Aaaah, summer is here!
Oh no, I'm not ready! I still have Christmas dinner haunting my midriff and dimpling my thighs! Nooooo!
Ok, maybe I'm being overly dramatic or not. Still, summer is here and I'm left wondering if there will ever be a safe supplement to take that will not have any negative side effects whatsoever. I have never agreed with taking diet pills,but nowadays there are a lot of supplements that supposedly aid in revving up one's metabolism without all the side effects that traditional diet pills used to have. One fairly new supplement is African Mango. Apparently, it helps curb cravings and appetite while speeding up your metabolism. I am tempted to try it but will wait until there are more studies done. I am a firm believer that if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. There is absolutely no substitute for eating healthy foods and exercising. Period. But, it is also normal to have days when we indulge in foods we shouldn't----why deprive yourself? Life is short. I am trying to find a happy medium: serving myself one plate of my mother's food instead of two or three :)
I am going to continue learning about African Mango and will keep all of you posted.
Have any of you tried it? Did it work for you? How did you feel? Let me know.
Also, I wanted all of you to know that I read The Fat Flush Plan by Ann Louise Gittleman, and it is great. She talks a lot about detoxing your body and lays out a plan to get your body ready for weight loss. She explains how different supplements work and also includes recipes. Even if you choose not to follow her plan, I highly recommend the book because she provides information we all need. Check out her website at www.annlouise.com
Friday, June 24, 2011
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Radiation Exposure
After the tsunami hit Japan last week, the world was mostly concerned about the structural damage and death toll. So many people were left homeless and without food and water. I believe many of us were surprised. I, at least, have this view of an almost indestructible Japan: a technologically advanced country populated by many brilliant minds, including incredible engineering. It just goes to show that nature is all-powerful and can knock you down in one second flat!
The prevalent and headline-grabbing news now is the radiation leak from the nuclear power plant. This week it was announced that the U.S. Is not at risk for radiation exposure. I don't know about that. Even if the radiation dissipates before making it's way over here, what does that really mean? When I think of radiation dissipating, I think of molecules in the air becoming smaller and smaller, but still present and traveling. Please don't quote me on that because I have no idea as to how radiation breaks down, travels, etc... I am going to do some more reading on this topic and get back to all of you. Another question I have is regarding the people who are leaving Japan who have been exposed to radiation. They are going to airports and traveling to other countries----are they bringing some radiation with them? I am not trying to spread fear or panic. These are questions I have. This is a topic for discussion on this site, and I'd love your comments. I learn from you. So please, discuss! Are you concerned?
The prevalent and headline-grabbing news now is the radiation leak from the nuclear power plant. This week it was announced that the U.S. Is not at risk for radiation exposure. I don't know about that. Even if the radiation dissipates before making it's way over here, what does that really mean? When I think of radiation dissipating, I think of molecules in the air becoming smaller and smaller, but still present and traveling. Please don't quote me on that because I have no idea as to how radiation breaks down, travels, etc... I am going to do some more reading on this topic and get back to all of you. Another question I have is regarding the people who are leaving Japan who have been exposed to radiation. They are going to airports and traveling to other countries----are they bringing some radiation with them? I am not trying to spread fear or panic. These are questions I have. This is a topic for discussion on this site, and I'd love your comments. I learn from you. So please, discuss! Are you concerned?
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
I Hate Stevia
I know, I know. I haven't been here in a long time. A lot has been going on, and now I'm back!
Okay, so why such a dramatic headline: "I Hate Stevia"? Because it's true. For those of you out there who are not familiar with stevia, it is a natural sugar derived from the leaves of the herb, Stevia Rebaudiana. I have used several brands of stevia, and they all taste terrible to me. It has a very synthetic taste--- like when you drink diet soda, and you get that aspartame after-taste. Yuck!
Apparently, stevia is considered the perfect sweetener: zero calories, 10-15 times sweeter than sugar, does not cause tooth decay, is non-toxic, and considered a good sweetener for diabetics (with doctor approval, of course). It sounds wonderful, but too bad it tastes so bad. There are many out there who like it, but I am not one of them.
I also tried Agave nectar because it was touted as a great sweetener, but then I read that it's not that good for you (http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/03/30/beware-of-the-agave-nectar-health-food.aspx ), after all. For now, I am sticking to my regular raw cane sugar and honey. I'm throwing away my box of stevia as I post this!
Okay, so why such a dramatic headline: "I Hate Stevia"? Because it's true. For those of you out there who are not familiar with stevia, it is a natural sugar derived from the leaves of the herb, Stevia Rebaudiana. I have used several brands of stevia, and they all taste terrible to me. It has a very synthetic taste--- like when you drink diet soda, and you get that aspartame after-taste. Yuck!
Apparently, stevia is considered the perfect sweetener: zero calories, 10-15 times sweeter than sugar, does not cause tooth decay, is non-toxic, and considered a good sweetener for diabetics (with doctor approval, of course). It sounds wonderful, but too bad it tastes so bad. There are many out there who like it, but I am not one of them.
