December 2002

Welcome to the December edition of Your Healthy Life—the Natural Health Solutions resource for important health information and updates for the whole family. December is a wonderful and celebratory—but often very hectic—month for many of us. Please note our lead article featuring tips for a healthy, low-stress holiday.

As December is National Drunk and Drugged Driving Awareness Month, it offers a good reminder for us all to enjoy holiday cheer as safely as possible. Additionally, sharpening our awareness of others on the road becomes especially important in a month that is so full of parties and revelry. For more information about this topic, contact the National Safety Council at 800.621.7619 or visit www.nsc.org.

December 1 is World AIDs Day. If you, or someone you love, have dealt with this challenging illness, please take advantage of this valuable resource: Built To Survive: A Comprehensive Guide to the Medical Use of Anabolic Therapies, Nutrition and Exercise for HIV(+) Men and Women. This highly acclaimed book by Michael Mooney, co-authored with Nelson Vergel, contains 346 medical journal references, and provides details that serve the needs of the patient and doctor alike, as it is written in easily understandable language.

Learn more about Michael Mooney and Nelson Vergel's excellent work.

Getting enough restorative sleep is more important than ever during this busy, eventful month. Note the article on promoting healthy sleep to learn more about what you can do to get the rest your body needs. And don't miss our complimentary lecture and screening events in the San Francisco Bay Area this month. As you know, I look forward to your questions and comments: kiki@aboutnhs.com.

Cheers and holiday greetings!

5 Keys to a Healthy, Stress-Free, Holiday Season

The holidays—though times of happiness and celebration—can also be a source of considerable stress for many of us, which in turn can challenge our health and wellness. Between holiday parties, entertaining at home, shopping for gifts and other obligations, we may often feel more than a little overwhelmed. How does holiday-induced stress affect our health and wellness?

Promoting Healthy Sleep

Healthy sleep is essential for overall wellness, but may be difficult for many of us to achieve. Insomnia is one of the most common sleep complaints, chronically affecting between 5-10% of Americans. However, adequate sleep is essential for emotional and physical well being, while insomnia can adversely affect physical and mental health.

Complimentary Women's Health Lecture in San Francisco

Menopause is a natural transition occurring in the life of every woman. This period may be marked by a number of physical, mental and emotional changes. Therefore, it is to your advantage to know what you might expect and the lifestyle modifications that might help you to make as smooth and positive a transition as possible.

Don't miss our complimentary women's health lecture in San Francisco this month: Natural Menopause Solutions, presented by Kiki Powers, M.S.

Free Bone Density Screenings in Berkeley This Month

Are you at risk for osteoporosis? Do you have ten minutes to find out? Attend this month's free Bone Density Screening in Berkeley, compliments of Whole Foods Market and SuperNutrition.

Cranberries—more than a holiday side dish

If you only think of cranberries around the holidays, you may want to find other ways to incorporate this unique power fruit into your diet. For one thing, cranberries are a rich source of bioflavonoids—plant pigments that can boost your immune system and reduce inflammation.

Boasting seven different flavonoids including quercitin, cranberries offer powerful antioxidant activity while appearing to be cancer-protective, as well.1

These potent flavonoids help to prevent cardio-vascular disease by reducing LDL ("bad" cholesterol) oxidation and atherosclerosis,2 as well as reversing cholesterol transport and decreasing total and LDL cholesterol.3

Further, cranberry juice has long played a role—now scientifically proven—in helping both prevent and treat urinary tract infections.4 You may wish to enjoy cranberry juice—a rich source of nutrients, including potassium for healthy blood pressure—at least on a weekly basis. And try our December recipes for delicious ways to add this power food to your holiday celebrations.

1 Kandil FE, et al. Composition of a chemopreventive proanthocyanidin-rich fraction from cranberry fruits responsible for the inhibition of 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity. J Agric Food Chem 2002 Feb 27;50(5):1063-9
2 Fuhrman B, Aviram M. Flavonoids protect LDL from oxidation and attenuate atherosclerosis. Curr Opin Lipidol 2001 Feb;12(1):41-8
3 Reed J. Cranberry flavonoids, atherosclerosis and cardiovascular health. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 2002;42(3 Suppl):301-16
4 Reid G. The role of cranberry and probiotics in intestinal and urogenital tract health. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 2002;42(3 Suppl):293-300

Orange-Cranberry Holiday Bread

The following cholesterol-free recipe spotlights the healing cranberry in a delicious and easy quick bread—perfect for holiday brunches or with tea in the afternoon. Wrapped in a festive bow, this healthy and flavorful bread also makes a great gift.

Cranberry-Orange Relish

This festive flavor-treat can be used as you would otherwise use cranberry sauce. Or toss a few tablespoons into a holiday salad of mixed baby greens, toasted pecans, and raspberry vinaigrette for a piquant spark. This may just become an annual favorite!

“One reason for the negative bias of physicians toward nutrition in general
and nutritional supplements in particular is due to the fact that clinical
nutrition is given scant attention in medical school. What is never
broached in any systematic way is how nutritional patterns may be
associated with the development of degenerative conditions like
diabetes, heart disease, cancer, or multiple sclerosis, and how
these patterns can be altered to prevent and treat disease.”

~ Julian M. Whittaker, M.D. ~