WOMENS TOP CAUSES OF DEATH IN US

Women are often lead to believe that breast and ovarian cancers are their major health concerns. Not so. Women need to be concerned about their overall health the same as men. According to the statistics in 2021 the number one cause of death for females overall (all ages, racial and ethnical females) was heart disease. That was followed by cancer, covid-19 (note 2021 was during the covid crisis), stroke, and Alzheimer's disease. Women pay special attention to your entire body where health is concerned.

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HONEY

Honey is praised for its amazing ability to heal the body in many ways. While in ancient times honey was known as "the nectar of the gods", it is often called a 21st century healing miracle. Honey is probably the closest thing we have to a cure-all in the 21st century. There are several articles on this blog about honey and its healing powers. If you aren't familiar with the many benefits of honey, I suggest you pull them up and read them. Even so, there are still many others not covered in those articles. If you are only using honey as a sweetener for tea or on toast, or maybe not at all, note that honey may be a medicine or a first aid product for some of your needs.

Trivia tidbit - did you know, it takes 2 million flowers for honeybees to make one pound of honey?

Note: Honey is not recommended for children under the age of 2.

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WHAT IS A SERVING SIZE OF FRENCH FRIES?

This is a repost from January 2012. It is still good information.

Many don't really understand what a serving is!  A plate full of french fries is not a serving!  A serving of french fries is basically 10 fries.  Of course, french fries come in many different sizes.  Use your common sense when determining how many your serving should be.  If you are eating the very thin matchstick fries, obviously 10 is not a full serving.  However, if you are eating those big ole steak fries, 10 may be more than a serving.  The ten french fries that make up a serving are obviously average-sized fries.  Why is this important?  If you are on a diet for any reason, especially if you are diabetic or have a similar health situation, it is important that you don't fool yourself! To say, "I only ate a serving of french fries.  I don't know why my blood sugar shot up," is fooling yourself if you ate a regular or large size serving at your favorite restaurant.  Be responsible and eat only 1 serving, that is one real serving!

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HIBISCUS TEA FOR BLOOD PRESSURE

If you suffer from high blood pressure or hypertension, sipping three cups of Hibiscus Tea every day may help to lower your systolic blood pressure number by up to 7 points in 6 weeks according to one study I saw.  And that is on par with some medications. 

NOTE: Do not read this, stop taking your medication, and overdo it on Hibiscus Tea.  But if you do have this problem, it might be worth sipping on the tea.  Keep track of your blood pressures numbers and see if you notice any difference.  Never stop taking your blood pressure medication without consulting with your doctor!

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FEEDING BABIES AND TODDLERS

In my opinion, one of the best things you can do for your baby/toddler is to teach them to eat healthy foods.  Are you aware that up to 85% of the brain's development takes place by the age of three?  Include fruits, vegetables, and grains in your young child's diet and he/she will continue to eat them for the rest of his/her life.  That is one of the best, longest-lasting gifts you can give your child.

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WEIGHT AND CANCER

Disclaimer: I am 5' 6" tall and have never weighted over 150 pounds in my life, except for pregnancies. I have survived breast cancer, colon cancer and am currently doing well with leukemia. I know that you don't have to be overweight to have cancer.

To say that everyone who gets cancer is overweight would be a vast exaggeration.  However, according to research by the American Cancer Society, obesity does raise the risk of postmenopausal breast cancer, colon, esophageal, kidney, pancreatic, uterine, and other cancers.  Just one more big reason to watch what you eat and to keep your weight under control.  Make changes to your diet gradually and lose that excess weight.  Not only will you feel better, you may be reducing your chances of getting a nasty cancer.  Cut back on fast food, eat more fruits and vegetables, etc. Make a lifestyle change in your diet!  The life you save could be your own!

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TAKE YOUR MEDICATIONS PROPERLY

I was surprised to know research suggests that half the prescription medications taken in the United States are used improperly. Before you leave your doctor's office or the pharmacy with a new medication, be sure you know how to take/use this medication properly. The above-mentioned research found that many people make the following errors with medications. If you forget to take a pill, do you know what you should do? Should you take the medication when you think of it, ask your doctor or pharmacist. Don't stop a medication without talking to your doctor. Do you ever crush pills if they are hard for you to swallow? Again, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. Some medications have a time-release coating or other mechanism to release an active ingredient more slowly. If you crush such medications, you are basically getting the entire dose at one time.

As you can see, not taking medications properly can affect the results of the meds. When your doctor puts you on a new medication, they usually mention any side effects it may cause. You should also ask the proper way to take it.

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THE IMPORTANCE OF MUSTARD SEEDS IN THE DIET

From Bible parables to today's table, importance has been placed on mustard seeds.  These tiny little seeds are found inside the seed pods of the mustard plant.  The mustard plant is a cruciferous cousin to broccoli and cabbage.  The brown seeds are pungent with a sharp, spicy-hot flavor and are used in brown mustards and Dijon mustards.  The milder, yellowish-white seeds are used to make the traditional American mustard.  These seeds are widely available and make great seasonings for meats, etc.  They are also great for pickling.  When gently toasted for a few minutes in a dry pan (shake pan constantly during toasting), they get a nutty essence and crunch that makes them a great garnish for fish, salads, rice, etc.

Being products of the cruciferous family, they contain natural healing components.  In studies the phytonutrients of the mustard seeds have shown to help prevent cancer, especially of the intestinal tract including the colon. 

Mustard seeds have anti-inflammatory properties ranking high as a source of selenium, a nutrient which that has been shown to help reduce the severity of asthma, decrease some of the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, and help prevent cancer.

They are also a good source of magnesium. Like selenium, magnesium has been shown to help reduce the severity of asthma, to lower high blood pressure, to restore normal sleep patterns in women having difficulty with the symptoms of menopause, to reduce the frequency of migraine attacks, and to prevent heart attack in patients suffering from atherosclerosis or diabetic heart disease.

Other compounds found in mustard seeds are manganese and omega-3 fatty acids, magnesium, and phosphorus.

Include mustard and mustard seeds in your diet for their health benefits.  The flavor is an added benefit!  Why hot get rid of the mayonnaise and mayo type sandwich spreads you are currently using and replace them with mustards.  Remember, it is the small changes over time that make the biggest difference in your diet.

 

'WATCHING YOUR WEIGHT?'

Maybe you aren't dieting but just 'watching your weight'. Here are a couple of simple things to keep in mind to help keep your weight stable.

•  Pay attention to fat and calories in what you eat. This goes for meals and snacks. Are you aware that many low-fat foods are high in calories? Calories are calories no matter what type of food they are in.
• It takes the body approximately 20 minutes to feel full after you eat. It pays to wait a few minutes before going for second helpings. After a few minutes, you may realize you are no longer hungry.

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HEART DISEASE EQUAL FOR SEXES

Heart disease was long thought to be more prevalent in men than women, but we know that is not true.  Heart disease is currently the #1 killer of both sexes nationwide.  And would you believe something so simple as sprinkling slivered almonds on your morning cereal can benefit your heart?  As with all good things, don't go overboard.  However, a sprinkling of this healthy nut can lower the risk of heart disease by reducing levels of harmful LDL cholesterol.  Also, the antioxidants and vitamin E that are found in the skins of almonds might prevent plaque from forming on the artery walls.  And make sure that cereal you sprinkle them on is whole grain which will help keep your blood pressure in check (a big risk for heart disease!).  Have that with low-fat milk!

 File Photo sliced almonds with skin on. Use almonds in the skin.