Hi folks,
Well, summer is in full swing... but how do you have confidence about having fun in the sun safely, especially after the news this week of increased skin cancer in young women?
Check out the scoop about safe sunscreens at Mercola.com. He reports on a new investigation of sunscreens by The Environmental Working Group, as well as sharing insights of his own. This includes his conclusion that natural sunscreens are your safest bet after a moderate amount of non-sunscreen sun time. He also tells you which ingredients to avoid in sunscreens.
For more info, go to: http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/07/01/four-out-of-five-sunscreens-may-be-hazardous-to-your-health.aspx?source=nl
By the way, I try to get about 10-20 minutes of sun a day, for the vitamin D! It's a great excuse to take a break from your desk and enjoy the great outdoors.
To your health!
Robin Quinn, CNHP
Health writer and educator
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Friday, May 30, 2008
Having "Breakfast" with Bubba - Oh the Magic of Music Therapy!
I was heading down the Santa Monica Freeway during the morning rush-hour. Business was busy, but I had no choice about being on the road at traffic's slowest time. I needed a distraction. That's when I punched in 88.1 - our publically supported jazz station in Los Angeles - and to my delight discovered the show "Breakfast with Bubba."
Wow! - piece after piece of most spirit-lifting music started coming through my dash. It was like therapy in motion. Amazing... healing... in a word, wonderful!!!
When you need a change in mood, want to release some difficult emotions, or feel like a quick burst of dancing, tune in to music that suits your purpose. Sometimes, we want t0 purge our pain, so maybe we'd listen to some moving somber classical music to let out some tears. Or maybe like my other morning, you want to access your joy and just need a little help getting there.
My mood was completely changed for the good by the time I got to my appointment. And yes, I couldn't help by do a little dancing in my seat along the way.
88.1 is currently in their fundraising drive period - if you're a jazz lover or tune into "Breakfast with Bubba" and love it as much as I did, why not contribute?
More info at:
http://www.jazzandblues.org/
"Breakfast with Bubba Jackson" - 6 to 9 am Pacific Coast Time
At 88.1 in Los Angeles, but also available through your mobile phone via the web.
Namaste,
Robin Quinn, CNHP
Health writer and educator
Wow! - piece after piece of most spirit-lifting music started coming through my dash. It was like therapy in motion. Amazing... healing... in a word, wonderful!!!
When you need a change in mood, want to release some difficult emotions, or feel like a quick burst of dancing, tune in to music that suits your purpose. Sometimes, we want t0 purge our pain, so maybe we'd listen to some moving somber classical music to let out some tears. Or maybe like my other morning, you want to access your joy and just need a little help getting there.
My mood was completely changed for the good by the time I got to my appointment. And yes, I couldn't help by do a little dancing in my seat along the way.
88.1 is currently in their fundraising drive period - if you're a jazz lover or tune into "Breakfast with Bubba" and love it as much as I did, why not contribute?
More info at:
http://www.jazzandblues.org/
"Breakfast with Bubba Jackson" - 6 to 9 am Pacific Coast Time
At 88.1 in Los Angeles, but also available through your mobile phone via the web.
Namaste,
Robin Quinn, CNHP
Health writer and educator
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
See you at the Los Angeles Times Book Fair this Sunday?
This weekend in Los Angeles will be all about books, as the LA Times sponsors its 13th annual Festival of Books at UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles).
I will be appearing there at the Book Publicists of Southern California booth from 11 am til noon on Sunday. The booth number is 106, right near the cooking stage.
Come by to say "hello!" or to ask any questions you might have about nutrition or the editing or writing of your books.
Looking forward to meeting some of you!
To your health,
Robin Quinn, CNHP
Health writer, editor and educator
P.S. To learn about the editorial side of my life, visit my other website www.writingandediting.biz.
I will be appearing there at the Book Publicists of Southern California booth from 11 am til noon on Sunday. The booth number is 106, right near the cooking stage.
Come by to say "hello!" or to ask any questions you might have about nutrition or the editing or writing of your books.
Looking forward to meeting some of you!
To your health,
Robin Quinn, CNHP
Health writer, editor and educator
P.S. To learn about the editorial side of my life, visit my other website www.writingandediting.biz.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Self-Help for Seasonal Allergies
It’s allergy season already… bringing sneezing, a runny nose, scratchy sore throat and watery eyes to millions of Americans. In fact, an estimated one in every six people in the U.S. is affected. If you’re one of them, you probably already know that the season is upon us because of such symptoms.
