One of the healtiest choices you can make (IMO)...

... Is getting a pet.

Here are 27 reasons why.

I know I've said before that my dog has gotten me off the couch more often then I care to admit, but there are other things she does for me too.  She may help with my blood pressure, keep me from being depressed and she gives me something to care for and my cat might be keeping my heart healthy!

If you have children, studies show that if they grow up with pets they are less likely to develop allergies - this might be why I have none.

Your overall health is important and I really think having a pet is a big help with that.

Can't have a pet?  I've been there!  You can volunteer to be a dog walker at your local SPCA or shelter - exercise for you and the dog gets out of his or her cage for an hour.  I volunteered before we got Layla and I found myself going every single day, this is why we went and got our own dog.  =)

Seriously, go down to your local shelter right now and volunteer to walk dogs or play with the cats OR adopt one!  There are 1000's of animals waiting for their forever homes right now (some of them won't make it) so don't shop, adopt!  And get healthier while you're saving a life.  <3

Are you Alkaline?

So I woke up today to find this in my news feed on Facebook, obviously I read the entire thing before I even got out of bed.  This is info I've been reading more and more about as of late and so I did a little research today... Here's 3 lists I came up with (and by I, I do mean the internet):

"Alkaline Foods List: Foods to Eat Freely..."*

This an Alkaline Foods List Showing Alkaline "Ash" "Ash" is a term used to describe the waste product of certian foods after it has been metabolized through the digestive tract. The following is a list of common foods with an approximate, relative potential of acidity (-) or alkalinity (+), as present in one ounce of food.

Vegetables

Brussels Sprouts

+0.5

Barley Grass

+28.1

White Beans (Navy Beans)

+12.1

Peas, Ripe

+0.5

Soy Sprouts

+29.5

Granulated Soy (Cooked

Asparagus

+1.3

Sprouted Radish Seeds

+28.4

Ground Soy Beans)

+12.8

Comfrey

+1.5

Sprouted Chia Seeds

+28.5

Soy Nuts (soaked Soy Beans

Green Cabbage, March Harvest

+2.0

Alfalfa Grass

+29.3

Then Air Dried)

+26.5

Lettuce

+2.2

Cucumber, Fresh

+31.5

Soy Lecithin (Pure)

+38.0

Onion

+3.0

Wheat Grass

+33.8

Cauliflower

+3.1

Nuts

White Cabbage

+3.3

Root Vegetables

Almonds

+3.6

Green Cabbage,

White Raddish (Spring)

+3.1

December Harvest

+4.0

Rutabaga

+3.1

Seeds

Savoy Cabbage

+4.5

Kohlrabi

+5.1

Sesame Seeds

+0.5

Lamb's Lettuce

+4.8

Horseradish

+6.8

Cumin Seeds

+1.1

Peas, Fresh

+5.1

Turnip

+8.0

Fennel Seeds

+1.3

Zucchini

+5.7

Carrot

+9.5

Caraway Seeds

+2.3

Red Cabbage

+6.3

Beet

+11.3

Rhubarb Stalks

+6.3

Red Radish

+16.7

Fats (Fresh, Cold-Pressed Oils)

Leeks (Bulbs)

+7.2

Summer Black Radish

+39.4

Olive Oil

+1.0

Watercress

+7.7

Borage Oil

+3.2

Spinach, March Harvest

+8.0

Fruits

Flax Seed Oil

+3.5

Chives

+8.3

Limes

+8.2

Evening Primrose Oil

+4.1

French Cut Green Beans

+11.2

Fresh Lemon

+9.9

Marine Lipids

+4.7

Sorrel

+11.5

Tomato

+13.6

Spinach (Other Than March)

+13.1

Avocado (Protein)

