After watching Fat, sick and nearly dead I have decided to do the 15 day juice fast diet.  That and seeing my cousin and his wife who did it together. He lost 26 lbsin 15 days on straight juice and she did juicing but 1 meal a day as she is still breast feeding but she lost 6lbs.

Needlesss to say, I was inspired.  So I started the fat sick and nearly dead diet and let me tell you.

DAY 1, Day 2 and Day 3 were harder than heck!  but by Day 4 my face started glowing and I had more energy. and I lost 5 lbs.

My reasons for wanting to the fast were really to start 2012 fresh! and the movie and real life examples inspired me.

I found that I needed to modify the fast as just juicing was not enough for me. I added in the raw fruits and veggies, made some soup of raw veggies and it really helped.

My suggestion if you are going to do the sick fat and nearly dead diet to plug into their website http://jointhereboot.com/ and go raw for a few days before just to get an idea if you like the diet.

Some things you need to get started:

1. A juicer

2. Time- it takes time to juice

3. fiber….trust me on this one

4. lots of fresh fruits and veggies

5. An adventrous soul

6. The mindset make it to day 3 and all will be well

I’ll be posting my favorite juice recipes tomorrow!

You may have heard estrogen so often but have a little understanding about it. Basically, it is more commonly known as a female sex hormone. However, it has a deeper and greater significance in human health particularly women and this is simply why it is extremely essential to make estrogen rich foods as part of your diet. But eating foods high in estrogen is not really enough to support your own health with a sufficient supply of estrogen since too much intake of such compound can lead to certain health constraints.

What is Estrogen?

Estrogen is a collective term which is used to classify a certain group of compounds which play an essential role in the estrous cycle of humans particularly among women. There are three main types of naturally occurring estrogen among women and these are estrone, estradiol, and estriol.

The presence of estrogen is very much essential in the proper flow of menstrual cycle of women and continuous development of various secondary sexual organs. In men, estrogen helps in securing maturity of sperm cells. Apart from the aforesaid functions, these generative compounds are also significant in increasing the uterine growth and vaginal lubrication, accelerating metabolism, reducing muscle mass, thickening the vaginal wall, increasing hepatic production, of binding proteins, increasing the adhesive property of platelets, retention of salt and water, and lots more others.

Most commonly, women who are in their menopausal stages particularly in the ages of 30yrs old (early menopause / surgically induced menopausal) to 44yrs old (natural menopausal) experience this so called crash. Because of this, it is important to gain essential knowledge about foods with estrogen in order to lessen or refrain from the effects such as vaginal dryness, sleep disturbances, night sweats, and hot flashes.

Foods High in Estrogen

Basically there are many types of estrogen foods which can be easily acquired from your local market. However, two of these foods are known to have the highest levels of estrogen and these are soy beans and flax seeds.

• bean sprouts
• bread
• apple
• banana
• legumes
• peas
• soy milk(non gmo )
• tofu
• beets
• carrots
• yams
• olives
• teas

The aforementioned foods contain different amounts of phytoestrogen types namely, isoflavones, coumestrol, and lignans. Proper and appropriate intake of foods high in estrogen must also be observed because too much estrogen can lead to sudden weight gain and mood swings.

1. Cut out the Crap Food!- No more processed stuff. Shop around the perimeter of the grocery store, eat out of the fridge, not the pantry.

1. Cut out bread, pasta, rice, cookies, cakes, bagels, oatmeal any grains for 30 days and see how much better your pants fit. You may even get back into your skinny jeans with just this one tip! Oh yeah, make sure you are eating tons of green, leafy veggies, and veggies of all kinds! They fill you up, keep your blood sugar in control, keep you regular and help detox all the processed food out of your body!

1. Make food ahead of time- If you know you are an emotional eater, a last-minute eater, a fast food junkie, a low-blood-sugar eater, the best way to take charge of that is to have healthy  meals and snacks stocked up in your refrigerator and freezer. I keep 1-2 already made salads in my frige all the time. I just add meat, some nuts or avo, a little vinegar, lemon juice and olive oil and I have a satisfying meal that keep me out of the danger zone.

1. Get moving. This is only part of the battle, but if when tempted to eat something that is destructive, opt to take the dog for a walk or play a game of handball with your kids. And for crying out loud, turn off that TV in the afternoon! That is just an invitation to snack

1. Keep a journal of your food, sleep, exercise and mood. This way, you cannot wiggle your way around the truth of your situation. If the true picture is not exposed, there is no way to improve it. Pay special attention to triggers. Write them down along with whether you gave in or your were able to avoid the usual results

BONUS TIP(s)

*Get a buddy. It seems over used but the truth is that is works. Decide what you really want, then tell someone. That person better have a spine because you will be accountable to them for your choices. Their job is not to judge but rather to remind you of what you said you so desperately wanted! Try Myfitnesspal.com, it really works if you are consistent and it’s a great place to stay accountable to your friends.

* Drink More Water- It’s amazing what water can do your body. Drinking clean, filtered water is essential to losing weight.  I recommend a minimum of 120 oz a day. Sounds like a lot and it is but I use these neat 2.2 liter water bottles.

Will this solve every problem you have ever had with your weight and body composition, heck no! But, you did not get to where you are now overnight. There are many things to undo and correct, including how you think!

So taking small steps over and over is a great start and teaches you to believe in the possibilites again even if you really don’t have any hope left. There is hope, there is always hope. Do the steps for at least 30 days and see where you land. I would love to know how you are doing with the steps and what has worked and what has not. I can be reached at www.annieberryhill.com

Water bottles are among the most important household products that everybody uses in their daily lives. However, a lot of individuals these days take for granted or take less regard on the importance of these household tools as they busy themselves over various concerns.

