What is Your Definition of Treat?

It’s funny when you consider the definition of what we consider a treat for ourselves. I was reminded of this when reviewing a patient’s nutrition. He reports being a chocoholic. The patient presented the ‘image’ of health, looking fit, trim, healthy and vibrant. But haven’t we all read stories of supposed healthy people having heart attacks, strokes and the like? So I asked the patient if he would consider any compromise, and he replied no.

He continued with a story of how he grew up very poor, worked his way up the ladder and was now quite proud of all that he had achieved. And because he had worked so hard all of his life and was living the dream, he felt that picture included being able to eat as much chocolate as he liked as his reward.  I think that while telling me his story, there was a part of him that decided he might be ready to change it. Sometimes verbalizing your belief will help you see it more clearly. Time will tell….

Here are some ways that we excuse treats:

• We attach the label ‘treat’ to items that we may have addictions to, to make it ok.
• Calling it a ‘treat’ makes it ok because we all ‘deserve’ treats sometimes.
• We tell ourselves that everything in moderation is ok. I could list 50 things right now that are not ok in moderation. We also would have to then ask what is moderation? Some things in moderation will make you very sick or cause harm whether you feel it or not.
• If you have to come up with a  rationalization, it’s probably not in your best interest.
• Consider just how often those treats are sneaking up on you and what is the risk associated with it.

Consider new criteria for treats:

• Is there any nutritional value to it?
• Is it something that you love?
• Perhaps it’s something that is not available or in season all of the time.
• Will it enhance your health or take away from it?
• Make it something that is inarguably good for you so that it doesn’t carry the energy of guilt tainting it.
• Treats don’t always have to be food. Consider good music, a walk, a game, sports, time in nature/sun, a break from work, a good book, ….

Somewhere along the way, we started defining treat as something sinful, wicked, evil, naughty, indulgent, and something owed to us. Don’t those definitions carry a little negative energy with them? It’s a bit twisted when you consider that you are so happy, excited and deserving that you will shower yourself with something not so good for yourself. Instead, if a treat is healthy, exciting, happy, beautiful and clean, it can make every cell of your being sing for joy. I think it represents self love much better. Wrestle with that a while and see how it sits with you. What do you think of it all?

The Development of a New Healthcare Paradigm?

Have you noticed recently in the media the promotion of a new healthcare paradigm? There is a proliferation of information pointing outside of the traditional box. It includes nutrition, vitamin, mineral and herbal supplements, energy work, body mechanics, basic biology, emotional and spiritual wellness to name a few.There’s the ‘Doctors’ show, Dr. Oz, Dr. Mark Hyman, Dr. Joseph Mercola, Dr. Wayne Dyer, Oprah, yogis, meditation shows, organic gardening, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. It’s a force of monumental proportions. Ten years ago we might not have looked twice this direction.

Somewhere along the line there developed a significant shift. Growing up don’t you remember hearing how important it was to include various colored fruits and vegetables in your diet every day? People worked hard during the day, and then they came home for relaxation and family time. We ate the evening meal together as a family and learned about each others day. There was a lot more time connecting with family and friends on the weekends. Sundays really were a day of worship, rest and recreation. It almost looks foreign today. People laugh at the idea and consider it impossible. If we were to do these things, we fear risking the loss of what we are working so hard for. The question is, what really is that? And what do we truly value more?

Is it possible that our lifestyles have been directed by a very large marketing and media blitz of what we ‘should’ want to have and do? And in the meantime have we lost some very important values along the way? Has the idea of pursuing the American dream and competition stolen the ideals that we held closest to our hearts? How often are we ‘me’ focused vs ‘we’ focused?

Our healthcare system is in jeopardy of being more about profitability and efficiencies than about what’s in the best interest of the patient. Thus one reason for the development of all the other branches or alternatives, because people are not having their needs met. People will eventually migrate where they feel  most comfortable and they know when they are not being listened to. Perhaps there is something of great importance within each modality being offered, and that the ultimate system would incorporate a blending or the cooperation of multiple approaches for a more comprehensive solution. This may be the time to combine forces and find what works best for the patient. Practitioners that are truly listening to their patients and having an open minded approach may become the leaders of our new healthcare paradigm.  Food for thought.

