Joy is healing and may need a little help.

We can not always choose our attitude – just smile and be happy – nutrient deficiencies can cause mood changes that are not going to change without getting the nutrients. Then the change to a better mood can happen rapidly sometimes, within 20 minutes for magnesium if needed.

Hunger, sleepiness, stress or anger, loneliness, all may interfere with mood or mood control. Patience is a virtue, and practice helps. So does a good night’s sleep. Low blood sugar can lead to irritability or poor concentration, so can poor sleep. Briefly resting can help recharge things towards a better mood, and sometimes a walk may help.

Nature or images of nature cam help sooth stress and walking was found more beneficial in natural surroundings than in urban settings for relieving stress.

Brighter lighting indoors can help mood if sunshine isn’t available. Sunshine helps our circadian cycle and helps make vitamin D, surprise also water soluble forms of vitamin A and D. Full spectrum lighting might be a good health and mood supplement during winter months.

Salt crystal lamps can help improve air quality for mood due to negative ions being released. These may also help improve air quality by helping remove odor particles or mold. When the salt is warmed it releases negative ions and possibly a little ozone, but not much based on sites selling other types of air cleaners. Ozone is safe if it is not in excessive amounts and it can also have a positive effect on mood.

The negative ions or ozone help air quality by clumping with air particles which causes them to drop from the air. Then just sweep it up.

http://www.natural-salt-lamps.com/negative-ions.html * I am unaffiliated with this site but as personal testimonial – I went upstairs to get my lamp because the basement smelled musty and unpleasant. Using the salt lamp several hours a day does give it a fresh feeling and salty ocean aroma instead of musty.

This helps with mold spores or odor particles or secondhand smoke chemicals and odor. Too much ozone can cause headaches, but the salt crystal doesn’t produce much, not compared to ozone producing air cleaners. The negative ions may build up, so leaving the lamp warming all day may be more than you want. I do reach a point where I want to turn off the lamp after it had been on for hours.

The reddish glow may have health benefits as light therapy if other lights are turned off. In the evening having dimmer lighting can help the body adjust to getting ready for sleep. Bright screen blue light is too much like sunny day light and keeps our circadian cycle genes set to active awake mode. Blue light blocking glasses are available to wear for the last 3 hours before sleep time, to help the circadian cycle switch gears.

We need that to happen for growth and repair genes to be activated and the active awake, inflammatory functions are turned off for the night. The two systems share a protein, so they have to take turns. We can’t use both pathways at the same time if they both need the same assembly line machine.

Himalayan Salt Cystal lamp, it has a dial so it can be darker and cooler, less ozone released.

Joy can be practiced. The feeling of gratitude and connection to others or the planet can be a support when things are tough. Pausing to look for beauty, or snap an image, smell a flower, pet a friendly animal, all can be an island of joy in an otherwise busy day.

Tiger lilies and wild goldenrod.

My site peace-is-happy.org is my art escape with posts that are generally shorter than are found on this site. It also has sustainable building information and biodiversity- peace is living within a community of friends, family, and wildlife. Peace is clean air, water, and food. Peace is shelter on a cold day, or a shady canopy on a sunny summer day. Peace is caring for oneself, and the community as an extention of oneself. Peace is lending a hand and accepting one when in need.

Peace is a warm puppy, or a comfortable baby. Hat-tip to Charles Schultz and his book “Love is a Warm Puppy.” The titles on the peace-is-happy.org site are based on his simple and beautiful little book.

Love is a soft blanket,

to surround oneself or others.

Peace is love for oneself and others,
even when annoying or annoyed.

The peace-is-happy.org site has a page with links to a podcast series I did last year regarding our feelings or mood and what those feelings might mean. They may not mean anything beyond, you need a nap or a snack. Or they might mean the snack you had was not a great choice for your later mood. But in either case – might not mean that someone else was purposely trying to irritate you. You – might just be feeling irritable.

