From the category archives:

Health

We Need to Think More About What We Put into Our Faces!

by joi on March 14, 2010

in Animal Protection, Books I Love, Conservation, Health

Below are a couple of links I hope you’ll take the time to check out.  It’s all about the food we put into our bodies and how it can work for or against us.  It boils down to making smart choices and being proactive in the supermarket.  I guarantee (unless you answer to the name Dr. Oz) that’ll you’ll find information that you never knew – a couple of facts that’ll make you sit up and take note.

The first few links feature food expert Michael Pollan.  He researches food the way my husband researches golf.  All over it. His food rules has sparked a lot of conversations in my family.  Conversations about what foods we need to eat more of, less of, and what foods we vow to never buy again.   We long ago vowed to only purchase foods that are “cruelty free,” and I hope that’s something you’ll also commit to.  Mostly, I hope that you’ll take your health extremely seriously and eat foods that’ll promote a longer, healthier, and happier life.

A few of Michael Pollan’s food rules:

  • Don’t eat anything your great-grandmother wouldn’t recognize as food.
  • Avoid food products containing ingredients that a third-grader cannot pronounce.
  • Eat only foods that will eventually rot.  Eat all the junk food you want as long as you cook it yourself.

For a video featuring Oprah with Michael Pollan explaining his food rules: Food Expert Michael Pollan’s Food Rules Video

Food 101 with Michael Pollan, a wonderful slideshow:  Food 101 with Michael Pollan

Dr. Oz talks with Michael Pollan about making smart choices:  Dr. Oz Interviews Michael Pollan

Buy Michael Pollan’s book, Food Rules, on Amazon: Food Rules: An Eater’s Manual

Surprising Superfoods – Maple Syrup? Who Knew?!:  Surprising Superfoods

It’s all great, great, great information and I guarantee you that you’ll be glad you took the time to read, watch, listen, think…. and then act.

What We Can Learn From Subway’s Five, Five, Five Dollar Footlong

by joi on March 11, 2010

in Articles, Health, Positive Thought, Self Help

I heart Subway.  I, literally, could eat lunch at my neighborhood Subway each and every day.  I’ve tried each of their sandwiches over the many years I’ve been in love with them and I’ve never left a bite untouched.  My only request would be the addition of Guacamole… come on, I’ll pay more for it!

A few minutes ago, one of Subway’s catchy “Five Dollar Foot long… ANY Five Dollar Foot long….” commercials came on.  In addition to making me want a Veggie Delite with black olives, lettuce, American Cheese, cucumbers, banana peppers, pickles, and sweet onion dressing, it made me think about their successful advertising campaign.  This one took guts – and paid off.

If I had a Sales and Marketing blog, I’d applaud Subway’s brilliance for attacking the fragile economy head on with their infamous $5 Subways.  I’d point out that they know that they get that the best way to woo the public is to tap into into the things that matter most to them:

  1. Health and Fitness. Remember Jared?  He showed us how “one of us” (the guy or gal next door) actually lost weight while eating delicious food.  They’re also prominent sponsors of the popular show The Biggest Loser… again reminding us that they’re on our side.  They’ll provide us with delicious, healthy alternatives and save us from the fried, greasy stuff we might get elsewhere.
  2. Saving Money! A footlong sub (piled with goodness) for $5.00 is an excellent deal, just when we need excellent deals the most.  Brilliant.

Alas, I don’t have a sales blog because I know diddly squat about selling.  I’m on team buying, not team selling.  Which, I suppose explains why my husband is on team selling.

From a Self Help and Self Improvement standpoint, I think we can actually learn something from this popular, catchy Subway campaign.  Whether we use the lesson in our daily life, in our writing and blogging, in our work, or in the ways we try to make the world a better place – it’s right there, waiting for us to scarf it up as readily as we do the subways,  themselves.

Here are a few of the lessons I think we can learn from Subway:

  • Originality rawks and originality rawks hard.
  • We shouldn’t take ourselves too seriously.
  • We should often look for ways to renew, refresh, and reinvent ourselves.

Think about it.  Subway took a huge chance on this campaign.  They chose a jingle which, let’s be honest, is a little cheesy. Yet they went with it. In fact they ran with it – laughing at themselves in the process.  How cool is that?!   Jingles like this are very hit or miss.  Subway could have been laughed AT or laughed WITH.  They went over the top and landed in the zone.  Life is about taking chances and taking risks. Sometimes you have to just go for it – without hesitation and without fear.  Many times, these risks pay off better than you ever even hoped for.

Don’t ever be afraid to be yourself.  Don’t ever be afraid to stand out from the crowd. Don’t ever aspire to be a wallflower.

I also love the fact that this successful campaign doesn’t involve them trying to sling lettuce on their competition (though they have in the past gone down that yellow and red brick road).  These types of campaigns always turn me off.  It’s like, if you believe in what you have to offer, why bring the other guys into it?  In fact, some fast food restaurant recently had a campaign where they took a swipe at Wendy’s (by showing the back of a girl with big red ponytails).  Here’s the effect it had on me:  I rushed out for some Wendy’s chili.  I got an instant craving and addressed it immediately.

