To Your Health!

How to Dehydrate Spinach and Swiss Chard

2012-10-10T06:30:00.002-07:00

Lay spinach or Swiss chard leaves on dehydrator tray

I always seems to have more fresh spinach and Swiss chard than I can use in a week or so. I belong to an organic food coop and have a standing order for both these nutritious veggies but I need to use them fairly quickly to get the most value from them.

I use lots of Swiss chard and spinach in my daily green smoothie so I wondered if perhaps I could just dehydrate them and add them in dried form. It turns out I can easily dehydrate both spinach and Swiss chard.

Dehydrating veggies and fruits retains much of the nutritional value of these foods, plus dried fruit and vegetables takes up much less space in your pantry.

How to Dehydrate Spinach and Swiss chard.

These leafy vegetables are easy to dehydrate.

Wash with water and pat dry
Cut thick stems from leafy parts
Chop stems into one inch pieces - You can dehydrate these too and toss them into soups and stews!
Lay leaves loosely on the trays of your dehydrator, allowing space for air flow around leaves. I usually put the stems and thicker pieces on the bottom rack so they get the most heat.
Set your dehydrator on 105 degrees
Allow veggies to dry for several hours. Check after about 4 hours and then every hour or so thereafter to find the time when they are crisp and all the moisture is evaporated.
Once your spinach or Swiss chard is dried, put it into a zip lock plastic bag and store out of sunlight. I usually label my bags with the contents and date so I use the oldest first.

It's easy to grow spinach and Swiss chard in a small garden space.

How to Use Dehydrated Spinach and Swiss Chard

Add dehydrated veggies to your morning smoothie like I do. I usually crumble them into powdery form first.
Add to soups and stews, then add a little more water to the broth because the dried veggies will absorb some liquid.
Add to stir fry
Crumble and add to bread or muffin mixes before you bake them
Crumble and add to salads as a topping.

Just about anyplace you'd use fresh spinach or Swiss chard, you can also use the dehydrated version.

Every since I learned how to dehydrate spinach and Swiss chard, I have a constant fresh supply of these nutritious veggies. It's easy to grow these cold weather crops in a small garden area too. In this small bed pictured, I have some beets, collards, Swiss chard, mustard, parsley and fennel growing.

How to Prevent, or Possibly Cure Heart Disease

2012-06-12T07:34:00.001-07:00

Is is possible to cure heart disease? Most of us know that a very healthy lifestyle can help prevent heart disease. In fact, heart disease is called a "lifestyle disease" because, even if you have genetic factors in your background, a healthy lifestyle can still keep you from getting heart disease.

Recently, I was told, despite living a very healthy life, that I had carotid artery disease. How could this happen when I exercise, eat right, and have low cholesterol and blood pressure? Plus, I have no family history of heart disease either.

I had a swelling in my neck and a Doppler of the area revealed "minimal" atherosclerosis.

A visit to a cardiologist helped to clarify the situation. He said that even though I'd lived a very healthy life for the past 10 years, plaque begins building up in the arteries in our late teens. My lifestyle choices had no doubt kept the plaque from getting worse.

He recommended just following up in a year or two but no medications. However, this episode led me to research heart disease a little more. I'd never felt I was at risk but now I was more interested.

What I found in my research is that many do think heart disease can be prevented certainly, but some think it can even be reversed once its established. Through diet, exercise, decreasing stress and different supplements, there are many things you can do, even if you've had a heart attack, have had heart surgery or are on various medications for heart disease.

I found a wonderful ebook, titled How to Prevent, or Even Cure Heart Disease, by cardiologist Robert D. Wilcox, Jr. Dr Wilcox was a conventional cardiac surgeon for 7 years but became discouraged with how little he saw conventional heart medicine really helping patients. He pioneered the use of alternative, natural treatments for heart disease and built a successful practice from this.

Dr. Wilcox explains in his ebook why diet and exercise is important and exactly what you should do. He also discusses different natural remedies for heart health and some that remove plaque from veins and explains the dosages he gives his own patients.

These remedies and natural solutions to heart disease are not expensive but your own cardiologist probably won't tell you about them, beyond the usual advice to improve diet and exercise habits. These natural remedies discussed in How to Prevent or Even Cure Heart Disease can be used in conjunction with conventional medical treatments as well and in fact, you should discuss them with your doctor if you have heart disease.

If you would like to prevent heart disease as you get older or if you already have heart disease, it's never too late to begin taking better care of yourself and being proactive about your health.

Natural Remedies for Bronchitis

2012-05-08T08:14:00.003-07:00

Although I'm only very rarely sick, I recently I took a trip to visit family and came down with a cold which quickly went to my chest. Whenever I do happen to get a cold or something, I usually run through the phases in a matter of a day or two. However, if it goes to my chest, then I have a larger problem as I've been told by a doctor I have chronic bronchitis. If I want to protect my lungs, I know I have to avoid letting any cold get that far.

Having been through this before, as soon as I felt that familiar tightness and pain in my chest, I knew that I had to act fast to keep the severe congestion from taking hold. I started doing my usual immune boosting things but I also checked on Amazon.com to see what products people recommended. People with many different lung problems, from bronchitis to asthma to emphysema recommended a product called Clear Lungs.

Since I needed it immediately, I went to the local herb shop to see if they had some, which they did.

Clear Lungs is a blend of Chinese herbs and the directions say to use it every 4 hours but that relief should be felt immediately. I took it every 4 hours the first and second day and then went to twice a day. I actually felt a lessening of congestion and the tightness in my chest within the first few hours.

I also added some Nutribiotic - Grapeseed Extract Liquid Concentrate, which kills bacteria and acts like a natural antibiotic. I just used it as directed. If you try Grapeseed extract, be sure and take some yogurt or probiotics with it, as it has the same effect as an antibiotic and kills all bacteria, both good and bad. Good bacteria is essential for proper immunity and digestion.

