Tag: preventative

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Being consistent is key in all aspects of life.

What you do every now and then doesn’t count.  What matters is what you do every day. It’s about being consistent.

What aspect of this do you think this is true of for you?

One guy is consistent at walking every morning, sometimes at 5 a.m. He’s being consistent.

Another guy shows up at our networking meeting every week with printed rosters for everyone. He’s being consistent.

Someone else is at church every Sunday. That’s being consistent.

The compound effect

There is a book called The Compound Effect, by Darren Hardy. (find it on Amazon)  It discusses the importance of how being consistent with a habit can have huge impact on our lives.  And these can be good or bad.  It seems that repeated actions will seem to have little if any effect for a period of time. Then suddenly there is a big, exponential growth noticed.

As I said, this habit can be good or bad.  How does one become obese? There’s no sudden need to eat a whole pie after dinner each night.  It starts slowly and then suddenly they are buying double XL T shirts.  Their overeating became a habit and the weight mushroomed into an unhealthy state.

I do pride myself in being consistent.

  • If you sit near me here at the Tuesday morning networking meetings, you will see that I am consistent at taking my daily strip of vitamins.
  • You will find me at the gym on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 5:15 a.m.
  • I drink a glass of water first thing every morning.
  • I floss my teeth every day.  I am being consistent.

Why is this important?

Health habits are very important to maintaining our lifestyle.  As time progresses, we are no longer able to stand without a groan, sprint across the street or keep up with a friend on a walk.  Vacations become more sedentary as one cannot walk or climb as much as when they were younger.

I encourage my massage clients and my customers to look at what their health habits have become and those they may want to incorporate into their routines.

Exercise.

While we are very consistent with our breathing, we are not always in control of how we breathe. It is usually pretty shallow.   How do we develop a habit of breathing deeper, longer breaths?

We can take that power and control back. Here is an exercise to help improve your breathing that can add stamina to your day, help you relax more and improve your sleep.

Sit comfortably with your hands in your lap.  Take note of your breathing. Are you breathing into your throat?  Your chest?  Your lower abdomen?

Use a balloon to be consistent in improving your breathingTo help you be more conscious of the depth of your breathing, get an ordinary balloon.

Blow into the balloon and quietly let the air out of the balloon. Where did your effort to blow up the balloon come from?

Blow into the balloon again and make an effort to use your lower abdomen to push the air into the balloon.  Empty as much air as you can into the balloon.  Release the air from the balloon.

Repeat this procedure a few more times.  Slow down if you get light headed. This may be something you need to work up to.

Using your powers of consistency, do this on a daily basis.  You will notice an easier process of breathing.  Be aware if you have increased stamina.  What is happening with your sleep after being consistent with this for a period of time?

Moving forward

Think about your health habits.  Commit to one new habit that you will take on for the next 30 days. I feel certain that the compound effect will happen for you.

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Heart disease prevention and a healthy heart is discussed by Dallas Health Helpers.

Heart disease prevention and a healthy heart is discussed by Dallas Health Helpers.what is strokeHeart disease is the number one killer in the United States. But 80% of heart disease is preventable.  The power to have a healthy heart is in your hands.

Is being high a risk to heat disease?  High cholesterol, high blood pressure and high weight are definitely conditions that contribute to poor heart health and a shortened lifespan.  So let’s look at these unfavorable situations that can lead to an early death.

High cholesterol:  leads to twice the risk of heart attack and heart disease or stroke. Cholesterol is a waxy substance in all our cells and in our blood.  Hardening of the arteries occurs when plaque, made up of cholesterol, calcium and fat builds up in arteries surrounding the heart, leading to heart attack, heart failure or stroke.  You are borderline high in total cholesterol if your count is above 200.  you are considered high in total cholesterol if you are above 230.

Here are some statistics:

• One third of all adults have high cholesterol and half of them do nothing to control it.
•  An estimated 71 million adults have high cholesterol.
•  An estimated 935,000 heart attacks occur every year.
•  An estimated 795,000 strokes occur each year.
•  Men still outnumber women in heart attacks, but not by much. More women than man have strokes. 

What can you do to lower cholesterol?

heart disease, disease of heart

There is much that you can do to help control cholesterol.

  1. Lifestyle: Start by having your total cholesterol checked regularly. Eat a healthy diet that includes plenty of fruits and vegetables.  Avoid packaged, fried, and fast food. Lose weight if you are not your ideal weight. Exercise and avoid smoking.
  2. Sterols: Plant sterols and stanols (2,000 mg/day) have been shown in multiple studies to help lower total cholesterol levels, coupled with the lifestyle changes above.  They appear to work by blocking the absorption of cholesterol in the diet.
  3. Fiber: Multiple studies have shown the benefit of fiber on lowering cholesterol levels in high-risk subjects.
  4. Soy: Soy supplementation has been shown to help lower cholesterol. Soy contains isoflavones, which are believed to be soy’s main cholesterol-lowering ingredients.

