Probiotic Friendly Yogurt

Our health depends on sustaining a balance, also known as homeostasis. There are many systems in the body that are interdependent in creating this balance. The digestive system is one system that we can control through our food intake and careful nutrition.


Through aging, exposure to drugs, stress, poor nutrition and daily life the delicate gastrointestinal flora can be deteriorated. The presence of friendly bacteria in our GI tract aids in proper digestion and nutrient absorption.

Lactobacillus and Bifodobacteria genera are particularly beneficial probiotics that can be cultured and taken as a supplement, or added to yogurts, kefirs and other cultured food products. Eating food that has ample added bacterium is a positive addition to any diet, but in particular having more than 5 cultures present is therapeutic, especially if the GI tract has been compromised.


A compromised GI tract is common in people that have inadequate water intake or high amounts of sugar or acidic foods in their diets. Another time when most people have GI upset is after the use of antibiotics, a family of drugs that are designed to kill bacteria, unfortunately this includes "good" bacteria in the gut too.


Adding a good yogurt to your diet on a regular basis can improve not only your digestive health, but boost your immune system and aid in healing any malnourishment issues that can come from an unbalanced diet.

Seven Easy Ways to add More Water to your Diet,

Seven Easy Ways to add More Water to your Diet,

Hindu pushup - awesome workout

These wonderful pushups are a full body work out that tones and strengthens your upper body while working out your abs and elevating you heart rate.

Tip: perform this exercise like the motion of the ocean, your body moving like a fluid wave.

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Much more than a Shoulder Workout

Like all great animal workouts, Hindu Pushups are much more than a shoulder workout. They also work your arms, back, chest, and legs. They will increase your strength and stamina, as well increase the flexibility of your spine, hips, and shoulders. If this sounds good to you, then give Hindu Pushups a try.

Hindu Pushup (Dand)

1. To get into the ready position to perform a Hindu Pushup, start in the “up” position of a regular pushup with your feet spread wider than shoulder width.
2. Walk your hands backwards so that your butt is in the air, your arms and legs are straight, and you are looking back through your legs. From the side, your body should resemble an inverted “V”
3. Start bending your elbows so that your body comes forward. Your hips will come down towards the floor. Before your head hits the floor, however, start to arch your spine so that you are looking towards the ceiling. Straighten your arms.
4. You should exhale as you are looking at the ceiling
5. Keep your arms straight and push your butt back to the starting position while inhaling.
6. 
   

Courtesy of: http://www.animal-kingdom-workouts.com/hindu-pushups.html

How To Fight Stress Through Healthy Eating

Stress is a condition that makes us jittery, unrefreshed, and unable to sleep at night. Stress also tends to allow us to make poor, unhealthy food choices. However, healthy eating can actually reduce stress, and make you feel so much better. Here are a number of helpful hints for fighting stress, through healthy eating.

Skip The Coffee And Other Caffeinated Drinks

Coffee, caffeinated drinks and beverages can exacerbate your stress levels. While some only provide temporary relief, these affect your body in the long run, because too much sugar and caffeine increases your blood sugar levels, and also heightens your stress levels. Instead of coffee, drink green tea, since green tea contains high levels of antioxidants, and also soothes the senses.

Carry Healthy Snacks At All Times

Replace chips and other unhealthy, sodium-filled snacks with natural snack food items, and go for sunflower seeds, celery sticks and carrot sticks instead. Also bring along with you protein-rich snacks in your bag or car, to reduce fatigue and to help avoid mood swings or anxiety attacks.

Eat Breakfast, And Bring your Lunch To Work

Never go to work or school on an empty stomach. Even if you think you're not hungry, you'll need to eat something later on. Eating a healthy breakfast helps to maintain the proper blood sugar levels during the rest of the day. It would also be nice if you bring your lunch to work or school. You'll actually save a lot of money by bringing your lunch to work, and you'll also be able to eat healthier food, instead of munch on the usual fried stuff found at the fast food joint or cafeteria.

Eat Lots of Fruits And Vegetables

Eating large amounts of fruits and vegetables can help fight stress. Fruits and vegetables contain high amounts of antioxidants and minerals that help ward off harmful free radical damage, which is believed to increase during stress or panic attacks. Remember to choose brightly-colored fruits and veggies.

Drink More Water

To reduce stress, drink at least eight glasses of water each day. Drinking more fluids helps flush away stress-producing toxins from the body, and also helps to keep you energized. If you drink less water, your body gets thrown out of balance, and you may suffer unexplained weight gain, fluid retention, or loss of thirst, which can exacerbate any stressful situation.

Diet plays a major role in the fight against stress, therefore it's important that you take everything you eat into consideration. Always make sure that you eat a balanced and healthy diet, and stay away from cholesterol-rich foods and saturated fats, since these tend to block the arteries with plaque. Regular exercise also helps to relieve stress. Exercise actually releases endorphins that elevate the mood, and provides an instant energy boost. Exercise also allows the body, and the mind, to relax and repair itself.

