From The Inside Out: A Health Group

Cancer In A Can? The Issue with BPA

leeluvfashion — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 21:55:59 -0700

First, I recommend everyone buy the October 2008 issue of Self magazine if you haven't already. This issue focus on cancer awareness (more focus on breast cancer) and how to take steps to prevent the disease. While the entire issue is a must read, the article that left a huge impression on me was about the chemical BPA, called "Cancer in A Can." (link above)

"Bisphenol A (BPA), a harmless-seeming material that is an ingredient to make certain plastics. It is used to line billions of cans and in other forms of packaging, including polycarbonate water bottles, those hard, shatterproof containers often used for sports. In ultra-low doses-the amount that can leach from packaging and bottles into food and drink-BPA has been shown in lab animals to cause immune disorders and early onset of puberty, and to fuel various cancers." It takes on an estrogen-like form, blending into DNA and has shown in studies of animals that it can turn on and off certain genes that would be under your hormones control. BPA is described as acting like estrogen's evil twin.

I have known about the BPA toxin for awhile however only in plastic water bottles and plastic storage items. BPA used in can liners never occurred to me before. I use a water bottle now by Klean Kanteen, made of Eco-friendly steel. Now I will switch to glass bowls and avoid canned goods (time to learn how to make soup!) So, I stress that everyone read the full article and to make a change because even the tiniest amount of BPA has an effect on our bodies.

*Ways to steer clear of BPA (from Self.com):

- Sip from stainless steel or glass, which do not contain BPA. Some plastics do and it's not easy to tell which ones. If you use plastic, avoid any with 7 in the recycling triangle on the bottom. These codes were never meant to indicate the presence of BPA and so are not foolproof guides, but numbers 1 through 6 are less likely to contain the chemical.

- Nuke food in ceramic or glass. High temperatures make BPA in plastic containers more likely to leach. Avoid putting plastics (polycarbonate especially) in the dishwasher.

- Stick to fresh or frozen foods. Most cans are lined with BPA-epoxy liner. Of foods tested, the highest levels of BPA were in pasta, vegetables and soups. But many haven't been tested.

- Demand BPA-free cans, as advocate John Peterson Myers advises. Eden Foods in Michigan uses BPA-free cans for all low-acid foods. They cannot be used for acidic items such as tomatoes, however, so stick to glass jars for foods like that.

My Pantry: Three Cereals I Recommend

leeluvfashion — Thu, 29 May 2008 20:09:22 -0700

Today I realized that I always mention my favorite cereals on Fit's blogs (when talking about healthy brands etc...) however I never shared them in a blog. I wanted to post this in case you haven't tried these or wanted to know the nutrional facts behind them. I always keep these three cerals in stock.

1. Uncle Sam Cereal, Original with Toasted Whole Grain Wheat Flakes & Flaxseed : My Everyday Favorite

- Nutritional Facts:

Serving Size: 3/4 Cup (55g)
Servings Per Container: About 5

Amount Per Seving / % Daily Value
Calories: 190
Calories From Fat: 40

Total Fat: 5g / 8%
Saturated Fat: 0.5g / 3%
Trans Fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg / 0%
Sodium: 135mg / 6%
Potassium: 235mg / 7%
Total Carbohydrate: 38g / 13%
Dietary Fiber: 10g / 40%
Soluble Fiber 2g
Insoluble Fiber 10g
Sugars less than 1g
Protein: 7g

Vitamin A 0%
Vitamin C 2%
Calcium 4%
Iron 10%
Thiamin 50%
Riboflavin 50%
Niacin 50%
Phosphorus 20%
Magnesium 25%

-Made With: Whole Wheat Kernels, Whole Flaxseed, Salt, Barley Malt, Niacin, Riboflavin (Vitamin B2), Thiamin Mononitrate (Vitamin B1.)

