3 Health Benefits of Papaya

Once called "the fruit of angels” by Christopher Columbus, the papaya is the USDA's featured fruit for the month of June. Learn a little bit about why this fruit is so amazing!

Varieties

There are several types of papayas. In the U.S., we typically see the Hawaiian papayas in our grocery stores. The Hawaiian papaya is approximately one pound, whereas the Mexican fruit can weigh up to 10 pounds!

Benefits

Papaya is one power-packed fruit, offering benefits to your whole body.

·Antioxidants. Papaya is known to be rich in antioxidants and can benefit the immune system because of its high levels of vitamin A and C.

·Fiber. High-fiber fruit can help improve cholesterol. One cup of chunked papaya contains 2.5 grams of fiber.

·Enzymes. The papain enzyme, found in papaya, aids in digestion. It also has an anti-inflammatory effect that speeds up the healing process.

How to Eat It

First, you should wait for the papaya to ripen fully so that it offers the most antioxidants. Papaya can be added to anything to give your meal a boost. Some suggestions are:

·salads

·cereals

·yogurts

·smoothies

Papaya — Reliv Style!

Adding some papaya to your morning Reliv shake is a tasty way to begin the day with all the vitamins that you need. Reliv Now® is packed with all the daily essential nutrients you need to perform your best. Plus, LunaRich gives Reliv Now improved cholesterol management and cellular health benefits you won't find in any ordinary multivitamin pill.

Try this recipe! Blend Reliv Now, lemon Innergize!®, papaya and ice for a June celebration treat! 

Author : Maggie Bennett

Midwestern girl with a love for small dogs, sushi, and Broadway musicals. Social Media Enthusiast. Marketing Communications Intern at Reliv International Inc. Favorite Reliv Product: ReversAge

I don't want to exercise!!

I don't want to exercise because....
I hate to sweat
It takes up too much time (because when I sweat, I need a shower)
It's hard!
It hurts - why would I want to feel my muscles work and ache?
I end up missing out on a favorite TV show
What's the big deal? Our ancestors didn't "run" or go to a "fitness class"!!!

Ok, well you probably know where I'm headed with this one. I am one that could easily skip exercise. I don't. I have conditioned my mind and body to expect it. I don't give myself enough time to talk myself out of it. I certainly would rather sit around with the extra cup of coffee in the morning. (or if you work, go straight home and actually have time for a glass of wine before dinner).

Yep, I know how you feel. Let me give you some reasons why you should move: (and by the way, our ancestors worked physically demanding jobs and chores, even in the home so they got their exercise!)

It decreases your risk for cancer, heart disease, diabetes.
It decreases stress.
It actually makes you feel better (in the long run)
You will probably sleep better.
If you are exercising, you'll probably tend to eat better just because you have to put on those tight little leggings and go to class.
You'll live longer and probably need less medical care and medications.
You'll look better!
You will feel more energized!
You are less likely to get sick.
You will recover quicker from surgery and illnesses.
Lower blood pressure and cholesterol.
Better mental (cognitive) function (no brain fog)
You will make friends!
You will feel more confident.

There are more reasons TO exercise than not....so get out there and DO SOMETHING!! PS -- If you have arthritis, diabetes, asthma or something else going on....check with your doctor, but every little bit will help move you forward to a better place. I had sarcoidosis which left me with asthma, and I won't let it slow me down.
Happy Exercising!
julie

Star for a day! and update on running...

It's been a while...I don't do a very good job of this blog stuff. First, an update on my running. (See post below) I have been running a mile about 2 - 3 times a week for a month. I actually ran while I was in Florida for 2 weeks. Amazing that I got up and ran before I did the lazy-sit-on-a-beach-chair thing. But I did. And I found it easier to run there than here. Not sure why. More sleep? Flat ground? Warmer temps? could be anything. I am still plugging along. I figure at some point it will get easier...right?

