Wellness Posts by Janet Valenty

8 Things Happy People Avoid

2024-11-22T05:00:00Z

Wellness.com - 8 Things Happy People Avoid by Janet Valenty

Happiness is not something that just magically happens for some people but not for others. The way you view yourself, others, and the world around you is the key your own happiness. If you genuinely want to be happy more often than you are, you CAN make changes necessary to bring about that peace. Although everyone has bad periods in their lives that can last from hours to even months at a time, those who are chronically unhappy cling continually to these 8 bad habits that prevent happiness. 1. Focusing on the Negative - People who see mostly what's negative all around them tend to be mostly miserable. If you put most of your attention expecting negative outcomes, you are likely to keep yourself unhappy. Fix: While it is true that bad things do happen, in order to be happy you need to accept that both bad and good are the way of the world. Good and bad happen to everyone. You don't have a monopoly on one or the other. So, when something bad happens, feel it, fix it if you can, and then, instead of rehashing the negative circumstance, turn your focus to something good around you. When you learn to turn your attention to the good things, you will experience happiness. Click the link below for #2

Breast Cancer Linked to Cattle Virus (confirmed)

2024-10-29T04:00:00Z

Wellness.com - Breast Cancer Linked to Cattle Virus (confirmed) by Janet Valenty

A - study - of 239 breast tissue biopsies report a 3.1 times higher presence of a common cattle virus (BLV) in the cancerous vs. noncancerous tissues. The CDC (centers for disease control) states that this extremely common cattle virus, ‘Bovine Leukemia Virus’ (BLV) is prevalent in “ - 38% of beef herds, 84% of all dairy herds, and 100% of large-scale dairy operation herds worldwide.” - See full CDC report. Up until the recent study cited above, even though BLV was found in dairy milk, - BLV was considered harmless to humans. As a result, the cattle and dairy industry have not been concerned enough to limit our exposure to it. The study, which was recently done on biopsies of breast tissue from 239 women, revealed startling results. The tissues were tested for the DNA of bovine (cow) leukemia (BLV DNA). Of the 239 tissue samples, it was discovered that in biopsies from cancer free tissue, BLV was found in 29% of the samples, and in tissue with diagnosed breast cancer the incidence of the presence of BLV was 59%! - Also, - UC Berkeley researchers - published a recent report that supports the findings and states that “ - the odds of having breast cancer if BLV were present was 3.1 times greater than if BLV was absent. ” - We found this to be alarming news and will be paying very close attention to the developing story. The conclusion of the study was that BLV DNA is significantly associated with breast cancer. It’s still not clear whether or not BLV DNA actually causes normal breast cells to become malignant or whether the presence of the virus is a contributing factor to a woman with other risk factors. Further studies need to be done to determine that, but we do know it’s a significant issue and we can surely benefit from the information we do have. At this time, dairy cows and beef cattle are tested for BLV DNA, but according to - Veterinary Services - Centers for Epidemiology and Animal Health - , the virus is readily transmitted cow-to-cow and there is no cost effective way to cure it. Furthermore, according to the CDC, it appears that BLV DNA is easily transmitted - not just between cows, but also to other animals including chickens, pigs, and sheep. The full implications of the presence of BLV DNA in most all of the animal protein we eat is not yet clear - but it could be more prevalent than most people would be comfortable with. Until the cattle and dairy industry accepts that BLV DNA is indeed passing to humans, and it is causing or contributing to the development of breast cancer, we may not get much relief from the industry. At this point it’s not exactly clear to us how the BLV virus is getting into humans. Those of us who are not willing to wait for the industry to come around with solutions will likely take this new information to mind when making food choices. It may prove to be difficult to limit our exposure to the virus; however, here’s some changes we can make individually to reduce the perceived risks: - Avoid Undercooked Meats - We don’t yet know if this virus is passed through to the meat itself, and we don’t know if it’s passed to us from other animals as well, but we do know that viruses are generally killed by sufficient heat (cooking), so cooking beef and other animal protein thoroughly, in any form, may be a prudent decision. Avoid Ground Beef - Consumer Reports tested- 458 pounds of ground beef from dozens of different grocery stores looking for various strains of dangerous bacteria. The results were extremely disconcerting. All 458 pounds of beef they examined contained levels of bacteria that included fecal contamination which can cause blood or urinary tract infections in humans. Some of these toxins cannot be destroyed—even at higher temperatures through proper cooking. We do not know if the BLV virus could be prevalent in ground beef, it stands to reason that it could be one of the most common and dangerous sources distributing the virus. Read the full story here: - Ground Beef Warning (confirmed) - Avoid Unpasteurized Dairy - We can limit our dairy consumption to pasteurized products like milk, butter and cheese. Until we have evidence that farmers (even organic farmers) are testing and eliminating BLV from their herds, we will remain concerned and looking deeper into the safest options. Build a Strong Immune System - Remember, we’re subjected to viruses daily and the #1 best thing we can do to protect ourselves and our families is to get enough sleep, sunshine, exercise, address nutrient deficiencies and do what you can do to stay healthy. Still, this is such new information; many questions remain unanswered. This is hard news to share and hard news to hear - but, it is important news nonetheless. Consider this... if these new food choice decisions prevent any of our loved ones from developing breast cancer or other cancers, it is a small price to pay. We’ll continue our research and will be following up on this story regularly.

