Shout Out Health

NUTRITION: What's the Secret to Vibrant Health and Fitness?

UPDATED: What's the real key to more vibrant health and a fitter body?

Though there's no 'once size fits all' approach, creating optimum health comes down to what you eat, how you breathe and—ahhhhhhh—taking time to properly stretch, says Brigitte M. Britton, H.N., a holistic nutritionist, organic gourmet chef and author of The Mega Way.

  But there is no getting around it—what you eat is the cornerstone to more vibrant health, says Britton. "It's human nature to look for the quick fix, and unfortunately there's more emphasis in society on weight loss than health."

We asked Britton to elaborate on her unique approach to health and well-being. Here are some excerpts from that interview:

How do you really know if what you're eating is helping or hurting your health?

Food is supposed to energize you, not sedate you. If a meal sedates you, you're eating the wrong foods. If you're eating right you should feel great after a meal. Think of it this way: you put fuel in your car to keep it running, not to shut it down. Your body is the same.

What are five foods that we must include in our diets to stay fit, lean and feeling good?

First, let me mention two things that are essential for better health—fiber and water. Fiber helps your body achieve overall balance; it eliminates toxins and wastes in your body, helps eliminate cravings for bad foods and gives you more energy. It even helps your body burn fat! And without enough water, your body can't flush away toxins. Water is essential.

Mind Body: Why Doesn't Positive Thinking Always Work? Read this...

I was perusing Facebook this morning (hey, if it can help transform a nation, it's much more than the main 'character' in the Oscar-nominated film The Social Network, right?) and stopped at Candace Pert's page. I interviewed Candace for this blog, and her HIV research is groundbreaking and she's got to be one of the most brilliant people on the planet. I wanted to see what she's been up to.

This link below on Candace's page caught  my eye, and I'm glad I clicked on it. If you're like me, you take the mind body connection 
very seriously, yet sometimes find that 'positive thinking' falls flat, feels phony and doesn't always create that wonderful day or produce a desired result. Why not? Don't all the self help gurus tell us to think positive?

This is a marvelous analogy on why positive thinking can fall flat, from Dov Baron's Facebook page...he writes...

According to the brilliant Dr. Bruce Lipton in his book “The Biology of Belief” (2005), the subconscious mind processes 20,000,000 environmental stimuli per second verses 40 environmental stimuli interpreted by the conscious mind in that same second.

Think about this, it makes sense (and excuse my crassness, but I think it’s a really good model), “positive thinking” (i.e. affirmation) is kind of like Saran Wrap over dog poop. The Saran Wrap will cover up, possibly disguise the smell, however, it won’t get rid of the “poop” itself—and that’s kind of what affirmations and positive thinking do. They appear to cover “it” (the unconscious issue) up, but they don’t deal with “it.”

That being said, until you deal with what’s underneath, “it” doesn’t go away and nothing changes. And because it's what's under the Saran Wrap (In the subconscious mind) that determines the other 95% of what's showing up in your life your QRF draws to you whatever it draws to you because of what’s underneath. Makes sense, right?

Hey, makes sense to me (I think). But what do you think? What's the 'dog poop coated in Saran Wrap' in your life that's limiting the effectiveness of your best intentions? Is it not believing you're equal to others, or truly deserve to receive the best in life? Or is it something else? Why not grab a pooper scooper and find out? Thanks Dov! -- Mitch Rustad

MIND BODY: AIDS Researcher Pert Showcases Meditation CD

Can guided meditation/visualization or other relaxation techniques really enhance overall health, reverse illness or even slow the progression of HIV?  In previous blog entries, interviews and podcasts, we’ve pointed to experts and even research that indicates growing confidence in meditation as a viable health tool.

So when famed scientist, author, and AIDS researcher Candace Pert, CSO of RAPID Laboratories in Rockville, Maryland--which is developing a drug treatment and vaccine against HIV--releases her own guided meditation CD, attention must be paid.

But don’t let the mouthful of a title--“Healing the Hurting, Shining the Light, Chakras and Modern Neuroscience”—scare you; Pert’s soft-spoken approach of hard science and spirituality should relax and
inspire even the most cynical listener.

The centerpiece of the 5 track CD is the lecture/guided meditation “Chakra Lecture, A Musical Relaxation Process.” in which Pert blends “the facts of science with the latest thinking of…some of the most avant-garde healers in the world.”