The podcast is called: How Are You Feeling? The webpage has links to the audio and to transcripts with references and occasionally additional information. https://www.peace-is-happy.org/how-are-you-feeling

Disclaimer: This information is being shared for educational purposes within the guidelines of Fair Use and are not intended to provide individual health care guidance. Please seek an individual health care provider for individualized health care guidance.

Mass psychosis & totalitarian takeover.

Totalitarian or dictator takeover of societies has occurred in many places and repetitive re-‘education’ of the public usually is part of the process. By causing extreme fear, and then some calm, and then more extreme fear, some more calm, etcetera, the public is lulled into believing that there is extreme danger and only the totalitarian brain washer is in a position to be able to ‘protect’ the public – create a villain or danger, so the savior can heroically step in and save the day. Note – the danger was created by the “savior” – so is the savior really heroic? or a manipulative abuser?

The people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders…tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the peacemakers for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger.
— Hermann Goring, (a Nazi) (ref)

Sections:

  • Parallel societies or isolated individuals can help guide others out of the mass psychosis – group think.
  • Isolation & Repetition – tactics for promoting a behavior change – in mind control, or animal training.
  • Question our messaging: Sitting is bad for our backs – we should squat more, continuing the natural position from our early childhood into a more flexible and physically fit adulthood.
  • Nations can also be isolated – trade & peace are partners that war disrupts.
  • Group-think – an instinctual desire to fit in with everyone else – is also a tool of totalitarian takeover – shift the public to be accepting of the ‘savior’ – who may be an authoritarian leader trying to become the next dictator.
  • Excerpts from the letter written by Dietrich Bonhoeffer to personal friends during the rise of Hitler in Germany.
  • Tolerance that demands specific types of behavior – is no longer tolerant.
  • Instincts and pheromones can affect our behavior in ways our rational mind might try to rationalize – but it is wordless subconscious behavior patterns – not rational – reactions to the environment or internal chemistry.
  • Learned helplessness – the way out is hope that there is a different way.

Parallel societies or isolated individuals can help guide others out of the mass psychosis – group think.

Parallel societies – individuals or groups that have not given in to the repetitive brain washing – can help lead the way out for others, who did get caught up in the fear inducing messages and the idea that the false ‘savior’ really was going to save the day – but it never seems to get much better.

  • The Manufacturing of a Mass Psychosis – Can Sanity Return to an Insane World?, video by Academy of Ideas. (6)
  • The Mass Psychosis and the Demons of Dostoevsky, video by Academy of Ideas. (7) Dostoevsky uses the word demon to represent any wrong idea that possesses a person whether it is a personal idea, something race or other stereotype based, or the elitism of special treatment for some compared to all, a common step preceding totalitarianism. Those in power deserve it and the common people don’t for some reason. In modern society celebrity status and those approved by media as popular, have been deemed deserving of more money and attention. Reality shows with a Vote-Them-Off element have been teaching society that some deserve more and others deserve none. Sacrifice of people was more common in religions in more unequal societies over the course of history.
  • How the “Greater Good” is Used as a Tool of Social Control, video by Academy of Ideas. (11)
  • None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free.” – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (11)
  • The common good before the individual good.” – Adolf Hitler. (11)
  • …behind the Iron Curtain the most prominent complaint in the totalitarian system was the feeling of mental isolation. The individual feels alone and continually on the alert. There is only mutual suspicion.” – Joost Meerloo (11)
  • I rebel, therefore we exist.” – Albert Camus (11)

Isolation & Repetition – tactics for promoting a behavior change – in mind control, or animal training.

Isolating people or animals makes the repetitive messaging more likely to lead to behavior change – the messaging becomes a habit type pattern within the brain, whether a habit of belief or action -> stay six feet away from everyone, wash your hands or use skin-damaging hand sanitizer, and wear a face mask against droplets even though it turns out that the risk is an aerosolized particle. Isolating and fear inducing, have been more than proven to be effective for changing public opinion and individual behavior.

Good ventilation or bright sunlight levels of UV light can help reduce risk from an aerosolized pathogen – or a full Hazmat type suit with a filtered/ventilated breathing device. Plexiglass shields and six foot distance guidance is only protective against pathogens that can survive in larger respiratory droplets.

