Treat Your Inner Child

I recently saw a Twilight Zone episode titled “Kick the Can.” The story unfolds in a nursing home. The residents remember playing Kick the Can when they were kids. One man is sure that, if they could re-create the moment, they would become young again. At first the others think he’s crazy, but he slowly convinces all but one of them to sneak out with him one night and kick the can. The elderly people disappear, and in their place are children, kicking the can into the night.

I believe that still glowing inside every being is the spark of the child they once were. For some, it’s buried deep inside; for others, it’s a very noticeable part of their adult personality. It’s so easy to forget the simple pleasures as we grow older, take on more responsibility, and become, oh, so busy.

We know that our attitudes affect how quickly we age. What better way to ensure a life of good health than to think young, laugh often, and treat yourself like a kid? Treating the child inside you is different from treating the adult you’ve become. Adult treats are usually more serious and more dignified, such as dancing, or an evening at a fine restaurant. Sometimes, adult treats are unhealthy—for instance, an end-of-work-week night on the town spent drinking with friends from the office.

Treating the child inside you is more, well, childlike. Maybe your treat is an afternoon spent at the zoo. They do allow adults, and you don’t have to be accompanied by a child. Your treat may be taking a few moments on Sunday morning to read and laugh at the comics, or taking a stroll across the yard with no shoes, or plopping down under a shade tree for a few minutes of daydreaming.

Remember when you were a kid, hearing the tinkling tune of the ice cream truck as it slowly approached your neighborhood? Remember the rush to your piggy bank to extract your life savings (a quarter) before the wondrous vehicle full of frozen pleasure could reach your drive? Remember how a quarter spent on something cool, sweet, and creamy gave you a little bit of heaven on earth? A trip to the ice cream shop may bring back those feelings and be the perfect treat for you.

It’s okay to be silly. Treat yourself by running through the sprinkler on a hot day. And when’s the last time you climbed a tree? Trees look smaller when you’re all grown up, but the thrill of climbing unseen among the branches is the same. Run with the dog, fly a kite, do a cannonball into the pool, go to the amusement park and ride every ride.

Maybe trip to a toy store (picking anything you want) would be a good investment in your mental health. I have a basket of toys sitting next to my coffee table. They remind me that play is important, too. Remember the joy you got from your first ViewMaster, Etch-a-Sketch, Silly Putty, Super Ball, Hula Hoop, or Barrel of Monkeys? All of these are still made. Spend an evening chasing lightning bugs, splash barefoot in mud puddles, look for pollywogs, play hopscotch, practice your curve ball, watch re-runs of The Lone Ranger on TV, go roller-skating, or assemble a model of your dream car.

Ask yourself: What are the things that made me smile as a kid? What toys did I most enjoy? What games did I play? What programs did I watch? Where did we go on family outings that I truly enjoyed? Who did I play with? For many of us, the answer to the last question is “Brothers and/or sisters.” You’re probably still in contact with them, so don’t hesitate to ask them to join in now. Yes, they may look at you as if you’re a little crazy but they always did anyway, didn’t they? Ask yourself: How long has it been since I did that activity that I loved as a kid? How can I add more of that to my life now? For those of you who haven’t played for a while, this may be a bit uncomfortable. You might feel silly. Just remember—any new behavior takes time to get used to. Any time you make a change in your life, it might be a bit unsettling at first. As with any healthy new habit, practice is the key. If you have to, mark it on your calendar until it becomes a habit to set aside regular times to treat little “your name here.”

Further Reading

Permission to Play, by Jill Murphy Long

Make Room for Fresh Fruits and Vegtables

Fresh fruits and vegetables are an essential part of your eating habits. Notice that I said fresh—not highly processed, canned, frozen, or deep-fried. Today we are fortunate to have so many choices at the grocery store. Years ago, such fruits as bananas and pineapples were rarities; now they’re everyday items. The advent of modern methods of storage and transportation makes it possible for you to have fresh fruits and veggies no matter where you live. (The next chapter explains why fresh is better than canned or frozen, so I won’t go into it here.)

Your body needs the wonderful micronutrients in this fresh produce, as well as the fiber it provides. Your body will thrive on a variety of fresh produce. Fruits and veggies are carbohydrates, so balance them with a protein.

