Monday, March 29, 2010

High Fiber Dried Apricot Bar Cookies

This is a super easy to make, delicious recipe featuring some of my favorite ingredients - and it is also a bar cookie high in fiber.  This recipe combines nuts, oats, dried apricots and honey in a delicious bar cookie that is ready in minutes.  You simply mix the ingredients, bake, cool and cut!  They also freeze like a dream.

Try some variations as suggested as well with other dried fruits.  You can't go wrong with this recipe - and it only has 2 tablespoons of flour in it.

High-Fiber-Honey-Oat-Bars

Pizza Made with Phyllo Dough, Feta Cheese, Basil and Tomatoes

This is a favorite recipe of mine from Cooking Light magazine though I try and change it up with what ingredients I happen to have on hand at the time.  The main ingredient though is the phyllo dough, which makes such a wonderfully crisp and light pizza.

This pizza also goes into the fridge and comes out crisp the next day!  It is very easy to make - just remember to thaw out the phyllo dough needed 2 hours before you assemble. 

Try it - I think you'll love it!

Phyllo-Dough-Pizza-Featuring-Feta-Basil-and-Tomatoes

How to Make a High Fiber Meatloaf

If you're looking for a simple meatloaf recipe that is also high in fiber, this is your recipe!  I tweaked this recipe from a couple of recipes I've used and because I did not like the way the high fiber addition of oat bran dried it out, I decided to add a secret ingredient that ended up doing the trick to bring back the moisture - Greek style nonfat yogurt.  It turned out marvelously - try it - I think you'll like it!

High-Fiber-Meatloaf-Recipe

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Lighter Oven Fried Chicken with Buttermilk

If you are looking for a great lighter but still delicious fried chicken copycat recipe, this is the one for you!

This recipe is revamped a bit from the one in Cooking Light and offers great taste without all the calories, the fat, and the sodium.  There is also a great recipe for coleslaw to serve with it.

Healthier-Fried-Chicken-Recipe-Made-With-Buttermilk?done

The Facts and Fiction about Nutrition

There are a million theories out there about good, sound nutrition and it is hard to know who is right and who is incorrect.  However, going back to basics and realizing that you don't have to be a rocket scientist to figure out good nutrition is the key.  There are some basic things that we all can do naturally to improve our nutrition and that do not require any guidance whatsoever.

Basically, eating a diet as close to the food's natural state is always going to serve you well nutritionally.  For instance, 7-grain bread is perhaps not the healthy choice - not if it was processed.  Whole grain bread would probably be the more nutritious choice. 

Knowing how a food is prepared is also a key element in maintaining proper nutrition.  For the most part, as a rule, highly processed foods are not going to end up with much nutritional value in them at all.

Nutrition-Facts-And-Fiction?done

Saturday, March 27, 2010

John Day Fossil Beds National Monument

A very beautiful area in Central Oregon that attracts many visitors per year is the famous John Day Fossil Beds National Monument.  This area is rich in history dating back 65 million years and there is much to learn here.  This is an area that is ripe with hiking, fishing and camping.  The scenery is also magnificent.

For a geological thrill, visit the Clarno Unit, the Painted Hills Unit and the Sheep Rock Unit of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument.  You will find much beauty there!

John-Day-National-Monument

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Griffin's Rhyme

I am not a poetry writer - in fact I marvel at other people who can write poems.  I even have gone so far as to say these words - "I can never write a poem" - nor would I try.

Lo and behold, today on awakening, 4 lines of a poem literally popped into my head and they just kept coming as the morning progressed until I found myself smack dab in the middle of a poem.

Here is my Griffin's Rhyme, all made possible by my beautiful puppy, Griffin the malamute.

Poem-A-Rhyme-For-Griffin-The-Malamute

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Tips on Cooking Healthy Meals

There is no substitute for good health and learning to cook lower fat, lower calorie, healthy meals is vital to maintaining good health.  It doesn't have to be painful either!

There are millions of recipes out there today that can replace old classic recipes and still taste wonderful - you can in fact have your cake and eat it too!

Here are some tips on how to enhance your meal preparation that are easy and manageable tasks - learn how to improve your nutrition through simple techniques and increase your skills in meal preparation.

Tips-on-Healthy-Cooking

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Prostate Health and PSA Testing

While PSA testing is not the end-all for detecting prostate cancer, it is a very good idea for all men over 50 to have this test performed yearly and if you are African-American or you are at high risk due to family history (in a brother or father), you should definitely begin testing at age 40.

This combined with a yearly digital rectal exam are the best ways to prevent prostate cancer or to detect it in the early stages and thus gain cure.  Prostate cancer is highly curable but it is best as with most cancers to detect it early.  PSA testing goes a long way towards that end, even though there is dispute about how accurate testing is in some individuals. 

If in question, consult your physician about testing needed for detection and keeping up with prostate health.

For-Men-Only-PSA-Testing-and-Prostate-Health

Saturday, March 20, 2010

How To Make Your Own Slider Rolls

This is a fantastically easy and nutritious way to make miniburger rolls from scratch - I made 12 with this recipe and a loaf of sandwich bread - both turned out magnificently.

