Let’s explore some perspectives on where legalization of marijuana and how it is transforming the nation’s viewpoint on this controversial issue. Personally, I see big pharma and governments still wielding much control of this whole industry.
Abbott Laboratories and Purdue Pharma are among the biggest contributors to the Anti-Drug Coalition of America, also the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, viewed as one of marijuana’s biggest opponents, invested roughly $19 million on lobbying in 2015 (Reporter, 2017).
From what I have researched, it will still be very much out of reach for the average individual to have their own business of growing, selling and distribution of recreational marijuana. In order to own and operate a marijuana-based business, one must become licensed in their respective state. Additionally, some cities may also require some type of licensing for where the business is located in (Dispensary Permits, 2020).
It will be interesting to see where this leads to. More people and states seem to be realizing that marijuana usage might be equivalent to the alcohol industry. We see craft breweries are popping up everywhere and people can make their own alcoholic products. Maybe soon, if not already in some states, marijuana-based products can be produced and consumed in the privacy and comfort of one’s own home.
Be more active, eat healthier, sleep better, stress less these are the key components to maintaining a strong immune system.
I am currently offering lectures and classes for group, small group & private instruction in Wekiva, Longwood and Winter Park.Mind and Body Exercises on Google: https://posts.gle/aD47Qo
Nitric oxide (NO) is a vital key messenger molecule produced in the endothelium found inside our blood vessels. As a vasodilator NO modulates vascular tone, which enhances healthy blood flow and circulation, and is a key to overall physiological organ function. NO affects blood pressure, vitality, and nutrient absorption which impacts many aspects of health. As blood vessels dilate, blood flow increases to improved exercise performance and improved brain function. The nasal sinuses provide a very large reservoir of nitric oxide (NO). Nasal breathing stimulates nitric oxide production improving oxygen levels throughout the body.
Yoga (qigong), tai chi, meditation, martial arts and other methods often put a major emphasis on regulated breathing through the nose.
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Be more active, eat healthier, sleep better, stress less these are the key components to maintaining a strong immune system.
I am currently offering lectures and classes for group, small group & private instruction in Wekiva, Longwood and Winter Park.Mind and Body Exercises on Google: https://posts.gle/aD47Qo
Nutritional information has been evolving and accessible for decades, but we need to look to many diverse sources to find the most accurate information for any particular topic. Particular fats such as saturated, mono-saturated and polyunsaturated fats, all have specific health benefits when consumed in moderation. Saturated fats contain cholesterol that the cells within our bodies rely upon for structure and barriers.1 Over the last few decades, trans fats have been known to mostly have little or no positive health benefits.
I think it so very important that we seek education in our personal nutrition as to become more aware of exactly what we are putting into our bodies. Over the last decades, consumers have relied upon the scientific and medical industries to inform the general public about what is healthy or unhealthy to consume. Depending on the source of the information, fat and consequently cholesterol are possibly the source of all of our health-related issues or the cure to all that ails us.1 Perhaps the truth lies somewhere in between and realizing that we as humans do need specific fats in our diet, albeit in moderation. Additionally, what may be deemed as healthy or beneficial for someone, may not be for another. Everyone has their own health constitution relative to genetics, lifestyle, environment, and maybe other components.
We have seen phases or trends in US health culture evolve over time. We can rationalize this by realizing that science has continuously been evolving and data has become more accurate due to many technological advances since the early part of the 20th century. Unfortunately, many of the trends have been affected by big corporations and associations that have the vast resources to sway not only the medical and science communities but also the public as well. Cigarettes were promoted by doctors, then they were not but the FDA still regulates and allows their detrimental usage.2 Coffee and its ingredient of caffeine seems to ebb and flow ever year between being good or bad for us. 3 A few decades ago, eggs and beef where demonized as having little positive health benefits to outweigh their negative effects such as high cholesterol and relative higher risk of heart disease from high consumption.
