Get your Tree...low cal treat for deck' in the halls.

Get your Tree on...Tree Trimming Trail Mix

Good-for-you ingredients abound in this sweet and salty snack, but the real star in the almonds: Their healthy fat can help lower cholesterol, and their fiber may speed up weight loss.

Serves 8: preparation time: 20 minutes.

1 bag (3 oz) plain, unsalted microwave popcorn

¼ cup honey

2 Tbsp olive oil

2 bay leaves

½ t salt

1 cup dried cranberries

½ cup chopped dried figs or dates or both

½ cup sliced almonds

Heat oven to 400 degrees. Pop popcorn as directed in package; set aside. Combine honey, olive oil, bay leaves and salt in small saucepan over low heat, stirring till fragrant. Remove from heat, remove bay leaves. Toss warm popcorn with dried fruit and almonds in a bowl. Drizzle trail mix with honey glaze, toss again, and spread evenly on a baking sheet. Bake until golden, about 3 minutes. Turn off oven, remove sheet and toss trail mix with a spatula; spread evening on sheet and return to oven for 2 minutes more.

This dish 209 calories per 1 ½ cup, 7 grams fat, 36 grams carbs, 4 grams fiber, 3 grams protein.

Who says you can't fun food during the Holiday Season, not us. And keep moving, a 30 minute walk a day for a full year changing nothing about your diet...loses 10 pounds, not much effort for a tidy result.

Wake up and Smell the Rosemary

Wake Up and Smell the RosemaryProponents of herbal remedies have long believed that rosemary is a brain stimulant that facilitates human memory—in fact, the forsaken character Ophelia even utters the line “There’s rosemary, that’s for remembrance” in William Shakespeare’s Hamlet. The Web site HowStuffWorks.com recommends using the herb as the basis of a recipe for a memory-boosting academic aid. Combine ten drops of rosemary oil, six drops of lemon oil, one drop of clary sage oil, and two ounces distilled water in a spray bottle. Spray the mixture on a cloth and sniff the cloth repeatedly while studying for a test; then take the same cloth to the exam site and inhale the scent while taking the test. Theoretically, as your limbic system processes these now-familiar olfactory signals, the information you studied will return to you with greater clarity.

Characteristics of Single Note Fragrances

Pass the Cranberries please...

Don’t be fooled by their size. Cranberries are the ultimate super fruit packed with nutrients and antioxidants. From combating urinary tract infections to promoting gastrointestinal (digestive) health, the lists of health benefits are endless. Make sure you don’t pass on the cranberries this Thanksgiving and enjoy cranberries as a juice or cocktail, in pie, jam or sauce.

ChicagoHealers.com Practitioner Dr. Helen Lee shares how cranberries can boost your health this Thanksgiving.

·         Urinary Tract Health: Studies in 1994 showed that women who drank cranberry juice were less likely to develop urinary tract infections. At the Experimental Biology conference in 2002 a study showed that 8-oz of cranberry juice cocktail prevented E. Coli from adhering to the wall of the bladder. Cranberries contain a structurally unique form of proanthocyanidins which prevent bacteria such as E. Coli from adhering to the urinary tract and thus can be released through the urine.

·         Antioxidants: Antioxidants are compounds in the body which have the ability to stabilize free radicals which cause cellular damage, increased degeneration/aging/disease, as well as increase risk of cancer. A study published in the November 19, 2001 edition of the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry showed cranberries to contain more antioxidant phenols than 19 other common fruits & vegetables.

·         Gastrointestinal Health: Cranberry has been found to inhibit some food-bourne bacteria from attaching to the mucosal lining of the digestive tract.  A study in Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition also showed that cranberry juice prevents the common bacteria responsible for many stomach ulcers, Helicobacter pylori, from adhering to the gastric wall.

·         Cholesterol Health: A study in British Journal of Nutrition showed 8% increase in HDL (“good”) levels of 30 overweight men with slightly elevated LDL.  Increased levels of HDL has been shown to decrease risk of heart/cardiovascular disease.

Ban These Products From Your Home Forever...

1.  Nonstick Cookware- When heated, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), the nonstick coating, releases toxic gases that have been linked to cancer, organ failure, reproductive damage and other dangers. Try anodized aluminum, stainless steel or cast-iron pans instead.
2.    Chemical Insecticides or Hebicides- The active ingredient in Roundup is known to cause kidney damage and reproductive harm to mice, and cypermethrin, an active ingredient in Raid, is a known eye, skin and respiratory irritant and damages the central nervous system.
3.    Conventional Cleaning Supplies- All-purpose cleaners often contain ammonia, a strong irritant that has been linked to liver and kidney damage. Bleach can burn the skin and eyes. Oven cleaners can cause chemical burns and emit toxic fumes. Choose natural cleaners or mix up your own using vinegar and baking soda.
4.   Flame Retardants- Foam items (mattresses, mattress pads, couches, easy chairs, pillows, carpet padding) purchased before 2005 are likely to contain polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE), a chemical linked to liver, thyroid and neuro-develomental toxicity. If you’re in the market for a mattress or sofa, look for products that don’t use brominated fire retardants. To make your existing mattress safer, cover it with an organic wool topper.
5.   Antibacterial Products- Widespread antibacterial use helps create new strains of antibiotic-resistant “superbugs.” Antibacterials may also interfere with immune system development in children, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Make it your goal to be clean, not germ-free. Regular soap and water will clean most things.
6.    Air Fresheners- These are incredibly toxic and can aggravate respiratory problems like asthma.
7.    Chemical Fertilizers- If you have a lawn, choose organic fertilizers, not dangerous chemicals.
We hope this list will help you an your family live a little healthier in your home.
Reprinted courtesy of www.sustainlane.com

Getting the most from your washer and dryer

Tips for the washer:

Fill it up.
Clothes washers use about the same amount of energy regardless of load size, so run full loads whenever possible.

