May 2010 Archives

An article here out of Georgetown University on the importance of probiotics for fighting infections in kids.  Also, applicable for adults.

There are over 2 lbs. of "good bacteria" in our guts.  Pasteurization, germophobia, antibiotics and various other things we do to protect ourselves from "bad bacteria" also tend to kill off these good bacteria and make us more susceptible to various infections and disease.  This article shows that just one drinkable yogurt per day can reduce infections in kids.  Wow!

So, what do you do if your kid doesn't like yogurt? 

2 out of 3 of my kids get a Stonyfield yogurt in their lunches every day.  Asher gets to supplement with chewable probiotics from the Honest Weight Food CoOp or Paradise Natural Foods.  Sometimes, when everyone is feeling finicky, I've been known to break open one of my own capsules and add the white powder to whatever they may be eating a la Jessica Seinfeld.

Not all probiotics are what they appear as is the case with most supplements and there are many to choose from.  I tend to stay away from the "shelf stable" variety which are not refrigerated-it just makes sense to me that they should be kept cold to last longer(just like yogurt). 

Confusion paralyzes so look up the information yourself, visit a health care practitioner with knowledge of such things or look to the CoOp, Paradise Natural Foods or John at the Center for Natural Wellness.  All can guide you through the world of probiotics!

It's no surprise that managing diseases like heart disease and diabetes has proven difficult and often frustrating for doctors, patients and insurance companies alike.

Here is a recent research article that points out the fact that processed meats-say it ain't so-like bacon, salami, sausage and the like are linked to increased likelihood of heart disease and diabetes.

Might I just add...ALL processed foods are suspect on these particular diseases because of the sodium and preservatives alone.  While I would be tempted to eat bacon coated in dirt just because it's, well, bacon, for a long time now the risks vastly outweight the momentary benefit. 

 

"Methuselah" genes recently discovered reveal that 30% of long lived people have a genetic tendency toward doing so. 

I found it interesting that one of the researchers wants to classify aging as a disease process rather than a natural part of the human existence.  Subsequently, we should try to alter that disease process.   Any opinions?

An article ripped right from my favorite FuturePundit.com on a study showing that overtime work for civil servants causes heart disease.  This is a big study (>10,000participants) and impressive in that it says that they concluded that the increased risk of coronary heart disease and overtime is independent of other risks factors for heart disease.

FuturePundit points out that perhaps these folks spend more time sitting.  Point taken, but I'm sure there isn't a researcher around who won't empirically deny a connection between "stress" and an increased risk of many disease processes and the risk factors thereof.

* Stress Workshop May 26th, 7pm in the Guilderland office of AAC Family Wellness Centers.  Call 456-3100 to reserve your spot!

WooHoo!  Yet another article telling us that our favorite mood enhancer and tongue pleaser has the much desired side effect of being good for you!  This time a protective effect for our delicate nerves. I'd love to go out and buy a case right now.

Yesterday, I tried a raw caramel chocolate bar at Paradise Natural Foods-delish!  I sampled and didn't buy mostly because at $5.99 for the bar, I knew that I would consume the entire bar in the next 15 minutes and decided that I should spend the money elsewhere.  Still, it seems that the higher the price, the better the chocolate.

Putting myself at risk of creating a massive chocolate craving...what is your favorite chocolate? 

This picture of the "snickers apple" was made by my favorite apple lady, Donna Harris for her Sticky Fingers Gourmet Apples company-simply the best and locally made.

When you read the attached article about Americans being "bombarded" by cancer causing environmental pollutants, you may just throw up your hands and exclaim:  "Why bother?!"

Read the entire article and you find the underlying agenda for environmentalists.  Not something to ignore certainly, but also not something to give up trying to eat right, exercise and stress reduce.

Another provocative issue, yet remains somewhat under the radar in my opinion, is the concern of our water supply being contaminated by the excreted medications that we Americans take when we don't focus on our health. 

As we look at our taxes being raised, consider wellness programs for our schools and our town, city and state workers or investigation into what it would take for our sewage processing plants to be able to filter out medications.

*Stress Management Workshop on May 19th in the Ballston Spa office and May 26th in Guilderland office.  Start time 7pm.  Free to the public-call to reserve your spot-AAC Family Wellness Centers.