We need vitamin D....lots and lots of vitamin D. And we, and our kids, are not getting enough of it. And so we need to target higher daily doses of vitamin D - instead of 200 IU, experts now say we need 400 IU daily. And we are not coming close to meeting that target. Why? Cause most adults and kids don't drink enough vitamin D fortified milk (or even soy milk) and we don't eat enough oily fishes like tuna, sardines and mackerel and we are not eating cereals fortified with this vitamin. We're also using sunblock which is a good thing for skin cancer - but not such a good thing for our bones or for lowering our risk of diabetes, cancer and heart disease.
Now you can buy vitamin D drops for young children and if breast fed (bottled baby formulas have vitamin D) - they now need 400 IU daily. Older kids past age 1 can drink up to 4 cups of milk daily - but for health reasons it needs to be 1% or preferably, fat free milk (otherwise we are putting them at risk for too many fat calories and obesity). That being said, most kids are drinking too many unhealthy drinks like sugary sodas and fruit punches and blended coffee drinks and smoothies - they are not having fat free lattes. So maybe a vitamin D supplement is in order for teens and young
Courtesy: Yje Obesity Connection
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Five Ways To Stay Healthy In These Stressful Times
Dear Jacques,
Without a doubt, these tough economic times can have a lot of negative effects on your body and mind, including stress, tension, anxiety, depression, weakened immunity, and illness. You may be nervous about your future because your retirement accounts have lost value. Or maybe you're concerned about your income or job security. Certainly, there are a lot of scenarios that can cause a great deal of heartache and worry right now.
But the more negative things seem to get, the more crucial it becomes to focus on the good in life-such as love, relationships, and even your health. I simply won't let worries about the economy affect my health. While it may seem impossible to stay strong, positive, and healthy during such a difficult time, it is possible-and I am going to tell you the five ways you can do it.
1. Make sure you sleep soundly at night.
Anxiety and depression can lead to sleep disturbances, and without enough sleep, your body and immune system can't function properly. To help you relax and fall asleep every night, I recommend taking 1-1.5 mg of melatonin each evening about two hours before bedtime, although you may see results using as little as 300 mcg.
2. Boost your energy reserves.
If you're feeling sluggish and worn out, there are several nutrients that can boost your energy. I recommend taking 250 mcg of vitamin B12 a day, 250 mg of L-tyrosine a day, and/or 1,000 mg of L-carnitine a day in divided doses.
3. Build resistance to illness.
Stress can lead to weakened immunity, therefore making you vulnerable to colds, sinus infections, the flu, and other illnesses. You are better off boosting your resistance to illness while you're healthy than trying to build it back up when you're sick. I recommend taking a high-quality multinutrient along with mineral-buffered vitamin C (1-2 grams in divided doses).
4. Reduce stress by exercising.
Exercise is one of the best ways to reduce stress-not to mention lose weight and improve your overall health. I recommend going for an hour-long walk every day outdoors in the fresh air. While walking, take your mind off your worries and instead, focus on your breathing and enjoy your surroundings.
5. Stay positive.
I know that having a positive attitude can be tough, especially when everything you hear in the news is negative. But, keep in mind, maintaining a positive belief system is crucial in creating your own reality, even in the midst of a greater reality like the bad economy. So try to identify at least one positive thing every day-even if it has nothing to do with the economy. You also may want to recite upbeat affirmations to yourself, such as "I am a strong, positive, upbeat woman." In addition, nurture your relationships. Financial security may be important, but love is the true currency that you can depend on each and every day without fail.
I hope this information brightens your day. Please e-mail me at letters@drlark.com to let me know what you are doing to cope with the economic recession.
Many blessings to you,
Susan M. Lark, MD
Without a doubt, these tough economic times can have a lot of negative effects on your body and mind, including stress, tension, anxiety, depression, weakened immunity, and illness. You may be nervous about your future because your retirement accounts have lost value. Or maybe you're concerned about your income or job security. Certainly, there are a lot of scenarios that can cause a great deal of heartache and worry right now.
But the more negative things seem to get, the more crucial it becomes to focus on the good in life-such as love, relationships, and even your health. I simply won't let worries about the economy affect my health. While it may seem impossible to stay strong, positive, and healthy during such a difficult time, it is possible-and I am going to tell you the five ways you can do it.
