Quote of the day

We are being bombarded by weapons of mass distraction on a daily basis.
~ Dr. Marilyn Schlitz

Winter of Wellness Week 1 Synopsis:

This teleconference, symposium, whatever you want to call it has been very informative these first two weeks.  I know I’m slow in getting my synopsis down onto paper (so-to-speak), there’s just so much information I want to do these discussions justice.  I am sorry to say that I missed two of the recordings the first week as life inevitably got in the way.

As I stated in the invitation to the Wellness teleconference, the focus is on optimal wellness looking at the body as a whole: mind, body, heart, and spirit.  Each speaker is addressed with what Optimal Wellness means to them and in particular their topic of discussion.  While I can only portray so much of the information here from my own interpretation, I truly urge you to sign up and attend at least one of the teleconferences –remember they’re free- because, while I listen and type away I can only learn so much without further delving and research, and everyone’s interpretation of the information provided is different from my own.  With that said, week one’s speakers that I was able to hear were: Marilyn Schlitz PhD and Anodea Judith PhD. 

Dr. Schlitz’s discussion focused on the mind and delved into the idea of Transforming Healthcare from the Inside Out. 

For Dr. Schlitz the road to Optimum Wellness from the Healthcare perspective has to do with relationships.  The relationships between the cells within our body and the organs they comprise to the type of environment we provide through our relationship with food, stress, mind and body, other people, and spirituality.  People who focus, or rather, have an intimate relationship with another person, with the environment; with a higher spiritual power that continues for an extended length of time have been shown to live longer and healthier lives.  The combination of all these things working together creates optimal wellness.

Through an understanding of these relationships we can heal ourselves.  For healing is a personal definition, different from curing.  “Curing is a technical piece, whereas healing is the whole system.”  Personal definitions of health and healing are dependent upon an individual’s view point: world view, relationships, daily life, etc. 

Healthcare is a larger system and one that can and often is its own nemesis; which occurs when someone gets ill when going to the hospital for another issue.  Dr. Schlitz does not say that there is anything wrong with Western healthcare in fact there are a lot of advantages to the Western Health care system that are very positive. The complementary approach, such as the National Institutes of Health, supported by tax dollars, is disease oriented, meaning the focus is on treatment, sustaining, and curing of disease. On the other hand we know that our bodies are healing. Take a look at the placebo effect. This is a phenomenal and mysterious process that deserves more attention. When you talk about the research, the placebo tends to be the control mechanism rather than the test subject. Our consciousness, our world view, and view on health all impact how we view self healing. There are mental, psychological, spiritual practices that can allow the body to come into a state of rest which in turn allows the body to heal itself.  Ultimately we should strive for less reliance on the pharmaceutical and destructive course of curing and into a holistic self healing approach toward riding the body of dis-ease.

Dr. Anodea Judith author of the book  spoke on the soul through a focus on Chakra’s. 

For Dr. Judith, the road to optimal wellness starts by being in the flow of grace, being where all parts embrace, i.e. proper alignment within the core, in other words the chakras which will allow for the alignment of the inner and outer world.  Since the chakras exist at the core of our being and act as the interface to the outside world.  The elements that exist outside our body (air, water, fire, earth) exist within our body as well in the form of cellular fluid, our breath, consciousness, and digestive fluids.  It is the alignment of the inner with the outer through the chakra’s that creates optimal wellness.

According to Dr. Judith, people are not grounded.  We are in our heads constantly through distractions such as work, the computer, pulled from our body at a young age when we’re supposed to be running, jumping, and climbing trees but are instead sitting quietly in a classroom writing letters.  This constant “out of the body” existence creates illness within the body, as our energy cannot flow through us as it should, because we are not grounded within, we are not in alignment with our body, our chakras.

If you are unfamiliar with Chakras, they are wheels, balls, or disks of energy (however it is you perceive them) that rest at seven points within the body, each representing one of the seven ganglia that extend off the nervous system.  Most often noticed when, say, you feel butterflies in your stomach because you’re nervous –that would be an activation of just one chakra.  The mind and body can influence the chakras and the chakras can influence the body as well, i.e. the placebo effect.  Interesting to see that come up again.