Wash in cold water.
Water heating consumes about 90 percent of the energy it takes to operate a clothes washer. Switching your temperature setting from hot to warm can cut energy use in half. Using the cold cycle reduces energy use even more.

Always use high-efficiency (HE) detergent if you have a front-loading machine.Regular detergent creates too many suds, which will affect a high-efficiency machine’s washing and rinsing performance. Over time, it can lead to odors and mechanical problems.

Activate the high-speed option
If your clothes washer has spin options, choose a high spin speed or the extended spin option to reduce moisture in clothes after washing, decreasing drying time.

Avoid the sanitary cycle
Use the superhot cycle, available on some models, only when absolutely necessary.

Leave the door open after use.
Airtight seals prevent water from leaking while the machine is in use. When a front-loading machine is not in use, this seal can trap moisture in the machines and lead to mold. Leave the door ajar for an hour or two after use to evaporate moisture. Make sure children do not climb in.

Rinse the washer every month.
Run a normal cycle with 1 cup of vinegar every month to reduce the risk of mold or mildew buildup.

Tips for the dryer:

Use the moisture sensor option.
Many new clothes dryers have a moisture sensor that shuts off the machine when clothes are dry, saving energy and clothing wear and tear.

Clean the lint filter.
Clean the filter after every load to improve air circulation and increase the dryer’s efficiency.

Scrub the lint filter regularly if you use dryer sheets
Dryer sheets can leave a film on the filter that reduces air flow and, over time, can affect the motor’s performance. If you must use dryer sheets, scrub the filter clean with a toothbrush once a month.

Use a drying rack or hang clothes outside.
Air-drying saves energy and helps clothes last longer.

Herbs and Spices can be helpful for weight loss

Although we’re inclined to scour the Web in search of the best diets and meal plans, the truth is, some of the tools to weight-loss success are already on your spice rack! Here are five ingredients that not only add flavor to your favorite dishes but can help in your battle against the bulge.

1. Cinnamon
A 2003 study published in Diabetes Care showed that as little as one teaspoon of cinnamon per day can boost the body’s weight-loss ability by reducing blood sugar and promoting healthier processing of carbohydrates. It also lowers LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) by seven to 27% and total cholesterol by 12 to 26%. Plus, cinnamon has been shown to prevent the metabolic syndrome commonly seen in pre-diabetics. But before you go on piling the spice by spoonful, note that cinnamon contains a chemical called coumarin, which can lead to liver damage if consumed in very large amounts.

2. Cayenne
The main ingredient in spicy cayenne—capsaicin, which is also found in other hot peppers—has long been studied for its fat-burning abilities and thermogenic properties (the stimulating of the central nervous system to produce heat in the body, leading to an increase in calorie burning). In fact, Nicholas Perricone, M.D., cites several of these studies in his wildly popular The Perricone Weight-Loss Diet and concludes that capsaicin acts as an appetite suppressant. Many think that cayenne pepper promotes weight loss because it’s simply difficult to overindulge in spicy food. However, later studies performed by the Journal of Obesity also found that the spice increases fat oxidation, “ramps up energy expenditure, and stimulates activity by the sympathetic nervous system”—all which help the body to shed excess weight. Not a fan of fiery cuisine? Not to worry! Research has found that cayenne’s ability to reduce appetite is equally effective whether ingested as food or in capsule form.

3. Black Pepper
Among the dozens of health benefits of this common household ingredient is its ability to improve digestion and promote the absorption of nutrients in tissues all over the body. Plus, its main component—piperine (which gives pepper its pungent taste)—boosts fat metabolism by as much as 8% for several hours after ingesting it. If you want your pepper to pack the most punch, use freshly ground pepper, which has the most concentrated amounts of piperine.

4. Mustard Seed
Like the other hot ingredients on this list, spicy mustard helps boost metabolism and allows you to burn fat more quickly, thanks in part to its thermogenic properties. Scientists at England’s Oxford Polytechnic Institute recently found that eating just one teaspoon of hot mustard can “boost metabolism 20 to 25% for several hours after eating, resulting in an additional burn of about 45 calories if a 700-calorie meal is consumed.”

5. Ginger
Long used for its medicinal properties, ginger is also an effective diuretic (a substance that increases the elimination of urine). It improves gastric mobility (i.e. it pushes food and waste through the digestive system) and hinders the absorption of cholesterol. Although according to the Mayo Clinic, more study is needed, preliminary evidence suggests that this versatile spice helps to increase metabolism.