Emotional Health

Emotional health is a big, BIG part of being physically healthy. Read that last sentence again. If you are not emotionally healthy, you will not feel good physically. I recently read an interesting article by Dr. Ted Koren, DC. Here are some thoughts from the article.

Emotional health is dependent on being connected to yourself and to others. The more connected you are to yourself, the more you can connect with others and the more fulfilling your connections (relationships) will be. The more good relationships you have in your life, the more happiness, joy, hope, optimism and vitality you will have. You will feel and be healthier, live longer, and you will recover more quickly from physical and emotional traumas.

Are you emotionally disconnected? Do you hold pockets of unresolved anger, fear, resentment, pain or other emotions locked up in your body and mind? Whatever the cause of those bottled up emotions, whether it is abuse, conflict with others, etc., these trapped emotions keep us from living fully in the present because some of our energy is still living in the past.

Past traumas and fears can manifest as physical ailments and emotional stress. They disconnect us from our deeper selves. When we are out of touch with our emotional wellness, our intuition is clouded, our life's purpose is confused, and we have difficulty forming healthy relationships. All of this can lead to disease.

Just as toxins can build up in our bodies from our physical environment, so toxic emotions can build up inside of us and make us just as sick, if not more sick. Make it a goal to rid your body and mind of toxic emotions, feelings and beliefs. A good book to read on this subject is: FREE TO LOVE, FREE TO HEAL by David Simon, MD. You can heal your body by healing your emotions.

Health Benefits of Bananas

ENERGY: Bananas contain 3 natural sugars combined with fiber, giving you an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy. This may be why bananas are the number one fruit among athletes.

DEPRESSION: Bananas contain tryptophan, a protein your body converts into serotonin, known to make you feel relaxed and happier. If you are feeling down, try eating a banana.

PMS: Bananas contain vitamin B6, which helps regulate blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.

ANEMIA: Bananas are high in iron, and can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood.

BLOOD PRESSURE: Bananas are extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect for reducing high blood pressure and risk of strokes.

BRAIN POWER: Research has shown that students who eat a banana before a test performed better and remained more alert.

HEARTBURN: Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, making it a great cure for heartburn.

MORNING SICKNESS: Bananas keep blood sugar levels up in between meals, helping avoid queasiness.

MOSQUITO BITES: Rub the inside of a banana peel on insect bites to soothe irritation and reduce swelling.

STRESS: Potassium in bananas can help normalize heartbeat, send oxygen to the brain and regulate the body's water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, reducing our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.

ULCERS: Because of it's soft texture and smoothness, the banana is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without irritating chronic ulcers. It also neutralizes acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.

WARTS: Some people say that if you place a piece of banana skin on a wart and hold it in place with surgical tape the wart will go away!

Bananas have four times the protein, twice the carbohydrates, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals than an apple.

I think I'm going to start eating more bananas!!

Soli Wellness

I don't want to be a walking commercial for anyone, but I have to mention Soli Wellness Center because they have been such a big part of my path to healing. Dr. Randy at Soli has been a friend of our family since my kids were little and we lived in his ward in Layton. He took care of Devin after he was born with a dislocated neck and shoulder. For about a year, Randy came to our home weekly and worked with Devin, helping him overcome his injuries and preventing any lasting deformations of his head. I trusted him with my infant son implicitly, so I'm not sure why it took me so long to entrust my health to him as well. I guess I just thought I was healthy enough, and I was at that point in my life where I didn't have a lot of time to focus on myself.

Now I realize that it is not selfish to focus on my own health and take extremely good care of my body. I wish I had realized it sooner, because then I could have avoided some health problems, but I am happy that at least now, I know.

I visit Soli usually 2 times a week, and I do the turbosonic, which is a whole body vibration therapy, and a footbath detox, which is a way of removing toxins from your body. If you want more info about the services offered at Soli, you can visit their website at: www.soliwellness.com.

