The ACHS Green Challenge is coming soon...
To get ready, calculate your carbon footprint at the Environmental Protection Agency here
Knowing your footprint is the first step to minimizing your impact on the planet!
Friday, August 29, 2008
Thursday, August 14, 2008
AHHA Article of the Week: The Ten Tenets of Wellness
Wellness is the key to a healthy and fulfilling lifestyle. This article is a short and sweet reminder of things we can do to enhance our wellness. Well worth reading!
FEATURED ARTICLE OF THIS WEEK
"The Ten Tenets of Wellness"
by Michael Arloski, Ph.D., PCC
Click on article title OR copy and paste http://ahha.org/articles.asp?Id=14
FEATURED ARTICLE OF THIS WEEK
"The Ten Tenets of Wellness"
by Michael Arloski, Ph.D., PCC
Click on article title OR copy and paste http://ahha.org/articles.asp?Id=14
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Recycle your TV
Ok, what does recycling your tv have to do with a holistic tip blog? Everything! Our environment supports our health, and looking after the planet ultimately is self serving as well as giving you a feel good buzz that rivals caffeine.
So before you send your old TV to a landfill, check out http://takebackmytv.com where you can urge manufacturers to take back old sets and find out about recycling options in your area. Since many people are thinking about replacing tvs to receive the new digital signals in Feb 2009, its a good idea to find out now what you could do with your old set if you do replace it. (Of course, remember you dont need a new set if you currently have a cable box, sattelite box, or get a converter box for your old set).
And yes, its better to get outside or talk to each other than watch TV, but TV does have some good shows on - if you get it, check out the new Planet Green channel (my five year olds favorite show is Wasted, where they go through a family's trash!) and Veria, which has lots of great holistic health shows.
So before you send your old TV to a landfill, check out http://takebackmytv.com where you can urge manufacturers to take back old sets and find out about recycling options in your area. Since many people are thinking about replacing tvs to receive the new digital signals in Feb 2009, its a good idea to find out now what you could do with your old set if you do replace it. (Of course, remember you dont need a new set if you currently have a cable box, sattelite box, or get a converter box for your old set).
And yes, its better to get outside or talk to each other than watch TV, but TV does have some good shows on - if you get it, check out the new Planet Green channel (my five year olds favorite show is Wasted, where they go through a family's trash!) and Veria, which has lots of great holistic health shows.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Is your thyroid slowing you down?
The thyroid is controlled by the pituitary gland, a small peanut sized gland found at the base of the brain. When the levels of T3 and T4 drop to low in our blood stream the pituitary gland releases thyroid stimulating hormones (TSH), turn when the thyroid receives this single the levels of T3 and T4 are increased in the blood, then the pituitary receives that the levels have increased and stops sending out TSH. You can think of the pituitary glad as a furnace stoker, seeing that the fire (T3 and T4) is getting lower he adds more coal to the fire, in turn the fire increases. The pituitary glad itself is controlled by a glad in the brain called the hypothalamus. This glad produces TSH releasing hormones to let the pituitary know at what level to keep that fire burning. The hypothalamus can be thought of at the train conductor telling the fire stoker how much fire is needed to keep the train, our body, at the speed it needs to be at in order to run smoothly (metabolism).
The thyroid can be subject to several problems, some being extremely common. Some problems are concerning production of hormones, whether it be too much or too little. Another problem can increased growth of the thyroid causing swelling in the neck compressing the trachea and other part of the neck, also appearing as a large growth on the neck, called a goiter. And lastly nodules or bumps that develop on the thyroid and can become cancerous.
For the purpose of time as well as keeping with the topic of the article I want to only explore the problems of too little hormonal production from the thyroid. Hypothyroidism is the condition where not enough T3 and T4 hormones are being produced so the metabolism slows down in the body. This condition can go years before it is properly diagnosed. Symptoms of hypothyroidism include fatigue, dry hair and skin, depression, weight gain, constipation, and poor memory as well as lack of energy. Women who suffer from this condition will also notice extreme PMS symptoms; tender breasts, irregular cycles, and pelvic pain during ovulation as well as excessive body hair growth including facial hair.
