Stress and its effect on health

Stress Or Trauma Can Negatively Affect Our Health; Learn How To Build Resilience To Take Control Of The Present

When it’s stress or trauma, it can leave wounds that run deep. If not properly tended to, these events can leave scars that affect the way a person relates to themselves and everything around them. “It is said that every scar tells a story,” Lauer and Parrish write in The Essence of Resilience: Stories of Triumph Over Trauma (HCI – ISBN: 9780757319419 October 2016 — $14.95), but often those stories are kept locked away in silence by the victims who are struck voiceless and alone in the dark shadow of their pasts. By keeping their stories buried within themselves, often trauma victims distort the reality of their trauma and devolve to self-blame, and very often cope with drugs, alcohol, and other unhealthy and dangerous behavior.

But everyone is capable of harnessing resilience – the part of ourselves that refuses to surrender or die. Everyone is capable of reclaiming themselves and taking control of the present by learning to cope with their pasts, and in The Essence of Resilience, fourteen trauma survivors demonstrate the miraculous healing power of storytelling to work through finding the “gift in their wound.” Stories include:

•    A young girl bullied by her classmates, losing her definition of herself in their hurtful words.
•    An adopted daughter, searching for a sense of belonging through substance abuse.
•    A rape victim regaining her voice through therapy animals.
•    A Marine with a history of child abuse learning the power of sharing and facing his past.

Tanya Lauer and Kathleen Parrish are professional counselors who specialize in those who have suffered a traumatic experience, which they define as “any event that violates your sense of safety and wellbeing, or shatters your integrity or sense of wholeness.” With a combined 40 years of experience helping trauma survivors cope, Lauer and Parrish share their tried-and-true arsenal of tools including Relationships, Trust, Travel, Compassion, Gratitude, Animals, Nature, Humor and Spirituality that helps victims reclaim their voice in this gripping and powerful book.

Join these survivors as they face their pasts head-on, sharing their deepest and darkest moments to open themselves up to the ability to heal. These stories, while they may be painful, are also published to be motivational to those who may be suffering silently on their own. These tributes to each individual’s past reveal an inspiring look into the miracle that is human resilience, and allows us to bear witness to these brave survivors in their triumph over trauma.

About the Authors

Tanya Lauer and Kathleen Parrish are Licensed Professional Counselors with over 40 years combined experience providing counseling and trauma intervention services. They are affiliated with Cottonwood Tucson, an internationally renowned residential treatment program for co-occurring disorders in Tucson, Arizona. They are frequent presenters at professional conferences in the United States and in Europe.

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AUTHOR INTERVIEW

1. What inspired you to write this book?
We were inspired by the courage and openness of the individuals we have worked with in the area of trauma recovery.

2. Why is resilience such an important component of trauma recovery?
Resilience is a crucial aspect of trauma recovery as it provides individuals with an anchor to hold onto in the midst of the storm. Resilience is that ability to return to original form after being stretched. Trauma not only stretches us, but it shatters us sometimes, too. Recognizing and embracing resilience provides individuals with the opportunity to recover those parts of themselves that they might believe were lost.

3. Is everyone resilient, or is it an inherited trait that pertains to only a few?
Everyone possesses the capacity for resilience, but not everyone will embrace this potential. We believe that individuals are born with certain traits of resilience but we also recognize that resilience can be developed and nurtured.

4. Are the characters in your stories real or fictional?
The characters in our stories are inspired by individuals that we have known; however, significant elements of their story and identity have been changed to protect and honor confidentiality.

5. Are there elements of your own life experiences in this book?
This book reflects some of our own perspectives and ideas about trauma recovery. In addition, there are parts of this book that are incredibly personal to us and allow us to share aspects of our own story in the pages of this book.

Available wherever books are sold or to order directly from the publisher: www.hcibooks.com or call (800) 441-5569
Amazon
Barnes&Noble
KOBO
ISBN: 978075319419 — $14.95

Book Review: Self Help books by Beverly D. Flaxington

Anyone Can Win In A Difficult World Given The Right Tools

Inept managers, poor communications, mismatched core skills and expectations, boss/subordinate disconnects: there are millions of reasons to be unhappy on the job. Now, award-winning author Beverly Flaxington gives readers solid, simple strategies for enjoying and succeeding in their business and personal lives in her books, Self-Talk for a Calmer You: Learn How to Use Positive Self-Talk to Control Anxiety and Live a Happier, More Relaxed Life and Make Your Shift: The Five Most Powerful Moves You Can Make to Get Where YOU Want to Go.

