Archives for October 2013

Quiet: introverts on the job – pyroluria, low blood sugar, gluten?

October 22, 2013 By Trudy Scott 13 Comments

In a recent blog post I discussed a possible connection between introversion and pyroluria, especially if you also have social anxiety, inner tension and a preference for interacting with a few people rather than a crowd.

This nice infographic gives us some of the useful facts and stats:

introverts make better one-on-one connections
introverts sometimes experience anxiety when speaking to large groups of people
introverts are prone to social anxiety disorder
the percentage of introverts in the U.S. is about 50%
the percentage of people in the U.S. who are estimated to have social anxiety disorder is 7%-8%
the percentage of adults in the U.S. who are estimated to have an anxiety disorder is 18% [I added this one]

I like that this infographic is suggesting more comfortable work environments and jobs that may suit introverts better.

BUT …and this is a BIG BUT….I feel we can do better if you are one of those introverts who still feel anxious or nervous despite all the tips and tricks.

It’s important for you to also address some of the possible biochemical and nutritional imbalances:

low blood sugar can make you feel anxious, irritable and depressed – eating protein at breakfast helps so much
pyroluria can cause social anxiety and inner tension, especially in crowds and when under more stress – zinc and vitamin B6 can make a world of difference
gluten intolerance can cause anxiety and depression and can lead to nutritional deficiencies – do an elimination and challenge
low GABA or low serotonin can lead to physical tension/anxiety and worry/anxiety in the head – consider a trial of GABA or tryptophan supplements

This is just a few factors that may be contributing to your anxiety. I encourage you to investigate and address ALL the possible causes of your anxiety and/or social anxiety. You don’t have to live with it, tolerate it and force or “extrovert” (a new verb!) yourself in social settings. You can feel comfortable, relaxed, calm and be a “Social Butterfly” – really!

Do also check out my book for in-depth protocols and research: The Antianxiety Food Solution: How the Foods You Eat Can Help You Calm Your Anxious Mind, Improve Your Mood, and End Cravings (New Harbinger, 2011).

Source: BestMastersPrograms.org

Pinkwashing for the cure (ridiculous!) or green for prevention?

October 21, 2013 By Trudy Scott 30 Comments

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and creating breast cancer awareness is great BUT this pinkwashing is ridiculous!

A California based organization shares what pinkwashing is:

Breast Cancer Action coined the term pinkwashing as part of our Think BeforeYou Pink® campaign. Pinkwasher: (pink’-wah-sher) noun. A company or organization that claims to care about breast cancer by promoting a pink ribbon product, but at the same time produces, manufactures and/or sells products that are linked to the disease.

Sarah Pope, the Healthy Home Economist doesn’t mince her words in her blog post “Komen (NOT) for the Cure: for the Cure: The Complete and Utter Pinkwashing of America” and nor should she. She says things like “pink propaganda”, “media stupidity”, “zombie like hypnosis that comes over people with regard to supporting the marketing bonanza” and “Breast Cancer Industry Month.” As far as I’m concerned she is spot on and this pinkwashing is ridiculous and totally out of hand! Do read her blog post above: she shares some shocking facts about Komen, saying they don’t want a cure because “Pinkwashing is far too lucrative.”

I am, quite frankly, flabbergasted by the whole commercialism of it. Also, so many of the products that have been “pinked” are part of the cancer problem in the first place.

Like sugary foods and fast food! You’re kidding me! Coke and cancer awareness!? What about cancer-causing toxins in makeup!?

The title of this paper says it all: Cancer is a Preventable Disease that Requires Major Lifestyle Changes

“Only 5–10% of all cancer cases can be attributed to genetic defects, whereas the remaining 90–95% have their roots in the environment and lifestyle. The lifestyle factors include cigarette smoking, diet (fried foods, red meat), alcohol, sun exposure, environmental pollutants, infections, stress, obesity, and physical inactivity.”

Here are some great resources that help with some of these lifestyle factors:

Helyane Waldman’s book “The Whole-Food Guide for Breast Cancer Survivors: A Nutritional Approach to Preventing Recurrence”
Rebecca Katz’s “The Cancer-Fighting Kitchen: Nourishing, Big-Flavor Recipes for Cancer Treatment and Recovery”
Mira Dessy’s book “The Pantry Principle: how to read the label and understand what’s really in your food”
Good quality grass-fed red meat from US Wellness Meats, instead of poor quality feed-lot meat
Good quality wild salmon and other healthy fish from Vital Choice, instead of farmed fish
Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep Guide to Cosmetics and their guides to healthy cleaning products and GMOs, pesticides on produce and much more. As well as cancer, we know about the bad effects of pesticides on anxiety and depression. I also encourage you to take action: sign Breast Cancer Action’s petition to end pinkwashing once and for all via strong chemical regulations.

How about a green ribbon instead of a pink ribbon!? And please, let’s call it Breast Cancer Prevention and have a Race for Prevention instead of a Race for the Cure!

Which do you choose – pinkwashing for the cure or green for prevention?

Designs for Health, The Pantry Principle, Hawthorn University and Organic India: a BIG thank you!

October 8, 2013 By Trudy Scott 11 Comments

I exhibited at the recent Integrative Medicine for Mental Health / IMMH conference and appreciate the support of my sponsors or “partners.”

Designs for Health, a professional brand, offered exclusively to health care professionals and their patients through referral, donated bottles of Zinc Challenge for my zinc testing. This is something I like to do at events because zinc is such a common deficiency, especially when it comes to anxiety and depression. Low zinc is common in pyroluria – you can do the pyroluria questionnaire from my book to determine if this may be an issue for you. There are 4 different levels of the zinc taste test: here is more information and an example of how it should taste.

Designs for Health Zinc Challenge – for zinc status testing

Mira Messy, NE, author of The Pantry Principle: How to read the label and understand what’s really in your food. I had 10 of her wonderful books on display and available for purchase, plus a small standup poster with information, plus space on my signup sheet for people to get on her email list. We did a trade and she is going to be exhibiting at HMN Natural Living Conference on Oct 12 and will reciprocate with my book The Antianxiety Food Solution: How the Foods You Eat Can Help You Calm Your Anxious Mind, Improve Your Mood, and End Cravings.

Hawthorn University “is dedicated to providing supportive, comprehensive, and professional education in the fields of holistic health, nutrition, and the health sciences through the utilization of distance education methods. Hawthorn offers online undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate degrees, certificates and continuing education programs to a diverse community of adult learners working to enhance health and wellness around the world.” I displayed fliers for these programs at my booth and was available to answer questions that my booth visitors had about their programs.

Hawthorn University fliers – “Nutrition Consultants promote health and balance”

Organic India is a herbal tea and supplement company which “promotes sustainable organic agriculture and protects the bio-diversity of the Earth, while supporting thousands of marginal farmers and tribal communities in rural India.” They donated organic tulsi tea: “Tulsi, also called Holy Basil, is revered throughout India as a sacred herb infused with healing power and is considered to be the “Queen of Herbs.” Abundant in antioxidants, certified organic Tulsi Tea is not only great tasting; it offers stress relief, increased energy and a boost to your natural immune system.” Also, because they are naturally caffeine-free they fit perfectly with my antianxiety food solution message of no to coffee! My favorite is the lemon-ginger – it’s delicious!

Organic India – a selection herbal tulsi tea

A big thank you to Designs for Health, The Pantry Principle, Hawthorn University and Organic India!