Studies indicate that approximately one in fifty women and one in one thousand men will develop an under-active thyroid at some point in their lives. [1] The simplest cause of this affliction is too little iodine in the body. We now have iodine added to table salt in helps to prevent this condition; however, it has not halted even here in the USA. It is important to remember too much iodine can also cause poor thyroid function. Also during pregnancy a mother’s immune system decreases to allow the growth of the fetus, occasionally the thyroid does not pick up where it left off after delivery. Other causes can be an autoimmune disease.
Antibodies are proteins designed to defend the body from foreign organisms, such as bacteria and viruses. In autoimmune diseases, antibodies attack the body itself. In autoimmune hypothyroidism, antibodies destroy thyroid gland cells preventing the gland from being able to release normal amounts of thyroid hormones. Diabetes type one is considered an autoimmune disease as well as Hashimoto or Grave’s disease. These diseases named here are also contributing factors in weight gain. See, the circle goes on for the fight against obesity. If you look closely enough you can find all the strands to the web of this affliction and one by one define treatment.
If you suspect you suffer from an under active thyroid you can perform simple tests to back up your suspicions. Checking body reflexes is a good way to start. Slower thyroids tend to give a person a slower reaction time. Recording body basal body temperatures is a great indication as well. For women testing basal body temp should begin 5 days after the cessation of menstruation. Recording the temperature for a week, with a result lower than 97.8 degrees could indicate a slower than normal thyroid. Consult your doctor or a full thyroid panel to be completed; be sure it includes free T3 and free T4 levels in the screening.
Treatment for thyroid should be monitored by your doctor; herbal remedies as well as dietary solutions should improve the clients over all feeling of well being as well as result in a healthier metabolism. Diets should be high in natural sources of iodine. Egg yolks, garlic, pears, seafood and turnip greens are easily found in a local market place and can be added easily to a client’s daily diet. Calcium and Zinc as well as a good source of vitamin B are important to add, greens such as dandelion are very good for these needs.
Herbal support can be found in Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) which is also an excellent diuretic[2] which helps with weight factors. Bladderwrack (Fucus vesiculosus) is high in organically bound iodine, also present as diiothyrosine. Parsley is high in vitamin C and is useful in returning the immune system to proper function while treating a client with a slow thyroid and should be added to the use of Alfalfa and Bladderwrack. Contact a certified herbalist for a full thyroid supplement.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Weekends and eating right seem to be as evasive as Big Foot sightings!
How many people do fantastic during the week with workouts and eating perfect meals only to have it all come crashing down on the weekend? I think the routine of the work week has a lot to do with it. Each day that the alarm goes off we are set on a predictable path to spend the day. Sure we hit glitches and snags like co workers asking us to join them in the break room for the impromptu birthday cake for Stan or the retirement lunch for Doris but we have our meals packed and planned JUST FOR THIS!
Then along comes Saturday morning. We roll out of bed with no alarm screaming that we are late. We can smell the kitchen...or worse the breakfast buffet even before we get out of bed. This is where the internal dialogue and battle begin. I can have real scrambled eggs this morning, or I can have cream in my coffee...I have been so good this week I can have one little treat...Which turns to another helping then another treat meal then another and soon it is Saturday evening out with friends or family and the inner demon beckons again...Well you blew the whole day what are a few buffalo wings now?
Sunday morning you wake up feeling bloated and tired and guilty. It is ok you say to yourself, I will work it off today on the treadmill! Those 1,500 extra calories won't get me, damn it! Sunday morning begins with a slow start and the demon inside starts whispering, well you said you would work harder today anyway why not have this little.....or that little....and the battle ensues again today...for another 1,500 or so calories. So over the weekend despite your honest intentions, despite your commitment you ate 3,000 calories more than you wanted, more than you should have and more than was needed. There are 3,500 calories in one pound, did you know that?