Sitting is bad for our backs – we should squat more, continuing the natural position from our early childhood into a more flexible and physically fit adulthood.

Just because we are told something over and over, possibly from early childhood onward, does not mean it is true – it may just be a common custom of the current society. Sitting is an example. Modern society sits too much and makes children and adults sit still for too many hours of their day. It is bad for our backs. Children are just less likely to have back pain until later in their lives.

  • Why Sitting Down Destroys You [your spine & health], Roger Frampton, TEDxLeamingtonSpa, (8).

Yes, I am now standing, while typing, with my laptop on a counter. Sitting does make my back hurt. / Tangent – a mixture of some sitting desk time and some standing desk time may be better than either one or the other exclusively – variety of movement and counterbalancing use of opposite sets of muscles helps our body stay evenly flexible. Modern life leans our shoulders forward too much and it can help the back to do exercises that strengthen the reverse motion – arching backward, arm circles overhead or out to the side or towards the back.

Benefit of early childhood trauma – I still move like a child, never stopped. My shoulders shake when I laugh which I was told is a symptom of a personality disorder, nonspecific type. Oh. Should I stop laughing? Or laugh a little harder? >B

Nations can also be isolated – trade & peace are partners that war disrupts.

Isolating a nation from trade is also a negative – peace and prosperity for nations often includes a positive trade economy – which in turn helps promote maintaining the peace. Declare war and the peaceful trade ends and the businesses and workers involved suffer. Totalitarian takeover often includes isolating citizens and the nation.

We should beware of the demagogues who are willing to declare a trade war against our friends, weakening our economy, our national security, and the entire free world, all while cynically waving the American flag.” – Ronald Reagan

Group-think – an instinctual desire to fit in with everyone else – is also a tool of totalitarian takeover – shift the public to be accepting of the ‘savior’ – who may be an authoritarian leader trying to become the next dictator.

I would like to see a world where nobody cared what anybody else was doing – in which … group-think … disappeared.” – Glenn Gould

Keeping up with the Jones” – having the fancy lawn furniture that the neighbors have – to show you are just as good as they are – is not an uncommon tendency. Capitalism and advertising make oodles of money by subtly tapping into that deep down desire to fit in with the neighbors, or coworkers, or school mates. The tendency can lead to people doing things they would not normally do – my peers are doing that, I should probably be brave and try it too.

– Well no, been there, done that, got the harsh lesson. If your common sense is saying, Wait a minute, then pause and listen. Our subconscious mind includes brain cell type sensation in our gut and our heart – so those butterflies in the tummy might be nerves about giving a speech or about a person you just met who seems untrustworthy.

Groupthink: “Risk-taking is common, and the lack of creativity and independent thinking have negative personal and political implications for both group members and outsiders. Groupthink decisions rarely have successful outcomes.” (5)

The emotions of a group can also build up and intensify for each other so the whole crowd becomes more excited, or enraged, or sexually stimulated. Some ancient taboos may be to prevent the potential dangers of an overstimulated crowd. Children are also instinctually protected from sexual material which also has basis in physiology. Early exposure to sexual material or activity can modify a child’s development and may lead to earlier development and a greater interest in sexuality and/or unusual quirks, or may lead to inhibition and a reduced interest in sexuality or fear of it. Pheromones are involved and they can affect our gene expression – which genes are active – which will be discussed in another post.

Parallel societies or individuals – those who stay separate from the emotions and messaging of the group think/mass psychosis, can help guide others to see the truth again. An individual observed this happening around him, during the rise of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi party in Germany, and he wrote a letter to a couple personal friends about his concerns – thanks to Dietrich Bonhoeffer for sharing his wisdom then and now.

Excerpts from the letter written by Dietrich Bonhoeffer to personal friends during the rise of Hitler in Germany.

