Following the increase in cases of autism and other immune disorders among some particularly vulnerable people, several recognized specialists are questioning the safety of large-scale vaccination. Despite the serious side effects, pharmaceutical companies, the medical profession and government authorities continue to bury their heads in the sand, refusing to see a serious problem. In Quebec, the United States and France, as in most industrialized countries, victims are almost without recourse despite the high toxicity of substances such as mercury and aluminum contained in vaccines. With this hard-hitting documentary, Lina B. Moreco highlights a very worrying public health problem.

My baby is 6 and a half months, and he has never had a diaper rash! The fact that he is teething and still there is no sign of a rash, is amazing! I think diaper rash is one of the worst nightmares for parents, especially if it's a severe rash. I've seen those - not a pretty sight :( So what's the secret you might ask?  I've been using Mustela Diaper Rash since Day 1. I was recommended the product by my European friends who swore by it. So, I gave it a try. Since then I've been using it daily on my baby boy even without any symptoms of a rash. I truly think that this cream is a miracle worker. It's easy to apply and remove and it definitely provides an adequate barrier. Use it at the first sign of redness, and the redness will be completely gone by the next diaper change! . I have found this cream to be extremely effective. It also lasts forever. I just use a little bit,  and it works.  recommend it to everyone!

What a great week it has been! Living in Los Angeles definitely has its advantages; it never gets boring! My husband and I like to spice up our everyday lives by rotating our entertainment options. Fortunately for us, there are a lot of options to choose from without spending any money at all. Having fun can come free of charge.  So this was my birthday weekend and I wanted to spend it in Beverly Hills. I like looking at the glamorous life of the rich and famous; it is fun to just stroll down Rodeo Drive where Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman went shopping (I love that scene), and the Beverly Wilshire Hotel where she stayed. One of my favorite spots is The Grove in LA. It's a gorgeous shopping spot with the famous Farmers Market. If you are star struck, it's definitely a place for you to visit; you never know what celebrity you might see. This week my hubby and I saw Will Ferrell and Zack Galifianakis promoting their new movie Campaign. Mario Lopez was there too! I admit, I get a kick out of seeing a celebrity. Needless to say, it was a day well spent!!!

So yesterday I decided to experiment with a dessert. I admit, I have a sweet tooth but rarely act on it for obvious reasons - watching my calories. Besides, making a healthy dessert has never been as much fun as going all the way with traditional ingredients. But this time I wanted to give it a try. I guess my sweet tooth craving overcame my strict regime :) Unfortunately, I didn't have many traditional ingredients at home to bake with, and fortunately for me, I only had a healthy variation of such. So all I had was Trader Joe's Almond Meal, Trader Joe's Healthy Raw Peanut Putter, Coconut Sugar, Stevia, butter, milk, sour cream and eggs.  I've decided to make a healthy variation of peanut butter Texas sheet cake. My husband was skeptical, and so was I.  Oh my Goodness, we almost ate the whole cake. It turned out to be delicious! The best healthy variation of any dessert I've ever made. So here is my adjusted recipe:

Ingredients:
2 teaspoons stevia
1/2 cup coconut sugar
2 cups almond meal
2 eggs
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup organic sour cream
2/3 cup creamy or crunchy organic raw peanut butter
1 cup butter
1 cup water

Frosting
1/2 cup butter (you can do half regular butter and half coconut oil)
2/3 cups organic raw peanut butter
6 tablespoons milk
1 cup coconut sugar
1 tablespoon raw honey
1 teaspoon vanilla

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  In a bowl combine sugar and almond meal. In a separate bowl mix eggs, baking soda, and sour cream well. Set aside. In a small saucepan combine peanut butter, butter, and water. Bring to a boil. Stir the boiled peanut butter mixture into the flour mixture, then add to the sour cream mixture. Pour into a 15×10 inch sheet type pan. Bake 20 minutes or until done.
Frosting: Combine the butter, peanut butter, and milk in a saucepan. Bring to a boil stirring constantly. Add coconut sugar and mix well. let the frosting cool for a few minutes, then add vanilla.  Pour over cake while both are still warm. Let cool, then serve.
Enjoy!

