Anti-Sunburn Foods

Saw this in a magazine and with summer coming soon (hopefully) I thought it would be a good thing to post. I still strongly believe you should always wear sunscreen but it probably wouldn't hurt to add these foods into your summer diet.

I myself have put my skin through A LOT of damage from the sun over the years. Within the last two years I have been a massive sunscreen wearer. After more sunburns then I can count, freckles that have developed in the last 6 years, and moles that have started to change colors....I've realized that I am just setting myself up for skin cancer. Plus, in 2008 I had to have a mole removed to be checked for cancer and the doctor cut a huge hole out of my back. Since I don't do pain or blood I'd like to not have a repeat of that LOL!

Here's the article:

To avoid looking like a steamed lobster this summer, don't forget the sunscreen. But also be sure to eat lots of brightly colored fruits and vegetables, recommends Dr. Howard Murad, a dermatologist and founder of the Murad Inclusive Health Medical Group in El Segundo, California.

"With fruits and vegetables you're protecting your skin from the inside," Murad says. "It's easy to remember. Look at a rainbow and eat raw foods of those colors. These foods encourage the body's own response to help heal from sun damage."

Three to four servings a day of apricots, pomegranates, broccoli, and tomatoes boost the immune system and help prevent damage from free radicals caused by sun exposure. Green tea helps, too. Fruits and vegetables also hydrate your skin, making it more resistant to drying out.

Breast Cancer

I sent out an email late last year about Inflammatory Breast Cancer also known as IBC. I attached a video from YouTube to the email. Well, I wanted to post it here on my blog also.

Not many know but I've been seeing a breast doctor for over a year now and am being watched for breast cancer or any abnormalities due to some symptoms I've been having. I've become pretty aware of not only my body but the topic of breast cancer.

There are so many women out there that think "I'm young breast exams are for older people". I'm 29 and started having issues at the age of 28. More and more young women are victims of breast cancer. Age means nothing anymore. We should all be aware of any changes with our body.

Anyways, here's some important information I wanted to share with the women in my life.


Breast cancer is something women think they know all about: Look for lumps; have mammograms; see our doctors.

But none of that will save you from one silent breast cancer killer that women know virtually nothing about.

It's called "Inflammatory Breast Cancer," and it's something every woman must know about.

Here is the link to the YouTube video that you should watch...IBC

Kick The Blues Smoothie

Here's a smoothie recipe that we make when we think we might be coming down with a cold.

Blueberries are rich with antiviral and antibiotic compounds that you so need during this time. Together with the rich beta carotene from the mango, your immune system is well protected from the free radicals attack.

1 cup of fresh/frozen blueberries
1/2 banana that is just almost ripe (less calories)
1/2 cup mango slices
1/2 cup milk of choice
1 tablespoon of any kind of ground nuts (optional)
1 teaspoon chlorella/spirulina powder

Put everything in the blender and blend. We usually will add 3 ice cubes so it's a bit colder. Completely up to you though.

For those of you that don't know what Chlorella is I will give you a little background. Chlorella is a green algae. People use it for detoxing. It has the ability to reduce high blood pressure, lower serum cholesterol levels, accelerate wound healing, and enhance immune functions.

You can research it if you'd like. We have found that the best and purest brand for Chlorella is Sun Chlorella Granules 3g packets.













Here's a link to their site where you can get more information. http://www.sunchlorellausa.com/sun-chlorella/what-is-chlorella.html

Safety - Road ID

I emailed my friends and family this link about a year ago. I had heard about it in a magazine and instantly thought I'd buy if for Chad. He walks the country roads by our house and never carries ID. I mean who really wants to carry their license when they go on a walk. So I ripped the page out of the magazine and checked out their website (www.roadid.com). I ended up buying Chad a braclet with his name, city and state, my phone number and his parent's phone number on it. They also have shoe tags, ankle braclets, necklaces, etc. There are several different options. You can even put allergy info on them. Basically whatever you'd like.

I highly recommeded checking out their website. If you have a family member or loved one that walks, runs or just plain doesn't care ID on them while they are out this is perfect. It's even great for kids. You can hook it to their shoe if they go on a bike ride to the park with their friends. The items are reasonably priced but you really can't put a price on safety or someone's life.

Again the website is www.roadid.com

Make Your Own Popsicles

I got this recipe in my email. I haven't tried it yet but I am going to. I'm always looking for a way to make healthy things at home. We make a lot of smoothies in this household and I decided that I was going to buy popsicle trays and this summer just freeze our smoothies so that way we have a nice cooling treat! Anyways, I'm going to post some of our smoothie recipes later but here is the popsicle recipe.


Strawberry-Yogurt Swirl Pops Recipe

INGREDIENTS
1 lb strawberries, hulled
1⁄3 cup plus 1⁄4 cup sugar, preferably superfine
2 tsp lemon juice
2 cups vanilla yogurt

You’ll also need:
2 large plastic squeeze bottles,
10 pop molds (1⁄2-cup capacity)

PREPARATION
1. Place strawberries, 1⁄3 cup sugar and lemon juice in blender; purée 3 minutes. Pour into a large plastic squeeze bottle and screw on bottle top.