In the 70’s a diet filled with eggs, bacon, beef, salt and sugar was desired as it was a symbol of social status to be able to afford these items and provide for one’s family. I think this was a side effect of my parent’s having grown up during the Great Depression, where jobs and food were somewhat limited. When I was a teen back in the 80’s, I saw the beginning of the shift from the eggs, bacon and pancake breakfast and steak and potatoes dinners to an awareness that these foods were high in fat and relative cholesterol. With my own pursuit of better health and well-being, I have found that nutrition is highly relative to the individual’s lifestyle choices and awareness that even seemingly healthy foods may not be so much, especially if they have been heavily processed, have pesticides or other chemicals added to them. So I read labels more and consume in moderation.
Be more active, eat healthier, sleep better, stress less these are the key components to maintaining a strong immune system.
I am currently offering lectures and classes for group, small group & private instruction in Wekiva, Longwood and Winter Park.Mind and Body Exercises on Google: https://posts.gle/aD47Qo
Many months have gone by with the world and the United States dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. Much has been learned as more data has been compiled to determine patterns of who has been infected. This data is of utmost importance in finding solutions to contain and diminish this severe contagion. In order to produce effective prophylactic and therapeutic strategies, future research needs to understand the sources of severity and complications.What has been determined is that specific demographics of people seem to have been affected much more than other groups. Certain factors such as individuals with comorbidities (multiple chronic illnesses), specific ethnic backgrounds and older aged people have had a greater risk of contracting the disease. Being obese puts someone more at risk for many serious chronic diseases. Over the last 3 years, obesity is one of the issues that has trended towards making an individual most susceptible to becoming affected by COVID-19 (Mal, et al., 2022).
There is much scientific data that supports why biological and physiological mechanisms that fight off disease and illness become compromised due to the various health issues associated with obesity. COVID-19 and its relevance to adiposity are major predictors of severe disease and illness. Hypercytokinemia, immunological, endothelial dysfunction, dysregulation, and cardiovascular impairments are all possible mechanisms, where excess adipose tissue can increase an acute hyper-inflammatory state. This condition is typical of major SARSCoV-2 infections and relative negative symptoms. Increased levels of the pro-inflammatory adipokine leptin, in combination with the anti-inflammatory-acting ACE2 receptors in the lung epithelium of infected individuals, inhibit the innate immune response from being cleared, resulting in a ripple effect of tragic consequences for patients. When adipose tissue and associated immune cells increased cytokine secretion, the immune system can potentially overcompensate as a side-effect of pro-inflammatory “priming,” resulting in a cytokine storm. As a consequence of the immune system’s inability to produce a sufficient immunological response, virus clearance is compromised. High-risk patients that are at an advance age and/or those with obesity, may be more affected from a less robust immune system response and a lower lasting immunological memory, resulting in limited vaccine effectiveness (Mal, et al., 2022).
The CDC has stated “Hispanic, non-Hispanic Black, and Native American adults have a higher prevalence of obesity and are more likely to suffer worse outcomes from COVID-19. Racial and ethnic minority groups have historically not had broad opportunities for economic, physical, and emotional health, and these inequities have increased the risk of getting sick and dying from COVID-19 for some groups. Many of these same factors are contributing to the higher level of obesity in some racial and ethnic minority groups.”
The pursuit of a healthy lifestyle that can impact the trajectory of COVID-19 disease, has been one of the most important insights reaped from this catastrophe. Hopefully, this insight will not be squandered until the next public health crisis. Government and political leaders stress that everyone should take action to slow the spread of COVID-19, for the benefit of all. We seem to have major public health issues occurring every few years. Personal accountability for ones own health, is indeed a way to change our current “sickcare” system to more of a “selfcare” system where people don’t wait to become sick before adopting a healthy lifestyle.
