Friday, April 30, 2010

Ideas for Healthy Joints

I am often asked for ideas in dealing with Joint health....
in fact my friend Ian just asked me about this the other day.
Ian, this one is for you!

I find it fascinating that so many people get achy or stiff joints.
I have this issue myself, so I have done my research!



For optimum joint health consider an anti-inflammatory diet.
Search my blog for information on anti-inflammatory foods.
Excess inflammation in the body directly effects your joints. Along with a fantastic
anti-inflammatory diet, here are a few supplements that may help:


  1. Glucosamine and chondroitin. These two compounds help provide the building blocks for substances naturally found in healthy cartilage and appear to relieve pain, and improve joint mobility.
  2. SAM-e. This naturally occurring molecule (S-adenosylmethioine) delivers sulfur to the cartilage, which helps build and maintain strong joints.
  3. Evening primrose oil. A source of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) which may help maintain healthy joints.
  4. Anti-inflammatory herbs. Ginger, holy basil, turmeric, green tea, rosemary, Scutellaria and hu zhang all have naturally occurring compounds that help maintain joint health.
  5. Omega-3 fatty acids. Use varieties that are molecularly distilled from the oil of fish or krill and contain both EPA and DHA, essential fatty acids which have been shown in studies to help maintain bone health and joint flexibility.

Sunday, April 25, 2010

FISH

There is a lot of confusion out there regarding Fish.
Like, which type contains mercury (which we should avoid!)...trust me, you don't want a High level of Mercury in your body for many reasons.
I have a high level in my system,

and getting rid of it is no easy task.
I will blog more on Mercury later.....

There are fish we should avoid because they are simply toxic as they are being raised in an unhealthy environment. Then there are fish that are becoming extinct due to our love of Sushi, never imagined that could happen right? I actually watched a piece on 60 minutes about Fish extinction due to our Sushi consumption. Something to think about.

I just came across this article in the Huffington Post that clarifies some of these concerns.
I think this article may prove to be a valuable tool. Or at least, thought provoking.

Huffington Post Article

Friday, April 23, 2010

Spring has Sprung!




These pictures are so sweet that I must share them...
I just discovered that 2 baby humming birds have emerged from their nest in my yard.

Nature is simply beautiful!



I hope these make you smile as I did.

Happy Spring!




Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Popcorn

Popcorn is an all time favorite.
It can be a healthy snack since it is low in calories and contains a nice dose of fiber.

If you love this snack as I do... be careful to avoid those microwave popcorn options. Most varieties are loaded with artificial flavors, excess sodium and fat. Plus they can expose you to chemicals that are added to the artificial butter flavoring and used in the lining of microwavable popcorn bags.

For a more natural and safe alternative, opt for an air popper.
They are inexpensive and quite easy to use. Just air pop the popcorn and top it with your favorite toppings! If you are cutting back on your butter quota....try Olive Oil! You will be surprised how great the Olive Oil/Popcorn combo can taste!

Happy Popping!

Sunday, April 18, 2010

Superfoods!


I am a huge fan of Superfoods!

My personal definition of a Superfood is:

any food that contains a large percentage of nutritional value.
Although I love
to eat and experience a variety of foods,
I try make sure that I incorporate Superfoods
into my diet to be certain that my body is getting optimal nutrition.

I am a firm believer in the theory that what we are are what we eat.
We can't continually eat a high fat, high sugar, or high refined carb diet
and expect our bodies to function well.
It you think about it, we can only consume so much food on any given day. If we mainly fill up on foods that aren't nourishing our body we won't have an appetite left for anything else.
So, the key is to make smart choices by incorporating some of the
foods we know are good for us like:

Fruits and vegetables!
An apple and some nut butter is always a great snack option

Try choosing a salad instead of french fries with that "Turkey" burger

Make a smoothie in the morning with loads of berries (frozen is fine).
Add some yogurt and throw in some walnuts or flax seeds to get a dose of Omega 3's.
Adding a scoop of protein makes this an exceptional choice.

