Organic Foods vs. Non-organic Foods (which is better for you?)

In this post, I will discuss a recent article by the L.A. Times, which conducted a study to answer the research question: Is organic food better for you? Now I’m grateful for this study, because you learn something. I learned a lot in this study. I will discuss.

Now, I try my best to buy as organic as I can. For example, if I’m eating the skin of certain fruits and vegetables, I will tend to buy those organic. These include apples, strawberries, pears, celery, tomatoes etc.

 Why? Because foods grown organically tend to use little to no harmful chemicals, such as pesticides and growth hormones in or on them. 

Will I stop buying organic foods, because of this article? Heck No.

I will explain.

From what I’ve heard concerning this article especially on the news is that the study did not find strong evidence that organic foods are consistently more nutritious than conventional foods. 

The study then showed that organically grown food was also somewhat higher in total phenols, plant compounds that have antioxidant activity. These results varied a lot, however, possibly because of conditions under which plants were grown such as amounts of rainfall, soil type and ripeness at the time of harvesting. 

Plant phenols, compounds, and antioxidants are exactly why so many choose organic foods over conventionally grown foods. Research has shown over and over again, the benefits of antioxidants and phenols in foods. If the soil is healthy, containing what it needs to sustain life then the plants grown in this soil will include this as well. More on soil used to grow foods is discussed in the video below (courtesy of ihealthtube).

In my opinion, organic foods are better, because they contain less harmful chemicals. And this is very important. No one willingly wants to eat a whole bunch of chemicals, because of the foods that they put in their mouths. 

In fact, the study found a 30% lower rate of detectable contamination in organically grown produce. Two studies found that children who ate conventional produce had higher levels of pesticide residues in their urine, and the levels fell when the children switched to organic foods. 

I’m surprised that this isn’t discussed in news outlets. It is important to know this, because we need to know how these chemicals are affecting us, our children, ourselves. And what are those chemicals which were not discussed in the articles. This is important as well.

All in all, please do your best to consume as much veggies and fruits as possible for optimal health and wellness.

These are my thoughts on the article. Do you eat organic foods?

Here is a link to the article: http://www.latimes.com/health/boostershots/la-heb-is-organic-food-better-20120831,0,4185111.story

Photo source

Cleansing the liver with these Foods

Hello lovely people,

Let food be thy medicine ~ Hippocrates

I had to take a a break from watching the Olympics to write this blog post. In this blog post, I will talk about the job of the liver and the importance of caring for the liver with 4 foods. Lastly, issues/problems that may arise when the liver is not working optimally.

Every nutrient goes through the liver. 

The liver helps with digestion, it makes proteins, and gets rid of all the junk (i.e. toxins) that enter the body via the digestive tract, the skin, and the respiratory system. 

When toxins enter the body, which can potentially destroy tissues or damaged cells, it is the job of the liver to help destroy these toxins from the blood stream.

The liver can become overworked and comprised. When the liver is not working optimally, disease and illness get that 'open window' to grow. As a result, the liver is often tied to many diseases and illnesses. Therefore, the health of the liver is of utmost importance.

A variety of foods and nutrients can ensure that you increase your natural antioxidants to help keep the liver working optimally.

Green tea: Contains antioxidants that break down the accumulation of fat in the liver and promote proper liver function.

Leafy Green Vegetables, such as arugula, dandelion greens, spinach, and mustard greens, cleanse the liver and help to neutralize heavy metals. Bitter greens cause the liver to secrete more bile, which is necessary for digestion.

Avocados: Protects the body against toxic overload.

Grapefruit, a great source of antioxidants and Vitamin C - two powerful liver cleansers and help the liver burn more fat.

Research on the liver has really made me acutely aware of the foods that I put into my body. I hope it does the same for you. You can find more information on Naturalnews.

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Smoothies + Fruit & Veggie Juice Inspiration

 We all need a bit of inspiration sometimes. I decided to browse pinterest for some smoothie and juice photos (+ recipes). I found these which are below. The recipes are not included (Sorry). I haven't juiced lately (smoothies have been my thing) and I wanted to try some new juice recipes. I wanted to feel inspired. I needed some inspiration. Maybe this can help you feel inspired as well. I hope you enjoy.

I have several juice and smoothie posts on my blog already, but sometimes its important to have something new and different.

All images are via pinterest.

Take care,

Getting in the mood for a workout session

image via pinterest

As much as I enjoy the benefits of exercising, sometimes I don't feel like it.

To get in the mood of working out, I will do either one of two things.

1. I will listen to 'up-beat' music. Music that requires getting up out of your seat to dance (usually soca/dancehall music). OR

2. I will watch several exercise videos on YouTube, like this one below.

BodyRock.Tv is no joke!

That usually does the trick for me.

How do you get in the mood to exercise?

Promoting Health Education in Haitian Classrooms

Hello friends,

www.liliashealthbook.blogspot.com

I know that many of my friends wanted to hear all about my trip to Haiti. In this blog post, I will attempt to describe my very first trip to the World’s First Black Republic.

I had an amazing opportunity (with the Haitian American Caucus) to give a presentation on the importance of Health Education to Haitian teachers along with my amazing mentor. Health education is not a focus in the school system in Haiti. However, there is such a great need to increase health education especially among school age children. 

