Moderation in all things

A drink a day linked to healthy aging...

" "strong, consistent evidence" that people who drink in moderation are less likely than nondrinkers or heavy drinkers to experience health problems such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and dementia, says Qi Sun, M.D., the lead author of the study and a nutrition researcher at the Harvard School of Public Health, in Boston."
Another strand of evidence for moderation! Drinking a little alcohol spread over the week, is consistent with less degenerative illnesses. Might it be the inflammation fighting effects of moderate alcohol consumption?  Or the stress- lessening effects of alcohol? Or is it a sign of moderation in other lifestyle choices?

Nuts and tofu found to lower cholesterol

There was an article in the news that said research had found that a diet with nuts and tofu had lowered cholesterol levels, even more than cutting back on saturated fats. It got me thinking that maybe what we eat is more important than what we avoid. Maybe those foods that have been shown to have a protective effect on heart heath, like olive oil and nuts, actually do us more good than eliminating saturated fats, which may not be that harmful. Cholesterol is an important building block in the body, it forms the basis of a lot of the hormones we need for proper functioning. We produce cholesterol naturally, but we also need to get some from our food.

Birth of a book

I've spent the last six weeks working on the second edition of my book, "Explaining Health." I've written two new chapters, one on Chinese Medicine and one on Ayurveda. I had those two chapters edited and incorporated changes. I read over the entire manuscript, looking for any overlooked typos. I considered my publishing options, and out of laziness thought I would go with Createspace again, the way I published last time. But it turned out to be too expensive. The cover price of my book would have to be over $20, approaching $25, and I felt that was just too much to ask people to spend, on what is a slim volume. Packed with useful information, but only 138 small pages. So I lost some sleep over it, and then I decided to look into Lightning Source. The price was less, and they have better distribution. Now my book can be $19.95, a price that was more comfortable to me. Lightning Source is way more complicated, with contracts that have to be printed and signed and returned by mail. I missed signing in one place so the whole thing had to be sent again. And then I uploaded my book in the wrong PDF format and had another sleepless night trying to figure out how to fix it. Turns out I had to save it, one page at a time and figure out what was wrong with each page, when it wouldn't save as PDF/X. Finally, I got the whole manuscript to save. Then I had to upload the cover again, and get my designer to redesign the cover to fit on the cover generator. That took two days and many cell phone conversations. Now we both know how to do it. Now I'm just waiting, fingers crossed that both files pass muster and I can start the printing process. Then the fun begins. I feel like I've been in labor for six weeks, and I've been pushing for the last two days, and my designer has been my midwife, helping me along. I can't wait to hold the little darling in my hands.

Interdepndence Day

We need to think about how much we need one another to thrive. We need a balance of work time and social time and solitude. Time to nurture our creativity. Time to just goof off and have fun. If you can take a walk with friends, then you are getting exercise and sociability together. If you can eat good food together, then you can support each others health in making good choices. Peer pressure can be used for good. Moderation can be the way to go. Drink more water, especially if you drink alcohol. We will all have more fun in the long run, if we don't abuse our bodies! The "pursuit of happiness" does not have to mean overindulgence. Sometimes less is more.

"It's Karma"

I was checking out of the Hollywood Hills Hotel, when my cell phone rang and it was Kevin from the Bookshop West Portal in San Francisco, saying he'd sold out of my book, Explaining Health: what you need to know to stay healthy. I was very excited and a fellow guest nearby, smoking a cigarette, overheard me and he said, "I have to get your book- I'm an author too and maybe it will help my book sell-it's karma!" I told him I had one copy with me and would sign it for him. He put out the cigarette, and asked me if I'd mind if he took the last blank page out of me book to write his email address on. I didn't mind, and when I told him the book was $20, he said."But I don't have any money!" I was really on the spot, having signed his name in the book, and the last page was torn out. I thought for a moment, and then I said, "I'll give you the book if you consider quitting smoking." He thought it over and then he agreed. I didn't even mention smoking in my book on health, I assumed everyone already knows it's bad for their health. I went one step further, and showed him how I quit smoking many years ago, by folding my arms and keeping them that way for five minutes, until the urge passes. I figured it was good karma.

Allergies

Allergies happen when your body reacts to foreign substances like pollen or animal dander. You can either choose to avoid exposure or change how your body reacts. It's easier to avoid being around animals than it is to avoid pollen, as it's in the air all around us.

One way that I've found that helps me be less reactive to pollen is through yogic breathing exercises, specifically "alternate nostril breathing" and "breath of fire." With alternate nostril breathing you close off one nostril, using your thumb and forefinger of one hand, exhale through the open nostril and then  inhale, and then switch sides, exhaling first then inhaling. Breathe gently and slowly, trying not to make a sound. Gradually increase the length of the exhale in relation to the inhale. Do it for 3-5 minutes to start, you should feel it become very relaxing. Breathe normally for a few breaths and try the "breath of fire" by inhaling through both nostrils and let the air out in short audible puffs through both nostrils, about 5 times and then exhale any remaining breath and repeat a few times. This is excellent for clearing your sinuses.

Resilience

Being healthy doesn't mean never getting sick. If you are healthy and you get sick, you are able to bounce back. You are able to mount an appropriate immune response to a virus or bacteria. You are able to listen to your body, and sleep when you are tired, drink water when you are thirsty, and eat foods which truly nourish.

Garlic and ginger are great allies in the fight against germs. Chicken soup does have healing properties. Fresh ginger (about an inch in size) sliced and simmered for twenty minutes in two cups of water, makes a wonderful steam for stuffed sinuses, and then you can add a teaspoon of honey and a spritz of lemon for a soothing tea. Fresh garlic can be minced and spread on toast and covered with honey for a medicinal snack. Hippocrates said,"Let your food be medicine and your medicine be food."