Month: June 2009

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Uptown Dallas Massage Therapist recommends daily stretching.

Uptown Dallas Massage Therapist recommends daily stretching.  Flexibility is a part of being healthy and these simple guidelines will help even the novice feel good and effective when stretching.

Many people seem to find stretching to be a bore and a waste of time.  Besides, stretching may take some precious time out of the alloted exercise period.  However, stretching is so good for the body and mind, it may even enhance your workout.  Even if you are not on a regular exercise regime, a nice stretching session can actually improve your day.

The most effective time to stretch is generally in the morning.  A short, 10 to 15 minute routine will get the blood flowing and loosen up muscles that may have tightened up during the night.  Carving out that short period of time can pay back big dividends during the next few hours.  And done daily, the benefits will compound for you.

Often, when one begins a new exercise regime, the tendency is to over do it and go at the activity full force.  Stretching is best performed slowly and gently.  It is a process of allowing the muscles and tendons and ligaments to lengthen.   Forcing the soft tissue to lengthen too quickly is where the trouble can come from.   Compare your soft tissues to a rubber band.  If a rubber band is cold when you try to stretch it, it breaks more easily.  A rubber band that is warm will stretch more easily and possibly farther.  A cold muscle is much more prone to damage than a slightly warmed one.

Begin slowly and breathe comfortably.  Get yourself into a peaceful state of mind and let the stresses of the day, past or upcoming, drift away for this brief period of time.  Focus on your body and the calmness that resides deep inside you.  Once you’ve gotten your mind at ease, begin your stretching.

Stretching should feel good.  Forcing the muscles generally does not feel good.  Stay in your happy state of mind.  Whatever stretches you choose, listen to your body.  With stretching, less is better than a little bit more.   We all naturally, without conscious thought, stretch. Pets will stretch themselves and their movements can be easily immitated.  Try what a dog or cat does and see how it feels.

Expand your stretching thoughout your day; sitting at your desk, walking down the hall, sitting in the car at a redlight.  Do those innate moves that you do to make yourself feel better.  Just be aware that whatever you do to lengthen your muscles makes them feel better.

Again, don’t make stretching a big deal.  Just do what comes naturally and comfortably. Make sure you do it often.

Dallas Health Helpers has been involved in natural approaches to health for 26 years.  We are located in Uptown Dallas, but our influence is nation wide.

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Genetic Engineering of trees is a major threat to our ecological system.

Genetic Engineering of trees is a major threat to our ecological system.  There would be major repercussions if this is allowed to happen, even in an experimental stage.

The USDA is currently taking public comments on whether or not the company ArborGen should be allowed to conduct 29 field trials of genetically engineered “cold tolerant” eucalyptus trees in the U.S. For the first time in history, this massive experiment, which is on the verge of being green-lighted, will literally be using nature as the laboratory to test more than 260,000 “franken-trees.”  Scientists across the U.S. are voicing concerns over this proposal including:

-The USDA failed to do an Environmental Impact Statement to assess potential negative issues related to the proposed field trials.

-Studies have shown tree pollen can travel up to 1,000 kilometers. The spread of the these plants into the wild through seeds and plant matter is highly likely, and the impacts on native ecosystems from this invader are unknown.

-One of the experimental GE tree varieties is a known host for cryptococcus gatti, a fatal fungal pathogen whose spores cause meningitis in people and animals.

Comments are being accepted by the USDA until July 6, 2009. Take action today by going directly to the USDA website to submit comments 

Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main?main… to submit or view comments and to view supporting and related materials available electronically.

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Dehydration in North Texas is a real threat

Dehydration in North Texas is a real threat.

 

Dehydration while working in the heat can be dangerous.  If you are not accustomed to working outdoors, you may be in for a shock: a big shock to your system.

 

It is mid-June and summer has come to Dallas, Texas.  The heat has hit with a vengeance.  Spring was nice, but now that’s over and it’s really hot outdoors.  Especially with the rain we had two days before, the air was quite steamy.  There was some clean up in the back yard I wanted to get done.  Much of the shrubbery had grown beyond its borders and needed to be trimmed and the debris underneath had to be thrown away.

 

I got started in the heat of the day: about 1:45 p.m.  All was going well.  I was seeing some great progress. And did I mention it was hot?  I went into the garage and got a cold bottle of water out of the small refrigerator and gulped it down.

 

A short time later, I needed more water.  I got another bottle and began to drink it.  I was feeling slightly wiped out and felt I needed to sit for a minute.  Then I remembered that I had some Shaklee Performance Maximum Endurance Sports Drink in the house.  I went inside and mixed a large water bottle of the stuff and drank about a third of it immediately.  I put the rest in the garage refrigerator.  I thought I’d sit down for a few minutes.  I did sit, but only for a short time.  I quickly realized I was feeling better and the fatigue was gone.  It was much better than when I drank the water.  I got up and finished the work I was doing on the yard.  I drank the rest of the Performance Recovery drink as I worked.

 

The upshot of all this seems to be that the Shaklee Performance Drink made a big difference for me.  I know there are other hydration drinks on the market, but my knowledge and experience with Performance keeps me using this one particular brand.  Other drinks are mostly sugar and are not well researched.  They are mostly marketing ploys, spending big bucks to hire sports celebrities to make expensive television commercials.

