Healthy Protein Snack Ideas For Work and On The Go

Food and Recipes /Updated June 6, 2023

Snacks are an important part of a healthy diet, as we need energy throughout the day and between mealtimes. 

And high-protein snacks are filling so it is easier to stay away from sugary treats at work and instead enjoy some healthy snacking.

For me, it is simply impossible not to eat between meals, so  I have to make sure I have plenty of healthy high-protein snacks ready to go whenever those hunger pains hit. If I don't, you will find me raiding our pantry for cookies or chips (or the refrigerator for ice cream.)

So if you are anything like me, check out these super easy healthy protein snack ideas for work or on the go, or even to have just at home so you can skip the junk snacks 😀.

Heart Healthy Habits For a Healthier Lifestyle

This post is meant to provide general information only and is not a sponsored post. Please get advice from your doctor before making any changes to your diet/health regimen.

February is American Heart Month 2019. So now is the perfect time to become more aware of the facts and risks of heart disease and healthy heart tips to incorporate into your daily lifestyle to help keep your heart healthy this year.

Did you know that heart disease is the number one leading cause of deaths for adults in the United States? To put that in perspective, 1 in every 3 adults die from cardiovascular disease, according to the American Heart Association. This averages out to one death every 38 seconds.







While such a prevalent disease may seem inevitable, by identifying the risk factors that affect us and our family members, we can take preventative steps to reduce our chances of heart disease and other serious health conditions.


Note: Please always consult with your doctor regarding your health, diet, and exercise. This post is not meant to offer medical advice in any way.


Some individuals have predisposed risk factors such as age, gender, race, or a personal/family medical history of heart disease. Although we can’t change our age or family medical history, we can turn our attention to some of the controllable factors that cause heart disease.

High blood pressure

High blood pressure or hypertension affects 78 million adults in the United States. It occurs when the pressure of your blood is built up consistently high against the blood vessel walls; this can strain your heart and blood vessels, making them less efficient over time.

Stress, smoking, a lack of exercise, and a poor diet can all contribute to high blood pressure, so it’s important to find ways to limit these unhealthy habits.

There are medications you can take to lower high blood pressure, but there are also simple changes that you can make with your family’s help and encouragement.

 Some of these changes include quitting smoking, taking up stress-relieving activities like meditation or yoga, making sure to eat heart-healthy meals and adding more exercise into your life.

Consider incorporating active family outings into your week like a walk around the neighborhood after dinner or a weekend bike ride.

The American Heart Association recommends the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet to help lower your blood pressure. The diet limits red meat, sodium, and processed sugary foods.


Related: September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month

High cholesterol

High cholesterol is diagnosed when a person’s LDL (bad cholesterol) levels are high and their HDL (good cholesterol) levels are low. High LDL can lead to plaque buildup in your arteries. Not only does this buildup put a strain on your blood vessels and heart, but if plaque breaks off, it can clog the artery and cause a heart attack.





If you are diagnosed with high cholesterol, your doctor may put you on statins and an additional blood thinner if your doctor believes you may be at risk for blood clots. However, both of these medications may have serious risks.

For example, thousands of patients have filed lawsuits against the blood thinner Xarelto because of severe bleeding incidents. Rather than put yourself at greater risk of harm, diet and exercise can do wonders to lower your cholesterol. Always discuss the best treatment with your doctor if you have been diagnosed with high blood pressure.

Research from the Harvard Medical School recommends lowering the number of refined sugars, refined grains, and foods high in saturated or trans-saturated fat.

Eat a healthy diet that includes more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean meats. Here is a great list of foods recommended to naturally lower your LDL and raise your HDL.

Prediabetes and Diabetes

If you have prediabetes (high blood sugar levels but not high enough to be diabetic) or type 2 diabetes, you also have greater odds of having high blood pressure and high cholesterol, thereby increasing your risk for heart disease.

Unlike high blood pressure or high cholesterol, a type 2 diabetic can’t treat their symptoms without medications. At the very least, a diabetic needs regular insulin injections and must monitor their blood glucose levels carefully. They can, however, still use healthy habits to make their diabetes more manageable.

A regular exercise routine is highly recommended for a person with type 2 diabetes to help control blood sugar levels. Again, it doesn’t have to be an intense workout, and if you are starting a workout plan for the first time, consult your doctor with any concerns.

