WOBBLY VEGAN ATHLETES

I have many athlete friends who are competing for international competitions. Many of them have seen the advantages of a vegetarian diet. But their coach has the impression that vegetarians have wobbly legs and are not very strong. For him, nothing beats the energy derived from meat. He thinks vegetarian athletes would definitely fare less in competitions than if they are carnivorous.

But what does an athlete need to compete at a high level of performance? He needs determination – he wouldn’t do well without it. Of coarse, proper training is indispensable. But without the right amount of energy, all these are meaning less.

We’ve learned of many different ways by which we can attain a high energy level; we’re also told to do the dos and don’ts of proper nutrition. Now, we can believe everything we hear – the nest is to objectively know how carbohydrates fuel the athlete’s body with loads of energy.

We are talking about two basics types of carbohydrates; starches (complex carbohydrates) and sugars (simple carbohydrates). “Blood sugar” or glucose comes from simple carbohydrates. This kind of sugar circulates in our body and supplies it with energy. Starch is the most common carbohydrates. It is made up of hundreds of chains of glucose units. Starch provides a longer-lasting source of energy, since it has to be broken sown before the body can utilizes it.

Glycogen is the result when the body converts simple and complex carbohydrates. Glycogen is stored in the muscles and the liver as energy reserve. Carbohydrates – simple or complex – basically provide energy, but it is more advisable to eat foods rich in complex carbohydrates. Such carbohydrates don’t cause a sudden shoot up of energy like simple carbohydrates, which leaves us with an energy slam.

Aside from being an excellent source of dietary fiber, complex carbohydrates usually contain large amounts of essential nutrients. Root crops like potatoes, sweet potato, cassava, ube, bean sprouts, whole grain breads and cereals, pasta are example of such carbohydrates. Suger foods only provide excess calories and leave you feeling listless later on.

Athletes interested in being vegetarians may wonder when it is the best time to eat to have more energy. Studies made at the University of Texas Exercise Science labs show that our bodies uses carbohydrates most effectively within two hours after a work-out. John Ivy suggest that the best way to fight fatigue and still feed the muscles is to eat a protein and carbohydrates meal shortly after exercising, this will maximize the absorption of essential nutrients.

Carbo-loading is commonly known to athletes. The theory behind it is that by “starving” skeletal muscles of their primary source of energy (glycogen) for a few days-by eating high carbohydrates food in much smaller amounts than normal and increasing exercise – you can coax the muscles into soaking up glycogen when foods high in carbohydrates are eaten shortly before competition. According to research, a meal heavy in carbohydrates can boost muscles glycogen by nearly 80% and enhance endurance, if not speed.

A typical carbo-load diet reduces one’s intake of complex carbohydrates by about 40%-60% and adds more protein, fats (from beans, nuts, and dairy products), and fruits. Then two or three days before competition, one must increase his complex carbohydrates to 70%-75% of his diet, and eat at least three big meals of carbohydrates, with some proteins and fats.

Doing this increases the stored glycogen in the liver and muscles. Then the body can easily retrieve the stored glycogen, which it converts to energy. Glycogen is burned first for energy, and then if more is needed, the fats are used. If there is low body fat, proteins in tissues are tapped to provide energy.

With the carbo-loading diet, some athletes report an increase in their sexual energy and a good feeling known as “runner’s high”. So, who says vegetarians have wobbly legs? In fact Mr. Coach, I have two vegetarian friends excelling in international competitions; one of them has been a vegetarian since birth.

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Holiday Heartburn

With the last minute of rush of Christmas shopping, the seat-burning traffic jams in the city, and the round of Christmas parties and late night binges, it is not surprising to find many people stressed out from the so-called holidays. One common complaint is heartburn, which, as one patient describes, is “like having a giant fireball struck in your throat.”

This condition is one of the many signs of gastroesophalgeal reflux disease (GERD), a common ailment felt by millions of people daily. In the US alone, it is estimated that over 100 million adults monthly and at least 25 millions daily are afflicted.

“Gastroesophageal reflux” is derive from a Latin term meaning “stomach to esophagus flowing backwards.” The stomach contains many digestive enzymes and acids. If these flow back into the throat and voice box, a person will experience discomforts like chest pains, indigestion, hoarseness, and sore throat, difficulty in swallowing and breathing, and coughing.

How would you know if you’re suffering from GERD, since its symptoms are similar to those of other ailments? Cardiovascular ailments, for one, have similar symptoms as heartburn. Among those who are more liable to develop the symptoms are women in the first trimester of pregnancy, late night eaters, obese people, tea and coffee drinkers, smokers and alcohol drinkers, those with collagen vascular disease, people over 60 and those with stressful lifestyles. Don’t these cover a majority of people?

The general publics are solution antacids and other prescription drugs, which are more in demand this season. In fact, you may have notice a lot of antacid advertisements, but the problem with taking these antacids and prescription drugs is that they do not really cure the ailment. Once you stop taking them, the symptoms persist. Aren’t we advertised to see a doctor when this kind of condition arises?

Even if you do have a variety of antacid brands to choose from, and regardless of what the drug companies may put forward about you’re “need” to stick to your products, hold on to your hard-earned money. Don’t rush toward to your local drugstore to get some. GERD is not a hi-tech disease. It is highly treatable by more conservative, non-drug

methods. According to medical literatures, 90% to 95% of GERD victims have been treated without medication.

A stressful life is experienced by those working in and out of the house. Sometimes, it

is non-stop work from the moment a person opens his eyes to the time he goes back to sleep. Although stress is not a direct cause of acid reflux, it nevertheless contributes to the problem. Acid in the stomach are increased with stress. High-fat foods, late night eating, strong coffee, cigarettes, and alcohol are the grids of a stressful lifestyle.

What is wrong with eating late at night? First of all, you’re fueling up a vehicle (body)

which is about to go to the garage (sleep). This may not be such an accurate analogy because fuel just stays in the vehicle while the body continues its metabolism process even while at sleep. Lying down after eating at night disrupts the body’s normal acid handling mechanism. With the body lying horizontally, the esophagus makes the acid reflux easier to reach the upper throat. Swallowing and saliva production is reduced at night, which further adds to the problem. Hence, the acid reflux is neither swallowed nor neutralized as effectively while sleeping.

To check and treat GERD, stay away from offensive foods and habits. Have a program correcting your dietary habits and adopt an exercise to promote weight loss and reduce stress. You can also tilt your bed to facilitate the pull of gravity so acids won’t reflux to your throat. This done by raising the head of the bed to four to six inches, having a strong support for the legs of the bed, or having firm pillows by your head. Over 90% of those who have done these simple techniques have been effectively treated. Again, if symptoms persist, go see a more aggressive therapy.

Take it easy with the feasting and partying this Christmas. Happy Holidays!!!

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Nature's Beauty Aids

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The skin is not just a superficial covering to be adorned and beautified. It is the body’s first line of defense. Also, through the skin pores, toxins are vented out of the body. The skin expresses the condition of he liver, pancreas and lungs, according to the Traditional Chinese medicines.

Just like the body as a whole need the right kind of fuel to metabolize properly, each skin cell must likewise receive food and your circulation determines the kind of nourishment it gets.

The market is flooded with various facial cleansers. But great caution is required since many commercial lotions and creams which are deemed harmless contain lead, mercury, antimony and bismuth which, when absorbed by the body tissues damage to the health of the skin. This is where the good habit of label reading comes in.

Perhaps, with the very hectic schedule, naturally concocting facial cleansers and creams might be quite demanding and difficult to do. But we can start off with using pure baby oil which will not only remove our makeup but naturally lubricate our skin. Heating and applying olive oil does some wonders to the skin, especially the eyes. Apply this oil in a circular manner to smooth out wrinkles and made those eyelashes silky. Remember the facial sauna, this streaming water will open the pores ad cleanse away the embedded dirt and oil.

Many advertisers capitalize on the idea that their product makes your skin good enough to eat. Hold it! I am not proposing some form of cannibalism here so people can devour you. But there is close link between cosmetics and food. Cosmetics should be made from natural ingredients such as plants and herbs. Since the skin sells should be nourished, you should be putting on our skin something that is really food. The simple rule is do not put anything on your skin that you can’t eat. Much benefit is derived from utilizing facial creams made from lemons, cucumbers, honey, strawberries, oats, and milk.

In to the countries, grandmothers in their younger days used oatmeal and cucumber as facial to soften their skin and prevent wrinkles. Vegetables are now recommended for everything involving skin care, and so are fruit extracts and creams made from papaya and carrots. Actually, you can eat the papaya and do not dispose the pulp. This can be used to scrub the whole body with. Our female ancestors used wines, whiskeys, brandies, and even beer as astringents to maintain that natural beautiful glow in the skin. They usually mix equal parts of whiskey with milk and apply it on the skin. After washing the skin, pat this mixture and leave it for several hours or overnight. In the middle ages, ladies of the French court of Louis XIV and other kings used the white of an egg together with camphor and alum to clear up blemishes and tighten the skin. The same mixture can also works for you today. This mixture can be applied in the neck and arms as well. The egg mask used for thousand of years was also combines with three ounces od honey to make a thick paste.

