Why I Don’t Use Agave, by Dr. Jessica Nagelkirk

The agave craze has caught on in the world of natural cooking and healthy eating. Agave is a honey colored liquid that tastes sweeter than sugar, is gluten free, vegan and low on the glycemic index. Because of its glycemic index rating, it is often marketed as “diabetic friendly”. What you might not know about this sweetener is agave nectar is basically high-fructose corn syrup masquerading as health food. The high level of synthesized fructose puts people at risk for obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure, and insulin resistance. Sally Fallon, nutrition expert and author of “Agave Nectar: Worse Than We Thought“, found that obese individuals who drink fructose-sweetened drinks with meals have triglyceride levels 200 times higher than equally obese individuals who drink glucose-sweetened drinks.

Agave is not natural

Agave was developed in the 1990’s primarily in Mexico. There actually is no such thing as agave nectar. The sweetener is made from the starchy root of the yucca plant. In order to produce agave nectar, the leaves are cut off the plant once it is between 7-14 years old and juice is expressed from the core. The juice is then filtered, heated (to hydrolyze the polysaccharides into simple sugars), then converted in to liquid nectar using caustic acids, clarifiers, and other chemicals. The end result is syrup that’s 70%-92% pure fructose- an even higher amount than high fructose corn syrup, which contains 55% fructose.

The Burden of Fructose

Glucose is metabolized by every cell in the body for energy production. Fructose can only be metabolized by the liver, putting a significant burden on an already taxed organ of detoxification. Animal studies have shown that livers of animals fed large amounts of fructose develop fatty cirrhosis of the liver. The same studies also show that consumption causes insulin resistance, impaired glucose tolerance, hyperinsulinemia, hypertriglyceridemia, and hypertension, all of which are leading causes for the chronic health problems Americans face – obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.

If diabetes and coronary artery disease don’t scare you, fructose has also been associated with cancer. Many researchers believe that it is sugar in the modern diet that provokes cancer growth. Studies have shown that having insulin resistance actually promotes tumor growth.

What to use?

Honey and grade B maple syrup, used in moderation, appear to be the sweeteners our bodies are best able to deal with and also contain additional nutrients. Both have more complex flavors than cane sugar so people tend to use less. This is really the only difference between the sweeteners because your body processes all forms of glucose in the same way. If you’re on the GAPS or SCD diet, honey and dates are best because they are simple sugars. And of course, eat whole fruit in moderation.

Dr. Jessica Nagelkirk is a licensed Naturopathic Physician (ND) specializing in integrative primary care medicine. She is a current faculty member at National College of Natural Medicine in Portland, Oregon, and sees patients privately at Apis Integrative Health in Marquette, MI.

Anti-inflammatory Diet, by Jessica Nagelkirk

Today’s research shows a clear link between our health and the food we eat. Poor nutrition choices and hidden food allergies over-stimulate the immune system causing an inflammatory response. At first the inflammation causes changes in how the body functions creating symptoms like joint pain or mood disturbances. Over time, chronic inflammation can cause physical changes in the body, leading to irreversible joint damage, heart disease, or even cancer.

Try to eat only the following foods for 21 days and see how you feel:

Steamed vegetables:

The primary reason for steaming vegetables is to improve utilization and/or availability of nutrients.
Eat a variety of vegetables that you tolerate, excluding members from the nightshade family that are know to be inflammatory like tomatoes, potatoes, and eggplant.
Avoid use of aluminum cookware or a microwave.

Grains & Legumes:

Allowed grains are millet, basmati or brown rice, quinoa, amaranth, oatmeal, barley, buckwheat, rye, and teff.
Allowed legumes are split peas, lentils, kidney beans, pinto beans, soy beans, mung beans, garbanzo beans, and adzuki beans.
Many people feel best when they eliminate grains and legumes completely. Check out the book Practical Paleo by Diane Sanfilippo for awesome grain-free recipes.

Fish:

Eat fish, preferably deep-sea fish such as salmon, halibut, cod, sardines, tuna, and mackerel.
The fish should be poached, steamed, or broiled.