As far as diet goes, the American Diabetes Association recommends using the glycemic index for meal planning. This index rates foods on a scale based on how they impact a person’s blood sugar levels.

Heart disease affects thousands of Americans per year, and the risk factors involved are just as prevalent in American lives. However, if we make small changes to benefit our heart health, we can start to change these statistics in our country.

Don’t confine the conversation of heart health to the month of February. Make it a year-long initiative to protect you and your loved ones for the future!

Note: Please always consult with your doctor regarding your health, diet, and exercise. This post is not meant to offer medical advice in any way.

September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month 2017

September 2017 is National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month.

It is a month devoted to raising funds for awareness, education, support, and research for this number one cause of gynecologic cancer deaths in women.

According to the American Cancer Society, a woman’s risk of getting ovarian cancer, or tumors in the ovaries, in her lifetime is approximately 1 in 75.

Facts About Ovarian Cancer

Every 23 minutes, a woman is diagnosed with ovarian cancer in the United States; that averages to around 22,000 women a year diagnosed with this disease. According to the National Cancer Institute, only 44% of women survive 5 years or more after being diagnosed. 14,000 women die each year from ovarian cancer ranking 5th in cancer deaths among women.

Early Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer

• Bloating or an increase in abdominal size 
• Changes in appetite, such as a loss of appetite or feeling full sooner 
• Pelvic or lower back pressure 
• Frequent urination or constipation 
• Changes in bowel movements 
• Menstruation changes 
• Nausea, indigestion or vomiting 
• Fatigue or low levels of energy

Ovarian cancer is often referred to as a silent killer because the early symptoms of ovarian cancer are few, vague and very easily dismissed as something else.

Who is most at risk for Developing Ovarian Cancer

As women age past forty years of age and reach post-menopause, the chances of developing ovarian cancer increase. Other risk factors that boost a woman’s chances include a family history of breast or ovarian cancer, genetic mutations such as BRCA1 and BRCA2, history with other types of cancer, including breast, uterine, or colorectal cancer, and women with endometriosis.

Some lifestyle choices that could increase a woman’s risk include cigarette smoking, diet, and obesity. Medical studies have also linked ovarian cancer to the use of talc-based baby powder by women.

Screening for ovarian cancer is crucial for women at high risk as early detection can help catch tumors early before they spread, thereby increasing their chance at long-term survival.

What Women can do to lower their chances of developing this cancer

Remove harmful substances from your life that have been known to increase your risk of ovarian cancer. This includes not using baby powder near the vagina, quitting cigarette smoking, including distancing yourself from secondhand smoke, limiting alcohol intake, and removing fatty or unhealthy foods from your diet. Instead, eat foods rich in vitamin A, D, E, and omega-3 fatty acids to maintain a healthy body weight. Pregnancy, breastfeeding, and the use of oral contraceptives is also believed to help lower the risk of getting ovarian cancer.

Only 15% of this type of cancer are diagnosed at stage one, and unfortunately it is much harder to successfully treat ovarian cancer once it has advanced.

It is vital that women are empowered to know the possible signs and symptoms of this disease and be aware of the things they can do to help lower their risk.

How Much Sleep Do You Really Need Every Night?

If you thought, like I do, that it was lucky and even okay to get 5 hours of sleep at night, it turns out it is not okay.  Actually, the recommended hours of sleep for adults is 7-8 hours.

In fact, researchers say it is actually just like getting no sleep at all. 


More Favorites in Healthy Lifestyle

Healthy sleep-friendly snacks to try.

How Can That Be, You Ask? 

After all, chances are you are plugging along every day just like always, right? You get up like you always do, and make it through the day just like you always do. Simple, say researchers. We are in denial when it comes to not getting enough sleep. Apparently, that is how we cope.

How Did This Sleep Study Work?

The study lasted 14 days. During that time, participants were divided into 4 groups. One group slept 8 hours a night, one slept 6 hours nightly, and one that slept only 4 hours at night. They were only allowed to sleep at night - no napping during the day, in other words!

The people in the unlucky 4th group were not allowed to sleep for 3 days. 

Researchers tested their cognitive functions every two hours. The group that slept for eight hours performed the highest. And the group that slept for six hours did okay -  until day 10 of the two-week study.

Turns out that by day 10, the six-hour a night sleepers were performing just like the people who had no sleep.

How Much Sleep Do We Really Need Every Night?

The National Sleep Foundation (NSF), recently issued new sleep recommendations for adults and children. According to NSF, Adults aged 26-64 need to sleep between 7-9 hours every night, while school-aged children need 9-11 hours of sleep every night.

Benefits of Getting 7-9 Hours of Sleep Every Night

Getting enough sleep can help you from getting sick, make periods less painful, and help you lose weight.

We feel better, have more patience, and tend to be much more positive as we make our way through another day. You can check out this list of 15 benefits of getting more sleep.

The Amazing Benefit This Company is About to Offer Women

There is a British company that is planning an giving their female employees an amazing benefit soon.

Coexist, an education non-profit, will allow female employees to take time off for their periods, similar to sick days.

Research studies have shown that two per cent of 400 women have ‘severe’ period pain, or dysmenorrhea, while in another study,14 per cent said they were unable to go to work because of it.

It is because of these women that Coexist is planning on implementing the menstrual leave policy.

"I have managed many female members of staff over the years and I have seen women at work who are bent over double because of the pain caused by their periods, says Bex Baxter, one of the company's directors.

Despite this, they feel they cannot go home because they do not class themselves as unwell. And this is unfair," she adds. "At Coexist we are very understanding. If someone is in pain—no matter what kind—they are encouraged to go home."

However, she is quick to point out that women do not have to take time off during their periods - it is not mandatory, rather just a helpful option that offers flexibility in work schedules if needed.

Talk about awesome bosses and amazing company benefits.

Carrot, Cantaloupe and Yogurt Face Mask You Are Going To Love

What is better than nourishing your body with natural healthy food? How about nourishing your skin with natural healthy food too? Yep, your next awesome face mask can be made using food that you may already have in your kitchen. By blending together cooked carrots, cantaloupe and yogurt, you will create a fantastic exfoliating face scrub that will leave you loving what you see in the mirror when you are done!

{ Try this easy exfoliating apple face scrub too!}

Carrot, Cantaloupe and Yogurt Face Mask

What you'll need:

1/4 cup cooked carrots that have cooled 

1/2 cup cantaloupe

1/2 cup plain yogurt

1 Tbs. lemon juice

1/4 cup white sugar

To make:

Blend carrots, cantaloupe, yogurt and lemon juice together in a food processor until smooth. Stir in the sugar and mix well.

Make sure to clean your face before starting. You may want to place a warm washcloth on your face for a few minutes as well before starting. This will help open the pores on your skin, and helps you relax as you get ready to pamper yourself for a few minutes.

Gently massage the carrot-cantaloupe mask into your skin, taking care to focus on the uneven patches on your face. Then put your feet up and relax for 15 minutes or so.

Rinse gently with lukewarm water, pat dry and enjoy your refreshed glowing reflection in the bathroom mirror!

And if your hair needs some TLC, try this luscious healthy coconut hair mask.

The Truth About Pulling Out Gray Hair Myths

We all (okay, at least some of us) remember that feeling we had when we first saw it: that first gray strand of hair boldly claiming its' place amidst all the other nice normal hair on our head. Chances are, you grabbed the nearest pair of tweezers and plucked that gray intruder out as fast as possible.

Or just pulled it out with your bare hands.

But wait a minute. What about the old wives tale that plucking one gray hair will lead to even more gray hairs growing in even faster?

Is this just a myth, or is there some truth to the theory?

Today.com spoke with cosmetic scientist Randy Schueller about this crucial question. And his answer?

Basically, it is fine to pluck or pull those gray hairs. It is not going to do much difference either way.

The uninvited strand of hair will be gone, but only temporarily. Another one will soon appear in the same place. This is because the follicle (the little tube beneath the skin that produces the hair) is still alive and will simply send in reinforcements as needed.

So there is that.

As for the myth that plucking gray hairs will make more gray hairs grow in even faster, Schueller says that that is not true either.

Apparently one follicle's situation does nothing to neighboring follicles. They each do their own thing in their own time, in other words.

There is one word of caution here.

If you become overly-obsessed with your tweezers and gray hair, you could potentially damage the follicle to the point where it will no longer grow any hair at all, warns Schueller. Yikes!

So there we have it. Pull out any unwelcome gray hair if you so choose. Just be be careful to not over-pluck.

