HEALTH BENEFITS OF CARROT JUICE

- 1 or 2 carrots (washed and peeled)
- 1 apple (try to go organic if you can)
- 1 Grapfruit

According to an online website on "Natural Remedies", carrot juice is known for its excellent cleansing effects and, in addition, it was considered a good remedy for constipation and physical exhaustion for the ancient Greeks who discovered it in the 20th Century B.C. There are no other vegetables that contain as much beta-carotene as carrots. When beta-carotene enters our body, it is converted into Vitamin A, which assists in improving our eyesight and the functioning of our immune system. It also helps in strengthening our bones and teeth, and can prevent possible problems with the functioning of the thyroid gland.

Vitamin A also has positive effects on our hair, nails and skin. Besides, this Vitamin is associated with good cleansing effects: it can clean our liver from fat and other unnecessary elements if you drink carrot juice regularly.

Along with beta-carotene, there is an on going list of micro elements and nutrients contained in carrots. It includes: Vitamins C, B, E, D and K, proteins, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, zinc, aluminum, sodium, manganese, iron, copper and a lot of other minerals. Wowee! So many!

Drinking carrot juice can be extremely beneficial for pregnant women and young children. Vitamins A and E are very important for normal development of the fetus. Since carrot juice has good amounts of natural sugar, the majority of children don't mind drinking it. For your little ones, you can mix carrot juice with some orange juice, grapefruit juice, or a little of lime juice, and your child will receive a healthy dose of all useful micro elements and nutrients, as well as have a better appetite and lower risks of having a cold or a flu.

(Information taken from various online resources)

QUICK AND EASY SEMI-HOMEMADE BOWTIE PASTA

So I went to Trader Joe's the other day and bought the following items to add into my pasta dishes.

Super easy and so delicious! After straining the bowtie pasta noodles, I added some minced garlic and olive oil to add some extra flavor. Then once I put the garlic pasta into a bowl, I added the artichoke hearts, pesto sauce, and olive tapanede for just the right amount of saltiness. They also go really well with Naan or bread if you don't want to cook pasta. Thanks Raumak for introducing me to all of these delicious food items from Trader Joes!

AVOCADO SMOOTHIE RECIPES

- 1/2 an avocado
- 1 cup of Lactaid milk
- Honey

or

- Organic fuji apples
- 1 banana (I like to freeze them ahead of time so that it makes my drinks cold)
- 1 cup of Lactaid milk
- 1/2 an avocado

or

- 1 ripe avocado, halved and pitted
- 1 1/4 cups whole milk or Lactaid milk
- 1 1/2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 tablespoon fresh basil, chopped
- Basil, thinly sliced

(Use a blender or the magic bullet to mix it all up!)


HEALTH BENEFITS OF AVOCADO:

- Creamy rich avocado is considered the world's healthiest fruit, because of its nutrient contents such as vitamin K, dietary fiber, potassium, folic acid, vitamin B6, vitamin C, copper, and reasonable calories in it.

- Avocados contain “oleic acid”, a monounsaturated fat that may help lower cholesterol.

- Good source of potassium, a mineral that helps regulate blood pressure. Adequate intake of potassium can help guard against circulatory diseases, like high blood pressure, heart disease, or stroke.

- One cup of avocado has about 23% of the Daily Value for folate, a nutrient important for heart health.

- Good for prevention or treatment of “breast cancer” as well as “prostate cancer”

WHY 10-15 MINUTES IN THE SUN CAN DO A BODY GOOD!

Just like plants need the sun for photosynthesis, humans can really use the sun to stock up on Vitamin D nutrients! When the sun's UV-B rays hit the skin, a reaction takes place that enables skin cells to manufacture vitamin D. With the new internet age and the advancement of technology, I feel like a lot of people (including kids) of our generation don't spend nearly as much time in the outdoors as they probably should. When the weather is really nice like today (high 70s), it feels amazing just to take a few minutes to go outside and soak up the sun. Even if you are at work in your office cubicle, take a moment to sit by the window and find that perfect warm spot. Or maybe during your lunch break, sit in your car and close your eyes for a few minutes with the windows rolled down. Let the warmth embrace you before you have to head back into your freezing office. I had no idea, but experts say UV radiation doesn't penetrate glass. The heat you feel is "infrared radiation" from the sun, which doesn't have any health impact beyond making you overheated or causing sunstroke if you get an excessive amount. (So for optimal results, I guess you really need to get your butt outside!)

Getting "sunkissed" feels so wonderful and brings me back some needed energy and color! Over the past two weeks I have been down with a cold so I've been at home and in bed most of the time. I feel really pale and sickly and I'm really excited that it's going to reach as high as 79 degrees today so I can finally get some sunlight and color on my face!

According to an article I read in US NEWS - "The sunshine vitamin may protect against a host of diseases, including osteoporosis, heart disease, and cancers of the breast, prostate, and colon. What's more, sunlight has other hidden benefits—like protecting against depression, insomnia, and an overactive immune system."

Experts say if you are fair skinned, going outside for 10 minutes in the midday sun—in shorts and a tank top with no sunscreen—will give you enough radiation to produce about 10,000 international units of the vitamin. Dark-skinned individuals and the elderly also produce less vitamin D, and many folks don't get enough of the nutrient from dietary sources like fatty fish and fortified milk.