Here are some highlights:

Over the Rainbow, Indeed! The colors of the rainbow all have corresponding sound waves, such as red and the musical note F, and each note can bypass informational substances and activate cellular receptors directly. What does this mean, exactly? Says Pert, “For me it’s enough to know, that music, spoken words, the colors of the rainbow, human brain waves and our molecules of emotion are all resonating together, in synchronous relationship.”

Have a Heart: The crown of the head is the place that has the most neuronal connections of anywhere in the brain. The heart contains every peptide neural information substance that’s ever been measured, and leads the electrical activity of the entire body. Thus, living from a loving, happy heart can be a very soothing place to be. Physiologically speaking, maybe that’s why gratitude, love and compassion feel so good.

Mind Really Does Matter: Think your mind doesn’t directly affect your body? During the meditation, Pert asks the listener to imagine cutting a bright, yellow lemon in half, and then imagine chewing that lemon in your mouth. Try it yourself and see if the resulting shivers and/or saliva filling your mouth isn’t very real.

For insight into Pert's AIDS research, check out our Q & A here. -- Mitch Rustad

MIND BODY: Create More Joy, Love and Success in Your Life!

“If you don't listen to others negativity, you can really do incredible things,” says Aleta St. James, a renowned energy healer and author of Life Shift, a comprehensive guide to breaking through emotional blocks and creating optimum health and wellness.

With energy medicine being such a hot topic these days--even Oprah is paying close attention to its healing potential--St. James down with us at her healing studio in New York City to talk about her unique approach to creating greater joy, health, and wellness in your life. Here are excerpts from that interview:

Many in the LGBT community have suffered childhood traumas or feelings of rejection. What's your approach to healing very old but still painful feelings?

Simply feeling different at a young age can cause deep emotional blocks that can last for years. I've noticed this block often working with my gay clients. Often, the feeling of being different, and not accepted at a very basic level at an early age, can close someone down and as a result, it feels impossible to find support in this world. So you don't take the risks you need to build a happy life--going for the job you really want, feeling good enough to attract a healthy relationship--these are common issues but I notice it even more in my gay clients. It's important to identify energetically what you're emotionally still holding on to. What usually needs to be healed is self-esteem and worth, and reaching an acceptance at a deep level of self, both spiritually and physically.

Hopefully you can get to the point where you stop protecting yourself from rejection and open up to love and support from the right people. These old barriers and blocks keep support and love away from you, even if it feels like they keep you safe.

I've heard a lot about bodywork being especially helpful in healing old wounds? What kind of treatments can help dissolve emotional barriers?

Deep tissue massage can get right into areas of tightness and tension, which also where fear and anger reside in your body. Acupuncture is really great because it gets your energy flowing again. Reiki is also good, and so is rolfing. I've found that Yamuna body rolling is amazing and more and more available around the country. Yoga is fantastic for moving energy. These are simple tools that can keep negative energy moving out of your body and align yourself back into a state of health and wellness.

My own healing modalities include a combination of touch, breath work, guided meditation, color, light and sounds, which in concert help release emotional blocks at a subconscious and cellular level.

MIND BODY: 5 Essential Steps to Wellness

Most people know that looking good from afar doesn't always (or even most of the time) translate to instant health and happiness. Of course, being considered eye candy by some is always a nice perk of working out and eating right, but there's much more to enhancing your wellbeing than managing your gym routine.

"Keeping your body, mind and spirit in balance is the key," said Robert Volinsky, a New York City-based licensed massage therapist whose business, Restorative Therapies, helps clients achieve overall wellness. "When the important aspects of our lives are running smoothly and make us happy, wellness is a natural result."

Volinsky incorporates a comprehensive approach to health and wellness that includes massage, aromatherapy and Reiki (a sacred healing art that uses the hands and mind). He shared with us the following six steps to wellness that all of us can use:

Feel the love

We're not just talking about the hottie you took to the movies last Saturday night. Love also comes from family, friends and your community. "We are social beings by nature," says Volinsky. "Having time with those we care about is social 'food' we can't live without.

