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Mom’s Juicy Secret

Mom’s Juicy Secret

by | Aug 10, 2020 | Family & Parenting, Featured

I know many moms will agree with me how tough it is to ask their kids to eat fruits and vegetables. It’s always a struggle every mealtime. (If your child loves to eat them, you’re one lucky momma!) But for some reasons, I wonder why it’s so hard to feed them fruits and vegetables when they reach a certain age. Seeing these foods on the table, you can automatically see the disapproval on their cute little faces.

Is it with the kind of food? Is it with the way you feed them? Timing? I remember my husband is teasing me about the way I feed our kids versus his way. My tonsils are already out calling them to eat yet with my husband’s one playful call to them, with matching sounds (imitating the sounds of a train, a helicopter, an airplane, a roller coaster, whatever sound there is) they are already rushing to the table. Imagine every bite should have a playful sound and action! But these “whoosh’s” and “choo-choo’s” don’t always come in handy when we’re trying to give them fruits and veggies.

So what’s the reason why my kids don’t like to eat fruits and vegetables?

You may be a parent like me who tried all ways possible to feed your kids fruits and vegetables, yet for some reason, they just really find it unappealing. This condition is known as Food neophobia, the fear or skepticism towards unknown or new foods. This peaks between two to six years of age. If your kids are within this age range, they may refuse to eat some fruits or vegetables because of their strong taste. Children have more taste buds than adults and thus they find simpler and sweeter foods more palatable in comparison to vegetables or other pungent fruits.

We know how important fruits and vegetables are in our diet. They are critical to promoting good health and protection against disease, both now and in the future. They contain essential vitamins, minerals, fiber, and disease-fighting phytochemicals that ensures our children’s healthy growth and development. The importance of healthy eating cannot be undermined; therefore it is very important that we include more and more fruits and vegetables in our children’s diet. In view of nutrition month, as a reminder to us parents to exhaust all possible ways to give proper nutrition to our kids, I’m sharing you some ways I researched to get our kids to eat vegetables and fruits. Here you go:

  • Make the fruits and vegetables accessible. Keep fruit washed, cut up and in plain sight in the refrigerator.
  • Serve salads more often.
  • Try out vegetarian recipes for spaghetti, lasagna, chili, or other foods using vegetables instead of meat.
  • The presentation is important; no matter what you give to your kid, it should be presented beautifully.
  • Make more fruit-based desserts
  • Try and include fruits and vegetables in all three meals.
  • Be more innovative in making various recipes and thus add more fruits and vegetables.
  • Take your kid vegetable shopping and let him pick his favorite vegetable and fruits.
  • Limit or eliminate how much fruit juice you give your child and make sure it is 100% juice, not juice “drinks.”
  • Avoid buying high-calorie foods such as chips, cookies, and candy bars. Your child may not ask for these treats if they are not in sight.
  • Switch to healthy snacking and give your child a fruit instead.
  • Make a small vegetable garden, kids would love to eat what they grow.
  • Give an array of colors on your kid’s plate.
  • Make fruit and vegetable eating a fun experience rather than buggery.
  • Involve your kids in cooking various dishes.
  • Freeze various fruits for some frozen smoothie or dessert fun.
  • Appreciate your kid for his efforts, whenever he tries to eat some new fruit or vegetable.
  • Lead by example; include more fruits and vegetables in your diet.
  • Eat as a family whenever possible. Research shows that kids eat more vegetables and fruits and less fried foods and sugary drinks when they eat with the entire family.

One more thing I’ve learned as a parent these past six years is that we have to be creative in terms of how we serve them fruits and vegetables. My kids love it when they see playful colors and patterns so I try to incorporate it when I prepare their foods. I cut and shape fruits of different colors. Sometimes I also disguise veggies inside their meal by chopping veggies into really small pieces or mashing them so they won’t notice it’s in their meal yet still gets the benefit of it.

 

The Juicy Secret

Last weekend, we spent time at my in laws’ place. My mother in law, a healthy food advocate, bought different kinds of fruits and vegetables for the kids. I am like, “Wait mom, they don’t know what kind of fruit and veggies are that, and they may not eat them.” Of course, I didn’t say that aloud. Just in my mind. It seems like there would be one frustrated grandma on the dinner table later, I thought to myself.

