Here’s what the You Docs have to say about poor posture: “if you’re as wilted-looking as Napoleon Dynamite, you’re setting yourself up for weak muscles, arthritis, back pain, fatigue, headaches and even a potbelly.”
I don’t know about you, but I struggle with posture, not just when I’m standing, but when I’m sitting 
before a computer. The consequence, I’ve discovered, for poor posture is shoulder and back pain. But those aren’t the only body parts our posture affects. According to an article from a chiropractic journal, “the effects of posture on health are becoming more and more evident. Spinal pain, headache, mood, blood pressure, pulse, and lung capacity are among the functions most easily influenced by posture.” Interesting, huh?
http://www.naturalposturesolutions.com/ suggests that all bodily functions are helped or hindered by how we sit or stand. “In order to provide the proper support for efficient functioning of all the organs, blood vessels, nerves, tubes and valves that make up the body’s systems, the skeleton must align along the vertical axis of gravity.”
When I was young, my mother told me to pretend I had a string attached to the center of my skull that pulled me upward. Years later, I can’t say I’ve made that exercise a lifelong habit. But Natural Posture Solutions gives me hope. ” It turns out that all healthy toddlers and people who age with elongated spines and flexible joints hold the secret to pain-free living. This is something that can be learned and put into practice by almost anyone. You can now forget the current obsession with muscle strength and constant stretching! Instead, learn to align your bones the same way you did as a toddler and find your way “home” to a body that moves easily, is authentically strong and free from tension and pain.
From Natural Posture’s “Toddlers as Teachers” article, here are 5 Things You Can Do to Align Like a Toddler: 1. locate your sit bones; 2. park your pelvis in neutral; 3. relax your belly; 4. let your breastbone settle in; 5. let your neck be soft and free. Now that you’re wondering what all that means, please read the entire article (it’s short!) at http://www.naturalposturesolutions.com/about/articles/344-2/. Other articles and videos on the site offer simple, clear explanations on how to improve our health through better posture. Learn from the little ones! Becky
Because it’s that time of year again, I’m posting some suggestions from Prescription for Natural Cures (Drs. Balch & Stengler) on how to take care of yourself when you’re down with the flu.
First of all, the authors recommend we “Eat lightly to allow [our bodies] to focus on healing, rather than on digestion.” During the worst phase of the illness, “lightly” means water, broth, green drinks, herbal teas and juices. Later, salads and steamed or lightly cooked vegetables can be added. Most important is to stay hydrated.
Drs. Balch and Stengler also suggest adding ginger, onions and garlic to soups. Drink hot water with lemon, honey and cinnamon to “soothe your throat and chest, prevent mucus buildup, and encourage a cleansing sweat.”
Avoid dairy and refined sugar products. “These foods will only contribute to the formation of mucus and make the virus harder to expel. Sugar also has the extremely undesirable effect of depressing your immune system.” Don’t drink caffeine, which “depletes the body’s stores of zinc, a mineral necessary for healing. Avoid coffee, black teas, and chocolate until the flu passes.”
Some natural remedies: elderberry, echinacea, goldenseal, oregano, lots of Vitamin C and ginger. Plus, several homeopathic remedies fight flu symptoms. Acupressure, massage, reflexology and aromatherapy are also helpful.
