Today's Vitamin of the Day is B1, also known as Thiamine. Did you know that the true Vitamin B complex actually has about 20 different parts to it. We know these as all the different B's. One of the main foods that have the B family are whole grains. Let's use wheat as the example. There are three parts - the germ, the bran, and the endosperm. The germ and bran have the B vitamins as well as some healthy fats. The endosperm is the carbohydrate. When they make refined flour, the main ingredient in white bread and cookies all that gets used is the carbohydrate. But the food manufacturers are nice to us and they "enrich" the flour with up to 8-12 synthetic B vitamins. Doesn't sound like enriching to me - take away 20 and give back 8!
B1 is a required cofactor for some very important enzymes involved in carbohydrate metabolism. This supports mental alertness and cognitive ability. It also maintains appetite and normal digestion. It aids the cardiovascular, digestive, integumentary (skin), and nervous systems along with the eyes.
You can find B1 in black beans, brown rice (not white), green and split peas, lentils, lima beans, mushrooms, navy beans, nutritional yeast, organ meats, pinto beans, sunflower seeds, tuna, wheat germ, and whole grains.
Friday, January 14, 2011
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Vitamin A a.k.a Beta-Carotene
Vitamin A is also known as Beta-carotene. However, here is where it gets confusing - they are not the same! True Vitamin A is found only in animal products, such as butter, egg yolks, liver, organ meats and shellfish. Beta-carotene is found in plant food, such as carrots, red bell peppers, sweet potatoes, winter squash, and particularly leafy greens (collard greens, kale, spinach, Swiss chard, turnip greens). And for the animal product to be a good source of Vitamin A, they should be eating green food, such as cows eating green grass. Think of the animal as a Vitamin A factory! When we consume Beta-carotene from plants (or vitamin supplements) our body has to convert it into Vitamin A. And guess what - we aren't that efficient in doing that. To learn all about Vitamin A click here.
Vitamin A supports the endocrine, immune, integumentary (that's skin), and reproductive systems along with our eyes. It is required for growth and natural repair of many body tissues, and maintains integrity of blood cells and epithelial tissue lining the gut, lungs, and reproductive tract.
Vitamin A supports the endocrine, immune, integumentary (that's skin), and reproductive systems along with our eyes. It is required for growth and natural repair of many body tissues, and maintains integrity of blood cells and epithelial tissue lining the gut, lungs, and reproductive tract.
Monday, January 3, 2011
January 2011 Newsletter - Happy New Year and Resolutions
Happy New Year! May it be both happy and healthy for you and your loved ones. First off I’d like to thank all of you for your support this past year. My business grew over 20% and given the generally poor economy for most of the year I am very pleased with that. But even more so, I am pleased with the successes of my clients and their moves to healthier lifestyles.
Since it is that time of year I have two resolutions for the year with respect to Rosen Wellness. They both revolve around providing the best service to my clients and readers. The first one is to continue to expand my capabilities and certifications to help my clients through training and education. You can read the article below about my planned trainings for 2011. The second resolution is to begin what I’ll call “Health Club” – a monthly open forum meeting for clients which I’ll tell you more about next month.
For those of you in the Milwaukee area pick up the January issue of M Magazine. It is their wellness issue and I am featured in one of the articles!
I’ll be starting the year off with a series of workshops in Sonoma, California, so if you are in the area please join me. I’ll also be doing a Nutrition Boot Camp Part 1 in Port Washington. For a complete list of workshops click here Workshops.
Strategies for Successful and Sustained Weight Loss
One of the most common New Year’s resolutions is to lose weight and adapt a healthier lifestyle. Each year we tell ourselves “this is the year I’ll do it.” The health clubs are jammed with others making the same resolution. You see all your friends and co-workers. There are lines of people waiting to use the stepping machines and the exercise bikes. Then, as it happens every year, by the middle of February the crowds are gone and the few faithful remain.
If you are like most people, at first you were successful, feeling good, and had dropped a few pounds. You cut back on your drinking, were choking down salads at lunch, skipped a meal here and there, swore off desserts, and worked out hard at the gym. But now you’ve hit the dreaded “plateau” and the pounds are no longer flying off. You’re starting to get discouraged and the old habits start to creep back in. You have a beer or wine, cheat a little bit at lunch, have a dessert, skip a workout, and before you know it, all the weight you worked so hard to lose is back on and perhaps a few more bonus pounds. Unfortunately you are not alone. This is how over 95% of all diets end. However, there is another outcome. If you read on you’ll learn how you can get lasting results.
