07.22.10

Marathon Time!

Posted in Humor~Events at 6:59 pm by Dr. Trina Hess

Here’s something from my IUP alumni group on LinkedIn.  The Leukemia Society marathon program, “Team In Training” pairs runners with recovering leukemia patient heroes.  The runners raise support and then compete in a marathon in honor of their patient-hero.  

My patient-hero, D.J. Miller, and I were part of this great fund-raiser and with D.J.’s inspiration I ran marathons in Paris France, Bermuda, Athens Greece, Anchorage Alaska, Honolulu, and New Orleans. 

You can show Jim your support by clicking on the link below and helping him and HIS patient-hero to conquer leukemia once and for all! 

Here’s Jim Logue’s message to you:  
“Hi fellow alumni. Training just started for the Marine Marathon in October. That’s 26.2 miles. I need to raise $2500 for the Leukemia society. This will be a big event for me. Any support will be much appreciated! Simply visit: http://pages.teamintraining.org/cpa/corps10/jlogue ”

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07.21.10

Yes! You CAN Write A Book, Too!

Posted in Humor~Events at 3:36 pm by Dr. Trina Hess

Meet the Authors:

   

 

Elizabeth Lombardo, PhD, MS, PT 

Author of: A Happy You: Your Ultimate Prescription for Happiness

Patty Kreamer,CPO®
Author of: But I Might Need it Someday!  and The Power of Simplicity

Mary Grace Musuneggi CLU, DhFC, CFS, RFC

Author Of:  Single Steps: Strategies for Abundant Living

Jay Speyerer

Author of: Cat Got Your Thumb? and The Stories of Our Days

Vickie Dellaquila

Author of: 

Don’t Toss My Memories in the Trash

A Step-by-Step Guide to Helping Seniors Downsize, Organize, & Move
and Moving Workbook

Moderator:

Dr. Nancy Mramor

Author of the award winning book: Spiritual Fitness

 

 

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07.19.10

Sydney Wins Again!

Posted in Humor~Events at 9:22 pm by Dr. Trina Hess

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07.17.10

Be Positive Pittsburgh!

Posted in Humor~Events at 10:52 pm by Dr. Trina Hess

Here’s some Pittsburgh news from my friend Joanne Quinn-Smith, a.k.a. The TechnoGranny: 
“If you’ve missed some of the audios, videos or articles on Positively Pittsburgh Live Magazine over the past month, you don’t have to worry.   Every month, we are creating

a PDF version (a magazine that can be opened like an ebook on your computer or even your smartphone), and
an online version that lets you actually turn the pages (and hear the page turning sound!). 

In both versions, when you click the link for the multimedia, you can download and listen to the audio shows, or watch the videos.  To view (and save) the PDF/Ebook version of Positively Pittsburgh’s anthology of content from last month, just click http://www.PositivelyPittsburghLiveMagazine.com/PPLM-2010-June/PPLM-2010-June.pdf.

To view the online, turning page version of Positively Pittsburgh’s content for last month, just click http://www.PositivelyPittsburghLiveMagazine.com/PPLM-2010-June/.

If you’d like to have an article, audio show or video shared with the rest of Pittsburgh, click here to contact me.

Have a positive and successful week!
Joanne Quinn-Smith, Publisher
http://www.PositivelyPittsburghLiveMagazine.com

Best Web Site or Blog Category for PositivelyPittsburghLive Talkcast

Joanne Quinn-Smith
412-628-5048
2009 National SBA Journalist of the Year
AKA TechnoGranny, Talkcast Host
Publisher, PositivelyPittsburghLiveMagazine.com

Take advantage of the PositivelyPittsburgh Alliance:
Post your Positive Events and Use Discussion Forum
Get Your Own Synicated Pittsburgh Internet Radio or TV Channel at: http://www.pplmag.com
twitter: @pospittsburgh @technogrannysho
Join: Other Positive Pittsburghers at: http://positivepittsburghers.com
Join: PositivePittsburghers Group on LinkedIn”

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07.16.10

Alice Cooper is at it Again

Posted in Humor~Events at 5:20 pm by Dr. Trina Hess

If you saw him in Wayne’s World, you know how funny Alice can be.  Now, check him out in this new movie:

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07.12.10

Food and Mood, Part II

Posted in Humor~Events, Humor~Health & Goals at 2:24 pm by Dr. Trina Hess

Read part II of Food & Mood by Janet McKee.  You can also read the article online and sign up for Dr. Nancy’s whole eZine series! A year’s worth of tips to creating your Best Year Yet!
Janet McKee is a board certified Holistic Health Counselor and a certified member of the American Association of Drugless Practitioners.

