A Fresh Life

Conventional Make-up's Toll on Your Body: Why Choose Natural Cosmetics

2007-03-03T15:05:00.000-06:00

The human skin wraps and protects our bodies. It constitutes a living, dynamic tissue system. It has the remarkable ability to absorb applied products, partially or completely, into the bloodstream. In fact, up to 60% of the products we use on our skin are absorbed and deposited into the circulatory system (Fairley, 2001). For instance, the average woman absorbs 30 pounds of the ingredients contained in moisturizers over sixty years (Dr.Hauschka).

These new understandings of how the skin functions reveal concerns about the possible long term effects due to the combination of chemicals used in cosmetics, often termed the "chemical cocktail effect". Several chemicals which are used in common, popular cosmetics are known irritants and carcinogens. Concern stems from the knowledge that most of these ingredients are derived synthetically or from petroleum. Avoiding these substances serve to decrease overall exposure to harmful or irritating cosmetic ingredients.

There is hope! There are hundreds of natural and organic make-up and skin care lines. One of my personal favorites is the Everyday Minerals cosmetic line. They have a natural alternative to the loose powder type make-up. Not to mention they are very affordable. You see, a more natural alternative does not have to cost you a lot of money. Here is what Everyday Minerals had to say about their line of cosmetics:

Everyday Minerals Foundation has only 4 all natural ingredients:
Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxide, Zinc Oxide

We believe that health and beauty go hand in hand and there is nothing healty or beautiful about toxic chemicals. Everyday Minerals makeup is all natural and non-comedogenic. Our makeup is and always will be free from all plastics, oils, fillers, talcs, and other beauty destroying, cancer causing chemicals found in designer and supermarket brands.

Check out their site for more information and a free sample of their make-up!

http://www.everydayminerals.com/g?t=kits

Fruits and Vegetables= Juice Plus

2007-01-25T21:10:00.000-06:00

Life is full of choices and we make them everyday. We need to make better choices to live long and healthy lives. We need to eat more fruits and vegetables. The American Cancer Society says we should eat 9 to 13 servings daily! Only 10 percent of adults and only 5 percent of children consume the recommended servings daily. Juice Plus provides an easy way to get your fruits and vegetables. Check out Juice Plus at: www.juiceplus.com/+LP60725

The Nutritional Benefits of the Onion

2007-01-14T14:21:00.000-06:00

Onions are low in calories yet add abundant flavor to a wide variety of foods. With only 30 calories per serving, onions are sodium, fat, and cholesterol free, and provide dietary fiber, vitamin C, vitamin B6, potassium, and other key nutrients.

Higher intakes of fruits and vegetables have been associated with a variety of health benefits. Research shows that onions may help guard against many chronic diseases. That's probably because onions contain generous amounts of a flavonoid called quercetin. Other sources are tea and apples, but research shows that absorption of quercetin from onions is twice that from tea and more than three times that from apples. Studies have shown that quercetin protects against cataracts, cardiovascular disease, and cancer.

In addition, onions contain a variety of other naturally occurring chemicals known as organosulfur compounds that have been linked to lowering blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

**Try this yummy recipe including the awesome nutritional benefits of Onions!

Classic Onion Soup

Ingredients:
4 large yellow onions (about 9 to 11 ounces each), sliced
6 tablespoons butter or margarine
1 tablespoon sugar
2 quarts reduced sodium chicken broth
1/2 cup brandy (optional)
Salt and pepper to taste
1/2 baguette French bread, sliced, toasted
Grated Romano cheese

Directions:
Melt butter in large saucepan that holds at least 4 quarts. Add onions; cook over medium heat 12 minutes, or until tender and golden. Stir often. Add sugar and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add broth; cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer 12 minutes. If desired, add brandy; cook 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. To serve, ladle soup into bowl; float toast on soup. Sprinkle with cheese. Makes 6 servings.

Nutrition Information:
Per serving: About 362 cal, 16 g pro, 30 g carb, 17 g fat, 42% cal from fat, 51 mg chol, 1100 mg sod, 3 g fiber.

Recipe and Information compliments of http://www.onions-usa.org/about/season.asp

Butter or Margarine? Which one is better for my health?

