The Kind Diet

Alicia Silverstone was in Portland this week at Powell's Books to present her just-released, fantastic, new book: The Kind Diet. I attended her talk and got an autographed book for myself. I have to say I was very impressed with her speech and, so far, her book (though I'm only 27 pages into it). When I first learned of her book, I was a bit skeptical. I thought she would just be another vegan presenting a book full of recipes utilizing rancid vegetable oils, tofu, and refined products -- recipes I would not be interested in. I was completely wrong.

Alicia presents a spectacular approach to veganism with which I can completely agree because she combines the pursuit of veganism along with the pursuit of health (body & planet). She also approaches it with compassion, not only for the animals whose lives she is saving, but also for herself. She does not deny herself dinners out or a bite of dessert (even one that contains a touch of dairy) because she does so consciously. She eats well before and after an indulgence and remains aware of how such an indulgence makes her feel physically.

The Kind Diet is fun and interesting to read. Alicia shares her personal story, the science supporting a vegan diet, meal plans, and delicious recipes that will make you never want for meat and dairy. It is inspirational and motivating even for myself who is already convinced. Of all the vegan/vegetarian books I have read thus far, this is my favorite!

I caught a glimpse of a few recipes while flipping through the book such as sweet potato-lentil stew, ginger pasta with zucchini, and chocolate peanut butter cups. Perhaps not all her ingredients will meet my standards, but I can always swap those out for something I prefer.

If you are battling with fatigue, weight gain, skin problems, low energy, inflammation, heart disease, allergies, asthma, cloudy thinking, or other health problems, a vegan diet may help eliminate those struggles. By adopting a vegan diet, Alicia eliminated allergies, achieved her ideal body weight, got rid of cystic acne, gained vibrant energy for living, and experiences greater self awareness.

If you would like to explore the vegan diet but still need some inspiration and direction for how to begin, Alicia's book is a fantastic starting point. It's all a journey. Allow yourself to take a step. Read more...

Raw Power Breakfast

My favorite mid-morning breakfast (after my green smoothie, of course) is a sprouted buckwheat cereal with Hazelnut milk. So good! This combo will stave off hunger all morning. Just yesterday I prepared for a long trek up Mount St. Helens by starting off with a coconut smoothie and the buckwhat cereal I'm going to share with you today. It did the trick and gave me the energy I needed for the climb.

Raw Sprouted Buckwheat Cereal

Ingredients:

• Raw buckwheat groats
  
• Raw sunflower seeds
  
• Raw pumpkin seeds
  
• Raw Chia seeds
  
• Cinnamon
  
• Raisins
  Optional:
  
• Slippery Elm Bark powder
  
• Licorice Root powder
  

At least 8 hours beforehand, you will need to sprout some raw buckwheat groats, raw sunflower seeds, and raw pumpkin seeds. Amounts don't matter much here; you just make as much as you want and keep the ingredients in the refrigerator for the next day. I sprout each of these items overnight by soaking them in water. In the morning, I drain the water and rinse the seeds. I store the sprouted sunflower and pumpkin seeds in a jar in the refrigerator and continue to rinse the buckwheat for another 8-24 hours. I sprout the buckwheat just until I can see little tails poking out, but I do not want them to get too long.

Once you have your sprouted seeds and buckwheat, combine the ingredients in a bowl in the following approximate amounts:

• 1/2 C. Buckwheat
  
• 1/4 C. Sunflower seeds
  
• 1/4 C. Pumpkin seeds
  
• 1 tsp. Chia seeds
  
• 1/4 tsp. Cinnamon
  
• 1/8 C. Raisins
  
• 1 tsp. Slippery Elm Bark powder
  
• 1/4 tsp. Licorice Root powder
  

Top the combo with homemade Hazelnut Milk made as follows:

Ingredients:

• 1/2 C. Raw Hazelnuts
  
• 4 Dates
  
• 1" Vanilla Bean
  
• 3 C. Filtered water
  

1. Sprout the Hazelnuts overnight by soaking them in filtered water.
   
2. Rinse the nuts in the morning and put them in your blender.
   
3. Add the dates, vanilla bean, and about half the water to the blender.
   
4. Blend on high for approximately 3 minutes.
   
5. Add what remains of the water.
   
6. Adjust the sweetness with dates and consistency with water.
   

Yummy!

