On April 16, 1996 Howard Lyman, a former cattle rancher, openly confessed on The Oprah Winfrey Show that he had given up eating meat and become a vegetarian.  He felt so strongly about the adverse impact raising cattle had on the animals and the land that he walked away from his family's business and became an advocate for plant based diets.

You may remember Oprah excitedly encouraged everyone watching to give up beef.  That statement cost her a ton of money when the cattle industry filed a suit against her.

Sixteen years later, we're still talking about beef.  The LA Times published an article in the Health section yesterday stating that beef increases mortality rates.  "All red meat is bad for you, new study says."  (Click on the link to read the whole story.)  

I'm a little skeptical when it comes to all or nothing statements.  Especially when they're delivered by a medical system that continually changes its mind.  There's a saying, "one person's food is another person's poison."  I'm more inclined to believe that.  We're all unique, and our dietary requirements should be individualized for each of us.  The best you can do for yourself is to eat more whole foods, less processed foods, eliminate sugar and white flour wherever you can and any meat you eat should be free from growth hormone, antibiotics and chemicals.  Personally I'd prefer to be a vegetarian, but I've tried that route a number of times and it never lasts - my body wants animal protein.

So even though the news says all red meat is bad for you, I'm pretty sure I'm not giving it up.  I'll have it in moderation as I always have.  I suggest you decide what's best for you.  

Menopause happens naturally at the end of a woman’s reproductive life.  So why wouldn’t we treat the symptoms naturally?  Modern day science is always looking for ways to do things faster and easier, and I applaud this effort.  However, the problem with this system is the so called “cure” is often more hazardous than the original health issue.  

Most women now know that hormone replace therapy (HRT) carries far more risks than benefits.  And now they’re opting for natural alternatives to help treat the symptoms they experience during menopause like hot flashes, night sweats, and mood swings.  Here’s a few options to try if you’re looking for relief:

Diet:  Your diet is one of the most important tools you have in your toolbox.  Avoid caffeine (coffee, chocolate, tea, soda, energy drinks). Carbonated beverages contain phosphorous which also increases the risk of bone loss. Limit the amount of meat (beef, pork and chicken) because the saturated fat decreases your body’s ability to metabolize estrogen.  Avoid sugar: Sugar in its raw state as well as food that converts to sugar quickly (alcohol, overcooked pasta, processed foods) lowers your immune system.  

Foods to add in to your diet include: whole grains, oats, wheat, brown rice, almonds, cashews, whole fruits and vegetables.  Soy in moderation is also a good option if you don’t have a history of thyroid problems.

Did you know there are a lot of foods that naturally burn fat? How great is that?  All we have to do to start losing weight is to eat these foods that have natural fat burning properties.  Here are a few to incorporate into your diet to help you on your way to losing weight naturally.

Apples, berries, broccoli, cabbage and citrus fruits: Foods high in Vitamin C liquefy fat and help the body flush out toxins.

Apples and berries: Contain pectin, an insoluble dietary fiber shown to reduce blood cholesterol leves and restrict the amount of fat that our cells can absorb. So if the cells can’t absorb the fat, they’re forced to expel the fatty deposits which results in weight loss.  

Broccoli, cabbage, milk, cheese and yogurt: Are calcium rich foods that help with natural weight loss because they speed up the process of breaking down the fat content of fat cells.

Eggs, lean meat, fish (tuna, salmon and sardines) and unprocessed, unsalted nuts:  High quality protein helps lose weight because it’s a natural fat burner.  It also helps reduce cravings and binge
eating which aids in weight loss.  
 
Garlic:  Reduces fatty deposits and has many health promoting qualities.  
   
Green tea:  Burns fat and boosts metabolism which helps your body operate more efficiently.  It’s also high in natural anti-oxidants, has cancer fighting properties and reduces heart disease.

Hot peppers: Turn up the heat!  Hot peppers speed up metabolism and helps burn more calories.

Olive oil: Helps to keep your cholesterol levels down and is a major fat burning food.

Water:  Cleanses the body, hydrates the skin and flushes toxins out the system. For a diet of fat burning foods to work efficiently and aid natural weight loss, it’s important to stay properly hydrated. Our bodies are made up of 70% water and needs to be replenished every day.  The general rule of thumb is ½ your weight in ounces per day.

