Beauty from within....

Now you are probably wondering what the scoop is about HA.  Well I did some searching and found the following website (www.hamiracle.com) that really explains everything quite nicely.  According to the website, “about 50% of the HA in our body is found in the skin”.  HA is also “ a key component of the cartilage surrounding and protecting your joints”!  The company LifePlus incorporates HA in its “Forever Young Skin Formula”.  Beauty from within is far better than just dabbing some cream under your eyes.  Don’t get me wrong, creams are great at hydrating and nourishing from the outside, but nourishment from within adds a big “plus” to not only your skin but also keeps your joints lubricated and helps keeps your eyes healthy.  I've got some great  “before” and “after” pictures from ladies who went on the "Forever Young Skin Formula" trip, feel free to contact me if you're interested in viewing them and I will email you!

A"Ha" Effect...

Hey Ladies, I think it’s safe to say that as we mature we wouldn’t mind retaining our youthful look and energy!  I mean minimizing “crow’s feet” for example would be cool right?  Well, there are about a zillion creams etc out there all promising just that.  But you know what?  About a year ago I got to know more about something called “hyaluronic acid” or HA for short.  This HA is a fantastic substance that –now get this—we all have cruising around in our body anyway.  The only problem (yea, I know, there always seems to be a catch) as I was saying, the only problem is that over time our body produces less and less and less of HA—hence the wrinkles.  HA is responsible for keeping our skin young and healthy (in other words, wrinkle free!)  Want to know more?  Drop me an email or check back next week Monday, for another “Apple a Day” post! (Grin) 

Taking care ...

Ok  let’s get real.  Life is great and we enjoy a lot of things.  But we often tend to forget or perhaps overlook the obvious.  Taking care of ourselves and by that I mean, yea there are a lot of different aspects we could look at.  But the one we most often neglect and abuse is our body!  I mean, our body is a wonderful machine that seems to just run and run to the point that we tend to take it for granted.  Yet, just like any machine, it needs maintenance.  There’s a great short video that Todd Burrier did explaining it quite well. Please check it out. (only takes 3 mins!)

What are "Greens"

In another post I talked about what “greens” are and are not.  But still walk into a grocery store and try asking for “greens”.  The sales person will most likely point you to the produce section.  And ask for specific greens like “lamb’s quarters” and you will end up in the meat section.  So what we need to understand is that “greens” are not vegetables!  Wow—now that’s what I always thought “greens” were.  So if they aren’t vegetables than what are they, you’re thinking right now.  Well have you ever bought a fresh bunch of carrots with the “tops” still attached?  Yep! you guessed it, the carrot tops (that what we usually throw away) those are the “greens” we’re looking for!  The green leaves of carrots, beets and turnips, parsley are more nutrition than the root itself.  There’s a great 17 minute video which demonstrates exactly how powerful greens can be.  They just might prove to be the most important 17 minutes of your life! If you’re interested click here.   

Health Kick...get going

So here I am still experimenting with recipes.  I really do love a banana, an apple, some grapes or an orange plus greens (spinach or Romaine lettuce) and, of course, filtered water about 2 cups.  If I feel like it I throw in a handful of nuts, to add some crunch.  The great thing about these green smoothies, is that it keeps in the fridge for at least 2-3 days.  So it’s not as if you have to drink a gallon of these smoothies immediately.  According to Victoria Boutenko, (Green for Life book author) you will most likely notice results almost immediately.  After about 1 month of drinking green smoothies daily, other people will probably start to take notice of your increased energy and overall healthy look.  Well I guess I will continue experimenting and drinking my green smoothies. (grin!)

Drinking our greens...

Last week I talked about “greens” and what they are.  This week I’d like to share how to get at the good stuff found in the leafy stuff!  Victoria Boutenko author of “Green for Life” states that the nutrients in a plant are stored in the plants cells.  Plants cellulose, what mainly makes a plant, has “one of the strongest molecular structures on the planet” (p 24, “Green for Life”).  And because Greens contain more “valuable nutrients that any other food group” means we need to eat MORE Greens! (Oh boy, I knew Popeye had something going for him!)  But due to the fact that cellulose has such a strong molecular structure the only way to get to these important nutrients is by rupturing the cell walls!  Usually this is done when we chew our food.  Yet rarely do we chew our food to the creamy consistency needed to cash in on the benefits!  This is where smoothies come in!  Mixing our greens in a blender along with some fruit etc breaks down the cellulose in the greens and at the same time releasing the beneficial nutrients.  And voila!  A green smoothie is born!  So now we drink our greens, what a revolutionary idea!

An Apple a Day.....

I’ve been reading the book “Green for Life” by Victoria Boutenko and among other things she states that the more she “read about the nutritional content of greens, the more [she] became convinced that greens were the most important food for humans” (excerpt page 24).  So eating more greens is the way to go.  But what exactly is meant by “greens”?  Usually people mean leafy green vegetables like cabbage, radish greens, collard greens, spinach and mustard greens – often related to the mustard plant as they are all high in minerals.  Lettuce, arugula and bok choy are not “greens”.   Well I guess I'm off to the store to get me some greens--smile! 

An Apple a Day...

I am busy experimenting with this green smoothie stuff.  I ordered the book on green smoothies and the reading is fascinating.  I am hoping that it will help me get “healthy”!  I did find another link to the original website:  where it all began!  Click here to check it out!  The benefits are said to great.  hmmm  Today is day 2 of my smoothie journey.  I am still trying to get the perfect quick recipe.  Once I find it I will be sure to post it for everyone to use.  

An Apple a Day......

Taking the time to take care of ME!

                        Harder said than done!  Know what I mean?  Here we are constantly taking care of everyone else, yet when it comes to us—what happens?  Right! Not much.  We are either too busy...too tired...or too something-or-other.  But when it comes right down to it:  „Me“ is important.  And it’s important that we pay more attention to the „ME“ inside.  Even little things like not standing at the sink doing dishes and simultaneously trying to „enjoy“ a cup of coffee.  I mean, get real!  Are we really THAT busy?  I think we need to sit down and let those 10 minutes of enjoyment wash over us. Those 10 minutes just might save my sanity.  And lets face, it a little more enjoyment in the day benefits not only myself but everyone around me too.  And that makes Life so much better!  Hey get out there and enjoy that well deserved break!  Have a great day!

An Apple a Day...

....keeps the Doctor away!  That’s what Mom always told me.  Well I’m no Doctor, but it’s a fact that apples are healthy.  I myself, sometimes (sometimes? who am I kidding?) find that I am pressed for time as to peeling, coring, and munching on the run.  Instead I have found a great way of getting that one-a-day-apple throwing in maybe a banana and other types of fruit in a fast, easy and delicious manner!  The answer?  Smoothies!  Yep, I just throw everything into my mixer...and a few seconds later...voila...a healthy great way to „drink“ your fruit.  I also found a website where you can find all sorts of recipes including healthy and green smoothies.  You might want to check it out by clicking here.