MichTel Monthly
www.michtelco.com Local: 248-636-1100 Toll Free: 877-800-7742
JUNE 2018
FROM THE DESK OF
Keith Spicer
Welcome to the MichTel official newsletter! I am excited to share this publication with you as the months go on. In the meantime, I thought I would give you a little background onmyself and the business. They say people do business with people they trust, and trust comes with opening yourself up so people can get to know you better. I grew up in Southfield and am the proud son of a Southfield Firefighter andmy momwho stayed at home withme. In the fall of‘76, I beganmy career in the telecommunications industry, contracting to Michigan Bell, then on to LincolnTelephone Company in Lincoln, NE and then on to Mountain Bell in Denver. At some point, I became tired of traveling all the time. I decided to join the Air Force, got married in 1980, and then spent 9 months studying at the Air Force Telecommunications Technical School inTexas. I startedmy first company in 1982 while in the Air Force, and after my 4 years of service, I came back to Southfield to get the company rolling. Duringmy early years back in Michigan, I lived out every guy’s dream: I was a business owner, I went to the Police Academy at Oakland University, I was a certified firefighter, and hadmy EMT Licence. I worked as a reserve police officer, volunteer firefighter, and medic at a local public safety department. They were very exciting times, but the business demandedmore andmore time as technology improved, and I had to make some tough decisions. Fast forward 30-some years and 10 grandkids later, and here we are. Today, my hobbies include cooking on BBQ Smokers and flying RC planes, helicopters, and drones with pretty much all the grandkids. I look forward to getting to know and work with you, and I hope you enjoy these newsletters as much as I do.
In recent years, science has gained a better understanding of the critical role that gut health plays in overall health, and society is starting to pay attention. Most people know that probiotics aid in digestion, but few people understand how. While probiotics are gaining popularity, prebiotics have flown largely under the radar. According to health experts, most Americans don’t consume enough prebiotics every day, which can result in indigestion, higher levels of inflammation, increased likelihood of weight gain, and increased risk for various chronic diseases. Although research is fairly new in this area of nutrition, here is what’s known for sure. PROBIOTICS Probiotics are good bacteria (live cultures) naturally found in your gut. It is believed that probiotics boost immunity and promote gastrointestinal and overall health. Besides aiding regular bowel movement, probiotics have also been used to manage symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). To addmore probiotics into your diet, eat fermented dairy foods like Greek yogurt, kefir products, and aged cheeses. All of these foods contain a significant number of live cultures. If you are dairy- intolerant, try eating kimchi, sauerkraut, miso, tempeh, and cultured nondairy yogurts. PREBIOTICS Prebiotics are natural, nondigestible fiber compounds that promote the growth of helpful bacteria in your gut. Prebiotics pass through the upper part of the gastrointestinal tract undigested. Once they reach the colon, they are fermented by gut microflora, promoting the growth of probiotics. Prebiotics keep good and bad gut bacteria balanced, improve gastrointestinal health, and may even enhance calcium absorption. A BALANCEDGUT IS AHEALTHYGUT T he I mportance of P robiotics and P rebiotics
- Keith Spicer
Kindly,
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SUPPLEMENTATION Although there are many pills, supplements, and cleanses available to those who want to incorporate more probiotics and prebiotics in their diet, supplementation is often unnecessary. Probiotics and prebiotics are natural ingredients in everyday foods, and if you eat a healthy, balanced diet, there’s no reason for you to take supplements, unless you suffer from certain food allergies. Meals that contain both probiotics and prebiotics are called “synbiotics.” So eating bananas with yogurt or stir-frying asparagus with tempeh will cover all your bases. While research is still relatively new, health experts can confidently say that a balanced gut as a result of a diet enriched with probiotics and prebiotics is beneficial to your overall health. While probiotics seem to currently soak up the spotlight, make sure you are also eating enough prebiotics for optimal intestinal health. Remember, a balanced gut is a happy and healthy gut.
foods, they produce short-chain fatty acids that improve the health of the intestinal lining. When your intestinal lining is healthy, your body can better regulate electrolyte levels, digest food properly, and prevent diarrhea. A healthy intestinal lining is also essential to immunity. Prebiotics and probiotics improve your body’s ability to absorb important nutrients and trace minerals from food. They also lower the pH in the gut, which is vital for preventing urinary tract infections, vaginal yeast infections, digestive disorders, colds, and even colon cancer. Finally, research suggests that mood-related disorders like anxiety and depression can be tied to gut health. Your mood and hormone balance are affected by many internal and external factors, one of which is the state of the bacteria living in your gut. Your gut helps absorb and metabolize nutrients from the foods you eat, and these nutrients are used to support neurotransmitter functions that create the hormones that control your mood. Without a balanced gut, your body can’t absorb and use these nutrients correctly.
