Something Healthy Blogspot

Our Body is a Complex Machine

2017-11-13T09:53:00.002-08:00

Greetings!

I want to take a moment to compare the human body to a precision race car. Just like that race car, our body needs the right fuel to operate at it's best. Also, just like a race car, weight is very important. The motor and chassis were designed to perform at their best based on the overall weight of the vehicle. The engine will not be as efficient if the car weighs too much. The shocks, springs, and brakes would not work well either.

Our body is designed to function with the proper fuel, aka food, and at the proper weight. Our heart, lungs, muscles, bones, and joints are all designed to work their best at the optimal body weight. Just like the race car mentioned above, we will break down and not perform well if we are not at our best. A race car has a highly skilled designer and builder. It also has a very talented mechanic to keep it running at its best. Our bodies need the same care and attention.

So, in order for us to operate like a "well oiled machine", we need to eat properly, drink properly, and get sufficient exercise. I can personally tell you that it really does matter. Please feel free to ask me about it.

Sincerely,

Shawn Hert

Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Diarrhea (IBS-D)

2017-11-01T10:33:00.001-07:00

Someone in my family is dealing with IBS-D and does not have a gallbladder. The pharmaceutical solution WAS to prescribe Viberzi. However, now they are saying that Viberzi can cause pancreatitis in patients WITHOUT a gallbladder. Here is a natural way to manage IBS-D. What we eat really does matter.

I highly recommend that you read this article and learn how to be truly healthy.

Be Well My Friends!

2017-10-27T14:25:00.002-07:00

Greetings!

Wow, a lot has changed of the past few months. My family and I made the decision to move back to the Memphis area. We are now in a house in Bartlett, TN. We loved Austin, TX. Great weather, low crime, good food, and great outdoor life; however, the cost of living and constant traffic congestion pushed us back to Tennessee.

I am currently driving for Uber and working as a salesman at City Auto. I still love all things health and fitness. I still make awesome healthy smoothies and my favorite rice bowls. My wife Stacy is teaching water exercise classes at Bartlett Rec Center. My kids are settling into the Bartlett schools and doing pretty well.

If you have any nutrition or health questions, please feel free to contact me.

Be Healthy!

Shawn

Health and Wellness Seminars

2017-04-06T08:59:00.000-07:00

I am relaunching my health and wellness seminars. I use to teach classes at the the YMCA in Collierville, TN. I have PowerPoint presentations made on several healthy topics and can customize the class based on the audience. I can teach any age group and any class size.

Please contact me if you would like me to come to your workplace, church, school, of social group.

You can also follow me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/shawnghert

Highway to Health

2017-03-27T14:20:00.001-07:00

How? I'm glad you asked. By changing what you eat. No, this is not a diet, as far as diets are concerned, this is a lifestyle. The word diet does not really apply to weight loss, it simply means the foods that you eat. The Highway to Health is paved with healthy foods, aka, a healthy diet! By the way, I STRICTLY avoid ANY food product with the words: diet, fat free, or sugar free on the package! Real healthy foods don't have these kinds of labels.

Every week I post something about a meal that I have prepared or a smoothie that I have made. My diet consists of healthy foods; therefore, I am on this highway that I am talking about. Do I ever eat bad foods, the answer is YES. Anyone that says that they eat healthy 100% of the time is probably not be 100% honest. I will explain how to make this highway work for you.

OK, so let’s say that when you drive your automobile down the highway, that you only experience a traffic jam or accident 10% of the time. This means that 90% of the time you just get on and drive full speed to your destination without any problems. This sounds pretty goo, huh. Well, your diet can be treated the same way. If you eat good, nutritious meals 90% of the time and only eat bad, unhealthy meals 10% of the time, then you will be on the Highway to Health!

In America, most of us get to enjoy three meals a day, that's 21 meals a week. This means that you can eat ANYTHING that you want 2 or 3 times a week. Yes, ANYTHING! Pizza, cheeseburgers, donuts, whatever! Why? Because this is realistic. It also gives you the freedom to enjoy your favorite foods (sometimes) and not feel like you're missing out.

Here is the deal though, once your body gets use to its new diet, it will stop wanting to have bad food in it. I am serious, I know, I've done it for 7 years, and my body let's me know EVERYTIME I eat bad food.

Now, I didn't write this blog to be a meal planner or a diet plan. I just wanted to get you thinking about the foods that you eat.

Stay tuned for more healthy tips.

2017-03-26T12:42:00.002-07:00

Health and Wellness Seminars!
Contact me to schedule an ONSITE wellness seminar for your organization.
https://austin.craigslist.org/lss/6061186840.html

Why Does It Matter?

