The Super Allergy Girl Blog

10 Easy Ways To Improve Your Health

Yes, there are easy ways to improve your health and I'm going to give you 10 Easy Ways to Improve your health, which are based on both research and experience. We could subtitle this How to Be Healthy in Today's World. Here we go:

10 Easy Ways To Improve Your Health

1. Get enough Sleep and quality Sleep

Oh I can hear the moans and groans on this one! Yes, I know it is hard to balance work, family, activities, and all the demands of modern day life! I completely get it! I am a working mother, who home schools my children - so I really do get it. The only time your body has to repair itself is while you are sleeping. So, perhaps getting a bit more organized might help (yes, I AM really organized), maybe you have to say no to some events or maybe you have to engage your children in helping more around the house with chores, meal preparation, etc. It is hard to tell what you might have to do to get more sleep, but if you were really committed - it would happen.

2. Eat more Fruits and Vegetables

It is easier than you think. It's the thought of it that is daunting for many people. Your body runs on nutrition. Junk food, while it may satisfy cravings, does not provide your body with fuel. Junk food or food that is low in nutrition provides "empty calories" - not valuable fuel. Today more food manufacturers are making it easier and easier to increase your nutrition by adding vegetables to pasta sauce and the like and by making juices that taste great while containing a full serving of one fruit and one vegetable! 

3. Reduce the Chemicals Your Body is Exposed To  

The next time you spritz your body with perfume or cologne, think about this fact - 95% of the chemicals used in fragrances are derived from petroleum and are neurotoxic.* One in five people experience health problems when exposed to fragrance. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (1991), some of the toxic chemicals in perfume include: acetone, benzaldehyde, benzyl acetate, ethanol ethyl acetate, linalool, methylene chloride and a-terpineol. Personal care products applied to any portion of the skin can and do contain toxins that your body absorbs. This is a really easy way to boost your health and you'll save money!

4. Find Ways to Reduce Your Stress

Stress is known to contribute to a variety of health issues and problems. I know it is easier said than done, but you can find ways to reduce your stress. Part of stress is how you look at life. Consider what you can do to reduce or eliminate stress for the long haul and you will reap substantial health benefits.

5. Increase your Sense of Community

People who have strong personal ties to others often experience a greater sense of happiness, belonging, contentment and community. If you are "on your own", alone, single or for whatever reason don't have a sense of having a solid group of friends, relatives or neighbors to socialize with - there has never been a better time to start! This is one of the dramatic changes in the last few decades. People feel disconnected, not related and alone. Boost your health by joining groups or creating new friends.

6. Take a Walk

Taking a brisk or even slow walk will boost your health for several reasons. Many people don't consider walking to be exercise, but it sure counts as exercise. Walking is easy on the body and can be very enjoyable in good weather. Take a friend or family member and you'll double your pleasure!

7. Reduce Your Sugar Intake

With the high rates of obesity, diabetes and cancer - reducing the amount of sugar you consume will only contribute to your overall health. When I say reduce your sugar intake, I am not by the way recommending the chemical sugars that come in little colored packets. A natural alternative if you want to cut sugar but not the sweetness is to use Stevia, which is a root plant that is very potent and now sold in some grocery stores. Cancer feeds on sugar. Reducing your sugar intake will help you more than you realize.

8. Drink Filtered Water and more of it

According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), some bottled water is nothing more than tap water and much of the bottled water is unregulated. A better alternative to bottled or tap water is to use a filtering system - reverse osmosis or pitcher like the Brita® Pitcher - to remove a variety of things.

9. Green Your Cleaning Products

Use up your toxic house cleaning chemicals and start using easy and non-toxic cleaners such as baking soda and vinegar, Borax and Washing Soda. Removing toxic cleaning chemical will definitely help improve your health.

10. Eat Organic Foods

Organic foods do not contain pesticides, herbicides, and a host of other chemicals. When you eat foods that contain pesticides, herbicides, and other chemicals - your body has to do the work to remove them from your body. Don't kid yourself on this. Lots more could be said on this, but it is an easy way to improve your health!

