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Natural Wellness News
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Vol. 1, No. 59 * * * July 2011
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Life is a... What's Your Metaphor?
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Message from Bernadette Wulf
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Greetings!
I'm running a little late this month. I wonder if anyone even noticed.
It's already July third and I'm breaking my "no computer use on Sunday"
rule, but there are so many good articles to share this month that it
is worth spending half of my Sunday in front of the computer. It is a
beautiful, hot summer day, too. My favorite! So let's get on with it so
I can get outside and enjoy the sunshine.
My biggest health news this month is that I had blood testing done for
the first time in over 40 years - all the basic tests for organ
functions and nutritional levels, plus vitamins B12 and D. Everything
came back looking good, except my vitamin D level. It was only 36. The
optimal level is over 50, so I am now taking 5,000 IU of D3 per day for
a few months. I was taking 2,000 IUs and apparently that wasn't enough
(either that, or I was so deficient before I started supplementing that
2,000 IUs couldn't boost my level to the optimal range). I will be
retesting in a few months to find out if taking 5,000 IU did the trick.
If so, I'll go back to a maintenance dose of 2,000 and see how that
works.
Blood, urine, and saliva tests are some of the most beneficial
offerings of our modern scientific medical model. They are fairly
inexpensive and non-invasive, and they can give us valuable information
we can use to optimize our health and prevent future problems before
they even get established. You can even order and read your own tests
at directlabs.com. All you have to do is go down to the lab and let
them collect the samples, then they email you the results in a couple
of days - my kind of fun!
To Your Health!
Bernadette Wulf
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Visit My Website HealItAll.com
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Healthy Summer Sunscreens
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Summer sun always brings up the subject of sunscreens, but many
sunscreens contain harmful chemicals that are absorbed through the
skin. These chemicals can even cause skin cancer! So I found an
excellent article that lists the best and safest sunscreen options
available.
Don't forget, however, that your skin needs SOME sun, and the very best
sun protection comes from adequate levels of the fat-soluble vitamins
A, D, and E. Have you had your vitamin D level tested. I did. (See my
intro.) Only by lab testing can you really know whether you are getting
enough vitamin D.
From EWG's Skin Deep - "The best sunscreen is a hat and a shirt. No
chemicals to absorb through the skin, no questions about whether they
work. But when you can’t get away from exposing your skin to the
sun, use EWG’s top-rated sunscreens to provide broad-spectrum
(UVA and UVB-sunburn) protection with fewer hazardous chemicals that
penetrate the skin." Follow the link below for a comprehensive list of
the best and healthiest sunscreens on the market.
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List of Best & Safest Sun Screens
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Some Cell Phones Emit 28 Times More Radiation
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Still think cell phones are safe? The evidence on dangers of cell
phones keeps pouring in, but most of the media chooses to ignore it.
The good news is that one type of cell phone signal is much safer than
the other.
Here's the gist of the article, from Mercola.com - "As it turns out,
GSM is far more dangerous because it emits 28 times more radiation than
CDMA phones. In the United States, there are two primary CDMA networks:
Verizon and Sprint. Most of the others use GSM, but you need to check
with your specific carrier to confirm."
I was already thinking of changing to Verizon. This article has
convinced me to make the move. How about you? I also use speakerphone
almost exclusively, so I don't have the dang thing near my brain!
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Read More About Cell Phone Dangers
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Check Out the New Food Plate Diagram
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So long Food Pyramid. Hello Plate! Have you seen it yet? It's simple,
colorful, and in many ways it is an improvement over the old pyramid
diagram with its heavy emphasis on grains and animal products. On the
plus side, the plate emphasizes plant-based nutrition, but I would
switch out that glass of milk on the side for a big green smoothie made
with lots of organic leafy greens and berries. I would also make sure
that most of the protein section came from seeds (ideally soaked),
beans, and a few nuts rather than animal products.
In his article on the plate diagram, Dr. Mercola makes the comment that
"As you add more veggies to your plate, be aware that many are more
contaminated than you probably thought. Random USDA testing found an
astonishing 34 different varieties of pesticide residue on a batch of
conventional cilantro. The cilantro was the first batch of the plant
tested in the USDA's 20-year program. Azoxystrobin and captan were
found 16 times at levels that exceeded federal limits. Other plants
that contained excessive amounts of legal pesticides included imported
asparagus and domestic spinach."