Now about being a star for a day -- my company sent a professional film crew to my house to interview ME on why I take our products. That was easy. (I know the answer: I FEEL GREAT on our products;more energy, no aches and pains, headaches gone, hot flashes diminished!) Next, we went out to the Portland Head Light - a well known landmark here and a big tourist destination. I guess that's called being "on location" when talking film speak! Anyway, the idea is to show lifestyles of some of us distributors. Since I paint, they thought it would be REALLY COOL to film me painting a picture of the most photographed light house. Yea, right. No pressure there. Worse yet, just as I was getting ready to paint, the weather decided to get colder, cloudier and windier. Try drawing a straight line with the paintbrush in the wind.

I have to say, it was a remarkable experience in many different ways. I was the center of attention for a day for 4 people who make a living in marketing, photography and production. Second, I got to see first hand the tremendous amount of work that goes into a 1and 1/2 minute video. (Can you say, ALL DAY? and you should see all the equipment!) Thirdly, I got to try my hand at a little bit of acting....smile, hold the paintbrush this way, stand that way and look out over the ocean, etc). I certainly won't be heading to Hollywood anytime in the near future. I only wish I had taken pictures of these incredible guys taking pictures!!

When the video gets released, I will certainly share it -- probably won't be until August or September. In the meantime, here is a photo and the painting....take care!

Julie

I hate running. OK I said it. I have a lot of friends who are runners, so don't hate me. I used to run when I was in my 20s; I grew up dancing (ballet) but after college, I knew I had to keep physically fit especially after securing the dreaded "desk" job. So I ran. And never liked it.

So what makes me think I'll like it now? Hmm, nothing. Except this: My aerobics class isn't enough cardio, walking is great, but maybe not quite enough. And I really want to lose weight.

So....I started running mailbox to mailbox. Even for 5 or 10 minutes at a time, with walking in-between. And I started eating kale and spinach salads.

So far, it's helping. Adding just 2 extra days to my weekly 3 day a week aerobics class  (which is actually 20 minutes of cardio and 30 minutes of strength training) I have noticed it's easier to lose weight. So while you may not see me sign up for the 5K races, I am always trying to improve my own performance! (and someday look like the lady above???)

Here's a great salad dressing for your spinach salad:

1/3 cup olive oil

3 tablespoons of red wine vinegar

1 1/2 teas sugar (no, I use stevia)

1 1/2 teaspoons of mustard

1 clove garlic

1/2 teaspoon salt

pepper to taste

Mix together and pour over fresh organic spinach mixed with cut up apple and walnuts. Yum!

Eggs, Bacon,Spinach and Cheese...

The other morning, I made breakfast for my husband and me. It consisted of: organic eggs from a New Hampshire farm, organic spinach from a Durham, Maine farm, bacon from a farm in Northern Maine and cheese from Pineland, which is a farm just down the road. Everything we ate (at that meal) was from within a 150 mile radius of home. It got me thinking about how we get so busy with our lives, that sometimes we don't bother to take the extra step (to go to the farmer's market) or spend an extra dollar on a local product. Did you know here in Maine, we have farmer's markets through the winter? Our spinach grower has a green house and he grows it all winter long.
WHY is this so important? Support your local farmers? Sounds pretty, well, kind of "duh", right? But it does take an extra effort on our part to support them.
 One of our grocery store chains here in Maine (Hannaford) is pretty good about offering local produce. The other one, well, not so much. And Walmart? forget it. I like it best when they label where everything comes from. I will choose California strawberries over ones from Mexico any day. I look for "product of USA" If I'm really on my toes, I will pick my own strawberries and freeze a bunch to get through the winter.
Whole Foods? Be careful...they are not necessarily doing their part. The frozen "California Blend" of vegetables? Look on the back. Last time I checked it said (in small letters) product of China. Same with organic spinach from WoodStock Farms; -- you guessed it, product of China! Why are we importing food from China? We have plenty of our own right here. I don't know about you, but I'd rather put food in my body that was grown down the road. I know it will be fresher, and I know that means it will have more of the nutrients still intact.
So support your local economy any time you have a chance to do that. And our farmers and economy will thank you.

