Pampering4life Healthy Recipe: Heart Healthy Apple Pie

With the holiday season fast approaching. It is always everyone's desire to have a guilt free holiday. What if you could enjoy all the same recipes like apple pie, cookies, cake, that is full of taste but not full of calories? The most important process to transforming to a healthier lifestyle is to not deprive yourself of life guilty pleasures but simply to find alternatives. I have included another delish recipe to do exactly that... Enjoy!!!

Ingredients

Crust

1 Cup Almond Flour
1 Cup Coconut Flour
1/4 Cup Agave Nectar
6 Tablespoons Coconut Oil

Filling

1 Cup Almond Flour
1 Cup Coconut Flour
1/4 Cup Agave Nectar
6 Tablespoons Coconut Oil
4 Cups Peeled and Sliced Apples (loosely packed)
3/4 Cup Apple Juice (I used freshly juiced apples)
1/2 Cup Brown Rice Syrup
2 Tablespoons Lemon Juice
1/2 Teaspoon Guar Gum
1/2 Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
1/4 Teaspoon Ground Nutmeg
1/4 Teaspoon Ground Cloves
1/4 Teaspoon Ground Ginger
1/4 Teaspoon Ground Allspice
1/2 Cup Pomegranate Arils                                   

Directions

Crust
Preheat oven to 325 degrees Farenheit.
Mix all ingredients in a medium size bowl until thoroughly combined.
Divide mixture between individual pie pans (or pour into single 9″ pan) and press mixture on to bottom and up sides of pan. Make sure that crust is even in thickness.
Prick the crust, that is on the bottom of the pan, several times with a fork.
Place pie pans on a baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes or until crust is evenly browned.
Remove from oven to cool.
Filling
In a 2 quart saucepan, over medium high heat, add all of the ingredients EXCEPT the guar gum and the pomegranate arils. (Those will be added later.)
Continue to cook, and stir, until the apples begin to soften and the juice is reduced by half. The amount of time this will take depends on how thick you cut your apples.
Once the apples reach the texture you are looking for and the juices have reduced, lightly sprinkle the guar gum over the top of the mixture and stir thoroughly. Do not just drop this in directly from the spoon in one big clump. If you do this, you will probably end up with a big blob of congealed mess in the middle of your apple mixture. This thickening agent is far more potent than cornstarch and will thicken on contact. So sprinkle lightly and stir.
Once stirred in and you see that your mixture has thickened, remove from heat.
Let sit for 10 minutes then stir in the arils.
Assembly
Spoon the mixture into the pie shell.
I topped mine with chopped pecans, but you could use chopped almonds or walnuts or even nothing at all.
Serve

Pampering4life Healthy Recipe: Healthy Pumpkin Protein Cookies

Want to enjoy a healthy treat for the holidays? Holiday time just wouldn't be the same without an abundance of pumpkin-flavored treats, and this recipe allows you to indulge in them without feeling guilty. Made with vanilla protein powder, these spicy pumpkin cookies are perfect for a quick breakfast or afternoon snack.

Ingredients

1 c. pumpkin puree
1/4 c. applesauce
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
1/4 c. vanilla protein powder
1 tbsp. agave nectar
1 tbsp. molasses
1 tbsp. cinnamon
2 c. rolled oats
1/2 c. raisins                                   

 
Directions:
Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Combine ingredients in a bowl, stirring until well combined. Drop cookies onto baking sheet and press down. Bake for 15-20 minutes.  Makes 12 cookies

Pampering4life Helpful Tips: Surviving A Storm

In light of the last couple of weeks. I was fortunate enough to survive storm sandy but I must say it was very difficult at times living without power, heat, and still trying to deal with the bitter cold. I was not prepared to adjust my life in such a way I felt like I was on the island of survivor, but needless to say this is life way of teaching you lessons. It was truly a lesson for me but thank God I'm BACK!! Enjoy the helpful tips to keep you informed regardless of the storm.

Analyze Your Risk and Make a Plan

Gather together with your family and discuss the possible disasters that could affect you and your home. For instance, flooding and high winds often go hand-in-hand with hurricanes.

 

Identify meeting points for your family. If the storm strikes while you're separated, everyone should know where to go. Also identify a contact person who lives far enough away that they likely wouldn't be affected by the same storm system as you.

 

Examine your insurance policies and make certain they cover you in the event of a storm-related emergency. According to NOAA, homeowners insurance generally does not cover flooding damage.

 

Create a Survival Kit

Stockpile water and nonperishable or packaged foods. NOAA recommends one gallon of water daily for each person for three to seven days as well as enough food to last that long. Have something on hand to use for cooking, such as a propane-powered camp stove.

Collect all your important documents -- birth certificates, car titles, property deeds -- and store them in a safe place, preferably with some emergency cash. Also, remember blankets, clothes, flashlights and other non-food items you think you might need.

 

Obtain a battery-powered radio to monitor weather updates. Radio broadcasts generally also provide information from local emergency management officials.

 

Secure Your Home

Bolt all doors and ensure they are secure as possible.

Close and lock all windows.

Use impact-resistant shutters or board up windows if you are afraid of flying debris from the storm.

Pampering4life Health Tips: Heart Attack

A heart attack occurs if the flow of oxygen-rich blood to a section of heart muscle suddenly becomes blocked. If blood flow isn't restored quickly, the section of heart muscle begins to die.
Heart attacks are a leading killer of both men and women in the United States. The good news is that excellent treatments are available for heart attacks. These treatments can save lives and prevent disabilities.
Heart attack treatment works best when it's given right after symptoms occur. If you think you or someone else is having a heart attack, call 9–1–1 right away.

Overview

Heart attacks most often occur as a result of coronary heart disease (CHD), also called coronary artery disease. CHD is a condition in which a waxy substance called plaque (plak) builds up inside the coronary arteries. These arteries supply oxygen-rich blood to your heart.
When plaque builds up in the arteries, the condition is called atherosclerosis (ath-er-o-skler-O-sis). The buildup of plaque occurs over many years.
Eventually, an area of plaque can rupture (break open) inside of an artery. This causes a blood clot to form on the plaque's surface. If the clot becomes large enough, it can mostly or completely block blood flow through a coronary artery.
If the blockage isn't treated quickly, the portion of heart muscle fed by the artery begins to die. Healthy heart tissue is replaced with scar tissue. This heart damage may not be obvious, or it may cause severe or long-lasting problems.

Heart With Muscle Damage and a Blocked Artery

Figure A shows a heart with dead heart muscle caused by a heart attack. Figure B is a cross-section of a coronary artery with plaque buildup and a blood clot.

A less common cause of heart attack is a severe spasm (tightening) of a coronary artery. The spasm cuts off blood flow through the artery. Spasms can occur in coronary arteries that aren't affected by atherosclerosis.
Heart attacks can be associated with or lead to severe health problems, such as heart failure and life-threatening arrhythmias (ah-RITH-me-ahs).
Heart failure is a condition in which the heart can't pump enough blood to meet the body's needs. Arrhythmias are irregular heartbeats. Ventricular fibrillation is a life-threatening arrhythmia that can cause death if not treated right away.

Get Help Quickly

Acting fast at the first sign of heart attack symptoms can save your life and limit damage to your heart. Treatment works best when it's given right after symptoms occur.
Heart attack symptoms include:

• Chest pain or discomfort. This involves uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain in the center or left side of the chest that can be mild or strong. This discomfort or pain often lasts more than a few minutes or goes away and comes back.
• Upper body discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or upper part of the stomach.
• Shortness of breath, which may occur with or before chest discomfort.
• Nausea (feeling sick to your stomach), vomiting, light-headedness or sudden dizziness, or breaking out in a cold sweat.

Symptoms also may include sleep problems, fatigue (tiredness), and lack of energy.
If you think you or someone else may be having a heart attack, call 9–1–1 right away. Quick treatment can save your life.
Do not drive to the hospital or let someone else drive you. Call an ambulance so that medical personnel can begin life-saving treatment on the way to the emergency room. Take a nitroglycerin pill if your doctor has prescribed this type of treatment.

Outlook

Each year, about 1.2 million people in the United States have heart attacks, and many of them die. CHD, which often results in heart attacks, is the leading killer of both men and women in the United States.
Many more people could survive or recover better from heart attacks if they got help faster. Of the people who die from heart attacks, about half die within an hour of the first symptoms and before they reach the hospital.

Pampering4life Health Tip: Stress and Breast Cancer

A new study suggests psychological stress may play a role in the development of aggressive breast cancer, especially among minority populations.
“We found that after diagnosis, black and Hispanic breast cancer patients reported higher levels of stress than whites, and that stress was associated with tumor aggressiveness,” said Garth H. Rauscher, Ph.D., associate professor of epidemiology at the School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago.

Rauscher and colleagues studied patient-reported perceptions of fear, anxiety and isolation, together referred to as psychosocial stress, and associations with breast cancer aggressiveness.
He cautioned that patients’ stress levels were examined two to three months post-diagnosis.
Researchers studied nearly 1,000 recently diagnosed breast cancer patients; of those, 411 were non-Hispanic black, 397 were non-Hispanic white, and 181 were Hispanic.
Researchers discovered psychosocial stress scores were higher for both black and Hispanic patients compared to white patients.

“Those who reported higher levels of stress tended to have more aggressive tumors. However, what we don’t know is if we had asked them the same question a year or five years before diagnosis, would we have seen the same association between stress and breast cancer aggressiveness?
“It’s not clear what’s driving this association. It may be that the level of stress in these patients’ lives influenced tumor aggressiveness.
“It may be that being diagnosed with a more aggressive tumor, with a more worrisome diagnosis and more stressful treatments, influenced reports of stress. It may be that both of these are playing a role in the association.
“We don’t know the answer to that question,” Rauscher said.

Emotions lie at the core of these high-risk habits. Poor diet, a lack of exercise and use of alcohol and tobacco all increase your risk of breast cancer. And simply put, you can’t successfully change your lifestyle without reshaping your mind — or at least how you handle negative emotions, anxiety and stress. Connect the dots between how you feel and how you react, then learn to follow a different path. Counseling, meditation, imagery and other tools can help you address negative feelings head-on and teach you how to reverse the behaviors associated with them. So instead of drowning in a carton of ice cream every time you’re stressed, maybe you’ll grab your sneakers and head out for a power walk instead.

Coping with the Emotional Tide of DiagnosisOn hearing those dreaded words, “You have cancer,” even the most well-balanced of us can be thrown into a tsunami of emotions like anger, sadness, and fear. These feelings — which stem from legitimate concerns and questions — can sometimes be difficult to deal with alone.

If you’re struggling with profound emotions, enlist the help of a loved one and talk to your doctor about your options, including therapy and medication. Consider joining a cancer support group. Most hospitals and treatment centers offer one; ask your doctor or care coordinator for details.

 

Believe It to Achieve ItWhile it may seem easier said than done, positive thinking can be a huge help. Behavioral studies show that those who strongly believe in their ability to achieve a certain goal or outcome — such as staying strong enough during chemo to go for a walk every day — generally feel and function better than those who feel helpless over their situation. Here are some practical ways to feel in control of your situation and enhance your quality of life:

• Take an active role in deciding your treatment course and other issues of care.
  
• Tend to your body during treatment — even if you’re having trouble liking your body at the moment: Good nutrition, regular exercise (or as much physical activity as you can handle) and restful sleep help fight stress, boost energy and speed healing.
  
• Nurture your spirit: Engage in meaningful activities — whatever that means for you, whether it involves art, music, volunteering, meditating or spending time with loved ones.

Pampering4life Healthy Eating Series: Sweet Sour Tofu

4 oz dried shiitake, soaked
2 pound tofu
2 each japanese cucumbers, peeled
1 each green bell pepper
3 each tomatoes, cut into wedges
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 each garlic cloves, crushed


---SEASONINGS---
2 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 1/2 tablespoon cornstarch dissolved in 3/4 c water
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 teaspoon chili sauce
1 teaspoon lemon juice


---GARNISH---
2 each green onions, chopped
Trim the shiitakes & set aside. Press the tofu for 30 minutes & cube. Quarter the cucumbers lengthwise & cut into 1 1/2 inch lengths. Chop the bell pepper. Heat oil in a wok over medium-high heat. Add the tofu & carefully stir fry until the colour changes. Remove the tofu & add the garlic. Stir fry until the colour changes. Add all the vegetables to the wok & stir fry for 2 minutes. Add all the seasonings & continue to stir fry for 3 to 5 minutes. Serve garnished with green onions.

Pampering4life Health Tip: Diabetes

What is diabetes?

Diabetes means that your blood glucose (sugar) is too high. Your blood always has some glucose in it because the body uses glucose for energy; it's the fuel that keeps you going. But too much glucose in the blood is not good for your health.
Your body changes most of the food you eat into glucose. Your blood takes the glucose to the cells throughout your body. The glucose needs insulin to get into the body's cells. Insulin is a hormone made in the pancreas, an organ near the stomach. The pancreas releases insulin into the blood. Insulin helps the glucose from food get into body cells. If your body does not make enough insulin or the insulin does not work right, the glucose can't get into the cells, so it stays in the blood. This makes your blood glucose level high, causing you to have diabetes.
If not controlled, diabetes can lead to blindness, heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, amputations (having a toe or foot removed, for example), and nerve damage. In women, diabetes can cause problems during pregnancy and make it more likely that your baby will be born with birth defects.

What is pre-diabetes?

Pre-diabetes means your blood glucose is higher than normal but lower than the diabetes range. It also means you are at risk of getting type 2 diabetes and heart disease. There is good news though: You can reduce the risk of getting diabetes and even return to normal blood glucose levels with modest weight loss and moderate physical activity. If you are told you have pre-diabetes, have your blood glucose checked again in 1 to 2 years.

What are the different types of diabetes?