I advocate the use of organic produce whenever it is possible—if for no other reason than that it lasts longer when stored in the fridge. I discovered that once when I went on vacation and forgot to clean out the fridge the morning I departed. I expected to find a big mess when I returned ten days later, but, much to my surprise, the organic veggies I had left in the crisper were still fresh. Again and again, I have found this to be consistently true of organic produce, though whether it’s due to different handling and shipping or to the fact that it is organically grown, I can’t say. I can say that if you routinely throw out produce that goes bad before you can use it, the savings can be big.

That, right there, is enough reason to buy organic—especially today, when the advent of chain health-food stores has helped bring prices down, and most traditional supermarkets carry at least some organic produce. If you think organic costs more, you’re not shopping in the right store.

I totally support organic farmers who treat the land with the respect it deserves. Organic farming is good for your health, good for the farms that feed this country, and good for the planet. Organic foods contain fewer toxins such as pesticides, and offer more nutritional value.

Now, you may need to know how to shop for vegetables, so let’s spend some time on that. First of all, skip the canned and frozen section and go straight to the fresh produce. Scan that section of the store and note how many different colors there are. When you shop, pick a variety of colors. Each color family contains it's own special nutritional value.

There are two kinds of veggies: those you’ll serve raw, and those that are better served cooked. A salad is a great way to eat raw veggies. For a complete meal, serve salad (a carbohydrate) with chicken or fish (a protein). Choose one or more greens—I like the hydroponic lettuce with roots still attached, and the organic spring-salad mix. Romaine lettuce has more nutrients than iceberg, and spinach makes a wonderful salad base. Next add a few other items, such as carrots, celery, cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, and radishes—all of which, of course, can be eaten raw. Don’t forget the salad dressing. Most stores carry several brands of dressings without sugars, preservatives, or artificial anything. You’ll find these dressings refrigerated, usually near the produce section. (Just for fun, read the labels of the non-refrigerated dressings. Can you find one without sugar?)

Salads are just as easy—the veggies are already clean, so all you have to do is cut off what you need. Variations can include fresh herbs, cheese, croutons, avocado, olives, pickles, nuts, or sunflower seeds. Salmon, tuna, crab, shrimp, and chicken all go well in a salad, and can make a salad a meal rather than a mere side dish.

Now let’s look at the veggies you’ll be cooking. Lightly steamed veggies (directions below) with fish or chicken is a healthy meal.  Start with a veggie you like—I use broccoli as a centerpiece for most of my steamed dishes. Pick just two or three other items to go with it, such as mushrooms, potatoes, squash, bell peppers, or whatever you like. Green beans and snow peas are great, and so is cauliflower. If you take home six or seven veggies to cook, you can have a variety of meals by mixing and matching them, and using different spices.

While you’re in the produce section, buy some fruit, at least one type for each day. It’s best to buy fruit when it’s in season and at it's freshest; in the summer, berries, melons, and stone fruits such as peaches, plums, and cherries; in the fall, apples, pears, and grapes. Exotic fruits from around the world are as close as your store, so try something new. When was the last time you had a mango or kiwi? A sweet pineapple? Again, choose a variety of colors, and enjoy.

Here’s the secret of my success at adding fresh veggies to my diet: When you get home from shopping, put all your other groceries away first. Then put all the vegetables in the sink. If they have roots, stems, or leaves that you won’t be using in cooking, remove those now. Wash all your vegetables.  It will just take a few minutes, and will save you lots of time when you’re hungry and trying to get a meal together. Put all the veggies you plan to eat raw in one place—preferably a crisper or veggie storage container—and all the veggies you plan to cook in another. When you’re ready to make a meal, pull out the container of clean veggies and just cut off what you need. How quick and easy is that?

Next, you should know how to cook veggies—this, too, can be easy and quick. Spray a cast-iron skillet with canola oil or olive oil and heat on medium. Add your veggies and stir them around, then carefully pour in enough water to just cover the bottom of the skillet. Cover with a lid and let steam for several minutes. Watch that it does not go dry. Remove from heat. When ready to eat, your veggies should be slightly crispy and still brightly colored. One pan, no fuss, no muss, and just a few minutes’ time. The pan cleans with just a rinse (unless you burned the food) and a wipe with a towel.

Add whatever seasonings you enjoy. I like to use hot and spicy Cajun seasonings, or Italian with garlic and basil. Be creative—veggies don’t have to be boring. Add butter and lemon, pepper, or sour cream and chives. Use French country seasonings, or use a veggie broth to steam with rather than water. The possibilities are endless.

