Daily Exposure to Diesel Fumes in Cuenca and What You Can Do about It!

If you're a walker in Cuenca then you have experienced the diesel fumes spewing out of a bus and into your lungs. Not healthy! When we first moved to Cuenca, we didn't notice it as much; we were in our honeymoon stage of Cuenca where EVERYTHING is good and certain things don't bother you as much. However, after a year or so, you begin to notice some of the negatives of living in Cuenca, like the pollution, especially on  bus routes. We're walkers and so we had to do something and quick. Here's our solution to lessen the effects of the diesel fumes. It's not full proof but it does help considerably and we still walk everywhere. 

                       




We're an Expat Family of Five Living Frugal, Healthy and Happy in Cuenca Ecuador! Enjoy our blog!

How We Save Money, Eat Healthy, and Get Satisfied Eating out in Cuenca Ecuador

We're picky eaters. We do not eat white rice and we do not mix certain foods together at a meal for proper food assimilation, digestion, and energy. We admit we are picky...but because we are picky we know we are healthier as we feel the results of our eating lifestyle. We're not "health nuts" and we're not even vegetarians; you don't have to be to have good health. However, there are certain ways to eat the foods we do eat to make them healthier for you and we share our healthy eating lifestyle with the world in Better Health, Better Life. We also share a lot more about our healthy lifestyle, which was not always so healthy, in the book.

                      


We're an Expat Family of Five Living Frugal, Healthy and Happy in Cuenca Ecuador! Enjoy our blog!

Colon Cleansing and Digestive Healing for Better Health, Better Life!

Better Health, Better Life is our personal health testimony. We provide tried and true health strategies that we have done, and still do today to stay happy and healthy in our 50's.  Click here to see more!



FACT: Americans spend hundreds of dollars on makeup and
anti-wrinkle creams to look good; we
spend thousands of dollars on face-lifts and breast implants to look good; and yet we leave what is
hidden from public view dirty and abused—the bowel tract-- and we feel sick AND ARE DYING OVER IT!



Preview Chapter Titles and up to page 11 here!
(click "PREVIEW" under the book image on LULU)



Buy Better Life, Better Health on LULU.Com 





COLON CLEANSING AND DIGESTIVE HEALING



                  
 

 

We're an Expat Family of Five Living Frugal, Healthy and Happy in Cuenca Ecuador! Enjoy our blog!

Reader Asks: Can I Still Find a $300 Cuenca Rental in Cuenca Ecuador?

Some of our readers want to know if they will still be able to find a $300 dollar rental home in Cuenca when they get here. We talk about why you would not be able to get a $300 dollar rental and what you can do to still find the $300 rental.

                         
 

We're an Expat Family of Five Living Frugal, Healthy and Happy in Cuenca Ecuador! Enjoy the blog!

SAVE 20% on All Our Print Books

SAVE 20% on all of our print books from now until October 27th! This offer includes our latest updated print book DIY Cuenca Ecuador Landing Guide.





Through October 27, get 20% off all of our print books with code OKTOBER.



Here's how it works. On Lulu when you select the print book you want simply begin the checkout process. It will ask if you have a coupon code when ordering.  Use this code: OKTOBER in the space and receive 20% off!  


 
Click Here to go to our bookstore.



This offer does not apply to our eBooks!





We're an Expat Family of Five Living Frugal, Healthy and Happy in Cuenca Ecuador! 

Horseback Riding at Podocarpus Park in Vilcabamba / Loja Ecuador

Horseback Riding at Parque Podocarpus, located between Vilcabamba and Loja Ecuador. Please see below the video for more of Vilcabamba.

                        

Short Hike in Podocarpus Parque

 Drive from Loja to Podocarpus Park near Vilcabamba

We're an Expat Family of Five Living Frugal, Healthy and Happy in Cuenca Ecuador! Enjoy the blog!