Full Article - Secrets to Successful and Sustaining Weight Loss
My New Year’s Resolutions – New Certifications and Training
I have to admit - I enjoy what I do. One of my main reasons for leaving the corporate world was to have a more rewarding career – where I could truly help people improve their lives. When most people think of nutrition consulting they think of weight loss. While that certainly is a big part of it (particularly in January), I find what I do frequently is more like detective work. For many of my clients weight loss is not their main issue. Many of them have digestive or hormonal issues or something that “isn’t quite right” that their doctor can’t explain. While I have a variety of tools to use in my analysis, I’m always looking to learn new stuff.
This year I’ll begin two new trainings. The first is a Certified Clinician in Whole Food Nutrition (CCWFN) from the International Foundation for Nutrition and Health (IFNH). To read more about the IFNH click here IFNH. To read about the program click here Whole Foods Nutrition Certification.
The second is Nutrition Response Testing, better known as muscle testing. I will be learning this in March and am quite excited about it. The program is through Ulan Nutritional Services, one of the leaders in teaching this information. Ulan Nutritional Services/.
The Page Diet
One of the eating plans taught by the IFNH (see above) is the Page Diet Plan. It seeks to balance body chemistry through a whole foods diet. Of course one of the “side effects” of this is weight loss. If you’d like to read about this diet, follow this link Page Diet Plan.
Since it is that time of year I have two resolutions for the year with respect to Rosen Wellness. They both revolve around providing the best service to my clients and readers. The first one is to continue to expand my capabilities and certifications to help my clients through training and education. You can read the article below about my planned trainings for 2011. The second resolution is to begin what I’ll call “Health Club” – a monthly open forum meeting for clients which I’ll tell you more about next month.
For those of you in the Milwaukee area pick up the January issue of M Magazine. It is their wellness issue and I am featured in one of the articles!
I’ll be starting the year off with a series of workshops in Sonoma, California, so if you are in the area please join me. I’ll also be doing a Nutrition Boot Camp Part 1 in Port Washington. For a complete list of workshops click here Workshops.
Strategies for Successful and Sustained Weight Loss
One of the most common New Year’s resolutions is to lose weight and adapt a healthier lifestyle. Each year we tell ourselves “this is the year I’ll do it.” The health clubs are jammed with others making the same resolution. You see all your friends and co-workers. There are lines of people waiting to use the stepping machines and the exercise bikes. Then, as it happens every year, by the middle of February the crowds are gone and the few faithful remain.
If you are like most people, at first you were successful, feeling good, and had dropped a few pounds. You cut back on your drinking, were choking down salads at lunch, skipped a meal here and there, swore off desserts, and worked out hard at the gym. But now you’ve hit the dreaded “plateau” and the pounds are no longer flying off. You’re starting to get discouraged and the old habits start to creep back in. You have a beer or wine, cheat a little bit at lunch, have a dessert, skip a workout, and before you know it, all the weight you worked so hard to lose is back on and perhaps a few more bonus pounds. Unfortunately you are not alone. This is how over 95% of all diets end. However, there is another outcome. If you read on you’ll learn how you can get lasting results.
Full Article - Secrets to Successful and Sustaining Weight Loss
My New Year’s Resolutions – New Certifications and Training
I have to admit - I enjoy what I do. One of my main reasons for leaving the corporate world was to have a more rewarding career – where I could truly help people improve their lives. When most people think of nutrition consulting they think of weight loss. While that certainly is a big part of it (particularly in January), I find what I do frequently is more like detective work. For many of my clients weight loss is not their main issue. Many of them have digestive or hormonal issues or something that “isn’t quite right” that their doctor can’t explain. While I have a variety of tools to use in my analysis, I’m always looking to learn new stuff.
This year I’ll begin two new trainings. The first is a Certified Clinician in Whole Food Nutrition (CCWFN) from the International Foundation for Nutrition and Health (IFNH). To read more about the IFNH click here IFNH. To read about the program click here Whole Foods Nutrition Certification.
The second is Nutrition Response Testing, better known as muscle testing. I will be learning this in March and am quite excited about it. The program is through Ulan Nutritional Services, one of the leaders in teaching this information. Ulan Nutritional Services/.
The Page Diet
One of the eating plans taught by the IFNH (see above) is the Page Diet Plan. It seeks to balance body chemistry through a whole foods diet. Of course one of the “side effects” of this is weight loss. If you’d like to read about this diet, follow this link Page Diet Plan.
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Secrets to Sustaining and Successful Weight Loss
One of the most common New Year’s resolutions is to lose weight and adapt a healthier lifestyle. Each year we tell ourselves “this is the year I’ll do it.” The health clubs are jammed with others making the same resolution. You see all your friends and co-workers. There are lines of people waiting to use the stepping machines and the exercise bikes. Then, as it happens every year, by the middle of February the crowds are gone and the few faithful remain.
