CHEWING

Guess you are trying to figure out what this blog will be all about. Well, chewing is about losing weight. Bet you didn't think about that!! Chewing results in better health, improved digestion and higher absorption of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients. And best of all - it doesn't cost you anything!! Amazing things happen when you chew your food slowing. All digestion starts in your mouth as your saliva acts as a highly complex factory. Saliva contains calcium, phosphorus and fluoride molecules that act to promote the mineralization of eroded areas on the teeth. That is for starters. The actual action of chewing mechanically breaks down very large particles of food into smaller particles. No surprises there! By swallowing smaller pieces of food, your food is exposed to saliva for a longer period of time, resulting in less acidity in your stomach and better absorption of nutrients. For more healthy information sign on for my free semi-monthly newsletter. Go to www.healthstrategiestoday.com and opt in. Evelyn

"Clean 15"

Mangoes are one of the Environmental Working Group's "Clean 15" - these are the fruits and vegetables least likely to have harmful pesticide residues. This alone merits purchasing this fruit for its safety. Many of us pass up the multi-colored fruit because we have no clue how to prepare it or even how to pick a ripe one in the store.
Just one cup of mango supplies 80 percent of a day's vitamin C, 25 percent of a day's vitamin A, 7 percent of a day's blood-pressure lowering potassium and 3 grams of fiber, all for only 110 fat-free, sodium-free calories. The nutritional value of mangoes alone makes it a fruit to use regularly.
Look for a slightly soft fruit if you want to eat it soon and store at room temperature or in the fridge if you aren't eating it immediately. Don't forget that you can add slices to a salad and there is also mango salsa.
This month's e-mail newsletter deals with reading food labels and the facts behind those % signs. Go to www.healthstrategiestoday.com and opt in for your free newsletter. Evelyn

Scary information!!

My daughter asked me to write some information for kids on nutrition today and while researching it I came upon some very scary information regarding our food supplies.
Did you know that in the United States, Farmers use 1.5 billion pounds of pesticides and that these pesticides end up in about 1/2 the food we eat? Why? Only about 1 percent of food shipments in the US are tested for pesticides..Kind of scary, isn't it?
Some Apple Growers use 24 different types of pesticides on apples! Those facts certainly bring home the fact that we need to start buying more organic foods and foods from the farmers markets that are grown locally. This is a grass roots effort that is starting to see a tremendous upswing in people really watching what they put into their bodies. I will be talking about the right way to read food labels in my upcoming newsletter. To get your free copy just click on www.healthstrategiestoday.com and opt-in. Yours in good health, Evelyn of Health Strategies Today.

Acid or Alkaline - does it matter?

As promised, I am writing about acidity in your body today. Our bodies should have a ph of 7.0 anything above is alkaline and anything below is acidic. When your body becomes too acidic you can have symptoms such as frequent sighing, insomnia, water retention, arthritis,migraine headaches and acid reflux to name a few of the problems that can arise. An acidic body is a sickness magnet.
About 80 per cent of our diet should come from alkaline forming foods and 20 per cent from acid-forming foods. When there is too much acidity in the body our cells start to become deprived of oxygen and inflammation starts to occur. If inflammation continues for a long period of time - other more major diseases can start to form. So it is important to make sure you eat lots of fruits and vegetables which are mostly alkaline forming. Apples, bananas,tomatoes, green veggies, beans and seeds and nuts are alkaline. For a more complete list of alkaline and acidic foods you can e-mail me at healthstrategiestoday@gmail and in the subject line put in acidic. I will e-mail you a list back. To become a subscriber to my free twice monthly newsletter, go to my website at www.healthstrategiestoday.com and opt-in. Evelyn Lyerly, Certified Nutritional Consultant.

Toxins and the Eyes

I was reading the other day about all the toxins in our environment and learned something new that I would like to share. I know that the skin is the largest organ of our body and that toxins get into our bloodstream through the skin. That is why it is so important to watch what you put on our skin. But what I didn’t think about but now realize is true is how the toxins get into our eyes also. It was pointed out to me that the major source of toxins that we take into our eyes comes from the images that cause bad emotions. So think about all the video games that show violence, all the violence on t.v. that we watch not to mention our local news. Repeated exposure to negative, ugly and disturbing images causes the body to become acidic. I will write about acidity in the body next time. But we are now being exposed to 1000 times the amount of negativity than just 20 years ago. No wonder our rates of cancer, heart disease and obesity are so high!!! To receive my semi-monthly health newsletter go to www.healthstrategiestoday.com and opt-in. Evelyn

GET OFF THE TREADMILL!!

