Pleeease, I Want My Cheese
By Dr. Leslie Van Romer
There's no question?I love cheese.
I could handle life without sweets and meats, chips and dips, butter and oil, eggs and bacon, biscuits and gravy, and even milk and ice cream.
But life without cheese? I don't think so.
That would mean life without Canadian sharp, pizza, enchiladas, lasagna, macaroni and cheese, fettuccini Alfredo, crackers and cheese, bleu cheese dressing, and my best college buddy?cheese and mayo on rye.
Nope?that was not going to happen. Until it did.
It didn't happen in a day?more like a thousand days. No joke?I was that hooked on cheese?until something magical happened.
The sniff disappeared.
The what? You know?the sniff. That thing that happens when your nose runs away with you?the sniff.
The sniff and I had been good buds since birth. He loved me and followed me around constantly. He was with me when I first woke up?sniff, sniff, sniff; after meals?sniff, sniff, sniff; and on and off during the day?sniff, sniff, sniff.
I was clueless?the sniff and I had been together so long that I had no idea that we could live without each other.
Not only that, I had no idea that I could live without earaches, sinus headaches, and those stomachaches that bugged me after almost every dinner in high school?the ones that I had to lie down to get rid of but never got me out of the dishes.
After tearing myself away from my true love, cheese, and all its kin, one day I noticed that something was distinctly different?I was sniff-less.
The sniff was gone. So were my earaches, headaches, and stomachaches. My energy had kicked up a notch or two. And my head was clear.
Ohhhh, my goodness, I get it now?that's what noses are for?to breathe air through?something I had never been able to do before. I just thought they were built like broken faucets?drip, drip, drip.
How could I have been so dense? Amazing?what I ate actually had something to do with how well I felt every day and how well my nose worked, and the rest of my body.
It's funny how sometimes it takes ?feeling,? not just ?seeing? to believe.
Sure, I had read that dairy products, those very foods that our mothers taught us to eat and love, were sneaky little devils that cause ?little problems,? like fatigue, colds, sinus infections, allergies, asthma, bronchitis, psoriasis, eczema, bedwetting, pneumonia, mood swings, PMS, and?get this?headaches, earaches, stomachaches, and drippy noses.
Sure, I had read that dairy products cause ?big problems??like diabetes type 1, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammation in the arteries and kidneys, and heart disease.
Sure, I had even read about the dairy-cancer connection?like breast, prostate, ovarian, and pancreatic cancer. Whew, scary, huh? Those sneak up on us without a sign or a symptom.
But it wasn't until I actually felt the difference?life with cheese and life without cheese?that I finally ?got it,? a sense for the old saying, ?You really are what you eat.?
As much as I loved (and still do) cheese, I finally figured out that cheese, milk, and yogurt were not only unnecessary for my strong bones, teeth and body (how do elephants and milking cows get enough calcium for their strong bones, teeth and all that milk?), but dairy was actually harmful to me.
The choice had become as clear as my sinuses: To sniff or not to sniff?
I say, ?Good riddance, sniff, you've been hanging around far too long, and hello body I was born to be.?
Okay, I'm not going to try to kid you. I'm still hooked on cheese. I stay away from it by following my motto: I trust myself, but I don't tempt myself.
I keep a safe distance (miles and miles) between me and cheese. I just never know when that hunk of extra sharp cheddar cheese might get a mind of its own and fly directly into my open-like-a-baby-bird mouth, and always when I least expect it.
Sometimes perceived sacrifices are not sacrifices at all, but bearers of gifts?like the gifts of comfort, activity, energy, joy, and purpose.
So, my friend, I continue to applaud you and your life and all your efforts to make better and better choices on your journey called, ?Your Life.?
Above all else, remember that you and ?Your Life? count?to me and to all those whose lives you touch.
Dr. Leslie Van Romer is a motivational health speaker, writer and lifestyle coach. Visit Dr. Leslie at Http://DrLeslieVanRomer.com for practical direction, hope and inspiration.