Chicken:

Eat only white meat from free-range or organically grown chicken. Do not eat the skin.
The chicken should be baked, broiled, or steamed.

Fruit:

Eat 1-2 servings of fruit like blueberries, blackberries, strawberries or apples

Sweeteners:

Very small amounts of maple syrup or honey may be used.
Absolutely no sugar, NutraSweet, or any other sweetener is allowed.

Elder Care: Here Ye, Hear Ye! (Part 2) by Carol Rose

As I mentioned in the previous issue of Health & Happiness U.P. Magazine, there are many devices on the market to help hard-of-hearing persons function better in their world. Many of these devices can be used with or without an aid. In this issue, I’ll describe a specific part of a hearing aid – the telecoil, commonly referred to as the “t-coil,” and devices designed to work with this important hearing aid element.

How do I know about all this? I am 71 years of age and have a profound hearing loss. I am also one of the fortunate 15% of the estimated twenty-seven million Americans age 50 and up, including two-thirds of men and women aged 70 years and older with a hearing loss, who wear hearing aids.

And I am a Hearing Technology Resource Specialist, (HTRS), which is a volunteer position with the Hearing Loss Association of Michigan, a group composed mainly of hard-of-hearing persons with the goal of helping others with the same disability achieve the best hearing possible for them.

In talking with hard of hearing people with hearing aids, one of the first questions I ask is “Do your aids have t-coils?” The most common answer is “I don’t know. What’s a t-coil?”

As the official website of the Hearing Loss Association of America,www.hearlingloss.org explains, the telecoil is a small copper coil that functions as a wireless antenna linking to sound systems, delivering customized sound to the listener.

It was originally used to boost the magnetic signals from the telephone handset. The telecoil is activated by a t-switch on the hearing aid or cochlear implant. All landline and some cell phones are designed by law to be compatible with a telecoil.

For whatever reason, some audiologists opt not to put a t-coil in a client’s aids. Others don’t tell the client about the t-coil when they first get the aid.

Why some do not put a t-coil in, I don’t know. Possibly the aid is too small? Some of the advertisements say “So small no one will know you are wearing a hearing aid.” Possibly so small it cannot fit a much-needed device?

One reason I’ve heard as to why audiologists will not tell the client about the telecoil is they feel the person getting a new aid may be too overwhelmed with it – the new sounds, buttons to push… they will wait until a future visit to tell and instruct about the t-coil.

So when would you use a telecoil? Increasing the volume on your hearing aid or cochlear implant won’t necessarily increase the clarity of what you hear. Hearing assistive technology combined with a telecoil can improve your understanding of dialogue at work, in a meeting, in the classroom, theaters, places of worship, tour buses, and other places. Some people use telecoils at home with the TV while keeping the TV volume low for the comfort of others. Many public places are equipped with hearing assistive technology.

The most common hearing loop is a wire that circles a room and is connected to the sound system. The loop transmits the sound electromagnetically. The electromagnetic signal is then picked up by the telecoil in the hearing aid or cochlear implant. To use a hearing loop, one easily flips the t-switch on the hearing aid or cochlear implant. No additional receiver or equipment is needed. Using a telecoil and hearing loop together is seamless, cost-effective, unobtrusive, and you don’t have to seek out and obtain special equipment.

Traveling in airports is difficult for me. I cannot understand the noise that is coming over the loudspeakers. Not so in the Gerald R. Ford International Airport in Grand Rapids, MI. A sign on the door as one walks in tells the hard-of-hearing person to turn on his or her t-coil. And upon turning it on – wah -la! All the announcements go direct to my hearing aids! Now I can not only hear, but I can understand! For those in the medical world, there are stethoscopes designed to connect directly to the telecoil; for the home, there are induction loop pads which will connect the hard of hearing person with t-coil equipped aids directly to a sound system, such as a TV.

One of my favorite pieces is the Clipboard Portable Induction Loop. It looks like an ordinary clipboard but it contains a piece of wire inside it, which connects to the what? You guessed it! The t-coil in the hearing aid! Perfect for the hard-of-hearing college student, professor, or the hard-of-hearing counselor, doctor or nurse.