Your Attitude and Your Face

2023-04-12T04:00:00Z

Wellness.com - Your Attitude and Your Face by Janet Valenty

It is said that Abraham Lincoln, when he was President of the U.S., was advised to include a certain man in his cabinet. When he refused he was asked why he would not accept him. "I don't like his face," the President replied. "But the poor man isn't responsible for his face," responded his advocate. "Every man over forty is responsible for his face" countered Lincoln. I heard this years ago, can’t remember when or where, but it always stuck with me. Here I am at age 67 and over the past decades at times I look in the mirror and if I happen to be frowning or if I see a recent photo that I don’t like, I say to myself; “who is that and what happened to the face I recognize?” - Whenever that happens it acts like a kick in the pants to me. I know it means that I’m being lazy with my thoughts and have been allowing worry, concern, and negative impressions to crowd out the happy, optimistic, and positive ones. Clearly, what I think about the most is showing on my face. I don’t like it, but that’s the way it is. So since I want to look more like the person I think I am, I have to ‘face’ it. (Sorry for the pun). Here's how I do it...

8 Anti-Aging Foods You Should Be Eating

2022-11-21T05:00:00Z

Wellness.com - 8 Anti-Aging Foods You Should Be Eating by Janet Valenty

Even though science has yet to discover the proverbial fountain of youth, there are many foods that contain anti-aging properties that can help increase one's lifespan and avert illnesses such as osteoporosis, heart disease and diabetes. By eating the right foods, you can put the brakes on the aging process, feel healthier and live an active lifestyle to stay in shape. Here's a list of eight tasty foods packed with anti-aging properties that are a must have in your diet: - #1: Lots of Berries - Berries may be small but are big on antioxidants. Blueberries, raspberries, boysenberries and strawberries are some of the best sources for antioxidants. They contain powerful vitamin C, anthocyanin and quercetin. These colorful little fruits fight the oxidative stress caused by free radicals. Eating a diet rich with berries can protect against certain diseases and improve health.