If you are like most people, at first you were successful, feeling good, and had dropped a few pounds. You cut back on your drinking, were choking down salads at lunch, skipped a meal here and there, swore off desserts, and worked out hard at the gym. But now you’ve hit the dreaded “plateau” and the pounds are no longer flying off. You’re starting to get discouraged and the old habits start to creep back in. You have a beer or wine, cheat a little bit at lunch, have a dessert, skip a workout, and before you know it, all the weight you worked so hard to lose is back on and perhaps a few more bonus pounds. Unfortunately you are not alone. This is how over 95% of all diets end. However, there is another outcome. If you read on you’ll learn how you can get lasting results.
Here’s the secret. First, eat nutrient dense foods. We are told the equation is simple – eat fewer calories and exercise more and we will lose weight. Truth be told, the formula is much more complex – all calories are not created equal. A calorie is a potential for energy. How and when your body uses that calorie can yield completely different outcomes. I can guarantee you that 75 calories from a hard-boiled egg and 75 calories from white bread will behave completely different in your body. Look back at previous columns I’ve written or go to my blog for a refresher on these healthy foods.
Second, it is not only about weight, but also size! We need to measure body fat, not just weight. Remember our friend protein from last month? It is protein that builds muscle. Muscle burns fat and weighs more than fat. If we are working out too hard and not providing our body with enough nutrients, in order to keep up with the exercise our body will actually break down muscle. In a surprising number of people, a high percentage of their weight loss is coming from muscle loss disproportionate to fat loss. I always get a chuckle when a client is upset because they have not lost any weight, but they are down two dress sizes!
Third, exercise wisely. Improper exercise will raise cortisol levels. This puts sugar in the blood stream, and promotes fat storage which increases the likelihood of insulin resistance; and lowers DHEA (an anti-aging, libido stimulating, and fat burning hormone). Insulin resistance blocks the burning of fat, causes fat storage around the abdomen, and causes inflammation.
Fourth, be aware of hormone imbalances. Imbalances of estrogen and progesterone in women promote fat storing. Low DHEA and testosterone in men and women reduce the ability to burn fat and build muscle. High estrogen in men promotes fat storage. High progesterone in women promotes insulin resistance. With low thyroid function (hypothyroidism) muscle building is slowed, metabolism is slowed, sex hormones are not produced sufficiently and are out of balance, and general low energy and fatigue is experienced. How do our hormones get out of balance? Too much stress and poor food choices are the major culprits.
The best program for long term health and vitality will be one that addresses your individual needs. Working with a qualified nutrition consultant you can determine what foods you need to add to your diet, what exercise is right for you, and whether or not your hormones are in balance. As these areas are brought back into balance your metabolism will improve, enabling you to lose weight in a healthy manner. It may take some time to get the body back on track. The body has built-in healing mechanisms and with proper nutrition and healthy behaviors the body will heal. As the body heals you will lose fat and weight.
Bernard Rosen, PhD is a Nutrition Consultant and Educator. He works with individuals, groups, and at corporations to create individualized nutrition and wellness programs. His office is in Thiensville, WI. To learn more or to schedule an appointment, call (262) 389-9907 or go to www.brwellness.com.
If you are like most people, at first you were successful, feeling good, and had dropped a few pounds. You cut back on your drinking, were choking down salads at lunch, skipped a meal here and there, swore off desserts, and worked out hard at the gym. But now you’ve hit the dreaded “plateau” and the pounds are no longer flying off. You’re starting to get discouraged and the old habits start to creep back in. You have a beer or wine, cheat a little bit at lunch, have a dessert, skip a workout, and before you know it, all the weight you worked so hard to lose is back on and perhaps a few more bonus pounds. Unfortunately you are not alone. This is how over 95% of all diets end. However, there is another outcome. If you read on you’ll learn how you can get lasting results.
Here’s the secret. First, eat nutrient dense foods. We are told the equation is simple – eat fewer calories and exercise more and we will lose weight. Truth be told, the formula is much more complex – all calories are not created equal. A calorie is a potential for energy. How and when your body uses that calorie can yield completely different outcomes. I can guarantee you that 75 calories from a hard-boiled egg and 75 calories from white bread will behave completely different in your body. Look back at previous columns I’ve written or go to my blog for a refresher on these healthy foods.