Cucumber juice is another old time favorite recipe: three ounces of cucumber juice, three ounces of distilled water and 1 and ½ ounce of rose water which can be locally purchased from Indian Specialty Stores. Rub this mixture into the skin with the finger tips. A refreshing hot weather beauty trick is to wash the face with cold water in which some cut-up cucumbers have been mashed.

Pimples, blackheads, and large pores can be treated using the facial mask we’ve mentioned. For minor blemishes, you can mix equal parts of pure lanolin, glycerin and castor oil. Melt this concoction over low heat, let it cool and keep in a glass jar. Apply to pimples until it’s healed. A word of caution: Never mix these ingredients is a metal container unless it is glazed or a heavily enameled ironware cooking pot. It is best use enamel, china, glass or earthenware.

Brown or yellow laundry soap applied to pimples will dry it off. Onion juice is an excellent remedy for pimples as well as for boils or skin infection. An easy remedy and ideal for travelers is the used of camphor which is available at any drugstores. Simply pat camphor at the pimples until it disappears. Squeeze gently and apply camphor. It may sting a bit but infection is prevented and the blotch quickly heals. Blotches are healed with boric acid dissolved in boiling water. Calamine lotion is also good, as it heals and stops itching.

Large pores are caused by incorrect cleansing, acne, blackheads, and improper diet. The buttermilk treatment acts as an astringent to the pores. Allow it to dry for ten minutes and rinse it off with cool water. Equal parts of apple cider vinegar and hot water can be used as facial wash to refine the pores. Camphor wash can also be substituted for water to refine the pores. Cornmeal and oatmeal, as well as alum powder, has been lauded by women trough ages as being very effective in reducing the pores and as an astringent.

Raw tomatoes had been used for centuries to tighten the skin. The tomato pulp contains vitamins, minerals and acids to cleanse the skin. The juice of lettuce, cucumber and poultices of bread and milk reduce large pores.
To ward off blackheads is to keep the face clean. Streaming daily and scrubbing with some natural soap and water are good. Rubbing the blackheads with lemon juice is an old remedy. Baking soda dissolved in 8 ounces of distilled water clears off blackheads.

I hope you can benefit from these natural beauty tips which date back not just from our grandmothers but from the middle Ages. They are very inexpensive, yet very effective. Also, don’t forget to have lots of exercise and a good healthy diet. These are essentials in producing that healthy, rosy skin glow.

Breathing Lessons

We may not be aware of it, but we breathe at a rate of 15 times per minute. When we are happy, we breathe in a rhythmic, deep and slow manner; when we are sad, we do so in a tense or depressed, gasping, sighing, shallow, fast and uneven way. Actually, we can control our breathing. A closer look at how nature designed our bodies reveals that man was meant to breathe primarily with his diaphragm, not his ribcage and clavicles.

Laziness, ignorance, smoking, pollution, constipation, and other factors have turned us into shallow chest breathers. Chest breathing uses the intercostals muscles between the ribs to forcibly expand the upper ribcage, lowering the air pressure in the chest so that the air enters by suction. This process leaves the lower lungs immobilized. Nothing is wrong with this, except that it takes about three times more of chest breathing to get the same amount of air into the lungs one can get from a single diaphragmatic breathing.

Clavicle breathing is even far worse than chest breathing. The clavicles of the collar bones are used to open up the upper portion of the lungs. Those with asthma or emphysema try to pant or breathe rapidly to get sufficient quantities of air pumping in the narrow little top pockets of the lungs controlled by the clavicles. This affects the heart which has too rapidly pump more blood through the lungs to compensate for the small surface area covered by the clavicle breathing.
We also do some clavicle breathing every time we are anxious or stressed out. Irregular, tense breathing can be caused by and lead to disorganized mental activity and chaotic thinking patterns, as well as physical, emotional and mental disease. Next time you feel uptight, change your breathing pattern. Take a few abdominal breaths, hold for a few seconds, then exhale long and slow. Your anxieties will melt away! Unfortunately, most of us forget how to do abdominal breathing.
Balanced Breathing
Two hemispheres of are responsible for different abilities and characteristic mode of expression of human individuality. The right side of the brains assumes the responsibility for the spatial, artistic, holistic, intuitive, and psychic side of our conception. The left side is responsible for our logical, rational, and analytical faculties and sequential and linear mode of the thoughts.
The left brain has the centers for verbal communication – reading, writing, talking and hearing. Our formal education uses more verbal than non-verbal communication, making much use of the left side of the cerebral lobe. The left side has the qualities of competitiveness, selfishness, and aggression or the male (yang) energy. The right side has the feminine (yin) qualities of love, compassion, and nurturing. Alternate breathing, or inhaling in one nostril as we close the other nostril with our finger, stimulates the opposite of the brain. This means that when we inhale through the right nostril, covering the left nostril, we stimulate the functions or qualities of the left side of the brain. Balance breathing through the right and left nostrils creates a balanced personality.

