How A Golden Treasure of Fruits Benefit Healthy Living

By Carole-anne Stanway

Golden colored fruits are a treasure trove of tasty benefits to healthy living. These fruits are packed full of vitamins and fiber, and notably, are low in fat and calories.

Eating papaya is like "having your cake and eating it too." Papaya is the tropical fruit which has a soft buttery like consistency when ripe. Eat healthy ripe papaya as you would melon, cutting lengthwise, scooping out the seeds, then eating with a spoon. Just half a papaya contains twice the RDI requirements of vitamin C we need and is very rich in beta carotene.

Nectarines are ready to eat when they have a deep yellow golden skin with lots of red on it. Nectarines should be slightly soft at the seam. This little gem, when ripe, should have a sweet aroma. These treasures can be eaten with the skin on and have a zingy, fresh taste. Nectarine's can be chopped and added to salad, served with meats, or eaten on their own. Nectarines healthy bonus is fiber and Vitamin C. A favorite fruit because of its portability, nectarines can be used as a healthy snack several times a day.

Cantaloupe is known for its refreshing flavor, and juicy texture. It is a melon that has an earthy aroma. Cantaloupe should be picked by heaviness for its size, and there should be no soft spots on it. Note: cantaloupes should be washed on the outside with a vegetable & fruit washer to fully cleanse the outside before cutting up, as they can carry bacteria on them. Once cleaned, scoop the seeds and middle out of the fruit. Healthy cantaloupes are wonderful with any meal and can be cut up into balls with a special cantaloupe scoop, or cut in halves and sliced into neat pieces, or peel the outside and just chop into smaller squares. Cantaloupe can be pureed and made into a summer drink by adding soda water topped with mint. Cantaloupe has many healthy benefits; vitamin A, vitamin C and potassium, plus fiber content is high.

Oranges are a favorite for almost everyone. This little treasure comes in many varieties, mandarin, Chinese, and of course, naval oranges, full of intense citrus tasty flavor. There is nothing more refreshing and healthy than eating an orange, or having a fresh glass of orange juice in the morning, which is like a little bit of "heaven".

Orange juice is used in many alcoholic drinks, such as vodka and orange, champagne and orange juice, often for brunch. Use oranges for healthy recipes; the rind puts zest in flavoring muffins, loaves, cookies, blender beverages and a host of main dish baking, such as chicken recipes, and salads.

Our treasure box is now full of golden fruits; why not use these little treasures to tantalize your taste buds, and reap the healthy benefits as well? Papayas, nectarines, cantaloupe and oranges are our natural treasures that give us a wealth of vitamins, fiber, and refreshing flavors for benefits of healthy living.

Carole-Anne Stanway enjoys her creative healthy recipe cooking by eliminating salts, trans fats, and incorporating healthy fruit choices and vegetables, with herbs as flavor. Expand your knowledge in using new fruits, invaluable herbs, create simple, quick, inexpensive healthy recipes at Carole-Anne's exciting recipe site at

healthyrecipes

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Carole-anne_Stanway

Homes Are Made For Living

By Kevin Carden

I am constantly amazed that it is becoming more and more popular to build houses with dining rooms larger than the living room. Men if you don't help your wife shop for your new house plan you are liable to end up with a house like mine! My dining room is 200 sq feet larger than my living room. A room which I eat in only on Thanksgiving and every 3rd Christmas is larger than the room where my family LIVES! How did I let this happen!

I would suggest that you not only look at the placement of the living area in your plan but that you calculate the square footage dedicated to each and allow for at least a 2:1 ratio dedicated the most used room in your home. A larger ratio makes sense for everyone it allows you to have the guys over and watch a game and it gives the wife room for that "book club" she has been planning to start. People don't make memories in the foyer, or the sitting room, make sure your family has the living you plan to share for years to come.

It seems that every week there is a new piece of antique furniture in my home. As a matter of fact just last week my $2,000 Lazy boy was explicably replaced by an 18th century park bench, and I can assure that bench does about as much for my back as a sitting on the pavement in my driveway. Not only have all of my comforts been replaced but my 2,000 sq foot house won't hold it all any more.

