Sunday, November 30, 2008

Dancing to Fitness - For new moms

It is most ironic that just when a woman needs to get back in shape the most (after giving birth), she has the least time and energy for it. The new baby takes over every aspect of life and basically monopolizes all the time and energy. Most new moms are chronically under-rested and under-slept. So even when they ever get to tear away from their little bundle of joy, the scarce "time out" is usually filled with chores or needing to spend time with husband/family/friends.
But what about the new mom herself???

As a new mom, I understand the situation first hand. I am a working mom, who cooks all her family's meals, does laundry, shops for groceries and does all the usual home chores. All this on about 4-5 hours of interrupted sleep each night.

It is worth noting that in addition to the 6+ months of stretch in the waistline that average pregnancy brings, the post partum lack of sleep, helps keep the waistline pounds on through release of stress hormones. The other nasty side effect of sleep deprivation is limited ability to concentrate. Concentration is very important in keeping a regular, committed exercise routine. Any jogger will tell you that it is mental focus which keeps them going when lungs and legs feel like giving up.

So what's the good news?

The good news is that you can work around your baby and the hectic schedule it brings. Turning the virtual homebound existence of a new parent (at least in winter months) into an asset, is as easy as deciding on a routine that you can do on your living room floor, without equipment. DANCE! Babies love music and they love even more to see their mommies next to them. Why not bring these two elements together and include your baby in your exercise dance routine as audience. I can tell you that my 8 month old son loves to stand in his little walker and watch me dance for him as he enjoys and takes in the music, my movements, and even tries to move in imitation. When he is old enough to walk, he may join me, but for now I dance solo.

In terms of music style, it is best to pick music that gets you moving. However, keep in mind that reggae beat is about 60 beats per minute which is similar to heartbeat; this is trus of roots rock reggae, not dancehall. So for very young babies 3 months or less, it will be very soothing as it will remind them of mom’s heartbeat, which they came to be accustomed to in uterus. My son, for example, loves Blues. Try to stretch before and after your dance routine and if you manage to keep your dance going for 15-25 minutes you will work up a nice sweat.

Choosing an exercise routine that is congruent with your schedule and lifestyle will have the most longevity and therefore most beneficial results and impact on your health. I tried gyms, jogs in the park and mommy-and-me yoga, but none lasted because they all required leaving home at certain time, travelling to certain destination, etc. But since your baby is your boss, at least for the first two years of his life, he does not usually cooperate with your other commitments. As they say: If you can’t fight them, join them. So let your baby join you on the dance floor of your home and see yourself transform back into more limber, slimmer and upbeat you, again!

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Thanksgiving - De Light

Happy Thanksgiving to all. Hopefully the meals were healthfully filling.

Here is a diet afterthought to Thanksgiving 2008.

Lets take traditional T-day dishes: turkey itself, stuffing, yams, casseroles, sides, cakes, pies.......

Turkey is traditionally marinated. To make the bird most optimal on preparation time, taste, and nutritional excellence, it is best to consider the following ingredients:

  • something acidic - lemon juice or wine vinegar (both in moderation),
  • extra virgin olive oil,
  • cilantro and/ or dill
  • honey and/or sweet-n-sour sauce
  • a little brown mustard, cinnamon, nutmeg, rosemary.

Preferably marinate for 48 hours, but 24 will do as well. The idea in this marinade recipe is that zesty flavors and aromatic spices replace need for salt and processed flavorings. You get good flavor without shoortenings and grase.

Regarding sides, traditionally full of sugar, oil, grease, processed carbs, we can simplify and healthify them all.

"..stuffing, yams, casseroles, sides, cakes, pies..." -

  • Low carb stuffing alternative can be made of butternut squash steamed and cut into small slices and whole wheat couscous (flavored with cinnamon, ginger, honey, carrots ). Squash to couscous 70/30 ratio.
  • Sweet potatoes (yams) can be boiled, peeled, cut, flavored with nutmeg and cinnamon. You can add a little margerine and a can of peaches (lite syrup). Then crisp it all up on high flame for 10-15 minutes
  • Sides - Make cole slaw (fat-free mayo) or sauteed string beans with fresh garlic and splash of teryaki to replace high carb or high fat sides. Brussel sprouts is another great side veggie.
  • Cakes and pies may easily be replaced with a season fruit cup, - boiled, peeled, diced sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce whole berries, fresh raspberries, honey, flavored with ginger and cinnamon powders, sauted together for about 5 minutes. Top with soy ice cream.
Perhaps next T-day you will try some of these cooking themes in your holiday meal or every day. Our meal above is plentyful. We can top it off with fresh salad dressed in lemon juice and olive oil with cherry tomatoes, baby greens and avocadoes. Keeping healthy is not about taking away food, but replacing unhealthy foods with better alternatives. So enjoy to your health!

