Drop All Preconceptions

Perhaps you associate meditation with sitting in a lotus or pretzel position, emptying your mind and having clouds of incense fogging up the room.  Well, that kind of mediation works for some, but it is not the only form of mediation available to you.  The best meditation tip I can give is to drop all of your preconceptions about what meditation is and is not.  Hopefully, that knowledge will relax you and help you meditate.

Confusion Is Good

One of the reasons a lot of people drop meditation is that it confuses them, or brings up very confusing thoughts to the surface of their minds.  This confusion state is normal.  And, believe it or not, it’s good!  The second best meditation tip I can give you is that you should expect and accept the fact that you will be completely confused about meditation for a while.  Don’t worry about it.

The mind is normally very active, performing thousand of computations at once.  When you meditate, you are able to take some time out to observe your mind and notice that it doesn’t like to keep still.  The ancients called this “monkey mind”.  Don’t stop your mind’s activity – just notice it, accept it and move on to the next thought.  That’s the next best meditation tip I can give.

Read The Dalai Lama

This next meditation tip is for those of you who were introduced to the practice of meditation as adults or teenagers – read anything by the Dalai Lama.  The current Dalai Lama is one of the most gifted instructors on how to meditate that has ever lived.  Although Tibetan is the language he is most fluent in, he is blessed to work with many excellent translators for many different languages.

The Dalai Lama has about thirty books that are available in English translations.  They are brilliant for anyone of any race or religion.  One of his most famous books in America is The Art of Happiness.

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Consumer advocate, a.k.a. “The Queen of Green,” Debra Lynn Dadd shares the following tips on easy ways to add a healthy twist of nature to your day:

“Brush” with natural twist: Invigorate smile care routines with new Crest Nature’s Expressions toothpaste, which comes in three flavors that each incorporates a different natural ingredient. Choose between pure peppermint oil, lemon zest or green tea extract to rejuvenate your morning routine. These touches of nature complement Crest’s trusted formula that whitens teeth and protects them from cavities to promote healthy smiles.

Drink to good health: Instead of drinking soda, try carbonated water with a twist of lemon and lime, or even add a splash of pure cranberry juice. You’ll have the refreshing, sweet taste without excessive sugar and calories. For an afternoon pick-me-up, iced green tea with a little honey is a healthy alternative to drinking a soda, and studies have shown that the antioxidants in green tea may protect against cancer.

Enjoy the great outdoors: As temperatures rise, swap a gym visit for a brisk walk around the neighborhood or local park — the fresh air will boost your mood and the change of scenery will reinvigorate your workout routine. Or, instead of the usual indoor aerobics class, try gardening as a new hobby; many scientists claim it is a great way to burn calories and build core body strength. Looking at nature’s greenery while you exercise is more emotionally rewarding than watching numbers tick by on the clock inside the gym.

Get fresh: Fresh herbs are a natural and healthy substitute for adding margarine or high-sodium seasonings to your favorite recipes. Keep steamed vegetables healthy by kicking up the flavor with freshly chopped herbs. Even canned soup gets a lift from a dash of fresh parsley or thyme. Keep an herb garden on the window sill or pick up pre-washed herbs at the grocery store to increase flavor and reduce the amount of sodium in your diet.

Skip the chips: Instead of serving chips at an outdoor BBQ party, serve fresh vegetables — green, yellow and red peppers incorporate the flavors of the season into your gathering, and have the crunch to satisfy anyone looking for a chip. An added bonus is that the array of pretty colors doubles as a natural, beautiful centerpiece for the table.

Adding these simple twists of nature to daily routines will put a noticeably healthy spring in your step.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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Fruit is an excellent source of antioxidants and natural compounds that can help us enjoy a healthy lifestyle. Studies continually reveal each type of fruit may offer natural health benefits unique to the specific fruit: cranberries may assist with maintaining a healthy urinary tract; tart cherry juice may help maintain healthy joints and reduce muscle soreness caused by exercise, while wild blueberries may assist in memory function and fight the aging process.

However, with the fruit growing and harvest season mostly over, many find it difficult to enjoy the natural health benefits of specific fruit year round. The combination of today’s active and hectic lifestyle and seasonality may inhibit the ability to enjoy fresh fruit daily; however there is an excellent way of supplementing your daily intake of fruit-based antioxidants.

Fruit Advantage offers antioxidant-rich, fruit-based supplements for people who strive to enjoy a healthy lifestyle. Each fruit-based supplement from Fruit Advantage is made from whole fruit.

