What is your idea of Healthy Eating?

When I ask people this question I get alot of the same replies.

"Organic foods"

"Not eating chips, sodas and candy."

"No more hot dogs..."

"Wheat bread, juice vs. soda and organic milk"

"McDonalds salad and yougurt with a diet Coke"

I was at the grocery store the other day and the checker asked me if this particular bag of chips I was buying were good.

"They are very good" I said.

"Eating healthy is expensive. I wish I could do it." She replied.

Organic meats, farm fresh produce & dairy products can be expensive you're right, but what about the winter months or regions of the country where people don't have access to those things? What we are left with; the grocery store.

Companies are getting smarter about advertising because people are taking notice of the chemicals in their foods and are demanding healthier alternatives. With the ever expanding shelves at the grocery store, how do you know which peanut butter to buy? Wouldn't you think peanut butter was just, peanut butter? Who has time to read every label especially when you're not sure about what you're looking for. We are seeing labels pop up everywhere "Natural", "No MSG", "Whole grain", "Sugar Free", etc. Beware, most of the time these are just marketing flags to bring your attention to their product. The FDA has NO regulations on the term "Natural", yet. The only way we can know is to read the label and have a basic idea of what we're looking for.

Everytime I go to the store I read a few more labels. This is very time consuming if you read every label. Once you know which pasta sauce, yogurt and chips to buy you can move on to other products you might want to try or that you're wondering about. 

Start simple. Start with things like high fructose corn syrup and sugars. You'll be suprised to find it in everything, even things like refried beans, canned tomatoes and breading mix for your chicken breasts. And yes, it's in some big name peanut butters reading "Natural" in HUGE letters. If you must choose go for sugar vs. it's chemical alternative.

Then you can move on to things like MSG & all of its other names, colors and preservatives like BHT. The FDA and many people will claim that these things are safe, ok maybe they are, but what if they're not? The FDA has also approved many things that get ripped off shelves when a large enough population gets sick.

Get used to reading labels. You being healthy & feeling good is the most important thing on this planet! If you're unsure of what something is, look for an alternative with simple ingredients that you know. When in doubt eat simple foods like meat, vegetables, fruits and water. Food is medicine and should heal us, energize us and make us feel happy.

Food Labels for GMOs

Everyone has the right to know what they're eating, informed choice. This campaign isn't against GMOs, it's to have it put on the label giving you the choice whether or not you want to eat it. Here is the link to the petition.

An explanation of GE foods from the Just Label it! website:

"Genetically engineered (GE) foods, also referred to as genetically modified, or GMOs, are those that are altered at the molecular level in ways that could not happen naturally. This means plants and animals that have had their genetic makeup altered to exhibit traits that are not naturally theirs. These techniques use DNA molecules from different sources, sometimes different species, and combine them into one molecule to create a new set of genes (e.g. mixing of founder genes into tomatoes so the tomatoes would be resistant to cold temperatures.)

"While there is some GE produce in supermarket bins, it's estimated that 60%-70% of processed foods available in U.S. grocery stores likely contain some GE material. The majority of the livestock (with the exception of USDA certified organic livestock or Non-GMO Project Verified) that Amercians consume have been raised on genetically engineered crops are corn and soy which are used in many processed foods and most animal feeds."

Please pass this along and help get it on our labels.

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10 Ways to Ease Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

It's that time of year again when the sun shines brightly over the southern hempishere giving us here in the north less light which has been linked to those winter blues. November through March are the months closely associated with increased doctor visits for depression. 10%-20% of adults in the US suffer from SAD every year with the majority of those living in colder, darker climates. (Read details here)

1. Get a Massage

Massage Therapy boosts the production of endorphines in the brain that relax muscles, interupt pain cycles and reduce anxiety and panic. Massage also triggers melatonin giving the body a sense of calm which leads to a better nights sleep. This is also a great way to not forget ourselves when we get so busy with life.

2. Music & Exercise

Start your day right. Instead of turning on the tv listening to depressing news put on your head phones with music that gets you motivated and move your body. Music heals, uplifts our spirits and gets our blood circulating adding to the relase of these feel good chemicals in our brains putting us in the right state of mind for our day. Don't forget to end it with soothing music, deep breathing and a light stretch routine before bed. Turn off the tv and concentrate on the music and your body, this is a great meditation.