2017-03-26T12:01:00.000-07:00

Why does what we eat and drink really matter? Because food and drinks are meant to nourish us, not entertain us. Now, I'm not saying that your food and drinks should be boring and tasteless, on the contrary, EVERYTHING that I eat and drink tastes AWESOME!

The foods and drinks that I post on my Facebook page and on this blog are all super healthy and super tasty! The smoothies taste great and are super nutritious, and the cooked meals that I post are just as tasty.

Food's number one goal is to provide nourishment to your body. If you eat well, you will be well. It really is that simple. The same goes for what you drink, even coffee can have some nutritious qualities.

If you eat and drink "foods" that are not healthy, several bad things happen. First, your body does not get the nutrients that it needs to thrive and grow. Second, if you eat foods that are not nutritious, your body is still hungry and tells you to eat MORE. Third, your cells can not regenerate properly when they don't have the proper nutrients. Fourth, several of your organs and glands are actually overworked and destroyed by the food substances that you consume. Your kidneys, gall bladder, thyroid, and even your stomach are all damaged when these unhealthy foods and drinks are ingested. And, finally, probably the most visable sign is stored FAT. When you eat and drink the wrong foods, your body ends up shoving them into it's trash bin, also known as your fat cells.

Whew, that last paragraph contained a lot of ideas and issues, all of them based on fact and reality. So, as you can see, what you eat and drink matters very much. I have spent the past 7 years studying and experimenting with diet and health. One thing I can tell you with 100% certainty is that it makes a huge difference. My body will tell me very quickly if I have eaten things that I shouldn't and I can always tell when I have eaten healthy. I feel a lot better, mentally and physically, when I eat and drink properly. On the contrary, I feel like crap when I eat poorly.

So, join me on the journey to health and wellness. I will be writing about specific food and illness topics along the way. I hope that enjoy the ride!

Diabetes: Explained

2017-02-20T09:18:00.002-08:00

I was asked by a friend (Marguerite Seaton) to write about the different types of diabetes. For this post, I am dusting off a PowerPoint presentation that my team created during graduate school at the University of Memphis. I am using most of the information (un-edited) from or original presentation. I also added my personal recommendations and some helpful resources.

Here we go!

HISTORY
Diabetes is a disease that has been devastating mankind for over 2,000 years.
Early 19th Century- First chemical tests developed to indicate and measure the presence of sugar in the urine.
1920- First treatment clinic was established in New Jersey
1921- Insulin was discovered by Dr. Banting and successfully used in the treatment of a
de-pancreatized dog.
1935-Dr. Roger Hinsworth made the discovery that there were indeed multiple “types” of Diabetes.
1940’s-Links made between Diabetes and log-term complication.
1950’s treatments for Type II Diabetes began developing.
1969- Portable Glucose Meters Created by Ames Diagnostics.
Late 1970’s- Insulin Pumps were created.
1983- First biosynthetic human insulin is introduced.
1993 Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT) report is published.

TYPES
Pre-Diabetes- Elevated Blood Sugar, at risk for developing Diabetes.
The state that occurs when a person's blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high
enough for a diagnosis of diabetes.
About 11 percent of people with pre-diabetes in the Diabetes Prevention Program standard or
control group developed type 2 diabetes each year during the average 3 years of follow-up.
Other studies show that many people with pre-diabetes develop type 2 diabetes in 10 years.

Gestational Diabetes- Diabetes that occurs during pregnancy.

Type I Diabetes- Insulin Resistant.

Type II Diabetes- “Adult Onset” or Non-Insulin Dependent.

A chronic, life-long disease that results when the body's insulin does not work effectively.

Insulin is a hormone released by the pancreas in response to increased levels of blood sugar

(glucose) in the blood.

SYMPTOMS of Type 2 Diabetes

Any of the type 1 symptoms
Frequent infections.
Blurred vision.
Cuts/bruises that are slow to heal.
Tingling/numbness in the hands/feet.
Recurring skin, gum, or bladder infections.
Headaches.
Itching of the skin (usually around the vaginal or groin area).
Frequent yeast infections.
Recent weight gain
Velvety dark skin changes of the neck, armpit, and groin, called acanthosis nigricans.
Decreased vision.
Impotency.

DIALYSIS:

The more common form of kidney-replacement therapy, is a way of cleaning the blood with

an artificial kidney.

There are two types of dialysis: hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis.

Hemodialysis- an artificial kidney removes waste from the blood. A surgeon must first create

an "access," a place where blood can easily be taken from the body and sent to the artificial

kidney for cleaning.

Peritoneal- The lining inside your abdomen (the peritoneum) becomes the filter. A soft plastic

tube is put into the abdomen by a surgeon. When the body heals, cleansing fluid (dialysate) is

put into the abdomen through this tube.

