Calcium is deadly???

Original test from the British Heart Journal
Forks over Knives talks about Calcium



Supplements: You decide

The news out today is all about the dangers of Calcium. Calcium!!! It is what we have been told, especially women, to take tons of in order to have strong bones. Now it is showing to cause heart attacks. Ugh, good grief! I am not an expert but I want to talk about my take on vitamins from my experience and studies over the years.

Why are vitamins called supplements? Let me go old school, literally, and put it in a sentence.

We are not eating well so we need to supplement our nutrition with vitamins.

There you have it. So how true is this? Is it beneficial to take vitamins anyway?

I remember pondering vitamins when we were told years ago that Vitamin E, the same Vitamin E the medical journals and reports told us is great for us in mass quantities, can cause heart problems. I thought, what can I really trust. I then came to a realization, I can trust God. I believe he created us. I believe he knew exactly what makes us tick and put all the plant sources we need to make it tick right, on this Earth. I am truly blessed to live in America. I am able to go to a store and buy whatever I need to be healthy and balanced. However, what if you can not get what you need?

What if you are in a country, unlike America, where it is not as easy to get what a person may need to be healthy?  What if you live near those sources but can not get enough of it because of money. Basically I believe in these cases, vitamins would be a great source of help. At the basis of my thoughts on vitamins though it should only be for help because there is a medical reason for deficiency or not an adequate food supply. That is it. Some people may disagree. However, from all the on again off again information about vitamins over the years I just decided it is better to keep it simple and trust in our food choices and in the God who gave them to us. That is one of the reasons why I believe it is important to know how to eat well. We need to feed our bodies with the good stuff.

We were not taught how to eat very well in America. The government has been showing us the wrong way for years. Planting meat, eggs, and dairy at the forefront of our minds. The truth is vitamins such as calcium are micro-nutrients. They are found in plants. In plants we find larger amounts too. There is no need to drink tons of dairy, proven to cause cancer, to get calcium.

A plant based diet has been proven time and time again to be the healthiest diet to eat. This doesn't just come from the tons of studies out there. It comes from the people. People who staved off cancer with it. People who lose weight and have tons of energy and rejuvenation. It is the people who have convinced me, then the science, then the Bible. If you are feeling that good, would you think you needed vitamins?

In short, these studies can be a source of inspiration to get off the shirttails of studies and start eating the God given plants that God made for us. There are a million. If you can't get to it, plant it yourself. Oh and make sure you share with people who may not have the funds or resources. Let's get back to the Earth and the simplicity of eating right! Then we don't have to worry when we see studies like this.

Running to the beat of my heart

I completed my second run today! It was hard on my shins because I wore my old sneakers. The great news is I felt great. I have taken many baby steps to work up the confidence. Running is a challenge I have given myself because it is a fear. I want to share a little about why. Maybe it will help others to face their fears.

About ten years ago I was in college. I was hanging out with my friends and my heart started to flutter. It is a sensation that I would become very familiar with. At the time though, it was horrifying. After it fluttered it beat inside my chest at a rapid pace for about ten mins.

I saw my friends Alan and Kathi in the hall. I felt God move me to ask them for prayer. Alan put his hand on my heart and his eyes widen. He started to pray as they both huddled around me. As soon as he said Amen it stop suddenly. I was relieved. I started to cry. It was the beginning of about ten years of a wild goose chase.

It took many doctors not believing me but to make a long story short I finally made them listen and caught it on a monitor. Since it happened on and off for years with such long periods in between I just learned to just keep living. However with the lack of help I built up a fear in my ignorance. A fear of my heart and anything that might affect it. Running was at the top of my list.

I have been through heart surgery for SVT and still have inappropriate sinus tachycardia. The awesome doctor I am working with cleared me to run and said it may help keep me from having a more serious operation. So running has now changed from a fear to a possible cure. I think my IST has become somewhat more subdued since the operation last November. They obliterated two extra electrical pathways in my heart. However my health is in my hands more than anyone's. So I am running for many things these days. I am running to overcome an ancient fear, for my future kids, for my husband, and for God, so I am responsible with what he gave me.