Businesses lose billions of dollars every year because their employees have health related issues stemming from anxiety in the workplace. Few employees are equipped to deal with a difficult boss, or peer-to-peer conflict. In Self-Talk for a Calmer You, Flaxington helps us recognize the triggers, position them more objectively and offers a step-by-step approach to change the work experience. Taking control of the way we talk to ourselves is a source of remarkable power.

In many organizations, employees do not know how to overcome obstacles and become stymied and ineffective. Make Your Shift is a groundbreaking approach to systemically removing obstacles and moving on to achieving goals. The strategic steps outlined as SHIFT™ give managers a way to coach their teams to higher levels of effectiveness as they SPECIFY the desired outcome, HIGHLIGHT obstacles and categorize, IDENTIFY the human factor, FIND alternatives and then TAKE disciplined action.

Beverly D. Flaxington is a bestselling author who blogs for Psychology Today. She is a Certified Hypnotherapist, personal and career coach, entrepreneur, college professor and business development expert. As cofounder of The Collaborative, a sales and marketing consultancy, she provides strategic and tactical support to help client firms and individuals reach higher levels of effectiveness and meet their goals. Flaxington has also been featured by several media outlets, including the Wall Street Journal, the Boston Globe, Lifetime television, Newsweek.com, Reader’s Digest, and FoxNews.com.

“When people become stressed,” she says, “they become ineffective. That’s when they need a strategic plan and a way to manage their responses and emotions. My books provide those tools.”

Forever Home Rescue NE and Neponset Valley Humane Society receive a portion of book proceeds. For more information, visit The-Collaborative.com.

Self-Talk for a Calmer You: Learn How to Use Positive Self-Talk to Control Anxiety and Live a Happier, More Relaxed Life
By Beverly Flaxington
Adams Media
ISBN: 1440564809

Make Your Shift: The Five Most Powerful Moves You Can Make to Get Where YOU Want to Go
By Beverly Flaxington
ATA Press
ISBN-10: 0983762023
ISBN-13: 978-0983762027

Available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other fine book outlets

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Reviews:

Dr. Jackie Black: “…jam-packed with rich content, wonderful personal stories and solid examples of every method, tool and tip Bev created to help readers make their lives and relationships better!”

Dan King, Principal, Career Counselor, and Coach: “Beverly Flaxington has uncovered the missing piece in the countless number of goal-setting books and programs in the marketplace.”

Organize Work, Maximize Productivity by Kirsten McNeill

Do you ever get bombarded by stress because you have so much work to do? You need to finish everything on time, but you don’t have enough strength or energy in the day to complete everything.

Multitasking your writing jobs isn’t always as smart or productive as you’d think. Here are three tips to feeling accomplished when there’s too much on your creative plate.

• Focus all your energy and brain power on one task.

At the start of the day, choose one project to work on. When you finish a big chunk of that project, you’ll feel relieved and proud that you’ve finished as much as you did.

Focus only on your chosen task and take short breaks in between. When you’re staring at a screen all day, that’s a big drain on your eyes and thinking abilities. Go outside and soak up vitamin D.

• Alternate your to-do list.

Write a list of all the tasks you have to do that day. Blog posts, short stories, freelance work, etc. Split those tasks into two groups.

On Day 1, work on the first half of your list and make sure to even out the amount of time spent on each task. On Day 2, work on the other half of the list and alternate with each new day.

• Finish smaller tasks first.

When you complete quick tasks at the start of the day, like chores or errands, those are done and out of the way.

That gives you more time to focus on the bigger projects, like your first novel. Clearing away a few items on your list can calm your mind and help you feel more accomplished very early.

If you follow just one of these ideas, you’re more likely to feel less stressed and more organized. I have a day planner to help me and I write out my list of tasks the night before so I don’t have to worry. When I have everything planned out beforehand, I am more productive and accomplish more in the day.

Kirsten McNeill is an aspiring YA writer and hopes to change the world with the written word. She loves to create stories, play music, and read whenever she has the chance.

