Nutrition is a cornerstone to the healthy and vibrant person you want to be.

In all of our research to develop the WMC Wellness & Fitness™ program, we kept coming up with the fact that the human body is an amazing machine that is designed to fix itself. Doctors and other practitioners in most instances help set or put the body into balance for the body to heal itself.

With that in mind, the better fuel we put into our body the better chance we give our body to heal itself and for us to be healthy.

Ava Waits is the founder of Parisian Picnics in Olympia, WA. She is our staff nutritional counselor. She has developed a CD with Ava’s Five A Day tips on how to be healthier through nutrition. This CD was developed for busy individuals, those who may travel and be away from home and those who wish to be healthier in general. We encourage you to look at the information to see it Ava’s program could help you and your family.

Here’s to your health.

John J Barker

Ava’s 5 A Day:  Quick Tips for Busy, Health Conscious People
With Ava Waits, Nutrition Mentor

Do you skip breakfast?  Are you sensitive to gluten or dairy, but aren’t sure what to eat if you decide to cut those foods out?  Do you rush in the morning, and at work?

If you find yourself making quick choices about what you eat, without giving much thought to how those foods will affect your body, consider making this new CD your own. I created this CD for busy and health conscious professionals who may not always have a lot of time to devote to taking care of their health concerns naturally.

Each track is only 8-10 minutes long. Listen to one track each day, and choose just one idea to implement. It’s quick and simple information. You’ll learn about healthy eating, step by step, in a way that won’t take extra time away from your responsibilities.

In this CD, you’ll get immediate ideas to help you:

~ Create breakfasts that include cooked or raw foods. There are several ideas for egg breakfasts, so that you can stay focused, full and grounded at work. The ideas for superfood smoothies are perfectly cooling for warm weather, and they assist with the flow of digestion. For some of my clients, the largest issue they had was creating a breakfast to support them. One woman was nearly fainting at work, until we switched her to a more substantial and filling breakfast.

~ Choose teas to use if you’d like to cut back on coffee, or cleanse your liver each morning.

~ Soothe joint pain and inflammation for free, without even adjusting your diet!

~ Pay attention to your bodily rhythms (this is especially great if you are having intestinal issues or sluggish digestion).

~ Satisfy your sweet tooth, without processed sugar or fake sweeteners that act as neurotoxins in your body.

~ Choose snacks that don’t have wheat or dairy (in case you have aching joints, rashes, and a constant runny nose).

~ Eat more chocolate. (Yes ~ I’m serious. It’s good for headaches, and many other health concerns.)

To learn more about Ava’s 5 A Day program and to order the CD go to the following link: http://parisianpicnics.com/products

Learn more about Ava and Parisian Picnics here:

http://parisianpicnics.com/

Or follow her tips on Facebook at:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Parisian-Picnics/114704758008

I just attended a training meeting with a local health insurance carrier. The discussion was heavy on the preparation for and ramifications of health care reform. Here are a few of the comments that came from that meeting.

· Health insurance costs are expected to triple over the next two to three years as 
   Obama Care and health care reform is enacted.
· Wait times to see a doctor are expected to go up dramatically as new people enter
   the system.
· For those individuals who are forced to go into the system of the exchange because
   their employer chooses not to provide health insurance will be limited to only four
   choices and those choices will be more expensive (similar to the choices seniors
   have with Medicare). The choices will be federally mandated and all carriers will have
   to offer the exact same choices.

Employers who choose to continue to offer health insurance will be stuck with some very hard choices. With the cost of health insurance rising so quickly, how do they pay for it and how much will they ask from their employees to participate.

Employers who choose not to offer health insurance pay a penalty to the federal government to help offset the cost of the health insurance to those who have to go through the exchange to obtain their health insurance. Here are a couple of examples of what is intended to happen soon.

Here are some scenarios that with hypothetical numbers to show what is about to happen with health care reform.

Hypothetical Costs for an Employer in 2014 with ObamaCare

Hypothetical Costs with Obama Care for a Family in 2014 through the Exchange

No matter where you employer ends up in this situation, the bottom-line is that all employees are looking at much higher costs in the future for their health insurance and their health care.

We do have some programs that can help!

Change is not fun for anyone. We all resist change but with health care reform, we all need to start thinking differently. Even if health care reform is changed, the root problem is still there on how to control health care costs and health insurance costs.

We as individuals need to find ways to help ourselves and at the same time to help our employers. We need to look for alternative ways to avoid costs such as prevention and wellness programs to be healthier as a way to avoid excess health care costs. When we all look for ways to control our individual costs, we are helping our employer control their costs so they can continue to offer health insurance as an employee benefit.

WMC Business Services LLC has a program that utilizes alternative medical practitioners to help give additional treatment choices while helping to prevent illness as a cheaper alternative to our current condition and programs. We encourage all of you to learn about each of the different types of alternative medicine practitioners to see if any one of them could assist you in becoming healthier both physically and financially.

Here is to your health. 

John J Barker

I was talking to one of my colleagues the other day, as I was daydreaming about spending time in Europe. I started listing my food sensitivities to him, and explained how I choose not to eat gluten or cow’s dairy, and how I’m severely allergic to red wine.

He gasped, smiled, and said, “And you want to live in Europe!?!”

He probably thought I was crazy for wanting to spend so much time on the continent, and in the countries known for wine, beer, baguettes, cheese, gelato, pasta and heavy pastries. I have always been amused by this contradiction too.

When I’m traveling, I will occasionally break my guidelines and sample a few glutinous goodies, or a slice of cheese on a sandwich. I know exactly what will happen to my body if I eat foods made from those ingredients. Sugar gives me a headache, wheat gives me a stomachache, and cow’s dairy gives me a sore throat. Sometimes it’s worth it for the experience of the new cuisine, or exotic pastry that bakers can’t quite imitate in the United States. Usually, I will hold to my eating guidelines, and find a delicious meal that is safe for me, no matter where I am in the world.

Did you know that many Italians are going gluten-free? The terms “gluten-free” and “celiac disease” are becoming well known in the United States, and abroad. Gluten is a sticky protein found in certain grains, like wheat, rye, and barley. People who are extremely intolerant to gluten have celiac disease, where gluten proteins damage the lining of the small intestine. With an irritated small intestine, you lose some of your ability to absorb nutrients from food. Bacteria may also seep out of your intestines and into your body.

Gluten intolerance can contribute to weight gain. When you don’t have the ability to properly absorb nutrients, your body may demand that you overeat because it cannot get enough nutrition out of what you are already consuming. If overeating is the cause of your weight gain, you may become stuck in this cycle. Avoiding gluten and working on your diet can lead to easy weight loss for people who have existing issues with gluten.

Other people are only sensitive to gluten, and choose to avoid certain grains as a way to deal with specific health issues. Depending on your degree of sensitivity, symptoms can include bloating, intestinal upsets, fatigue, joint pain, and rashes, among others. Relief doesn’t happen overnight, but people who choose to avoid gluten often see an improvement in their largest symptom, as well as the reduction of other symptoms. I stopped eating gluten to help reduce inflammation in my gum line. Many of my clients have stopped eating it to assist irritated intestines, and digestive issues.

Your assignment:

If you currently consume gluten: Please take some time to notice any reactions your body has after you eat bread, cereal or other wheat products. Do you get a stomachache, do you get really bad gas, or do you feel aching somewhere in your body?

For those of you who have already chosen to be gluten-free: Think back to a time where you accidentally (or intentionally) consumed a food item that had gluten ingredients in it. How did your body react to that food?

Did you react immediately, or did it take a day to see a change?

If you think you are sensitive to gluten, you actually live in a lucky point in time. There are SO many options available to you! Many grocery stores have sections devoted to gluten-free products. Labels on boxes will often specify if a food has gluten or not. There are breads made of rice flour, and gluten-free pizza mixes. I had gluten-free beer for the first time at a potluck this summer. Many restaurants are proud to offer a gluten-free menu, and you’ll even find quinoa or corn pasta in Italy.

Please trust me when I say that your world will not end if you choose to remove foods from your diet that are harming you. I personally like to look at a gluten-free diet as a wonderful excuse to eat more vegetables, and tastier, more nutritious foods. You can get gluten out, while still enjoying meals that are delicious and fun. It looks like we’re safe in Italy now!

© 2011 Ava Waits

Ava Waits is the founder of Parisian Picnics in Olympia, WA and also the staff nutritional consultant for the WMC Wellness & Fitness program.  Ava will be contributing additional articles in the future and this article is used with her permission.  See below links to Ava’s website and Facebook page for many more tips on how to eat to be healthy along with additional articles for information on gluten in general. 

Here’s to your health.

John Barker

Ava Sites

http://www.avawaits.com/

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Parisian-Picnics/114704758008?ref=ts

Sites with additional information about Gluten and potential health issues.