I love all things coconut. I remember after the fall of the Soviet Union, when we were introduced to foreign things, the first thing that left a life long impression on me was a Bounty chocolate bar. It was filled with shredded coconut (this was very unique and divine for a child who had never tried anything like that in her life). It was as if I were transferred to the heavenly tropics with every bite I took. SO, that's where my love relationship with coconut started. Then, there was Rafaello candies which still make me smile every time I think of them. And now, thank God, coconut has become popular and even recommended by nutritionists!  I love coconut milk; I use it everywhere possible in place of regular milk. It can get pricey, so I was thrilled to find this great recipe for making coconut milk. It tastes great, full of important nutrients and is very budget friendly!

How To: Make Coconut Milk
(From Elana’s Pantry)

Ingredients:

• 2 cups unsweetened shredded coconut
• 4 cups water
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 6 drops stevia

Method:

Soak coconut in water for 1-2 hours (do not discard water).

In a blender, combine coconut, water, vanilla, and process on highest speed.

Strain liquid through a fine mesh strainer (or a strainer bag, or cheesecloth would work), discarding solids.  Serve or refrigerate.

Ways to use it:
Besides using coconut milk in recipes, it can also be used as a skin softener due to natural moisturizers and oils  found in coconut milk. 

Coconut milk is a great alternative to milk in desserts. You can substitute the oil and water with the same amount of coconut milk. It makes for a very moist cake.

Enjoy!!!

Recently I came across an article in The Telegraph "Breast cancer sufferer 'used superfoods to combat disease". It talked about a woman who was diagnosed with breast cancer. She declined traditional treatments and decided to find a cure for her diagnosis with nutrition. She used a range of superfoods including the spice Turmeric (used in curries) which she claims "makes cancer cells commit suicide". Four years later, she has no sign of cancer coming back. What a blow to pharmaceutical companies who build their empires on traditional modern medicine (though I acknowledge their contributions and place in the medical community) .  In our society we are encouraged to visit doctors so they can over-prescribe us chemically produced medicine and make these pharmaceutical companies richer. I don't think people should be surprised when certain individuals get cured from illnesses by just using natural remedies because that's what people used for centuries prior to us.
    When I think of turmeric, I think of Indian cuisine and unfortunately it doesn't make me salivate since I've never been a fan of Indian food except for their bread (Naan). But there are many other ways to incorporate turmeric into your diet. From a culinary and medical perspective, curry spice, is one the most important spices. Taking turmeric daily, in small doses, is supposed to be good for overall health as it cleans out your system and keeps your organs healthy.

Turmeric stimulates the production of bile which helps to break down fatty foods, which in turn, may help you lose weight. Taking one teaspoon of Turmeric powder with every meal may help in loosing weight. This of course doesn't cancel the fact that you need to eat healthy and exercise.

Turmeric has major antioxidant properties which helps fight diseases by destroying free radicals.

The most promising quality of turmeric is its ability to prevent cancer. This super-food can stop cancer from growing and spreading into other organs. It causes cancer cells to commit suicide.

Turmeric's anti-bacterial agents may help our body fight against colds, cough and flu.  Turmeric's key ingredient Curcumin is known for its anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties which can help in healing cuts and wounds.

Turmeric improves liver function. This is done through the production of enzymes that break down toxins into materials that are easily eliminated by the body. Taking turmeric increases the production of these enzymes, thus improving liver function.

I am determined to use turmeric daily, and so here are some ways to add turmeric to your diet:

• Include the spice as an ingredient in your regular meals.
• You can make a tea out of turmeric. Boil about four cups of water with a spoonful of turmeric for about ten to fifteen minutes. Strain and drink.
• Add turmeric into your daily smoothies
• Add turmeric to a glass of warm milk which helps fight cold and flu
• Or you can use turmeric supplements daily

My Turmeric Smoothie Recipe!