There is another option worth considering too.

Simply embrace the gray and show off your sexy confidence.

DIY Avocado and Geranium Face Mask

If your face tends to be dry, it is going to love this soothing avocado and geranium face mask. The fatty acids in the avocado nourishes your dry skin, and infuses it with Vitamins C and E.

Blend in some honey, coconut oil, and skin-firming geranium essential oil, you have an incredibly nourishing home made face mask that is all natural.

This post contains affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, I may receive a referral fee which does not affect you in any way. Please check out our Disclosure Policy for more details.

Avocado Geranium Face Mask 

This is a pretty easy home made mask to make. All you will need are 4 ingredients.

1/4 avocado

1 teaspoon of raw honey

1 teaspoon of warmed melted coconut oil

2 drops of geranium essential oil ( should be easy to find at your local Vitamin store, or you can order on Amazon.)

Mix all the ingredients together in a small bowl. Then gently smooth on your face (always best to dampen your skin lightly before putting on a mask).

Sit back, put your feet up and relax about 10 minutes or so.

Rinse your skin well with warm water and apply your favorite moisturizer.

These 4 Small Changes in Your Daily Routine May Help You Lose Weight

Oh my gosh, are we really almost half-way through January? Yikes. Now is the time I reflect on my resolutions I made for the New Year, and see how I am doing.

So far, the weight loss I hoped would happen, hasn't.

I am not giving up though. As a matter of fact, I read about 4 simple lifestyle changes in my daily routine that can help with that weight loss goal of mine.

Easy tiny changes. Seriously.

These healthy lifestyle tips come from Thinner in 30: Small Changes That Add Up to Big Weight Loss in Just 30 Days, written by fitness expert Jenna Wolfe.

1. Eat When You Are Relaxed To Help Lose Weight

The thing is, eating when we are stressed and running out the door, is just not a good thing ever, but especially if you want to lose a few extra pounds.

Why you ask? Wolfe explains in her book that stress shuts down digestion.

So eating when we are relaxed and not rushed helps the body break down food more efficiently.

2. Brush After Every Meal. 

Simply put, if your teeth are feeling clean - like minty clean - it can help deter you from munching mindlessly again too soon.

Wolfe recommends using a peppermint toothpaste as peppermint is a natural appetite suppressant.  Give it a try for one week and see if it makes a difference in how much you eat.

3. Use Whipped Cream Cheese and Butter. 

Soft, easy-to-spread types of butter have fewer calories than those hard-packed sticks of butter.

Same goes for whipped cream cheese.

4.  Be Careful With the Cuts of Meat You Buy If You Want To Lose Weight

When shopping for meat, avoid cuts like Rib-Eye and Rib-steak. Those cuts of meat are generally higher in fat.


Instead, buy meat that ends in 'loin,' such as tenderloin and sirloin, which have less fat.


Another good choice if you want to cut calories and fat in your diet are meats with 'round' in their name, like round steak.

There you have it. 4 simple little changes in your daily routine that may just help you lose weight!

6 Toxic Items You Should Never Buy at Dollar Stores

You may want to check your shopping list twice from now on before you head out the door to shop at your favorite neighborhood dollar store. Recent testing by the consumer group, Healthy Stuff, found many dollar store items contain hazardous chemicals associated with cancer, diabetes, learning problems, birth defects, lower IQ, thyroid and kidney disease and asthma.

Over 100 hundred items were purchased at Dollar General, Dollar Tree, Family Dollar, and 99 Cents Only Stores in six U.S. states. Each product was tested for dangerous chemicals such as antimony, arsenic, bromine, chlorine, lead, mercury, and tin.

In addition, products that were found to contain polyvinyl chloride plastic (PVC or vinyl) were further tested for the presence of phthalate and non-phthalate plasticizers.

Test Results 

81% of the products tested, or 133 out of the 164, contained at least one toxic chemical at levels above concern.

32% of vinyl products tested (12 of 38) contained levels of phthalates above the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) limit for children’s products.

38% of the products tested (63 of 164) contained the toxic plastic PVC (vinyl).

These are just 6 toxic items you should never buy at dollar stores due to the levels of toxins they contain.

