12 Tips for Stepping into a Healthier Year

Here are some basic steps to get you back on track for good health this year:
1. Go alcohol free for 2 weeks.
2. First thing in the morning, start each day with a glass of room temperature / warm water with either: a) the juice of half a lemon in it or b) 2 teaspoons of raw unfiltered apple cider vinegar. This is great for boosting liver function. It is very alkalizing!
3. Eat plenty of fresh veggies, especially loads of green ones – a combination raw and lightly cooked is best.
4. Beetroot (roasted, grated into salads, juiced) and beetroot leaves – great for liver support.
5. Good quality meats – organic, grass fed, free range or wild. Beef, chicken, lamb etc. No processed deli meats (high in preservatives, flavors etc.)
6. Wild caught smaller fish (as opposed to contaminated farmed fish. Ask your fish supplier where they get their fish from – Ocean? River? Farm?). Avoid large fish such as tuna, swordfish, ling, marlin as these are startlingly high in mercury.
7. If you’re in a colder climate, now id the perfect time for some warming soups – such as chicken and vegetable. Mmm…
8. In the southern hemisphere, now is the time to get into the very high antioxidant containing, low glycaemic index super fruits of summer: cherries and berries – blue, black, mulberries, raspberries.
9. Drink plenty of clean fresh water – filtered or spring water. 2L per day. Herb teas count. Black, green and white tea don’t count. Herb teas which are particularly detoxifying include: dandelion leaf (for kidney detox) and dandelion root (for liver detox), burdock, calendula, fenugreek.
10. 1 cup of green tea each day
11. Go coffee and dairy free for 1-2 weeks.
12. Go sugar free (use xylitol or stevia instead to sweeten drinks or for cooking). Sugar is our number one ager and cause of all modern degenerative diseases.

Even if you do half of the things on this list you’ll be off to a great start to feeling better and looking better!

Deborah Mumm, The Allergy Queen

www.healthy-environments.com

 

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Managing Cholesterol

Greetings!!

There are several ways that you can begin to manage your own cholesterol whether you have a genetic predisposition or not. You can truly lower your cholesterol without drugs if you do ALL of these things every day.  I am not saying that it is easy, but if you do it, you will see a change. And even if you don't do all of these things at once, even some of them will offer heart healthy benefits to you. Start with a few, then add a few more after a week and continue that until you are doing all of these things every day:

• Eat oatmeal for breakfast.  Steel cut is the best, but use old fashioned if you can't deal with the steel cut.
• Eat a handful of almonds every day (a combination of almonds and walnuts also works). Buy them UNSALTED and raw from the baking aisle.  1/4 to 1/3 cup per day is good.
• Eat 1-2 Tbs milled or ground flax seed. This can be added to the oatmeal, to your yogurt, sprinkled on salad, or my favorite is adding to my Juice Plus smoothie!
• Take psyllium husk (most commonly found in Metamucil but can also be found in health food stores in its pure form). 
• Eat 1/2 cup legumes every day. 
• Eat an apple every day! (yes that old adage about keeping the doctor away works)
• Take plant sterols (2-3 grams a day. These substances are found in many foods now but can be taken as a supplement easily. And of course they are found in high levels in the Juice Plus brand that Healthy Environments promotes.).
• Use soy protein (soy milk, edamame, soy nuts, tofu, etc).  I know--there has been some bad press around this issue. That was with very high doses and not using foods. So stick to the foods and not the high doses in supplements.
• Take garlic--and eat it too!  Aged garlic extract is a good source.  But put real garlic cloves in your food as often as you can.
• EXERCISE--yes, that means move on a regular basis. Even if you focus on walking 30 minutes a day, that is perfect! 

Not only are the above steps good for lowering cholesterol, but many are generally healthy habits as well.  The reasons are complex and directly influence different ways that the body produces and attacks cholesterol.  But, for most people, this plan will allow you to improve your cholesterol outlook without drugs.  All you need to do is go to the grocery store with these things on your list.