If you'd like a successful recipe for bread, this is it! Enjoy.

Recipe-For-Homemade-Slider-Buns-or-Sandwich-Bread

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Fitness For Children

There is so much emphasis today on keeping our kids fit - when 15-33% of our children and adolescents are overweight, it is easy to see why there is such a need.  However, there is an easy way to get children fit and keep them fit - it is called participation.

Being a parent means being involved in all aspects of our children's lives and ensuring that they have the best shot at life we can give them.  The most important thing you can give them is their health and keeping them fit is part of that bigger picture. 

Involving children in organized sports or activities is an easy way to get them out and fit - it is also an excellent tool on which to build other skills such as interacting with others, being part of a team, etc.  However, even if families cannot afford organized sports or programs, there are other ways to introduce fitness as a family and ways to see progress instantaneously.

Fitness-For-Kids

Monday, March 15, 2010

Another Day In the Life of Griffin The Malamute and His 2 Senile Owners

What would a day be without a good story?  Here's my latest 2 - the life and times of 2 older people raising a malamute puppy.  Hopefully he will make it through the rest of his time with us with more hilarity.  We mean well - we just don't seem to be able to keep from letting our goofy personalities and senility get in the way!

Another-Day-In-the-Life-With-Griffin-The-Malamute

Thursday, March 11, 2010

St. Patrick's Day Crockpot Corned Beef and Cabbage

What could be simpler than cooking corned beef and cabbage for St. Patrick's Day in the crockpot?  Just put the ingredients together and 8-12 hours later, you will have a perfectly delicious dinner at the ready.

This is a great one pot meal and so easy to put together.  It is a delicious way to cook this traditional meal and it keeps the corned beef very moist and tender.

Try it this year and see if you don't agree - this is a breeze of a way to fix the old favorite!

Crockpot-Corned-Beef-and-Cabbage

Low-Fat Versus Low-Carb Diets - Which Is Better

I have to say I believe in a low-fat diet over a low-carb diet.  I know there is a lot of talk out there about how low-fat diets do nothing to aid in weight loss - but I disagree.  I think a low-fat diet combined with calorie counting (which is essential to ANY diet) is a great way to lose weight and then to maintain weight.  I also believe that the lower fat is an excellent bonus for people over 25-30 years old - and would significantly reduce many health problems and obesity in this country.

In a low-carb diet, you are forced to give up so many foods and just reintroducing them again usually spikes weight gain.  The other side effect of the low-carb diet is that when I tried this method of dieting, I did not feel good.  I felt off the entire time I was on it.  It did nothing to curb my appetite - in fact, it made it worse because I could not eat so many things!

In short, I vote for the low-fat diet over the low-carb diet - it just makes more sense on so many levels as I view the low-carb diet as a fad diet!

Benefits-Of-Low-Fat-Diets-Versus-Low-Carb-Diets

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

What is the Healthiest Diet?

Which diet is the 'best' and which diet is the healthiest out there?  Many say the South Beach Diet has all the components for weight loss and healthy eating; however, on a recent visit with my internal medicine physician, he raised some very interesting points and gave me the best dietary tips I have ever heard. 

It is about changing your eating patterns for a lifetime, not simply losing weight for a short-lived period of time or cutting out things entirely from your diet.  It is about moderation and being able to understand the concepts of fueling your body yet not overdoing that or underdoing that - great advice and so simple!

The-Diet-To-Last-A-Lifetime

Friday, March 5, 2010

Flatbread Pizza Recipe - Quick and Easy

I made this recipe up after I had been out at a local restaurant and had a flatbread appetizer.  It took me a while but I finally found the exact bread that I wanted - Lavash bread which I found at Trader Joe's.  It is just the right consistency (though you can use other flatbreads or even tortillas) for my recipe and the possibilities are endless as to what you can add.  I particularly like adding fresh salmon to this one as well.

Try it - you will love it - it can be a great appetizer warm or cold - or a light dinner - or a snack.

Lavash-or-Flat-Bread-Appetizer

How to Treat Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) with Homeopathic and Naturopathic Remedies

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is classified as a cumulative trauma/repetitive use disorder.  It surprisingly hits a growing number of people though as we are a computer-driven society.  Even such things as playing a musical instrument or operating a jackhammer, however, can cause it as well.  It is never too late to learn new techniques to prevent it, treat it or cure it. 

These are homeopathic ways and naturopathic methods to treat this aggravating syndrome and hopefully avoid surgery.  It should always be kept in mind that even though surgery can be performed and the syndrome is 'cured' - it will recur and perhaps in a worsened state if the patient goes back to the activity that caused it in the first place.

Homeopathic-and-Naturopathic-Treatments-for-Carpal-Tunnel-Syndrome-CTS

Thursday, March 4, 2010

My First Massage Therapy Visit - Enter the Massage Nazi

I was not thrilled to be going to a massage therapist in the first place.  I am just too modest a person for my own good but when I finally accepted that I needed to get it done, no problem.  However, I did not realize that I was going to be having a date with the Massage Nazi!

