Fun Fact

Did you know that taking 1000 IU of vitamin D daily can help reduce mild to severe PMS triggered irritability, tension and other annoying symptoms by 50%!!! As always check with your health care provider before starting any new supplement.  For a great source of vitamin D go to shop supplements here.

Positive Thought for the day

Keep your ears open, your eyes open, grab everything you can, react, and learn!
- Victoria Abril

Positive Thought for the day

My unique and creative talents and abilities flow through me and are expressed in deeply satisfying ways.  My creativity is always in demand.

~Louise Hay

Positive Thought for the day

The healthy and strong individual is the one who asks for help when he needs it. Whether he's got an abscess on his knee or in his soul.

~ Rona Barrett

5 nutrients

Found this article, and wanted to share, a few things we might be missing in our diets that we can add.  For information on the supplements for these valuable nutrients go to shop supplements.  I think men's and women's health has so many fantastic articles, but I really liked this one.

5 Muscle-Building, Energy-Packed Vitamins

By Jason Stevenson
Men's Health

Five years after telling a bunch of angry apes to keep their filthy paws off him, Charlton Heston starred in Soylent Green. In the film, a megacorporation solves a starving world's need for nutritious food by turning the dead into dinner. This is complete science fiction, of course: Most of us are so short on key nutrients we couldn't possibly be someone's square meal.

In fact, studies show that 77 percent of men don't take in enough magnesium, that many of us are deficient in vitamin D, and that the vitamin B12 in our diets may be undermined by a common heartburn medication. And we haven't even mentioned our problems with potassium and iodine.

It's time to play catch-up. Follow our advice, and a cannibal will never call you junk food.

Vitamin D

This vitamin's biggest claim to fame is its role in strengthening your skeleton. But vitamin D isn't a one-trick nutrient: A study in Circulation found that people deficient in D were up to 80 percent more likely to suffer a heart attack or stroke. The reason? D may reduce inflammation in your arteries.

The shortfall: Vitamin D is created in your body when the sun's ultraviolet B rays penetrate your skin. Problem is, the vitamin D you stockpile during sunnier months is often depleted by winter, especially if you live in the northern half of the United States, where UVB rays are less intense from November through February. Case in point: When Boston University researchers measured the vitamin D status of young adults at the end of winter, 36 percent of them were found to be deficient.

Hit the mark: First, ask your doctor to test your blood levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D. "You need to be above 30 nanograms per milli-liter," says Michael Holick, M.D., Ph.D., a professor of medicine at Boston University. Come up short? Take 1,400 IU of vitamin D daily from a supplement and a multivitamin. That's about seven times the recommended daily intake for men, but it takes that much to boost blood levels of D, says Dr. Holick.

Magnesium

This lightweight mineral is a tireless multitasker: It's involved in more than 300 bodily processes. Plus, a study in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition found that low levels of magnesium may increase your blood levels of C-reactive protein, a key marker of heart disease.

The shortfall: Nutrition surveys reveal that men consume only about 80 percent of the recommended 400 milligrams (mg) of magnesium a day. "We're just barely getting by," says Dana King, M.D., a professor of family medicine at the Medical University of South Carolina. "Without enough magnesium, every cell in your body has to struggle to generate energy."

Hit the mark: Fortify your diet with more magnesium-rich foods, such as halibut and navy beans. Then hit the supplement aisle: Few men can reach 400 mg through diet alone, so Dr. King recommends ingesting some insurance in the form of a 250 mg supplement. One caveat: Scrutinize the ingredients list. You want a product that uses magnesium citrate, the form best absorbed by your body. 

Vitamin B12

Consider B12 the guardian of your gray matter: In a British study, older people with the lowest levels of B12 lost brain volume at a faster rate over a span of 5 years than those with the highest levels.

The shortfall: Even though most men do consume the daily quota of 2.4 micrograms, the stats don't tell the whole story. "We're seeing an increase in B12 deficiencies due to interactions with medications," says Katherine Tucker, Ph.D., director of a USDA program at Tufts University. The culprits: acid-blocking drugs, such as Prilosec, and the diabetes medication metformin.

Hit the mark: You'll find B12 in lamb and salmon, but the most accessible source may be fortified cereals. That's because the B12 in meat is bound to proteins, and your stomach must produce acid to release and absorb it. Eat a bowl of 100 percent B12-boosted cereal and milk every morning and you'll be covered, even if you take the occasional acid-blocking med. However, if you pop Prilosec on a regular basis or are on metformin, talk to your doctor about tracking your B12 levels and possibly taking an additional supplement.