2. Kashi Seven Whole Grain Honey Puffs : When I want something sweeter than usual yet still natural.

- Nutrition Facts:

Serving Size: 1 cup (30g/1.1oz)
Servings Per Container: 10

Amount per Serving / %Daily Value
Calories 120
Calories from Fat 10

Total Fat : 1g / 2%
Saturated Fat : 0g / 0%
Trans Fat: 0g / 0%
Cholesterol: 0mg / 0%
Sodium: 6mg / 0%
Potassium: 80mg / 2%
Total Carbohydrate: 25g / 8%
Dietary Fiber: 2g / 8%
Soluble Fiber 0.6g
Insoluble Fiber 1.4g
Sugars 6g
Protein 3g

Vitamin A 0%
Vitamin C 0%
Calcium 0%
Iron 4%

- Made With: Whole Hard Red Winter Wheat, Whole Long Grain Brown Rice, Honey, Evaporated Cane Juice, Whole Oats, Whole Barley, Whole Triticale, Whole Rye, Whole Buckwheat, Sesame Seeds.

3. Kashi (Organic Promise) Autumn Wheat : Another Everyday Favorite.

- Nutrition Facts:
Serving Size: 1 cup (54g/1.9oz)
Servings Per Container: 9

Amount per Serving : %Daily Value
Calories 190
Calories from Fat 10

Total Fat: 1g / 2%
Saturated Fat: 0g / 0%
Trans Fat: 0g / 0%
Cholesterol: 0mg / 0%
Sodium: 0mg / 0%
Potassium: 180mg / 5%
Total Carbohydrate: 45g / 15%
Dietary Fiber: 6g / 24%
Soluble Fiber 1g
Insoluble Fiber 5g
Sugars 7g
Protein 5g

Vitamin A 0%
Vitamin C 0%
Calcium 0%
Iron 8%

- Made With: Organic Whole Wheat, Organic Evaporated Cane Juice, Natural Flavor.

What are...

leeluvfashion — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 16:47:06 -0700

Six food/beverage items you always buy when restocking your fridge & pantry?

My items are:

- Red Grapes
- Morning Star Chik Patties
- Soy Milk
- Nature's Promise Bread
- Pom Juice
- Ben & Jerry's Chocolate Fudge Browine Frozen Yogurt

HELLO QUEENMARGOT

GOTCHA 10 4 — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 20:52:08 -0700

*HELLO QUEENMARGOT*
You are a pathetic woman. All of your lies and all that you have done to injure others, is finally beginning to catch up to you. Your mask is falling, and you are realizing that there are many times now that you can't control your thoughts or your emotions. Many people are laughing behind your back. They are calling you the very same disgusting names that you have called others that you felt were not giving you the constant attention that you so desperately need. You have very serious mental problems, and you try to escape your insane thoughts, but you are unable to do so, because the massive amount of random thoughts that you harbor does not even allow you to sleep. You've made the mistake of sharing your evil actions with others that you thought would never betray you. You were wrong! You have been betrayed, and soon everyone will know about all that which you have single handedly orchestrated for the benefit of only yourself. You have only the emotional maturity of a fairly bright 6 year old. Your emotions are limited. you have no conscience, and it is very difficult for you to even understand boundaries, let alone abide by them. You do understand fear. Now is the time to fear that all are about to view and will anxiously await the moment that you will have pay for the havoc that you have caused in so many innocent lives. I bet that you thought that you were covering all of your bases when you devised plans to hurt others. You should have given that a great deal more thought. the world is full of pathological liars like yourself. they all believe all of their lies, and they all believe that they are too smart to ever get caught. In time, most of them are not only caught, but also forced to pay for the damage that they have done with all of those lies. You understand shame. You are about to crawl away alone carrying that shame along with you, because the very people that you have encouraged to plead your case, will be the same people that will see you for the vile creature that you really are. It's a funny thing about a liar, somehow along the way, they tend to forget which lies they told to which people. Most importantly though, the liar always thinks that his secrets are always safe. Not this time my dear. Enjoy your evening!

