Tips for a Healthy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving is a time for family and friends.  What better way to express love for your family and friends than by taking care of yourself and them.  I thought that I would share some "Healthy Thanksgiving" tips by Dr. Stephen Chaney for to incorporate in your family tradition.  

Have a blessed Thanksgiving - Pam 

While "Healthy Thanksgiving" doesn't quite have the
appeal of the more familiar "Happy Thanksgiving"
greeting, I used it here to make the point that
Thanksgiving dinner (and many other holiday meals)
doesn't have to be an unhealthy affair.

After all, there is a lot to like about the ingredients
in Thanksgiving dinner.  Turkey can be a healthy, low-
fat meat, if prepared correctly.  Sweet potatoes, yams,
winter squash and pumpkin are all loaded with vitamin A
and other important nutrients.  And cranberries are a
nutrition powerhouse.

Here are some tips to make your Thanksgiving meal one
that contributes to your health:

1) Skip the basting.  Choose a plain bird and cook in a
bag to seal in the moisture.  Remove the skin before
serving.

2) Refrigerate the turkey juices and skim off the
hardened fat before making gravy and use a gravy cup
that pours from the bottom to minimize fat.

3) Use ingredients like whole wheat bread, vegetables,
fruits (cranberries, raisins, dates or apples), nuts
and your favorite spices for the stuffing and bake it
in the oven rather than in the turkey.

4) Serve your sweet potatoes or yams baked rather than
candied and let your guests add butter to taste.

5) Use skim milk or buttermilk rather than whole milk
and skip the butter for your mashed potatoes.

6) Give your meal gourmet appeal by cooking your green
vegetables with garlic, nuts and herbs rather than
creamy or fat-laden sauces.

7) don't serve the meal on your largest plates. By
using smaller plates you ensure smaller portion size
and even that second helping isn't quite so damaging.

8) Use the Cinch meal replacement products for one or
more meals the day before and/or after Thanksgiving so
that your total caloric intake over the three day
period is not excessive.

By now you have the idea.  There are lots of little
things that you can do to make your Thanksgiving dinner
one that your waist and your heart will thank you for.
Bon Appetit and have a Happy, Healthy Thanksgiving!

To Your Health!
Dr. Stephen G Chaney
Shaklee Master Coordinator
http://www.chaneyheatlh.com
*Dr. Chaney has recently retired as a Professor of Nutrition, Biochemistry & Biophysiology at the University of North Carolina Medical School.

Get ready for the Holidays - It's a Wrap!

Wrap your doors with loved ones this X-mas!

This is one of two doors that gets covered with Christmas Cards

OK, so many of you are asking, "How can I display all of my Christmas cards?"  Well, I have an answer for you.  I can't take credit for this idea because I copied it from my dad who has been doing this since I was a young child.  A few days after Thanksgiving, I wrap the door of my coat closet with fun Christmas paper and add a large bow.  Not only is this is an inexpensive way to decorate the house but when the Christmas cards start to arrive in the mail, we are ready to tape them on the wrapped door for all to see.  This wrapped door of Christmas cards is quite the topic of conversation when we entertain people for the holidays.  Our family loves to see these cards so much that I leave them up until the end of January and sometimes into February.

A note of caution -  many years ago, while my niece was babysitting our kids, she was looking at all the Christmas cards on the door.  She noticed a really cute boy in one of the cards and said that she wanted to meet him.  Well, I will spare you all the details but an intervention took place so that they could meet and lo and behold, after years of dating, they married.  

You just never know what relationships might transpire from the Christmas door.  Enjoy the holidays, it's a wrap!

How does your nutrition affect your looks? Learn more here…

I know you'll want to read this issue of Making a Difference!. Just look at what you'll find this month:
 

Oops! Your nutrition is showing...

Whether your nutrition is superior, good, average, or poor, the results will eventually be apparent to everyone! Why? Because your nutritional state is reflected in the way you look, so what's happening on the inside will show up in a big way on the outside. Here are a few examples...

Learn how your nutrition affects the way you look in this article...

Looking good? It could be your nutrition!

How does your nutrition impact your appearance? Can you say that you look like the person you really want to be?

This article will explore how nutrition affects your skin, teeth and gums, hair, and your attitide. 

