Jenny McCarthy: You Go Girl!

Two decades ago, when my husband began to research the controversial topic of childhood vaccinations, he predicted that it would take something tragic happening to someone famous to bring the issue to light. Well, my heart goes out to Jenny McCarthy, and all the other parents out there, whose otherwise healthy infants and toddlers have experienced severe adverse reactions to routine vaccines.

For those of you who watched Larry King Live the other night, I hope you were as impressed as I was with the beautiful, blond actress/author/girlfriend of Jim Carey. The timely program (April is Autism Awareness Month) dealt with the possible link between childhood vaccinations and autism. Due to the experience with her son (Evan is now 5 years old and able to communicate after years of hard work and many natural treatment methods), Jenny has apparently become a force to be reckoned with: committed, knowledgeable, effective.

Larry had her on with 4 highly qualified and credible doctors; two basically in favor of the vaccination program as it exists, and two working for changes in vaccine scheduling and ingredients (vaccines are processed with mercury, aluminum, formaldehyde, etc.) By the end of the show, Jenny had gotten the two stoic doctors to agree to participate with her in a research project. How she moved them even slightly off their position was nothing short of amazing. They’d say something, seemingly factual, and she’d say, ‘That’s bullshit and you know it.’ It was an important and affirming day for parents of children who have been injured by vaccines, and it was a great day for those who never will because of the improvements to come.

Not All Carbohydrates Are Created Equally

Some carbohydrates are more favorable than others. What distinguishes one from the other is the rate at which it enters the bloodstream. Those that enter the bloodstream quickly are considered high-glycemic carbs, while those that enter more slowly are lower on the glycemic index. High-glycemic carbs cause glucose levels to spike and therefore signal the release of insulin. Low glycemic carbs have a more moderate effect on glucose levels and subsequent insulin release. Eating too many high-glycemic carbs will not only ultimately rob you of your health; they will invariably make you fat and keep you that way! (Refer back to my blog entitled Fighting Fat As We Age).

Basically all fruits, except bananas and dried fruit, and all vegetables, except carrots, corn and potatoes are low-glycemic carbohydrates. Virtually all grains, starches, and pasta are high-glycemic. For a complete list you can go to www.glycemicindex.com.

As we have learned, carbohydrates and the hormone insulin play a formidable role in the overall hormonal effect of food, but they are only part of the story. Hormones very rarely act alone, rather, they work in pairs; pairs that have equally important yet opposite physiological effects. The hormone that works opposite insulin is also produced in the pancreas, but is not nearly as famous. This hormone is called glucagon. While insulin is the ?fat-storage hormone,? glucagon is the ?fat-burning hormone.? The delicate dance these two hormones perform helps us to maintain normal blood sugar levels thereby allowing the brain and body to function optimally.

So, if insulin is released in response to eating carbohydrates, guess what stimulates the release of glucagon? If you guessed PROTEIN, you’re spot on!

Oops… I Did It Again

Friday, 07 November 2008

I just can’t seem to stay away from triathlons! I participated in a Sprint triathlon this past weekend, and I am compelled to sing its praises. First of all, the triathlon had a few things going for it:

• It was local.
• The distances were short.
• The weather was fantastic.
• It was fun.

I did the bare minimum as far as training, so I did not expect fast times. I just did it to do it! Sure, I went as fast as I could, and just like life in general, there were people both slower than me and faster than me. I even recognized some familiar faces from past events, and it occurred to me that there is an entire sub-culture of triathletes! Just this morning, I noticed yet another bumper sticker that said SWIM, BIKE, RUN.

I highly recommend triathloning because it is do-able, and you don’t even have to be a great athlete. It isn’t expensive either, and other than a half-way decent road bike, you don’t need anything other than running shoes, swim goggles and a swim cap. Most importantly, it involves cross-training, which works the body more holistically. You are less likely to get injured than when you just stick to one sport and use the same muscles over and over again. Cross-training really shakes things up; it boosts your metabolism and stimulates weight loss when you’ve reached a stubborn plateau. Not only is cross-training good for your body, but it’s also good for your mind. It’s hard to get bored when you get to do something different each day!

I also like to work on manifesting my desires utilizing the Law of Attraction while I’m training. When I go for a run, I dedicate the first mile to thinking about everything I am grateful for, and the rest of the run is spent visualizing. (I do, however, admit to occasionally running with my IPod and listening to the likes of Led Zeppelin, Beatles, Bee Gees and Badfinger!) When I’m swimming laps, I repeat a positive affirmation for every lap I do.  When I’m biking, well, I mainly focus on not falling! All in all, it is a wonderful way to get in shape and stay in shape. And you are never too old to do it! Well, I have not seen any triathletes in their 80’s…yet.