Glucosinolates are a group of sulfur-containing glycosides found in many plant species, including radishes (root vegetables) and cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, brussels sprouts, and cauliflower.  As part of the cruciferae family, radishes are excellent for maintaining gut health and preventing inflammation. 

Radishes were cultivated extensively by the Egyptians in the time of the Pharaohs and were highly esteemed by the ancient Greeks. Radishes are presently eaten in many parts of the world in a variety of ways:  juiced, raw, cooked, brined, fermented (pickled), and dried. 

Like other members of the cruciferous vegetable family, radishes contain glucosinolates. These are sulfur-containing compounds that help protect cells from cancer-causing genetic mutations. Unique to the radish members of this family are their anthocyanins, which is a blue, violet or red flavonoid pigment found in plants. (These pigments are most well-known for their free-radical scavenging and antioxidant properties). These potent flavonoids not only provide the radish with its red hue, but also are anti-inflammatory in nature which aids in prevention and protection against illnesses. 

Sulforaphane, a phytochemical available primarily in cruciferous plants, shows immune-strengthening effects, is used therapeutically as well as preventatively and has evidently antioxidative and cell-protecting properties. Latest research results prove that the active substance even is able to reduce social and communicative challenges in those with autism. (Click here for more information on the healing benefits of cruciferous plants such as broccoli). 

Important to note: there is research that it is critical for people who have thyroid insufficiency to avoid bitter-tasting vegetables such as radishes as autism can be linked to hypothyroidism.  So before adding uber-healthy radishes to your juicing recipes and salads, please check with your doctor to ensure that consuming radishes will not upset your thyroid balance. ​

I was invited to talk with realtor Faby Gonzalez, the host of Good Day Chula Vista for Episode #18 to talk about my journey with a child with autism and how my son Jovan helped raise my awareness to live a better, healthier life.  Healthy, organic eating habits changed not only my family, but also the lives of many of my loved ones and co-workers. I was thankful for the invitation to talk with my good friend Faby about these important topics. Please view the Facebook live video below. 

Polyphenols are micro nutrients that we get through certain plant-based foods.  They're packed with antioxidants and potential health benefits. It's thought that polyphenols can improve or help treat digestion and weight management issues, diabetes, neurodegenerative disease, and cardiovascular disease.  

70% of your immune system lives in your digestive tract. Your body's naturally-occurring probiotics feed on polyphenols. A polyphenol-rich diet can help you feel better and digest your food better. That's right, eating foods with polyphenols can help fuel our own probiotics, making our own digestive systems healthier. 

It's best to get polyphenols by eating foods containing them rather than via supplements, which can limit iron absorption. There are polyphenol blends available for purchase, but they need to be soy-free, lactose-free and manufactured to cGMP standards and have the same high polyphenol content you'd receive if you simple at the food itself, rather than purchase a supplement. 

The best way we've found to harness the highest nutrient content of these powerful foods is to eat them raw and also blend them to add to our kombucha and daily blended juices.  This has a wonderful effect on my family's health. It helps to detoxify and reduce the inflammation Jovan experiences in his gut.  As I've said before, all health begins in the gut, and that's one of the main places we started to try to heal Jovan with his digestive health.

The five videos below detail my process of making kombucha at home. Please let me know if you have any comments or questions!

Our organic garden-fresh ingredients for our own ketogenic pizza came from our own backyard. We used organic tomatoes and basil and stewed them over low heat for about 20 minutes to bring out the flavors.  We sauteed organic garlic cloves and basil in olive oil.  Smells delicious! We steamed cauliflower with garlic in water with about a tablespoon of olive oil. Jovan loved the ketogenic organic meat and greens with homemade balsamic vinaigrette dressing. So tasty! 

Here are a few of our favorite organic greens that make healthy, nutrient-dense green juices.  These have greatly helped Jovan on his healing path: 

• Kale - Anti-inflamatory and helps to protect the body against harmful bacteria and viruses.
• Spinach - Powerful antioxidant packed with B vitamins, vitamins A, C, E, and K, trace minerals like copper and magnesium.   
• Watercress - High in calcium, iron, vitamin C, vitamin K, phytonutrients, and antioxidants.
• Parsley -  Known for its ability to draw out toxic heavy metals and expel them from the body. 
• Broccoli - High in folate, phosphorus, choline, potassium and copper.  
• Collard Greens - High in protein, fiber and omega-3 fatty acids. 
• Celery - Rich fiber content, reduces inflammation and very beneficial to the gut.
• Rainbow Chard - Nutritional powerhouse and an excellent source of vitamins K, A and C. Good source of magnesium, potassium, iron, and fiber. 
• Cucumber - Contain multiple B vitamins, including B1, B5 and B7. High water and fiber content to aid in digestion.

We often add lemon and green apples to our juices.   The best thing about these juices is that the ingredients can come from your own organic garden! 

Let's be honest, daily blended vegetable shakes are tasty, but our kiddos might not agree.  Jovan found a way to make his daily raw veggie shake fun!  ​

When I was researching autism and deficiecies, one of the most important items that popped up was magnesium.  Most people have very low levels of magnesium, especially those who suffer from an illness.

