New York, U.S.A – A balanced and healthy diet is crucial to good health and overcoming stress. In his forthcoming book called entitled Stress Pandemic, lifestyle and stress expert Paul Huljich shares a simple and holistic approach to nutrition, paying added attention to the effects of what we eat on our neurochemistry.

“Ensuring that we are supporting a healthy neurochemical balance is a vital and proactive step toward managing our stress,” Hulijch asserts. “When you feel tense, stress eating or emotional-eating is triggered like an automatic response. That’s especially so if your body reacts strongly to stress-released hormones.”

A 2010 study from the University of Michigan showed that when levels of the stress hormone cortisol were boosted in healthy, non-stressed adults, they ate more junk food. When people feel stressed out, most either stop eating altogether or binge on high-fat, high-sodium products such as chocolate, doughnuts, potato chips and other snack foods. And when combined with America’s growing portion sizes, people grow sicker, gain weight and develop bad habits that can endure a lifetime unless they say “NO” and take charge of what and how they eat.

Bad eating habits start young so where else to begin teaching kids about good nutrition outside of home but in this nation’s schools?  Thankfully, people like Michelle Obama are championing this crusade. Hoping to combat the growing problem of childhood obesity, the Obama administration recently announced its long-awaited changes to government-subsidized school meals, a final round of rules that adds more fruits and green vegetables to breakfasts and lunches and reduces the amount of salt and fat.

“As parents, we try to prepare decent meals, limit how much junk food our kids eat and ensure that they have a reasonable balanced diet,” Mrs. Obama said in a statement. “And when we are putting in all that effort the last thing we want is for our hard work to be undone each day in the school cafeteria.”

About 32 million children participate in school meal programs each day. The new rules are a major component of Mrs. Obama’s campaign to reduce the number of overweight children through exercise and better nutrition. The announcement came months after the food industry won a vote in Congress to block the administration from carrying out an earlier proposal.

“Children born in the year 2000 or later are not expected to outlive their parents,” stated Dr. David Katzof the Yale Preventive Medicine Research Center at a nutrition conference in April. Why are our kids so sick? One reason is that they eat too much bad food.  In March of last year, Dr. Katz quoted in a Wall Street Journal article that a “poor diet in kids is more dangerous than alcohol, drugs, and tobacco combined!”

If you can believe it, the top 3 foods consumed in America are hot dogs, white bread and coffee. And the marketing industry is capitalizing on our society’s obsession with eating junk food, evidenced by an announcement made last week by 7-Eleven, the nation’s largest convenience chain, of a low-cal line of Slurpees! The move comes at a time when companies have been marketing everything from “Spam Lite” to “skinny cocktails” aimed at calorie-conscious consumers.

Huljich believes that as a society we must revolutionize the ways in which we eat beginning with cutting out all the C-R-A-P (an acronym for coffee, refined food, alcohol and processed food). He also does not endorse the use of fad diets, counting calories or choosing to eat certain food groups over others.

His approach to a healthy diet, which is outlined in detail in his forthcoming book Stress Pandemic, is a balanced and practical one, which first identifies and bases his diet on the good foods and eating patterns in your life while eliminating the bad ones. “The human body is designed to thrive on a variety of foods therefore I feel a more holistic approach to diet is far more effective and supportive to overall health and well-being than any of those revolving popular diet fads can ever be,”  Huljich states.

“When you go on a fad diet and exclude any of the necessary nutrients, you’re putting yourself at risk for illness.” It is precisely as Gary Taubes warned in Newsweek’s recent cover story “The government has spent hundreds of millions telling Americans to exercise more and eat less. But the country is getting heavier every year. It’s time to change the way we think about fat.”

A balanced eating plan supports all of the body’s functions so that it can absorb and use nutrients efficiently and effectively. Health maintenance promotes physical fitness and disease prevention such as the risk for heart disease, heart attack, stroke, type 2 diabetes and some forms of cancer.

America is a nation trying to find a cure yet not looking closely enough at the symptoms. By finding the courage to and wisdom to look at the root cause and going back to basics, individuals can learn how to master stress and live longer and healthier lives.

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April 14, 2012 witnessed the death of Italian footballer, Piermario Morosini. The midfielder who was on loan at Serie B side Livorno from his parent club Udinese, suffered a suspected cardiac arrest after just 30 minutes of his side’s league clash against Pescara. Morosini tried in vein to return to his feet but was unable to do so, prompting frantic scenes at the Stadio Adriatico, which saw a defibrillator used on the stricken midfielder, allowing him to leave the pitch, albeit on a stretcher, in a conscious state.

With Livorno leading 2-0, the match was abandoned after his team mates and opposition players remained visibly upset by the ordeal. Morosini was rushed to Santo Spirito hospital, but was announced dead before arriving.

The death of such a talented individual in the footballing community is punishment enough, but even more so when one looks at the life and hardship faced by Piermario Morosini and his family. Before the tender age of 15, Morosini’s mother passed away, with the misery compounded further by the loss of his father two years later, due to heart problems. In 2004, Morosini was forced to deal with the suicide of his handicapped brother, leaving him to look after his other sibling, his younger sister who was also handicapped.

A young man, who for many in football was considered one of the happiest individuals around, Morosini was perceived as a gentleman who never abandoned his smile. He was loved by a community and demonstrated tremendous virtues as a down to earth and visibly blessed man. He admitted he was fortunate, telling a close friend “I do the job that I always wanted to do and I have a girlfriend who loves me, why should I seek anything else?”

