1. Be Thankful and Grateful.

2. The Power of Service.

3. Love that Which is Good, Ignore that Which is Bad.

4. Be Goodness, Justice and Compassion. Never Criticize.

5. Be Patient, Clam and Considerate. Never Give in to Anger or Pride.

6. Be Pure, Compassionate and Gentle. Never Use Irony.

7. Be Confident, Satisfied and Open to Others. Do Not Doubt and Be Envious.

8. Be Moderate in All Things. Avoid Excesses.

9. Be Humble, Kind, Modest, Generous and Respectful or Others. Never Be Spiteful.

10. Be True in Word and Deed. Tell the Truth. Never Lie and Slander, The Truth Shall Set You Free.

11. Be Helpful and Consdierate of All that Exists. Never Deceive or Betray Anyone.

12. Love and Protect Life. Spread Peace and Harmony. In No Way Be Aggressive.

I heard something on Cosmo radio (Sirius) today when I was listening to “Wake Up with Taylor” this morning that inspired this post. They said that you can get a natural tan by eating orange and green fruits and vegetables such as spinach, cantaloup, carrots, and apricots. The best way to eat them is to have them raw and juice them. I found this to be interesting so I looked up some info on line and came up with the article below. The main thing I got from the reading is that the fruit and veggies give you a rosy glow which people perceive to be both beautiful and healthy. Studies have found that people find the rosy glow to be even more appealing than a tan. I can tell you from personal experience that when I have a lot of fruit/veggie smoothies and/or juices for 5 days in a row, I definitely get that rosy glow and I’ve gotten many comments about it. Give it a shot. After you try it, send me an email or post a comment. I’d love to find out how it goes for all of you. Happy Memorial Day Weekend! xoxo Tracy

Forget sunbeds and spray tans, the secret to a healthy looking glow is to eat plenty of fresh fruit and veg, according to the latest research. (Article from marieclair.co.uk)

Scientists claim that dull, pale complexions can be enhanced in just one month with the five-a-day diet.

‘We have produced evidence that dietary intake of fruit and vegetables affects skin colour,’ said Ian Stephen, from Bristol University, who led the research.

Not only is this approach healthier than other complexion enhancing methods, but researchers actually found that most people preferred the healthy colour of skin created by eating lots of fresh fruit and veg, than their suntanned look.

‘We found people always preferred the golden effect from diet to the darker effect from the sun,’ said Stephen.

He believes carotenoids, a class of around 600 different types of pigment found in plants, are the secret ingredient that gives an attractive glow.

Volunteers were put on a diet of five fresh fruit and vegetables every day for a month, and their ‘before’ and ‘after’ photos were rated for attractiveness. It was found that the ‘after’ faces were consistently ranked higher.

Scientists hope that the increase in attractiveness will encourage more people to ensure they are getting their five-a-day and believe the findings could reinforce the Government’s healthy eating campaign.

‘Most people don’t know the effect of diet on skin tone,’ said Professor David Perrett, a psychologist from St Andrews University. ‘We were very surprised by these results ourselves.’

According to the May 31, 2010 issue of OK magazine:

Score a Six-Pack - Get in three sets of 25 crunches every day, says trainer Kathy Kaehler, who works with Julia Roberts. “Don’t skip a day. Over the summer, you will see how consistency equals results.”

De-Stress and Detox - “Spending time in a sauna aids relaxation and helps rid your body of impurities that slow down your metabolism and cause water retention”, says Ashley Conrad, who has trained Kate Hudson. She also suggests sipping lemon-water to boost metabolism.

Cut Carbs, Dairy and Red Meat - Instead, get your protein from fresh fruits, veggies, fish and poultry. Keep the red meat down to 8 ounces a week, says Brian Peeler, who’s worked with Megan Fox.

According to the June 2010 issue of Firtness Rx magazine:

High-protein diets are popular for weight loss and weight maintenance. These diets are often high in fats, so many nutritionists fear adverse health effects and poor weight maintenance.

A study from Masstricht University in the Netherlands showed that diets low in fat and hgih in either casein or whey protein were more effective for long-term weight control than low-fat, high-carbohydrate diets. The high-protein diets had no negative effects on risk factors for heart attack, stroke, or diabetes, such as cholesterol, LDL (bad cholesterol), insulin, HbA1c (measure of sugar metabolism), or leptin (controls appetite and metabolic rate). The high-protein diet group consumed two supplements per day of either 25 grams of casein or whey protein. (International Journal of Obesity, 33: 296-304, 2009)

This information is from the June issue of Fitness Rx magazine.