The three main types of diabetes are:

• Type 1 diabetes is commonly diagnosed in children and young adults, but it's a lifelong condition. If you have this type of diabetes, your body does not make insulin, so you must take insulin every day. Treatment for type 1 diabetes includes taking insulin shots or using an insulin pump, making healthy food choices, getting regular physical activity, taking aspirin daily (for many people), and controlling blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
• Type 2 diabetes is the most common type of diabetes — about 9 out of 10 people with diabetes have type 2 diabetes. You can get type 2 diabetes at any age, even during childhood. In type 2 diabetes, your body makes insulin, but the insulin can't do its job, so glucose is not getting into the cells. Treatment includes taking medicine, making healthy food choices, getting regular physical activity, taking aspirin daily (for many people), and controlling blood pressure and cholesterol levels. If you have type 2 diabetes, your body generally produces less and less insulin over time. This means that you may need to increase your medications or start using insulin in order to keep your diabetes in good control.
• Gestational (jess-TAY-shun-ul) diabetes occurs during pregnancy. This type of diabetes occurs in about 1 in 20 pregnancies. During pregnancy your body makes hormones that keep insulin from doing its job. To make up for this, your body makes extra insulin. But in some women this extra insulin is not enough, so they get gestational diabetes. Gestational diabetes usually goes away when the pregnancy is over. Women who have had gestational diabetes are very likely to develop type 2 diabetes later in life.

Who gets diabetes?

About 24 million Americans have diabetes, about half of whom are women. As many as one quarter do not know they have diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes occurs at about the same rate in men and women, but it is more common in Caucasians than in other ethnic groups.
Type 2 diabetes is more common in older people, mainly in people who are overweight. It is more common in African-Americans, Hispanic-Americans/Latinos, and American Indians.

What causes diabetes?

Type 1 and type 2 diabetes —The exact causes of both types of diabetes are still not known. For both types, genetic factors make it possible for diabetes to develop. But something in the person's environment is also needed to trigger the onset of diabetes. With type 1 diabetes, those environmental triggers are unknown. With type 2 diabetes, the exact cause is also unknown, but it is clear that excess weight helps trigger the disease. Most people who get type 2 diabetes are overweight.
Gestational diabetes — Changing hormones and weight gain are part of a healthy pregnancy, but these changes make it hard for your body to keep up with its need for insulin. When that happens, your body doesn't get the energy it needs from the foods you eat.

Am I at risk for diabetes?

The risk factors for type 1 diabetes are unknown. Things that can put you at risk for type 2 diabetes include:

• Age — being older than 45
• Overweight or obesity
• Family history — having a mother, father, brother, or sister with diabetes
• Race/ethnicity — your family background is African-American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Hispanic-American/Latino, Asian-American/Pacific Islander and Native Hawaiian
• Having a baby with a birth weight more than 9 pounds
• Having diabetes during pregnancy (gestational diabetes)
• High blood pressure — 140/90 mmHg or higher. Both numbers are important. If one or both numbers are usually high, you have high blood pressure.
• High cholesterol — total cholesterol over 240 mg/dL
• Inactivity — exercising less than 3 times a week
• Abnormal results in a prior diabetes test
• Having other health conditions that are linked to problems using insulin, like polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)
• Having a history of heart disease or stroke

What are the signs of diabetes?

• Being very thirsty
• Urinating a lot
• Feeling very hungry
• Feeling very tired
• Losing weight without trying
• Having sores that are slow to heal
• Having dry, itchy skin
• Losing feeling in or having tingling in the hands or feet
• Having blurry vision
• Having more infections than usual

If you have one or more of these signs, see your doctor.

How can I take care of myself if I have diabetes?

Many people with diabetes live healthy and full lives. By following your doctor's instructions and eating right, you can too. Here are the things you'll need to do to keep your diabetes in check:

• Follow your meal plan — Eat lots of whole grain foods, fruits, and vegetables.
• Get moving — Health benefits are gained by doing the following each week:
  • 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate intensity aerobic physical activity
  or
  • 1 hour and 15 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity
  or
  • A combination of moderate and vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity
  and
  • Muscle-strengthening activities on 3 days

• Test your blood glucose — Keep track of your blood glucose levels and talk to your doctor about ways to keep your levels on target. Many women report that their blood glucose levels go up or down around their period. If you're going through menopause, you might also notice your blood glucose levels going up and down.

• Take your diabetes medicine exactly as your doctor tells you.

Talk to your doctor about other things you can do to take good care of yourself. Taking care of your diabetes can help prevent serious problems in your eyes, kidneys, nerves, gums and teeth, and blood vessels

Is there anything I can do to prevent diabetes?

Yes. The best way to prevent diabetes is to make some lifestyle changes:

• Maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight raises your risk for diabetes. Calculate your Body Mass Index (BMI)  to see if you're at a healthy weight. If you're overweight, start making small changes to your eating habits by adding more whole grain foods, fruits, and vegetables. Start exercising more, even if taking a short walk is all you can do for now. If you're not sure where to start, talk to your doctor. Even a relatively small amount of weight loss – 10 to 15 pounds – has been proven to delay or even prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes.
• Eat healthy
  • Eat lots of whole grains (such as whole wheat or rye bread, whole grain cereal, or brown rice), fruits, and vegetables.
  • Choose foods low in fat and cholesterol. Read food labels. If you eat 2,000 calories per day, you should eat no more than 56 grams of fat each day.
  • If you drink alcohol, limit it to no more than one or two drinks (one 12-ounce beer, one 5-ounce glass of wine, or one 1.5-ounce shot of hard liquor) a day.
• Get moving. Health benefits are gained by doing the following each week:
  • 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate intensity aerobic physical activity
  or
  • 1 hour and 15 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity
  or
  • A combination of moderate and vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity
  and
  • Muscle-strengthening activities on 3 days
  
  Some suggestions for fitting physical activity in:
  • Take the stairs instead of the elevator
  • Take a brisk walk on your lunch break
  • Park at the far end of the parking lot and walk
  • Get off the bus or subway a few stops early and walk the rest of the way
  • Walk or bicycle whenever you can

Take care of your health with proper nutrtion and lifestyle modifications. If you are not sure how to make these changes you may need to seek an expert. If you are ready to begin your journey to a healthier you contact our office for your nutrition pre-screening consultation. The journey begins when you are ready.....

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

 

 

October is "BREAST CANCER" awareness month. Everyday millions of women are diagnoised with breast cancer. It's time to Make Strides Against Breast Cancer. You can start by giving to your local cancer society this month. We can fight this together! Learn more about cancer below....

