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3 Smoothie Recipes: Green, Red and Pink

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Smoothies are the new go to meal. You can energize your body, especially if you replace a heavy breakfast with a nutritious vitamin packed smoothie. Depending on what you put in your smoothie you can eventually improve your overall health. Here are three smoothie recipes you might want to try (Green, Red and Pink) along with their benefits.

1- Green Smoothie

Ingredients:
* spinach
* celery
* green apple (core removed)
* fresh ginger root (the size of a quarter)
* raw honey or stevia (optional) natural sweetener
* whey protein powder

Benefits of ingredients-
* green apple is high in fiber
* spinach lowers the risk of cancer and is a great source of iron
* celery is a natural diuretic
* ginger is awesome for circulation, inflammation and is a natural pain reliever
* protein powder is a great source of protein that helps rebuild muscle while keeping your appetite satisfied

Red Smoothie

2- Red Smoothie

Ingredients:
* beet root
* raspberries
* fresh turmeric
* ginger
* raw honey or stevia natural sweetener
* whey protein powder

Benefits of ingredients-
* beet roots are great at preventing coronary artery disease, strokes, lowers cholesterol and contains vitamins B3, B5, B6
* raspberries are full of antioxidants, iron, phytonutrients, fiber, magnesium, potassium, zinc just to name a few
* turmeric has antibacterial properties, is a anti-inflammatory and helps detoxify your liver
* ginger is awesome for circulation, inflammation and is a natural pain reliever
* powder is a great source of protein that helps rebuild muscle while keeping your appetite satisfied

3- Pink Smoothie

Ingredients:
* strawberries
* kale
* raw honey or stevia natural sweetener
* cayenne powder (very little needed)
* whey protein powder

Benefits of ingredients:
* strawberries lower homosysteine levels which prevents damage to the inner lining of the arteries, great source of fiber, excellent for diabetics because it helps regulate blood sugar
* kale has a low caloric content, contains vitamins- A, K, C, B6, Manganese, Calcium, Copper, Potassium, Magnesium, helps body to rid body of free radicals, lowers blood pressure
* cayenne powder helps speed up metabolism
* powder is a great source of protein that helps rebuild muscle while keeping your appetite satisfied

 

Posted by Eve

Photo credit: Flickr/idamyrvold

Review: Jack La Lane PJEB Power Juicer Express

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In the past year, I’ve dedicated more time and effort to exercising and eating healthy. I was researching the best ways to consume foods that provide me with natural energy and optimal health. The best way  to accomplish that was to begin juicing. I found the Jack La Lane PJEB Power Juicer Express to be a decent fit for my immediate needs.

Jack La Lane PJEB Power Juicer Express

Benefits
– affordable (can be purchased for under $100 — I got mine on sale for around $70)
– sleek design that fits in with the rest of your appliances
– claims to extract more juice than other juicers on market
– capable of handling a variety of fruits and vegetables very well, and no need to chop them very small

This juicer does a good job of getting most of the nutrients out of my fruits and veggies. It has a large mouth so that it’s not necessary to cut the veggies so small and a convenient spout that you can turn on and off when the cup gets full.

Since I have been using the Jack La Lane juicer on a consistent basis I feel great. Fresh juice gives me a boost on mornings when I’m dragging myself into my day. I’ve even started experimenting with different juicing recipes to break the monotony. However, I have to admit that making these juices are time consuming and messy. I wish that there was some type of self-cleaning mechanism or a more efficient way of delivering the pulp to the emptying cup on this juicer.

So while I encourage anyone who is searching for a decent juicer to give the Jack La Lane PJEB Power Juicer Express a try, I would give it about 3 stars out of 5. I am now researching cold press juicers, which are more expensive but also seem to offer an easier clean up process. Time for an upgrade!

Posted by Jade

 

7 Self Care Ideas and Tips for Women

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Women have so many responsibilities, from caring for family members to taking care of business at work. It can be difficult to find time for some much needed pampering, but self care is extremely important. The University of Kentucky defines self-care as any purposeful actions that you take to care for your “physical, mental and emotional health.” Here are some self care ideas and tips for women.