Shula Fink is the editor-in-chief of the daily investment newsletter REAL WEALTH RECON. For 2008, the Real Wealth Recon portfolio is outperforming the three major indices by 25%, and the average hedge fund by 10%. For $99 a year, you get a daily market commentary, instant emails for every trade we make, total access to the Real Wealth Recon portfolio, and a weekly review of the major articles published around the world. Join the elite investors who are making money this year, and tell Wall Street: YOU ARE FIRED!

Sesame Seared Tuna – Recipe

Sesame Seared Tuna – Recipe

25 minutes prep time

1.5 lb of fresh tuna (cut into steak medallions) 6-7 tbsp sesame seeds
1 tbsp ground ginger and 1 tbsp of curry powder
2 tbsp bbq sauce
Whole head of fresh garlic (minced)
¼ cup of oil
Fresh dill (quarter bunch; minced)
Soy flour -1 cup

Tuna must be marinated in ginger, bbq sauce, curry and sesame seeds. Pre-heat the pan with oil and minced garlic to sizzle. Drain access moisture, set it aside in a container, and roll the individual pre-marinated tuna medallions in soy flour with as little excess moisture as possible. Cook on high flame, uncovered 4-5 minutes on each side. Right before turning off flame, add minced dill on top of tuna. When tuna browns a little, splash in the marinate you set aside, but make sure its just enough to sizzle.

Enjoy with a side of steamed veggies or sweet potato.

Shula Fink is the editor-in-chief of the daily investment newsletter REAL WEALTH RECON. For 2008, the Real Wealth Recon portfolio is outperforming the three major indices by 25%, and the average hedge fund by 10%. For $99 a year, you get a daily market commentary, instant emails for every trade we make, total access to the Real Wealth Recon portfolio, and a weekly review of the major articles published around the world. Join the elite investors who are making money this year, and tell Wall Street: YOU ARE FIRED!

Folk Remedy for Cold & Flu

Here is some advice from folk medicine which is very befitting during cold and flu season.

If you experience congestion (nasal, +), here is a remedy:

Boil 3 potatoes (make sure they are brown, thick skin potatoes). When fully boiled (about 20 min, depending on amount of water used*). Take the pot off the stove, use the thick towel or light blanket to cover your head as you inhale the vapor. Keep your face about 1 foot away from the pot, and do about 4-5 inhalation sessions with 1-2 min intervals to come up for fresh air, as the vapor is very hot and can only be tolerated for about 1-2 minutes. In total you get 5-10 minutes of vapor from potato skin which posessess a certain curative quality and causes expulsion of mucus. So at the end of the inhalation session you should feel congestion break and mucus expulsion will occur.

Try to stay warm after the session as it opens up your pores to cold. (Doing before going to bed or to sleep is most effective!). Stay Healthy and be Well.

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Brussel Sprouts - Recipe

Brussel Sprouts Sweet, Hot and Sour – sauteed for 20 minutes


(Makes a great side dish or topping for couscous, rice or polenta)

2 lbs of brussel sprouts (quartered)
Large onion (diced)
6 garlic cloves
¼ lb of baby carrots (quartered)
Honey, ketchup, mustard – 2 tbs. each
1 tbs. hot sauce
1 bunch of fresh cilantro (diced; add at the last minute of cooking)
¼ cup vegetable oil
Combine oil, onion and garlic in a pan and let brown for 5-7 min. Add carrots to the pan for 5 minutes. Then add brussel sprouts pre-marinated in honey, ketchup, hot sauce and mustard. Enjoy!

Shula Fink is the editor-in-chief of the daily investment newsletter REAL WEALTH RECON. For 2008, the Real Wealth Recon portfolio is outperforming the three major indices by 25%, and the average hedge fund by 8%. For $99 a year, you get a daily market commentary, instant emails for every trade we make, total access to the Real Wealth Recon portfolio, and a weekly review of the major articles published around the world. Join the elite investors who are making money this year, and tell Wall Street: YOU ARE FIRED!

Sunday, November 23, 2008

Positive Thinking - Power to Create Your World

One of the benefits of sunlight, which we have discussed here previously, is its positive, uplifting effects on mood. But sun comes and goes with changing hours and seasons. So the source of our inner light, to make it permanent, is result of work we do on ourselves. Spiritually and psychologically we should work on ourselves to be at the level where we can create our private sunlight within. To most of us that light comes from faith. Whatever may be our source, the sunlight of positive thinking within us is perhaps the most important component of our health.

It is very significant to appreciate this thought: We have the power to create our own world through the vantage point we choose to view it. Our attitude dictates the attitudes of others toward us. The people we attract into our lives or how people treat us, is direct result of what we project. Positive thinking enables us to create a positive world. Think about it: start off on the right foot with neighbors or co-workers, and coming home or going to work is that much more pleasant. Smiling and saying "thank you", usually elicit the same response. And the opposite is true, as well.


