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- Steve Jobs

-          Use 100% pure fruit juice

-          Use frozen yogurt or crushed ice instead of ice cream

-          Use almond milk instead of milk or cream

-          Use sparkling water instead of pop

-          Limit juice intake to 4 oz per serving

The following is courtesy of the LCBO (www.lcbo.com/socialresponsibility/mocktails.shtml)

Blueberry Ice

Fill tall glass with ice.

Add 1 oz. blueberry juice and 3 oz. white cranberry juice.

Garnish with a lime wedge.

Baby Belle

Mix 2 oz. pineapple juice, 2 oz. orange juice, and 1 tsp Grenadine.

Top with 2 oz. sparkling water.

Squeeze in ¼ lemon and ¼ lime.

Add ice.

Mango Mash

Peel 1 ripe mango.

Add ½ cup plain yogurt, ½ cup almond milk, and ½ cup ice.

Blend and enjoy.

Lemonade

Combine simple syrup (2 parts sugar with 1 part water; boil gently until sugar is dissolved) with freshly squeezed lime and lemon.

Add ice.

Garnish with fresh mint.

Berry Delicious

Fill tall glass with ice.

Mix 1 oz. mashed raspberries, the juice of 1/8 fresh lime, and 4 oz. sparkling water.

ENJOY!!!

A recent study published in Pediatrics reports that taking 400 mg of DHA (an omega 3 essential fatty acid) during pregnancy and breastfeeding decreases the frequency and severity of coughing, nasal congestion and runny noses in newborns for the first 6 months of life.  Additionally, DHA boosts neurological development in fetuses and helps to prevent postpartum depression.

http://healthland.time.com/2011/08/01/fish-oil-during-pregnancy-fights-colds-among-newborns/#ixzz1Uksi6oYq

There are two main reasons why most mainstream skin care products do not work:

1.       They strip oil from our skin, causing our glands to produce more oil to repair the damage.  This leads to clogged pores and blemishes.

2.       They contain harmful chemicals.

a.       Even if they are ‘unscented, ’ most contain fragrance.  These fragrances are irritating to the skin.

b.      Sodium lauryl sulphate (a surfactant which causes products to ‘foam’) denatures skin proteins, causing irritation and mimics the activity of estrogen.  An increase in estrogen causes a wide range of health problems, from PMS to fibroids to breast cancer.  Furthermore, foaming does not mean you are cleansing better.  Your skin care products do not need to foam!

c.       Parabens (preservatives) are carcinogenic and also mimic estrogen.

d.      Propylene glycol (found in brake and hydraulic fluid) is a strong skin irritant.

e.      Mineral oil (petroleum by-product from crude oil) blocks pores and prevents oxygenation of the skin.

f.        The list goes on and on…

So, what’s a girl (or boy) to do?  Check out the above website to make sure that your skin care products are non-toxic.  Choose organic and natural products and make-up (be careful to read labels because natural does not necessarily mean healthy.)  For a great skin cleansing alternative, try combining organic coconut oil and organic castor oil and gently rubbing it over your face every night before bed.  Too much castor oil can be very drying, so you may have to experiment to find the right combination for your skin type (I have oily skin and use about 30% castor oil to 70% coconut oil.)  The castor oil penetrates deeply to remove dirt and oil build-up from pores.  The coconut oil is nutrifying and contains many minerals and fatty acids for healthy, glowing skin.  End with a hot cloth applied to your face and gently wipe once the cloth cools.  No need to scrub!  The next morning, you’ll awaken with clean skin and should only need to splash some warm water over your face.

Happy cleansing!

The best ways to consume these types of foods are:

-       Raw salads.

-       Local fruit: berries are a great choice.

-       Juicing.

-       Sprouting grains.

-       Sautéing, blanching, or stir-frying veggies.

-       Eating roti or chapatti instead of baked goods and bread.

Most people should not be eating entirely raw and should incorporate white fish and small amounts of chicken into their diets.  Some people experience a mild detoxification reaction when they begin juicing.  If symptoms such as lethargy or fatigue last for more than one week, I advise eating more lightly cooked foods and less raw foods.

To make a pack, soak a piece of flannel in castor oil and place it on the area to be treated.  Cover with Saran Wrap, then apply a hot water bottle over top. Leave on for approximately thirty minutes.  Be aware that castor oil is messy and will stain.

Castor oil should not be taken internally.  Never apply it to broken skin or fresh wounds.  It is also contraindicated during pregnancy and menstruation, and if there is internal bleeding.

As with any new treatment protocol, please consult with your naturopathic or medical doctor to ensure that your health concerns will benefit from the use of castor oil packs.

Aspartame (NutraSweet)

• May mimic neurological symptoms of MS.
• Causes poorer sugar control in diabetics.
• Stimulates appetite and carbohydrate cravings due to hypoglycemic effect.
• Low calories don’t satisfy hunger.
• Side-effects, such as headaches, vertigo, nausea, etc.

Sucralose (Splenda)

• 600x sweeter than sugar.
• Made from real sugar which is chlorinated to be calorie-free and sugar-free.  The body cannot break it down, so calories are not converted into energy or fat (it is not metabolized.)  Chlorine is an endocrine (hormone) disrupter that has been known to cause thyroid problems.
• Contains bulking agents (maltodextrin) which are hydrolised from starch and converted to sugar in our bodies.  Therefore, it is not safe for diabetics!
• No large studies that show it is a safe product for human consumption.
• Glutamic acid (MSG) is a by-product of manufacturing.
• If processed from wheat, it may cause reactions in Celiac patients.

Saccharin (Sweet n’ Low)

• 1^st sweetener on the market.
• Banned in Canada due to carcinogenic properties (causes cancer.)

Acesulfame potassium (Sunett or Sweet One)

• Blended with aspartame to make it sweeter and mask its bitter aftertaste in Coke Zero
• Studies show varying and controversial degrees of safety.  Further testing is required.  (Therefore, you are the guinea pig when you are drinking this.)