For a basic and very good vegetable soup, put your stir-fried veggies in a pan and add water and veggie bouillon cubes. Heat just to warm the broth, add spices, and you have a very fast, satisfying soup. Serve with a protein such as chicken or fish.

Salads are just as easy —the veggies are already clean, so all you have to do is cut off what you need. Variations can include fresh herbs, cheese, croutons, avocado, olives, pickles, nuts, or sunflower seeds. Salmon, tuna, crab, shrimp, and chicken all go well in a salad, and can make a salad a meal rather than a mere side dish.

Adding fresh vegetables to your daily diet is an extremely healthy habit to get into. Fresh veggies add nutrients, fiber, and water to your diet. They are a healthy source of carbohydrates, and have few calories. Congratulations—by adding fresh veggies to your diet, you’ve made true progress in becoming a healthier person.

Further Reading

 

The Color Code, by James A. Joseph, Ph.D., Daniel A. Nadeau, M.D., and Anne Underwood

Diet For a Small Planet, by Frances Moore Lappe

Tips for Keeping your Immune System Working Well

Your immune system is constantly working to protect you from potentially dangerous invaders. When it’s working properly, your immune system is like your heart—it’s always there, constantly doing its job, but rarely are you even aware of it. It’s only when it doesn’t work well that you really notice it.

Your immune system consists of many parts. All of these parts can be divided into two classifications, depending on what type of immune-system response they are used in. Some parts of the immune system are used in specific resistance (otherwise known as immunity) and other parts of the immune system are used in nonspecific resistance.

The many components of nonspecific resistance include: the skin and mucous membranes, which help repel such invaders as germs and allergens; reactions like inflammation and fever, which represent the body’s attempts to make the environment lethal to invaders; and phagocytosis, the ingestion and destruction of invading cells by defense cells called phagocytes.

Chemical components of nonspecific resistance include the gastric acid in your stomach, the sebum (oily covering) of your skin, and certain chemicals in your perspiration, urine, tears, and saliva. The body also produces specific antimicrobial proteins to aid the immune system in nonspecific resistance. Interferon, complement, and properdin are all proteins or groups of proteins that act to destroy invaders. Certain white blood cells are also active in nonspecific immune responses.

A specific resistance of the immune system is called an immunity. An immunity is created when the body produces antibodies (defenses) designed to repel or kill specific invaders, or antigens. Components of the a specific “response team” include the organs of the lymphatic system as well as the bone marrow, which produce antibodies, the antibodies themselves, and certain white blood cells.

The immune system has its own fluid circulating system, consisting of lymph vessels, nodes, and ducts, as well as the lymphatic fluid that travels through these. The lymphatic system is active in both specific and nonspecific immune responses. Although its primary function is to drain excess fluid from tissues, the lymphatic system also produces lymphocytes (fighting cells) and develops antibodies. Organs involved in the immune system because they are partly or wholly composed of lymph tissue include the tonsils, the spleen, and the thymus gland.

As you can see, your ability to keep your immune system healthy is directly dependent on the proper functioning of your body. From the cellular level right up to the largest organ, the skin, your immune system is an integral part of you. If you’re healthy, your immune system will be healthy and responsive as well.

How do you remain healthy? Well, you’re reading this book, so you’re already on the right track. Many of my suggestions for protecting your immune system are topics covered in other sections of this book so go to the corresponding sections for more details on the following suggestions.

Start by ensuring your cellular health: Give your body all the nutrients it needs to produce healthy cells. Specific to the immune system are the vitamins C, E, A, and the elements zinc and selenium. All of these are included in most high-quality daily supplements. Eat healthy. Sugar decreases immune-system function. Monosodium glutamate (MSG), artificial sweeteners, and refined or highly processed foods can trigger immune responses. Chronic immune response can decrease the overall effectiveness of your immune system. Chronic immune responses happen when you eat or are regularly exposed to things you have a sensitivity to.

Get the toxins out of your body. Alcohol, tobacco, pesticides, heavy metals, and drugs all affect the ability of the immune system to work efficiently. Avoid exposure to these things as much as possible. If you’ve been exposed, a trip to a herbalist to discuss detoxification programs would be a good idea.

If you have allergies, see a Doctor of Homeopathy. Although an allergic response is a natural part of immune-system functioning, chronic responses to allergens can overload and fatigue your immune system and make you susceptible to more dangerous invaders such as bacteria and viruses. Treating allergies naturally and strengthening the immune system can usually be achieved with the aid of homeopathy.

