Holy Shiitake - Why would a health advocate promote fast food?

The mushroom is a “fast” food that is a great source of Lentinan - which studies suggest activates tumor-fighting T cells in our bodies. Mushrooms also contain lean protein, and they are rich in calcium, iron, potassium, copper and selenium (which is very good for bones, teeth, nails, and hair). Mushrooms are the best choice for vegetarians to obtain selenium and the mushroom is also the only veggie that contains an edible form of vitamin D (a natural antidepressant). A mushroom is shaped like a shield or umbrella and, ironically, it shields our bodies from bacteria, cancer, aging and other illness. What an interesting fast food.





Healthy Bytes - Pumping Gas

When pumping gas, stand upwind from not only your gas pump, but all of them - so you don’t breathe harmful vapors. To determine wind direction - look at the flags, trees or use the good 'ol lick the finger and hold it up to the wind trick to determine wind direction. Important note: remain in sight of the pump to prevent spills and overflow. In addition, try to fill up your car at night or when it's cool outside - this minimizes vapors as well as making gas more dense (so you get slightly more for your money)!

Breathing gas vapors has been linked to cancer in laboratory rats (who are accustomed to breathing sewer gas and other nastiness) - so imagine what those vapors can do to a much more sophisticated human body.

Our lungs are a direct pathway into our blood and every cell in our bodies. What we breathe absolutely affects our health!

Mission Nutrition was more like Missin’ Nutrition

I was delighted to discover that an event called “Mission Nutrition” was taking place at the Orlando Science Center last weekend. Since I’m an author, life coach and health advocate, my girlfriend and I decided to visit the event in hopes of learning something new and meeting some other health conscious people.

Having never been to the science center, I had no idea what to expect, but I was instantly impressed with the ease of parking and the realistic cypress swamp complete with turtles and alligators that welcomed guests into the lobby. Furthermore, we were delighted that admission was only $10 per couple rather than the usual $17 per adult thanks to sponsorship from WalMart. Many families took advantage of the deal and attended this event which we quickly discovered was geared primarily towards children.

The science center was buzzing with activity and boasted a plethora of interactive scientific displays illustrating different phenomena. For the “mission nutrition” event, there were additional displays of the human body, biology trivia, literature and displays expressing the importance of a good diet, exercise and healthy lifestyle. However, the most surprising display was on the fourth floor. The title of the theme for the fourth floor was “eating right!”, but ironically the only food vendor on this floor was serving none other than hot dogs, potato chips and Coke products. That’s right – they were serving the absolute worst food choices for “nutrition” at a “mission nutrition” event on the floor where the specific theme was “eating right!”

I was so awestruck by this oxymoron that I felt compelled to walk directly to the front of the long line of children and their parents who were waiting to partake in the “food” and ask the vendor point blank why he was serving such unhealthy fare at a healthy event. He looked at me with disdain, shook his head and literally laughed at me – as if I was the one in the wrong!

I was so bothered by this callous display and disregard for the entire meaning of “mission nutrition” that we immediately left the event, but not before vocalizing our opinion to two museum staff members. The staff members, who shall remain nameless, were kind enough to listen to my complaint and then share their own interesting commentary on the debacle.  

“Clearly we didn’t think things through thoroughly before selecting vendors for the event” was the initial response to my question of why the museum would allow such food to be served at a health event. The same employee later recanted and defended the situation by stating “well, it really boils down to what is going to sell at an event.”

Well, his statement sums up my sentiments entirely on the American attitude about health and nutrition. Most of us are more concerned about what is cheap, convenient and “tastes good” rather than what is truly good, healthy and “convenient” for our bodies. Moreover, we often ignore our bodies and our health entirely – throwing caution and prevention to the wind – until we have a problem. Then we seek out cures and quick fixes and complain about the rising cost of health care. This sick cycle must cease.

The other museum employee defended the vendor’s selection by stating that “it’s up to people to use their own judgment and common sense.” I agree; however, if you are going to host an educational event which boasts “mission nutrition” and targets children – then for goodness sake – live up to the title of the event and at least give them some healthy options! I equate your vendor’s food selection at the event to serving alcohol at an Alcoholics’ Anonymous meeting!

I implore such reputable entities as the Orlando Science Center to make better choices when educating the public about nutrition. Put the almighty dollar aside for once and think about what is truly good for the public and not what is good for sales. In my professional opinion, you really missed the boat on this event and the event was truly “missin’ nutrition”.

