The Fourth of July is a nice reminder about our personal independence.

When I talk about independence with my female friends, what we mean is that we are very much OK on our own. I adore my husband, Ray, but I am also an independent woman. I think that is part of what he loves about me.

No matter what our marital or boyfriend status may be at the moment, it is a nice weekend to reflect on the fact that each of us is already complete, by ourselves.

Viva Independence!

In my work as an elder care advocate I am often asked to recommend a physician and frequently hear the challenges families face with finding the right physician for their needs. Until my late twenties I did not have a primary care physician (PCP) who I saw on a regular basis. I religiously kept my well women visits with my Ob-Gyn, but never with a PCP. I was one of those women who never got sick, lived at the gym, and had a youthful metabolism that allowed me to love my skinny black dress and ice cream. Why did I need a primary care physician?

I would like to share this email I received today:

DR. LAIBOW AND GEN. STUBBLEBINE SPEAKING TRUTH TO POWER AT CODEX COMMISSION IN GENEVA, SWITZERLAND.

Our intrepid trustees are the Health Freedom Public Observers at the annual Codex Commission meeting.

You need to see these two short videos to understand how the US FDA uses Codex to further its control agenda here in the United States, and throughout the world.

The Videos are here:
http://www.healthfreedomusa.org/index.ph...

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Michael Maina, PhD, an associate professor of health and human performance at Roanoke College, in Virginia, recommends exercises to strengthen the minor muscle groups often overlooked in our fitness routines. We typically focus on the major muscles groups like the glutes and abs. Yet, the smaller muscles play just as important a role in keeping us injury free and feeling energetic, particularly for those of us over 40.

Well we are into week 2 on this Wednesday of the challenge. The day of registration we had 17 sign up with 12 who entered the challenge. The 2nd week we had 3 new who enter the challenge, so everyone here in Alaska Rocks at the Challenge!

How exciting the first day was. Everyone was so shy at first but they came out and great questions were asked.

Week 1 was on Protein, and great recipes. This week it's on water the importance of.

Please everyone, Thank you for making this the best turn out we have had. Keep the questions coming in. Deb

Great piece written by a breast cancer survivor that discusses how stress can manifest itself physically especially in women. (Source: New York Times) The article was apparently inspired by a sign she saw that read "Stress is related to 99 percent of all illness."

I know that I am suppsed to visit my OB/GYN once/year for a Pap Smear and to get a refill on my birth control pills. I also know that I am supposed to go to my dentist/dental hygienist every 6 months for a dental cleaning and checkup.

I am wondering if there is a list of recommended preventative screenings or "check ups" that we are supposed to get, for certain ages (from an unbiased source)? (For instance, is my dentist wanting to make money from seeing me twice a year, or is this medically necessary)?

Yesterday was National HIV Testing Day. Americans, especially between the ages of 13-64 are encouraged to get tested for HIV in an effort to have everyone ultimately tested for this disease that often leads to death if not diagnosed and treated.

The bad news is that HIV/AIDS still has no cure, and although many people are living healthy lives after an HIV diagnosis, the reality is that many will succumb to the disease of AIDS - particularly poorer individuals who may have no access to health care and may not even know they have HIV in the first place (and thus spreading the virus).

It can easily be forgotten that a family is supposed to work together and provide support to all of its members. It is with that support and caring atmosphere that can help the children to grow up healthy and prepared for life. A family whose bonds are weak, however, will lack in support and the children can grow up with an unhealthy idea of how to make friends, of how to be confident in their selves and be relatively unprepared for the life they will have to live on their own.

Dr. Maoshing Ni talks with CEO/Founder of EmpowHer, Michelle King Robson about women’s wellness, and how he was inspired to help others through traditional Chinese medicine after a childhood injury. Dr. Maoshing Ni also answers listeners questions.