Healthy diet? Get nutty.

Almonds, peanuts, pistachio, cashew, walnuts, hazelnuts etc. Who doesn't like nuts?, I only know few people who dislike nuts, Mainly because of health problems and they can't take it. but the rest just all love nuts. When you start eating, sometimes you just can't stop. It's hard to tell yourself. " okay go get 3 pieces only! " We usually end up with a handful or two handfuls or even three. There is nothing wrong with that As long as you have to know when to stop. Nuts are usually high in calories when taken in large amounts. You should at least eat 2 ounces of nuts a week.

You may want to add nuts in your diet but you have to balance it. when nuts are combined with other very healthy foods, The results can be surprisingly remarkable. You can try to switch your unhealthy snacks to nuts, such as potato chips or high calorie cookies and chocolates. Nuts may not cure any diseases directly but its a step or a way to help battle those illness.

Here are the lists of benefits you get from being nutty, i mean from eating nuts.

It has arginine, a substance that may help you improve the function of your blood vessels.

Nuts has mono- and polyunsaturated fats, which is good for the heart. So if you love your heart eat nuts.

the omega-3 usually found in walnuts, another helpful fat that helps heart problems.

And finally nuts may helps you lower cholesterol. Again, good nutrtion works best with a well balanced diet. So don't just grab some nuts and eat as much as you can. Balance it. ! happy eating!


image courtesy of healhtnut.org

Tea party?! When is the best time to drink tea?

Tea. Whether it's green tea, black tea, white tea, red tea, name it i like it. I got this habit of drinking all sorts of health drinks, fruit juices, coffee, tea, milk etc. from my grand father. I admire him for having a healthy body and maintain it for such a long time. Even if he already passed away. He left our world not young. But very old and wise.

There are so many benefits of tea. but when is the best time to take it? My grandpa used to tell me that the best time to take tea is in the morning. It will help you boost your metabolism. It will also help you to feel better when your sick.

I still think that you can drink tea anytime you want but it depends on what type of tea you drink, Most green teas has caffeine, so if you'll love this type and like to drink a lot in the evening, you may want to drink less in the evening. but i think it would be ok to drink tea anytime of the day. If the tea is decaf then maybe a cup or two in the middle of night won't hurt your eyes. but if you love sweetened tea, A cup in the morning may be good for you but not too much at night.

So for all those who are not sure what time to drink tea, You may want to check what type of tea are you drinking and you can adjust from there. And you can host your own tea party. Have a great tea time!

Sleepy? Why lack of sleep may harm you.

Do you get better sleep? well, you must.

Just right after i finished college. The first job i got was in a call center, An outbound agent. And i was on a grave yard shift. That was (9pm until 6am) It was ok at first but after just 2 months i felt that i was lacking of sleep.

Even though i knew that i was sleeping around 7 hours a day, it wasn't easy sleeping in the morning. I tried to closed the door of my bed room and pulled down my curtain, but the broad day light was just peeking at my windows.

Of all the health complains i had while i was on that job. There was one thing i learned while working in that kind of environment that up to this moment, I still apply in my daily life. That is to complete your 8 hours of sleep. Why? Because there might be dangers waiting for you especially if you are working.

So what happens when you never complete your 8-hour sleep very often.

Poor vision. this is so true to me. I got blurry vision at work, or just when I'm walking to the elevator. It sucks so much. Short term memory, People tend to lose some parts of their memories due to lack of enough sleep.

Your reaction is slow. Have you ever felt that when everyone is laughing, you seem to be just smiling? why because you don't get it. because you don't understand. Or if somebody is talking to you. You seem to be somewhere else.

Never drive yourself to work if you think you can't focus. My dad caused a very long traffic when he doze off on a green light few years ago. That was humiliating so he got his self a driver.

Moody. you switch moods so easily. Poor performance. Your work suffers because you can't concentrate. So if you feel that you are stating to see these signs. better take a goodnight sleep. or tale some power naps in the afternoon.

Thyroid cancer, Symptoms and causes.

Thyroid Cancer, is something that everyone should know. Yesterday i went out with my friends, While were all waiting for our dinner One of my friend told me that she had a patient with a severe case of thyroid cancer. And it was so hard for her to tell the patient's relatives about her state. I think everyone should be aware about this kind of condition.

What are the Symptoms of thyroid cancer? The first thing that anyone should check is

the appearance of thyroid, but it doesn't mean that the person already have cancer.