Low-fat bacon dip appetizer

Every once and a while even those of us "health nuts" need something to bring to a party that people will eat. Here is a healthier option for upcoming spring and summer festivities.....I know this has bacon in it, but for omnivorous healthy people, this is good for parties !!

Notice the reduced fat bacon bits - trim your own bacon and pour the fat off at the end of cooking.

I will try to add fun recipes here on a regular basis, in addition to posting more health related articles for your education and pleasure.

* I must make a personal note here - I do not like the additives and preservatives found in most low-fat dairy products, so do us both a favor and try to buy organic low-fat products when possible. You will be much happier for it, and for supporting a healthier option in this over-polluted world we live in. If you don't buy it, the organic farmers don't get paid

Lower-fat Bacon Dip

Preparation time: 5 minutes
2 (8-ounce) cartons plain fat-free yogurt
6 tbsp light mayonnaise
1/4 cup minced green onions
1/4 cup reduced-fat real bacon pieces
1/4 tsp paprika
8 drops hot sauce
2 garlic cloves, crushed
4 ounces low-fat baked tortilla chips (about 24 chips)
Spoon the yogurt onto several layers of heavy-duty paper towels, spreading to 1/2-inch thickness. Cover yogurt with additional paper towels, and let stand 5 minutes. Scrape into a bowl using a rubber spatula. Stir in mayonnaise and next 5 ingredients (mayonnaise through garlic). Cover and chill. Serve with tortilla chips.

Nutrient Analysis per serving
Calories	132 kcal
Protein	6 g
Fat	4 g
Carbohydrate	17 g
Calcium	116 mg
Sodium	287 mg
Cholesterol	10 mg
Fiber	1 g

Beware of the flu shots you get!!

According to Natural News and many health related sources - the flu vaccines administered this last year have come with many complications because they were pushed to market - namely miscarriages and increased cases of influenza. Pregnant women, elderly and people with compromised immune systems are really the only people that "need" the yearly vaccines. Perfectly healthy people have a 50/50 chance of getting the flu with or without the shots (according to my research.)

I advise anyone thinking of getting a seasonal flu shot in particular to do some basic research. Get the published facts on the H1N1 vaccine from the CDC, but keep in mind that they work for the FDA and tend to not publish ALL the facts, only the good ones.

The real truth is not always available and you need to be your own health advocate in our busy world. Anything that is heavily marketed and related to your health should be approached with caution, since some corporation is likely to make a big profit from the sale of the product.

As with anything, natural health advocates typically favor NO intervention, but I personally think that there is a place for modern medicine in our world, but it is NOT the be-all and end- all...

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I firmly believe parents that do vaccinate need to be educated as to what is being shot into their children. I personally vaccinate my children for the big diseases and shots required for public school, but I keep on top of the available literature and watch their records closely. Since not all doctors and nurses are personally attached to your child, mistakes will be made and duplicate shots can really cause some harm.

Five Simple Ways: Avoid GMOs

Five Simple Ways: Avoid GMOs

Great article from one of my favorites resources.

Crazy but true - we have been eating these things for a while now - unknowingly. Disturbing how widely accepted GMO grains and veggies are by the food industry - no questions asked!! 

Well, I am asking questions. Why are we seeing a huge increase in behavioral disorders in children, metabolic syndromes in adults and severe allergic reactions to many foods on the market??? 

Keep an eye out and protect yourselves from the future of food - non-real food, genetically altered staples and mysterious ingredients.

India halts HPV vaccine trial after six girls die, US does nothing in response to 67 deaths and counting

The US is not taking care of its own people!!!

Why would we as a nation let the drug companies take over our healthcare when this is what they do to our children??

In the name of "preventative medicine" the HPV vaccine, that is being forced on our girls in some states (ie. Texas), is meant to prevent a virus that may cause precancerous lesions if left undetected. The intention is all well and good, but the outcome is HORRIBLE. Paralysis, mental disfunction and destruction of their quality of life is the price this vaccines victims are paying.

The FDA let this one get through without proper trials and studies. It is just another rush through the system in the name of medicine.

The side effects of this drug are numerous and dangerous. I highly recommend teaching your children about safe sex and why - that is the best preventative medicine. Keep an open discussion about sex in your home, avoiding the possibility of getting the HPV virus in the first place. This should be a priority for parents in our country. A shot should never replace good sound parenting, and in this case, that is exactly what is happening.

*See more details about Giardasil in this article by Natural News:

India halts HPV vaccine trial after six girls die, US does nothing in response to 67 deaths and counting

Examining the Properties of Chocolate and Cacao for Health

An excellent article by one of my favorite sources for all things health related - Natural News

Examining the Properties of Chocolate and Cacao for Health

Chocolate, in a pure form is actually really good for you. The alkalines and anitoxidants are beneficial to your health in many ways. 

Pesticides may be a leading cause of major diseases

Pesticides may be a leading cause of major diseases

This a great quick read by one of my favorite  sources -  Natural News 

Sounds like a great database of pesticides is being put together. I love to hear about the passion for good food at the root source!!