These are, in my humble opinion, easy ways to improve your health! I'd love to hear your comments!

Love,

Lisa A. Lundy

The Role of Nutrition in Cancer: Dr. Folkman's War Book Review

Cancer is not a pretty subject, but it is a topic that one out of two and one out of three Americans face depending upon your race and gender. Cancer is a subject that I started researching in May of 2004 and not because I wanted to research cancer. I researched cancer because five unrelated strangers told me independent of each other that I should research cancer based on my daughter's health issues. Trust me - I was not happy about it. But I did it. From my research, the role of nutrition in cancer seems pretty direct and clear - something that years later, Dr. Oz would state on the Oprah Show before she started the OWN network and long before Dr. Oz was a household name and had his own TV show.

What Dr. Oz said on a memorable Oprah Show was that basically we all have cancer cells in our bodies. The difference between a cancer cell multiplying and turning into a cancer tumor or not was nutrition. In this particular episode, Dr. Oz rattled off a number of nutritional supplements and the quantities of each that people would be well advised to take. Had I know that Dr. Oz was going to be so direct and clear about the relationship between nutrition and cancer, I would have taped the show. But let's move on to the book: "Dr. Folkman's War - Angiogenesis and the Struggle to Defeat Cancer" by Robert Cooke.

On page 206 of my copy (Chapter 12), the author is describing how the business of life is conducted - through amino acid sequences or chains. Let me quote from the "Dr. Folkman's War" book:

"It is through this process, with about a hundred thousand different genes telling the cells exactly whch proteins to make, that the business of life is conducted. Indeed, illness strikes when this protein-building process breaks down. If amino acids are left out, or the wrong ones are put in place, a protein such as an enzyme or growth factor is made incorrectly, or not at all, and the result can be the disaster of genetic disease, or cancer."

In layman's terms, what this passage is stating is that if your body lacks the right nutrition and therefore can't produce or doesn't have access to the right amino acids, you may have a disastrous result - cancer or a genetic disease. In other words, the importance of nutrition to human health is something that most researchers should fully understand. But we laypeople or consumers don't have the same understanding of the importance of nutrition.

In the nine years it has taken me to get my daughter to go from being a very sick child with a life-threatening illness to a healthy child who is well, the one thing that has been resounding is the importance of nutrition to good health. Back to "Dr. Folkman's War", I assert that this book should be required reading of anyone who says that they care about cancer and anyone who gives money to the cancer cause. This book, in my humble opinion, should be made into a movie because separate from the research contained in this book, it contains the most compelling and touching story of Dr. Folkman. May God rest his soul. This book would be hard for some lay people to read as it is basically the history book on cancer. So take your time and read just a few pages at a time.

You can buy the book on Amazon.com. I'm not sure where else it is sold, but trust me - this book is well worth the time and energy to sit down and read - that is if you care at all about cancer! If you are a film maker - this book made into a movie could rival any inspirational movie you've ever seen! If you have read it, I'd love to hear your comments!

Love,

Lisa A. Lundy

 

Health and Wellness: The China Study Book and American Nutrition

I picked up the book "The China Study", which is written by T. Colin Campbell, PhD and Thomas M. Campbell II, probably two years ago and it has had a definite impact on the foods we eat in our house. Before I get to that let me state that I am no in any way supporting everything written in this book. That said, there are some portions of the book that I do totally agree with and support. The sub-title of this book reads as such: "Startling Implications for Diet, Weight Loss and Long-Term Health". Also above the title is the statement: "The Most Comprehensive Study of Nutrition Ever Conducted". First of all, I should mention that some time after I purchased the book, "The China Study", I had the opportunity to hear T. Colin Campbell, PhD speak in my local area, which was a fantastic opportunity and well worth my time. So let's get to some of the substance of "The China Study".

Here is a picture of the book cover:

First of all, in my humble opinion, most Americans know very little about nutrition, which makes this book highly educational and informative. It is also, again - in my humble opinion, fascinating to read how and why this large scale nutritional study was done in China. In America - a country where almost half of the population is taking a prescription drug for a health condition and over half are overweight, AND where we spend a great deal more on health care (per capita) than any other country - this book would be a great read for millions of Americans. Nutrition is critical to human health. It always has been and always will be critical to human health.

One premise of the book is a plant-based diet. Based on the nutritional information I gleaned from this book, I almost immediately made a change to our diet. We are already on a gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free, peanut free, tree nut free, preservative free and dye free special diet. The change I made after digging into "The China Study" was to reduce our meat consumption and increase our vegetable consumption. This was not as difficult as it might seem on the surface. In a dish like chili, for example, I added chopped vegetables for a new twist on chili. 

Over time, my children became accustomed to this new way of eating - more vegetables primarily and less meat. While it was not an overnight change, it went pretty smoothly. My next cookbook - Book Two of the Super Allergy Girl™ Allergy & Celiac Cookbook - a completely new cookbook, which will not replace the First Book - contains more vegetables than ever and is a good transition to reducing meat and increasing vegetables. Book Two is not available at this time as it is in the testing phase with testers trying out recipes and looking for any errors. 

So, what are my issues with this book? Well, for one - I am a person that believes that moderation is not a bad thing. I also am aware of some of the latest nutritional research that states that it is very difficult for Americans to get all of their nutrition from their diet - so I feel some nutritional supplements are helpful to most Americans. Since as a rule we do not eat dairy products, I skipped over the issues about dairy that are presented in the book. Nonetheless, the issues with dairy are riveting. I highly recommend this book - I just do not support every statement or position that the book takes or presents. If you have read this book, I'd love to hear your comments and thoughts on it!! I really would! Happy eating!

Love,

Lisa A. Lundy

 

Sifting through the Maze of Allergy Info: "Is This Your Child?"

I've done several posts on frequently asked questions on allergies, Part I, II and III in the last few days. Now I am going to move on to one resource that will help you sort through the maze of allergy information. The reference is a book titled "Is This Your Child?" by Dr. Doris Rapp, M.D. Dr. Rapp spent her early years as a regular, mainstream allergist. Eventually, she expanded her training and experience and then went and became board certified in pediatrics and environmental medicine - making her board certified in three medical fields. She has been a physician for over 50 years, so she has the medical credentials and the experience to write a compelling resource to help people sort out the facts in allergy. Self-disclosure, Dr. Doris Rapp is a friend of mine so I do have some bias although I thought her book was every bit as good before I became friends with her!

Here is a picture of the book:

There are many reasons why I recommend this book to consumers, the first of which it is written by an authority whose experience and training trumps most physician. The book is pretty easy to read in that Dr. Rapp does not speak above the understanding of the average person - so it's the perfect book for lay people. While the book is pretty long - it is well indexed so you can look up just the symptoms or issues that you or your child is experiencing. I also have to say that I love the pictures on the back cover - just because they are helpful! 

One of the other reasons that I continue to recommend this book and other books by Dr. Doris Rapp is because in the last 10 years - no one who got the book (on my recommendation) ever came back and said that it was not helpful or immensely helpful! In fact, one memorable mother was able to solve one of her child's issues in a matter of a few days with the help of this particular book! In other words, I continue to get excellent feedback from those people who got the book - most from the public library by the way! That is another reason that I love this book - it is in almost every public library in the USA! How cool is that!

Here is a link to Dr. Rapp's website:

http://www.drrapp.com/Dr. Rapp MD Website

This book was on the NY Times Best Sellers list and Dr. Rapp was on network TV shows when it came out. In my humble opinion, this is already a classic book in the field of allergy - one book that will just not go away because it has so much information and value. I would love to hear your comments and thoughts on this book!

Love,

Lisa A. Lundy

 

Gluten-Free and Special Diets for ADHD - Are they worth the time and expense?

