Salubrious Life

The Glycemic Index Diet

The Glycemic Index (GI) diet approach is taking hold in Europe, with British retail giant Tesco introducing its own GI guide and re-labeling some of its products to show their GI value.  Although GI is still relatively new to the public, by 2010 it is predicted that 66% of U.S. consumers and 75% of U.K. consumers will be aware of GI and its relation to blood sugar levels and weight management.

Is Our Food Becomming Less Nutritious?

A report is available comparing the nutrient content of 43 different garden crops between the years 1950 and 1999 showing a significant decrease in six nutrients. The study appears in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition (2004;23:669–82).

A shift in farming methods, change in environment and new kinds of chemicals being used in agriculture all raise questions as to how the end product is affected.

As I read the report, there are many suggestions as to reasons for the decline in nutrient level, yet there is no clear finger pointed at the environment.  Acid rain, opening of the ozone, chemical run off into the soil or even newly formulated chemicals used in farming that would affect the nutrients. Isn't that a more likely cause for this shift than farming practices?

Even more reason to seriously consider feeding the entire family whole foods and organically grown products.

We've Got Blog

If you are reading Salubrious Life then you already know what a blog is.

There's a wonderful book featuring articles on the weblog phenom from a variety of writers/experts called "We've Got Blog"  (Perseus Publishing 2002)

Covering every topic from how the weblog (blog) is changing our culture to how to build an online community of your own - this is a really good read.

Is this health and wellness?  I consider myself healthy when I get to pick up anything not related to work or raising a family.   How about you?

Breathe Magazine

I used to believe that anyone immersed in a healthy, holistic lifestyle was a militant vegan and spent most of their time in hemp clothing and Birkenstocks.

Not only have I changed over the years, but the entire view of health, wellness and living a balanced life has too. I'm always on the look out for reading material that resonates with an increasing range of personal interests.

I've found a new magazine to add to my monthly stack which really puts a fresh spin on things "healthy"

Breathe Magazine, launched late last year, is exactly the kind of magazine that would appeal to most people I know. It's a sophisticated interpretation of balance in a 21st century life. An elegant mix of editorial covering architecture, travel, food, personalities, yoga (yes of course there has to be yoga) all written with a slightly urban flare.

April's issue talks to Woody Harrelson. (speaking of Hemp)  And though Breathe clearly has a mandate to cover topics, products, people and places that make lives and living better it is not "preachy" It's iconoclastic and authentic.

Right now, breathe is offering a trial subscription.  Check it out.....

Eavesdropping at Natural Products Expo West

I attended the Natural Products Expo West last week in Anaheim, California. This is the preeminent trade show for everything “natural,” especially personal care products. Other trade shows are gaining in popularity, such as Ex-Tracts in New York City (held next on April 8th at the Javitz Center), but none pull the plethora of national buyers, private investors, and budding entrepreneurs that walk the aisles searching for "the next big thing!"

Everywhere I looked in the personal care products area, Expo attendees had products in their hands. Everyone was reading ingredient listings. I make no claims to be a seasoned trade show attendee, but this was not what I expected to see. Do “buyers” really care about what’s "inside" the products they buy? As I learned directly from the horses mouth, quite a few do, and most base their purchasing decisions, to some degree, on ingredients.

Ingredients were the hot topic in Anaheim. Why? Consumers are increasingly aware of harsh ingredients and potential toxins in products that we use in our everyday life. The national buyers are obviously doing their research. “Problematic” ingredients are listed on the labels of 99% of products on the shelves today. One Exhibitor posted a sign that read “We’re in the process of going paraben-free!” I thought to myself, “in the process…” what kind of marketing pitch is that? It’s the direct kind, and in an environment where customers (corporate buyers) want simple and clear answers, I thought it was a great strategy (too bad more companies didn't have this mindset).

I listened to manufacturers defend the safety of their products, often citing clinical research papers that claim consumer concerns are “unfounded.” One manufacturer kept repeating that the FDA classifies the ingredients in his products as "GRAS" (Generally Regarded as Safe). No, this is no joke, the classification actually exists. One manufacturer handed me a photocopied article about the dangers of grapefruit seed extract, commonly used in natural preservative systems. After dozens of conversations with buyers, sellers, (and a few oddballs that walked around with their badges hidden), I came away thinking that everyone at the Expo really would benefit from an open, honest, and straightforward dialog about ingredients (not to mention some federal oversight of this industry that currently has none).               

                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Manufacturers beware! It doesn’t matter whether your ingredients are dangerous. Consumers are concerned. Consumers are seeking information on specific ingredients. Consumers believe that they may be at risk, especially women. Although manufacturers defended their products, most admitted to me that they had been spending heavily on the development of natural preservative systems for years (paraben-free systems). Manufacturers are spending precious R&D money on the development of natural preservative systems, yet most claim that parabens aren't proven to be harmful? Hmm...