+15.6

Water

Garlic

+13.2

Spring, Mineral, or

Celery

+13.3

Non-Stored Organic

Ionized Water

varies

Cabbage Lettuce, Fresh

+14.1

Grains And Legumes

Coconut Water

+9.04

Endive, Fresh

+14.5

Buckwheat Groats

+0.5

Cayenne Pepper

+18.8

Spelt

+0.5

Straw Grass

+21.4

Lentils

+0.6

Shave Grass

+21.7

Soy Flour

+2.5

Dog Grass

+22.6

Tofu

+3.2

Dandelion

+22.7

Lima Beans

+12.0

Kamut Grass

+27.6

Soybeans, Fresh

+12.0

"Alkaline Foods: Foods to Eat Sparringly*... This a Chart of Food "Ash" pH "Ash" is a term used to describe the waste product of certian foods after it has been metabolized through the digestive tract. The following is a list of common foods with an approximate, relative potential of acidity (-) or alkalinity (+), as present in one ounce of food. Fish Non-Stored Grains Fresh Water Fish -11.8 Brown Rice -12.5 Wheat -10.1 Fruits (In Season, For Cleansing Only Nuts and Seeds Or With Moderation) Wheat Kernel -11.4 Rose Hips -15.5 Walnuts -8.0 Pineapple -12.6 Pumpkin Seeds -5.6 Mandarin Orange -11.5 Sunflower Seeds -5.4 Bananna, Ripe -10.1 Macadamia Nuts -3.2 Pear -9.9 Hazelnuts -2.0 Peach -9.7 Flax Seeds -1.3 Apricot -9.5 Brazil Nuts -0.5 Papaya -9.4 Orange -9.2 Fats Mango -8.7 Sunflower Oil -6.7 Tangerine -8.5 Coconut Milk -1.5 Currant -8.2                                   Gooseberry, Ripe -7.7 Grape, Ripe -7.6 Cranberry -7.0 Black Currant -6.1 Strawberry -5.4 Blueberry -5.3 Rasberry -5.1 Yellow Plum -4.9 Italian Plum -4.9 Date -4.7 Cherry, Sweet -3.6 Cantaloupe -2.5 Red Currant -2.4 Fig Juice Powder -2.4 Grapefruit -1.7 Watermelon -1.0 Coconut, Fresh +0.5 Cherry, Sour +3.5 Bananna, Unripe +4.8 "Acidic Foods: These are Regarded As Acid Foods That Make You Fat and Tired." Food "Ash" pH Chart* The following is a list of common foods with an approximate, relative potential of acidity (-) or alkalinity (+), as present in one ounce of food Foods You Should Never Eat! Root Vegetables Sweets Stored Potatoes +2.0 Artificial Sweetners -26.5 Chocolate -24.6 Meat, Poultry, And Fish White Sugar -17.6 Pork -38.0 Beet Sugar -15.1 Veal -35.0 Molasses -14.6 Beef -34.5 Dr. Bronner's Barley Ocean Fish -20.0 Malt Sweetner -9.8 Chicken (to -22) -18.0 Dried Sugar Cane Juice Eggs (to -22) -18.0 (Sucanat) -9.6 Oysters -5.0 Barley Malt Syrup -9.3 Liver -3.0 Fructose -9.5 Organ Meats -3.0 Milk Sugar -9.4 Turbinado Sugar -9.5 Milk And Milk Products Brown Rice Syrup -8.7 Hard Cheese -18.1 Honey -7.6 Quark -17.3 Cream -3.9 Condiments Homogenized Milk -1.0 Ketchup -12.4 Buttermilk +1.3 Mayonaise -12.5 Mustard -19.2 Bread, Biscuits Soy Sauce -36.2 (Stored Grains/Risen Dough) Vinegar -39.4 White Bread -10.0 White Biscuit -6.5 Beverages Whole-Meal Bread -6.5 Liquor -38.7 Whole-Grain Bread -4.5 Wine -16.4 Rye Bread -2.5 Beer -26.8 Coffee -25.1 Nuts Fruit Juice, Packaged, Natural -8.7 Pistachios -16.6 Fruit Juice Sweetened With Peanuts -12.8 White Sugar -33.6 Cashews -9.3 Tea (Black) -27.1 Fats Miscellaneous Margarine -7.5 Canned Foods Corn Oil -6.5 Processed Foods Butter -3.9 Microwaved Foods So... I want to hear your thoughts on this.  Can food prevent disease?  Can it kill cancer?  Are we being told things that aren't true when it comes to our health?  What do you think?

I don't stink!

I gave up deodorant this weekend after my last post about what was in my "natural" deodorant and I started using Alcohol and guess what?  It works.  I have zero smell.  I even went out on Friday night and nothing.  So I gotta tell you, so far I'm very happy with this little experiment. 

