Healthy Job Spotlight: Athletic Trainer

OHSucker's Healthy Job series spotlights jobs in the health industry that aren't the normal "physician, dentist, nurse" type jobs. Today's post is on something very dear to my heart...Athletic Training. For 4 years (3 years at Eastern CT State University and 1 year at NC Central University) I was a Student Athletic Trainer (complete with an ATC's version of the AMEX card...a Fanny Pack. Never leave home without it). To say I loved being a valued part of the Sports Medicine team would be an understatement. This is a great profession to get into, especially if you love sports and medicine (basically someone like myself).

So what exactly is an Athletic Trainer? A Certified Athletic Trainer (ATC) is a health care professional who specializes in preventing, managing and rehabilitating injuries that occur during physical activity. An ATC isn't a physician so they don't diagnose injuries or prescribe medications. In order to become an ATC a student needs to enroll in an accredited program (a big congratulations goes to NCCU who in 2005 became the first HBCU to have an ACCREDITED Athletic Training Program. EAGLE PRIDE!!) and upon completion take a comprehensive test administered by NATABOC (National Athletic Training Association Board of Certification). Athletic Training isn't to be confused with Personal Training nor are ATCs' duties limited to working with athletes. Really, anyone who engages in physical activity can be part of an ATC's work load.

To learn more about Athletic Training or to see which schools have accredited programs, visit Athletic Training's governing body, NATA.

Photo courtesy of NATA.org

A Healthy Home For You And Yours

Often when the subject of a "healthy home" comes up one thinks about the foods we choose to eat and daily physical activity. Hardly does the toothpaste, laundry detergent, dish detergent, other cleaning agents, candles or air fresheners we use come to mind. We don't realize that many toxins in our home come from everyday items that we use regularly.

In fact our homes play host to these top "hidden" toxins: formaldehyde, lead, carbon monoxide, radon, solvents, pesticides, disinfectants, vinyl chloride and hydrochloric acid. These are called hidden toxins because they are not visually detected and they are found in places that you wouldn't necessarily think to find them. For instance, would you think that toxins could be emitted from your sofa cushions? No, neither did I. Formaldehyde sure has that carrier as one of its ways to make its dangerous presence known.

What can we do to begin to create a healthier home for our families and ourselves? For starters you may want to start using more natural products. Natural deodorants and other personal care items (Jason and Tom's products top this category), laundry detergents and cleaners (Seventh Generation is a top pick here). Remember our post on Natural Wax Candles and their benefits? Yes, you guessed it...this is another easy way to make your home a "Toxins Free" zone.



Photo courtesy of Spa Finder, Inc

Everyday Home Spa

There are many posts out in the net world that give pointers on how to bring the spa experience home and/or how to create your own at home spa. Most of these posts center around creating ambiance and an atmosphere of relaxation rather than an actual room transformation. If you're an avid reader of this blog you've probably already guessed that since I like to be a little different, this post is all about transforming a room (in this case the bathroom) into an affordable spa retreat all your own.

So why did I choose the bathroom? Well, many of us spend quite a bit of time here. This is one room where privacy is almost guaranteed. Notice I said almost. This is also one of the top answers when asked "where do you relax at home".

Making changes to your bathroom/soon to be home spa retreat doesn't have to be an expensive project. The first thing you'll want to do is change your lighting and add a dimmer switch while you're at it. Don't be afraid to do something with recessed lighting or track lighting. You may even want to think about contemporary, "not usually found in the bathroom" light fixtures.

So what's next now that you've made the lighting switch? Well now you can concentrate on the one area that's sure to get the most use...the tub. An easy, inexpensive way to create the ultra relaxation experience in your tub is to purchase a bath spa along with a spa showerhead. Add a cushy bench or chair, bath soaks, natural wax candles or aromatherapy oil diffusers. Don't forget to complete your getaway with your favorite soothing music, a nice leafy plant or two and decadent dark chocolate treats (remember dark chocolate is good for you).

Photo courtesy of Spa Finder, Inc

Is Colon Cleansing Necessary?

Colon Health is one subject that has been getting more and more attention over the last few years. It seems as if every natural health guru worth their salt has stated at one time or another that you should colon cleanse. I've seen recommendations from 7 days upwards to 4 months. Personally, I couldn't get down with a 4 month colon cleanse. Especially since part of the colon's duty (no pun intended) is to maintain your body's fluid and electrolyte balance. Improper or prolonged colon cleansing can have you become dehydrated. Why substitute one potential health problem for another that's completely avoidable?

Is colon cleansing for you? First, let me state that I am in no way giving medical advice. I'm only putting information out there for you to dissect and discuss with your health provider. Now that the disclaimer is out of the way, should you cleanse? Well, there are pros and cons. Many traditional physicians say that colon cleansing is not necessary, although they do recommend that you may want to cleanse when preparing for a colon exam. They don't feel it's necessary because the colon already eliminates waste on its own. Advocates for colon cleansing feel that while the colon does a decent job of eliminating this waste, it may need assistance because of our diets over the years. They feel that since many of the foods we eat now are not as "natural" as they could be, this introduces more foreign bodies and parasites into our digestive systems. This may not give the colon an opportunity to catch all the waste that we're trying to eliminate and can cause it to become backed up. A clogged colon is full of toxins and as you know...toxins are the prime cause of certain illnesses and ailments. I've even heard of people who have lost weight, along with stubborn pot bellies as a result of cleansing.

For those of you who are seriously considering whether colon cleansing is for you, Colon Cleansing Zone is a good resource. This site is full of information and resources to assist you with making the cleansing decision. Enjoy!

A Better Natural Deodorant

I know many of you may have tried a natural deodorant or two ever since the news came out that aluminum found in many other deodorants was linked to Alzheimer's Disease. Like me, you may have been disappointed with the lack of antiperspirant deodorants in the natural category. It was a hit or miss for the most part. Rarely could we find a natural deodorant that was both a deodorant and an antiperspirant. In fact, most natural deodorants state that you may want to back it up with talc or body powder. WHAT? I don't know about you but I'm not feeling rubbing deodorant on my underarms then having to find a body powder (that also has a scent that doesn't clash) and have to rub that on my underarms too. No thank you!

So what's an aluminum avoiding, natural deodorant seeking, person to do?

Well you could either do the deodorant/body powder combo or you can take a swipe at Oyin Handmade's Funk Butter. I've been a user of Funk Butter since it was introduced to the many Oyin fans a couple of years ago. Let me tell you, this natural deodorant certainly does the trick! It keeps you dry and keeps the funk away. Applying this cream to powder deodorant takes a little getting used to (you don't want to apply too much at once). In fact, I'd say that's one of the only cons to this "should be" staple. The only other thing I can think of is that it doesn't come in more than 3 scents (unscented, fig and coco mango), because once you try it you'll definitely want to get more than one. A word of warning, the Coco Mango scent may not be for those who are wearing tank tops or halters...you'll be hard pressed NOT to lick at your underarms!! LOL

Give Funk Butter a shot (if you've just shaved you may want to wait a day or two since your skin is irritated from the shaving). It's definitely worth the $4.50 it costs and it lasts for quite a while! Once you try it out come back and let me know what you thought.