Marilu Henner's Blog, page 134

Living Dairy Free

"Milk is nature's food for a baby calf, which has four stomachs and will double it's weight in forty-seven days."
Marilu Henner, The Total Health Makeover
 
 
 
 
 
Thinking about trying a dairy free lifestyle?  You might be more motivated to give it a go after reading these facts:
 
 
Dairy cows are injected with steroids and antibiotics which they pass on in their milk
 
 
 
Milk is nature's food for a baby calf which has four stomachs and will double it's weight in forty-seven days
 
Genetically speaking milk is identical to the human growth hormone IGF-I
 
 Dairy cows with mastitis are treated with antibiotics rather than "waste" the milk.  The pus in that milk contains bacteria which the antibiotics do not completely destroy
 
 
 
 Dairy products are one of the leading causes of food allergies bringing on, in addition to sinus problems, constipation, diarrhea, and chronic fatigue
 
The calcium contained in cow's milk is coarser than the calcium contained in human milk (which is the one nature designed for feeding human infants) and is not readily absorbed by our bodies
 
Spinach, broccoli, and other green leafy vegetables contain calcium as do nuts, sesame seed, dates, figs and prunes just to name a few
 
Researchers at Harvard have found that women who consume large amounts of cottage cheese and yogurt increase their risk of ovarian cancer by up to three times
 
  
This list just scratches the surface.  Stay connected to this community to find out how you can live a healthy dairy free lifestyle. 
 

 

Make it about YOU

"THERE COMES A TIME WHEN  YOU HAVE TO PUT YOU AT THE TOP OF YOUR COMMITMENT LIST."

Marian Wright Edelman

(Sometimes it really IS all about you…or it should be.)

Nicotine

If you're reading this you have an interest in improving your health.  If you're a smoker who is reading this then you've probably tried to quit at least once.  Unless you've been living under a rock you know that this is a harmful (and expensive) habit but also a very difficult one to break. 

Don't despair.  There is help available.  Check out the internet for tips and tools.  Talk to your doctor.  Enlist friends for support.  Get involved in this on line community and be a part of one of the best support systems you'll find. 

Additionally check out these sites to see if they can help you get started:

http://www.webmd.com/smoking-cessation/ss/slideshow-13-best-quit-smoking-tips-ever

http://whyquit.com/pr/100305.html

http://www.cancer.org/Healthy/StayAwayfromTobacco/GuidetoQuittingSmoking/index

Worried about gaining weight?  Don't be.   According to the CDC the average weight gain for people who stop smoking is only five pounds.  That small amount can be easily managed through careful diet and stress management.  In fact the CDC study even showed that there are a great many people who lose weight when they quit smoking.  This is especially true when it's one in a series of decisions designed to better your overall health.

You can look better, feel better, smell better, and have more pocket change.  It's not easy but it's worth it.  YOU'RE worth it !

Meat Free

If you're interested in eliminating meat from your diet this community is a good resource for you.  The Total Health Makeover advocates eliminating all red meat from your diet.  Many of our members are vegetarian and/or vegan and find that this program works very well within the parameters of their lifestyle.

For those people who do still include animal protein we're here for you also.  We do encourage you to find out all you can about factory farming, the truth about how much protein we really need (far less than you probably were led to believe) and to choose the highest quality protein sources available to you. 

There are many excellent non-meat sources of protein.  Nuts, grains, seeds, geen leafy vegetables, tofu, and legumes are all plant proteins that your body will digest far more easily than it can the flesh of animals.

And eliminating meat leaves more room on your plate for the fun foods…colorful tasty fruits, veggies and grains !  

Lower your cholesterol and introduce antioxidant nutrients while enjoying delicious foods. 

We can help you transition to a diet that includes more whole foods to have you feeling your BEST in 2012 !

SUGAR

At this time of year people are usually regretting the sugar they ate over the holidays beginning with the Halloween candy and continuing through the pumpkin pie and the cookies and fruitcake.  (Okay maybe not fruitcake, but admit to a few extra cookies.)