This Is How Ecuadorians Celebrate Life! Festivals and Celebrations of Cuenca Ecuador

There is a lot of holidays, festivals and celebrations throughout the year in Cuenca Ecuador. Our favorite is the November Art Festival which starts the 2 of November.  The Festival will have various activities, food, traditional dances and music, and beautiful displays of various artisans of South America. You will see arts and crafts of many varieties during the first part of November. It starts downtown below the stairs on 12 of April (Doce de Abril) and extends all along the river. In El Centro at Park Calderon there is live shows and fireworks!

                       


Cuenca also has another Art Festival (not as big) which starts the first of April too.



We're an Expat Family of Five Living Frugal, Healthy and Happy in Cuenca Ecuador! Enjoy our blog!

Webcam in El Centro of Loja Ecuador, from the Topoli Restaurant

This is a short video of the street and the bustle of people going about their evening in El Centro of Loja Ecuador. 

                     

 

We're an Expat Family of Five Living Frugal, Healthy and Happy in Cuenca Ecuador! Enjoy our blog!

Health (Nutrition) Benefits of Avocados

The tropical green gem of a fruit, the avocado, has been touted as being one of the most nutritious foods known to man; and for good reason. They naturally contain disease fighting and health-promoting properties that most people don’t even know about. 

 Avocados from Feria Libre - 4 X $1

The curative properties of the avocado are amazing. They are loaded in B vitamins, as well as vitamin E and vitamin K. The avocado is also one of the most fiber rich vegetables known to man. Eating one avocado daily is superbly beneficial to your overall health. 


Avocados are an excellent source of natural raw oil, which is easily burned through regular physical activity. The oil of an avocado is very helpful to the body because it is raw and natural. And the more of these you eat over animal fats, the lower your body fat (cholesterol level)!
 

It never ceases to amaze us when we hear someone say they don’t eat avocados because they are fattening. This accepted folk lore is absolutely absurd. Any natural food with raw and natural oil is potentially fattening if you're eating too many calories overall. But that wouldn't make them any more fattening than any other foods with fat in them, such as boxed/processed foods and fatty meats. And the latter is more likely to cause you the health problems. 



There's much more to weight loss than avoiding all fats!  In fact, avocados should be included in the diet of anyone who is concerned about their health. And the wonderful thing about it is, avocados taste so good! At least we think so.
 

The luscious avocado has more than twice the amount of potassium than a banana. Potassium is a very important mineral needed by the human body as it is a natural anti-inflammatory and blood pressure regulator; therefore it is good for the body to receive good amounts of potassium for health. The curative properties of the avocado are absolutely amazing. For good heart and vein health nothing beats the incredible avocado. 



Avocado Facial 



And here is something else I bet some of you didn’t know. As a topical agent the avocado is great for the skin and can be used as a weekly facial to clean the skin of impurities. Many natural cosmetic manufacturers use the oil of an avocado in their skin care products such as skin moisturizer, cleansing cream, makeup base, sunscreen, lipstick, bath oil, and hair conditioner. Avocado oil can also be used as a natural sunscreen. Among eight plant oils, avocado oil proved the most effective sunscreen (Swisher, 1988).
 

The buttery essence of the avocado enhances the flavor of many foods because of its mild, delicate flavor. Avocado can be eaten right out of its shell, or can be spread on whole grain toast and used in sandwiches. Below is our quick and easy guacamole recipe. Guacamole is great for dipping tortilla chips, or used as a side for nachos, burritos, black beans, pinto beans, enchiladas and other Latin American dishes.

 

 Veggie Plate

We can really go through the avocados in our family, and when avocados are in season here in Cuenca Ecuador, you can buy three or four nice sized avocados for just a dollar. Sometimes you can get five or six smaller sized avocados for one dollar too, but usually they need to be used right away. 

It is not avocado season in Cuenca right now (October 2014) so avocados are up in price, but once summer is here, you’ll see more vendors selling them at a good price and Supermaxi and Coral will both sell them at better prices. 



The below guacamole recipe is our family favorite; add more or less Cayenne pepper to taste.
 

Easy Guacamole Dip

 
2 ripe avocados
½ onion, diced 

1 or 2 garlic cloves, minced,
2 tablespoons cilantro, chopped
½ teaspoon sea salt
1 to 2 teaspoons chili powder
½ lime or lemon juice
Dash of cayenne pepper (optional)

Mix all of the ingredients together and enjoy!