Dr. I.N. Rega, an EENT specialist in Bucharest, Romania conducted studies concerning nasal obstruction. One such study involved 200 patients suffering from one-sided nasal obstruction due to distortions and malformations of the nasal septum since birth. Dr. Rega found that 87% of those patients whose breath flowed predominantly on the left nostril suffered a higher than average incidence of a wide variety of respiratory disorders, including chronic sinusitis, middle and inner ear infections, partial or total loss of the sense of smell, hearing and taste, recurrent pharyngitis, laryngitis and tonsillitis, chronic bronchitis, and bronchiectasis.
He found that they eventually were more likely to suffer from one or more of these disorders; amnesia, intellectual weakness, headaches, hyperthyroidism (with associated irritability), cardiopulmonary weakness (manifesting in palpitations asthma-like-attacks, and chronic heart failure), insufficiency of liver and gallbladder, persistently altered cellular constituents of the blood and lymphatic fluid, chronic gastritis and enter-colitis (with symptoms of heartburn, gastric reflux, peptic ulcer and constipation), sexual and reproductive disorders (symptoms of dimunition of libido, menstrual irregularities, and diminished virility).

Twenty-six-percent of those whose breathing flowed predominantly through the right nostril were found to be predisposed to arterial hypertension and it’s numerous consequences.
Breathing Techniques
In his commentaries on the Tao Te Ching, Chuang Tzu, the second great Taoist master aster Lao Tzu, explains how the vital energy can flow through the body, giving its multiplicity of the benefits. “(Those) who attain longevity with the management (of breath), who forget all things and yet possess all things; whose placidity is unlimited, while all things to be valued attend them – such men pursue the way of heaven and earth, and display the characteristics of sages”. The whole body must be involved in the breathing process as this makes the blood circulate better, bringing oxygen to the extremities. To do so, a person can either use his mind to mobilize and bring the breath to the different vital energy centers along the spinal column or he can use movement. By doing Hatha yoga, chi kung or tai chi chuan exercises, a person mobilizes his energy around the body. It is said that men of ancient times used their heels to breathe.
Breathing through the heels is done standing with your feet apart as wide as your shoulders. Raise your arms forward as high as your shoulders while you inhale. Get the energy from the heels, by pushing your arms up against the pressure from the ground. This brings the energy you have gotten from the earth up the legs to the body and finally your arms. Exhale and press your hand down. The breathing must synchronize with the movement of your arms.

For asthma attacks or difficulty in breathing, do some deep abdominal breathing, as well as the following simple but effective breathing technique, which helps the constricted bronchi-oles of asthmatic patients.

Lie down on your back, your body straight. Put your palms on the floor, besides your body. Bring your legs together and relax your legs. Look straight forward. Exhale all the air from your body through the mouth in a continuous manner, as fast as, when you are whistling. The abdominal muscles should contract when you are exhaling.
Inhale slowly through the nose, expanding the abdomen. Keep the air in while stretching the toes forward, tightening the legs. Pull the stomach inwards and keep your hands stretched. There should be a mild tightening of the whole body. Hold this position for three to four seconds during the first week. Gradually increase to six to eight seconds during the second and third weeks. Retain air as long as it is comfortable for you. Then exhale again through the mouth. Repeat the exercise during inhalation. You can do three repetitions for the first time, gradually increasing, but don’t do over five repetitions. The stomach must be empty when doing this.

