You won’t very often read about games on my blog, but since KU won last night’s national championship game and I live in Kansas, well, it only seemed fitting to stray away from health for a bit and participate in a little game of virtual tag.  Wellforce has tagged me with a challenge to list 7 facts about myself and then tag 7 other bloggers to do the same.

For those of you who want to help keep the game alive, here are the rules.

First, link to your tagger . . . i.e., Julie at The Health & Wellness Post . . . and post these rules on your blog.  Share seven facts about yourself on your blog.  Some random, some weird, whatever you are brave enough to share.  Tag seven blog friends at the end of your post by leaving their names, as well as links to their blogs.  Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

Seven facts about me, while not too random and not too wierd. 

1. I used to have a demanding yet well-paying career which allowed me to shop carelessly, but now I work from home and I am a frugal shopper.  My most recent bargain find . . . almost new loveseat for a whopping $30!
2. I love vintage housewares.  Give me a like-new Pyrex bowl from the 50’s or 60’s and you’ve made my day.
3. I am on a quest to obtain a 1954 Franciscan Starburst dinnerware set, but frugally of course.
4. My husband and I are restoring a 1967 Scotty camper.  Did I mention I love vintage?
5. I am an animal lover and I tend to bring too many pets into my home.  Then I kick myself for doing so.
6. At sad movies, I can handle it when people die, but if a dog dies - give me a box of Kleenex!  Plus my whole day is ruined. 
7. I have another website from which I sell Arbonne.  While I am not an Arbonne fanatic and you’ll rarely, if ever, hear me mention Arbonne on this site, Arbonne put me on the right path to good health and for that I will always be grateful.   

You can get another glimpse of me and my family at my MySpace page. 

Now, please visit the sites of those whom I have tagged and from which I find valuable information. 

1. Sense to Save
2. FeeFiFoto Blog
3. Fruit Species
4. Spotted Apple - Organic
5. That Mutt - A Dog Blog
6. Be The Weight You Want
7. Shake It Up:  Diet Drink Style

Yet, people who eat raw food diets claim they feel younger, have increased their energy, healed their body of certain ailments, and have even lost weight. 

But, before you answer the question above  - “Would you eat a raw food diet?” - let’s clear up the definition of “raw food” as it seems everyone has different opinions.  Raw does not mean eating nothing but raw vegetables …. or salads.  A raw menu, according to Carol Alt over at Raw Nutrition, can consist of sandwiches, smoothies, soup, granola, hummus, and desserts.  Raw simply means foods that have not been cooked.  And that can include vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, beans, grains, unpasteurized dairy products, fish, and meat.  Raw can also mean (and this is where some may disagree) food that has not been sprayed with pesticides, has no added preservatives, or has not be irradiated (treated with ionizing radiation to kill germs).   I personally think of the latter as organic, but for some people this falls under the raw category because its causes foods to lose their vitality. 

There are pros and there are cons to cooking these foods.

The pros are the main purpose for cooking the foods . . . to destroy all bacteria and other pathogens that could cause serious illnesses.  And for that reason alone, many people understandably choose not to eat a raw food diet.

And the cons . . . that eating foods cooked at high temperatures (more than 112 degrees) can increase the rate at which we age plus it can contribute to weight gain.  Again, according to Carol Alt, this is due to four things happening to the food when it is cooked at high temperatures:

1.  The molecular structure changes.  
2.  The enzymes are killed.
3.  The vitamins and minerals are destroyed. 
4.  The acid alkaline balance changes. 

All this has an effect on how our body digests food which in turn prevents us from absorbing all the nutrients we need.   The end result … the onset of weight gain and aging more quickly. 

The health benefits of choosing raw foods over cooked include,

1.  Weight loss
2.  Slower aging
3.  Better digestion
4.  Increase energy
5.  Improved skin appearance
6.  Reduced heart disease

By simply changing how foods are prepared, we could shed our body of fat and we could lessen the effects of aging.  But before giving up all our home-cooked meals, we need to decide which is the better risk,

1.  Consuming foods that are cooked and considered bacteria free but which could promote weight gain and early aging, or
2.  Consuming foods that are raw and facilitate weight loss and anti-aging and which perhaps is not bacteria free, but the fact that it provides better absorption of nutrients may be enough to protect against diseases. 