We're an Expat Family of Five Living Frugal, Healthy and Happy in Cuenca Ecuador! Enjoy the blog!

5 Shopping Malls Located in Cuenca Ecuador

Cuenca Ecuador boasts 5 Shopping Malls, located around the four corners of the city.  Four of the Malls are good sized. The Miraflores Plaza, the smaller of the five is where Kywi Hardware store is located.

    

We're an Expat Family of Five Living Frugal, Healthy and Happy in Cuenca Ecuador! Enjoy the blog!

Review of McDonald's in Cuenca Ecuador: Do the Burgers Taste Different in South America?

Surprise! We ate at McDonald's in Cuenca Ecuador and here is our restaurant review. 

                      


We're an Expat Family of Five Living Frugal, Healthy and Happy in Cuenca Ecuador! Enjoy the blog!

SAVE 20% on All Our Print Books!

Look, Print Book Discount: 20% discount on all of our print books from now until October 27th! This offer includes our latest updated print book DIY Cuenca Ecuador Landing Guide.





Through October 27, get 20% off all of our print books with code OKTOBER.



Here's how it works. On Lulu when you select the print book you want simply begin the checkout process. It will ask if you have a coupon code when ordering.  Use this code: OKTOBER in the space and receive 20% off!  


 
Click Here to go the our bookstore.



This offer does not apply to our eBooks!





We're an Expat Family of Five Living Frugal, Healthy and Happy in Cuenca Ecuador!

Did You Get Sick on the Airplane Flight (Ecuador) Abroad? How We Stay Healthy and You Can Too!

Traveling abroad can be demanding on the body, especially for an older person or a small child; in fact it can be downright uncomfortable and stressful, and to top it off, some folks are sniffling, coughing, sneezing and vomiting on the flight, and they're sitting right next to you!
 

Can We Blame Airplane Air?
 

Did you know that sick folks (with germs) do not even have to sit next to you and you still might become ill? This is because you are breathing recirculated air.
 

NOTE: Modern jetliners maintain they filter the air inside the plane with that of outside air; the process uses HEPA filters, which supposedly traps most bacteria and germs.  They say the filters refresh the air on the airplane about 20 times per hour which would mean new filtered air is introduced into the cabin every three minutes.
 

However, what about in between refreshed air cycles?  The system is not fool-proof because it only reduces pathogens in the air, and in between refreshed air cycles, microbes can freely float around on the plane and it just takes a second to be infected, if your resistance is low.

Not only that, but airplanes are really dirty and harbor germs and microbes that can live indefinitely on the fabric of the seats, on the seat belts, on the blankets and pillow, the flip down tray, and virtually everything else you touch. It might be a good idea to bring antiseptic wipes and wipe everything down, and if your immune system is not at its best, wear a face mask.
 

Some Newcomers to Cuenca Get Sick
 

It is a somewhat common occurrence with newcomers to Cuenca. We met a man in his late 60’s that became so ill right after his flight to Ecuador that he lost 10 pounds the first week he and his wife were here. And it doesn’t stop with adults; children too can become sick from airplanes. We know of one family where three of their four children became ill with a stomach virus the next day after the flight to Ecuador.  The children got well after a few days, but older folks sometimes take weeks to get better and it can be scary for them being ill away from their usual surroundings.
 

Several other expats we have visited with, also told us they caught colds or bad bronchial infections the very next day after arriving to Cuenca.
 

Why Some People Get Sick and Some Don’t
 

It all has to do with the immune system of your body. Most folks don’t get sick, only those who are not in their best health and/or have lowered immune systems. Think about this for a moment. You’re not just moving into another house across town, nor are you moving to another state across the US, but you are uprooting your whole lives, moving abroad for Ecuador!
 

The preparation that is involved from trying to get everything sold and business affairs in order and finalized can be a hectic, exciting and exhausting experience all at the same time, and the body responds according to its physical condition.
 

