My husband and I just returned from having extensive physical physical examinations courtesy of LifeSigns in Atlanta.  LifeSigns is a medical facility that takes each patient through a battery of wellness tests to ensure that every organ is functioning correctly.  Friends of ours told us that they go to LifeSigns each year on their anniversary, so my husband and I decided to follow the same tradition.  The great thing about the facility is that all tests are covered by your health insurance so you only have to pay the normal co-pay.  While there, I had the normal tests conducted (blood pressure, cholesterol, height/weight, "female stuff", etc), but I also had an extensive hearing exam, EKG, heart stress test, and they even ran sonograms of my liver, kidneys, and intestines!  Completion of all of our tests took 3 hours, but it was worth it.

Before we took the tests, we had to fill out paperwork that highlighted diseases that we may have been pre-disposed to.  When I looked at my husband's paperwork, I almost fainted.  Heart disease, cancer, diabetes, heart attack, and stroke conditions had affected each parent and almost every grandparent.  And while I was aware of this information before we married, it was jarring to see it on paper.  Then and there, I vowed to reduce my husband's chances of being affected.

I came across the following article in Skin Inc Magazine and thought I would share it with you.  Even if you are not pre-disposed to cancer, its still a good idea to eat well.  And due to all of the anti-oxidants on this list, the skin benefits will be off the charts!!

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Foods That Help Fight Cancer - from Skin Inc Magazine

Nutrition is an important elements of staying healthy, and there are a few foods that are ideal to add to your diet to help battle cancer and other diseases.

According to the National Cancer Institute, more than 11.1 million people alive in this country have a history of cancer. And that doesn’t even include all those who have had bouts with other diseases and illnesses, such as heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes. While there is no surefire way to prevent every possible illness that may come your way, there are plenty of natural foods that you can incorporate into your regular diet to help heal your body and keep it healthy.

“Food is a powerful thing. Because we eat so frequently, it is important to make sure that we are including foods that will do our bodies good,” says Gina Kopera, author of the book Cure Yourself Naturally: What To Do When Your Doctor Cannot Heal You. She is a certified master herbalist and owner of Gina’s Corner Healing Herbs and Supplements. “The problem is that people are not always aware of which foods are the ones they should eat and which they should avoid.”

To help keep your body healthy and striving for optimum wellness, it is best to eat a diet that contains a lot of natural foods, such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Also, be sure to include the following potent natural healing foods in your diet:

• Vegetables – The vegetables that are especially cruciferous, such as broccoli and cauliflower, as well as dark-green leafy ones, are ideal.
• Green tea – Studies have shown that green tea contains catechin, which is helpful in several ways, including fighting cancer.
• Whole grains – They contain phytochemicals and other substances that have been linked to lower cancer risks. Foods that are whole grain, preferably sprouted grains, include pastas, tabouleh, tortillas, popcorn, bread and so on.
• Beans – This group, including soy (e.g., tofu, soymilk, soy burgers), is high in fiber and contains compounds called phytochemicals.
• Berries – Dark-colored berries, especially blueberries, cranberries and strawberries, contain healthy compounds and antioxidants.
• Garlic – This popular food contains allium and other anti-cancer substances.
• Tomatoes – Their lycopene, an antioxidant, is thought to slow or stop breast, lung and endometrial cancers.
• Grapes and grape juice – Grapes contain resveratrol, making it a powerful way to help ward off cancer.
• Oranges – They contain natural plant chemicals that are believed to help guard the body against heart disease and cancer.
• Flaxseeds – Whether used whole or ground, flaxseed meal has lignans, which is believed to help fight cancer.

“There are many ways to heal the body naturally,” adds Kopera. “Foods are just one way. Eating natural healing foods prepared in their wholesome state can be an effective way to get and stay healthy.”

They say its a man's favorite scent. Its probably one of the most recognizable and copied scents of all time.  And though it seems common in spa products, its actually one of the most exotic spices of them all.  Its Vanilla and most would agree that it smells and tastes delicious.

The vanilla bean is produced by a variety of the orchid plant and is the only spice produced by orchids. Vanilla is only sourced from 4 places on  the globe - Madagascar Bourbon vanilla, Indonesian vanilla, Mexican vanilla and Tahitian vanilla.  The process for producing vanilla is an arduous one.  One one type of bee, the Melipona bee, can pollinate the flowers and the flowers open for only one hour per day!! 

While visiting the Tahitian island of Taha'a (also known as the Vanilla island), I learned that Tahitians manually pollinate each flower.  Can you imagine?!?  Incredibly hard work but vanilla remains one of their top exports.

According to Rebecca James Gadberry, ingredient guru and author, "The major benefit of vanilla in the spa is its incredible aromatherapeutic properties, which help strengthen the stress-reduction response".

Here are some quick facts about Vanilla (Courtesy of Skin Inc Magazine)

• Vanilla was used by the Aztecs for flavoring their royal drink xocolatl, a mixture of cocoa beans, vanilla and honey.
• Vanilla has been considered both an aphrodisiac and a fever-reducer.
• Thomas Jefferson introduced vanilla to the United States in the late 1700s after discovering it while serving as the ambassador to King Louis XVI of France. 
• The United States consumes approximately 1,200 tons of vanilla beans per year. 
• When baking, be sure to cream the vanilla with shortening or butter because the fat will encapsulate the vanilla, preventing it from evaporating during the baking process.
• To make your own vanilla extract, place one whole vanilla bean cut in half lengthwise into 3/4 cup of vodka. Cover tightly and let steep for six months before using.