WEB MD Articles

Celiac Disease – Celiac Disease

Celiac disease is a digestive disorder characterized by intolerance to dietary gluten,which is a protein found in wheat,rye,and…covered by this report. Celiac Sprue Gluten-sensitive Enteropathy…
WebMD Medical Reference from the National Organization of Rare Disorders

Slideshow: gluten-Free Diet

Starting a gluten free diet? Let this slideshow help. Get the facts about gluten free foods — with tips on what to avoid, what to enjoy, and delicious, gluten-free alternatives to keep you healthy and happy.
WebMD Health Tools

Going Gluten-Free

Does gluten cause intestinal trouble? What to know about celiac disease, gluten sensitivity, and gluten-free diets…deal with antigens properly, the immune system responds toward gluten with…
WebMD Feature

Additional Articles

Gluten Intolerance: A Real Health Risk or Just a Fad? – DivineCaroline

www.divinecaroline.com/…/106007-gluten-intolerance-real-health-r… – Cached -Block all www.divinecaroline.com results  Imagine suffering from painful bloating and digestive problems your whole life, to the point where you can’t go out with friends, have sleepovers growing up …

Far Reaching Effects of Gluten Sensitivity … – My Passion 4 Health

www.mypassion4health.com/articles/gluten_sensitivity.html – Cached  Far Reaching Effects of Gluten Sensitivity. Learn why anyone suffering from depression, chronic fatigue, hypothyroidism, digestive problems or other …

Gluten Free Choice – Neurological Effects of Gluten Intolerance

www.glutenfreechoice.com/neurological_effects_of_gluten_intolera… – Cached  Gluten sensitivity can lead to neurological and mental health effects in various ways, including: Triggering inflammatory autoimmune responses throughout …

Mark Hyman, MD: Gluten: What You Don’t Know Might Kill You

www.huffingtonpost.com/…/gluten-what-you-dont-know_b_37908… – Cached  Jan 2, 2010 – The Dangers of Gluten. A recent large study in the Journal of the … Healthproblems caused by gluten sensitivity cannot be treated with …

Is Gluten Intolerance / Celiac Disease Sabotaging Your Health …

www.thyroid-info.com/articles/glutenceliac.htm – Cached  Is Gluten Intolerance / Celiac Disease Sabotaging Your Health? The Celiac / Gluten Intolerance Link to Thyroid Disease and Autoimmune Disease Gluten …

The integration of alternative medicine into conventional western medicine is quickly revolutionizing the landscape of the American healthcare system. Patients and providers are increasingly using alternative methods of care that do not rely on invasive procedures or long term use of pharmaceuticals.

What do Chiropractors Do for Us?

Doctors of Chiropractic – often referred to as chiropractors or chiropractic physicians – practice a drug-free, hands-on approach to health care that includes patient examination, diagnosis and treatment. Chiropractors have broad diagnostic skills and are also trained to recommend therapeutic and rehabilitative exercises, as well as to provide nutritional, dietary and lifestyle counseling.

The most common therapeutic procedure performed by doctors of chiropractic is known as “spinal manipulation,” also called “chiropractic adjustment.”   The purpose of manipulation is to restore joint mobility by manually applying a controlled force into joints that have become hypomobile – or restricted in their movement – as a result of a tissue injury. Tissue injury can be caused by a single traumatic event, such as improper lifting of a heavy object, or through repetitive stresses, such as sitting in an awkward position with poor spinal posture for an extended period of time. In either case, injured tissues undergo physical and chemical changes that can cause inflammation, pain, and diminished function for the sufferer. Manipulation, or adjustment of the affected joint and tissues, restores mobility, thereby alleviating pain and muscle tightness, and allowing tissues to heal.(1)

Watch this short presentation about chiropractic care (click here)

Why are nerves so important?

When doing research for our wellness program, I met with Dr. Scott Moore and Dr. Kallie Moore in Olympia, WA. The further described to me how chiropractic medicine worked with nerves throughout a person’s entire body. They described how chiropractic medicine works with muscles, tissue, nerves, and joints throughout the entire body.(6)

Our bodies are composed of trillions of cells that make up each of our different parts. The function, coordination, and regulation of these parts are all accomplished by a continuous flow of healthy signals though all of the different nerves in our body which make up the nervous system. Thus the nervous system helps to coordinate and control every action our bodies perform.(2)

Dr. Scott Moore gave me an analogy to help me understand the importance of our nervous system in regards to our health. He told me a story of a garden hose. If you kink the hose and stop the flow of water, the plants at the other end will eventually wither and die. The nervous system in our body is similar to the garden hose. It carries messages to all parts of our body. If there is an impingement to the nerve, then the muscle, joint, or organ (kidney, heart, lungs, liver etc.) that is being fed information through the nerve can also wither and eventually die.

