Looking for some Healthy Desserts?

Looking for some yummy desserts without adding pounds to your waistline? Here are some great dessert ideas that combine healthy fruits with a few sinful pleasures for an excellent dessert experience.

The first dessert is a combination of fat-free whip cream, strawberries, angel food cake, and wholesome granola. Angel food cake is available in stores and is usually lower in carbohydrates and sugar than most cakes. Be sure to check the label before purchasing. For a tasty dessert, cut a moderate slice of angel food cake, garnish it with fresh strawberries, add a few dollops of whip cream, and sprinkle granola on top. Enjoy this healthier version of strawberry shortcake.

Your next delight is a Hawaiian-inspired, fruit salad. First, you will need to cut the following fruits into bite-sized pieces: pineapples, strawberries, kiwis, blueberries, and mangos. Mix these fruits in a salad bowl with grated coconut and raisins. Chill the fruit salad for at least half an hour and then serve. If you are looking for extra flavor, add sugar-free fruit syrup or a mixture of mayonnaise and pickle juice like you would add to cole slaw and carrot-raisin salad. Enjoy all of the fresh ingredients with no guilt because they are natural and healthy.

Although these dishes are not recommended for people with restricted sugar intake (such as diabetics), others can enjoy them with very little guilt. Dessert can be pleasant without ruining your healthy lifestyle.

We are in the process of building a house right now and while we are trying to use the best materials possible, it is common knowledge that many building materials contain high amounts of formaldehyde.

Doctors even have a name for exposure - Sick Building Syndrome. Typically buildings that have a lot of chemicals oozing out of the materials into the air are called Sick Buildings because they can create health issues for their inhabitants. Formaldehyde is just one of many chemicals, but because of the widespread use of it - it is in just about everything.

Formaldehyde Exposure

Basically from the research I have done, avoiding formaldehyde exposure is just about impossible as it is used in…

"Wood products with particle board/fiberboard and plywood , sheet vinyl flooring, fiberglass insulation, latex paint, glues, carpet pads/backings, draperies, upholstery, wallpaper, formica counter tops, furniture, and automobile interiors. Household antiseptics, germicides, and fungicides, coated paper products, grocery bags, paper plates, paper towels, air fresheners, rug and upholstery cleaners, scatter rugs and bath mats, resin-coated rugs, toilet bowl cleaners, water softening chemicals, felt tip markers, dish-washing liquids, fabric softeners, carpet cleaners many soft plastics, cosmetics, shampoos, hair conditioners, fingernail polish remover,  permanent press fabrics, and tanned leather goods. Many vaccinations, wart remedies, cough drops, mouthwashes, etc." (Source: Formaldehyde exposure in the home)

Preventing formaldehyde exposure

But just because it is such a widely used toxic product doesn't mean that we should just give up. There are tips that we can take to minimize our exposure to it…

1. Start in the bedroom, since you spend so much of your time there. Look for furniture made from pressed wood and particleboard and move them to another part of your house. Since particleboard is one of the worst offenders, you shouldn't have any exposed particleboard anywhere.

2. Begin to collect houseplants. Many houseplants are very helpful in absorbing formaldehyde.

3. Seal the surfaces and edges of cabinets with a non-toxic vapor barrier.

4. While they can be very expensive, installing a formaldehyde-capable air filter is a great idea as well.

What tips do you have for minimizing your formaldehyde exposure?

I found an article the other day that mentioned a bunch of plants that repel mosquitos. I thought it would be good to share with the Natural Health Ezine readers…

So for me, I am looking forward to creating a garden specifically built around keeping mosquitos away! I hate them - don't you? Time will tell how effective these natural repellants are, but I think it is worth a shot…

According to the article…

"Planting a mix of these plants around your home and patio can create mosquito free zones for outdoor entertaining and other activities."

Citronella grass

Marigolds

Catnip

"studies have found that catnip oil is more than 10 times better at repelling mosquitoes than DEET!"

A few other herbs that repel mosquitos

• Rosemary
• Basil
• Lavender
• Lemon Balm
• Lemongrass

These plants also scare away mosquitos…

• Cedar
• Sagebrush
• Bee balm/bergamot
• Onion
• Garlic
• Tansy
• Eucalyptus
• Peppermint
• Horsemint
• Eucalyptus

I just found out about a Cake mix company that actually creates Natural cake mixes. They don't have any artificial colors, flavors, preservatives, hydrogenated oils, or trans fats. I have yet to taste it, but I hear that it actually is very good cake!

The company is called Naturally Nora and it was founded by a health-conscious mom who decided that there must be a way to make a healthy cake, so she experimented and only used natural ingredients and viola - a business is born.

What Nora says about them…

"I used to make cakes from ordinary boxed mixes. Then one day I learned what was in them! I knew I could make something better and with all-natural ingredients. See the difference for yourself. So I set out to create delicious cakes that my family would love and I could feel good about. Using all-natural ingredients you can't find anywhere else, I created desserts that I am now delighted to share with you."

The cake mixes come in five different flavors:

• Cheerful Chocolate
• Sunny Yellow
• A Lot’a Dots (Funfetti!)
• Cookie Cookie
• Surprising Stars

Natural cake frosting as well…

Nora also came up with a few frosting options as well: Chocolate, A Lot'a Dots, and Vanilla. I know what I am asking for when my birthday rolls around! How about you?

You can find Naturally Nora's products at Amazon.com .

Just a couple weeks ago, I had the worst headache that I can remember having. As it worsened, I laid on the couch covering my eyes and the nausea increased. By the time I went to bed, the nightlight caused me to cringe because it intensified the pain so much.

So a few days ago when I started to have another headache that looked like it could resemble a migraine, I took my wife's advice; Yoga.

Doing yoga was about the last thing I wanted to do, but my wife swore by it as her natural healing method for migraines or any other headaches.

I gave it a shot and within 15 minutes, just about all of the pain was gone! I am not really sure why it works, but my wife says it works just about every time she tries it. It worked for me, so I will try it again next time I feel a headache coming on and I will draw my conclusions from that…

If you have ever priced organic and conventional foods, it quickly becomes apparent that organic foods cost considerably more money – sometimes a whole lot more than the conventional (non-organic) foods.

So why do they cost more money?

1. The main reason is that sadly the chemicals used by conventional farmers often increase yields, hardiness, sizes, and even cosmetic beauty of many of the crops. Without all those artificial benefits from the chemicals, it just makes it a more time-consuming, costly, and all around difficult process. So as basic business sense would suggest, if the farmer has to invest more time, energy, and money into farming the crops, he will have to pass along those costs to the customer as well.
2. Becoming a certified “organic” farmer can be an expensive process as well. I have run across many farmers that use Organic farming methods, but have not gotten the seal of approval, due to the cost and time constraints of doing so.

By Lisa-Anne Sanderson

Migraine ranges from slight headaches to throbbing pain that leaves sufferers incapacitated for days. Symptoms can include dizziness, vomiting and even double vision. It’s often mistaken for sinus headaches. Treatment of migraine is notoriously difficult, but there are completely natural remedies which help in less severe cases. Here are ten of these to try.

1. Lie in a darkened room. Glare usually makes migraine worse.

2. An old European treatment is to drink tea with a teaspoon or two of sugar. It’s strange but it can help.

3. Lying down and putting a warm compress on the forehead often soothes the headache.

4. Some doctors suggest placing a compress with ice on the forehead can help the migraine.

5. Alternating hot and cold compresses is worth a try.

6. Putting a few drops of lavender oil on the compress may soothe the headache. Lemon crusts and even cabbage leaves in the compress have also been found to work by some sufferers.

7. Neck stretches or exercise may help.

8. Massage is often an excellent remedy. According to the article, “How to Stop Migraine Pain” at Bottom Line Secrets a good ways to massage is to: “place your thumbs on each side of the spine, in the hollows between the neck muscles just below the base of the skull. Tilt your head back. Press firmly for two to three minutes, breathing deeply as you do”.

Another method the writer describes is to: “press the web between your thumb and forefinger with the thumb and index finger of your opposite hand. Press hard for one minute, breathing deeply. Repeat with the other hand.”

9. Carrot juice with beet or spinach is an old Indian Ayurvedic remedy for migraine.

10. Eating grapes is another Ayurvedic remedy.

It’s probably best to try all of these remedies to see if any work for you. In many cases drugs are necessary as well.

I found a few videos that talk about the dangers of cell phone radiation and how we can protect ourselves. It is pretty eye-opening to see how dangerous cell phones are appearing to be.
Since I started looking into this, I have begun using a corded land-line as much as possible, and have tried to use my cell phone a whole lot less. And when I do use it, I turn the speaker all the way up and hold it at a distance, or just use the speakerphone.

CNET has a great list of cell phones that emit the most and least radiation. You can also look up your particular phone to see how much radiation it emits.

Have you ever wondered how you are suppose to eat a pomegranate?

The pomegranate is a large red fruit filled with delicious, tart seeds called arils. These arils can sometimes be tedious to remove, so if you have the opportunity to eat a pomegranate you'll want to use the most efficient method possible. In order to get the greatest number of arils out of your pomegranate quickly, follow theses simple steps:

1. Take a knife and cut about 1/2 inch off the top of the pomegranate, where the stem is. Your goal is to lop off the stem and a thick layer of the skin, without cutting into too many of the dark-red arils. If you cut too little the first time, you can always take more off.

2. Slice through only the skin from top to bottom on both sides, starting with the top where you have already cut. Do not stab the knife too deeply into the pomegranate during this step, the skin is thinner around the middle of the fruit.

3. Now, stick your knife into the darker center of the top of the pomegranate, where the stem was. Your blade should be along an imaginary line formed between the two places where you cut through the skin. Push it in half way and use it to lever the fruit apart.

4. Fill a large bowl with water and immerse the parts of the open pomegranate. The bitter white meat will float, while the arils will sink to the bottom, allowing you to separate them more easily.

5. Pull apart the pomegranate methodically and let the arils collect in the bottom of the bowl. Skim off the white rind that collects and throw it away, along with any brown or rotten arils.

That's it, you've collected the edible part of the pomegranate. If you haven't already eaten them, the arils store well in the refrigerator in a plastic container. They can also be made into a healthy frozen treat, although they become mushy once thawed again. However you choose to eat them, pomegranate seeds are an exotic, beautiful, and flavorful treat.

Videos showing how to eat pomegranates

Loved by celebrities and the health conscious, detox diets seem to be gaining in popularity. But what is a detox and what benefits can we gain from trying a detox program?

In reality, the body is constantly detoxing, eliminating toxins and chemicals that we take into our bodies through food, water and the air around us. However, with the amount of chemicals in our food, and the polluted air we breathe, many people feel the body needs a helping hand from time to time to rid ourselves of these potentially damaging toxins.

Excess toxins in our system can lead to depression, fatigue and a weak immune system. Our metabolism and ability to use the nutrients in our food effectively can also be affected, leading to problems with excess weight. If you ever feel lethargic, catch every bug going, or just generally feel below par, perhaps your body is overloaded with toxins, and a gentle detox may help you get back that sparkle.

Detox programs often advise taking some detox formula or liquid available at health food stores. This really isn?t necessary, as a few simple adjustments to our diet is enough to aid the detox process.

Cut the chemicals!

An obvious first step is to eliminate the chemicals that we voluntarily take in through our diet. Cut out alcohol, caffeine and other processed and packaged foods. Instead, increase your intake of water to up to 8 glasses a day, increase your intake of fruit and vegetables, and choose organic. The water will help eliminate toxins faster through the bladder and bowel. Some people also like to eliminate wheat or dairy from their diet during this process if they suspect they may be intolerant.

For the first few days of a detox, many people experience what is known as a healing crisis. Headaches, nausea and a need to visit the bathroom more often are common effects. This is a good sign as it shows the body is working, getting rid of the toxins. If you have ever suffered from a hangover you will recognize the symptoms.

You may also suffer from headaches if you suddenly switch from regular coffee drinking to eliminating it completely. It is a good idea to gradually cut down on caffeine intake before starting a detox program to lessen these effects. It is also advised to set aside a few quiet days when beginning a detox program, such as a weekend, so you don?t have to worry about work while you are feeling under the weather.

Natural Aids

There are some natural aids you can take to help speed up the elimination process. Milk thistle helps support the work of the liver in getting rid of toxins, bio yoghurt can increase helpful bacteria in the digestive system, while whea tbran helps speed up the elimination of food through the gut, cleaning as it goes. Not surprisingly, it is often referred to as nature's broom.

A detox program is often taken for around 3-4 days, and it should last no longer than 10 - 14 days. Other foods should be reintroduced gradually after the detox process to avoid overloading the body. It is also recommended that a detox program is not undertaken more than three times a year. People who have an ongoing condition, such as diabetes or high blood pressure are not advised to detox, and in any event should talk to their doctor.

Finally, how will we feel after a detox program? Most people who detox say that they have more energy, clearer skin, better digestion, more mental clarity and even manage to lose a few pounds. In fact, a few days of detox is an excellent way of starting off a healthy eating or weight loss program.

This article was written by Linda Kelly of HealthyNewAge.com, the holistic care blog and web site.

In the effort to bring our bodies into pH balance, we can approach the foods we eat one of two ways: eat highly alkaline foods or by avoiding highly acidic foods. And actually, doing both would yield the best results!

Have you ever wondered what foods are the most acidic?

So these are some of the most acid-forming foods that should used in extreme moderation or avoided for most people who need to increase their pH.

• Alcohol
• Artificial Sweeteners (NutraSweet, Splenda, Equal, Sweet ‘N Low, Aspartame)
• Candy
• Cheese (processed)
• Cocoa
• Coffee
• Cottonseed oil
• Cow’s milk (homogenized and pasteurized)
• Fried foods
• Hydrogenated oils
• Ice Cream
• Jam
• Jelly
• Margarine
• Milk Chocolate
• MSG
• Processed Foods
• Pudding
• Soft Drinks
• Sugar
• Table Salt
• Vegetable oil

For example to neutralize a typical cola (at 2.8 pH) you would need to drink 32 glasses of water with a pH of 7.0. When I think about it that way, the can of Pepsi doesn’t seem so enticing!

I just found this outstanding article from Dr. G explaining the steps that he will be taking if any of his family members contract the Swine Flu.

While he did list lots of supplements and vitamins that he would be taking, some of the more common remedies that he would be using are…

Fasting with only oranges

He says that "Fasting and eating only oranges during a FLU infection rapidly boosts the immune system". He goes on to explain "I personally would fast on nothing but organic fruits and eat mostly oranges from the time the symptoms develop until they go away to help my body heal rapidly. Fasting is always the most beneficial way to boost the body’s immune system and naturally attack illness."

He would avoid…

He said that if he contracted the Swine Flu he would not eat any "Milk or dairy, alcohol, coffee, animal meat or products, microwaved food or beverages, sugar or artificial sweeteners, cooked food or bread."
Personally, I think I would head to the doctor's office immediately if I felt any flu symptoms since the swine flu is treatable, but I think I would double up doing a lot of the things he mentions in the article as well.

When trying to bring your pH in balance, one of the important things is to eat foods that will help you reach that goal!  Since most people are on the acidic side of things, this is a list of strongly alkaline-producing foods. This list is not an exhaustive list that will help you increase your pH, but these are definitely some of the foods that will help do it best.

As is the case most times, eating these foods raw and fresh will yield the best results.

• Artichokes
• Arugula
• Asparagus
• Avocado
• Baking soda
• Beet greens
• Beets
• Broccoli
• Cabbage
• Carrots
• Cauliflower
• Celery
• Chard
• Chicory
• Chlorella
• Chives
• Cilantro
• Collards
• Comfrey
• Cucumbers
• Eggplant
• Endive
• Garlic
• Ginger
• Grasses (Wheat)
• Green beans
• Jicama
• Leeks
• Lemons
• Lettuce
• Lima beans
• Limes
• Mineral water
• Onions
• Parsley
• Peas
• Peppers
• Pumpkin
• Radishes
• Rhubarb stalks
• Sea salt
• Seaweed
• Soy lecithin
• Soy beans
• Spinach
• Sprouts
• Squash
• Sweet potatoes
• Tomatoes
• Turnips
• Wasabi
• Watercress
• Zuchini

If you know of any other strongly alkaline foods that you love, let us know in the comments!

Just as a fish tank’s water pH level needs to be tested, so does our body’s. Just about everything from stress, to the air we breathe, to the foods we eat causes our pH level to change. Simply put, most people in our modern society are functioning with a very low (or acidic) pH. This is bad for just as many reasons as it is good to have a balanced pH. Continue reading about Restoring pH balance in the body

Do you ever squeeze a lemon in your water?  If so, you may be benefitting your body more than you realize.

I remember reading in a health book that drinking pure water with lemon squeezed in it was one of the healthiest beverages you can drink. The primary benefit  that I am aware of is the wonderful alkalizing properties of the lemon juice. By having lemon squeezed in your water you create a beverage that raises your body’s pH. Put simply, having a low pH (or being Acidic) is not a healthy place to be. Our bodies do not function nearly as well when they are acidic. They are more susceptible to sickness, disease, fatigue, etc.

Jethro Kloss reported in his book Back To Eden:

“The medicinal value of the lemon is as follows: It is an antiseptic, or is an agent that prevents sepsis [the presence of pathogenic bacteria] or putrefaction [decomposition of tissue]. It is also anti-scorbutic, a term meaning a remedy which will prevent disease and assist in cleansing the system of impurities.”

A few more wonderful benefits of putting lemons in your water

• lemon juice cleans your mouth
• it controls excessive bile flow
• it dislodges phlegm
• it aides in the digestive process – heartburn and bloating
• lemon water helps alleviate constipation
• it helps prevent vomiting
• and it helps with throat issues
• cleanses the liver and kidneys
• and even works as a natural skin cleanser

More reading about the benefits of lemon water…

The Amazing health benefits of drinking lemon water

10 health benefits of drinking lemon water