1. Make sure you sleep soundly at night.
Anxiety and depression can lead to sleep disturbances, and without enough sleep, your body and immune system can't function properly. To help you relax and fall asleep every night, I recommend taking 1-1.5 mg of melatonin each evening about two hours before bedtime, although you may see results using as little as 300 mcg.
2. Boost your energy reserves.
If you're feeling sluggish and worn out, there are several nutrients that can boost your energy. I recommend taking 250 mcg of vitamin B12 a day, 250 mg of L-tyrosine a day, and/or 1,000 mg of L-carnitine a day in divided doses.
3. Build resistance to illness.
Stress can lead to weakened immunity, therefore making you vulnerable to colds, sinus infections, the flu, and other illnesses. You are better off boosting your resistance to illness while you're healthy than trying to build it back up when you're sick. I recommend taking a high-quality multinutrient along with mineral-buffered vitamin C (1-2 grams in divided doses).
4. Reduce stress by exercising.
Exercise is one of the best ways to reduce stress-not to mention lose weight and improve your overall health. I recommend going for an hour-long walk every day outdoors in the fresh air. While walking, take your mind off your worries and instead, focus on your breathing and enjoy your surroundings.
5. Stay positive.
I know that having a positive attitude can be tough, especially when everything you hear in the news is negative. But, keep in mind, maintaining a positive belief system is crucial in creating your own reality, even in the midst of a greater reality like the bad economy. So try to identify at least one positive thing every day-even if it has nothing to do with the economy. You also may want to recite upbeat affirmations to yourself, such as "I am a strong, positive, upbeat woman." In addition, nurture your relationships. Financial security may be important, but love is the true currency that you can depend on each and every day without fail.
I hope this information brightens your day. Please e-mail me at letters@drlark.com to let me know what you are doing to cope with the economic recession.
Many blessings to you,
Susan M. Lark, MD
The Plate Debate: Candidates Favorite Foods
By Shawn McKee
Staff Writer
The election is right around the corner, and America is preparing to vote for their favorite candidate. While some voters may choose their nominee based on personality, party lines or their stance on important issues, we do it a little differently here at eDiets.
We think the president should be chosen based on his favorite foods. Sound silly? Well, you can tell a lot about someone by what they eat. As French lawyer, author and gastronome Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin (1755-1826) once said, "Tell me what you eat and I will tell you what you are."
Hail to the Chef
Barack Obama's favorite food to cook is chili; he's been making it since college and he even shared the Obama family chili recipe with Good Morning America. It sounds like the perfect treat on a cold Chicago night. There's nothing more American than chili, right?
John McCain has been known to break out the grill and cook for guests at his Arizona home as one of the ways he relaxes after campaigning. This grill maverick uses a dry rub for baby back ribs that's straight out of the Wild, Wild West.
Kitchen Table Politics
Since both men probably have little time to cook their favorite foods lately, what are they eating? Both sides can come across the aisle to agree on one thing: Pizza is good. McCain takes his slice with pepperoni and onions while Obama prefers cheese or Margherita, according to campaign insiders.
Beyond grabbing a quick slice at a place called the Italian Fiesta Pizzeria (which is kind of a strange name), Obama also enjoys Mexican food from a place called Topolobampo. He can also be found chomping on heart-healthy nuts and veggies, especially broccoli and spinach. Obama doesn't like mayonnaise.
McCain and Obama not only agree on pizza, but they also have similar tastes. McCain enjoys Tex-Mex from a place called Tee Pee, according to a spokeswoman for the McCain campaign. He also enjoys shrimp, doughnuts and, of course, barbeque. McCain admits, however, that "I don't do too well with vegetables."
So there you have it! That's everything you need to know about the presidential candidates. Well, maybe not everything you need to know, but everything you need to know to vote for our unofficial presidential food poll!
Hungry? Here's Barack Obama's family chili recipe:
Ingredients:
1 large onion, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
Several cloves of garlic, chopped
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 pound ground turkey or beef
¼ teaspoon ground cumin
¼ teaspoon ground oregano
¼ teaspoon ground turmeric
¼ teaspoon ground basil
1 tablespoon chili powder
3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
Several tomatoes, depending on size, chopped
1 can red kidney beans
Directions:
Saute onions, green pepper and garlic in olive oil until soft.
Add ground meat and brown.
Combine spices together into a mixture, then add to ground meat.
Add red wine vinegar.
