Soy Trouble

Ever since I diagnosed myself as "lactose intolerant" four years ago, I've been trying to include soy into my diet as much as possible. Soy milk is the best way to go because you can use it for practically anything that requires milk: cereal, sauces, coffee etc. And if you're not a fan of regular soy milk, you can try out vanilla or chocolate (although I'm not really a big fan of them). When I first tried soy milk, I'll admit, I really really really didn't like it. I think this is because I was told it tastes like cow's milk when, in actuality, It tastes nothing like it. However, now I'd prefer soy milk over cow's milk anyday! If you find you just can't seem to get into the habit of drinking soy milk, you can also try eating soybeans, tofu, or soy yogurt.

Studies show that having 25 grams of soy protein in your diet can reduce your cholesterol level and even prevent heart disease. It can also help protect you against breast, colon, lung, and prostate cancer, osteoporosis, and kidney disease. Nowadays, many people choose soy milk over cow's milk, even if they aren't allergic. This is because, compared to cow's milk, soy milk has no lactose or synthetic hormones and contains only vegetable proteins. Thus, it's also an excellent alternative for vegetarians.

However, after reading an article about the dangers of soy, I'm beginning to get a bit skeptical.

Apparently soy:

-contains phytic acid which stops your body from absorbing calcium, magnesium, copper, iron and zinc
-contains aluminum (who would have thought!) which may jeopardize your nervous system and kidneys
-contains phytoestrogens which may potentially cause infertility and promote breast cancer
-increases the body's requirement for Vitamin B12 analogs and Vitamin D

[to read more about the disadvantages of soy, go to: http://www.soyonlineservice.co.nz/03summary.htm ]

So, right now, I'm torn between the two! I'm not really sure which side to believe, but I'd like to believe soy is beneficial because I really don't want to stop drinking it. Without my soy, I'd be lost!

And now, for your enjoyment, some interesting facts on soy:

1) Soy was first used as a food during the late Chou dynasty (1134-246 BC), only after the Chinese learned to ferment soy beans to make foods like tempeh, natto and tamari.

2) A recent study found that women with the highest levels of estrogen in their blood had the lowest levels of cognitive function; In Japanese Americans tofu consumption in mid-life is associated with the occurrence of Alzheimer’s disease in later life.

3)Numerous animal studies show that soy foods cause infertility in animals. Soy consumption enhances hair growth in middle-aged men, indicating lowered testosterone levels. Japanese housewives feed tofu to their husbands frequently when they want to reduce his virility.

Who would have ever thought that soy would be this effective!

Are you a soy supporter?

Dazed and Confused

Yup. I've done it again. Just when I thought I had all the answers I find myself back at square one.

-Oh, you're probably wondering what I'm talking about, aren't you?

Well, just the other day I officially broke a world record: it has now been the 1,254th time I've changed my mind about my career path. Over the years I've patiently deliberated about what I want to do with my life and, over time, came up with a few answers: Marketing, Criminology, Dental Hygiene, Teaching, Journalism, Editing, Psychology, Media Arts, Acting -you get the idea.

You'd think that after all this contemplating I'd be frustrated and annoyed, right? Amazingly, I'm actually the complete opposite. That's right; I'm happy I've changed my mind so many times. I figure if I find out what I want as a career afterwards, I won't be a happy camper. I know of many people who went to school, got their degrees, and started their jobs. Sounds peachy, doesn't it? Well, it definitely would have been if it wasn't for the fact that they really didn't like their jobs and decided to go back to school. This is why I'm glad I'm doing the hair-pulling, teeth-grinding decision making now. I'm okay with making mistakes, but that seems like too much schooling to me!

So, what have I decided this time? I'm thinking something along the lines of Philosophy and teaching. I discovered that Philosophy is something I really enjoy, and that teaching isn't as scary as I thought it was. Tutoring has definitely given me a new perspective on the education field. I've learned so much and feel eager to learn more. It's amazing how satisfying it is to help people.