Telecoils can also improve hearing on hearing-aid-compatible phones, and can be used with neckloops to replace headphones. A neckloop is similar to a hearing loop, except it is worn around the neck and can be plugged into other audio devices, (such as an MP3 player, computer, or FM or infrared receivers), to transmit the audio signal directly to the hearing aid telecoil, bypassing the need for headphones.

Don’t assume that your hearing aid will automatically come with a telecoil or that it will be recommended. Or, if a telecoil is present, don’t assume it has been programmed to suit your individual needs. Today, approximately 65% of all hearing aids dispensed in the United States have telecoils. Yet, few consumers are told about them and know how to use them.

Use the Consumer Checklist, which contains information about t-coils, published by the Hearing Loss Association of America when purchasing a hearing aid (available on http://www.hearingloss.org).

Note: Automatic telecoils are available but work only with telephones, not hearing loops, so ask your audiologist or hearing instrument specialist to include a manually-operated telecoil in your hearing aid and ask for advice on how to use it. Also, see http://www.healthandhappinessupmag.com/events for information on registering for Sept. 27th’s free Kooser Program, The Hidden Impact of Hearing Loss, which includes vital information on choosing hearing assistive technology.

Carol Rose is a writer, photographer, found object artist and outdoor enthusiast living in Grand Marais. Wondering about Bluetooth technology and HAT (Hearing Assistive Technology)? Carol will discuss this in a future issue of Health & Happiness! In the meantime she wishes you “Happy Hearing!”

Inner Nutrition: Selfish or SELF-Nurturing? by Kristine McPeak

I enjoyed lunch with a new friend recently, a courageously authentic woman who left her husband, a woman who grew tired of enabling his unhealthy habits. She felt she would “die a slow death if (she) didn’t leave.” And 6 months later, she still wrestles with the question, “Was it selfish to put herself first?” It seems the message that she is being selfish comes not from within as much as from others.

Even at the time she made the decision to leave, I sensed she still needed to hear this was the right choice. I applauded her decision in making this difficult, but healthy SELF-preserving, SELF-nurturing choice.

I found myself thinking how I’ve noticed women tend to put the needs of others well before their own, without even realizing this is happening. Some friends have been uncomfortable with my direct questions. Others have thanked me.

So, if you will, let’s have lunch together. I hope to stir future conversations with your friends. And stir up some questions only you can answer.

Do you often give more of your SELF than feels healthy, or appreciated? Are you always “on”? Are you always on the go? Do you find yourself exhausted at the end of each day? Are you always tackling a never-ending “to-do” list? If you answered yes, don’t be discouraged and please consider reading further.

Do you regularly put yourself on that list? On top of that list? Do you even put your SELF on that list? Do you make time to slow down and care for your SELF? Do you recognize when you’re stressed out? Do you take conscious deep breaths? If you answered no, please see this as an opportunity to make life-altering changes. See this as a new day, a new path that can gently lead you toward caring for your SELF.

Please consider making a list of ways to nurture and care for your SELF. Put it on your refrigerator. Tape it to your computer. Consider committing to one thing each day that is only for you; one thing that nurtures your soul; one thing that feeds your SELF. Perhaps you will commit to adding one healthy loving act to your “to do” list each week that nurtures and cares for your SELF.

The time is now. And, only you can care for your SELF. Only you. Nobody else. Only you. The time is now. Right now. Put down the paper, grab a pen and paper and start writing. Your health depends on it. Perhaps you will start small.

Eat something healthy.

Drink more water.

Move your body.

Pamper your feet.

Stretch your muscles.

Enjoy a massage.

Schedule bodywork.

Perhaps you will notice more often when you are not at ease, doing something about it long before dis-ease settles into your being. Perhaps you will choose to DE-stress your SELF out, long before you stress everyone around you out. Perhaps you will find yourself taking deep breaths, long before other people remind you to chill out.

