Healthy Christmas Turkey

This healthy Christmas turkey is so tender and moist and tastes so great that, I’m sure your whole family will enjoy and be thanking you by the end of the day. Enjoy this turkey on Christmas or any occasion.

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Ingredients
1 lg. turkey
1 stick butter
8 sprigs of fresh rosemary
Garlic powder to taste
Onion powder to taste
Paprika to taste
Salt to taste
Pepper to taste

Directions
Wash turkey in cold water. Pat turkey dry with paper towels. Spread salt inside the turkey and out. Sprinkle garlic powder, onion powder, pepper, and paprika inside the turkey. Stuff some of the rosemary under the skin. Cut butter in cubes and stuff under skin. Put remaining rosemary in cavity of turkey. Lay turkey on its back in a baking pan. Cover and bake at 250 degrees for 4 to 10 hours. Warning: baking time varies depending on the size of the turkey.

Photo credit: First turkey of the week by Bryan Alexander

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Start with Detoxification if You Want to Feel Healthier

Wonderful things will begin to happen to your body and mind when you begin to consume high quality food and nutrition for your body. When the nutrients you consume have a better nutritional value than the nutrients already in your body, then the body begins to eliminate the lesser quality materials and begin to rebuild cells and tissue with higher quality nutrients that’s now being consumed by the body.
Your body will naturally start a detoxification process when you start eating higher quality food. You may notice symptoms when the detoxification process begins. For example if you stop drinking caffeinated drinks you may experience headaches, which is a symptom indicating the body is eliminating caffeine from the body tissues and sending it through the blood stream. Eliminating toxins and detoxifying the body is a wonderful process that helps the body rejuvenate.

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In since our environment is full of toxins, detoxification is good for the body. There are different ways to detox the body and rid it of toxins. Simple detoxification starts with your diet. When you change your diet to a healthier one you will notice the body detoxifying itself. Your body knows what to do to rejuvenate itself. Your body depends on your organs to detoxify the body. Organs such as the colon, kidneys, lungs, and liver are the main detoxification organs. The kidneys clean out waste from the blood and into urine, the lungs remove unstable gases as we breathe, and the liver cleans out wastes and foreign substances from the blood.

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How long the detoxification process symptoms takes depends on how much toxins are in your body. Symptoms can be diarrhea, headaches, dizziness, nausea, constipation, and fatigue and can last for up to 3 weeks before slowing down. This is a natural process and it takes a lot of energy to detox the body. Once your body gets rid of the toxins, your energy levels will increase.
You can rejuvenate your health with a detoxification routine. When your body eliminates toxins your health and energy will be revitalized.

Top photo credit: drinking my detox juice by ausdruckslus

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In text photo credit: Detox Tips by Livin’ Spoonful

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Yogic Breathing For Better Health

Swami Kuvalyanand mentioned that “Yoga is for the human body, mind and spirit.” This is a saying that a healthy body is the main requirement for a happy and successful life. More people now believe that not only does yoga cause good health, but it is one of the reasons for a happy and stress free life. It is not just an exercise routine.
We will talk about Anuloma-Viloma (alternate breathing) pranayama. Pranayama means the management of the vital force-prana. The principle remains the same, but however different types of pranayama have been created, with each having its own technique. Anuloma-Viloma or nadi shuddhi pranayama (nerve purifying pranayama) is one type and is considered one of the basic types.
Practicing Anuloma Viloma is just like the crew that regulates traffic on roads, looks after their cleanliness, and keeps traffic moving efficiently. The method consists of breathing in through one nostril and vice versa. This pranayama has the name anuloma viloma (alternate breathing). To perform this, you have to sit in a yogic sitting posture; to start, breathe normally while applying comfortable anal contraction. Breathe in and breathe out completely. Make sure the anal contraction is not loosened during the process. Pause for a moment between inhaling and exhaling. Inhale deeply through the left nostril and exhale through the right one; then breathe in through the right one and out through the left. Keep breathing this way for one to three minutes.

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After reaching a comfort level, you can move on to the next stage. Put the right thumb over the right nostril to close it, while keeping the other four fingers away. Slowly inhale through the left nostril at an even speed. Repeat with other nostril. While inhaling lift the shoulders and expand the chest pushing the ribs up. The lower stomach area must be held in.
Benefits: a cleaned respiratory passage, which prepares you for other pranayamas. Breathing becomes more controlled and easy. The heartbeat is more rhythmic. It helps in enhancing memory, concentration, and other mental capabilities.
Contraindications: enlargement of liver, severe stomach pain, appendicitis, gentle intestines, lung disorders, growth in the nose, blockage of nasal passage due to cold, and severe throat infection, etc.
Caution: If you are reading this article follow all precautions before performing any of the asanas from this article. To avoid complications while performing the asanas, it is highly recommended that you consult with a yoga instructor and doctor. Responsibility lies only on the reader and not with the article, writer or this website.