A magnesium deficiency can cause the body to lose potassium which our bodies cannot afford. Within the cell wall is a sodium pump to provide a high internal potassium and a low internal sodium. Magnesium and potassium inside the cell assist oxidation, and sodium and calcium outside the cell wall help transmit the energy produced. The healthy cell wall favors intake of nutrients and elimination of waste products.

Magnesium protects cells from aluminum, mercury, lead, cadmium, beryllium and nickel, which explains why re-mineralization is so essential for heavy metal detoxification and chelation. Magnesium protects the cell against oxyradical damage and assists in the absorption and metabolism of B vitamins, vitamin C and E, which are anti-oxidants important in cell protection. Recent evidence suggests that vitamin E enhances glutathione levels and may play a protective role in magnesium deficiency-induced cardiac lesions.

Magnesium in general is essential for the survival of our cells but takes on further importance in the age of toxicity where our bodies are being bombarded on a daily basis with heavy metals. Magnesium protects the brain from toxic effects of chemicals. It is highly likely that low total body magnesium contributes to heavy metal toxicity in children and is a strong participant in the etiology of learning disorders.

Without sufficient magnesium, the body accumulates toxins and acid residues, degenerates rapidly, and ages prematurely. Recent research has pointed to low glutathione levels being responsible for children’s vulnerability to mercury poisoning from vaccines. It seems more than reasonable to assume that low levels of magnesium would also render a child vulnerable.

We are supposed to get our magnesium from our daily food intake, but unfortunately most people have diets lacking in nutrients. This is list of veggies rich in magnesium:
​

1. Spinach — 1 cup: 157 milligrams (40% DV)
2. Chard — 1 cup: 154 milligrams (38% DV)
3. Pumpkin seeds — 1/8 cup: 92 milligrams (23% DV)
4. Yogurt or Kefir — 1 cup: 50 milligrams (13% DV)
5. Almonds — 1 ounce: 80 milligrams (20% DV)
6. Black Beans — ½ cup: 60 milligrams (15% DV)
7. Avocado — 1 medium: 58 milligrams  (15% DV)
8. Figs — ½ cup: 50 milligrams (13% DV)
9. Dark Chocolate — 1 square: 95 milligrams (24% DV)
10. Banana — 1 medium: 32 milligrams (8% DV)

    
Consuming most of this raw is best for optimal nutrition intake. I added some of this to our family's diet and have seen great benefits from it. Magnesium oils can also be purchased and added as lotion or even in a warm bath with a little lavender.

What are ORAC Values? The ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) unit, ORAC value, or “ORAC score” is a method of measuring the in vitro antioxidant capacity of different foods and supplements. More than two decades in the making, it was originally developed by scientists working at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and USDA. Measuring in vivo (meaning inside the human body) is not possible and for that reason, the exact relationship between the ORAC value of a food/supplement and any suspected health benefit it may have as a result is unproven. However, many scientists theorize that foods higher on the ORAC scale may be more effective at neutralizing free radicals. Although unproven, according to the free-radical theory of aging, this may slow the oxidative processes and free radical damage that can contribute to age-related degeneration and disease.

When I pick an apple from a tree, at the moment I pulled the fruit off the branch the fruit has the highest nutritional value. Organically-grown food has full nutritional value. Fresh food even tastes better. We might forget what real food tastes like because we go to the market and buy our food, which might not be as fresh as possible. Do we ask ourselves "What is the ORAC value in the food I'm eating today?"

When I took  Jovan and my other son to a farm a few months ago, I told them to pull the vegetables from the dirt. The owner gave us a basket and allowed us to pick what we wanted.  When we brought the vegetables home their freshness made our home smell amazing. I had never truly smelled farm-fresh veggies before. The basil, thyme, spinach, and onions all had their own unique fresh aroma. Now we love going to farmer's markets to choose our fresh veggies together. It's important to buy vegetables with high ORAC values because as days pass, the ORAC values and nutritional content decrease. Higher ORAC values mean better health for my family. 

When I first heard of Schussler Cell Salts, I thought, "Why didn't anybody ever tell me about these salts?" Once I started researching all the information, I was amazed. These salts truly help heal and are worth looking into and can help benefit almost anything.

MORE ON THE SCHUESSLER CELL SALTS 
Twelve cell salts were recognized and categorized by a German biochemist William H. Schuessler in 1873.  He found that there are certain essential minerals that the body requires, in proper balance, in all of its cells.  An imbalance or a lack of any of these minerals may lead to disease in the tissues so lacking. Providing the missing minerals to the tissues corrects that imbalance, and so eliminates the illness.  This seemingly simple system of cure has great practical application in health.  Using only a small number of harmless combinations (or "salts") of these minerals, it is possible for any individual to treat him or herself simply and effectively for a great variety of everyday minor ailments. It is significant that such cell-salt treatment is replenishing something the body lacks and wants, as opposed to merely suppressing illness with drugs and other chemicals.  Drugs do not provide missing cell nutrients, but drugs do add harmful chemicals to the body which ultimately compound the problem.  The Schuessler Cell Salts may be seen as special raw materials for the body, which you need more of if you run out of what you normally have.​