How to Tell if Your Vitamin D is Low...without Going to the Doctor

Dr. Oz gave us all a great way to self-test for Vitamin D deficiency last week and anyone can do this.  Take your thumb and press it somewhat hard on the center of your breastbone.  If you feel pain, it is a sign that your bones are deficient in Vitamin D.  Vitamin D3 supplements are readily available, and if you are deficient you need to immediately "boost" your levels with between 5,000 to 10,000 I.U. and after taking this amount for a month, check in with your doctor for a blood test so you know your levels.  I find 10,000 I.U. daily just barely put me on the low side of normal, and in 2006 I suffered a clinical deficiency that was misdiagnosed for polymyalgia rheumatica.  It was almost a year of suffering until I went to a different doctor who looked for the root cause of the pain.

Take a stoll through an arboretum for your health

If you are lucky enough to live in an area where there is a public garden or arboretum, this time of year is especially beautiful with cooler days and a slight wind.  In Dallas, the arboretum is displaying Chihuly glass sculpture and I've managed to embed a slide show (a miricle for technolgy challenged me) and I hope you enjoy it!

Cavities...caused by bacteria....who knew?

My mother was a big fan of Listerine.  Now I read that cavities are caused by bacteria.  Germs....they were the culprit for the cavities suffered by many of my friends. I was lucky, I never had any until I became an adult.  I kissed my boyfriend...next thing you know, I have a cavity in college.  Who knew?  My mom!  She told me cavities are contagious.  Somehow she knew. 

I don't think Listerine is necessarily the answer, but certainly seeing your dentist and keeping an eye on plaque build up cannot hurt. 

Check out the recent article from Life Extension Foundation for the details:

http://www.lef.org/news/LefDailyNews.htm?NewsID=15045&Section=DISEASE&utm_source=DailyHealthBulletin&utm_medium=email&utm_term=Disease&utm_content=Body+ContinueReading&utm_campaign=DHB_120828

Are you eating "clean?"

There is a new term among the fit and healthy!  It's called "clean" eating.  Have you heard it yet?  Clean eating is the art of eating real food, real fresh, and without additives or toxins of any sort.  I'm living in Dallas, TX and it is the land of big!  Our roads are big, our restaurants are big, but unfortunately, it is hard to find "clean" eating in this metroplex. 

The book "The Eat-Clean Diet Recharged" is an excellent book for learning the overall health benefits of eating "clean."  Two weeks on a clean diet and you might find no more sinus headaches (from preservatives), no more aches and pains (from hidden preservatives), and an overall feeling of better energy and clearing thinking.  You can find this book at Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/Eat-Clean-Diet-Recharged-Lasting-Better/dp/1552100677/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1346204321&sr=1-3&keywords=clean+eating

If you want to reach further into healthy eating, try the art of Paleo...the caveman diet!  Eating "clean" and "Paleo" has to be an awesome combination!  Try it and let me know!

Your blender - your best friend

I am experimenting with the ability to show some of my favorite products, and you can click on them and see what they might add to your juicing experience!  To your health!

Non-GMO Food Guide Available

No matter where you look, genetically modified foods are getting the thumbs down from around the world.  Many European countries have actually outlawed Monsanto's products.  Finally, via Dr. Mercola, there is a food guide to how to avoid GMO foods.

The bad news...if you eat out, you are eating GMO food. 

Here's the link for the guide:
http://mercola.fileburst.com/PDF/GMObrochure.pdf

Radiation from Fukishima Found in Tuna off California Coast

Ninja Xl BlenderThe news this weekend was not good for us sushi lovers!  Many of us going gluten free, and watching our intake (or eliminating) red meat, rely on a good sushi dinner and in particular, tuna for the protein intake requirements.  I'm certain more information will come out on this, but until then, we have reports from California with the details.

The report:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/47594461/ns/local_news-los_angeles_ca/#.T8Tc68WwVJc

The recommendation:
Although the amounts found in the tuna are in the "safe" zone, it might be prudent to reduce or eliminate the intake of the large fish found off the coast of Japan until further information is available.  The thyroid gland is especially sensitive to radiation.  If you believe you are particularly prone to exposure to radiation due to your location (travel to Japan, etc.) you might look into the protection offered from iodine.  The CDC has this report on the use:  http://www.bt.cdc.gov/radiation/ki.asp

Taking Charge of Your Health - Blood Testing without a Doctor

You do not have to rely on your doctor for blood screening for your overall health.  Many people do not have time to schedule an appointment, wait in the doctor's office, then get a lab slip and go to the lab...wait again, just to get their annual blood testing that reveals their overall health.  Life Extension Foundation (www.lef.org) provides blood testing at very good rates.  For example, the Male or Female Life Extension Panel tests CBC/Chemistry Profile, DHEA-S, Estradios (PSA for men), Homocysteine, C-Reactive Protein, hormones depending on male/female, TSH for thyroid, and Vitamin D.  Member prices are $199.  Additional tests are available for Coenzyme Q10, Food Safe Allergy tests, heavy metals, as an example.

Why choose tests that aren't covered by insurance?  In many instances, insurance will not cover a full panel of testing unless there is "cause."  This creates a chicken-egg scenario because you want to know if there is a problem before you get sick.  Nip all this in the bud by ordering your own testing, and taking any negative results to your doctor for followup.

