I've been having a little trouble...

...with sugar cravings lately.

Most of the time I'm eating healthy snacks - fruit, veggies, crackers, organic ice cream - but lately (as in since Thanksgiving or maybe Halloween) I've been craving the hard stuff. Sour Straws, Oreos, Chocolates, PBMnM's, Cookies & Cream chocolate bars, ice cream, cool-aide type drinks, just SUGAR. Which is weird because at Thanksgiving I gave myself the go ahead to eat whatever the heck I wanted - I had pop (I never have pop), candy, desserts, etc. And because of it I felt immensely sick and I'm surprised I didn't get a sugar headache. As I think about it I realize that it really started around Halloween. We had lots of sugar/candy around because of trick or treaters and I started bringing a small amount to school each day. Now I absolutely crave sugar around 2 o'clock pm. And if it doesn't get filled I just have to give in bigger later.

When in reality I just need some natural sugar (grapes, banana, strawberries, orange, apple) to get me through the slough time when I really want to lay down in the hallway and take a nap. Not to mention eating some good, healthy, and whole grain/veggie meals every two hours to keep my mood and energy up.

This article gives some good ideas to curb that sugar craving.

• Chew gum. Sugar free gum.
• Walk away. Literally go for a walk.
• Meditate.
• Try to eliminate other sugars from your life.

We Are A Technology Generation

But is that hindering us from being something greater?

In this article in TIME magazine, Doctors are warning against data smog, which is making us more depressed as a people. This data fog is a overabundance of useless information. Its everywhere and its bringing us down. While we have more information, most of it is useless to us and we spend so much time with it. Its associated with poor sleep, stress, and depression.

I have a personal connection to this because well, I gave up all technology over Thanksgiving break. I turned off my phone, I gave my computer to a friend to strip it because it was acting up, and I just didn't use any wireless/technology and didn't even have my phone to text, etc. It was surprising how FREEING it was. No one could contact me. When I turned my phone back on when arriving home, no one had had anything important to say anyway. I just basked the weekend away reading and just lazily dreaming and resting. Not doing anything but just enjoying the sounds and smells of Thanksgiving. It was glorious. I found myself a lot happier, a lot more in-tune to what people were feeling and saying around me, and more in-tune to myself and what my body and mind needed.

The Doctor in the article states his limiting of technology in this way "freed me to pursue more restorative activities, especially spending time in natural settings. My mind is clearer, my attention span longer, and my real (as opposed to virtual) friendships closer."


Suggestions:

• Take time off from technology and use your brain to curb your boredom. Read a book, play a board game, write in your journal, clean your house, make some delicious food, the list goes on.
• Take a long enough break from technology that you can feel the full effects and not get drawn back into it. Its like an addiction. Get to the point where you can be without it or with it and it doesn't REALLY matter to you.
• Limit the amount of technology you get on a regular basis. 
• Limit the TYPE of technology/info you get. Make it so that you only get exactly what you want and that it is mostly useful information. Otherwise, its just bringing you down.

A Little Laugh Goes A Long Way

Ever wonder what would happen if someone really did find the fountain of youth? Well, what if I told you it had already been found? What would you do about it? I'm going to tell you and you will probably think its cool and never really take it to heart, just like every other good thing for your body. You have no motivation. what. so. ever.

Laughing.

Laughing is the fountain of youth. It gives you a mental boost, facilitates physiological changes in our bodies, helps keep your heart healthy, keeps you under less stress, makes you feel good, gives you power, lets you cope, gives you better communication and connectedness, relieves tension and aggression, helps you learn better and retain that knowledge, and adds years to your life (Organic Soul Blog - Laughter).

Honestly how this article talks about how stress gives you a heart attack I should be getting one any day now. I am a stress-a-holic. Anything and everything I stress about. I really just need to back off and relax. Look at all these health benefits of LAUGHTER! For heavens sake, laughter is SO easy to procure. So whether its clicking on some youtube videos, staying up late to make everything funny, or just laughing at yourself when you do something stupid take time to laugh everyday and YOU will be feeling better in no time, not to mention adding years to your life, and hey, if you're laughing those years will be good.

Doctors

Ever find going to the doctor seems completely pointless? Why?

• they don't listen
• they just give you medicine (without telling you exactly what it does to your body)
• its awkward
• $$$$$$$

We need to learn how to interact with our medical professionals. Bring a notebook to your doctors visit that journals your pain and symptoms. Do your research on what you think you might have and what types of medication are given for it and what those medications do. Be specific when you ask questions and take your time to think of them. Make use of telephone calls to the office nurse who can give you feedback on certain things so you do not have to go in when you do think of questions. When it comes to medication see if there is something else you could do or try before you start taking medication. Make sure your doctor describes all the side effects of any medications they prescribe and make sure they help you understand what it does to your body. Keep your own good medical records and only go to the doctor when you need to and you can afford it. Take advantage of readily available information on diseases and symptoms and take care of yourself. 

