Here I am soaking up the sunshine this winter allowing my skin to to produce some Vitamin D in Arizona, while visiting my friends, Dena and Len. The sunshine and friendship were nourishing after a long cold winter here in Iowa.
My first blog post about Vitamin D was in January. Now I’m just reporting my experiences since I started taking 5000 IU per day–increased energy, greater clarity and happiness.I wasn’t expecting any of that. It’s as though someone turned on the light! Although some scientists have called Vitamin D the Sunshine vitamin, I’m dubbing it the Happiness Vitamin. Vitamin D is critical for everything from immune health to bone strength and cardiovascular function, and more research supporting its health benefits emerges every day. But it’s almost impossible to get enough from the foods you eat. In fact, over one-third of Americans are now deficient in Vitamin D.
In addition, vitamin D supports cellular integrity, improves muscle function and agility, enhances heart health, and even helps your body process sugar properly, therefore Vitamin D is helpful for diabetics.
Dr. Mercola, online health advisor and osteopathic physician, says,
“Get plenty of vitamin D! Vitamin D — which your body produces naturally when you expose your skin to sunlight — optimizes and up-regulates over 2,000 genes in your body. One study mentions up to 3,000 genes, but it may be even greater than that. I have written extensively about the health benefits of optimizing your vitamin D levels, and the dangers of being deficient in this essential nutrient. I recommend viewing my one-hour video lecture.”
However,in order to watch the video, you need to register by giving your email, but it’s well worth it. You can always unsubscribe at any time in the future after you watch it.
You can listen to a radio show here to hear a discussion about Vitamin D with naturopathic Doctor Dan Carver. You may also take cod liver oil to ingest your allotment of Vitamin D.
For over half a century vitamin D was thought only to mineralize bones. But studies indicate that it does much more:
Regulates calcium in all cells, especially brain cells, protects the immune system, regulates cell growth and cell death, provides antioxidant and antiviral benefits.
Dr. David Williams suggests using a $65 home test for Vit. D testing. This is normally a $100-200 dollar test from with a doctors visit fee and probably not paid by insurance. Get results in a week. You’ll need a two months supplementation to get a good reading as it is fat-soluble and takes a while to replenish. The suggestion is 4000 IU per day for 130-170 pound person and levels should be 50-80 ng/ml year round. Please do your research and decide for yourself.
I am not an expert nutritionist but it’s hard to keep quiet about something so well researched by both the medical and alternative communities, especially if it can make a huge difference in your emotional health and well-being.
Have you improved your health through Vitamin D? Let us know.
Lenora's Italy Retreat blog | Lenora's Change Limiting Beliefs Website
Don’t Judge Too Quickly… We Won’t. – The best bloopers are here
Do you find yourself judging others and situations before you can blink an eye? Take a deep breath and see life from a different perspective before labeling. It’s so easy to judge and to do it quickly. I just have to share these short & funny video ads, because it so perfectly exemplifies that what you may believe at first glance is not true at all!
Next time, before you jump to conclusions, think of these ads.
Lenora's Italy Retreat blog | Lenora's Change Limiting Beliefs Website
The fisherman in Lake Tanganyika have a unique way of fishing. They throw a net between two fishing boats. The shadow casts over the water makes the fish ‘believe’ they are caught in a net. The fish behave accordingly and just stay within the confines of the shadow net. The fishermen then get their hand held nets and scoop up their dinner.
Check to see if you are caught in the proverbial net of deceipt. Things are not always what they appear to be, but if we are stuck in one perception of reality, we cannot see any outs. Stop for a moment, and ask, “Is this true?” “How do I know it’s true?”
This photo is not from Lake Tanganyika, but in the Gulf of Mexico where my nephew is throwing his net to catch bait.
Lenora's Italy Retreat blog | Lenora's Change Limiting Beliefs Website
It’s Earth Day and my birthday!! I walked in the woods around the lake in my neighborhood this morning with my binoculars and notebook in my backpack. The good thing about living in Iowa is that after a cold winter, Spring is so appreciated! Every year on my birthday, I write all of my wishes for the year. One of my wishes today is that you join me to save and celebrate our planet, Even if you don’t believe in global warming.
