Quick Tips for Everyday Wellness: Cantaloupe Salmonella Outbreak: How to avoid cont...

Quick Tips for Everyday Wellness: Cantaloupe Salmonella Outbreak: How to avoid cont...: The cantaloupe salmonella outbreak has a lot of people avoiding cantaloupe and for good reason. However, understanding what to avoid and...

Quick Tips for Everyday Wellness: The genetic trail to Diabetes: Is your future ine...

Quick Tips for Everyday Wellness: The genetic trail to Diabetes: Is your future ine...: There are two things for certain with Diabetes (both Type I and Type II): Pre-disposition + Environment/lifestyle = Increased risk. W...

Cantaloupe Salmonella Outbreak: How to avoid contaminated Cantaloupe

The cantaloupe salmonella outbreak has a lot of people avoiding cantaloupe and for good reason. However, understanding what to avoid and what to do when consuming cantaloupe is probably the wisdom we all need to practice regularly. Here, are three things you can do to lessen the risks involved:

1) Avoid cantaloupe from Southwest Indiana
2) Use a “produce scrub brush” (or an equally rated brush with deep bristles to clean the fruits skin) and a product like “Simple Green” diluted with hot water. Scrub, thoroughly, the outside of the cantaloupe before cutting open
3) Wash your hands, countertops and any kitchen tools when handling the cantaloupe with disinfection products that have been approved by the EPA (look for the EPA approval on the label)

*Remember: All soaps, to some degree, are “antibacterial products”. So don’t be too concerned whether or not the label states “antibacterial”. Be more concerned that the label was EPA approved.

*Focus on removing the external debris on the fruit before you cut it open. That first step of prevention is worth a pound of cure!

Disinfecting vs Sterilization

“Disinfecting means pretty much what it says - it removes most of the organisms present on the surface which can cause infection or disease. Disinfecting is not suitable for eradicating mites but is useful against a number of bacterial and viral microorganisms. Sterilization, on the other hand, is the killing or removal of all disease causing organisms. Often the same products may be used to disinfect and to sterilize; the difference is in the strength of the solution and/or the amount of time the solution is left in contact with the surface.” (http://www.anapsid.org/cleaning.html)


You can go one step further and do a quick test of the outside of the cantaloupe with peroxide. Apply a small amount to the skin and if it foams its infected. Click on the following link to learn a simple step by step process for testing and cleaning with peroxide (http://www.ehow.com/how_6907624_use-peroxide-test-salmonella.html).

Dr. Sanjay Gupta further explains ways to avoid coming in contact with contaminated food products in this You Tube video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYE1ePgCkSg).
Most importantly, don’t take for granted everywhere the potentially contaminated food has been and what needs to be disinfected.

*Countertops, cutting boards, refrigerator shelves
*Cutlery and silverware
*Knobs/handles, doors and drawers in the kitchen where your hands came in contact after handling contaminated products
*Light switches, walls
*Other food products that were bagged together next to the contaminated food (even the products were wrapped, it can still spread from the outside to the inside simply through handling)



Also, use paper towels when cleaning! Cloth wipes and sponges collect and continue to spread more than they clean!

Even though cantaloupe is taking a public hit for being the culprit behind the salmonella scare, remember any fruit/food product can be contaminated through exposure to animal feces/manure or other contaminated products.

Quick Tips for Wellness: Don’t just clean your food – test and disinfect it before consuming!


Quick Tips for Wellness ™ Copyright © 2012, All Rights Reserved
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The genetic trail to Diabetes: Is your future inevitable?

There are two things for certain with Diabetes (both Type I and Type II):
Pre-disposition + Environment/lifestyle = Increased risk.

Whether or not you choose to follow that path, or defend your body against it, is up to you. Sounds too easy, doesn’t it? But according to research and science, the reality of where you live (environment), what you eat (nutrition) and your activity level (fitness) can either work for or against you in the defense against both types of Diabetes.

So what can you do if your genetics are pointing your future toward this disease before being diagnosed with it? Can you “prevent” it from happening? Is your current lifestyle making you a likely candidate? Is surgery the answer?

Before we go any further, let's understand the truth about "Diabetic surgery":

*Surgery may be a “quick start” to help you but lifestyle changes (diet/nutrition and exercise) MUST be part of the entire process

As for Type I and Type II diabetes, the following facts may just help you find the answer before you encounter either type of this disease in your life:

Type I Diabetes has been linked to the following:
*Cold environment
*Genetic predisposition often inherited from both parents
*Viruses
*Not being breastfed as a baby
*A predisposition to certain “autoantibodies” in the blood.

**Antibodies are proteins that destroy bacteria or viruses. Autoantibodies are antibodies gone bad, attacking the body's own tissues

Other factors that increase the risk are provided below by the following website, Diabetes.org (http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/genetics-of-diabetes.html):

"In general, if you are a man with type 1 diabetes, the odds of your child getting diabetes are 1 in 17.

If you are a woman with type 1 diabetes and your child was born before you were 25, your child's risk is 1 in 25; if your child was born after you turned 25, your child's risk is 1 in 100.

Your child's risk is doubled if you developed diabetes before age 11. If both you and your partner have type 1 diabetes, the risk is between 1 in 10 and 1 in 4.

There is an exception to these numbers: About 1 in every 7 people with Type 1 Diabetes has a condition called type 2 polyglandular autoimmune syndrome.

In addition to having diabetes, these people also have thyroid disease and a poorly working adrenal gland. Some also have other immune system disorders. If you have this syndrome, your child's risk of getting the syndrome including Type 1 diabetes is 1 in 2.

