March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Colon cancer is the second most leading cancer killer in the United States, following lung cancer in men and breast cancer in women. Every year, over 140,000 Americans are diagnosed as having colorectal cancer. Of this population, an estimated 44% will die as a result of this disease.

AT-RISK GROUPS

Alaska Natives and American Indians, African-Americans and Hispanics are less likely to be screened for colorectal cancer and less likely to be diagnosed in early, more easily treated stages of the disease than non-Hispanic Whites.

Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer among both African-American men and women.

COLORECTAL CANCER PREVENTION

• Be physically active for at least 30 minutes, at least 5 days a week.
• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Don’t smoke. If you do smoke, quit.
• If you drink alcohol, have no more than one drink a day if you’re a woman or two drinks if you’re a man.
• Eat fruits, vegetables and whole grains to help you get and stay healthy.
• Eat less red meat and cut out processed meat.
• The number one thing you can do is get screened. Early Detection is the key–Ask your Doctor!

COLORECTAL SCREENING SAVES LIVES

All tests can detect colorectal cancer early, and some of them can also find pre-cancers. With certain types of diagnostic tests, this cancer can be prevented by removing polyps (grape-like growths on the wall of the intestine) before they become cancerous.

TIP: If you’re at average risk for colorectal cancer, start getting screened at age 50. If you’re at higher risk, you may need to start regular screening at an earlier age and be screened more often. The best time to get screened is before you have any symptoms!

So turn over a new leaf this spring. Make healthy lifestyle changes that can reduce your risk of colorectal cancer. And talk to your health care professional about your personal risk factors and when a screening may be appropriate. Don’t let your health March on by!

While this may seem easier said than done, 28 DAYS TO HEALTH™ empowers you to change your lifestyle and achieve sustainable results with Gluten, Soy, and Dairy-Free products.  We chose to offer this four-week program at Mind, Body and Flow because it provides our clients with a roadmap and recipes for adopting a gluten, soy, and dairy-free lifestyle. It is simple, logical, and easy to follow. It does not include any calorie counting or deprivation. Thousands of people, just like you, have regained their health by implementing this Clean Eating, Clean Living Solution™. You can choose how much of the lifestyle you are ready to adopt.

It is an easy program to implement and detoxification symptoms such as fatigue, hunger and cravings are minimized with the 28 DAYS TO HEALTH™ Clean Eating, Clean Living Solution™. You will look and feel better as your body mobilizes and removes unwanted toxins while gradually reducing fat storage. To sustain your renewed health and vitality after completing your 28 Days program, we at Mind, Body and Flow focus on educating and empowering you to continue to make good choices.  Combined with our other services such as colon hydrotherapy, Zen Shiatsu therapy and infrared services, you can maximize your clean living efforts while receiving all the support you need to stick with it!

How we think:  At Mind Body and Flow everything that we do has been thought out, researched, and perfected to produce maximum results. The short phrase in our clinic’s byline; “Be Happy, Be Healthy, Be Free” are more than a few catchwords, they are the heart and soul of our belief system. Our goal is to achieve and integrate all of those qualities into a wellness plan that is tailored to your needs and to your personal lifestyle. After all is said and done, your health is your wealth!

What we learn:  Holistic and natural health symposiums at the IACT strive to teach the importance of a symbiotic relationship between the mind, the body and the spirit. Every one of their lectures and classes are totally focused upon continuing the progress and perfection of the healing arts. At Mind Body and Flow a personal wellness evaluation by one of our professional certified staff is central to creating an individualized plan that will not only work for you, but that you can work with. This approach insures that our clients will achieve, nurture and maintain the most natural quality of life and well-being… for the rest of their lives!

What we can do for you:  Whether it’s Infrared Sauna, Zen Shiatsu therapy, nutrition and weight management, or Colon Hydrotherapy, the idea behind holistic medicine is to help release and remove obstructions and toxins. This helps the body to use its natural ability to achieve balance and harmony. Our serene Mind Body and Flow clinic has the professional staff, knowledge, health therapies, and the natural products to help you to reach your very best potential. We want to help you to be all that you can … Be Happy, Be Healthy, Be Free!

So much has been said and written about fiber that it seems to have become a catch all for everything that we think we know about food, digestion and our general well-being.  At Mind Body and Flow we sort out the ‘wheat from the chaff’ by providing some basic ways to help you achieve a balanced physical and emotional life through proper nutrition, natural supplements and a common-sense approach to get you on the path to proper health!

