Donna Acupuncture

Donna Acupuncture: What did you eat for Breakfast today?

2012-02-13T10:54:00.000-08:00

Donna Acupuncture: What did you eat for Breakfast today?

What did you eat for Breakfast today?

2012-02-13T10:53:00.000-08:00

Many of you have heard me say that you need to eat within 1 hour of rising. It's so important to fuel your body and those who do actually end up eating less calories throughout the day. So take some time for breakfast. It can take 2 minutes to make a shake or 10 minutes to cook some oats. I think everyone can carve out 10 minutes in the morning to eat something.

Here is what Dr. Karen Wolfe (drkarenwolfe.org) has to say about breakfast.
Despite the healthful benefits, breakfast may be the meal that is most often neglected or skipped. Eating breakfast not only aids in weight management, it fuels the body to help provide energy
Forty years of breakfast related studies show that jump starting the day with breakfast benefits everyone — children, teens and adults. “Eating breakfast is very important for the brain and the body first thing in the morning”, said Los Angeles registered dietitian Gail Frank, spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. “Breakfast skippers often feel tired, restless or irritable in the morning.”

Breakfast is the first chance the body has to refuel its blood glucose levels, also known as blood sugar, after eight to 12 hours without a meal or snack. Glucose is essential for the brain and is the main energy source. Blood glucose also helps fuel the muscles needed for physical activity throughout the day.

“Breakfast is also very important for weight loss and weight management,” Frank said. “You ‘break the fast’ of not eating for the past eight to 12 hours. It helps curb your hunger and prevent binge eating later in the day. Breakfast is important to manage your weight and potentially lose weight by eating less calories throughout the day.”

Did you REST and PLAY this past weekend?

2012-02-06T13:45:00.000-08:00

I'm in the midst of a 90 day intensive program. In this program there is a 90 day action plan where each day I need to set my intentions and focus on a particular aspect of the program. On the weekends, there is no work other than to visualize your success and write down 3 things you did that day around Rest and Play. I thought this was a great exercise in reminding me to stop working and have some fun. When you are your own business it seems like work sneaks into all the crevices. I'll just set some goals on a Sunday. Answer some emails on Saturday. Have a quick call with a client on Saturday afternoon. It happens bit by bit and can take over if I let it. Fortunately I have an 8 year old that reminds me to play, snuggle and have some fun. Rest and play are part of a balanced life. So what are you going to do today that's fun?

Gong Xi Fa Ca!

2012-01-23T11:31:00.000-08:00

So it's not too late to set the energy for the year. What do you want to manifest in this year of the dragon? I am so excited about this year and all that it will bring. I'm wishing you all a wonderful and prosperous new year.

Chinese New Year 2012 rings in Year of the Dragon

Image credit: Caseman via Wikimedia Commons.

Gong Xi Fa Ca! That’s the traditional Chinese New Year greeting that means “wishing you prosperity” in Mandarin

There are several variations on the mythology behind Chinese New Year celebrations. Most are based on a ugly bloodthirsty monster named Nian that would emerge on the last night of each year to destroy villages and eat people. A wise elder advised villagers to scare the monster away with loud noises. That night, they set fire to bamboo, lit fireworks, and banged their drums. The monster, afraid of the loud noises and lights, ran away to hide in its cave. In another version of the myth, an old man persuaded Nian to turn its wrath on other monsters, not the villagers. Before he was seen riding away on Nian, the old man, actually a god, advised the people to hang red paper decorations in their homes and set off firecrackers on the last night of the year to keep Nian away. On the first day of the new year, the villagers celebrated, greeting each other with the words “Guo Nian” which means “survive the Nian”, a tradition that has continued to this day to mean “celebrate the new year.”
(Read whole article)

If you would like to listen to a recording from Dr. Northrup about setting your resolutions, here a like to a really great call.

Revolutionary Health Resolutions
https://www.freeconferencing.com/playback.html?cid=conferences/1198210125-17-65-671253-17-65-6710351-17-65-677-17-65-67-17-65-67-17-65-6779.mp3&e=1483689600000&cn=94-43-28-63
January is the time when gym memberships soar– and people scurry to undo the damage done to their waistlines over the holidays. There is a science behind making resolutions into actual habits and creating resolutions that actually STICK. You can learn the keys to repetition and self- motivation that will help you make and achieve realistic resolutions. Tune in and find out exactly how to ride the new beginning energy of January to truly improve your health on all levels.

What's so great about lemons?

2012-01-16T16:22:00.000-08:00

Yes, each morning I drink my cup of warm water with half a fresh lemon squeezed in it. I know it's great for getting my digestion going. Check out Dr. Karen's website to hear all the details.
Start Each Day with Lemon Water

Remember to make it with lukewarm water. Enjoy!

www.donnaAcupuncture.com

Updated Granola Recipe

2012-01-13T11:32:00.000-08:00

I first posted this awhile back and over time I have made alterations to this recipe that I think make it taste much better. Enjoy

Here is the granola recipe:
3 cups rolled oats1
2 cups raw nuts, I mix walnuts and pecans, but you can pick whatever you like
1 cup sliced almonds
1 cup coconut flakes
1/2 cup ground flax seeds
1/2 cup almond meal
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 tsp sea salt
1/3 cup coconut oil and butter, melt a little of both to make 1/3 cup
1/4 cup maple syrup

Mix all the dry ingredients and then add the wet. Toss until everything is coated with the oil and syrup. Spread out on a cookie sheet. I use 2. Cook for 1 hour 15 minutes at 250 degrees. Stir every 15 minutes. Cool and enjoy.

I love Chocolate

2012-01-09T13:19:00.000-08:00

And I like to eat healthy foods. So what do I do when I get a chocolate craving? I usually eat a couple of bites of a USANA chocolate fusion bar because it's got good ingredients. The other day though, I was looking around at other healthy cooking sites and found this recipe from Rose Cole. I gave it a try and boy is it yummy. It's got a lot of coconut flavor along with the chocolate which I thought worked quite well. Enjoy!

Ingredients:
1 cup coconut oil
1/4 cup raw organic almond butter
1/4 cup almond meal
4 Tbsp agave nectar
1/4 cup organic unsweetened coconut
1/2 tsp liquid stevia or 3 tsp powdered Stevia
1 Tbsp organic vanilla
1 tsp cinnamon
3/4 cup raw chocolate cocoa powder

Melt coconut oil in a saucepan over low flame. When it turns to liquid pour into glass bowl.

Slowly whisk in almond butter, cinnamon, Stevia, and agave, one at a time.

Next, whisk in vanilla.

Then slowly stir in cocoa, almond meal, and coconut, one at a time.

Batter should run off a spoon. Spoon them into bite sized amounts on a non-stick cookie sheet and freeze for 15 minutes. Once firm, transfer into a container and keep in the fridge.

Hope you enjoy them as much as I did.

Did you resolve to be healthier and reduce some weight in 2012?

2012-01-02T13:50:00.000-08:00

If so, I've got just the plan for you. In January, February and March, I will be hosting RESET boot camps. These will be different than in the past as you will get support for not only the first 5 days of the cleanse, but then follow up support for the next three weeks. There is an option to continue on some shakes and bars through the whole month. This is a great way to get your body set for your new lifestyle.

I would also like to share with those of you who are local a new resource I have discovered. Fitness with Dot Speat. Dot is great and a wealth of information. She has two great workshops, one for weight loss and one for back pain.

Secrets to Permanent Weight Loss
Learn the most recent cutting edge fitness research:
* Big bang for the buck moves that help burn fat faster
* What it takes to burn fat even when you are not doing exercise!
* How to kickstart your metabolism so you can eat MORE.
* And much more...
Next Workshop:

January 14, 1:00-4:00pm
San Rafael
$99 Value - ONLY $59!

How did 2011 go for you?

2011-12-19T14:40:00.000-08:00

It's that time of year when people think about where they are and what they want to do in the new year. Most people want to reduce some weight, eat healthier or maybe exercise more. These are all great intentions and most people do really well with their new year's resolutions for the first month or so into the new year.

What I would like to suggest is start with a review of the past year. What went really well for you? What are you most proud of accomplishing? Go back through your agenda and look at all those to-do lists or appointments and projects that you completed. Did you go on a great family vacation? Did you run your kids to soccer practice every Wednesday? I believe it's so important to take a moment to reflect on all the good stuff, whether it's big or small, it's important to acknowledge.

Once you've reflected on all the good stuff, set some realistic goals for the new year. Maybe eating a healthy meal 3 nights a week is a good start. Or walking at lunch for 10 minutes is another option. Set your self up for success. Lifestyle changes are most successful when done in small manageable increments consistently over time. Have fun with it.

How do you stay healthy?

2011-12-05T12:30:00.000-08:00

At this time of year, I see many of my patients coming in saying they are feeling like they may be getting sick, people in their office are sick or they have been sick. It's the time of year when colds and flus swirl around us and when your immune system is low, you are more susceptible to catching whatever is going around.

I wanted to offer some tips for staying healthy as well as what to do if you do get sick. Eat lots of healthy food on a regular basis. During the holidays we do tend to eat foods with more refined sugars as well as consume more alcohol than normal. So eating well whenever possible will help. Get lots of good sleep. That means getting to bed between 9pm and 10pm. Earlier hours of rest have shown to be more restorative and rejuvenation.

If you are feeling a bit sick, drink honey-lemon with fresh ginger tea. I find this to be soothing and helps a sore throat as well. Take your probiotics, multi-vitamins and get even more sleep. The other big thing is don't go into the office sick. It will only expose others to illness and make your cold linger longer. And lastly, get some acupuncture. It can be amazingly helpful when you have a cold.

Here is a link to a website that I like that has even more tips on cold and flu season strategies.
How to prevent colds naturally

Did you eat too much?

2011-11-28T14:51:00.000-08:00

Well, I don't know about you, but I did do a bit of over eating over the holiday. It just seemed like there was so much food, even though I kept it very simple. The day after Thanksgiving, I asked my son what he wanted for lunch and he said nothing because he was still too full of stuffing!

Then we had friends over for the leftovers the next night and our leftovers seemed to increase as a result. Today I am feeling like simple light foods and maybe a protein shake. My body does need a bit of a cleanse. I'm thinking I'm not alone in this department, so I thought I would share a few tips of what you could do this week to get yourself back into balance.

1. Eat an organic, predominantly plant-based, whole-foods diet with plenty of vegetables and some fruits (1-2 servings per day; use berries and other low sugar fruits). Include a wide variety of vegetables, especially those rich in color (red cabbage, carrots, dark leafy greens). Be sure to wash all vegetables, fruits, and even eggs prior to use.

2. Reduce or eliminate grains; strive for gluten-free grains when it is not possible to avoid grains. Gluten-free grains include rice, quinoa, millet, buckwheat, sorghum, teff and amaranth. Corn is also a gluten-free grain but is a potential allergen for many people; if you are able to eat corn, search for non-GMO (genetically modified) varieties.

3. Reduce or eliminate commercial dairy products. Look for rhBST-free dairy or raw milk dairy, when possible.

4. Reduce alcohol and caffeinated beverages as well as those sweetened with High Fructose Corn Syrup (most sodas, juices, energy drinks).

5. Avoid damaged fats (trans fats), deep fried foods, industrial-processed oils and margarine. Select foods high in healthy fats such as avocados, olives, nuts, seeds, organic butter and cold-pressed or expeller-pressed plant oils, particularly organic coconut oil.

6. Avoid food additives, dyes, preservatives, pesticides and artificial sweeteners (aspartame, Splenda/sucralose, saccharin). Safe natural sweeteners include xylitol and stevia, both are safe for those with blood sugar issues.

7. Drink plenty of pure water daily, approximately 8-10 glasses per day. Avoid fluoridated and chlorinated water. Consider investing in a whole-house or kitchen sink filter. Bottled water may be acceptable for short term travels, but filtered tap water is the preferred source.

8. Get plenty of good quality sleep (8-9 hours each night), which is important for a strong immune system and overall good health.

9. Engage in regular physical activity. Exercise, even at short lengths and at low intensities, can have a powerful impact on every aspect of your health. Move your body to get the lymphatic system moving which helps with detoxification.

10. Practice daily relaxation through meditation, deep breathing, healing imagery, tai chi or anything else that calms your mind, body and spirit. Take at least 5 minutes a few times during the day, so you can connect with a healthier, more balanced state.

11. Take your supplements:

Multivitamin/Mineral Supplement

Vitamin C/Grapeseed extract

Vitamin D

Hepasil for Liver detox

Probiotics

Fiber (ensure adequate water intake)

Holidays and Stress

2011-11-21T13:01:00.000-08:00

We all love the holidays, but they can be stressful with travel and relatives. The more you can let go of expectations of others, the smoother things seem to go. I often remind myself that I'm not perfect and things just go the way they do and I always do my best. Remember "There is no Try, only Do or Do Not." (Yoda)

This makes me think of The Four Agreements. Take a look at them below and maybe print out a copy that you can look at daily. As you have interactions with co-workers and relatives, these agreements can come in handy. If you are interested in more detail, the book is a quick read and I highly recommend it. Enjoy your Thanksgiving.

The Four Agreements
Toltec Wisdom by Don Miguel Ruiz M.D.

Don’t Make Assumptions
Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness and drama. With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.

Don’t Take Anything Personally
Nothing others do it because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won’t be the victim of needless suffering.

Be Impeccable, With Your Word
Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.

Always Do Your Best
Your best is going to change from moment to moment, it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse, and regret.

Taking Time for Self Care

2011-11-14T16:45:00.000-08:00

I had the wonderful opportunity to visit Sanoviv Medical Institute in Mexico last week. I arrived in San Diego where my driver greeted me with a water bottle and then drove me over the border handling all the paper work. When I arrived at Sanoviv, I was greeted by Mary, who has a wonderful and welcoming smile. I was then given a fruity protein shake and shown to my room. The room felt as big as my house and had two enormous sliding glass doors that led to a balcony over looking the ocean. Actually, every room in the place has an ocean view. It was also built on non-toxic soil with non-toxic building materials. Each room has organic bedding and comes with organic cotton clothing as well as shoes. Yes, all I had to pack were my undies and bathing suit. The bathroom had all my bath products as well as toothbrush and paste.

This is all to set the scene on how fabulous it is to take time for self care. I was there for their educational program and wellness detox. I didn't have to think about a thing. Each evening I was given a schedule that kept me going all day with activities. Now that might not sound relaxing, but when the activities are meditation, energy medicine, massage, reflexology, facial, saunas and therapeutic pools, that is pretty relaxing. Not to mention not having to cook or clean or think about anything other than should I take a sauna now or go read my book.

Much to my surprise I awoke easily every morning at sunrise, 5:15am and had no desire or longing for my decaf black tea in the am.

The staff was so helpful and caring. The other participants were a fantastic group of people from all over the country. We shared several meals laughing so hard that I was crying. I made friends that I know I will keep in touch with for a long time.

I arrived home feeling rejuvenated and ready to implement all the new nutritional tips I learned. I am already planning my return and how I can bring along my husband to share in the health and healing.

Making time to manifest your dreams

2011-10-31T12:01:00.000-07:00

Is there a creative project that you just never seem to get to? Maybe writing a book or painting? Gay Hendricks, PhD, author of The Big Leap, one of my favorite books, believes that our biggest obstacle in embracing such pursuits is more of an inner block than a scheduling problem. He recommends first taking a close look at whether you are actually willing to experience as much happiness and satisfaction as your heart desires. Then stop relegating your dream to someday and start working on it today.

Some barriers to overcome are:
1. Feeling unworthy
2. Fear of failure
3. Fear of success
4. Not wanting to seem strange
5. Start-itis (Simply don't know where or how to begin)

Start by affirming your worthiness. Affirm to yourself that it's ok to be both prosperous and happy.

Start small by committing to just 10 minutes per day to work on a creative project. Once you start, you'll desire more time and find yourself able to do this.

Create goals and benchmarks. Set a deadline for finishing a portion of your project. Working towards a date is a great way to keep the energy moving forward. If you don't make the deadline, change the date. Also use it as an opportunity to learn and grow. Noticed what happened and ask yourself why. There is always a lot to learn from challenges like this.

Redefine what matters to you. The best way to integrate anything new into your already hectic and overbooked life is to make it a priority. Place it higher on the to-do list, above the everyday items that need to get done. Try getting up earlier to make it the first activity that you complete for the day.

Recommit often. When you fall off, get back on the schedule. Hendricks says "It's like learning to ski or ride a bicycle; falling and getting back up are part of the process."

Experience Life magazine November 2011

New study finds multivitamins to be dangerous, well not really in truth

2011-10-17T10:58:00.000-07:00

When my mom mentioned that the nightly news reported that vitamins can increase your rate of death, I just cringed. Here we go again telling people not to get healthy. It's a bigger money maker to take prescription drugs than it is to take high quality nutritional supplements. My advice, stop watching the nightly news, you'll be happier without it. But that's another blog topic.

Here is the true story behind the so-called scientific data. The bottom line, keep taking your supplements, they actually make you healthier.

Read the details of how the report was a hoax.

What Kind of Medical Study Would Have Grandma Believe that Her Daily Multivitamin is Dangerous?
Orthomolecular Medicine News Service, October 12, 2011

by Robert G. Smith, PhD

(OMNS, Oct 12, 2011) A newly released study suggests that multivitamin and
nutrient supplements can increase the mortality rate in older women [1].
However, there are several concerns about the study's methods and
significance.

* The study was observational, in which participants filled out a
survey about their eating habits and their use of supplements. It reports
only a small increase in overall mortality (1%) from those taking
multivitamins. This is a small effect, not much larger than would be
expected by chance. Generalizing from such a small effect is not scientific.

* The study actually reported that taking supplements of B-complex,
vitamins C, D, E, and calcium and magnesium were associated with a lower
risk of mortality. But this was not emphasized in the abstract, leading the
non-specialist to think that all supplements were associated with mortality.
The report did not determine the amounts of vitamin and nutrient supplements
taken, nor whether they were artificial or natural. Further, most of the
association with mortality came from the use of iron and copper supplements,
which are known to be potentially inflammatory and toxic when taken by older
people, because they tend to accumulate in the body [2,3,4]. The risk from
taking iron supplements should not be generalized to imply that all vitamin
and nutrient supplements are harmful.
* The study lacks scientific plausibility for several reasons. It
tabulated results from surveys of 38,000 older women, based on their recall
of what they ate over an 18-year period. But they were only surveyed 3 times
during that period, relying only on their memory of what foods and
supplements they took. This factor alone causes the study to be unreliable.
* Some of these women smoked (~15%) or had previously (~35%), some
drank alcohol (~45%), some had high blood pressure (~40%), and many of them
developed heart disease and/or cancer. Some preexisting medical conditions
were taken into account by adjusting the risk factors, but this caused the
study to contradict what we already know about efficacy of supplements. For
example, the study reports an increase in mortality from taking vitamin D,
when adjusted for several health-relevant factors. However, vitamin D has
recently been clearly shown to be helpful in preventing heart disease [5]
and many types of cancer [6], which are major causes of death. Furthermore,
supplement users were twice as likely to be on hormone replacement therapy,
which is a more plausible explanation for increased mortality than taking
supplements.
* The effect of doctor recommendations was not taken into account. By
their own repeated admissions, medical doctors and hospital nutritionists
are more likely to recommend a daily multivitamin, and only a multivitamin,
for their sicker patients. The study did not take this into account. All it
did was tabulate deaths and attempt to correct the numbers for some prior
health conditions. The numbers reported do not reflect other factors such as
developing disease, side effects of pharmaceutical prescriptions, or other
possible causes for the mortality. The study only reports statistical
correlations, and gives no plausible cause for a claimed increase in
mortality from multivitamin supplements.
* The effect of education was not taken into account. When a doctor
gives advice about illnesses, well-educated people will often respond by
trying to be proactive. Some will take drugs prescribed by the doctor, and
some will try to eat a better diet, including supplements of vitamins and
nutrients. This is suggested by the study itself: the supplement users in
the survey had more education than those who did not take supplements. It
seems likely, therefore, the participants who got sick were more likely to
have taken supplements. Because those who got sick are also more likely to
die, it stands to reason that they would also be more likely to have taken
supplements. This effect is purely statistical; it does not represent an
increase in risk that taking supplements of vitamins and essential nutrients
will cause disease or death. This type of statistical correlation is very
common in observational health studies and those who are health-conscious
should not be confounded by it.
* The known safety of vitamin and nutrient supplements when taken at
appropriate doses was not taken into account. The participants most likely
took a simple multivitamin tablet, which contains low doses. Much higher
doses are also safe [4,7], implying that the low doses in common
multivitamin tablets are very safe. Further, because each individual
requires different amounts of vitamins and nutrients, some people must take
much higher doses for best health [8].

Summary: In an observational study of older women in good health, it was
said that those who died were more likely to have taken multivitamin and
nutrient supplements than those who did not. The effect was small, and does
not indicate any reason for disease or death. Instead, the study's methods
suggest that people who have serious health conditions take vitamin and
mineral supplements because they know that supplements can help. Indeed, the
study showed a benefit from taking B-complex, C, D, and E vitamins, and
calcium and magnesium. Therefore, if those wanting better health would take
appropriate doses of supplements regularly, they would likely continue to
achieve better health and longer life.