I’m so proud that I share my special day with the Earth. There are so many simple things you can do to protect planet Earth’s natural resources. Try these two ideas:
1. Avoid excess packaging, buy in bulk when you can and look for beverages in refillable bottles.
2. Re-use or carry your own grocery bags to the market. Decline a grocery sack when you can carry the items by hand.
Check out:
http://www.regeneration.org/tips-downloads/
http://www.bestgreenblogs.com/
Do you have any ideas that you’ve been using to go green?
Lenora's Italy Retreat blog | Lenora's Change Limiting Beliefs Website
In my recent presentation at a women’s conference, I emphasized how cultural beliefs affect women on such a deep level, that they can be insidious. Often, we don’t even know that we are participating in that limitation or conditioning. It’s similar to the barracuda that was placed in a fish tank with smaller fish. He could’ve had a great meal, except that the scientists conducting the experiment had placed a clear divider in the tank to separate the barracuda from his enemies. After hitting his head on the clear divider over time, the scientists removed it. Guess what! Right, the barracuda repeatedly swam to the same spot , and would not go past where the barrier ‘used to be’. He was conditioned in the same way many of us are, often unknowingly.
In light of what I was teaching, I was thrilled to hear one of the main keynote speakers share how limiting beliefs about women in academia affected her in the 1970′s (and how she overcame them). Sally Mason is the new president at the University of Iowa. When she began her higher education, she had wanted to become a field biologist, but her male advisor said women can only be in the laboratory, not in the field, so that’s what she did. When she decided at one point that she would get her masters degree in biology, similar advise was given. Women don’t finish getting their masters degrees. Now, I know that perhaps there was some truth to that, HOWEVER, does that mean that NO woman should pursue advanced degrees, even if it hadn’t been done much before– like the barracuda? We’ve come a long way from the limiting beliefs about the capabilities of women but there is more road to cover. We can start with our own personal journey. The number of female college presidents has more than doubled since the mid-1980s. 24 percent of all newly hired presidents were women, but many are presidents of 2-year colleges.
Have you broken through the conditioned barriers in your mind? Are there any thoughts you are believing such as “I won’t be successful because it hasn’t happened yet?”
Lenora's Italy Retreat blog | Lenora's Change Limiting Beliefs Website
We can change how we experience life by changing our beliefs, not just because we’re changing our thoughts, but because we are actually altering our brain chemistry, and using a different part of our brain. Even our spiritual lives can be enhanced when our brains function in a different manner.
For a phenomenal look at the power of our brains, I’d like to share a cosmic presentation by brain researcher, Jill Bolte Taylor, who documented her experiences when she was having a stroke. This beautiful presentation is entitled, “The Stroke of Insight.”
Lenora's Italy Retreat blog | Lenora's Change Limiting Beliefs Website
I’ve mentioned in earlier blogs that over a two-month period, I had attended my son’s solo mime performances during the Iowa High School Speech Competition at the district, state, and all-state levels. Over 300 schools participated in over ten categories. I’m proud to say that my son won the #1 solo mime All-State Banner for Iowa High School Speech Association’s annual All State Speech Festival. Increase your happiness quotient and watch for 5 minutes!
Lenora's Italy Retreat blog | Lenora's Change Limiting Beliefs Website
This past week I was one of the speakers at a conference for women. I really had fun meeting women from all walks of life–whether they were fellow-speakers or attendees. One of the speakers shared with us a list of the top 10 fears of adults, so I thought I’d share the list with you:
1.) Speaking in public
2.) Heights
3.) Insects/bugs
4.) Lack of money
5.) Deep water
6.) Sickness
7.) Death
8.) Flying
9.) Loneliness
10.Dogs
Lenora's Italy Retreat blog | Lenora's Change Limiting Beliefs Website
There is an incredible need in our lives to find time for silence because the constant noise and activities in our modern lives steer us away from our true center. This past week I’ve been reading one of Sue Monk Kidd’s inspiring books, Firstlight: The Early Inspirational Writings. It’s filled with snippets of her contemplative musings on many subjects including family, faith, and solitude and spiritual awakening. I like the fact that she clearly shows that in every life there are defining moments even in the midst of noise when our hearts begin to open. With a routine of quiet breaks, these moments are more enhanced.
This break from noise and chaos allows us to hear the still small voice of God, “the spark of God within.”
Find time to be quiet in our homes or out in nature. A walk in the woods, or sitting quietly by a lake or stream, or just sitting under a tree can refresh us and bring us to your center more quickly than we can imagine.
Lenora's Italy Retreat blog | Lenora's Change Limiting Beliefs Website
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