneone who has been in the food service business for

most

> of her life.

> When working for the State of Georgia, we went to seminars to

learn

> which foods were good and which were not, how to prepare them etc

etc.

> There was never any mention of probiotics or whole grain meal or

good

> oils (that was a laugh) or any fermented foods.

> It was that pyramid that was drummed into us by people who knew no

> more than we did because they had a degree.

> Sandy

>

[Guest guest]

That's a great idea, thanks! My husband did mention to me that soon,

I'd need an second fridge but that by buying one, would defeat the

whole purpose of trying to save money! :-) He's not all the way on

board by the way of all of my health kicks...he's seen our grocery

bill creep up and is wanting to see it go back down. Thanks!!

-- In original_kombucha , " kismetsmine "

wrote:

>

>

> >

> > By the way, for those that were considering...I contacted an

organic

> > co-op in my area and found out that I get 2 weeks of organic

produce

> > for $40.00. Considering that most people who are apart of this

one

> > are vegetarian, I am assuming that it's a lot of produce since

it's

> > to feed families for 2 weeks. If I can just figure out how to

store

> > it all (I don't have room in my fridge for 2 weeks of produce w/

the

> > bottled KT that I want too!), then I'm going to try it out. :-)

> >

> > Thank you!!

>

> , Just a thought here and I hope that I don't get into

> trouble myself but I got a free refrigerator from Craigslist.com

> It is a totally free website where you can advertise or buy from.

> We furnished most of our home from there. If you can't find a free

one

> but have the room for another, you can find one very cheap.

> We store our ginger beer, KT, and kefir in ours. I also want to

start

> making cheese.

> Also, If anyone knows where I could get a milk goat in Georgia, I

> would love to find one.

> Kombucha and kefir are changing my life in a big way and I am

willing

> to go as far as I have to to keep up the progress of a happier and

> healthier lifestyle.

> I really would like to STRESS that a perchance post on an odd

website

> led me to kombucha, which led me to kefir and so on.

> I never knew. Kombucha is saving me and my family I think from any

> further sickness. There are so many pills for each of our ailments

but

> what has caused those ailments in the first place?

> It is making me aware of what good food really means and that is

> amazing for soneone who has been in the food service business for

most

> of her life.

> When working for the State of Georgia, we went to seminars to

learn

> which foods were good and which were not, how to prepare them etc

etc.

> There was never any mention of probiotics or whole grain meal or

good

> oils (that was a laugh) or any fermented foods.

> It was that pyramid that was drummed into us by people who knew no

> more than we did because they had a degree.

> Sandy

>

[Guest guest]

>It was that pyramid that was drummed into us by people who knew no

>more than we did because they had a degree.

>Sandy

Oh, Sandy, I meant to say something about the food pyramid. A few years

ago the USDA did studies and were going to redesign the food pyramid. I

can't remember how it looked then, but they wanted to make it so that meat

and dairy was in the tiniest part of the pyramid, with whole grains and

veggies and fruits given a much larger portion. That was shot down by the

Meat and Dairy Industries, so a " compromise " pyramid was decided on and

that's the " new " pyramid that is taught today. How you " compromise " on

science is an interesting question, but just to back up your awareness that

the pyramid is not based on truth, it is based on business interests.

I know this because I've indexed this material a couple of times in my work.

--V

~~~ There is no way to peace; peace is the way ~~~~

--A.J. Muste

[Guest guest]

>It was that pyramid that was drummed into us by people who knew no

>more than we did because they had a degree.

>Sandy

Oh, Sandy, I meant to say something about the food pyramid. A few years

ago the USDA did studies and were going to redesign the food pyramid. I

can't remember how it looked then, but they wanted to make it so that meat

and dairy was in the tiniest part of the pyramid, with whole grains and

veggies and fruits given a much larger portion. That was shot down by the

Meat and Dairy Industries, so a " compromise " pyramid was decided on and

that's the " new " pyramid that is taught today. How you " compromise " on

science is an interesting question, but just to back up your awareness that

the pyramid is not based on truth, it is based on business interests.

I know this because I've indexed this material a couple of times in my work.

--V

~~~ There is no way to peace; peace is the way ~~~~

--A.J. Muste

[Guest guest]

>It was that pyramid that was drummed into us by people who knew no

>more than we did because they had a degree.

>Sandy

Oh, Sandy, I meant to say something about the food pyramid. A few years

ago the USDA did studies and were going to redesign the food pyramid. I

can't remember how it looked then, but they wanted to make it so that meat

and dairy was in the tiniest part of the pyramid, with whole grains and

veggies and fruits given a much larger portion. That was shot down by the

Meat and Dairy Industries, so a " compromise " pyramid was decided on and

that's the " new " pyramid that is taught today. How you " compromise " on

science is an interesting question, but just to back up your awareness that

the pyramid is not based on truth, it is based on business interests.