I write this with a very biased view, which I will explain in a minute for those of you would are new to my Blog and website. First I must state that I am the author of The Super Allergy Girl™ Allergy & Celiac Cookbook, so I have a financial interest in the gluten-free and allergy free diets. That disclosure being made, let me also assert that I do not believe that everyone should be on a gluten-free or allergen free diet. So let's dive into the topic at hand: Is a gluten-free or allergen free or special diet worth the time and expense? If you have Celiac disease - it is more than worth the time and expense - it is a life-saving must! Currently there is no other treatment for Celiac disease other than the strict adherence to a gluten-free diet. It is absolutely essential. But what about those individuals who do not have celiac disease - is there any merit to a gluten-free or allergen-free or special diet? The answer is it depends on several factors.

Part of what that answer depends on is the health condition which you are trying to address by a special diet, part of it depends on your personal values and part of the answer is contingent upon the weight you put on the pros and cons of alternative treatments. Let me take ADHD as an example. ADHD can be managed by medication, however the medications for ADHD have serious possible side effects including:

*Sudden deaths, stroke, and myocardial infarction have been reported in adults taking stimulant drugs at usual doses for ADHD

*Treatment emergent psychotic or manic symptoms, e.g., hallucinations, delusional thinking, or mania in children and adolescents without prior history of psychotic illness or mania can be caused by stimulants at usual doses.

*Aggressive behavior or hostility is often observed in children and adolescents with ADHD, and has been reported in clinical trials and the postmarketing experience of some medications indicated for the treatment of ADHD.

*Aggressive behavior or hostility is often observed in children and adolescents with ADHD, and has been reported in clinical trials and the postmarketing experience of some medications indicated for the treatment of ADHD.

*Long-term growth suppression (height and weight)

The above possible side-effects are serious in my humble opinion - especially the first one -sudden death, stroke and heart attack. For someone like me, the pros of medication - it is relatively easy and covered by insurance are not worth the cons - serious possible health problems. There are multiple dietary interventions that can bring relief from ADHD symptoms including the Feingold Diet® and the gluten and casein-free diet (GFCF Diet). You can find out more about the Feingold Diet® and the Feingold Program from their website, which is:

Feingold Association Website

The Feingold Association has been around since 1976 and you can find a wealth of medical literature on their site about the positive impact diet has on ADHD and other health issues. The GFCF diet has become much more popular in the last decade for ADHD due primarily to the Autism community. Is it more expensive to be on a special diet? Well it depends on what diet you are considering and how you do it. We make our GFCF (and egg-free, nut free and other allergen free) foods from scratch saving a lot of money and getting better tasting foods. If you find that the cons or possible side effects from ADHD medication are not a problem, then clearly medication might be a good route for you. But for some of us moms - the risk benefit ratio is clearly tipped towards looking at non-medication interventions and for that diet is a key strategy! In my humble opinion, based on over 12 years of doing a gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free, peanut free, tree-nut free, dye free, preservative free diet - it is absolutely worth the additional time and expense! Let me know if you have any questions! I am here to help!

Love,

Lisa A. Lundy

 

Allergy FAQ Part III: Frequently Asked Questions on Allergy

Having talked about the definition of allergy, the various types of allergies, and allergy testing - let's move on to a more controversial subject that of allergy treatments. Much like allergy testing, what kinds of treatments there are for allergies - food or environmental - depends entirely on who you are talking to or what you are reading. I think it is appropriate to take a peek at history here. In doing research at the University of Buffalo Medical Library back in 2003 and 2004, I read about a Dr. Alfred Schofield, a physician in England in 1908, who successfully treated a boy suffering from an allergy to egg. (Schofield, Alfred T. A Case of Egg Poisoning. London: Lancet, 1908. p. 176). Dr. Keston, Dr. Walters and Dr. Hopkins confirmed this egg desensitization in 1935. (Keston B., Walters I & H, Gardner, J. Oral Desensitization to Common Foods. J Allergy 6:431, 1935.) The story of Dr. Schofield was fascinating as far as I can remember, but let's see what that means to the average consumer. For more than 100 years, physicians around the world have been engaged in desensitizing patients to common foods.