Another thing I did to get rid of the congestion fast was to use a vaporizer for two nights, along with the Clear Lungs and GSE taken orally. Within 2 days, I felt completely normal. If you've ever suffered from bronchitis, you know that many times the symptoms can stretch on for days or weeks.

Clear Lungs can be taken daily to maintain lung health. Many of the reviewers on Amazon said it helped them use an inhaler less for asthma and helped bronchitis and emphysema. I ordered some through Amazon so I can take it daily.

The best way to avoid illness is to keep your immune system in the healthiest condition possible. However, if you to feel you're coming down with any type of lung congestion, I highly recommend Clear Lungs. If you have a case of bronchitis, try Clear Lungs with Grapeseed extract and see if it doesn't help clear up the condition.

Everything is Energy Summit

2012-05-08T05:56:00.001-07:00

The 2012 Everything is Energy Summit is coming soon. Read more about it and

Sign up for the Free Everything is Energy Summit video series

Raspberry Keytones for Weightloss

2012-04-25T06:47:00.001-07:00

Have you tried raspberry keytones for weighloss? I saw this weight loss tip on Dr. Oz a couple months ago and decided to try it as it's an all natural weightloss solution. Myhusband and I started taking the 250 mg capsules daily and for us, it has been working.
Recently, we went on a 7 day cruise where there were huge amounts of delicious food. I'd just lost about 9 pounds and, even though the food was terrific, I didn't want to gain weight again. We took our raspberry keytone capsules with breakfast and lunch and walked after every meal and I didn't gain a pound!

If you want to try raspberry keytones for weightloss, I'd suggest also eating a healthy diet and cutting back portions. I became a vegetarian about 3 months ago and started cutting portions before I tried the raspberry keytones so I was already on my way to losing weight. If you eat large portions and don't cut back, I'm not sure if the keytones work as well.

These are the raspberry keytones I use, which you can buy on Amazon. They are also available from other online sources. I have a local Vitamin Shoppe and didn't find them there so Amazon was the easiest place for me to order.

Genetic Solutions Raspberry Ketones 100% Natural Weight Loss Supplement - 120 Capsules, 250 Mg (As Featured on Dr. Oz)

Chyawanprash - Boosts Energy and Immunity

2012-02-24T06:16:00.001-08:00

About six months ago, my nutritionist introduced me to Chyanwanprash, a 2500 year old Ayurvedic formula which is a powerful combination of herbs and plant extracts in a base of Amla fruit pulp. Imagine my surprise when I saw Deepak Chopra recommend Chyanwanprash on the Dr. Oz Show. It's such an odd name that I didn't think anyone outside my nutritionist had ever heard of it!

Chyanwanprash is a mixture of herbs, spices and other ingredients, made into a jam-like consistency almost like molasses. You can eat it from a spoon or put into tea or a smoothie. My husband and I just eat a spoonful each morning and evening. This Ayurvedic formula is widely used in India as a longevity tonic.

The primary ingredient to Chyanwanprash is amla, a type of gooseberry which is very high in vitamin C.

Deepak Chopra recommends Chyanwanprash as part of a four step plan to reduce stress but other things that this powerful formula is good for are:

Improved digestion - Ayurvedic tradition believes that all disease stems from digestive problems and Chyanwanprash improves digestion so that disease and health troubles don't arise. With proper digestion, we can assimilate nutrients better from the food we eat so it makes sense that any health program should address digestion first.
Longevity-Good digestion enhances tissue regeneration, brings the body back into balance and helps us to live longer, healthier lives
Increased memory and brain function
Improved immunity
Improved energy

How much Chyanwanprash should you eat? Most recommend 1-3 teaspoons per day but it would be hard to consume too much and there are no known side effects.

One important thing I learned about Chyanwanprash from Dr. Oz's show is that the cost is only about $10 a bottle. I was paying three times that for the brand I was using at the time. After doing some research, I found Dabur Chyawanprash, 2.2-Pound Bottles (Pack of 2) Amazon.com for about this price. And the bottle is much bigger than the one I was paying $30 for as well.

If you're looking for an inexpensive remedy which will improve overall health and energy and help you to live longer, Chyanwanprash is certainly something you should add to your health program. Since I've started taking it twice a day, I have seen a reduction in stress and improved energy. I used to have a hard time waking up in the mornings but now I wake up before the alarm feeling refreshed.

If you decide to try Chyanwanprash, let me know what you think!

Get a Glass Pitcher to Replace Plastic

2012-01-24T10:24:00.000-08:00

Glass pitchers in various sizes aren't easy to find, but I decided some time ago to replace my old plastic pitchers with glass for health and safety reasons. Unless you get a BPA free plastic pitcher, this toxic chemical can leach into the liquids you put into a plastic pitcher, plus after years of throwing this plastic into the dishwasher, even more chemicals leach out.

It's been several months since I threw out all my old plastic containers and bought glass ones for food storage but it was only recently that I decided my plasitc pitchers would have to go. Each morning I make a pitcher of healthful Calli tea and was putting it into a plastic container. The tea is warm to hot, which is probably even worse for leaching chemicals from the plastic.

I use pitchers for various other things besides my Calli Tea too-such as keeping green tea or Fortune Delight on hand in frig, for instance. Since glass is a healthier option than plastic, I purchased 3 one quart glass pitchers and one half gallon glass pitcher. This Frigoverre Glass Pitcher, One Liter, which is pictured, comes with a lid that screws down tightly to keep contents fresh and it's one that I can recommend highly for price and convenience. This Frigoverre glass pitcher is available from Amazon.com.

I love these little glass pitchers because they are nice heavy glass and the handle is sturdy and makes it easy to handle. The spout pours nicely and doesn't slop and spill.

As a 2 quart pitcher, I bought the Luminarc Quadro 2-Liter Glass Pitcher with Lid, which I like ok but not as much as the one liter Frigoverre. The indented handle isn't as easy to manage as the Frigoverre's handle and the lid doesn't screw in tightly, although it seems to be airtight as well. Two quart glass pitchers are more difficult to find than one quart.

With all the talk about how bad BPA is for our bodies, I think replacing plastic pitchers with glass pitchers is a smart move. It gets expensive to throw out all your plastic at once but purchase a little as you go and it's more affordable.

For my glass food storage containers, I purchased this Rubbermaid 8-Piece Glass Food Storage Container Set with Easy Find Lid, which Amazon also carries and it's filled all my container needs. I prefer glass pitchers and food storage containers because they are easy to clean and are much healthier than plastic. Replacing plastic in your food and beverage storage containers and pitchers would make a wonderful health resolution for the new year!

Start the New Year with Calli Tea and Save!

2012-01-14T06:14:00.000-08:00

Save money on Calli Tea and start the New Year Right

If you've never tried Calli Tea before, or if you've used Calli to assist with a gentle cleansing program in the past, the New Year is a great time to sweep away the cobwebs of winter and get ready for spring. Send for my free Calli Tea report and I'll provide ordering information for a special Calli Sale which is good through February, 2012.

Send for my Free Calli Tea Report and find out what this healthy Sunrider Tea can do for your health and fitness programs.

If you'd like to purchase Calli Tea securely through pay pal, click below:

I've been drinking Calli Tea for many years and I personally attribute my exceptionally good health at the age of 60 in part to my continued use of this tea by Sunrider. I've written several articles in this blog, including my Calli Tea Review.

Here is my recipe too for a delicious Calli Tea smoothie. You can even make it with spinach or kale and have a healthy green smoothie.

Is it your New Year's resolution to look and feel better in the coming months? Start your day with a Calli Tea smoothie and enjoy the benefits of Calli throughout the day and see what a difference it makes.

Sunrider® products are not intended for use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, prevention, or treatment of any medical condition.

Brown Seaweed for Weightloss and Health

2012-01-13T05:46:00.000-08:00

My favorite brown seaweed

I've written about the benefits of brown seaweed before but I recently learned it's also good for weigh loss. I pick up many weight loss tips from Dr. Oz and the other day he recommended brown seaweed.

Brown Seaweed and Weight Loss

Brown seaweed and weight loss were studied in Japan in 2006. Science Daily reports on the seaweed nutrient, fucoxanthin, which appears to reduce fat accumulation.

Health Benefits of Brown Seaweed

Besides aiding weight loss, brown seaweed is being researched for it's anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory abilities. Brown seaweed nourishes the thyroid so is important for those with thyroid conditions, like my husband.

Brown seaweed also improves the hair and nails. My husband was just noticing the other day that his nails were much stronger than they had been. One symptom of thyroid condition is brittle nails so if his nails are getting stronger, then his thryroid is being nourished as well.

Brown seaweed also boosts the immune system and helps lower cholesterol. Since cholesterol is another issue my husband is working on at present, we'll see how the brown seaweed affects his results on the next blood test.

Radioactivity exposure has been in the news since Japan's tsunami and brown seaweed contains Alginate, which naturally absorbs radioactive material, as well as other heavy metals we may be exposed to in our daily life. Brown seaweed also absorbs the free radicals in our body which age us and cause health issues as we get older.

One thing you have to be careful of when buying brown seaweed supplements is their purity. Since seaweed comes from the ocean, there is a chance of heavy metal contamination, unless it is taken from pure ocean waters.

I've researched several brands of brown seaweed and the two I recommend as being the most pure are Body Ecology's Ocean Plant Extract, available on the Body Ecology website and Mo
and Modiflan, 100% pure kombu extract, which is available on Amazon.com.

Both of these brands of brown seaweed contain an ocean vegetable called Laminaria japonica and they come from a very pure source.

If you decide to try brown seaweed for weight loss and health, check the bottle for instructions. Most advise 3-6 capsules first thing in the morning with a glass of water. Be sure and check your source for purity. This is one place you don't want to skimp on quality. Dr. Oz recommended at least 500mg per day of brown seaweed to reduce belly fat and promote weight loss.

If you are trying to reduce belly fat or lose weight, brown seaweed might be worth a try, especially since it also offers many other health benefits as well.

Learn where you can buy edible seaweed.to use in recipes.

Want to Lose Belly Fat? Give Safslim a Try

2012-01-12T06:02:00.000-08:00

Like many of you, I saw the Safslim Diet on Dr. Oz's show with Montel Williams. Montel was so impressed with his results in getting rid of belly fat, he offered to become a spokesperson for the safflower oil product. Safslim is available on Amazon and other health food outlets. I ordered 2 bottles so my husband and I could try it for a month.

What I got from reviews is that Safslim works wonderfully to reduce belly fat for many people but some do get a digestive upset from it or don't like the taste so they quit taking it after one or two doses. I personally felt Safslim was worth a try after hearing what Montel Williams and Dr. Oz had to say. So far, my husband and I have liked the taste of the berry flavor and have had no upsets in our digestion.

Dr. Oz does not endorse Safslim but he did have his experts look at the product, as well as the idea that safflower oil can help reduce belly fat. The jury is out on safflower oil, however some of his experts did think it could work.

The directions say to use Safslim for one month for best results that's what we're doing and I'll report back on one month on my results. Safslim is made from non-GMO, expeller pressed, high-linoleic safflower oil.

Other ways to get Safflower oil are in sunflower seeds, which we've started eating as a snack and on salads, and safflower oil. I don't want to give up my coconut oil and olive oil so haven't purchased any safflower oil but that's an alternative to Safslim also.

Belly fat, also known as visceral fat, wraps around your internal organs and increases your chances of heart attack and stroke, cancer, diabetes and other major illnesses. If Safslim works, then it is well worth the money to reduce this belly fat.

Easy Squash Soup Recipe

2011-12-14T08:45:00.000-08:00

I love butternut squash soup and last night I made a delicious soup using squash, cauliflower and coconut milk from a can. It turned out great.

