AIR ~ Movement of the Day: Take a stab at your Wall Ball Cleans today. A full body workout, this functional skill will increase performance not only in your workouts, but in your everyday movements as well. [Click here for additional Workouts]
SPARK ~ Thought of the Day: Quote of the Day: When something does not insist on being noticed, when we aren’t grabbed by the collar or struck on the skull by a presence or an event, we take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude. ~ Cynthia Ozick Essential Element: Too often we take for granted the very capacities that allow us to function in daily life. [click here to read ‘The Art of Gratitude’] Journal: Stick a piece of paper in your pocket – or someplace you can keep with you through the day. At the top of each hour, take it out and write down one ordinary, everyday something that you are grateful for. People, places, things, flavors, surprises, etc. Before bed, pull it out and put it someplace you can look at it through the week. [Click here for additional Journal exercises]
AIR ~ Movement of the Day: Take on a Pistol challenge today at the end of your workout! These one legged squats are a terrific way to target and strengthen specific lower body muscles. [Click here for additional Workouts]
SPARK ~ Thought of the Day: Quote of the Day: Each day comes bearing its own gifts. Untie the ribbons. ~ Ruth Ann Schabacker Essential Element: We should be careful not to take for granted others – or miss the opportunity to recognize them for who they are to us. [click here to read ‘The Art of Gratitude’] Journal: Who has supported you lately? A co-worker? Friend? The front desk assistant at the gym who’s cheerful in every interaction? Who has offered their ear, their resources, their aid? Write a note to someone you’ve received from lately – but have yet to recognize for their gift. [Click here for additional Journal exercises]
Devilish Bedfellows: Drug Companies and Medical Journals (and the doctors who rely on both)
Scary, but true …
“Much of what medical researchers conclude in their studies is misleading, exaggerated, or flat-out wrong. So why are doctors—to a striking extent—still drawing upon misinformation in their everyday practice?” – David H. Freedman [Lies, Damnd Lies, and Medical Science, The Atlantic Nov 2010]
“It would be nice to believe that medical journals are bastions of truth and light, but evidence suggests otherwise.” – Beatrice Golomb (see below)
Our entire healthcare system is supposedly based on scientific integrity – from what is taught in medical school to what a family doctor or your insurance company recommends or approves; that treatment and those recommendations are dependent upon what is accepted as valid science published in medical journals.
Sadly, it’s a house of cards built upon mistruths, greed and corruption.
“… much of what biomedical researchers conclude in published studies—conclusions that doctors keep in mind when they prescribe antibiotics or blood-pressure medication, or when they advise us to consume more fiber or less meat, or when they recommend surgery for heart disease or back pain—is misleading, exaggerated, and often flat-out wrong. He charges that as much as 90 percent of the published medical information that doctors rely on is flawed. His work has been widely accepted by the medical community; it has been published in the field’s top journals, where it is heavily cited …” [Lies, Damnd Lies, and Medical Science, in The Atlantic Nov 2010]
“Much of medical education comes through the filter of the pharmaceutical industry.
“Medical journals have devolved into information-laundering operations for the pharmaceutical industry.” – Beatrice Golomb
” …the range of errors being committed was astonishing: from what questions researchers posed, to how they set up the studies, to which patients they recruited for the studies, to which measurements they took, to how they analyzed the data, to how they presented their results, to how particular studies came to be published in medical journals.” [Lies, Damnd Lies, and Medical Science, in The Atlantic Nov 2010]
UPDATE – November 2012: Pharma company Roche comes under fire for biased data regarding the efficacy and safety of Tamiflu, its blockbuster flu treatment drug. In an open letter from Fiona Godlee, editor in chief of the prestigious British Medical Journal, Roche gets called on the carpet because “…eight of the 10 randomised controlled trials on which effectiveness claims were based were never published and because the only two that had been published were funded by Roche and authored by Roche employees and external experts paid by Roche, the evidence could not be relied on”. Then, to emphasize the deep concern over this break in integrity, the BMJ announced that “…as part of its ongoing open data campaign, has launched a dedicated website aimed at persuading Roche to give doctors and patients access to the full data on oseltamivir (Tamiflu).” (Did you catch that, “a dedicated website”)
“The new site, www.bmj.com/tamiflu, displays emails and letters dating back to September 2009, when researcher Tom Jefferson first asked the company for the unpublished dataset used in a Roche supported analysis, published in 2003.
Should you have any doubts about the lack of integrity within medical journals and the ‘what and why’ of their published content (which ends up being taught in medical school, and what ultimately your doctor believes and does), watch this fantastic and impassioned presentation by Beatrice Golomb. There’s so much in this, it boggles the mind.
Beatrice Golomb is Associate Professor of Medicine at UC San Diego, best known for her work on Gulf War Illness (she has testified before Congress, her RAND reports have changed US policy, and she served as Scientific Director and Chief Scientist for the Department of Veterans Affairs Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans Illnesses). She also heads the UC San Diego Statin Study group. Her work has engendered broad media interest, from The New York Times to Jon Stewart’s The Daily Show.
Here’s another great presentation about how bad science has caused America’s obesity, diabetes, heart disease epidemics: The Big Fat Fiasco by Tom Naughton
AIR ~ Movement of the Day: Our passionate and motivated team member, Brandon, demonstrates his perfect form and dedicated skill (and soon to be yours!) with the ever handy Sumo Dead Lift. [Click here for additional Workouts]
SPARK ~ Thought of the Day: Quote of the Day: Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; but remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for. ~ Anonymous Essential Element: We can choose to be grateful. In any situation, we can choose to allow stress to build in our hearts and minds…or let gratitude fill our growing minds and spirit. [click here to read ‘The Art of Gratitude’] Journal: Write down three things you have today that you did not have a year ago – three more that you didn’t have five years ago – and three more that you didn’t have ten years ago. Sit back and look at this list – and realize how much you’ve got! [Click here for additional Journal exercises]
Yep, research is now confirming that vitamin D is much more than a “vitamin” – not that vitamins are chopped liver, mind you.
The take-away:
First, low vitamin D levels are associated with many diseases such as cancer, autoimmune disease, and hypertension.
Second, because of our modern culture’s misguided fear of sun exposure (think sunscreens), vitamin D deficiency is quite common in most parts of the world. Yes, it’s true we don’t want to “burn” our skin from overexposure to sun, but we now know that regular sun exposure is important for vitamin D, a critical hormone, to be manufactured by our body.
Third, vitamin D is made from cholesterol through activation of sunlight on the skin. [By the way, cholesterol is not bad – that’s an unscientific myth that has been shamelessly fed to the American public by misinformed doctors and the pharmacologic industry – drug companies – that drive the healthcare system today1,2,3,4].
Vitamin D has long been known as an essential nutrient, mainly for its critical role in calcium and phosphate homeostasis, which directly and indirectly affect many important cellular functions throughout the body, such as bone health (severe vitamin D deficiency has long been known to cause rickets; but also, remember adenosine triphosphate, ATP, from your high school biology – the Kreb’s cycle – for chemical energy transport and cellular metabolism and respiration); calcium and phospate biochemistry impacts nearly all cell functions.
In the past two decades, vitamin D’s influence on the immune system was discovered5. Now, more recently, vitamin D is being shown to be a significant hormone involved in many endocrine functions including the induction of cell differentiation, inhibition of cell growth, immunomodulation, and finally, regulation of other hormonal systems6,7.
What should you do?
Get regular exposure to sunlight, if possible.
If you live in an area that precludes you from getting regular sun exposure, especially in the winter, supplement with vitamin D3: (the Bonfire doctors take 4,000 – 5,000 IU per day).
Find a tanning salon that has updated technology (electronic instead of magnetic ballasts, UVB, Infrared, Red and Blue Light bulbs).
FUEL ~ Dish of the Day: Another hearty and healthy warming stew to keep those winter chills away. All the nutrients in Dr. Camilla’s Bonfire Stew will also keep away any nasty germs lurking around with everyone cooped up inside.[Click here for additional Recipes]
AIR ~ Movement of the Day: Another fantastic and convenient exercise you can fit anywhere into your day! Bench Dips can be accomplished at your desk, your coffee table, or even on the bumper of your car![Click here for additional Workouts]
SPARK ~ Thought of the Day: Quote of the Day: Anything I’ve ever done that ultimately was worthwhile…initially scared me to death. ~ Betty Bender Essential Element: We encounter the challenge, struggle, adapt, and move forward. This is the essence of growth. [click here to read ‘Embracing Struggle’] Journal: Decide to do one thing this week that scares you. Something you’ve been convinced you simply cannot do. Write down what that one heart-pumping, goose bump bringing, sweat creating feat is. Then write down the day you complete it. [Click here for additional Journal exercises]
FUEL ~ Dish of the Day: When you’re adding a treat to your day, be smart! Make sure it’s a healthy, smart treat like our deliciousPaleo Coconut Walnut Bread. This simple recipe will satisfy your sweet tooth without you running to the candy aisle. [Click here for additional Recipes]
SPARK ~ Thought of the Day: Quote of the Day: A handful of patience is worth more than a bushel of brains. ~ Dutch Proverb Essential Element: Increase the time between stimulus and response. If we do not show this kind of restraint, we will most likely react, rather that respond. Developing this healthy coping mechanism is a priceless skill for those who seek extraordinary relationships.[click to read ‘Embracing Struggle’] Journal: Our toughest battles are often encountered with those we are closest to. Write out this Dutch proverb on a 3×5 card, and post it someplace where you’ll see it each day. Let it remind you to practice genuine patience as you interact with those nearest and dearest to you. [Click here for additional Journal exercises]
FUEL ~ Dish of the Day: It doesn’t come much closer to a genuine Paleo day than hunting your own dinner! Plus you can use this amazing Venison Marsala recipe. Of course, chicken or pork can easily be substituted in this recipe. [Click here for additional Recipes]
AIR ~ Movement of the Day: Warm up today with one of your favorite childhood pastimes turned psycho conditioning tool … the Jump Rope. Not just for kids anymore, this exercise will start your blood pumping![Click here for additional Workouts]
In this aptly titled video ‘Jump Rope: The Magnificent’, fitness maven, journaling queen, and jump rope aficionado Alexis Girvan shows not only great technique for mastering Double Unders – a very demanding exercise by the way – but also how to use your jump rope for some overhead strength and flexibility work.
SPARK ~ Thought of the Day: Quote of the Day: Good timber does not grow with ease. The stronger the wind the stronger the trees. ~ J. Willard Marriot Essential Element: Choosing to practice a new behavior pattern is like cutting a new path in the woods. You have to pass over the same terrain several times before it gets easier. But this struggle is sure to leave you stronger…and enjoying a better life.[click to read ‘Embracing Struggle’] Journal: Tracking yourself is a great way to turn a new venture into a habit. What one improvement would you like to see become a daily reality in your life? Write down this new undertaking – and the three obstacles that have kept it from becoming a reality. Map out the next 21 days on a piece of paper and track yourself on this mission. [Click here for additional Journal exercises]
AIR ~ Movement of the Day: Movement is all around! You don’t have to head to the gym to get your movement in today – hit the trail! Hiking is an amazing way to get your ‘sweating and panting’ in for the day! [Click here for additional Workouts]
SPARK ~ Thought of the Day: Quote of the Day: Many of us are not living at our best. We linger in the lowlands because we are afraid to climb the mountains. We do not know what we lose in our self-indulgence – what glory awaits us if only we had the courage for the mountain climb. ~ J.R. Miller Essential Element: Our attitude will determine our experience with struggle.[click to read ‘Embracing Struggle’] Journal: Remember your ‘goat’ from yesterday’s post? That thing you’ve been avoiding for quite some time? Today, I want you to unpack the attitude – the consistent thought process you’ve developed – which accompanies your ‘goat’ every time it’s brought to your attention. Finish this sentence: I have not been able to ___________ because I keep on thinking _____________. [Click here for additional Journal exercises]
FUEL ~ Dish of the Day: Skip the Thai food take out tonight and try Dr. Paul’s significantly healthier and exponentially more delicious Coconut Curry Chicken! By skipping a meal out, you avoid countless tempting food (and drink) choices, and it gives your wallet a break, too![Click here for additional Recipes]
AIR ~ Movement of the Day: Broad Jumps at the Beach If you’re lucky enough to live by the ocean, this exercise is for you! A perfect way to start the day, and a perfect amount of extra resistance from the sand. [Click here for additional Workouts]
SPARK ~ Thought of the Day: Quote of the Day: You cannot stop the waves – but you can learn to surf. ~ Jon Kabat Zinn Essential Element: Your mindset is like a muscle – the more that you use it, the more coordinated and flexible it becomes. Developing mental fitness should happen before you need it.[Click to read ‘Creating Change’] Journal: What’s your goat? That thing you absolutely cringe over. The exercise you loathe; the task you can’t think about one more time; the person whom you’ve been avoiding hard conversation with. This week – before that ‘goat’ gets any bigger, get at it. Write down what it is, and this week’s plan of action to get it off your list. As you watch your goat get smaller – feel the muscle of your mind taking off! [Click here for additional Journal exercises]
FUEL ~ Dish of the Day:
