Friday, March 23, 2007

Top of the Food Chain?

It's amazing we are egotistical enough to regard ourselves as top of the food chain...... cos we do the dumbest things.

You know it's true. Just think about it. The only species on this planet who goes out of its way to feed their children nutrient poor junk food is the human species. That is exceedingly dumb. The human body to work in the way it was designed needs nutrients. Children especially need a nutritious diet.

Take a walk down the cereal aisle of any grocery store and you will see brightly colored super heroes and animal mascots jumping out at you from cereal boxes. The cereal aisle is a wonderland for children. Read the fine print of the ingredients on those boxes and you will wish
you’d paid attention in chemistry class.

In the meat section you will see a big name brand of boxed lunches made for and advertised to children by the use of cute names and colorful characters on the boxes. Read the ingredient list fine print of these and you will find some have MSG in them, as much as 46g of sugar and high sodium counts. Let’s not talk about the preservatives found in these meals. It gives me a headache thinking about children eating this. Read the ingredients list and again you’ll wish you’d paid attention in chemistry class. Let’s not forget the rows of candy at the checkout most usually placed at the right height for children to peruse.

Nor does the marketing of unhealthy foods stop with the grocery store and television. Fast food restaurants feature play areas, clowns and toys. But nutrition? Not much.

Though there is a growing revolt against this, unhealthy foods are even marketed to our children in our schools! Children who aren't allowed soda at home can buy it at school. Nobody needs soda. Why do we allow it in our schools?

And we wonder why we have an epidemic of childhood obesity, diabetes, and ADHD. Do you know what the #1 killer of children is? It's cancer.
Do you think the reason might be found in what we are feeding them?

The overwhelming marketing of poor food choices to our children has resulted in a childhood obesity epidemic. Some children are even exhibiting formerly adult health problems; diabetes, high blood pressure, hormone disorders and skeletal diseases. What are we to do? How can we protect our children? How can we encourage a healthy lifestyle?
Very simply we must model the behavior ourselves in our choices both for our health and theirs.

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Sunday, February 11, 2007

God Bless Anna Nicole

My heart sank when I heard the news about Anna Nicole's passing on the radio as I was driving to work. No I didn't agree with her lifestyle. I wasn't a fan. Only watched her reality series once. I found it too painful to watch. Anyone could see she was a person in trouble. Her death saddened me because no-one's life should be over at 39. What a tragic beginning to her little baby girls life. No matter what her mothers lifestyle was it is a tragedy she will never know her mother.

Anna Nicole was a brand; famous for being famous. I don't believe it will be an enduring fame such as Elvis's. Unlike Elvis she will be forgotten. 99% of us don't live like she did. But we can take a lesson from her life. I believe a high percentage of us take so much about life for granted. The problem with that is life can be so much more when you are mindful of it's beauty and gifts.

How often do you think about purpose, passion and play in your life?
How often do you mindfully consider the nutrition content of your food?
How often do you take time to slow down, relax and take stock of your life direction? How much daily exercise do you get?
How often do you take a walk in the park or in the woods?
How often do you get in touch with the beauty of nature?
What values do you consider important in your life?

Do you just "go thru the motions" of life? To busy to "think"? How often do you tell yourself you are too busy? Does life consist of work, home, sleep...paycheck on friday? Is your work meaningful to you?

I have a friend who is a professional Life Coach specializing in relationship coaching. She speaks about knowing your "requirements" for a potential spouse. Those qualities in another person you must have for a successful relationship. I believe we also need to formulate "requirements" for life in general. Those things we value which we feel enhance and give meaning to our lives. Some potential requirements could be: gratefulness, forgiveness, playtime, wellness, meditation time, exercise time, meaningful work, volunteer work, etc. I think far too many times we don't stick with our requirements in life. What are your "requirements" for a joyful life?

I believe...well no....I am SURE... we are intended to have a life of purpose, passion, wellness and joy! You have an opportunity to live every day of your life to the fullest extent. If you're spending more time being stressed than joyful, choose to take time to examine why. If you are not connected with your purpose in life, choose to take time to discover it! Set goals which set you on fire with a passion for life! Surround yourself with people who are supportive and positive.

Be mindful of what you put into your body. If it isn't going to honor your wellness don't eat, drink or smoke it. Your body is precious. You are precious. The human body can take a lot of punishment but there is a time when Mother Nature is unforgiving. Change the things in your life which don't promote wellness and joy. Your life can be everything you desire and more. You don't have to fall thru the cracks. Anna Nicole, I believe, for whatever reason, fell thru the cracks. God bless Anna Nicole. May she rest in the peace she didn't have on earth.