Now I gotta stop and say this:  Boob is back from Alaska today.  What does that mean?  It means I'm still at home (at 11:00am) because I faked another headache this morning so I didn't have to deal with him.  I also have a few things that I had to take care of with my lines (you know, the ones I'm responsible for and make commission on?  Yeah... The ones that my job depends on).  Had I gone into the office this morning he would have had a list of his jobs that needed to be done (you know, the stuff that has NOTHING to do with my job?  Or the company for that matter) and I wouldn't have got my real work done.  It's funny because even when I tell him "Boob, I have a ton of stuff to do for Line A and Line B today, do you think you could look up the golf course and book your own tee time today?"  And instead he will write out (that's right!  Instead of turning on his computer and using 'google' himself - which I've showed him a few times now - he will write out everything he wants me to google for him and then put it on my desk for when I'm finished my real work.  Then he will let it sit there until the end of the world while he sits at his desk writing out more things for me to do rather then just doing his own stuff himself).  So now I've started telling him I'm busy all the time, I'm making up work so that I never have time to google the car repair shop he wants to take his car to, all the while telling him that 'he knows how to google, it would be faster for him to do it himself' instead of writing everything out and letting it sit on my desk when I have no time to do it.  Guess what his response is to that?  "Oh I know how to google, it's just easier for me to have you do it."

How nice.

So here I sit dreading the moment that I pull into my parking space and see his car there.

Back to my underarms!

If there is anyone out there that is trying the Alcohol and Baking Soda deodorant, PLEASE comment below and let me know what you think of it.  If there is a different natural deodorant you are using I'd also like to hear about those too. I'll be doing alcohol morning and night until this Friday (that will have been a week) and then I'll be using Baking Soda in the mornings and using Alcohol (hopefully) once or twice a week.  I will continue to update on this as the weeks go by.

What's in your deodorant?

Do you ever think about what's in the products you use?  What chemicals are you putting on your body every single day?  Is it safe?  I'm on a quest for health - not weight loss - health.  That includes the products I use: Make-up, Shampoo, soap, moisturizer and toothpaste.  Today I'm going to talk about deodorant.  This is something we all use everyday, some of us use it a few times a day, and I want to know what exactly is going onto and eventually into my skin.  I have 2 different brands that claim they are completely natural so I'm going to do a little digging on: Jason and Toms of Maine.

The First one is Jason:  On the label it says "Natural Pioneer since 1959", "Pure natural deodorant stick" and "No Aluminum, Parabens, Phthalates or Propylene Glycol"


Pretty good start...

But I should point out that there is no where on here that says "No animal products", although it does tell me they don't test on animals.


Let's google the ingredients to see what really is in here:


Propanediol: This is what I found -
Propanediol may refer to either of two isomeric organic chemical compounds:

• 1,2-Propanediol (Propylene glycol)
• 1,3-Propanediol (Trimethylene glycol) 

(Source)

 So which one of the 2 chemical compounds are actually in this?  Why doesn't it tell me which one?

The first (of the 2 options) is this - Propylene glycol, also called 1,2-propanediol or propane-1,2-diol, is an organic compound (a diol or double alcohol) with formula C₃H₈O₂ or HO-CH₂-CHOH-CH₃. It is a colorless, nearly odorless, clear, viscous liquid with a faintly sweet taste, hygroscopic and miscible with water, acetone, and chloroform.

(Source)

Chloroform?!  That stuff is HAZARDOUS!!! "Chloroform was discovered by three researchers independently of one another. Chloroform was reported in 1831 by the French chemist Eugène Soubeiran, who prepared it from acetone (2-propanone) as well as ethanol through the action of chlorine bleach powder (calcium hypochlorite).^[9] The American physician Samuel Guthrie prepared gallons of the material and described its "deliciousness of flavor."^[10] Independently, Justus von Liebig also described the same compound.^[11] All early preparations used variations of the haloform reaction. Chloroform was named and chemically characterized in 1834 by Jean-Baptiste Dumas. "


(Source)


I don't want that going into my body!!!

The second (of the 2 options) is this - 
1,3-Propanediol is the organic compound with the formula CH₂(CH₂OH)₂. This three-carbon diol is a colorless viscous liquid that is miscible with water.<sup>[2]

(Source)


Seems OK...

But later in that same article I see this:</sup> 1,3-Propanediol does not appear to pose a significant hazard via inhalation of either the vapor or a vapor/aerosol mixture

<sup>And that gives me a bit of a warning... it doesn't say definitely that it is or isn't harmful - I say avoid this.

So I didn't get past the first ingredient and I already want to throw this away.

It goes on to say: Aqua, Glycerin, Sodium Stearate, Zinc, Ricinoleate, Polyglyceryl-3 Caprate, Aloe Baradensis Leaf Juice, Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Seed Extract, Allantoin, Behenyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylgycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Silica, Sodium Bicarbonate, Sucross Cocoate, Tocopheryl Actetate, Zea Mays (Corn) Starch, Benzoate, Hexyl Cinnamal, Fragrance (Parfum).


