Debbie Mandel’s
Turn On Your Inner Light
Weekly Wellness Newsletter
July 24, 2005
www.TurnOnYourInnerLight.com


Affirmation of the Week
 We are so caught up
in the pursuit of happiness
that we don’t realize
when we have caught it.
Weekly Wellness Radio Show

The Turn On your Inner Light Radio Show airs Tuesday evenings 7:00 to 7:30pm, on WGBB 1240AM in Long Island. The shows are archived for your listening pleasure.

Guest of the Week - Chris Freytag

On July 26, 2005 - Chris Freytag, ShopNBC’s Fitness expert and author of Move to Lose. You have just run out of excuses! Click to listen to it NOW via the internet.

Health Tips of the Week

  • New research points to another major health benefit of dark chocolate. Because of a component known as, flavonoids, dark chocolate lowers blood pressure. Keep in mind that it must be dark chocolate, not milk chocolate and eat it in moderation because if you pack on the pounds, you will create other health issues. Also don't eat your dark chocolate with a cup of milk.
  • Music can ease the agitation of people suffering from Alzheimer’s, particularly, the old songs they used to love. Music has been shown to calm irritability, decrease wandering and aggression. In many people memory improved a little along with more positive interaction with others.
  • Exercise reduces the risk for dementia. And if you put variety into your exercise program, then you increase the protection! Exercise boosts circulation to the brain and creates more neural connections to compensate for disease or injury. So if you wish to keep your mind, mind your moves.
  • The Ortho Evra birth control patch has been linked to the deaths of about a dozen women in their late twenties. Apparently, the patch carries a small, but increased risk for blood clots because the skin directly absorbs the hormone as opposed to the pill which is absorbed through the digestive system. You need to weigh the risk/reward ratio of the patch vs. the pill

Article of the Week
How To Get Along with the Long, Hot Summer

About six months ago many of us were shoveling snow and complaining about the bitter cold, saying how we couldn’t wait for summer. Now many of us are moaning and groaning: “Another hot, sunny day – how oppressive!” I guess that goes to prove the old adage, be careful what you wish for.

National radio shows have been interviewing me on tips to beat the heat. See, that’s the problem right here, in the words, beat the heat. We have to be more zenlike, pacifistic in our approach instead of macho Western. Instead of beating the heat, we need to get along with it! When a powerful force is hitting us head on, it is best to yield and redirect that force. Relax the body and the joints, yet keep the mind centered. The idea is to be stable and flexible at the same time.

Every season has its nature and purpose. We need to reflect on our purpose especially when we are so strongly affected by the weather. Heat rises up as does our Qi or life force. We might ask ourselves what is blocking our Qi from rising up and circulating throughout our body? Qi is actually IQ spelled backwards. Let’s use our mind to restore our body. We can absorb, internalize and change. Comprehension and application support each other. The weather doesn’t adjust to mankind. We adjust to the weather. Let’s not fight the heat; simply flow with it.

Here are some tips to coexist with the heat: More

Frank Mikulka's Fitness Tip Of The Week
Is Weight Training Safe for Children?

My 12 year old son is a little overweight and expresses an interest in losing some of it and putting on some muscle. He is motivated by watching sports on TV. Is it dangerous for him to strength train at this age or should he wait a few years? (Mrs. C, Amityville) Answer

Send your fitness question to: fitness@turnonyourinnerlight.com

Debbie Mandel, MA is the author of Turn On Your Inner Light: Fitness for Body, Mind and Soul, a stress-reduction specialist, motivational speaker, a personal trainer and mind/body lecturer. She is the host of the weekly Turn On Your Inner Light Show on WGBB 1240 AM in Long Island and has been featured on radio/ TV and print media.

To learn more: www.turnonyourinnerlight.com