See graphically how the nerves are intertwined throughout the body in these two interactive graphs.

Nervous System
http://www.innerbody.com/image/nervov.html#(3)

Human Spine Vertebra & Disk
http://www.innerbody.com/image/skel05.html(3)

Pinched Nerve

When a nerve exits the spine, it can become pressed between two bones or compressed by an unhealthy disc resulting in numbness and tingling in other parts of the body. The area where you experience these symptoms is indicative of where in the spine the “pinching” occurs. Nerve irritation in the neck often leads to symptoms in the shoulders, arms or hands. Similar problems in the low back can cause numbness and tingling down the legs and into the feet.(4)

Treatment for Pinched Nerves

Nerve irritation related to joint dysfunction or bone malposition is best corrected using chiropractic adjustments. By using carefully directed and controlled pressure to restore joints to a normal position and motion, the pressure placed on the nerve is quickly and painlessly reduced. This often results in immediate (sometimes dramatic) pain relief.(4)

Trapped Nerve

Nerves can also become irritated as they pass through muscles on their way toward their destinations. This is often referred to as a peripheral nerve entrapment. To allow smooth passage through muscle tissue that is always expanding and contracting, slippery sheaths guide the way for the nerves to pass through the muscle. They function in a capacity very similar to subway tunnels protecting trains as they are transported underground. When damage occurs to these nerves and their protective sheaths, scar tissue is laid down to repair the damage. Unfortunately, this leads to adhesions forming between the sheath and the nerve. This explains why numbness and tingling symptoms are often exacerbated by certain movements or with small, repetitive motions.(4)

How Can a Nerve Become “Trapped” Within the Soft-Tissues?

Repetitive “rubbing” of sensitive soft-tissues or chronic contraction of a damaged muscle can lead to a cascade of progressive worsening. Both situations deprive the soft-tissue of much-needed oxygen due to the decreased “pumping” that occurs with healthy, full contraction and relaxation. This lack of oxygen triggers fibroblastic activity – the primary mechanism involved in the formation of scar tissue (fibrous tissue). Unfortunately, as more fibrous tissue is created, muscle oxygenation, flexibility and strength are further reduced. This process continues until function is degraded enough to create noticeable symptoms. In other words, repetitive motion injuries and cumulative trauma disorders could develop over moths, years or, even, decades before the first symptom is ever experienced! As the condition progresses, the “stickiness” of the soft tissues can extend into the spaces between these tissues forcing them to become “stuck” to one another. When this happens near or around nerves, it can cause a peripheral entrapment – more simply known as a soft-tissue nerve “pinch”.(4)

Treatment for “Trapped” Nerves

When nerve tissue is trapped within or between muscles, the adhesions that cause the nerve to “stick” to the soft tissue are best removed using a muscle technique called Active Release Technique (ART). This is usually accomplished by applying specific pressure with a thumb or finger at the site of adhesion while moving the affected body part through a full and complete range of motion. Using this technique, the adhered tissue is held stationary while the nerve is pulled away and separated from the adhesion. This often creates an immediate reduction in nerve tension and, therefore, immediate (sometimes dramatic) symptom relief.(4)

Other Causes of Nerve Discomfort or Damage

Impingements are not the only cause for nerve irritation or damage. Here are some other causes of nerve damage.(5)

· Autoimmune diseases – multiple sclerosis, Guillain-Barre syndrome, myasthenia gravis
· Cancer
· Diabetes
· Motor neuron diseases – Lou Gehrig’s disease, ALS
· Infectious disease – Lyme disease, herpes, HIV, hepatitis C

 

Chiropractor & MD

Chiropractic medicine and traditional medicine should have a place equally as important in our health care and prevention strategy.

Chiropractic medicine is a hands on physical adjustment to help our body be in balance. Impingements not matter how small may be best performed by a doctor of chiropractic medicine. Chiropractic medicine is also very helpful in a prevention strategy to avoid disease.

Traditional medicine uses pharmaceuticals and traditional methods to treat disease and ailments. Traditional medicine may not be set up correctly to help us in our efforts to prevent disease.