Easy Squash Soup Recipe

Ingredients

One small butternut squash
One head of cauliflower ( used orange cauliflower)
One can coconut milk (I didn't use low fat but I think you could. It wouldn't be as creamy though)
3/4 cup chicken broth
Seasonings of your choice-I used Hawaiian pink salt and a Tuscan seasoning blend but you could use a Thai blend or just salt and pepper if you choose.

Directions

Bake butternut squash in 350 oven for about 45 minutes or until soft.
Steam cauliflower

Once your veggies are cooked, peel the squash and add to blender or food processor. Add Cauliflower and liquids.

Blend until smooth.

Return to the pan and heat. Serve when it's hot enough.

This easy squash soup is delicious on a cold winter evening!

How to Stop Sugar Cravings

2011-12-05T06:03:00.001-08:00

How do you stop sugar cravings when, with the holidays approaching, sugar cravings sometimes get the best of us? All those candies and cookies, plus sugary dishes like sweet potatoes with marshmallows, are standard fare during this time of the year. There are natural ways to stop sugar cravings so you can enjoy just a little of your favorite dishes, without going overboard.

What Causes Sugar Cravings?

There are lots of theories about what causes sugar cravings. One possible include candida yeast overgrowth. Yeast feeds on sugar and if you have excess yeast in your system, you'll be craving the sugar it needs to survive.

If candida yeast is your problem, try The Body Ecology Diet, which focuses on building good bacteria in your system, which kills off the yeast. Eating fermented or cultured veggies both kills off the yeast and stops sugar cravings like nothing else. You can also try products like kefir, which is fermented milk. You can purchase kefir in the store or make your own very easily.

Make Your Own Cultured Vegetables

Make Your Own Kefir

Sugar is addicting so another cause of sugar cravings is simply that you start eating it and crave more. Try cutting sugar from your diet and adding lots of veggies. Be aware of hidden sources of sugar in foods, check labels for high fructose corn syrup and other names which mean sugar. Don't forget that natural sugars such as honey, are still sugar.

Hormone imbalances can also cause us to crave sugar, which is why many women need a sugar fix around the time of their period. Try substituting fruit so you're getting some natural sugar but also some super nutrition. Or drink the stevia drink below.

Other tips to stop sugar cravings

Try Stevia to beat sugar cravings. Stevia is a natural plant with zero calories and does not feed yeast. NuNaturals, available on Amazon, is my favorite brand.

Drink lots of water to keep hydrated. Sometimes when you think you are craving sugar, you are really dehydrated. Add a little lemon juice and stevia if you crave a sweet drink.

Next time you have a sugar craving, try a 6 oz glass of water with 2 tsp of raw, organic apple cider vinegar in it. Apple cider vinegar helps balance your body's ph, cleans toxins from your system, helps to kill off yeast overgrowth and stops sugar cravings!

So over the holidays, or anytime you want to stop sugar cravings, these simple, easy and inexpensive tips will keep you from over-indulging.

Benefits of Glutamine

2011-12-02T06:13:00.001-08:00

If you're a body builder, you probably know the benefits of glutamine but did you know that it's also a great supplement for those of us who aren't body builders. Glutamine also offers benefits to people suffering from certain health conditions, such as autoimmune disorders because it helps to repair "leaky gut syndrome" which often occurs in autoimmune.

L-Glutamine is an amino acid and it does indeed build muscle but it also helps build the immune system, increase our digestive efficiency (which leads to using the nutrients in your food more efficiently), and improve kidney function. Improving memory and brain function are also benefits of using L-glutamine.

My husband has been taking glutamine for several months for an autoimmune disorder and he has gained muscle mass even though he isn't really working out. He also has reported that the aches and pains in his joints have diminished as well. His digestion has improved so we are hoping his leaky gut syndrome is healing as well.

My husband takes his glutamine daily in grapefruit juice with some tart cherry juice mixed in. Tartcherry juice also benefits joint pain.

I also watch Dr. Oz every afternoon for the great health tips he provides and he recommended adding glutamine to juice or a smoothie for added energy, instead of drinking energy drinks which are loaded with sugar and caffeine.

If you like smoothies, you can also add glutamine to your morning smoothie to enjoy its benefits. Otherwise take in juice or water once a day.

L-Glutamine Dosage and Side Effects

Glutamine dosage is 4,500 mg per day and no side effects have been reported at the proper dosage. When people exceed the recommended dosage of L-glutamine, they have reported digestive upsets and even more serious such as elevated liver enzymes or aggravation of bi-polar disorder, if you have this condition.

L-Glutamine isn't recommended for pregnant or nursing women either as any possible side effects are unknown.

If you suffer from an autoimmune disorder, you probably do have leaky gut syndrome where your intestines become permeable and food particles leak out into your body's systems. Thinking this food is a toxin and a foreign object in the body, the body attacks it, causing severe allergic reactions. The benefits of glutamine can help repair this damage.

You can purchase L-Glutamine and enjoy it's benefits from Amazon.com

BodyTech - Glutamine Powder Bt, 4500 mg, 16 oz powder is the glutamine product we use. Each teaspoon offers the recommended dosage.

Make Coconut Water Kefir Using Bottled Coconut Water

2011-10-17T06:01:00.000-07:00

Coconut Water Kefir can be very expensive to use on a daily basis. If you have trouble with your digestion or you'd like to enhance your digestion so your body can more easily and efficiently absorb the nutrients in your food, drinking 2-4 oz of probiotic coconut kefir water after your main meal can make a huge difference.

I started drinking Body Ecology's cultured coconut water drinks and eating other probiotic foods with every meal and my indigestion has totally cleared up, plus I feel lighter and "cleaner" inside and I've lost weight without changing anything else in my diet. I think, personally, it's because my body is now using all the nutrients in my food.