Mainstream allergy physicians offer treatments to environmental allergens and things like deadly bee stings. This treatment is done by a series of allergy shots given in the office after skin testing and the treatment required can take many, many years. I know about this treatment protocol as I was given allergy shots by Dr. Winter in Williamsport, PA from the time I was 18 months old until I was 18 years old. I would consider it very effective in terms of outcome. But mainstream allergists are not the only game in town these days nor have they been for a long, long time.

Outside of mainstream allergists, you can find physicians and other health care practitioners who engage in a variety of other treatments for allergies - both food and environmental. How effective these treatments are probably vary by the type of treatment in question, the expertise of the practitioner, and on some level perhaps the compliance of the patient. When my daughter was 20 months old and was in the boat of being a "failure to thrive" child despite my expertise in food, the gluten-free diet (she was not failure to thrive in other words because of celiac disease), and food allergies - I was referred to one of these physicians by the Medical Director of one of the largest medical practices in the state of New York.

Why? Why would a Medical Director for one of the largest medical practices in the State of New York send me to an out-of-network physician? Well, in his words at the time - this was the only doctor who could help my child who was in need of medical help. I was shocked! I remember specifically asking him for a referral to Johns Hopkins, The Cleveland Clinic, Boston and other reputable institutions. He said that they would not be able to help my child. So, reluctantly, I went to see one of these practitioners and in short order with the help of one of these treatments (the kind described in the early medical literature), my daughter was able to eat foods that previously caused her to lose weight and have eczema. Go figure. My point is that there are many points of view in medicine and that not all patients are the same. Likewise, not all doctors are the same nor are all treatments the same. You have to find what works for you. The most important thing is to find a licensed medical provider who has the expertise you require and to work with that practitioner to find solutions to your health issues. Let me know if you have any questions!

Love,

Lisa A. Lundy

Allergy FAQ Part II: Frequently Asked Questions on Allergy

In yesterday's post I discussed what an allergy is and how allergies are categorized. Today we will look at what are the symptoms for allergies. The symptoms that IgE and Non-IgE allergies (the difference between IgE and Non-IgE mediated allergies is discussed in Part I -  yesterday's post) can cause is lengthy and includes, but is not limited to: runny nose, stuffy nose, watery eyes, itchy eyes, hay fever, asthma, diarrhea, constipation, eczema, rashes, coughing, wheezing, fever, postnasal drip, sore throat, dark circles under the eyes (allergy shiners), reddish or pink circles under the eyes, stomach problems, headache, migraine, hyperactivity, mood swings, irritability, bed-wetting, urinary incontinency, epilepsy, depression, inflammatory bowel disease, inability to concentrate, hypertension, joint and muscle pain as well as other gastrointestinal disturbances. Now this is a list of symptoms for both IgE and Non-IgE mediated allergies.

About twenty-five hundred years ago, Hippocrates, who is considered to be the Father of Medicine, wrote about how some people would react to foods:

“For cheese does not prove equally injurious to all men, for there are some who can take it to satiety, without being hurt by it in the least, but, on the contrary, it is wonderful what strength it imparts to those it agrees with; but there are some who do not bear it well, their constitutions are different, they differ in this respect, that what in their body is incompatible with cheese, is roused and put in commotion by such a thing; and those in whose bodies such a humor happens to prevail in greater quantity and intensity, are likely to suffer the more from it. But if the thing had been pernicious to the whole nature of man, it would have hurt all.” - Hippocrates

There is a rich body of research that states without question what Hippocrates is stating in the above quotation. In today's time, however, there are medical doctors who will assert that food can not cause the above listed symptoms. This is where, in part, the great divide begins. Consumers like me can go to the medical library - like I did repeatedly - or find in PubMed on-line the body of research on food, food allergies, food sensitivities or intolerances and the like. If your physician is one who tells you that food could not be the source of your health problem - you may want to look for a physician who is more educated on the impact food, nutrition and diet have on health. Of course, I am not saying that if you do have a symptom that it is caused by food, but it is possible that it could be caused by an allergy whether it is IgE or Non-IgE mediated.