We promote the optimal use of both MD’s and Doctors of Chiropractic Medicine in a regime to be healthy and ultimately control health care costs.

Watch this short video from Dr. Scott Moore and Dr. Kallie Moore concerning Chiropractic Medicine

Example

When I met with Dr. Scott Moore and Dr. Kallie Moore, I explained my health situation to them.

I hurt my knee when I was 26. I continued to play sports. I had some irritation in the knee and it continued to swell when I would play hard.

I went to my MD for advice. I was given 800 mg of Ibuprofen to aid in reducing the swelling and discomfort. Over time, the heavy use of Ibuprofen may have led to another condition. The end of my esophagus has been burned or deteriorated away. This has severely reduced my ability to play sports and exercise in general.

At the age of 41, I had two test procedures and a surgery to wrap my esophagus in an attempt to control the problem. I had three to four years of total relief and could continue to play competitive tennis. The procedure did not last and I had to give up competitive tennis and most aerobic activities two years ago.

When I was tested by Dr. Scott Moore, he mentioned the inflammation was telling him that my knee may be out of alignment. He and Dr. Kallie Moore treated my knee along with my spine and shoulder as part of my treatment and prevention regimen. After two treatment, I have not had any swelling in my left knee for over a year. I asked them if my knee could have been out of alignment for over 25 years without me knowing about it. They referred me to the garden hose analogy and told me yes. Even a slight impingement can cause symptoms and damage.

In Conclusion

I wish I had known more about the value of chiropractic medicine over the course of my lifetime to treat and prevent disease. I will never know if a treatment 25 years ago could have saved me a great deal of pain and expense with my stomach and esophagus. I just know that it would have been nice to know and have choices 25 years ago and maybe things would have been different for me today.

We encourage each of you to look at your health and chronic conditions and talk to a doctor of chiropractic medicine who specializes in prevention to see if they can help you and your family.

Here’s to your health.

John J Barker

References:

(1) Cormier Chiropractic, Dr. Keith Cormier, Lafayette, LA.
http://www.cormierchiropractic.com/?page_id=174

(2) Why Are Nerves Important to Health?

Our bodies are composed of trillions of cells that make up each of our different parts

http://www.querycat.com/question/996545ad3a785714ef96222980c89e6b

(3) Inner Body: Your Guide to Human Anatomy Online
http://www.innerbody.com/image/nervov.html#
http://www.innerbody.com/image/skel05.html

(4) Irvine Family Health Center Chiropractic Offices, Kenneth D Erickson, D.C., Irvine, CA
http://www.doctorken.com/nerves.html

(5)Nerve Pain and Nerve Damage, Brain & Nervous System Health, WebMD, May 16, 2011
http://www.webmd.com/brain/nerve-pain-and-nerve-damage-symptoms-and-causes

(6)  Moore Chiropractic, Dr. Scott Moore & Dr. Kallie Moore, Olympia, WA.
http://www.moorechiropractic.com/
http://www.moorechiropractic.com/blog

We are striving to give everyone the information they need to be health and reduce health care costs. Weight is a huge issue in this country and often times a sore subject with many. None of us want to be told what to do and how to live our lives and that includes me.

Here are some stark realities of how excess weight can hurt us physically and financially through health care costs and health insurance premiums.

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), a division of U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, recently put out this research note (PDF), demonstrating that in recent years health care costs for overweight and obese people have escalated much faster than for the rest of us. This is something to think about, considering that out of 216.8 million American adults, 58.9 million of us are obese (that’s 27%) and 75.7 million of us are overweight (another 35%). Oh, and we’re quickly getting fatter. We added 10 million more obese people just between 2001 and 2006.(1)

The numbers the AHRQ gives are these(1)

· Between 2001 and 2006, average health care expenditure for normal weight people increased from $2,607 to $3,315—a 27% gain.
· For overweight people, the average cost rose from $2,792 to $3,636—an increase of 30%.
· And for obese people, the average amount paid increased from $3,458 to $5,148—a gain of 49%.

Being overweight makes a person a good target for all diseases like Hypertension, Diabetes, Heart Disease, and Kidney failure, Arthritis, Stroke and even Cancer.(2)

There are many increased costs of being severely overweight with the additional cost of health care and medications running as much as $1,429 per year more than those without weight issues.(3)

Why are we too heavy as a society?

There can be many reasons why we are too heavy as a society.