Add tomatoes and let simmer, until tomatoes cook down.
Add kidney beans and cook for a few more minutes.
Serve over white or brown rice.
Garnish with grated cheddar cheese, onions and sour cream.
-----
Try John McCain's recipe for dry rub and be a grill maverick in your own backyard.
Dry Rub:
1/3 part Garlic Powder
1/3 part Salt
1/3 part Pepper
3 lemons
Directions:
Turn the grill down to low temperature.
Mix together garlic powder, salt and pepper. Then cover both sides of the ribs with that.
Grill ribs, bone side down, for 90 percent of the time. It will take about an hour to an hour and a half. Squeeze the lemon on it frequently, because that makes it taste a lot better.
-----
BON APPETIT!----and Be Sure To VOTE!
Jacques
Staff Writer
The election is right around the corner, and America is preparing to vote for their favorite candidate. While some voters may choose their nominee based on personality, party lines or their stance on important issues, we do it a little differently here at eDiets.
We think the president should be chosen based on his favorite foods. Sound silly? Well, you can tell a lot about someone by what they eat. As French lawyer, author and gastronome Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin (1755-1826) once said, "Tell me what you eat and I will tell you what you are."
Hail to the Chef
Barack Obama's favorite food to cook is chili; he's been making it since college and he even shared the Obama family chili recipe with Good Morning America. It sounds like the perfect treat on a cold Chicago night. There's nothing more American than chili, right?
John McCain has been known to break out the grill and cook for guests at his Arizona home as one of the ways he relaxes after campaigning. This grill maverick uses a dry rub for baby back ribs that's straight out of the Wild, Wild West.
Kitchen Table Politics
Since both men probably have little time to cook their favorite foods lately, what are they eating? Both sides can come across the aisle to agree on one thing: Pizza is good. McCain takes his slice with pepperoni and onions while Obama prefers cheese or Margherita, according to campaign insiders.
Beyond grabbing a quick slice at a place called the Italian Fiesta Pizzeria (which is kind of a strange name), Obama also enjoys Mexican food from a place called Topolobampo. He can also be found chomping on heart-healthy nuts and veggies, especially broccoli and spinach. Obama doesn't like mayonnaise.
McCain and Obama not only agree on pizza, but they also have similar tastes. McCain enjoys Tex-Mex from a place called Tee Pee, according to a spokeswoman for the McCain campaign. He also enjoys shrimp, doughnuts and, of course, barbeque. McCain admits, however, that "I don't do too well with vegetables."
So there you have it! That's everything you need to know about the presidential candidates. Well, maybe not everything you need to know, but everything you need to know to vote for our unofficial presidential food poll!
Hungry? Here's Barack Obama's family chili recipe:
Ingredients:
1 large onion, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
Several cloves of garlic, chopped
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 pound ground turkey or beef
¼ teaspoon ground cumin
¼ teaspoon ground oregano
¼ teaspoon ground turmeric
¼ teaspoon ground basil
1 tablespoon chili powder
3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
Several tomatoes, depending on size, chopped
1 can red kidney beans
Directions:
Saute onions, green pepper and garlic in olive oil until soft.
Add ground meat and brown.
Combine spices together into a mixture, then add to ground meat.
Add red wine vinegar.
Add tomatoes and let simmer, until tomatoes cook down.
Add kidney beans and cook for a few more minutes.
Serve over white or brown rice.
Garnish with grated cheddar cheese, onions and sour cream.
-----
Try John McCain's recipe for dry rub and be a grill maverick in your own backyard.
Dry Rub:
1/3 part Garlic Powder
1/3 part Salt
1/3 part Pepper
3 lemons
Directions:
Turn the grill down to low temperature.
Mix together garlic powder, salt and pepper. Then cover both sides of the ribs with that.
Grill ribs, bone side down, for 90 percent of the time. It will take about an hour to an hour and a half. Squeeze the lemon on it frequently, because that makes it taste a lot better.
-----
BON APPETIT!----and Be Sure To VOTE!
Jacques
The Plate Debate: Candidates Favorite Foods
By Shawn McKee
Staff Writer
The election is right around the corner, and America is preparing to vote for their favorite candidate. While some voters may choose their nominee based on personality, party lines or their stance on important issues, we do it a little differently here at eDiets.