As we get older, or if we suffer from health issues such as irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn's Disease, autoimmune disorders, and more our body's aren't using the nutrients in the food we eat and we could literally be starving to death, even though we eat a healthy diet. Turning to vitamin supplements isn't enough as commercial vitamins are mostly synthetic and can't compare to the whole natural nutrients found in food, especially probiotic foods.

One easy way to make coconut water kefir is to use bottled coconut water and Body Ecology Kefir Starter. One box of Kefir Starter contains 6 packets, or enough starter to make up to 42 gallons of kefir from either milk, coconut or almond milk or coconut water kefir. When you compare the cost of using bottled coconut water and kefir starter to purchasing the finished product of coconut water kefir, you're doing your budget a huge favor.

When I make coconut water kefir, all I do is heat five 14oz bottles of coconut water (I use Zico which is pictured) to body temperature. Add one packet of kefir starter and stir.

Put this mixture into a class jar or bowl with a tight fitting lid. Be sure there is extra room at the top as this mixture gets fizzy and may overflow.

Let your coconut water kefir sit undisturbed for 24-48 hours, depending on how "sour" you want your drink. When my coconut water kefir is finished, I blend up some blueberries or other berry and add to the water, plus a few drops of stevia.

Refrigerate your cultured coconut water and drink 2-4 oz after meals.

It's that easy!

If you would like to buy coconut water kefir instead of making your own try Cocobiotic - Young Coconut Kefir (42oz) by Body Ecology. For a little more than $30, you can get a 22 day supply of Cultured Coconut Water Kefir.

Read about the Best Probiotics and where to find them.

http://test.skimlinks.com

The Best Probiotics-Get Some Now and Avoid Colds and Flu

2011-10-14T06:44:00.000-07:00

When it comes to cold and flu season, your best friend will be Probiotics. The best probiotics contain a wide variety of friendly bacteria, not just one or two strains. There is of course a difference of opinion on what the best probiotic product is but I personally use Body Ecology probiotic products, many of which are available on Amazon.com with free shipping.

How to probiotics increase immunity to colds, flu and other viruses? The friendly bacteria contained in the best probiotics

Besides building immunity to colds and flu, probiotics benefits:

Improving digestion - These days, with most people's diets including excess sugar, processed foods and fast food which create an acid condition in the body and kill off friendly bacteria, we need probiotics to assist in digestion. Do you suffer from gas, acid indigestion and bloating? You need probiotics in your diet to help you get rid of these conditions.
Probiotics increase energy. because you are absorbing more of nutrients from the food you eat.
Helps to get rid of allergies and conditions like sinusitis. Allergies are a symptom of a lowered immune system. Build up your immune system and allergies may well vanish.
Aids constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, Celiac Disease and Chrohn's Disease
Helps to heal chronic inflammation in the body which contributes to degenerative disease such as arthritis, heart disease and even cancer.
Helps to heal leaky gut syndrome- Our intestinal tract is meant to hold in food and waste products but sometimes becomes permeable, allowing food and toxins to leak into your system, causing intense allergic reactions. This is often seen with auto-immune disorders. The best Probiotics can help heal leaky gut, decreasing allergic reactions and the symptoms of auto-immune disorders.

Where to Buy Probiotics

You can get the best probiotics from supplements or from food or both. Fermented or cultured foods such as kefir, yogurt and cultured vegetables contain live bacteria and digestive enzymes. You can also use supplements, either with or without these foods to increase the friendly bacteria in your system. Body Ecology offers a wide range of the best probiotics from capsules to probiotic drinks and you can get them through their website or, they are a little less expensive and have free shipping on Amazon.

If you would like to read more about adding the best probiotics to your diet, read The Body Ecology Diet - Recovering Your Health and Building Your Immunity by Donna Gates. The Body Ecology Diet recommends adding probiotics to your diet through not only supplements but foods which are high in beneficial bacteria.

Super Greens - One Easy Way to Get Superfoods into Your Diet

2011-10-13T08:34:00.000-07:00

I try to get a variety of super greens into my daily diet but it's not always easy to keep green produce on hand. One easy way to eat superfood super greens is to use a super greens powder. I've tried lots of different powders, which can be mixed into a smoothie or simply into a glass of water or juice, any my favorite is Vitality Super Greens by Body Ecology.

Every since I read The Baby Boomer Diet by Donna Gates, I've been trying to get more probiotics and digestive enzymes into my daily diet. If you suffer from poor digestion or constant gas and bloating, you aren't absorbing much of the nutrients in the foods you eat. Your diet can be very healthy and you may be eating lots of supergreens, but the nutrients aren't being used at all. Digestive enzymes and probiotics can take care of this problem for you.

Vitality Super Greens have lots of digestive enzymes and probiotics to aid digestion, plus it contains Glutimmune, which can help heal your gut so it functions more efficiently. Many people suffer from "leaky gut syndrome" where your intestines become permeable, allowing food to escape into the body where it is attacked by the immune system as a "foreign invader." A leaky gut is common in autoimmune disorders and leads to symptoms which cause breakdowns in the body.

If you haven't read The Body Ecology Diet or The Baby Boomer Diet, I urge you to get a copy of either of these books by Donna Gates. They tell you easy ways to regain health, promote healing and longevity, and avoid degenerative diseases. Vitality Super Greens is just one of many of their quality products.

Use Apple Cider Vinegar for Weightloss

2011-10-03T09:27:00.000-07:00

You may have read that apple cider vinegar is great for weightloss and I think I've figured out why. Many people gain weight or can't lose weight, because they aren't digesting and absorbing their food properly. If you eat lots of healthy food and still don't lose weight, maybe your body just isn't digesting and using the nutrients. Apple cider vinegar vinegar assists with digestion, making sure you get the most out of your food.

Many people suffer from indigestion and use antacids for relief. However, many times the trouble isn't too much stomach acid, but too little. If you want to lose weight, the next time you get indigestion, try adding a couple of teaspoons of ACV to a small glass of water and drinking it down. Add a little stevia to sweeten if necessary. If this cures your indigestion, it's because you didn't have enough stomach acid to begin with and taking antacids was exactly the wrong thing to do.