Exercise and de-stress regularly. Like the rest of the body’s systems, the immune system benefits from regular exercise and is adversely affected by stress, and works best when you’ve had enough rest.

Increase the laughter in your life. We know that immune-system function is affected by our attitudes. If you’re depressed, your immune system will be too. If there are situations in your life that are not contributing to your joy, realize that they will affect your health. Seek help from a counselor, clergyperson, or friend.

If you take good care of it, your immune system will function well and protect you for your lifetime. It may not call much attention to itself, but don’t forget it when you’re planning your long-term health goals.

Further Reading

Total Wellness, by Joseph Pizzorno, ND

The Immune Advantage, by Ellen Mazo with Keith Berndtson, MD

Are drugs really the answer?

I’ve often thought it was interesting that in a society in which we ask our kids to “Just say no” to drugs, every home is built with a special place in which we store our drugs. Not only that, we have entire stores dedicated to the sale of drugs.

What does this say about our national dependence on drugs? What does it say about our acceptance of chemical solutions to our problems? What does it teach our children? When I was a child, the strongest drug we ever took was orange-flavored baby aspirin. Nowadays, doctors prescribe adult-strength drugs to children in alarming numbers. Never before have so many kids been drugged into submission. Our kids learn early that a little pill—from Ritalin to Prozac—will make everything okay. Why, all of a sudden, do so many kids need mood-altering drugs such as Prozac? What does this say about how we care for our children as a society?

Of course, prescription drugs are not the same as street drugs—or are they? Street drugs are taken to make one feel good about life. How many prescription drugs on the market today are sold to do exactly the same thing? How many prescription drugs are used to cover up symptoms of something much deeper than the pain? Isn’t that why people use recreational drugs?

What does the use of drugs say about our attitudes toward health and healing? Could it be that we think solutions come from outside us? Do we want to give responsibility for our health to a doctor, who then prescribes something to “fix” us? Are we saying, “I don’t want to make the effort to correct the problem—just cover up the pain so I can ignore what’s really happening with my health”?

Our attitudes about health come from the education we’ve gotten from the drug companies, which spend billions on advertising each year. Is what we learn from them true? Are drugs the best way to deal with our healthcare issues?

In Chapters 3, 38, and 39, I present the idea that symptoms are signals from your body that something is wrong. Symptoms should not be ignored. When you rush to the medicine cabinet for an over-the-counter drug, you’re covering up your symptoms (so you can ignore and forget about them). Over time, continued covering and ignoring leads to serious health problems.

Healing does not come from a bottle. Pills and potions do not make you well. Yes, they can temporarily relieve pain, but don’t fool yourself by thinking that the underlying problem is gone—you’ve just covered it up for the time being. It will be back. If aspirin got rid of headaches, wouldn’t you just take it once and never have another headache? If

antacids relieved your stomach problems, why would you have to take them after every meal? Wouldn’t once be enough?

A full medicine cabinet is a sure sign of ill health. Take look in your medicine cabinet. Is it full? If so, it’s time to change your lifestyle. Throw out the over-the-counter meds you bought at the drugstore without a prescription. Just because they sell it in the drugstore without a prescription doesn’t mean it has no side effects. Contact your medical doctor to find out if there is a safe, effective way to reduce your use of prescription drugs. Keep only what you absolutely need—your toothbrush, toothpaste, a box of Band-Aids. Okay, keep one bottle of pain reliever—but use a black marker to print on the label “This is not a cure,” to remind yourself when you take them. Keep some emergency supplies: gauze and tape, ipecac syrup for poisoning (if you have kids in the house), and a tube of antibacterial salve or a bottle of hydrogen peroxide for disinfecting cuts.

If you’re healthy, you won’t need much else. If you’re not healthy, find out why and correct the problem. Don’t cover up the symptoms. Remember, it’s much more cost-effective to catch and correct a health problem when it starts. It costs a lot more to take care of after you’ve spent ten years covering up the symptoms with over-the-counter drugs while the condition progressed.

Further Reading

 

How to Raise a Healthy Child in Spite of Your Doctor, By Robert Mendelson M.D.

Natural Alternatives to Prozac,  by Michael Murray N.D.

Under The Influence of Modern Medicine,  by Terry A. Rondberg, D.C.

Medicine on Trial,  by Charles B. Inlander, Lowell S. Levin and Ed Weiner

Medicine, Monopolies and Malice, by Dr. Chester A. Wilk