Shopping Organic? Check out the Dirty Dozen and Clean 15.
Shopping organic broke my budget until the Dirty Dozen and the Clean 15 rescued me! The Dirty Dozen and Clean 15, lists of highly contaminated produce and those not so, respectively, are easing my organic shopping experience. Indeed such meticulous shopping had been overwhelming to lil ole me and my lil ole budget. But when I was challenged with a conversation with a very bright, fairly well-educated person who stated that it was unnecessary to choose organic produce. I was surprised since there has been overwhelming evidence to the contrary. Sure there is produce grown conventionally that is safe enough, but those on the Dirty Dozen list seem to be the most inviting, especially while in season. (Imagine strawberries melting in your mouth…yum!) And because of their appeal, some otherwise thoughtful people may just want to overlook the safety of what they are eating. While I wondered what her information resource was, it occurred to me that she might have heard the evidence but not accept it simply because the evidence is indeed overwhelming. And in more ways than one. It seems that once a fact is learned, the change required creates an emotional response. (All change is stressful.) Seemingly, when it impacts finances, an additional stronger emotional issue presents itself. It’s overwhelming to think that choosing the “more affordable” produce has the potential of costing more in the long run, in the form of doctor bills, diagnostic tests, harsh treatments, time spent in the hospital or in transit for treatments, the cost of wigs and special prostheses. Then there’s the anxiety that accompanies the wait for test results, not to mention the final good-byes that often result. (I have first-hand experience on this topic and do not mention this callously, but I can’t help but wonder if eating more selectively could actually be a better “affordable healthcare” plan.) Yes, it is overwhelming to think that organic foods are more costly than conventional foods that have been rising in price themselves. How is one to feed a family with quality food under these circumstances? Can we say “garden”? Is that out of reach? Then, can we say “farmers market”? At least the produce is fresher(that is with less need for preservatives), if not certifiably organic. If the big box store is the only option, can we suggest skipping the traditional treat aisles full of chips, ice cream, cookies, and other irresistible sugary and salty processed foods so that a few organic items can fit into the budget? Now that’s another overwhelming change. But small changes add up to big improvements. That’s what I’m talking about. The Dirty Dozen is not the sole reason for being overwhelmed while menu planning and pantry stocking. It’s challenging to sort through the conflicting information brought by special interest groups such as Monsanto, who among many others, lobbied to keep GMO information off labeling so that many will merrily fill their shopping carts with convenient and tasty but disastrously damaging meal choices. (I struggled here. I was about to write “food” choices, but most of what lands in grocery cart is not real food. Sorry. Food should be fuel, not just satisfying to the taste-buds and the bottomless pit of a belly. Most of the convenient processed food just dissolves into sugar and then solidifies to fat, or so it seems.) That challenge is more complicated to manage since packaging is designed to keep us in the dark. But the question of what produce to choose and which ones to forego has been simplified. Okay. Okay. Let me lighten up and make this easy. I repeat, some produce does not need to be organic. It...
