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Health and Nutritional Information You Can Use Now!

Increases in Drug Use Among Teens is More than Disappointing

Upon reading yet another national report citing that illicit drug use among teens is inching up instead of down, I just about let my mind glaze over. When I read that the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) released a report in December 2010 announcing significant increases among teens in the use of marijuana, Ecstasy, and the non-medical use of prescription drugs, it didn’t seem to be anything I hadn’t read before. . . until I read that the largest increase in the use of marijuana is among thirteen-year-olds. That disturbed me.

According to the NIDA report marijuana use among 8th grade students rose from 14.5% in 2009 to 16% in 2010. Increases of marijuana use were found in all grades surveyed – 8^th, 10^th, and 12^th grades. In 2010, 21.4% of 12^th grade students reported recent use of marijuana while 19.2% confessed to cigarette use. Marijuana use surpassing cigarette smoking? Also, disturbing.

In the report Gil Kerlikowske, the director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, said these increases are “disappointing.” Disappointing? Certainly. But as a parent, I think it goes way beyond disappointing. If you’re like me, the only reason you read statistics like these are so that you, or your kids, do not become a part of them.

So, why not let these findings spur you backwards . . . back to the basics that is:

• Educate yourself about teen and pre-teen drug use
• Know the signs of drug abuse
• Keep the talk-lines open between yourself and your teen

When it comes right down to it, the only real chance our teens have of not becoming a general statistic in a national report is through personal involvement in their homes.

 

 

ZINC -- The Unexpected Antioxidant

by Julie Webb Kelley

Worried about getting enough zinc in your diet? Maybe you should be. Without zinc humans would be unable to perform over 300 metabolic functions within the body. Zinc is a trace mineral that is essential to all forms of life; it is found in every tissue and organ in the human body. As far back as 1991, the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition reported the link between severe zinc deficiencies and impaired immune function.1

Now, the Institute of Immunology in Germany claims that “even marginal zinc deprivation can affect immune function.”2  Recent studies indicate that zinc is required for cell-mediated immunity. In addition, a zinc deficiency can impair multiple aspects of immune function including specific immune components such as lymphyocytes, monocytes, macrophages, neutrophils, and natural killer cells – the body’s front-line of defense against disease and sickness.

Symptoms of zinc deficiency include loss of appetite, poor growth, weight loss, lack of taste or smell, poor wound healing, skin problems, hair loss, night blindness, white spots on the fingernails, lack of menstrual period, and depression. But since even a minor zinc deficit can disrupt the ability of the immune system to protect the body before symptoms surface, it can be hard to discover the lack. Blood tests are used to measure zinc levels, however, according to Penn State Live, only severe zinc deficiencies will show up in blood tests.3

Zinc is an essential mineral, provided to the body through the foods we eat. But it can be supplemented; it is recommended that adults take 8 to 11 mg. of zinc daily. However, to increase the amount of zinc in your diet you can soak beans, grains or seeds in water for several hours prior to cooking them. Sprouting allows for increased bioavailability of zinc.

Empowering your immune system with this unlikely antioxidant is really nothing to worry about after all.

1. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1989405 
2. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19523191
3. http://live.psu.edu/story/43888

 

Breathing Awareness

by Julie Webb Kelley RN, BAC

You've been breathing for years. But are you doing it right?

Sitting in a comfortable chair, with the back straight and your body relaxed, close your eyes. Place one hand on your chest and another on your abdomen, become aware of which hand is rising with each breath. If the hand on your chest is moving, then you’re breathing shallow. If the hand on your abdomen is moving, you’re breathing deeply – all the way to the abdomen. Becoming aware of how you normally breathe will help you understand deep breathing. Full awareness is necessary for any breathing exercise.

 Simple Deep Breathing

Deep breathing should always begin with an exhalation, says Womentowomen.com. To practice breathing deeply, place both hands on your abdomen and exhale completely. Then breathe in through your nose as you notice your abdomen rise, follow your breath. Inhale deeply and slowly all the way to the diaphragm. Exhale through your mouth, keeping the jaw and tongue relaxed. Relax as you focus on each breathe, concentrating on keeping each breath slow and deep.

