SUGAR SHOCK! Blog

Kerri Walsh & The Black Patch On Her Shoulder -- Should I Get Some Kinesio For My Shoulder, Too?

Just wondering if I should get some Kinesio tape to put on hurting shoulder, which has been bothering me yesterday and today because I've been putting in more hours on the computer writing.

Thanks to Tara Parker-Pope and her fascinating post in The Well blog of The New York Times, which just made me think about doing this.

Maybe I'll even go for a different color rather than the black used by Olympic beach volleyball champion Kerri Walsh.

After all, as you can see on these other Olympic athletes such as water polo player Lauren Wenger (left), you can even use pink and blue tape for your aching muscles.

Of course, for my part, it may be easier to just not spend so much time on the computer writing.

But I could see using this therapeutic tape on my shoulder and wrist while playing tennis. (But who could I get to help me put it on, because it sounds like it's a skill?)

Despite my sore shoulder, I'm pretty excited that symptoms of my tick-triggered Lyme disease are dissipating (yeah!) and I'm feeling sooo much better so that I can think more clearly to do lots of writing.

But my steady stream of headaches are another matter altogether.

Too Many Kisses Can Make You Fat

I love this news item on Mom Logic, which I found, thanks to my smart friend, nutritionist J.J. Virgin.

Without spoiling the piece, I'll just encourage you to check it out.

"Skinny Bitches" Skinned by Writer Julie Klausner on Salon

It never ceases to amuse me how clicking on one link leads you to another, more interesting item, which, of course, brings you to yet another. And sometimes, after going from one site to the next, you land on one that really piques your curiosity.

That's what happened with me this week. First, Media Bistro -- a fabulous, place where I've taken some great essay writing classes lately -- informed me that Julie Klausner, a New York-based writer, actor and comedian, had a piece published in Modern Love, a popular section of the New York Times. Apparently, Julie's essay appeared after taking a class from Liza Monroy, with whom I also took a class.

Next, I became curious about Julie, whose writing and humor appealed to me. (Hope it's OK to use her first name.) So, off I went to her website where I learned about her recent book deal.

But what most caught my interest was Julie's piece in Salon earlier this year (how did I miss it?!), in which she blasted the diet book, Skinny Bitch.

As you probably already know, the chick-lit-looking book has been selling briskly, even since Victoria Beckham was photographed looking at a copy.

This book, Julie insists, is simply "a vegan manifesto masquerading as a diet fad." What's more, she deplores, "the only thing this weight-loss book will help you lose is self-esteem."

Julei's skewering of authors Rory Freedman (a former agent for Ford Models) and Kim Barnouin (a former model) even drew the attention of prolific reporter Tara Parker-Pope, who blogged about it on The Well section of The New York Times.

Anyhow, you just have to read Julie's provocative piece on Salon. For instance, she writes:

The relentless bullying peppered throughout the authors' advice accounts for much of the book's humor, including quips like "you need to exercise, you lazy shit," "coffee is for pussies" and "don't be a fat pig anymore." It was a formerly anorexic friend of mine who nailed it when she read excerpts from the book. "When you have an eating disorder," she told me, "that's the voice you hear in your head all the time."

Thanks to "Skinny Bitch," women who hate their bodies no longer need rely on their own self-loathing to stoke the flames of what seems like motivation but is actually self-flagellation -- penance for the sin of being too fat. Now dieters can have the convenience of a former model (Barnouin) and a former modeling agent (Freedman) putting their transgressions in the black-and-white terms of right and wrong. "If you eat crap," they chirp, "you are crap."

Sea Veggies: Have You Had Your Mineral-Rich Share of Dulse, Arame & More -- Guest Post by Andrea Beaman

Lately, since getting Lyme disease from a blood-hungry tick (you can learn more about this here), I've had a strange, overwhelming hankering for sea vegetables. Yum!

Much to my surprise, I've found myself sprinkling dulse granules on food at least a couple of times a day or tossing nori into dishes. How's that for a strange craving? (I've also been craving red meat -- grass fed, or course -- and chicken soup.)

Anyhow, as I was a couple of weeks into my dulse habit, I received a fascinating article about sea vegetables from my friend Andrea Beaman, a holistic health counselor and well known chef.

As you may recall, Andrea was one of the contestants on "Top Chef," and she now hosts Wise Up!, where she hits the road to explore holistic approaches to health in cities across the U.S.