Another thing is hoarseness of voice.

hard to swallow.

Difficulty breathing.

Lymph nodes on the neck.

If this is left untreated, thyroid cancer can spread and cause real harm to other parts of our body And this process is called metastasis.The exact cause of thyroid cancer is still unknown. Although there were things that have been listed that may increase the risk of developing thyroid cancer. Such as The family history, or if somebody in your family may have had this cancer before. The thyroid gland is enlarged, and even radiation exposure. If you think that you or one of your family has all the symptoms , don't hesitate and have yourself check.

I'll be back tomorrow

Sorry, I know it's been a while. I'll be back tomorrow my computer is down for days. and I'm pretty busy to have it checked. But had it fixed just now. So see you guys tomorrow.

Health food, The magic of soybean.

Tofu, soy milk, miso soup, etc. Are just some of the soy products i love. but as i grow up, I've learned that many products in the market are now selling soybean supplements, I have nothing against soya capsules, i just still believe that natural soybean are still the best one.

There are so many reasons why people use soya products as an alternative to dairy products:

For some medical reasons, People who has allergy to milk proteins or lactose intolerance take soya milk instead. Soy can reduce cholesterol
Soy products also help to control the cholesterol level because soybean is cholesterol-free. Soy has soluble fibers that helps to reduce the amount of cholesterol, That are circulating in the our body through our blood. The soy proteins also reduce the cholesterol level.most of the fats in soy products are helpful. It has soy isoflavones that may prevent atherosclerosis

It is known that in most Asian countries were traditional soy products are taken on a daily basis, their rates of cardiovascular diseases are low. Soy also improves the health of our bones. Soy products, such as soy milk, doesn't contain a lot of calcium but the soy isoflavones may help reduce the risk of osteoporosis. Many studies have suggested and shown that soy isoflavones may be a factor in helping to prevent bone loss.

But we all know that anything too much is bad for our health. Soya is no exception. So to be healthy do not just focus into taking just one kid of food. but to have a well balanced diet. and in your diet don't forget to include Soy.

image courtesy of www.energiseforlife.com

Eating healthy part 2: Durian. The hate me or love me fruit

Is this a healthy food to try or a fruit to avoid?

Durian. The first time i tried this was when i was 11 years old, The smell is really bad, and i just don't like it.. But that was then,(when i was young i tend to hate odd looking fruits) Well, I like it now more than before. My sister often tells me that people has only two views for this fruit " Hate it or Love it" All i can say is that I'm in between. It is known in South and East Asian Countries as the "King of all fruits".

Tracy asked me last time about the fruit with porcupine type skin. Well, there were 3 fruits on my mind that day. But for now I'll post Durian first. The smell may repel you but it really tastes good. So, What are the health benefits that you could get from Durian?

Durian is packed with proteins, minerals, antioxidants and other phytonutrients.

I can still remember my granny used to tell me that you can't just pick this fruit from a tree and eat. You have to wait for this fruit to fall from the tree. And wait for few more days until it ripened before you can actually eat it. This fruit is known to be high in Tryptophan,

Tryptophan increases brain levels of serotonin and melatonin, both are known as sleep-inducing hormones. So it helps to relaxes your brain and get sleepy. This fruit maybe consider as a good sleeping aid. If your travelling to South East Asian Countries, you may want to give this fruit a try. Expect that the smell would be unpleasant but it's worth the try.

image courtesy of www.nurulrahman.com

Eating healthy? Try dragon fruit.

Another healthy food to add in your healthy diet is Dragon fruit. This dragon fruit is really new to me, but i know that it has been in the American/ Asian market for ages. I'm just curious how so many people in my country are now getting into this, This fruit was originally from Mexico,South America, Vietnam,Taiwan and South East Asian Countries. And whenever a new and healthy food is out I always make it a point to try that "something new to me" food and prove it to my self.

So here's another one on my list, Dragon fruit. So what exactly is a dragon fruit? This unusual looking fruit, brightly colored and named Dragon fruit is also known as Pitaya. I heard there's a story behind why it's called Dragon fruit, but don't know the exact story.

At first, i found the fruit a little scary, because it reminded me of the plant from that movie" little shop of horrors " the plant that feeds on human blood and flesh. hahaha! (I'm sorry but i was six then, and even though it was a comedy movie it scared the hell out of me.) But this fruit won't eat you but you will eat this fruit.

This healthy food is rich in vitamins and minerals especially vitamin C. Here are the rest of the nutrients that you can get from the dragon fruit.


Protein, Niacin

Fiber,Iron

Vitamin C, Riboflavin, Calcium, Vitamin A

It also has antioxidants, and we all know how antioxidant helps our body to prevent certain diseases or even cancer. This is one vitamin-packed fruit.The dragon fruit is best eaten by cutting the fruit in half and scooping the flesh out, like eating a sherbet. And best eaten when chilled. It has a refreshingly sweet taste. SO the next time you're looking for a new and healthy fruit to eat. Look for the dragon fruit. The name is too big to forget.



images courtesy of www.nutrexsolutions.com and
www.thirteenmonths.com

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Stretch marks, Mother's nightmare.

Stretch marks and losing weight are the most common problems after giving birth.When i gave birth to my first daughter, I never had much problems when it comes to losing weight and skin problems. My skin never turned dark or uneven, I didn't gain that much weight, so what's to lose? I thought that if i get pregnant again, things will be just the same......not!

Last year when i was still pregnant on my second baby, I was so surprised when i noticed that some parts of my skin are getting darker and uneven. I've gained more weight than i thought i could. I didn't add lbs til i was on my 7th month when I've noticed that I'm getting heavier than before.

But the worst thing that i never thought would happened to me were the stretch marks,(oh, so unlucky of me) up to know I'm still following some routines to make it go away.. but of course i know that my skin will never be the same again, I already accepted that fact. (sigh)

Here are some good news for mommies like me who are also having the same problems. My doctor advised me to try creams that may reduce the visibility of stretch marks. Retin A and Renova- are creams that help to reduce wrinkles and treat dark spots and roughness of skin, It is also good to reduce stretchmarks.

Based on studies 80% of patients are happy with the results with continued use for 6 months. Retinoids from these products are helps to promote cell growth or regeneration in the upper layer of the skin, and it also help in to complete the collagen in the lower layer of the skin. but of course it still varies to different types of people. You may want to consult your doctor first.

image courtesy of www.skinergizer.com

Healthy food, dried fruits?

Image via WikipediaHealthy food:Dried fruits or frozen fruit, which one is better? I love fruits no matter how it's done dried, frozen and of course fresh.

The nutrients of dried fruits depends on how long the fruit was around before it was dried. Some commercial dried fruits may contain an additional sulfur dioxide which can lead to asthma for some people, Now, you might be asking why sulfur? The sulfur is used to "fix" the color of the fruit.

But there are also no-sulfur dried fruits available in stores that you can try. So, what nutrients do you get from dried fruits?Here are some vitamins that you can get from dried fruits

Vitamin A, B1, B2, B3, B6,

pantothenic acid

and minerals such as calcium, iron, magnesium,

phosphorus, potassium, sodium, copper, manganese)(courtesy of Wikipedia).

And because of water loss, that was experienced while it was dried. Dried fruits has a stronger taste or flavor. But these process also destroys most of the Vitamin C in the food, The levels of Vitamin C has been greatly reduced compared when it was fresh.

But i just want to share my favorite dried fruit... mangoes. i love 7D dried mangoes, This is just the best dried mangoes on the planet.

The best natural skin care, Is free.

Best and cheapest skin care, Actually it's not cheap it's free.. 5 years ago, I'm one of those women that was so vain when it comes to skin, I had my beauty rituals, i took food supplements, i applied so many stuffs on my face. And yes. It's all worth it.

But now that I'm one of the busiest mom in the world, I must say, i have so little time for myself. But i make sure that I'm still healthy and pretty. We're not getting any younger right?.

There are 6 skin care essentials that many of us WAHM just take for granted. I would like to take this opportunity to thank my super duper cool Dermatologist, Dr. Salonga, Who takes care of my skin and hair too, Who never forget to remind of these 6 things:


1.Eat a lot of fruits and veggies.

2.Drink at least 8 glasses of water a day.

3.Avoid fatty foods.

4.Get enough sleep.(When sleeping, try not to sleep face down)

5.Wash your face before you go to bed. Don't try to sleep with your make up on. Why? Believe me, you'll see zit city very very soon.

6.Finally. Moisturize and block. try to use a moisturizer that suits your skin. And apply sun block when you know you'll be staying longer under the sun, remember, our skin still needs sunlight.SO don't SPF yourself too much.


Yes, I know you might be saying these are very common, But the best skin care products would never be better if followed by these skin care essentials.

image courtesy of www.digital-shot.com