Brenda's Blog

Do you know that certain foods are more beneficial to your health than others according to your blood type? There are others that can make your body toxic. Some have also been proven to fight cancer. Richard Belivearu, PhD, says, “All the studies on cancer and nutrition point to eating plant-based foods for their phytonutrients and other special compounds”. Aim for five to nine daily servings of all kinds of fruits and vegetables but especially ones that will compliment your blood type and can fight cancer as well.

When choosing vegetables a good choice for Type O is Broccoli, while Type A may benefit more from Spinach. Type B should try adding more carrots into their diet, and AB should go for Cauliflower. Broccoli in particular contains a sizable amount of sulforaphane, a particularly potent compound that boosts the body’s protective enzymes and flushes out cancer-causing chemicals. It may help combat cancers such as breast, liver, lung, prostate, skin, stomach, and bladder.

Choose nuts and seeds according to your blood type. Type O’s should choose walnuts, and peanuts are better for Type A. Type B’s look for almonds and AB chestnuts. The phytoterols (cholesterol-like molecules) in walnuts have been shown to block estrogen receptors in breast cancer cells, possibly slowing the cells growth.

When choosing fruits based on blood type look for blueberries for Type O, blackberries for Type A, bananas for B, and cherries AB. Berries in particular are packed with cancer-fighting phytonutrients. Blackberries contain very high concentrations of phytochemicals called anthocyanins, which slow down the growth of premalignant cells and keep new blood vessels from forming. They may help fight colon, esophageal, oral and skin cancers.

These grains may be beneficial to your overall health based on your blood type. Type O and B look for Spelt. Type A should make a choice for wheat and Type AB for rye.

Garlic may not do your breath any favors, but the protections it offers against digestive cancers just might be worth the smell. Phytochemicals in garlic have been found to halt the formation of nitrosamines, carcinogens formed in the stomach…..Health Magazine

A Health Connection offers our clientele a unique lifestyle weight management program based on thier individuality and their blood type. As a result they are able to maintain normal body weight and a state of good health. This program is not restrictive, cleanses the system, and leaves a satisfied client….Brenda Ihle, RN

Eat To Beat Illness Dr. David Katz, MD, director of the Yale Prevention of Disease Research Center says: “Diet is the fuel that runs the complex human machine and all of its parts, including the immune system. Essential power players are high quality proteins and brightly colored fruits and veggies, which provide immune-boosting antioxidants; and omega-3 fatty acids.

Keep Your Body Moving Dr. Fryhofer states that exercise can keep you from getting sick by stimulating your immune cells that target cold infections. A university of South Carolina study found that people who walked or did other moderate activity for thirty minutes most days averaged one cold per year.

Hydrate Inside and Out Lower humidity and temperatures help the flu virus spread, which may explain why flu outbreaks peak in winter. Humidity kills the virus, so keep air at home warm and moist. When in a dry environment, such as an airplane cabin, use saline nasal spray to moisten the membranes in your nose. “When nasal passages are hydrated, the cilia, hair-like structures lining the nose, do a better job of keeping bacteria and viruses out,” Dr. Fryhofer says. Drink plenty of water too. Your body needs H2O to execute many immune functions.

Befriend Bacteria The good kind! Probiotics are friendly microbes that may strengthen the immune system by crowding out bad germs that make you sick. A German study found that healthy men and women who took probiotics daily for three months shortened bouts of the common cold by almost two days and reported reduced severity of symptoms……Health Magazine

A Health Connection has many whole food supplements that will boost your immune system and assist you in remaining healthy throughout the winter months. Check us out at www.ahealthconnection.com or find us on Facebook. A Health Connection: The nutritialicious source! The perfect combination of good taste and good health!

Natural News…..Take a deep breath because there is something you need to know. Ongoing research has shown that proper breathing can be an intelligent way to respond to chronic fatigue, high blood pressure, stress and other ailments – no health club membership required.

