Thinking Ahead...It's That Season

Hello

This is your friendly informer:

Well, the summer has ended, and the fall season is about to begin. It is at this time of the year that many begin to experience seasonal allergies, colds, the flu, etc., due to the change in weather.

Now is the time to load up on some Vitamin C and Echinacea to prevent these nagging conditions from affecting us. If you are already dealing with either one of them. You know what to do. Vitamin C is said to be one of the best supplements to take during this time of the year. It helps to strengthen our immune system against such viruses, along with Echinacea, which comes in many forms; you can get it in tea form, as well as in pill form.

The key to preventing is just what it is: to prevent something from happening, you have to be prepared and think ahead. Don't wait until flu season to start taking Vitamin C or Echinacea, or any other measures that may be put in place to ensure proper health throughout the year. Along with these supplements, include some fresh fruits and vegetables and plenty of water, and the proper rest, which is very important to your health. Starting now and continuing year-round is a good way to start preventing if you have not done so, to maintain a healthy immune system, or to try to build one. We sometimes wait until something happens before we do anything about it. Our motto sometimes is "If It's Not Broke Don't Fix It", but if it's not broke lets keep it from getting broke, because some things are hard to fix, when we take too long to do something about it. So start thinking ahead now, give your body the nutrients it needs to fight.   

Until we meet again: Be good to your body and your body will be good to you!

Autism Awareness

Hello everyone, welcome to Terrific Tuesday!

As we all know, this month is considered Autism and Child Abuse Awareness Month. Let us keep in mind those who are experiencing the effects of these two areas and lend them our sincere support. Let them know that you care. I'm sure many will appreciate the love and support. Perhaps you may be being and or has been affected by Autism or Child Abuse, I'd like to take this time to lend you my support and to let you know I care. Also, we would like to thank those of you who are employed in these areas who give of their services as far as volunteering, some who are known and some who are not. We say thank you for your heartfelt compassion and patience to help and to comfort those who are in need in times of distress and trauma. Once again, thank you. 

Remember what you give, you will also receive.

Until we meet again: Have a Terrific Tuesday! 

GO RED FOR WOMEN

Hello, this is your friendly informer:

As some of you may know, this month is heart health month. In support of the many faces of heart disease, we are asking women, men, and children as well to go red for women.  

You know heart disease is the No. 1 killer in women. Heart disease kills more women than all forms of cancer combined. Sadly, most women don't notice the symptoms of heart disease until it's too late, which is why heart disease has been called the silent killer. But we won't be silent because heart disease is no match for the power of women's voices. You know it’s time to fight back. And now it’s time to Go Red. This is a call to action to stand with us. To support those you may know or even if it is yourself who is dealing with heart disease. To become a success story. A story of survival. To show us your battle scars and to be proud of the warrior you have become. Together, we have the power to save our lives. 

Think Thankful

Good Afternoon

This is your Friendly Informer:

As we prepare for the Thanksgiving Holiday, let us remember how blessed we are to be here. We have so much to be thankful for, for some our health may not be the best, others perfect health, and some mediocre. But what we all have in common is the fact that we are all still here in the land of the living. I'm thinking thankful!

Keep in mind that we are going to be around all kinds of food dishes, some healthy, some not so healthy. Remember, you have the power to choose what's best for you. We all may cheat a little, but don't overdo it; keep it in moderation. Your health is more important than your food cravings. In order for your brain and heart to function well, they must be nourished properly. 

There are plenty of healthy dishes that can be cooked up on this Thanksgiving Holiday. If you are going to cheat, be wise in your choices. If you think you shouldn't eat it, don't eat it. Follow your brain and not your heart; your emotions don't always lead you the right way, so be smart. Choose health.

Until we meet again: Think Thankful! 

Breast Cancer Awareness

Breast Cancer Awareness

Hello!

This is your friendly informer:

As we all know, this month is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I would like to take this time to encourage all women to go and have their yearly mammogram, and for those who have already been doing it, to continue.

It is extremely important to have your yearly mammogram done to make sure you are doing well. Early prevention helps a great deal. In the event something is detected, you could be treated promptly and stand a better chance of being a survivor. 

