Toxin Fighting Foods For Clear Skin

The food we put inside, shows up outside if it’s not doing any good.

And now with the change of season, our bodies need to adjust.

Here’s a list of toxin fighting foods that will help with clear skin -

1 – tomatoes – rich in Vitamins A & C, nutrients and antioxidants

2 – beets – detoxifies and supports the liver

3 – lemons – helps balance body’s acidity and clears skin

4 – avocado – rich in Vitamin E and great for skin health

5 – fennel – supports digestion and intestinal health

6 – berries – full of antioxidants promoting healthy skin and reducing body stress

7 – sweet potato – contains beta-carotene for intestinal, skin and menstrual cycle

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Foods For A Leaner Body

Summer’s approaching and we all want that lean body!
Guess what?!  Vegetables can help – along with a good amount of water intake, balanced lifestyle, exercise, meditation and a nutritious diet.
Here’s a list of foods you can eat to gain a lean body -

Kale – kale is high in vitamins A, C, and K; manganese, antioxidants and fiber

Lemons – increases bone strength

Almonds – great for the heart and blood sugar levels

Spinach – improves vision, bones, blood pressure, immunity, skin, brain and nervous system

Blueberries – high in antioxidants and helps reduce belly fat

Olive oil – improves skin, complexion and slows the aging process

Parsley – rich in vitamin C, folic acid, iron and beta-carotene

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A Cup Full Of Almonds

Just a cup full of almonds -

• has a great source of calcium
• prevents constipation
• fights cravings
• controls blood sugar levels
• contains high levels of Vitamin E
• boosts energy
• is best to eat when soaked over night and skin removed 

Health Benefits of Sweet Potatoes

My mom made a great sweet potato dish for lunch today.

Sweet potatoes are really good for you, better than regular potatoes and here's why. 

* Click on image for larger view * 

Green Up Your Insides

Green up your insides with the following list of green vegetables.

Greening It Up Is Cleaning It Up!

Vegetables have the best nutritional value such as - potassium, iron, calcium, fiber, folic acid, and vitamins A, C, E.

Best to include at least one at least once a day - to start :)

Celery
Brussels Sprouts
Kiwi
Green apples
Cucumbers
Avocado
Arugula
Asparagus
Green grapes
Green pears
Green beans
Cabbage
Broccoli
Broccoli rabe
Kale
Limes
Artichokes
Honeydew melons
Bok choy
Artichokes
Spinach
Avocado
Turnip greens
Collard greens
Chard

Wonders of Olive Oil

Olive oil is one of the most popular ingredients in the kitchen, but it can also be found in the medicine cabinet and even on a night stand.  In fact that it is rich in vitamin E and essential antioxidants, makes it one of the most efficient measures to balance blood pressure levels and cholesterol, to precent heart attacks, cancer and fight aging.  And if you thought that's where its benefits end, you are sorely mistaken.

Here are 25 more uses for this excellent material - the olive oil

1 - to precent snoring - swallow a spoon of olive oil before bed

2 - to reduce stretch marks - massage olive oil before bed

3 - to treat acne - prepare a mix made of 3 table spoons of olive oil with 4 table spoons of sea salt, put on your face for 1-2 minutes.  The mix will clean the pores and keep the moisture of your skin.  Wash with hot water and soap.

4 - to alleviate ear pain - spill one drop of warm olive oil in your ear

5 - to reduce stomach ulcers and pain - mix one table spoon of live oil with a 3/4 cup of citrus juice or vinegar and drink

6 - olive oil can serve as a substitute for shaving cream

7 - to strengthen your fingernails - soap them in a bowl of olive oil

8 - to rehabilitate your skin - to treat dry skin of the hands, elbows and knees, warm a few table spoons of olive oil (until it's luke warm) and smear on the relevant areas.

9 - to treat colds - warm a mixture of 1/3 cup of olive oil, 1/3 cup of sesame oil, 4 drops of thyme, 2 drops of rosemary oil and massage the warm mixture on the chest area 

10 - to treat dandruff - massage olive oil into your scalp and leave overnight.  Wash your hair in the mooring and wash with a regular shampoo.  Try this treatment for a week.

11 - to treat dry hair with split ends - warm the oil and smear on scalp for 45 minutes

12 - to treat after hair coloring - soak a soft cotton towel with olive oil and wipe the spotted skin, it may take some time but the color will come off the skin

13 - to prevent hair loss - mix 2 eggs with 2 table spoons of olive oil.  Smear on the scalp and hair for 40 minutes and then wash with cool or luke warm water.  It's recommended to repeat this 3 times a week.