Cutting back to the pre-holiday levels is a start but be aware of just how much sugar you're consuming.  If you're reading labels you may be surprised at the places where sugar is lurking.  You'll find it in breads, tomato sauces, and many other products that don't need to be sweet.

Retrain your palate by eliminating white sugar and replacing it with natural, whole food, sweeteners such as molasses, agave, rice syrup and  Sucanat, a form of sugar cane that has NOT been processed and bleached beyond recognition the way your table sugar has been.

Artificial sweeteners carry their own health risks and are also to be avoided.  And brown sugar…that's just white sugar with a dye job. 

Being aware of how much sugar is lurking in your meals is a great start towards decreasing your daily intake.

Caffeine

It's no secret that caffeine is addictive and that it's use can pose significant health risks.  What's not as well known however is the fact that people who do not depend on caffeine for their energy can have higher energy levels without the peaks and valleys that are detemined by their coffee maker or their supply of caffeinated soft drinks. 

Caffeine intake can be assoicated with hypertension, abnormal heart rhythms, problems with pregnancy and birth, osteoporosis, ulcers, heartburn and anxiety attacks.

You can eliminate this health robber by going cold turkey (expect a headache and other withdrawal symptoms but know that they are temporary) or weaning yourself gradually.  Either way, eliminating this drug from your diet (and concentrating on lifestyle choices that are good for you health),  might be one of the best things you do in 2012.

Chemicals Additives and Preservatives

"The average consumer eats about 140-150 pounds of food additives in a year. "

Marilu Henner, Total Health Makeover

 Learn to read labels.  Certainly there are chemicals, additives and preservatives in many of the foods you eat.  They improve the appearance and lengthen the shelf life of many products, but they add nothing to the nutritional value.  A great many of them can be detrimental to your health. 

 A good rule of thumb is to avoid any product with an ingredient whose name you can't pronounce or an ingredient list that says "continued on the next package."  If it's not recognizable as food, chances are it's just merchandise. 

Leave it on the shelf and head to the produce aisle.

Vegetable Soup

This fresh and hearty soup is great to have on hand anytime but especially good for cleansing the palate after a season of indulgence.  We recommend making extra and freezing a batch for a busy night.

2 Tablespoons extra vigin olive oil

2 sweet onions, chopped

2 cloves garlic through a garlic press or chopped very fine

3 stalks celery, chopped

6 carrots, chopped

3 cups chopped white cabbage

2 cups fresh green beans or 1 box frozen

2 cups fresh corn or 1 box frozen

2 teaspoons each fresh thyme and rosemary

1 can crushed tomatoes (16 ounces)

1 can beans (we recommend dark red kidney beans but black beans or cannelini beans are also great in this)

6 cups vegetable stock

3 cups water

Heat stock pot for 30 – 60 seconds and add oil.  Saute onion and garlic for about a minute being careful not to let garlic brown.  Add remaining vegetables and herbs.  Stir well and cook for 2-3 minutes.  Add stock, tomatoes and water.  Season with salt and peper.  Cook for a half hour or more until vegetables are tender.  Add beans and heat another 10 minutes.

Fresh Start

"IF YOU HAVE MADE MISTAKES THERE IS ALWAYS ANOTHER CHANCE FOR YOU.  YOU MAY HAVE A FRESH START ANY MOMENT YOU CHOOSE."

Mary Pickford

These are wise words from the famous actress Mary Pickford.  Of course this advice applies to nearly every situation in our lives but at this time of year it especially applies to our health and fitness.  Join another of our favorite actresses to get a fresh start and begin 2012 from a position of strength and determination.  Marilu welcomes you to the site and invites you to please post your questions and share your own tips for success on the message boards. 

We have some wonderful classes planned and hope you'll consider joining us as we kick off the new  year with the 10 steps of THM.  We're getting BACK TO BASICS…BECAUSE IT WORKS !!

 

 

 

Auld Lang Syne

To all our friends at Marilu.com…please stay safe and celebrate responsibly ! 

BEST OF HEALTH TO EVERYONE IN THE NEW YEAR !!  

(See you in class on January 2nd!)