Raw Milk? Are You Serious?

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Yes, I am serious.

We switched from store bought overly processed milk to raw milk from a local dairy around November of 2005. That is over 3 years ago. I can count on one hand how many times my entire family has been to the doctor. Most of those times were for a twisted ankle or a sore back or neck. I don't think either of the children have been in all that time. Of course, we try to do other things to stay healthy so I am sure raw milk is not the only thing helping us out. However, if it was really unhealthy 3 years would be plenty of time to show up. I know a lot of people are afraid of this idea because we have been conditioned to think we need everything sterilized. I challenge you to read an article on the benefits of drinking raw milk. See if there is anything about it that could help you or your family.

I will give you one of the reasons here.

Raw milk contains probiotics.

“Bacteria have a reputation for causing disease, so the idea of tossing
down a few billion a day for your health might seem — literally and figuratively
— hard to swallow. But a growing body of scientific evidence suggests that you
can treat and even prevent some illnesses with foods and supplements containing
certain kinds of live bacteria. Northern Europeans consume a lot of these
beneficial microorganisms, called probiotics (from pro and biota, meaning “for
life”), because of their tradition of eating foods fermented with bacteria, such
as yogurt. Probiotic-laced beverages are also big business in Japan.”
— Harvard Medical School, “Health Benefits of Taking Probiotics”

Have you heard anyone talking about needing more of the "good bacteria" in your gut? Have you seen all the products to buy with probiotics in them?

Pasteurizing is NOT helping us out here.

Click here to read the whole article.

It's That Time Of Year

Time to make sure you are getting enough sunlight.

Would you believe me if I told you that sunlight FIGHTS cancer? I am sure a lot of you would be shocked and think I was seriously mistaken. However, it is true. Getting enough sun means getting enough vitamin D. Without the vitamin D you are in for some problems. You should not get sun BURNS but getting enough sun on your skin will make you healthy. In addition, to avoiding cancer you can also fight the flu with vitamin D instead of needing the flu shot. There are 2 very interesting articles on this topic here and here. As you already know vitamin D helps prevent bone loss too.

I encourage you to read the articles above and make sure you and your family are as healthy as you can be. This is also a money saving thing! By getting the FREE sunshine you can avoid cancers and most likely the flu. That is a bargain in my book. Now, I just need that sun to come out.

Flu Fighting Fruit!

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Saw this article and thought it would be good to share. I see that people are getting their flu shots during this time of year so this should be good timing.

The Fruit That Fights the Flu

Once November hits, the rest of the year is a giant sprint to the Dick Clark ball-dropping finish line. Here’s the game plan for keeping healthy through it.
Start by getting a flu shot. Then, buy yourself a bag of apples and munch away. The quercetin in apples may help bolster your immune system during vulnerable times.

Boon to Immunity
Yep. Apples (and red onions, broccoli, and tea) are great sources of quercetin -- a flavonoid that may stave off the influenza virus when the body is under stress. In a recent animal study, quercetin did just that: The normal dip in immunity that comes with physical fatigue was pretty much cancelled out by the flavonoid. If it works as well in humans, quercetin could help power the body through both physical and psychological stress. (Is stress already getting the best of you? Use this tool to take the edge off.)

Talking ’Bout Disease Prevention . . .
Quercetin may not only quash the flu but also stave off health conditions like cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s, and pancreatic cancer. So get more quercetin with these quick and easy recipes from EatingWell:

Slip some quercetin-rich broccoli into the king of all comfort foods with Cheesy Broccoli-Potato Mash.
Give the holidays a twist with this Chunky Apple-Rhubarb Sauce with Dried Cranberries. (You’ll get loads of quercetin from the apples, apple juice, and red onion.)
Or try this quicker, healthier take on a favorite dessert: Old-Fashioned Apple-Nut Crisp.
Has the flu already gotten you? Check out the sinus-soothing ideas on this page.

RealAge Benefit: Getting 31 milligrams of flavonoids a day can make your RealAge 3.2 years younger.

This article was found at "Real Age", click here.

After you hit 30, it’s all downhill, right? Part 2

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Now this girl is old but YOU are not. She was 176 yrs. old. ;-)

This is part 2 of the article from yesterday. Again, my comments are in red.

4. Clean up your diet.
You just can’t build healthy new cells by eating devitalized junk food that has a shelf life longer than your life expectancy. We all need plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, adequate protein, lots of water, sunshine, and fresh air. More fruits and veggies, more water, and more sun! All the things a growing boy or girl need. :-)

5. Take supplements.
Everyone needs at least a good daily multivitamin. Brands like Centrum aren’t worth the money. You need a pharmaceutical-grade product with good antioxidant coverage. A great deal of physical deterioration is the result of free radical damage to tissues. Antioxidants gobble up those free radicals, and help tissue in the skin and everywhere else stay pliable, flexible and healthy. This is something I think is VERY important. I have a lot to say on this subject. Not taking vitamins is like not having car insurance. You don't want to ever need it but if you do you won't be sorry. Responsible, mature people have car insurance and more kinds of insurance than that. A cheaper insurance and much more valuable is vitamins. You should at LEAST take a good multivitamin. Store brands are not that great. They have the RDA. That just means the amount that keeps you from being DEAD. It is not the amount that keeps you healthy. I personally take a multi-vitamin from the health food store, in addition to Cod Liver Oil, Cromium, extra vitamin C & E, B-150, and a few more. I also add pectin, Benefiber, and Pomegranite juice to my daily routine. I am not saying that you will have perfect health but like insurance it is something you need to have. It does help!

