Wellness Newsletter

Here’s your Wellness Newsletter, May, 2008

This newsletter provides up-to-date research-based wellness and self-care information and tells you about books, e-books, web sites and events that can enhance well-being, promote health, and help develop self-care, teaching/learning and leadership skills. Please forward it in its entirety to whomever you believe may benefit.
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Scroll down to what interests you…

1. Your wellness message

2. Wellness news:

a. What do breast cancer, menopause and arthritis have in common?

b. Reverse fast food liver damage

c. Vitamin E helps Alzheimer’s

d. Latest on lung wellness

e. New weight loss research

f. Parenting: What works?

3. Wellness Books: Check out new fearless living book!

4. Online “Living Well with Menopause” support group

5. Self-care/wellness e-books

6. A new book for nurse educators

7. A new book for nursing leaders and managers

8. Archives of past Wellness Newsletters

1. Wellness Message

You are not here to catch trains and wear dress socks

You are here to build things…and teach things…and jump in lakes

You are here to make things better for others, better for yourself

You are here to laugh, take naps, and run in the wind…

You are here to live well!

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2. Wellness News:

a. What do cancer, menopause and arthritis have in common?

May is Physical Fitness and Sports month, so it’s fitting that a lot of recent research shows the benefits of exercise.

Exercise combats cancer-related fatigue. Walking 30 minutes a day 3 to 5 times a week generally helps combat fatigue.

Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080415194430.htm

Teenage girls and premenopausal women can also cut the risk of early breast cancer
through regular exercise. Taking a walk after dinner, playing a game of tennis or taking a daily swim could do the trick.

Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080513171443.htm

Physical activity is also a natural pain reliever for arthritis. A recent study published in Arthritis Care and Research concluded that regular exercise, specifically the Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program, is an effective course in significantly improving and managing pain. This is good news for baby boomers who want to use natural remedies for pain.

Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080408173045.htm

b. Reverse fast food liver damage

Diets high in fast food can be highly toxic to the liver and other internal organs because most fast foods contain high fat (burgers, fries, and fried foods, e.g.) and sugar (high-fructose corn syrup in sodas and some fruit juices). Even children and teenagers are now being seen for cirrhosis of the liver.

What to do: Try a burger without mayo and cheese, avoid fries and sugary soft drinks. Go for grilled chicken sandwiches with mustard, a salad with low-fat dressing, and bottled water.

Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080430204519.htm

Better yet, stay home and eat soy burgers with soy cheese and baked fries. For a
drink, try lemonade sweetened with stevia. Serve a salad brimming with spinach, mustard greens, kale, arugala, and/or escarole, and drizzle extra virgin olive oil and cider vinegar over it. After you eat, take a nice walk. Regular (at least 3 times a week) exercise helps the body better metabolize and process food.

c. Vitamin E helps people with Alzheimer’s

Previous research has shown that vitamin E can delay the progression of moderately severe Alzheimer’s. New research shows the vitamin can also extend life. Researchers followed 847 people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease for five years. About two thirds of the group took 1,000 international units of vitamin E twice a day along with an Alzheimer’s drug (a cholinesterase inhibitor). Less than 10 percent of the group took vitamin E alone and about 15 percent did not take vitamin E.

The group that took vitamin E, with or without a cholinesterase inhibitor were 26 percent less like to die than people who didn’t take vitamin E.

Food sources of vitamin E are nuts, green leafy vegetables and some vegetable oils
Such as olive oil. A daily salad or two of green leafy vegetables, a handful of nuts, topped with extra virgin olive oil with lemon could be a start.

Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080415194438.htm

d. Latest on lung wellness

Do you laugh a lot? Kids laugh about 400 times a day---adults only about 15. To boost the respiratory system, try laughing games and laughter yoga.

Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080505225405.htm

Tree-lined streets can lower rates of childhood asthma. It’s not clear if it’s the trees that help, but they could encourage children to play outdoors or improve air quality.

Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080430201651.htm

Mmm…what about an indoor plant? For ideas, go to http://www.ecoartisan.org/pollution.html

1 of 5 rooms may be highly contaminated with hidden mold and that can aggravate asthma, rhinitis and hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Significant factors include lack of ventilation, a ground floor apartment, or accidental water damage. (age of building, presence of pets, temperature, cleaning bathroom tiles, rooms used to dry clothes, or indoor plants had no effect.)

Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080430123552.htm

Computer games shows promise for helping people with obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) to gain control over their breathing by providing breathing feedback. For details,
go to http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080415075711.htm

e. New weight loss research

Contrary to ads, dairy products don’t help people lose weight; neither does calcium
intake. Exercise, decreased soda intake, increased fiber, fruit and vegetable intake can help with weight loss.

Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080502104547.htm

Believing you can lose weight can also help. Self-efficacy, or the belief we can produce the result we want to produce, is a powerful idea that can work.

Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080502082735.htm

Affirmations are powerful tools in this regard. Writing positive actions on 3x5 cards and Reading them at least 20 times a day can make inroads into self-efficacy and gradually replace (or at least counter) negative thinking, and eventually, negative behaviors. Some affirmations to try: I am in charge of what I eat. I can lose weight; right now I’m losing weight. It’s easy for me to exercise every day.

A new obesity prevention program can reduce the risk for onset of eating disorders by 61% and obesity by 55% in young women. For details, go to http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080429151134.htm

Limiting TV/video games to two hours a day and taking at least 12,000 steps a day (as
Indicated by pedometer) can reduce childhood obesity. For details, go to: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080416081631.htm

f. Parenting: What works?

Eating trout, salmon and sardines (low contaminant level and high omega-3 content) can enhance an infant’s cognitive and motor development when eaten by mothers during the last months of pregnancy. Details at: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080409110029.htm

Nearly one-third of parents aren’t sure what to expect of infants and may not be engaging in reading books, telling stories, or singing songs with them---all activities known to enrich their child’s life and learning. Details at
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080504095631.htm

3. Wellness Books:

Aging Beyond Belief by Wellness Guru, Don Ardell, 2007.
Aging Beyond Belief includes 69 recommendations for a more healthful, enjoyable and meaningful existence at every stage of life. Order from http://www.wholeperson.com/x-selfhelp/aging.html#Anchor-Aging-47857 or Don's web site: http://www.seekwellness.com/wellness/index.htm

*Living Well with Anxiety: What Your Doctor Doesn't Tell You That You Need to Know. Contents include how to self-diagnose anxiety, wellness approaches (nutrition, herbs, environmental changes, exercise, other anxiety-reducing and healing measures), relationships, purpose and spirituality, creating your own anxiety plan and finding and working with the right practitioner. Ask your local book store to order LWW Anxiety if you don't find it on the shelf.

*Comfort and Joy: Simple Ways to Care for Ourselves and Others. Available from orders@redwheelweiser.com or oneline at www.conari.com

*Encyclopedia of Complementary Health Practice. Includes concepts and issues, economic and practice issues, education issues, legal/legislative/health policy issues, historical perspectives, conditions (from a-z), influential substances, practices and treatments, contributor directory, and resources directory. Click on www.springerpub.com and write Carolyn Chambers Clark in the search box.

*The Essential Laws of Fearless Living: Find the Power to Never Feel Powerless Again.
How to break through illusions of limitation, have everything you want and become truly conscious. For more information go to www.conari.com

*The Food Intolerance Bible: A Nutritionist’s Plan to Beat Food Cravings, Fatigue, Mood Swings, Celiac Disease, Headaches, IBS, and Deal with Food Allergies. Orders
at orders@redwheelweiser.com or oneline at www.conari.com

*Garden Therapy Guidelines for Special Needs by Judith Gammonley, ARNPBC, EdD, LCP includes how to use garden therapy with those who are memory impaired, brain injured, or who struggle with developmental or physical challenges. Contact Dr. Gammonley at goodgam@aol.com or phone her at (727) 784-2449.

*Group Leadership Skills provides theory, concepts and practical applications for the new or seasoned group leader with task, work, social, therapeutic, focal or focus groups. Go to www.springerpub.com and write Carolyn Chambers Clark in the search box.