Each one of us takes about 20,000 breaths a day. Still, the influence of breathing on human health goes largely unnoticed. Only a few people realize that shallow breathing is linked to stress, sub-par mental performance, fatigue and increased risk of heart disease. However, breathe correctly and you will be able to release tension and improve your physical and mental wellness.

Deep breathing raises levels of oxygen in our blood and presents a wide range of benefits for our health. ‘If I had to limit my advice on healthier living to just one tip, it would be simpiy to learn how to breath correctly’, says internationally acclaimed alternative health icon Dr. Andrew Weil. Take a look and discover how deep breathing can transform your health:

*Lowers blood pressure
*Relieves emotional issues, including stress and tension
*Improves the quality of sleep
*Raises our energy levels
*Helps break down salt
*Improves circulation
*Helps to promote weight loss
*Improves athletic performance

Pay attention to the way you breathe – it may be one of the most important things you can do for your health. a study led by Arthur Craig, PhD at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center even suggests that a controlled breathing at a slowed rate can significantly reduce feelings of pain….Natural News…..

A Health Connection LLC…..offers supplements that naturally support the breathing and the whole respiratory system. Go to our website at www.ahealthconnection.com and click on Vitamins and Supplements. Type in CoQHeart and CorEnergy and read how these two natural whole-food supplements make for healthier cardio-vascular and respiratory systems…..Brenda Ihle, RN, A Health Conneciton LLC….

Whether you’re craving something sweet, chocolatey, creamy, or crunchy, you can find a snack that satisfies and helps whittle your middle. These Carb Lovers Diet approved picks are just the fix you need, because each one serves up slimming fiber and resistant starch (RS), both of which have been shown to help you feel full longer and drop pounds quickly. Give into what you ‘re longing for-there’s no guilt here.
SWEET
Make it: 1 serving
Warm Pear with Cinnamon Ricotta
Preheat broiler or toaster oven. Halve and core 1 pear; place on a baking sheet. Broil until tender (10-12 min). In a small bowl, combine 1/4 cup part-skim ricotta chese and 1/4 tsp cinnamon. Top warm pear with ricotta mixture. calories 170 Fat 5g cholesterol 20mg Protein 8g carbohydrate 27g sugars 15g fiber 5g RS 0g sodium 80mg
CHOCOLATEY
Make it: 4 servings
Dark Chocolate and Oat Clusters
Place 2 TBS peanut butter, 2 TBS 1% low-fat milk, and 1/4 Cup semi-sweet chocolate chips in a saucepan; cook over low heat until chips melt (about 3 min). Stir in 3/4 cup old-fashioned rolled oats; remove from heat. With a spoon or melon baller, drop 8 ball-shaped portions on a wax paper-lined baking sheet; let set in refrigerator 10 min before serving.
calories 160 fat 8g cholesterol 0mg protein 5g carbohydrate 19g sugars 7g fiber 3g RS 1.7g sodium 40mg.
CREAMY
Make it: 4 servings
Garlic and Herb Yogurt Dip
In a small bowl, combine 3/4 cup plain 2% reduced-fat Greek yogurt, 1 minced garlic clove, 2 TBS chopped chives, 1 TBS lemon juice; serve with 4 ounces baked potato chips.
calories 180 fat 6g cholesterol 5mg protein 5g carbohydrate 23g sugars 3g fiber 1g RS 1g sodium 420mg
CRUNCY
Make it: 1 serving
Chili-Spiked Pita Chips
Coat 1 whole grain pita with cooking spray; sprinkle with 1/4 tsp chili powder. Cut pita into 6 triangles; place on baking sheet. In toaster oven or broiler, toast 5 min or until crunchy, turning once.
calories 160 fat 3.5g cholesterol 0mg protein 6g carbohydrate 28g sugars 2g fiber 4g RS 1g sodium 330mg…..Health Magazine; January 2011

A Health Connection also provides delicious, calory-burning snacks and foods. Call (513 515-0710) and enjoy a 10% discount throughout January for our Life-Style and Weight Management Program………..Brenda Ihle, RN, A Health Connection LLC…..