3. Laughter

Laughter also releases those feel good chemicals. Find ways of laughing throught your day. Watch comedy movies, subscibe to joke web sites, put funny or inspiring pictures on your computer wallpaper, on your phone, desk calendars, etc. Pass those funny jokes on to your co-workers by adding to the possitive energy in your office bringing up others around you who may also be down.

4. Fresh Flowers

The florists in the grocery stores are great at putting together winter arrangements. Add color and life to your space even if it's with a simple potted plant for your desk at work. This is a great visual to remind us that life is not dead. There are many plants and flowers that thrive this time of year. Evergreen is one.

5. Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy can come in many forms, some you may not be aware of. Aside from the known oils in diffusers that stimulate or supress brain chemicals, everyday smells affect us too. Smells can induce memories. If a smell stirs a sense of sadness, longing, anger, or fear then get rid of it. If you had a bad year last year, don't bring out that old apple candle that immediately takes you back there, chuck it. Take a sniff test field trip to a local store that sells smelly stuff and I find one that stirs peace and happiness. Find something that has NO mental or emotional memory to it. Start fresh.

6. Relfect

According to many cultures on our planet winter is a time to relect. Depression is anger turned inward. One of the best ways of dealing with things that bother us is to write about it. Get it out of your head. Writing slows our racing minds to a pace we can comprehend making it easier to see answers that may be right in front of us the whole time. If you're affraid someon will read your thoughts, burn the pages. This is an old trick at getting our minds to let go of old issues we are holding onto.

7. Talking

Talking is also an amazing way to release the chatter of the mind. Talk with friends, have coffee, dinner, or wine and a movie. Connecting with others is sometimes hard when we're held up in our homes all winter. Talk to yourself! Oh to contrary belief it's amazing therapy. In our technological era you can ramble away in the car on your way to work and no one is the wiser, for all they know you're on speaker phone being a safe diver. Be careful not to "dump" your negativity on others around you, dump it on dashboard, it won't care.

8. Light Therapy

Increasing your exposure to full spectrum light boosts endorphines easing depression. Tanning beds should not be used for this purpose. Full specturm light from light boxes or bulbs sold commercially don't contain ultraviolet or infrared frequencies which can lead to skin damage. White light contains all the colors of the spectrum, nature is amazing.

9. Vitamin Supplements

 Our diets change this time of year with the decreased availability of some fruits and vegetables. B Vitamins and fish oil boost our mood elevators and give us energy. Comfort foods keep us warm and give us a sense of well-being like soups, stews and earthy root vegetables.

10. Medical Intervention

If the winter blues are too much even after attempts to resolve it on your own, seek medical advise. Taking an anti-depressant to help get through things should never be viewed as bad. Thoughts of suicide, excessive weight gain, uncontrolled emotions or anything affecting your work or personal life negatively is bad. Doctors and councelors are well trained to help with things like this. In our modern world of medicine new drugs, lower doses, research and education are very different now. Never be ashamed to ask for help, that's what they are there for; YOUR health and well-being.

Nature hybernates and slows down during the winter, we are no different, we are nature. But the business world doesn't. One more reason to teach ourselves it's ok to slow down after work. It's natural to be more tired in the winter, there's nothing wrong. Chinese medicine and winter season article.

Remember to love yourself. Seasons change year after year. Every spring the sun always comes back, flowers bloom and so do we. Surround yourself with visuals that stimulate good feelings and put away any pictures, smells or sounds that stir up negative emotions. Find things that you enjoy, painting, music, learn to knit, take a cooking class at the local community college, start a "tea with friends" night at your house or spend time with your pets. Make winter happy.

New findings on the science of longevity and meditation.

Telomeres, Telomerase & Meditation

"Telomeres are sequences of DNA at the end of chromosomes that tend to get shorter every time a cell divides. When telomeres drop below a critical length, the cell can no longer divide properly and eventually dies. Telomerase is the enzyme that can rebuild and lengthen telomeres. Other studies suggest that telomerase activity may be a link between psychological stress and physical health." - ScienceDaily

"We have found that meditation promotes positive psychological changes, and that meditators showing the greatest improvement on various psychological measures had the highest levels of telomerase," said Clifford Saron, associate research scientist at the UC Davis Center for Mind and Brain.