The Greatest Love

Maria was very concerned with how she looked, especially her teeth. She was just not pleased with her image on the mirror. She had gone dentist hoping, feeling that each had only made her look worse. She went to have her nose fix, but they did a poor job. Each professional only mirrored her belief that she was ugly. Actually there is nothing wrong with how she looked.
Tina had a terrible breath that made people uncomfortable being around her. She was a theology student so her outer demeanor vibrated with piety and spirituality. Beneath this was a raging current of anger and jealousy that exploded from time to time, when thoughts of how a certain person was threatening her position. Her inner thoughts were expressed through her breath, and she was offensive even when she pretended to love. No one threaten her but herself.
We may know of people in similar situation – we may even be in it. We may scold and criticize ourselves endlessly. There could have been a time when praises and compliments surprised us, even made us feel uncomfortable. Again, criticism or reprimand seemed be safer water to tread. And if someone else expressed their love, sometimes we may have felt, “Why me?” – Or “You might be mistaking me for someone you know.” The belief that we are unlovable seems to be prevalent.
There is a litany of other negativities that could be included: we procrastinate on things that could benefit us. We are quite afraid to charge a decent price for our services. We create illness or pain in our body. We live in chaos and disorder, as reflected in how our house is arranged or how we work. We may even be attracting lovers and mates who belittle us.
By denying ourselves of our good, we show how we regard ourselves. Try to see these examples:
The husband is grouchy and tired; the wife wonders what she could have done to cause it.
A friend takes you out once or twice and never calls again. You think something must be wrong with you.
The marriage ends and one feels he/she is a failure.
An employee is afraid to ask for a raise.
We don’t close the sale or get the position we aim for and we are sure we are not good enough.
We mistreat our body with food, alcohol, or drugs.
A person is afraid of intimacy and allowing anyone to get close, so he/she has superficial friendships.
We can’t seem to make decisions and put other people on the spot to make decisions for us because we are quite sure that if we make them they will be wrong.
What about you, how do you show your lack of self-worth?
Problems and situations may be different but at the root of all these is how much we love ourselves. Some of you might even react on this, thinking that loving yourself is vanity or some kind of arrogance, an utter to conceit. These are beliefs that have nothing to do with love, but springs from fear. When we love ourselves, we respect ourselves and express gratitude for the miracle of our body and mind.
Loving ourselves can burst and overflow in all directions. Consequently, we feel love for the very process of life itself. We feel joy in being alive so we see beauty everywhere, in another person. We are curious and strive to learn more about how the universe works in us. Love is the miracle cure. Loving ourselves cures and transforms our lives.
Thanks to Marilitz "thoughts".

Using Your Intuition

When an insight suddenly occurs to you, you have tap the trunk line of intuition. You can call this the buried sixth sense. Although uncalled for, intuition sends you clues about the world around you and often gives directions on what you need to do.

You heard about woman’s intuition. Some husband would wonder, “I don’t know how she found out without anyone telling her”. Women sure have a way of feeling their way, or smelling trouble even if its miles away if someone they love is involved. A woman’s intuition often gets erring husbands busted by their wives.

Intuition is also hot in therapists, doctors and even businessmen. People try to tap into their intuition for guidance in decisions about love, health and work. Effective doctors rely no just on their physical instruments for diagnosis, which could point to 101 diseases, but also in learning to hear and trust their intuition.

In the past, the cultivation of intuition was one of the major works of Egyptians, Chaldeans, Indians and Persians. The influence of their cultures extended beyond the great oceans. Today, intuition is developed enough for man to bring about greater cultures and civilizations. By opening our faculty of intuition, you can by-pass the traps set by the mind as dictated by modern civilization.
Your intuition can bring you information you won’t receive from any other source. If you are quiet and calm, you can experience how your intuition sends you messages and insights. This could even be happening right now. It’s just that you often dismiss these ideas because you were taught to think in a logical and rational manner.
If you let your intuition work, however, you’ll be surprised at how intelligent you seem to have become – certain concepts have become easily comprehensible, or you are able to “see” certain aspects not normally perceived by people. In fact, your intuition can also be like an inner doctor whom you turn to all kinds of advice. Your body gives you early warning signs on what is wrong with it; your intuition enables you to find out what is exactly and what to do about it.

Many people wonder if they are indeed in touch with intuition. We all have different ways of explaining it. It’s a feeling, a subtle turning or pulling in the navel area, which some people call the “gut instinct”. Sometimes, this sixth sense appears as a quickening of the heartbeat, hair standing on end, a queasy feeling, or a burning or tingling sensation. When something is right, you feel a sense of lightness, and when something is wrong, you feel heaviness.

The logical, conscious mind is compared to a big, bossy brother who drowns out and bullies the younger sister (or the intuitive voice) by dismissing its suggestions with quick, harsh, thunderbolt judgments. Try to trick your conscious mind once in a while and be uninvolved so you can find it easier to be intuitive.

As wise and knowledgeable as your intuition may be, don’t expect it to be totally relieving you of your decision-making responsibilities. Your intuition just provides you options to take, not absolute answers or solutions. You’re still responsible for weighing your intuitive impressions against the data found in reality and then making the ultimate decision. It’s never a question of preferring intuition over the intellect because you need both.

