There are so many reasons why people spend money on skin care and beauty products: dry skin, dry or oily hair, etc. Skin care and beauty products help keep our bodies healthy, and they are a great way to pamper your body with loving care.
Did you know that you can make your own skin care and beauty products at home, using ingredients such as avocado, citrus, herbs, and even pumpkin? Here are three wonderful homemade skin care products that will sooth your soul:
Honey-Lavender Bath Soak: Mix together 2 tablespoons honey, 2 drops lavender essential oil and 1 cup...
Beneficial Beets
Ranging in color from deep red to white, the beet is a root vegetable that contains powerful nutrient compounds that help protect against birth defects, certain cancers and heart disease. Beets contain betalains—the pigments that give beets their colors—and there are two types of betalains: betacyanins and betaxanthins. In the body, betalains neutralize toxins and support the cell’s natural detoxification process. By preventing toxins from building up in the body and by preserving cell function, chronic inflammation can be avoided. Betalains also reduce the enzymes responsible for causing inflammation.
Roasted beets are simply delicious and versatile. Use roasted beet cubes...
Winter Root Vegetables
Sure, spring and summer are the seasonal stars for bushels-full of delicious and nutritious fruits and colorful vegetables, but the fall and winter seasons also offers a wonderful variety of in-season fruits and vegetables that offer incredible taste and wonderful health benefits, including root vegetables. Root vegetables are underground plant parts used as vegetables. Some common root vegetables are beet, carrot, leek, parsnip, potato, sweet potato, and turnip.
Beets are an excellent source of folate and a very good source of fiber, manganese, potassium and vitamin C; carrots are an excellent source of vitamin A and a very good source...
Healthier Winter Eating
When the season shifts from summer to fall, and a chill sets in, it’s natural to want to eat comfort foods like savory pot roast, rich and creamy soups, and hearty dishes like chili, lasagna, and meatloaf and mashed potatoes. And while there’s nothing wrong with wanting to be comforted via food, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t take advantage of a healthful winter diet that will help keep extra weight off during the winter season and provide nutritional benefits for a healthy body.
Here are some things to consider while you plan you winter diet:
Boost serotonin with high-quality...
Sharpen Your Attention with Smart Foods
Whether you’ve been up all night studying for an exam or you’re at a point in life where aging has begun, it’s no fun feeling like you’re not alert enough to get through everyday tasks. Did you know there are certain foods that can help boost your brain? With just a little meal planning, these foods will help keep your mind sharp:
Eat avocado! Avocados contain mono and polyunsaturated fats. According to the American Heart Association, mono and polyunsaturated fats—when consumed in moderation and eaten in place of saturated or trans fats—can help reduce blood cholesterol levels and decrease risk...
Boost Your Immune System to Help Keep Colds and the Flu at Bay
When your immune system is run down it’s easier to catch colds and the flu. And there are so many factors that play into a reduced immune system: Excessive exposure to toxic substances (like cigarette smoke and insecticides in food and water), poor diet, excessive stress, etc. And when the body’s immune system is run down, free radicals break down cells making the body more susceptible to bacteria and viruses.
There are preventative measures, though, that can be taken to help keep your body’s immune system strong. One preventative measure is diet. Foods rich in antioxidants boost the immune system....
Bell Peppers for Health
Bell peppers, also known as sweet peppers, offer a mild, sweet flavor and crisp, juicy flesh. They’re enjoyed raw in salads, they’re a favorite as a party platter dipper, and they can be cooked several ways: baked, braised, grilled, steamed or sautéed. Nutritionally, the bell pepper is an excellent source of vitamins A, B6 and C. And it is a very good source of fiber, folate, potassium, and vitamins K and E. It also boasts several phytonutrients, including the flavonoids luteolin, quercetin, and hesperidin, and the carotenoids alpha-caroten, beta-caroten, cryptoxanthin, lutein, and zeaxanthin. By consuming fruits and vegetables high in...
What Are Phytochemicals?
There’s no doubt that fruits and vegetables offer many positive health benefits. There have been plenty of studies to prove this. And today, there are even more studies being conducted that show fruits and vegetables play an even greater role in maintaining better health than ever proved before.
Fruits and vegetables, and additional plant foods like beans, grains and other plants contain phytochemicals—a variety of compounds that come from different plant sources. These compounds offer different benefits for the body. And there are so many names that these phytochemical compounds are known as: antioxidants, anthocyanidins, carotenoids, flavonoids, isoflavones, phytonutrients, and...
How to Stock a Refrigerator and Freezer with Healthier Foods
Have you ever opened your refrigerator or freezer only to find jars of salsa and cheese dip, leftover pizza, cans of soda, and TV dinners? It’s not always easy keeping only healthy foods on hand, especially if you’re single and you eat out a lot. But if you do cook at home, there are healthier food choices that you can stock your refrigerator and freezer with for better eating.
Butter and Margarine: If you enjoy real butter, you should be aware to use it in moderation. And when choosing margarine, choose margarines that are trans-fat free.
Canola Oil and Olive...
Kick Your Health Up a Notch with Spices!
If variety is the spice of life, you’ll want to incorporate the following spices into your menus—and not just for taste but health, too! Studies have shown that some spices contain phytochemicals that may help prevent health problems such as high cholesterol, arthritis and more.
Chili Peppers. The main ingredient found in chili peppers—capsaicin—may help relieve minor arthritis aches and pains of muscles and joints, may help backaches, and may help sprains and strains. And the hotter the pepper the more capsaicin. Add jalapeno peppers, cherry peppers, and habanero peppers into your diet for capsaicin benefits.
Cinnamon. In a 2003...
