Finding Renewed Purpose

December 31st, 2009 By: Brittany

I had to include this article from AARP. It gives such great meanings to having purpose, finding purpose, and why we need to feel a purpose. The story a about Marge Jetton is incredible.

For 77 years Marge Jetton had identified herself proudly as a doctor’s wife and found meaning in the work she did to support her husband, James. Their partnership was magical, says Marge, a former nurse, but it all ended abruptly the morning Marge found James on the bathroom floor of their Loma Linda, California, home, the victim of a fatal fall.

Marge grieved for a few months, then regrouped and got back to the business of living: she started volunteering again at her church, worked as a fundraiser for a gospel radio program, and delivered used magazines to elderly hospital patients. “I realized the world wasn’t going to come to me, so I went back out into the world,” Marge recalls. “I reconnected with old friends and felt satisfaction from helping the community. I guess you could say that I recharged my purpose batteries.”

That was five years ago. Today, at 104, Marge says she owes her can-do vitality to her religious faith and her fervid belief that as long as she’s around, she can make a difference. [ continue reading ]

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7 Foods To Avoid

December 22nd, 2009 By: Brittany

1. Canned Tomatoes

The problem: The resin linings of tin cans contain bisphenol-A, a synthetic estrogen that has been linked to ailments ranging from reproductive problems to heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. Unfortunately, acidity (a prominent characteristic of tomatoes) causes BPA to leach into your food. Studies show that the BPA in most people’s body exceeds the amount that suppresses sperm production or causes chromosomal damage to the eggs of animals. “You can get 50 mcg of BPA per liter out of a tomato can, and that’s a level that is going to impact people, particularly the young,” says vom Saal. “I won’t go near canned tomatoes.”

The solution: Choose tomatoes in glass bottles (which do not need resin linings), such as the brands Bionaturae and Coluccio. You can also get several types in Tetra Pak boxes, like Trader Joe’s and Pomi.

2. Corn-Fed Beef

The problem: Cattle evolved to eat grass, not grains. But farmers today feed their animals corn and soybeans, which fatten up the animals faster for slaughter. More money for cattle farmers (and lower prices at the grocery store) means a lot less nutrition for us. A recent comprehensive study conducted by the USDA and researchers from Clemson University found that compared with corn-fed beef, grass-fed beef is higher in beta-carotene, vitamin E, omega-3s, conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), calcium, magnesium, and potassium; lower in inflammatory omega-6s; and lower in saturated fats that have been linked to heart disease. “We need to respect the fact that cows are herbivores, and that does not mean feeding them corn and chicken manure,” says Salatin.

The solution: Buy grass-fed beef, which can be found at specialty grocers, farmers’ markets, and nationally at Whole Foods. It’s usually labeled because it demands a premium, but if you don’t see it, ask your butcher. [ continue reading ]

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Sea Scallops With Pomegranate Dressed Salad

December 20th, 2009 By: Brittany

Ingredients

Serves 8

2 tablespoons pomegranate molasses
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground fennel seed
Coarse salt and ground white pepper
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
16 medium-size scallops
1 bulb fennel, tough outer leaves discarded, halved lengthwise, cored, and thinly sliced crosswise
1 bunch arugula, tough stems discarded, well washed (2 cups)
1 cup flat-leaf parsley leaves
2 tablespoons minced chives
1 ripe avocado, diced
1/4 cup fresh pomegranate seeds, for garnish (optional)

Directions

1. In a large bowl, whisk together pomegranate molasses, olive oil, ground ginger, and ground fennel; season with salt and pepper.
2. In a large nonstick skillet, heat vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Season scallops with salt and pepper. When the oil is very hot, add as many scallops as will fit in a single layer, with at least 1/2 inch of space between them, and cook without turning until golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Turn scallops over and cook 1 1/2 to 2 minutes or until centers are slightly translucent. Repeat with remaining scallops.
3. Whisk dressing to combine. Add fennel, arugula, parsley leaves, and chives. Toss well. Add avocado and toss again. Taste and adjust seasonings if necessary.
4. To serve, put the salad in the center of a platter and arrange scallops on top. If desired, garnish with pomegranate seeds.

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Best and Worst Holiday Foods

December 19th, 2009 By: Brittany

So, as we get ready to feast on our favorite holiday foods this holiday we may be unaware of what may be better healthier eat then others. According to Men’s Health some of our favorite foods may not be the best for our health.

Worst Classic Holiday Drink

Eggnog

350 calories
19 g fat
22 g sugars

The primary ingredients are milk, cream and eggs. Hot chocolate is just as tasty with nearly one-third of the calories. But beware, cups of hot chocolate from national outlets like Starbucks and Caribou Coffee can be twice as treacherous as the homemade version. Blame excessive serving sizes and heavy dollops of full-fat milk and thick and caloric whipped cream. Stick with the homemade hot chocolate, instead.

Drink this instead:

Hot Chocolate

120 calories
4 g fat
15 g sugars

Worst Appetizer

Crab Cake

400 calories
19 g fat

Opt for the crustacean cocktail, but keep your dipping under wraps; most cocktail sauces are light in calories, but loaded with sodium.