Potassium

Without this essential mineral, your heart couldn't beat, your muscles wouldn't contract, and your brain couldn't comprehend this sentence. Why? Potassium helps your cells use glucose for energy.

The shortfall: Despite potassium's can't-live-without-it importance, nutrition surveys indicate that young men consume just 60 percent to 70 percent of the recommended 4,700 mg a day. To make matters worse, most guys load up on sodium: High sodium can boost blood pressure, while normal potassium levels work to lower it, says Lydia A. L. Bazzano, M.D., Ph.D., an assistant professor of epidemiology at Tulane University.

Hit the mark: Half an avocado contains nearly 500 mg potassium, while one banana boasts roughly 400 mg. Not a fan of either fruit? Pick up some potatoes — a single large spud is packed with 1,600 mg.

Iodine

Your thyroid gland requires iodine to produce the hormones T3 and T4, both of which help control how efficiently you burn calories. That means insufficient iodine may cause you to gain weight and feel fatigued.

The shortfall: Since iodized salt is an important source of the element, you might assume you're swimming in the stuff. But when University of Texas at Arlington researchers tested 88 samples of table salt, they found that half contained less than the FDA-recommended amount of iodine. And you're not making up the difference with all the salt hiding in processed foods —U.S. manufacturers aren't required to use iodized salt. The result is that we've been sliding toward iodine deficiency since the 1970s.

Hit the mark: Sprinkling more salt on top of an already sodium-packed diet isn't a great idea, but iodine can also be found in a nearly sodium-free source: milk. Animal feed is fortified with the element, meaning it travels from cows to your cereal bowl. Not a milk man? Eat at least one serving of eggs or yogurt a day; both are good sources of iodine. http://www.active.com/nutrition/Articles/5_Muscle-Building__Energy-Packed_Vitamins.htm?cmp=17-6351

Positive Thought for the day

Forgiveness of myself and others releases me from the past.  Forgiveness is the answer to almost every problem.  Forgiveness is a gift to myself  I forgive, and I set myself free.
~Louise Hay

Positive Thought for the day

Love alone is capable of uniting living beings in such a way as to complete and fulfill them, for it alone takes them and joins them by what is deepest in themselves.

~Pierre Teilhard De Chardin

Fun Fact

Did you know that you get 4 x's more iron from steamed broccoli than from raw broccoli.   Why do we need iron you ask? it helps us to beat that tired physical and mental sluggish feeling and helps your body get the oxygen it needs.

Positive Thought for the day

Fable of the porcupine

It was the coldest winter ever. -  Many animals died because of the cold. The porcupines, realizing the situation, decided to group together.  This way they covered and protected themselves; but the quills of each one pricked their closest companions even though they gave off heat to each other. After awhile, they decided to distance themselves one from the other and they began to die, alone and frozen. So they had to make a choice: either accept getting pricked by the quills of their companions or disappear from the Earth. Wisely, they decided to go back to being together. This way they learned to live with the little wounds that were caused by the close relationship with their companion, but the most important part of it, was the heat that came from the others. This way they were able to survive.

Moral of the story: The best relationship is not the one that brings together perfect people, but the best is when each individual learns to live with the imperfections of others and can admire the other person's good qualities.

 

Fun Fact

Did you know that taking Omega supplements especially Omega 3 will slow the aging process according to a study done at University of California at San Francisco.  I love the omega supplement from doterra, check here to purchase Shop supplements here

Positive Thought for the day

The ocean of life is lavish with its abundance.  All my needs and desires are met before I even ask.  My good comes from everywhere and everyone and everything.
~Louise Hay

Positive Thought for the day

Good news!!! Sunsets are free
~Mary Ellen Edmunds

Fun Fact

Did you know that keeping track of your food intake and exercise will increase your motivation to stick to a weight-loss plan?  Studies show this is especially effective during the fourth and eighth weeks of any healthy life change.  A few sites to try www.weightwatchers.com, www.sparkpeople.com, www.dailymile.com (this one is just for exercise)

Fun Fact

Did you know that women who get at least 400 IU of vitamin D daily from supplements lower their risk of developing breast cancer by 24%!!  This study came form the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.  Check shop nutritional supplements to find a great source of this fantastic vitamin.

Positive Thought for the day

"I know God will not give me anything I can't handle. I just wish that He didn't trust me so much."

~Mother Teresa

Positive Thought for the day

"The minute you alter your perception of yourself and your future, both you and your future begin to change."

