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We believe the concept of balance is an important guiding principle for healthy and happy everyday living. The idea of balance has so many applications ranging from our diets (sure greens are important but a little dessert is yummy too) to work/life strategies (hard work is part of the American dream but surely we can also learn from the European approach to vacations). A balanced mind is perhaps most important and often the hardest thing to achieve as we are often so busy/ stressed/ worried that we fail to enjoy our life experiences to the fullest.

Periodically through our Good Elements blogs and health tips we will try to address strategies that have helped us to be in better position to achieve this balance. Because balance and happiness mean different things to different people, we will also try to point out things that speak to us and inspire us as we hope they may also inspire you.

The Last Lecture

Last September a computer science professor named Randy Pausch rose to worldwide fame after his inspiring lecture entitled Achieving Your Childhood Dreams. This lecture, given in September 2007, was part of a series at Carnegie Mellon in Pittsburgh where professors were invited to give a lecture on any topic they choose were this to be their “Last Lecture”. While Professor Pausch is a fantastic lecturer, what made this one particularly poignant was he had recently been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and this lecture would in fact, really be one of his last.

The lecture is a heartwarming, educational and inspirational discussion that is unique in its approach as it does not dwell on Professor Pausch’s certain death sentence but instead on the life he has lived and the lessons learned. Professor Pausch was a professor at our alma mater the University of Virginia and watching this entertaining video makes us want to go back to our days as students to be inspired by great minds like his or perhaps to someday become an inspirational professor ourselves.

Professor Pausch passed away on Friday, ten months after this lecture.

Please click on the link below to access the video. It is approximately 75 minutes long, but we believe it is worth the effort, enjoy.

The Last Lecture Video

As we all know low fat diets are so 90’s, starving yourself is not sustainable and high fat Atkins type diets are not heart healthy. What works?
Take note on the following up-to-date metabolism boosting diet pearls:
Comprise your meals of mostly vegetables and protein.
Half your plate should be brightly colored vegetables (spinach, kale, red peppers, broccoli) and the other half; good quality protein (eggs, tofu, chicken, turkey, fish, beef) . Eat left over dinner for breakfast.
Stabilize your blood sugar so not to pack on the pounds and sizes
Avoid the blood sugar crash of energy drinks and caffeine. Eliminate simple sugars and artificial sweeteners.
Artificial sweeteners have been shown to cause increased sugar rebound cravings. Research has shown an increase in cravings 2-3 hours after consuming sugar substitutes such as sweet n’ low, equal, or splenda. This is a good marketing strategy for those artificial sweetener companies but not a good element for your weight or health.
Incorporate thermogenic foods into your daily eating regiment
Cayenne, Ginger, Mustard Seeds, Cumin Seeds, Cinnamon, GreenTea, Hot Peppers, Citrus Fruits especially Lemon, and Apple Cider Vinegar.
Optimize your digestion to break down your food properly in order for your cells to utilize the nutrients in your foods
Chew well, take apple cider vinegar before each meal, eat in a relaxed setting and breathe while you eat.

Here’s the good news, you have help! Good Element’s Craving Control can assist you in all of these healthy weight management strategies.

Yours in health,
Dr. Britta Zimmer
Chief Naturopathic Physician & Founder

Many patients and parents ask me “what does healthy eating really mean?” To answer this question concisely I tell them about my daughter’s diet. My husband and I have had the insight and ability to establish exemplary eating habits for her.

Her meals include the following four elements, mostly organic of course.

A protein: chicken sausage, sliced turkey, tofu, eggs.

A whole grain: brown rice, quinoa, rice noodles, corn pasta.

A vegetable: broccoli, green beans, kale, cucumbers.

A good fat: nuts, goat cheese, wild fish.

She eats very little wheat and dairy because these are common food sensitivities in both adults and children.

She does not eat sugar, drink juice or eat fried foods (unless she catches dad eating french fries- hey we all slip at times) If I give her yogurt she eats plain yogurt with no added sugar. She has never had anything else so she does not know about sugar-laden yogurts and she loves the plain yogurt flavor.

She never has juice unless she is drinking from a straw plopped into a fresh coconut. Coconut water tastes like juice and it is loaded with electrolytes and nutrients. Coconut water, similar in pH to that of blood, was used as IV solution during world war II, as a fluid replacement and as a aid to elderly, and ill.

We have never introduced the concept of dessert to her and we certainly do not use sugary foods as rewards for her. Her special treats are chewable multivitamins, strawberry flavored chewable fish oils, and raisins.

Of course she is exposed to many unhealthy foods at school (although she always eats a homemade lunch) and at friends’ houses but she has little taste for these types of “bad foods. She tries only a little and then passes them up.

If we have the insight and ability to feed our children well can’t we attempt to feed ourselves well at least during the weekdays. And if you are not feeding your children well then use these tips to change some habits slowly, one day at a time.

We all will benefit.

Yours in health,

Dr. Britta Zimmer

Chief Naturopathic Physician & Founder

When you hear the word side effects usually you think of the common negative side effects of pharmaceutical drugs such as drowsiness from common allergy medications, sleeplessness from anti-depressant drugs, ulcers from anti-inflammatory medications. Imagine receiving beneficial side effects from a therapeutic drug. This is often the case when taking vitamins, minerals, and herbs. These natural substances have a myriad of beneficial properties.

Take green tea as an example, the antioxidant rich polyphenols in green tea protect your cells from damage, can prevent cancer formation, and give your metabolism a boost. I obviously think green tea is amazing that’s why I put it in three of our formulas. Studies have shown that in order to get the therapeutic benefits of green tea one must drink eight Japanese sized tea cups of properly steeped green tea. Now that is equivalent to five “American” sized mugs which is not practical for many people on a daily basis

Also consider alpha lipoic acid, which is in Good Elements anti-antioxidant / anti-aging formula, potential side effects include liver cell protection, blood sugar regulation and blood pressure decreasing. Alpha lipoic acid has been used successfully for the treatment of hepatitis C, diabetes and hypertension.

Turmeric, a powerful anti-inflammatory herb, can boast the side effects of cancer protection and liver cell protection but you also must beware of turmeric decreasing annoying allergy symptoms as well as muscular-skeletal pain. Not bad.

This is why I love my job. I prescribe a fish oil supplement for an eczematous skin reaction but I must warn my patient that fish oil’s potential side effects could improve their cholesterol profile and decrease overall inflammation and pain in their body.

I have to emphasize an important point here. Please do not think just because the ingredient is natural it is safe because that is not always the case. Take the example of fish oil above, fish oil also has blood thinning effects which is great if your stroke risk is high but if you are about to undergo surgery you do not want to be taking extra blood thinning agents due to the risk of bleeding too much during surgery. Receive the correct information about possible nutrient-drug interactions from a licensed physician. The best thing to do is stay well informed and empowered to make your own decisions.

Yours in health,

Dr. Britta Zimmer

Chief Naturopathic Physician & Founder