Kirsten’s website is www.theartisours.wordpress.com. You can also find her at www.twitter.com/WorthInMusic, www.facebook.com/TheArtIsOurs, and www.cornerhub.social/member/KirstenM

 

 

Turning Off Stress, Inviting in Tranquility and Inspiration

Turning Off Stress By Inviting Tranquility And
Inspiration In With The Simple Act Of Coloring

Just when a sympathetic heart seems like it can’t take anymore, reach for something to help quiet the mind and ease the soul. Inkspirations coloring books for adults offer a way to turn off negativity while healing the spirit. Art therapy has long proven its effects as an aid in emotional and mental restoration, and it is not news that coloring as active meditation reduces stress and quiets thoughts. However, from the original publishers of Chicken Soup for the Soul now comes a line of coloring books ready to encourage, inspire, and help worries fade.

Whether coloring with friends, family, or on your own, it doesn’t take much to color your day a little brighter. With moving quotes alongside unique and graceful images, Inkspirations coloring books include a wide array of themes to help express creativity and enjoy therapy through coloring. To start overcoming heartache, releasing tensions, and building positive energy, readers can visit the new Inkspirations website, www.Inkspirations.com.

The website is a reader’s portal to a more colorful world, giving a peek at the wide spread of unique pages Inkspirations has to offer, and some highly anticipated releases.

On coloring lists now:

•    Inkspirations in the Garden (June 2016)

Anyone blessed with a green thumb knows that a garden is nature’s haven, and when properly tended can transform a patch of ground into a place of splendor that abounds with intoxicating colors, scents, and wildlife. Inkspirations in the Garden celebrates gardens in all their glory, from images of delightful cottage gardens to well-manicured rose gardens, from lush tropical gardens to relaxing Zen gardens. The original designs feature exquisite floral patterns to color and customize, plus heartwarming scenes of loveable backyard critters, like ladybugs and bumblebees, and even the squirrels and rabbits who sometimes become our garden nemeses. Inkspirations in the Garden pays homage to those who make weeds into wonders and have been enriched by gardening’s lessons about a life well-tended and nurtured. Please visit: http://amzn.to/21nxZQS

•    Inkspirations Animal Kingdom (June 2016)

For coloring enthusiasts looking for inspiration, nature provides a dazzling array of colors and patterns – the bold black stripes on a tiger’s back, the kaleidoscope of teals in a peacock’s plumes, the fiery orange of a fox’s coat, or the rainbow of colors in a macaw’s feathers. Now you can add your own burst of color with Inkspirations Animal Kingdom, which showcases more than thirty beautifully detailed designs of a menagerie of animals large and small. Paired with inspiring quotes and heartfelt lessons we humans can learn from our animal counterparts, this book will uplift and inspire whether you are an avid colorist or an armchair explorer. For information, please visit: http://amzn.to/1Q6oUen

Also see www.Inkspirations.com for:

•    Inkspirations for Women (March 2016)
•    Inkspirations for Recovery (February 2016)

Coloring to come:

•    Inkspirations for a Happy Heart (June 2016)

Sharing more than 30 original designs to make your own, plus motivating mantras to help you relax, unwind, and greet each day with renewed optimism and creative energy. Whether you’re new to coloring or a gel-pen aficionado, you may have already admired the artistic creations of Diane Yi, whose stunning artwork has been shared, pinned, or colored around the world. With Diane’s style of intricate details with exquisite flourishes, Inkspirations for a Happy Heart provides a perfect canvas that will inspire you to color your world a little brighter. Please see: http://amzn.to/28G4xLo

●    Inkspirations for Cat Lovers (July 2016)

Cats are curious, regal, intelligent, and playful. They oblige us humans by allowing us to share our lives and hearts with them. Inkspirations for Cat Lovers celebrates the magic, mystery, and merriment of cats throughout the seasons, from Siamese to the Sphynx, Abyssinians to Persians, Maine Coons to calicos, and more. From long-haired to short-haired and everything in between, you will find more than 30 original designs that celebrate the many ways in which cats bring joy (and fur!) into our lives. Inkspirations for Cat Lovers is a fitting tribute to our whiskered companions who color our world brighter every day. Please see: http://amzn.to/1PuN3G7

For more information, please contact Kim Weiss at (800) 851-9100 ex. 9212, or kimw@hcibooks.com.

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Book Promo: Soar Above by Dr. Steven Stosny

Soar Above:  The Tools That Help Make A Positive
Transformation Possible In Any Area Of Life   

In Soar Above, Dr. Stosny explains why diets don’t work, addicts relapse, marriages falter, and Mr. Hyde can’t remember what Dr. Jekyll learned in anger management

In Dr. Steven Stosny’s book, Soar Above: How To Use The Most Profound Part Of Your Brain Under Any Kind Of Stress (HCI Books), the reader is given tools showing how to take flight from the toddler brain to landing in the adult brain when things get tough. Dr. Stosny illustrates that our brains are like “habit-forming machines,” and the goal of his new book is to use habits to overcome the limitations of them.