6. Get up and boogey!
There’s only one reason why someone automatically loses muscle mass or range of motion with age: They stop using their muscles and bodies fully. Period. Physical deterioration has very little to do with age. It has a lot to do with being sedentary. You wouldn’t expect your car to start on the first try and run well if you left it sitting out in a field for five years, then tried to drive it – would you? Of course not. It’s the same with our bodies. Those who exercise regularly can expect to add at least six to seven quality years to their lives. Walking isn’t usually enough to build the kind of muscle mass you need to keep your weight normal. You also need weight training to build and maintain bone mass. Take it from someone who hasn't been exercising much for a long time. After getting back to the gym 3 times a week I have been thrilled to see how much MORE I can do.

7. Engage in creative pursuits and schedule things to look forward to.
It’s possible to keep your mind sharp and enjoy your life without becoming an exercise or food nut. I often meet very creative people whose minds are so engaged in their work and in what they’re creating for the future that they’re saturated with life force directly from source energy. This is one of the reasons why composers such as 70-year-old John Williams seem so timeless. Their creative process is such that they’re always touching the hand of God. Their work is divinely inspired. I don't really know who this person is or if he really is touching the hand of God. However, creative pursuits are very good to have. It is important to have goals and to focus on things. Don't get in a rut doing the same thing all the time. And that rubs off on the physical body.

You don’t have to be a world-class composer to tap into source energy. Prayer will do it. And so will dance or any other creative pursuit. The key is that you have to open yourself up to being a channel for something new.

8. Go to a spa.
A spa visit can help jump-start your new, younger life. A good spa is set up with all the food, exercise, great company, and creativity built right in. So it’s natural to get inspired at a spa. I am not sure about this last one but I have never been to a spa. One day I will and maybe then I can let you know if this is helpful or not.

Remember, youth is a state of mind. You can be young at 90, and old at 15. You get to choose.

Christiane Northrup, M.D.

This article came from HERE.

After you hit 30, it’s all downhill, right?

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I personally say NO! Here is part one of a great article we should all read if we are over 30. Leave me a comment regarding your thoughts on this matter. My comments are in red.

8 Great Secrets for Growing Young

After you hit 30, it’s all downhill, right? Not true. Your physical health and your mental well-being determine your real age, not the date on your birth certificate. In acknowledgement of Healthy Aging Month, here are eight tips for feeling young no matter what your age. Plus, are you doing everything you can to boost your life expectancy?

Getting older is inevitable. But aging is not. Here are my tips for staying young at any age.

1. Forget your chronologic age.
It’s a fairly meaningless number after the age of 30. It’s your biologic age that counts. People who understand how life energy works in the body often have biologic ages 20 or more years younger than their chronologic ages.

My 80-year-old mother is a good example. A few years ago she climbed four unmarked peaks (no trails on them) in the Adirondacks – jumping over boulders and downed trees like a mountain goat. She takes no medications whatsoever. She does, however, use a wide variety of supplements daily. It’s clear my mother’s biologic age is far younger than her chronologic age. I want to be like her!

The opposite is also true. I routinely see 35-year-olds who look, act and talk like people far older. I have seen this too. Very sad. They tend to hang out with friends and family members who talk the same talk and walk the same slow walk. When I meet such a person, I know I’m seeing the aging process happening right before my eyes. Their words, thoughts and actions are all about deterioration.......

2. Getting older is inevitable.
Aging is not. The process of getting older actually begins the moment our life begins in the womb! We can’t stop it. But we can certainly influence it dramatically. Though we really don’t understand what aging is, I have some theories that have stood the test of time.

Until age 30 or so, the “springtime” energy within each of us is so strong that our bodies are very forgiving. In other words, the average 18-year-old will be able to maintain a healthy weight and have lots of energy, even if he or she eats mostly junk food, doesn’t exercise, doesn’t take nutritional supplements, smokes, drinks alcohol, and is chronically pessimistic. But the natural forgiveness that nature gifts to the young doesn’t last forever. I am pretty sad about that. Why can't it last forever???

By about age 30, our lifestyles, including our thoughts and beliefs, catch up with us. Your body will be far less forgiving than it used to be. You won’t be able to stay up all night at parties drinking alcohol, then fuel yourself with several cups of coffee the next morning and still arrive at work the next day feeling alert. You won’t be able to live on caffeine and cigarettes and still have your complexion look radiant. You won’t be able to keep working at a job you hate while having no plans for change in the future without this taking a toll on your body.

When health-robbing habits catch up with people at about the age of 30 or so, they say, “You see? It’s my age. That’s why this stuff is happening to me. It’s natural.” Nothing could be further from the truth. When we don’t take care of our bodies (including our minds, emotions and spirits) our bodies are forced to send us louder and louder signals to get our attention.

Headaches, low energy, dull skin, joint aches and pains are just a few of the many different messages our body sends us when it needs better care. Our symptoms are not signs that our bodies are somehow “turning on us.” Our bodies are actually created from our consciousness and the behavior that flows from this. This may be starting to sound a bit new agey but I think this is true in another sense. I DO believe that our words are powerful and our thoughts help shape us. These are Biblical truths. I think that is why it is SO important that we watch our words because we will eventually believe what we hear ourselves say. That’s why it’s possible to remain vital and healthy, and keep improving in many areas throughout our lives!

