a marriage

Meet the orange (or mandarin, tangerine, tangelo, etc.)

Meet Iron

 

If there is something you learn today...let it be this....

  Vitamin C and Iron should always be paired together.  

If your anemic, like me, your taking iron pills.  But you might as well sew a dress without any string if your not adding vitamin C to your diet.  Iron needs Vitamin C.  The body loves and needs iron naturally...some more than others...and it order for your iron to be absorbed into your body you need the vitamin C to make it happen.

You see, Iron needs to hold hands with Vitamin C because if it doesn't its just gonna go in one way and out the other.

So next time you need some more iron in your diet, or just in general b/c Iron is what are bodies need, eat that spinach with a few slices of orange or carrots. 

See my other post about "power couples" here.

And for some pairing ideas next time you eat:

high in iron:

nuts

spinach 

 roast beef 

 oysters 

 liver 

 raisons 

high in Vit C:

 oranges 

 papaya 

 grapefruit 

 brocolli 

 carrots

"too old for acne but too young for wrinkles"

a product maybe worth trying..

 Biore Skin preservation dual fusion

Tummy Turmoil

The best way to regain your hydration and sooth your stomach after you've expelled the contents(gitters) is to drink Coconut water.

"What they Do: When you lose fluids, you lose electrolytes and other nutrients.  Drinking Gatorade will rehydrate you, but Slayton prefers coconut water, a natural source of electrolytes and potassium."

Can be found in supermarkets.

Source: Real Simple Mag, pg 138, JUNE 2010
Image

Nominated "Best Deep Conditioner" for hair

By Real Simple Mag

Dry Hair???

Nexxus Humectress Hydrating Treatment
"A thick 5 minute mask, it uses keratin to nourish and strengthen hair."

Buy @ Target $15

Does cooking in the microwave decrease nutritional value?

NOT ENIRELY so...

"Microwaved food may retain vitamins BETTER than stovetop-cooked food.  That's because the microwave zaps it quickly and without much water.  One study found that spinach retained only 77 percent of the B-vitamin folate when cooked on a stove --- but retained ALL of its folate when cooked in a microwave."

To read more you need to sign up with Consumer Reports on Health magazine.

Interesting, ain't it?  Of course, the test was only done with spinach.  Who knows how other foods will handle in the microwave.  Its just nice to know that the microwave shouldn't be as hated as it is.





-Aezra

report taken from: CR on Health Mag, pg 6, July issue
image from http://www.polanoid.net/ , key word "microwave"

The truth about carbs

Today's Statement:  "If its White, don't bite!"

" Bad carbs are generally white in color. Think: Sugar, White flour, white bread, [etc.] If you avoid[/limit] bad carbs you may reduce the risk of Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and [dreaded words] WEIGHT GAIN."

"Good carbs come from fruits, veggies, and WHOLE grains.  Eat good carbs to keep your cholesterol level healthy...your blood pressure and blood sugar stable...and excess pounds off."

Taken from CR on Health Magazine, pg 6, July issue

Image sources:

tomato

Bread

Sugar sub

"Stevia IN THE RAW(TM) is the purest national brand stevia sweetener available. Other stevia products add erythritol and isomaltulose. [This is] all natural, zero calories, and costs less + tastes great."





Have you heard of Stevia? Not me...so figured i'd jot it down to remember to try.





Interested? Read on here.

Skin enhancement care

some venues to try. I may keep adding to this list as I go.

• For Pigmentation(evening skin tone): "Choose a lotion with kojic acid and alpha hydroxy acids to inhibit production of melanin and slough off darkened skin cells." Rs Pick-- Skinceuticals pigment regulator, $85 skinceuticals.com.





• For Eye cream: "The skin around the eyes is thin and has few oil glands, so it dries out easily [therefore] accentuat[ing] lines. A rich eye cream can help. Apply it first [thing in the morning] and allow time to dry b/4 applying make up."--Origins GinZing refreshing eye cream, $29, origins.com.

Pic from: beaut.ie/blog

article from: Realsimple.com/caring for your skin/beauty

Brussels Sprouts

I see them at the farmers market all the time but not like im gonna be adventurous to just buy them and then later not eat them. Better find out about them..i thought. So heres what i found.

Why the Sprouts?