A Shopping LIst for You from Dr. Oz

This shopping list is one where you just "check the box" and there you have it. Put it somewhere convenient in your kitchen, and if what you want is not on this list...YOU DON'T NEED IT!

http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/100-foods-dr-oz-wants-your-shopping-cart?sp_rid=NjM2MTU0OTg3OAS2&sp_mid=2545926

As a busy professional, I love anything that improves my health and saves me time. Dr. Oz has a great solution with this list of great healthy foods! Enjoy!

Dianna

Setting Your Goals for the New Year

WHAT A YEAR! If you look back, I'm sure your year was dynamic in many ways, just like mine.

It's that time of year when we all look in the mirror and evaluate everything about ourselves. For me, mine is the long time story of weight management. I am in constant search for the solution that does not require starvation (yes, fasting for a month was something I tried in the 80's!) This year, I've added some new tools to my toolbox and here are some ideas for improving your success rate too:

1) Dr. Oz's website with the Resolution Solution sites that help you assess, organize and get moving with your personalized plan: http://www.doctoroz.com/

2) I have 3 great books I read over and over, and would like to memorize them if I could:

Gary Taubes book "Why We Get Fat...and What To Do About It" is an excellent way to understand the mechanism by which our bodies store fat. You won't be bored, I promise!

I also recommend the book by Suzanne Somers called "Ageless...the Naked Truth About Bioidentical Hormones." She has won the fight against cancer with her approach.

"The 4-Hour Body" by Timothy Ferris tells you how to get fit, in 4 hours a week! I love it. I'm doing the Ferriss approach this year. I will let you know how it works!

3) iPhone App the "Goal Workshop" so you can track your progress on your iPhone. I'm not sure if there is a Droid version, but I'm betting there is.

4) Check out Amazon.com for your favorite high protein products. I am not affiliated in any way with Amazon, however, I love to save money and this year I was able to get my favorite Dr. Atkins drinks at a deep discount, with free shipping, delivered right to my door. This saves me both time and money!

5) Sign up to learn about health and the latest research. Here are my favorites:
Life Extension Foundation www.lef.org
Dr. Mercola www.mercola.com
The Health Ranger www.naturalnews.com

6) Go to your doctor for your annual checkup and get your Vitamin D levels checked along with the rest of the testing. Your blood work tells so much about your health. By getting your annual checkup, you insure you are not letting a situation spiral out of control. Your annual check up is your first line of defense for living a long, healthy life. Put the "call and make the appointment" in your calendar for November each year, and get in there in January. Then, make your plan to correct your minor issues, and you won't have major issues for many years to come!

7) Organize your workouts with a buddy. On those days where you don't feel like working out, you have someone you are responsible to, and that commitment will help you overcome the gravity of the day!

Good luck to you in 2012! And let's hope the Mayan's are wrong with their calendar!

Dianna

Why Do Doctors in Sweden Treat Depression with a Greek Vacation?

If you are like me, you are dreading the snow flying for one reason...the dark days that come along with winter! Since I was a small child, I can remember the absolute dread when all the leaves are off the trees, and the impending feeling of "doom and gloom" with each passing day. Little did we know how important the sun is to our overall health.

While living in Sweden in 1998 I was fascinated to learn about how doctors there treat clinical depression. Prozac was forbidden. You cannot prescribe it in Sweden. But what they did prescribe, and pay for, was a sunny vacation for 2 weeks to the Greek Isles. I could not believe it. But it was true. The Swedes understood the power of the sun to lift people out of their doom and gloom, and put a smile not only on their face, but in their brain.

Now research shows the power of Vitamin D, the sunshine vitamin, to change how we feel.

Dr. Mercola reports "

The connection between vitamin D and depression is not new. In 2006, scientists evaluated the effects of vitamin D on the mental health of 80 elderly patients and found those with the lowest levels of vitamin D were 11 times more prone to be depressed than those who received healthy doses.

In the current study, researchers found that intake of more than 400 IU of vitamin D from food sources was associated with a 20 percent lower risk of depressive symptoms compared with intake of less than 100 IU. This was a significant benefit from a very small amount of vitamin D -- as 400 IU is far too low to benefit most people (not to mention your body is made to get vitamin D primarily from the sun, not food or supplements, as I'll explain below).

It now appears as though most adults need about 8,000 IU's of vitamin D a day in order to get their serum levels above 40 ng/ml, which is the lowest they should be. Ideally your serum levels should be between 50-70 ng/ml, and up to 100 ng/ml to treat cancer and heart disease."

With these findings, if you live in North America, you might think about getting your blood tested for the Vitamin D levels and taking action if they are low. Your entire mood might change!

Do You Eat Irradiated Food?

Although this process has been around since 1963, most people do not know how their food is treated before it gets to the grocery store shelves. In the quest to keep bacteria out of food, causing food poisoning, there are methods being used to irradiate food that absolutely have consequences to the health benefits one is supposed to obtain from the food.

According to Dr. Mercola "The level of gamma-radiation used starts at 1 KiloGray -- equivalent to 16,700,000 chest x-rays -- and goes all the way up to 30KiloGray (500,000,000 chest x-rays or 10,000 times a human lethal dose)."

What do you do to mitigate your risks? While more research is needed, you might decide to hold off on eating irradiated food until we know more about its affects on humans. Know the symbol for irradiation, and buy products that are not treated. The image below is the image for irradiation: