Better Bones and Heart

I think most of us realize that our bodies need calcium, but did you know that Vitamin D and Phosphorus work together with calcium to build stronger bones?

Leafy greens and vegetables, such as spinach and broccoli contain calcium, but the body absorbs calcium best from dairy products. Dairy is abundant not only with calcium, but in phosphorous and vitamin D as well. Some non dairy foods high in calcium include canned salmon, sardines and fortified tofu.

Anything 'green' is still good for bones. Broccoli, kale, bok choy contain a little calcium, but offer vitamin K, which boosts bone mineralization.

Whole grains, fatty fish, fresh fruits and vegetables help keep our heart in good condition. Two and a half servings of whole grains each day can reduce heart attack and stroke by 21%. Whole grains are rich in antioxidants and vitamin E. Almonds, peanuts and green leafy vegetables also contain vitamin E, which help maintain our blood vessels.

Soluble fiber from fruits fruits, vegetables and nuts help to lower harmful LDL cholesterol and control weight, which aids in heart health.

You can also cut your risk of heart attack further by eating fish high in omega 3 (like salmon, mackerel or trout). Omega 3 makes platelets in our blood less sticky and helps reduce clotting.

Omega 3 can also be find in walnuts and flaxseed.

The below recipe offers fiber, whole grains, plenty of Vitamins B6 and E, and folate to maintain heart health:

Wild Rice and Barley Salad
1 3/4 cups fat free, less sodium chicken broth
1/2 cup cooked brown and wild rice mix
1/2 cup uncooked pearl barley
3/4 cup rinsed ad drained chickpeas (garbanzo beans)
1/3 cup golden raisins
1/4 cup sliced Green onions
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 1/2 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
2 tablespoons slivered almonds, toasted

Combine first 3 ingredients in a small saucepan, bring to boil. Cover, reduce heat and simmer 40 minutes or until the liquid is absorbed.Remove from heat, let stand, covered for about 5 minutes. Spoon rice mixture into medium bowl. Add chickpeas, raisins and green onions.

Combine vinegar and next 4 ingredients in a small bowl. Whisk. Pour over barley mixture. toss well. over and chill about 2 hours. Stir in the basil and almonds.
Servings: 8

Eating For Your Health: Glowing Skin & Silky Hair

To help keep your skin glowing, include antioxidants like lycopene and vitamin C, as well as soy protein and Omega-3 fatty acids.

Antioxidants have been known to help in topical skin care, but those nutrients work even better from the inside out. Our skin is the largest body organ and when it is exposed to the sun's rays, free radicals can develop. Those free radicals attack the skin and impair the blood flow, which causes premature aging. Antioxidants help to fight that process.

Vitamin C is found in citrus fruits. This vitamin promotes collagen production, which provides us with vibrant skin. Lycopene is found in foods like canned tomatoes and red grapefruit juice, which also promotes healthy skin.

Tofu is a great choice since its omega 3 fatty acids help regenerate new skin cells and reduce inflammation, while the soy protein it contains has been known to boost collagen.

For silky, shiny healthy hair, eat foods high in calcium and quality protein like eggs, dairy and fish. Eggs also provide biotin, a component of both bone and hair. Vitamins B6, B12 and folate will help nourish your hair follicle cells too.

Recipes to Enjoy to help promote healthy skin and hair:

Simple Clam Chowder
2 bacon slices
2 cups chopped onion
1 1/4 cups chopped celery
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
2 garlic cloves, minced
6 ( 6 1/2 oz) cans chopped clams-undrained
5 cups diced peeled baking potatoes (about 1 pound)
4 ( 8 oz) bottles of clam juice
1 bay leaf
3 cups fat free milk
1/2 cup all purpose flour

Cook bacon in large dutch oven over medium heat until crisp. Reserve 1 teaspoon of the drippings. Crumble bacon, set aside. Add onion and next 4 ingredients to pan and cook for 4 minutes or until tender.

Drain clams, reserving the liquid. Add clam liquid, potato, calm juice and bay leaf to pan.Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes.

