Thursday 30 September 2010
We need more Peter Tatchell's in this World, yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!
One of the very few living folk that one has admired from afar for mamy years has finally been acknowledged and honored recently in the form of a blue plaque(Normally bestowed to people that have passed away first)outside his London home. Peter has fought and campaigned tirelessly for human rights and justice for decades and this simple gesture given by the people makes me incredibly-proud of him and others that selflessly give their time to promote peace and harmony throughout the world. We need more Peter Tatchells in the world! I'm very happy for him and a great day for unity and justice. Other folks I greatly admire include the Liberty campaigner and founder. Joanna Lumley for putting her TV actress fame to good use to highlight the Gurka's campaign for justice in their noble efforts in the world war.
Thursday 23 September 2010
Spiritual Diary: Friday, 24th September!
September 24th Perfection
If others fool away their time, you be lost in God. You will go ahead. Let your example change others’ lives. Reform yourself and you will reform thousands.
—Sri Sri Paramahansa Yogananda, in “Rajarsi Janakananda: Great Western Yogi”
If others fool away their time, you be lost in God. You will go ahead. Let your example change others’ lives. Reform yourself and you will reform thousands.
—Sri Sri Paramahansa Yogananda, in “Rajarsi Janakananda: Great Western Yogi”
Another 'I told you so' article published today in a UK daily publication
Why cavemen were better parents than we are today
Being a parent is an ancient art. And it seems we could learn a thing or two about child rearing by going back to the days of the hunter-gatherers.
Today's practice of leaving babies to cry, keeping them in buggies and car seats for long periods and not allowing them the freedom to roam outdoors is raising a dysfunctional generation, a psychologist claims.
Early societies had better ideas about being a parent than many 21st century families, according to Professor Darcia Narvaez.
Happy families: Early societies had better ideas about being a parent than many 21st century families, Professor Darcia Narvaez claims
Their children were cuddled and carried about, never left to cry, spent lots of time outdoors and were breastfed for years rather than months.
'Our research shows that the roots of moral functioning form early in life, in infancy,' she said.
'But child-rearing nowadays is increasingly depriving them of the practices that lead to well-being and a moral sense.'
More...Meet Triceratops' cousin: The amazing dinosaur with 15 horns that looked like a 'giant rhino with a supersized head'
Professor Narvaez led three American studies, including one looking at the parents of three year olds and how they compare with the child rearing of foraging hunter-gatherer societies of the past.
She found that unlike parents nowadays, ancient communities relied on extended families to look after their children or, as she said, 'people beyond mum and dad who also love the child'.
They were also more likely to promptly respond to a baby's crying and fussing.
'Warm, responsive care-giving like this keeps the infant's brain calm in the years it is forming its personality and response to the world,' said Professor Narvaez, who is based at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana.
'At the same time, our distant ancestors spent much of their time being held and caressed by their mother, forming a close bond. They were not spanked.'
Children also spent much more time outside playing and exploring rather than being kept indoors by themselves.
Studies have shown that children who don't spend enough time playing are more likely to develop hyperactivity and mental health problems, the psychologist said.
Breastfeeding is also an area of difference. Centuries ago, mothers would breastfeed children until the age of around five.
Humans have been foraging hunter-gatherers for most of their history. Farming gradually began to take over from the time of the last Ice Age 13,000 years ago, although some hunter-gatherer societies remain.
The findings, to be presented at a U.S. conference next month, run counter to current advice from parenting gurus to allow 'controlled crying' and to isolate misbehaving children on a 'naughty step' or in their rooms.
Professor Narvaez pointed to studies showing a decline in the well-being of American children over the past 50 years.
Separate research in Britain has also suggested an increase in mental health problems among children.
'There's an epidemic of anxiety among the young,' she said. 'Kids who don't get the emotional nurturing they need in early life tend to be more self-centred. They don't have the same compassion- related emotions as kids who were raised by warm, responsive families.'
Being a parent is an ancient art. And it seems we could learn a thing or two about child rearing by going back to the days of the hunter-gatherers.