Dining out?....choose to order a simple grilled piece
of chicken or fish with a side of vegetables and a salad.
Eating out is a wonderful experience...
The key is to indulge once or twice a week and order whatever you want.
However, if you dine out daily you may want to make the healthier choice 80% of the time.
Your body and your scale with thank you.

Now the superfoods!!

Here is a fantastic list with beautiful photos and an explanation of the value of each food.
25 Superfoods


Happy Superfood Sunday!


Monday, April 12, 2010

BEST Sleep Positions

Getting a good nights sleep is an imperative aspect in keeping our bodies
happy and healthy.

Many people that I know, myself included, have various issues with back pain.
I recently found this great article with various sleep position ideas to help alleviate those aches and pains associated with improper sleep positions.....This is especially helpful if you suffer from any type of previous back injury like I do.

http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/best-sleep-positions

Start the week off with a comfortable sleep position tonight...
Happy Sleep!


Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Plastics and your Microwave

I heard long ago that I should not be using plastic
containers to heat food in the microwave.
I just read an article that I believe succinctly defines WHY we should avoid doing this.
It is by Dr. Andrew Weil....He has so much great information. Dr. OZ is another Favorite of mine for his up to minute information on our health and the future of medicine.
More info from OZ later...
For now, here is the latest from Dr. Weil on plastics and your microwave.


It's not uncommon to see people microwaving leftovers in plastic dishes, heating up meals in the plastic containers they come in, or placing plastic wrap over foods to protect the inside of a microwave from splatters. Is all this as innocent as it seems?

I don't think so. While plastic has many terrific uses, when it comes to cooking it should be avoided. DEHA [di-(2-ethylhexyl)adipate], sometimes found in cling wrap, and other chemicals commonly found in plastic are potential endocrine disrupters, and can negatively influence hormonal activity. While studies are underway to better define the health risks associated with plastics, it is best to steer clear of using plastic and plastic wrap in the microwave, as the heat can drive plastic molecules into your food. Instead, use glass or ceramic containers and cover foods with waxed paper or a paper towel. I also suggest avoiding pre-packaged foods that come in cling wrap (if you purchase such products, transfer these items to a different storage container once you get home).

Monday, April 5, 2010

Chemicals in our grooming products

I recently came across a website that offers an enormous depth of information relating to the chemicals present in cosmetics, lotions, etc....
Basically the grooming aids that we use daily.

We have all heard at least once that many of our favorite products contain chemicals that have been proven to promote toxicity and disease in our bodies. I have found it difficult to cut out my favorite products completely. I may have removed 40 %, which after looking at this site does not seem like enough. However, for now I am pleased that I have done that much!
The site is http://safecosmetics.org/
It is a great way to educate yourself on the chemicals present in various brands of products. The best part is that it will help you understand WHY it is so important to stop using certain products. I think we need to understand WHY we need to change a habit, in order
to desire to change. Change is hard enough as it is.

My personal philosophy is to at least cut out some of the things I use often like body lotion. There are so many great options out there that are chemical free and still work amazingly well. The rest I will just approach with the "all things in moderation" mindset, until I can find
some new chemical free products to replace my favorite face cream and makeup.
I have been able cut out my nail polish!!
After reading this website that deletion seems like some sort of victory!
Apparently the chemicals in standard Nail polish are suspected to cause cancer and reproductive harm. Yikes! The good thing is there are some great products without those chemicals....some of which you can even buy at the drugstore. So, why bother with the chemically laden products. It's a no brainer.
I will post some of those products later.

To all of you who have successfully removed chemically laden products from your life, I say Congratulations as it is no easy task!

For the rest of us, knowledge is our best advocate in helping to create change.
Little by little, more and more companies will create naturally based products that don't have the potential to make us or our environment sick.
Therefore, our options will ultimately be plentiful and cost efficient.

For anyone looking to master your knowledge on how these chemicals effect us....
check out this book I just started reading.
It is called: SLOW DEATH BY RUBBER DUCK by Rick Smith and Bruce Lourie
"The secret dangers of everyday things"

It is extremely informative.
You can't help but become more aware after reading this book.