March is National Nutrition Month and as we wrap up March today, I thought it would be entertaining to find out what we know about diet and nutrition in a fun way.
Go to www.Medicinenet.com/diet_and_nutrition_quiz/quiz.htm
There you will take a short quiz with 15 questions. I will let you know that I got 14 out of 15 with a 93% score (I guessed on the calories question and was wrong). There are a couple questions that you may want to think about but I hope you will agree.... no looking up the answers in Google. The average score is 54%.
Have fun and share your score in the comments.
UNESCO Fair Play Award for Tracy Barnes
Some of you may have seen Tracy and Lanny on the Today Show when the story broke about Tracy giving up her spot on the Olympic team for her twin sister Lanny. It was a selfless act for someone who had worked so hard and long for that goal. According to the Today Show, " The sisters from Durango, Colo., have trained together for the last 15 years, and both competed at the 2006 Olympics in Torino. Lanny, who is five minutes older than Tracy, was the only one to make the team for the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver. She finished 23rd in the 15-kilometer event in 2010, which marked the best finish by a U.S. athlete in that event since 1994." It is great to see Tracy recognized for her sacrifice for her sister. Here is the highlight from the Shaklee Healthwise Blog.
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The biathlon may not be a very popular sport in America, but thanks to Tracy Barnes’ incredibly magnanimous act of giving up her spot on the U.S. team for her twin sister, Lanny, both she and her sport have received worldwide recognition in the glow of the Sochi Games.
Tracy, a Shaklee Pure Performance Team member, has received yet another honor, this time from the International Committee for Fair Play. She received the United Nations UNESCO Fair Play Award and was presented with the Pierre de Coubertin World Trophy. “I think sportsmanship is a way for people to go beyond the playing field,” Tracy said, “and recognize that there is more to sports than just a win. Sportsmanship is about creating champions, both on and off the field. And while I am not a champion in my sport, I do strive to be a good person and do the right thing … I didn’t compete in these Games, but I feel I have won. I had the most incredible experience of cheering for my twin sister and best friend in the greatest sporting event in the world. And I couldn’t be more proud of her effort.” A 2006 U.S. team member and long-time Shaklee advocate, Tracy has provided motivation to numerous athletes at the Games and sports enthusiasts around the world. But she is also quick to recognize the powerful influence others have had in her life and competitive career. “I for one have been surrounded by incredibly inspiring people my entire life and I have to say that their selflessness has rubbed off on me,” she said. “Both my grandparents were in the Army and Air Force and served their country. Both my parents were school teachers and their selfless dedication to their students and that of all teachers continues to inspire me. And my older sister is a doctor and surgeon. Their dedication to helping others is a model I will continue to strive for in my life.” While it remains to be seen if the biathlon will gain more popularity and participation in the United States now that the 2014 Games are over, the tremendous impact that Tracy has had in the sports world is undeniable. “I hope that my story will help to inspire people to do something good for the people they care about,” she said. Indeed, Tracy’s story has captured the true spirit of sportsmanship and of the Games, and we’re proud to claim her in the Shaklee Family. |
March Challenge: Give Up Soda Pop
If you are making healthy changes this year, let me challenge you to give up soda pop.
Would you pour 7 to 9 teaspoons of sugar in your coffee or tea? Of course not but that is how much sugar is in a 12 ounce can of Coke, Pepsi and most other brands of sugary soft drinks.
Sugary soft drinks provide no nutritional benefit and are actually harmful to our health. Many doctors and health leaders have been warning that Americans drink too many of their calories and say that soft drinks may be a leading cause of America's expanding waist lines. Drinking one can of soda as a treat occasionally isn't the problem. But drinking soda on a daily basis adds a lot of empty calories. For example an extra 150 calories a day can give us a 15 pound weight gain at the end of a year if those calories are not cut back somewhere else or off-set by exercise.
High sugar diets also make your pancreas work harder pumping more insulin and that can lead to diabetes. Most traditional soda companies use high fructose corn syrup to sweeten their drinks. This simple sugar triggers a fast spike in blood sugar and insulin levels. When you trigger this response multiple times a day with soda, other sugars and simple carbs, over time your body can become resistant and the next thing you know... you have diabetes.
