Many of these problems and conditions are treatable.  We go to our doctors and we usually get a pill to treat our symptoms.  Maybe our symptoms are lessoned, but what about preventing the problem- alleviating the problem all together?

That is where “Alternative” treatments come in like reiki, lifestyle change, accupuncture and the old school treatment… FOOD.  Food IS Medicine!  We created “DIS-Ease” by trying to cut costs and time with our food choices, preservative/ additives and pill popping.  We use artificial dyes and artificial flavors and scents that are made from petroleum and heavy metals because they are cheaper to produce than the “real” colors, flavors and scents.  We use high fructose corn syrup as a sweetener and food additive because it is sweeter, more addicting and cheaper to produce than the “natural” alternative… sugar, (which is not good for us as it is)!  This leads us to all kinds of eating and health issues like increased obesity and metabolic disorders, diabetes and cancers.  The Feingold Institute has conducted many studies regarding the effect of artificial preservative on the health of our youth.  Go on http://www.feingold.org to find out more about this.

Dr. William Sears, a well known Pediatrician, has written several books on the issue of kids and nutrition. You can find more information on his website www.AskDrSears.com. The book I am currently reading by Dr. Sears is  “The NDD Book”.  When people come in to see him complaining of their kids having health and behavioral issues and they are seeking a pill for ADD or ADHD because they were told by school that their child might have this, Dr. Sears tells them that, in fact, they have NDD, or Nutritional Deficit Disorder.  The cure for this is not a pill, but… REAL FOOD.   Sugar has been linked to depression, anxiety, mood fluctuations, fatigue and even cancer because of its effect on the body’s hormones and blood sugar.  High Fructose Corn Syrup (HCFC) is even more detrimental because it bypasses the body’s hormone system that tells you you are full while causing greater blood sugar spikes that wreak havoc on your body’s hormone balance system.  Let’s not forgt about the latest revelation of “pink foam” that is added to ground beef as a filler made from unsavory parts of the meat and preserved with ammonia- a toxic substance!  We are cost cutting by adding this to our meat!  Well, that cost we are making up in spades with our health care expenses!  Now do you question why more and more people are having serious mental and physical health problems?

My suggestions are, eat locally grown and organic produce (when you can) , and grass fed, free range, wild caught meats and fish.  It is CSA, (Community Shared Agriculture), season so join a CSA to get your locally grown produce.  Visit www.localharvest.com or www.farmfresh.com to find one near you. Cook your own food using whole ingedients.

Clean up your home and cosmetics as well.  Buy Chlorine free, sulfate free, paraben free, artificial dye and fragrance products. Chlorine, ammonia, and artificial dye and fragrance have been linked to head aches, migraines, asthma and skin and esophageal irritation.  Check out www.shaklee.com for information of green and clean products.

Some store bought clean and green options are: Trader Joe’s laundry and dish soaps (TRADER JOES),   Seventh Generation Products, Method, Meyer and J.W. Watkins  products (SUPERMARKETS AND TARGET)

Clean Cosmetic and Toiletry Products:  Dr. Brommer’s Castille Soap,  Say YES to Carrots, Alba, Nature’s Gate, Kiss my Face, Burts Bee’s, Weleda and California Baby.

So, please join me and let’s clean up our acts, clean up or health and healthcare costs with PREVENTION.

MIND:  Your mind or brain control emotions, stress and awareness.  Here are a few ideas for change in this area.

- Take 10-15 minutes a day to practice deep breathing and meditation.  This can include sitting in a quiet place, lying down, going for a walk outside, or even taking a yoga class.  You can find meditative and Yoga practices on www.yogajournal.com.  Just do something to trigger your “Relaxation Response” which a Harvard study at Mass General refers to as a decrease in heart rate, increased muscle relaxation, slower breathing, and a decrease (in a good way) in metabolism (to aid digestion and body homeostasis).

- Simplify your life.  Check out 8 simple ways to Simplify your Life at www.health.com/healthgallery/0,,205525.  We lead such fast paced, stressful lives, that sometimes simplifying it will improve our quality of life.  Simplify by either delegating tasks and finding help, (cleaning person, dog walker, laundry etc.)  Or, sometimes we need to cut out or remove things that drain us or do not fullfill us.  Mainly, SLOW DOWN!