Burn baby, burn

"Nothing erases stress and promotes wellness better than a little sweat," says Volinsky. "Moving around and using your muscles helps your body remove toxins and benefits your heart and lungs." Play tennis, take a walk, run in the park, grab a dumbbell or do anything else you enjoy that gets your body moving and active, says Volinsky. And don't forget to stretch (or better yet, take a yoga class). Studies have consistently shown that stretching not only increases flexibility but also slows aging and promotes better sleep! (If you have health problems, be sure to consult your doctor before beginning an exercise routine).

Savor every bite

Notice we’re not using the word "diet" here. We're merely talking about having an awareness of the food we eat. "Your meals are a time to give back to yourself, to support your body and your life," says Volinsky. "Be present and conscious while eating. This will not only promote better digestion of food, but amplify appreciation for the wellness you are trying to maintain." Volinsky warns that eating quickly can lead to indigestion and other digestive problems. "Give your salivary glands a chance to function. After all, food is more that just fuel, it's life!" 

Sweet dreams

Are you getting enough sleep (seven to eight hours a night)? Not only does adequate sleep help your gym-worked muscles rebuild and grow, it’s absolutely crucial to maintaining health and wellness, says Volinsky. "Sleep is the time our body rejuvenates and restores itself. Many people are sleep-deprived, which can dramatically undermine their health, making them more prone to illness, stress and depression."

Take a break

A large proportion of doctor visits are related to stress, according to the National Stress Organization. And one way to reduce stress is to avoid working to the point of burning out. "Take mini-breaks during work, not for coffee or another cigarette, but to breathe," says Volinsky, who suggests taking ten slow, relaxed deep breaths. "It's like a mini-meditation. When you're done breathing, you'll be surprised at how easily this exercise can calm you down."-- Mitch Rustad

What is Reiki?

When it comes to staying healthy, nothing can replace regular check-ups, STDs screenings and an open, honest relationship with your healthcare provider. But the quest for enhanced health and wellness needn’t end when you leave your doctor’s office.

Good nutrition, exercise, spiritual practice, and massage therapy are merely the tip of the wellness iceberg for many people between visits to your doctor; there are many other options out there that can potentially
enhance your overall health. Alternative Therapies reported that even back in 2002 there were over one million U.S. adults who had experienced Reiki (pronounced ray-key), an energy-based complementary and alternative method of natural healing.

But how exactly does Reiki—which is defined as both a form of bodywork and of energy medicine—work? 

Reiki Master Anthony Luciano describes it as “a channeling of healing-energy through the trained practitioner’s hands to the client.” The client may perceive this as warmth, tingling, pulsing or other sensations of energetic activity, he says, throughout the course of a treatment, which lasts between 60-90 minutes

In recent years the medical community has become more open to its benefits, as Reiki is currently being used as an adjunct to conventional therapies in hospitals, medical clinics and hospices around the U.S. for everything from reducing anxiety and stress to alleviating the unwanted side effects of chemotherapy. St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital in New York and Siloam in Philadelphia have provided Reiki treatment and training for HIV/AIDS patients.

"Reiki is being used as a complementary treatment to more traditional medical care,” says Luciano, who has worked with both chemotherapy patients and HIV-positive people. "I have found Reiki to noticeably reduce the side effect of chemotherapy and in some cases the side effects are reduced drastically."

Adds Luciano: “Reiki helps promote natural healing by strengthening the bodies own natural ability to heal itself. It works in conjunction with traditional medical treatments and can actually make those treatments work better.”

Official research on Reiki remains scarce, though studies are slowly being undertaken. A study on the effectiveness of Reiki on patients with advanced AIDS was done by the National Center for Complimentary and Alternative medicine, and more on the effects of Reiki in stress and prostate cancer are in the works, says the NCCAM.

Hard research may be lacking, but any complementary treatments that may enhance a patient’s wellbeing can only help traditional treatments, according to Susan Ball, M.D., assistant director of the Birnbaum Unit HIV Care Center at New York Presbyterian Hospital

“Statistically speaking I'm not sure that we can concretely say much about Reiki, but ‘feeling good’ is huge when one is dealing with a chronic illness such as HIV,” says Ball, “especially where chronic medication is a part of the treatment.”

“Health and wellness are a big package,” adds Ball, “of which the medical portion is important but not exclusive. I try to be open to whatever alternative treatments my patients discuss with me. As long as these alternatives work in addition to established medical care then I think that there is a lot of good that can come from them.” -- Mitch Rustad