So intrigued was I by Andrea's article about sea veggies that I asked her if I could post this here to help you. Learn more about the nutritive stuff from the sea, thanks to Andrea Beaman:

SAVVY SEA VEGGIES by Andrea Beaman, C.H.H.C.

"Sea vegetables (aka seaweeds) have been incorporated into the human diet since ancient times, and not just by the Japanese; Hawaiians, Koreans, Chinese, Maoris (New Zealand), Celts, Vikings, Romans, British, Scottish, Irish, American Indians and many others have derived numerous nutritional benefits eating these savory delicacies from the sea.

"Rich in minerals and trace minerals, sea vegetables provide more than 50 essential elements required for the body’s physiological functions. Population studies show that people with diets high in sea vegetables have few symptoms of mineral deficiencies and longer life spans. And, sea vegetables have been used medicinally to treat hypertension, heart disease, goiter, kidney disease, ulcers, obesity, constipation, menstrual disorders, high cholesterol, cancer, radiation poisoning, heavy metal toxicity and more(1)(2). If this isn’t reason enough to begin eating these nutrient rich foods, I’ll give you one more … when cooked properly, they taste great!

"Over the years, I’ve served sea vegetables to some very discerning palates (including my young nephews) and the consensus is `delicious!' Below are some popular sea vegetables and their notable properties.

"Agar agar (kanten) – rich in calcium, trace minerals and fiber, agar contains no calories and is considered a natural laxative. It is quick cooking and perfect for making cooling desserts, aspics, and puddings.

"Alaria – high in vitamin A, and a delicious when added to soups. You can also blanch, marinate or soak this sea vegetable to make it ready to use in other recipes.

"Arame – rich in iron and calcium, this sea vegetable cooks quickly and has a mildly sweet flavor. Arame can be soaked and blanched for a few minutes or marinated.

"Dulse – rich in iron, potassium, magnesium, calcium and phosphorous. We hit the mineral jackpot with dulse! Great to eat straight out of the bag as a snack or sprinkled on salads and soups (check for small shells and thoroughly clean before using).

"Hiziki – this sea vegetable is the richest in calcium and potassium. It is legendary in the Far East for enhancing beauty and adding luster, strength and shine to the hair, skin and nails. Saute with a little oil for best tasting results.

"Kelp – rich in glutamic acid that tenderizes and increases digestibility of beans. Also rich in iodine that stimulates the thyroid to burn fat. Can be roasted, fried, boiled, sautéed or marinated.

Dancing: Just Makes You Happy

Check this out.

This is fun! See how dancing can make you happy no matter where you live.

Sugar Shock Blog: Contest to Help Me Come Up With A New Name to Reflect Broader Interests Here

Please, I need your help! Put your thinking caps on. Get those creative juices rolling!

I've been ignoring the overwhelming truth: We've outgrown the name Sugar Shock Blog. Which is why I'm coming to you for help -- I want your ideas on what the heck to call this blog!

Read on, because I have an enticement and awards to get you to contribute ideas!

You see, just as I recently realized that it was imperative to rename my Stop Sugar Shock Radio Show to the Gab With the Gurus Radio Show to more accurately reflect the broader range of subjects covered, it's evident that I need to change the title of this blog. And pronto. (More like yesterday, a year ago and then some.)

The name, Sugar Shock Blog, doesn't cut it anymore. For the most part, the title fit perfectly when I began it more than three years ago. (Read my very first entry here on June 7, 2005. But, let me contradict myself -- shortly after the blog debuted, I already posted an item about the power of humor -- nothing to do with sugar!)

So for years, this blog has outgrown its "Sugar Shock Blog" title. How can such a title reflect the enormous scope of topics covered here, such as:

• Health & Wellness, from the power of sleeping to the importance of good nutrition
• Dieting
• Fitness
• Personal Empowerment & Self Growth
• The Power of Humor
• Lyme Disease Information (my newest interest, given my current, alarming, debilitating bout with Lyme disease myself. Please listen to yesterday's absolutely fascinating Gab With the Gurus radio show about it; my 7 guests were eloquent, intriguing and smart.)
• Sugar News & Education (of course)
• Artificial Sweetener
• Power of Positive Thinking
• The Law of Attraction (for instance, I've had three authors from The Secret on my radio show -- Lisa Nichols, Joe Vitale and Marci Shimoff, who've excelled in making things happen.)
• Happiness
• Spirituality
• Meditation
• Life Coaching & Its Transformative Powers (As you may recall, I'm now a life coach, thanks to the fabulous training from iPEC, as I discussed here and then here.)
• Health Counseling & Its Amazing Effectiveness (I'm also a holistic health counselor, thanks to the amazing Insitute for Integrative Nutrition, fascinating training which I've discussed many times on this blog, including here.)
• Stress Reduction (I'm about to post a guest article here on this blog, and I've also presented a stress-reducation program with much-lauded stress-reductioin expert Jill R. Baron, M.D.)
• The Power of Play and Having Fun
• Feeding Yourself From Within
• Finding Sweetness (not the kind you get from sugar)
• Self Love
• Fiction (I even plan to talk about various fiction books from time to time)
• The Joy of Sports (Remember the times I talked about the Tour de Bronx and the NYC Century Bike Tour?)
• Creativity
• Social Networking
• Blogging
• Info for Fellow Authors

Help me out, please. What should this blog be called? Ideas? Please send your contributions!

For that matter, the name of my e-zine is outdated, too. Stop Sugar Shock Minute also doesn't work any longer. So I'm looking for a name which can be adapted to both my blog and e-zine.

So what do you get out of helping me rename it? If your name is picked, you get:

• 2 free coaching sessions with me (to kick sugar, be more productive, whatever you need)
• 1 signed copy of my book SUGAR SHOCK!
• 1 copy of my next upcoming book (details come later)
• My profound gratitude!
• A chance to boast to friends and family members (LOL!)

What are you waiting for? Send your contributions now, please!

Thank you in advance from the bottom of my heart for your help!

Lyme Disease Show: Comments Come Pouring In & Follow-Up Show Planned

Already, the comments are pouring in about today's Lyme disease radio show.

So, due to popular demand already, we'll do a follow-up Gab With the Gurus Radio Show about Lyme disease in September, when I feel better.

For instance, right after the show was over, Starlace wrote: "Thank you for doing a show on Lyme disease."

Then, Happy Maine wrote: "Thanks to all the Lyme Warriors!"

And now, here's what Carol from Pennsylvania wrote to me:

"Hi. I just finished listening to your most interesting program on Lyme's disease. The statement concerning the possibility of a mother transmitting this disease to her breastfeeding child gave rise to a question concerning an undiscussed issue. 

"If it is, in fact, possible to transmit the disease through breast milk, would it also be possible to transmit the causative bacteria in seminal fluid during intercourse?  Please confer with your specialists and then respond."

I'm not qualified to answer this myself though I know this theory was discussed in Pamela's fabulous new book, Cure Unknown.

We'll address this topic in the follow-up show in September. Date to be announced later.

Lyme Disease Explained: Help Yourself & Your Loved Ones By Listening to Today's Radio Show Now

Did you listen yet to today's Gab With the Gurus Radio Show about Lyme disease?

If not, do yourself a favor and tune in right away (here's the direct URL), because it was one amazing event!

Also, please spread the word. Just send this link to your friends, family members and more.

It's important that people learn about Lyme disease ASAP so they can learn to prevent, identify it and get treated for it.

I also encourage you to learn more about each and every one of today's guests, who were:

• Science journalist Pamela Weintraub, author of the fabulous new book, Cure Unknown: Inside the Lyme Epidemic (See her story in Psychology Today.)
• Patricia (Pat) Smith, president of the national Lyme Disease Association, which is dedicated to Lyme disease education, prevention and research
• Bernard D. Raxlen, M.D., known for his treatment of Lyme disease as a complex infectious-neuro-immune phenomenon
• Steven J. Bock, M.D., acclaimed for his complementary approach towards Lyme disease
• Dr. Qingcai Zhang, recognized for his Chinese medicine approach, including acupuncture and herbs, to treat Lyme disease
• Renowned actress, playwright and author Rebecca Wells, who is acclaimed for such novels as Divine Secrets of Ya-Ya Sisterhood andYa-Yas in Bloom. (Read Rebecca's poignant story about Lyme disease.)
• Kris Newby, senior producer of the eye-opening, new documentary, "Under Our Skin: The Untold Story of Lyme Disease." (Watch compelling clips here.)

