Random Acts of "Kindness"

Posts tagged ‘Cherries’

PERSISTENCE

I have been trying to lose weight for a very long time with NO SUCCESS. Imagine my surprise when the scale actually registered a lower number again and then again. I haven’t increased my exercise — in fact, because of the pain in my knee, I’ve cut back. I was getting more than 10,000 steps a day. Now I’m lucky if I get 7,000. While I’m no longer going down, the temperature has risen and the little bit of sodium in my diet equals a weight gain.

I don’t know what is causing this weight reduction, I think it might be a combination. Because of the pain in various body parts I have a cherry – chocolate smoothie for breakfast. The chocolate comes from unsweetened cocoa. I was adding one scoop of protein powder until I read that in order for woman over 50 to lose weight, she should have 25 – 30 mg of protein at each meal. Now I have two scoops of protein with a cup of almond milk. Cherries are supposed to be helpful with pain. Studies of cocoa have found that it may reduce the risk of heart disease and cognitive decline. Two weeks after starting this smoothie, I received an invitation to join a study. I would have to give up the vitamins and stuff I’m currently doing in order to take their pills for four years. I’m going to stay the course with what I’m doing, not take the chance that it might be a placebo.

Since my knee was yelling, a man at the veteran’s clinic shared an idea that is supposed to help with pain. Two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar and two tablespoons of honey in water. I’ve taken one tablespoon of Bragg’s apple cider vinegar, one or two times a day in water to help with my digestion. So I increased the vinegar to two. When I added the honey it went all over the counter and other places so I just take the bottle and squirt a bit into the warm or hot water. I’m trying for twice a day. It is supposed to take a month before I’ll notice a difference.

The third part of the equation is a mixture of 4 oz cranberry juice in 28 oz of water consumed during the day. The mixture is supposed to dilute the bile in the body, helping it to flow. The article I read suggested having the juice of half a lemon in water in the morning. Since I’m already doing the apple cider vinegar, I haven’t added the lemon juice. Since the temperature has risen, I’m considering adding dandelion tea to the water to help with water retention.

I’m hopeful that this combination will continue to help my weight decrease. This summer is supposed to be very hot. Less weight on my body parts will help I’m sure. Stay tuned. Up or down, I’ll share the results.

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HOPES UP

I’m interested in natural ways to heal the body. I don’t know whether this interest started when my father’s memory started to vanish or if my interest began many years before. I take an assortment of vitamins and drink herbal tea. When I read an article about the importance of collagen in the body, I added another pill to my assortment. This particular pill supports hair, skin and nails. Nothing is mentioned about joints.

Asking a pharmacist, I learned that Glucosamine and Chondroitin are recommended for joints. Both of which I’m already taking. I was excited when I received a coupon book advertising a supplement for joint health. Researching the pill on the internet I was disappointed to learn it was exactly the same as the pill I was already taking, just higher in cost.

Sadly my weight and my knees are not getting along. In fact — since I wear the outside edges of the heels of my shoes, throwing off my balance — my knees have been yelling lately. I don’t pay close enough attention to the wear on my heels, causing myself PAIN.

I have read that cherries are a natural pain reliever and I LOVE cherries. A few years ago I found a recipe for a cherry smoothie in a woman’s magazine. It sounded good — I wrote the recipe down but didn’t try it until recently when my knees started complaining. Smoothies for breakfast — maybe I would lose weight. This recipe calls for a tablespoon of cocoa. Cherries and chocolate — what’s not to love?

Two weeks after starting cherry smoothies for breakfast, I received an invitation to participate in a cocoa – multivitamin study. Studies have shown that cocoa may reduce the risk of heart disease and age-related cognitive decline. I would join their study but I don’t want to give up the assorted vitamins that seem to be good for my body nor do I want to take a chance that I would take a placebo instead. But it is NICE TO GET CONFIRMATION that I might be doing something good. “Thank You! to my friends” even though it has taken me a few years to act.

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