Category Archives: Optimal Health

Pampering Instead of Chocolate

When you come home from a tiring day and need a reward, instead of reaching for the Hershey’s kisses in the freezer, continue on into the bath and give your dry winter skin a prize.  Whether you are a shower person or bathe in a tub, you can take at least 30 minutes for a face peel, hydrating masque, sugar scrub and body butter.  Your skin will feel wonderful and the chocolate will be forgotten.  My favorites, Artistry brand of course, Essentials Hydrating Botanical Spa Collection.

Throwing Out Sugar

Yesterday “Sugar is Toxic to the Human Body” was a headline on the radio news.  The University of California, I think, has been researching the effect of the typical, American, high sugar diet on human bodies and they are recommending that the government forces us to throw out sugar. 

     First of all, research is usually inaccurately portrayed by the drive-by news organizations.  They will sensationalize anything to sell their product.  Secondly,  we all know that refined sugar, and fructose and honey are all metabolized in the body the same way and our brains need sugar or we pass out.

What do they mean by the word “toxic”?  I have no idea, but we already have guide lines for healthy consumption of sugar.  The American Diabetes Association recommends three servings of whole fruit (not juice) per day and  this is enough simple sugar for your body to thrive.  Simple sugars release into the bloodstream fairly quickly.   The ADA also recommends complex carbohydrates made from whole grains with increased fiber which cause slower absorption of sugar preventing your pancreas from working overtime. And, dentists are dead set against consuming candy, sugary soft drinks and sugared gum because they destroy your teeth.

So, where does that leave us health conscious humans in a semi-free society?  Whether it is toxic or not, it’s a healthy decision to throw out the sugar bowl, the white flour, candy, sodas and the orange juice.  Replace them with a natural sweetener like Stevia, whole grain flours and real fruit containing fiber.  It is amazing how sweet fresh pineapple tastes after only a week of cutting out the sugar.  For you rebooters, incorporate more vegetables into your juices, try three veggies to one fruit.  Although change is hard, just think of it as taking responsibility for your own health by throwing out the sugar before the government does it for you.

Immunity Boost For Rebooters and Toddlers

Carmen, my granddaughter, and I came up with a new juice recipe this morning.  She is a toddler and cannot crunch up raw vegetables and fruit, however, with a juicer she can still consume all the nutrients.   This time of year we all need a boost for our immune system, so whether you have todds at home or not, here is a great recipe for a winter reboot.

Winter Booster

3 Valencia Oranges, direct from Florida if you can get them

2 Gala Apples

2 Large Raw Carrots washed well, not peeled

2 fresh Lime Wedges, peeled

2 to 3 fresh Basil Leaves, found in grocery if you don’t live in southern climes.

Peel and segment the oranges, wash and segment the apples, wash the carrots well but do not peel, cut the limes remove the peel from the segments and thoroughly wash the basil leaves.  Then juice, stir and drink.  Don’t store because the water-soluble vitamins break down over time.

Breakthrough Fast Day 15 Unexpected Results

This fast has not been what I expected. I planned to stay on juices and a daily soy shake for the whole 21 days. Instead, I set aside food until I’ve had an hour or more of talking with God and meditating on His Word. Then, I break the fast, usually in late afternoon. Fasting brings clarity and a focus to my daily devotions that I’ve not experienced before. It also allows God to fill the empty places. However, by evening my blood sugar is so low that I’m breaking the fast by dinnertime and it’s okay. This fast doesn’t have to fit my pictures in order to bring results.

Conquering Dry Skin, My Favorites Part 2

This post continues the series on dry skin and how to conquer it.  The Winter of 2012 is my first after menopause so I’ve had to make changes in how I care for my skin.  Preventing and treating dryness is now the priority. Part 1 focused on my face and Part 2 outlines my favorite products for  lips, hands, and heels.*

The product for dry hands that I take with me everywhere is  Artistry Creme Caramel Hand Creme.  It comes in a 2 fl.oz. size tube which fits well in pockets and purses.  The scent is out of this world and it stays on my hands through 2 -3 washings.

For the rest of my skin, especially legs and heels I’ve discovered the new Artistry Essentials Hydrating Botanical Spa Collection.  These three products remove dry skin and moisturize like the treatments I get at the nail spa.  Also, the fragrance is so relaxing.

Finally, for chapped lips  I like the Artistry Lavish in Cashmere Lipcolor with Vitamin E and Macadamia Oil.  This is a super moisturizing formula that heals my chapped lips.   However, it’s available  for a limited time so I’m stocking up.  Go to www.like.mychoices.biz and click on the Our Store>Beauty tabs to find my favorite products and contact me through this blog if you have any questions.

