Eating naked to lose weight

Eating naked isn't indecent (public domain photo)

Those of us who live in the southwest or have a love of Mexican foods like burritos and tacos know all about eating naked. It's not what it sounds like, but it can help you lose weight. This article will discuss naked Mexican foods as well as some other naked techniques you can use to help you with weight loss. They're all quite simple and require no extraordinary sacrifices on your part. This naturally healthy grandma takes going naked at mealtime a step further by leaving out the meat and cheese and adding more fresh veggies.

Naked Mexican food

What's a naked burrito? It's a burrito without the tortilla. What's a naked taco? It's a taco without the shell. Eating naked Mexican food at one famous fast food place can save you as many as 290 calories a serving, depending on the content and type of wrapper. Add up all the burritos you eat in a year and you could lose significant weight just by eating naked Mexican food.

Naked sandwiches

Want to guess how many calories there are in an average white bread slice? There are 66. Since a sandwich contains two slices, you could save 132 calories by eating a naked sandwich without the bread. How about whole wheat bread? It's 128 calories a slice! So, even if it's the most nutritious choice, it may not be the best choice for weight loss. Go naked instead!

Naked salads

What's a naked salad? It's a plain salad with no dressing. Too boring for you? Try dipping your salad bites in apple cider vinegar. It's an option at one restaurant my partner, Gary and I go to. It's way tastier than you might think. Go naked in other ways by eliminating empty calorie salad toppings like bacon bits and croutons. Use mega herbs and spices instead!

Naked main dishes

You can spice up main dishes with herbs too. Make main dishes with vegetables cheese-less and meatless to go naked. You might be inclined to think this is boring, but it's quite the opposite. Without the dredge of greasy meat and cheese, the flavors of the veggies are stronger and last longer. You can eat more without feeling guilty, too. That makes naked main dishes an awesome weight loss strategy.

Naked desserts

So, you're dieting along just fine when along comes that dessert craving. What do you do? Well, in our house, we're vegan. Still, we allow ourselves an occasional scoop of coconut milk ice cream. Depriving ourselves just leads to binges. What makes our coconut ice cream naked? We eat it without the chocolate syrup and opt for dark powdered cocoa instead. It can be mixed in or sifted on top. Delish!

This article was previously published by this author on Yahoo!

Encouraging hair growth when toxic meds cause hair loss

Hair loss is no fun! (public domain photo)

Are you on medications that cause your hair to fall out? I am. When I became sick with Lupus and started taking powerful meds, I was astounded at how quickly my brush filled with hair each day. It's a good thing I started out with a healthy head. Otherwise, I might have gone bald. I'm also glad I found a few ways to curb the hair loss from my meds, before it got any worse. Now that I've stopped the meds that were causing my issue, my hair is coming back full force. However, even before stopping the meds, these tips really made a difference.

Fuss more, lose less.

Did you know scalp stimulation keeps hair from falling out so rapidly? That's right. The more you brush your head, the more new growth is encouraged. You would think it would be just the opposite, wouldn't you? I did. Until I read about it. You do, however, want to stay away from damaging practices like blow drying and using curling irons. Devices that heat your hair can make it brittle and weak.

Head massage

New hair growth is stimulated by regular head massage. You might think it unwise to mess around with your hair too much. Actually, the opposite is true. Vigorously massaging the scalp when you shower can encourage toxins to work their way out of your hair and scalp, leaving nothing but healthy, beautiful hair.

Watch what you put in your mouth

You're taking in enough chemicals, without adding to the mix. Talk to your doctor about hair loss. Your medications may very well be the problem. There may be a medicine that's just as effective that doesn't have such embarrassing side effects. Consider your diet as well. Is it helping to flush chemicals from your body? Are you getting enough water and essential nutrients?

Get the chemicals out.

Certain herbs and household products can help reduce chemical build-up in hair follicles. I use a rinse of plain tea made with steeped sage, lavender and thyme. I also rinse my hair with apple cider vinegar once a week. Using these two techniques seems to help quite a bit. I haven't experienced any significant new hair loss since I started doing this.

Moisturize

Moisturizing your hair and scalp regularly keeps it healthier. This can improve its' chemical resistance. Think about how healthy people are less likely to contract colds and flu. Your hair is a part of you. It works on the same principle. The stronger and healthier your hair is, the less likely it is that you will lose it.

This post was previously published by this author on Yahoo!

How I remember to drink water

Hydration is healthy! (public domain photo)

Drinking water regularly is probably the best way to stay naturally healthy. It's easy enough to say you will drink more water. We all know why it's important too. Water is the body's lubricant. It keeps toxins flushed and systems in order. I used to be too busy helping others to worry about whether I was getting enough water. Now that I've been diagnosed with 2 chronic illnesses, I make a special effort to pamper myself in this area. I have kids and grand-kids that love me. I'd like to be around a while. Here's how I remember to drink more water daily.