We think the president should be chosen based on his favorite foods. Sound silly? Well, you can tell a lot about someone by what they eat. As French lawyer, author and gastronome Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin (1755-1826) once said, "Tell me what you eat and I will tell you what you are."
Hail to the Chef
Barack Obama's favorite food to cook is chili; he's been making it since college and he even shared the Obama family chili recipe with Good Morning America. It sounds like the perfect treat on a cold Chicago night. There's nothing more American than chili, right?
John McCain has been known to break out the grill and cook for guests at his Arizona home as one of the ways he relaxes after campaigning. This grill maverick uses a dry rub for baby back ribs that's straight out of the Wild, Wild West.
Kitchen Table Politics
Since both men probably have little time to cook their favorite foods lately, what are they eating? Both sides can come across the aisle to agree on one thing: Pizza is good. McCain takes his slice with pepperoni and onions while Obama prefers cheese or Margherita, according to campaign insiders.
Beyond grabbing a quick slice at a place called the Italian Fiesta Pizzeria (which is kind of a strange name), Obama also enjoys Mexican food from a place called Topolobampo. He can also be found chomping on heart-healthy nuts and veggies, especially broccoli and spinach. Obama doesn't like mayonnaise.
McCain and Obama not only agree on pizza, but they also have similar tastes. McCain enjoys Tex-Mex from a place called Tee Pee, according to a spokeswoman for the McCain campaign. He also enjoys shrimp, doughnuts and, of course, barbeque. McCain admits, however, that "I don't do too well with vegetables."
So there you have it! That's everything you need to know about the presidential candidates. Well, maybe not everything you need to know, but everything you need to know to vote for our unofficial presidential food poll!
Hungry? Here's Barack Obama's family chili recipe:
Ingredients:
1 large onion, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
Several cloves of garlic, chopped
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 pound ground turkey or beef
¼ teaspoon ground cumin
¼ teaspoon ground oregano
¼ teaspoon ground turmeric
¼ teaspoon ground basil
1 tablespoon chili powder
3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
Several tomatoes, depending on size, chopped
1 can red kidney beans
Directions:
Saute onions, green pepper and garlic in olive oil until soft.
Add ground meat and brown.
Combine spices together into a mixture, then add to ground meat.
Add red wine vinegar.
Add tomatoes and let simmer, until tomatoes cook down.
Add kidney beans and cook for a few more minutes.
Serve over white or brown rice.
Garnish with grated cheddar cheese, onions and sour cream.
-----
Try John McCain's recipe for dry rub and be a grill maverick in your own backyard.
Dry Rub:
1/3 part Garlic Powder
1/3 part Salt
1/3 part Pepper
3 lemons
Directions:
Turn the grill down to low temperature.
Mix together garlic powder, salt and pepper. Then cover both sides of the ribs with that.
Grill ribs, bone side down, for 90 percent of the time. It will take about an hour to an hour and a half. Squeeze the lemon on it frequently, because that makes it taste a lot better.
-----
BON APPETIT!----and Be Sure To VOTE!
Jacques
Staff Writer
The election is right around the corner, and America is preparing to vote for their favorite candidate. While some voters may choose their nominee based on personality, party lines or their stance on important issues, we do it a little differently here at eDiets.
We think the president should be chosen based on his favorite foods. Sound silly? Well, you can tell a lot about someone by what they eat. As French lawyer, author and gastronome Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin (1755-1826) once said, "Tell me what you eat and I will tell you what you are."
Hail to the Chef
Barack Obama's favorite food to cook is chili; he's been making it since college and he even shared the Obama family chili recipe with Good Morning America. It sounds like the perfect treat on a cold Chicago night. There's nothing more American than chili, right?
John McCain has been known to break out the grill and cook for guests at his Arizona home as one of the ways he relaxes after campaigning. This grill maverick uses a dry rub for baby back ribs that's straight out of the Wild, Wild West.
Kitchen Table Politics
Since both men probably have little time to cook their favorite foods lately, what are they eating? Both sides can come across the aisle to agree on one thing: Pizza is good. McCain takes his slice with pepperoni and onions while Obama prefers cheese or Margherita, according to campaign insiders.
Beyond grabbing a quick slice at a place called the Italian Fiesta Pizzeria (which is kind of a strange name), Obama also enjoys Mexican food from a place called Topolobampo. He can also be found chomping on heart-healthy nuts and veggies, especially broccoli and spinach. Obama doesn't like mayonnaise.