Second, it is not only about weight, but also size! We need to measure body fat, not just weight. Remember our friend protein from last month? It is protein that builds muscle. Muscle burns fat and weighs more than fat. If we are working out too hard and not providing our body with enough nutrients, in order to keep up with the exercise our body will actually break down muscle. In a surprising number of people, a high percentage of their weight loss is coming from muscle loss disproportionate to fat loss. I always get a chuckle when a client is upset because they have not lost any weight, but they are down two dress sizes!
Third, exercise wisely. Improper exercise will raise cortisol levels. This puts sugar in the blood stream, and promotes fat storage which increases the likelihood of insulin resistance; and lowers DHEA (an anti-aging, libido stimulating, and fat burning hormone). Insulin resistance blocks the burning of fat, causes fat storage around the abdomen, and causes inflammation.
Fourth, be aware of hormone imbalances. Imbalances of estrogen and progesterone in women promote fat storing. Low DHEA and testosterone in men and women reduce the ability to burn fat and build muscle. High estrogen in men promotes fat storage. High progesterone in women promotes insulin resistance. With low thyroid function (hypothyroidism) muscle building is slowed, metabolism is slowed, sex hormones are not produced sufficiently and are out of balance, and general low energy and fatigue is experienced. How do our hormones get out of balance? Too much stress and poor food choices are the major culprits.
The best program for long term health and vitality will be one that addresses your individual needs. Working with a qualified nutrition consultant you can determine what foods you need to add to your diet, what exercise is right for you, and whether or not your hormones are in balance. As these areas are brought back into balance your metabolism will improve, enabling you to lose weight in a healthy manner. It may take some time to get the body back on track. The body has built-in healing mechanisms and with proper nutrition and healthy behaviors the body will heal. As the body heals you will lose fat and weight.
Bernard Rosen, PhD is a Nutrition Consultant and Educator. He works with individuals, groups, and at corporations to create individualized nutrition and wellness programs. His office is in Thiensville, WI. To learn more or to schedule an appointment, call (262) 389-9907 or go to www.brwellness.com.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Five Simple New Year’s Resolutions Starters
We now enter an interesting time of year – the Holiday Season. We become festive and at the same time introspective. It can be a time of excess food and drink and yet at the same time we start to ponder our New Year’s Resolution – changes we will make or what we will do differently in the coming year. For many the last thing we want to hear about is how to eat healthier, but why not, that’s what I do! Here’s a few simple suggestions for a healthier New Year, or perhaps you may want to start them now!
1. Start your morning off with a healthy protein shake for breakfast. Please use whey or rice based protein and avoid soy (I’ve written in the past on the dangers of soy protein). This is a great way to get your breakfast protein. Remember we want to have protein with each meal. And, it is a great way to eat some fruit (like a cup of frozen berries) for antioxidant protection and fiber. Berries – blueberries, strawberries, and raspberries have the most antioxidants, but you can also use half a banana, pineapple, mango, cherries, or kiwi. You can even add in some yogurt or kefir for probiotics (the good bacteria) to help your digestion and some ground flax seeds, flax seed oil, or chia seeds for healthy fats.
2. While we’re talking fats – make your own salad dressings from extra virgin olive oil and use it! Mix the olive oil with balsamic vinegar, red wine vinegar, apple cider vinegar, or lemon juice; add some garlic, Dijon mustard, or other spices and you have a very tasty dressing. Have a salad with some chicken or tuna for lunch, or have a side salad with dinner.
3. Eat one organic carrot a day! And I don’t mean a “baby” carrot. You do know there really is no such thing as a baby carrot, right? The carrot has lots of vitamins, minerals and fiber; and if it is organic you don’t even have to peel it. Just wash, eat and enjoy!
4. Eat one serving of leafy greens per day. You can get these in your salad from a variety of lettuces (no iceberg please) or for the most nutrition have kale, chard, mustard greens, collard greens, beet greens, or spinach. Except for lettuce, all the other leafy greens I mentioned are best steamed or sauted to get the most nutrition from them and they tend to taste better, particularly when sauted with garlic and butter!
5. Make home-made soups. As it gets colder our body wants to be warmed and home-made soup is a great way to do it. Start from scratch, if it is beef based or chicken based use the bones! Why does chicken soup have the reputation for healing? Because of all the nutrients (minerals) that leach out of the bones while it is being cooked. Soup is also a great way to get your vegetables in – celery, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, onions, cabbage – and many more all go great in soup. I’ve recently become fond of cooking the soup and for the final touch putting it my VitaMax for a tasty blended soup. That’s a great way to hide the vegetables from the veggie-phobics in the family!
So, there you have it. What do you say? These aren’t too bad are they? Try them out, one or all of them. I can guarantee you’ll be pleased if you do.
