Dandelion Health and Wellness

John Tartaglio

The NYC Marathon route goes through our neighborhood and it's amazing to see the runners up close and cheer them on.  I especially enjoy seeing the wheelchair athletes compete.  The amount of strength and determination these athletes have is inspiring, to say the least.  One competitor who really stood out was John Tartaglio Jr.  John lost both legs in 2004 and competed on crutches using a single prosthetic limb.  John was joined by friends and family members and is the first amputee missing his thighbones to ever complete the race. You can read more about him here. 

Some of My Favorite Things

I use myself as a guinea pig and only recommend things on this site and to my clients that I have tested out.  Here are some of my current favorites:

This is the best tasting green drink I've ever tried and I drink it every morning.  A 30 day supply is only $21.44 on iHerb and, if you use the code LID317 you will get $5 off your first order (of anything, not just this product).  The chocolate flavor comes from organic cocoa and cacao and it's not too strong or sweet.  It's easy to mix and tastes great with just water added.  Sometimes I mix this with ground Chia seed for more fiber and EFAs.  

I gave up coffee a few years ago and started drinking yerba mate instead.  It has caffeine and gives you energy without making you nervous or anxious and the instant kind has added stevia for sweetness.  It definitely made quitting coffee much easier (though I won't lie, it was pretty difficult).

I use coconut oil for everything. I eat it, I use it as a moisturizer & deodorant, I feed it to my dogs, and I use it in my hair.  An $8 jar lasts for months.  I add a banana and a tablespoon of coconut oil to Nutiva Hempshake for a great smoothie.

When I'm bored with the gym or don't have the time to go, I try to do an exercise video at home.  I bought two old Bar Method DVDs on eBay and, while it's kind of old school and the music is awful, the workout is fast and effective.  You really feel this in your butt, thighs, arms and abs the next day.  I also like Rainbeau Mars' (yes, I know) yoga DVDs, particularly Pure Power and Pure Sweat.  Again, they're pretty short but difficult and you will get a much better work out in 30 minutes than you would on the elliptical at the gym.

 

Some of my other favorites: acupuncture bargains, Lara Bars (the new peanut butter & jelly is great), GT's Kombucha, Omega Nutrition Soap (you dilute it and it lasts forever), Mychelle skin care and Etsy.com.  Enjoy!

Harsh Words For Dr. Andrew Weil

 
The FDA is taking action against anyone who promotes products intended to diagnose, mitigate, prevent, treat or cure the H1N1 Flu Virus. Apparently, in their view, the only solution is to get the vaccine.  Read the full letter here.

Free Ayurveda Teleconference Today

WHAT: Heal Yourself with Ayurveda Free Teleconference
WHO: Lissa Coffey
DATE: Wednesday, September 30, 2009
TIME: 5:00 PM PT (Los Angeles Time)
COST: Free!
HOW: Click link below

Join bestselling author Lissa Coffey as she talks with DailyOM host Colleen Pyke about healing yourself with Ayurveda. In this free 60 minute teleconference presented by DailyOM, you will learn about Ayurveda (pronounced ah-yer-vey-duh) - India's 5,000 year old "Science of Life" which is a sister science to yoga, meditation, vastu and vedic astrology. In India, they are practiced together, because they are synergistic, and the effect is so much greater. If you are wanting to live your happiest and healthiest life, then Ayurveda is for you! Ayurveda is ancient wisdom, and Ayurveda expert Lissa Coffey gives it modern style as she introduces us to the art of living in harmony with nature. In this 60 minute teleconference, Lissa shows us how to identify our dosha, or ayurvedic mind/body type. She will suggest lifestyle routines for each dosha to live a life of balance and bliss. You'll discover many Ayurvedic techniques that you can implement into your life right now and see a difference right away! You're meditating, and doing yoga, and seeing great results – are you ready for more?

