It's The Little Things

Life as we know it. Has it become easier  yet less dense? Have we made many strides to make technologies, medicine, life in general advance to the best of our abilities? I think so. My question is;  at what cost? I watched the movie Sicko by Michael Moore this morning for the first time. If you are not familiar, it is about the Health Insurance Industry and how it is administered in the US as compared to the universal healthcare systems in Canada, England, France and Cuba. This movie first aired in mid 2007 before the affordable care act but for the most part the stories that were shared were still current situations happening right in our backyards. The difference in the healthcare systems were so blatant and made me ashamed to be living in a country where we do not take care of each other in these ways; free public healthcare, free day care, extended vacations, long family leaves for maternity. The list goes on and on. The points that stuck with me were that doctors in the public facilities are paid more for taking good care of the patients and having the lowest incidences. The people that were interviewed in the waiting rooms stated that the waits were around 20-30 minutes and in some cases right away. They said it was very organized in the hospitals. The best part is that they will take care of anyone no matter what. It is a human right. People can lead a less stressful life knowing that they are being taken care in this way and they do not have the financial burden of high medical insurance, pharmaceuticals, medical procedures and doctors visits. Some of the doctors even made house calls!

I realize that these government programs have to be paid for by the people thru taxes, however this system really seems to work and people are taken care of first and foremost. We were ranked 37 in healthcare at the time and that is where we are today according to the World Health Organization.

Per CNN:

The United States spends more than 15 percent of its GDP on health care -- no other nation even comes close to that number. France spends about 11 percent, and Canadians spend 10 percent. 

As Americans continue to spend $2 trillion a year on health care, everyone agrees on one point: Things need to change, and it will take more than a movie to figure out how to get there.

Since I have become more involved with health and wellness in the last 5 years, I have learned so much about our standard medical system and how it really does not focus on the health and wellbeing of our people in the safest and most effective way. My focus is on nutrition: "Let Food Be Thy Medicine".  I have heard story after story about how nutrition has healed so many with every kind of disease and condition. I know that nutrition is a very small part of medical school. More and more doctors are jumping out of the box and learning about nutrition in an effort to help their patients in a better way as opposed to pharmaceutical drugs which have many side effects and cause more pharmaceuticals to be prescribed to counteract the effects. I realize that there are many incidences where this is really necessary but I think everyone will agree that we are a severely overmedicated society and the norm is to reach for the miracle pill at every turn. If we would take the time to learn the power of our food we could substitute so many things with no side effects and overall improved health and wellbeing. Healing thru nutrition takes time and most are not willing to work thru it and give the time needed to heal. Pills are immediate but only last so long and always have some residual effects, either immediate or further down the road, wreaking havoc on our bodies in ways we will not feel until it is too late. I truly believe that prevention is the key to a happy and healthy lifestyle. My hope is that we will continue to move towards more functional medicine doctors who will identify and treat for the cause of disease and not the continued bandaid system we have only treating the symptoms continuously and never getting to the root cause.  Most functional medicine doctors will offer up nutrition, natural supplementation, healthy lifestyle, exercise, and low stress as solutions before going in the direction of any pharmaceuticals and/or surgery.

We are at a very volatile time in our lives here in the US. Too much racial tension with the police. This crazy presidential election coming up this November. Isis attacks everywhere. There is so much on the table and my hope is that we will all come together and realize the power of caring first and foremost for our people, their health, and well being. Personally I am excited at the prospect of free public college, more improvements in our current health insurance programs, equal pay for women and all, and the continued uphill climb combatting global climate change.  I know we all do not have the same political views but I would hope that we are all concerned for our fellow man. It is the only way we will prosper in our great nation.  We must be a people of WE and not ME.

I hope everyone is having a great summer amid the extreme heat. Stay cool and hydrated with lots of fresh water, fresh fruit, seasonal veggies, and refreshing foods. I can't seem to get enough watermelon myself!! Infuse your water with fruit of your choice (cucumber and mint is good too), to keep it from getting boring and tasteless. You also get the nutritional benefits of whatever you add to the water!!

I leave you with this: Laugh and smile as much as you can. It is infectious and will only bring joy to those around you. Think of what can you do for the next person who needs help.

Remember it's the little things!!


Your Nutrition Coach
Susan G

Today Is The First Day of the Rest of Your Life

It's been a while since I have been here but I am so happy to be back! My life is so different since moving to south Florida and I can hardly believe that 3 and a half years have gone by, but I must admit that it has been a positive move in the right direction for me. Being in a different location after spending your whole life somewhere else is quite an eye opener at first but you do learn to get used to it and focus on the positive, leaving the rest behind. Continuing to travel from coast to coast really puts things in prospective and life is always different visiting/vacationing as opposed to actually living somewhere else.  I tend to get so excited about the thought of possibly moving again and starting a different life in a completely new place the moment I get there, but I quickly remember how living here is a 360 from the week long vacations of the past, and it has taken some getting used to. Obstacles such as traffic, cost of living, and the dynamics of the many cultures here quickly take their place and hit you in the face! I do love the diversity of the area, from weather and tropical surroundings to the melting pot of people from all over the world. It seems that you can enjoy the life you want wherever you are as long as you have the right attitude and mindset.

Changing careers from being a CPA to a Holistic Nutrition Coach/Customer Service Manager of a Golf Clothing and Accessory Distributor has helped me move in a more heartfelt direction where I can be true to myself. In other words, my stress level has decreased significantly, eating habits changed completely, and outlook on life is much more positive. I realize the importance of taking good care of myself in order to help others embrace their happiest healthiest versions of themselves.  After finishing my health coaching course I realized that I needed to connect with like minded people in the area involved in promoting better health and wellness. I looked for local health fairs, green markets, and events that would lead me in these directions. The continuous exposure to the ever growing health industry of supplements, machines, positions, etc. was overwhelming.  I had to listen to my gut when I was exposed to the same nutritional supplement twice in 2 days. It made so much sense to include this in my arsenal of gifts that I could offer to others. I immediately jumped on board  and I must say it has been  a great ride that I will continue for the remainder of my life. My health coaching course taught me the power of eating a plant based diet, including the rainbow of fruits and veggies and the many benefits of each. Why would I not take 6 capsules with over 30 fruits, veggies, grapes and berries each day as an insurance policy for prevention of disease, and increased daily health. It made so much sense. I had been taking an array of good quality vitamins and supplements everyday but they were so expensive. When I compare what I was spending to my new regime of fruit and veggie capsules, it was a no brainer. Little did I know that this was the best decision of my life. It is hard to explain how good I feel everyday since making this change.  I also stopped eating dairy; milk and cheese, which helped my digestion and inflammation so much. Noticeably better hair, skin, nails, and gums, not to mention the increased energy.  I have always had reflux and indigestion but did not realize how bad it was until I didn't have it anymore. Occasionally I do eat good quality cheese and creamy sauces and the indigestion and stuffiness hits me like a ton of bricks.  I also notice how I crave more veggies and fruits as a result of the increased whole food nutrition intake each day. I truly believe in the power of food as medicine. I use myself as an example, and take it from me, it happens quickly once you make small changes in your diet and exercise routines.

What I am continuing to learn and practice is being present in my life. Enjoying each moment as it comes. Having my parents so close to me so that we can play golf and enjoy meals together on a weekly basis, is priceless, and I am enjoying this so much. I realize that I do want to stay close to them and no matter how many places I visit, I am here to stay as long as they are here. I have built a life in this new place that is happy, healthy, and satisfying. I continue to pursue my many interests within the health and wellness industry; alternative natural treatments for cancer, the many benefits of cannabis, the power of breathing, meditation, and yoga, and the positive results of having a good attitude. Golf is a big part of my life here and my goal is to play at least twice a week.  I must give kudos to the EWGA of Fort Lauderdale chapter for enhancing my life and introducing me to so many great new friends, not to mention all the great courses we get to play all the time.  I do miss my racquetball community back home but we are all still connected thru Facebook and I do love keeping up with everyone.  These are great memories for me and I will keep them close for the rest of my life.

My message to all is to enjoy your life now and be present where you are. I have been talking to my kids about this lately as they embark on new adventures and directions in their lives. Life is learning  to appreciate what you have and enjoy each and every moment as if it were your last. Tomorrow is not promised but we always have today, so make the most of it. Hug your loved ones and tell them that you love them every chance you get. Smile at the person walking towards you who may be frowning. Most of the time they will smile back and you could have just made their day.  For me it makes my day just to see someone smile back.  Life is so short so don't sweat the small stuff and focus on the big stuff. Remember to give back as often as you can. It will come back to you ten fold when you least expect it.

I will see you back here soon!! Love to all and go out and touch as many lives as you can today, including your own!!

Susan G now Feeing Fine After Fifty
Juice Plus