· Use of too many pre-packaged foods – little or no time to cook
· Busy schedule – work, family, school
· Bad eating habits – large portions, eat too late at night
· Substitution for other issues – eat when stressed, eat to cover up other issues

These or other issues may need to be addressed as well if you are going to able to use food and nutrition in a positive way to control your weight and reduce your risk and exposure to health issues and health care costs.

What can you do to start?

We are not proponents of fad diets. Those of us with weight issues need to look for ways to incorporate a healthy diet and exercise as a way to be healthy and well for life.

We do have some ways that we recommend to get this process started. Below are some systems that we have researched and believe they can be of help to many who want to make changes. All of these systems will help provided the proper nutrition to aid in you efforts to obtain an ideal weight along with a support system to help you along the way.

· Ideal Protein Weight Loss – Dr. Rena Wong and her staff nutritionist will educate and support
· Nine or thirty day cleanse diet – with nutritional coaching
· Control It – eight week diet monitored by a staff nutritionist

These are tools to help a person start toward reaching and ideal weight goals. No program by itself will help you achieve lifelong weight- control without some type of increase in exercise or physical fitness. Many of these can be incorporated without much time or expense but can have a dramatic impact on your success even if you have some physical limitations.

· Walking
· Yoga
· Tai Chi
· Biking
· Pilates

 

Ava Waits, Founder of Parisian Picnics

We have asked Ava Waits, the founder of Parisian Picnics, to be our staff consultant in the area of nutrition. Ava does not promote fad diets as part of her process in helping people eat for health and wellness.

I have a couple of health issues that have made it more difficult to exercise the way I used to when I was younger. I work long hours in my business. Couple that with the stress of starting my own business in the worst economic times in my lifetime as I tend to eat when I am stressed. I have to come to grips with this issue myself.

I took an hour and had a consultation with Ava. She was very thorough in her approach to helping me come up with ideas to design a program that I can work around my issues of health, time and stress to help me get my weight off. She has designed a program specifically to meet my needs to give me a better chance at success.

If you are not certain of an approach to follow to help you with your weight issue, I recommend a consultation with Ava as it may help you as well. You can follow Ava and see what approach she uses to help her clients through the following sites.

http://www.avawaits.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Parisian-Picnics/114704758008

In Summary

Weight can be a touchy subject for many of us. My goal is not to insult anyone including myself. It is intended to be honest and forthright about issues that we will all need to face eventually. Those of us who are overweight cost more in health care that those who are not overweight.

As we struggle to provide health insurance and health care to everyone and the costs keep rising, there will be more and more pressure to charge a higher rate for those who use the health care system more. Anything we can do to stop and reverse this trend is to our individual and collective benefit.

If you have any questions or need more information on any of these programs, contact myself or Ava Waits.

Here’s to your health.

John J Barker

(1) Overweight and obese people drive up health care costs – The …

Jul 9, 2009 … We added 10 million more obese people just between 2001 and 2006. …. they drive up the costs of health care, can make for an uncomfortable …

http://curiouscapitalist.blogs.time.com/2009/07/09/lets-just-blame-the-fat-people/

(2) Can being Overweight Prevent You From Obtaining Health Insurance …
5 answers – May 4, 2010 With the new health care bill you can not be denied coverage due to preexisting conditions (such as being overweight or obese). …
http://in.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100504221636AArWfEB

(3) Real cost of living with obesity? $6454 a year – Books – TODAY.com

Dec 29, 2010 … Being overweight can contribute to many diseases and chronic conditions,… Add together the higher annual costs of health care and …
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/40844081/ns/today-books/t/real-cost-living-price-tag-obesity-year/

Additional Resource

“Forced to be Fit” CBS Evening News, November 6, 2007

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68UuxiG1GYs

People spend a great deal of money to smoke. They also pay a high price with more health issues over their lifetime. They spend more money on their health care costs in comparison to non-smokers. Some like my father pay with their life when they cannot reduce or stop smoking when they wish to.

The WMC program can help in two ways.

1. For those will continue to smoke but wish to reduce the amount that they smoke
2. For those who wish to completely quit

Smoking Reduction

Our program starts with a method for you to continue to smoke in a potentially safer way with a much reduced cost to smoke.

Here are some of the highlights of the reduction portion of our program and some of the things you can look forward to reducing.