Then we'll tell you about... Nutrition tips for weight loss...

As well as... Nutrition tips for healthy nails...

And... Nutrition tips for your energy level... 

The proof of the products...

For over 30 years at Shaklee, scientific research has been a corporate strategy. This commitment to clinical and scientific research separates Shaklee from the competition..;

Learn more about some of the amazing conclusions that have resulted from Shaklee science.

Then read about... 6 effects of good nutrition...

And you'll learn about a unique Shaklee product in... Extraordinary results... 

Also featuring… 

Is there poison in your laundry room?

Did you know that fabric softener and dryer sheets are some of the most toxic products around? Here's just a few of the chemicals you might find in that fragrant commercial softener...

Then learn about Shaklee's answer to these toxic products.

To read about these important subjects in this edition of Making a Difference!, click here



Once you've read these articles, its easy to order the featured products! Just visit www.pamtonymcdonald.myshaklee.com.

To learn more about...
- health, nutrition and fitness
- cleaning products that are safe for you and for our planet
- natural skin, personal and beauty care
- air and water filtration
- how you can work part-time for a full-time income... from the comfort of your home

...just email me at tpmcdaaa@comcast.net and start receiving our FREE NEWSLETTERS & REPORTS.

My wish for your continued great health through Shaklee,
Pam McDonald

P.S. If you know anyone who would benefit by receiving Making a Difference! Newsletters, please forward their first name and email address to tpmcdaaa@comcast.net  and we will make sure they get their FREE COPY each month.

Good reasons to get off your butt and move!

As many of you know, I am taking a kineseology course at the University of Minnesota and this past few weeks we have been discussing the importance of exercise.  We saw this movie in class this week and I thought it was so good that I would share it with you.

Sedentary Death Syndrome -SeDS (inactivity)  is the second greatest threat to our public health -  tobacco is #1.  Guidelines have been set by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) on the importance of being physically active.  They recommend that adults should at a minimum do 2 l/2 hours every week of moderate-intensity aerobic activity to promote health and reduce the risks of chronic diseases.  That's 30 minutes 5 times/week.  Everyone can do that...now get out and start moving.

Have a healthy day!

Toxins lurking in your personal care products?

Are toxins lurking in your personal care products?

If you use toothpaste, hair products, lotions, perfumes or cosmetics  - pay attention -    

Do you know what toxins you are putting in or on your body?  Do you know that toxins can enter your bloodstream through your mouth, skin or respiratory tract?  Do you know that the many chemicals found in processed foods can disrupt our hormones, make us fat and create inflammation in our bodies that can cause numerous health problems?  Do you know that they have found 287 industrial chemicals in the umbilical cord blood of newborns?

These are questions that I am forever talking to my kids about to remind them to use only safe, non-toxic personal care products that are beneficial to their health.  And although they don't always appreciate me educating them on this issue, I do see them reading ingredient labels on potential products they might purchase more and more.

I recently came across this interesting article by Martha Wilmore  that I thought I would share with you.  

Cosmetics – the Dirty 1/2 Dozen to Avoid

By Martha Wilmore, Nutritionist

The skin is 95 to 97% protein, plus oil, minerals, water and vitamins and minerals. It is the largest organ of the body and to maintain healthy skin, it must be fed well. However, the skin is the last organ to be fed after food has been processed by the digestive system, and often it is poorly nourished as a result of inadequate nutritional intake. The skin acts like a SPONGE, and anything that comes in contact with it can be absorbed into the bloodstream in approximately 90 seconds. Therefore, in an effort to reduce our internal toxic load, it is ESSENTIAL to use “toxin-free” products in skin care, cosmetics and cleaners.

The skin is a key detoxification organ in the body and MUST be allowed to breathe. If creams, lotions and cosmetics contain substances that reduce its ability to breathe, this causes the body to retain toxins which increases the internal toxin-load and causes the body to become a “toxic-tank”). Skin that cannot breathe properly begins to look “old” and “dry” and experiences accelerated aging.

The following SIX categories represent the “Dirty 1/2 Dozen Ingredients to Avoid” that are extremely prevalent in almost all cosmetics on the marketplace today.