The second one is Tom's Of Maine: The front says "aluminum-free" and "natural"


The back tells me this is "Cruelty Free" (yay!), "Giving Back" (double yay!) and "Sustanable Practices" (triple yay!!)


Here's what's in it: Propylene glycol - Hold the phone! That's the first ingredient in the last deodorant!  I'm outta here!


Clearly I need to make my own, I found this video that says to try alcohol and baking soda.  Off to the store - I'll let you know how it works!</sup>

Food waste and other fun things that make me sick

OK, I knew we threw away food (and by "we" I mean us rich nations), but I didn't know HOW much... Take a look at these.

The one that got me was the bread one... I mean, who doesn't eat the ends of their bread?!  What a waste!  AND WHY ISN'T THIS GOING TO THE FOOD BANK?  There are people starving in the city I live in - let alone entire nations in other parts of the world - why isn't this food going to help feed people that can't afford to feed themselves?  Why is it OK to throw away perfectly good food because it doesn't look right?

I did a quick google to find out more about why we throw away so much food and found this video.

One of the things that got me was food that had travelled 10,000 km from Kenya only to be thrown away.  Think of the water that was wasted on watering it, the fuel used to get them there and the food that could have fed a hungry person.

Why is this OK?  How can I help put a stop to it?  How can I make my voice heard? 

About 3 years ago I started doing research on food and what it can or can't do for you, I had no idea what went into the food I was eating.  I slowly started to cook at home more and to try and eat more plants then from cans, bottles and boxes (nasty processed food).  Last March I started to cut out meat by making more vegetarian choices when I was cooking or eating out.  Last August a baby cow licked my hand at the PNE and it was then that I stopped eating them.  I have started learning more about the meat industry and what exactly goes into this diet that the western world has developed; I don't like it.  Factory farms, sick animals that live in pure hell and are slaughtered in unimaginable ways.  Chickens that never see the light of day and cows that are feed corn simply to make them bigger in a faster amount of time so they produce more meat - even though it's not what their diet should be - just so companies can make more money off them.  These cows are standing on piles of their own shit (and guess what shit causes?  E-coli!  That's where all the fun outbreaks are coming from.  Here's what's happening today down in Ohio.  The cow shit runs into the water that then runs down into crops spreading E-coli everywhere.  Yum)!  After watching Food Inc. I can honestly tell you that I will never eat meat again and I decided to start going to Farmers markets instead of always going to Safeway, but I still go to Safeway.  How do I tie all this together?  How do I "vote" for food that is actually good for me?  How do I "vote" for food that doesn't come from a company that is throwing away so much food simply because it doesn't look right?  Where do I go to get these things in my neighbourhood?  I want organic, natural, healthy, fresh vegetables and fruit that I can grab on my way home from work everyday so I don't throw out "bad food".  I guess I have some research to do.

If you haven't seen Food Inc. I think you should watch it, it's an eye opener (I've watched it twice... Just to make sure I never wanted to eat meat again).  I found this and this (have I mentioned how much I LOVE Bill Maher before?) which are 2 interviews with Michael Pollan (the dude that made Food Inc) and he has some good stuff so check them out right now before you watch Food Inc in the next few days (trust me, watch it).

I'm off to research where I can get local, organic food from a source that doesn't waste.  Wish me luck!

Life without "Boob" is good

I'm a happy camper this week cause my boss (or as I call him "Boob" or "The bain of my existence") is away alllll week long.  I can actually do MY work as opposed to his little tasks (like planning his dental appointments or setting up his and his wife's new iPhones for an entire day).  So I've been getting my stuff done and it feels great to not be behind.  This also means I can show up when I want and leave when I want because there really isn't that much to do at this time of year so I can get my stuff done in about 2 hours.

I also planned my meals today for work!  In the morning I had 600ml of water with about a tablespoon of cayenne pepper and half a lemon squeezed in, I highly recommend the cayenne pepper and lemon water in the mornings! On the days that I do it, I honestly feel great.  I got the idea from a Facebook group I'm in Called Health Motivation that a very good friend of mine started for people to share food and exercise tips and to help motivate each other, I've found it very helpful (you can see it here).  For lunch I had one of my salads with my home made dressing.  I wasn't hungry at dinner time so I went for a walk with my friend and our mutts (another beautiful night) and when I got home I made myself a grilled cheese sandwich - I know!  So bad.

