General Health Newsletter – August 2009
A free monthly newsletter by Sally-Ann Creed, Clinical Nutritionist
Winner of SA’s Most Influential Women in Business & Government 2009/2010

I returned from a fantastic break in Australia and within 2 weeks was enormously honoured to be awarded SA’s Most Influential Women in Business & Government 2009/2010.  I really don’t enjoy pictures and TV interviews and all that goes with it, but feel blessed (though undeserving) to have received this award in the sector of “Medical, Dentistry, Health and Veterinary Services”.  On another note, this letter is getting longer…. I’ll try to keep it shorter in future!
 

In this Newsletter:

·         Warning on Bone Drugs – A testimony

·         Fingernail Facts

·         Some August Specials

·         Famous Cinnamon

·         Contents of August Subscriber E-Magazine

·         Spiritual Health

·         Recipe: Delicious Healthy Oat & Buckwheat Pancakes

·         And of course… various quotes I love!

	Warning on “bone building drugs” – a sad testimony I get many letters from my readers.  One such letter which arrived a while ago I felt was worth mentioning in order to help others perhaps avoid the same fate.  You’ll all know by now of the dangers of the biophosphonate drugs which are purported to treat osteoporosis – if not, get some back newsletters of mine and find out for yourself. I wrote back to her to give her some nutritional advice regarding her bones - her reply and her experience with the dangerous drugs is on my site at www.sallyanncreed.co.za/health.htm.
Click here and scroll down to Osteoporosis.  She says: Dear Sally-Ann - Thank you so much for your response and your advice regarding the use of specific vitamins to improve my bone density.  It would mean a lot to me if you could post my letter on your website, as I am eager to spread the message as far as possible.  If my experience with Fosamax could prevent someone else from suffering the same fate as me, I’ll be extremely happy.  D Rogers

Fingernail Facts
It takes approximately 6 months for the average person to grow a full fingernail but up to 18 months to grow a complete toenail. Toenails are located much further away from your heart so of course they receive less blood supply than your fingers. But your nails serve more than a cosmetic function - they enable you to do things you may not ordinarily do properly, such as the ability to work with small objects like peeling an orange, tying a knot or removing a thorn.  Your nails also provide clues to your health status, for example your circulation.  Try the “nail test” which you can perform like this: press down your fingernail till it turns white. Release, and see how long it takes for the nail to turn a healthy pink colour again.  If your blood circulation is good, your nail should turn pink within 2 seconds or less.

Some Nail Pointers

• If your nails are yellow, hard, and curved it could signify lung disease or congestion of your lymphatic system.
• Brittle, spoon-shaped or ridged nails may be a sign of anemia caused iron-deficiency anemia. 
  (But please - don’t ever just take iron without a blood test!)
• Black splinter-like lesions may indicate heart or lung disease.
• Nails that lift off the nail bed may be a sign of a hyperactive thyroid gland.
• Weak, brittle nails on the hands and feet may signify malnutrition - common among strict vegans who don't get enough healthy fat, healthy protein, and minerals from their diet.

Don’t Bite Your Nails
It’s not a good idea to bite your nails or cuticles as you can transfer bacteria from your mouth to the rich supply of blood that exists under your nails. This is quite dangerous actually, as the lack of fatty tissue between your nails and the underlying bones (phalanges) makes these bones quite susceptible to getting infected. The fatty, subcutaneous layer of tissue under your skin throughout most of the rest of your body provides a layer of protection against bone infections by common bacteria like streptococci and staphylococci. That’s why if your job requires you to handle raw meat, it's best to wear gloves while you work to reduce the risk of infection.

All great things are simple, and many can be expressed in single words: freedom, justice, honor, duty, mercy, hope ~Sir Winston Churchill

 

August Special Prices
We’re discontinuing our bulk price list for a while due to restructuring, but please feel free to contact us if you wish to obtain anything in bulk.  We have over 200 products in our Sally-Ann Creed Nourishing Solutions range now, and you can get prices from pa@sallyanncreed.co.za.  This month’s special prices will apply to brand new Erythritol (Creeds are the first to stock this product!), SuperSweet and our ‘just-landed’ Organic Italian round brown rice which is seriously delicious & nutritious

Other specials this month are: MSM powder and tablets, & fabulous powdered Ginger and Cinnamon.  See our Subscriber E-Mag for recipes with cinnamon, ginger and black pepper – all of which are on special this month at less 20%.

Famous Cinnamon
Half a teaspoon a day of cinnamon has been known to lower cholesterol and is a great source of fibre, iron, calcium and manganese.  Cinnamon is also able to regulate blood sugar, and is great for diabetics and people wishing to lose weight.  Arthritics report that taking a ½ teaspoon cinnamon powder with a tablespoon of raw Creeds honey each morning at breakfast brings great relief in as little as a week in some cases, others in under one month.

Watch this space for the launch of the new online Creeds store!

The price of greatness is responsibility – Sir Winston Churchill
 

THE HEALTH CAFÉ

Recipe: Oat and Buckwheat Pancakes This yummy recipe makes 12 pancakes, and is totally scrumptious! Creeds have virtually all the ingredients you need at the store – so enjoy guilt-free pancakes! Gluten-free grains together with these other fine ingredients provide a healthy treat.

What you’ll need

125ml (½ cup) Creeds Organic Oat flour
75ml (¼ cup) Creeds Gluten-Free Buckwheat flour
175ml (¾ cup) Creeds Rolled Oats (or Steel-Cut Oats)
250ml (1 cup) buttermilk
2 Tablespoons (30ml) Creeds Xylitol
3 teaspoons (15ml) Creeds Gluten-Free ‘Safe’ Baking powder
½ teaspoon (2ml) Creeds Himalayan Fine Salt
2 Egg yolks (organic)
1 Tablespoon (15ml) Creeds Macadamia Oil
2 Egg whites 

What you do next:

• Pulse rolled oats for a few seconds in a blender or food processor or use Creeds Steel-Cut Quick-Cooking Oats.
• Combine all dry ingredients in one bowl.
• Slightly beat the egg yolks, combine all wet ingredients in a second bowl (except egg whites).
• In a third bowl beat the egg whites until foamy.
• Mix the dry and wet ingredients together and fold egg whites gently into the batter.
• Use a teaspoon or two of oil or melted butter in small frying pan to avoid the pancakes from sticking. Cook pancakes on medium heat until both sides are browned.
• Serve with Creeds gorgeous new maple syrup and fresh fruit.

Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm - Sir Winston Churchill

BYE

Next month will be SPRINGTIME here in South Africa – bet you can’t wait!  I know we’re tired of the cold and the rain here in Cape Town, and are longing to get more healthy Vitamin D3 by spending a little more time in the sun.  Remember, don’t wear sunscreen on your arms and legs when outside for short periods to be able to get much-needed Vitamin D.

Till next month, love & God bless from

Sally-Ann Creed,
Clinical Nutritionist (Grad Dip Clin Nutr, Australia)
Winner of SA’s Most Influential Women in Business & Government 2009/2010