Safer way to smoke
No Second Hand Smoke
No Tar (no yellow staining)
Removes 40 plus toxins found with regular smoking including
       Ammonia (household cleaner)
       Arsenic (poison)
       Benzene (used in making dyes, synthetic rubber)
       Butane (gas, used in lighter fluid)
       Cadmium (used in batteries)
       Cyanide (deadly poison), Lead (poisonous in high doses)
       Formaldehyde (used to preserve dead specimens)
       Methoprene (insecticide)
       Polonium (cancer-causing radioactive element)
       And many more
Can lower cost of smoking by 50% to 75% – save money to use for other needs including improving your health and lowing your health care costs

Smoking Cessation

Smoking is very addictive and it is very difficult to quit for many individuals. Everyone’s body reacts differently when they start to quit smoking. With that in mind, we have developed an entire program to support and coach a person who truly wishes to quit smoking.

Physical, emotional and social effects of quitting

Detox or withdrawal – we have a number of natural ways to help the body as it expels toxins and adjusts to you stopping to smoke
Acupuncture – assist with cravings
Nutrition – assist with cravings and to help avoid weight gain
Hypnotherapy – help with craving and weight gain
Massage therapy – help with physical stresses
Short video series to help you through some of the trials and stresses of quitting
Behaviors modifications to support your efforts to quit
Behavioral counseling
Nutritional counseling

No matter what your goal may be or if you have a loved one that you would like to help reduce or stop smoking, contact us for more information on how our program can help. We truly wish to support anyone in their efforts to reduce or stop smoking.

Click here for quick quiz to see if you are ready to reduce or quit smoking.

For more information, contact us at info@wmcbusinesssservices.com or give us a call at (888) 334-2334.

Here’s to your health.

John Barker

Below are some articles on smoking and smoking cessation:

Health Risks of Smoking – Smoking Risks – Smoking and Health

The health risks associated with cigarette smoking play a part in many diseases. This article reviews how smoking affects your health, from head to toe.

http://quitsmoking.about.com/od/tobaccorelateddiseases/a/smokingrisks.htm

Light Cigarettes Questions and Answers Facts – Smoking Cessation

The truth is that light cigarettes do not reduce the health risks of smoking. The only way to reduce your risk, and the risk to others around you, …

http://quitsmoking.about.com/od/cigaretteingredients/a/lightcigarettes.htm

True Cost of Smoking: Up to $150 a Pack – FoxNews.com

Oct 28, 2010 … No doubt about it, smoking is expensive. But factor in the cost of a premature death – a cost borne solely by the smoker – and the price tag …
www.foxnews.com/health/2010/10/…/true-cost-smoking-pack/

How Much Does Smoking Really Cost? Cigarettes are only a small portion of the overall cost. http://www.costofsmoking.com/

Stop Smoking Benefits Timetable

How long does it take heal and reduce risks after quitting smoking? When will the damage I’ve done be repaired?
www.whyquit.com/whyquit/A_Benefits_Time_Table.html

What are the benefits of quitting smoking?

What are the major benefits of quitting smoking? … Has a doctor or dentist ever suggested that I stop smoking? Do I find it difficult to imagine life …
www.quitsmokingsupport.com/benefits.htm

Guide to Quitting Smoking

Quitting smoking is not easy, but you can do it. To have the best chance of quitting and staying … When smokers quit — What are the benefits over time? …
www.cancer.org/Healthy/…/GuidetoQuittingSmoking/index

Many people are on statin drugs to lower cholesterol. Many have been on these statin drugs for quite some time.

Here is a list of the generic and brand names for some of the statin drugs on the market.

· Lipitor (atorvastiatin)
· Mevacor or Altocor (lovastatin)
· Zocor (simvastatin)
· Pravachol (pravastatin)
· Lescol (fluvatatin)
· Crestor (rosuvastatin)

The body naturally produces cholesterol. Evidence shows that keeping levels of cholesterol down can help reduce heart disease and stroke.

Lately there has been a great deal of talk about statin drugs and if they are safe. There have been a number of reports and articles about some of the adverse side effects of statin drugs. There are equally as many showing that statin drugs have worked well and have helped many people who have been on them.

If there is a chance that statin drugs could cause some long-term harm, would you want to know? Would you also want to know if there are safer alternatives that you can use to control your cholesterol?

What are some of the possible side effects? (1)

· Muscle pain & damage
· Liver damage
· Digestive problems
· Rash or flush
· Neurological side effects

 

What else can you do to lower your cholesterol?

If it is not healthy to have cholesterol levels that are too high and there is even the slightest chance that statin drugs could cause some unwanted or harmful side effects, what can we do?

