Lost Generation
Make Sure Food is REALLY Good for You July 28, 2009
I am pretty sure you are safer eating the dirt real carrots are grown in.
The following is information from a farmer who grows and packages carrots for IGA, METRO, LOBLAWS, etc The small cocktail (baby) carrots you buy in small plastic bags are made using the
larger crooked or deformed carrots which are put through a machine which
cuts and shapes them into cocktail carrots – most people probably know
this already. What you may not know and should know is the following:
Once the carrots are cut and
shaped into cocktail carrots they are dipped in a solution of water and
chlorine in order to preserve them. (this is the same chlorine used in
your pool). Since they do not have their skin or natural protective covering, they give them a higher dose of chlorine. You will notice that once you keep these carrots in your refrigerator for a few days, a white
covering will form on the carrots. This is the chlorine which resurfaces. At what cost do we put our health at risk to have esthetically pleasing vegetables?
Chlorine is a very well-known carcinogen, which causes Cancer.. I thought this was worth
passing on. Pass it on to as many people as possible in hopes of informing them where these carrots come from and how they are processed.
I used to buy those baby carrots for vegetable dips. Not any more…
Confirmed by
Snopes
We are Exempt July 23, 2009
I would ordinarily not do this but, I think our healthcare is our business and so is the Government. Please take a moment and comment your thoughts.
I believe that our three branches of Government are required to do whatever they ask us to do; otherwise why do WE pay them? They are no longer leaders, but dictators.
FINALLY…THE $50,000 QUESTION WAS ASKED!!!!!…..YESTERDAY ON THE
> \”ABC..OBAMA SPECIAL ON HEALTH CARE”…….OBAMA WAS ASKED, “MR.
> PRESIDENT WILL YOU AND YOUR FAMILY GIVE UP YOUR CURRENT HEALTH CARE
> PROGRAM AND JOIN THE NEW “UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE PROGRAM” THAT THE
> REST OF US WILL BE ON ????…..OBAMA IGNORED THE QUESTION AND DIDN’T
> ANSWER IT!!!…..A NUMBER OF SENATORS WERE ASKED THE SAME QUESTION
> AND THEIR RESPONSE WAS…WE WILL THINK ABOUT IT!!!!
> IT WAS ALSO ANNOUNCED TODAY ON THE NEWS THAT THE “KENNEDY HEALTH
> CARE BILL”….HAS WRITTEN INTO IT THAT CONGRESS WILL BE (FROM THIS
> GREAT HEALTH CARE PLAN)… .EXEMPT!!!!!
> HOW ABOUT THOSE APPLES…..NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR OBAMA OR
> CONGRESS……BUT “OK” FOR THE REST OF US????????
> WE….THE AMERICANS NEED TO STOP THIS …ASAP!!!!….AND REVOLT…THIS IS
> WRONG!!!!!
> IF YOU AGREE PLEASE PASS THIS ON….AND “REVOLT”!!! IF NOT PLAN TO
> SUFFER (WITH THE OBAMA HEALTH CARE PLAN) WHILE OUR POLITICIANS TAKE
> CARE OF THEMSELVES……………….
>
Ten Main Causes of Disease and Dysfunction July 21, 2009
By Dr. Ben Kim on June 01, 2008 Natural Health Solutions
During and after an intense, full body cleanse, you can expect to feel refreshed, like your body has become younger and lighter. To experience the greatest possible benefits during your intense cleanse, it’s important that you minimize your exposure to endogenous and exogenous toxins.
Minimizing your exposure to endogenous toxins is relatively simple – you just need to follow the full body cleanse diet, chew your foods well, and do your best not to overeat. This combination of actions will minimize production of toxins in your digestive tract and within your cells.
What follows is a list of suggestions on how to minimize your exposure to exogenous toxins:
Minimize use of cosmetics – it’s best to use none at all during an intense cleansing period. It’s most important to avoid use of cosmetics around your mouth to prevent accidental ingestion of chemicals found in many cosmetic products.
Minimize use of moisturizer and chapstick / lip balm. If you must use something on your skin and lips, consider using a small amount of coconut oil.
Try not to use deodorants, antiperspirants, or perfumes/colognes.
Use the smallest amount of shampoo possible, and if your life circumstances permit, use a brand made with natural ingredients – there are plenty of such brands at most department stores these days.
Here are some additional suggestions on how to conserve energy and allow your body to devote the bulk of its resources to cleansing and detoxification:
Minimize use of soap – warm or hot water is sufficient for cleaning.
In looking to get as much physical rest as possible, don’t neglect resting your eyes. Even while awake, you can enhance physical rest by closing your eyes for a minute or more at a time.
As your circumstances permit, take a break from activities that tend to promote emotional distress. For example, taking a week-long break from watching the evening news, or even taking a two-day break from surfing the internet and checking your e-mail may give your nervous system much needed rest.
