July 2009 Archives

With summertime in full swing, vacationers are packing their bags for the nearest beaches, parks and poolside locations. Spending an increased amount of time outdoors is common during the summer months, but before you start soaking up those rays, be sure you are properly equipped with the right products to help you stay healthy.

Dr. Melonie Clemmons, independent doctor of optometry at Wal-Mart Vision Center, offers some helpful tips on what you should pack in your bag to ensure your time outdoors is both fun and healthy:

• Always pack sunscreen to protect your skin from premature aging and skin cancers
  

Make sure you choose a sunscreen product with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher and remember to reapply after swimming, sweating or toweling dry.(1)

• Bring along protective eyewear to block the sun's harmful UV rays
  

People often recognize the need to protect their skin from the dangers of the sun, yet few people realize that their eyes are also at risk. Even the sensitive skin surrounding the eyes can be damaged by prolonged sun exposure and is susceptible to wrinkling and forms of skin cancer. Consider wearing photochromic lenses like Transitions(R) lenses that are clear indoors and at night and automatically darken when exposed to UV light to block 100 percent of UVA/UVB rays.

• Water
  

Staying hydrated by drinking 8-10 glasses of water everyday can help combat the effects of increased sun exposure.

• Pack lip balm with SPF protection
  

The sun's UV rays pose a threat to your skin, eyes and also your lips. Wearing lip balm with SPF protection can protect your lips from overexposure to the sun and help prevent painful lip chapping.

• Pack a wide brimmed hat and other protective clothing
  

Selecting clothing that helps block some of UV rays further helps you keep both your skin and eyes protected from the sun. On really sunny days where you spend extended time outdoors, consider bringing a beach umbrella to provide you with a chance to relax in the shade.

• Check the UV index for your travel destination
  

Before you head outdoors visit (http://en-us.transitions.com/healthysight/uv/local.htm) check the UV index to see how strong the sun will be in your area, so you can plan accordingly for your time in the sun.

"In order to receive the maximum protection, it's important to make sure that your eyewear blocks 100% of UV rays," said Dr. Clemmons. "I recommend that my patients choose photochromic lenses, like Transitions( )lenses, as a convenient choice to bring with them on vacation. Not only do Transitions reduce distracting glare, but they also automatically darken as light conditions change to block 100% of UVA/UVB rays, protecting the eyes and the delicate surrounding skin from cumulative sun damage."

SOURCE Transitions Optical, Inc.

Stress is a natural part of life. Yet it seems that between the economic recession, multiple health crises, and other seemingly endless things, individuals are experiencing heightened anxiety. People often deal with stress by trying to find methods that will lessen their intense emotions. However, a number of eating patterns that people develop to cope during this time actually worsen the stress.

Here are some common eating patterns that you may fall into when under stress:

1. Starting a new diet.

While it may seem like a good idea to start a new diet when you're going through a stressful time, any type of diet is stressful. This is true whether you're resolving to fast during the day, eat only one meal a day, or throw out all the junk food and start a whole new healthy eating plan.

When you're under stress, the best approach is to make tiny changes. For example, decrease the number of sodas you drink a day from ten to eight. Or better yet, just resolve to eat an extra fruit or vegetable a day. Wait to embark on larger changes until you are less stressed emotionally so as to avoid stressing yourself physically.

2. Eating more junk food than usual.

It's not uncommon to feel hungrier under stress. The extra cortisol in your bloodstream from the stress reaction can increase food cravings, especially cravings for sweets and high-fat foods. Eating sweets can increase serotonin in our brains, which makes us feel good--but so can taking a walk. Most importantly, if you do yield to your craving, eat mindfully, with your attention focused on how the food tastes and on how it feels in your mouth and your body. Mindless eating tends to lead to overeating or bingeing; by staying focused on what you're eating, you're less likely to let emotions or stress control how much and what you eat.