Healthy Bytes - Allergies

That tell-tale yellow pollen is a sure sign that spring is on the way and renewal of plant life and beautiful flowers and tasty fruits and veggies won’t be far behind. However, pollen means allergies for many people. Here are some tips that will help minimize your sniffling, sneezing, and itchy, watery eyes.

o   Eliminate all dairy products (milk, cheese, butter, etc…). Dairy products contain histamines which cause our immune system to flare up and kick mucus production into high gear.

(Image Borrowed from NotMilk.com)

o   Invest in a Neti pot – the use of Neti pots is an ancient Ayurvedic practice that has been effectively clearing peoples’ sinuses for centuries. A Neti pot is inexpensive and can be found at any health food store or pharmacy. The Neti pot flushes the sinus cavity with an isotonic saline solution and water which removes allergens and pathogens from the sinuses and nasal passages.

o   Eat a tablespoon a day of organic, locally farmed honey. The local honey will help build up your tolerance for local pollen and allergens.

o   Drink lots of pure, mineral-rich water. Hydration will help your body flush out toxic intruders.

o   Don’t touch your face with your hands! You touch the car door and viola – you’ve got pollen on your fingers – next thing you know you’re putting on yellow makeup in the rearview mirror along with your eyeliner!

o   Visit a sauna or steam room daily. The hot air and steam not only help open up sinuses and nasal passages, but also help your body’s white blood cells and macrophages multiply quicker, thus strengthening your immune system.

o   Skip the drugs – they often create side effects worse than the actual symptoms you are taking them for!

Healthy Bytes - Driving

When driving in traffic, stay several car lengths behind the car in front of you and stop at least 2 car lengths behind to avoid sucking up exhaust fumes into the cabin of your car. Also roll up the windows and put the heat or a/c on recirculate (I usually advocate fresh air and driving with the window cracked, but recirculated air is better than polluted exhaust air). Clean, oxygen-rich air is critical for good health. Do everything in your power to breathe the best air possible and eliminate as many toxins as you can. Your lungs are a direct pathway into the blood and ultimately every cell in your body.

I hope this "Healthy Byte" will bring you health and happiness. For more healthy lifestyle tips check out Sean Donovan's Life Coaching, Words of Wisdom "WOW" Series, or "Health and Happiness: an owner's manual for the mind and body".

3 Things You CAN Do to Dramatically Improve Your Health

1.     Think Good Thoughts

-          Thinking positive is so simple – it can be done every day – anytime, anywhere – and we can learn to control how we think.

-          Thoughts control our lives – how we spend our time, our dreams, our relationships, where we live, where we work – just about everything in our life is controlled by thought on some level.

-          Thoughts also control our physiology – examples:

o   Thinking about delicious food makes our mouths water

o   A scary thought makes our pulse race and gives our skin goose bumps

o   A sexy thought physically arouses us

o   A happy thought makes us smile – and the simple act of smiling releases hormones and endorphins in the body which can cure depression.

-          Negative thoughts cause chemical stress on the body and release the toxic stress hormone cortisol which acidifies the body, causes accelerated aging, decreases our memory, energy and vitality.

-          Stress also puts physical strain on our bodies by tensing up muscles which pull joints and vertebra out of alignment causing pain and thus, more stress.

-          Stress also causes us to carry ourselves differently – our posture suffers as we hunch over from stress – this creates more stress on the back and joints - and more pain.

-          Poor posture keeps us from fully oxygenating our lungs – cancer thrives where oxygen is deprived

-          Lack of oxygen also causes a lack of energy and vitality (our bodies burn oxygen as its fuel)

-          The detriment to our bodies caused by stressful or negative thinking is usually far more detrimental than whatever ‘thing’ you are actually thinking about and stressing about.

-          Positive thoughts lead to positive results and great health – our bodies are “smart” and have an enteric communication system – so the body’s cells take on the disposition of what we are thinking

-          Attitude is a result of thought and perception - Learn to control your attitude – it’s the only thing in the world that you have 100% total control over. Attitude is based on your perception of things – your perception is based on the ‘angle’ at which you look at that thing – change your ‘angle’ and your perception will change - and then your attitude will follow.

-          “Every day spent upset is a day you may regret. You only get one life to live – better make it positive. So turn your frown upside down and smile for a while.”

2.     Hydration

-          Our bodies are supposed to be composed of 70% water and coincidentally, the earth’s surface is 70% water.