Cancer occurs as a result of mutations, or abnormal changes, in the genes responsible for regulating the growth of cells and keeping them healthy. The genes are in each cell’s nucleus, which acts as the “control room” of each cell. Normally, the cells in our bodies replace themselves through an orderly process of cell growth: healthy new cells take over as old ones die out. But over time, mutations can “turn on” certain genes and “turn off” others in a cell. That changed cell gains the ability to keep dividing without control or order, producing more cells just like it and forming a tumor.
A tumor can be benign (not dangerous to health) or malignant (has the potential to be dangerous). Benign tumors are not considered cancerous: their cells are close to normal in appearance, they grow slowly, and they do not invade nearby tissues or spread to other parts of the body. Malignant tumors are cancerous. Left unchecked, malignant cells eventually can spread beyond the original tumor to other parts of the body.

The term “breast cancer” refers to a malignant tumor that has developed from cells in the breast. Usually breast cancer either begins in the cells of the lobules, which are the milk-producing glands, or the ducts, the passages that drain milk from the lobules to the nipple. Less commonly, breast cancer can begin in the stromal tissues, which include the fatty and fibrous connective tissues of the breast. Over time, cancer cells can invade nearby healthy breast tissue and make their way into the underarm lymph nodes, small organs that filter out foreign substances in the body. If cancer cells get into the lymph nodes, they then have a pathway into other parts of the body. The breast cancer’s stage refers to how far the cancer cells have spread beyond the original tumor.

Breast cancer is always caused by a genetic abnormality (a “mistake” in the genetic material). However, only 5-10% of cancers are due to an abnormality inherited from your mother or father. About 90% of breast cancers are due to genetic abnormalities that happen as a result of the aging process and the “wear and tear” of life in general.

There are steps every person can take to help the body stay as healthy as possible and lower risk of breast cancer or a breast cancer recurrence (such as maintaining a healthy weight, not smoking, limiting alcohol, and exercising regularly). Always remember, breast cancer is never anyone's fault. Feeling guilty, or telling yourself that breast cancer happened because of something you or anyone else did, is not productive.

                                                                

 

Women Vitamins: Keeping Healthy With Supplements

Vitamings For Women

We all know that women live longer than men - in fact the gap now has narrowed to five years. Partly because men are looking after themselves better. But what about Japanese women ? Did you know (WHO figures) that the average life expectancy of a Japanese woman is 86. It must be the diet but maybe there are other environmental factors as well. Maybe the Japanese women have a secret women vitamin formula? No,it is simply that the Japanese diet always consists of rice and vegetables with meat and fish. The nutrition experts say that the more colourful a meal is, the better it is as each of the colours represent the many and varied nutrients and vitamins that we need. Certainly the Japanese meal is like that. The idea of small portions is a winner as well. The Japanese also win when it comes to the battle against obesity. Only about 3% of the population are obese - compare that to USA where the figure is a staggering 30%. So to live longer and remain slim, we have to eat properly and that is easier said than done !
So, how do we remain healthy and expand our normal life expectancy? Of course eating the right kind of foods is key but for some of us taking the right type of vitamins will at least give us the nutritional allowance our body needs daily. Take a look below for some suggestions.

Vitamins for Women: What You Need
Our bodies are like fine cars. You can’t put regular gas in a Porsche and expect it to run well. For that reason, you should consider adding the following nutrients to your diet:

• Calcium. As you age, your bone mass decreases and you need more calcium to lower your risk of osteoporosis. You typically need 1,000 to 1,500 milligrams of calcium daily, depending on how old you are. You can reach this daily requirement by consuming dairy products (preferably fat-free), drinking pure orange juice that has been fortified with calcium, or taking calcium supplements.
• Vitamin D. As you get older, you lose some of your ability to convert sunlight into vitamin D, and without vitamin D, your body can't use calcium. Also, using sunscreen to protect yourself from skin cancer means shutting out some of the vitamin D you'd get from just being outside in the sun. To compensate for this loss, older women might consider taking a multivitamin containing both vitamin D and calcium. To help you understand how much vitamin D you need each day, consider this: A glass of milk provides about 100 international units (IU) of vitamin D. If you’re over 50, you should be getting 400 IU daily; over 70, you need 600 IU.
• Iron. If you’re still menstruating, you need to be sure you're getting an adequate amount of iron in order to prevent anemia. “Food sources are a good starting point, but you may need supplements,” says Skolnik. You’ll find iron in meat, poultry, beans, eggs, and tofu. “It’s important to pair your iron-rich meals with foods that contain vitamin C, like orange juice or citrus fruits, because vitamin C helps increase iron absorption," Skolnik says. If you are a woman past menopause you need less iron, so unless your doctor recommends an iron supplement, you should look for a multivitamin without iron.
• Folic acid. Women who are pregnant or trying to become pregnant need to get more folic acid; it has been shown that low levels of this B vitamin can lead to birth defects in the baby affecting the brain and spinal cord. In addition to supplements, folic acid can be found in orange juice, beans, and green vegetables, and in foods such as breads and flour that have been fortified with it.
• Beta-carotene. Skolnik says that antioxidants — cancer-fighting substances like beta-carotene and vitamin C — help defend your body against cell damage. "Food sources are best for beta-carotene, and they include carrots, apricots, papaya, cantaloupe, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, and mangoes.” In other words, look for the color orange when you're in the produce aisle.
• B6 and B12. Like vitamin D, vitamin B12 is not processed as well by older women and may be one vitamin to consider taking in supplement form, perhaps through a multivitamin. Both B vitamins are very important as you grow older. "Vitamin B6 helps with red-blood cell formation and vitamin B12 helps with nerve-cell and red-blood cell development," Skolnick says. These vitamins can be found in a wide variety of healthful foods; following basic food pyramid recommendations is a good way to make sure you get enough of each. As an example, Skolnick says "you can get a day's supply of vitamin B12 by eating one chicken breast, one hard-boiled egg, a cup of plain low-fat yogurt or one cup of milk, plus one cup of raisin bran."
• Omega-3 fatty acids. These acids have been shown to act like natural anti-inflammatory substances in the body. They may also be important in helping to keep your heart healthy. As a woman gets older, her levels of estrogen decline, and that puts her at greater risk for heart disease, Skolnik says. Fatty fish, like salmon and tuna, is a great source of omega-3 fats, and pure orange juice is often fortified with omega-3s. Or, she adds, “Taking fish oil capsules is an excellent way to make sure you target these important fats."

The bottom line, focus more on your health so you can be healthy. Taking vitamins is no substitute to eating a variety of fruits and vegetables that are loaded with phytonutrients and enzymes that is needed daily to repair your body of its own defense. Consider using this article as a guide to what maybe missing in your journey to health. This is your time to be the best you possible by starting with your health first. To learn more about staying healthy be sure to visit our website at gethealthynow

Pampering4life Juicing For Health: Iron Plus

Are you low on your energy? Are you anemic? Looking for a way to feel good, increase your mood, and improve your immune system? This is an incredible drink, especially for the women suffering or prone to anemia and low iron levels. You will be loaded with high content of folic acid, magnesium, vitamins C and E, as well as iron all included in this amazing juice.

1 beet with top
2 kale leaves
1/2 cup broccoli florets with stems
4 carrots
1 apple, cut into wedges

Alternate feeding the ingredients into the juicer and enjoy!!!