MEDICATION:

Medications that decrease the amount of glucose produced by the liver (Metformin).
Medications that increase the sensitivity of cells to insulin (Actos, Avandia).
Medications that decrease the absorption of carbohydrates from the intestine (Precose).

Debilitating Complications

Heart Disease – Higher risk for MI and CVA
Eye Complications – Higher risk of blindness
Kidney Disease – Can lead to kidney failure
Skin Problems – Infections, itching, sores
Dental Disease – Can lead to gingivitis
Foot Problems – Nerve damage, infection
Nerve Damage (neuropathy)

Damages the nerves and can cause numbness in almost every part of the body in some individuals.

Sometimes causes severe nerve pain in others, uncomfortable enough to require medication.

Diabetic Neuropathies

Diabetic neuropathies are a family of nerve disorders caused by diabetes. People with diabetes can overtime, develop nerve damage throughout the body.

Symptoms of Neuropathy

Numbness, tingling, pain in toes, feet, legs, arms, and fingers.
Wasting of the muscles of feet and hands.
Erectile dysfunction, and problems with urination.

PREVENTION

Physical Exercise.
Eat plenty of Fiber.
Eat more whole grains.
Lose Extra Weight.
Skip Fad Diets.

MY ADVICE:

Diabetes is definitely a situation where

"an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure"!

The diet and lifestyle recommendations that I promote and

write about about will help PREVENT and treat a lot of

diabetic conditions.

Healthy Food Recommendations.

Avoid ALL simple, processed, and concentrated carbohydrates (SUGARS).
Concentrate on low-glycemic foods that are rich in fiber and healthy fats.
Stay away from fried foods of all types.
There is an herbal supplement that can help: Banaba Leaf. According to the New Vitamin Bible the recommendation is to take 16mg at the end of each meal.
I would highly recommend staying away from ALL dairy products and take a good multi-vitamin.
Also, make sure you are drinking plenty of clean water and stay away for ALL sodas, regular or diet.

Get some healthy exercise at least 3 of 4 times a week. Walk, bike, swim, use a treadmill, stationary bike, lift some weights.

*Watch the movie Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead.

Unfortunately, we can permanently damage our bodies, this is why it is very important to take care of ourselves and prevent as much damage and disease as we can.

Take care of your body, it's the only one you have!

Sources:

Source: http://www.defeatingdiabetes.com/type-2-diabetes/history.htm

http://chinese-school.netfirms.com/diabetes-history.html

The Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine

Earl Mindell's New Vitamin Bible

Health Information

2017-02-10T05:31:00.002-08:00

There is so much information out there these days, it can be overwhelming and confusing to say the least. I have spent many years sorting through the information and I am happy to share what I have learned with you!

There are a few MUST HAVE books that I recommend that you get. One is The China Study by T. Colin Campbell, PhD and the other is the New Vitamin Bible by Earl Mindell, RPh, PhD.

There are several health and wellness documentaries that I also highly recommend that you watch. I actually own a copy of several of them on DVD. This website has a few of my favorites available, please check them out. Health Documentaries

I know that a lot of what I write about can seem extreme, but so is chemo and radiation. It is my goal to help you get and stay as healthy as you can be!

You Tube Channel

2017-02-09T14:09:00.004-08:00

I started making some YouTube videos a couple of years ago. I am going to make a lot of videos this year, at least that is my intention. Check out my previous videos here https://www.youtube.com/user/hertsg

I am re-launching my healthy blog and re-naming it Something Healthy!

2017-02-09T13:22:00.000-08:00

Greetings friends!

I am re-launching and re-naming my blog for 2017! I have re-named it Something Healthy, after my former food truck business. As most of you know, I opened and closed a healthy food truck business in 2014. A lot has happened since then, but one thing has stayed the same, and that is my passion for true health and wellness!

All of the posts on this page are worth reading and re-reading. I am now going to post healthy meals, my favorite smoothies, soups, and other creations, and as much true health information that I can get my hands on! Why? To help myself and everyone that I know to get and stay as healthy as possible!

What is so different about what I do? To begin with, everything that I do is pretty simple, not expensive, and super good for you! By making the changes that I promote, I have been able to get and stay healthy and I want you to enjoy the awesome health benefits too!

I recently purchased an updated copy (two copies actually) of a vitamin book that I first purchased back in the 1980s! It is called the New Vitamin Bible by Earl Mindell, RPh, PhD. I highly recommend that everyone buy and read this book! It is available on Amazon for about $4.00 with shipping and all. I promise that it will be the best $4.00 you could spend. Here is the link! New Vitamin Bible

I also HIGHLY recommend buying a copy of The China Study! Here is the link.

I am going to re-post a lot of the information that I had on my website (which I shut down last year) and reiterate some of the things that are already on this blog.

I hope you will join me on this journey to ultimate health.