Hmmm, I seriously can’t even tell you who’s commercial it was.  For me, it was Wendy’s.

Brought to the world of self improvement and self help:  We will never climb higher by stepping on other people. Putting our footprints on others never adds value to them – it lessens what value they had. Every time.

If you value what you have to say and what you have to offer, what does it matter to you what others are doing or saying?  Why go to their blogs and leave negative comments or try to run their name down on yours’?   If you believe in yourself, believe all the way and keep the spotlight on yourself.  I suspect that many times insecurity is the reason people shine the spotlight on others.   Why else wouldn’t they want it on themselves?

I know that many things in life are gravely serious.  I’m as aware of that as anyone.  However, I also know that many people take things far too seriously.  Life should be enjoyed, not stressed over.  Let go of little things and you’ll find that the world is a beautiful, wonderful place.  Let it be.

Finally, Subway teaches us the value of reinventing yourself.  They knew that Jared’s campaign had kind of worn itself out.  The public had gotten pretty accustomed to his handsome face and winsome disposition.  I’m not saying he doesn’t have a lot of mileage left – I love the Jared commercials!  I am saying this, Subway knew it was time to mix things up a little and throw something unexpected out there.

Now, when Jared does come back, we’ll be more apt to pay attention.

Never allow yourself to fall into a rut.  Mix things up every now and then!  Be true to your message, your goal, your dreams, and your life’s mission…. but keep things interesting.  If you lull everyone to sleep, they’ll never hear a word you’re saying.

You know what makes me sad?  When people WANT to do something, learn something, or try something but hold themselves back.  No one else is standing in their way but themselves.

  • If you wish you kept a cleaner house, pick up the broom and make it happen.  Start now!
  • If you wish you knew more geography (or history, math, botany, a foreign language), what are you waiting for? As soon as you leave Self Help Daily, find some wonderful educational websites and/or head off for the library.  Learning new things is invigorating and makes you feel more alive than ever.  Have at it!
  • If you wish you were known for having an easy-going, laid back temper instead of being a hot head – start working on it.

You get the point.  If you aren’t happy with the path you’re on… make a new one.  No one’s making you stay on this one.  Pave your own path and, you know the rules by now, don’t just walk down it, dance.

Dance on!

Taking Care of Your Skin: Things You May Not Know

by joi on March 7, 2010

in Health, Must Reads

If you’re anything like me, when the weather’s warm, you have a hard time staying inside. The past few days, I’ve felt kind of like a cat – I loved the return of sunshine so much, I just wanted to lie down in the yard and sun myself. Two of our outside cats are doing just that right now. One of the younger ones keeps wanting to play with one of the older ones, but she’s only interested in sunning. She just shot him a look that let him know that he wasn’t to disturb her sunny slumber ever again.

Since he just rolled over to face the other way, I’d say he got the message.

Since Old Man Winter has finally packed up his bags and seems to finally be leaving, I thought a sun safety article was in order to remind us all to b careful with something we’ll have for the rest of our lives – our skin. I love winter more than most people. While 9 out of 10 people are dreading a snow storm, I’m hoping for as many inches as possible. But even I was growing tired winter this year – he really overstayed his welcome this time. Now it’s time for glorious spring followed by glorious summer! All I can think about is baseball, bird watching, feeding squirrels, grilling out, planting flowers, homemade lemonade, ice cream, and more baseball.

Let the fun in the sun begin – AFTER we remind ourselves of the importance of our skin and how vital it is that we take care of it.

Facts About Skin Cancer

  • Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States.
  • More than one million instances of skin cancers are diagnosed each year.
  • Each year there are more new cases of skin cancer than the combined incidence of cancers of the breast, prostate, lung and colon.
  • One in five Americans will develop skin cancer in the course of a lifetime.
  • In 2004, the total direct cost associated with the treatment for non-melanoma skin cancers was more than $1 billion.
  • About 90 percent of non-melanoma skin cancers are associated with exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun.
  • Up to 90 percent of the visible changes commonly attributed to aging are caused by the sun.
  • The incidence of many common cancers is falling, but the incidence of melanoma continues to rise significantly, at a rate faster than that of any of the seven most common cancers.
  • More than 20 Americans die each day from skin cancer, primarily melanoma. One person dies of melanoma almost every hour (every 62 minutes).

Realizing the Dangers of Skin Cancer

For some outrageous reason, I’ve noticed that the majority of people seem to think of skin cancer about the same way they think about psoriasis or exzema. “Eh, it’s just a skin condition that you put a little cream on… have it scraped off at the worst.  I’ll take my chances for my golden tan.“  Dumb.  Then you’ll get the crowd that tells you how addictive the feeling is from baking in the sun or under the heat lamps.

