Homemade Trail Mix -- Brain Food!

Memory loss? Feeling dull and not quite with it? Forget about playing those confusing "brain games" or taking pill after pill. Instead make up a batch of this yummy trail mix to boost brain function!

 

1 cup dried apricots

1/2 cup carob chips

1 cup raisins

1 cup toasted walnuts

1 cup dried cranberries

1/2 cup pumpkin seeds (salted or un-salted)

1/2 cup sunflower seeds (salted or un-salted)

Mix all ingredients together and store in a zipper bag or air tight container. Reach for this snack instead of potato chips or sweets and you will wake up your brain!

Finding The Right Path

Finding the right path is something you figure our in high school or college, right? That is what I thought, but when it came right down to it, even after nine years of college, I settled into my field. I was not passionate about it. Someone said to be why don’t you major in computers and so I did. There was never a fire there for the things I was learning or the job I was doing. I was listless and everything seemed mundane.

Then I switched gears and pursued teaching. For the past 16 years that is what has defined me. I was the computer guru who taught unruly, unwanted high school students. However, with the rules and regulations changing, the field of education has become more of a diploma mill than an actual learning environment. I started experiencing burn out and I had not wanted to continue after last year, but I stuck with it.

My dissatisfaction has grown exponentially since August and I think it is time to switch gears again. The path that seemed so right 16 years ago is becoming overgrown and difficult to travel. So, I come back to the question; how to find the right path? Where do I belong? Am I following the Lord’s plan for my life?

After a heated, condescending phone call from the Human Resources Director at the school district I am currently employed, I took time to pray and study the Word of God. Every morning I dread getting up and going into the viper pit – that is my nickname for the school district. It is eight hours of insolent, defiant and down right rude co-workers chirping in your ear about this person or that one. They make me question my sanity sometimes! Then it is the needy, clingy students who make it all worth it. Not a day goes by that I do not pray for those students who have touched my heart.

If I could be in a district where I could hand pick my co-workers I would be in heaven! But, alas, we live in a fallen world and must interact with these vipers who are clamoring for superiority. I take that back, we are called to minister to and show the love of Jesus to these vipers.

I have veered from my original thoughts again! Seeking your path at any age can be frustrating, more so when you have meandered down so many that had to be “the right one”. As I combed through the Scriptures regarding trust in the Lord for your future, I came up with over 70, there was a sense of hope and peace that enveloped me. As long as God is in control, how can something be wrong? He knows where I belong and if I diligently seek him, He will reveal it to me.

I knew there had to be a reason why the thought of stepping back from teaching did not send me into a frenzied terror. There was a calm understanding that another transition was close at hand. The Lord has not yet revealed what my new direction will be or where He is leading me. But I am trusting in Him that my eyes will soon be opened and I will find enjoyment and fulfillment wherever the Lord leads me.

Spices That Combat Inflammation

There are many foods and spices that have been used over the years to combat inflammation within the human body. Many people have been turning towards these natural remedies for inflammation as more and more of the side effects of the prescription drugs are causing severe consequences.

There is a list of fifteen spices that are proving to be excellent in fighting inflammation within the human body. 

1.       Black Pepper

2.       Basil

3.       Cardamom

4.       Cayenne

5.       Chamomile

6.       Chives

7.       Cilantro

8.       Cinnamon

9.       Cloves

10.   Garlic

11.   Ginger

12.   Parsley

13.   Nutmeg

14.   Rosemary

15.   Turmeric

Turmeric and ginger are considered to be the most potent spices in the reduction of inflammation within the human body. Along with looking more closely at these two spices, let’s also look more closely at a few of the more effective spices for anti-inflammatory properties.

Turmeric is the spice in curry powder that gives it the yellow hue and has been used in Indian medicine for centuries. Turmeric is used to stimulate the appetite, as a digestive aid, and is recently been discovered to be a potentially powerful cancer fighter as well as reducing inflammation, including inflammation caused by psoriasis. (www.rd.com)

Ginger has been a large part of Asian and Indian medicine for centuries as a digestive aid. In recent years, ginger has been found to fight inflammation, especially when combined with turmeric, in people suffering from arthritis by reducing the pain and swelling associated with the condition.

Cinnamon is also a top spice to aid in relieving inflammation within the body. Cinnamon has been called “one of the most powerful healing spices” by Reader’s Digest (www.rd.com). It has been used in lowering blood-sugar levels in people with diabetes, lowering triglycerides and total cholesterol, and preventing blood clots. Its healing powers extend to those suffering from inflammation.

Cayenne has several proven health benefits including relieving congestion, boosting metabolism, cancer preventative, treating shingles pain and nerve pain related to diabetes, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. The capsaicin has been used in many over-the-counter creams, ointments, and patches for those suffering from arthritis, muscle pain and joint pain.  After using products with capsaicin for a time it “short-circuits pain by depleting nerve cells of a chemical called substance-P” (www.rd.com).

Cloves are used in Indian cooking and contain an anti-inflammatory agent called eugenol. Reader’s Digest recently reported that in animal studies, eugenol has inhibited COX-2 which is a protein that creates inflammation in the body (www.rd.com). Aside from being an anti-inflammatory spice, it also contains properties that are beneficial to your overall health including boosting protection from heart disease, cancer, and slowing the progression of arthritis.

Rosemary, while not being as noteworthy in inhibiting inflammation as some of the other spices listed, still possesses the strong ability to significantly reduce the inflammatory response within the body. It is also used for its anti-oxidant and stress lowering capabilities (www.outsideonline.com).

Cooking with spices not only enhances the flavors of your food, they also provide you with the best source of natural treatments for removing inflammation in the human body. However, you cannot truly measure the amount of the spice that you actually consume at each mealtime. A recipe calls for 1 teaspoon of cayenne for the entire recipe; therefore, depending upon the serving size, you will not know how much actual cayenne you have ingested. Most of the spices listed above also come in capsule form and can be taken daily. Remember, though, to get the full benefits of these spices, you will need to incorporate them into your daily cooking or supplement form at the recommended dosage.

Plants That Can Poison Your Dog

Many plants in our home and used in our landscaping have toxins that poison our pets. For canines and felines, their natural curiosity can be their downfall when it comes to nibbling on plants.

Listed is some of the top house or landscaping plants that are poisonous to canines:

Autumn crocus: It has been known to trigger rapidly dividing cells, shedding of the gastrointestinal tract, bloody diarrhea, and vomiting.

Azalea: A very popular plant can harm the cardiovascular system and trigger vomiting or gastrointestinal upset.

Daffodil: Toxins in the bulbs of the daffodil can cause convulsions, tremors, lethargy, upset stomachs and weakness.

Hyacinth: A popular plant that can cause severe vomiting, bloody diarrhea, depression, and tremors.

Japanese yew: This plant and its red berries are very toxic to dogs and can cause seizures or cardiac failure.

Lily of the valley: All varieties of the lily are very toxic to dogs. It can cause heart failure, coordination problems, and vomiting.

Oleander: This plant has toxins that harm the heart, decrease body temperature, cause abnormal pulse rate, and can cause death. 

Sago palm: The seeds are deadly to dogs. Just a few small seeds can cause death to a large dog.

Tomato: The leaves and stems of the tomato plant, not the actual tomato, have a toxin that can cause gastric upset, depression, weakness, and a decrease in heart rate.

This is a condensed list of harmful, even deadly, plants to your dog. When decorating your home or landscaping your yard, research each plant that you are considering to find out if it is dangerous for your pet. Cornell University's Department of Animal Science has an active database for plants that are toxic to dogs. The ASPCA has compiled a list of plants that are toxic to cats. Should your pet ingest a plant and you are unsure as to if it is harmful, then contact your veterinarian or the local poison control center.

                                                                                                                        

Benefits of Paraffn on Hands and Feet

Paraffin is a wax coating made from crude petroleum and is used as a lubricants, candles, and waterproof barriers on fruits and preserves. Most people do not think of paraffin as a beauty treatment, widely used in spas.

The use of paraffin treatments as a therapeutic or relaxation treatment can be traced back to the Roman Empire.  The paraffin treatments were used on the body prior to massage treatments. Later on English and French masseurs or masseuses used paraffin treatments to aid in the healing of injuries, most especially for joint ailments.

The benefits of paraffin treatments, according to Body Balance Massage and Day Spa, include hydrating dry hands and feet by allowing the deep-penetrating heat to alleviate sore muscles and joints, and help relieve afflictions like arthritis, fibromyalgia, tendonitis, and muscle spasms.

A paraffin treatment consists of submerging your hands or feet in a tub of hot paraffin wax. The purpose of these treatments is to surround the sore or affected area with the heat from the wax.  The heat helps with the inflammation and stiffness in the joints. Heat therapy has also been known to decrease painful joint stiffness and muscle spasms and helps to reduce inflammation.  A buildup of fluid in hand tissues can be decreased with the treatment also.

When heat is applied to an area, the blood vessels expand thus stimulating circulation in the hands or feet. By increasing circulation, the nutrients in the body can get to the affected areas and the wastes that need to exit the body can be carried away. Increased circulation will also help increase flexibility. Aside from increasing circulation, paraffin will also moisturize the hands or feet. “According to "Evaluation of Paraffin Bath Treatment in Patients with Systemic Sclerosis" by Lund University Hospital in Sweden, the result of a paraffin treatment is often softer and more elastic skin.” The softer, more elastic skin will also have better skin color than hands and feet suffering from poor circulation.

Paraffin therapy is commonly used in the treatment of sports related injuries such as tendonitis, according to the Medical Supplies and Equipment Company website. Paraffin not only soothes the tendon, but also calms and moisturizes the skin, increases circulation and opens pores. Hands aching from tendonitis can be placed into a small paraffin dip or a larger paraffin therapy bath. The same can be done for feet afflicted with tendonitis or arthritis.

LivingStong.com gives excellent step-by-step instructions for giving you a paraffin treatment at home. You do not have to visit a spa to get a great, soothing paraffin treatment for your hands and feet.

Ways to Reuse a Banana Peel

Bananas are a healthy addition to your diet. However, once you have eaten the banana, what are you to do with the skin or peel of it? Once thought the peels were only good for the compost pile, there are actually numerous other uses for them. Although some do sound a little odd and just a shade quirky, they are real uses for your throw away banana peels.

Fruit Fly Trap

You will need a large yogurt container, a nail and hammer, and a banana feel. You will make small holes in the lid of the large yogurt container using the nail and hammer. Place the banana peel inside the yogurt container and snap on the lid with the holes. Place the yogurt container near the fruit flies in your home. The fruit flies will be attracted to the banana peel and will fly into the container. They will not be able to fly back out if your holes are not too large. Once the fruit flies are trapped, dispose of the trap.

Stop The Itch

You can stop the itch of bug bites by rubbing the inside of a banana peel on the bites. The oils in the banana peels will soothe the itch of annoying bug bites. So next time you go camping, bring along some bananas for healthy eating and itch relief.

Look At That Shine

Banana peels are an inexpensive way to polish your shoes. Leather shoes lose that have lost their shine can be brought back to their vibrancy by rubbing them with a banana peel. Banana peels are also a cheap way to polish your silverware. Some people also use them to polish their jewelry.

Keep Aphids Away

For the rose gardener who is fighting a battle against aphids or plant lice, banana peels could be your answer. Chop up some banana peels and bury them below your rose bushes. Do not use whole peels or you will attract new nuisances to your garden such as raccoons and squirrels.

Compost It
Your garden will thank you for tossing your banana peels onto the compost pile. Peels are full of potassium and phosphorus which are nutritious and yummy to you plants.

Fertilize It
Instead of putting banana peels in the compost, save them and dry them out during the winter months. When you are ready to fertilize your spring garden, grind the dried banana peels in a blender and sprinkle them through your soil.

Heal A Cut
To heal a small cut or scrape, rub the inside of the banana peel on it to speed the healing process. Remember that if a cut is serious you should seek medical advice from your doctor. The inside of a banana peel is also great for small burns, rub the affected area with the banana peel to ease the pain and aid in healing.

Splinter Removal
A deeply embedded splinter can be drawn out by cutting a piece of banana peel and taping the inside of the peel against the entry point of the splinter. The enzymes in the banana peel acts like a drawing salve and the splinter will rise to the surface for easier removal and will aid in healing the wound as well.

Wart Removal
Cut a small piece of a banana peel to fit over the wart and and tape the inside of the peel against the wart. In about two weeks, the wart will disappear.

Brighten Your Smile
Gargle with warm water and salt then rub a banana peel on your teeth. Do this once a day and by the end of two weeks, you will have a significantly whiter smile.

Brighten Your Leaves
Houseplants that need a little sprucing can be polished with banana peels. Just wipe each leaf with the inside of the banana peel and they will shine again.