Researchers are learning how to predict a person's odds of getting diabetes. For example, most whites with type 1 diabetes have genes called HLA-DR3 or HLA-DR4. If you and your child are white and share these genes, your child's risk is higher. (Suspect genes in other ethnic groups are less well studied. The HLA-DR7 gene may put African Americans at risk, and the HLA-DR9 gene may put Japanese at risk.)"

So, what do you do if it “seems” the cards are stacked against you?
*Nutrition – Medicine assists but it does not replace what nutrition provides. If you have been diagnosed, with either Type I or Type II Diabetes, attend a nutritional workshop to learn the how, what, when and why of nutrition and your disease.
*Exercise – Our ability to stay and be active is one of the most overlooked assets we naturally possess. Everyone can afford to stay active, regardless of their social or economic situation. Everyone can stay active unless they’ve already begun to suffer the loss of limbs or mobility. Commit to 30 minutes of aerobic and/or anaerobic exercise every day. Start with what you can do and build from there to what you need to be doing.
*Testing – There is medical testing to help predetermine Type I diabetes, however, most can be expensive. The easiest thing to do is to look at your history: It usually tells you what you might expect from your future.

What are the odds of having Type I Diabetes? Maybe 50/50. A study using identical twins (whom you might expect would raise those odds to a greater number) predisposed to Type I Diabetes, only stood a less chance (50/50)of having the disease, by comparison to children born of parents with Type II diabetes, where the risk increased to 75-100%. Here is why:

*Type II Diabetes

*Stronger link to family history (mostly to the mother)
*Lifestyle choices
*History of obesity
*Lack of nutrition and exercise

If a mother is diagnosed with Type II Diabetes before the age of 50 the child has a 1 in 7 chance of developing it, too. Those odds drop to 1 in 13 if the mother was diagnosed after 50. However, those odds are believed to increase to a 1 in 2 chance of a child being diagnosed with Type II Diabetes when both parents have been diagnosed. Another massive risk factor is when the parent has a rare genetic link called “maturity onset Diabetes of the young” (MODY), increasing their risk to 1 in 2.

One main reason why Type II Diabetes is much more preventable has to do with one common problem in our culture today: Nutritional education. Here, is why:

From how we were raised to what we believe to be true influences our life. Think about it: If you were shamed into eating everything on your plate then you likely learned to overeat. If you lived in a culture, that promoted nutritionally poor choices (Fast food, fried food and preservative filled food) you were trained to believe these food choices were acceptable.

Additionally, if your parents were inactive or did not put a priority on fitness/activity, if the television was constantly turned on in your home and you spent a lot of time being inactive during your free time, then you were subliminally being trained for your future. It’s not that you had “bad” parenting but that your parents (like most today) didn’t understand the importance nutrition and exercise would play in your future.

The understanding of nutrition and the importance of daily exercise is woefully lacking in most families. What we thought was healthy food and nutritional balance we are now learning has predisposed our future to diseases our culture is now fending off, mainly obesity and Diabetes. Current predictions are simply this: 50% of our society will suffer from both diseases by the year 2020. Unless we stop our behavior and choices today, tomorrow will sneak up on us sooner than we realize.

It’s astonishing to hear people talk about “grandma and grandpa”, what they ate, how long they lived and how healthy they were. Most grandchildren have no idea the problems their grandparents were dealing with, every day. Many of the diseases we now know about today were the exact ones that shortened the quality of life our ancestors lived, and were later culturally handed down to us.

So what can you do today if you are in the above category for being predisposed? Take action:

*Attend a nutritional wellness seminar to learn the how, what, when and why of nutrition

*Exercise every day for at least 30 minutes. As opposed to common thinking, joining a smaller gym or hiring a personal trainer is much more affordable when it comes to the outcome. If you can’t afford the hourly cost find out if you have a few friends who would like to share the wisdom of a personal trainer, one who would be willing to teach a “group” versus just an individual.

*Annual physicals are a God-send when it comes to prevention. Be aware of your parent’s health history and let your doctor know if either parent suffered from Type I or Type II Diabetes. If you’re not sure if they did or not, ask them.

Quick Tips for Wellness: The effects of Type I and Type II Diabetes are treatable and can be reduced through nutritional education and exercise.

Quick Tips for Wellness ™ Copyright © 2012, All Rights Reserved

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Quick Tips for Everyday Wellness: The Next Four Years: Who will really pay for the ...

Quick Tips for Everyday Wellness: The Next Four Years: Who will really pay for the ...: A major overhaul to the current healthcare system is way overdue, especially for anyone who finds themselves at the receiving end of the c...

The Next Four Years: Who will really pay for the Affordable Care Act should Obama be re-elected?

A major overhaul to the current healthcare system is way overdue, especially for anyone who finds themselves at the receiving end of the current system. The Obama administration, should it remain intact, will be standing behind the already approved policies, and we will be the recipients of it for at least four more. The greatest unknowns are: The cost of healthcare. Who’s paying for it. What the quality of care received will look like.

So many external factors play a role in answering those questions even though the ACA has been accepted into law. In reality legislatures, politicians and Presidents never know the final cost when change is made. They only know that change is needed and they take the best stab at it that they can. In the case of the Obama-Care plan, the rich are supposedly shouldering the tax burden. However, the reality is the "rich" are too small of a percentage (1%) to shoulder 99% of the problem. So who will pay for changes to the current healthcare system? The Middle Class.