Aside from making your water bottles last whether they’re made of bpa free plastic water bottles or stainless steel water bottles, taking good care of them can also help protect your entire family’s health. Therefore, it is extremely important for any person to become well aware with the different techniques and strategies on how to make your water bottles last.

Tips for Cleaning either BPA free or  Stainless Steel Water bottles.

Do you love stainless steel water bottles? This is simply because water bottles tend to acquire unpleasant smell taste if not cleaned for a while and plastic made bottles are much harder to clean and take out those unwanted odors compared to those made of stainless steel. Nonetheless, the two different types of water bottles basically have the same cleaning techniques. The following are just some of the many tips and advice which have been proven useful when it comes to taking good care of your water bottle last.

• Cleaning the interior – pour approximately 2 tbsp of vinegar into the empty bottle and shake well. But before doing so, make sure that the cap is tightly sealed to avoid any unwanted spills. After a minute of shaking, pour a warm water into the bottle until it is half full and scrub the inside using a bottle brush. If the bottle has been used to store milk or fruit juices, first clean it with a dishwashing soap before doing this step.
• Cleaning the exterior – this step is not as hard as the first one and is much simpler. All you need to do is to wipe clean the outside of the bottle using a soft cloth with a small amount of vinegar to match. After doing so, rinse the bottle with regular water.
• Cleaning the cap - compared to the main bottle, the cap provides a much better hiding place for dirt and other unwanted substances and can cause unpleasant odor and taste to the water over time. To clean off your bottle caps, simply wipe it off with a cloth soaked with vinegar and set it aside for 5-10 minutes before rinsing it off with water.
• Using the right materials – cleaning your water bottles with the right materials especially for stainless steel ones can help you use them for a longer period of time. The right and proper cleaning materials include bottle brush, vinegar, baking soda or any solution specifically made for cleaning water bottles, and warm water.

Here are a selection of our best water bottles both stainless steel and bpa free plastics

Because we follow the idea of eating gluten free and low carbs we have adapted lots of the paleodiet recipes.

Here is a recipe for “rice” gluten free, dairy free and paleo food friendly.

And So simple and delicious!

• Take 1 head of caluiflower and just it so it can fit nicely into a dutch type pan

• boil 5 cups of water or enough to boil the califlower
• Let it boil until the califlower becomes soft and sort of crumbly
• drain ( becareful it’s hot & steamy!0
• Put into a pretty serving bowl and a dollop of earthbalance dairy free butter, or your favorite oil and in less than 10 minutes you have rice!!!!

So simple and a great side to have around.

But the group says the science isn’t yet strong enough to advocate infant formulas containing probiotics. And probiotics shouldn’t be given to children who are seriously ill.

That’s according to a new American Academy of Pediatrics report published Monday in the journal, Pediatrics.

About 500 different bacteria live naturally in a healthy human’s intestinal tract, and there’s a growing understanding of the role they play in health. For years, companies have been making claims that their probiotic pills, yogurts, milks and juices help digestive health and the immune system.

The new report summarizes findings from high-quality scientific studies on some of the active ingredients in the products. The report says probiotics taken early during diarrhea from a viral infection may shorten the illness in otherwise healthy children.

And probiotics also may prevent diarrhea in children who are taking antibiotics, which can sometimes cause the condition.

On the other hand, more evidence is needed before AAP can recommend probiotics for constipation, irritable bowel syndrome or Crohn’s disease. And there’s not enough evidence for recommending probiotics in pregnant women or infants to prevent eczema or asthma.

Future research may find more benefits, the report says. And “prebiotics,” which contain fiber and other nutrients that feed probiotic bacteria, also may someday prove helpful.

One warning: Children with compromised immune systems or who use intravenous catheters should not receive probiotics because serious infections have been reported.

The bacteria in the products are only helpful if they’re alive, which isn’t always the case.

“Consumers should keep in mind that a large percentage of organisms in a probiotic supplement may die before the product is even purchased and labels can be misleading or incorrect,” said Dr. Tod Cooperman, president of ConsumerLab.com, which tests products and reports on their quality.

The company tested probiotic supplements last year. Two children’s probiotics contained only 7 percent and 21 percent of the listed amounts. Cooperman suggested that products be stored in sealed containers out of heat, light and humidity. He said it’s best to refrigerate them.

___

Online:

American Academy of Pediatrics: http://www.aap.org

Copyright © 2010 Yahoo! Inc. All rights reserved.

Vapur water bottle

Traveling this winter? Hate throwing away unused or partially empty single use water bottles?

Did you know that the Vapur bottle is the perfect water bottle for travel.

Don’t you hate when you buy a water bottle and have to throw it away at the gate or worse at security?  We understand the logic but we cringe every time we see waste. That’s why we are so thankful for the Vapur water bottles.

If you need a water bottle that is portable and folds up readily when you are through using it, then the Vapur anti-water bottle is the answer.

1. The vapur bottle is portable, so you can fill it up at home or at the airport once you’ve made it through the gate

Vapur water bottle on purse

2. The Vapur bottle is foldable and does not take a lot of room.  It’s flat and foldable so no need to carry bulky reusbale water bottles as the vapur bottle is a better choice due to it’s compactness.

3. The Vapur water bottle is BPA free and made in the USA

This bottle, which comes in such colorful hues such as green, purple, blue, and pink as well as a more subdued shade of smoke, can be easily transported in your pocket, glove compartment or purse whenever it’s not being making the Vapur bottle the perfect choice for travel!

Click here to check out the Vapur bottles