Sprouts are an energy-giving food. As Ann Wigmore states in her book, they are "biogenic--alive--and capable of transferring their life energy to your body." You should incorporate as many sprouts into your regular diet. Sprouting your nuts, seeds, grains, and legumes increases the vitamin and mineral content significantly as well as increases the digestibility. Check out Ann Wigmore's book The Sprouting Book to read about the amazing benefits of sprouts.

Pumpkin seeds and Sunflower seeds provide high quality proteins and fats, magnesium, iron, phosphorous, zinc, and vitamin E. By eating the seeds sprouted, those nutrients are ready and available to nourish your body.

Chia seeds provide amino acids for rebuilding tissues and Omega-3 oils to keep your brain and joints healthy and to assist in the absorption of fat soluble vitamins.

The Slippery Elm/Licorice combination is a great addition to soothe, heal, lubricate, and nourish the entire digestive tract. Both act to calm inflamed mucous membranes and tissues.


Sources:
http://articles.herballegacy.com/slippery-elm-ii-%e2%80%93-applications-of-slippery-elm/
http://articles.herballegacy.com/the-benefits-of-the-use-of-licorice-in-herbal-preparations-part-iii/
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Cure for the common cold? Anti-Plague capsules!

Finally! I tried something new to ward off the cold that tried to sneak up on me last weekend, and it worked! No more will I have to suffer for a week with Kleenex stuffed up a red, puffy nose. Now is the season. So get your supplies together and have them ready just in case you wake up with that little scratch in your throat.

All you need is the following:

• Thieves essential oil blend
  
• Oregano essential oil
  
• Capsules size 0
  

Three times per day I swallowed 1 capsule containing approximately 8 drops of Thieves oil and 4 drops of Oregano oil. It is quite easy to do. I have the oils and capsules sitting on my bathroom counter, and all I do is drip the oil in carefully, put the cap on, and swallow! No pain. No suffering.

On the first day of impending sickness, I had stuffed up sinuses and a runny nose. In addition to my anti-plague capsules, I used a neti pot. A neti pot can be purchased at any drug store and comes with instructions. Basically, it is used to pour salt water up one side of the nose and run out the other. I added a drop of Thieves to the salt water, so I could get the antibacterial compounds up into my sinuses. Using a neti pot during a cold will help you feel so much better by clearing up the nasal passages.

Sore Throat Blast!
Additional tip: Usually the first indicator of a cold is a strange or sore feeling in the throat. When you feel this, get a flashlight and shine it in the back of your throat to have a look at your tonsils using the help of a mirror. I am sure you will be able to see a white speck on one or both tonsils. This is bacteria which is causing the trouble and needs to be removed before it is allowed to fester more.

The following procedure will take some practice, but will be helpful once you get the hang of it.

First, practice making your tonsils visible by flexing your throat muscles with your mouth wide open. Use your flashlight and mirror to practice. You will not be able to see the white speck without getting your tonsils into viewing position. It is more easily conveyed through illustration than words, but the feeling is like you are closing your throat while still having your mouth wide open.

Second, have a squirt bottle filled with a natural mouthwash handy and set on stream (not spray!). The goal is to squirt the plaque off the tonsil with something antibacterial. Thieves mouthwash is a great formula since the Thieves oil blend is antibacterial, antifungal, antimicrobial, and antiviral (I think that should take care of it all, yes?)

Once you have your tonsils in place, squirt bottle in one hand, and flashlight in the other, gently begin squirting at the white speck of plaque. You may only be able to get 2 or 3 squirts in before you need to spit, take a break, regroup, whatever. Prewarning: you may gag. Do your best to avoid hitting the epiglottis, which is what will make you gag. Just get as many squirts in as you can until the spec is gone. Don't get discouraged. Keep practicing. It is well worth it when you can avoid suffering through a sore throat and monstrous cold right after.

