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Leviticus11.com
Dianne Miller's Health and Strength Products
2009 Health Tips **
Good Food for Less Money
These foods are readily available, nutritious, and cheap if you're looking to save money and eat well.
Main course: canned salmon, chicken breasts, organic peanut butter, canned beans, organic eggs,
dried lentils
Side courses: romaine lettuce, carrots, frozen spinach, tomatoes, garlic, onions, sweet potatoes,
broccoli, whole grain pasta, brown rice, oats, organic milk
Dessert/Snacks: almonds, frozen berries, apples, bananas, grapes, popcorn, organic yogurt
The Value of Walking
Try adding a mile or more of walking to your day. Doesn't sound like much does it? After doing it five days a week for a couple weeks my massage therapist could feel the difference in my leg muscles, especially my calves. If you can only do it during weekends, every little bit helps.
Bigger muscles aren't the only benefits. Your cholesterol levels will change for the better. You will lower your blood pressure and risk of disease. Start out by doing only a few minutes and increase the time a little each time you go.
Health and Strength Links
Here are some links to good health that I find helpful on various subjects:
Homemade Face Cream
Here is a cost saving recipe for face cream:
1/2 cup olive oil (preferably organic)
1/2 cup distilled water
1 tbsp liquid lecithin (from a health food stores)
400IU Vitamin E oil (1-2 capsules) as a preservative
Mix in a blender and keep refrigerated. Add a mild essential oil that is good for your skin type.
Bulking up on a Budget
Currently, everyone is trying to stretch their money farther for groceries.
In Rich Tucker's Biblical Nutrition you will find a "Recipe for cheap weight gaining dish." Here it is:
Mix navy beans with half-and-half (half cream/half milk).
Cook.
Melt cheese on top.
MSM
Here are some benefits of taking the supplement MSM.
MSM makes your hair look better.
MSM is effective for treatment of overuse injuries of muscles, ligaments and joints. Very good results have been reported in treating tendonitis, as well as treating tennis elbow.
MSM gives relief against lower back pain.
MSM enhances circulation, thus speeding up tissue repair.
MSM cures or alleviates many gastrointestinal disorders, often with as little as 100 mg per day.
MSM produces remarkably good results for heartburn. People who tried to combat increased stomach acidity with conventional medication, can get much better results with MSM and no side effects.
MSM restores integrity of a cell wall, making it more flexible, thus reducing or even completely eliminating pain.
MSM also alleviates muscle pain.
Avoid High Fructose Corn Syrup
High fructose corn syrup (HFCS) has been linked by many scientists to the obesity epidemic in the U.S. and other western countries. The Corn Refiners Association claims that the product is no worse for you than sugar. Part of what makes HFCS such an unhealthy product is that it is metabolized to fat in your body far more rapidly than any other sugar.
Because most fructose is consumed in liquid form (soda), its negative metabolic effects are significantly magnified. Those effects result in diabetes, obesity, metabolic syndrome, an increase in triglycerides and LDL (bad) cholesterol levels, and liver disease.
Fructose contains no enzymes, vitamins or minerals, and it leeches micronutrients from your body. Unbound fructose, found in large quantities in HFCS, can interfere with your heart's use of minerals such as magnesium, copper and chromium.
This is just the tip of the iceberg on the dangers of HFCS. Read more on this at: The Murky World of High-Fructose Corn Syrup.
Prevent Varicose Veins
You can do a few things to help prevent varicose veins. You need to get regular exercise, which promotes healthy circulation and discourages weight gain and obesity, which is often associated with increased risk of varicose veins. You need to be aware of your leg placement whenever sitting. Avoiding crossing your legs and try to elevate your legs whenever possible.
Add grape seed extract, which contains proanthocyanidins, to your diet. It is commonly prescribed in France for varicose veins and other vascular problems. Proanthocyanidins are powerful antioxidant compounds that make blood vessels more elastic and less likely to leak the fluids that cause swelling in the legs.
Add horse chestnut seed extract (HCSE) to your diet. HCSE is widely used in Europe for chronic venous insufficiency, a syndrome that may include leg swelling, varicose veins, leg pain, itching, and skin ulcers. The active ingredient in HCSE is believed to escin, a compound that helps support normal vessel wall functioning.
Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs
The new, energy-efficient compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL) can be risky if you sit very close to them. They were invented in the 1970s, during the last "energy crisis." These bulbs use about one-fourth of the energy of equally bright incandescent bulbs, last up to nine years and are cost effective for your electric bill.
Unfortunately, CFLs contain trace amounts of mercury (though less than 1/100th of that in those old-fashioned thermometers) and should be disposed of in mercury recycling facilities (Home Depot now offers CFL recycling in its stores). The United Kingdom's Health Protection Agency (HPA) shows that certain CFLs can emit ultraviolet radiation higher than international guideline levels.
Excess exposure can damage the skin. John O'Hagan, PhD, group leader of HPA's Laser & Optical Radiation Dosimetry Group said that photosensitive individuals (people who have an accentuated dermatological response to light, especially sunlight) reported suffering adverse health effects after replacing incandescent light bulbs with CFLs, which led his group to undertake a study of lamp emissions. The measurement revealed there was a potential danger, though small and limited to certain people under certain conditions.
Be aware that CFLs that look like traditional light bulbs ("encapsulated") and long-tube fluorescent ceiling lights are not considered a problem. But the study found that some of the "open" CFLs (spiral shapes, for example) do emit significant ultraviolet rays. Photosensitive individuals who spend significant time close to these bulbs (if used in a desk lamp) can experience ultraviolet skin exposure equivalent to direct summer sunlight at midday. This can cause a reddening of exposed skin.