But before you read on, consider this: The “middle class” is slowly shrinking away in America. With unemployment at the highest rate since the great Depression, importing from China continuing to grow and our current economy not leveling out, who will pay for the current price tag of health care? It would be a grand and infatuated idea to think the rich would pay for healthcare in America, but since they’re only about 1% of America’s wealth, that idea is a far-fetched concept. The poor amongst us can’t, so with only one sector left (the middle class) the answer doesn’t seem clear. Unless Obama pulls a rabbit out of his hat, the timeline below will not work because the middle class will not be around to support it.

No one can simply rewrite a national healthcare program that says it's shouldering itself on the minority of tax payers, expecting it to solve the healthcare deficiencies American’s now face. While change within the current healthcare system would be a God-send, it will become an economic disaster if all we have is “hindsight” later on.

As you wade through the murk and mire of the political waters, the following timeline and what it means to all of us is provided below along with my own personal take on what each one represents (Resource: http://www.healthcare.gov/law/timeline/)

Effective no later than January 1, 2013
*The law establishes a national pilot program to encourage hospitals, doctors, and other providers to work together to improve the coordination and quality of patient care. Under payment “bundling,” hospitals, doctors, and providers are paid a flat rate for an episode of care rather than the current fragmented system where each service or test or bundles of items or services are billed separately to Medicare. For example, instead of a surgical procedure generating multiple claims from multiple providers, the entire team is compensated with a “bundled” payment that provides incentives to deliver health care services more efficiently while maintaining or improving quality of care. It aligns the incentives of those delivering care, and savings are shared between providers and the Medicare program. (When you “bundle” anything, something suffers. Less $ = Less quantity and quality of care.)


*To expand the number of Americans receiving preventive care, the law provides new funding to state Medicaid programs that choose to cover preventive services for patients at little or no cost. (Preventative care is only beneficial when the patient is also provided with continuing education along with access to nutritional/healthy food and support from within their community to live safer/healthier lives).

*As Medicaid programs and providers prepare to cover more patients in 2014, the Act requires states to pay primary care physicians no less than 100% of Medicare payment rates in 2013 and 2014 for primary care services. The increase is fully funded by the federal government. (Government funding = tax dollars from those who are already paying for private health insurance and employers with over 50 employees aka the “middle class”, who are already a shrinking member of society. Once the middle class is decimated, then so are the dollars from where this funding came from.)


Effective October 1, 2013

*Under the new law, states will receive two more years of funding to continue coverage for children not eligible for Medicaid. (Does this coverage apply to families who would otherwise be required to pay for health insurance or pay a “tax” penalty, eligible to receive coverage for their children should they fail to obey the new requirements for everyone to pay for their own insurance if not otherwise eligible? What incentive is there to have insurance if there’s a loophole for not having it?)

Effective January 1, 2014

*Starting in 2014 if your employer doesn’t offer insurance, you will be able to buy it directly in an Affordable Insurance Exchange. An Exchange is a new transparent and competitive insurance marketplace where individuals and small businesses can buy affordable and qualified health benefit plans. Exchanges will offer you a choice of health plans that meet certain benefits and cost standards. Starting in 2014, Members of Congress will be getting their health care insurance through Exchanges, and you will be able buy your insurance through Exchanges too. (Sounds great, but define “affordable”. Members of Congress are mostly individuals who make over $100K annually, while the average family makes almost half of that income. What “they” can afford is hardly what most of us can afford.)



*Under the new law, most individuals who can afford it will be required to obtain basic health insurance coverage or pay a fee to help offset the costs of caring for uninsured Americans. If affordable coverage is not available to an individual, he or she will be eligible for an exemption. (When this “exemption” is broken down, this is what it says, “Under the Affordable Care Act, starting in 2014, you must be enrolled in a health insurance plan that meets basic minimum standards. If you aren't, you may be required to pay an assessment. You won't have to pay an assessment if you fall within the eligibility requirements for income or other reasons including your religious beliefs. You can also apply for a waiver asking not to pay an assessment if you don't qualify automatically. Sounds ridiculous.)



*Workers meeting certain requirements who cannot afford the coverage provided by their employer may take whatever funds their employer might have contributed to their insurance and use these resources to help purchase a more affordable plan in the new Affordable Insurance Exchanges. These new competitive marketplaces will allow individuals and small businesses to buy qualified health benefit plans. (Probably, the most reasonable section of this Act.)


*Americans who earn less than 133% of the poverty level (approximately $14,000 for an individual and $29,000 for a family of four) will be eligible to enroll in Medicaid. States will receive 100% federal funding for the first three years to support this expanded coverage, phasing to 90% federal funding in subsequent years. (Who’s paying for this? The middle class.)

*Tax credits to help the middle class afford insurance will become available for those with income between 100% and 400% of the poverty line who are not eligible for other affordable coverage. (In 2010, 400% of the poverty line comes out to about $43,000 for an individual or $88,000 for a family of four.) The tax credit is advanceable, so it can lower your premium payments each month, rather than making you wait for tax time. It’s also refundable, so even moderate income families can receive the full benefit of the credit. These individuals may also qualify for reduced cost-sharing (copayments, co-insurance, and deductibles). (The amount of tax credit is not clearly represented).

*Insurers will be prohibited from dropping or limiting coverage because an individual chooses to participate in a clinical trial. This applies to all clinical trials that treat cancer or other life-threatening diseases. (Does not clearly state that the insurance coverage apply post clinical trial studies should the procedure require medical care post treatment.)

*The law prohibits new plans and existing group plans from imposing annual dollar limits on the amount of coverage an individual may receive. (While this sounds like a good idea, not establishing limits leads to raising insurance coverage costs or limiting coverage. You can’t have it both ways.)

*The law implements strong reforms that prohibit insurance companies from refusing to sell coverage or renew policies because of an individual’s pre-existing conditions. Also, in the individual and small group market, it eliminates the ability of insurance companies to charge higher rates due to gender or health status. (Everyone should be insurable.)

