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Unleash yourself with BODYCOMBAT™, an empowering cardio workout and fiercely energetic program inspired by martial arts disciplines such as karate, boxing, taekwondo, tai chi and muay thai.

 

 

 


H1N1 Vaccine to be Available at Sugar Land Community Center

The Fort Bend County Health and Human Services Department will distribute H1N1 vaccines at a temporary clinic at the Sugar Land Community Center, 226 Matlage Way, on the following date:

●   Saturday, Feb. 27, from noon to 5 p.m.

The temporary vaccination clinic is one of many planned at locations throughout the county.  A list of locations is available at www.fortbendcountyhhs.com/.

“Everyone in the City is strongly encouraged to obtain flu shots this year, both the seasonal type and the H1N1 vaccination as it becomes available,” said Dr. Joe Anzaldua, Sugar Land’s public health authority.  “Taking advantage of both vaccinations combined with simple precautionary hygiene may well prevent a rapid and widespread outbreak in our community.”

Anzaldua recommends the following precautions:

●   Cover noses and mouths with forearms when coughing or sneezing.

●   Wash hands often with soap and water, especially after coughing or sneezing. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.  

●   Avoid touching eyes, noses or mouths to prevent the spread of germs.

●   Avoid close contact with sick people.

●   And most importantly -- if sick with a flu-like illness, stay home for at least 24 hours once the fever is gone, except to get medical care or for other necessities.  The fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.  

City preparedness efforts for the H1N1 pandemic include an update to Sugar Land’s Disease Control and Response Plan to specifically address H1N1.

 

 

Boost Your Immune System ... Naturally!

by Brandie Trigger
With all the news of illnesses locally and all over the world, it is more important than ever to maintain a strong immune system. Here are some ways to support your family's immune system: 

Vitamin C: Some things never change- like Vitamin C as powerful support for your immune system!  Sometimes we try to get fancy, adding herbs like Echinacea and Goldenseal to our natural remedy repertoire. But let’s not forget about the basic benefits of a quality Vitamin C supplement throughout the cold/flu season.  Adults, your dose is 4000 mg/day for prevention.

Essential Oils: When it comes to immune support, therapeutic-grade essential oils are by far my favorite.  Essential oils are like the ‘blood’ of the plant, carrying oxygen and nutrients to its cells.  Not only are their tiny molecules antimicrobial, antifungal, antiviral, and antibacterial, but they usual smell amazing too.  I support a company called Young Living Essential Oils and appreciate that their distillation process is such that the therapeutic properties of the plants are retained, as opposed to oils you find in the store that are simply ‘aromatic’ and not necessarily ‘therapeutic’.  One of the greatest investments you can make in your family’s health is to use Thieves oil on a daily basis.  Thieves is a combination of clove, lemon, cinnamon, eucalyptus and rosemary oils- all known for their antiviral and antibacterial properties.  You can use the oil directly on the feet, which is absorbed transdermally (through the skin) to act in the bloodstream.  It is also safe to take this oil internally (not all oils are safe for consumption) - a drop in a cup of rice or almond milk 3x/day does the trick to kick a cold.  Diffusing essential oils is also a fabulous way to kill airborne bacteria lurking in your home or office. Visit www.youngliving.org/nourishfamily for more information.

Go with Garlic: Yes, it’s smelly, but that’s exactly why it’s so good for you!  Garlic contains allicin, which promotes antioxidant activity and functions as a powerful antibacterial and antiviral agent- and gives it that pungent smell.   To get the most out of your garlic, it’s best to chop or press it before using it.  If you’re going to cook with it, allow chopped garlic to sit 5-10 minutes before heating it so the enzymes that are released in the chopping process can work to make the allicin available for your body’s immune system to use.