Most people know that sunblocks within SPS factor of 15 or more protect the skin against caner-producing UV rays. Many foods are protective, too. Niva Shapira from Tel Aviv University in Israel suggested nutritional techniques to protect the skin against the sun’s rays. Antioxidants such as carotinoids, tocopherols, ascorbic acid, falvonoids, polyphenols, and monounsaturated fatty acids proect your skin from dangerous UV rays. Sun-fighting foods include carrots, tomatoes, olive oil, caffeine, red wine, grape seeds, chocolate, and fish oil. Vitamin C, B, and E supplements are also protective. America has one of the highest melanoma (a deadly form of skin cancer) rates in the world. A healthy diet can reduce the risk of skin cancer.

I saw this in a circular from  health food market called Wild By Nature. I think it’s the perfect summer juice or smoothie. Ingredients (Buy all organic)

cucumber, celery, lemon, apples    

They didn’t specify quanitities. Try 1 of each.

I just caught a segment on the Wendy Williams Show. She was interviewing Dr. Ian K. Smith. He’s the guy that’s on the show “Celebrity Fit Club” (which happens to be one of the shows I like the watch when I’m doing cardio at the gym.). Dr. Smith has just come out with a book about called Happy - Simple Steps to Get the Most out Life. He was discussing the fact that 40% of our happiness is within in our own control. (I’ve written about this in past blog blog entries. 50% is genetic and only 10% is actually based on real life circumstances. That means that most of our happiness is created within our own minds and we have a great deal of control over it.).  I’ve suggested writing down 5 “gratefuls” as an exercise to use in order to become happier. Dr. Smith suggest 5 random acts of kindness a week in order to become happier. These acts do not need to be monumental. Simply saying “hi” to someone you would normally just walk passed is an example of a random act of kindness. I know from personal experience that smiling at people always makes me feel good. Let’s all give this one a try. I’m going to order Dr. Smith’s book today and find out what other steps I can pass on to all of you.

Last week I went for a facial. My skin was just acting strange. It was dry and it was breaking out at the same time. For some reason, the dead skin was just sitting there. The aesthetician asked me what kind of exfoliator I use. I don’t use an exfoliator regularly (embarrassing but true). I thought that this was the part where I’d get a lecture and she’d try to talk me into buying some absurdly expensive product. To my surprise, she suggested a natural remedy.

She says that the best exfoliator is organic natural brown sugar. She says to buy it in a plastic bag and not out of one of those big bins. When you get it home, put it in a glass jar (a mason jar). Put an orange peel in the jar to keep the sugar fresh. The sugar is a great exfoliator for both face and body.

This is one tip I can’t wait to try. If any of you have tried this, please let me know what you think of it. If you have any of your own natural beauty tips, please feel free to email me and share them.

This one is from the May 2010 issue of Self Magazine. These are 6 everyday remedies to raise your spirits without meds.

(1) Sweat to smile. Exercise may be as effective at relieving mild to moderate depression as the antidepressant Zoloft, reveals a study from Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. “Physical activity stimulates the feel good chemical dopamine, which increases our sense of well-being,” explains Stephen Ilardi PhD., author of The Depression Cure.

(2) Tweak your diet. “The omega-3 fatty acids in cold-water fish help the brain respond to signals from the mood chemicals dopamine and serotonin,” Ilardi says, adding, “The antioxidanats and flavonoids in colorful fruit and veggies work in combination with omega-3s to protect the brain from harmful inflammation that can trigger depression.”

(3) Sleep off sadness. People who have insomnia have a fivefold risk of developing depression compared with those who are well rested, according to a study from the University of North Texas in Denton. Aim for seven to eight hours of shut-eye per night.

(4) Just say Om. Some studies suggest that regular meditation reduces the recurrence of depression as effectively as medication.

(5) See the light. “Sunlight is key for regulating your bilogical clock which affects mood, sleep and energy,” Ilardi says. Depressed people exposed to bright light for an hour upon waking for five weeks experienced a 54 percent improvement in symptoms, finds a study from Wesleyen University in Middletown, Connecticut.

(6) Lean on a friend. Research from the University of Chicago suggests that having a close circle is critical; people who are lonely have increased levels of depression. Curling up on the couch with a pal can be restorative , too.” A friendly touch puts the brakes on the brain’s stress-response signals,” Ilardi explains. Give someone you love a hug.

Here’s an interesting tidbit from the June 2009 issue of Self magazine. An apple a day can keep pounds away, according to a study from Penn State University at STate College. People who consumed the fruit before a meal took in 15 percent fewer calories overall than those who didn’t. Apple eaters spend more time chewing, so they feel full on fewer calories.