Sharing the little things

Nearly twenty years ago, a friend shared with me that the moisturizing cream from her shopping club might help the chronic skin problems that many members of my family had—dry skin, sensitive skin, eczema, hives and rashes—you name it, someone in the family suffered from it.

We didn’t have much hope that it would cure anything but it it could provide relief, we would be thrilled. Surprise! Everyone showed improvement d in that first week.

The rest is history. I found a whole slew of products that were safer, money saving AND worked great! Plus they are delivered to my door.

It’s been a long time and every time we use these products, we are so grateful she shared.

Booze, coffee, being overweight —the keys to long life?

Really?
Study says booze, coffee, being overweight could be key to long life   
People who drink moderate amounts of alcohol or coffee and are overweight in their 70s live longer lives, according to researchers at UC Irvine Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders.
A new study claims that people who drink alcohol and coffee live longer than people who don’t. The researchers started a study in 2003 to look at what makes people live past 90.
They say participants in their study who drank moderate amounts of alcohol or coffee lived longer than those who abstained from either drink. But anyone who plans to spend their nights drinking nothing but tequila should use caution, It’s not about getting drunk every night — researchers say moderate drinking—one or two glasses of wine, maybe a little bit more, and a little bit of coffee, should do the trick
In addition, people who were overweight in their 70s lived longer than people who were normal or underweight in their 70s.
Researchers at the “90+ Study” say that they are always looking for new participants who are 90 years old or older.
To learn more about the study, click here for the institute’s website.

Knee and Hip Health

IS IT TIME FOR A KNEE OR HIP REPLACEMENT?

Getting a knee or hip replacement is a big decision. You should always try conservative treatments first. If, however, they don’t work and your knee or hip pain is significantly impacting your life, you may be ready for joint replacement surgery.

My orthopedist put together this simple quiz to help you determine whether it’s time to consider joint replacement surgery:

Does the pain limit your normal activity?
Is it difficult to get up after sitting?
Do you have pain even when you’re at rest?
Does the pain affect your sleep?
Do you have chronic swelling/inflammation or stiffness?
Have you received little to no relief from conservative treatments, such as RICE (rest, ice, compression, elevation), physical therapy, braces, footwear modification, over-the-counter medications like aspirin and ibuprofen, and cortisone/lubrication injections?
If you’ve answered yes to most of the quiz questions, you may be a candidate for joint replacement surgery and should speak with an orthopedic specialist.

I know I answered yes to most of the questions and having both hips replaced made a marked improvement in my quality of life and it is great to be able to stand and walk pain free!

Relaxation Support

The antidote to your busy day:
Proper rest has been linked to optimal immune function, metabolism, memory, learning, and other vital functions. But we live in a fast-paced world. Deadlines, multi-tasking, and worries can make getting the true rest you need difficult if not impossible. In fact a December 2013 Gallup study found that 40% of adults are not getting the recommended amount of sleep each night. That’s why RestEZ was created. Unlike traditional “sleep aids” that can be harsh or even habit forming, RestEZ is a gentle approach that helps your body achieve more natural, healthy sleep patterns.

Sleep better. Awake Refreshed.
There is nothing like a good night’s sleep to help you feel refreshed, recharged and ready to take on the day. That’s the sensation RestEZ was created to provide—every day. A proprietary blend of ingredients, RestEZ helps gently relax both body and mind so you can establish more natural, healthy sleep patterns.

The gentle ingredients in RestEZ help you
• Start falling asleep faster
• Sleep better
• Wake up refreshed
• Establish more natural sleep patterns
• Because sleep patterns differ from individual to individual, you will experience maximum results within two or three weeks of continuous use.

The best ingredients for sleep the way nature intended.
The proprietary RestEZ formula uses an exclusive blend on non-habit-forming ingredients to help you gently and naturally relax and experience healthy sleep. Each ingredient was chosen for its proven history of effectiveness, and then blended at proprietary levels to provide maximum benefit.
L-Theanine
L-Theanine is an amino acid commonly found in green tea. It has been shown to help reduce mental and physical stress by increasing alpha brain activity and increasing dopamine release.*
Melatonin
Melatonin is a hormone made by the pineal gland that helps control your sleep and wake cycles. Small amounts of it can be found some grains, fruits, and vegetables.
Chamomile flower
Chamomile contains flavonoid that has been shown to help reduce stress and promote relaxation and sleep.*
Valerian root
Valerian root has been used since the Middle Ages as a soothing agent for occasional sleeplessness. Studies have shown its effectiveness in helping attain restful sleep*
Passion flower
Passion flower is a perennial vine that is known to help relieve edginess and nervous tension*
Hops
The yellow scales of the hops cone are known to have a calming effect; pillows stuffed with hops have been used for centuries to promote sleep*
Spearmint
Spearmint has been used for its calming effects when used to promote sleep.

How do you use RestEZ?
RestEZ uses a blend of natural ingredients to help gently regulate your sleeping patterns over time. For best results, take RestEZ daily with your evening meal or at least an hour before bedtime.

Because everyone’s sleep patterns are different, you will experience maximum benefits within 2–3 weeks of continuous use.

Benefits of magnesium

I have a lot to do today! Classes, interviews, rowing, and the usual work and errands.
I’m usually pretty easy going and I go with the flow.  But today II think I need a little extra help.
Did you know that nearly 50% of the US population is deficient in magnesium?
Did you know that low magnesium means you don’t absorb Vitamin D as well?

Those are just two of the reasons why we all need Magnesium.
You know how when you feel stressed, your muscles become tense? This is because your nervous system releases hormones and then your heart pounds faster, along with faster breathing patterns. Magnesium relieves muscle tension, which has a dramatic impact on the level of stress you feel. As an asthmatic, magnesium helps reduce asthma symptoms and helps to keep attacks at bay. Another benefit of magnesium is that it helps with calcium absorption.

How do I easily add magnesium to my diet? I discovered  this yummy product called Melaout, I just mix it with water and have a glass, This fun drink is like taking a deep breath and then letting it out slowly to relax, Then I will do all the things that need to be done today! Cheers.

A thought worth sharing

At one time – nontoxic products were not affordable. And they performed poorly. 

That is still true if you purchase them in box stores or from MLM companies. Still NOT true if you shop at the shop club I discovered 30 years ago – a shopping revolution even in today’s world. 

About plastics…

We recently posted how plastics are showing up in human blodstreamsAnyone still microwaving in plastic? Not a good idea.

Junk food promotes hunger and overeating

Sugar-rich diets generate excessive reward signals in your brain that can override normal self-control mechanisms and lead to addiction and overeating.
Research found a single week of bingeing on fast foods impaired appetite control, making the volunteers more likely to desire more junk food, even if they’d just eaten.

May be an image of food

To learn more about overeating and junk food click on the link below
https://articles.mercola.com/…/19/junk-food-addiction.aspx

One small decision…

My “wish I would find time to do…” list has been too long. Each item is a little black cloud floating over my head waiting to be done. Recently, I began to act on one of those pesky items out of need. The need? My immune system needs me to breathe fresh air daily to support my immune defense against allergens, of al sorts. The decision was to stop work at 3:00 p.m and sit on my lanai with the dog running in the yard for at least 15 – 30 minutes.
That bit of time allowed me to check off several things on that long “to do” list .
I have used my outdoor seating area more in the last few weeks than I have since I I first purchased it five years ago.
That’a sad truth.
These minutes have given me time to enjoy a daily relaxing smoothie. Plus, 15 minutes of reading time has me caught up on my monthly work magazine for the first time ever! It also gives me enough time to eat a fat burning,, soreness-preventing, Access bar before my rowing session. I’m slowly incorporating lifestyle changes from my list.
You know, “Baby steps” really do work!

Finding Sulfate-free Shampoo

When your hair is healthy, there’s no stopping its natural shine and bounce. But did you know that many shampoos use sulfates?  Sulfates are the primary cleaning agents in most shampoos. While sulfates are effective cleansers, they can also damage your hair, leaving it dry and brittle.

Many sulfate-based shampoos strip away essential moisture and cause color-treated hair to fade. They also increase the likelihood of breakage (split-ends) and limit the hair’s ability to reflect light, making it look dull and unhealthy.

I was in the market for a shampoo formulated with gentle, sulfate-free cleansers, that would still keep my hair clean, healthy, and moisturized without stripping away the hair’s natural moisturizers. I found a few but they were so much more expensive than I wanted to spend.

Then I discovered my online shopping club had a sulfate-free shampoo and it was under $5! I was surprised and excited to try this brand of conditioner and shampoo.

What I found: my hair became stronger, shinier, and healthier and it is now getting compliments. I am being asked how am I getting such soft, shiny, and manageable hair!

Amazing. Who knew I could improve my hair’s health with sulfate-free formulas that work and at prices under $5?

Amazing hair. Amazing prices. I love it!