Not only am I deciding what I want career-wise, I'm coming to terms with what I want to do with my life in general. I know that I want to travel sometime during the 4 years I'm working towards my degree. I think this would be the perfect time to do it because I want to start career-hunting right after I'm done school and, if I do that, I may not have the time to travel. Some places I'd absolutely love to see are Australia, Egypt, and India. I'm really set on visiting the rainforests, pyramids, temples and different forms of architecture. Gosh, I'm getting all excited just by talking about it!

Those are all the plans I came up with so far, but I'm sure I'll come back with some more to talk about sometime soon!

What are your life goals?

Back Attack

Okay, either I'm suffering from an unrecalled back injury or, simply put, I'm just getting old (If the latter is the case, then I won't be looking forward to my birthday next week!) Fortunately, I'm pretty sure Arthritis is out of the question for a 19 year old. Whatever the case may be, I hope the pain decides to take a vacation sometime soon!

Although I'm not exactly sure what is causing my back to rebel, I have a feeling it has something to do with the way I sleep. Either that, or I spend too much time huddled over my keyboard on MSN Messenger. However, MayoClinic.com insists that, for many cases, the causes for back pain are not obvious. They also claim that four out of five adults suffer from back pain at least once in their lives -yikes!

Apparently, certain conditions may cause back pain as well:

• Herniated Disk - when disk material presses on a nerve.
• Sciatica- when a herniated disk impinges on the sciatic nerve causing sharp, shooting pain through the buttocks and back of the leg.
• Spinal Stenosis - when the space around the spinal cord and nerve roots narrows due to arthritis and bone overgrowth. This can press or pinch a nerve.
• Spondylosis - a type of arthritis affecting the spine. It is due to the degenerative changes in the spine that often come with aging.
• Spondylolisthesis - when one vertebra in the spinal column slips forward over another.
  

There are also the more serious cases:

• Cauda equina syndrome - a serious neurological problem causing weakness in the legs, numbness in the "saddle" or groin area, and loss of bowel or bladder control.
• Cancer in the spine - A tumor on the spine can press on a nerve causing back pain.
• Infection of the spine - If a feer and a tender, warm area accompany back pain, the cause could be an infection.
• Injury - Damage to the bones, ligaments, or muscles of the back can cause severe pain.
  

Luckily, one can do many things to prevent such injuries: exercise, build muscle strength and flexibility, quit smoking, maintain a healthy weight, stand smart, lift smart, sleep smart and sit smart. (You can read more about back pain prevention at http://mayoclinic.com/health/back-pain/DS00171/DSECTION=6 )

Taking care of your back is probably the most important thing you can do. Remember, you've only got one spine, so take care of it!

For more information on back pain/ injuries, please visit http://mayoclinic.com/health/back-pain/DS00171

School's IN for the Summer

Hi everyone and welcome back!

You know, I really thought going to school in the summer would be a complete disaster. However, this is my first summer going to school and, it turns out, I actually like it a lot better than taking classes in the Fall or Winter! I think it's because the summer sun makes everyone so relaxed -even if you are in school. Or maybe it's because I really like the classes I'm taking (Psychology, Philosophy & Communications). Or it could be because I know there's an alternative for all us pasties who are staying indoors for a good fraction of the summer: sunless tanning lotion.

Although I'm currently enjoying school (nope, not even exaggerating!), I know my view will soon change directions. After all, I'm not Wonder Woman; I get tempted to put down the books and lie in the sun like a potato every once in a while too, you know! This is why I've decided to make a written schedule for myself. Usually, I have a bad habit of thinking I have a supernaturally brilliant memory and, thus, attempt to organize and store my entire schedule in my head. However, I now realize that I'm just a wee bit more forgetful (okay, a LOT more!) than I had originally thought. So, not only will this schedule of mine keep me motivated, it will help me to remember my 'to do' list more easily.

I know there are so many of you out there who are thinking, "umm big deal, I write up a schedule all the time in my AGENDA PLANNER." And yes, you're right; It ISN'T a hard thing to do. Well, for most of us anyways. I tend to use my planner at the beginning of the semester then slowly drift away from it; so, for me, using a planner is kind of tough to keep up with. However, I know this is a skill I'll use when I'm older and it's something I'll have to develop sooner or later... so I might as well start sooner, don't you think?

What do you do to stay organized and focused?