MODERATION

Everything good in moderation...
There was a wonderful Community Gathering talk at the Seattle Indian Health Board on Traditional Indian Health Medicine.
One of the attendees talked about the high rate of diabetes in our respective communities and shouted passionately how we need to “get off that bread”, “fried bread” she emphasized... much to the collective amusement of the audience.

Indeed the fried bread that I tasted right after that talk brought me right back to my childhood and was reminiscent of the sweetness of the beignets that mom made in Congo or the doughnuts that I thoroughly enjoyed when I first arrived in the U.S.A.. a whooping 20 + years ago!! Noting that several other cultures have equivalents from fried dough twist Youtiao (China) to Cicerchiata (Italy),you may therefore understand exactly what I am talking about.

Nowadays however, anything remotely dipped in oil, let alone fried, is frown upon and considered bad, fattening, cholesterol building or plain EVIL! 

So what has changed? I say our relationship with food.
For one the quality of the dough (highly processed), the type of the sugar (high glycemic index), the number of servings (need I say more), the serving portions (extra large), the size of the plates (have increased over the years) and most importantly what happens before or after the ingestion of fried bread (food coma).

Equally important, we as a culture don’t move as much and as intentionally as we did 20 years ago. For instance, my daily activities revolve around sitting at my computer to conduct research, read, learn and sitting in my car for getting from point A to point B and sitting when I have meeting and sitting when I meditate...In short, my caloric intake exceeds the amount of energy I expand on a daily basis, unless I exercise and move.

I cherish the experience of the soft sweetness of the layer of powdered sugar on the landing on my tongue. The exhilarating feeling of sweetness tickles my taste buds and the subsequent wonderful sense of satiety as the beignet settles in my stomach. Food should be enjoyed in communion with gratitude and thankfulness. The beignets do so by taking me back to those childhood moments that I cherish. They are the perfect metaphors for reliving the rich simplicity that I experienced back then.

However my awareness about nutrition and food quality today have empowered me. 
I know that;
MULTIPLE SERVINGS OF SUGAR/FAT/CARBOHYDRATE + SEDENTARY LIFESTYLE ==> increased risk of cardiovascular diseases!

MY LESSON: I make the best out of my food and give my wholesome best at my next power walk, jog or dance workout...without regrets. We should not be afraid of food but rather be smart consumers. Everything good but in moderation.

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COVERAGE FOR ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE! HOW DOES IT AFFECT YOU THE CONSUMER?

The President of our university recently mass e-mailed this Boston Globe article hailing Senator Harkin's efforts to advocate on behalf of CAM's (Complementary and Alternative Medicine) health practitioners. See link: http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2009/07/24/senators_seek_coverage_for_alternative_therapies/ The article begins with:

WASHINGTON - Naturopathic doctors, herbal healers, mind-body specialists, and acupuncturists often have been scorned by the US medical establishment, but growing numbers of Americans are seeking such care, and now an influential group of US senators believes the time has come to embrace an array of alternative therapies.

YES! Great intro-with a power punch follow thru...

Senator Tom Harkin, an Iowa Democrat who is a longtime supporter of nontraditional medicine, is at the forefront of the effort to win insurance coverage for such providers as part of national healthcare legislation. “It’s time to end the discrimination against alternative healthcare practices,’’ Harkin said at a congressional hearing.

Read the article in its entirety along with the diversity of passion filled comments. There just as many cons as they are pros, so keep an open mind. So what does this potentially mean for you the consumer and for me a naturopathic doctor(ND)? 1. Coverage for Complementary Alternative and Integrative Medicine (CAIM) practitioners can provide better health care because the practitioners would have more access to state and federal funded residencies, hence more experienced doctors!

2. Access to CAIM may also pour in more $$ funds into researching the various alternative modalities, hence more evidence-based findings! PS: Did you know that the NIH has a entire center devoted to funding research clinicians http://nccam.nih.gov/. NCCAM is currently funding my three year post-doctoral research fellowship in CAIM and health disparities. More trained CAIM scientists and more research information available to you the consumers! 3. Better regulatory laws and quality control of supplements available on the consumer's market! 4. More community based advocacy hence better public education hence due to support from government initiatives! 5. Promising access to community health centers, immigrant community based organization, urban and reservation indian health center providing better opportunities for loan repayments= worthy and happier CAIM practitioners and consumers! The list keeps on going! Ultimately, coverage is of great benefit to you and I! Invest in your health and make it a healthy day! Dr. Thomas

FLU AND COLD PREVENTION

This Fall follow these simple steps to keep you from getting sick:

• Wash your hands often. Computer keyboards, doorknobs, supermarket carts handles, handshakes and sneezes harbor the germs that often lead to colds and flu. Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze.

• Create this easy and effective cleaning solution: Mix 2 teaspoons of organic tea trea oil, 2 teaspoons of organic lavender essential oil in 1/2 cup of water and pour the solution in a small spritzer bottle. Shake well before every single use, squirt the content a couple of times to wipe your hands and the steering wheel of your car. Sprayed on a kleenex or paper towel you can use the solution to wipe your keyboards and door handles. Remember to ALWAYS ask for non-synthetic and pure essential oils.
• Ramp up on Vitamin C intake at the first signs of sickness. Emergen-C powder packets are great. 250 mg to 1,000 mg a day should keep colds at bay.

• Take advantage of day light saving time and get more sleep. 6 to 9 hours are optimal to get your immune system geared up during the remainder of the fall and winter season.

• Watch your food lifestyle. Add more soups, broths made of fresh root vegetables and free range meats. Stay away from sweets and dairy if you have a cold or the flu. Soups and vegetables will be more immunoprotective.

• If a co-worker is sick or the little ones bring back home some souvenirs from daycare or school, remember to ask them to cover their nose and mouth when coughing and sneezing. Most importantly encourate anyone who is sick to STAY AT HOME, including YOU if you catch the bug.