And if you don’t provide SELF care, how much can you really provide for others? We can only give away that which we have to give. When we run on fumes, we only have fumes to give. When we have recharged our batteries through SELF care, when our cups runneth over, when our gas tank is full, we have so much more to give to others.

SELF care is a vital element in a healthy, balanced woman’s life. Nobody else can do it for you. Mandy Hale said, “It is not selfish to love your SELF, take care of your SELF, and to make your happiness a priority. It’s necessary.”

Kristine McPeak is a spiritual, outgoing introvert who loves being outdoors! She helps people regain their balance as a physical therapist assistant, and practices Healing Touch and Emotional Freedom Technique out of her Marquette office. Look for PeaceShine on Facebook, email laughinggirl66@gmail.com or call 906-869-4953.

Creative Inspiration: Spinning Your Web, by Roslyn Elena McGrath

Glimpse the shimmer within shimmer within you

that snags your dreams

and digests them into poems,

stories, anecdotes, detailing your pursuits.

Glimpse the shimmer within shimmer within you

that composes melodies,

visualizes songs, and arranges cantatas

into vessels that carry your essence.

Glimpse the shimmer within shimmer within you

that turns sounds into words, words into stories,

stories into epics and epics into history

that echoes your perspective.

Glimpse the shimmer within shimmer within you

that causes thoughts to grow into patterns,

patterns into beliefs, and beliefs into panoramas

of living art that creates itself.

You are now enchanted here,

the believer of the tales you’ve spun.

Turn this weaving at an angle now

and watch the kaleidoscope rearrange.

The colors shift and change

to elaborate new stories.

Cause and effect continue unbroken

‘til the strand holding them together changes.

Allow one piece of the puzzle to emerge

and the whole puzzle is recreated.

You are a shape-shifter,

turning with the tides set in motion

by your self-created patterns

that shine upon reflection

and remain invisible in the dark,

netting the nuggets that fuel their weave.

Beauty lies in the lace of creation,

its tensile strength and endless adaptability

mesmerizing us deeper into its geometric repetition,

echoing the sound wave its Originator made.

Strum a strand for your own expansion, expression,

create a new form that propagates itself for you.

Witness the shift

of one heart humming

with Original creation,

hanging in the mystery of the Void.

You are endless patterning

recreating itself

with thoughtwave

after thoughtwave.

Channel the changes you desire

into your warp and weft

as part of the Eternal Tapestry

that lives and breathes and moves.

Continue your hum louder.

The chorus grows to support you.

You emerge with poetry

laced throughout your skin

and echoing through your pores

into your cells and out to the world,

a spinner spinning itself into glory.

Roslyn McGrath facilitates healing experiences through her art, poetry, intuitive counseling, energy healing, workshops and guided meditations. This poem was inspired by her painting Spider Woman, and will be part of her meditation CD series. Listen to other meditations, view art and learn more at www.intuitivelearningcreations.com.

The “Joys of Summer in the U.P.” Issue is En Route!

Check out the gorgeous Pictured Rocks cover photo by professional photographer Shawn Malone and loads of great articles inside (new local summer events, great eats for the outdoors, the pros and cons of sports drinks, why elders thrive in the U.P., the importance of reconnecting with your body in nature, summer poems . . . ), plus our Summer Fun Calendar, heading your way now through early June.

Go to Distribution for a list of Marquette & Alger County pick-up spots, plus Escanaba, Sault Ste. Marie, Houghton, Hancock and Calumet locations, special for this issue!

For a sneak preview, enjoy Hearing Assistive Technology Volunteer Carol Rose’s article on helpful developments for hearing, economist Tawni Ferrarini’s piece on Health, Wealth and Change in the U.P. Workplace, and Natural Health Consultant Jenny’s Magli’s Holistic Animal Care article on “going green” in the posts below!

Elder Care: Here Ye, Hear Ye! (Part 1), by Carol Rose

Did you know that hearing loss affects an estimated twenty-seven million Americans age fifty and up, including two-thirds of men and women aged seventy years and older, but only fifteen percent of those sufferers use hearing aids?