1. Extension Cords. Tests showed the green insulation in these cords contains high levels of chlorine.

2. Silly Straws.  Although cute, these plastic straws contain high levels of DEHP and Tin.

3. Yellow Rubber Ducky Bath Toys.  Again cute. Again, high levels of Chlorine were found in the yellow plastic used to make these rubber toys.

4. Vinyl Floor Coverings. These products tested high in Phthalates and Chlorine.

5. Earrings.  The tests showed extremely high levels of lead in some of the earrings sold at dollar stores.

6. Bathtub Appliques. These are meant to prevent slipping in bathtubs, however, some of these items tested showed very high levels of chlorine.

Learn more about other dollar store products tested at healthystuff.org

4 Sleep-Friendly Snacks To Help You Fall Asleep

Winding down from a long day is not so easy for some of us. Our bodies may be worn out, but our brains are still running 100 miles an hour. Then there are those night-time hunger pains that we try to ignore but just can't. So there we are tossing, turning, and hungry.

The good news is that there are actually some sleep-friendly snacks that may help us get a better night's sleep.

Snacks containing ingredients such as tryptophan, whole grain carbs, calcium, magnesium and certain herbs can relax our busy minds. So if falling asleep is a problem, try eating one of these light snacks about an hour before bedtime to help get a better night's sleep.

Bananas and Almonds.  Munch on these to get a nice mix of tryptophan, healthy carbs and calming magnesium.

Cherries. This fruit is a natural source of melatonin - a relaxing brain chemical.

Whole Wheat Toast and Peanut Butter. Another yummy snack that will provide you with the relaxing combo of tryptophan and complex carbs.

Enjoy a Bowl of Whole-Grain Cereal with Milk. The tryptophan, calcium, and magnesium in milk combined with the cereal’s carbs and magnesium can help make you feel sleepy. Be sure to stay away from sugary cereals.

And the favorite bedtime snack, a cup of herbal tea with a spoonful of honey (another source of tryptophan.)

You can find more sleep-friendly snack ideas at sleep.org.

12 Foods Even Nutritionists Try To Avoid (And Say We Should Too!)

Before you do your meal-planning for the week, check out this list of 12 unhealthy foods nutritionists avoid (and say we should too.)

There could be one or two that might surprise you.

1. Pretzels

Yep, crunchy salty pretzels may be fun to eat, but sadly, they have made the list of unhealthy snacks to eat.

According to celebrity nutritionist and healthy cooking expert, Keri Glassman, eating a bowl of pretzels is like eating a bowl of jelly beans!  Whaat??

Seems that those crunchy salty snacks have lots of sugar in them. More than you might think. Not to mention that Pretzels also do not provide fiber, protein or healthy fat.

So unless you have the willpower to eat just a few pretzels, (and seriously, who can do that?) it may be best to avoid them altogether.

2. Fat-Free Whipped Cream.

If you want a creamy dessert topping, then make sure it is the real deal.

Food Network nutritionist Ellie Krieger says a dollop of fresh whipped cream is a healthier choice to make than that fat-free whipped cream you want to grab because, well, it says 'Fat Free' after all. And isn't that a good thing?

Nope, says Krieger. Not only does it not taste as good as the real thing, it has too many artificial ingredients.

So go ahead and indulge guilt-free in delicious real whipped cream (just keep it to a dollop!)

3. Imported Farm-Raised Shrimp.

Shrimp can be a very nutritious part of a healthy diet. It is low in calories, high in protein and contains healthy fats.

Shrimp is also a good source of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids

However, try to avoid imported shrimp, as it often contains antibiotics. Instead, make sure to buy wild-caught shrimp, or shrimp farmed in the United States (which prohibits the use of antibiotics.)

And then enjoy your shrimp cocktail!

4. Reduced Fat Peanut Butter.

Surprisingly, regular peanut butter and reduced-fat peanut butter contain about the same amount of calories - 200 calories for two tablespoons.

Even more surprising is that reduced-fat peanut butter often contains more refined carbohydrates and sugar than the regular spread.

We can thank ingredients like corn syrup solids, sugar, molasses, and starchy fillers for the higher sugar and carbs in the low fat spread, according to Tanya Zuckerbrot, author of The Miracle Carb Diet.

"Low-fat peanut butter can have 4 grams of sugar and about 15 grams of carbohydrates, while natural peanut butter has just 1 gram of sugar and 6 grams of carbs, says Zuckerbrot.

5. Bacon

I'm fairly certain that no one is shocked by this one. Those crispy strips of bacon have way too much sodium, definitely too much fat ( much of which is of the saturated kind to boot) and too many calories.

More Unhealthy Foods Nutritionists Say to Avoid or Indulge in Sparingly 

Blended Coffee Drinks

Pre-Baked Toaster Pastries

Oysters

Crickets

Nacho Cheese

Carnival Corn Dogs 

Diet Soda

Treat Your Dry Hair to a Luscious Healthy Coconut Mask

Summer fun in the sun and pool is great, but your hair may be feeling a little dry from all that fun. Not to worry. You can make this easy homemade moisturizing hair mask for dry damaged hair quickly and get your hair back to feeling healthy and soft in no time.

It is made using only natural ingredients that you might even have at home right now, like coconut oil, avocado, banana, and peppermint oil. These all-natural ingredients that contain healthy fats and Vitamin E that dry hair needs so badly.

Homemade Hair Mask For Dry Damaged Hair 

Ingredients (all healthy natural stuff )

2 Tbs. coconut oil

2 Tbs. honey

1/2 of a ripe banana

1/4 small avocado

3 drops peppermint oil

Recipe Directions 

Blend all the ingredients in a blender until smooth. Then apply the mask to your hair starting from the root down to the tips. Comb the mask through your hair to make sure you get every strand coated. T

Then massage the coconut mask into your scalp. Put your hair up (and your feet!) and relax for about 10 minutes. Maybe sip on a cup of your favorite tea blend.

Rinse hair completely. Then shampoo and condition as you normally do. 

Enjoy the feel and look of your new moisturized softer hair!

And don't forget to check out more healthy hair tips from Natasha Sunshine-Antonioni, the founder of Beauty-Snap.com.

The Best Drinks You Should Be Drinking Everyday For Your Skin

I don't know about you, but I can see changes in my skin almost daily as I get older. So I am just about over the moon excited to learn that there is a way to drink your way to healthier-looking skin!!

And I am not talking about just drinking water all day. Would you believe Soy Latte is one of the drinks suggested to help improve your skin? 

I'll share why it is in a minute, but for right now, just enjoy knowing that having a delicious soy latte every day is actually good for your skin.

In the morning, start out with a green juice with Kale. It has Vitamins A and C - both of which apparently do amazing things for tired dull skin. Along with that delicious glass of green juice, you get to have one Soy Milk Latte!!

So Why the Soy Milk Latte? 

It is all about the isoflavones in soy. They help protect collagen. And isoflavones can also help fight wrinkles. Plus,  minerals and proteins in soy milk can help reduce the darkening and discoloration of the skin.

Enjoy two cups of green tea in the afternoon. Now I can absolutely, without a doubt, tell you that drinking green tea always makes me feel better. Especially if I have eaten too much sugary food - or just food in general. But I do tend to get on green tea binges, then back off again. Seeing this list though has reminded me that this is one drink really worth making a daily habit.

In the evening, sip on a glass of chilled Pomegranate juice. This juice actually has twice the anti-oxidants and polyphenol as green tea?  It is also great for building up the collagen in the skin.

And as you get ready for bed, drink a glass of cucumber-enhanced water. Cucumbers help hydrate skin. and contain magnesium and potassium, which help decrease skin inflammation.

And of course, drink water throughout the day. Aim to drink 8 glasses of water every day.

You knew that was coming, right?

3 Foods That May Trigger Adult Acne

Dealing with adult acne is just not fair. Being acne-free should be an undisputed perk of getting older. Sadly, most of us probably have had to deal with acne outbreaks as adults though (and for those of you who haven't, I would just like to go on record as saying I am jealous.)

We have heard and read that stress and hormones are usually the cause of acne in adults (and teens, too) but did you know that certain types of food can cause adult acne as well?

Three Types of Food That May Increase Adult Acne

1. Dairy. Yep, milk may do a body good, but according to dermatologist Dr. Joel Schlessinger, milk may also have high levels of hormones that can mess with our oil glands  - and help trigger acne breakouts in adults.

