You feel like a tick  - about to pop!  Traffic, bills, kids, your boss, deadlines!  And it only begins there.  Like the thinning ozone layer or tax increases, we’ve come to accept everyday stress and just “live with it”.    But do we realize how it could be ruining our health?  

The damage of stress cannot be measured with any medical certainty, so with that, it continues to challenge medical research.  The truth is, chronic stress is highly damaging to overall health and it is badly misunderstood by most.  Why? Because we think it’s normal. There is nothing normal or potentially more damaging to health, than chronic stress.

We don’t stop long enough to even realize how stress is affecting us.  We are a society out of time, running late and needing it yesterday!  It seems we may even want more time as much as we want more money.  Sensationalism and pressure to be and to do and to have more has created a hyper-society, exhausted – yet running for more.

So, what do we do with all this stress?  We feed it, entertain it, suppress it and plain ignore it.  When that seems to fail, we medicate it.  Stress often requires a “cocktail” of prescriptions in order to relieve the pain, reduce the inflammation, increase the energy and improve the sleep – all while aiming to improve the psychological functioning.  

While some stress is normal and our bodies are equipped to deal with it with an ample supply of “stress hormones”, we are not equipped to have these hormones turned “on” all the time.  If they are, specifically cortisol and adrenaline, then you’re headed for trouble. Stress hormones have a direct effect on other hormones and can suppress your immune system.  If you’re immune system is down, then so is the guard at the gate of your health.

Feeding Stress!

The crunch of salty snacks or the smooth comfort of ice cream is “medicine” in itself for the stressed out, but unfortunately, these foods will only make the stress and your body’s ability to adapt to stress worse!  Stress hormones directly affect hunger hormones, signaling us to satisfy and pacify – sending us straight to the cookie aisle.  However, what the body is really craving – is good, healthy food, filled with natural ingredients that combat stress and build immunity.  

Antioxidants - found in fresh, colored fruits and vegetables help mop up free-radical damage and boost immunity.  

Adequate protein - found in lean portions of meat, fish, beans, nuts and seeds, and low-fat dairy products supply long-term energy for muscles, and assist the body to build and repair.  Sufficient protein also helps us feel fuller, longer.  

Complex carbohydrates – the primary source of energy for the body - found in whole grains, vegetables, beans and lentils provide fiber, energy and slow down the release of blood sugar and insulin in the body.  

And good fats – such as those found in avocados, nuts and seeds and oils such as olive oil and fish oil provide fuel for the brain and immune system.  

Incorporating these foods, as well as an age-specific multi-vitamin/mineral supplement that is formulated for stressful or active lives can mean all the difference to our health during stressful times. And while half a pint of chocolate marshmallow swirl can be comforting, it certainly won’t give you any advantage for dealing with stress.  

We may not be able to remove all the things that stress us, but we certainly can give our bodies the fuel for the fight.

Arthritis is painful. No one likes pain.  Some fear pain more than death itself.  Furthermore, it affects all areas of well being, as pain can radiate beyond the physical and into a person’s social, emotional and psychological life.  Coping seems impossible, as pain affects everything a person does.  Dulling or numbing pain with painkillers and medication seems the only way out.  If you cannot feel it, then you think you are controlling it.  

However, this is exactly how pain actually controls the person.  A vicious cycle erupts and to live pain free or even become tolerant, means to rely on drugs. I am irked when I see commercials on TV for anti-inflammatories and pain medicines for arthritis because they don’t even begin to offer another option other than pills and, well… more pills.  Not always the best, as drugs come with some rather concerning warnings and side effects.

Arthritis doesn’t just hit the elderly.  In Canada, statistics say 1 in 1,000 children have juvenile arthritis.  

How Food Hurts

Eating foods high in saturated fats, excess dairy, red meats, alcohol and sugar all contribute to the ouch of arthritis.  Combined with a sedentary lifestyle, this will leave arthritis sufferers reaching for the medicine bottle almost every time.  