Pampering4life Health Tip: Pregnant? Learn The Stages of Pregnancy

 

Often times when a women learns she is pregnant, she immediately has the urgency to learn as much information about the stages of being pregnant as possible. If you are recently blessed with the news that your pregnant. You will love this article as it takes you through the stages of pregnancy and what to expect from them. Always remember, to start with balanced nutrition for the health you and your baby so you can enjoy a healthy no problem filled pregnancy.


First Trimester (1 week-week 12)

During the first trimester your body undergoes many changes. Hormonal changes affect almost every organ system in your body. These changes can trigger symptoms even in the very first weeks of pregnancy. Your period stopping is a clear sign that you are pregnant. Other changes may include:

• Extreme tiredness
• Tender, swollen breasts. Your nipples might also stick out.
• Upset stomach with or without throwing up (morning sickness)
• Cravings or distaste for certain foods
• Mood swings
• Constipation (trouble having bowel movements)
• Need to pass urine more often
• Headache
• Heartburn
• Weight gain or loss

As your body changes, you might need to make changes to your daily routine, such as going to bed earlier or eating frequent, small meals. Fortunately, most of these discomforts will go away as your pregnancy progresses. And some women might not feel any discomfort at all! If you have been pregnant before, you might feel differently this time around. Just as each woman is different, so is each pregnancy.


Second Trimester (13 weeks-week 28)

Most women find the second trimester of pregnancy easier than the first. But it is just as important to stay informed about your pregnancy during these months.
You might notice that symptoms like nausea and fatigue are going away. But other new, more noticeable changes to your body are now happening. Your abdomen will expand as the baby continues to grow. And before this trimester is over, you will feel your baby beginning to move!
As your body changes to make room for your growing baby, you may have:

• Body aches, such as back, abdomen, groin, or thigh pain
• Stretch marks on your abdomen, breasts, thighs, or buttocks
• Darkening of the skin around your nipples
• A line on the skin running from belly button to pubic hairline
• Patches of darker skin, usually over the cheeks, forehead, nose, or upper lip. Patches often match on both sides of the face. This is sometimes called the mask of pregnancy.
• Numb or tingling hands, called carpal tunnel syndrome
• Itching on the abdomen, palms, and soles of the feet. (Call your doctor if you have nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting, jaundice or fatigue combined with itching. These can be signs of a serious liver problem.)
• Swelling of the ankles, fingers, and face. (If you notice any sudden or extreme swelling or if you gain a lot of weight really quickly, call your doctor right away. This could be a sign of preeclampsia.)

Third Trimester (week 29-week 40)

You're in the home stretch! Some of the same discomforts you had in your second trimester will continue. Plus, many women find breathing difficult and notice they have to go to the bathroom even more often. This is because the baby is getting bigger and it is putting more pressure on your organs. Don't worry, your baby is fine and these problems will lessen once you give birth.
Some new body changes you might notice in the third trimester include:

• Shortness of breath
• Heartburn
• Swelling of the ankles, fingers, and face. (If you notice any sudden or extreme swelling or if you gain a lot of weight really quickly, call your doctor right away. This could be a sign of preeclampsia.)
• Hemorrhoids
• Tender breasts, which may leak a watery pre-milk called colostrum (kuh-LOSS-struhm)
• Your belly button may stick out
• Trouble sleeping
• The baby "dropping", or moving lower in your abdomen
• Contractions, which can be a sign of real or false labor

As you near your due date, your cervix becomes thinner and softer (called effacing). This is a normal, natural process that helps the birth canal (vagina) to open during the birthing process. Your doctor will check your progress with a vaginal exam as you near your due date. Get excited — the final countdown has begun!

Pampering4life Juice Corner: Antioxidant Skin Blaster

Forever Young Antioxidant Skin Blaster

4 kale leaves
Spinach bunch
4-5 bok choy leaves
1/2 cup Pomegranate seeds
1/2 cup pineapple
1/2 cup mango slices
1-2 heaping spoonfuls of flaxseeds
tsp olive oil

Combine all the ingredients into your favorite juicer and drink immediately. Make sure to use organic vegetables and fruit in its pure form. This juice tonic is loaded with phytonutrients, vitamins, and skin smoothing nutrients to reverse aging. Enjoy!

Are you suffering from Adrenal Fatigue?

You may notice from time to time that no matter what you do to stay healthy your body just will not respond correctly. Sometimes, there is more going on then meets the eye. It could be possible that your prolong periods of fatigue is coming from a common illness know as adrenal fatigue.

The adrenal glands are located at the top of each kidney. There are two parts: the medulla, which secretes the neurotransmitters norepinephrine, epinephrine and dopamine, and the cortex, which secrets glucocorticoids (cortisol), mineralcorticoids and androgens (sex hormones). Combined, these are referred to as adrenocorticoids. Exposure to prolonged stress leads to adrenal stress and adrenal insufficiency. The adrenals cannot produce enough adrenocortical hormones, and the entire body is affected. Loss of adrenal function can cause death.

When a real or perceived stress is experienced, a complex whole-body response is initiated in the brain and supported by the adrenal glands. Stressors can be physical, such as illness or trauma, or psychological and emotional.

The neurotransmitter epinephrine is released during a stress response. Epinephrine works on the sympathetic nervous system, which controls heart rate, breathing rate and blood pressure. Epinephrine also causes vasoconstriction, or narrowing of blood vessels, to help increase blood flow to vital organs and muscles. It causes the pupils to dilate to imporve vision. All of these responses help you when you have to fight or flee a danger.

Adrenal stress arises when, after prolonged exposure to stress, the body becomes adapted to the abnormally high levels of stress hormones and can no longer regulate cortisol production. The adrenal glands continue high output of these stress hormones. This causes a multitude of health problems similar to those found in Cushing's syndrome, a rare disease that affects the adrenal glands. High blood pressure, sleep problems, diabetes, depression, fatigue, truncal obesity and osteoporosis are the consequences of continuously elevated cortisol levels.

Natural Treatmen For Adrenal Fatigue

The last thing you may feel like doing when suffering from adrenal fatigue is exercising. However, exercising can give you an energy boost--try activities you'll enjoy, such as yoga, swimming or hiking.

Eat for long-lasting energy. Eat regular meals with lean proteins sources and complex carbonhydrates, as well as plenty of vegetables and fruit; refrain from eating junk food. Your overall nutrition is important for supporting the function of your adrenal glands.

You can supplement your diet with vitamins, especially B complex vitamins and Vitamin C. According to many experts, other supplements that may be useful for treating adrenal fatigue include astragalus, Siberian ginseng, cordyceps (a fungus), golden root and licorice root.