Combine milk and flour, stirring with wire whisk until smooth. Add flour mixture to pan and bring to a boil. Cook 12 minutes or until thick. Add clams, cook for 2 minutes. Sprinkle with bacon and enjoy.
12 servings. 257 calories, 2.9 g fat, 28.5g protein, calcium 242 mg, sodium 475 mg
*****
Spicy Stir Fried Tofu with Snow Peas, Peanut Butter and Mushrooms
This recipe provides a boost to skin and hair by providing vitamin C and about 15% of a day's worth of folate and vitamin E

1 (14 oz) package of tofu, drained and cut into 1 inch cubes
2 teaspoons of canola oil
3/4 pound snow peas
1 cup red bell pepper strips
3/4 cup water, divided
1/2 cup sliced green onions
2 teaspoons minced fresh ginger
2 garlic cloves, minced
3 cups sliced shiitake mushrooms (about 8 oz)
2 tablespoons reduced sodium tamari
2 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
1 teaspoon cornstarch
2 teaspoons hot chile sauce
1/4 teaspoon salt

Place tofu on top of paper towels and cover with additional paper towels. Let stand 5 minutes. Heat oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add tofu to pan, cook 7 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove from pan and keep warm. Add snow peas, bell pepper, 1/4 cup water and next 3 ingredients to pan. Stir fry 3 minutes. Add mushrooms, stir fry for 2 minutes.

Combine remaining 1/2 water, tamari and remaining ingredients in a small bowl. stir well. Add tamari mixture and tofu to pan. Cook 1 minute or until thick.
4 (1 1/2 cup) servings. Calories 212, Fat 8.7g, Protein 13.1g, Carbs 21.5g, Fiber 4.7g, Chol 0mg, Iron 3.6mg, Sodium 639mg


Coming Next: Eating for Your Eyes and Building Better Bones

Help Your Whole Body

With the New Year right around the corner, I believe some people are already thinking about those resolutions they hope to keep in 2009.

For some, these resolutions may include improving your appearance, taking on a new hobby, exercising more or other goals you wish to achieve.

Did you know that if you make a resolution to follow good for you food goals, you can help your whole body? And, when you succeed at that, you can tackle any other goals you have in mind.

From your skin to your brain...the best way to have healthy hair, skin, eyes etc..is to take good overall care of yourself. You can nuture every part of you...whether it's your heart, brain, bones, eyes, skin...there are foods to help.

Remember the more 'colors' you put into your diet, the better. A variety of fruits and vegetables gives you the necessary antioxidants and vitamins. Servings of whole grains, protien and dairy round out your body's needs and nourishes every part of your body.

This is the beginning of a series of posts that will help you eat for your health...from food to juice to teas. I will also be including recipes.

Let this be the start to help our whole body...

Coming Next...For Glowing Skin and Silky hair

Feng Shui: Using Fish and Water

One of my readers left a comment asking if I knew the importance of using a Fish tank when applying Feng Shui. Honestly, I did not know the true answer, but I did some research and this is what I have learned:

Many people have confused fish as being a Feng Shui remedy.What this is, is a combination of superstition and misunderstanding. Feng Shui uses the number, 6 and 7, which are representative of metal (6=Qian or hard metal, and 7= Dui or soft metal).

The Five Element theory suggests metal strengthens water. Chinese folklore says that adding 6 gold fish and one black fish makes the water stronger. What you would be trying to do is to strengthen the water effect with metal. Actually, the fish only add decoration to the tank. To really strengthen the water element, the tank should have the real metal element with the water.

In feng shui, moving water brings prosperity and good luck to the home. Using Water fountains and aquariums are great feng shui enhancements and you also get the soothing and energizing elements.

The sound and motion of gurgling water activates chi and also helps balance chi. Moving water makes things active when the chi has been stagnant. Use moving water cures anywhere you want to enhance with which the water flows.

If you place a water fountain by your front door (indoors or out) to activate career, make sure the water flows toward your door, not away from it. You want all that good chi to come into your life, not flow out of it.

An aquarium can be extremely effective with increasing wealth and luck. The best places for an aquarium are in career and wealth areas or near the front door. Combine eight orange fish and one black one, or eight black and one gold. If you’re using an aquarium to increase wealth, add nine coins to the tank (chose a metal that won’t harm your fish).

INTENTION—As you set up your fountain or aquarium, stay focused on your intention to activate your success, prosperity, or career advancement, or whatever your specific goal may be.

AFFIRMATION—When you are done, make a statement to support your intention, such as: “Water now flows and nourishes this space, bringing abundance and prosperity to me and my family.”

The best fish tank from a Feng Shui standpoint is a circular one, but if you cannot find this shape, a rectangular one works too.

Part 3~ Get More Help From Others With Feng Shui

The helpful people and travel section of Feng Shui is located in the front right-hand side of your home as you enter the front door.

This area of your house can hold all kinds of energy for you. If you travel too much or do not do as much traveling as you would like to, you can balance that out. If you find you do everything yourself or for yourself with no help from anyone, you can shift the energies to be more helpful in life. Even if you feel out of sync with what’s going on around you, this spot in your house can get you feeling balanced.