*The law implements the second phase of the small business tax credit for qualified small businesses and small non-profit organizations. In this phase, the credit is up to 50% of the employer’s contribution to provide health insurance for employees. There is also up to a 35% credit for small non-profit organizations. (Shouldn’t it be a 100% tax deduction? Small businesses need as many tax credits as possible.)


Effective January 1, 2015

*A new provision will tie physician payments to the quality of care they provide. Physicians will see their payments modified so that those who provide higher value care will receive higher payments than those who provide lower quality care. (Who determines “quality”?)

The strength of the Affordable Care Act is found in several key points:

*Accessible health care for everyone, regardless of current health condition

*Quality care standards requirements for healthcare providers

*Tax credits for middle class income tax payers

Weaknesses in the Affordable Care Act would be:

*Who is really paying for change? The shrinking middle class

*Determining “quality” of care or rating a doctor’s performance is next to impossible

*Allowing loopholes (i.e. Religious reasons) for not obtaining insurance always opens the door for abuse

Quick Tips for Wellness: Unless American’s vote for change, there won’t be any left in our pockets. Think about that when it comes time to vote!



Quick Tips for Wellness ™ Copyright © 2012, All Rights Reserved
Follow me on Facebook and Twitter @wellnesstips4u

Sometimes our faith needs to be reminded of our past to help us see the hope of our future

Who's your daddy; knowing God as Abba Father: Who's your daddy; knowing God as Abba Father: Midd...

Who's your daddy; knowing God as Abba Father: Who's your daddy; knowing God as Abba Father: Midd...: Who's your daddy; knowing God as Abba Father: Middle of the Road : There is a point in life when we stand in the middle of the road we’re on...

Quick Tips for Everyday Wellness: Is ABSI (A Body Shape Index) replacing BMI?

Quick Tips for Everyday Wellness: Is ABSI (A Body Shape Index) replacing BMI?: Numbers can be so confusing when it comes to understanding exactly where we should be with them, what they represent and how the bottom li...

Is ABSI (A Body Shape Index) replacing BMI?

Numbers can be so confusing when it comes to understanding exactly where we should be with them, what they represent and how the bottom line influences our overall wellness. So, to add to the confusion a newer measuring stick has been added to the pot called “ABSI” (aka A Body Shape Index).

ABSI vs BMI
Developed by researchers at The City College of new York, ABSI became a better indicator used to determine (obviously) nonpregnant adult’s mortality rates after finding that BMI numbers were less reliable. ABSI focuses on the combined effect of your height, waist and weight to help determine if your body shape is in proportion to a “healthy” number.

The concept is primarily focused on using the body’s “roundness” versus “bigness” which by theory should lead to a better overall view of what a person’s health condition might be and a more accurate tool than BMI helping to establish premature death.

According to recent clinical studies performed on 14,100 people, our “BMI” (aka Body Mass Index) isn’t a complete picture of our current health condition when it comes to using one device as a measuring stick to determine our health risks. Click on the following link to learn more (http://www.medicaldaily.com/news/20120720/11001/obesity-overweight-absi-bmi-weight-circumference.htm)

ABSI uses a extremely basic method of your waist-to-height ratio versus your weight-to-height ratio (used to determine our BMI). Your ABSI is essentially your waist measurement, divided by your height, equaling your final “number”. Anything above 0.5 is considered “elevated”.

You can also use an online calculator that will do the math for you (http://www-ce.ccny.cuny.edu/nir/sw/absi-calculator.html). However, the online calculator uses a slightly different system of numbers and percentages to determine the result, but both have a “threshold” number that helps you know your future health risk. Also, remember this is a relatively new methodology for evaluating health and has not been fully implemented by all medical professionals. Seek your doctor’s advice before trying to determine what your “number” should be and if your health is at risk.

Waist-to-Height Ratio versus BMI

So what’s all the fuss about and why make a change from an already established system like BMI? According to Obesity Review, it appears our waist to height versus my weight to height is much more powerful than we realize (http:/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22106927).

A waist-to-height ratio is now considered a more accurate indicator than just using our BMI (formulated using our weight and height) and one we need to pay attention to when reviewing our overall health condition.

Waist-to-height ratio is measured by dividing your waist circumference in inches by your height in inches. Click on the following link to learn how to measure your waist line correctly, which is considered to be at the top of your hip bone (http://www.myhealthywaist.org/evaluating-cmr/clinical-tools/waist-circumference-measurement-guidelines/index.html). This step by step video at the provided link will show you how to measure, as well. You will need a measuring tape and mirror. When measuring, you need to wear loose-fitting fitting clothing that can be moved away from the area you’re measuring. If you are using the “manual” method, (versus the online ABSI calculator) a ratio over 0.5 is considered “elevated” and may be cause for concern.

For example, a man 5’6” with a 38” waist line has an ABSI waist-to-height ratio of .57. For this man to reach a healthier range of .5 or below, he would need to lose about 5” off his waist line. A 5’2” woman with a 33” waist has an ABSI of .53. If this woman lost, just 2” from her waist, she would be in the healthy ABSI range of .5. The goal may not sound too daunting, but the problem most of us face is we “let-it-go” because it doesn’t appear to be that big of a deal when we’re just a few inches from being healthy. Then, before we realize it, we’re way past the two inches, getting older, less active and losing our growth hormone levels as we age, causing us to put on those few extra inches in what seems like no time at all!

Waist-to-Hip Ratio

The “waist-to-hip” method divides our waist by our hip measurement (in inches) giving us a “total” number. The goal for a female would be a number below 0.8 and for a male 1.0. Anything above those numbers is a “red flag” for heart disease. Before you pull out the measuring tape, visit this link to make sure you are measuring your hips (and your waist) in the right place (http://weightloss.about.com/od/glossary/g/whr.htm).

Each of the above methods are for the purpose of understanding your current physical health, how it can affect your life and longevity.

If you find that your numbers seem high, talk to your doctor and ask to be referred to a nutritionist or clinical dietician to learn exactly how to get your “numbers” back in shape! Remember: Doctors practice medicine. If you're being prescribed pills, surgeries and a non-nutritionally based approach you will not learn how to address the real problem or get to the root of the problem.

If you are over eating, eating “poorly”, (eating fast food, highly processed food, etc.) underactive and emotionally under stress you will be putting your long term health and life at risk. Nutritionists and Clinical Dieticians are trained to teach you how to eat and live a healthier lifestyle.

Quick Tips for Wellness: Invest in the answer that provides the most natural solution.

Quick Tips for Wellness ™, Copyright © 2012 All Rights Reserved
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Doughnuts aren’t just for breakfast anymore, are they? Understanding the infamous “gap” in Medicare

The old saying, “Rob Peter to pay Paul” might easily apply when trying to grasp the infamous “gap” (aka The Donut hole) when it comes to Medicare and why it’s being used as leverage in the upcoming election.

The average senior citizen, receiving the 50% discount on their non-generic prescription drugs rightfully gets to keep more money in their pocketbook, but in reality who is it benefitting the most when it comes to closing the gap of the infamous “hole”? Prescription drug manufacturers, that’s who.

No drug company is simply going to cut their bottom line to help anyone and stay as profitable as they have in the past. Whether drug companies are indirectly leveraging the discount back into the bottom line through increased costs for over-the-counter drugs, prescription costs to non-Medicare recipients, they will redeem their losses to stay in business. Someone, somewhere down the line is paying for the closing-up of the doughnut hole. But who would that be? Everybody. However, politicians want us to think otherwise because it makes them look favorable especially during an election year.

4 Million Seniors = Drug company windfall

If drug companies were losing money, from tightening their belt via their discount program to seniors, it would have made the front page news (but it hasn’t). More likely than not, we’ll never read that column on the front page, but with 4 million seniors standing to gain a well deserved break in prescription drugs costs what we will hear is political rhetoric ringing loud and clear how the Affordable Care Act has benefitted seniors. Unless you are exceptionally adept at finding needles in haystacks no one would ever be able to, fully, grasp if the "discounts" to close the donut-hole theory cost the American public more than what it ever saved us, in the end.

Hidden profits

Over-the-counter drugs and anything related to the pharmaceutical companies will inherently increase drug costs across the board and continue to do so without the intervention of the government. Although “discounts for seniors” is a long deserved blessing, everyone pays for it in the end. Think about it: 4 million seniors went from spending thousands of extra dollars out of pocket to saving just as much and the lost profits just disappeared from the bottom line? I don’t think so. Most likely it will or already has reappeared through inflation and deferred expenses directly charged back to the general public through the healthcare system.

Obama-Care

So is the Affordable Care Act (aka Obama-Care) all that when it comes to what benefits everyone the most? Here are some areas where it falls short:

Regulating drug companies

Unless the government wants to get into the drug manufacturing business they will never be able to put a large enough lasso around the runaway profits these companies make and stand to profit from in the drug making industry. Once health insurance coverage becomes "law" then we all become customers, like it or not. Regulating profits made by the pharmaceutical drug companies is about the only way to save billions of dollars a year, a blessing that would far exceed the average savings seniors are now experiencing. It would also ensure that the benefits of controlling profits would not be interrupted by whoever is in the White House. A "good policy" never benefits just one sector of society, one political party, or one agenda (i.e. re-election).

Continuing nutritional education for doctors and healthcare providers

Unless we start requiring doctors and healthcare providers in general to become more educated in nutrition, drugs will always be the quick fix solution to our healthcare problems. The amount of nutritional education a doctor receives during their seven plus years is woefully inadequate (typically one semester on the basics of nutrition). Doctors are trained to practice “medicine” not “wellness”, thus feeding into the drug companies well lined pockets. I don’t blame the doctors, but the educational system for allowing the absence of more education in nutrition and its overall benefits to be an equal component in their educational requirements.

Regulating healthcare insurance rates

The Federal Government could better benefit everyone if they simply took one step in the right direction, regulating and capping what insurance companies charge their customers. Think about it: Government regulates every leading industry to some extent (banks, credit cards, lending, energy, etc.) that touches our lives every day. Can you imagine if the government said, "Everyone must buy a new car" how financially encumbering that burden would be for everyone? Yet, the government is essentially telling us that we must either be desperately poor to receive Medicaid or financially strapped to afford health insurance. The only sane way around the problem is to control health insurance premiums through regulating what insurance companies charge and how they rate the insured. Hmmmmm.....now that's a good topic for a Presidential debate!


*Incentives for staying healthy

Nowhere in Obama-Care is there a financial incentive or benefit for those of us who stay healthy through practicing nutrition and physical fitness, thus reducing the costs of healthcare. Obama’s plan allows for screening and wellness checks but does little to reward the outcome of living a healthier lifestyle.

No matter how the donut hole shrinks and swells through co-pays, gaps and negotiated discounts with prescription drug companies, the ultimate outcome will be a flat 25% co-pay by seniors when the plan matures in 2020. Can we only imagine what prescription drugs will cost then?