As we went home with loads of these healthy, colorful, unknown-to-my-kids kinds of stuff, I’m still contemplating how to encourage my kids to eat them and don’t make

their grandmother disappointed. Suddenly my mother-in-law called me at the kitchen and showed me two special machines that miraculously turn fruits and vegetables into juice in seconds– a juicer and an osterizer! It’s her special way to encourage the kids to consume more fruits and vegetables, to serve them in liquid form or as a juice. The process itself can be made into a fun and interactive activity; allowing the kids to get involved in the creation of their juice is more likely to give them a reason to enjoy it. Juicing is healthier because it is fresh, unpasteurized and it doesn’t contain any added sugars. In short, it is all-natural and when you drink it, your body will benefit from the live enzymes and nutrients.

She let me and the kids marveled on how these powerful machines turned the colorful fruits and veggies into liquid form. The kids were amazed (and also am). After the blending and juicing, it’s time to drink. Now, this is the challenging part: will the kids drink it? I tell you, when my 2-year old sip it, she suddenly stopped and with her mouth full, she was about to blow. I’m in a panic looking for a container where she can spit it, but then after a few seconds, she took it all in! We were all clapping and cheering, thus she even asked for more. (oh what a relief! Perfect scenario: healthy kids, proud mommy, happy mother-in-law 🙂 ) My 4 and 6 years old also enjoyed their share of the juice.

Blending spinach, carrots, beets and other veggies into fruit smoothies can be a great way for picky eaters to get the nutrients they need. But at the same time, we should never ever give up on serving them whole produce. Juicing (using a juicer) and smoothies (using an osterizer) are both essential to a healthy diet. The big difference between the two is,  juicing extracts the juice from the fiber. While smoothies blend whole fruits and vegetables, leaving the fiber intact–which is also beneficial to our system in many aspects.

Here are two simple and healthy recipes to start with:

Yummy Three Juice

3 apples

3 carrots

3 beetroot (small)

Gluten-Free Strawberry Juice

9 strawberries

A handful of spinach

3 celery sticks

2 apples

1 large carrot

Red Veggie Juice

1 beetroot (small)

2 Fuji apples

1/4 pineapple

2 celery sticks

A handful of spinach

Half a cucumber

 

Introduce fruits and vegetables as soon as your baby is ready to eat solid foods, however, consult your doctor before giving any fruit or vegetable to your baby. As healthy as it is, we should also be cautious with the amount of juice that we give our kids. It’s worth bearing in mind that they generally require far smaller doses than adults. It is recommended daily to take 1/2 cup for 6years olds and below and 1cup for over 6years of age. Upon knowing my mother-in-law’s juicy secret, I think I will be able to include more fruits and vegetables in my children’s diet. (By the way, she also gifted me an osterizer! Thanks, mom! 🙂 )

 

 

About The Author

Andrea is a full time home maker. When she is not busy taking care of her husband and kids, she goes out giving financial management talks. She is a proud breastfeeding mom for four years running and an avid Oleia user.

Mediterranean Diet: What to Eat to Live to 100

Mediterranean Diet: What to Eat to Live to 100

by | Jul 23, 2020 | Featured, Health & Wellness

Ever wonder what the food diet of the ancient Greek gods and goddesses was?

The people of Greece, particularly in the island of Ikaria, is known to be one of the regions of the world where people tend to live unusually long and healthy lives in which it is normal for them to make it to 100 years or more. Even before it is known to be a ”Blue Zone” –the places where the world’s healthiest and longest-living people reside, Ikaria has received considerable attention from nutrition experts and authors  who want to unfold the mysteries of its long-living residents and the secret of low incidence of chronic health problems like heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and obesity.

So, what’s their secret to a very long and healthy life? 

Featuring whole grains, legumes, nuts, cereals, fresh fruits and vegetables, a glass of red wine, fish and dairy, and olive oil as the main source of fat, the Mediterranean diet, well-known as the number one of the  world’s healthiest diets, makes the people of Ikaria and other Blue Zone areas enjoy life, literally, to the fullest. 

