Lifelong Relationships Nourish Your Health

People getting together....to discuss news or just to talk about daily joys and sorrows; the relationships we have play an important role in our health. According to doctor-researchers of Okinawan Project, close friendships and family ties help promote longevity and greater health. One essential to healthy living is found in the bonds of friendship and love or the giving and receiving of love. This vital part of life nurtures our physical, emotional and spiritual well being.
Here are some ways to make more friends and create deeper relationships:
1. Get together with a group of friends for a game of cards or bunko.
2. Find a friend to work out with you and share encouragement to help you both reach your goals.
3. Join or start a book club. Get together with friends and discuss the books.
4. Get a pet. Studies show that giving and receiving affection with pets helps us stay healthy.
5. Join a Bible study group and congregate with people who share your spiritual views.
6. Take a cooking class. It's alot of fun learning how to cook new dishes.
7. Learn new ways to keep in contact with your family and friends such as email, myspace, or text messages.
The friendships that you create and maintain will make your life better. Do ever thing you can to hold important relationships close and create new ones...you'll be happier and healthier because of them.

Don't Worry, Be Happy!

Many people will remember the title of the old song, "Don't Worry, Be Happy" but most probably don't realize the importance of those words. Research continues to show that happier people are healthier people. Those who worry and constantly fill their minds with negative thoughts have a higher risk of developing a variety of physical and emotional problems such as: depression, high blood pressure, irritability, headaches, fatigue, stomach and intestinal problems, skin problems, increased susceptibility to illness and lower life satisfaction.
There are many things in life we can worry about, but if we dwell on them, they will become larger in our minds and consume our days...then our good health.

A few ways we can learn to deal with fear and worry are:
1)Talk over with a friend things that are bothering you. This may not solve the problem but it helps to get it off your chest and help you bring things back into perspective.
2)Remember the power of prayer. We can give our fear and worry to God; He's much better equipped to deal with them then we are. Prayer gives you a feeling of peace that is hard to find anywhere else.
3)Try to focus on the positive aspects of life. One way to do this is to start a gratitude journal; every day, write down one thing you're grateful for.
4)Shift your focus onto others who are in need. Not only will you make a difference in someone else's life but you will lessen your focus on your worries.
4)Put fear and worry in their place. Make the decision today to accept the things you cannot change...but accept that you can change how you deal with them. This will help you put things into perspective so you can start living again!

The Joy of Sleep

As we age we go through different stages, our sleep needs also change. Research continues to show that sleep does a lot more than relieve tiredness. Also one thing is clear: not getting enough sleep is dangerous. There are many health problems connected to sleep troubles. Poor sleep can play a big role in conditions such as; heart disease, stroke, asthma, epilepsy, depression, schizophrenia, Alzheimer's, flu, and many infections.
Sometime sleep itself is the root of disorders. While many disorders are rare, there are four that affect millions of people. These include such disorders as: insomnia, sleep apnea, restless legs syndrome and narcolepsy. As well snoring can indicate serious health issues. Snoring can be caused by structural defects in the sinus cavity, allergies or even nasal polyps. However snoring many times is caused by obesity.
Tips for good sleeping:
Set your sleep schedule and try to go to bed at the same time.
Exercise as this promotes restful sleep.
Downplay drugs such as caffeine, nicotine and alcohol.
Wind down before bedtime by a soothing ritual-like reading, taking a warm bath.
Get in sync with sunlight. Try to wake up around the time the sun does.
Keep the bedroom at a comfy temperature.

National Nutrition Month

Is normal portion size increasing your size? Clearly today what we think of as "normal size" has gotten bigger over the past 20 years. When a main dish in a restaurant now feeds two or three people, or a single snack bag of chips actually holds several servings, could be adding to the reason that so many of us are overweight. Twenty years ago a normal cheeseburger was 333 calories whereas today a "normal" cheeseburger if now a whopping 590 calories.
Dietitians offer these handy cues for realistic serving sizes of popular foods. Each one of these food items is one serving:
1/2 cup of cooked rice or spaghetti = 1/2 baseball
1 baked potato = a average size fist
3 oz. of meat,chicken = a deck of cards
3 oz. of grilled fish = a checkbook

These food comparisons may seem like appetizer sizes but these so called "normal portions" could be what is adding to excess weight problems. A simple solution to our weight problems today should include not only limiting the portion size of what we eat but also to increase our intake of fresh fruits and veggies!