So why does the doughnut hole matter if it ultimately benefits well deserved senior citizens? Perhaps it’s the reality that somebody, somewhere at some time will have to pay the bill for all those savings, tagging the cost onto the backs of the next generation through taxation and indirect inflation. The more we treat our social woes like the minimum payment on our credit card balance, the more in debt we slide into through never paying down the principal of our initial balance. Both are a no-win situation.

Quick Tips for Wellness: The healthcare crisis cannot be treated like a political agenda. Responsible change requires us to look at the bigger picture and not just the current problems we face today.

Quick Tips for Wellness ™ Copyright © 2012, All Rights Reserved

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Quick Tips for Everyday Wellness: The “toxic” truth about the drought of 2012: Is t...

Quick Tips for Everyday Wellness: The “toxic” truth about the drought of 2012: Is t...: Depending upon where you live, over 65% of Americans will be financially negatively affected by the drought of 2012. Ranchers in the Mid-...

The “toxic” truth about the drought of 2012: Is the price of corn going to become our economic downfall or unexpected blessing?

Depending upon where you live, over 65% of Americans will be financially negatively affected by the drought of 2012. Ranchers in the Mid-West have been amongst some of the hardest hit by the drought due to the skyrocketing cost of grain to feed their livestock.
The Mississippi River has dropped to the lowest water table levels since July, 1988, when the St. Louis portion of the river hit -1.0, producing another problem for grain farmers who use this major transportation method when delivering their products across the country.

The even more grim news is that late summer to early fall are the typically expected seasons for low water table levels in the river, but are now being hit with an even longer drought problem due to the unusually dry season of 2012.

Chicken farmers are paying in excess $9/bushel for corn (compared to $5 or less/bushel in the spring), driving up their costs to feed/produce chickens and other livestock. Within 6 to 9 weeks, we could be seeing the costs rising dramatically at the grocery stores. While chicken growers could use other products in their feed, corn is still a primary ingredient in the majority of food products we consume.

Corn touches just about everything humans and animals (including our pets) consume. The far reaching effects hit our pocket books more than we realize. From high fructose corn syrup, to animal feed and dinner on the table, corn is a stable in our daily diet.

Toxic corn

The scariest problem we face isn’t just the increased costs of corn but the potential for higher levels of toxins found in the crops produced in the Mid-West during the drought. From testing for toxic nitrate levels potentially found in feed raised during a drought to throwing tons of toxic feed away, the corn industry is already taking a hit and will undoubtedly pass it onto their customers.

If you live in the East, you’re amongst the blessed by one of the best corn seasons in years. Record high corn sales and profits have been exceptional for farmers in North Carolina, mostly due to the drought. However, the blessing will be a highly sought after commodity, once the final figures are tallied and we see the onslaught of the drought hit our local marketplace in late fall.

Even though, current samples haven’t revealed high levels of toxins, late-season rains could cause already mature plants to draw nitrogen out of the soil and into the stalks. Dry seasons cause nitrogen to build up chemically toxic levels in the bottom of the stalk. When it does rain, the plant naturally draws from the nitrogen in the soil, passing upward through the stalks making the outcome much more toxic from the build-up than what is acceptable. Testing is the only way to keep a watchful eye on the produce before it comes to market. Not since the late ‘80s have farmers had to test their products due to a drought.

So far, so good but stay tuned. Two months of dry weather and high heat that stunted plants and shriveled ears likely caused the absorption of excessive amounts of nitrogen, experts say. Instead of being distributed safely through the plant, the chemical builds up in the lower portions of the stalk at potentially toxic levels. Not since the drought of 1988 have farmers had to be concerned with toxic build up and testing of their crops.

Silage, made to feed cows and sheep, also presents another problem should it become toxic from high levels of nitrates due to their being easily absorbed into the animals blood stream. Should these levels rise the cost of feed will increase driving the meat costs upward, as well.

If you are able, start freezing fresh produce now and stock up for a long winter on meat and other items affected by the corn crops. Waiting too late may drive your food bill higher in the upcoming fall and winter months.

Quick Tips for Wellness: Store now for later. Your pocketbook will thank you in the long winter ahead.

Quick Tips for Wellness ™ Copyright © 2012, All Rights Reserved

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Quick Tips for Everyday Wellness: Body Loop: The “Mind to the Spine” connection for...

Quick Tips for Everyday Wellness: Body Loop: The “Mind to the Spine” connection for...: From the moment, we consume anything (food, thoughts, environment) our mind is at work sending signals down our spine that reverberate th...

Body Loop: The “Mind to the Spine” connection for Type II Diabetics

From the moment, we consume anything (food, thoughts, environment) our mind is at work sending signals down our spine that reverberate throughout our entire body. This process is also known as the “brain-body loop” and is a vital part of our entire wellbeing.

Those suffering from Type II Diabetes can reverse-the-curse of Type II Diabetes by simply following some basic principles when it comes to nutrition and wellness. Understanding how our bodies make the “connection” begins to put value on what we consume, even more. Instead of depending upon the medicine we consume to do all the work, we can train our body to regenerate and heal itself when we use our natural resources for our wellness. One does not negate the other, but both will help our body get back on track and hopefully, eliminate or reduce the necessity for medicine in our future.

Brain Body Loop

The main communications systems of the body—immune, cardiovascular, and endocrine—are influenced by the brain through direct nervous system activity and circulating hormones. In turn, each one sends signals to the brain—completing the loop. Here, is how it works:

• Our brain connects through a “loop” like system of neurotransmitters and hormones (aka nerve and messenger chemicals)

• These “messengers” profoundly influence how our body responds to everything we consume and how our body utilizes, stores and spends nutrition and environmental influences we subject it to.