Lung & Sinus Relief

If you find yourself already suffering with a cold, lung congestion, sinus congestion, and other similar sickness, Young Living's R.C. essential oil blend can help you get relief and quickened recovery. Apply it on your chest and throat and inhale the vapors. Or rub a drop between your hands, cup your hands over your nose, and breathe in the vapors.

The following information is taken from the Essential Oils Desk Reference, Fourth Edition, compiled by Essential Science Publishing. It should help explain why these oils work.

Oregano
Medical Properties: Anti-aging, powerful anti-viral, antibacterial antifungal, antiparasitic, anti-inflammatory, immune stimulant
Uses: Arthritis/rheumatism, respiratory infectious diseases, infections/tuberculosis, digestive problems
Application: Dilute 1 part EO wit 4 parts vegetable oil and apply topically; diffuse; take as a dietary supplement

Thieves
A blend of highly antiviral, antiseptic, antibacterial, anti-infectious essential oils. Thieves was created from research of a group of 15th-century thieves who rubbed oil on themselves to avoid contracting the plague while they robbed the bodies of the dead and dying. When apprehended, these thieves disclosed the formula of herbs, spices, and oils they used to protect themselves in exchange for more lenient punishment.

Ingredients:

• Clove
  
• Lemon
  
• Cinnamon Bark
  
• Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus radiata)
  
• Rosemary
  

Application: Dilute 1 part EO to 4 parts VO and apply topically; diffuse; take internally

R.C.
Gives relief from colds, bronchitis, sore throats, sinusitis, coughs, and respiratory congestion. Decongests sinus passages, combats lung infections, and relieves allergy symptoms.

Ingredients:

• Eucalyptus globulus has shown to be a powerful antimicrobial and germ-killer. It is expectorant, mucolytic (dissolves mucous), antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, and antiseptic. It reduces infections in the throat and lungs. such as rhinopharyngitis, laryngitis, flu, sinusitis, brochitis, pneumonia.
  
• Eucalyptus raidata is anti-infectious, antibacterial, antiviral, an expectorant, and anti-inflammatory. It has strong action against bronchitis and sinusitis.
  
• Eucalyptus citriodora decongests and disinfects the sinuses and lungs. It is anti-inflammatory, anti-infectious, and anti-spasmodic
  
• Myrtle supports the respiratory system and helps treat chronic coughs and tuberculosis. It is suitable to use for coughs and chest complaints with children. Sinus decongestant and alleviates throat infections.
  
• Pine opens and disinfects the respiratory system, particularly the bronchial tract. It has been used since the time of Hoppocrates to support respiratory function and fight infection. It is one of the best oils for treating bronchitis and pneumonia.
  
• Spruce, Marjoram, Lavender, Cypress, Peppermint are also included and possess many similar qualities that support healing from bacterial and viral infections
  

Application: Dilute 1:1 with vegetable oil; diffuse; directly inhale; apply on chest, neck, throat, or over sinus area. Add R.C. to a bowl of hot, steaming water. Place a towel over your head and water/oil mixture and inhale the steam. Combine with Thieves to enhance the effects.


Many of these oils are very expensive, particularly those from Young Living. Single oils can be purchases more cheaply from Mountain Rose Herbs, but the blends such as Thieves and R.C. are proprietary and unique to Young Living. You can experiment by purchasing single oils and mixing your own blends. At the same time, it is nice to have the formula at your fingertips. Young Living has top-notch oils and fabulously mixed blends.


Note: If you would like to purchase Young Living's Thieves essential oil blend, you will need to set up a free, customer account and reference the following sponsor number: 615650

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Build Strong Bones. Drink Tea.

Today I’m going to tell you how you can provide your body with the ingredients it needs to build, repair, and maintain strong and healthy bones, muscles, teeth, and veins drinking Dr. Christopher’s Super Calc Tea. First, let’s take milk off the shelf by discussing how it works to deplete calcium from the body.

Cut the Milk

Let me get straight to the point by saying affirmatively that you don’t need milk to keep your bones strong. Americans have been inundated by statements made via advertising campaigns paid for by the Dairy Association that milk consumption leads to strong, healthy bones. If this were true, osteoporosis would be long gone in this country. Not only do people drink milk by the gallons, but many juices, cereals, and breads that line the grocery store shelves are fortified with calcium. Despite the consumption of calcium enriched foods, calcium related diseases persist.