What about calorie free or diet soda?
Many people who are cutting calories turn to these options to jazz up their beverages. Are they safe? I used to drink a lot of diet drinks, Diet Coke or Diet Dr. Pepper were my poisons of choice. But someone close to me challenged me to quit. I was researching chemicals in the home and I began to look into aspartame which was the main artificial sweetener at the time. Since then I have followed some of the research on aspartame and I encourage everyone to research it as well. It is in over 6,000 food products and millions digest it every day looking for a "healthy option" and have no idea how dangerous it is. Some links you may want to look up:
Sweet Misery is a documentary on aspartame which includes interviews and tells the whole story of what aspartame is, how it was approved and why it is so bad for your health.
If you want to learn more about artificial sweeteners, you can go to http://aspartame.mercola.com where Dr. Mercola has compiled a list of articles.
Even the FDA website has information: http://www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/dailys/03/jan03/012203/02p-0317_emc-000199.txt
But even without the research, we know that our bodies are optimal when we eat real foods as they are found in nature. Without chemicals.
Would you pour 7 to 9 teaspoons of sugar in your coffee or tea? Of course not but that is how much sugar is in a 12 ounce can of Coke, Pepsi and most other brands of sugary soft drinks.
High sugar diets also make your pancreas work harder pumping more insulin and that can lead to diabetes. Most traditional soda companies use high fructose corn syrup to sweeten their drinks. This simple sugar triggers a fast spike in blood sugar and insulin levels. When you trigger this response multiple times a day with soda, other sugars and simple carbs, over time your body can become resistant and the next thing you know... you have diabetes.
What about calorie free or diet soda?
Many people who are cutting calories turn to these options to jazz up their beverages. Are they safe? I used to drink a lot of diet drinks, Diet Coke or Diet Dr. Pepper were my poisons of choice. But someone close to me challenged me to quit. I was researching chemicals in the home and I began to look into aspartame which was the main artificial sweetener at the time. Since then I have followed some of the research on aspartame and I encourage everyone to research it as well. It is in over 6,000 food products and millions digest it every day looking for a "healthy option" and have no idea how dangerous it is. Some links you may want to look up:
Sweet Misery is a documentary on aspartame which includes interviews and tells the whole story of what aspartame is, how it was approved and why it is so bad for your health.
If you want to learn more about artificial sweeteners, you can go to http://aspartame.mercola.com where Dr. Mercola has compiled a list of articles.
Even the FDA website has information: http://www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/dailys/03/jan03/012203/02p-0317_emc-000199.txt
But even without the research, we know that our bodies are optimal when we eat real foods as they are found in nature. Without chemicals.
Shaklee Pure Performance Team at Olympics in Sochi
How many of us were watching the Olympics in Sochi? My family was cheering for every Olympic athlete but especially the U.S. athletes. Many large companies pay athletes with large contracts to use their products and promote their brands. Shaklee, the number one natural nutrition company in the U.S., sponsors athletes by providing Shaklee products to help fuel their success. The Shaklee Pure Performance Team is made of Olympic and elite athletes who want to perform at their highest level possible using natural products without sacrificing peak performance or risking their career. That is why Shaklee has been trusted for over 20 years by Olympic athletes and have been part of over 100 Olympic medals. Here is a update of the Shaklee Pure Performance Team in Sochi 2014 from the Shaklee Healthwise blog.
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“It’s heavy!”