For example, Fruit Advantage Cherry Prime is a patent-pending formula and is the first supplement to combine triple strength, pharmaceutical grade glucosamine and chondroitin with tart cherries. Each serving of Cherry Prime delivers 1500mg of glucosamine, 1200mg of chondroitin and 425mg of tart cherry. In addition to the maximum strength glucosamine and chondroitin, each daily dose of Cherry Prime delivers the anthocyanin equivalent of approximately 7 glasses of tart cherry juice without the sugar.

According to Betty James from Chicago, Ill., “My glucosamine and chondroitin pills always helped me, but now I get tart cherry everyday. I tell all of my friends about Cherry Prime.” In addition to Cherry Prime, Fruit Advantage also offers a complete line of fruit supplements including wild blueberry, tart cherry and pomegranate.

Recent studies have revealed that tart cherries offer an assortment of health benefits including the ability to offer natural relief from joint pain and muscle soreness caused by exertion during physical exercise. Tart cherries are also a natural source of Melatonin. Melatonin helps to regulate the body clock for wakefulness during the day and sleepiness at night.

Fruit is an excellent source of antioxidants and great tasting and if you are searching to supplement your diet with the unique antioxidants of fruit without the sugar, Fruit Advantage (www.fruitadvantage.com) or (877-746-7477) is certainly worth learning more about.

Courtesy of ARA Content

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For more than a half century, national initiatives geared to youth physical fitness have received considerable federal and corporate support. More recently, concerned groups have stepped up efforts to encourage good childhood eating habits. Ironically, though, programs combining both sound nutrition AND physical activity – fundamental elements of good health — have generally been lacking.

“A whole lifestyle approach is needed if we’re going to conquer childhood obesity,” said Veronica Atkins, chair of the Dr. Robert C. and Veronica Atkins Foundation, which funds independent, scientific research in nutrition and metabolism. “Just as a race car cannot perform well if it uses crude oil for fuel, the best physical fitness programs in the world are not going to prevent childhood obesity as long as young people are eating junk.”

What’s more, even some of the more comprehensive children’s health programs have produced little if any qualitative or quantitative data. Case in point: A recent report from an expert panel on childhood obesity, commissioned by the Institute of Medicine, noted that “there is a proliferation of activity taking place across the country in schools, in the community and states, but precious little of it has been subject to evaluation.”

This disconnect between integration and evaluation is beginning to change, however, thanks to a growing number of clinical researchers who are making their way into the classroom. Collaborating with educators to design and conduct studies that apply scientific methods to school-based programs, these researchers are becoming better equipped to assess which approaches work best.

One example of this collaboration is a lifestyle intervention lab at the University of Southern California (USC), combining exercise facilities, cooking instruction and counseling in its work to understand the link between lifestyle changes and adolescents’ risk of obesity and diabetes. Measurable results, ranging from weight loss to lower blood sugar levels, encourage the young participants’ continued commitment to the program, which many credit with changing their lives.

“Research is vitally important in finding effective methods for the prevention of obesity and other diseases. What we’re finding is that, if given the resources and options to make healthy nutritional choices, kids respond positively,” said Abby Bloch, Ph.D., executive director of programs and research for the Atkins Foundation, which helps foster cooperation among diverse organizations seeking solutions to childhood obesity.

Indeed, getting young people to “buy-in” to health programs is a key element to success. “Life in Action,” an educational program of the Canada-based Free the Children organization, which provides nutritional and physical activity education curriculum to help teach young people how to make healthy choices, is one example. This dynamic program empowers students to positively influence each other through daily food and activity choices, incorporating workshops, speeches and training for them to become Leadership Ambassadors. They then initiate their own school-based actions with fellow students to promote healthy living. Now being implemented at select schools in the United States, “Life in Action” has already resulted in several youth-initiated peer programs.

While research a continue to investigate what practices are most effective in reversing the childhood obesity epidemic, how do parents complement these efforts by fostering lifelong, sustained healthy eating habits in their children? Mrs. Atkins and Dr. Bloch offer the following guidelines:

* Be aware of and monitor your children’s health numbers. Ultimately different approaches work differently for different children, but if you know what your child’s baseline cholesterol or body mass index (BMI) is, you will be better prepared to detect changes. Some states have implemented policies of measuring and monitoring students’ weight and BMI to help identify at-risk youth.

* Get involved with community-based health initiatives. Research has shown that an integrated approach to healthy lifestyles is more effective. Parents’ influence is important, but so is that of peer groups and other role models.

* Look for empowerment opportunities. Rather than simply imposing good nutrition on your children, find ways to offer incentives and opportunities for them to make their own healthy food choices.

* Be a voice in your children’s schools and organizations. Get involved with the PTA, your child’s sports teams and other extracurricular activities to positively influence healthy snack choices and alternatives to food-related fundraisers and incentives.

Courtesy of ARA Content

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The vitamins and minerals found in fruits and vegetables are key to maintaining long-term health. Even though some fresh fruits and vegetables are not readily available in the winter, frozen fruits and vegetables have just as much, if not more, nutrients.

“As the days get shorter, energy levels change as people adjust their eating and exercise habits,” says Maria Thomas, a registered dietitian based in Vancouver. “Certain nutrients like vitamin D are also tough to get in the winter because of reduced daylight and taking a multivitamin supplement can help one get through the winter months.” A multivitamin supplement like Centrum Select is formulated with 400 IU of vitamin D to help promote overall health.

Whether it is a hectic holiday schedule or less sunshine, getting five to ten servings of fruits and vegetables, eating a balanced diet, and taking a multivitamin supplement are important factors in maintaing your health this winter.

Credit: www.newscanada.com

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With the holiday season fast approaching it is important to learn to take care of yourself in order to enjoy the festivities. A regular spa visit would be ideal – but are you actually going to schedule and make the appointment? Twenty minutes a day is all it takes to improve your wellbeing. The holiday season is the perfect time of year to give others the gift of health.

Lush, purveyors of fresh, handmade cosmetics has perfected the at home spa experience by offering luxurious products packed with fresh ingredients and essential oils to pamper and rejuvenate the mind. Lush Spokesperson, Erika Edwards says “There is no greater gift to receive during the holidays than one that will allow someone to take a few minutes for themselves to unwind and restore balance. Here are some ways to give the gift of rest and relaxation at home:

. Bath bombs and bubble bars filled with essential oils soothe and restore the mind and body in as little as 15 minutes.

. Choose feet and hand treatments that take only a moment to apply at bedtime and wake up with a new outlook (and fabulous nails).

. Many face and body treatments can be used in the bath and shower.

. Using massage bars help ease the hustle and bustle of the holiday season.

More information is available online at www.lushcanada.com, or by calling 1.888.733.5874.

Credit: www.newscanada.com

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Do a phone interview. Take time out to interview your prospective chiropractor. If the doctor is not available when you call, then arrange a time when you can speak to the doctor. Take note of the doctors communication skills, he should be comfortable to speak with and eager to answer your questions. You may want to ask:

What the doctor’s feelings are about how chiropractics differ from other health professions?

What does the doctor see as his responsibility when performing a competent diagnosis?

How does the doctor feel about referring patients to other specialists?

What kind of techniques does this doctor offer?

What kind of experiences has he had with other patients with similar conditions to you?

What are the doctor’s fees or does the doctor take your insurance, or in case you have an HMO, do you need a referral?

What is doctor’s location and what are his hours of operation?

Avoid a chiropractor who:

Considers his profession as being opposed to the medical profession.

Denies responsibility to diagnose and refer patients in a good manner.

Tries to sell you on his “miracle cures” or any other technique that only he knows how to do or has learned in some “school of thought.”

Insists you have x-rays done as a routine or requirement, or insist on having an EMG scan or other expensive test that is often not necessary.

Uses scare tactics or if he sounds like he’s making a sales pitch on you.

Has a dirty, littered or foul smell in his office.

Cold calls you to announce their presence in your area and tries to make you a free appointment.

All depending on the seriousness or extremity of your condition, you may need to see the chiropractor several times before your condition can be relieved. This is a good reason to choose a chiropractor that works within a reasonable driving distance with hours that suit your schedule. It’s important to have a chiropractor that you can rely on to get into fairly quickly without having to wait a month or so to get in.

