Quick Tips for Everyday Wellness: 'Pot for Tots': NJ Governor Christie falls short ...

Quick Tips for Everyday Wellness: 'Pot for Tots': NJ Governor Christie falls short ...: Growing more strains of edible marijuana and making them accessible to kids has now become law in the State of New Jersey. Thanks in part ...

'Pot for Tots': NJ Governor Christie falls short on Medical Marijuana bill for children

Growing more strains of edible marijuana and making them accessible to kids has now become law in the State of New Jersey. Thanks in part to the efforts of two year old Vivian Wilson’s father, the bill made it possible for medical marijuana suppliers to produce more varieties. Evidence has shown that different strains produce different results when it comes to treating disease and illness. In the past, suppliers could only grow up to three strains of medical marijuana.

The once more restrictive law has now been amended, allowing children greater accessibility to edible ‘Cannabis’ (aka Marijuana). Essentially, the bill opened the doorway for approved medical marijuana suppliers to produce more than three strains. However, the route parents have to take is still ridiculously slow and limited.

Expansion of the program allows parents access but only if they pass through several hoops. Referrals from their program approved pediatrician and psychiatrist must be obtained. If the pediatrician is not registered with the program, then a third doctor’s approval must be obtained. Currently, there are two pediatrician doctors and sixteen psychologists out of the two hundred and fifty doctors registered with the program. Talk about a bottle neck and bureaucratic red tape.

Children who suffer from frequent prolonged seizures and diseases would typically benefit from treatment. While Christie took a bold step forward in lifting the production limits, he stopped short of seeing the bigger picture. Unless there are greater numbers of qualified physicians and psychologists registered in the program, these children and their parents will live in a vicious cycle. Doctors are already feeling the upcoming pinch of Obama-care. Who will take the time to evaluate/review, prescribe and jump through this many hoops? Why can’t the legislation be geared toward requiring all doctors to be qualified to prescribe medical marijuana versus only a handful in one state?

Accessibility is equally valuable to the passing of any legislation. It is sad to think that maybe Christie’s playing politics as he sets his sights on the White House in 2016. While that may be a stretch, it just might be true. Politicians rarely make a move in any direction based on the primary concerns placed in front of them. Why? There is always another election right around the corner. Who wants their legacy to be coined around the phrase, “Pot for tots”? Not any politicians I know.

Quick Tips for Wellness: Medical marijuana may just be what the doctor ordered.

Quick Tips for Wellness ™ Copyright © 2013, All rights reserved
Follow Pat on Facebook (Quick Tips for Wellness) and twitter @wellnesstips4u

Quick Tips for Everyday Wellness: Living through rotator cuff injury and surgery

Quick Tips for Everyday Wellness: Living through rotator cuff injury and surgery: Back in May, an unexpected slip of my right arm in the tub quickly disabled me, doubling me over in pain. Stupid “me” spent a couple of we...

Living through rotator cuff injury and surgery

Back in May, an unexpected slip of my right arm in the tub quickly disabled me, doubling me over in pain. Stupid “me” spent a couple of weeks in denial thinking this too shall pass. My gut instinct said it was bad. I knew I was healthy and strong. However, at this point my injury was growing increasingly worse. A trip to my orthopedic and an MRI confirmed my fears: My Rotator cuff was completely torn. Yuck. The pain was more excruciating than anything I’ve ever endured.
When I finally acquiesced to the reality of my limited choices (live in death defying pain or have surgery) the decision seemed obvious. Perhaps it was my over optimistic attitude that made me appear to be the perfect candidate to whiz through this vicious attack to my body. Whatever it was, I jumped on board and thought (like most anyone who is considerably “healthy”) that I could handle what I was about to face. I could not have been more naïve.
Pain is pain. Rotator cuff injuries are amongst the most painful and severe we’ll ever endure. The lesson I learned from changing my lifestyle in advance is that the length of time we’ll spend recovering can be greatly shortened. But pain is still pain.
The greatest challenge I faced was surgery. Most procedures are outpatient only. As great as my surgeon was, the post-op process experience can render quite a few unexpected moments. For this reason, I share the following advice as a patient to those considering or awaiting this surgery.

Prepare ahead
Begin using you uninjured side primarily before your surgery. You’ll find it will be much easier to adapt to your limitations during surgery.
Caretaker
Their role is to be the patients advocate. Try to have at least two or three caretakers who can be with the patient 24-7 for at least the first 7 days. The medication received during surgery will slowly wear off. Be prepared for the pain that will follow. Do not attempt to cure it through higher dosages of medication. Make certain to follow the prescribed medication exactly as written. If anything is in question, call your doctor immediately. Speak with the doctor or PA directly. No matter how severe the pain becomes, do not over medicate or supplement/mix with any other medications. Call someone on the list of caretakers to step in if the anxiety the patient is suffering from becomes too overwhelming for you to handle alone. If you are the only caretaker, ask in advance for the doctor to prescribe at home healthcare assistance. Ask friends, neighbors, churches, synagogues, mosques or whatever groups you are affiliated with for someone to step in for a few hours of relief. If you have only one caretaker, contact your insurance company in advance to review coverage for in-home patient care. I cannot underscore this advice enough.

Clothing
The patient will not be able to remove their sling for four weeks. Females will need a slip-on dress requiring no movement from the arms. Men will need slip on shorts and tank tops with only one side strap (the non-operated side) or Velcro straps. There are sites online that offer post-op clothing for this type of surgery, as well. For the first 72 hours forgo undergarments; too difficult to navigate during recovery. If you have to return to work, speak with your employer in advance about what you will be allowed to wear during this time. Here’s a link to clothing ideas online http://www.etsy.com/listing/74193160/s-l-post-op-clothing-shoulder-surgery

Sleeping/resting
If possible, patient will need a recliner to sleep and rest in post-surgery. According to their physician’s instruction, their arm strap will need to remain in place for several weeks. Sleep and rest are precious to a full recovery. Invest in two icepacks that can be rotated throughout the day/night during recovery. Most outpatient care includes an at home icepack machine that is used for the first 48 hrs. However, I found those machines were difficult for the patient to self-operate, disconnect/connect during ongoing recovery post the first few days. The hose carrying the cold water line to the pack over the shoulder bear down and cause pain.

After the first week, your arm sling may be removed. Your sleeping position will change from one position (back) to side and back sleeping. You will not be able to sleep on your injured side and will likely require a pillow under your injured arm during rest. Ask your doctor to provide instruction before implementing any changes to your sleeping position. Visit this link to view a demonstration http://youtu.be/5nWQqb9thqo.

Nutrition
Water is extremely beneficial to keep your body hydrated. Liquid nutrition may be the most agreeable and easiest to digest post surgery (Soups, banana/yogurt milk and protein based smoothies). Keep it simple and small. Appetite may take up to 48 hours to return, but nutrition is vital for helping the body to heal. Get your doctors approval before returning to your daily regimen of vitamins and/or supplements, or any other medications.

Post operative constipation is a potential side effect. Consume meals easy to digest.

First post-op check-up
Write down any questions and concerns you have before you return to the doctor. Bring a pad/pencil to write down notes, instructions and future appointments. Everyone recovers at a different pace, so try to give your-self as much grace as possible. Your recovery greatly depends upon your being an agreeable, positive patient. Preparation helps to ensure your full recovery.