And that older adults with hearing loss are more likely to develop problems thinking and remembering than older adults whose hearing is normal?

In a recent study conducted by Johns Hopkins, volunteers with hearing loss and normal cognition undergoing repeated cognition tests over six years had cognitive abilities that declined thirty to forty percent faster than in those with normal hearing. Levels of declining brain function were directly related to the amount of hearing loss, the researchers say. On average, older adults with hearing loss developed a significant impairment in their cognitive abilities 3.2 years sooner than those with normal hearing.

I am seventy years of age and have a profound hearing loss. I am also one of the fortunate fifteen percent mentioned above.

I am a Hearing Technology Resource Specialist, (HTRS), which is a volunteer position with the Hearing Loss Association of Michigan. We are a group of mostly hard-of-hearing persons with the goal of helping others with the same disability/handicap achieve the best hearing possible for them.

Our goal as HTRS’s is to demonstrate Hearing Assistive Technology (HAT), in order to help those with a hearing loss hear better, make their environment safe, and increase independence.

Possible explanations for the cognitive slide described earlier given by senior study investigator, Johns Hopkins otologist and epidemiologist Frank Lin, M.D., Ph.D., include the ties between hearing loss and social isolation, with loneliness being well established in previous research as a risk factor for cognitive decline. Degraded hearing may also force the brain to devote too much of its energy to processing sound, and at the expense of energy spent on memory and thinking.

Now I am aware some people choose not to wear a hearing aid out of embarrassment, others because they are not quite ready for them; some because the aid they paid for just doesn’t work or feel right, and many others because they cannot afford the high cost, as most insurance plans do not cover the cost of hearing aids.

But the results of the above study make it even more imperative to HEAR! I know I do not want to be one of the people whose cognitive abilities decrease because I can’t hear. And it makes me even more devoted to educating other hard-of-hearing people and their families as to possible solutions.

There are many devices on the market to help hard-of-hearing persons function better in their world. Many of these devices can be used with or without an aid. High quality headphones and ear buds are available for those without aids.

Start out with a list of your current needs/situation. Do you have to have the TV or radio on so loud that others complain? Are you unaware when someone rings the doorbell or knocks on your door? Are you unable to hear the phone ring? Do you not hear the person on the phone? Are you concerned about hearing devices such as smoke and carbon monoxide alarms? Or even the alarm clock?

I’ve spent a great deal of my senior life living alone and relying on blinking lights to alert me to some of the above situations. There are also vibrating wrist watches and a device you can put under your pillow. The latter is sure to wake even the soundest sleeper! While I have chosen systems that make my household lights blink, there are other, more aggressive systems that work with strobe lights.

Please note that as a HTRS, I do NOT sell anything. I have a list of companies selling Hearing Assistive Technology that I can get to you and I demo products. Below is a written “demo” of some equipment that can make your life easier.

For the TV watcher, there are several devices that can be worn with headphones or ear buds and connected either directly to the sound device via a cord, or wirelessly via infrared or FM.

Many devices meant for TV sound also work for hearing conversations. Two items that enable the hard-of-hearing person to hear conversations, as well as connect to the TV and telephone, are the Williams Sound Pocketalker or Pocketalker PRO and the Comfort Duett, by Comfort Audio, both currently priced under $200.

These are easy-to-use amplifiers, which help eliminate background noise for one-on-one conversations, indoor/outdoor activities, TV or radio listening, restaurants or small groups, or listening in a car. These products can be used with hearing aids or with headphones or an ear bud.

One alerting system is the Alertmaster ALERT10 Complete Notification System. (I use a sixteen-year-old version of the Alertmaster which still works well and serves my needs.) The current system is affordable, versatile and wireless. Installed in your home, it uses flashing lights and a bed shaker to alert you to the doorbell, telephone, alarm clock, or loud room noises. It plugs into a telephone jack for telephone notification. It has a wireless doorbell button that just mounts outside your door. No wiring is necessary. Plug a lamp into the back of the master unit, and it will flash. Distinct flashing patterns and lighted icons identify each activity. A large lighted button lets you turn the lamp on or off. Turn on the bed shaker for night time alert. Optional accessories even notify you of a crying baby or the presence of an intruder. An optional remote receiver lets you put a lamp signal in another room.