Top photo credit: Moments of calm and inner peace by Bindaas Madhavi

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Whole wheat Banana bread

Everybody have their own opinion about how they like their banana bread. However we can’t argue that many if not most people like their banana bread moist and delicious. If you are looking for healthy moist banana bread then you came to the right spot. This recipe uses whole wheat flour unlike most other recipes and includes walnuts which are optional. You can add as many walnuts to this recipe as you like. We are sure you will like all the ingredients in this banana bread. Enjoy!

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Ingredients:
1 cup self-rising whole wheat flour
¼ cup organic sugar
½ cup orange juice
2 ripe bananas
¼ cup vegetable oil
1 egg
¼ cup walnuts (optional)

Method:
• Preheat oven to 350F and coat loaf pan with oil spray.
• Mix the flour and sugar in a bowl.
• In another bowl, mash the bananas with a fork.
• Add bananas, orange juice, oil and egg to the flour mix.
• Add walnuts if desired
• Mix to a smooth mixture, pour into the loaf pan.
• Bake at 350F on oven’s middle rack for 45 minutes.
• Once cooked let it cool. Serve.

Photo credit: Banana bread from scratch by Islandgirlphotography
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Use a Bike for Fun and Fitness

Great health is based on flexibility, strength, and fitness. All three are important. Any Aerobic exercise is good for a healthy heart. Usually it needs continued movement over a period of time that uses your arms and legs. This type of workout makes the heart work harder. Aerobics allows your body to burn fat for energy and use oxygen. Cycling is good aerobic activity.

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Cycling is a great exercise for people with heart disease or high blood pressure. According to research cycling reduces blood pressure better than more intense activities such as jogging. Eventually cycling conditions and strengthens your heart. It is recommended by The American Heart Association and the American College of Sports Medicine that cycling should be used for low-risk cardiac people and healthy individuals.
The benefits of cycling are increased flexibility, reduce stiffness and ache, keeps you in shape, makes you feel good, increased confidence, increased endurance, reduce nervousness, stimulates sexual desire, strengthen the muscles that supports joints, improve sleep, reduce sleep disorders, improved memory and attentiveness, and increase the ability to perform daily tasks.

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You can try biking when you are depressed. Go out biking and take a look at the beautiful world. Go into the fresh air and allow your body to experience happy hormones while cycling, which are natural pain killers. Remember the times when you were younger and you played a lot of sports and games and hang with other kids. Remember the times you ride your bike as a kid and fell off it a lot. Well don’t give up on it. Bicycling is a wonderful way to have fun while staying fit and healthy. There are no age restrictions on biking, you can still ride your bike just as much as you were younger, besides you might meet people along the way while riding your bike.

Top photo credit: Monique van de Ree by Wielerpro.nl

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In text photo credit: bike_pink by [dac~]

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Simple fruit salad

This is an easy to make delicious dish that you can enjoy for breakfast, desert, or snack. However you actually may enjoy this dish any time you like. The ingredients for this fruit salad includes grapes, strawberries, pineapple, and mandarin, but you can have whatever fruit you like to this recipe. Fruits are known to have fiber, which is known to aid digestion and prevent constipation. On top of that the fruit mixed with a little honey will provide your taste buds with a healthy sweet flavor I’m sure you will enjoy.

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Ingredients:
1 mandarin
2-3 strawberries
¼ cup of diced pineapple
4 grapes
½ tablespoon of honey

Method:
• Wash all the fruit off.
• Cut the strawberries and grapes in half
• Peel the mandarin and pull apart into slices or cut into slices
• Combine all fruit into a bowl
• Drizzle ½ tablespoon of honey on top of the fruit and mix if desired.
Photo credit: Dinner… by irrational cat

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Air and Good Health

Air is important to life. You may live for a few days without food or maybe even water, but it is impossible to survive a minute or two without air. Oxygen is essential and is needed for the process of combustion taking place in the different cells of the body. We obtain oxygen from the air. When we inhale, oxygen from the air dissolves in the blood and flow through the fine capillaries in the lungs and is then carried to every cell in the body. The end product of combustion and other processes taking place in the cells are carbon dioxide and other toxic substances that are made in the cells. Carbon dioxide breaks down in the blood. When this unfiltered blood carrying carbon dioxide gets to the lungs, carbon dioxide is released into the air in the lungs and exhaled.

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When we inhale, oxygen in the air enters the lungs and dissolves in the blood. When we exhale, carbon dioxide formed in the body is expelled. The blood gets filtered in the lungs. This basic information shows the importance of deep breathing. The main source of oxygen on earth is vegetation such as trees, green plants, and shrubs. For their nutrition and growth plants take carbon dioxide from the air, and release oxygen into the air. The amount of oxygen in the atmosphere is somewhat greater in areas with a lot of greenery. On the other hand, highly populated and industrial areas are more deficient in oxygen and polluted. The destruction of vegetation going on now contributes to this deficiency and pollution.

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Now that we know some facts, it is beneficial to walk in areas with a lot of greenery or vegetation, such as fields and gardens, especially when you do it with deep breathing to ventilate your lungs. The fresh air being rich in oxygen, purifies the blood and the body and fills the mind with happy thoughts.
Recommendations:
(1) Try to always breathe through your nose. The hair in your nose filters out fine dust particles in the air. Also the air warms up when it passes through the nose, which has a beneficial effect in the lungs.
(2) Try to always take deep breaths; So carbon dioxide is eliminated properly and toxins don’t build up in the body.
(3) While sleeping do not cover the face.
(4) During the winter time cover yourself with warm coverings to protect yourself from the cold, but let windows open.