The best way to naturally include more prebiotics in your diet is to eat fructooligosaccharides and
galactooligosaccharides. In other words, eat more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains such as acacia gum, raw dandelion greens, raw jicama, underripe bananas, raw or cooked onions, raw garlic, raw leeks, raw asparagus, and Jerusalem artichokes. THE DYNAMIC DUO Prebiotics and probiotics work together in your gut as part of a tiny ecosystem. Probiotics feed on prebiotics to maintain a balance of good and bad bacteria. If there aren’t enough prebiotics to feed the probiotics, the bacteria can become unbalanced, which can result in a number of conditions, from indigestion to heart disease. Together, prebiotics and probiotics battle inflammation and lower overall disease risk. HEALTH BENEFITS Gut health is closely tied to many other bodily functions, which is why it is essential to maintain a healthy balance of good and bad bacteria. When probiotics metabolize fibrous
Meditation has often been touted by New Age gurus as a way to find inner peace and stillness. But what if meditating could reduce the effects of aging on your brain? According to research, taking a few minutes out of your day to meditate may improve cognitive function. As meditation’s popularity has spread, so have studies of the practice. The results of 100 studies examining the cognitive effects of meditation all show evidence of improvements in psychological and cognitive functions. Some of the results are intuitive, such as how meditation helps us deal with stress. But other results are incontrovertible, such as scans showing that meditation causes structural changes in the brain. For people facing age-related changes like memory loss, the results of these tests are especially relevant. The studies point to evidence that meditation can strengthen certain areas of the brain — the prefrontal cortex, the hippocampus, and the amygdala — that weaken as we age. THE PREFRONTAL CORTEX Your prefrontal cortex thins with age, which is associated with decreased cognitive function in your later years. However, meditation may reduce this age-related thinning. Dr. Sara Lazar, a neuroscientist specializing in the effects of yoga and meditation on cognitive and behavioral function, reports that long-time meditators don’t show a decline in the thickness of the prefrontal cortex. Improve Cognitive Function in Minutes How Meditation Helps You Maintain Brain Health
THE HIPPOCAMPUS Your hippocampus helps you process and form new memories, and it’s very sensitive to stress. In fact, research shows that your hippocampus will shrink in response to stressful situations and chronic stress. The remedy? Meditation. Dr. Lazar’s study showed a positive correlation between meditation and a higher concentration of gray matter in the left hippocampus. THE AMYGDALA Often called the fear center of the brain, the amygdala is triggered by stressful situations. But unlike the hippocampus, which shrinks in response to stress, the amygdala has been shown to become denser. In one study, people who attended mindfulness meditation classes showed a smaller stress response in brain scans compared to those who did not attend the classes. Meditation may help to decrease the density of the amygdala and therefore increase your ability to handle stress. Of course, in addition to these benefits, there’s a good chance that five minutes of meditation each day will simply make you feel better. People who meditate report an increase in overall well-being. Why not give it a try?
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Workouts With a Twist
MAKE EXERCISE FUNTHIS SUMMER
INDOOR BOULDERING Bouldering is a form of rock climbing using a boulder rather than the side of a cliff. You can bring the activity indoors, where artificial climbing walls and safety mats help climbers ease into the sport. This pastime works your arm muscles and core, but it also challenges your mind. There’s a lot of problem- solving as you figure out the best way to navigate the wall. Exercise doesn’t have to be a chore. There are plenty of great ways to work up a sweat and still make great memories this summer. You just have to be willing to try something new.
Summer is a time for fun! The days are longer, so why waste the extra sunlight trapped on a treadmill? There are plenty of great opportunities to exercise without feeling bored out of your mind. Consider one of these fun activities you may have never tried before. STAND-UP PADDLEBOARDING Stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) is the fastest growing water sport in the world, and it’s pretty simple. You stand on a paddleboard — like a surfboard, but wider and more buoyant — and use a long paddle to glide across the water. It’s the simplicity that makes SUP fun. You can battle fierce river rapids and waves on the ocean, or enjoy a more relaxing experience paddling across wide lakes and lazy rivers. Whatever your skill level, you’re building core strength, improving your balance, and getting some fresh air. RACQUETBALL In order to play racquetball, you need to have access to a racquetball court. If you can find a court near you, this game is certainly worth trying. It’s the intense cousin of tennis. Instead of hitting the ball back and forth over a net, racquetball players take turns hitting the ball against a wall. This creates momentum, and the ball moves much faster, so there’s a lot of jumping and lunging across the court as players try to reach the ball before it can bounce twice. Bring a water bottle, because you’re sure to sweat during this cardio workout.
Take a Break!
Father’s Day
CHILI LIME CHICKEN WINGS
Ingredients
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1/4 cup soy sauce
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4 pounds chicken wings 1 stick unsalted butter, softened 1 1/4 tablespoons Thai red curry paste
1 lime, halved
Extra-virgin olive oil
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Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper Chopped cilantro for garnish
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1/4 cup honey
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Directions
3. Blend butter, red curry paste, honey, and soy sauce in a large mixing bowl. 4. Toss wings in butter mixture.
1. Heat oven to 425 F. 2. Rinse wings under cold water and pat dry. Season liberally with salt and pepper, and
Squeeze lime juice on top, transfer to serving plate, and garnish with cilantro.
drizzle with olive oil. Roast on a baking sheet for 25 minutes or until skin becomes crisp and brown.
Recipe courtesy of LoveAndLemons.com
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MichTel www.michtelco.com Local: 248-636-1100 Toll Free: 877-800-7742
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE From the Desk of Keith PAGE 1 A Balanced Gut Is a Healthy Gut PAGE 1 HowMeditation Can Help the Aging Brain PAGE 2 Workouts You’ll Actually Enjoy PAGE 3 Take a Break PAGE 3 Father’s Day Chili Lime ChickenWings PAGE 3 3 Fathers Who Risked It All for Their Kids PAGE 4
3 Awesome Dads
FATHERS WHO PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE FOR THEIR KIDS
This Father’s Day, thousands of dads will receive a “No. 1 Dad” mug to sip coffee out of at the office. But the following dads took that “No. 1” to a new level.
the side, and when that didn’t work, he leapt onto its back and started punching it in the face. When the bear finally released Gabriel, Greg threw rocks until it fled. His son was hurt, but made a full recovery in the hospital over the coming weeks.
BRIAN MUNN GAVE HIS SON A LIVER TRANSPLANT.
When doctors discovered that baby Caleb Munn had a rare disease called biliary atresia, they told his parents that he was unlikely to survive past age 2 without a liver transplant. Luckily, his father was a perfect match, and he eagerly donated part of his liver in March of 2015 to save his son’s life. GREG ALEXANDER BATTLED A BEAR FOR HIS SON’S LIFE. While camping in the backcountry of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Greg Alexander was startled awake at dawn by the screams of his 16-year-old son, Gabriel. He rushed out of his hammock to see a black bear dragging his son away by the head. Without hesitation, he kicked the beast in
ARTUR MAGOMEDOV SAVED HIS DAUGHTERS FROM ISIS.
Artur Magomedov was devastated to discover that his wife had taken his 3- and 10-year-old daughters from their home in Dagestan under the cover of night, flown to Turkey, and crossed into Syria to join ISIS. But he resolved to get his kids back. After a long, hazardous journey, he arrived in Tabqa to embrace his two daughters. To leave the caliphate — under penalty of death — they hitched a ride to the border one night and
crawled along a railway line until they were within 70 meters of the border. Then they ran under fire from Turkish border guards until they could scramble into tall grasses. After some help from the Russian consulate in Istanbul, they made it back home, together again and safe.
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