3. Losing your appetite, only to have it come back later with a vengeance.

Although you may not feel hungry when dealing with a big stressor like the breakup of a relationship, don't stop eating, as this can increase your bingeing later on. Instead, eat small meals or snacks throughout the day to avoid rebound hunger.

4. Eating because your appetite is out of control.

If you feel like overeating, first check your level of hunger. Ask yourself what you're really hungry for (emotionally). What (emotions) are you trying to stuff down with your food? See if you can satisfy the craving or emotional need in another way. For example, drink a glass of water, call a friend, or take a walk. Stay mindful of what your body needs as opposed to what you need emotionally and respond accordingly.

5. Eating because you feel tired.

When you're stressed to the max, you may feel tired and have low energy. Don't mistake this for true physical hunger. Eating won't raise your energy in this instance; in fact, eating large amounts of food can actually further stress your body because it diverts scarce energy resources to digestion. Test whether or not you're physically hungry by eating a small snack and paying attention to your body's cues. If you find that you're just tired, then take a nap or engage in some other restful activity.

Here are some ways you can deal with it:

• Determine which patterns you identify with when you are under stress.
• List three telltale signs that will help you identify the patterns.
  

(Example: I know I'm stress-eating when I stop at a fast food restaurant on the way home and eat in my car. Or: I know I'm going to binge when I get home from work when I haven't eaten all day.)

• Decide on actions you can take when these signs indicate that you are stress-eating.
  

(Example: If I find myself craving fast food, I'll make dinner plans with a friend and talk about my stressful day. Or: When I realize I've skipped breakfast, I'll make sure to eat a healthy lunch and a mid-morning protein snack to avoid bingeing later in the evening.)

• Take one of the actions.
  

Adapted from The Binge Eating & Compulsive Overeating Workbook: An Integrated Approach to Overcoming Disordered Eating (New Harbinger Publications, July 2009) by Carolyn Coker Ross, MD, MPH. Dr. Ross is a physician, author, and nationally recognized speaker. She currently is a consultant for the dual diagnosis eating disorders program at The Ranch, an addiction treatment center near Nashville, TN and is in private practice in Denver, CO.

Strawberries are ripe, tomatoes are plump and watermelons are juicy...it must be summertime! Eating healthy as part of leading a spa lifestyle is easier than you might think -- by visiting local farmers' markets and food co-ops, you can buy locally and healthfully while spending less money. Spas are championing the cause by preparing meals from on-site organic gardens, and 19 percent are offering healthy cooking classes.

"The spa is the perfect place to educate yourself on healthy eating," said International SPA Association President Lynne McNees. "In fact, of the spas that offer educational programs and workshops, 51 percent offer nutritional counseling and 40 percent offer healthy eating programs. Spa cuisine can include wine, red meat and dairy products; it's all about creating a balance for your diet, mind, body and spirit."

Don't be fooled by the myth that spa cuisine is bland and unfilling; spa chefs are creating unique and scrumptious meals that still keep calories in check. ISPA members have got you covered this summer with tasty recipes they're cooking up. And, find out what spa chefs have to say about spa cuisine by watching this video. Below are some leading spa chefs' philosophies on spa cuisine:

• Chiva-Som International Health Resort, Hua Hin, Thailand - "Our concept is to provide healthy cuisine with many flavors so guests won't notice it's good for them! Moderation should be in the ingredients, not the flavor. All of our dishes can be made at home using ingredients that can be purchased anywhere," said Executive Chef Paisarn Cheewinsiriwat.
• The Elmwood Spa, Toronto, ON - "Food augments the spa experience by highlighting the importance of balancing nutritional intake with healthy, appealing and varied choices. We offer vegetarian and gluten-free selections, our meats are grain-fed and our sauces are free of preservatives and thickeners," said Senior Manager, Food & Beverage Britwin Dias.
• Ste. Anne's a Haldimand Hills Spa, Grafton, ON - "Deprivation only discourages - with that in mind, we tempt our guests with well-balanced meals that please the eye and palate. We use fresh ingredients to enhance flavors with herbs and reductions instead of rich sauces," said Chef Christopher Ennew C.C.C.
• The Spa at Pinehurst Resort, Pinehurst, NC - "Our focus is on healthy lifestyles for a lifetime, not short-term dieting and calorie counting. Our menus reflect heart-healthy and recommended daily allowances, combined with proper exercise, skin care and healthy life habits," said Executive Chef Thierry Debailleul.
• Willow Stream the Spa at The Fairmont Scottsdale, Scottsdale, AZ - "We seek farmers who know their seeds and soil, ranchers who care about their livestock and seafood purveyors concerned about the health of the sea. We've partnered with local farmers to grow vegetables and herbs exclusively for us," said Chef Noah Bekofsky.

SOURCE International SPA Association

Whole Foods Market (Nasdaq: WFMI), a leading natural and organic grocer, today received the Natural Products Association's "2009 Socially Responsible Retailer Award" for excellence in integrating social responsibility into multiple aspects of business.

"This award recognizes that our retailers are valued and integral parts of their communities, and that they provide much more than simply a place to purchase natural products," said Natural Product Association President Debra Short. "All the award recipients are serious about being a source of support for their employees and their communities in environmental, social and educational efforts, and the work that Whole Foods Market and its Foundation do are excellent examples of how dedication to local and global action can generate positive results."

While there were several determining factors for selection, the work of the Company's nonprofit Whole Planet Foundation was the primary reason that Whole Foods Market was chosen for the award.

"The Whole Planet Foundation represents an incredible expansion of Whole Foods Market's mission to actively lend a helping hand to our global neighbors in communities that supply our stores with products," says Philip Sansone, president and executive director of The Whole Planet Foundation. "We are thrilled that our nonprofit work through the foundation was recognized as a key factor in securing this award for Whole Foods Market. Caring about our communities and our environment is one of our core values, so to be one of only three companies to receive a '2009 Socially Responsible Retailer Award' is a tremendous honor."

Established in October 2005, The Whole Planet Foundation empowers the poor through microcredit in developing countries where the Company sources products. To date, the foundation has committed $9.9 million for micro-lending projects, and has provided $5.3 million in grants to microfinance groups around the globe, resulting in $13 million in microcredit loans - usually less than $200 - to start home-based businesses. The project has given more than 41,000 people the chance to lift themselves and, on average, five family members, out of poverty, effectively impacting a total of 205,000 people in communities in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

SOURCE Whole Foods Market

What secret do Gwyneth Paltrow, Donna Karan and other celebrities know about creating healthy, vibrant life-and why are they all turning to Dr. Alejandro Junger?  Because over the past decade he has developed a program to help his patients reach new levels of vitality and wellness.  The program is explained in his book: Clean: The Revolutionary Program to Restore the Body's Natural Ability to Heal Itself.  Junger says it is unnecessary to suffer colds, allergies, extra pounds that won't come off, restless nights, recurrent digestive problems, itchy skin and acne or depression or fatigue.  He reveals the simple, whole life solution other doctors have missed.  

How many of us can honestly say we do not suffer from at least one of the following:

• Colds or viruses each year
• Allergies or hay fever
• Extra pounds that won't come off
• Restless nights
• Recurrent indigestion, constipation, or irritable bowel syndrome
• Itchy skin, acne, or any other troubling skin condition
• Depression, anxiety, or frequent fatigue

If you were to seek medical advice for any of the above, you would likely be prescribed pills, topical lotions, injections, or even surgery. Such treatments are used to manage the symptoms and do not address the root of the problem. Too often, doctors treat these common ailments as inevitable costs of living a modern life. The result is a patchwork approach to health care that has become the norm.

