Sun and Skin
I was away this weekend up north and with the weather not being all that great we were inside for much of the time. This was fine with me though. I managed to watch a show called, “The Doctors”.
One topic they covered on this episode was about skin cancer and the sun. They had two women on and compared the sun damage on their faces. One lady worshipped the sun, while the other lady protected herself with sunglasses and sunhats, plus suntan lotion.
Who do you think the doctors favoured? The woman who protected herself from the sun was of course much better off, as far as having less chance of cancer spots on her face.
They showed a picture and the lady who worshipped the sun had many more spots that were very dense.
The concern is that people still think it’s okay to suntan. It is fine to be out in the sun, because we need the Vitamin D, but you must protect yourself.
Did you know that if you find a Melanoma spot that tends to look quite dark in colour and you don’t get it checked immediately by a doctor, you could only have one year to live?
Although this blog is quite serious, I think it is essential that we are more aware of what the sun can do to us.
If you are concerned about the type of suntan lotion you use, please check out this site for advice on choosing the right one:
http://www.ewg.org/cosmetics/report/sunscreen09
Sincerely,
Jill
Eating Healthy
I try to eat healthy. How about you? Sometimes however it is not that easy. When I lived on my own I only stocked healthy foods in my fridge. I rarely bought cookies and candies, etc. This way it helped to eat well. You know as well as I do, when the sweets are available you want to keep eating them. I personally would rather stock my cupboards with only healthy foods. Now that I am married and have a son you would think that there is even more of a reason to eat well, however my husband loves sweets. So, as much as I try not to buy these things, he still comes home with a bag of cookies. Despite this I offer my family healthier alternatives and ensure that they eat well. It is important to eat a nutritious diet even with a busy lifestyle. Healthy soups are convenient and you can add so many nutritious foods to them. For example you can add corn, beans, broccoli, chicken, tomatoes and much more. Whatever your heart desires! For quick, yet nutritious meals try canned beans, hummus or roast chicken, but don’t eat the skin. If you find that you have to skip a meal, then snacks are quite important. Healthy snacks include: yogurt, fruit, cold pizza, V-8 juice, either white or chocolate milk and crackers with almond butter, peanut butter or cheese. Just be sure that your are getting a source of protein with your fruits and vegetables. It is important to get your iron and vitamin C. Women especially need to make sure they get enough iron. A lack of iron can cause you to feel tired. The best and most easily absorbed source of iron is lean red meat, however if you choose to limit your red meat cosumption try enriched cereals, beans, peas, fruit and of course, dark, leafy vegetables like spinach or swiss chard. You should eat foods that are rich in iron with a source of vitamin C, because the vitamin C helps absorb the iron. Foods with sufficient vitamin C include: orange juice, strawberries and kiwis. So be sure to eat well despite a busy schedule and limit unhealthy snacks. Eat fruits and vegetables instead of poor food choices. If you are thinking about grabbing a cookie reach for an apple instead or if you are craving chips try crackers with protein. Also, you can try protein drinks that will reduce food cravings.
Drink Tea, it’s Simple
Drink Tea, it’s Simple…
Did you know research shows that people who drink at least two cups of tea a day have less heart disease and stroke and they recover from heart attacks faster?
If you are trying to figure out which is healthier between green and black tea, they both have excellent benefits.
Benefits may include:
- help boost metabolism
- block allergic response
- slow the growth of tumors
- protect bones
- fight bad breath
- improve skin
- protect against Parkinson’s disease
- delay the onset of diabetes
Studies have found that the antioxidants in tea can even help prevent skin cancer.
Drink tea, it’s simple…since so much research suggests that drinking tea is healthy no matter what kind it is, then you are doing something beneficial by drinking tea.
If you find it hard to drink water, but want something healthy, then stay away from soda pop and drink tea.
Researchers suggest drinking six to ten cups of black or green tea during the day. If you need to switch to decaf tea in the middle of the day that’s fine since the flavanoids remain unchanged.
A great idea for a gift or for a kind token is to give someone tea, you are not only giving them a gift, but you are helping them stay healthy.
For more details go to:
Acai Berry – Delicious
The acai berry (pronounced “ah-sigh-ee”) is a small grape-sized berry that grows in the Amazon Rain Forest of Brazil. The acai fruit equates to only 10% of the actual berry. The remaining 90% is comprised of the seed or pit. When harvested, the pulp is separated from the seed, producing a delightfully thick, edible puree. This wonderful little berry has a flavour that is best described as a delicious blend of berries and chocolate.
Recently, the acai berry has become popular in the United States. Positive research has spread to doctors, scientists, nutritionists and media outlets who are raving about the countless nutritional qualities and health benefits of the acai berry. Oprah and Rachael Ray are examples of the celebrities who are very much in favour of this little berry.
The acai berry has been called “the number one super food in the world”. While this may sound like a bunch of hype, this view is being embraced by those who have done the research and stand behind their claim. It is packed full of free-radical fighting antioxidants. The acai berry is also considered to have the best overall nutritional value of any known fruit.
The acai berry is helpful in many ways: * Improves digestion *Helps with weight loss * Supports the immune system * Increases libido * Promotes healthy sleep * Increases energy & stamina * Reduces pain & soreness * Fights aging & inflammation * Lowers blood pressure * Fights cancer & disease * Protects against heart disease
This berry is full of nutrients and companies have realized the potential in the weight loss industry. Therefore, the acai berry is the newest fad diet and you can go online to see all sorts of advertisements by companies that are claiming fabulous results from their products. While many of these claims by individual companies are exaggerated, there is scientific evidence that the acai berry contains several key ingredients that aid in suppressing appetite, building muscle tone and boosting metabolism.