Top photo credit: Breathing Life by priyaswtc

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In text photo credit: Garden Path by serenithyme

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Health Tips for after Cancer Treatment

If you or someone you know had cancer before, then it’s important to know the potential health concerns from cancer and its treatment. Often people diagnosed with cancer do not remember consultations during the days after they were diagnose about problems such as depression, pain, infertility, and other physical and emotional changes. Whether the problems are permanent or temporary, most of them can be managed.
According to Pamela J. Haylock, MA, RN, “the late effects of the treatment of cancer and cancer itself for survivors diagnosed as adults remain inadequately documented. Up to 75 percent of survivors have some health discrepancies related to cancers and therapies. Being knowledgeable about the risks and learning and utilizing risk reducing strategies are crucial steps in survivor’s recovery.”

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Below is some advice recommended by nurses:
*participate in stress management, regular exercise, a healthy diet, and weight management to live a healthy lifestyle.
* Schedule regular doctor appointments
*Ask your oncology specialist for a written report on your cancer diagnosis, tests, treatments, and recommendations for follow ups once treatment is done. Create a file or folder to organize and manage laboratory and diagnostic reports. You can give this folder to your doctor so they can make a copy for their records.
*Talk with your doctor about possible long term effects of your cancer therapy and ways to minimize or prevent them. Effects may differ from person to person, therefore make sure you educate yourself and find out more about your body.

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*Tell your doctor about your previous cancer history, treatment, current medications and long term affects you may experience, including early menopause, infertility, dry mouth, indigestion, taste changes, diarrhea, constipation, fatigue, sleep issues, memory loss, dry skin, vision problems, hearing problems, depression, anxiety, sexuality/relationship issues, pain, confidence issues, or numbness or swelling in the fingers and toes.
*Search for information that will assist with emotional, physical, or financial issues that may come up.

Top photo credit: Treating Cancer with Nano-bio Technology by Argonne National Laboratory

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In text photo credit: Cancer Institute of Columbia. By PAHO/WHO

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Simple Healthy Breakfast Ideas

Many of us skip breakfast every now and then. Some of us may think that breakfast is pointless, but those of us that think that are wrong. Eating breakfast speeds up the metabolism. With your metabolism working more efficiently, the body is able to burn more fat, which is beneficial to the people trying to lose weight. Some people may drink a cup of coffee for breakfast. It may be there breakfast, but it is not a healthy breakfast.

Below we list samples of healthy breakfast:

Brown Rice: Eat brown rice. It contains Vitamin B, the source of energy; and it contains a source of fiber. You can eat brown rice with low cholesterol foods such as vegetables, fat-free meat, and fish.

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Strawberry: One cup of strawberries 3 times a week is good for you. It has vitamin C and antioxidants which is beneficial to your health. You can also eat the strawberries with other berries.

Chamomile Tea: Drink a cup of chamomile tea. This tea can help you reduce your stress and make you feel calm.

Fruit smoothie: Add a cup of strawberries and banana and a glass of ice to your juicer. This will make a healthy breakfast. If you add plain yogurt, you will be adding calcium to the healthy fruit smoothie.

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Orange juice: You can get more vitamin c and lower your cholesterol level by drinking one to three glasses of orange juice. According to research three glasses of orange juice a day for about a month can enhance your good cholesterol (HDL) up to 21 percent.

As you can see from the ideas mentioned above there are a lot of great and healthy options out there when choosing something for a healthy breakfast. Choose whatever dishes you know you will love and that’s healthy at the same time.

Top photo credit: strawberries by Fried Dough

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In text photo credit: Brown Rice by Rob Qld

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Healthy Chicken Pinwheels

Yummy, Yummy this delicious snack is not only healthy but it’s easy to make. You can make these snacks for any occasion such as lunch, an on the go snack or for a hors d’oeuvre party. Pinwheels are known for their flavor all wrapped up into one small bite it is a wonderful finger food, but add some vegetables to it and you got yourself something tasty and healthy. The chicken in the recipe adds a kick to the recipe especially when combined with mayonnaise. Chicken is known to help with vitamin b consumption and other assistance for the body. After eating one of these pinwheels be prepared for a satisfied stomach and a health boost to the body.

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Ingredients:
1 slice of wholegrain bread with the crust removed

1 small lettuce leaf

1 tbs. chopped cooked skinless chicken

1 tbs. chopped carrot or broccoli

1 tbs. mayonnaise

Salt and pepper to taste (optional)

Method:
• Mix the chicken, mayonnaise, salt, pepper and carrots or broccoli together in a small bowl.
• Put the lettuce leaf on the slice of bread
• spread the chicken, vegetable and mayonnaise mixture on top of the lettuce leaf
• At one end of the bread roll the bread up and slice into three or four pieces.

Photo credit: Sun Dried Tomato Hummus, Cucumber, and Yves Veggie Bologna Pinwheels by Janet Hudson

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