I LOVE KEFIR! (AND I DON’T MEAN SUTHERLAND

Most people have never heard of KEFIR, much less ingested it, but I will say that not only is it a nutritional powerhouse but I would drink it as religiously as taking my vitamins. For those of you that have never heard of kefir, it is yogurt- like drink that has been used for food and health purposes for thousands of years. You can even make your own Kefir at home, but most of us don’t have enough time to buy it much less culture kefir in our kitchens. Don’t worry you can get this tasty drink at some grocery stores and certainly in health food stores or WHOLEFOODS.

Kefir can be made of cow, goat, sheep’s milk or even coconut, rice or soy milk. The milk is inoculated with kefir grains which are a combination of bacteria and yeasts. It is a cultured, enzyme rich food that is also high in lactic acid. It is a probiotic which creates the colonization of healthy bacteria in your digestive tract. It is actually more nutrient rich than yogurt because it has more than double the amount of active cultures. My favorite Kefir brand is LIFEWAY, which offers a huge variety of products. I drink the unsweetened plain Kefir every day. If you like the plain PINKBERRY, you will love this flavor. Of course, try other brands to find your own taste preference.

LIFEWAY yogurt contains 10 strains of friendly bacteria:

L. LACTIS
L. RHAMNOSUS
L. CREMORIS
L. PLANTARUM
L. CASEI
B. LONGUM
B. BREVE
S. FLORENTINUS
L. ACIDOPHILUS

I am a big “bang for your buck” eater and buyer, so if your kefir does not contain all of these bacteria, you are not getting the best.

The benefits of this drink are huge. Studies show that Kefir:

1. Stimulates digestion of other foods
2. Improves immunity by stimulating microphages that fight pathogens
3. Makes your intestinal tract more resistant to pathogens like e. coli and listeria.
4. Works as a mild laxative and promotes regular bowel movements
5. More easily digested than other dairy products
6. As part of your daily dairy intake, it can help with weight loss efforts
7. Calcium and B-Vitamin rich
8. Can be consumed by Lactose intolerant persons
9. May help fight against common cold
10. High in protein and low in fat

BOOST THAT ENERGY GIRL!

When asked if woman could change something about their health, it is that they would like to have more energy. The elusive “energy”. We seek it out so we could do more of the same crap that we hate to do every day but in a more lively fashion. Nevertheless, we need and it and really don’t feel so well when we feel sluggish. After reviewing a food journal for one of my sisters, (yes, I am talking about you Antonete) who often complains of low energy, I found a number of bad habits that she has fallen into that are common for most women. After some assessment, I pulled together some sure fire ways of getting the lead out.

START WITH SLEEP- it is the foundation of it all. Try getting at least 7-8 hours. I know it sounds like a luxury to most of you all, but do you really need to watch that last show, or go out so often? Rest up, so you can function better in everything you do. If sleeping is the problem, make it your goal to relax, meditate or take a long hot bath.

NIX SUGARY FOODS- don’t use sugar to keep your energy levels up. I know it’s tempting around 4:00 pm to grab a bag of M&M’s, but it the energy lasts for a small burst and you feel like crap after the sugar rush. Then, you crave more and there you go – up and down. Eat a high fiber carb like cereal or nosh on some fresh fruit.

DRINK WATER- nothing causes fatigue like dehydration. Most sluggish feeling are linked with not drinking often enough, but it the feelings become attributed to other things like hunger. Quench and refresh, keep a bottle of libation with you all the time

EAT OFTEN- having mini meals throughout the day will keep you humming all day. You will feel full, satiated and your blood sugar levels will be steady. Don’t make the mini meals more than 300 calories each and keep them high in protein and fiber.

TAKE A WALK- whenever you get that feeling of nodding off when you are at work-take it outside for a quick walk. Ten minutes of sunlight and quick activity will get your blood flowing. Climb the stairs in your building, walk to work or use your lunch break to take a turn around the block. Keep moving!

CAFFEINE IS FINE- but please use it in moderation and stop all caffeinated beverages after 3:00 pm. Caffeine takes about six hours to be eliminated from you system, and it is important for it not to interrupt your sleep patterns. Add some cinnamon in you latte for an aromatic energy kick.

Since energy is also inversely related to mood, it is important to also try to identify if your lagging around stems from poor habits or depression or it can be a symptom of illness. Take some time to try my tips and if you see no improvement, please see your doctor. If the tips work, then I expect a check in the mail.

Fiorella

Secrets for a Fabulous Face

Every time someone compliments my skin I wince. I used to have horrible acne in my teens and early twenties and even now with clear skin; my first reaction to a compliment is to doubt it. But the truth is, it does look pretty good, a far cry from my days as an embarrassed child. I remember becoming really obsessed with a cure, there was so much contradicting information out there like ‘don’t eat chocolate’ to “oily food give you acne", or as my mother used to say, “your acne will go away when you get married”.

Remind me not to listen to my mother. I went to doctors and had numerous experiences with antibiotics, read everything on the subject and tried every new product I could get my hands on. Finally a combo of ortho-tri cyclen (FDA approved birth control pill that helps acne, Retin-A and good eating habits, works its synergistic miracle on my skin.

If you do suffer from irregular periods and you really have bad acne, talk to your doctor about birth control that can help you regulate your hormones. Don’t overdo it with facial products or clean your face too often, it strips the surface of your skin of its natural oils and produces more oil to overcompensate. I wash my face with plain Dove soap at night and I just rinse in the morning.

Forget throwing your money away of skin products that have small amounts of active ingredients and go for the gold- with Retina-A. It takes a while for your skin to get used to it but find your comfort zone, every other day or every three days; use trial and error-it really works. Don’t forget sun protection. Since the age of twelve, not one day goes by, rain or shine, that I don’t wear sunscreen on my face- it is imperative.

The other important change I made in my pursuit of clear skin was what I put in my body. I began to pass fruit stands and vegetable aisles thinking; these foods will nourish and heal my skin. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, foods rich in lean proteins and whole grains are essential for your skin. The antioxidant power of fruits and leafy greens fight free radicals from stress, pollution and sun. Eating low glycemic foods do not cause inflammation that usually associated with acne. Eating less sugar also slows the aging of your skin.

Your skin is a clear indication of what is happening inside your body.

Cleansing your system with detoxing food like fiber and probiotics, found in yogurts, keep your system clean of toxins. Water keeps you hydrating and boosts your body’s elimination of accumulated wastes from your cells. Foods rich in vitamin C helps with sun damage repair, while foods that contain vitamin A help speed up the repair of skin. Biotin rich foods contain components necessary to rebuilding new hair, skin and nails.

Keep in mind that there are clear ways to age your skin faster and slow the healing of damaged skin. Smoking will deplete the skin’s ability to retain constant levels of vitamins in your system; smoking thins your skin and ages it dramatically. No sun protection is another culprit, it is easy and a no brainer- slather on some sunscreen. Sugar and white carbs cause inflammation in your skin.

Everyone’s skin can be different but the basic concepts of skin care; prevention and nourishment are guaranteed better skin. Choose your foods wisely and make some important lifestyle changes. Your skin will be glowing in no time.

Fiorella

Women, Stop Whining! 3 Myths About Aging Smashed

If I hear one more woman whine about how she doesn’t have the body she used to or how hard it is for her to stay in shape as she gets older, I will scream. People have a tendency to play victim and therefore lower any expectation of themselves. It is definitely an easier tactic than to actually work hard and assert yourself.

What some women don’t understand is that buying into stereotypes of about aging only hurts their psyche in the long run and affects their female children in the process. Since aging is a physiological and psychological process I will attempt to tie them together by rejected some long held beliefs on the subject. I will call them myths, because soon they will be a tale of the past.


MYTH #1- YOU ARE DESTINED TO GAIN WEIGHT WITH AGE- age doesn’t get you fat, eating to much does. The idea that your metabolism slows gradually as the years go by is determined by your fitness level and diet and not inevitable. I remember visiting a cousin in italy before she was to be married and noticed that many of the nightgowns she was receiving as gifts were four sizes larger, for that inevitable after marriage weight gain. Ten years and one child later she looks better than ever, so much for that old wives tale. Keep your protein intake high and vary your workout routines and activity so you won’t be bored. Eggs, lean protein and low-fat dairy.

MYTH #2- MEN AGE BETTER THAN WOMEN-this one is my all time favorite moron thing to say. The reason this concept has taken hold in culture because in the past (and sometimes in the present) woman have married older men. Obviously the reasons for marrying grandpa is based in financial security not his sexy body. My mother’s Old Italian proverb about women desperate to marry says “woman would marry horses if they didn’t break the sheets” (it rhymes in Italian.) This myth is easy to disprove by just looking around. Women take better care of themselves by nature of our culture and when she’s hot she’s hot. No matter how old she is. To keep your skin glowing fill up on antioxidant rich foods and stay out of the sun! Berries, yogurt and dark greens.

MYTH #3- YOUR BODY WILL NEVER BE THE SAME AFTER BABY- this could be true, because your body can actually be better. Women constantly fret about this time in their lives as much as they rejoice in it. Our culture has tended to desexualize mothers but again this is all stereotyping. The funny thing is, women know this but somehow still succumb to the anxiety about it. Just because you give birth, it doesn’t mean the mom jeans have to come out. Weight training three times a week will keep your metabolism boosted. Green tea will give you energy to keep it up. Fiber rich foods and whole grains.

Age is in the head of the worrier so don’t have made up ideas get you down. Take care of yourself, eat well, be active and get your sleep.

Don’t short change yourself and live your life with gusto!!!

Fiorella