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Healthy Homemade Strawberry Banana Muffins

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This recipe for strawberry banana muffins is super quick and easy. One day I had a hankering for something sweet. However, I didn’t want to eat an unhealthy store bought treat to satisfy my craving. I made this recipe with fiber cereal, fruit and Truvia (a healthier sweetener). I hope you enjoy my recipe.

Ingredients

11/2 cups of crushed fiber or bran cereal
1/2 cup of Unbleached flour
1 egg
1 cup coconut milk
3/4 cup diced strawberries
1 ripe banana
1/2 teaspoon of Celtic sea salt
1 tablespoon of baking powder
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
1/2 cup of Truvia

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

In a large mixing bowl, combine and mix dry ingredients
Flour
Cereal
Salt
Baking powder
Truvia

In a medium bowl, combine wet ingredients and whisk together
Egg
Coconut milk
Vanilla extract

Mash ripe banana with a fork and add to wet ingredients

Mix both wet and dry ingredients in the large bowl

Gently add and fold dice strawberries to the mix. (Mix should be lumpy)

Grease muffin pan with a non stick cooking spray or use cupcake baking cups

Do not fill to top

Bake 20-30 minutes

The strawberry banana muffins are done when you can place a knife in the middle of a muffin and knife comes out clean.

Enjoy!!!!

Belly Fat Theory: Our Burdens Go Straight to Our Bellies

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I have this theory: I believe that when we reach a certain age, time or experience in our lives, we start to carry our burdens in our bellies. I think that’s why so many American adults have belly fat — large or protruding stomachs and digestive issues.

I am my own case study for this theory. When I was in college I was so carefree! I had a good time pretty much all of the time, and I didn’t think about anything except passing my exams (easy) and deciding which party to attend on the weekend.Belly

And I looked good. I was a slim trim 135 lbs with curves in all of the right places and a flat perfect stomach that everyone envied. I went shopping all the time and always had the best clothes — the latest fashions.

Back then I actually believed that the world would end soon after I left school, so I wasn’t worried about all of the debt I was accruing and the unmeasured risks I was taking.

But guess what… the world is still here and a lot of that stuff came back to pimp-slap me in my face. There was the extreme debt, the stress of not finding the job I thought I deserved and the sadness of not meeting that perfect guy from my childhood fantasies who I assumed I’d marry in my twenties.

It took a while, but as the realities of life began to descend on me more and more, my body began to change. One day I woke up and I had a GUT for the first time in my life.

Along with this new found “kangaroo pouch pooch” that I had on my stomach, I also developed some weird digestive problems — constipation, diarrhea, bad gas and other problems.

It’s Not a Coincidence
My case is definitely not the only proof of this theory. I know countless people who also went from having slim stomachs in their younger years to gaining significant weight in their midsection (pregnancy and no pregnancy) when they became overwhelmed with life’s burdens.

Sure, it has something to do with diet. But I believe it has a lot more to do with mental stress, depression and “stinkin thinkin” as Zig Ziglar liked to call it.

If you notice, happy young people who live very carefree lives tend to have nice fit stomachs while their stress-filled parents have “belly burden.” Young people eat that same bad American diet as their parents (burgers, fries, chips, ice cream) but still maintain their flat stomachs.

Real Solutions to “Belly Burden”
So enough talking about the problem — what about the solution(s)?

– Commit to a daily mental cleansing. Meditation is a great way to cleanse the mind. It’s like putting your brain on the rinse cycle each day and starting again. Find a quiet place where no one can both you or put on some earphones with meditation music, close your eyes and meditate on the following:

1) things you’re grateful for
2) what you want and need in life
3) things/people/experiences that make your happy.

Also, instead of those hard workouts, try yoga and Pilates first to stretch places that need to be stretched.

– Better eating and diet. Eating for better health is simple: more fruits and vegetables and less of everything else. You should also set up an appointment with your doctor to see if you might have some type of dietary allergy that could be causing the bloat (like a gluten allergy).

