Every region has special traditions and events that reflect its identity and character.

In Denver, one of those traditions is just getting underway: Stock Show.

Ranchers from throughout the country are bringing their prized livestock to Denver for a two week flurry of judging events, competitions, and auctions. The National Western Stock Show began more than a century ago. At the time, the Denver stockyards were a key national hub, business, with meat packing plants and auction barns surrounding an extended web of cattle pens. Those days are long gone, but every January, the old Stockyards come alive with the sounds and smells of livestock.

And, the urban residents of Denver and surrounding areas love to get “cowboyed up” in their western duds, and come out to see the animals, enjoy a rodeo, and get a mid-winter fill of cotton candy.

Of course, my favorite part of Stock Show is the annual bison show and sale. Ranchers from several states and Canada will bring about 80 head of bison to Denver to be judged, and then auctioned to new owners. During those few days, a corner of the old Denver Stockyards becomes a center for all-thing bison. High School FFA chapters come in one afternoon for a Junior Judging competition. Ranchers gather around the pens to look for that perfect breeding bull or heifer that can improve their herds. And city folks can wander through the area to get up-close-and-personal with a 1,800 lb. bison.

If you’re in the Denver area this month, come on over to Stock Show to enjoy a throwback to our western heritage.

Wherever you live, there will likely be a county fair or other event sometime this year that will provide an opportunity to get a taste of farming and ranching.

Make a New Year’s Resolution to go to one of these events, now just to see the exhibits, but to take advantage of the opportunity to visit with the farmers and ranchers who are there. They’d love a chance to connect with their customers.

Photo Source: Denver Post

Going “gluten-free” is the new Atkins, a fad diet that has base in science but, unless you have legitimately been diagnosed with Celiac disease, or the less extreme condition of gluten intolerance, I don’t see why any one would want to stop eating foods that contain wheat, such as bread and pasta. It is also not healthy to cut out an entire food group, such as carbohydrates, from your diet. The key to a healthy diet is BALANCE, meaning eating all different kinds of foods, especially fresh foods and whole grains, every day.

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease and should be taken very seriously. It is an extremely painful condition to live with, and causes all sorts of discomfort caused by both physical and emotional ailments related to the disease.

There is also what is called gluten intolerance, and gluten sensitivity, which is not the same as Celiac disease. People who have this condition can experience bloating, indigestion and tiredness after eating a meal rich in carbohydrates that contain gluten, however they do the suffer as much from the extremeness that comes with a disease diagnosis of Celiac.

On The Daily Show with John Stewart, Jennifer Esposito, who wrote a book called Jennifer’s Way, discusses her battle with Celiac disease on June 24, 2014. John Stewart also opens up about his son’s struggle with the disease. It is one of the most informative and heart-felt television clips I have seen about this popular diet debate. Please watch the link below for more information.

Bottom line: Before you start a gluten-free diet, consult your doctor.

While we tend to accept that our pets can contract parasites, the notion that humans can also get parasites tends to be a foreign one. The truth is that most of us will have unfriendly parasites in our bodies at one point in our lives.  Also, the truth is that anyone can get parasites—even those that don’t travel far from home. You might believe that you can only get parasites if you travel to an exotic country, but you can get them in your everyday life. Luckily, there are some easy, natural ways to get rid of parasites.

Types of parasites include roundworms, protozoa (one-cell parasites), flukes and tapeworms. Before you start to imagine huge worms crawling around your body, keep in mind it is estimated that 70 percent of all human parasites are microscopic—which means that they can’t be seen with the naked eye. Despite the type of parasite, the good news is that there are lots of things that we can do to get rid of them and we don’t have to feel “creeped-out” by their existence.

So how do you know if you have parasites and if they are affecting your overall health?  While the symptoms vary widely, some more common signs include nervousness, stomach bloating, fatigue, fuzzy thinking, itchy anus, sinus trouble and feeling hungry, tired and malnourished—even after eating a large meal. And while you should always consult your health care provider if you believe you might have parasites and need advice on a course of treatment, below are some more common tools people have used to rid their bodies of unfriendly critters.

Garlic—Perhaps the easiest thing to do to help get rid of parasites is to add more garlic to your diet. Garlic contains Allicin and Ajoene—two components that work to kill parasites.

Wormwood –One of the most well-known herbs for parasites, Wormwood contains the components thujone and isothujone, which help to dispel parasites from the body. Looking for a parasite cleansing kit that features Wormwood? Check out Hanna Kroeger’s Wormwood Kit, which features Wormwood and other products that work in synergy to help rid the body of parasites.

Colon Cleanse—Diets heavy in processed and fast foods can clog up the body. And just like garbage attracts unwanted bugs when left outdoors for longer periods of times, so can waste that sits in a backed-up colon (You get the picture). Thus, a gentle colon cleanse can help dispel waste and parasites from the system.  Some of the most well known products for colon cleansing include Sonne’s Organic Food— a highly regarded line of products which has been around since 1946. Whatever path you choose to rid your body of parasites, remember to talk to your doctor before starting any supplement or cleansing program.