Which Fruits Do You Include In Fruit Salad?

leeluvfashion — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 16:03:11 -0700

Everyone has different tastes, so which types of fruit do you include when making fruit salad?

I include: Watermelon, Strawberries, Red Grapes, Pineapple, Raspberries, Cantatope, Blueberries and sometimes orange chunks. I used to include Kiwi slices however now I'm allergic to them (I love them though.)

What Do You Include In Your Usual Salad?

leeluvfashion — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 15:54:04 -0700

Aside from the standard lettuce (what type do you use?), tomato and cucumber slices, what do you like in your salad (including those 3 previously mentioned items) ?

My salads are made of: romaine lettuce, some iceberg lettuce, shredded raw carrots, cucumber slices, tomato, raw onion slices, sometimes raw almonds or plain soy nuts and I rarely use dressing (if I do include dressing I use those Salad Spritzers.)Also, I sometimes add garbonzo & kidney beans, maybe some gorgonzola cheese crubs.

Health Bites: Fruit or Vegetable?

leeluvfashion — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 01:29:59 -0700

Do you know the difference? Is a peanut a fruit or vegetable? Test yourself.

Take the quiz

The Body: Find The Exercise For Your Personality

leeluvfashion — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 16:04:35 -0700

Medically Reviewed On: August 09, 2005

By Christine Haran

Before you beat yourself up about how you've only once visited the swanky gym you joined last year, think about whether you enjoy the exercise that you do there. If the idea that physical activity can instill anything other than dread seems shocking, it may be time to reconsider your exercise choices.

"The most important thing about exercise is consistency," says Bryant Stamford, PhD, a professor and director of the Health Promotion Center at the University of Louisville. "So you need to choose things that are realistic, comfortable and that are going to inspire you to keep coming back."

One of the best ways to figure out what kind of exercise is right for you, Dr. Stamford says, is to try to match your activity with your personality. If you're loner you're probably not going to drag yourself to volleyball practice after a long day, but you'll show up if you're competitive or if you love the camaraderie of a team. A more contemplative or introverted person might have better luck with walks in the woods, tai chi or martial arts.

Likewise, Dr. Stamford says, a goal-oriented personality is often drawn to a single activity. That way, they can train like an athlete and excel at their sport. But alternating between different activities might be a good choice for other people, especially older adults who don't want to overstress their joints, or those who are easily bored.

"If I'm sort of a dilettante about exercise and on Monday, I'm swimming, and on Tuesday, I'm walking, and on Wednesday, I'm biking, then I'm probably not getting very good at one thing," Dr. Stamford says. "But in terms of being active, that's perfect."

Even a coach potato can make a gradual transition to exerciser, as long as they begin with realistic goals such as opting for the stairs rather than the elevator when possible. Or people can make time to do household chores, such as gardening or scrubbing the tub, for the sake of their health.

"The key is getting away from this one-size-fits-all exercise idea and ask yourself, 'What am I willing to do?'" Stamford says. "Then the truth about your willingness to commit is going to come out. 'Well, I'm really busy, and I can only set aside time on the weekend.'"

While people tend to think a small commitment is a waste of time, any amount of time is a good starting point. And choosing something you like to do is likely to motivate you to make more time for your activity. "If we can get you locked into hiking in the woods on Saturday and Sunday, then you may end up saying, 'Maybe on Wednesday I can carve out some time for exercise.'"

Studies confirm exercise doesn't have to be painful to be effective, so pick an activity that gives you some joy, whether it's mall walking, yoga or ballroom dancing, and stick with it.