Take your probiotics: They’re in everything these days- even chocolate bars!  Probiotics are strands of beneficial bacteria that help to ‘fight the good fight’ in our guts.  The delicate balance of micro flora in the gut is largely responsible for the state of our overall immune system.  When we are deficient in beneficial bacteria in our guts, we leave room for harmful bacteria to grow out of control- not a good thing.   Supplementing with a good quality probiotic is a good idea for everyone, but especially if you’ve taken antibiotics, if you eat a lot of refined foods or if you have a stressful lifestyle.  Try probiotic-containing foods too like kombucha tea, all-natural sauerkraut and plain yogurt.

Release stress: Speaking of stress … get it out of your body!  Stress has a direct effect on the immune system, largely because a stress response in the body releases the hormone cortisol, known to weaken the immune system.  So practice deep breathing on a regular basis, enjoy calming music, receive a massage, get a good night’s sleep, be thankful and laugh often.  Your immune system will thank you!

Happy Birthday, Clean Hands!

Feeling sick? It may be because you didn't sing happy birthday (twice) to your hands. That's how long you should be rubbing your hands under water after applying soap and making a lather. For more on how to wash your hands really well go to http://www.cdc.gov/cleanhands/  

 

Be Healthy Inside and Out 

By Brandie Trigger 

Many ingredients used in body care products are highly toxic, but just like food they're cheap and allow for a long shelf life for the product. 

Many ingredients are also allergenic (whether we're making the connection or not) and carcinogenic (why take a risk?).  Here's a quick list of the general ingredients to avoid: 

   1. Parabens (methyl, propyl, ethyl, and butyl) or PHB Esters

   2. Urea, Imidazolidinyl & DMDM Hydantoin (Germal and Germal II)

   3. TEA (Triethanolamine)

   4. FD&C Color Pigments

   5. Fragrances (Perfume)

   6. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and Sodium Laureth Sulfate

   7. Mineral Oil 

For more info on why to avoid these ingredients, click here: http://www.zenorgan ics.info/ toxic.cfm 

Okay, so what products are safe?  Just like food, you have READ LABELS. Here is a list of products I like: 

Shampoo/Conditioner: Young Living Essential Oils Lavender Volume Shampoo/Conditioner To learn more, go here: https://www. youngliving. org/nourishfamily. Choose the Product Line button on the left and go to Personal Care, scroll down and click on the various products to see more info. 

Shower Gel: EO brand peppermint shower gel from Whole Foods has some good info on their site: http://www.eoproduc ts.com/Categorie s/Bath.aspx 

Face care: I really like the Origins products: http://www.origins. com/ and a line called Suki at some Whole Foods and Central Market. 

Toothpaste: Tom's of Maine and Young Living Thieves Dentarome toothpaste 

Floss: Thieves floss 

Make-up: Again, Origins and Suki are my favorites.  Some Whole foods and Central Markets have make-up and I usually just explore around there, read labels and talk to the sales people to ask questions about the products.  

Deodorant: This is probably the trickiest product to find natural that works. After years of searching I really like this one that my mom actually gave me for Christmas. It really works (without 10 million reapplications)!  It’s called Terra Naturals at Whole Foods. I like the Lavender one: http://terranatural s.com/deodorant- sticks-women- c-34.html? osCsid=6a23f6093 dc87703e4e95c1ec 12b7487. 

Brandie Trigger, LMT, Nutritionist, is owner of Nourish Your Family: Support, resources and services for growing families. Call 512.695.3456 or visit www.nourishyourfamily.com.

 


 

What's for dinner? You need a plan! 

We all know we shouldn't go shopping without a list, but you can't really make a list without a plan.
 
Spend a little time deciding what meals you want to prepare and you'll not only save yourself time in the kitchen, you'll also save time at the store and, best of all, you'll probably save money, too!
 
Sugar Land mom Brenda Thompson has developed a way to actually take the stress out of deciding what's for dinner (and breakfast, lunch and snacks) each day. She's got a blog (www.mealplanningmagic.blogspot.com) to get you thinking and a binder to keep you from walking around the store aimlessly and then, once your home, standing in front of the open fridge for 10 minutes trying to decide what to actually make.