• 2 cups  vanilla almond milk
• 1 large banana
• 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
• 1/4 cup cacao powder
• 1/2 cup frozen blueberries
• 1/2 cup frozen mango pieces
  
• 1/2 cup kale
  

Blend & pulse. Enjoy!!!

I am super excited, my baby boy just turned 6 months and I've lost all my pregnancy weight and even some more! I officially weigh less than I did before I got pregnant. I don't know about you, but for me the scariest thing about getting pregnant was the idea that my body would change for worse. I had to do everything possible to stay healthy and fit.  If you think it was easy, you are mistaken! It was incredibly hard, but I did it! Boy I was determined, and that's when my strong personality and will kicked in. I gained roughly around 30 pounds during my pregnancy, and lost 15 right after I gave birth :) When I started breastfeeding, I lost 5 more, and boom, it all stopped. Trust me, for 5 and a half months no matter what I did, those 10 extra pounds would not go away. I exercised daily, I ate healthy food (could not be on a diet completely since I am still breastfeeding), but nothing really helped. My scale numbers would just not go down. I thought that maybe milk production and breastfeeding had to do with that since I have extra liquid in my body. It was really frustrating.  Then all of a sudden, I've made noticeable progress.  Did I do anything different? I don't think so! But during these 5 and a half months I've been living a life of healthy food and fitness. I think it was high time for my body to get the message.  Here is what I do:
Healthy breakfast (homemade granola, or creamy organic yogurt, or a cup of oatmeal).
Healthy homemade smoothie (I blend almond milk with some fruits and greens)
2pm exercising ( a 30 minute daily routine). I try not to deviate from my daily fitness routine since I know how easy it is to relax and skip exercising days at a time.
6pm to 7pm  playing tennis. This has been the most enjoyable workout regime ever!
Easy healthy dinner ( we got into a habit of grilling; I think it's the healthiest way that you could prepare meals)

I would like to hear about your daily regime and ways to stay healthy!

Ok, I have to confess, I am addicted to reading. If I have a free moment, I read. I can read couple of books at the same time to spice up my addiction :) Before and during my pregnancy, I practically lived at the Redondo Beach library. Now,  having a  6 month old baby, I have to be creative with my reading time. But it hasn't stopped me. My problem , or I should say a blessing in disquise, is I am very inquisitive. I have to know everything about everything, so I read. Here is my list of books for July:

Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy by Eric Metaxas
This is definitely one of my favorite books. A detailed biography of a truly Godly man who was willing to stand up against Hitler and defend everything that is right.

 Saint Augustine: Confessions

Peter the Great: His Life and World
This is the most exciting history book you will ever read. Some history events can be boring especially when it comes to war descriptions, but here you actually find it easy and enjoyable to read. Especially growing up in Russia,  this book is very close to home. Saint Petersburg is my favorite city in the world, and it's amazing to read about the sequence of events that led to the building of the city on the swampy ground and its significance in turning the Russian Empire towards the West.

The Inferno by Dante
I read this book about 15 years ago when I was in high school. I honestly don't remember much, so I've decided to read it again with a more mature perspective on Dante's masterpiece.

I am linking up my list to Sarah Mae’s 2012 reading list.

I love to discover new places where you can exercise for free and enjoy the view at the same time. Hiking is definitely a 2fer for me - exercising and sightseeing at the same time! It never gets boring, especially if you know of several spots for hiking. I recently have discovered a great place with the most amazing view of the ocean - Palos Verdes Hills! This place is not crowded and soooo pretty to look at. You drive all the way to the top, park your car, and go hiking all the way to the shore. Make sure you wear your tennis shoes, bring lots of water, and a camera is a must! If you live in Los Angeles or just visiting, from LAX take Pacific Coast Hwy south, turn right on Crenshaw blvd, and go all the way up until the road ends (Or get off the 405 at Crenshaw). Enjoy your hiking!