I am hearing of more and more people going to the gym and using treadmills when the best exercise with the most bang for your buck is free. I am talking about going outside and walking at a brisk pace for 1/2 hour to 1 hour a day. Not only will you lose weight by doing that but you will also have other benefits from those walks. First you will be getting extra vitamin D into your system. As I am doing my hair analysis I am seeing more and more people having a problem with calcium because their vitamin D levels are low. Another benefit is that you are breathing in clean oxygen instead of the polluted oxygen from the gym. Walking outside and looking at the trees and landscaping is so much more soothing than working out on a treadmill. So by walking 1/2 - 1 hour a day you not only will be losing weight, you will also have side benefits of increased oxygen intake, meditative benefits, and most importantly an increase in vitamin D. To sign up for my free semi-monthly newsletters go to www.healthstrategiestoday.com. Evelyn

Our meats are banned in other countries!!!

Had a customer the other day who moved here from Switzerland. Did you know that meat from the US is not allowed into their country because of the contamination in our meats? Think about that!! Their government won't allow our meats into their country because of all the unhealthy chemicals in the meat - but we sit here in this country and eat it without a protest. Why do we sit and allow the big corporations to keep poisoning us in our food supplies. Most of the food we eat has already been genetically altered. No one knows what that is going to do to our health 5, 10 years from now. Think about it! We are the richest country in the world, yet we have the highest incidences of cancer, heart disease and diabetes. Not to mention obesity. Why is that? That is why I say loud and clear that we should try to buy locally. Not only is the food fresher (not having sat in a warehouse for who knows how many days) but if it is organic than it is also double nutritious. And it really doesn't have to be so very expensive. Buying locally is less expensive and saves money in the long run. For more information go to www.healthstrategiestoday.com and sign up for my semi-monthly newsletter to help you lose weight, gain energy and get healthy. Evelyn

The benefits of nuts!!!

Some of the best snacks you can enjoy (in moderation) are nuts, and almonds in particular. A diet tip is to keep a small handful in your pocket to snack on but only eating one at a time and savoring the flavor. They are also low on the glycmic table so they are particularly good as a snack.

Botanically speaking, almonds are related to cherries, plums and peaches. One of their common traits is producing the most fantastic blooms every spring. Experts agree the first almond varieties originated in China. Throughout history almonds have always been associated with good luck.

The health benefits are plentiful - almonds contain:
Monounsaturated fats, protein,calcium, and magnesium. Amazing to get all of that from one little nut. For more health information, log onto www.healthstrategiestoday.com and opt-in for our free semi-monthly newsletter. Evelyn

Cinnamon - small but mighty

Cinnamon is another spice that gets overlooked for its health benefits. Of course, all spices that you are using for health should be organic. Cinnamon has been used for thousands of years in the East for a variety of complaints, including colds, flu, and as a general stimulant. It warms the body and is thought to aid in the digestion of fats (good ingredient for cakes and cookies. Cinnamon is also just plain good for small tummy pains and it helps to relieve internal gas. It is useful for diabetics and to aid in weight loss. Like aloe, that humble but succulent plant, cinnamon should be a kitchen essential. Aloe for stove burns, cinnamon for cuts. So add that cinnamon to your food for a healthy and yummy taste!! For more health information sign up for our free semi-monthly newsletter at www.healthstrategiestoday.com. Evelyn Lyerly

The Problem of Pain

Almost everyone knows someone who suffers from joint pain of some kind. That is why there are so many products on the market to relieve the pain. From a natural perspective, the goal should not just be to mask the pain, but to correct the core problem so that the pain does not continue or return. Some of the reasons joint pain may keep coming back are:
poor digestion because of poor choices of foods
lack of good minerals to aid in the absorption of calcium
poor elimination which causes an increase in toxicity
lack of exercise which causes stiffness
poor diet which doesn't provide the necessary building blocks
lack of good water to build, repair, or cleanse tissues.
To learn more go to www.healthstrategiestoday.com and sign up for our free semi-monthly newsletter. Evelyn