Today's practice of leaving babies to cry, keeping them in buggies and car seats for long periods and not allowing them the freedom to roam outdoors is raising a dysfunctional generation, a psychologist claims.
Early societies had better ideas about being a parent than many 21st century families, according to Professor Darcia Narvaez.
Happy families: Early societies had better ideas about being a parent than many 21st century families, Professor Darcia Narvaez claims
Their children were cuddled and carried about, never left to cry, spent lots of time outdoors and were breastfed for years rather than months.
'Our research shows that the roots of moral functioning form early in life, in infancy,' she said.
'But child-rearing nowadays is increasingly depriving them of the practices that lead to well-being and a moral sense.'
More...Meet Triceratops' cousin: The amazing dinosaur with 15 horns that looked like a 'giant rhino with a supersized head'
Professor Narvaez led three American studies, including one looking at the parents of three year olds and how they compare with the child rearing of foraging hunter-gatherer societies of the past.
She found that unlike parents nowadays, ancient communities relied on extended families to look after their children or, as she said, 'people beyond mum and dad who also love the child'.
They were also more likely to promptly respond to a baby's crying and fussing.
'Warm, responsive care-giving like this keeps the infant's brain calm in the years it is forming its personality and response to the world,' said Professor Narvaez, who is based at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana.
'At the same time, our distant ancestors spent much of their time being held and caressed by their mother, forming a close bond. They were not spanked.'
Children also spent much more time outside playing and exploring rather than being kept indoors by themselves.
Studies have shown that children who don't spend enough time playing are more likely to develop hyperactivity and mental health problems, the psychologist said.
Breastfeeding is also an area of difference. Centuries ago, mothers would breastfeed children until the age of around five.
Humans have been foraging hunter-gatherers for most of their history. Farming gradually began to take over from the time of the last Ice Age 13,000 years ago, although some hunter-gatherer societies remain.
The findings, to be presented at a U.S. conference next month, run counter to current advice from parenting gurus to allow 'controlled crying' and to isolate misbehaving children on a 'naughty step' or in their rooms.
Professor Narvaez pointed to studies showing a decline in the well-being of American children over the past 50 years.
Separate research in Britain has also suggested an increase in mental health problems among children.
'There's an epidemic of anxiety among the young,' she said. 'Kids who don't get the emotional nurturing they need in early life tend to be more self-centred. They don't have the same compassion- related emotions as kids who were raised by warm, responsive families.'
Wednesday 22 September 2010
Full Moon Tonight!
An interesting and auspicious time to reflect and to meditate, perhaps?!!!
'God grant me the courage to change the things I can change, serenity for the things I can't and wisdom to know the difference...'
'God grant me the courage to change the things I can change, serenity for the things I can't and wisdom to know the difference...'
Tuesday 21 September 2010
Hydrator of choice(yaaaaaaaaaay for young green coconuts:)!
Coconut water is low in fat and calories, has no cholesterol, and has a natural balance of sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium- making it a healthy electrolyte drink. It has even been used intravenously to stabilize electrolytes.
Many people know of the healing benefits of coconut oil. Coconut water now joins the pantry’s medicine cabinet. Coconuts are anti-viral, anti-fungal and anti-microbial. The lauric acid in coconuts is also used to heal digestive tract disorders such as Leaky Gut Syndrome.
According to ayurvedic belief, coconut is carminative: meaning that it helps to prevent intestinal gas, aids in removing toxins and increases the digestive tract’s ability to absorb nutrients. Coconut balances acid levels and flushes toxins out. Ayurveda considers coconut a natural stress-buster.
The calming, cooling benefits of coconut water relieves burning sensations and hot flashes and “restores emotional stability in menopausal women”. This property of coconut water also makes it an excellent choice for liver problems, hepatitis or inflammation.
Since it regulates the functioning of the intestine, the coconut water propitiates to the user a smoother and pretty skin.
Beyond ingested, the coconut water can also be used directly on the face, for skin hydration.
Around the world women have used coconut products on their hair and skin as well as consuming it. It is a common ingredient in beauty products.
For your health, Coconut Water is:
Low in Carbohydrates
Low in Fat 99% Fat Free
Low in natural occurring sugar
Keeps the body cool and at the proper temperature
Contains organic compounds possessing growth promoting properties
Cures malnourishment
Effective in the treatment of kidney and urethral stones
Natural drink for feeding infants suffering from intestinal disturbances
Excellent oral re-hydration medium, an all natural isotonic for all ages
Re-hydrate naturally, free of added sugars or chemicals
Lower arterial pressure
Relieve spasms and stomach pain
Ease burns
Natural diuretic
Presence of saline and albumen makes it an excellent drink in cholera cases
Maintains the human body’s natural fluid levels
Can be injected intravenously in emergency cases
Found as a blood plasma substitute because it is sterile, does not produce heat, and does not destroy red blood cells and is readily accepted by the body
Helps in carrying nutrients and oxygen to cells
Excellent all natural water to drink while Relaxing, Meditating, Driving, Eating, Running, Aerobics, Working, Skiing, Mountain Biking, Exercising, Body Building, Surfing, Fishing, Snow Boarding, Working Out, Surfing, Physical Activities, or Exertion of any kind
Eliminate swelling in hands and feet
Normalize the intestinal function and raise metabolism
Heal damage induced by antibiotics and toxins in the digestive tract
Boost poor circulation
It is truly a life giving fluid. Our special harvesting and processing procedures allow us to package and pasteurize our natural Coconut Waters that are biologically pure, with no need for adding any preservatives. Exquisitely tasting and full of all the natural fluids, vitamins, nutrients, sugars, minerals and salts demanded and needed by everyone of all age groups. Coconut Water has no Cholesterol, is fat free and is naturally low in Calories!
Everyone should drink this fine all natural coconut water EVERY DAY, it is a Natural isotonic beverage for all ages.
Many people know of the healing benefits of coconut oil. Coconut water now joins the pantry’s medicine cabinet. Coconuts are anti-viral, anti-fungal and anti-microbial. The lauric acid in coconuts is also used to heal digestive tract disorders such as Leaky Gut Syndrome.
According to ayurvedic belief, coconut is carminative: meaning that it helps to prevent intestinal gas, aids in removing toxins and increases the digestive tract’s ability to absorb nutrients. Coconut balances acid levels and flushes toxins out. Ayurveda considers coconut a natural stress-buster.
The calming, cooling benefits of coconut water relieves burning sensations and hot flashes and “restores emotional stability in menopausal women”. This property of coconut water also makes it an excellent choice for liver problems, hepatitis or inflammation.
Since it regulates the functioning of the intestine, the coconut water propitiates to the user a smoother and pretty skin.
Beyond ingested, the coconut water can also be used directly on the face, for skin hydration.
Around the world women have used coconut products on their hair and skin as well as consuming it. It is a common ingredient in beauty products.
For your health, Coconut Water is:
Low in Carbohydrates
Low in Fat 99% Fat Free
Low in natural occurring sugar
Keeps the body cool and at the proper temperature
Contains organic compounds possessing growth promoting properties
Cures malnourishment
Effective in the treatment of kidney and urethral stones
Natural drink for feeding infants suffering from intestinal disturbances
Excellent oral re-hydration medium, an all natural isotonic for all ages
Re-hydrate naturally, free of added sugars or chemicals
Lower arterial pressure
Relieve spasms and stomach pain
Ease burns
Natural diuretic
Presence of saline and albumen makes it an excellent drink in cholera cases
Maintains the human body’s natural fluid levels
Can be injected intravenously in emergency cases
Found as a blood plasma substitute because it is sterile, does not produce heat, and does not destroy red blood cells and is readily accepted by the body
Helps in carrying nutrients and oxygen to cells
Excellent all natural water to drink while Relaxing, Meditating, Driving, Eating, Running, Aerobics, Working, Skiing, Mountain Biking, Exercising, Body Building, Surfing, Fishing, Snow Boarding, Working Out, Surfing, Physical Activities, or Exertion of any kind
Eliminate swelling in hands and feet
Normalize the intestinal function and raise metabolism
Heal damage induced by antibiotics and toxins in the digestive tract
Boost poor circulation
It is truly a life giving fluid. Our special harvesting and processing procedures allow us to package and pasteurize our natural Coconut Waters that are biologically pure, with no need for adding any preservatives. Exquisitely tasting and full of all the natural fluids, vitamins, nutrients, sugars, minerals and salts demanded and needed by everyone of all age groups. Coconut Water has no Cholesterol, is fat free and is naturally low in Calories!
