Secrets of People Who Never Get Sick

Some people never get sick! We all know them (and hate them). Are they just lucky or do they have better health habits? Why not look for health solutions from the people for whom the common cold is uncommon? 

Secrets of people who never get sick:

1. They stress less. Stress damages the immune system. Exercise helps reduce stress.

2. They eat less. Participants in one study who ate 25 percent less than their usual amounts had lower overall cholesterol, LDL (“bad”) cholesterol, triglyceride levels and blood pressure. 

3. They opt for herbal remedies. Did you know that although plant-based health aids have been long derided by the Western medical community, about one quarter of all prescription drugs are derived from plants.  But you needn’t fill your medicine cabinet with supplements; something as simple as green tea can help improve your immunity and your health. 

4. They make friends a priority. Studies show that people with strong friendships tend to have more robust immune systems and are less likely to succumb to infectious diseases. 

5. They stayed pH balanced. According to some practitioners of alternative medicine, the body is healthiest when its systems are functioning midway between completely acidic and completely alkaline (i.e., pH balanced). When pH levels fall below that midpoint, the body suffers from a condition called acidosis, which even in minor cases can cause fatigue, rapid breathing, stomach problems and confusion. Since the typical American diet is very acidic be sure to grab a carrot (alkaline) now and then. 

6. They eat garlic. Studies have shown that garlic can act as a powerful antioxidant and antibiotic, as well as cut the duration and the number of colds you catch. In addition, garlic has proved efficient in reducing blood pressure and triglyceride and cholesterol levels. Eating it fresh is better than a supplement (and tastes better too!)

7. They detox regularly. Some detoxes are as simple as warm water and lemon juice first thing in the morning. Find one that works well for you and find a way to get toxins out of our bodies. 

8. They take more naps. Now that is one we can all get into! Sleep deprivation has the same biological effect as stress: Overtired bodies ratchet up production of the hormone cortisol, which gives you energy but restricts production of human growth hormone, limiting your body’s ability to repair itself. Just like stress, sleep loss has a degenerative effect on your health, and lack of sleep is also tied to compromised immune function.

              Now you know the secrets to avoiding that common cold. Be well.

Too much info?

Is too much information a good thing? I just read an article that was a bit of a spoof on healthy eating, but in this tongue-in-cheek article, there was some truth. (http://www.nwedible.com/2012/08/tragedy-healthy-eater.html) We tend to worry too much about everything. Education is a good thing. There is a lot out there to be wary of. However, I would like to stress that you do what you can, what you have control over, then don't worry about the rest.

If something makes you feel ill, stop doing it. Get in touch with your body and listen to what it is telling you. We are usually addicted to those foods we actually have an intolerance to. Sugar in the right form is actually good for you. Gluten can be beneficial to many. Oils are necessary. Meat even has it's place (did the vegetarian just say that?).

You don't have to live like a caveman or deprive yourself of everything. Find that lifestyle that works for you. Use your brain to control your stomach. Yes, you can control how you feel. You have to decide how far you are willing to go with it. How good do you want to feel. Educate yourself, but don't go crazy. There is a balance. Only you can find that balance for yourself. This from a person who is still struggling to find my own balance (curse that chocolate...)

Healthy Chocolate Cake with Frosting

In case you haven't noticed, I am a chocoholic. I crave chocolate! So now I am on a quest to find healthier versions for my addition. This Black Bean Chocolate cake is a pretty good substitute for me. It needs an open mind, it will never replace your grandma's German Chocolate Cake. However, if you have given up your favorites because you can't find a healthy alternative, you might want to try this one. I have recently found a chocolate frosting from Full Plate Living (www.fullplateliving.org) to complement it.

Healthy Flourless Chocolate Cake with Black Beans

Makes a two 9" layers 

Ingredients:

3/4 cup coconut oil

1 cup honey 

3 cups cooked black beans

10 organic eggs

2 tablespoon pure vanilla extract

1 teaspoon sea salt

3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (or cacao powder for a really healthy option)

2 teaspoon aluminum-free baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

Mint Chocolate variation:

4 teaspoons mint extract (in place of 2 teaspoons vanilla)

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray two 9" cake pans with extra virgin olive oil cooking spray, or just grease it with a thin layer of butter. (I used a springform pan with parchment paper in the bottom and didn’t bother with the grease).

In Mixer beat coconut oil with honey until light and fluffy. Add four eggs, beating for a minute after each addition.

Drain and rinse beans in a strainer or colander. Shake off excess water. Place beans, 6 of the eggs, vanilla, stevia and salt into blender. Blend on high until beans are completely liquefied. No lumps! Pour bean batter into oil and honey mixture and mix well. Whisk together cocoa powder, baking soda, and baking powder. Finally, stir in cocoa powder mix and beat the batter on high for one minute, until smooth. Scrape batter into pan and smooth the top. Grip pan firmly by the edges and rap it on the counter a few times to pop any air bubbles.

Bake for 40-45 minutes. Cake is done with the top is rounded and firm to the touch. After 10 minutes, turn out cake from pan, and flip over again on to a cooling rack. Let cool until cake reaches room temperature, then cover in plastic wrap or with cake dome. For BEST flavor, let cake sit over night. I promise this cake will not have a hint of beaniness after letting it sit for eight hours! If you are stacking this cake, level the top with a long serrated knife, shaving off layers until it is flat and even. Frost immediately before serving. Yummmmm.......

