Sugar, a Shift, & Merry Christmas

SUGAR
My husband showed me an article from the Baltimore Sun newspaper today that brought a big smile to my face.  A full page dedicated to why added SUGAR is bad for us. Those of us in the natural health field have been saying that for decades now, so it's about time research and the national media caught up.

Here are a few of my favorite highlights.

• Most people believe sugar just makes you fat, they don't realize it is making us sick.
• Review of over 8,000 scientific papers showed a strong link between sugar consumption and chronic diseases.
• There are some 61 different names for sugar used on product labels!  And we wonder why it is confusing!! The FDA should revise labels to make it easy to know what you are getting.
• Liquid sugar in sodas, energy drinks, sports drinks and juices is the leading source of added sugar in the American diet. HINT.... possible New Year's Resolutions !!
• Shocking comparison - "During the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, 1,500 American soldiers lost a limb in combat.  In the same period, 1.5 million people in the US lost limbs to amputations from Type 2 diabetes - a TOTALLY preventable disease!"
• The average American gets 19.5 teaspoons (78 grams) of sugar a day. We should, at MOST, be getting  6 tsp for women, 9 tsp for men and 3-6 tsp for kids.  Yet one 12 oz soda has 8-9 tsps of sugar! 

Natural sugars in fruit that include the fiber, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants are healthy for us and we won't get fat or sick from those. It is the man-made sugar that is like poison to our bodies, lowering our immunity and sabotaging our health.  This time of year we all tend to splurge, so balance it out by getting plenty of green vegetables and salad and just drinking water or tea instead of sodas or alcohol.

SHIFT

I have been blessed to have this business for the past 10 years. I want to thank each of you for helping make this happen by your referrals and your business.  I love helping people revitalize their health and will continue to do so.  However, I have recently had the opportunity to also help college students revitalize their SPIRITUAL health. 

I have been accepted as affiliate staff with the international Christian campus ministry called CRU. When I went to college, I was involved with a similar group called Inter Varsity Christian Fellowship and they had a huge impact on who I am today.  Now I have the chance to give back and encourage, educate and inspire students in their faith.  For now, I am doing this part time and continuing my business as I am requested. 

I would love to tell you more about what I do and how you can be a part of reaching the students at Howard Community College. Please email me or call me at HLS@nancyparlette.com, or 443 253-9761.

Healthy Living Strategies wishes you a Merry Christmas and a healthy and most blessed New Year.

FOR MOTHERS COMBATING CANCER

When I thought about how I could honor Mothers,  I decided to share information that could help them be at their best for as long as possible.  If you know someone with cancer or who wants to prevent cancer, then please share this with them! If you would like more information, you can invite me to speak to your Women’s group or I can give you an individual consultation.                                                                                                           Contact   HLS@nancyparlette.com

Happy Mother's Day!      

Here are steps you can take to keep your immune system strong. There have been thousands of studies that support the same conclusion - we can cut our chance of getting degenerative diseases by at least 50%!!  How? All you have to do is get 7 + servings of fresh fruits and vegetables a day!  You will want to eat the rainbow of colors of fruits and vegetables to get all the different nutrients, phytochemicals and antioxidants. 

1.  Fruits and Vegetables - Get 7+ servings of fresh fruits and vegetables a day!  We especially want to include dark leafy greens like kale, collards, chard, spinach and leaf lettuces. Other powerful cancer fighters are the cruciferous vegetables like cabbage, Brussels sprouts, broccoli and cauliflower. For fruit, think apples, avocadoes, red grapes, berries, pineapple, etc.  Juicing and Green Smoothies are GREAT ways to get concentrated nutrients into the body. 

2.    Sleep  – Adults need 7-8 hours a night in order to restore, cleanse, and rejuvenate our cells.  We need time for the body to focus on fighting disease and it can’t do that if we are always pushing it to the limit with physical and emotional activity long into the night. Melatonin is a potent antioxidant hormone that is active when you sleep.

3.       Exercise – Getting 30 minutes or more 6 days a week will strengthen your overall health & immune system. A good aerobic (huffing and puffing) workout boosts the hormone serotonin which helps us feel relaxed and happy.

4.      Deep breathing – cancer hates oxygen.  Another reason to exercise and do Hatha yoga.

5.   De-stress – Take time to relax and allow the body to restore and rejuvenate. Emotional and physical stresses initiate an inflammatory reaction in the body.

6.   Healthy fats-  Adding the good for you omega 3 fats such as flax seeds, avocado, olives, raw nuts and seeds, and fatty fish like salmon helps reduce inflammation which helps fight cancer, as well as protecting your heart, skin, cognitive function, and more.

7.   Herbs & Spices – Add these powerful antioxidants to your diet to help fight off the free radicals that cause cancer.  Use plenty of garlic, fresh ginger, onions, turmeric, rosemary, paprika, parsley, curry, cinnamon, etc.

8.    Add Essential Oils – Plants have so many amazing qualities that protect and help us heal!  Oncology departments in over 50 hospitals, such as the Mayo Clinic, Duke Univ. and Sloan Kettering, are using essential oil aromatherapy.  Frankincense is extremely powerful as are

       Oregano, Myrtle, Sandalwood, Tsuga, Lemon, Orange and more.  My friend Linda can help you at http://www.gogreengal.org/.

9.   Maintain a healthy weight  -  By doing all of the above plus drinking plenty of water and eating a high fiber diet rich in fruits, vegetables, beans, legumes & whole grains you will easily keep a good weight. The more fat you have the more estrogen you make, which can lead to cancer.

10. Avoid saturated animal fats (especially smoked, fried or processed meats),  and trans fats (hydrogenated oils) -    A study of over 3,000 Chinese women between the ages of 25 and 64 was written up in the Journal of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.  It tells the women who changed from their traditional vegetable-soy-fish diet to a more western diet rich in meat and sugary foods doubled their chance of getting breast cancer!

Eat more plant based with lots of beans and legumes instead of dairy or animal protein. Organic Edamame is great! The phytoestrogens bind to our receptor sites keeping away the stronger human estrogens so there is a decrease in cell division.  Plus, they are quickly broken down and actually help more estrogens to be excreted in the urine.

11.  Avoid refined sugar – White sugar and high fructose corn syrup found in beverages, candy, baked goods, canned goods, etc. all suppress your immune system.  They also raise your blood insulin level which stimulates fat storage and weight gain.  They also lack fiber which helps reduce cancer.

12. Avoid chemical additives –  Additives like Monosodium Glutamate (MSG), preservatives, fried foods, artificial flavors, colors, and sweeteners all are toxic to our body. READ labels!! 

13.   Cut alcohol – I don’t care how many “experts” say one glass a day is good for you.  It’s the phytochemicals and antioxidants in the grapes that are good for you - NOT the alcohol.  So eat grapes or make some fresh grape juice.  The alcohol elevates estrogen levels and increases your cancer risk!

14.   Stop smoking – a no-brainer! All the research evidence is there.  It’s only bad news!

15.   Avoid environmental pollutants and toxins – occupational (such as asbestos) and environmental; like pesticides, household cleaners, lawn chemicals, etc. 

16.  Breastfeed your babies Ladies - Nothing is better to provide our babies with the immune system and digestive system they need to stay healthy than breast feeding AND it protects you from getting breast cancer. Do it for a year, at least in the morning and night if that’s all you can manage.

REMEMBER! My Busy Mom's 10 Minute Guide to a Happy Healthy Family is available on my website! A GREAT Mother's Day gift!  www.nancyparlette.com