http://www.outfrontcolorado.com/rsshh.phpen-ushttp://www.outfrontcolorado.com/rssitemblog.php?itemid=33 Learning How to Rejuvenate the Mind Body and Soul Throughout the Holiday Season By Erin Bakersmith The holidays are right around the corner and our stress levels tend to light up like a Christmas tree this time of year Believe it or not the holiday stress response is the bodys way of protecting you When working properly stress can help you stay alert focused and energetic at a time when traveling financial difficulties and family issues can keep you on your toes What you need most during this time is balance Finding a way to turn inward and move towards health and wellness can be pivotal during the holidaysBelow youll find some tips to lower your stress and remain grounded even during the most chaotic holiday gatherings Rejuvenate the Mind Meditation What you need 1 A quiet room 2 Soothing music 3 A pillow to sit on optional 4 10 20 minutes Sitting in a cross legged position and closing the eyes bring the hands to rest palm down on the knees Start to listen to your own breath and make a conscious effort to make your inhalation and exhalation the same length Deepening the breath start to fill up the belly with the inhale and then slowly filling up the lungs to the count of 8 Hold the breath for 8 counts at the top of the inhale and then slowly exhale to the count of 8 releasing from the lungs through the belly Repeat this five times Once you finish this deep breathing exercise start to lift the crown of the head up to the ceiling while you ground your tailbone into the floor Imagining your backbone as a root of a tree deeply plummeting into the core of the earth Feeling yourself implanted and tied to the ground keep breathing deeply and notice what it feels like to be connected Imaging the root becoming more stable grounded and strong Sit here in the space Listening to your breath and letting go of all expectations and just beOut Front Colorado2010-11-05http://www.outfrontcolorado.com/rssitemblog.php?itemid=32 ARA We respect and admire volunteers for their devotion to a cause and their willingness to sacrifice their own needs for the needs of others These selfless acts can often be lifechanging for the person on the receiving end but what about the person volunteering The health benefits of volunteering are well documented and include reduced stress and an increased feeling of self worth It is no wonder that for many people with chronic conditions volunteering can even help maintain or improve ones physical health Hand in Hand for RA wwwhandinhandforRAcom is a national awareness campaign that encourages people with the painful chronic joint disease rheumatoid arthritis RA to learn about the benefits of volunteering and share their own inspirational stories Volunteering is a huge part of my life that has really helped me through some tough times dealing with a chronic disease says Seth Ginsberg cofounder and president of grassroots arthritis group CreakyJoints a sponsor of the campaign Things as simple as getting involved with senior citizens in your local community reading to them driving them to the grocery store and even just talking with them all help keep your mind off your disease Out Front Colorado2010-09-09http://www.outfrontcolorado.com/rssitemblog.php?itemid=31 ARA Salads are a staple for people trying to eat well or save on fat and calories but not all salads are created equal While all greens are low in calories many people sabotage what could be a nutritious dish by adding heavy toppings like fried chicken croutons or a higher fat cheese Tasty toppers dont have to be loaded with calories and fat With a few new ideas and simple switches a salad can be revitalized and turned into an even better meal Its easy to make an inspired flavorful lunch or dinner by mixing up a typical salad A few simple switches like changing up the type of cheese sprinkled over the top a salad can make a big difference With the right combination of vegetables protein fiber and nutritious fats salads can become a satisfying and enjoyable better choice Banish the boring factor of that next plate of greens Here are five great additions to consider when it comes to building and topping a salad 1 Go leafy green Iceberg lettuce has a nice crunch but almost no nutritional value Use a variety of darker greens like spinach romaine arugula dandelion greens kale watercress and herbs to add flavor and more nutritional value than iceberg lettuce Want more essential vitamins Darker greens are higher in foliate and rich in vitamins A C and K 2 Choose a better more flavorful cheese Simply changing the type of cheese used to top a salad from typical shredded cheddar to feta crumbles cuts calories and fat without sacrificing great flavor or texture Athenos Feta cheese has 30 percent fewer calories and onethird less fat than cheddar cheese and offers 6 grams of protein per serving The tangy rich flavor of feta will make any salad more exciting Out Front Colorado2010-08-30http://www.outfrontcolorado.com/rssitemblog.php?itemid=30 ARA The hot days of summer and even early fall can leave you parched for a refreshing drink Sure water is a great hydrator but there are times when you thirst for a different taste and maybe a little caffeine to give your energy levels a boost In the southern states sweet tea is an item on just about every restaurant menu And unsweetened iced tea is a popular summery drink across the United States Traditionally teas are always prepared by steeping teabags with hot boiled water to increase the