McCain and Obama not only agree on pizza, but they also have similar tastes. McCain enjoys Tex-Mex from a place called Tee Pee, according to a spokeswoman for the McCain campaign. He also enjoys shrimp, doughnuts and, of course, barbeque. McCain admits, however, that "I don't do too well with vegetables."
So there you have it! That's everything you need to know about the presidential candidates. Well, maybe not everything you need to know, but everything you need to know to vote for our unofficial presidential food poll!
Hungry? Here's Barack Obama's family chili recipe:
Ingredients:
1 large onion, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
Several cloves of garlic, chopped
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 pound ground turkey or beef
¼ teaspoon ground cumin
¼ teaspoon ground oregano
¼ teaspoon ground turmeric
¼ teaspoon ground basil
1 tablespoon chili powder
3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
Several tomatoes, depending on size, chopped
1 can red kidney beans
Directions:
Saute onions, green pepper and garlic in olive oil until soft.
Add ground meat and brown.
Combine spices together into a mixture, then add to ground meat.
Add red wine vinegar.
Add tomatoes and let simmer, until tomatoes cook down.
Add kidney beans and cook for a few more minutes.
Serve over white or brown rice.
Garnish with grated cheddar cheese, onions and sour cream.
-----
Try John McCain's recipe for dry rub and be a grill maverick in your own backyard.
Dry Rub:
1/3 part Garlic Powder
1/3 part Salt
1/3 part Pepper
3 lemons
Directions:
Turn the grill down to low temperature.
Mix together garlic powder, salt and pepper. Then cover both sides of the ribs with that.
Grill ribs, bone side down, for 90 percent of the time. It will take about an hour to an hour and a half. Squeeze the lemon on it frequently, because that makes it taste a lot better.
-----
BON APPETIT!----and Be Sure To VOTE!
Jacques
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Organic Wine: The Inside Story
Hi all!
We have all heard periodically about the health benefits of a glass of red wine daily. The following article and its title attracted my attention and I thought it was well worth sharing with you, to complement others dealing more specifically with Foods claimed to be good or bad for you. Enjoy and Have a Great weekend!
A Votre Bonne Sante! (To Your Good Health!)
Jacques
-----
What Exactly is Organic Wine?
Make your drink as healthy as your meal.
By Beth Farrell
In a world striving to be more eco-friendly, the prevalence and awareness of organic foods is growing. With this comes the increasing popularity of organic wine, and you may wonder what exactly sets it apart from traditional wine. Simply put, organic means there were no pesticides, herbicides, fungicides or chemical-based fertilizers used in the grape-growing process. But it also goes a little further.
Certified Organic Wine
These are wines labeled "Certified Organic," which means the grapes were grown in Certified Organic conditions and the wine contains no added sulfites. Sulfiltes are often used as a preservative during the wine-making process and they can also occur naturally during the fermentation process. Natural sulfites are allowed in Certified Organic wines but cannot exceed 20 parts per million.
Made from Organically Grown Grapes
Wine in this category means the grapes were grown in certified organic conditions, with no pesticides or synthetics. In other words, the grapes themselves are Certified Organic, but the wine is not. These wines are allowed to have added sulfites along with the naturally occurring kind. An example of this would be the 2001 Croze Hermitage Jacques Frelin, made with 100% Certified Organic grapes.
Biodynamic Wine
This is a Certified Organic wine made with grapes grown in accordance with biodynamic farming. Biodynamic farming is a technique introduced in the 1920's by the German philosopher Rudolf Steiner. It is a type of organic farming with a strong focus on the ecological and spiritual balance of farming in relationship with the earth.
By law, all organic claims need to be stated on the wine label, so be sure to read it carefully. This way you will know exactly what type of organic wine you are purchasing.
Courtesy: MindBodySanctuary Newsletter
We have all heard periodically about the health benefits of a glass of red wine daily. The following article and its title attracted my attention and I thought it was well worth sharing with you, to complement others dealing more specifically with Foods claimed to be good or bad for you. Enjoy and Have a Great weekend!
A Votre Bonne Sante! (To Your Good Health!)
Jacques
-----
What Exactly is Organic Wine?
Make your drink as healthy as your meal.