1. Mental Focus and brain power: This may be a ‘no-brainer,’ but sleep patterns are closely related to mental performance. Getting adequate sleep can support healthy focus and concentration, as well as normal reaction timee. Sleep may also play a role in memory formation.

2. Energy: One of the best ways to support healthy energy levels is to get at least 7 to 8 hours of sleep per night. Restful sleep recharges your whole body and may help conserve precious energy needed for the next day’s tasks.

3. Less Stress: There’s a reason you feel so frazzled when you’re deprivd of a good night’s rest. Sleep helps you recover from the physical and mental stresses of the day and may actually lower your levels of certain hormones associated with stress, such as cortisol.

4. Healthy eating habits: Think back to that mid-morning snack or the 3 o’clock visit to the soda machine. Could your poor food choices actually be caused by a lack of sleep? A wacky sleep schedule can not only make you sluggish, it can also cause the release of stress hormones that trigger overeating or cravings for junk food. Getting enough rest can keep your body energized and may make it simpler to stick to healthier eating habits.

5. Physical recovery: It doesn’t matter whether you’re a couch potato or a gym rat – your body still needs adequate sleep to recover, repair and rebuild. From brain cells to muscle tissue, every part of your body benefits from the recovery process during sleep. However, sleep may be especially important for those looking to build muscle, as this process requires a great deal of rest and recovery.

Most adults require at least 7 to 8 hours of sleep to reap the benefits described above. But if you’re one of the millions of people whose sleeping habits are less than stellar, what can you do to ensure your’re getting enough?

First, cut back on several common culprits, including caffeine, sugar and alcohol, that can throw your sleep schedule off track. Next, make sure to establish a strict bedtime routine – and stick to it.

If you’re still counting sheep, try sipping some soothing herbal tea, such as valerian root or chamomile, or consider taking a supplement that supports normal relaxation……For Your Health, November, 2010

A Health Connection offers healthy snacks,  food choices and NATURAL supplements to support normal sleep patterns.  Check out our website at www.ahealthconnection.com …Brenda Ihle, RN

What’s up with that? These floppy little nodules, which are usually flesh-toned but occasionally darker, typically develop in spots where skin rubs against skin or clothing, like under the arms, around the neck, under the breasts, or even on the eyelids. It’s not entirely clear why some people are more prone to them than others, although they may run in families. The good news is, they’re virtually never cancerous and can be easily removed by a dermatologist. See your doctor if…you find a growth that is hard, rough, or darker or redder than flesh-toned. It could be a wart, or a form of keratosis (horny, wart-like), or possibly even skin cancer.

Red skin spots.,.What’s up with that? Those little round, bright-red spots and bumps on your skin (more common if your complexion is fair and you’re ovre 40) are likely superficial blood vessels that haven’t been reabsorbed into the skin. “It’s normal,” says David Bank, M.D., director of the Center for Dermatology, Cosmetic, and Laser Surgery in Mt. Kisco, New York. ‘The body naturally makes new blood vessels and takes others away. But as we age, more blood vessels are made than absorbed and that’s when we get these little red spots.’ Technically, they’re known as cherry hemangiomas or aniomas, and they’re nothing to worry about, Dr. Bank confirms.  See your doctor if…you want to have them removed (a dermatologist can do this with laser treatments.) But if you find a spot that’s asymmetrical; is changing in size, shape, or color; begins itching or bleeding; or looks totally different from any other spot on your body, consult a dermatologist to make sure it’s not cancerous……….Health magazine, October 2010…

A Health Connection LLC…uses prevention to target skin disorders before they begin with whole food products which are not only very high in Vitamin E (very skin and heart healthy), but most delicious as well……Brenda Ihle, RN

Are some essentials missing from your diet?

Your body needs a variety of nutrients to functon properly and stay healthy.