Everyone should drink this fine all natural coconut water EVERY DAY, it is a Natural isotonic beverage for all ages.
Monday 20 September 2010
Spiritual Diary: Tuesday, 21st September 2010!
September 21st Right Activity
We will be seen on this stage of life again and again, until we become such good actors that we can play our parts perfectly, according to the Divine Will. Then the Stage Manager will say: “You need ‘go no more out.’ (Rev. 3:12). You have done My Will. You have played your part, and acted well. You did not lose courage. Now you have come back to Me, to be a pillar of immortality in the temple of My Eternal Existence.”
—Sri Sri Paramahansa Yogananda, “Man’s Eternal Quest”
We will be seen on this stage of life again and again, until we become such good actors that we can play our parts perfectly, according to the Divine Will. Then the Stage Manager will say: “You need ‘go no more out.’ (Rev. 3:12). You have done My Will. You have played your part, and acted well. You did not lose courage. Now you have come back to Me, to be a pillar of immortality in the temple of My Eternal Existence.”
—Sri Sri Paramahansa Yogananda, “Man’s Eternal Quest”
Thursday 16 September 2010
Note Book!
Lurch Spirooli is a must have! source: amazon.co.uk
Blender: 1st choice Green Warring Pro
Treats: People Tree Goody Bay
Essentials: Pedometer, journals for goals etc., essential oils(grapefuit, orange, etc.) Jojoba oil, boots, blazer, pjs
Blender: 1st choice Green Warring Pro
Treats: People Tree Goody Bay
Essentials: Pedometer, journals for goals etc., essential oils(grapefuit, orange, etc.) Jojoba oil, boots, blazer, pjs
Raw Chocolate Bliss!
Enjoyed and appreciated a substantial bowl of raw oat groats, prunes, cardamon, raw cacao powder and almond milk. Packed-full of antioxidants and brain-inducing neurotransmitters(as well as Mg for a healthy nervous system and skin-boosting sulphur:)that really boost your mood and well being. I've observed prior to commencing asanas raw cacao gives yoginis a flexible edge that can only enhance our daily practice to a deeper level. What more could you ask for? For a good online deal go to funkyraw.com(raw Cacao pwd from £9.97 for 500g:0). If you think the cook and processed dark raw chocolate is good you just wait to you try this, your healthy palate is in for a healthy treat! It's so versatile too. Great in your power smoothies to the morning to the most decadent celebration cake / treat / dessert.
Raw cacao, also known as raw chocolate or cocoa, is an increasingly popular healthy alternative to regular chocolate. It is an appetite suppressant so it can help in losing weight. It makes you feel good too since it’s a natural anti-depressant. Raw chocolate is also great in raw puddings and makes a satisfying snack.
It's down to the perfection of extraction of this most antioxidant-rich, most PURE and ridiculously great-tasting 100% Raw Cacao Powder...
This super delicious Cacao Powder, produced to ecological standards (totally free from agro chemicals) is created by freshly cold-pressing Cacao Beans into a cake which then separates the oil from the protein and fibre. The temperature is never allowed to exceed 120 degrees Fahrenheit and is usually 104 degrees F (all other cocoa powders are exposed to temperatures as high as 300 degrees Fahrenheit!), with a high-accuracy thermometer monitoring the process. Slowly, the pure, liquid cacao butter begins to sift off down a stainless steel valve and the remaining dry 'cake-like' material is then cold-ground, fine-milled and sifted so that only the finest, most bio-available raw cacao particles filter through into the finished product. This allows for maximum digestion and antioxidant absorption!
