While it’s just a television show, one that pushes the envelope with each new installment, and one where a compassionate and supportive cheerleading coach is perhaps a bigger shock to the viewer than a suicide attempt, it does deliver lessons to us.

Sometimes we need to be aware that we need to stand up for an injustice, or be there for a friend who may be in trouble. But how do we know when it is necessary?

The answer, of course, is that it’s always necessary. Listen more carefully, take your friends more seriously, and make an offer that may sound hokey, but have them know you mean it.

Glee is not real. Life is real.

First, my the men of The Surround (www.thesurround.org) are there for me every time I am down, and I am there for them. They challenge me, draw me out, and let me share my pain and my gifts. These men are no different from any man. However, they live bigger, better lives, because of the rewards of our fellowship.

As for me, this group helped me save my marriage, work on my relationship with my son, and give me a context from which to improve the way I show up for my daughter, my parents, and in my chosen field.

Please send any man in your life to the web site, and also know about this site for fathers.

Second, I was fortunate to have a free telephone coaching session with Claire the other day. She helped me see that I can have the inner strength to meet my challenges in terms of a healthy lifestyle, when I take it slow, and picture a large rock, that is immovable in the face of bad weather, fads, peer pressure and the like.

Over the past two days, I’ve been a rock, and I am excited to announce that I will be holding an event at my office in Framingham, on Tuesday, March 13, from 6:30-8:30pm, for anyone who is interested in learning and sharing around Health & Results, Coming from Nature & Technology. Details here

Seems to me that is a universal feeling in middle and high school, and perhaps in many colleges.

What would happen if the teacher was able to engage the students, and ask them where they wanted to focus or what results they are looking for in their lives.

Then the teacher would be able to tailor the curriculum and his or her context to suit the needs of each student.

Not only would students be more engaged, and achieve results that were more important in their lives, but the teachers would feel more appreciated, and learn more from the students.

Seems to me we are on the cusp of a learning revolution.

What do you think?

Few of us are properly trained in nutrition, fitness, cooking—including those with nutrition and medical degrees.

So what about Carbs, Protein, Calcium? How much do you need?

Answers vary, but if you observe healthy people, foreign countries, and our ancient roots, you will find:

Carbs used to come from boiled grains such as rice, corn, millet, barley, oats and quinoa. When chewed properly, these foods give us steady energy all day, no beer belly, and no cavities (provided we brush). The reason we need to limit them now, is because of refined flour products such as muffins, bagels, cookies, brownies, cakes, crackers, pretzels and breads, pizza and pasta, as well as sugar products, such as chocolates, candies, and sugared drinks. Eat more of the former, chew well (we have a lot of teeth for grinding grains), and eat less (or none) of the latter. In the middle, are sourdough bread and whole grain pastas, which should be eaten in limited quantities.

If you feel bloated, or are gaining weight, eat less, chew more, and exercise more. It’s that simple.

In large amounts, animal protein has been linked to heart disease, cancer, diabetes, obesity, alzeimers, and much more. If you want numbers, here they are: 20% animal protein or more, and you are creating disease. 5% animal protein or less, and you are turning off disease. The average American consumes about 30% animal protein.

There is plenty of protein in beans, and a small amount in grains and vegetables. The perfect amount for the body to do its thing, as it has done for eighty thousand years, and as they do in other countries, that do not have the luxury of animal protein with every meal. So although The 99, Outback, Taco Bell, Wendy’s, Friendly’s and AppleBee’s tempt you with chicken, steak, pork, eggs, cheese, ice cream, it’s not for your health, so much as their wealth. Instead, look to organic plant-based foods, which have grown in popularity lately, as heart disease has trended down, and which hollywood uses to keep that healthy glow.

Calcium is another area where people are deceived by big business. In most every country around the world, people get their calcium from legumes and beans such as chick peas, and green vegetables such as kale, collard greens and the like. They do not suffer from osteoporosis, brittle bone disease, or other maladies. Whereas here, we are instructed to drink our milk, and eat our cheese, and have faithfully obeyed, until we lead the world in osteoporosis, brittle bone disease, obesity, heart disease and diabetes.

Dairy foods have animal protein, hormones from cows, massive amounts of antibiotics and pesticides, and all kinds of nasty bacteria, that lead to illness and death from SIDS, Allergies, Asthma, leukemia, influenza and much more.

Eat whatever you want folks—but the proof is in the pudding. Spend one day at your local supermarket, and watch 10 obese people, and count the animal foods they put into their cart. Then watch 10 thin people, and do the same. You will learn something.

Enjoy…

So what are you eating? Given the current economic times, most of us are consuming the cheapest food you can find that has not (as far as we know) been on the floor. That may not be good enough. You might be able to do better, if you know how to eat in season and for your condition; how to find healthier foods and prepare them how to save money and eat less while feeling satisfied.

I just visited the Metrowest YMCA, where on Member Appreciation Day (today), they were giving out free (green) bananas, (non-organic) green apples, and small boxes of high-fiber cereal. A great idea to make people smile with free food, but here are the dangers:

1. Bananas are toxic to our bodies in winter, even when ripe. If you must consume a banana, please cook it (fried as a dessert, in pancakes, or in banana bread), or salt it. They should be eaten rarely, by healthy people, in summer weather (think about where they grow). Unfortunately many of us have bananas often, to our serious detriment.
2. Green apples are great in small amounts, especially after a meal. But when they have pesticides, it’s critical to wash them and preferable to cook them (baked apples, in oatmeal, apple sauce, jello, apple juice, etc.). Having a whole, unwashed, non-organic green apple in winter is not healthy eating.
3. Boxed cereal is junk food. Read the label. Even if it’s whole grain, it is highly processed and turns to sugar in our bodies. Sodium levels are extremely high in these products as well. Anything over 50mg per serving is not good. Plus, these dried foods cause wrinkles, constipation, and bad mood.

It may not be as bad as a burger and french fries. But do not expect it to prevent illness. What should you eat?

• Boiled grains such as brown rice (pressure-cooked, short grain with a pinch of sea salt in winter), millet, barley and quinoa to name a few;
• Sautéed vegetables such as cabbage, carrots, onions, winter squash, turnips, radishes, broccoli, mushrooms and cauliflower are great, as are blanched or pressed salads, and sea salt pickles;
• Bean soups and stews, burritos, chili and soy products such as tempeh, tofu and natto;
• A small amount of smaller, wild fish such as cod or salmon, once per week this time of year is fine.

There are also some superfoods, such as umeboshi plums, shiitake mushrooms, daikon radish, and sesame seeds.

Of course, besides what you eat, there is also:

• How much you eat
• How often you eat
• How well you chew
• How much sleep you get
• How much exercise you get
• What your stress level is
• What you do all day

Are you getting all this? If it is overwhelming, it may be because it takes time to learn these things. We spend years studying algebra, geometry, perhaps even calculus, and maybe 25% of us use it in our lives.

But learning how to take care of your body so you prevent illness, and live a long and happy life, is something virtually all of us can make use of.

Call me, today, at 508.333.4153 and I’ll come right over. Or keep reading.

Comments appreciated!!

Whitney Houston was certainly a talented human being. Many people enjoyed her music. There are many artists who also owe her a debt of gratitude. Unfortunately, she suffered a lot. Did she suffer as a result of her success? Perhaps. But like all of us, she had challenges and did not always deal with them well.

48 seems like a very young age to die. But it seems to be a popular age to lose someone tragically. My sister was two months shy of her 48th birthday. As my wife turns 48 in August, and me in December, I cannot help but think we need to recommit to enjoying our life and strengthening our health.

What are you doing to enjoying life and strengthening your health?

Please take my Health Test

My friend Bill is writing a book on this very topic. It’s hard for me to be in that space very often or for very long, because I’m a natural critic, and I grew up somewhat spoiled. But I’m getting there.

What about you? Are you able to get to your happy place a few hours per week, and just know that all is well?

This the way the body can really heal. Sure, exercise, rest, and proper nutrition play huge roles too. But stress reduction and true happiness hold the key.

The Patriots did lose in the Super Bowl last night, for the second time to the Giants, but it’s okay. They had a great season, especially considering all their injuries. And we were treated to an amazing ride, all the way up until the final play of the big game. It’s hard to be a Bostonian sometimes, but we still have the Bruins and the Celtics, and it’s cool that both won yesterday.

So I’m in my happy place today. Won’t you join me?

1. Overweight
2. Stressed Out
3. High Cholesterol/Blood Pressure/Blood Sugar/PSA etc.
4. On too many Medications
5. Eating Disorder
6. Fatigued
7. Emotional/Mental Issues
8. Other (please tell me)

Best Tofu Egg Salad Sandwich

Ingredients:

• 3/4 package The Bridge Tofu
• 1 cup finely chopped vegetables (carrot, green cabbage, broccoli, celery, mushroom, scallion)
• 1 TS vegenaise
• 1 teaspoon country mustard
• 1 teaspoon umeboshi paste
• pinch seaweed shake
• pinch turmeric
• pinch dill
• pinch black pepper
• chopped lettuce
• 6 slices of sourdough bread

Instructions:

• Mash tofu well
• Blanch veggies and place over tofu
• Add in all ingredients except for lettuce and mix well
• Put onto bread and top with lettuce and serve.

Makes three large sandwiches.

For more recipes, see our Recipe page, or buy my eBook.

I keep hearing of people who get pancreatic cancer, and then die within a few months or years. It seems that modern medicine does not have a good answer for that one.

Your doctor doesn’t know the first thing about preventing cancer, except to tell you to eat better, not be obese, and come in for checkups. Unacceptable.

A basic understanding of the human body, what the pancreas does, and yin and yang can help. The pancreas helps us digest sugar, which is very important for us to do our work, and remain healthy. Unfortunately, much of the sugar we ingest nowadays is simple sugar, which damages our body, and gives us only short boosts of energy.

The pancreas is a compact organ deep in the body. Therefore, the yang energy that we ingest, through food or ideas, tends to end up there. If we are not able to use moderation, the inner organs such as the pancreas (and liver, kidneys, testicals, ovaries and colon) can become cancerous.

In general, you want to reduce pressure in your life. Here are some things you can do to prevent pancreatic cancer.

Top 10 Ways to Avoid Pancreatic Cancer

1. Stop smoking
2. Avoid barbecued, broiled and grilled meats
3. Reduce stress through meditation, yoga or tai chi every week
4. Switch over to sea salt/use sea veggies vs. salting at the table
5. Get a massage or do self-massage twice per year
6. Eliminate hard-cooked eggs, cheese and chicken from your diet
7. Do a daily body rub
8. Avoid white flour, sugar, crackers, croutons and hard pretzels
9. Spend less time with computers, cell phones, microwaves, etc.
10. Eat more well-cooked organic vegetables and fruits

Check this space tomorrow for a recipe that will help! Please register!!