If you have come to the realization, as I have, that the solution to every illness or discomfort we feel is not in a chemical or pill we put in our bodies to mask the symptoms, then you will like Soli.

One of my favorite parts about Soli, besides the wonderful people who work there, is the four core belief statements. They are:

I believe that I can be well now.

I choose to be well now.

I totally and completely love myself if I am well now.

I totally and completely love myself if I am not well now.

Even if you don't visit Soli, you can start to incorporate these core beliefs into your daily life.
Repeat them every day until you start to believe them. You will be surprised at how much power your mind has over your physical wellness.

What I Will do to Live Healthier in November 2009

I realize this is a bit late, but better late than never!

WHAT I WILL DO TO LIVE HEALTHIER IN NOVEMBER 2009:

1. Reduce the amount of or try to avoid artificial coloring and flavoring in my food and drinks (Yes, that includes Crystal Light)
2. Juice 4 to 5 times a week (I'm talking about fresh juice here, not bottled. I just got a juicer, and I love it!)
3. Plan out meals and make more healthy meals at home instead of eating out.
4. Spend less of my time worrying and more of my time cultivating gratitude.
5. Find a source for buying locally grown and produced meats (I just saw the movie "Food, Inc.", so I may never eat meat again!)

Health Benefits of Pineapple

Who knew that besides being delicious, pineapple is actually very good for you! Pineapple eases indigestion, arthritis, and sinusitis. It is high in manganese, a mineral critical for developing strong bones and connective tissue. It helps the body digest proteins more efficiently. It has anti-inflammatory properties, so it good for relieving painful or sore joints or for use after injuries as a mild pain reliever.

Pineapple is high in vitamin C , which help reduce mucus in the throat. Drink pineapple juice if you have a cold, sinus infection or allergies.

If you are going to be flying somewhere, drinking pineapple juice helps discourage blood clot development.

Fresh pineapple juice is a folk remedy for morning sickness. It also discourages the growth of plaque on teeth.

How to buy a pineapple: Color is unimportant. If the pineapple smells fresh, tropical and sweet, it will be good. The more scales a pineapple has, the sweeter and juicier it will be.

Interesting fact: Pineapples are made up of dozens of indiviual flowerets that grow together to form the entire fruit. Each scale on a pineapple is evidence of a separate flower.

Dr. Oz's Ultimate Health Checklist

1. Get a check-up. Find a doctor who you are comfortable with and who will listen to you.
2. Know what foods to avoid. (See previous post)
3. Add healthy foods to your diet. (See previous post)
4. Take a multi-vitamin daily.
5. Know your numbers: Vitamin D levels, C Reactive protein, TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone), Resting heart rate (should be around 60), Blood Sugar level, Cholesterol levels (LDL or bad cholesterol should be less than 100, HDL or good cholesterol should be greater than 40). Your doctor can perform all these tests and tell you what the results mean.
6. Find a health advocate, someone who will go to the doctor with you and help you remember everything he or she tells you.
7. Organize your health information. Store it all in one location so you have immediate access to it when you need it.
8. Know your waist size. Waist size should be less than half your height. This is not for looks or vanity, this is for your health.
9. Know your blood pressure numbers. 115/75 is ideal.
10. Know your body fat percentage. Women should be 25 to 31%. Men should be 18 to 25%.
To figure your percentage: Multiply your weight by 703. Multiply your height in inches by itself. (For instance I am 5'9, so I would multiply 69 by 69) Take the weight number and divide it by the height number. This is your Body Mass Index, or how much of your body is fat.
11. Know what tests you need and when. Everyone should have the following:
*Annual physical
*Dentist cleaning and check-up every 6 months
*Eye exam every 2 years
*Echocardiogram at age 50
*Stress test at age 50
*Colonoscopy at age 50
*Skin check (for skin cancer) yearly
*Hearing check early 60's
Women should also have a yearly pelvic exam, pap smear and starting at age 35-40, a mammogram.
The question I want you to ask yourself today is this: WHAT WILL I DO TO LIVE HEALTHIER IN NOVEMBER 2009? Write down your answers and check those items off when you do them. Make a new list at the start of every month and stick to it!

