HBC Blog

Simple Eating Changes with Huge Rewards

At  a Doctor’s visit earlier this year my wife I am were told by our family doctor that he would like to see our children lose a few pounds as they were carrying some extra weight. He had suggested better portion control in the meals they were eating.

After returning home my wife and were discussing our “plan of attack” to help our children lose the extra pounds they were carrying. We also admitted to ourselves that the two of us were carrying some extra weight. We immediately realized that portion control was not the answer and concluded that it was time for a lifestyle change for the whole family. 

We were in agreement that the foods we were consuming on a daily basis were not the best for all of us. We were living a life style that led us as adults to be obese, and our children were on that path.  Our biggest fear in making a dietary change was that our diet would consist of foods that were tasteless and un-enjoyable to consume.

We are happy to report that we were wrong. Eating healthy has been a pleasant change for our family. We have cut out carbonated beverages, Iced Tea, and carbohydrates. We have started drinking water primarily and also milk. Meals and snacks consist of fresh fruits, vegetables and meats. We have found the natural tastes of the foods we are eating now are more appealing then the way we were eating. We found lots of great meal and snack suggestions and recipes in the internal bliss cook book.

My family has been working on this diet strategy for three weeks and has been amazed on how easy it was to make the lifestyle change. I can report that in three weeks our family has lost a total of 29 pounds, we are eating healthier, and feel more energetic.  I can’t encourage anyone enough to make a lifestyle change as we did because it truly is easy to do and the rewards for a healthier life come easier than anyone could think.

Happy New Year! If you have set your resolution to lose weight a study from the University of Hong Kong may provide some added incentive.  They report that just 12 weeks of high-intensity resistance training with weights can reverse 12 years of muscle deterioration associated with natural aging.  Pound for pound, muscle will burn more calories than fat.  And if that isn’t enough, Dr. David Williams states in his September newsletter that increased physical activity was associated with an average 4 year weight change of negative 1.76 pounds in all groups in a New England Journal of Medicine study.  For maximum weight loss the best foods to avoid are potato chips, French fries, and soda.  Unfortunately 85 % of new years’ resolutions are abandoned by the third week in January.  So I hope that you are in the minority 15% and have an effective targeted plan to achieve your new year’s resolutions. 

Is your immune system ready for winter?  Have you prepared your cold and flu emergency kit?  It’s not too late to start taking some immune support on a daily basis to keep your body prepared for the long cold days ahead.  Just one Andrographis or Echinacea Complex tablet daily may help boost your body’s defense systems.  If you don’t have a homeopathic kit, you should consider keeping a bottle of Engystol and Gripp Heel available.  For children, Congaplex chewables in addition to their multi-vitamin can prepare them for what lies ahead.  Also watch the sugar intake with the coming Holidays; we know how it can weaken our immunity.  It’s also good to keep your Vitamin D level at an acceptable level.  Not sure what your level is; check out www.vitamindcouncil.org.  They offer a single or multi Vitamin D level test kit for home use.  I haven’t personally tried it and would welcome input from anyone who has.  So stay warm and safe. 

Merry Christmas!!

Found a great new website: National Vaccine Information Center (America’s Vaccine Safety Watchdog) www.NVIC.org  that you may want to visit.  The website does a balanced job of presenting both sides and can direct you to a variety of educational resources so you can make an informed decision for yourself and your children.   Did you know that there is only one manufacturer of shingles vaccine and that it contains live shingles virus which is reported to only be effective in 51% of users?  Or that 80 to 90 % of flu vaccines contain thimerosal.   

The website provides a state by state analysis of possible vaccination exemptions and a copy of the state’s legislation.  If you are considering vaccination, check out the vaccine ingredient calculator.  It details each manufacturer’s ingredients and does a spreadsheet comparison.  

If you have found great websites that you would like to share, let’s hear from you.

Here at Health by Choice we are buzzing about in preparation for several upcoming events.   First there is the annual Fall Festival, which will be held here at the New Enterprise location, on September 17^th, from 9-4.   Every year we seem to be blessed with absolutely beautiful fall weather on the day of our festival.   We always have great food for everyone, lots of informational lectures and presentation, and plenty of activities for all ages.   This year there will be some great music by Strings of Faith from noon until 1:00 p.m.    And, if all goes as planned, we will have fresh pressed apple butter this year for sale.    Of course, you can’t forget the great store specials and the 20% discount that day.   I hope all of you can make it to our festival this year.