I know this because I've indexed this material a couple of times in my work.

--V

~~~ There is no way to peace; peace is the way ~~~~

--A.J. Muste

[Guest guest]

> Since my 'baby' (2yrs old) is

>younger than the recommended age (that I have read in various

>resources) to give him KT, I am reluctant now to bathe him in KT

>cream / soap since it will penetrate his pores.

I recommend the following source to follow, which is a link from Gunther

's website, with a chart for suggested amounts based on age, along

with some supportive information. The guideline suggested is that when a

baby can be given honey, it can be given KT. That age is 1yo. Check it

out. Gunther is one of the most respected, authoritative sources on

KT. Many of the websites about KT are cribbed from his site.

http://www.kombu.de/children.htm

I understand your desire to make the best possible choice with respect to

care of your children. However, some people want to medicalize KT and make

it into a big deal so that they can be the Authority, which sells services

and products.

btw, Colleen is one of the people G. quotes on the weblink

above, and she was the venerated List Mother of this list, and the author

of our associated FAQ, for a long time before her passing. She is quoted

as wholeheartedly in favor of children having KT. Her observation was that

when young children are given KT, they are sick less, and that the effects

extend throughout their lives. Margret also was pregnant and nursed while

drinking KT, and fed her children KT from young ages, and she agrees with

Colleen's observations.

These people theorizing about age 4 age 5-- that's just theory, imo, the

real proof is experience.

--V

~~~ There is no way to peace; peace is the way ~~~~

--A.J. Muste

[Guest guest]

>

> Oh, Sandy, I meant to say something about the food pyramid. A few

years

> ago the USDA did studies and were going to redesign the food

pyramid. I

> can't remember how it looked then, but they wanted to make it so

that meat

> and dairy was in the tiniest part of the pyramid, with whole

grains and

> veggies and fruits given a much larger portion. That was shot

down by the

> Meat and Dairy Industries, so a " compromise " pyramid was decided

on and

> that's the " new " pyramid that is taught today. How

you " compromise " on

> science is an interesting question, but just to back up your

awareness that

> the pyramid is not based on truth, it is based on business

interests.

>

> I know this because I've indexed this material a couple of times

in my work.

>

> --V

>

,

The entire thing makes me want to cry I am so angry. Fools and

stupid people get far in this world. I now walk around the grocery

and I want to sling those " healthy " foods up against the wall. I

pick them up and read the ingredients and I get sad. Then I look at

the pittance that is offered for anyone who wants to change. I can

do it. I now have the means but it is a shame that I have to

overspend to be healthy!! No one around here who is poor can eat

healthily. It is stupid and I blame the government for taking pocket

bribes from the big companies. Now that is getting WAY off topic and

I do not mean to so I will just pray that we can all find more ways

to inform people.

Sandy

[Guest guest]

Sandy, it IS harder but it's so much more worth it. We went to

Sam's Club and my husband commented on how we could feed our family

SO CHEAP if we just ate 'crap'.

Just think...although it's information that's JUST NOW becoming more

readily available to the public, hopefully in a few years, more

people will learn about the wonderful foods that are out there and

it will hopefully become mainstream and be easier on our budgets.

Hang in there :-).

>

>

> >

> > Oh, Sandy, I meant to say something about the food pyramid. A

few

> years

> > ago the USDA did studies and were going to redesign the food

> pyramid. I

> > can't remember how it looked then, but they wanted to make it so

> that meat

> > and dairy was in the tiniest part of the pyramid, with whole

> grains and

> > veggies and fruits given a much larger portion. That was shot

> down by the

> > Meat and Dairy Industries, so a " compromise " pyramid was decided

> on and

> > that's the " new " pyramid that is taught today. How

> you " compromise " on

> > science is an interesting question, but just to back up your

> awareness that

> > the pyramid is not based on truth, it is based on business

> interests.

> >

> > I know this because I've indexed this material a couple of times

> in my work.

> >

> > --V

> >

> ,

> The entire thing makes me want to cry I am so angry. Fools and

> stupid people get far in this world. I now walk around the grocery

> and I want to sling those " healthy " foods up against the wall. I

> pick them up and read the ingredients and I get sad. Then I look

at

> the pittance that is offered for anyone who wants to change. I can

> do it. I now have the means but it is a shame that I have to

> overspend to be healthy!! No one around here who is poor can eat

> healthily. It is stupid and I blame the government for taking

pocket

> bribes from the big companies. Now that is getting WAY off topic

and

> I do not mean to so I will just pray that we can all find more

ways

> to inform people.

> Sandy

>