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Chubby Girl

So....the other day at work a guy told me I was Chubby....CHUBBY!  Yes, this word hurt my feelings.
 After he picked himself up off the floor he said...

Dude:  You were a little thing when you hired in.
Me:  Dude, I was 24 when I hired in.
Dude: Yes well....You've gained some weight.
Me:  (getting really pissed) You will have that when you age...now GO AWAY!  Creep!

Okay...he did hit a nerve...only because I KNOW that I'm not as "Fit" as I was when I was 24.
And It's been on the top of my list to get back into shape...I just didn't like him pointing this fact out!
I think we all know when things need to change, like our weight...etc... we just don't like it when people throw it in our face...and then, sometime we need it as a kick in the butt to get started.
(he's still a creep tho.)

This was going to be a December post...  "Getting Fit"..But now I'm changing the Title to...
"Chubby girl getting Fit"
My plan/goal for 2011 is to be more active, and start eating healthier!

My weight today 11/13/10
137lb
My goal weight...it's not important..as long as I'm getting healthy and fit!
The more I work out the better I feel. 

My biggest challenge will be eating healthier!

Have a Great day..
Hugs to all,
 Chubs

I tried not to show my disgust!

So, cold and flu season is upon us, and guess who has a cold already..yep, yours truly! (oh the joy)

It all started last week when I had to work with this young guy at work...He was coughing, and all snotty...We have to share a phone, and at one time I remember, it rang, he answered, then handed it to me....I was like...ewww. (I tried not to show my disgust) I didn't want to take it...I didn't want to put it up close to my face...I had to take it...and I had to put it up to my face..shudder.

My throat started getting sore Saturday, and by Sunday the dam broke into a full blown cold!

~Oh, the Joy!~

~WEEKEND FUN~

Saturday, my son (Bo) was working as a chain- saw creepy guy at a local Haunted Orchard...

Jandra (Bo's g-friend), my friend Vickie and I (sore throat and all) went out for a night of screams. I took my camera....this first picture is of Jandra, before she knew this was Bo...look at the terror on her face....LOL

We found out that this was Bo...big smile on Jandra's face...

This was a lot of fun!

Oh, the best part of my weekend...I got a new computer! Woot!

*Made a pillow a couple of weeks ago...this was just a practice pillow.

Hugs to all....

Health benefits of Coconut Oil

Health Benefits of Coconut Oil

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.

Health benefits of coconut oil include the following:

• Hair Care: Coconut oil is one of the best natural nutrition for hair. It helps in healthy growth of hair providing them a shinny complexion. Regular massage of the head with coconut oil ensures that your scalp is free of dandruff, lice, and lice eggs, even if your scalp is dry. Coconut oil is extensively used in the Indian sub-continent for hair care. It is an excellent conditioner and helps in the re-growth of damaged hair. It also provides the essential proteins required for nourishing damaged hair. It is therefore used as hair care oil and used in manufacturing various conditioners, and dandruff relief creams. Coconut oil is normally applied topically for hair care.
• Stress Relief: Coconut oil is very soothing and hence it helps in removing stress. Applying coconut oil to the head followed with a gentle massage helps in removing mental fatigue.
• Skin Care: Coconut oil is excellent massage oil for the skin as well. It acts as an effective moisturizer on all types of skins including dry skin. The benefit of coconut oil on the skin is comparable to that of mineral oil. Further, unlike mineral oil, there is no chance of having any adverse side effects on the skin with the application of coconut oil. Coconut oil therefore is a safe solution for preventing dryness and flaking of skin. It also delays wrinkles, and sagging of skin which normally become prominent with age. Coconut oil also helps in treating various skin problems including psoriasis, dermatitis, eczema and other skin infections. Therefore coconut oil forms the basic ingredient of various body care products such as soaps, lotions, creams, etc., used for skin care.
• Premature Aging: Coconut oil helps in preventing premature aging and degenerative diseases due to its antioxidant properties.
• Heart Diseases: There is a misconception spread among many people that coconut oil is not good for the heart. This is because it contains a large quantity of saturated fats. However, coconut oil is beneficial for the heart. It contains about 50% lauric acid, which helps in preventing various heart problems including high cholesterol levels and high blood pressure. The saturated fats present in coconut oil are not harmful as it happens in case of other vegetables oils. It does not lead to increase in LDL levels. It also reduces the incidence of injury in arteries and therefore helps in preventing atherosclerosis.
• Weight Loss: Coconut oil is very useful in reducing weight. It contains short and medium-chain fatty acids that help in taking off excessive weight. It is also easy to digest and it helps in healthy functioning of the thyroid and enzymes systems. Further, it increases the body metabolism by removing stress on pancreases, thereby burning out more energy and helping obese and overweight people reduce their weight. Hence, people living in tropical coastal areas, who eat coconut oil daily as their primary cooking oil, are normally not fat, obese or overweight.
• Pancreatitis: Coconut oil is also believed to be useful in treating pancreatitis.
• Digestion: Internal use of coconut oil occurs primarily as cooking oil. Coconut oil helps in improving the digestive system and thus prevents various stomach and digestion related problems including irritable bowel syndrome. The saturated fats present in coconut oil have anti microbial properties and help in dealing with various bacteria, fungi, parasites, etc., that cause indigestion. Coconut oil also helps in absorption of other nutrients such as vitamins, minerals and amino acids.
• Immunity: Coconut oil is also good for the immune system. It strengthens the immune system as it contains antimicrobial lipids, lauric acid, capric acid and caprylic acid which have antifungal, antibacterial and antiviral properties. The human body converts lauric acid into monolaurin which is claimed to help in dealing with viruses and bacteria causing diseases such as herpes, influenza, cytomegalovirus, and even HIV. It helps in fighting harmful bacteria such as listeria monocytogenes and heliobacter pylori, and harmful protozoa such as giardia lamblia.
• Healing: When applied on infections, it forms a chemical layer which protects the infected body part from external dust, air, fungi, bacteria and virus. Coconut oil is most effective on bruises as it speeds up the healing process by repairing damaged tissues.
• Infections: Coconut oil is very effective against a variety of infections due to its antifungal, antiviral, and antibacterial properties. According to the Coconut Research Center, coconut oil kills viruses that cause influenza, measles, hepatitis, herpes, SARS, etc. It also kills bacteria that cause ulcers, throat infections, urinary tract infections, pneumonia, and gonorrhea, etc. Coconut oil is also effective on fungi and yeast that cause candidiasis, ringworm, athlete's foot, thrush, diaper rash, etc.
• Liver: The presence of medium chain triglycerides and fatty acids helps in preventing liver diseases as they substances are easily converted into energy when they reach the liver, thus reducing work load on the liver and also preventing accumulation of fat.
• Kidney: Coconut oil helps in preventing kidney and gall bladder diseases. It also helps in dissolving kidney stones.
• Diabetes: Coconut oil helps in controlling blood sugar, and improves the secretion of insulin. It also helps in effective utilization of blood glucose, thereby preventing and treating diabetes.
• Bones: As mentioned earlier, coconut oil improves the ability of our body to absorb important minerals. These include calcium and magnesium which are necessary for development of bones. Thus coconut oil is very useful to women who are prone to osteoporosis after middle age.
• Dental Care: Calcium is an important element present in teeth. Since coconut oil facilitates absorption of calcium by the body, it helps in getting strong teeth. Coconut oil also stops tooth decay.
• HIV and Cancer: It is believed that coconut oil plays an instrumental role in reducing viral susceptibility of HIV and cancer patients.

Further Reading:
Characteristics of Organic Coconut Oil
How is Virgin Coconut Oil Manufactured?
What is Extra Virgin Coconut Oil?

The Power of Silence | Lifescript.com

The Power of Silence | Lifescript.com

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Ending a bad habit

I have been addicted to Mt.Dew for some time now....I don't drink Coffee, so the Dew was were I got my caffeine.
I do drink several cups of Green tea in the mornings, then it was Mt.Dew for the rest of the day.

I am on day 2 with NO Dew, and doing pretty good!
Without the Dew, I am hoping to shed at least 5 lbs.
After I get this all out of my system, I plan on working on a few more bad habits.
I'm not even cranky....

Tick Removal

A School Nurse has written the info below -- good enough to share -- And it really works!!


I had a pediatrician tell me what she believes is the best way to remove a tick. This is great, because it works in those places where it's some times difficult to get to with tweezers: between toes, in the middle of a head full of dark hair, etc.


Apply a glob of liquid soap to a cotton ball. Cover the tick with the soap-soaked cotton ball and swab it for a few seconds (15-20), the tick will come out on its own and be stuck to the cotton ball when you lift it away. This technique has worked every time I've used it (and that was frequently), and it's much less traumatic for the patient and easier for me.

Unless someone is allergic to soap, I can't see that this would be damaging in any way. I even had my doctor's wife call me for advice because she had one stuck to her back and she couldn't reach it with tweezers. She used this method and immediately called me back to say, "It worked!"