If you have constant indigestion, then your body isn't digesting the foods you eat properly and you aren't getting optimum nutrition from even the healthiest diet. Apple cider vinegar helps you lose weight by making sure you digest all the food you eat and actually use it, so it isn't stored as fat.

I've been using apple cider vinegar for weightloss, drinking a tablespoon mixed with water every evening after dinner and sometimes at other times during the day as well and so far, I've lost 3 pounds without doing anything else different in my diet.

Apple cider vinegar is a simple and inexpensive weightloss tool. It's nutritious and good for so many things.

Read more about apple cider vinegar benefits here.

If you'd like to read more about healthy digestion and health, check out The Body Ecology Diet by Donna Gates. In it she talks about apple cider vinegar too.

How to Make Alkaline Water

2011-09-21T07:12:00.000-07:00

You may know about the benefits of alkaline water and you'd like to find out where to buy alkaline water or how to make your own. Actually, it's easier than you think.

I recently read the book The Baby Boomer Diet: Body Ecology's Guide to Growing Younger: Anti-Aging Wisdom for Every Generation by Donna Gates and Lyndi Schrecengos and discovered the importance of keeping my body alkaline. The standard American diet, filled with fast foods, processed foods, and lots of meat and sugar, keep our bodies in a very acid state, which invites degenerative diseases such as arthritis and causes us to age faster than we should.

Benefits of Alkaline Water

Ph levels, or the measure of alkaline/acid in our body can range from 0 to 14, with 7 being neutral. Its easy to measure your own ph levels with ph test strips which can test either your saliva or your urine. These are available in the pool section of stores like Home Depot and are very inexpensive.

The benefits of drinking alkaline water haven't been established but if your body is very acidic, it stands to reason that drinking alkaline water can help balance your own body's ph levels. Many water alkalizing machines cost thousands of dollars but you make your own with a less expensive portable alkaline water IonPod for under $50.

The Original IonPod® Portable Alkalizing Water Bottle

My own body tests super-alkaline, which is not a good thing either. Since my body is too acidic, it's trying to balance itself by working hard to become very alkaline. I'm working on my diet, cutting out acidic foods, drinking quality water and eating more alkaline foods to bring my body to a neutral ph level. I ordered an IonPod to help me with the balancing process and have been very pleased with it.

All you do is add water, let it set for 5 minutes, turning the bottle upside down a couple times and you have a glass of water. I make sure to use good, clear water and not tap water. When it's been in the IonPod for 5 minutes, the water ph tested 9.0. (You also get a ph testing kit with your bottle.)

When you compare this portable alkalizing bottle costing $49.95, with free shipping, to a unit costing $2500, there is no comparison. You can also buy bottled alkaline water but you don't find it in most stores so you have to order it. I'd rather have my own source right at hand.

If you'd like to make your own alkaline water so you can enjoy it's benefits, I'd recommend the IonPod highly.

Health Benefits of Gouda Cheese - Enjoy Cheese Again!

2011-09-12T07:19:00.000-07:00

Add Gouda to your daily diet.

Did you know that Gouda Cheese and other hard cheeses, such as Jarlsburg and Edam cheese are actually good for your heart? After years of avoiding cheese for it's high cholesterol content, eating just two slices a day of a hard cheese like Gouda can increase your intake of Vitamin K2, which protects you from hardening of the arteries.

Those two slices of Gouda or other hard cheese will also cut your risk of getting any type of cancer, but it is especially effective against lung cancer and prostate cancer.

Vitamin K2 also helps protect you from osteoporosis.

Why Vitamin K2 Works

Vitamin K2 helps the calcium in your body end up where it belongs, which is in your bones, not in your blood, where it can block arteries. Calcification, or calcium in the body in the wrong place also causes bone spurs, which are very painful.

Besides hard cheese such as Gouda, you can get vitamin K2 in cultured or fermented veggies or cultured products like kefir, which contain beneficial probiotic bacteria - the "good bacteria." To get the proper amount of Vitamin K2, add probiotics or cultured products to your daily diet. This helps you to have a healthy GI tract, good digestion and better absorption of nutrients from the food you eat.

Antibiotics, sugar, processed and fast food all interfere with the growth of healthy intestinal bacteria and as a result, impair vitamin K absorption and production in the intestines.

For more information on cultured vegetables, visit Path 2 Health Living.

Read about the Health Benefits of Kefir.

In her book, The Body Ecology Diet, Donna Gates explains the benefits of eating cultured food products and offers recipes and background information on the acid/alkaline diet, which keeps us young and healthy all of our lives. With Body Ecology's Kefir starter, you can make your own Kefir at home quickly and easily and save money too!

So enjoy the benefits of Gouda cheese by adding a couple of slices to your daily menu, along with cultured vegetables or kefir. It's one easy step on the Path2HealthyLiving.

Mind Body Blast - Six Week Health and Fitness Program

2011-09-02T07:40:00.000-07:00

Would you like to look and feel better in just six weeks? I'm excited to participate in Luci Gabel's Mind Body Blast, an upcoming online health and fitness program which begins September 26. The two things everybody needs when starting on a health and fitness program is motivation and information. Luci's program will provide all this and more so I'm looking forward to being healthier by the end of the program.

One thing I've always thought important is that you can make small healthy changes over time, stick with them, and be healthier in the long run as opposed to starting some fad diet or excessive workout routine, only to drop it a week or month down the road. The idea of making healthy changes in your life is to realize that in the process you're giving up your old unhealthy ways and embracing something new, different and better. In the end you'll likely lose weight, feel more energetic and be much healthier.