The Anti-Aging Power of Vitamin D

2021-12-26T06:00:00Z

Wellness.com - The Anti-Aging Power of Vitamin D by Janet Valenty

Vitamin D can play an important role in keeping you youthful by boosting the immune system, reducing inflammation and protecting against some forms of cancer. Vitamin D also helps keep bones healthy and assists in the absorption of calcium. Are you getting enough Vitamin D? - What Makes Vitamin D Different? - Vitamin D is different from other vitamins in that your body actually manufactures it with the assistance of sunlight. Other vitamins are ingested through the foods we eat or with dietary supplements. Once the body gets Vitamin D, chemical processes in the liver turn it into a steroid hormone that boosts many facets of our health and well-being, including playing an important role in slowing the aging process. Officially named 25(OH)D, this is the substance measured during blood tests to check Vitamin D levels. The hormone then becomes activated Vitamin D, or calcitriol, and goes on to help the cells throughout your body communicate and function. How Can Vitamin D Help Keep Me Young? - There are two types of age. Your chronological age is how old you actually are in years, while biological age is how old your body is. Optimum Vitamin D levels have been shown to delay the shortening of biological age indicators called telomeres. Telomeres are caps at the end of your chromosomes that protect your body’s DNA from damage. Along with sufficient omega-3 and folic acid and healthy nourishing habits like exercise and meditation, Vitamin D has been found to extend telomere length, in effect slowing biological aging. What Happens in Vitamin D Deficiency - A lack of enough Vitamin D has been linked to a number of diseases and conditions, including cancer, asthma, high blood pressure, diabetes and multiple sclerosis. A severe lack of this vitamin can result in rickets or osteomalacia, conditions causing bones to become weak, brittle and thin. What Can Cause a Deficiency of Vitamin D? - There are several reasons associated with the body’s decreased production of Vitamin D. Though most of us are now aware of the protection sunscreen provides against skin cancer – and premature aging of the skin – the SPF in sunscreen also blocks UVB radiation, hindering the ability of the skin to synthesize Vitamin D from the sun. People also spend increasing amounts of time indoors sitting in front of computers and televisions rather than outside getting their Vitamin D – not to mention exercise! Additionally, our body’s ability to produce Vitamin D declines with age, making it all the more important that we either try to eat foods rich in this nutrient or take a daily supplement. How Can I Get Enough Vitamin D? - Just 15 minutes of sunlight is enough for most adults to manufacture a sufficient amount of Vitamin D. To reduce risk of melanoma caused by dangerous (and non-Vitamin D producing) UVA rays, the best time to expose your skin to the sun is around noon when the ratio of beneficial UVB rays to UVA rays is highest. You can also get the vitamin from fatty fish like salmon, sardines and mackerel, as well as from cod liver oil. Look at the labels on whole milk, orange juice, cereal and yogurt to see if they are fortified with Vitamin D. Supplements are the easiest way to get Vitamin D. Talk to your doctor about how much Vitamin D would be right for you. Sources - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18348449