Disposing Vitamins Properly

I really need to go through, and clean out my medicine cabinet of old, out dated Vitamins, and Meds.
I have been thinking about how I was going to go about properly throwing them out.
I know you can not flush them down the Toilet, and I don't want to pour them out in the trash.
So, I did a little research...

How should dispose of leftover or expired medication?

The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy guidelines for proper medication disposal recommends the following methods of disposal as being safer and more environmentally friendly than flushing them down toilets or sinks:

• Take unused, unneeded, or expired prescription drugs out of their original containers.
• Mix prescription drugs with an undesirable substance, such as used coffee grounds or kitty litter, and put them in impermeable, non-descript containers, such as empty cans or sealable bags, to further ensure the drugs are not diverted. Then, throw these containers in the trash. Take caution to make sure children or pets do not accidentally ingest expired medications that are thrown in the trash.
• Do not flush prescription drugs down the toilet unless the label or accompanying patient information specifically instructs doing so.

Take advantage of community pharmaceutical take-back programs that allow the public to bring unused drugs to a central location for proper disposal. Some communities have pharmaceutical take-back programs or community solid-waste programs that allow the public to bring unused drugs to a central location for proper disposal. Where these exist, they are a good way to dispose of unused pharmaceuticals.

Dispose of old or expired medicines and leftover prescription medicines, using these guidelines, since they may no longer be safe or effective. Check each medicine's label to find its expiration date. If you can't find the date on a prescription medicine, use the general rule that most expire one year after you get them. If you've had a prescription medicine for more than one year or aren't sure when you received it, play it safe: dispose of the medicine and get a new prescription, if appropriate. Dispose of any medicine that looks damaged, discolored, or otherwise different from the way it did when it was new. If you have any questions about whether your medicines are safe to take, ask your pharmacist.

You can read more about the Federal guidelines on the proper disposal of prescription medications at: http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/publications/pdf/prescrip_disposal.pdf

You can view a video on how to properly dispose of prescription medicine here: http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/drugfact/disposal.mov

Sources:
"Proper Disposal of Prescription Drugs." Office of National Drug Control Policy. 2009. www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov. Last accessed 4/9/2009.

This is great information. We all need to do everything we can to help the environment.
I have decided to throw them (Bottle and all) in with my Cats Kitty Litter....I think that will be the safest way.

Stroke Identification

STROKE IDENTIFICATION

It only takes a minute to read this...

A neurologist says that if he can get to a stroke victim within 3 hours he can totally reverse the effects of a stroke...totally. He said the trick was getting a stroke recognized, diagnosed, and then getting the patient medically cared for within 3 hours, which is tough.

RECOGNIZING A STROKE

Thank God for the sense to remember the '3' steps, STR . Read and Learn!

Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify. Unfortunately, the lack of awareness spells disaster. The stroke victim may suffer severe brain damage when people nearby fail to recognize the symptoms of a stroke.

Now doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking three simple questions:

S *Ask the individual to SMILE.
T *Ask the person to TALK and SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE (Coherently)
(i.e. It is sunny out today.)
R *Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS.

If he or she has trouble with ANY ONE of these tasks, call emergency number immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.

New Sign of a Stroke -------- Stick out Your Tongue

NOTE: Another 'sign' of a stroke is this: Ask the person to 'stick' out his tongue.. If the tongue is 'crooked', if it goes to one side or the other,that is also an indication of a stroke..

A cardiologist says if everyone who gets this e-mail sends it to 10 people; you can bet that at least one life will be saved.

I have done my part.....will you?

I've caught a Cold

Yep, I've went and caught a cold....
I didn't want to catch one. It's not like I went out looking for one to catch...(does anyone?)
It's more like it caught me! I tried to hide from it...I seen it lurking in the corners..(co-worker had one)..did everything I could to keep it away, but when I woke up yesterday it had it's cold fingers wrapped all around me..Ugh!

So, now I sit here with a sore throat, drippy nose, watery eyes, and sneezing. (and no Kleenex)
I advise all blog readers to wipe your keyboard with disinfection, because I don't want to spread it to you! LOL
Have a Great day!
Hugs!
What Can You Do to Prevent a Cold?

Colds are extremely difficult to prevent entirely. The following suggestions may help:

Avoid close contact with people who have a cold, especially during the first few days when they are most likely to spread the infection.

Wash hands after touching someone who has a cold, after touching an object they have touched, and after blowing ones nose. If a child has a cold, wash his or her toys after play.

Keep fingers away from ones nose and eyes to avoid infecting oneself with cold virus particles that may have been picked up.

Put up a second hand towel in the bathroom for healthy people to use.

Keep an eye on the humidity of one's environment so that sinuses do not dry out.

Do not inflict one's cold on others! Cover ones nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, then throw the tissue away and wash hands. Also, stay away from people who are most vulnerable, including anyone who has asthma or another chronic lung disease, or at least try to limit close contact.

Until recently, it was thought that a single vaccine could not be developed for the different cold viruses. New research approaches may enable the development of a single vaccine for most types of colds.

Nice Tips

Eliminate ear mites. All it takes is a few drops of Wesson Corn Oil in your cat's or dog's ear... massage it in, then clean with a cotton ball. Repeat daily for 3 days. The oil soothes the cat's skin, smothers the mites, and accelerates healing.

Kills fleas instantly...Dawn Dishwashing Liquid does the trick. Add a few drops to your dog's bath and shampoo the animal thoroughly. Rinse well to avoid skin irritations. Good-bye fleas.

Rainy day cure for dog odor: Next time your dog comes in from the rain, simply wipe down the animal with Bounce or any dryer sheet, instantly making your dog smell springtime fresh.

Did you know that drinking two glasses of Gatorade can relieve headache pain almost immediately-without the unpleasant side effects caused by traditional pain relievers?

Did you know that Colgate Toothpaste makes an excellent salve for burns?

Before you head to the drugstore for a high-priced inhaler filled wit h mysterious chemicals, try chewing on a couple of curiously strong Altoids peppermints. They'll clear up your stuffed nose.

Achy muscles from a bout of the flu? Mix 1 tablespoon h orseradish in 1 cup of olive oil. Let the mixture sit for 30 minutes, then apply it as a massage oil for instant relief for aching muscles.

Sore throat? Just mix 1/4 cup of vinegar with 1/4 cup of honey and take 1 tablespoon six times a day. The vinegar kills the bacteria.

Cure urinary tract infections with Alka-Seltzer. Just dissolve two tablets in a glass of water and drink it at the onset of the symptoms. Alka-Seltzer begins eliminating urinary tract infections almost instantly-even though the product was never been advertised for this use.

Honey remedy for skin blemishes... cover the blemish with a dab of honey and place a Band-Aid over it. Honey kills the bacteria, keeps the skin sterile, and speeds healing. Works overnight.

Listerine therapy for toenail fungus: Get rid of unsightly toenail fungus by soaking your toes in Listerine Mouthwash. The powerful antiseptic leaves your toenails looking healthy again.

Easy eyeglass protection... to prevent the screws in eyeglasses from loose ning, apply a small drop of Maybelline Crystal Clear Nail Polish to the threads of the screws before tightening them.

Cleaning liquid that doubles as bug killer... if menacing bees, wasps, hornets, or yellow jackets get in your home and you can't find the insecticide, try a spray of Formula 409. Insects drop to the ground instantly.

Smart splinter remover: Just pour a drop of Elmer's Glue-All over the splinter, let dry, and peel the dried glue off the skin. The splinter sticks to the dried glue.

Hunt's Tomato Paste boil cure... cover the boil with Hunt's Tomato Paste as a compress. The acids from the tomatoes soothe the pain and bring the boil to a head.

Balm for broken blisters... to disinfect a broken blister, dab on a few drops of Listerine, a powerful antiseptic.

Vinegar to heal bruises... soak a cotton ball in white vinegar and apply it to the bruise for 1 hour. The vinegar reduces the blueness and speeds up the healing process.

Quaker Oats for fast pain relief... it's not for breakfast any more! Mix 2 cups of Quaker Oats and 1 cup of water in a bowl and warm in the microwave for 1 minute, cool slightly, and apply the mixture to your hands for soothing relief from arthritis pain.

New Month, New Adventure

Sept. 2 Today I had my first Jazzercise Class....Wow, what a workout! I can tell that I'm a little out of shape, but I hope that will soon change with these classes! I Loved it!
http://www.jazzercise.com/

Now, another Adventure...When I go to work this afternoon, I will be training for a new position at my job...Talk about stressful! I'll be doing my regular job, plus this new one..
I have tried not to think about it over the weekend...I tend to worry too much at times, and make myself sick.....So, I prayed, meditated, and just kept myself busy.
So, in a couple of hours I'll be off to work....ugh!

