Tag / lifestyle choice

by tessbrennan

Am I Clouding up for a Health Storm?

I CAN create you own health, whether I realize it or not, and whether I want to or not. 

Whether or not it can be freely expressed depends upon the strength and vitality of your tissue cells—and the strength and vitality of those cells depends upon the nutritional substances I provide.

Cloudy Health

If I don’t provide the proper building materials, how can I expect my body to build quality cells.  If I don’t have quality cells, how can my body hold up to all the stresses I place on it? My diet, my supplements, and the products I surround my body and home in can either support health or detract from it. 

When I, personally, begin Clouding up, my first thought to myself is, “What’s missing? What can I do to assist my body in repairing this issue?”

For this reason, I try to make more conscious choices in the things that surround me, the things I slather on me, and the things I eat.  It does make a difference.

I am a living example of my own choices.

by tessbrennan

Attention to Prevention–Water and other Drinks

The beginning of a healthy lifestyle does NOT begin with a prescription or something man has invented… it begins with the simple, life-giving, pure water.

I talk a lot about water, but it is so important in our day to day lives let alone in our attempts to avoid the major degenerative diseases. It’s the starting point when beginning a weight loss program, or a lifestyle change toward better health!

Our daily goal should be to drink the appropriate amount of water.

(Your weight in pounds/2 = your daily goal in ounces of water)

Life giving Water

The goal of drinking fluids is to hydrate your body. (not dehydrate)

Water Does many, many things for our bodies.  It flushes toxins our bodies, assists with digestion and metabolism, keeps our kidneys healthy, and even enhances brain function.  Amazing cool clean water.

When choosing what to drink, here’s a helpful chart.

Hydrating (in order of value)               Dehydrating

Purified Water

 Coffee
Tap Water Caffeinated tea
Bottled Water Beer
Juice –fresh-squeezed better Wine
Herbal teas, non-caffeine All other alcoholic drinks
Milk & non-milk(soy,rice,almond) Carbonated soda w/ caffeine
Carbonated soda w/o caffeine  

(information from Treasures of Health Nutrition Manual by, Reeder & Dr. Couey)

For more information on ways water could assist you in improving your health, please contact me.

by tessbrennan

Sadness is NOT Hunger

My Grandmother is 95. She’s led a full life of serving others, making memories, and loving all of us.  Her body and mind are beginning to fail her, rapidly. She needs constant care and assistance and I am 1700 miles away.

IMG-20120903-01844IMG-20120903-01846

Grandma’s 80th Birthday party.                       Grandma snuggling in 1975.

My tendency is to take charge of a situation & handle it. I am not in a position to do that with my Grammy this time. Distance is the challenge. Emotions are seemingly overwhelming but my need to reach for comfort food, finally, is not.

I am comforted in the acceptance that it hurts, that she may be gone very soon, and that she knows I lover her and she loves me. Instead of needing a grilled cheese to cope today I allowed myself to feel the grief and found comfort in a hug from my husband and some sunshine.

The results of my acceptance allow me to enjoy my desire for a healthier lifestyle and the knowledge that I am capable of feeling the emotions without the harmful choices to cope.

Today I will celebrate my small victory over “sadness not hunger” and reminisce on the many amazing memories of my Grammy and thank God for the chance to talk to this confused, precious woman.

I will strive to maintain my health and quality of life so MY grandchildren may have as many memories of a vibrant, grandma able to care for, love, and participate in their lives.

by tessbrennan

What do you think about food?

What do you think about food? REALLY?

When I plan and fix a meal for my family, I want it to be healthy, diverse, colorful, and tasty. However, when I sit down to eat that meal, do I even taste it? As a mom I am frequently jumping up to fill a glass with water or milk, get the missing item from the fridge, grab the salt or pepper from the counter, finishing the last part of the meal that didn’t get timed just right, or even running toilet paper to the little one in the bathroom. Then there is the ever roving mind considering all I need to get done as soon as dinner is finished, what can I begin cleaning up first, how can I multi-task to complete the tasks the fastest.family around table enjoying dinner

 

Often, I don’t think I even taste what I’ve fixed. I am the last to sit down and the first to jump up to clean the table. Hmmm. I know that I am making healthy choices for my family and myself, but choice I am making to inhale it rather than enjoy it can cause other issues for my health. Continue reading →

by tessbrennan

Heart Disease–Cancer–Sugar–> Tolerance=increased Sugar

I don’t believe sugar is the only thing to blame heart disease, cancer and other diseases. I do believe it is a significant factor.  When we look at the typical American diet today, it is full of sugar, and not just the sugars we see depicted in these photos and videos.  Today we’ll focus on this sugar and its effects and a way to prevent disease. 

I begin with the video from 60 minutes where Dr. Sanjay Gupta talks with leading experts and the effects on the body when sugar is ingested.

 

Dr. Sanjay Gupta reports on new research showing sugar’s effects on the body.

 

Amazing findings! One of the findings in this report was that as the body begins to eat more and more sugar, it takes more and more to provide the dopamine results. Just like an addiction of anything else.

I think about everything my daughter is enticed to eat on a daily basis, what my HUSBAND is enticed to eat on a daily basis… Mt. Dew, donuts, candy, cookies, cup cakes, processed food loaded with sugars to make us want them.  (My daughter is enticed by sugary fruit juices, cup cakes, candy, foods labeled “healthy” with sugar listed as the first or second ingredient) Sad smile

Our beverage of choice is water, an occasional rehydration drink (Performance) and occasional fruit juice with no added sugars.  I prefer whole fruit as a treat instead so that we are getting the fiber content with the sugars.  The way nature planned it.

Rethink your drink - sugar

Because of the information on the chart below, and other research, my family and I don’t begin our day with breakfast cereal, its not even in the house.  We prefer a healthy protein shake in the morning followed by our nutritional supplements and a tasty treat of craisins or something similar.

Breakfast Cereal sugar Content

I will admit, it wasn’t an easy transition the first time I gave up sugars. I went through with drawl and it was really pretty nasty.  The last time I gave up the bulk of sugars, it wasn’t as bad.  I used a balanced diet and nutrition to curb my cravings and assist me in my trek to a healthier life.

Today, I am blessed to be back on the lead lap of life.  You can be too.  For information, a consultation, or questions, feel free to contact me.