The LightHeart Institute

Health

Could Low Vitamin D Cause the Winter Blues?

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Bottle of Vitamin D3 5000 IUsIf you feel blue in the winter, there could be an easy explanation unrelated to your emotions…. low Vitamin D! Those of us who live in Rochester, blessed with incredible lakes and rolling hills, and 200 days on average of overcast skies… may be more susceptable to Vitamin D deficiency than we realize. Approximately 80-90 percent of the American public is deficient in Vitamin D. Deficiency results in loss of memory, depression, weak muscles, tender bones and frequent infections, to name just a few items. Check with your physician (or dentist) and have your Vitamin D checked. A healthy score from a Functional Medicine perspective (what the body needs to function optimally) is between 60 – 80. Contact us for more information.

Can Fasting Build Self-esteem?

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Woman with her arms raisedThe notion of “sacrifice” is oft unheard of in today’s society. Giving up, or intentionally delaying something pleasurable for a greater good or purpose, doesn’t quite make the front page headlines, or impress most friends. But the act of engaging in delayed gratification or giving something up does build our self-esteem and speak loudly to our soul.

Former Newark mayor and 2013 elected Senator, Cory A. Booker, illustrated this when he chose, after everything else failed,  to fast from food in an effort to break illegal drug trafficking in his district’s neighborhood surrounding poor high-rise projects. Twelve large men, correctional officers from a nearby facility, showed up to protect him from the anger, stones, sticks, food, and feces thrown at his tent the first night. The result…after two weeks of fasting, hundreds of people from all walks of life came together to take their city back…citizens with imams, rabbis, priests, and ministers prayed for peace and activated a plan to improve their neighborhood.

Cory’s act of delayed gratification resulted in great good. When we positively influence others, our self-esteem rises.

Does fasting or sacrificing build self-esteem? Try it and let us know what you think.

A Leader is a Reader…

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A leader is a reader, and a reader is a leader!

Mother and daughter reading

To develop the leadership skills of your children begin reading to them at a very young age.

To fill your leadership shoes, create a goal of reading minimally one to two books per month.

Start with topics about which you feel genuinely interested.

One of our favorites, “The Art of Possibility – Transforming Professional and Personal Life” by Rosamund Stone Zander and Boston Philharmonic Conductor Benjamin Zander, will surely keep your attention!

Let us know what you think!