New Habits Anyone?

What's your new Healthy Habit?

So I traveled last month and I bought two really interesting books. They're my typical buy - self development books. My current readings are....

 I personally think that we are all 'OKAY!' don't get me wrong, but someone's life story or eureka moment that sparks greatness or lesson learnt can TOTALLY shift you from just OK to a better YOU! So I love to read self development books because hey....I pick up new and positive inspiration that prompts me to be a better ME!!!!

And spurred on by my reading, I got to thinking....

What ONE new thing could I do...daily...diligently...from July 1, 2016 that can significantly improve my Health....12 months from now?

So as I document my journey, I want to hear from YOU.

Is there one simple thing, A HEALTHY HABIT, that you can adopt today and do diligently every day that will make a GREAT difference in your HEALTH?

For me, it is actually two new things.....

1. Meditation

2. Drink the Right Amount of Water each Day

Please hit me up a "Comment" below and let me know if you want to join me in forming 1 new healthy habit for 2016?

Just in case, you don't know where to start, check below ....

Join the journey!
Let me know which New Healthy you choose Today

Leave a Comment and Share this post with others!!

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Wished The Wax wasn't there

Indeed everything has a price!

If I want fresh apples and pears and I don't have unrestricted access to a nearby Orchard (An impossibility in Trinidad), then my only resort is to buy waxed imported fruits from the fruit vendor!!!!

So doing a bit of research on whether waxed fruits are safe to eat, I discovered the following: 

• Some fruits naturally produce their own wax such as Pears, Plums and Apples.
• This naturally occurring wax is digestible and non toxic (of course)
• The naturally occurring wax helps the fruits retain its moisture, firmness and retards spoiling after it is picked

So why then, are producers adding more Wax?

You guessed Correctly !!!!! - So fruits can have a longer shelf life

Is this added wax which is called "Food Grade" wax safe for humans????

Personally, I think NOT!!!

My quick and dirty research into what the wax is made up revealed two common types of wax that are used: 

• Shellac - wax made from female Lac Bug (eh?)
• Carnauba - wax made from the Carnauba palm 

Most medical sites state that the wax should NOT be digested but scraped off or washed off with vinegar. The Food and Drug Administration in the US says its "Food Grade" and safe....Who do you believe????

Since we are never really sure if "Food Grade" is "Healthy" just like "Food Grade Coloring" in foods,  I'll stick to peeling off the skin or scrubbing that WAX off my fruit!!!

OH!!!!  Even Better.....Trinidadians have access to many seasonal local fruit which (Thankfully....Hopefully???) are not waxed such as Guavas, Sapodilla and Mangoes.....Fruitylicious!!!!

 

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Body Brushing

DRY BRUSHING

Hello Folks!!!

I am doing a quick Poll, Do you know about Dry Brushing and if so, do you practice Dry Brushing??? Please let me know in the comment section below!

So healthy living is all about being aware and making better choices about what we feed our bodies, what we put on it, how to improve our defenses against pollutants in our environment and what things we can do daily to support our health.

I will like to talk about Dry Brushing...

Dry Brushing is a technique where you brush your entire body with a brush. You are not doing it in the shower...you are brushing your body while it is dry.

Why?

Well there's lot of benefits of Dry Brushing as illustrated in the chart below.

So now that you have the benefits, just buy any brush and dry brush??? NO!

You want to purchase a wooden brush with natural bristles such as Boar bristles. The bristles should not be plastic and the bristles should not be very stiff or it won't be effective. 

These are the brushes I use to Dry Brush....

I use the long one for my back and the handheld one for the front of my body! What I love about Dry Brushing is that, it energizes me and it drains my lymphatic system. And what's there not to love about reducing Cellulite - Count me in!

Remember: 

• Do it daily! - At least once a day
• Do it before you take a shower - only 4 minutes to Dry Brush
• It feels a bit itchy at first as your lymph nodes get agitated but after a number of times, it's addictive!
• The brushing sequence is important, brushing direction must always be towards the heart

Check out the graphic below for the brushing flow....start from your toes and work your way up!