Top 5 Lifestyle Changes to Reduce Cholesterol (2)

· Lose weight
· Eat heart healthy foods                            
· Exercise on most days of the week
· Quit smoking
· Drink alcohol in moderation

Changing your lifestyle with regular exercise can help many lower their cholesterol levels in a natural way.

Healthy Eating to Lower Cholesterol, Ava Waits (3)

I prefer to use as many natural foods as possible when dealing with any health issue, and I would take this same approach when dealing with cholesterol. Since this article is not about depriving yourself of foods, Iʼd like to focus on what you can eat more of if your aim is to lower bad cholesterol.  Coconut and cinnamon have both been shown to balance cholesterol, and these foods are easy to use. Raw coconut oil can be found at most health stores. Try melting the oil on freshly steamed Brussels sprouts, or using it to cook stir-fries. I also use it in fresh smoothies. Cinnamon can be mixed into yogurt, or sprinkled on organic oatmeal. Another helpful tool in reducing blood cholesterol is β-sitosterol. This compound is found naturally in pecans, avocadoes, pumpkin seeds and cashews. Itʼs great to be assured that your guacamole and trail mix are so good for you!

Iʼve mentioned several foods that you can add to reduce bad cholesterol, but these wonʼt do much good if you donʼt also adjust the rest of the foods that you eat. You can begin by adding more veggies, and whole grains like rice or quinoa to your meals. It is also important to eat fewer processed foods and find healthier alternatives to boxed crackers, cookies, and fried foods. If you have any questions, or would like to learn more about how I help individuals improve their health and wellbeing through my Nutrition Breakthrough Sessions, please contact me.  Ava Waits

Other Supplements That May Help Control Cholesterol

· Beta Sitosterol – can reduce blood levels of cholesterol
· Niacin
· Garlic
· CoQ10 – recommended to take if you do continue to use statin drugs (4)

I do not know if statin drugs are safe in the short or long-term. I hope this information will make you want to look into this further for your own benefit. Look at the articles we have used for our research and do some extra research on your own. Use this information to have a frank discussion with your personal physician and ask about the risk and rewards of using statin drugs.

If the risks are acceptable and you are seeing results, then continue with what you are doing. If the risks are not acceptable, with the help of your doctor determine another course to take where the risks are acceptable.

Here’s to your health.

John Barker

Reference materials used in this article:

(1) “Statin side effects: Weigh the benefits and risks,” Mayo Clinic Website: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/statin-side-effects/MY00205

(2) “Top 5 lifestyle changes to reduce cholesterol,” Mayo Clinic Website: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/reduce-cholesterol/CL00012

(3) “Healthy Eating to Lower Cholesterol,” Ava Waits, Parisian Picnics, Olympia WA & Consultant to WMC Wellness & Fitness™ program. April 2010.

(4) “Statin Drugs May Lower CoQ10 Levels,” About.com. Alternative Medicinehttp://altmedicine.about.com/od/consumerreviewsalerts/a/statins_coq10.htm

June 27, 2008.

Additional articles that may be of help

A. WebMD.
http://www.webmd.com/cholesterol-management/side-effects-of-statin-drugs

B. Prevention.
http://www.prevention.com/health/health/health-concerns/10-ways-to-lower-cholesterol/article/33b872e50d803110VgnVCM10000013281eac____

C. CBS Evening News.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/05/24/eveningnews/main619351.shtml

D. NCBI. Pubmed.gov

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19159124

WMC Business Services, LLC is deeply saddened to see the destruction and continued hardships in the nation of Japan. As members of the staff have spent time in the region being affect and know people in the region, we wanted to do our part in aiding those in need.

Even with our thoughts and minds on the people in the Tohoku region and Japan as a whole, the damage done is quite large. Follow the link to donate money to the Red Cross for the relief efforts.

Donate to Red Cross

If you have another donation in mind, we would encourage everyone to donate. Every little bit helps. We would advise those who are seeking to help to make sure you’re donating to reputable relief funds to make sure the money actually gets to the people in need.

(Disclaimer: WMC Business Services, LLC is not affiliated with the Red Cross nor any possible subsidiaries. Posting is out of convenience for those that wish to donate to the current disaster relief fund and for no other reason.)

It’s our goal to make things easier and better for the people serve. We would like to officially introduce the new website for everyone today.  We’ve simplified the navigation so that you get to the information you need faster and quick. After all, who has time to spend all day search anymore.

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