I also tried Agave nectar because it was touted as a great sweetener, but then I read that it's not that good for you (http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/03/30/beware-of-the-agave-nectar-health-food.aspx ), after all. For now, I am sticking to my regular raw cane sugar and honey. I'm throwing away my box of stevia as I post this!
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Cold and Flu Season
I have been battling a pretty bad cough the last couple of days. Ugh..... it's driving me crazy! I have been taking Mucinex, drinking teas and soups, and eating garlic liberally. When will this go away? All of us have it: me, my parents, hubby and the kids. My awesome neighbor and good friend Pam bought me this warming tomato-peppery broth (think Spicy V8) from a local health restaurant, "Here Comes The Sun." It makes you feel as if you're about to cough up a lung. Really powerful stuff!!! To top it all off, I had a really bad case of the flu several weeks ago!
So, what do you guys do to ease your cold woes?
Do any of you get the flu shot? I know many people are against it, but I have some friends who swear by it and say they rarely get sick. Others say they got sick after the flu shot. I don't get the flu shot (except last year I did get the swine flu vaccine) and I don't get colds/flu often----- but this year is an exception!
So, what do you guys do to ease your cold woes?
Do any of you get the flu shot? I know many people are against it, but I have some friends who swear by it and say they rarely get sick. Others say they got sick after the flu shot. I don't get the flu shot (except last year I did get the swine flu vaccine) and I don't get colds/flu often----- but this year is an exception!
Saturday, January 1, 2011
New Year's Detox For Me
No matter what I tell myself before I go to my parents' house for their New Year's get-together, I always seem to overindulge. Last night I pigged out on these delicious mushroom-bacon stuffed phyllo shells that I made and also on chorizo (spanish sausage) and cheese-----not to mention drinking several screwdrivers. Today I feel sluggish. No, it's not the screwdrivers. For some weird reason, vodka barely affects me. It's all the junk I ate.
So, what's the plan for today? I am going to drink a lot of veggie juice which I will be making myself with the help of my son Luke, who loves to use the juicer. Carrots, broccoli and apples perhaps? That should be tasty. We are new to juicing in my house, but I think it's great. I got into it after attending a health seminar featuring Miami's local juicing goddess, Dr. Etti (creator of the "Sexi Juicing" program) and David Wolfe. Check them both out at http://www.dretti.com/ and http://www.davidwolfe.com/ It was a very interesting talk about the benefits of juicing, healthy eating, and the contaminants in our food and environment. It was not a talk to send one into panic mode, but only to raise awareness as to how we can improve our diets and overall environment a step at a time.
Well, I've got to go. Time to juice! :)
So, what's the plan for today? I am going to drink a lot of veggie juice which I will be making myself with the help of my son Luke, who loves to use the juicer. Carrots, broccoli and apples perhaps? That should be tasty. We are new to juicing in my house, but I think it's great. I got into it after attending a health seminar featuring Miami's local juicing goddess, Dr. Etti (creator of the "Sexi Juicing" program) and David Wolfe. Check them both out at http://www.dretti.com/ and http://www.davidwolfe.com/ It was a very interesting talk about the benefits of juicing, healthy eating, and the contaminants in our food and environment. It was not a talk to send one into panic mode, but only to raise awareness as to how we can improve our diets and overall environment a step at a time.
Well, I've got to go. Time to juice! :)
Friday, December 31, 2010
What This Blog Is All About
Hi, everyone! Happy New Year!!! Do you make a list of resolutions or think that they're just a big waste of time? Well, whatever your opinion on making resolutions, one great thing to strive for is good health and physical fitness.
Who am I? I am a stay-at-home mom who loves to read about health and fitness and apply what I read. Don't get me wrong----I am far from perfect. The sweet aroma of chocolate chip cookies wafting through the kitchen can overpower me as much as anyone else. I believe in moderation, but for the most part, I try to eat well. I also like to find ways to make tasty treats for my kids that are also nutritious. Yes, it can be done!
How about exercise? Getting to the gym isn't always easy, but I try.
This blog is meant to discuss everything related to health topics. Let's discuss, vent , laugh, whatever!!!! All I ask is that no profanities be used, and that everyone be respectful even if you don't agree with others' opinions.
Let's start talking!!!
Who am I? I am a stay-at-home mom who loves to read about health and fitness and apply what I read. Don't get me wrong----I am far from perfect. The sweet aroma of chocolate chip cookies wafting through the kitchen can overpower me as much as anyone else. I believe in moderation, but for the most part, I try to eat well. I also like to find ways to make tasty treats for my kids that are also nutritious. Yes, it can be done!
How about exercise? Getting to the gym isn't always easy, but I try.
This blog is meant to discuss everything related to health topics. Let's discuss, vent , laugh, whatever!!!! All I ask is that no profanities be used, and that everyone be respectful even if you don't agree with others' opinions.
Let's start talking!!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)