November is here already—a great month to give thanks for family, friends and our vibrant good health! There are many steps we can take to safeguard our wellness, especially as many illnesses—such as diabetes—are largely preventable. November is American Diabetes Month brought to us by the American Diabetes Association.

According to the American Diabetes Association, this all too prevalent disease can cause major health problems. However, you can have a positive influence on your blood glucose and your overall health by choosing foods wisely, exercising regularly, maintaining a healthy weight and minimizing your stress level. The good news is that when it comes to reducing your diabetes risk, even little steps can make a big difference. For more information on diabetes and diet, see our article Diabetes: The Diet Connection.

November is National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month, compliments of the Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Association. Find out more about this illness and what you can do about it.

November is National Epilepsy Month, Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month, and Lung Cancer Awareness Month, as well as National Healthy Skin Month, brought to us by the American Academy of Dermatology. For more information on protecting your skin from cumulative sun damage, you may wish to review our article Five Keys to Skin Cancer Prevention.

We thought this would be a very appropriate month to offer our thanks to an exceptional organization. The Center for Informed Food Choices (CIFC) advocates for a diet based on whole, unprocessed, local, organically grown plant foods. CIFC believes that placing these foods at the center of the plate is crucial for promoting public health, protecting the environment, and assuring the humane treatment of animals and food industry workers.

Connecting the personal to the political, CIFC educates the public about how our industrial food system, along with corporate-influenced government policies, is the root cause of a host of preventable public health, environmental, and social justice problems. CIFC believes that making personal dietary improvements is just one component of social change. This organization advocates for social and political reforms that will support people in making healthy food choices over the long term, as well as in creating a more just, humane, and sustainable food system.

On a nutritional note, Thanksgiving can be a challenging time for many of us. If you would like to take a fresh and perhaps more healthful approach to the holiday this year, don't miss our updated article, "Healthy Thanksgiving Tips", under our Health Tips and Updates section. And, don't miss our holiday recipe—back by popular demand—featuring an age-old favorite with several delicious variations.

Best wishes to you and yours this month—and thanks!

Love and joy,

Thanksgiving can be a difficult time for people who strive to be health conscious. Year after year, many of us seem to fall into the pattern of overeating the many rich and often unhealthy foods that may play a part in this holiday tradition. However, enjoying lighter versions of your favorite foods in moderation will allow you not only to savor the meal, but also enable you to leave the table without feeling uncomfortably stuffed. Instead, you can feel light and clear, and far better able to enjoy the day, connecting with those you love. Best of all, you can have a wonderful celebration without the holiday weight gain roller coaster that so many of us struggle with each year.

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Holiday Corn Bread

The following cholesterol-free recipe celebrates corn—one of the original Thanksgiving foods—in this long-beloved and delicious quick bread. Bake and serve along with your holiday feast, or use to make a delectable version of traditional stuffing. The cranberry variation is a holiday favorite!

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Lightly oil an 9" square cake or brownie pan (or use non-stick cooking spray).
3. Place all dry ingredients in a large bowl and mix well.
4. Combine all wet ingredients in a blender or food processor, blend thoroughly.
5. Add blender mixture to dry ingredients in bowl, blend well (but don't over-mix).
6. Place batter in prepared pan, sprinkle top with oats (if desired).
7. Bake for 40 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.
8. Serve, eat and enjoy!

   Festive Variations:

   Cranberry Corn Bread
   Add 1 cup chopped walnuts and 1 cup whole cranberries (increase sweetener if desired).

   Cinnamon Oatmeal-Pecan Cornbread
   Add 1½ t cinnamon, 1 cup chopped pecans and replace ½ c of flour with whole oats.

   Southwestern Cornbread
   Add ½ c chopped red bell pepper, ½ c diced mild green chilies, and 1 cup sliced black olives. Decrease sweetener (optional).

Would you like to be sure you are doing all you can to promote optimal bone, skin and lung health?
Do you have ten minutes to find out?

For November event information, call Kiki Powers at 408.364.9742 or e-mail me: kiki@aboutnhs.com.

~ Eugenia Calle
director of analytical epidemiology
at the American Cancer Society, Atlanta ~

“When diet is wrong medicine is of no use.
When diet is correct medicine is of no need..”

~ Ancient Ayurvedic Proverb ~