Food for thought: Early prevention could mean having regular mammograms along with some dietary changes. While this may not always be anything, it can certainly increase your chances of survival. Somethings are proven to be genetic, that may or may not be the case, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't make better choices when it comes to your health. Some things can become a part of our diet if they're not already, such as grapefruit and lemons, just to name two simple foods. Grapefruit and lemons have been said to be very nutritious for the breast in the prevention of breast cancer. They contain a substance called Limonoids, which are responsible for the bitter taste. Like vitamin C, they have antioxidant properties that help destroy free radicals that roam about the body. The Limonoids in lemons also have the ability to help prevent the development and growth of cancer cells. When tested against human cancer cells, Limonoids not only slowed the growth rate of cancer cells, but they also were responsible for the rapid death of cancer cells.

I am not suggesting that you ignore the advice and instructions of your physician if you are dealing with this dreadful disease, but to be mindful of your diet as well. Do continue to follow your caregiver's instructions.

Until we meet again: Have a Good Lemony Day!

Thoughtful Thursday

Good Morning!

                          


This is your friendly informer:

"To eat is a necessity, but to eat intelligently is an art." La Rochefoucauld

We all have heard the saying emotional eater. An emotional eater is a person who eats based on how they feel, eating what they want instead of what their bodies need. With this type of attitude, one does not necessarily make the right choices. An emotional eater is not just a person who appears to be overweight, but it can also be a person who appears to be the right size. It is eating because you are feeling depressed or lonely or excited, or just out of habit. Whatever the emotion, anyone can fall prey to it. Instead, eat the foods that will help bring you out of that emotional state, versus foods that will keep you in it.

We often make choices based on our emotions at the time. Instead of intelligent choices based on the right way to think about our health. Think about it, are you an emotional eater or an intelligent eater? Do you eat with your brain or emotions? Do what you know in your heart is the right thing to do.

Food for thought: Choose today to become a person who eats with their brain and not their emotions. Paint the picture of wisdom today by making healthy, wealthy, and wise choices. We want the brain and heart to stay connected in the right way to help us to make intelligent decisions concerning our health.

Until we meet again: Have a Hearty Thoughtful Thursday!

Fitness Regimen

Good Morning!

This is your friendly informer:

Reminding you of your fitness regimen for the brain and heart, which will benefit your physical body as well. Are we up and about getting that blood pumping and circulating throughout our bodies, by exercising that heart muscle and stimulating that brain?

Did you know that the brain needs 20 percent of your body's blood supply, twenty percent of the body's total oxygen supply, and 65 percent of its glucose? Along with the rich supply of glucose comes a host of nutrients that are needed by the brain. Your heart needs to help your brain receive the supply it needs by pumping the necessary blood supply.

Did you know that exercise helps to boost your self-confidence? When you feel good about yourself, you will care about yourself. Let's learn to love who we are. Don't give up on yourself. A healthy heart and a healthy brain will help encourage that.

Food for Thought: Take a look at the foods that help produce a healthy heart and brain. Chicken 
fish turkey are also healthy foods, along with other nutrient-rich supplements.

Until we meet again: Have a heartfelt, thoughtful day!

Taking The Time

Good Morning!

This is your friendly informer:


Greeting you with a provoking thought for today.

"Those who think they have no time for healthy eating will sooner or later have to find time for illness." Edward Stanley

Think about it, it's your choice; choose life.

Until we meet again: Have a healthy, thoughtful day! 

Thursday Triumph

Thursday Morning Triumph

Hello, this is your friendly informer:

Hello everyone, yeah, I know it's been a couple of days since I last posted anything. It's Thursday, and we are over the hump of the week! So, how have we been doing with the information I've been giving so far?

Are we sticking to our routine of exercise, for the brain as well as the heart? Remember, it is extremely important that you not only exercise your physical body but your heart and brain as well. Don't you agree? I thought so. 

Let's get those bodies up and going. Walking, as we have said, is a great exercise for the total body. Walk at whatever pace is comfortable for you. Are we still getting some reading in to help stimulate your brain and soothe your heart from the day-to-day stress of life? These are just little things that we can do to improve our overall health, just one step at a time.

Food For Thought: The five basic food groups are fruits, vegetables, whole grains, protein, and dairy. Color your plate today with these food groups. Just eating right will make you feel better about treating your body right. Try it, you may think, feel, and rest a whole lot better.

