Living To Be 100

Here’s hoping that your Christmas was an enjoyable one. Most people look forward to the holidays–to cooking and having guests over and eating favorite foods. But food-born illness, also known as food poisoning, can bring the festivities to a grinding halt.

Food poisoning symptoms include nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramping or pain, headache, fever and diarrhea. Diarrhea may be the first symptom and can occur 2 to 36 hours after eating contaminated food.

The bug that causes illness can be due to bacteria, a parasite or a virus.

Here are some dos and don’ts on how to avoid cross-contamination and to ensure that you and others will not pick up a bug during this time.

• Do use proper hand washing technique by washing your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Wash your hands before preparing food, after using the bathroom, after touching pets and after handling raw meats, poultry and fish. And also after touching your face, eyes, nose or coughing into your hands. 

Do thaw food in the refrigerator. Thawing food at room temperature is unwise: while meat is still thawing on the inside, the outside has thawed and is growing bacteria.

Do refrigerate food within two hours of their being left out since bacteria will start to grow. If food has been sitting out for more than 2 hours, throw it away.

Do keep food out of the “danger zone”. Germs grow rapidly in temperatures between 40 degrees and 140 degrees Fahrenheit. If serving hot food, keep it at a temperature above 140 degrees. When reheated, food should reach a temperature of at least 165 degrees or when it’s bubbling or steaming. Cold food should be kept at 40 degrees or below. Check your refrigerator’s thermometer.

Do refrigerate oils that contain herbs or garlic.

Do use separate knives to cut fruits and vegetables and raw meat. If the same knife is used without washing it in hot soapy water, cross-contamination occurs. Using two cutting boards help in preventing cross-contamination.

Don’t refrigerate leftover canned food in the can. Transfer food into a dish with an airtight lid or toss out the can with the food in it. Oxidation occurs between the air and the can. You don’t want to eat leftovers that have been involved with this harmful chemical process.

Don’t put cooked meat on the same platter that held the raw meat. If the same utensils and platter are used when the meat was raw, using these again without washing them properly will reintroduce bacteria.

Do marinate foods in an appropriate dish in the refrigerator and not on the counter. Make extra marinade to brush on foods, if desired, so that the same marinade that the raw meat had been sitting in for hours is not used.

Do store meat in the bottom of the refrigerator to keep it and its juices away from ready-to-eat foods. This will help in preventing cross-contamination.

Don’t use the same kitchen towel to wipe counters, wipe up spills, wipe hands and dry dishes too. Use certain towels for certain purposes and change them daily. Use paper towels often. Let dishes air dry.

Do throw out leftovers that have been in the refrigerator for more than 3 or 4 days.

Do wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly under running water before eating them. Also wash pagkaged produce that’s labeled “triple-washed”.

Do store hot food leftovers in shallow containers for quicker cooling. Foods cooled quickly slow bacterial growth.

Don’t soak dishes in water. Bacteria will start to grow. Wash dishes right away or use the dishwasher.

Do use frozen gel packs in your lunch to keep your lunch chilled if not refrigerated.

Do bring in the New Year with a bang, not a bug.

For more information on health, nutrition and state-of-the-art supplements, go to: http://margaretpriddy.usana.com

Metabolic syndrome or syndrome X is a cluster of risk factors that are often presented together as one major health problem. These risk factors are:

• insulin resistance
• abdominal obesity
• high blood pressure
• high triglyceride cholesterol

 Many doctors feel that a person has syndrome X if they have two of the above symptoms, one of which is always insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is now recognized by researchers as being the underlying cause of syndrome X.

Insulin resistance is a condition where the cells of the body are not sensitive to insulin and glucose cannot enter the cell. The body then makes more glucose available in an attempt to get it into the cell.

Because our diets often consist of sugars and foods that quickly convert to sugar–bagels, white bread, white rice, pasta, sodas–they cause a high amount of insulin and glucose to be in the blood. Over time the cells of the body stop responding to the unrelenting signal of insulin, resulting in cells not having the fuel they need for energy.