I find I eat better at work... does anyone else find that?  Why do my habits get unhealthy when I'm at home?

Todays food (July 6)

I should tell you what I ate today…

I woke up and added a little over a table spoon of cayenne pepper and half a squeezed lemon to 20 oz of water. 


Why?


My favorite is this:

13. Possible Anti-Cancer Agent

Studies done at the Loma Linda University in California found that cayenne pepper can prevent lung cancer in smokers. This may be again related to cayenne’s high quantity of capsaicin, a substance that can stop the formation of tobacco-induced lung tumors. Other studies have also shown a similar reaction in cayenne’s ability to inhibit liver tumors.

Remember I’m terrified of cancer?  I’m having a hell of a time quitting smoking fully.  Every time I’m out with smokers or I have even a sip of beer, I must have a smoke.  It’s odd that I can go months without having one, open a bottle of beer and then immediately light up.

http://health-tipz.blogspot.ca/2009/07/25-health-benefits-of-lemon.html
May favorite is this:

4. Lemon is found to be anti-carcinogenic which lower the rates of colon, prostate, and breast cancer.
They prevent faulty metabolism in the cell, which can predispose a cell to becoming carcinogenic.
Also blocks the formation of nitrosamines in the gut.

Obviously.

For lunch I had a salad.  I could live off my salads!!  Here’s what I put in it:

Kale
Tomato
cucumber
avocado
red pepper
celery
red onion
yellow pepper
orange pepper
kidney beans
sunflower seeds
pumpkin seeds
1 clove fresh pressed garlic (yep! Raw garlic)
broccoli
Cheese (good ol’ cheddar)
I also make my own salad dressing.  I’m not to happy with the preservatives that is found in food, so I cut out as much as I can.
Here’s what’s in my dressing:
Extra virgin olive oil
white vinegar
fresh cracked pepper
basil
oregano
paprika
rosemary
and 2 (yes 2) cloves of raw garlic
It’s amazing.


Why so much garlic?

My favorite is this:

Garlic and Cancer
Current research has shown that a number of readily available foods such as garlic and onions that make up a healthy diet, actually have a major impact on cancer prevention. The protective effect of garlic seems to be greater than that of onions, even though onion consumption has been shown to reduce the risk of stomach cancer. These cancer fighting foods seem to have the ability to interfere with the development of cancerous tumors.
The October 2000 issue of the American Journal of Nutrition had a summary of a number epidemiologic studies which showed that people who consumed cooked or raw garlic on a regular basis compared to those that ate little or none had about half the risk of stomach cancer and one-third less risk of colorectal cancer.
This remarkable little bulb now tops the American National Cancer Institute’s list of potential cancer-preventative foods. It contains multiple anticancer compounds and antioxidants, more than 30 at the last count, which such powerful compounds as quercetin, diallyl sulphide,allin and ajoene. These have the ability to block cancer causing agents such as nitrosamine and aflatoxin which have been specifically linked to stomach, lung and liver cancer. Garlic’s ajoene and allicin have also been shown to retard cancer cells as a type of natural chemotherapy.
The Iowa Women’s Health Study discovered that women who included garlic in their daily diet had lower risks for colon cancer.
Meat cooked at high temperatures (well done to burnt) can produce carcinogenic (cancer producing) chemicals and research has recently discovered that when meat is cooked with garlic this effect is limited.
The ten best groups of anti-cancer foods include: berries and citrus fruits, cruciferous vegetables, garlic and onions, green tea, omega 3 essential fatty acids, olive oil, tomatoes, soy products, red wine and dark chocolate.

Disabled World – Disability News for all the Family: http://www.disabled-world.com/artman/publish/garlic-benefit.shtml#ixzz1zrz5JTVp

With my salad I’m having a can of ginger ale (No one’s perfect)

But, there is ginger in ginger ale so here's why I drink this instead of the coke I crave.

My favorite is this:

Ginger has been used as a natural remedy for many ailments for centuries. Now, science is catching up and researchers around the world are finding that ginger works wonders in the treatment of everything from cancer to migraines. Here are ten health benefits of this powerful herb.

Ovarian Cancer Treatment
Ginger may be powerful weapon in the treatment of ovarian cancer. A study conducted at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center found that ginger powder induces cell death in all ovarian cancer cells to which it was applied.

Colon Cancer Prevention
A study at the University of Minnesota found that ginger may slow the growth of colorectal cancer cells.
But I’m sure you knew that.