Eat this instead:

Shrimp Cocktail (12 shrimp)

165 calories
1 g fat

Bonus tip: You may be tempted to order an appetizer or side when you’re out to eat, but make sure your extra add-on isn’t one of the worst apps, sides or starters—you’ll only be making next year’s weight-loss resolution that much more daunting! [ continue reading ]

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Link Bewteen Our Emotions And Our Health

December 18th, 2009 By: Brittany

Burying emotions without processing them in a healthy way can cause a host of negative feelings, such as anxiety, fear, insecurity, anger, and sadness, as well as physical problems. In traditional Chinese medicine, there are five negative emotions that correspond with areas of the body. When the energy in each area of the body becomes blocked or stagnant, the body suffers.

* The energy in the lungs is weakened by sadness. This can result in asthma, shortness of breath, a propensity to catch colds or flu, and fatigue.
* The liver is damaged by feelings of anger and irritability. We may experience depression, muscle cramps, or headaches.
* The spleen is associated with anxiety. Weak spleen energy is said to cause us to worry too much about things, especially those we cannot control. Physical signs include digestive problems, edema, sinus congestion, or skin rashes.
* When kidney chi is weak, we can feel scared. This may show itself in the body as fatigue, urinary problems, back and knee problems, or sexual difficulties.
* The energy in the heart can become imbalanced, and excessive joy (mania) is a negative emotion. We may experience insomnia, restlessness, and inability to concentrate.

The energy flow, when blocked in one area, affects other areas as well, because everything in our bodies is connected and the health of one part depends upon the health of the others.

According to this theory, when our bodily energy is low, it increases our more difficult emotions. Conversely, when we experience negative emotions, it weakens our energy centers and throws them out of balance. We can see how interrelated our minds and bodies really are. What we are feeling influences our body’s health, and our body’s health influences our mind’s well-being.

When our feelings of sadness, anger, anxiety, or fear are suppressed, it can be devastating for our health. To ensure optimal health , and that you are balanced in mind and body, you need to recognize your emotions, process them, and release them. You can’t not have emotions. Even the most even-tempered, content people experience negative emotions; the key is to acknowledge them and not allow them to remain trapped inside. [ continue reading ]

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College Students Unable To Graduate Because They Are Over Weight

December 15th, 2009 By: Brittany

Most college students expect to receive their diplomas on the basis of grades, but at a Pennsylvania school, physical fitness matters too.

Students at Lincoln University with a body mass index of 30 or above, reflective of obesity, must take a fitness course that meets three hours per week. Those who are assigned to the class but do not complete it cannot graduate.

Now that the first class to have this requirement imposed is nearing graduation day — students who entered in the fall of 2006 — the school faces criticism from both students and outsiders about the fitness class policy.

Lawson, who told CNN she had been putting off getting her BMI tested until this year, recently found out she would have to take the class. At first angry, Lawson said she is now more “confused” about the requirement.

But James DeBoy, chairman of the school’s Department of Health and Physical Education, says the requirement is just like courses to help students’ communications or math proficiency. The faculty also has a priority to be honest with students, he said. [ continue reading ]

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Interesting Health Facts

December 14th, 2009 By: Brittany

You learn something new everyday. Here are a few of those things that you may not have realized about health.

1. Getting in your fruits and veggies can help the body produce its own form of Aspirin. After a study done by the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry, participants who ate fruit and vegetables containing benzoic acid, could produce their own salicyclic acid. This is the main ingredient in aspirin that makes aspirin an anti-inflammatory pain reliever.

2. Watching yourself in a mirror while running on a treadmill, will make your workout go faster.

3. Honey can soothe a hangover.

4. Garlic can help cure athlete’s foot.

5. Baking soda helps whiten teeth.

6. Your kitchen sink is dirtier than your bathroom sink. There are approximately 500,000 bacteria lurking around your drain alone. Over 50 million bacteria in a single colony can live on one sponge.

7. Using a diary for weight-loss purposes can double a person’s weight loss efforts.

8. Sexologists can determine a woman’s orgasm history, solely by the way she walks.

9. Oatmeal, citrus fruits, and honey can improve your sex drive, and boost fertility. Oats produce a chemical that sends testosterone into the blood stream, which then increases orgasm and sex drive as a result. Vitamin C in citrus fruits ups a males’ sperm count, and Vitamin B found in honey helps the body produce estrogen which is key for arousal and blood flow.

10. Walking either in water, against the wind, or wearing a backpack burns approximately 50 more calories an hour.

11. Regular exercise can lower a women’s cancer risk, but only if she is getting an efficient amount of sleep.

12. Rinsing your nose with salt water can help fight allergies. Dr. Melissa Pynnonen from the Michigan sinus center says that nasal irrigation is an inexpensive way to find relief from allergies, stuffy nose, and nasal congestion.

13. After a study done at Cornell University, researchers found that people who enter their homes through an entry way that is close to the kitchen tend to eat 15% more than those who enter farther away from the kitchen.

14. Smokers are four times more likely to experience feelings of restlessness after a night’s sleep than non-smokers.

15. It is impossible to get a tan from your computer screen. The Computer Tan Website was created to raise awareness against skin cancer.

Source: Fitness.com

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