The Mediterranean diet is based on the traditional foods that people used to eat in countries like Greece and Italy, and other areas surrounding the Mediterranean sea thousand of years ago. Because of the geography and climate of this area, people here have enjoyed a diet rich in colorful fruits and vegetables, lots of fresh seafood and plenty of olives. Other important elements of the Mediterranean diet are sharing meals with family and friends, enjoying a glass of red wine and being physically active.

 

Aside from this diet is a delicious way to eat, drink and live, it’s also a realistic and sustainable way to reduce disease and inflammation, improve one’s mood, and a perfect way of maintaining a healthy weight range. Studies have shown that the Mediterranean Diet reduces the risk of coronary heart disease, hypertension, high cholesterol, metabolic complications, depression, type-2 diabetes, obesity, dementia, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, and many forms of cancer.

MUFA Diet

Healthy fats, particularly the Monounsaturated fatty acids, or MUFAs, constitute the cornerstone of this heart-healthy diet. Although there is no single way of preparing Mediterranean diet, all of them are based on whole, healthy foods with an emphasis on monounsaturated-rich fats. Olive oil, the primary source of fat in this diet, provides MUFA fats. It is associated with lower levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL or “bad” cholesterol). Moreover, many MUFA-rich fats are also high in antioxidants which help to reduce inflammation and prevent chronic diseases. 

 

In addition to Olive oil, nuts, and seeds that contain MUFAs, fish are also important in the Mediterranean diet. Fatty fish — such as mackerel, herring, sardines, albacore tuna, salmon and lake trout — are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, a type of polyunsaturated fat that may reduce inflammation in the body. Omega-3 fatty acids also help decrease triglycerides, reduce blood clotting, and decrease the risk of stroke and heart failure.

Another influencing factor is that this diet is not just a diet or even a way of eating, it is actually a lifestyle! It encourages people to spend a lot of time outdoors in nature, get good sleep and enjoy family bonding with a home-cooked healthy meal (rather than alone or on-the-go) which are great ways to relieve stress and, therefore, help prevent inflammation. 

Besides being hailed as the healthiest diet in the world, the Mediterranean diet is also ranked as the number 1 of the world’s easiest diets to follow. Here are some tips on how you can make the best of the Mediterranean diet:

  • Eat primarily plant-based foods. Aim for 7 to 10 servings a day of fresh fruit and vegetables. 
  • Opt for whole grains. Switch to whole-grain bread, cereal, pasta, rice (brown or red), oats, barley, and potatoes (red or purple) Experiment with other whole grains, such as bulgur and farro.
  • Use healthy fats. Use extra virgin olive oil as your primary source of fat. Use it as a replacement for butter when cooking. Instead of putting butter or margarine on bread, try dipping it in flavored olive oil.
  • Eat more seafood. Eat fish twice a week. Fresh or water-packed tuna, salmon, trout, mackerel, and herring are healthy choices. Grilled fish tastes good and requires little cleanup. Avoid deep-fried fish.
  • Cut back on red meat. Substitute fish, poultry or beans for meat. If you eat meat, make sure it’s lean and keep portions small.
  • Enjoy some dairy. Eat low-fat Greek or plain yogurt and small amounts of a variety of cheeses.
  • Snack on Healthy. Enjoy a moderate amount of nuts, seeds, fresh or dried fruit daily. 
  • Spice it up. Herbs and spices boost flavor and lessen the need for salt.
  • Sip red wine in moderation. Have one small glass of red wine per day, with a meal.
  • Skip the sugar. Eat sweets on special occasions only.

 

Here is a guide of healthy and unprocessed Mediterranean foods and drinks where you can base your diet: 

What to Eat

  • Vegetables: tomatoes, broccoli, kale, spinach, onions, cauliflower, carrots, Brussels sprouts, cucumbers, etc.
  • Fruits: apples, bananas, oranges, pears, strawberries, grapes, dates, figs, melons, peaches, etc.
  • Nuts and seeds: almonds, walnuts, acadamia nuts, hazelnuts, cashews, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, etc.
  • Legumes: beans, peas, lentils, pulses, peanuts, chickpeas, etc.
  • Tubers: potatoes, sweet potatoes, turnips, yams, etc.
  • Whole grains: whole oats, brown rice, rye, barley, corn, buckwheat, whole wheat, whole-grain bread and pasta.
  • Fish and seafood: salmon, sardines, trout, tuna, mackerel, shrimp, oysters, clams, crab, mussels, etc.
  • Poultry: chicken, duck, turkey, etc.
  • Eggs: chicken, quail and duck eggs.
  • Dairy: cheese, yogurt, Greek yogurt, etc.
  • Herbs and spices: garlic, basil, mint, rosemary, sage, nutmeg, cinnamon, pepper, etc.
  • Healthy Fats: extra virgin olive oil, olive, avocados and avocado oil.