It may sound like Dr. Mercola is warning against eating too many
vegetables, but that is not the message he is trying to convey. It is
true that agribusiness vegetables are contaminated with all sorts of
nasty chemicals, but that is no reason to limit your intake of
vegetables! What Mercola is suggesting, and what I have been
continually recommending - eat organic! It is better for you and better
for the planet, not to mention all the other creatures who share the
world with us.
Dr. Mercola makes a really good point about how fats are missing from
the plate. The main issue I see here is the omission of essential fatty
acids, particularly Omega 3, DHA & EPA. Most nutrition experts
recommend lab testing to determine our essential fatty acid levels, and
supplementation for deficiencies, generally with purified fish oil.
Vegetarians can supplement with plant sources of each of these
nutrients, which are not contained in any one source aside from fish
(as far as I know).
The other point I would like to make is that this plate should be
viewed as a balanced diet for a day, rather than for each meal.
Combining carbohydrates (especially fruits) and proteins in one meal is
not a good idea at all. It will cause indigestion and fermentation in
the gut. Ideally, we should eat most of our proteins and fats before
2pm, because that is when the liver can handle them best. Save the high
carbohydrate meals for the end of the day.
Starting the day with a green smoothie is a great idea. The mid-day
meal would ideally be the highest protein meal, plus lots of leafy
greens and/or non-starchy veggies. Then the grains (whole grains of
course) or starchy veggies would make up the final meal, that could
also include more leafy greens and non-starchy vegetables. Leafy greens
combine well with anything, even fruit, and most of us should be eating
a lot more greens, because they contain all the nutrients our bodies
need except vitamins D and B12.
As Dr. Mercola also points out. Everybody is different. Some people
need more protein and others need more carbohydrates. We also need
different levels of other nutrients. Even so, the food plate is a good
basic plan to start with, as long as you don't try to cram all that
stuff onto one plate!
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Read Dr. Mercola's Take on the Food Plate
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Why Your Body Needs Sleep
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Sleep is a fascinating subject. I recently heard that the right side of
the brain doesn't need sleep, but the left side does, so the more
logical type work we do, the more we need to sleep, while using our
creative and intuitive faculties can lower the amount of sleep we need.
But no matter how creative and intuitive we are, we all need adequate
sleep for optimal health.
According to Dr. Mercola, lack of restful sleep can weaken your immune
system, increase your risk of cancer, increase your risk of heart
disease, harm your brain by halting new cell production, make you more
susceptible to stomach ulcers, contribute to a pre-diabetic state,
raise your blood pressure, contribute to premature aging, interfere
with your growth hormone production, worsen constipation, and increase
your risk of dying from any cause.
And "...according to a report in the Journal of the American Medical
Association (JAMA), lack of sleep can further exacerbate other serious
and chronic diseases, such as: Parkinson disease (PD), Alzheimer
disease (AD), Multiple sclerosis (MS), Gastrointestinal tract
disorders, Kidney disease, Behavioral problems in children."
Visit the link below for lots more fascinating information on sleep.
Maybe it will make you think twice before you decide to keep on
"burning the candle at both ends."
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Read More About Sleep
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Good News for the Prostate!
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Have you ever seen those amazing fan-shaped fungi growing on dead trees
that look like turkey tails? They are often used in Chinese medicine,
but usually ignored in the West. All that is about to change, because
it turns out that these turkey tail mushrooms contain a compound that
can cure prostate cancer!
From Queensland University of Technology Health Clinics - "A mushroom
used in Asia for its medicinal benefits has been found to be 100 per
cent effective in suppressing prostate tumour development in mice
during early trials, new Queensland University of Technology (QUT)
research shows.
"The compound, polysaccharopeptide (PSP), which is extracted from the
'turkey tail' mushroom, was found to target prostate cancer stem cells
and suppress tumour formation in mice..." Let's just hope that the
medical establishment does not suppress this amazing discovery!
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Read More About Cure for Prostate Cancer
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Life Metaphor - What is Yours?
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I love the idea that life is a metaphor, or at least that the metaphors
we apply to life can determine how we experience our lives. A recent
NaturalNews article describes it this way - "A life metaphor is a lens
through which we view the world. It is perhaps the most powerful
determinant of happiness and fulfillment or stress, depression and
anxiety. Your identity and personality are organized around your life
metaphor! This ranks as perhaps the most significant phenomenon that
has been overlooked by modern psychology."