1- Make a foot bath with Epsom salt and apple cider vinegar. Fill a foot bath or tub with very warm water. Then add 1/2 cup of Epsom salt to water. Then add 1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar. The salt has healing properties, such as soothing tired feet, relieving aches and pains. The vinegar will help soften calluses and assist in removing excess skin from your feet. Make sure to soak your feet for at least 20-30 minutes. It helps tremendously if you have a pumice stone to remove excess skin. Just gently use stone in a circular pattern on feet and don’t forget to do your heels. When you are done the last step is to moisturize your feet with lotion. Your feet will thank you and you will feel rejuvenated. Do this at least once a week to renew your tired feet.

Flickr/basheertome2- Buy yourself a really good pair of comfortable shoes. Sometimes I wonder if stores that sell cheap shoes are owned by podiatrists! If you ask any foot doctor, wearing poorly made, cheap shoes is one of the top reasons for foot problems, including bunions, heel spurs and hammertoes. So one self-care idea is to go out to a very nice store and purchase one pair of really good, comfortable shoes. $50, $100, $200… it’s okay to spend some money on yourself–especially when it means you’ll have healthy, happy feet.

3- Make a coconut oil deep conditioner for your hair. Using coconut oil as a deep conditioner will strengthen your hair. The oil penetrates deep into your hair and can actually reduce hair loss and thinning. First, in a medium size bowl add 1/4 cup of coconut oil and combine with 4 tablespoons of warm water. Mix well. Apply mix to scalp and hair. Cover your hair with a shower cap, plastic wrap or a plastic bag for 30-45 minutes. Shampoo afterward and style as usual. Do this at least once a month.

Flickr/diophoto

4- Buy an ice cream cone for yourself and go sit OUTSIDE to eat it. Many times when you eat ice cream, it’s while sitting in front of the television or feeling sorry for yourself. If you’re going to enjoy some ice cream, go outside and enjoy nature as well. If you’re going to have a treat, have it when you’re feeling good.

5- Give yourself a full body massage with your favorite oil. When you put on lotion in the morning, you probably do it so quickly that you don’t even have a chance to reach every spot. Set aside at least 10 minutes out of your day, sit down with some music and massage every part of your body with your favorite oil–the neck, arms, hands, feet and back of your knees. Don’t stop massaging until every part of your skin is properly covered and treated.

6- Make your own hydrating water to drink throughout the day. As you know beauty starts from the inside out. Drinking the recommended 8 glasses of water can become boring, so make some hydrating water. This water will be a tasty thirst quencher that encourages you to get enough water each day. Slice a half of a cucumber and add 6 mint leaves to 2 quarts of purified water. Allow the water to chill for at least 1 hour before drinking.

7- Do 5 Minutes of Yoga. Many people assume that they yoga has to take hours and is very difficult, but it can actually be fulfilling in short spurts. Pick your five favorite positions, rotate them for about five minutes, then lay back and relax for the last 30-45 seconds. Get up and proceed with your day.

These self care ideas and tips for women will help you begin to take better care of yourself. Remember that if you are not happy you can’t make others happy. So take care of YOU and make the most out of every free moment.

Posted by Eve

Photo credits: Flickr/basheertome Flickr/diophoto

4 Ways to Better Manage Your Depression

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Depression is a very serious issue that can negatively affect a person’s life in a number of ways. It can have negative effects on both the mind and body. You may feel tired, sad, lacking energy and sometimes like life doesn’t have much meaning. If you’re having a chronic problem with how to manage your depression, of course the first course of action is to seek the help of a professional because in some cases it can be the result of a chemical imbalance, hormonal issues or even heredity.

Manage Your Depression

 

However, depressive disorder is also often caused by outside forces, like stressful life events and eating bad foods, so a holistic and natural approach to managing this condition may help as well. You can also try implementing a few new stimulating activities into your daily routine to better manage your depression.

