2010...A New Year, A New You!

I feel something brewing in the air, 2010 is going to be a great year!!  For starters, I have returned to my blog, newly inspired, and even more motivated than ever to get the information out there.  It is amazing what can inspire us in our lives, the little things that can move and touch us so profoundly.  I recently saw a movie called Julie and Julia, a wonderful film depicting the life of Julia Childs.  Her cookbook, Mastering the Art of French Cooking, has made it into the kitchens and hands of countless individuals, including one woman named Julie who decided to cook all of Julia's recipes in one year and than blog about her experiences.  I resonated with this story because I too am passionate about something, and that is called Naturopathic Medicine!  Whether it is cooking, healthy living, exercise, charity, bowling, or whatever it may be that drives you, having a passion for something makes life so much more enjoyable.  It has driven me to want to become that much better of a person while exploring my more creative and thoughtful sides.
So what is your new years resolution? My new years resolution is to make an even stronger commitment to Naturopathic medicine, learning all I can; after all we are students for life, disseminating as much of this information possible, and in return helping all I can.  For many of you, your new years resolution is probably  related to your finances or your health, like saving up for that big screen TV, losing those extra 20lbs or going on a cleanse.   A cleanse is actually a really great way to start off the new year.  For many of us, our lifestyles and eating habits make for a very sluggish, tired, often overweight body.  Most Americans consume a S.A.D (Standard American Diet) and just like the acronym implies, it is quite sad because it is one of the single biggest factors contributing to the declining health of our society. 

Lets take a closer look at the current health status of Americans:

• 80 million people have some form of heart disease (American Heart Association)

• 1 in 3 women and 1 in 2 men will have cancer in his or her lifetime. (National Cancer Institute)

• Over 20 million children and adults have diabetes. (American Diabetes Association)

• 64% of adults are overweight. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

• About 59% of adults do not engage in any vigorous leisure-time physical activity. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

• Our national health care expenditures were 2 trillion dollars in 2005, or $6,700 per person. (National Coalition on Health Care

Now more than ever, children are at greater risk for disease:

• By the age of 12, an estimated 70% of our children have developed the beginning stages of hardening of the arteries. (Bogalusa Heart Study)

• 1 in 3 Americans born in 2000 will develop diabetes. (Journal of the American Medical Association)

• 1 in 4 Children is obese. (International Journal of Obesity)

• Nearly 50% of obese adolescents remain obese as adults. (International Journal of Obesity)

• 7% of school age children are diagnosed with ADHD. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

• About 6% of elementary school children and 7% of adolescent children miss 11 or more days of school yearly due to illness or injury. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

• Over 93% of all children and adolescents do not consume the recommended servings of vegetables daily. (Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine)

Why are we so unhealthy?

• Poor food choices

• Dehydration – not drinking enough water

• Lack of exercise and physical activity

• Stressful Lifestyles

• Environmental factors

• Sleep deprivation

• Our current medical approach “treatment” instead of “prevention”

Clearly, food choices can have one of the biggest impacts in the outcome of our health.  So when thinking of a cleanse, first think of the idea that you are giving your body a break from processed foods, preservatives, artificial sweeteners, chemicals, pesticides, pollutants, toxins etc.  We are going to eat foods that are not only nutritious for our bodies, but also can have a therapeutic value, like boosting our immune systems.  For more on how to go on a healthy cleanse and nutrition 101, stay tuned for part 2.


*this information has been given at the discretion of its creator, it is not intended to diagnose or treat any of its readers, it is strictly for educational purposes.