What We Know:

Basically, the body is like a full-time furnace, taking in food and liquid, and emulsifying them with its own reservoir of natural enzymes, acids and bile to extract nutrients and produce the energy that we need. We can only ‘burn’ and effectively use the energy our bodies require if the food or ‘fuel’ is of the proper mixture. Unfortunately our modern diets of processed and chemically altered foods have wreaked havoc with our body’s ability to function properly. Mind Body and Flow has been at the forefront in helping people to get back on a healthy path by providing the guidance and the natural supplements to help us to feel better and live well!

Simple Solutions:

Included in our daily diligence to try to eat properly and sensibly is the simple fact that no matter what we do, our bodies need additional help to function at peak performance.  We offer a number of natural supplements that will help make a significant difference in your health, the way you feel and the very quality of your life.  We offer several types of excellent fiber both at our office and in our online store. One brand that we’re particularly happy with is the Ortho Molecular Fiber Plus natural supplement. Try it and see how easy it is to get back on the path to real health and the total well-being that all of us strive for. Or, give us a call and we’ll gladly offer you a personalized recommendation based on your individual needs.

There are no magic pills that will cure all that ails you.  But we can help empower you with knowledge and give you the tools you need to feel your best.

The fact that 50% of us feel less than optimal on a daily basis underscores the need for health options that work and provide life-long results. We know from our own personal journey that detoxifying the body can have a positive effect on your overall health and your quality of life. And we want to share our discoveries with you!

From Shellese King-Bassette, DDS
Vice President and Owner, Mind Body and Flow:

In the fall of 2009 my husband and I were inspired to take a serious look at our health, particularly our digestive health.  At that time, we learned my father-in-law was experiencing digestive health problems that led to chronic diarrhea, electrolyte imbalance, and severe weight loss and fatigue.  After various invasive tests and hospital stays, he was diagnosed with colon polyps and Celiac disease.

We realized that my father was also diagnosed with colon polyps and had multiple procedures to remove them.  Just before Christmas of that same year, my godfather had surgery to remove 13 inches of his large intestine due to irreversible damage from chronic infection.

As we became aware of how many of our immediate family members experienced severe digestive health issues, we agreed this critical aspect of our health could not be ignored.  We dedicated both time and money to researching all aspects of the digestive system, including its detailed function, diseases and conditions, and traditional as well as alternative treatments.

During our extensive research we were excited to discover that detoxifying the body not only improves digestive health, but it also has a positive effect on the health of the entire body. We started Mind Body and Flow because no one was catering to what we’d discovered.

Think About This

At Mind Body and Flow we have seen people from all walks of life, of every shape and of every possible physical situation. The single thing that always shines through with each and every one of our successful clients is that they recognized that they wanted to feel better and they were ready to do something about it. We are here to guide you every step of the way, but the key ingredient is YOU and your recognition and desire to enjoy the everyday benefits of better health through our reliable and proven methods!

The Challenge

There is nothing more frustrating, and sometimes embarrassing, than to have to ‘opt out’ of family activities because you are not up to the physical challenge. It’s not a good feeling for you and it’s certainly a disappointment for your family and friends because you can’t participate. Missing out on activities is like missing out on life. The fact is you don’t have to keep existing this way … life is meant to be lived!

Making It Happen!

Here’s the truth, we’re not here for our health … we are here for yours! All of our healthy protocols and products have been painstakingly developed over many years. All of them are available here to help get you back into summer shape, and beyond … here’s a few you should know:

• Colon Hydrotherapy > Rid harmful toxins from your body, safely and gently.
• Infrared Sauna > State-of-the-art light therapy to remove metals and chemical agents.
• Zen Shiatsu > Holistic massage therapies to stimulate your natural healing processes.
• Creating Wellness > A triad of physical, biochemical and mindfulness programs to reduce daily stress and improve the natural symbiosis between the mind and the body.

Promise Yourself

These are just some of the many things that Mind Body and Flow can do to help you to feel and to perform your very best this summer season! We are 100% committed to your total wellness, so why put it off? Take the steps now to take charge of your health and start enjoying life again!

In recent years much has been made about probiotics and their overall benefits to human health. The basic concept is quite simple, the optimum balance of the body, what we call homeostasis, is directly related to the function of our digestive system and its processes. When digestion is out of phase due to an imbalance in our natural bacteria or ‘micro flora,’ we don’t feel right on many levels, and it affects our lives and everything that we do.

