Happy New Year, and Lunar New Year. New Year, new you.

At this site we seek to educate and illuminate on crucial health issues for women, and the people they love. We cover women’s health, men’s health, nutrition, weight loss and more.

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.

Ingredients:
1 acorn squash
2 to 3 apples, peeled and sliced
1/2cup brown sugar
1 tsp butter
Dash of nutmeg
Dash of salt

Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350 degree F.

Cut the squash in half and scoop out the seeds and strings. Add 1/2 inch of water into a casserole pan and place the two halves face down. Bake in the oven for about 10 – 15 minutes.

In the meantime, place the apple slices in a bowl and add the brown sugar. Take the acorn squash out of the oven, turn the halves around and fill with the apple/sugar mixture. Top with a bit of butter and sprinkle with nutmeg. Cover with foil and put back into the oven until the squash and apples are cooked. This should take about another Ω hour.

Serve the stuffed acorn squash as a side dish.

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Over time the person with anorexia nervosa changes in appearance.  They may wear big clothes to hide the weight loss but if you maintain physical contact with your child you will sense the changes.  Their bodies are frail and emaciated.  The natural puberty cycle is often stunted in their bodies.  For girls, menstrual periods stop or donít start at all.

Anorexics are headed for trouble.  With the lack of nutrition being given to their bodies, the cells get what they need wherever they can.  Bones become weak because cells are robbing calcium from the bones.  Lack of energy is a common symptom because there is no fat for fuel.  The organs will eventually begin to shut down.
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All the while, the person suffering from anorexia nervosa is in denial.  They do not believe that they are doing anything wrong and are reluctant to talk about what is happening to them.  Depression sets in because no one understands them.

Anorexia nervosa is a serious condition.  The first step in curing it is to get help at the first sign that something is wrong.  In order to do that, communication between you and your child or other family member must be open and healthy.

… 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!

Ingredients:
1 bunch spring onions
1 lb peas (either fresh and shelled or frozen)
1/2cup water
1/3 cup butter
2.5 cups milk (or cream if preferred)
1-2 tsp fresh mint or tarragon
Salt and pepper to taste

Method:
Clean the bunch of spring onions and chop them finely. Set some of the green pieces aside for later.

In a medium-sized saucepan melt the butter on a low heat and add the peas, water and spring onions. Cook for about 20 to 25 minutes or until the peas are tender (but not mushy). Take the saucepan off the heat, let it cool down a bit and then add the milk and the herbs. Stir well and season with salt and pepper.

Put the soup in a blender and blend until smooth. Return it to a saucepan and reheat the soup gently.

Serve this delicious creamy pea soup with the reserved chopped spring onion sprinkled on top and nice crusty bread.

Shrimp Pizza

Ingredients:
2 small ready-made pizza bases

8 thin slices mozzarella

8 to 10 prawns, peeled and clean but with tales intact

1 tbsp tomato paste

2 tsp capers

4 anchovy fillets, chopped (optional)

12 small black olives

1 garlic clove, finely slices

1 pickled jalapeno chilli, finely chopped (optional)

1 small red onion, finely sliced

1 small red bed pepper, finely sliced

2 tbsp Parmesan cheese, grated

1 tbsp fresh basil, chopped

Splash of olive oil

Method:
Preheat the oven to 400º F.

Put the pizza bases on a large baking tray and spread with the tomato paste. Place the mozzarella slices on top and add the remaining ingredients to the two pizzas. Drizzle with a splash of olive oil, then cover with the grated Parmesan cheese.

Bake for about 8 to 10 minutes or until the prawns are tender and heated through.

Sprinkle the chopped basil leaves on top and serve immediately.

Ingredients:
1 lb dried black beans (or other beans your choice)
8 cups water
1 tsp salt
1/2 cup dry red wine
2 tsp dried basil
1 tsp dried marjoram
1 tsp pepper
2 cups onions, chopped
2 cups red potatoes, chopped
1 cup celery, chopped
1 cup carrot, sliced
6 garlic cloves, minced
1.12oz can stewed tomatoes

Method:

Place black beans into a bowl, cover completely with water to about 2 inches above the beans and leave overnight. Then drain.

Add beans to large crock pot, add 8 cups of water and remaining ingredients. Cover with lid and simmer for about 2 1/2 hours on very low temperature or until vegetables are tender.

Serve hot with a crusty French bread.