– Investigate whether you might be lactose intolerant. This was one of my main issues! I love cheesy Italian meals and didn’t know that I was lactose intolerant. Part of my gut’s “grand debut” can probably be attributed to this. So I started taking lactase supplements with cheesy meals (best to eliminate cheese and milk if possible) and probiotics daily (I like Probiotic Pearls) and finally started to see a positive change after a few months.

– Reduce alcohol and carb intake. This goes along with better diet, but it’s worth a category by itself. Yeasty carbs like pasta and potatoes sit on your stomach and promote bloat. Alcohol and beer is high in yeast, which can bloat the stomach. Drinking a lot of hard liquor can also irritate the lining of the stomach and intestines. Reduce or eliminate your intake of all of these things.

– Depression counseling. Depression is a mental condition that can eat away at you little by little over time. Experts also believe that it is a cause of weight gain and physical health issues. Negative thinking can manifest in the body. Sometimes talking to a professional who will just listen to what you’re going through helps you to see things more clearly. And remember: a whole lot of people struggle with depression, don’t feel ashamed about it.

– Release worry. Dale Carnegie, the author of Stop Worrying and Start Living” gives a simple suggestion for overcoming worry: determine what is the worst case scenario and stop being afraid of it. If that happens, you’ll still be breathing and have another chance to make it right.

– Listen to books by people who “get it.” One of the solutions that has helped me over time was listening to audiobooks by experts, psychologists and regular folks who have been through the same thing. I really enjoy Rhonda Byrne’s audiobook The Power and recommend it to everyone who will listen.

– Do more of what you love. So many people work jobs that they hate to impress people who they don’t even really like. Start a side gig or hobby that you enjoy that gives you great pleasure.

If you think that you may be carrying your burden in your belly, you certainly aren’t alone. Explore what may be going on in your mind that could be causing belly fat and affecting what’s going on in the rest of your body as well.

Posted by Jasmine

Photo credit: Flickr/72213316@N00

 

Flossing Your Teeth Is Not an Option, It’s a Necessity (My Story)

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Coming up as a kid, I was taught to brush twice per day, but I wasn’t taught about the importance of flossing your teeth. I rarely if ever flossed my teeth at all throughout my younger years.

Unfortunately this bad habit followed me into my young adulthood. My teeth were pretty and white but my gums were red and bleeding. One day when I was about 23 years old I finally got the courage to go to the dentist after many years (I had a mild case of dental phobia).

“You’ve got gum disease,” the dentist said.

The cold and uncaring dentist went on to tell me that I had to have a long list of teeth extracted and I burst out in tears in his chair. All of my worst fears were coming true.

After I left his office I dried my eyes and decided “heck no! I am not going to let him do that!”

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© Kmitu | Dreamstime Stock Photos

Dental School Saves the Day
I decided to go to a periodontist at a local dental school instead of going back to that first dentist. I like dental schools because they know all about the latest technologies and treatments. The head periodontist at the school took me on as a special case because what I had was rare — it’s called juvenile periodontitis. Most people don’t have perio problems until they are in their 50s or older. 23 was ridiculously young for this to be happening. It’s something that some dentists believe is hereditary, as several of my family members had the same thing.

But gum disease is a condition that develops aggressively mostly due to lack of proper care. For 23 years I brushed my teeth diligently (which is why they were in good condition) but I almost never flossed! I went to bed night after night with food particles and soft plaque between my teeth. It’s no wonder why bacteria continuously ate away at my gums and bone tissue. My periodontist told me on several occasions that flossing was crucial to the healing process and maintaining healthy gums.

Getting Treated
It took me a number of visits — root planings (deep cleanings) and eventually periodontal surgeries (scaling beneath the gums and bone grafting) to finally remove the bad bacteria. They healed my gums — I was even able to get braces to improve my smile.

Over a decade later I am so glad that I didn’t listen to that cold-hearted dentist. I floss every day and my mouth feels great (pink, healthy gums, nice smile). I can’t stress enough the importance of flossing regularly — dentists recommend a minimum of once per day (once after every meal if possible). It’s one of the best ways to ensure a good report from your dentist at each visit.

One Last Tip — Good Diet Matters
Eating a good diet is also important to good dental health — drink a lot of water and eat plenty of fruits (green grapes are great) and vegetables (spinach and green leafy veggies) in addition to your regular dental visits.

Posted by Jasmine

Natural Ways to Keep Your Face Healthy and Beautiful

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Everyone wants gorgeous, glowing, young-looking skin. Here are a few simple tips to keep your face healthy and beautiful.

Tip #1: Coconut Oil Wash

Skin care products can be extremely pricey and the ingredients are not understood by the average consumer, so you may be unaware of the reactions your skin will have. You may want to consider trying an all natural product, that costs less and is much more beneficial to your skin. Try starting your day by washing your face with organic coconut oil. It may sound absurd, especially if you have oily skin, but try it! It doesn’t matter what skin type you have.

First, rinse your face with warm water or place a warm damp cloth on your face for a minute or two. Since coconut oil tends to solidify in colder temperatures, take about a 1/4 teaspoon of the coconut oil and place it into the palm of your hand. Your body’s warm temperature will immediately begin it to melt. Rub your hands together and lightly message the oil into your face. Next, rinse your face with warm water. At first your face will be oily, but the oil will be absorbed into the pores of your face. You will be amazed on how soft your skin will feel for the entire day.

Tip #2: Natural Exfoliate

If you feel that your face needs to be exfoliated, I have a home remedy — it contains two simple ingredients: organic coconut oil and baking soda. Mix approximately 1 tablespoon of oil and a teaspoon of baking soda. Again, begin by rinsing your face with warm water. Then place a little of the paste into the palm of your hand and use your fingers to gently make little circular motions around your face. Make sure you avoid your eye area to avoid irritation.

Tip #3: Watch What You Eat

What you eat and drink plays a major role in maintaining healthy looking skin. Eating foods that are high in vitamin C on a regular basis is very beneficial to the skin. So eat more fresh fruits and vegetables that contain high amounts of vitamin C on a daily basis. If you can afford it, purchase organic fruits and vegetables. I especially recommend eating anti-oxidant rich foods, like kale. It is a dark green leafy vegetable that’s loaded with vitamin C. The fruits I choose to consume on a daily basis are blueberries and strawberries. Blueberries are loaded with vitamin C.

I also like to start my day by drinking a cold, 16 ounce glass of water with freshly squeezed lemon (vitamin C and good for balancing your body’s alkalinity). Drink lots of water throughout the day to keep your skin hydrated.

Tip #4: Smoothie Time!

If you don’t like the idea of eating veggies and fruits daily, then make a smoothie. Each morning I fire up my Nutribullet and make a smoothie that I call my “food of life”. I put kale, spinach, blueberries, strawberries, 1 teaspoon of unpasteurized raw organic apple cider vinegar and 1 scoop of whey protein powder. Instead of water, I use freshly brewed green tea. This one smoothie mixture gives me energy for the rest of the day and nourishes my skin, keeping it soft and healthy.

Use these tips every day (start today!) to give your face a better, smoother, younger and more beautiful appearance. If you are consistent, you may even start to see results in as little as a week.

Posted by Eve

 

 

How to Cope With a Traumatizing Loss of a Loved One

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Many of us have had the unfortunate experience of losing a loved one. Whether it be a parent, sibling, niece, nephew or pet, there is inner pain that hurts to the core of your soul. The problem one faces when mourning is, how do you restart your life pain free? Meaning, when is it alright to have fun, feel good again, smile or laugh?