According to a report in the Archives of Internal Medicine, experts believe that up to 77% of Americans are vitamin D deficient. I guess a big part of it has to do with where you live, how often you are able to go outside, and if your skin is sensitive to the sun's UV rays. Obviously if you have really sensitive skin, or have a high risk of skin cancer, basking out in the sun for 15 minutes a day can do you more harm than good. You can always use Vitamin D supplements or make sure you are eating lots of food that provide you with enough of it.

I had no idea but according to Women's Health Magazine, new research suggests that vitamin D may be one of the best vitamins of all for your body (even more important than vitamin C). Studies in labs have uncovered up to 2,000 different genes—roughly one-sixth of the human genome—that are regulated by the nutrient. That means almost everything your body does relies on it. In the past few years, studies have shown that a lack of the vitamin may also be the primary culprit in pregnancy problems, birth defects, and multiple sclerosis.

SIMPLE SPINACH SALAD

Spinach, tomatoes, dried cranberries, garlic croutons, and your favorite salad dressing!

I got this salad dressing from Costco the other day. It is so yummy! It's not too heavy and it has a sweet and tangy taste to satisfy my taste buds. They used to have a miso sesame dressing that I absolutely loved but you know how it is with Costco, things always come and go and each location carries different products. If you see something you really like or want to try, snag it before it's gone!

MY GREEN JUICE RECIPE

1) Slice up one ripe Gala apple (this will make your green drink sweet and delicious)

2) Open up a grapefruit and peel the thick skin off (the grapefruit will add a bit of acidity and freshness to your juice)

3) Use a handful of spinach or more if you want

4) Add some kale or parsley to the mix!

Grapefruit is a very important fruit for weight loss because they are high in fat burning enzymes and antioxidants. Grapefruit also decreases your insulin level which helps with weight loss because it burns energy more effectively and increases your metabolic rate. For those looking to fight off the common cold and free radicals, grapefruit provides you with lots of Vitamin C! Grapefruit is also useful for ridding yourself of indigestion. It can be digested quickly and easily, reducing the heat and irritation that is in your stomach.

Juicing spinach can be a bit tricky because it is fairly difficult for the body to metabolize it compared to other vegetable juices. Most people don’t use it as the main ingredient in juice mixes. I only use a handful. Try and use fresh spinach quickly because it will eventually lose beneficial nutrients when stored over longer periods of time (more than a few weeks). Spinach is supposed to be helpful for improving regularity and cleansing the heart and liver.

Kale is also an excellent source of nutrients, especially vitamin A and calcium. With a combination of vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients, kale is a dieter's dream food. It provides decent amounts of vitamin C, folic acid, vitamin B6, manganese, and potassium.

The crappy thing about juicing is, you don't get the beneficial fiber. It actually goes to waste unless you use it for "jook" afterwards. I guess you can also use it for a face mask by mixing it with honey. I usually end up just throwing it away...

I try to switch back and forth with a juicer and a blender or sometimes I'll use both. I will juice some fruits and veggies and then blend it with a banana or add in some blueberries to make sure I'm getting some fiber. It's a lot of work having to wash everything afterwards but if it becomes part of your daily routine, you'll get used to it!

Some other veggies/fruits I like to juice include:
- carrots
- celery
- oranges
- peach
- lemon
- nectarine

MY VISIT TO THE DERMATOLOGIST

Last week I went to see a dermatologist for the very first time because I started to form these annoying rashes on my elbows and knees. I also had these tiny little clear bumps on my hands that were so small you could barely see them and they would sometimes itch like crazy. If you looked super closely, you could see this small dot smack in the middle of it but it was impossible to pop. Anyways... It drove me crazy! I thought I was allergic to something or had a serious skin condition so I booked an appointment after 3 weeks of hoping it would go away on its own.

I tried a bunch of over-the-counter medicines like hydrocortisone creams, benadryl, benadryl cream, and Kheils extra strength moisturizer but none of it worked. Finally I asked my doctor if she could recommend a dermatologist and she directed me to this place. I can't thank her enough for it because the ointment the Dr. prescribed me made such a big difference! I wish I would've just gone in sooner instead of being my stubborn self. I changed my bedding, changed my laundry detergent to a non-allergenic one, and even changed my body wash to Cetafil thinking they all had something to do with it.

Anyways here's a before and after picture of my elbow.

This was before... So gross huh? Sorry. I just had to post it for you to see haha.

and this is after!

Thank GOD for Dr. Stuart. She was so sweet, so easy to talk to, and she made it all go away! Well, I still have to put on the ointment for another week or so but it's already made such a drastic difference. She pretty much said I had dermatitis and that it can be caused by sweat, pressure, heat, or friction. She said yoga and working out at the gym a lot could've caused it or me taking frequent hot showers. Now I'm going to make sure I super sanitize everything at the gym including my yoga mat! Also, she said the little tiny bumps on my hands are caused by me washing my hands too often. My friend told me the same thing but of course I didn't believe her haha. I do have to admit, I wash my hands A LOT! I guess I need to be a little less OCD about germs on my hands...

Anyways, if anyone has skin problems and is interested in going in for a consultation with Dr. Stuart you can go to www.lajollaskin.com and set up an appointment. She is awesome!

She's also specialized in laser treatments. I felt like I was on the Kardashians when I walked into her office and saw all the celebrity botox pics. Haha. Glad my procedure didn't require any needles or shots!