The Road To Wellness

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Well, not only did I get diagnosed with high blood pressure, but my doctor also confirmed my suspicions that I may have eczema.

Unfortunately, as I’ve later learned, when you have allergies, skin conditions like this are not uncommon. They are all indicative of an autoimmune response that is impaired or stressed.

While high blood pressure was no surprise given my family history, eczema was a bit of a shocker. All I know is that one itchy spot can sure cause a lot of discomfort. My only consolation is that it it not widespread.

The important lesson to take away from this regards the function that your skin plays. It is your first line of defense against infection, viruses, and other nasties. If it has been breached because of a skin condition, you need to take notice. Your front line has been attacked.

Take any skin condition seriously and have it checked out. Most times, it is benign and not a cause for concern. However, don’t risk it. Keep your frontline in tip top shape.

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Well, part of me knew that it had to happen. When your family history is peppered with it, you must resign yourself to the fact that you have high blood pressure. Today, I count myself among the millions of people that suffer from high blood pressure.

I had my usual annual appointment. It’s always a bit nerve wracking. I can’t say I ever look forward to going to the doctor. Today was no exception.

I felt calm, despite getting lost going to the new clinic location. I felt okay. Yet, when the nurse took my blood pressure, it was high, way too high.

After a frank discussion with my doctor, I left with a prescription for blood pressure medication. I’m not sad, but rather thankful that my condition was caught and is now being treated. In four weeks, I go back in for a recheck and extensive blood tests to establish a baseline.

My word of advice then, regarding my own experience, is to make time for those annual visits. As much as we hate them, as much as we hate undressing for the doctor and dealing with the probes and the probing questions, do it. Do it for your family. Do it for you. Make your appointment today.

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I’m not sure if this is pure coincidence or if my grocery store planned this, but snow crab was on sale here for a fabulous $4.99 a pound. Needless to say, we stocked up.

Crab is such a delightful seafood. Who needs a National Crabmeat Day to celebrate it? Lobster is one thing, but crab is truly sensual. I don’t know whether it’s the cracking of the claws or the physical handling of the meat that makes it so. All I know is that if you want to prepare the perfect aphrodisiac meal, crab is your best bet.

The wonderful thing about it is its simplicity. You can of course, go all out with a crab salad or other such dish. For me, I prefer steamed (or roasted) crab in it all its simple glory. Sure, there is the butter, but it’s only a once-in-awhile indulgence. Normally, crab is relatively expensive.

For the healthy lifestyle, have it as a splurge or treat. Of course, if crab is $4.99 a pound, you just found an excuse for that indulgence.

Photo by Hazel Bregazzi

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To me, a good sauce is worth the effort even if it takes hours to prepare. I don’t back off from a sauce with a long reduction time. After all, it’s not really work. It’s just time to build up the anticipation.

One of my favorite sauces is a red wine reduction sauce. Yes, it take a bit, over one hour. The result however, is out of this world.

The nice thing about these types of sauces is that they are relatively low in calories. The reduction time concentrates the flavors, so a little goes a long way. Another good thing about them is that you may use a little less butter on your baked potato if you pour a little sauce on it.

Here are some elements of a good sauce:

• No cooking wines. Use a wine that you would drink, preferably the same one that you’ll be drinking with dinner. Cooking wines are high in salt to preserve their shelf life. A salty sauce is not a good sauce.
• Use good stock. My favorite is Swanson brand. Use the low-sodium, low-fat varieties for a healthy alternative. I prefer to use broth out of the carton rather than cans to avoid that tinny taste.
• Always use fresh herbs rather than dried. You’ll often find that fresh herbs add some nuances lost in dried.
• To lower the glycemic value, use cornstarch and cold water rather than flour to thicken your sauce. I will finish with a bit of butter, but for thickening, I prefer the smooth texture of cornstarch.
• Speaking of butter, a good sauce demands a good butter. Skip the grocery store brands and opt for a better, unsalted butter. I use Plugra exclusively.

Sauces are a fun way to stretch your culinary talents to turn an ordinary meal into something truly special.

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More and more, we are learning of the dangers of obesity. The latest news focuses on the effects of obesity in children.

I don’t know about you, but I remember as a kid always being active. My mom would kick us out of the house to go outside and play. We didn’t spend our time playing video games. Our toys were the rocks, mud, and sticks we found outside. It was just that my parents didn’t have a lot of money. Our fun depended upon our imagination.

The more I learn about health, the more it becomes obvious that we hold the keys to our good health. Inactive? Find ways to incorporate exercise by taking small breaks throughout the day. Tired from work? Use exercise to help you relieve stress. Have a medical condition such as hypothyroidism? Modify your diet to find ways to counter its ill effects.

The point is you are in the driver’s seat. You have the ability to make good choices. If you face a challenge, there are ways to overcome it. All it takes is for you to muster the will power and take charge of your health.

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