On your first visit to the office, what is your general impression? Any doctor’s office should have a clean and professional appearance. The office staff should be able to treat you with the courtesy, respect and professionalism that are expected of a medical establishment. Many offices require you to fill out forms about your general medical history and the problem that brought you to them for the doctor to review with you during a private interview. You should be able to discuss your problem in detail, followed by having vital signs taken, and a number of other neurological and orthopedic tests. You should also have an analysis of your musculoskeletal system functions and structure, to determine if your problem is within the scope of chiropractics.  If the doctor insists that other laboratory tests are necessary, ask why. He should be able to provide a clear and concise explanation that makes sense and that is easy for you to understand. The doctor should be able to explain your problem, treatment options and customize a treatment plan that you are able to understand. If he is unable to do this, then he is not the right doctor for you.

The length of treatment varies with each individual. Although your condition may resemble your best friends, it does not mean you will heal as quickly as she did. Everyone’s musculoskeletal system is different and responds differently to treatment. This is why it’s important to do your own research and interviews before settling with a chiropractor. Never let anyone pressure you into seeing a particular doctor.

 

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Literally translated, macrobiotics means “great life.”  Physicians and philosophers from around the world have associated macrobiotics with living in harmony with nature while eating a simple and balanced diet.  In the 1920’s, George Ohsawa, who founded the modern form of macrobiotics, claimed to have cured himself from a serious illness by changing his diet.

Ohsawa believed in the Chinese philosophy of Yin and Yang.  They yin represents outward centrifugal movement and the yang represents inward centrifugal movement.  Yin and yang are always opposite, with yin being sweet, cold, and passive and with yang being salty, hot, and aggressive.  In a macrobiotic diet, the yin and yang need to be kept in balance for good health.

Because this balance of the yin and yang is at the core of the macrobiotic diet, foods are all classified as one or the other.  This division is in accordance with their properties, tastes, and effects on the body.

Grains and vegetables are not strong in either yin or yang.  Therefore, they are especially important in the macrobiotic diet.  These more neutral types of foods make it easier to maintain balance of yin and yang and these foods that are extremes in either yin or yang or to be avoided in the macrobiotic diet.

All foods included in the macrobiotic diet must be organically grown.  Whole grains, such as barley, brown rice, oats, millets, rye, core, buckwheat and whole wheat are thought to be the most balanced of foods in a macrobiotic diet.  Therefore, these foods make up about 50 to 60% of the macrobiotic practitioner’s diet.  Whole grains are the preferred type of grain in a macrobiotic diet, but small portions of bread and pasta derived from refined flour are acceptable.

Fresh vegetables make up approximately 25 to 30% of the macrobiotic diet.  Broccoli, cabbage, kale, cauliflower, collards, turnips, mustard greens, turnip greens, radish, onion, butternut squash, acorn squash, and pumpkin are the primary vegetables to be included in a macrobiotic diet.  Iceberg lettuce, celery, snow peas, mushrooms, and string beans are to be included in the diet only two or three times per week.  In a macrobiotic diet, these vegetables are to be prepared by either being steamed lightly or being sautéed with unrefined cooking oil, ideally corn oil or sesame oil.

5 to 10% of the macrobiotic diet consists of sea vegetables and beans.  Chickpeas, adzuki beans, tofu, and lentils are the recommended types of beans.  Sea vegetables should be included in the diet.  These vegetables are rich in vitamins and minerals.

Soups and broths make up about 5 to 10% of the macrobiotic diet.  Soups should contain a soybean paste.  They also should contain beans and vegetables.

In a macrobiotic diet, a few servings of seeds, nuts, and fresh fish (such as flounder, halibut, and cod) each week are acceptable.  Acceptable sweeteners in the macrobiotic diet are barley malt, and rice syrup, which is a sweet drink made from rice.  Plum and brown rice vinegar may also be occasionally used in the macrobiotic diet.  Tamari soy sauce and sea salt can be used to add flavor to soups and to grains.

A person following a macrobiotic diet only drinks when thirsty.  The only drinks that are generally accepted in a macrobiotic diet are teas, which are made from dandelion greens, roasted grains, or the leftover cooking water from preparing soba noodles.  Teas containing caffeine or aromatic fragrances are unacceptable.  In addition, all cooking water and drinking water must be purified before use.

Foods such as eggs and dairy products are thought to have strong yang qualities.  Similarly, chocolate, refined sugars, tropical fruits, coffee, fruit juice, soda, and hot spices are believed to contain strong yin qualities.  Therefore, all of these foods are avoided in the macrobiotic diet.  All foods with artificial flavors, artificial colors, and preservatives are also avoided. 

The macrobiotic diet is more than just a diet, it is a lifestyle, and it embraces a simplistic diet bound closely to nature.

 

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