Easier Bowel Movements

Most people eating a conventional, modern diet composed predominantly of processed foods will rarely experience a normal bowel movement.

That's a shame because a really good b.m. leaves you with practically the same feeling you'd get if, say, the Publisher's Clearinghouse award van pulled into your driveway.

What I'm about to write will probably sound odd to many, but you can have a better and more complete evacuation of your intestines every day if you put a footstool in front of the toilet.

Then, when you sit down to make a deposit, put your feet on top of the footstool.

As most of the rest of the world knows, the easiest bowel movements come when the human body is in a squatting position.

Using a footstool with an American toilet helps to more closely get the body in the natural position.

It's even better to put the seat in the up position on the toilet and to then squat on the rim of the commode. I don't recommend this technique for those with balance problems, and I've also heard of a postal worker (no kidding) who was fired because he refused to take his shoes off when balancing on the rim of the commode at work. I don't know how he was ever caught in the act, so don't ask.

Seriously, the footstool technique works wonders for constipated people, and most Americans are seriously constipated.

Chet Day
Editor, The Health Circus
http://chetday.com

P.S. We opened up a new low carb diet section of Health & Beyond Online over the weekend, so if you're on a low carb diet or interested in starting one, click here to see our list of articles.

Healthy Sweet Potato Recipe

I don't know about you, but I really like sweet potatoes. They not only taste good, but they're healthy as all get out.

So, in honor of this lovely veggie, here's a terrific sweet potato recipe by Jessica for...

Caribbean Sweet Potato Salad

1 large russet potato, peeled and quartered
1 large sweet potato, peeled and quartered
1 cup corn
1 tsp prepared Dijon-style mustard
2 Tbs fresh lime juice
3 Tbs chopped fresh cilantro
1 clove garlic, minced
3 Tbs favorite oil
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
1 cucumber, halved lengthwise and chopped
1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
1/4 cup finely chopped peanuts

Place the russet potato pieces into a large saucepan and cover with salted water. Bring to a boil, turn the heat down, and simmer for 10 minutes. Add the sweet potato and cook about 15 minutes more. Remove a piece of each potato, and cut each in half to see if it is cooked enough.

Once the potatoes are tender, add corn kernels; cook another 30 seconds. Drain through a colander.

Fill the saucepan with cold water and drop vegetables into water. Cool for 5 minutes and drain.

In a large bowl, whisk together mustard, lime juice, cilantro, and garlic. Slowly whisk in oil. Mix in salt and black pepper.

Cut cooled potatoes into 1-inch cubes, and add to dressing along with cucumber, and red onion. Toss well. Serve at room temperature or chilled. Toss the peanuts in just before serving.

Oh man, sweet potato recipe heaven, we've arrived!

Chet Day
Editor, The Health Circus
http://chetday.com

Sugar Sugar: How Much is Enough?

If there's a single substance that people should remove from their diet to improve their overall health, white sugar would be at the very top of my list.

Indeed, I think most people would be amazed at how much better they'd feel if they stopped all sugar intake for one week.

And, yes, that includes not eating any packaged or bottled foods or drinks that also have sugar in them.

You don't believe you're eating much sugar?

Think again.

For example, most soft drinks sent down the ole hatch have anywhere from eight to eleven teaspoons of sugar in each 12-ounce bottle or can.

And who in this day and age drinks just one 12-ounce bottle or can a day? Talk about Big Gulps. Whoa!

Almost every processed food has sugar in it. If you don't believe me, start reading the labels. And keep in mind the many different names for empty calorie sugar: corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, cane sugar, and many others.

I challenge you to take the No Sugar for a Week Test. Read your labels and don't put anything with sugar in it into your body.

After a week, you'll be pretty amazed.

Removing sugar from your diet is one of the simplest and best ways to start building yourself a new body and a happier life.

Chet Day
Editor, The Health Circus
http://chetday.com

Banana Smoothie Recipe

One of my favorite health writers is a guy by the name of John Tobe, who, unfortunately, isn't with us any longer.

Well, that's not exactly true. He'll always be with us in the terrific books he wrote on natural health topics, though a lot of them are getting hard to find.

Today I'd like to share one of John's recipes that I enjoy very much, and I think you'll like it too.

John Tobe's Banana Smoothie Whip

2 bananas
1 Tbs lemon juice
1 Tbs honey
1 oz. almonds

Combine ingredients in the blender and whip to a frenzy. Drink and smack your lips and say, "Ahh!"

Chet Day
Editor, The Health Circus
http://chetday.com

Healthy Foods to Order When Dining Out

Hey, I know how tough it is to find truly healthy foods when you're out of town or away from home for a few days.

In fact, finding healthy foods at restaurants can sometimes be a real chore for the serious health seeker.

Well, my friend and colleague Victoria, shares some excellent tips on overcoming this problem in the little article you're about to read...

Ordering Healthy Foods at the Local Greasy Spoons

by Victoria

Dining out is really easy once you get the hang of it. You will eventually be able to look at any menu and find something on it you can eat and enjoy.

Here are some examples of meals you can choose while dining away from home:

Olive Garden or Italian Restaurants

For a starch meal: Order Minestrone soup and salad with vinaigrette dressing. Skip the breadsticks/bread because they are just white flour and you don't need that (it will only aggravate your sugar cravings). Say no to any parmesan or other cheese.

For a protein meal: Order a grilled meat of your choice. Have some salad and if your meat comes with potatoes, just ask them to bring you steamed veggies instead and they will gladly do it. You can have a bit of parmesan on your salad.