ORAC and more…
Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity is a rating scale the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) has developed: a high-tech way of measuring the ability of antioxidants to absorb cell damaging, wrinkle causing, tissue destructive free radicals.
It has been revealed that 25,200 ORAC units of Antioxidant power can be found in a single spoonful of Raw Chocolate Powder! This is approximately 955 ORAC units per gram.
This is much higher than most foods. In fact, it has been claimed that Raw Chocolate Powder has about 723% more (or about 7 times more) antioxidants gram-per-gram than typical dark chocolate, which is supposedly the bench mark for ‘healthy’ chocolate in ‘cooked’ terms, and isn’t even nutritionally usable and beneficial in the long term to humans. While everyone else is singing the praise of dark chocolate - Raw Chocolate is way beyond that.
In Raw Chocolate Powder, much of the oil is removed, while nearly all of the active nutrients remain. For example...
The amino acid Tryptophan is found naturally in cacao, which enhances relaxation and promotes better sleep.
Researchers have discovered that phenylethylamine (PEA) has a positive effect in enhancing feelings of love and Chocolate has been proven to be an excellent source of PEA.
Raw Chocolate is the richest food source of magnesium of any common food. Magnesium is the number one mineral that assists and supports healthy heart functioning.
Raw Chocolate Powder has a high level of Arginine, the aphrodisiac-like amino acid believed by body builders to build muscle and aid in recovery.
Recommendations…
Add cacao powder to all your favourite smoothies, desserts, protein drinks, nut milks or anything else you can think of. Just one or two spoonfuls can transform any recipe into a healthy chocolate treat. It even goes great on top of fresh fruit!
Have you noticed the transformation of the lovely Kelly Osborne recently? I think she has blossomed into a very beautiful young woman(go Kelly:)! She now has the tiniest of waists!
Raw cacao, also known as raw chocolate or cocoa, is an increasingly popular healthy alternative to regular chocolate. It is an appetite suppressant so it can help in losing weight. It makes you feel good too since it’s a natural anti-depressant. Raw chocolate is also great in raw puddings and makes a satisfying snack.
It's down to the perfection of extraction of this most antioxidant-rich, most PURE and ridiculously great-tasting 100% Raw Cacao Powder...
This super delicious Cacao Powder, produced to ecological standards (totally free from agro chemicals) is created by freshly cold-pressing Cacao Beans into a cake which then separates the oil from the protein and fibre. The temperature is never allowed to exceed 120 degrees Fahrenheit and is usually 104 degrees F (all other cocoa powders are exposed to temperatures as high as 300 degrees Fahrenheit!), with a high-accuracy thermometer monitoring the process. Slowly, the pure, liquid cacao butter begins to sift off down a stainless steel valve and the remaining dry 'cake-like' material is then cold-ground, fine-milled and sifted so that only the finest, most bio-available raw cacao particles filter through into the finished product. This allows for maximum digestion and antioxidant absorption!
ORAC and more…
Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity is a rating scale the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) has developed: a high-tech way of measuring the ability of antioxidants to absorb cell damaging, wrinkle causing, tissue destructive free radicals.
It has been revealed that 25,200 ORAC units of Antioxidant power can be found in a single spoonful of Raw Chocolate Powder! This is approximately 955 ORAC units per gram.
This is much higher than most foods. In fact, it has been claimed that Raw Chocolate Powder has about 723% more (or about 7 times more) antioxidants gram-per-gram than typical dark chocolate, which is supposedly the bench mark for ‘healthy’ chocolate in ‘cooked’ terms, and isn’t even nutritionally usable and beneficial in the long term to humans. While everyone else is singing the praise of dark chocolate - Raw Chocolate is way beyond that.