(Robert G. Smith is Research Associate Professor, University of Pennsylvania
Department of Neuroscience. He is a member of the Institute for Neurological
Sciences and the author of several dozen scientific papers and reviews.)

References:

[1] Mursu J, Robien K, Harnack LJ, Park K, Jacobs DR Jr (2011) Dietary
supplements and mortality rate in older women. The Iowa Women's Health
Study. Arch Intern Med. 171(18):1625-1633.

[2] Emery, T. F. Iron and your Health: Facts and Fallacies. Boca Raton, FL:
CRC Press, 1991.

[3] Fairbanks, V. F. "Iron in Medicine and Nutrition." Chapter 10 in Modern
Nutrition in Health and Disease, editors M. E. Shils, J. A. Olson, M. Shike,
et al., 9th ed. Baltimore, MD: Williams & Wilkins, 1999.

[4] Hoffer, A., A. W. Saul. Orthomolecular Medicine for Everyone:
Megavitamin Therapeutics for Families and Physicians. Laguna Beach, CA:
Basic Health Publications, 2008.

[5] Parker J, Hashmi O, Dutton D, Mavrodaris A, Stranges S, Kandala NB,
Clarke A, Franco OH. Levels of vitamin D and cardiometabolic disorders:
systematic review and meta-analysis. Maturitas. 2010 Mar;65(3):225-36.

[6] Lappe JM, Travers-Gustafson D, Davies KM, Recker RR, Heaney RP. Vitamin
D and calcium supplementation reduces cancer risk: results of a randomized
trial. Am J Clin Nutr. 2007 Jun;85(6):1586-91.

[7] Padayatty SJ, Sun AY, Chen Q, Espey MG, Drisko J, Levine M. Vitamin C:
intravenous use by complementary and alternative medicine practitioners and
adverse effects. PLoS One. 2010 Jul 7;5(7):e11414.

[8] Williams RJ, Deason G. (1967) Individuality in vitamin C needs. Proc
Natl Acad SciUSA.57:16381641.

Happiness

2011-10-10T15:12:00.000-07:00

I've been thinking and talking a lot lately about happiness. I just finished The Happiness Advantage by Shawn Achor. Great book. Filled with so much scientific research about the brain that I was to read the whole thing over again just to absorb it all.

When I coach people through the 5 day Carb Cleanse, I talk to them about day 3 and the challenges that might come up. By day 3, serotonin is coming into balance and they often feel a bit depressed or angry as a result. Remember carbs and sugars boost serotonin in the short-term. So I talk to them about what they can do to naturally boost their serotonin levels.

TOP TEN LIFESTYLE WAYS TO INCREASE SEROTONIN and IMPROVE IMPULSE CONTROL and MOOD

· Food Plan

· Exercise

· MIndfulness – meditation or praying or nature

· Full Spectrum Light -

· Body Work – massage -

· Friendships

· Sleep

· Laughing having fun and increasing VITAMIN P (pleasure)

· Supplementation

· Senses – smell, touch etc

Dan Buettner has spent years studying what makes people happy. He has developed a quiz, the True Happiness Compass, that you can take for free online. It takes about 5 minutes and the questions are surprising. When you're done, you'll get personalized recommendations for boosting your happiness. Have fun with it. www.bluezones.com

Increase energy with relationships

2011-10-03T15:48:00.000-07:00

Energy gets blocked when we don't have enough healthy contact with other human beings. Several scientific studies show the lack of relationships has been shown to contribute to anxiety, depression, stress, cancer, heart disease and substance abuse.

Spend time with people you enjoy and respect. Stay away from relationships based in fear, possessiveness and insecurity. Focus on developing sustainable, supportive relationships based in kindness, presence and love. (Experience Life, June 2011)

I have to validate this as I spent the weekend with my dear friend Mindy. We were child-free for 2 whole days and actually watched a movie in the middle of the day. We laughed and shared life experiences. We support each other in our challenges and give encouragement.

We also had some adventures. We did indoor skydiving. I was nervous at first, but trusted my friend as this was her second time. She was absolutely right, it was an amazing experience. If you ever have the opportunity, I highly recommend it. As you enter the wind chamber, you relax forward and in an instant the air lifts you. You can't help but smile. At one point, the instructor reminded me to relax and stop thinking so much. Boy is that great advice for me in several areas of my life. The whole experience lifted my spirit and filled me with joy. And, by the way, I think flight instructors are like firefighters, they're pretty darn good looking.

More Positive Energy, Success and Love

2011-09-26T13:02:00.000-07:00

Now, don't we all need a bit more of that in our lives? I was reading The Big Leap last night and underlined this sentence "the essential move we all need to master is learning to handle more positive energy, success, and love. Instead of focusing on the past, we need to increase our tolerance for things going well in our lives now."

Wow, this is so true. It reminded me of the 5 steps to increasing happiness that I wrote in m last newsletter. The first is to write 3 things you appreciate that happened in the last 24 hours and you can't repeat things. The second is to write down happy experiences in your life in detail. Relive them and feel the energy fill you up.

One of the biggest issues that stops our ability to expand into love and success is our false belief that we are fundamentally flawed and don't deserve success. These old beliefs pull us down and keep us in a zone that is more familiar and comfortable. And then we wonder why we are not succeeding in our goals and desires. Why does the law of attraction not work? I watched the Secret, it looks so easy.

You will only attract what you believe you deserve. Changing that belief is the work. We all have desires that we want to manifest. Clearing the areas that are stopping that true belief in yourself is where the work starts. There are many paths through the clearing process. I like the book The 21 Day Consciousness Cleanse. I also like EFT, Tapping Away Resistance.

Find whatever it is that works for you and start cleaning out the resistance and get in alignment with your vision for what your life can be.

Are you a active thinker?

2011-09-19T12:45:00.000-07:00

Below is a quote that showed up in my in-box last night. What I love about this is that it clearly states how we can use our thoughts to improve our feelings. I believe many people are just random thinkers. By this, I mean, just allowing any thought willy-nilly to pass through their brain and spend energy on it. Reliving that driver who cut you off on the way to work. Reliving the event with your boss where you wish you had said a certain thing. Any number of these thoughts just popping in and out of our heads. How about doing something differently today? When a random thought pops in, decide if it's something you want to spend your energy on. Is it a positive thought? Do good feeling emotions come with it? Does your day go smoother when your thoughts are in alignment with better feelings?

"I Have Complete Control Over My Own Thoughts... You can find yourself in an endless loop where you explain that you feel negative because of the negative behavior of someone else. But if, instead, you take control of your own emotions and you think an improved thought because it feels better to do so, you will discover that no matter how the negative trend got started, you can turn it around. You have no real control of what anyone else is doing with their Vibration (or with their actions, for that matter), but you have complete control over your own thoughts, Vibrations, emotions, and point of attraction"

--- Abraham

2011 Goals, How's it going?

2011-08-08T15:00:00.000-07:00

It's August. How many of you set goals for 2011? How are you doing on those goals? Did the New Year's Resolutions fade from your mind by February? I find that this is a great time to take a look at what I wanted to accomplish this year and how am I doing? There is so much great energy for starting new things in September. Kids are back to school and adults seem to be on the same energetic schedule. So I invite you to take a look at where you are right now and where do you want to be by December.

Take a look at these questions and get moving on those goals for 2011. You still have lots of time left to reach them.

What is my vision? Paint a picture.
What kind of person do I want to be?
What do I want to do, have, think, feel, and look like? Clarify until it’s reasonably succinct.
Without being modest, what do I value most about myself?
What have been my best experiences to date with the key elements of my vision, times when I felt alive and fully engaged? Recall one or two stories, in detail.
values does my coaching career vision represent and support?
How large is the gap between where I am today (Point A) and where I want to be (Point B)?
What makes this vision really important to me?
Why do I really want to reach this vision?
On a scale of 0-10, with 10 being totally confident and 0 being no confidence, how confident am I that I can close this gap and realize my vision?
What strengths can I draw on to help me close this gap and realize my vision?
What challenges do I anticipate having to deal with on the way to reaching my vision?
Which challenge concerns me most?

Dance Break

2011-08-01T14:36:00.000-07:00

Have you ever heard of taking a dance break? I have and then I often get so involved with work that I forget to take a dance break. Then when someone sends me a silly video with good music, I smile and even laugh out loud. Then I remember, I have to do this more often. I was looking for a good dance break video while there are 2 eight-year olds in the house. We went down the maze of funny YouTube dance videos and all of us ending up laughing until we cried. It was a great way to spend 20 minute.

So, if you're at your computer and need to shift some energy, give this video a try.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHOOHWFPAlY

Remember to smile and then check in with your body. How do you feel afterward? In less than 4 minutes you can change your whole body energy. Have fun with it.

Also, if you have any favorite dance break videos, send them my way.

What's for dinner?

2011-07-25T14:00:00.000-07:00

Creating great, tasty meals 7 days a week can be challenging and fatiguing. I usually plan what the meals are for the week so that I have a guideline. And sometimes I don't feel like eating what I planned. What to do then?

Well, the other night I planned black beans and rice with veggies. It's a quick and easy meal on a busy night. I had cooked the dried beans over the weekend so they were prepped and ready to go. It was a warm night and I just felt like salad and veggies, but I always think about where is the protein in the meal. So above is what I created. I started with a wonderful salad, added the black beans and some grated mozzarella. I topped it off with 2 nicely fried eggs. It turned out beautifully and was excellent.

I encourage you to try something different for dinner. Get inspired this summer and enjoy the wonderful summer bounty.

Vitamin C and Wrinkles

2011-07-18T14:03:00.000-07:00

Vitamin C

Using data from the firstNational Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES I), scientistsexamined associations between nutrient intakes and skin aging in 4,025 womenbetween the ages of 40 and 74 years. Clinical examinations of the skin wereconducted by dermatologists. Skin-aging appearance was defined as having awrinkled appearance, dryness associated with aging (senile dryness), and skinatrophy (shriveling or shrinking).

Higher vitamin C intakes wereassociated with a lower likelihood of a wrinkled appearance. Higher linoleicacid (an omega-6 essential fatty acid) intakes were associated with a lowerlikelihood of senile dryness and skin atrophy.

A higher than average fat andcarbohydrate intake also increased the likelihood of a wrinkled appearance andskin atrophy. These associations were independent of age, race, education,sunlight exposure, income, menopausal status, body mass index, supplement use,physical activity, and energy intake.

Elevated intakes of vitamin C andlinoleic acid and reduced intakes of fats and carbohydrates are associated withbetter skin-aging appearance. Promoting healthy dietary behaviors may haveadded benefit for the appearance of skin (in addition to other beneficialhealth outcomes) in the general population.

American Journal of ClinicalNutrition, Vol. 86, No. 4, 1225-1231, October 2007

Remember, what you put on your skin can be detected in the blood within 20 minutes. Choose skin care lines that are nutritious. Take your supplements and enjoy healthy, low glycemic meals.

The Purple Pill Myth

2011-07-11T12:13:00.000-07:00

Acupuncture Today
June, 2011, Vol. 12, Issue 06
By Marlene Merritt, DOM, LAc, ACN

The ads are all over TV and magazines - if you have heartburn, you should take one of the acid-reducing medications that are out there, preferably for the rest of your life. It's true, acid reflux is dangerous and it is vital to stop it before it does permanent damage.

Most of us treat people with acid reflux, sour stomachs, gas and bloating and many other digestive symptoms. And yet, most of them are suffering not from too much stomach acid, but from not enough.
Not enough? How can that be?

The function of your stomach acid is to digest protein. When someone has their stomach acid "turned off," they can't digest well (more on what turns off stomach acid in a moment). When someone eats a piece of chicken, it lands in the stomach, and needs hydrochloric acid to break it down. When there isn't enough hydrochloric acid, the protein sits in the stomach and starts to putrefy, creating acid and gases. The person might have some symptoms — a sour stomach, belching, or even acid reflux. But, this all happened because they initially didn't have enough acid to digest properly.

If you have good amounts of stomach acid, it closes the upper sphincter of the stomach when you eat to prevent that good acid from going up into the esophagus. And, it also opens the lower sphincter to empty your stomach after the food has been digested. But if you don't have enough acid, not only can you not digest the protein, but the upper sphincter doesn't close tightly enough, causing acid reflux and potential damage to the esophagus. Low stomach acid also causes the lower stomach sphincter to stay closed, which leads to the Spleen qi symptom of "fullness after eating." It's not the normal feeling of being full after eating, it's being overly full, because the stomach doesn't empty properly.

So, how does the stomach acid get turned off? And what can be done about it? The main reasons that stomach acid gets turned off is from stress — stress from high carb intake (high sugar levels are enormously stressful for the body), mental stress (Wood overacting on Earth, causing qi stagnation), physical stresses like excessive exercise, or physical stresses like inflammation, infections, anemia, or food intolerances. People who have had gastric bypass surgeries will often have the acid-producing part of their stomach removed. We'd estimate that a minimum of 90 percent of the people we see in the clinic have reduced stomach acid. So what do these patients look like?

They're people with blood sugar issues (that's nearly everyone), with Spleen qi deficiency symptoms of gas (especially gas with smell), bloating, "fullness," or with stomach Fire symptoms of acidity or sour stomach, or acid reflux. People with constipation or with a loss of appetite for meat – that is a classic sign of low stomach acid. Also people who don't eat meat because it "doesn't digest well." Older people lose some of their ability to produce stomach acid, often when they need it most — to digest protein to keep muscle mass, and for vitamins and minerals. Consider someone's age, as well as their symptoms when evaluating them.

Now, most people simply need supplementation of digestible HCl, known as betaine hydrochloride, for three to six months to restore proper acidity to the stomach and eliminate the symptoms they're having. Some herbs for stomach Fire are antacid herbs. Understandable, since the practitioner would like to put the fire out. But again, the root cause is that there's not enough stomach acid, so you will want to add in some betaine hydrochloride.

READ More

Is 100% All Natural Skin Care Products Really Safe

2011-07-06T13:41:00.000-07:00

There is currently a massive scare in Europe concerning the contamination of cucumbers by a very virulent bacterium, a variant of Escherichia coli (commonly referred to more simply as E. Coli).

There is a full report on the BBC web site, but the issue is that there have been over 1,200 confirmed of suspected cases of E. coli in Germany so far, and 18 people have actually died. Cases are also being reported in the UK, Sweden, Denmark and The Netherlands. The bacterium infests the gastrointestinal tract, and can lead to Haemolytic-uremic Syndrome (HUS). HUS causes kidney problems and is potentially fatal. More deaths are expected, because many sufferers have already lost kidney function, and more cases are likely before this can be stopped.

The sickness is not contagious, but may be passed on by an infected person preparing food for others.

Several countries have already removed cucumbers from the shops, when they have been imported from suspect sources, amongst them, Poland, Czech Republic, Austria and France. Russian officials are even talking about banning ALL vegetable products sourced from Europe!

So what is the connection between contaminated cucumbers and cosmetics?
     This awful situation in Europe demonstrates the severe problems that can occur when certain bacteria get into the food chain as a result of contamination. Foods that are unpreserved are particularly susceptible, although it is not usually necessary to preserve this type of food, but there are clearly potentially fatal consequences when this happens.

More and more people are demanding that food be free of preservatives for various reasons and, by a leap of logic, also demand that cosmetics be free of preservatives. Whilst it would not be accurate to suggest that preservatives are totally without risk in either food or cosmetics, there is a massive difference in exposure between the two applications. The most common issue with cosmetic preservatives is irritation, but this only occurs in a tiny minority of the population (despite claims to the contrary), and the point of ingredient labelling of cosmetics is to enable those with identified sensitivities to avoid products containing the “rogue” ingredient(s). Sensitisation can be a much worse condition than just irritation but this, fortunately, tends to affect an even smaller minority of the population.

In the seemingly desperate rush to get away from conventional preservatives, many companies either feel forced to use materials that are much less well-characterised in terms of toxicity and human exposure, or they actively choose to use this tactic as a marketing “advantage”, and broadcast their stance (often by also casting aspersions on conventional preservatives for good measure) in order to attract consumers. There are several potential risks involved in failing to preserve a cosmetic properly. These are mostly aesthetic – discoloration, off-odour, visible growth (the black fungus, Aspergillus brasiliensis –often seen in bathrooms – is an excellent example), creams separating out, etc, but there are also health risks involved in applying microbially contaminated products to the skin, especially if the skin  is damaged or in poor condition. One bacterium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, can cause permanent blindness if sufficient numbers enter the eye, and this is a common bacterium, although I am not aware of any proven cases of blindness due to use of contaminated cosmetics, but it remains a theoretical possibility.

So far, there have been no major issues uncovered with these new approaches to preservation but, as this tactic increases in popularity, the chances of contamination of cosmetics causing a real problem to human health increase. I would not be so foolish as to claim that there could be problems on the scale that currently exists in Europe with cucumbers, as it is highly unlikely that deaths would ever result from a contaminated cosmetic product, but an increased risk of adverse effects remains, and consumers need to be aware of the risks that some companies are taking with their health – often the very same companies who are claiming that their products MUST be safe, because they are natural!

In the use of preservatives, the benefits vastly outweigh the tiny risk. Preservation should not be optional, it is essential.

Article posted June 6, 2011  Personal Care Truth or Scare

Does Happiness make you healthy?

2011-06-06T11:24:00.000-07:00

I was doing some reading this weekend and found this article. Definitely worth thinking about.

The Value of Positive Emotions
Barbara L. Fredrickson

Back in the 1930s some young Catholic nuns were asked to write short, personal essays about their lives. They described edifying events in their childhood, the schools they attended, their religious experiences and the in- fluences that led them to the convent. Although the essays may have been ini- tially used to assess each nun’s career path, the documents were eventually archived and largely forgotten. More than 60 years later the nuns’ writings surfaced again when three psycholo- gists at the University of Kentucky re- viewed the essays as part of a larger study on aging and Alzheimer’s dis- ease. Deborah Danner, David Snowdon and Wallace Friesen read the nun’s bio-graphical sketches and scored them for positive emotional content, recording instances of happiness, interest, love and hope. What they found was re- markable: The nuns who expressed the most positive emotions lived up to 10 years longer than those who expressed the fewest. This gain in life expectancy is considerably larger than the gain achieved by those who quit smoking.

All of this suggests that we need to develop methods to experience more positive emotions more often. Positive meaning can be obtained by finding benefits within adversity, by infusing ordinary events with meaning and by effective problem solving. You can find benefits in a grim world, for instance, by focusing on the new found strengths and resolve within yourself and others. You can infuse ordinary events with meaning by expressing appreciation, love and gratitude, even for simple things. And you can find positive meaning through problem solving by supporting compassionate acts toward people in need. So although the active ingredient within growth and resilience may be positive emotions, the leverage point for accessing these benefits is finding positive meaning.

So, what good is it to think about the good in the world? The mind can be a powerful ally. As John Milton told us, “The mind is its own place, and in itself can make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven.”

Low vitamin D levels linked to prediabetes and prehypertension

2011-05-30T09:16:00.000-07:00

A recently published study showed that adults with low vitamin D levels had more than double the risk of prehypertension and prediabetes than adults with higher vitamin D levels.

Prediabetes and prehypertension have been associated with low vitamin D levels. In a recent issue of the journal Diabetes Care, scientists report a correlation between reduced vitamin D levels and prediabetes and prehypertension in adults. Both prediabetes and prehypertension are estimated to exist in at least one-fourth of disease-free adults.

Researchers analyzed data from 898 men and 813 women who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), 2001-2006. Blood pressure measurements were obtained during examinations conducted upon enrollment, and blood samples were evaluated for glucose, serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D and other factors.

Prediabetes was defined as having a fasting serum glucose of between 100 and 125 milligrams per deciliter, and prehypertension was defined as systolic blood pressure of 120 to 139 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure between 80 and 89 mmHg. Prediabetes was 33 percent higher among those with vitamin D levels of 76.3 nmol/l (30.5 ng/ml) or less compared to those with higher levels. Prehypertension was evident in 61 percent of those with the lower vitamin D levels. Participants with undiagnosed diabetes and untreated hypertension had even lower vitamin D levels on average. Serum vitamin D levels tended to decline with increasing age and body mass.

When the risk of having both conditions was considered, those with low vitamin D levels had 2.4 times the risk of that experienced by subjects with higher vitamin D levels.

It is reasonable that among those with prediabetes or prehypertension, vitamin D supplementation resulting in increased serum vitamin D levels may help reverse subtle changes in fasting serum glucose and resting blood pressure that may lead to more advanced disease states.

Alok K. Gupta, MD, Meghan M. Brashear, MPH and William D. Johnson, PHD. Prediabetes and Prehypertension in Healthy Adults Are Associated With Low Vitamin D Levels. Diabetes Care March 2011 vol. 34 no. 3 658-660.

Vitamin D levels linked to a reduced risk of colorectal cancer

2011-05-23T14:02:00.000-07:00

Many epidemiological and observational studies have made a link between higher levels of vitamin D and a reduced risk of several types of cancers. A recent review was conducted to analyze blood vitamin D levels and the possible connection to colorectal, breast, and prostate cancers.

Researchers identified 35 independent studies that met criteria, and separate analyses for case-control and prospective studies were done.

A trend toward a decreased risk of breast cancer risk was associated with higher serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D, but results from prospective studies only did not support an association between vitamin D status and breast cancer. Researchers found no association between vitamin D levels and prostate cancer.

