Every Time You Go Away...

“Everytime you go away, you take a piece of me with you...”

I'm sorry I have been gone so long.

I was on a very important rescue-trip to a little known but highly-plundered region of the North-West territories on the southern tip of the west part of East Jordan Lake... and it was there that I had an epiphany. I realized that fudge and no-bake cookies made with gluten-free oats are completely gluten-free, and ridiculously addictive.
No matter how important this rescue-trip to the NW of the S-tip of the W-part of E Jordan Lake... the food indigenous to this region was counter-productive to my journey of beautifying...

OK. Fine. I was busy with eating bad stuff, ignoring my inner voice which told me that I should give in and get on the scales daily, and that I should still at least talk to you about my miserable choice to drown my sorrows in chocolate.

I have no excuse.

However, as promised, I researched some foods that ARE beneficial for the journey of beautifying. Each of the following super-foods has an amazing quality which benefits either the metabolism or the skin (or, in the case of Almonds, both!!!)

I got so hungry writing, that I almost ate a five-course-meal while typing. I stopped myself. Today has been a good day. (No one needs to fuel up on anything at midnight...)

Another day one for me. Gee whiz! If I can just get through this next holiday without committing a serious crime against my body and the set of scales in my bathroom, I know 2011 will see my determination levels zero in on the prize.

Meanwhile, I plan to focus on eating these magic foods as often as I can get my hands on them. I pretty much already do eat them, so increasing the good ones, and eliminating some bad things from my diet can only be a great choice! Here's the list:

Grapefruit – Rich in fiber, it lowers the insulin levels in your body that trigger your system to store fat and requires the body to burn more calories to break it down.

Green Tea -- Green tea is the main source of epigallocatechin gallate, which is a healthy catechin that speeds up your brain and nervous system, causing your body to burn more calories. (That's just one of the benefits of this miracle leaf, and it's just one miracle leaf.)

Yogurt  -- Yogurt has high levels of protein which requires a lot of energy to be processed in the body. Plus, the pro-biotic cultures found in yogurt help regulate your digestive tract. (It happens to be the only dairy that I can eat without wheezing and sneezing and filling up with fluids in my lungs. :))

Cottage Cheese – The selenium in cottage cheese makes it a good choice for optimum skin health.  Selenium is an essential mineral, and, when coupled with vitamin E, it becomes a powerful free radical-fighting antioxidant. It has been cited as protecting against skin cancer and also fights dandruff.

Almonds – Almonds’ essential fatty acids help raise your body’s metabolism, and they are also great for your complexion. With 150% of your daily need for vitamin E, it’s a great snack choice.  Vitamin E's rich oils keeps skin moistened and its antioxidants protect against skin damage and premature aging.

Coffee – Coffee has caffeine, which does give you a boost. (One site said: “Just ensure that you don’t exceed 2 or 3 cups a day, or you risk a host of side effects, including irritability and jitters.” Ha! I did not overdo it today. Just barely...)

Turkey – Turkey builds lean muscle tissue. For some reason this means your body will burn extra calories. :)

Apples – Apples are low-calorie, high-fiber treats which your body must burn calories to break down. They give me serious indigestion, but I do love the taste and crunch of a good crisp green apple...

Spinach – Spinach speeds up your metabolism, it’s a great source of antioxidants, magnesium, potassium, iron and vitamin C, and it gets you in the “in-club” with Popeye.

Beans – Both a carb and a protein, this low-fat food keeps you full for long durations, and your body must burn extra calories in order to process it as it is so rich in fiber! It's like magic! (Is that from where the poem comes? Beans, beans, the magical fruit...? Oh, wait. I think that is celebrating one of its other qualities...)

Jalepenos – These crazy kids cause your body to burn extra calories for hours after you ingest them, speeding up both your heart rate and metabolism.

Broccoli – Broccoli contains a special dynamic duo of nutrients: calcium and vitamin C. Calcium helps increase metabolic rates, and vitamin C helps your body absorb more calcium.

Oatmeal – Because your body takes a long time to break down the fat-soluble fiber in oatmeal, this healthy food lowers your body’s insulin level and speeds up your metabolism. I have to buy certified gluten-free oats (because oats are usually contaminated with wheat), which I get from the health-food store. I have read that steel-cut oats are a really good variety, as well.

Curry – Curry simply increases the amount of calories your body burns and speeds up your metabolism. (I have noticed that regions of the earth where this spice is generously used to season food also seem to have a lower percentage of obesity. It's just an observation of mine.)

Cinnamon – Cinnamon helps your body metabolize sugars more effectively, maintaining steadier blood sugar levels. Cinnamon can also help lower your cholesterol.

Avocado – This creamy, green fruit is abundant in essential oils and B-complex vitamins that nourish your skin, inside and out. It is one of the most important foods for skin health. It contains Niacin (vitamin B3) in abundance, which acts as an anti-inflammatory, soothing irritated skin. One avocado has 3.8 mg niacin, which is 27% of our daily need.

Mangoes -- One mango has more than 80% of your daily requirements for vitamin A, which is the vitamin that maintains and repairs skin cells. Vitamin A is also and antioxidant which fights free radical damage that can prematurely age the skin. With fewer than 70 calories per serving, this fruit is also easy on the butt and thighs!

Acerola Cherries -- One Acerola Cherry supplies 100% of your daily allowance for vitamin C, which is great news for your skin. (That would make it great for our immune system, too!)  Vitamin C is a big warrior against skin damage and wrinkles, partly by producing collagen, the structural protein in our skin.

Oysters – Oysters fight pimples and boost the production of elastin because they’re rich in zinc. (Vitamin C completes the boost.)

Baked Potatoes -- One baked potato gives us 75% of our daily copper need. This essential mineral works with vitamin C and zinc to produce the elastin fibers that support skin structure. (Too little copper in our diet can reduce our skin’s ability to heal.)

(I think potatoes get such a bad rap. They are not evil – it's just the stuff we put on them that's evil. Plain, with a little bit of salt and pepper, they aren't bad. Or, I like to put salsa on mine, so they aren't so dry. Or low-calorie salad dressing. We don't have to smother them in cheese, butter, sour cream...)

Flaxseed Oil -- It’s no secret that Omega 3s are great for your skin, and flaxseed oil is one of the best sources of this . Tonight, while researching all this amazing food, I cooked up some salmon burgers and dined on them. They are also a good source of Omega 3.


Well, there you have it; My List of Really Cool Foods: Volume I.

And I didn't even mention anything about sex this blog! Wow. (I think I did mean to say something when I was writing about cinnamon...)


Next blog: Creative ways to incorporate exercise.


These will, of course, not be the typical creative ways...


xoxo


Back on Track,


Laura Lee