Benefits of Coconut Oil

Coconut oil helps you lose weight, gives you more energy and even protects against heart disease. Coconut Oil can boost metabolism by raising the body temperature and giving you quick energy. The body never stores this fatty acid so the body gets quick energy. It also helps to kill fungi and viruses.
To receive my free semi-monthly newsletter on health, go to www.healthstrategiestoday.com and opt -in for the newsletter.
Evelyn Lyerly
Nutritional Consultant
healthstrategiestoday@gmail.com

The New Power Fruit?

There is much to be said for the old saying of "an apple a day keeps the doctor away". Apples are great sources of fiber and potassium and have a low glycemic load for those with diabetes or dieting. But please make sure you only eat organic apples as conventional apples are the second most pesticide-laden type of produce. A nationwide study found that people who consumed apples were less likely to have a large waist and had a decreased likelihood of high blood pressure. For more help in feeling your best, go to my website www.healthstrategiestoday.com and click on product to learn about the amazing health benefits of Body Balance.

Spices that Heal

Some additional spices to add to the list on Tuesday that I sent out.
ROSEMARY - fights free radicals and inflammation and bacteria. It is one of the earliest plants to be used for food, medicine and magic. Rosemary was burned at shrines in ancient Greece and in the Middle Ages was thought to drive away evil spirits and protect against plague. It makes a good food preservative.
TUMERIC - lots of attention is being given to this spice nowadays. It is high in minerals and vitamins, especially vitamin C. In Chinese herbalism it is used for bruises, sores, toothache. It is an ancient spice that gives curry its deep golden color, and it reduces inflammation in the body that causes pain.
To learn more healthy tips, go to my website www.healthstrategiestoday.com and opt in for my free semi-monthly newsletter. Evelyn

Spices that Heal

Ginger has antinausea properties by shutting down a nerve receptor in the body that triggers vomiting. Great for morning sickness.
Basil is rich in antioxidants which help boost your immune system. Use fresh basil liberally in food or slice strawberries, toss with honey and set aside for 15 minutes until juicy.
Cinnamon - helps to fight type 2 diabetes. Studies show that cinnamon contains a substance that can help cells respond to insulin. Try to get 1/2 teaspoon a day.
For more healthy tips sign up for my free newsletter at www.healthstrategiestoday.com.

How many vitamins should I be taking?

People often ask if they should be worried about getting too much of a particular vitamin. While our bodies require certain nutrients that can be obtained through supplements, dosage can be the difference between benefit and harm. So how can you tell what your body needs and doesn't need. First and foremost you should always read the labels and discuss your supplements with a nutritional consultant. Never forgetting that fortified foods can ead to a higher intake than is recommended or that your body needs. To avoid any potential for toxicity or overdose, you may want to choose a supplement routine that is designed for you by a nutritionist and takes overall dosages into account.
A mineral hair analysis will tell you what minerals you are in need of and also if you have any toxic metals in you. For more information regarding a hair analysis go to my website at www.healthstrategiestoday.com and click on products. Or e-mail me at healthstrategiestoday@gmail.com.

PHOSPHORUS

Phosphorus is a mineral. It is needed for blood clotting, bone and tooth formation, cell growth, contraction of the heart muscle, normal heart rhythm and kidney function and energy storage. A proper balance of magnesium, calcium and phosphorus should be maintained at all times. If one of these minerals is present in either excess or insufficient amounts, your body will be adversely effected. Excessive amounts of phosphorus interfere with calcium uptake. A diet high in processed cooked foods and junk food is a common culprit. Optimum phosphate levels also promote healthy metabolism, the utilization of many B-complex vitamins, proper muscle and nerve function, and calcium balance. The best way to determine what your mineral levels are and if they are all working in synergy is through a mineral hair analysis. Health Strategies Today offers this analysis and more information can be attained through www.healthstrategiestoday.com or e-mail: healthstrategiestoday@gmail.com

