The Colors On Our Plates Can Be Life-Saving

 antioxidants, blueberries, Nutrition, Vegetarian Diet  No Responses »
Jun 042013
 

green and red healthy food

This picture reminds me of all of the wonderful farmers markets throughout the country, and all of those family gardens with the benefits of harvesting one’s own fruits and vegetables. Since June is upon us, and that is the month chosen for celebrating fruits and vegetables, I thought it was an appropriate choice. Just the fact that it is in the shape of a heart is another reminder that all the nutrition that comes from those fruits and vegetables will certainly improve the condition of our heart.

Vegetables and fruit contain phytochemicals, or ‘plant chemicals’. These biologically active substances can help to protect you from some diseases.  According to Dr. Dean Ornish, fruits and vegetables help reduce inflammation, whereas saturated fat, trans-fatty acids, and refined carbohydrates help promote inflammation. Foods that are high in refined carbohydrates also increase inflammation. Although inflammation has been recognized since ancient times, its contribution to cardiovascular diseases and other illnesses has only recently been fully appreciated.

Dr. Joel Fuhrman, author of Eat For Health, Lose Weight, Keep It Off, Live Longer, states, Heart disease as a major cause of disability and death is a recent phenomenon in human history. Heart disease has identifiable causes, and populations whose lifestyle practices do not create these causes do not have heart disease. Cultures around the world eating a healthy, vegetable-rich diet have no recorded heart disease, including hundreds of thousands of rural Chinese. The same diets that are high in animal fats and low in vitamins, minerals, fruits, and green vegetables, also have been shown to be related to the incidence of dementia.

On the HeartHealthyWomen.org website it referenced the  Women’s Health Study,  when nearly 40,000 healthy female health professionals completed detailed food questionnaires and were followed for an average of 5 years.   Those who ate the highest amounts of fruits and vegetables cut their risk of cardiovascular disease including stroke and heart attack by one third compared with women who ate the least amounts. Similarly, the Nurses’ Health Study and the male Health Professionals Follow-up Study showed a 20% reduction in heart disease risk for men and women who ate the most fruits and vegetables.  Fruits and vegetables have many nutrients that may benefit the heart including folate, potassium, plant sterols (shown to lower cholesterol), and antioxidants such as vitamin C and flavonoids. They are also a good source of fiber

An article found in the Huffington Post, December 2012, cited a recent study conducted by University of Oxford researchers that showed those eating at least eight servings of fruits and vegetables on a daily basis is linked with a 22 percent decreased risk of dying from heart disease, than if you were to just eat three or fewer servings. Watch the following video from ABC news about this study:

National Women’s Health Week ~ May 12 to May 18

 Aging, Heart Disease, Nutrition  No Responses »
May 162013
 
  • images

In honor of of all women, I want to share with you a few tips I have learned even recently about women and their health.  (These tips can apply to men as well).

Did you know that 80% of the healthcare decisions made in the home are made by women? I definitely knew that from my own experience in raising a family. And their needs always came before mine, something that we know will eventually catch up with us!

Although I have always been interested in nutrition and healthy living, it was not until I faced my own health issues that I began to realize that in order to keep myself in optimal health and to avoid the common debilitating diseases, I would have to design my own plan for a healthier lifestyle and keep to it.

Fortunately, at that time I was introduced to natural supplements. This provided a preventative maintenance program which I am on to this day and at 70 I find myself full of energy and prescription free. I would have to add to that program exercise. (I also believe exercise reduces stress, a factor that can often lead to heart disease because of high blood pressure).

Dr. Weil states in his book Why Our Health Matters the toll of preventable disease ~

  • Chronic diseases cause 70% of deaths in America and are responsible for 3/4 of health-care spending
  • Half of all American men and 1/3 of all American women will develop cancer
  • One in twelve Americans will have asthma
  • One in fourteen Americans will have diabetes
  • One in seven Americans will develop Alzheimer’s disease

Weil does not feel that these chronic diseases are inevitable consquences of growing older and that to maintain health and vigor into the late nineties and beyond, environment and lifestyle factors can actually modify genetic expression and influence risk for age-related diseases.