However, a consistent inverse relationship between serum vitamin D levels and colorectal cancer was found. Analysis of data from nine studies showed that for every 10 ng/ml increase in levels of vitamin D the risk of colorectal cancer decreased by 15 percent.

Researchers suggest that new randomized trials need to be organized to determine whether vitamin D status is a risk factor or a marker for colorectal cancer and how much of an increase is required to change the risk sufficiently to be useful as a public health measure.

S. Gandini et al. Meta-analysis of observational studies of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and colorectal, breast and prostate cancer and colorectal adenoma. International Journal of Cancer. 5 March 2011, Volume 128, Issue 6, pages 1414–1424.

Restricted Lymphatic System

2011-05-16T13:25:00.000-07:00

From MyHealthyHome.com

PROBLEM: Restricted Lymphatic System
The lymphatic system is an essential drainage system of the human body. As part of the immune system, it transports lymph throughout the body, so the fluid can pick up harmful bacteria and deposit it into the lymph nodes to be destroyed. Cellular debris and other waste material are then transported to the circulatory system for elimination from the body.¹ In a healthy body, lymphocytes and other white blood cells move through this system to the places where they are most needed to fight infection.

The vessels that transport lymph fluid are very delicate, and can easily become restricted. Tight clothing and lack of exercise are two of the prime culprits. Many people wear ties, pants, bras, and underwear that are too small for their bodies, and this is not only uncomfortable, but it adds unnecessary stress to the lymphatic system.

SOLUTION: Rebounder
First of all, loosen your ties and start buying clothes that fit well, even if it means going up a size or two from what you wore in high school. Your health is more important than the number on your tags.
Because the lymphatic system doesn’t have its own pump, lymph fluid can only be moved throughout your body by muscle contractions during physical activity, gravitational pressures, and internal massage to the valves of the lymph ducts.² So get those muscles moving—the more aerobic activity you find time for, the better.

One way to get more exercise is to use a rebounder, or mini trampoline. The flexible mat allows you to jump without coming into contact with the ground, making it very low-impact. It’s ideal for those who are looking for a cardio workout that’s easy on the joints and is actually enjoyable. Who didn’t love jumping on their bed as a kid? Rebounding is particularly helpful for pumping up your lymphatic system because the bouncing motion uses gravity to get your lymph fluid moving and doing its job.³ Vertical workouts such as jumping on a rebounder are actually more beneficial to your lymphatic system than running or jogging.⁴ Especially vigorous exercise on a rebounder can increase the lymphatic flow by 15–30 times.⁵ Plus, you can do it for hours, and instead of feeling worn-out you will feel energized. It’s also a great way to relieve stress. Just two sessions of 20 minutes a day will be enough to leave you feeling relaxed, all while burning calories and strengthening your muscles.
If you find a collapsible rebounder, there’s nothing to stop you from taking it with you when you travel. After a few weeks, you may find you never want to be without it.

¹ Bets Davis, “Lymphatic System,” WebMD, http://www.webmd.com/hw-popup/lymphatic-system (accessed November 16, 2010).
² Dr. Morton Walker, “Jumping for Health,” Townsend Letter: The Examiner of Alternative Medicine, July 1995, p. 42-48.
³ Ibid.
⁴ Dave Scrivenshttp, “Rebounding—Good for the Lymph System,” Well Being Journal, http://www.wellbeingjournal.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=92 (accessed November 17, 2010).
⁵ Ibid.

Healthy Sperm

2011-05-09T14:09:00.001-07:00

Many women come to me seeking help in getting pregnant. Acupuncture is great for that and is becoming more commonly accepted for fertility issues. I don't have any men coming to me to help them get their female partners pregnant. But often it's the low sperm counts and lack of mobility that keeps a couple from conceiving. I do have herbs I share with women to take home to their men, if they are open to that sort of thing. There are also several things men can do to improve their sperm count.
1. Stop Smoking, it damages sperm DNA
2. Check out medications, some drugs lower sperm count. Those include blood pressure, diuretics, ulcer, epilepsy and antifungal meds.
3. Reduce stress
4. Eat a diet rich in anti-oxidants and take supplements that contain anti-oxidants.
5. Limit use of plastics with BPA, heavy alcohol and marijuana use

Water

2011-05-02T11:27:00.000-07:00

I talk a lot about water. I check in with patients all the time about drinking enough water. Whenever my son complains about his stomach or head, I suggest drinking water first and checking in with his body about how it feels after that. So water is a big part of our lives, but do we know what we are drinking in our water? The section below is from the Healthy Home book. My latest read on my nightstand and I am loving it.

From myhealthyhome.com

PROBLEM: Unsafe Drinking Water
Water is clear and pristine—a perfect way to hydrate your body. But is it? When you turn on your faucet, fill up your glass and take a sip, what are you ingesting into your system? Research shows most tap and well water in the United States isn’t safe to drink due to potentially high levels of pollution.¹
From chlorine to lead, each glass of water could possibly contain these toxins. No matter the amount, trace or substantial, it could potentially pose a risk to you and your loved ones. Even the smallest trace of lead in your water may potentially lead to health problems in children including reduced IQs and learning disabilities.²
The greatest source of lead in water doesn’t come from the water itself, but from the pipes in your own home. Homes with lead pipes and fixtures have a greater risk of putting lead into your water. However, even lead-free plumbing can pose a risk.³
Another danger that may be flowing through your water is fluoride. Over half of the public water systems in the U.S. add fluoride to drinking and culinary water consumed by millions of households—purportedly to improve dental health. However, if a person consumes excessive levels of fluoride over a span of many years, they could suffer from “bone disease (including pain and tenderness of the bones); children may get mottled teeth.”⁴
In response to chemicals possibly coming through their tap, many have started to rely on bottled water, but the water that flows from that bottle may not be as clean and pure as manufacturers would lead you to believe. The Natural Resources Defense Council conducted a four-year scientific study in which they concluded that bottled water sold in the United States was “not necessarily cleaner or safer than most tap water.”⁵
But what do we do when water is an element necessary for survival?

SOLUTION:

There are several options when it comes to ensuring that your water is safe to drink. Two of these alternatives are water treatments devices such as Point-Of-Entry (POE) or Point-of-Use (POU) systems. A POE system is intended to treat all water entering a home. A POU will treat water at a specific source within a home.⁶
Reverse osmosis is another home water filtration you can install in your home. Reverse osmosis is “a process that reverses, by the application of pressure, the flow of water in a natural process of osmosis so that water passes from a more concentrated solution to a more dilute solution through a semi-permeable membrane.”⁵ Easy to install, the benefits of the system will help ensure you are bringing clean safe water into your home.
If you have made the decision to install a water filtration system in your home, make sure you select one of high quality. Take the time to research your options. Once you select a system, make sure you learn how to properly care for it.⁷
What about the times when you need to have the convenience of a water bottle? We are all on the go and usually rely on the simplicity of grabbing something to drink. But as previously mentioned, the water in plastic water bottles isn’t necessarily good for you. One option is to fill up a stainless steel water bottle with water from your home. Not only is it better for you, but you also won’t be disposing of a plastic bottle and filling landfills with unnecessary waste.

Bad apples

2011-04-25T12:33:00.000-07:00

I did this experiment with some apples to see how USANA's anti-oxidants held up to some other popular brands. I've heard about others doing this and watched a YouTube video that someone posted as well. I knew USANA would do well, but I had no idea how well.

Everyone needs a high quality supplement filled with anti-oxidants. Oxidation is like your cells rusting. When you cut an apple it turns brown. This process is called oxidation. The same thing happens to your cells inside your body. It’s the wear and tear on the tissues and cells as you produce and expend energy.

A toxic environment, stress, sunlight, exercise, food additives, and mercury in fillings and seafood, just to name a few, increase oxidative damage. Anti-oxidants neutralize oxidation defending your cells and fighting premature aging.

The USDA reported that most people don’t receive even the most basic levels of select nutrients from the food they eat. People who take supplements are proactive about their health.

I cut and peeled an organic apple into quarters. I placed each slice into identical containers and filled them with filtered water. I then placed a USANA, Centrum and Trader Joe's supplement in three of them and left the last one as the control apple.

What I noticed first was that the USANA supplement dissolved faster than the others. Actually, after 2 days the other supplements never fully dissolved.

The USANA apple was almost perfect. It looked almost like I had just cut it. The Centrum apple was pretty gross looking and the TJ's apple showed signs of oxidative damage that was slightly less than the apple in plane water. I've attached photos for you to see for yourself.

I feel the difference when I take my USANA supplements, but I was also impressed with the results.

See for yourself. (In this order, USANA, Centrum, Tj's, and Water.)

Plastics in my life

2011-04-18T14:08:00.000-07:00

So in reading the Healthy Home I'm learning more about plastics in our lives. I knew it was not safe to microwave them, but I had no idea that in just general food storage the chemicals can be found in the food. Yikes. Now I'm heading out to Target to buy glass containers. As I take an assessment of how I use plastics for storage I'm a bit overwhelmed in my task. My shopping list grows. New bowls and watering dishes for cats. What will I pack my son's lunch in? He loves sliced apples with sunflower seed butter. I have these convenient, tiny little plastic containers for the dips.

Now my husband sends me this article about canned foods. I'm thinking, I don't use many canned things but my major convenience is canned black beans and canned chickpeas. I used to take the time to soak and sprout my beans before cooking them. Am I going back to that? It's a dilemma that I face as I read what those chemicals do to children. It does take a bit more planning, but I can do that.

I recently made my own Almond milk and it was a great project to do with my son. I'm sure I can make cooking beans fun too. Also, I can cook large amounts and freeze them for convenience. I guess it's all about what changes do you feel you can make without making yourself crazy. I'll keep you posted on the beans.

Here is the article from the SF Gate. It's quite an eye-opener.

Libido Producers

2011-04-04T21:50:00.000-07:00

This is from myhealthyhome.com. I just bought the book and love it. What I love most about these suggests is that it is what I often suggest to my patients. Acupuncture and RESET can help people reduce weight. Working with the mind, body, spirit connection also helps people feel better about themselves.

There are plenty of pills and potions on the market that claim to increase libido and ramp up sex drive. And studies have shown there are plenty of couples out there looking for answers. But simple, natural ways to boost your libido are available without e-mail-only offers and other less-than-reputable means.

It can be something as simple as removing the clutter from your bedroom. With all the piles of clothes, stacks of bills, and other signs of errands left undone, the bedroom is more a reminder of a stressful life rather than a romantic oasis. By removing the clutter, you’ll be helping your sex life by allowing yourself to focus on it, which might help make the rest of your life less stressful in the process.
Eliminating distractions, like the TV, is another easy step. This, like removing the clutter from your bedroom, will help you focus on being more in the moment. And who needs TV when you can create your own entertainment?

Changes in your lifestyle can also naturally increase your libido, and staying fit is one of those simple solutions for your sex life. Getting regular, moderate exercise can help improve the flow of blood to your sex organs.¹ Exercising will also help you lose weight, which will also increase blood flow.² Working out or getting some type of physical activity also releases endorphins in your brain, which have been linked to the release of hormones that ramp up the sex drive.

Watching what you put in your body is another way to remedy the libido issues you may be facing. Eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, and getting plenty of vitamins and antioxidants can do wonders for overall health and the health of your sex life.³ If you are a smoker, quitting could be one of the best things you can do for your lungs and your libido. This will reinvigorate blood flow, increase stamina, and make you a lot more kissable.⁴ Drinking alcoholic beverages in moderation (overdoing it won’t do you any favors) is another tip for increasing your libido.

Self-esteem is something so simple it’s often overlooked in discussions about sex drive. If you feel better about yourself, chances are you’ll feel sexier. A lot of things go into feeling good about yourself, but some of the tips above—like staying fit, losing weight, and eating right—can also help with self-esteem. Or take some time to make yourself feel better by treating yourself to a massage, doing a little shopping, or simply taking time to relax. The better you feel about yourself, the better your sex life can be.

¹ http://health.howstuffworks.com/sexual-health/sexual-dysfunction/top-10-natural-ways-to-boost-libido.htm
² Ibid.
³ Ibid.
⁴ Ibid.

Create the Life Your Soul Desires

2011-03-28T12:51:00.000-07:00

How to Use Behavior and Dietary Choices

to Balance Your Neurochemistry and experience your Best Self

Daily Living (Conscious Daily Choices to stay in balance)

1. Establish and honor Your Priorities

2. Set Effective Boundaries

Individualize Nutrition (Choose foods to enhance biochemistry)

3. Follow the Ten Conscious Body Eating Habits

4. Beware of the BIG 5 Stress Foods – Refined Sugar, Refined Flours, Artificial Sweeteners, Caffeine and Processed Meat

Energize Your Life (Be conscious of how you use and gain energy.)

5. Be mindful of the energy of Sugar, Sleep and Stress

6. Encourage Life-Affirming Relationships “Balcony People”

Think Well (Be conscious of the thoughts you choose.

7. Be honest about your own “Thought Distortions” e.g All-or-Nothing Thinking, Discounting the Positive

8. Practice Bodymind shift

Seek Support (Never travel the road alone)

9. Acknowledge and appreciate your social support network

10. Develop a diversity of relationships

REFERENCES

Create the Body Your Soul Desires by Dr Karen Wolfe and Deborah Kern

Is Your Home a Healthy Home?

2011-03-07T11:39:00.001-08:00

Simple Truths to Protect Your Family from Hidden Household Dangers

by Myron Wentz, Ph.D. and Dave Wentz
with Donna K. Wallace

Book overview
In The Healthy Home, readers take a trip through the home of Dave Wentz, where the authors point out potential dangers of our modern living spaces. The book offers a common-sense approach to removing toxins from the environment where you live and raise your family. Throughout The Healthy Home, these hidden dangers are discussed in plain terms and elaborated on in a more scientific way by Dr. Wentz—allowing you to dive as deeply into the information as you want. The book also provides tips on minimizing the risks you may not have realized you were taking with your health.

In writing The Healthy Home, it is the goal of Dave and Dr. Wentz to alert readers to the dangers that lurk within the walls of their homes. By making even small and simple changes, many of which are suggested in the pages of this book and will be on the book’s companion website, myhealthyhome.com, readers will be able to make a significant difference in their lives and in the lives of their families.

Take simple steps to protect your family.

Almost overnight, a toxic world has been built around us, slowly manipulating how we eat, sleep, work, play…how we live. And the consequences of these conveniences have never been documented together in one place, until now.

The Healthy Home isn't only a comprehensive look at the dangerous poisons within your home but is a guidebook of simple solutions that will help you live a life free of the toxic burdens society has created, packaged, and sold to you as necessities of everyday life. As you read, you'll begin to learn about the science behind the positive choices you can make to improve you and your family's most important resource—your health.

Have you ever considered:

Chemicals added to fabrics to enhance durability and stain and wrinkle resistance have been linked to both reproductive and developmental toxicity, as well as cancers of the liver and bladder. But organic cotton contains none of these.

Aluminum can induce oxidative damage, which has been linked to Parkinson's and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)—yet a typical dose of your regular antacids can contain as much as 400 mg of aluminum. A little soda water anyone?

Your cooking pans coated with non-stick Teflon can release six toxic gases when heated up to 680°F on a regular electric stove, including two carcinogens, two global pollutants, and a chemical known to be lethal to humans. Maybe the extra scrubbing of a regular pan is worth it.

The air in your home is constantly filled with toxins from the paint on your walls, the glue that holds down your carpet, and the fire-retardant chemicals coating your comfy mattress. You can learn how to minimize your exposure.

With the help of The Healthy Home, you'll learn about the dangerous substances you may be exposed to on a daily basis, and the simple but effective changes you can start making today that will help you and your family reduce your toxic burden, circumvent the risks of the modern world, and live a healthier life.
Make the choice to create a healthier environment for you and your family—pre-order The Healthy Home now and discover the simple truths that will protect your family from the hidden dangers within your very own home.

Wet Socks helping a cold?

2011-02-28T11:57:00.000-08:00

So everyone in my son's class has had a cold. I volunteered in the class and spent most of the time asking the kids to get a tissue and washing my hands.

Even though we all take great vitamins with lots of antioxidants, my son caught the cold the following week. I did all the usual remedies, Chinese herbal formulas, sleep, liquids, etc. And then I remembered a wet sock treatment someone recently told me about. I thought, well why not? It's worth a try. So as my son slept, I put damp cotton socks on his feet and covered them with my warm ski socks. He did wake up in the process and said he didn't like the wet socks, but then went right back to sleep. I assured him this would help him feel better. And it did. I even tried it on myself as I was starting to get that scratchy throat feeling. I woke up feeling great with no signs of sore throat. My son was able to sleep without coughing or congestion.

Curious as to why this worked, my husband found a website with more details. Check it out and give it a try during this cold and flu season. And remember to get lots of sleep and take your supplements.
http://www.heartlandnaturopathic.com/coldsock.htm

What are your kids eating for Breakfast?

2011-02-14T12:35:00.000-08:00

I volunteer in my son's 1st/2nd grade class. The other morning, I was noticing that several kids were just unable to focus. Earlier in the morning I had seen one child eating a chocolate croissant at his desk. When asked, he stated that it was his breakfast. So I got the idea to ask all the children who couldn't focus, what they ate for breakfast. Here is what I got:
1. waffles with jam
2. nothing
3. cereal

Each of these meals is high glycemic. That means that their blood sugar was boosted, then dropped to a lower level than before eating. That leaves their brains foggy and unable to function. The truth is, many people don't understand the glycemic index of foods.

One parent I spoke to explained that cereal is easy, they can do it themselves. She was open to ideas, but they had to be quick in order for her to consider it doable.

Why? Why have our meals gotten to quick things eaten while running out the door? Is 15 minutes too much to spend preparing a hot, well balanced breakfast? What if you spent some time on the weekends teaching your child to cook simple meals? I'm just not sure why mealtime has dropped to a lower priority than almost anything else in our lives.

So, here are some quick, simple, low glycemic breakfast ideas, thanks to Low Glycemic meals in Minutes cookbook.

Cottage cheese, almonds and fresh fruit.

Scrambled eggs with sprouted toast

Quinoa porridge
make quinoa with milk, we like Almond, the night before
heat the quinoa with a little almond milk in the morning and serve with fresh fruit, Greek yogurt, a drizzle of honey and some almonds.

French toast
This is a great treat to eat during the week. Use sprouted bread like Ezekial 4:9 or Trader Joe's Daily Bread. You can mix the egg with some almond milk and serve with fresh fruit and Greek yogurt.
To make this really quick and easy, make it on a weekend and make extra, freezing the leftovers. Just heat up a slice from the freezer and you've got a speedy breakfast. Even kids can do it by themselves!

Be creative and have fun. Eat your breakfast and feel energized throughout the morning. Remember, mom always said Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Boy was she right.

Releasing Fat

2011-02-07T12:57:00.000-08:00

The Glycemic Index

If you would discuss the glycemic index with almost any physician, nutritionist, or registered dietician, you would get a variety of different responses. The overwhelming majority of these health care professionals simply do not believe in the concept of the glycemic index and its inherent value to the health care of their patients. Most believe that a carbohydrate is a carbohydrate is a carbohydrate. In other words, all carbohydrates are the same and that the concept of simple sugar versus complex carbohydrates still prevails in the United States today. This concept is what is still taught to our diabetics in the US.

Complex Carbohydrate and Simple Sugar

Carbohydrates are simply long chains of sugars that are attached together. Digestion rate, and thus the rise in blood sugar after eating a particular carbohydrate are commonly thought to be determined by the length of this sugar chain. This concept was first introduced in 1901, and has prevailed throughout the entire 20^th century and now into the 21^st century. It has been felt that if you eat a simple sugar like glucose or sucrose, your blood sugar would rise rapidly because the body does not need to break down the sugar. However; if you eat a complex carbohydrate like a potato or a piece of bread, your blood sugar would rise slower, and therefore, be better for the diabetic and normal person. This is why you see simple sugars, candy, and sweets at the peak of the USDA food pyramid. This concept of simple sugar and complex carbohydrate has been the standard of care now for well over the past 100 years and has been firmly imbedded in our thinking and our practice of medicine. It is hard to change a concept that has been with us for so long. However, as you will learn, it is the main reason we are facing such a health care crisis in the United States.

As the concept of a low-fat, high-carbohydrate diet gained acceptance in the early 1970's, the basic recommendation was that any carbohydrate other than sugar was acceptable in this newly recommended "healthy" diet. There was no distinction made between the different characteristics of these complex carbohydrates and the focus was primarily on teaching everyone to decrease the amount of fat that they were consuming in their diet. It was this reliance on a 1901 theory that was the primary reason that we are facing this overwhelming problem with both obesity and diabetes in the Western world today.

The Glycemic Index

The concept of the glycemic index was introduced in 1981 by Jenkins (et al) in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. They defined glycemic index as the rate blood sugar would actually rise following the ingestion of a particular test food relative to the ingestion of a standard food (either white bread or glucose). Therefore, the glycemic index of a specific food or meal is determined primarily by the nature of the carbohydrate or carbohydrates consumed and by other factors that affect the digestion of that particular meal (including the fat and protein content of that meal). This concept has totally changed the way we look at carbohydrates. Instead of totally accepting the theory that the rate of absorption and thus the rate of rise of the blood sugar is simply based on the length and complexity of the sugar being consumed, the actual and true rise of the blood sugar was determined in a clinical setting with standardized techniques.

Most of the confusion with the glycemic index in the health care community and with patients is due to the use of two different standards (white bread and glucose) over the past 20 years. In other words, some of our clinical studies dealing with the glycemic index used white bread as the standard and some of our studies used glucose. When glucose is used as the standard, white bread has a glycemic index of 70. When white bread is used as a standard it has a glycemic index of 100. Therefore all the glycemic index numbers for different carbohydrates will be different based on which standard food-either glucose or white bread-was used. I believe that the standard food that will prevail is going to be glucose=100. Therefore, in the Healthy for Life Program, I will refer to all of the foods according to the standard where glucose equals 100. It is possible to convert the glycemic index from the standard of white bread to glucose by using the factor of 0.7.

The Glycemic Index of Basic Foods

When this concept was first released, most dieticians, nutritionists, and physicians were shocked by the results. For example, simple sugars like table sugar (sucrose) had a glycemic index of 61 and the sugar found in fruits (fructose) had a glycemic index of 19. This was in contrast to some complex carbohydrates like white potatoes, which had a glycemic index of 85 or white bread that had a glycemic index of 70. Even more concerning was the fact that wheat bread had a glycemic index of 77 and breakfast cereals like corn flakes, bran flakes, and Cheerios had a glycemic index which was very high and some as high as 92. This literally shot the concept that the rise in blood sugar could be determined solely on whether a carbohydrate was a simple sugar or a complex carbohydrate in the foot. Obviously, the majority of health care professionals did not accept this new concept with open arms.

For years the concept of the glycemic index has been very controversial. There have been many heated discussions at conferences where these two concepts have been discussed. Obviously, it takes time to have a paradigm shift; especially, when it comes to a concept that has been the mainstay of diet counseling for the past century. Studies done in Australia, Canada, United Kingdom, and across Europe have now proven beyond any doubt there is tremendous value in the glycemic index. However, the United States remains opposed to this new concept and continues to recommend teaching the concept of simple sugar and complex carbohydrates to everyone including our diabetics. However, there is no doubt in my mind that after reviewing the medical literature regarding the glycemic index that the US will soon follow and accept the concept of the glycemic index. In fact, in the May 8, 2002 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association an article was presented that reviewed 311 of these studies dealing with the glycemic index.

What Determines the Glycemic Index of Various Foods?

Since we are now realizing that simple sugars and complex carbohydrates no longer give us any indication on how fast we will absorb these foods, what really determines our body's ability to absorb a particular food? In a nutshell, it is how a particular carbohydrate has been processed and prepared. Since 90% of the carbohydrates we now consume in the United States and many other parts of the world are processed carbohydrates, you are going to begin to understand why obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure, elevated lipids, and diabetes are epidemic in the Western World today. In fact, you will also begin to realize the main answer in helping solve our present health care crisis---going back to the basics and learning to eat again the "Old Fashioned Way".

Whole Foods versus Processed Foods

We live in an era of the "instant". Instant potatoes, instant rice, instant oatmeal, etc. are simply a way of life. We rush to work in the morning grabbing a piece of toast (usually made from white flour or wheat flour), a glass of orange juice, and a 12-ounce cup of coffee on our way out the door. For lunch, we stop by our favorite fast food restaurant and become impatient when our hamburger fries, and coke (super-sized) is not ready within two minutes. After a long day at the office for both husband and wife a quick call is made on their cell phones to decide which one is going to pick up the pizza for dinner that night. Does this sound all too familiar?
The fast food, instant food, and consumption of highly processed foods is the most dramatic change that has occurred in our society over the past two generations. The health consequences of this change are not just devastating but lethal. When you look at the list of the sources of the top 20 carbohydrates in our diets today compiled by a researcher at the Harvard School of Public Health, you begin to realize that the scenario presented above is right on target.

Table 2 - Top 20 Carbohydrates Consumed in America Today

Potatoes (mashed or baked)
White Bread
Cold Breakfast Cereal
Dark Bread (made from Wheat Flour)
Orange Juice
Banana
White Rice
Pizza
Pasta
Muffins
Fruit Punch
Coca-Cola
Apple
Skim Milk
Pancakes
Table Sugar
Jam
Cranberry juice
French Fries
Candy

When you look at the glycemic index of these various foods, you soon begin to realize that the majority are very high-glycemic. Much of this is due to the fact that these foods are highly processed and are made with our modern-day flour. Modern flour comes from high-speed rolling mills, which replaced the traditional millstones of the 18^th century. The new mills were much more efficient; however, because they generated much more heat, the flour would spoil very quickly. This was primarily due to the oxidation of the embryo of the seed which occurred much more quickly because of the high heat that was produced. Well, it did not take them very long to realize that if they would degerminate the grain and also remove the seed coat (called the bran) whose fiber impeded the new milling process so that this oxidation process could be avoided. The result was superfine, pure white flour, which did not spoil. It was an economic coup. Not only was the bread, bread products, and pastries made from this flour light and tasty but it also had an extra-long shelf life. It soon became a delicacy of the rich; while the old, stone-ground flour with its coarse texture and taste was left to the peasants of the world. However, as we are now beginning to realize our body is able to absorb these very superfine particles of white or wheat flour very quickly. This results in a rapid rise of our blood sugar and creates a very high-glycemic index. In fact, as noted earlier, white bread and white flour spikes our blood sugar faster than if we were slapping table sugar on our tongue.

Just think about the amount of processed grains and carbohydrates that are in our diet. White bread, white flour, wheat flour, most rice, cakes, donuts, potato chips, breakfast cereals, fruit juices, sodas, sports drinks, and the list goes on and on.

Now take a look at the glycemic index of whole foods. Whole foods are defined as those foods that are eaten in their natural state. In other words, they are not processed and many of these foods are referred to as live foods. Some examples of whole foods are apples, oranges, grapes, beans, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, oats, and whole wheat grains. These foods are natural and still contain their natural fiber and natural form. When you check out these foods on the glycemic index chart, you will find that they are all low-glycemic foods. Therefore, a general principle, however not an absolute principle, is that the more highly processed a food is the higher its glycemic index.

Fiber Content of Foods

In general, the higher the fiber content of a particular food the lower the glycemic index. However, according to Thomas Wolever, one of the leading authorities in the glycemic index, although it is helpful to know the type and quantity of fiber in various foods it is not the only factor that determines the glycemic index. For example, the fiber found in processed white or wheat flour does nothing to slow down the absorption of these carbohydrates. However, when you consider the viscous fiber found in legumes and whole oats, it definitely slows down the absorption of the carbohydrates from these foods. In general, Wolever states that in the purified form soluble fibers have a greater affect on the glycemic response when compared with insoluble fibers. However, it is still difficult to determine the glycemic index of a food by simply looking at its fiber content.

Amylose/Amylopectin Ratio Affects Glycemic Index

There are two types of starches that make up many of our foods. These are called amylose and amylopectin and the ratio with which these two starches occur in our foods has a strong influence on the glycemic index. Amylose is a straight-chain molecule that lines up like a tight set of beads. This configuration makes it hard to gelatinize and therefore much more difficult to digest. On the contrary, amylopectin is made up of linear molecules with many branches. This allows it to be digested quite easily. These two starches occur in various foods at different ratios. Those foods containing a high percentage of amylopectin obviously turn out to be high-glycemic. These are typical of many of the rice dishes available. However, those foods that have a higher level of amylose, such as basmati rice, black beans, lentils, and soy beans are very low-glycemic.

Type of Sugar Content has a Major Influence on Glycemic Index

One of the most surprising aspects of the glycemic index is the wide variation in how various natural sugars are absorbed. For example, the sugar primarily found in fruits (fructose) has a glycemic index of 19, while glucose has a glycemic index of 100. Most people do not realize that table sugar (sucrose) is a disaccharide (made up of two molecules), which means that it is a double sugar made up of one molecule of glucose and a molecule of fructose. This is the reason that table sugar has a glycemic index of 61, which is basically in the middle between the two sugars that make up sucrose. Honey has a glycemic index of 55. Lactose (the carbohydrate found in milk) has a glycemic index of 46 while maltose has a glycemic index of 105.

It doesn't take much to realize that the glycemic index of various foods will be determined in a large part by the type and amount of sugar that is present. However, there is still a wide variation in different types of fruits. The tropical fruits like bananas, mango, and pineapple have a medium-glycemic index, while most of the other fruits (other than watermelon) have a low-glycemic index. Many of the higher processed foods like most yogurts actually have a mixture of natural and added sugars and therefore, tend to have higher glycemic indexes.

How Food is Prepared has a Significant Influence on Glycemic Index

Usually the starch in raw foods is stored in hard, compressed granules that make them very difficult to digest. This is why you will see that almost all raw foods have a lower glycemic index than the cooked foods of the same type. The reason this happens is because during cooking these hard, compact starches expand when they are heated and may actually burst. This is a process called gelatinization. These swollen starches are very easy to digest and be absorbed by the starch digesting enzymes of the small bowel.

This is why you do not want to overcook any of your food. Heat is not your friend when it comes to the glycemic index of your foods. You will later learn that it can turn good fats into bad fats and in this situation, turn low-glycemic carbohydrates into higher-glycemic carbohydrates. For example, you want to basically undercook most of your pasta so that it remains firm (al dente).

Needless to say, trying to determine the actual glycemic index of foods based on their fiber, sugar, and type of carbohydrates is guess work at best. Although it is safe to say that most whole fruits, whole grains, and whole vegetables are going to be significantly lower in their glycemic index than are the more highly processed foods.

www.releasingfat.com

Are your beliefs in alignment with your desires?

2011-01-30T14:08:00.000-08:00

1. When your desires are not in alignment with your belief, you will ALWAYS manifest your belief.

2. Law of Attraction is a SECONDARY LAW to LAW OF VIBRATION. Your task is to do anything you can do to raise your vibration and in be in alignment with your vision

3. Your NET worth is your SELF WORTH ..challenge your limiting beliefs!!!

You can change your CORE beliefs. Dr. Karen Wolfe recommends the book “The 21 Day Consciousness Cleanse: A Breakthrough Program for Connecting with Your Soul’s Deepest Purpose

http://www.oprah.com/spirit/Get-Started-Take-Debbie-Fords-21-Day-Consciousness-Cleanse

What Seeds are you sowing in your mind?

2011-01-29T14:11:00.000-08:00

You have, in your hands right now, five hundred twenty-five thousand and change! If you live twelve more months, you are going to have 525,000 minutes to invest.

Time is a great commodity. Many of us have been trained to invest a great amount of that commodity in rehearsing our past, cursing a circumstance, nursing a problem, or fueling resentment.

The Law of the mind is analogous to the Law of the farm. The ideas that you hold in mind reproduce after their kind; Thought seeds are just like physical seeds.

Let us invest our time in thoughts and activities that lead to the life we want to live, rather than a life we want to avoid. You have gold in your hands today. Spend it on your dreams.

Spend Wisely,

Mary Manin Morrissey

Consciousness Cleanse Day 1: The Gift of Desire

2011-01-17T09:07:00.000-08:00

JOIN THE ONLINE COMMUNITY

http://www.oprah.com/spirit/Consciousness-Cleanse-Day-1-The-Gift-of-Desire

Consciousness Cleanse Day 1:
The Gift of Desire

By Debbie Ford
Original Content | January 05, 2010

Welcome to Day 1 of the 21-Day Consciousness Cleanse. I'm thrilled that you've chosen to join me in this journey. I promise you that this is a day that can radically alter your life and bring about significant, important and inspiring changes. On Day 1, it's imperative that you bring forth your soul's greatest desire, that you pick one goal to achieve in the outer world and one goal to achieve in your inner world in the next 21 days.

You might ask, "Why is this important?" It is because desire is the spark that ignites the flame of your soul and illuminates your innate creativity, imagination and vision. On this day, you will summon one of the most powerful agents of change in the universe—desire. In its purest form, your soul's desire is a magnet pulling you toward the life you want to live. Your desires will source you with the inspiration to release your outdated beliefs and let go of whatever behavior is keeping you stuck in the past. Your soul's desires compel you to grow, evolve and move closer to your highest potential. Beneath the surface of your ego's insatiable cravings, your authentic desires are waiting patiently for you to acknowledge, claim and express them.

So today is the day for you to evoke two desires for 2010 that will lead you to joy, fulfillment and the next greatest evolution of yourself. These desires will act as your guide and your focus point through this life-altering process.

Take these next few minutes to go inside to that place where you have all the wisdom you need to live a life you love.

Listen to your meditation on desire (8 minutes)

Cleansing Ritual

Write down the area of your life that most needs your attention right now and then write out all the details you saw of your soul's vision for this part of your life. What will that part of your life look like? How will achieving your goal change your life? How will it change the life of those around you? When you reach your goal, when you fulfill that desire, what will it make room for? Write that all down.

Then write down your inner goal. What is the one feeling you desire to feel most this year? How will you act differently if you were feeling that feeling all the time? How would people around you benefit? What would be different in your world?Write it out in great detail.

Soulful Action

Your Outer Goal: What is one action you can take today that will move you one step closer to your soul's vision? Make a commitment to take that action.

Your Inner Goal: What is one action you can take or one thought you can think that will support you in having more of the feeling you most desire?Take that action or think that thought today.

Soul Food: I am worthy of living my heart's desires.

Debbie Ford is the national best - selling author of The Dark Side of the Light Chasers, The Secret of the Shadow, Spiritual Divorce, The Right Questions, The Best Year of Your Life and Why Good People Do Bad Things. Her new book is The 21-Day Consciousness Cleanse (Harper Collins) . She conducts workshops across the country. She lives in California with her family.

More from Debbie Ford

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Detoxing in more ways than one

2011-01-10T11:11:00.001-08:00

I attended a program yesterday lead by Lawrence Kampf. He is leading a group of people through a 3 week detox program. It's a great program with lots of support. If you have ever done a detox in the past, you know that support is very important to the success of it.

I have been leading several people through RESET these past couple of weeks. The energy of a new year brings renewed enthusiasm to people and their goals to get healthier.

Lawrence reminded me that it's not only important to look at what you are consuming on a food level, but also on a media level. Have you ever tried a media diet? That's where you stop watching the news or reading papers or eNews outlets. I started my media diet and few years ago and felt so much happier about life in general, I never went back. I was really an over-consumer of news and info. Now, if someone sends me a clip of something interesting, I may click on the link and read more. I find that if it's really important news, the info makes its way to me. Kind of like the law of attraction for information. I now have a lot more space to use my energy in more positive ways. I also read lots of great books both fiction and non-fiction.

Take time in these first few weeks of 2011 to be conscious about what you take into your body, both food and otherwise.

New Year Energy

2011-01-02T10:30:00.000-08:00

I don't know about you, but I love the energy that seems to surround the first few days and weeks of a new year. I feel like anything is possible. I've taken time to acknowledge my good stuff in 2010 and things I would have liked to gone better. I have appreciation for the lessons of the year and all the abundance. It's just one day to the next, but going from the 31st to the 1st seems to hold so much energy and power. I love the anticipation of a new year. I hope you are enjoying it as well.

This year I purchased a smaller agenda for 2011. My goal is to have a shorter To Do list. I plan to have more fun and do less "things". I figure if I give myself less paper to write it down, then I'll have to find another time to get it done. Does it all need to be done today anyway? What's the most important thing for today? These are the questions I've been asking lately. It's been nice and it feels more efficient, less busyness. I invite you to join me in shorter to-do lists for 2011. And make sure FUN is on the list daily.

Enjoy the excitement and newness of the new year.

Low Vitamin D Levels May Increase Heart Disease Risk

2010-12-22T21:40:00.001-08:00

Interest in vitamin D has been increasing in recent months with a growing number of studies linking the vitamin to protection against osteoporosis and certain cancers. There is also evidence that a higher intake of vitamin D may be helpful with regard to high blood pressure, fibromyalgia, diabetes mellitus, multiple sclerosis, and rheumatoid arthritis.

In a population-based study, researchers used data from 1739 participants in the Framingham Offspring Study to study the relationship between vitamin D levels and cardiovascular health risk. Although vitamin D levels above 30 ng/mL are considered optimal for bone metabolism, only 10 percent of the participants had levels in this range. In fact, 28 percent had blood levels lower than 15 ng/mL. Participants with levels below 15 ng/mL had a 62 percent greater chance to develop cardiovascular events than those with higher levels. People with low vitamin D levels and high blood pressure (> 140/90 mmHg), were found to have double the risk of cardiovascular problems compared to people with normal blood pressure and vitamin D levels.

Vitamin D is produced in the skin on exposure to UVB radiation (sunlight) and obtained in the diet from foods like oily fish, egg yolk, and liver. Recent studies have shown, however, that sunshine levels in some northern countries are so weak during the winter months that the human body makes little to no vitamin D, leading to widespread deficiencies. In addition, increased skin pigmentation also reduces the effect of UVB radiation, meaning darker skinned people are at greater risk.

The results from this study raise the possibility that treating vitamin D deficiency, by supplementation and/or lifestyle measures, could reduce the risk of cardiovascular events.

Wang TJ, et al. Vitamin D Deficiency and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease. 2008. Circulation 117(4):503-11.

Alternative Medicines: A Good Choice?

2010-12-13T14:13:00.000-08:00

By: Holly Haden

Alternative medicine is basically described as the methods and/or practices used in exchange of conventional medical treatments or methods that are not generally recognized or used by the medical community. Alternative medical procedure is often chosen by individuals whom, for some reasons, their ailments have not been cured by prescribed drugs or any other kind of conventional medicine.

But the question is, are alternative medicines really a good choice?

Studies show that more and more individual are opting for alternative medicines because they believe it presents certain advantages. For one, alternative medicine is safer because it rarely uses drugs for curative procedures. This would mean lesser side effect.

Another advantage of alternative medicine is that it aside from improving certain ailments or illnesses; it helps an individual to improve other aspects of his life as well. Meaning, it helps a person to promote better lifestyle as alternative medicine deals with natural and traditional medicine. It helps a person to have proper diet as well as achieve a better state of mental health.

Take acupuncture for example. It is a very popular and known technique from ancient China. Acupuncture involves stimulating certain points of the body through the insertion of very fine needles. It has also been proven that acupuncture can prevent minor disorders from worsening. It also improves the functioning of your body.

Another good example to look at in determining just one of the many advantages of alternative medicine is its ability to cure hemorrhoids without having to resort to drugs or surgical medical procedures. It can be naturally cured with the proper use of plants and plants extracts, as well as with proper dieting.

As we all know, doctors and pharmaceutical companies also uses certain plants and plant extracts and incorporate them into modern drugs in the production of medicines. So this just goes to further show that natural ingredients can really be helpful in curing types of illness and other diseases.

A simple therapeutic massage alone can help you relax and balance your body. It has been proven that massage provides very positive and helpful benefits like reducing pain and reduction or elimination of stress-related illnesses. A relaxed body and mind can help you be in a better and healthier state.

Apart from all the health benefits that alternative medicines could bring, it costs less than most conventional medical procedures. Herbal medicines alone can be found in your backyard or can be bought at very affordable prices either from groceries or the market. There is no wonder why some doctors or pharmaceutical companies do not promote alternative medicine.

Simply put, there is no need to be afraid in trying out alternative medicines. It is safe, affordable and more importantly, it is also highly effective.

Holly Hayden is a respected authority on how to cure your hemorrhoid naturally. Her free report on this method has helped thousands of people.
http://hemorrhoidmiracle.com/articles/hemorrhoids_surgery.php
Holly has become a popular underground speaker on natural remedies in recent years.

Long-term Multivitamin Use in Women Reduces the Risk of Heart Attack

2010-12-06T09:33:00.000-08:00

A new study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition examined the association between multivitamin use and myocardial infarction (MI) in a large population of women.

The study included 31,671 Swedish women with no history of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and 2,262 women with a history of CVD aged 49–83 years. At the beginning of the study, the women completed a questionnaire regarding dietary supplement use, diet, and lifestyle factors. Multivitamins were estimated to contain nutrients close to recommended daily allowances.

During an average of 10.2 years of follow-up, 932 MI cases were identified in the CVD-free group and 269 cases in the CVD group. In the CVD-free group, use of multivitamins only, compared with no use of supplements, was associated with a 27% decreased risk of CVD. When multivitamins were used in conjunction with other supplements, the risk of CVD was decreased by 30%. In those that used only supplements other than multivitamins the reduction in risk was much smaller at only 7%. In women that used multivitamins for more than 5 years there was a 41% reduction in risk of CVD.

This research showed that the use of multivitamins was inversely associated with MI, especially among long-term users with no history of CVD.

Rautiainen S, Akesson A, Levitan EB, Morgenstern R, Mittleman MA, Wolk A. Multivitamin us and the risk of myocardial infarction: a population-based cohort of Swedish women. 2010. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 92, (5), 1251-6.

Boost Your Immunity Protection with New Booster C 600

2010-11-29T09:49:00.000-08:00

USANA knows how important it is to give your immune system the support it needs, especially with the stress your immune system is under this season. That’s why USANA created a new product specifically designed to support healthy immune defenses—Booster C 600™.

A delicious lemon-berry flavored powder that can be taken straight or mixed with water, Booster C 600 comes in convenient single-serving stick packs, so they are easy to use for people on-the-go. So, whether you are shaking hands with groups of new customers, riding in a crowded plane, or at the family holiday party, your personal immunity boost can be carried with you wherever you go.