The American Academy of Family Physicians offers this list of essential nutrients and examples of where to find them:

Calcium, which is acquired from dairy products and leafy, dark-colored green vegetables.

Potassium, acquired from bananas, raisins, spinach, nuts and fish.

Fiber, found in legumes, whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds.

Magnesium, from peas, black beans, spinach and almonds.

Vitamin A, found in milk, eggs, sweet potatoes, cantaloupe and carrots.

Vitamin C, found in fruits such as strawberries, oranges and kiwi, and veggies such as broccoli and green peppers.

Vitamin E, found in seeds and nuts, whole grains, avocados and spinach…..Daily Health News…………….

Our bread products and cinnamon rolls at A Health Connection LLC have a high percentage content of real fiber and Vitamin E (very heart healthy) that is natural because we mill the wheat berry with nutrients intact and bake it the same day. No chemical or synthetic nutrients are  added.  Our bread products also contain natural Vitamin A, the B Vitamins, and Calcium; again they are not synthetically added, therefore, it is called the ‘Bread of Life’. The amazing thing is, it is quite delicious!!!

Our whole food supplements are loaded with all nutrients as well. Again, ‘whole food’ is key; no chemically or synthetically added nutrients. Check out our website at www.ahealthconnection.com. We also offer products for people who cannot tolerate dairy products……….Brenda Ihle, RN A Health Connection LLC.

Scientists have identified the way a simple amino acid makes human teeth strong and resilient.

Proline is repeated in the center of proteins found in tooth enamel. When the repeats are long, such as in humans, they contract groups of molecules that help enamel crystals grow. When the repeats are short, such as in frogs, teeth don’t have the enamel prisms that provide strength, the researchers explained.

The research offers clues on how to engineer tooth enamel.

“We hope that one day, these findings will help people replace lost parts of the tooth with a healthy layer of new enamel,” lead researcher Tom Diekwisch, professor and head of oral biology at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry, said in a news release.

But the benefits many extend well beyond teeth.

“Proline repeats are amazing. They hold the key to understanding the structure and function of many natural proteins, including, mucins, antifreeze proteins, Alzheimer’s amyloid and prion proteins,’ Diekwisch said. “We hope that our findings will help many other important areas of scientific research, including the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.”

The findings are published in the Dec. 21 online edition of the journal Plos Biology……Daily Health News…..

A Health Connection LLC has two excellent products high in protein; Energizing Soy Protein and Cinch (protein for successful weight loss). Go to our website at www.ahealthconnection.com Click Vitamins and Supplements and type in the top right hand corner Energizing Soy Protein, then Cinch. Read all about the products including labels listing all nutrients……B.Ihle RN, A Health Connection LLC…..

Got a pounding head? Biofeedback may help reduce headache pain by up to 60 percent, says John Arena, PhD, a professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Health Behavior at the Medical College of Georgia. The therapy involves being hooked up to sensors that provide real-time readings of body processes, like blood pressure and muscle tension, and learning how to affect them with stress-relieving techniques. To find a certified practitioner, go the Biofeedback Certification Institute of America’s Web site, BCIA.org. You will likely need eight or more sessions, so check with your insurance provider to see if they will cover it (some may not)…….Health magazine, June, 2010

A Health Connection LLC offers yet another natural and effective way to long-lasting relief of headaches through a simple and inexpensive  systemic cleanse……Brenda Ihle, RN, A Health Connection LLC……

(Health Day News) — Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) describes a host of conditions that cause the bowel’s nerves and muscles to function abnormally.

The U.S. National Women’s Health Information Center offers this list of common IBS warning signs:

     *Abdominal cramps

     *Stomach pain

     *Abdominal bloating

     *Gas

     *Mucus in the stools

     *A change in bowel habits

     *Persistent constipation or diarrhea

–Diane Kohnle

A Health Connection offers whole-food products that result in the proper balance in the intestinal tract that brings the results necessary for this condition….Brenda Ihle RN, A Health Connection LLC….