Thursday, June 30, 2011

The Benefits of Tomato Soup

I love soup, especially when I am not feeling good.  And in the winter months, nothing beats a bowl of hot soup.  Everyone knows the benefits and many old wives tales about chicken noodle soup.  Today I'd like us to try tomato soup the next time we are feeling a little under the weather and/or as an option for those great soup and salad combos.

Living Strong published an article about the benefits of tomato soup http://www.livestrong.com/article/393502-tomato-soup-benefits/.  Tomatoes have so many beneficial nutrients and lowers the risk of certain cancers.  I choose to eat tomatoes in the organic form because I also eat the skin.  Also, a great way to get a healthy dose of tomatoes is to eat sauces and soups.  Pacific Natural Foods has a great creamy tomato and roasted red pepper and tomato soup.  I recently contacted them via their website http://www.pacificfoods.com/get-to-know-us/contact-us because I could not print the coupons from my laptop - Windows 7 is not compatible with most coupon activators.  Yesterday I received two $1 coupons, a recipe booklet and nutritional information flyer from Pacific Natural Foods.  There are coupons available to print from Pacific Natural Foods website if your computer system is compatible http://www.pacificfoods.com/where-to-buy/coupons.

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Aloe Vera Juice Is Great For the Immune System

I know, the thought of drinking a plant mostly used to treat burns can be unappetizing.  But the benefits are outstanding.  According to an article I just read on Nutrition, Health and Fitness Resource Center http://nutritionhealthfitness.com/aloe-vera-juice-benefits/ gives numerous reasons to consider this in our daily diet.

Personally, I have been drinking Aloe Vera juice for years.  I usually take a shot (yes, literally a shot - I drink it out of a shot glass) of it before I go to bed so it can work its way through my system while I sleep.  After about one month, I started waking up with a flat belly and my skin improved also.  Needless to say, I have been very regular.  The taste is not the greatest and I've acquired over the years.  But if you add a few drops of apple or any other juice not from concentrate, the taste is more bearable.  Be careful not to drink too much, aloe vera has powerful properties! 

I purchase Lakewood Aloe Vera juice.  Lakewood offers great $1 off coupons via the mail.  Go to the website via http://www.lakewoodjuices.com/contact and fill out the form.  In the comments, request coupons.  I received about 10 coupons for $1 off within two weeks.  Also, check the juice aisles; Lakewood often places $1 off coupons on the necks of their juices.

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

National Fresh Fruit and Vegetables Month

This morning while I was selecting coupons on Mambo Sprouts, I realized there are only a few days left for National Fresh Fruit and Vegetables Month.  Per the article http://www.mambosprouts.com/blog/5-ways-to-enjoy-more-daily-fruits-veggies/ June is the dedicated month.  I have to admit, it took me about a year to get "excited" about eating fresh fruit and vegetables when I made the decision in 1998 to eat healthy and exercise more.  After 13 years of earnestly trying to eat right, I now look forward to my morning fresh fruit smoothie and fresh cut vegetables with each meal.  Fruits satisfy the sweet tooth and provide energy boosts due to the natural sugars they possess http://www.livestrong.com/article/278972-which-fruits-have-the-most-natural-sugar/.  Vegetables provide nutrients that protect our skin and fiber to allow our bodies to flush out toxins  http://www.livestrong.com/article/240713-what-nutrients-do-fruits-vegetables-provide-in-a-diet/.

Today, let's start our healthy journey by dedicating the last few days of June making an honest effort to eat more fruits and vegetables.  According to EWG.org's article http://www.ewg.org/foodnews/methodology/ there are 12 foods suggested you buy organically due to the high pesticide/contamination content and 15 that are safe to by conventional.  Remember, always try to buy local if possible.  Less travel time means more nutrients and local farmers deserve support.

Eat Organic!
Celery, spinach, sweet bell peppers, potatoes, lettuce and greens, apples, strawberries, peaches, domestic nectarines, imported grapes and domestic blueberries

Okay to eat Conventional.
onions, sweet corn, asparagus, sweet peas, eggplant, cabbage, sweet potatoes and mushrooms, pineapples, avocados, mangoes, domestic cantaloupe, kiwi, watermelon and grapefruit

On sale this week!
Aldis currently has cantaloupe on sale for 99 cents each.
Save A Lot has seedless watermelon for $3.49 each.
Target has sweet corn 5 for $1
Whole Foods has organic raspberries for $3.99 6oz and organic grapes for $2.99 lb

Monday, June 27, 2011

Blueberries and Belly Fat

Who knew that a food so sweet and delicious could be just as beneficial to our bodies.  According to articles http://www.webmd.com/heart/news/20090419/blueberries-may-banish-belly-fat and
http://www.truehealthyproducts.com/3048/can-eating-blueberries-reduce-belly-fat blueberries can help reduce belly fat.  Wow.  Could it be that easy? Eat blueberries and lose belly fat?!  Of course not.  Yes, we still must exercise.  Yes, we still must drink our water.  Yes, we still must eat only one chocolate bar a day - lol!!!  Of course I'm kidding about the chocolate bar, but we must realize that exercise and watching what we eat work hand in hand.  But wouldn't it be sweet if eating blueberries was the magic potion to get rid of our belly fat?