From what we were told, school-age children suffer from many illnesses/diseases, some more serious than others. However, there are few resources to deal with them and unfortunately a lack of knowledge of how to do so. 

www.liliashealthbook.blogspot.com. Here the teachers are participating in an activity

We presented the information in a form of a ‘Developing a Culturally-Appropriate First Aid kit for Haitian teachers.’ 

Most first aid kits are standard: Medication; Bandages and tape; Tools.

Due to the difference in illnesses that school-age children live with in Haiti, as opposed to the U.S., we wanted to develop a first aid kit that was representative of this. In other words, the items that you can find in a standard first aid kit in the U.S. can be useful, but may not be sufficient in Haiti.

Now, it’s easy to do research and come up with what we think should be included in a first aid kit, but it was very important for us to go straight to the source. It would have been very inconsiderate and ill-conceived not to have included the teachers in the development of a first aid kit designed for their use. 

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We encouraged that they take into consideration traditional medication (sometimes referred to as bush medicine) that often used in Haitian culture to treat, heal, and cure illnesses. For example, there is a plethora of herbs and plants that is easily recognized and is known to work by Haitian to treat various illnesses. Most importantly, we encouraged them to include items that are easily available and used often by the Haitian people to care for those who have ill health.

The key to our presentation was to focus on prevention of those illnesses that school age children experience. We were mainly supported their health and wellness goals. 

We encouraged them to address any illnesses, pain or other basic needs of their students by getting to know their students and having the knowledge and skills to care for their students in times of ill health. Doing so will allow for better students and teachers. Inevitably, school teachers in Haiti often have to be school nurses as well; an added responsibility that requires them to be knowledgeable on the treatment and prevention of various illnesses and injuries frequently experience by their students.

www.liliashealthbook.blogspot.com

For this reason, they were very appreciative and responsive to our presentation. The presentation was very interactive, despite the language barrier at times. This presentation was a huge learning experience for me. It was a mutual exchange of information that benefited both myself and my mentor, Dr. Howard, as well as the teachers. I loved every moment of this presentation and I couldn’t have asked for a better time in Haiti with my profession. 

** There’s so much more that I could say, but I do not want to make this post any longer**

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask.

Natural Skin Conditioning| Coconut Oil

Hello my friends,

It's almost time to order a new bottle.

I want to share with you one of the many uses of coconut oil. I've written two posts on how I use coconut oil before. So, you can see that I really enjoy coconut oil. 

A few days ago, I ran out of my usual body lotion, which I enjoy. However, I didn't want to re-purchase this lotion, even though it was a Burt's Bees product that was 99% natural and it was ideal for my sensitive skin. I've been meaning to use something that is much simpler and lasts longer.

I am never without coconut oil, since I use it primarily for my hair to create my updos, which I wear most of the time. 

Through research, I know that coconut oil is great for the skin, but I've never tried it before till a few days ago. I am pleasantly surprised with the outcome after only a few days. 

This is how I use it:

1. With a bit of water still left on the skin, take a few drops (not much) of coconut oil and rub it all over. 
2. Let it absorb into the skin for a about 3-5 minutes, before adding clothing. This is really my new staple product!

Photo credit: C/o www.revitaliseyourhealth.com

 Why Coconut Oil?

Coconut oil absorbs really well into the skin without that greasy feeling. It leaves my skin soft and moisturized. An added benefit is that coconut oil helps to firm the skin and delay wrinkles.

Bonus: Coconut oil contains vitamin E, which is known to reduce scarring and help heal existing scars. It also works well to reduce the appearance of stretch marks.

The benefits of this oil are so vast that I couldn't possibly name them all. 

If you try this, please let me know. I would love to hear about it :o)

June Health & Wellness Favorites

Hello friends!

I wanted to take a chapter out of YouTube beauty gurus who showcase their monthly favorites. Monthly Favorites will showcase the products and/or services that I currently love for the month.

So Let’s begin!  (Though I am bit late since it's already July)

Lilia's Healthbook June Health & Wellness Favorites.

Tea Tree Oil. Like I’ve mentioned before, I have very oily and acne prone skin. Tea Tree oil has saved my face. Tea tree oil is antibacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-septic, which means it does a great job at killing acne causing bacteria and purifying my skin. How I use: Immediately after cleansing, with my face dripping wet, I take a cotton pad dab a few drops of tea tree oil and gently dab this all over my face. Due to the nature of this oil, it will sting a bit, but it will subside. Afterwards, I will moisturize. I do this every day, 1-2 times a day. Tea Tree oil can be a bit drying due to its potency; so, don't go overboard.

www.liliashealthbook.blogspot.com

Aloe Vera gel. I love aloe Vera gel. I use it primarily for two reasons: To act as a light natural moisturizer for my face and to style my hair. Aloe Vera gel is very light. It does really provide a strong hold, which is what I like for my hair. The uses of aloe Vera gel are endless. Simply Google the benefits of this gel and you will sure to find a use that works for you.

1. 

   www.liliashealthbook.blogspot.com

    Green smoothies. Since learning about green smoothies, they have become a mainstay of my diet. Green smoothies are delicious; they are an excellent source of fiber, vitamins, mineral, and protein. They help me stay regular and most importantly, they are healthy. They have quickly become my go-to breakfast food.

   

   www.liliashealthbook.blogspot.com

   Do you enjoy the use of any of these items? Comment Below!
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