New dirty dozen list

The dirty dozen list is a list compiled by the Environmental Working Group (EWG).
This is the newest list of produce we should only buy in the organic variety!

According the EWG common growing practices make the crops listed below the most likely to contain pesticide residues:

1. Celery
2. Peaches
3. Strawberries
4. Apples
5. Blueberries (Domestic)
6. Nectarines
7. Sweet Bell Peppers
8. Spinach
9. Collard Greens/Kale
10. Cherries
11. Potatoes
12. Grapes (Imported)

Print this list and take it to the store with you!

Roses!

I love flowers!
A single stem or a bouquet of flowers never cease to make me smile.
Flowers have always been a favorite gift of mine, either to receive or give.
I light up when I receive flowers!
In my mind they represent love, life, and happiness.

I cut these white Roses from my yard this morning...
I can't believe how many there were to cut!
I noticed how each one is distinctly unique and not perfectly the same like most of the roses you buy at a flower shop.
I think this makes them even more special!..
so I took a picture to share their beauty.

Enjoy!

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.

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

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!

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!

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!