3. Get conscious about ageism.
We live in a culture that is drenched with ageism. We automatically assume that someone is going to deteriorate as they get older. Recently, my massage therapist told me a woman called and described herself as “old and fat.” She was only 55! This is insane – and also dangerous to our health and well-being. I agree! Saying you are OLD at 55 is not right. I don't want to hear anyone say I am old, ever. OK, well maybe when I am 75 or so. Then I won't be offended...maybe.
It’s important to catch yourself engaging in ageism. I don't call it ageism but I do call it a negative confession. I don't want to make confessions that I will eventually believe. Do you ever say that you’ve just had a “senior” moment when you forget a name or a face? If you do, stop it. NOW. I’ve forgotten occasional names for my whole life. I’ll bet you have, too. We all forget things. This needn’t increase with age. I think I have been doing stuff like that since I was in my 20's and I certainly was not old then. Then again, I can't remember when that was....just kidding.

Many women, especially during perimenopause, complain of having a “cotton head.” They can’t seem to balance their checkbook. They’re certain that they are experiencing the first stages of Alzheimer’s. This simply isn’t true. Most of the “fuzzy head” that women talk about at perimenopause isn’t aging at all. It’s your inner wisdom telling you it’s time for you to tune in to yourself more consistently. It may also be time to make sure your hormones are in the correct balance. Check out my blog Happy Girls Use Happy Cream to see if this may be something you need.

Catch yourself in the act of using your age as an excuse for not trying something. For example, “I think I’m doing pretty well, for my age.” What does that mean? Though it’s true that most 65-year-old men and women don’t engage in as much risk-taking or thrill-seeking behavior as they did when they were younger (like driving too fast with a high blood alcohol level), this is because of a wonderful quality that comes with age: wisdom. I like this quality. It is a good one.

Christiane Northrup, M.D. Excerpted with permission from The Dr. Christiane Northrup Web site.

This is the first part of a very interesting article I found. I hope you will come back tomorrow to read the rest.

If you don't want to wait for the rest of this article tomorrow click HERE.

FREE Jamba

A free Jamba smoothie.

I have never had one but am going to try one now. According to the information I have the new "Orange Refresher" says realfruit and no sugar added. Hopefully, it is good AND good for you. :-)

You just enter a little bit of information and then you can print out the coupon. I have printed out my coupon.

Click here.

Think of who you can take with you.

With this 3 digit Oklahoma heat, this sure looks refreshing.

Hurry, offer expires tomorrow, the 30th. To visit their website click here.

Spark!

I have been trying to use Wed. as the day I post about something that I have tried and really like. I couldn't wait until next Wed. to share this one with you.
You HAVE to go check it out.

I have found the best website. If you want to lose weight, are currently losing weight, or are just trying to get healthier I have the place for you. It is called SparkPeople.com, the world's largest online health community. Over 1 million people from around the world have joined SparkPeople.com to help them get healthier or lose weight. The folks at SparkPeople.com have been working hard to provide you with premium tools and community features to help you live a healthier life.
(Did I mention that it's 100 percent free?)
http://www.sparkpeople.com/.


Personalized SparkPages: Add pictures, blog posts, friends, site favorites and other information to document your healthy life. Share it with anyone or keep it private, you decide.


Support Teams: Meet other people with similar interests and goals who will offer support & motivation when you need it the most; or create a SparkTeam for your friends and family to join. (You would be amazed at all the pages they have. If you can think of it they probably have it. You can join a team that is in your state or your area. You can join a team that is in your age group or in the amount of weight you want to lose.

Some others I have seen are:

Fat Wives Club

Slightly Skewed and a Little Warped

Crockpot Recipes

Swimming For Cardio

Dave Ramsey Fans

Gastric Bypass

Christian Homeschooler's Healthy Living

The Big Mans Club

Office Workers Unite

Clutter Free Living

Moving Forward Through Grief & Loss

Caregiver Children

Emotional Eaters

A Truckers Wife

Christian (or other religions)
Political

Thyroid Community

Parents With Special Children (special needs)

Military Wives

Scrapbookers

Knitting

Home Remodeling

Bird Watchers

Dog Lovers

Cat Lovers

Rats Rule

Bookworms

Christian Bookworms

Artists

Lampworkers

Photography

Motorcycles & Bikers

5 ft. 3 and Under

Calling All Short People

Tall Ladies

Eating Disorder Group

Fat Fly Chix

Wow! I Need To Lose A Whole Person!

Food Network Fans (this one concerns me a bit wink, wink)

Biggest Loser (tv show)

House Addicts (tv show)

The Office (tv show)

So You Think You Can Dance (tv show)

Moving Forward Through Grief and Loss

Fighting Fibromyalgia

Car Enthusiasts

Growing Up In The 70's, Memory Lane

Lord of the Rings

Weight Watchers

Animal Lovers

Shutterbugs

High Blood Pressure

Cholesterol Support

People With Disabilities

Duran Duran Music Lovers

Richard Simmons Fan club

There are MANY more. As you can see, if you can think of it they probably have it.

Calorie Counter & Meal Plans: Get a personalized meal plan to fit your needs and goals, and track your calories and nutrition intake.

Personalized Exercise Program: We'll design a plan to suit your needs, and provide online exercise demonstrations and workout videos that are easy to follow.

Healthy Recipes : Find thousands of healthy, easy to make recipes. Enter your own recipes to calculate their nutrition information.

