Iced teas made from brewed tea leaves are as high in antioxidants as hot teas. Iced teas should be kept in sealed containers and refrigerated. Powdered teas are not as high in antioxidants and thus will not offer the same health benefits. Most bottled teas consist predominantly of sugar and water and are not a good source of antioxidants. More here.
Health, Weight Loss, Nutrition, Bikini Moms, Vegetarianism, Animals, Hot Flashes, Menomisery, Menopause, Fasting, Dieting, Low Carb, Keto, Hot Mess, Crazy Cat Lady,Beauty, Makeup Lover, Glitter, Sass And Sometimes Crass.
Tea, Tea Your The One For Me! Health Benefits of Tea!
Iced teas made from brewed tea leaves are as high in antioxidants as hot teas. Iced teas should be kept in sealed containers and refrigerated. Powdered teas are not as high in antioxidants and thus will not offer the same health benefits. Most bottled teas consist predominantly of sugar and water and are not a good source of antioxidants. More here.
Going Organic On A Budget-Yes, It Is Possible!
The Benefits Of Going Organic
**Taste Better and Truer Flavor. Scientists now know what we eaters have known all along: organic food often tastes better. It makes sense that strawberries taste yummier when raised in harmony with nature, but researchers at Washington State University just proved this as fact in lab taste trials where the organic berries were consistently judged as sweeter. Plus, new research verifies that some organic produce is often lower in nitrates and higher in antioxidants than conventional food. Let the organic feasting begin! More here.
** Reduce The Toxic Load: Keep Chemicals Out of the Air, Water, Soil and our Bodies. Buying organic food promotes a less toxic environment for all living things. With only 0.5 percent of crop and pasture land in organic, according to USDA that leaves 99.5 percent of farm acres in the U.S. at risk of exposure to noxious agricultural chemicals.Our bodies are the environment so supporting organic agriculture doesn’t just benefit your family, it helps all families live less toxically.
I found some additional information on which foods you should purchase if you are on a budget and can only choose a few organic items and I will put that in tomorrow's post. So, if you are like me and have to pick and choose you will know which ones are more important than others as far as organic goes. I also support my local farmers market which is a great way to buy produce at a reasonable price. So, please check back tomorrow and check out organics on a budget.
I am still working on my Bikini Boot camp with personal trainer Christopher Warden (see his widget on bottom right) and as soon as we get all the pieces together I am going to do posts on getting bikini ready. I am thinking of some videos, menus, exercises and you can join me if you want on my quest to run around the pool in a bikini in broad daylight with confidence.
Heidi
Healthy Doggie Cookies With A Cause And Help Gunner The Dog Get Surgery
Diet Soda Alternative Zevia With Stevia Tastes Great & A Fun Organic & Healthy Recipe Contest
The ingredients. ZEVIA® contains none of the chemically processed artificial sugar substitutes found in diet sodas. Diet sodas also contain artificial flavors and colors. ZEVIA® does not. With great effort, expense, and painstaking care, Zevia LLC found the healthiest, all natural ingredients available. Many "natural" sodas contain sugar which means calories. Diet sodas are usually sweetened with processed artificial sweeteners which means chemicals. ZEVIA® is the world's only all natural sugar free alternative to diet soda. "
Microwaves and Your Health-Quick, Hot Food- But Is It Worth It?
2.) The human body cannot metabolize [break down] the unknown by-products created in microwaved food.
3.) Male and female hormone production is shut down and/or altered by continually eating microwaved foods.
4.) The effects of microwaved food by-products are residual [long term, permanent] within the human body.
5.) Minerals, vitamins, and nutrients of all microwaved food is reduced or altered so that the human body gets little or no benefit, or the human body absorbs altered compounds that cannot be broken down.
6.) The minerals in vegetables are altered into cancerous free radicals when cooked in microwave ovens.
7.) Microwaved foods cause stomach and intestinal cancerous growths [tumors]. This may explain the rapidly increased rate of colon cancer in America.
8.) The prolonged eating of microwaved foods causes cancerous cells to increase in human blood.
9.) Continual ingestion of microwaved food causes immune system deficiencies through lymph gland and blood serum alterations.
10.) Eating microwaved food causes loss of memory, concentration, emotional instability, and a decrease of intelligence (At least I now have a reason for forgetting everything).
Vitamins A, C and E are 'a waste of time and may even shorten your life'
Vitamin users-are you ready for a surprise?
According to a new report out of Great Britain Vitamins taken by around a third of the population do not extend life and may even cause premature death, according to a respected group of international scientists.