Calcium deficiency may be indicated by the following:

• Muscle Cramps
  
• Vericose veins
  
• Hemorrhoids
  
• Tooth decay
  
• Achy body
  
• Osteoporosis
  

So why do these conditions persist despite the amounts of milk and calcium consumed?

Let me offer this explanation:

The standard American diet consists of too much animal protein, refined sugar, and refined flour. These foods acidify the blood. To neutralize the acid condition of the blood, the body pulls calcium and phosphorous from the bones and veins.

So people drink milk to replenish calcium. Problem: the calcium in the milk is bound to the protein casein. The calcium neutralizes the stomach acid, and the protein cannot be broken down. Thus, the body cannot even use the calcium in the milk. Additionally, the milk is pasteurized and completely void of any enzymes that could assist with digestion of the milk.

So people take calcium pills to replenish calcium. Problem: those supplements are made of inorganic isolated minerals, very little of which is absorbed by the body.

What you need is whole plant calcium that will be taken in with all the nutrients working in synergy to create healthy cells. Recommended sources are the following:

• Kelp & seaweeds
  
• Dark green leafy vegetables
  
• Citrus fruits on an empty stomach
  
• Super Calc Tea!
  

Below is a recipe for Dr. Christopher’s Super Calc Tea formulated to replenish calcium deficiency. Make it and drink it freely. I do!

Super Calc Tea

• 6 parts horsetail grass
  
• 4 parts comfrey leaf
  
• 3 parts oatstraw
  
• 1 part lobelia
  
  
• Optional: 1-3 parts hibiscus petals for flavor and a pretty color
  

Use 1 teaspoon of herb to 1 cup of distilled water. Let the herbs sit in the boiling water for about 30 seconds, then cover, let cool, and strain. Add a few tablespoons of raw honey or to your desired sweetness and 1/3 the volume of raw apple cider vinegar. This mixture will keep in the refrigerator indefinitely. Drink ½ cup per day. You might find the vinegar to be off-putting, but after just a couple days, your body will crave it!

By the way, you can purchase the above-listed herbs at Mountain Rose Herbs



This tea provides abundant silica and calcium as well as high quality glucose so the nutrients accompanying the glucose will be taken in readily by the cells.

To avoid further calcium loss, avoid calcium robbers such as meat, dairy, and refined foods.

This article has been entered in to the Mountain Rose Herbs Recipe Contest!


Sources:
Kal Sellers at www.kalsschool.com
Traci’s Transformational Health Principles by Traci & Kal Sellers

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Natural Skin Care

Last April I began an experimental skin care regimen from which I really got results! Since my teenage years I have struggled with skin blemishes - acne and congested pores. I fully expected to just grow out of it, but it persisted into adulthood. While browsing the internet one day I ran across what is called the Oil Cleansing Method. It sounded easy enough, so I put it in to action! After one month of faithful practice, I got noticeable results. Now I want to share with you all about it along with other natural hygiene practices.

First things first:

Eye Makeup Removal

Grapeseed oil is my solution for eye makeup removal. First, I tried Olive oil which stung my eyes. Next, I tried Jojoba oil which didn't sting but left a film over my eyes (no fun!). Grapeseed oil, however, is light, produced no stinging, and is great for the skin! Perfect!

The Oil Cleansing Method

The basic idea behind this method is that oil dissolves oil. Typically, soap is used to cleanse the skin, but soap not only takes out the dirt and grime, it also strips away the natural oils which are needed to keep the skin moist and supple. This dried-out effect brought on by soap necessitates the use of moisturizers. Most moisturizing products are loaded with all kinds of harmful chemicals (big problem!). Fortunately, there are natural products available with less perplexing lists of ingredients. I exhort you to begin reading the labels on all packaged products you purchase (for both internal and external consumption). The shorter and more comprehensible the list of ingredients, the better! Don't be fooled by package labels that say "All Natural" or "Organic". Verify the ingredients yourself.