Let me take a moment to repeat my warning from yesterday's post: If you get symptoms immediately after or soon after eating a food or after being exposed to a substance - you should seek out a medical doctor right away and make sure you do not have a life-threatening allergy. Allergies can be fatal and if you have an allergy that has the potential to be life-threatening - the IgE mediated allergy - you should know that and carry an Epi-Pen®. The above listed symptoms for IgE and Non-IgE mediated allergies is compiled from several medical resources. The more you know about allergies - the better you can manage your own health and well being! 

Love,

Lisa

Allergy FAQ Part I: Frequently Asked Questions on Allergy

This topic is one that I spend the most amount of time explaining to consumers. I will do this post in several parts because it will simply be too long to put all in one post! Secondly, let me make my disclaimer clear: I am not a medical professional nor is my website or cookbook intended to provide medical advice to consumers. You should get your medical advice from a doctor or other licensed medical practitioner. This allergy FAQ is research-based and is designed to help consumers better understand allergies. Allergies can be life-threatening and should be taken very seriously. If you suffer from certain types of allergies, you should be under the care of a medical doctor and carry an Epi-Pen® as directed by your physician. All that aside, let's look at allergies - what they are and the different types of allergies.

What is an Allergy?

Dr. Clemens Von Pirquet first suggested the term allergy in 1906. (Von Pirquet, C. Allergie. Munch Med Wochenschr 52:1457, 1906.) Dr. Von Pirquet used the word allergy to describe an inappropriate reaction to food or other substances that are not typically harmful or bothersome. Hippocrates, the Greek Physician, who is considered to be the Father of Medicine, stated that food would injure some people, but not all people. Hippocrates research and writings are over twenty-five hundred years old, which is important to note since some modern day medical experts want people to believe that allergies are a new phenomenon. What is also noteworthy is that Dr. Von Pirquet's definition of allergy was quite broad - and based on my medical research - it would remain broad until some time around the 1970's or later.

What are the different types of allergies?

Prior to the 1970's, allergies were described as belonging to one of four types of allergy categories: Type I, Type II, Type III, and Type IV. The discovery of Immunoglobulin E (IgE) around 1966 changed how allergies were categorized. The term IgE stands for Immunoglobulin E, which is a class of immunoglobulins that includes the antibodies elicited by an allergic substance (allergen). A person who has an allergy usually has elevated blood levels for IgE. IgE antibodies attack and engage the invading army of allergens. The E in IgE stands for erythema, which means redness.

Currently, allergies are divided into two broad categories: IgE (Immunoglobulin E) and Non-IgE mediated allergies. IgE mediated allergies are the allergies that produce a symptom immediately or within a short period of time - at the longest a few hours. IgE mediated allergies can cause anaphylactic shock, which can be fatal and therefore must be dealt with in a serious fashion. Non-IgE mediated allergies are often referred to as delayed allergies or sensitivities or intolerances. Non-IgE mediated allergies are typically not life-threatening although they can cause severe symptoms in some people.

IgE mediated allergies can be fatal. Individuals with IgE mediated allergies should see a doctor and carry an Epi-Pen® (epinephrine). Great care and diligence must be used for individuals with IgE allergies. It has been well established in the medical literature that the immediate reaction or IgE allergies represents about 5-10% of food allergies and the delayed reaction or non-IgE mediated allergies represents approximately 90-95% of the food allergies. While delayed or non-IgE mediated food allergies make up the lion's share of food allergies, they receive a minority of the attention from the media.

In Part II, we will look at the symptoms for allergies, testing for allergies and much more! I hope this is helpful to you!

Love,

Lisa

 

 

How to Use the Internet to get Reliable and Good Information on Health

Back in 1997, my husband used the internet to get a profile of a medical diagnosis for juvenile papillomatosis and in the end - my husband was 100% spot on with the condition thus supporting the case that you can get good information from the Internet. In the gluten-free world, people have been using information on the internet to help get themselves diagnosed with Celiac disease for a long time. I have seen a dramatic shift in the number of individuals and companies coming on board to provide "health" information and services since 2007. What concerns me is that some of these individuals do not have a background in anything health related. One man wanted to connect to my website and when I started asking questions about his training and background in health it became readily apparent that he had zero personal education, training or background. What this means to consumers is that you are in a "Buyer Beware" situation. 