2. In a medium bowl, stir remaining 1⁄4 cup sugar into yogurt until sugar is dissolved. Pour into the second squeeze bottle and screw on bottle top.

3. Fill each pop mold with strawberry and yogurt mixtures, alternately squeezing or spooning the mixtures into each mold to create a swirled pattern. Place tops on molds; insert wooden sticks. Freeze at least 6 hours until solidly frozen.

4. Remove molds from freezer. Soften slightly at room temperature, about 5 minutes (or dip molds in warm water a few seconds). Remove pops from molds. Serve immediately, or wrap pops separately in plastic wrap, then store in freezer bag or container.

Chicken Tortilla Soup

I started out making this recipe by the "book" so to speak but now I do my own thing with it. So I will give you the original recipe and my version!

Original Version:
Serves 4

4 Corn Tortillas, halved, then cut crosswise in narrow strips
2 Cans Chicken Broth
1 Medium Zucchini, cut in 3/4 inch thick half-rounds
1/2 tsp each minced garlic and ground cumin
1 Cup Corn
1 Can Red Kidney Beans, Rinsed
1 1/2 Cups large shreds of cooked chicken
1 large tomato, cut in 1 inch chunks
1/2 cup chopped cilantro

1. Coat bottom of pot with olive oil, heat over medium heat. Add tortilla strips and cook 5 minutes, turning occasionally, until lightly toasted. Remove to a paper towel or plate.

2. Add broth, zucchini, garlic and cumin to pot; bring to a boil. Reduce head, cover and simmer 3 minutes, or until zucchini is crisp-tender.

3. Stir in tortilla strips, corn and beans; continue to simmer 2 minutes or until tortillas soften. Stir in remaining ingredients; heat through.


My Version of this Yummy Soup:

2 Boxes of Imagine Organic Chicken Broth (Low Sodium)
4-5 Zucchini's chopped into small pieces
2 Cans Organic Black Beans
2 Cans Organic Pinto Beans
1 Can Red Kidney Beans
1 Bag Frozen Organic Corn
1-2 Tomatoes, diced into chunks any size you want
1 Can Sliced Olives
Minced Garlic
Ground Cumin
Black Pepper
Sea Salt
Cilantro
Sour Cream

1. Pour chicken broth into pot. Add minced garlic, ground cumin, black pepper, sea salt, cilantro, frozen corn and zucchini. Bring to broil. Reduce heat and let simmer until zucchini is crisp-tender roughly 3 minutes.

2. Stir in rinsed and drained beans. Let simmer roughly 2 minutes so beans are warm.

3. Pour into individual bowls and garnish with tomato chunks, sliced olives and sour cream.

**You could also add Squash, carrots, potatoes or anything else that sounds good.
**This dish is a little mexican like and has a little bit of zing to it. It's not too spicy for kids though.
**We seem to like my version better than the original one. The corn strips are good but are a little more work and seem to get soggy in the fridge.
**I always make a giant batch of this so there is lots of leftovers. So if you do not want that much leftover you might want to put less ingredients in from the above list. We usually eat it pretty fast so I am not sure how long it'll last in the fridge. I haven't tried freezing it.

Do One Nice Thing

I came across this website in my Reader's Digest Magazine. It's a pretty amazing website. I've always wanted to do some sort of donation or give to people that are in need of help. But I haven't really taken the time or found something that was so simple.

Here's the article that I read that drew me into looking at the ladies website and now doing "One Nice Thing".

Debbie Tenzer got tired of hearing friends bemoan the state of the world. "Instead of worrying about big problems I couldn't solve, I decided to look for the small ones I could solve," says Tenzer, 55. Now, every Monday on her website, doonenicething.com, she recommends a good deed and profiles people who do them.

She's onto something: Not only has her "kindness movement" attracted followers in 90 countries since 2005, but recent studies show that giving to others releases the hormone oxytocin, a natural joy booster and stress buster.


There are some very simple (cheap) ways to give on her website. Some as simple as just writing a letter to an injured soldier.

I also found this one tonight that I plan on mailing to:

Mail a packet of flower seeds to BARN, a transitional home for homeless women and their children in Virginia. BARN teaches skills to the mothers so they can get back on their feet.

Your little packet of seeds will give the families a fun project to do. Growing flowers together will give them a lift, and instill a sense of pride in their home.

Mail to:
Barn
Sister Glenna Smith, OSB
9541 Linton Hall Rd
Bristow, VA 20136

How hard is that? Plus, you could get the seeds at the dollar store and send more than one packet of seeds to them.

Check out the website - www.doonenicething.com - click on "Ideas" on the right and she gives you new ideas every Monday. You don't have to have money to do some of these and you don't have spend all day doing them.