Joan’s Boomer Blog

I am currently reading a book which made me really stop and think about my priorities in life. The book is The Power of Self-Healing: Unlock Your Natural Healing Potential in 21 Days!, which is a great book, by the way, and one I plan to review soon. However, what I wanted to talk about is one exercise in this book which can help you figure what your priorities in life are, and whether or not you’re doing anything to reach them.

The Power of Self-Healing by Frabrizio Mancini is all about daily activities you can easily do to unleash your body’s true healing potential. I’ve read many books on self-healing and the information Frank puts in his book covers many areas of daily living. He even includes the power of qigong and tai chi, which makes him tops on my list!

So here is Frank’s exercise, which will hopefully make you think about the priorities in your life and whether or not you are doing anything to reach important goals.

Take a sheet of paper and draw a line down the middle.

In the left column, write down your top 3 priorities in your life, 3 things you want to attract into your life, whether it has to do with health, career, relationships, retirement, whatever.

In the right column, make another list of everything you do in a 24 hour period.

Compare these two lists. Do your actions on a daily basis support the priorities you’ve laid out for yourself?

This was an eye-opening exercise for me. I tell myself my number one goal is to heal my body of some of the health issues I have and create better health for myself as I get older. I know what I need to do to achieve this, yet my daily activities don’t match what I say my priority is in my life.

As part of achieving better health, my goals within that are making time for my qigong exercises which will help to heal my body. Yet, am I doing these every day? Actually, no. In fact, lately I’ve been busy and even skipping yoga classes, which are also aimed at keeping my arthritis pains from side-lining me later in life. What I need to do is spend less time on the computer and more time on my health if I truly want to reach my goals.

Getting older isn’t for sissies, I’ve read. However, I know that how well we age, whether or not we are healthy and active into old age, is about 90% within our own control, if not more. Day by day, we make choices about how to spend our time, what we eat and how we think. These daily choices take us down the road to health and healing or they take us away from that healthy, balanced self and toward debilitating illnesses like arthritis, heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, cataracts and eye diseases, and all the other supposed plagues of old age.

Years ago, I sold Mary Kaye products. Many Mary Kaye representatives are quite successful and in their seminars they told us to get up each morning and ask ourselves “What one thing can I do today to make my business successful?” Once you focus on that one thing, you go out and do it and you end up reaching your goal. This exercise might just let you know if you are taking the actions you need to take to reach important goals in your life.

I used this exercise to see where I am with matching my priority of health and healing with the realities of how I spend my time. However, you can use it for any goals you might be trying to reach.

If you’d like to read a comprehensive book on daily actions you can take to create optimum health and heal your body, no matter what your health issue is, I’d highly recommend The Power of Self-Healing: Unlock Your Natural Healing Potential in 21 Days! by Frabrizio Mancini. If you’d like to take charge of your health and create a better future for yourself, this is the book for you.

Do your daily activities carry you closer to your goals, or further away?

My thanks to Hay House for providing an advance copy of this book for review.

Choosing a Medicare Plan in the Face of Potential Changes to the Program The Medicare

Annual Enrollment deadline is December 7, 2011. Today I have another guest post by Ross Blair, President and CDO of Plan Prescriber, Inc, with some questions and answers to help you sort out this complicated subject.

Medicare’s Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) ends in just eight days on December 7. It is the one time of year when most of the program’s beneficiaries can review and possibly update their current stand-alone drug coverage or Medicare Advantage coverage. The enrollment period for 2012 is currently underway, and according to licensed eHealthInsurance agents, the uncertainty about Medicare’s future has many seniors wondering what to do. When we surveyed a number of our licensed eHealthInsurance Medicare agents, they all had the same response: the most common questions being asked during this year’s enrollment period focused on Medicare’s future.

What questions are Medicare beneficiaries and caregivers asking?

Question 1: Are Medicare Advantage plans going away - should I try to switch to a Supplement plan?

Answer: First, there was good news about the Medicare Advantage program this year. Overall, Medicare Advantage plan premiums are down four percent for 20121. Medicare Advantage plans offering prescription drug coverage and a cap on your out-of-pocket costs (two benefits not provided by “original Medicare”) continue to be available for $0 per month throughout most of the country. And, these $0 plans include a basic prescription drug benefit, which will be increasingly valuable in 2012 when popular drugs like Lipitor and Plavix are scheduled to be available in generic form.

