Proccessed Foods

Really food processing has been around for quit awhile. The problem has stemmed from the industrial practices that are not good. The food industry took this process out of the hands of the local destroying or alternating nutrients.
Your goal (if you decide to take the challenge) should be to decrease negative processed foods and replace them with nutrient-rich foods. WHAT?

Her are some suggestions: limit canned foods and select lower sodium versions
Limit white bread and pastas
avoid packaged snack foods
make your own meals instead of selecting the frozen versions
bake from scratch/this is a winner-hey right
select oats or corn meals instead of sugary boxed cereals
select turkey breast instead of processed meats
try some hummus spread
Bottom line do your best-pick while grains, low-sodium and trans-fat free choices.

FOR THE Brick library gang: check out the recipes in the folder for some ideas.

Winter blues

WOW what a snow storm. I even went out to play a couple of minutes. Was much fun but the shoveling wasn't or the wind wasn't. Mother nature at it again. It did make me think about needed more exercise again. Always a constant battle with my mine.
Article Heart-Healthy Benefits of exercise caught my eye. Might help us all stay motivated.

Lower blood pressure: many studies have been done to prove this fact. Can help even with the first work out, so let us begin again.

Improve Cholesterol levels: can help change the bad and the good cholesterol. IT is the AMount that seems to help-the more minutes per week the more the levels will improve.

Prevent Type 11 Diabetes: The COMBINATION of activity and weight loss has an effect of preventing the onset of Type 11.

BESIDES normal exercise plan, I found a few suggestions to add more activity to your daily live
Park car farther away
Get on or off the buss a couples of blocks from normal stop
TAKE STAIRS
Take fitness breaks
Do your own gardening, yard work and house cleaning
One can even exercise while watching TV-stretch, lift arms with some weights, do some squats, crunches
Walk when ever possible.
IT is never to late to START

New super food

POMEGRANTE-the new super food. A distinctive crown-shaped calyx at its base. Outer skin is rough and leathery. Skin color can range from pale pink to rich ruby red.. One of the MOST nutritious fruit to eat and also one of the most labor intensive to eat.
This fruit contains three different types of antioxidants tannins, anthocyanins, ellagic acid-very good for you.
Some common ailments that might be help: Anemia
Asthma
Loss of Appetite
Sore throat

home remedies

Honey and Lemon: coats and smooths raw throat. Put in tea keeps you hydrated and quiets cough.

Salt water: The unsung hero-smooth throat and clear sinus passages. Can be used in a neti-pot and can be gargled.

Rice in an old salt: Fill old sock with uncooked rice and close tightly. Heat the sock and put on forehead, eyes or neck, helps relax and pamper you so you can rest.

Anyone else know of a good home remedy? Add to the post or make your own.

emotional atmosphere

What kind of an atmosphere are you creating at home and at work? Let us all try for a positive one. Positive people are natural leaders, fun to be around and usually are very motivated. In work and play, let us all strive toward the positive by thinking of something good to say instead of the negative. People do not want to be surrounded by constant pessimisim but want to be surrounded by happiness and optimism. This is one of my new goals for 2010-why don't why we all join in.!!

love your body

We are all on different levels in health goals but this new advice from the spark people health and exercise expert will be good for all..
Stop picking yourself apart: there will always be a part of your body that you will not be happy with, so accept this and move on.
Consider the marvelous functions of your body
Get REAL (love this one) The images that you see on TV or in the magazines are not real-you know this and should believe it.
Change your inner dialogue: Choose to believe that you are worthwhile by taking care of yourself, respect yourself and treat your great body with respect.
WE ARE ALL WORTH the effort.

Value of friendship

Keep your friends close. Guess we have all heard thois but it so true even in the process of weight loss. Friends are our support system, our buddies-let them know how much they mean to you. Give an approving, cheerful word of encouragement and thrill the heart. Say kind words, show sympathy during the hard times and affection during the good ones.. Life would not be the same without a friend who can make the all the difference in the world.