Or, if you are in some sort of legal battle, home purchase or sale, need medical attention, or any other major event where you really need to be treated fairly and justly, this part of the house can get things in control for you.

Things to ADD:

Silver and Gray: These two colors are very helpful in this spot. Even if you have to use a piece of aluminum foil, you should put it here. You could place a silver box in the helpful people and travel area to hold a space for your needed energies. One idea might be to write down anything you need help with, but do not use the words need or want in these sentences -- Try "thank you” for ...." and put the paper in the box.. If you are in a legal situation, put your opponents' names (business cards), as well as any legal documents in the box. If the box is not big enough, then wrap it up in aluminum foil. And make your intention to bring about a fair outcome.

Feng Shui can work for you if you give it the right intention and respect.

Click HERE to see The Road Map of Your Home with Feng Shui

It is designed to help you figure out which parts of your home correspond to each of the nine areas of your life.



Source: about.com / ivillage

Part 2 - Feng Shui Financial Power Spots

Did you know there are Financial power spots within any space?

Prosperity issues are associated with the back left corner of any space. If you stand at your front door and face into the house ~ your wealth area is at the back of the house on the left-hand side.

To find the wealth area of any room:: facing in from the doorway, it's the corner area in the back of the room on the left-hand side.

Will you find and locate the wealth areas at your office, living room, kitchen, and/or bedroom? Now that you can find your money power spots, here are some tips to apply feng shui to those areas:

Clean out any clutter. Getting rid of clutter is one of the most powerful ways to shift energy and allow the energy to move freely.

Fix anything that is broken. If it does not work and if you can’t fix it, remove it so the money spots will work properly.

Use symbols of prosperity. A bowl of coins that you add your spare change into it every day, a "lucky bamboo" plant, or anything that symbolizes success and prosperity to you.

Use colors green and purple. Green symbolizes vitality and growth and purple is the color of wealth.

If you neglect your money, it will neglect you, so balance your checkbook monthly and pay your bills on time.

Clean the clutter out of your purse and wallet. If your money is not organized and is just crunched any old way, it will be as though you don’t value money.

Take a few moments every day to think about all the good things that happened to you and express gratitude for what you have received.

The Feng Shui wealth area is considered "fortunate blessings”. The more you notice, appreciate, and express gratitude for blessings received, no matter how small, the more good things will come your way, including money.

What is Feng Shui? Part 1

You have probably heard of Feng Shui, but do you really know what it is?

Feng Shui is an ancient art and science developed in China more than 3,000 years ago. Feng Shui teaches us how to attract and enhance our life energy. You can accomplish this by balancing the energies of any space to bring you good health and good fortune.

Feng means wind and shui means water. Within the Chinese culture, wind and water have always been associated with good harvest and good health.

So, good feng shui means good fortune and bad fend shui means hardship or misfortune.

The easiest way to bring good feng shui into your life is by using the 5 principals or 5 elements: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water. Each element corresponds with a color:

WOOD: Green, Brown
FIRE: Red, Strong Yellow, Orange, Purple
EARTH: Light Yellow. Sandy/Earthy, Light Brown
METAL: White, Gray
WATER: Blue, Black

Feng Shui Tips: Using The 5 Elements

Use the Color Green to bring healing and improved health to yourself and those living with you. If you use the color green in the East fen shui of your home, this can help balance family life

Use the Color Blue in the North area of you home. This will help and support you in your career.

Use the Color Yellow in the South area of your home. This will bring happy gatherings and good times.

Use the Color of Pure White in the West area of your home to support you in your creative endeavors.

Coming Next Part 2~
Do you know there are Financial power spots within any space?

Part 3~ Get More Help From Others With Feng Shui
Part 4 ~ The Road Map of Your Home with Feng Shui~How To Apply Feng Shui within a Space

SUCCESS IS WAITING FOR YOU

There are no age limits on when you can transform your life.
Change is possible at any time.
It is essential if you want to grow.

You have control over your life.
Success or failure is up to you.

You control how lucky you are.
You create your wealth with your effort.

The doubts you'll experience along the way are part of life.

Make a plan to attain your success and stick to it.
Your life is a marathon, not a short sprint.

Accept total responsibility for your actions
and remove "QUIT" from your vocabulary.

Decide you want success and it can be yours.
Success is always your choice.


Copyright 2008 www.yourdailymotivation.com
Reproduce freely but maintain Copyright notice.

Being Thankful on Thanksgiving

Today as we celebrate Thanksgiving with our families and friends, will you truly take time out to reflect on what you are thankful for?