My message is if you are in pain be in pain for the right reasons. Shin splints may hurt but at least it is not the muscle pain of laziness. Also, never give up. Face down the plagues of this life. There are many people routing for you. I am routing for you. Let me know if I can pray. God is my strength and he can be yours too. Xo.

Reap what you Sow

The phrase "you reap what you sow" has been really popping into my head frequently these past several days. It is a statement that is an oldy but truey as I like to call them. Also known as timeless wisdom.

I have been feeling sick, miserable, and overwhelmed in the last couple weeks. My body is aching along with my stomach. My emotions are deadened. I am only wanting to withdrawal from the world. Activities with friends feel draining as well.

I have a 5k looming in the distance growing closer everyday. I have not ran one step toward becoming a runner, which I am not. Running is also a fear rooted in a long story for another time. Instead I have been wallowing in cookies and dairy because my emotions have been too much lately.

Here is were this saying keeps popping up. I am reaping sickness, sadness, and feelings of overwhelming defeat because I am not planting anything good into my life.

Right now i am planning a modest balcony garden. I am excited to see the rewards my planning will yield. I am realizing I need to also purposefully plan to plant somethings in myself as well. Embracing baby steps toward a healthier me.

Bottom line is if I want to feel better I gotta get off my patoti and initiate a plan of action.

So here are some first steps. I am planning on cutting out sugar and dairy completely. I am using Truvia and Myer lemons in water to help with the cravings which is delicious by the way. I am going to run tomorrow even though I am achy and depressed. I am also going to pray and ask God for strength before I fall asleep tonight to stay away from sugar and stay vegan. These are steps I am taking or seeds I am planting to sow a better life. What are you wanting to grow? What seeds will you sow?

God bless you with your efforts. I pray your gardens turn out wonderful.

Why I blog? (First blog post ever!!!!)

This is my first blog post and that is me in the picture with my dog Leia. I have been telling my friends that I was writing them but afraid to post so here goes me facing my fear. I would like to inform anyone who might want to read about why I am writing a blog like a million other people and what will be in it so you can decide to come back or not:)! 

I am currently going back to school to obtain a bachelors degree in nutrition. I have a passion for it. I am 33 years old on May 7th. I have already had heart surgery, panic attacks, and shingles. Basically I have been through the gambit. I am thankful for these trials because from them God has given me a passion for eating and living healthy. I love researching and searching out the best ways to eat. I also love making up recipes for my husband and I to enjoy. I will be sharing this journey of food and knowledge here. I am working toward staying completely vegan as well. My health as well as my faith has much to do with that decision.

I am an open-minded, non-judgmental Christian. I believe in Jesus. I know many people see Christians in a bad light because of many reasons. I promise I am not a "that" Christian. I believe faith is personal choice. I want to share my faith with others because of what it has done for me and how it is very applicable on many levels of living. I also want to reach out to the Christian church and spread the good word of health. The Bible is a great source for many thoughts on living healthy. It is a well of wisdom. It also teaches about respect for the environment which brings me to my next reason for writing this blog.


My mom and dad have always taught me to respect nature. They instilled these values in me from as far back as I can remember. I believe that and my faith is why I am respectful toward the Earth and it's creatures. Not everyone is faithful to what God has blessed us with but I see Him clearly directing us toward that. I am going to be writing about my home life with my husband and dogs. I will be sharing what the Bible says about our relationship to the Earth. I will also share many ways to live "green" as they say. Living green also will incorporate products used. I will be writing reviews and vlogging on products such as make-up, beauty products, and fashion too.


I want to inform people about living healthy in mind, body, spirit, and relationships. It has to be all four because I believe if you want one to improve the rest need to improve as well. I also believe to be strong in all areas helps when one area gets damaged. I want to help myself and others become healthy, vibrant, and happy human beings. I love helping others. I hope sharing my thoughts and life choices will be a blessing to those who read and watch. Love and Healthy Blessings, Victoria