Together-Realizing Your Vision for Optimal Health

Hello.


Well, this page will be ready one of these days, but I am getting there. Writing is tough for me and I am trying to make my Home page creative and interesting so that you will stay and visit my site. Please be patient.


I think two of the key elements that are most important to me are Lifestyle and Prevention.  I will be thinking about this and how best to convey my thoughts and how best to get the message out that it is within your power to choose. Just grab the apple instead of the cookie or chips.


Dean Ornish Talks Lifestyle AsTreatment At NYC’s Integrative Healthcare Symposium
Feb. 12, 2012

It’s not every day that you hear a medical doctor suggest that lifestyle changes can be a form of
treatment that can reverse — not just help prevent — many of the most common and costly chronic diseases, including heart disease, prostate cancer and Type 2 diabetes.
“Seventy five percent of the $2.7 trillion in health care costs, which are really ‘sick care’ costs, are from chronic diseases that can be largely prevented, or even reversed, through simply changing diet and lifestyle,” Ornish told HuffPost in an interview after his address.
Dr. Ornish advocates integrative medicine — empowering patients to take control of their health and lifestyles — and using drugs and surgery when appropriate.
The overarching principle of Dr. Ornish’s approach is to treat the underlying causes of chronic diseases rather than literally or figuratively bypassing them. “These causes are primarily the lifestyle choices we make each day — what we eat, how we respond to stress, whether or not we smoke, how much exercise we do, and how much love and support we have.”

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/12/dean-ornish-integrative-healthcare-symposium_n_1270412.html?ref=fb&src=sp&comm_ref=false


5/16/2011

WillowBridgeIHC now offers QIGONG Instruction.  (“chi gong”)

The most effective medicine lies within us. Freeing that medicine and its healthful benefits requires a whole body and whole mind; that is the focus of Qigong.

Qigong is an ancient Chinese healing health-care practice that dates back over 2500 years. It teaches self-awareness and self-regulation through gentle rocking motions with synchronized breathing that restores a healthier physical balance and inner harmony to those that practice it.

Everyone can benefit this practice because it requires no special or expensive equipment – it’s easy and effective. Everything you need is within you. And, once learned, your practice only requires 15-20 minutes daily to achieve greater health and disease prevention.

From you, Qigong requires commitment, sincerity and mindfulness. Through instruction, WillowBridge can set you on this path.

Qigong Benefits
*  Improves health and well-being
*  Enhances your power of self-healing and disease prevention
*  Reduces stress
*  Increases strength, balance, mobility and flexibility
*  Improves circulation, digestion and concentration

Current studies indicate that more than 70% of all disease is caused by stress and is preventable. Qigong is a proven method for reducing stress and promoting inner healing.

Classes are now forming.


2/2/2011

SODIUM BENZOATE

Did you you know this wonderful “industrial”  chemical  – created by combining Sodium Hydroxide (used in producing rayon and other textiles, paper, etching aluminum, drain cleaners,etc)  and Benzoic Acid (used in plasticizers and adhesives, is added to paint and resins) – is used by our food industry as a preservative?!

It is commonly found in processed foods (what a surprise) such as condiments, salad dressings, and pickles, and is even in cough syrups and  mainstream vitamins.

But here is the kicker for those who don’t know: when sodium benzoate is combined with ascorbic acid, also known as vitamin C, it produces Benzine. Benzine has been identified as a Class A Carcinogen by the Environmental Protection Agency. And guess where a lot of this can be found – carbonated beverages and fruit drinks. Any food product where the two are present together. And if you add heat or light to the containers, the benzine level could rise.

The government has know about this since the 1990′s. But instead of going public, they struck a deal with the soft drink industry to have them reformulate the drinks. Some have complied, but most have not. Some levels far exceed that which is the “acceptable” federal limit.

So I urge you to read product ingredient labels. Go through your pantry and your refrigerator and decide if you want to dispose of any. Consider the ingredients when making future purchases.  Be well.

GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOODS or GMO’s

“Jeffrey M Smith is the international bestselling author of Seeds of Deception and Genetic Roulette: The Documented Health Risks of Genetically Engineered Foods. …he reveals the shocking truth behind GM foods and the biotech corporations to keep information out of the mainstream media – and outside of your awareness.”

“Perhaps not everyone is familiar with GM foods. …it involves taking genes from a completely different species and inserting them into the DNA of a plant or animal. The long term effects of this for our health and our planet’s biodiversity are unknown – and that’s cause for concern.     More than 70% of the foods on supermarket shelves contain derivatives of the eight GM foods on the market – soy, corn, oil from canola and cottonseed, sugar from sugar beets, Hawaiian papaya, and a small amount of zucchini and crook neck squash. The biotech industry hopes to genetically engineer virtually all remaining vegetables, fruits, grains, beans, and even animals.”

“The onset of GMO’s have not gone without warning, though. Scientists at the Food and Drug Administration sent up the flare about all these problems back in the early 1990s. According to secret documents made public from a lawsuit, the scientific consensus at the agency was that GM foods were inherently dangerous and might create hard-to-detect allergies, poisons, new “super” diseases and nutritional problems. …It is up to Monsanto and the other biotech companies – who have a long history of lying about the toxicity of their earlier products – to determine if their own foods are safe. ”
Taken from an article in Extraordinary Health Magazine

“How you can help and take action:
Despite the efforts and recommendations of Whole Foods (and other organic companies), the USDA fully deregulated GE alfalfa on January 27, 2011. This means that farmers can plant the Frankenfood with no restrictions. But the fight is not over. President Obama has the power to overrule the USDA’s decision, and it’s important that he do so in order to protect the organic meat and dairy industry.
Please sign this petition to voice your opinion:”


Eat organic & fresh foods.

avoid pesticides

Most people prefer their foods free of pesticides and toxic chemicals, for obvious reasons. Pesticides and toxic chemicals are increasingly linked to serious health problems – especially for our children, whose developing bodies are more vulnerable to chemical exposures.

We’d like to believe that our government is policing the safety of our food and the containers it comes in, but it’s not. Our advice is to limit your family’s exposure to:

1. Pesticides. Buy organic or low-pesticide fruits and veggies

2. Two common toxic chemicals – BPA and PFCs – by avoiding food containers that contaminate

3. Growth hormones by choosing more natural meat and dairy products

1. Why should you avoid pesticides?

Years of research have shown different pesticides to be associated with a variety of health problems, including:

  • Cancer
  • Hormone disruption
  • Abnormal brain and nervous system development

Young children and pregnant women are especially at risk. Pesticides are unique among chemicals released into the environment because they are toxic by design. Their sole purpose is to kill living organisms that are considered “pests” – insects, plants and fungi.

How to avoid pesticides on your food

  • Buy organic when you can. Organic produce is grown without pesticides, so when you eat it you’re not also eating toxic chemicals. As it should be.
  • Don’t use pesticides to grow your own food. More and more Americans have backyard and community gardens. Use natural techniques – not pesticides – to manage pests.
  • When you can’t buy organic, buy less-contaminated conventional produce. Every year EWG ranks popular fruits and vegetables based on the amount of pesticide residues found on them. For example, apples and peaches top our “Dirty Dozen” list, so buy those organic, but sweet corn, peas and watermelon are all in the “Clean 15,” so you can feel better about buying those raised conventionally.
  • Download the guide and the handy iPhone app at FoodNews.org. Donate and we’ll send you a fridge magnet, too.

2. Avoid containers and packaging that contaminate food with two common toxic chemicals – BPA and PFCs.

Buy fresh to minimize packaging

EWG recommends eating foods that have been processed as little as possible. Processing techniques detract from nutritional value, and chemicals from food packaging can leach into what you’re eating. For food packaging we recommend avoiding bisphenol A (BPA) and the Teflon and Scotchgard family of perfluorochemicals (PFCs).

What is BPA and why should you avoid it?

Bisphenol A, also known as BPA, is a synthetic estrogen used to harden polycarbonate plastics (like some baby and water bottles) and in the epoxy resin used can linings. It was found in the bodies of 93 percent of the Americans tested by the Centers for Disease Control. In laboratory tests trace BPA exposure been shown to disrupt the endocrine system and trigger a wide variety of disorders, including chromosomal and reproductive system abnormalities, cancer, cardiovascular system damage, adult-onset diabetes, obesity and resistance to chemotherapy.

As with many toxic chemicals, infants and young children are at the greatest risk of harm because their bodies are still developing. The National Toxicology Program has expressed concern that children’s exposure to BPA may lead to problems with brain and reproductive system development and behavior.

Limit your exposure to BPA from canned foods and plastic containers

  • Canned foods. Almost all canned foods (including canning jars) sold in the U.S. have a BPA-based epoxy liner that can leach BPA into the food inside. Pregnant women and young children, especially, should limit their consumption of canned foods to avoid BPA. Here’s how:
    • If you’re feeding your baby infant formula, use powdered formula because it has the least BPA. If you’re set on liquid formula, choose a brand sold in plastic and avoid ready-to-eat formula, which has the highest levels. Read more from EWG on safely feeding your baby.
    • Buy fresh or frozen vegetables instead of canned.
    • For canned veggies and fruits, choose glass bottles where available; the lids may contain BPA but less than cans.
    • For canned beans, consider choosing Eden Foods brand because the cans are BPA-free. Or soak and cook dried beans – it’s a little more work but also less expensive.
    • In a pinch, rinsing canned fruit or vegetables may reduce the amount of BPA you ingest.
    • Make a special effort to avoid canned prepared foods like pastas and soups. We have found that they tend to have higher levels of BPA.
  • Simple precautions can minimize exposure to BPA and other chemicals that leach from plastic containers and water bottles:
    • Use glass or a BPA-free plastic baby bottles.
    • Avoid polycarbonate containers (marked with a #7 or ‘PC’), especially for children’s food and drinks.
    • We recommend the use of glass over plastics, but when you have no choice, plastics marked with a #1, 2, 4, and 5 don’t contain BPA and are generally safer for food.
    • Don’t microwave plastics or fill them with hot liquids.
    • Wash plastics on the top shelf of the dishwasher, where the water is cooler, or by hand.
    • Avoid old, scratched water bottles.
    • Use stainless water bottles without plastic linings.

What are PFCs and why should you avoid them?

PFCs, short for perfluorochemicals, belong to the family of chemicals that includes Teflon and Scotchgard. They are used to coat carpets, clothes, furniture, and food packaging, among other things. They persist in the environment and the human body and have been associated with lower birth weight for babies, cancer, infertility, elevated cholesterol and liver problems.

How do PFCs get into your food?

PFCs are used to coat food packaging, particularly those made for greasy foods. Research has shown that the chemicals can leach into what’s inside – your food.

Limit your exposure

  • Avoid non-stick pans and kitchen utensils. When overheated, they can release toxic particles and chemicals in gas form. Opt for stainless steel or cast iron instead.
  • Cut back on greasy packaged and fast foods. You might find PFC’s in pizza boxes, fast foods wrappings, microwave popcorn bags, muffin and pastry bags, butter boxes, and hash brown and French fry bags.
  • Pop popcorn the old-fashioned way – on the stovetop or with an air popper. You can also microwave popcorn in a brown paper lunch bag.

3. Limit your family’s exposure to growth hormones and antibiotics by choosing organic meat and dairy products

Under federal law, antibiotics and growth hormones are prohibited in organic meat and dairy products. We recommend organic dairy, meat and other products from Organic Valley Family of Farms, a cooperative of more than 1,300 certified organic farmers in more than 30 states. We’re also fans of Stonyfield Farm organic yogurt.

Copyright 2007-2010, Environmental Working Group. All Rights Reserved

choosing organic meat and dairy products