Human Skin: Foods We Should Eat

*From the Editor
Dear Families:
Save your cracked Easter egg shells. Next Tuesday, I will provide directions for an art activity using them. My hosted event for April is Viewers' Quote Month. It is also the anniversary of the Titanic. The 3-D movie version releases in most theatres this week. New books of the Titanic for upper-elementary kids and maybe you to moms/dads or guardians:

• Remembering the Titanic, by Frieda Wishinsky. (Find at Scholastic Reader series retailers)
• Titanic: Voices from the Disaster, by Deborah Hopkinson
• 8881/2 Amazing Answers to Your Questions About the Titanic, by Hugh Brewster and Laune Coulter
• Titanic Lost and Saved, by Brian Moses

The New Monday Show
Last night's topic discussed how families should have a goal of owning land and keeping it for many generations to enjoy. You can still listen to show topic by going to http://www.sherleneonline.org

Let's talk Human Skin: Foods We Should Eat
Men and women, did you know that we have 21 muscles in our faces?
Many of us will eat kale during the "Remembering What Jesus Did For Us Celebration." Kale has vitamins A and K, and increases muscle strength. White families (and minority families), the green also has phytochemicals, which limit sun damage.

Dr. David Colbert, a Manhattan dermatologist suggests five other skin foods. He also suggests starting the day with two glasses of water.

• Greek yogurt
• Halibut
• Almonds (a heart healthy nut and lowers cholesterol levels)
• Grapes (diabetes patients, please know that grapes is very high in natural sugars)
• Olive oil

Use a moisturizer with a sunscreen of at least SPF 30. If you're fair skinned or burn easily, purchase a higher SPF count. If you swim or outdoors for more than two hours, reapply sunscreen.

I realize that a lot of black families do not eat a variety of greens except for special events. Most greens prevent heart disease, fights cancer, aids in weight loss, and makes you smarter. If you decide to go green choose the following for any meal:

1. Swiss chard (use to make burritos and wraps)
2. Arugula (taste slightly bitter, use in salads)
3. Good ole' Collard greens (may help to lower cholesterol levels and protect from cancers) Eat the broth of the greens as well to get all nutrients
4. Bok Choy (keeps blood pressure low and builds muscle). Cook one to two minutes. Packed with vitamin A.
5. Kale (good for most of everything your body needs from head to toe). Cook for five to 10 minutes for full nutrients.
6. Watercress (has a peppery crunch). It helps to regulate blood clotting, and reduces plaque on artery walls. It may lower inflammation (pain) associated with arthritis.

If you cook your greens longer than ten minutes you are losing valuable nutrients that your body absorbs, ten minutes or less folks. The article also suggests that the longer you cook any vegetable you take away some of its value. If you do not have any fresh produce or vegetable around try to eat frozen instead of canned goods. Never boil greens (steamed is best) unless you are going to drink the broth. Unless your doctor has instructed you to omit fats and oils, eat with oil (olive oil is the best), butter, or salad dressing to allow your body to absorb the value of the vegetable.

As we fellowship during the "Remembering What Jesus Did For Us Celebration", on Sunday, let us be thankful for food to nourish our minds, bodies, and souls.

 Men's Journal Magazine article. (2011, September).

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