I went for another run last night. I must be coming out of my rut because that is two whole runs in a week! Sad but true.
I figure if I don't want to start having knee problems again I really should run more than just on race day ;)
As you all know by now I do a lot of thinking when I run. I think it is the blood flow or something.
Anyway, as I easily ran up hill with the wind at my back (thank you God for the help) I couldn't help but notice that running 30mins was easy for me.
My thoughts turned to the first time I ran. The first time after taking a long break from running, and the first time pretty much doing anything new. I can remember how difficult it was. What I could not remember was when it all started to feel better? When did I start to feel better? At what point did I become a runner? When did I recover from my eating disorder and how?
In other words....How do we go from There....to Here? From Then....to Now? And HOW do we change???
The answer???? MY ANSWER???
One step at a time. One decision after another.
I became a runner just as easily as I became lazy. I become depressed and sick just as easily as I become happy and joyful again. I get fat just as easy as lose weight.
One day of skipping a run, one more glass of wine then I should.....another night of eating a sandwich before bed.....and so on it goes.
I find it amazing how I slip in and out of health.
For ME, the saying holds true.... "Don't let the Devil get a foothold in your life". I get that . I get that almost every day as I fight off my addictions. I get that in my physical life, marriage, personal life and spiritual walk.
That is also why I don't freak out. That is how I stay motivated to just keep going. That is how I stop beating myself up over mistakes made and I just start over again. I don't look at next year. I look at tomorrow knowing that every decision I make will matter. Every step counts. I still want to run my marathon but will focus only on tomorrow. I no longer make promises because I know how easy it is to slip up and disappoint myself.
That is also why when you tell me that you could 'Never be a runner', I just smile ;)
Showing posts with label Disease Prevention. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Disease Prevention. Show all posts
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Swine Flu Information
My friend sent me this article about Swine Flu and Natural Remedies. I found it VERY informative.....
Swine Flu and You
This season, we find ourselves flooded with public health messages about flu prevention, which includes injecting ourselves with both the seasonal and swine flu vaccines. While no one wants to catch the flu, many of us question the safety of these vaccines and wonder whether a responsible choice for ourselves and our families includes receiving the vaccines, or refusing them.
The mainstream medical paradigm encourages prevention by focusing on controlling the virus, rather than by supporting the person who might contract the virus. Medical systems such as Naturopathic Medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and Homeopathy, encourage prevention by ensuring a balanced immune system that won’t under- or over-react to a virus. This provides you with broad protection against viruses and the bacteria responsible for many complications from the flu.
The swine flu is very virulent, meaning that it is can be transmitted easily from person to person. However, it is considered to be less deadly than most flu viruses. This may be partly because of the other unusual quality of H1N1, which is that it tends to affect healthy people age 5 to 24 who presumably are less likely to develop complications from the flu. Two main theories may explain this strange age-related phenomenon and provide essential clues for best prevention practices. The principle theory suggests that younger people are more likely to develop symptoms of the H1N1 flu because their immune system overreacts to the virus and creates a “cytokine storm”, which causes more damage than the virus itself. In this case, flu prevention requires that a person balances the immune system, rather than stimulates it, so that complications are less likely to occur.
If you use herbs to combat the flu virus, please choose your herbs carefully. The second theory is that the virus isn’t attacking young people per se, but that older people are responding less to the virus because they already carry some natural immunity. The 2009 H1N1 virus may be related to the original 1918 Spanish Flu H1N1 virus, which affected the human population most strongly before 1956. People who were exposed to H1N1 before 1956 may carry some natural immunity against the 2009 version.
To control the spread of H1N1, Canada entered into a $400 million dollar contract with the pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline to provide Canadians with an H1N1 flu vaccine. This vaccine also contains an adjuvant (known as AS03 in the Canadian vaccines), that increases your body’s immune response to the inactivated virus. Preliminary results by GSK suggest 100% immunity to the virus within 3 weeks of receiving the flu shot.
Though the World Health Organization (WHO) indicates that there are no significant safety concerns regarding these adjuvants, Health Canada and the US Food and Drug Administration have not yet approved them. Governments are fast-tracking these approvals to beat the flu wave and many research bodies caution against their approval under these strict timelines. The vaccine is a cause for concern for the following reasons: Ongoing unpublished research in British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec, suggests that people who received the seasonal flu vaccine last year may have an increased chance of catching the swine flu this season.
The oil component of the adjuvant called squalene is linked to a rare but serious autoimmune disease called Guillain Barre Syndrome, and a condition known as Gulf War Syndrome that developed in soldiers who received experimental anthrax vaccines. Some authors go so far as to link slow, progressive neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s with chronic, squalene-induced brain inflammation. Furthermore, the potential interaction between squalene and thimerosol, a mercury preservative in these vaccines, has not been adequately studied. Thimerosol is also linked to the development of some neurological disorders, (though much current research suggests otherwise).