--Marilee Zdenek

Fun Fact

According to a recent study, men who received a dose of the hormone oxytocin (which rises naturally in people when you touch them) became as empathetic as women.  So go give your man a hug, hold his hand, and watch him become more sensitive.

Positive Thought for the day

I now see opportunities for abundance everywhere.  I can be blessed and prospered. 
~Louise Hay

Positive Thought for the day

"What I know is, is that if you do work that you love, and the work fulfills you, the rest will come."

--Oprah Winfrey

What's for dinner at your house?

Just wanted to share with you a fantastic find...  I stumbled upon this at the flylady website,  it is a book called Saving Dinner by Leanne Ely, she also has a website, but the book is what I wanted to share.  It is fantastic.  I went to the grocery store and purchased all my food for the week (this means cooking a meal every night but one, so if you don't do this, it would be less expensive just choose your meals)  but I purchased everything on the shopping list (yes she gives you a complete shopping list)  I also purchased  a few breakfast items, some lunch items, and of course a few treats all not on the menu.  Total was $130, which for me isn't too bad, in addition to I didn't use any coupons... for those of you who coupon it is probably much less expensive.  But here is the recipe from tonights menu



Apple Chicken
1 1/4 tsp vegetable oil
6 boneless, skinless chicken breat halves, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
4 granny smith apples, cored and sliced into 1/2 inch wedges
3/4 C dry white wine
3/4 cup chicken broth
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup cider vinegar
3 TBSP cornstarch
2 TBSP worcestershire sauce
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp black pepper

Heat oil in a large non-stick skillet.  Add chicken and brown on all sides.  Add apple slices, saute 3 minutes, stiring occasionally.  Add 1/2 the wine and chicken broth, reduce heat, cover and simmer 10 minutes.  Mix remaining wine and broth together with remaining ingredients; add to skillet.  Cook over medium heat stirring constantly until sauce thickens.

Serve with baked potatoes and steamed broccoli.

Prep time was about 20-30 min. give or take.  But it was great, I felt like we were eating healthy, and we did sit down as a family to eat.  This book has 8 weeks for each season (so you are buying ingredients that are in season) Then in the back has some easy side dishes (should you need them, but probably not often) and then how to do freezer meals.  I love the idea of taking one day and making a bunch of meals so that my family can have a nice dinner when I cannot be there.  Love this book especially since it has a variety each week in the menu, you get a chicken dinner, a beef dinner, something Mexican, something Italian, a fish and a soup.  This meal was a perfect size for my family of 4 plus a good leftover portion for my hubby to take to work tomorrow.   Would love to hear what you all do to keep dinner at the table, and keep it healthy.  I am sorry I didn't even think to take a picture, I should have... I will next time I promise.

doTERRA Order

Okay so get excited... I just got my order of oils today.  I got the new shampoo and conditioner from doTERRA, the shampoo is my fav!!! It smells fantastic!!! Orange lime.... YUMMMO!!!  The conditioner is good too, a nice lavender. 

Then I also got a gift for some lucky friend. 

Then a lime oil (this is a new oil for doTERRA) It smells delicious!!! Could be a new favorite for my water.  Lime is antibacterial, antiviral, and antiseptic.  Just in time to help me kick this cold.

I also got a purify oil, this is a fantastic one for cleaning, hives, antiseptic, antiviral, air disinfectant, water purifier, support the urinary system, anti inflammatory, cleanse, boost the immune system, help with burns bites, and stings.

I also got another slim & sassy, as it really helps to curb my appetite, and helps regulate the hypoglicemia.


For ordering all this, I got a free On Guard (again fantastic to help me fight the cold, not that I don't have that on hand at all times!), and Clear Skin Roll on (this is another new product).  I will be very excited to share with you how the clear skin works.

Just wanted to share, as I am super excited about it.

Hope if you have any oil needs you think of me first.  Don't be caught without the oils during the upcoming cold and flu season.
 

Positive Thought for the day

"Many persons have a wrong idea of what constitutes true happiness. It is not attained through self-gratification but through fidelity to a worthy purpose

-- Helen Keller

Positive Thought for the day

"Do you know that as you try and work out "how" your desire will come about, you are actually pushing your desire away from you? As you try and work out "how" you can make your desire happen, you are sending a huge message to the Universe that you do not have your desire. And if you're not emanating the exact frequency of having your desire within you, how can the Universe possibly find your signal to deliver your desire?"

Rhonda Byrne
The Secret and The Power... bringing joy to billions

Positive Thought for the day

"Just don't give up trying to do what you really want to do. Where there is love and inspiration, I don't think you can go wrong."

-Ella Fitzgerald