5 Things That Changed My Life

The Health Activist Writer’s Month Challenge

5 things that changed my life. For better? For worse? List 5 things that changed your life as a patient, caregiver, or Health Activist and how.

There has definitely been more than 5 things that have changed my life not just as a patient or Health Activist, but as a daughter, sister, friend and wife.

1. Being diagnosed with psoriasis. It was definitely a change for the worse when it first happened. I was in high school, and these red, scaly patches started to appear on my skin. All we knew was that my mom had it, it was obviously genetic and there is no cure. Lovely. After undergoing numerous medications, trials, tar baths and disgusting shampoo's, it's now under control. But back then I was so ashamed and embarrassed. I barely spoke to my family about it. I just didn't know a lot about it, so how was I supposed explain I felt?
Fast forward to present: I still have it on my elbows and scalp. Elbows are manageable with weekly medication, and scalp... well let's just not go there (haven't found anything that works). But I am now a National Psoriasis Foundation mentor and love it. I no longer shy away from it. I want to talk about it and help anyone I can. So, now I can say it has changed me for the better.

2. Being there for my parents while they have battled through their health scares with cancer and a triple by-pass. They both and my mother-in-law were the strongest people I know while going through their own problems. They never once had a pity party (well who doesn't?) but always made sure everyone else around them were taken care. It's because of how they have responded to what life as thrown at them, that gives me the strength to take on life now. Definitely changed me for the good.

3. This next thing changed me and my husband... well it just changed us. I include it because my husbands best friend was a caregiver himself, a Registered Nurse. And we actually lost him very unexpectedly—and it hasn't been easy. No matter what he did, he absolutely loved his job helping others as a nurse and he made a lasting impression where ever he went. He could make friends with anyone and was loved by everyone. If I can make that type of impression on—not only the people in my life—but complete strangers than I owe that to him. We miss you a lot Kenny. It's definitely been a change.

4. Another change would be becoming a certified Nutrition and Wellness Consultant. After being there for my parents, I want to be able to equip anyone I can with the simple knowledge it takes to lead a healthy life. No one can ever predict cancer or an sudden illness, but you can do everything in your power to live the best life you can—which I think my parents are doing a great job at.

5. Living with psoriasis has also given me the power to research and want to learn more about other less known about diseases. Something I probably would have never done if I didn't have psoriasis. Thinking, "Oh, if I don't have that, it doesn't affect me." I have a completely different view on things like that. I now want to educate myself and others. Psoriasis(or anything bothering you at the moment) can be a very stressful thing if you let it. Or it can completely change your life—for the better.

Take a look around. If you have always wanted to research something, get to know your new co-worker or read that book you never got around to—take the time now. You never know what you do, who you meet or what you'll see next that might change your life—in more ways than one.

This post was written as part of NHBPM – 30 health posts in 30 days: http://bit.ly/vU0g9J

Six Rules: Eating Healthy Everyday

http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/food/6-rules-how-to-eat-right-on-the-job-1307786/

Ok, I know this article was titled How to Eat Right On The Job, but after reading it, I thought all of the advice applies to your everyday life. For those who don't have time to read the whole article right now, I will keep it short (as short as I can) to get all the important and fun! information for ya!

Things you will need:
A new food attitude: Carbs are not the enemy. Neither is fat. Eliminating certain food groups may help your waistline, but it will hurt your brain functioning.
A stash of snacks: To keep your brain well fueled, you can’t let yourself get too hungry. Have a ready supply of trail mix, peanut-butter crackers, or Snickers bars (yes, but only half a bar) at work. The combination of carbs and protein in these snacks will stabilize your blood sugar, fill you up, and keep you energized.
Some willpower: Big meals actually reduce the supply of energy to your brain and leave you feeling sleepy for hours. Eat half of what you order, and take the rest home.


1- Balance What You Eat, Whenever You Eat
Besides the basic four food groups meat, dairy, grains, and vegetables we should be having, nutritionist today about a different set of food groups "proteins, carbohydrates (which produce glucose), fats, and fiber — and a different way to combine them." I know it may sound hard, but they recommend having a little serving from every group every time you sit down to it - that's where the new attitude come in :) And yes including the carbs, which some diets normally restrict. "Why? Because the combination of carbs and protein (and to a lesser extent, fats and fiber) regulates your glucose levels and keeps your mood and mental ability on an even keel." If you cut back on either group, you’re missing half the benefits that food can offer.

2- Neglect Carbs at Your Own Peril
Brain cells require twice the amount of energy needed by other cells in your body because they never rest. And high-carb foods like pasta, bread, fruit, and rice produce the brain’s favorite fuel — glucose. “Your brain only wants to burn glucose,” says Shawn Talbott, a nutritional biochemist and author of A Guide to Understanding Dietary Supplements: Magic Bullets or Modern Snake Oil. It can burn protein if it has to, Talbott adds, “but it’s like trying to run a gasoline engine on diesel.” Shawn Talbott is a nutritional biochemist and author of A Guide to Understanding Dietary Supplements: Magic Bullets or Modern Snake Oil Long story short: CARBS ARE NOT THE ENEMY!

3- Pack in the Protein
This is SO important! Because protein (and fiber) keeps you fuller for longer, thereby eliminating big meal times and grazing. Proteins such as meat, fish, dairy, eggs, beans, and nuts slow the absorption of glucose so your brain gets a long and steady flow of fuel, rather than the brief blast you get from eating carbs and sugary foods (fats and fiber also help with this). And protein also brings its own set of brain boosters to the party. Great snacks are FiberOne bars which contain 35% of your daily value of fiber, have one along with your breakfast or as an afternoon snack; and toast with peanut butter and bananas - delish!!

4- Eat Smaller Amounts, and Eat More Frequently
A lot of people, especially people that are close to me, always scoff when I say this advice. But I eat 3-5 meals a day including snacks, I exercise daily and don't drink ANY soda (I swear!) and I would like to consider myself has healthy. "Too much food — even if it’s well balanced — is going to make you drowsy because it introduces too much glucose for your body to handle at one time." When was the last time you ate so much you wanted to take a nap as soon as you were done? Yea, not a good feeling. Eat well-balanced meals (and yes even tasty) and that feeling will soon subside. “Five to six small meals tend to make people perform much better than three squares.”

5- Fat Is Beautiful ... for Your Brain
You probably know that omega-3 fatty acids are good for your heart. But they’re great brain food, too. The fats found in salmon, walnuts, and kiwi improve learning and memory and help fight against mental disorders like depression, schizophrenia, and dementia, according to a 2008 report from the Brain Research Institute at UCLA. The fats support the synapses in the brain where much of our cognitive functioning occurs. Enough said

6- How to Keep Things in Proportion
This is such an EASY and great way to measure food servings, and all you need..... YOUR HAND! Your fist is the size of the carbs; your palm is the size of the protein. Make an OK sign with your thumb and index finger, and that’s how much fat you should have. Open your hand as wide as it can go; that’s the amount of fruits and vegetables. That’s going to be a well-balanced mix.”

I know that was probably a little longer than you would like to read, but I like to include everything that is important and super easy to incorporate into your life. Trust me 5-10 mins of reading is worth adding extra years to your life. Sounds good to me!

ENJOY AND HEALTHY EATING!