This is definitely one of those topics that only gets more confusing the more you read. So, you need to have a philosophy about it and fit each new bit of information into your overall framework. That way, you're not constantly reeling from 'no carbs' to 'low fat' to 'grapefruits only' to whatever is in. Among physicians, there isn't any consensus about what is best for you. The only thing we can probably agree on is that no one diet suits everyone. In this section, over time, we hope to provide enough helpful information so you can make healthful decisions on your own.
In a nutshell, my philosophy is that fruits, vegetables, and whole grains should make up most of your intake. Lean protein such as fish, chicken, turkey or tofu, nuts, lentils. and beans should comprise the rest. The most important to me is eating 'whole foods' as they come out of the ground and limiting processed foods as much as possible. The food industry has studied and perfected combining the most tempting, and at times addictive, combinations of fat, salt, and sugar in restaurant and supermarket offerings. They know how to keep you coming back for more.
Varying what you eat can keep your meals interesting. I aim to include 'superfoods' such as spinach, tomatoes, pumpkin, blueberries, and hemp seed, which I think are delicious. Experiment with foods that contain antioxidants, such as vitamins C and E, lycopene (think tomatoes), and beta-carotene (pumpkin and carrots). These and many others are beneficial when eaten in 'whole foods' but not when taken in pill form.
Of course, not one nutrition plan suits everyone, since food preferences or intolerance and medical issues must be considered.
But for the majority of people, if you eat whole foods and nourish your body and soul with a wholesome variety of nutritious foods, your mind and body will thank you. Often, people don't realize that fatigue, insomnia, depression, and other issues are closely tied to what we eat. In our posts in this section, we'll provide some practical information and keep you posted on the latest and greatest in nutrition news. Send us your questions!
The ‘Great Eight’ Stretches for Runners, Hikers and Walkers
I believe in the 1/3-1/3-1/3 principle of fitness! Cardiovascular activities, muscular strengthening exercise and flexibility should each get one-third of your workout time. This rarely holds true, with the area of flexibility getting short-changed. For some, the rationale behind stretching isn’t strong enough to make it a priority. For others, exercise time is so limited…
Trekking to Myanmar’s Clinics: Diary of a Medical Missionary — A Day On Inle Lake 04/05/14
Early in the morning, we woke up to a sumptuous breakfast on a terrace overlooking the beautiful grounds of the Pristine Lotus Hotel. I could see a glimpse of the Inle Lake from a distance. This is where we will take a boat ride to see the town and the area around Inle Lake. The…
Trekking to Myanmar’s Clinics: Diary of a Medical Missionary — Clinic in the Nyaung Shwe area 04/04/14
Today we went to the clinic in Naung Shwe, Shan State. As with the other clinics, we arrived with the entourage of women from the Myanmar Maternal and Child Welfare Association (MMCWA), a powerful organization in Myanmar, an NGO (Non-Governmental Organization). The members of this group were almost all women and were mostly physicians themselves. …
Trekking to Myanmar’s Clinics: Diary of a Medical Missionary — Ho-Pone Clinic, 04/03/14
We arrived at the Ho-Pone clinic on a very hot sunny day. The roads leading to the clinic were narrow and the clinic was located at the crossing of three roads. The driver had to park quite far from the entrance. From a distance, we could see hundreds of villagers lining up near the entrance. …
Trekking to Myanmar’s Clinics: Diary of a Medical Missionary — Day 2, Taunggyi Township Clinic, the Women’s Hospital,04/02/14
Our team visited the town market in the morning, a colorful street market full of flowers and vegetables. Some of the vegetables and roots were too exotic for me to recognize. I remember walking with my housekeeper through similar markets in Vietnam as a little girl. My stomach was much stronger then, as I could…
Trekking to Myanmar’s Clinics: Diary of a Medical Missionary — Taunggyi Township Clinic, the First Patients 04/01/14
I had been awake since 5 a.m. and could no longer fall asleep. I put on my running pants (as women in Myanmar do not wear shorts) and headed out of the hotel for a run. I was advised not to run alone, but I had to do something to build up my energy. The…
Trekking to Myanmar’s Clinics: Diary of a Medical Missionary — The Bus to Infinity…Road to Taunggyi 3/31/14
We landed in Myanmar on 3/30/14 and it took us quite a while to get to our hotel near the airport, as all of us had to help transport 40 heavy boxes of medical equipment and medication. I had never been on a medical mission before and was unaware of how much “extra” work like…
What’s New in the Brain: Update in Neurology from the American College of Physicians Annual Meeting 2014
Last week I had the privilege of attending the ACP Annual Meeting where 10,000 internists from the United States and the international community meet to attend talks on the state of the latest in the field. Dr. Martin A. Samuels, the Chairman of Neurology at Harvard Medical School, summarized some the major findings in Neurology…
Trekking to Myanmar’s Clinics: Diary of a Medical Missionary — The Beginning
I have always been one of those who gets confused about the concept of my life being operated by a “master plan” that is inescapable as my religious friends (even some family members) have tried in vain to explain to me. How does such a master plan work? Some say you can’t escape what was…
On To Myanmar – My First Medical Mission
Editor’s note: Thu left last week for Myanmar after writing this lighthearted piece; read further to get to the medical deficiencies there. She is working extremely hard with little sleep, but is doing well and will be posting updates in the next week or so. Friends, This is NOT a farewell email, just one to…