To break it down in more simpler terms, Dr. Judith describes the chakra-mind-body connection in this way: “if we consider our body the hardware, and the mind is more like the software, our beliefs, everything we've learned... what allows the body and mind to connect is the energy supply -life force energy -chakras. The energy is shaped by the mind and the body simultaneously.”

To learn more about Dr. Schlitz and her studies visit: www.noeticsciences.org

To learn more about Dr. Judith and chakras visit: www.sacredcenters.com.

Quote of the day

The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched.  They must be felt with the heart.
 ~Helen Keller

The Miracle of movement

Our bodies were designed to move.  We have strong legs that support us as we move.  Within us there is an intricate web of muscles that not only hold us upright but propel us forward. When we choose not to move, the body rebels through a buildup of toxins, deterioration of muscle strength and bone mass all which can lead to numerous diseases.  Research studies have shown and proved that walking alone, that simplest of activities can perform seemingly miraculous healing.
While high intensity exercise works for building muscles and revving the metabolism, walking -when done daily- can offer similar benefits.

Regular walking can offer all of these health benefits:
* weight loss
* lower blood pressure
* improved cholesterol profile
* improved blood sugars and insulin reaction
* lowers the risk of osteoporosis
* alleviates low back pain
* improved immune function
* increased mental performance and an better mood
* as well as slowing some aspects of the aging process

Looking at this list it's amazing how little as a species we move.  Before the advent of motorized vehicles we used our own bodies and muscles to perform daily activities.  While technology has made our lives simpler and faster, we have somehow removed the one main component that has propelled us through generations and thousands of years -movement.  So let's break down this list and really look at the benefits of finding ways to move everyday; whether walking, running, skipping, or jumping find some way every day to enjoy the freedom that can be felt by walking outdoors.

Weight Loss

While a simple walk every day will not shed the pounds fast it is possible to tone muscle and lose inches.  The best thing of all, a daily walk will help stop the creep of the bulge making weight maintenance that much easier.  Walking is simple.  Unlike diets and strenuous exercise programs walking’s simplicity makes it easier to continue with long after the diet has been forgotten or the exercise routine just too hard to maintain.  Research has shown that as people walk the same endorphins that occur as in a "runners high" can trigger a spontaneous diet shift; meaning healthier food choices.  The other benefit of walking is that the fat burn is not limited to only the legs.  While your legs will indeed tone and strengthen, walking is a whole body exercise incorporating all the muscles that support your torso as well as your arms (provided you swing them as you walk).  There are even more benefits that link walking with weight loss but the last one I will talk about here, is the ease walking has on joints.  Excess weight can cause inflammation and joint pain making strenuous exercise difficult if not outright horrifying.  Walking at any speed will burn calories, but for those who are burdened by excess weight should take a pace and distance that is comfortable for their ability.

Heart Health

Research has proven that people who moderately exercise can decrease the risk of heart attack by up to 30%. While walking is considered to be moderate exercise there are other exercises that can be include in this: bicycling, fishing, bowling, gardening, yard work, home repair, dancing, and swimming just to name few. To gage walking at a moderate pace means to walk at a comfortable pace for no less than 30 minutes. The healthy benefit of walking unlike more strenuous exercises is that it can become a lifelong passion with the same heart healthy benefits of those other workouts; which means a 5-20 point reduction in blood pressure.

Diabetes

As anyone who has watched "The Biggest Loser" knows, exercise combined with weight loss can stop diabetes in its tracks. Walking can have similar effects. While it might not eliminate diabetes, it can help to reduce the need for insulin treatments; walking helps your body regulate glucose intake and insulin output among other hormonal balances. While walking may improve the body’s ability to handle sugar/insulin balances, it has been shown that when a diabetic stops their normal exercise routine all of the benefits experienced disappear. Because diabetics who are well controlled know the importance of keeping a schedule, once a walking program has been established it to will need to have a clear schedule as this will develop a habit of regularity, but can add to the ability of the body in controlling blood sugars. Because of the influence on blood sugar it is important for anyone with diabetes to discuss adding a walking schedule with their doctor.

Stronger Bones

While walking may seem like an odd aid in the fight against osteoporosis and while the stress on bones produced while walking can strengthen bones, walking can only do so much. Calcium and vitamin D are the keys. Walking puts you out in the sunshine, the number one way to obtain vitamin D. Vitamin D is so important because without it the body cannot absorb the calcium it needs to keep bones strong and healthy. So eat plenty of calcium rich foods: dairy products and dark leafy greens such as spinach and kale and go for an after meal walk.