Drinking Tea To Manage Daily Stress

Often times we think of drinking tea to sleep better at night or relaxing during stressful times. The more popular teas like chamomile tea is the industry standard during stressful times and you can usually find this tea in several stores throughout the country. The popularity of drinking tea is becoming more common because of the recent research linked to the unhealthy habit of drinking coffee, which is leading  more people to drinking tea as a daily alternative. Many people have yet to discovered all of the healing benefits to drinking tea as a daily ritual rather you are under stressful situations or not. Popular activities known for stress relief such as meditation, yoga, and exercise are great to include in your stress relief regimen. We now know that adding tea drinking to your daily list of regimens is also a great benefit to combat stress. Managing your first signs of stress is important to long term success. You may notice there are different types of stress you can experience within your lifetime i.e. eustress, neustress, distress, and acute stress some of it is good stress that you cannot avoid and some is considered bad stress that can cause chronic illness over time. Below is a list to consider when purchasing tea as an alternative to stress relief.

Black Tea-Reduces cortisol levels which can keep stress at bay

Valerian Tea-Natures natural soothing agent which is the best tea for relief from tension

Kava Kava-The best tea to reduce anxiety and stress

Green Tea-Powerful antioxidant green tea packs but is also known to be very effective in reducing stress due to the L-Theanine found in green tea which is a natural stress reliever.

Stress is organized into several categories and measured based on their individual effectiveness on the person. The idea that you can eliminate stress is basically unrealistic but to learn how to manage stress just by exercising alternative remedies could be the answer. Drinking tea during times of high stress is the answer to your body responding in a natural way. Tea can actually speed up the recovery of daily stress and is often known to reduce stress hormones levels back to normal.  Further research is still being conducted to understand the link between drinking tea and actually healing your body and mind. At least it’s great to know you are only a cup away from getting relief. You may also take a closer look at the benefits to drinking tea as a stress reliever http://www.stress-relief-resources.com/herbal-stress-relief.html.

Pampering4life Healthy Living Corner: Canteloupe Delight

1.4 Cantaloupe
1 small Banana
1/2-1 cup Soy Milk, Vanilla Flavor

Cut one medium rip banana and an equal amount of ripe cantaloupe into chunks. Add a good tasting soy milk and blend all together. This delight is simple and nutritious to enjoy year round.

Cantaloupes are high in vitamin C alpha and beta-carotene potasssium, and for a fruit, it contains good amounts of trace minerals copper, zinc, and iron. Cantaloupes are considered one of the most nutritious fruit we have.

Pampering4life Health Tips: Thyroid Treatment

Proper thyroid function is essential in controlling your body's metabolism--the conversion of oxygen and calories into energy. If you suffer from hypothyroidism--a condition in which your body produces too little thyroid hormone, you may experience a variety of symptoms, including weight gain, fatigue, hair loss, depression or irritability. Too much thyroid hormone, or hyperthyroidism, can cause weight loss and an increased risk of osteoporosis, due to calcium loss in your bones. The presence of a thyroid disorder is easy to detect with a simple blood test, and treatment usually involves medication.

• If you have been diagnoses with hypothyroidism, your doctor will most likely prescribe levothyroxine--a thyroid hormone pill--to be taken once a day. Because certain types of foods can interfere with the absorption of levothyroxine, you should take your pill in the morning, at least 20 minutes before breakfast, if possible. This will allow for the maximum absorption of your medication into your blood. You will have to take the medication indefinitely, as there is no "cure" for the condition of hypothyroidism--only supplementary treatment. After a month or two of taking the medication, your doctor will order more blood tests to measure the levels of thyroid in your system. At that time, he may adjust your dosage based on the results of your blood work.

Hyperthyroidism Treatment

• Hyperthyroidism can be treated with oral beta blockers, including propanolol or Inderal. Taking these medications can reduce or eliminate some of the symptoms associated with hyperthyroidism, including tremors and palpitations, but they will not cure the condition or reduce the amount of thyroid hormone in the blood. If you have sustained hyperthyroidism, your doctor may prescribe medication to inhibit your body's production of the thyroid hormone. These medications include methimazole and propylthiouracil, and they can have side effects which include itching or a rash. Other, more serious side effects are rare and include liver inflammation or a white blood cell deficiency. If you notice a yellowing of your skin, sore throat or high fever while you are taking these medications, call your doctor immediately. He will want to perform blood tests to rule out the possibility of these side effects.
• Another treatment for hyperthyroidism involves administering radioactive iodine which is absorbed by the thyroid, killing the excess cells. This treatment generally takes between one and two months to work, and the medication is administered orally in a hospital setting during a series of visits. Because other cells of the body do not absorb iodine, the treatment is considered safe, and all radioactivity disperses from the body within a matter of two to three days after treatment. In the case that the medication destroys too much thyroid gland, the patient may be put on hypothyroidism medication indefinitely following the treatment.
  One final option for treating hyperthyroidism is surgical removal of all or part of the thyroid gland. This option may be suggested for patients unable to tolerate other forms of hyperthyroid treatments. Risks of surgical removal of the thyroid gland include damage to the voice box nerves or removing too much thyroid, in which case the patient would have to be put on levothyroxine for life.

Alternative Remedies for Hypothyroidism

• While it is common medical practice to keep a patient suffering from thyroid dysfunction on thyroid hormone medication for the rest of her life, holistic practicioners may be able to wean a patient off of thyroid medication over time by prescribing a special diet, supplements and stress therapy. Because iodine is necessary in the production of thyroid hormones, kelp, dulse and bladderwrack may be used to boost a patient's natural iodine levels. The amino acid L-tyrosine, about 500 mgs a day, can also help to increase thyroid hormone in the system. Patients with hypothyroidism should avoid soy-based products, which can block the absorption of thyroid hormone.

Alternative Remedies for Hyperthyroidism

• If you have an overactive thyroid gland, you may benefit from several holistic remedies, including acupuncture, massage and homeopathy to calm an over-stimulated thyroid gland and balance your overall body chemistry. Herbal remedies include bugleweed, motherwort and lemon balm. Eating a well-balanced, healthy diet, getting at least half an hour of exercise every day and practicing meditation or yoga may also help to reduce your thyroid's output of hormone. Speak to your physician or alternative medical practitioner about how you may benefit from holistic remedies.

 

Pampering4life Healthy Eating Series: Tempeh Croutons

Prep Time:

10 minutes

Cooking Time:

45 minutes

Yields:

4 servings

Ingredients:

1 package tempeh
1/2 cup olive oil
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoon shoyu

Directions:

1. Slice tempeh into bite-size cubes.
2. In a bowl, mix together the oil, vinegar and shoyu.
3. Add tempeh and mix well.
4. Place tempeh in a baking dish or on a cookie sheet and bake at 325 degrees until golden brown, about 45 minutes.
5. Let cool and serve in your favorite salad.

You can find this and a host of other healthy recipes at my website http://www.nutritionyoudesign.com

Pampering4life Health Tip: Digestive Enzymes

Eating a great meal from day to day is always considered a great pleasure. Eating is important for proper nutrition and absorption for your body to function properly. What is not often discussed is the importance to proper digestion and the effects it can have on the body both negative and positive.

The human digestive tract breaks food into smaller molecules for absorption in two separate ways. Mechanical digestive processes break larger chunks of food into smaller chunks, while chemical processes break larger molecules into smaller ones. Digestive enzymes speed up the reactions that break larger molecules into smaller ones, helping to improve the efficiency of digestion.

