CrazyBusy Mama! (Dot Calm)

I’m one of those people who thought — for a while — that soy milk was a healthy alternative to regular milk. I was quite proud of myself for ordering my chai tea latte with soy at Starbucks. Thankfully, more and more voices are being raised, declaring that there are more dangers than benefits when it comes to soy. I first heard the warning bells from Jillian Michaels’ posts on Facebook, and wanted to share this article by Marisa Vicario with you, as well. You may want to think twice about buying that carton of soy milk. Stay tuned tomorrow to learn about some healthier alternatives to soy. – Ed.

By Marisa Vicario

We consume it in everything from our morning coffee to burger substitutes but products like soy milk and veggie burgers could actually be more dangerous than we think.

Ever since the FDA deemed it heart-healthy, soy and soy-based products have been cropping up all over supermarkets and health food stores. The legume native to East Asia is an ingredient found in 60 percent of processed foods from baby food to ice cream, but lately there has been widespread controversy surrounding the health claims. In fact, some studies claim that soy can accelerate the onset of breast cancer, lower sperm count and decrease libido.

What is at the root of the concerns about soy?

Allergens: One of the top eight allergens, soy is commonly difficult to digest.

Phytoestrogens: Plant hormones that act like female estrogens called phytoestrogens are found in soy. The research is out on whether these compounds can prevent certain cancers, but it is also known that phytoestrogens have the ability to disrupt natural hormone function in the body especially during times such as pregnancy, infancy, puberty, the reproductive years and menopause and may alter sexual development.

Soy Isoflavines: Also questionable are soy isoflavines, a chemical compound derived from the soybean, which also have an estrogenic effect. While they are being studied for their role in relieving symptoms of menopause, cancer prevention, slowing osteoporosis and reducing the risk of heart disease, soy isoflavines are also being investigated for causing hyperthyroidism.

Phytic Acid: All legumes contain some phytic acid but soy contains higher-than-average levels. Phytic acid blocks mineral absorption which can cause zinc and calcium deficiencies.

Genetic Modification and Processing: Finally, over 90 percent of the soy on the market today is genetically modified and most soy products are highly processed. Soy protein isolate, the main ingredient in most soy foods that act as substitutes for meat and dairy as well as fast foods, baked goods and diet beverages is processed at high temperatures using a high pressure extrusion process and then sprayed with nitrates and MSG.

But not all soy is created equal. Organic soy that has been fermented such as miso, tempeh and natto are far safer foods than organic or genetically modified soy foods. Fermentation reduces phytic acid levels in soy making them more nourishing and digestible.

While, the jury is still out on whether the health risks pertaining to soy outweigh the benefits, there are a few rules of thumb that can be helpful:

* Read ingredients and avoid processed foods and genetically modified forms of soy.
* Enjoy old-fashioned soy (miso, natto, tempeh) in moderation
* Avoid excess soy consumption during key stages of life: pregnancy, infancy, puberty, the reproductive years and menopause
* Avoid soy if you are taking thyroid medication.
* Listen to your body and avoid soy in all forms if the body doesn’t agree with it.

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Marissa Vicario is a certified health and wellness coach based in Manhattan. For more information, visit http://www.mwahonline.com.

We’ve been having some truly beautiful fall days here in the Pacific Northwest. The crisp foggy mornings softly give way to sunny…almost warm (60-ish)…afternoons, all framed by firey orange and red leaves. It’s an absolutely perfect time to go for a walk or a drive just to soak up the beauty of it all.

But…it’s definitely one of those things that you feel you have to “hurry up and enjoy” — and take lots of pictures to remember it by. According to local and national weather forecasters, our usually-mild section of the country is going to be hard hit when grumpy, icy old man winter clashes with La Nina…and maybe sooner than later.

(Check out the country wide winter forecast and get the details at AccuWeather.com.)

If you’re a runner or walker and living in an area of the country that typically gets cold and snowy (or is usually mild but is going to be cold and snowy…brrrr!), here are some ways to make sure you don’t freeze your limbs off while getting your workout.

1. Bundle up! Now, this doesn’t mean wear a parka. (If it’s that cold, just stay inside and workout to Exercise TV or a favorite DVD.) Instead, dress in layers — the idea being that you can remove them as needed while still staying somewhat warm. Make sure your jacket is one that you can remove and tie around your waist if you need to. To protect your hands, wear gloves or at least place some air-activated hand warmers in your pockets. Pull on some leg warmers, toss on a beanie (around 40% of your body heat is lost through your head) and a scarf, and you’re good to go.

If possible, be sure any fabric you wear is the kind that wicks moisture away from your skin. Leaving moisture next to your skin on cold days can make you even colder and be a contributing factor for hypothermia.