Skin Care Tips
Skin is the outer most cover of the body something like a shield which saves inner muscles from coming in direct contact of different harmful bacteria, radiation from the sun and many other harmful agents. Imagine what would be without skin. Skin also provides gorgeous looks to humans. It is the skin which decides the looks of people irrespective of color. For the sake of good health and good looks, maintenance of skin is essential.
Three most valuable tips for skin care:
1. Drink enough water daily. Water is the main constituent of the cells of our body. It flushes out waste material generated in metabolic activities through the pores and through urine. Open pores help to keep the skin healthy.
2. Eat as much as possible green vegetables and fruits as they are the prime sources of vitamins and minerals. Particularly, vitamin A and E present in these foods keep skin healthy. Supplementing vitamins with the help of vitamin pills can be a waist of time and energy, apparently the body treats this substances as waist, our body has been using nutrients from food for billions of years, and when you put the concentrated elements in it, simply doesn't know what to do and rejects them, using a lot of energy in doing so.
3. Exercise according to your physical capability, don't over do it, take your time to build strong muscles slowly. Exercise accelerates the blood flow and pushes it to the smaller capillary and feeds the skin tissue sweating out all the toxins.
Sunlight generally dries up the skin. Different types of moisturizing creams and lotions are available in the market which can compensate this loss. Choose the moisturizer which suits you better, a trained beautician or dermatologist can advice you better in this regard.
Our skin comes in direct contact of many microbes; these microbes can cause some skin-diseases like Acne, Eczema, Fungus etc. These diseases can produce permanent harm and also leave ugly patches over affected area. Therefore, proper care should be taken about not to come in direct contact with dirty places and dirty things, as these things are heaven for microbes. When skin diseases hit, contact your dermatologist immediately, he can suggest you proper medication to deal with such situations effectively.
Growing age affects skin severely; though it cannot be avoided completely but process can be delayed with the help of a balanced diet, exercise, enough use of water and proper application of skin care products. Living a happy life also helps in maintaining glow on your face. Proper sleep, keeping yourself away from smoking and alcohol can not only make your skin healthy but also make your whole body fit and strong.
I have been interested in beauty since a very young age, I studied and read a lot about it, and about a year ago I decided to write about it, so I can share my ideas with other people.
I also have a website http://www.beauty-and-hair.com where I post regularly.
Food for Good Prostate Health
The prostate gland has a reputation as a health destroyer. Hypertrophy of the prostate gland, which affects nearly every elderly male, strangles the urethra. This troublesome condition makes urination difficult and increases the risk of bladder infections and kidney damage.
However, there are many good foods that may already be a part of your everyday diet that can help thwart the onset of prostate problems.
Tomatoes, watermelons, red grapefruit, papaya and red berries are all great sources of lycopene, a health-promoting plant pigment known for its cancer-battling ability. It also promotes a strong immune system and helps support prostate health in men.
Though fresh are always an excellent option, the lycopene in cooked tomatoes is actually absorbed more readily by the body. It is also your ally in the battle against heart disease.
Quercetin, a flavonoid that forms the backbone of many other flavonoids, may have positive effects in combating or helping to prevent many different types of cancer, including prostate. It also acts as an antihistamine and has anti-inflammatory properties, which may be helpful in relieving the pain of an inflamed prostate.
Foods rich in quercetin include apples, black and green tea, onions, raspberries, red wine, red grapes, citrus fruits, broccoli and other leafy green vegetables, and cherries. Quercetin can also be found in honey and sap, including the type from eucalyptus and tea tree flowers.
It is vital to remember to get a healthy balance of foods to keep your prostate healthy, including antioxidants, vitamin E from nuts and seeds, and drink plenty of clear fluids to help flush the bladder.
Try to avoid caffeine, alcohol, and spicy foods. Keeping your weight in check will also help maintain a healthy prostate.
Alex Fir shares a wealth of information on his website Prostate Cancer Information. To read more about prostate cancer prevention visit his site right now.