The second big event coming up for us is the Mother Earth News Expo at Seven Springs Resort, in Seven Springs, PA (about an hour west of Health by Choice).    We will be exhibiting at this event on days, September 24^th and 25^th, 2011.  This year they are expecting 18,000 folks to attend.   Yes, you read that right.   It is a huge event with lots to do.   I think the cost of a ticket is $15 for a one day pass or $25.00 for both days.    Here’s a link to their website for more information:

  http://www.motherearthnews.com/fair/SevenSprings.aspx

They are anticipating 150 workshops, and 180 exhibitors.    If you click on the website link you can look at the schedule for the workshops, along with a listing of exhibitors.

So, go ahead and mark your calendars:

September 17^th – Health by Choice Fall Festival, New Enterprise, PA, 9-4

September 24-25^th – Mother Earth News Expo, Seven Springs Resort

It seems that this was an interesting week for weight in the news.

 All the major news organizations ran a story discussing whether obese children should be taken away from their parents and placed in foster care because it could be considered child abuse.  According to ABC news Dr. David Ludwig an obesity expert at Children’s Hospital Boston wrote an opinion piece that ran in the Journal of the American Medical Association.  The author cites the case of a 12 year old who weighed 400 pounds and had developed diabetes, cholesterol issues, high blood pressure, and sleep apnea.  He was only recommending removal of children from their parents in extreme situations.

U. S. News (www.usnews.com) ranked the top 20 diets from best to worst and it seems that the DASH diet won top honors and the Paleo diet came in last (but only because the foods may be too difficult to obtain).

A Times article commented on a new Harvard study that suggests that “the quality of your food matters more than the calorie count”.  No real surprise there to any of us who focus on nutrient dense foods.  What was fascinating is that the worst food to eat is potato chips.  The study showed that potato chips led to more weight gain per serving than any other food.

Read more: http://healthland.time.com/2011/06/23/study-the-best-and-worst-foods-for-weight-loss/#ixzz1SP32qweF

At the June 2011 Food as Medicine Conference, Dr. Mark Hyman M.D. presented the startling statistic that 1 in 2 Americans will be diabetic or pre-diabetic by 2020.  He went on to state that 90% of those individuals won’t even know it.  This increase in diabetes will cost $3.5 trillion over the next 10 years.  This number isn’t so hard to understand when you realize that 65% of Americans are overweight and weight is one of the contributing factors to diabetes.  He coined a new term “Diabesity” to describe a “condition of metabolic imbalances ranging from mild insulin resistance to end stage diabetes”.  Lifestyle factors are the biggest determinant of whether you will be in the 50% of Americans with diabesity in the years ahead.  Talk to your healthcare provider about the warning signs and what you can do to reverse the growing trend.

It has been approximately one month since we introduced the Zyto machine at both our locations and the response has been very positive.  The machine utilizes technology similar to a polygraph as it measure subtle changes in the body from a stimulus (electronic).    The fluctuations in the skin’s conductivity is measured and interpreted to create a graphical representation of the organs, teeth, vertebrae, and meridians that are out of balance.  It cannot diagnose, treat, or heal any specific disorder but can recommend supplements that may balance the individual energetic field.  There are few short videos on You Tube that explain how the Zyto machine works; I encourage you to look at them.  If you haven’t stopped in for your complimentary assessment, what are you waiting for?

Many of our clients come from all over the United States (and outside of the United States also).    If you are one of the fortunate ones who live close by, consider yourself lucky.    Not only because you don’t need to travel far for your wellness appointments, or for your shopping in our health food store, but also because you have the opportunity to come to our free evening lectures held on Monday evenings.    You can find more details about the evening presentations on our website.    There are also free meetings you can attend such as the Weston A. Price Foundation, the Homeopathy Study Group, the Holistic Moms group, and some others.   Just by checking the monthly calendar right on the Health by Choice website, you can know what is going on here.   There is a wide variety of helpful things to learn about.

On Monday evening, May 9^th, at 7:00 P.M., I will be presenting the evening lecture.    In April I spoke about cancer prevention and cancer care.    The folks who attended found the information very helpful, so we will be talking about it some more again this month, along with some ideas for quieting our ever busy chattering minds.    The two processes that I will be providing information about will be meditation and also mindfulness.   Now, don’t worry, we won’t be sitting cross-legged and meditating until midnight…..not at all…..but I think you would find that even if you practiced meditation (or quieting your mind) for 5 minutes a couple times a day, you would notice a great improvement in your overall inner peacefulness as well as your ability to better be able to cope with external stressors that we might have in our lives from time to time.

