by Mary Claybon | Dec 12, 2010 | Health and Wellness |
Why get a colonoscopy and how often?
A Colonoscopy is a procedure in which a Gastroenterologist uses a scope to look inside the entire large intestine (colon) from the rectum to the lower part of the small intestine. By looking inside, the physician can see the health of the colon, and can biopsy suspicious areas, remove polyps, and determine the cause of inflammation or bleeding.
A colonoscopy is the number one procedure for discovering early colon cancer and considered routine screening. A colonoscopy is usually recommended for prevention and early detection by the age of 50 years old. If you have a relative who has had colon cancer, you may need a colonoscopy at a younger age.
It is recommended that we have a colonoscopy every 10 years if there are no abnormalities in the colon. If you have bleeding, polyps, or inflammatory bowel disease it is recommended to have a colonoscopy every 5 years. I get a colonoscopy every 5 years because of a history of rectal bleeding and a chronic fissure in that area.
The preparation is worse than the procedure. Since your colon must be completely empty of all debris, you must take a laxative formula the day before. There are various formulas that doctors use for their patients to prepare the colon.
I just had my colonoscopy. For my prep this time I had to take laxative pills and a whole bottle of Miralax mixed with Gatorade. So, guess what you do for the rest of the day? Spend a lot of time in the bathroom. I did several soduko puzzles and finished reading my New York Times. I also caught up on some quiet work and watched some of my favorite DVR programs. I made the day as pleasant as I could.
The day of the procedure is usually uneventful for the patient. Most often you are given medication that makes you forget you are there and you generally want to go out to eat when you are finished.
I had my colonoscopy late in the day at 4:30. My colon was clear but I was starving. All went well and I am so glad I did it. I felt nothing and had a great dinner after.
For more information about a colonoscopy go to WebMD.
Katie Couric's Colonoscopy on You Tube
Dr. Oz had a recent colonoscopy and they found a polyp. He discussed his colonoscopy with Larry King. Dr. Oz's Colonoscopy.
If you are over the age of 50 and have never had a colonoscopy this would be a good time to talk to your doctor and have it done.
by Mary Claybon | Nov 27, 2010 | Health and Wellness |
Flaxseed is an ancient food that has been known for its health benefits for centuries. In nature it is a small blue flower with a small brown or golden seed. You can buy the whole seeds at most grocery and health food stores. It is best to buy organic whole flaxseed and grind it yourself. A small electric coffee grinder works best.
The seeds are also compressed into flaxseed oil that has some of the benefits of the actual seeds. The oil has a lubricating effect on the skin and cells, but lacks the fiber that is most helpful in the diet.
You can add ground flaxseed to most of your favorite foods without it affecting the taste. “Sneak” it in and add the healthful benefit to your favorite foods. Generally add 1 tablespoon per serving in your favorite recipes. Flaxseed has a mild nutty flavor if you taste it at all.
The suggested use is to add 1 to 2 tablespoons of ground flaxseed per day for anyone except pregnant and lactating women. Please consult your health care provider regarding use of flaxseed as a supplement in your diet.
You can add ground flaxseed to most of your favorite foods without it affecting the taste. “Sneak” it in and add the healthful benefit to your favorite foods. Generally add 1 tablespoon per serving in your favorite recipes. Flaxseed has a mild nutty flavor if you taste it at all.
The latest research is providing more and more evidence that flaxseed has many health benefits. Here is a list of possible benefits to using flaxseed in your diet.
Flaxseed:
Is a rich source of omega fatty acids and lignans along with vitamins and phytonutrients, not to mention a great source of fiber.
Has both soluble and insoluble fiber. You can’t get better than that.
Is a rich source of antioxidants and can support the immune system.
May have a protective effect against cancer, particularly breast cancer, prostate cancer, and colon cancer.
Can reduce inflammation in the colon, which can reduce the symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease.
May reduce breast pain.