Whole, single-ingredient foods are the key to good health.

What to Drink

  • Water: should be your constant beverage on a Mediterranean diet.
  • Red wine: This is optional; limit to 1 glass per day.
  • Coffee and tea: completely acceptable, but you should avoid sugar-sweetened beverages and fruit juices. 

The Mediterranean diet is not only healthy, but also a delicious way to eat!

Although we are living far away from Greece, we can still integrate some of the eating patterns and dietary traditions practiced in Ikaria. This is also the best diet to fight chronic stress. We all know that chronic stress can kill your quality of life along with your weight and health. It is always best to go fresh and natural.

However, if these food choices are not always available, take Oleia Softgels MUFA Supplement daily to ensure you’re getting excellent nutritive value from this diet.

Oleia Softgel contains olive oil, the healthy and primary fat that makes up the Mediterranean diet. It has strong anti-inflammation and antioxidant properties that amazingly benefits the heart, brain, and protects the cells from damage and inflammation-causing diseases.

Enjoy this smart choice of healthy eating and living of Mediterranean diet— the secret to strong, healthy and very long life!

 

About The Author

Andrea Daguno is a full time home maker. When she is not busy taking care of her husband and kids, she goes out giving financial management talks. She is a proud breastfeeding mom for four years running and an avid Oleia user.

Frankincense: A Wise Men’s Remedy

Frankincense: A Wise Men’s Remedy

by | Feb 18, 2018 | Blog, Featured

Frankincense and the other plant-derived treasure given to Jesus by the three wise men, Myrrh, were said to be more valuable than gold in the time of His birth. Why is it so valuable? These gifts have a long history dating back thousands of years and some believe the offerings were meant to protect and nourish the infant King.

What is Frankincense?

Boswellia carterii, commonly known as Frankincense, is derived from the milky white sap that is secreted by the Frankincense tree. The name of the tree comes from the term “franc encens,” which is French for “high-quality incense.” “Franc” is known to mean “pure” while “encens” comes from a word that means “to burn.”  It was thus considered “pure incense” and the most desirable of all the other types of incense. After the tree’s sap droplets are allowed to dry and harden into tear-shapes on the tree over the course of a few days, they are finally scraped off to be made into an essential oil.

Though perhaps best known for their use in incense and ancient rituals, Frankincense proven antiseptic and inflammatory properties were once considered effective remedies for everything. It is used by either inhaling the oil or absorbing it through the skin, usually mixed with a carrier oil. It’s believed that the oil transmits messages to the limbic system of the brain, which is known to influence the nervous system. A little bit of oil goes a long way; it should not be ingested in large quantities as it can be toxic.

Frankincense Essential Oil Health Benefits

 

1. Boosts the immune system

Frankincense oil is effective as an antiseptic, and even the fumes or smoke obtained from burning it has antiseptic and disinfectant qualities that eliminate the germs as the smoke filters them out. It can be applied on wounds to protect them from tetanus and becoming septic, without any side effects. It is equally good for internal wounds and protects them from developing infections.

2. Helps Improve Oral Health

The same antiseptic qualities also make frankincense oil a useful preventive measure against oral issues, like bad breath, toothaches, cavities, mouth sores, and other infections. Look for natural oral care products that include frankincense oil if you enjoy the flavor or aroma, and want to include a strong antiseptic in your health regimen. You can even create your own all-natural toothpaste with frankincense oil and baking soda or a mouthwash with water and peppermint oil.

3. Balances Hormone Levels

Frankincense oil reduces symptoms associated with menstruation and menopause by balancing hormone levels. It can help relieve pain, cramps, constipation, headaches, anxiety, nausea, fatigue and mood swings. Frankincense oil also helps with regulating estrogen production and may reduce the risk of tumor or cyst development in pre-menopausal women.