Cage-Free Eggs & Your Sunday Breakfast

2021-10-23T08:00:00Z

Wellness.com - Cage-Free Eggs & Your Sunday Breakfast by Janet Valenty

The term "cage-free" often brings to mind chickens who roam around freely on a farm or in a pasture of some sort, running about, pecking for food, and enjoying the pleasant sunshine afforded in this type of environment. When many agribusinesses switched to cage-free chickens, many consumers began purchasing the new products, believing that they were making a difference by supporting more humane living conditions for egg-producing chickens. The reality is not what you might think. Why Cage-Free Began in the First Place - Chicken eggs are available all across the country, in every state, county, city, and township that provides grocery stores. Providing all of the eggs necessary for customer demand is nothing more than big business. In order to provide the most eggs at the least cost to maximize profit, egg producers kept hens packed in cages secured above a type of shelf or conveyor belt that eggs fell on as they were laid. A warehouse can hold many layers of these cages and shelves in a small area. Caged chickens do not touch the ground and have no room to flap their wings or even to turn around. They do not have the opportunity to engage in normal chicken behaviors, such as dust bathing, flapping, walking, perching, laying eggs in nests, and pecking for food, according to the Humane Society. Unsanitary conditions combined with inhumane treatment of the chickens led to public outrage and the development of safer and more humane conditions for egg-laying hens. The Real Meaning Behind Cage-Free - Enter the cage-free movement. Some large agribusinesses began providing chickens a cage-free environment to better allow for more natural chicken behavior throughout their short lives. Chickens live in a warehouse but are not confined to a cage, allowing for walking, pecking, and wing flapping. Closer to the ceiling, rods are available for chickens to perch whenever they like. Chickens can lay their eggs in nests. The dirt floors allow for dust-bathing as well. This sounds a lot better than what caged chickens go through, but it is only by a little. Although the chickens are free to engage in a few natural chicken behaviors, that is where the benefits end. The term "cage-free" means just that. These chickens are still packed by the thousands and tens of thousands in warehouses or barns. Although they can move around, they are still running into each other and never go outside. Beaks are still cut or burned to reduce injury or death to other hens due to overcrowding. According to an article for NPR, these chickens may feel that they have more freedom than their caged counterparts, but they still live in similar conditions. Cage-free hens dust-bathe on floors in their own excrement, and are twice as likely to die in the first year as hens that live in cages. Cage-free is not really all that free when you think about it. Purchasing from local farmers and farmer's markets can provide fresher, safer eggs as long as the eggs were refrigerated shortly after harvest. Also, look for eggs marked “Pasture Raised" which claim to allow each of their hens 100+ square feet of individual space outdoors, with the freedom to forage for their own food. Be sure to wash the outside shells with hot, soapy water before storing in your refrigerator. Pasteurized eggs kill most harmful bacteria without cooking the egg and are a good choice for the young, the elderly, and those with health problems. They are also the best choice for any recipes requiring raw eggs like fresh mayonnaise. With proper care for selection, storage, and cooking, you can enjoy eggs with little risk from contamination. What About Organic Eggs? - Organic eggs assure that the hens have not been given vaccines or antibiotics, and have only been fed grains raised on- land that has been free of toxic chemical pesticides and fertilizers for at least 3 years. However, in regard to the subject matter in this article, the caging systems, or lack thereof for cage free and pasture raised hens, does not come into play. Organic eggs may come from caged hens. How to Know if You Bought a Good Egg - When purchasing eggs, open the carton and check for eggs that are cracked or discolored. Check the 3-digit code, or Julian date, to see what day of the year the eggs were picked and cleaned. For example if the 3-digit code says 030 then you know the eggs were packed on the 30th day of the year or January 30. Expiration dates can occur more than a month after the eggs were harvested. Both regularly-packaged eggs and those with cage-free labels may produce health risks when produced in unsafe environments. It is common to hear about eggs being recalled due to salmonella fears or other health issues. Thoroughly cooking your eggs can reduce any potential risk. Sources: - Humane Society; Cage-Free vs. Battery-Cage Eggs - Dan Charles; What The Rise Of Cage-Free Eggs Means For Chickens; NPR

6 Negative Emotions That Will Affect You Physically

2021-08-25T08:00:00Z

Wellness.com - 6 Negative Emotions That Will Affect You Physically by Janet Valenty

