After an eventful train journey - we took an extra 9 hours for the trip!  A freight derailment near Denver meant we had to tow the east-bound train to Salt Lake City for a detour - I have safely arrived in California, and today I report to start the Ayurvedic Cleanse.  I know this is a very comprehensive approach to health, and am not sure whether I will be allowed access to my computer at all.  

I have a few butterflies in my stomach:  will keep you posted as much as I can! 

As a child I lived for some years in Sweden, and then went to school in England.  In both countries, black and red currants were common ingredients both in juices,and jams.  In fact, red currant jelly was a frequent accompaniment to game, used much as cranberry jelly is used here.

My foster Mother in Sweden used to put up rows and rows of bottles of "saft" , strong condensed juice, from her garden every year.

I was so surprised to discover them nowhere to be found in the USA!  All I could find out was some suggestion that they brought disease to trees - which also surprised me, since both Sweden and England are liberally supplied with trees of all kinds.

New research linking ingredients in black currants and blackberries to protection from Alzheimer's may bring these delicious and prolific , not to mention tasty, treats to prominence.

I leave this afternoon for California, to deliver myself into the hands of an Ayurvedic College there for a cleanse.

My daughter has become very interested in this modality, and in fact plans to attend this college in the Spring to become licensed as an Ayurvedic practitioner.

I will be on the train for 2 days, and then I do not know what sort of access they will allow me to the Internet.  I detected a definite tone of disapproval when I asked about it:  I suppose computers are really not compatible withe a cleansing retreat! I feel upbeat but apprehensive about the experience.

However, I have set up a folder for my guys to save your e-mails and questions, and worst case, I will answer them when I return.

Panchakarma Cleanse

In the UK, they are telling it like it is:  junk food and the wrong fats can have a stultifying impact on the brain, its development and its functioning.

"Food can have an immediate and lasting effect on mental health and behaviour because of the way it affects the structure and function of the brain," Sustain's report says. Its chairman, Tim Lang, said: "Mental health has been completely neglected by those working on food policy. If we don't address it and change the way we farm and fish, we may lose the means to prevent much diet-related ill health."

Read the full report here.

Read the Vitamin Lady's article on a Healthy Dietary here.

As you may know from my January Newsletter, my daughter has become very interested in Ayurvedic medicine, to the point of starting her training in the Spring.

In view of my condition, the large tumor detected in my abdomen in September, she has suggested that I undergo a Panchakarma cleanse, and I am due to start on January 24th, and will be leaving for the preparatory stage Thursday 19th.  It appears that as a part of the process, my access to the Internet will be limited;  which means that, while The Vitamin Lady as a business at its headquarters will be unaffected, I may not be able to respond personally to your questions for while.

I do hope to find the time to blog about the experience here, so come back and check on me.

As those of you who receive my newsletter know, in the January edition I laid out my campaign to fight the tumor found in my abdomen in September. I was overwhelmed by the avalanche of supportive and inspiring messages I received from you:  thank you very much!

I will be posting any significant events on my journey to my blog from time to time, and the first thing I absolutely have to share is this comment from one of my readers.

"My approach ten years ago was to build up my immune system in every way possible.  I found Thymic Protein A very helpful.  I also used the Budwig diet.  In my case, I am sure it was stress of many years not dealt with properly.  After  coping with the problem, I am still hanging on ,happily, at 92 years.  I am planning a barge trip in France in June--one always needs to anticipate some pleasure to look forward to.  Good Luck and many good wishes.  E.M"

Now, that  is really encouraging! My daughter proposes a trip to visit family in Ireland when we have this thing under control.  I can't wait!

This study serves as  further cautionary evidence that dietary supplements used in drug-like quantities, may have side effects. More is not necessarily better.

Elderly patients who have had a heart attack need to avoid large doses of supplementary L-Arginine.

I should say "guinea-pig" rather than rat, because that's what we are.

What could possibly account for the acquiescence in this massive experiment of the authorities designated to protect us ? Particularly in the face of sufficient doubt to at least bring into question the overall safety of GM foods?

Will these recent alarming studies make a difference?  Or is the genie alreadyout of the bottle?

How can our government authorites accept the figures which show the tragic increase in autism, and not ask the obvious questions?

With millions of dollars at stake on one side, and common sense on the other - who will win?

A synopsis

The right choice for a giggle - enjoy this spoof on TV drug advertising.

Ask your Doctor for a reason to use it.