If you are like me, changing your sheets is not your favorite chore! Have you ever wondered how often you actually should change your sheets? The best rule of thumb is to change your sheets weekly.  Every time you sleep you shed dead skin cells, hair and bodily fluids.  This can cause bad odors, stickiness and a fertile breeding ground for bed bugs, fleas, dust mites and other parasites.  Dust mites can cause allergies, so it’s best to keep your sheets clean. Wash your sheets in hot water to make sure that all the dead skin cells and dust mites are gone.  

With all the buzz about quinoa (pronounced keen-wah) in the last decade, the odds are that you have tried it. Did you feel like it lived up to all the hype? This naturally gluten-free whole grain has a very mild, nutty flavor, so for flavorful quinoa you must add plenty of seasonings. Eating 3 servings of whole grains every day can help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, colon cancer, high blood pressure, and obesity.
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Quinoa is packed full of nutrients, so it is considered a superfood. Plus it is one of the least allergenic grains, so it’s great for those with wheat allergies.

Do you look around your house and see clutter? Is there mail sitting on the counter? Is your closet overflowing? Do you have stacks of magazines sitting around? Does all this make you feel energized and healthy, or does it make you feel tired and overwhelmed? If your feel tired and overwhelmed or just dragged down by it all, there are steps you can take to rid yourself of it.

​Clutter can cause physical hazards. It can be a tripping hazard. It can impede your life and make it hard to get out the door in the morning. The clutter can gather dust, dander, and pollen and cause asthma and allergies.

Clutter can also cause you to become depressed, especially if you are letting memory clutter keep you living in the past. It can even cause you to gain weight. A correlation between weight and the amount of clutter a person hangs on to has been discovered. Many people, once they decide to let go of their things, also end up letting go of their extra weight.

Did you grow up thinking you needed to drink at least a glass of milk a day to be healthy? The problem is, a large number of people have trouble digesting milk. In fact, milk allergies are the most common allergy in children. The negative effects of milk consumption can range from digestive symptoms to allergies to a possible increase in risk of diabetes and certain cancers. This is why many people have opted to consume non-dairy milks out of necessity or for health reasons.

Pros:

• Has a slightly sweet flavor and is similar in texture to milk.
• Provides about half your daily dose of vitamin E.
• Contains vitamins A and D.
• Contains only about 1/3 the calories of cow’s milk and half the fat.
• Many varieties are fortified with vitamins and minerals.
• Contains neither saturated fat nor cholesterol.

Cons:

• Contains less protein than milk and is higher in carbs.
• Unless fortified, is lacking other vitamins, minerals, and essential fatty acids found in cow’s milk.
• It is not a suitable formula for infants.

Red fruits and vegetables contain phytonutrients such as ellagic acid, anthocyanins, lycopene and more.  These phytonutrients may help regulate blood pressure levels, lower bad cholesterol, and reduce tumor growth.  Anthocyanins are powerful antioxidants that help prevent cell damage, help keep your heart healthy, and reduce the pain from arthritis and gout.  Lycopene may help reduce the risk of some kinds of cancer, such as prostate cancer, breast, colorectal, endometrial, lung and pancreatic.  The best way to get your daily dose of lycopene is in cooked tomatoes with a small amount of fat, such as a marinara sauce with a little olive oil in it.