The Truth Behind 7 Cholesterol Myths

13 days ago by Erin Willmann in ( · Healthy Living Tips )

Everyone should understand how cholesterol factors into a healthy lifestyle, no matter what your age, body type or family history. Have you been tricked into believing a cholesterol myth?

1.    MYTH: Cholesterol is bad. Your body needs cholesterol to keep cell membranes stable and aids in the production of certain hormones. Cholesterol only becomes a problem when too much of it circulates in the blood and builds up inside arteries. If too much cholesterol builds up, an artery can become blocked, and a heart attack or stroke can occur.

2.    MYTH: Everyone should shoot for the ‘right’ number. There’s no ideal number for everyone. It depends entirely on your risk factors. Unless you have a risk factor — such as smoking, diabetes, or high blood pressure — you should try to get your levels of LDL, or “bad” cholesterol, under 160 mg/dL.

3.    MYTH: High total cholesterol is caused by a poor diet. While the consumption of saturated fats and trans fats does drive LDL cholesterol up, over 80% of cholesterol is produced in the liver. Along with a healthy diet, the most effective way to lower LDL (bad) cholesterol is to control the liver’s internal cholesterol production.

4.   MYTH: Foods labeled “cholesterol free” are better for your heart. Don’t let the label fool you. The cholesterol portion of the nutritional label refers to dietary cholesterol, which is only one thing that can cause your cholesterol to go sky-high. Saturated fat (found in animal foods and dairy products) and trans fats (found in packaged foods) have major impact on LDL cholesterol.

5.  MYTH: High cholesterol is only a problem as you age. Most people think high cholesterol is a problem for the middle-aged. But guess what? Research has shown that atherosclerosis — the narrowing of the arteries that leads to heart attacks — can start as early as age eight!

6.  MYTH: If your cholesterol is normal, you won’t get heart disease. Cholesterol levels are just one of several risk factors for heart disease. Other risks include high triglycerides, insulin resistance and high blood pressure. Smoking and living a sedentary lifestyle are also big risk factors for heart disease.

7.  MYTH: You always need medicine to bring cholesterol down. Some people do need to take prescription medications, such as statins, to help lower cholesterol. However, a nutritional regimen, healthier diet, weight loss and exercise can go a long way to whip cholesterol levels into shape, even with a family history.

Sugar, Dominoes and Temptation

EVERYWHERE I go, there are temptations: the discount store chocolate, checkout… candy, the craft store…candy! I am a recovering sugar-aholic. I had  so much fun at Christmas, eating everything I wanted; pies, cookies, candy, you  name it. Now, I am back to my usual way of eating which includes lean protein, vegetables, whole grains and fruits. Oh, I know that sounds boring, but I really do know how to make some very tasty dishes. However, I sure miss the twizzlers, m&ms, jelly beans and chocolate kisses. Seriously, I wish I could eat them with reckless abandon. Even if watching my weight were not an issue, I know that too much sugar is not good for me. Sugar is necessary for our bodies to function, as is fat and protein. However, too much simple sugar can cause a domino effect in your body. I’m not talking about the piece of birthday cake you had at your son’s party; but what if this is a normal everyday occurrence? Your body goes into fight or flight mode because it is under stress. Your immune system is compromised, making you more susceptible to colds, (and possibly other diseases). You produce more insulin than necessary. Which will cause 2 things: your body will store the extra glucose (sugar) as fat, and you may become insulin resistant. Dominoes…insulin resistance can lead to diabetes. Yikes.

SO…as hard as it is for me to pass up that candy, I figure it would be even worse to deal with the other consequences. Hence, as I sigh and walk past all the pretty packages, I am reminded that I am feeling much better now than I did in December. And I’m 5 pounds thinner.