We highly suggest vulnerable folks to heed this message well because a body that is already under stress, or a body with preexisting health issues could be the body that becomes ill from a long flight, and or the combination of the flight and the acclimation to the altitude and new environment of Cuenca.
 

Who Says You Have To Get Sick?
 

The good news is you don’t have to get sick. In fact, it is really up to you and how you take care of yourself days and even weeks before your flight, how well your body will withstand attacks to its immunity.
 

On our last trip to the northwest of the u.s, and weeks before the actual flight, we made sure to strengthen our bodies before traveling. This is something we have been doing for years because nothing is worse than being on a vacation and getting sick!
 

When we flew from Ecuador and into the US they make you get your luggage and recheck-it, again, and it just so happened we flew into LAX in the middle of the night and “check in” was closed until 6am the next morning. That means we were stuck in the uncomfortable basement of baggage claim.
 

It was a good thing we were healthy, as we ended up sleeping on a filthy carpet of the airport baggage floor in the Los Angeles Airport during a six hour layover in the middle of the night. We were not the only ones sleeping on the hard, dirty airport floor either. There were older couples, families, and young people resting on the floor, against the walls in LAX baggage claim; obviously they were on layovers too.
 

You see, this layover was not long enough to leave the airport and stay in a motel; it was just long enough to catch a few nods and catch our next flight to Seattle, Washington. We were already almost 20 hours without sleep, not drinking enough water, not eating healthy food, and we were exhausted. 



Our bodies were taxed but fortunately we strengthened our immune system before traveling and we did not get sick, even though many people were coughing, sneezing and sniffling on the airplanes.
 

What we do before we travel:  We stop eating white flour products and processed sugars, which we rarely eat anyway, so it is not difficult to go without. And we drink more raw fruit and vegetable juices, adding an additional antibacterial agent of garlic to the mix. Garlic works better than anything else in strengthening the immune system.  We’ve been writing about the miraculous properties of garlic for years! 



In addition to eating well we get plenty of rest, drink lots of fresh, clean water, and if we can we get anything in our lives that needs finalized done, BEFORE traveling, as anything that is not completed will stay in the back of our mind and may cause anxiety undue stress. And we don’t want that when visiting with our family in the states.
 

Strengthening the body for several weeks before your trip, works wonders. And there’s more good news; when stressful and challenging situations come knocking at your door, you are way better equipped emotionally to deal with whatever situation arises. Why?  Simply because eating a healthy diet affects not just our physical health but our emotional well being too; and these two components, physical and emotional health work together as they are part of our bodily makeup.
 

Emotional stress puts a toll on the body and a body that is ailing can emotionally exhaust us.  So this is just a friendly reminder to anyone who is preparing to fly abroad:
 

You can be healthy!
 

You can stay healthy!

And you can enjoy your travels, and arrive to your destination abroad feeling so much better because you have more energy, are happier, and more stress free!
 

We also suggest that anyone who is vulnerable to getting sick, for whatever reasons of their own, should actually think about cleansing out the system of toxins before traveling abroad. Cleansing the body of toxins is the most efficient way to get healthy and feel great, and at any age!  

Our health book Sugar Overload Syndrome is an excellent natural healing book for people that want to find natural ways to heal the body and succeed at good health. The book has two free cleanses and healthful whole foods recipes. Click here to see what's inside the book!

This
book covers the issues of codependency, ADHD, bipolar, hypoglycemia,
alcoholism, depression and more; Angie provides simple, valuable, proven
techniques that incorporate a whole foods diet, cleansing,
sprouting, juicing, exercise and herbs to treat illness. Includes
wholesome recipes, two free cleanses and age reducing and skin enhancing
chapters.  Available Here in eBook or Paperback

Print: $17.98 
-----  Download: $7.50

Available in ePub Format too! 



Talk to us! Do you have a health tip you would like to share in the comments below? We’d love to hear it.





We're an Expat Family of Five Living Frugal, Healthy and Happy in Cuenca Ecuador! 

Visit Pumapungo Inca Ruins and Botanical Gardens in Cuenca Ecuador

The Pumapungo Archaeological Park is a tourist site in Cuenca that unbelievably, Frank and I never visited until now. Our son Brandon who had been there two times, gave us a grand tour last Saturday. 