Also, as with direct sunlight, the additional exposure boosts risk of skin cancer in some photosensitive people. When you are more than 12 inches away, the ultraviolet level is much lower and not of concern. Dr. O'Hagan advises not using these open CFLs in any situation where you'll be sitting a foot or closer to a bare bulb, but beyond that sees no need to stop using these energy-saving light bulbs in our homes. He also notes that it is possible to manufacture these bulbs in such a way that eliminates this risk, as evidenced by the fact that 80% of them are safe. Hopefully, the unsafe CFLs will soon be discontinued on the market.
Aid for Dry Skin
Dry winter weather can leave your skin tight, scaly, and flaking. To help relieve the damage, try supplementing with essential fatty acids. Evening primrose oil, black currant oil, and borage oil are good sources of GLA (gamma-linolenic acid), which promotes healthy growth of skin, hair and nails.
Black currant oil (in doses of 500 mg twice a day) is the most economical remedy for dry skin conditions. The results will not be immediate, but in 6-8 weeks there should be some positive changes. Also, increasing your intake of omega-3 fatty acids with salmon, mackerel, sardines, walnuts, and cod liver oil can help.
Parasites
Parasites are easy to “catch” and over 90% of people have them. The parasite is designed to remain undetected. There are ways to protect yourself and your family from parasites. First, don't drink the water--especially on camping trips, while traveling in foreign countries and when swimming in public places. Filtering your home drinking water also helps, as does boiling water to drink while away from home (camping, in foreign countries, etc.).
Avoid putting your hands in your mouth or touching your face and wash your hands often when out and about shopping, eating out, etc.
Worm your pets (and livestock) twice per year and do not walk barefoot where animals have been known to defecate. Do not allow animals to lick you in the face or mouth.
Thoroughly cook all meats (stay away from raw meats , sushi, cold cuts, and hot dogs) ) if possible.
Thoroughly wash all fruits and vegetables before eating. Worm yourself and your family twice per year to stay
clear of any parasitic infestations.
An excellent source of information on parasites is at: Humaworm.com
Benefits of Beans and Legumes
Beans and legumes are cheap and can be used in a variety of ways. If you can include one or two servings a day, you will benefit greatly. They are an excellent source of of vegetarian protein with a half cup giving you 6-7 grams. Because they are high in folic acid, consuming them may help protect you against various cancers(lung, colon, cervix) and also prevent birth defects. The fiber in beans and legumes will provide 25-30 percent of the recommended amount. Beans and legumes are also a low-glycemic index food (if you're counting).
You can substitute a meal with beans for meat (good for those on a budget). Hummus and bean dip are good ways to add beans to your diet. If you have a problem with the digestibility of beans, try consuming them with grains such as brown rice. Draining off the soaking and cooking water when using dry beans will help reduce gas.
Tea Benefits for Women
Just three cups of tea a day can reduce the risk of breast cancer in young women. New research shows that the chances of developing a tumor drop by around 37 percent in women under 50 who drank tea at least three times daily. Older women who consumed similar amounts did not see a the same benefit; researchers theorized that the anti-cancer properties of tea may have a more potent effect on the types of tumors that tend to grow in younger women.
Although the health benefits of tea are well known, they have long been considered to mostly affect heart disease. A study last year showed four cups a day could reduce your risk of a heart attack. However, other recent studies have suggested that tea can protect against skin cancer, ovarian cancer and even weak bones.
Artificial Sweeteners
Overwhelming evidence shows that consuming artificial sweeteners will likely wreak havoc on the body. A study published in the Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health revealed some disturbing news on Splenda.
Splenda reduces the amount of good bacteria in the intestines by 50 percent, increases the pH level in the intestines, and affects a glycoprotein in the body that can have crucial health effects, particularly if you're on certain medications.
In addition, they found unmistakable evidence that Splenda is absorbed by fat, contrary to previous claims. The intestinal bacteria help maintain the body's overall balance of friendly versus unfriendly micro-organisms and supports general health.
Brussels Sprouts
To maintain a healthy immune system and reduce your risk of heart disease eat Brussels sprouts. Many people do not like these nutritionally rich gems but they are a good source of dietary fiber, folic acid, vitamin C, vitamin K, beta-carotene and several key antioxidants. Brussels sprouts also reduce the risk of colon cancer and other cancers, promote healthy elimination, and protect against birth defects.
Cordyceps for Respiratory Disorders
Cordyceps extract has been found to strengthen the respiratory system which assists the body to better protect itself from pollutants and allergens. Research has also shown that it enhances oxygen uptake by the brain and heart while improving resistance to hypoxia, a state of oxygen deficiency in the body which is sufficient to cause an impairment of function. Studies have shown that cordyceps extract is excellent for asthma and chronic bronchitis in both children and adults. Cordyceps extract aids in clearing bacteria from the lungs.
Source: Dr. Chi's Herbal Formulas
, pp. 59-60.
Health Tips in 2010
Health Tips in 2008
Health Tips in 2007
Health Tips in 2006
Health Tips in 2005
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Information on this web site is not to be construed as professional advice or medical recommendations. I do not endorse or guarantee references or sites listed, and no unfavorable inference should be drawn from failure of any resource to be listed here. Readers are encouraged to direct any questions concerning personal health care to licensed physicians or other appropriate healthcare professionals.
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Dianne Miller
2733 E Battlefield Road #234
Springfield, MO 65804(417) 890-8636
This page was updated on October 28, 2011