It's not a dream. It's Meal Planning Magic! Visit Brenda's blog to find out more about her ideas and workshops in the area. Visit local nutritionist Brandie Trigger's web site www.nourishyourfamily.com for more tips on, of course, nourishing your family!


 

 

PardonMOI...

Check out this cool shirt from www.PardonMOI.com, custom made for kids who have food allergies. They are made in Champaign, IL, by stay-at-home mom Amy Wicker whose daughter was born with severe allergies and a compromised immune system. Perfect if you're sending your kids off to a day camp this summer, where you're not sure what someone might offer them to eat. The best part is the back, which can say one of three choices:

"Pardon MOI, I’m allergic to (allergy). The only thing you should feed me is a compliment.” 

 


 “Pardon MOI, I’m allergic to (allergy). But not to hugs.” 

 

 


 “Pardon MOI, I’m allergic to (allergy). Please wash hands before handling"

 

 

   

 

 

Slow Food Movement

by Brandie Trigger

It’s no secret our culture is obsessed with being in a hurry.  Unfortunately, in our haste we have lost our connection with truly enjoying good food with friends and family. All of this rushing around wreaks havoc on our bodies and minds and contributes to a culture of spiraling into exhaustion.  If you’re tired of being tired, taking it slow can be a refreshing change of pace for the whole family.

Try preparing and enjoying these simple snacks in an intentional way, slowing down to notice the vibrant colors and fresh aromas of the foods:
  • Celery sticks with all-natural nut butter (almond, cashew, peanut)
  • Red bell pepper slices with hummus
  • Whole Grain crackers with organic cheese cubes
  • Home-made trail mix with a variety of nuts, seeds and fruits (Found in bulk at HEB)
  • Lettuce wraps filled with turkey slices or left-over stir fry
  • Cucumber slices with salsa and guacamole

 Slow Food Family Tips

  • Prepare meals together- kids can help with washing veggies, peeling and mixing (with clean hands)!
  • Create fun, interesting words and phrases to describe the tastes and colors of your food- i.e. deliciously divine lasagna, totally tasty tomatoes, super yummy salad…
  • If you are picking up your meal from a restaurant, take it home rather than eating in the car.  Use real plates and real silverware and taste and enjoy each bite.
  • Prepare meals and snacks in advance and in bulk so you have things ready to go when its time to eat. You will be less likely to feel rushed and can better appreciate your food.
  • Try chewing your food 10 to 20 times each bite, noticing the texture and tastes in your mouth.
  • Make meal-time a sacred time.  Turn off the tv, clear the clutter from the table and just focus on connecting with food and family.

 Benefits of taking it slow with food

  • Reduces the stress surrounding meal-time
  • You will eat less and feel better- when we slow down while eating, we give our bodies the chance to communicate when we are full and are less likely to end up feeling bloated or tired after meals.  Instead, we feel alive and energized by our food.
  • Appreciate God-made foods (can you feel the difference between fresh cut cucumber slices and reduced-fat Sun Chips?)
  • Get more out of your food- Digestion begins in the mouth as our bodies release enzymes that break down the food we eat. When we chew our food, we are more likely to fully digest and obtain the nutrients we need to build healthy bodies and minds.

 Slowing down can seem awkward and challenging at first.  You may feel like you’re going against the grain- and you are! But you are also helping to create a culture where we appreciate our food and take good care of our bodies.  Your family will notice the difference!

 For more on the Slow Food Movement and enjoying good food, visit these links:

 http://wholefoods.com/socialmedia/podcast/

 http://www.slowfoodusa.org/about/index.html

 http://www.whfoods.com/

Brandie Trigger is a Fort Bend County-based nutritionist and massage therapist who recently created Nourish Your Family for Sugar Land families like yours. Nourish Your Family was created to provide support, resources and services to growing families. When we nourish ourselves, we are better able to nourish our families. To find out more, visit Trigger online at www.nourishyourfamily.com.