[…] “We note further that people who have isolated themselves from others or who lives in solitude manifest this defect less frequently than individuals or groups of people inclined or condemned to sociability. And so it would seem that stupidity is perhaps less a psychological than a sociological problem. It is a particular form of the impact of historical circumstances on human beings, a psychological concomitant of certain external conditions. Upon closer observation, it becomes apparent that every strong upsurge of power in the public sphere, be it of a political or of a religious nature, infects a large part of humankind with stupidity. It would even seem that this is virtually a sociological-psychological law. The power of the one needs the stupidity of the other.” […]

The fact that the stupid person is often stubborn must not blind us to the fact that he is not independent. In conversation with him, one virtually feels that one is dealing not at all with a person, but with slogans, catchwords and the like that have taken possession of him. He is under a spell, blinded, misused, and abused in his very being. Having thus become a mindless tool, the stupid person will also be capable of any evil and at the same time incapable of seeing that it is evil. This is where the danger of diabolical misuse lurks, for it is this that can once and for all destroy human beings.

Yet at this very point it becomes quite clear that only an act of liberation, not instruction, can overcome stupidity. Here we must come to terms with the fact that in must cases a genuine internal liberation becomes possible only when external liberation has preceded it. Until then we must abandon all attempts to convince the stupid person. This state of affairs explains why in such circumstances our attempts to know what ‘the people’ really think are in vain and why, under these circumstances, this question is so irrelevant for the person who is thinking and acting responsibly. “[…] – Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1)

Dietrich Bonhoeffer turned out to be correct – the people of Germany did have to be liberated – by the Allied forces at the end of World War II.

Tolerance that demands specific types of behavior – is no longer tolerant.

Being more tolerant of others is a noble idea, yet forcing tolerance of one standard instead of accepting differences is also an intolerant attitude.

Having a group identity based on having the latest acquisitions is intolerant of different values. It is also exclusionary of those with less money and ability to afford the visible signs of group identity (the latest fashion or insider group look, or brand of electronic gear, fancy watch or car). It is instinctual to want to try to fit in with the crowd, not stand out to a predator maybe, or not stand out to the crowd in case they get upset with you and become dangerous.

We are more similar than different, in ways beyond the red color of our blood.

Instincts and pheromones can affect our behavior in ways our rational mind might try to rationalize – but it is wordless subconscious behavior patterns – not rational – reactions to the environment or internal chemistry.

Humans have instincts that date back to our cellular life forms – we like warmth and sunlight and our skin sense it. Behavior patterns based on instincts and that can be initiated by odors can get a lot more complex than enjoying sunbathing. (2, 3, 4) More about instincts we have in common with other species and humans around the world: 7.7 Our instincts may be based in actions learned by more distant relatives. (12)

Responses are automatic (e.g. ‘innate’) because food odors and pheromones are the most relevant of all sensory signals to survival.” (2)

Love struck” – “crazy in love” – “spring fever” – “love sick” – that love at first sight feeling may also involve odor – our pheromones – our natural scent if we don’t use perfumed body products. Infants will recognize their mother’s odor over another woman’s scent (and suckle faster at a bottle).

Maybe to a less crazy extent, spring fever might lead to picking strawberries for so long that you don’t notice you also got a bad sunburn. Odor memories are possible – I see an image of lilacs and will also get a hint of the fragrance in my mind. The scent of violets and other flowers includes an odor chemical that can signal our skin’s melanin cells to make more melanin – and protect us from that sunburn. Take home to the garden note – plant flowers in your sun bathing area. (Podcast episode: Forgiveness – the scent of violets)

During societal times of stress, whether a natural disaster or economic or political issue, people as individuals may be more likely to snap – ‘run amok’. Originally running amok was a medical diagnosis for someone who suddenly seemed to go mad and start harming people or things. (13) Today we have mass shooters – and a lot of violent media that portrays some positively and some negatively. When individuals or groups are marginalized others observing become hopeless and may be more likely to act out in some way. (14)

Learned helplessness – the way out is hope that there is a different way.

Learned helplessness is a goal of authoritarian control – a victim that is so fearful and obedient that they wouldn’t attempt to escape if given the chance.