I overheard the following comments as I walked the aisles of Natural Products Expo West:

“Most chemicals in products at this show have not been tested for minimal toxicity”, “Parabens accumulate in the body”, “The verdict is still out on most of these ingredients”

Everyone is confused. More information is needed. More research is needed. At the end of the day, if ingredients are suspect, why mess with them at all? Manufacturers contend that natural preservative systems are exceedingly difficult to create, especially for products that contain water (water is highly susceptible to bacteria).

It’s a dilemma, yes, but is the verdict really still out??

What's the buzz about POM?

I was in Los Angeles last week. Like the locals, I spent the majority of my time driving (I was behind the wheel of a styling Honda Element). LA is "sensory overload central." Between the volume of cars and the gawking at roadside spectacles, it’s no wonder the accident rate soars each year.

Street-side outdoor billboards litter the rooftops in LA, adding to this sensory overload. Many of these gargantuan ad spaces (that typically play host to larger than life blockbuster movie promotions) advertised a drink named POM. Have you tried it yet?

POM is 100% pomegranate juice made with “wonderful” pomegranates. It’s the big thing in LA (at least according to the billboards). Commercial pomegranate juice has three times more antioxidants than red wine or green tea. Coincidentally (or not), California’s San Joaquin Valley is a center of commercial cultivation of the fruit here in the US.

If you’re like me and you go by the rule that darkly colored vegetables and fruits are healthier than there lighter counterparts, you may want to consider adding the occasional pint of pomegranate juice to your diet. Consumption of this forbidden fruit has been credited with benefits that lower your risk for heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, and several types of cancer.

If you’re not interested in purchasing this pricey new drink, check out Solaray’s pomegranate extract capsules . Better yet, buy an actual pomegranate. Once you figure out how to eat it, share your secrets with the rest of us (someone among us needs to finally dispel the myth that pomegranates only serve as decorative fruits alongside gourds at Thanksgiving). If your not in the mood for a fruit adventure, you can read how the experts at POM open one.

Oh, and by the way, I saw Minnie Driver at a deli, Britney Spears walking on Sunset Boulevard, Macy Gray’s crazy hair zooming by in a convertible, and the CEO of Burt's Bees. Only in LA.

NuSkin Launches Antioxidant Drink Next Month

Pharmanex, a division of Nu Skin, the famous direct marketing sales company for skin care announced the introduction of G3, a fruit juice that contains carotenoid antioxidants in a lipocarotene delivery system shown to be better absorbed than most carotenoids. Positioning G3 as a monthly product subscription order it will launch in the United States and Canada in May with a global roll-out beginning in the second half of 2005. "With its high concentration of antioxidants, we see the introduction of G3 adding further fuel to our successful Pharmanex BioPhotonic Scanner initiative," said Nu Skin CEO Truman Hunt.

Cool Running

Read to the backdrop of the "Rocky" theme song..

I love to run. I love setting my alarm just early enough so that I know the running path will be all my own or that I'm guaranteed my favorite front-facing treadmill at the gym. I love the comraderie among racers on a race day when the fervent murmur of the latest race gossip comes from upturned heads stretching hamstrings, I love the war stories that come with having "bonked" at mile 20, I love the feeling I get when two miles becomes six and Eye of the Tiger shuffles on to my IPod, I love the decision I made 6 months ago to forego a proper timepiece at work in favor of my trusty IronMan. I love that running takes a delicate mix of coordination, mental and physical strength and sheer commitment.

Why wouldn't everyone love what I just described?

I know the answer to my question already because for every gun-ho runner there is one vehemently opposed to such a ritual. And their reasoning is sound. A number of studies suggest that prolonged running on hard surfaces does untold damages to joints like the hip over the long term. I might imagine I'll be a prime candidate for early arthritis in my later years. Even in my half-marathon moments when I'm sure my knees are aching under the mix of ibuprofen, Gatorade, Goo and dash of runner's high, I wouldn't give it up. The benefits, beyond the spiritual I've alluded to are hard to pass up as well: Running keeps my heart healthy and strong, my weight down and my morning constitution regular.

No runner that I know of discounts the feeling of rounding the bend, when the energy of the run wells up inside you and you feel as though all life's worries have subsided for a split second. Life's obstacles at that moment don't stand a chance.The clarity of thought I experience on a run rivals the clarity I derive doing any other activity. I have decided a career change, decided to pursue my MBA, decided to volunteer more of my time, decided to have that tough conversation with a loved one, decided to break that boy's heart -- all on an sunrise run. I am a Nike Ad.

The confidence I get from pushing myself toward a level of physical exertion each morning positions me to start my day one step ahead of the walkers, or so I think. First light just arrived this morning. Eye of the Tiger all tee'd up. All is still quiet in my little neighborhood, but off I go. A yet untrodden running path is calling to me and saying running is so, so, so....cool. Don't you think so?

A few of my favorite races:

Beach to Beacon 10K

Reach the Beach Relay

Maine Half-Marathon

Vermont City Marathon

Boston Half Marathon

Cruel Running

Sung to the tune of"War" by Sly and the Family Stone.

