Secrets of the World Wide Sisterhood

Anti-Aging Foods

There's a lot of strange food out there.  Here are some food choices that you may not be eating enough of, or eating at all.  These foods are high in anti-aging ingredients.  You can find these foods in the "gourmet food" section at amazon.com.  

Gooseberries-High in cancer-fighting vitamin C, A, calcium and iron.  The purple variety contains almost 50 percent more antioxidants than blueberries.  

Ostrich Meat-Much lower in saturated fat and cholesterol than either chicken or steak.  It actually tastes like red meat.  It's also an excellent source of zinc, selenium and iron.    

Guava- This fruit is a great source of potassium, which helps keep blood pressure in check.  It is rich in antioxidants. 

French Lentils- High in fiber and great for regulating blood sugar and preventing diabetes.  They are a great meat substitute. 

Greek Yogurt- Packs significantly more protein than regular yogurt and has high levels of calcium.

Sunchokes- These tubers are actually more closely related to potatoes, but contain less blood sugar boosting starch.  Sunchokes are loaded with vitamins A and B, Potassium, iron, calcium, and magnesium. 

Prickly Pear Cactus- Rich in fiber, vitamins A and C, and potassium.  May also reduce blood sugar levels. 

Foods to Brighten Your Mood

Sometimes we feel stressed because of all we have to deal with on a day to day basis.  Did you know that there are actually foods that help brighten your mood, which in turn relieves stress?  Here are just a few:   almonds, lowfat yogurt, pistachios, salmon, scallops, shrimp, and walnuts.  B vitamins stimulate the brain's production of serotonin, helping you relax, explains Paul Lachance, Ph.K., professor emeritus of nutrition and food science at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey.  Choose nuts for B6, fish and yogurt for B12.  If you're feeling mad seek out potassium which helps lower blood pressure.  Avocados, bananas, black beans, corn, potatoes, and white beans are a few foods to choose from if you need to manage your anger.   

Pressure Cooking for Healthy Food

I haven't thought about a pressure cooker in several years until my friend, Lori, told me about hers and how she loves to cook healthy meals in it.  I was always afraid of pressure cookers. I can remember my mom talking about how they would explode and food would be everywhere.  The old-style classic, weighted pressure regulators have become a memory.  The new easy-to-use modern pressure cooker has taken over the old noisy, rattling, cookers that we remember as kids.  Pressure cookers enable us to cook nutrious, homemade meals in less time.  Pressure cooking retains more vitamins and minerals than other cooking methods because foods are cooked quickly in little water or air, and that means better nutrition, taste, and value.  It makes the food virtually fat free because fats are drained away from meats while the meats stay moist and juicy.  The superheated steam within a pressure cooker actually intensifies natural flavors, so you can use less salt and still get a great taste.  I just bought one a few weeks ago.  JC Penney has several good ones to choose from and mine was on sale for $39.99.  I also ordered a book from amazon.com called Miss Vickie's Big Book Of Pressure Cooker Recipes by Vickie Smith.  It has hundreds of recipes. Click on the ad in the left column on my site and order yours immediately.   I can't wait to try them all!!      

A Diet for Healthy Hair

A lack of protein in your diet can affect the health of your hair.  If you're a vegetarian, you probably aren't getting enough protein for your hair, so you should supplement your diet with protein-rich foods such as nuts, milk, cheese, and yogurt.  Zinc is also important for strong hair.  Zinc helps to build and reinforce hair protein and cell production.  Zinc is also necessary for maintaining normal oil levels in the scalp.  Zinc works best in conjunction with vitamin A.  Some foods, such as spinach, peas, and crabmeat, contain both.  If your hair is lacking luster you should try taking a multi-vitamin, it you're not already.  If you are wanting your hair to grow quickly, try taking prenatal vitamins.

Losing Weight by Sleeping More

I wrote a post before about how losing sleep meant gaining weight.  Well, I just read an article in Glamour that supports that theory. Sleep and medical experts Michael Breus, Ph. D., and Steven Lamm, M.D., created a plan for seven Glamour readers of varying weights.  The women's one simple goal was to get at least seven and a half hours of sleep a night.  They were also asked not to make any diet or exercise changes.....Just sleep.  Amazingly the women lost from 6-15 pounds.  Science shows that sleep deprivation wreaks havoc on hormones that control appetite, cravings and the metabolism of fat.  When your tired your body craves simple carbohydrates (chocolate, pastries, candy) that it can break down fast for quick energy.  Also, during deep sleep, your brain secretes a large amount of growth hormone, which tells your body how to break down fat for fuel.  Deprive your body of deep sleep and when extra calories get stored as fat, there isn't enough growth hormone to break it down.  So your body takes a short cut and stores it away in your butt, thighs, belly, or wherever you tend to put on weight.  And of course, if you got enough sleep the night before, you have more energy the next day.  You will feel more like exercising.  However, it might take a little effort on your part to get more sleep.  You need to go to sleep and wake up at the same time everyday.  You can change your bedtime on weekends when you don't have to get up early, but make sure you still get seven anda half hours of sleep. Start a bedtime routine such as reading, a hot bath, stretching, etc. about 45 minutes before bedtime.  Soon your body will start to associate specific actions with relaxation and falling asleep.  Watch your caffeine and alcohol habits.  Don't have any caffeine after 2:30 p.m. and avoid sipping alcohol three hours before bedtime.  Experiment with exactly how much sleep you really need.  You might actually need more that seven and a half hours of sleep.....And don't forget the added bonus, you will look better, too.   

