COCONUT OIL

About a month ago I made the decision to switch over to coconut oil! After talking with a friend and hearing her results I thought it was best for our family.

"The health benefits of coconut oil include hair care, skin care, stress relief, maintaining cholesterol levels, weight loss, increased immunity, proper digestion and metabolism, relief from kidney problems, heart diseases, high blood pressure, diabetes, HIV and cancer, dental care, and bone strength. These benefits of coconut oil can be attributed to the presence of lauric acid, capric acid and caprylic acid, and its properties such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, antifungal, antibacterial, soothing, etc." Quoted from this wonderful site:
http://www.organicfacts.net/organic-oils/organic-coconut-oil/health-benefits-of-coconut-oil.html

Brain Health

Lifestyle Choices
The key to successful aging is a healthy, common sense lifestyle. The goals are to slow or prevent the loss of brain cells, maintain the brain's capacity to make up for any loss, and let remaining brain cells function well. This requires a healthy body, mind and spirit. Here are some tips for successful aging:



1.Visit your doctor regularly.

2.Participate in activities that stimulate your brain, such as reading, crossword puzzles, playing bridge, and other mental exercises.

3.Manage stress through techniques such as relaxation, meditation and yoga.

4.Treat depression. Depressed elders have higher rates of dementia, lower quality of life and higher rates of death.

5.Be social. Maintaining a network of friends will lessen the likelihood of isolation and depression while increasing the overall level of brain stimulation.

6.Exercise daily, such as walking 30 minutes per day. Physical activity significantly lessens the chance of cardiovascular complications that could cause dementia.

7.Control hypertension, diabetes and heart disease—risk factors for dementia—through physical exercise, quitting smoking, controlling blood pressure, lowering cholesterol, and avoiding obesity.

8.Follow a healthy diet and take vitamins, including vitamins C and E, and folic acid.

9.Limit alcohol consumption. Alcohol has a direct toxic effect on the brain that adds to the loss of nerve cells and synapses.

Yummy Flaxseed Muffins!!!

Flax Carrot Apple Muffins
1 ½ cup Flour
¾ cup Flaxseed meal
¾ cup oat flour
¾ cup brown sugar
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
2 tsp cinnamon
2 cups pureed or shredded carrots
2 cups shredded apple
In separate bowl
¾ cup low fat milk
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
Combine dried ingredients with the wet. Add
1 cup dried cranberries
Combined just until moistened. Fill muffin papers. Bake at 350 for 10 minutes (mini muffins) or 15 minutes, large muffins.

These are our new favorite muffins! Jibril even loves them which is incredible since he is my picky one. I have made these for the boys lunches and for after school snacks. I plan on making a few batches and try freezing them in my food saver bags. That way we always have some on hand. Here are some reasons I found why you should add flaxseed to your diet.

Help build lean muscle tissue
Promote regular, healthy elimination
Stimulate lazy bowels
prevent blood clots from forming
reduce high blood pressure
promote weight loss
increase energy levels
increase metabolism
promote optimal organ function- brain, nervous system, skin, sexual organs
Provide energy

Dementia

Today, I met a beautiful lady named Janine. She was sitting there by herself with tissue in her hand. I went up to say hello and introduce myself she took my hand and smiled. I asked her how she was doing today and that's when tears started running down her face and she told me she was not doing well. Janine told me that she was having a hard day and really wanted to see her husband. See, Janine is suffering from stage 2 dementia. Up until 3 weeks ago her and her husband, Jerry, lived upstairs in “assisted living” but Janine's memory was getting too bad for Jerry to live with. He had to come to a very difficult decision to have Janine moved down stairs to “memory care” In memory care this is where residence live that suffer from mid to late stages of dementia. Janine does not understand why she has to be away from her husband she told me she is not sick like the people around her. She told me she wants to touch her husband and go home with him. This got me really choked up listening to her and seeing her cry. I had to excuse myself and walked to the elevator. I could not keep it in any more I let loose and started bawling like a baby. I just kept thinking to my self, what if I was her and I had to be away from Richie and did not understand why. I was thinking why can't she just go upstairs and see him, its only feet away and she would be able to hug him and feel him. Regina ( my instructor) hugged me and told me that it would not take care of the long term problem. That she would feel better for a minute and then be “lost” again. I felt embarrassed for crying and told her I was sorry and I will get stronger to be able to work with residence like this. Regina was so nice and told me that it's a good thing I got upset and that it happens to the best Care Givers. She said it means I have a big heart. She was right, I wiped the tears off my face and went back down the hall straight to Janine. I put a smile on my face and asked her if she would like me to do her nails. I wanted to put a smile on her face and make her happy even if it was only for 45 minutes. I painted her nails and massaged lotion on her arms and hands. We talked about her children and where she grew up. She kept thanking me for making her nails pretty, I told her it was my pleasure. Then it was time for me to go, so I gave her a hug and kissed her cheek. I told her a would come back and visit her soon. She might not remember me when I do go back, but I will know how to put a smile on her face and make her happy for a little while. The thing is I only knew Janine for about 1 hour but I felt so much love in my heart for her. I felt like I wanted to bring her home and take care of her and show her love but reality was I couldn't. But what I can do is make sure I do my best to keep my family healthy and make wonderful memories for them to always keep close to their hearts. After coming home and doing more research I figure it is really quite simple you get rid of the bad stuff, put in the good stuff, and the body heals. It’s common sense, but we are so far from that in the way we treat chronic illness with conventional medicine. 1. Balance your blood sugar with a whole foods, low glycemic diet 2. Exercise daily — even a 30-minute walk can help 3. Deeply relax daily with yoga, meditation, or just deep breathing 4. Take a multivitamin and mineral supplement 5. Take an omega-3 fat supplement 6. Take extra vitamin B6, B12, and folate 7. Take vitamin D 8. Treat thyroid or low sex hormones 9. Get rid of mercury through a medical detoxification program This is just a start, but it can go a long way to giving your brain the chance to heal and recover if you have memory problems. Even if you aren’t suffering from cognitive decline, you should take these steps because they can help you prevent the aging of your brain and obtain lifelong health.

A very good friend of mine gave me some Yogi Green Tea a few years ago and ever since this is my all time favorite tea. I drink the Yogi Green, Perfect Energy, Kava Stress Release,and Skin Detox the most. I love the Perfect Energy first thing in the morning. I love it because it does not make me all jittery it gives me the the perfect boost to start my day. I'll have a cup or two of the Green tea and Skin Detox through out the day. They both have very little caffeine and have a lot of antioxidants. Then in the evening Jamil and I sit down with our Kava Stress Release. It has no caffeine and helps us relax, and it taste so good. I'm very lucky both boys love tea, their favorites are Rooibos and Kava Stress Relief, and the Seven-Berry Antioxodant. Another really good one that I love is Yogi Stomach Ease. I drink this one after I eat spicy food and it calms my stomach. If you know my family, we love spicy food but after I eat it, my stomach burns so a cup of this really calms it. I suggest you try some Yogi Tea, there are so many kinds to choose from!

http://www.yogiproducts.com/

I started my day real early this morning with oatmeal and blueberries(our favorite). Then after my long day I had my green smoothie. I made it a little different today with not only spinach but also romaine lettuce, Vitamineral Green, Macca, and the normal Flax seed and Chia seed. I put in frozen strawberries, blueberries and some frozen mango with pineapple. The Vitamineral Green does not taste the best so the mango and pineapple sweeten it up. It's SO good!

Something fun I bet you did not know about me, A. Age: Mid 30's! B. Bed size: Full but I think our next one might be a Queen. C. Chore you dislike: Laundry D. Dogs: Boxer, just like my sweet baby Caprice E. Essential start to your day:  My Tea! F. Favorite color:  I love all natural colors but blue is my favorite G. Gold or silver:  When I got married it was yellow gold, 11 years later I really like white gold and silver. H. Height:  4 foot, 11 inches I. Instruments you play(ed):  recorder in elementary school J. Job title:  Queen of the House! K. Kids: Aliyyah (17) a beautiful gift that came along with my wonderful husband. Jamil Ali (10) and Jibril Ali (8) L. Live:  In Washington, Fort Knox Kentucky, Oregon, Berlin, then Schwinfurt Germany, California, back to Washington and now back in Oregon (Army Brat) M. Mom’s name:  Debra (aka Debbie) N. Nicknames:  Sal, and Petunia O. Overnight hospital stays:  When I received the two best gifts ever...... my boys! P. Pet peeves:  Bad customer service, Inconsiderate people, Germs, and so on and so on...... Q. Quote from a movie: Truvy: What are your colors, Shelby? Shelby: My colors are "blush" and "bashful." M'Lynn: Her colors are "pink" and pink." Shelby: My colors are "blush" and "bashful" Mama! (Steel Magnolias) R. Righty or lefty:  RIGHTY! S. Siblings:  Christina (32), Rachel (29) T. Time you wake up:  Every morning, between 7:00 and 7:15am (weekdays). I like to wake up around 8:00 and 8:30am (weekends) U. Underwear:  Yes?  I don’t really understand this question.  I guess to be more specific, all of my underwear is from Victoria's Secret. V. Vegetables you don't’ like:  Beets! W. What makes you run late:  All the males in the house! X. X-rays you’ve had:  Left Knee, right ankle, left pinky finger , I played very hard as a little girl! Y. Yummy food you make:  I would say, my all time favorite (from everyone) banana bread Z. Zoo animal favorites:  I love watching the elephants, I think they are so beautiful. If I ever get the chance to decorate a nursery again it will be with elephants. I also love the Monkeys!