Food Talk

Add these to your grocery list


Maple Syrup
This mineral-rich sweetener provides calcium, magnesium, zinc and potassium.

Choose 100 percent pure maple syrup rather than the corn syrup-loaded "maple flavored" syrups.

Cocoa Beans
They're high in catechins -- antioxidants that provide many benefits for heart health.

Choose an unsweetened organic cocoa powder (non-alkaline), which is available at most health food stores.

Butternut Squash

This winter squash is full of beta-carotene, a fat-soluble compound that possess antioxidant properties,

Eat with a palm-sized piece of fish or chicken and a steamed green-leafy vegetable in order to create a balanced meal.

Salsa

The tomatoes provide an excellent source of Vitamin C and the antioxidant lycopene, the peppers provide capsaicin, which may help fight bacterial infections, prevent heart disease and improve digestion, while the onions contain antibacterial and antifungal properties.

Popcorn

Treated properly, popcorn is a great high-fiber snack."With Vitamin A, calcium and potassium, this treat is also made with folic acid (a B vitamin that helps the body make healthy new cells) and phosphorus (a mineral that helps with the formation of bones and teeth).

Choose organic air-popped popcorn, which can be found in most health food stores and look for popcorn with just a one-word ingredient: popcorn.

Ricotta Cheese

This traditional Italian cheese higher in calcium and lower in sodium than cottage cheese, it contains folic acid and phosphorus, along with potassium (a mineral that is essential for proper function of all cells, tissues and organs) and magnesium.

Look for the organic version. High-calcium protein source that's low in fat, choose part-skim ricotta.

Almond Butter
Because almond butter is rich in monounsaturated fats, is extremely low in saturated fats and has no trans fats at all, this butter if definitely a heart-healthy choice.

Buy an organic almond butter with few additives.

Hummus

The main ingredient in this spread is garbanzo beans, which are low in fat and high in fiber and protein (a combo that will keep you feeling full for hours).

Enjoy two tablespoons on a serving of whole wheat crackers.



Source

Rick Springfield on Californication

That's right. Springfield on tv.

Eating Good for Fibro

One thing that I think helps me with fibromyalgia is staying away from processed foods. No surprise, eating healthy is an important part of fibro.

Another set of steps may be taken to help support energy production in the muscles. These steps center on nutrients involved with processes taking place in specialized parts of our muscle cells called mitochondria. The mitochondria handle most of our oxygen-based energy production, and their function is critical to our muscle movement. Many of the B vitamins, vitamins C and E, Coenzyme Q, and the omega 3 fatty acids are important in this energy-production context. (You can find profiles of these nutrients, plus "best source" foods for each one in our Essential Nutrients A-Z section.

As always, work with your doctor.

Source

Fibro Flare- Lasting a Long Time

In May I was at a wedding, dancing and having a good time. A few weeks later I got in a fibro flare. I need to out of it!

I started to get depressed as the pain continued. This is the longest that I can remember being in a fibro flare. I didn't realize how good I was before all this.

My chiropractor said something to me- fibromyalgia is all you.

While I know for sure it is not in my mind, and that is not what he meant, I'm going to start having the attitude that I can get through this flare with my actions. I'm not going to wait for some time to go by and wait for the flare to pass.

Starting tomorrow I am making purposefully steps to get out of this!






Photo: AFP

Organic Tshirts

These fortune tees from pie tees are adorable.

And, they're made with organic shirts.

Read up on Organic Cotton.

Food for Your Skin

When I look at all the ingredients in face cleansers and lotions, I wonder why our skin needs all those things we can't pronounce. My guess is that most of them are preservatives. What are the basic things our skin needs to stay hydrated, keep it's collagen and get rid of dead skin cells? Here are some things I'm going to try.

Lemon juice. Added to water, this makes a great facial toner.

Orange slices. Just rub a slice of orange on your face, Irons says. It revives dull skin -- the acid, the vitamin C!

Vegetable shortening. This is great for eczema, Irons says. "Hospitals call it Cream C, for Crisco," she says. Heat it in the microwave for 10 seconds, then slather it on.

Egg whites. For an instant facelift, dab egg whites over your face, sit stock still until it dries, then apply makeup. Sort of a poor woman's Botox!

Avocado. Mash one up, mix in a little lemon juice, and apply to face and neck and let it dry. "A great neck firmer," Irons says.

Rice flour. This is an "old-timey" secret, Irons whispers. Put some in a compact -- it's "the best face powder money can buy."

Pumpkin. Yup, out of the can, hold the sugar and cinnamon. It's a great conditioner for the face or whole body.

Source

Well...There Isn't Non-Toxic Hair Color

Not really.

There is henna. But it sounds like it slowly washes out.

There is haircolor that is low in some toxins, and there are some that don't have ammonia. I'll be looking into those.

I have to figure out how to merge them with the current color I have now.

Finding Non-Toxic Haircolor

After dying my hair for years, I am on the search for a non-toxic hair color. I don't think I want to add henna to my hair. I heard you can't add other color to henna if you don't like it, and have to let it grow out. Although, I could look into it more than what someone told me.

There is an ingredient in hair color, that allegedly can trigger allergies. I have had sensitivities to chemicals for years. There may be a connection.

If you know of a good way to color my hair without toxins, let me know!

Plunging the Tub

I plunged my tub. Yes, my tub. It's one of those tubs that has the useless stopper that doesn't stop any hair from going down the drain.

I have tried with a chopstick, an hanger, hot water, baking soda and vinegar, to get rid of the clog. I spent almost two hours plunging the tub on Monday.

Tuesday I could barely move my arms. Still feeling the effects of it on Saturday. That's fibromyalgia.

Being neurotic, it was all I could do to see brown fluid in my tub as I was plunging it. But I guess if hair and dirt were sitting in a drain for weeks, they're not going to turn a pretty pink.

I should've known better than to keep plunging, but I really wanted to take a clogged-free shower.

Now I'll go to the building manager and get a snake, hoping that does the trick.

SNAKE- I snaked the drain all by myself. When the big glob of hair came out I felt so accomplished.

Cosmetic Safety Database

Check your products for safety with this Cosmetic Safety Database.

I was surprised how high (and high isn't good) some of my "natural" products rated.





I have no association with the database, make no claim on it's accuracy, and as with anything do your due dilligence.