Another alert system is the AC-operated Sidekick table-top receiver, which is equipped with a flashing strobe light and jack for an optional bed vibrator. When the Sidekick receives a signal from a transmitter, the strobe light is activated for fifteen seconds and the bed vibrator, (if connected), is activated.

The Sidekick System is wireless and uses advanced electronics to monitor a wide variety of important household devices. One major benefit is that you may purchase the complete system all at once or build it one transmitter and/or receiver at a time. You can custom configure a system to fit your lifestyle and needs.

There is so much more… items to help you not only hear the phone but also be able to converse on it; Web access to phone calls that you can READ rather than hear; items for those who wear aids and those who don’t. I’ll be featuring some of these in upcoming issues of Health & Happiness. In the meantime please call or email me with your issues and concerns, (906-494-2041, carolrose.u.p@gmail.com), and I’ll help point you in the right direction.

As you look for Hearing Assistive Technology for yourself or a loved one, check that the company has a thirty-day return policy with no restocking fee. You might be asked to pay the return postage, but that’s all the expense you should have to incur for trying out their product.

What works for one hard-of-hearing person might not work for another. Take your time, try out aids or hearing assistive technology, and make sure you have a return policy in place.

Helpful Websites: http://www.hearingloss.org and http://www.hearingloss-mi.org (This site was recently hacked and is being rebuilt – hopefully before this issue of Health & Happiness reaches your hands!)

Carol Rose is a writer, photographer and glass, rust and other found object artist, residing in Grand Marais. She enjoys skiing, snowshoeing, hiking, biking, canoeing, gardening and driving her ’95 Jeep on back roads. Carol’s determined to maintain her cognitive ability regardless of hearing loss.

Money Minding: Health, Wealth & Change in the U.P. Workplace, by Tawni Hunt Ferarrini, Economist

In today’s dynamic economy, everyone can expect job change. Some of us will be asked to acquire new skills on the job or find ways to be more productive in our current positions as people retire, relocate, or expire. Others will be released from present jobs, leaving them to seek new ones. Have a strategic plan that takes changes like these into account. Minimize stress. And, live a healthier and happier life.

Evidence of job change over the last year is present in our local community. Recently, 300 miners were laid off at the Empire Mine. 160 of the 300 did so voluntarily. Upfront & Company closed its doors last fall, releasing 70 plus workers into the local workforce. Over the past couple of months, Rio Tinto has slowed its progress toward active production at its Eagle Mine. 11 workers were laid off and others landed jobs elsewhere. Northern Michigan University has been peppered with a rash of retirements. New people are coming on board, changing the working environment. Whether employed at one of these businesses or not, everyone should anticipate some impact of this movement on our overall economy, local businesses, and households. Just like devising and putting into action a plan to eat and exercise regularly for healthy living, there are things you can do to prepare for job change in your life and the lives of others. Different perspectives are considered below.

The ordinary person like you and me is likely to face unemployment at some point, so it’s best to prepare. Many financial experts recommend setting aside three to six months’ worth of expenses in a rainy day or emergency savings fund. This serves as a safety net when you’re out of work. It should be easily accessible and secure. That is, placed in something like a tax-free savings account. Devise and follow a budget for allocating those funds during your rainy days. Use emergency funds strategically and prudently. First focus on meeting your mortgage or rent payment. Do the same with other debt obligations. Do not take on new debt to “get by.” Doing so will negatively impact your credit history, which some employers view to gain a more comprehensive view of your ability to manage a variety of affairs in a variety of circumstances. Drastically reduce, if not eliminate, your expenditures on wants and luxury items. Focus on your needs – basic food, clothing and shelter. Pull in your belt. Entertain and feed yourself and others at home instead of going out. Narrow your cell plan to the basics. Drive less and car pool or bike to work. Work out at home instead of using a personal trainer at a gym. The list goes on.

