eNewsletter: April 2016

Sturgis Getaway Giveaway Benefitting BikerDown

We’re at it again! Last year, BikerDown and the O’Sullivan Law Firm gave away a 2014 Harley-Davidson Dyna Wide Glide FXDWG. This year, we’re sending one lucky winner and a friend to the famous Sturgis Motorcycle Rally!

This year’s Sturgis event, held August 8 through 14, is going to be incredible: Miranda Lambert, Kid Rock, Buffalo Chip, Iron Horse Saloon, Knuckle Saloon, bike shows, gear, rides, parties… This is the year you could go – in style!

The Sturgis Getaway Giveaway includes an RV rental at the Buffalo Chip RV Site reserved in the South Forty Camping Area and two Early Bird Campground/Concert passes to all concerts hosted by the Buffalo Chip including the Kid Rock and Miranda Lambert shows. This prize is valued at $3,110.

It All Benefits BikerDown

This contest benefits BikerDown, a nonprofit organization that supports injured riders as they recover, providing hospital visits, community support, medical and professional advice, help with medical equipment and other efforts. The organization also supports family members, who are often as traumatized and in need of help as the injured rider.

How to Enter

You can register more than once! Entry forms can be found at all events in which BikerDown Colorado participates, organizes, or has a booth presence. Upcoming events include:

• Look Twice Save a Life Ride
• On our website here.
• Other events will be announced at BikerDown.org.

Here are some important details to know:

• Advanced entry opened 1/30 and ends 5/1.
• You must be present at the Look Twice Save a Life Ride on Saturday, 5/14 to win.

Great Denver Nonprofit Organizations and Philanthropists

I’m going to branch out a bit from the regular 6^th Avenue Beat that I’ve been covering for a few years now and share stories about some of Denver’s important nonprofit organizations, large and small. First, I’d like to introduce you to the Two Angels Foundation.

In 2005, Roger and Dawn Mohatt founded Two Angels in memory of their daughters, Allyson and Rachel Mohatt. Both girls were diagnosed with Nemaline Myopathy, a rare form of Muscular Dystrophy and only lived to age five.

Roger and Dawn wanted to help other families with children facing this disease. In particular, they wanted to make sure that the kids were able to be kids, no matter how debilitating their condition.

Two Angels Foundation helps these families by:

• Providing funding for recreational adaptive equipment.
• Providing adaptive equipment to help physically disabled children participate at school.

Since 2005, the organization has funded over 205 pieces of recreational adaptive equipment to children living in Colorado, totaling over $315,000. For more information, visit their website.

If I share a story in the coming months about a nonprofit that “speaks” to you, listen to that calling and contact them! Nonprofits always need people to champion their cause.

What Is a Whole Foods Diet and Why Should You Consider It?

(This isn’t about the grocery store chain… it’s about… well… whole foods!)

Okay, you’re exercising like crazy and you still feel low energy, stressed, and you’re not losing weight – at least not as fast as you want to. While there are many reasons this may be happening, the most likely reason is that your diet needs a little tweaking. Over the past few years, whole foods diets have been gaining popularity.

What Are Whole Foods?

Whole foods are foods that have not been processed, or have been minimally processed. An apple is a whole food. A chicken thigh is a whole food (depending on how pure you want to get). A frozen dinner, a box of cereal or a soda are not whole foods. Some people offer the advice that it’s probably a whole food if your great grandmother grew up eating it. Chances are your great grandmother didn’t eat instant oatmeal or hot pockets.

Here are some examples of whole foods breakfasts:

• Hardboiled egg, avocado, tomatoes
• Sweet potato hash, egg over easy, apple slices
• Pineapple, orange juice, coconut milk, protein powder smoothie

You’ll notice that processed foods are mainly absent. Now, the protein powder is a processed item; however, you can buy organic whey protein that comes from grass-fed cows.

Why Whole Foods? What Does This Diet Really Offer?

When you eat food that comes from nature rather than a factory, you’re eating cleanly. You’re not getting the added salts, flavorings, preservatives, dyes, and sugar that are found in processed food. Did you know that the average American consumes 22 teaspoons of sugar a day?

A simple tablespoon of ketchup has a teaspoon of sugar. The French fries that you eat with the ketchup also have about a teaspoon of sugar. And if you get a drink at Starbucks, a simple latte (without any added sugar or flavoring) has 17 grams of sugar. That’s more than four teaspoons. The point is that it adds up and you may be closer to the 22 teaspoons of sugar than you think.

Sugar causes systemic inflammation. It causes your blood sugar levels to rise and it causes hormone levels to become imbalanced. Too much sugar can cause everything from diabetes to cancer. It can lead to heart disease, depression, and so much more. And it makes you tired, grumpy, and at risk for obesity.

When you go on a whole foods diet you automatically reduce your sugar intake. In fact, if you stick to it, you’ll eat only natural sugars like those found in apples. Your taste buds will change so that you don’t crave the sugars. You’ll also eliminate the trans fats and chemicals found in processed foods. Try a whole foods diet for a month and watch how your energy levels and health change. You may never go back to eating processed foods.