Healthy for Life
By Julie Asbach
HTF Columnist
Hi Everybody! It’s another day in paradise right?! Well if we keep our minds going in the right direction, it can be. It definitely can be a challenge with so much going in our own private world as well as the world outside us. Having the power to overcome those obstacles needs to begin within us. I want to talk about what may be holding you back. Something that I’m familiar with is depression. You may be thinking...what does she have to be depressed about? You’re right; and I could say the same thing to you. We are so easy to judge people from the outside and really not know what is going on in the inside. But that is why I’m here to help keep us going through whatever life may throw our way.
Life can require much effort to get where we need to be each day. A lifetime of it to be exact! That is the beauty of life and what we learn along the way. I am truly grateful for having the privilege to have learned through people that have been in my life and also writing to you. And that keeping my values in place and being patient with myself and other people play major factors for achieving desired results. These days in our hurry-scurry life it’s so easy to give up when things don’t work out right away. Try to slow down and choose another path that will work for you. There are multitudes of them out there, and don’t be so hard on yourself! This is my constant advice to you and myself. If you have any health topics, health success stories or a family recipe for a health cure, please email me at juls11@ peoplepc.com or drop it off at Hometown Focus. Thanks for your support!
Home Remedies & recipes: Depression
You should know by now that Your brain, your environment and what you are putting in your mouth can have tremendous impacts on your state of well being. According to Minnesota Council of Health Plans, antidepressants are the most commonly prescribed drug in Minnesota. Wow!!! What does that tell you? It tells me that something needs to be done about it! If you’ve watched TV lately you may notice the downpour of advertising for antidepressant drugs. And, too, taking one drug to overcome another drug’s side effects. It just may mean that you’re probably on the wrong drug? People are hooked on the easy solution of just taking a pill to deal with things instead of getting to the source of the matter! There is a time when medicine is a must; listen to your body and feel if it is right for you.
When our bodies are under constant stress it takes a tremendous toll on the mind and body - then depression can move in. Nutrients are a crucial element when dealing with depression. When we are depriving our bodies of valued nutrients, depression will set in as well. And if you are exercising, which is also imperative in battling depression, you may be depleting many nutrients and need to replenish them. And our societal fixation on losing weight with constant dieting, crash-dieting, low calories, no carbohydrates, over-exercising, drugspills pills and more pills – is very unhealthy!
What to do: Get to the heart of the matter, find out what’s causing the depression. Pray and meditate. Seek medical attention or council if you don’t know. Choose a physical activity and hobby that you enjoy. And as always, please-please-please eat what your body needs: whole grains, vegetables, fruits and good protein sources. Adequate rest is very important. Magnesium is good for this, which is found in nuts and green leafy vegetables. B Vitamins are a must. B-12 is good especially for vegetarians that miss animal products; this is a primary source. Also important is moderate consumption of healthy fats such as Omega-3‘s found in salmon, sardines and mackerel. Consume at least 2-3 times a week. Turkey and salmon are great choices; they are high in tryptophan. Pineapple, almonds, walnuts, spinach and a little dark chocolate are also good to add to the list. If tired - eat protein, if nervous - eat carbohydrates. Avoid high sugar content foods such as doughnuts, consume less caffeine, high fats like bacon and cream sauces, and big food portions. Try aroma therapy. Lavender is an excellent choice for creating a peaceful atmosphere. Make sure to pay attention to yourself to see that they are working correctly for you. Sources: weightandwellness.com,delish. com/recipesanti-stressdiet
• Be sure to check out Deb Warner’s article on depression on page 25!
Lyme Disease
This disease may be cured if caught in very early stages. If not it can be a very debilitating and a continuing battle to treat. Please see today’s cover story in Hometown Focus. Garlic, known to be one of the most miraculous natural healing foods, is good to digest when coping with Lyme Disease. Take in organic whole cloves, minced, chopped up with foods, and also available in liquid, pill and tablet form if the whole food is difficult for you to ingest. Also, consuming foods high in Vitamin C is beneficial such as Papaya, Mangoes, Cantaloupes, Lemon, Avocado, Onions, Collards, Kale, and Broccoli - to name a few. Hot and cold water treatments are good for relieving body aches. Hot compresses help relieve dull penetrating pain, and cold (ice pack) help to ease sharp intense pain. Do not leave on longer than 20 minutes. Source: mothernature.com