How do we snap out of the stress and fear and seeming manipulative media? One person at a time – me or you – starting to pay more attention and to start talking about other things. We need more standouts and to build a parallel society to welcome a diverse group of others – not one political party or another – anyone who is aware that our freedom seems to be for sale now.

Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do.” – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Bonus example world: News from Nowhere, 1984, by B. F. Skinner. Spoiler – George Orwell faked his own death and has some stories to share with us – a good person to listen to. (9)

Double bonus, building your own inner world guidance: Carl Jung’s Method of Self-Development – The Path of Individuation, (10) Recognizing our own flaws and strengths is an important step on the path of individuation – becoming fully ourselves. Suffering may still exist, but with a sense of personal enjoyment in life and our goals, we can put up with stressors as more of a challenge rather than an overwhelming burden. Life is unfair, step up anyway.

Disclaimer: Opinions are my own and the information is provided for educational purposes within the guidelines of fair use. While I am a Registered Dietitian this information is not intended to provide individual health guidance. Please see a health professional for individual health care purposes. 

Reference List

  1. Bonhoeffer on stupidity – entire quote, religiousgrounds.wordpress.com, https://religiousgrounds.wordpress.com/2016/05/11/bonhoeffer-on-stupidity-entire-quote/
  2. Kohl JV. Nutrient-dependent/pheromone-controlled adaptive evolution: a model. Socioaffect Neurosci Psychol. 2013;3:20553. Published 2013 Jun 14. doi:10.3402/snp.v3i0.20553 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3960065/
  3. Kohl JV. Nutrient-dependent Pheromone-Controlled Ecological Adaptations: From Angstroms to Ecosystems. J Genetics & DNA Research https://www.hilarispublisher.com/abstract/nutrientdependent-pheromonecontrolled-ecological-adaptations-from-angstroms-to-ecosystems-24761.html
  4. Subbaraman, N. Past 5,000 years prolific for changes to human genome. Nature (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/nature.2012.11912 https://www.nature.com/articles/nature.2012.11912
  5. Group-think, psychologytoday.com, https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/groupthink
  6. Academy of Ideas, The Manufacturing of a Mass Psychosis – Can Sanity Return to an Insane World?, April 24, 2021, youtube.com, https://youtu.be/fdzW-S8Mwbl
  7. Academy of Ideas, The Mass Psychosis and the Demons of Dostoevsky, March 31, 2021, youtube.com, https://youtu.be/QFie-UCFV_s
  8. Roger Frampton, Why Sitting Down Destroys You [your spine & health], TEDxLeamingtonSpa https://youtu.be/jOJLx4Du3vU
  9. B.F. Skinner, News from Nowhere, 1984, Harvard U. the Behavior Analyst, No. 1, (Spring) 1985, 8, 5-14, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2741768/pdf/behavan00064-0007.pdf
  10. Academy of Ideas, Carl Jung’s Method of Self-Development – The Path of Individuation. May 19, 2021, youtube.com, https://youtu.be/Vx_60kIXLIU
  11. Academy of Ideas, How the “Greater Good” is Used as a Tool of Social Control. Sept 22, 2020, youtube.com, https://youtu.be/gvPKTVK10JE
  12. Depew J, 7.7 Our instincts may be based in actions learned by more distant relatives. Instinct & Policy: Effective Care & Best Practices for Promoting Health and Preventing Harassment & Discrimination. effectivecare.info, (12)
  13. Depew J. 9.4: “Running amok,” “going postal,” or “a red stapler” moment. Instinct & Policy: Effective Care & Best Practices for Promoting Health and Preventing Harassment & Discrimination. effectivecare.info, https://effectivecare.info/9-friendliness-helps-1
  14. Depew J, Marginalization and Violence, Aug 15, 2017, transcendingsquare.com, https://transcendingsquare.com/2017/08/15/marginalization-and-violence/

Why care about thyroid cancer? It’s about iodine.