In Clean, a New York City cardiologist and a leader in the field of integrative medicine, Dr. Alejandro Junger offers a major medical breakthrough. Dr. Junger argues that the majority of these common ailments are the direct result of toxic buildup in our systems accumulated through the course of our daily lives. As the toxicity of modern life increases and disrupts our systems on a daily basis, bombarding us through our standard American diet and chemical-filled environments, our ability to handle the load hasn't accelerated at the same rapid pace. The toxins are everywhere, but Clean offers a solution.

Clean is an M.D.'s program that provides all the tools necessary to support and reactivate our detoxification system to its fullest capabilities, and can be easily incorporated into a busy schedule. The effect is transformative: nagging health problems will suddenly disappear, extra weight will drop away, and for the first time in our lives we will experience what it truly means to feel healthy.

Every day spent on the Clean program is a major step in healing not just the symptom but the root of the problem, effectively and simply. Dr. Junger's life-changing program restores what rightfully belongs to you--your health, vitality, and peace of mind.

Dr. Alejandro Junger is a prominent New York cardiologist and a leader in the field of integrative medicine.  Board-certified in internal medicine and cardiology, Dr. Junger trained and is now practicing in New York City.  After completing his medical training, Junger studied Eastern medicine in India.  He was the medical director of WE Care Holistic Health Center in Palm Springs, a world-famous center for fasting, cleansing and detoxification.  Currently he is in private practice at the renowned Eleven Eleven Wellness Center and is the director of integrative medicine at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City.

As Americans hit the gym this summer to continue to tone up for the beach, Gold's Gym, the world's leading authority on health and fitness, is exposing some of the most common myths about getting in shape and offering the must have nutrition and fitness facts to help everyone reach their individual goals. From muscle soreness after a workout, to the timeless argument of running on a treadmill versus running outside, the fitness experts at Gold's Gym have put together a list of the top myths surrounding diet, exercise and fitness to help Americans maximize their gym experience.

"There is so much conflicting information about how to get in shape that it's no wonder people can get confused," said Robert Reames, Personal Training and Obesity expert of the Gold's Gym Fitness Institute. "We want to give Americans the clear cut answers to these common myths so that they can focus on reaching their goals and achieving lasting results."

Reames has identified the seven most common gym myths, and reveals the truth behind these misperceptions.

• MYTH #1: 1,000 crunches a day will guarantee you a six-pack.
  

FACT: There is no such thing as "spot reduction," but there is such a thing as spot conditioning. Muscles can be conditioned by training and focusing on them, but without burning the fat covering your abdomen, you'll never get that washboard stomach.

• MYTH #2: It's only a good workout if you're sore the next day.
  

FACT: Soreness is related to a number of factors, none of which directly correlate to muscle growth. In fact, Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS) occurs when nerve endings become inflamed after micro trauma to muscle tissue. In short, don't overdo it.

• MYTH #3: Women get "bulky" or "masculine" if they lift weights.
  

FACT: Women simply don't have enough testosterone to attain the appearance of a male body builder. The muscle you are able to build lifting weights will only improve your appearance for a toned, sculpted and feminine appearance. Also, weight training builds muscle density, which is key to fighting osteoporosis.

• MYTH #4: Exercising long and slow burns more fat.
  

FACT: Your body uses fat for energy while exercising at a lower intensity, but training at a high intensity will burn more calories during and after you've stopped working out.

• MYTH #5: If you beef up on protein, you'll gain muscle.
  

FACT: Everybody needs protein to rebuild and repair muscles, but overloading on protein will get you nowhere. There's only a certain amount of nutrients your body can handle before it just turns to waste. According to the American Dietetic Association, six to seven daily ounces of lean meat provides enough protein for most athletes.

• MYTH #6: Running on a treadmill is better for your joints than pavement.
  

FACT: Joint pain surfaces anytime your body is pounding on a surface it isn't used to. To avoid jolting your neurological system, it is best to vary workouts between treadmill and pavement running. Elliptical machines and recumbent bikes can also be used in place of running.