To Good Health - Start Dry Brushing Today!

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To have or not to have...Sausages

SAUSAGES....SAUSAGES

Good Saturday Afternoon to ya!

My 6 year old daughter LOVES sausages...I mean LOVE SAUSAGES!!!!...You can give her hot dogs everyday and she'd be happy as a kid in a Candy Store !!!!

The only problem is that I am trying to help her kick that bad habit that I created. Yes, me! - I really did not know better and when I was a kid, I ate sausages so quite naturally she was fed them.

I did not take the time to understand the kind of stuff that was mechanically stuffed into what we bought as sausages nor had I, a clue, about the amount of artificial, hazardous materials that was added in the making of sausages.  I discovered that Sausages were DEFINITELY hazardous to one's health.  I suspect 30 years ago they may have been a tad bit healthier but not NOW!

I found out that the MOST dangerous ingredient in SAUSAGES is Sodium Nitrite. Sodium Nitrite causes cancer and it is found in processed meats such as hot dogs, bacon and most types of cured meats and sausages. This ingredient is a color fixer chemical which is used to make meats appear red.

For a list of some of the other wonderful ingredients in your modern day sausage, take a look at the video below

NOT A PRETTY SIGHT!!!


Anyways, I thought, like most bad habits, I have to ween it, ever so slowly, so I'll start to look for organic sausage...some brilliant health scientist must have thought of a way to make Sausage without all the fillers and Sodium Nitrite.



Turns out, I found some organic sausages at the Be Free Foods Organic Grocery, right in Trinidad. Yes, in Trinidad and Tobago we have organic shops and groceries. I have listed two spots in Trinidad that provide organic products.  Are they delicious - Yes!, Are they healthier - Yes! and Are they more expensive - Of course. But I'd prefer that my daughter and I have an occasional treat of organic hot dogs than spend thousands of dollars...trying to restore our health!



Located 6 Mucurapo Road, Port of Spain. Telephone: 1 (868) 622-5925


Located #80 Roberts Street, Woodbrook. Telephone: 1 (868) 622-3643


Looking out for ya!

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Is your Home making you Sick

How Healthy is Your Home????

We are kids of the modern era....We are pro-consumers!!!

We love to buy everything....Even when we don't need it.

Oh, I never tried perfumed crystals for my clothes....I'll buy that!

Oh!!! New and Improved scrubbing bubbles for my bathroom must have that!

Are these products essential???? That's anyone's guess but I'm sure you'll think twice when you grab the next bottle of Lysol when you have a look at this interesting video about the hidden household dangers!!!!

Looking out for Ya!

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How to Stretch your dollar$ and your Produce!

How To Get The Most Out of Your Produce: Complete Guide

Written by ReAnna Ruiz

Produce is a significant part of our diet and we prepare it in many different ways. Typically we eat our produce raw or we cook it using various methods such as frying, boiling and steaming. Trying to determine the best way to prepare your produce in order to get the highest amount of nutrients can be challenging. Below is a comprehensive guide highlighting 10 of the most popular fruits and vegetables, and explains the best way to prepare them for maximum nutritional value.

Produce: CELERY

Type: Vegetable

Highest Nutritional Value: (RAW or STEAMED) Nutrients in celery such as Vitamin A, Vitamin, C, Vitamin K and Potassium, are most profound when they are raw and mostnutritious when consumed in this state. Additionally, the water retention helps to preserve these nutrients as well, so steaming the celery is encouraged. Any methods of preparation that will evaporate the water such as cooking it stove-top or in the microwave, will devalue the nutritional content.

Storage & Preservation: Cut leaves accordingly and immediately soak in a bowl of filtered water. Cover the top with plastic wrap and refrigerate.

Produce: AVOCADO

Type: Fruit

Highest Nutritional Value: (RAW) Based the unique fats in avocados, it is best to enjoy this fruit in its raw form. Although heat is not recommended in regard to nutritional value, heating it minimally in the microwave or adding it to a warm meal will not significantly effect its health benefits.

Storage & Preservation: Once pealed and cut, store remaining avocado in a plastic sandwich bag and freeze.

Produce: BROCCOLI

Type: Vegetable

Highest Nutritional Value: (RAW or COOKED) The unique power nutrient in broccoli issulforaphane and absorbed into the human body only when it is raw.

Although the benefits of sulforphane are blocked once heat is added, there are other nutrients in broccoli that will actually increase in nutritional value when it is cooked like Vitamin E, Vitamin A and Vitamin K.

Storage & Preservation: For short term storage, place remaining broccoli in a plastic bag, poke a few holes in it and refrigerate. For long term storage place it in a plastic bag without poking holes and put it in the freezer immediately after purchase.

Produce: APPLES

Type: Fruit

Highest Nutritional Value: (RAW) Although apples are favored among most when they are cooked or baked, the heat completely strips this delicious fruit from its most prominent nutrient, Vitamin C. It is best to enjoy apples fresh, and for optimized nutrition leave the skin on, which contains more than half the fiber.

Storage & Preservation: Bundle each apple in paper wrap and place in plastic bag. Tie off the bag and refrigerate.

Produce: CARROTS

Type: Vegetable

Highest Nutritional Value: (COOKED) Studies from UA experiments have revealed that cooking carrots increases its nutritional value based on carotene levels. Carotene is a powerful antioxidant in carrots that provides high nutritional value.

Storage & Preservation: For short term storage cut accordingly and store in sealed plastic bag with a couple pieces of paper towel and refrigerate. For long term storage follow the same steps and freeze.

Produce: TOMATOES

Type: Fruit

Highest Nutritional Value: (COOKED) Lycopene, the strong antioxidant rich in tomatoes, is increased significantly when tomatoes are cooked. Cornell University explained that although cooking the tomatoes will reduce the Vitamin C, it will still remain an active nutrient even after cooking.

Storage & Preservation: For best taste and overall appearance it is best to eat them right after purchase, if you must store them, make it as temporary as possible and leave them room temperature. If you need to store them for more than 48 hours, it is best that you refrigerate them, however, doing so will have an effect on taste and appearance.

Produce: ONIONS

Type: Vegetable

Highest Nutritional Value: (RAW or COOKED) Sulfur compounds are slightly higher in raw onions but statistics show that they are highly nutritious raw or cooked due to the powerful antioxidant it contains called Quercetin and also the B Vitamin compounds, fiber and folic acid.

Storage & Preservation: Place in paper bag and poke a few holes. Close the bag and store room temperature.

Produce: BANANAS/PLANTAINS

Type: Fruit

Highest Nutritional Value: (COOKED) Most enjoy bananas raw as it is a quick and delicious way to eat them. However, nutritional statistics show that bananas have a greater percentage of vitamins and nutrients when they are cooked versus eating them raw.

Storage & Preservation: Store at room temperature and eat them shortly after purchase.Wrap tips of bananas in plastic wrap to help reduce rotting. If you need to store them for more than 48 hours, purchase them unripened.

Produce: PEPPERS

Type: Vegetable

Highest Nutritional Value: (RAW) The most nutritious component to peppers is Vitamin C which dissolves in water and other liquids when cooked. It is best to eat them raw when Vitamin C is fully intact.

Storage & Preservation: For short term storage place in a plastic bag ad poke a few holes and refrigerate. For long term storage follow the same steps without poking any holes and place in the freezer.

Produce: BERRIES

Type: Fruit

Highest Nutritional Value: (RAW or COOKED) Berries are a delicious snack packed full of vitamins and antioxidants. Their nutritional value relatively stays the same whether they are cooked or eaten raw, with the exception of Vitamin C which is reduced significantly after being cooked.

Storage & Preservation: Berries are best consumed right after purchase. If you need to storethem short term, place them in a plastic storage container and refrigerate. For long term storage follow the same steps and freeze.

Using produce for creative meals can also be fun and tasty. Have a look at the video tutorial  below by Dr. Eric Berg, illustrating how to make Cauliflower Pizza Crust. Many recipes for this type of pizza crust include using a technique that calls for squeezing as much liquid out of the cauliflower as possible. The water stored in the cauliflower holds almost all of the nutrients. Presumably, this is why Dr. Berg does not squeeze the water out of the cauliflower as he wants to ensure that he gets all the healthy nutrients he can out of the it. The effects of moisture reduction can be detrimental to the nutrients in cauliflower. Many would argue that in order to execute a successful Cauliflower Pizza Crust, you should squeeze out the water in the cauliflower, otherwise the crust is likely to fall apart. If you choose to use this method, remember to never let good nutrients go to waste – you can still use the liquid from your cauliflower after you’ve squeezed it out by adding it to other recipes such as smoothies or homemade juice drinks.

Time for you to prepare your produce in the healthiest ways possible. Now that you’ve reviewed this guide, it should help you to make the best nutritional decisions for you and your family so you can make terrific healthy organic recipes of your own!


To your health!!!

YaY!

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What's in your Chewing Gum?

5 Dangerous Ingredients in Chewing Gum

Written by Organics

An average person does not pay attention what’s in their gum. After all, you chew it and spit it out, right? No harm in that. But there is. The ingredients, some of which are quite dangerous, do enter your body, through the walls of your mouth while bypassing your digestive system that would typically get rid of some of these toxins. So if you or your kids chew gum, it’s important to check for these very harmful ingredients:

1. Calcium Casein Peptone (Calcium Phosphate)

Trident gum is the primary user of this ingredient. It’s a highly processed milk derivative used for texturizer/whitening agent. Casein was previously linked to baby formula poisonings in China.

2. Gum Base

Gum base just sounds right when it’s part of the ingredients for gum, doesn’t it? But in fact, this ingredient is often shrouded in mystery, as nobody really knows what its made of. Investigations showed that its typically a mixture of plasticizers, elastomers, fillers and resins. And that’s all that is usually revealed to the gum-chewing customers. However, it’s entirely possible that the gum base can contain talk (linked to cancer), polyvinyl acetate (which is carpenter’s glue) and paraffin wax (petroleum derived).

3. Titanium Oxide

Titanium oxide has been found as a potential carcinogen that will seep right into your bloodstream. It has been also linked to asthma, autoimmune disorder and Crohn’s disease. Gum is has also the highest content of Titanium Oxide among our everyday products, which make it easy for children to ingest large doses of it.

4. BHT (Butylated Hydroxytoluene)

Butylated Hydroxytoluene, or BHT for those who have a hard time pronouncing it, is a ingredient that has been banned in many countries due to its link to liver and kidney damage, hyperactivity in children and organic system toxicity. It may also contain carcinogenic properties. However, in the US, it is still used as a preservative in processed foods and gum.

5. Aspartame

Last but certainly not the least dangerous ingredient in gum is Aspartame. It’s an artificial sweetener that is found in sugar-free gums. Your body metabolizes aspartame both into formaldehyde (a carcinogen, often used as embalming fluid, not eliminated by your kidneys and liver) and wood alcohol (a known poison). Aspartame has been recently linked to cancers, birth defects, weight gain and brain tumors.

Gum Effects Worse than a Visit to the Dentist

Sorry to burst your bubble about the perceived innocence of gum. However, there are bigger effects of chewing gum than just visits to the dentist’s office. Besides the dangerous side effects mentioned above, chewing gum can also cause digestion problems and sugar-free gum may still lead to dental erosion. Always know what you are putting in your mouth, no matter what it is. Gum is certainly not an exception to this.  If you can’t refrain yourself from chewing gum, luckily, there are natural alternatives available. Just do your due diligence and research with the ingredients as some natural gums may still be harmful.

Sources:

http://healthwyze.org/index.php/component/content/article/383-why-a-stick-of-gum-is-more-harmful-to-your-health-than-anything-that-you-eat.html

http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/es204168d

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1471015313000123

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21979369

http://cspinet.org/new/201308141.html

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0195666312004138

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