Cory Monteith's tragic and untimely death is just one of the many examples of drug use and how it effects us and our loved ones.  What an agonizingly sad and heartbreaking death...

   That being said, why do we do drugs and alcohol in the first place?  Especially drugs.  From a primary food perspective, Coaches in my field would say that we are trying to fill a need.  What that need is varies from person to person.

   Because most of us are broken and looking to deal with that brokenness ourselves we in a not-right-thinking state do things that aren't smart.  Such as drugs and alcohol abuse.  This is one of the tragedies of the human heart:  Why do we reach for things that we know, we know are going to hurt us in the end?  In the darkness and suffering that we go through, recovery sounds impossible.  But the love and healing waiting for us through the journey and at the end of the tunnel is worth the trials and tribulations that happen.  When you reach the bottom, there's nothing left to do but build up.  It gives you a chance to become the best version of yourself you truly are.   Even if you've been told otherwise...

   Thankfully, there is a way out.  There are people who dedicate their lives to helping others in these areas.  If you or someone you love struggles with an addiction or is mentally suffering, please call 1-800-662-HELP (4357) for mental disorders and or/substance use, prevention and recovery in English and Spanish.

http://www.samhsa.gov/treatment/

Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

If you are an over seas reader, click here:  http://www.na.org/?ID=phoneline

   So how many of us men have problems with our backs breaking out in acne?  Something that I have learned is to make sure to change the bedding regularly.  This would help women as well but they don't usually forget to have clean sheets on the bed like we do.  When we forget (and we are men after all) to change out our bed sheets and pillow cases it can be hard on the skin.  Rotating them out often can help keep everyone's backs pimple free.
Eat Well,
Coach Daniel Riehn

   How do we add flavor to our food without adding to much salt, fat or flavorings?  Something that works for a lot of people I find are condiments.  Many of them are packed with flavor and don't require heaping them onto food.  Put your favorites on a lazy Susan and have it on the table.  Every thing from spices, herbs, oils, peppers and mustards can be on it.  Do what ever works for you and your family.  Don't forget to mix it up!

Here are just a few:
Extra Virgin Olive oil
Coconut oil
Garlic
Chopped peppers
Different kinds of salts
Many different kinds of Curry powders
Tahini
Nuts and Seeds
Sauerkraut
Sliced Veggies

Don't be afraid to experiment and find your favorites.

Eat Well,
Coach Daniel Riehn

   When I was a kid I would hear parents putting down "Saturday morning cartoons" and call them "evil".  As such these parents wouldn't allow their kids to watch them.  A few days ago I was thinking about that and I had a revelation.  As an IIN graduate, I was taught "Primary Food" (which I have already written about) and I realized the connection between it and weekend cartoons for children.

   Growing up and being in school is a HUGE task.  Our kids have to keep up with grades, P.E., moody friends and "friend-enemys", tired teachers and bullies. Plus they are in the middle of discovering themselves and what it means to be a self sufficient adult.  Considering all of this, it's a wonder they get out of bed at all!

   As a Health Coach, I would say the primary food in this situation would be social life, creativity, home environment and relationships.  Maybe even more depending on the situation.  Our children go through so much every day and sometimes all we can give them is some time on the weekend to watch television.  It's a chance to breathe a little and acknowledge that you made it through another week.  This is also a chance for parents to get involved with their kid's lives and watch the cartoons with them.  Some of the story plots are quite compelling!  As a hidden bonus, this gets our kids out of bed in the morning so their routine isn't messed up!

   Children deal with sometimes as much stress as their parents do and it is important to validate that.  If we don't, it's like we are telling them that what they are feeling isn't good enough or not worth our time.  We as parents have our own healthy ways of de-stressing (or we should) and our children need that as well.  Although not every "big name" cartoon airs a new episode on Saturday morning, watching these shows with your kids is a great (and easy) way to bond with them and settle in for the night.

Eat Well,
Coach Daniel Riehn

   Do you realize how much goop you have in your mouth?!  I was at the dentist a month or so ago and they told me (as usual) that I needed to floss.  Now I know what you'er thinking but just hear me out okay?  So the hygienist put a mirror in my hands and showed me how to floss properly.  In my head I rolled my eyes because my gums are very sensitive and as such I really don't like to do it.

  This is what she told me: Take the floss and wrap it around your fingers for grip and go to the first gap you want to do.  Slowly rock the floss in-between your teeth until you reach the gum line, and then rock it up one side and then the other.  Then rock the floss out.  At this point I like to take and scrape off the gunk with my fingers and put it on my shirt (It's going in the hamper anyway).  I may not have much if I do it every day but if I miss a day I get a lot out.

  So I have been flossing almost every day for a month and you would not believe how much junk I get out of my mouth!  I honestly can't believe brushing misses so much.  By the way, don't brush hard it's bad for you.  Try flossing for maybe three or four days and you'll see and feel how much cleaner your mouth will be.  Plus, I have also seen some swelling go down on my gum line.  Tweet me @eminenthealth and tell me how it went. 
Eat well,
Coach Daniel Riehn 

    What is with the deal of bigger portions in frozen meals these days?  It just seems to me that it's just another attempt to num us to the fact that we are over eating.  I mean, does this entail that if we don’t eat a “bigger portion” we aren’t going to be full after a meal?

   There are so many mixed signals out there.  “Eat this portion!” "Have six small meals a day!"  You an I both know I could go on and on. 

   Many factors go into finding the wisest course of action for you when it comes to meal planning.  Every thing from age to physical activity and more are important factors to consider.  Not to mention that it’s only in that time of you life that this one particular way of eating will work for you.  Six months from now it could be totally different.

Eat Well,

Coach Daniel Riehn 

    Emotional eating. Usually referred to as a woman's issue but I'm here to examen the possibility of it being a man's problem as well.  After all, how many beers and bags of chips can we consume before it stops being an after work treat and instead an anesthetizing substance?
    Are we even willing to look and see if there is a problem? If the answer is a resounding "NO!" then that may be a bad sign.  I have often heard the example of "the frog in the pot".
This is how it go's:
    Take two pots of water and set them on the stove.  Get one boiling and leave the other off.  Now take two frogs and place one in each pot.  The frog in the hot water jumps right out and hops away! The other stays.  Now slowly heat up the cold pot.  Because the water isn't hot right away the frog doesn't notice that there is a problem, so he stays.  After a while the frog is boiled to death.
    The lesson here is that almost nobody has a major life problem or issue right away.  We'd fix it.  What happens for most of us is that we'er the frog in the slowly heating water.  You and I think every thing is fine until one day a HUGE health or relationship dilemma rears it's ugly head and we have no idea where it came from.
    So take heed my friends!  Make sure your not the frog in the heating water!  If you find that alcohol may be an issue, click here so start finding some help - www.alcoholalcoholism.org/?gclid=CMWkx-OVmbcCFVES7Aod1GwANg

Eat Wisely,
Coach Daniel Riehn