Increased Immunity

So far we've learned that walking can help your heart, lose weight, manage diabetes, and strengthen bones; all of these benefits build up to a stronger immune system. All that fresh air clears the lungs, especially at this time of year when winter weather closes windows and forces people to congregate in germ filled buildings. Beyond getting more fresh air, walking stimulates the body’s ability to produce natural defenders -white blood cells. Referred to as natural killer cells white blood cells are the body's first line of defense against foreign invaders and cancer cells. Another immune enhancing benefit to walking is the reduction of stress hormones. While stress can push the physical and psychological limits of our bodies, walking gives us a way to step away from our stressors. Stress hormones such as adrenaline are triggering the body to move, walking gives those hormones a niche that satisfies. if you find it hard to leave the stressful thoughts behind, there are ways to keep your walks stress free: focus on breathing, don't have a specific goal on your walk such as distance or time, walk somewhere that allows you to focus on the rhythm of walking without other distractions, relax your shoulders down and keep your head up, allow your arms there full range of motion, or lower your eyelids to reduce visual stimulation.

Walking for Spirit

While I have discussed the benefits of walking to the physical body, walking can also bring you closer to your spiritual self by choosing places within nature that inspire wellness, happiness, and a larger sense of purpose. Walking in beautiful, natural surroundings can have regenerative powers on the spirit. Different natural sceneries can produce a close personal connection or an expansive experience. Walking within nature not only provided a change of scenery but can bring you closer to a higher power, not only within yourself but in your connect to the world.

How to get started

Before starting any exercise program, always consult a doctor. Once that has been done there are walking clubs both in the online world as there are in the physical world. The YMCA has programs for both adults and children. If the weather where you live is unpredictable there are programs at most indoor malls that will allow people to walk at any time of year, though the hours may not always be conducive to busy schedules. Plan walking vacations where you can combine your freedom from everyday life with a stroll on the beach, across the green, or through a colorful Mercado.  Research local parks and hiking trails for weekend trips, these can count as mini-vacations if you go somewhere that allows you to de-stress. Try something new or find a park you've always wanted to visit. But most of all find places and people to walk with that will allow you to look forward to your walking time, and have FUN!

Quote of the day

We are not human beings going through a temporary spiritual experience.

We are spiritual beings going through a temporary human experience.

~Anonymous

What are you really eating? Part 2

“White boneless chicken, water, food starch-modified, salt, seasoning (autolyzed yeast extract, salt, wheat starch, natural flavoring (botanical source), safflower oil, dextrose, citric acid, rosemary), sodium phosphates, seasoning (canola oil, mono- and diglycerides, extractives of rosemary).

Battered and breaded with: water, enriched flour (bleached wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamin mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), yellow corn flour, food starch-modified, salt, leavening (baking soda, sodium acid pyrophosphate, sodium aluminum phosphate, monocalcium phosphate, calcium lactate), spices, wheat starch, whey, corn starch.

Prepared in vegetable oil (Canola oil, corn oil, soybean oil, hydrogenated soybean oil with TBHQ and citric acid added to preserve freshness). Dimethylpolysiloxane added as an antifoaming agent.”

In the above list of ingredients from a popular fast food meal I can understand and know what the vast majority of ingredients are.  There are some ingredients that I need to further investigate to understand (even with my educational background in healthcare): TBHQ (tertiary butylhydroquinone), and Dimethylpolysiloxane?  What are these ingredients that have been introduced into this "food"?  I certainly can't buy them in the cooking aisle of the local grocer.  It turns out that:

·         Tertiary butylhydroquinone (TBHQ) is a petroleum-based product with synthetic antioxidant properties 

·         Dimethylpolysiloxane is a type of silicone with anti-foaming properties used in cosmetics and a variety of other goods like Silly Putty

Hum?  Silly Putty?  In chicken nuggets?  Certainly seems questionable to me.  Here's a little more information on just a few of the side effects from the "ingredients" listed above:

TBHQ can cause Nausea, Vomiting, Ringing in the ears (tinnitus), Delirium, Sense of suffocation, and Collapse.