So, there is really great health information available to consumers on the world wide web, but you have to know which sites to run from and which sites are above board as there are sites that are bad and should be avoided. Here are the factors to look at when deciding if a website is one you should trust or walk away from.

Credibility:

What is the person's credibility, stature, expertise, education or training? Who endorses them? Who are they affiliated with? What does their resume contain? A reputable website will contain specific information about the person, owner, staff, or other individuals providing services. It should contain pictures of the individuals as well as a phone number and address for use in contacting them. If there is no picture, no bio, no contact information, no resume - I would walk away and never return. This is a huge red flag for questionable individuals, companies and organizations. The website material should give you a clear indication that they have the background to serve your health needs. If that information is missing, you should question why.

No Free Content

If the website has No Free Content - I would walk away especially if you have to "register" to view the content, or see more information. Content is defined as FREE documents, tip sheets, white papers, recipes, videos, blog entries, etc. If you have to register, it is not free. The price of admission IS your contact information even if it is only your e-mail address. Free content does not in and of itself mean that the person is reputable or has credibility.

Google The Person(s)

You might be surprised what this will reveal. If someone is an "expert" they should have pages and pages that they show up on in a Google Search. If you are new to this process or have not vetted anyone using this process - ask for help. You can even post your question here and I will reply! 

You want to get your medical information from your own doctor or health care provider. Information from the Internet can be enormously helpful if you know what you are doing and what to avoid. I hope that this is helpful to you! Let me know if you have any questions as I am here to help!

Love,

Lisa

 

 

Health and Wellness: How to Get Good Sleep and Why it is important

For people who have health problems sleep is one of the most powerful weapons to help your body heal. Why? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention insufficient sleep is associated with a number of chronic diseases and conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity and depression. The only time that your body can work on repairing itself is when you are sleeping, which means that if you are not in good health or are teetering on the edge of not being completely well - sleep should be on your agenda! Not getting enough sleep can be an issue of not making sleep a priority or having problems getting quality sleep. There are several reasons why some people have trouble sleeping. This topic is so important that I did a PRWeb News Release on this topic, which included a YouTube video. Here is the link to the PRWeb News Release:

http://www.prweb.com/releases/allergies/sleep_deprivation/prweb2671704.htm

Before I move on to some ideas on how to improve your sleep, let me reiterate that the only time your body can work on healing itself is while you are sleeping. If you are having trouble sleeping there could be several factors at play so you may have to be a little detective and use a trial and error approach to ruling out different aspects. Let's start with your sleeping environment. Is it comfortable and inviting? Is your room clean and dark at night? If not, it would be an investment in your health to make your room clean and inviting as well as dark when you are sleeping.

Another source of sleep issues can be diet related. If you are having trouble getting a sound and full night's sleep, one food item to eliminate at least for a trial period of 30 days is caffeine. While you may have been drinking caffeine for years or decades even, but some people develop issues later in life where drinking caffeine after 1:00 PM or 2:00 PM will keep them awake. You could keep a sleep diary to see if there are other factors that impact your sleep. A sleep diary would be especially helpful if you end up investigating sleep apnea.

Here is my YouTube video on Tips for a Good Night's Sleep:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xxh28piLg1k

If you are going to do a sleep diary be sure to include what you ate that day and where as well as your bedtime and waking time coupled with any notes on how you felt when you woke up, etc. I would suggest that you include any environmental changes, trips, etc.

Another factor that can impede a good night's sleep is nutritional deficiencies. You'll have to find a good integrative physician to explore that topic. No matter what you do, if you are not getting enough quality sleep each night - you are putting yourself at increased health risks or at the very least not allowing your body to do the work necessary to heal itself! If you have any questions on how to improve your sleep, check out the above video, which is fairly detailed! Let me know if you have any questions or comments! And have a good sleep tonight!

Love,

Lisa A. Lundy