2007-01-14T14:17:00.000-06:00

Butter or Margarine - which one is better for my health? This debate is still as hot today as when it first arose. To determine which one is better for heart health, let's look at the fat content of both butter and margarine.

Butter - Saturated Fats and Cholesterol

Butter, as an animal fat, contains both saturated fats and cholesterol - the two dietary ingredients that give rise to our blood cholesterol. Saturated fats, mainly found in animal products, can raise LDL cholesterol (the bad cholesterol), thus also raising total blood cholesterol as well. Cholesterol, on the other hand, has little effect on blood cholesterol in most people. But for some, even a little dietary cholesterol can cause a soar in blood cholesterol levels.

Margarine - Trans Fats (.....in the past)

When margarine was first introduced into the market place, it was loaded with trans fats. Hydrogenation "solidifies" liquid vegetable oil into a spread so it is easier to use. As a result of this hydrogenation process, trans fats are produced. Similar to saturated fats, trans fats also increase LDL cholesterol (the Bad cholesterol) and lower HDL cholesterol (the Good cholesterol).

In recent years, food manufacturers and the general public began to realize the negative health effects of trans fats. Another type of margarine is now widely available - non-hydrogenated margarine. This type of margarine contains no trans fat and is softer than the first-generation margarine stick. Instead of hydrogenating the liquid vegetable oil, manufacturers now add a tiny amount of modified palm and palm kernel oil to enhance spreadibility of margarine. By doing that, soft margarine can be trans fatty acid free.

	Recommended Intake per day	Butter (1 tbsp)	Soft-tub Margarine (1 tbsp)	Stick Margarine (1 tbsp)
Calories	2100 kcal	102 kcal	60 kcal	101 kcal
Total Fats	~70 g (~30% of total kcal)	11 g	6 g	11 g
Saturated Fats	<>	7 g	1 g	2 g
Trans Fats	<>	0.3 g	0 - 0.5 g	3 g
Cholesterol	<>	33 mg	0 mg	0 mg

*Please note that the recommended intakes are provided for healthy average individuals age 24 - 49 calculated at an average intake of 2100 kcal. For individuals with heart diseases, the American Heart Association recommends to limit saturated fats to <7%>

Butter or Margarine: the Verdict?

BOTH saturated fats and trans fats can raise total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol. Therefore, try minimizing the intake of BOTH saturated fats and trans fats. It is clear that butter contains more saturated fats and trans fats when we add up the numbers. In addition, butter also contains cholesterol.

The Verdict? Margarine. Choose non-hydrogenated soft margarine.

Choose soft margarine: The American Heart Association recommends the use of margarine as a substitute for butter. We are excited that many brands of soft margarine do not contain trans fat anymore. Check the Nutrition Facts label and choose one with zero trans fat and no more than 2 g of saturated fats per tbsp and with liquid vegetable oil as the first ingredient.

Here are some brands of soft margarine and cholesterol-lowering spread that meet the criteria:

Becel
Benecol
Blue Bonnet Soft Spread
Canola Harvest Non-Hydrogenated
I Can't Believe it's not Butter
Promise
Smart Balance Light

For more information visit: http://www.healthcastle.com/butter-or-margarine.shtml

New Years Resolution to Loose Weight? Here's Help.

2007-01-14T14:01:00.000-06:00

If you are one of the millions of people who set New Years resolutions to loose weight this year. I have found an awesome internet tool to help you through your weight loss journey. The Daily Plate is a great tool and best of all it is free! So why not try it?

TheDailyPlate.com is a site devoted to healthier living through smarter eating. Our massive database stores literally thousands of foods, from the ones sold in your favorite stores to the ones served in your favorite restaurants.

We look at the foods you like to eat — say, a hamburger from a fast food join — and are able to recommend somewhat similar foods from the same establishment that are healthier based on criteria you specify (e.g., a lower-calorie chicken sandwich, or a lower-carb burger wrapped in lettuce instead of a bun).