What Makes It Different?
What sets Booster C 600 apart from other immunity supplements on the market is its special blend of immunity-supporting ingredients. Not only does it contain zinc, echinacea, and elderberry, but it also includes USANA’s own proprietary vitamin C supplement Poly C^®. And, as it is created by scientists at USANA, you can trust that Booster C 600 is safe, pure, and effective.

Booster C 600 is also the perfect seasonal companion to USANA’s other supplements to support immunity health: Proflavanol^® C¹⁰⁰, USANA^® Probiotic, Pure Rest™, and USANA’s Vitamin D supplement. Because of the potent immune boosting ingredients that Booster C 600 provides, it should NOT be taken longer than two weeks at a time. It is the perfect solution just for those times when you feel your immunity needs a little boost.

As a seasonal product, Booster C 600 is only available for a limited time. Give yourself a boost this winter and buy yours today!

Booster C 600™ – 28 Pack
Item #143
$29.50 – 22 SVP

* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

New Diabetes Projections "Paint Sobering Picture of the Future"

2010-11-22T11:11:00.000-08:00

Type 2 diabetes is a chronic health condition that develops when the body becomes resistant to insulin, a hormone that regulates carbohydrate and fat metabolism. The exact mechanism by which type 2 diabetes occurs is unknown, but a number of correlating risk factors - particularly obesity and physical inactivity - are well-established. Unfortunately, the number of individuals with type 2 diabetes has increased sharply in recent years, with an estimated $174 billion cost to the United States in 2007 alone.

A number of papers have attempted to project type 2 diabetes prevalence 5, 10, and 20+ years into the future. Unfortunately, most of these projections have relied on weak or outdated metrics, including old census data, static mortality rates, and overly simple estimations of diabetes incidence. A recent paper from researchers at the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion hoped to overcome these weaknesses by utilizing recent census data and a matrix of factors derived from an extensive literature review.

The researchers describe their results as "a sobering picture of the future growth of diabetes." Their most optimistic values point to 21% of the U.S. adult population having type 2 diabetes in the year 2050. A middle-ground scenario predicts a prevalence of 25%-28%, while high-end data points to a diabetes prevalence of 33%, or 1 in 3 adults. To put these numbers in perspective, approximately 7% of the U.S. adult population had type 2 diabetes in 2007. In 1990, prevalence was below 5%.

Unlike some chronic diseases, type 2 diabetes risk can be reduced by relatively moderate lifestyle changes. Losing weight (if overweight or obese), improving dietary choices, and regular exercise are all known to reduce risk of acquiring type 2 diabetes. The authors of this paper note that such changes "can help to decrease loss in quality of life and the future cost of providing care for people with diabetes. Indeed, such efforts are essential if we hope to moderate or slow the growth of diabetes prevalence."

Boyle JP, Thompson TJ, Gregg EW, Barker LE, Williamson DF. Projection of the year 2050 burden of diabetes in the US adult population: dynamic modeling of incidence, mortality, and pre-diabetes prevalence. 2010. Population Health Metrics 8:29.

Regular Exercise Reduces Risk of the Common Cold

2010-11-15T11:00:00.000-08:00

Upper Respiratory Tract Infections (URTI) can be caused by more than 200 different viruses, and it is estimated that the U.S. population suffers more than one billion colds a year (2-4 per average adult, 6-10 per average child). A number of lifestyle factors contribute to URTI risk, including poor nutrient status, lack of sleep, and stress. A new paper published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine adds exercise habits to the list of lifestyle factors affecting URTI risk.

1,023 subjects between 18 and 85 years of age were recruited for this study, with 1,002 individuals completing all study requirements. Subjects were selected from multiple BMI groups (roughly one-third were of normal weight, one-third were overweight, and one-third were obese) to ensure adequate representation. A comprehensive validated survey on lifestyle, diet, activity levels, stress, and URTI incidence and severity was completed by each study participant.

After controlling for potential cofounders, total days with URTI symptoms were 43-46% lower in the highest third of aerobic activity when compared to the lowest third, while URTI severity was reduced 32-41% for the high group. Low stress levels, high exercise frequency (≥5 days/week), and high fruit intake (≥3 servings/day) also correlated with reduced URTI incidence.

The exact mechanism by which aerobic exercise reduces URTI risk is still uncertain, although it appears to be a combination of factors, including transient increases of certain immune cell types, a reduction of stress hormones, and specialized benefits to key organs (particularly the lungs, which serve as a primary barrier against URTIs).

Nieman DC, Henson DA, Austin MD, Sha W. Upper respiratory tract infection is reduced in physically fit and active adults. 2010. Br J Sports Med, ePub ahead of print. doi:10.1136/bjsm.2010.077875

Who would you invite to dinner?

2010-11-08T16:06:00.000-08:00

I recently cut out these questions from Family Fun magazine that are good conversation starters for dinner time. The concept is to put them in a jar and then pick one during dinner.

I'm tired of the same old questions. How was your day? What was good about it? What did you work on today? What was fun about your day? and so on.

So last night my son and I sat down and tried the new questions. He was very excited about it and wanted to read all the questions. He picked "what superpower would you like to have?" He decided the ability to make lightening was what he wanted most. I picked the obvious choice, flying. And why? So I could fly over the traffic and get to work in the city without delays. Typical logical thinking of an adult.

My question was "If you could invite anyone to dinner who would it be?" Humm. This was a tough one for me. My son answered quickly and easily; all his friends. That way we could have a dinner party and parties are fun with your friends. Yes, I agreed that was a good choice and sounded like lots of fun. I verbalized my choices that I was tossing around in my head. Martha Stewart. No, I think that would be too stressful as I'm just not that perfect. Obama. Do I really want to meet him and have him over for dinner? I'm not really into politics at this point in my life, so what's the point? Oprah. She seems like fun and I've always wanted to meet her. Dr. Christiane Northrup. I've met and spoken to her. She has a great sense of humor and great perspectives on life. At this choice my son spoke up. "Yes, Dr. Northrup. She's a good USANA person." I laughed and agreed. So my final answer is Dr. Nortrhup.

Who would you invite and why?

Calcium and Vitamin D Enhance Heart Health Benefits of Weight Loss

2010-10-25T15:07:00.000-07:00

Weight loss and reduced waist circumference
are related to an improvement in heart health
and factors related to metabolic syndrome.
According to recent research,
supplementing with calcium and
vitamin D during weight loss enhances
heart health benefits in women
with typically low calcium intakes.

Recent research has shown that overweight individuals with low calcium and dairy consumption are at increased risk of developing metabolic syndrome. These findings suggest that adequate calcium intake could create a healthier metabolic profile.

Canadian researchers investigated this issue by testing cardiovascular benefits of long-term calcium supplementation in women with low calcium intake. Healthy, overweight or obese women with a daily calcium intake of less than 800 mg/day were randomly assigned to one of two groups: a group consuming two tablets/day of a calcium + vitamin D supplement (600 mg elemental calcium and 200 IU vitamin D/tablet), or a group consuming placebo. Both groups completed a 15-week reduced calorie weight-loss program.

Significant decreases in LDL cholesterol levels, as well as the ratios of total to LDL and LDL to HDL were seen the calcium + vitamin D group. These changes were independent of changes due to fat loss and reduced waist circumference. A tendency for more beneficial changes in HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and total cholesterol was also observed in the calcium+D group.

This was the first study to show that calcium and vitamin D enhance the beneficial effects of weight loss on cardiovascular risk factors in overweight women with typically low calcium intakes.

Major GC, et al. Supplementation with calcium + vitamin D enhances the beneficial effect of weight loss on plasma lipid and lipoprotein concentrations. 2007. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 85(1): 54-9.

From USANA.com

Building Your Field of Dreams

2010-10-18T11:06:00.000-07:00

We all have dreams and goals. Are you in alignment with yours? Take a moment and answer these questions in terms of your dreams. I have found that when I am in alignment with the energy, life moves forward with such ease.

A 5-point test for determining whether your dream is right for you

1. What have you done in your business that excites you?

2. Does your work align with your CORE VALUES

3. Will this dream require that you grow?

4. DO you need help from a higher power? Do you know exactly how to make this dream come true (if so it is not big enough)

5. Is there some good in this dream for others?

Thanks to Karen Wolfe for sharing this info from the book by Mary Manin Morriessey

Breast Health Month

2010-10-11T11:09:00.000-07:00

I got an email from Dr. Northrup about breast health month. I thought it would be great to share it with everyone. "I understand that mammography has been the gold standard for years. Doctors are the most familiar with this test, and many believe that a mammogram is the best test for detecting breast cancer early. But it’s not. Studies show that a thermogram identifies precancerous or cancerous cells earlier, produces unambiguous results (which cuts down on additional testing), and doesn’t hurt the body. Isn’t this what women really want?"

Go to her website: http://www.drnorthrup.com/# and you can click on the video link to watch Dr. Northrup on her latest PBS special. It's loaded with great information.

The better it gets the better it gets

2010-09-20T20:16:00.000-07:00

How many times a day do your thoughts turn negative? How often do you just spiral down from one negative thought to the next and before you know it you're wondering why did I ever date that guy 10 years ago? I was watching a PBS special and this guy called this process ANTs; Automatic Negative Thinking. Abraham-Hicks states that we are lazy thinkers. I find this to be true for myself. I also hear patients tell me they can't stop the thoughts.

I've been working with a new, to me, thought process over the last several months. And it seems to be working for me so I thought I would share it with you. I know that everyone has their own process and maybe this one might be in alignment with you.

When you have a negative thought, just stop in the moment and ask yourself why. Why am I having this negative thought? What am I not allowing to come in? Am I being challenged to grow and expand? Maybe things are going well so I'm just waiting for it to go bad. See what comes up for you. Sometimes nothing comes up for me, but what I've done is changed the moment to an awareness. I remind myself I get to choose how to feel and react.

At this point, I replace the negative path with a positive one. I might be working with an affirmation such as the better it gets, the better it gets. Or I might fill the space with appreciation. There's nothing like appreciation to shift your energy. What are just a couple of things you love about your life? What is going really well for you? Focus on those things and more will come.

Try this and I can assure you, the better it gets, the better it really does get.

Vitamin D Update

2010-09-13T12:45:00.000-07:00

From Dr. Karen Wolfe

VITAMIN D UPDATE

I had the opportunity to learn all about the latest Vitamin D research from Dr Myron Wentz, B.S.. M.S., Ph.D. last week. He is an internationally recognized microbiologist and immunologist and pioneer in infectious disease diagnosis. He developed the first commercially available test for diagnosing infection with the Epstein-Barr. He was presented in June 2007 with the Albert Einstein Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Life Sciences.

TOP TEN INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT VITAMIN D

1. Low VIT D is a predisposing factor in all cancers.
2. It targets over 2,000 genes (which is 6% of the human genome)
3. Principal source is production in SKIN on exposure to sunlight.
4. Cholesterol- lowering drugs (like statins) can decrease VIT D
5. 61% of teens have low Vitamin D levels
6. Dr Wentz recommends 5,000 IU/day in flu season to increase immunoprotection
7. Multiple Sclerosis had a 500 times increase in temperate zone versus tropics.
8. Vitamin D can assist pancreas to stimulate insulin production
9. Dr Wentz recommends 15-30 minutes of daily sun exposure exposure when sun is high in sky
10. To overdose with supplements, would need 10,000 IU's every day for 6 months before you might see symptoms

There is no shortage of money or time

2010-09-12T18:03:00.001-07:00

This was my Abraham Law of Attraction card for today.

"There is no shortage. And any attention to shortage of something wanted will always produce negative emotion within you because your guidance is letting you know that you have strayed from your broader basic understanding of abundance and Well-being. Whether you are focused upon the shortage of money, or seeing yourself as having only so many years to live (and so each day that is expended is one day closer to the end of your years), that feeling of decline is contrary to your broader understanding of the Eternal nature of your Being."

This is what I do, if I have a thought about not having time or money or something, I stop the thought. I then ask myself, what am I not letting in? I wait and see if anything comes up. I then choose to think a better feeling thought. By doing this exercise over the last several months, I have shifted my relationship with time. There is no longer a lack of it. There is only a choice of what is my priority to spend my time on. Be true in your words. If you're not getting something done, then it's just not a priority for you. If you say, no, really, this is a priority, then look at how you are self-sabotaging your ability to succeed.

Get the Most Nutrition From Your Food

2010-09-06T11:03:00.000-07:00

Need help “digesting” all the new product information announced at the 2010 International Convention? Have no fear, we are here to give you an overview of USANA’s newest addition to our already great line-up of Nutritionals: USANA Digestive Enzyme!

Your body relies on the nutrients found in food to survive. As you take in food, your digestive system begins working to break down nutrients so they can be absorbed into your bloodstream and carried to all the cells in your body. In fact, healthy digestion is so important to your overall health that USANA has created a special subcategory of Nutritionals called “Digestion/Detox” to call extra attention to it. Digestive Enzyme, as well as USANA® Probiotic, Fibergy® Plus, and Hepasil DTX™ are Digestion/Detox products that all play important roles in aiding and maintaining your digestive and liver health.*

Eat Healthy, Get All the Benefits
While it’s important to eat a healthy diet, good eating habits may not make you healthier if the nutrients aren’t properly absorbed. USANA’s Digestive Enzyme supplement was designed to encourage more complete digestion and absorption of nutrients, so that you can get the most nutrition from the foods that you eat. In addition, Digestive Enzyme also helps alleviate the stuffed feeling after eating a large meal and reduce the symptoms of occasional indigestion, including heartburn, gas, and bloating. It also supports the body’s natural detoxification processes.

USANA’s Digestive Enzyme contains many different enzymes to help breakdown starches, proteins, and fats. The blend is also formulated with lactase, which assists in the digestion of food containing lactose, a sugar found in dairy products, and may help prevent symptoms of lactose intolerance. In addition, USANA’s Digestive Enzyme is different from others on the market because it contains spirulina, a nutrient-rich blue-green algae “super food” that contains chlorophyll, which supports the body’s natural processes for eliminating toxins.

Make sure you look for all of the Digestion/Detox products in their new category on the shopping cart, and pick up new Product Information Booklets, Prospecting Catalogs, and Health & Freedom Newspapers—all of which reflect the new subcategory—to share with your prospects.

Feel the difference optimal nutrient absorption can make in your health. Order your Digestive Enzyme today!

New Nutritional Hybrid Technology

2010-09-03T18:06:00.000-07:00

Bringing the Future to You

Think about all of the greatest technological advancements through history: the wheel, the telephone, the invention of flight… After landing on the moon, it seemed as if technology couldn’t be pushed any further—until now. Join USANA and take the next step toward the future of your health.

It always feels great to be the first, but USANA is currently the only company in the industry to take advantage of Nutritional Hybrid Technology (NHT). NHT is so new and groundbreaking, it’s difficult to imagine what might come next.

What is Nutritional Hybrid Technology?
USANA's innovative Nutritional Hybrid Technology is a state-of-the-art approach to formula design and manufacturing. NHT features bilayer tableting: the separation of various formula ingredients into two distinct tablet layers. Now, for the first time, incompatible ingredients can be combined in a single tablet, and key nutritional ingredients can be visually highlighted in distinct tablet layers.   

USANA's Nutritional Hybrid Technology opens the door to accelerated innovation in supplement design and manufacture, and USANA is proud to be the first in the industry to utilize it. 

What USANA products use Nutritional Hybrid Technology?
Replacing Proflavanol, Proflavanol 90, and Poly C, USANA’s new Hybrid pill Proflavanol® C100 will make your life a little easier by lessening the amount of pills you need to take without sacrificing any of the nutrients you need.

Hepasil DTX® has also received the Hybrid treatment and is now available in MyHealthPak™.

Take advantage of USANA’s pioneering efforts in the field of nutritional supplements.

My favorite Breakfast

2010-08-16T13:39:00.000-07:00

I recently returned from vacation and getting back into the regular life routine. On Saturdays I love to make Quinoa for breakfast. I was telling a friend about my breakfast and she said it sounded so yummy, I should put it on my blog. So here it is.

Make quiona with milk instead of water. Put a scoop in a bowl and add greek yogurt on top. Then drizzle with a little honey or agave and add fresh organic berries of your choice. I used blackberries freshly picked from our yard. I top it all off with my homemade granola. It's a very simple recipe.

I tell you, this breakfast was so beautiful I am sorry I didn't take a photo. Needless to say, it was delicious. I hope you give it a try.

Here is the granola recipe:
3 cups rolled oats
2 cups raw cashews
1 cup sliced almonds
1 cup coconut flakes
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 tsp sea salt
1/4 cup canola oil
1/4 cup maple syrup

Mix all the dry ingredients and then add the wet. Toss until everything is coated with the oil and syrup. Spread out on a cookie sheet. I use 2. Cook for 1 hour 15 minutes at 250 degrees. Stir every 15 minutes. Cool and enjoy.

Weight-Loss Strategies Can Affect Risk of Micronutrient Deficiencies

2010-08-09T17:25:00.000-07:00

July 28, 2010

While losing weight carries many health benefits, cutting calories may inadvertently lead to cutting micronutrient intakes as well. Researchers have found an increased risk of vitamin and mineral deficiencies in females using certain popular diets.

Cutting excess calories is a key component of all successful weight-loss strategies. However, consuming less food can lead to lower micronutrient intakes if individuals aren’t careful.

Researchers from Stanford University recently conducted a study among 300 overweight or obese women who were randomly assigned to follow one of four popular weight-loss diets: Atkins, Zone, LEARN, or Ornish. Dietary surveys were administered at the start of the study and after two months of weight loss. From that data, intake levels of 17 vitamins and minerals were estimated.

Regardless of which diet was used, participants were able to reduce their calorie intake from an average of 2000 calories/day to 1500 calories/day. (One pound of weight loss requires a net reduction of 3500 calories.) Somewhat unsurprisingly, that reduction in calories led to a reduction in vitamin and mineral intake for many participants. Vitamin E was the worst nutrient affected, with more than 65% of women receiving inadequate levels while following their diet guidelines. Overall, 12 of the 17 nutrients measured saw differences in intake levels between the start and end of the study.

One way to compensate for potential micronutrient deficiencies is use of a quality multivitamin supplement. However, of the four diets examined in this study, only one recommended use of a supplement, and only 3 participants followed that recommendation. The researchers also found that in some individuals, risk of micronutrient deficiencies actually decreased when participants placed an emphasis on replacing calorie-dense, nutrient-poor foods with low-calorie, nutrient-rich foods.

This research emphasizes the importance of choosing a weight-loss strategy that focuses on more than just cutting calories. A proper weight-loss strategy must also focus on healthy dietary choices, including an emphasis on adequate vitamin and mineral intake.

Gardner CD, Kim S, Bersamin A, Dopler-Nelson M, Otten J, Oelrich B, Cherin R. Micronutrient quality of weight-loss diets that focus on macronutrients: results from the A TO Z study. 2010. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 92(2): ePub ahead of print. Retrieved online 14 July 2010.

STUDY SHOWS VITAMIN D SUPPLEMENTS TAKEN EARLY IN LIFE HELP IN THE PREVENTION OF OSTEOPOROSIS

2010-07-26T13:06:00.000-07:00

- Clinical study at Australian Catholic University indicates the benefits of USANA Active Calcium chewables on bone development in females ages nine to 13 -

SALT LAKE CITY—July 19, 2010—“Eat your veggies,” “Don’t run with scissors” and now “Take your calcium and Vitamin D.” A clinical study conducted at the School of Exercise Science at Australian Catholic University, has shown that taking high quality calcium supplements like USANA’s Active Calcium could help preadolescent girls set the stage for a lifetime of strong, mineral-rich bones. Study results indicated that a supplement containing high quality calcium plus Vitamin D significantly improved bone density, mass and strength in girls ages nine to 13—exactly what experts want to achieve in that time of life to prevent future skeletal issues.
This study is unique because it’s the first randomized, controlled trial to assess bone responses to calcium in twins. Using twins factors out genetic complications that have plagued studies; in working with the Australian Twin Registry, 20 pairs of female twins between the ages of nine and 13 were selected to participate. Scientists administered one twin in each pair a placebo and one twin USANA’s Active Calcium. After six months the study showed significant improvements in bone development in the twin who received the supplement.
“Experts regard osteoporosis as a pediatric disease because the best time to prevent is during childhood and early adolescence,” says Dr. Tim Wood, Executive Vice President of Research and Development at USANA Health Sciences, Inc. “Women put on 50% of their adult bone mineral mass during their teenage years. As such, this is the best time to grow strong, mineral rich bones and the most effective way to prevent osteoporosis later in life.” Dr. Wood adds, “We are particularly excited about these findings because they confirm results previously shown in another study conducted in the U.S. at the University of Utah.”
Osteoporosis is a disease in which bones become fragile and more likely to break. If not prevented or if left untreated, osteoporosis can progress painlessly until a bone breaks. While women are four times more likely than men to develop the disease, men also suffer from osteoporosis. It’s important for the body’s bone structure and integrity that bones absorb the right levels of calcium and magnesium, and vitamin D helps this process. USANA’s Active Calcium is a balanced and complete formula of these important ingredients. For a calcium supplement to be effective, it must be absorbable, and USANA’s Active Calcium formula is the outstanding choice among competitors.
 