In the chapter titled, Anger in the Age of Entitlement, Dr. Stosny illuminates that “We give more importance to personal feelings than personal values and to expressing how we feel rather than doing what we deeply believe is right.” Throughout his book, Dr. Stosny supports with science how to replace old habits with new ones to transform us into the kind of persons, parents, and partners that we most want to be.

The Table of Contents exemplifies the rich content of Dr. Stosny’s work – all of which can stand alone and as shown takes the reader from boarding to soaring.

1. The Profound Brain
2. How We Make the Same Mistakes Over and Over
3. How Pain Becomes Suffering
4. Feeling Powerful vs. Being Powerful: “Coping” in the Toddler Brain
5. Toddler Brain Habits Ruin the Best of Intentions
6. How We React to a Jerk Like a Jerk: Principles of Emotion Interaction
7. Anger in the Age of Entitlement: Living in the Wrong Part of the Brain
8. How to Turn Toddler Brain Feelings into Adult Brain Values
9. Adult Brain Habits: Improve, Appreciate, Connect, Protect
10. Radical Self-Value Breeds Radical Value of Others
11. How to Be Happy: Make the World a Little Better
12. The Adult Brain in the Web of Emotion: Everything We Do Makes the World Better or Worse
13. To Soar Above, Build a Web of Compassion and Kindness.

Soar Above is filled with engaging examples from the author’s lectures and therapeutic work with his more than 6,000 clients. Readers will learn how, through practice, they can get off the treadmill of repeating past mistakes to become their best selves at home, at work, and in the world. Stress is inevitable in life, but this illuminating book gives anyone the practical tools to rise above.

About the Author:

Steven Stosny, PhD, has treated more than 6,000 people through Compassion-Power, the organization he founded and has directed for more than 21 years. He is the author of Living & Loving after Betrayal, Love without Hurt: TurnYour Resentful, Angry, or Emotionally Abusive Relationship into a Compassionate, Loving One and, with Pat Love, How to Improve Your Marriage Without Talking about It. His textbook, Treating Attachment Abuse: A Compassionate Approach, set a new standard for understanding and treating family abuse and was a Behavioral Science Book Selection. His Psychology Today blog on relationships is one of the most popular, with nearly four million views.

Available wherever books are sold or to order directly from the publisher, contact: www.hcibooks.com or (800) 441-5569
Soar Above: How to Use the Most Profound Part of Your Brain Under Any Kind of Stress
ISBN: 9780757319082

Amazon

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Simple Strategies For Overcoming Life’s Challenges

Self-Talk for a Calmer You And Make Your Shift:
Two Simple Strategies For Overcoming
Life’s Challenges To Realize Success  

Is the pre-holiday stress already getting you down?  Are you job hunting or in an on-again/off-again relationship?  The overbearing weight of stress can make efforts to achieve success seem too difficult to take the necessary steps, no matter how sincere the desire to move forward.  Gold-award winning author Beverly Flaxington offers simple solutions for how-to break out of this rut, and to achieve greatness in her books, Self-Talk for a Calmer You: Learn How to Use Positive Self-Talk to Control Anxiety and Live a Happier, More Relaxed Life and Make Your Shift: The Five Most Powerful Moves You Can Make to Get Where YOU Want to Go.

Self-Talk for a Calmer You was written for those living with anxiety and fear in everyday situations, and seeking a more relaxed and comfortable life.  Flaxington provides readers the tools to recognize triggers that cause anxiety.  Further she provides a clear plan on how to overcome situations that cause nervousness, or fear, and replace these feelings with confidence, contentment and joy. She teaches people how to take control of the inner voices that drag people down and make them work in a positive way.

Make Your Shift identifies a five-step, easy to understand, groundbreaking approach, designed to make reaching higher levels of effectiveness a reality. The SHIFT™ approach, while strategic in nature, provides guidance in spelling out situational discovery:
•    SPECIFY the desired outcome
•    HIGHLIGHT obstacles and categorize
•    IDENTIFY the human factor
•    FIND alternatives
•    TAKE disciplined action

Following this five step process paves the way to overcome obstacles and move forward – the essential elements necessary to reach success.