Or more importantly about the lack of iodine and the excess availability of bromide, fluoride and perchlorate – all halides – all chemically similar enough so that the body may build thyroid hormone with them if there is a deficiency of iodine. Bromide replaced iodine in baked goods some point in time around the 1950s as an anti-caking agent in flour. Fluoride was added to water supplies and to toothpaste around the same time. Both fluoride and bromide may be used in medicines to help make a natural product able to be patented as chemically unique. They also may increase the active life of a medicine if the combination can be made to be able to enter cells with a molecule of bromide or fluoride attached then it tends to stay there longer because the molecule of the halide is so big that it is difficult for the cell to excrete  – which may make accumulation to toxic levels more of a long-term risk.

Iodine deficiency makes the risk of radioactive iodine more of a risk but it makes the use of X-ray machines with radioactive iodine more effective. Or the radioactive iodine to kill the thyroid cancer treatment more effective (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27856930). I prefer health. Iodine deficiency can make hypothyroid symptoms more likely which may include depression, easy weight gain and a reduced sex drive.

Will we ever be allowed to discuss underlying natural causes of chronic illness and cancer or do we have to simply trust that prescription pads can cure everything no matter how high the cost to individuals or society – and the problem with that plan is they can’t cure everything and the side effects of cancer treatments can be severe and may include cognitive deficits – loss of thinking ability.

Do we as a people have to be ashamed of a desire for health or for a healthy sex drive or is it now the norm to expect looking good to not be associated with feeling good? Shaming women over wanting to feel better or to wonder why they’ve lost interest in life, let alone sexual relations, is something I’ve experienced as a patient. If the standard lab test for hypothyroidism shows the presence of thyroid hormone then any symptoms are ‘crazy’ – ask for an autoimmune antibody lab test to be done. Hypothyroid symptoms may occur during autoimmune hypothyroidism while the thyroid hormone lab test shows the presence of thyroid hormone. It may be present but if it is loaded with bromide, chloride or fluoride atoms then it may simply be adding to long term cancer risk instead of performing the normal functions of regulating metabolism. Feeling cold and having easily thinning hair are also symptoms of hypothyroidism. Constipation and being sensitive to gluten containing foods may also be associated problems with hypothyroidism.

Shaming patients has not been found to be effective at helping them in the area of drug or alcohol problems:

“The results add to a body of literature suggesting that widely used shaming and humiliating methods of treating alcohol and other drug problems — such as those seen on shows like Celebrity Rehab — are not only ineffective but also may be counterproductive.” (9.156)

Patients with problems with chronic obesity or overweight issues that are actually due to hypothyroidism may try very hard to lose weight and may exercise a lot and eat very little and still not lose weight or even gain it. A severe hypothyroid problem can make a person’s metabolic needs drop far below average. An average diet for a person is recommended to not go below 1200 calories per day. Someone with hypothyroidism may be eating 800 calories per day and still not be losing weight – are they shameful over-eaters? or are they starving for iodine? I vote the latter. But society tends to look at anyone who is overweight as someone who eats too much – no it might be someone whose body gains weight too easily.

It has been made clear to me that sexual health is not to be discussed unless it is regarding men’s sexual health. Women don’t sweat, they just glow, or something like that. If men want sexual health it seems like they would want healthy partners too. We really aren’t talking about men’s sexual health either though, just take a pill and don’t worry about potential underlying cardiovascular risks that may be associated with ED (Erectile Dysfunction – yes, actually we don’t talk about that much either.)

Babies come from under cabbage leaves still I guess. Unfortunately they need iodine too. Rhubarb is a good source of iodine so maybe start looking for babies under rhubarb leaves. Or maybe just eat more rhubarb because it would not only be providing iodine, it also has a phytonutrient, parietin, that has been shown to be effective against cancer cells. A concentrated amount of the parietin was used however: https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/health/613194/Cancer-killing-drug-rhubarb-ready-within-years

Parietin is an orange pigment found in the rhubarb and in many types of lichen. I don’t happen to have an image of rhubarb handy but here’s some pretty lichen on a rock in a desert area:

Colorful lichen on a rock in the desert during early winter, with colored pieces of glass, found nearby.