4. May Help Fight Cancer or Deal with Chemotherapy Side Effects

Frankincense oil has been shown to help fight cells of specific types of cancer. A 2012 study even found that a chemical compound found in frankincense called AKBA is successful at killing cancer cells that have become resistant to chemotherapy, which may make it a potential natural cancer treatment.

5. Prevents Gas Buildup

Frankincense oil eliminates gas and prevents it from building up in the body. This removal of excess gas from the intestines also gives relief from associated problems like stomach aches, pain in the abdominal region and chest, abnormal amounts of sweating, uneasiness, indigestion, and many other related conditions.

6. Promotes Digestion

This oil has digestive properties without any side effects, and facilitates digestion the way most medicines should, unlike common antacids which only suppress the symptoms. This oil speeds up the secretion of digestive juices (gastric juices, bile, and acids) in the stomach and facilitates movement of food through the intestines by stimulating peristaltic motion. This means an all-around improvement in the digestion of food.

7. Heals Skin and Prevents Signs of Aging

Frankincense has the ability to strengthen skin and improve its tone, elasticity, defense mechanisms against bacteria or blemishes, and appearance as someone ages. It helps tone and lift skin, reduces appearance of scars and acne, sun spots, remove micro-wrinkles around the eyes and cheeks, heals wounds. and generally tone and tighten skin all over your body, while simultaneously replacing old or dying cells with new and healthy ones!It can also be beneficial for fading of stretch marks, surgery scars or marks associated with pregnancy, and for healing dry or cracked skin.

8. Acts as Tonic

Overall, frankincense essential oil tones and boosts health and is, therefore, considered a tonic. It benefits all the systems operating in the body, including the respiratory, digestive, nervous, and excretory systems, while also increasing strength by aiding the absorption of nutrients into the body. Furthermore, frankincense oil strengthens the immune system and keeps you strong.

9. Stimulates Urination

It promotes urination and helps you lose that extra water weight, as well as fats, sodium, uric acid, and various other toxins from the body, with the added advantage of lowering blood pressure. The best part about this is that frankincense essential oil is completely safe and has no adverse side effects.

10. Keeps Uterus Healthy

This oil is very good for uterine health. Since it regulates the production of the estrogen hormone, it reduces the chances of post-menopause tumor or cyst formation in the uterus, also known as uterine cancer. In terms of the pre-menopausal period, it keeps a woman’s uterus healthy by regulating proper menstrual cycles. It also treats or regulates gynecologic conditions or stressors that can lead to complicated dysfunctions in certain women.

11. Reduces Respiratory Issues

It soothes cough and eliminates phlegm deposited in the respiratory tracts and the lungs. Frankincense essential oil also provides relief from bronchitis and congestion of nasal tract, larynx, pharynx, bronchi, and lungs. Its antidepressant and anti-inflammatory properties also help relax the breathing passages, which can reduce the dangers of asthma attacks, and its antiseptic qualities give it the reputation of being an immune system booster! It also eases body pain, headaches, toothaches, and balances the rise in body temperature commonly associated with colds.

12. Speeds up Healing

Simply apply a diluted solution of this oil on wounds, or use it after blending with a skin cream and your wounds will heal faster and will also be protected from infections. This oil is equally beneficial in healing internal wound, cuts, and ulcers.

13. Relieves Stress

Frankincense oil is very effective as a sedative because it induces a feeling of mental peace, relaxation, satisfaction, and spirituality. It also awakens insight, makes you more introspective and lowers anxiety, anger, and stress. When you are feeling anxious or if you anticipate some sort of stressful episode, add some frankincense oil to a diffuser or a vaporizer. It promotes deep breathing and relaxation, which can open your breathing passages and reduce blood pressure, moving your mental state back to calmness.

14. Helps Decrease Inflammation and Pain

Frankincense can inhibit the production of key inflammatory molecules associated with conditions like arthritis, asthma, painful bowel disorders like Inflammatory Bowel Syndrome and many more conditions. It can be useful in helping prevent the breakdown of the cartilage tissue and has been shown to significantly reduce levels of dangerous and painful inflammation, making it a natural treatment option for pain-related conditions that affect the muscles, joints and tendons.