Berries are on the "must eat organic" list by Wellness Resources http://www.wellnessresources.com/tips/articles/the_key_foods_to_eat_organic/?source=google&group=art&gclid=CO-HuvKl1qkCFRBZ7Aodcy7wNA .  Cascadian Farms has a coupon for joining their community http://cascadianfarm.com/Default.aspx?WT.mc_id=google_brand&wt.srch=1. You will receive a coupon for $1 off one of their products.  I have found numerous coupons via online coupon sites that also offer $1 off.

Friday, June 24, 2011

Yogurt trims the waistline!

I read an interesting article this morning while deep conditioning my hair - http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2011/06/23/137362885/to-keep-off-pounds-pass-the-nuts-hold-the-chips

The article talks about how small changes in the diet can have an effect on weight loss.  The article mentions that most people focus on cutting back on calories and exercising more.  But if you watch what you eat and switch out certain food items for healthier foods that actually have nutrients, weight loss and maintenance can be achieved.  The article mentioned that yogurt helps trim the waistline; being that it does not have fiber, the effect on the intestines must be the reason why the waist is affected.  My yogurt treat is adding carob chips, granola or a few drops of grade B maple syrup.  I don't eat chocolate which is why I use the carob chips.  But I'm sure dark chocolate chips would have the same effect.

Stonyfield Farm - http://www.stonyfield.com/ - has a great line of organic yogurts.  Whole Foods has $1 off the Oikos Greek yogurt in certain sizes and $0.75 off the 32 oz pint of yogurt.  The great thing about Stonyfield Farm is you can get rewards by entering codes from the lids.  Currently, Stonyfield Farm has coupons for an additional amount off Oikos Greek and the regular yogurt.  You can use the Whole Foods coupon and the Stonyfield Farm coupon together resulting in great savings! 

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Whole Living Daily - great blog for newbies!

I am currently a follower of Whole Living Daily.  This blog is great for organic newbies.  Whole Living Daily offers a daily challenge to introduce consumers to a greener, more natural and organic way of life.  Today's challenge involves eating low pesticide produce.  Great advice for all of us, especially children.  The following link http://esciencenews.com/articles/2011/04/21/prenatal.exposure.certain.pesticides.may.negatively.impact.cognitive.development.children
provides great information about prenatal exposure to certain pesticides and how those pesticides may negatively impact cognitive development in children. 

Whole Living Daily has introduced me to new ways to live a greener life and I have been actively living a more natural, green life since 2000.  I realize that you can never stop learning and educating yourself on any subject.  I assure you, Whole Living Daily will inspire, educate and entertain you with information and insight to a greener, more natural and more organic you!

I received two free issues last year and fell in love with the magazine.  My plan was to order the magazine when I received enough RecycleBank points - life happened and I didn't get around to putting in the order.  All that said, today I ordered Whole Living using my RecycleBank points.  I only used 115 points to receive a one year subscription.  I will post updates on Whole Living as I receive each issue. 

Check out Whole Living Daily at http://wholelivingdaily.wholeliving.com/  Let me know what you think!

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Finally!

After spending the weekend with my godchildren and encouraging them to always try and do their best, I had a long look in the mirror.  I asked myself, why am I not following the advice that I am giving?!  With additional encouragement from a fellow blogger, Tammy Goodson creator and author of Curly Chic, I decided that I am going to start today.  I have my accountability partner (one of my besties from California) signed up to make sure I stay on track. 

Organics Sense is dedicated to healthy eating for everyone.  It is a myth that healthy eating is not affordable.  Agreed, there are items that are ridiculously expensive if purchased as an organic product but there are just as many stores and websites that will provide a means to an end: coupons, sales, soon to be outdated, and free samples.  Although Organics Sense may not know EVERY discount in the U. S. of A., Organics Sense will try to make as many as possible available.  And with the help of you, the audience, healthy eating and exercise will be two important tasks on everyones to do list!