by kelsey | Jun 25, 2013 | Goals, Motivation, Weight Management, Wellness/Health
We have all heard the saying “stop and smell the roses” but do you practice it!?! Life is busy for everyone…you have your job, family, friends, social activities, etc…all things that are important and fill up your days…but are you taking or should I say making the time to take good care of yourself? Many of us put ourselves last on the list which is very un-selfish, however that often results in our own health being neglected. It’s important to take some time for reflection and self assessment and think about what’s really important and what you need to do daily to help you be healthy, to ensure you are in the best shape to be there for your family and friends and be able to fully enjoy what you like to do.
Eating healthy and exercise are parts of a healthy lifestyle, but so is your mental health and spiritual health and it’s important to take time to foster healthy behaviors with all of these aspects of wellness. It seems like we (me and my family) are always going 100 mph and I’m sure we are not alone with this lifestyle! Sometimes you just need to “stop and smell the roses” and think about all of the great things you have in your life and refocus on your goals and ways to achieve them. Sunday night, my husband and I were out checking our cows and calves in the pasture that my family has owned for many years. As were checking the cows, we experienced a beautiful sunset and the rise of the “super moon”, which was an amazingly beautiful full and bright moon. I stopped on my 4-wheeler (for those who know me, yes I wish I was riding a horse instead ;)) and just took it all in and “stopped and smelled the roses”…the sunset, the moon, the beautiful landscape, and the cattle grazing on the land once ran by grandparents and Dad when he was younger….all awesome things to be thankful for and enjoy. It’s hard to take time to stop and smell the roses, but when you do I will guarantee you will feel refreshed, rejuvenated, and ready to concur your next set of goals or ambitions….and those little things that have been bothering you will seem minimal now. There is a lot of beauty and great things happening around us, we just need to re-focus and recognize these things and appreciate them! Once you do, the world is yours!
I could watch the the cattle graze all day long….it’s calming and peaceful to watch nature at it’s finest.
The “super moon” rising above the rolling plains. A beautiful site.
-Kelsey
by kelsey | Jun 19, 2013 | Etc.
Check out our new summer commercial by clicking the “I’d Rather Be-Summer” link below! It’s sure to make you laugh and smile as you see some of our great doctors telling you about what they’d “rather be doing!” Regular check-ups and health screenings are essential to keep your body healthy, promote lifelong wellness and longevity, and fight off disease. Be sure to schedule your check-up with your Brown Clinic provider to help keep you in tip-top shape to fully enjoy life!
I’d Rather Be-Summer
by kelsey | Jun 18, 2013 | Diet, Family, Food, Holidays, Weight Management, Wellness/Health
This last weekend, my family had a great Father’s Day celebration all weekend complete with boating, fishing, good food, campfires, and fellowship. My brother Lincoln and his family came from Wisconsin and it’s always a treat to get to be with their two little girls. We had an awesome supper Saturday night to celebrate the great dads and I have to say I was quite proud of our family! We grilled our own Raml Cattle lean steaks, had potatoes on the grills, and a bunch of really great fruits and veggies. As I dished up my plate, I noticed it mirrored the USDA’s MyPlate’s icon and I couldn’t resist taking a picture of it! I think it’s very important to practice what you preach and if I am giving you recommendations on healthy eating, I feel it’s essential for me to practice those recommendations as well! This meal was fairly simple to prepare and was thoroughly enjoyed without the feeling of being too full. Things to have on hand to make a healthy plate include: lean proteins (in this case we used sirloin), plenty of fruits and veggies to complete half of your plate, and a quarter starch or grains (we grilled red potatoes with a little olive oil). When you eat a balanced, portion controlled plate like this, you will feel content and the need to snack and over-eat is greatly decreased. I hope all of you Fathers out there enjoyed your day and got extra special treatment! I know I sure enjoyed the weekend with my family as we celebrated!
My Dad helping me grill.
“BEEF, it’s what’s for dinner.” Our delicious Raml Cattle steaks were perfect for our Father’s Day celebration!