Article on working with doctors.
Some emotional wellness help.

Do you know if you're hungry?

Besides having at least two spelling errors this article was very helpful identifying types of hunger. Do you know them?

Physical Hunger

Emotional Hunger

Physical hunger is just that, your body needs nutrients and you should give them to your body. The second is a bit more complex. Emotional hunger is when you eat when you are neither full nor satisfied or satisfied already. In this type of hunger you eat because of feelings whether they be boredom, anger, fear, sad, etc. There is a good scale to help you eat better and identify when to eat. BEFORE you eat decide what number you're at on a scale of 1-10.

1 - You are very hungry.
5 - You are neither full nor hungry.
10 - You are full.

Basic rules are eat when you're at a 2-3 (eating at 1 can cause overeating), eat until you reach about a 7 (you will still be able to go on a walk but feel full) and if you find yourself eating at 5-6 start a journal and figure out what causes you to emotionally eat.

UVU Health Quest

Stress Relief in Four Weeks - Week 3: Assertiveness Assessment

First order of business to understand what style you use in interpersonal communication. Which one do you use most of the time? I use the passive style. I indirectly express my opinions and wants if at all. Others styles are aggressive style which you give your opinions and wants at the expense of others and assertive style where you give your opinions without violating anyone else.

Second order is to identify where you want to be more assertive (assuming that is where you want to be...since its the 'ideal'). Are you assertive when you ask for help? state a differing opinion? receive or express positive or negative feelings? say no? Who are you assertive with? Parents? Co-workers? Classmates? Strangers? Spouse? Employer? Children? I am pretty much non-assertive, aka I am not assertive with anyone and with any situation. Except when I am speaking about my positive or negative feelings with my husband. I think he's the only one I feel comfortable enough with.

Body language is third. What type of assertive body language do you use most of the time? I don't use any of them. Although I would like to.
a) Maintain eye contact
b) Maintain posture
c) Speak clearly, audibly, and firmly

Fourth is effective communication and listening skills. What do you do most of the time? Are you preparing for what you're going to say? Do you ask for clarification? Do you acknowledge to other other person your respect? Do you compromise? I don't think I do any of this most of the time, although I try to clarify and focus on listening to responding. I think it would be a good idea to let people know that I respect their opinions.

Five: avoid manipulation. What do you do most of the time? Use a broken record? Defuse a sticky situation? Delay yourself until you are calm? Acknowledge criticism you agree with? I don't think I use a broken record and I believe I do a really good job of not responding when I'm heated. I am not sure how well I do at defusing others anger or acknowledging criticism.

I have the hardest time with this sixth one. Learning how to say no. I hardly ever....ok never, say no. I always agree and try to be the most helpful person ever. Sometimes this gets me in big trouble - aka: stress to the max. I already stress easy but to avoid confrontation (even if none were going to come) I agree to everything. I just can't seem to say no. Do you tell people exactly why you're saying no? or do you let them down gently?

Coming in as last is putting assertiveness into action. Take your number one problem and answer the questions.
Who is involved?
When does it take place?
What bothers you?
How do you deal with it?

Resources: Center For Disease Control, Mayo Clinic, Center for Mindfulness.

Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead

A Documentary.

It is a little bit different than the other documentaries I've watched. However, I thought it was more entertaining and very well done. It shows the experience of one Australian man who realized that he was fat, sick, and nearly dead. He needed to do something about it. He goes on a 60 day juice fast. During this time he travels to American and goes across the United States and tells his story to all those he can find. What he wants to do is cure himself, you know, like the way our body usually does. The first few days were really hard for him emotionally, but he got through it. From my experience of fasting, it is always the first few days to the first week that are the absolute hardest to get through.

This juice that he drinks for this 60 day fast is juice from a juicer. Juice direct from fruits and veggies. On day 31 he had lost almost 50 pounds. Micronutrient foods are fruits, veggies, beans and macronutrients are everything else. He meets a lady on the road that decides to do a two week fast and she does it. It helps her lose her migraines, clears her skin and body, and helps her feel a lot better. When he gets home to Australia he gets a call from a man he gave his information to in Arizona who needs help. They both have the same disease. He comes back to America and helps this man do a 10 day fast. He continues to a 30 day fast and loses 200 pounds in a few months after reverting to a diet high in micronutrients.

All across the country he interviews people about their habits, how they think about his fast and fruits and veggies, and how willing they were to change their diets to make themselves feel better. Most people knew why they were overweight and sick. Most people knew how to lose weight and get well. Most people were unwilling to make the life change. Why? Well they said it was because they had little self-control and said they were weak. I don't think they really believe that. I think they do not even want to try. They know but they don't care enough. Most people thought he was crazy. However, is it not crazy to take over 15 prescription drugs a day, overweight, and have your life expectancy for only a few years is not THAT crazy?