Therapy
Just when you thought the worst was part of the journey was over, get ready to take a deep breath. Physical Therapy (PT) can be grueling. Depending upon your circumstances, PT can take up to 4-6 months. Your complete commitment is necessary to your success. PT will be at an authorized center. Ask to be assigned to a center convenient in your community.

Driving
You likely will not be able to drive until your sling is removed.

A Rotator cuff tear hits one of the most used parts of our body. The greater the tear - the more severe the pain. No one will comprehend your agony except those who have experienced it. You will need to commit to staying as focused, positive and resilient as possible. You will also need to realize the helplessness your caregiver will feel throughout your injury to recovery stages. Be sure to align more than one caregiver to help you during the first week of recovery. As you improve, slowly become more and more independent. Simple things like brushing your hair, teeth. Take short walks around the house. Learn how to get up and down from a resting position. Again, ask your doctor what you can do to help your healing process begin and do not overdo it.

Quick Tip for Wellness: Ask and prepare before surgery and your recovery will go much smoother.

Follow Pat on Facebook at Live Life Well Now and Twitter @wellnesstips4u

Copyright ©2013 All rights reserved

Quick Tips for Everyday Wellness: Quick Tips for Everyday Wellness: The great debate...

Quick Tips for Everyday Wellness: Quick Tips for Everyday Wellness: The great debate...: Quick Tips for Everyday Wellness: The great debate: Is obesity a disease? : Recently, the American Medical Association identified obesity a...

Quick Tips for Everyday Wellness: Does breaking a sweat prevent having a stroke?

Quick Tips for Everyday Wellness: Does breaking a sweat prevent having a stroke?: Recent research by the American Heart Association featured in their Journal “Stroke” revealed a surprising connection between breaking a swe...

Does breaking a sweat prevent having a stroke?

Recent research by the American Heart Association featured in their Journal “Stroke” revealed a surprising connection between breaking a sweat and preventing a stroke. Some of the highlights from their findings included:

• Breaking a sweat while working out regularly may help lower your stroke risk.
• Inactive people were more likely to experience a stroke or mini-stroke.
• Regular activity seems to lower stroke risk by reducing blood pressure, weight and blood sugar.

The candidates from the 5+ year studied were over 45 years old. One-third of those studied reported they were inactive. Consistency in the fitness regime of men who worked out four or more times a week revealed a lower risk of stroke. The women reviewed had less clear statistics on the frequency between stroke and activity.

Vigorous workouts (breaking a sweat) seemed to be the key to lowering the risk. Those who were inactive had a greater risk (20%) of experiencing a stroke or mini-stroke.

“The stroke-lowering benefits of physical activity are related to its impact on other risk factors,” said Michelle McDonnell, Ph.D., study author and Lecturer in the School of Health Sciences at the International Centre for Allied Health Evidence, University of South Australia. “Exercise reduces blood pressure, weight and diabetes. If exercise was a pill, you’d be taking one pill to treat four or five different conditions.”

Inactivity rates under high blood pressure as being the most closely related factor to having a stroke. The study incorporated participants from the “Regards” (Reasons for Geographic and Ethnics Differences in Stroke) study. Participants were mostly from the southeast region of the United States, a.k.a. The “Stroke Belt” (Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia) evenly incorporating both male and females.

Everything from quitting smoking to increasing activity, eating healthy and simply walking helped to decrease the risk of stroke. Activity includes:

Moderate to intense physical activity 30 minutes five days a week or 20 minutes of intense activity three days a week (total of 150 minutes of moderate to intense activity weekly)

Muscle strengthening exercise involving major muscle groups two days a week activity.

It is vitally crucial to stay hydrated (drink at least 16 oz of water an hour while working out). Breaking a sweat = losing body fluid. Our heart needs the fluid to help pump blood through the blood vessels. The heart works harder when we’re dehydrated. Especially during extremely hot, humid weather, our heart needs water, consistently. Whether you’re exercising, gardening or working in a physically demanding job, always have plenty of water on hand. Normally, we should consume half our body weight in ounces of water, daily. However, when it’s hot outside we need to increase our water intake (maybe doubling it) to help our heart not to become overworked.

References: http://newsroom.heart.org/news/breaking-a-sweat-while-exercising-regularly-may-help-reduce-stroke-risk

Quick Tips for Wellness: Lower your risk of a stroke by incorporating consistent fitness and healthy nutrition.

Follow Pat on Facebook at Pray Fast Eat Live, Live Life Well Now, and on Twitter @wellnesstips4U

Quick Tips for Everyday Wellness: The great debate: Is obesity a disease?

Quick Tips for Everyday Wellness: The great debate: Is obesity a disease?: Recently, the American Medical Association identified obesity as a disease. Their findings are based upon the history of health conditions...

The great debate: Is obesity a disease?

Recently, the American Medical Association identified obesity as a disease. Their findings are based upon the history of health conditions prevalent amongst obese family members. Genetics played a role in their decision, as well as other common denominators like excessive adipose (fat tissue). The first medical reference relating to obesity by a physician dates back to the 17th Century. The early discovery of this condition would lead us to believe obesity has little to do with the current nutritional culture, but think again.

Depending upon your social and economic status, a 17th century diet could reflect consumption fat rich foods including cream, butter and milk, beef and pork. If you were poor, your diet would focus on the ample supply of potatoes, bread, limited amounts of dairy and hardly any meat. With the discovery of new horizons came the introduction of a greater variety of food consumption. The likelihood for obesity would be narrowed down to someone’s access to healthy food and what they could afford.

Today, obesity can be influenced by our lifestyle and consumption. Fast food has made eating affordable but not nutritional. The introduction of chemicals to enhance, preserve and extend the shelf life of food has lessened the quality of food, tremendously. Combine all of the above together and the outcome will likely impact health and wellness.

Greater than all the above is what rests at the root-cause for obesity: Behavior. Overeating, poor nutrition, lifestyle, lack of knowledge and cultural surroundings influencing behavior. Unless habitual behavior changes, obesity will not be cured. Operations, prescribed medication and limited choices alone or combined – without behavior modification - will not likely prevent anyone from returning to their past.

Obesity can “run” in families, but the likelihood is their behavior and attitude toward nutrition is the cause linked to their obesity. Unless there is an underlying medical condition involved (i.e. Hypothyroidism, polycystic ovarian syndrome, Cushing's syndrome, central hypothyroidism and hypothalamic disorders). (Visit the following link to learn more about obesity related diseases http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18230905)

In the event, a medical condition is the culprit behind your health condition a Registered Dietitian would be the medical expert to help develop your nutritional requirements. If your medical condition is not the reason for obesity, than behavior must be dealt with first. Until the behavior is addressed, the battle of the bulge will continue to win.
Calling obesity a disease only allows more opportunity for medication to be the answer when behavior is typically rooted to the problem.

Quick Tips for Wellness: Change your thinking (behavior) and your Wellness will follow.

Quick Tips for Wellness ™ Copyright (2013) All Rights Reserved

Pat Ferguson is an AASDN Nutrition Specialist, Wellness Trainer and Founder of Live Life Well Now (www.livelifewellnow.net).
Follow Pat on Twitter @wellnesstips4u and Facebook Live Life Well Now

Quick Tips for Everyday Wellness: South Beach Diet Gluten Solution: Sales gimmick o...