Eating like this makes the body more acidic and higher acidity in the body creates a perfect environment for inflammation.  Even some foods that are good for you are culprits for arthritic pain, including the nightshades like potatoes, tomatoes and peppers.  Avoid these if you suffer from arthritis.

How food helps - Superfoods for Arthritis

No need to eat boring foods - try some avocado, pecans, bananas, cherries, leafy dark greens, barley, wheat germ and brewer’s yeast – all terrific foods for arthritis and inflammation.  Incorporate these foods, preferably organic, into your meals whenever possible.  Wheat germ and brewer’s yeast (½ -1 tablespoon) can be blended into fruit shakes and smoothies.  Adding some cold-water fish or a good fish-oil supplement to your diet will also reduce inflammation and pain.

Spice makes everything nice

Arthritis sufferers may find great hope in their spice cupboards with ginger.  Ginger is not just the spice of choice for gingerbread men.  It has been regarded for it’s medicinal values for literally thousands of years.  Battles were once fought for this gnarly-looking little root!  

Ginger has anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties and is highly effective at reducing swelling, pain and discomfort.  The bonus of using this powerful and tasty spice is that it comes with no side effects.  Ask any gingerbread man if he’s ever had arthritis!

Mention breast cancer and everything comes up pink!  I get a little cranky when I see this, not because pink toasters aren’t fun, or pink dump trucks are not cool!  It’s because of the mindset that we must find a cure for breast cancer because that is our only hope.  The message is still “more research.” As the leading cancer in women, statistics say that 1 out of every 8 women will experience this disease in Canada. Some major advancements have been made in conventional treatments for breast cancer, but discouragingly, I notice that very little of the focus is on prevention.

Many factors contribute to the development of breast cancer.   Too much estrogen has been indicated as a major factor.  Nasty substances included in everyday products like cosmetics, bleached tampons, dry-cleaning solvents, hair supplies and even low cal foods to promote weight loss are often loaded with the very substances that can have been linked to breast cancer.  Yet, manufacturers of these products are sponsoring and participating in research efforts to find a cure.  This is one step forward two steps back if you ask me.

Prevention being swept under the carpet

Why is prevention swept under the carpet – often getting nothing more than a marginal mention?  As a nutritionist, I offered to participate in a local charity event for cancer, offering my knowledge and services to the public for treatment options of cancer.  I was shocked and well… offended when the coordinator of the event rep told me that the organization did not allow people like me, with holistic nutritional and dietary counsel to participate because they had dieticians in hospitals who can do that if cancer patients want to know about their diet.  (Have you tried eating hospital food?)

Future challenges

Society has become complacent and almost accepting of the statistics, as reported in ‘Health Service Journal’ July 2003 which stated: 

The acceptance of breast cancer as a disease we have to put up with is affirmed in a survey conducted by the charity Breast Cancer Care.  Asked about the challenges for breast cancer over the next 30 years, the majority of the 80 breast cancer experts participating predicted that 30 years from now breast cancer will still be incurable but it will be a disease women live with, like diabetes or asthma, rather than die from, and that the biggest problem will be the sheer number requiring care.

What can you do

Prevention starts with healthy fuel for the body that provide defenses such as:

• Cruciferous vegetables (like broccoli, cauliflower, kale, and cabbage). They are very high in a plant nutrient called Indole-3-Carbinol which has been shown to break down the bad, cancer-promoting estrogens in the body to non-toxic forms.  
• Antioxidants – if it’s colored, eat it! That is, naturally colored, as in berries and richly colored fruits and veggies.  They’re brightly colored like that for a reason.  The have strong antioxidant properties within those pigments.
• Low Fat Dairy and Meat – We love our dairy products and thick slices of meat, but they aren’t doing anything for prevention.  Keep dairy and meat to a minimum of servings and keep it low in fat.

An ounce of prevention is worth pounds and pounds of cure.  And isn’t that why everything is turning pink?