Afternoon!  I can’t believe it’s Tuesday…. almost hump day… and then almost Friday.  Only 17 days until I’m officially Mrs. Future Husband!

Around 10:00 AM, I had a sweet little snack.  A chocolate chip Z-Bar…

And apricots (double what’s shown).

Better Chicken Salad

Lunch was one of my favorite meals!  I made Better Chicken Salad and wrapped it up in a yummy 100-calorie whole wheat wrap.

Ingredients (makes two servings):

• 1 chicken breast, diced
• 1 tablespoon dried parsley
• 1 tablespoon pepper
• 1 tablespoon EVOO
• 1/4 cup water
• 3 stalks of celery, chopped
• 1/4 small red onion, chopped
• 1/4 cup plain NF yogurt
• Pepper to taste

Directions:

• Combine the chicken, parsley, pepper, and EVOO in a wok with about 1/4 cup water.  Cook under chicken is white.
• Place cooked chicken in the fridge and allow it to cool completely.
• In small bowl, mix the chicken, celery, onion, and yogurt together thoroughly.
• Add pepper to taste.
• Add Better Chicken Salad to sammies, wraps, or even salads.  Enjoy!

The swap of plain NF yogurt for mayo makes this a much, much better chicken salad! Yum!

I also had a small side salad.

All together…

Top 10 Alternative and Natural Supplements

Did you know that alternative medicines are used by 38 percent of American adults and nearly 12 percent of children? 

Here’s the top 10 most frequently used products.  ALL of which are available for purchase at The Holistic Doctor Is In!… just click on the supplement name.  Registration is required to view and purchase most of these products.

• Fish Oil: These oils, which come from cold water fish, such as sardines and salmon, supply omega-3 fatty acids.  Fish oils are thought to help the heart and brain, as well as inflammatory conditions. The American Heart Association has recommended taking two to four grams of fish oil capsules a day to help bring down high triglyceride levels.  Fish oils are one of the many things that can help with high triglycerides and elevated lipid and cholesterol levels. Additional research is starting to look at the supplement’s effect on asthma, ADHD, depression, atherosclerosis, and age-related macular degeneration. 

• Glucosamine:  My personal favorite!  Glucosamine is a compound that’s found naturally in healthy cartilage, a connective tissue that covers the joints.  The most convincing studies for glucosamine have examined its effectiveness in mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis.  It is a great supplement for runners!

• Echinacea: Echinacea, also known as purple coneflower, is a member of the daisy family. Echinacea is believed to help boost the immune system to fight off infection, most typically the common cold and other upper respiratory infections. It’s been studied for its role in helping to shorten the duration and severity of a cold and for preventing it in the first place.  There’s conflicting research on how helpful echinacea is, but I’ve seen it help people get over their colds FAST!

• Flax Seed or Oil: This tiny seed is an inexpensive plant-based source of omega-3 fats, but they are not the same exact omega-3s you would get by eating fish.  But like fish oil, flax is believed to have anti-inflammatory activity. She often suggests ground flax to women with PMS and those with perimenopausal symptoms, and also to people with asthma.

• Ginseng:  Ginseng is considered an adaptogen, meaning that it’s an herb believed to help you fight off the stresses in the environment. It’s also purported to increase stamina to help you perform better — physically, mentally, athletically, and perhaps, sexually. The herb is also believed to help boost immune function.

• Combination of Supplements:  Number 6 on our list involves people taking two supplements together to form a powerful new supplement.  The most common is Glucosamine with chondriotin.  ChondroCare features glucosamine and chondriotin and MSM for healthy cartilage.  ChondroCare, which is useful for patients suffering knee, leg, and hip pain from high-impact sports, such as running.  It supports healthy joint function and connective tissue.

• Ginkgo Biloba: Gingko is best known for its possible brain-boosting powers. The herb has been studied for its ability to prevent and treat dementia, and has also been looked at for improving cognitive function, such as memory, in healthy adults.

• Chondroitin:  Chondoitin is typically used in conjunction with glucosamine, primarily to help treat pain and swelling in people with osteoarthritis or "runner’s knee."  As written above under "Combination of Supplements," it is helpful to take glucosamine with chondroitin.   ChondroCare combines the two.

• Garlic:  From a cardiac standpoint, garlic has been thought to help lower total cholesterol, and LDL cholesterol, in particular. People who consume more garlic in their diet may reduce their risk for stomach and colorectal cancers. Supplements of the fragrant bulb have also been suggested for reducing high blood pressure and for treating infections.  It is also helpful for boosting the immune system.

• Coenzyme Q-10:  Also known as CoQ10 or ubiquinone, this substance is normally produced by the body and is a necessary cofactor in the production of energy by cells.  Low levels of CoQ10 have been reported in patients with Parkinson’s disease, congestive heart failure, and those taking statin drugs to reduce cholesterol.  A dosage of 1,200 milligrams of it a day can be beneficial in people who have symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, and it could be helpful for people who have muscle weakness.

Facts about each supplement is taken from this ABC News article.

Have you taken any of these supplements and seen a benefit?  You guys know I love my ChondroCare!  It’s made a HUGE difference in my knees!