Of course, there is direct connection between well being and living positively. Stress levels are low for individual who chooses to surround himself by positive relationships and state of mind. Positive thinking is also an excellent stress reducer. Thinking that everything will work out and not fail, looking at life as mainly good instead of focus on shortcomings, - these and more are all stress reducing factors, which we have complete control over; they are literally in our head, in our decision to view our world a certain way. Among the many benefits of low stress life are lower blood pressure, healthy sleep and appetite, and greater sense of joy. Just being happy!

Sure, life can be bumpy. Sometimes we make decisions we wish we could undo, but regret never accomplishes anything, its a wasted, empty emotion. When we experience setbacks, it is important to remain in positive state of mind and think clearly and rationally in order to make the most of any opportunity in life that comes our way. A friend once told me her perspective on failed attempts in life, - "you just learned how not to do something, it was still a learning experience!" This may seem humorous but it is in fact important to remember that we make our own sunshine, even on the darkest of nights. To keep that light going, we must feed it light from all we do, as for instance, in our interaction with other people - we greet them, they greet us back, we say good, encouraging words, they will pass on back same to us. Kindness goes a long way.

For those of us, whose source of light is faith, think of it as bringing light from Above into this world each time you do a good deed. Like when you give charity, or act charitably, or when you just do smallest acts of kindness toward strangers coming your way, or people in your life. We will continue to revisit this topic in the upcoming issues as it is significant to keep it in the overall wellness perspective. After all, it is positive thinking that gives us that most motivational “Yes, I can” attitude, and that is in fact what drives us to excel from within in life.

Shula Fink is the editor-in-chief of the daily investment newsletter REAL WEALTH RECON. For 2008, the Real Wealth Recon portfolio is outperforming the three major indices by 25%, and the average hedge fund by 10%. For $99 a year, you get a daily market commentary, instant emails for every trade we make, total access to the Real Wealth Recon portfolio, and a weekly review of the major articles published around the world.
Join the elite investors who are making money this year, and tell Wall Street: YOU ARE FIRED!

Sunlight and Human Health

Sunlight and human health alternative medicine

We often hear how it is healthy to be outdoors and get fresh air, but sunlight which we get outdoors has not been properly credited for its immense health benefits. Exposure to sunlight activates vitamin D in bloodstream, which in turn promotes absorption of calcium into bones. This is especially important for infants and young children during their growth and bone density development. In fact, the difference sun makes in the bones of a growing baby is visible. My friend's daughter was born bowlegged. As any concerned mom she took her to pediatricians and none offered a remedy that worked. Even orthopedic braces were suggested!, but she could not subject her infant to that. Finally she found a homeopathic practitioner who told her to keep the baby in the sunlight about 30 minutes a day for the duration of the summer and the bones would straighten on their own. My friend was very sceptical, but being that there were no other reasonable remedies offered, she followed this advice. At the end of two months of following the sun therapy, the baby's legs got visibly straighter. Even after the warm season ended and she could no longer enjoy the sun therapy, the bones proceeded to grow straight. Amazing!
Sun is also beneficial to seniors, whose bone mass tends to decline with age. The effect of sunlight on bones of seniors is not as drastic as seen in children, however. But since many seniors have arthritis, the warmths from the sun serves to relieve the arthritis pain.
One more important aspect of sunlight is that it raises a sense of well being by having uplifting effect on the mood. This is very significant for seniors. There have been studies in the past which showed that in nursing homes the highest mortality rates are in the late autumn and winter, the months of least sunlight. This is why so many of our elderly enjoy their golden years in Florida. But as it turns out, such climate is not only pleasant, its beneficial to them and promotes longevity.

With declining ozone levels, sun exposure has received bad reputation in recent years. We get warned all the time that it's harmful, causes age spots, agesthe skin, and even increases risk of skin cancer. These concerns may apply to sun abusers. We all have seen the most extreme of them on cruises, Florida beaches, or at Caribbean resorts, super -browned people with otherwise fair features and skin. As with almost all things, in moderation, sun is very healthy for the skin, boosting elements within which in turn cause skin to feel tighter, and appear fresher, more radiant.

So go out there and enjoy the sun on your skin, feel it uplift your spirit, and feel the benefits beneath the skin, in your bones!

Shula Fink is the editor-in-chief of the daily investment newsletter REAL WEALTH RECON. For 2008, the Real Wealth Recon portfolio is outperforming the three major indices by 25%, and the average hedge fund by 8%. For $99 a year, you get a daily market commentary, instant emails for every trade we make, total access to the Real Wealth Recon portfolio, and a weekly review of the major articles published around the world.
Join the elite investors who are making money this year, and tell Wall Street: YOU ARE FIRED!