Are you ready to lose weight and live a healthier life? Just visit http://www.sparkpeople.com/ to create your free account and get started today.

I started working on losing weight about 2 weeks ago. I found Spark People.com a little over a week ago. I compare it to a weight watchers meeting only better. You can get the motivation, the accountability, ask questions, get opinions, track your food, track your exercise, and do it all every day for free. You can even report your weight and there is a little tracker too. I have seen places like this before but they weren't free. I don't think I have found everything yet. I keep finding more things as I go a long. You don't have to use all the nifty little features like the nutrition tracker, fitness tracker, or other things. (There is also a way to track your water for the day or how many fruits/veggies you are eating.) If you want you can just use it for encouragement and motivation. I have ready many success stories of people that have lost an amazing amount of weight. Their stories are inspiring. When you have a rough day you can talk to another real person dealing with the same things as you are. There are people at every place on their weight loss journey. Some are just starting and haven't lost anything yet. Some have lost a little. Some have lost a LOT! Some have lost it all and are maintaining or are struggling to maintain. We all get frustrated or tired and it helps to have someone else there that can give you that little boost.

Off To The Gym!

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Off to the gym tonight! (I really just wanted to say that because it makes me feel SO athletic and strong!)

Did you notice how good I look on that treadmill? OK, you don't really believe it is me do you? It's because of the hair right?

Well, I am just so proud of my self that I had to share it with you. I started going BACK to the gym. Yes, I started, then took a break, and now am starting again. I went 3 days last week and plan to go again tonight. I walked for 25 minutes last week and am thinking of going up to 30 minutes tonight. I know what you are thinking. Are you sure you want to add that extra 5 whole minutes. When you have been off the exercise treadmill (so to speak) for a long time you have to get back on carefully. You don't want to strain or sprain anything.

In honor of my new fitness/weight loss goals I have some exercise funnies to share with you. I thought they were pretty good! What do you think???

I have to walk early in the morning,
before my brain figures out what I'm doing..

I joined a health club last year,
spent about 400 bucks.
Haven't lost a pound.
Apparently you have to go there.

The advantage of exercising every day
is so when you die, they'll say,
'Well, she looks good doesn't she.'

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Finally!! Some Good News!!

(Image source: Reuters.)

You have to go here to find out why it may be GOOD to have a big booty!
I am so excited. Wouldn't it be great if times changed? How wonderful would it be if the super skinny models were replaced with the image of girls with an immense tush? The new beautiful babe with a bodacious behind? I can dream can't I?
This could be gooood! ;-)

What To Do With All Those Dandelions!

You must go over and read this post at Kitchen Table Medicine.

I will give you a little preview....

Yesterday while watching my hero, Martha Stewart, a guest in her audience asked the HORRIFYING question “Martha, what do I do to kill the dandelions growing in my garden?”

Her answer may be a bit unexpected for some of you.

Jane Austen and Kitchen Villains?

The above image was found here.

What do Jane Austen and kitchen villains have in common? Not a thing. I am combining them today anyway.

You should check out a new blog I found. This one is called "Kitchen Table Medicine".

"Who do you think the top enemies of the kitchen table are? Alcohol? Caffeine? Oh no! Those are just the small time crooks of the kitchen table. When enjoyed in moderation caffeine and alcohol are welcome at the kitchen table as a normal part of human socializing. So let’s talk about the REAL bad guys that should never be invited to join you at family dinner time."

You can go click on the following link to enjoy reading all of this post.

After checking out the oh-so-serious post above (wink, wink) all of you Ladies need to go over here and find out what Jane Austen hero you are.

If that is not enough for you today, I give you. The Bloggers Prayer...

The Bloggers Prayer

Lord help me to learn to spell without spellcheck, manage to visit all that visit me, and post regularly - all in 5 minutes a day, so that I can clean house and take care of my family.

Help me to not look at every occurrence in my life as a blog post, and to quit taking pictures of weird things to share as well.

Please Lord, help me to stop talking about my blog friends as though they are next door neighbors or someone I have known all of my life.

And help me dear Lord, to think of something witty and wise to post tomorrow.

The Dust Bunny Hostage

Just To Make You Laugh-Hot Pockets!

If you love them or hate them you will love hearing this little comedy routine on "Hot Pockets".

How to Prevent Alzheimer’s

I don't think I can do all of these things but I am trying to do as many as possible. I think that is where good health starts. Make the changes you can make. Do a little bit at a time. It took us our life time to get into the unhealthy habits so it may take a while to get out.






In last year’s Alzheimer’s Facts and Figures Report, the number of Americans stricken with the disease was 5.1 million. This year’s report brings us up to 5.2 million, including some 200,000 to 250,000 people under the age 65 who are inexplicably stricken with so-called “early-onset Alzheimer’s.”

By 2050, the report estimates that a full 10 million U.S. “baby boomers” will have come down with Alzheimer’s, which translates to 1 out of 8!

How to Prevent Alzheimer’s (information for this was here)

Fortunately, there are ways to reduce your chances of getting Alzheimer’s. These simple lifestyle changes can help keep your brain in optimal working order well past your 60’s.

Eat a nutritious diet with plenty of vegetables...and pay special attention to avoiding sugar

Eat plenty of high-quality omega-3 krill oil or fish oil. Avoid most fish (high in omega-3, but often contaminated with mercury)

Avoid and remove mercury from your body. Dental amalgam fillings are one of the major sources of mercury, however you should be healthy prior to having them removed...You can find a biological dentist to have your amalgams removed.