“Well, at age 45, I have more energy, clarity of thought and evenness of mood and emotion than I ever had in my early 30s or even 20s.  It was my own serious health challenge that led me to this most amazing discovery of how wonderful and easy it is to live a healthy and energetic life.  I have discovered the secret to ageless health and vitality and am pleased to share some of those secrets with you.  This article will illustrate how it’s possible to counteract the negative images bombarding our minds and bodies by fueling ourselves with healthful, mood balancing nourishment.

“Food choices have a profound effect on mood, energy, clarity and overall well being.  Wise choices provide the body with sustainable energy, enabling it to better deal with challenges and opportunities.  Poor food choices, on the other hand, often made when tired, grumpy, irritable or even depressed, “feed” the problem instead of helping to overcome it.  These decisions can lead to a downward spiral of poor food choices and cravings and less than positive mood swings, fatigue and depression.  Remember, food and mood go hand in hand.

“It may sound like a slow process of cycling between food and emotion; however the actual response is quite immediate. What you put in your mouth (or what you do not put in your mouth when you skip a meal, for example) can affect how you feel both physically and emotionally.  The reaction begins almost immediately and can last for several hours.

“When you make the right food choices that support well being, you experience increased energy during the day, which actually promotes restful sleep at night.  Living within a positive cycle of daytime energy and high quality sleep at night, generally helps to boost mood and overall fulfillment.  You will notice that you are able to think more clearly and remain focused during the day without the afternoon fatigue that many experience.  It is amazing how much better you handle stress when you are well rested and well nourished.  Dr. Gabriel Cousens of The Tree of Life Rejuvenation Center states that food is the foundation for healing both mind and body.  By putting patients on a healthy plant based diet, he finds a 90% reduction in depression and anxiety and is able to move them off of anti-depressant medications.

“Your nervous system plays a significant role in balancing food and energy with emotional wellbeing.  Everything you think and feel is a result of communication by your nerve cells through neurotransmitters.  There are many chemical compounds within the body that regulate your body’s processes and can affect all aspects of what you think and feel.  What you eat affects your neurotransmitters which in response will affect your energy levels and how you feel emotionally.

“Nutrients you get from food provide your neurotransmitters with what they need to do their job.  If your diet does not supply the right nutrients or the right amount of nutrients to your neurotransmitters, it can adversely affect your energy and mental processes.  By overdoing or under-doing any particular nutrient, such as fat, protein or carbohydrates, you can cause imbalances which may lead to erratic emotions, irritability, and difficulty in thinking clearly or even depression.  The nervous system requires a balance of proper nutrients to keep it healthy and ultimately keep you happy!!

“Food additives such as artificial sweeteners, colorings, preservatives, flavorings etc… can dramatically alter the function of neurotransmitters and enzymes.  All of these, especially if used over time, can negatively affect your clarity of thought and emotions, not to mention your physical wellbeing.

“One neurotransmitter closely regulated by diet is serotonin.  Serotonin can affect both mood and food cravings.  Studies show that eating a meal high in protein lowers serotonin levels because the blood is flooded with amino acids that compete for entry into the brain.  Tryptophan, a precursor to serotonin, is blocked from getting into the brain where it is sorely needed at certain times of the day or evening.  As a result, serotonin levels do not rise after a meal high in protein.  Conversely, if a person consumes a carbohydrate rich meal, tryptophan easily enters the brain, is converted into serotonin, and mood and sleep patterns improve.

“Endorphins and other chemicals are produced in the appetite control center of your brain (hypothalamus) and release a group of appetite stimulating neurotransmitters that perk up your desire to eat.   In addition to calming you during times of stress and creating feelings of euphoria, endorphins also result in a desire to eat creamy sweet foods.  Satisfying these cravings only raises the endorphins in your body further creating a greater desire for more sweets.  The stress hormone, corticosterone, also triggers these chemicals to rise which is why you likely crave foods like ice cream at the end of a stressful day.

“Which foods affect body chemistry most dramatically?  Well, we know that when we eat foods that are high in sugar or refined carbohydrates, our bodies go through radical chemical fluctuations, throwing us into unbalanced swings of energy and mood.  Conversely, when we eat foods that are complex in nature, such as fruits, vegetables, beans, or whole grains like brown rice or steel cut oatmeal, changes to our blood chemistry are slow and stable thus keeping us in balance.  From a nutritional perspective, staying in balance is key.  The goal is not to deprive yourself of tastes and textures that you enjoy and crave, but rather to make choices that satisfy your cravings while supporting your health and wellbeing at both the physical and emotional level.”

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Food and Mood, Part I

Posted in Humor~Events, Humor~Health & Goals at 2:19 pm by Dr. Trina Hess

Here is the first part of Janet McKee’s article for Dr. Nancy Mramor’s The Happiness Project.  Janet McKee is a board certified Holistic Health Counselor and a certified member of the American Association of Drugless Practitioners.

“Happiness…It’s what we all want out of life. Being vibrant, healthy and full of vitality is the key to not only a good life, but one that is happy and fulfilling. Well it is certainly difficult to be happy when our health is challenged, but understanding the major role food plays and knowing that choosing foods that support our health can be fun, delicious and satisfying puts us in control.

“These days, society doesn’t make it easy to be healthy or happy. We set our alarms to jolt us out of bed in the morning and are so exhausted that we can’t begin the day without a cup of coffee and some sugary processed foods, void of any real nutrient support for our mind and body. We start our day on a caffeine and sugar high only to crash mid-morning leading us to grab for yet another caffeine or sugar boost to prop us up. We feel under constant pressure as we hurry through our day filling our bodies with over processed, chemicalized, and denatured foods. We wonder why we can’t concentrate or think clearly and why we don’t have the energy and clarity we once had. We chalk it up to the false assumption that it must be aging.”

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Food is Fun??

Posted in Humor~Events, Humor~Health & Goals at 2:17 pm by Dr. Trina Hess

As part of Dr. Nancy Mramor’s Happiness Project, here is more on the food=happiness quotient.  Sign up for Dr. Nancy’s free e-Zine series to find out how to Have Your Best Year Yet!  Read how humor=happiness in my June e-Zine article I wrote for Nancy’s Happiness Project.

Food Can Make You Happy, or Can It? By Dr. Nancy Mramor

Happiness comes from many of the things that we have shared in these Happiness E-zines, such as success, changes in brain chemistry, reaching goals and humor with many more topics to come.  But truly what we know about happiness is that when you are drawn by a positive powerful vision of your futures to be happy, that obstacles can be removed and doors opened.  As you envision a positive future, you focus on and are drawn into that future.  Positive emotions, meaning and life purpose, positive mastery/competence and positive relationships drive you to happy futures, says Dr. Martin Seligman, former president of the American Psychological Assn. and author of Authentic Happiness.

Then along comes food. Food is one of the most convoluted topics I have ever come across.  Ways of eating are ancestrally embedded in your bodies and behavior that either make you happy and healthy or just the reverse. The incidence of diet-related illness in our country is higher each year and the stigma of overweight causes judgments about those who have been unable to overcome bad genes and training or those who eat emotionally; this drives self-esteem down, a leading cause of poor eating habits.

Amy Farrell, Ph.D. of the Pennsylvania Psychological Association states in the May Update that HAES (Health At Every Size) draws from a new perspective.  The new approach asks not how we can make fat people thin, but how do we make people healthy? She cites research from the University of California that showed that moving toward healthy eating instead of moving away from unhealthy eating resulted in the highest levels of success. The group that had moved toward had higher self-esteem, kept weight off and noticed significant health improvements, even if they did not lose weight.  They learned to enjoy their health and food and started new habits that endured. The research supports Dr. Selgman’s ideas about what will make us happy and draw us forward into a compelling future that we imagine and create.

Moving toward a great relationship with food can be medicine for the body and soul and can bring new life to the cells, allowing healing to take place in remarkable ways. Old unhealthy choices can poison the body, creating toxicity, upsetting the endocrine balance, and valuable oxygen needed for life.  Food can heal or create stress, mend or destroy, soothe or mislead the body in your drive toward health and happiness.

I fully appreciate the approach of food as a way of health, energy and mood regulation that this month’s  authors take. These colleagues and friends are two of the finest and most enduring  chefs, writers, and teachers that I have ever met. Deborah Barr and Janet McKee have both shared so much with me about food that I utilize continually in my diet and food preparation, so now I will turn the fork over to them. But before I do, I want to tell you about a little organic treat (commonly known as a desert substitute) called mochi.  If you have a sweet tooth and want to cut down on sugar look this one up.  Now that the mystery food bait has been set, Bon Appétit!

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It’s Still Called Ja-A-ZZ!

Posted in Humor~Events at 2:12 pm by Dr. Trina Hess

Looking for something fun to do this summer?  Why not check out some of my friend Donna Bailey’s jazz shows:

“I hope you’re having a great summer and keeping cool. My July schedule is attached for you to browse! I hope you’ll please pass it along to your “Jazz Lovin’ Friends!” There are some exciting shows coming up all around Pittsburgh.

Don’t forget that the Pittsburgh Jazz Society sponsors concerts every Sunday evening

at the River’s Casino. The concerts are held from 6:00 - 9:00 PM in The Grand View Buffet Room.

Joe Negri’s CD Release is this Sunday, July 11th…what a treat!

There are also discounts available for the buffet.

Also, mark you calendar for Tuesday, August 24th!