Frankincense oil can offer a variety of health benefits, including helping relieve chronic stress and anxiety, reducing pain and inflammation, boosting immunity and even potentially helping to fight cancer. That’s why it is a really good partner of our Oleia Topical oil in fighting pain and inflammation in a natural way. Yes! Frankincense oil is now in Oleia bottle! Available at our Ortigas Sales office, Oleia Topical oil Frankincense is ready for your stress and pain-relieving experience.

 

About The Author

Charlotte has tried every buffet restaurant in the Metro and is on the quest to try the ones in the provinces soon. She's an active blogger and you can find her in her think tank in Marco Polo on weekdays. She used to think Oleia Topical Oil can help her loose weight since it's good for inflammation only to realize it's better for after work massages. 

What is Keto Diet?

What is Keto Diet?

by | Dec 7, 2017 | Blog, Featured, Health & Wellness

The ketogenic diet has been gaining more and more popularity nowadays. Some celebrities like Kim Kardashian, Megan Fox and NBA superstars Kobe Bryant and LeBron James are some who’s even getting in on the diet. 

What is Ketogenic Diet?

The ketogenic diet (keto) is a low-carb, high-fat diet. It lowers blood sugar and insulin levels, and shifts the body’s metabolism away from carbs and towards fat and ketones.

Ketones are produced in the liver, from fat. They are then used as fuel throughout the body, including the brain. The brain is a hungry organ that consumes lots of energy every day, and it can’t run on fat directly. It can only run on glucose… or ketones.

On a ketogenic diet your entire body switches its fuel supply to run almost entirely on fat. Insulin levels become very low and fat burning increases dramatically. It becomes easy to access your fat stores to burn them off. This is obviously great if you’re trying to lose weight, but there are also other less obvious benefits, like for example less hunger and a steady supply of energy.

There are several versions of the ketogenic diet. The standard ketogenic diet (SKD) is the most researched and most recommended. This is a very low-carb, moderate-protein and high-fat diet. It typically contains 75% fat, 20% protein and only 5% carb.

A ketogenic diet is safe for most people, but in the following situations you may need extra support:

  • If you take medication for diabetes, e.g. insulin.
  • If you have medication for high blood pressure.
  • If you are breastfeeding.

Health Benefits of the Ketogenic Diet

The ketogenic diet actually originated as a tool for treating neurological diseases, such as epilepsy.

Studies have now shown that the diet can have benefits for a wide variety of different health conditions:

  • Weight Loss: It can help you lose much more weight than a low-fat diet. This often happens without hunger.
  • Diabetes: It can boost insulin sensitivity and cause fat loss, leading to drastic improvement for type 2 diabetes and prediabetes.
  • Heart disease: The ketogenic diet can improve risk factors like body fat, HDL levels, blood pressure and blood sugar.
  • Cancer: The diet is currently being used to treat several types of cancer and slow tumor growth
  • Alzheimer’s disease: The diet may reduce symptoms of Alzheimer’s and slow down the disease’s progression.
  • Epilepsy: Research has shown that the ketogenic diet can cause massive reductions in seizures in epileptic children.
  • Parkinson’s disease: One study found that the diet helped improve symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.
  • Polycystic ovary syndrome: The ketogenic diet can help reduce insulin levels, which may play a key role in polycystic ovary syndrome.
  • Brain injuries: One animal study found that the diet can reduce concussions and aid recovery after brain injury.
  • Acne: Lower insulin levels and eating less sugar or processed foods may help improve acne.

However, keep in mind that research into many of these areas is far from conclusive.

What are the Foods to Avoid?

Avoid carb-based foods like grains, sugars, legumes, rice, potatoes, candy, juice and even most fruits. Here is a list of foods that need to be reduced or eliminated on a ketogenic diet:

  • Sugary foods: soda, fruit juice, smoothies, cake, ice cream, candy, etc.
  • Grains or starches: Wheat-based products, rice, pasta, cereals, etc.
  • Fruit: All fruit, except small portions of berries like strawberries.
  • Beans or legumes: Peas, kidney beans, lentils, chickpeas, etc.
  • Root vegetables and tubers: Potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots, parsnips, etc.
  • Low-fat or diet products: These are highly processed and often high in carbs.
  • Some condiments or sauces: These often contain sugar and unhealthy fat.
  • Unhealthy fat: Limit your intake of processed vegetable oils, mayonnaise, etc.
  • Alcohol: Due to its carb content, many alcoholic beverages can throw you out of ketosis.
  • Sugar-free diet foods: These are often high in sugar alcohols, which can affect ketone levels in some cases. These foods also tend to be highly processed.