• MYTH #7: Muscle turns to fat if you stop lifting weights.
  

FACT: Muscle cannot physically turn into fat, however muscles can begin to atrophy (reduce in size) after eliminating weight training from a fitness routine. In addition, metabolism will slow down and hinder the ability to burn as many calories, which results in an increase in body fat.

Dispelling myths and providing accurate information is all part of Gold's Gym's mission to help people achieve their individual potential through fitness.

Source: Gold's Gym

Anthropedia introduces DVD program designed by scientists and educators to teach viewers to understand their personality, manage stress, and build psychological resilience.

The Anthropedia Foundation, a non-profit organization based in New York and St. Louis, has introduced Know Yourself, an innovative DVD series designed for people interested in learning how to develop happier and healthier lives. The series is a step-by-step guide to improving well-being, integrating methods from various fields. Each part focuses on straightforward concepts and simple exercises that foster calmness, well-being, and mind-body health. The first three parts of the Know Yourself series are now available on Anthropedia's website and have been donated to clinics and non-profit organizations. Know Yourself Part 1: Exploring Your Personality examines three ingredients for lasting satisfaction and fulfillment in life. The course provides viewers with the opportunity to use the online version of the TCI, an internationally renowned personality test. The resulting personality profile allows viewers to determine how their character and temperament both help and hinder their well-being. Part 2: Understanding Thought examines the three steps of thought. Understanding these steps and potential traps in thinking helps people adapt more easily to stressful events and challenges in everyday life. Part 3: Quieting the Mind introduces the "Silence of the Mind" meditation, a technique to calm the agitation of the mind and cope with mental tension and struggles. Parts 4 and 5 of the program are scheduled to be released this fall. Each part of Know Yourself follows a clear sequence, including an introduction, feature discussion, brief review, and description of recommended exercises. Interspersed throughout each portion of the program are clear visual aids that help viewers retain and integrate information and important concepts. Natural imagery and an original soundtrack have been carefully arranged to promote learning and relaxation, an approach that makes the Know Yourself series a powerful and innovative tool for increasing health and happiness. The series builds on research in the fields of psychiatry, psychology, and neuroscience, specifically on the research and clinical work of Dr. C. Robert Cloninger, Professor of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Genetics, and Director of the Center for Well-Being at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Dr. Cloninger explains that the series can be used by individuals at home and in a clinical setting, "The Know Yourself series is useful for a wide range of people and situations. Regardless of a person's level of mental and physical health, it provides helpful and enjoyable practices for living well. It uses established methods that are beneficial for personal development and as an adjunct in therapy for people with different mental and physical disorders."

SOURCE Anthropedia Foundation

Just three months before 45,000 runners take to the streets of Chicago, the American Cancer Society Charity Runner Team is still offering entries to the sold out 2009 Chicago Marathon.

"The Society is thrilled to offer the running community these high-demand slots for the Chicago Marathon," said Alison Tibbits, project manager, fundraising resources, American Cancer Society. "The Charity Runner program provides runners from across the country the opportunity to make their training miles more meaningful by joining the fight against cancer, and fulfilling the mission of the Society -- to save lives by helping people stay well, by helping people get well, by finding cures and by fighting back."

In addition to receiving an official bib for the Chicago marathon, members of the American Cancer Society Charity Runner team will receive:

• Free team training program through Chicago Area Runner's Association (CARA)
• Tent in Charity Village just steps from the start line
• Private port-a-potties and gear check for Society runners
• Team support and social events
• Personalized web page to post pictures, share stories, communicate with donors and track fundraising progress throughout the season

As one of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon's official charities, the American Cancer Society Charity Runner Team has helped more than 6,000 athletes raise $7 million to support the fight against cancer. To join the Charity Runner Team and make a difference in the lives of those facing the disease, click here. To sign up for volunteer opportunities with the Charity Runner program, click here.

Source:  American Cancer Society