So, if you are interested in learning more about Cancer Care and Prevention, and you would also like to know how to better be able to quiet your mind and experience some inner peace, I’d like to invite you to join us on Monday evening, May 9^th, at 7:00 p.m.   Pre-registration is not necessary.    Just come in and join us in the reception area at Health by Choice and plan to learn something new.

Hope to see you then.

Learning to use Affirmations

Affirmations can be a set of words or thoughts that are used to reprogram the subconscious mind in a desired direction. This helps to empower you to move through emotional and mental blockages which may be limiting your opportunities to experience life to the fullest. How many times have you heard people say, “I’m too old”, “I’ve already tried that and I can’t do it”, “My mother/father always did it that way”, “I don’t have enough energy”, “I’m too shy”, “I don’t know how to relax” and “I was born this way”.

Every time you make a mental (or verbal) affirmation, your subconscious mind hears it and adjusts towards the reality of that statement. The subconscious mind does not filter, it just acts on your statements.   You have many, many thoughts going through your mind everyday.  Unknowingly, many can be negative instead of uplifting or encouraging.   Try to sit quietly and pay attention to the thoughts streaming by in your mind for five or ten minutes.

When it comes to the health of our bodies, those “habitual” thought processes (or programs) running through your mind can and do play a role in your personal state of wellness.  However, taking the time to learn how to change those programs can make a difference in your health and in your life. 

A great way to start is to make a habit of using the classic affirmation, "I am open to learning new ways of creating a life I truly enjoy".   And another popular one is, “I am relaxed and centered, with plenty of time for everything”.  

Ignore any skepticism that arises inside you when you start doing this. That's just the automatic response which comes from resistance to change. Remember, for every action in life, there is an opposite and equal reaction. When you launch into an action which will cause change, resistance to change can manifest as the automatic, opposite reaction. Just carry out your action regardless. Keep learning and trying new affirmations.   See what happens!

Have you ever considered what your health is worth to you??   Would you be willing to invest a few hundred dollars to get a 500% return on your money in a few years?  Interest rates are at an all time low and certainly no savings account or CD is offering even a 5% return on your money, not even in 5 years.

There are some things in life that we cannot buy regardless of how much money we may have. Ask any wealthy individual who is experiencing a life threatening illness and he or she will tell you that good health cannot be bought at any price.  And as we age, being able to enjoy good health becomes more precious than money.

So what will an investment of time and money with a qualified doctor of naturopathy do for you?  An initial nutritional assessment will highlight problem areas regarding diet and lifestyle patterns that are likely to cause serious illness down the road.  Follow up visits will keep you motivated and on the right track. Information gleaned during these visits will help you to begin making changes that over time will help to decrease your risk for developing many of the chronic diseases that are rampant in our society. Wouldn’t it be nice to never hear the words “Diabetes” or “Cancer” as a diagnosis during a visit to your doctor?  But instead to hear the doctor say “You are in great shape, whatever you are doing, keep it up”!

Health By Choice has 2 highly qualified naturopaths (Dr. Ella McElwee and Dr. Walt Lang) who together have over 50 years of experience in helping to guide individuals down the path to health and wellness.  So consider putting some time and money aside for an investment that keeps on giving you great returns as the years go by.

Have a great day!

With Spring soon approaching it is time to start thinking about your semi-annual detox  (and possible parasite cleanse).  The two favorite detoxification programs for most of our clients are from  Heel and Standard Process .   If you are in the area on Saturday March 12^th, 2011 we are offering a wonderful free 3 hour workshop on the Standard Process Purification Program at our New Enterprise location.  It is open to everyone, even if you aren’t  a client, you can participate in the purification program.  If we get enough interest we will offer the workshop  at our Manheim location.  Several of our team at HBC have already begun the program – keep you posted on their results. 

Too often we only think about the physical detoxification of the body and forget about the detoxification of the mind and soul.  As part of the 21 day program you are encouraged to take a news fast and avoid all negative media via television, internet, and print.  For some this is harder than making dietary modifications. 

As part of the purification program, we are including daily internet support.  You will receive additional instructions, encouragement, and recipes throughout the 21 day process through your e-mail.  So call or send us an email to reserve your spot today. 

Hope everyone had a special Valentine’s Day yesterday.  Well, we are now 6 weeks into the new year and each wintry day is bringing us closer to the promise of spring and warmer days. By now, for most of us, the sparkle of a new year has worn off, the new year resolutions have fallen by the wayside and we are back to the daily grind of every day life. But don’t be discouraged and don’t worry about the inability to stick to those New Year resolutions. Remember, they were made with the best of intentions. Sometimes plan A isn’t feasible, so it’s time to try Plan B. 