*Health Promotion in Communities: Holistic and Wellness Approaches. Focuses on applying wellness and holistic concepts to community work and includes a model and self-assessment for health and wellness with changing and vulnerable populations, in rural settings, on the internet, with individuals and groups, families, African American women, Hispanic communities, diabetes programs, parish nursing, schools, and homeless centers and more. Click on www.springerpub.com and write Carolyn Chambers Clark in the search box at the top of the page

*Healthy Holistic Aging: A Blueprint for Success. Carl Helvie, RN, DrPH says you can live to be 100, and at age 74, he's a perfect example of the right things to do. He has no chronic illnesses and is among the 11% of the age 65-and-overs who take no prescribed medications. The book cites overwhelming scientific evidence that good diet, exercise, adequate sleep, prayer, meditation, positive relationship with others and a clean and safe environment can ensure successful aging. Visit Dr. Helvie's web site where you can also obtain the book as well as other helpful information at www.HealthyHolisticAging.com
.
*Her Inspiration, subtitled, Secrets to Help You Work Smart, Be Successful and Have Fun, this book is full of quotes and thoughts from hundreds of women to encourage, motivate, and support you as you make your way. Order from orders@redwheelweiser.com or online at www.conari.com

.*Holistic Nursing Approach to Chronic Diseases. Provides a holistic approach to AIDS/HIV, Allergies/Asthma, Alzheimer's Disease, Arthritis, Cancer, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Depression, Diabetes, Digestive Problems, Fibromyalgia, Heart and Blood Vessel Disorders, Kidney Disease, Liver Disease, multiple sclerosis, osteoporosis, overweight/obesity, pain, Parkinsons' Disease, and/or sleep disorders. Click on www.springerpub.com and write Carolyn Chambers Clark in the search box at the top of the screen for information.

*Living Well with Menopause: What Your Doctor Doesn't Tell You That You Need To Know. This self-care manual includes: menopause: a natural process, medical treatment, nutrition, herbs, environmental actions, exercise, other stress reduction and healing measures, relationships, finding and working with the right practitioner, and putting it all together: your menopause success plan. Click on http://www.harpercollins.com
and write Carolyn Chambers Clark in the search box at the top of the screen.

*Prayers for Healing. Edited by Maggie Oman, with an Introduction by the Dalai Lama and Foreword by Larry Dossey, this little book invites you into a wonderful healing space. Contributors include Wendell Berry, Jack Kornfield, Rainer Maria Rilke, Marian Wright Edelman, Martine Luther King, Jr., and Marianne Williamson, Kahlil Gibran, Goethe, and even traditional Native American truths. For inspiration, order from orders@redwheelweiser.com or online at www.conari.com
.

4. Online Menopause Support/Information Group

Anyone who could benefit from support and information during menopause can go to www.yahoogroups.com and write living well with menopause in the search box, scroll down to Living Well with Menopause and click on it.


5. Wellness E-books

Available e-books include ADHD, acne, bladder spasms/bladder infections, couple communication, depression relief, great body, headaches, healing veggies, healing with affirmation & imagery, healthy hair, helping with homework, natural diuretics, pain free, parenting, peri-menopausal bleeding, permanent weight loss, pregnancy, helping children be successful in school, teaching math concepts, thyroid, and whole brain thinking. All are from a wellness, self-care perspective. Click on www.carolynchambersclark.com
(Scroll down the home page to find them.)


6. New Book for Nurse Educators

*Classroom Skills for Nurse Educators provides ways to promote interactive learning even in large classes, while teaching asynchronously online and more…also introduces creative ways to use role playing, simulations, simulation games, group methods, peer learning, value clarification, perceptual exercises, journal writing and poetry. Presents indepth analysis and tips for overcoming the teaching/learning problems that can interfere with the learning process, and even shows how to develop your own learning materials (including simulations and games) in simple but effective ways. Sample chapters and
more information at www.jbpub.com/catalog/9780763749750


7. Creative Nursing Leadership & Management

Provides relevant theory and ties it to practice by allowing learners to use critical thinking activities in a safe classroom environment. Perfect for upper-level undergraduate nursing leadership courses (and for more advanced leaders), the text focuses on creating leadership opportunities and creative solutions; using information technology; managing resources and change; delegation and succession: developing staff; creative political, legal, ethical, effective, and safe interventions to keep staff engaged. For sample chapters and more information click on www.jbpub.com/catalog/9780763749767


8. Archives of the Wellness Newsletter

To read recent past issue of the Wellness Newsletter, click on www.carolynchambersclark.com/id103.html


PLEASE SEND THIS NEWSLETTER ON to friends, family, clients or colleagues who might benefit. My only request is that you send it in its entirety.

In Wellness,

Carolyn Chambers Clark
ARNP, EdD, FAAN, AHN-BC
Editor

Stay Well!