Sincerely,

Shawn Hert

True Health and Wellness!

2014-01-10T08:08:00.000-08:00

Greetings!

Our food and drug companies are so hungry for profit that they often overlook the true impact that their products have on human health. Statistics can be manipulated and skewed to create almost any conclusion that the statistician desires! Believe me, I know! I have taken undergrad and graduate level statistics!

It is my goal and mission to research and report the truth about health and wellness! I realize that too many of us do not have the necessary information to make good decisions about their health. I have been researching and writing about real health care and healthy living since 2010. I have designed a website designed to inform and transform lives!

Please take some time to read the information on my website, watch the movies that I have recommended, and apply the concepts that I promote. I realize that some of the ideas sound extreme, but open heart surgery and chemotherapy are pretty extreme too! I challenge you to make 2014 your healthiest year ever!

Sincerely,

Shawn G. Hert
www.fitsmartandhealthy.com

Personal Training and Nutritional Counseling!

2013-02-08T10:36:00.002-08:00

I am now offering Personal Training and Nutritional Counseling to individuals and organizations. I would like to come to your workplace, church, or group and conduct a nutritional talk. For more information, please email me at shawnghert@yahoo.com.

YouTube Videos!

2013-02-08T10:30:00.000-08:00

I am now making and publishing YouTube videos! I talk about health and wellness, diet and nutrition, and cancer and diseases. I hope you enjoy them and learn how to be truly healthy! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9RDbEWHjIo

2012-10-30T10:08:00.001-07:00

Why all calories are NOT created equally. Click here to learn more!

2012-10-26T09:59:00.001-07:00

I have conducted a lot of research on healthy living. There are many good movies available on the subject, but the movie PLANEAT is my new favorite! I have posted a list of movies, books, and websites on my Fit, Smart, and Healthy website. Please visit my site to see the full list! http://www.fitsmartandhealthy.com/links.html

2012-01-18T12:01:00.000-08:00

We now have a new website!!! Visit us at www.fitsmartandhealthy.com!!! Yes, this is a play on words with the old saying "Fat, Dumb, and Happy"!!! I thought it was a healthy twist with a more positive message!!!

Best HEALTH information available!

2011-12-15T05:34:00.000-08:00

OK, this might possibly be the most significant book you could ever read (other than the Bible)!!! It is called The China Study written by T. Colin Campbell, PhD and Thomas M. Campbell II, MD. Their research is also discussed in a great documentary titled Forks over Knives, available on Netflix and Hulu.com. I hope that you take the time to learn this life changing information and live a long and healthy life!!!

Lifestyle changes that matter!

2011-12-04T16:33:00.001-08:00

I made major changes to my diet (aka, what I eat everyday) in June of 2010. I weighed 203 lbs. at the time and I was working out a lot. I went to the gym Friday and weighed in at 177.5 lbs. I think that I was about 17 last time I weighed that much. I am now 99% vegetarian. I only eat some select fish and shrimp (grilled or sauteed) a couple times a month.

I now stay away from all milk, cheese, beef, chicken, pork, turkey, fast "food" and all processed foods. I have the same (or more) energy levels as I did when I was a teenager! I really challenge all my readers to look at the other posts I have on this blog and watch all the movies I have posted.

Forks Over Knives.

2011-11-15T11:14:00.001-08:00

Another Must See Movie!!! Fork over Knives. http://www.hulu.com/watch/279734/forks-over-knives

Stay Away From Chemo!

2011-11-15T11:10:00.001-08:00

Treat your body naturally. Take care of yourself. Stay away from Chemo!!! http://www.foxnews.com/health/2011/11/15/breast-cancer-survivors-face-higher-risk-brain-problems/

Becoming a Vegetarian!

2011-11-05T06:48:00.000-07:00

I am slowly becoming a vegan, yes a pure vegetarian. No meat, eggs, fish, seafood, cheese, or milk. Here is some information about fish to avoid and why.

Mainstream Cancer Treatment Failed.

2011-11-04T05:36:00.000-07:00

This is a very inspiring story about a lady that nearly died from conventional treatment of cancer and has made a full recovery using nutritional therapy! https://www.healthquarters.org

A Cancer Battle Plan.

2011-11-03T06:22:00.000-07:00

Most of you know that I have been studying health and wellness. Yesterday I found a book on my shelf called "A Cancer Battle Plan" published in 1992. It is an excellent book. It really reinforces everything that I have studied and implemented in my life. I urge you to check it out! ISBN 08910-96906

Smoothies and Juice!

2011-11-01T06:46:00.000-07:00

Smoothies and fresh made juice are part of my daily diet. Which is better? Well, here is an article to explain the differences. http://www.naturalnews.com/031512_smoothies_juicing.html