A Healthy Tomorrow

Building Wellness Into The Next Generation

Health Conditions

Change 1 Thing! December Challenge

by

“Change 1 Thing” Challenge

Have You Accepted the Challenge?

Take One Year to Develop a Lifetime of Optimal Health!

The “Change One Thing” Challenge is a 12 step process over one year to help you achieve your health goals.  You simply commit to make one change in your lifestyle every month, so that by the end of the year, you will have completely transformed to a healthy lifestyle.  Why each month?  It takes about 21 days to establish a new habit.  So each month, you will firmly establish one change before starting another.  Are you willing to take the challenge?

Your December Challenge (should you choose to accept it):

“I Will Optimize my Daily Diet with the Proper Supplements”

Most people are confused about supplements.  Should I take a multivitamin?  What about the news that vitamin E and Vitamin A may increase the risk of cancer?  Should I take aloe vera for good skin?  Do I need extra Zinc?  If I eat a balanced diet, do I need any supplements at all?

Actually, everyone should take supplements for the following reasons:

  • Our food supply is woefully lacking in vitamin and mineral content.  Many of our fruits, vegetables and grains have only a fraction of the nutrients they had half a century ago
  • The National Cancer Institute recommends that we eat 7 to 13 servings of fresh fruits and vegetables per day. Most Americans do not eat even half of that

While people with different illnesses will need specific supplements, here is a list of the three supplements almost everyone can benefit from:

Whole Food Supplements

Omega 3 Fatty Acids

Vitamin D

1) Whole Food Supplement: Whole food supplements are dehydrated, cold-processed plant foods in a powder that provide concentrated vitamins and minerals in their whole state.  That’s important because our bodies are designed to process nutrients from food, not to process fractionated chemicals.

Whole food supplements are completely superior to multivitamins because:

  • our bodies only absorb about a small fraction of synthetic vitamins! That bright yellow urine that you see after you’ve taken a vitamin is the majority of your hard-earned money in the toilet.   
  • the fractionated chemicals that compose typical vitamins are ineffective.  As stated by Dr. Timothy O’Shea:

“Vitamins cannot be isolated from their complexes and still perform their specific life functions within the cells.   When isolated into artificial commercial forms, like ascorbic acid, these purified synthetics act as drugs in the body.   They are no longer vitamins, and to call them such is inaccurate.”

  • Megadoses of vitamins can be toxic.   For example, several recent large studies indicate that people with high levels of vitamin A in their blood have a greater risk for osteoporosis.

2) Omega 3 Fatty Acid

Omega 3 fatty acids are important for:

Brain development and function: beneficial for concentration and coordination

Heart health: reduce triglycerides, cardiovascular events, atherosclerosis and heart arrhythmias

Reduces inflammation: therefore is beneficial for arthritis, asthma and numerous other illnesses

All cause mortality is reduced

3) Vitamin D

Boosts the immune system

Improves bone health

Reduces inflammation

Supports heart health

Reduces insulin resistance in diabetes

      Don’t forget to continue your:

January habit of drinking at least 8 glasses of water per day (1/2 your weight in ounces of water per day)

February habit of eating 7 to 9 servings of fruit and vegetables per day

March habit of replacing refined white foods with whole grains

April habit of exercising for at least 30 minutes 3 times per week

May habit of detoxifying your system daily

June habit of sleeping for 7 to 8 hours each night

July habit of Eating early, eating often and stopping before it’s too late!

August habit of Increasing Omega 3 Fatty Acids in your diet

September habit of sharing a home-cooked meal with your family at least 3 times per week

October habit of reducing your media diet

November habit of practicing stress-reducing strategies

Change 1 Thing November Challenge

by

“Change 1 Thing” Challenge

Have You Accepted the Challenge?

Take One Year to Develop a Lifetime of Optimal Health!

The “Change One Thing” Challenge is a 12 step process over one year to help you achieve your health goals.  You simply commit to make one change in your lifestyle every month, so that by the end of the year, you will have completely transformed to a healthy lifestyle.  Why each month?  It takes about 21 days to establish a new habit.  So each month, you will firmly establish one change before starting another.  Are you willing to take the challenge?

