Why Healthy Makes Sense to Me...

I enjoy health. I enjoy being healthy. It just resonates with me... you know, just how some people love music, the arts, sports or working with their hands? That's me with health.

So let's define health. I like what the Medilexicons' (say what?) medical dictionary says about health, it's "The state of an organism when it functions optimally without evidence of disease or abnormality."

I really like that phrase, "functions optimally." In other words, to me it says, to live well. I want to live a good life. I want to enjoy my kids and later, my grand kids. I want to grow old with my husband and travel and laugh.

There is no telling what the future holds for any of us. We can do all things healthy and still end up sick or victims of life-altering tragedies. God holds those mysteries in his hands. But I know as long as I am breathing and fully functioning, I will do my best to take care of this body he has entrusted me with.

                    

Here are some reasons why healthy makes sense to me...

Side note... I have many times of treats and indulgences. I have days, weeks of terrible eating slumps. I'm in no way a health-eating Nazi... never want to appear that way to anyone. But my passion is to strive daily to eat/live well as best I can... to learn to live with my mistakes and rejoice over little victories!

1. I like feeling well... it's addicting. I like waking up with no aches, pains or sluggishness. When I am heavier and eating a junky diet, I can't bend over without feeling strangled or run up my stairs without being out of breath. I don't like those feelings... at. all. Once you get a taste of feeling healthy, you want it to stay as long as possible!

2. I like acting well. I will admit it, I can be a grump sometimes. But I have concluded those grump times are usually associated with my poor eating choices. Who likes being a grump? I'll go out on a limb and say, not many do. Healthy eating habits bring about a better frame of mind and to me, is nature's anti-depressant/anxiety remedy.

3. I like looking well... for my husband, of course! I guess I still want to somewhat resemble that young girl he fell in love with years and years ago. Inevitably there will be wrinkles and some gravity issues, but we still have a lot to work with. A poor diet contributes to the buildup of free radicals which progresses the aging process and the development of a number of age-related diseases. Experts suspect the antioxidant compounds found in whole foods are largely responsible for holding back the march of time.

4. I like fulfilling my God-given responsibilities. I love being a mom and wife. I love keeping a home and making it a haven for my family. I enjoy being social and having friendships. But the times I am not well, those things take a back seat. I tend to shy away from people when I'm sick . My home and family responsibilities get pushed aside and I become focused on me instead of them. There is this shift that happens when you feel sick. The duties and obligations get second or third place as this "unwellness" becomes first. I don't want that. I want my family to have the best of me as much as I can control as possible. Again, we are not guaranteed 100% health, but we can try our best!

5. I want to honor God with my body. The Bible is full of passages about our bodies. We can honor God by the way we care for our bodies. We are a reflection of him and our bodies are not our own, they are God's. But there are sins we can commit when it comes to our bodies whether it be through inappropriate use of drugs, sexual sins, over or under eating, alcohol or smoking abuse, or even idolizing our bodies above God. But a healthy balance of eating well, exercising and above all, keeping Christ the center of our health and overall living is truly an pleasing sacrifice to him!

Eating healthy is sometimes a nice thought, but a harder practice, I know. If you are on the fence, take some baby steps. Eliminate just one thing! Or go out and buy a bag of apples and start eating one a day. Throw out those bag of Ding Dongs... do they even make those anymore? Just one thing!

Do it.

Little things make big differences when it comes to health.

"Cookie, Peas..." {A Healthy Cookie Recipe!}

If you are anything like our family, we've gotta have a sweet snack every once in awhile. I don't generally buy packaged cookies at the store. They are full of bleached flour, high fructose corn syrup, soy and artificial stuff. So if I have the time and ingredients I will make some cookies from scratch.