We have the ability to make life extremely healthy and live longer yet we have the highest rate of obesity and disease? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?

In the end the results of his fast were 1)no medication, 2)healthy weight, 3)clear thought processes, and 4)felt amazing.

I really want to try this juice fast. I think once I have the money to buy a juicer and the holidays are over: I want to do it. I think its worth it to try it, feel better, and possibly get off of medication and not have migraines. You can do it too. Here are some recipes or here.

Milk. That creamy goodness.

I watched an NBC todays delivery of milk today and I am grateful for the alternatives. After watching Forks Over Knives I realized that I wanted to drop the dairy and meat from my diet almost completely. Something I really love is milk. However, I am willing to give it up completely. To replace it I need to find something else to provide calcium and that white cold drink sensation.

Almond Milk:
I've tried this one. I really like it. I like the nutty flavor.
Less calories, less fiber, less protein, high sodium however you get calcium, vit a, vit d, vit e
Nutty flavor. Creamy.
Use in cereal, oatmeal, coffee, anything

Hemp Milk:
My husband thought this one was really weird. I've never tried it. It just sounds weird to drink.
Less protein, no thc, however you get more omega-3's, brain health food
Mashed potatoes, cooking

Coconut Milk:
I have used this one but I have not just drank it.
Least amount of sodium, more saturated fat (but good heart healthy)
Creamy, coconuty.
Baking, etc.

Rice Milk:
I hate this one. It is really thin. Yuck.
More carbs, sodium and potassium, less protein, less fiber,
Sweet. Watery.
If you must use this one use it in cooking or something.

Soy Milk:
I like this one, but you need to find the kind (brand) that you like.
Most amount of protein (no more than 24g)
Beanier, Thicker
Drink, cereal, cooking, everything.

to shoot or not to shoot

Don't believe all the hype and blah around flu shots. They don't work. There are so many strains of the flu out there that that getting a flu shot is a waste of time and money and a nice afternoon without pain. A flu shot may or may not help - that's all there is too it. Every year a vaccine is given for a specific type of flu or one strain. There are hundreds of strains out there of the flu. Therefore, even if you get a flu shot you still have a hundred other possibilities that could make you sick. Also, it has been proven that the flu shot is more effective some years than other years. This is due to the fact that some years one strain of the flu is more prevalent than another. So if they got it right (meaning they have the flu shot that will help the most prevalent flu this year) then getting the flu shot might not be a bad idea (unless you just happen to get a different strain anyway). Then there is the question does a flu shot do harm? I don't know, but from my experience the least amount of manmade things you put into your body the better. My opinion if it is not clear - flu shots are pointless and wasteful.

Article on FLU SHOTS.

Followed.

I got a follow on twitter from this lady who has great tips on staying healthy. Follow her on twitter!

Shelley Rael, MS, RD
Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
I am a registered dietitian/nutrition expert, wife, mom, runner, cyclist, triathlete, foodie, traveler, UNM employee, and Nutrition Entrepreneurs DPG Chair.
@shelrael view full profile →

UVU - Health Quest

Stress Relief in Four Weeks - Week 1:  Self Massage Techniques

This is the best thing short of an actual massage or someone else massaging you. Massage yourself! Obviously, its not going to be completely relaxing however something is better than nothing! I've been trying to do one of these every class period while I listen in class. It is so nice, it helps me get through classes and not be so antsy to get out of class.

First up - self massaging your shoulders. This is my favorite one and the easiest one to do while taking notes and listening. Concentrate on breathing (deeply and let it flow) and get those tender spots. Your neck and shoulders are MAIN areas where you collect stress (I ESPECIALLY do) so make sure to massage your neck and shoulders A LOT during main stressing situations.

Massaging your hands: Relax one hand and massage the fingers, palm, and especially the skin between the thumb and forefinger (TRIGGER POINT!) and get the knots out and soften up your muscles. Repeat with other hand.

Ears: This one is kinda weird, I've never rubbed my ears before however - it feels nice. Start with the rim of the ear up and down, up and down, then move towards the inside of the outer ear this will increase blood flow and give you more energy (I made up that part).

Forehead: I am excited to use this one when I get a migraine. Put your forefingers of both hands on your hairline and push and pull up and down and side to side going up and down your hairline. You can either lean over or just sit up. Make sure you do it for 1-3 minutes for de-stressing effects.

Try em out! They help (especially massaging your neck and shoulders).