Click below for the free teleconference:

Heal Yourself with Ayurveda Free Teleconference

Meditation for People Who Hate to Meditate

Establishing a meditation practice does not have to be painful or time consuming. You don't need to sit in an uncomfortable position for hours while wrestling to clear your head of all thoughts.  Instead, you can just sit and take deep breaths for a few minutes every day.  Stare off into space or focus on an object.  You can also download guided meditations from iTunes or Amazon.  My current favorite meditation is Yoga Nidra and I downloaded an intro and two long guided sessions from Robin Carnes on Amazon.com for $2.97.  It's extremely relaxing and yoga nidra does not require anything but for you to lie still.  There are also many free and short guided meditations on Youtube.  There are many different types of meditation so explore your options and find one that feels best to you. 

Diet and Exercise Lower Alzheimer’s Risk

A study done by Columbia University found that eating a healthy diet reduces your risk of developing Alzheimer's by 40% and that exercising reduces the risk by 37%.  People who followed a healthy diet AND exercised reduced their risk by 59%.

Simple Math

A friend of mine, B, went to the doctor recently to have his cholesterol checked and, when the results came back that showing his cholesterol was high, B had an interesting conversation with his doctor.  First, even though B's cholesterol levels weren't off the charts, the doctor suggested medication in lieu of dietary changes. When asked about this, the doctor said "After years of trying to get people to change their diets and seeing them not only fail but rarely even make an attempt to change, I realized the only way to get them to lower their cholesterol  is with medication".  Second, when B asked his doctor for diet recommendations, his doctor said "The easiest way to lower cholesterol is to just lose weight.  It's simple math: calories in must be less than calories expended".

It's no wonder that, with this kind of vague nutrition advice, most people opt for medication.  Myself, I cannot remember the last time, if ever, I had a physician talk to me about nutrition or ask about my diet.  I realize that most GP's are overwhelmed and stretched too thin.  They're seeing too many patients each day, they're frustrated and the easiest thing to do is just break out the prescription pad. 

A great book for basic nutrition advice is Eat to Live by Dr. Joel Fuhrman.  And a great first step in modifying your diet is to take a moment to weigh your options before you choose.  Is what you are going to eat filled with fat and sugar?  Is it real food (an apple)?  Is it going to be satisfying AND nutritious?  Or will you feel awful afterwards and hungry an hour later?  For example, a Krispy Kreme donut tastes good but it has no nutritional benefit and will not satisfy your hunger. Compare that with eating a bowl of oatmeal with real maple syrup and a pint of blueberries.  The second meal will be more filling and nutritious.  It will also provide you with vitamins, minerals and energy to get you through your morning.  Check out the DailyPlate.com for the nutritional information of foods including dishes from chain restaurants. 

Why Exercise Won't Make You Thin

Time Magazine had an interesting article recently about how exercise alone won't help you lose weight. What you eat and how much is the biggest factor, and many people use an hour at the gym a couple of times a week as an excuse to go overboard.  The article also points out the exercise can also boost your appetite and lead to cravings and overeating.  Exercise is important to overall health but it doesn't necessarily need to involve the gym.  I'm a big fan of doing yoga videos at home.  It's cheap, convenient and you can get a good weight bearing and calming workout in around 30 minutes.  In addition, new studies have recently discovered that yoga leads to weight loss because yoga leads to more mindful eating habits.

Dangerous Food Additives

Here is Dr. Dharma's list of 12 harmful food additives:

 1. Sodium nitrite
 2. BHA & BHT
 3. Propyl gallate
 4. Monosodium glutamate
 5. Trans fats
 6. Aspartame
 7. Acesulfame-K
 8. Food colorings (Blue, Red, Green, Yellow)
 9. Olestra
10. Potassium bromate
11. White sugar
12. Sodium chloride (salt)

Sixwise.com breaks out the reasons why each should be avoided.

The Cost of Obesity

Obese Americans spend approximately 42 percent more per year on health care than "normal" weight Americans.  The majority of that money goes towards paying for prescription drugs to manage obesity related illnesses such as diabetes and heart disease.  According to the Center for Disease Control, more than one-third of Americans are obese.  Not overweight, obese.  Obesity is defined as having a body mass index of 30 or higher.  You can calculate your BMI on the CDC's website.