Where do you see the future of healthcare heading?

Is It Brain Fog or Something Else?

As we age, we become more concerned about our brain health. Will we get dementia, Alzheimer’s, depression, anxiety, ….? How often do we seriously consider that we might have some control over this? I’d suggest occasionally. Enough to motivate some to work on crosswords, puzzles, Sudoku and such. Consider how much nutrition might play a part. According to Dr. Mark Hyman’s article on Brain Fog, it could have something to do with developing a ‘leaky brain’. Check the link and give it some consideration.

In addition to that, this info is important to keep in mind regarding how you react and interact with people as they age. If they are going through something similar to this, they very well may not be able to control it in the moment. And even harder yet, is the ability to recognize what’s happening and make a conscious decision to research and attempt to improve their situation. So if and when you feel yourself losing patience with this person, try to remember it’s most likely a part of their illness, and we can’t fault them for that.

There are many potential symptoms. Read the article and be familiar with them so you can have a better understanding. And if you’re really motivated, you just might try making your own lifestyle changes to try to prevent this same thing from happening to you! Do some research and ask around. The information is there for the taking!

Mineral Imbalances Yield Multiple Poor Health Conditions

According to a recent health newsletter, The Tuesday Minute; most Americans have an acidic imbalance which steals minerals from their bones. They are also generally deficient in magnesium and potassium. The end result is a myriad of health disorders as well as potential osteoporosis. Here is a synopsis of their 1/3/2012 newsletter.

Consuming 4.7 grams of potassium daily helps lower blood pressure, blunts the effects of salt, and reduces the risk of kidney stones and bone loss. When you are acidic, your body steals minerals from the bone (resulting in bone loss) to help buffer the excess acids. Long term acidity also increases cortisol which contributes to bone loss and kidney stone formation. Acidosis burns potassium, so indirectly, boosting potassium can help prevent bone loss.

Magnesium also helps us detox, improves energy, reduces inflammation and protects our nervous system. Too much calcium and stress can exacerbate a deficiency. The goal is to have a proper calcium/magnesium ratio which is why you frequently see them combined in your supplement.

Acidic conditions are stressful on the body and promote hypertension, diabetes and heart disease.  By increasing natural buffers such as calcium, potassium and citrate you can reduce stress and cortisol. You will increase  these minerals by eating more fruits, vegetables and green drinks. Green smoothies are quite popular lately.

If you really want to get serious about the change, you can purchase pH strips from your pharmacy to test your urine periodically. A pH of 7.5 is considered optimal, do not go over 8.0. Make your dietary changes gradual to give your kidneys a chance to adapt to the changes. This pH is also considered ideal for eliminating toxins. Yay – bonus!

Click here for a food list for specific nutrients such as potassium and magnesium.

From this information you can see just how delicate the mineral balance in our bodies can be. It’s truly a miracle with the typical American diet how we get by as well as we do. Try to be more aware of your food choices, and bring this up with your medical doctor or naturopath (found in the yellow pages).

Disclaimer: Before making any dietary changes, you must consult your physician to make sure that this is appropriate for your current medical condition. For some it may cause serious harm. This article is for informative purposed only and is not intended as an individual recommendation.

The Year 2011 Review

Here it is ladies and gentlemen, our top posts viewed on the internet this year. Please check them out and ‘like’ or share your favorites. We truly appreciate and have enjoyed sharing the year with you.

I just read an article sharing what key ingredient  brings happiness. And one keen observation was that it’s all a matter of perspective. We quickly forget where we’ve been and what we didn’t have, frequently wanting more. I suggest that today is the perfect day to remember how far you’ve come, what others do without, and how there’s always someone else that has it worse than us. This perspective helps remind us to be grateful for the little things that we so often take for granted.

May the coming year, 2012 be extra special for you. We look forward to sharing more thoughts, tips and fun, just around the corner! Be safe, take care, and be grateful for all of your blessings.

 

Happiness – How to Get There!

86 Year Old – Full of Life! 

Dental Prevention Equals Conservative Dentistry

Simple Yet Powerful Daily Transformations

Needle Phobia? Not Any More!

Why Do We Overeat When Stressed?