May help the healing process in lung injuries.
In animal studies the ALA in flax seed inhibited tumor incidence and growth.
Has anti-inflammatory benefits that can prevent the effects of heart disease, Parkinson’s disease, asthma, arthritis and skin disorders like eczema.
May normalize heartbeat.
May prevent hardening of the arteries.
May help your cholesterol levels by decreasing your LDL (the “bad” cholesterol) levels.
May improve blood sugar levels for diabetics and because of this may also help stabilize weight.
Has an effect on hormone levels and may normalize the menstrual cycle in younger women.
May reduce hot flashes in menopausal women.
May lower blood pressure.
Can increase energy and vitality.
May help with Attention Deficit Disorder.
Resources:
Web MD discussed benefits of flaxseed
National Institute of Health on Flaxseed
http://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/supported/sep/2008/improves.cfm
by Mary Claybon | Nov 23, 2010 | Health and Wellness |
Can you imagine a life of eating what you love, without struggling with your weight, and truly enjoying food. Well-tis the season.
Listen to my interview on Middle Way Health Radio with Michelle May M.D., Physician, author, and weight management expert who teaches how to let go of yo yo dieting forever. We discussed her latest book Eat What You Love, Love What You Eat: How to End the Eat, Repent, Repeat Cycle and her concept of getting in touch with the question Am I Hungry, the title of her first book.
In this interview Michelle and I share our similar journey with yo yo dieting until we discovered a way to get in touch with intuitive and mindful eating.
This is a perfect interview for the holiday season, because this is a time when we are surrounded by food and literally need to get in touch with the question Am I Hungry?
by Mary Claybon | Oct 21, 2010 | Health and Wellness |
You wake up and notice throughout the day that you’re not feeling quite right. You wake up and still feel tired. You feel an odd sensation in your body. Your throat is a bit scratchy. You may even notice your glands near your ears are a bit tender or even swollen. I call this the eewy jeewies or that punky feeling. I know when I feel this way that my immune system is weak and I am at the tipping point for illness. My awareness of this feeling tells me I need to take care of myself with diet, exercise and stress management. I may need to rest, increase my Vitamin C by eating fresh fruits and vegetables. I may even crave oranges or foods with the vitamins my body needs. I notice I don’t crave my normal cup of coffee. Instead I want a cup of hot tea. At lunch I want hot soup. Our bodies are amazing. If we pay attention, we will get warning that our immune system wants to work for us.
What is it that prevents us from getting sick? And when we do get sick, what is this marvelous system that helps us heal. It is our immune system. This system is working all the time, whether we are sick or well. It is a system of specialized organs and cells. The organs are the thymus gland, lymph nodes, spleen, and bone marrow. The cells are white blood cells, T cells, called T helper cells and T killer cells, and B cells. These cells are smart and know when germs or foreign particles don’t belong. They all have a job and work together to fight organisms that cause disease. They are living breathing cells. Each cell has a job, much like an army.
To boost the power of your immune system you need to eat a healthy diet full of fresh vegetables and fruits, limit simple sweet sugary foods, and increase pure water and liquids. Your body needs to rest if you get sick, but to avoid illness and keep the immune system strong you need to keep your body strong with exercise and play. Most of all you need to do a mind check. There is power in positive thinking. Laughter, smiling and joy increase immunity. Conflict, sadness and pessimism weaken immunity. Daily meditation and listening prayer reduce the frenzy of thoughts in our mind and lessen stress, thus improving function of this powerful internal warrior. Funny that for this warrior system to fight illness, it helps to have a peaceful heart and mind.
by Mary Claybon | Oct 1, 2010 | Health and Wellness |
Taking Care of Your Teeth Can Prevent Heart Disease and Arthritis
I just returned from the Ohio Dental Association seminar where I attended a lecture on teeth and gum health and prevention of periodontal disease. Another presentation was on Living Life in Balance and focused on preventing the number one killer-heart disease. And just last week I attended an all day seminar on Arthritis.