Contact Dallas Health Helpers at “Tim At Dallas Health Helpers dot com” for more information and support.

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Dallas Health Helpers, Shaklee distributor in Dallas asks What’s in your wallet? Er, medicine cabinet

Dallas Health Helpers, Shaklee distributor in Dallas asks What’s in your wallet? Er, medicine cabinet!!

Many of us can open our cabinets in the bathroom and find a plethora of over-the-counter medications.  These may range from the simple aspirin to products for stomach ache to diarrhea to joint pain. There are cold remedies, ointments for fever blisters and acid reflux  remedies. And this is only the over-the-counter list.

How do we avoid having all these cures that aren’t really cures at all.  Generally, all the aforementioned products may simply attempt to have an affect on the symptoms, not a cure for the original condition.

Let’s look at some natural steps we can take to help avoid and possibly prevent the need for over the counter symptom soothers.

First of all, if you have a headache stop and think about the amount of water you have drank during the day and how good has your nutrition been for the day?  Enough water and good-for-you food can help prevent that headache from starting.  If you have a stomach situation going on, what have you eaten out of the ordinary?  Under what conditions? (Stress) Have you eaten good fruits and vegetables with good enzymes in them?  If not, you might want to add EZ Gest and Stomach Soothing Complex to your medicine cabinet, or more appropriately, to your vitamin regimen.  Throw in some daily OptiFlora for good Probiotics to maintain a healthy digestive system.

Got muscle soreness and joint pain?  Again, are you getting enough water?  Are you warming up before exercise?  Try Joint and Muscle Pain Creme, Joint Health Complex and Pain Relief Complex.  Used daily from your vitamin shelf, the latter two offer amazing results very quickly that will stay with you and prevent future occurrences.

Tired of eating toasted oat cereal that claims to help lower cholesterol? Add to your vitamin shelf Cholesterol Reduction Complex, which has the FDA approval to claim that it helps lower cholesterol. No may; it helps.

These are just a few things you can do to prevent lessen the need for over the counter drugs that may only mask symptoms and do nothing for the root cause.   Be aware that these suggestions are not meant to diagnose or treat illness.  Contact your physician if you are unsure.

Increase the size of your vitamin shelf in the kitchen and use that medicine cabinet for important things in your bathroom–like hair gel!!

 

Dallas Health Helpers, Shaklee Distributor in Dallas is about being healthy without drugs or synthetics. Call 214  252  9596 or email us  at Tim at Dallas Health Helpers dot com  to learn more about vitality and health.

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Shaklee Distributor in Dallas, Dallas Health Helpers, talks about long-term health.

Shaklee Distributor in Dallas, Dallas Health Helpers, talks about long-term health.

 

March is National Nutrition Month.  Big Whoop!!  I am so glad the nation or who ever sets these months as official, brings the idea of being conscious of our nutrition to the forefront of our minds.

But I think that we should be concerned about our health on a daily, monthly and yearly basis, not just one month.  We should be looking at all aspects of health every day; concerns such as what we are eating, how much sleep we are getting, are we exercising frequently and are we getting enough water to drink.

There is a lot of maintenance to keeping our bodies functioning properly for as long as we are here.  That means time out of each day dedicated to our long-term health and well- being.  Many people take more time and money to keep their car, dog or even their home functioning properly.  The sad fact is that the home you really live in, your body, is often neglected or takes a back seat to other aspects of your life.

There is an old saying that if you don’t make time for your body now, it will take time from you later.  That may mean a shortened lifespan or more time in bed incapacitated.  Neither is a viable outcome in my opinion.

Even though it may not fit into your picture of the perfect day, spend some time doing maintenance on your body.  Here are four simple things to do:

  • Instead of having your car washed, do it yourself or go for a brisk walk.
  • Turn off the TV and read a book in order to get better sleep.
  • Keep a large glass or bottle of water handy so you can keep track of the ounces you drink.
  • Plan your food intake for the week so you get good nutrition and avoid “emergency” stops at not-so-healthy places.

Remember that your body is really where you live.  Take good care of it and it will serve you well.

Dallas Health Helpers, Shaklee Distributor in Dallas is about being healthy without drugs or synthetics. Call 214.252.9596 or email us to learn more about vitality and health.

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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.