December 2013

No one wants to find a beautifully wrapped gym membership under the tree on Christmas morning. But if you want to give/receive holiday gifts that promote a healthy lifestyle you should check out my Good Health! holiday gift ideas for 2013 . . .

Nut of the Month Club Membership -- Sounds like a crazy gift but nuts may be the ultimate healthy gift.  A recently released study said that consuming a handful of nuts at least five times a week corresponded to a 29% drop in mortality risk for heart disease, a 24% decline for respiratory disease and a 11 % drop for cancer.

Vitashower SF-1, Vitamin C Shower Filter  -- The Vitashower Vitamin C Shower Filter uses pharmaceutical grade vitamin C as a dechlorinating agent to remove the potentially harmful chlorine used to disinfect most public water supplies. It’s a fact that exposure to chlorinated water dries out the skin.  But according to Vitashower, using their vitamin C shower filter will gradually improve the condition of your skin and texture of your hair.

Gift Certificate for a Pedicure  -- Pedicures were once considered a luxury for ladies. Now we know that it is important for everyone to take good care of his or her feet.   If done properly, a pedicure promotes circulation in the calves and feet and helps maintain the health and performance of the muscles of the foot.  It’s a great stress reliever too.   Add some OPI “Underneath the Mistletoe” polish and the recipient of this healthy gift will sparkle this holiday season.

Nordicware Microwave Popper -- This is a great gift for the popcorn lover on your list.  Popcorn can me a healthy treat but not if you are consuming popcorn made in those prepackaged microwave pouches.  With a Nordicware Microwave Popper you can enjoy fiber rich popcorn without all that added artificial butter flavor, excessive salt and preserving/packaging chemicals.

Boob Glue Gravity Defying Adhesive -- Roll on Boob Glue and instantly improve the appearance of your breasts by keeping them positioned exactly where you want them.  Boob Glue helps to eliminate sagging, bulging, side spillage, unaboob or the dreaded quadraboob. Boob Glue was developed by a woman for women.  It has been called “a boob job in a bottle” and the “breast friend” of today’s bride and her bridesmaids.  Now every woman can enhance their cleavage without expensive plastic surgery.

Make the time to be good to you and ask Santa for one or all of these healthy holiday gifts.

Hope you have a very Merry Christmas and Good Health! in 2014.

Terry

“What is Christmas?  It is tenderness for the past, courage for the present, hope for the future.  It is a fervent wish that every cup may overflow with blessings rich and eternal, and that every path may lead to peace.”

~Agnes M. Pahro

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November 2013

Pear-shaped women rejoice!!!  According to scientists from University of Oxford and Churchill Hospital in the United Kingdom, women with larger than average butts are smarter, healthier and more resistant to chronic disease than their less bootylicious counterparts.  Researchers studied 16,000 women and those with bigger backsides had lower levels of cholesterol and were more likely to produce hormones that metabolize sugar and thus less likely to develop high cholesterol, heart disease and diabetes. The study also reported that children born to women with wider hips are intellectually superior to the children of less curvy moms.  Why?  Evidently having a curvy caboose translates into higher levels of Omega 3 fat in the body, which has been proven to aid brain development. Dr. Michael Jensen, director of endocrine research at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota agrees and says "If you're going to have fat, you're definitely better off if you've got some fat in the lower body." At this point it has not been determined whether women who carry a little extra fat in their thighs and butt are healthier than skinny, butt-less gals but we pears can hope.  If you have a little cush in the tush embrace the health benefits.  When shopping for that perfect pair of skinny jeans ask the question:  Do these jeans make my butt look smarter?

At about this time every year I encourage you all to have a flu shot.  But, unfortunately I don’t think the majority of you do.  If it’s because you are needle phobic there’s good news.  Getting the flu vaccine is painless thanks to spray mist and almost painless thanks to new intradermal injections that use a smaller needle into the skin but not the muscle. Protect yourself and stay healthy for those you love -- Get a flu shot.  

Make the time to be good to you by feeling and expressing gratitude.  Gratefulness has been linked to better health, less anxiety/depression and sounder sleep.

Happy Thanksgiving and Good Health!  

Terry

“When you have your own rhythm, you become art.”

~Fran Zone

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October 2013

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month but for me breast cancer awareness is an everyday thing. Without the benefit of early detection the story of my life would be very different. Thanks to the power of pink, awareness is up. But unfortunately breast cancer is still the most frequently diagnosed cancer among women worldwide and the leading cause of cancer death. Despite advances in detection and treatment the battle to defeat breast cancer has not yet been won and experts believe it’s time to focus on prevention. 

Here are just some things every woman needs to be aware of . . .  

You can lower your risk of developing breast cancer:

• Exercise – According to new research from the University of Minnesota, a few hours of physical activity each week can reduce your risk of developing breast cancer by as much as 30 percent.
• Eat Right – Everyone knows that vegetables are good for you but now the Harvard School of Public Health is reporting that vegetable consumption has been linked to a lower risk of ER-positive breast tumors -- the type of breast cancer that affects 70% of those diagnosed.
• Exemestane – A new drug called exemestane, given to postmenopausal women with an increased risk of developing breast cancer (family history), has been shown in clinical trial to reduce the risk of developing ER-positive breast cancer by up to 73 percent.
• Don’t smoke – Women who smoke have a 12% greater risk of developing breast cancer than those who never smoked.

Mammograms and monthly self-exams are important but smarter screening techniques have been developed:

• Density Matters -- Several states have enacted laws that require patients be notified if they have very dense breast tissue because women with dense breast tissue have as much as a four time greater risk of developing breast cancer compared to women with don’t have dense breasts.  If you have dense breasts opt for digital mammogram.  Digital mammography makes it easier for screeners to detect abnormalities in the breast.
• 3-D Digital Mammography -- Digital breast tomosynthesis with 3-D imaging produces a more complete image than 2-D imaging techniques.  Unfortunately at this point in time 3-D imaging is not covered by most insurance plans. 

Research has lead to better understanding and thus better treatment methods:

• Safer Radiation Techniques – Research has shown that administering a high dose of radiation during a lumpectomy is as effective as a 6-week course of postsurgical radiation with less harm to the lungs and heart tissue of the patient.
• Margin Probe Approved  – With the help of the Margin Probe device, surgeons are better able to assess the margins of a tumor to determine whether the removal of additional tissue is warranted.
• Kadcyla – In February 2013 the FDA approved the use of Kadcyla for HER-2 positive breast cancer patients.  Kadcyla has been called a “smart bomb” because it delivers chemo straight to the cancer cells.  It has been shown to extend the survival rate of breast cancer patients and decrease chemotherapy related side effects.
• DigniCap – It’s bad enough that you’ve had to have your breasts surgically removed but then the treatment to save your life makes all your hair fall out. Wearing this cold cap during treatment has been shown to reduce toxins in the hair follicle that lead to hair loss. Thanks to DigniCap the quality of life for many breast cancer patients has been enhanced.

Breast Cancer and the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare):

Think what you want about the Affordable Care Act but one good thing I’ve learned is that under the terms of the Affordable Care Act women cannot be denied coverage because of a preexisting condition, preventative screening and early detection services will be provided at no cost for women 40 and over, lifetime dollar limits on coverage are prohibited and there will be restrictions on out-of-pocket costs for treatment.

Make the time to be good to you by doing all you can to prevent breast cancer. I challenge you to take charge of your health.  It is without question the most important thing you can do for yourself, for those you love and for those that love you.

Good Health!

Terry

“Life comes with many challenges. The ones that should not scare us are the ones we can take on and take control of.”