Be careful as you could be jumping from the frying pan into the fire like I did if you see a conventional dentist to do the exchange. ONLY see a high quality biologically trained dentist or your health could get ruined.

Avoid aluminum, such as in antiperspirants, cookware, etc.

Exercise for three to five hours per week. According to one study, the odds of developing Alzheimer's were nearly quadrupled in people who were less active during their leisure time, between the ages of 20 and 60, compared with their peers.

Avoid flu vaccinations as they contain both mercury and aluminum!

Wild blueberries, which have high anthocyanin and antioxidant content are known to guard against Alzheimer's and other neurological diseases.

Challenge your mind daily. Mental stimulation, such as traveling, learning to play an instrument or doing crossword puzzles, is associated with a decreased risk of Alzheimer's. Researchers suspect that mental challenge helps to build up your brain, making it less susceptible to the lesions associated with Alzheimer's disease.

Sunbathing Cuts Cancer Risk in Half

Now that it is Spring I am thinking of sun shine. I have done a lot of research on this topic and found many other sources that back this article up. This isn't the only kind of cancer that could be listed here either.

Exposure to sunlight may reduce your risk of advanced breast cancer, according to new research from Stanford University.

The study followed 4,000 women between the ages of 35 and 79, and evaluated the effects of long-term sun exposure. Women with a light skin color who had high sun exposure had half the risk of developing advanced breast cancer (cancer that has spread beyond the breast) as women with low sun exposure.

High sun exposure was defined as having dark skin on your forehead, since your forehead is typically exposed to the sun often.

Sun exposure may work to prevent cancer because it increases the levels of vitamin D in your body. While you can get some vitamin D from your diet, up to 90 percent comes from your exposure to sunlight.

The above article can be found here.

Go here to find a way to get what you need during the winter, inside.

Need Some Help Getting In All Those Fruits & Veggies?

I thought this article was extremely helpful. I found it here. Let me know what you think. Is it helpful to you at all? (I have added a few comments in red.)

Getting the recommended 4 1/2 cups of fruits and vegetables daily will go a long way toward your quota of antioxidants and other nutrients. You don’t have to munch carrots and raw broccoli from dawn to dusk, but you do need to start thinking about fruits and veggies long before dinner. Four and a half cups – equal to nine servings – may sound like a lot, but don’t throw in the dishtowel yet. Here are 40 easy ways to boost your antioxidant intake.

Start Early

1. A small glass of 100% fruit juice is the perfect energizing start to your day. Vary your juices to balance your nutrient intake. Try the usual orange and grapefruit juice and the not-so-usual pomegranate and blueberry. I have been doing this. I mix pomegranate juice (2 oz.) grape juice.

2. Top eggs with your favorite store-bought salsa. I love to top my fried eggs with sauteed onions! My Dad will be SO surprised!

3. Add sautéed mushrooms, onions, red and yellow bell peppers, or tomatoes to omelets.

4. Slice peaches, bananas, strawberries, or other fresh fruit onto your cereal. Bananas on Grape Nuts! Yummy!

5. Mix dried cranberries or raisins into your oatmeal.

6. Toss frozen fruit, low-fat yogurt and nutmeg or sweetener in a blender for a quick out-the-door breakfast smoothie. Smoothies are great with yogurt, a banana, and any other fruit to throw in. My girls always want me to add some peanut butter though! I also add powdered flax seed and olive oil. So good for you and a small amount will never be noticed.

Punch Up Your Cooking

7. Thread some pineapple, nectarines, bell peppers, mushrooms, and cherry tomatoes in with your chicken or steak kabobs.

8. Add canned or frozen vegetables to soups.

9. Build your own veggie pizza. Top a plain cheese pie with spinach, fresh herbs like basil and tarragon, bell peppers, mushrooms, broccoli, or small pineapple cubes.

10. Use spaghetti squash in place of pasta.

11. Add zucchini, green beans or eggplant to your favorite jarred spaghetti sauce.

12. Pack pasta and potato salads with extra veggies. Be colorful and toss in broccoli, red bell peppers, carrots, and purple onion.

13. Perk up a dull green salad with nuts, dried cranberries, mandarin oranges, pomegranate seeds, apple slices, red beans, or jarred artichokes. I have recently tried the cranberries and that was great! Thanks for the idea Beverly! Raisins are good too...and some sunflower seeds.

14. One to two days a week, wash, chop and separate raw veggies into plastic bags. You’ll have carrots, mushrooms, broccoli, bell peppers, celery, zucchini, and more antioxidant-packed foods readily available to toss into salads or add to casseroles.

15. Sneak in some extra beans. For example, thicken traditional chili or a favorite soup with a can of mashed white beans. No one will know they’re there. This could work. My bean hating daughters might never know.

16. Top nachos with kidney beans.

17. Mix apples, grapes and walnuts in your chicken salad. Try white beans and diced carrots in tuna salad.

18. Add fresh herbs to salads. When using them in hot food, add them toward the end of cooking.
19. Learn to cook with the most antioxidant-rich herbs and spices: ground clove, dried oregano, ground ginger, ground cinnamon, turmeric powder, dried basil, ground mustard seed, curry powder, paprika, and chili powder.

Snacks

20. Put individual servings of grapes, cherries or raw veggies into small plastic bags. Keep them at eye level in the refrigerator, not tucked behind the leftover takeout. Grabbing a high-fiber, antioxidant-packed snack should be as easy as grabbing a bag of chips. I am hoping Sun Chips count as something good too.

21. Mix berries and nuts into nonfat yogurt.

22. Keep an old breath mint tin filled with nuts. Pull it out when you’re stuck in traffic and in need of an energy boost. This is a great idea! I always hate throwing out those tins so this could work.

23. Add a variety of dried fruit to trail mix. Making your own granola is easy and good too. Then you can add all the things you want. It makes a wonderful breakfast cereal. My girls LOVE it!

Out and About
24. In restaurants, start your meal with a vegetable or bean soup or a colorful mixed salad. I have been working on this one and doing pretty well. I like salads so it is not a problem for me.

25. Swap French fries for a side salad or steamed vegetables. Now this one is a bit harder! I do love fries!

26. Ask for extra veggies on sandwiches.

27. Bring five pieces of fruit to work every Monday for a different snack each day of the week.

28. If you’re unexpectedly out at lunchtime, run by the grocery store instead of the drive-through. Pick up a prepared salad and piece of fruit. I know this is probably a good idea. However, when I see those salads at the store they always look SO pitiful and not really nutritious with all that ice berg lettuce.

Sip Your Antioxidants

29. Drink brewed black or green tea. Tea is our best source of a class of compounds called catechins, which are potent antioxidants. Green tea contains three times the catechins as black tea. Brew it up at home; bottled tea doesn’t offer the same health benefits. I saw what looks like a good recipe for making Green Tea Soda, just today. You can see it here.

30. Sip on vegetable juice, plain or with some hot sauce for extra kick.

31. Spice up your hot tea with antioxidant-rich ground cloves and cinnamon.

32. Enjoy a glass of red wine. Moderate drinking is linked with reduced rates of heart disease and type 2 diabetes. Some scientists credit the antioxidant resveratrol for these positive effects. Moderate drinking is defined as no more than one drink per day for women, two per day for men.

33. Have a mug of brewed coffee as your early morning or midday energizer. Be careful what you put in it, though. Those lattes and mochas can turn coffee into a sugar and fat fest. Bummer, that is the way I like my coffee....basically, when you can't even tell it is coffee any more.

34. Opt for one of these antioxidant-rich juices: grape, pomegranate, cranberry, pineapple, and orange. Or mix and match them for your own unique blend.

Sweet Treats

35. Skewer some fresh berries, grapes and peach slices for a fun dessert.

36. Top ice cream with berries or pomegranate seeds.

37. Freeze fresh grapes for a delicious, all-natural frozen dessert. My girls really like this one.

38. For a sophisticated dessert that does antioxidant double duty, dip strawberries, pineapple cubes, and sliced apples and bananas into a dark chocolate fondue. Oh my! Yummy!

39. Make ice-pops from any 100% fruit juice. We have done this in the past. The girls really liked it and I felt much better about giving it to them.

40. Indulge in small amounts of dark chocolate or cocoa without guilt. Like tea, chocolate and cocoa contain catechins. Research suggests that they may help prevent the oxidation of LDL (bad) cholesterol, thus improving your risk for cardiovascular disease. Chocolate! Yippee!!!

I thought this was a great article. What do you think? Do you have any more tips?

The King of Spices

The King of Spices

Almost everyone knows that a dash of black pepper can add flavor to just about any dish. What you may not know about the "king of spices" is that it comes from a plant that can grow more than 30 feet tall in tropical climates.

Indigenous to India, pepper has been a covetous spice for thousands of years.

The ancient Greeks used it as a currency and offered it as a sacrifice to their gods. Many Greeks even paid their taxes with pepper – something you may wish the IRS would allow. By the time of the Middle Ages, men calculated their wealth by their stockpiles of this wonderful spice.

Why has black pepper been considered so valuable? Not only does it spice up food, but it's also an excellent source of manganese, vitamin K, iron, and fiber.

It also improves digestive disorders and keeps the intestines healthy.

That's right: the taste of black pepper alerts the stomach to secrete extra amounts of hydrochloric acid which helps to digestion. In fact, if our stomachs have a deficiency of this substance, then food will sit in our tummies long enough to give us heartburn and indigestion; when these putrid food particles are passed to the intestines, then a lot of unpleasant symptoms, like flatulence, may occur. So think of pepper as a type of aphrodisiac in that you won’t repel prospective mates.

Black pepper also contains remarkable weight loss properties – the outer layer of the peppercorn fuels the breakdown of fat cells, keeping you slender, energetic, and even younger.

Of course not all peppers are created equal. While all peppers come from the same vine, different kinds result from harvesting the berries at distinct stages of the ripening and processing them in diverse ways. For example, green peppercorns are picked long before maturity in the green stage; white pepper comes from completely ripe peppercorns that have been picked close to maturity. And finally, our beloved black pepper come from berries as they are beginning to ripen from green to yellow and while still relatively immature. They are then boiled for a short time, and then dried naturally in the sun until they’re perfect.

Unfortunately most pepper sold in the U.S. is a mixture from a variety of low-grade peppers bought at the lowest possible price. A superior form of pepper comes from the Lampong district of South-eastern Sumatra, the center of pepper production in Indonesia. Lampong pepper berries tend to be smaller than those of Indian pepper, which gives it a finer flavor than other peppercorns.

Lampong pepper is one of the one of the strongest and hottest black pepper with a powerful flavor.

For the best grade of Lampong pepper, just click on http://www.rawleigh-products.com/. There you'll find, along with other superior grade spices, the best pepper you've ever tasted. Rawleigh’s special method of granulation allows fewer oil cells to be crushed or broken, producing an authentic and fragrant black pepper.

By Vincent P Platania
Nov 28, 2007, 01:11

For more information click here.

The Magical Spice

The Magical Spice


• Its history dates back to 2800 BC when the Chinese used it to remedy colds, flu, and digestive disorders.

• Moses used it as an ingredient for his anointing oils.

• Roman Emperor Nero demanded that a year's supply of it be burned after he slaughtered his wife.

• In the first century A.D., Pliny the Elder wrote that 350 grams of it was equivalent to more than five kilograms of silver.

What substance could be so valued, so powerful, and so healing? A spice you likely have in the back of your kitchen cupboard . . . cinnamon. And it turns out that modern researcher doctors are just learning about the spice's many medicinal qualities.

Cinnamon is a small tree that grows in Sri Lanka, India, and Vietnam. A mere teaspoon of the spice has a whopping 28 mg of calcium, one mg of iron, one mg of fiber, and a smattering of vitamins C, K, and manganese. But that's just the tip of the spice rack.

According to a study conducted by Dr. Richard A. Anderson of the Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center in Maryland, a simple dash of cinnamon may improve the health of those suffering from type II diabetes.

Anderson and his colleagues at the USDA Agricultural Research Center had 60 diabetics consume capsules that contained zero, one, three, or six grams of cinnamon each day for 40 days. The capsules with no cinnamon contained wheat flour.

Anderson's study found that all subjects given the cinnamon-laced capsules experienced up to 30 percent drops in their levels of glucose, fats and cholesterol.
Those who took the placebo showed no changes in their blood levels. Apparently cinnamon, like insulin, helps the body's insulin signaling, glucose transport, and inflammatory response.

Cinnamon also has cholesterol-fighting properties: In Pakistan, a 40-day study of sixty people with Type II diabetes, found that just one-quarter of a teaspoon of the spice taken twice daily lowered not only lowered the subjects' blood sugar, but also their LDL or "bad cholesterol" as well as their overall cholesterol levels. This is good news for those wanting to prevent hypertension and heart disease.

Would you like to be more alert, more on on the ball, quick-witted? – a small splash of cinnamon could be the key to a smarter you. A research study presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Chemoreception Services found that the simple act of smelling cinnamon or chewing cinnamon-flavored gum improved subjects' brainpower in areas ranging from memory to recognition to attention and focus.

Healers have long known of cinnamon's antiseptic properties too. A Japanese study found that the spice not only soothes an upset stomach, but may even prevent ulcers. German researchers confirmed that cinnamon blocks bacteria that causes urinary tract and yeast infections.

On an important note, not all cinnamons are created equal. You will not reap the full benefits from cinnamon you bought five years ago. Ground cinnamon keeps most of its healing powers for up to six months.

Rawleigh uses an especially high-grade of cinnamon from the bark of an evergreen bush native to Sri Lanka. The bark is peeled away from the bush in thin strips, dried, and ground yet still retains three percent of its oil content – an amazing feat that provides a superior grade of cinnamon.

Remember, aside from its healing properties, cinnamon is a very versatile spice, used in curry powder as well as a variety of sweet dishes.

By Vincent P Platania
Nov 6, 2007, 20:19

Visit http://www.rawleigh-products.com/ or click here.

More information found here.

Eat Garlic Regularly

This image found here.

Eat Garlic Regularly

Garlic is a triple-whammy: it’s antibacterial, antiviral and anti-fungal. Garlic is one food that you should be eating every day.

It is important to note that the garlic must be fresh to give you optimal health benefits. The active ingredient is destroyed within one hour of smashing the garlic, so garlic pills are virtually worthless and should not be used. When you use the garlic, compress it with a spoon prior to swallowing it, or put it through your juicer to add to your vegetable juice. If you swallow the clove intact you will not convert the active ingredient, allicin, to its active form.

One problem with garlic, of course, is the smell, but generally a few cloves a day are tolerated by most people. If you develop a socially offensive odor then all you need to do is slightly decrease the amount of garlic you’re consuming until there is no odor present. Garlic is an herb, however, so if you do not like it or it makes you feel sick, this is your body's way of telling you that you should avoid it.

This information and much more can be found at this link.

Ban On Salt???

This image found here.

Because of its negative health impacts, salt should no longer be considered safe, and it’s generally recognized as safe (GRAS) status should be revoked, according to a petition by advocacy group Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) filed with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).................

Restricting salt in your diet is one of conventional nutrition’s most well-known mantras. Salt, they say, will contribute to high blood pressure and increase your risk of heart disease.

While this may be true for certain salt-sensitive people, it doesn’t apply to most of you in the general population. No study on the general population has ever found an association between low-sodium diets and a reduced risk of heart disease or other diseases.

An eight-year study of people with high blood pressure living in New York, however, found that those on low-salt diets had more than four times as many heart attacks as those with normal sodium intake.

Why would this be? Because salt is essential for life -- you cannot live without it.

The problem with salt intake here in the United States has to do with the fact that more than 75 percent of it in the average American’s diet comes from processed foods, like fast food, packaged snacks, convenience foods, and restaurant meals.

And the salt that is used in processed foods is also the highly processed variety -- NOT the natural salt your body needs to function.

So the issue may be very similar to the vilification of saturated fat, which is typically consumed in many fast foods that are accompanied by large levels of trans fats.