"Cruciferous vegetables like brussels sprouts are packed w/ phytonutrients that are thought to booset health and may help prevent some forms of cancer. you'll also get a good helping of

vit C,

dietary fiber,

via A and

potassium

in the slightly bitter sprouts."

:How do pick good ones?:

"Look for firm, compact, heads that are bright green in color and free of lemishes. Avoid: puffy or light for their size. The smaller the sprouts, the sweeter they'll be; less than 1 " in diameter is preferable."

:Delicious ways to eat them:

Fettuccine with Brussels Sprouts and Prosciutto

"Saute thinly sliced sprouts in butter until tender. Toss with cooked fettuccine, sliced prosciutto , and grated parmesan."

Sprouts and Apples

"Toss thinly sliced sprouts with thinly sliced apples, fresh thyme, olive oil, and fresh lemon juice."

article via: Realsimple mag

"Soda...Bad!"...said Grugle

"Just why is too much sugar so unhealthy? Well, to start, let's talk about what happens to you as sugar enters your body. When you drink sodas that are packed with simple sugars, the pancreas is called upon to produce and release insulin, a hormone that empties the sugar in your blood stream into all the tissues and cells for usage. The result of overindulging in simple sugar is raised insulin levels. Raised blood insulin levels beyond the norm can lead to depression of the immune system, which in turn weakens your ability to fight disease. "

Soda...make you susceptible to illness
...said Grugle

"Something else to consider is that most of the excess sugar ends up being stored as fat in your body, which results in weight gain and elevates risk for heart disease and cancer. One study found that when subjects were given refined sugar, their white blood cell count decreased significantly for several hours afterwards. Another study discovered that rats fed a high-sugar diet had a substantially elevated rate of breast cancer when compared to rats on a regular diet."

Soda....make you FAT!
...said Grugle

"The health effects of diet soda
You may come to the conclusion that diet or sugar-free soda is a better choice. However, one study discovered that drinking one or more soft drinks a day — and it didn’t matter whether it was diet or regular — led to a 30% greater chance of weight gain around the belly."

Diet Soda?....Bad too!
... said Grugle

"Diet soda is filled with artificial sweeteners such as aspartame, sucralose, or saccharin. These artificial sweeteners pose a threat to your health. Saccharin, for instance, has been found to be carcinogenic, and studies have found that it produced bladder cancer in rats.

Aspartame, commonly known as nutrasweet, is a chemical that stimulates the brain to think the food is sweet. It breaks down into acpartic acid, phenylalanine, and methanol at a temperature of 86 degrees. (Remember, your stomach is somewhere around 98 degrees.) An article put out by the University of Texas found that aspartame has been linked to obesity. The process of stimulating the brain causes more cravings for sweets and leads to carbohydrate loading."

Carbonation eat bones!
...said Grugle

"Carbonation depletes calcium
Beverages with bubbles contain phosphoric acid, which can severely deplete the blood calcium levels; calcium is a key component of the bone matrix. With less concentration of calcium over a long time, it can lower deposition rates so that bone mass and density suffer. This means that drinking sodas and carbonated water increases your risk of osteoporosis.

Add in the caffeine usually present in soft drinks, and you are in for even more trouble. Caffeine can deplete the body’s calcium, in addition to stimulating your central nervous system and contributing to stress, a racing mind, and insomnia."

So drink less soda...k?
...Said Grugle

image from: here

article from: here

"..an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!"

A fun little reality...

Halloween(for general pop) means = Candy and treats
Higher amounts of Candy and treats quickly weakness your immune system
A weakened Immune system becomes more susceptible to viruses, colds, flu, swine flu, etc.
Having Viruses, colds, flu means = NOT FUN FOR ANYONE(yourself or one you care for or work place, etc)

Halloween sparks the beginning of the SICK season because most eat more sugar amounts in shorter periods of time while not eating right nor taking the vitamins needed to even the scales.

My equation for SICK season is this (Cold weather + Halloween/Holidays= Sick)



In Truth, the more you've been sick the easier it is for Immune system to recognize the illness. So being sick alot(ex. children) is a good thing in a way because the body now knows how to fight it, but CAN it??? Even if you're not sick alot there are constant wars and battles being fought in our bodies daily and what better way to strengthen our forts walls than to have wellness shots. To everyone there own, when regarding Flu shot VS no Flu shot. But just as you should be taking your vitamins to boost your immune system why not include "wellness shots".

What is a Wellness shot and how would it benefit me?