In perimenopausal and menopausal women, decrease in hormones can trigger insulin resistance and the fight with weight gain begins. As the cells become more starved, these women often high carbohydrate diets to obtain more energy, but just the opposite happens.

This diet causes more insulin and glucose levels to be in the blood without the ability of glucose getting inside the cells. The cycle continues and these women complain of feeling fatigued, irritable, and hormonally imbalanced.

A sustained elevated blood sugar level is known as diabetes, and excess insulin production leads to obesity and increased triglyceride levels. Increased insulin can also interfere with kidney function which can lead to high blood pressure.

Doctors suspect that patients who have an apple-shaped body may have syndrome X. The apple shape is the result of fat stored around the belly caused by increased insulin levels. Some doctors suggest that an abdominal waist circumference of more than 40 inches for men and 35 inches for women point to syndrome X.

Blood pressure is the force of blood as it presses against the walls of the arteries. When this pressure meets resistance due to narrowing or thickening of the artery walls, high blood pressure (hypertension) results.

It is normal for blood pressure to be higher at times of stress, but for many people, the blood pressure remains high at all times. This health problem can lead to stroke, heart disease, kidney problems, and others.

High total cholesterol is another health problem often seen in syndrome X. The body requires cholesterol for the production of hormones, nerve and cell function and other bodily functions. Lipoproteins carry cholesterol from the liver to be used by the cells. Other lipoproteins take the excess cholesterol from the blood back to the liver.

If there is too much cholesterol, it remains in the blood where it can then become oxidized and attach to the artery walls. When this happens, inflammation results which then leads to more deposition of cholesterol and plaque on the artery wall.

This build up narrows the arteries and is known as arteriosclerosis or hardening of the arteries and is the first stage of heart disease. Cholesterol becomes oxidized in the first place because there are not enough antioxidants in the body to neutralize its harmful effects.

Syndrome X was so called because this syndrome was not fully understood in the past, and the X stood for the unknown. Now this syndrome is understood as a metabolic disorder that comprises these four risk factors.

Of itself, this group of disorders that comprise syndrome X is bad enough. But it can also lead to other diseases such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes and stroke.

Several root causes that can lead to syndrome X include heredity, poor diet with resultant nutritional deficiencies, chronic stress with resultant stress hormone imbalance, obesity and a sedentary lifestyle.

Foods that should be avoided are:

• sweets–cookies, cakes, candies, sugary drinks
• artificial sweeteners
• vegetable oils (polyunsaturated)
• fried foods
• hydrogenated oil
• packaged and processed foods
• alcohol and caffeine

Margarine, fried foods, most packaged foods and process foods contain hydrogenated oils that promote insulin resistance.

Prevention and treatment are centered on:

• proper nutrition
• weight reduction
• lowering triglyceride levels
• lowering blood pressure
• decreasing insulin resistance
• exercise
• taking nutritional supplements

The first and most important step in treatment is proper nutrition. A diet high in raw fruits and vegetables is beneficial. Vegetables can be lightly steamed. )Cooding destroys valuable enzymes.) Limit sweet fruit to one or two a day and eat a healthy fat with it to slow insulin spikes. Healthy fats include avocado, nuts, seeds, olive oil, flaxseed oil, coconut and coconut oil, and fish such as salmon. A healthy fat should be eaten with meals and most snacks.

Berries are a good choice of fruit since they aren’t very sweet and won’t spike insulin levels. Eat healthy salads using your favorite vegetables, and use olive oil as a dressing.

Beans, nuts and apples are good examples of fiber which help balance blood sugar. Eat organic foods as much as possible; they are free of pesticides, hormones, antibiotics, preservatives, artificial flavorings and colorings and are not genetically modified.

People who eat plenty vegetables and less red meat have healthier hearts because vegetables are high in antioxidants that keep oxidized cholesterol from clogging arteries. Eat five small meals a day instead of three large ones or three meals with two healthy snacks. Protein drinks made with natural sweeteners such as xylitol or stevia can replace a meal or snack. 

Get evaluated by your healthcare practitioner before starting an exercise program. Then choose an exercise that you enjoy so that you will stick with it.                                                                          

A high-quality antioxidant and mineral containing B-complex vitamins, zinc, vitamin C, magnesium, Vitamin E and other nutrients are needed by the body to fight the negative effects of syndrome X.

The good news is that syndrome X responds to changes in lifestyle: exercise, nutrition and supplements.

For more information on health, nutrition and state-of-the-art supplements, visit:

http://www.margaretpriddy.usana.com

This information is for educational purposes only and is not meant to diagnose or treat any condition. Always consult with your physician before embarking on any course of treatment.

Obesity is simply an excess of body weight. In adults, using height and weight, obesity is determined using a number known as the body mass index (BMI) to calculate body mass. An adult with a BMI of 30 or higher is generally considered to be obese. However, BMI does not directly measure body fat, and some people such as athletes can have a high BMI even though they are not obese.

Obesity is due to more calories taken in than expended. Often individuals gain weight because of emotional problems and their tendency to indulge in comfort foods to make them feel better. These extra calories are not burned up and are stored as fat.

Hormones also play a role in unexplained weight gain. A decrease in hormones can cause increased belly fat, one of the factors in a condition known as syndrome X.

Many toxins are stored in fat, and vitamins, minerals and enzymes are needed to burn fat. People who are obese need more nutritional supplements than those who are of normal weight.

Obesity puts stress on the back, knees, ankles and internal organs. These individuals are also more susceptible to constipation, coronary artery disease, gallbladder disease, high blood pressure, stroke, type 2 diabetes, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea and some cancers.

For weight loss, a good action plan is necessary.

• under the care of a physician, start an exercise program of walking daily and increase activity over time

• rid cupboard, pantry and refrigerator of refined and processed foods such as pasta, white bread, margarine, white rice, crackers, potato chips and cereal. Also, avoid alcohol, artificial sweeteners, and sweets such as candy, sodas, ice cream. Besides being toxic, these foods are addictive and highly glycemic–foods that quickly convert to sugar in the body.

• Avoid unhealthy fats. Polyunsaturated oils such as most vegetable oils, margarine, safflower oils and the foods cooked in these oils are unhealthy. These unhealthy oils are commonly used in packaged and processed foods such as salad dressings, mayonnaise and baked goods and have been linked to cancer, heart disease, immune system dysfunction, obesity and other degenerative illnesses.

• Drink eight glasses of water a day (not tap water) to help flush toxins from the body.

Concentrate on eating whole, natural foods that are found in nature.

1. eat organic foods. These are free of pesticides, hormones, antibiotics, artificial flavor and color, preservatives and have not been genetically modified.

2. eat raw foods since the enzymes and vitamins are still present. (Cooking foods destroys many nutrients.) At least fifty percent of the diet should be raw. Lightly steaming vegetables is fine. Eat berries, grapefruit and coconut since these are low glycemic. Limit fruit juices and other fruit to one a day.

3. eat five small meals a day. Do not go for seconds.                                                       

4. eat honey, stevia, raw agave and xylitol instead of refined sugar.

5. eat healthy fats such as coconut oil, extra-virgin/cold-pressed olive oil, avocado, raw nuts and seeds. Our bodies need fat for energy, to absorb fat-soluble vitamins, for a healthy immune system, for healthy skin and other functions. But we usually consume an excess of fats, especially bad fats. This leads to weight gain.

6. eat healthier carbohydrates such as those found in whole grains: brown or wild rice, steel-cut oatmeal, beans, starchy vegetables.

7. eat ocean-caught fish and lean, organic meat.

8. eggs should be organic and from free range chickens.

9. supplement diet with high quality nutritionals.  