In Raw Chocolate Powder, much of the oil is removed, while nearly all of the active nutrients remain. For example...
The amino acid Tryptophan is found naturally in cacao, which enhances relaxation and promotes better sleep.
Researchers have discovered that phenylethylamine (PEA) has a positive effect in enhancing feelings of love and Chocolate has been proven to be an excellent source of PEA.
Raw Chocolate is the richest food source of magnesium of any common food. Magnesium is the number one mineral that assists and supports healthy heart functioning.
Raw Chocolate Powder has a high level of Arginine, the aphrodisiac-like amino acid believed by body builders to build muscle and aid in recovery.
Recommendations…
Add cacao powder to all your favourite smoothies, desserts, protein drinks, nut milks or anything else you can think of. Just one or two spoonfuls can transform any recipe into a healthy chocolate treat. It even goes great on top of fresh fruit!
Have you noticed the transformation of the lovely Kelly Osborne recently? I think she has blossomed into a very beautiful young woman(go Kelly:)! She now has the tiniest of waists!
Friday 10 September 2010
September 10th Effort
September 10th Effort
You should make a greater effort. Forget the past and trust more in God. Our fate is not predestined by Him; nor is karma the sole factor, though our lives are influenced by our past thoughts and past activities. If you are not happy with the way life is turning out, change the pattern. I don’t like to hear people sigh and ascribe present failure to past-life errors; to do so is spiritual laziness. Get busy and weed the garden of your life.
'Each miniute of life should be a Divine quest'
Sri Sri Paramahansa Yogananda, “Sayings of Paramahansa Yogananda”
You should make a greater effort. Forget the past and trust more in God. Our fate is not predestined by Him; nor is karma the sole factor, though our lives are influenced by our past thoughts and past activities. If you are not happy with the way life is turning out, change the pattern. I don’t like to hear people sigh and ascribe present failure to past-life errors; to do so is spiritual laziness. Get busy and weed the garden of your life.
'Each miniute of life should be a Divine quest'
Sri Sri Paramahansa Yogananda, “Sayings of Paramahansa Yogananda”
Thursday 9 September 2010
Healthy Muffins!
Ingredients (for 6 muffins):
Half a Butternut squash (there’s a vegetable in my muffins!!)
100g Brown Rice flour
150ml Soy milk
0.5tsp Bicarbonate of soda
1 Egg white
Grated Lemon rind (of 1 lemon)
1 tsp Lemon juice
1 tsp Vanilla extract
Half a Butternut squash (there’s a vegetable in my muffins!!)
100g Brown Rice flour
150ml Soy milk
0.5tsp Bicarbonate of soda
1 Egg white
Grated Lemon rind (of 1 lemon)
1 tsp Lemon juice
1 tsp Vanilla extract
Monday 6 September 2010
Gotta admit she's looking-good on it(Inspirational:)!
Dr Enid Taylor, 54, is a naturopath and lives in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, with second husband Glen, 56, a colon hydrotherapist. enid has three children, aged 27, 33, and 35, from her first marriage.
Height - 5ft 6in
Dress - 10 to 12
Weight - 9st 9lb
People constantly mistake me for being about ten years younger because I've got a good figure.
I put it down to a raw food diet and colonic irrigation every three week - where the bowel is flushed out to cleanse the system - at a cost of £75 per treatment. I don't have a gym membership and I don't do any exercise, although we have a treadmill at home and I spend a lot of time gardening.
After having my third child I went up to a size 16, in spite of the fact I'd alway
been fairly healthy, eating muesli for breakfast and cooking meals - such as shepherd's pie and beef bourguignon - from scratch.
But in 1997, I changed my diet, cutting out wheat and dairy initially. I slimmed right down and felt 15 years younger immediately.
That was until I hit the menopause in my late 40s and gained about 20lb that I just couldn't shift. I tried a slimming club for six months, but I didn't like it. Then I discovered the raw food diet and the weight fell off. Eating a raw diet gives me a feeling of both energy and calmness. I follow it for about eight months of the year.