Even better, The Daily Plate makes it a snap to track what you’re eating each day through our MyPlate feature. With MyPlate, it just takes a click to indicate what foods you’ve eaten today. We’ll keep running totals of your caloric intake — as well as your cholesterol, fat, carbs, sugars, protein, and more! That way, you can isolate any problem areas and determine which foods you’re consuming that you need to replace, and which indulgences you can safely allow.

To start reaching your weightloss goals with a little extra help. Visit www.TheDailyPlate.com

Children and the Vegetarian Diet- is this safe?

2007-01-14T13:40:00.000-06:00

About Lillie

I am a 12-year-old seventh grader at Boulder Country Day School in Boulder, CO. I’ve played sports all my life, but my absolute favorite is soccer. I am very serious about it, and about the training, fitness, ball skills and speed necessary to perform well. But I realized soccer alone wasn’t enough to keep me healthy and that my love for McDonald’s cheeseburgers, french fries and other junk food didn’t make for a diet that would fuel a peak performance on or off the field. So on August 5, 2005, I became a vegetarian. Health wasn’t my only reason for changing my diet, though! I also hated that animals were being slaughtered to provide my dinner. I wanted to make a difference, and to do so I had to change my ways.

This brings me to my capstone project. At our school in seventh grade, we choose a topic outside of the normal classroom curriculum to study for two years. A capstone project can be about anything you find interesting and want to learn more about. For me it was being a vegetarian. I am looking forward to learning about the advantages and disadvantages of vegetarianism. I want to learn how a vegetarian diet can impact hunger, the environment and economies around the world along with my own health and athletic performance. I will be writing a series of articles and sharing what I learn on this website. Thank you for helping, Vegetarian Times, and a special thanks goes to my teacher and guide for this project, Jaime Ogden.

What’s the big deal about protein anyway? Well, it turns out that protein is key to the healthy growth and development of the human body. In fact, next to water, proteins are the most abundant substances in your body. Every system in the body depends on adequate amounts of protein.

Proteins have many different jobs. Structural proteins are the building blocks for most of your body tissues, including blood, hair, skin and muscle. Some proteins are hormones, like human growth hormone, which controls your body’s growth and sexual development. Others are enzymes that do the work inside your cells like breaking down food to release energy, and still other proteins work as transport that carries nutrients to different parts of your body when they are needed. For example, hemoglobin in red blood cells carries oxygen throughout the body. Even antibodies, essential for fighting viruses and bacteria, are proteins. So obviously proteins are pretty important.

All of this information may make it seem like you have to eat a lot of protein to be healthy, but that is not actually true. Proteins are made of smaller units called amino acids. There are 22 amino acids in all, but only nine must come from your diet; the rest your body can make. These nine amino acids are called essential amino acids, and they are methionine, threonine, tryptophan, leucine, isoleucine, lysine, valine, phenylalanine, and histidine. Foods that contain all nine of these are called complete proteins, but if a food is missing one or more essential amino acids it is called an incomplete protein. Meat and dairy products are complete proteins, while most vegetables and grains are incomplete proteins. However, if you mix and match your vegetarian options, it is very easy to create and eat complete protein meals. For example, beans eaten with rice, or a peanut butter and jelly sandwich on wheat bread, are examples of vegetarian meals that provide complete protein.

One of the first questions I was asked when I became a vegetarian was, “Will you get enough protein?” Of course my answer was yes! But how much protein is enough? The National Research Council recommends that adults eat an average of 0.36 grams of protein per pound of body weight every day. They say an average female 11 to 14 years of age weighing 101 pounds should eat 46 grams of protein a day, or 0.46 grams per pound. The actual amount will change with your body size and daily activity. At my weight of 80 pounds, the calculated daily protein requirement is about 36 grams per day. Eating 36 grams of protein a day is a piece of cake. For example, one whole-grain bagel has 10 grams of protein, 1 ounce of cream cheese has 2.1 grams of protein, and 1 cup of 2% milk has 8.1 grams of protein. So in one quick breakfast I can eat 20.2 grams of protein—more than half of my daily requirement. Other great sources of protein for me are rice, beans, pasta, peanut butter and bread. A peanut butter and jelly sandwich made with Great Harvest whole-wheat bread and 2 tablespoons of smooth peanut butter has 15 grams of protein. One cup of vanilla yogurt with 1/3 cup of granola has 13 grams of protein. A 1-cup serving of beans and rice has 10 grams of protein, and I like to add 1 ounce of cheddar cheese for an extra 7 grams of protein. Even fruits and vegetables have some protein.