How-My-First-Massage-Left-Me-With-A-Limp

When Massage Therapy Does Not Feel Like Massage Therapy

I finally did get totally enthralled by massage therapy and decided that I was invincible after a few years.  I could go anywhere and get a message if I needed it - little did I know that there was the Massage Nazi 2 out there waiting for me.

This is my recounting of the massage I will never forget - going to a pain level of 9 or 10 during a massage somehow seems contradictory but things just seem to happen sometimes.

Here is my story.

My-Next-Chapter-In-Massage-Therapy-Gone-Haywire

Do It Yourself Hot Rock Massage

If you are hooked on hot stone massage but can't seem to afford it these days with the down turn in the economy, here's a way you can still have your cake and eat it too!  Learn these simple techniques and perform hot stone massages on each other - save money and still feel good.

You can purchase hot stone massage kits on line at auctions or you can buy the kits on line at Amazon.com.  I have a friend who actually picked up all of her own stones along the beach in Canada.  You can also buy kits that heat the stones for you or you can improvise with a roasting pan or crockpot. 

Try it - I think you'll enjoy it!

Do-It-Yourself-Hot-Stone-Massage?done

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Defining TCM or Traditional Chinese Medicine

An alternative form of medicine to Western Medicine as we know it - TCM - or Traditional Chinese Medicine.  This is a philosophy that embraces acupressure, acupuncture and herbal healing to name a few of its components.  It is quickly gaining acceptance even in prescription-oriented America where health care providers are starting to see gains in treatment of diseases and especially 'functional disorders' with the use of these 2000-3000 year old techniques.

Defining-Traditional-Chinese-Medicine-or-TCM

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Natural Remedies to Treat Bronchitis

One of the worst things you can do if you have bronchitis is to try to suppress your cough  - funny how I never even thought about that.  You actually want to cough to get rid of the stuff that is congesting your lungs so all these over-the-counter cough medicines that are supposed to be good for chest congestion are actually working against you.  Having had my recent bout of bronchitis for over a week now, and becoming totally frustrated with the lack of progress (instead worsening) I was making, I decided to go in search of information on how to treat it naturally.

I found a lot of information but I can honestly say after trying just some of the techniques that I'd truthfully forgotten about (as I've had this off and on since childhood), I was amazed at how much better I feel already!  These are great tips on how to make it easier to get over your next bout of bronchitis!

Natural-Home-Remedies-To-Treat-Bronchitis

Simplest Home Remedies Ever - Needed 4 Ingredients

From a little book I was given a few months ago, I've been able to use many 'recipes' if you will for making my own green cleaning products, personal health care products, pet products and miscellaneous other products with 4 simple ingredients - salt, vinegar, lemons and baking soda.  What could be simpler?  And cheaper to use?

These products really work - especially wonderful was the skunked dog cleanser recipe!  Wow did that come in handy and did it work!  There are many clever ideas in this little book called Salt, Lemons, Vinegar and Baking Soda by Shea Zukowski - check it out.

Simple-Home-Remedies-Made-with-4-Common-Home-Ingredients?done

Monday, March 1, 2010

Comparison of Holistic Approaches to Medicine

Whether you embrace the tenets of alternative medicine or anthroposophical medicine, there are some very good points to be made for the overall comprehensive view these theories of medicine take to the human body.  In both of these sciences, it is believed that one portion of the body cannot function properly if another portion of the body or soul is out of alignment.  That would seem to be a fairly logical view, however, in conventional medicine, we are taught that to have a symptom must mean something is wrong and if we but treat that one thing that is wrong, we will be 'cured'. 

These are interesting philosophies of medicine and I believe they both have great merit.  When used in combination with conventional medical methods, it would stand to reason that people would be freer of disease and symptoms and if not completely cured, then at least more able to cope with the ravages of certain diseases. 

Comparison-of-Alternative-Medicine-and Anthroposophical Medicine

Mistletoe Extract and Its Fight Against Cancer

Mistletoe extract has been around for decades but it is now becoming widely recommended in the treatment of various and sundry kinds of cancer, although it must be stressed that this is not a 'cure' for cancer.  However, studies in Europe are proving that at the very least, this herbal remedy is reducing the side effects that most cancer patients experience and even if that is the 'only' thing that this herbal remedy can do, that is pretty remarkable.

Studies have shown that mistletoe extract improve patients' appetite, increase their energy levels and decrease their pain levels.  This is truly a remarkable adjunct to the conventional methods that we think of in the fight against cancer and I would only hope that in some fashion, our country will get on board in beginning trials with this powerful herb. 

People can obtain the extract on their own but it should be emphasized that the only successful way to use mistletoe extract is under the guidance of a qualified health professional.  There are clinics in larger cities here in the United States who are procuring it and administering it to their patients.  For more information, see this connection to the hub on herbal remedies - mistletoe extract.

Mistletoe-Extract-The-Herb-That-Works-Against-Cancer?