~Angelina Jolie, mother of 6, actress/director, made the choice to have a prophylactic double mastectomy

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September 2013

 

In July of this year Annette Fredskov, a 41-year-old Danish mother of two, shattered the Guinness World Records for Most Marathons Run on Consecutive Days and Most Marathons Run in a Calendar Year by a female. Fredskov ran 366 marathons in 365 days -- Amazing!  You realize just how amazing when you learn that Fredskov was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis 3 years ago. "We humans can do much more than we think," she wrote on her blog. "We are the ones who set the limits of our body and spirit.”  She added, " I would also like to provide evidence that, even with a diagnosis (Multiple Sclerosis in my case), people shouldn’t be held back from living life to its fullest and fulfilling ones dreams."

Actress Valerie Harper didn’t go into hiding after announcing to the world that she had been diagnosed with a rare, terminal brain cancer.  Who would have blamed her if she had chosen to hide away at home out of the Hollywood spotlight?  Instead she has chosen to challenge herself physically and mentally and appears to be thriving.  In fact, ABC just announced that Valerie Harper is a contestant on the 17th season of Dancing with the Stars.

And then there’s 64 year-old endurance swimmer Diana Nyad who made history earlier this month when she swam 110 miles in shark and jelly fish infested waters from Cuba to Key West.  Nyad swam for nearly 53 hours fulfilling a 35-year dream of being the first person to accomplish this incredible feat without a shark cage. She never gave up even when she failed publicly, several times, or when others told her that at her age it might not be possible.

Three incredible women – three inspiring stories – three female heroes.  Next time you are afraid to try something new or you think that you are too old to try something new I encourage you to remember Annette, Valerie and Diana. Don’t let perceived limitations or the fear of failure rob you of the tomorrow of your dreams. Whatever your dream -- to start a new career in your 50’s, climb Mount Kilimanjaro or learn to play the piano -- there are no limits to what you can accomplish. Don’t let society hold you back.  Surround yourself with people who believe in you and support your dream(s). Could there be anything healthier or more personally fulfilling than to be able to say that you lived your life without regrets?

Make the time to be good to you and be your own hero.

Good Health!

Terry

"When life asks you to dance, you have to dance.”

~Valerie Harper

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August 11, 2013

Last month I told you about the alarming number of women in this country dying due to accidental prescription drug overdoses.  About a week later I was watching Katie Couric’s daytime talk show when her guest was Cheryl Shuman, the 53-year-old founder of the Beverly Hills Cannabis Club and self-proclaimed “Martha Stewart of Marijuana.” Shuman began using medical marijuana after becoming frustrated with the prozac and xanax her therapist prescribed for the treatment of severe depression. Shuman was so pleased with how she felt after taking 2 hits on a joint (her therapist rolled for her) that she began growing and selling her own cannabis.  Shuman even credits her recovery from cervical cancer to her medical marijuana treatment.  Shuman doesn’t smoke cannabis, she vaporizes it, cooks with it, drinks cannabis juice on a daily basis and teaches Beverly Hills Cannabis Club members to do the same to cure what ails them. They’re also using cannabis cream, lotion and ointment topically to target specific nerve cells.  Shuman does stress that cannabis should only be used by responsible adults and does not endorse the use of cannabis by the young or those with addiction issues while also making the claim that cannabis is safer than aspirin. Now I need to tell you that Shuman is a PR expert and currently in development for a reality TV series based on her life and cannabusiness.  The natural conclusion you might come to is that she is just taking advantage of California law and desperate people.

But what would you think if I told you that highly respected neurosurgeon and CNN Chief Medical Correspondent (reportedly a one-time Obama candidate for Surgeon General of the United States) Dr. Sanjay Gupta has come out publicly in favor of medical marijuana? Dr. Gupta believes that marijuana has been “demonized” and that marijuana used for medical purposes is less addictive than many other drugs now being prescribed.  In fact, a majority of doctors say they would prescribe medical marijuana if it were legal but that they have some concerns regarding the quality of the cannabis, problems with dosing and potential side effects. Like it or not, marijuana is becoming more mainstream everyday. Fifty –two percent of Americans polled believe marijuana should be legal.  The newest “mother’s little helper” is currently legal in 18 states and the District of Columbia and compassionate care acts are the topic of debate in many state legislatures.  Medical marijuana is predicted to be a 47 billion dollar business by 2016.