A workhorse in the middle of midfield, Morosini was respected immensely by his peers and his coaches. Renowned for his determination, Morosini won 18 caps for the Italy Under 21 side after representing every age group since the age of 16. Morosini was seen as a consistent performer, indispensable on the field and vital in the dressing room. His former Atalanta youth coach Giancarlo Finardi spoke of him fondly. “When I asked [the players] who was going to be captain, they answered ‘Mario’ in unison.”

Football was considered by many to be the fundamental driving force behind Morosini’s success in life. The focus demonstrated throughout his career was thought by many to be a result of the hard times he had been forced to face.

Morosini admitted, ”I have often wondered why it all happened to me, but I can never find an answer and this makes me hurt even more. But life goes on.” The midfielder felt as if he owed a lot to his family, dedicating his career and success to his deceased parents. “I would like to become a good player for them especially because I know what would make them happy.”

The emphasis that football held in his life truly is outstanding. Former team mate Marco Motta optimized his determination and commitment, “He was really a man. He lived through great adversity,” said Motta. “After his father’s death that occurred during the week, many had advised him not to play. On Sunday, calmly, he chose to take his place in midfield. This was symbolic of a person who lived for football. He wanted to realise his dreams, play with the pros and also for his parents. He never lost his smile. I, however, lost a friend.”

Morosini’s death came less than a month after English midfielder Fabrice Muamba ‘died’ for 78 minutes after collapsing in Bolton’s FA Cup match against Tottenham Hotspur. Although Muamba is set to recover after a lengthy stay in hospital, both incidents have helped raise awareness in the sport concerning heart deficiencies.

Udinese captain and former team mate of Morosini, Antonio Di Natale, is now set to look after the former Livorno midfielder’s handicapped sister, with financial support from Udinese in a remarkable gesture of support to a team mate and a friend who was loved by all. Livorno, his final club has expressed their deepest wishes, retiring the number 25 shirt in his honour.

The loss of such a talented and energetic individual is one that will affect many throughout the footballing world. Morosini’s influence throughout his career is undeniable, receiving great honours and commanding respect from all those around him. The condolences demonstrated have been those of emotional goodbyes and thanks for a football player who lived for the game and dedicated his whole life to the well being of others.

Thousands are expected to pay tribute to him at his funeral in Bergamo on Thursday 19th April, in the city where he was born.

May he rest in peace.

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The research on the positive impact of human-canine relationships on health is extensive. For nearly 25 years, research had indicated that living with pets can have a positive influence on a person’s health.  Although all pets to some degree improve an individual’s health, dogs in particular have been studied.

Dogs allow improved independence and mobility for the blind.  They are used as service dogs with people that suffer from epilepsy because they are able to detect seizures before they come.  Dogs lower their owner’s blood pressure, significantly reduce anxiety, and boost immunity.

A growing number of studies suggest that children who grow up with animals will have less risk of asthma and allergies.  In a recent study, researcher James E. Gern, MD, a pediatrician at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, analyzed the blood of babies immediately after birth and one year later. He was looking for evidence of an allergic reaction, immunity changes, and for reactions to bacteria in the environment.   The results may surprise you.  If a dog lived in the home, infants were less likely to show evidence of pet allergies – 19 percent vs. 33 percent. They also were less likely to have eczema, a common allergy skin condition that causes red patches and itching. In addition, they had higher levels of some immune system chemicals — a sign of stronger immune system activation.

Studies have also shown that people with Alzheimer’s disease have fewer anxious outbursts if there is an animal in the home.  Walking a dog or just caring for a pet — for elderly people who are able — can provide exercise and companionship.  Elderly that have a pet are less likely to feel depressed and are more likely to have fewer hospital stays than their petless counterparts.

Although, not as studied as some other areas, research also suggests that owning a dog can help prevent diabetes.  According to research by exercise scientist Cindy Lentino, dog owners who regularly walk their dogs had about one-third of the risk of diabetes in comparison to non-dog walkers. Dog owners also had additional signs of good health not seen in the non-dog walking group, like lower rates of depression.

Pet owners are likely to have better mental health than those who don’t own a pet.  In one study, stockbrokers with high blood pressure who adopted a cat or dog had lower blood pressure readings in stressful situations than did people without pets.

Studies show a link between these stressful chemicals, Cortisol and norepinephrine, and plaque buildup in arteries, the red flag for heart disease, says Blair Justice, PhD, a psychology professor at the University of Texas School of Public Health and author of Who Gets Sick: How Beliefs, Moods, and Thoughts Affect Your Health.

Like any enjoyable activity, playing with a dog can elevate levels of serotonin and dopamine — nerve transmitters that are known to have pleasurable and calming properties, Justice said.  “People take drugs like heroin and cocaine to raise serotonin and dopamine, but the healthy way to do it is to pet your dog, or hug your spouse, watch sunsets, or get around something beautiful in nature,” says Justice, who recently hiked the Colorado Rockies with his wife and two dogs.

Heart attack patients who have pets survive longer than those without, according to several studies. Male pet owners have less sign of heart disease — lower triglyceride and cholesterol levels — than non-owners, researchers say.  According to preventive cardiologist Barry Franklin, Ph.D., of William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Michigan, patients with heart disease who have dogs and walk them have a better prognosis.

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