Until we meet again: Have a Thursday Morning Triumphant Good Time! 

    

   

Monday Mood

Hello, this is your friendly informer:


Monday Morning Good Mood

Today I want to give you something to think about. You change your thoughts, you change your life; everything changes with a decision.

So it is with your health, make a decision to better your health. Your life depends on it. 

Food for thought: Let's start out small and end big. Small baby steps will help you to stick with the healthy plan you have created for yourself, so you won't revert to old eating habits. Have a nice, healthy meal and snack on some fruit instead of cookies, chips, and candy. Feel the difference in your body. Once you experience a feel-good, you will never go back. Nothing like feeling better.

Until we meet again: Have a Monday Morning Good Mood!

Feeding the hungary

Hello, this is your friendly informer:

Well, it's Friday, and we have made it to the end of the week! Most of us are winding down from a work week to relax or to get geared up for the weekend. Just as we prepare our schedules for work, family, friends, social events, etc., let's also prepare for ourselves. Sometimes we lose ourselves in the process and leave ourselves unattended.

We have been talking about the health of the brain and the heart. We don't want to forget those things that need special attention. Without the health of these, we would not be able to do the other things we enjoy so much.

As we prepare our meals or main dishes for our families, friends, colleagues, etc., prepare your heart and brain to be fed also. Yesterday, we discussed reading as being a very healthy exercise for the heart and brain, which helps to keep it alert, active, and calm. Reading takes your imagination to another realm. It stimulates brain activity in a positive way, while at the same time creating a mood to soothe the heart from the daily stress of a workday, or just life in general.

This country is experiencing a government shutdown because of the lack of agreement. So many people are suffering because of it. Are you one of them? Just think of the effect your life will have on the people around you if your government decided to shut down, meaning your bodily functions (brain and heart), because of a lack of agreement based on a wrong decision. All it takes is making the right decision to do something so that others may benefit. Remember, your life is not just about you; it's about the welfare of other people as well as yourself. We ought to live our lives unselfishly.

Make a decision to get healthy for the people you say you love, exercise that body, brain, and heart. Take a nice long walk, or a short one. We all know what we can handle. You must start somewhere. Seek the advice of professionals for your personal physical needs to know what works best for you. Remember, the health of your government depends on it. Let's get the fire started!

Food for thought: We are in the Fall of the year. A season when the body's resistance is not very strong at times. Remember, vitamin C is very necessary for the immune system, along with some other foods that have this vitamin in them, to remain strong enough to fight off these colds and viruses. Plenty of water, oranges, broccoli, etc., are good source of this vitamin. Don't forget the chart posted.   

Until we meet again: Have a Flaming Good Time!  

Brain Health

Hello, this is your friendly informer:

We have been talking about how important it is to have brain health as well as heart health. The heart needs the brain, and the brain needs the heart to function properly, along with good nutrition and exercise. Don't you agree? I thought so...lol. Let us understand that we are never too old to start again. While some may believe it's too late, others may say it's not soon enough.

Let us try an exercise that helps the brain to be active, because just as the physical body needs exercise to function at its optimal level, so does the brain. Let's work to help keep it sharp and alert. This exercise is called reading. Yes, reading is a great exercise for your brain to help improve the rate at which your brain thinks. Reading also helps to calm you down, which in turn relieves stress, which is good for the heart. How about that, two birds with one stone.

So grab a good book and let's exercise that brain and soothe away the stress.

Food for thought: Read and feed your brain the nourishment it needs to stay active, alert, and thinking properly. Read and relieve your heart of the stress so your heart can relax, while your brain works.

Remember to keep viewing the chart that was posted on the foods that help contribute to the health of your brain.

Until we meet again: Have a Triumphant Good Time!

Heart Health

Hello, this is your friendly informer:

Yesterday we talked about laughter. The benefits it serves to the heart and body. Did you remember to take your stress-free tonic today?

A stress-free mind is a productive mind. Remember, we need our brains to be healthy so we can continue to think, look, and feel good at any age.

Food for the heart: Laughter, it does good like a medicine.

Until we speak again.

Hope you had a Wednesday Whopping Good Time!

Brain Health

Hello, this is your friendly informer:

It's another day, and we have been talking about the health of the brain. So, did you have your avocado? Since it's Tuesday, I thought we would share a little more information on brain health. First, let us talk about what the brain needs to be healthy. We shared yesterday a little information and Food For Thought. Those of you who read the post on Monday know what I'm referring to.

Place two fists together, with your inner wrists touching. Your brain is about this size and shape. It is amazingly soft, composed primarily of fat and water. It is grayish and pudding-like, composed of 100 billion brain cells, called neurons, that drive our thinking, learning, feeling, and states of being. Neurons need good fats, protein, complex carbohydrates, micronutrients, vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients, and water. These nutrients are used to drive the learning functions of neurons. 

Neurons are shaped somewhat like an outstretched hand, with fingers spread. Dendrites (the fingers) receive information from other neurons, which is then sent through the axon (arm) to another neuron. As neurons connect, they communicate using a process called neurotransmission. As a person thinks, speaks, moves, or feels, electrical impulses trigger the release of messenger chemicals, called neurotransmitters, which travel across the synapse, transmitting information to the next cell. This is called cell-to-cell communication, which forms the basis of learning. NT's help connect verbal, emotional, visual, and kinesthetic memories. They connect prior learning to new learning.

Food For Thought: Neurons are prone to damage from environmental toxins that make their way into our systems, as well as toxic byproducts formed in the body. The first line of defense is antioxidants from food. Diets low in antioxidants have consistently been shown to cause and contribute to illness and disease. The brain, due to its high fat content, is especially vulnerable to damage and requires high levels of antioxidants for protection. What nourishment does the brain need? The blueberry, I've learned, is a good antioxidant. There are some other choices in case you are not fond of blueberries, such as:  

Rank	Food item	Serving size	Total antioxidant capacity per serving size
1	Small Red Bean (dried)	Half cup	13,727
2	Wild blueberry	1 cup	13,427
3	Red kidney bean (dried)	Half cup	13,259
4	Pinto bean	Half cup	11,864
5	Blueberry (cultivated)	1 cup	9,019
6	Cranberry	1 cup (whole)	8,983
7	Artichoke (cooked)	1 cup (hearts)	7,904
8	Blackberry	1 cup	7,701
9	Prune	Half cup	7,291
10	Raspberry	1 cup	6,058
11	Strawberry	1 cup	5,938
12	Red Delicious apple	1 whole	5,900
13	Granny Smith apple	1 whole	5,381
14	Pecan	1 ounce	5,095
15	Sweet cherry	1 cup	4,873
16	Black plum	1 whole	4,844
17	Russet potato (cooked)	1 whole	4,649
18	Black bean (dried)	Half cup	4,181
19	Plum	1 whole	4,118
20	Gala apple	1 whole	3,903

Remember to also drink plenty of water; it does the brain good.

So until we speak again, have a Good Time!

Brain Health

Morning Good Mood: Brain Health

When we speak of being physically fit, or getting into shape, it is often just associated with being fit and trim physically, with our physical bodies that we concentrate on, and not our brain. Have you ever considered the mental fitness of your brain? How healthy is it?

Just like the physical body, we alter and change what we eat and exercise in order to attain or maintain the weight that we want or the physical appearance we desire. Even so, we must do the same to attain or maintain brain health to function at the optimal level at which we were created.

Understand the importance of your brain and how it works in order to keep it functioning well. It is the most valuable and precious computer you will ever have. It works day and night to keep you alive, brilliant, and vital.

Food For Thought: Did you know that avocados are good for promoting brain health? It is a fatty fruit with monounsaturated fat, which contributes to healthy blood flow. Healthy blood flow means a healthy brain. Avocados also lower blood pressure. Hypertension is a risk factor for the decline in cognitive abilities.

So instead of having Monday Morning Blues, you can have a Monday Morning Good Mood...LOL. Have an avocado, it just might change your mood.

Until we speak again. Have a Morning Good Mood!

Heart Health

Be kind to your heart:

Be careful what you feed your heart just like the body it can get sick too.

With all the pressure we have to deal with in life, sometimes it can be very stressful. But one of the things that we can do to help relieve stress, is are you ready LAUGH. Laughter is good for the body and heart. It helps to stimulate many organs, activate and relieve your stress response and soothe tension.

When the pressures of life try to wrap you in depression and hopelessness. Just laugh and set your body and mind free.

Until we speak again LAUGH OUT LOUD!

21 Foods to Boost Your Immune System

We know stress affects the immune system in a negative way, and many times we hold up during stress only to let down on vacation and get sick. Use the following food strategies to boost your immune system for any trip:

1. Take Extra Vitamin C Before You Travel

Adding extra vitamin C to your diet two or three days before you leave for a trip helps your immune system fight viruses before they make you sick and helps break down stress hormones. It is best to double what you normally do. This can mean taking supplements or eating the proper foods.

Foods packed with vitamin C include:

• Red bell peppers
• Strawberries
• Tomatoes
• Broccoli
• Citrus
• Sweet potatoes

If you have been taking a vitamin C supplement, double the amount and try to choose a supplement with flavonoids for optimal absorption.

2. Mine for Minerals

Activate your immune system with beta-glucan, zinc, and other mineral-rich foods such as:

• Mushrooms
• Garbanzo beans
• Squash
• Deep greens (turnip or beet greens are the best)

3. Add Color to Your Plate

To help nourish the thymus gland, which is responsible for much of the immune-system function, eat two servings a day of foods rich in carotenes. Foods high in carotenes include colored vegetables and dark greens, such as:

• Yellow and orange squash
• Carrots
• Yams
• Brussels sprouts
• Cabbage
• Cauliflower
• Collard greens
• Kale
• Berries
• Garlic

4. Boost Your Digestive Tract with Bacteria

The live active cultures of friendly bacteria in the following foods boost your digestive-tract health and are very helpful to the immune system:

• Yogurt or Kefir

Sugar Free or Not?

by Marci Sloane, MS, RD, LD/N, CDE
March 30, 2011

Hello!
Sugar-free items or no sugar added items remove the processed sugar (sugar, corn syrup, brown rice syrup, molasses, etc.) and replace it with a slower-digesting carbohydrate known as “sugar alcohol”. Some familiar names of sugar alcohols are sorbitol, xylitol, mannitol, and lactitol. Most of them end in “ol” just like alcohol. 

These sugar alcohols will still have an impact on your blood sugar; however, because they digest more slowly, you may see less of a spike. The “regular” cookie has sugar and flour, etc., and the sugar-free cookie will have sugar alcohol, flour, etc. Sugar alcohol is not as sweet as sugar; therefore, artificial sweeteners are used to enhance the sweetness.

It’s important to remember that there is an effect on your glucose levels from these foods, so please discourage yourself from overeating them. Many of us forget that “free” may not mean “free of everything”! There are still calories (and the majority of us do not need the encouragement to eat more. “No sugar added” foods just mean the sugar is replaced with sugar alcohol, but the product contains a natural sugar (fruit sugar, fructose, milk sugar, or lactose), so it cannot be called sugar-free. 

When you shop for cookies, candy, or ice cream that is “sugar-free or no sugar added,” please be careful to read the label and look at the total carbohydrates. Then remind yourself that it still turns into sugar and not to overeat! If you are not convinced of it’s affect on your glucose levels, then simply check your blood sugar before and 2 hours after your meal.

Do this with the “real” cookie and the “sugar-free” cookie. Notice the difference and make your informed decision. Diabetes is a very individualized disease, which is why testing blood glucose levels is encouraged. You may find that you like the taste of regular jam as opposed to sugar-free jam, so you can use 1 teaspoon instead of 1 tablespoon of it. 

However, if you like adding a bit more jam to your food, then you may benefit from using the sugar-free jam since there are fewer total carbohydrates in it. You have choices. Make the right one for you.

Eating Fruit - An Eye Opener

Dr. Stephen Mak treats terminal cancer patients by "unorthodox" way, and many patients recovered. He believes in natural healing in the body against illnesses. See the article below.

Fruits and juices offer one of the strategies to heal cancer. As of late, my success rate in curing cancer is about 80%. Cancer patients shouldn't die. The cure for cancer is already found. It is whether you believe it or not. I am sorry for the hundreds of cancer patients who die under the conventional treatments.


God bless.
Dr Stephen Mak

EATING FRUIT...

We all think eating fruits means just buying fruits, cutting them, and just popping them into our mouths. It's not as easy as you think. It's important to know how and when to eat.

What is the correct way of eating fruits?

IT MEANS NOT EATING FRUITS AFTER YOUR MEALS!

* FRUITS SHOULD BE EATEN ON ANEMPTY STOMACH.

If you eat fruit like that, it will play a major role in detoxifying your system, supplying you with a great deal of energy for weight loss and other life activities.


FRUIT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT FOOD. 

Let's say you eat two slices of bread and then a slice of fruit. The slice of fruit is ready to go straight through the stomach into the intestines, but it is prevented from doing so.

In the meantime, the whole meal rots and ferments and turns to acid. The minute the fruit comes into contact with the food in the stomach and digestive juices, the entire mass of food begins to spoil....

So please eat your fruits on an empty stomach or before your meals! You have heard people complaining -every time I eat watermelon, I burp, when I eat durian, my stomach bloats up, when I eat a banana, I feel like running to the toilet, etc. - actually, all this will not arise if you eat the fruit on an empty stomach. The fruit mixes with the putrefying other food and produces gas, and hence you will bloat!

Graying hair, balding, nervous outbursts, and dark circles under the eyes, all these will NOT happen if you take fruits on an empty stomach.

There is no such thing as some fruits, like orange and lemon, are acidic, because all fruits become alkaline in our body, according to Dr. Herbert Shelton, who did research on this matter. If you have mastered the correct way of eating fruits, you have the Secret of beauty, longevity, health, energy, happiness, and a normal weight.

When you need to drink fruit juice, drink only fresh fruit juice, NOT from the cans. Don't even drink juice that has been heated up. Don't eat cooked fruits because you don't get the nutrients at all. You only get to taste. Cooking destroys all the vitamins.

But eating a whole fruit is better than drinking the juice. If you should drink the juice, drink it mouthful by mouthful slowly, because you must let it mix with your saliva before swallowing it. You can go on a 3-day fruit fast to cleanse your body. Just eat fruits and drink fruit juice throughout the 3 days, and you will be surprised when your friends tell you how radiant you look!

KIWI: Tiny but mighty. This is a good source of potassium, magnesium, vitamin E & fiber. Its vitamin C content is twice that of an orange.

APPLE: An apple a day keeps the doctor away? Although an apple has a low vitamin C content, it has antioxidants & flavonoids which enhance the activity of vitamin C, thereby helping to lower the risks of colon cancer, heart attack, & stroke.

STRAWBERRY: Protective Fruit. Strawberries have the highest total antioxidant power among major fruits & protect the body from cancer-causing, blood vessel-clogging free radicals.

ORANGE: Sweetest medicine. Taking 2-4 oranges a day may help keep colds away, lower cholesterol, prevent & dissolve kidney stones, as well as lessen the risk of colon cancer.

WATERMELON: Coolest thirst quencher. Composed of 92% water, it is also packed with a giant dose of glutathione, which helps boost our immune system. They are also a key source of lycopene, the cancer fighting oxidant. Other nutrients found in watermelon are vitamin C & Potassium.

GUAVA & PAPAYA: Top awards for vitamin C. They are the clear winners for their high vitamin C content. Guava is also rich in fiber, which helps prevent constipation. Papaya is rich in carotene; this is good for your eyes.

Drinking Cold water after a meal = Cancer! Can u believe this?? For those who like to drink cold water, this article is applicable to you. It is nice to have a cold drink after a meal. However, the cold water will solidify the oily stuff that you have just consumed. It will slow down the digestion. Once this 'sludge' reacts with the acid, it will break down and be absorbed by the intestine faster than the solid food. It will line the intestine. Very soon, this will turn into fat and lead to cancer. It is best to drink hot soup or warm water after a meal.

A serious note about heart attacks HEART ATTACK PROCEDURE': (THIS IS NOT A JOKE!) Women should know that not every heart attack symptom is going to be the left arm hurting. Be aware of intense pain in the jaw line. You may never have the first chest pain during the course of a heart attack. 

Nausea and intense sweating are also common symptoms. Sixty percent of people who have a heart attack while they are asleep do not wake up. Pain in the jaw can wake you from a sound sleep. Let's be careful and be aware. The more we know, the better chance we could survive.