Beans—a whole host of varieties—have been part of the Latin American diet for centuries. And yes, it’s true: Beans are good for your heart! But there’s so much more. Beans are extremely beneficial in an antidiabetic diet because they rank low on the glycemic scale—unlike “staples” in the American diet like refined grains and baked goods, which often cause the inflammatory, hunger-inducing spike in blood sugar levels. They could even help with lowering the risk of colon cancer. Legumes (dried beans and peas) are also a major source of several nutrients—magnesium, potassium, folate, and cholesterol-lowering fiber—most often missing in Americans’ diets.

That said, here’s the second Latin powerfood on my list…

GARBANZO BEANS: These delicious beans are very high in fiber, which will improve your elimination cycles and support the growth of health intestinal flora. They are very low in natural sugar content, and high in complex carbohydrate content and protein, giving you a steady source of high-quality fuel for balanced energy throughout your day. They also have a warming effect on your body and a calming effect on your mind. Garbanzo beans are used in cooking throughout Latin America and the Caribbean.

Make sure to check back tomorrow when we tackle the Latin fruit category!

With gas and food prices at an all time high – everyone is looking for ways to save some money. 

But, can we do this and still look good?

Here are some budget beauty recipes from Annie Tomlin, editor of Bellasugar.com.

Click here to view a video of Annie and Dr. Manny Alvarez making some budget beauty recipes.

DIY FACIAL MOISTURIZER

To make two 50 g jars, you’ll need:

25 ml Apricot Kernel Oil
25 ml Jojoba Oil
15 g Beeswax
70 ml Bottled Water
2 tbsp Rosewater
1 tsp Lemon Juice

Step 1: Take out a double boiler and place two cups of warm water in the bottom. Then add the jojoba oil, the apricot kernel oil, and the beeswax. Heat everything until the wax dissolves.
Step 2: While the mixture is still hot, pour it into a Pyrex bowl and leave it to cool.
Step 3: Next, add the bottled water, rosewater, and lemon juice into the boiler pan and heat it until it’s warm. Turn off the heat, but leave the pot on the burner and add the oil and wax mixture to the pot.
Step 4: Stir frequently until everything becomes opaque and thick, adding more heat only if it begins to separate. Once it has thickened, it is recommended to store in a sealed container for no more than six weeks.

Note: If you’d like, you can add one tsp. of apple cider vinegar to the recipe if you have blemished skin, two tsp. evening primrose oil if you have dry skin, two drops of tea tree oil if you have combination skin or one tsp. of witch hazel water if you have oily skin.

DIY PLUMPING FACIAL OIL FOR DRY SKIN

1 oz avocado oil
2 tsp rosehip oil
2 tsp argan oil
1 borage oil capsule
1 Vitamin E capsule
2 drops of neroli oil
3 drops of sandalwood oil
For step-by-step instructions on how to make your own facial oil, read more.

STEP 1: In a microwave-safe mixing bowl, blend the avocado oil, rosehip oil and argan oil together.
STEP 2: Next, cut open your borage oil capsule and your vitamin E capsule and gently squeeze them into the bowl. Mix well.
STEP 3: Lastly, add in the neroli oil and a few drops of sandalwood. Heat everything for about twenty seconds (it makes the borage oil and vitamin E oil easier to blend) and blend a few drops to your skin. As you apply it, don’t forget to take a few deep breaths and enjoy the fragrance. This recipe is good for about six to eight applications.

DIY ASPIRIN MASK TO COMBAT ACNE AND SOFTEN SKIN

Bottle of uncoated, plain aspirin
Little bit of honey
Small bowl

STEP 1: Using two metal spoons, place two to three uncoated aspirin tablets between them and crush. Crush up approximately 12 to 15 tablets, or add more as desired.
STEP 2: Mix crushed aspirin in a bowl with two teaspoons of honey STEP 3: Pour 1/2 cup of lukewarm water into the mix and stir. Once well mixed, apply to face.

DIY LIP SMOOTHER

Honey
Baker’s sugar (regular is fine but if they have baker’s, it has a smaller grain) Olive oil Mixing bowl

STEP 1: In a medium-sized bowl, mix one tablespoon of honey with one tablespoon of baker’s sugar and 2 tablespoons of olive oil.
STEP 2: Apply to lips with fingertip in a circular motion until exfoliated. For best results, dip a toothbrush into the mixture and apply gently to lips.