Is the feeling worth dying for?  One person dies of melanoma almost every hour…

Skin cancer isn’t a rash, for crying out loud. It’s cancer. C-A-N-C-E-R.  And it’s one of the cancers that we can do the most to avoid.  I guess that’s the good news and the bad news, all rolled into one, because can is never spelled W.I.L.L.

More Skin Cancer Facts from Skin Cancer.org

MEN / WOMEN

  • The majority of people diagnosed with melanoma are white men over age 50.
  • Five percent of all cancers in men are melanomas; Four percent of all cancers in women are melanomas.
  • Contrary to popular belief, recent studies show that people receive a fairly consistent dose of ultraviolet radiation over their entire lifetime. Adults over age 40, especially men, have the highest annual exposure to UV.
  • Between 1980 and 2004, the annual incidence of melanoma among young women increased by 50 percent, from 9.4 cases to 13.9 cases per 100,000 women.
  • The number of women under age 40 diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma has more than doubled in the last 30 years; the squamous cell carcinoma rate for women has also increased significantly.
  • Until age 39, women are almost twice as likely to develop melanoma as men. Starting at age 40, melanoma incidence in men exceeds incidence in women, and this trend becomes more pronounced with each decade.
  • One in 39 men and one in 58 women will develop melanoma in their lifetime.
  • Melanoma is one of only three cancers with an increasing mortality rate for men.

INDOOR TANNING

  • Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) is a proven human carcinogen, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
  • Frequent tanners using new high-pressure sunlamps may receive as much as 12 times the annual UVA dose compared to the dose they receive from sun exposure.
  • Seventy one percent of tanning salon patrons are girls and women aged 16-29.
  • First exposure to tanning beds in youth increases melanoma risk by 75 percent.
  • People who use tanning beds are 2.5 times more likely to develop squamous cell carcinoma and 1.5 times more likely to develop basal cell carcinoma.

PEDIATRICS

  • Melanoma accounts for up to three percent of all pediatric cancers.
  • Between 1973 and 2001, melanoma incidence in those under 20 rose 2.9 percent.
  • Melanoma is seven times more common between the ages of 10 and 20 than it is between 0 and 10 years.
  • Diagnoses – and treatment – are delayed in 40 percent of childhood melanoma cases.
  • Ninety percent of pediatric melanoma cases occur in girls aged 10-19.

To keep yourself and your family safe, make sure everyone understands that Skin Cancer is dangerous – even fatal.  E-Mail them a link to this article – tell them you’ll buy them lunch if they’ll read it, word for word.  Use my oldest cat’s name (Hannah) as a test question to make sure they did!  I’m a mother, I know the secrets of staying on top of the game.

Sun Safety: Avoid Skin Cancer

  • If you have things to do outside (walking, mowing, gardening), do them before 10 A.M. and after 4 P.M.
  • During the hours from 10 to 4, stay in the shade as much as possible.
  • Don’t burn!
  • Avoid tanning booths.  As the US Department of Health and Human Services states, UV radiation from either the sun or tanning machines is a proven human carcinogen (cancer-causing agent) and considerable research shows it is the chief cause of skin cancer.
  • Use a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher every day, even if you’re certain you’ll be in the shade most of the time. Reapply often.
  • Cover up with clothing, including a broad-brimmed hat and UV-blocking sunglasses.

A Healthy Diet to Prevent Skin Cancer

  • Get this:  People who eat three servings of spinach a week decrease their risk of skin cancer by 55 percent!  Popeye was onto something. Spinach contains folate, vitamins A, C, and E, lutein, and zeaxanthin – these nutrients boost your skin’s resistance to sun damage.  Eat spinach in salads, pasta salads, on sandwiches, in pesto, in pasta, in Spinach and Artichoke dips, etc.
  • Thanks to Lycopene, tomatoes also reduce your chances of getting skin cancer or even getting sun-burned.  Pair tomatoes often with spinach for double-the-protection.  Throw both into salads, sandwiches, pasta, and use them as pizza toppings.
  • Black raspberries and pomegranates are also on Real Age.com’s list of foods to eat for healthier skin.
  • Saving the yummiest for last – Dark Chocolate!  Dark Chocolate (one of my reasons for living) has a great reputation for many health benefits.  I was overjoyed to see that it just keeps getting better.  Did you know that dark chocolate boasts more cancer-fighting chemicals than green tea and red wine? That makes each bite, somehow, taste even sweeter.  According to Real Age:  ….in a study that thrilled chocolate lovers, women who drank a daily cup of cocoa made from 3 ounces of good dark chocolate (70% or more cacao) had thicker, moister, smoother skin that was also more resistant to sun damage . . . in just three months, thanks to chocolate’s potent flavonols.

Of course, just because you know that you can help protect your skin with a healthy diet – that isn’t an invitation to be a sun goddess or god.  Experts agree, we need between 10 and 20 minutes of sunshine each day.  It helps our body make Vitamin D and it boost our mood.  But between 10 and 20 minutes is all we actually need.  An excess is just courting danger… the kind of danger that none of us need or want.