Wishing you a healthy, flu-free winter – Becky
Just wanted to let you know that for a limited time “Winds of Wyoming” is FREE on Amazon. http://www.amazon.com/Winds-Wyoming-Neilson-Novel-ebook/dp/B006SPP7G8/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1326999416&sr=1-1
Stevia, as you may know, comes from the stevia rebaudiana plant, which is grown around the world and “has been used since pre-Colombian times with no reports of ill side effects. Stevia has also withstood years of research that has proven [it] to be safe for human and animal consumption.” http://www.cookingwithstevia.com/stevia_faq.html
Benefits of stevia, according to “Cooking with Stevia” (see above link):
* No calories
* Does not affect blood sugar levels
* 100% natural
* 250 to 300 times sweeter than sugar
* Heat stable to 200 degrees Celsius (392 degrees Fahrenheit)
* Non-fermentable
* Flavor enhancer
* Plaque retardant, prevents cavities
* Recommended for diabetics
* Non-toxic
“Splenda is not natural; it is a chlorinated artificial sweetener. There have been no long-term human studies on the safety of Splenda; however, issues have been raised about [it] in a new study from Duke University.” http://www.truthaboutsplenda.com/factvsfiction/index.html
I looked up the study abstract, titled Splenda Alters Gut Microflora and Increases Intestinal P-Glycoprotein and Cytochrome P-450 in Male Rats. I don’t know anything about intestinal glycoprotein and cytochrome, but I’m pretty sure altered gut microflora is not a good thing. http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/15287390802328630
Dr. Mercola’s translation of the study:
- Reduces the amount of good bacteria in your intestines by 50 percent
- Increases the pH level in your intestines, and
- Affects a glycoprotein in your body that can have crucial health effects, particularly if you’re on certain medications like chemotherapy, or treatments for AIDS and certain heart conditions
Researchers, he says, also found evidence that Splenda is absorbed by fat, contrary to previous claims. http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/04/26/major-media-finally-exposes-splendas-lies.aspx
Other possible Splenda (sucralose) side effects: Chlorine poisoning (chlorine atoms added), diarrhea, intestinal cramps, stomach pains, flatulence, headaches, migraines, chest pain, constricted airways, heartburn, indigestion and weight gain (the sweetener does not satisfy cravings, which may lead to more food consumption). http://www.ehow.com/about_5518521_side-effects-splenda-sweetener.html#ixzz1jHaabhzb
If you’re like me, you’d rather use stevia than sucralose with its added chlorine and side effects. But how does one cook with stevia, which is so extremely sweet but has a bitter aftertaste when too much is used? Stevia Info has lots of suggestions, including an equivalency chart, which you can view at http://www.steviainfo.com. The site’s basic instruction is to “replace 1 cup sugar for 1 tsp. liquid stevia, or 1/3 to 1/2 tsp. stevia extract powder, or 18-24 packets.”
The authors add: “Please remember when cooking and baking with stevia that for every 1 cup of sugar that is replaced by stevia there should be 1/3 cup of a liquid or other “bulk” added to the recipe. The liquid is needed to create the bulk effect that the sugar normally would [create].”
SteviaCafe.net offers this: “The best tip we can give is that less stevia is more. It’s a little like vanilla and other extracts – it’s all too easy to use too much stevia. At first, we recommend using a little less than the recipe calls for and adding more as necessary to taste. Stevia is perfect in produce and milk/dairy recipes, but the downside for baking is that it does not offer the same properties of sugar, such as helping to soften batter, caramelize, etc. Stevia’s sweetness is, however, unaffected by the baking/cooking process.
“By now, you’re asking, ‘How do I know how much stevia to use? How much is too much?’ It’s difficult to provide a definitive answer. Sour or tart fruits, such as cherries or lemons, require more stevia than a comparable dessert baked using apples, for example. Your own personal taste plays a role as well, as it does with other non-stevia recipes.” http://www.steviacafe.net/cooking-with-stevia
At our house, we use stevia to sweeten tea, yogurt, cereal, etc. I’ve never cooked with it. If you cook with stevia, please share your experiences and tips with me and Grandma Gone Granola readers. Happy experimenting! Becky
The first novel in my Kate Neilson series launched this week. How is a fiction book related to good health? Winds of Wyoming will make you laugh and cry, cheer the good guys, boo the bad guys, enhance your relationships, and leave you smiling. What more could you want?!
Fresh out of a Pennsylvania penitentiary armed with a marketing degree, Kate Neilson heads to Wyoming anticipating an anonymous new beginning as a guest-ranch employee. A typical twenty-five-year-old woman might be looking to lasso a cowboy, but her only desire is to get on with life on the outside—despite her growing interest in the ranch owner. When she discovers a violent ex-lover followed her west, she fears the past she hoped to hide will imprison her once again.