All of these seminars had several health recommendations in common:
Inflammation in the body, teeth, gums or joints causes inflammation of the blood vessels, which can lead to plaque buildup in the arteries, which can lead to heart attacks or strokes.
Fish oil supplements can reduce inflammation and help lubricate joints, and keep the heart healthy. This gives us the necessary Omega 3 fatty acids.
Flaxseed also gives us a vegetarian source of the Omegas. The best way to eat flax is by grinding the whole seeds right before you eat them. Sprinkle the ground flaxseed on your foods or in smoothies. Avoid heating flax.
Vitamin D is needed to reduce inflammation, and to stimulate healing in the body. Without it our blood vessels break down and clot. Turns out even if you enjoy sunshine our bodies are lacking Vitamin D. Have your doctor order a blood test to determine how much Vitamin D you need to take every day.
Taking a low does of aspirin or baby aspirin can help with arthritis and decease pain in the joints and also prevent blood from clotting, thus preventing a heart attack.
Eating more fish and less red meat is good for your teeth, your heart, your bones and muscles. The best fish is wild ocean fish. One of the best is wild Alaskan salmon.
The Mediterranean diet is the best diet. It is based on eating lots of vegetables, fruit, fish, whole grains and at least one glass of red wine a day.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil helps lubricate the joints, helps prevent infection, and increases good protective cholesterol, thus preventing heart disease.
One of the best foods you can eat is avocado. The fat in this wonderful fruit is a good fat for the body. There is something to the term Holy Guacamole.
Exercise is good for every part of your body and does wonders for your emotional balance. Both aerobic exercise and strength conditioning exercise are great for reducing depression.
Drinking a 4-6 oz glass of red or even white wine a day is good for you. It is relaxing, aids in the digestion of food, increases good cholesterol and has some antioxidants. Make sure you are drinking in moderation or alcohol can cause disease.
Meditation is great for reducing stress, blood pressure, and thus heart disease and other diseases. Simply sit in quiet at least 10 minutes a day and that will give you energy and help you to be more productive and focused.
Drink lots of water and avoid carbonated soft drinks and sugary juices. Water, water, water!
The bottom line is there is lots you can do to take charge of your health, feel good, decrease inflammation all over your body, and live life to the fullest.
by Mary Claybon | Sep 12, 2010 | Health and Wellness |
Stress is the result of our reactions. Stress can be positive and stimulate us to be productive and live a full life. Stress can also be negative, and studies and experience tell us that 75 % of most illnesses have their root cause in stress. Prolonged stress depresses the immune system and exhausts our cells.
The Possible causes of stress are our inability to adapt to change, a diet that is high in sugar and junk food, relationship and communication issues, a workload that feels impossible to complete, workplace demands and environmental pollutants, illness and emotional and physical strain.
Some of therapeutic herbs for stress are astragalus, chamomile, gotu kola, horsetail, St. John’s wort, Siberian ginseng, Skullcap, Suma, and Valerian Root. The vitamins we need most when under stress are the B complex vitamins and Vitamin C. (Remember to consult your physician or primary health care provider before taking any herbs or supplements, and be sure to notify them if you are taking anything on a regular basis.)
Be sure to have a stress tool box with techniques that work with your personality. Some helpful ways to counteract stress are by practicing watching your breath and taking slow and deep breaths; exercise, massage, music, reading and warm baths.
For many people it is helpful to have a spiritual practice like daily prayer, meditation or regular attendance at religious services.
Larry Dossey, MD and author of several book including Healing Prayer says he really doesn’t feel stress. He loves his life and work, and has learned to practice meditation – he says “you have to sit down, shut up, and pay attention.”Listen to my interview with Larry Dossey On The Power of Premonitions on Blog Talk Radio Tuesday, February 2 at 4:00 Pm (EST).
What do you do about stress?