Have fun but be smart and be safe.

Kicking Bad Habits to the Curb

by joi on February 22, 2010

in Health, Positive Thought

Every now and then, one of the always fascinating comments left on Self Help Daily will be so dead on that I just have to share it with everyone. Richard, from RWP Solutions, left a comment on the Is Soda as Bad For Us as Smoking post.  I’ve never smoked but I’ve been a first class Diet Dr. Pepper addict for years and years.  And years.

Richard had the following to say about smoking, “As a smoker I am finding that I am addicted to the act of smoking as much as I am the smoke itself. I crave picking something up, putting it in my mouth, stomping it out. I need to have something to do with my hands and I find myself using cigarettes as “thinking” aids.”

He makes an outstanding point – we often are more addicted to the actions than the results.  When I’m thirsty – water, tea, juice… any liquid satisfies the thirst.  It isn’t as though diet soda is the only drink that makes the thirst go away.   In fact, tea chases thirst out of town like Matt Dillon chases out cowboys with ill intent.

Sometimes when it comes to things that have a tight hold on us, I think it’s more of a habit than a preference.  The problem is, say what you will, habits are comforting.  If mashed potatoes and chocolate pudding are comfort foods – which they surely are – then habits are comfort feels.  I enjoy buying my bottles or cans of diet soda, I enjoy buying it in restaurants, I enjoy drinking it as I work at my computer.  It feels good.  It feels comfortable.

But I have finally gotten the upper hand.   I have pretty much outsmarted myself because I switched “holds” and switched “comforts.”  Now, instead of having a diet drink near me, my cat, and my coffee all day – I have iced tea (either black, green, or flavored tea) in the happy mix.

If you have an addiction or a bad habit that you’re trying to weed out of your life, try not to focus so much on the addiction or the habit, itself.  This only gives it strength, power, and increases its hold.  That’s the last thing you need!  Focus, instead, on your strength and your resolve.  Focus on things that give you similar comfort and happiness.  If smoking is YOUR Diet soda-type hold, find other things to do with your hands – especially during those critical times when you want to smoke the most.  Keep suckers or hard candy on hand.

Only you know what will work for you, because only you know what it is that you need.  I’m simply here to tell you that you are stronger than the addiction or the habit – after all, you’ve been around longer!  You created it, it didn’t create you.

Look it dead in the eye, lower your voice to an intimidating level and say, “I brought you into this world and I can take you out.”  Then back up the tough attitude with a tough plan.  I believe in you 100 percent and I raise my glass of iced green tea to your success.

A nail is driven out by another nail. Habit is overcome by habit. – Desiderius Erasmus

How to Follow a Mediterranean Diet

by joi on February 19, 2010

in Fitness, Health

I just wrote an article on my Mental Fitness blog about the Mediterranean Diet and it’s wonderful effects on brain health. New findings show that eating the   When you finish here, check this post out – the findings are pretty remarkable.

What is the Mediterranean Diet?

The Mediterranean Diet sounds like it would be a fad diet used by the rich and famous, doesn’t it?  The terms are actually used to describe the foods eaten by people living in countries surrounding the Mediterranean Sea (Greece, Morroco, Italy, Spain). The foods that form this diet are associated with a slew of positive health effects:

  • a lower risk of cancer
  • a lower risk of hear heart disease
  • fewer heart attacks
  • less hypertension
  • lower risk of diabetes
  • prevention of brain disease
  • trimmer body

Just glance at that list again!  Just think, you can protect your body and mind and improve your fitness and health simply by choosing to eat the right foods and refusing to eat the wrong ones.

If it’s so simple…. and it pretty much is… why aren’t we all doing it? I think one of the reasons is habit.  We’re accustomed to eating a certain way and find the thought of drastic change overwhelming.  (Wonder how overwhelming we’d find heart disease or diabetes to be?)  Some people may think that incorporating new foods into their diet will be expensive or inconvenient (Again, how expensive or inconvenient would serious health problems be?)

No more excuses.  Today’s the day!

What Foods Are In a Mediterranean Diet?

When incorporating the Mediterranean diet into your daily meals, think fresh and wholesome.  Think unprocessed and natural.  You’ll want to become as familiar to the produce department as a head of lettuce.  The staples of the Mediterranean diet include fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts and seeds, legumes, seafood, yogurt, and olive oil.

Try new foods and try fresh new things with old favorites.  I’d wholeheartedly recommend buying a bamboo steamer and getting all kinds of fancy pants with steaming vegetables.  Steamed asparagus, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, peppers, snap peas, nappa cabbage, artichokes…. Heavenly. If, at first, you have trouble falling in love with fresh vegetables, experiment with different Mrs. Dash seasonings, fresh herbs, and squeezed lemon and/or lime juice.

Adding steamed vegetables (or grilled on a George Foreman Grill – another one of my favorite kitchen toys!) to pasta dishes is a wonderful way to make them into a meal.  I’ll give you extra points if you use wheat pasta.  I promise you, if you season everything right, you’ll never even know it’s wheat – but your body will.