After reviewing 67 studies involving more than 230,000 men and women, the experts say there is no convincing evidence that taking supplements of the antioxidant vitamins A, C and E can make you healthier. It says in-depth analysis of the different trials does not support the idea that vitamins extend lifespan.
'Even more, beta-carotene, vitamin A, and vitamin E seem to increase mortality,' says the review. Vitamin A was linked to a 16 per cent increase in mortality, beta-carotene - the pigment found in carrots, tomatoes and broccoli which the body converts into vitamin A - to a 7 per cent increase and vitamin E to a 4 per cent increase. However, there was no significant detrimental effect caused by vitamin C. Read more here.
What next? Everyday I find out something new about things that I thought were healthy only to learn they are actually not good for me. This is okay though, because I can share this information with you and find healthy solutions for us all. It's a health jungle out there.
I used to take synthetic multi-vitamins myself until I did a little research and discovered the Pops Whole food supplements by Whole Food Nation. I am not trying to beat you over the head with this (okay, I know I am anyway and am currently obsessed with this offer) but Whole Food Nation is offering a free one month supply of their Whole Food Supplements for your synthetic multi-vitamins. I am not pushing this for my own benefit (I am not making any commission on you trading your multi-vitamins for the free whole food supplements). I just think it is an opportunity for those of you who really care about your health and already take a multi-vitamin to see what you think of these whole food supplements (I am now sounding like my mother). Check here to see if your vitamins are synthetic. Okay, that's it. No more vitamin posts for awhile, I promise. Actually, tomorrow I am going to let you know about a neat contest that will help you get backlinks to your blog from Mcneri's Mcweb and what health hazards have convinced me to not get a new microwave (mine blew up this weekend and it was not pretty). I don't think this will go over well with my family so I will probably have to get a microwave and personally not use it (very tough). This is a hard one because I LOVE my microwave. Till tomorrow!
Heidi
P.S. Email me and let me know you are ready to do the multi-vitamin trade away (see previous post) and I will let you know where to send your current multi-vitamin and a link to give you information on whether you would like the purple or green whole food supplements in exchange. No more nagging from me.
Heidi
Allergies You Make Me Cry And That Ain't No Lie!
-Soothe Sinuses With Stinging Nettle- You can get this herbal supplement at most health food stores and it is well worth it! Nettle reduces production of vile histamine up to 50% FASTER THAN CLARITIN AND ALLEGRA! Wow! Aim for 1,200 mg daily.
-Water, Water, Water… Drink It Up BabyCakes- Believe it or not, staying well hydrated helps 38% of women (sorry men) relieve allergy symptoms and we all know that water is great in general for helping keep that tummy from bloating and about everything else too!!!
-Achooooooo-Stop Sneezing With Green Tea (My Fav)-We already know that green tea is great for wellbeing and a flat tummy as well as possibly helping reduce blood sugar to reduce cravings for refined sugar and carbs but now….Sneezing!!! Green tea is packed with an antioxidant (EGCG) that blocks production of two key allergy-symptom triggers: histamine and immunoglobulin (the allergy goblin?-just kidding on an allergy goblin although it feels like a mean allergy goblin visits at night) Ideally drink 2 to 3 cups daily. I love to add lemon to my green tea and sometimes make a nice iced green tea with lemons and Stevia (natural sweetener).
-Perilla Will Killa The Inflammation-In as little as seven days the herb Perilla has been study-proven to shut down allergic reaction and symptoms!!!! Perilla dampens inflammation and destroys the rogue immune cells that trigger allergy attacks! Perilla can be found at your health food store in an oil capsule (Womens World says to look under brand names like Source Naturals and Life Extension and follow package directions for dosage).
Yoga ( Not Partying In A Toga) Will Help You Breathe Easier-One of my favorite bloggers Michele at http://manddraponisanimalrescue.typepad.com/serenity/2011/05/i-love-my-new-job.html is a big fan of yoga and an instructor of yoga so I’m sure she will love that yoga breathing techniques help ease stuffed-up nasal passages and reduce stress, which is proven to heighten your body’s allergic response. Now if I could only bend like her maybe I could do the yoga.
Okay, so I am heading to Whole Foods tonight to get more green tea, Nettle and Perilla and hopefully send these allergies packing!! Hope this helps!!
Heidi
Are You Ready For Swimsuit Season? Is Your Body Bikini Ready?
No Brainer Ways To Keep Cancer At Bay
Try These Tips To Keep Cancer Away-Plus You'll Probably Feel Better!