1. Talc: is a finely powdered mineral used in some cosmetic products to absorb moisture. In many cosmetics, talc is listed as the first or second ingredient.

     a. Talc is a filler and is drying, and builds up in fine lines, accentuating their appearance. Other common fillers used in many cosmetic lines are rice powder and flour.
     b. Talc is also recognized as a potential carcinogen, especially lung & ovarian cancer.

2. Mineral Oil and Waxes: disrupt the skin’s ability to breathe. Mineral oil is a derivative of crude oil (petroleum) that is used industrially as a cutting fluid and lubricating oil. Mineral oil forms an oily film over the skin to lock in moisture, but it also traps in toxins and wastes, and hinders normal skin respiration by keeping oxygen out (NOTE: Liquidum Paraffinum is an exotic sounding way to say mineral oil … Paraffin wax or oil is mineral oil wax.)

3. Collagen: Collagen is becoming very popular to add to cosmetics as a “sales gimmick”. It is an insoluble fibrous protein that is too large to penetrate the skin. The collagen found in most skin care or cosmetic products is derived from animal skins and ground up chicken feet. This ingredient forms a layer of film that may suffocate the skin or reduce its ability to breathe. [Instead of collagen, Shaklee has included Vital Repair+ to their skin care and cosmetic products … nutrients that feed the skin so that it can build it’s own collagen.  Soy protein taken daily is also recommended to provide the protein amino acids to build collagen and healthy skin.]

4. Toxic Preservatives: Formaldehyde and BHT are common toxic preservatives.

     a. BHT (butylated hydroxtoluene) is a preservative commonly added to cosmetics and food to preserve oils. It can cause cancer, tumors and neurotoxicity which alters behavior.
     b. Formaldehyde is a toxic colorless gas that is an irritant and a carcinogen. When combined with water, formaldehyde is used as a disinfectant, fixative or preservative.

.

5. Fragrances: Fragrance on a label can indicate the presence of up to four thousand separate ingredients, many toxic or carcinogenic. Symptoms reported on many include
headaches, dizziness, allergic rashes, skin discoloration and irritation. Clinical observation proves fragrances can affect the central nervous system, causing depression, hyperactivity, irritability and neurotoxicity (brain & central nervous system cell toxicity). They can also aggravate asthma and allergies.

6. Other Undesirable Ingredients: There are several undesirable ingredients that can be found in cosmetics.

     a. Isopropyl Palmitate: is comedongenic and can cause whiteheads and blackheads. It interferes with the ability of the skin to breath.
     b. Mercury: is used as a preservative or anti-microbial agent particularly in eye products such as mascara. The FDA allows it provided it is in a concentration below 60 ppm.  No consideration is given to the affects of the accumulative affect of this TOXIC heavy metal in the system.
     c. Lead: is a toxic heavy metal (especially found in products from Europe)


Watch this short video to learn more about toxins in our cosmetics.  Even though it was published in 2010, it is still relevent today.

 The Story of Cosmetics: 

The Ugly Truth of ‘Toxics In, Toxics Out’ 

What can you do?

FIRST -- get educated.  You can learn more about the safety of your cosmetics and household products by visiting the National Household Products Database: http://householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov/index.htm

SECOND --  Read labels

THIRD -- Use safe, non-toxic and environmentally safe personal care and household products.  I highly recommend any and all Shaklee products.

Here's a brief list of the toxic chemicals you will NEVER find in a Shaklee product:

No naphthalene

No kerosene

No formaldehyde

No phenol

No creosol

No lye

No hydrochloric acid

No sulfuric acid

No petroleum distillates

No benzene

No ammonia

No paradichlorobenzene

No sodium hydroxide

No butyl cellosolve

No phosphoric acid

No chlorine

No phosphates

No nitrates

No borates

No sodium lauryl sulfate

No sodium lauryl ether sulfate

No parabens

No triclosan

No phthalates

No 1,4-dioxane

No propylene glycol

No dyes

No trans fats

No artificial flavors

No artificial sweeteners

A Life Changing Procedure!

I promised that I would post Zig Ziglar's daily affirmations that I received at a conference a few years ago.  They are excellent.  I printed these and then taped them to my bathroom mirror so that I see them every day.  Have a great day!

