Healthy Home Guide

Are Detox Diets Right for You?

You may have heard the term “Detox Diet” and wondered if it is something you should try.  In order to help you make the right decision for you and your health, it is important to first know what a detox diet is.

What is a detox diet?

A detox diet is a diet whose main purpose is to eliminate toxins from the body.  It should be pointed out that not everyone believes that the body stores toxins, or that a detox diet can successfully remove toxins in the body.  Toxins generally come from preservatives, pesticides and your body’s own waste.  There are many kinds of detoxification diets that require the dieter to undergo various lifestyle or dietary changes for a period of time.

They include:

•    Fasting, including water fasting and juice fasting
•    Food combining
•    Calorie restriction
•    Herbal detox

How do you decide what is right for you?
(more…)

Seven Tips for Starting a New Exercise Routine

If starting a new exercise routine is part of your self-improvement plan this year, here are seven tips to help make it easier.

Tip #1: Consult your doctor first. Before you begin any exercise program it is really important to make sure you’re physically up for it.  This is particularly important if you’re not normally physically active.  A doctor can advise you on how to approach a new exercise routine and tell you what signs to look for if you’re overdoing it.

Tip #2:  Set small goals. While it may be really exciting to set a large goal like running a marathon or going to the gym every day, it can be difficult to motivate yourself to actually achieve the goal.  The goal may begin to feel overwhelming.  The solution?  Set smaller goals.  For example, if your goal is to go to the gym every day, just go to the gym one day a week for three weeks.  Once you’ve accomplish that goal, step it up.  Decide to go to the gym twice a week for three weeks.  Once you’ve accomplished that goal, step it up again. Soon you’ll be going to the gym every day.

Tip #3:  Reward yourself. Goal setting and achieving is supposed to be fun.  When you reach a goal, whether it is a little one or a big one, reward yourself.  For example, using the gym example from above – when you reach your goal of going to the gym once a week, you could buy yourself some workout music or get a new piece of workout clothing.  When you reach the final goal of going every day, well it’s probably time for some new clothes because you’re looking awesome, right?!

Tip #4:  Do something fun. Exercising doesn’t have to be running around a track until you can’t breathe anymore.  Dancing is exercise, walking in nature is exercise, jumping on a trampoline is exercise, as is tennis, yoga, etc.  Find a sport that you enjoy, and reaching your goals will become easy and fun.

Tip #5:  Mix it up.  It’s easy to get into a rut when you’re beginning a new workout routine.  In order to keep things interesting and maintain your motivation, consider a few exercises or sports you enjoy.  This can make it easier on your body too.  For example, if you’re running two or three times a week, consider walking or riding your bike on the other days.  Maybe add yoga to keep your muscles flexible.

Tip #6:  Exercise with friends. Friends motivate you to get to the gym, friends make it fun, and friends can challenge you to push yourself just a little bit farther than you might if you were working out alone.

Tip #7:  Exercise during your best time of day. Are you a morning person?  If you’re a morning person, then the best time for you to plan your workout time is probably in the morning.  If you’re a night person, then try to plan your workout in the evening.

Starting a new exercise routine is a fantastic way to feel great, look great and improve your health.  Congratulations on making a resolution to improve your life!

Tips for Kicking Unhealthy Habits

You know what they are.  Every time you do them you think, “I really shouldn’t be…”  Fill in the blanks!  Drinking this, eating this, – the list goes on and on.  We all have habits we would be healthier without.  So what do we do about them?  How do we kick the habits for good?

Here are ten tips for kicking unhealthy habits and living a better life:

#1:  Acknowledge and own the habits. There’s no sense denying them; they exist, your friends and family know they exist, so own them.  Say aloud, “I need to stop!”  Once you’ve acknowledged it, it begins to lose its power.  It’s certainly much better than ignoring your unhealthy habits or hiding them.

#2:  Let go of shame. Don’t be ashamed of your unhealthy habits. (Brownies or Chocolate certainly are tempting enough!)  No one is perfect and we’re all striving to improve ourselves.  Everyone has something they need to work on.  Once you stop feeling ashamed of it, you can move forward and take control of your habits.

If desserts are tempting, try not to bring them home in the first place.  Slowly you will eliminate your strong desire to have these treats as often.  When you just have to have a brownie, it’s better to go get an individually packaged one at the store to keep from overeating a whole package at home.  Or, another option is to bake a pan of brownies–eat one and give the rest away so that they do not tempt you and later leave you feeling guilty or your indulgence.

#3:  Understand where the habits came from. One of the great tools to kicking a habit is to first understand where it came from.  For example, if you have a tendency to eat a lot in the evenings it could stem from your breakfast habits.  Once you know the reason behind your habits, they’re easier to change.  In the example of the late night eating, a simple solution may be to develop a resolution to have a good breakfast every morning, rather than trying to stop eating at night.

#4:  Understand why you want to get rid of your unhealthy habit. Do you want to feel better?  Have more energy?  Look better?  Extend your life?  When you understand why you want to get rid of your unhealthy habits, it is easier to find the right motivation to help you achieve your goals.  For example, if you’re motivated to look better, maybe an old picture of yourself when you liked how you looked would work as appropriate motivation.

#5:  Set reasonable goals. Lofty goals don’t serve anyone.  If you want to get rid of unhealthy habits, establish goals you are fairly certain you can attain.  That doesn’t mean they have to be easy goals, but it is important that they are attainable.

#6:  Replace bad habits with good ones. One of the best and easiest ways to get rid of unhealthy habits is to replace them with new habits.  For example, earlier we mentioned late night eating.  Rather than struggle with cravings while you’re sitting on the couch each night, brew a cup of green tea and change your habit to a good one, one that is healthy and beneficial for you.

#7:  Seek support. Sometimes we just need a little help.  We need an extra hand, a little encouragement, or someone to listen to us when we’re having a tough time.  Support groups, friends and family can all be a great resource when trying to kick old habits.

#8:  Stay positive. A good attitude is extremely helpful to kicking unhealthy habits.  It helps to be able to focus on more positive thoughts when you’re trying to get rid of habits that are detrimental to your health.  Before you set about accomplishing your goal, it helps to come up with a few methods for staying positive.  Find what makes you happy and make note of it.  When you’re having a negative thought or a tough moment, pull out your happy thought or your happy trigger and use it.

#9:  Reward yourself. Reward yourself for accomplishing the small steps along the way and for making it through the tough times.  For example, if you’re trying to cut out after dinner snacks and one particular evening you’re really craving something other than the tea you’ve been drinking, and you manage to avoid the bag of chips on the counter or the ice cream in the fridge, then you could reward yourself by getting your favorite coffee at the neighborhood coffee shop in the morning.

#10:  Plan your success. Rather than trying to wing it, it is helpful to plan how you’re going to attain your goal.  If you want to eliminate your habit of getting fast food for lunch each day, or you want to stop drinking coffee in the morning, how are you going to do it?  Break your goal down into smaller, more manageable steps for easier success.  For example you could stop going through the drive-thru four days out of the week but still go with your co-workers on Fridays.  After a week or two of success, you may even find that you’re ordering a salad rather than a burger.

Small successes give us confidence for larger ones. You create a pattern of success and strength.

5 Healthy Entertaining Recipes

1.  Smokey Garlic dip

This quick and easy snack is satisfying without busting your healthy eating goals.

•    2/3 cup non-fat sour cream
•    3 tbs fat-free mayo
•    2 tbs lemon juice
•    1 chipotle pepper canned in adobo
•    1 tsp minced garlic
•    1/8 tsp salt
•    1 tbs fresh chopped cilantro

In your blender or food processor, blend together all ingredients except the cilantro.  Transfer to a serving bowl, sprinkle cilantro on top and serve with vegetables or fat-free tortilla chips.

•    Calories 36
•    Protein 1g
•    Carbs 6g
•    Fat 0g

2.  Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

This amazing bread is tasty for a sweet breakfast, an afternoon snack or a dessert.  In fact, there isn’t any time a slice of this bread isn’t good!

•    1 ¾ cups all purpose flour
•    2/3 cup sugar
•    1/3 cup low-fat semi-sweet chocolate chips
•    2 tsp baking powder
•    ¼ tsp cinnamon
•    1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
•    2 mashed ripe bananas
•    1/3 cup unsweetened apple sauce
•    1 large egg
•    1 tbs vegetable oil

Combine dry ingredients and chocolate chips in a large bowl.  Making a well in the center, add wet ingredients: bananas, apple sauce, egg and oil.  Mix together until just moistened.  Lumps are fine – don’t over-mix.  Pour batter into a loaf pan sprayed with cooking spray.  Cook at 350° for 55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.  Remove bread from the oven and let it cool.

•    Calories 133
•    Protein 2g
•    Carbohydrates 28g
•    Fat 2g (1 saturated, 1 monounsaturated)

3.  Breakfast casserole

This recipe is fantastic because you can make it on the weekend and it’ll last all week long.

•    8 ounces crusty bread, cut into 1-inch cubes
•    Cooking spray
•    1 pound turkey breakfast sausage
•    1/2 cup chopped green onions
•    1 1/4 cups fat-free milk
•    1 cup (4 ounces) reduced fat shredded cheddar cheese
•    2 large eggs
•    1 (8-ounce) carton egg substitute
•    2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

Place bread cubes in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake at 400° for 8 minutes or until toasted.

Heat a skillet coated with cooking spray over medium-high heat.  Add sausage to pan and cook until browned, stirring to crumble. In a large bowl, combine sausage, bread and onions.  Combine milk, cheese, eggs and egg substitute in a separate bowl.  Add milk mixture to bread mixture, tossing to coat.  Transfer mixture into a 2-quart baking dish coated with cooking spray.  Cover and refrigerate for 8 hours or overnight.

Preheat oven to 350°.  Uncover casserole. Bake at 350° for 50 minutes, or until set and lightly browned. Sprinkle with parsley and serve.

•    CALORIES 344
•    FAT 10.8g
•    PROTEIN 28.7g
•    CHOLESTEROL 123mg

4.  Chicken Salad

During the work week it is difficult to maintain healthy eating habits without packing your lunch and bringing it to work.  Here is a great recipe that will make you glad to skip the drive-thru.

•    1/3 cup diced celery
•    1/4 cup finely chopped green onions
•    1/4 cup reduced-fat mayonnaise
•    3 tbs chopped fresh parsley
•    2 tbs plain non-fat yogurt
•    1 tbs lemon juice
•    1/2 tsp salt
•    1/2 tsp dried basil
•    1/4 tsp pepper
•    1 3/4 cups chopped cooked chicken breast (about 3/4 pound)

Mix all ingredients in a large bowl, cover and chill.  When you’re ready to make your lunch, spoon it on your favorite bread or a bed of greens and you’re good to go.

•    CALORIES 20
•    FAT 0.7g
•    PROTEIN 2.6g
•    CHOLESTEROL 7mg

5.  Salmon and Edamame Pasta Salad

Fish oil and soy are two excellent nutrients.  Make this dish on a night when you just want to feel a little better.

•    1 1/2 cups uncooked bowtie pasta or shells
•    2/3 cup shelled edamame
•    1 (4-ounce) salmon fillet, skinned
•    2 tsp olive oil
•    1 cup chopped red onion
•    6 cups baby spinach
•    1/4 cup chopped fresh dill
•    4 tsp wholegrain Dijon mustard
•    salt and pepper to taste

Cook pasta in boiling water for 5 minutes.  Add edamame; cook for 6 minutes or until tender.  Drain and rinse with cold water.  Heat a non-stick skillet coated with cooking spray over medium high heat. Add salmon; cook for 7 minutes or until fish flakes easily when tested with a fork, turning once. Coarsely chop salmon. Add to pasta mixture and toss gently to combine.

Heat olive oil in pan over medium high heat. Add onion and sauté for 4 minutes or until tender. Add spinach; cook 2 minutes or just until wilted, stirring frequently. Add spinach mixture and dill to pasta mixture and toss gently to combine. Add mustard, salt and pepper; toss to coat.

•    CALORIES 262
•    FAT 8g
•    PROTEIN 17.1g
•    CHOLESTEROL 14mg

Create your own natural furniture polish

Five Natural Furniture Polishes

Wood furniture is beautiful, and it is important to give our most prized pieces some tender, loving care.  That means preventing spills on them and polishing regularly.  Most store-bought furniture polishes, however, are full of chemicals that can be unsafe and not environmentally friendly.  But there are natural ingredients that can be used to make safer and less expensive furniture polish.  Here are five recipes:

#1:  10 drops of lemon oil, 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, and a small amount of olive oil. This mixture is great for everyday dusting.  The key is to get the right kind of lemon oil.  Many brands contain petroleum distillates, which are not environmentally friendly.  You can find pure lemon oil at an herb store or online.

#2:  1/4 cup of vinegar and a few drops of jojoba (if you can’t find jojoba, olive oil is an acceptable substitute). The type of vinegar you should use depends on the type of wood you are polishing.  Apple cider vinegar is slightly more effective, but it could stain lighter woods.  If you are concerned about staining, use white vinegar instead.

#3:  2 1/2 ounces of olive oil, 1 1/2 ounces of coconut oil, 1 ounce of beeswax, 1 ounce of carnauba wax, and 4 ounces of distilled water. Put oils and waxes in a double boiler and melt them, then pour in the water and mix thoroughly.  Rub the mixture into your furniture and work in with a soft cloth.

#4:  Juice of one lemon, 1 teaspoon of olive oil, and 1 teaspoon of water. Put a thin coat on furniture, let sit for a few minutes, and buff with a soft cloth.

#5:  1/8 cup of linseed oil, 1/8 cup of vinegar, and 1/4 cup of lemon juice. Linseed oil has a pleasant fragrance and polishes well.  But it is important to get the food-grade kind, as the type found in hardware stores contains ingredients that may dry your furniture out.

When mixing your own cleaners, it’s important to consider the shelf life of the ingredients.  Most oils and lemon juice can turn rancid, but some will last longer than others.  Vinegar has an unlimited shelf life, and it is a preservative, so cleaners containing it will last much longer.

Making your own furniture polish allows you to be in control of its ingredients.  That means you don’t have to worry about having an allergic reaction or exposing yourself and your family to substances that may be harmful to your health.  It also means that you can be more considerate of the environment than using store-bought polishes will allow.  Natural furniture polish provides an inexpensive and effective way to care for your furniture and protect your family and the environment at the same time.
Get a no risk FREE sample of organic cleaning products from MyCleaningProducts.com