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

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.

file photo

QUINOA IS A VERY HEALTHY GRAIN

If the ancient grain quinoa isn't currently a part of your diet, maybe it should be. Below are a few reasons why:

• Rich in magnesium which plays a key role in the body's regulation of blood sugar.
• Has 8 essential amino acids, antioxidants, minerals
• Helps to prevent mood swings

file photo

HALIBUT IS AN ALL STAR FISH

Did you know that halibut is considered an all-star fish? This particular fish is called an all-star fish because it is loaded with protein, B vitamins, minerals such as magnesium, potassium, and selenium. It also contains the healthy omega-3 fatty acids. If halibut isn't currently a part of your diet, you should consider adding it as another "healthy" food!

file photo

Disclaimer: This is a "Do as I say, not as I do" post. I do not eat any seafood as I just can't stand to taste it. My bad!

EASY WAYS TO ADD WHOLE-GRAINS

You probably get tired of reading about whole grains on this blog.  Well too bad because here I go again. I do so because adding whole grains to your diet on a daily basis is essential to good health!  You may say, "I don't like whole-grains, I can't have wheat, etc."  Well, here is an easy way to sneak whole grains into foods that you and your children will not even notice.  When making a meatloaf, meatballs, or burgers, mix in 3/4 cup of uncooked oats (quick oats are fine and are smaller, thus less noticeable) per 1 pound of meat.  If you choose to use breadcrumbs, be sure you are using whole-grain bread to make the crumbs. 

Whole grains are packed with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fiber, all essential to good health.  Whole grains have been proven to reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and they can assist with weight control, too.

If you have a hard time transferring from all-purpose flour to whole-wheat, give white whole wheat flour a try.  It is made from hard white Spring wheat rather than the traditional red wheat.  It bakes up lighter in texture than does the traditional whole-wheat flour.

Another way to get more whole grains into your diet is to make less side dishes with white rice, potatoes, and regular pastas.  Make more side dishes with brown rice, whole-grain pastas, and start adding risottos, pilafs, etc to your meals using barley, brown rice, bulgar, or quinoa.

Make changes gradually if you have to but make them.  Your body will thank you by feeling better, performing better, and lasting longer.  That is a pretty good trade-off!

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!

BENEFITS OF BROCCOLI

Your mother was right; eat your vegetables.  That is especially true for green vegetables.  While all the green vegetables are good for you, broccoli is one you should eat regularly whether you like it or not!  Broccoli is an excellent source of vitamin C.  It is a good source of vitamin A and folate.  It is a significant source of protein, calcium, iron, and other minerals.  Broccoli is also rich in bioflavonoids and other plant chemicals that protect against cancer.  In fact, while other cruciferous vegetables are protective, broccoli seems to have more cancer-fighting compounds than the others.  Some of these compounds block the action of hormones that stimulate tumors; others work by inhibiting tumor growth or by boosting the action of protective enzymes.  The bioflavonoids and other antioxidants found in broccoli are substances that protect against mutation and damage from unstable molecules.

Other benefits of broccoli are that it is high in fiber and low in calories!

If you don't like broccoli, think of it as a natural protector for your body and learn to eat it for your health's sake.

FRESH GREENS AND NUTRITIONAL VALUE

It is best to eat fresh greens as close to the day they are picked as possible.  While the fiber and mineral content of fresh greens stay potent, the vitamin C, folate, and antioxidants leak out due to heat, light, and oxygen.  Once harvested, greens begin to lose moisture causing the above-mentioned nutrients to break down.

Remember that on average the time from the farm to your produce section is around 6 to 7 days.  So take them home and use them in a day or two, if possible.

Penn State University did a study a few years ago on fresh spinach.  The study found almost a 50% reduction in folate and in vitamin A after 8 days of refrigeration.  Just a little something to keep in mind when you purchase and eat fresh greens.

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.

file photo