"Running HA! What is it good for?.....absolutely nothin' - say it again............"

I've agreed to participate in my older Sister's most favored past-time, Marathon Running.  She's a long-time runner and more recently a running coach - and she's really quite a good coach at that.

The thing is;  I've always been a reluctant endurance sport person.  I like my outdoor adventure, I just don't like it to hurt.  I am a yoga person - I have a "lover not a fighter" kind of work-out mentality.

So when I said I would join my Sister for the 2ND annual More Marathon in New York, I promised her (and myself) that I would try my hardest to train and to be able to run this thing by her side. 

I began my training in January.  Straight after a 4 day Bikram workshop held at the Kripalu Institute in Lenox Ma.  All limbered up and motivated, I did as she said. I ran every other day in increasing amounts.  But it hurt. It just darn well hurt.   My hamstrings were completely tight and my favorite stretches at Bikram practice became its own kind of endurance sport.

She heard my complaints and then sternly told me to buy the right shoes, get supportive insoles for them and to take my development in slow stages (not a strong suit of mine either)

And yet, the muscle cramps, ankle pain, shin splints, lower back strain all seemed to be part of the new deal.  I felt whiny.

I also began to see what I'd gotten myself into when my coach began to lose patience with me.  "C'mon now - You don't even know pain.  You aren't a runner until you've had to see physical therapists and chiropractors, hell I've had a knee injury for years" she proudly proclaimed. 

Does the fact that I don't want to damage some well working body parts make me a wuss?  (she didn't say so.......)

The more I talked to runners, the more I came to see that the pain that you are able to overcome with self discipline and the agony you burst your way through to reach new distances and speeds are all "runners highs".  Runners love to trade injury stories like my Pal Gwen and I talk up our latest Manolo Blahnik bargains. 

I kept gently suggesting that perhaps running just wasn't in the cards.   Generously this marathoner suggested we walk a half-marathon together. So there we will be in New York on April 9 doing our two laps of Central Park - part of the "health walker's club" (complete with bib letting everyone know I am a wuss) My Friend Gwen will also be by my side in case I need a hit of what I can go back to after the pain.

Once, when my husband attempted a triathlon in Hong Kong he was most distressed that he did not finish.  Not because he had a specific goal in mind, but because he had to get on the very public "losers' bus" which took all the non-finishers back to civilization.

There will be no losers' bus for me, a half marathon I'm determined to walk. The question is: How long will my Sister lecture me on the untold merits of running during our 4 hour stroll?

Good Feet Means Health From the Ground Up

I didn't even know that I needed arch support.  What's more, I had no idea that good arch support could ease lower pack pain, ease leg and calf fatigue, neck and shoulder pain and prevent or alleviate sore heels or plantar fasciitis.   

But more immediately, good arch support can provide better balance, better posture and better foot placement - I discovered that for myself when I was fitted for a Good Feet arch support early this week.

It makes sense. When the bones in your feet are properly positioned, your whole skeleton is given the opportunity to properly align.  Man was not meant to walk on paved roads with no give to the feet.  As a result, we've got all kinds of problems that stem from misuse.

I thought I only had one arch in my foot.......I have four (as do you) while the arch support stabilizes all four it essentially "instructs" the foot as to how it should work.

And here's how it does work:The foot is prevented from sliding inside the shoe, the heel cup disperses the shock, the platform provides the stability, the four major arches are aligned, and the metatarsal all have the effect of bringing the ground up to meet the foot, enabling the body to maintain comfort and balance while standing or moving.

There are a few versions of these supports available, some with more flexibility or support. You'll use a different arch support for a vigorous activity then the one you'll use in your daytime shoes. 

These are no ordinary shoe inserts.  Heading to the Good Feet store to get some additional support for my training shoes, I anticipated a higher end version of my $15 shoe supports which I always put in to replace the scant little support you get from even the highest end shoe. 

With a foot placement analysis, proper fitting of the support and a lifetime guarantee for the product, I left with a $314 tab which included the arch support and 2 sets of natural sponge rubber shock absorbing shoe cushions. (can I leap from tall buildings now?)

When compared with the small fortune that many pay to chiropractors, massage and physical therapists.......it seems like a good investment to me.

I do have to say that the foot analysis was really interesting.  Without any knowledge of my physical history, the fitter was able to determine that I had the beginnings of some heel pain in my left foot (true enough) that I was putting more weight on my left leg than my right(yep, scoliosis to blame for that one) and that I was improperly pushing off with my toes rather than using the entire foot to propel myself forward. 

I've used the inserts for three days.  Gradually working up to wearing them all day in half hour increments.  Took a 4.5 mile walk in them yesterday and I honestly think my butt got a better work out. You know - if Good Feet inserts really do restore my alignment and consequently the balance of my entire body - I'll be using my feet and body the way I was created to. I could end up looking like a Kalahari tribesman.     Born to run. Born to balance.........Great butt.