That’s how Team USA’s Chris Creveling described the silver medal he claimed at the 2014 Sochi Games in the 5000-meter relay in short track speed skating. “Of course the physical medal is great, and I dreamed of standing on the podium with a medal all my life,” the elite athlete explained, “but nothing can compare to the feeling of pride and accomplishment after you’ve overcome so many challenges to meet your goals.” Joining Chris on the relay team was Jordan Malone, another Shaklee Pure Performance Team member. These Shaklee Pure Performance Team members were two of the 10 athletes sponsored by Shaklee who came home with medals. Those 10 athletes, along with 14 more Shaklee Pure Performance Team members who competed in Sochi, engaged in some of the most hard-fought competitions on the world’s stage. “It was the most aggressive racing I’ve ever seen,” Chris said. “Even the qualifying heats were a brawl, a four-hour scrap-fest.” Indeed, each of the 10 medal winners fought valiantly for every centimeter, one-thousandth of a second, or goal they could scrape out, and Americans—including the Shaklee Family—could not be more proud of them. Here are our medal-winning Shaklee Pure Performance Team heroes:
“This moment in these Games has been our driving obsession since Vancouver in 2010,” explained goaltender Brianne McLaughlin, “and although we didn’t get the outcome we wanted, we know we skated an amazing game and played incredibly well.” Brianne noted that Team USA had defeated Canada four straight times in the seven months leading up to Sochi, so the team was confident coming into the Games. “Our preparation was fantastic; compared to 2010 we changed the attitude and atmosphere on the team, changed our training, our structure, and everyone bought into it,” she said. “We wanted to be the best, so we knew we needed to play the best opponent and never back down. Although we’re still hurting at the loss, we realize we achieved an incredible feat and we are proud of each other’s commitment to the team.” While all the Shaklee Pure Performance Team members represented themselves admirably, not all carried away a medal. Erika Brown, the “skip” (team captain) for the women’s curling team, had high hopes for her team in Sochi, but the Americans could only claim one victory in nine matches. Still, participating in the monumental spectacle of the Games was an honor she’ll relish forever. “All the grandeur you might imagine about the Games is true—the world gathers in a peaceful but rousing event that helps us realize there are things bigger than ourselves,” she said. “It was awesome to be on our own small team, and an even greater honor to be a member of the ‘big team,’ Team USA. And everyone simply wanted to do their best.” Bronze medalist bobsledders Curt Tomasevicz and Jamie Greubel might be on the back end of their competitive careers, but in Sochi they were leading the way for the U.S. bobsledders. Jamie finally won her medal in women’s bobsled after narrowly missing the U.S. team in 2010, and after a sterling World Cup season that gave her the confidence in her abilities heading into Sochi. Curt’s bronze medal in the four-man bobsled marked the second consecutive Games that he earned a medal, having been a member of the team that won gold in 2010, breaking a 62-year drought in that event for the Americans. Even if he steps away from the sled as he claims he will, Curt will do so with no regrets. “I feel great about this medal, and our years of hard work really paid off,” he proclaimed. Complete results for all Shaklee athletes and events in Sochi are available at this link. What you won’t find on that website are the numerous inspirational stories of the athletes who stood tall and charged forward with weighty expectations of all types, from the opening ceremonies to the challenges of every competition to the extinguishing of the flame. We’ll relate several of those stories from our Pure Performance Team members in upcoming reports on this Health Wise blog page, so check back frequently and on the Shaklee Corporation Facebook page. In the meantime, we offer our most heartfelt congratulations to all the Shaklee athletes in Sochi who stirred a rousing flame within each of us: Lanny Barnes , Biathlon (15 km Individual) Craig Brown, Men’s Curling Kris Freeman, Cross-country skiing (Skiathlon, 15 km classic, 50 km) Peter Frenette, Ski jumping (Normal hill, Large hill, Team event) Kelly Gunther, Speed Skating (long track – 1,000 m) Brian Hansen, Speed Skating (long track – 500m, 1,000 m, 1,500 m, Team pursuit) Jeff Isaacson, Men’s Curling John Landsteiner, Men’s Curling Debbie McCormick, Women’s Curling Jilleanne Rookard, Speed Skating (long track – 3,000 m, 1,500 m, Team pursuit) Jessica Schultz, Women’s Curling John Shuster, Men’s Curling Jared Zezel, Men’s Curling Shaklee is committed to fueling excellence in any endeavor, whether you are an elite athlete, a business professional, domestic engineer, or student aspiring to your own weighty and lofty goals. How have these Pure Performance Team members motivated or inspired you? Comment below and take a shot at inspiring other dreamers and achievers! Shaklee athletes are either Distributors or dedicated users who have received compensation for their partnership and/or complimentary Shaklee products. |
Urgent Call To Action: Tell USDA to reject "Agent Orange" GMO corn and soy
Tell USDA to Reject "Agent Orange" GMO Corn & Soy
Submit Comments on 2,4-D Herbicide-Resistant Seeds from Dow
Extended Deadline: midnight Tuesday - March 11, 2014
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| 2,4D-resistant crops will mean use of more herbicides, health issues and environmental problems 
Submit Comments by Mar. 11, 2014
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Remember Agent Orange, the chemical from the Vietnam War that caused so many health problems and birth defects? If Dow AgroSciences has its way, one of the main ingredients of Agent Orange will be sprayed in massive amounts all over the U.S.
