It has been several weeks since my last blog, and frankly I just needed a break from feeling like blogging was a job (even writing a blog once a week sometimes feels like pressure). Writing is a passion of mine and I want to keep it that way, so when I am inspired and have something to say, I will. Today I do, and now I write.
I have been feeling like I need a suit of armor (or hazmat) to survive and stay healthy living on this planet. I know that sounds extreme, but lately that's how I feel. Sometimes reading and empowering myself with knowledge may not be such a good thing...I may now be thinking "ignorance is truly bliss." Have you ever noticed that just about everyday something else comes out across the wire that can be harmful to your health?...Egads!!...It is amazing people actually live past birth. Between our air and water being polluted, our food supply being sprayed and genetically modified, personal care products being filled with toxic chemicals penetrating our skin how do we even have a chance? And you think the western medical establishment and BIG PHARMA will help if we succumb to disease? Well think again...because that's a crap shoot as well. Like I have said over and over again, taking responsibility of ones own health is the first (and BEST) defense. Over the past month, I have made several very positive healthful adjustments to my lifestyle (and my husbands...he he) to help promote our best defense and increase "our" vitality.
Way Back in my early twenties (during the stone age), I became a vegetarian which lasted for about 17 years. I was later bamboozled into thinking animal-based protein was the very best source of the so-called highly nutritionally valuable macro-nutrient source, whereby having me start eating meat (poultry actually) once again. I became hooked on meat, and did buy into touting it's nutritional value trying to convince myself of it's worthiness. I did this for fifteen years until I recently decided to become a plant-based/whole grain eater once again, and honestly, it wasn't so difficult. The turning point for me was reading the book The China Study. I have read more books about nutrition, diet...yada yada over the years to realize this book really had me at "you want to know how healthy you are...look at the end of your fork" (also watching FOOD INC about 100 times). The author of this book says throughout "I am a researcher" and indeed he is. Not only is T. Colin Campbell a researcher, he is a very thorough one at that. His list of cited studies and references was the size of a small book. His argument for eating a plant-based, whole grain diet could not be disputed. While he does tout vegan-ism, vegetarianism is the next best thing so that I knew I could do with the intention to go vegan (someday?). Now the tough part was getting my 2 gallon a week milk drinking, cheese eating, carne asada burrito consuming husband to make that shift, and that was a whole other story. I decided to use the old "blood doesn't lie" trick and went straight to the cholesterol and triglyceride (he just had a physical and blood work done) in your face these are your levels.. truth. "You need to get those blood levels down especially now that you're in your fifties" was my rant and I used the book as proof. My husband is a "just the facts ma'am" guy, he wants legitimate cited studies, research, hard core proof...so then I knew I got him because this book has it all. Thanks to T. Colin Campbell and The China Study book, now Dennis is a transformed man (OK on his way to being a transformed man). It's been a week for him now, and I already see the changes and it's great. He may slip in a little meat here and there on the road to being a vegetarian, but I will take it...this is a major milestone.
As far as I go, well this week I ate just about completely vegan and I feel fabulous. I prepared my first all American vegan burger recipe (from my new vegan cookbook), which will be grilled tonight, and eaten along with accompaniments of fresh greens from the FM and (of course) wine (not giving that up). I must say vegan prep has a labor intensive learning curve, but definately worth time put in. I also went through my medicine cabinet, and storage drawers and threw out all the toxic sun screen, cosmetics, and personal care products that did not score above a 3 on http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/ which amounted to a few hundred bucks worth. I decided our health and life was worth it. I am now using this website to restock my supply of just about everything which has now turned into another job. I have officially become a product researcher...OY Vey.
In this ever growing toxic world we live I believe the best defense starts at home, making positive changes using reliable, trustworthy resources (as in never believe the FDA) and yes it takes work to find them. And I am happy to pass them to you so you can have another job as well...
OK put on your HAZMAT suit and go out and enjoy the world!!!!
