The Flu Bug is Bugging Me

No, I don't have the flu, nor am I ill in any way.  This flu season vaccine thing is just bugging me.  If there is a flu season, and its from Sept to March, where does the flu disappear to from April to August?  Is it hiding in the closet? Is it floating in mid air waiting for September?  Where is it and why don't people "catch" it during the summer?

These are the questions I have had for quite a few years actually.  I can't remember ever having influenza so I am no expert on the illness or how it makes you feel, but I have done some research on flu vaccine.   Understand, of course, that this is my own opinion, not to be used as any kind of medical advice. Flu vaccine is made available all over the northern hemisphere from Sept to March.  Some people in the business world are required and forced to be vaccinated, others who may be elderly or pregnant are recommended to get the vaccine and they do it.  According to the CDC, the flu vaccines are only 19% effective.  WHO and CDC get together and try to guess which flu strain will be coming in the next year so they can put together some sort of effective vaccine for that strain.  Then the real reason for the vaccine, MONEY.  They can sell the vaccine to you and me, (not me) and someone becomes wealthy. The vaccine is helpful to many but many more are just bothered with the side effects of the shot. According to Healthline. com, some of those include muscle aches, headache, fever, runny nose and sore throat, hmmm, sounds like the flu doesn't it?

So, back to the original question, where does the flu go in the summer? Gotcha!! It doesn't go anywhere!!  It's right here where it always is. It's just not growing and sharing its self with us as well as in the winter.  Cold air creates the ideal conditions for the influenza virus and it can survive better in the cold winter months so therefore, we "catch" it, and share it with each other.

What I would like to discuss now, is, how to lessen your chances of catching it or at least how to make it more tolerable.  Keeping your body healthy is the best vaccine.  Easy enough, right? Good Health is fairly cheap and doesn't take time out of your work week to lie in bed or visit a doctor. Eating healthy foods and getting plenty of rest can keep your body in shape for any season. 
Food gives your body the strength it needs to produce its own natural vaccines, and eating seasonal foods is even better.  For the month of September it's best to be eating apples, pears, peaches, apricots, and grapes,winter squash, pumpkins, sweet potatoes, carrots, and Jerusalem artichokes, all of which help to balance blood sugar and boost the immune system. Also, drink enough water to flush the system regularly.  A healthy gut is a healthy body.

The other vital part of remaining healthy during flu season, is the mind.  How do you react to flu advertisements?  The idea of advertising the flu is just not right folks.  It seems to me that we only advertise to make money, right? Then advertising the flu must mean someone stands to make money from it, right? But how do these ads effect the community in which they are playing around the country?  The power of suggestion is real. According to the Association for Psychological Science, "what we expect, influences our behavior for better or for worse".  As we hear and see the suggestions in articles and advertising for the "up and coming flu season", our mind will expect it and we will become ill.  Keeping a healthy outlook and a positive mind will help overcome these suggestions.  Know that your body is healthy, keep a positive attitude about life in general. Make an effort to do self talk each day and lift your spirits before starting out.  Exercise and meditation are excellent forms of mindfulness that can help you resist the power of suggestion and negativity that surround you everyday.  Be in tune with your own body. It knows what you need. More rest, more or different food, more water, or more fun.

The body is a powerful machine and it can resist. The healthier we are, the less likely we are to get the flu bug.  Keep a smile on your face and a positive thought in your mind and you are on your way to being the best that you can be. 

Best wishes for the week : )

July Newsletter from Ry's N Shine Wellness

To begin my adventure in a new office and a new business I wanted to start posting a newsletter each month with some not so profound but helpful ideas.  Each month I will include a new idea, a recipe, and a little bit of anything else I think will inspire the minds of those who want to be healthy and happy.

Some of you may be thinking, what on earth is Jodie doing now?

Well, I have been thinking, you just never know who will come into your life that you can help.  I want to be ready to help and I don't want to miss it.  I have been studying under professionally trained people to do what I do and that is give relief to the dis-eased and the uncomfortable.  I love this work I am doing and I just wanted to share.   Enjoy your day today and remember, Your Health is Your Wealth.

Check out my newsletter
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0ByMTDKnaGsF5TXBNUEVwQU8zWjQ/edit?usp=sharing

Mothers Day

Mothers Day has to be the most interesting day of the year.  We have children, we raise children, and they look to us for food. Except on Mothers Day when we become important enough to get the paper cup with a flower planted in it.

Then years pass and they start moving out on their own ad the cup with the flower turns into long distance phone calls and chatting about stuff. 

I wouldn't trade any of that for any amount of money.

The most interesting thing is that each one who called, asked about my "massage stuff". Thats what they call it. They want to know if I can fix their ailments or their diet issues or their lives in any way.  I am always so happy they ask. I have gone from food provider to health care provider.  That is the second noblest title that a woman can hold.  

A small gift from an amazing family. Thank you

A New You for Summer

Protein and Vegetables. A meal in one dish.

This is one of my favorite recipes because I can make it and it's the entire meal. The kids like it too!

Black Bean Salad with Corn, Red Peppers and Avocado in a Lime-Cilantro Vinaigrette

By Jennifer Segal

Servings: 6-8

Total Time: 30 Minutes

Ingredients

• 2 15-ounce cans black beans, rinsed and drained
• 3 ears fresh cooked corn, kernels cut off the cob
• 2 red bell peppers, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons minced shallots, from one medium shallot
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 9 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, best quality such as Colavita
• 1 teaspoon lime zest (be sure to zest limes before juicing them)
• 6 tablespoons fresh lime juice
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro, plus more for garnish
• 2 Hass avocados, chopped

Instructions

1. Combine all ingredients except for avocados in a large bowl and mix well. Cover and chill for a few hours or overnight. Right before serving, add avocados and mix gently, being careful not to mash avocados. Garnish with a more chopped cilantro if desired. Serve at room temperature.

The Small Things

I thought this might be a good place to practice talking about me.  I am so bad at this.  I can brag on other people and how good they are at things, but I can never talk about myself.  So, having said that, I wanted to start with a small thing.  About 2 weeks ago I had a friend come and visit for a few days.  I haven't had a lot of opportunities to practice what I know on anyone except my husband and kids. I noticed she had a joint brace on her elbow when she arrived but didn't speak of it much.  The next day I got my brand new Touch for Health chart in the mail and she was looking at it with me and we were discussing natural healing and good eating choices and so on, so she asked if I could do anything for her arm.  YESSSS!!!!  A new victim!!  I used my awesome Reiki skills on it and told her to take the brace off so it wouldn't rub a sore on her arm.  She held it still for the rest of the day and that evening we worked on it again.  She is so funny, she said, "I can't believe I just went to bed and right to sleep.  I haven't slept without that arm waking me for several days."  I don't know if she was amazed that it worked or amazed that I could do it.
I love doing what I do for people.  When they feel better because of some little something I can do for them, it gives me great feeling.

"...out of small things proceedeth that which is great."

Yummy Blueberry Cobbler

4 cups frozen or fresh blueberries

3/4 c honey

4 tbsp butter

1 cup quick oats

In sauce pan mix blueberries and 1/2 c honey and 2 tbsp butter. Cook until thick

In seperate bowl mix oats, 1/4 c honey and remaining butter. Mix til crumbly. Pour cooked blueberries into 6" square dish and cover with oat mixture.  Bake at 375 degrees 25 min. Serves 4.