Healthy Aging: Body, Mind & Spirit

Is sugar toxic?

Yes, in the gigantic amounts too many of us consume today!

I’m lucky.  My body tells me in no uncertain terms when I’ve had too much, Candida sets in!

Here’s the latest buzz on sugar toxicity.

Natural Treatment Options for Fungal Infections

A new study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry found that an antifungal protein (Pr-2) in pumpkin rinds may hinder Candida albicans without harming cells. The study’s researchers believe it could be an effective way to treat yeast infections naturally.   Another option is olive leaf extract, a widely available supplement that has been shown to kill fungi, including Candida.

That said, depending on what type of fungal infection you are dealing with, a systemic approach often works best. The top steps to treat candida overgrowth on a whole-body level include:

1. Eat a healthier diet and avoid sugar. Your diet should focus on whole, unprocessed fresh foods, and should drastically limit, or even better eliminate, sugar and refined carbs. Remember, sugar is a favorite food for yeast, so the less you “feed” it the better.
2. Restore balance to your intestinal microflora. If your intestinal balance has been upset, as is typically the case if you have candida overgrowth, active compounds of garlic can be used as they have demonstrated strong antibacterail and antifungal activity against candida.

1. Repopulate your digestive tract with good bacteria. Choose a probiotic supplement of therapeutic dose, especially if you have been on antibiotic therapy.A high-quality probiotic supplement can provides clinical applications that support systemic health and wellness through immune-system protection, allergy reduction and effective, enhanced nutrient absorption making it necessary to restore balance to your gastrointestinal tract and ultimately will replace the candida with good bacteria.

1. Support your immune system. A weakened immune system puts you at a disadvantage when you are trying to fight a chronic yeast infection or yeast overgrowth.

1. Avoid exposure to chemicals. This includes not only chemicals in your food and home and personal care products (perfume, paints, household cleaners, etc.), but also in unnecessary medications.
2. Nurture your emotional health. Stress can be a major factor in candida overgrowth, so use these tips to start relaxing more and tending to your emotional needs.

What Can Help Soothe Itchy Yeast Infections, Jock Itch and Athlete’s Foot, Naturally?

Anti-fungal creams (prescription or over-the-counter) are often recommended to help relieve the itchy symptoms of yeast and fungal infections. The downside to this is that many proprietary creams used to relieve irritation and itch contain chemicals that can cause discomfort.

Remember, yeast multiply quickly so it’s very easy for them to quickly take a hold of your body. However, combining the tips above with the care of a knowledgeable health care practitioner (who specializes in candida overgrowth and other fungal infections) will allow you to fight against candida and ultimately restore balance to your body and your health.

Could you have a Candida infection?

Millions of people struggle with hard-to-treat fungal infections caused by Candida, a type of yeast that is the most common human fungal pathogen.  Candida albicans, the most common species of Candida, is the leading cause of vaginal and oral yeast infections, as well as the fourth most common hospital-acquired blood-borne pathogen.

About 30 to 50 percent of healthy adults have Candida in their mouth; and the single-cell fungi also lives, often harmlessly, on their skin and in their intestines (and, in women, in the vagina).

According to the National Candida Centers:

“The bacteria to yeast ratio in a healthy person is about 10:1, so in a normal bowel everything lives in a nice ecological balance. The problem comes when your “inner ecology” gets off balance through a variety of causes … The bowel becomes vulnerable to other opportunistic’ microorganisms seeking a new home. With no healthy probiotics [good bacteria] to keep it under control, the growth of yeast takes off, multiplies and causes Candida Overgrowth yeast infection resulting in a multitude of symptoms.”

What Causes Yeast to Take Over?

Your body is a veritable Petri dish of sorts, teeming with bacteria and fungus at this very moment. Candida typically live harmlessly on your skin and on certain parts of your body, but if your system becomes out of balance it can trigger an overgrowth of yeast.

Candida is so widespread and pervasive that anyone with a suppressed immune system, including the young, the elderly and people receiving corticosteroid or chemotherapy treatments, are at an increased risk.

Further, in a hospital setting receiving a catheter or central intravenous line increases your risk by allowing an entry point for fungi to enter your body. Because treatment options are very limited, and fungi are growing increasingly resistant to available drugs, systemic fungal infections in a hospital setting have a mortality rate of nearly 45 percent.

There are many other factors that can also throw your body off kilter and allow opportunistic yeast to take over. Among the most common factors are:

• Taking antibiotics, which kill both good and bad bacteria

• Eating lots of processed foods, especially sugar and refined carbs (which feed the yeast)

• Chronic stress and exposure to environmental toxins, both of which lower your immune system’s ability to control candida

• Certain medications, including antibiotics, birth control pills, antacids, anti-inflammatories and corticosteroids, that promote the growth of yeast

• Excess alcohol, which kills good bacteria and increases the toxic load on your liver, and allows candida overgrowth

• Pregnancy and certain illnesses, such as diabetes, can also promote yeast growth, as can drinking tap water that contains chlorine

Five Common Fungal Infections

Fungal infections can take on a variety of forms and cause symptoms ranging from irritable bowel syndrome and food allergies to PMS and asthma.   The most common manifestations are:

Candida Overgrowth: Also called candidiasis, candida overgrowth typically begins in the digestive system and then spreads to other areas of your body. Yeast overgrowth begins when the flora in your digestive tract become unbalanced. When this occurs, the “bad” bacteria overwhelm the good, and diseases, like candidiasis, develop. When your gut is overwhelmed by candida, the yeast can actually burrow into your intestinal wall, which creates gaps in the membrane lining. These gaps, in turn, allow partially digested food particles along with the 180 toxic byproducts of yeast, to be absorbed by your bloodstream, creating symptoms such as gas, bloating, food cravings and more.

Vaginal Yeast Infections: Vaginal yeast infections, which occur when there is an overgrowth of Candida yeast in the vagina, impact three out of four women during their lifetimes. Further, nearly half of women will have two or more yeast infections during their lives.

Athlete’s Foot: Athlete’s foot is one of the most common skin infections around, and usually attacks your feet in the dark, damp areas between your toes. Athlete’s foot is contagious and spreads easily from person to person.  You can catch it by skin-to-skin contact with an infected person (it’s possible to carry the fungus that causes athlete’s foot and not have any symptoms) or by touching an object that carries the fungus. It’s also possible to transmit athlete’s foot to other parts of your body, such as your groin or underarms.

Jock Itch: Jock itch is a fungal infection that causes a red itchy rash on your inner thighs, buttocks and groin area. Its name stems from the fact that it’s common in people who sweat a lot, such as athletes and “jocks,” but the name is deceiving as anyone can get jock itch — even women.  Fungi called dermatophytes causes jock itch (his is the same type of fungus that often causes athlete’s foot). It is highly contagious and can easily be spread from your feet to your groin area or vice versa.

Ringworm: Ringworm is a fungal infection closely related to athlete’s foot and jock itch and develops on the top layer of your skin or on your scalp (this latter form typically impacts children).  What sets ringworm apart is the circular red rash it forms on your skin, which typically has slightly raised, expanding rings that give it a worm-like appearance. Ringworm may also appear as a round, flat patch of itchy skin.  Like athlete’s foot and jock itch, ringworm is transmitted by contact with infected people and objects (clothing, towel, bedding, combs, brushes, etc.) and by contact with an animal with ringworm. In rare cases ringworm can also be transmitted through contact with highly infected soil.

Here’s a link to some natural treatment options for fungal infections!

Juices and arsenic levels

The big story this morning is whether the lead and arsenic levels are too high in the fruit juices we drink.

The big story should be how bad fruit juices are in general because of their unnaturally high levels of sugar.  The human body was not made to mainline concentrated sugar at that level.   Think of it as razor blades in your blood stream like Dr. Oz suggests.   Any form of high sugar content leads to obesity, and often additional problems with Candida!

I know, we were all taught that fruit juice is healthier than other sweetened drinks, but sugar is sugar, and concentrated sugar spikes your insulin levels leading to artificially increased hunger and childhood obesity.

A reality check on your “lifestyle choices”

30% of cancers in developed countries are related to issues of diet and nutrition

40% OF ALL CANCERS CAN BE PREVENTED

1 out of 8 women will develop breast cancer in her lifetime

There were two things I never enjoyed doing before I started losing weight: weighing myself, and seeing myself in pictures.

Those two “phenomenon” came together for me this week when I happened to see my “before” picture at Slimgenics. I was astounded and horrified to finally fully acknowledge how out of control I had become back in June, when I started my weight loss journey.   This showed me how our brains can fool us into thinking things are “not THAT bad” just yet.   Well, things were VERY BAD and no, I won’t be sharing that photo with ANYONE!

Since mid-June I have reduced my intake of starches and fats by 75%, replacing them with much more water, protein, vegetables and fruit.   I didn’t think I would ever become one of those food measurers but, you know, it works!   And I am SO WORTH IT!

I have also studied why and when I tend to overeat and have replaced those behavior patterns with journaling, counseling and problem solving instead of stuffing my feelings.

Remember, it is NEVER too late to begin showing genuine concern for yourself.

Caring for your health is a GREAT place to start!

Source for statistics: World Health Organization

Weight loss is a fascinating psychological process!

As previous mentioned, I have been losing weight through Slimgenics for the past five weeks.   So far, so good!   I’m now 11 pounds lighter, 18 inches thinner, and feeling fantastic!

I’m new to diets and weight loss.   I was thin as a child and teenager, and basically menopause was the thing that did me in.   So I am learning new things all the time about how this works, you know, great tips like the fact that apple cider vinegar helps you lose more water weight, etc.   But the most amazing new reality for me now is how much less food I really need to feel satisfied.   I was eating all the wrong foods for all the wrong reasons before, and NOT because of actual hunger.

I’ve learned that food portions and plate size DO matter, and that probably the main reason most of us are now overweight if not obese is that everyone around us is growing just as fat if not fatter.   It’s so easy to find someone who is more overweight than you are to reassure yourself that you aren’t THAT bad yet.   Unfortunately most of us are literally killing ourselves with food!

I finally acknowledged that I was “that bad” and now I feel so much more optimistic since I changed my ways and took control over my situation.   Almost immediately I realized that I was unconsciously expecting far too much reinforcement from food, so I made a list of all of the things I really enjoy doing that I do rarely.   Things like listening to music, stretching, getting out in nature, etc.   Then I started doing those things instead of stuffing my face and my feelings.   What a gigantic relief!

One of the wisest things one of my twenty-eight-year-old counselors at Slimgenics told me is:

“Food is not your enemy or your friend, it’s just what we need to stay alive.”

It’s too bad that food has turned into one of the biggest psychological crutches of the century, and I’m speaking from personal experience here!

What I’ve learned so far about losing weight with Slimgenics

First of all, this program only has centers in Colorado, California and Minnesota right now.   The rest of their clients must use the “Home Program.”

I’m really glad we have it nearby because I NEED all of my questions answered and the daily pep talks from the counselors.   I can’t imagine paying that much money without a  full explanation from an actual person.   Even then I felt mildly ripped off when I left the center on my first day.   Why?   Because I didn’t fully understand that I would be required to buy 54 boxes of “Thermo-snacks” (for my individual program), on top of the hefty program fee I had just given them.   The entrance fee is determined by how much weight you and your counselor decide to shot for.   More weight, more money.   In my case, take your weight loss goal times 10 for your dollar amount.   Use the $50 coupon online if you can!

For the “Center Program” you start out on a three day Slim-start Prep.   The purpose of this is “to prepare your body for rapid weight loss” by stimulating a thermogenic response in your body and get it in the right chemical balance so that when your program begins you will lose weight the safest and fastest way possible.   This is kind of tough because, besides the supplements, you can only eat 2 eggs, plus unlimited protein and RAW veggies for 3 days.

The thermo-boost drink felt like caffeine on steroids to me.   Sure made my morning walks and exercise class a lot easier to get through, but it felt like a lot to me.   In addition, raw vegetables and NO STARCHES is a tough one for me, but I made it through.

These three days are partially a colon detox, and also helped with my water retention problem (adema). What didn’t help was that I decided to try out the “cleansing tea” I received in my starter kit.   BAD IDEA!   This stuff tastes GREAT, but come to find out it has a powerful laxative effect!

The most interesting new information I have received through this program is how important water is in weight loss.   Did you know that water is possible the most important catalyst in losing weight and keeping it off?   Not only is a great appetite suppressant, it also helps the body metabolize stored fat.   Less water intake may cause an increase in fat deposits!  Who knew?   Low water intake taxes your liver so it cannot work as efficiently to metabolize stored fat into energy.