Chevy's or Mexican Restaurants with Grilled Foods

For a starch meal: Order a side salad and eat that first. Order portabella mushroom or vegetable (or a combo of both) fajitas. Order corn tortillas instead of flour and eat just two of them. If you can't have just one or two chips and stop yourself after that, don't even start eating them. You can eat a little rice and beans too. Order the whole pinto beans instead of the refried if they have them.

For a protein meal: Order chicken or beef fajitas. Eat a big salad first. Tell the waitress you don't want the tortillas. If you don't want fajitas, order a meat in chile verde sauce and order a side of vegetables. Don't even think about eating the chips. You can have a bit of cheese with this meal.

Restaurants that Serve Everything

Starch: Choose the soup and salad bar and follow the rules for combining. Vegetable soup is a good option. Don't hesitate to ask what is in the soup. I always ask.

Protein: Grilled meat, chicken or fish will always be on these menus. Eat a salad first and it is okay to have some blue cheese dressing (on the side). Check the menu for Cobb or grilled meat salads. You could order a Caesar salad and make sure to tell them to hold the croutons.

So enjoy your next meal away from home... your next meal of healthy foods!

Chet Day
Editor, The Health Circus
http://chetday.com

P.S. Victoria is the creator of ToothSoap, the natural approach to dental health that my family and I (and over 5,000 other people use every day).

Healthy Avocado Smoothie Recipe

If you like avocados, here's a healthy avocado smoothie recipe from my son's collection that'll you'll find just plain delicious.

Green Goblin's Potion

1 medium or large ripe avocado
1 1/2 cup fresh pineapple
1 Tbs honey
1 1/2 cup orange juice
2 tsp lime juice (optional)
1/4 tsp coconut flavoring
2 ice cubes

Peel and slice avocado and pineapple into small chunks. Crush ice with the orange juice. Combine with rest of ingredients and puree in blender until smooth.

Chet Day
Editor, The Health Circus
http://chetday.com

P.S. If the above healthy avocado smoothie recipe sounded great to you, click here to check out the rest of Josh Day's Fabulous Smoothies.

Egg Drop Soup Recipes

Boy, are you in for a treat today.

Thanks to my partner, Josh, I have to confess I've fallen in love with egg drop soup.

I've made this recipe at least a half dozen times since he shared it with me, and each time I get giddy after eating it because it's so good.

Josh's Egg Drop Soup For One

2 1/2 cups broth (can be made with cubes or any stock of your choice)
1 chopped green onion
1 egg whites
1 tsp cornstarch
1 tsp sherry
1/2 tsp soy sauce (optional)
Salt and pepper to taste

Into your broth, add the chopped onions and bring to a rolling boil. Break egg and pour the whites into a bowl. Add sherry and cornstarch, stirring until all is thick and and mixed together. Add soy sauce to the eggs if you wish. While broth is boiling, slowly drip the egg into the soup, stirring rapidly with a fork. The egg will become shreds and tears as you stir.

If you like Josh's recipe, you'll want to try a couple of others...

Egg Drop Soup Yin

3 cups chicken broth
1 tsp salt
Dash of white pepper
1 md green onion with top chopped
2 eggs slightly beaten

Heat chicken broth, salt and white pepper to boiling in 2 quart saucepan. Stir green onions into eggs. Pour egg mixture slowly into boiling broth, stirring constantly with fork to form shreds of egg.

Egg Drop Soup Yang

2 dried black mushrooms
1/4 lb lean pork
1 Tbs cornstarch
1 Tbs sherry
1 egg white
6 drops sesame oil
1/4 cup bamboo shoots
1 scallion stalk
1/2 cup stock
2 tsp cornstarch
6 cup stock
1 Tbs soy sauce
3/4 To 1 tsp salt
2 eggs
1 dash of pepper

Soak dried mushrooms. Shred pork. Combine cornstarch, sherry and egg white; add to pork and toss to coat. Sprinkle with sesame oil. Shred bamboo shoots and soaked mushrooms. Mince scallion stalk. Blend cold stock and remaining cornstarch. Put remaining stock in a pan with mushrooms, bamboo shoots, soy sauce and salt. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, 2 to 3 minutes. Add cornstarch mixture and cook, stirring, until soup begins to thicken. Add pork and cook 1 minute more. Meanwhile beat eggs. Pour eggs in slowly, stirring constantly until they separate into shreds, then turn off heat. Sprinkle with minced scallions and pepper.

As a variation, for the pork in your egg drop soup, substitute chicken or a favorite vegetable.

These recipes are great for a winter's day, a lunch, an appetizer -- whatever. They all taste great, and they're easy and fun to make. Who could ask for more?

Chet Day
Editor, The Health Circus
http://chetday.com

P.S. Click here to learn about the amazingly simple natural vision correction system that touts a 94% success rate in reversing vision problems.

Banana Bread Recipe with Rice Flour

A lot of health conscious people are allergic to wheat or don't like white flour, so today I thought I'd share an excellent banana bread recipe that uses rice flour instead of the more traditional flours. This recipe makes two large loaves.

1/2 cup vegetable oil
2/3 cup honey
2 large eggs
1/4 cup buttermilk or almond milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups brown rice flour
1 Tbs arrowroot powder
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp sea salt
1 cup banana, mashed

To begin, mix oil and honey. Then you should add the two large eggs and beat well. the buttermilk and vanilla and beat.

Mix your dry ingredients together in a separate bowl and add alternately with mashed banana to egg mixture.

Stir in some chopped nuts if desired.

Pour mixture into 2 loaf pans and bake at 350F degrees for 50-55 minutes.

You'll enjoy this banana bread recipe immensely if you eat it while it's still warm.

Chet Day
Editor, The Health Circus
http://chetday.com