In the oil cleansing method, Castor oil is used to draw out impurities from the skin without leaving the skin stripped and dried out. Castor oil is antibacterial and antifungal and is used in many more ways to achieve healing than will be covered here. Using cold-pressed castor oil, I perform the following steps each night:

1. I remove my eye makeup.
   
2. I pour some castor oil into my palm and use my finger tips to rub it into my skin. It is okay to apply the oil right on top of makeup without washing first. I rub in circular motions all over for several minutes.
   
3. I soak a wash cloth with hot water and press it to my face. What I really want to accomplish here is a steam effect. I want the pores to open and the castor oil to penetrate and latch on to impurities. Sometimes, if the water on the cloth is too hot, I hold it close to my face. When I breathe out of my mouth onto the wash cloth, I can feel hot steam rise to my face. It is really quite effective. I will hold the cloth to my face until it cools to room temperature. Once cool, I will resoak the cloth with hot water and do the steaming procedure again. Please be careful not to hurt your skin with scalding hot water. You could also accomplish this steam using a pot of boiling water and a towel to drape over your head. Feel free to pursue this method, but chances are you are more likely to stick with a quicker, simpler method.
   
4. After the second steam, I use the cloth to wipe the oil from my face. 
   
5. Then... I start all over! I use a second dose of oil and rub it into my pores followed by two steams and wipe off.
   

Toner

Once I am done with the oil cleansing, I use a cotton ball to apply my homemade toner. In a glass bottle I have combined the following:

• 1/2 cup of strongly brewed tea: I used green and chamomile teas (6 tea bags total), but you can use other things such as Burdock, Yellow Dock, and Sarsparilla which are good detoxifying herbs. I may experiment with those on my next batch of toner. 
  
• 1/4 cup of raw, apple cider vinegar: let the tea cool before combining.
  
• Several drops of Tea Tree oil: Tea Tree is an excellent antibacterial treatment for blemishes.
  

You may at first be put off by the smell of vinegar, but don't worry, the scent disappears quickly enough.

Anti-Aging

My final step is to apply my homemade anti-aging formula. In a 2 ounce amber dropper bottle, I combine jojoba oil and the following essential oils in the approximate amounts:

• 10 drops of Frankincense
  
• 7 drops of Myrrh
  
• 7 drops of Sandalwood
  
• 5 drops of Rosewood
  
• 1 drop of Geranium
  
• 5 drops of Lavender (I may or may not add this, but it is a wonderful, universal skin remedy)
  

To apply, I drop some of the formula on clean fingertips (important!) and rub around my eyes and lightly pat all over my face. It smells wonderful. Jojoba oil is a nice, light oil that penetrates the skin easily and takes all the wonderful essential oils with it. Jojoba oil will not clog pores. Do not be afraid to use it even if you have very oily skin. In fact, your skin's oil production may become quite balanced after using jojoba oil consistently.

A second skin formula that I always have mixed in a dropper is jojoba and Tea Tree (approximately 15% solution) that I use on particularly blemished days. Tea Tree oil works just as effectively on acne as Benzoyl Peroxide or Salicylic Acid and is non-toxic!

Cleansing Tea

In addition to the topical skin routine, I recommend drinking tea made with herbs which are known for cleansing the liver and thus improving skin condition. These herbs include Burdock root, Yellow Dock, Sarsaparilla, and Dandelion root. Here is a formula for a cleansing tea:

• 1 part Burdock root
  
• 1 part Dandelion root
  
• 1 part Yellow Dock
  
• 1 part Sarsaparilla
  
• 1/2 part Licorice root
  

Add for flavor:

• Cardamon seeds
  
• Cinnamon Bark
  
• Clove buds
  
• Ginger root

Put 3 tablespoons of the mixed herbs in 20 ounces of water and soak overnight. In the morning bring to a boil and simmer for 15 minutes. Strain out the herbs and drink. Save the strained herbs and add 1 tablespoon of new herbs to make another batch the following day. Continue to reuse the herbs 3 times before discarding.

Often, poor skin condition is an indication of a toxic liver and/or poor elimination channels. If the body is having difficulty eliminating via primary means, it will eliminate through the skin.