I’m just on my second day of my actual program today.   I get some fruit and small amounts of starch now, but the list of foods is limited and pretty specific.   Yesterday I never really felt hungry, but you do have to pre-plan every meal very carefully at first.   I just got a new ounce scale over at Harbor Freight to weigh my meat portions.   Those two thermo-snacks help a lot.   The Peanut Butter Crunch bars are delish!

I know overall, this doesn’t sound like much fun, but feeling lighter and more confident and proud of myself will make this all worth it!   Being on a plan also adds new motivation to exercise more than normal, that and the lovely cool weather we’ve been having lately!

Unfortunately this is really impacting my moods.   Mike would say I’ve been acting a bit manic-depressive lately, but he loves the fact that I’m on a plan and I’m on my way to a healthier me!

How will I lose this extra midlife weight?

Talk about a midlife crisis, check out how many of us are overweight or worse in our 40s and 50s!

According to Dr. Oz, women over age 50 burn 200 calories less per day because of estrogen loss.   But when fat builds up in places like our belly or upper arms, which is common after 50, extra estrogen is also stored, which can lead to even more cravings for fat and carbohydrates.   Also, we may tend to exercise less as we age, maybe because we feel hopeless about ever being in good shape again, or because our arthritis is getting out of hand.

Granted every restaurant in the world is literally plotting to get you further addicted to salt, sugar and fat!   If you don’t believe me, read The End of Overeating by David S. Kessler, former commissioner of the FDA.   The food industry knows that these substances are like heroin to our brains and they need to keep us coming back for more, like a pig to the trough.

If you are reading this post, you know personally the ins and outs of feeling fat and disgusting, but also hopeless at ever changing this fact on your own.   “So, what’s a boy or girl to do?”

A few months ago I ran into an elder co-worker from my previous life as an academic librarian.   She said “Hi”, but I simply did not recognize her.   She was half the size I remembered her! I felt amazed, totally impressed and mildly depressed! She said she had been working with Slimgenics for a year or so, and then she warned me:  It’s EXPENSIVE, but very effective.

Flash forward to last Wednesday.   I heard on the radio about some talk show host who had lost over 100 pounds through Slimgenics and kept it off, so I decided to go in and check it out.   I had tried Weight Watchers twice and felt certain that wouldn’t really  work for me.   Why?   Because I need a lot of individual attention (as in counseling), and I’m a natural cheater when it comes to measuring all my foods, etc.   In other words, discipline is a problem!

Come to find out, Slimgenics is VERY EXPENSIVE, but I think that’s one of the reasons it works!   Try plunking down over a $1000 up front for the program and some of the required “Thermo-snacks” and then challenge yourself to cheat.   No way!   You have already spent the money, so now you NEED TO SEE SOME SERIOUS RESULTS!!!   And long-term results too!

Lucky you!   You get to join me in this emotional journey of confronting all of my own cheap excuses and bad moods as I FINALLY change my life by changing my food intake.   I’ll let you know all of the thrills and spills involved in serious midlife weight loss!   I’m shooting for a 50 pound weight loss!

“Do at least one thing every day that scares you.”   – Eleanor Roosevelt

Magnets can cut diagnosis time, saving lives

POTENTIALLY fatal infections could be diagnosed in hours rather than days thanks to two techniques involving magnets, cutting waiting times and saving lives.

Each year, over 90,000 people in the US are infected with a fungus called Candida, which has a 40 per cent mortality rate.  Unfortunately, most infections are caused by one of five species of Candida and an antifungal that can treat one species can make another worse.  It currently takes three days to determine which species is behind the infection as the pathogen has to be extracted and cultured to be identified, but a person can die within two.

Learn more here.

Green leafy vegetables may reduce diabetes risk

A diet rich in green leafy vegetables may reduce your risk of developing diabetes, UK research reports.    In an analysis of six studies into fruit and vegetable intake, only foods like broccoli, cauliflower, spinach and cabbage were found to have a significant positive effect.

It is not clear why green leafy vegetables may have a protective effect, but one reason may be they are high in antioxidants, such as vitamin C and another theory is that they contain high levels of magnesium.

My own theory is if you fill up on healthy fruits and vegetables, you’ll be much less likely to eat those nasty processed foods full of too much salt, sugar and fat!