True Beauty

True Beauty

Some point in our lives we have all felt ugly. But now days I hear more and more young girls saying they are ugly or they don’t feel beautiful. This past weekend my niece Jenni stayed the night. I took her up to Wal-Mart to get hygiene things (per her mom’s request). And we began talking about her becoming a cheerleader and the girl she considers a step-sister.

My heart truly broke when I heard her say that she was ugly!! I asked her why she felt this way and why she would say such a thing. Well she informed me that she thought she was ugly because she gets the occasional pimple or acne breakout. I informed her that EVERYONE at some point or another has that problem. She went on to say that she wants to be like her some-what of a step-sister because she is popular because she is pretty. I attempted to inform her that popularity isn’t by being pretty. Although I do know more than anyone that a group of popular girls are not going to reach out to someone they don’t think is pretty and make them a part of their social group.

I honestly wonder when things will change. Why do we divide ourselves into social groups and belittle others to make them feel ugly and/or worthless?  

Great Mood Boosters

Great Mood Boosters

People often find it hard to get in a better state of mind, So I have come up with some ways that help me boost my mood and relax my mind.

I choose foods that are high in phytochemicals (these also have disease-fighting properties, and nutrients including folate, vitamins B and D and Omega-3) They help me deal with the trials of everyday anxiety.

OATMEAL: Fiber-rich carbs, particularly oatmeal or whole-wheat or whole-grain bread, increase the feel-good chemical serotonin but don’t break down as easily in your bloodstream as the refined sugar in desserts does. As a result they don’t cause as much of a roller-coaster effect as sweets, which give you energy. But then make you lethargic. You can crunch on fiber-filled carbs that may alleviate tension, such as carrot sticks or apples instead of chips or even pretzels.

Mixed Nuts
Peanuts, Cashews and almonds have an impressive amount of selenium, a mineral that’s been found to help elevate mood. Other high-in-selenium is egg yolks, fish (including tuna water) shellfish, and poultry. You should get 55 micrograms each day. A Brazil nut has 100 percent of your daily needs. *Don’t eat too many though because they are higher in fat than most other nuts.

Fortified Cereal
Start your day off with a whole-grain cereal such as Cheerios or Raisin Bran. Those are especially good sources of B vitamins including folate, thiamin, B6, and B12, all of which help the brain produce serotonin. Other B filled choices include bananas, poultry and spinach.

Green Tea
Green tea contains an amino acid, theanine, which has been found to reduce tension and anxiety. Drinking two cups of brewed green tea during the day can promote relaxed alertness. However, because of the high caffeine its best to drink it in the morning or early afternoon.