Quick Guide:
-Introverted: Walking, Pilates, yoga, martial arts, swimming, home gym.
-Competitive: Sports such as tennis, hockey, basketball.
-Extroverted: Group activities such as golf, mall walking, hikes, public health club.
-Creative: Dancing.
-Outdoors-y: Hiking, in-line skating, mountain biking, ice skating, skiing or snowboarding.
-Hard-working: Housework, gardening, lawn-mowing.
-Lump: Anything. get off a stop or a floor early and walk the rest, walk to the store instead of drive.

Also I found this quiz very helpful:
http://www.prevention.com/cda/quizpage.do?channel=news.voices&category=q...

The Mind: Thinking Your Body to Good Health

leeluvfashion — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 15:53:04 -0700

Author: Karen Barrow
Medically Reviewed On: May 09, 2007

"Can just thinking you are getting a good workout make you healthier? The results of a new study suggest the secret to feeling better about exercising is believing that it is helping you.

Researchers have found that hotel room attendants who were told they were getting a good workout from their daily routine of cleaning rooms were in better health a few weeks later than those who weren’t told that.

Though there is documented evidence of a placebo effect in people taking fake pills, this study is the first to show that a placebo effect may exist in the world of exercise.

For the study, researchers from Harvard University recruited 84 female room attendants from seven hotels. In four of these hotels, the workers were given an information session, telling them that the amount of exercise they got while at work met or exceeded government recommendations. Those workers from the three other hotels were not given this information. All of the participants had their blood pressure, body mass index (BMI) and other standard measures of health taken.

Before the study, one-third of the participants reported that they did not exercise at all, with the other two-thirds reporting that they did not exercise regularly. After four weeks, however, 80 percent of those who were told their work was good exercise reported regular exercise.

Most importantly, these participants lost an average of two pounds, lowered their blood pressure by 10 percent and showed some reduction in BMI and body fat. Fewer health improvements were seen in the group whose members were not informed that their jobs were good exercise.

“These results support the hypothesis that exercise affects health in part or in whole via the placebo effect,” wrote Dr. Alia Crum and Ellen J. Langer in Psychological Science.

The researchers also surveyed their participants to determine if they changed their diet during the study, thinking that some may have adopted a healthier lifestyle, but there was no change in general diet or exercise habits reported.

Whether the change in physiological health was brought about directly or indirectly, it is clear that health is significantly affected by mind-set,” the researchers note."
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I completely agree with how the mind-set can improve your health without you realizing it. Just a few simple changes can have a major impact.

My Views On Health

leeluvfashion — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 00:01:59 -0800

“Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”

My view is pretty simple: A healthy body starts with a healthy mind. You can buy all the health foods and nutritional books you want; however you'll never fully commit if your mindset isn't on track. Once you find a way to release any emotional issues (yoga, therapy, etc) then your happiness and health start to blossom.

This isn't about dieting, it's about having a healthy diet; which are two very different things. Dieting is assumed with getting skinnier and following a program that isn't lifelong. Having a healthy diet is what everyone should aim for; it means eating healthy foods, finding your comfortable (yet heart healthy) weight, eating the food you want in moderation and treating yourself to the slice of cake you crave (just not every single day.)

The journalist Michael Pollan said "If a product has to tell you how healthy it is, well then it can't be that healthy." Which 99% of the time is true. As an example, he talked about those breakfast cereals, that have written in bold typing "Made with whole grains;" Well, if you read the ingredients it usually says "made with enriched or bleached whole grains" and that means the endosperm (the actual source of nutrition in whole grains) is removed, leaving you with just the shell. There are brands that are the exception: Kashi, Quaker Oats Regular Oatmeal, Uncle Sam and some others. However most of the cereals are all bleached & enriched.

A quick view of my own health guideline:

1. The least ingredients in a product the better; The ingredients also have to be pronunceable.

2. Eating healthy won't make me happy on it's own; I have to find peace within myself if I want happiness; eating a good diet is an added boost.

3. Moderation not restriction. Eating some Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream won't kill me, it's eating the whole container that will.

So, this is part of how I view health & happiness; there will more posts to come in the future.