Here is a colorful dip to serve at your Halloween party!

Ingredients:
1 cup canned black beans, drained and rinsed
1 cup corn kernels, frozen, canned or freshly cooked
1/2 medium red pepper, chopped
1/2 cup finely diced tomato
1/4 cup cilantro, chopped
4 green onions, chopped
2 jalapeno peppers, seeded and finely minced
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsp lime juice
1 tsp salt

Instructions:
In a bowl, combine all ingredients. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Put into the refrigerated for at least an hour before serving with tortilla chips.

So let’s see how Vitamin E can help our bodies overall, not just our skin.

By getting your daily recommended dose of Vitamin E you may prevent or help in the treatment of:

* Heart disease

* Asthma

* Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease

* Cataracts and other eye conditions

* Different types of cancer

* Metabolic conditions like diabetes

* Menstrual cramps

* Skin conditions

However, despite all these great health benefits, people, especially women, mostly take vitamin E for their skin.  

As an antioxidant, it helps to reduce the signs of aging such as dry skin (psoriasis), wrinkles, age spots and scars.  

Vitamin E can help the skin to retain a balanced moisture level that may become unbalanced from the use of harsh cleaning solutions.  With more water and oil in your skin, it appears plump and vibrant like a healthy organ should. It can also help against cold weather, salt water and wind, chlorine in swimming pools, and other things that can cause dry skin.

Many use vitamin E for scars because Vitamin E softens the skin and speeds healing.  These scars could be from burns, stretch marks (from childbirth or weight training), or surgery.    Over time, the appearance of these scars is reduced.

Vitamin E can also help dry, brittle hair, through conditioners and oils.

Vitamin E plays a major role in the health of your body.  Like anything else, getting your vitamins from food is best, and use supplements if your doctor recommends it.

… continued

As we said, diet plays a role in the development of prostate cancer.  Men who have a diet high in red meat and unhealthy fats are at greater risk.  This excess animal fat increases the production of testosterone in the body.  Prostate cancer is essentially a slow growing cancer, but testosterone increases the growth rate of the prostate tumor.

Have you heard about cooking on a charcoal grill?  Substances produced in the char have been known to increase the incidence of cancer.  Combine that with eating a lot of red meat like steaks and you have just upped your risk factors.

One major cause of prostate cancer is genetic.  Those with a family history of prostate cancer need to seek a doctorís advice on the matter.  Yearly checkups will begin well before the age of 50 in these cases.

Doctors are hesitant to say that diet and genetics actually ìcauseî prostate cancer.  They do significantly increase the risk that you will develop it.  Changing what you eat and getting yearly tests may just keep the disease from ever touching your life in the first place.

In America, prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in the male population.  Therefore, it is important to know what factors come into play when determining if you are at risk.  Here are some of the causes of prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer is rare in other parts of the world.  That alone suggests that environment and diet play a significant role in the formation of this type of cancer.

Like any other cancer, cancer of the prostate begins with normal cells.  When the cells start to grow out of control you have cancer.  Prostate cancer has a very high cure rate when the cancer remains in situ (within the gland).  Once the cancer metastasizes to other organs, the brain and/or bone, it is incurable.

So, what do you need to know about prostate cancer to lower your chances of developing the disease?  First, let’s discuss the prostate.  It is a small gland that is found below the bladder in the male reproductive system.  This gland is responsible for creating most of the fluid that goes into making semen.  The male hormone, testosterone, regulates the function of the prostate gland.

The prostate can become enlarged.  This is called BPH or benign prostatic hypertrophy.  It is uncomfortable to say the least, but there are no cancer cells.  You won’t know if this is the case unless you get tested.  Beginning at age 50, a yearly exam is recommenced to catch any cancer that may be growing there.

… continued

Increasing your intake of antioxidants through food can reduce your risk of cancer.  Where are these antioxidants found?  Fruits such as strawberries, blueberries and raspberries contain antioxidants.  With vegetables, stick with roughage.  Eat broccoli, cauliflower, and leafy greens to increase your antioxidant intake.  Blueberries have one of the highest antioxidant counts of any food.

Antioxidants are also found in other foods.  Consider flaxseed.  You can buy it in seed form and use it as a complement in cereals, yogurt and other foods.  They contain healthy omega-3 fatty acids – good fats.

You may want to try soy products as opposed to red meats.  You can also purchase soy milk, yogurt, tofu and soy snacks.  Unlike beef, soy is a protein that comes from plant sources and is lower in fat.

Speaking of fat, restricting your fat to healthier sources is the key to lowering cancer risk.  Instead of animal fat, use liquid vegetable oil and extra virgin olive oil.  Avoid oils from tropical sources like palm oil.

Lower your risk factor of cancer; change your eating habits.  Reduce or eliminate red meat and increase plant food sources.

For the next week Goddess will dedicate a segment for Cancer Prevention in both men and woman. Please stay tuned we will have information and cool easy recipes!

One of the factors in prostate cancer and other cancers is diet.  As a way of lowering your risk factor for cancer and managing your health when diagnosed with cancer, doctors may suggest lifestyle changes that include changes to the food you eat.  Here are some suggestions for dietary changes to help reduce your risk factors.

In countries where red meat and foods high in fat are not eaten routinely or at all, the incidence of prostate cancer is low if at all.  That suggests that food plays a role.  It has been determined that animal fat increases the level of some hormones in the body, like testosterone and estrogen.  High levels of these hormones help cancerous tumors to grow faster.

You can lower your risk by eating more whole grain foods.  This includes whole wheat, oats, and other grains.  A whole grain contains the germ, and bran.  Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables is important as well.

Vegetables and whole grains provide fiber.  Fiber does many helpful things in the body.  First, it helps to lower cholesterol.  Insoluble fiber can’t be broken down by the body, but it does carry some of the fat from your diet along for the ride when it is excreted from the body.  Lowering cholesterol can lower the risk of heart disease and cancer.