By Beth Farrell
In a world striving to be more eco-friendly, the prevalence and awareness of organic foods is growing. With this comes the increasing popularity of organic wine, and you may wonder what exactly sets it apart from traditional wine. Simply put, organic means there were no pesticides, herbicides, fungicides or chemical-based fertilizers used in the grape-growing process. But it also goes a little further.
Certified Organic Wine
These are wines labeled "Certified Organic," which means the grapes were grown in Certified Organic conditions and the wine contains no added sulfites. Sulfiltes are often used as a preservative during the wine-making process and they can also occur naturally during the fermentation process. Natural sulfites are allowed in Certified Organic wines but cannot exceed 20 parts per million.
Made from Organically Grown Grapes
Wine in this category means the grapes were grown in certified organic conditions, with no pesticides or synthetics. In other words, the grapes themselves are Certified Organic, but the wine is not. These wines are allowed to have added sulfites along with the naturally occurring kind. An example of this would be the 2001 Croze Hermitage Jacques Frelin, made with 100% Certified Organic grapes.
Biodynamic Wine
This is a Certified Organic wine made with grapes grown in accordance with biodynamic farming. Biodynamic farming is a technique introduced in the 1920's by the German philosopher Rudolf Steiner. It is a type of organic farming with a strong focus on the ecological and spiritual balance of farming in relationship with the earth.
By law, all organic claims need to be stated on the wine label, so be sure to read it carefully. This way you will know exactly what type of organic wine you are purchasing.
Courtesy: MindBodySanctuary Newsletter
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Five Foods To Help Boost Your Health
By: Sue Gilbert
The wider the variety of the foods you eat, the better chance you have to get all the nutrients needed for good health. But there are some foods with such a strong link to disease prevention and a wealth of nutrients that it makes sense to eat them every day.
Oranges (or orange juice):
A great source of folic acid, fiber, antioxidants beta-carotene and vitamin C, and anticancer compounds flavonoids and carotenoids. Drink fresh orange juice; eat fresh oranges for snacks; make fruit salad with oranges, and toss peeled orange sections into a spinach salad.
Dark Leafy Greens:
Full of anticancer compounds, vitamins and minerals. Contains folic acid to help prevent neural-tube birth defects, antioxidants beta-carotene and vitamin C, fiber, and anticancer compounds beta-carotene and lutein. Try spinach, collard greens, kale, turnip greens. Eat raw or lightly cooked. Use in salads and stir-fry.
Bran Cereal (or other rich source of wheat bran):
Prevents constipation, is a potent anticancer agent, prevents polyps, may fight breast cancer by diminishing estrogen supplies. Mix in with your other cereals, make bran muffins, sprinkle on salads, mix into casseroles, even eat out of hand with a mix of raisins and nuts.
Yogurt (low fat, with live cultures):
Supplies calcium to prevent osteoporosis, boosts immune function, fights bacteria, has anticancer properties, may prevent yeast infections. Make fruit and yogurt smoothies, top vanilla yogurt with fresh fruit and granola, use on baked potatoes instead of sour cream.
Green tea:
Mounting evidence supports green tea's cancer fighting properties, most likely due to its anti-oxidant content. Boosts metabolism and aids in weight loss or maintenance. Drink your green tea either with or without caffeine, either hot or iced. Most studies showing the weight loss benefits of green tea were designed with green tea being consumed with meals.
Courtesy: Your Total Health Newsletter (NBC-News)
The wider the variety of the foods you eat, the better chance you have to get all the nutrients needed for good health. But there are some foods with such a strong link to disease prevention and a wealth of nutrients that it makes sense to eat them every day.
Oranges (or orange juice):
A great source of folic acid, fiber, antioxidants beta-carotene and vitamin C, and anticancer compounds flavonoids and carotenoids. Drink fresh orange juice; eat fresh oranges for snacks; make fruit salad with oranges, and toss peeled orange sections into a spinach salad.
Dark Leafy Greens:
Full of anticancer compounds, vitamins and minerals. Contains folic acid to help prevent neural-tube birth defects, antioxidants beta-carotene and vitamin C, fiber, and anticancer compounds beta-carotene and lutein. Try spinach, collard greens, kale, turnip greens. Eat raw or lightly cooked. Use in salads and stir-fry.
Bran Cereal (or other rich source of wheat bran):
Prevents constipation, is a potent anticancer agent, prevents polyps, may fight breast cancer by diminishing estrogen supplies. Mix in with your other cereals, make bran muffins, sprinkle on salads, mix into casseroles, even eat out of hand with a mix of raisins and nuts.