I think there is a lot of truth in that statement. I remember long ago
when I was a teenager, an older man made the statement, "life is a
struggle." It seemed strange to me at the time, since it appeared that
he had everything - a beautiful adobe house that I would have loved to
live in, a successful career, an apparently happy family, good health
as far as I could tell. Yet he chose to view and experience life as a
struggle. How do you view your life?
Imagine what life would be like if your life metaphor was a party, a
celebration, a bowl of cherries, a stage play (as in "all the world's a
stage"), a movie, a discovery, a paradise, a treasure hunt (that is my
metaphor), a love fest, a feast, or what about an orgasm! Which one of
those feels most expansive and uplifting? Can you think of something
that would be even more uplifting? Make it your life metaphor and find
out how much more you can enjoy living!
(My Pandora station is playing "Celebrate Good Times." How appropriate!)
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Read More About Life Metaphors
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The Thyroid and Diet Connection
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Here's a great article from Kevin Gianni's Renegade Health Show. It is
an interview with Dr. J. E. Williams on thyroid and diet. Dr. Williams
states that, "For a healthy thyroid gland, there are several critically
important foods to include in your daily diet, and key among them is
iodine.
"Iodine is an essential element that helps the thyroid gland produce
thyroid hormones. Three iodine molecules are needed to make T3
(triiodothyronine), and four for T4 (thyroxine), the active hormones
produced by the thyroid gland. Without enough iodine, you won’t
have a healthy thyroid gland. Seafood is naturally rich in iodine. Cod,
sea bass, haddock, and perch are good sources. For vegetarians, kelp is
the most common vegetable seafood and a rich source of iodine. Other
seaweeds also contain iodine. Other vegetable sources include all
plants grown in iodine-rich soil. [Editor's Note: Iodine is
particularly important for everyone since the Fukushima nuclear
disasters released so much radioactive material into the atmosphere.)
"Selenium is another trace mineral necessary for healthy thyroid
hormone function. Shellfish, like oysters, are rich in selenium.
Vegetarian sources include sunflower and sesame seeds, Brazil nuts,
mushrooms, garlic, onions, and kelp. [Editor's Note: I've read that two
Brazil nuts per day can supply necessary amounts of selenium - but too
much is not good, so don't eat too many!)
"Vitamin A is needed for optimal hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis
function, as it increases conversion from T4 to T3. Vitamin D is needed
for thyroid hormone to affect cells activity and metabolism. Both
Vitamins A and D are found in cod liver oil and other cold-water ocean
fish oils. Vitamin A can be made in the body from carotinoids that are
found in abundance in green leafy vegetables."
The article goes on to describe foods you should avoid if you have
thyroid issues. Some of them were surprises to me. Check it out here -
- Read More About Thyroid & Diet
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Are You a Hotbed of Inflammation?
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Inflammation is a natural and necessary physical response to injury,
but it is a serious problem when it becomes a chronic, system-wide
response. In the linked article Naturopath Natasha Turner, N.D. offers
some excellent information on inflammation and how to releive it.
Dr. Turner states that, "Inflammation is a health concern for everyone,
but particularly for those who suffer from digestive disorders,
allergies, autoimmune disease, arthritis, heart disease, asthma,
eczema, acne, obesity, abdominal fat, headaches, joint stiffness,
depression and sinus disorders." I'd guess that includes well over 75%
of the American adult population!
According to Dr. Turner, the causes of chronic inflammation are:
- Poor digestive health
- Poor nutritional habits – (over-consumption of any
macronutrient – protein, carbohydrate or fat – can
contribute to inflammation)
- Lack of exercise
- Abdominal obesity and insulin resistance (Pre-existing inflammation
can cause both of these conditions, which in turn lead to chronic
inflammation)
- Estrogen decline (Menopause appears to be linked to an increase in inflammation, especially due to waning estrogen)
- Depression and stress
I would add:
- Environmental toxins
- Pharmaceutical (and recreational) drugs
- Over-consumption of animal products
- Over-consumption of any acid-forming foods
- Just plain overeating in general
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Read More About Inflammation Relief
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To read past issues of HealItAll.com Newsletter go to
http://healitall.com/newsletterarchives.html
Bernadette Wulf is a Naturopath, EFT therapist, Health and Nutrition
Coach, and Reiki Master with a world-wide practice via phone and
Internet.
Visit http://healitall.com for more information.
For Health & Wellness Coaching contact Bernadette Wulf at wulfartist@yahoo.com
707-824-0675
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