Quick Tips for Everyday Wellness: South Beach Diet Gluten Solution: Sales gimmick o...: With so much talk about the downside of gluten in our diet and how it has negatively affected the digestion for untold numbers of people, i...

South Beach Diet Gluten Solution: Sales gimmick or solid advice?

With so much talk about the downside of gluten in our diet and how it has negatively affected the digestion for untold numbers of people, it makes perfect sense that a famous diet guru would jump on the band wagon. Dr. Agatston, the brain behind the South Beach Diet is taking a shot at solving the “gluten” problem many face in their diet. As skeptical as I may sound, I’m thinking book sales (23 million and counting) are possibly the motive behind revamping an outdated solution. The book describes the weight loss benefits you will experience when managing gluten in your diet. However, it makes certain to include that not everyone needs to give up gluten totally. There’s also a “slight” claim that following the guidelines and principles may result in losing 10 pounds in two weeks. Both sound confusing, don’t you think?

Here’s my problem with “diets” (South Beach, Atkins, etc.): They work for the time you are on them, and they do not (primarily) change your lifestyle. If you are attempting to “tip- toe around” being gluten-free, you are going to step into too many piles of problems as you navigate the terrain. At what point did Agatston give thought to “gluten” in the diet? Perhaps, when the bandwagon was passing by….but that is just my guess.

Based upon doctors who are gluten experts, only a extremely small percentage of society suffers from diseases related to gluten, like celiac disease (less than 10%) versus the 50% figure Agatston suggests. What that tells us is simply this: The “gluten” problem has likely been a problem without a name until recently (which makes sense). Prior attention to the problem was primarily due to the low percentages of people affected. As the popularity of this problem has grown, so has the bandwagon. Thus, a likely reason why diet gurus are cashing-in on the gluten-free bandwagon now. The problem with any re-vamped book, appearing to accommodate the latest health trend, is the speculation on how it differs from the prior advice. Gluten has been part of the food culture for a very, long time. If modifying its consumption would have made a difference to the waist line, why didn’t this problem get pointed out years ago?

Someone who has celiac disease or has a gluten intolerance should follow the advice of their doctor and avoid gluten. If you are buying a book that tip toes around a dietary solution to gluten consumption for weight loss, think before you invest. The best investment in your wellness for weight management is not going to come through a diet but through changing your lifestyle. The following lists contain some of the consumable to non-consumable food/beverage products you will want to consider when practicing a “gluten-free” lifestyle.
Many everyday foods are allowed in most gluten free diets. They include the following:
• Beans, seeds, nuts in their natural, unprocessed form; Fresh eggs; Fresh meats, fish and poultry (not breaded, batter-coated or marinated)
• Fruits and vegetables; Most dairy products
• Gluten free products should not be processed, mixed with gluten-containing grains, additives or preservatives. The following is a list of grains/starches that can usually be classified as “gluten-free”:
• Amaranth, Arrowroot, Buckwheat, Corn and cornmeal, Flax, Gluten-free flours (rice, soy, corn, potato, bean)
• Hominy (corn), Millet, Quinoa, Rice, Sorghum, Soy, Tapioca, Teff
Food or beverages containing the following should be avoided:
• Barley (malt, malt flavoring and malt vinegar are each typically made from barley)
• Rye, Triticale (a cross between wheat and rye), Wheat
Any wheat flour containing the description “Bromated, enriched, phosphated, plain and self-rising” should be avoided, along with the following:
• Bulgur, Durum flour, Graham flour
• Farina, Kamut, Semolina, Spelt, Beer, Breads, Cakes and pies, Candies
• Cereals, Cookies and crackers, Croutons
• French fries, Gravies
• Imitation meat or seafood
• Matzo, Pastas
• Processed luncheon meats
• Salad dressings, Sauces, including soy sauce, Seasoned rice mixes
• Seasoned snack foods, such as potato and tortilla chips
• Self-basting poultry
• Soups and soup bases, Vegetables in sauce
Certain grains, such as oats, can be contaminated with wheat during growing and processing stages of production. For this reason, doctors and dietitians generally recommend avoiding oats unless they are specifically labeled gluten-free.
You should also be alert for other products that you eat or that could come in contact with your mouth that may contain gluten. These include:
• Food additives, such as malt flavoring, modified food starch and others
• Medications and vitamins that use gluten as a binding agent
• Play dough
•
Quick Tips for Wellness: Whether you’re gluten intolerant or not, whole, fresh food is beneficial for everyone!

Quick Tips for Wellness ™ Copyright © 2013, all rights reserved
Follow Pat on Twitter @wellnesstips4u and Facebook at “Live Life Well Now”
Pat Ferguson is an AASDN Nutrition Specialist and author of the PrayFastEatLive Wellness Guide
(Resource http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/gluten-free-diet/my01140)

Quick Tips for Everyday Wellness: Additives in Sport Drinks get a second look

Quick Tips for Everyday Wellness: Additives in Sport Drinks get a second look: From increased tooth decay to neurological side effects that sport drink you’re reaching for might not be such a good idea. The hidden ing...

Additives in Sport Drinks get a second look

From increased tooth decay to neurological side effects that sport drink you’re reaching for might not be such a good idea. The hidden ingredients and the obvious ones are wreaking havoc on our bodies beyond what the human eye can see.

BVO
Brominated vegetable oil is used to keep fruit flavoring balanced in sports drinks. However, this not-so-dangerous sounding additive has also been blamed for causing unwanted damage to our bodies, even though it's FDA approved. PepsiCo has long used BVO in Pepsi products, like Mountain Dew, Powerade, Fresca and Sunkist Orange. Dr. Pepper Snapple’s Squirt and Sunkist Peach soda also contain BVO.

The buildup of BVO’s in our body can be passed along to babies through breast milk, have been linked to thyroid problems in puberty and neurological disorders, even though they're FDA approved.

The FDA passed a law in the 1930’s that allowed “generally safe” additives, which had already been previously approved, to be added in our products without being required to be on the product label. The greatest downside to a decision that keeps the public unaware of what they’re consuming is how it ultimately effects their health.

Between good lawyers and public notice, food and beverage companies can push many products through the loophole legal system without FDA approval. As long as you have an expert opinion on a product, new additives are added to our food each year without any FDA approval. Until the product comes under the scrutiny of public outcry or someone starts doing their homework to unmask the content, a product can go into consumption without anyone knowing anything different than it’s presumably safe.

Tooth Decay
The acidity level in a sports drink is causing an increase in tooth decay, according to a General Dentistry study (http://jada.ada.org/content/143/6/560.2.full) by Dr. Poonam Jain.

"Young adults consume these drinks assuming that they will improve their sports performance and energy levels and that they are 'better' for them than soda," says Poonam Jain, BDS, MS, MPH, lead author of the study. "Most of these patients are shocked to learn that these drinks are essentially bathing their teeth with acid." (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120501134319.htm)

According to the J.A.D. A (Journal of the American Dental Association), Dr. Pain’s research concluded the following:
“The study results showed that the mean fluoride level was significantly higher in sports drinks than in energy drinks, the authors wrote. Energy drinks had statistically higher pH levels and titratable acidity compared with sports drinks.