Obesity is a risk factor in six types of cancer. Consuming alcohol, red meat and processed meats like ham, sausage and bacon also raises your odds, while eating more fruits and non-starchy vegetables and getting more exercise lower your risk. Apparently these findings are noteworthy because a team of international experts spent five years reviewing all the evidence.
Want To Sleep Better? Try These Healthy Food Choices
Serotonin acts within your body to promote feelings of sleepiness, calm, and relaxation. We need adequate levels of Serotonin in our brain in order to fall asleep and rest throughout the night. The key to getting enough tryptophan to your brain to sleep well at night is to combine a tryptophan-rich food with a carbohydrate-rich food. This is because ingesting a carbohydrate-rich food causes your body to release insulin, which diverts many of your other amino acids away from your brain, leaving tryptophan with little competition to cross your blood-brain barrier to gain access to your brain (okay, that is the technical part that I am still processing in my brain).
6 Months Later-A diet Changed and Health Regained-Plus I'm Thinner And Healthier
I finally began getting serious about my health about 6 months ago when I started taking a Whole Food Supplement. To be honest with you, I wasn't too optimistic that things would change much for me but I knew that because of my busy lifestyle I needed to make some changes in how I was eating instead of either no food (too busy) or fast food so I decided to give it a shot. I started taking the Pops (the whole food supplements)-one in the morning and one in the evening. I was impressed with these because although I am a vegetarian and eat no meat, I was still not eating fruits and veggies and these supplements had 23 fruits and 23 vegetables in them so I knew that at the very least I was doing myself a small favor (it turned out to be the best thing I could have done for myself). The person who told me about whole food supplements said that once I began taking them, I would probably find one thing leading to another (meaning I would want to become healthier or something). I just smiled and nodded (would never have believed it myself) and bought my supplements. It's not that I didn't want to be healthy but I just did not want to have to put the thought into being healthy (yes, I was being lazy)-I was putting so much thought and effort into other things. What I soon realized is that the supplements were eye opening to me-so much so that I started this blog and find myself researching and studying every night about the effects that my diet has on every aspect of my body and mind and everything. I love finding the foods that can make me less moody (that is putting it lightly), the foods that make me smarter (I'm still waiting for that to happen), how to satisfy unhealthy cravings with a healthy alternative and the list goes on. So, below are a few of the changes that I have seen in myself and some of the changes that I made that maybe you might want to try. WARNING-if you already are a health nut go easy on me and remember that I am still a health nut wannabe and have a long way to go!
Some Healthy Changes Made to My Diet
**Cut down on eating lots of heavy and unhealthy carbs like chips, bread, fries, etc (you get the picture) and substituted nuts for these cravings and as I have said before-it worked!! Nuts are one of the wonder foods of the world and satisfy when you have a carb urge or just want to feel full.
**Stopped drinking diet sodas and eating any products with Aspartame, NutraSweet, Sorbitol, (artificial sweeteners) and instead drink water and lots, and lots of iced tea with Stevia (natural calorie and carb free sweetener, that I love).
**Cut down on eating cookies, brownies, chocolate (don't get me wrong, I still eat them but just find I don't crave them as much so I don't eat as many) and all sugary sweets and instead reach for a variety of fruits.
** Only drink and eat organic low fat dairy products (no hormones, and funk for me).
**Switched to whole grain instead of white bread, crackers, pasta and whatever else.
**Make sure that I eat at least 2 huge servings of vegetables (I just ate a bowl of carrots and green beans and was so proud of myself) a day (keep in mind that 6 months ago I would have 2 huge servings a week).
**Faithfully take my Pops morning and evening and never, ever miss (I can really tell a difference when I don't take them).
Results-Now We Are Talking
**Lost 6 pounds without even thinking about it or making an effort (keep in mind I am a neurotic freak about my weight so this was huge for me). I made myself gain 3 pounds back because I was too thin in my opinion and have an agreement with myself that I can't get below a certain weight (weird weight issues that I have).
**Increased energy! I can go, go, go and still feel great at the end of the day. I am more alert (bye, bye sluggishness) and just have a renewed zest for life (it sounds corny but hey, it's true).
**My skin is the best it has ever been! I was a makeup artist for years and know the best high end products, tricks, etc but even I was not prepared for the clear, smooth, softer and younger looking skin that I suddenly have (and no botox like my friends).
**I am nicer (just ask my husband) and I don't feel as irritable and cranky.
**I feel better inside that I am more aware of my body and health and what it can do for me. I am happier with myself than I ever have been because I know that I am doing something that is changing my life and those around me. It just feels good to take care of yourself.