Read MoreUrinary Inconvenience…The elephant in the room
Urinary inconvenience…just another euphemism for the elephant in the room. Yet a surprising 85% of men and women over the age of 40 experience inconvenient untimely urinary leaks in some degree or another. It’s no wonder supermarkets have shelves and shelves of panty liners and shields of all shapes and sizes. Yet for all the space those items take up in stores, carts, and closets, not much space is given in our conversations to learn more about this. Maybe its mention will make it worse? Maybe we’ll feel we’ve lost our youth? Maybe we didn’t realize that young’uns with a mere 40 years on them could have begun to lose bladder viability? Or that 85% of adults suffer with this? Whatever the hang-up about this subject, knowledge is power, so let’s learn a little more about this common condition. (Some of the tips below might seem like just plain old common sense, but I never thought #6 was possible. Is there one you’re surprised to see listed?) In the September edition of TriVita’s VitaJournal, obstetrician/gynecologist Dr. Brittany Stam provides considerable information and tips about this common problem. According to Dr. Stam, the involuntary leakage of urine is a problem affecting 200 million people worldwide. Of the 25 million Americans suffering from some form of this challenge, 75-80% of these are women. In Canada, this number is an estimated 3.3 million which is an astounding 10% of the population! Don’t be like those other 11 people. Despite the high success rates in treating incontinence, research shows that only one out of every 12 people affected seeks help. Don’t be like those other 11 people. According to studies by the National Association for Continence, on average, women wait six and one-half years from the first time they experience symptoms until they get a diagnosis for their bladder management problems. It’s apparent that many of us are embarrassed and remaining silent. The truth is that while this is twice as common in women as men, men are also affected. Among men, 11-34% of those over age 65 have some form of this “plumbing problem”. Still, medical literature indicates that only 22% of men will seek care for it, compared with 45% of women. What men and women both need to understand is that there are many effective management options for this dilemma. THREE TYPES OF URINARY LEAKAGE, VARYING TREATMENTS There are three basic types: Stress: People with stress leakage of urine when they laugh, cough, sneeze or do anything that “stresses” the belly. Stress is most common in women. Urge: People with urgency feel a strong, sudden need to urinate. Often the urge is so strong that they can’t make it to the bathroom in time. Mixed: People with symptoms of both “stress” and “urge.” The choice of treatment depends on the type and severity of the problem you have and what fits your lifestyle. The best approach is often to try natural methods and lifestyle changes first before moving on to medications and possibly surgery. NATURAL METHODS TO DECREASE SYMPTOMS 1) Reduce the amount of liquid you drink, especially a few hours before bed. 2) Cut down on any foods or drinks that make your symptoms worse (alcohol, caffeine, or spicy or acidic foods). 3) Quit smoking. 4) If you are overweight, lose weight. 5) If you have diabetes, keep your blood sugar as close to normal as possible. 6) Train your bladder by urinating on a set schedule; slowly extend the time between bathroom trips. ONE SPECIAL EXERCISE Exercises for your pelvic floor muscles called Kegels are a great way for women to...
Read MoreBladder: Key to a winning season
™ Football season is upon us; many of us will be squeezed into bleachers to root for our favorite team, hoping for a flawless season. If the score is close enough, the stands will stay packed. No self-respecting fan would consider leaving a seat except to rise, wave team colors, and scream until it hurts. Until… Oh Oh! The ball is passed to the very poorest player on the team, Weak Bladder. His name isn’t a household word, but you know it’s Bladder because he’s wearing #1 on his jersey. Weak Bladder now becomes the key player in the stadium, causing a mad dash to the restroom. If you haven’t been tackled by fellow teammates (85% of the over 40 crowd are in this league) and fans, you find a serpentine line of those who are stomping their feet and crossing their legs, all in hopes of making it to the most coveted seat in the stadium…the toilet…and all in hopes to scoring a winning “touchdown.” All the rush and excitement you’re experiencing is much like what’s happening near the goal post outside. But sometimes it doesn’t end well. Bladder has the ball, is dashing to the end zone, straight for the goal posts for the winning play, with no one near him. With just seconds to go, there’s a lot of hoopla in the stands when the disappointment takes over. Bladder fumbles and drops the ball! Oh, so close! How many times have you been on your way home with the slight urge to “go”? With confidence, you pass up rest stops and public facilities along the way, certain you can make it to the comfort and privacy of your own personal “locker room”? You enter your home to discover that the distance to your bathroom has seemingly expanded to be the length of a football field. You drop your keys, packages, and maybe even the toddler you’ve been toting, so that you can drop your drawers, or your fly, in time. The excitement is overwhelming! You’ve made it to the end zone! Will there be a touchdown? It’s a … Aw…a fumble! What could have been a perfectly executed drop kick to the goal post becomes an uncomfortable, inconvenient drip. Or several. Often more than several. What was to be a victory dance has become a time to sing “Locker Room Blues” while taking an extra shower and changing into fresh clothes. Maybe having #1 on Bladder’s jersey is a bad idea. No matter what your favorite sport or pastime, having these “special events” is just no fun at all. Yet there are a few strategies to strengthen your weak bladder and enjoy your time away from home. Some are easy and well-known, yet at least one player has been recruited recently to keep you in your game. I am an Independent TriVita Business Owner with TriVita, and I am proud to announce a new strong leader on the wellness playing field: TriVita’s Bladder Shield™. Note that it’s jersey number is 24/7. Shield yourself with confidence. Healthy bladder function is important for health and vitality; unfortunately, as many as 25 million adults may experience some form of bladder weakness, including the frequent urge to “go”. This can negatively affect emotional health—and reduce quality of life.1-3 Designed to give you back your confidence, Bladder Shield is backed by modern science to support a strong bladder, comfort and function. Available in easy-to-swallow capsules, Bladder Shield™ offers a proprietary blend of traditional herbs from India, China and Europe, including: Lindera extract—this root has a long history of use in traditional Chinese...