If you or your parents are still concerned about your protein intake on a vegetarian diet, there are some common signs of protein deficiency to look for, including fatigue, depression, weakness and the inability to fight off colds and infection. In extreme cases of protein malnutrition you might see hair loss, swelling of your joints and muscle weakness. However, some recent studies show that many Americans may even be getting too much protein. Diets that are too high in protein can lead to a loss in calcium, which can contribute to a decrease in bone density, or osteoporosis. This is a very dangerous condition, particularly for older women in our country. Maybe we should be less concerned about not eating enough protein and more concerned about eating too much. In my next article, I would like to look at the impacts of the overconsumption of protein from an environmental perspective as well as a personal health perspective.

To find out more information on the vegetarian diet and to look up some cool vegetarian recipes try out:

http://www.vegetariantimes.com/

TRY THIS!! Pore-Cleaning Strips Recipe

2007-01-07T12:16:00.000-06:00

This recipe makes a pore cleaning "strip" which works just like those sold in popular drugstores.

1 T Knox unflavored gelatin
1-1/2 T milk

Mix two ingredients and microwave for 10 seconds to slightly warm. Using a clean cosmetic brush, apply to nose and chin area. Avoid delicate eye area. Rinse brush immediately. Allow mixture on nose and chin to dry for 10-15 minutes. Mixture will dry quite stiff and form a "stiff film." Peel off the film and stare at all the little porcupine quills that used to be in your nose pores (one of the chief entertainment factors with B'Strips!).

Recipe courtesy of Spa Index.

Surya Namaskar - Sun Salutation

2007-01-07T12:01:00.000-06:00

Surya Namaskar or the Sun Salutation is a most complete series of postures. It is a very good exercise which takes only a few minutes to do and serves as a warm up routine before the practice of yoga asanas. It is one of the best home exercises requiring little space, only eight by three feet. Be sure to have enough space to lie down, and enough clearance to stretch the arms above the head while standing.
Surya namaskar consists of a sequence of twelve postures performed continuously and combined with synchronized breathing. Each position counteracts the preceding one producing a balance between flexions and extensions. The postures are as follows:

	1. Namaskar - salute. Stand erect with feet together and join the palms in the center of the chest in the style of Indian salute and inhale. Then exhale and push the hands down straightening and lowering the arms until the elbows touch the sides. This standing pose is also known as tadaasana.
	2. Chandraasan - crescent moon pose. Inhale and raise the arms above the head and extend the spine backwards arching the back from the waist and moving the hips forward. Let the eyes follow the hands while relaxing your neck.
	3. Hastapadaasan - bending pose. Begin to exhale bending forward from the waist and place the hands on the floor besides each foot. Relax with your head and neck in a bending pose.
	4. Surya darshan - sun gaze. Inhale and putting your weight on the hands stretch the right leg behind like a stick resting on the toes. Bend the knee and place it on the floor with your weight on the left foot and arch the spine backward. Lift the head and neck first up and then back. Roll the eyes up. The left foot remains between the hands.
	5. Himalayan - mountain pose. Exhale and bring the left foot back in line with the right. Lift the hips up high like a mountain. Push the heels and head down and look at the toes with the head down between the arms.
	6. Sashtang dandawat - lie down. Put the knees down first and then bring the chest down. See that eight parts of the body are touching the floor including two feet, two knees, two hands, the chest and the chin or forehead. Sashtang means eight limbs and dandawat means paying homage by touching the floor. Make sure the hips are slightly raised above the ground. Inhale and exhale in this position. Keep the feet together.
	7. Bhujangaasan - cobra pose. Lower the pelvis and abdomen to the floor. Inhale and stretch the toes on the floor. Raise your head slowly up, arch the spine and neck and look up. Keep your legs together and the elbows alongside the body slightly bent and keep the shoulders down.
	8. Himalaya aasan. Exhale and wiggle your toes forward allowing your feet to rest on the soles while your raise the hips as your did in number 5.
	9. Surya darshan. Inhale and bring the right foot forward and assume pose number 4 exactly as before.
	10. Hastapadaasan. Exhale and bring the right foot forward and assume pose number 3.
	11. Chandraasan. Inhale and stretch up in a standing pose with your arms up and bend backwards like in pose number
	12. Namaskar. Exhale and stand erect bringing the hands back to the center of the chest with palms together as in pose number 1.