Dry Skin Brushing

Dry skin brushing is the use of a stiff, natural-bristle bath brush which you can find sold in health and beauty supply stores. The technique is accomplished by briskly brushing in long, sweeping strokes across the skin toward the heart. Brush the entire body at least twice over and follow with a warm shower to rinse. The brush should be kept in a dry place as exposure to water will change the stiffness and effectiveness of the bristles.

Dry skin brushing removes dead skin layers, stimulates circulation, assists the lymphatic system, helps remove cellulite, and results in overall softer skin. Additionally, the dry skin brushing technique can assist us in restoring proper levels of vitamin D. It is well known that skin makes Vitamin D when exposed to sunlight. However, it is not so well known that Vitamin D is actually produced by the interaction of sunlight with the natural oils produced by the skin. If we wash those natural oils away with soaps and detergents, we still end up Vitamin D deficient even with sufficient exposure to the sunshine. The dry skin brushing technique is effective enough to cleanse the skin and leave the natural oils behind.

Diet

In addition to this skin routine, I have become vegetarian/vegan over the last few months as well as increased my intake of raw foods. I didn't become vegetarian over night, rather slowly moved away from consuming meat and most animal products altogether. I'm sure this factor also played a role in my improved skin condition as eating lower on the food chain introduces fewer toxins into the body which must find their way out.

Sources:
Body Electronics by Thomas C. Chavez
http://www.acne.org/messageboard/OIL-CLEANSING-METHOD-Hi-t141871.html

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7 Steps To A Much Healthier Life

So you want to get healthy, but don't know where to start. Here I break it down for you into what I think are the first and foremost steps in turning your health around. Don't overwhelm yourself and try all seven steps at once. Take it one week at a time. Become successful with step 1 for one week before implementing step 2. Here we go.

Step 1. Replace ALL soda and bottled beverages with pure water.

Most soda and bottled beverages contain high levels of refined sugar and/or toxins such as aspartame and sucralose. I strongly believe that if you are drinking one or more bottled beverages per day, cutting this habit is the number one thing you can do for your health right now. The sugar (typically high fructose corn syrup) in soda and bottled beverages is not metabolized the same way as other sugars and has been conclusively linked to obesity and diabetes. Choosing diet soda is not the answer either. Many studies have shown that people who drink diet beverages gain weight anyway. Additionally, the sugar substitutes are toxic chemicals that can cause other health problems and should not be ingested under any circumstances.

A reason to avoid soda other than the fact that it contains harmful chemicals, is that soda is an acidifying beverage. Disease thrives in an acid environment. Otto Warburg won the Nobel Prize for demonstrating that the main cause of cancer is an oxygen deficient/acid environment. Additionally, calcium loss will result as the body attempts to remedy the acid condition with alkalizing substances such as calcium. Hmmmm... it sounds like that might be coming from your bones...

One formula to address the question "how much water should I drink everyday?" is to drink half your body weight in ounces. For example, if you weigh 150 pounds, you should drink 75 ounces of water. I suggest you get a large water bottle and take it with you to work and wherever you go. If you are not used to drinking this much water and find yourself going to the bathroom very frequently, just stick with it for a week, and your body will adapt.

Step 2: Eliminate fried foods.

Fried foods are detrimental for two reasons. 1. They contain trans fat and/or 2. They are usually fried in vegetable oil. So, what is so bad about these two facts?

1. Trans fat is an artery-clogging fat that is formed when vegetable oils are made to be solids at room temperature. This kind of fat is not found in nature and has been linked to cancer, neurological disorders, birth defects, nutritional deficiency, among others and should be completely avoided. Start reading the labels on any packaged food and look for "Hydrogenated", "Partially Hydrodenated", and "Shortening". Strictly avoid these foods. Also, note that fast food is loaded with this fat and should be avoided.

2. Vegetable oils such as sunflower, safflower, canola, and soybean oils are polyunsaturated fats which are highly susceptible to heat damage. Heat causes oxidative damage creating free radicals. Translation: these oils after heat exposure become cancer causing.