aroma But coldbrewing tea can bring more of the essence out of the tea leaves By cold brewing tea leaves the resulting drink not only can quench thirst and eliminate grease from your system but also retains the caffeine and tannic acid found in the tea leaves Cold water brings out the amino acid sweetness from the tea leaves and eliminates the chance of the tea being oversteeped and bitter which can happen when bags are prepared with hot water Coldbrewed tea emphasizes the idea of sweet tea but with no added sugar Because caffeine is stored within the leaves coldbrewed teas do not stimulate the secretion of stomach acid therefore people with sensitive stomachs can also enjoy the taste of tea Out Front Colorado2010-08-10http://www.outfrontcolorado.com/rssitemblog.php?itemid=29 ARA Your memory of real flavorful fresh food is a key tool for losing weight At least thats one of the intriguing claims in Bruce Weinstein and Mark Scarbroughs new book Real Food Has Curves How to Get off Processed Food Lose Weight and Love What You Eat We find pleasure in what we eat because we stock up those good memories of past real food You dont get a lot of flavor depth in the processed stuff Scarbrough says And so you dont develop many pleasure memories from it In fact real food is the key to eating less the authors say For one thing youre satisfied more quickly with its big flavors And more flavor means more good memories And good memories lead us back to real food a loop of health and nutrition Scarbroughs moms macandcheese is still in his recipe repertoire all these years later She never made the processed stuff she only made the real thing he says And so I crave it want it and feel wonderfully satisfied when I eat itOut Front Colorado2010-07-23http://www.outfrontcolorado.com/rssitemblog.php?itemid=28 ARA Summer is here and the key to making the most of the season is to ensure you feel your best Although there are many tempting calorieladen foods at your disposal during the season it can be easy to fill your diet with foods that are tasty and healthy A good place to start is in your refrigerator The contents of your fridge can either sandbag or support your healthy eating habits Replacing processed and unhealthy items with fresh nutrientrich foods that are all natural is a great way to kick off the summer on a healthful note Simple steps to eating healthy To make freshening up your refrigerator even easier look for foods that are low in fat and contain allnatural ingredients Nutrition advice usually begins with a long list of foods you shouldnt eat but in reality there are actually many delicious and healthy options you can add to what you eat says Registered Dietitian Carolyn ONeil author of The Dish on Eating Healthy and Being Fabulous One such option ONeil recommends is Daisy Brand Cottage Cheese Available in both low fat 2 percent and regular 4 percent it contains only allnatural ingredients no preservatives additives or artificial growth hormones Plus its versatile and can be eaten by itself or added to one of your favorite recipes for a healthful twist Out Front Colorado2010-06-14http://www.outfrontcolorado.com/rssitemblog.php?itemid=27 ARA Outside of the economy fitness and healthy eating are among the most critical issues facing Americans today Only 31 percent of Americans are getting adequate exercise and 68 percent of men and 53 percent of women are overweight according to the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions National Health Interview survey released in March The good news is that the triedandtrue approach of regular exercise and smart nutrition will go a long way toward managing weight loss and an overall healthy lifestyle In fact the benefits of being more active can be seen within a short time after starting a new routine and include more energy less stress lower blood pressure improved digestive health and a reduction in cardiovascular disease risk A fitness program doesnt have to take place in the gym Beverly Abbs an awardwinning ultrarunner recommends outdoor fun to get started on everyday fitness You dont have to run long distances in order to reap the health benefits says Abbs a member of UltraRunning Team Sunsweet Short distance runs and even outdoor walks are a great way to stay fit and have fun I got my start competing in athletic events with just 2 to 3mile runs That turned into a lifelong love of ultrarunning Out Front Colorado2010-06-07http://www.outfrontcolorado.com/rssitemblog.php?itemid=26 We can trace the roots of alternative medicine also called holistic medicine to ancient traditions dating thousands of years ago back when people had a more philosophical view of health Emphasis was placed on the totality or of a person taking into account the physical mental emotional and spiritual aspects It is this approach to the whole self instead of focusing on the physical symptoms that differentiates alternative medicine from the conventional medical practice that we have grown to be familiar with today Modern medicine that we know has a high demand as people expect immediate results all part of the instant gratification mindset prevalent in todays generation On the other hand mainstream doctors generally are concerned only with the physical symptoms manifested by the patient and hardly care about anything else The point of focus by todays medical practitioners marks the dissimilarity between the old and the new Alternative medicine has withstood the test of time Despite the availability of modern drugs and pain killers millions of people around the world