Roasted garlic is also a healthy way to add flavor to meals – and garlic is very much a part of the Mediterranean diet.

A few other things you’ll want to know about the Mediterranean Diet:

  • The  people who live around the Mediterranean Sea use olive oil as often as I drink coffee.  They use it in almost everything they eat.  Whether it’s pasta, bread, vegetables, salads, fish, cakes, pastries… whatever.  Olive oil is the principal fat in the Mediterranean diet.  It replaces other fats and oils such as butter and margarine. Why should you fall in similar love with olive oil? Researchers at the Monell Chemical Senses Center in Philadelphia found that oleocanthal, a compound in olive oil, reduces inflammation.   This alone could help prevent  heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, Alzheimer’s, and certain cancers.  The next time you have French or Italian bread, try this.  Instead of butter or margarine – pour a little Extra Virgin Olive Oil into a pretty dish then grind fresh pepper on top.  Dunk your bread into the peppery olive oil in lieu of unhealthy butter.  My favorite approach is with different colored peppercorns – they look gorgeous and taste outstanding.  A little crushed basil, thyme, or oregano is also a nice touch.
  • Use local produce – not only is it healthier for it to be handled as little as possible, it’s cool to keep your money in your community.  I’m all about that.
  • Try to eat beans in your diet each day.  Throw some in your salad, chili, soup, and even pasta.  Bean soup is always delicious and you can’t beat a great bean salad.  Combine your favorite beans with a little olive oil, garlic, and red onion.  Season and dive in.  Also, hummus is another wonderful way to utilize beans, olive oil, AND garlic in one delicious sitting.  Use fresh vegetables to scoop up the hummus and you’ve leveled up to a whole new level of greatness.
  • Leave bowls or baskets of nuts around the house to nosh on instead of candy and potato chips. Throw pine nuts and sunflower seeds into your salad for crunch and flavor.
  • Omega 3 fatty acids run free and wild in the Mediterranean diet. Why’s this such a great thing? As WebMD tells us, Fatty acids have been shown to reduce the incidence of heart attacks, blood clots, hypertension, and strokes; and may prevent certain forms of cancer and lower the risk of neurological disorders like Alzheimer’s disease.
  • Try to eat less meat, opting for fish, vegetables, legumes instead.  Just remember to fill up on protein from healthier sources.
  • Mediterranean people devour lots of tomatoes, broccoli, peppers, capers, spinach, eggplant, mushrooms, white beans, lentils, and chick peas.  Throw capers into orzo, pasta, rice, salads, and even egg dishes.  Chick peas, of course, are the foundation of hummus and are excellent in bean salads as well as tossed salads and taco salads.
  • Try to eat fish and seafood at least twice a week. Again, remember that freshness is your body’s friend.  Check your bakery for beautiful seafood that you can take home and wax brilliant with.
  • Fall in love with fruit and never stray.  Keep a fruit bowl in a prominent place in your kitchen and/or dining room and keep it filled with a variety of beautiful, healthy fruits.  They look and smell as good as they taste.  Keep dried fruit and fruit juice on hand as well.  Send them in your kid’s (and spouse’s!) lunch for a healthy alternative to chips.
  • The Mediterranean diet includes lots of whole grain foods as well.  Foods such as rice, couscous, bread, pasta, potatoes, and polenta are popular with Mediterranean people. In their natural state, grains are full of cancer and heart disease-fighting fiber, vitamins, minerals, and nutrients.  But white bread, pasta, and rice defeats the healthy purpose. Stripping the grain’s outer layers to make white flour and white rice eliminates the health benefits.  The whole process leaves you with little more than the dreaded EC – empty calories.

A final word about portion control:  The Mediterranean Diet emphasizes healthy foods eaten in healthy portions.  Because of the fiber content, less food is needed to make you feel full.  Less empty calories, less unhealthy fat, less junk, and less bloat will lead to a much healthier and happier you.

On my recipe blog (Get Cooking) I intend to start posting as many Mediterranean Diet- friendly foods and recipes as humanly possible.  I’m creating a whole new category for the Mediterranean Diet and will add my favorite ways to fix, cook, and serve healthier foods.   I love to cook more than almost anything else in the world.  I have a very large family with lovely people from all age groups – so I know the challenges of feeding a family on a budget while providing them with foods that are healthy for them.  What’s more, our family is filled with young people, so I know the importance of feeding them healthy foods that they’ll actually eat!  I’m still working on the challenge that is eggplant, but I’ll let you know when victory is mine!

If you’re truly interested in a healthier diet and lifestyle, head over to Get Cooking and subscribe by e-mail or rss and watch for the healthy recipes to pour in.