 So, rather than focusing on what you need to give up and what your doctor has told you to 'stay away from, focus on this list of TO DOs.  Check them off every day for heart disease prevention and to move towards healthy cholesterol levels.

To Your Health....

Deborah Mumm
Healthy Environments

Halloween is for Sugar Lovers

Happy Halloween!

Here are a few Halloween fun facts from the National Confectioners Association:

* 93 percent of children go trick-or-treating every year.
* Each Halloween $2 billion is spent on candy.
* 30 percent of kids report that they SORT their candy first when returning home with trick-or-treat loot
* Kids say they prefer homes that give: anything made with chocolate (68 percent) followed by lollipops (9 percent), gummy candy (7 percent) and bubble gum or chewing gum (7 percent).
* Parents favorite treats to sneak from their kids’ trick-or-treat bags are snack-size chocolate bars (70 percent sneak these), candy-coated chocolate pieces (40 percent), caramels (37 percent) and gum (26 percent).

Halloween is the most child-centered holiday of the year, with Christmas and Hannukah running closely behind. It’s also the most sugar-centric day of the year, and perhaps should be considered the grand kick-off to a season of overindulging our appetites, climaxing at Thanksgiving, ending sometime between Christmas and New Year’s Day, when we vow to shed the holiday ten.

Most of us allow our children to enjoy some of the spoils from Halloween, but doling out loads of candy over the weeks and months that follow can skew a child’s sense of the amount of sugar needed to make a treat sweet (and yummy), making healthful treats made with lower quantities of sweetener unappealing (a.k.a. yucky.)


Deborah Mumm
Healthy Environments

11 Reasons to Stop Drinking Milk

Greetings!

True or False? Drinking lots of milk helps prevent osteoporosis.
FALSE! Studies show that countries who drink lots of milk have more osteoporosis than countries that don't drink milk.
So-- is milk good for you? Not really. The dairy industry introduced milk years ago and since most people like the taste of it, incorporated it into the human diet as a necessary nutrient.
Here is a great article with 11 reasons why you shouldn't drink milk. So, if you and your family consume a lot of dairy products you may want to start reducing your intake on dairy so you can have a healthier future.
The first 3 reasons why Dairy is bad for you are:

1. Cow’s milk is intended for baby cows.  We’re the only species (other than those we are domesticating) that drinks milk after infancy.  And, we’re definitely the only ones drinking the milk of a different species.
2.  Hormones. Not only are the naturally-present hormones in cow’s milk stronger than human hormones, the animals are routinely given steroids and other hormones to plump them up and increase milk production.  These hormones can negatively impact humans’ delicate hormonal balance.
3.  Most cows are fed inappropriate food.  Commercial feed for cows contains all sorts of ingredients that include:  genetically-modified (GM) corn, GM soy, animal products, chicken manure, cottonseed, pesticides, and antibiotics.
Read about the other 8 reasons to avoid dairy HERE!

Have a Healthy Day!!!

Deborah Mumm, The Allergy Queen
Healthy Environments Inc.

How to Clean your Fruits & Veggies

Greetings!

Recent studies are suggesting that the chemicals left on our fruits and veggies may be causing Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD or ADHD) in our children.  How can you be sure you are getting all the pesticides, herbicides and other chemicals off your foods before you feed them to your family?

I made a little video that shows how I wash my produce.  The timing on the sound is a bit off so I look a bit weirder than usual...ha!  But you will get the idea.

How to Wash Veggies

Have a Healthy Day!!!

Deborah Mumm, The Allergy Queen
Healthy Environments

How Healthy are Cucumbers?