Bernard Rosen, PhD is a Nutrition Consultant and Educator. He works with individuals, groups, and at corporations to create individualized nutrition and wellness programs. His office is in Thiensville, WI. To learn more or to schedule an appointment, call (262) 389-9907 or go to www.brwellness.com.
1. Start your morning off with a healthy protein shake for breakfast. Please use whey or rice based protein and avoid soy (I’ve written in the past on the dangers of soy protein). This is a great way to get your breakfast protein. Remember we want to have protein with each meal. And, it is a great way to eat some fruit (like a cup of frozen berries) for antioxidant protection and fiber. Berries – blueberries, strawberries, and raspberries have the most antioxidants, but you can also use half a banana, pineapple, mango, cherries, or kiwi. You can even add in some yogurt or kefir for probiotics (the good bacteria) to help your digestion and some ground flax seeds, flax seed oil, or chia seeds for healthy fats.
2. While we’re talking fats – make your own salad dressings from extra virgin olive oil and use it! Mix the olive oil with balsamic vinegar, red wine vinegar, apple cider vinegar, or lemon juice; add some garlic, Dijon mustard, or other spices and you have a very tasty dressing. Have a salad with some chicken or tuna for lunch, or have a side salad with dinner.
3. Eat one organic carrot a day! And I don’t mean a “baby” carrot. You do know there really is no such thing as a baby carrot, right? The carrot has lots of vitamins, minerals and fiber; and if it is organic you don’t even have to peel it. Just wash, eat and enjoy!
4. Eat one serving of leafy greens per day. You can get these in your salad from a variety of lettuces (no iceberg please) or for the most nutrition have kale, chard, mustard greens, collard greens, beet greens, or spinach. Except for lettuce, all the other leafy greens I mentioned are best steamed or sauted to get the most nutrition from them and they tend to taste better, particularly when sauted with garlic and butter!
5. Make home-made soups. As it gets colder our body wants to be warmed and home-made soup is a great way to do it. Start from scratch, if it is beef based or chicken based use the bones! Why does chicken soup have the reputation for healing? Because of all the nutrients (minerals) that leach out of the bones while it is being cooked. Soup is also a great way to get your vegetables in – celery, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, onions, cabbage – and many more all go great in soup. I’ve recently become fond of cooking the soup and for the final touch putting it my VitaMax for a tasty blended soup. That’s a great way to hide the vegetables from the veggie-phobics in the family!
So, there you have it. What do you say? These aren’t too bad are they? Try them out, one or all of them. I can guarantee you’ll be pleased if you do.
Bernard Rosen, PhD is a Nutrition Consultant and Educator. He works with individuals, groups, and at corporations to create individualized nutrition and wellness programs. His office is in Thiensville, WI. To learn more or to schedule an appointment, call (262) 389-9907 or go to www.brwellness.com.
Friday, November 19, 2010
Guest Blog - Impacts of Oral Contraceptives on Sexually Transmitted Disease
This article is courtesy of Kristin Davis. She is an advocate for women's health who enjoys writing and aspires to be a journalist in New York City one day. Let me know what you think!
Although instances of unwanted pregnancy have declined recently, rates of sexually transmitted disease continue to climb. This might be explained by society’s views toward sexuality and which behaviors are acceptable and which are considered taboo. While society still clings to social stigmas regarding unwanted pregnancy, sexual promiscuity has largely been accepted. This discrepancy in societal attitude is ironic because sexual promiscuity is actually more dangerous than unintended pregnancy. While young women have several safe options in the event of an unwanted pregnancy, women who become infected with these diseases risk spreading the illness to others, permanent damage to their bodies and even death. Unfortunately, with this fixation to avoid pregnancy, many women ignore protection against this physical risk. Based on recent health trends, it is obvious that measures to prevent pregnancy do not ensure safety from disease as well.
Social stigmas regarding contraceptive use have also largely been replaced. However, many issues remain when choosing which method, including effectiveness, convenience, health risks and long term consequences. While condoms might have been the most accepted preventative tool of unwanted pregnancy, oral contraceptives have now stepped in as the leading product. These products are easy for women to use, highly effective at preventing pregnancy and affordable. Unfortunately, these contraceptives also give couples no protection against sexually transmitted disease, which could explain the rise of disease seen in America today.
It is obvious, then, that women are unaware of this method’s limitations. In fact, a serious lack of available information regarding their effectiveness and safety remains. While tempting to trust manufacturers of these contraceptives, it’s important to realize that because of this drug’s popularity, oral contraceptive manufacturing has become a major industry with huge profit potential. Drug manufacturers now promote their products heavily and send promotional materials to many health facilities. The U.S. government even endorses the use of these drugs, sending these contraceptives to family planning clinics targeting indigent, unmarried women.