What are the Foods to Eat?

Base the majority of your diet on foods such as meat, fish, eggs, butter, nuts, healthy oils, avocados and plenty of low-carb veggies.

  • Meat: Red meat, steak, ham, sausage, bacon, chicken and turkey.
  • Fatty fish: Such as salmon, trout, tuna and mackerel.
  • Eggs: Look for pastured or omega-3 whole eggs.
  • Butter and cream: Look for grass-fed when possible.
  • Cheese: Unprocessed cheese (cheddar, goat, cream, blue or mozzarella).
  • Nuts and seeds: Almonds, walnuts, flaxseeds, pumpkin seeds, chia seeds, etc.
  • Healthy oils: Primarily extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil and avocado oil.
  • Avocados: Whole avocados or freshly made guacamole.
  • Low-carb veggies: Most green veggies, tomatoes, onions, peppers, etc.
  • Condiments: You can use salt, pepper and various healthy herbs and spices.

Side Effects of Keto Diet and How to Minimize them

Although the ketogenic diet is safe for healthy people, there may be some initial side effects while your body adapts. This usually over within a few days.

By far the most common side effect is called the keto flu, or induction flu. It’s what makes some people feel really bad 2-3 days after starting keto. Some of the common symptoms are headache, fatigue, dizziness, light nausaea and irritability. These side effects rapidly subside as your body adapts and your fat burning increases. Within a week, they are usually gone.

You can minimize the keto flu by drinking more fluids and by temporarily increasing your salt intake. A good option is to drink a cup of bouillon/broth 1-2 times a day. This will usually keep the keto flu minor or even non-existent. Alternatively, drink a few extra glasses of water and put more salt on your food.

Beyond the induction flu, there are five more relatively common side effects such as leg cramps, constipation, bad breath, heart palpitations and reduced physical performance. Many of them can also be mostly avoided by getting enough fluid and salt. 

Less commonly noticed issues that generally only affect a minority of people include gout, gallstone problem, temporary hair loss, elevated cholesterol, reduced tolerance to alcohol, and Keto rash.

 

About The Author

Charlotte has tried every buffet restaurant in the Metro and is on the quest to try the ones in the provinces soon. She's an active blogger and you can find her in her think tank in Marco Polo on weekdays. She used to think Oleia Topical Oil can help her loose weight since it's good for inflammation only to realize it's better for after work massages. 

How to be Miss Universe

How to be Miss Universe

by | Nov 27, 2017 | Blog, Featured, Inspiration

Early morning today, the social media is full of buzz and it’s raining hashtags as the International beauty pageant, Miss Universe, just crowned this year’s winner, Miss South Africa Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters. 

Founded in 1952, Miss Universe is one of the most recognized and publicized beauty contests in the world. When watching a pageant like this, most of us don’t think about how these women have arrived at such a position. Generally, a country’s candidate selection involves pageants in major cities, whose winners compete in a national pageant. The effort that the contestants have to put in order to get into Miss Universe is real, and undoubtedly about so much more than simply being beautiful or wearing an expensive gown.  So, what does it take to qualify for the title?

Meet the age requirements. Miss Universe contestants must be between the ages of 18 and 27 as of Jan. 1 in the year of they compete.

Wait to get married. Contestants may not be married or pregnant, have ever been married, had a marriage annulled or given birth to or parented a child. These rules might seem extreme, but they’re arguably there to ensure the woman crowned Miss Universe is readily available for the many appearances she’ll be expected to make in the following 12 months. Of course, the first ever Miss Universe in 1952, Armi Kuusela, gave up her title a month before finishing her reign in order to get married.

Know your competition. Contestants are judged in three categories: evening gown, swimsuit, and a personality interview. There is no talent competition.

Enter the pageant. Potential contestants must apply to enter the Miss Universe pageant by applying through the national director in their respective countries.