Honestly, I’ve gotta tell you I’m a little conflicted. I certainly don’t want us to become a nation of stoners.  But as a breast cancer patient it’s hard for me to turn my back on the potential benefit of medical marijuana when there is credible research that indicates it may slow cancer growth, inhibit formation of new blood cells that feed tumors and help manage pain, fatigue, nausea and other side effects of cancer treatment. The conservative, mother and Midwestern housewife in me fears the effects of marijuana on the developing brain, the potential for misuse, overuse and abuse and the well documented health concerns related to the use of marijuana.  Is medical marijuana the answer to the prescription drug overdose epidemic, a potential treatment for cancer, a defense against the plaque build up in the brain that causes dementia and the answer for millions who live each day in debilitating pain?  Will the long-term health of women be harmed or helped by the legalization of medical marijuana?  These are all questions best answered by someone wiser than myself.

Find out more information on this highly controversial health issue by watching  “Weed:  A Dr. Sanjay Gupta Special” tonight, August 11 on CNN.

Make the time to be good to you and the next time you are invited to a “potluck” party you might want to verify what that means before you arrive with your famous tuna noodle casserole.

Good Health!

Terry

“The practice of putting women on pedestals began to die out when it was discovered that they could give orders better from there"

~ Betty Grable, American Film Actress

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July 2013

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), recently released data showing that between 1999 and 2010 there was a five-times increase in women dying from prescription painkiller overdoses.  In 2013 an estimated 7000 women will die due to a prescription painkiller overdose. Women ages 45 to 54 were most likely to ingest a fatal dose of prescription drugs, followed by women ages 55 to 64. Annually more men than women die from a prescription drug overdose but the concerning factor is the rate at which women are dying is increasing.  Why? Women are more likely to be prescribed painkillers for acute or chronic pain.  Often these drugs are prescribed in higher doses and are taken for a longer period of time.  Women are also more likely to “doctor shop” in search of multiple prescriptions and to mix painkillers with anti-anxiety medications.  Drug overdoses kill more women in the United States than car accidents, cervical cancer or homicide.  Dr. Thomas Frieden, the director of the CDC, believes that the medical community needs to consider the possibility of addiction and to seek alternative treatments for chronic pain before prescribing painkillers.  But most importantly, women need to understand the dangers and potentially deadly consequences of misusing these very powerful drugs.

Pinterest can be a huge time-waster but it can also be a great way to organize healthy living resources.  With Pinterest it’s easy to save links to healthy recipes, workout plans, medical articles and motivating quotes.  You can also see what’s worked for others who share similar goals and create a virtual network of support.   But the best part is that you can access Pinterest information anytime, anywhere on your smartphone.  Will Pinterest make you healthier?  No, you’re responsible for that, but Pinterest can make trying to stay healthy easier and fun.

Make the time to good to you and stop to smell the lemons. The smell of lemon awakens the senses and increases concentration and awareness.  Rub a little lemon essential oil on your skin for a mid-afternoon energy boost.

Good Health!

Terry

“A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous.”