For Plan B, think about where you would like to be on January 1^st, 2012. Then look at what needs to be done on a daily basis to get there. For many, weight loss and improving health were New Year Resolutions.  These were worthy goals, but too broad and difficult to achieve. Naturally for large goals to be achieved, they must be broken down into bite size pieces. This is certainly not a new concept but I seem to have trouble remembering this. So now instead of  thinking that at some point I will magically start losing weight or get healthy, I think to myself  “What I eat today will determine what I weigh and how healthy I am on January 1^st, 2012”.  I do much better with short term goals.  So what are your thoughts about reaching goals?  What has helped or hindered you from getting to where you would like to be in life???   

And as always, Health By Choice is here to help you in reaching  your wellness goals!

Mayo Clinic Study Implicates Fungus As Cause Of Chronic Sinusitis

Mayo Clinic researchers say they have found the cause of most chronic sinus infections -- an immune system response to fungus. They say this discovery opens the door to the first effective treatment for this problem, the most common chronic disease in the United States.

An estimated 37 million people in the United States suffer from chronic sinusitis, an inflammation of the membranes of the nose and sinus cavity. Its incidence has been increasing steadily over the last decade. Common symptoms are runny nose, nasal congestion, loss of smell and headaches. Frequently the chronic inflammation leads to polyps, small growths in the nasal passages which hinder breathing.

"Up to now, the cause of chronic sinusitis has not been known," say the Mayo researchers: Drs. David Sherris, Eugene Kern and Jens Ponikau , Mayo Clinic ear, nose and throat specialists. Their report appears in the September issue of the journal Mayo Clinic Proceedings.

"Fungus allergy was thought to be involved in less than ten percent of cases," says Dr. Sherris. "Our studies indicate that, in fact, fungus is likely the cause of nearly all of these problems. And it is not an allergic reaction, but an immune reaction."

The researchers studied 210 patients with chronic sinusitis. Using new methods of collecting and testing mucus from the nose, they discovered fungus in 96 percent of the patients' mucus. They identified a total of 40 different kinds of fungi in these patients, with an average of 2.7 kinds per patient.

In a subset of 101 patients who had surgery to remove nasal polyps, the researchers found eosinophils (a type of white blood cell activated by the body's immune system) in the nasal tissue and mucus of 96 percent of the patients. If you want to read the entire article  go to:

What are you thinking about?

Blogged by: Paula Himes SMC

Did you know that the thoughts that we think on a daily basis have a great impact on our moods and our feelings?   Your thoughts can make you feel happy and excited and full of life, or they can have the opposite affect and make you feel stressed out, irritable, anxious, or blue.   Each and every day we have a new opportunity to work on our thoughts.  For example, if you are constantly thinking and worrying about “becoming sick”, do you think you will feel “vibrantly healthy”?   Probably not.   On the other hand, if you wake up in the morning and say to yourself, “this is a wonderful day, and I am blessed with good health and happiness”, then guess what?   You will probably feel healthy and happy.   You can also practice statements of gratitude before falling off to sleep at night.   Try it – see if you can name five things that happened during the day that you are grateful for.   Perhaps you got some good news about something, or someone was extra nice to you, or maybe you had the chance to be extra nice to someone who needed some kind words.     As you make a practice out of falling off to sleep feeling grateful about your day, you will find that you sleep better and that you wake up in a better mood.   Then watch again during your new day for more things to be grateful about.   Pick thoughts throughout the day that make you feel happy and full of joy.   It may take a little practice, but soon you will find yourself looking forward to each and every day.

So, what are you thinking about?    Give it some thought.   Be aware of your thoughts.   This is the first step in changing them.

Watch for my next blog where I will share some insights about journaling.

If you are looking for more information about how to use homeopathy, you need to visit www.boironusa.com.  Under the education section are several slide show presentations that provide you with information about the basics, home care for cold and flu, and women’s concerns.  Each section is only a few minutes in length but gives you some ideas about their products and how to use them.  Two new modules are pending completion for allergies and first aid.  With cold and flu season upon us, you may want to add homeopathy to your prevention and acute care program.

Personally, I have used homeopathic creams, pellets, and vials with good results.  I keep Engystol and Gripp Heel available and use them at the first signs of flu-like symptoms.