Ah, wintertime. Whether you are mid polar vortex or unexpectedly washed out on the west coast, the weather does seem to shout- stay indoors! Cocoa and curling up with a good book are delightful pastimes, but cabin fever starts to set in quickly- what to do? Pick a project!

C’mon, you know you have one- at least one. A project that’s been on your mind for some time, perhaps something you’ve saved material for, bought supplies for, or doodled about. Maybe it’s a shelf that would revolutionize your storage, maybe it’s a storage unit that would clear your shelves; maybe it’s a bed spread, hand washing, lavender salt, a pearl sunglass strap or even double-pearl earrings. Whatever the case, break out your tools and get started!

Other than the fun of doing-it-yourself, research supports task-completion as boosting self-esteem, while some DIY ideas are geared specifically towards health. With a few of these projects under my belt, I can attest to feelings of satisfaction and pride, along with some lessons about how I might do it even better next time…

This year, my inaugural winter DIY was re-covering my couch- a task 5 years in the making. For five years, I looked at my couch and thought, “I need to recover that cushion.” For five years, I have saved fabric that might be suitable (through 3 moves!), rolled up in a bag and never measured. Finally, the winter weather inspired a frenzy and out came the needles, thread, and falling-apart-at-the-seams silk robe from that now-gone thrift store in the East Village, in all its blue-gold splendor. Measuring, cutting, patterning, hours of pins and perfectionism gone in the blink of an eye.

I admit to a slight hiccup when I remembered I’m no seamstress-I elected metal shop and woodwork over Home Ec-but a save from the great wide web, along with the voice of a colleague reminding me “Don’t let perfect be the enemy of the good,” and I decided to dive in. The end result of a few evenings of less-than-perfect stitching? Success! A customized, silk-covered couch that brings me a multitude of joys. Sure, the first seam looks like I let my nephew loose with a needle and thread, but no one has noticed it but me.

The final bonus? Along with a beautiful new conversation piece comes a bump in house-pride, and thus hosting opportunities come to mind again. Now, not only have I ticked off a few to-do’s and upgraded some rusty skills, I’ve also revamped my social calendar, driven away the winter doldrums, reorganized my sewing kit and cleared out storage space. DIY for the win!

Nothing can throw your fitness plan into chaos faster than a sports injury.  But you don’t have to take this hit lying down. Put these tips to work and don’t let an injury derail your fitness plan.

I know what I’m talking about. I fell down the stairs back in October, and I’ve been sidelined with an ankle injury every since. Pity, too. I was just getting to the point where working out felt good — not like a chore.

But I’ve been determined to maintain that fitness connection, and not slip off the wagon, even through the Christmas holiday. Below are a few tips that have helped me.

Tip 1:  See a doctor. Even if your injury seems minor, get it checked out by a doctor. Don’t self-diagnose an injury. Doctors are trained to spot potential problems that you may be unaware of. Don’t risk being sidelined for longer than necessary because you didn’t get professional advice.

Tip 2: Don’t act like it doesn’t hurt. If you’re in pain, say so. Pain is your body’s way of telling you something is wrong. And avoid masking an injury by using over-the-counter medications, splints, supports or wraps without instruction from a health professional. This can cause further damage if used improperly. If you are masking your body’s natural defenses, you risk worsening your condition, which may keep you on the sidelines for longer.

Tip 3: Be patient. Healing takes time, and there is no way to rush it. It takes as long as it takes. Follow your doctor’s prescribed treatment plan and try not to let frustration get you down. Exercising before you’re healed is a bad idea, and may even prolong your inability to get back in the game.

Tip 4: Don’t take unnecessary risks with your recovery. Ask questions of your doctor and don’t assume you can continue to do other training while you recover. If you twist your ankle, don’t  assume you can still do your usual upper body routine. For instance, certain lower body injuries may affect your ability to do upper-body exercises by placing stress on other areas. This could cause a chain reaction of imbalances that could, in turn, cause other injuries.

Tip 5: Understand that you will lose some ground, and can’t just start back at the same intensity as when you stopped exercising. This is very important. Begin with a stepped and slow approach to getting your fitness level back.

Tip 6: Stay positive. Keep a positive outlook and don’t let a minor setback derail your fitness plan forever. Talk with friends and family about what you’re going through. Keep a diary of your feelings, and if you start to feel depressed, try to find other activities that will help boost your mood until your injury heals. And remember, a physical time out could end up being a good thing. The rest period may allow you to finally read that book or catch up with friends — or even reassess and fine-tune your fitness goals.

No one is happy when an injury interrupts their fitness plans.  But with a bit of attitude adjustment and patience, you’ll be back in the saddle in no time.