Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays, as the focus is on food and giving thanks.  In my Thanksgiving article, I typically write about the cornucopia or horn of plenty, but I will also include some things to ponder during the holidays.

A cornucopia definition is a curved, hollow goat's horn or similarly shaped receptacle that is overflowing, especially with fruit and vegetables, and used as a decorative motif emblematic of abundance.  The diversity of fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds gives us a variety to choose from and thus will be the diversity of the information presented today.

I have been listening to an event covering the microbiome, or the bacteria that reside on and inside us.  I am excited about the possibilities that unique probiotic strains can be used to treat specific conditions.  It is common knowledge that probiotics are helpful for general gut health, which wasn't the case when we started recommending these products over 15 years ago.  At that time, we had few probiotics; the main one was lactobacillus acidophilus. 

In today's world of probiotics, we have patented strains that have specific conditions that they target so that we are better able to help our patients.  A simple analogy during hunting season is the difference between shooting a shotgun vs. a rifle, where a shotgun shoots many BBs in hopes of hitting the target while a rifle uses one more accurate bullet.  The same concept can be used in the world of probiotics, where we had a few strains that we would throw at a problem years ago, but today, we now have bullets to address specific conditions.

I recently saw a meme stating that 90 % of foods in grocery stores didn't even exist 100 years ago…. And neither did 90% of the diseases.  I realize that this is an oversimplification of an evolving problem, but our food has changed, and if we are what we eat, that will have consequences.  I encourage you to try new foods during the holidays, especially fruits and vegetables, as increasing your diversity of these will improve the diversity of your microbiome, as each fruit and vegetable has unique bacteria associated with them.

On the topic of what we eat, cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death in the US, yet we continue to fail in this battle.  The above paragraph may be one of the causes, along with a sedentary lifestyle and the never-ending onslaught of stress.  If you have a history in your family or if you have been diagnosed with CV disease, it is not the kiss of death.  You can take charge and control your condition.  For starters, it is best to find out what you are up against; sticking your head in the sand and not finding out where you stand is a mistake, so get the coronary CT scan and have an advanced lipid panel like the LPP test.

After you have gotten the results, it's time to get busy.  The Mediterranean diet, with a couple of modifications, only one grain per day and only one glass of wine daily, is an excellent fix to your diet.  Exercising using high-intensity interval training, or HIIT is the best use of your time and the most bang for your buck.  Next, address your stress with relaxation techniques and dietary supplements.  Making the necessary changes to enjoy a long and fruitful life is a must, but only if you want to live a fruitful life.  It is time to get busy.

A good friend of mine sent a Thanksgiving card, and in the card was a list detailing the things we might overlook and need to be thankful for.  It resonated with me, so I am including it for all of us to ponder. 

I am thankful for…….

The taxes I pay because it means I'm employed.

The clothes that fit a little too snug because it means I have more than enough to eat.

My shadow who watches me at work because it means I am out in the sunshine.

A lawn that needs mowing, windows that need cleaning, and a gutter that needs fixing because it means I have a home.

The spot I mind is at the far end of the parking lot because it means I am capable of walking.

My huge heating bill because it means I am warm.

All the complaining I hear about the government because it means we have freedom of speech.

The lady behind me in the church sings off-key because it means that I can hear.

The piles of laundry and ironing because it means my loved ones are nearby.

The alarm goes off in the early morning hours because it means that I'm alive.

Weariness and aching muscle at the end of the day because it means I have been productive.

For many worldwide, these are luxuries but something most take for granted.  We have only to look around and see that we are truly blessed.  The author was not given, so I am unsure who to credit for the list provided, but I am thankful for their insight.

Lastly, Thanksgiving is tomorrow, and I have much to be thankful for, including my family, friends, the patients who come to our business, and my incredible staff. 

Happy Thanksgiving!!

If you struggle to find solutions to your unresolved healthcare issues and want help with testing and supplementation, call the pharmacy @ 701-483-4858 to schedule a consultation. Please visit my website at www.irsfeldpharmacy.com to find this and other archived articles in the blog section and a link to listen to my podcast. 

Until next time, be vigilant about your health!!