Yogurt (low fat, with live cultures):
Supplies calcium to prevent osteoporosis, boosts immune function, fights bacteria, has anticancer properties, may prevent yeast infections. Make fruit and yogurt smoothies, top vanilla yogurt with fresh fruit and granola, use on baked potatoes instead of sour cream.
Green tea:
Mounting evidence supports green tea's cancer fighting properties, most likely due to its anti-oxidant content. Boosts metabolism and aids in weight loss or maintenance. Drink your green tea either with or without caffeine, either hot or iced. Most studies showing the weight loss benefits of green tea were designed with green tea being consumed with meals.
Courtesy: Your Total Health Newsletter (NBC-News)
Friday, October 10, 2008
Is all the "Bad News" from Wall Street ill-affecting Your Sleep?
Sleep disorders include a range of problems -- from insomnia to narcolepsy -- and affect millions of Americans. Dr. Michael Breus shares information and advice on sleep disorder and insomnia treatments and causes.
I feel like I blogged on this topic just a few weeks ago. And I probably did. The depressing news is inescapable. You can't turn the TV on without getting punched in the stomach--even if you don't work in financials or own stock in them.
There are plenty of nervous people out there, especially seniors who have retirement funds falling with the whims of the market. Articles like this one show the extent of the damage leaking through the older communities. But you don't have to be retired or thinking about it soon to feel the heat. How many people are losing sleep over the state of affairs?
It wouldn't surprise me to learn that sleeping pill prescriptions are on the rise as the economy is on the decline, or at least in a temporary ditch. About one in five people take non-narcotic sleep aids now. Even though those who take something to help them fall and stay asleep are not advised to use them every single night. But my bet is that people who can't get a handle on their stress load or learn how to cope with the constant noise from the news and media are reaching for them routinely.
Don't get me wrong: I'm a big proponent of prescription sleep aids when the time and circumstance calls for them. The jury is still out, however, on their long-term effects when used frequently. For example, just last week my industry journal reported on a review of several studies showing a link between prescription sleeping pill use and skin cancer. But don't panic: a direct causal link has not been proven between sleeping pills and skin cancer, and this report simply opens the door for more research and data-gathering.
It's worth noting, though, that sleeping pills are not the magical end-all be-all for people with sleep troubles. Given the volume of sleep troubles today, I'd love to see more people attempting to nix their sleep problems in the bud naturally before resorting to long-term use of prescription sleep aids. And that starts with turning off the media's noise. TODAY!
How to turn off the media noise with the lights at night:
This may sound obvious, but it bears repeating: turn off the news and stop reading all forms of current media at least two hours before bedtime.
Do something out of the ordinary before bed that takes your mind off the ordinary stress, such as taking a warm bath, getting a Swedish massage, taking a yoga class, or going for a light walk.
Avoid heated conversations about world affairs at dinner or anytime after 3 pm for that matter!
See if you can go at least a day--and three if you can do it--during which you avoid all sources of news and media. Pretend you're on a deserted island and have no access to newspapers, the Internet, or the stock ticker on CNBC.
Stress is inevitable and in many ways, unavoidable. But it's MANAGEABLE if you take charge of it.
A sign that you may not be managing stress well is if you find yourself going more than two weeks and you're using a sleep aid every single night. If that's the case, then it may be time to call a time-out and examine why you're unable to get a good night's sleep naturally.
Think of it this way: the news will ALWAYS be there no matter what. But your happy, vibrant self will not. I'd pick the latter over the former every day.
JACQUES' REMARKS:
My deep self-hypnotic proprietary techniques can work wonders in such situations. Since I have not only helped many distressed individuals overcome numerous ailments and worse---
I even used "my own medicine on myself" to RID MYSELF of TWO separate malignant tumors (1- lung; 2- colon) and have PROOF ("Before" set of tomography films+ "after" X-Ray of CLEAR lung) AND a letter from the Physician who discovered the colon cancer during a colonoscopy, plus advanced follow-up tests after surgery by an Oncologist and another "just to make sure" colonoscopy that came out 100% negative (cancer-free)---in which he acknowledges that my own autogenic [self-induced and controlled] self-hypnotic inductions had an amazing positive effect on the unusual outcome.