- Be more Mindful.  Mindfullness is another word for awareness, with a focus on you and how you react and interact with the world around you. This is a big area of study currently. It is being brought into schools and sports to help children cope with increased academic and social pressure and stress.  I just finished a great book by Goldie Hawn called “10 Mind Minutes”.  She has a foundation, the Hawn Foundation www.thehawnfoundation.com, that has a program for schools called MIND Up.  To learn more about how to practice mindfullness you can go to www.allconscidering.com/2009-10-mindfulness-exercises.

BODY: We can change our body through nutrition and exercise.  GO GREEN.  Get outside to exercise as often as you can to breath in fresh air.  Try a bootcamp (like Butterfly Family Wellness), join a running / walking / cycling or hiking club.  Need to be indoors? Try doing a High Intensity Interval Workout like a Tabata or circuit training workout.  Go Green with your diet and decrease your carbon footprint by eating closer to the earth and more home cooked meals. Not confident in your cooking?  Take a cooking workshop like Butterfly Family Wellness’ or a cooking class locally.  Consume local produce and local, humanely caught and raised animal products.  Eat fish with low mercury levels.  Go to www.fishwatch.noaa.gov.

- Buy organic produce, especially if it is on the “Dirty Dozen” list.  Buy produce from US whenever possible and avoid produce from South America and Mexico (unless you want to take the Hepatitis A shots MD’s are giving out because of the “dirty” produce grown there). 

- Here are some other helpful websites: Need school lunch help- www.lunchboxblues.com,  Green eating http://bonappetite.com/magazine/2009/02,   www.nrdc.org/health/food,  overall kids health ideas- www.BAM.gov

SPIRIT: Make some goals for yourself and your health.  Come up with a plan, maybe enlist some help from professionals, and get support from peers and familyto help you implement your plan and stick to it.  There is nothing like achieving your goals to help feed your spirit!

Remember, change is not a bad word… it is a chance to grow and evolve into a healthier, happier you!

Do not forget to take some time to connect with friends, family, kids, loved ones. We lead such busy lives and are often so over scheduled that we forget about what is truly important. We neglect the simple essentials, things that keep us balanced and feed our soul- friends, family, community, nature and togetherness. We often forget to take time out to talk to our kids, friends, loved ones, and truly listen without distraction. I am seeing and hearing more and more mom’s of busy families that say they often do not eat together as a family because this one is going here, that one there that often meals on the go are a common occurrence. Mealtime together is a very important time in a family, especially with school age through teen because this allows everyone to check in, see what is happening in each others lives and reconnect.

The bottom line is that we need to get outside our self, and get some perspective on what is truly important- you answer this email or text, or you have a conversation with your kids or loved one? I find myself falling victim to the quick check my email or text someone on the iPhone even though I often get frustrated when friends or family text or email me conversation instead of picking up the phone and calling- connecting. As I tell my teenager who is a text master, texting is not communicating. If you want to talk to someone, call, do not text!

A few ideas to connect with friends and or family are; go for a hike or walk, cook a meal together, play a game together, or go apple picking!

Here are some helpful websites:
Www.trails.com
Www.Americantrails.com
Www.the backpacker.com

Kids cooking magazine I love for the family- www.chopchopmag.com

Enjoy the fall, slow down and don’t forget to connect.

The Bottom line is that we all need to learn to slow down, stop and smell the roses before we burn out. Our relationships are affected by this constant motion, our stress level goes up, cravings and addictions go up while health and satisfaction go down. We need to give ourself permission to take a time out every day. To sit and do nothing but breath deeply or go for a long walk without our cell phones. We need to disconnect so we can re-connect to what is truly important: our health, our family, or relationships, our passions and our creativity.

Victoria Moran, author of “How to lead a Charmed life” talks about the importance of having “ME” time every day- meditation and exercise. The meditation is to center self and connect the mind to the body and spirit- check in daily. Deepok Chopra, MD notes that meditation is a tool to change your minds “set point”- the way you think about the world and your life. Your set point is one of the three keys to happiness according to him. Meditation helps bring perspective and clarity.