Regarding the environment I have chosen to use only non-toxic products in my home.  If the air outside is bad, at least I can do whatever I can to keep the air inside my home as clean as possible since it increases the risk of respiratory diseases of all sorts, weakens our immune system and even makes us more susceptible to cancer  And we are not even yet discussing the threat to the health and welfare of the whole planet by affecting the earth’s protective ozone layer.  I also try to  buy  organic when I can.  A great list of 10 foods to definitely buy organic can be found here ~ rmdy.hm/kam

In the June 2013 issue of Oprah, Dr. Oz shared some interesting healthy tips, one of which included checking your pulse. Before you get out of bed, press your index and middle fingers against the inside of your wrist below your thumb; count the beats for 30 seconds.  Then double that number.  A 2010 study found that compared with a resting rate of less than 60 beats per minute, a rate of more than 90 triples a woman’s risk of dying from heart disease.  If your heart rate is high, consider adding more omega-3 fatty acids to your diet.  Adding omega-3 fatty acids from sources like olive oil and nuts and fish may help improve lipid levels as well.

Another tip he included was making sure to get enough magnesium (about 265 mg for women).  Apparently nearly half of Americans do not get this.  Magnesium helps to relax blood vessels and may lower blood pressure by as much as 5 points in people with mild hypertension.  (Try cooked spinach and pumpkin seeds).

With the high price of health care than any other people in the world, we need to educate ourselves on more safe and effective alternatives to drugs.  Shifting our health care efforts from disease intervention to disease prevention and health promotion is a mission we all need to have.

One of the tips on the National Women’s Health Week website included the following infographic which I found very informative:  NWHW-Infographic-508

I would love to hear what you are doing in creating a more preventative approach to your own health,

 

 

 

Food Revolution Summit ……….. An Education About The Food We Eat

 Environment, Functional Medicine, genetically modified foods, Nutrition  No Responses »
Apr 112013
 

imagesI recently read the book, The Food Revolution ~ How Your Diet Can Help Save Your Life and Our World and found the information to be carefully researched and life-changing. I thought, if every patient in every doctor’s office read this book, it could revolutionize the health of America.

The author, John Robbins, author of numerous bestsellers, including Diet for a New America, serves as a director of many nonprofit organizations concerned with the environment, health, world hunger, genetic engineering, and the welfare of all species. He is a popular speaker, founder of EarthSave International, and chairman of Youth For Environmental Sanity (YES).

I just learned that he and his son have put together a “Food Revolution Summit” from April 27th ~ May 5th with revolutionary visionaries and thinkers that can literally put the power into your hands when it comes to the food you eat.

Paul McCartney “The planet is under pressure and our choices have never been more important. The Food Revolution Summit is an informative and empowering platform which highlights ways to set a new pattern for the future of the planet.”

If you care about your health, and you want the truth about your food…
Then you’re invited to join The Food Revolution! Cutting-edge information, shocking facts, and inspirational wisdom! (and it is FREE and without having to leave home) I’m definitely going to join in and hear what they have to say ~ go here to learn more.

Cancer Prevention ~ Is It Possible?

 cancer  No Responses »
Oct 172012
 

It is difficult to imagine that every three minutes someone is diagnosed with breast cancer. When I think about it, however, I, along with so many other women, have been touched by this disease, through a friend, a mom, a sister, a daughter or ourselves.

As you know, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I just read an excellent blog post from Healthy Child, Healthy World, that gave tips on how to prevent cancer. She addressed issues such as:

  • using non-toxic home products and avoiding pesticides
  • losing weight
  • avoiding charred foods
  • exercising
  • avoiding second-hand cigarette smoke
  • drinking less alcohol
  • using glass containers rather than plastic
  • limit hormone treatment, if necessary, to less than 3 years
  • eat organic meat and dairy foods, avoiding hormone treated products
  • do regular self-examinations on yourself
  • blog about it ~ go to local schools, etc. to promote non-toxic cleaners
  • purchase a landmark DVD set, Breast Cancer, The Path of Wellness and Healing ~ tips and stories of those who have dealt with or are dealing with Cancer, with proceeds going to charities, one of which is breastcancer.org   I have included in this post  a trailer of this special film.

I thought this article really helped to explain some definite tips we can apply in our everyday lives.  Regarding the plastic, in  a  recent post I wrote,  this issue is further explained as well as the dangers of using cans with the bisphonol A (BPA) lining.

I recently read a book, The Vitamin D Solution ~ A 3-Step Strategy to Cure Our Most Common Health Problems by Michael F. Holick, Ph.D., M.D. that discusses deficiency of vitamin D in a vast majority of Americans that causes daily aches, pains, and fatigue, and worsens serious illnesses.

One of the studies he talked about, done by doctors from the National Cancer Institute, reported that people who either worked outdoors or lived in sunny climates were less likely to die from breast or colon cancer.  It was stated that if you take 1,000 IU of vitamin D per day, you reduce your risk of developing colorectal, breast, prostate, and ovarian cancer by approximately 50%!  He gave another staggering statistic ~ women who are deficient in vitamin D at the time they are diagnosed with breast cancer are nearly 75% more likely to die from the disease than women with sufficient vitamin D levels.  What’s more, their cancer is twice as likely to metastasize to other parts of the body.

With more than 40,000 women dying from breast cancer each year, making it the deadliest killer of women after heart disease ~ all of these tips are something we need to take serious.  Share this with your family and friends and we can all work towards making cancer preventable.

If you are interested in finding out whether you are vitamin d deficient, check out this simple quiz.

Flu Season Is Upon Us ~ Flu Shot or Preventative Course?

 flu shot  No Responses »
Oct 102012
 

Flu season in the United States generally runs from late October through early May and we all have to make that choice about whether or not to get vaccinated or bolster our immune systems naturally and hope for the best. The CDC (Center for Disease Control) recommends that people get vaccinated against influenza as soon as flu season vaccine becomes available in their community.

In Colorado, however, hospital employees are forced to get vaccinated by the end of the year or lose their jobs. When asked if it is fair to threaten employees with the loss of their jobs, Colorado Hospital Association President and CEO Steven Summer said, “We need to have a workforce available when the public needs it if they are sick. I think people choose to work in a hospital.”

According to the CDC, Flu vaccines are designed to protect against three influenza viruses that experts predict will be the most common during the upcoming season. Three kinds of influenza viruses commonly circulate among people today: influenza B viruses, influenza A (H1N1) viruses, and influenza A (H3N2) viruses. Each year, one flu virus of each kind is used to produce seasonal influenza vaccine. If you come into contact with a different strain of virus you will still get the flu. This fact, along with others, has created concerns with these workers who are now threatened with their jobs if they do not obey these new rules. An excellent article and 8 minute film gives a great explanation about their concerns.

Mentioned in the video is the use of Vitamin D3 as a valid supplement, particularly in the winter months when the flu season is so prevalent. Another article regarding Vitamin D3 and the flu emphasized this very fact. To determine if you are deficient in this important nutrient take the quiz at this link and/or ask your doctor to check your Vitamin D levels with a simple test.

Improving our health and well-being is a daily choice in what we decide to eat, toxins we expose ourselves to, even how we deal with the daily stresses of our lives.  Setting up a medicine cabinet with natural solutions also can be helpful.  Check out this helpful page concerning that.

A hospital setting definitely puts one more in contact with the flu and viruses and I am sure that is why the mandatory compliance to the requirement of a flu shot.   For those with strong,  healthy immune systems, however,  I do believe prevention is the best course and choose diet, exercise, stress reduction and supplementation as an alternative to a flu shot.  What about you?

Are We Undernourished and Overfed?

 Nutrition, Vitamin D  No Responses »
Sep 062012
 

When my husband and I were raising our 5 children there was never any health insurance.  We simply could not afford it.  Looking back now I realize how fortunate we were to not have suffered from medical emergencies that so many families encounter.

One thing I did do for my family was provide them with nutritious food at every meal.  We could not afford to go out, so the fast food restaurants so prevalent with families dining today, was not ever an option for us.    I knew the importance of providing fresh vegetables and fruit and protein each day into our diet.  We did have a moderate amount of sugar, but always in homemade desserts and I never purchased soft drinks.

In my own way I provided a nutritious foundation for our family.  After the children left home, however, I began to experience health issues.  I never imagined it was because I was “undernourished.”  Fortunately I was introduced to a supplement program that turned my health around and I have never looked back.   Dr. Frank Lipman, Integrative Physician, quotes:  “The most effective ways of preventing and treating most chronic diseases are diet, supplements, exercise, stress management and other benign modalities. And herein lies the rub. Although guidance may be helpful, lifestyle changes can’t be imposed from above – they have to come from you. There is no greater reward than being the master of your own health.”

A recent book I have read, Total Renewal, 7 Steps to: Resilience, Vitality and Long Term Health by Dr. Frank Lipman, stresses taking  Responsibility for our own health and well-being.as Step 1.   This requires reconsidering your prescriptions; your relationships with your doctor; and asking difficult questions about how you are managing your own health.  Sounds easy ~ but without this commitment, you will not be healthy.  Step 2 is Removing toxins and decreasing your total load which includes removing household and food toxins.  Step 3 is concerning Recognizing your own unique diet and identifying the foods that make you feel better.  Step 4 is Replenishing nutrients and balancing your hormones.  Step 5 is Releasing tension and Relieving stress.  Step 6 is Revitalizing yourself with a detoxifying diet and lifeplan.  Step 7 is Reconnecting to yourself, others and nature.    I highly recommend this book and try to follow his advice.

I was shocked to read the following statistics on our current health crisis:

 Did you know that:

  • 75% of all health care dollars are spent on patients with one or more chronic conditions, many of which can be prevented, including diabetes, obesity, heart disease, lung disease, high blood pressure, and cancer. Source: Health Affairs
  • Half of health care spending is used to treat just 5% of the population. Source: Kaiser Family Foundation, May 2012
  • Since 2001, employer-sponsored health coverage for family premiums has increased by 113%. Source: Kaiser Family Foundation, May 2012
  • More than 40 million adults stated that they needed but did not receive one or more of these health services (medical care, prescription medicines, mental health care, dental care, or eyeglasses) in 2005 because they could not afford it. Source: National Center for Health Statistics
  • Life expectancy at birth in the United States is an estimated 78.49 years, which ranks 50th in highest total life expectancy compared to other countries. Source: CIA Factbook (2011)
  • More than 80% of Americans have inadequate vitamin D blood levels, and for those over 50, almost 100% do not get the recommended amount of vitamin D from their diet. Vitamin D is needed for calcium absorption, and a results in osteomalacia (a softening of bones in adults). (Go to this link to find out how much Vitamin D you need)

I am very grateful for the choices I have made in my journey to heath and prevention has played a major role.  Feel free to connect with me if you would like any information about my choices, particularly when it comes to supplementation.

 

Checked Your BMI Lately? Studies Link High BMI With More Cancer Risk

 Nutrition, weight loss  No Responses »
Aug 292012
 

Are you at a healthy weight?  I am sure many of us are asking ourselves that when so much is being said about the dangers of obesity.

I just recently returned from my company’s yearly convention where one of the featured speakers was  Jacqui McCoy, the young woman featured on Extreme Make Over Weight Loss Edition several months ago.  It was amazing to see her transformation ~ she actually was able to lose 200 pounds!   She actually  became the biggest weight loss by percentage in weight loss television history at above 58% lost.  Although our particular weight loss products were not a part of her program, she did use the supplements and found them extremely helpful.   As you can see from the picture on the left, she truly did transform her body.

The most serious epidemic in the United States is definitely obesity, a term referring to  having considerably more weight than what is considered healthy for your height.  Using your weight and your height to calculate a number called body mass index (BMI) determines this.  Typically an adult with a BMI greater than 30 is considered to be obese.

Since the subject of weight loss was one of the main focuses of this convention, we were all asked to check our BMI while we were there.  I enthusiastically went to the “weighing station”,  feeling assured that I would easily fall into the “Normal” category of the BMI index.  I was shocked to find that my weight put me right on the edge, at my height and weight, of Obese, one point away from Overweight!  In order to get to Normal my weight would need to be no more than 144 pounds.  (Normal at 5’4″ is between 114# and 144#).

This information really impacted my thinking about my health.  As I said in last week’s post, my decision to take charge of my health 19 years ago has helped me to reach 69, prescription-free.  Now I seem to have joined the ranks of those with unhealthy weight, which adds to my risk of developing future health problems.

Just this week  a new study from trials sponsored by the National Cancer Institute of women with stage I, II and III breast cancer emerged, stating that among women who have been treated for breast cancer, heavier women are more likely to have their disease come back AND more likely to die of cancer.  Apparently certain hormones that are linked to body weight may also fuel tumor growth in the most common form of the disease, known as estrogen-receptor-positive cancer.

My concerns really grew when I read that Dr. Joseph Sparano, associate chairman of medical oncology at the Montefiore Einstein Center of Cancer Care in the Bronx, New York, stated, “Obesity seemed to carry a higher risk of breast cancer recurrence and death – even in women who were healthy at the time that they were diagnosed, and despite the fact that they received the best available chemotherapy and hormone therapy.”

This study found that despite optimal treatment, including chemotherapy and hormonal therapy, the increased body mass index — which usually corresponds to the body’s fat content — significantly increased women’s risk of cancer recurrence and death. Additionally, the more obese the patient is, the more likely they are to have breast recurrence and death from this cancer.