Learn more about USANA’s products by visiting the website, reading the blog, or on Facebook or Twitter.

About USANA
USANA Health Sciences develops and manufactures high-quality nutritionals, personal-care, energy and weight-management products that are sold directly to Preferred Customers and Associates throughout the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, Mexico, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.

MEDIA CONTACT
Ashley Collins USANA Director of Marketing, Public Relations & Social Media (801) 954-7629 Ashley.Collins@us.usana.com

summer eating

2010-07-19T10:08:00.001-07:00

I don't know about you, but I just adore summer fruits and veggies. I have been picking plums and blackberries right in my front yard. When I go to the market, I see all these wonderful and colorful varieties of produce.

In Chinese medicine, we are taught to eat seasonally and eat with the temperature. That means salads and fruits are great things to eat when it's hot outside. Do you ever crave watermelon in the winter? No. The body wants warm foods in cold weather and cooler foods in hot weather.

So now is the time to enjoy those fruits and salads. I've even started preparing dinners that are on the cooler side or room temperature. Grilled veggies are great to serve at room temperature.

Try this great and simple herbal iced tea. Take 2 cups of water and boil with a handful of dried hibiscus and 1/4 cup of raw sugar. Let it steep for several hours and then pour the liquid into a pitcher and fill with water. It's a great caffeine free refreshing beverage.

The warmer weather also gets us outside more. Take advantage of the later sunsets and go for a walk after dinner. Remember the best time to eat dinner is between 5-7pm so that will give you plenty of daylight to do something after eating.

The Summer element is Fire. The element corresponds to the heart, pericardium, small intestines and the triple heater. Summer has a sense of lightness of spirit and sense of freedom after the hard work of the spring. There is time to enjoy this wonderful feeling and share it with friends. The energy with which we take from here will warm us for the whole of the year to come. Without this, the rest of the year would be dark and spiritless. When love and joy are alive in us we reach out naturally to other people to share warmth and friendship with them.

The heart Chakra is in the center of the Chakra system. When not in balance there is a lack of joy that could go deeply into depression or just the opposite, an excess of joy with inappropriate laughter or manic behaviors.

Fire is symbolic of greatest Yang and the motion is upward. Agitation, nervous exhaustion, heartburn and insomnia are other indicators of imbalance in this area.

When there is a disturbance in the fire element, we should expect to see problems in how the body is heated inside and maintained in equilibrium with the outside world. When the element is weak, the whole body may be cooler, or just parts like the hands and feet. The opposite can occur, making the body hot and the face red as the excess heat is trapped inside.

When the element is weak, the flow will be poor or lukewarm which does nothing to encourage the bodily systems to work at their best. Everything inside will be dark and cold, and with no heat to disperse the dampness of the winter and spring, everything may stay waterlogged.

A person who's primary element is Fire may talk about things in their life that should sound joyful, yet they don’t express joy when speaking about it. Or it might be the opposite, and they may talk about something very serious or sad and yet they speak lightly about it or laugh while talking about it.

The fire energy can get out of hand and may talk too quickly or border on hysterical. Weak energy may leave the mind lackluster and weary, flat and uninspiring.

The heart is the supreme controller. All other meridians are like cabinet members to the supreme controller. When the heart is functioning properly, the person is open and compassionate, very supportive and understanding. The supreme controller brings this into our lives and gives the ability to love people and see the good in them. The heart is able to tell what’s really the truth.

The small intestine is the separator of the pure from the impure. It is responsible for helping the heart stay open. The small intestine looks at everything coming in and sorts their importance. What is garbage and what is truth?

The heart and small intestine are the management side for all the other officials. They set the environment, when it’s balanced you experience joy.

If the small intestine is not working, you can get off on the wrong path and take care of stuff that is none of your business. With small intestine imbalances one cannot see what needs to be done and may seem a bit confused or slow to sort out things.

The pericardium is about relationships and interactions with people on to one. It’s the circulation sex meridian and relates to sexual relationships. If the heart protector is not working well, a relationship may go to love even though the other person is not there. You will hear about how their feelings got hurt or they take everything personally. Literally, take it to heart. The little disappointments really hurt them. If a relationship ends and there is an imbalance, the person may jump right into a new relationship or may completely close their heart.

Enjoy the Fire energy of the summer. Open your heart chakra and experience the joy and the lightness the season brings. Eat the foods that support the energy and feel in tune with nature.

Multivitamins Improve Mental Fatigue and Stress in Healthy Men

2010-07-12T12:46:00.000-07:00

From USANA Health Sciences

July 7, 2010

In a recent study of healthy adult men, multinutrient supplementation led to improved ratings of stress, vigor, mental health, and cognitive performance during intense mental processing.

A major percentage of the general population reports regular use of multivitamin supplements. Among the common reasons given for doing so are helping combat mental fatigue and stress, although there are few studies that have analyzed the relationship between multivitamin supplementation and mental performance in healthy, non-elderly adults.

In a recent article published in the journal Psychopharmacology, researchers reported that multivitamin and mineral supplements taken daily for a month improved mental fatigue and stress levels in adult men.

Participants in this double-blind study included 215 healthy men between the ages of 30 and 55 who were regularly exposed to mental fatigue and stress in their full-time employment. Subjects received either a placebo or a multivitamin and mineral supplement which they took daily for 33 days. The multivitamin included moderate levels of vitamin C and the B vitamins, as well as the minerals magnesium, calcium and zinc.

Previous to and following the last day of treatment, subjects completed questionnaires that measured mood states, perceived stress, and general health. On the final day, further testing evaluated cognitive performance and task-related changes in mood and fatigue while walking on a treadmill.

When compared to the placebo group, participants receiving the multinutrient supplement experienced a significant improvement in perceived stress, general health and vigor, cognitive function, and mental fatigue.

While it isn’t possible to identify the specific mechanism of action responsible for these improvements, the results of the study support results from previous research indicating that supplementation of multivitamin/minerals in healthy, normal populations may provide beneficial effects on mental health, adaptation to stress, and cognitive function.

Kennedy DO et al. Effects of high-dose B vitamin complex with vitamin C and minerals on subjective mood and performance in healthy males. 2010. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 211(1):55-68.

The Big Leap, by Gay Hendricks

2010-06-28T12:51:00.000-07:00

Tips from the book "The Big Leap" by Gay Hendricks

Insight: "Money arguments never have anything to do with money."
I apply this to other argument topics or misunderstandings - look deeper for what is really going on.

Affirmation: I commit to discovering my Upper Limit behaviors, and to having a good time while I'm learning about them.

A process for using worry-thoughts (and emotions such as fear and anxiety) as a spring board into your Zone of Genius:

*Make it a daily practice to spot your worry-thoughts

*When you notice yourself worrying about something, let go of the worry-thoughts, and shift your focus away from those thoughts

*Wonder: what positive new thing is trying to come into being?

*You may feel a body feeling of where that positive new thing is trying to come through

*Open your focus to feel that body feeling completely. Let yourself feel it deeply for as long as you can.

*Later (or maybe right away!) you'll often get an idea of the positive thing that was trying to come through

Questions to begin to discover your Zone of Genius:

What do I most love to do?

What work do I do that does not seem like work?

In my work, what produces the highest ratio of abundance and satisfaction to amount of time spent?

What is my unique ability?

Homework: Do Spring Cleaning with a partner or friend this week, on the question "what is my unique ability?"
This is where one person just asks the other "what is your unique ability?" Then listens to the person without commenting. When the person is complete, say "Thank you. What is your unique ability?" This continues for the agreed amount of time with the last one being a check in if they are ready for the last one. It's an amazing process that brings up more than you would imagine. Do it on any subject with someone you trust to hold the space for you. It only takes 3-5 minutes.

These notes are just a glimpse into the book, which is a must-read!

Does my skin get USED to products?

2010-06-21T11:51:00.000-07:00

This is what I've been told in the past. Switch your products around because your skin or hair gets used to them. Well, after using the Sense skin care line, I thought maybe I should ask the scientists at USANA what they thought about that statement. Here is what they said:

We appreciate your recent inquiry. Some people may find that variety
helps now and then, but it is not something that is necessary to get
benefit out of a personal care line. This is a common statement made
people who are selling a different brand than is currently being used.
If a product line (or individual product) is effective for a person,
there is no legitimate need to vary products, as far as I could find in
the literature. While this concept is valid for some things, like
exercise and diet, I couldn't find anything valid to support it with
skin care in general.

Best Regards,

Russ Barton MS, CNS, CISSN
USANA Science Information Services

Brain Boosting Exercise

2010-06-20T14:56:00.000-07:00

Try this one. It only takes 12 minutes.

Sit comfortably supported, back of hands rested on knees.

Inhale deeply, imagining that you're drawing your breath in through the crown of your head, exhales and send that breath out through the center of your forehead. Continue to visualize this L Shaped breath throughout this exercise.

Inhale and as you exhale, chant aloud the four syllable mantra, Sa, Ta, Na, Ma. On the syllable sa touch your index finger to your thumb; on ta touch your middle finger to your thumb; on Na touch your ring finger to your thumb; on Ma touch your pinky finger to your thumb.

Continue these finger movements throughout the exercise and use enough pressure so that your fingertips turn white.

Chant the mantra aloud for 2 minutes, then chant in a whisper for 2 minutes. Next, say the chant silently for 4 minutes. Then say t in a whisper for 2 more minutes. Finish by chanting aloud for 2 minutes. The entire mediation takes 12 minutes.

(June 2010 Naturalhealth mag.com)

Salad Days: Eating Under the Sun

2010-06-14T15:41:00.000-07:00

In summer, indigestion can easily occur, so a light and less-greasy diet is strongly recommended. It is the perfect season to introduce some cool, yin foods into your diet. Chinese nutrition classifies food according to its energetic qualities of temperature, taste, and ability to moisten and strengthen the body. Food with cool and cold properties can clear heat, reduce toxins, and generate body fluids.

In general, cooling foods tend towards the green end of the spectrum — lettuce, cucumbers, and watercress are some of the coolest. Few vegetables are warming. Fish and seafood are also cooling, while most meats are warming.

Here are some suggestions to keep you cool and balanced all summer long. These fruits and vegetables will help your body adjust its temperature and protect you during the long, hot summer days:

* Watermelon
* Apricot
* Cantaloupe
* Lemon
* Peach
* Orange
* Asparagus
* Sprouts
* Bamboo
* Bok choy
* Broccoli
* Chinese cabbage
* Corn
* Cucumber
* White mushroom
* Snow peas
* Spinach
* Summer squash
* Watercress
* Seaweed
* Mung means
* Cilantro
* Mint
* Dill

Other helpful tips for the summer season

* Keep a pitcher of water with slices of lemon and cucumber with you and sip it throughout the day.
* Eat in moderation. Over consumption of any food, especially cooling foods, can lead to indigestion, sluggishness and possibly diarrhea.
* Do not leave your food out for too long. The hot weather tends to increase food spoilage.
* Stay away from dairy, heavy, greasy, and fried foods.

By: Diane Joswick, L.Ac., MSOM

Lack of Sleep May Promote Obesity

2010-06-06T17:33:00.001-07:00

June 2, 2010

New research shows a connection between short-term sleep deprivation and increased food intake, indicating that lack of sleep may be a factor that promotes obesity.

It is known that short-term sleep deprivation increases plasma concentrations of ghrelin (a hormone related to increased appetite) and decreases those of leptin (a hormone related to satiety.)

In a randomized crossover study, researchers studied twelve normally healthy non-obese men to observe the effect of sleep deprivation on energy intake and physical activity. During the first night of each 48-hour session, subjects had either 8 hours (from midnight to 8:00 a.m.) or 4 hours (from 02:00 a.m. to 06:00 a.m.) of sleep. All foods consumed thereafter (jam on buttered toast for breakfast, buffet for lunch, and a free menu for dinner) were eaten ad libitum (with no restrictions.) Physical activity was also recorded. Sensations of hunger, perceived pleasantness of the foods, desire to eat some foods, and sleepiness were also evaluated.

In comparison with the 8-hour sleep session, subjects consumed 559 (22%) more calories on the day after sleep restriction, and hunger was higher before breakfast and dinner. Researchers observed no change in the perceived pleasantness of the foods or in the desire to eat the foods. Physical activity was slightly higher after sleep restriction than after 8 hours of sleep, even though the sensation of sleepiness was more apparent.

In this group of healthy men, one night of reduced sleep led to an increase in food intake and, to a lesser extent, physical activity-related energy expenditure. Although further research is needed to confirm the results of this small study, these results suggest that sleep restriction could be a factor that promotes obesity.

Acute partial sleep deprivation increases food intake in healthy men. Laurent Brondel et al Am J Clin Nutr 91: 1550-1559, 2010.

Why USANA supplements?

2010-05-24T11:27:00.000-07:00

In the supplement industry, products can be rated based on the number of nutrients provided at an efficacious level and the bioavailability of said nutrients. Bioavailability is defined as the degree and rate at which a substance is absorbed into a living system or is made available at the site of physiological activity. What good does it do to take a supplement if it is not effective due either to low amounts of nutrients or poor bioavailability? A simple way to examine the quality of a health supplement is to examine its bioavailability—a superior nutraceutical has superior bioavailability.

Some supplement companies make considerable claims about the bioavailability of their supplements, claiming that they are more efficiently absorbed. A few companies go even further and state that their “novel delivery systems” allow their products to be more bioavailable despite having low concentrations of select nutrients. Other companies suggest that the nutrients they use in their products are “natural” or “food-derived” and, therefore, are more bioavailable than conventional formulations. The purpose of this study was to assess whether blood levels of select key nutrients could reach similar levels after supplementation with 5 diverse dietary supplements.

Four products were analyzed relative to USANA’s EssentialsTM vitamin, mineral, and antioxidant supplement: 1) a plant-sourced vitamin/mineral supplement utilizing minerals obtained through hydroponic cultivation; 2) a food-based supplement consisting of dehydrated fruits and vegetables; 3) a leading single daily vitamin/mineral tablet containing up to the recommended daily allowance (RDA) of select vitamins and minerals; 4) a gel-based vitamin/mineral supplement containing up to the RDA levels of vitamins and minerals.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
Study Design
This study was a crossover study that consisted of 10 healthy adult volunteers (8 males, 2 females), ranging in age from 26–50. One supplement was evaluated each week for a total of 5 weeks. Each product was given as directed to include the manufacturer’s recommended daily dose in a single intake. On each study day, subjects were required to complete an overnight fast, donate a baseline venous blood sample, and take the randomly assigned dietary supplement. Additional blood samples were collected 1, 3, and 7 hours later. A standardized breakfast and lunch consisting of a bagel with 20 g of cream cheese was given to subjects at baseline and again after the 3-hour blood draw. Participants were also asked to abstain from physical activity the day of their study appointment.

Nutrient Analyses
Ascorbic acid, riboflavin, vitamin B6, and plasma antioxidant reserve (PAR) were measured at each time point to obtain an absorption curve for each product/nutrient.

Serum Vitamin C
Serum samples were analyzed for ascorbic acid via HPLC according to the CDC’s Laboratory Procedure Manual for vitamin C. Briefly, samples were mixed 1:1 with 10% (w/v) metaphosphoric acid (MPA), centrifuged at 10,000 x g for 10 minutes, and the resulting supernatant diluted 1:5 in MPA. Analyte concentrations were determined relative to authentic samples.

Plasma Riboflavin and Vitamin B6
Serum samples were diluted with an equal volume of 10% (w/v) MPA. Samples were centrifuged for 10 minutes at 10,000 x g. The resulting supernatant was analyzed for riboflavin and vitamin B6 content via liquid chromatography – mass spectrometry (LC-MS).

Plasma Antioxidant Reserve
To determine SIN-1 induced isoprostanes, and hence the plasma antioxidant reserve, plasma samples from each subject were treated with an enzyme mixture consisting of catalase (50 u/ml) and uricase (2.5 u/ml) in 0.15M NaCl and incubated at 25°C for 10 minutes. Samples were then treated with SIN-1 chloride (0.2 mmol) and incubated at 37°C for 4 hours with shaking. Subsequent 8-isoprostane concentrations were measured using an ELISA kit according to manufacturer’s instructions (8-iso Prostaglandin F2α Kit. Cayman Chemical, Ann Arbor, MI).

RESULTS
For every nutrient examined, the USANA Essentials had the best bioavailability profiles. The Essentials produced the largest change in blood levels of ascorbic acid, 15% greater than the next closest product and ranged between 64% to 73% greater than all the others examined (p=0.046).

For riboflavin, the mean area under the curve (AUC) was the greatest after supplementation with USANA’s Essentials. There was a 56% greater appearance of riboflavin than the next closest competitor and 96% over the worst.

Supplementation with the Essentials also had the best absorption of vitamin B6. The AUC was at least 92% higher than all of the competitors. The juice-based product did not change the blood levels of vitamin B6 at any of the time points following supplementation, indicating that either this product contained no vitamin B6 or poor, if any, bioavailability.

In terms of a functional endpoint, plasma antioxidant reserve, a measure of resistance of plasma to oxidative stress, was measured. Supplementation with the USANA Essentials produced a 13% increase in PAR over the next closest competitor. The other 3 supplements had only a minimal effect on PAR.

CONCLUSIONS/DISCUSSION
The USANA Essentials outperformed the other products tested by providing the highest levels of key nutrients in the most efficacious forms. The gel-based, plant-matrixed, and leading daily supplement all have similar amounts of nutrients listed on their labels. However, it appears that neither the “novel delivery system” nor the various sources of the raw materials affected the bioavailability of the nutrients analyzed for these 3 products. The Essentials provided the largest increase in circulating concentrations for all three nutrients examined. Interestingly, the leading daily multivitamin produced a larger absorption curve for riboflavin than the plant-matrixed, juice-based, and gel-based products, even though all 4 products contain the same amount of riboflavin in their formulations. As seen in the vitamin C curve, only the juice-based product produced an absorption curve that approached that of the Essentials. Plasma antioxidant reserve seems to match the curve for vitamin C, suggesting that PAR is heavily influenced by vitamin C status.

Studies where multiple doses are given over a longer period of time could also provide insight into the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins, such as vitamin E, coenzyme Q10, vitamin K, and the carotenoids, as these vitamins take longer to accumulate in the body. It also appears that for vitamin C, riboflavin, and vitamin B6, the Essentials not only had the best absorption, but also maintained increased levels of the nutrients longer over the time period examined. Therefore, it appears that the USANA Essentials provides optimal levels of the most bioavailable forms of nutrients to obtain blood levels significantly higher than the competition. Thus, if taken twice daily, one could expect to maintain elevated levels of these nutrients throughout the day to help obtain optimal nutritional status.

Products analyzed for select nutrients

Product Id Properties
USANA® Essentials:
A tablet supplement formulated with high levels of most key nutrients
Plant-matrixed: A tablet supplement utilizing minerals obtained through hydroponic cultivation
Juice-based: A food based capsule-form supplement consisting of dehydrated fruits and vegetables
Leading daily multivitamin: Leading single-tablet-per-day supplement formulated to meet RDA levels of select vitamins and minerals
Gel-based: A gel-based supplement containing up to the RDA levels of vitamins and minerals

Samuel L. Jackson gets regular acupuncture treatments

2010-05-17T16:43:00.000-07:00

Samuel L. Jackson had to have an epidural to finish his 2003 movie S.W.A.T.

The actor woke up in severe pain while shooting the film, and found he had damaged his back. He knew he had to finish his last few scenes, so asked medics to freeze his back so he could complete them.

"When I was doing S.W.A.T. I woke up one morning… I couldn't move. I rolled out of bed, crawled to the bathroom, I took, like, eight Advil (painkillers) and eventually I ended up getting an epidural so I could finish the movie," he explained. "Then two days after the movie was over they discovered I had a cyst on my sciatica so they plucked that off and I was done, I could walk. Then last year I ended up with a crushed nerve between my L4 and L5, so I have what's known as a coflex device which is a titanium piece built like a seat and is clamped to the upper phalange and the lower phalanges so when I bend forward it opens and when I bend backwards it closes so I can still turn fully without getting fused. So I've had a couple of back things."

Samuel would recommend anyone having trouble with their back has surgery. He insists it's not as scary as many think, saying the only thing which made him uncomfortable was when a nurse arrived in his room an hour after the operation. He thought she was joking when she asked him to walk, but was amazed by the ease with which he took to his feet.

The 61-year-old now relies on acupuncture to keep himself in shape, saying he can't get enough of the practice. "It's one of my favourite things. I get it all the time, like twice a week, for my well being," he told American talk show host Ellen Degeneres. "I just go and get my 'waa' put in place, and get everything moving."

- Cover Showbiz

Omega 3 Fatty Acids

2010-05-10T12:19:00.000-07:00

Kathleen DesMaisons, Ph.D.

Omega 3 fatty acids are really important for your health. They do many
wonderful things. Here are just a few:

* They make your brain work really well. This is especially important
for children, people who are in recovery from substance abuse, sugar
addiction and depression.
* They reduce inflammation so improve:

* Allergies like hay fever
* Food allergies
* Skin problems
* Irritable bowel disorder
* Coronary Heart Disease
* Asthma
* Rheumatoid arthritis
* Lupus

* They protect against cancer and especially against cancer metastasis
* They are critical for baby formation in pregnancy and nursing.