The investigators also found significantly higher enamel weight loss in samples exposed to energy drinks than in those exposed to sports drinks. However, exposure to sports drinks also resulted in considerable enamel weight loss after five days of simulated exposure, the authors wrote.” (http://jada.ada.org/content/143/6/560.2.full)

So what’s the conclusion to this discovery? Unless the FDA requires full access and inclusive product labeling, we’ll never know what we’re consuming.

Quick Tips for Wellness: The best defense is offense. Only consume what you know.

Pat Ferguson is an AASDN Nutrition Specialist, Author of “PrayFastEatLive – Wellness Guide” and founder of Live Life Well Now. You can follow Pat on Facebook (PrayFastEatLive & Live Life Well Now) and on twitter @wellnesstips4u
Copyright © 2013, All Rights Reserved

Quick Tips for Everyday Wellness: Body Whispers: 15 "Female Cancer" signs your body...

Quick Tips for Everyday Wellness: Body Whispers: 15 "Female Cancer" signs your body...: For the most part, women are very in tune with their bodies and understand the importance of taking care of their health. Yet for some re...

Body Whispers: 15 "Female Cancer" signs your body is telling you not to ignore

For the most part, women are very in tune with their bodies and understand the importance of taking care of their health. Yet for some reason, we ignore some pretty obvious signs that would seem to “jump” out at us in a heartbeat. Perhaps, it’s because we just don’t have the time to do something about it or that we’ll be treated as if we’re overreacting. Maybe, it’s because we’re the caregivers to our family, friends and neighbors and we put ourselves last way too many times. However, just like anything else, if we don’t take care of the “little” things they will grow into bigger things that take over our lives making it worse and not better.
According to WebMD, the following are the top 15 cancer signs you never want to ignore (http://www.webmd.com/cancer/features/15-cancer-symptoms-women-ignore):

*Unexplained weight loss without dieting/exercising
*Bloating, without being associated to the menstrual cycle. These symptoms may produce pelvic or abdominal pain, feeling full quickly and/or causing frequent urination
*Breast changes (rash/redness on the skin, discharge from the breasts)
*Bleeding in-between a period or excessively/heavily beyond a normal menstrual cycle
*Skin changes, moles
*Difficulty swallowing
*Blood in the stool
*Abdominal pain and depression
*Frequent indigestion
*White spots inside the mouth or on the tongue
*Unexplained pain that suddenly occurs and lingers
*Lymph node changes (arm pits and neck) increasing/swelling in size
*Fever (not related to any other known illness and/or infection)
*Fatigue
*Persistent cough

Many of the above could be related to something else, but ignoring them or not informing your doctor that they are occurring is a dangerous mistake. If you are not having an annual “Pap smear” and mammogram, consider having both immediately. If you are experiencing the above symptoms for a prolonged period of time, write down your symptoms including when they began, how/when they occur and talk to your doctor immediately. If you don’t have a gynecologist and live in Hampton Roads, I highly recommend Dr. Ebenezer NiMoii (757-547-4500). He is compassionate and an excellent doctor. His office staff is beyond proficient in their work. He is located in Chesapeake. Their website is www.greenbrierobgyn.com.

Quick Tips for Wellness: “Signs” are our bodies whispering to us. Never ignore what your internal instincts are trying to communicate to you.

Pat Ferguson is an AASDN Nutrition Specialist, founder of Live Life Well Now and PrayFastEatLive a Biblical approach to Wellness.
Quick Tips for Wellness ™, Copyright © 2013, All Rights Reserved
Follow me on Facebook Quick Tips for Wellness and Twitter @wellnesstips4u

Quick Tips for Everyday Wellness: Food allergies versus intolerance; how to know the...

Quick Tips for Everyday Wellness: Food allergies versus intolerance; how to know the...: Did you know….that less than 8% of the people who have an adverse reaction to food are related to a food allergy? What may appear to be a...

Food allergies versus intolerance; how to know the difference between the two

Did you know….that less than 8% of the people who have an adverse reaction to food are related to a food allergy? What may appear to be an “allergic reaction” in reality is (maybe) intolerance to food, chemicals or anything else we ingest. Here’s now to know the difference:

Allergies usually produce the following reactions: Tingling (in the mouth), hives, swelling (lips, eyes, face, tongue, and/or throat), dizziness, fainting, nausea, cramping, and diarrhea.

Why does your body react this way?
*It recognizes the food as a toxin (like a poison) to the body and sends antibodies to fight off the perceived effects.
*Our body releases “histamine” whenever it fights off an allergy, hence causing some of the above symptoms (swelling).

Food intolerance usually affects the digestive system causing nausea, cramping, and diarrhea. The root-cause is usually related to the absence of an enzyme the body fails to produce during digestion.

What triggers these symptoms?
*Food poisoning (bacteria found in food that our body cannot fight-off)
*IBS (aka irritable bowel syndrome) is a chronic condition causing bloating, cramping and diarrhea.
*Celiac disease (reaction to most breads, cookies, wheat, rye) results in severe abdominal pain/bloating, cramping.

Our body naturally signals us when something is wrong through rejecting it during digestion. Allergies are particularly concerning as they can cause severe and immediate problems. Whether you suspect your reaction is allergic or intolerance related, don’t ignore the symptoms and see a doctor immediately. Write down specific information in order to help your doctor in their diagnosis (i.e. What you ate/ingested or came in contact with, when the reaction occurred, how long it lasted, what physical symptoms you suffered and how often these symptoms occur).

The easiest way to remember the difference between the two is this:
Allergies usually cause swelling. Intolerances usually cause indigestion. Both can occur with allergies but rarely occur with intolerances.

Quick Tips for Wellness: Immediately write down your symptoms, consumption and activity surrounding your reaction and see a doctor immediately.

Pat Ferguson is an AASDN Nutrition Specialist, Wellness Coach, Seminar Educator, and the founder of Live Life Well Now & PrayFastEatLive. Follow Pat on Facebook at Live Life Well Now and on Twitter, at wellnesstips4u.

Quick Tips For Wellness ™, Copyright © 2013, All Rights Reserved

Quick Tips for Everyday Wellness: Vitamin D: The "source" inside of you!

Quick Tips for Everyday Wellness: Vitamin D: The "source" inside of you!: On a cloudy day, most of us feel a little down wanting to get out in the sun to “amp-up our “Vitamin D”. However, the sun has only one rol...

Vitamin D: The "source" inside of you!

On a cloudy day, most of us feel a little down wanting to get out in the sun to “amp-up our “Vitamin D”. However, the sun has only one role in helping our “D” do the trick for our mood; it synthesizes what’s inside of us.

From the food we eat to how our body utilizes it, “D” provides many life giving properties:
*It builds tissue, metabolizes calcium, nerves, builds messengers (between the brain the body), stimulate activation and growth.
*It helps rebuild our immune system while taking care of the disposal of our dead cells (through the natural apoptosis process aka cell suicide)

Exposure to the sun helps to stimulate what we’ve already consumed through Vitamin D3, resulting in:
*Releasing the “feel good” hormone “Serotonin” (thus the reason why we enjoy a sunny day!) However, sunscreen only helps to play a part in protecting our skin to overexposure from the sun’s UVB rays.
*Increasing our overall wellness
*Help defend our body against illness and disease

Nutritional resources
Nutrition is vitally crucial in making the healthy deposits our body requires. We can find the supply of Vitamin D from several food groups:
Dairy (Milk, butter)
Fish liver oils (Cod)
Oily fish (Salmon, Tuna, Halibut, Mackerel, Sardines)
Seeds (sunflower)
Shell seafood (Oysters)
Plants (Mushrooms)
Beef liver, cheese and egg yolk each supply smaller amounts of Vitamin D to our body.

