“The human body has been designed to resist an infinite number of changes and attacks brought about by its environment. The secret of good health lies in successful adjustment to changing stresses on the body." ”
—Harry J. Johnson
It's official, I have jumped on the twitter bandwagon and am excited to be connecting with everyone on health, living, laughing, and giving back along the way. You can find me at www.twitter.com/eatlivelaugh. I hope that you will join me and share your own thoughts.
This month I'm also featuring a first ever poll. I would love to hear what you're most interested in reading about and it's easy to vote. Just click the radio button next to your favorite topic and hit submit. Then, stay tuned for September's natural health newsletter for a full update on the winning topic.
Lastly, we have a fantastic giveaway this month to win your very own MojaMix. This new company lets you create your very own custom cereal and we're giving away one batch to a lucky winner who can make their very own cereal with as many toppings as they like. To enter just click here and tell us what your favorite cereal is and why.
Best in Health!
~Amy~
Eating a colorful diet
Have you ever looked down at your plate and seen the same color on your plate? Maybe you have some white rice or white potatoes along with some white chicken. What you are missing is not only color but lots of vitamins, nutrients and antioxidants. The color of food has been identified to signify different benefits you get with eating foods within that color family, and no I'm not talking foods with artificial coloring to give off those bright but fake colors. I am talking about fresh fruits and vegetables that will brighten up your plate and your body.
- Green: kale, spinach, broccoli and any dark leafy greens are high in calcium, fiber and vitamins A, C and K
- Blue/Purple: Blueberries and blackberries are high in antioxidants and a recent study conducted by researchers from the Natural Products Utilization Research Unit of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service found that eating blueberries can help control high cholesterol
- Red: tomatoes and bell peppers are rich in vitamin C
- Orange: Carrots, pumpkin and sweet potato are high in vitamin A, which promotes good vision and a healthy immune system
If you want to get your kids involved with eating more fruits and veggies check out the great songs written and performed by Jay Mankita. His songs range from titles "strong bones" and "junk food man" to "eat like a rainbow". To learn more and hear these fun songs with a great message visit Jak Mankita - eat like a rainbow
Recipe of the Month: Vegetable Salad with Balsamic Oil Dressing
Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoons pure maple syrup
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 12 ounces green and yellow beans
- 2 bell peppers in orange and red, thinly sliced
- 1½ cup toasted pine nuts or cashews
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- salt and pepper to taste
Directions
- Combine oil, mustard, syrup, garlic and balsamic in a bowl
- Place all vegetables in a large bowl and toss with salt and pepper
- Mix vegetables with dressing and serve as a nice cold summer side dish bursting with color and flavor
In the News
Being a resident of New York state and a full on health nut, I was blown away with excitement when our governor suggested an 18% tax on non-diet soft drinks. The idea behind this tax is to help sway consumers from purchasing these products due to the higher cost associated. I love the idea because many don't know the health impact of these sugary drinks and while the idea is somewhat farfetched and isn't likely to pass in New York or any other state in the very near future, I hope we keep coming up with these types of ideas to help curb sugary and junk food type products. To read more: Fight fat soft drink tax
Giving Back
Tom's Shoes was founded in 2006 by Blake Mycoskie with the brilliant idea that for every pair of shoes purchased by a consumer, the company in turn will give a pair of shoes to a child in need. This idea of one-to-one is so simple yet so effective. I recently bought my first pair and they are comfortable and super easy to throw on when running out the door. The best part is every time I put on my pair of Tom shoes I think of the lucky child I was able to help who received their own and maybe first pair of shoes. Tom's shoes
Action Items
- Check out our first pole where you can vote for what topic you would like to hear about most next month. You can vote instantly by clicking here
- Don't want to wait for your health fix once a month? Check out the DietsinReview.com blog for my latest weekly article
- Eat like a rainbow by filling your plates with fruits and vegetables at every meal
Weekly blog articles
Forward to a Friend
It’s such a pleasure to help those closest to us become happier and healthier. Please forward this newsletter to friends, family members or colleagues who might be interested and inspired by it.
Also, if there is something you are interested in learning more about or would like me to feature in an upcoming newsletter please contact me.
Eat, Live Laugh newsletters are intended for overall general wellness. If you have condition specific concerns please feel free to contact me.
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