Mangosteen Berry – Amazing
The mangosteen berry provides amazing nutritional benefits. The majority of the juice from mangosteen berries comes from South East Asia where there is a very warm climate and sufficient energy supply.
The berries are picked during the middle of summer as soon as the berries are dropping on the ground. The berries must be picked immediately as the berries tend to go bad within a few days. Therefore, the best option is to produce mangosteen juice and store it in the refrigerator or freeze the berries to preserve them.
To receive the most health benefits from the mangosteen berries, the juice should be made by pulping the entire fruit, straining it and pasteurizing the juice. Most of the health benefits can be found in the hull, therefore, it is important to get juice that is made from the entire fruit.
Mangosteen juice provides xanthones, which is the richest and most powerful antioxidant. Since antioxidants work at the cellular level they improve the health of the entire body system. While it is uncertain what all the health benefits are, there are many studies being done regarding the nutritional properties and the benefits of drinking the juice.
BENEFITS OF XANTHONES -
*Anti-fatigue *Anti-anxiety *Anti-depression *Anti-obesity *Anti-Alzheimer’s *Anti-allergenic *Anti–periodontic (gum disease) *Anti-arthritis *Protection against skin disease *Anti-fever *Anti-diarrhea *Anti-neuralgia (nerve pain) *Helps with dizziness *Anti-glaucoma *Anti-pain (for example, dental pain) *Anti-inflammatory *Anti-ulcer, including ulcers of stomach, mouth, small bowel, large bowel
One thing to note is the locals in South East Asia have been drinking mangosteen juice for centuries and are known to have higher than normal energy levels, despite the physical demands placed upon them on a daily basis.
Amazingly, this little berry hosts more antioxidants than any other fruit or vegetable on the planet. For this reason alone, the mangosteen juice is believed to be beneficial in increasing a person’s life expectancy.
With cancer on the rise, more and more Westerners are interested in seeking ways they can improve their overall health. Therefore, mangosteen juice has been of great interest. Antioxidants constantly remove free radicals produced from various sources and help to positively lower the chances of cell mutation and cancer development.
Two more tips re: avoiding GMO’s
Tip 2: Avoid Artificial Additives and Sweeteners…absolutely avoid all artificial sweeteners like, Aspartame, Nutrasweet, etc. Use honey, or real maple syrup or stevia instead. If you want to eat sugar, use organic sugar.
Tip 3: Buy Local…If you can, avoid all meat and dairy that is not organic. Non-organic meat and dairy is made from cows, chickens and pigs that have been fed GMO corn and soy. If you really want to avoid GMOs, you should try and buy organic meat and dairy.
If you do eat non-organic dairy products, avoid dairy products with rBGH, the genetically modified growth hormone.
No GMO’s
My family and I have joined the challenge to avoid GMO’s and invite you to join too.
GMO’s are Genetically Modified Organisms. Did you know that if there is a non-GMO corn crop planted beside a GMO crop the non-GMO crop will take on the same characteristics of the GMO crop?
I will give you tips on how to avoid GMO’s and other important information.
Here is the first:
1. Avoid the Top Five GM Crops: Soy, Canola, Corn, Cottonseed, and Sugar from Sugar Beets
Try to avoid any processed foods containing ingredients with sugar, non-organic soy, corn, canola, and cottonseed. Look for “soy lecithin”, “soybean oil”, “cottonseed oil” and “high fructose corn syrup” and avoid these.
This also includes any food at restaurants that has been cooked in soybean oil or vegetable oil.
Click here to: Take the Challenge to Avoid GMO’s
Need Energy?
Do you lack energy and feel tired during the day?
Can you imagine a drink that contains so many ingredients that it has the highest antioxidant concentration compared to many others? This drink rates the highest on the ORAC value scale at 4500.
For those of you who don’t know, ORAC value means oxygen radical absorbance capacity and is a way to measure the antioxidant capabilities of different foods.
The ingredients that rate extremely high on the ORAC value scale include a mixture of berries like acai, blueberries, goji, noni and grapeseed extract, just to name a few. You only have to take two ounces per day to get high nutritional value and energy.
With this type of drink you can boost energy and your immune system.
What I like about this type of supplement is, you don’t have to take pills, pills and more pills. Taking pills can become tiring. Every since I was young, I have not liked swallowing pills.
Finally I don’t have to and neither do you.
An Idea for Earth Day
What are you doing for Earth Day on April 22nd?
Our son’s birthday is the 18th, a few days before Earth Day and we were trying to think of an idea to coordinate with his birthday.
My husband, being a landscape consultant had a great idea. He suggested transplanting some Amour Maple saplings. These trees are growing in an area where they will be destroyed during an upcoming landscaping project, so we are going to rescue them.
We will transfer them into clay pots for our friends and family who are coming as birthday guests. They will in turn transplant them onto their own properties.
They will be given as gifts to each family for Earth Day.
The Amour Maple, is also known as “love” maple. When this species of tree is mature it provides four season interest in the landscape when maintained properly.
It is a tree with very low maintenance and will top out at about twenty feet, so it is suitable for any garden. It can be easily pruned to the desired size for the property.
The most familiar characteristic of the Amour Maple is its incredible, crimson to scarlett, fall foliage.
One small gesture of transplanting or rescuing a small twelve to twenty inch inconspicuous stick and turning it into a beautiful tree goes a long way to the betterment of planet Earth and our survival.
1. Organic does mean NON-GMO. If it says certified organic, you’re fine.
2. If you are buying from a trusting farmer or producer and the food is not organic, it still might be fine, just be sure to ask what the animals are fed. As long as the cows are 100% grass-fed it’s fine, but if they are fed corn or soy, be sure it is organic.
3. Another tip is to stay away from corn completely, as it is likely to contain GMO’s!