Meditation has a direct effect on one's sense of well-being leading to increased telomerase enzymes which according to some studies, slows aging. Why would a massage not contribute to increased telomerase enzyme? The person receiving the massage can easily find the same place in the mind while a soothing massage of the muscles releases endorphines enducing a deeper meditation and sense of well-being.  

Read the full article:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/11/101103171642.htm

Are Anti-bacterial soaps a neccessity or just a hype?

My son made a comment that got me thinking about a tv commercial advertising automatic hand soap dispensers. 
"Are you really going to touch the dispenser AFTER you've washed off whatever was on your hands?"
Words from babes.

I taught pathology to massage therapists emphasizing on the simplicity of hand washing that lead to one of the greatest discoveries of our era, germs that made people sick. It's not the warm water, you'd need water between 167-212 degrees to kill viruses, much too hot for our hands. Warm water was recommended for the purpose of comfort to encourage people to wash more frequently. Who wants to wash in cold water? Chemical germacides like anti-bacterial soaps need to be used at certain concentrations and used for certain lengths of time. Not sure about you, but how long is that? 2 minutes? Applying a surfactant (surface active agents, the slippery and lathery stuff) surrounds the viruses and bacteria and when combined with rubbing your hands together imulsifies these little buggers and are rinsed away under running water. Gels & lotions like hand sanitizers containing 60% alcohol get rubbed in and need to be left to dry. Hand sanitizers should only be used when soap and water is not available & should never be used to replace handwashing, EVER.

Killing everything on your hands isn't always a good thing. Our bodies build immunities to these germs. It's one reason super bugs are taking over, they're the only one's left. The 99.9% of the germs being killed are the weakest leaving behind the strongest of the strain to muliply. Not good.

DON'T BE A PSUEDO HANDWASHER! Nothing erks me more than seeing women coming out of a restroom stall rinsing their finger tips under the tap with only water, grabbing a paper towel, drying and not wanting to touch the handle going out. Pointless. So you didn't happen to get anything on your hands but perhaps the person before you "missed" then touched the door knob going out of the stall, touching the faucet handle spreading her viruses and bacteria, just to do a pseudo wash. No soap, it's still on their hands now on yours.  Restooms are great environments for transmitting disease, urine, fecal matter, saliva & blood. Why would you not use soap in a place like that? PLEASE use soap for your health and ours.


Simple tips that have saved me from getting sick:

1. Using hand sanitizers sparingly when you're handeling things like money, public surfaces, grocery cart handles, etc. I keep hand sanitizer in my car just in case.

2. Using wipes on the unsuspecting culprits that breed germs that NEVER get washed. (Do this occationally, don't get carried away) Car keys, steering wheels, purse & bag handles, wallet, credit cards, dog leash, shoe laces, cell phone covers, etc.

3. After anyone is sick in your home, wipe things down like light switches, toilet flush handles, washing machine & dryer knobs, etc.

4. Wash frequently with a gentle, plain soap containing no anti-bacterial chemicals. Use lotions to prevent drying. I'd rather have dry hands than get sick.

5. Keep your hands out of your eyes, nose and mouth.

So after finding these little germ spreading items I highly doubt pumping soap into your hands your going to rub your eyes or put your hands in your mouth with a handful of soap. I'd be more worried out the faucet handles that you've touched before & AFTER you've washed your hands. Just wash the soap dispenser with the soap inside the dispenser? Not sure who invented this or why.

Here's are 3 reason's on why it's bad not only for you but for the environment on using anti-bacterial handsoaps.
http://thedelicioustruth.blogspot.com/2011/12/best-of-2011-do-not-use-antibacterial.html

Got a health TIP?

Got an inside scoop on a healthy resaurant, exercise program, grocery store, organic produce/meat, social groups or anything related? Please e-mail me and I will check it out and possibly add it to this site. Are you a health conscious business or offer natural products? Get on here! You may e-mail me an article you wrote in word format, a logo, coupon, business hours, location, web link and contact information and I will gladly post it for you here! Be a guest writters to add content reguarding healthy Springfield!

I am dedicated to making this site an access point of great health information in Springfield and surrounding areas. As a recent relocatee it was quite a painstaking process to ask everyone I came in contact with where to get organic chicken, veggies, a healthy lunch, natual skin care, and massage. So as new people come to town, new business arise or people that just want to know where to find natural products locally, they can find it here. I would love to promote your business, build mine, and help Springfields obvious movement towards health and happiness! 


Thank you healthy Springfield!