To add to this toxic mélange of ingredients the bun upon which your "meal" has been placed also plays havoc with ingredients like: calcium sulfate (aka Plaster of Paris), calcium carbonate (Antacid medication), ammonium sulfate (According to MSDS,“harmful if swallowed”), ammonium chloride (Causes irritation to the gastrointestinal tract. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting and diarrhea), calcium propionate (Preservative), sodium propionate (Mold inhibitor). Yum!

All these chemicals might just explain the shelf life of these burgers and chicken patties.  Don't believe me?  Check out this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYyDXH1amic

To read the full article go to the Source: http://docakilah.wordpress.com/2011/11/16/do-you-have-any-idea-of-the-chemicals-used-in-fast-food-chicken/

Quote of the day

Adding wings to caterpillars does not create butterflies--

it creates awkward and dysfunctional caterpillars.

 Butterflies are created through transformation.

~unknown

What are you really eating?

Can You Guess What Food Item This Is?

This should probably go on the WHAT NOT TO EAT list: say hello to mechanically separated chicken. This lovely paste can be found in all fast-food and comprises things like chicken nuggets and patties; as well as the processed frozen chicken in the stores.  What’s in that chicken paste?  Basically, the entire chicken: bones, eyes, guts, you name it its probably apart of this smashed and pressed through a sieve conglomeration of (and I use the word loosely) food.

BUT THAT’s NOT ALL
There’s more: because it’s crawling with bacteria.  Stores and fast food restaurants cannot sell their food filled with bacteria so it must be washed with ammonia, soaked in it, actually. Then, because all that ammonia marinated chicken paste tastes gross, it will be re-flavored artificially. Then to top off this absurd way of producing a meal, since I highly doubt anyone would actually eat this chicken paste in its naturally weird pink color it will be dyed with artificial color so it looks more like the chicken nugget we're all familiar with.







But, hey, at least it tastes good, right?

To read the full article go to the Source: http://docakilah.wordpress.com/2011/05/11/can-you-guess-what-mcdonald%E2%80%99s-food-item-this-is

Quote of the day

Live in rooms full of light
Avoid heavy food
Be moderate in the drinking of wine
Take massage, baths, exercise, and gymnastics
Fight insomnia with gentle rocking or the sound of running water
Change surroundings and take long journeys
Strictly avoid frightening ideas
Indulge in cheerful conversation and amusements
Listen to music.

~A. Cornelius Celsus

Quote of the day

Health is a large word.  It embraces not the body only, but the mind and spirit as well;... and not today's pain or pleasure alone, but the whole being and outlook of a man.  ~James H. West

Quote of the day

Mens sana in corpore sano.  (Your prayer must be for a sound mind in a sound body.)  ~Juvenal

Quote of the day

Health is a state of complete harmony of the body, mind and spirit.  When one is free from physical disabilities and mental distractions, the gates of the soul open. 

 ~B.K.S. Iyengar

Quote of the day

My own prescription for health is less paperwork and more running barefoot through the grass.  ~Terri Guillemets

Quote of the day

When it comes to eating right and exercising, there is no "I'll start tomorrow."  Tomorrow is disease.  ~Terri Guillemets

Quote of the day

In minds crammed with thoughts, organs clogged with toxins, and bodies stiffened with neglect, there is just no space for anything else.  ~Alison Rose Levy, "An Ancient Cure for Modern Life," Yoga Journal, Jan/Feb 2002

Quote of the day

Water, air, and cleanliness are the chief articles in my pharmacopoeia.  ~Napoleon I

Quote of the day

If you have health, you probably will be happy, and if you have health and happiness, you have all the wealth you need, even if it is not all you want.  ~Elbert Hubbard

Creating Your Own Sunlight

Though the winter solstice has come and gone meaning that the days are getting longer, here in the Northern Midwest we are just heading into the darkest time of year.  With an average of less than one day per week of sun shine lasting till sometime in the spring, this is the time of year when millions of people in the Northern Hemisphere experience S.A.D. -Seasonal Affective Disorder.  S.A.D. can be detrimental on emotional and mental health. 

