Getting to the core of the matter
Even Eve had a devil of a time tempting Adam, Cain and Abel to eat their fruits and vegetables. “Yes, dear.” Precedent established.
Since ancient times, apples have been a celebrated fruit. In early Greek and Roman mythology the apple is a symbol of love and beauty. Cleopatra was rumored to have included an apple in Caesar’s chariot lunch box every day before he went into battle.
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Tia Today: Sugar, dancing and forgiveness
Day 10 of the new habits for life is upon me. To my surprise, I can move with more ease and have much less back and ankle pain. Now, this doesn’t mean I’m dancin’ in the steets yet. That much coordination may take a while. (Do grandmothers dance in the streets?)
Today is really only day three of the formal Totally Fit Life system. I began most of the program last week, but opted to begin the temporary “boot camp” eating for this week. (There were cookies in the freezer. I had to help get rid of them.)
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Screening may detect postpartum depression
New research has found that three simple questions were just as good as conventional screening for identifying potential postpartum depression among new mothers.
“Postpartum depression is under-diagnosed,” said Dr. Adam Aponte, a pediatrician and associate director for recruitment and retention at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City. “We found the fewer the questions, the better. It opens the door for dialogue about how the mom is doing. The last thing you want is a depressed mom. It’s important to screen.”
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Chefs are the doctors of the future
Hippocrates, the father of medicine, was right-on when in 400 BC he declared: “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.”
After my loyal 15-year-old yellow lab died, I deeply grieved and became emotionally intoxicated on an unfamiliar level. We spent nearly every day of her life together; even vacations centered on the beloved family member. Just recently, however, I discovered that I was being overly medicated by my family physician. Psychotherapeutic drugs, like antidepressants and sedatives, have nearly doubled from 671 deaths to 1,300. Adios to drugs that took me out of the game and hello to food as medicine.
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Back to the future: Eat with the seasons
My grandpa lived to be 105, and every mornin’ he spread bacon grease on his warm toast, so quit bugging me about how I eat!” Like fingernails on a black board, here it comes… “You gotta die from something.”
Naturally, things aren’t the same today as they were in grandpa’s days. But you can bet on the proverbial farm, grandpa worked hard, planted his own produce and didn’t suck down a daily diet of plastic buns, greasy burgers and artery-detonating fries. His kin ate from the colorful family garden and enjoyed compassionately raised vegetarian cattle that had not been chemically basted.
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Tia Today: Fit after 40?
True confessions time. I want to get in shape.
As in be able to walk for a few miles and, well, keep walking.
I used to walk 30 to 60 minutes a day. Then a series of accidents (and more) twisted my back into a functional pretzel. The result? Lots of nonproductive pain. (Childbirth is an example of “productive pain.” Such a splendid result. ) Instead, I could barely walk… or drive! What to do?
I went to physical therapists. However, I got worse. Again, lots of nonproductive pain.
I went to a chiropractor. Again, pain with no gain.
I’m a grandparent who used to shoot free throws. Today I just want to play with my grandson. So, I have to brush up on those skills. (This is Indiana.)
My youngest daughter lives in South Africa with her businessman husband. Flying there requires lots of stamina. (Did you think I was going to say money? Good health comes first.) I’m out of excuses.
But, because of faith, I found hope!
Totally Fit Life, a nationally known program, is beginning in Greenwood this month at The Gathering Place (TGP) at 1495 West Main Street. Saturday, Don Nava, internationally known for creating “vitality programs” is sharing seven hours of ways to help us get on track. (Vitality. Yeah!)
I’m taking that first step Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. I’ll be at the auditorium of Community Church of Greenwood, next door to TGP, to create the beginning of — as they say — “successful,
sustainable results”. The $10 fee is less than two cups of fancy coffee.
There are six wellness aspects addressed — physical (you knew that), spiritual (an often forgotten aspect), nutritional, mental, emotional and directional (definition in future columns).
I’m game! Every week I’ll share what’s happening.
What I’m not sharing is my weight! I never was a numbers person.
This is about getting past the mental and physical hurdles. It’s about a new Today.
However, when I’ve shopped for new, smaller-size clothes someday — you’ll know!
For Totally Fit Life seminar info call Lori at 317-884-0531.
Anti-Aging Calendar for the week of 09.11.08
St. Francis Hospital Offers Free Prostate Screening • St. Francis Hospital & Health Centers and Urology of Indiana are presenting a prostate cancer awareness and early detection program. They are also offering prostate exams. Early detection and treatment options will be discussed. Men over 50 and their spouses or significant others, are encouraged to attend. | Where: Education program is Wednesday from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at St. Francis Education Center, 5935 S. Emerson Ave., Suite 100. The prostate screenings are today from 5 to 8 p.m. at the St. Francis Mooresville Cancer Center, 1215 Hadley Rd., Ste 105; or on Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon at St. Francis Indianapolis Cancer Center, 8111 S. Emerson Ave. Screenings are free and take a few minutes. Registration required; call 782-4422 Monday through Friday 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
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Study probes lower dose drugs for artificial heart valve patients
Chris Connelly was aware he would eventually need surgery to correct a calcified valve in his heart, but what he didn’t suspect was that he might be living on borrowed time.
While attending a recent heart health seminar at St. Francis Hospital & Health Centers, Connelly, a father of three, learned about a new Food and Drug Administration-approved clinical trial underway at the St. Francis Heart Center. He inquired and was accepted into the study.
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Yes, I said fungus
For over 2,000 years, the noble shiitake has been coveted as the finest edible mushroom in Asia, and now America is catching on to this healing nutritional fungus. After all, 1.3 billion Chinese can’t be wrong.
What exactly is an edible fungus, since fungi are normally associated with something unpleasantly itchy, requiring a salvo of salve?
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