See you next time....
yours in Good Health ~ L
Showing posts with label wellness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wellness. Show all posts
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Deciding YOUR own Health Destiny
It's after 3PM and normally I do my blog entry following my morning coffee and CBS Sunday Morning program. However, today I just needed a little more time and inspiration to develop what I wanted to say in my writing.
I decided to write about my favorite subject which is Health, apropos for the historic vote in congress on Health Care reform, in addition to the running of the Los Angeles Marathon. What is interesting about both of these events are the people involved in them are extremely passionate about health but in two completely different ways. One is curative and the other preventative. The curative being, government trying to resuscitate or rather "fix" somehow a completely broken Health Care system by trying in essence to put a band aid on a massive coronary, however I suppose a band aid is better than nothing. And... for many individuals here in the US, congress is also deciding their health destiny. The other being (for many running today) trying to prevent ever having a massive coronary (although some are destine to have one anyway). While I do think to some extent marathon running is extreme, it is exercise and that is a means toward prevention of certain diseases. So I guess in a way these are to extremes that have the common thread of health. Although, I think I would rather be running in the LA Marathon today than to be in that fire pit of of HELL called congress.
Whatever comes out of that hell hole today (which I do hope reform does happen because to lay dormant is certainly NOT progress) my hope is that individuals realize we have the power to a very large extent to dictate our personal health outcome. Can the unforeseen happen? Of course it can, however 70% of the cost the US spends on Health Care (crisis care) is in large part for diseases that are completely preventable. I strongly believe that if we all took an interest in our own wellness we would be headed collectively in a much better direction. No you don't have to run a Marathon but getting outside for a walk, a hike or just playing and being active puts you on a path toward a better and more productive outcome. It is truly that simple. Making better choices about food or addictive substances that wreak havoc with your body is a power we take for granted. It's all about choice and making the best choices to live a health life with unlimited vitality.
So on this historic day no matter what the outcome is with regard to Health Reform, choose to reform your own health and I guarantee you will come out a winner....just like all those people who pump their arms over their head when they cross that finish line at the end of 26.2 miles - they are champions of their own health destiny.
Yours In Health ~ L
I decided to write about my favorite subject which is Health, apropos for the historic vote in congress on Health Care reform, in addition to the running of the Los Angeles Marathon. What is interesting about both of these events are the people involved in them are extremely passionate about health but in two completely different ways. One is curative and the other preventative. The curative being, government trying to resuscitate or rather "fix" somehow a completely broken Health Care system by trying in essence to put a band aid on a massive coronary, however I suppose a band aid is better than nothing. And... for many individuals here in the US, congress is also deciding their health destiny. The other being (for many running today) trying to prevent ever having a massive coronary (although some are destine to have one anyway). While I do think to some extent marathon running is extreme, it is exercise and that is a means toward prevention of certain diseases. So I guess in a way these are to extremes that have the common thread of health. Although, I think I would rather be running in the LA Marathon today than to be in that fire pit of of HELL called congress.
Whatever comes out of that hell hole today (which I do hope reform does happen because to lay dormant is certainly NOT progress) my hope is that individuals realize we have the power to a very large extent to dictate our personal health outcome. Can the unforeseen happen? Of course it can, however 70% of the cost the US spends on Health Care (crisis care) is in large part for diseases that are completely preventable. I strongly believe that if we all took an interest in our own wellness we would be headed collectively in a much better direction. No you don't have to run a Marathon but getting outside for a walk, a hike or just playing and being active puts you on a path toward a better and more productive outcome. It is truly that simple. Making better choices about food or addictive substances that wreak havoc with your body is a power we take for granted. It's all about choice and making the best choices to live a health life with unlimited vitality.
So on this historic day no matter what the outcome is with regard to Health Reform, choose to reform your own health and I guarantee you will come out a winner....just like all those people who pump their arms over their head when they cross that finish line at the end of 26.2 miles - they are champions of their own health destiny.