During winter, I tend to succumb to things like roasted vegetables, and if we go to someone's house for dinner, I always eat what they've made because a day off doesn't do any harm.
Ordinarily I start my day drinking what I call 'Shrek' juice because it's bright green like the ogre. It's made of spinach or kale, with cucumber, celery, lemon, lime and apple. Lunch is crackers with avocado or hummus, and dinner is a salad with a delicious olive-oil dressing.
Colonic irrigation costs around £75 a time, cleans out my system and has cured me of constipation. It keeps my stomach flat and gives me a bounce in my step. It's not enough to look good for my age - I want to feel good, too.
Raw food might sound extreme and my family think I'm a crank, but it makes perfect sense to me to live off the land rather than destroy the valuable vitamins and enzymes in food through cooking.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1309347/How-YOU-pay-great-body-One-blew-11-000-surgery-relies-walks-park-Look-women-decide.html#ixzz0ykkwAArg
Height - 5ft 6in
Dress - 10 to 12
Weight - 9st 9lb
People constantly mistake me for being about ten years younger because I've got a good figure.
I put it down to a raw food diet and colonic irrigation every three week - where the bowel is flushed out to cleanse the system - at a cost of £75 per treatment. I don't have a gym membership and I don't do any exercise, although we have a treadmill at home and I spend a lot of time gardening.
After having my third child I went up to a size 16, in spite of the fact I'd alway
been fairly healthy, eating muesli for breakfast and cooking meals - such as shepherd's pie and beef bourguignon - from scratch.
But in 1997, I changed my diet, cutting out wheat and dairy initially. I slimmed right down and felt 15 years younger immediately.
That was until I hit the menopause in my late 40s and gained about 20lb that I just couldn't shift. I tried a slimming club for six months, but I didn't like it. Then I discovered the raw food diet and the weight fell off. Eating a raw diet gives me a feeling of both energy and calmness. I follow it for about eight months of the year.
During winter, I tend to succumb to things like roasted vegetables, and if we go to someone's house for dinner, I always eat what they've made because a day off doesn't do any harm.
Ordinarily I start my day drinking what I call 'Shrek' juice because it's bright green like the ogre. It's made of spinach or kale, with cucumber, celery, lemon, lime and apple. Lunch is crackers with avocado or hummus, and dinner is a salad with a delicious olive-oil dressing.
Colonic irrigation costs around £75 a time, cleans out my system and has cured me of constipation. It keeps my stomach flat and gives me a bounce in my step. It's not enough to look good for my age - I want to feel good, too.
Raw food might sound extreme and my family think I'm a crank, but it makes perfect sense to me to live off the land rather than destroy the valuable vitamins and enzymes in food through cooking.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1309347/How-YOU-pay-great-body-One-blew-11-000-surgery-relies-walks-park-Look-women-decide.html#ixzz0ykkwAArg
Sunday 5 September 2010
Life Essential's: Water H2O!
As a dermatologist, pharmacist and researcher, I have always rooted my practice
in the idea that skin care can lead to overall health.
The skin, after all, is a microcosm of the entire body – it reflects what is going on inside.
The key to vibrant health from the inside out lies in maintaining strong cells that can retain water the way younger cells do.
If you can repair your cells’ membranes (from brain cells and heart cells to connective tissue and your outermost skin cells) while attracting water and nutrients to them, you can fight ageing and disease.
The future is organge: The water contained in carrots is surrounded by molecules that help it seep into cells easily, which slows down the ageing process
You can help your body to heal and rejuvenate itself, so you not only look fantastic but you also feel healthier and revitalised.
Most people I know accept signs of ageing such as weight gain, fatigue and familial patterns of disease as inevitable. The truth: upwards of 80 per cent of longevity is attributed to lifestyle, not genes.
WHY YOU’RE ONLY HALF WATERContrary to popular belief, you are not 75 to 80 per cent water. You were once – when you were fresh from your mother’s womb. But now you’re closer to 50 per cent water.