There are many types of digestive enzymes, explained by leading doctors in the field. In the book "Biochemistry" by Dr. Reginald Garrett he talks about the different types of digestive enzymes and their chemical terminology. The different forms of enzymes work together with the bile salts produced in the liver and stored in the gallbladder, after which they move into the small intestine. Working together, digestive enzymes can break down all the large digestible molecules in food.

Because of enzyme specificity, some individuals who lack certain digestive enzymes can't digest some components of diet i.e. gluten tolerance etc. It's relatively common for individuals to lack the lactase enzyme, which results in lactose intolerance. Lactose intolerant individuals can't consume dairy, because they can't digest the sugar in milk. If they do consume lactose, it will pass into the large intestine, where bacteria will digest it, which results in gas and cramping.

The human body will lose very important enzymes as you age over time which is why it's important to consume foods that can replenish enzymes. Eating a diet full of natural, raw, foods that can replenish many enzymes lost will give your system the opportunity for better digestion and absorption. The body can always heal itself as long as you fuel it with proper nutrition.

The next time you enjoy a good meal make sure its one that can give your body what it needs to stay healthy. Learn more about proper eating for health at http://www.nutritionyoudesign.com

Easy Steps To Reduce Body Inflammation

You know that eating healthy can help you lose weight, but what you might not be aware of is that certain foods help reduce inflammation and infection in your body as well. Eating foods high in antioxidants, avoiding processed foods, drinking plenty of water and exercising regularly all help with the healing process by reducing inflammation in your body.
Eat foods high in antioxidants. Antioxidants improve circulation and digestion and also naturally reduce inflammation in the body. Many conditions and disease (arthritis, gastrointestinal disorders, cataracts, high blood pressure, cancer, hypertension, birth defects, etc) can be avoided or improved by eating foods high in antioxidants 5-9 times a day. Here are SOME examples of foods that are high in antioxidants:
- strawberries
- blueberries
- raspberries
- blackberries
- grapes
- prunes
- fish (salmon, herring, mackerel, etc)
- broccoli
- papayas
- cantaloupe
- nuts (flaxseed, walnuts, etc)
- beans
- peppers
- beats
- asparagus
- sweet potatoes
- carrots
- pumpkin
- apricots
- tomatoes
- extra virgin olive oil
- dark chocolate (at least 70% cocoa)

Basically eat foods (raw fruits and vegetables) that are bright in color. The more colorful the better they are for you.

Avoid processed foods (anything in a box or package and doesn't look like it just came from the farm!) - processed foods are not rich in antioxidants. Processed foods contain saturated fat, trans fat, refined carbohydrates and preservatives which actually increase inflammation throughout your body. Many processed foods contain white flour in them - be sure to avoid white flour altogether.

Drink plenty of water and avoid sugary drinks. Water keeps your body hydrated and helps with digestion. Green tea is a great source of antioxidants and a good option to sugary drinks (avoid putting sugar in the tea!)

Exercise regularly. Exercising for 30-60 minutes 3-5 times a week will help you naturally lose weight and reduce the amount of body weight exerting pressure on your joints and ligaments. Less pressure means less inflammation in your body.

Pampering4life Healthy Living Corner: No Depression Tonic

Ingredients Needed

1 cup Apple Juice
1 Tbsp Brewer's Yeast
1 Tbsp Blue-Green, Spirulina, or Chlorella Algae
1 Tbsp Lecithin Granules
1 tsp Ginseng Granules or Extract

This liquid plant medicine contains lots of antidepressive compounds in the form of vitamin B12, spirulina, and brewer's yeast. This is a great tonic for a healthy nervous system. Ginseng is know to fight fatigue, increase stamina, and feed the nervous system. Regular consumption of this awesome tonic will produce lasting results. Enjoy!

Abuse: The Dark Secret To Violence Against Women

Signs of abuse

It can be hard to know if you're being abused. You may think that your husband is allowed to make you have sex. That's not true. Forced sex is rape, no matter who does it. You may think that cruel or threatening words are not abuse. They are. And sometimes emotional abuse is a sign that a person will become physically violent.
Below is a list of possible signs of abuse. Some of these are illegal. All of them are wrong. You may be abused if your partner:

• Monitors what you're doing all the time
• Unfairly accuses you of being unfaithful all the time
• Prevents or discourages you from seeing friends or family
• Prevents or discourages you from going to work or school
• Gets very angry during and after drinking alcohol or using drugs
• Controls how you spend your money
• Controls your use of needed medicines
• Decides things for you that you should be allowed to decide (like what to wear or eat)
• Humiliates you in front of others
• Destroys your property or things that you care about
• Threatens to hurt you, the children, or pets
• Hurts you (by hitting, beating, pushing, shoving, punching, slapping, kicking, or biting)
• Uses (or threatens to use) a weapon against you
• Forces you to have sex against your will
• Controls your birth control or insists that you get pregnant
• Blames you for his or her violent outbursts
• Threatens to harm himself or herself when upset with you
• Says things like, "If I can't have you then no one can."

If you think someone is abusing you, get help. Abuse can have serious physical and emotional effects. No one has the right to hurt you.

Healthy vs. unhealthy relationships

Sometimes a relationship might not be abusive, but it might have some serious problems that make it unhealthy. If you think you might be in an unhealthy relationship, you should be able to talk to your partner about your concerns. If you feel like you can't talk to your partner, try talking to a trusted friend, family member, or counselor. Consider calling a confidential hotline to get the support you need and to explore next steps. If you're afraid to end the relationship, call a hotline for help.
Signs of an unhealthy relationship include:

• Focusing all your energy on your partner
• Dropping friends and family or activities you enjoy
• Feeling pressured or controlled a lot
• Having more bad times in the relationship than good
• Feeling sad or scared when with your partner

Signs of a healthy relationship include:

• Having more good times in the relationship than bad
• Having a life outside the relationship, with your own friends and activities
• Making decisions together, with each partner compromising at times
• Dealing with conflicts by talking honestly
• Feeling comfortable and able to be yourself
• Feeling able to take care of yourself
• Feeling like your partner supports you

If you feel confused about your relationship, a mental health professional can help. Remember, you deserve to be treated with respect.