Get plenty of fresh air. Your lungs are constantly expelling carbon dioxide into the air around you, and your cleansing mechanisms are best served by a steady stream of fresh, oxygen-rich air. If you live in a relatively unpolluted environment, sleep with your window cracked open.
Get sunlight exposure on your skin without getting burned, but be careful not to get so much sun that you become exhausted – about 15 minutes of direct sunlight exposure each day while at rest is optimal for many people; this doesn’t include exposure while going about your daily activities.
Engage in light stretching, walking, and even mild sports activities, but don’t participate in strenuous exercise during your intense cleanse. The goal is to keep your body moving and your blood circulation strong, but to conserve as much energy as possible for your cleansing mechanisms.
Clearly, the suggestions provided above can be beneficial to your health after you complete an intense period of cleansing. As you experience the intense, full body cleanse described in this series of articles, perhaps you can make it a goal to adopt some or many of these dietary and lifestyle suggestions into your everyday routine for the long term.
If you’re serious about using an intense period of detoxification to greatly improve your health, I encourage you to try this program with a close friend or family member. Having a partner to experience this with can make a huge difference in your commitment level, and in the results that you obtain.
Please notice that this program doesn’t call for fancy and expensive foods or equipment. It mainly calls for fresh vegetables and fruits, water, and adherence to some basic principles that promote good digestion and physical and emotional rest – it really is that simple.
If you have any questions about cleansing and detoxification, please feel free to submit them via our contact form. I’ll aim to compile an FAQ section for full body cleansing in another blog entry.
I’ll also create a special recipe section on our Web site that provides recipes that are well suited to the full body cleanse diet. If you aren’t subscribed to my natural health newsletter, be sure to sign up below, as I’ll provide updates on this program, including links to recipes, through my newsletter.
Please also feel free to post your ongoing thoughts, comments, and questions in the comments section of any article in this series. I hope to hear from some of you soon!
To a healthy summer and beyond,
Ben Kim
10 TIPS TO FOSTER HEART-HEALING LOVE July 20, 2009
Like most people I struggle to not be self centered. My previous post was the email I received from my friend when her Father died. And today I have had two very trying conversations with people I love dearly.
I sat down at the computer and viola’ here is the following in my email…steps (not easy) to love and happiness.
1. Learn to love yourself. This may take time and practice. As I tell my clients who are clearly struggling with self-love (and, who isn’t?) write down 10 things you love about yourself every day. Be creative. Here, I’ll help you get started, “I love how I try to improve my health by reading health blogs.” Now, you only have nine left for today.
2. Let down your guard. Protecting your heart from pain only serves to build walls around it and makes it more vulnerable to heart disease. Reach out to others.
3. Forgive yourself. Easier said than done. It takes practice. Reciting affirmations like “I forgive myself” may help.
4. Forgive others. Holding onto grudges only serves to hurt you. Write out your grievances and destroy the paper. Alternatively, paint, sculpt, or draw to express your feelings so you can be free from them.
5. Nurture a spiritual practice. Recognizing yourself as a spiritual being having a human existence can help you to feel more connected to the planet and other people. It can also help you to establish greater meaning in your life.
6. Find things to appreciate in your life. I once met a wonderful woman at class who told me afterward that she wrote daily in her “gratitude journal” about all the things she was grateful for. She shared with me that day’s entry about being grateful for meeting me. Not only was she approaching her own life with a positive attitude, but she also put a smile on my face too.
7. Stop to smell the roses. Life can be harried. Slow down. Yes, it really is possible. It usually requires effort but it can be done. I have so many clients who make their work their first priority…and it shows in their health. Flip things around, put your health up top and make time to enjoy the simple things in life like flowers, friendships, beautiful music, or a bubble bath.
8. Do something nice to nurture your relationships. Call someone just to say “I love you,” take some homemade soup to someone who hasn’t been feeling well, invite a neighbor over for an herbal tea, give an unexpected card…the list of possibilities is endless.
9. Let people know how you feel about them. Sure, your husband, wife, child, parents or friends may know you care, but I’m sure hearing about it would do wonders. Muster some courage and express your loving thoughts and feelings. It gets easier with time.
10. Love your body by treating it well. Unhealthy habits and attitudes demonstrate a lack of love for oneself. If you love your body feed it food that nourishes it, exercise, practice meditation or deep breathing. If you don’t love your body or aren’t sure if you do, return to Tip Number 1.
PEOPLE THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE July 13, 2009
I just received this email and I wanted to share it. I love my friend Regina; even when her Father has just died she is thinking of other. I am blessed to know such a loving person and grateful she is my friend.
