Gather up the “Green”

Good for the entire family - It’s Springtime!

Gather up the “Green” . . . many older generations remember “picking greens” in the spring to give their families a needed nutrient boost after a long gray winter. But you do not have to pick dandelion greens, etc—here is a great idea for you:

ALFALFA is the perfect SPRING TONIC! Provides so many trace
minerals you don’t even know are needed by your body—so many benefits:

• copper & Molybdenum for red blood cell buildup,
• nickel to trigger enzymes,
• tin for protein and other growth factors,
• thyroid regulation by iodine,
• and more!
  

ALFALFA is a natural source of dietary fiber and chlorophyll…
SHAKLEE ALFALFA is organically grown:

• NO fungicides,
• NO bactericides,
• NO synthetic hormones or growth regulators,
• NO chemicals.

ALFALFA provides a wide range of nutrients—
many people find allergy relief since it acts as an
antihistamine & decongestant.

Start today for maximum benefits this springtime!

Deeply Rooted Nutrition. As a product and a plant, alfalfa has deep roots. Alfalfa Complex, developed in the 1950s, was one of Dr. Shaklee's original formulations. A half a century later, it continues to be among Shaklee's top sellers. Reaching as deep as 20 feet into the soil, the roots of the alfalfa plant, A.K.A. the "father of all foods," brings forth minerals in their most natural form. Recognized for centuries for its healing properties, alfalfa offers a wide range of nutrients: calcium, phosphorus, iron, magnesium, chlorophyll, bioflavonoids, trace minerals, and vitamins.*

*FROM http://www.shaklee.net/babyboomerhealth/product/20160

The Great-Skin Diet

The great-skin diet
All sorts of supplements, special eating plans and complexion drinks promise glowing skin from the inside out. But not everything that is being dished out is based on science. SELF digested the research and polled experts to determine which foods to add to your diet to truly benefit skin, which may be worth an occasional munch and which to pass up. Get ready to eat, drink and be beautiful!
By Beth Janes
From the October 2008 Issue (SELF)


Proven complexion perfecters
Pile these on your plate.

All pack nutrients essential for healthy skin.
Strawberries, citrus fruits, red peppers, broccoli

Beauty benefit: a smooth texture
Eat-right evidence: Vitamin C, plentiful in this produce, is vital for the production and formation of collagen, skin's support structure, says Toby Amidor, R.D., director of nutrition for DietTV.com in New York City. And a strong support layer helps smooth what's on top and prevent wrinkles, she says.
Aim for:

• two 1-cup servings of fruit and
• 1 cup of red peppers and/or broccoli a day
• Sunflower seeds and almonds

Beauty benefit: sun protection
Eat-right evidence: These seeds and nuts are loaded with vitamin E. Collectively, antioxidants act like an army, protecting skin from UV-spawned free radicals. But E is on the front lines; skin's top layers contain high levels that guard cells' outer membrane so cells stay healthy. Plus, strong membranes hold water in, keeping skin hydrated.
Aim for:

• 2 tablespoons hulled seeds or 23 almonds daily
• Dark orange, leafy green and red veggies

Beauty benefit: a fresh complexion
Eat-right evidence: Squash, sweet potatoes and spinach are full of the antioxidant beta-carotene. Your body converts it to vitamin A, which regulates cell production and turnover so skin's surface is smooth, says Valori Treloar, M.D., coauthor of The Clear Skin Diet (Cumberland House Publishing). Carotenoids may also decrease skin's sensitivity to sun.
Aim for: three 1-cup servings a day

• Fortified cereal,
• lean meat, pork, poultry, oysters

Beauty benefit: a youthful glow
Eat-right evidence: You'll get zinc and iron, minerals key to skin functioning. Zinc contributes to cell production, plus natural cell sloughing, which keeps dullness at bay. Red blood cells need iron to carry oxygen to skin, helping give you a glow, says David Bank, M.D., a derm in Mount Kisco, New York.
Aim for:

• 1 serving of cereal (a cup),
• 1 palm-sized serving of meat or poultry or 3 oysters per day

Water
Beauty benefit: dewy skin
Eat-right evidence: Skin cells contain mostly water, and if you're dehydrated, skin will look and feel parched, too. But you needn't chug 8 cups a day; University of Pennsylvania researchers found no studies to back up the recommendation. Simply ward off dehydration—and dryness—by drinking when you're thirsty.
Aim for:

• 6 cups a day.

It's a good starting point, says Keri Gans, R.D., of NYC.

Smart skin suggestions
New research hints at these foods' beauty power, but effects aren't totally proven yet.
No need to wait, though; the goodies are part of a healthy diet.
Wild salmon, Atlantic mackerel, walnuts
Beauty benefit: fewer wrinkles
Eat-right evidence: These fish and nuts, plus fortified eggs, are bursting with omega-3 fatty acids, which fight inflammation in the body caused by sun and stress. "Inflammation produces free radicals, and free radicals contribute to aging by attacking collagen," says Susan Taylor, M.D., a dermatologist in Philadelphia. But research still needs to connect the dots definitively and show that the anti-inflammatory abilities of omega-3s translate to younger-looking skin, she says. One study did find that older people who consumed more fish and veggies over their life had fewer wrinkles than those who ate more meat, the Journal of the American College of Nutrition reports. The research didn't focus solely on fish, however; vegetables' antioxidants, for example, may have been a factor.
Aim for:

• two 5-ounce servings of fish per week;
• on other days, 1 oz of walnuts or 2 omega-3 eggs

Whole wheat and grains
Beauty benefit: clearer skin
Eat-right evidence: In the past, derms have maintained that unless you wipe greasy fingers on your face, food doesn't cause zits. But some are rethinking the party line: Australian researchers found that a low-glycemic diet (more whole grains, protein and produce versus refined carbs such as white bread) may reduce acne. One explanation: Low-glycemic foods keep insulin steady, and refined carbs and sugar spike it. The surges may boost production of androgens, hormones that, when elevated, can cause zits. After 12 weeks of a low-glycemic diet, subjects' pimple counts dropped 20 percent, a study in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition notes. More studies are needed to prove the link, but no doctor will discourage you from eating whole grains and veggies!
Aim for: 3 servings a day (one serving equals a slice of bread or 1/2 cup cooked grains)
Today's special: gorgeous skin
If your complexion could choose everything you ate for the day, here's what would be on the menu, says Keri Gans, R.D., who put together this plan.

• Breakfast
  1 cup whole-grain, fortified cereal such as Total
  1 cup skim milk
  1 cup sliced strawberries or 1 medium grapefruit
  1 cup green tea
• Lunch
  Grilled chicken sandwich
  5 oz chicken breast
  2 slices whole-grain bread
  2 slices tomato
  1 leaf lettuce
  1/8 of avocado
  1 tsp mustard
  1 medium apple
• Dinner
  5 oz wild salmon
  Spinach salad
  2 cups fresh spinach
  1/2 cup sliced red bell pepper
  1/2 cup chopped tomato
  1/2 cup broccoli
  Toss with 1 tbsp each olive oil and balsamic vinegar
  1 medium baked sweet potato
• Snacks/dessert
  8 oz nonfat plain yogurt or 1 part-skim string cheese
  1 oz sunflower seeds
  1 small orange or 1 cup baby carrots
  1 oz dark chocolate or 1 glass red wine
  

Beauty treat? or trouble?
Guess which foods are good or
bad for your skin — and find out why

1. Sweets
   __Treat
   __Trouble
2. Dark chocolate
   __Treat
   __Trouble
3. Milk
   __Treat
   __Trouble
4. Spicy foods
   __Treat
   __Trouble
5. Wine
   __Treat
   __Trouble

ANSWERS

1. Sweets Trouble. Chowing candy and other sugary snacks may make you feel like a kid, but it’s likely aging you. The rush of glucose into your bloodstream sets off a process known as glycation, in which sugars attach to proteins and form advanced glycation end products (AGEs). These molecules naturally build up in skin as you get older, but the more sugar you eat, the more AGEs you have. Bad news: They cross-link with collagen and elastin fibers, making the normally resilient tissues weak or inflexible, Dr. Bank says. And skin that doesn’t bounce back easily leads to wrinkles and sagging. In fact, the study showing fish lovers had fewer wrinkles revealed the opposite for those with a sweet tooth.

2. Dark chocolate Treat. Although there might be some truth to the claims that sugar-laden chocolate contributes to acne (and wrinkles), the high-quality, dark variety — 70 percent or more cocoa — may actually be good for your skin. Preliminary studies found that cocoa's flavonols (a potent type of antioxidant) can help increase blood flow, supply skin with oxygen, improve skin hydration and reduce sun sensitivity. But dark chocolate is high in calories, so treat yourself to only 1 oz a day.