For recipes for a raw food diet, consider Carol Alt’s book, The Raw 50: 10 Amazing Breakfasts, Lunches, Dinners, Snacks, and Drinks for Your Raw Food Lifestyle.

Technorati Tags: raw food diet, Carol Alt, benefits of raw food, health, wellness, weight loss

If you are attempting to fight off a middle-aged belly, it is important to learn about the two types of fat and whether or not they pose any danger to your health.

Fat No. 1:  Menopot fat.  This is a layer of fat that lies on top of the abdomen.  It is also referred to as the ”pinch-an-inch” fat and will cause the body to have an ”apple” shape.   It is quite common for women to gain 3-5 pounds of menopot fat around the belly as they reach perimenopause, although men can get it too as they approach age 40.  As long as the weight gain is minimal, chances are menopot fat won’t cause any serious health problems.

What causes menopot fat and how do you get rid of it? Menopot fat develops on women’s hips, thighs, and buttocks during perimenopause due to changing levels of estrogen.  Daily stomach crunches alone won’t get rid of it.  Watch calorie intake and decrease the consumption of white carbohydrates and sugar.  Exercising with aerobics, walking, and weight training will greatly help burn fat. 

Fat No. 2:  Visceral fat.  This is fat that lies beneath the abdominal wall.  It surrounds vital organs thereby making it much more dangerous than menopot fat.  It increases the risk for heart disease, diabetes, and other health problems.  With visceral fat, the abdomen protrudes excessively giving you a “pot belly” or “beer belly” effect. 

What causes visceral fat and how do you get rid of it?

Genetics is partly responsible for visceral fat.  However, a high-saturated fat diet and low physical activity contribute as well.  You can get rid of visceral fat by building muscle through weight lifting or other resistance training as muscles will burn fat.  The more muscles you have, the more fat you’ll burn.

How do you tell the difference between menopot fat and visceral fat?

When lying down, menopot fat will fall to the side while visceral fat will stay raised. 

Technorati Tags: menopot fat, visceral fat

Scientific researchers from around the world are studying curcumin (derived from the curry spice turmeric) for its effects in fighting . . . cancer, arthritis, diabetes, cataracts, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, cystic fibrosis, and reversing Alzheimer’s disease.  Curcumin even shows promise as a potential treatment for multiple sclerosis and skin disorders such as psoriasis and wounds, among many other things.

The downside is, however, that despite its benefits, in the past the effectiveness of oral supplementation of curcumin has been limited by poor absorption into the bloodstream through the digestive tract.  But according to Life Extension Magazine, scientists have recently discovered an advanced formulation which is more readily absorbed than other curcumin supplement products.  The new formulation is called BCM-95® and it is a registered trademark of Dolcas-Biotech, LLC.   Compared to standard curcumin supplements, the BCM-95® formulation delivers up to seven times more curcumin to the bloodstream, sooner, and it sticks around nearly twice as long, which should greatly enhance the benefits of curcumin.   

Is curcumin safe?

Turmeric has been safely consumed for thousands of years and it can be taken as a simple daily supplement.  There have been few reports of mild gastrointestinal distress, which can be minimized by eating food with the supplement.   Seems to me like a fair trade-off for the benefits it provides. 

Technorati Tags: curcumin, turmeric, cancer prevention, Alzheimer’s, cystic fibrosis, cardiovascular disease, diabetes

Obviously, the person was not healthy as there was a health problem that caused the heart attack.  So how do we know if we are healthy?

Start this, stop that, eat what?

Each of us are on a road to either sickness (which leads to death) or wellness (which leads to good health).  We constantly read about things that we should or should not be doing in order to maintain good health.  And every decision we make affects our health.  But making lifestyle changes is not easy and it takes time, patience, dedication, and motivation to stay on track.  It is difficult to know if we are doing enough to increase the years we have left on this precious earth. 

But there are key factors that will help us know if we are at least moving in the right direction.