Breath....deep, slow breaths

The 20 Healthiest Foods You Shouldn’t Live Without

Acai
This dark Brazilian superberry is found to have one of the highest antioxidant levels of any fruit in the world. Dark colored berries have been known for their health benefits because of their Anthocynins (Vascular pigments) which give the acai its color. These belong to a group of molecules called flavonoids. Well, twelve additional flavonoids were found according to the Portuguese book “Açaí: Preparo, Composição e Melhoramento de Conservação" (Schauss et al. 2006a). It also contains a rich amount of phytosterol which may reduce blood cholesterol. In a 2006 University of Florida study, the Acai berry destroyed cultured human cancer cells. Acai is increasing in popularity and can now be found in smoothies, juices, and other products. But in order to get the most from the berry, it is best to buy a product that has been freeze-dried and prepared naturally.

Pomegranate
Another high antioxidant superfruit, the pomegranate, makes many guest appearances in Greek mythology. It contains high amounts of vitamin B5, and potassium. It also contains punicalagians which scavenge free-radicals. The pomegranate seed juice has been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease, the seed oil was effective in the proliferation of breast cancer cells in vitro, and may slow the development of prostate and colon cancer. Drinking 8oz of 100% pure pomegranate juice a day is the most effective way to gain the benefits from the fruit.

Spinach
This veggie has a reputation of being a good source of iron. But in 1937, it was found that the iron levels were high for a vegetable but significantly lower than once thought. Popeye the Sailor’s favorite food is still high in vitamins K (which maintains bone health), A, C and magnesium. It is also a good source of several antioxidants. Spinach may also be good for your brain. Some studies show that it may protect the brain from oxidative stress and may reduce the effects of age related brain decline.

Broccoli
As a part of the cabbage family, broccoli has many potent cancer fighting nutrients. This mighty green veggie is usually boiled or steamed and possesses high amounts of selenium, vitamin C and soluble fiber. Studies have found that boiling broccoli for more than 10 minutes may strip it of nutrients. However, the same studies found that steaming, microwaving, and stir-frying will not rob the plant of its cancer fighting compounds.

Salmon
This trout with a keen since of smell may make you smarter. DHA and EPA are important for brain function and salmon is a good source of both. The salmon is also a good source of Omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D. It can also increase blood levels and heart rate which promotes cardiovascular health. Norwegian researchers found that Omega-3 is better absorbed by eating salmon as opposed to Cod Liver Oil supplements.

Carrots
This root plant is widely used in juices and soups. It is a monster in the ‘vitamin A league’ packing an amazing 686% of the daily recommended value for 1 cup (122grams) of carrots. The carotenoids found in foods like carrots have been shown to lower blood sugar and promote colon health.

Blueberries
Another fruit that can lower your risk of cancer and heart disease is the blueberry. Along with being high in vitamin C and potassium, blueberries are anti-inflammatory. Studies have also found that eating wild blueberries may slow down the effects of aging.

Bananas
This tropical fruit that grows in hanging bunches, is grown in over 107 countries. Bananas are packed with vitamins and minerals but because of its remarkable potassium content, doctors recommend it for patients with high blood pressure or low potassium. Another member of the banana family, the plantain, has a slightly higher vitamin and mineral content when cooked but is equal in fiber and protein.

Cantaloupes-
This powerfully nutritious fruit named after a village in Italy has immense health benefits. Cantaloupes have 112% the daily recommended vitamin C and 103% recommended vitamin A. This extremely high amount of vitamin A is great for your vision health. The combination of B complexes also makes it a good energy source.

Garlic
A member of the onion family, garlic is grown year round and has been used throughout history for culinary and medicinal purposes. Commonly known for warding off vampires in European folklore, this root crop packs a punch against some serious conditions. It has been well documented that the compounds of garlic have boost hydrogen sulfide to relax the arteries. It can also help prevent strokes, heart attacks, and limit cancer growth according to a 2007 University of Alabama study. Garlic is now found in supplement forms but researchers are finding great benefits of aged and fresh garlic as opposed to processed.

Wheat germ
The germ in wheat germ has nothing to do with bacteria but with the germination. It is one of the most nutritious foods you can get your hands on and has more vitamins and minerals per ounce than any other fruit or vegetable on the planet. With over 23 nutrients, the benefits of consuming wheat germ in some form seem endless. It is also commonly used by athletes and bodybuilders for its muscle growing potential. The many people who feel as though they are obtaining the benefits of this food by eating bread are mistaken. Flour that has had the germ removed is commonly used to make white and most wheat breads. It is most likely better to buy wheat germ and add it to pancakes, cereal, muffins, and other foods.

Tea
This herb which is drunk after steeping in hot water, is the second most commonly drunk beverage in the world. Tea has been used in Asia and India for thousands of years and is now being highly marketed in the western world. Green and black teas are well known for their high antioxidants. Tea has been known to normalize blood pressure and help prevent cardiovascular disease and diabetes by lowering blood-glucose activity. It also has anti-carcinogenic, anti-mutagenic and anti-tumor properties. If that isn’t enough for you, early lab test show that green tea may beneficial against bone inflammation related to arthritis and cartilage breakdown.

Leafy Dark Greens (Kale, Collard etc.)
When you take a bite out of that burger you might be thinking that you are getting your daily greens from the lettuce between those buns. Actually, lettuce is only as nutritious as drinking a glass of water. To get the most out of your greens you should partake in some or the darker members of the Brassica family. Collard greens and kale are both high in calcium and beta-carotene. The 3,3'-Diindolylmethane found in these veggies has been found to modulate the innate immune response system in the body. They also contain Sulforaphane that prompts the liver to produce enzymes that help detoxifies cancer causing chemicals.

Beans and other Legumes
This family includes peas, lentils, soy nut, chickpeas, and lima beans. Although many tend to avoid or neglect eating legumes, studies show that eating four or more servings a week can make a difference in your health. A Nurse’s Health Study in 2006 showed that eating four or more serving per week as opposed to less than one lowered the chance of heart disease by 22 percent.

Beets
This hard skinned root vegetable has a sweet taste and has also been used in the past for making certain types of medicine. Beets are rich in folate and B vitamins which are essential for tissue growth. It is recommended that women who are pregnant consume high amounts of folate for the spine development of the infant. The blood pressure reducing power of beet juice is unbelievable! The American Heart Association journal Hypertension showed a reduction in high blood pressure of volunteers in just 1 hr after drinking 500mls of beet juice! The reduction was more pronounced as time went on and lasted up to 24 hrs.

Onions
One of the oldest vegetables know to man, onions have been used in a variety of ways through the ages. Along with garlic, onions have a side effect of halitosis (bad breath) but the advantage of eating it outweighs that derivative (at least for you). In research that used data from Italian and Swiss cancer, studies showed the cancer preventing possibilities of onions. The study found that those who consumed more onions per week protected against 7 different types of cancer. Onions also have been shown to have anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial activity as well as lowering blood sugar.

Cranberries
This vine fruit has been a staple in American and Canadian Thanksgiving for hundreds of years. Now researchers are studying the health benefits of the little vine berry and finding that it may deserve to be called a superfruit. Cranberries are excellent for digestive health and are high in antioxidants like its dark berry brothers. But there may be another unexpected advantage of cranberries. It contains a chemical compound that can inhibit and even reverse plaque which can lead to tooth decay. It’s harder now to find 100% cranberry juice. Most are a part of a cocktail because of cranberries’ tart taste. Most supermarket brands stock cranberry mixed with apple, pineapple, grape, and other juices.

Oranges
Sometimes known as the Chinese apple, oranges originated from Southeast Asia. It is well renowned for its very high vitamin C content. Oranges also contain high dietary fiber and folate. Many people believe that taking vitamin C supplements or drinking sugared drinks fortified with vitamin C has the same health benefits as drinking orange juice. A recent Italian study proves otherwise. Subjects were give three drinks to consume. Blood-orange juice, fortified vitamin C water, and sugar water. Then blood samples were taken and exposed to hydrogen peroxide. The subjects who drank the orange juice showed 18% less damage to DNA after 3 hours. Those who drank the fortified drink and sugar water showed no protection against DNA damage.

Avocado
This fruit with a smooth and creamy flesh is grown widely throughout Central and South America. Avocados have higher fiber content than any other fruit and are packed with 60% more potassium than bananas. Avocados also help lower cholesterol and have been known to lower low-density lipoprotein (bad fat) and raise high-density lipoprotein (good fat). You really need to get your hands on this fruit. Try spreading it over bread, bagels, and crackers instead of butter and cream cheese.

Artichokes
Studies are being conducted to find out more about this Mediterranean perennial thistle. We know about its phytonutrients which can lower cholesterol as a part of a healthy diet. There have also been discoveries about the antioxidant contained in this food. Artichoke extract may have a protective effect on liver cells and may reduce symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome.