Skating Uphill - July 2023
Living a Healthy Lifestyle
“Creative Minds are great, but sometimes
the search for something new or different can
be a pain in the bee-hind!”
– The Uphill Skater –
One of the most impactful aspects of creativity is doing something new with something old. However, something new can sometimes be nothing more than discovering new pieces of an already completed puzzle. Learning new tidbits or deeper layers can often be a game changer.
Here’s an example: I am a pescatarian (a vegetarian who eats fish and shellfish). I had been a full vegetarian but started eating fish when I moved from California to Hilton Head Island. The fresh fish, shrimp right off the boats, and mussels were too delicious and healthy to pass up. I felt that if I was a vegetarian for health reasons, then I was quite the hypocrite by not eating the freshest food indigenous to the Lowcountry.
I have learned something else that will help me create yet a new and more healthy way to eat: Protein! The beef industry states people need 50 grams of protein per day. And Dr. McDougal, founder and developer of the vegan McDougal Diet, and Forks Over Knives Magazine says you only need 25 grams.
What to do? I have started using plant-based (non-dairy) protein powder in smoothies. I have also upped my dairy intake, which is a super source of protein, by adding cottage cheese, Greek yogurt, or low-fat milk to shakes. More broccoli-type rough veggies can also make a world of difference and add healthy calories instead of empty calories.
Another example of new and more creative thinking came to me from a magazine that features a section called “Myth Busters” in every issue. I learned the claim that sunscreen blocks Vitamin D from being absorbed into your body is a myth—not fact. While sunscreen can block some absorption, as little as 15 minutes a day in the sunshine even with lotion, is enough to get your body to make Vitamin D. (BH&G Magazine May 2023) Safely being in the sun is good for you!
My final new and creative information comes from an article I read in the newspaper: Vitamin B12 deficiency is common in vegetarians. Well, not so much as it turns out. Dr. Keith Roach shared in response to a question from a vegetarian, a shortage of B12 resulting in anemia is not so common in vegetarians as it is in those who eat a strict vegan diet. Incorporate eggs, cheese, and dairy into your diet and your chances are low risk for B12 deficiency. I love it when I can really learn something new that makes a difference in my health.
Think about adding creativity even to the simplest, most mundane tasks like going to the grocery store. Cooking and eating can not only be creative but can also create healthier habits and lifestyle in a fun way.
My son and I cook together once a week and take turns making up the menu. This is a good stretch for me, as we feed four picky adults and an eight-year-old boy, who thinks popcorn is a food group. Creative challenge? You bet! Why don’t you try something like this? Let me know how it turns out!
Visit www.skatinguphill.com blog for new recipes, daily thoughts and décor ideas. Also find reprints of Pink articles and shared comments. Blogging is fun and easy.
Judith Lawrenson is a former Hilton Head Island resident who has a huge heart and is loved by all who meet her. She has served and volunteered with numerous charitable organizations while living in the Lowcontry making an impact wherever she went. She and her husband recently moved to the wild hills of West Virginia to be closer to grandchildren. Judith is an avid sailor, a retired reading resource specialist, and a children's TV host whose local show originated from the Boys and Girls' Club. Judith is also a long-time seeker of healthy, happy living and a lifestyle dedicated to service to others, balanced with love of God and love of self. Check out her blog www.skatinguphill.com for fun info, recipes and nutrition ideas, current updates on nearly everything in the world, and lots of comments and opinions.
Though I do tons of research, and have done so for many years, I am not a doctor and I share only my opinions. I enjoy research and subscribe to several magazines and publications and read up on all new trends. I hope you do, too!