So what will I do with this new information?  I felt like I was sent back in time, 19 years ago, when my health was diminishing at 50.  I am so glad that I made the decision I did and my journey of health began.  Now I am being faced with another HUGE decision….My weight and high BMI score.  That is why I have made the decision to lose the necessary pounds to reach that optimal BMI and to do it before my 70th birthday!

I will be keeping track each week on my Facebook page.  Drop by and check on my “transformation!”  If you are interested in the clinically tested products I will be using for this weight loss journey, feel free to contact me.  The program includes Leucine, a muscle-building amino acid found in protein rich foods.   There are nine essential amino acids that cannot be manufactured by the body and must be obtained from our diet.  The phrase “Powered by Leucine” as used with this  weight loss program is trademarked by our company.   It  is a proprietary formula that helps you “keep the muscle you have, burn the fat you don’t need and lose inches you don’t want”. When you lose muscle, which we don’t want to do, your metabolism drops. So, you see why Leucine is so important.

Exercise, of course, is a big part of my program.  Each morning my daughter and I plan to go the YMCA to walk the track and use the weight machines.  It’s a great way to start the day.

I have several others who will be joining me on this “transformation journey” and we are going to be connecting each Monday evening 8:00 pm (EST) – 8:15 pm just to let each other know our challenges and triumphs!  If you would like to join us, here is the link to the meet-up room, Conference call #: 218-862-6114 Access Code: 063678.  These calls will begin on Monday, September 10th and continue weekly.

The choices we make every day lay a critical role in shaping our future health ~ scientific research confirms that losing weight, eating healthfully, smart supplementation, and minimizing exposure to toxic chemicals in the home can help reduce the risk of future health problems.  I look forward to celebrating many years to come, enjoying my grandchildren and great grandchildren!  Won’t you join me?

 

 

 

What is Functional Medicine?

 Functional Medicine  No Responses »
May 092012
 

I loved Dr. Mark Hyman‘s explanation about “functional” health and where we are today with regard to “disease” ~ In the past I did a post that described this so well. Check here for more on this subject.

Here is how Wikopedia describes functional medicine: It focuses on treating individuals who may have bodily symptoms, imbalances and dysfunctions. Functional medicine seeks to identify and address the root causes of disease, and views the body as one integrated system, not a collection of independent organs divided up by medical specialties.

Functional medicine practitioners provide chronic care management with the belief that “diet, nutrition, and exposure to environmental toxins play central roles in functional medicine because they may predispose to illness, provoke symptoms, and modulate the activity of biochemical mediators through a complex and diverse set of mechanisms.” It was developed and originated by Dr. Helmut W. Schimmel. A great website to learn more about this approach to better health, go to this link.

Check out Dr. Hyman’s newest book, The Blood Sugar Solution ~ You can balance your blood sugar in just 8 weeks – without drugs! This book outlines a complete 8-week program for rebalancing your blood sugar, reversing diabesity, losing weight, and feeling great. I also highly recommend this product for blood sugar regulation. Along with achieving a healthy weight through diet and exercise, It is a unique blend of scientifically supported minerals, a botanical, and antioxidants, and can help retain normal blood-sugar levels. Contact me for more information ~ it even is provided in a vegetarian capsule.

Changing Brands Can Change Your LIfe

 Nutrition  No Responses »
May 012012
 


Often I am asked why I chose Shaklee as the company I purchase my supplements from. My response is always “because they work.” I particularly enjoy this video because it clearly shows how quickly this product gets into the bloodstream. A recent study determined that 90% of Americans are lacking key nutrients in their diets. Stress and aging increase our body’s need for essential vitamins and minerals as well.

A groundbreaking study of long-term supplement users conducted in collaboration with researchers from the UC Berkeley School of Public Health and published in Nutrition Journal showed that people who took Shaklee supplements had markedly better health than people who took either a single multivitamin or no supplements at all.  Check this link to learn more about this amazing study.

At a time when we are all concerned with the rising cost of health care I believe that prevention is better than cure.  Rather than waiting for things to go wrong, I have chosen this path to greater health and am happy to say I feel great and am prescription free!  I highly recommend RX For A Healthier Life to begin your journey as well.  Shaklee is offering free membership ($19.95 value) with the purchase of any product through the month of May 2012. Go to this link to learn more.

Enjoy and share the gift of health!

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