The bottom line is, there is absolutely no reason your body would want you to eat french fries or doughnuts.

Step 3: Eat a fresh, green salad every day.

Most of us could really benefit from a daily dose of fresh, raw vegetables. This could be a great source of natural vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients. Don't turn it into a bad food by adding a chemical-laden dressing bought at your local grocery store. Olive oil (extra-virgin, cold-pressed) with a dash of balsamic vinegar or lemon juice makes an easy dressing. Add minced shallot, dijon mustard, or garlic powder for more flavor. If you have any fresh herbs around, don't leave those out.

I make a wonderful, vegan, Ceasar copy-cat dressing made with an Almond base. It does take some preparation, but will make your salad taste as good as junk food. You can pile it on and not feel the least bit guilty. For a quick solution, try the Quick & Tasty Dressing For One. Find the recipes in my blog archives. There are so many online sources for quick, homemade, healthy dressings. Just do some looking around.

If you struggle to get the greens in every day, read my article on the easiest way ever to consume your salad every day!

Step 4: Avoid processed foods and fast food.

These kinds of foods are high in calories, low in nutrition, high in the wrong kinds of fats, and full of strange chemical ingredients. They will only serve to take away from your overall health. We are all looking for ways to save time, but do not sacrifice your health by going to the drive-thru or putting a packaged meal in the microwave. It is not worth it. How much is your health worth to you? My health is absolutely worth a little extra time and a little extra money. Cutting corners is not a good strategy for health. Avoid foods that are far removed from their natural states. You really are what you eat -- Remember this! What you eat literally becomes a part of you. Build with high quality, natural substances that will keep you strong and well-functioning for the entirety of your life. Here is a simple rule to follow: if it has more than 5 ingredients or ingredients that you can't pronounce, don't eat it. All fast food falls into this category.

Step 5: Eat fresh fruit for breakfast.

When you wake up in the morning, before you eat anything, grab a piece of fresh fruit. This fruit wakes up your system, requires no effort for the body to digest, promotes elimination, and is alkalizing, cleansing, and nourishing. Fruit should only be eaten on an empty stomach. Combining fruit with starches and proteins causes gas and bloating. Thus, the morning is a perfect time to get your fruit for the day. Remember: Fruit First!

Step 6: Find an enjoyable form of exercise and schedule it in to your day.

Exercise is very important to overall health. You can improve cardiovascular health, bone density, circulation, flexibility, and more with exercise. People come up with a lot of excuses for not exercising. A big key to success is to schedule it into your day; make it mandatory, not optional. Also, make it fun! If you hate running, don't run.

Believe it or not, but you can get great exercise with just 4 minutes a day! That takes away your lack of time excuse, doesn't it? All you have to do is pick four exercises and do each one as hard as you can for 20 second intervals with 10 seconds rest in between for one whole minute. After four minutes, you should feel like you got a work out. Here's an example for you to start with:

1. Full Body and Cardio: Squat Thrusts. Start standing with your feet shoulder width apart. Drop down to a crouching position and put your hands on the floor. Thrust your legs out behind you then jump back to a crouch. Stand up and repeat. Advanced variation: when you thrust your legs out behind you, do a pushup before coming back to the crouch. Also, jump up in the air when you come up to a standing position.

2. Upper Body: Pushups. If you are a beginner and struggle with pushups, start with an incline. Put your hands on a bench or wall.

3. Lower Body: Lunges. Take a big step forward with one leg and bend the knee until your thigh is parallel to the floor. Your knee should not extend beyond your toes. Your leg should make a right angle. To do this in one place you can push that forward leg back to meet your back leg. Or do it walking style by bringing the back leg to meet the forward leg. Then repeat the exercise with the opposite leg.

4. Abdominals: Flutter Kicks. Lay on your back with your hands under your bottom. Raise your legs to about 45 degrees off the floor. Alternate bringing one leg up and one leg down while keeping them straight. This should look like a flutter.