For those who missed my dog-attack story (previous post), I’d love to hear your suggestions re. how to deal with aggressive dogs while walking, running, jogging, biking, etc. My writers group’s resident policeman, Ray, says to carry a sturdy stick and wack the dogs across the nose or eyes. What tactics do you use? Please tell us what works for you. Thanks! Becky
After I mailed my last Christmas package a couple hours ago, I decided to take advantage of a sunny, wind-free afternoon and walk the canal road near our home. But I forgot to take the stick I keep handy to ward off the two dogs that live on the other side of the now-empty canal. Most dogs just bark, but these medium-size canines seem to delight in the fact that their property-protecting duties are no longer hindered by a wide expanse of fast-moving water.
The moment they saw me, the dogs raced down into the canal bed and charged up the other side, aiming directly for me. I yelled and kicked at them, but they kept coming. And they wouldn’t back off. So I did the backing and suddenly found myself rolling down the other side of the canal, which was a ways down. The good news is that because I was dressed in layers to withstand 40 degree temps and had plenty of padding, I was unscathed by the tumble. However, when I stopped rolling, I was face to face with two still-barking, growling dogs. I remember thinking that was not the best position to be in before scrambled I to my feet.
That’s when they apparently lost interest. Neither dog made an attempt to follow or chase me as I walked away. The last I saw of them, they were busy sniffing the place where I’d rolled off the canal road and out of their territory. Dogs are strange, strange creatures!
I must have twisted my foot when I backed off the road, because the half-mile limp home was not fun. But that’s my only injury, thank God! If those dogs had been intent on harming me, not just protecting their property, they could have done major damage. All the way home, I thanked God for an almost non-event (I know – I promised you excitement … sorry) and that I was able to mail our cards and packages earlier, while I was able to stand in a post-office line.
Just so you know, there is a health connection to this story (other than the fact I was exercising). I talked with my doctor by phone, who told me to “ice it like crazy” for the next couple of days and, of course, visit him or the emergency room if the pain gets worse. The ice is helping, a lot, so I doubt I’ll be making a trip to the emergency room tonight. We’ll see how it goes.
In the meantime, my foot prefers that I not walk on it. Instead, I’m using an office chair to wheel around the house. Though it’s not the most coordinated way to move and a bit hazardous to the floor moulding, it works.
Tell me, those of you who walk and run outdoors, what tactics do you use to discourage dog attacks? Does Mace work? I know someone who carries a spray bottle filled with ammonia. Seems like a good deterrent. Any other suggestions? I’d love to hear them!
Wishing you safe ambulation, Becky
Sorry my previous post glitched and posted before I finished. But this way you get an extra word for the wise. How can you stay healthy and slender this holiday season? Control your carb intake (or starchy foods, as my grandma used to call them). It’s that simple. Emphasize veggies and protein, and you’ll do just fine. Happy, healthy partying! Becky
p.s. If you’d like to see the complete “Hero” blog, go to http://www.grandmagonegranola.wordpress.com
My friend Shirley recently told me about her 93-year-old aunt who golfs three times a week and plays in a ukulele group. Sometimes when they’re talking on the phone, the aunt will say to Shirley, “Sorry, sweetie, I’ve got to go. Need to get to the rest home to sing and play for the old people.”
Wow, what a woman! What an attitude!
Another friend told of a senior-citizen skier he’d met on the slopes. (I don’t remember the skier’s age, but he was over 80.) The guy was out-skiing everyone around him. Said yoga kept him in shape.
We’ve all seen the pictures and heard the stories of older marathoners, gardeners, hikers and bikers. I am encouraged by their attitudes as well as their active lifestyles.
I plan to emulate them the best I can. How about you? Make plans now to stay active in 2012.
Wishing you happy, healthy holidays and Jesus as the Reason for your Christmas celebration, Becky