After doing several calculations I am convinced that I need at least 4,284 square feet in my new home but I was unsure where to find that. Fortunately some websites are offering new not antique house plans for reasonable prices. I have been amazed as I have looked through thousands of plans online how many options there are for me. I was able to search through huge databases of plans by square footage, number of rooms, and other special features.

Men it is time for us to get involved in the process. I know shopping isn't our thing but, we can make life much easier if we get involved in the process. Maybe this Christmas you should surprise your wife by offering to "shop" together and go with her to houseplancentral.com too to look for a new house together. You can let her pick out the perfect foyer, dinning room and breakfast nook while you look for great storage space, media rooms, and closets to hold all of her stuff!

Kevin Carden is a publisher of several stock house plan websites and informational resources, the most famous being http://www.HousePlanCentral.com

House Plan Central has a large collection of home plans and unique house plans in different architectural styles, from the nation's top house designers.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kevin_Carden

Living in the End Times - A Brief Overview of Biblical Prophecy Come True

By Kerry Hedden

In light of recent events that are taking place around the world, the discussion of whether or not we are currently living in the end times has become all too common in many circles of people.
From regular folks to devout Christians, when comparing biblical prophecies to current events it is rather difficult to dispute the fact that there are some similarities, and as part of the Christian faith all followers of Jesus should live their lives as alert as possible for His second coming. The second coming of Jesus is referred to as the End of Days or the End Times.

For those of the Christian faith who do follow current events, there are some key elements or events that have occurred that directly line up with biblical prophecies. Here are a few of the major ones that could be considered as fulfillments of the end time prophecy outline in the last book of the Holy Bible.

War will be poured out on all the nations. War is going on in and between many regions of the world including the United States, Israel, Palestine, Iraq and Iran, African nations and many more. (Matthew 24:6 "And you will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars; see that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end.")

Famines and earthquakes should be occurring during the end times. Take note of the major earthquakes that have been occurring all over the world in the past few years, including India, Indonesia, Iran, China and Turkey since the beginning of the 21st century, although there were records of equally devastating and large-scale earthquakes in the decades before that. (Matthew 24:7 "For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes.")

False prophets will come forward during the End Times, according to Biblical prophecy. As of now, there have been several people who have come forth and claimed to be prophetic people, or even the Messiah himself, including Jim Jones and David Koresh (Matthew 24:11 "And many false prophets will arise, and will mislead many.")

People all over the world are starving. Whether it is lack of food due to political famine, drought, or otherwise famine is occurring in many areas of the world as we speak. There are nearly 6 billion people in the world, and a great fraction of them are without food. (Matthew 24:7 "For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes.")

There are many reasons why faith-based groups and otherwise feel that we are living in the End Times, and for good reason. Living a clean, devout life and being prepared for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ is all that Christians can do to prepare, and take heart in the fact that soon the world will be rid of these disasters and pestilence.

Kerry Hedden is one of the owners and contributors of http://www.bibleprophecy4today.com/ and believes that you can literally see bible prophecy being fulfilled just by watching the evening news. We offer free content articles for print or distribution. Take some time and submit some guest commentary. May God bless you and "keep your eye toward the sky."

Breast Cancer - Prevent With Healthy Living

By Michael Russell

Generally speaking, breast cancer can be explained as an abnormal growth or a mass of cells, also known as a tumor, anywhere within the breast or immediate surrounding area. Usually the breast tumor is felt to be a lumpy mass during the early stages of breast cancer. If a woman feels a lump or abnormality of the breast of any kind, she should see a doctor immediately. In many cases, there is no cause for alarm, but because breast cancer can be a killer, medical attention is highly recommended.

When breast cancer is detected early, it can be treated quickly and effectively - usually with excellent results. Quick treatment is essential because all breast tumors start off benign initially. If the tumor has not begun to grow abnormally and is removed during the benign stage, the cancer may not spread. If the cancer does not spread, the woman is able to lead a normal, cancer-free life from that point on.