(letter enclosed)
Hi everyone,
After 4 days of watchful and prayerful moments daddy passed so, so, so peacefully this afternoon with mama, myself, Marla & my long time friend Linda by his side. We are so thankful that he is now pain free and long last at peace. The staff said they could only wish for their other patients the love, devotion and dedication that our family showed to daddy. They had such admiration for the hands on, full time care mama provided for her love of 56 years and for the example she set. Hopefully now she can rest herself. Thank you for your love and prayerful support for our family. As I stated way back at the beginning, if you’re ever in doubt on how you can make a difference in the world, go to a nursing home and give some lovin & kissin to those blessed, lonely, starved for any attention folks and you will truly be blessed. It’s so sad to see a great percentage who never see a family member or friend. They are like children and say the darndest things to make you laugh.
With love,
Regina
Dr. Amy’s 7 Habits of Healthy Skin July 13, 2009
I have been thinking alot about the health of skin. Living in Florida I see a lot of Lovely golden baked skin patched with bandages from earlier dermatologist scrapings. Here are some suggestions from Real Age about Lifestyle.
Go to Skin beauty building recipes
Wondering what you can do to nurture healthy, vibrant skin from the inside out? Tackle stress! Make Dr. Amy’s seven habits — which are the heart and soul of her book, The Mind-Beauty Connection — part of your life. Then, watch every inch of you — but especially your face — start to look younger, less stressed, more alive. Each step chips away at the nonstop pressure and tension that can age you 6 years or more. Use the 9-Day Renewal Plan to get the stress wrecking-ball rolling.
- Practice Deep Breathing
Shift your body’s balance of oxygen versus carbon dioxide in favor of energizing, stress-squashing oxygen by doing slow, controlled breathing exercises. Here are three good ones.
How often? Aim for twice a day.
Why do it? When you focus on your breathing, you’re not focusing on anything else (your to-do list or the late babysitter). That mental shift helps remove stressors, bringing you to a deeper level of consciousness, a place where you can put things into perspective.
Release the repressed anxiety trapped inside you by putting your body in motion for 30 minutes or more.
How often? Do something — anything — every day, because exercise only tames stress for a maximum of 24 hours. So to reap the most benefits, you need to do it daily. If you prefer, tuck 10-minute pockets of activity into your day — at lunch, after dinner, right after you get up and the house is still quiet. Find ways to sneak fitness into your schedule.
Why do it? Staying active boosts circulation, which delivers more nutrients to cells and skin. It also increases lung capacity, so you can take in more oxygen; lifts your spirits and sense of well-being; and fights age-related diseases. Plus, for many, it’s the ultimate stress reducer.
Reduce the allure of sugary, fatty foods — which are as bad for your skin as they are for the rest of you — by eating more lean protein: fish, eggs, poultry, low-fat dairy foods, and even walnuts. Also, try to be more aware of what you reach for — and how much you consume — when you’re stressed. Get some pointers on mindful eating.
How often? All day, but especially early on — morning protein helps curb afternoon cravings.
Why do it? Protein is key to avoiding mood swings and energy dips. It helps you maintain a healthy blood sugar balance, which in turn keeps certain hormones (including insulin) in check. Bumping up your protein intake also gives you more energy and fights hunger pangs, which can play games with your moods.
Pick up a notebook you particularly like, and at the end of each day, make a list of things for which you are truly grateful. Or write down three things that went well, and why.
How often? Nightly, as part of your winding-down routine.
Why do it? Keeping a journal that records the good things in life helps shift your focus to what you’re doing right, and that can put a brake on the stressful, negative chatter that often goes on in your head.
Make it a goal to sleep as many hours as you need to feel alive and productive the next day — all day.
How often? Every night.
Why do it? Sleep is free cosmetic medicine, pure and simple. When you ask Dr. Amy what single thing makes the biggest improvement in how a stressed-out person looks, she says, “Sleep.” Nothing exacerbates stress and etches in lines like exhaustion.
For most of us, life is so hyperscheduled and speedy that we never do absolutely nothing. It’s rare to set aside time to simply be — no agenda, no demands, no plan. (Just like a real vacation. See if you’re due for one.) Find a comfortable, quiet spot to sit for 10 to 15 minutes every day, stop all your hustling and bustling . . . and simply, by yourself, be still.
How often? Try for once a day.
Why do it? Slowing down for a little while helps create a sense of spaciousness in your life, a break in the nonstop whirl that can open the door to new perceptions, new solutions, new possibilities. It gives your brain, your psyche, your whole being a break. Like one long, peaceful sigh.
Enjoy a little intimacy.
How often? At least once a week.
Why do it? All kinds of age-defying, beauty-promoting events happen during sex as three seductive hormones spill out of the brain: endorphin, a natural opiate, which contributes to that delicious high; prolactin, which gives you that relaxing, tension-zapping “ahhhhhhh”; and soothing oxytocin, which promotes feelings of affection and triggers a nurturing instinct.