Tell the U.S. Department of Agriculture to say NO to "Agent Orange" corn and soy!
Dow has genetically engineered corn and soybeans so that the plants can withstand the application of 2,4-D, half of the notorious Agent Orange chemical cocktail. Studies show that 2,4-D disrupts hormones, damages the nervous system, lowers immunity to illnesses, and causes reproductive problems.
Unfortunately, this chemical is already being used in industrial agriculture. But its use is limited because it kills so many plants; farmers have to be careful about how and when they spray it. If Dow's GMO crops are approved, however, farmers will be able to spray 2,4-D throughout the growing season to kill weeds without damaging the GMO crops. This means a lot more 2,4-D in the environment and as residue on food!
"Agent Orange" corn and soy are making their way through the approval process, and this is the last chance the public has to submit comments to the USDA. We need to submit more comments than ever before to stop these crops from unleashing a new toxic assault on our health, our communities, and the environment.
Take a moment to tell the USDA to reject these new GMO corn and soy crops!
Dow and Monsanto are requesting approval from USDA on herbicide-resistant seeds; there's an opposition statement and hardcopy petition you can share with others at farmers markets, conferences, etc.
EXTENDED DEADLINE:
Submit comments to USDA by midnight Tuesday, March 11 (11:59 p.m. Eastern)
Tell the U.S. Department of Agriculture to say NO to "Agent Orange" corn and soy!
Dow has genetically engineered corn and soybeans so that the plants can withstand the application of 2,4-D, half of the notorious Agent Orange chemical cocktail. Studies show that 2,4-D disrupts hormones, damages the nervous system, lowers immunity to illnesses, and causes reproductive problems.
Unfortunately, this chemical is already being used in industrial agriculture. But its use is limited because it kills so many plants; farmers have to be careful about how and when they spray it. If Dow's GMO crops are approved, however, farmers will be able to spray 2,4-D throughout the growing season to kill weeds without damaging the GMO crops. This means a lot more 2,4-D in the environment and as residue on food!
"Agent Orange" corn and soy are making their way through the approval process, and this is the last chance the public has to submit comments to the USDA. We need to submit more comments than ever before to stop these crops from unleashing a new toxic assault on our health, our communities, and the environment.
Take a moment to tell the USDA to reject these new GMO corn and soy crops!
Dow and Monsanto are requesting approval from USDA on herbicide-resistant seeds; there's an opposition statement and hardcopy petition you can share with others at farmers markets, conferences, etc.
EXTENDED DEADLINE:
Submit comments to USDA by midnight Tuesday, March 11 (11:59 p.m. Eastern)
Please share this alert with family and friends,
Urgent Call To Action - Tell USDA to Protect GMO Free Farmers
If you buy organic food or are at all concerned about our food supply, this is an important issue and we need to let the USDA know we are paying attention and want them to protect GMO free farmers and us as consumers.
Tell USDA to Protect GMO-Free Producers
Submit Comments on Proposed Coexistence with GMOs
Deadline midnight Tuesday - March 4, 2014
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| Farmers who don't want to grow GMO crops must establish wide buffer zones to protect their crops. Submit Comments by Mar. 4, 2014 |
It's a fact: farmers' crops have been contaminated with genetically engineered crops, also known as GMOs. And as long as the U.S. allows GMOs to be planted, this will continue and likely increase.