Eating It All:

Because the human species are omnivores, that is, we consume both plant and animal sources, our digestive processes are challenged on many levels. Add to this the fact that in the modern era most people are consuming foods and beverages that are chemically processed, stripped of many natural nutrients and infused with agents and additives that slow or alter the natural digestive processes.

Due to food choices and eating habits, IBS or Irritable Bowel Symptom is now so prevalent that it has become one of the most common problems for people of all ages. It doesn’t have to be this way, and you don’t have to suffer with digestive, intestinal or bowel problems when there’s proven help right here and right now!

Modern Medicines:

Antibiotics have been hailed as one of the modern world’s most amazing medical advances, but everything comes with a price which some refer to as ‘side effects.’ Millions of prescriptions for antibiotics are prescribed every single day. While they can control or eliminate infections due to ‘bad’ bacterium strains in the body, they are notorious for causing stomach discomfort, bloating, diarrhea and cramping because they also kill the beneficial micro flora in the intestines.

What Can You Do?

Probiotics are supplements that address the inconsistencies in the natural levels of the micro flora, the ‘good’ bacteria that aid in proper digestion of food. Whether it’s the foods we eat or the antibiotics we take, probiotics help by promoting and maintaining the proper amounts of the flora so that the digestion process can proceed as nature had always intended.

Two of the most important probiotics are Lactobacillus Acidophilus and Bifidobacterium or Bifidus, which prompt and promote the proper levels of natural bacteria in the digestive tract.  To make your life simpler, we offer several safe and effective Probiotic supplements either online. Or find it at our clinic.  They’re simple, safe, effective, and totally natural solution to one of humanity’s most uncomfortable and age-old problems!

IBS is a chronic and unpredictable gastrointestinal disorder that usually involves the small and large intestine. There are no tests that identify IBS (like standard blood tests, x-rays, scopes or scans).  Instead, IBS is diagnosed based on defined patterns of signs and symptoms. Visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irritable_bowel_syndrome to learn more.

IBS affects people of all ages and backgrounds, including children.  People who are diagnosed with IBS often describe experiencing many of the following digestive symptoms:

• Bloating
• Heartburn
• Diarrhea and /or Constipation
• Nausea
• Upper abdominal discomfort, pain or spasm that comes and goes (dyspepsia)
• Feelings of urgency (the need to find a restroom fast)
• Passage of mucus in the stool
• Feeling of “incomplete” bowel emptying

While medications may be prescribed to help manage bouts of severe pain, consider the following steps to help address IBS throughout your life from a more holistic approach:

• Herbal Supplements–Use an effective, natural formula to help to support the intestinal lining and promote healthy bowel function.
• Identify and Treat–It is important to address any underlying causes of IBS, such as Candida and/or parasites.
• Change Your Diet–Avoid irritating foods and beverages such as alcohol, caffeine, chocolate, dairy products and sugar, as well as those that are high in sulfur
• Add Fiber–Slowly begin to increase your fiber intake with a balance of soluble and insoluble fiber, such as the natural balance found in flax.
• Replace Intestinal Flora–Natural probiotic supplements such as those with Acidophilus and Bifidus will help provide a healthy balance of natural intestinal bacteria.
• Avoid Raw Vegetables–During times of significant irritation, it is best to avoid raw vegetables and opt instead for lightly steamed vegetables, fish and lean protein.
• Drink Plenty of Water–Drink at least half your body weight in ounces each day (For example, a 120 pound person would require 60 ounces of water, or seven tall glasses).
• Try Colon Hydrotherapy–In contrast to a traditional enema, colon hydrotherapy involves repeated infusions of filtered, warm water into the colon to help tone the bowel and promote healthy elimination.

IBS is a multifaceted disorder and, while there is no known cure, its symptoms can usually be managed. Educate yourself about the condition.  Work with your health care provider to effectively diagnose and treat immediate severe symptoms.  Consider using a holistic approach to manage IBS for the long term.

Remember, it’s never too late to start feeling better.  With some lifestyle adjustments you can Be Happy, Be Healthy and Be Free.

-By, Shellese King-Bassette, DDS

They’re called essential fatty acids because the body can’t synthesize them, so they must be obtained through your diet or through supplementation.

Omega-3′s reduce inflammation throughout the body. Inflammation in the body is a pathway to disease and can damage your blood vessels, lead to heart disease, and might even contribute to the on-set of Alzheimer’s.

Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to:

Bonus facts about your heart you didn’t know!