Antioxidants are substances in the body that lower the amount of free radical damage.  Free radicals come from the environment, foods and lifestyle choices like smoking.  They contribute to a higher incidence of cancer.  An important antioxidant in cancer prevention and reduction is lycopene.  It is found in cooked tomatoes and other tomato products.

Ingredients:
2 cups canned butter beans
2 cups canned kidney beans
2 cups canned green beans
2 cups yellow beans
1/2 cup celery, chopped
1/4 cup red onions, chopped
1/4 cup red pepper, chopped
1/3 cup white sugar
1/3 cup vinegar
1/3 cup olive oil
1 tsp celery seeds

Method:
Add all drained cans of beans to a large serving bowl. Add chopped celery, pepper and onion and gently stir.

In a saucepan, combine vinegar, olive oil, celery seeds and sugar and bring to a quick boil. Pour the mixture over the beans and gently toss.

Cover and marinate for 24 to 48 hours.

This is a great salad to take to a potluck BBQ. Enjoy!

image from: http://www.rachelraydiet.com/images/fruits.jpg

Now That you know what Juice Diets are, here are a few pointers in how to make the perfect menu for your diet:

Some ingredients which can be used in juice fasts are:

Vegetables: celery, cucumber, tomato, bell pepper, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, beets, and sweet potatoes.

Greens: parsley, beet greens, chard, kale, dandelion leaf and spinach.

Herbs: fennel, spearmint, yucca root, basil, ginger, peppermint, green onion, chili pepper.

Fruits: grapes, apples, citrus, Açaí berry.

Extras: wheat grass juice, spirulina, complete vitamin & mineral supplement, psyllium husks.

Some side effects of a juice fast need mentioning here. Some common but temporary side effects include headaches, hypoglycemia, acne, tiredness, bad breath and an increase in body odor. Others could include dizziness or fainting, low blood pressure, weight loss, hunger, heart palpitations, vomiting and kidney problems. If you experience any of these side effects or any situation worsens contact a medical professional immediately.

During a juice fast the stomach shrinks to its original size, about the size of your fist. After only three days of simply ingesting raw organic and fresh juices and water, you will lose those cravings for solid foods.

Your mind might try to tell you differently; however, your body doesn’t need more at this time. While just drinking your food, your stomach is able to get some well-deserved rest, allowing your colon to shed old compacted material which could be waiting there to cause future disease.

If you are considering a diet which is more than just counting calories, this extreme detox diet could be the one for you. Using juices in this diet beneficially provides the antioxidants and vitamins required to keep you healthy for the duration.

Among the various diets found in today’s world of searching for better health, you can find what is known as a juice fast or detoxification diet. This type of fast diet involves the consumption of only water, raw vegetable and fruit juices for a certain period of time. The reason behind this diet is for the beneficial antioxidants and vitamins contained in fresh juices. This diet is considered one of extreme detox as there is no solid food consumed for the duration.

There are many reasons people may choose a juice fast diet over another type. Juice fasts can be used for losing weight, religious reasons, or to assist in weaning oneself from possible unhealthy habits. These could include overeating, caffeine addiction or smoking – to name a few. Then there are fasters who are a little more serious about their routines with juice fasting. They use it as an alternative healing technique to many conventional treatments. It may be used as a healing method for pain management, arthritis, infections resistant to antibiotics and other ailments as well.

There are certain people for whom juice diets aren’t recommended. This group of people includes pregnant or nursing women, children, diabetics, or people with anemia. Anyone with an impaired immune system, low blood pressure, terminal illness or epilepsy should also stay clear. People with any chronic illness or condition should steer clear of a juice fast unless they doing so under strict medical supervision. Never try a juice fast before or after surgery.

When considering how long your juice fast is going to last, there is an easy rule of thumb to follow. Continue with the juice fast until you have two days without any symptoms of detoxification. If you wish, you can also stick to a juice fast three or four days a week while eating a selection of fresh fruits and vegetables the other days. Along with sipping your juice during the day, it is recommended you also consume approximately six glasses of water at room temperature.

image from: http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/10/08/and-now-the-exercise-resistant-dieter/

Losing weight is never easy, especially after pregnancy.  You have given your body as a comfortable home for your baby until his birth.  Now, it’s time to get that house back in order.  Here are some tips for regaining that pre-pregnancy baby body.

1.  First of all, give yourself some time.  The most important thing to be concerned about is the baby.  Your body also needs some rest after nine months of sharing a body.  Give it two or three months at the least before you think seriously about starting your weight-loss regimen.

2.  Start slowly.  The only way to stick with an exercise plan is to ease into it.  Women who dive head first into exercise may get discouraged by aches and pains.

3.  Don’t have unrealistic expectations.  It takes time to get up enough energy to do a full workout and to lose the weight. In order to avoid discouragement star with small goals you would like to achieve.

4.  Do something that you love to do.  You may have to work back up to it but that’s okay. For example, if you love jogging, start out walking until you are ready to jog.  Exercise because you want to not because you have to.

5.  Exercise at least two days a week to begin with.  Twenty to thirty minutes two days a week will help you start the process to lose weight and keep your heart and lungs in shape.  Leave a day of rest in between each workout so your body can recover. Use the buddy- system, find a friend that want to get in shape and that way you have a great support system for those days you don’t feel like putting your jogging shoes on!

These tips are the beginning to getting your body back in shape, once you have started this regimen and you feel comfortable with your rhythm, start adding more days, then add more time- one hour every other would be ideal, last but not least, when you feel your body is ready add weights to your ankles and/or arms to your walk or jog for example.

Getting back in shape is not easy, but the rewards are amazing for the body and soul!