The studies being used to support the reduction of salt have not carefully controlled for the confounding variable of the processed foods that they are typically consumed in.

The Difference Between Table Salt and Natural Salt

Having expressed my concerns for the findings of these recommendations I want to make it perfectly clear that I am not a fan of nearly all commercial processed salt. I personally seek to avoid using all processed foods whenever possible and rarely consume regular table salt.

You may not realize that not all salt is created equal. There is actually a major difference between the standard, refined table and cooking salt most of you are accustomed to using, and natural health-promoting salt.

Your table salt is actually 97.5 percent sodium chloride and 2.5 percent chemicals such as moisture absorbents and iodine. This salt is dried at an excessively high temperature -- over 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit -- that actually negatively alters the natural ionic physical structure of the salt.

Moreover, when your body attempts to eliminate the excess processed salt, water molecules must surround the sodium chloride to break it up into sodium and chloride ions in order to help your body neutralize these ions. To accomplish this, water is taken from your cells, which tends to compromise the fluid balance in your cells.

You may be surprised to learn that for every gram of sodium chloride that your body cannot get rid of, your body uses 23 times the amount of water to neutralize the salt. Eating common table salt therefore causes excess fluid in your body tissue, which can contribute to:

Unsightly cellulite
Rheumatism, arthritis, and gout
Kidney and gall bladder stones
And most of you do eat way too much of this salt (90 percent of the money most Americans spend on food is for processed foods, and every one of these foods is loaded with unnatural salt).

The average American eats 4,000 to 6,000 mg of sodium chloride each day (and some of you even eat up to 10,000 mg a day). So this is really a pervasive issue.

To read the rest of this article click here.

I Know You Are A Grown Up But You Still Need To Remember To Wash Your Hands

Photo found here.

With all the concerns about spreading staph infections I thought it was a good time to remind ourselves of one simple strategy for helping us to stay healthy. This one is an easy one but there are things you should know about. This may be a refresher for some but I bet a lot of you are going to learn at least one thing you didn't know. Below is an article by Dr. Mercola with some good points to remember.


Wash Your Hands

Washing your hands will decrease your likelihood of spreading a virus to your nose, mouth or other people. If your immune system is strong, it should be able to fight off the virus if it does enter your body, but washing your hands provides a bit of extra protection.

Be sure you don’t use antibacterial soap for this--antibacterial soaps are completely unnecessary, and they cause far more harm than good. You can read my recent article on hygiene mistakes for more information.

Instead of antibacterial soap, identify a simple chemical-free soap that you can switch your family to. Local health food stores typically carry a variety of natural soaps.

You may have noticed that I didn’t mention getting a flu shot. This is because the flu shot, and the newly released FluMist nasal vaccine, are not the answer to avoiding the flu.

The "experts" will use fear to motivate people to get a flu vaccine, but this is yet another health care illusion. Let's be clear, flu can definitely be a killer disease and is not something that should be easily dismissed. But, remember that flu shots don't prevent illness--never have, never will.

The flu vaccine can actually weaken the immune system and make you more predisposed to the illness. And the side effects of FluMist, cough, runny nose/nasal congestion, irritability, headaches, chills, muscle aches and fever, sound just like the symptoms of the flu. If you decide to get the nasal flu vaccine, you will get not only a live flu virus in each dose but also table sugar and MSG, which are fraught with their own problems.

Plus, research has shown an increased risk of Bell palsy following intranasal flu vaccination, according to the Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety (GACVS). The makers of the nasal flu vaccine in the study decided not to market it the following season due to the risk. According to GACVS, the greater risk of Bell palsy following immunization with this vaccine may have been due to specific vaccine components, or simply to use of the intranasal administration route. It is therefore possible that such complications of vaccine administration may also apply to other nasal vaccines.

The flu vaccine, whether in the shot or nasal form, is worthless at best and should be avoided. Not only are they loaded with toxic chemicals including mercury and aluminum, but many people come down with the flu shortly after receiving the shot. This is because it actually weakens the immune system, making the person more predisposed to the illness. I have never received a flu shot and haven?t missed a day of work due to illness in over 20 years.

The bottom line is to lead a healthy lifestyle, which includes eating right, exercising, getting adequate sleep, and addressing stressors, year round. Again, consider reading my new book and implementing my diet and health program into your life (the book is guaranteed for life or your money back!) If you do, chances are you'll never have to worry about coming down with the flu.



In another article he said the following......


Don't Use Antibacterial Soap

Somewhere along the way the public began to believe that regular soap wasn't good enough--they needed antibacterial soap. Well, antibacterial soaps are completely unnecessary, and they cause far more harm than good.

Triclosan, an antibacterial compound that acts as the active ingredient in most antibacterial soap, not only kills bacteria, it also has been shown to kill human cells (Eur J Oral Sci 1998 Apr;106:628-36). Antibacterial compounds are in nearly half of all soaps sold in the United States, which is likely contributing to the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Many traditional medical circles now accept the hygiene hypothesis, which centers on the idea that children need to be exposed to some bacteria in early childhood in order to strengthen their immune systems. Children who are not exposed to common bacteria, which are wiped out by antibacterial soap, may be more prone to allergies and asthma.

This is not to say that you shouldn't wash your hands, only that you shouldn't wash them with antibacterial soap. It would be wise to identify a simple chemical-free soap that you can switch your family to. Local health food stores typically carry a variety of natural soaps.