                          
 

We really enjoyed the peacefulness of this park and the beautiful lush grounds and gardens.

Amazingly, at the end of our tour was a bird zoo, which was fun to see as well.

The park has walking paths and there is some hills to climb up, however there are benches strategically placed inside the park for taking breaks.

We're an Expat Family of Five Living Frugal, Healthy and Happy in Cuenca Ecuador! Enjoy our blog!

What’s It Like to Live on the Equator of Ecuador: Sunburns and Early Evenings

The nation of Ecuador is situated on the (imaginary) line of the Equator. The position or point in Ecuador that is closest to the sun is called, The Mitad del Mundo ("Middle of the World"), which is a popular tourist attraction just outside Quito Ecuador.  There is also a solar museum and numerous craft shops in the area as well. The Mitad del Mundo is known as one of the most popular tourist hot spots on the equator line.
 

What Are the Equator Seasons Like in the Andes Mountains?
 

Living on the equator you will notice little difference between spring, summer, winter, or fall. We have noticed a slightly rainier season in the spring, and slightly cooler temps in the winter, but we have not yet seen any real noticeable distinctions about the weather in Ecuador.  As a matter of fact, we have witnessed more rain in the dry season and less rain in the rainy season. You just never know what to expect as it is always just about constant.
 

It never snows in Cuenca Ecuador, located way up in the Andes Mountains. It never freezes in Cuenca, and if it does, it’s a rarity.  Temps are usually stable with an average of 72 degrees during the day and 45's-50’s at night. When the sun comes peaking out of the clouds it warms up nicely, sometimes too much, and yet the temperature rarely goes above the 80 degree mark, but it sure can feel like it; it is cloudy more than sunny; and you never know when it will rain so it is wise to always be prepared by dressing in layers and carrying an umbrella with you.
 

Is Cuenca Dry or Humid?
 

We think it is somewhere in between dry and humid. Let’s put it this way. It’s not dry like Arizona, and it’s not humid like Miami Florida. Cuenca feels somewhat damp most of the year, even when it hasn’t rained for days; and as you begin to walk around, which we do a lot of, it warms up your body fast and you will sweat. The reason why some people think its dry here is because the altitude makes them thirsty because they are working their body harder, and when the sun comes out it feels hot, even though it is only 72 degrees Fahrenheit.  The mountain air at this altitude is thin, but it carries with it certain amount of dampness. Read on.
 

Mold Can Be an Issue in Cuenca

(click on the photo to enlarge - this is black mold under my kitchen drawers!)

It is a recurring theme here in Cuenca; the dreaded mold growth, see more photos here.  We know of several expats to Cuenca that had to move from their home or apartment because of the black and green mold growth. We had mold in our home, hiding in the most inconspicuous places; it took me several cleanings with bleach and then white vinegar to eradicate it, but it still grows back, and usually faster in the colder winter months of July and August.  Read our story about mold here.
 

Cuenca Sunrise and Sunset
 

The sun rises around 6:00 o’clock AM every morning without fail and it begins to set every evening around 6:00 o’clock PM and by 6:30 PM its dark outside. This is one reason why everywhere in Ecuador people begin to head home around 6:00 PM and by 7:00 the city center is pretty quiet with only a few people mingling about; however, there are exceptions to this when there is a festival or holiday going on, which in Ecuador could mean every month a holiday or festival.
 

The turning dark by 6:30 PM gets some getting used to, especially if you’re coming from the Southeast in North America where in the summer it does not get dark until after 9:00PM.
 

Warning: Ecuador Sun is Powerful!
 

The equatorial sun is VERY powerful in Ecuador and when it comes peaking out of the clouds it warms everything up instantly, including your body.  You can easily get a tan here, even when the sun is behind the clouds. It is recommended that light skinned folks work themselves up to getting used to the sun before they sunbathe or allow the sun on their face for more than 15-minutes; do wear a floppy hat or sun visor to shield your nose and forehead, which are the most vulnerable to getting burnt when walking around Cuenca. 
 