14 - to treat lice - mix 1 table spoon of olive oil with 5 drops of the the tree oil and smear on the scalp for several minutes.  Then comp your hair with a live comb and wash with hot water.

15 - Relieve toothache - mix drops of clove oil with drops of olive oil, in about a ratio of 3:1 and use a cotton ball to put on the aching area.  Not recommended for children and pregnant or breastfeeding women. 

16 - remove mascara - drip a bit of olive oil on a cotton ball and wipe the make up from your eyes.

17 - relieve coughing - swallow a spoon of olive oil mixed with a spoon of honey.  Another option is to massage the upper back and chest with the oil at body temperature. 

18 - treating swollen/red gums - wash your mouth with a mix of olive oil and water.

19 - prevent diaper rash - mix 2 spoons of olive oil with a spoon of water and smear on baby's rear

20 - to polish furniture - mix olive oil and lemon juice at a ratio of 2:1.  Use a gentle towel soared in the mix to polish the furniture 

21 - to maintain garden tools - smear a bit of olive oil on garden tools to keep them from accumulating filth and corrosion.

22 - to prevent squeaks - smear some olive oil on screaming hinges to make them silent 

23 - for digestive problems - swallow a spoon of olive oil every morning on an empty stomach.  Another option is to drink a glass of water with a spoon of olive oil and spoon of lemon juice.

24 - to maintain knives - after washing thoroughly with water and soap, wipe the blades well and then use a small amount of olive oil and gentle rub it on the blades with a towel. 

25 - prevent wax from building up in the candlesticks - just drip a bit of olive oil and it won't stick. 

Power of Pumpkin

It's Halloween!!!
And the pumpkin is the all mighty.
Here is some information about pumpkins.
Believe it or not, we can eat this as a main vegetable instead of in a pie :)

Pumpkin is a fruit of the plant of the same name and belongs to the Cucurbitaceae family that also includes gourds.  It is quite similar to gourd in its appearance and is believed to have originated in North America.  However, there is no fixed shape of pumpkins and they usually vary from being oblate to oblong.  The rind is smooth, lightly ribbed and usually, orange or yellow in color.  With a high nutritional value, pumpkins are associated with a lot of health benefits.  Apart from the flesh, even the seeds of pumpkins boast of a large number of nutrition benefits.  Read on to know more about the nutritious ‘pumpkin’.

Nutritional Value of Pumpkin.  Given below is the amount of nutrients present in 1 cup Pumpkin (cooked, boiled and drained): 

• Calcium - 37 mg

• Carbohydrate - 12 gm

• Dietary Fiber - 3 gm

• Folate - 21 mcg

• Iron - 1.4 mg

• Magnesium - 22 mg

• Niacin - 1 mg

• Potassium - 564 mg

• Protein - 2 grams

• Selenium - 0.50 mg

• Vitamin A - 2650 IU

• Vitamin C - 12 mg

• Vitamin E - 3 mg

• Zinc - 1 mg

• Calories - 49 

Health & Nutrition Benefits of Eating Pumpkin 

• Pumpkin is very rich in carotenoids, which is known for keeping the immune system of an individual strong and healthy.

• Beta-carotene, found in pumpkin, is a powerful antioxidant as well as an anti-inflammatory agent. It helps prevent build up of cholesterol on the arterial walls, thus reducing chances of strokes.

• Being rich in alpha-carotene, pumpkin is believed to slow the process of aging and also prevent cataract formation.

• Pumpkins have been known to reduce the risk of macular degeneration, a serious eye problem than usually results in blindness.

• The high amount of fiber present in a pumpkin is good for the bowel health of an individual.

• Being loaded with potassium, pumpkin is associated with lowering the risk of hypertension.

• The presence of zinc in pumpkins boosts the immune system and also improves the bone density. 

Health & Nutrition Benefits of Pumpkin Seeds 

• They promote overall prostate health, apart from alleviating the problem of difficult urination that is associated with an enlarged prostate.

• They comprise of L-tryptophan, a compound that has been found to be effective against depression.

• They are believed to serve as a natural protector against osteoporosis.

• They have been known to reduce inflammation, without causing the side effects of anti-inflammatory drugs.

• Studies have revealed that they help prevent calcium oxalate kidney stone formation.

• Being rich in phytosterols, they have been associated with reducing the levels of LDL cholesterol.