Why Wait for Thanksgiving to Have a Feast?

Most Americans do not eat well. I've seen overwhelming evidence of that. People are not getting the nutrients their bodies need to function properly. As a result, sickness is everywhere, and obesity is a serious issue. I have tactfully asked many people why they don't cook at home, or why they don't buy fresh fruits and vegetables. The overwhelming response I recieve is, "I don't have time." Who does? I know I am extremely busy, and so is the rest of America.

So how do I fit in nutrition that is absolutely essential? Well, I spent lots of time researching pills, juices, and other health supplements. I was trying to find a lifestyle friendly product that was 100% natural, whole food, non-pasteurized, packed with nutrients, and tasted great. This was a true challenge. Many products had a few of the right components, but didn't have the variety of nutrients I needed.

After searching, a man named Brett Rademacher introduced me to a product called "The Feast". The first thing I did was read the ingredients, and it had everything I was looking for. This whole food supplement included:

-30 antioxidant rich fruit and berries- Acai, Goji, Mangosteen, and more
-30 powerful greens and vegetables- Barley grass, Carrot, & Oat grass
-11 nutrient dense seeds, nuts and sprouts- Flax seed, Oat bran, & Almond
-83+ active enzymes and fulvic minerals- Amylase, Lactase, Lipase
-22 strains of resilient living probiotics- Lacobacillus acidophilus, and much more

There was not only a huge variety of nutrients, but it tasted great. Because this was a powder and not a juice, it was not pasteurized and had no preservatives (these are typical components of other bottled juices.)

As someone who is very passionate about health and wellness, I believe this is a wonderful product. If you want to find out more about The Feast, visit www.jewelsofhealth.biz or listen to a 2 minute audio: http://media.uriinternational.com/audio/feastsizzle.wma

Thanks for reading!

Julie Anne Osterhus
Marketing Specialist
Uri International
www.jewelsofhealth.biz

Eat a lot and lose weight?

Eat a lot, lose weight! Sound too good to be true? Well, it depends on how you interpret this little phrase. Does this mean that you can eat whatever you want whenever you want? Obviously not- we know that's not true. However, this does mean that small meals more often is healthy and beneficial to your waistline.

I found a very interesting article about this subject:
http://www.shapefit.com/lose-weight-eat-more.html

I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Julie Anne Osterhus
Marketing Specialist
Uri International
www.jewelsofhealth.biz

A Tomato a Day

Everyone has heard the saying, "an apple a day keeps the doctor away!" However, you'd be surprised to find that if you had to choose a tomato over an apple, the tomato might be a better choice. Now, I'm not here to discuss the argument whether a tomato is a fruit rather than a vegetable. I'll let someone else battle that one out.



Research is constantly being done about the positive effects of tomatoes. Even after being cooked, they retain most of their nutrients. In fact, lycopene- the main nutrient in tomatoes increases by 2.5% when they are cooked. This is rare among fruits and vegetables and is a wonderful aspect tomatoes.

This component in tomatoes- lycopene is responsible for the tomato's red color. It is a very strong antioxidant that helps protect against disease and maintains good health for cells and tissues.

According to the scientists at Ohio State University, five servings or tomatoes weekly in any form (canned, raw, sauces, soups, etc.) can reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer by 50%. The large amount of lycopene fights against these diseases by creating healthy defence cells.

I'm going to share with you one of my favorite tomato recepies. The vinegrette used is my own original creation, and it tastes great when mixed with tomatoes and fresh basil.

Tomato Basil Salad with Vinaigrette Dressing
Prep time- 10 minutes

INGREDIENTS:
- 2-3 Roma tomatoes
- Fresh basil

Wedge tomatoes and put in medium sized bowl.
Wash a handful of basil and chop .
Stir into the tomatoes.
Add the vinegrette dressing (recepie below).
Chill and serve.

Vinaigrette Dressing

INGREDIENTS:
- ¾ cup oil
- ¼ cup raw apple cider vinegar
- ¼ cup water
- 1 tsp. mustard
- 2 tsp sea salt
- 2 tsp raw sugar
- 1 tsp finely chopped parsley
- 2 large Tbsp. raw onion
- 1-2 cloves garlic
- ½ tsp. basil
- 1 tsp. oregano
- ½ tsp. thyme

Mix together. Enjoy!

Julie Anne Osterhus
Marketing Specialist
Uri International
www.jewelsofhealth.biz

Brain Power- Tips to Keep You Mentally Sharp

I've been thinking a lot lately about mental clarity. So much of life demands that we stay on top of things mentally. Why is it that sometimes our performance seems to lag or our mind becomes so clouded that we have a hard time making critical decisions? In my quest for these answers, I've discovered some tips to help you keep in tip-top mental shape.