Finally, the strict vaccination schedule intended to minimize the impact of a flu pandemic might in-fact worsen the situation by encouraging development of vaccine-resistant viruses. Anti-viral drug-resistant strains of H1N1 have already been identified. Regardless of whether you decide to receive the vaccine, the benefits of a more balanced, capable immune system are incontrovertible.
Here are some ways you can help to protect yourself and your family during this flu season:
Good hygiene practices: H1N1 can infect a person for 2 to 8 hours after being deposited on hard surfaces such as stainless steel and plastic, and for a few minutes after being deposited on soft surfaces. Be sure to wash your hands frequently, cough and sneeze into your elbow or a handkerchief, clean surfaces with your usual disinfectant, and stay home if you feel ill and have a fever.
Make healthier dietary choices: Avoid sugar and refined grains, such as bread and baked goods, which can inhibit the immune system. Replace pro-inflammatory red meats and dairy with anti-inflammatory “good” omega-3 fats, available in fish or in a high-quality fish oil supplement. Eat 6 servings of colourful vegetables daily, and eat plenty of fresh garlic, which has potent anti-viral properties.
Keep mucous membranes moist by using a humidifier and keeping up water intake, (generally 35mL of water for each kg of body weight). This will help prevent the virus from latching on, and keep the immune cells in that part of your body healthy.
Also, avoid alcohol and coffee which can be dehydrating.
Don’t underestimate the impact of stress and lack of sleep! Much evidence demonstrates how these situations inhibit optimal immune function.
Finally, prevent infection by keeping your immune system balanced with supplements, including 2000 to 4000 IU vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol), vitamin C with flavonoids, and a high-quality probiotic (such as Genestra’s HMF forte).
Most people with hectic lifestyles in our northern climate will benefit from these nutrients. A qualified health practitioner may further prescribe an individualized botanical combination or homeopathic medicine that helps to balance rather than stimulate your immune system.
The above suggestions may work in lieu of, or in conjunction with the vaccines, should you choose to receive them. However, please consider that the complex healing mechanisms of your body are possibly more capable of managing a novel virus than a novel man-made pharmaceutical.
Swine Flu and You
This season, we find ourselves flooded with public health messages about flu prevention, which includes injecting ourselves with both the seasonal and swine flu vaccines. While no one wants to catch the flu, many of us question the safety of these vaccines and wonder whether a responsible choice for ourselves and our families includes receiving the vaccines, or refusing them.
The mainstream medical paradigm encourages prevention by focusing on controlling the virus, rather than by supporting the person who might contract the virus. Medical systems such as Naturopathic Medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and Homeopathy, encourage prevention by ensuring a balanced immune system that won’t under- or over-react to a virus. This provides you with broad protection against viruses and the bacteria responsible for many complications from the flu.
The swine flu is very virulent, meaning that it is can be transmitted easily from person to person. However, it is considered to be less deadly than most flu viruses. This may be partly because of the other unusual quality of H1N1, which is that it tends to affect healthy people age 5 to 24 who presumably are less likely to develop complications from the flu. Two main theories may explain this strange age-related phenomenon and provide essential clues for best prevention practices. The principle theory suggests that younger people are more likely to develop symptoms of the H1N1 flu because their immune system overreacts to the virus and creates a “cytokine storm”, which causes more damage than the virus itself. In this case, flu prevention requires that a person balances the immune system, rather than stimulates it, so that complications are less likely to occur.
If you use herbs to combat the flu virus, please choose your herbs carefully. The second theory is that the virus isn’t attacking young people per se, but that older people are responding less to the virus because they already carry some natural immunity. The 2009 H1N1 virus may be related to the original 1918 Spanish Flu H1N1 virus, which affected the human population most strongly before 1956. People who were exposed to H1N1 before 1956 may carry some natural immunity against the 2009 version.
To control the spread of H1N1, Canada entered into a $400 million dollar contract with the pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline to provide Canadians with an H1N1 flu vaccine. This vaccine also contains an adjuvant (known as AS03 in the Canadian vaccines), that increases your body’s immune response to the inactivated virus. Preliminary results by GSK suggest 100% immunity to the virus within 3 weeks of receiving the flu shot.
Though the World Health Organization (WHO) indicates that there are no significant safety concerns regarding these adjuvants, Health Canada and the US Food and Drug Administration have not yet approved them. Governments are fast-tracking these approvals to beat the flu wave and many research bodies caution against their approval under these strict timelines. The vaccine is a cause for concern for the following reasons: Ongoing unpublished research in British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec, suggests that people who received the seasonal flu vaccine last year may have an increased chance of catching the swine flu this season.
The oil component of the adjuvant called squalene is linked to a rare but serious autoimmune disease called Guillain Barre Syndrome, and a condition known as Gulf War Syndrome that developed in soldiers who received experimental anthrax vaccines. Some authors go so far as to link slow, progressive neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s with chronic, squalene-induced brain inflammation. Furthermore, the potential interaction between squalene and thimerosol, a mercury preservative in these vaccines, has not been adequately studied. Thimerosol is also linked to the development of some neurological disorders, (though much current research suggests otherwise).