Chocolate Frosting or Fruit Dip

▪ 1 can cannellini beans – drained and rinsed

• 3 Tablespoons cocoa powder
• ½ cup coconut milk fat (solid out of coconut milk can)
• 2 Tablespoons coconut milk liquid (liquid on bottom of coconut milk can)
• 3 Tablespoons pure maple syrup
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Add all ingredients to the food processor and blend on high until smooth (about 1 minute). Pour into serving dish and place in refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to set up.

Serve with your favorite fruit: bananas, strawberries, grapes, kiwi, pineapple, etc.

Healthy Drinks

As you head into the hot summer months keeping your kids hydrated is always a challenge. There are so many liquids out there that have nothing to do with rehydration or nutrition. Water is always your healthiest choice, however, many kids (and adults) don't like drinking plain water so here is an easy solution:

Homemade "Gatorade"! You can make your own healthy electrolyte drinks to keep your kids hydrated. 

Remember when Gatorade was made with just lemon or lime juice, salt, sugar and water? There were no chemicals or artificial sweetners added "back in the day". 

To about a quart of water add a pinch of colored salt* (if you can taste the salt you probably added too much), juice of 1/2 lime, drop of stevia if sweetness is needed. This will alkaline the body with the lime juice and help balance the electrolytes with the colored salts.

Great for replacing electrolytes when a kid/adult is getting lots of exercise.

*Colored salts are unprocessed salts like pink Himalayan salt, gray Celtic salt, black or red Hawaiian salt. It looks expensive, but one bag with a pinch a day will last a long time. There are a lot of essential minerals in these salts.

Kids tend to do what their parents are doing.....if Mom and Dad are drinking lots of water, the kids will probably follow their example. Drinking a large glass of water with a pinch of salt first thing in the morning will kick start the rehydration process. It will stimulate the appetite as well so they will be more willing to eat a healthy breakfast (another good start for the day!)

A good guideline: Take your weight, cut in half, that is a minimum of how many ounces of water you need each day to stay healthy.

Breathe!

Breathe! One of the easiest health tips we have and one we neglect too often. People who breathe deeply and slowly get more oxygen and this has great health benefits. As you breath deeply your blood will carry more oxygen, you will be less stressed, and your brain will function better, along with all parts of your body. Try the following 3 times a day for a week and see how great you feel: Breathe in through your nose with your stomach expanding a de-e-e-ep           lo-o-o-ong breath. Hold for 20 seconds (or as long as you can) Let it out slowly through your mouth Repeat 10 times Watch your stomach move out and in, and make sure your chest is not doing the work. Do not slouch at your desk as this makes it hard to breathe. Initially you will feel dizzy or strange, but after a short time you will start to feel more alive as your body will have more oxygen! Many seemingly complex health issues can be caused by shallow breathing.  You will also feel less stressed and this can help back and neck pain. There are many types of breathing exercise you can incorporate into your lifestyle - yoga and Oxycise are a couple I have tried that work for me.  Breathe deeply and don't waste your breath......

More on Beets

Since beets are such a nutritional asset to my diet, I am trying to give them a second chance. I have to admit, I have never been a fan of beets in any form. I'm afraid I have neglected to give my family beets because of this bias.

I ordered a wrap from a raw food restaurant. It came with raw beets! There were so many vegetables and tofu in it that I couldn't even taste the beets! The beets were in julianne slices. An easy addition to many foods. I will be trying that again. You can add beets to many foods for color and slight flavor.

Here is a recipe that looks and tastes great. It has lots of fiber too.

Beet Dip

Ingredients:
3 medium beets – scrubbed with greens cut off
Juice of one lemon
3 Tbsp. olive oil
1 can small white beans – drained and rinsed
1/2 cup toasted walnuts (cashews or pine nuts would make good substitutes)
1 clove garlic
Dippers (I love carrot sticks, but it is even better with pita chips)

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Wrap beets in foil after drizzling with enough olive oil to just coat them.
3. Roast beets for 1 hour or until soft.
4. Allow beets to cool and then peel them (they WILL stain your fingers, countertop, and clothing. Wear gloves if possible and be sure to clean up right away).
5. In a food processor, combine all ingredients and grind until smooth.
6. Serve with assorted dippers. Veggies, pita chips, or tortilla chips work great!

Beets

Reasons to add Beets to your diet:

A recent study at London’s Queen Mary University found that one glass of beet juice daily was more effective at lowering high blood pressure than medication.  Of course, this doesn’t mean you should stop taking medication if you have high blood pressure. But, it does mean that adding a cup of beet juice and more beets to your diet could be helpful in the treatment of high blood pressure, angina and heart disease.

Naturally-occurring nitrates have been shown to widen blood vessels and allow more oxygen-rich blood to travel to the heart.  

Raw beets or raw beet juice contain betaine, a natural anti-inflammatory that helps protect against aging and disease.

The phytonutrient, proanthocyanidin, that gives beets their rich purplish color is also a potent anti-cancer compound. 

Beets are high in vitamin C, which boosts the immune system.

Beets are high in the B-complex vitamin folate which when consumed by pregnant women have been shown in many studies to reduce the risk of birth defects in the baby.

Beets are also high in the minerals manganese and potassium.  Manganese is required for healthy bones, liver, kidneys, and pancreas.  Potassium helps ensure healthy nerve and muscle function.

Now I am not a beet fan. It is a bit too earthy even for my taste. However, with all these benefits I may have to try to disguise it in my juice! Warning: your urine will be red and it is a good thing. ;) What beet recipes do you enjoy? Really, I need help here