I spent years in a clinical laboratory analyzing blood and every other bodily fluid that we humans can produce. I routinely saw lab results showing blood chemistries in or out of the norm as evidence of some disease or degenerative state present in each patient. During and after my laboratory years, I’ve been a seeker of information to help understand which life choices we can make that are more likely to lead to better health - and hopefully help keep those lab results within normal ranges. Learning about the physical effects of our environment on our bodies has been easy to understand. Nutrients in the form of food and drink clearly have an effect on our health as well. But what has been most intriguing to me is the effect that our emotions play in our lives and which states of emotion might lead to a healthier life or looming disaster. So what’s this about negative emotions affecting our health? Consider the following thought: “I’m ANGRY! So what? I have a good reason, it’s my reason and I’ll stay mad as long as I want.” - Have you ever had those type of thoughts - even for a minute or two? How many of us have sailed through life, and have never been scared, hurt, betrayed, or otherwise emotionally wounded by someone? Right...NO ONE. We’ve each had a lifetime of good, and even great reasons to carry grudges, resentment and anger - but at what cost? - If such negative triggering events are so common, can we handle them in a better way? It’s important because holding on to grudges, resentment and anger does not end inside our heads. It affects us physically, emotionally and spiritually. It can make us sick. A momentary flash of high negative emotion in rare, heated moments is normal and the effect on our mind and body can be fleeting with little to no lasting damage. What can create chronic damage to our health is to hang on to negative feelings involving another person's words or actions from a past event and reliving the pain over and over in a mental movie in our minds for months or even years. Yup. It Hurts Us. Not Them. Really? How? - Here’s a list of strong negative emotions: - Anger (hate, bitterness, blame, etc.) - Resentment - Vengeance (Vindictiveness) - Fear - Hurt - Guilt - Here’s a list of some physical effects on our body when we focus on any of those negative emotions: - Heart disease/Stroke -(-1-), (-2-) - High blood Pressure -(-1-), (-2-), (-4-) - Poor digestion -(-3-) - Lessened ability to absorb nutrients properly -(-3-) - Reduced immunological defenses/Reduced ability to heal -(-2-)-( - 4 - ) - Increased hormonal imbalances -(-2-) - Headaches/back pain/general aches and pains -(-3-) (-5-) - Sleep disorders/fatigue -(-3-) - And that’s not all. Strong negative emotions like grudges, resentment and anger affect our brain by creating stress. According to Yale University - "Key Factor In Stress Effects On The Brain Identified." - “Acute and chronic stress can have devastating effects on the brain, and researchers have now pinpointed one receptor that plays a key role in that harmful cycle. Uncontrollable stress is a major contributing factor for neuropsychiatric disorders such as major depression and post-traumatic stress disorders, which have been linked to cellular changes in the hippocampus.” - How does this happen? - Thoughts and feelings - all of them - positive and negative, trigger our body to release a whole host of chemicals. Each chemical when triggered, has a specific physiological effect. Over time, if the body is repeatedly bombarded with the effect of strong negative emotions like grudges, resentment and anger, physical symptoms will appear. No free pass. Holding on to anger or other negative emotions aimed at some other person is like drinking poison and expecting someone else to suffer! - So, this means that even if we’re careful to keep toxins out of our environment, watch our diet, take the right supplements and get the right exercise to look and feel great, it may not be enough? Really? - That’s right. To look and feel really well and truly healthy as we age, we have to deal with any chronic, strong, negative emotions we’ve been holding on to. Stuff happens. Some bad stuff. Once the acute event has passed, it is now up to each of us to either keep the event current in our minds and relive the trauma over and over or move on beyond it. What keeps negative emotions triggered by past traumatic events current in our minds? - We keep it current by creating a mental movie in our minds of whatever the events were that triggered those strong negative emotions in the past. We play the “movie” in a loop and that past event becomes of higher importance to us than the events of the present. We actually filter and distort the present through the high emotions of the past by mentally replaying the movie over and over. Through this movie we can repeatedly “feel” the high negative emotion surrounding “what happened” and who caused it. Why would we do that? - Because we have not yet chosen to focus on healing. Because we haven’t chosen to focus on finding the motivation to heal. Because we haven’t gotten started. It takes emotionally healthy work to heal a traumatic wound and replace a “movie” of the past with the reality of life in the present. How do we heal and turn the movie off? - We end the movie loop through -Forgiveness. Forgiveness is the key. Forgiveness will heal. Learn what forgiveness means and what it does not mean. Learn that forgiveness is for your benefit. Not the person who wronged you. Forgiveness doesn't erase what happened. It allows you to -accept- it. Forgiveness allows you to move forward with your life. What help is available to get started towards healing? - Get lots of information from the internet. Key words: -Resentment and Forgiveness. Seek professional help if it’s available to you. Talk with your spiritual and religious counselors if they are part of your life. Why would we want to expend the considerable energy it may take to change the way we handle negative events from the past? - We want to be healthier - We want to look and feel better. We want to have better relationships. We want to be happier. We can’t change the fact that some bad things have happened to us in the past. We can’t change how they affected us in the past. We can change how they affect us today. We can learn how to harness the power and freedom of forgiveness. Emotions do affect our health. We can't control every aspect of our health but we can do a great deal by making life choices to help tip our genetic scales in our favor. We can do the best we can to eat and drink healthfully, lower the level of toxins in our environment, exercise our bodies, and get restful sleep. But that's not all we can do. Just as importantly, by embracing forgiveness, we can spare our bodies the harmful physical toll that chronic negative emotions create. References: - http://corporate.dukemedicine.org/news_and_publications/news_office/news/8164 - http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Anger_how_it_affects_people - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychogenic_pain - http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/forgiveness/art-20047692 - http://www.helpguide.org/articles/stress/stress-symptoms-causes-and-effects.htm