Modify your lifestyle to avoid chronic stress.

Chronic stress can wear out the body and increase the likelihood of illness. To reduce stress:

• improve sleep habits

• laugh often

• decrease caffeine consumption

• exercise regularly

• set reasonable weight-loss goals

• meditate for relaxation

For more information on health, nutrition and state-of-the art supplements, go to:

http://margaretpriddy.usana.com

This information is for educational purposes only and is not meant to diagnose or treat any condition. Always consult with your physician before embarking on any course of treatment.

Good health starts with good nutrition. By eating a well-balanced diet consisting of fruits, vegetables, complex carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, we can look forward to a long, healthy life. Unfortunately, our health is compromised by the consumption of junk food, processed food, and a high intake of fat and sugar. This leads to chronic nutritional deficiencies which weaken our immune systems and promote disease.

Although the United States government has set Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) guidelines for vitamins and minerals and other nutrients, the RDA intended to help reduce severe nutritional deficiencies. However, researchers have discovered that, because of our poor diets, only a small percentage of the U.S. population gets even the RDA levels of many important nutrients. Poor nutrition causes a weakened immune system and is a contributing factor as to why disease is so prevalent. We are a nation of overfed but malnourished individuals.

Quality nutritional health supplements can help supply the essential nutrients missing from our diets. To be useful, nutrients must be of the highest quality and must be bioavailable–in a form that the body can use and absorb.

Companies that sell nutritional supplements are required to undergo stringent testing of their product. Their tablets should be able to disintegrate after 20 minutes in solution. Many products not only fail this test, but fail less stringent tests.

How can you be sure of getting quality supplements when there are so many on the market? In an independent study, author Lyle MacWilliam, wrote NUTRISEARCH COMPARATIVE GUIDE TO NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS (Northern Dimensions publishing 2007). In his book, he rates 1500 nutritional products in the United States and Canada.

The highest-ranking honor which MacWilliam bestowed on a top-rated nutritional company was his NutriSearch Gold Medal of Achievement Award. This award was only given to four of the 394 manufacturers of supplements. USANA is one of the four nutritional supplement companies to receive this award.

Find out more about USANA at: http://margaretpriddy.usana.com

What is wheatgrass?  It is the young wheat plant and is a raw, living food. The benefits of wheatgrass juice are many. Taken internally or used externally, it acts as an antiseptic. Wheatgrass is 70% chlorophyll, one of the plant foods highest in chlorophyll.

What is chlorophyll? Chlorophyll is the pigment that gives plants their green color. It is known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and is also regarded as a detoxifying and blood-building agent. It has been shown that chlorophyll provides some protection from carcinogens.

Chlorophyll has been called the blood of plant life because the molecular chlorophyll structure resembles the molecular structure of hemoglobin. While the atom in the middle of a human hemoglobin molecule is iron, the atom in the middle of the chlorophyll molecule is magnesium.

Chlorophyll from wheatgrass purifies the blood and liver. It also improves blood sugar levels. Wheatgrass juice is high in vitamins A, B, C and E and contains amino acids, essential fatty acids, antioxidants and enzymes. Wheatgrass juice, a super food, also contains minerals such as calcium, iron, magnesium and others.

Chlorophyll is high in iron and iron attracts oxygen. Iron and oxygen partner together to burn waste and remove from the body toxins, poisons, mucous, putrefaction, bad odors and harmful bacteria.

Dr. Ann Wigmore, an educator, reported that wheatgrass therapy, combined with living foods, helped eliminate cancerous growths.

Wheatgrass juice aids in the metabolism of nutrients and increases the enzyme level in cells. Since it doesn’t take much energy to digest wheatgrass juice, it is considered an efficient source of energy.

How Much Wheatgrass Juice to Take

One- to two- ounces of freshly-squeezed wheatgrass juice should be taken on an empty stomach. Wait 30-45 minutes before eating or drinking anything else. Take daily for maintenance.