For the start of the new work week, all that commitment and workouts are spent just working off the weekend. So realistically you have Thursday and Friday to make new dents after training and dieting off the splurge of the weekend. MAN! Just seeing it typed out here in front of me is like a slap of ice water. WHAT? Is that what is happening? Now look back at the weeks, were they all perfect? If they were not perfect add those added “treats” to the weekend surplus. Imagine all week long the sweating at the workouts, the "no thanks" at the luncheons all for what? The binge we do on the weekend? We work out to eat Buffalo wings on the weekend? I bench press till my arms are ready to turn to useless appendages hanging at my sides because I want to eat pizza and ice cream Saturday night? Yikes...no....um..I do it to be fit and lean...leaner than I am now but if I look at it this way I am slowly walking in circles waiting to be thin..I do not want to walk in a slow circle I have a direction and a goal for this!
How do we get out of this trap? Wait, we know this answer! How will this food I am about to consume get me towards my goal? How will this "treat" affect all my hard work I put in this entire week? Imagine working so hard, your dedication is dead on, your heart and soul are poured into this project....you hand it to your very best friend, soul mate, partner in life only to have them say OH perfect then cut it up in tiny pieces and throw it in the trash. I made that for you!! I did that ALL FOR YOU AND THIS IS HOW YOU TREAT IT!! This is what we do to ourselves when we over “spend” on our calories thinking we deserve it for all our hard work during the week.
Fail to plan the weekend and you are planning to fail. So, what do you do? Education on calories is a fantastic way to avoid junk. Let's look at some calorie busters here:
1 slice of pizza is about 300 calories. Ok 300 calories is not too bad, but do we eat one piece? You can help yourself here by ordering a salad and eating it before the pizza. The fiber from the salad will help fill you up as well as help you absorb less fat from the pizza. Another good tip is order the pizza with half the cheese; this will cut the fat and calories somewhat, probably close to 100 calories less. Another tip is to drink that water! Before it arrives drink a full glass and after it arrives drink a full glass, fill yourself up before the food has a chance to over power you!
4 pieces of Buffalo wings are 210 calories. Ok 210 calories sounds ok, right? Really, though, only 4 pieces? How many eat 4 pieces? How many skip the blue cheese dressing that comes along with it? One serving of dressing to go with your measly 4 wings is also about 200 calories. So in a 4 wing with dressing treat you have eaten the caloric value of a full meal, and predominately fat. Don't forget that beer to drive those wings right to the heart, literally. Beer can be anywhere from 100 to 200 calories a mug, bottle, glass, stein or however it is you picture it being served in. All those calories are a complete waste.....drink water. The alternative for the wings, order a salad with grilled chicken. You can request some hot sauce on the side to sprinkle over the salad and a small side of lite dressing to drizzle over the salad. Here again there is that magic fiber to help prevent the digestion of the fats and to fill you up. If your buddies want to mock you for choosing a salad over the 6 alarm wings, tell them after their beer and junk food you will arm wrestle them....or better yet tell them to meet you in the gym!
Anyway, that is just a glimpse of the caloric waste we can do to ourselves over 48 hours time. We can spend the next 72 to 96 hours of eating right and working out making up for those poor choices or we can look at things realistically. Sit back for a moment before you make your weekend food choices and really give it thought.....will these wings, pizza, ice cream, beer or whatever battle food you may face...are they really worth walking in a slow circle for? What is it you want for yourself? Do you want the 15 minute meal or the life time of satisfaction?
Nothing tastes as good as keeping your word to yourself. Nothing feels as satisfying as putting on those "thin pants" and having them feel loose on you. Nothing matches the "head turning" you will create when YOU are the fit one in the crowd. When people look at YOU and think “wow I wish I looked like that!"
Before you order that food, or make that choice....what is it you really REALLY want?