We rarely use sun block and believe  people use it too much, which actually keeps them from getting a suntan and receiving the healthful sun rays on their skin. Sunshine is actually good for your skin in moderation; the key is to not allow yourself to get burnt!  However, I have found the sun to be much, much more powerful in Ecuador and so on rare occasions I will dab a little bit of sun block on the bridge of my nose and forehead when I know I will be out all day in the sun. 



Sunblock is really expensive here in Cuenca, so you might want to bring some along with you.
 

FACT: Getting sun burnt over and over again can make us susceptible to skin cancer. Working the body up to getting used to the sun rays on the skin is good for your health and is the only TRUE way to receive Vitamin D, which is a much needed Vitamin that helps keep diseases and cancer at bay!
 

Brandon,
our oldest son got this terrible burn recently when we went to Punta
Blanca Beach. The day was overcast, very windy and about 72 degrees. He
only laid out on the lounge chair for a couple of hours and this
resulted.

 He was in pain for a full week!



On
the third day his legs literally turned purple; wish I would have taken
a photo of it then because it looked really awful. Anyway, just be
careful as the sun is very strong here. 





Brandon said it hurt so bad it was difficult to wear pants! LOL. Thankfully, he had his face shielded from the sun so it did not endure such a burn.





High Altitude Symptoms? 



HINT: Everyone’s body is different; therefore, not everyone will experience the same symptoms. 



Some people have symptoms only for a week or two, while others, the symptoms last one or two months. Below are some of the symptoms we had and that were reported to us from expats to Cuenca.
 

Common High Altitude Symptoms


1. Shortness of breath
2. Difficulty exerting oneself

3. Slightly head-achy
4. Thirstier than usual
5. Dry mouth
5. Feeling tired
6. Sinusitis
 

Uncommon Altitude Symptoms
 

1. Panic Attacks
2. Headaches (sometimes migraines)
3. Nauseous
4. Nose bleeds
5. Popped blood vessels in the eyes
5. Dizzy
6. Memory loss
 

We think it is important, and we always advise newcomers to Cuenca to take it easy for the first couple of weeks. It’s fine to do some walking, however, it is a good idea to take breaks and rest when you feel out of breath; and drink lots of water so you will not get dehydrated. It’s also a good idea to NOT eat greasy, or deep fried foods, white flour and sugary foods, alcohol and sodas while the body tries to adjust to the new altitude and climate. 
 

Some expats tend to overdo it by over exerting themselves, eating unhealthy, and letting the stress of the move get to them and they end up getting sick the first week they are here, for two or three weeks! Remember: the first month in Cuenca pamper yourself. Slow down!
 

VERY RARE Altitude Symptoms/Conditions



In very rare cases, those with preexisting conditions may experience strokes or bronchial respiratory issues and in some instances, complications may arise; we think the latter is a mixture of preexisting medical conditions and the body's inability to acclimate itself to the altitude and climate. Understand, these are rare cases, so please do not let it worry you too much, we just want to make our readers aware of it. 





MOST people adjust fine to the higher altitude and will not have any problems.  Living on the Equator is a new experience and different; we’re glad we’re here basking in it and that we have the opportunity to tell our readers about what to expect too.
 

We're an Expat Family of Five Living Frugal, Healthy and Happy in Cuenca Ecuador! Enjoy the blog!

Short Hike in Podocarpus National Park, Located between Loja and Vilcabamba Ecuador

Brandon said they planned on taking the full hike but it started raining and they were not dressed for the weather. But here is part of a hike they took on one of the several self-guided walking trails. Podocarpus Nacional Parque is a beautiful mountain range (thousands of acres) located between Loja and Vilcabamba Ecuador.

                   
 

We're an Expat Family of Five Living Frugal, Healthy and Happy in Cuenca Ecuador! Enjoy our blog!

For Rent 3/3 Plus Buhardilla House with Yard in a GREAT Location $400!

This home is just 1 block from Monay Shopping Mall and bus line.                


            





We're an Expat Family of Five Living Frugal, Healthy and Happy in Cuenca Ecuador! Enjoy our blog!