For a therapeutic dose, take between 4-8 ounces daily. If more than four ounces are to be consumed, it should be taken rectally as a colon implant. Wheatgrass juice has a strong tast and has a jolting effect.

Wheatgrass juice has a strong cleansing effect on the digestive tract and taking too much initially may act as a laxative and may also cause nausea. But increasing the amount taken over a period of time will build tolerance. Dosage can be raised an ounce per week or whatever amount is comfortable.

Benefits of Wheatgrass Juice

• is high in oxygen and helps to keep the brain and body tissue in a highly oxygenated environment

• helps stop the growth of unfriendly bacteria

• is a superior source of chlorophyll

• detoxifies the blood and colon walls

• is used in the treatment of anemia, constipation, bad breath

• can be used externally in the treatment of burns and wounds

• is used in cancer prevention

• neutralizes toxins in the body and helps purify the liver

• improves blood sugar levels

• is a super food that strengthens the immune system

• is an internal deodorant for the body

• pulls poisons from the gums; useful in treating pyorrhea

• can remove heavy metals from the body

For more information on health, nutrition and state-of-the art supplements, go to:

http://margaretpriddy.usana.com

This information is for educational purposes only and is not meant to diagnose or treat any condition. Always consult your physician before embarking on any course of treatment. 

When we pray for healing, we must believe that we are healed. We must think, act and speak health even though we may see and feel the contrary happening in our bodies. Scripture tells us to pray without ceasing. And we are to keep ourselves uplifted through scriptures from the Bible and other inspirational literature.

If we stop talking endlessly about our infirmaries and endlessly confess our health, it will manifest. Let us wax strong in faith by observing God’s promises. Say these scriptures on healing often and give thanks continuously for having received that which we have petitioned.

I will extol thee, O Lord; for thou hast lifted me up, and hast not made my foes to rejoice over me. O Lord my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me. Psalm 30:1,2

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases… Psalm 103:2,3                                                          

But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with hiis stripes we are healed. Isaiah 53:5

And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of disease among the people. Matthew 4:23

For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the Lord… Jeremiah 30:17

We must also take important steps in the natural to facilitate our healing:                      

• eat a nurturing diet
• reduce stress                                                                                                        
• get a good night’s sleep
• take natural supplements
• drink eight glasses of pure water daily (not tap water)
• rid ourselves of negative, critical, vengeful thoughts
• get fresh air and sunshine
• exercise

For more information on health, nutrition and state-of-the-art supplements, go to:

http://margaretpriddy.usana.com

This information is for educational purposes only and is not meant to diagnose or treat any condition. Always consult with your physician before embarking on any course of treatment.

On this blog, I will write health articles, ranging in topics from degenerative diseases to relaxation techniques to making your home a healthy place to live in. Having been a registered nurse for over 25 years, I have taken care of patients suffering from chronic, and even fatal, diseases. In my immediate family, my love ones have been stricken with heart disease, stroke, cancer and other illnesses. Undoubtedly, someone close to you has face similar health issues. Maybe even you, yourself.

But I have also seen illnesses resolve quickly when, sometimes, a small, seemingly insignificant treatment was administered. The treatment could simply be a matter of supplying the body with a vitamin or mineral that was deficient.

Of course, preventing illness is preferable to treating it, and I’m convinced that most of the illnesses that befall us are preventable. And I am dedicated to pursuing this theory as well as living a long, healthy life. It will take work and discipline: a willingness to explore and understand what the body needs right down to the cellular level and to effect whatever lifestyle changes are needed to enjoy optimum health.

Information on vibrant, healthy living has not been hidden from us; but we often look for it in the wrong direction, if we look for it at all. My mission is to provide you with quality health information so that together we can live in peace and harmony in our bodies.

It’s an exciting, lifelong journey. Wanna come along?                           

Margaret Priddy, R.N.

This information is for educational purposes only and is not meant to diagnose or treat any condition. Always consult with your physician before embarking on any course of treatment.