You can find hosts of bodyweight exercises to mix and match. I just happened upon a site today that has a whole circuit of exercises listed, described, and illustrated. That website it located here: http://mazzland.com/wrestling/3rdperiodcircuit/ Another good site with bodyweight exercises by category is found here. Also do a Google search for "Body Weight Exercise". You will find plenty of great exercises that don't require any equipment. Take some time and jot down a few four-exercise combinations. After you wake up in the morning and have eaten your fresh fruit, you will have a daily workout ready to go.

No more excuses!

Step 7: Begin supplementing with high quality superfoods.

It is a well known fact that most of our soil is very depleted of nutrients which in turn causes our food to be less nourishing. It can be very difficult to get all the vitamins and minerals our bodies need even when eating a wide variety of vegetables all day long. Supplementation provides a way to ensure daily that we are not becoming deficient in essential nutrients. Be aware that not just any multi-vitamin is going to provide that assurance. Most multi-vitamins sold at your favorite drug store are basically worthless. Synthetic versions of isolated vitamins are not well absorbed by the body. The solution is to find a superfood from nature as close to its natural state as possible and minimally processed. The following are my top three recommended daily supplements:

1. Spirulina
2. Chlorella
3. Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Spirulina and Chlorella are micro-algae that grow in fresh water. These micro-algae contain an astounding array of nutritional elements including vitamins, macrominerals, trace minerals, essential fatty acids, protein, nucleic acids, chlorophyll, and phytochemicals. They are thought to contain every nutrient required by the human body. These micro-algae are not only nourishing but also cleansing and detoxifying. Spirulina and Chlorella should be taken on a daily basis as a food. You do not have to worry about overdosing.

I recommend that you purchase Nutrex Hawaiian Spirulina from vitacost.com. This is a high quality Spirulina for only $0.09 per gram. Buy Kyoto Chlorella from swansonvitamins.com. This is a quality Chlorella for only $0.12 per gram. If you take 10 grams of Spirulina and 5 grams of Chlorella every day, that is an investment in your health of $1.50 per day. This is much cheaper than paying for cancer, depression, or other degenerative diseases. Make it a life-long habit.

Omega-3 essential fatty acids are essential because the body has to get them from the outside; it cannot manufacture them when needed. Omega-3 oils are found in flaxseeds, walnuts, marine oils, and fatty fish. Omega-3 fatty acids are important for cognitive function, mental health, cardiovascular health, joint health, and preventing cancer. The reason we should supplement with omega-3 is because the standard American diet provides for too much omega-6 fatty acids. The ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 should be about 1:1. However, with the popularization of vegetable oils, Americans consume these fatty acids in the ratio of about 20:1. An excess of omega-6 fats actually causes serious health problems. An omega-3 supplement will greatly help balance consumption of these oils.


Now that you have read through my first seven suggestions for your road to health, go back to the top and make a resolution to implement step one starting right now. These seven steps are by no means the complete picture, but my purpose for this article is to provide a starting point without getting into complicated, health-nut details (that will come later!).

Start here. Conquer the first 7 steps. And keep reading the Lemon Letter to fill in the gaps and continuously improve your health.

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The Power of Cayenne

Cayenne is not just a red hot chili pepper used in cooking, rather it has a multitude of medicinal functions. Cayenne contains a natural compound called capsaicin, which helps promote healthy cardiovascular function. Consider cayenne to be one of your main herbal first aids. Some of the things that cayenne can do for you include the following:

• Boost blood circulation throughout the body including the brain thus improving brain clarity and memory
  
• Strengthen the heart, arteries, capillaries, and nerves
  
• Normalize blood pressure
  
• Stop internal and external bleeding
  
• Improve indigestion, poor digestion, and stomach ulcers
  
• Open the breathing passages in asthmatics
  

Cayenne is the greatest herbal aid to circulation and can be used on a daily basis. It can be used for multiple emergencies such as heart attacks, strokes, fainting, bleeding, arthritic pain, and inflammation. Some herbalists add it to nearly every formulation. Fortunately, it is an inexpensive supplement. For example, you can get 300 250mg capsules from Swanson Health Products for $5.99. One bottle could last 10 months.

Healthy Tip: Try gargling cayenne in water to treat your sore throat.

Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cayenne_pepper
http://www.healingdaily.com/detoxification-diet/cayenne.htm

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