I never thought cucumbers had much nutritional value...but I guess I was wrong.  Take a look at the nutrition found in a cucumber!
You may want to grow some organic cukes of your own because cucumbers are a healthy fruit from the same family as pumpkin, zucchini and other squashes.
100 grams of cucumber has
•    Vitamin A 180 I.U.
•    Niacin Trace
•    Vitamin C 9 mg.
•    Calcium 32 mg.
•    Iron 1.8 mg.
•    Phosphorus 27 mg.
•    Potassium 80 mg.
•    Carbohydrates 17 gm.
•    Calories 70
Some of the reported health benefits include
•    Cucumber is best natural diuretic known, secreting and promoting the flow of urine.
•    Helps in kidney and urinary bladder disease.
•    Liver disease
•    Pancreatic disease
•    The potassium content of cucumber makes it highly useful for conditions of high and low blood pressure.
•    Cucumber contains erepsin, the enzyme that helps to digest protein.
•    The high silicon and sulphur content of the cucumber is said to promote the growth of hair, especially when the juice of the cucumber is added to the juice of carrot, lettuce and spinach.
•    A mixture of cucumber juice with carrot juice is said to be beneficial for rheumatic conditions resulting from excessive uric acid in the body.
•    Cucumber juice is also valuable for helping diseases of the teeth, gums, especially in cases of pyorrhea.
•    The high mineral content of this vegetable also helps to prevent splitting of nails of the fingers and toes.
•    Cucumber, radish and bitter gourd are beneficial in diabetes.

Deborah Mumm
The Allergy Queen
Healthy Environments, Inc.

7 Diet Tricks

Greetings!

Here is a nice article with Diet Tips you might like....

According to Live Science, these diet tricks will actually help you keep off the pounds:

Avoid corn syrup
Science shows that high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is bad news. One study showed that rats who drank HFCS-sweetened beverages gained significantly more weight than rats consuming the same amount of calories in sugar.
Keep away from junk food -- It's Addictive
Junk food can affect your brain in ways similar to drug abuse.
Structure meal times
Long stretches without food make people crave energy-dense snacks, which can make healthy choices difficult.
Satisfy your body -- especially at breakfast
A protein-rich breakfast leaves you less hungry for the rest of the day. Some fat in the meal can help, too.
Favor foods closer to nature
Favoring whole fresh foods over processed ones will naturally optimize the healthiness of your food choices.
Change your environment
Altering your food environment -- whether this means using smaller plates or keeping seconds out of immediate reach -- can help you lose weight.
Enjoy your food
Food that is eaten mindlessly is neglected food. When you pay attention, you are satisfied in a deeper way.

Sources:

  Live Science May 23, 2010

Deborah Mumm, 
The Allergy Queen
Healthy Environments

10 Reasons to Drink More Water

More than two-thirds of your body weight is water. Without adequate water your body’s biochemical and electrical (yes electrical, read on!) processes begin to break down. The list of reasons your body needs water is as plentiful as the functions in your body, so due to space limitations, here are 10 good reasons to drink more water:
1. Your blood is over 80 percent water and needs water to make healthy new blood cells.
2. Your bones are over 50 percent water and, you guessed it, need water to make healthy new bone cells.
3. Drinking more water actually helps lessen pain in your body by getting your lymphatic system moving. The lymphatic system is a network of nodes, tubes, vessels, and fluid that move waste out of your tissues. It requires water to function properly.
4. Water helps to eliminate wastes and toxins from your body through the lymphatic system, kidneys, and intestines.
5. Water lubricates your joints and helps reduce joint pain and protect against wear and tear.

6. Water regulates your metabolism so if you’re overweight chances are you may need more water.
7. Water balances body temperature.
8. Water helps to ensure adequate electrical functioning so your brain and nervous system function properly. Your brain and nervous system send out electrical signals to function properly. Researchers estimate that your brain gives off about the same amount of electricity as a 60 watt light bulb. So, there’s some truth to the image of a light bulb going on when someone has a good idea.
9. Water alleviates dehydration (and I’ve already mentioned that most people are chronically dehydrated).
10. Every cell and organ in your body requires adequate water to function properly.
So, one of the quickest and easiest ways to improve your health is to start drinking more pure water every day. Be sure to drink water an empty stomach or you’ll simply be diluting your digestive enzymes and making your digestion less effective.
And, choose purified water as much as possible (but get yourself a BPA-free water bottle so you won’t pollute the planet with all those plastic water bottles. In wealthy, developed nations with plentiful access to water, we really have no excuses for not drinking enough water.
Adapted with permission of the author from the upcoming book, The Phytozyme Cure. (Wiley, December 2010). Copyright Michelle Schoffro Cook.