*My Five Favorites for Conquering Dry Skin posted Jan. 6, 2012

Breakthrough Fast, Day 8

Just as each race is different, each fast is different.*  This fast has been nothing like the Juice Reboot that I did last summer.  This one has been an emotional rollercoaster and the food cravings have not gone away after two days like before.  I blame Christmas feasting, the sugar intake was very high this year.  As for the emotions,  I’m spending at least an hour per day in prayer and bible study.  God is teaching me about Joy and craving Him instead of food. Forgetting what is behind and reaching toward the goal, I’m expecting this coming week will be  easier, I’ll  keep you posted.

*See Fasting is Like Running, Dec.2011

21 Day Breakthrough – Day 1 A Little Shakey

The first few days of a fast are the hardest for me.  My body reacts to juicing with a weak, shaky feeling plus getting rid of lots of fluid.  So, I’ve learned to add some whole vegetables the first few days.

For example, today I enjoyed a Nutrilite protein powder shake with nonfat milk, and a banana.  Then while shopping I chose a Bolthouse Farms Amazing Mango Fruit Smoothie.  At dinner time I  retreated to my room where I prayed and read the bible for a while and took a nap.   Fasting after all the rich Christmas fare has left me feeling not so good,  so I celebrated the end of the day with a bowl of salad greens, purple cabbage and vinegar for the dressing.  Now I’m feeling fine and ready for whatever tomorrow will bring.  I’ve learned to listen to my body and feed it whole foods when the shakes strike.

Fasting is like Running

Lately i’ve been discussing dietary fasting with my niece who is a marathoner and we realized that participating in the various fasts is like running in marathons. For a runner each established race is a notch in their belt with bragging rights. There’s the Marine Corps Marathon, Boston Marathon, The Mud Run. For the health conscious participating in the various fasts is also grounds for bragging.  There is the 15 Day Juice Reboot, The 7-day cleanse and the 40 days of Lent.  The endurance and mental focus needed to successfully finish both disciplines are the same.

My next fast will be the 21 Days to Breakthrough with our church family. It begins on January 2. The details are on church-redeemer.org (keyword: breakthrough).  Anyone who wants to join me please send me a comment.  Maybe I’ll get a plaque for my office  or a bumper sticker for the back windshield of my car or maybe a pin ….

Christmas Baking Resolutions

Every year the search is on for the perfect sugar cookie recipe.  The well-used metal cookie cutters are selected and washed. Of course the antique ones are the best because they have an aura of perfect cookie baking about them. The freshest ingredients are assembled and the dough is in the refrigerator. This year the cookie frosting is pre-dyed and in aerosol cans with various tips. The cookies will be a wondrous variety of beautifully decorated creations!
NOT . . . the dough had large lumps of butter in it which would not blend in, and it waited in the refrigerator 3 whole days before a time was found for rolling, cutting, baking and decorating. The aerosol can was uncontrollable making huge gloppy bows and rocking horses with large pink eyes. The sugar frosting was too thin and the holes in the colored sugar bottle were too big. Halfway through I just gave up and allowed my artistic daughter to take over. For her, all the decorations behaved faultlessly making her cookies perfect and mine look like the work of a first grader.
Therefore, next Christmas I resolve to bake only drop cookies or squares.  There will be no frosting, colored sugar or aerosol cans anywhere near my kitchen and I am tossing out all sugar cookie recipes! Until next November when I see those cunning little cut out cookies at Starbucks and think, I can do that!
Better not throw away my cookie cutters just yet.

It’s Christmas Darn it! How to have joy in the midst of pain.

This has been one of the most trying Holiday seasons of my life.  Depression and despair have dogged my steps.  Everyday I expect the Christmas spirit to arrive with the shopping, decorating and planning.  Every night I go to bed exhausted and in tears just wanting to get the whole thing over with so I can really be depressed in January.

Each day  I read my Bible and talk with God.  I’ve been asking Him to show me how to have joy on the inside when the life is painful on the outside.  He has shown me Romans 12:12 where Paul talks about being joyful in hope, patient in affliction and faithful in prayer in addition to the verses in Philippians about keeping my mind on what’s good and not worrying.   After praying and asking Him once again to show me joy, I received His answer.  Basically, joy in the midst of pain comes from;  living in the moment;  keeping my mind on what is true for today;  not worrying about anything, but making my requests to God with thanksgiving;  and living in the hope of  God’s plans for eternity.

The resulting joy has welled up from within along with anticipation of Christ’s Birthday Celebration.   For all of you who are feeling pain this Christmas, read those passages and talk with your Creator.  His joy is the best gift of all.