The 4th “Diva Tuesday” Anniversary at Blue will be held from 8-10 PM.

There will be 14 of us Divas singing our hearts out to raise money for local women with breast cancer.

Blue  - 1701 Duncan Avenue  - Allison Park, PA 15101

Reservations:412.369.9050

You’ll be getting an invitation soon!

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07.06.10

Foodie = Happy, Part II

Posted in Humor~Events, Humor~Health & Goals at 9:38 pm by Dr. Trina Hess

Here’s more of Deborah Barr’s article about food’s role in your Happiness Project.  To read the rest of her article, just go to http://www.drnancyonline.com/DeborahBarr.html And don’t forget to sign up for a year’s worth of FREE happiness resources while you’re there!

Here’s what Deborah Barr says about how food can help make you happy:

Many of these trends conflict with each other, and each is limited by a narrow and fixed view.  Their ideologies differ, but their principle is the same–everyone should eat according to the same rules.  A perfect diet that will insure good health does not exist. There is no one way of eating that will bring everyone health and happiness.  Not everyone benefits equally from foods that contain the same measure of nutrients. The best foods for you are determined by your constitution, condition, age, lifestyle, emotions, climate, and the seasons.

Following the popular trend of the day designed by someone who knows nothing about you will not bring long term health and happiness.

In many modalities of alternative health and in Western medicine, dietary advice is given in a standardized way without regard for individual differences.  There is a more accurate method to determine your dietary needs.

Traditional Chinese Medicine is thousands of years old and is energy based medicine.  It offers an accurate dimension to food analysis that classifies food and disease according to simple patterns.  TCM understands the ways specific foods, herbs, and cooking methods affect different types of people and ailments.

Nutritional science is relatively young and has failed to take valuable cues from the wisdom of traditional healing arts. For example, scientific nutrition treats obesity with low-fat, low-calorie foods, many of which are chemically processed or, worse yet, concocted of chemicals in a flavor factory.  According to scientific principles all foods that are within quantitative caloric and nutrient guidelines have the same effects. Those foods are considered healthy by Western science even when they leave you irritable, unsatisfied, tired, and with cravings.  Many of these foods create excess dampness, heat, or coldness in the body contributing to poor health.  These patterns are described in detail in this article.

In holistic energy nutrition it’s determined whether the person has hot, cold, damp, dry, excess or deficiency patterns.  Foods are recommended to dry dampness which eliminates bloating, puffiness, edema, and poor digestion.  If there is coldness, warming foods are given to stimulate metabolism back to normal.  Foods that cool down excess heat in the body will normalize weight.  Minimizing building foods and emphasizing healthy cleansing foods will eliminate excess weight.  This approach to obesity provides satisfaction from food, better energy, digestion, sleep, and restores health.

Food is energy, and its essence is far more than the sum of its nutrients. All foods have characters that can be described, and specific energetic properties that surpass description and science.  This is more important than combination of nutrients for reversing imbalances and creating happiness.

Many traditional cultures have based their dietary philosophies on energy principles.  We’ve experienced a departure from this holistic, common sense approach to diet in favor of science and technology.  The results are evidenced by the growing numbers of sick, obese, and unhappy people.
Humans are made of energy or life force called qi, chi, ki, and prana in different cultures.  Traditional cultures knew of the existence and importance of energy and developed practices for enhancing health and correcting imbalances.  Modern day researchers discovered ways to measure and detect life energy using electric or magnet machines.

Different schools of thought agree that we are supported and sustained by an underlying flow of life energy.  When this flow is impeded, we become weak or sick; our emotions become disharmonious; our relationships, finances, work, and all areas of life suffer.  When the flow of energy is strengthened or cared for, we become stronger and healthier in every way.  When the flow stops, we die.
You receive subtle vibrational frequencies from everything you expose yourself to.  Your health and happiness are based on what you consume from everything in life.  Since you eat 2, 3, 4 or more times daily, your body/mind health are greatly impacted by food.

Demystifying Food as Energy

Food can be distinguished by its thermal properties, flavors, building or cleansing abilities, drying or moistening qualities, and how the food is prepared.  Choosing from these criteria can restore health, create balance, happiness, seasonal harmony, and free you to live the healthy life you were meant to live.  This is not new information.   Fortunately it is being revived.

According to traditional culinary wisdom, foods are warming, cooling, or neutral.Some people need the cooling, moistening properties of raw vegetables and fruits to maintain balance.  The health of others will seriously decline by including too many of them.

For example, the cooling quality of raw foods balances the heat and congestion resulting from years of eating excessive amounts of meat, cheese, fried and spicy foods and alcohol.  Some conditions caused by excessive heat in the body are high cholesterol, hypertension, heart disease, tension headaches, stroke, aggressive, angry behavior, and many others.

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