What is Seasonal Affective Disorder?  While many people will report to feeling a bit more 'blue' when the seasons change from the warmth of summer to the cold winter months, those who have SAD suffer from a more intense 'sadness'.  SAD is characterized by recurring episodes of depression and has been linked to a decrease in the naturally occurring hormone melatonin.  Symptoms can include, lethargy, withdrawal, oversleeping and overeating.  Phototherapy is the most recognized and considered to be the most effective treatment.

While our technological and societal growths maybe have been the founding culprit for this dis-ease of our emotions, we can turn to technology to fix the problem.  Sun lamps are a great way to bring sunshine into your life to be used at your convenience.  Beyond bringing in a mechanical device to assist with your body and minds need for bright natural sunlight there are other ways to bring light into your life at this time of year.  When the sun does come out, try hard to spend at least a half an hour bathing in the suns light.  Even if this means bundling up beneath layers of clothing for a brief wintery walk, your body is still able to absorb vitamin D through not just your skin, but your eyes as well. 

Other ways to naturally assist with the ease of seasonal depression is to incorporate foods that have naturally occurring vitamins, minerals, and chemicals that support the body’s own balances.  One of the best ways to alleviate the symptoms of depression is by correcting an unhealthy diet and eating more sensible and nutritious foods.  Cutting down on additives such as sugar can aid the body in the ability to better metabolize the nourishment good food provides.  Adding in a multivitamin or a multimineral supplement as well as a melatonin supplement should be a part of a routine dietary measure.

Focus on foods that provide the following minerals, vitamins, and chemical components: amino acids tryptophan and tyrosine; vitamin B6, niacinamide (niacin), and folate; and the mineral magnesium.  Natural sources of tryptophan occur in soybeans, nuts, turkey, and tuna. In order for proper absorption of tryptophan vitamin B6 is required. B6 and Niacin can be found in liver and other organ meats, whole grain cereals, fish, and legumes.   Folate more commonly known as folic acid can be found in fresh green leafy vegetables, asparagus, broccoli, tomatoes, and fruits.  A cup of rosemary tea with some valerian will provide a nice daily supplement of folate.

NOTE: always discuss any changes to diet or possible medical therapies with a medical professional before implementing into a new life style.

References:

Beers, Mark H MD [ed] (2003). Merck Manual of Medical Information.  New York, NY; Pocket Books.

Bricklin, Mark. Encyclopedia of Natural Healing. Emmaus, PA; Rodale Press.

Winter of Wellness Teleconference!

Find your journey to wellness. The Shift Network Presents "A Winter of Wellness". A free teleconference. Started today, but all conferences are held for one week, so no fret if you miss one. Sign up today and find your path to wellness! http://winterofwellness.com/

You can immerse yourself in an entire season of wellness: Monday through Thursday for three months, the Winter of Wellness will help you explore and fuel the four “fires” of optimum health: Body, Mind, Heart and Spirit.

Led by pioneers in integral health, wellness and mind-body-spirit medicine, you will learn:

• Nutritional techniques for increasing natural beauty
• Proven mind-body technologies that slow aging and increase longevity
• Groundbreaking health and wellness research
• Meditation and visualization techniques to help you access your inner healing wisdom
• Holistic approaches to creating well-being in your family and your community

Even if you don't think you will have the time.  I will recap the highlights of the conferences here.  I hope we can all learn from the wealth of knowledge, sign up today so we can create a healthy dialogue!

Quote of the day

The power of love to change bodies is legendary, built into folklore, common sense, and everyday experience.  Love moves the flesh, it pushes matter around.... Throughout history, "tender loving care" has uniformly been recognized as a valuable element in healing.  ~Larry Dossey

Composting Life

2011 is over and the new year has begun, I feel the need to look back over the pitfalls, accomplishments, and roller coaster ride of this past year.  While we all look back it is important to take a close look at those good times and bad.  Like a compost in a garden, placing the events in our lives in to a perspective that allows us to create a melange of educational experiences that we can learn from.
It is these experiences and the lessons they teach that allow us to create a fertile existance within this garden in which we all live.  What we give out in the form of love, gratitude, anger, frustration, friendship (etc) becomes the nutrients that help us grow in all aspects of health, wellness, and spirituality.  If we tend more toward the negative in life, then we shouldn't expect for an abundance of positivity.  Likewise if we tend toward the positive we shouldn't expect for an abundance of negativiy.  While this brand of you get what you give is nothing new, it should be reviewed and evaluated within our lives. 
Think back to all the positive things that occured over the course of 2011.  Did you ask for them?  Were you grateful for their occurances?  If you asked for them, but did not show any gratitude, did you experience any negative consequenes?  What about the negative things that occured over the course of 2011?  Where you in a negative state of mind, where you pointing fingers, passing responsibility for your mistakes or misguide actions?  If upon review you find this to be true, ask yourself why?
For the start of 2012, take stock of your composted life events, have you set yourself up for healthy growth going forward?  If not, don't fret, even bad compost can grow beautiful flowers with the right amount of love and care.  So start the new year with a new outlook on life, set aside the negative attidudes and embrace the positive light and love that exists all around you.
Remember anything worth doing is worth fighting for and anything that helps to create a better you is worth doing.