Without getting too esoteric, intuition can be an asset, health-wise. With the wisdom your body is telling you, you can collaborate with health practitioners. He, who feels it, knows it more. The doctors are only guide by what you tell them.
On its very deep aspect, intuition reveals three great qualities: illumination, understanding and love – a love that transcends all barriers, makes criticisms and produces separation. Intuition, according to a Tibetan sage, is synthetic understanding, a comprehensive grip of universality and loss of the sense of separateness. Intuition embodies universal love and identification with all living beings.

Next time, we will explore how to tap intuition and how to feel a lie or truth in your body.

The Luxury of Spas

Locate a patch of trees and expect to find water underneath as well. Just like plants, man can survive for many weeks without solid food as long as he has water to drink. Traditionally water is considered the source of all life. What magical powers water possess?
Immerse yourself in water and relieve the ills of the flesh. Known as hydrotherapy, this has been one of the most effective forms of medicine since the ancient times. Submersion in water allows tired tissues to relax and recover stamina. A warm bath stimulates circulation, luring blood to the body’s extremities to soothe, calm, and sedate.
On the other hand, cold water inhibits the circulation to the skin, redirecting blood to the vital organs in order to restore, energize, and build resistance to diseases. Bathing in a warm tub relaxes tense muscles, turning the mind inward and instilling that sense of peace as stress drifts away.
A spas bath is an extraordinary treatment when mineral-rich sea water or fresh spring water is used. For this reason, many of the sought-after spas in the world are located on coastal areas or adjacent to natural mineral springs. Coastal spas pump in sea water for thalassic therapy – Greek for “sea treatment”. The water is heated since it is believed that doing so increases the adoption of minerals.
Mineral water spas divert water gushing from its underground source into pipes connected to the treatment rooms. In a certain area, the quality of spring water may vary, some waters sparkling with natural carbonation, which increases circulation and flushes impurities out of the skin. According to those who bathe in such therapeutic waters, the bathe stimulates as well as relaxes the mind and draw out toxins from the body. These processes are intended to cool inflammation and makes muscles more supple. The water leaves the skin soft, velvety, and well-hydrated.
Right in your homes, create an ambiance that promotes rejuvenation. Turn off overhead lights, and use several candles instead. Play some lush, relaxing music. Diffuse the air and mix the spa water with some aromatic oils of aromatherapy. Decorate the rooms with flowers.
Water temperature is critical for an effective hydrotherapy treatment. For a relaxing bath, the temperature should be at 35degreesC for 10 to 15 minutes; sore muscles at 38degressC of five to 10 minutes. For an invigorating bath; five minutes at 18-24degreesC. You can use a kitchen thermometer to determine the water temperature.
If you prefer extremely hot baths, stay in the water no longer than five minutes. Hot water dries and tightens the skin and can leave you feeling “wiped out”. The Chinese believe that staying in hot water too long is unhealthy and drains your chi.
After bathing, splash yourself with cool water to tone and invigorate your skin. Cold water also closes the pores of the skin so you don’t get sick.
Massage is also an excellent compliment while you’re still in the tub. Natural sea sponges or loofah rolled down your back and shoulders stimulate and exfoliate the skin. A pumice stone can be used to remove foot calluses.
Plain water cleans very well. Don’t sit in a tub of soapy water. Doing so dries and irritates skin

