HOW ALOE LOTION IS GOOD FOR THE SKIN

According to Dr. Michele Green, a board-certified dermatologist in NYC, the aloe plant is a humectant, which means it pulls water from the air deep into the skin to restore moisture levels. UV rays deplete skin of its natural hydrating oils which leaves the skin parched. Thus, the need to restore moisture to the skin. Aloe also has antioxidants to protect the skin's barrier. Also, it has vitamins, minerals and fatty acids which help strengthen nails. To use, buy a quality Aloe Vera skin lotion and apply to dry skin once a day after showering.

an example of a good aloe vera body lotion

VITAMINS

We are bombarded with all kinds of vitamins and supplement ads. It seems celebrities, etc come out of the woodwork with their products not to mention drug companies. How do you know what you need to take? Too much of some vitamins can be harmful rather than helpful. You should have a discussion with your doctor to see exactly what you need. A simple blood test will reveal any deficiencies or too much of a vitamin.  A study funded by the Council for Responsible Nutrition found that 79% of doctors recommend some type of vitamin to their patients for bone, joint, heart, and overall health.

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FARRO

If you aren't familiar with farro, it is an Italian grain. You can substitute it for rice or risotto in most any recipe. Farro has a high fiber content that regulates digestion thus warding off bloat and GI distress. It also promotes healthy gut bacteria and enhances the absorption of energizing, beautifying vitamins and minerals.

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WHAT IS A HEALING FOOD?

The editors at Prevention Magazine put it in a simple way that is easy to understand.  A healing food is one that is short on elements we know are bad for us, like saturated fat, cholesterol, salt, and too many calories.  A healing food is chock-full of things we have learned are good for us, like select vitamins and minerals, fiber, and fish oils.  These healing foods can be found in a wide variety of foods that are readily available to us all.  If you think that is complicated, here are a very few examples of healthy healing foods:

• fish
• lean meat
• poultry
• beans
• broccoli
• sweet potatoes
• cauliflower
• cantaloupe
• seeds such as sesame
• yogurt
• fresh fruit
• fresh vegetables
• whole grains
• members of the onion family, including chives

Like I stated earlier, this list is very small but you can see how readily healthy healing foods are.  Remember this, for any food to be healthy, even healing, it should be consumed in reasonable portions.  It is not healthy to overeat any foods.  Also remember how you cook foods and the things you add to them can sometimes destroy their healthy healing status!

EAT MORE BEEF?

I know many of you are going, "WHAT?"  Just hang on and finish reading this post!  Often what I write about on this blog is from research I do for my own health.  A little background on me for those of you who don't already know.  I was born with severe allergies and a very rare blood.  Oh, my type is 0-Negative but there is something about my blood (I don't understand this enough to explain it) that puts it in an elite class worldwide.  I have had health problems all my life but with God's grace I have lived a normal life.  I have a list of health problems a mile long, so to speak.  Some of those are leukocytoclastic vasculitis, lupus, arthritis, fibromyalgia, diabetes, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, heart problems, etc.  I have had breast and colon cancer.  I merely state this to let you know that if you are battling an illness, I understand.  And please remember when reading my posts, I have no medical training.  But research into my health has saved my life and that is what I share with you.  You will notice that any real medical advice I post also shows the medical resource so you can check it out on your own, if you so desire.

Back to my original couple of sentences here.  At my check-up a few years ago, I had a lot of blood work done.  When I met with the doctor to discuss results.  I was floored to discover I am extremely low on vitamin-D and B vitamins.  I am so low on vitamin-D that I have to take prescription pills for it for the next 2 months then have it checked again.  (The doctor told me over the counter pills would not help my situation, at this point.) Actually, I only have about a 5th of the needed amount.  And I have to have a vitamin-B shot monthly for a few months.  The doctor and I discussed this and as always, I came home and started my research.  No wonder the doctor asked if I eat beef!  I have recently wandered away from meat, I don't enjoy it. At the above-mentioned blood work my Vitamiin-D was almost nonexistent again.

Many stay away from beef thinking it is a bad thing.  Well, hello, think again.  According to the California Beef Council and some nutritionists with a large chain of health food type grocery stores, there are 29 cuts of beef that meet government guidelines for lean.  That is too many to list but here are some of the more popular ones; tenderloin, sirloin, and 95% lean ground beef.  These have less than 10 grams of total fat, less than 5 grams of saturated fat, and less than 95 mg of cholesterol per a 3-oz (USDA recommended serving size of meat) serving. Here is an important part, beef has 8 times more vitamin B12, 6 times more zinc, and 2 1/2 times more iron than a skinless chicken breast.

This is just for your information, not a recommendation to change your diet.  I will be adding an additional meal or two of beef a week to my diet even though I don't particularly like meat.

And by the way, I wouldn't pay much attention to the politicians who want to do away with cows to save the environment. That is crazy.

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SUPPLEMENTS

As you can see below, this is an old article I am reposting. The importance of this article has recently had a bright light shined on it in my world. My 72-year-old husband kept falling because his legs would just fold up under him. About a week and a half ago he fell three times in one day. My son and grandson had to carry him to his bed because his legs were too weak to hold him up even with their help. He ended up getting an ambulance ride to the hospital where he stayed for 5 days and was then released to rehab for therapy. Tests showed him to be very low in sodium, potassium, and his adrenal gland function was low. He is a COPD patient and didn't like to eat because it was hard to eat and breathe at the same time. He had been relying on Ensure Plus, a good supplement but not a complete diet for the average person. His leg muscles had almost atrophied from lack of use. He was walking very little because of the falls. Long story short, with three good meals a day and extensive therapy he is now walking with a walker and/or a cane. We are made to take care of our bodies with food. It is important to eat a balanced diet (avoid fad diets, they always leave out something your body needs) and get some exercise if you want your body to function as God intended.

Thursday, September 20, 2012

Some supplements, vitamins, etc may be needed to keep your body operating efficiently.  However, I do not recommend taking such products without discussing it with your doctor.  While the proper supplements, vitamins, minerals, etc can be very helpful, sometimes they can be harmful or simply a waste of money.  It is best to get what your body needs from food whenever possible.

I qualify that statement by saying I was on supplements for years and my doctors were aware of it and told me to take them.  Thus back to my point; I am not saying don't take them, I am saying discuss it with your doctor first.  If your doctor is one who won't even discuss such matters, perhaps you need a new doctor!

An example of harmful effects is zinc.  While zinc may be very helpful in some situations, it may actually hasten the onset of Alzheimer's symptoms.  I am not talking about taking a zinc tablet occasionally but researchers think that a buildup of zinc may cause those prone to Alzheimer's or in the early stages of the disease, to have their symptoms brought on more quickly.  Laboratory experiments have shown that zinc can transform the protein in brain cells into abnormal tangles indistinguishable from those of Alzheimer's.  Other studies have also shown that large-dose zinc supplements may bring on the progression of memory loss and other signs of the disease.

Again, based on my own experience, I no longer take supplements.  Because of having so much of my colon removed, I don't absorb them.  When I am low on a vitamin, mineral, etc, I have to have a shot.  So no matter how many high-powered supplement tablets I would take, I wouldn't absorb them enough to benefit.  So it would be a waste of money.

The supplement business in America today is big business.  Don't be fooled, discuss the situation with your doctor and go by what he/she recommends. And remember this, those who are trying to sell you supplements are usually making money off what you purchase.

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