2. Wear shoes with good traction to keep from slipping on snowy, icy, or wet roads. The last thing you need is an injury that might put you out of commission for a while. What you wear on your feet is just as important as what you put on the rest of your body.

3. Carry your cell phone and driver’s license. To me, these are all-the-time necessities, not just during the winter. But if you do fall and get hurt, you’re going to be glad you’ve got your phone. And keeping your identification on you is always a good idea.

4. Stay hydrated. It doesn’t have to be a hot day in order for you to get dehydrated. A hydration belt is a great way to keep your water handy…without having to carry it in your hand.

5. Go with a buddy. Walking or running with a friend is not only more fun, it’s safer, too.

6. Check with your doctor first. If you have a medical condition that might make cold-air exercise not such a good idea (like asthma), check with your doctor first. If he says no, running on a treadmill or indoor track will still give you a great workout.

7. Make sure you’re visible. With fewer daylight hours, chances are you may have to do your walking and running during times of low light or even darkness. Take a flashlight with you, and wear something reflective. Here’s a good selection of reflective gear to choose from. Personally, my plan is to get a reflective vest, but the arm bands I have should also do the trick nicely (I bought them a while back and will definitely not be leaving home for a run without them.

8. Finally, before you leave for that walk or run, take a few minutes to prepare your muscles. They’re more susceptible to injury on cold days, so take the time to warm up those muscles before you go, and don’t push yourself too hard if it’s especially cold outside — save that for the gym (or your at-home workout).

So remember — bundle up, keep hydrated, stay safe, and have fun. And don’t forget to thumb your nose at old man winter as you pass by.

©2010 Sally Dinius
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Sally Dinius is writer-in-chief here at CrazyBusyMama.com, a blog created to inspire and motivate busy mamas everywhere to feel healthy, fit, and in control of their lives. Follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/sdinius, and come join the CrazyBusy Mama Facebook page by clicking here.

Many people have been touched by breast cancer in some way. Perhaps you have, too — whether you’ve received the diagnosis yourself, know someone who has, or have even lost someone to it. I haven’t lost anyone to breast cancer, thankfully, but I do have a few friends who are breast cancer survivors (including one who conquered it twice). They are inspiring women, and I’m truly in awe of the strength each one displayed during her ordeal. Even my grandmother, who passed away last year from stroke complications, survived breast cancer almost 20 years ago.

Breast cancer is something we women should always be on the lookout for. Not to the point where the fear of it rules our lives, but in order to show fear that we are in charge of our own health. There are so many resources available regarding how to do breast self-exams, what to ask the doctor, when to call the doctor, and what kind of info we need to be up-to-date on.

Because there’s such a glut of information on the ‘net, I’ve cut through it and found a handful of sites that should be helpful to you. Read through them, get wise, and be brave. Knowledge is power, ladies!

National Breast Cancer Awareness Month — Official Site

Susan G. Komen for the Cure

American Cancer Society – Making Strides Against Breast Cancer

WebMD – How to Perform a Breast Self-Exam

©2010 Sally Dinius
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Sally Dinius is writer-in-chief here at CrazyBusyMama.com, a blog created to inspire and motivate busy mamas everywhere to feel healthy, fit, and in control of their lives. Follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/sdinius, and come join the CrazyBusy Mama Facebook page by clicking here.

By Mellisa McJunkin

It’s no secret we all need energy and I think it would be safe to say, we could all use more of it. Many things can leave us seriously energy deficient; lack of sleep, lack of proper nutrients, sickness, disease, not to mention the treatments for many diseases. That aside, here are five secrets to having an abundance of energy all day long.

I like to use acronyms to learn and remember things, so for learning these secrets let’s use the acronym S.H.A.P.E.

Secret #1 – Sleep – Deep, Deep Sleep
We all know we need about 7 or 8 hours of good, quality sleep. But there is an element to sleep this is often overlooked. It is not necessarily the number of hours we sleep but the time frame in which we sleep. Our bodies secrete a natural sleep hormone called melatonin which causes you to sleep in such a way that not only let’s your mind rest, but also helps your body heal, repair and rejuvenate. This hormone begins to kick in at about 10:00pm and tapers off at 2:00am. Which means the secret you get your best sleep from 10:00pm to 6:00am.

Secret #2 – Hydration
No, I am not taking about hydrating with a pot of coffee. The first thing you should do when you wake up in the morning is drink a tall (12-16 oz.) glass of water. I often add a spoonful of stevia and lemon juice as well. Since you have been a sleep for several hours, your body wakes up in a state of dehydration. Water will not only refresh your mind and body, it will also help expel viruses and toxins. So it’s important to drink plenty of water through out the day as well.

Secret #3 – Air
Breathing is good, I do it all the time you say. But most of us don’t take in enough deep, cleansing breaths. Deep breaths through the nose and out through the mouth not only infuses you with life giving oxygen, you are also expelling build ups of harmful carbon dioxide. Also, many diseases proliferate in an oxygen deficient environment, so an abundance of oxygen will not only give you more energy, but it will also keep disease from running rampant.

Secret #4 – Protein
Sugar and caffeine may give you a high for awhile. But you now what they say, “What goes up, must come down.” Protein on the other hand gives your body what it needs for sustainable energy. It burns slow and steady giving you an even boost in energy. The fastest and most convenient form of protein I have found is in protein powder. You can add it to water, milk, or even oatmeal or plain yogurt. Eating almonds or cottage cheese are also fast and easy too. Ideally you should consume a small amount of protein at every meal and snack time for your energy to last.

Secret #5 – Exercise
Most people resist the exercise routine for a number of reasons. Some say it’s too hard or they don’t enough time. But you don’t have make it complicated to make it work for the objective at hand; More energy. Walking or even bouncing on a rebounder for 15 – 20 minutes in the morning and again in the afternoon can increase your blood flood and oxygen levels enough to boost your energy all the way until bed time. Sweating a bit is also beneficial too because it helps release toxins as well.

Most of us know all this stuff, so I guess you could say these really aren’t secrets. The real secret is in consistency. Follow these steps and it won’t be long before you will find yourself waking up before your alarm, with an abundance of energy and mental clarity that will last all day.

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Mellisa McJunkin has been a health and fitness lifestyle coach for more than a decade. She has a passion for researching and writing about many different health and wellness issues. Visit with her at her blog for more tips and free gifts at http://extremehealth.digi-info-broker.com/blog.

If you’re health conscious like me, you read labels. Or you at least try to remember to.

There are quite a few things I keep my eyes peeled for on food packaging, like: MSG (monosodium glutamate, a flavor-enhancer and known neurotoxin that never leaves the body), saturated fats, trans fats, high levels of sodium, sugar, high fructose corn syrup, and artificial sweeteners like aspartame and sucralose.

I’m bringing this up because my shortest child just loves Capri Sun juice pouches. We usually buy the original variety, which contains sugar. I know that and am aware of it. I don’t like it, but it is what it is. The good thing about Capri Sun, as far as I can tell from the ingredients listings on their site, is that none of their juice drinks contain high fructose corn syrup. Thank you, Capri Sun and Kraft, for that — I wish more companies would follow that example.

That said, here’s the stinger. I’m upset. Not long ago I decided to buy their new “Roarin’ Waters” variety for my daughter. It is, essentially flavored water…not unlike Propel, et al. I felt okay buying it because it contains no food dyes. HOWEVER…at the store yesterday, I felt prompted to look at the ingredients listed on the side of the box. The following has been copied from their web site:

“CAPRI SUN WATER BEVERAGE ROARIN’ WATERS STRAWBERRY KIWI 10 CT

Size: 10 ct
Upc: 8768400114

Ingredients: WATER, SUGAR, CITRIC ACID, SUCRALOSE (SPLENDA BRAND SWEETENER), NATURLA FLAVOR.”

(Emphasis is mine. Misspelling of “NATURAL” is theirs.)

In my opinion, Kraft is being deceptive in their packaging of this product. In two places on the front of the box you’ll find the phrase, “No Artificial Colors or Flavors.” Did you catch the missing word? Hint: It’s “Sweeteners.” The above phrase attempts to trick us into thinking, “Oh, this is good — nothing artificial.” How sly.

You may remember the post I did some time ago about the effects sucralose had on me. It’s nasty stuff. I’m very upset that Kraft feels it can be put into kids’ drinks, especially after the bad press sucralose (a.k.a. Splenda) has gotten over the last few years. I realize some kids can’t have drinks flavored with sugar, so their parents buy drinks that are flavored artificially. But this drink already has sugar in it. There is NO reason to add the Splenda!

Please join me in voicing your concerns about this product to Kraft (the maker of Capri Sun juice pouches). Remind them of the detrimental effects sucralose can have on our children. Tell them you won’t buy that particular variety until sucralose is removed from the product.

Get active and get involved for the sake of your children’s health. None of us is too busy for that. Thank you!

©2010 Sally Dinius
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Sally Dinius is writer-in-chief here at CrazyBusyMama.com, a blog created to inspire and motivate busy mamas everywhere to feel healthy, fit, and in control of their lives. Follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/sdinius, and become a member of the CrazyBusy Mama Facebook fan page by clicking here.