Leave the Soft Drinks on the Shelves, Put the Tea Bags in the Cart!

by joi on February 17, 2010

in Health, Make a Difference

A new study has found that even drinking just two soft drinks a week can increase your risk of pancreatic cancer. As a former soft drink addict, I know that two soft drinks is usually a daily thing for most people.  At the height of my soft drink fanaticism, I easily drank an entire 2 liter of Dr. Pepper over the course of a day.  Easily.  Then, when I switched to Diet Dr. Pepper, I served it with the same dedication and devotion.  Who am I kidding, I still have a soft spot for my beloved DDP.  Fortunately,  I love tea, iced coffee, and green tea even more, so I’m slowly but surely pulling away from the habit.

The new study that’s generating all the buzz has greatly affected what drinks I bring into my house. Researchers say that drinking as little as two soft drinks a week appears to nearly double the risk of getting pancreatic cancer. Scary stuff.

”People who drank two or more soft drinks a week had an 87% increased risk — or nearly twice the risk — of pancreatic cancer compared to individuals consuming no soft drinks,” says study lead author Noel T. Mueller, MPH, a research associate at the Cancer Control Program at Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, D.C. The study is published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.

If your kids (or your spouse!) seem to think that the only thing they can drink are soft drinks, introduce them to different fruit juices, teas, and flavored water. As a green mom, I really don’t want to recommend bottled flavored water.  Instead, buy a water filter – turning your own water into bottled water.  Then, flavor it – if need be – with lemons, limes, strawberries, blueberries, Stevia or Truvia, peaches, etc.  I confess, I drink what my daughters call “hummingbird water” – I sweeten it with Truvia or Stevia.  I guess it’s all those years of drinking soft drinks and sweet tea (very, very sweet tea – I take my southern heritage seriously).

If you, or anyone in your family, misses the “fizz” in soft drinks – try adding a little club soda to juice.  It’ll give you the fizz without the fright.

Personally, I’ve found that flavored tea bags have enough personality and taste to make you all but forget about soft drinks.  The Peach Celestial Seasonings tea bags (pictured above) make outstanding cups of hot tea and equally outstanding glasses of iced tea.  Remember, tea not only tastes wonderful, it has antioxidants to boot.

Everything good, nothing bad. Where can you beat it?  If you’re going to put something into your body, don’t you want it to be a worthwhile guest and benefit you in some way?  Make today the day you stop putting bad things in your body and start putting more good things in… and start with your drinks.

How to Deal With Stress Before It Deals With You

by joi on February 4, 2010

in Animal Protection, General, Health, Self Help

Stress is nothing more than a socially acceptable form of mental illness. – Richard Carlson

Have you ever seen an individual in the throes of stress?  They look like they’re convinced they have it worse than anybody on earth and seem to be almost incapable of functioning.  Sometimes they lash out in a temper tantrum like a 5 year old that’s being forced to leave the McDonald’s playground or cry and/or sulk like one that never made it to the playground in the first place.    Other times, they internalize and cause themselves a whole host of health problems.

Irregardless of how the host reacts, stress is a most unwelcome guest.  Like all unwelcome guests, it boils down to two choices:

  1. Get rid of it.
  2. Learn to live with it.

If you’re one of those people who seem to stress out over every little thing, you truly need to learn some great coping techniques.  Not for the sake of everyone around you, but for your own.  Blowing up, internalizing, sulking, stressing – these are all things that are causing damage inside your body.  If you could somehow look inside and see what your inability to handle stress is doing, you’d find a way…. make a way… to cope.

When you feel stressed or on edge, picture the Blue-Footed Boobie! There’s no way you’re going to feel cranky or upset when you picture these guys or even just say their name out loud. I guarantee you’ll smile long before you explode or implode. Now, won’t that feel better?

I’m not judging and I’m not condemning.  I’m probably the least judgmental person you’ll ever encounter.  I get that everyone is different and I, honestly, love that fact.  I also have read enough, observed enough, and simply know through good old common sense that everyone reacts to things differently.  On any given day, three people can get a flat tire and each will react differently:

  1. One may cuss, pound the steering wheel, and search for the nearest person to blame – the road crew, the city, construction workers, the spouse (always a good one), God (yeah… He’s always home and has nothing better to do than pop tires), etc.  The blamers of life are real pills, aren’t they?  My oldest daughter and I watched a man outside of a coffee shop one day last week.  Something wasn’t quite right under the hood of his truck and he put on a display unlike anything I’ve seen in a while.  He hit the hood, he screamed at his mortified wife, he stomped, he kicked…  Some people were laughing at him, my daughter said he was “gross” and I just went back to my coffee hoping I never met him face to face.
  2. One may tear up and have a little “poor me, nothing ever goes right for me” cry.
  3. The third one might just say, “Wow, didn’t need that, but at least no one was hurt.  Oh well, if this is the worst thing that happens to me today, I’ve got it made.”

One person isn’t OVER ALL any better, smarter, or cooler than the other two.   Each simply copes differently.  The thing is, when we get to the place where we’re able to cope with stress like the individual in the third example, we’ll enjoy life more, we’ll function better, our health will be better, our relationships will be sweeter and we won’t be spectacles for others to laugh at, call gross, or wish we’d never even seen in the first place.

One of the best ways to deal with stress is to identify your triggers.  The man in front of the coffee shop obviously couldn’t cope with adversity.  (Good luck with life, buddy!)   I also wonder if a little bit of feeling helpless had something to do with his performance.  After all, if he knew what to do, wouldn’t he have been doing it rather than acting a fool?  The lashing out at his wife was probably somewhat of a defensive reaction to keep from showcasing that he didn’t know what to do.  (Pick up the phone… call someone who does…)

We can’t all know everything and there is no shame in simply smiling and saying, “I know as much about this as I do the mating habits of the blue footed boobie.“  There never has been and there never will be any shame in admitting that you’re human.  Some of my best friends are human.

Other people are triggered, seemingly, when they think the world isn’t doing enough for them or giving them enough.  Ah, the selfish crowd.  God love their little hearts, they honestly feel like everyone’s day should center around serving them, catering to them, and bowing down to their mightiness.  I guess it’s obvious why they’re so miserable – that’s just not going to happen. If you go around demanding respect and telling everyone why they should (or MUST!) respect, fear, and applaud you – you obviously don’t deserve any of the accolades.  If you did, they’d be yours.

My advice for these people is this:  Love yourself, feel proud of yourself, and pat yourself on the back all you want.  But, you must let others make up their own minds about you.  Don’t tell them how great you are, show them.  The world doesn’t owe you anything.  If this is your thinking, let me hasten to point out that you’ve got it all twisted…. You owe the world.  Start giving and you won’t have time to throw a pity party.  Also, while you’re at it, stop complaining that others aren’t doing enough for you.  If you want something done, do it. Try this on for a while:  Go out of your way to do things for other people.  Compliment them, smile at them, help them out whenever and however you can.  There’s a great old saying, What goes around comes around – maybe you’ve been living that out and what you’re receiving is what you’ve been giving… or, in this case, haven’t been giving.

Just a thought.

A third stress trigger is feeling overwhelmed – like life is just giving you too much at one time.  We’ve all been there and few of us ever want to go back.  The emotions, turmoil, and so forth that surrounded my mom’s sudden death in 2006 left me feeling like I was completely and totally spent.   If not for prayer and an outstanding family, I might still be in bed with the covers over my head.  I remember the day that I “got up.”  I hadn’t physically stayed in bed for days after losing my mom, but my spirit did.  Then, one day, I was in the back of the house and I heard my husband and our youngest daughter in the front of the house looking for something.  I knew that, not only wouldn’t they be able to find it, they’d make a mess trying.  I flipped a switch that I’d forgotten even existed and, literally, rejoined my family.

Sometimes we have to admit that we’ve “gone under.”  Make no mistake about it, we all do at one time or another – we feel overwhelmed and worn out.  The trick is not to stay there.  Remember Lao-Tzu’s words, “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.“  If relationships, finances, work, or another potent opponent has you on the ropes…. or even if it has knocked you to the mat!… you have a choice to make:  Are you going to stay there or are you going to fight back?!?!

The answer to your triggers, your problems, your adversities, and your stress lies within your heart.  Find someplace quiet and sort things out.  Stop placing blame on anyone, beginning with yourself.  Blame is the most irrelevant and useless expense of energy I can think of.  Forge past blame, forge past self-pity, and forge past anger. Find the solution you need to either remove your personal stress from your life or determine how you’ll learn to live with it.

Life is too precious and too wonderful to spend it stressed out and on edge.  Be happy.  Lighten up.  Dance.  Repeat.

Photo Credit: The picture of the beautiful Blue Footed Booby Birds is from Animal Corner.

To learn what you can do to protect the Blue Footed Booby Bird, visit the Adoption Center of the WWF.

How Do I Love My NordicTrack, Let Me Count the Ways!

by joi on January 25, 2010

in Fitness, Health, Self Help

[ Not that it should (or remotely does) matter, but none of the links in this post are affiliate links of any kind.  They're simply helpful links to information and resources. It's also not a paid review or a solicited review in any way.  What it is is this:  Someone who is beyond delighted with something and is enjoying getting healthier so much that she wants to see everyone else rocking the same happy boat.  ]

Well, we did it.  We talked about it for probably over a year, and a few weeks ago we purchased and set up a NordickTrack A2550 Pro.  I couldn’t be happier with it.  If you read any of my writings (and I couldn’t love you any more if you were coated in chocolate for doing so), you know that I love to walk.  Because I’ve been blessed with chronic asthma, I’m a little limited in what I can do when it comes to fitness and exercise.  Different people have different levels of asthma and mine is simply a beaut. If I walk outside in the cold, for any length of time – we’re talking a full blown attack.  So, even though I adore to walk – when the weather turns cold, my fun’s over.

At least it was!

Anyone who walks regularly knows how amazing it makes you feel.  The benefits can be felt to an even greater extent than they can be seen.  You have more energy, your mobility is better, you’re thinking is clearer, you have a natural glow, your mood is fantastic, and your heart loves it.  The benefits of regularly walking go on and on and on.  If you’re wanting to lose weight, look younger,  be healthier, and feel better than ever before – you have to walk for it!

If the weather (or other factors) keep you from walking outside, consider walking at your local mall or even a large department store.  Just be prepared to make a lot of trips around the store.

Better yet, I strongly recommend that you do just as my family did – get a treadmill.  You’re certainly smart enough to pick out your own treadmill and research the benefits of each but I would love to give you my recommendations if that’d be okay.  My husband researched the dickens out of treadmills before making the purchase.  I believe he knew all along he wanted to buy a NordicTrack.  He’s the most brand-loyal person I know and really you can’t fault brand-loyalty.  If someone never lets you down and always seems to be evolving as a company and a brand (such as NordicTrack, HP, Vizio), why look elsewhere?

He read about each NordicTrack on the market and considered what we wanted to use the treadmill for, who would be using it, where it would sit, and so on.  He made an outstanding choice and, as I said at the beginning of this post, I couldn’t be happier.

We set our NordicTrack up in our bedroom, near the television.    I’ve had a regular routine for two forevers that I swear by – I break away from working online at some point in the afternoon, usually about an hour before or after lunch.  My cat, Alexa, and I head to the bedroom for a wonderful, relaxing trip to Mayberry, Lucy and Ricky’s apartment, or the Clampett’s mansion (courtesy of dvd collections).  During this time, there’s no such thing as Twitter, e-mail, seo plugins, blogs, comment spam, vacuuming, or laundry.  It’s a wonderful little escapism that I’ve enjoyed for years.

I enjoy it even more now.  Sure, I walk or jog through Mayberry, Beverly Hills, or a hilarious apartment in NYC now but I feel incredible afterwards.  Alexa curls up in the window and seems to find me much more entertaining than anything on the television.  I watch two episodes and find that I’m super-charged to finish the rest of my day.  I’m going to begin, tomorrow, watching LOST episodes – gearing up for it’s return.

This NordicTrack is extremely comfortable and easy to use.  There’s a display that allows me to keep  track of how long I’ve been walking, the distance I’ve gone, my pace, and the calories I’ve burned along the way.  You can affect these calories by adjusting the speed and/or incline.  My current choices in incline and speed allow me to burn 200 calories in 30 minutes, or 200 calories per visit with Lucy.

I’ll take it!

I’ve also found that when I’ll be walking at a moderate pace, I can prop a magazine or book in front of me and read.  As a book lover,  I love that.

I hope you’ll click through to read about the NordickTrack A2550 Pro and all of its features (click on DETAILS).  I know it’ll blow you away.  I believe NordicTrack.com has a current special that’ll save you a lot of money.  What’s more, they’re offering free shipping.  More money saved!

This is one of the smartest investments we’ve ever made – because it’s an investment in the health, fitness, happiness, and lifespan of each member of the family.  I just strongly urge you to consider making the same investment.  If I could, somehow, allow you to feel how wonderful I feel right now (fresh from a workout), you’d order your own within 10 minutes.

Whether you order your NordicTrack online or find one at your local Sears, just stop thinking and start doing.  Also, one other piece of advice:  If it’s available, pay for delivery and set up.  Trust me on this one – this is a major piece of exercise equipment and any money spent on allowing someone else the pleasure of moving it and setting it up is money very, very well spent.

A Hodge Podge of Healthy Links Because I Love You, Man

by joi on January 22, 2010

in Fitness, Health

Below are 10  links to valuable and vital health and fitness articles that I know you’ll enjoy.  I’m hoping that one of your New Year’s Resolutions was to take better care of yourself, mentally and physically.  If not, I just made the resolution for you.  You will be better to yourself this year and treat yourself like the special person that you are.

Notice how I save the best for last…

If It Matters to You, Keep Track of It!

by joi on January 6, 2010

in Fitness, General, Health, Self Help

No, this isn’t a post about keeping up with your keys, cellphone, or reading glasses.   It is amazing how cellphones wander away from you though, isn’t it?  This is a post to introduce you to a really cool, innovative new website:  Tallyzoo.

Tallyzoo is all about keeping track of things that are important to you, whether these things are goals, weight loss, resolutions, habits, successes, dreams, hopes – the list goes on indefinitely… all the more reason to keep track of them! You could also use Tallyzoo to keep track of books you’ve read and books you want to read. If you’re one of the millions of people who read the Bible through each year (or if this is your first year doing so), you could keep a perfect tally of which Psalms you’ve read and which ones are left!

TallyZoo was actually launched about a week ago. The goal is to be the easiest way to track, visualize and share personal trends. The original idea behind the site was a place for people to track health and fitness goals and achievements. However, the site’s editors have been delighted to see individuals taking the site even further. More and more people are tracking a wide range of life goals and habits.

Human ingenuity. Nothing more beautiful.

Check out Tallyzoo to help organize and keep track of your thoughts, goals, and successes. You can even get an iPhone application!

← Previous Entries