 

happy new year        feliz año nuevo         ein gutes neues Jahr / prost Neujahr

bonne année        xin nian kuai le         szczęśliwego nowego roku

S novim godom        felice anno nuovo, buon anno        shnorhavor nor tari

sretna nova godina        sun lin fi lok        sun lin fi lok        akemashite omedetô

Z novym rokom        feliz ano novo

Lessen The Plight of Holiday Delight!

Cocktails, cookies and chocolates – oh my!
Delicious, delightful and decadent – oh my!
Nibbling and noshing, munching and crunching,
oh my, oh my, Oh My, OH MY!

We all love the sharing of food. The planning, the cooking, the entertaining – it’s all about the love. Love of food, sharing, caring, family and friends, bosses and coworkers. It’s just one gigantic continuous celebration for a good month and a half!

But – beware! Quietly unbeknownst to you, no fanfare, no who-ha, there are insiduously sneaky bacteria consuming the delicious sugar and starches from your decadent delights to produce acids which destroy your precious tooth enamel. What can you do? Plan ahead a few simple moves to protect your signature smile.

Try to limit snacking to mealtimes rather than all day long. Or if you are going to nibble all day - pick a special day rather than every day. It’s the cumulative amount of time that your teeth are subjected to the simple carbs that is the most destructive.

Strengthen your teeth with:
- fluoride toothpastes and or rinses
- enamel shielding and protecting toothpastes designed to rebuild enamel
- chewing xylitol gum 5 minutes several times per day to reduce the bacteria that cause decay and also increase your saliva which helps clean, protect and rebuild your teeth
- rinsing your mouth with water if you are not able to brush or floss
- brushing and flossing more frequently to disrupt the plaque and bacteria
- use a good mouthrinse that kills bacteria

Then you may nestle all snug in your bed,

while visions of sugar-plums dance in your head!

Attitude Matters!

positive energy

I recently had a patient in for their periodontal cleaning. Throughout the appointment the patient keeps repeating what a terrible job she did cleaning her teeth. She’s practically beating herself up in the chair. She is very frustrated with her condition and everything it means in her life. It requires a significant amount of time and money to treat, and she is high risk for some type of eventual tooth loss without very aggressive treatment. Important note: she has been receiving periodontal treatment her entire adult life and it is  apparent that she has been seriously doing the best she knows how.

At this juncture I was hoping to create a new perspective for her. I explained how I believe that the body is very interconnected, including the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. And when she is cleaning her teeth I wanted her to envision herself as a superhero. I wanted her to repeat to herself that she is strong, she is doing everything possible to care for herself and that she does great work! Then I gave her the contrast in my very small helpless voice saying, “I can’t do anything right, I’ll never figure it out, I’m just a failure….”  When I did that she gave a little laugh. She could see and feel the difference in the two energies. The first was very empowering and healing, the latter being a helpless victim. The power of the mind should never be underestimated. You can feel the difference in your body when you say those two very different statements. So why would you not believe that that can have a markable effect on your outcome? I was able to give her a few new strategies to try and she left that day a very determined woman. She was armed with new information and she was going to work it like she’d never worked before! I couldn’t have been more proud of her. I love my job!                    by Lori, RD

p.s. Here are some links showing how mainstream this line of thinking has become. The science backs it up!

Positive thinking: Reduce stress by eliminating negative self-talk – Mayo Clinic

Power of a Super Attitude – USA Today

Wrinkles and Dental Health?

Yes that’s right, you will see the connection when you read this story. We recently had a lady in that had not seen a dentist for several years. She is smart, educated, and watching her budget very closely. Due to reduced income, she had a longer break between dental appointments. So while she took a hiatus from dental visits, she did not forget to take good care of her teeth on a daily basis.

During her initial visit she was very inquisitive and attentive. She wanted to know all of the details regarding how she was doing and what she could do better. Even though finances  prevented her from having dental visits as often as she would like, she was really aware of the consequences and tried her best to do her part maintaining her teeth at home. She emphatically told me, “I fight my teeth just like I fight my wrinkles”! We had a good chuckle over that – what a unique perspective.