Now, I am far, far from perfect but implementing these small changes has really made a difference for me. I really think that the Pops whole food supplements I take are a big factor. I stopped taking my vitamins (if you get a chance get the free vitamin report offered in the upper left hand corner and you'll see why I stopped taking my vitamins) and switched to the whole food multi's.
I just thought I would share this because I was completely surprised at what a difference 6 months and some small healthy changes could make. I remain committed to finding more and more ways for all of us to be healthy without being too hassled!
Best,
Heidi
Feeling Blue? Try These Healthy Foods To Give You A Boost
**Try Some Dessert- Yes! You read that right, try some dessert! Sugar soothes us when we're feeling stressed out ( I know that to be true and will take full advantage). But before you binge on a pan of brownies, cookies and candy, know that a little sugar may soothe you, but too much will wreak havoc with your blood sugar. So, as always moderation is the key here.
**Beans -Like most legumes, beans are rich in iron. If you're low on iron like many active people are--you can be tired and have trouble sleeping, which as we all know can make you cranky, cranky, cranky. Beans are great thrown in salads, over white rice, in a tortilla with salsa, in chili and soups.
**Oranges-Two glasses of fresh orange juice are enough to help say goodbye to some nervousness, bad moods and depression; lack of vitamin C, can make you irritable and cranky.
**Chocolate-Hurrah! Hurrah! Now I know it cannot get any better than this! Some experts believe that like many other foods sweet and rich in carbohydrates, chocolate can have a soothing effect; others, however, consider that the caffeine and other substances contained in chocolate could act as stimulants. I don't care why, I am just so glad to hear it! Ahem, moderation here though, again.
**Salmon-Salmon is also rich in omega fatty acids and canned Salmon with bones contains vitamin D which has been linked to possibly increasing our levels of serotonin- one of the key neurotransmitters influencing our mood.
I found this recipe Warm Lentil Salad with Walnuts and Goats' Cheese on delia.com. You could use spinach salad, add walnuts and lentils and hopefully you and your guests will be feeling great.
I am going to start having more walnuts, oranges and bananas for snacks and incorporate spinach and lentils into my diet. Don't worry, I already have the desserts and chocolate covered. To feeling better!
Best,
Heidi
How Watching Sports Affects Your Health And Rock Chalk Jayhawk KU
Patients are commonly treated for extreme sunburn and dehydration, because they drink too much beer in the heat. When it's freezing outside, fans are at risk for frostbite if they're not properly covered up. Simply eating and drinking while being distracted by a game can be a problem. "People eat hot dogs and they jump up to cheer for a touchdown and choke on the hot dog," Dr. Jeff Kalina, associate medical director of the ER at the Methodist Hospital in Houston says.
Some people have a nervous habit of playing with the tabs on soda and beer cans, which can lead to fingers getting stuck in the can or people choking on broken tabs. Others try to open a twist-off beer bottle with their biceps, causing lacerations. Sometimes fans hurt other people, making spectating a contact sport. Fights break out at games, drunken fans jump around in their seats and fall onto the people below them, and partying tailgaters get hit by cars. Fans have even thrown TVs out windows and pulled out their pistols. For more information on these crazy antics please go to MSNBC where I found this article.
Top Ten Power Foods-If You Want More Energy Try These Healthy Choices
Lycopene, the plant chemical responsible for the ruby red of tomatoes and watermelon, is believed to fight cancer and promote heart health.
Green vegetables like broccoli and spinach are sky-high in potent anti-cancer compounds like sulforaphane and quercitin.
**Nuts and Seeds-Almonds, pecans and pistachios are rich in protein. Walnuts contain omega-3 fatty acids. Toss sesame seeds in a meal for extra calcium and vitamin E.
Sesame, sunflower and pumpkin seeds are particularly good sources of phytosterols, also known as plant sterols, which promote heart health. These are easy to take with you for on the go energy. I take nuts everywhere and eat them all day. As I have mentioned probably a hundred times-nuts are my number one diet secret!
and is an excellent replacement for unhealthy saturated fats like butter. I take a spoon full of olive oil before eating spaghetti so the bad fats in the pasta can't make me fat. Extra virgin olive oil is also great for healthy skin.
Natural Zevia With Stevia For Diet Soda Lovers, Cheerios, And Help A Dog Walk
Zevia-The Natural Alternative To Diet Soda And It's Free!!