Morning, noon, night

I drink 8 ounces of water when I wake up. It's easy to remember because wake up time is also medicine time. I also drink a small glass of water right around noon and another at bed-time. So, that's 3 of the recommended 6-8 glasses daily right there. Easy breezy!

Water before meals.

I drink a small glass of water just before every meal. I'm told that it helps with weight loss. I don't know if that's true. I do know that doing this brings my total glasses of water up to 6 a day. So, what do I do to get even more water?

Empty out/fill up

This is probably the simplest technique I use. Whenever I empty my bladder, I grab a quick glass of water. What an easy way to be sure you stay hydrated, right? Replacing the water I lose when it's eliminated just makes sense to me. This naturally healthy grandma is never dehydrated that's for sure!

Exhilarating coffee body scrub removes cellulite and more

Coffee (public domain photo)

I've been telling myself I would get back to using these scrub recipes for a long time. Of, course, like always, other people's needs come first. Well, no more excuses and that goes for you too! I used them once or twice a while back, then caved to the lack of time genie. Now, this naturally healthy grandma is giving them a more committed shot. Here's the original article I wrote when I first started using these recipes for better health. Let's give them a second spin together, shall we?

Coffee body scrub for cellulite removal

Battling ugly cellulite? Tried everything and nothing works? Coffee wafting into the bedroom wakes you up in the morning. It keeps you awake throughout the day. It can wake up your skin too. A coffee body scrub is aid to stimulate circulation to remove cellulite. Add coarse sugar to slough away dead skin cells. Mix with softening avocado and olive oil to nourish dry skin. This is the first of three breakfast food beauty scrubs. Remove cellulite with the coffee body scrub, then try these other two unusual scrubs for surprising beauty benefits.

1 cup ground coffee
1 cup course sugar (such as brown sugar or raw sugar)
1 mashed ripe avocado
1 tsp. olive oil

Just mix together daily and scrub. Leave on 15 minutes and rinse. Results in two to three weeks.

Crazy cornmeal breakfast beauty scrub

You've taken care of cellulite removal with the coffee body scrub. Now, how about that pretty face? Cornmeal is nutritious and delicious for breakfast. Combine uncooked cornmeal with plain yogurt and almond oil for a glowing complexion. The cornmeal scrubs away dead skin to let your inner beauty shine through. The blended tofu and almond oil provide nourishment and moisture for the skin.

Cornmeal face scrub

1 cup uncooked cornmeal
1 cup (8 oz.) blended tofu
1 tsp. almond oil

Mix together, scrub and rinse.

Banana elbow scrub Coffee body scrub to remove cellulite, cornmeal on your face and bananas on your elbows? If your elbows are dry, red and scaly, bananas are a great natural cure. Just like the coffee cellulite remover and the crazy cornmeal face scrub, you 'll need ingredients that both remove dead skin and soften the new skin hiding underneath. In the case of the banana elbow scrub, use a mashed banana and some dead sea salt. This is a course salt found where you buy soap making supplies.

Banana Elbow Scrub

½ cup dead sea salt
1 mashed ripe banana
1 tsp. almond oil

Mix banana and dead sea salt together, scrub and rinse. Apply ½ tsp. almond oil to each elbow for all day softening power.

Portions of this post were previously published on Yahoo! By this author.

Dear Coke, this healthy grandma is no fool

I'm no fool for Coca-Cola! (public domain photo)

Have you guys seen the Coca-Cola bottles with the names on them? Have you found and bought one with your name on it? If you have, there's no shame in it. It's a very human thing to do. Or maybe a friend bought one with your name on it and gave it to you? Once again, no shame, not your move. Here's why I won't be doing it, though.

Coca-Cola is bad for me, whether it has my name on it or not. It's nothing but a bottle full of chemicals, sugar and water. It's not a drink. It's a recipe for bad health. The only thing good in it is the water, which I will be drinking on its' own, without the Coca-Cola.

Coke sure has our number, don't they? They figure putting our names on their bottles gets us to buy their product even though they're ruining the health of millions of people with said product. And guess what? It's working. People are buying it.

Coca-Cola really thinks the American public consists of a bunch of idiots who will buy anything with a cool promotional campaign technique attached to it, no matter how bad it is for them. Unfortunately, some people are proving them right by doing just that.

Not me, you guys. I'm not buying Coke with or without my name on it. I'm not supporting a company that is not only killing us with their product, but trying their best to make fools out of us in the process. This naturally healthy grandma is no fool! So, Coca-Cola company, you can take that crappy bottle of chemicals with my name on it and.... well, you know what you can do with it.

Vitamin D and Lupus – my experience

Sunflower (photo by Jaipi Sixbear)

A lack of Vitamin D is fairly common in Lupus patients. Once I was diagnosed with Lupus, my rheumatologist did blood tests that revealed I was severely deficient. They weren't at all surprised at those results. Lupus had left me severely limited in mobility. Plus, my writing career had me working indoors most of the time. No sun equals no Vitamin D.