-          Water is the most important element in life – in fact, the presence of water is the criteria for NASA’s search for extraterrestrial life

-          Our bodies need water to function properly

-          Mineral rich water conducts electricity – the brain communicates to the rest of the body by sending electric signals through the nerves. 

-    The body also needs water to detoxify – 3 main ways the body detoxifies (all of which require water):

o   breath (70%)

o   urine (20%)

o   sweat (8%)

-          “Drink, breathe, sweat and pee – this will make you toxin free!”

-          Daily water intake quota – half of your body weight in ounces (minimum) to 1 liter per 50lbs of body weight (ideal) - a 150 pound person should drink a minimum of 75 ounces to 3 liters of water daily.

-          The best way to hydrate is by eating raw, organic fruits and veggies – particularly melons and citrus fruits

o   Fruits and veggies also supply the body with mineral nutrients

o   Almost all fruits and veggies alkalize the body as well

o   Eating fruits and veggies is also a great way to “go green” - since fruits and veggies come in their own ‘wrappers’ and totally biodegrade – the seeds even give more life to new plants

-          Ditch the coffee and sodas – they acidify and dehydrate the body – it takes 16 parts pH neutral water to neutralize one part coffee

-     Cancer thrives in acidic environments (as does arthritis).

-          Keep a bottle of good, quality, pure, mineral rich, alkaline water with you at all times – don’t let yourself get thirsty or let your mouth get dry.

-     Never drink the crap from the tap!

-          Often times our bodies confuse hunger with thirst – hydrate and suppress your appetite

-          Drink your way to weight loss and health!

3.     Movement and Exercise

-          We were not meant to be sedentary creatures – before grocery stores and modern convenience, people had to work to hunt and gather food – the lazy ones were the skinny ones – now it’s the opposite scenario!

-          Being overweight creates a plethora of health problems including high blood pressure, heart disease, joint problems, diabetes – just to name a few

-          The biggest problem with obesity and lack of movement is stagnation in the lymphatic system – which is our bodies septic system

-          Lymphatic system is a series of tubes and glands or nodes throughout the body

o   There is no pump like the heart to force flow in the lymph system

o   The lymphatic system relies on gravity, hydration and MOVEMENT to flow and move waste

-          Movement and exercise also increase breathing, pulse rate and induces sweat – all of which facilitate detoxification

-          The more we move and exercise, the more our bodies energize through the release of hormones. It’s quite an anomaly – the more calories we burn, the more energized we become!

If you enjoyed these tips, you can find dozens more in my Health and Happiness book, Words of Wisdom "WOW" Speaking Series and personal LIfe Coaching.

Taking Leaps

I watched as the altimeter on my tandem partner’s wrist steadily rose – every foot we ascended raised my pulse and adrenaline proportionately. Today was about to be the culmination of years of anticipation - compressed into one jump. Skydiving had been on my ‘bucket list’ for years – in fact, I had attempted to go multiple times in the past, but each plan had been foiled by the weather, cancellation by friends or other factors out of my control. Today was finally a go. It was a gloriously beautiful January day in central Florida – temp was in the mid 70’s and there was hardly a cloud in the bright blue sky. There would be no interruptions, problems or excuses today – plus, I was delighted to be accompanied by my girlfriend and two other friends who were all jumping for the first time. We also had a group of cheerleading friends and family on the ground below (nervously awaiting our safe landing). Amazingly enough I didn’t have a nervous bone in my body. My tandem instructor Manny had made over 8000 career jumps and through the course of his instruction and preparation with me, he assured me that it was perfectly normal to be nervous before jumping. Well, I guess I pride myself on never being “normal”! I was ready to fly!

The hum of the plane’s engines droned in my ears and changed pitch as the plane leveled off. Manny explained to me that we were dropping a team of jumpers at 11k feet and then climbing to 13,500 feet for our exit. One of the “team jumpers” opened up the transparent garage-door style door on the rear left side of the plane. The entire team slid down to the door – two guys grabbed the bar over the door while interlocking arms with two other team members who locked arms with two more. Within seconds they all exited the plane with the precision of a synchronized swim team. Their departure pretty much left the plane empty with the exception of our crew and cameramen. One of our camera guys shut the exit door and returned to bend down to eye level with me to ask me if I was ready. I said “Oh, yeah!” as my eyes fixated on the sticker on his camera/helmet that read “Party Guy” – I knew we were with the right group of dudes!

