Benjamin Franklin Says.....

"The best doctor gives the least medicines." Benjamin Franklin

Plan Ahead!

Ensure you have healthy meals by planning a week's worth of meals, make a detailed grocery list and purchase what you need to easily prepare the meals for the week.

Deodorize Carpet Naturally!

Deodorize carpet naturally by sprinkling baking soda or cornstarch on the carpet or rug, using about 1 cup per medium-sized room. Let it sit for about 30 minutes then vacuum.

Eat Mindfully!

Reduce stress and increase mindfulness when eating by tasting, smelling and savoring every bite of food instead of eating on the run or rushing through the meal.

Low Impact Aerobic Exercise.....With Rhythm!

Ballroom dancing is a fun form of low impact aerobic exercise. It also helps people develop coordination, balance and rhythm.

Hearing Loss?

Studies have found that prolonged exposure to noise such as working in a loud restaurant, taking a 2-hour motorcycle ride or mowing the lawn for several hours can lead to hearing loss.

Protect Your Eyes!

Protect your eyes when working with chemicals, power tools and factory or construction equipment by wearing protective goggles.

Take Care of Your Vision

Take care of your vision by consuming a varied diet with adequate vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene, and zinc which are essential for eye health.

Find a Mentor!

If you wish to improve your health, look for role models who have already achieved the health you desire. Learn from their experience and model their behaviors.

Correct Kegel Exercises

To perform Kegel exercise, focus on tightening only pelvic floor muscles. Do not flex the muscles in your abdomen, thighs or buttocks. Repeat 50 to 100 times daily for best results.

Kegal Exercises

Kegel exercises are beneficial to prevent or control urinary incontinence and other pelvic floor problems.

Obesity Leads to Liver Disease?

According to Eric Braverman, MD obesity leads to liver disease. The build up of fat cells impairs the liver's ability to properly cleanse the body of toxins and increases your risk for infection and illness.

Decrease Your Risk of Osteoporosis

Decrease your risk of osteoporosis by quitting smoking, limit alcohol consumption, regular physical activity, adequate calcium and vitamin D intake.

Artichoke Preparation

To prepare an artichoke for steaming, grilling or roasting; trim approximately 1 inch off the top and bottom and cut the tips of the leaves with scissors, rub cut areas with lemon juice to prevent browning.

7 Foods to Avoid - Part 2

2. The Farmer Won't Eat: Corn-Fed Beef
Joel Salatin is co-owner of Polyface Farms and author of half a dozen books on sustainable farming.

The problem: Cattle evolved to eat grass, not grains. But farmers today feed their animals corn and soybeans, which fatten up the animals faster for slaughter. But more money for cattle farmers (and lower prices at the grocery store) means a lot less nutrition for us. A recent comprehensive study conducted by the USDA and researchers from Clemson University found that compared with corn-fed beef, grass-fed beef is higher in beta-carotene, vitamin E, omega-3s, conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), calcium, magnesium, and potassium; lower in inflammatory omega-6s; and lower in saturated fats that have been linked to heart disease. "We need to respect the fact that cows are herbivores, and that does not mean feeding them corn and chicken manure," says Salatin.

The solution: Buy grass-fed beef, which can be found at specialty grocers, farmers' markets, and nationally at Whole Foods. It's usually labeled because it demands a premium, but if you don't see it, ask your butcher.

Budget tip: Cuts on the bone are cheaper because processors charge extra for deboning. You can also buy direct from a local farmer, which can be as cheap as $5 per pound. To find a farmer near you, search eatwild.com.

Stretch Your Back!

To stretch your back, lie flat on the floor, bend your knees, place your hands around them, pull your knees toward your upper chest while lifting your shoulders and back off the floor.

I have been doing this exercise since my car accident in 1995. It really feels good and helps the pain a bit.

Want to Quit Smoking? Here Are Some Tips

If you would like to quit smoking, keep a diary for one week recording the time and place of each cigarette smoked in one column and another column with the triggers (habits, anxieties, social drinking, etc.). At the end of the week, note patterns and brainstorm ways to avoid triggers.

7 Foods You Should Never Eat - Part 1

The following info comes from Prevention Magazine.  I found it fascinating.

Food scientists are shedding light on items loaded with toxins and chemicals--and simple swaps for a cleaner diet and supersized health.
Clean eating means choosing fruits, vegetables, and meats that are raised, grown, and sold with minimal processing. Often they're organic, and rarely (if ever) should they contain additives. But in some cases, the methods of today's food producers are neither clean nor sustainable. The result is damage to our health, the environment, or both. So we decided to take a fresh look at food through the eyes of the people who spend their lives uncovering what's safe--or not--to eat. We asked them a simple question: "What foods do you avoid?" Their answers don't necessarily make up a "banned foods" list. But reaching for the suggested alternatives might bring you better health--and peace of mind.

1. The Endocrinologist Won't Eat: Canned Tomatoes
Fredrick Vom Saal, is an endocrinologist at the University of Missouri who studies bisphenol-A.

The problem: The resin linings of tin cans contain bisphenol-A, a synthetic estrogen that has been linked to ailments ranging from reproductive problems to heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. Unfortunately, acidity (a prominent characteristic of tomatoes) causes BPA to leach into your food. Studies show that the BPA in most people's body exceeds the amount that suppresses sperm production or causes chromosomal damage to the eggs of animals. "You can get 50 mcg of BPA per liter out of a tomato can, and that's a level that is going to impact people, particularly the young," says vom Saal. "I won't go near canned tomatoes."

The solution: Choose tomatoes in glass bottles (which do not need resin linings), such as the brands Bionaturae and Coluccio. You can also get several types in Tetra Pak boxes, like Trader Joe's and Pomi.

Budget tip: If your recipe allows, substitute bottled pasta sauce for canned tomatoes. Look for pasta sauces with low sodium and few added ingredients, or you may have to adjust the recipe.

Optimists Live Longer....Yea!

According to research at the University of Pittsburgh, feeling optimistic can decrease blood pressure and heart rate, reduce risk of heart disease as well as increase immunity, and increase lifespan.

Sixtieth Birthday Gift Mug

If you have a friend who is turning 60 during this season, what better way to celebrate with him or her?  A gift mug would be very much appreciated, I'm sure.

Take a Bath!

Take a warm bath to reduce stress. Keep the water temperature between 100 to 107° F, too cool and the bath can be over stimulating, too hot can lead to faintness.

What's a Safe Way to Lift?

Use proper posture to lift heavy objects. Place your feet shoulder width apart close to the object. Bend your knees, let your arms hang. Then draw the object to your body, come up to standing by engaging the muscles in your legs, not your back.

Balance Your Loads!

When shopping avoid neck and shoulder pain and protect your back by distributing heavy shopping bags equally on both sides of your body.