How Turmeric May Fight Breast Cancer I’ve been taking Turmeric Curcumin as a daily supplement for a while now. I began using it for back pain as a substitute for ibuprofen which, I have discovered, is as dangerous as acetaminophen! Who knew? The link to the article below gives you many more reasons to take curcumin, but its cancer preventative properties are especially interesting. Not only does it apparently help prevent cancer, but if you have cancer, it has been shown to destroy cancer cells and prevent them from metastasizing. This is huge! I thought the paragraph was particularly interesting where Dr. Michelle Schoffro Cook sites from a medical journal that…

Easy healthy meals…it’s not that hard! In an effort to support you in your quest for easy healthy meals, I have this to share… This morning, it was cold out.  I mean really, really cold; it was -13 F.  For us, that’s cold. I wanted to take my lunch with me to work, and I really wanted soup so I could have something hot.  I didn’t have any soup left in the refrigerator, so I made some in 5 minutes! I took leftovers and put them together.  I had some bean and spinach mixture; some quinoa and brown rice pasta in the fridge; some brown rice mixture; some leftover cauliflower;…

Medical Marijuana!  This is shameful… In California, the use of medical marijuana is now legal.  Many veterans use it as their drug of choice to control pain.  They choose it over opiates in some cases, and in cases of extreme pain, sometimes use it in addition to opiates. One person, Director Jeffrey T. Gering has decided…in spite of the law… that his personal opinion of medical marijuana should take priority; he is denying veterans access to this medicine. According to a petition on Chang.org started by Marcus Boyd, the Vice Chairperson of San Diego American for Safe Access, who is himself a disable veteran, “National VA policy states that patients…

 Avocados Really are a Wonder Food! I’ll admit I was really lukewarm about avocados.  It seemed a California thing to me somehow; not very New England where I live.  Besides, I thought they were kind of weird both in taste and texture; that is, no taste and waxy in texture.  Quite frankly, they never did much for me. I even remember the first time I tasted avocado.  I was visiting a friend in New York City.  We went out for lunch, and on the menu was a sandwich with avocado.  My friend suggested I try it; she thought I would like it.  I did not. Until recently, people didn’t choose…

 Healthy Eating Can Be Easy and Delicious! A funny thing happened to Rob and me this week. We were struck by how many people think it’s such a lot of work to enjoy healthy eating, specifically to cook and make healthy meals.  Before I continue on with my story, ask yourself how long it takes to eat a bag of potato chips or a box of Oreos?  In that time, you could make a fantastic meal for yourself and/or your family. But I digress… we were trying to think how to make it so simple and fast to make a healthy meal,  no one could use time as an excuse.…

Change Your Diet…Change Your Life! I think long and hard about how to best share the message I have to share; how to give people the benefit of my knowledge and experience learned from changing my diet that they may benefit too. Between my husband Rob and me, we have normalized blood sugar levels, improved cholesterol readings, and I have cured my decades-long struggle with depression. All this happened because we changed how we eat. I am constantly amazed at how hard it is to share our success with others.  Not that it’s difficult to express, but it’s hard to feel we are being heard or accepted. Mostly the feedback…

Food Cravings.  Wrapping it Up…A few Last thoughts Each particular food or food type has its own specific triggers. Knowing what triggers your own personal food cravings and how to manage them will help you get past the urge. There are healthy alternatives to every craving type as well.  Just be sure to purge your pantry of the bad stuff and have a healthy alternative close by when the craving hits. Food cravings aren’t as simple as some may believe. People are often told to use willpower or simply to stop eating certain foods. However, cravings are often rooted in psychological, physical, or emotional needs. The first step to curbing your food…

Food Cravings Include Craving Alcohol & Carbohydrates Food Cravings…Alcohol In certain limited situations and most definitely consumed only in moderation, alcohol can be beneficial. However, there are many more unhealthy situations and concerns related to drinking alcohol when abused. Alcoholism and medicine interactions are two of the many issues. Overcoming alcohol cravings: Recognize your “triggers”. External triggers include people places, things, or time of day. Knowing your triggers helps you to avoid them. Internal triggers can be from emotions or even from nutrition deficiencies. When you experience the urge to drink, think about what you are feeling. Are you sad, frustrated, lonely or nervous? Try to avoid these situations. Keep alcohol out…

Caffeine & Salt…(these can cause some pretty strong food cravings!) Caffeine Caffeinated drinks are a staple for many. From our first sip of coffee in the morning to that cup of tea with dinner, it seems many of us are inundating our bodies with caffeine. Overcoming caffeine cravings: Get enough rest. Make the time to relax and get enough sleep. Change your wake up time and morning routine in small ways. Take a walk first thing in the morning. Drink room temperature water with a twist of lemon. Do simple stretching to wake each part of your body. Use positive affirmations to begin your day. Switch to decaffeinated alternatives like flavored…

Food Cravings;  the “S” word…Sugar! Specific cravings: Certain foods or food cravings can be more difficult to overcome than others can. Sugar, alcohol, carbohydrates, and caffeine are some of the top offenders. Here are some of the more specific food cravings and alternative to help overcome them. Sugar Sugar is found in a vast amount of foods and drinks; from easily recognizable items such as candy bars and soft drinks to seemingly healthy foods like power bars and granola. Eliminating it from your diet will take ongoing detective work and diligence.  You must become a constant label reader, because there is hidden sugar everywhere! Overcoming your sugar cravings: Eat a little…