Important note here- an article on WebMD states there is not a direct confirmed link between dairy and acne. Dairy is an important source of calcium and vitamin D, which your bones (and the rest of your body) need. If you find that your skin clears up after you cut out dairy, see if you can have a little without breakouts. Some people can drink small amounts of milk and stay acne-free. Or try different kinds of dairy. Nonsweetened yogurt from cows, or dairy from other animals such as goats, may be more tolerable for your skin. And also remember that you need to replace the calcium that you would normally get from dairy by eating other foods such as calcium-rich leafy greens (like kale and mustard greens), broccoli, and sardines.

2. Sugar. No big surprise here. We know sugar is not exactly healthy for us anyway. But some studies also suggest that eating foods high in sugar can cause blood glucose to rise rapidly, triggering a boost in insulin and resulting in inflammation on a cellular level. This can lead to the growth of pore-clogging cells, as well as overactive oil gland activity. Clogged pores means higher chances of an acne breakout.

This may be why so many of us link eating chocolate with acne. The dairy and sugar in some chocolate could be why I will wake up to a nice red pimple after eating chocolate. There is some good news however - according to one study, chocolate inflames existing acne instead of causing it. And another study shows that patients who ate milk-free chocolate bars – not pure cacao – showed no connection at all. So if you love your chocolate, try eating dark chocolate because it usually has less dairy and sugar.

3. Fried Foods. So along with eating food with too much sugar, eating too much fried food is just not a great choice for us either. Many fried foods have unhealthy trans fats and omega 6 fatty acids which can trigger inflammation -which can aggravate acne. (not to be confused with healthy omega 3 fatty acids which can actually help reduce inflammation)

So what can we do as adults to try and limit acne flare-ups? Looks like cutting back on sugar is a must. And for more reasons than acne alone. Eating foods with healthy omega-3 fatty acids is important - and again, for more than just trying to avoid acne. And follow your instincts. If you suspect a specific food causes breakouts (be it milk, sweets or processed snacks), you can try to cut back or eliminate it for four weeks and see if your skin improves.

Scrub Your Face Happy With Apple Cider

I found this simple little face scrub recipe in Woman's World Magazine. All you need to scrub your tired face happy apparently is some apple cider and baking soda. Who Knew?

I am game for trying new things

Drink Your Spinach {In This Simple Spinach Pineapple Banana Smoothie Recipe!}

Everyone could use a little spinach in their diets {okay, maybe more than a little bit of spinach.} I don't know about you, but I have never liked the taste of spinach. But it is such a great source of vitamins and calcium, I must find ways to incorporate spinach in my diet. Sigh.

This healthy smoothie recipe uses spinach, pineapple, and banana. Thankfully for me, these other fruits help hide the spinach flavor (for those of us who are a bit squeamish about spinach.)

Banana - Spinach Smoothie Recipe

Ingredients

1 cup low-fat or non-fat milk (if you like Almond milk, you should use it because it will give this smoothie extra sweetness!)

1 1/2 cups baby spinach

1 banana, peeled

 3/4 pineapple - cut into very small pieces.

More Recipes You Might Like

5 Last Minute Thanksgiving Desserts That Scream Cute!

Directions

Pour milk into a blender and add spinach.

Blend for a few seconds.

Add the rest of the ingredients and mix until smooth.

Drink and Enjoy!

Healthy Homemade Carrot Cake (And the Benefits of Eating Carrots!)

 Carrots have surprising health benefits, as well as some pretty nice beauty benefits for us too. And while there are many ways to include carrots as part of a healthy diet, one of tastiest is in a yummy healthier carrot cake recipe. (I am talking once in a while, of course.)

Photo: Diethood.com

One of my favorite healthy snacks to make for the family is a plate of baby carrots with Ranch dressing. 

Easy peasy and everyone loves it.

I have to confess though, that my favorite way to eat carrots is in a cake.  Carrot cake. Ah, my weakness.

Okay, so eating carrot cake may not be the healthiest way to eat carrots. The good news is that there are definitely ways to make carrot cake healthier. Like this healthy Homemade Carrot Cake made with almond flour from Diethood. 

But before you go get that recipe, check out these reminders of why carrots are an important part of a healthy diet.

Amazing Health Benefits of Eating Carrots 

Studies suggest that the alpha-carotene in carrots helps fight plaque build-up in arteries in the brain. Clear arteries mean blood flows cleaner, and stroke risk is reduced.

Women who eat at least five carrots a week are 68% less likely to suffer a stroke than women who eat carrots only once a month, according to the research.