 The 4-7-8 Exercise

Dr. Weil, author and integrative physician, suggests this breathing exercise where deep breathing means that exhalation will take about twice as long as inhalation. Sitting comfortably, place your tongue on the tissue behind your front teeth (where it will remain throughout the exercise) and exhale completely through the mouth. Close the mouth and inhale to the count of four through the nose, deeply, expanding the diaphragm. Hold for a count of seven. Exhale through a relaxed mouth and jaw to the count of eight. Dr. Weil calls this deep breathing exercise a “tranquilizer for the nervous system.”

 

News from the National Institute on Drug Abuse

Image by Mantas Ruzveltas

 

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) released a report in December 2010 announcing significant increases among teens in the use of marijuana, Ecstasy, and the non-medical use of prescription drugs. – try to make this first line a little more casual in tone, less formal.

With illicit drug use inching up instead of down, it disturbed me that the largest increase in the use of marijuana is among thirteen-year-olds. Not an ideal way to begin adolescence.

 According to the NIDA report marijuana use among 8th grade students rose from 14.5% in 2009 to 16% in 2010. Increases of marijuana use were found in all grades surveyed – 8^th, 10^th, and 12^th grades. In 2010, 21.4% of 12^th grade students reported recent use of marijuana while 19.2% confessed to cigarette use. Marijuana use surpassing cigarette smoking? Not the best way to finish a high school career.

 In the report Gil Kerlikowske, the director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, said these increases are “disappointing.” Disappointing? Certainly. But as a parent, I think… [rephrase] it goes way beyond disappointing. If you’re like me, the only reason you read statistics like these are so that you, or your kids, do not become a part of them.

 So, why not let these findings spur you backwards . . . back to the basics that is:

• Educate yourself about teen and pre-teen drug use
• Know the signs of drug abuse
• Keep the talk-lines open between yourself and your teen

 When it comes right down to it, the only real chance our teens have of not becoming a general statistic in a national report is through personal involvement in their homes.

 

Defining a Positive Attitude

According to Successconsciousness.com, a few ways that a positive attitude can manifest are through positive thinking, optimism, not giving up, having purpose, and thinking accurately.

Although one cannot find a definition for ‘positive attitude’ in the dictionary, the Napoleon Hill Foundation says that a positive attitude is the right mental attitude in any given situation. To fully appreciate how to define a positive attitude, it’s helpful to explore some of the elements that create a positive attitude.

Positive Thinking

Self-talk, according to Mayo Clinic, is the stream of thoughts that ride through our minds every day. These unbidden thoughts can be negative or positive, contributing to a positive or a negative attitude. Some self-talk comes from the areas of logic and reason within the mind; other portions of self-talk are robed in misconceptions due to a lack of or wrong information. Negative thoughts will lead to a pessimistic outlook or negative attitude. Positive thinking will lead to optimism or a positive attitude.

Optimism

Do you see the glass as half full or half empty? Answering this question will help you understand the realm of optimism. Your point of view allows you to look for solutions to the problems or look for reasons that the problems cannot be solved. Optimism says “there is a way to solve this problem; I just haven’t found it yet.” A positive mind will find the way to get it done; a negative mind looks for ways it cannot be done.

Not Giving Up

Bad things happen to everyone, but we get to choose the response to everything that happens. Success in achieving your goals is not always realized instantly, but having faith in the outcome can make a difference. The Napoleon Hill Foundation says that faith is the awareness of and belief in the universal powers, an active state of mind that will not bring you what you desire but rather show you how to go after it for yourself.

Purpose

You are in charge of your destiny – no one else! Success and progress to achieve your goals in life begin and end in knowing yourself and where you are going. What are your burning desires? What ideas and plans dominate your thinking and hold your consciousness captive? According to the Napoleon Hill Foundation, the starting point for full achievement is the development of a life purpose. Your purpose, when lived out in your conscious mind through repeated emotional efforts can be taken over by the subconscious and acted upon by the thoughts . . . which turn to actions . . .which turn to results.