3. Milk Trouble. Got acne? Milk may not be doing your skin good. Three new studies have found a connection between teens’ milk intake and pimples. This could potentially translate to adults; however, it’s not been proven. More research is under way, but the probable explanation is hormone-related. Androgens naturally found in milk (even organic versions without added hormones) may add to a drinker’s own level of androgens, which are associated with oily skin and acne. Milk also raises insulin levels and contains growth factors that act like insulin, Dr. Treloar says. Both may lower the production of molecules that bind to and deactivate hormones—meaning there may be more free-roaming androgens able to cause pimples. It’s too early to prescribe a dairy ban for anyone zit-plagued. But it may be worth experimenting with a milk-free diet if you have excessive, stubborn breakouts, Dr. Treloar says. (Be sure, however, to take a calcium supplement with vitamin D.)

4. Spicy foods Trouble. Rosacea sufferers know to avoid five-alarm meals. But if you have fair, sun-damaged skin, hot-and-spicy foods may lead to the condition or to a red, blotchy complexion. “UV exposure weakens blood vessel walls. If your skin then repeatedly flushes, which swells vessels, they may not be able to shrink back down,” Dr. Treloar says.

5. Wine Treat. Reds are rich in polyphenols, antioxidants that help fight skin-damaging free radicals. But sip no more than one glass a day, says Katherine Brooking, R.D., of NYC. Excessive alcohol halts your body's release of its antidiuretic hormone. As a result, you make extra visits to the ladies' room and end up not only feeling dehydrated, but having skin that looks dry, with a dull tone and more visible wrinkles. So enjoy wine in moderation — and make a toast to great skin!

— Beth Jane, SELF magazine

Tree Planting Tips

EARTH DAY 2009 is soon upon us. Are you ready?


This is a United Nations Environment Programme [from Tree Planting Tips link above]

Tree Planting Tips
The ideal time to plant a tree is during the rainy season, in the tropics and subtropics, or the dormant season, in temperate zones, after leaf drop or before bud break. Trees that have been well cared for in a nursery can be planted throughout the growing season.

Proper handling during planting is essential to ensure healthy growth. Proper site preparation before and during planting, coupled with good follow-up care, allows the seedlings to quickly establish roots in the new location and overcome what is known as transplant shock, a phenomenon that can slow the growth and reduce the vigour of the tree.

Seeds can be sown in seed beds or seedling containers (preferably biodegradable) prepared with a mixture of sand, compost and soil. The plants will need watering before and after germination. Reduce the frequency of watering as the seedlings grow. Shade the seedlings and gradually reduce the shade as they grow.

If you decide to plant seeds, collect them from an area that enjoys similar climatic conditions to where the trees will be planted. Collect the seeds from a number of healthy mature trees.

To Plant a tree

1. Dig a hole at least twice the width of the root ball to allow the roots to spread out. Remove the tree from its container, carefully cut off broken roots, and slightly loosen the root ball.
2. Place the tree in the planting hole. Always lift the tree by the root ball and never by the trunk. Spread periphery roots outwards. Avoid planting the tree too deep. Make sure that the soil line of the young tree is higher than the surface of the surrounding hole.
3. Shovel some soil into the planting hole. Check the planting depth and adjust if needed. Confirm that the tree is straight. Fill the hole gently but firmly. Pat the soil around the base of the root ball.
4. It is not recommended to apply fertilizer at the time of planting. Water the seedling thoroughly with a slow stream of water to settle the soil. Do not stake the tree. The sooner the tree can stand alone, the sooner it will become strong.
5. Provide follow up care. Protect the tree from pests and diseases by removing plants nearby which are likely to affect it. Remove weeds as they will compete with tree roots for moisture and nutrients. Protect the tree from destruction by livestock.
6. If suitable, space trees well to avoid competition for air and soil nutrients, and to encourage the growth of branches. Watch out for drought conditions and provide water if needed, especially during the first few months. Watch out for yellowing of leaves. Always maintain good air circulation in the tree by pruning to avoid pests and other diseases.

Contact an arborist or a nearby environmental non-governmental organization for advice on caring for your tree. For further information consult the following web sites:

http://www.greenbeltmovement.org

http://www.worldagroforestrycentre.org