Experts say that there are five stages to the grieving process when there is a loss:

1- Denial/Isolation
2- Anger
3- Bargaining
4- Depression
5- Acceptance

The first stage is explained as a temporary response during the onset of the death, that is said to be a normal defense mechanism for all. Personally, I believe that to isolate yourself will only worsen the depression that a person feels, so try not to spend too much time alone. Just find a person that cares for you to sit with you even if you sit in silence.It may even help to go to a church or other place where you feel comfortable and welcome to be around others.

The second stage is when your anger is misplaced and directed towards family, strangers or on the deceased. What helped me not have anger towards anyone was the fact that I was surrounded by nothing but love. So if you are surrounded by negativity, remove yourself from their misguided energy and remain near people who are positive.

The third stage is generally when you begin to question if there was anything you could have or should have done to prevent the death. To me, it is a normal behavior to have. Following my own family loss, I instead remained focused on the love that I felt for the departed my entire life. It helped to ease the pain.

The fourth stage is when you experience sadness and regret. Sadness, is an emotion that no one enjoys. Yet, it was a vital part of my healing process. I felt more saddened by not being able to visit my loved one again alive and regretted the fact that I felt the death was sudden.

The fifth and final stage is where you begin to heal and move forward with life. This can take weeks, months or even years to happen completely.

Since every person’s emotional wellness during the grieving process is different, I don’t know if all people experience all five stages in that order. I myself, did not, but I was witness to other family members going through all five stages in order. I believe the relationship that each specific person had with the departed tells how a person will mourn.

Dealing with the loss of a loved one definitely isn’t easy. I think the most important aspect to remember is that the memories of the loved one will never fade. When you are able to experience a positive memory and laugh is when I feel that the recovery process begins.

It’s important to realize that no one is immortal — we have to appreciate and love life to its fullest while we’re here. This is the message that a deceased loved one would probably want to share with family and friends if it were possible.

BIG HUG

Posted by Lorraine

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Just Beautiful Campaign for Non-Toxic Makeup Products

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The Just Beautiful campaign seeks to raise awareness about potentially harmful substances in cosmetics.

Eye linerWhen you pick up your favorite makeup or beauty product from your local pharmacy or department store, you just want to know how it will look on your face. How it will complement your eyes? How it will match your skin tone? How it will make your hair smell and feel?

The last thing on your mind is whether or not it may contain toxic ingredients that could harm your face or damage your health.

Environmental Defence, a public interest group based in Canada, wants to raise awareness of the poisons that exist in some makeup and beauty products. They’re doing so with an aggressive campaign called “Just Beautiful.” It includes commercials and online media.

The main focus is on what the agency calls the “Toxic 10” : BHA/BHT, coal tar-derived colors, dibutyl phthalate, formaldehyde-releasing agents, fragrance, parabens, petrolatum, siloxanes, sodium laureth sulfate and the closely related chemical sodium lauryl sulfate, and triclosan.

The Just Beautiful campaign wants to convince manufacturers to eliminate these ingredients from their products and seeks to direct consumers to safer alternatives. The group has also published a list of safer products, dubbed the “Just Beautiful Campaign Cabinet,” on its website JustBeautiful.ca.

According to a report in the Calgary Herald, Maggie MacDonald, the toxic program manager of the Environmental Defence group, believes that safer alternatives are in demand by the public. Christian Mathieu of partnering agency Open, also based in Canada, agrees and thinks that ignorance of these ingredients is the main issue: “I think everyone in his right mind would balk at the notion that there are toxins in cosmetics. This is making people aware of the fact.”

The global lobby against harmful products in cosmetics is growing. Anti-toxin groups are using a number of tactics, including boycotts and informational campaigns like “Just Beautiful” to get the message through to corporations.

In the meantime, the next time you’re at the store buying makeup, you might check the ingredients to see if any of the “Toxic 10” show up on the list. Here are a few companies that offer non-toxic makeup products:

 

Josie Maran Products

 

Bite Beauty

 

Scotch Naturals

 

 

 

Photo courtesy: © Deadandliving | Dreamstime Stock Photos