Time to Pamper Yourself

Spa's are everywhere! So take some time to pamper yourself and refresh your attitude. Keeping your mind and body always busy takes its toll and affects how you feel and how well you get things done. So a couple times a week take out some time and just pamper yourself with a facial or body care treatment. Don't forget to take some time out also to pray or sink in quiet contemplation just to help your body and mind to rest. If you don't have a day spa in your area or can't spend the money then do some pampering right at home with everyday items.
You can make a nourishing mask out of ordinary items such as: Yogurt, blueberries and Chamomile tea bags. This type of mask is easy to make.

Blueberry Revitalizing Mask

1/4 C plain yogurt, warmed to room temperature
1/4 C fresh blueberries or frozen brought to room temperature
1 t honey

Mix above ingredients well. Apply mask to face, neck and chest.
For eyes use 2 chamomile tea bags-steep in lukewarm water 3-5 minutes. Place the tea bags over eyes. Lay back in comfortable chair or relax in bath.

Listen to relaxing music until the mask dries-up to 15 minutes. Rinse off with lukewarm water. Then feel the refreshment of this pampering spa experience!

Stress Reduction

It is fairly well known that there is a strong link between stress and heart problems. We are not sure if stress actually causes heart problems, but we do know that how we respond to stress can harm our health. Smoking, overeating and drinking too much are common ways to mishandle stress: so these behaviors raise the risk of heart attacks and even stroke.
Stress is a part of life and isn't always bad. But when too much stress is building up in our lives, it is how we handle the overload that makes the difference. Think about how you handle this overload. Do you just eat or eat very fast? Do you calm down with a drink or cigarette? Do you sleep or not sleep enough? Do you over work yourself? Do you postpone necessary things that need to be done? Do you just juggle too many things at once? If these are some of your actions you probably need to adjust how you cope with stress.
Here are some proven techniques for handling upsets and pressure.
1)Try to cope with stressful situations by changing your attitude about those things that annoy and frustrate you.
2)Try to take a daily break and give yourself time to sit quietly and breathe deeply. If you can, close your eyes and picture someplace calm that you find relaxing.
3)Try to focus on positives. Make up anything that works....it'll work to help you stay calm.
4)Talk, instead of keeping feelings bottled up. Find productive ways to talk about things bothering you with the people involved.
5)Exercise, stay active and stay positive. There are big emotional benefits as well as physical when you exercise by walking, swimming, biking or just anything to get you moving.
6)Every day take nutritional supplements that address the effects of stress on the body.
Take it easy on your heart by managing stress!

A Complicated Disorder....Autism

I want to share some new research information concerning the complicated disorder of autism. There are many different types and manifestations of Autism. Almost none of the 10 known genetic foundations for Autism are connected to each other. It's as if 10 different roads connect at a central location and continue to diverge in different directions and in an unpredictable way. That is the reason that research is focused on the common links of Autism rather than strictly on causes. Can supplementation help? According to the Autism Research Institute, up to 70% of children with Autism benefit from methylcobalamin, a form of B-12 that is essential for brain development. There are also positive studies on other nutrients, such as B-6, Cysteine and DiMethylGlycine. These nutrients seem to benefit people with elevated homo cysteine. However, nutrients that help one person with Autism many not help another. The bottom line howerer is that elevated homo cysteine is strongly related to the development of Autism. Please discuss your health care professional when seeking nutritional benefits for your child. This information was taken from an article by Dr. Brazos Minshew, Chief Science Officer for Trivita Way International.

