Nutritious Tidbits to feel better at the age you are today, every day:

• Olive oil: Never cook with extra virgin olive oil which should not be on high heat. Use regular olive oil cold pressed for frying on high heat.
• Milk: Use low fat milk.
• Oatmeal: Add walnuts and dried cranberries when cooking oatmeal. Top with brown sugar, maple syrup or honey.
• Juices: Always check to see that juices, in any form, do not have additional sugar added. Fruits already have a lot of sugar when pressed.  It is healthier to eat the fruit than drink the juice.
• Kiwi: Kiwi is an excellent source of vitamin C.
• Vitamin C and calcium are both good for controlling blood pressure.
• Cramps in your legs?  It may indicate lack of magnesium.  Halibut, dry roasted almonds and spinich are a few excellent sources of magnesium.
• Today’s consensus is that we should eat 5 fruits and vegetables daily.

Grandma Nature

Walnuts for AgeEsteem

Most people love walnuts, either in brownies or cookies or other delights. Did you know that walnuts are very healthy as well as being delicious? Next time you’re hungry and feel like a snack, eat a handful of walnuts.

Walnuts are healthy for your AgeEsteem.  They contribute to the prevention of health factors associated with aging.

Walnuts are rich in the omega-3 fatty acids which lower LDL, the “bad” cholesterol, thus reducing the risk of heart disease. Walnut oil is obviously good for cardiovascular health as well. In addition walnuts are rich in iron, protein and magnesium which is necessary for strong bones.  They are a very versatile food which can be added to vegetables as well as to desserts. So, when next baking or cooking, add some walnuts!

Waldorf Salad
Equal amounts of red apples, celery and walnuts, cut into small pieces.
Add one cup of sour cream and mix together.
Refrigerate and serve when needed.

Grandma Nature

Healthy Hair

The condition of our hair contributes to our personal image and age-esteem.  As we get older, our hair often begins to thin and we may even lose much of it.  (Good news for women. Typically, although women may lose hair, they rarely become bald like men do.)

What can you do to help your hair thrive?

• Brush your hair frequently to help the circulation go to the head. It will strengthened your hair, make it shiny and help prevent hair loss.
• Be sure to get enough iron in your diet.  Iron is very important in keeping hair healthy and to avoid hair loss. Iron is found in spinach, liver, shellfish, red meat and soybeans.

Note: Studies have shown that older people with a high iron content have the same type of brain activity as younger adults.

Grandma Nature

Time For Tea

Take time for tea. There is nothing like a cup of hot tea to warm and comfort. It has many medicinal uses as well.

Green and black tea are the most useful. Both are known to  prevent the coagulation of the arteries, thus preventing heart attacks.

The Japanese and Indians first discovered the anti-inflammatory properties of green tea many centuries ago. Green tea aids in the improvement of the functioning of the brain. It has been shown that brain activity in older people is equal to younger persons when tea is regularly drunk over a period of time.

In addition green tea contains fluoride which strengthens teeth and enamel.  At the same time it fortifies bones, which can offset osteoporosis. Older people must be especially careful as bones become more fragile, thus causing them to break should they fall.

There are beauty benefits in tea as well. Studies show that it fights premature aging and sharpens concentration. Nowadays we often see cosmetics, perfume and other beauty products proclaiming tea as an important and efficient ingredient in stopping the aging process from within and without.

Grandma Nature

Sunshine Vitamin D

Are you getting enough Vitamin D?  Vitamin D is an essential ingredient for the body, especially in preventing osteoporosis.  One in two women and one in four men (Yes, fellows, this also concerns you!) over age 50 will have an osteoporosis-related fracture.

Vitamin D is necessary to build strong bones and to fortify muscles. The good news is that a bit of sun each day directly on the skin can give you what you need.  It is even crucial because any vitamin D that has been consumed through foods cannot be processed without direct sunlight, thus the sunshine vitamin.

Vitamin D can only be found in a few foods such as egg yolk, fatty fish (salmon, mackerel, tuna, sardines), liver and butter.

We know  that it is dangerous to sit in the sun for long periods of time without using sunscreen, but since sunscreen prevents the sun from penetrating into the body, vitamin D  cannot be processed . For this reason vitamin D deficiency is very prevalent today as people are aware that they should not be overexposed to sun rays. However, just a few minutes of sun per day without suntan lotion will enable the vitamin D in the body to be effective.

So to build strong bones and muscles in order to prevent fallng and broken bones, complement your healthy diet and exercise with a daily dose of sunshine vitamin D.

Grandma Nature

Grapefruit brings many beneficial properties to your health.

In aromatherapy grapefruit essential oil is extracted and used to improve or treat various conditions such as lack of muscular tone, water retention and toxicity in the body.  Baths, massages and skin care products using grapefruit essential oil are age-esteem soothing and healthy.

Grapefruit with its high content of vitamin C is known to help  prevent cancer and decrease cholesterol in the body.  Vitamin C is also very successful in lowering  blood pressure. Pink grapefruit is rich in beta carotene which is good for the eyes.  Enjoy half a grapefruit as a dessert or snack.

The fruit should be eaten as opposed to being consumed as a juice because there are chemicals in the pulp which enhance its efficiency.  Studies today suggest that it is better to eat all fruit than to drink the juice.  Fruit juice is higher in sugar and enables bad cholesterol to form in the blood.

Grapefruit is also used in combination with other scents as the top note in some perfumes, emitting a fresh, citrus aroma.

Grandma Nature

Nature’s Pharmacy

Before modern medicine came into existence, people living in ancient civilization used vegetables, plants, herbs and spices to cure all kinds of diseases. This was true throughout Egypt, Rome, Greece and eastern cultures.

There is a pharmacy all around us.  It abounds in nature, growing within our reach. More and more studies confirm that there are medicinal properties in the food we eat.

Fruits and vegetables can help cure or contain diseases or improve medical conditions. Remember the old saying, «An apple a day keeps the doctor away»? Well, this is also true of bananas.  If eaten regularly, bananas help to lower blood pressure because of the high potassium content which can also control the regulation of sugar in the blood.  This is why athletes eat bananas when energy is needed; for example tennis players during a strenuous match.

Spices bring much to the body as well, calming pain just as cloves do for tooth aches.  Herbs are wonderful for beauty treatments and relaxation.

There is such a vast amount of knowledge today with proof that what we find growing in the earth can help us live longer and healthier lives. – As well as soothe our bodies and make us happy with their wonderful scents and calming effects. We actually feel younger!

Walking in nature among trees and flowers, in fields, in the mountains, alongside lakes and rivers, and gardening in our own backyard lower blood pressure. – And uplift the soul.

J.B.