Thinking Accurately

Your thoughts have the power to direct your actions and your actions have the power to determine the course of your life. A positive attitude allows you the choice to rid yourself of thoughts that damage your mind and gather thoughts to yourself that empower you – this allows you to control your emotions. Persons who think accurately will separate the factual information they receive into two groups: important and unimportant. You do not have to allow any thoughts – political, religious, opinion, etc. – until they have been analyzed and accepted by you.

 

The Best Vitamins and Herbs for Menopause

Take the natural approach . . . check out my article on LiveStrong to discover the right vitamins and herbs to take to decrease menopause symptoms.

The Best Vitamins and Herbs for Menopause

by Julie Webb Kelley RN, BAC

Body Detoxification

Impurities are eliminated from the body through the liver, kidneys, colon, lymph, lungs, and skin -- that's way God made us -- our bodies do this naturally. However, when impurities are being put into the body faster than it can eliminate them, the body will store these toxins in tissue until it can get around to eliminating them. Making an effort to fast from processed foods and toxic substances allows the body time to catch up.

Refraining from all processed foods, as well as, other toxic substances like cigarettes, alcohol, sodas, white flours and sugars, and artificial sweeteners is a great place to start detoxing.

Natalia Rose, nutritionist and author of The Raw Food Detox Diet, suggests that eating raw food will help to detoxify the body by flushing out poisons and setting us on course for greater energy and a healthier body. On any given day we can choose to eat ‘raw’ with a big salad, veggies or fruit to allow our bodies cleansing time.

Preventing Cancer

The Cancer Project (www.cancerproject.org) says that the same foods that help discourage cancer growth are the same foods that help prevent cancer from growing in the first place. According to the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR), a plant-based diet consisting of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and legumes can help detour stress and disease because of their protective nutrients and powerful antioxidants. Finding the link between ingesting nutritious foods and preventing cancer is possible.

Make the choice to eat for life!

Top Three Acidic Foods

Balancing the alkaline/acid proportion in your body, also known as pH, is important, according to Naturalnews.com.  Blood pH is7.35-7.45; the body needs to be slightly alkaline. Every food product has the ability to change your body’s normal pH and can be classified as acidic or alkaline based on their pH, says Thewolfeclinic.com. Knowing the basic acidic foods will help you maintain that balance.

#1  Meat Products

Animal protein is at the top of the acidic food list. Meat products such as beef, carp, claims, fish , lamb, lobster, mussels, oysters, port, rabbit, salmon, shrimp, scallops, tuna, turkey and venison are all considered acidic according to Thewolfeclinic.com.

#2 Dairy Products

Cow’s milk, cheese and butter, goat cheese, sheep cheese and all hard and/or processed cheeses are acidic to the body, says Thewolfeclinic.com. In addition, cream, buttermilk, yogurt, cottage cheese and ice cream are acidic.

#3 Most beverages and All Artificial Sweeteners

Soda, coffee, cocoa, black tea, beer, spirits, hard liquor, and wine are acidic to the body, says Trans4mind.com. All artificial sweeteners are acidic, according to Trans4mind.com.

So, should you stop eating! Never. Just start making choices that balance your intake of acidic and alkaline foods. If you must eat that cheeseburger, forgo the diet soda and opt for water instead. And if you want your morning cup of joe, no problem . . . just enjoy a huge salad for lunch. Find the balance.

 

Treating Gastroenteritis

Forgo food. Letting your digestive track to rest is the most important part for getting over gastroenteritis faster.  When you keep putting food into a gastrointestinal track that is actively vomiting and having diarrhea, the digestive track lining is being stressed over and over again – prolonging the illness.

Sip small amounts of clear liquids or suck on ice chips, if able.  The key here is ‘small amounts’.  Large amounts of water will irritate the lining of the stomach. 

Reintroduce foods slowly – after the vomiting has stopped.  Start with bland, easy-to-digest foods from the BRAT diet, an acronym for: broth and bananas, rice, apples, and toast.  Avoid all dairy products, caffeine and alcohol until full recovery is attained.

Rest.  Staying down isn’t always easy when your stomach has you in and out of the bathroom with vomiting and diarrhea.   But rest is important because it decreased the energy demands on your body, allowing your body to use its full resources to fight off the virus and heal the gastrointestinal track.