You can download or order this handy booklet on the DASH diet. DASH stands for Dietary
Approaches to Stop Hypertension. This is a diet plan devised for lowering your blood pressure. Since I have high blood pressure, I downloaded it. It has a 7 day diet plan, a food diary page for keeping track, and a nice little nutrition guide. There are recipes including Turkey Meat loaf, chicken and spanish rice, scallion rice, salad dressings, etc. All in all a very handy guide and a good diet for just about anyone, whethere you are trying to lose weight, lower your BP, or just eat healthy foods.
What have you been up to this summer? I've been rooting for Olympic Atheletes, working, entertaining my kids, and trying to cook healthy food.
My Crohn's is in the category of slightly flaring" right now. I am just hanging in there but doing ok. It could be worse, right?
I am eagerly awaiting the next issue of Crohn's Advocate Magazine, where I will be featured along with author Michael Weiss of HospitalPatient.com. I will let you know when it comes out. Here's a link to subscribe if you would like the print copy of the magizine. It's a good magazine with a lot of great stories of folks with Crohn's. Subscribe to Crohn's Advocate.
Here is also a link to Michael's book on Amazon. I haven't read it yet, but he's a great guy - very serious and funny at the same time.
Have ypu ever seen his Late Night Crohn's Commercial Parody - it is hysterical!
I found this great feauture on CNN Health where you can add all your medications to a "medicine cabinet" and it tells you all of the interactions and warnings. Considering the amount of meds that the average Crohn's patient is taking... this is a good resource.
What's in your medicine cabinet?
It states on the page that the information content is provided by: 
The Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA) is having their Atlanta Chapter's annual fund raising walk on June 9th at the Georgia World Congress Center.
Thegroup has a Atlanta Take Steps for Crohn's & Colitis Walk web page.
Today is World IBS Day. Post to Facebook, Twitter or just tell your friends. The Twitter hash tag we want to get trending is #WorldIBDDay. Worldwide, five million people live with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, conditions known as inflammatory bowel disease.
Let's get more awareness!
Here's a great way - the company that makes GoodBelly probiotic juices is donating $1 to the CCFA (Crohns and Colitis Foundation of America) for every share on Facebook or Twitter. They have a little program so all you have to do is a few of mouse clicks.
Healthline.com has selected Crohn's Disease Relief as one of the 11 best Crohn's Blogs on the web. Look - I even get a badge to put on my site. :-) It really means a lot to me when I get feedback on my essays and posts. Of all the blogging I do, this one means the most to me because I feel like I might be helping someone have a better day. Even if it's just a laugh or the feeling that someone else is going through the struggle. When we stick together we are more powerful, informed, and empowered - and to me that is what health blogging is all about.
 Healthline |
It's only awkward if you let it be. - Silvia Donahue
This is a nice list of quotes about awkwardness. Having Crohn's Disease is totally awkward. You are always looking for a bathroom to begin with! It doesn't get any more awkward than that.
Then there's trying to explain to people what you have. It has an ugly name, an ugly set of symptoms... and just goes from there. LOL! I guess we just have to laugh and embrace the awkward.
1. Keep it real. I have learned that everyone is going through stuff in life. If you share (within reason) yourself and your fears and anxieties, it helps bridge the gap between people. It helps make friendships, and it makes you more empathetic of other people's troubles and situations. Listen when other people share their feelings. Share yours. Make a connection. You don't need to always pretend that everything is perfect.
2. Let it go. Sometimes you have to just not care about other people's drama, troublemaking, juding, and just plain jerkyness. Some people will never be happy and you can't change that. Shrug it off and don't let the miserable people bring you down. Try to develop a thick skin because a$$holes are everywhere and you can't totally avoid them. Be the better person and you will come out ahead. Don't stoop to their level or get involved in the drama.