In order to have excellent health, we need to first examine what we are putting into our body and how we are treating our body, physically and mentally.  Namely, the foods we eat and the exercise we get.  But we must also acknowledge the good stresses in our life from the bad.  There is such a thing as positive stress and it comes from regular exercise, solving problems, and working towards goals.  And negative stresses come from sleep deprivation, bodily injuries, drinking alcohol excessively, worrying about finances, difficulties with career, and arguing with spouse.  Stress has a huge impact on our overall health and is a big factor in whether we will be going in the direction of wellness or sickness. 

It is detrimentally important that the good stresses outweigh the bad.  Some strategies to help accomplish that include, 

1.  getting lots of ZZZ’s
2.  smiling often
3.  drinking wisely
4.  maintaining a good attitude
5.  relaxing

Which direction are you going?

Technorati Tags: health, wellness, stress

According to these researchers, the only cancer-causing things we really need to worry about are smoking, alcohol, and sunlight.  So we can put on our deodorant, drink our coffee, and eat our fruits with pesticides, and have no worry. 

But should we really not worry? 

According to the American Cancer Society, it is expected that over 1,437,180 cancer cases will be diagnosed in 2008.  They say cancer cases which are most preventable are those cancer cases which occur as a result of smoking, drinking alcohol, and being exposed directly to too much sunlight.  And only about 1/3 of all cancer cases could be prevented by making proper lifestyle choices.

Anyone can get cancer.  While it may be true that no one knows for certain what causes cancer, we do know that by maintaining a healthy lifestyle, we greatly decrease our chances of developing the horrible disease. 

The American Institute for Cancer Research recommends these guidelines for cancer prevention: 

1.  Choose mainly plant-based foods and limit red meat and processed meat.
2.  Be active every day in any way for 30 minutes or more.
3.  Aim to be a healthy weight throughout life.
4.  Avoid sugary drinks and processed foods high in added sugar, low in fiber, or high in fat.
5.  Do not use tobacco in any form.
6.  Limit consumption of alcohol.

We never know from one week to the next what the researchers will be saying.  But it doesn’t take a researcher to tell us that with a little common sense and a healthy lifestyle, we greatly increase our chances of living longer. 

Technorati Tags: cancer prevention, causes of cancer

My question to them is, “How do you know when you have sustained enough pain to deserve happiness? 

Happiness is not something you earn, but rather it is something you bring about.  It comes from within by the thoughts you have and the choices you make.  Happiness is being at peace with yourself.

“There is one sure way to find happiness.  That is by controlling your thoughts.”  ~ Dale Carnegie

How do you find peace with yourself so that you can have happiness?

1. By giving more.  Give to others for the simple joy of giving.  Give unconditionally. 
2. By expecting less.  When you give to others, expect nothing in return.  Realize that many people are not good at expressing gratitude and then you won’t be disappointed when they don’t return the favor. 
3. By living simply.  While buying that new sports car will bring you pleasure, it will not bring you happiness.  Pleasure is short lived while happiness is long term.
4. By freeing your mind of worries.  If you are worrying about something, most likely it is something beyond your power to change.  Don’t dwell on problems such as finances or you may pay a higher price with your health.
5. By freeing your heart of hatred.  Learn to forgive those who have hurt you.  Not forgiving someone hurts you more than it hurts them.  Chances are, they are going on with life as usual and don’t even know you are carrying the hatred for them. 

Happiness is having the freedom, health, and opportunity to do great things for yourself and others.  And happier people are healthier people, both mentally and physically. 

Technorati Tags: happiness, worrying, health, what is happiness

Calculating your BMI can give you a general idea as to whether you are underweight, at a healthy weight, or obese.  Body mass index (BMI) is a standard measurement that represents the percentage of body fat for adult men and women.  It can help you determine if you are at an increased risk for health problems, such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and certain cancers including breast cancer.  Starting in Europe more than 150 years ago, the BMI calculation became popular in the U.S. in the 1980’s. 

But a BMI calculation is nothing more than an estimate as it can only measure so much.  For instance, BMI may overestimate body fat in athletes and other people with muscular builds, and it may underestimate body fat in older people and those who have lost muscle mass.  Still, it is a good tool to help determine if you fall above or below the safety line. 