Your November Challenge (should you choose to accept it):

“I Will Start Practicing Stress-Reducing Strategies Every Day”

80% of diseases are stress related!  How does stress contribute to disease?  Life stress causes the body to release catecholamines and cortisol which are chemical and hormones that contribute directly to cardiac risk by:

• Increasing blood pressure

• Increasing blood thickness (making it more prone to clot)

• Increasing inflammation

• Increasing production and release of triglycerides from the liver

• Increasing LDL (bad cholesterol)

You can’t avoid stress, because life happens.  But you can protect your body and your mind from being damaged by stress.  So here are 4 strategies to protect your body against the effects of stress:

  • Exercise: Exercise reduces stress hormone release, and the effect last for hours after exercise is finished.  Exercise also makes you feel good, by causing the release of endorphins (feel good chemicals) in the brain.
  • Choose Optimism:  Studies have shown that people who reported high levels of optimism had a 55% lower risk of death from all causes, and a 23% lower risk of cardiovascular death. 
  • Get connected: Intentional connection (group support), interpersonal connection (marriage, friendship, pets), and community connection (participation in church groups and social groups) have all been shown to decrease life stress.  On the other hand, social isolation is a significant risk factor for coronary artery disease, cancer, and all-cause mortality.  Therefore, maintaining relationships with family and friends is important to your health.
  • Meditate: Meditation has been shown to reduce stress hormone levels, and to decrease the “fight or flight” response that the body assumes when you’re stressed out.  But this shouldn’t surprise us.  The Bible constantly encourages us to meditate.  And meditate simply means to focus your thoughts on something, or to reflect on something.  It means to “think on these things.”  Meditation works best when it is a daily practice.  The Bible encourages us to meditate:

“…on God’s wonderful works” Ps 145:5

“on God’s promises” Ps 119: 148

“on God’s unfailing love” Ps 48:9

“on whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”

      Don’t forget to continue your:

January habit of drinking at least 8 glasses of water per day (1/2 your weight in ounces of water per day)

February habit of eating 7 to 9 servings of fruit and vegetables per day

March habit of replacing refined white foods with whole grains

April habit of exercising for at least 30 minutes 5 times per week

May habit of detoxifying your system daily

June habit of sleeping for 7 to 8 hours each night

July habit of Eating early, eating often and stopping before it’s too late!

August habit of Increasing Omega 3 Fatty Acids in your diet

September habit of sharing a home-cooked meal with your family at least 5 times per week

October habit of reducing your media diet

Change 1 Thing! September Challenge

by

Change 1 Thing” Challenge

Have You Accepted the Challenge?

Take One Year to Develop a Lifetime of Optimal Health!

The “Change One Thing” Challenge is a 12 step process over one year to help you achieve your health goals.  You simply commit to make one change in your lifestyle every month, so that by the end of the year, you will have completely transformed to a healthy lifestyle.  Why each month?  It takes about 21 days to establish a new habit.  So each month, you will firmly establish one change before starting another.  Are you willing to take the challenge?

Your September Challenge (should you choose to accept it):

“My Family will Share a Home-Cooked Meal Together at Least Five Times Per Week”

Now that the summer is coming to an end and the kids are back in school, most of us are settling back into a daily routine.  Let me encourage you to make family meals part of your daily routine.  If not every day, at least 3 times per week.

Unfortunately, fewer families are sharing meals together.  But studies show that children who eat with their families more often are less likely to be overweight.  Why is that?  Most likely, because the home-prepared meals that the children are eating are more healthy than bought foods.  And at the table, the parent is able to influence the child’s attitudes toward healthful diets. 

And the rewards extend far beyond a healthy weight.  One study even showed that asthma symptoms are decreased in children who eat more often with their families.  Here are some other research-proven benefits that children experience from frequent family meals:

  • Formation of healthy eating habits in the future
  • Decreased future substance use and eating disorders in girls
  • Improved emotional well-being in adolescents
  • Increased intake of vegetables
  • Increased intake of vitamins and minerals

Tips for making it work:

  • Make the family table a media free zone.  That is, turn off the television, prohibit cell phones and computers at the table.  That will help everyone at the table give their attention to one another.
  • Always have plenty of fruits and vegetables on the table.  Kids are more likely to eat the healthy options when they are right in front of them.
  • Plan ahead and use quick cooking methods such as sautéing and broiling for healthy and quickly prepared meals.