Checklist to Long Life

The great sages of ancient India gave man a priceless gift – one that would promote the maintenance and protection of his health. The gift is the ayurvedas, the oldest scientific medical system in the world with along record of clinical experience. With its holistic approach of combining the body, mind, and spirit, the ayurvedas shows how to cure diseases as well as promote longevity. The desire to maintain fitness, health, and longevity is one of the common aspirations of man.
A healthy person has a balanced digestion and metabolism, such as the function of his tissues and waste materials are normal. In such a healthy state, he achieves a well formed constitution, an attractive appearance, good muscular strength, and complete peace of mind. With good health, he gains recognition in the society, friendship with all people, honor, and wealth, since he has the energy and ability to achieve his goals.
Long life is a cherished desire by most people. However for those who are continuously rocked and tangled by the stress and pressures of a high-strung society, long life is vied as a dreadful nightmare. Whether you consider longevity as a curse or blessing, there are physical signs to show you if you are a possible candidate for long life. This information is contained in the chakara samhita, which dates back to around 1,500 BC. Some of this signs are repeated but at least you know exactly what tissues are in optimal condition and which ones are not. Check how many of these signs you might have:
*The skin of the individual is soft, smooth, firm and fine. The forehead is prominent, in the shape of a half moon. The ears, when viewed from the front, appear small, but appear large when raised up and full of flesh when seen from behind.
*The eyes show their white and black parts distinctly. The eyelashes are thick and well set. The nose is straight and moderately prominent, with large nostrils and the end rose up somewhat. The lips are red but not protruding. The jaws are large, as is the mouth. The teeth touch each other and are glossy, smooth, white in color, and equal ion size. The tongue is red, long, and thin. The chin is big and well-formed. The nails are thin, red, and rose up slightly. The hands and feet are rather large, glossy, full of flesh, and red-dish. The fingers are long and, when placed together, do not leave any space between them.
*The back of the body is expansive and the spine covered with flesh. The voice is deep and resonant, with a nasal sound to it, and lingers after speaking. The skin is glossy and vibrant. All the bones are appropriately proportioned and capable of separate and easy movement. The joints are well-knit and strongly connected by muscle and blood, strong and full of flesh. The flesh and blood are best quality, in the right proportion, and all the limbs are ideally juxtaposed.
Such individuals of proportionate musculature and compactness of the body possess very good strength. With these, they can defend themselves from the onslaught of disease. They can stand hunger, thirst, heat, cold and severe physical exercise. They can digest and assimilate large amounts of food properly.
The optimal condition of the blood is seen in the quality of the skin – glossy, smooth, soft, attractive, thin, and tender. This glossy and red color is also seen in ears, mouth, tongue, lips, nose, palms, and soles of the feet.
When the muscle tissue is in the best condition, the back of the neck, forehead, temples, eyes, chin, shoulders, stomach, breast, and joints of the hands and feet become solid, strong, attractive, the voice deep and pleasing, the hair and nails soft and glossy.
When the bone tissue is in the best of health, you have large and well-formed heels, ankles, knees, elbows, collar bones, chin, and forehead. The other bones, nails, and teeth are large, compact, and steady. You know that your nerve tissue is working well when you possess a very soft but strong body, deep voice, glossy skin, and long, rounded joints. When the reproductive tissue is functioning well, you have an attractive personality, a joyful temperament, glossy, strong teeth, hair, nails, full red lips, and a good sexual capacity. Thanks to Marilitz "thoughts".

PAST LINKS FROM THE PAST

We often say that, “Don’t cry over spilled milk.” The past is done over and done with. We should turn the book of life if we want to get anywhere. We cannot change the past. Why delve in it when the present already offers much to think about? Is there any value in the past?
The past may be gone but it has left its imprints in the present. We are what we are today
because of the past. Our thoughts, attitudes, our beliefs today are results of the past. In fact, the impression may be so deep that we may be pushing now because someone had hurt us before. Some people put up a hard façade as a form of defense from the pain. Deep resentment patterns influence us today.
Why wait to be the life’s knife-edge and panic before we resolve these resentments? Now is the time to dissolve and resolve these resentments. In the state of panic, it will be very difficult to focus the minds on the healing work. So right now, we simply have to take some time off to deal with those hidden fears first.
If we believe we are helpless and victims of the past, nature will support us in that belief. We vindicate ourselves and foolishly go down the drain due to such beliefs. This is why we must release ourselves from outmoded, negative ideas, and beliefs that we are not maintaining nor nourishing us. As I’ve told my friends,” Why do you’ve need to strap this heavy load on your back? You don’t need to. You can snip it off and be a happier person.”
To release ourselves from the past, it is vital that we forgive not just others, but especially ourselves. Forgiveness may not come that easily. We may not know how nor even want to forgive, but if we are aware that we must and, at least, are willing to forgive, our healing process begins.
For us to heal, it is essential to release ourselves from the past and forgive everyone. “I forgive you for not being the way I wanted you to be. I forgive you for your shortcomings and set you free.” To come to the point of even saying that may take a lot from us but this is how we heal ourselves.
In the Course of Miracles, it is stated, “All disease comes from a state of unforgiving” and “Whenever we are ill, we need to look around to see whom it is that we need to forgive.” When we are ill, we need to search from within the depths of our hearts to see whom it is we need to forgive. Quite revealing that the very person whom you’re least incline to forgive is the one you need to let go of the most. When we forgive, it doesn’t mean we now condoning or consenting to that person’s behavior or the situation. Forgiveness means letting go. We may not even know how to forgive but to bring to ourselves to want to do so invite nature to step in and take care of the rest.
No one understands our own pain as much as we do. It is easier for us to lock ourselves in what we are going through and forget others who are involved in that experience. Often, it is also difficult for us to understand that those we need to forgive the most are also in pain. We need to understand that those people are doing the best they can with the understanding, awareness and knowledge they have at the moment.
Just as we accept others and try to understand the way they are, we should the same to ourselves. Again, this not to condoned nor justify any mistakes we’ve made, but this must be an acceptance and love for ourselves. From there, we can work out what needs to be done. The past can be change by changing our attitudes about it. But first we must not reject or punish ourselves. This creates many miracles in our life in terms of an improved health, more fulfilling relationships and even more money. We begin to loosen up and express ourselves in more creative, fulfilling ways. It’s almost like magic: everything seems to happen without our even trying too hard.
When we love and approve of ourselves, we create a space of trust and acceptance which in turn creates some organization in or mind. More loving relationships in our life, attraction of a new job and a better place to live in. people who love themselves and their bodies neither abuse neither themselves nor others. Charity begins at home. No charity begins with oneself.
Thanks to Marilitz "thoughts".