Curbing Your Sweet Tooth

Added sugars have become such a predominant feature of our American diet that we don't even realize how many foods that they are in. One of the main culprits is sugar drinks. I am not just talking Coke, Pepsi and Sprite. Now we are being told that sports drinks, energy drinks and sweetened teas are better for us. Folks, it's still sugar no matter what the name. Have you really checked the labels on all the foods you eat? Did you know that some pickles have sugar in them? We can't afford to eat this much sugar - think what it is doing to this generation of children. Check the label on that energy bar you are about to eat. Does it have loads of sugar? The average American swallows 350 - 475 calories worth of added sugars each day. We can't afford that many calories not to mention the health risks. When Harvard researchers traced more than 88,000 women for 24 years, they found that - regardless of weight - those who drank at least two sugar-sweetened beverages a day had a 20 percent higher risk of heart disease than those who drank less than one sugar-sweetened beverage a month. Go to my website www.healthstrategiestoday.com to opt-in for my free semi-monthly newsletter on healthy topics to help give you a life of filled with energy and vitality.

What's Wrong with Antidepressants?

Among other problems, they don’t work for more than half the people who take them. New findings from an investigation at the Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine suggest that antidepressants fall short because they’re aimed at the wrong biochemical targets in the brain. That is why you are now seeing adds on t.v. saying to take an additional drug if your are still depressed on your current antidepressant. And that is depressing!!! Chronic stress doesn’t cause the same molecular changes in the brain as depression, and undermines the belief that stress itself can be a major cause of depression. And most anti-depressants are more suited to treating stress than depression. Today's antidepressants are focus on the effect of depression not its cause. My belief is that we need to flood the entire body with nutrients, exercise and take mindful meditation or yoga, etc. to help the body get back to a good stage. This information is not to be confused with deep seated depression or clinical depression but mild depression that comes and goes. To sign up for my semi-monthly newsletter e-mail me at healthstrategiestoday@gmail.com. Just put sign up in the subject line.

SAD - Seasonal Affective Disorder.

Sad is assoicated with winter depression and feeling "normal" or very happy in the summer. Typically, individuals with Sad feel depressed; they generally slow down, oversleep, overeat, and crave carbohydrates int he winter. In the summer, these same people feel elated, active and energetic.
Because it’s a type of depression, there are a few basic choices you can make that will greatly help to improve your outlook.
Three strategies that are essential any time you’re dealing with any type of depression are:
· Increase high quality DHA/EPA. Your brain consists of about 60 percent fat; DHA specifically, so you need a constant input of essential fatty acids for your brain to work properly.
· Exercise – Physical exercise comes with all sorts of health benefits; one of them is improved mood control. In fact, it’s one of the most potent things you can do to prevent and treat depression.
· Abstain from sugar – Sugar in all its forms has a seriously detrimental impact on your brain function.
To order a high quality DHA/EPA product and/or to sign up for my semi-monthly newsletter go to www.healthstrategiestoday.com.

PROTEIN: ARE YOU GETTING TOO MUCH, TOO LITTLE AND DOES IT MATTER?

Protein is an important part of every diet regardless of age, gender, or ethnicity. While males generally require more protein than females, it remains an important part of both gender's diets. So what foods contain high amounts of protein? Beef, chicken, fish, and almost any other food that comes from an animal, such as milk or eggs, is high in protein. But when choosing a source of protein for yourself, there is more to consider than the protein content alone. Some of the above sources of protein are also high in fat which may be bad for you depending on your body type. It is important to remember than too much protein can be as unhealthy as not enough, as it has been linked to an increased risk of cancer and heart disease, as well as lower overall life expectancy. This is generally because when someone is eating too much protein it is from food sources and excesses of those sources that are not healthy. Of course, too much of anything can be bad.
For more information on this subject, e-mail me at healthstrategiestoday@gmail.com and I will send you the newsletter that just went out today with this information.