Tighten up Sagging Skin

Are you starting to see a change in the firmness or texture of your skin?  I am.  I work out and run at least three times a week, but my skin is starting to look crepey and sort of saggy.  I have read that skin elasticity is determined by both age and genetics.  Since I just started noticing this lately, I would guess age is definitely a culprit.  I started moisturizing more intensely and trying to keep my body hydrated by drinking more water.  I also take a DMAE supplement which is supposed to firm the skin. However, I just ran across an article in New Beauty that says that Lutein, a nutrient found in green leafy vegetables that is known for its benefit to the eyes, may also be used to promote skin hydration and elasticity.  The study indicated that lutein is associated with the molecule zeaxanthin, an when a combination of the two ar taken daily a an oral supplement, skin hydration increased by 60 percent and skin elasticity by 20 percent.  So, I'm thinking, "Great, something else to have to take.  But, if it helps......o.k."  I looked on the Vitamin World ad on my page to see if they sell Lutein.  They do.  I found it with Zeaxanthin.  For 30 pills it is $15.99 for members and $19.99 regularly.  They also have DMAE 100mg, 100 cap. for $5.99 members and $7.49 regularly.  Why not give it a try?        

Whiter Teeth--Healthier Diet

Whiter teeth give you a more youthful appearance.  Naturally, stains occur over time.  Therefore, yellowing teeth are associated with older people.  In additions to whitening toothpastes/bleaching gel, try eating for a whiter smile.  Healthy raw foods such as broccoli, spinach, celery, cauliflower, and carrots naturally exfoliate teeth because of their rough texture.  This removes stains, debris, and plaque.  When these foods are combined with saliva, it helps to keep the mouth moist and reduces unwanted bacteria.  Try to stay away from fruit juice because their sugars can implant themselves on and in between the teeth and can cause cavities.  If you drink fruit juice always brush your teeth immediately after.  On the other hand, the natural juices found in apples, pears and strawberries act like astringents to naturally whiten teeth.  Also, drink plenty of water to flush particles that may be stuck in between the teeth that could discolor and erode the teeth.  You may also want to try Supersmile Quickee.  It is a pocket-sized no-brush, no-rinse, on-the-go tooth polish that gently eliminates stains, plaque and debris from the outer surface of the teeth.  Just a single drop smoothed over the teeth with the tip of the tongue, is all it takes to freshen your breath, fight plaque and brighten your smile anytime, anywhere.    

Dirty Healthy Hair

 I have very unruly, natural wavy hair.  Sometimes I wear it curly.  All I have to do is wash it, put in styling glaze and scrunch.  Of course, I blow it dry a little so I don't get soaked waiting for it to dry naturally.  And sometimes, I wear it straight.  It is much more work to straighten it and is much more damaging to my hair.  However, if I straighten it aftering washing it one day, and then straighten it but not wash it, it actually looks better on day 2.  It is more healthier looking and even feels softer.  My beautician has always advised me to do this so I don't do so much damage to my hair, especially since I highlight it so often.  But, I just read another interesting fact about dirty hair in Self magazine......  Unwashed hair absorbs about seven times as much harmful ozone---a gas that can cause you to have respiratory problems---as a freshly washed mane, say researchers from the Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla.  The oil that covers our hair and body contains triglycerides and fatty acids that may help neutralize ozone beforewe breathe it in.  Lather, rinse and repeat only every couple of days.  

Vitamin B12 and Exercise linked to Dementia

I try really hard to avoid eating a lot of red meat.  I very seldom eat a hamburger.  But, new research now shows that people who had higher levels of vitamin B12 were six times less likely to experience loss of brain volume than those with lower levels.  David Smith and Anna Vogiatzoglou of the University of Oxford in Britain did not look at whether taking vitamin B12 supplements would  slow the rate of brain shrinkage, but they did suggest foods such as milk, dairy products, fish, meat, and fortified breakfast cereals to protect against brain shrinkage.  A smaller brain may be linked to dementia later in life.  Get at least 24 micorgrams of B12 daily from beef-which has 2 micrograms per 3 ounces-eggs and dairy.  So, go ahead and have that hamburger once in a while.  Now you have a good excuse.  In another study Drs. Arthur F. Kramer and Kirk I. Erickson found that aeorbic activity may reverse mental decline.  It may actually turn back the clock on aging.  Moderate physical activity, enough to make a person breathless, has been shown to boost not only the speed and sharpness of thought, but also, the actual volume of brain tissue and the way in which the brain functions.  So after you indulge in that juice burger or steak, don't forget to hit the gym or go for a jog!!!      

Invest in Yourself

Just because the economy is in a slump, doesn't mean that you have to be.  Money is tight for just about everyone right now, and people all over the country are stressed out over their financial problems.  Keep in mind the importance of staying fit and healthy through tough times like we're having now.  If you're not healthy, the effects your feeling from losing a job, losing money in the stock market, or taking a cut in pay due to the falling economy, will seem even worse.  You've got to be in tip top shape to help yourself pull through.  Make sure you are getting enough rest and eating healthy.  You need extra energy if you're going through tough times.  You might be cutting back at the grocery store.  Try to eliminate the junk food that you sit around and nibble on when you're depressed.  You would be amazed at the amount of money if you stop buying all those snacks! You may have had to cancel your gym membership.  That doesn't mean you can't walk or run to get some exercise.  You may also want to buy a few exercise videos.  They are much cheaper than going to the gym for a class and some are really good.  You can purchase online videos at www.collagevideo.com.  It is a great place to get them because you can get really good descriptions and reviews.  We all need to try to remain positive and hope that things will soon get better.  Try to make 2009 a good year for yourself despite the predictions we've all been hearing about the economy.  There are a lot of ways to cut back on your spending, but don't short change yourself.