Whole grains and oatmeal: contain fat-absorbing fiber, which not only keeps you feeling full and energized but also increases metabolism by burning fat and calories.

Incorporate these fat burning foods into your diet and natural weight loss will come easily to you!


 

Do you have Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)?  In the Northeast, people who have symptoms of this disorder start to experience it at this time of year.  As the days grow shorter and access to natural light becomes limited, a mild to severe depression can set in.  The worst part about it is, you may not know what’s happening to you.  Everything else in your life may be right on track, but for some
inexplicable reason, you feel blue.

It’s estimated that a half million Americans suffer from some form of winter-onset depression during the cold, dark season, with symptoms such as lethargy and fatigue, difficulty concentrating, irritability, sleeping and/or eating too much, increased carbohydrate cravings which leads to weight gain, and a reduced interest in previously enjoyed activities, such as social interactions and intimacy. 
 
SAD is thought to be caused by a disturbance in the sleep-wake cycle. Less sunlight leads to higher levels of the hormone melatonin, which can affect mood.  Typical treatments for SAD include
  anti-depressant medicines which aren’t always effective and are known to have side effects.  Light or
phototherapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) are also useful. Light therapy (exposure to special bright lights) can be effective in as many as 70 percent of those affected.

For unknown reasons, three-quarters of those affected by SAD are women.  And you know the saying, “if momma ain’t happy, nobody’s happy.”  So what's the best way to get back in balance?
 
From a holistic perspective, there are things you can do to combat the winter blues:

Increase Vitamin D3 in your diet or through supplementation or diet. Taking an additional 1,000 – 2,000 IU is now widely recognized by most physicians.  You can also add Vitamin D through food sources like milk, salmon, tuna, sardines or eggs (found in the yolk).  One of my favorite supplements is a liquid Vitamin D distributed by Carlson. One drop contains 1,000 IU!  Take advantage of 10% off at http://www.yourinfinitewellness.com/products.html.

Take a solar break.  Try to go outside during your coffee or lunch breaks to get exposure to natural light.  Take a walk or sit in a sunny spot for as long as you can spare.  If you have the means to get away for a few days, head south to someplace warm and sunny and take advantage of much
needed dose of sunlight.

Homeopathy can help. A homeopathic practitioner carefully matches remedies and dosages with an
individual’s symptom patterns and even individual personalities, in order to best stimulate the body's own natural healing response.  According to naturopathic doctor, Dr. Mark Stengler, remedies useful for
treating SAD are:

Aurum Metallicum.
Also known as metallic gold, this is a classic remedy for many of the symptoms associated with seasonal affective disorder, and is often prescribed for bouts of depression associated with a lack of sunlight. It may be specifically helpful for stress, tension and sadness. People in authority and those with a strong
sense of duty are good candidates for Aurum Metallicum. 

Ignatia.
Homeopathic physicians frequently prescribe Ignatia for symptoms of SAD and other types of depression, emotional distress, anxiety, moodiness and grief.  Perfectionists in particular, are likely to benefit from Ignatia. 
 
Natrum Sulphuricum.
This remedy especially useful for people with depression that grows worse with dampness. Natrum Sulphuricum is particularly well-suited to those who are sensitive to changes from dry to wet weather. 
 
Pulsatilla.
This homeopathic preparation from the windflower is most beneficial for individuals with gentle, sensitive personalities -- patients whose feelings are easily hurt and who tend to extend themselves in order to avoid hurting the feelings of others. In addition to using Pulsatilla for SAD, it’s often prescribes for anxiety, arthritis, headache and hormonal imbalances. 
 
Sepia.
Made from cuttlefish ink, Sepia may be helpful in treating the symptoms of SAD and other forms of depression and may be especially effective for those who are irritable, overwhelmed, exhausted and who have a tendency to isolate themselves from others.  It’s also useful for women with hormonal imbalances who may experience symptoms from PMS, menopause and peri-menopause.

If you’d like to learn more about homeopathy to see if it’s right for you, contact me for a complimentary
consultation.