Farmers who don't want to grow GMO crops face significant burdens. To protect their crops, farmers must establish wide buffer zones, losing the use of significant amounts of land. They spend time and extra money to find non-GMO seeds. And if they are contaminated despite their efforts, they lose sales in organic and non-GMO markets.
Who is responsible for GMO contamination?
The advisory committee recommended that farmers buy crop insurance to cover the costs of unwanted GMO contamination. How is this fair? Organic and other non-GMO producers would have to spend even more money to protect themselves, while the companies that profit from GMOs would continue to escape their responsibility for GMO contamination prevention and compensation.
Submit comments to USDA by midnight Tuesday, March 4 (11:59 p.m. Eastern)
Please share this alert with family and friends.
Colds and Flu: are you con-FLU-sed?
Understanding cold and flu symptoms: are you con-FLU-sed?
Guest Post: Dr. Jamie McManus
This year’s flu is turning out to be a nasty one. One of the primary strains we are seeing in folks this year is called H1N1 (also known as swine flu) and is the same strain that caused such a bad flu season in 2009. H1N1 is thought to be the same strain that was responsible for the global pandemic of 1918. Because the flu can be dangerous and the fact that most people cannot distinguish between a cold and the flu, I thought it might be helpful to give you some of the differentiating features.
I’ve made up a little cheat sheet, which I think will be helpful. (See below.)
Enough sickness to go around
According to the Centers for Disease Control, Americans suffer from a staggering one billion colds every year and, on average, each of us has a 20 percent chance of getting the flu. Adults average 2-4 colds a year; kids typically get more (with some getting as many as 12 colds every year).
Colds rarely cause serious complications; only about one percent of cases lead to complications (mostly sinus or ear infections). The flu, on the other hand, is responsible for around 35,000 deaths and 200,000 hospitalizations every year.
A virus is the cause of both colds and flu and though they share many symptoms, each illness has unique telltale signs.
Flu versus cold
In general, flu tends to come on quickly—meaning you go from feeling fine to bed-ridden in 24 hours or less. Most people will have a high fever, feel extremely achy and chilled, usually have a dry cough, and little appetite. The good news is that most people with the flu will have their symptoms resolve in a few days, while a cold can linger on. People with underlying health issues are much more likely to have complications from the flu—including pneumonia.
Colds, on the other hand, start with a runny or stuffy nose and a sore throat that you have probably felt coming on for days. When you have a cold, you rarely will have a fever, or it is very mild.
If you are coughing, sneezing, feeling a little run-down, with a scratchy throat, then you are more likely to be in the cold camp. If you are achy all over with a strong headache, you probably have the flu. Allergies can sometimes be mistaken for a cold or flu. Allergies typically present with itchy eyes, nasal congestion, or runny nose and sneezing—with no sore throat or fever.
Take a look at this cheat sheet to help you determine if it is a cold or flu:
Cold or Flu?
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| Questions |
Flu
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Cold
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| How fast was onset? |
Sudden
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Gradual
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| How tired do you feel? |
Severe
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Mild
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| Do you have a fever? |
Yes, high fever
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No (or mild) fever
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| Do you have cough or congestion? |
Non-productive cough
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Nasal congestion
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| How are your muscles? |
Achy
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Fine
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| Do you have the chills? |
Usually
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No
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Prevention is the key
As with almost any illness, prevention is your best strategy. Remember to eat especially well, take your vitamins, get some regular exercise, and get enough sleep. The number one prevention tool you have is to wash your hands frequently.
When to seek help
The big concern about colds and flu is not the illness itself, but what occurs afterwards.
Bacterial infections are more likely to happen in someone with the flu, but can occur as complications of a regular cold as well. If your cold progresses to facial or ear pain or you develop a persistent fever, it may be best to see your doctor.
Severe flu, like the Swine flu, can have intestinal symptoms, including persistent vomiting and diarrhea. If you are feeling increasingly weak, with a worsening cough, chest pain, or shortness of breath, you should probably be seen by your doctor.
Most colds and flu come and go without any severe problems and are easy to take care of on your own. Paying attention to your symptoms will help you determine if you need to seek further medical advice.
Use the comment section below to let me know what you are doing to prevent getting sick this year.
Stay well, my friends.
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