These 12 exercises are 1 round of surya namaskar. In the second round stretch the left leg behind in surya darshan. Surya namaskar is done for an even number of rounds like 2-4-6-8-10 or 12 rounds each day. When you complete each round you should be standing in the same spot as you stood before. When the hands are placed with the palms down on the floor in the third pose they should remain there until the tenth pose.

A healthy person requires a minimum practice of 12 or 16 rounds of surya namaskar each day. Beginners should start by practicing 2 rounds the first week, 4 rounds the second week and gradually increase in even number. Surya namaskar may be practiced slowly or rapidly if desired, to increase agility and stamina.

Surya namaskar's sequence of postures is most scientific as it completes the circuit within the body. The cycle of blood flowing in and out from the heart into the right and left sides of the body is completed

http://www.yogashakti.org/surya-namaskar/

Check out VegCooking!

2007-01-07T11:50:00.001-06:00

There's no mystery to creating deliciously satisfying vegan meals. Tasty alternatives to the animal ingredients that you may be cooking with are easier to find than ever—many are as close as your corner supermarket. If you're just getting started, you may want to try simply "vegging up" your favorite recipes. Try tofu or seitan instead of chicken, ground vegetable burger crumbles instead of hamburger, marinated portobello mushrooms instead of steak, and soy milk instead of cow's milk or cream.

But there's no reason to stop there: By investing in some good vegan cookbooks (you might borrow some from your local library first to see which recipes you like), you can broaden your horizons to a whole new way of cooking. Americans tend to center their meals around animal products out of habit or custom, but cuisines from other parts of the world focus more on grain, vegetables, and fruit. Think about it—there are far more types of vegetables than there are types of meat, so why limit yourself?

Whether you've gone vegan "cold turkey" or just want to add more healthy, plant-based meals to your family's diet, we have the secret—and not-so-secret—tips you need to take the guesswork out of vegan cooking.

Browse this site for more info:

http://www.vegcooking.com/VegCooking.asp

Benefits of Tea Tree Oil

2007-01-07T10:29:00.000-06:00

Ever wondered why so many people are raving about Tea Tree Oil? It is a very natural alternative to the other chemically topical ointments that you purchase from your local drugstore. If you feel uneasy about uses ointments that have a ton of ingredients that you cannot pronounce, let alone know what they are, then Tea Tree Oil might be a good option for you. I high quality Tea Tree Oil will contain 40% or more of Terpenin-4-ol. This is the ingredient that makes it so effective in fighting infection.

Here are some common uses:

Tea Tree Oil is a natural antiseptic, germicide, antibacterial, fungicide. Many people use tea tree oil for: athletes foot, cold and flu, oral thrush, cold sores & canker sores, tooth ache & gum infections, ringworm, candida, head lice or louse, cleanser additive, gum problems, mosquito bites, bug repellent, cockroaches, deter flees, mouth ulcers, herpes, cuts, abrasions, after shave, sunburn, vaginal yeast infections, unwanted body odors, acne, toe nail infections, and many other uses.

Tea Tree Oil is a yellowish green-tinged essential oil with a fresh camphoraceous odour. It is taken from the leaves of the Melaleuca alternifolia which is native to the northeast coast of New South Wales, Australia. The oil is claimed to have beneficial cosmetic and medical properties. Indigenous Australians have used oil extracted from the tree's needles for hundreds, and possibly thousands, of years. Currently, tea tree oil is obtained by steam distillation of the leaves.