Other secondary foods made from Vitamin D resources (i.e. Ice cream, cheese) are usually not “fortified” with Vitamin D (think of it as reinforced/added to) and do not supply any significant amounts.

Fortified products like yogurt, orange juice, cereals and margarine often have a degree of added “D”. Learn to read the labels to determine if they have been fortified.

DRI’s for Adults and Children
Visit the following link to learn more about the DRI’s to see if you’re getting the amount of D you need from natural resources. While medical grade supplements are sometimes necessary to supply for a severe deficiency, the natural resources should become part of our daily supply through what we consume via nutrition. (http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminD-QuickFacts/)

Signs/symptoms of low D
The following is some of the typical signs of low vitamin D:
Depression
Rickets
Osteoporosis

Individuals with naturally darker skin color have a higher resistance to synthesizing Vitamin D from exposure to the sun, thus causing their vitamin D levels to appear lower than someone with a lighter complexion. Many other diseases are being studied for their connection to low vitamin D levels (i.e. Multiple sclerosis, autoimmune disease, hypertension, and bone disorders). The increased intake of D is being studied for its protection against some types of cancer colon, breast and prostate. On the other-hand, too much Vitamin D may be linked to other forms of cancer, like pancreatic cancer.

Supplements
There can be a great deal of confusion over taking versus not taking supplements for low Vitamin D. Nutrition first should be the underlying source for where our Vitamin D is derived. However, if you are going to take a supplement it should be either medical or pharmaceutical grade in quality. Just taking supplements and not changing your dietary/nutritional needs is counterproductive to your overall wellness.

Quick Tips for Wellness: Vitamin D is an internal cornerstone the body needs to build off of for good health.

Pat Ferguson is an AASDN Nutrition Specialist, Author, Nutrition Educator and Seminar Leader

Quick Tips for Wellness ™ Copyright © 2013, All Rights Reserved
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Quick Tips for Everyday Wellness: "Live Life Well Now" Wellness Seminar April 27th: ...

Quick Tips for Everyday Wellness: "Live Life Well Now" Wellness Seminar April 27th: ...: The overwhelming task of trying to understand nutrition and what your body needs can seem daunting, expensive and inconvenient. Register ...

"Live Life Well Now" Wellness Seminar April 27th: Learn how to help your body help itself!

The overwhelming task of trying to understand nutrition and what your body needs can seem daunting, expensive and inconvenient. Register now to attend the April 27, 2013, educational Wellness Seminar and learn how to use nutrition to help your body help itself. Click on the following link to register (pre-registration required):

Website: www.livelifewellnow.net/seminar

Date: April 27, 2013

Time: 9:30am-12pm

Location: First Baptist Church of Norfolk, 312 Kempsville Road, Room 300, Norfolk, Va 23502

Cost: $20/person; $30/couple. Seminar includes Wellness Guide, food/beverage samples

Registration: Event is open to the public; pre-registration required.

Instructor: Pat Ferguson, AASDN Nutrition Specialist

Questions? Call 757-581-1997

Quick Tips for Everyday Wellness: The top five secrets to losing belly fat

Quick Tips for Everyday Wellness: The top five secrets to losing belly fat: What to eat and not to eat in order to lose belly fat is the top question being asked (especially this time of year – the pre-bathing suit s...

Quick Tips for Everyday Wellness: Fat cells and internal organs; are they the “bank ...

Quick Tips for Everyday Wellness: Fat cells and internal organs; are they the “bank ...: When it comes to overcoming there's a lot more to it than just sheer willpower. Before we can get to the other side of our condition (f...

Quick Tips for Everyday Wellness: Cancer patients and survivors: Are K-cups safe?

Quick Tips for Everyday Wellness: Cancer patients and survivors: Are K-cups safe?: A sixty-year old plus friend recently shared an interesting testimony about how her estrogen levels had suddenly risen above a normal leve...

Cancer patients and survivors: Are K-cups safe?

A sixty-year old plus friend recently shared an interesting testimony about how her estrogen levels had suddenly risen above a normal level, much to both her and her doctor’s surprise. As she began reviewing her daily eating and activity habits, she noticed only one major change in her behavior over the past several months: Since Christmas she had been regularly consuming coffee via Keurig cup containers. At first, she didn’t think there was any reason to associate the two, but thought it wouldn’t hurt to eliminate her consumption just in case and upon doing so her estrogen levels lowered almost immediately.

The correlation between the two could be a coincidence; however, it would be an unlikely one. It seems that other people have raised the same concern since the introduction of the plastic containers even though these containers were FDA approved as “BPA-free”. The real question the public has not had answered by the makers of these K-cup products is, “What is the plastic to produce the K-cups and what are the known effects they have on our bodies?”

Keurig’s website addresses the BPA concern with the following statement:
“K-Cup® and Vue® packs do not contain BPA and are constructed using FDA-approved food safe materials. We also use FDA-approved food safe materials in our K-Cup® and Vue® brewing systems, and neither system contains BPA within its water paths (as of January 1, 2010 for our K-Cup® system).” (http://www.keurig.com/social-responsibility)

What Keurig is not addressing are the effects of any plastic liner used, under extensive heat and which products they are using in replacement of a BPA plastic. According to a study by “The Environmental Health Perspectives”, even BPA free products are not as safe as you might expect. In July, 2011, the NCBI released the following study, clearly noting that a product labeled BPA free can still release chemicals that contain estrogenic activity when subjected to certain conditions (i.e. Hot temperatures).

Below are the results of the study:
Background: Chemicals having estrogenic activity (EA) reportedly cause many adverse health effects, especially at low (picomolar to nanomolar) doses in fetal and juvenile mammals.

Objectives: We sought to determine whether commercially available plastic resins and products, including baby bottles and other products advertised as bisphenol A (BPA) free, release chemicals having EA.

Methods: We used a roboticized MCF-7 cell proliferation assay, which is very sensitive, accurate, and repeatable, to quantify the EA of chemicals leached into saline or ethanol extracts of many types of commercially available plastic materials, some exposed to common-use stresses (microwaving, ultraviolet radiation, and/or autoclaving).

Results: Almost all commercially available plastic products we sampled—independent of the type of resin, product, or retail source—leached chemicals having reliably detectable EA, including those advertised as BPA free. In some cases, BPA-free products released chemicals having more EA than did BPA-containing products.

Conclusions: Many plastic products are mischaracterized as being EA free if extracted with only one solvent and not exposed to common-use stresses. However, we can identify existing compounds, or have developed, monomers, additives, or processing agents that have no detectable EA and have similar costs. Hence, our data suggest that EA-free plastic products exposed to common-use stresses and extracted by saline and ethanol solvents could be cost-effectively made on a commercial scale and thereby eliminate a potential health risk posed by most currently available plastic products that leach chemicals having EA into food products.