The chemical left healthy cells unharmed which is unlike typical chemotherapy treatments. The parietin may be stopping cancer cell growth by blocking anaerobic metabolism – the burning of energy without oxygen. Our bodies preferentially use metabolic pathways that use oxygen (and cause oxidative stress as a byproduct). This article is longer and contains a list of many other beneficial phytonutrients and vitamins found in whole rhubarb. It contains antioxidants and a variety of beneficial things in addition to iodine:  https://www.naturalhealth365.com/rhubarb-cancer-enzyme-1820.html

While I don’t have a picture I do have a recipe for Blueberry Rhubarb Jam – the two fruits work well together in a sauce, cobbler, or jam because rhubarb is fairly tart – acidic, and blueberries are fairly mild – more alkaline. They balance each other nicely in this low sugar recipe: http://transcendingsquare.com/2012/07/21/blueberry-rhubarb-jam/

If you happen to have a patch of rhubarb or know someone who does you’ll know that when it is season there is lots and then it is out of season, the leaves get large and the usuable part – the celery like stalks become too large, less tender, less colorful and the parietin at least is in the colorful pinkish pigments on the exterior of the rhubarb leaf stalks.

A simpler recipe that I made to use up a lot of rhubarb all at once was a Rhubarb Ginger Sauce which I would freeze in batches which turned into a sorbet like frozen treat. I also would use the sauce thawed in baked goods as a substitution for part of the liquid in a recipe similar to substituting applesauce.

The recipe was roughly 12 cups of washed and chopped rhubarb stalks, about 1/2 inch long sections, simmered with 3 cups of sugar and an inch or two section of ginger root, peeled and minced fine. Some might prefer less ginger or no ginger, that amount made a fairly zingy sauce. The stalks make their own sauce as they simmer and the chunks become soft and lose their form. Simmer for about 20 minutes. I would need to try it again to check the recipe but that is the way I remember making it. Once frozen the sugary treat was easy to eat like a fruit sorbet rather than freezing into a more solid ice cube. The sugar content would be necessary for that effect, I think a sugar free sauce would freeze more solid.

So plan ahead, eat healthy now and prevent precancerous cells the natural way – with a healthy immune system and active metabolic rate. It is difficult to have a normal lifestyle let alone exercise regularly when the body is coasting on 800 calories a day due to hypothyroidism.

Disclaimer: Opinions are my own and the information is provided for educational purposes within the guidelines of fair use. While I am a Registered Dietitian this information is not intended to provide individual health guidance. Please see a health professional for individual health care purposes.

G3.4: Social contact would help protect against oxidative stress.

People and other species are social creatures whose survival may have been dependent on being part of a group rather than being isolated. Loneliness has been associated with increased inflammation and a reduced resistance to infection by viral diseases. Genetic changes have been found to occur in isolated individuals that lead to the increased inflammatory response in comparison to individuals who have more social support. Genes can be temporarily turned on or off depending on the environment.

Our instincts have developed to trust that being part of a group increases our chance of survival. Having a role that fulfills a valued purpose for the group is associated with an increased sense of happiness. Read more: A Better Kind of Happiness, by Will Storr, (G3.9).

Fitting into groups well can require social skills that need to be nurtured from birth. Infants learn body language at an early age by interacting with a parent who responds to the baby’s cues. If the baby smiles the mother smiles back and the baby learns to smile more readily. If the baby has a mother that doesn’t notice body language though, then the infant may stop smiling as often.

Infants and children depend on their caregivers for everything and try to please with their smiles, eye contact, or baby coos. If the infant isn’t receiving eye contact in return however they may stop trying or are scolded they may learn to look away and to avoid eye contact.

Children ideally need emotional support in order to develop trust in themselves and in others. Parents who have limited skills in understanding and accepting their own emotions may not be able to teach their children what they don’t understand themselves. Children who have some role model in their lives who understands emotional skills may cope better than children who don’t.

