Achy Joints

This cold weather is serving to remind some of us of old injuries as well as the consequences of poor diet and exercise.  Some very simple remedies from the kitchen.  There are many spices that actually address various needs in our bodies.  Less sugar and more turmeric is a great plan to alleviate discomfort of achy joints.

http://www.homecuresthatwork.com/slideshow/food-for-joint-pain/

The Quick Fix Doesn't Fix Anything

I take ASPIRIN for the headache caused by the ZYRTEC I take for the hay fever I got from RELENZA for the uneasy stomach from the RITALIN I take for the short attention span caused by the SCOPODERM TTS I take for the motion sickness I got from the LOMOTIL I take for the diarrhea caused by the ZERIKAL for the uncontrolled weight gain from the PAXIL I take for the anxiety from the ZOPOR I take for my high cholesterol because EXERCISE, and A GOOD DIET,are too much trouble! Please note, I looked up these drugs, their uses and their side effects... it's not a perfect chain, but it makes a valid point. We live in a world where there is a pill for just about everything. We take poor care of our own body and seek some quick and easy fix when things go wrong. When we have a headache, we take an aspirin to dull the pain. If we have a cold, we take a cough syrup to lessen the cough and a decongestant to rid us of the stuffy head. When we have heartburn we take an antacid to reduce the pain and discomfort. We could take a different route. 

The Need for Chemicals

The "need" for chemical medication is a manufactured one.  Many chemical medications are actually copied from herbal properties.  The reason is money and power, plain and simple.  Nature cannot be patented, but chemicals can be.  So, for a pharmaceutical company to "own" a product, it has to be made in their laboratory, a.k.a. synthetic.  This of course, gives our bodies one more thing to "deal with."  Our bodies weren't created to process synthetics.  Many chemicals we ingest, are never processed through our bodies, so they remain stored, often in fat cells.  Fat cells are a convenient way for the body to deal with something it was not created to deal with.  Fat cells are not a primary cell of function and they expand.

Could it be, that our manufactured dependency of manufactured chemicals has created many more illnesses including the obesity problem plaguing our society?  

Ginger

G-d's Weigh Out

Our society has turned the word "diet" into a temporary crash or fad to achieve a certain size or goal.  The reality is, our diet should be a way of life . . .

For one to lose weight, the body must receive 3500 calories less or burn 3500 calories more than one has been doing.  This is the reason, genuine healthy, weight loss does not happen overnight.  Usually by reducing 300-400 calories a day and increasing activity and exercise, one can lose an average of 2 pounds a week.

Keep in mind, also that most of our extra calories are in lack of portion control and unaccounted for calories in quick bites and snacks.  Usually, just reducing what we already know is not good for us will have a major impact, not only on our weight, but in how we feel.

First, don't become obsessed with measurements.  Our eyes and minds are still pretty sharp to realize if a package says 8 ounces, and a portion is 4 ounces, that's 1/2.  Bread comes by the slice.  The green and orange veggies can be eaten in quite generously sized portions and a little extra lean meat is not going to be the problem.  Rule of thumb for problem areas: added cheese, extra butter, too many sandwiches, and prepackaged snacks.

This is approximately a 1400 calorie, healthy diet with all portions in each category about 70- 80 calories

Freebies - celery, radishes, lettuce, cucumbers

2 Servings of Dairy                                                               2 Servings of Fats
3/4 cup of milk                                                                     1 Tbs Butter, margarine is terrible
1 oz. cheese / cr cheese                                                        1 Tbs Sour Cream
                                                                                            1 Tbs Dressing

4  Servings of Meat                                                               4 Servings of Grains
2 oz. Chicken                                                                         1 slice of Bread
3 oz. Fish                                                                               1/2 - 3/4 C cereal, 1/2 precooked if hot
2 oz. Turkey                                                                           8 Saltines
2 oz. Tuna                                                                              1/2 Cup Pasta
1/2 Cup Lentils                                                                       1/2 Cup Rice
1 oz. Beef                                                                               Thin slice of angel food cake - no icing
                                                                                               1/2 Cup peas, corn, or lima beans
                                                                                               Medium white potato

6 Servings of Veggies                                                                2 - 3 Servings of Fruit
1 Cup broccoli / cauliflower / beets / squash                             Medium apple/orange/ small banana
2 Cups greens / cabbage                                                          3/4 Large grapefruit
Medium yam or sweet potato                                                   1 Cup of Berries - Strawberries/blackberries
2 Cups Green beans                                                                1 Cup of Grapes
Most green vegetables can be eaten by the cups full!

The calorie count can be raised or lowered according to your individual body need, but keep the categories in proportion to each other.

This Time of Year

I can't help but wonder if we don't go out of our way to cause our bodies to become ill, this time of year.  Let's go over just a few inconvenient facts, that may be too late for this year, but I just thought of it.

First, from the end of November through the beginning of January, we are in more crowds than any other time of the year.  We touch more dirty money than any other time of year.  We touch more food, that's already been touched, than any other time of year.  We have more stress than any other time of year.  Our diet contains more calories than any other time of year.  Our diet is lacking more fresh nutrients than any other time of year.  We tend to get less sleep and exercise than any other time of year.  We kiss and hug more people than other time of year.  Then we wonder why we're sick?

I'm not suggesting we should all become reclusive, but it has it's perks!  Seriously, there are some things we can do to eliminate some of the potential for getting sick.  Be pro-active!  Extra Vitamin C and D make a dramatic difference for our immune system and outlook.  I recommend getting our vitamins in our diet, but I'm not opposed to supplements for an added boost.  Shorter daylight hours, the change to standard time, many people this time of year, literally do not see any light of day.  Sunlight is the natural source of Vitamin D, so supplement.  

If you feel a bit under the weather, don't try to "outrun" it or ignore it.  If you are reading this, you are on the computer, which is where Google lives.  Google natural health remedies like honey and lemon tea with cinnamon.  Our Creator made many natural remedies long before man thought of pharmaceuticals.  It is best to ward off what's going around, rather than to medically treat something after you contract it.  Antibiotics are hard on the digestive system and weaken the immune system.

Wash your hands frequently, and treat dry and cracked skin immediately.  If you're sick stay home, think of others.  And keep in mind, family gatherings bring a host of different bacteria the various individuals are used to but not all have been exposed to, such as the older folks are not around school children, and the children are not in and out of senior activities, so keep those things in mind.  Every place we go has it's own environment for bacteria and at family gatherings, we bring them all together.

Even those who don't participate in all the holiday mayhem, we work with people who do and we're all still going to the grocery store.   Those who do not participate are often Sabbath observers, which affords the body a day of rest.  The stress factor is greatly reduced on many levels for those who do not participate in the Yule Time events.  A few extra supplements, plenty of rest, and good handwashing will go a long way to avoid illness.

Basically, This Says it All