~Coco Chanel

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June 2013

Several weeks ago the media was buzzing about a study reported in General Dentistry that said drinking diet soda pop had the same effect on your mouth as using methamphetamine or cocaine. To illustrate this point a really gross photo compared the mouth of a meth user and the mouth of a 2-liter a day, diet soda pop drinker.  But, it turns out that the study was a bit exaggerated and the diet soda pop drinker was a woman who hadn’t seen a dentist in over 20 years.  Read further into the study and you find out that the sample group was only 3 people who admittedly did not practice good oral care.  It is true that drinking large quantities of diet soda pop can rot your teeth but there is a limited risk of developing “meth mouth” if you brush and floss your teeth regularly.  However, there are lots of other reasons why you should stop drinking diet soda pop:

• Women who drink diet soda pop are at increased risk of developing depression.
• The long-term effect of consuming large quantities of artificial sweetener is not known but research suggests that artificial sweetener has an adverse effect on kidney function.
• When you consume sweet liquids you crave sweets.
• Carbonation causes belly bloat.
• Many diet soda pop drinks contain caffeine.  Caffeine is addictive and has been linked to insomnia, anxiety and fatigue.
• Acidic chemicals in diet soda pop are believed to cause inflammation and corrosion of body tissue. Translation . . . Consuming diet soda pop makes your skin look older.
• Diet soda pop drinkers are at increased risk of developing metabolic syndrome, a combination of metabolic disorders including obesity, high blood pressure, elevated triglycerides and hormone resistance that can lead to heart disease, diabetes and stroke.
• The endocrine disruptor bisphenol A (BPA), used to coat the inside of soda pop cans and to produce polycarbonate plastic bottles, has been linked to all kinds of health issues including reproductive problems. 

Drinking diet pop every now and then is not going to kill you, rot your teeth or make you obese.  Just make sure you limit your consumption and stop being that gal who is never without her Diet Coke.  Most likely you will feel better and look better.

Make time to be good to you and stop making your bed!  When you leave the bed unmade dust mites are deprived of the humidity they need to survive.  

Good Health!

Terry

“Somewhere out in this audience may even be someone who will one day follow in my footsteps, and preside over the White House as the president's spouse. I wish him well!”

~Barbara Bush, Wellesley College Commencement Address June, 1990

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May 2013

Is it okay to use sunscreen past the expiration date?  Well, that depends.  The expiration date means that the manufacturer guarantees their product is safe and effective for use until a specified date.  Most likely sunscreen will continue to be effective past the expiration date. But, if it smells unusually, has been exposed to extremely high temperatures or the liquid has separated from the cream it’s definitely time to ditch it and buy new.  Remember to apply sunscreen 20 minutes before sun exposure and to reapply every 2 hours -- sooner if swimming or sweating.

Many diet plans restrict the consumption of alcohol. And that makes a lot of sense since according to Pamela, M. Peeke, M.D., author of The Hunger Fix, alcohol temporarily keeps your body from burning fat. However, middle-aged women who are moderate drinkers, defined as one drink a day, gained less weight over time and are less likely to become obese than those who never drink.  Researchers believe that most likely women who drink moderately compensate by consuming fewer calories and exercising more.  Good advice for those of us that want to enjoy an occasional glass of chardonnay.

Lose the panties ladies!  When you go au naturel it gives your external genitals a chance to dry and reduces the growth of bacteria that can cause a UTI.  Overnight is the best time to go pantie-free but proceed with caution because it might look like an invitation.  

Make time to be good to you and do some spring cleaning.  Just looking at clutter can elevate a woman’s stress hormones and create anxiety. So throw out all those white shirts with underarm stains, clear off your desk and trash those magazines and catalogs you’re never going to read.

Happy Mother’s Day, Happy Spring and Good Health!

Terry

“Giving birth is like taking your lower lip and forcing it over your head.”

~Carol Burnett

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April 2013

Carnitine -- Any idea what it is? It’s an amino acid that turns fat into the energy needed to fuel the human body. The highest concentration of carnitine is found in red meat and dairy products but it can also be found in lots of other foods like fish, poultry, wheat, legumes and nuts and in supplemental form in energy drinks. Up until now carnitine has received mostly positive attention for its ability to increase male sperm count, boost weight loss, improve moderate, persistent asthma symptoms and provide some protection from the harmful effects of oxidative stress. But, according to Dr. Stanley Hazen, carnitine has a a dark side.