Over the last couple months, I have tried several healthy cookie recipes in search of that one, go-to healthy cookie. To my dismay, it has taken me many tries to find one worthy of a place on my blog. My sweet family has been patient and suffered through a few really bad ones. So lucky you, as a result of my failed attempts, are given the gift of a good, yet healthy cookie recipe that are a perfect combination of sweet and tart! These cookies are also loaded with fiber and top-notch, health-promoting antioxidants... so enjoy!

side note.... When I made these, my two-year old found the step stool and stole several until we took the stool away. Then he sweetly came up and said, "Cookie, peas..." with a look you couldn't say no to. He loved them and I hope you do too!

Cranberry-Chocolate Cookies
adapted from King Arthur Flour recipe

1 stick unsalted butter
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1/4 cup dark brown sugar
2 T (no pulp) orange juice
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon aluminum-free baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 large cage-free egg, room temperature
1 1/4 cup King Arthur White Whole Wheat Flour
3/4 cup dark chocolate chips
3/4 cup dried cranberries.

Preheat oven to 350. Lightly grease two baking sheets.

In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Add orange juice, vanilla and egg until well blended.



In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Once combined, gradually add to the butter mixture until flour is absorbed. Stir in chips and cranberries.


***here are those awesome anti-oxidants!***


Drop by tablespoons full of the dough onto the prepared baking sheets.




Bake for 12-14 minutes, until just beginning to brown around the edges. Remove from oven and let chill on baking sheet for 2 minutes. Transfer to wire rack to cool.

Yields: 2 1/2 dozen.

The Disease You Can Really Fight Against

Are you afraid of things? Are there things you avoid so you don't have to face unsettling situations? Or are you one of those people that just faces things head on?

I guess you could say I am an "avoider" of things that scare me. I will do just about anything I can do avoid scary or potentially hazardous places or occurrences.

I'll just put it out there... I am scared to death of one disease. Well, there are several. But one in particular that just sends chills through my body at the thought. It is... Alzheimer's. With other diseases I feel I would at least try to alter my diet diet, lifestyle and use other natural methods to help or control the disease... with Alzheimer's, it goes out of your control.

Alzheimer’s disease is an irreversible, progressive brain disease that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills, and eventually even the ability to carry out the simplest tasks. In most people, symptoms begin to appear after the age of 60. Research states that damage to the brain begins at least a decade before symptoms appear.

Current research states that although Alzheimer's disease may be genetically to blame, but there are studies that are proving abundant routes to prevent it as well.

Along with exercise and keeping your mind active, here are my simple strategies on how to do your part to fight Alzheimer's...

1. Consume fish oil. The DHA in fish oil is found to increase the production of LR11, a protein that is found at reduced levels in Alzheimer's patients. LR11 is known to destroy the protein that forms the plaques associated with the disease. Best methods to consume DHA is either through wild salmon and tuna, ground flax and hemp seeds or supplementation.

2. Eat Berries. Berries contain a cocktail of chemical compounds including anthocyanins and polyphenolics. These antioxidants have been proven to inhibit oxidative stress in the brain to protect against age-related diseases, mostly Alzheimer's. They are also known to "mop up" and recycle certain cells blamed for memory lapses and other mental decline, keeping the mind sharp into old age. Choose deep or bright colored berries such as strawberries, blueberries, boysenberries and blackcurrants.

3. Eat a diet low in saturated fat. According to the Natural News website, "people with high cholesterol, high blood pressure and who are obese are far more likely (600% more) to lose healthy brain function and be diagnosed with Alzheimer's than people who maintain a healthy body weight, and who eat a healthy diet."

4. Embrace Indian food (ie: turmeric). Turmeric is the deep orange-yellow colored ingredient found in curry spices and has been used as a powerful medicine in the Chinese and Indian systems of medicine for centuries. A characteristic of a brain diseased with Alzheimer's is a build-up of the protein amyloid which causes inflammation. The oil in tumeric (curcumin) crosses the blood-brain barrier and binds to amyloid protein fragments, preventing them from aggregating together into plaques. According to the Livestrong website, "a study investigating curcumin's effects on amyloid plaques in the brains of mice demonstrated how effective it can be by reducing 30 percent of the plaques in a single week".