Finally, the strict vaccination schedule intended to minimize the impact of a flu pandemic might in-fact worsen the situation by encouraging development of vaccine-resistant viruses. Anti-viral drug-resistant strains of H1N1 have already been identified. Regardless of whether you decide to receive the vaccine, the benefits of a more balanced, capable immune system are incontrovertible.
Here are some ways you can help to protect yourself and your family during this flu season:
Good hygiene practices: H1N1 can infect a person for 2 to 8 hours after being deposited on hard surfaces such as stainless steel and plastic, and for a few minutes after being deposited on soft surfaces. Be sure to wash your hands frequently, cough and sneeze into your elbow or a handkerchief, clean surfaces with your usual disinfectant, and stay home if you feel ill and have a fever.
Make healthier dietary choices: Avoid sugar and refined grains, such as bread and baked goods, which can inhibit the immune system. Replace pro-inflammatory red meats and dairy with anti-inflammatory “good” omega-3 fats, available in fish or in a high-quality fish oil supplement. Eat 6 servings of colourful vegetables daily, and eat plenty of fresh garlic, which has potent anti-viral properties.
Keep mucous membranes moist by using a humidifier and keeping up water intake, (generally 35mL of water for each kg of body weight). This will help prevent the virus from latching on, and keep the immune cells in that part of your body healthy.
Also, avoid alcohol and coffee which can be dehydrating.
Don’t underestimate the impact of stress and lack of sleep! Much evidence demonstrates how these situations inhibit optimal immune function.
Finally, prevent infection by keeping your immune system balanced with supplements, including 2000 to 4000 IU vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol), vitamin C with flavonoids, and a high-quality probiotic (such as Genestra’s HMF forte).
Most people with hectic lifestyles in our northern climate will benefit from these nutrients. A qualified health practitioner may further prescribe an individualized botanical combination or homeopathic medicine that helps to balance rather than stimulate your immune system.
The above suggestions may work in lieu of, or in conjunction with the vaccines, should you choose to receive them. However, please consider that the complex healing mechanisms of your body are possibly more capable of managing a novel virus than a novel man-made pharmaceutical.
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Swine Flu Stuff
So I've been doing a lot of thinking and research about the swine flu vaccine. Do I get it or not? Do I NEED it or not??
There seems to be a lot of conflicting information out there and unanswered questions. After doing some research I feel more informed but there are so many things I still want to know.
I'm making an appointment with my doctor to talk to him about it as well as booking an appointment with my naturopathic doctor. I'm sure that by the time the vaccine is available to all I will know what I wish to do.
I'm sanitizing my shopping cart, washing my kids constantly, and taking my vitamins.
In the mean time there IS something that is bugging me.
Out of ALL the articles in the local paper and news about how to help prevent the spread of the disease NONE seem to mention the OBVIOUS.
OTHER than cover your cough and sneeze with your sleeve, wash your hands and disinfect everything, I would REALLY like to be seeing the following:
1) Get plenty of Rest.
2) Drink plenty of water
3) Eat well
4) Take your vitamins, extra vitamin C, and zinc.
5) Try immune boosters such as green juice, eccinecea, Cold Fx
6) Blow your nose hard at the end of each day and gargle with salt water. This helps to kill anything that is just sitting there. (thank you kirsten for that advice)
7) and EXERCISE!!
There is no better PREVENTION than a healthy body and healthy immune system to fight off any flu bug. So do some research. Find out what YOU can do and what YOU can take to boost your immune system.
most of all. GET INFORMED!!!!!!!!!
There seems to be a lot of conflicting information out there and unanswered questions. After doing some research I feel more informed but there are so many things I still want to know.
I'm making an appointment with my doctor to talk to him about it as well as booking an appointment with my naturopathic doctor. I'm sure that by the time the vaccine is available to all I will know what I wish to do.
I'm sanitizing my shopping cart, washing my kids constantly, and taking my vitamins.
In the mean time there IS something that is bugging me.
Out of ALL the articles in the local paper and news about how to help prevent the spread of the disease NONE seem to mention the OBVIOUS.
OTHER than cover your cough and sneeze with your sleeve, wash your hands and disinfect everything, I would REALLY like to be seeing the following:
1) Get plenty of Rest.
2) Drink plenty of water
3) Eat well
4) Take your vitamins, extra vitamin C, and zinc.
5) Try immune boosters such as green juice, eccinecea, Cold Fx
6) Blow your nose hard at the end of each day and gargle with salt water. This helps to kill anything that is just sitting there. (thank you kirsten for that advice)
7) and EXERCISE!!
There is no better PREVENTION than a healthy body and healthy immune system to fight off any flu bug. So do some research. Find out what YOU can do and what YOU can take to boost your immune system.
most of all. GET INFORMED!!!!!!!!!
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