First, I want to emphasize the importance on sleep. For man people, sleep is viewed as a luxury. With our fast-paced society, we always try to maximize our time and energies, even if that means cheating ourselves of much needed rest. Our bodies absolutely require sleep in order to function. By working long hours and not sleeping well, our brains do not have a chance to rest and rejuvenate. Instead, our short-term memory fails, our creativity is virtually non-existent, and our comprehension declines dramatically. The recommended amount of sleep per night is between 7 and 9 hours.

Another way to stay mentally sharp is exercise. I mentioned in my early post that exercise does help the brain function, but let me explain why. During physical activity, the heart beats faster, allowing more blood to enter the brain. This carries out waste, enhances energy, and causes the cerebral blood vessels to grow. Experts recommend at least 30 minutes of exercise 3 times per week.

According to the Franklin Institute for Science Learning, senior citizens who walked 20 minutes per day showed significant improvements in memory. When compared to a group of people medicated for their memory loss, exercisers "showed significant improvements in the higher mental processes of memory and in "executive functions" that involve planning, organization, and the ability to mentally juggle different intellectual tasks at the same time." Dr. Blumenthal of the Franklin Institute states this:

"What we found so fascinating was that exercise had its beneficial effect in specific areas of cognitive function that are rooted in the frontal and prefrontal regions of the brain. The implications are that exercise might be able to offset some of the mental declines that we often associate with the aging process."

The consumption of protein has a lot to do with mental health. Protein is used to create neurotransmitters in the brain that optimize brain functioning. Also, a lack of healthy fats such as avocados, Omega-3 from fish, and nuts in your diet can lead to depression, poor memory, low IQ, learning disabilities, dyslexia, ADD and many more mental disorders.

Sleep, exercise, and diet all play a crucial role in mental health. However to reach optimum brain functionality, all of these elements must work together.

Julie Anne Osterhus
Marketing Specialist
Uri International
www.jewelsofhealth.biz

Exercise- Nature's Remedy

Let me start out by saying that nearly 60 percent of all Americans are overweight. 17 percent are children and teens. Not only are many Americans heavy, most of experience severe health problems because of their weight.

When people think of exercise, they most commonly equate it with weight loss. For example, when a woman wants to "get back into" that dress she wore 10 years ago, or a man wants to shed some unwanted pounds around his waistline, they know they need to boost their physical activity.

Certainly, achieving and maintaining a health weight is a reason to exercise, but there are many other forgotten reasons why exercise is so good for your health.

Three Ph.D. health specialists wrote a recent article entitled “100 Reasons to Exercise in the New Millennium”. Many of the reasons to exercise were obvious such as, helps you loose weight, helps maintain weight loss, and increases overall health. But how are some of the ways exercise keeps you healthy?

* Reduces your risk of getting heart disease (the number 1 killer in America)
* Improves the functions of your immune system, causing less sickness and less
healthcare expenses
* Helps you to manage stress and anxiety, improving your mood
* Helps improve short-term memory loss in the elderly
* Helps to improve creativity, mental sharpness, and decision-making abilities
* Increases density of bones
* Gives you more energy for daily tasks

So now that you are aware of the benefits of exercise, how much time should you spend engaging in physical activity? Experts recommend 30 minutes of cardiovascular exercise 3-4 times per week.

Think you don't have time to exercise with life's pressures and demands? Sneak a walk, take the stairs, or park farther away from the grocery store entrance. Those extra efforts add up and really do make a difference. Before you know it, you will love how you feel, and you'll find yourself carving out time to exercise.

Julie Anne Osterhus
Marketing Specialist
Uri International
www.jewelsofhealth.biz

Welcome

Hello, and welcome to my blog! I can't wait to start sharing with you the jewels of health and wellness that I have discovered over the years.

The reason you are here is evidence of a shift in our culture. The quest for excellent health and total wellness is becoming ever popular. Food companies are creating "low fat" and "healthier" products, and the fitness industry is booming. From Pilates, to Kickboxing, and from Atkins to Vegetarian we see people putting a great deal of effort into becoming a healthier society.

However, why is it that fifty-percent of Americans are overweight, or heart disease is the number one killer? Why is it that the drug companies are extremely profitable, yet people aren't getting the healthcare or treatment they need? Furthermore, why aren't these drugs and medications working?

In this blog, I will explore some relevant health topics and reveal some secrets that the drug companies aren't telling us. I will also share some practical health and wellness tips, great exercises, and natural weight loss advice. Please feel free to comment on my posts, share your thoughts, or even e-mail me your questions- Jewelsofhealth@gmail.com. I might even share your questions or comments in my blog! Also, check out my website. I would love to share my personal health supplement secret!
www.jewelsofhealth.biz
I look forward to exploring health and wellness with you!

Julie Anne Osterhus
Marketing Specialist
Uri International
www.jewelsofhealth.biz