Michelle Schoffro Cook, RNCP, ROHP, DAc, DNM, is a best-selling and six-time book author and doctor of natural medicine, whose works include: The Life Force Diet, The Ultimate pH Solution, and The 4-Week Ultimate Body Detox Plan. Learn more at: www.TheLifeForceDiet.com.

Warning: Genetically Modified Foods

 

Genetically Modified Foods (GMO)

Genetically modified or genetically engineered fruits and vegetables grown for human consumption are big business on an insidious worldwide scale. Backers of genetic modification believe it to be the only viable way to feed a growing global population without depleting natural resources. Critics of GM farming— and I am one of them—consider it eco-tampering and a threat to biodiversity. There very well could be a rise in allergic reactions to foods as well as more use of chemicals, causing a less healthy situation.

 Read a very interesting article by Nutrition Therapist, Daniella Chase on this subject.

Nutrition & GMO's

 We need to be aware of how industry is changing our foods.  Be informed.  Knowledge is GOOD!

Have a Healthy Day!

Deborah Mumm, The Allergy Queen
Healthy Environments

Food Myths

Here are common questions & myths about some foods we eat.

Q: Are baby carrots preserved with bleach?


A: Not exactly … and there's no reason to stop eating them, says Randy Worobo, Ph.D., an associate professor of food microbiology at Cornell University. Baby carrots are rinsed (not preserved) in a chlorine wash, recommended by the FDA, to kill bacteria like salmonella and E. coli, which cause foodborne illness. Most precut produce, including frozen veggies and fruit salad, is washed with this or a similar sanitizer.

Q: Can eating too much sugar cause diabetes?


A: Not in the same smoking-gun way that cigarettes cause cancer, but research shows that sugar may play a part—and it's smart to limit your intake. First and foremost, being overweight does increase your risk of developing type 2 diabetes, and consuming too much sugar can contribute to weight gain.

Still, some emerging research suggests that excess sugar intake can increase diabetes risk regardless of weight. A landmark JAMA study found that women nearly doubled their diabetes risk when they increased the number of sugar-added drinks they consumed from 1 or fewer a week to 1 or more per day over a 4-year period.

Q: Do spicy foods boost metabolism?


A: We wish! Your metabolic rate is determined by your gender, height, present weight/body composition, and age. These factors determine the amount of calories the body will burn to maintain the basic functions of life that occur even when we sleep—the energy used by the heart, brain, lungs, intestines, etc. Eating spicy foods cannot significantly increase metabolic rate and help you burn more calories at rest.

Although your body temperature may temporarily rise and your heart may beat a bit faster after eating "hot" foods, over the long term spices will not make any changes in the rate of metabolism.

Q: Is white flour bleached with dangerous chemicals?


A: No. Some Web sites allege that flour is bleached with alloxan, a compound that caused diabetes in animal research, but experts tell us that's not true. Flour bleaches naturally on its own as yellow compounds called xantophylls react with oxygen in the air; this takes several weeks. To speed the whitening, processors bleach flour—turning it white from its natural straw color—with safe, FDA-regulated chemicals (some of the same ones used to sanitize veggies).

Alloxan may form as a byproduct, but the amount is minuscule (less than 0.03 mg per slice of bread) and harmless, says Julie Jones, Ph.D., professor emeritus of family, consumer, and nutritional sciences at St. Catherine University.

Q: It’s safe to follow the 5-second rule for dropped food, right?