It is interesting when you consider how many products, how much marketing and the amount of time and money that is dedicated to fighting aging and wrinkles. Yet how many people have that same commitment toward their dental health? This lady did and it certainly showed. Her story pointed out that it is really a matter of awareness and priorities. As you age, remember which activities you will depend on to keep you healthy and happy. The joy of healthy eating which feeds every cell of your body, and speaking and singing which will nourish your soul.  Start today to plan for success by “fighting your teeth just like your wrinkles”!

Amazing Self Advocacy Story

We are so lucky to have the amazing advances that we do in medicine today.  Yet you can not depend on the healthcare system to do everything for you. They are stressed with budget cuts, uninsureds, personnel shortages and quotas to meet…. With our present system, you need to educate yourself and  participate in the process.

A patient shared a truly miraculous story with me that I want to share with you. Her daughter-in-law suffered a hip fracture at age 37 and was diagnosed with severe osteoporosis. Highly unusual for a 37 year old. She was put on all of the traditional medications with no improvement and some side effects. The mother of small children was not ready to become a victim of such illness at her age.  So began her research on everything she could find regarding osteoporosis.  The research led her to try eliminating gluten, dairy, most meat and alcohol and add ‘green smoothies’ to her diet. She wanted to created a more alkaline pH blood profile. After doing this for 6 months, a follow up test showed that she had great progress!! She received a new diagnosis of osteopenia, or early osteoporosis. How exciting!

The theory that she was following went something like this. Our traditional western diet tends to yield a more acidic pH. This in turn, causes the body to try stealing calcium from your bones and/or prevents the calcium absorption you need to try to correct the pH. Also important to note; if you take too many antacids, you may not have enough stomach acid to absorb and utilize the calcium that you are getting in your diet.

So our 37 year old mother suffering from a hip fracture and diagnosis of severe osteoporosis was desperate enough to regain her health to do the research and make some pretty strict diet changes. The results are at least giving her hope that she is headed in the right direction. This is the perfect example of self advocacy. She has the drive to do what it takes to try to get healthy.  How far are you willing to go to try to get healthy? Are you going to wait for an emergency to get started?

You can google many recipes for green smoothies. It’s an excellent way to get extra vegetables in you and your children’s diets! Here is just one example:

Super-Green Smoothie

By Jenny Ross, Chef, Owner 118 Degrees

A great way to get your greens without having a salad is to blend them into a smoothie. You’re also getting enough beneficial fibers to last you throughout the day. The best part? You can’t taste the green!

Ingredients:

• 1 Ripe Peeled Organic Banana
• 1 Ripe Organic Mango, Cut and Peeled or pineapple
• 2 Leaves Kale or 1 Cup Spinach
• 1 Cup Young Thai Coconut Water or Purified Water
• 1 Tbsp Supergreens or Spirulina
• 1 Tsp Agave Nectar or Raw Honey
• ½ Cup Ice

Preparation:

Blend all ingredients well in a high-powered blender. Pour into glass and garnish with slices of banana or a fruit skewer to enjoy as a meal or appetizer! Pour into travel mug and enjoy on the road, especially in the morning.

*Always consult with your MD regarding any health changes you want to make to ensure your safety.

Dental Prevention Equals Conservative Dentistry

We recently had a patient in for their routine maintenance visit (or cleaning and check up). This woman is very good about sticking pretty close to 6 month intervals for her visits. She is good about taking care of herself, has had an average amount of dental work in the past, no cavity problems in the past several years. Many people in this situation and this particular economy might be tempted to stretch out their visit intervals. I am so glad that was not the case with her.

Along the margin of an older crown, we found a small cavity that could be simply repaired. If she had decided to wait another 6 months, most likely she would have needed an entirely new crown! That is a very significant difference in cost to the patient. And if she had let it go too long, the tooth may not have been savable or perhaps she may not have been able to afford the crown.

The primary message here is that prevention can save teeth. Wherever you are at now, getting caught up now is better than later. Frequently you may not experience pain until the problem is beyond repair. All of your teeth support each other, so they are all of value. Ask anyone that has lost several teeth and they will verify that they wish it hadn’t happened.

In your senior years, some of the best parts of your day may revolve around talking and eating. Proper chewing is critically important to appreciate your basic nutrition and digestion.  That means you will wholly appreciate having healthy and thoroughly functional teeth. Pay attention to the little details of self care. You’ll be glad you did!