Coconut Milk Yogurt

Ok so I tried this but I either did something wrong or coconut should not be sour. Even the pre made stuff I bought at the whole foods store did not taste great. I guess it is a good alternative for someone that just cannot eat any dairy. My understanding is that if you get whole milk from a cow that has not been pasteurized then it is possible that even a lactose intolerant person can digest the milk and the yogurt made from the whole milk because the probiotics and the natural bacteria in the milk naturally help to break it down and do some of the work your body is unable to do. Ok so I am going to find some real milk and make some real yogurt. Watch for my video!!

Gone Grain Free and the 17 Day Diet

Ok so by default I have gone grain free. This is probably the best thing I have ever done and the best adjustment to my diet I have ever made. Ok I lie I have had the occasional gluten free oatmeal. I do not have Celiac but I do have some sort of wheat allergy that causes me to rash, so I know that the possibility is there that it could get worse.

I recently decided to do the 17 day diet. This diet is pretty good and does promote a grain free diet at least for the first 2-3 phases. In phase 4 or the maintenance phase you can add in all the foods you used to eat within reason. They really encourage no carbs after 2pm, and they encourage unprocessed home-cooked meals. Eating out really makes it hard to stick to this diet.

Yeah and alcohol is carbs people no matter how you shake it(or pour it!) it is restricted at least in phases 1 and 2(accelerate and activate). Then in phase 3 (Achieve)you can have a wine in place of a fruit.....wow, before 2pm?? HMMMM how does that work???

Dry.....

I am currently alcohol free. I will be starting another blog with the main theme of why alcohol is one of the worst, most numbing,and depressive drugs around. And they say that marijuana is a gateway drug. I've seen just as much or more damage from alcohol. My mother, aunt, and grandfather were all raging alcoholics. I truely believe that even though my mom was a recovering alcoholic for 38 years that it still killed her from a distance so to speak. I participated in sponsoring alcoholics with my my mom who worked the AA 12 step program, was in alanon, and was an alateen sponsor. I will be posting my new blog from this blog when it is set up! Click Here!

Take The First Step to......

Really want to get healthy? I mean really??? Are you sure? How determined are you? Do talk to yourself about getting started on a healthy lifestyle and maybe losing weight but never really pick up the ball and run with it? Do know how to start?  What is motivating you?  Do you have a family history of heart disease, diabetes, cancer, high blood pressure or some other debilitating disease that is motivating you to attack  your weight or lifestyle??   Are you realizing that somewhere down the line your lifestyle habits will affect the quality of your life when you are older??  Do want to set a good example for your children, see them grow up, watch your grandchildren graduate from high school....etc???? Honestly answer these questions to yourself!! America is getting fatter and fatter and fatter, so......
Here are a couple of things to watch:

Fat Sick and Nearly Dead
Super Size It
The Weight of the Nation  This one especially!

Everyone should watch "The Weight of the Nation." This film is really educates about how we as a nation got where we are today and how it will affect the next generation. If you have all ready seen any of these documentaries, please comment!

Health in America....the obesity epidemic is just devastating us as a race! Although it started rather innocently....it started.

Yoga Yoga Yoga

So......hello to everyone. It has been some time since I posted so just to update everyone, I have been very busy!  On the health scene I have been exploring yoga!  Specifically Bikram, but I would like to explore other types as well. Damn that room is hot!  Anyone like to comment on their experience with hot yoga??? I would love to hear what you think and any benefits you have had from your practice.  My verdict is not in yet. I know that when I come out of that room I feel drained and can barely move for a few minutes. As I come out of the room and look around me I see that everyone else seems to have the same reaction.

If you are unfamiliar with Bikram Yoga. It consists of 26 poses in a room heated to 105 degrees Fahrenheit at 40% humidity for 90 minutes! Whew.....But for some reason, I keep going back?????

Stephanie McDaniel

Real Estate Consultant

HomeLife Results Realty

 http://stephanie.spring-katytexashomes.com

832-347-1949

 

Going Grain Free- Be A Caveman

Heard of the Paleo movement, or grain free living?

I have been experimenting with this phenomemon because I know that I am allergic to something but don't know what exactly. I believe that many of our ailments are food based. Problems such as obesity, diabetes, IBS, celiac disease, skin rashes, hormonal problems and probably dozens of other health problems can be attributed to what we put in our body. Our society has put processed food on the frontline, and more people die in America due to obesity than famine. Very sad, since so many other countries are starving to death.

I believe that nutrition should be a required course starting in elementary school! Ok, off my soapbox!
About going grain free... this is what it consists of and why it works.
NO flour or grains and that includes all kinds of flour. Here is what you can eat-------

•Meat
•Fish
•Plants
•Vegetables
•Fruits
•Nuts and Seeds
NO soy or dairy. Although I do a little goatcheese

Excuse me but do you see, pasta, corn tortillas, or even rice!? This lifestyle is also gluten free so if you have a gluten allergy you are good to go! If you are trying to reduce your size this is definitely for you! A few people include things such as buckwheat and quinoa in the diet but a true paleo diet does not include these pseudo- grains. Make no mistake no grain enthusiasts are not Atkin's lover's, in fact they promote very small amounts of animal protein while encouraging lots of veggies, nuts, seeds, and small amounts of fruit if you need to be careful of your sugar intake. Of course meat and eggs should be grassfed and organic.  I am including a couple of websites with more of the science and some recipes if you are interested. The biggest improvement I have noticed is my energy levels have improved, my blood sugar is stable, and I have less aches and pain. Grains are related to imflammation as you will discover. This diet originates from the thought that we should eat more like our paleolithic ancestors before processed food existed.  They just were not into cupcakes and bialy's back then..yep not discovered yet.  Check these sights out if you want to learn more and improve your health for the better!
http://www.livingpaleo.com/the-paleo-diet/
http://healthylivingwithmelissa.blogspot.com/2011/04/grains-go-against-grain-for-healthy.html
http://www.elanaspantry.com/    (for recipes)

Here are some grain free pancakes!

Why are baby teeth so important???

Wanted to address something with all you  new mom's and dad's out there. As you all probably already know I am a Registered Dental Hygienist by profession and have been practicing for 20 years. In all those years one of the most common statements I hear from parents  when told that their 5 year old has mulitple cavities is , "Well it doesn't matter because the baby teeth will just fall out anyway!"

Your baby's teeth

Well guess what, it does matter! Without the baby(deciduous teeth) there is nothing there to hold the place(or position) for the permanent teeth to erupt. Kids lose their last baby tooth at about 12. So, if your child loses those teeth too early and the space is not held by a space maintaining device until the permanent tooth is developed and ready to erupt, the permanant tooth can become impacted or come in just wrong......(malpositioned or crooked)

Unfortunately to fix the result of early loss of baby teeth, it can cost money, extra time at the dental office,  more pain and discomfort for your child, and extra time in orthodontics when the child gets older. So, the bottom line is maintain your baby's mouth. Take them to the dentist early(by 3 yrs old) and regularly(every 6 months). Brush their teeth twice a day, and floss( yes floss!)once per day.  Limit sugar, juice, junk food ,and take away the bottle during the night(water is ok). Take away the binky as soon as you can as this can alter jaw development, and speech development. According to pediatricians, at 18 months the pacifier and the bottle should be gone altogether. To many it may seem difficult to take away your baby's bottle and pacifier because it is a comfort for them and easier for you, but in the long run you will be helping them tremendously and they will be thanking you later. I promise.

Adult teeth