A: It's probably not even safe to follow a 1-second rule: The transfer of bacteria from a contaminated surface to food is almost instantaneous—or, at the very least, quicker than your reflexes. In one study, Clemson University food scientist Paul Dawson, Ph.D., and students contaminated several surfaces (ceramic tile, wood flooring, and carpet) with Salmonella. They then dropped pieces of bologna and slices of bread on the surfaces for as little as 5 seconds and as long as 60 seconds.

After just 5 seconds, both food types had already picked up as many as 1,800 bacteria (more bad bugs adhered to the moisture-rich bologna than the bread); after a full minute, it was up to 10 times that amount.

These facts were taken from articles on http://www.prevention.com/ .

By the way, I was a bit surprised to hear that pre-cut veggies were rinsed in a chlorine solutions as well as bleached flour.  Then I realized that regular tap water is considered a chlorine rinse also.  Do you know how toxic chlorine is?  VERY!  I am quite glad my fruits, veggies and salads are rinsed in 11.5 Alkaline water (Kangen)...kills all bacteria and removes all chemicals so I can enjoy the real taste of my food.

For more information on Kangen Water go to http://www.thewetterwater.net/ .

Have a Healthy Day!
Deborah Mumm, The Allergy Queen
http://www.healthy-environments.com/

What's in that Banana?

BANANAS!


After Reading this, you will NEVER look at a banana in the same way again!

Bananas contain three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber, a banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy. Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes. But energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.

Depression:

According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel better.


PMS:

Forget the pills -- eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.


Anemia:

High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.


Blood Pressure:

This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it the perfect way to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.


Brain Power:

200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex, England ) school were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.


Constipation:

High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.

Hangovers:

One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system...


Heartburn:

Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.


Morning Sickness:

Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness

Mosquito bites:

Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.


Nerves:

Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.



Overweight and at work?

Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and chips. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.

Ulcers:

The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.


Temperature control:

Many other cultures see bananas as a 'cooling' fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand, for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.



Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD):

Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan.


Smoking:

Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6 and B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.


Stress:

Potassium is a vital mineral which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.


Strokes:

According to research in 'The New England Journal of Medicine,' eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death from strokes by as much as 40%!


So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrates, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around.. So maybe its time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, 'A banana a day keeps the doctor away!'

Footnote:

If your roses are covered with Aphids, drape banana skins over the branches, it’s amazing, but in a day or less, they are GONE!

I've tried it, and I couldn't believe it, no more aphids, as long as I save my banana skins for the rose bushes!


Impressed? Well then, PASS IT ON TO YOUR FRIENDS!


Unzip a BANANA today!

Deborah Mumm
The Allergy Queen
Healthy Environments, Inc.

Do You Know the 10 Worst Foods to Eat?

Greetings!

I found this video to be quite interesting and thought I'd share it with you. When we go out to eat, it might be nice to know which foods are the worst for you so you can avoid them.

Check it out!

10 Worst Foods to Eat

Pass it onto your friends...they'll thank you!

Deborah Mumm, The Allergy Queen
Healthy Environments

4 Organic Food Labels you should Know!

There are 4 organic food labels you should know when you buy 'organic'.

This the most important label you should see when you get organic foods.
The USDA Organic seal is your best assurance of organic quality, and it's the international gold standard for organic personal care. Where personal care products are concerned, if you don’t see the USDA Certified Organic seal, the word “organic” doesn’t mean a thing. It must specify USDA to be meaningful. The ingredients in USDA certified beauty products are certified organic for food, adhering to much stricter standards as they are intended specifically for human consumption.

Growers and manufacturers of organic products bearing the USDA seal have to meet the strictest standards of any of the currently available organic labels.

There are 3 other organic labels in which it shows the food is at least 95% pure. Be sure and take a look at them here... Organic Labels

So...next time you are at the store to buy Organic Foods, check the labels! Maybe now you know what they mean.