The engines roared as the plane powered up to climb another 2k feet for our jump altitude. It had been a very comfortable flight so far - considering I was strapped to a dude while sitting in his lap! Secure in my manhood and the fact that my beautiful girlfriend sat smiling next to me, I decided to "fuhgettaboutit” as my tandem instructor and I inched toward the exit on our butts. Every inch closer to the door brought more excitement and anticipation. The exit door rolled up and my pulse raced. I decided to do the gentlemanly thing and let my girlfriend jump first. I wanted to have a birds-eye view of her exit, plus I wanted to prolong my anticipation. For me, anticipation is the greatest thrill. Our cameramen took their positions as Lea dangled her legs under the plane. In one fluid move, she and her instructor rolled out of the plane. “Wow” I thought as I watched her plummet in freefall. Tom Petty’s classic song “Free Fallin” played in my head as I inched to the edge of the plane.

My instructions from Manny were simple and clear – head back, arched back and legs bent at a 90 as if I were kicking my own butt – the rest was up to Manny – it sounded simple. I tucked my legs under the belly of the plane as I got a clear view of the ground below. I could see from Orlando to the Daytona Beach Oceanfront and the landing spot below looked like a dot that was barely visible. Manny nudged me and said “Ready?” I nodded and let my head stay back as we lunged from the plane. Just like that we were airborne!

The thrill of the moment was indescribable and sensational. I scanned the horizon as the wind buffeted my face as we plummeted at 110mph. I could barely see my girl below and off to the left as she soared through the sky. The fall was both tranquil and invigorating at the same time. All of my life I had dreamt of flying – now the dream was a reality. Every movement of my arms and legs shifted the angle of our descent – and although I was strapped to the instructor in tandem, I felt in control – in spite of the fact that gravity was the predominating factor.

I wanted to make every second of the experience last a lifetime. I knew this would be a moment that I would replay in my mind forever. I think every kid in my generation had once had a dream of flying like Superman. I felt the skin on my face stretch in the wind as I smiled wider in approval. Just when I thought I had reached the climax of the experience, my cameraman appeared out of nowhere as he dropped in front of us. He rolled onto his back and slowed his descent as we caught up to him. He extended his feet in my direction and I grabbed onto his shoes. My tandem instructor momentarily blindfolded me with his hands. Later, I would look at the picture of this moment and realize its awkwardness, but for the moment it was bliss!

The cameraman separated from us and moved away to get some more shots. Just as I thought it must be about time for the chute to open, I felt as if I had been plucked out of the air. In an instant I went from horizontal to vertical – 110mph to 10mph – exhilarating freefall to peaceful glide. I looked overhead as the huge yellow and red parachute unfurled and filled with air. The 5000 ft freefall was over, the chute opened with no problems and now we had an easy glide for the remaining 8000+ feet. Manny was now able to talk to me and point out some landmarks and our landing point. It was hard to believe that we were going to hit the small dot of sand/gravel far below. We whirled, turned and looped through the air as if we were free as birds. To say it was an awesome experience would be an understatement of epic proportion.

The ground seemed to rise up to meet us – quickly as we neared the landing point. One last 90 degree turn brought us into perfect alignment with the landing spot. Manny reminded me to pull my knees up to my chest. We seemed to be coming in fast, but at the last moment he pulled in the reins on the chute and we touched down right in the middle of the sand/gravel pit. I was bracing for the impact of a hard landing, but in reality it was equivalent to sitting down in a chair. He unclipped me and I sprang to my feet instantly and gave the cameraman a high-five. Manny collected the chute and cleared the landing pad as Lea came in for her landing. Her landing was perfect as well – whew – safe and sound on the ground! It was cool that I got to see her jump first and then land after me. We hugged and shared our experiences as we walked hand-in-hand toward the viewing area where our cheerleaders waited for us with cameras drawn - ready to capture the moment. We enjoyed conversation over a few drinks as we watched other skydivers rain down from the sky for the next few hours.

I pondered my experience the rest of the day and well into the night and I drew some correlations between skydiving and life. I basically put my life in the hands of a complete stranger (tandem instructor), a pilot, a parachute, and a harness. I had taken a huge leap of faith, but most importantly, I knew ‘the Universe’ would look out for me. I thought about how we all occasionally fall victim to fears in life – often keeping us grounded from reaching our dreams and goals. For every dream and goal, we could easily spend the rest of our lives making excuses and letting underlying fears control our actions and destiny. Whether we are afraid to venture into business or ask the girl of our dreams for a date - sometimes one giant leap of faith is all we need to experience the thrill of life – in the sky, in business, in love, in life. We only live once – take a leap and pursue your dreams as often as possible.