As with most cancers, the exact cause of breast cancer has not been pinpointed. However, there are many risk factors applied to many women. There are many arguments that breast cancer is hereditary, so if there is a history of the cancer in a woman’s family, she should see a doctor regularly for preventative measures. While heredity may play a role, life choices do as well. For instance, women who smoke cigarettes and consume alcohol regularly are at a higher risk for breast cancer than those who do not. Additionally, obese women that do not engage in regular physical activity are at an elevated risk for breast cancer.

It has been found, however, that altering the levels of hormones in the body can lead to different forms of cancer, breast cancer included. Many women take drugs and supplements that have estrogen as a main ingredient. These medications are used to increase sexual drive, assist in lactation, or deal with menopause. There are studies currently underway to help determine the influence of increased levels of estrogen on the development of breast cancer.

Despite the exact causes of breast cancer being unknown, there are many resources explaining and suggesting how a woman might prevent it. While much of this literature is purely speculation, there are precautions all women can take including maintaining a healthy body weight. Because overweight women have a higher chance of developing breast cancer, it is a good idea to lose the fat. Also, regular visits to the doctor are recommended. However, one of the best ways a woman can monitor her breast health is by conducting the at-home exam once a month.

In addition to regular doctor visits and maintaining a healthy body weight, a healthy diet and plenty of exercise can also influence the onset, or not, of many types of cancers. Foods that contain nutrients, vitamins and antioxidants essential to preventing breast cancer include cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli and legumes. Other good foods are any type of citrus, tomatoes and soy products. A diet low in carbohydrates may also be helpful.

Combining the healthy diet with regular exercise, a positive attitude and an overall healthy lifestyle may dramatically reduce a woman’s chances of developing breast cancer. By no means are these suggestions the only answer, but should be followed as part of an overall attempt at living as healthy as possible.

Michael RussellYour Independent guide to Breast Cancer

Living in Mexico - Two Prices for Everything

By Douglas Bower

Readers love to write to contradict my too-often made point of American prices versus Mexican prices in Mexico. They will disagree with me by saying, "Well, I've never seen any indication of a dual price gouging therefore it can't exist." Lovely bit of logic, don't you agree?

What might be going on is further proof of the Bubble Theory of Expatriation that I've been reading from my favorite ethnographer. Actually, it is the Mexicans who live in communities that support the gringo colonies who suggest the Bubble Theory. This theory is really very easy. It goes something like this:

"To learn about a culture is best accomplished by living in the culture as do the locals (in this case Mexicans) in that culture."

If you notice, in any area where there is a gringo enclave, you will not see Mexicans living within the gringo enclaves. So, if you want to learn the culture, perhaps you should get the point that you will have to live in the culture as do the Mexicans you claim to know and whom you claim: "they love us here."

See? It's easy. Live in the culture!

One thing that those Gringos who are Bubble-Dwellers will miss out on is the salient fact that there are two prices. One is the gringo price and one is the Mexican price. If you live in The Bubble you will never, ever, in your expat career know this. You will miss it.

My long-time expat friend, "EH", who has lived in Mexico for more than thirty years, told the contractor she hired to fix up the rural house she bought: "I want Mexican prices on everything."

Why do you suppose she asked that?

When a mutual Mexicana friend of mine and "EH"'s heard who she hired to be her contractor, she immediately went to "EH" and told her to hire someone else who would give her the Mexican prices.

Why do you suppose she did that?

When the wife and I told the son, a good friend, of a real estate baroness in Guanajuato that we were moving to another city, he told us, "Be sure you let the owners of the potential home you rent that you are artists (we're writers) and not wealthy retiree Americans coming to live in that city."

Why do you suppose he told us that?

Those Gringos who live inside The Bubble, the artificial colonies, will never be able to know to the degree they are being charged the American prices for everything under the sun.
Right now, where we are living, we are being charged about fifty bucks more than what a Mexican would be charged. Why's that?

We are Americans. It is assumed we are all filthy rich. Think about that when planning your retirement to Mexico and if you can (or want) to afford the pricing discrimination that is a daily affair here.