Stay in shape. Exercise and eat healthy. Remember, Miss Universe contestants are judged on their appearance wearing a bathing suit.

Pamper your skin. Don’t be afraid to splurge on products that bring out the beauty of your skin, including acne-fighting cleansers and moisturizer. Avoid sun damage by applying sun screen any time you are outdoors.

Remove unwanted body hair. Most Miss Universe contestants choose waxing, as the results last for several days. You should wax several days before the pageant, but not so close to the day of the event that your skin is still visibly irritated or red from the waxing. Wax the bikini lines, armpits, legs and mustache (if you have one). 

Work with a pageant coach. A coach can teach you skills and ways to walk, act and look throughout a pageant. Ask your friends and fellow pageant participants for recommendations. You can also search online at pageant sites to find coaches. Many contestants even enroll in modeling classes to work on their walk and posing.

Prepare for your interview. Educate yourself and form opinions of current and recent events around the world. Determine your platform, the cause you care most about that you will work toward during your reign should you win the pageant.

  • Certain types of questions commonly recur in pageant interviews. Research the most common interview questions and prepare answers for them at places like Pageant Answers.
  • Expect to be asked questions such as, “Who is your greatest influence?” “What is the greatest environmental issue facing the world today?” and “What constitutes true beauty?”

These preparations are just for the initial parts of the competition. Our very own, Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach said the work is not just a walk in the park and if you really aim on getting the crown, it entails one’s energy, dedication and passion in serving others. “Someone who is ready to take on the job for a year. You have to commit to it. It has to be something you really want to do not just for the moment because it’s fun or it will make you popular.”

Joining a pageant like this is similar to looking for a job because it takes an over-all personality and attitude. It’s not going to end during the pageant night. It actually starts there.

 

About The Author

Andrea is a full time home maker. When she is not busy taking care of her husband and kids, she goes out giving financial management talks. She is a proud breastfeeding mom for four years running and an avid Oleia Topical Oil user.

How to keep your brain fit

How to keep your brain fit

by | Nov 20, 2017 | Blog, Featured, Health & Wellness

Whenever someone talks about fitness, we always assume that it’s about our external bodies. We talk about muscles, we talk about endurance, and we also talk about diet. However, there’s a lot more to health that meets the eye.

Being brain fit is also important in order to live a healthy and an active lifestyle. The brain is essentially the center of everything we do. Without a properly functioning brain, we will have problems doing our everyday tasks, regardless how menial it is. In addition to completing everyday tasks, if you take care of your brain now, it will take care of you later. Several studies have found out that those who keeps their brain healthy have significantly lower risks of dementia and other cases of forgetfulness.

Benefits of being brain fit:

⦁ Better Memory
⦁ You can Think Faster
⦁ Improve Self Confidence
⦁ Enhanced Creativity

Mental fitness can be achieved through the right amount of training. Here are some proven ways to make your brain not only active, but thriving.

⦁ Always do a recall – A recall means memorizing things always. Try doing it with cellphone numbers, birth dates, and even verses from a book. This will help your memory retention and will more likely come in handy in practical situations.

⦁ Love music – A lot of us does have challenges in learning how to play the piano or the guitar, however, studies have found out that those who try to learn instruments and those who try to learn something new enhances their minds especially as they age.

⦁ Read – A reader is not just a leader, but is also a constant learner. Reading not only informs the mind but it also engages our imagination. Reading imaginatively takes our brain into the next level and reading also improves our vocabulary. Don’t be afraid to make it a goal to read one book a month, it’s definitely fulfilling.

⦁ Trick your mind – Eat with chopsticks, use you less dominant hand, and try to solve that Rubik’s cube. Letting your mind be tricked gets you off on routine thinking and makes it active once again.

Brain wellness is as important as our heart health. Never take it for granted. Our minds helps us achieve our goals, and without it – we certainly cannot win our way to success!

Brain wellness may sometimes stress the head out and cause migraines, but with a bottle of Oleia Topical Oil handy – you can get your headache relief fast.

 

About The Author

Manuel is a guy who loves books. He enjoys reading and does it whenever he can. If he’s not reading, he spends time with his family and also ministers to teenagers in a local church. He does public speaking and talks about issues concerning the youth and young professionals. An Oleia topical oil user and content contributor.