-Kelsey
by kelsey | Jun 12, 2013 | Diet, Weight Management, Wellness/Health
Wouldn’t it be awesome if there was this magical pill that helped us lose weight and we didn’t have to make any efforts to get it to work!?! Dr. Oz advertises many products that claim to aid in weight loss and there are uncountable fad diets out there….which keeps us dietitians on our toes as we constantly are educating and de-bunking the myths of these programs and products. Between raspberry ketones, green coffee bean, etc, etc etc, we often wonder if there really is a magical pill. Despite the desire for this, the fact of the matter is that there is no such thing and there never will be! Healthy weight loss and weight maintenance do require effort, hard work, dedication, and motivation…and it takes time to change our lifestyle, behaviors, and choices so it will take time for that weight to come off and stay off. You didn’t put it on in one day so don’t expect to lose it one day! It not only requires you to examine the choices you’re making, but it’s also essential for you to take a closer look at your consistency of intake (or lack there of) and your behaviors and emotions about food. Looking at the big picture will help you be mores successful in the long run and help you avoid that trap of yo-yo dieting and negative feelings towards food and yourself. Next time you hear a claim about a product or program, consider a few things: is it safe?…has it been tested or approved by credible agencies? ….what is the population of the people who trialed it? (small studies are not credible or reliable)…..does it sound too good to be true? ….do you cut out several food groups? …..is exercise NOT advised? If you answered yes to any of these questions, it’s most likely too good to be true. Stay focused and be patient, you really can do this and be successful at it by working on improving your lifestyle and behaviors one at a time. Positive thinking and determination will help you be successful!
-Kelsey
by kelsey | Jun 11, 2013 | Diet, Food, Wellness/Health
GMOs or Genetically Modified Organisms have been in the news frequently and the discussion continues to increase as states consider labeling laws. As a Registered Dietitian and supporter of agriculture, I feel it’s important for you, as consumers, to understand the facts. Understanding the facts and looking at evidence based studies and research is essential with this topic as you will find all kinds of crazy claims and stories by doing a quick Google search of which many of them are not credible and biased.
First off, it’s important for you to understand what a GMO is. Genetic engineering is used to describe methods used by scientists to introduce new traits or characteristics to an organism. For example, a food crop may be genetically engineered to enhance group or nutritional value of the food. People have been modifying plants for thousands of years through breeding and selection, however the term genetically engineered has been used to distinguish those plants that have been modified using modern biotechnology from those those modified through traditional breeding. GMOs have been around for over 20 years and are regulated by several government agencies. The FDA regulates food from GE (genetically engineered) crops along with the USDA (US Department of Agriculture) and the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency). Due to the multi-agency regulation and examination, there has been thorough review on these products and practices to ensure their safety. In the history of using and consuming GE foods, there have been no harmful reactions or effects in humans.
Putting it simple: GMOs are effectively used as a way to improve the control of pests, weeds, plant diseases and increase their tolerance to drought and flood. This helps decrease the use of herbicides, reduce tillage & soil erosion, decreases insect infestations and increases yield. By the year 2050, the world’s population is expected to reach 9 billion. Currently, 3.5 million children under the age of 5 die every year as a result of undernutrition. GM foods have been developed to decrease world hunger and malnutrition. For example, scientists have developed rice with increased levels of beta-carotene. This rice is used to feed regions of the world which are deficient in vitamin A. GMOs are also being used to increase the amount of ethanol which can be produced from corn, therefore, reducing our dependence on foreign oil. Using GMOs in farming is the only way for farmers to feed the hungry world.
There some states considering a labeling law for these products. I do believe consumers have the right to know what’s in our food, however I want you to know and understand that GMOs are proven safe and that there truly is a purpose for them in our food system, so this shouldn’t straw you away from eating them or raise concerns. If you are concerned about GMOs you may consider eating organic. Personally, I feel eating organic is a personal preference and that there are just as much concerns about food safety with organic foods since they do not use pesticides, etc to kill the natural bacteria and many foodborne outbreaks are the result of organic farming practices.
So all in all, I feel it’s important for you to understand the use and science behind the use of GMOs and to use credible sources such as the FDA, USDA, EPA and unbiased university studies for education and knowledge. It’s essential to look at the evidence based facts before you form an opinion. We are all entitled to our own opinions, however I do hope this will help you understand the benefits of GMOs, despite whatever your opinion is.
From a personal insight, all the crops we (my husband and family) plant are GMOs as is the only way we can help feed the hungry world. Our beef is not organic, but our cows are well cared for and taken care of, thus providing us and you as consumers, a quality and safe product to consume. I do not eat organic, but I do practice proper food safety and strive for a balanced intake. You have heard me say it before, but moderation and balance are essential to healthy eating!
-Kelsey
Reference: http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm352067.htm