Update your resume. Map out a plan of action to find and secure a job that is a good match for you and your new employer. Complete a free massive open online course (MOOC) to update your skills, complete a self-study course, or enroll in a college class. Find a way to refresh your skills in ways meaningful to businesses looking for new people to bring into their fold.

Get excited, go out and find a new job! If you don’t know where to start or are having trouble finding a good fit, lean on one of our numerous local resources. Consider Michigan Works, the Job Force Board. Visit http://www.jobforce.org/jobseekerservices.html where you can look for a job, explore the current job market, devise a career plan, and seek new skills that fit the needs of the current market. If necessary, apply for unemployment, but understand that by not doing so, you incentivize yourself to find a job as soon as possible and prospective employers are impressed by those individuals who elect not to tap into unemployment compensation. The name of the game is to signal to others that you can meet and exceed their expectations.

If you are currently employed, looking for new challenges, or expecting changes in co-workers and/or skill requirements, do the same as our unemployed counterparts. Refresh your resume. Get your financial house in order. And devise and implement a plan to remain current, if not ahead, of present-day job conditions.

Job change is part of the current U.S. labor force’s fabric. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, many people can expect an average of eleven jobs in their lifetime. Be prepared for change and stay on top of the changes in the labor market. Get ahead of the movement by refreshing your resume, updating your job skills, gaining experience serving in leadership roles in volunteer or religious organizations, and finding a mentor to help you navigate through these changes. Doing so will minimize insecurity stemming from not being prepared to face change. Less insecurity translates into less stress, which helps you live a happier life. Preparing for a period of unemployment, and being able to live comfortably through it, helps you live a wealthier life over time. A happier, healthier and wealthier you also helps others in your family/friend network and work.

Tawni Ferrarini is co-author of Common Sense Economics (2010) published by St. Martin’s Press. She is a PhD in economics and is published in numerous peer reviewed journals. She speaks globally on topics related to advancing literacy in economics, entrepreneurship and personal finance.

Holistic Animal Care: Go Green!

Ever wondered why dogs and cats tend to eat odd things at times, such as dirt, grass, feces, etc.? There are many reasons, one of which is the need to purge toxins from their system, especially after a long winter. Other reasons include a need for key nutrients. “Pica” is the name for this. It’s really a normal behavior. When an animal eats soil, he or she is usually in need of key minerals and other nutrients that they’re likely not getting from their food. Stool eating can be due to health issues or just plain learned behaviors. Some dogs will start eating poop when they aren’t absorbing enough nutrients, have parasites, or have issues with their pancreas. When they eat grass, the chlorella and other nutrients contained in it provide nutrition. It’s very nourishing, (kind of like a salad), and the texture of the grass (barbs) can also act as a stimulant or irritant to help the animal purge (vomit) something in their stomach that is making them feel ill. It’s important to be observant of your pets and their actions, as they may need to be checked out by a veterinarian.

One of the risks associated with grass eating is ingesting highly toxic chemicals, pesticides and fertilizers, which can cause many health issues. You can remedy this by adding powdered grasses, such as wheatgrass or barley grass juices, (yes, juices), or powders that you know come from clean sources, to your pet’s food. Wheatgrass juice, (or just plain wheat grass), is considered rejuvenating. It helps cells replenish enzymes, vitamins, hormones and nucleic acids, and restores vitality. It aids in cleansing the lymph system by restoring balance to the body, reduces inflammation, removes toxins and metals from the cells, nourishes the liver, skin, muscles, kidneys and many other organs, including the brain, and helps build and balance the blood and neutralize toxins. Blood sugar imbalances and chronic health disorders can improve as well.

It’s easy to grow organic wheat grass at home. Kits are available online. You can juice it for your pet or just let him/her mow off the grass from a container. If the task of growing your own wheatgrass seems too daunting, you can use powdered grass blends to sprinkle on food instead. Examples are “Barley Dog” or “Barley Cat.” I use “Calderra Greens,” which are for both humans and pets. It’s a blend of organic certified barley, alfalfa, wheat and oat grass juice powders and sea vegetation. The grasses are grown on volcanic soil and low temperature processed so the enzymes and soil organisms are intact.