Yours In Health ~ L
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Inspire Change through EDUCATION
The "tag line" I use on my business card and wherever else I can put one is "Go beyond training be Educated" because that is truly the key to being empowered and getting control of your own health. Let's face it - NO ONE is going to take better care of YOU than YOU! It's time to stop giving all of our control away to an over loaded so called Health Care (really Sick Care) system. We all need to take the power back get healthy, stay healthy and stay away from having to use this broken system for diseases we can certainly prevent.
EDUCATION is the answer plain and simple. What is not easy is actually applying what we learn to help ourselves. This is where we fall off a cliff.
For some strange reason we think our body is not as important as our car or other material things when it comes to caring for it. Interestingly enough, those "things" can all be easily replaced and at a lot less cost then let's say a HEART for example. Yet, people still have a hard time doing the right thing to take care of this precious item that keeps us alive. We have one body that we get for an entire lifetime and we have the choice as to how we would like it to perform, feel, be around and what we want it to look like. This is very powerful, yet we give it away every single day by not paying any attention to what will nourish it and keep it running in tip top shape. We do better with our car. How nuts is that? Would you put sugar in your gas tank? Probably not, since common knowledge is that it will kill the performance of the car. Now, let's just apply this same knowledge to the human body and the same result will occur....crappy performance.
The human body NEEDS constant attention, care and maintenance in order for vitality and longevity to occur and have it stay out of the shop for expensive repair. A little knowledge backed up by effort goes a long way and reaps big rewards. It's really worth it to "take good care" of one's own machine.
So here's a thought....Make an effort to make a change toward doing something healthy each day. Start small (take the pressure off) and build from there. Eat a healthy breakfast rather than a poptart, take a 30 minute walk instead of opting to sit on the couch to watch a stupid sit-com, drink one less beer, smoke one less cigarette, buy one kind of organic fruit, eat a veggie burger instead of a beef burger. You don't have go out and run a marathon but maybe watching someone run one may inspire you to have that goal someday.
Educate yourself on the importance of proper nutrients, eating WHOLE FOODS grown from nutrient rich soil, exercise and building strong muscles including the heart, proper sleep and reducing stress. It doesn't have to be done all in one day but it does need to be done for longevity and living a rich and fulfilling life.
EDUCATION is the answer plain and simple. What is not easy is actually applying what we learn to help ourselves. This is where we fall off a cliff.
For some strange reason we think our body is not as important as our car or other material things when it comes to caring for it. Interestingly enough, those "things" can all be easily replaced and at a lot less cost then let's say a HEART for example. Yet, people still have a hard time doing the right thing to take care of this precious item that keeps us alive. We have one body that we get for an entire lifetime and we have the choice as to how we would like it to perform, feel, be around and what we want it to look like. This is very powerful, yet we give it away every single day by not paying any attention to what will nourish it and keep it running in tip top shape. We do better with our car. How nuts is that? Would you put sugar in your gas tank? Probably not, since common knowledge is that it will kill the performance of the car. Now, let's just apply this same knowledge to the human body and the same result will occur....crappy performance.
The human body NEEDS constant attention, care and maintenance in order for vitality and longevity to occur and have it stay out of the shop for expensive repair. A little knowledge backed up by effort goes a long way and reaps big rewards. It's really worth it to "take good care" of one's own machine.
So here's a thought....Make an effort to make a change toward doing something healthy each day. Start small (take the pressure off) and build from there. Eat a healthy breakfast rather than a poptart, take a 30 minute walk instead of opting to sit on the couch to watch a stupid sit-com, drink one less beer, smoke one less cigarette, buy one kind of organic fruit, eat a veggie burger instead of a beef burger. You don't have go out and run a marathon but maybe watching someone run one may inspire you to have that goal someday.
Educate yourself on the importance of proper nutrients, eating WHOLE FOODS grown from nutrient rich soil, exercise and building strong muscles including the heart, proper sleep and reducing stress. It doesn't have to be done all in one day but it does need to be done for longevity and living a rich and fulfilling life.
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