Medication Review is in order

Those of us who are interested in our health should not forget the importance of doing a medication review with our doctor from time to time. Since our bodies are ever changing as we age, dosage or prescription requirements also may change. Next time when you see your doctor you may want to bring up some important questions:
Is the medication still doing what it's suppose to do?
Are you taking over the counter remedies that might interfere with your prescriptions?
Are you seeing another doctor that has prescribed a drug your primary doctor isn't aware of?
Does your body feel differently now than it did when you first began taking the prescription?
It is important to share this kind of information with your doctor so she/he can have a complete picture of your current medication status.

Lift your Spirits with Nutritious Foods!

The most optimistic person gets blue at times. When you feel down in the dumps you can do something about it.....healthy foods can be the solution. Don't grab your ordinary comfy foods that are filled with sugars and fats. Reach out and try some brain food for a change. Since our brains are about 60% fat and our moods are controlled by our brains then try adding a nourishing food like nuts! Yep, brain food because they contain Omega-3 fatty acids and they help to keep your spirits high. Other foods that help our body produce serotonin, the transmitter that stablizes our mood, are grains, broccoli, lentils, soybeans, oranges. Vitamin D helps to increase sertotonin production and can be found in egg yolks, fish with bones, fat-free and low-fat milk. So when feeling a little down reach for the real comfy foods and feel that spirit soar!

B12 The Feel Good Vitamin

Well with the famous ball player in the news and going up to Washington to defend his reputation and his use of Vitamin B12 shots, I thought I would share with you some of the benefits of Vitamin B12, B6 and folic acid. The product I am talking about is not an injection but a sub lingual (melt in your mouth) tablet that contains the afore mentioned vitamins and is taken every day to maintain a consistent level of these amazing vitamins that make you "feel good". If you experience fatigue, lack of strength and just don't feel good then possibly you are low in B12 vitamins. As you age it is more difficult to absorb B vitamins through the digestive tract and a lack of these essentials can cause the daily fatigue and just down in the dumps feelings that you may experience. Dr. Alfred Libby formulated this patented Vitamin B12 sub lingual tablet and is an expert in its effect on the body. When you take this sub lingual tablet you will notice an increase in energy, a sense of strength and well being and just "feel good" as these nutrients are readily absorbed directly into the blood stream as the tablet is allowed to melt in your mouth. If you would like to try this product please check out the product list at bottom of my blog.

Winter Blues, or SAD, Seasonal Affective Disorder

Well the winter continues to hang on here in the Midwest with cold and frigid air blewing in almost every day. At times this makes me a little depressed as I love sunshine and warm breezy days of summer. I know some people suffer more than others during dreary winter days and seem to stay in a gloomy mood most of the winter. It seems cloudy days and gloomy weather in parts of the country goes on for several months. Many experience depression and feeling moody during this time of year and researchers have found out that part of this problem is related to the lack of exposure to sunlight. So light therapy using "light boxes" are sometimes used. In a more recent 30-day study, Vitamin D therapy was compared with the two-hour daily use of "light boxes". The result; depression was completely resolved in the Vitamin D group, but not in the light box group. Exposure to ultraviolet rays from the sun can restore some of your Vitamin D supply. But during winter months the sunlight is in shorter demand..thus hindering your body's natural conversion of sunlight into Vitamin D-3. Some foods contain Vitamin D but don't normallly increase Vitamin D levels. Most additives of Vitamin D are synthetic and aren't as potent as what the body reqiures, so it is best to supplement with a a quality Vitamin D that is the same form that your body makes from sunshine. I use VitaCal-Mag D from the company where I order Health and Wellness Products. Note product list below.

Special treats

Well since today is the day of love......I think the best special treat that we can give or receive is that of love words. Of course those love words mean alot in greeting cards, emails, letters, phone messages, etc. but the best feelings come when these words are actually spoken or actually heard! WOW when you say I love you or hear these warm and uplifting words your whole being lights up and recharges with positive energy! Loneliness or feeling like no one cares promotes negative energy and is truly greater than just a big heartache. Feeling unloved affects your health and feeling lonely leads to depression and a weakened immune system as well as high blood pressure. So on this Valentine day lets make sure to give some real sugar and tell someone you love them in person!

Top Killer, Congestive heart failure

This blog presents more info about the heart and was taken from an article by Dr. Scott Conard, MD who is the founder of Tiena Health, an organization that emphasizes healthy lifestles to maintain welllness. I have studed and trained under Dr. Conard and received certification from Tiena Health as a Life Coach so I truly respect his authority on health issues. CHF or congestive heart failure effects the heart's ability to pump enough blood through the body. The causes of congestive heart failure include some of the following: problems with the heart's value; high blood pressure or damage to the heart muscle; coronary artery disease; or a weakened heart muscle (cardiomyopathy) due to infection, excess alcohol intake or genetic defect.
One of the first signs of Congestive Heart Failure is swelling in the feet, ankles and legs. The swellings usually spreads and the kidneys may begin to retain fluid. Other sympttoms can be shortness of breath, feeling weak, wheezing, coughing and frequent urination. Diuretics maybe prescribed and other medications, as well Vitamin B-12 has been shown to be effective to lessen the symptoms. An amino acid, taurine, is created when taking Vitamin B12 and studies have shown it to be useful in treating Congestive Heart Failure symptoms. Those studied showed significant improvement in breathing and a reduction in heart palpitations and fluid buildup.

Love your Heart

I read some great ideas on how to "love your heart" and wanted to pass them along.
These are easy and proven to help keep your heart healthy.
If you are a smoker,try to stop.
If you're diabetic, be consistent on controling your blood sugar as diabetics have a higher risk of heart problems.
Increase your intake of veggies and fruities: try to eat 7-9 every day
Eat a variety of foods of different colors; carrots, brocolli, tomatoes
Also eat foods that have high fiber contents such as whole grains, oatmeal
Eat more oily fish such as salmon, trout and herring they contain Omega3 fatty acids,which are healthy food for your heart.
Try to increase excercise to at least 30 minutes each day.
Of course try to keep weight under control.
Well I know this is not news to many but just a reminder for us all.

Love-Heart Health Connection

It's heart month...a great time to think about heart health. Everyone knows that heart disease is the leading cause of death but alot probably are not aware of the how love affects the (literal) heart. Here are a few tidbits that research has found out recently. One Yale study showed that men who felt they were loved had less blockage in their arteries compared to those men who did not feel treasured. Another study showed men who felt their wives didn't show them love had twice as much chest pain (angina) compared to men who felt love from their wives. This was despite cardiovascular risk factors. A study out of San Diego University and the University of Pittsburgh found women who were happily married or living with a partner had lower cardiovascular risk factors. This studies concluded that blood pressure and cholesterol levels are better in happily partnered couples rather than those who were unhappily married or unmarried. Just spending time with your partner has heart health benefits according to the Pittsburgh Health Heart Project. This study found that men who spent more time interacting with their spose had less arterial thickening over a 3-year period. Everyone knows the good warm feelings of a hug. Doctors from the University of North Carolina found that daily hugging has heart health benefits also. So this is heart month reach out and hug someone today!

What is that?

The first step I took when starting on this new wellness adventure involving natural rememdies was to do a cleanse. Now I didn't quite know what I was getting into but believe me I quickly found out. It was explained to me that death begins in the colon and that was the area of the body that needed to be cleansed first. I began the process of making my colon happy so it could function as nature intended, a disposal system with no clogs! Not happy pictures I am sure to you but a necessary part of being healthy is to have proper digestive plumbing. You can learn more colon cleansing by reading about it in many books by Dr. Jensen.

New to me

This is rather exciting as I have not yet been a blogger although I have expressed myself over the years about some rather interesting topics. I have researched and been trained over the past 12 years in alternative natural therapies, herbal as well as vitamin supplements. I can truly say that many of these natural products have not only enhanced my health but have improved my level of functioning. Over 12 years ago I was first introduced into the world of natural and nutritional health and can testify of the value of these. I have had arthritis in my back for years following a fall when I was in college that broke a couple of places in my vertabrae. So I have experienced alot of pain and used many NSAIDs and other pain relief for years. But about 12 years ago I found myself in poor health, with alot of pain, and side effects to my digestive system due to the meds I was taking. I then was told about some herbal products to help my digestion and thus the journey began into the world of natural products!