Other greens you may want to consider are seaweed, kelp, blue green algae and spirulina. Seaweeds are considered the best of green foods as they are easy to digest. They are one of the richest sources of minerals and amino acids found in plants, nutrient dense, and immune system enhancing.

Kelp is also high in nutrient value. It helps animals with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and colitis by aiding digestion. It’s also a good source of iodine, which helps the thyroid.

Blue green algae and spirulina are high in protein and nutrients as well.

As you can see, there are many “green” options available for enhancing your pet’s health. All the above are easily given with food or as a treat. Just a little each day is a great addition to your pet’s diet. Just remember to start out slowly with very small portions and watch to make sure your pet tolerates it well. If your pet shows you he or she doesn’t enjoy it, then it’s best to try something else.

Readers are reminded that it is entirely of their own accord, right and responsibility to make educated choices about their pet’s health care.

Jenny Magli, a certified Natural Health Consultant for pets and their people, is available for consultations and presentations, and lives in Rumely with her husband and five clowns (three dogs and two cats). She can be reached at (906) 235-3524, barkmewandyou@gmail.com.

A Look At Folate-Rich Foods

Health & Happiness’s Spring 2013 article on Why Folate Matters, by Dr. Jessica Nagelkirk, is likely to provoke your interest in discovering how to make your diet folate-rich. The following chart is from the Natural Institutes of Health’s Office of Dietary Supplements.

Table 2: Selected Food Sources of Folate and Folic Acid [7]
Food	mcg DFE per serving	Percent DV*
Beef liver, braised, 3 ounces	215	54
Spinach, boiled, ½ cup	131	33
Black-eyed peas (cowpeas), boiled, ½ cup	105	26
Breakfast cereals, fortified with 25% of the DV†	100	25
Rice, white, medium-grain, cooked, ½ cup†	90	23
Asparagus, boiled, 4 spears	89	22
Spaghetti, cooked, enriched, ½ cup†	83	21
Brussels sprouts, frozen, boiled, ½ cup	78	20
Lettuce, romaine, shredded, 1 cup	64	16
Avocado, raw, sliced, ½ cup	59	15
Spinach, raw, 1 cup	58	15
Broccoli, chopped, frozen, cooked, ½ cup	52	13
Green peas, frozen, boiled, ½ cup	47	12
Kidney beans, canned, ½ cup	46	12
Bread, white, 1 slice†	43	11
Peanuts, dry roasted, 1 ounce	41	10
Wheat germ, 2 tablespoons	40	10
Tomato juice, canned, ¾ cup	36	9
Crab, Dungeness, 3 ounces	36	9
Orange juice, ¾ cup	35	9
Turnip greens, frozen, boiled, ½ cup	32	8
Orange, fresh, 1 small	29	7
Papaya, raw, cubed, ½ cup	27	7
Banana, 1 medium	24	6
Yeast, baker’s, ¼ teaspoon	23	6
Egg, whole, hard-boiled, 1 large	22	6
Vegetarian baked beans, canned, ½ cup	15	4
Cantaloupe, raw, 1 wedge	14	4
Fish, halibut, cooked, 3 ounces	12	3
Milk, 1% fat, 1 cup	12	3
Ground beef, 85% lean, cooked, 3 ounces	7	2
Chicken breast, roasted, ½ breast	3	1

* DV = Daily Value. The FDA developed DVs to help consumers compare the nutrient contents of products within the context of a total diet. The DV for folate is 400 mcg for adults and children aged 4 and older. However, the FDA does not require food labels to list folate content unless a food has been fortified with this nutrient. Foods providing 20% or more of the DV are considered to be high sources of a nutrient.

† Fortified with folic acid as part of the folate fortification program.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Nutrient Database Web site [7] lists the nutrient content of many foods and provides a comprehensive list of foods containing folate/folic acid.