DIY FOOT EXFOLIATOR

Olive oil
Fresh grated ginger
Fresh mint leaves
Brown Sugar - doesn’t matter if it is light or dark Mixing bowl Large wooden spoon

STEP 1: Grate a piece of fresh ginger so it makes approximately 2/3 of a cup

STEP 2: In a large bowl, mix the ginger with 10 to 12 fresh mint leaves, 1/4 cup of olive oil and 1/4 cup of brown sugar

STEP 3: Apply to feet and/or hands and rub until exfoliated, then wash off.

STEP 4: Dry your feet and massage a generous amount of moisturizer into your skin. Once you’re all lubed up, slip into your socks. For optimal results, wear them while you sleep.

Her parents were told she was stillborn, but less than a day later, a baby girl born in Bombay was heard making gurgling noises at the cemetary where her family had brought her to be buried.

Is it a miracle? Or is it malpractice? The hospital where the infant was birthed has launched an investigation to see if medical staff erred when they pronounced the baby dead.

A man suffering from fatal melanoma was cured using an immune-priming experiment, which basically revved up his own immune system to fight off the tumors.

The treatment is new and has had mixed results. But doctors are encouraged by this man’s success.

Q:  Is it OK to eat dried fruit if you are trying to watch your weight?

 A:  When you want something sweet, dried fruit is a great option because its sweetness rivals candy and doesn’t contain any fat.  And unlike fresh fruit that spoils if you don’t eat it within a few days, dried fruit can be kept in your desk drawer or kitchen cabinets for weeks.  But be careful with portion size — although dried fruit is chockfull of vitamins and fiber, it also packs as much as four times the sugar and calories per ounce as its fresh counterparts.

Choose dried fruits that are 100 percent natural with no sugars added and limit dried fruits that are sweetened with fruit juice and other sugars, which add excess calories. Dried apples, figs, raisins, apricots and prunes often contain no added sugar. Dried cranberries, dried pineapple and dried mango are among the dried fruit that are often processed with sugar or fruit juice to increase sweetness.

The best way to determine if sugar has been added is to look at the label and ingredient list. Avoid words like “naturally sweetened,” and any fruits where sugar or fruit juice are among the first three ingredients listed on the ingredient list.  If you are watching your waistline, stay away from banana chips, even those that are labeled “natural.”  Most banana chips are fried in coconut oil and contain enough fat to sink a battleship.

A family is suing Johnson & Johnson, the maker of Children’s Motrin, alleging that the popular pain reliever caused a 6 year old to lose her vision.

The family says the little girl, now age 11, had a rare allergic reaction to the active ingredient in Motrin: ibuprofen, which can be found in other over-the-counter brands such as Advil and Nuprin.

A teenager, described by her mother as a devout Christian, died after taking the powerful abortion pill RU-486.

Manon Jones sought an abortion because she was afraid her Muslim boyfriend’s family would be angered by the pregnancy.

A woman with multiple sclerosis is challenging English law to ensure her husband will not be prosecuted if she chooses to end her suffering.

Debbie Purdy, 45, went to court to learn whether her husband would be prosecuted if he helps her travel to a clinic in Belgium or Zurich, Switzerland, to commit suicide, if her condition becomes unbearably painful. Two of the country’s judges say Purdy has the right to argue her case before the country’s High Court.

A baby in Poland was born drunk after her mother checked into the hospital intoxicated. The baby’s blood alcohol level of 0.29 percent is almost 15 times Poland’s adult drunk-driving limit of 0.02 percent.

What are those dark circles beneath my eyes?

More than half of my female patients have darkened areas beneath their eyelids, otherwise known as “allergic shiners”.  Almost an equal number use eye concealers and foundation make-up for the big “cover up”.  “How did I get these?” Good question, in many cases this unsightly physical finding is directly related to allergies and to your inflamed sinuses. 

The best way to prevent this is to choose your parents wisely! No joke, allergies are generally inherited from our parents and when they affect us we need to act and get proper treatment, which in many cases will improve the “shiners”.  Allergy injections, medications and sinus care may provide relief allowing your dark circles to lessen. 

Another strategy that helps is to place a cool compress at the end of a long work day over your eyes, too.  Also, gently irrigating your eyelids once a day with tear-free shampoo can assist in removing airborne pollutants and those pesky seasonal allergens thus lessening your “allergic shiners.”

Dr. Clifford W. Bassett is an assistant clinical professor of medicine at the Long Island College Hospital and on the faculty of NYU School of Medicine.  He is the current vice chair for public education committee of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.  No information in this blog is intended to diagnose or treat any condition.