Read MoreAnalysis Paralysis
So, now that I’ve gone beyond the talk stage and actually pressed the publish button for the first time yesterday, there’s no turning back. I’m committed. I’ve finally gotten past planning and am moving forward. Waiting for take-off has been draining. Plagued by procrastination, which is only the desire to have everything done perfectly, I excused my inertia by smugly sitting in Quadrant Two, thinking that was the better part. I do thank Stephen Covey, author of “Seven Habits of Highly Successful People” and “First Things First”, for clearly and rightly justifying the need to spend time planning and doing other reflective activities. And of all of them, there is none more essential than taking time to pray and seek direction from the One who knows and loves me and knows all the circumstances concerning me. Since He had me in mind before the beginning of time, there isn’t anything about me that will shock Him. He knows my dilemmas that keep my wheels spinning. He’s been there many times to push me out of the ruts I create for myself. Is He frustrated with me? Maybe, but not any more than I am. Well, I’m on the launch pad now and I’ve started the engines. It’s an exhilarating feeling…scary too. I’ve heard it and so have you: Do what you fear and it will lose its power over you. The perfection plague…how it paralyzes! Webmaster Webster tells me that a blog space is the place to be imperfect. Why is that? Doing the fearful? Exposing ourselves to hostility perhaps, or at the least, criticism. What a great exercise! Yes, for whatever reason, “sometimes I sits and thinks and sometimes I just sits” for more time than I want to admit. I’m finally going beyond planning. Look out...
Read MoreIt’s academic, my dear.
Success in a home-based business, and in particular, a network marketing business, depends on the willingness to learn, and takes the same disciplines that are needed to earn a degree. For some, learning is a challenge due to academic difficulties during elementary school and high school. Dropout rates have always been disappointing, and the disappointment that dropouts experience after a short-lived exhilaration of freedom becomes a prison. Sadly, most dropouts are uncomfortable in any learning environment whether it be a Library or a Museum or a craft class or PTO meetings. It’s no wonder that it appears dropouts beget dropouts. If you are a drop out and do not fit that description, congratulations. You’ve dealt with a self-esteem issue and realized you can succeed in academics and learning in general. For those who earned degrees and are satisfied with that education, you may discover there is a lot more to learn. It is said that life-long learners remain more cognitively intact in their later years than do others. Having been in network marketing for a number of years and having earned several advanced degrees, It became apparent to me that the steps and strategies I used in graduate school can be applied to the learning process that leads to success in a home-based business, particularly network marketing. Those with degrees will recognize the similarities. Those drop-outs who are pushing forward past their insecurities can be assured that the strategies you’ll use as an adult learner are considerably different from what you experienced in elementary or high school. I’ll be sharing some of those similarities in future posts....
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