Does it matter what you eat?  Of course!  Healthy meals will include a variety and abundance of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and infrequent fried foods.  Use the food plate below for a guide.

      Don’t forget to continue your:

January habit of drinking at least 8 glasses of water per day (1/2 your weight in ounces of water per day)

February habit of eating 7 to 9 servings of fruit and vegetables per day

March habit of replacing refined white foods with whole grains

April habit of exercising for at least 30 minutes 3 times per week

May habit of detoxifying your system daily

June habit of sleeping for 7 to 8 hours each night

July habit of Eating Early, eating often and stopping before it’s too late!

August habit of Increasing Omega 3 Fatty Acids in your diet

Change 1 Thing! August Challenge

by

Change 1 Thing” Challenge

Have You Accepted the Challenge?

Take One Year to Develop a Lifetime of Optimal Health!

The “Change One Thing” Challenge is a 12 step process over one year to help you achieve your health goals.  You simply commit to make one change in your lifestyle every month, so that by the end of the year, you will have completely transformed to a healthy lifestyle.  Why each month?  It takes about 21 days to establish a new habit.  So each month, you will firmly establish one change before starting another.  Are you willing to take the challenge?

Your August Challenge (should you choose to accept it):

“I will Protect my Heart and Brain by Enriching my Diet with

Omega 3 Fatty Acid Power!”

You mean, fats can be good for you?  The right kind of fats are more than good – they’re essential.  Recently, omega-3 fatty acids have become all the rage.  Why?  First, they play a critical role in reducing risk of cardiovascular disease by:  1) anti-platelet activity; platelets cause clotting of the blood, and therefore, can lead to poor circulation,  2) triglyceride reduction; of course high triglycerides are a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, 3) increased HDL cholesterol (the good cholesterol as it’s called, because it prevents atherosclerosis). 

Omega-3 fatty acids are also a great brain health nutrient.  Our brains are 60% fat, and therefore, healthy fats are needed to support the structure and function of the brain.  The omega-3 fatty acids called DHA and EPA are essential for proper brain structure, and communication of brain cells.  Also, by lowering inflammation, omega 3s protect against neurological (such as Alzheimer’s) and psychological (such as depression) conditions.

Dr. Alan Logan states “dietary and supplemental omega-3 fatty acids may be the most significant brain insurance policy you can purchase.”

Good sources of omega-3 fatty acids are:

fatty fish, such as salmon and tuna

 nuts (such as walnuts and almonds) and

seeds (e.g. pumpkin seeds)

Omega-3 fatty acid supplements

      Don’t forget to continue your:

January habit of drinking at least 8 glasses of water per day (1/2 your weight in ounces of water per day)

February habit of eating 7 to 9 servings of fruit and vegetables per day

March habit of replacing refined white foods with whole grains

April habit of exercising for at least 30 minutes 3 times per week

May habit of detoxifying your system daily

June habit of sleeping for 7 to 8 hours each night

July habit of Eating Early, eating often and stopping before it’s too late!

Change 1 Thing! July Challenge

by

“Change 1 Thing” Challenge

Have You Accepted the Challenge?

Take One Year to Develop a Lifetime of Optimal Health!

The “Change One Thing” Challenge is a 12 step process over one year to help you achieve your health goals.  You simply commit to make one change in your lifestyle every month, so that by the end of the year, you will have completely transformed to a healthy lifestyle.  Why each month?  It takes about 21 days to establish a new habit.  So each month, you will firmly establish one change before starting another.  Are you willing to take the challenge?

Your July Challenge (should you choose to accept it):

“I will Eat Early, Eat Often and Stop Before it’s Too Late!”

Eat early means to start with breakfast.  You may have many excuses for skipping breakfast such “I don’t have time,” or “I’m not hungry in the mornings,” or my favorite “I’m just not a breakfast person.”  But breakfast is critical because it stimulates your metabolism for the day, helping you burn calories efficiently.  Now of course, you want a quality breakfast.  It doesn’t have to be big.  In fact, a bowl of whole-grain oatmeal sprinkled with walnuts or fruit is a great choice!