Systemic change does not happen overnight. Long-term weight loss is a work in progress. Some immediate steps that individuals can do to help protect themselves as well as their families during a pandemic are:
Eat a healthy diet
Use supplements as necessary and not as a substitute
Become more active
Execute regular physical activity
Get adequate sleep
Learn how to cope better with stress
Get adequate sun exposure to promote vitamin D production and natural immunity
These actions can help most individuals with obesity by improving their overall health. These actions can help to lower blood pressure, lower blood cholesterol, and lower blood sugars. With a lower body mass index or BMI, the risk of severe illnesses contributing to contracting COVID-19, as well as many other common diseases and illness can be reduced.
Mal, P., Mukherjee, T., Upadhyay, A. K., Mohanty, S., & Pattnaik, A. K. (2022). Connecting the dots between inflammatory cascades of obesity and COVID-19 in light of mortal consequences-a review. Environmental science and pollution research international, 29(38), 57040–57053. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-21461-x
Mohammad, S., Aziz, R., Al Mahri, S. et al. Obesity and COVID-19: what makes obese host so vulnerable?. Immun Ageing18, 1 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12979-020-00212-x
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Be more active, eat healthier, sleep better, stress less these are the key components to maintaining a strong immune system.
I am currently offering lectures and classes for group, small group & private instruction in Wekiva, Longwood and Winter Park.Mind and Body Exercises on Google: https://posts.gle/aD47Qo
Last years of 2020 & 2021 were pretty rough year for most of the world population regarding health and wellness. While some people fared ok, many took many steps backward in being healthy and well. The exact measures many people have been taking to stay safe, have actually been contributing to them becoming less healthy. Staying inside dramatically affected positive social interactions, options to exercise and staying active, fresh air intake as well as less sunlight on the skin to help synthesize vitamin D. Vitamin D is a key component to maintaining innate (natural immunity) and bone health. This issue alone, will contribute to an increase in osteoporosis.
Osteoporosis or low bone mass, is a disease that causes bones to become thin, brittle and weak, making bones more likely to break, most often from a minor fall. The most common bones that are affected are the spine, wrist or hip. Osteoporosis is often called a “silent disease.” You can’t feel or see your bones getting thinner. Many people do not even know that they have thin bones until a bone breaks. Most people with this issue don’t die from osteoporosis, but rather from complications that follow from falling or breaking brittle bones while out and about.
Osteoporosis is a major public health issue with an estimated 44 million Americans, or for more than half of those 50 or older. In the United States, almost 1 out of 2 Caucasian or Asian women over 50 will experience a broken bone due to osteoporosis. 24 percent of hip fracture patients age 50 and over die in the year following the fracture. Six months after a hip fracture, only 15 percent of patients can walk across a room unaided.
Things you can do to prevent loss of bone mass:
A bone mineral density (BMD) test can diagnose osteoporosis.
Eat a variety of healthy (nutrient-rich) foods every day.
Get the calcium you need.
Get the recommended amount of vitamin D.
Get some sunlight on your body everyday (helps the body synthesize vitamin D)
Don’t smoke
Limit alcohol.
Take action to prevent falls
Exercise regularly with appropriate methods for your personal situation, limits and expectations
Being physically active can help prevent bone loss leading to osteoporosis. Your bones get stronger and denser when you make them work. Walking, climbing stairs, and dancing are impact (or weight-bearing) exercises that strengthen your bones by moving your body against gravity when you are upright. Resistance exercises, such as lifting weights or using exercise bands, strengthen your bones as well as your muscles.
Tai Chi and qigong like in this video are perfect examples of physical activity that improves posture and balance to help decrease your risk for falls and fractures. Tai chi can also strengthen the bones themselves by reacting to the tension that exercise puts on the muscles and consequently the bones. If the bones are not engaged in everyday use, osteoporosis can find its way into the body. Exercise can be easy; try 10 minutes at a time, adding up the minutes to reach your goal.
I offer instruction in qigong, Taoist yoga, tai chi, martial arts, ship pal gye, hapkido, fitness, wellness and many other avenues to improve health and well-being.
I am currently accepting new clients for group, small group & private instruction.
United Martial Arts Association 