My doctors prescribed a high dose supplement right away. I wasn't satisfied with just that. You see, I had heard that the best Vitamin D comes naturally from the sun and that supplementing can lead to issues from the excess. Here's the changes I made in my lifestyle that help me keep my Vitamin D levels up with Lupus, beyond supplementation.

I did take the supplements, at first.

I was severely deficient. Therefore, doing so brought no great risk of an overdose. However, I knew that taking massive doses of Vitamin D when deficient, was very different than continuing those high dosages on a permanent basis. Therefore, I decided to gradually wean myself from the supplements with the help of the sun.

I'm lucky in some respects with Lupus.

Most Lupus patients have severe reactions to the sun. As for me, it does bring on extreme fatigue and flu-like symptoms at times. I can't stay out in the sun, unprotected for long periods of time. On the other hand, I don't have to worry about fatal Lupus flares or severe rashes from sun exposure. Don't get me wrong, I have some crazy stuff going on that those other Lupus patients don't experience too. Still, it's nice to be able to get my Vitamin D naturally.

I soak up the sun, in small doses.

While it's true that the form of Lupus I have does not cause severe sun toxicity, who knows when that will change? So, even though I don't have that reaction now, I'm careful about how long I spend outdoors. I also spent a good amount of time acclimating in small doses before I worked my way up to where I can stay outside for a couple hours at a time. That's miraculous for someone with Lupus.

I stopped wearing sunscreen and sunglasses all the time.

This is a personal choice. I would never presume to tell anyone with or without Lupus to take this measure. It's one of those risks that could pay off or could go very badly. For me, though, it was a good choice. Why do I do it? I learned that Vitamin D is best produced through the absorption of the sun through the skin and eyes. Using sunscreen and wearing sunglasses prevents this from happening. Don't worry. When I am in the sun for long periods, I use protection. After all, you only need ten to fifteen minutes of daily sun to get all the Vitamin D you need.

Gardening has become my Lupus savior.

I know that my choice doesn't work for everyone with Vitamin D deficiencies and Lupus. Still, when I started gardening actively, my Vitamin D deficiency went straight out the window. I have no issues with it any more. I'm feeling a lot better. In fact, there are actually days now where I forget that I'm sick. That's because when I have everything I need, nutritionally, my symptoms lessen. Who knows? Maybe some day, they'll disappear altogether. Stranger things have happened.

Please note: The author is not a licensed medical professional. This article is not intended to replace professional advice or consultation.

This article was previously published by this author on Yahoo!

Hide beauty flaws on the beach with cover-ups

Bathing beauty (public domain photo)

Sunscreen? Check. Towel? Check. Sunglasses? Check. Toned and firmed bikini ready body? No? Me neither. I'm naturally healthy, not perfect. Never fear, these beach cover ups have you covered ladies. Whether your bikini ready body is a few weeks away or a few years behind schedule, beach cover ups are the solution. When I soak up just a bit of sun at the beach for Vitamin D, I try not to let it all hang out because I have a lot flaws. I'm not insulting myself. I'm just getting older, that's all.

Sarong/Sari

Cellulite and varicose veins are no match for these beach cover ups. You can buy it or make it. To make it yourself, buy a piece of dark colored chiffon at the fabric store . Hem it on all 4 sides. To wrap it more than once around yourself, buy at least 4 yards.

Painted toe nails

If your body is nearly beach ready, draw attention away with pretty bare feet and red painted toe nails. The focus will be on shapely feet walking through the sand, rather than that last ten pounds. You'll feel better about yourself with a pampering pedicure too.

Boyfriend shorts

Baggy rolled up shorts will act as beach cover ups without making you look like you are trying to cover up. Wear them at the waist to cover tummy bulge. Pair them with a bikini top. No one will be looking at your legs.

More pairings

A waist high sarong will set off that bikini top as well. All people will see is the top, those painted toenails and a bit of leg. Sarongs even look sexy wet so go ahead and take the plunge. If you cant pull off the bikini top, wear it under a white tied up t-shirt

Extra long T-shirt

If your legs are decent from the knees down, long t-shirts are the perfect solution to cover up the rest.
Wear t-shirt cover ups over any kind of swim suit. Once again, go right in the water with this. The wet t-shirt covers up while suggestively hugging curves.

Cut offs

Daisy Duke rocked these cover ups. So can you. Just add a couple inches and wear them a bit baggy. Add a cute little button down short sleeve or sleeveless top. Tie the shirt at the waist for sex appeal if you dare or leave it loose and playful.

Capris

Capris look great on everyone. These cover ups cover it all up and still look beach ready. Roll them up loosely to play in the surf. Pair them up with a loose button up blouse. Like all the other beach cover ups, these can be worn in or out of the water. Now, get out there and live a little in the summer sun.

This article was previously published on Yahoo! by this author.