Eat Often:  That sounds counterproductive doesn’t it?  In fact, you may already eat all the time and it’s gotten you into trouble.  However, it is a proven fact that frequent meals result in weight loss in both adults and children.  But of course, it depends what you’re eating all day.  In between meals, you need power-packed snacks.  Snacks that are packed with anti-oxidants, vitamins and minerals that keep your metabolism running at a high level.  Foods that fit the bill would be vegetables, fruits, and nuts and seeds.  For maximum benefit, these snacks need to be organic so that you’re not ingesting pesticides and other toxins along with the good stuff.

STOP before it’s too late!  Too late means eating within 3 to 4 hours of going to sleep.  Lots of fast food places entice you to grab a late night meal on your way home.  Resist! Your body is simply not designed to eat late at night and process food while you’re sleeping.  Late eating causes weight gain, and leads to all types of digestion problems, especially GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease).  You’ll even sleep better when you lay down on a quiet stomach (a stomach that’s finished its work of digestion). 

It’s a 3-part challenge for the month of July, but you can handle it.  Remember, you are building habits that will result in optimal health for the rest of your life. 

So, are you taking the challenge?  We’re on a 12 month journey to a lifetime of incredible health!  If you didn’t start with us in January, that’s okay.  You can start right now with this month’s challenge. 

      Don’t forget to continue your:

January habit of drinking at least 8 glasses of water per day (1/2 your weight in ounces of water per day)

February habit of eating 7 to 9 servings of fruit and vegetables per day

March habit of replacing refined white foods with whole grains

April habit of exercising for at least 30 minutes 3 times per week

May habit of detoxifying your system daily

June habit of sleeping for 7 to 8 hours each night

Change 1 Thing! June Challenge

by

“Change 1 Thing” Challenge

Have You Accepted the Challenge?

Take One Year to Develop a Lifetime of Optimal Health!

“Change One Thing” is a 12 step process over one year to help you achieve your health goals.  You simply commit to make one change in your lifestyle every month, so that by the end of the year, you will have completely transformed to a healthy lifestyle. 

Why each month?  It takes about 21 days to establish a new habit.  So each month, you will firmly establish one change before starting another.  Are you willing to take the challenge?

Your June Challenge (should you choose to accept it):

“I Will Sleep for 7 to 8 Hours Every Night

Sleep is a serious problem in this society these days!  Almost a quarter of Americans report having insomnia every night or most nights.  Sleeping aids are prescribed and sold at record numbers, and now they are increasingly used by children and adolescents.  A good night’s sleep is just as essential to optimal health as proper nutrition and exercise.

Studies show a strong link between inadequate sleep and obesity.  That may sound counterintuitive, but the trend has been shown in both kids and adults.  And new studies are now coming out, showing that inadequate sleep increases your risk for type 2 diabetes.

How much sleep is enough?  Depends on your age. 

  • Adults should get 7 to 8 hours of sleep per night.  (9 or more hours of sleep has also been tied to increased diabetes risk).  
  • Children between the ages of 2 and 6 years should get 10 – 12 hrs
  • 7 to 13 year olds should get 9 to 11 hours of sleep. 
  • High schoolers should get 9 to 10 hours of sleep per night.

And it’s not just the quantity of sleep that matters to your health, but the quality as well.  An interesting study of young adults showed that slow-wave sleep, which is the most restorative stage of sleep, is important for glucose regulation.  When slow-wave sleep is reduced, there is an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Here’s a tip for getting a good night’s sleep:

Avoid technology in the bedroom.  Artificial light from the various technology screens increases alertness and reduces melatonin levels.  At least an hour before sleep, turn off the technology.  With, kids this is critical.  1 in 10 kids report having their sleep interrupted by text messages during the night.

So focus this month on getting your optimal amount of sleep every night.  One clue that you’re getting enough sleep is that you wake up feeling restored without the need for an alarm clock. Are you up to the challenge?

      Don’t forget to continue your:

January habit of drinking at least 8 glasses of water per day (1/2 your weight in ounces of water per day)

February habit of eating 7 to 9 servings of fruit and vegetables per day

March habit of replacing refined white foods with whole grains

April habit of exercising for at least 30 minutes 3 times per week

May habit of detoxifying your system daily