If you are a cancer patient, survivor or simply want to avoid the possibility of cancer, avoid the use of plastics especially under the exposure of high temperatures. The risk is simply not worth it.

Quick Tips for Wellness: BPA-free may still put your health at risk.


Quick Tips for Wellness ™ 2013, All Rights Reserved

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Quick Tips for Everyday Wellness: Soda consumption + men = Weak knees

Quick Tips for Everyday Wellness: Soda consumption + men = Weak knees: According to a recent study by Harvard Medical School, soda consumption and Osteoarthritis may have a connection. Injury, aging and stres...

Soda consumption + men = Weak knees

According to a recent study by Harvard Medical School, soda consumption and Osteoarthritis may have a connection. Injury, aging and stress on the knee can lead to osteoarthritis, the key in the study specifically on men lead researchers to link soda as an annoying culprit.

"Our main finding is that in general, the more sugary soda men drink, the greater the risk that knee osteoarthritis will get worse," says researcher Bing Lu, MD, DrPh. Lu is assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and associate biostatistician at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. (http://www.webmd.com/osteoarthritis/news/20121108/soda-may-worsen-knee-osteoarthritis-in-men)

In the past, obesity was typically the known factor behind deteriorating of knee cartilage. However, the study divided the groups into non-obese versus obese men discovering that the problem with osteoarthritis was more prominent in the non-obese soda consuming participants.

Of course, the American Beverage Association refutes there is even the possibility of a link between soda consumption and any disease (i.e. Cancer, Osteoarthritis, etc.). ABA claims “all calories count when it comes to overweight and obesity, and there is nothing unique about the calories contributed to the diet by soft drinks."

The study, performed over a period of four years, included both men and women. Before, during and after testing/examinations recorded and evaluated the progressive degeneration of knee tissue throughout the study, concluding the following:
*Men who consumed five or more sodas a week experienced twice the amount of deterioration in their knee cartilage than those men who consumed less

The ABA’s claim that a “calorie is a calorie” is simply not true. The content of a calorie is used by our body as fuel (energy) and/or a drug (rebuilds/restores/renews). When the content of the calorie is filled with chemicals, artificial sweeteners and contains no health benefits, its toxic effects slow down the rebuilding, restoring and renewing of cells. In addition, the body’s acidity levels rise while the alkaline levels fall when we consume soda drinks. If Coca-Cola eats away acid on battery, what do we expect it to do to the body when we consume it?

Over and over again, the soda beverage industry has been under scrutiny for producing products that have unhealthy side effects. Diet or Zero calories does not equal a healthier choice.

Quick Tips for Wellness: Avoid soda consumption. Your body will thank you for it in the end!

Quick Tips for Wellness ™ Copyright ©2013, All Rights Reserved

Quick Tips for Everyday Wellness: Is your favorite "vice" a ticking time bomb?

Quick Tips for Everyday Wellness: Is your favorite "vice" a ticking time bomb?: Some people thrive off drinking soda drinks all day long, claiming they will go crazy without their device. Others swear by their chocola...

Is your favorite "vice" a ticking time bomb?

Some people thrive off drinking soda drinks all day long, claiming they will go crazy without their device. Others swear by their chocolate treats while some must have their bowl of nightly ice cream. For some, the nightly nightcap turns into a habitual habit that becomes increasingly hard to kick. However, what they may not realize is that their favorite “vice” is producing a ticking time bomb inside their body.

The dangerously high sugar content and acidic levels found in many foods and beverages slowly deprive our healthy cells the oxygen they need to survive. Our body eventually pays the price forward through disease and illness; however, this is not new news. As far back to 1931, when the Dr. Otto Warburg received the Pulitzer Prize for discovering the connection between a lack of cellular oxygen and cancer cells, reveal what happens to our bodies when we consume too much acidic laced beverages and food:

“Cancerous tissues are acidic, whereas healthy tissues are alkaline. Water splits into H+ and OH- ions, if there is an excess of H+, it is acidic; if there is an excess of OH- ions, then it is alkaline.” (Dr. Warburg)

Through Dr. Warburg’s work, he proved some solid conclusions: All forms of cancer can be characterized by two basic conditions: Acidosis and hypoxia (lack of oxygen). Where you have one, you inevitably have the other.

The more concerning results of his findings were the following:
"All normal cells have an absolute requirement for oxygen, but cancer cells can live without oxygen - a rule without exception." –Dr. Otto Warburg

"Deprive a cell 35% of its oxygen for 48 hours and it may become cancerous." – Dr. Otto Warburg


A recent acquaintance shared with me the story about her husband, who was a Gynecologist, dying from cancer. When his lab work arrived it revealed a decidedly troubling result: His body’s acid levels were sky high. That was the first red flag. As the doctor began researching the cause, he quickly realized his culprit was oddly associated with his soda habit. Here, he was a doctor, well educated and informed, and yet he did not know that his consumption of soda was destroying his health. As much as he tried to reverse the damage through attempting to raise his alkaline levels and reduce his acidic consumption, it was too late.

Many people have advocated for better labeling practices in America, like Michael F. Jacobson who is the Executive Director at the Center for Science in the Public Interest in Washington and an advocate who has urged the FDA to implement the labeling of soda products, revealing their toxic sugar level content.
Read more: http://www.upi.com/Health_News/2013/02/14/FDA-urged-to-set-safe-soda-sugar-level/UPI-54931360821371/#ixzz2LLXvsRUy

"As currently formulated, Coke, Pepsi, and other sugar-based drinks are unsafe for regular human consumption," Jacobson said in a statement. "The FDA should require the beverage industry to re-engineer their sugary products over several years, making them safer for people to consume, and less conducive to disease." (Michael F. Jacobson)

Read more: http://www.upi.com/Health_News/2013/02/14/FDA-urged-to-set-safe-soda-sugar-level/UPI-54931360821371/#ixzz2LLYwd9tt

When the body’s pH balance is too high, the body works overtime to balance the effect, looking for essential minerals from either our nutrition (usually to poor to provide what the body needs) or other organs, bones in our body (heart, lungs, liver, bones/joints/skin, etc). This vicious cycle begins to do much more damage than what we can eventually withstand, leading to a long list of disease/illness that will eventually destroy lives.

This high acidic condition, referred to as “Acidosis, has some basic symptoms:
*Stiffness
*Heart pain
*Mood swings (high and lows, depression, fatigue)
*Memory problems

In addition to sodas, the following is a list of contents you need to avoid:
*Sweeteners
*Preservatives
*White sugar
*White flour

Bottom line is this: Healthy nutrition comes from whole, unprocessed food, beverages.

Quick Tips for Wellness: It is almost impossible to un-ring the bell once the damage is done.

Quick Tips for Wellness ™ Copyright © 2013, All Rights Reserved

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Quick Tips for Everyday Wellness: Whopping cough: New strain putting many children ...

Quick Tips for Everyday Wellness: Whopping cough: New strain putting many children ...: In the 1940’s, the first whooping cough vaccine became the protection against the highly contagious illness. Later, in the early 1990’s, a ...

Whopping cough: New strain putting many children and the elderly at risk

In the 1940’s, the first whooping cough vaccine became the protection against the highly contagious illness. Later, in the early 1990’s, a newer version of the vaccine replaced it; however, it has left many questioning its effectiveness.