Almonds - good for you

Nut are some of the best snacks for you - in moderation of course, and almonds in particular. The benefits are plentiful - almonds contain:
1. They are a good source of protein which helps to sustain energy levels.
2. They have calcium which is good for the bones
3. They also contain magnesium which promotes normal blood pressure.
Of course it is best to eat the unsalted kind that you find at your health food store. Nuts are a great addition to yogurt or on a salad. When going to the health food store for your nuts - you will find that the nuts that are in season will cost you less money. For more information opt in for my semi-monthly newsletter at www.healthstrategiestoday.com

Haiti relief

I don't know about you but I have not seen in any of the news reports one Red Cross worker. But they sure are on the radio and t.v. asking for money. It was the same in New Orleans - they should be the first ones in - after all that is what their whole organization is about - helping those in need. But they are the last ones to show up at a disaster. Why is that?

Arthritis and Sulfur

Did you know that sulfur is the third most abundant mineral in the body after calcium and phosphorus? Sulfur is needed for the normal structure and function of proteins - important because, aside from water, most of the human body consists of protein. Sulfur can be found in egg yolks and some vegetables. For more information on this topic sign up for my semi-monthly newsletter by opting in on my website www.healthstrategiestoday.com.

Sulfur

Did you know that sulfur is the third most abundant mineral in the body after calcium and phosphorus? MSM which has 34 percent elemental sulfur in it is known to significantly reduce pain and improve physical functioning. Many people, especially seniors, don't get enough sulfur from their diets. Sulfur is needed for the normal structure and function of proteins - important because, aside from water, most of the human body consists of protein. For more health information go to my website, www.healthstrategiestoday.com and opt in for the free e-mail newsletter.

ARTHRITIS

Arthritis is not a modern ailment – it has been with us since the beginning of time. Archeologists have discovered evidence of the disorder in the skeletons of Neanderthals and other prehistoric mammals, and even dinosaurs. Still, as long as this disorder has plagued humankind, conventional medicine remains confounded as to why it occurs.
In the search for the cause of arthritis, many things have been considered, including diet, physical exercise, posture, climate, hormones, infections, genetics, old age and stress. Most of these factors have proved relevant to some arthritis sufferers. The occurrence of the symptoms of arthritis or any type of arthritic disease is the result of an accumulation of stresses that eventually cause joint, bone and muscle degeneration.
To get a white paper on this disease, e-mail me at healthstrategiestoday@gmail.com and put arthritis in the subject line. I will e-mail you the white paper on nutritional ways to help relieve the pain of arthritis.

Cancer and the Immune System

There is an e-mail going around for the 2nd time regarding cancer that purports to be from John Hopkins. I researched it and could not find anything from John Hopkins to validate it. However, some of the information in the article is correct and should be taken to heart, some should not. In the article they say that cancer cells are in everyone?s body and that the problem arises when we become nutritionally deficient and therefore the cancer cells start to multiply. This is why it is so very important to make sure that you are able to metabolize all of the nutrients in our body so that our body can have a strong immune system. A strong immune system is the very best way to stay healthy and not get ill. Scientists have verified that the human body is designed to live a healthy, not sickly life, until well past 100 years of age. But in our country we are becoming sicker at an earlier age. It is time that we take our health back into our own hands and stop listening to all the t.v. commercials from those with their own wealth and not our health in their minds. Check out your nutritional health by getting a mineral hair analysis. Go online to my website ? www.healthstrategiestoday.com and click on products to order your anaylsis today.

The cold season is here

And I mean that two ways. It seems most of the country is suffering in the coldest weather in history and everywhere I turn, people are getting colds. The only way to really combat illness is to boost up your immune system. Body Balance does just that, it goes down to your cellular level and nourishes your cells.
You can learn more about Body Balance by going to my website www.healthstrategiestoday.com and clicking on product.

Stress

Did you know that we aren't the only stressed out civilization? New research from The University of Western Ontario proves stress has plagued humans for hundreds and perhaps thousands of years.
The first study of its kind, published in the Journal of Archaeological Science, detected the stress hormone cortisol in the hair of ancient Peruvians, who lived between 550 and 1532 A.D. And we think the ancient civilizations had it so easy!! When an individual is stressed -- due to real or perceived threats -- cortisol is released into nearly every part of the body, including blood, saliva, urine and hair. A mineral hair analysis can show what the effects of stress are having on all the minerals in your body. For more information on hair analysi go to my website: www.healthstrategiestoday.com and click on articles and learn more about the benefits of a mineral hair analysis. Evelyn Lyerly