Doug Bower is a freelance writer and book author. His most recent writing credits include The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The Houston Chronicle, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Associated Content, Transitions Abroad, International Living, Escape Artist, and The Front Porch Syndicate.

He is founder of Mexican Living Print & eBooks.

The Importance of Taking Time to Rest, Relax, Sleep, and Exercise for a Self Confident Living

By Lena Tucker

Recently, a friend of mine told me how he has been working so hard and not taking time out to relax, that he is now starting to feel the toll it has taken on his health. He didn't take the time to fully recuperate when he first starting feeling ill. Now his health has gotten worse and he has no choice but to take time off to go to the doctor or doctors. He may also have to miss a lot of work whereas, if he had taken the time off to rest and fully recover, his illness may have been shorter but now he will probably have to take off more time to recuperate.

It was kind of a wake up call to me, as well as it was to him. He told me that if I didn't start taking better care of myself, I would end up as sick as him. I go to bed way too late and I have been starting feeling exhausted. I am always tired and sleepy, and the toll of not properly taking care of myself has already started affecting my health. If I don't take his advice, I may go down the same path.

I usually go to bed way too late because I am either over committed, in the things that I need to do or I have not been as efficient in my time management, while the kids are in school. I have a hard time with efficient time management. I am very good at wasting time, whether it is someone calling to chat, chatting with people when I bump into them while running errands, or chatting while just waiting for my kids to get out of school. I, unfortunately, just love to chat and socialize. There always seems to be so much to do. I try to run my errands, clean house, and work at my computer, when the kids are in school because if I don't then, as soon as the kids get out of school, it is too late. There are basketball and baseball practices to drive to. This month, as been exceptionally crazy, with 20 baseball games (two during the week and two on the weekend) and at least 3-4 baseball practices a week (with two kids playing in the local league) and then 2 2hour basketball practices a week and a game 45 minutes away (for one of the two kids previously mentioned). There is also homework and projects to finish.

As I don't don't always finish all my work, when my kids are at school, I end up finishing the rest, after they go to bed. I then end up staying up late doing laundry, cleaning the house, and doing my work. It just seems endless. I also tell myself that it is OK to function on little sleep because I will catch up by the weekend. Unfortunately, that doesn't happen so I continue to run ragged. My self confidence suffers because I am not as efficient as I can be, as I am always exhausted. I feel like I am always trying to play catch up and not ever catching up. It is a vicious cycle.

My friend reminded me how important it is to make sure I have adequate sleep and to not run myself ragged like he has done. I decided, starting last night, to do the best I can everyday (as far as accomplishments, assignments or to do lists). I will set more realistic goals and say "no" more and not overcommit myself.

It is important to make time to relax, do some fun things, and renew your spirit and body for your health and well being. A fun way to relax is to plan a night out with some girlfriends, with other couples, or other families. I like planning potlucks and game nights, with other couples, at my house. I would take out my old board games, like "Outburst" and play the women against men. It was a blast! Another of my favorite ways to relax is to plan a night out going to dinner with a bunch of girlfriends. My kids like inviting their friends and their families over for a potluck and swim party. I have a girlfriend who take nightly bubble baths to relax and feel rejuvinated for the next day.

It is also important to have at least 7 hours a night of sleep. Recently, studies have stressed the importance of having enough rest. Sleeping is a way that our body is able to repair itself and for our minds to feel renewed or refreshed the next morning. We are then usually able to be a more happy, positive, and efficient. It also improves our self confidence and self esteem.

Lastly, it is important to start exercising. It makes you feel energized, you sleep better, you feel healthier, and you feel more self confident in yourself.

So by making and taking the time to rest, relax, exercise, and have adeqate nightly sleep, you will be healthier, more efficient, and therefore accomplish more. You will also feel self confident. You will also be able to enjoy life and have a more self confident and fulfilling life.

Lena Tucker is the founder of http://www.successinlifeandmoney.com An avid blogger, Lena is helping to change the lives of others through her articles and blogs about living a successful life, having true self confidence, successful parenting, and all things money related. Transform your life now through her amazing insights at http://www.SuccessInLifeAndMoney.com