“Nerves form circuits that extend from the brain to the spinal cord and then to both the interior and the farthest reaches of the body. Hormones produced by the body’s glands and internal organs speed messages along these nerve pathways. The brain is able to interpret these hormonal messages with the help of special receptors and then send out messages of its own. These busy communications circuits—and we have quite a few of them, often performing simultaneously—make up, in effect, an intricate “brain-body loop.” (Lynne Lamberg/2007,http://www.dana.org/news/brainhealth/detail.aspx?id=9952)

When we understand the mind body loop, we can appreciate the importance of consumption and how it influences what we subject ourselves to, and how it becomes part of our overall wellness. Instead of viewing food and beverage as a “just for now” decision (buy now pay later physically/emotionally) we see nutrition as a vital interacting part of how our body performs and responds, overall. Many people think their genetics (grandpa lived to be 90) will influence their choices, today. However, they forget that nutrition and the environment today are both a far cry from what grandpa consumed.

Disease and illness

At what point should we acquiesce to our condition (Type II Diabetes)? Should we simply become dependent upon medicine, to do the majority of the work instead of investing in our surrounding physical and emotional environment to help us heal naturally? NEVER! Even though, we think of disease beginning in the body, disease starts with how our brain responds to what we’ve consumed.

Here, is how it works:

 From the moment, we consume anything our brain sends signals to the body incorporating how we respond to what we’ve consumed

 Disease (i.e. Type II Diabetes) in the body responds to consumption

 Feedback between the brain and body can “toggle” one another, negatively or positively effecting how both work for or against one another

 The cycle of damage and repair continue until our bodies wear out

Choosing a healthier lifestyle will always trump trying to repair what we’re constantly damaging through poor nutritional choices.

Depression

Twenty percent of Type II Diabetics experience depression often linked to excess weight gain related to emotional eating. Since glucose is fuel for the brain, imbalances in glucose levels lead to imbalances in the brain. Low blood sugar or sudden drop in glucose can lead to a coma. The long-term effects of poor nutrition cannot be healed by medicine alone. The damage from yo-yo nutritional dieting not only damages your body it prolongs your disease and your emotional health.

Depression can occur when the brain fails to produce a proper balance of healthy hormones, the ones which feed our emotional health (serotonin, estrogen, and testosterone). Nutrition, exercise and sleep all feed/replenish what our body consumes. If we’re constantly feeding our body “junk”, then we’re causing our body to work overtime to repair the damage we’re doing. Eventually, our brain (which is constantly sending out signals throughout our body to restore/repair and replenish our body) can’t keep up with the demand we’re putting it through.

The goal of medicine is to help our bodies help themselves. However, “food and beverage” are both medicine, feeding our brain and in turn feeding our body.

If you’re trying to reverse Type II Diabetes, start with two primary goals:
Increase your daily exercise to 45 minutes and pay attention to everything you put in your mouth, making your primary goal healthy and whole fresh food consumption. Both will “pay it forward” in your wellness, every day.

Quick Tips for Wellness: Before it goes in the mouth, it goes through the mind – think before you consume!

Quick Tips for Wellness ™ Copyright © 2012, All Rights Reserved

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The Olympic Diet: Can you become super human, too?

Foods that “fuel” an Olympian seem more like a mystery than a reality when you pause to think about what it takes to become a "Superhero-like" athlete (aka Olympian). However, Olympians follow some very basic nutritional and physical disciplines available to anyone who desires to become their best.

What exactly are they (Olympic trainers) feeding the super human amongst us? Olympians spend years developing their athletic prowess while disciplining their body’s to receive the highest and best form of nutrition. Everyday for years, these athletes live very restrictive lives while avoiding potentially threatening products containing banned substances while striving to become a super-human. However, in reality, trying to live a disciplined life can seem almost impossible for the average person.

The vigor of staying the course while training to become the greatest can seem daunting and perhaps cruel to some but to a professional athlete the price is "paid in full" when it comes to the ultimate reward; an Olympic medal.

Once a potential Olympian is discovered the process of grooming them to become a "Super-hero" kicks in immediately. Not limited to just their diet, Olympians change everything in their life to train for their fifteen or so minutes of fame. The world they once knew now seems a distant past. Their lifestyle is limited to sleeping, eating and training for their event. Most future Olympians will be discovered at a extremely young age leaving their family, friends and life to pursue their God-given talent and dreams. However, before an Olympian can dream of being on a platform they must discipline everything in thier life to make the grade, one day at a time.

Nutrition

Nutrition plays a vital part of their daily regiment, along with psychological and physical training. So what exactly is in their diet that is so different from ours? Is it possible that we could benefit from the same diet, increasing strength while decreasing our bottom line if we're over weight and out of shape?

Fresh Whole Food
Preservatives are an absolute “no-no” in an Olympic diet. Nutrition must come from fresh whole foods. Why? Preserved food contains chemicals, high levels of sodium, fructose corn syrup and unknown products that wreak havoc on the body. Even "grab-and-go” nutrition bars are not never to natural, whole foods. One conveys convenience but the other provides quality nutrition. Protein that comes from additives like “whey powder” cannot compare to fresh food that naturally contains protein. For example, beans and peas contain significant amounts of protein in comparison to processed food. If you are feeling the pains of hunger, eat food that contains protein:

*Nuts – Raw (not roasted, toasted or salted) almonds, walnuts, pecans are desirable choices when it comes to nuts. Avoid words like “cocoa”, “roasted” and “salted”.

*Fruit – Any fresh fruit or vegetable contains protein. Dried fruit and vegetables contain preservatives, added sugar and sodium.