Beverly D. Flaxington is a Psychology Today blogger, Certified Hypnotherapist, personal and career coach, entrepreneur, college professor, business development expert, and three-time bestselling author. She cofounded The Collaborative, a sales and marketing consultancy that provides strategic and tactical support to help client firms and individuals reach higher levels of effectiveness and meet their goals. Flaxington has also been featured by several media outlets, including the Wall Street Journal, the Boston Globe, Lifetime television, Newsweek.com, Reader’s Digest, and FoxNews.com.

Forever Home Rescue NE and Neponset Valley Humane Society receive a portion of book proceeds. For more information, visit The-Collaborative.com.

 

Self-Talk for a Calmer You: Learn How to Use Positive Self-Talk to Control Anxiety and Live a Happier, More Relaxed Life   By Beverly Flaxington
Adams Media
ISBN: 1440564809

 

 

Make Your Shift: The Five Most Powerful Moves You Can Make to Get Where YOU Want to Go   By Beverly Flaxington
ATA Press
ISBN-10: 0983762023
ISBN-13: 978-0983762027

 

 

Available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other fine book outlets

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Here’s what is being said…

Dr. Jackie Black: “…jam-packed with rich content, wonderful personal stories and solid examples of every method, tool and tip Bev created to help readers make their lives and relationships better!”

Dan King, Principal, Career Counselor, and Coach: “Beverly Flaxington has uncovered the missing piece in the countless number of goal-setting books and programs in the marketplace

Essentials of Living a Balanced Life

3 Reasons A Balanced Life Is A Better Life
At Work And At Home, Success Depends On Finding Equilibrium, Magazine Editor And Stroke Survivor Says

Life sometimes can seem off kilter as responsibilities mount and people plow all their physical and mental resources into what seems to be the most pressing crisis of the moment.

But Lumbie Mlambo says that’s a good time to take a step back. Everyone has the potential to shine in life’s darkest moments, but the key to achieving goals and an overall better existence is to maintain a balance so that one aspect of your life isn’t consumed by another.

While some people might say balance in life is an impossible goal, she disagrees and says when each of us find our equilibrium, we become more productive and a greater asset to our communities.

“There’s balance in everything we do, be it walking, talking, eating, sleeping, working or spending time with family,” says Mlambo, editor of Equanimity Magazine (www.equanimitymag.com), an online publication that features inspiring stories of life and success.

“For example, look at how we try to deal with our work-life situation. We balance our workload so that we can still make room for other activities, to spend more time with our spouses or our children. We do that because we understand how important it is.”

She offers these reasons for why living a balanced life is essential.

•  The health factor. Staying balanced is a key to a healthier and successful life. Both mental health and physical health benefit, and as a result, so do our overall lives. “When we’re healthy, we’re able to care for ourselves and others in our community,” Mlambo says.

•  The empathy factor. When we find balance in life, we can better understand the importance of helping the underprivileged, says Mlambo, who grew up in a rural area in Zimbabwe. You begin to realize that someday you could be in their situation, which makes you a more empathetic person. “Your economic situation is like your health,” she says. “Nothing is guaranteed.”

•  The role-model factor. Sharing our stories – whether it’s a tale of success or even a tale of failure – is important because others can learn from us or be inspired by us as they too strive for a balanced life. “When you tell your story, it empowers, motivates and encourages people to not give up on their dreams and goals,” Mlambo says. “Maybe you think your story is just not that interesting or important. But for someone out there, it may be the spark that ignites them to great things.”

Mlambo always strove to find balance in her life. But she became even more passionate about it after she suffered a stroke in 2001 that left her partially paralyzed. She since has recovered, but says the event had a profound impact on her and she will always consider herself a stroke patient.

“Before the stroke, I thought my life was balanced in a way,” she says. “I mean, I ate healthy foods. I exercised seven days a week. But it was not balanced in the way I wanted. I had been too focused on myself. I realized that life was not just about me, but about others.”

Finding balance in life isn’t just a feel-good concept, Mlambo says. As people achieve balance, they realize they have the potential to rise above their circumstances. They can become more productive in their communities and that is good for everyone.

“Staying proactive and shifting the way we think can even help the economy to grow and can help create more jobs,” she says.

Certainly, maintaining a balanced life may be tougher than ever because technology allows work – emails, text messages, telephone calls – to intrude on people’s “off” hours. But that’s just all the more reason to make a concerted effort to strive for balance, Mlambo says.