Tell me you don't do this

A recent article in the Detroit Free Press contends that Americans may 'talk' eat well, but they don't 'walk' eat well. 47% of Americans 'talk' about restaurants having healthy choices only 23% 'walk the walk'. That is a huge difference, especially considering 2/3 of the US population is overweight or obese. Because of this, high calorie and fat breakfasts sell more than Simple and Fit at IHOP and French Fries sell better than apple slices at McDonald's. Changing menus for restaurants is time consuming and expensive, especially when hardly anyone buys it afterwards. No wonder healthier items tend to be more expensive. I think there are two major flaws with this study. The primary one being, I eat 'Simple and Fit' at home, so when I go out - I want to splurge a little. For example, I eat a cup of oatmeal and fruit every morning for breakfast. Last week we went out to breakfast for my husbands grandma at Cracker Barrel. I'm not ordering oatmeal (even if it was a choice). I want waffles. I want eggs. I want bacon. I want a hefty typical breakfast. It doesn't mean I eat that every day, it means I don't eat it every day and I want it when I go out. The second flaw I see is about people not like me. Maybe those who eat unhealthy at home and then go eat unhealthy eating out. Or maybe those people who always eat out and never choose the healthy choice. And I think this is where Americans are. How can it not be when 2/3 of Americans are overweight+? Do I think having healthy choices is good in restaurants? YES! I think the more healthy tasty choices there are out there the more likely people are to buy them. However, I don't think the lifestyle of American's diet can be changed overnight. It needs to be a conscious effort on the part of every American to eat healthier and slowly wean themselves off of unhealthy fast food. Eat healthy almost all the time, and then you can eat unhealthy a small amount of the time. It will make you feel so much better not only physically, but about yourself as well.

MY Health Quest

Today was my second consultation with my nutrition specialist?, I'm not really sure what to call her. Anyway, we went over my goals and started on nutrition. Here is what we went over.
Nutrition Labels: 5% or less is low and 20% or more is high.
I should stop drinking whole milk. :(
Eat snacks!! Your body is programmed to eat every 2 1/2-3 hours. This boosts your metabolism and helps you eat less. And you skip the whole, my blood sugar is dropping and I need that candy bar.
Eat Breakfast! Your metabolism slows at night and hits a low right before you wake up. It gives you energy to start a day out right (not to mention helps mood.....boy did I learn the hard way today). And if you are one of those people that isn't hungry in the morning, its probably because you had too hefty a dinner or ate too late (remember, your metabolism slows at night?....this means your body doesn't digest it very fast and likes to just store it). Which means you should not eat about 2-3 hours before you go to bed.
Check out www.choosemyplate.gov/myplate/index.aspx and see how many calories you need a day and how many servings of what you should be having. It's really convenient. 
Tips:

• Go for complex carbs: whole grains, fruits, veggies. 
• It's whole grain if whole wheat is the first ingredient.
• Eat five fruits and veggies a day (get those veggies!).
• Get you some poly and mono unstaturated fats. These include nuts, avacados, peanut butter, and fish. 
• Eat your lean meat (or lentils, whole grain, beans, and nuts). Your body needs those proteins it can't make itself.
• Whole milk is probably not the best dairy.
• Moderate sweets - if sugar in any form appears first or second on the ingredients list - its high sugar. 

I also learned about organic. 100% organic means just that. Organic means it contains at least 95% organic ingredients. There is no legal definition for natural food, free range, and hormone free - anyone can use it, for anything. 

So go to the website and start your responsibility to your health. You can do it.

ABC's Good Morning America - Health

This segment (from Aug. 26, 2011) concerns allergies, vaccines, and natural birth. The audience is definitely for parents.

If you have an allergy 1) communicate when you go to gatherings, 2)bring your own food to a bbq, make sure not to cross-contaminate with the grill or utensils, and be aware that lots of sauces can contain common allergens 3) have a plan, have an epi-pen and be aware. Most allergies are already known by the time someone is in college, but there is a chance that someone can (in college) suddenly realize that they have an allergy. So being aware of what common allergies are and how they are treated is not only safer for others (to help them) but also for yourself (just in case).

School immunizations. This deals with elementary and secondary education immunizations. However, a lot of the immunizations that I was supposed to get in high school never really got done. It wasn't until my second or third year in college that I actually finished up all of my needed vaccinations. Keep a copy of your vaccination record and make sure its up to date.

Natural childbirth usually takes place within a hospital but in a separate wing with a midwife. The cons are that you are taking it all natural - pain. The pros are that its less expensive, it is a calm environment, you're most likely not to have a c-section, if everything looks good you can get off the monitor and get in the jacuzzi, and it's less invasive. However, not everyone who wants one can have one. If you have any sort of medical issue that would label you as higher risk than usual (diabetes, over 45, hypertension, baby's too big) you cannot have one. Half of women who want to have a natural birth cannot have one because of these issues.  I think it is a great idea for women to have the option to choose a more natural birthing way. It is good to know that you have more options than just one when it comes to giving birth.