November 2010

Bioidentical hormones have received a lot of attention in the past few years due in large part to influential celebrities like Oprah Winfrey and Suzanne Somers who have been vocal supporters of this alternative treatment for nasty menopause symptoms. Today nearly 1 million woman are using compounded hormone creams and in doing so they may be putting their pets at risk. It turns out that veterinarians around the country are noticing an increased number of spayed dogs and cats that are exhibiting symptoms of heat. Pet owners who use hormone cream can inadvertently expose their pet to hormones when they cuddle their pet or allow their pet to lick an area of their body to which they applied hormone cream. If you have made the decision to use hormone cream make sure you are doing so without risking the safety of your pet. Wash your hands thoroughly after applying hormone cream and before handling food, pets and children.

It’s flu season and if you haven’t done so already, it is time to get your flu shot. A yearly flu shot is generally a covered expense on most health insurance policies. And, it has become really easy to find a location that offers them. You can even get a flu shot at the Minneapolis/St. Paul airport and many other airports across the country including O’Hare and Orlando. Now there really is no excuse for not getting a flu shot. I had my flu shot at the Target Clinic in my neighborhood last month – no appointment necessary. It didn’t hurt – well, maybe just a tiny bit.

Men look in the mirror and flex their muscles – Women look in the mirror and see imperfections. I believe that every woman is beautiful in her own way. So, in this season of Thanksgiving, be thankful for the things that make you who you are and make the time to be good to you.

Happy Thanksgiving and Good Health!

Terry

“Imagine a world where beauty is a source of confidence, not anxiety.”
~Dove Movement for Self Esteem

October 2010

Pink, it’s the color of hope, strength and solidarity for a cause. Each October the proliferation of pink products draws our attention to the need for more research and better detection methods to help fight a disease that takes the life of nearly 40,000 women annually. Over the past 25 years there has been an increase in awareness but sadly we still don’t know exactly what causes breast cancer. We do know that all women are at risk for breast cancer. In fact, most women who get breast cancer have no known risk factors other than being a woman and getting older. Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths among Hispanic women in the United States and the second most common cause of cancer death among white, black, Asian and Native American women.

It is easy to see why monthly breast self exams are a MUST for women of any age or ethnicity. Know what your normal feels like and see a physician as soon as possible if you feel a lump or notice any changes in your breast. It is also very important to have a clinical breast exam as part of your annual physical and a mammogram/ultrasound as suggested by your physician. Don’t let the fear of breast cancer keep you from taking charge of your health. Most women diagnosed with breast cancer will go on to live a full life without reoccurrence. Early detection significantly increases the chances of survival and is the key to the best outcome.

Last year, 192,370 women in the United States were diagnosed with breast cancer -- I was one of them. I was incredibly lucky that my doctor ordered the breast ultrasound that detected a teeny, tiny tumor before cancer cells had the chance to spread all over my body. Ten months after diagnosis my scars are beautiful proof that I did all I could to insure my long-term survival. I feel great! My breasts have never looked better and I have early detection to thank for my good health.

I strongly encourage you to have a plan regarding your breast health. The National Breast Cancer Organization has developed the Early Detection Plan – an interactive tool to help remind you to take charge of your breast health. Just go to: www.earlydetectionplan.org for all the details. While on the site you can also use the Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Tool to calculate your personalized, potential risk of developing breast cancer based on your answers to seven questions.

Make the time to be good to you. Reduce your risk of developing breast cancer by maintaining a healthy weight, incorporating exercise/activity into your daily routine and limiting alcohol intake. You have one body . . . one life. It is your most important responsibility to take care of it. Give yourself every opportunity to grow old gracefully.

Good Health!

Terry

“Once you choose hope, anything’s possible.”
~Christopher Reeve

September 2010

The American Cancer Society has identified another super food – black rice. Black rice is most commonly found in China where it is also known as “forbidden rice”. According to Chinese legend, black rice was so rare, tasty and nutritious it could only be served to the Emperor. But now everyone can enjoy the antioxidant powers of this high iron, high fiber grain. Just a spoonful of black rice bran contains more health promoting anthocyanin antioxidants than a spoonful of another popular super – blueberries. Anthocyanin antioxidants are responsible for the red, purple and blue color of many fruits, vegetables, grains and flowers and have been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer. Other anthocyanin antioxidant rich foods include red grapes, strawberries, red wine, red cabbage, red onion, and blood orange juice. Best of all, black rice has an intense nutty flavor and has less natural sugar than blueberries. At this point black rice can be hard to find in the United States. However, now that the American Cancer Society is singing the praises of this ebony grain I am sure that it won’t be long before you start noticing black rice at your local grocery store.

I have said many times that my Good Health mission is to increase awareness. That’s why I feel compelled to tell you that in the past 5 years doctors has seen an increase in chemical burns caused by at-home vaginal bleaching creams. ??????????????? Women are using these creams to reduce the normal discoloration of their vaginal and anal area, discoloration that occurs as a result of the aging process and hormone changes from pregnancy. Of course, most women of a certain age would agree that vaginal bleaching is ridiculous. Just another one of those things, like Brazilian bikini waxes, that seem like a good idea – if you’re a porn star. But, I do worry about the crazy things young women are doing to themselves these days. It’s just not worth the possible irritation and blisters that vaginal bleaching has been known to cause. Dare to ignore this risky trend and leave your vulva as God intended.

Labor Day is the unofficial start of fall and apple season! In my opinion, you really haven’t lived until you have enjoyed a Minnesota-grown Honeycrisp apple. How fortunate that something so tasty is also so good for you. A recent study concluded that people who eat five or more apples a week have better lung function. Make the time to be good to you and your lungs -- enjoy an apple today.

And . . . make sure you let me know what you think of this month’s Good Health message by adding a comment to this post.

Good Health!

Terry

“The healthiest response to life is joy.” ~Deepak Chopra