She says it’s become popular in some circles to argue that a balanced life is a myth and can’t be achieved. But regardless of their views, she says, most people seem to be trying to bring balance to their lives, even if they don’t think of it that way.

“We eat healthy to stay balanced, we get enough sleep or rest to avoid stress, we juggle our daily activities to stay balanced,” Mlambo says. “To be successful in anything we do, we must have some sort of balance.”

About Lumbie Mlambo

Lumbie Mlambo is editor of Equanimity Magazine (www.equanimitymag.com), a lifestyle publication that shares the stories of “real people and their search to lead better lives.” She also has a background in project management, computer/software engineering and business analysis. She holds an associate degree in computer science from Indiana University South Bend; and a bachelor’s degree in computer science and mathematics from Texas Woman’s University. She is multilingual, speaking English, Zulu, Ndebele and French.

Staying Healthy During the Holidays

Why are the Holidays So Hazardous to Our Health?
Physician Shares Tips for Giving Your Body What It Needs
to Fight Illness

It’s a sad statistical fact: The holidays, from Christmas to New Year’s, are a treacherous time when it comes to our health.

“There’s a spike in heart attacks and other cardiac issues,” says Dr. John Young, a physician specializing in the treatment of chronic illnesses through biochemical, physiological and nutraceutical technologies, and the author of “Beyond Treatment: Discover how to build a cellular foundation to achieve optimal health,”www.YoungHealth.com.

“The incidence of pneumonia cases spikes – in both cold and warm climates. And deaths from natural causes spike. In fact, more people die of natural causes on Christmas Day than any other day of the year!”

While those numbers are well-documented, the cause(s) are not.

“Stress plays a role, particularly if your immune system is weakened,” Dr. Young says. “If you look at how most of us eat from Halloween through New Year’s, it’s easy to see how the immune system takes a beating and otherwise healthy people become more susceptible to illness during the holidays.”

It’s basic biochemistry, he says.

“We eat a lot more refined sugar, for instance, which is a carbohydrate that’s been stripped of all the vitamins, minerals and proteins that make up a complete carbohydrate,” he says. “Our bodies can’t use that, so the cells in our digestive organs work overtime, burning up a lot of energy, vitamins and minerals to digest it, and they get nothing back. So, eventually, they grow weak.”

So – can we have a little sugar, and good health, too? Dr. Young says we can.

“The occasional slice of pumpkin pie is fine as long as you’re also feeding your cells with the nutrients they need – the minerals, vitamins, good quality protein, amino acids, essential fatty acids – to stay healthy.”
He offers these tips for staying healthy through the holidays and throughout the year.

•  Get your vitamin D!
Vitamin D is actually a hormone, not a vitamin, and one of our best sources for it is sunshine. Unfortunately, many people work indoors all day, so they get little sun exposure. When they do go outside, they wear long sleeves and sunblock to protect against skin cancer. And, of course, in the wintertime, people in cold climes tend to stay inside. As a result, many of us are vitamin D deficient, and should be taking supplements.

“Vitamin D is crucial to many physiological systems, including our immune defenses,” Dr. Young says. “It helps fight bacterial and viral infections, including the flu. It supports our cardiovascular system; optimal vitamin D levels can reduce hypertension, heart attacks and stroke.

“If I feel I’m coming down with a cold, I’ll take 40,000 units of vitamin D at bedtime,” he says. “The next morning, I usually feel like a new person.”

•  Eat your protein – 1 gram for every 2.2 pounds of body weight daily.
In this country, we think a healthy diet means eating a lot of fruits and vegetables. We’ve forgotten protein, Dr. Young says.

“Our immune system is made up of proteins – our bones are 40 percent protein,” he says. “We need protein.”

When calculating your protein intake, consider: an egg has about 8 grams, and 8 ounces of fish, chicken, beef or pork have about 30 grams.

Dr. Young does not give any of his patients more than 100 grams of protein a day.

•  Get a good night’s sleep, exercise, and manage your stress.
Yup, some doctors’ orders never change. Rest, exercise and finding effective, healthy ways to cope with stress are simple ways to pamper your cells.

 “One of the many cellular benefits of exercise is that it increases the oxygen in our bloodstream. Every cell in our body requires oxygen, so consider exercise another means of feeding your cells.”

It’s also important to manage stress during the holidays. With unchecked stress, our body releases large amounts of cortisol which, among other things, suppresses the immune system.