" Wellness Shots- This is our alternative to the conventional flu shot and has become very popular at NNWC! This combination of anti-viral and immune boosting homeopathic remedies can be taken acutely to speed up the recovery time of any of the nasty viruses out there...or better yet for prevention, on a monthly basis during the cold & flu season! There are two versions available- in oral dosage form for kids or in shot form for adults (we add B12 for even more benefits in the shot form)."


When I heard this It sounded good to me and so I think I will partake and thought I'd pass along to anybody else interested. Thanks Sis for the info. And for you readers:


Naturally Nurturing Wellness Center
2730 S. Val Vista Dr. #128
Gilbert, AZ 85295
(480)981-1960



For carriers of wellness shots just Google it for your area/locale OR call your physician.

Eyes: about them and how to protect them

Literally...this post has to do with the interesting bits about the human eye. Interesting to know.

From birth to your 30's:

"When you are born, the lenses inside your eyes are generally crystal clear and flexible, and zonules(ligaments that tighten and slacken to focus) connected to them are strong. However with age they become less flexible and it weakens.""

" If your eyes are too long, you're near-sighted. If they are somewhat short, you're far-sighted. "

40's:

"This decade is when we begin to lose our ability to focus up close, which is called presbyopia"

"the time to schedule a comprehensive baseline eye exam"

50's:

"Our lenses harden which in turn just means you need stronger corrective lenses or even bifocals.

"you become at greater risk of cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration."

((Cataracts are when the lenses become cloudy. glaucoma is when pressure gets built up in the eyes causing damage to the optic nerves." Macular degeneration the macula(part of retina) deteriorates due to heredity or environmental factors and the central line sight becomes impaired. First sign: blurred vision"))

Start protecting your eyes now by doing the following:

1.Eating dark and leafy greens

• spinach



• kale



• collard greens



• deep colored veggies

2.Eat high antioxidant foods (2 servings a day)

• berries



• oranges



• plums



• cherries

(the darker the better ex. black or purple grapes VS green grapes)

3.Take a multivitamin No duh!

4.Get your omega-3s

"you've heard omega-3s are good for your heart, but" are also good for your eyes.

how? omega-3s fatty acids found in certain fish, such as salmon, halibut, and tuna, can help maintain the eyes' protective tear film, minimize dry eyes, and even prevent cataracts"

now i just need to find a cheap fish market round in AZ..wish me luck.

5.Eat CARROTS!

-these and other orange offerings(pumpkin, butternut squash) contain beta carotene, helps keep healthy eyes.

I got teased in high school for saying that carrots help your eyes. See? See?!!!

6.Wear your SHADES!

"UV light is a major player in the hardening of the lenses and cataracts etc." eek!

7.Elevate your heart rate

"studies show that aerobic exercises can decrease the pressure inside the eyes, helping reduce the risk for glaucoma." WoW!

what does nail polish have to do with birth defects?

Its called DBP formula. That stands for dibutyl phthalate (DBP). This is found in nail polishes and other cosmetics. Its a chemical, a plasterizer, known to harm the male reproductive system causing defects, reduced sperm count, and can defect the structure of the "one eyed snake".( ah-hem, sry i do not like the "P" word, just my prefrence)...and also was found to cause developmental problems.

"Not just a powerful reproductive toxicant but..."(to read more follow this link)>>>>>

http://www.carolynnewyork.com/t-formula.aspx

and especially here

http://www.nailaidcares.com/expert-tips-4.php


I was just about to put on my newly bought red nail polish when i read the top label saying

" New DBP Free Formula"

and wondered what that meant so i googled it.

Watch out next time when buying your nail polish...beware of the big word dibutyl phthalate in the lable.

for more products NOT containing that crap visit here.

from your all-to-dumb-blond
Aezra

Track record

Now I don't have the best track record when it comes to my "track". Seems like since pregnancy I've had constipation issues.(many reasons) So I am always lookin' for healthier better ways to keep a better "track record".(if you're following me). Because lets face it, the same routine everyday can get boring...so thats why I like to try different things.

Here are two more things to add to the list to keeping ya 'smooth':

eat cherries
-not sure the details why, I just know(first hand) it works


Orange peel

-yeah, ya know that white stuff? well its not only a natural laxative but its good for your body. Thats because its packed with fiber. Next time you eat an orange...leave all that white stuff on there!