Make a plan for the weekend.
Then along comes Saturday morning. We roll out of bed with no alarm screaming that we are late. We can smell the kitchen...or worse the breakfast buffet even before we get out of bed. This is where the internal dialogue and battle begin. I can have real scrambled eggs this morning, or I can have cream in my coffee...I have been so good this week I can have one little treat...Which turns to another helping then another treat meal then another and soon it is Saturday evening out with friends or family and the inner demon beckons again...Well you blew the whole day what are a few buffalo wings now?
Sunday morning you wake up feeling bloated and tired and guilty. It is ok you say to yourself, I will work it off today on the treadmill! Those 1,500 extra calories won't get me, damn it! Sunday morning begins with a slow start and the demon inside starts whispering, well you said you would work harder today anyway why not have this little.....or that little....and the battle ensues again today...for another 1,500 or so calories. So over the weekend despite your honest intentions, despite your commitment you ate 3,000 calories more than you wanted, more than you should have and more than was needed. There are 3,500 calories in one pound, did you know that?
For the start of the new work week, all that commitment and workouts are spent just working off the weekend. So realistically you have Thursday and Friday to make new dents after training and dieting off the splurge of the weekend. MAN! Just seeing it typed out here in front of me is like a slap of ice water. WHAT? Is that what is happening? Now look back at the weeks, were they all perfect? If they were not perfect add those added “treats” to the weekend surplus. Imagine all week long the sweating at the workouts, the "no thanks" at the luncheons all for what? The binge we do on the weekend? We work out to eat Buffalo wings on the weekend? I bench press till my arms are ready to turn to useless appendages hanging at my sides because I want to eat pizza and ice cream Saturday night? Yikes...no....um..I do it to be fit and lean...leaner than I am now but if I look at it this way I am slowly walking in circles waiting to be thin..I do not want to walk in a slow circle I have a direction and a goal for this!
How do we get out of this trap? Wait, we know this answer! How will this food I am about to consume get me towards my goal? How will this "treat" affect all my hard work I put in this entire week? Imagine working so hard, your dedication is dead on, your heart and soul are poured into this project....you hand it to your very best friend, soul mate, partner in life only to have them say OH perfect then cut it up in tiny pieces and throw it in the trash. I made that for you!! I did that ALL FOR YOU AND THIS IS HOW YOU TREAT IT!! This is what we do to ourselves when we over “spend” on our calories thinking we deserve it for all our hard work during the week.
Fail to plan the weekend and you are planning to fail. So, what do you do? Education on calories is a fantastic way to avoid junk. Let's look at some calorie busters here:
1 slice of pizza is about 300 calories. Ok 300 calories is not too bad, but do we eat one piece? You can help yourself here by ordering a salad and eating it before the pizza. The fiber from the salad will help fill you up as well as help you absorb less fat from the pizza. Another good tip is order the pizza with half the cheese; this will cut the fat and calories somewhat, probably close to 100 calories less. Another tip is to drink that water! Before it arrives drink a full glass and after it arrives drink a full glass, fill yourself up before the food has a chance to over power you!
4 pieces of Buffalo wings are 210 calories. Ok 210 calories sounds ok, right? Really, though, only 4 pieces? How many eat 4 pieces? How many skip the blue cheese dressing that comes along with it? One serving of dressing to go with your measly 4 wings is also about 200 calories. So in a 4 wing with dressing treat you have eaten the caloric value of a full meal, and predominately fat. Don't forget that beer to drive those wings right to the heart, literally. Beer can be anywhere from 100 to 200 calories a mug, bottle, glass, stein or however it is you picture it being served in. All those calories are a complete waste.....drink water. The alternative for the wings, order a salad with grilled chicken. You can request some hot sauce on the side to sprinkle over the salad and a small side of lite dressing to drizzle over the salad. Here again there is that magic fiber to help prevent the digestion of the fats and to fill you up. If your buddies want to mock you for choosing a salad over the 6 alarm wings, tell them after their beer and junk food you will arm wrestle them....or better yet tell them to meet you in the gym!