The Mind Body Blast is the creation of Luci Gabel, who has an impressive array of fitness certifications, as well as master’s degree in exercise physiology from the University of Maryland (UMD) and a master’s in business management from John Hopkins’ University. Luci also has an extensive nutrition background. All of this points to the fact that her health and fitness program is based on sound research and not fad diets or workouts.

This six week health and fitness program includes:

Your own health and fitness coach so you can ask questions, get advice and stay motivated. There will be 7 conference calls of about 30 minutes each to keep you in contact with Luci.
There will be seven podcasts, filled with information, which you can watch to suit your own schedule. Keep these podcasts long after the class is over too!
Six exercise videos to help you get the most from your workouts in the least amount of time.
Supplemental reading to to re-enforce the healthy new habits you'll learn about on the conference calls.
You get access for six weeks to a private, members-only forum to discuss anything you like about your challenges, get motivation and advice.

On Luci Gabel's website, you'll find a great list of articles she's written on health and fitness, as well as a free 20 minute workout video with a total body workout you can do pretty much anywhere. You can also sign up for 6 weeks of mind/body fitness tips delivered right to your email.

This six week health and fitness program with Luci Gabel begins September 26 and ends November 7. There is still time to sign up at the early bird rate.

If you've always wanted your own personal health and fitness coach, now is the time to get more information on the Mind Body Blast with Luci Gabel.

Beyond Organic - Enjoy Grassfed Beef and Build an Organic Business

2011-08-24T10:47:00.000-07:00

Would you like to eat grassfed beef but think it's too expensive or difficult to find? Jordan Rubin, of Garden of Life fame, is starting a new organic business opportunity called Beyond Organic, where you can have grassfed beef, raw cheeses, probiotic chocolate and more, delivered right to your door. You can not only enjoy these healthy food and beverages, you can also build a business as a mission marketer and help spread the word about how organic food can change your health and your life.

I've used Rubin's Garden of Life products and read some of his books, so when I heard about his new Beyond Organic opportunity, I immediately signed up as an independent mission marketer. The company won't launch until November 1, 2011, but now is the time to get on board and be one of the first to be part of this organic business opportunity.

Besides building a business, you can also have the Beyond Organic products to enjoy yourself. You will no longer have to search for a place to buy grassfed beef or raw cheeses.With these new products, Jordan Rubin is offering a higher standard for grassfed beef than the USDA Organic product designation.

Right now, you can sign up for free just to receive info about the Beyond Organic launch. If you like what you read about this new organic opportunity, you can sign up as an Independent Mission Marketer. Once you are an Independent Mission Marketer, you can purchase the Founder's Package and start enjoying these organic products and start spreading the word on the Beyond Organic products, including the grassfed beef and raw cheese.

The Beyond Organic Founder's Package includes:

REIGN ™ - Supreme Mountain Spring Water (1 Case of 24)
REIGN ™ - Awaken (12 Pack)
REIGN ™ - Veggie (12 Pack)
REIGN ™ - Fruit (12 Pack)
SueroViv - Citrus (12 pack)
SueroViv - Berry (12 pack)
SueroViv - Ginger (12 pack)
Beyond Organic Chocolate (2 Cases of 12)
Amasai Variety Pack (6 Pack)
Beyond Organic Raw Cheddar 3 Pack – 1 lb. each
Beyond Organic Raw Havarti cheese 1 lb.
Beyond Organic GreenFed™ Ground Beef 3 Pack – 1 lb. each
Beyond Organic GreenFed™ Beef Hot Dogs 2 Pack – 12oz. each

This listing also gives you an idea of the wonderful products that will be available to improve your family's health.

If you'd like to enjoy more grassfed beef, raw cheese and other healthy organic products for your family at an economical price, help spread the word about the importance of eating organic, and build a business that contributes to the health of those around you, check out Beyond Organic, sign up for the newsletter and learn more about this important new organic business opportunity.

Where to Buy Coconut Water

2011-08-17T07:09:00.000-07:00

Coconut water is a great post workout recovery drink but if you have to pay $2 to $3 per bottle, buying it at your local yoga studio or fitness center, it can add up. One way to save money, once you you know where to buy coconut water, is to purchase a case at a time.

The benefit of coconut water as an after work out drink is that it contains lots of potassium, a mineral you need to replenish after exercising to prevent leg cramps. Coconut water also contains other minerals your body needs, but is fat free and replenishes electrolytes naturally, and with less sugar and calories than most sports drinks. It's also natural. There aren't any additives or flavorings if you stick to plain coconut water.

What is Coconut Water?

Inside a coconut, you have the meat and the liquid at the center, known as coconut water. If you wanted to make your own coconut water, you'd need to have access to whole coconuts, which you could then break open and drink the liquid. In the Philippines and Asia, where coconuts are plentiful, this is a common practice.

Where to Buy Coconut Water and Get the Best Price

I recently found a case of 12 bottles of coconut water at Costco for about $18, which is a great price, but I hadn't seen it there before. With Costco, you don't know if they will always have a certain product each time you shop.

Amazon.com carries several different kinds of coconut water, either as a single bottle, or by the case. If you drink a lot of it, you can always "subscribe and save" to have it automatically shipped, either each month, or every 2-3 months. Shipping is free for most brands, especially if you use the subscribe and save.

You can also buy coconut water by the bottle at many local supermarkets, health food stores, yoga studios or fitness centers but you'll pay a premium for them that way. The more economical way is to buy a case to keep at home and carry a bottle with you when you work out.

Coconut water is a light and refreshing change from drinking water after a heavy workout and once you learn where to buy coconut water at a budget price, you can enjoy it without breaking the budget.

Benefits of Bikram Yoga - Just Finished my First Class!

2011-08-10T05:06:00.000-07:00

Learn more about Bikram yoga

I went to my first Bikram yoga class having no expectations at all, other than the fact that yoga poses were done in a "hot" room, where the temperature was 105 degrees. I'd read about the benefits if Bikram yoga, including cleansing and flushing all systems of the body (which is great for the immune system) weightloss (up to 1000 calories burned in a session!), and increasing muscle tone. I got a good deal on one month's unlimited classes at a new studio nearby so thougth I'd give it a try.