It has long been believed that a diet high in red meat (saturated fat and/or cholesterol) and salt was the major cause of heart disease.  But the culprit may actually be a chemical process that involves gut bacteria and carnitine. After evaluating 2595 patients Dr. Hazen, study author and section head of Preventative Cardiology and Rehabilitation in the Miller Family Heart and Vascular Institute at the Cleveland Clinic, concluded that a compound called trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), previously reported to promote the formation of atherosclerosis in mice, is formed when bacteria from our digestive tract breaks down the carnitine we consume. Dr. Hazen’s work has been called “potentially groundbreaking” and I would expect there to be many more studies that concentrate on gut bacteria in the future. You might expect that as a result of his research Dr. Hazen would be a vegetarian.  Not so -- Dr. Hazen still consumes red meat, just not often, proving once again that when it comes to a healthy diet it’s all about moderation, moderation, moderation.

If you need another reason to be cautious when consuming red meat I have one for you.  According to Michael Van Amburgh, PhD., associate professor of Animal Science at Cornell University, some farmers supplement their cattle’s daily feed with as much as 50 pounds of stale gummie bears, chocolate candy (including the wrappers) and bakery scraps instead of more expensive feed. One livestock farmer from Central Kansas defends this practice by saying that it doesn’t affect the nutritional quality of the beef.  How is that possible? Call me negative but I’m thinking this is another one of those nasty realities in the food processing business of which most consumers are blissfully unaware. Fortunately/Unfortunately . . . now you know.

Make the time to be good to you and ask yourself -- What do I like most about being a woman?

Good Health!

Terry

“If you want something said, ask a man; if you want something done, ask a woman.”

~Margaret Thatcher

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March 2013

Nutritional labeling laws were mandated in 1990 in an effort to provide clearer and more transparent information to consumers and enable them to better compare the nutritional value of consumable products.  I'm a nutrition label reader.  In part because my youngest son is allergic to peanuts but, also because I want to know what’s in the food I’m feeding my family.   However, the shrimp I buy from the seafood counter at my grocery store usually doesn’t come with a nutrition label. It’s seafood -- it’s health, right?   Maybe not if you’re watching your sodium intake.  Everyone needs to know that not all shrimp is created equal.  A 4 oz. serving of steamed wild-caught fresh Gulf shrimp that has never been frozen has 97mg of sodium compared to a 4 oz. serving of steamed Publix fresh frozen easy-to-peel farm-raised shrimp which as a whopping 730mg of sodium.  It would be a mistake to assume that shrimp you buy at Whole Foods is somehow better for you.  A 4 oz. steamed serving of Whole Foods individually frozen-easy-to-peel shrimp has 483 mg of sodium.  What’s the reason for the difference you ask?  Well, in order to freeze shrimp it is first washed in a saline solution and easy-to-peel shrimp are soaked in a sodium solution to prevent them from “clumping” together as they freeze.  So now you know.  Don’t assume anything and always consider the affects of processing as well as preparation.   

What is the secret for the “super human stamina” of Hillary Rodham Clinton, the most traveled Secretary of State in history?  According to Clinton biographer Kim Gattas, Clinton “eats those hot chilies that make you sweat and apparently, it’s one of the ways you can flush your system.” It’s all about the capsaicin.  Hot peppers have been proven to kill cancer cells, prevent sinus infections, produce fat oxidation, decrease blood cholesterol/triglycerides and boost immunity. And the real surprise is that hot peppers may help kill bacteria in the stomach that can lead to ulcers.  But are hot chili peppers little intense energy boosters or a Washington wife’s tale? I’ll let you decide.

Make the time to be good to you by making a decision and sticking to it.  People who second guess their decisions tend to be more stressed and less happy.

Good Health!

Terry

"I'm tough, I'm ambitious, and I know exactly what I want.  If that makes me a bitch, okay."
~Madonna

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