Unfortunately, this heavy marketing and wide use often misleads young adults into believing these products are total health safeguards. Many oral contraceptives also advertise their products as cures to many other health conditions, including acne and mood swings. Although these products have led to the welcome decline in unwanted pregnancy, the increased rate of sexually transmitted disease might actually be a result of misconceptions regarding these products. Teens protected from pregnancy might be emboldened to have unprotected sex, believing disease prevention is just one more benefit of these “miracle drugs.”
Indeed, manufacturers of these contraceptives have little motivation to dispel these misconceptions. In fact, several manufacturers have been found guilty of contributing to the rampant misunderstanding surrounding their products, regularly failing to point out important details regarding safety. One oral contraceptive producer, Bayer HealthCare, was cited by the FDA for their misleading television advertisements. Labeling their product a total quality-of-life aid, the FDA found these ads further misled teens with unproven claims. Furthermore, Bayer was cited for substandard conditions in a plant its ingredients were manufactured in. However, the drug company’s annual multi-million dollar advertising campaigns continue to overshadow these revelations and keep its product the most popular form of oral contraception today.
Although Bayer’s lack of corporate integrity is disturbing, the severe physical consequence of these drugs is even more striking. Oral contraceptives are hormone-altering pills and can actually lead to permanent side effects, like the possibility of infertility. Originally introduced in the 1960’s, evidence today links the growing use of these drugs with the rise of cancer seen in U.S. women. Although easily dismissed by their harmless appearance, these drugs literally upset numerous significant aspects of women’s physiology as they trick the body into believing it is pregnant.
The growing number of Yaz lawsuits today highlights just how serious the health consequences of these pills are. Users of Yaz, the most popular oral contraceptive sold today, have experienced severe side effects including heart attack, stroke, blood clots, pulmonary embolisms and gallbladder disease, with some cases even ending in death. However, until sexually transmitted disease becomes the focal point of reckless sexuality, pregnancy prevention will continue to be the focus of young women, to the exclusion of other risks. A reversal in the growing trend of sexually transmitted disease requires women first learn about the limitations and dangers of this contraceptive option before blindly trusting their health and safety to it.
Although instances of unwanted pregnancy have declined recently, rates of sexually transmitted disease continue to climb. This might be explained by society’s views toward sexuality and which behaviors are acceptable and which are considered taboo. While society still clings to social stigmas regarding unwanted pregnancy, sexual promiscuity has largely been accepted. This discrepancy in societal attitude is ironic because sexual promiscuity is actually more dangerous than unintended pregnancy. While young women have several safe options in the event of an unwanted pregnancy, women who become infected with these diseases risk spreading the illness to others, permanent damage to their bodies and even death. Unfortunately, with this fixation to avoid pregnancy, many women ignore protection against this physical risk. Based on recent health trends, it is obvious that measures to prevent pregnancy do not ensure safety from disease as well.
Social stigmas regarding contraceptive use have also largely been replaced. However, many issues remain when choosing which method, including effectiveness, convenience, health risks and long term consequences. While condoms might have been the most accepted preventative tool of unwanted pregnancy, oral contraceptives have now stepped in as the leading product. These products are easy for women to use, highly effective at preventing pregnancy and affordable. Unfortunately, these contraceptives also give couples no protection against sexually transmitted disease, which could explain the rise of disease seen in America today.
It is obvious, then, that women are unaware of this method’s limitations. In fact, a serious lack of available information regarding their effectiveness and safety remains. While tempting to trust manufacturers of these contraceptives, it’s important to realize that because of this drug’s popularity, oral contraceptive manufacturing has become a major industry with huge profit potential. Drug manufacturers now promote their products heavily and send promotional materials to many health facilities. The U.S. government even endorses the use of these drugs, sending these contraceptives to family planning clinics targeting indigent, unmarried women.
Unfortunately, this heavy marketing and wide use often misleads young adults into believing these products are total health safeguards. Many oral contraceptives also advertise their products as cures to many other health conditions, including acne and mood swings. Although these products have led to the welcome decline in unwanted pregnancy, the increased rate of sexually transmitted disease might actually be a result of misconceptions regarding these products. Teens protected from pregnancy might be emboldened to have unprotected sex, believing disease prevention is just one more benefit of these “miracle drugs.”
Indeed, manufacturers of these contraceptives have little motivation to dispel these misconceptions. In fact, several manufacturers have been found guilty of contributing to the rampant misunderstanding surrounding their products, regularly failing to point out important details regarding safety. One oral contraceptive producer, Bayer HealthCare, was cited by the FDA for their misleading television advertisements. Labeling their product a total quality-of-life aid, the FDA found these ads further misled teens with unproven claims. Furthermore, Bayer was cited for substandard conditions in a plant its ingredients were manufactured in. However, the drug company’s annual multi-million dollar advertising campaigns continue to overshadow these revelations and keep its product the most popular form of oral contraception today.
Although Bayer’s lack of corporate integrity is disturbing, the severe physical consequence of these drugs is even more striking. Oral contraceptives are hormone-altering pills and can actually lead to permanent side effects, like the possibility of infertility. Originally introduced in the 1960’s, evidence today links the growing use of these drugs with the rise of cancer seen in U.S. women. Although easily dismissed by their harmless appearance, these drugs literally upset numerous significant aspects of women’s physiology as they trick the body into believing it is pregnant.
The growing number of Yaz lawsuits today highlights just how serious the health consequences of these pills are. Users of Yaz, the most popular oral contraceptive sold today, have experienced severe side effects including heart attack, stroke, blood clots, pulmonary embolisms and gallbladder disease, with some cases even ending in death. However, until sexually transmitted disease becomes the focal point of reckless sexuality, pregnancy prevention will continue to be the focus of young women, to the exclusion of other risks. A reversal in the growing trend of sexually transmitted disease requires women first learn about the limitations and dangers of this contraceptive option before blindly trusting their health and safety to it.
Monday, November 1, 2010
November 2010 Newsletter
Would you believe it is already November? It's getting to be "Holiday Season" - the nutrition consultant's nightmare time of the year. Why? Well - who wants to hear about healthy eating during the holiday season? Yet, this is probably one of the times we can do the most damage due to the readily available excess food and drink. So, please do your best! Remember - balance and moderation.
I'm a big believer in two sayings. One is that you learn something new every day. Two is that if you don't know the answer to a question your best response is, "I don't know." My feature article this month deals with that exact situation. I was asked a great question - basically - how to large herbivores (animals that eat only plants) get so large? To find out read below.
November is another busy workshop month for me so I encourage you to attend or pass along the information to friends. I'll be doing another round of Nutrition Boot Camp at HeartSpace in Thiensville on the 20th and 21st and my Rejuvenation and Relaxation workshop at the Port Washington Recreation Center also on the 20th. Rejuvenation and Relaxation is one of my favorites. Come learn simple 10 minute techniques to both relax and rejuvenate the body! For full details of the workshops click here:
The inspiration for this article comes from two absolute truths: One – you learn something new every day; and two – if you don’t know the answer it is best to say so rather than make something up! Recently I was asked a great question during a Nutrition Boot Camp workshop. I was discussing the importance of eating animal protein. I was asked if it is so important how do cows and other animals that don’t eat meat grow so large. I had never really thought about it, so it provided an excellent learning opportunity.
First, a little background. What is protein? It is one of the six core nutrients that we humans require for life (the others being fat, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, and water). Protein is the structural basis of our body. It builds and repairs tissues and cells. It makes our hormones, enzymes, neurotransmitters, and antibodies. As you can see, protein is pretty important stuff! And remember, our body is essentially one big chemical factory and these processes go on continuously. Therefore, we need a constant supply of protein which is why I recommend to my clients that they consume protein with each meal and that it is approximately 30-35% of their diet. One of the factors I believe behind all the chronic diseases, such as obesity, diabetes, cancer, and heart disease is that most people do not consume enough healthy protein. In fact, if you do the math of the government recommended 2000 calorie diet, it comes out to approximately 60% carbohydrate, 30% fat, and 10% protein. If you’d like to read more about the connection between high carbohydrate diets and disease I strongly recommend Gary Taubes book Good Calories, Bad Calories.
To continue reading click here: http://brwellness.blogspot.com/2010/10/protein-are-you-eating-enough-or-how-to.html
Positive Results from Earthing in One Night
Earthing? What’s that? I’m guessing that is what you are saying to yourself. Let me explain what I believe may be the latest and greatest breakthrough in natural health!
Yesterday I received my much anticipated copy of best selling nutrition author Ann Louise Gittleman’s latest book Zapped: Why Your Cell Phone Shouldn't Be Your Alarm Clock and 1,268 Ways to Outsmart the Hazards of Electronic Pollution. The title pretty much tells it all. The short of it is that we are being exposed to increasing amounts of electromagnetic fields which disturb our body’s natural energy. The results for some people have become toxicity, fatigue, irritability, weakness, and diseases that no doctor can explain.
One of the solutions is a new concept called “Earthing” developed by Dr. Stephen Sinatra, Clinton Ober, and Martin Zucker. Along with my copy of Zapped I received one of the Earthing devices – the Earthing Universal Mat. This mat has several different ways to use it. I chose to sleep on it. Prior to going to bad my lower back was quite sore and I must admit the first part of my sleep was not very sound. I awoke around 2:00, but then something happened. I had a very interesting dream featuring a spiritual leader massaging my lower back with special healing energy and when I awoke in the morning my back felt great! Coincidence? I don’t think so. I look forward to continue to explore this device and getting some additional ones!
To learn more about the book and the Earthing devices, follow this link: http://www.unikeyhealth.com/?a=1003.
To continue reading click here: http://brwellness.blogspot.com/2010/10/positive-results-from-earthing-in-one.html
I'm a big believer in two sayings. One is that you learn something new every day. Two is that if you don't know the answer to a question your best response is, "I don't know." My feature article this month deals with that exact situation. I was asked a great question - basically - how to large herbivores (animals that eat only plants) get so large? To find out read below.
November is another busy workshop month for me so I encourage you to attend or pass along the information to friends. I'll be doing another round of Nutrition Boot Camp at HeartSpace in Thiensville on the 20th and 21st and my Rejuvenation and Relaxation workshop at the Port Washington Recreation Center also on the 20th. Rejuvenation and Relaxation is one of my favorites. Come learn simple 10 minute techniques to both relax and rejuvenate the body! For full details of the workshops click here:
Protein: Are You Eating Enough or How to Cows Get So Big and Not Eat Meat?
The inspiration for this article comes from two absolute truths: One – you learn something new every day; and two – if you don’t know the answer it is best to say so rather than make something up! Recently I was asked a great question during a Nutrition Boot Camp workshop. I was discussing the importance of eating animal protein. I was asked if it is so important how do cows and other animals that don’t eat meat grow so large. I had never really thought about it, so it provided an excellent learning opportunity.
First, a little background. What is protein? It is one of the six core nutrients that we humans require for life (the others being fat, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, and water). Protein is the structural basis of our body. It builds and repairs tissues and cells. It makes our hormones, enzymes, neurotransmitters, and antibodies. As you can see, protein is pretty important stuff! And remember, our body is essentially one big chemical factory and these processes go on continuously. Therefore, we need a constant supply of protein which is why I recommend to my clients that they consume protein with each meal and that it is approximately 30-35% of their diet. One of the factors I believe behind all the chronic diseases, such as obesity, diabetes, cancer, and heart disease is that most people do not consume enough healthy protein. In fact, if you do the math of the government recommended 2000 calorie diet, it comes out to approximately 60% carbohydrate, 30% fat, and 10% protein. If you’d like to read more about the connection between high carbohydrate diets and disease I strongly recommend Gary Taubes book Good Calories, Bad Calories.
To continue reading click here: http://brwellness.blogspot.com/2010/10/protein-are-you-eating-enough-or-how-to.html
Positive Results from Earthing in One Night
Earthing? What’s that? I’m guessing that is what you are saying to yourself. Let me explain what I believe may be the latest and greatest breakthrough in natural health!
Yesterday I received my much anticipated copy of best selling nutrition author Ann Louise Gittleman’s latest book Zapped: Why Your Cell Phone Shouldn't Be Your Alarm Clock and 1,268 Ways to Outsmart the Hazards of Electronic Pollution. The title pretty much tells it all. The short of it is that we are being exposed to increasing amounts of electromagnetic fields which disturb our body’s natural energy. The results for some people have become toxicity, fatigue, irritability, weakness, and diseases that no doctor can explain.
One of the solutions is a new concept called “Earthing” developed by Dr. Stephen Sinatra, Clinton Ober, and Martin Zucker. Along with my copy of Zapped I received one of the Earthing devices – the Earthing Universal Mat. This mat has several different ways to use it. I chose to sleep on it. Prior to going to bad my lower back was quite sore and I must admit the first part of my sleep was not very sound. I awoke around 2:00, but then something happened. I had a very interesting dream featuring a spiritual leader massaging my lower back with special healing energy and when I awoke in the morning my back felt great! Coincidence? I don’t think so. I look forward to continue to explore this device and getting some additional ones!
To learn more about the book and the Earthing devices, follow this link: http://www.unikeyhealth.com/?a=1003.
To continue reading click here: http://brwellness.blogspot.com/2010/10/positive-results-from-earthing-in-one.html
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