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This post may be reprinted in your newsletter or blog only with the following resource box included.

Pam Murphy, B.S.,RRT has a thriving wellness business. She is completing a Masters in Holistic Nutrition. She enjoys helping others support their health and/or helping others create residual income. Visit her at: http://selfgrowth.com/experts/pam_murphy.html

Monday, January 15, 2007

The Day I Met An Angel

You may, if you've read my writing for any time, recall I was diagnosed in 1987 with Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease which eventually morphed into mostly Lupus. Though today I am in remission almost three years, back in the late 80's early 90's I wasn't doing so well. My pulmonary physician referred to me in his notes as "unfortunate" and "steroid dependent". He had sent me to pulmonary rehab which in the end really didn't do much for me. Well, it did depress me. I was at a lowpoint emotionally and physically.

Not having a washer or dryer I would take my clothes two blocks away to the local "Duds N Suds". One day during my lowpoint I was there and a lady who was dressed as though she were really poor came up to me and asked me if I knew that God loved me. I said "yes i do". That lady turned and walked out then and I never did see her again. Interestingly she didn't have any laundry with her. I believe to this day and always will believe that she was an angel sent from God to remind me......to pick me up and remind me and give me hope. Because hmmm I really hadn't been living as though I knew God loved me. On some level I knew it. I just needed a kick in the pants. The love in that lady's eyes and her question was more than a kick in the pants. Those few moments changed my life.

Those few moments contributed as much or more to the remission I would finally achieve as did the nutrition and nutritional supplements I added to my foodplan. Do you know someone who is chronically ill? You can be their angel. When you feel like there's nothing more for you but dying, that because of illness you don't have much left in you to contribute, that there is no hope of wellness and then someone cares enough to reach out to you and tell you God loves you, and that they care about you; that changes your life. It creates hope. Puts a fire under the will to live and gives renewed worth to a life. You can change someones life. Go hug somebody and make sure they know God loves them. He does.

Wishing you wellness and joy!

Pam Murphy,B.S.,RRT enjoys helping others improve and support their health thru nutrition and supplements. Visit her at: http://discover.vitamarkpower.com if you're interesting in helping others too.

Saturday, December 16, 2006

Wishing You.....A Death-Defying Christmas

Here we are in the midst of another end-of-the-year holiday season. Like a lot of people do during this season, I've been reflecting on this past year and am looking forward with gleeful anticipation to this next year. Have you been reflecting on your life? Are you where you want to be and are you doing what you are meant to do? Are you busting-at-the buttons happy?

It is my belief a great deal of the angst in life stems from people not understanding their purpose in life and not having a passion for what they currently do and/or the life they currently lead. To me that is monumentally tragic. Life is to wondrous and to great an adventure to not be passionate about it.

At least in part of my life I can honestly say I am doing exactly what God means for me to do (i.e. sharing wellness) and I can see a not-to-distant future when I will be able to do so without any of the current distractions in my life. My life truly began the moment I understood my life's purpose. You know what? There is a tremendous joy in knowing your life's purpose. With all my heart I hope you know that kind of joy!

As you reflect on the past year I want you to know something. I want you to know that miracles are within your reach and within your own mind. Do not scoff at that statement. Rather give it your most serious consideration. The quality of your life depends on your understanding the truth of it.

Do You know how special you are?
Do you know your life's purpose?
Are you living your life's purpose?

Do you know you have all you need to create a miracle in your life?

Do you understand the impact of words and thoughts on the quality of your life?

Consider the words of Maya Angelou:

"Words go into the body. So they cause us to be well and hopeful
and happy and high-energy and wondrous and funny and cheerful.
Or they can cause us to be depressed. They get into the body and
cause us to be sullen and sour and depressed and, finally, sick."


Words are important. Thoughts are important. What kind of words or thoughts are you holding inside of you. You have a choice as to what kind of words and thoughts you hold near you. Positive or negative. Words and thoughts can be death .......or death-defying.

What are you choosing to hold within you?

My gift to you this holiday season is a short movie. I hope you will
take 3 minutes to watch it and an hour to consider it.
Click here: http://tinyurl.com/tcyrv

Wishing you wellness and joy,
Pam Murphy,B.S.,RRT



This post may be reprinted in your newsletter or blog only with the following resource box:

Pam Murphy,B.S.,RRT has a thriving network marketing wellness business, is completing a Masters in Holistic Nutrition and enjoys mentoring others in both improving their health and financial freedom. http://pamsnutritionstore.com