I knew nothing about Bikram yoga before I went except that the room is kept at 105 degrees during the session. When I signed up, I was told my goal for that first class was just to stay in the room, without even worrying about doing the poses! I was also told that I might experience nausea or light headedness. What had I gotten myself into?

What is Bikram Yoga?

While most yoga classes vary the poses each time, Bikram yoga is a series of 26 poses, which are never varied. There are also two 2 breathing exercises. Part of the series is done standing and part is done sitting or laying down. Another thing that makes this yoga practice different, besides the set routine of poses which lasts for 90 minutes, is the temperature of the room.

Other differences to someone who had done yoga before is that the instructor stands on a podium at the front of the class and calls out instructions. He or she doesn't do the poses with the class. It's good to hydrate the day before class and before going to class. I didn't do this, I just took water with me. I think I wouldn't have been so tired after that first class if I'd been more hydrated.

Once I went in to lay my mat down, I quickly went back out again and drank a half bottle of water! I'm not a person who loves heat - I hate Texas summers! - and this room was hot! You start dripping sweat the minute to you go into the room. I'd recommend taking two bottles of water with you too, so you can drink freely during class without worry you'll run out. This studio has a place to refill bottles outside by the front desk too.

When I called to ask about the Bikram classes, I was told that all classes at this studio were beginning classes. I thought, since I'd been doing yoga at our local YMCA for a couple of years, I could handle it. Well, I would say most students in the class were more like the advanced students in the Y class. They could mostly all do Standing Bow Pose or the Balancing Stick Pose with only some wobbling. I did notice that pretty much everybody had to stop occasionally and sit or stand to take a break.

Since all the poses are the same each time you go, it is possible to get better at them in a short time. I know at my class at the Y, the poses vary each day, although the types of poses, balance poses, warrior poses, etc are pretty much the same. One thing I like about the Birkram yoga is they emphasize coming to practice daily, while at the Y, there is only a Monday, Wed and Saturday class and I can never make the Saturday class. Going to yoga practice twice a week really isn't enough if you want to get better.

Read more about the Benefits of Bikram Yoga

When that first class was finished, I was drenched in sweat from head to foot and totally drained. Drained but absolutely stress free. I also felt cleansed, as if every toxin in my body had flowed out with the gallons of sweat. And I slept like a rock that night too. I also felt a sense of accomplishment that I'd finished a class and not only that, I'd done all of the poses, at least to the level of my ability, without taking excessive breaks.

Am I going back to Bikram tomorrow? You bet! Stay tuned for updates.

Weightloss Tip - Eat Watermelon this Summer

2011-08-08T08:12:00.000-07:00

Delicious, juicy watermelon is a terrific weightloss food and summer is the time to get watermelon in season. Now that watermelons come in every size and are seedless, there is no reason not to enjoy them often. We all know watermelon is delicious but why is Watermelon nutrition so good for your weightloss program?

Calories in Watermelon

First of all, watermelon calories are almost non-existent. There are only 46 calories in a cup of watermelon and only two of watermelon's calories come from fat.

Watermelon Nutrition

Besides having few calories, watermelons are packed with valuable nutrients. When you give your body the nutrients it needs on a daily basis, losing weight or maintaining weight will be much easier, plus you'll be healthier and more energetic.

Watermelon nutrients:

Vitamins A, C and B6, B1
Iron
Calcium and Magnesium
Potassium
And fiber

Other watermelon nutrients include lycopene, the same nutrient that gives tomatoes their red color. Watermelon actually contains about double the amount of lycopene that you'll find in a tomato, even though it's tomatoes which get all the attention. Lycopene helps prevent cancers such of the breast, endometriam, lung and colon, and it's also good for your eyes, helping to prevent eye conditions like cataracts and macular degeneration.

Watermelon nutrition is great for an anti-inflammatory diet, helping to protect the body from diseases caused by inflammation such asthma, colon cancer, arthritis and diabetes. The antixoidants in watermelon also help prevent heart disease and high blood pressure.

Other Benefits of Watermelon

Watermelon is also about 92% water, which makes it a real thirst quencher. The water and fiber content in watermelon, combined with the low calories make this fruity treat a real weightloss bonus! If you eat a cup of watermelon, you'll feel full so you won't want to overeat other, higher calorie foods, and you'll hydrate your body so it can cope with summer time heat.

All these things combined make watermelon a delicious weightloss food.

How to Make Your Own Greek Yogurt

2011-08-01T06:15:00.000-07:00

Greek yogurt can be expensive but it's easy to learn how to make your own Greek yogurt. You can even make it organic, if you prefer. Scroll down for easy directions.

Thick and creamy Greek yogurt can easily be substituted for sour cream with a savings in calories and an increase in protein.

Calories in Greek Yogurt-16 calories with 0 grams of fat and 2.7g of protein

Calories in Sour Cream - 61 per ounce for regular sour cream with 5.9 g of fat and .7 gm of protein.

Great website for comparing calories and nutrition of two different foods

How to Make Your Own Greek Yogurt

Start with a container of plain yogurt, any size, depending on how much you'd like to make. I like to buy organic plain yogurt but regular plain is somewhat cheaper.

Line a colander with paper towels or a coffee filter and sit this in a bowl large enough to rest the colander in.

Put the yogurt into the lined colander and set the entire thing in the refrigerator overnight or for at least 12 hours. All the water drains out of the yogurt and you're left with creamy, delicious Greek yogurt.

Yogurt has many beneficial bacteria which aid digestion. Read more about the benefits of fermented foods. It's easy to make your own yogurt as well with a yogurt maker like the Euro Cuisine Yogurt Maker - YM80.

Making your own Greek yogurt is easy, takes little time and saves you money.

Try these tasty recipes using Greek yogurt from The Food Network.