“Take time out to meditate, listen to music, or take a walk in the woods,” Dr. Young says. “It feels good – and it’s good for you!”

About John Young, M.D.

Dr. John Young, (www.YoungHealth.com), is a medical doctor with more than 15 years’ experience working in emergency rooms and pediatric burn units. He’s the medical director of Young Foundational Health Center, specializing in treating patients with chronic diseases such as diabetes by addressing the physiological issues and not just the symptoms. He’s also medical director of Young Health Products, which incorporate the latest biochemical, physiological and Nobel Prize-winning protocols for optimal cellular nutrition. Dr. Young is the author of “Beyond Treatment.” He takes questions via a call-in conference call every Tuesday at 8:30 p.m. Eastern time. Call (760) 569-7676, access code 772967.

Staying Healthy During the Holidays

 

Why are the Holidays So Hazardous to Our Health?
Physician Shares Tips for Giving Your Body What It Needs
to Fight Illness

It’s a sad statistical fact: The holidays, from Christmas to New Year’s, are a treacherous time when it comes to our health.

“There’s a spike in heart attacks and other cardiac issues,” says Dr. John Young, a physician specializing in the treatment of chronic illnesses through biochemical, physiological and nutraceutical technologies, and the author of “Beyond Treatment: Discover how to build a cellular foundation to achieve optimal health,” www.YoungHealth.com.

“The incidence of pneumonia cases spikes – in both cold and warm climates. And deaths from natural causes spike. In fact, more people die of natural causes on Christmas Day than any other day of the year!”

While those numbers are well-documented, the cause(s) are not.

“Stress plays a role, particularly if your immune system is weakened,” Dr. Young says. “If you look at how most of us eat from Halloween through New Year’s, it’s easy to see how the immune system takes a beating and otherwise healthy people become more susceptible to illness during the holidays.”

It’s basic biochemistry, he says.

“We eat a lot more refined sugar, for instance, which is a carbohydrate that’s been stripped of all the vitamins, minerals and proteins that make up a complete carbohydrate,” he says. “Our bodies can’t use that, so the cells in our digestive organs work overtime, burning up a lot of energy, vitamins and minerals to digest it, and they get nothing back. So, eventually, they grow weak.”

So – can we have a little sugar, and good health, too? Dr. Young says we can.

“The occasional slice of pumpkin pie is fine as long as you’re also feeding your cells with the nutrients they need – the minerals, vitamins, good quality protein, amino acids, essential fatty acids – to stay healthy.”
He offers these tips for staying healthy through the holidays and throughout the year.

•  Get your vitamin D!
Vitamin D is actually a hormone, not a vitamin, and one of our best sources for it is sunshine. Unfortunately, many people work indoors all day, so they get little sun exposure. When they do go outside, they wear long sleeves and sunblock to protect against skin cancer. And, of course, in the wintertime, people in cold climes tend to stay inside. As a result, many of us are vitamin D deficient, and should be taking supplements.

“Vitamin D is crucial to many physiological systems, including our immune defenses,” Dr. Young says. “It helps fight bacterial and viral infections, including the flu. It supports our cardiovascular system; optimal vitamin D levels can reduce hypertension, heart attacks and stroke.

“If I feel I’m coming down with a cold, I’ll take 40,000 units of vitamin D at bedtime,” he says. “The next morning, I usually feel like a new person.”

•  Eat your protein – 1 gram for every 2.2 pounds of body weight daily.
In this country, we think a healthy diet means eating a lot of fruits and vegetables. We’ve forgotten protein, Dr. Young says.

“Our immune system is made up of proteins – our bones are 40 percent protein,” he says. “We need protein.”

When calculating your protein intake, consider: an egg has about 8 grams, and 8 ounces of fish, chicken, beef or pork have about 30 grams.

Dr. Young does not give any of his patients more than 100 grams of protein a day.

•  Get a good night’s sleep, exercise, and manage your stress.
Yup, some doctors’ orders never change. Rest, exercise and finding effective, healthy ways to cope with stress are simple ways to pamper your cells.

 “One of the many cellular benefits of exercise is that it increases the oxygen in our bloodstream. Every cell in our body requires oxygen, so consider exercise another means of feeding your cells.”

It’s also important to manage stress during the holidays. With unchecked stress, our body releases large amounts of cortisol which, among other things, suppresses the immune system.

“Take time out to meditate, listen to music, or take a walk in the woods,” Dr. Young says. “It feels good – and it’s good for you!”

About John Young, M.D.