The topic is discussed in more detail in the book Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents: How to Heal from Distant, Rejecting, or Self-Involved Parents, by Lindsay C. Gibson, PsyD, (New Harbinger Pub., Inc., 2015, Oakland, CA) (G3.10) (This book is not a twelve step book and is not affiliated with the Adult Children of Alcoholic or Dysfunctional Parents twelve step group.) On page eight the author discusses the importance of emotional connection for humans and other mammals for responding less negatively to stress. Stephen Porges published work in 2011 suggesting that mammals evolved a way in which we can get additional soothing during fear situations when we are in touch physically or possibly even mentally – thinking about them during times of need. It involves vagus nerve pathways that can be inhibited to reduce the fight, flight, or freeze stress reaction. (G3.10)

So a sense of connection to others can help reduce the negative inflammatory effects of the stress response. Some stress can be healthy to help get us moving to meet whatever challenge has occurred. Stress may become more overwhelming however if the person is isolated or never learned social skills or developed enough trust in others to ask for help or seek out help.

Children in situations with emotionally immature caregivers may learn that people around them can’t be trusted or that trying doesn’t lead to success so why bother trying – they can learn a sense of helplessness and hopelessness and not even try to seek help because they are unfamiliar with finding strength or support from others.

In the book Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents: How to Heal from Distant, Rejecting, or Self-Involved Parents, by Lindsay C. Gibson (G3.10) four different types of emotionally immature caregivers are described and how growing up with them might affect children. Solutions are also provided in the form of techniques for how, as an adult, a person might overcome the lessons they learned as a child once they discover that emotions aren’t dangerous things to never be discussed or worse –  that one might be punished for exhibiting them.

Some emotionally immature people may feel threatened by strong emotions and may react negatively to children who are simply being children. The child in that situation learns to not trust themselves and may not learn that emotions are normal rather than upsetting or frightening.

Severe childhood trauma can lead to changes in the brain that cause ongoing symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). A new strategy for treating PTSD has been developed which involves electrical stimulation of the vagus nerve called Vagal Nerve Stimulation (VNS).  

The excerpt summary from the book Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents (G3.10) regarding the research by Stephen Porges suggests that the vagal nerve is the nerve pathway that naturally is stimulated when social contact is sought by mammals who are enduring a stressful situation. (G3.11) (G3.12)

Whether you are a parent or a teen or an adult learning more about emotional maturity and immaturity can help understand your own emotions and others. Whatever we grow up with will seem normal to us and as adults we tend to seek out similar relationships to those we were familiar with as children – but sometimes what seems normal to some people isn’t normal for everyone else and there is no need to continue living in abusive situations just because it seemed like a normal part of life as a child.

Lack of emotional skills may increase the risk of acting inappropriately when under severe stress. People need the support of people to help reduce negative effects of stress and increase a sense of connection and purpose. People need to learn emotional skills from people who have emotional skills  – or sometimes from a book, Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents: How to Heal from Distant, Rejecting, or Self-Involved Parents, by Lindsay C. Gibson: (G3.10)

  • Attachment Theory and parenting styles are discussed in section 8. Trust is learned early.

The descriptions in this section suggest the inconsistent parenting of the Disorganized style or a parent that switches between Avoidant and Anxious-Resistant styles. A more trusting  Secure style can be achieved with the help of Cognitive Therapy techniques and practice; but it is a lot of work to change core values, or more realistically – attempt to modify slightly, core values that remain from early childhood. Art Therapy or EMDR therapy can help access nonverbal feelings and events that may have occurred during the preverbal years of childhood. Dialectical Behavior Therapy can help when there are cognitive and physical issues underlying mood symptoms.

  • Disclaimer: Opinions are my own and the information is provided for educational purposes within the guidelines of fair use. While I am a Registered Dietitian this information is not intended to provide individual health guidance. Please see a health professional for individual health care purposes.
  • The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics has a service for locating a nutrition counselor near you at the website eatright.org: (eatright.org/find-an-expert)

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