Juicing Benefits To Anti-Aging

According to the American Dietetic Association, drinking juice made wholly from fruits and vegetables is an ideal way to get the greatest nutritional benefit. Look at the color of your juice. The more vibrant the color, the more powerful the juice. Flavonoids, the plant pigments responsible for the colors in fruits and vegetables, also have anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, anti-viral, and anti-carcinogenic properties.
According to research compiled by the North Carolina Research Campus, the American Dietetic Association, the American Cancer Foundation, and the American Diabetes Association, there are almost as many reasons to juice for longevity and anti-aging as there are fruits and vegetables to juice with:
Fresh juice contains proteins, carbohydrates, essential fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals in a form your body can easily absorb.
Fresh fruit and vegetable juice is rich in potassium and low in sodium, which helps promote cardiovascular health and prevent cancer.
The enzymes in juice are essential for digestion and the absorption of nutrients in your food.
Juice is loaded with powerful antioxidants called carotenes, found in dark leafy green vegetables and red, purple, and yellow-orange fruit and vegetables, all of which neutralize cancer-causing free radicals and promote longevity.
Apple-celery juice reduces inflammation, promotes calm, and restores restful sleep.
Juice from alkaline vegetables including carrots, tomatoes, parsley, spinach, kale, and celery helps detoxify the liver, kidneys, blood, and muscle tissue of toxins that have been accumulating for years.
Cucumber juice is rich in silica, which strengthens connective tissue of muscles, tendons, ligaments, cartilage, and bone. Cucumber juice also promotes strong, lustrous hair, glowing skin, and strong nails.
The nutrients in fresh fruit and vegetable juice are also responsible for reducing or eliminating acne, anemia, high cholesterol, bladder infections, bronchitis, canker sores, carpal tunnel, constipation, gallstones, glaucoma, headaches, hypertension, indigestion, insomnia, kidney stones, macular degeneration, menopause, morning sickness, osteoporosis, prostate enlargement, psoriasis, ulcers, varicose veins, and water retention. The next time you think about a face lift think about juicing first natures natural cure. Learn more about juicing in upcoming classes offered at Pampering4life Lifestyle and Wellness Company.

Things To Consider With Plastic Surgery 101

If you are considering cosmetic surgery, you must be honest with yourself. Why do you want surgery and what do you expect surgery to do for you? According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), there are two categories of patients who are good candidates for surgery:

The first includes patients with a strong self-image who are bothered by a physical characteristic that they'd like to improve or change.

The second category includes patients who have a physical defect or cosmetic flaw that has diminished their self-esteem over time.

It's important to remember that cosmetic surgery can create both physical changes and changes in self-esteem. But if you are seeking surgery with the hope of influencing a change in someone other than yourself, you might end up disappointed.

ASPS list of inappropriate candidates for surgery

• Patients in crisis, such as those who are going through divorce, the death of a spouse, or the loss of a job. These patients may be seeking to achieve goals that cannot be met through an appearance change — goals that relate to overcoming crisis through an unrelated change in appearance is not the solution. Rather, a patient must first work through the crisis.
• Patients with unrealistic expectations, such as those who insist on having a celebrity's nose, with the hope that they may acquire a celebrity lifestyle; patients who want to be restored to their original "perfection" following a severe accident or a serious illness; or patients who wish to find the youth of many decades past.
• Impossible-to-please patients, such as individuals who consult with surgeon after surgeon, seeking the answers they want to hear. These patients hope for a cure to a problem that is not primarily, or at all, physical.
• Patients who are obsessed with a very minor defect, and may believe that once their defect is fixed, life will be perfect. Born perfectionists may be suitable candidates for surgery, as long as they are realistic enough to understand that surgical results may not precisely match their goals.
• Patients who have a mental illness, and exhibit delusional or paranoid behavior, may also be poor candidates for surgery. Surgery may be appropriate in these cases if it is determined that the patient's goals for surgery are not related to the psychosis. In these cases, a plastic surgeon may work closely with the patient's psychiatrist.

Because the changes resulting from cosmetic surgery are often dramatic and permanent, it's important that you have a clear understanding of how surgery might make you feel — long before a procedure is scheduled.

Safety

If you're thinking about getting cosmetic surgery, it's your job to become an informed consumer. Selecting a qualified doctor, with a lot of training and experience in the procedure you'd like to get, is essential.
Ask the right questions to get the best treatment:

• In which state is the doctor licensed to practice surgery?
• Is the doctor board certified? With which board? The doctor should be certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.
• How many years has the doctor performed this type of surgery?
• Does the doctor have life-saving equipment and monitoring devices?
• Who administers the anesthesia? Ideally, this person is a board-certified anesthesiologist or certified registered nurse anesthetist.
• What are the risks of the procedure?
• What is the expected recovery for the procedure you're having?

Check out your doctor's credentials

If you're thinking about having your surgery in the doctor's office, there are advantages and disadvantages. The office might be convenient, private, and have more amenities than a hospital or ambulatory care center (non-emergency, outpatient facility). But it may not be safe. Don't assume that the doctor has the right credentials or the right equipment to keep you safe in the office.
Contact these organizations to find out your doctor's education, licensure, and board certification in addition to the doctor's or ambulatory care center's accreditation:

• Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care, Inc. (AAHC)  – Accredits physician offices with surgical facilities.
  Phone: 847-853-6060
• American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities (AAAASF)  – Certifies ambulatory surgery facilities and provides practice guidelines for surgeons working in ambulatory surgical facilities.
  Phone: 888-545-5222
• American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS)/ The American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS)  – All of the surgeons listed through this service are ASPS members who are board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. They have graduated from an accredited medical school and completed at least five years of surgical residency, usually three years of general surgery and two years of plastic surgery.
  Phone: 847-228-9900
• Federation of State Medical Boards (FCVS) – FCVS verifies medical education, postgraduate training, licensure examination history, board action history, and identity.
  Phone: 817-868-4043

Pampering4life Health Tip: Arthritis

Arthritis is a general term used to refer to any disorder that affects the joints. Joints are places where bones meet, such as your elbow or knee. There are more than 100 types of arthritis. Most types of arthritis cause pain or swelling in the joints. Some types also can cause problems in your organs, such as your eyes or skin.
The most common type, osteoarthritis (OSS-tee-oh-ar-THREYE-tuhss), is often related to aging or injury. In osteoarthritis, the slippery tissue that covers the ends of bones in the joint breaks down. When this happens, the bones grind against each other. This causes pain and swelling. It most often affects the fingers, knees, and hips.
Rheumatoid (ROO-muh-toid) arthritis is an autoimmune disease, in which the body's defense system, called the immune system, attacks the lining of the joints throughout the body. Often these are joints in the hands and feet. Rheumatoid arthritis also may affect internal organs.
Gout is a common and painful type of arthritis caused by a buildup of uric acid in the body. Deposits of uric acid in joints — often the big toe — cause extreme pain, swelling, and redness. Other joints may be affected as well.
If you have joint pain, see your doctor. Finding out about arthritis early and getting the right treatment can prevent further joint damage and help control symptoms. Many types of treatment are available, including medicines and surgery.
These steps also might help ease arthritis symptoms:

• Maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight can strain your knees and hips.
• Be physically active. Moving all of your joints will help you. Your doctor or nurse can show you some gentle stretching exercises and how to move more easily. Going for a walk every day will help, too.
• Take a warm shower in the morning.
• Use an ice pack on sore areas.

Arthritis can make it hard to work and do activities you enjoy. Even if only one joint is affected, you might need to change the way you do many daily activities to use this joint less. Your doctor and therapists can help you find new ways of doing things in your home or workplace, so you can live with less pain.