Anyway, that is just a glimpse of the caloric waste we can do to ourselves over 48 hours time. We can spend the next 72 to 96 hours of eating right and working out making up for those poor choices or we can look at things realistically. Sit back for a moment before you make your weekend food choices and really give it thought.....will these wings, pizza, ice cream, beer or whatever battle food you may face...are they really worth walking in a slow circle for? What is it you want for yourself? Do you want the 15 minute meal or the life time of satisfaction?
Nothing tastes as good as keeping your word to yourself. Nothing feels as satisfying as putting on those "thin pants" and having them feel loose on you. Nothing matches the "head turning" you will create when YOU are the fit one in the crowd. When people look at YOU and think “wow I wish I looked like that!"
Before you order that food, or make that choice....what is it you really REALLY want?
Make a plan for the weekend.
Monday, July 14, 2008
The Alligator Pear!
Wow, YUM, right? Ok, ok I mean the Avocado..or for those knee deep in their studies the Lauraceae (however still YUM!) I am not sure when the buzz happened about these ugly little fruits being too high in fat to eat but I am here to squash that rumor. Sure an average one has around 20-30 grams of fat but this is good fat, healthy fat! Several studies have shown eating avocado helps prevent heart disease thanks to the monounsaturated fatty acids but it also helps prevent various forms of cancer such as prostate, oral and breast cancers. How many of you take fish oils to get these benefits? Yet you walk by this fruit in the produce section with your nose up? Well, did you also know that one avocado a day can give you 35% of your RDA for vitamin K, 30% of your RDA in fiber, 25% of your needed potassium as well as 20% of vitamins C and B6 and copper? They have all that nutrition in a measly 236 calories in one cup?!? Well, set the table, I am ready to eat! I personally eat one avocado daily.
Try an avocado sliced on your salad or, my personal favorite, to your cottage cheese with some salsa and see for yourself how delish this fruit is!
Try an avocado sliced on your salad or, my personal favorite, to your cottage cheese with some salsa and see for yourself how delish this fruit is!
Hi! I am Maureen Jeanson
but I usually go by Moe..or Mom depending on who is talking to me *wink*
I will skip the basic info as you can simply click my name to read my profile.
I am a 2004 graduate of Herb 401 from ACHS. My graduating thesis was on the Obesity epidemic still plaguing the world. Ironically, at the time of my thesis I WAS obese! I am not now...and you can really dig into why and how if you visit my website .
So, when Erika sent out requests looking for graduates to help out with the blog I causally sent her a calm email asking if perhaps I may join in. (really I was super excited and could barely type fast enough in my reply begging to be permitted this outlet to share my enthusiasm for total health!)
Along with my Master Herbalist, I hold certifications for fitness specialties from ISSA, ACSM as well as with the United States Navy. I hope to bring all of this education to your computer screen each week with the tips I use for maintaining and improving health and wellness in our own lives!
Thanks again for allowing me into your MIND!!!! *wink*
I will skip the basic info as you can simply click my name to read my profile.
I am a 2004 graduate of Herb 401 from ACHS. My graduating thesis was on the Obesity epidemic still plaguing the world. Ironically, at the time of my thesis I WAS obese! I am not now...and you can really dig into why and how if you visit my website .
So, when Erika sent out requests looking for graduates to help out with the blog I causally sent her a calm email asking if perhaps I may join in. (really I was super excited and could barely type fast enough in my reply begging to be permitted this outlet to share my enthusiasm for total health!)
Along with my Master Herbalist, I hold certifications for fitness specialties from ISSA, ACSM as well as with the United States Navy. I hope to bring all of this education to your computer screen each week with the tips I use for maintaining and improving health and wellness in our own lives!
Thanks again for allowing me into your MIND!!!! *wink*
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