Here’s how to calculate your BMI.

There are several websites that will provide a calculation for you, but as first mentioned over at the Iowa Avenue blog, you can do a quick calculation with your own calculator . . .  take 703 times your weight, divide by your height in inches, and divide again by your height in inches (703 x weight / height twice). 

Here are what the results mean.

• If your BMI is 14.9 or less, you are extremely underweight. 
• If your BMI falls between 15-18, you are mildly underweight.
• A BMI 18.5-24.9 means you are at a weight in good proportion to your height.
• A BMI of 25-29.9 means you are overweight. 
• A BMI of 30-39.9 indicates you are obese.
• And a BMI of 40 or more indicates you are morbidly obese.

Of the U.S. population, only 33.5 percent of us have a good BMI in proportion to their height, 34 percent are overweight, and 30 percent fall under the morbidly obese category.   If you find yourself in the overweight category and are wanting to lose weight, keep in mind that in order to lose one pound per week, you need to eliminate 500 calories from your day.  You can do that by cutting back on the calories you consume, or by exercising, or a combination of both.   

Technorati Tags: Body Mass Index, BMI, obesity, healthy weight

Occasionally, I like to share links to other health sites that I find interesting, helpful, or just plain fun.  Here are a few worth checking out.

1. Think Simple Now is a personal growth website that has taken off in a short amount of time.  The writer’s success is due to good interesting writing and having a true passion for helping others. 
2. Healthy Habits For Life takes a strong stance on prevention for wellness.  The site owner is a clinical educator and health coach in Tucson, AZ. 
3. Lazy Man and Health is an all-health website that provides great information, much of which he learned through personal experiences and setting goals. 
4. Walker Talk is the blog of a woman on a fitness mission to get in shape before her son’s wedding.  One of her biggest motivators is her sister-in-law whom you can meet at Life Plus Fitness. 
5. Health Ranker.  “Social Media Just Got Healthy.”  This is a “must check out” site for anyone in the health niche.  It is a new social media news site dedicated to all things health.  This is great news for us health sites AND for those who want to learn better health.  Health Ranker is a new site which just launched this month and is still in Beta.  So don’t be surprised if you find a bug here and there.  Once you become a member, you can rate health blog posts by a few simple clicks.

Oh, and if you enjoy reading my post, please be sure to rank it.  

Technorati Tags: health sites, health links

The total amount recalled:  143 million pounds of beef!  And it is estimated that 37 million pounds of that recalled beef went to school programs.  That is, our kids. 

The recent recall, which has been the nation’s top story for the past few days, came about after an undercover investigation by the Humane Society of the U.S. at the Westland/Hallmark Meat Co.  This recall isn’t due to some illness wherein one infected cow came to the slaughterhouse and infected the others.  This recall is due to the mistreatment, or should we say torture, of sick and injured “downer” cattle which were forced to stand long enough to fool the USDA into believing they were healthy and therefore pass the USDA’s inspection.  Normally, downer cattle are prohibited from entering the food supply because they are more likely to spread Mad Cow’s disease, E coli, and salmonella. Once the sick cattle passed inspection, they went through the slaughter process and ended up on our children’s plates.  This is a prime example of why we should be more aware of whom we are getting our food from.

How can we know if a supplier is a good one or a bad one?

The ill cattle at Westland/Hallmark Meat Co. passed the USDA’s inspection.  Even the Cattlemen’s Association claims that  the abuse is something they don’t condone and don’t tolerate and that they were unaware of the treatment at Hallmark.  If both the USDA and the Cattlemen’s Association were unaware of what was happening with the downer cattle at Hallmark, then can we be assured that they know what is happening at the other 900 or so slaughterhouses in the U.S. and that we are buying untainted meat? 

Our best bet is to buy beef locally.  Buy from farmers who allow their herd to roam the range and live in conditions similar to their natural behavior with sunshine, fresh air, water, and a pasture.  And while you are shopping for farmers, choose ones that don’t inject their livestock with antibiotics or growth hormones. 

If you aren’t yet convinced of the necessity to shop around, take a look at this graphic video from the HSUS:

Technorati Tags: beef recall, Hallmark Meat Co.