Now, I urge you to:

• Go buy Pamela's riveting, new book, Cure Unknown: Inside the Lyme Epidemic (A journalistic tour de force.)
• Organize a screening in your city, town or community of the eye-opening, new documentary, "Under Our Skin: The Untold Story of Lyme Disease." Or order a copy for your home.
• Buy and get lost in Divine Secrets of Ya-Ya Sisterhood and/or -Yas in Bloom and marvel at how Rebecca could write so beautifully while suffering from chronic Lyme disease.
• Find out more about the fabulous resource, the national Lyme Disease Association. Get doctor referrals and scope out their website to learn about Lyme prevention, education and research.
• And learn more about the amazing three doctors on the show today -- Bernard D. Raxlen, M.D., known for his treatment of Lyme disease as a complex infectious-neuro-immune phenomenon; Steven J. Bock, M.D., acclaimed for his complementary approach towards Lyme disease; and Dr. Qingcai Zhang, recognized for his Chinese medicine approach, including acupuncture and herbs, to treat Lyme disease

And again, please spread the word to everyone in your e-mail data base.

Allow me to repeat myself: Please help us to get an Internet-generated viral education movement going here -- a positive one, of course. We all need to know about this horrible disease and how to prevent, identify and treat it!

Vitamins & Supplements? Do We Need Them?

Frankly, I'm a fan of vitamins and supplements myself, especially to help bring you back into balance if you have medical problems, but a study last year in JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association) raises questions about their efficacy and possibly dangers.

At the time, this study provoked fear, intrigue and even criticism, as you can see in these fascinating articles from the BBC, the Organic Consumers Association and Reader's Digest.

This month, the topic came to light again, with "The Vitamin Hoax," a fascinating article by the acclaimed holistic health counselor, Andrea Beaman, C.H.H.C., a former featured contestant on Bravo's "Top Chef" and the host of Wise Up!

Anyhow, Andrea was kind enough to let me post her article here. Here it is.

The Vitamin Hoax

"Recent scientific studies have revealed shocking information about vitamin and mineral supplements. According to the Journal of American Medical Association, antioxidant vitamins increased a person’s risk of dying by up to 16%, The University of Washington found that vitamin E elevated lung cancer risk, and researchers at the National Cancer Institute found that men who took more than one multivitamin daily had higher rates of prostate cancer (1).

Animals in the wild do not need supplements to thrive and neither do humans. We are a part of nature and if we eat wholesome food provided by our environment, it contains all the elements we need in perfect balance (fiber, water, protein, vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, etc.). Our body will use what it needs and naturally discard the waste. As discovered in many studies, overdoses of isolated supplements accumulate in the body and can wreak havoc on our internal system. In the short term supplements may do some good, but in the long term they can cause serious harm. (1)

Trans Fat: California Becomes First State To Kick It Out of Restaurants

Jennifer Moore for SUGAR SHOCK! Blog

California has become the first state in the United States to boot trans fat from restaurants and retail baked goods, according to Jennifer Steinhauer of The New York Times.

This means that the 88,000 restaurants in American's most populous state will soon be free of trans fats.

The ban will be phased in gradually; trans fat must disappear from restaurants by 2010 and from baked goods by 2011, according to Steinhauer.

Unfortunately though, processed foods, a major source of trans fat, will be exempt from this new law.

The bill's author was Democratic Assemblyman and former elementary school teacher Tony Mendoza, who decided to push for the ban because of the number of obese children he saw at his school, Steinhauer reports.

Not surprisingly, California's restaurant lobby opposed the measure. The group conceded that trans fats are dangerous, but it was still against the ban.

“Our opposition was philosophical," explained Lara Dunbar, the California Restaurant Association's senior vice president of government affairs. "Banning one product isn’t necessarily the right solution.”

So let me get this straight: The restaurant lobby doesn't dispute research showing the risks trans fat poses, but the group thinks it's right to keep larding up the food because by banning it, you're trumping people's right to health? Absurd.

Thankfully, the government in California ignored this nonsense and took a big step to protect its 36-plus million citizens. I guess it's no surprise that California would enact such a ban with the very fit Arnold Schwarzenegger as its governor.

Kudos to California, and let's hope the other 49 states follow its lead!

And thanks to Jennifer Steinhauer of The New York Times for her report on this great news, which was also covered by the Patrick McGreevy of the Los Angeles Times, the Associated Press and Reuters.