5. Avoid aluminum. Let's just cut to chase...

• In 1993, the World Health Organization said, "There is a suspected link between Alzheimer's disease and the toxicity of aluminum."
  
• The Agency for Toxic Substances and & Disease Registry reports that "Exposure to high levels of aluminum may result in respiratory and neurological problems.

Aluminum is most commonly found in cookware, beverage and food cans, some foods, prescription and over-the-counter medications and deodorant. Inside the body, dementia is seen when a brain has a plaque substance in it - and aluminum is often at the center of these plaques.

Ways to Avoid Aluminum:
Find aluminum-free deodorants. I love Jason's.
Use cast-iron cookware.
Choose fresh or frozen fruits/vegetables over canned.
Avoid canned beverages.
Be an avid food label reader.

What are you presently doing to avoid disease and illness?

Blueberry Crush Smoothie

Blueberries are magical. Blueberries are repeatedly ranked in the U.S. diet as having one of the highest antioxidant capacities among all fruits, vegetables, spices and seasonings. Blueberries also have potential benefits for brain health. They also aid in immunity, have a low glycemic index value and added fiber.



My new favorite blueberries are from Trader Joe's... Wild Boreal blueberries. They are tiny, but packed full of sweetness. You must try! Here is a simple, delicious smoothie recipe. It has quickly become another favorite smoothie in our house.

Blueberry Crush Smoothie
1 VERY ripe banana (outside brown and super soft)
1 c. Trader Joe's Wild Boreal blueberries
3/4 c. almond milk (original flavor)
6 ice cubes

Blend until smooth.

Why I Love Coconut Oil...

I was thinking on Fridays I will highlight one of my favorite things that I believe help contribute to our family's journey to being wholesome and well. Items that I almost always keep on hand in our house and feel are worth sharing.

I will start this Friday with my #1 favorite item that is always stocked in my home... right-hand cabinet over the stove, to be exact. Its something that I use to make eggs with, throw into smoothies and even dab a little on my crow's feet... can you guess??

Extra Virgin Coconut Oil...

It has so many health benefits, I don't even know where to start. To give you a little taste of how beneficial it is, it contains a prize-winning ingredient ~ lauric acid, a medium-chain fatty acid ~ the same component found in human breast milk. When lauric acid is introduced into the body it will act as an antiviral, antifungal, antimicrobial, and antiprotozoal (infection). So not only does it totally give the immune system a huge boost, some of the other benefits include the following:

1. Helps balance out cholesterol levels (increases HDL; lowers LDL).

2. Gives a 48% increase to your metabolism (in a 24 hour period). One study (mercola.com) recognized that an individual lost 24 pounds in 6-8 weeks after adding coconut oil to their diet.

3. Can supply the body with energy similar to blood glucose.

4. Contains many antioxidant properties that are excellent for premature aging and preventing degenerative diseases.

5. When applied to hair (best overnight), it will treat dry, damaged or an itchy scalp.

6. Apply to the face for acne treatment, facial moisturizer, make-up remover and to treat diaper rash, eczema, rosacea and dermatitis. Also helps to treat dry hands, feet and elbows... who wants dry elbows???

What non-drug item found in your local grocery store can do all that for around $10??

When you go searching for this "miracle in a jar", look for the following words on the bottle... unrefined, extra virgin and if possible, organic. Brands I have used and like are Nutiva, Nature's Way, and Garden of Life.

So its good to put on the outside and ingest for the inside. Ideas for ways you can take it internally are... for sauteing vegetables, frying eggs, throw in a smoothie, in place of oils in baking, use to make a salad dressing with and I've even read some people drop a spoonful in their morning tea. Anyway you do it, it won't be wrong and it will result in pure goodness for your body. Children can have 1-2 tablespoons a day and for adults, to get the full range of benefits, 3 tablespoons are recommended.

Here's a great smoothie recipe:

1 c. frozen unsweetened strawberries

1 very ripe banana

3/4 -1 c. (or more) almond milk

1 T. EV Coconut Oil

5 ice cubes

Blend until smooth... enjoy!