Fit as a fiddle and ready to go

One of my annoying piano practice warm ups. Ugh, i always dreaded to hear those words let alone to warm up my fingers..."lets just Play already"(i'd think).

As to where I am going with this...I found some helpful quick and easy ways to simply get a little exercise into my daily routines with out throwing them off.

One I found helpful and exhilarating was to Exercise in quick spurts

" A study has found that ppl who did just four to six 30 sec sprints reaped the same heart-health benefits as those who logged a moderate 40-60 minute workout."

Get your heart pumping simple steps

• jump rope for 3 minutes


• sprint to and from the mailbox three times(ignore the curious looks & remember just do what you can do)

Things you don't wanna know but Must!

Places of acutely HIGH GERM content: (MUST READ)


the playground/playplace
Ball pits
Water drinking fountains
Petting Zoo
Shopping Cart Handles
Children's Museums
Public High Chair
Computer Keyboards
Pets

Rule number 1: Never touch the mucus membrane entries such as Mouth, Nose, or Eyes.
now we may continue.


Playplace: your average jungle gym is likely to be more germ-INFESTED than a public bathroom. Depends on how often it gets sanitized.

How to stay safe: Just make known to thyself and loved ones(hehe) never to touch the mouth, nose or eyes before, during, and after. Clean your hands before you leave. (hand sanitizer-soap /water, etc)

Ball Pits: Best to steer clear indefinitely.

How to stay safe: But if you are willing to chance it; remember rule number 1. And wash thy hands before entering and exiting "The Pit"!!!


Pediatrics waiting room: is a "virtual petri dish" for germs.

-how to stay safe: wash thy hands before and after your visit, take along thy own toys and reading materials.

Water Fountains: a typical fountain contains more harmful germs than a public toilet seat b/c kids tend to touch the spigot either with fingers or mouth passing germs onto the next who takes a harmless sip. Cold and flu viruses can live on the metal for up to five hours! yikes!

-how to stay safe: Dont drink! nah, just kidding ya. Well remember and tell kids(etc) to keep his lips and fingers off AND to let the water run for a few seconds before drinking. Helps keep those mean nasty organisms away!

Petting Zoo: are linked to major E. coli outbreaks recently. Reason being that animals dont care where they lie down which in turn could mean traces of feces from the fur or saliva can get onto the hands. Eew!

How to stay safe: Lets just say Don't take kids under 3 years old or if you do don't let them touch, just look. Engage rule number one. Remember to wash your hands afterward and even ontop of that use an alcohol based hand jel.

Shopping cart handles: everybody's touching them and think of how many unclean surfaces each has touched that day! Sky rocketing the risk that you may catch something just from a simple visit to the market.

-stay safe- clean with disinfecting wipe before touching or putting a child in the cart. Shopping cart covers are nice but remember germs survive longer in fabric than on a plastic handle...so wash wash wash em' often.

Child's museum: again germs everywhere that can be encountered will be.

-stay safe-
So remember rule number one and teach others around you to do the same. Wash your hands before leaving-hand jel, what not.

Public High chair: The likely hood of that chair being cleaning beforehand? Yikes, highly doubt it. Germs commonly fester in places you can't reach(darn nooks and crannies!)

-stay safe-
take along a disposable high-chair cover or use disinfectin wipe on it.
also, wipe clean your own home high chair after each use with disinfecting spray( I use Clorox Anywhere solution) and wipe clean with paper towel. Its just common sense but were all human.

Computer Keyboards: more likely that there are more germs harvesting on these than a schools door knob. Hows that you say??? Because a school is cleaned everyday including those handles..whereas your keyboard, hmmm not really. Unless you're a freak(in a good way).

-stay safe-
Teach thyself and then some to sneeze into the crook of your arm, use a tissue to clean out the nose(not the finger, c'mon we've all done it!) and disinfect with wipe once a week to maintain a healthier balance. And of course wash your hands afterwards.


Pets: This one I LOVE To holler right back at pplz defending the phrase "my dog's mouth has less germs in it than a human mouth".

That "May" be so however ain't no way in hell the FUR or PAWS are!!!

Pets: can transmit harmful bacteria from feces on their fur or paws.

-stay safe-
just be sure to wash has before you doing anything after petting or coming in "contact" with a pet. Also, disinfect with spray in your homes entryways regularly.


Yup, that about does it, for now.


sites:
thanks to Parent's Mag and Google image search