Tea Tree Oil vs. Skin Infections:

-Broad-spectrum antiseptic
-Mixes with sebaceous secretions and penetrates epidermis
-Apply oil two to three times per day

Tea Tree Oil vs. Acne:

-Alliterative to benzoyl peroxide
less side effects (dryness, redness, pruritus, stinging, burning)
-5% tea tree oil gel applied daily

Tea Tree Oil vs. Common Foot Problems:

-Tinea pedis (athlete's foot) foot irritation
-Promhidrosis (severely foul-smelling feet)
-8% tea tree oil emollient massaged into feet daily

Tea Tree Oil vs. Fungal Nail Infection

-100% tea tree oil twice daily
-Improvement in nail appearance and symptoms (with long-term use)

Some Websites to Check out:

http://www.teatreeplace.com/books.html

http://www.oilganic.com/tea_tree_oil.htm

www.wholehealthmd.com

Heirloom Tomatoes

2007-01-06T18:26:00.000-06:00

Heirloom tomatoes are an exciting and adventurous alternative to the traditional red vine-ripen tomato that we encounter at the local supermarket every time we shop. Heirloom tomatoes come in more than 400 different species and still counting. Check out the following websites to find out more about heirloom tomatoes and the option to purchase seeds and grow your own. Reward yourself and your family with an exciting new addition to the mundane dinner plate:

http://www.heirloomtomatoes.com/main/index.html

http://www.heirloomtomatoes.bizland.com/varieties.htm

**This website wants you to join theirHeirloom Tomato Growers club and receive a free email subscription to the Heirloom Tomato Grower newsletter and Free trial seeds to evaluate with your first order or simply by sending us a self addressed stamped envelope.

Some popular varieties include:

BESSER TOMATO From the southern area of Germany (Freiburg region), this old favorite dates back to the 1800's, and is a must for any tomato lover! The plants produce 3/4 inch diameter fruit in clusters of up to 12, very sweet, cherry tomatoes. The vigorous vines need strong cages for support. Best tasting cherry tomato we've tried! Proudly introduced in the United States by Heirloom Seeds.

BONNY BEST TOMATO 75 days - This old heirloom is often judged as one of the 5 best tasting! A great, medium sized tomato (up to 8 ounces) with bright, scarlet red color, noted for its fine flavor. A great all purpose tomato!

BRANDYWINE TOMATO, BLACK 90 days – A purple-maroon colored cousin of the famous Brandywine tomato. The 12-16 ounce oval shaped fruits are loaded with flavor, and grow on vines that have potato leaf foliage. A must for any tomato lover!

EVA PURPLE BALL TOMATO 80 days - This delicious German heirloom dates back to the late 1800’s, and has pink fruits that are perfect globes, each weighing 6 to 8 ounces. The sweet, juicy flesh of this variety is delicious! A high yielding variety.

GARDEN PEACH TOMATO 80 days - This old heirloom variety looks like a peach! The yellow fruit is fuzzy with a pink blush, very mild tasting, and a good keeper. The tall, vines are very vigorous and produce an abundant supply of tomatoes throughout the season. Very unique! Be the first in your area to grow this unusual variety.

GREEN ZEBRA TOMATO 78 days - Very unusual variety! The ripe fruits are bright green with light green stripes. The 2-4 ounce fruits have a delicious, real tomato flavor.

LUCKY LEPRECHAUN TOMATO 75 days - Good old-fashioned tomato flavor in a plant that will fit in any size garden! This Irish heirloom dates back to the early 1900’s, and still remains as delicious today as it was then! The delightful plants only grow 2 to 3 feet in height, but are loaded with dozens of Ping-Pong ball sized, bright red fruit, bursting with the full tomato flavor that can only be found in old heirloom varieties! This terrific little plant yields one of the best tasting tomatoes we’ve grown in our test gardens over the last 3 years. Their petite size makes it a natural for container growing, as well as the perfect size for the backyard gardener. Everybody has room to grow a few of these tasty treats! From the porches and decks of city and apartment dwellers, to the spacious gardens throughout the countryside - everybody can enjoy never having to eat another tasteless, store bought tomato this summer!

STRIPED CAVERN TOMATO 80 days - This superb red with yellow striped tomato has blocky, thick walls and is a great choice used as a stuffer. The tasty 8 oz. fruits grow abundantly on large vines and will keep for up to 4 weeks if harvested ripe!