*Whole grains – Whole wheat bread instead of “multigrain” bread is the healthier choice. Avoid the words "enriched" and "bleached" on bread labels.

*Brown rice – Avoid the 60 or 90 second rice and cook your rice the old fashion way to avoid preservatives. Pre-cooked rice contains higher levels of sodium.

*Oatmeal – Natural oatmeal may take a little longer to cook than the instant oatmeal, but it is the better choice. Add some fruit to enhance the taste.

*Seafood – Avoid “farm-raised” seafood. The chemically induced products fed to farm raised seafood are an unknown and not likely to be a healthy additive to your diet. Make sure to ask where the seafood came from but beware of knock-off labeling that declares it is “fresh-catch”. Even farm raised seafood can be labeled "fresh catch", especially salmon. Remember: Only about 2% of the seafood we consume has been inspected by the government.

*Supplements, vitamins, minerals - Over the counter products found on the shelf of your local grocery store, pharmacy or online are not always trustworthy. Before you invest in these types of products, research them at www.consumerlabs.com to verify if they've been tested. "Independent Laboratory Testing" does not necessarily equate to being tested thoroughly. Only medical and pharmaceutical products are the most reliable. If you need them, ask your doctor to prescribe them to you.

So, what is the "key" to becoming like an Olympian? Discipline. Nutrition and exercise. The desire to become your best.

Quick Tips for Wellness: Nutrition + exercise + daily discipline of the mind, body and spirit will take you a lot farther than you think!

Quick Tips for Wellness (TM) Copyright (C) 2012, All Rights Reserved

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Quick Tips for Everyday Wellness: The effect of mental and emotional illness on our ...

Quick Tips for Everyday Wellness: The effect of mental and emotional illness on our ...: Is it possible to “think” yourself into wellness even if you have a mental illness? It is a well known fact the two have a cycle effect u...

The effect of mental and emotional illness on our wellness: Can you "think" yourself well?

Is it possible to “think” yourself into wellness even if you have a mental illness? It is a well known fact the two have a cycle effect upon one another, but to what extent will the one (mental illness, emotional distress) negatively affect the other? Is it possible for us to help our health and wellness if we have a mental illness? Is medicine and counselling the only answers?

Research reveals that mental illness is likely to shorten a life by as much as 25 years and is often the catalyst behind alcohol and drug abuse, overeating and lack of exercise leading to heart disease, obesity and diabetes. The greater question is, “Can someone with a mental illness, help themselves become completely healthy (body, mind and spirit)?” The good news is “yes” but it takes medical intervention, counseling/therapy and an effective approach to physical fitness to retrain our entire body, mind and spirit to receive the benefits. One without the other(s) will only lead you part of the way to the overall benefits all three provide together.

Stress triggers = Fat storage

Stress in the brain equals stress in the body. When we are emotionally stressed-out, the body responds through raising our cortisol levels which affects the way our body stores fat. Exercise helps increase our endorphins (feel good hormone released through the hypothalamus in our brain) balancing our emotions and increasing our metabolism. Without exercise, the brain lacks the stimulation it needs to elevate the hormones our body requires to stay in balance. So how does someone muster up the strength and desire to become physically healthy when emotionally stressed-out? Personal training or at the very least joining a fitness group is an excellent place to start.

Unless you have struggled with emotional disorders or mental illness, you cannot imagine the daily struggle someone experiences who lives with this condition. Mental illness is not something you can simply “shake-off” or get over. On top of that, most medications have a sedative effect on the brain calming down the confusion and overwhelming stimulation the brain experiences through mental illness. Before you try an exercise routine, make sure to check with your doctor about your entire wellness plan and if exercising will help you in your condition.

Personal Trainer/Life coaching

The benefit to exercise is its natural effect on the brain (endorphins). So how do you combine the two? Bill Meyers of Meyers Fitness in Norfolk, Va., (http://hamptonroads.com/2012/08/gain-strength-physical-and-mental)is an expert when it comes to the dynamics of training the body and mind to work together physically.

“A consistent exercise program can drastically benefit mental illness such as anxiety disorders or depression. Taking a closer look at the details and symptoms surrounding these illnesses, you will find self doubt, low self esteem, restlessness, and more.

Simply looking at the initial benefits of exercise, each of the aforementioned symptoms are addressed. Upon learning a new skill or exercise that may take some time to accomplish, self doubt can begin to reverse. You learn how to allow yourself to believe in yourself again.”

Neurological disorders can benefit from physical fitness and help to balance the hormones produced through the brain’s hypothalamus. Hormonal changes affect us physically and emotionally as we age. Decreased estrogen and testosterone levels affect emotions, energy levels and ability to rest.

A personal fitness coach should possess the ability to see your life as a complete picture, including your physical fitness and emotional wellness. Your “coach” should be prescribing a plan of action that includes:

*Journaling – Write down everything you eat and what your activities include each day.

*Diary – Daily write down how you feel (the positive and negative emotions) so you can start to see how your body is improving as you change your approach to wellness. Progress is a powerful motivator.

*Weigh-in – If you are overweight, you must learn to keep yourself accountable, every single day. It is much more beneficial and motivational for you to see the results as you progress.

Calorie Counter is one of the best downloadable applications I’ve found (phone or computer) for monitoring, logging, journaling and tracking your physical, emotional and nutritional progress. It has a “community” of like-minded people who understand you and what you are going through. Building relationships are vital to building momentum, and you seek to help your body, mind and spirit become one!

Quick Tips for Wellness: Help your emotional state of mind through a practical approach to wellness that includes exercising your body, mind and spirit to become one.

Quick Tips for Wellness ™ Copyright © 2012, All Rights Reserved

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