March Madness

What a month this has been. A very expensive month. The travel, the plumber and today the vacuum - motor started smoking.

When you have 2 dogs and a cat a vacuum is an absolute necessity.

We have certainly done our share to improve the economy.

Here are five food safety tips from a Business Week article titled "The Truth About Food Expiration Dates."

1) "Sell by" is generally a guide for grocers (potentially confusing for shoppers who might regard it as an expiration date)

2) "Best if used by" or "best before" usually refers to optimum food flavor or quality – it's not necessarily an indication that the food will be spoiled on or after that date

3) "Use by" is an expiration date – if the date has passed, pass on it

4) Milk products generally stay fresh for up to five days after their "sell by" date – provided they've been properly refrigerated

5) Eggs store very well – refrigerated eggs are usually good for more than a month after their "sell by" date

Super foods for Super Bones

Many people believe that the primary cause of osteoporosis is the lack of calcium in their diet. However, in the overall picture, calcium is only a small piece of the puzzle. Though calcium supplements can certainly help, there are other dietary concerns that need to be examined.

Actually, the primary dietary cause of osteoporosis is the eating foods that are highly acidic in nature, such as refined white sugar, refined white flour, high-fructose corn syrup, soft drinks, cookies, candies, sweets, desserts, and anything containing sweeteners. The over-consumption of these products causes the pH level in your blood to become very acidic. In an attempt to counterbalance this, your body reaches out for any calcium and magnesium it can find, and releases those into your bloodstream in an attempt to keep the pH level at a healthy balance.

Therefore, with every soft drink, candy, cake and goodie you indulge in, you are robbing your skeleton of its bone density. The calcium and magnesium the body harvests in an attempt to counteract this acidic environment gets passed through your kidneys, where it can also contribute to kidney stones and exits your body through your urine. To prevent losing your bone mass to dietary causes, simply avoid consuming any white flour, processed sugars, added sugars, soft drinks, sweets, candies, breads, or any other ingredients that are made with refined carbohydrates.

In addition, certain super foods, like broccoli, cabbage, celery and other dark green leafy vegetables help keep the pH balance in a healthy equilibrium. You need to get plenty of calcium and magnesium from healthy sources such as organic, plant-based vitamins. You also need to supplement your diet with various sea vegetables, which are naturally alkaline. Those include seaweed, kelp, and many others. Sprouts are also an awesome super food choice.

until next time - smile
Sharon
Answers For Your Health