Dr. John Young, (www.YoungHealth.com), is a medical doctor with more than 15 years’ experience working in emergency rooms and pediatric burn units. He’s the medical director of Young Foundational Health Center, specializing in treating patients with chronic diseases such as diabetes by addressing the physiological issues and not just the symptoms. He’s also medical director of Young Health Products, which incorporate the latest biochemical, physiological and Nobel Prize-winning protocols for optimal cellular nutrition. Dr. Young is the author of “Beyond Treatment.” He takes questions via a call-in conference call every Tuesday at 8:30 p.m. Eastern time. Call (760) 569-7676, access code 772967.

 

 

Stress Free Styling Tips

Is Your Wardrobe Stressing You Out?
International Styling Consultant Shares
Confidence-Boosting Clothing Tips

As if there weren’t enough to worry about in day-to-day life, people often find themselves frozen in front of their closets during the morning rush, panicking about what to wear.

“I think everyone has that terrible feeling of insecurity from time to time when you just knowyou have on the wrong outfit – as if it’s not just your clothes that are frumpy and outdated, but you, too,” says styling consultant Ashley Martini, author of the new book, “Styletini,” and founding member of Martini Fashions, (www.ashleymartini.com).

“Unfortunately, in today’s society, people do judge books by their covers – and perception is reality. You can sense how people respond to you, especially in relation to job opportunities and relationships.”

Getting your outfit right can be challenging, she concedes. People want to be confident yet comfortable; up-to-date yet not necessarily “hipsteriffic;” professional but not overly formal. Most have a favorite outfit or two, but those get old quickly when worn twice a week.

“One of the first things you should understand is that your criteria really isn’t conflicting – you can be stylish, professional and comfortable, all with that stamp of individuality,” Martini says. “You just have to know what to look for.”

Martini talks tips to take the stress out of the morning dress hour.

•  Not all trends work for all body types. “You have to be honest with yourself; skinny jeans may not work for you, and forcing yourself into a pair that’s semi-workable is not the best way to optimize your closet,” she says. “The trendiest thing any individual can do is answer the question: Is it flattering?”

Women have six basic body types: triangle, narrow above the waist and wider on the bottom; inverted triangle, with fuller shoulders and chest and slim hips and thighs; rectangle, also known as athletic with little definition in the waist and hips; diamond, high-sitting, full stomach with wide hips and full thighs; apple, similar to diamonds, but with a lower-sitting stomach – also know as oval-shaped; hourglass, with equal upper and lower halves with well-defined waists.

•  Know your measurements! Measure the parts of your body that most define your shape: your hips, shoulders, waist and bust. Wear underwear (but not shapewear) when measuring hips, and wrap the tape around the fullest part of your hips and butt for the most accurate measurement. Don’t tug too tightly or loosely when measuring; the number in the center front is your hip size.
To measure shoulders, keep your back straight and your shoulders relaxed, and  extend the tape from the outer edge of one shoulder to the outer edge of the other.

To measure your waist, bend forward and note where your body creases – that’s where to measure.

For bust, wear a top without a bra, which often alters measurements. Wrap the tape across your back and under your shoulder blades and arms – and around the fullest part of your breasts.

•  Own your plus-size, petite or tall body. You’ve probably heard the statement, “Real women have curves.” Yes, they do, but there are also real women with smaller busts; long and lean women, and some built like the ancient fertility goddess statues. All of us are “real.”

One tip for plus-sized women: highlight your assets — shapely legs and well-toned arms are meant to be flaunted. Petite women: Opt for pieces that come in naturally shorter lengths, such as cigarette pants, knee-length or higher skirts and three-quarter and shorter sleeve tops and jackets. Showing more skin will make your limbs look longer. Tall women: Wear high heels if you want to — just because you’re taller doesn’t mean they’re off limits.

About Ashley Martini

Ashley Martini, styling consultant and founding member of Martini Fashions, LLC, discreetly assists both men and women in unearthing and exhibiting their inner beauty through style, fashion and the top trends. Ashley is the author of the new book on style, “Styletini,” (www.ashleymartini.com). A business graduate of Lynn University, she specialized in fashion marketing and merchandising. She also completed her master’s degree in business with a focus on international business, and studied abroad in the world’s fashion capital, Paris, with a concentration in fashion styling and trend forecasting. She worked as a styling intern with Jennifer Lopez’s fashion company Sweetface/JustSweet/JLO, and earned numerous fashion awards.