The Best Health Insurance Is Prevention

Welcome to our health and wellness site!
Alternative medicine is generally grouped with homeopathy, folk medicine, herb and root therapies, and such. It is likewise relevant to view massage and meditative exercises as part of alternative medicine. Alternative essentially comprises holistic, non-invasive healing practices. This topic will be further written about in the upcoming issues as we feel it is very important to bring this information to the people.
The most effective alternative medicines are fruits, veggies, and home-cooking! Why? Because they are most sure to prevent or minimize need for any medicine, if made part of healthy long-term lifestyle. Healthy and tasty are not opposites! And, small portions are not as necessary when you eat mainly veggies and when your meals are as low in fat, sodium and cholesterol , as you make it, literally. You can enjoy your food without guilt. Being healthy makes you feel good, prolongs your life, -- and saves you thousands a year on health bills!

In a time when there are over 45,000,000 uninsured people (and climbing), along with promulgation of weight and diet-related illnesses such as heart disease and diabetes, it is important to be reminded that diet is what largely determine our weight while digestive track contains the bulk of our immune system.

Therefore, healthy eating and good general wellness habits are pivotal in staying healthy. We believe that the best cure is prevention. Here we are committed to promotion of healthy eating, home- cooking recipes and general wellness topics. Medical insurance and pharmaceutical prescriptions are an extra safety net in helping us guard our health. The first essentials however, are in the cooking pot.

Wellness has become en vogue recently in the face of rising health-related costs. People are beginning to figure out that prevention is indeed best cure and best insurance of all. Wellness generally appeals to people looking for balanced healthy lifestyle, as opposed to extreme diets, or endless pharmaceutical “solutions in the bottle” with severe sideffects. In contrast to the stricter discipline of health, wellness is a holistic approach to nutrition, activity levels, well being, and stress management.

Here we would like to suggest a basic concept – looking at wellness as basically a heritage of generational, folk culture, which came from lifestyle much more in sync with nature by comparison to the current, environmentally destructive “development”. Entire human history, save for the last 80 years, people walked instead of driving, people home-cooked their meals instead of eating pre-made processed foods, and, ironically, they had more interpersonal contact with less communication devices. Let’s say change is good, but with regards to the above, poor diet from processed and fast foods, and low activity levels, are collectively what largely ails America today.

In this publication, we will explore options of healthier lifestyle, savings that come with elevated wellness, with no compromise between cost and quality as with expensive HMOs. The best health insurance is prevention! Here we will explore how simple changes in the way we do daily chores plus positive state of mind, will assure higher levels of well-being, health and longevity. Wellbeing leads to feelings of joy while fitness gives a sense of accomplishment. These are entirely available to all individuals and on this blog we will even show you how being and living healthy will save you money. For example, whole foods are cheaper then processed foods and health benefits resulting from eating these lead to reduced health bills. It literally pays to be healthy!

Meal preparation is essential part of saving money and controlling quality of foods. Cooking at home instead of eating in restaurants is part of a proactive low - fats, cholesterol and sodium diet. Food is of supreme importance in wellness. Bulk of our diet, about 80%, should consist of whole grains, fruits, veggies, minimally of meat or heavy dairy. Boiling our own grains, and veggies is not only cheaper by at least 3-4 times, - we get to control sodium and fat/oil intake, as well as cleanliness of food preparation.


We will post weekly recipes that are quick, cheap, healthy and accessible.
In addition to home-cooking articles, recipes and ideas, we will share advice on simple remedies for minor illnesses, thinking positively, health costs, snacks, light meals, walking, running, and keeping blood pressure low. Hope you will make weekly visit to our blog and become part of our wellness circle. We will be here with money-saving proactive health advice.


Recipe of the week:
Brussel Sprouts Sweet, Hot and Sour – sauteed for 20 minutes
(Makes a great side dish or topping for couscous, rice or polenta)

2 lbs of brussel sprouts (quartered)
Large onion (diced)
6 garlic cloves
4 tbs. of sweet and sour sauce
¼ lb of baby carrots (quartered)
Honey, ketchup, mustard – 2 tbs. each
1 tbs. hot sauce
1 bunch of fresh cilantro (diced; add at the last minute of cooking)
¼ cup vegetable oil

Combine oil, onion and garlic in a pan and let brown for 5-7 min. Add carrots to the pan for 5 minutes. Then add brussel sprouts pre-marinated in honey, ketchup, hot sauce and mustard. Enjoy!
Shula Fink is the editor-in-chief of the daily investment newsletter REAL WEALTH RECON. For 2008, the Real Wealth Recon portfolio is outperforming the three major indices by 25%, and the average hedge fund by 8%. For $99 a year, you get a daily market commentary, instant emails for every trade we make, total access to the Real Wealth Recon portfolio, and a weekly review of the major articles published around the world.
Join the elite investors who are making money this year, and tell Wall Street: YOU ARE FIRED!