Five Good Things to Add to Your Diet

1. Antioxidants -- Found in brightly colored fruits and vegies, nuts, fish and whole grains. These boost your immune system, reduce damage caused by free-radicals, help prevent heart disease, macualar degeneration, diabetes and cancer.

2. Omega 3 Fats -- Found in flaxseed, walnuts, squash, soy, or in supplement form such as fish oil capsules. Improve brain function, promote healthy vascualar function, helps prevent Alzheimers and depression.

3. Fiber -- Found in oatmeal, whole grains, dry beans, raw fruits and vegies. Aids digestion, rids body of built up waste products, helps maintain or lose weight by feeling full longer.

4. Olive Oil -- Eat olives or cook with extra virgin olive oil, 1 Tbsp. per day. Promotes healthy skin and hair, lowers bad cholesterol, helps reduce risk of skin and breast cancers.

5. Multi-vitamin -- If you are a woman under 50, take one with iron. None of us gets the amount of vitamins and minerals we need from food, so be sure to take a supplement.

Five foods to avoid

Avoid these five foods to look and feel healthy:

1. High Fructose Corn Syrup -- HFCS is found in many packaged and processed foods, and in most soft drinks. It was invented in the 1970's to be a cheap replacement for sugar and to make the shelf life of foods longer. Because it is in a liquid form, it can be easily incorporated into foods that never had sugar in them before, like wheat bread or spaghetti sauce.

2. Refined Sugar -- Sugar is just empty calories that make you crave more and more sugar.

3. "Enriched" Flour -- There is basically no nutritional value in this - all the important vitamins and minerals have been removed. White breads, cereals and pastas all contain enriched flour.

4. Saturated Fats -- Found in fatty meats and anything deep fried.

5. Trans Fats -- These are also known as hydrogenated fats. Hydrogen is added to them to keep them solid at room temperature and therefore makes them last longer on the shelf. These are not natural in food, and our bodies do not know how to break them down. This can lead to illness, weight gain, heart problems, etc. Trans fats are found in margarine, butter and many processed foods.

Making Healthy Food Choices

The greatest thing you can do for your body is to eat healthy foods. Eating a variety of fresh foods in all colors, flavors and textures will help you feel more alive! If what you are eating was recently alive, you will feel alive when you eat it. If it has been in a package on a shelf in a store for months and months (in other words, dead), chances are you will not feel very well after eating it.
Avoid the center aisles of the grocery store. That is where all the packaged, processed and canned things are that are bad for you. Shop the perimeter where there are fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy and frozen foods. (Fresh is better than frozen, but frozen is better than canned.)

Also, try to get 7 to 8 hours of sleep every night. When your body lacks sleep, it will crave carbs to keep it going. This leads to making bad food choices.

Why am I worthy of getting healthy?

This is a question you need to ask yourself: Why am I worthy of getting healthy now? For me the answer was my family. I take good care of my husband and my children, my mom, my cat, my home, etc. But if I want to be able to continue to take such good care of them, I need to take care of myself. If I don't, soon they will be taking care of me. I was given a healthy body at birth as a gift from a loving Heavenly Father. It is my responsibility to take good care of it and honor it so it can take good care of my spirit while I am here on earth. So, why are you worthy of getting healthy now?

This is a blog about my journey toward being well. It is a journey that I have been on for a while now, and one I am continuing to take. I wanted to share some of my experiences and things I have learned along the way. I am by no means an expert, I just love learning about ways I can be more healthy and make healthier choices for my family. Even making small changes can make a big difference, but you have to be committed to making permanent changes to your lifestyle. If you try to change everything all at once, you will become discouraged and stop trying. So this is my path to wellness. I hope it will help inspire someone else to start on their journey too.