Change Your Diet

Did you know that some foods can actually exasperate your feelings of depression? Researchers from the University of Navarra and the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canariain in Spain found that eating foods high in trans fats and saturated fats can actually make depression worse.

You may also be missing necessary vitamins and minerals from your diet. Buy a daily pill container and fill it with vitamins, including a multi-vitamin, vitamin C-ester, vitamin D, vitamin B and any others that your doctor says you need for proper nutrition.

Read

When you’re depressed, your mind is unhappy with your current surroundings and situation. So if you’re feeling down, try sending your mind elsewhere for a while by picking up a good book or other type of reading material. Be careful not to read negative things, such as sad news stories, depressing articles and magazines that advertise things you can’t have at the moment; that could depress you even further. Read positive stories of triumph, feel good news and if possible, stories about other people who have overcome depression.

Do Just 5 Minutes of Yoga

The mind-body connection is a very real thing. Sometimes exercising or simply stretching the muscles in your body can help you manage depression. If you aren’t motivated enough to do a full workout, just pause and do about 5-10 minutes of yoga stretches. Here’s a quick beginner’s yoga video you can follow. This one helps energize you. You may be pleasantly surprised by how much better you feel after doing just a bit of yoga. The more you do it, the longer you’ll probably want to do it, but don’t feel pressured. Just take it one day at a time.

Talk to Someone (Or Even to Yourself)

If you have someone in your life that you can confide in, it helps to tell them what you’re going through. Sometimes just getting your feelings out can help relieve negative tension. It’s not wise to keep all of those depressed and repressed feelings bottled up for long stretches of time. If you don’t have someone else to talk to, sometimes talking through it with yourself (or a Higher Power that you believe in) each day is just as effective. And of course, talking to a qualified therapist who understands depressive disorders is also a good idea.

If you’re suffering from depression, you certainly aren’t alone. Even high profile celebrities with lots of money and fame, who seem to have great lives, report that they have experienced bouts of depression. Try changing up your routine, lifestyle and diet to manage your depression and overcome those negative feelings. It’s also important to seek the counsel of a trusted professional if it gets worse — talking to someone who understands what you’re going through can really help you get some relief and see things in a more positive light.

Seeing the Light

Posted by Jade

 

 

How to Convince Aging Parents that Assisted Living Can Be a Good Thing

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For years my siblings and I have been trying in vain to explain to our aging parents that they require assistance with their daily activities. We first had an in depth conversation with our parents on the benefits of assisted living. We explained that the most important factors are their safety and security. They are both currently experiencing major health issues, that makes it dangerous for them to venture out into their neighborhood.

We felt that it was dangerous for them to do the basics, such as: grocery shopping, banking, doctors appointments or just enjoying a beautiful day outside. For example, our dad’s vision has been steadily declining for years. He even shared a story of how he was harassed by a group of teens (or so he thought), while simply getting the mail. They had rummaged through his pant pockets in the hallway on the way to the mail box in his apartment building. Worst of all was that he could not identify his attackers to the police. Needless to say, we were all sad to hear that story. Our mom then shared an unfortunate story of how during one icy winter day, she had an issue of her own. She went out to purchase groceries and as she was about to step off the curb, she slipped on black ice falling to her knees. Keep in mind that she had just had reconstructive knee surgery two months prior. That fall had set her healing process back for weeks. We were extremely concerned after hearing both of their stories.

So with love and compassion, we began to explain how living in a senior-assisted living home would benefit them. First, we explained to them that they would have round the clock care from a nurse on duty. They would also have transportation available to take them to doctors appointments, purchase groceries, social outings etc. They would also have a dining hall to socialize with other seniors. We even told our dad that they would teach him how to navigate in and outside of his apartment with his walking stick.

At the end of the loving conversation our parents finally admitted that the senior living facility sounded like a good idea. Thankfully, they are now awaiting their move-in date and are excited to have a better quality of day to day life.

It takes patience and understanding, but with basic reasoning it’s possible to convince even a stubborn elderly parent that assisted living may be the way to go.

Posted by Eve