Deborah Mumm, The Allergy Queen

Healthy Environments, Inc.

The Allergy Queen & Setting Up Allergy-Free Home

Greetings!

I recently finished a little video on what the Allergy Queen does and which products are used to help create an allergy-free home.

If you have a minute to look at it...I'd appreciate hearing what you think.

The AllergyQueen & Healthy Environments

I hope you're having an Allergy-free day!

Deborah Mumm
The Allergy Queen
http://www.healthy-environments.com

Which Country in the World has the Healthiest Diet?

We are all pretty sure that Americans probably don't have the healthiest diet of good foods. But compared to extremely poor countries, like in Africa, where just finding food to eat is amazing in itself, America may have more chances to eat better.

What do you think?

Which country in the world has the healthiest diet?

This is a nice little video showing the basic diets of countries around the world. How does America stack up?

Healthy Diet in World

What are you buying from the store that is actually ruining your health?

Deborah Mumm, The Allergy Queen
Healthy Environments

10 Super Health Foods

10 Easy to Find Super Health Foods

These ten health foods are some of the healthiest that fit within these three criteria....
* Are a good source of fiber, vitamins, minerals and other nutrients.
* Are high in phytonutrients and antioxidants, like Vitamins A and E and beta carotene.
* May help reduce the risk of heart disease and other health conditions.

These 10 Super foods are all easy to find too! They are listed here in alphabetical order.

1) Apples ~ Apples are a wonderful souce of soluble fiber that can help lower blood cholesterol and glucose levels. They are are a great source of Vitamin C... an antioxidant that protects your body's cells from damage.

2) Almonds ~ Almonds are packed with nutrients - fiber, riboflavin, magnesium, iron and calcium. Almonds have more calcium than any other nut. They are also good for your heart. They have monounsaturated fat which is a healthier type of fat that helps to lower blood cholesterol levels.

3) Blueberries ~ Blueberries are a rich source of plant compounds. Blueberries may help prevent urinary tract infections. They also help improve short-term memory and promote healthy aging.

4) Broccoli ~ Broccoli is a great source of Vitamins A and C. It is also a good source of calcium, potassium, folate and fiber.

5) Red Beans ~ Red beans, like small red beans and dark red kidney beans, are good sources of iron, magnesium, phosphorus, copper and thiamin. They are a great low fat source of protein and fiber. Red beans may help prevent chronic diseases like heart diesease and cancer.

6) Salmon ~ Salmon is a great source of omega-3 fatty acids - a type of fat that makes your blood less likely to form clots that can cause heart attacks. Omega-3's also protect against irregular heartbeats that may cause sudden cardiac death, lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of a stroke.

7) Spinach ~ Spinach is high in Vitamins A and C and folate. It's a good source of riboflavin, vitamin B-6, calcium, iron and magnesium. It may also keep your hair and skin healthy.

8) Sweet Potatoes ~ Sweet Potatoes are high in the antioxidant beta carotene. These help slow the aging process and reduce the risk of some cancers. Sweet potatoes are a good source of fiber, Vitamins B-6, C and E, folate and potassium. Like all vegetables they are fat-free (until you add the butter) and low in calories.

9) Vegetable Juice ~ Vegetable juice has most of the vitamins, minerals and other nutrients found in the original vegetables and is an easy way to include vegetables in your diet. Tomato juice and vegetable juice includes tomatoes, which are a good source of lycopene, an antioxidant which may reduce the risk of heart attack and cancers. Some vegetable juices are high in sodium so read the label for the low-sodium variety.

10) Wheat Germ ~ At the center of the wheat grain is the wheat germ. It is a highly concentrated source of nutrients and also contains protein, fiber and some fat. It is easy to sprinkle in foods, cereals and mixes. It's good in pancakes.

http://www.healthy-environments.com/nutrition.asp

What's Wrong with Veggies & Fruits at the Store?