I have been doing that quite often this year. Pretty much on a daily basis...being thankful. For my health, for my life, for all I have, my family and friends, the opportunities that come my way and the love that surrounds me.

Abundance can be brought into your life if you declare to the universe that you are thankful. This can easily be done on a daily basis. I find that I'm in a better mood when I take time to appreciate something that makes me happy and be thankful for it. My heart seems to fill with happiness...

What are you thankful for?

I think many, many people take for granted what they have in their life. Maybe focusing only on the negatives...the problems, the stresses, the little things that may annoy or aggravate you. We might forget what we have and appreciate them.

Count your blessings. Take a moment each day and be thankful for something in your life. As you're driving in your car or sitting quietly by yourself, even while watching TV... just take a minute and be thankful.

As you see something that excites you or makes you feel good, as you smell food cooking, drive to work, come home to family, enjoying the company of friends or even your pet, your many possessions, your health and so on...be thankful!

Some people are not blessed as you and I are. Many have worse problems or live in worse conditions and/or simply do not have all that we have.

Take a break during your day...starting today...and be thankful and count your blessings...ask the universe for more of what makes you happy. Be positive and say...I like this...bring more more!

May you all enjoy your Thanksgiving. Many blessings to you all

Thank you, Lord, for life.

Even though I clutch my blanket and growl when the alarm rings. Thank you, Lord, that I can hear.. There are many who are deaf.

Even though I keep my eyes closed against the morning light as long as possible. Thank you, Lord , that I can see. Many are blind.

Even though I huddle in my bed and put off rising.. Thank you, Lord, that I have the strength to rise. There are many who are bedridden.

Even though the first hour of my day is hectic, when socks are lost, toast is burned, tempers are short, and my children are so loud.

Thank you, Lord, for my family. There are many who are lonely.

Even though our breakfast table never looks like the picture in magazines and the menu is at times unbalanced.

Thank you, Lord, for the food we have. There are many who are hungry.

Even though the routine of my job often is monotonous. Thank you, Lord, for the opportunity to work. There are many who have no job.

Even though I grumble and bemoan my fate from day to day and wish my circumstances were not so modest.

Thank you, Lord, for life.

Eyeglasses For Less

In these times we are facing with the economy such as it is, we are all looking to get the best value for our money.

Have you ever shopped for eyeglasses? They are quite expensive to begin with and when you start adding optional items such as, anti-reflecting coating or UV protection, the glasses cost even more.

There is now a website offering complete prescription eyeglass at a fraction of the cost. Starting at just $15, you also receive additional items for free. Anti-reflective coating, UV protection, anti-scratch coating etc...You can't always get that from your eye doctor or store.

What I loved about this site is that you can virtually 'try-on' a pair of glasses, so you will know what they would look like on yourself. What a great idea! All you have to do is upload a photo of yourself and then follow the instructions and you will see yourself with the frames you have chosen.

Now you can afford a new pair of eyeglasses. Whether you are wearing old glasses with an outdated prescription, need a second back up pair or just want a different look, you can go to www.optical4less.com and get any style you want.

Don't wear eyeglasses? Optical4Less also offers great prices on contact lenses. As a wearer of both eye glasses and contacts, I can save a bundle at this site and be confidant I am getting the best value from eye care experts.

Do You Know If You Have Sleep Apnea?

Do you know someone who snores? My ex-husband snored so loudly that I needed to fall asleep first if I ever wanted to get some sleep.

We thought he just snored and dealt with it the best we could. Later he learned that he had sleep apnea. Many people have sleep apnea and aren't even aware that they do.

Sleep apnea is a disorder that interrupts your breathing during sleep. People with apnea can have pauses in their breathing a hundred times during the night.

The symptoms of sleep apnea can include loud snoring, excessive sleepiness during the day and experience gasping during sleep.

While those symptoms can seem harmless, sleep apnea can cause serious health problems and may even be life threatening.

The effects of sleep apnea can cause:
* high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease
* memory problems
* weight gain
* impotence
* headaches

There are treatments available for people with sleep apnea. They range from lifestyle changes to surgical procedures.

If you know someone with any symptoms mentioned or if someone suggests you may have signs of sleep apnea, please speak to your physician to determine if indeed you do have sleep apnea and get treatment.

Remember, even children can have sleep apnea. This does not just affect adults.

Quote of The Day

God doesn't give you the people you want... He gives you the people you NEED.
To help you...
to hurt you...
to leave you...
to love you...
These people make you into the person you were meant to be.