Omega 3 fatty acids come from cold water fish and flax oil. Learning how
much to take is sort of an art. Finding your dose requires looking at a
number of variables. These include:

1. Your age. If you are a child under the age of 5, you need a lot of a
particular kind of omega 3 called DHA to make your brain. If you are over
50, you need more omega 3 to keep your brain at its best.
2. If you are pregnant or nursing you are making baby brain and need
more.
3. If you have a history of substance abuse, particularly alcoholism,
you have been using a solvent that melts brain cells. You need omega 3 to
help restore your brain.
4. If you have any of the inflammatory diseases listed above, you will
need a therapeutic dose for a few months. Those diseases are a clue that you
are low in omega 3 fatty acids.
5. If you have a family history of cancer or are recovering from
cancer, you need more.
6. Your weight affects the dose. In order to bathe your cells in fatty
acids, the amount needs to be proportionate.
7. The amount of other fats you eat. Omega 6 fatty acids (the ones that
cause problems and inflammation) are found in saturated fats like meat,
eggs, cheese and hydrogenated fats in margarine and processed foods like
bread, crackers, and snack foods. The more white things you eat, the more
you will need omega 3s to balance the other fats.

The final consideration in taking fish oil is to insure that you get oil
that comes from a source that is free of heavy metals, tastes ok and does
not make you burp fish taste.

Finally, taking fish oil thins your blood, which for the most part is a very
good thing. It makes your blood flow more freely and be less sticky. There
is disagreement in the scientific community about whether taking fish oils
can make you have a faster bleeding time.

Diets High in B-vitamins Reduce Risk of Death From Cardiovascular Disease

2010-05-03T10:54:00.000-07:00

April 29, 2010

New research out of Japan reports an inverse association between a diet rich in B-vitamins and risk of death from cardiovascular disease.

Begun in 1988, the Japan Collaborative Cohort Study (JCCS) examined the dietary patterns of 130,000 Japanese adults over nearly ten years. Analyses continue to be performed on the enormous dataset generated by this long-term, large-scale study.

In the latest JCSS analysis (published in the journal Stroke in April 2010), researchers compiled information on dietary levels of folate, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12 as reported in JCSS food frequency questionnaires. They then examined possible correlations between dietary intake of these nutrients and risk of death from common cardiovascular diseases. Data from 23,119 men and 35,611 women (age 40-79 years) met the study criteria, making this one of the largest sample sizes to date for this type of analysis.

Based on the available data, dietary folate and vitamin B6 intakes were inversely associated with mortality from heart failure for men. (Inverse association means that higher dietary levels of folate and vitamin B6 are connected with lower risk of disease.) For women, folate and vitamin B6 intakes were inversely associated with mortality from stroke and coronary heart disease, as well as total cardiovascular disease incidence. Interestingly, these associations remained statistically significant even after adjusting for common cardiovascular disease factors. A statistically significant association could not be determined for vitamin B12 intake and risk of death from cardiovascular disease.

This large-scale collaborative study from Japanese researchers correlates with similar results from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) performed in the United States, further confirming the benefits of a diet high in certain B-vitamins

Cui R, Iso H, Date C, Kikuchi S, Tamakoshi A, the Japan Collaborative Cohort Study Group. Dietary Folate and Vitamin B6 and B12 Intake in Relation to Mortality from Cardiovascular Diseases - Japan Collaborative Cohort Study. 2010. Stroke, ePub ahead of print, doi: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.110.578906.

Food Shopping only Twice a Month?!

2010-04-26T12:32:00.000-07:00

I love food and I love to cook. I also like shopping for food, but have a busy schedule that doesn't allow for frequent trips to the store. I must admit though, I don't like doing dishes. Never have.

I wanted to share some ideas that I've developed for saving money and time when it comes to shopping and preparing food. I only shop every other week. People ask me all the time, how do I do that and how do things last that long. Well, it just takes a bit of planning. Once you've got your system down, it takes very little time to maintain it.

Start by getting out your calendar and some favorite recipes. I usually do this on Sunday mornings with a cup of tea. I find it fun to read recipes and look for new things to try. I often repeat meal themes on hectic days and then find new things to try on the weekends when I've got a bit more time to put into the meal.

I write each meal in my agenda, along with where to find the recipe, and then write the ingredients on the shopping list. So, not only am I meal planning but I'm building the shopping list at the same time. People say, what if you don't want to eat what you planned that night? I've had this happen, just pick another meal that you planned. The brilliance of this is that you've got all the ingredients for several meals in the fridge or pantry.

Speaking of fridge and pantry, keep it stocked with the basics. I always have cans of black beans, chickpeas, coconut milk and diced tomatoes on hand. As well as whole wheat pasta and Basmati rice.

Planning. I plan meals with lots of fresh veggies the first week and then more frozen or hardy veggies the second week. Lettuce does last the 2 weeks and sometimes longer. Carrots, zucchini and broccoli are those that last 2 weeks. I always do a Mexican night that is quick and easy. Either tacos, beans and rice or some variation. This is great for the nights I get home late from my son's karate class. Meals in 30 minutes or less is what I plan for during the week. And there's always some leftovers for my husband's lunch. My son and I are not fans of leftovers, so I always pick up some fresh things for us to make lunches with.

Give it a try. I found that by planning and shopping less, I spent less on groceries. If I really need something or run out of milk half way through, I can always pick that up on the way home.

If you'd like some low glycemic meal plans or have any more questions about how I do this, let me know.

My friend Tricia

2010-04-19T14:00:00.000-07:00

Tricia was always a joy to see. I loved her spirit. We often shared cat stories and laughed a lot. I was shocked by her passing, as the last time I saw her, her spirit was bright and hopeful. I joined in her hopefulness. She is very missed. It may sound a bit cliche, but I do sincerely appreciate that we shared life together. I think she came by the office last week for a little spirit visit. I smelled this really odd smell and couldn't locate its source. Then for some reason Tricia popped into my mind. The smell lasted several hours and then just disappeared. If it was her, I'm happy she visited me.

Vitamin D Supplementation Inhibits Age-Related Bone Loss in Older Women

2010-04-17T11:47:00.000-07:00

April 14, 2010

New research shows that vitamin D supplementation can reverse normal age-associated bone loss in postmenopausal women, which can lead to a reduced risk of osteoporosis and other bone disorders.

Until recently, it was unknown whether improving vitamin D status (without changing calcium intake) could have a positive effect on bone turnover. To that end, a group of researchers recently measured the effect of vitamin D supplementation on markers associated with bone turnover in women known to be vitamin D deficient (<20 ng/mL).

Participants were South Asian women at least 20 years of age. The women were categorized by age and menopausal status, then randomized to receive either 4,000 IU of vitamin D or a placebo every day for 6 months.

In the women who received vitamin D supplements, average vitamin D blood levels increased from 8.4 ng/mL to 30 ng/mL. Additionally, measured bone markers either stayed the same or decreased in postmenopausal women who received vitamin D supplements, indicating a potential reduction in bone turnover. In postmenopausal women who received placebo, markers associated with bone turnover increased. In younger, premenopausal women, no significant bone turnover change was reported for either placebo or supplementation.

This research confirms that correcting vitamin D deficiencies in older women can suppress age-related increases in bone turnover, which also helps reduce bone resorption (the process by which bone breaks down and releases its minerals, resulting in a transfer of calcium from bone into the blood).

von Hurst PR, Stonehouse W, Kruger MC, Coad J. Vitamin D supplementation suppresses age-induced bone turnover in older women who are vitamin D deficient. 2010. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. EPub ahead of print, retrieved online 6 April 2010.

Inadequate DHA Intake in Infants is Related to Decreased Visual Acuity

2010-04-12T11:01:00.000-07:00

April 7, 2010

New research shows that infants receiving milk or formula with adequate docosahaxaenoic acid (DHA) have improved visual acuity compared to infants receiving the lowest levels. Higher dietary intakes of DHA (a fat contained in highest amounts in fish oil) can positively affect levels in milk. .

The range of human milk docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) concentrations can vary considerably since maternal diet can greatly influence breast milk fatty acid composition. In one study, average DHA levels in human milk ranged from 0.17% to 0.99%, with U.S. and Canadian women among those with the lowest levels.

New research published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition sought to determine the effect of 4 amounts of DHA supplementation on the visual acuity of formula-fed infants. Other objectives were evaluated, including visual acuity maturation, red blood cell fatty acids, tolerance, anthropometric measures, and adverse events.

This double-blind randomized trial included 343 healthy, term, formula-fed infants. The infants were enrolled at 1-9 days of age and randomly assigned to be fed one of four infant formulas containing differing levels of DHA (0%, 0.32%, 0.64% and 0.96%). All other nutrients were equivalent between the formulas. Visual acuity of the infants was measured at the completion of the study at 12 months.

Infants fed control formula (0% DHA) had significantly poorer visual acuity at 12 mo of age than did infants who received any of the DHA-supplemented formulas. There were no significant differences in the visual acuity of the infants fed any of the other DHA-supplemented formulas.

DHA supplementation of infant formula at 0.32% of total fatty acids improves visual acuity. Higher amounts of DHA supplementation do not appear to provide additional improvements to visual acuity.

Birch EE, Carlson SE, Hoffman DR, Fitzgerald-Gustafson KM, Fu VLN, Drover JR, Castañeda YS, Minns L, Wheaton DKH, Mundy D, Marunycz J, Diersen-Schade DA. The DIAMOND (DHA Intake And Measurement Of Neural Development) Study: a double-masked, randomized controlled clinical trial of the maturation of infant visual acuity as a function of the dietary level of docosahexaenoic acid. 2010. AJCN 91(4):848-59.

I wish I had more time!

2010-04-05T16:25:00.000-07:00

How many times have you heard yourself saying that? I think I said it almost daily. That and a dozen other statements about time. I'm running late. Hurry up, we're late for school. I don't have time to play, I have to finish this work. And so on and so on.

Until last week that is. I read the section in Gay Hendricks' book "The Big Leap." It changed my world around time. Here is what Gay has to say about Living in Einstein Time.

If you get a handle on how time actually operates, your work flows gracefully and at high performance. The shift takes place when you embrace one profoundly simple truth: You're where time comes from.

Embrace and embody this truth, and you can experience a quantum jump in productivity and free time.

Once you understand that you're where time comes from, you have the power to make as much of it as you want. You're the boss. I know that might sound strange, but I promise you that this is the way time actually works.

When you are in thoughts around being late for something or not having enough time, relax your body and focus on enjoying the moment in spite of this state.

If you are using any type of time management system, put it away. Einstein Time is a new kind of time management that reorganizes your conception of time at the very core.

You'll get more done in less time

You enjoy plenty of time and abundant energy for your most important creative activities.
You'll discover your unique abilities and how to express them
You'll feel good inside.

Give yourself some appreciation for making the noble effort. Your original intention was to solve one of the most difficult problems in modern life: how to get everything done you need to do and still have time for creativity, family, and yourself.

Einstein Time gives you a way to expand the amount of time you have for creative expression and intimate connections.

To make this change, you'll have to change the way you think about space. Time changes because we make a fundamental change in how much space we are willing to occupy. By learning to occupy space in a new way, we actually gain the ability to generate more time.

Think about this. An hour with our beloved feels like a minute; a minute on a hot stove feels like an hour. When you're in love you relax into the space around you and in you, and as your consciousness expands into space, time disappears.

Now, back to the stove. Let's say you notice that your belly muscles are particularly tight on a given morning. You're busy, though so you don't stop to find out why your stomach is so tight. In other words, you choose not to occupy the space of your tense belly by shining the light of awareness on it. You ignore it and hurry on. This is a costly moment, though, because by choosing not to become aware of why your belly muscles are so tight, you sentence yourself to a daylong battle with time.

To make the shift, you need to take full ownership of time. You'll need to peel off some old layers to do this. Most of us adopt a persona in regard to time, and then we forget it's a persona. Some people are Time Cops and others are Time Slackers. When we switch to Einstein Time, we take charge of the amount of time we have. We realize that we're where time comes from. Since I'm the producer of time, I can make as much as it as I need.

This concept takes practice. Quit thinking time is out there. Take ownership of time and it will stop owning you.

To generate an abundance of time, ask yourself,
Where in my life am I not taking full ownership?
or What am I trying to disown?
or What aspect of my life do I need to take full ownership of?

Begin with time itself. Do whatever it takes to get yourself in harmony with the reality that you're the source of time.

Next go on a time diet. See how many times you hear things like:
I wish I had time to stop and chat, but I'm in a hurry.
Where did the time go?
If only I'd gotten another hour of sleep.
I don't have time to do that right now.

If you find yourself saying these or other time statements, stop and think what do I really mean? For example, if you say I don't have time to do that right now. Look at what you are doing at that moment and if there were an emergency, would you have time to stop and take care of it. For example, a child with a cut finger? In actuality, you have exactly the same amount of time as when you used the excuse of lack of time to avoid something.

So take a time diet and stop complaining about time. Tune into how it feels to be in a hurry inside your body. When you embrace that you are the source of time, you will feel a shift in this feeling. For some it feel like a huge weight is lifted off them.

The main thing it takes is keen attention. Be on the lookout constantly for complaints about time that come out of your mouth or go through your mind. As you spot them, eliminate them one by one, you will grow steadily less busy while getting a great deal more done.

So that's it. Enjoy playing with time. What I've found by doing this is that I feel like I've got time to take care of the little things, like stopping and finding out what my child needs in this moment, or knowing that there will be plenty of time to get out the door and arrive on time.

Worry: What you can do right now.

2010-03-22T17:48:00.000-07:00

From The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks.

Worry: What you can do right now. Make it a daily practice to notice your worry thoughts. Here's how to do it:
Notice yourself worrying about something.
Let go of the worry thoughts, shifting your focus away from them.
I wonder: What positive new thing is trying to come into being?
You may get a body feeling of where that positive new thing is trying to come through.
Open your focus to feel that body feeling deeply.
Let yourself feel it deeply for as long as you can.
Later, you may get an idea of the positive thing that was trying to come through.

Patience is called for. We need to overcome thousands of years of programming that adversity is a constant requirement of existence. We need to savor our success, first for seconds at a time, then for minutes that grow into months.

Give it a try and share your experience with me.

Acupuncture in Pregnancy & Childbirth

2010-03-21T21:19:00.000-07:00

By: Diane Joswick, L.Ac., MSOM

Pregnancy is an amazing time in a woman's life. Many women report feeling healthier than they have ever felt before; however, the physical growth of the baby and changes in hormone levels can bring about pain, discomfort and a variety of health problems.

Acupuncture and Oriental medicine can provide a safe, effective alternative for many of the health complications that may arise before, during and after pregnancy. A growing number of women are choosing acupuncture to use throughout their pregnancy and as an optional treatment for an overdue or difficult labor.

Planning for a Healthy Baby

Healthy parents produce healthy babies. With acupuncture and Oriental medicine, parents can improve their health to create the most optimal environment for their unborn child. In addition to their ability to strengthen, support, and balance overall health and well-being, acupuncture and Oriental medicine are an effective treatment for regulating menstruation and hormone levels, reducing stress and addressing any pre-existing medical conditions or concerns that a woman may have.

Acupuncture during Pregnancy

Acupuncture and Oriental medicine can play a vital role in the comfort of a pregnant woman. There is strong evidence to support that acupuncture is highly effective at treating some of the most common problems experienced during pregnancy including morning sickness, heartburn, insomnia, water retention and sciatica.

Here is a list of some of the problems that an acupuncturist often treats during pregnancy:

* Nausea and Vomiting
* Heartburn
* Constipation
* Hemorrhoids
* Edema and Swelling
* Urinary Tract Infection
* Pelvic Pain
* Neck and Back Pain
* Sciatica
* Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
* Leg Cramps
* Fatigue and Exhaustion
* Insomnia
* Anxiety and Depression

Acupuncture for Childbirth

While there are acupuncture points that can provide natural pain relief during labor, acupuncture is more commonly used to induce labor. There are several points that stimulate contractions and influence cervical ripening. There is also an acupuncture point that has been found to turn a breech baby.

Acupuncture Postpartum

Many women feel depleted after the birth experience. Acupuncture and Oriental medicine can help the transition of those first few months after birth to ensure a quick recovery. Postpartum care focuses on the physical, emotional and psychological recovery of the mother from the effects of pregnancy and labor, as well as encouraging breast feeding.

Here are some of the postpartum disorders that can be treated with acupuncture:

* Fatigue
* Postpartum Depression
* Mastitis
* Insufficient or Excessive Lactation
* Post Operative Healing
* Night Sweats

If you would like to know more about how acupuncture and Oriental medicine ease discomfort and facilitate pregnancy, please call an acupuncturist near you for a consultation.

Safety of Acupuncture During Pregnancy

Acupuncture is safe to use while you are pregnant; however, there are some points that can cause contractions and should NOT be needled during pregnancy or should be used with extreme caution.

Study: Acupuncture Point, UB 67, for Turning a Breech Baby

An acupuncture point on the small toe of the foot (Urinary Bladder 67) has been found to effectively revolve fetuses in breech presentation.

In an Italian study, 240 women at 33-35 weeks of gestation carrying a fetus in breech presentation were randomized to receive acupuncture plus moxibustion (an herb used to apply heat to an acupuncture point) or to be assigned to the observation group. At delivery, the proportion of babies that had turned from breech position to vertex (head-down) position was 53.6 % in the group treated with acupuncture while the proportion of babies that had turned from breech position to vertex position in the observation group was 36.7%.

Source: J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2004 Apr;15(4):247-52

Fitness Reduces the Risk of Death in Men with Metabolic Syndrome

2010-03-15T16:18:00.000-07:00

January 20, 2010

Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of disorders that include abdominal obesity, high blood pressure, elevated blood sugar, and unhealthy cholesterol levels. Up to one in four U.S. adults has metabolic syndrome, significantly increasing their risk for diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

In a study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, over 19,000 men were recruited to determine the relationship between cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and mortality risk in healthy men and those with metabolic syndrome. The study group, which included 3,757 men with metabolic syndrome, were evaluated for fitness and then followed for up to 17 years.

Healthy men who were out of shape at the beginning of the study were three times as likely as their fit peers to die of cardiovascular disease. While men with metabolic syndrome were 89 percent more likely than healthy men to die of heart disease, men with metabolic syndrome who were unfit had twice the death rate as their fit counterparts.

According to the researchers, “This study strengthens the argument for aggressive public health campaigns aimed at increasing physical activity levels.” Fitness, regardless of body weight, can provide a strong protective effect against premature death in both healthy men and men with metabolic syndrome.

Arch Intern Med 2004 May 24;164(10):1092-7.

Are you interested or interesting?

2010-03-10T12:41:00.000-08:00

Last night I had the pleasure of going to a networking event. Some of you may think, yikes! how could that be pleasurable? Yes, it's true. I met some really interesting people and there's the potential wherever you go to have that experience. I'm finding that the more open I am to being interested in people, the more opportunities arise to experience that very thing.

The next time you find yourself in a new situation or maybe at an event that you might not know many people, just go up to someone, smile and introduce yourself. Then ask them questions and just listen. Don't think about what to say next, just listen to what they are saying and then the next question to ask them will pop into your mind. Most importantly, have fun with it.

This can apply to your family as well. At dinner, I ask my son detailed questions about his day. What was challenging about today? Who was your best friend today? Remember to ask open ended questions rather than yes/no questions. You never know, you might learn something interesting about your husband or child tonight, so give it a try.

Vitamin D Levels Linked to Healthy Lung Function

2010-03-08T12:16:00.000-08:00

Vitamin D Levels Linked to Healthy Lung Function

Low concentrations of vitamin D have been associated with a number of diseases. Research out of New Zealand indicates that serum concentrations of vitamin D may also influence pulmonary (lung) function.

In a study published in the journal Chest, original analysis was performed on data from 14,091 adult subjects (all participants in the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted between 1988 and 1994). Lung function was measured in two ways: by the volume of air that could be forcibly blown out in total (forced vital capacity, or FVC), and the volume blown out in one second (forced expiratory volume, or FEV1). Vitamin D was measured using serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D, a standard indicator of vitamin D levels.

After adjusting for age, gender, height, body mass index, ethnicity, and smoking history, the difference in lung function between the groups with the highest and lowest vitamin D intake was substantial in both the FVC and FEV1 tests (172 mL and 126 mL respectively, p <0.0001). Further adjustment for physical activity, vitamin D supplementation, milk intake, and serum antioxidant status revealed additional strong correlation between the highest and lowest intake groups (142 mL (FVC) and 106 mL (FEV1), p < 0.0001).

Although further studies are necessary to determine whether vitamin D supplementation may be beneficial in cases of chronic respiratory disease, this study has shown that vitamin D may have a positive influence on pulmonary health, with greater levels of vitamin D associated with more positive benefits.

Chest 2005 Dec;128(6):3792-8

Jamie Oliver's TED Prize wish: Teach every child about food | Video on TED.com

2010-03-07T14:32:00.000-08:00

This is so worth watching.

Jamie Oliver's TED Prize wish: Teach every child about food | Video on TED.com

Higher Intakes of Fiber Help Prevent Weight Gain & Increases in Waist Circumference

2010-03-05T14:12:00.000-08:00

February 3, 2010

It is known that dietary fiber may play a role in obesity prevention. The role that different individual fiber sources play in weight change is less certain. In a recent paper published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researchers investigated the association of total dietary fiber, cereal fiber, and fruit and vegetable fiber with changes in weight and waist circumference.