{Yep, go ahead and grab a carrot from your refrigerator now. I'll wait.}

Carrots contain Vitamins A, B, C, and E. They are an excellent source of soluble fiber, and are low in calories and sodium. And the carotene in carrots helps lower the risk of heart disease.

These sweet crunchy veggies are good for your teeth and skin because the Vitamin A in carrots helps protect your skin and face from sun damage, including wrinkles, and dryness.

Carrots have also been shown to help fight lung, breast, and colon cancer.

And yes, carrots really are good for your eyes! 

So now you can find a healthy carrot cake recipe, like the one I mentioned above,  (because there really are ways to make this yummy dessert a little healthier) and feel less guilty eating it!

Summertime Means Shorts, Shaving, and Razor Burn {EEK}

Okay. It. Is. Summer. Kids are bored after one day of summer vacation home, the scent of suntan lotion is wafting gently in the air, and one of my worst nightmares is upon me.

Shorts.

Now, don't get me wrong. I love shorts. I really do. Just not on me. However, I wear them. Yes. I. Do. I make the ultimate sacrifice because my family pressures me nonstop really wants to see my summer spirit expressed via my wardrobe.

Be careful what you ask for, I tell them. 

Of course, wearing shorts requires one shave their legs first. In my case, that means I get a heavy-duty razor that can handle my months long growth of leg hair which I have previously kept happily hidden under jeans.

Sorry...is this TMI??

Shaving my legs guarantees one thing. Razor burn.

What soothes razor burn? I am asking because I have not found anything that really helps.

Until now.

 I found this wonderful tip for easing the pain of razor burn in a magazine the other day, which made really excited!!

{It's the simple things that make me happy, don't ya know?}

So ladies, make note of this razor-burn relief tip because it is actually a good one -

Eye Drops And a Cotton Ball.

These two things will give us {After all, I cannot be not the only mom in town that suffers from 'short-wearing phobia - induced razor burn' - am I??} all much-needed relief from razor burn.

Put a few drops of eye drops on the cotton ball, then gently dab the affected area.

The key is that you must use eye drops with these specific ingredients:

**potassium chloride and tetrahydrozoline hydrochloride.**

Did you get all that?

Apparently Visine Advanced Relief Eye Drops meet the criteria.

So I am doing three things today.

1. Drinking Heavily   Shopping for eye drops.

2. Shaving my legs while drinking heavily keeping my newly purchased eye drops by my side.

3. Hiding my bathing suits. Every. Last. One.

Forget About Those Annual Pap Smears? Really?

By now most of you have probably heard about the new national guidelines for pap smears, but if not -  ladies you can now skip your annual pap smear and instead just get one every three years.

So says the United States Preventive Services Task Force, who issued the new guidelines last week, replacing recommendations last issued in 2003.

Once. Every. Three. Years. [Are they serious?]

They are.

The reasoning behind this absurd  latest recommendation is that annual pap smears often result in false positives, that lead to sometimes painful biopsies and put women at risk for pregnancy complications in the future, like preterm labor, low-birth-weight infants and infertility.

Plus, cervical cancers are supposedly slow growing cancers, so no worries, ladies.

It is also recommended that women do not start getting pap smears at all until age 21- even if they have become sexually active and thus exposed to HPV, years earlier.

Surprisingly enough, The American Cancer Society agrees with the task force guidelines:

• Screening with the Pap test alone every 3 years is extremely safe and will decrease the number of false positive results without leading to an increase in cancer or cancer deaths.

• For women ages 30 years and older, testing with both the HPV test and the Pap test further decreases the risk of cancer and advanced pre-cancers. When both tests are normal, no cervical cancer screening test should be done again for 5 years. (Huh??)

• Women younger than age 21 do not need to be screened for cervical cancer.

• Women over the age of 65 who have been regularly screened, and women who have had a hysterectomy (with removal of the cervix) for reasons not related to cervical cancer or pre-cancer, should no longer be screened.

• Women should talk to their doctors about what screening test to use and how often, and should question their doctors if they think they are being screened too often.

• Women can and should still see their doctors more often than every 3 or 5 years - just not for a Pap test. Doctor visits should be scheduled for general wellness, with Pap tests and HPV tests given according to guideline.

These new guidelines just do not work for me. Just the thought of what could happen in the course of three years 'down below' scares me and I for one will not be following these new recommendations.

Will you?