Nature's Warning Signs

No one gets sick overnight. Usually, nature sends her warning signals every time there is a breach of any law. If the person ignores her signals, and continues with his present diets and habits, then nature has no other recourse but deprive the person of his normal functions.
For instance due to a person's bad diet, unclean habits, and other distressful activities, less urination occurs. More toxins accumulate in the body. In the Ayurvedic medicine, the fire of the stomach becomes weak, so there is loss of appetite. The ingested food then cannot properly breakdown, resulting in constipation or loose bowel movement. This, in turn , affects the quantity of impure blood produced. when there is improper oxidation of blood, wastes are not eliminated.
An accumulation of carbon dioxides and toxins slows down the function of a particular organ, thereby reducing its vitality and increasing its fatigue. These accumulated wastes inhibit the flow and penetration of the internal energy and the recharging needed by that organ. This is how diseases flourish around the particular organ, later becoming reflected on the specific areas of the person's palms and soles.
Before looking for or getting some treatment or relief, we must first understand the language of the body. Body signals like belching indicates that the stomach is full. An ache or pain in the certain areas shows congestion of carbon dioxide, water, fire element, air. Runny nose or sneezing means the body is trying to throw out excess water.
Cough signals that the body is feeling cold or congestion has to be cleaed up the throat and the chest.
Itching shows that a greater flow of blood is required around the affected part. Fever indicates the war inside the body, i.e., the white blood cells, our well trained soldiers, battling with germs or pathogenic bacteria.
Loss of appetite reveals that the congestion and constipation, or the body is busy fighting the disease. In such a case, only lukewarm water and fruit juices or buttermilk should be taken instead of further taxing the stomach with food. Pain in the heart or chest pains shows that the heart is longing for total rest. Try to have some bed-rest for 24 to 72 hours.
Understanding the language of the body and paying heed of its warning signals is more vital than just taking in medications to suppress the symptoms. In some cases, the sudden stoppage of fever has oftentimes resulted in some worst disease-even in paralysis.
To obtain a quick relief from the early warning signs of a sick body and to break the vicious cycle of diseases mentioned, health experts advise age-old methods to recharge our inner battery or to make the subtle internal energy or chi circulate properly. One method is pranayam or deep abdominal breathing, where the abdomen expands upon inhalation and contracts upon exhalation. Drink lukewarm water or an electrolyte drink like Gatorade.
Skip a meal or two. Reduce food intake and have more fruits and vegetables juices and buttermilk, thereby allowing the digestive system to rest. Sleep recharges the battery of our body. More valuable than medicine is a good sleep, especially when one feels tired, or when there is pain in more than two or three points in your palms and soles.
One of the vital points check is the solar plexus, or the nabhi chakra, which is located below the sternum.
According to the Ayurvedas, this is the controlling center for all the organs below the diaphragm. There are ways to also confirm if the solar plexus is in the proper condition. In the morning, on an e,pty stomach, when you lie down on a hard surface on your back, press your navel with your finger or thumb. Throbbing sensations like that of the heart is felt. That means that the system is alright.
Another way of checking the condition of the solar plexus is measuring the distance between the right nipple and the navel and the left nipple and the navel. If the distance is equal, then you have no problem, but if the center has shifted upwards or downwards, then you've got a problem. Also, you can lie on your back, keeping yours arms straight on your sides. Keep the legs straight and the toes upright.
The two big toes must be level. If they are not, it indicates a disturbance in the solar plexus.
The center shifts upward or downward when excess weight is lifted, or when there is severe gas trouble. In such cases, the throbbing will not be noticed somewhere around the navel. The upward shifting of the solar plexus leads to constipation, and the downward shifting brings more motions every time there is a pressure. If a person has cancer of the colon, there is chronic constipation and it has been found out that the solar plexus has moved upwards. It is advisable to check the position of the solar plexus before starting a treatment. The solar plexus is like the mains springs of a watch. Unless it is set right, treatment may not give the desired result. Thanks to FLICKER & Marilitz "thoughts".