The overall state of your health, including the condition of your immune system, plays an important role in allergies, and this is actually good news. That means that with diligent self-care and other proactive measures, you can help to reduce or possibly even eliminate your symptoms. I’ve found that self-care is always so important with health issues, and seasonal allergies are no exception.
Here are some steps that can be beneficial.
o Reduce your exposure to toxins in general. When our bodies are overloaded with toxins from our food and environment, it has a hard time coping. Patricia Fitzgerald’s book, The Detox Solution, offers ideas for eliminating toxic ingredients from your diet, beauty products, office environment and home. You’ll find it on Amazon.com.
o Support your body with helpful supplements. Vitamin C and Echinacea/Goldenseal tinctures are known immunity boosters. In addition, cod liver oil or flax seed oil can provide further support. Probiotics are important for strong digestive health, and make you less vulnerable to food allergies which can also weaken your system.
o Be proactive about your exposure to pollen. Dry clothes in the dryer rather than the clothing line. Vacuum the house often. Exercise indoors or later in the day when the pollen count tends to be lower. Keep windows closed when driving. Keep track of the pollen counts for your city through the National Allergy Bureau stats provided on the website http://www.aaaai.org/nab/index.cfm or by finding another service by googling the web for your “city name” + “pollen count.” Weather sites often give pollen counts. I just discovered, for instance, that the pollen counts for Los Angeles today are through the roof!
o Stay well-hydrated. Drink plenty of water. This will help your body to stay in top shape and keep your mucus membranes moist, reducing allergic reactions.
Whole Foods is running a weekly podcast this month on seasonal allergies. The next installment will be posted on Monday. To learn about additional natural approaches to seasonal allergies, listen to their podcasts at: http://wholefoodsmarket.com/socialmedia/wholebody/ .
And if you want help with clearing toxins out of your diet, send me an email at dietlifestyleed@aol.com.
The overall state of your health, including the condition of your immune system, plays an important role in allergies, and this is actually good news. That means that with diligent self-care and other proactive measures, you can help to reduce or possibly even eliminate your symptoms. I’ve found that self-care is always so important with health issues, and seasonal allergies are no exception.
Here are some steps that can be beneficial.
o Reduce your exposure to toxins in general. When our bodies are overloaded with toxins from our food and environment, it has a hard time coping. Patricia Fitzgerald’s book, The Detox Solution, offers ideas for eliminating toxic ingredients from your diet, beauty products, office environment and home. You’ll find it on Amazon.com.
o Support your body with helpful supplements. Vitamin C and Echinacea/Goldenseal tinctures are known immunity boosters. In addition, cod liver oil or flax seed oil can provide further support. Probiotics are important for strong digestive health, and make you less vulnerable to food allergies which can also weaken your system.
o Be proactive about your exposure to pollen. Dry clothes in the dryer rather than the clothing line. Vacuum the house often. Exercise indoors or later in the day when the pollen count tends to be lower. Keep windows closed when driving. Keep track of the pollen counts for your city through the National Allergy Bureau stats provided on the website http://www.aaaai.org/nab/index.cfm or by finding another service by googling the web for your “city name” + “pollen count.” Weather sites often give pollen counts. I just discovered, for instance, that the pollen counts for Los Angeles today are through the roof!
o Stay well-hydrated. Drink plenty of water. This will help your body to stay in top shape and keep your mucus membranes moist, reducing allergic reactions.
Whole Foods is running a weekly podcast this month on seasonal allergies. The next installment will be posted on Monday. To learn about additional natural approaches to seasonal allergies, listen to their podcasts at: http://wholefoodsmarket.com/socialmedia/wholebody/ .
And if you want help with clearing toxins out of your diet, send me an email at dietlifestyleed@aol.com.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Are You Getting Your Share of Fresh Produce? 5 Tips for Eating More Raw Fruits & Veggies
Current anti-cancer recommendations tell us to eat 5 to 9 servings of fruits and vegetables every day. I recommend making as much as of this raw as possible for added benefits.
So how can we make this happen? Here are 5 strategies I use on a regular basis:
Tip #1. Stay stocked with fresh produce. I like to shop at the many farmers’ markets we have in Southern California for right-from-the-field produce. When I can’t get there, I might go to a neighborhood produce store, like Farmer Boy which carries only fresh California produce. Or I just stock up during my weekly shopping trip to the supermarket.
Tip #2. Aim for two pieces of fresh fruit a day. You could have half a grapefruit with breakfast, a chopped banana in your cereal, a pear or bunch of grapes for a mid-morning or mid-afternoon snack, or munch on a sliced apple (experiment with the many varieties!) for an evening treat a couple hours after dinner.
Tip #3. When dining out, substitute a salad for French Fries, rice or potato. Realize that it’s not only OK, but beneficial to have both a fresh raw salad AND cooked vegetables at a meal.
Tip #4. Have a salad as your main course for one of your meals most days. Use different combinations of vegetables, greens and other ingredients for your salads so you tantalize your taste buds and don’t get bored. During colder temperatures, go for nutritious and hearty soups or stews (even though the veggies are cooked) as your body will crave warm foods, and have a salad or other raw food item on the side.
Tip #5. Experiment with new recipes using raw ingredients. Yesterday I made an amazing Asian cucumber salad, using rice wine vinegar, soy sauce, sesame oil and fresh grated ginger. Author David Wolfe has many interesting raw recipes (such as Avocado Burritos) in his live-foods diet book, The Sunfood Diet Success System. There are many other raw books on the market that can give you additional ideas.
Here are some basic serving sizes to help you judge your produce consumption:
1 serving
1 cup of raw leafy salad greens
1/2 cup of raw chopped vegetables or fruit
One piece of medium-size fruit
Buy organic whenever you can!
Have fun and enjoy!
To your health!
Robin Quinn, CNHP
Health and Nutrition Educator
So how can we make this happen? Here are 5 strategies I use on a regular basis:
Tip #1. Stay stocked with fresh produce. I like to shop at the many farmers’ markets we have in Southern California for right-from-the-field produce. When I can’t get there, I might go to a neighborhood produce store, like Farmer Boy which carries only fresh California produce. Or I just stock up during my weekly shopping trip to the supermarket.
Tip #2. Aim for two pieces of fresh fruit a day. You could have half a grapefruit with breakfast, a chopped banana in your cereal, a pear or bunch of grapes for a mid-morning or mid-afternoon snack, or munch on a sliced apple (experiment with the many varieties!) for an evening treat a couple hours after dinner.
Tip #3. When dining out, substitute a salad for French Fries, rice or potato. Realize that it’s not only OK, but beneficial to have both a fresh raw salad AND cooked vegetables at a meal.
Tip #4. Have a salad as your main course for one of your meals most days. Use different combinations of vegetables, greens and other ingredients for your salads so you tantalize your taste buds and don’t get bored. During colder temperatures, go for nutritious and hearty soups or stews (even though the veggies are cooked) as your body will crave warm foods, and have a salad or other raw food item on the side.
Tip #5. Experiment with new recipes using raw ingredients. Yesterday I made an amazing Asian cucumber salad, using rice wine vinegar, soy sauce, sesame oil and fresh grated ginger. Author David Wolfe has many interesting raw recipes (such as Avocado Burritos) in his live-foods diet book, The Sunfood Diet Success System. There are many other raw books on the market that can give you additional ideas.
Here are some basic serving sizes to help you judge your produce consumption:
1 serving
1 cup of raw leafy salad greens
1/2 cup of raw chopped vegetables or fruit
One piece of medium-size fruit
Buy organic whenever you can!
Have fun and enjoy!
To your health!
Robin Quinn, CNHP
Health and Nutrition Educator
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Cha-Cha-Cha-Changes in Midlife
Went to a book group yesterday where Jane Jelenko was the visiting author. She’s a co-writer of the just released “Midlife Renewal” book, Changing Lanes.
It’s tough on both the body and the soul when your heart is not in your work or your current life doesn’t feel satisfying. So I think this book is worth mentioning here.
If you’re considering a midlife transition, check out Jelenko’s Changing Lanes. Both she and her co-author Susan Marshall are former “suits” who made career changes in their 50s. But their book tells more than these two women’s stories. It’s filled with rich insights and helpful advice, and the authors also interviewed 55 other “change artists” whose stories and wisdom are included.
“Sometimes making a change seems interminable,” said Jelenko to the book group. “At those points, it can help to be in that place of not knowing and decide to be OK with it.”
Being inspired by other successful “change artists” may be just what “the doctor” needs to order.
Warm regards,
Robin Quinn, CNHP
Health and Nutrition Educator
It’s tough on both the body and the soul when your heart is not in your work or your current life doesn’t feel satisfying. So I think this book is worth mentioning here.
If you’re considering a midlife transition, check out Jelenko’s Changing Lanes. Both she and her co-author Susan Marshall are former “suits” who made career changes in their 50s. But their book tells more than these two women’s stories. It’s filled with rich insights and helpful advice, and the authors also interviewed 55 other “change artists” whose stories and wisdom are included.
“Sometimes making a change seems interminable,” said Jelenko to the book group. “At those points, it can help to be in that place of not knowing and decide to be OK with it.”
Being inspired by other successful “change artists” may be just what “the doctor” needs to order.
Warm regards,
Robin Quinn, CNHP
Health and Nutrition Educator
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
What's for Dinner? According to the FDA, Cloned Meat!
For me, the disgusted look on the news anchor's face yesterday told the whole story as he introduced the cloned food segment on the evening news. Is meat and milk from cloned animals safe for human consumption? Yes, announced the FDA after years of review. "These products are no different than foods from traditionally bred animals," commented Bruce I. Knight, an Under Secretary at the US Department of Agriculture.
My questions are the following... just because we have a technology does that mean we have to use it? What's wrong with the meat and dairy products that we already have available? Is there really a way to know that this food is no different, or will we simply become the guinea pigs and learn the dangers later?
It could be more than two to three years before such foods reach our grocery stores. Meanwhile the cloned animals will be used more for breeding what is believed to be superior stock. The FDA plans no labeling of these products because they have concluded they pose no safety issues.
If you object to cloned food products, write to:
FDA Commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach MD
Food and Drug Administration
5630 Fishers Lane, Rm 1061
Rockville, MD 20852
Organizations that have been working on this issue include:
The Center for Food Safety, http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/
The Center for Environmental Health, http://www.cehca.org/
Amazed at our wacky world,
Robin Quinn
Health and Nutrition Educator
My questions are the following... just because we have a technology does that mean we have to use it? What's wrong with the meat and dairy products that we already have available? Is there really a way to know that this food is no different, or will we simply become the guinea pigs and learn the dangers later?
It could be more than two to three years before such foods reach our grocery stores. Meanwhile the cloned animals will be used more for breeding what is believed to be superior stock. The FDA plans no labeling of these products because they have concluded they pose no safety issues.
If you object to cloned food products, write to:
FDA Commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach MD
Food and Drug Administration
5630 Fishers Lane, Rm 1061
Rockville, MD 20852
Organizations that have been working on this issue include:
The Center for Food Safety, http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/
The Center for Environmental Health, http://www.cehca.org/
Amazed at our wacky world,
Robin Quinn
Health and Nutrition Educator
Friday, January 4, 2008
Losing Weight in 2008! A Startling Incentive
Is becoming healthier, eating better, or losing weight among your goals for the New Year? To support you, I thought I’d pass along a wonderful resource for learning how to achieve all of these goals – the "Nutrition Action" newsletter, which is published by the consumer advocacy group, the Center for Science in the Public Interest (www.cspinet.org/). CSPI is a very important group. They have been around since 1971, working hard for you as an advocate and lobbyist for honest food labeling, healthy food ingredients, and consumer nutrition education. A yearly subscription to the newsletter is only $10 in the United States.
For many people, reaching an optimum weight is one of their New Year's resolutions. The cover article of the last issue of "Nutrition Action" gives you a powerful incentive – discovering that being overweight is an important factor in developing cancer. According to the Newsletter and a new report from the American Institute for Cancer Research/World Cancer Research Fund, maintaining your goal weight is the single most important factor in preventing cancer beyond quitting smoking!! Even a 5 to 10 percent loss in weight can make a difference.
If you need help and information for losing weight, consider signing up for my weight loss support program. To learn more, write to me at DietLifestyleEd@aol.com.
To your health, joy and prosperity in 2008!
Warmly,
Robin Quinn
Health and Nutrition Educator
For many people, reaching an optimum weight is one of their New Year's resolutions. The cover article of the last issue of "Nutrition Action" gives you a powerful incentive – discovering that being overweight is an important factor in developing cancer. According to the Newsletter and a new report from the American Institute for Cancer Research/World Cancer Research Fund, maintaining your goal weight is the single most important factor in preventing cancer beyond quitting smoking!! Even a 5 to 10 percent loss in weight can make a difference.
If you need help and information for losing weight, consider signing up for my weight loss support program. To learn more, write to me at DietLifestyleEd@aol.com.
To your health, joy and prosperity in 2008!
Warmly,
Robin Quinn
Health and Nutrition Educator
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