Here is a great article explaining why the fruits and veggies we eat now don't have the nutrition they had years ago. We need to supplement with QUALITY whole-foods-- which ones?

**********************************************************************************

The February issue of the Journal of HortScience published a report on the sad state of American fruits and veggies. As it turns out, our current bounty of fruits and veggies is poor in quality and taste—at least according to Donald R. Davis, a former research associate with the Biochemical Institute at the University of Texas, Austin. Davis claims the average vegetable found in today's supermarket is anywhere from 5% to 40% lower in minerals (including magnesium, iron, calcium and zinc) than those harvested just 50 years ago.

Davis reported that although it was difficult to examine “before” and “after” nutrient profiles, we clearly have less nutrition coming from our fruits and vegetables today.

Case #1: Don’t be fooled by the size of that apple! Today's vegetables might be larger, but if you think that means they contain more nutrients, you'd be wrong,” stated Davis. Jumbo-sized produce contains more "dry matter" than anything else, which dilutes mineral concentrations.

Case #2: Plants have experienced a genetic dilution effect. Selective breeding to increase crop yield has led to declines in protein, amino acids, and as many as six minerals in one study of commercial broccoli. There is no assurance that dozens of other nutrients and thousands of phytochemicals will all increase in proportion to yield.

Case #3: With more chemical fertilizers and pesticides being used on modern crops, plants are being harvested faster than ever before and that means the produce has less time to absorb nutrients either from synthesis or the soil.

Davis finds it ironic that as billions of people around the world are suffering from malnutrition, efforts to increase food production have actually produced food that is nutritionally bankrupt.

This study is just another reason that I support the use of Juice Plus+, a whole foods supplement made from raw fruits and veggies. It’s been carefully tested for herbicides and pesticides and is backed up by plenty of research to show it gets into our bloodstream and works. Doesn’t it make sense, then, to enhance our intake with concentrated whole foods nutrition?

Kim Dalzell, PhD, RD, LD

www.naturesanswertocancer.com

Deborah Mumm, The Allergy Queen.... www.info4juiceplus.com

Would you like a Designer Supplement--just for your needs?

Greetings!
Have you ever wondered how much vitamin C you need? Or should you be taking certain vitamins or minerals? Is you body needing more of something that you don't know about?

Well...there is a newer company called Genewize that takes a sample of your DNA, tests it, and then sends you a monthly supply of the vitamins and minerals perfect for your body.

Think of the money you will save by not taking handfuls of supplements that your body really doesn't need!

It is pretty fascinating! It is worth the few seconds it takes to check this out.
http://www.mygenewize.com/healthye

Finally...Designer Supplements...designed with your body's needs in mind!

Deborah Mumm, The Allergy Queen
http://www.healthy-environments.com/designer-supplements.asp

The Healthy Way to Cook Veggies

Greetings!

Did you know we are supposed to eat 7 -10 servings of fruits and veggies EVERY day? That's not 7-10 bites of fruits and vegetables...it's whole servings! We know that is almost impossible for the average person.

This is a good article on some healthy ways to cook vegetables. Sometimes serving food that is prepared different can inspire new interest in it. So give it a try! Healthy Ways to Cook Veggies

And if this doesn't get you eating enough veggies each day then you may want to look at supplementing with whole fruit and vegetables in capsule form --- Juice Plus capsules

Have a Healthy Day!

Deborah Mumm, The Allergy Queen
Healthy Environments

Which Country Eats the Best Foods for Healthy Living?

I really wasn't surprised to see how poorly Americans rated in this 'healthy food' contest. But it was very interesting to see how other countries did.

How many whole foods do you eat each day? How many things do you eat that are processed? You might be surprised at how often we reach for a processed food.

I like Natalie and her Nutrition Clips.....Here's this one on how countries on the world compare for weekly purchases of food.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClvLhNUz3X8

Have a healthy day!

Debbie, The Allergy Queen.... http://www.info4juiceplus.com/ (whole foods in capsule form!)