How Friends Impact Your Health

2018-03-14T07:00:00Z

Wellness.com - How Friends Impact Your Health by Janet Valenty

There is a strong connection between friendship and health. Recall the happiest times of your life, and those memories likely include friends celebrating with you. Just as important, true friends support you through the bad times that happen in every life, from everyday disappointments to the heartbreak of loss. That's what good friends do. Friendship enriches our existence and makes life's journey more enjoyable. Friends give us a sense of belonging and bolster our self-esteem. Yet, our closest friends will “tell it like it is" and encourage us to change bad habits or adopt good ones. Best friends assume the role of trusted confidante. Who better to listen to your rant in a non-judgmental way than your best friend? Having someone with whom you can talk about anything promotes healthy stress management. Even self-described loners need interaction with people. Appropriate doses of companionship are especially helpful to prevent loneliness if you live by yourself. The never-married or single-again adult can too easily fall into the trap of staying home too much and eating solitary dinners off a tray in front of the TV. A tendency toward reclusivity may become more pronounced after retirement. Finding one still wearing pajamas mid-day is a red flag that it's time to get out of a rut. Read on...

3 Natural Aphrodisiacs to Get You In the Mood

2018-02-10T08:00:00Z

Wellness.com - 3 Natural Aphrodisiacs to Get You In the Mood by Janet Valenty

As sensual beings, humans are affected by all of their senses. One of the most primal reactions we have, the sense of smell, comes from our body's olfactory system. Smells stimulate nerve endings in the olfactory bulb, which send information to the limbic system of the brain. The limbic system is associated with memories, emotions and our sex drive. Essential oils are one of the most effective ways to stimulate the olfactory system. They work so well because their molecules are so small. This means that they can enter the bloodstream easily and be carried to other parts of the body quickly affecting not only our sense of smell, but also our entire body. How to Use Essential Oils - Essential oils can be used to create romance in a variety of ways. They can be added to an aromatherapy diffuser, bathwater or used as part of a romantic massage. Taking a little extra time to prepare an aromatic aphrodisiac heightens our state of desire and helps the essential oils work. One of the most popular ways to use essential oils is with a diffuser. A diffuser uses either a candle or an electric warmer to heat the oil so its scent permeates the room. This not only makes the room smell great, but also influences your mental energy positively.

5 Ways To Defy Your Age

2017-12-17T08:00:00Z

Wellness.com - 5 Ways To Defy Your Age by Janet Valenty

Gotta face it. We're all getting older, but getting older shouldn't just “happen." Aging is a gradual process of living day-to-day so it stands to reason that what we do day-to-day has a definite affect on how we look and how we feel. What we do matters. So what do we do to defy our age? Let me start with a list of five though there are many more. Read on to Page 2