If you read my blog you know that I recently gave up my main addiction and love- Diet Pepsi. I am doing great (thanks for all the well wishes). I gave up Diet Pepsi because of the ingredient in it called Aspartame. I did some research and found all kinds of dangerous side affects and just decided I would do without ( I drink ice tea with Stevia-I can give up the aspartame but NOT the caffeine). I do miss the carbonation and drinking soda and found an ad for Zevia-a new soda that contains the natural herb Stevia (which is much sweeter than sugar, delicious and calorie free). I was so excited and went right to the website to find out more. I found out that right now they are offering a free 6 pack of all three delicious Zevia varieties - Zevia Natural Cola, Zevia Natural Orange, and Zevia Natural Twist (which they claim are healthier and taste better than diet soda). You do have to pay shipping and handling and that comes to $10.95 but well worth it in my opinion. Now, keep in mind that I have not tasted Zevia yet, but am putting my order in and can't wait (please note that I DO NOT sell Zevia or have any affiliation with them-just wanted to let everyone know about it because it sounds great). According to the Zevia website, Zevia contains none of the chemically processed artificial sugar substitutes, artificial flavors or artificial colors found in diet sodas. Zevia is all-natural, has five calories or less, and only 20 mg of sodium. You can visit their website at http://www.zevia.com/ to order and learn more. Also, for more information on the dangers of Aspartame and the wonders of Stevia please read my earlier posts.
Cheerios Circle of Helping Hearts
I had an email from a nice lady named Brie who offered me this great information and thought that I would pass it along.
Cheerios is raising money to provide cholesterol screenings for women in need. They actually did a survey recently that found while heart disease ranked highest (38%) in terms of chief health concerns among women; only 50 percent of women have had their cholesterol level checked in the past year. In fact, more women have checked their computer for viruses (78 percent), checked their tire pressure (56 percent) and checked the batteries in their smoke detector (53 percent) than have had their cholesterol level checked (50 percent). And women with low incomes are less likely than others to get their cholesterol checked.
The Cheerios Circle of Helping Hearts will raise money through specially marked boxes of Cheerios in which codes from boxes can be entered at cheerioscircleofhelpinghearts.com. For every person who enters a code at Cheerioshelpinghearts.com, $1 will be donated to WomenHeart to support women’s health education and provide cholesterol screenings for women in need. Cheerios will donate up to $300,000 to WomenHeart, the nation’s only patient advocacy organization serving women with heart disease.
Okay, I feel really guilty because I don't think I have ever had my cholesterol checked and now I guess I should.
Help Dolly the Dog Walk Again
I don't really do posts about donating or buying things to raise money for neglected and abused animals but this one struck a chord with me. I do a lot of independent animal rescue and take in anyone and everything that meanders to my house (my husband jokes that people know I will take them so just leave them in our yard). I have a 3 legged cat, a one eyed cat and one who can't walk from cerebral damage so I know all about how hard it is financially to help special needs animals. Anyway, the people that are trying to help this dog are actually rescue folks and once her surgeries have been completed they will find her a home. Another rescuer is selling human grade healthy dog cookies and for every 10 bags of cookies sold, she will donate 5 dollars to Lillian’s Dolly fund. The link is http://www.doreensdoggiedelights.com/ and I will list it on my blog links as well.
In January, Dolly was found in a 8'x8' pen full of feces. Her water bucket frozen, and the three sided lean to she lived under had fallen and cut part of her scalp off. She slept on wet straw. Her rescuers were told she was terribly timid and wouldn't come out, but after the daughter called her name she came to them and after being petted by loving hands she followed them everywhere. They took her home to have a chance to feel loved. The first month they had her, they tried everything they could to find medical help for her. In that time she totally blossomed . They were told she was hit by a car from her previous owners and they left her lay to see if she would live or die, she lived and had to suffer the pain of healing with these broken bones untreated all of this time, this happened at the young age of 10 to 12 weeks. The previous owners abandoned her last summer and the person her rescuers got her from took her in to keep her from getting shot from the other neighbors (who are these people?-karma will get them). Dolly is now in need of surgery to walk. To find out all about Dolly the dog (what began as a serious case of neglect and abuse but is getting a happy ending ) go to http://www.fundable.com/groupactions/groupaction.2008-04-03.5596675887. If you want to buy some cookies to help with funding or donate a little to help Dolly I am sure it would be much appreciated.
Again, I know this an unusual post but all are close to my heart and maybe yours too. My next post will be back to normal (whatever that is). I am thinking caffeine, detox, not sure yet but I will be back on track.
Best,
Heidi
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