Most Recent Health Tips, Health News, and Easy Healthy Recipes

Moving on from our look at how to make almond milk, let's take a peek at how to make a richly satisfying chocolate vanilla smoothie.

Once you go through the steps below, with just a few simple tweaks on the fly, you'll know how to make an endless variety of yummy, nutrient-dense, and dairy-free smoothies and soft ice creams, all with a blender and a few inexpensive ingredients.

Err...hope this topic doesn't ruin anyone's appetite. It's one that I touched upon in a newsletter a few weeks ago, and given the positive feedback that it's generated, I thought it be best to elaborate and even make this topic a permanent addition to the archives.

But before we do any elaborating, here's a look back at what I wrote in my newsletter:

Skin cancer is now the most common type of cancer in the United States and in most first world nations. In the U.S. alone, more than one million new cases of skin cancer are expected in 2009.

With growing awareness of the importance of being smart about sun exposure, how is it that skin cancer is on the rise?

Just a friendly shout-out to Michelle and Mike Tom of New Zealand for creating a lovely gathering place for knitters from all over the globe.

Their site is NeedleFood, and they specialize in offering hand-dyed yarns in the most lovely colour combinations that you can and can't imagine.

Why learn how to make your own almond milk? It's one of a few easy-to-make alternatives to cow's milk, and is far healthier for you than most commercially available dairy. Though you can purchase almond milk in most grocery stores these days, as you'll see below, it's a snap to make your own at a fraction of the cost.

Q. For the last 3-4 months, my husband has had a recurring sore throat, so bad at times that he has trouble swallowing.

Our doctor thinks it could be due to acid reflux, which my husband does get from time to time.

On Friday, Margaret and I took our boys to Elmvale zoo, located just 15 minutes north of Barrie. Elmvale zoo isn't particularly grand in scale, but they care for animals from just about every continent, save Antarctica.

Here are some flamingos busy feeding themselves with their heads upside down:

Our instant-gratification society teaches us to reach for quick solutions to specific health problems. Google any health condition and you're bound to come across products and procedures that fit into this mold. Have joint pain? Take glucosamine chondroiton. Have chronic acne? Take high doses of vitamin A. Want to lose weight and have rock-hard abs? Obey the golden rule to a flat stomach (for 39.95).

If you ever find yourself at a Korean restaurant and unsure about what to order, know that you can't go wrong in ordering bibimbap (pronounced bee-beem-bahp).

Bibim means "mixed," while bap means "rice." But bibimbap is far more than mixed rice. It calls for perfectly cooked rice with a number of well seasoned vegetables, mixed well with sesame oil and just a touch of red chili paste. If you enjoy mushrooms, eggs, chicken, or beef, you can add any one or all of these items to create your own version of bibimbap.

When made with a strong blender, this rich and creamy smoothie feels more like ice cream than a smoothie, so be prepared to eat it with a spoon. If you like all things chocolate, try adding one heaping teaspoon of pure cacao powder per serving prior to blending.