The prospective cohort study included 89,432 European participants, aged 20–78 years, who were initially free of cancer, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. Participants were followed for an average of 6.5 years. Adjustments were made for follow-up duration, dietary variables, and baseline anthropometric, demographic, and lifestyle factors.

Total fiber was inversely associated with weight and waist circumference change during the study period. For a 10 gram/day higher total fiber intake, there was an estimated 39 g/year weight loss and waist circumference decreased by 0.08 cm/year. A 10 gram/day fiber intake from cereals results in 77 g/year weight reduction and 0.10 cm/year reduction in waist circumference. Fruit and vegetable fiber was not associated with weight change but had a similar effect on waist circumference as total and cereal fiber intake.

Over a period of 6.5 years, weight gain and increases in waist circumference would be expected in typical adults. The findings of this research may support a beneficial role of higher intake of dietary fiber, especially cereal fiber, in prevention of weight and waist circumference gain.

Am J Clin Nutr Vol. 91, No. 2, 329-336, February 2010

Omega-3 Fatty Acids & Statin Drugs Effectively Reduce Mortality Risk

2010-03-03T16:26:00.000-08:00

A review published in the April 11, 2005 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine analyzed the effects of various lipid-lowering regimens on overall mortality and mortality from coronary heart disease. Researchers reviewed 97 clinical trials that included 137,140 men and women receiving treatment and 138,976 control subjects. This analysis compared the mortality risk associated with diet, lipid-lowering drugs, omega-3 fatty acids (commonly found in fish oils), and niacin.

Statins (a class of lipid-lowering drugs) and omega-3 fatty acids significantly lowered both overall and coronary heart disease mortality risk during the trial periods. When compared to controls, overall mortality risk was reduced 13 percent by statin drugs and 23 percent by omega-3 fatty acids. When the risk of mortality from heart disease alone was examined, the use of statin drugs and omega-3 fatty acids were found to lower the risk by 22 and 32 percent, respectively.

Since omega-3 fatty acids did not reduce cholesterol levels significantly, researchers suggest that protection against heart arrhythmias, in addition to known anti-inflammatory properties, may be responsible for the reduction in mortality risk.

Arch Intern Med. 2005 Apr 11;165(7):725-30

Vitamin D Deficiency Associated with Cardiovascular Disease Prevalence

2010-03-01T12:59:00.001-08:00

At a Glance

In a large sample of U.S. adults, new research indicates that vitamin D deficiency is associated with an increased prevalence of cardiovascular disease.

Read more about this study below.

Inadequate vitamin D levels are known to be associated with certain cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors, but until recently the association between vitamin D levels and the prevalence of CVD had not been comprehensively examined in the general U.S. population.

In a recent study published in Atherosclerosis, researchers examined data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), a population-based sample of more than 16,000 U.S. adults.

In the total survey population, 1,308 subjects had some form of CVD. Using the standard definition of vitamin D deficiency (a serum level below 20 ng/mL), participants with CVD had a higher incidence of vitamin D deficiency (29.3%) than those without CVD (21.4%). After adjusting for age, gender, race/ethnicity, season of measurement, physical activity, body mass index, smoking status, hypertension, diabetes, elevated cholesterol, chronic kidney disease, and vitamin D use, the researchers showed that subjects deficient in vitamin D had a 20% increased risk of CVD.

The results of this analysis indicate a significant relationship between vitamin D deficiency and CVD prevalence in a large, highly representative sample of the U.S. adult population.

Atherosclerosis 2009 Jul; 205(1):255-60.

Vitamin D Deficiency Associated with Cardiovascular Disease Prevalence

2010-03-01T12:58:00.001-08:00

At a Glance

In a large sample of U.S. adults, new research indicates that vitamin D deficiency is associated with an increased prevalence of cardiovascular disease.

Read more about this study below.

The results of this analysis indicate a significant relationship between vitamin D deficiency and CVD prevalence in a large, highly representative sample of the U.S. adult population.

Atherosclerosis 2009 Jul; 205(1):255-60.

Lack of vitamin D is danger to Boomers

2010-02-23T13:09:00.000-08:00

This is from the Health section of the SF Chronicle.

Researchers are looking into a connection between vitamin D deficiency and gum disease.

It helps boost your ability to fight infection, and it also reduces some destructive inflammation in your body, including inflammation with periodontal disease.

If, in fact, vitamin D is more important than believed, people probably need more of it than they're getting and more than doctors have recommended in the past.

Doctors say it's unclear exactly how much vitamin D people should be getting, but 1,000 IU a day is a good place to start.

If you have questions about Vitamin D and supplementation, contact me and I'll help you with the options.

USANA Olympic Spotlight: Speed Skating Canada

2010-02-22T13:25:00.000-08:00

There’s the flash of metal blades. The reflections gliding around the glass surface. The tucked figures with arms swimming through the air. The fine mist of ice left as the racers exit the corners.

Those are the sights of one of the sports featured at the first Winter Olympics in 1924 in Chamonix, France—long-track speed skating. But speed skating appeared in Canada almost a century earlier, with the first recorded race taking place on the St. Lawrence River in 1854. And in 1887, the Amateur Skating Association of Canada—a precursor to Speed Skating Canada—became the country's first sport association.

Canada also had early success internationally, bringing home the World Speed Skating Championship in 1897, but didn’t earn an Olympic medal in the event until the 1932 in Lake Placid, New York. Since then, Speed Skating Canada has totaled 28 Olympic medals—including six golds—in the men and women’s long track competitions.

The sport’s younger, more compact sibling, short track speed skating, was officially granted full medal status in 1992 at the Albertville Winter Games. Speed Skating Canada has dominated the relatively short history of the sport, taking home a total of 20 medals—second only to South Korea.

USANA is proud to help power Speed Skating Canada around the icy track in Vancouver as they try to expand their total of 48 medals.

Event times are spread throughout the 2010 Winter Olympics, so check your local listings for dates and times so you can watch Speed Skating Canada in Vancouver.

2010-02-01T14:28:00.001-08:00

Creating the Body your Soul Desires For a Happy, Healthy, Abundant Life Your body is the vehicle for your soul to express itself. Where do you want to go in life? Do you have the body to get you there? Transform areas of your life that affect your body: stress, emotions, thoughts, food, exercise, body image, weight and environment. I am now coaching individuals and small groups through this process. If you would like more details, please contact me.

A quote for the new year

2010-01-16T14:33:00.001-08:00

I release my prior expectations and allow the universe to support me.

I have faith that I am being guided to my next step.

A new door in my life stands open before me. Although I may grieve for what I lost, I know that a greater good will follow.

I release the past and eagerly look toward the good that awaits me.

Namaste'

Maybe it's your Thyroid.

2010-01-15T13:31:00.000-08:00

As an acupuncturist, I see a lot of people with varying symptoms. One of the most common, is fatigue. We are all very tired and often sleep deprived. Quite often, a good nutritional supplement, better sleep hours and some minor modifications in diet can make a big difference. But what if that doesn't work? One strong possibility might be an iodine deficiency. Without enough iodine,your body might not be making adequate mounts of thyroid hormones.

A diet that is primarily plants can be a factor, especially if your main source of protein is from soy. Although plants are listed as a good source of iodine, the determining factor is really the soil in which they are grown. Our soil is depleted due to over farming the same land and our vegetables have less nutrients in them. The reason is, the seeds are formulated to grow red beautiful tomatoes, broccoli with large heads and perfectly shaped cucumbers. This is what the consumer has come to demand and large companies are providing it.

Dr. Christian Northrup's web site at http://www.drnorthrup.com/ has tons of info on Thyroid health. Oprah has also spoken out about her personal thyroid issues.

The thyroid is the organ connected to the 5th chakra in the Chakra system. "In many women thyroid dysfunction develops because of an energy blockage in the throat region, the result of a lifetime of "swallowing" words one is aching to say. In the name of preserving harmony, or because these women have learned to live as relatively helpless members of their families or social groups, they have learned to stifle their self-expression." Dr. Northrup

In 1985, Dr. Sehnert routinely tested thyroid function on all his patients. He also used a special computerized assessment tool call the Integrated Wellness Analysis. The were able to figure out the thyroid type. Thjis was the type of person who likes to communicate, and is upfront and straightforward. They like to plan, organize, and predict. They use communication to get agreement on plans and have high expectations for others to follow through on agreements. Such a person is often stubborn, persistent, and a perfectionist with a high sense of responsibility and integrity, willing to tackle life head on.

Under stress this type of person first experiences agitation and anger. Unlike Dr. Northrup's observation of women "swallowing their words," this person typically expresses their resentment or displeasure. They are especially irritated when agreements are not kept. Under prolonged periods of stress this person experiences considerable inflammation that is driven by oxidizing adrenaline. It became clear that individuals with the highest levels of thyroid auto-antibodies had been through prolonged periods of this type of stress, directly inducing thyroid problems. The excessive adrenaline raises cortisol and disturbs leptin function (the fat hormone), resulting in a difficult metabolic problem that makes stored fat go numb and leads to weight gain around the midsection.

Next time, I'll write about the Thymus type.

If you think you might be a thyroid type or iodine deficient, contact me and we can work on it.

Excerpts from "Oprah Raises Awareness on Thyroid Issue" by Byron Richards
NewsTarget.com October 24, 2007

Check Out This Design At BuildASign.com!

2010-01-04T12:02:00.000-08:00

Check Out This Design At BuildASign.com!

2009 clean slate

2009-12-29T15:45:00.000-08:00

The following is a template that I have used in the past and found it really helpful with life planning and reflection. I share it with you as someone shared it with me. If you have a partner, spouse, significant other, it is nice to do it together to see where you are headed and how you can work together to get there. Enjoy and Happy 2010.

2009: Clean the Slate
Accomplismnents:

1. (list them all)
Look through your agenda to remember all that you've done this year.

What I am Grateful for:

Incomplete Items

Disappointments/Things you wish had gone better:

Unfinished Business:

Undelivered Communications:

Unfulfilled Expectations:

Parking Lot (what would you like to do and by when)
Action Item By When

Inventing the Future
2010

1st Quarter:

2nd Quarter:

3rd Quarter:

4th Quarter:

2011
How old am I? Where am I? What am I doing? Start with 2019 and work your way back. Ask yourself, what would I need to do in 2018 to get to where I want to be in 2019. Then again with 2017 to get to 2018.

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016
2017

2018

2019

Health Survey

2009-12-27T11:02:00.000-08:00

Take this quick quiz and see how you're doing with your health.

Male/Female
Are you currently under the care of a physician for medical condition? If so what?
Age

The following questions are all yes/no answers. Yes answers get 1 point, no answers get 0 points.

1. What’s your BMI? (http://www.bmi-calculator.net/)
a. 18.5-24.9 is normal and gets a score of 1 point
b. 25 and above gets 0 points

2. Do you eat at least 5 servings of fruits and veggies per day? (serving is about a cup)

3. Do you eat at least 2 servings of fish per week?

4. Do you eat at least 3 servings of whole grains per day?

5. Do you drink less than 5 alcoholic beverages per week?

6. Do you eat at least 2 servings of calcium rich foods, such as cheese or yogurt, per day?

7. Do you get at least 10 minutes of sun exposure without sunscreen per day?

8. Do you exercise moderately 30 minutes per day or vigorously 20 minutes 3 times per week?

9. Do you drink at least half your weight in ounces of water? * This is a strange question. I was thinking of having them put in their weight again and a calculator will figure it out or put an example of 100 pounds, 50 oz water or about 6 glasses.

10. Do you drink more than 1 cup of coffee per day?

11. Do you limit your sugary snacks to 3 per week?

12. Are you currently taking nutritional supplements?

13. Are you happy with your weight?

14. Do you digest your food easily?

15. Do you get to bed before 10pm?

16. Do you sleep through the night?

17. Are you optimistic about life?

18. Do things generally work out for you in life?

Call Donna Parker, L.Ac. at 510/393.6225 to discuss your results and set a plan for a healthy lifestyle.

Daily Supplement Use and Brain Function in Healthy Children

2009-12-14T14:09:00.000-08:00

A daily multivitamin and mineral supplement may help improve brain function in healthy children

Vitamins and minerals are essential for optimal neural performance. However, national dietary surveys continue to show that a high percentage of adults and children suffer from deficiencies in one or more vitamins and minerals.

A study published in the November 2008 British Journal of Nutrition examined the effects of multivitamin and multimineral supplements on brain function in children. The study involved 81 healthy children between the ages of 8 and 14. The children were randomly assigned to receive a daily children’s multivitamin and multimineral supplement or a placebo.

During twelve weeks of supplementation, the children were given a series of tests to assess brain function. The children who received daily supplements performed better on two tests of attention than did the children who received placebos. Even more surprising was that the improvements in attention scores were seen within a few hours after administering the first vitamin and mineral dose. Mood, another outcome the authors were researching, was not significantly affected by the supplement.

These results suggest that multivitamin and multimineral supplementation may help to improve brain function in healthy children. However, it is impossible to determine whether the improvement in brain function in the children who took the daily supplement was due to a single ingredient in the supplement or whether it was due to the interaction of multiple vitamins and/or minerals. While additional research will be necessary to further elucidate this point, it may be time to reconsider the role of daily multivitamins in maintaining childhood health.

Br J Nutr 2008 Nov;100(5):1086-96

Healing With Divine Love

2009-12-07T13:18:00.000-08:00

An overview and tips for successful self-healing

By Robert G. Fritchie

Your first step in self-healing is to make sure that you do not shut yourself off from Divine Love. Do this: Focus with spirit and Divine Love on your thymus while reciting this Petition:

With my Spirit I accept Divine Love and focus it into my thymus. I surrender my will to the Creator's will and ask that Divine Love operate in me continuously at full charge to correct my health problems according to the Creator's will.

When you first use this Petition, sit quietly for about ten minutes so that the Petition fully energizes inside your body. Thereafter, as long as you operate in a loving way, the Petition continues to operate inside you to accomplish an objective.

If, however, you are suddenly challenged by someone or something during your day that causes you to become unloving, your Petition may stop because you have shut yourself off from the flow of Divine Love! The corrective action is to simply reestablish the flow of Divine Love going into your thymus. This is where Focus becomes very important.

One way to increase Focus is to use a mechanical means to keep your attention riveted on what you are doing—focusing Divine Love into your thymus. I tap my thymus with my finger to keep my attention focused. I suggest you do likewise and tap your thymus while using a Petition. You will find that energy will flow more effectively into your system.

Here is another key point. Once you read your Petition aloud, you need NOT repeat it! The Petition runs internally and automatically until the Petition is satisfied. (For more about Petitions, refer to Surviving Chaos: Healing with Divine Love.)

You can have more than one Petition running at a time. Let's say you are already operating with multiple Petitions, only one of which is to correct pain. What do you do if you suddenly have pain and want instant relief? Simply focus on your thymus with Divine Love. Use a short statement like this:

With my Spirit, I focus Divine Love into my thymus to correct the pain source.

Short, sweet and highly effective! (Remember to tap your thymus.)

Encouraging Successful Self-Healings

Please remember these two things: Take the time periodically during your day to nurture the completion of your healing by assuring that you continue to take in Divine Love. If change is slow, try this in a Petition:

I give myself verbal permission to change.

This will help break up old patterns of attachment and speed your healing. The success of the Process is not simply reciting the Petition and then going merrily about your business! The Process requires you to stay involved. This means taking ownership of the Process, treating the Creator with respect, and being willing to continue to accept Divine Love.

To help you understand more about healing with Divine Love, watch Understanding and Applying Divine Love Part 1 and Part 2 on YouTube.

My Cat Marcus

2009-11-30T12:53:00.000-08:00

Marcus came to me 12 years ago as a 3 day old abandoned kitten in the Mission district of San Francisco. He and his 2 litter mates were found by some children and passed along to a friend of mine. Since the SPCA does not accept animals that young, she asked me and another friend to help her raise them to 6 weeks old when they would be adopted.

It was labor intensive to say the least. I had to take them to work and feed them by bottle every few hours. They slept under a heating lamp and on a heating pad. I got a book that taught be how to be the mommy cat and show them to use the litter. I remember Marcus was the best eater of all of them. He really enjoyed the bottle feedings.

Even though it was time consuming, the rewards were numerous. I was there when they first open their eyes. I witnessed their first few steps. I encouraged them as they learned to use the litter box on their own. And after 6 weeks, I was thoroughly bonded and connected with them.

As it turned out, all of the people who were going to adopt them bailed. I ended up taking Marcus and his sister Frida. The third went to another person who had helped in the care-taking process.

Marcus was really a dog in a cat's body. Where Frida was stealth and could catch a humming bird in flight, Marcus was clumsy and goofy. He followed me around the house. He slept at the foot of the bed or on my head. He woke me in the mornings to be fed. He was vocal and loving.

When he was younger, he would escape the yard and hang out in the neighbor's collapsed garage. I would fetch him and put him safely back in our yard. As he aged, he mellowed and really enjoyed sleeping in the sun on the deck.

He was curious and I have several pictures of him and my son as a baby with both of them looking at the ground at a bug or some other thing of interest.

He was long and lanky with gray spots like a dog's coat. He loved being brushed and purred with delight. He was the dominate guy in the house and the first to eat. Katie, our later addition to the family, loved Marcus as a buddy. He allowed her to snuggle with him and share his food right from his bowl.

Marcus left us on Saturday. We are all very sad and miss him terribly. Katie is a bit down as I think she is really missing him. He was really the best cat I could have ever asked for. He enjoyed life and enjoyed us.

Dr. Northrup on Vitamin D

2009-11-07T15:16:00.000-08:00

Vitamin D for colds and flu

Instead of getting a swine flu or other flu vaccine, Dr. Northrup suggests following what our Northern neighbors are doing to truly prevent the swine flu—taking vitamin D. Last year, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) began a multi-year study to see whether adequate vitamin D levels helped to prevent the flu. Although originally designed to study the seasonal flu, PHAC has now modified the study to examine the correlation between vitamin levels and those who contract the H1N1 swine flu virus. Dr. Northrup commends Canada for their forward thinking.

Since 2006, Dr. Northrup has been teaching women (and men) everywhere about the protective, health-enhancing qualities of the sunshine vitamin. Optimal levels of vitamin D (40–80 ng/ml) enhance the creation and functioning of healthy cells throughout the body.¹ In addition to protecting the bones and boosting the immune system, studies show that vitamin D helps prevent certain cancers, including breast, ovarian, prostate, and colorectal.² ³ ⁴ ⁵ Exciting new research shows that in the U.S. alone, thousands of new cases of breast cancer could be prevented every year if more women had optimal levels of vitamin D.⁶

Vitamin D also benefits the immune system, as studies by prominent vitamin D researchers have shown. This year, Adit Ginde, M.D. published a study conducted with about 19,000 adults and teens which found that those with low levels of vitamin D were 40 percent more likely to come down with a cold, the flu, or other respiratory infections.⁷ In the past, John J. Cannell and Michael Hollick, the granddaddies of vitamin D research, have published numerous studies showing similar correlations. (For more information, visit the Vitamin D Council web site.) It appears that vitamin D has antimicrobial properties that kick in when the body is exposed to these kinds of germs.⁸

As we all know, when some people get the flu, it’s mild and they recover quickly while others develop secondary infections, like pneumonia, or asthma and other serious conditions. PHAC plans to study if there’s a correlation between vitamin D levels and whether a person develops a severe case of the flu. Dr. Northrup says, “This makes sense. A study done on 208 post-menopausal African Americans showed that women who received 800 IUs per day of vitamin D were three times less likely to get a cold or flu, regardless of the season, when compared to women who took no vitamin D. And when the women studied were given 2,000 IUs per day, virtually none came down with either kind of virus.”⁹

PHAC also plans to examine whether genetics play a role.

Although it’s likely to take at least three flu seasons before enough information can be gathered and interpreted, Dr. Northrup is willing to guess that the results will shine a light on the sunshine vitamin’s effectiveness. “With all this talk about healthcare reform, I’m encouraged to see a country take a stand for prevention. I can picture a much healthier world, not because of a vaccine or a pill, but because people everywhere have adequate levels of vitamin D.”

Dr. Northrup continues, “If you do nothing else for yourself or your family this year, do this one thing: maintain an optimal level of vitamin D. In my opinion, this is 52 ng/mls or higher, but no higher than 100 ng/ml. (The current consensus among vitamin D researchers is 40–80 ng/ml or as high as 100 ng/ml.) A simple blood test will tell you where your stand. Then you’ll either get about 2,000 IUs per day to maintain a healthy level, or take a little more until your levels have been restored.

“This is true health care!” Dr. Northrup enthuses.

For more on boosting your immune system and protecting against the flu, read “Build Your Immunity!” in the Women’s Wisdom Circle. For more on vitamin D’s many benefits, read “How Natural Light Recharges Your Health” also in the Wisdom Circle.

References

Staud, R., 2005. Vitamin D: more than just affecting calcium and bone. Curr Rheumatol Rep, Oct;7(5):356-64.
Staud, R., 2005. Vitamin D: more than just affecting calcium and bone. Curr Rheumatol Rep, Oct;7(5):356-64.
Cannell, J.J., Hollis, B.W. 2008. Use of vitamin D in clinical practice, Altern Med Rev, Mar;13(1):6-20.
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