February 24 - Avocado = Superfood!

Avocado is more than just a tasty treat to be enjoyed in guacamole--it makes a hearty satisfying meal when eaten alone, in salads, and in other dishes. Most people who transition from a standard American diet to a vegan diet with avocado, nuts and seeds don’t miss the animal foods because raw vegan plant fat is so satisfying as well as more nutritious than cooked fatty animal foods!

If your goal is to reduce your consumption or transition completely off of meat and dairy, avocado may be the perfect way to satisfy your natural cravings for creamy nourishment.

February 23 - High Blood Pressure - The Answer Could Be Celery

So even living a healthy lifestyle sometimes our bodies are prone to problems arising. One of the issues Joe (my husband) has been battling on and off is high blood pressure. Of course meds are the last resort in our lifestyle so we have been visiting some natural remedies. And amazingly in the few days he has been juicing celery daily his blood pressure has dropped dramatically. Each morning he juices two bunches of celery, adding an apple for taste and it has kept his blood pressure down. It is the only thing he has changed so it must be what has made the difference.


Here are some other health benefits of celery:

Acidity: The important minerals in this magical juice effectively balance the body's blood pH, neutralizing acidity.

Athletes: Celery juice acts as the perfect post-workout tonic as it replaces lost electrolytes and rehydrates the body with its rich minerals.

Cancer: Celery is known to contain at least eight families of anti-cancer compounds. Among them are the acetylenics that have been shown to stop the growth of tumor cells. Phenolic acids which block the action of prostaglandins that encourage the growth of tumor cells. And coumarins which help prevent free radicals from damaging cells.

Cholesterol: This humble pale juice has been shown to effectively and significantly lower total cholesterol and LDL (bad) cholesterol.

Colon and stomach cancer: The phytochemical coumarins prevent the formation and development of the colon and stomach cancers.

Constipation: The natural laxative effect of celery helps to relieve constipation. It also helps relax nerves that have been overworked by man-made laxatives.

Cooling: During dry and hot weather, drink a glass of celery juice two or three times a day, between meals. It wonderfully helps to normalize body temperature.

Diuretic: The potassium and sodium in celery juice helps to regulate body fluid and stimulate urine production, making it an important help to rid the body of excess fluid.

Inflammation: The polyacetylene in celery is an amazing relief for all inflammation like rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, gout, asthma and bronchitis.

Kidney function: Celery promotes healthy and normal kidney function by aiding elimination of toxins from the body. While eliminating toxins, it also prevents formation of kidney stones.

Lower blood pressure: Drinking celery juice every day for a week significantly helps lower blood pressure. A compound called phtalides help relax the muscle around arteries, dilating the vessels and allowing blood to flow normally. To be effective, drink the juice for one week, stop for three weeks, and start over.

Nervous system: The organic alkaline minerals in celery juice has a calming effect on the nervous system, making it a wonderful drink for insomniacs.

Weight loss: Drink celery juice frequently throughout the day. It helps curb your cravings for sweets and rich food.

Urinary stones, breaking of: The diuretic effect of celery juice also aids the breaking and elimination of urinary and gall bladder stones.

You can expect many more healing benefits from celery juice as you consume its natural sodium.

So grab a stalk and enjoy!

February 22 - An Apple a Day!

The old saying "An apple a day keeps the doctor away" has a lot of merit. Here are some benefits of this delicious fruit.

Bone Protection
French researchers found that a flavanoid called phloridzin that is found only in apples may protect post-menopausal women from osteoporosis and may also increase bone density. Boron, another ingredient in apples, also strengthens bones.

Asthma Help
One recent study shows that children with asthma who drank apple juice on a daily basis suffered from less wheezing than children who drank apple juice only once per month. Another study showed that children born to women who eat a lot of apples during pregnancy have lower rates of asthma than children whose mothers ate few apples.

Alzheimer's Prevention
A study on mice at Cornell University found that the quercetin in apples may protect brain cells from the kind of free radical damage that may lead to Alzheimer's disease.

Lower Cholesterol
The pectin in apples lowers LDL ("bad") cholesterol. People who eat two apples per day may lower their cholesterol by as much as 16 percent.

Lung Cancer Prevention
According to a study of 10,000 people, those who ate the most apples had a 50 percent lower risk of developing lung cancer. Researchers believe this is due to the high levels of the flavonoids quercetin and naringin in apples.

Breast Cancer Prevention
A Cornell University study found that rats who ate one apple per day reduced their risk of breast cancer by 17 percent. Rats fed three apples per day reduced their risk by 39 percent and those fed six apples per day reduced their risk by 44 percent.

Colon Cancer Prevention
One study found that rats fed an extract from apple skins had a 43 percent lower risk of colon cancer. Other research shows that the pectin in apples reduces the risk of colon cancer and helps maintain a healthy digestive tract.

Liver Cancer Prevention
Research found that rats fed an extract from apple skins had a 57 percent lower risk of liver cancer.

Diabetes Management
The pectin in apples supplies galacturonic acid to the body which lowers the body's need for insulin and may help in the management of diabetes.

Weight Loss
A Brazilian study found that women who ate three apples or pears per day lost more weight while dieting than women who did not eat fruit while dieting.

February 21 - Cashew vs Peanut Butter

When looking for a spread for your sandwich, reach for cashew butter instead of peanut butter. There is more protein and less saturated fats in cashew butter. Cashew butter is an unprocessed food while peanut butter is mixed with salt, hydrogenated vegetable oils, sweeteners, and dextrose.

Cashew butter is a healthy choice for a snack. Eat with crackers, veggies or just plain out of the jar.

February 20 - Skip Rope Not Meals

Skipping meals may seem like the quickest way to lose weight, but it could do more harm than good. Think of your metabolism as a fat-burning machine; if you don’t give it the fuel it needs, it’ll stop working. And that’s just what happens when you skip meals, especially breakfast. Eating breakfast in the morning jump-starts your metabolism. Then, eating several small meals during the day keeps it running. Skipping meals causes your body to go into fasting mode and slows down your metabolism, while causing your body to hold onto the fat it has stored. Plus, research shows that skipping one meal can cause you to overeat at the next. So, not only are you slowing your metabolism, you’re actually eating more calories. No wonder you’re not losing weight!

February 19 - Fat, Protein & Carbs - Oh My!!!

Everyone knows they should eat a well balanced diet. But with all the talk of low carb diets and eat more protein, it can be confusing to figure out what exactly well balanced is.

Here a general guideline for selecting your foods:
57% Carbs
30% Fats
13% Protein

Now, of course the fats should be good fats (like olive oil, nuts, etc). And the carbs should be from fruits and vegetables as opposed to breads and pastas. And the proteins should be lean.

Try to proportion your plates accordingly. And journal, journal , journal!

February 18 - Not Every Calorie is Equal

While it is important to know how many calories you consume in a day, it is more important to see where the calories are coming from. The calories in two chocolate chip cookies are about the same as the calories in an apple but of course it would be better to eat the apple. So while journaling is a useful tool and will help you reach your goals, you should journal the details of what you eat and not just the calorie intake.

Remember, to lose a pound a week you need to cut out or burn an extra 500 calories a day.