Quote of the day

Diseases of the soul are more dangerous and more numerous than those of the body.  ~Cicero

Today's Scenic View

Juice of the Month

Welcome to 2012!  I want to start off this year with a seasonal choice; fresh fruit juice.  Yes I said fresh fruit juice and seasonal!  Why?  Well the best foods for our bodies are those foods that are fresh and ripened in season.  I know what you’re thinking, its winter, nothings growing at this time -but your wrong! This is the time when citrus fruit hits its peak harvest time.  What could be better to bring in some fresh oranges, grapefruit, lemons, and limes adding not only color to the dinner table at this bleak time of year, but also much needed vitamins and flavor.  The best way to reap the benefits besides eating the fruit is to drink it in freshly made juices.  I'm not talking about making juice in one of those old fashioned mastication devices, but rather with some heavy machinery.  The best choice of course is a juicer.  While not everyone can afford to own a juicer, it is still possible to make wonderful juices with a regular blender (just be prepared for a lot of pulp). 

A great morning pick-me-up, better than coffee, is a fresh glass of orange or grapefruit juice. Freshly made juice, if you have never experienced it, there is no comparison.  That bottle of OJ from the store is dead, there are no living enzymes, or high quality living vitamins and minerals.  Why?  Because, in order for companies to sell their products in stores and make them last long enough to be purchased off store shelves they must go through a process called pasteurization.  While pasteurization is great for shelf life and killing off bacteria the process is also detrimental to tender enzymes and vitamins.  These processes force juice manufacturers to add this fruits natural vitamins back in artificially. 

To create fresh juice at home, pick up some fresh citrus at the store, preferably organic so as not to ingest harmful chemicals.  There are a lot of verities to choose from and each will create their own unique flavors.  If grapefruit is your choice, I would recommend adding some apples to your juice to cut the tartness. 

To make a full 8 ounce glass of orange juice you will need 2 medium sized navel oranges, or 4 Clementine’s.  With a knife peel off just the outer layer of the rind as you will want to keep as much of the white pith as possible as this is where a vast majority of the vitamins reside; it also adds a creamy texture to your juice.  If you are using a juicer just slice the fruit to fit through the hopper, if you are using a blender or a Vita-Mix, you will want to remove any seeds.  For fresh grapefruit juice you will want to peal it the same as the orange, leaving as much pith behind as you can.  Cut and remove the seeds to 2 apples (I recommend 2 small apples to 1 medium grapefruit to cut the tartness)    Blend or juice and enjoy!

Here are some of the benefits of adding in these wonderful seasonal fruits.

Grapefruits; whether ruby reds, pink, or white are an excellent source of vitamin C, calcium, phosphorous and potassium a potent mixture great for combating colds.  Grapefruits are often tolerated more so than oranges as well as having the ability of reducing the incidences of bleeding gums.

Oranges by far make the sweetest juice providing a rich frothy drink full of vitamin C, the vitamin B complex, bioflavonoids, potassium, zinc, and phosphorous.  This makes for a wonderful drink for combating colds and the flu.  When added into a daily diet it is also a great aid in combating heart disease and strokes.

Vitamin C is probably one of the best known vitamins.  Besides being a common remedy for fighting off that stubborn cold and helping through that bout of flu, this power house of a vitamin acts as a natural antiseptic helping to maintain tissues, joints, and ligaments against inflammation.

Pictured white grapefruit with apple

Quote of the day

He who takes medicine and neglects to diet wastes the skill of his doctors.  ~Chinese Proverb