A Life-Changing Procedure!  

by Zig Ziglar

The eyes are the windows of the soul.  So, to the person you are capable of becoming, each evening, just before you go to bed, stand in front of the mirror alone and in the first-person, present tense, look yourself in the eye and repeat with passion and enthusiasm the first four paragraphs.  Repeat this process every morning and every evening from this day forward.  Within one week you will notice remarkable changes in our life.  After 30 days, choose the one paragraph that you feel needs the most work and repeat that every day.  

“I __________, am an honest, intelligent, organized responsible, committed, teachable person who is sober, loyal, and clearly understands that regardless of who signs my paycheck I am self-employed.  I am an optimistic, punctual, enthusiastic, goal-setting, smart working self-starter who is a disciplined, focused, dependable, persistent positive thinker with great self-control, and am an energetic and diligent team player and a hard worker who appreciates the opportunity my company and the free enterprise system offer me.  I am thrifty with my resources and apply common sense to my daily tasks. I take honest pride in my competence, appearance and manners, and am motivated to be and do my best so that my healthy self-image will remain on sold ground.  There are the qualities which enable me to manage myself and help give me employment security in a no-job-security world.

I __________, am a compassionate, respectful encourager who is a considerate, generous, gentle, patient, caring, sensitive, personable, attentive, fun-loving person.  I am a supportive, giving and forgiving, clean, kind, unselfish, affectionate, loving, family-oriented human being and I am a sincere and open-minded good listener and a good-finder who is trustworthy.  These are the qualities which enable me to build good relationships with my associates, neighbors, mate and family.

I ___________, am a person of integrity, with the faith and the wisdom to know what I should do and the courage and convictions to follow through.  I have the vision to manage myself and to lead others.  I am authoritative, confident and humbly grateful for the opportunity life offers me.  I am fair, flexible, resourceful, creative, knowledgeable, decisive and an extra-miler with a servant’s attitude who communicates well with others.  I am a consistent, pragmatic teacher with character and a finely-tuned sense of humor.  I am an honorable person and am balanced in my personal, family and business life, and have a passion for being, doing and learning more today so I can be, do and have more tomorrow.  

These are the qualities of the winner that I was born to be and I am fully committed to developing these marvelous qualities with which I have been entrusted.  Tonight I am going to sleep wonderfully well.  I will dream powerful, positive dreams.  I will awaken energized and refreshed; tomorrow’s going to be magnificent and my future is unlimited.  Recognizing , claiming and developing these qualities which I already have gives me a legitimate chance to be happier, healthier, more prosperous, more secure, have more friends, greater peace of mind, better family relationships and legitimate hope that the future will be even better.”  

Who said school was just for kids?

Who said school was just for kids?

  I stopped a complete stranger to take this picture of me, oh my kids would be mortified - too bad.

Well, September is here and I'm back in school and not giving up.  The good news is that I'm not alone on this journey.  Here I am with long time friend, Theresa Hara, who is also finishing up her degree.  We have both been taking classes over the years at the University of Minnesota and the University of St. Thomas.  Now that we are both empty nesters we can focus more on our schooling.

New members of the Geek Squad.

If you have a full time student at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota there is a program that might be of interest to you.  It is a program called "Parents on Campus" which allows parent(s) of full-time students to be eligible to take up to two courses (or eight credits) on a space available basis without tuition charge. 

As an older, non-traditional student, there are challenges I have that the younger generation doesn't even consider.  Some of these issues are - will I be the only one in class with reading glasses, will I be able to keep up with the new technology, will I be able to remember and retain the class materials, will my scheduled colonoscopy "prep" interfere with homework or will I get a "hot-flash" while I'm giving a presentation in front of the class? Well, some of these situations might come to fruition but I just keep reminding myself that you don't get anywhere in life if you play it safe.  

It is becoming more common than you think for people to go back to school.   Everyone has their own reason; whether it is to change careers, achieve a higher position in your company, now that your children are older you have more time to study or maybe you just want to sharpen your mind.  Remember, it is important to stimulate the brain no matter what your age.  

Whatever your reason is to decide to go back to school, stay focused on your goals and work at a pace that is best suited for you.  Take it one step at a time and you will succeed.

"Live as if you were to die tomorrow, learn as if you were to life forever." - Mohandas Gandhi