still seek alternative medical treatments which include herbal teas therapy massage herbal cures and a host of other methods Out Front Colorado2010-05-26http://www.outfrontcolorado.com/rssitemblog.php?itemid=25 The traditional Chinese treatment of firecupping is an ancient technique of drawing the skin away from the muscle with a gentle vacuum created by a warmed cup The vacuum is created by lighting a small amount of methanol alcohol in the cup then applying it to the skin The result is a short term bruise that stimulates red blood cell production which leads to better circulation Practitioners of firecupping believe that stimulating red blood cell production supplies a healthy boost to the immune system The treatment is often recommended in traditional Chinese medicine to alleviate the symptoms of bronchitis pneumonia and the common cold In the early 1800s firecupping was discovered by the western world and used for an exhaustive list of ailments that mystified physicians of the time Convulsions whooping cough deafness gout palsy and insomnia were described by the professional firecupper to his Royal Highness Prince Regent as diseases which cupping is employed with advantage Despite the dubious findings of Victorian era doctors interest remains in the benefits of firecupping to this day The ancient practice is being rediscovered in modern times for use in western holistic medicine and massage therapyOut Front Colorado2010-05-10http://www.outfrontcolorado.com/rssitemblog.php?itemid=24Carls partner Bob died Bobs parents would not allow Carl to play a role in Bobs funeral plans and Bobs healthcare providers did not recognize Carls decision making authority Peggys beloved dog Lolly died three months ago and her friends dont understand the depth of her grief Janets exhusband died in a car accident and her friends think she should be glad he is finally out of her life instead of being sad and grieving Barbaras best friend committed suicide and she feels more judgment than compassion from her peers regarding the death These are all examples of what has been called Doka 1989 disenfranchised grief Disenfranchised grief has been described as a grief that persons experience when they sustain a loss that is not or cannot be openly acknowledged publicly mourned or socially supported Doka 1989 p 6 Disenfranchised grievers may feel that they dont have the right to grieve and may feel abandoned or isolated in their pain Validation acknowledgement and support are vital to the healing of grief and when these elements are missing the grief process can become complicated and difficult requiring professional grief counseling Out Front Colorado2010-04-26http://www.outfrontcolorado.com/rssitemblog.php?itemid=23 ARA Americans could learn a lot about healthy eating habits from the ordinary people of the Mediterranean nations Eating healthy foods is a mindset and while it may take some practice to change your habits its not difficult Your body needs vitamins and nutrients to operate effectively and keep you healthy Developing healthy eating habits is a simple way to ensure your body is receiving the necessary amount of nutrients Here are some basic healthy eating habits that apply for everyone Eat more fresh fruit and vegetables Shop local farmers markets where the food is grown within a fourhour drive Eat more turkey and less beef Eat more whole grains Saute or grill rather than fry Use olive oil rather than shortening Eat slowly and enjoy each bite Practice moderation in everything you eat Sure we have overweight people in Israel But I had never seen an obese person until I came to the United States in 2002 says chef Nathan Tany Hashmonay a native of Israel who studied in Israel and France before coming to the US to complete his education He is an instructor in The International Culinary School at The Art Institute of Charlotte Out Front Colorado2010-04-07http://www.outfrontcolorado.com/rssitemblog.php?itemid=22 ARA Are you and your health care provider on the same page when it comes to discussing your health Does he or she think youre doing as well at maintaining your health as you think you are Probably not according to a new survey conducted by StrategyOne on behalf of GE the Cleveland Clinic and Ochsner Health System While about a third of patients surveyed gave themselves grades of A on managing their personal health eating well exercising regularly managing stress and getting preventative screenings the majority of health care providers gave Americans a grade of C or lower on all points according to the survey of more than 2000 Americans age 18 and older and more than 1200 doctors nurses pharmacists and dieticians Whats more 70 percent of those surveyed admitted to avoiding their doctors at some point even though 95 percent recognize the importance of regular doctor visits And while 70 percent of providers say their patients only come to see them when theyre sick only 38 percent of Americans say this is true Healthy living is not easy and can be overwhelming at times says Olympic figure skating champion Michelle Kwan who has teamed up with fellow Olympic champion Scott Hamilton GE Ochsner Health and the Cleveland Clinic to educate Americans on how to take simple daily steps to improve their health and their communication with their doctors We learned there are times when Americans would rather clean their house than take care of their health and with my hectic schedule I can totally relate You have to work to improve your health its not something that gets better overnightOut Front Colorado2010-03-31