 

Shaklee Performance is a well-researched product that has proven itself time after times.  They have many amateur athletes who use Performance because of its results.  These athletes are not paid by Shaklee to use its products. Check out how many Olympic gold medals have been won by Shaklee users.

   

Dehydration while working in the heat can be dangerous.  My whole-hearted recommendation is to use Shaklee Performance Sports drink before you begin to do your yard work and through out the process.  It’s not only for athletes; it’s for anyone who is doing more physical activity than usual.  Keep your fluids flowing, and keep the right fluids in your body.  

 

Dallas Health Helpers has been involved in natural approaches to health for 26 years.  We are located in Uptown Dallas, but our influence is nation wide.

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Colonoscopy Day

Colonoscopy day started early.  My appointment was at 7:30 a.m. and they wanted me there at 6:30.  My procedure was done at the doctor’s clinic.  It was not far from home and it was raining.  Bob took me to the office and waited for me.  My anesthesiologist later said she was surprised that everyone was showing up on time because of the weather.

 

After filling out paperwork, I waited only a few minutes before they called my name.  I verified the correct spelling on my wrist band and we were taken to the bed that I would have my procedure done on.

 

A nurse came and began asking questions. There were the typical questions about family history and current status.  She was quite impressed that at 52, I am on no medications.  She complemented me on my excellent blood pressure and the fact that I have had only one surgery in my life:  a tonsillectomy at the age of 18.  She then started an IV in my right hand.

 

A second nurse came and asked most of the same questions.  She, too, was impressed with my status.  I contribute my good health to the 26 years of taking vitamins and just about as many years of exercising on a regular basis.

 

Then the anesthesiologist came.  She, again, asked many questions and then rolled me down the hall on the bed.  I had never seen a hospital hallway from a rolling bed or guerney.  She must have passed her driving test, because she made the turns and corners with experienced ease. 

 

In the procedure room a nurse was very friendly and energetic.  She offered me a blanket and I waffled on the request.  She said, “You want a blanket,” and put a warm one over me. It felt good for the time I remember it.  The anesthesia began to kick in.  The last thing I remember was saying, “Here it comes.”

 

When I woke up I think I was back in the original space where all the prepatory questions were asked.  I felt a little groggy, but came around pretty quickly.  Someone offered me some juice and it really was good.  I was quite thirsty after the preparation day and having had no fluids after midnight.  The doctor came by and brought pictures of my colon and said he’d call in about 5 days. They had snipped off a small pollup and were sending it to the lab for a biopsy.

 

Soon we were on our way back home in the rain.  I seemed to feel every bump in the road.  I didn’t want to go sit in a restaurant to eat, so we came home.  I did  have some cereal with Café Latte Cinch Shake in it.  It was very good.  Soon after that I laid on the sofa and slept.  I slept off and on until about 11:30 a.m.  I kept getting up to get something to drink and going to the bathroom. 

 

That was the part I was not ready for.  The same routine as last night was happening on the day of the procedure.  This kept up until later in the day.  I think the corner was turned when I had more cereal, this time with high fiber.

 

So all is better, two days later.  The only remains are the irritated circles on my chest were they monitored my heart during the procedure and a bruise on my right hand where the IV was installed.

 

Colonoscopy day started early. I will get more results from the doctor 5 days after the big day.  It wasn’t as bad as I expected and it was a longer ordeal than I expected.

 

Dallas Health Helpers has been involved in natural approaches to health for 26 years.  We are located in Uptown Dallas, but our influence is nation wide.

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Dallas Colonoscopy Preparation

Dallas colonoscopy preparation can be frightening.  This preventative measure is very important and the actual procedure is very easily endured when you follow a few simple steps. 

I just had my first colonoscopy at 52 years of age.  I didn’t worry about it so much, but knew that I needed to have that first one done.  There is no history of colon cancer in my family, but one should always exercise preventative measures to ensure the future of good health.

The preparation day is the hard part-at least it was for me. I was instructed to have only clear liquids all day, eat or drink nothing red and begin the “cleansing” process at 7 p.m.  I was apprehensive about this modified fasting, but it went surprisingly well.  I used chicken broth, apple juice, ginger ale, Cinch Energizing Tea and lime jello.   I did very little of this intake until about two p.m.  I began to get a slight headache, so I ramped up the intake.  I usually eat several times a day and this fasting had cut my normal calorie intake drastically.

At seven p.m. I began drinking “the drink”.  I used the lemon/lime flavoring in it.  I really had to concentrate to taste the flavoring.  It was not tasty.  After about an hour, I began to visit the toilet.  Then it seemed that with each drink there was a visit.  The instructions are to drink eight ounces every 10 minutes.   I finished the last drink at about 11:30 p.m.  The effects are delayed, so I finally got to bed at 2 p.m.  My procedure was at 7:30 a.m. and I was required to arrive at 6:30 a.m. 

 

Colonospy Preparation was not as difficult as I had thought it would be.  I will discuss the day of the procedure in my next post.

Dallas Health Helpers has been involved in natural approaches to health for 26 years.  We are located in Uptown Dallas, but our influence is nation wide.