Breath is a key to mediation and a key to balancing the body and it’s systems according to Dr. Andrew Weil, a renowned integrative medicine practitioner. He often testifies to the power of breathing mindfully, slowly, deeply and fully to relaxing the mind, focusing the mind and body and promoting overall health. Starting the day with just 4 minutes of this type of breathing mediation can help you focus and start the day out powerfully.

Exercise is essential to improving mood, sleep,digestion and nutrient absorption. Chinese medicine refers to exercise as a way to ignite the “digestive fire” within the body to promote digestion and absorption. Exercise releases endorphins that contribute to a feeling of happiness, a type of high, a natural high that energizes without side affect.

So, my friends, it is crucial to your health, your family and children’s health and well being for you to put yourself at the top of the “to do” list and take time for “ME”. Center yourself, SLOW DOWN, reconnect with your spirit and listen to your body.

Some ideas for meditation:
5 minutes of deep breathing
Listen to quiet, instrumental music or chanting and breath
Listen to a guided meditation like “the mountain meditation”
More ideas go to www.freemeditations.com. Or www.how-to-meditate.com

Ideas for gentle exercise:
Walk/hike in woods or on a beach
Yoga or PIlates (not power yoga)
Tai chi or chi gong
Dance

I will be doing a group holistic health concealing session for women focusing on slowing down and reconnecting to YOU. Please email me if interacts.

Be well.

Go for  family walk or bike ride, go for a swim or kayak or paddle surf.  Try something new together like stand up paddling.  Just get out and move -together.  Teens are usually trying to ditch the parents to hang out with friends, but let them invite a friend or make a date to do something together.  (I am taking my 12 year old to try Stand up Paddling with me.  Just he and I… a big thing in a family of 6! )  Kids open up more, especially boys, while engaging in an physical activity.  Studies sited by the CDC show that kids who are active are less likely to use drugs and alcohol and have higher self esteem.  Keeping kids active helps keep them out of trouble.  So, instead of overscheduling our kids this summer with activities, try to do the activities together, get moving together and reconnect through PLAY. WE ALL NEED IT.

Some ideas of activities to do with kids all ages: 

 family walk, with little “burst races”- “beat you to the next telephone  pole”.

Family trail ride, hike or scavenger hunt. (check out www.thetrustees.org/places-to-visit to find some good hikes)

Swim or boogie board, kayak or paddle

Set up an obstacle course in your yard or play a game- vollyball, badminton, tennis, soccer, or tag.

For more ideas you can go to www.kidshealth.org, or www.kidnetic.com

The Presidential Active Lifestyle Award is an award you can obtain online if you do the Presidential Challenge. Go to www.presidentschallenge.org.  The challenge for adults is to do 30 minutes of moderate exercise 5-6 days a week, or clock 8,500 steps on a pedometer.  The challenge for kids is to do 60 minutes of moderate exercise 5-6 days a week, or clock on a pedometer (girls) 11,000 steps and (boys) 13,000 steps.  We can meet that challenge!  Good luck and remember to hydrate with lots of water to stay cool, stay hydrated and healthy. Signs of dehydration are head ache, fatigue and nausea.

Living in the northeast, we are a bit more limited on what fruits and vegetables are available for us to eat in the late fall and winter months.  But have no fear, summer is here  and, with it, brings wonderful berries, greens, beans, beets, herbs and more.  There are farmers markets out there to get the freshest produce and support local growers as well as CSA’s (Community Sponsored Agriculture) to join and receive weekly produce.  For more information or to find one near you, I suggest the following sites: www.localharvest.org  and www.farmfresh.org.

Another important reminder is to try to eat organically to ensure your food is free of chemicals and pesticides.  Organic food is a bit more expensive, so here is a guide for what is most important to buy organic, “The dirty dozen” and what is less affected by the chemicals “the Clean 15″. Check out http://www.foodnews.org for the lists of these foods or to download a walletguide.  Bon Appetite!