Second, any reductions in Medicare spending could easily affect Medicare Supplement plans as well as Medicare Advantage plans. Both types of plans are subsidized in some way by the Medicare program. And, the less the government has to spend on Medicare, the more an insurance company would have to cover to fill in those gaps.

Finally, it can be hard to enroll in a Medicare Supplement plan after your first six months on Medicare Part B. If you miss those first six months, the insurance company has the option to decline your application based on your health status.

Question 2: Will my Medicare Part B premiums increase more than my Social Security cost of living adjustment (COLA)?

Answer: There is actually a rule in Congress that Medicare premium increases cannot be higher than Social Security cost-of-living adjustments. The COLA for this year is about $433 dollars for most people. And, the Medicare Part B premium increase was $3.503 for most people.

Question 3: Is my doctor still accepting my Medicare Advantage plan? Is my hospital covered by this plan?

Answer: While finding a physician who accepts Medicare can be an issue, the federal government continues to monitor the quality and access standards of Medicare Advantage plans. A good agent can help you review the physicians who are accepting their Medicare Advantage plan in your zip code.

Question 4: What should Medicare beneficiaries and caregivers do this year to make sure they’re getting the best bang for their buck out of Medicare?

Answer: Don’t go on auto-pilot. A recent Opinion Research survey found that only about 534 percent of seniors on a Medicare Part D or Part C plan say they will review their coverage before 2012. Too often, Medicare beneficiaries don’t realize that Part C and D plans can change from year to year. Costs and drug coverage may change; deductibles and co-pays may change; and your health may change. So, what worked for you in 2011 may not work in 2012.

Do a quick check-up online, or get someone to help you: People tend to want to avoid a review of their Medicare coverage because it’s a hassle. But, there are a number of Internet sites that can reduce the hassle of reviewing your coverage. Sites like PlanPrescriber.com (owned by Plan Prescriber, Inc.), eHealthMedicare.com (owned by eHealthInsurance Services, Inc.) and Medicare.gov (the government website) make it easy for you to review plans and benefits side-by-side, and get a sense of what plan might work best for you. Or, if you don’t want to use the Internet, you can contact Medicare, your state department of insurance, the insurance company, or work with a licensed agent who represents several insurance companies, like eHealthInsurance.

Bring a list of drugs, doctors and bills: When working with a licensed agent, be sure to bring a list of the prescription drugs you’re taking, including the dosages and frequencies. And, if possible, have your medical bills from the past year handy as well so you can reference what you’ve been spending on health care. You also want to have the names of your preferred physicians and pharmacies handy.

Be flexible: The average Social Security Benefit is $1,2292 per month. But, a recent eHealth survey found that 79 percent of seniors said they would not change their health insurance plan to potentially save up to $100 month if it meant switching doctors. But, $100 per month is almost 10 percent of the average social security check. If your money is really tight, try to be open-minded about ways you can reduce expenses.

¹http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2011pres/09/20110915a.html

² http://ssa-custhelp.ssa.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/13/~/average-monthly-social-security-benefit-for-a-retired-worker

³http://www.ssa.gov/oact/cola/colaeffect.html

⁴ Data according to a national randomized phone survey conducted between October 28 and October 31, 2011 by Opinion Research Corporation and sponsored by PlanPrescriber.

Medicare has neither reviewed not endorsed this information.

About the Author: Ross Blair is President and CEO of Plan Prescriber, Inc., a leading provider of comparison tools and educational materials for Medicare-related insurance products.

Recently, I did an article on gourmet, or artisan, salts, which contain no iodine. Readers wanted to know, if they use these salts, where can they get iodine, which is a natural thyroid remedy, in their diet? I decided to do some research on foods and supplements which are natural remedies for a healthy thyroid and can easily be added to your daily diet.

Millions of Americans suffer from some form of thyroid disease and many more are undiagnosed. Symptoms can be vague and hard to pin down such as weight gain or loss, depression, anxiety, difficulty sleeping, rapid or reduced heart rate and more. If you are having symptoms, it’s always best to talk to your doctor, and even if you aren’t symptomatic, you can discover thyroid problems on routine blood work during your physicals. There are medications to help you manage symptoms of thyroid disease, if you have it.

If you’re suffering from a thyroid disorder, or if you’re simply concerned with keeping your thyroid healthy, you might like to know that certain foods are a natural remedy for a healthy thyroid, something you can do beyond popping a pill. I’ve compiled a list of foods which help your thyroid and you can scroll down from some of my favorite supplements and seasonings to add to your healthy thyroid regimen:

Nutrients You Need for a Healthy Thyroid

• Iodine
• Antioxidants A, C and E
• Selenium
• Copper
• Zinc
• B Vitamins
• Iron

Foods to Eat for a Healthy Thyroid My husband has Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, an auto-immune disease where the body attacks the thyroid.

We have discovered that the issue of foods for thyroid health depends on the type of condition you have. If you have hyperthyroid disease the following superfoods will help calm the overactive thyroid by inhibiting the excess production of thyroid hormones. However, if you have hypothyroidism, these foods are best avoided unless they are cultured:

• Brussels sprouts
• cabbage
• spinach
• broccoli
• turnips
• kale
• beans
• Indian mustards

Foods Containing Iodine for Thyroid Health

Since we know that ordinary table salt has been striped of nutrients and trace minerals so vital to the body and that gourmet salts, such as Hawaiian Pink Salt, are better for us, but contain no iodine, where can we get this important nutrient.

• Sea vegetables are becoming increasingly popular and include kelp, dulse, hijiki, nori, arame, wakame, and kombu. Try sprinkling these on your soups, salads or other dishes to get them into your diet.
• Seafood including clams, shrimp, haddock, oysters, salmon, sardines
• Eggs
• Asparagus
• Lima beans
• Mushrooms
• Spinach
• Sesame seeds
• Summer squash
• Swiss chard
• Garlic

Other important foods for thyroid health:

Foods containing selenium

Selenium content of food depends on the content in the soil where the food is grown. It is possible to get toxic doses of selenium, however, so I wouldn’t advise supplements, unless you talk to your doctor.

• Brazil nuts
• tuna
• mushrooms
• halibut
• beef
• soybeans
• sunflower seeds

Foods Containing Zinc

• Fresh oysters
• sardines
• beef
• lamb
• turkey
• soybeans
• split peas
• whole grains
• sunflower seeds
• pecans
• Brazil nuts
• almonds
• walnuts
• ginger root

Foods Containing Copper

• Beef
• oysters
• lobster
• shiitake mushrooms
• dark chocolate
• crabmeat
• tomato paste
• pearled barley
• nuts
• beans (soybeans, white beans, chickpeas)
• sunflower seeds

Foods Containing Iron

• Clams
• oysters
• soybeans
• pumpkin seeds
• white beans
• blackstrap molasses
• lentils
• spinach

Foods Containing Antioxidants

• Kale
• sweet potatoes
• carrots
• winter squash/pumpkin
• spinach
• cantaloupe
• asparagus
• Guava
• peppers (chili, Bell, sweet)
• kiwifruit
• citrus
• strawberries
• broccoli
• cauliflower
• Brussels sprouts
• papaya
• parsley
• greens (kale, turnip, collard, mustard)
• Whole grains
• almonds
• soybeans and other beans
• sunflower seeds
• peanuts
• liver
• leafy green vegetables

Foods Containing B Vitamins

• Brewer’s yeast (supplements of Brewer’s yeast are very inexpensive)
• Almonds
• wheat germ
• wild rice and brown rice
• mushrooms
• egg yolks
• peanuts (with skin)
• liver
• poultry white meat
• sunflower seeds
• fish (tuna, salmon, trout)
• beans (soybeans, lentils, lima beans, navy beans, garbanzos, pinto beans)
• walnuts
• bananas

One thing you’ll notice is that there is no sugary or processed foods on the list. That’s because these are not only bad for your health, they are bad for your thyroid and are best avoided. Anther thing you might notice is that you can cover several bases by adding different nuts to your diet or different veggies.

Cultured Vegetables and Your Thyroid

Since my husband can’t have so many of the veggies on the superfood list above, I learned from following the Baby Boomer Diet, to make cultured, or fermented veggies for us to eat daily. Cultured Vegetables are like sauerkraut but can contain just about any vegetable you can think of adding to your preparation. Most commercial sauerkraut has been cooked so the digestive enzymes and many nutrients are killed off so it’s best to make your own.

I’m planning another article on the benefits of cultured veggies and how to make your own. One simple way, and the way I started out, is to purchase Culture Starter by Body Ecology and follow the direction in the package.

I always prefer to get my nutrients from food but if you’d like some products which contain nutrients for thyroid health, you could try these:

• Ancient Earth Minerals contain trace minerals which nourish the thyroid and adrenal system.

• Ocean Plant Extract contains iodine, sea vegetables and seaweed from pure sources.

• Organic Sea Kelp Delight Seasoning - 2.7 oz - Flake Shake a little kelp onto your soup or salad to get iodine into your diet.

• Season’s Sea Seasonings, Organic Dulse Granules. You can also use dulse as a seasoning to get sea vegetable nutrients into your diet.

• Annie Chun’s Seaweed Snacks, Roasted Wasabi We keep a package of Annie Chun’s Seaweed Snacks on the table and munch on it throughout the day. You can also crumble it up and add to soups, salads and other dishes.

Many of these foods for a healthy thyroid may already be part of your daily diet but by focusing on foods for thyroid health, you will not only improve your thyroid but your general health as well.

Read more about Edible Seaweed Nutrition

How do you know if you have a thyroid problem? Check WebMd for Thyroid Disease Symptoms and Treatment

Today’s guest post is by Lauren Bailey and the topic is sex, baby boomers and healthy aging.

Anti-aging facial creams and a nutritious diet may help keep the wrinkles away and help keep your body in shape, but according to health experts, the real secret behind the fountain of youth may be found in the boudoir.

According to recent study conducted by HealthyWomen, a national independent organization that is dedicated to women empowerment and education, having sex at least four times a week can make couples appear 10 years younger than their actual age. Of course, the problem remains at the fact that most women have sex out of obligatory duty not pleasure, and thus don’t want have sex as often. But intercourse four times a week has many health advantages that can keep you looking younger and living longer.

Why is this exactly? Health experts say that sex causes you to release adrenaline, noradrenaline, and dopamine-three chemicals that work to fight against aging factors such as depression and stress. They also activate the production of a special growth hormone that is specifically designed to block the absorption of free radicals in the air such as pollution and smoke that can cause deep wrinkles.

Lastly the three chemicals released during sex have also been linked to help ward of cardiovascular diseases, fight high blood pressure and improve renal function-all factors that can contribute to a longer, healthier life. But if you are not married and choose to use “casual sex” as an age-stopper, don’t forget about the importance of protection.

According to another study, there is an alarming number of baby boomers who do not engage in safe sex practices-especially among Caucasians. The study, which was commissioned by Indiana University, surveyed the sexual habits of 5, 865 people ranging between the ages of 14 to 94 and concluded that a majority of those over the age of 50 had unprotected casual sex-91% of men did not use condoms when having intercourse with a casual acquaintance, and 70% didn’t use condoms when having sex with someone they’d just met. While women on the other hand were a bit more careful, a good chunk still did not use protection.

Experts say that this behavior can partly be contributed to the fact that most baby boomers dive-into the dating market after years of having unprotected sex with a spouse and thus think that having unprotected sex with others is safe. But remember: no matter how old you are, sexually transmitted diseases are still a serious issue.

By-line:

This guest post is contributed by Lauren Bailey, who regularly writes for accredited online colleges. She welcomes your comments at her email Id: blauren99 @gmail.com.

Are You Ready for the Taste of Real Salt in Your Food Again?

If you love the taste of salt but haven’t used it in years, here’s a new healthy idea! You do have options now for enjoying salt and it can even improve your health. If you’re like me, you probably gave up salt long ago because medical experts say it raises blood pressure. While using lots of herbs and spices and reducing the amount of commercial table salt we use is a good thing, one new cooking rage, gourmet salts are actually good for you.