Last year over 41,000 new cases of whooping cough reported. A new wave of the disease has started to spread, but this time it seems the “virus” is more likely harder to control making the cough increasingly contagious. The CDC reported this year as the worse for the spread of the disease in six decades and the new strain is to be blamed, according to the agency.

Typically, a few quick tests during an examination lead to diagnosis the illness. The downside to this type of testing comes from the lack of depth in knowing more about the possible source for the new strain.

Symptoms include:
*Coughing
*Fever
*Congestion
*Apnea (pause in breathing)


Quick Tips for Wellness: Whopping cough may initially appear to be a cold. Pay attention to the symptoms and seek immediate medical attention.

Quick Tips for Wellness ™ Copyright ©2013
Resources: http://www.cdc.gov/pertussis/about/signs-symptoms.html

Quick Tips for Everyday Wellness: Body Language: 7 Symptoms speak louder than words...

Quick Tips for Everyday Wellness: Body Language: 7 Symptoms speak louder than words...: From aches and pains, to forgetfulness and exhilaration, the body is constantly “talking” to us. Most of the time, we listen. But, somet...

Body Language: 7 Symptoms speak louder than words!

From aches and pains, to forgetfulness and exhilaration, the body is constantly “talking” to us. Most of the time, we listen. But, sometimes we don’t. Learning to listen to what our body is telling us may just change our wellness for a lifetime.

Below are the top seven symptoms commonly experienced by most of us when our body's trying to tell us something inside of us may need further attention:

Body aches – The body responds to illness and injury through many signs/symptoms including “body aches”. When the body is rebuilding/repairing itself, body aches can be a normal part of the process. When illness and disease are the culprit behind the symptoms, the body is trying to tell us something is wrong and is in need of our attention. If you begin experiencing body aches unrelated to an injury or muscle fatigue, consult with a doctor immediately. Write down the location, when they began and any other symptoms you are experiencing. Unless the doctor recommends medication, self medicating could “mask” the problem. Everything from muscle exertion to meningitis, ticks and cancer could be at the root of your aches. Medication may “mask” the pain confusing the diagnosis of your condition.

Fatigue/exhaustion – The body naturally “replenishes, renews and restores” itself within a 24 hour cycle, resupplying the serotonin and melatonin levels from the middle of the night to early morning. When we lack sleep, we endanger the body from fulfilling this process. Poor diet and a lack of exercise can initiate the feeling of fatigue and exhaustion. The body needs to be “refueled” and naturally fatigued (through healthy amounts of exercise/activity). Illness can begin as “fatigue”, alerting us to a deeper-rooted problem. If you are getting a good night’s sleep, but your are not waking refreshed, that could be the sign that something else is out of alignment inside of you.

Thirst – Every “body” needs one primary liquid throughout the day; water. Without water, the body begins to dehydrate, causing us to become thirsty (amongst other things). However, thirst isn’t always a lack of water. It can be a pre-cursor and warning to us that something more might be going on inside of our body. For example, Diabetes can be associated with thirst. Medicine can often cause an increase in thirst. Heart, kidney, and liver disease can signal there’s an imbalance, causing excessive thirst. Dehydration through activity/exercise is usually what we experience the most when thirsty, but can usually be satisfied through drinking water. If your thirst cannot be satisfied, see a doctor immediately.

Cravings – Something salty; something sweet. Believe it or not, consumption of one can cause the desire for another. However, if you are experiencing salt cravings there could be something more to your condition. A lack of sodium, Addison’s disease (decrease production of hormones by the adrenal glands), and electrolyte imbalance could be at the root of your problem. A craving for sugar usually comes from an internal response (aka “crash”) resulting from a drop in glucose/blood sugar levels. Refined sugar (i.e. Candy) is the worse culprit behind these cravings. Complex carbohydrates and simple carbohydrates (fruit) can help balance cravings. If you are “craving” something salty, something sweet every day (or more often than not), write down what you’re eating, when the cravings occur and see a doctor for further advice. While it could be dietary, it may be medically related to a condition that shouldn’t be ignored.

Inflammation – Our body has a natural way of protecting us through the release of white blood cells and body chemicals, slowly released into our blood stream/cells. These natural properties help our body prevent disease and inflammation. When we’re sick, our white blood cell count is usually “high”, signally to us that our body is in defense mode. However, there are times when the body releases these cells/chemicals without cause, resulting in a greater problem (auto-immune diseases) damaging internal tissue. Inflammation can take on several (and sometimes confusing) symptoms, such as aching, redness, swelling, joint pain, muscle stiffness, chills, loss of joint function. If your condition lingers and does not appear related to something else (i.e. Illness or injury/fatigue) see a doctor immediately.

Bloating – A build up of gas in the stomach and intestines is usually the culprit behind bloating. Stress, smoking, poor diet, can all cause bloating. Diseases related to bloating include celiac disease or lactose intolerance, gastrointestinal infection, blockage, IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), and even some foods (i.e. Broccoli, baked beans, and Brussels sprouts). Chewing gum, carbonated drinks and candy also have an adverse affect on digestion and can cause bloating, as well. Changes in your diet and/or lifestyle affect the body’s more than we realize (for the good or bad), so pay attention to anything that appears to happen within a twenty four hour period after consumption or a life changing event.

Itching/rash – External (environment) and internal (disease/infection) can cause our skin to itch or present a rash (redness/bumps/skin irritation). If we suddenly start itching or see a rash appear, then we should take this as a serious sign something is going on and our body is trying to warn us. From eczema to chicken pox, itching/swell/redness can occur typically affecting a specific area on our body. On the other hand, itching/swelling/redness occurring throughout the body reflects a greater problem (i.e. Kidney failure, iron deficiency/anemia, leukemia, thyroid problems, etc.). The body’s reaction to food, drug and/or the environment, are typically the culprits behind itching/rash related responses.

However, no matter what you “think” might be behind your condition, never self medicate as you could be confusing the symptoms with the treatment making it more difficult for a doctor to accurately diagnose your condition. See a doctor immediately.

Quick Tips for Wellness: Learn to listen to your body and take action when it signals something is wrong.

Quick Tips for Wellness, Copyright © 2013, All Rights Reserved

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Quick Tips for Everyday Wellness: The fight against “inflammation” – Omega 6 vs Omeg...

Quick Tips for Everyday Wellness: The fight against “inflammation” – Omega 6 vs Omeg...: The body’s self-protection mechanisms respond in several ways. Inflammation is the body’s way of signaling that there are damaged cells a...

The fight against “inflammation” – Omega 6 vs Omega 3’s

The body’s self-protection mechanisms respond in several ways. Inflammation is the body’s way of signaling that there are damaged cells and unwanted pathogens inside of us. Diets high in trans-fats (fried, fast food) contain higher levels of Omega 6 fatty acids (see below examples), often associated with inflammation. While the body needs “certain” Omega 6 fatty acids to stay in balance, the overconsumption of food products containing them promote toxic inflammation.

Omega 6 foods high in fatty acids (pro-inflammatory):
*Corn, safflower, soy, peanut and sunflower oils
*Refined food (flour, sugar and high GI (Glycemic Index) elevates glucose while raising insulin, promoting pro-inflammatory responses within the body
*Wheat and dairy products can also contribute to a cascading effect on the body’s response to digesting these types of food
*Fried foods
*Fast foods

Omega 3 (polyunsaturated fats) foods are the “healthy” fatty acids. Most are in whole, fresh and unprocessed food, along with oily fish, (certain) nuts and oils.

Omega 3 foods (anti-inflammatory):
*Extra Virgin, flax, avocado, hempseed and walnut oil
*Oily fish (Sardines, Wild Salmon, Herring, Anchovies)
*Walnuts
*Organic pasteurized eggs
*Grass fed (versus grain feed) food products

Other food products like dark green leafy vegetables, onions, garlic and high antioxidant fruits and vegetables are also a must for a healthy, balanced diet.

Food allergies can be associated with inflammatory responses in the body, due to the body’s intolerance to certain proteins found in food like wheat and dairy products. Once consumed, the “gut” has a difficult time breaking down those proteins resulting in inflammation. It can be difficult to detect a food allergy. It is often easier to remove what the obvious while monitoring your body’s reaction.

The easiest way to live a nutritionally healthy, balanced life is to ask this question before consuming anything: Is it whole, fresh and/or organic? This principle applies to each food group (carbs, protein and fat). Memorizing the foods that fall within each food group can be essential in balancing your overall wellness.

One way to recall which foods you want to consume is to make a mental list of the food(s) you enjoy and how to consume them in a healthier version. Another method is to remove the obviously poor choices while finding a healthier replacement for them. Help your body help itself by eliminating fried, processed and refined food from your daily nutrition.

Quick Tips for Wellness: Whole, fresh, organic: Three simple words to help you live a healthier life.

Quick Tips for Wellness ™ Copyright © 2013, All rights reserved

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Quick Tips for Everyday Wellness: Ticking time-bombs: Know the signs that could sav...

Quick Tips for Everyday Wellness: Ticking time-bombs: Know the signs that could sav...: What does one out of every four adults in America have in common? High blood pressure and most have no idea that they do. If left untrea...

Ticking time-bombs: Know the signs that could save your life!

What does one out of every four adults in America have in common? High blood pressure and most have no idea that they do. If left untreated the results can be deadly, or at the very least damaging to vital organs in the body (i.e. Kidney’s, eyesight and the brain). High sodium intake slowly deteriorates our bones through excessive calcium excretion.

No respecter of age, hypertension can affect anyone of any age. As we grow older our isolated systolic hypertension (ISH) changes with us. Blood pressure is determined by using two figures: Systolic pressure (blood pressure when the heart contracts) and Diastolic pressure (pressure when the heart relaxes between beats).

In patients over 70, more recent studies now reveal that the “lower” systolic number is a better indicator of hypertension. After age 55, diastolic pressure begins to decline while systolic pressure increases with age. Keeping an eye on the systolic number is becoming a greater indicator of possible, future health concerns, especially if it rises above 140/90. Research is now reporting that 65% of aging adults over 60 are diagnosed with ISH.

The implications of high blood pressure affects many apparent, present health conditions in patients with diabetes and high cholesterol and can lead to the onset of a stroke or heart attack. Diabetics should strive to keep their blood pressure level at no more than 130/80. Other organ illnesses, like kidney disease and heart conditions, should be mindful of their blood pressure especially as they age.

“The recommended goal for systolic pressure is less than 140 mm Hg. For people who are 80 or older, the target systolic pressure ranges from 140 to 145 mmHg. In people with isolated systolic hypertension, treatment may lower diastolic pressure too much, potentially increasing the risk of a heart attack or stroke. So if you have isolated systolic hypertension, your doctor may recommend that your diastolic pressure not be reduced to less than 70 mm Hg in trying to reach your target systolic pressure.” (Mayo Clinic’s Emeritus Hypertension Specialist, Sheldon G. Sheps, M.D.)

Currently, the average American consumes 4000mg/day of sodium. After age 50, sodium intake should be kept to a maximum of 1500mg a day, reduced to 1200mg a day over age 70, unless otherwise directed by a physician.

Eating fresh whole food and avoiding preservatives, fast food and other hidden sources of sodium is a must when keeping your blood pressure in check. Even something as simple as grilled chicken at a fast food restaurant contains enormous amounts of sodium. Salad bars contain hidden sodium. From beans to pasta, and cheese, sodium is everywhere. Never take for granted that something is “healthy” just because it appears to be the better choice.

Even someone who appears to be healthy, appropriately distributed in weight and body composition, can unexpectedly suffer a heart attack as a result of their nutritional habits. The body can only handle so much before it starts to deteriorate from overload. Don’t take for granted that you are healthy just because the number on the scale looks acceptable or your activity level seems reasonable. What’s going on inside of you might not seem obvious before it is too late.

Quick Tips for Wellness: Place a high priority on your nutrition before the damage is irreversible.

Quick Tips for Wellness ™ Copyright © 2013, All Rights Reserved

Quick Tips for Everyday Wellness: Is it the flu or the “Norovirus” (aka Cruise Ship ...

Quick Tips for Everyday Wellness: Is it the flu or the “Norovirus” (aka Cruise Ship ...: “Influenza” takes on a variety of symptoms that may seem obvious but can also look similar to the common cold. The current H3N2 strain ci...

Is it the flu or the “Norovirus” (aka Cruise Ship virus)? Know the signs

“Influenza” takes on a variety of symptoms that may seem obvious but can also look similar to the common cold. The current H3N2 strain circulating the U.S. seems to welcome more severe symptoms than commonly seen with the flu. Knowing how to identify the flu and/or Norovirus is vital to getting the help medically need.

Of course, the best defense against the flu is the flu shot. Although the flu shot is not a guarantee to prevent the flu, it will help your body fight the flu should you come in contact with someone who is contagious. Washing hands, covering your mouth when you cough or sneeze, avoiding contact with someone who is ill, maintaining a clean environment (wipe down keyboard, door knobs, countertops, and any common area around you) help to minimize your exposure.

The typical characteristics of the flu are:
Coughing, sore throat, runny nose, body aches and body chills.

The typical characteristics of the “Norovirus” are:
Diarrhea, vomiting, and nausea.

It is not unusual to have a combination of the two. Both are highly contagious and can lead to dehydration if you are not consuming enough fluids.
The elderly, people who have weakened immune systems and those in contact with the general public are even more vulnerable to succumbing to the flu. Prevention is wisdom. The flu shot assist in avoiding the flu, or at the least building a defense against it.

If stricken by the flu, make sure to consume fluids containing “electrolytes” (i.e. Sport drinks, juice, soup), get plenty of rest and avoid contact with other people. Wipe down any contact with surfaces, etc., helping to limit the spread of the flu, as well.

Be aware of your intake of “Tylenol” (Acetaminophen), limiting it to under 3,000 milligrams per day, according Dr. Richard Besser (ABC News medical correspondent). He also recommends that if you have the flu and appear to be coping well with it but may need your doctor’s advice, avoid going into public places like the emergency room, patient centers where other people may be suffering from more severe symptoms.
For more information and how to locate where the vaccine is available in your area, visit www.flu.gov.

Click on this link to learn more (http://youtu.be/uxNGm8-yAbs)

Quick Tips for Wellness: Prevention is the key to avoiding the flu!

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