Compared to the latter, my "instant sleep" technique is "child-play"!...It guarantees sound, restful, reconstructive, refreshing, rejuvenating , re-energizing rest and sleep within five minutes or less from the start of the induction...
For more on my Self-Hypnosis Systems, I invite you to vist my other Blog: http://slim-for-life.blogspot.com
So: RELAX---Take it easy---Regain Full Control over your Self and your personal Universe...Harness this tense impass and Allow Yourself and yours to Enjoy a Happy, Peaceful, Secure and Reconstructive Weekend!
Your Friend in Success,
Jacques
I feel like I blogged on this topic just a few weeks ago. And I probably did. The depressing news is inescapable. You can't turn the TV on without getting punched in the stomach--even if you don't work in financials or own stock in them.
There are plenty of nervous people out there, especially seniors who have retirement funds falling with the whims of the market. Articles like this one show the extent of the damage leaking through the older communities. But you don't have to be retired or thinking about it soon to feel the heat. How many people are losing sleep over the state of affairs?
It wouldn't surprise me to learn that sleeping pill prescriptions are on the rise as the economy is on the decline, or at least in a temporary ditch. About one in five people take non-narcotic sleep aids now. Even though those who take something to help them fall and stay asleep are not advised to use them every single night. But my bet is that people who can't get a handle on their stress load or learn how to cope with the constant noise from the news and media are reaching for them routinely.
Don't get me wrong: I'm a big proponent of prescription sleep aids when the time and circumstance calls for them. The jury is still out, however, on their long-term effects when used frequently. For example, just last week my industry journal reported on a review of several studies showing a link between prescription sleeping pill use and skin cancer. But don't panic: a direct causal link has not been proven between sleeping pills and skin cancer, and this report simply opens the door for more research and data-gathering.
It's worth noting, though, that sleeping pills are not the magical end-all be-all for people with sleep troubles. Given the volume of sleep troubles today, I'd love to see more people attempting to nix their sleep problems in the bud naturally before resorting to long-term use of prescription sleep aids. And that starts with turning off the media's noise. TODAY!
How to turn off the media noise with the lights at night:
This may sound obvious, but it bears repeating: turn off the news and stop reading all forms of current media at least two hours before bedtime.
Do something out of the ordinary before bed that takes your mind off the ordinary stress, such as taking a warm bath, getting a Swedish massage, taking a yoga class, or going for a light walk.
Avoid heated conversations about world affairs at dinner or anytime after 3 pm for that matter!
See if you can go at least a day--and three if you can do it--during which you avoid all sources of news and media. Pretend you're on a deserted island and have no access to newspapers, the Internet, or the stock ticker on CNBC.
Stress is inevitable and in many ways, unavoidable. But it's MANAGEABLE if you take charge of it.
A sign that you may not be managing stress well is if you find yourself going more than two weeks and you're using a sleep aid every single night. If that's the case, then it may be time to call a time-out and examine why you're unable to get a good night's sleep naturally.
Think of it this way: the news will ALWAYS be there no matter what. But your happy, vibrant self will not. I'd pick the latter over the former every day.
JACQUES' REMARKS:
My deep self-hypnotic proprietary techniques can work wonders in such situations. Since I have not only helped many distressed individuals overcome numerous ailments and worse---
I even used "my own medicine on myself" to RID MYSELF of TWO separate malignant tumors (1- lung; 2- colon) and have PROOF ("Before" set of tomography films+ "after" X-Ray of CLEAR lung) AND a letter from the Physician who discovered the colon cancer during a colonoscopy, plus advanced follow-up tests after surgery by an Oncologist and another "just to make sure" colonoscopy that came out 100% negative (cancer-free)---in which he acknowledges that my own autogenic [self-induced and controlled] self-hypnotic inductions had an amazing positive effect on the unusual outcome.
Compared to the latter, my "instant sleep" technique is "child-play"!...It guarantees sound, restful, reconstructive, refreshing, rejuvenating , re-energizing rest and sleep within five minutes or less from the start of the induction...
For more on my Self-Hypnosis Systems, I invite you to vist my other Blog: http://slim-for-life.blogspot.com
So: RELAX---Take it easy---Regain Full Control over your Self and your personal Universe...Harness this tense impass and Allow Yourself and yours to Enjoy a Happy, Peaceful, Secure and Reconstructive Weekend!
Your Friend in Success,
Jacques
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