Since those early years, internal and external factors have damaged your cells and weakened their ability to retain water. This explains the signs of ageing that
probably emerged in your early 30s: your skin began to become drier, sleep
patterns changed, digestion slowed and your energy wavered.
WASTE WATER AND WELLNESS WATERThere are two types of water in your body – wellness water inside your cells, and waste water floating between your cells, the kind that will age you and make you feel fat and sluggish.
Puffy eyes, swollen ankles and a bloated stomach are all signs that the body is not
handling water efficiently. This damage can occur anywhere, including in the blood vessels, heart, skin and liver. Wellness water sustains cellular activity and allows you to remain healthy.
SO NOT ALL WATER IS EQUAL?Why is water from a berry better than plain water? The water in fruits and vegetables
is surrounded by molecules that help it get into cells easily. For this reason, I encourage patients to eat – not drink – water.
Fruit and vegetables are rich in healing antioxidants. They also contain trace
minerals and B vitamins your body uses to metabolise carbohydrates, fat and protein.
EAT TO KEEP HYDRATEDIt’s easy to get 2.5 litres of water a day without drinking copious amounts of water.
Almost all food has some water in it, but natural whole foods have the most. Colourful fruits and vegetables concentrate their water with nutrients – this is the best form of water for you, because it stays in your system long enough for you to put it to good use.
THE WATER TABLE● Watermelon, cucumbers, 97 per cent wate
● Tomatoes, 95 per cent
● Aubergine, 92 per cent
● Peaches, 87 per cent
● Carrots, 88 per cent
● Wholewheat bread, 33 per cent
● Cooked kidney beans, 77 per cent
● Roast chicken breast, 65 per cent
● Baked salmon, 62 per cent
● Cheddar and blue cheese, 40 per cent
GO RAWBoiling vegetables breaks down their cell membranes and allows water to leak out
from cells. This is why vegetables weigh less after being boiled and why I recommend eating as many raw vegetables as possible.
Most people get about 70 per cent of their calories from animal products, processed
food and junk food. Only about 30 per cent of their calories come from plants. Nearly
everyone in nutritional science believes that these percentages should be reversed.
MY CELLULAR WATER SECRET SMOOTHIE½ cup of pomegranate juice (unsweetened)
½ cup soy, non-fat milk
½ cup of blueberries (fresh or unsweetened frozen)
1 tablespoon lecithin granules
1 tablespoon ground flaxseed
2 tablespoons of dried goji berries
3-4 ice cubes or crushed ice (optional)
Combine all the ingredients in a blender until smooth. Every ingredient in this antiageing power smoothie contains the key nutrients and phytochemicals to optimise the water content in cells and strengthen connective tissue.
Amino acids, to encourage the formation of collagen and elastin tissue, are in the soy
milk. Lecithin maintains cell membranes. Antioxidants in the pomegranate juice,
blueberries and goji berries protect against free radical damage to cell walls.
Essential fatty acids in the flaxseed lock moisture into the cell. Anti-inflammatory
compounds in the ingredients of this smoothie soothe skin irritation.
This drink helps increase the water content of cells, reduce wrinkles and increase skin elasticity.
FAT FILEFat tissue is about 10-20 per cent water, while lean tissue (which includes muscle, bone and water outside muscles) averages 70-75 per cent water.
Because muscle is much heavier due to the water, those who gain muscle mass and
lose fat may not see the numbers tick down so fast on the scales, but their clothes
become much looser.
● www.murad.co.uk. The Water Secret, by Dr Howard Murad, is published by Wiley, priced £12.99. To order your copy at the special price of £10.49 with free p&p, call the Review Bookstore on 0845 155 0713 or visit MailLife.co.uk/Books
What is the water secret?When our cells are not fully hydrated they deteriorate and cannot function at their peak level. This leads to the tissue damage we refer to as ageing.
And as we age, we naturally lose water. It’s this water loss that makes it harder for our bodies to heal, to defend against invading bacteria and pathogens and keep the effects of hormonal imbalance in check.
But here’s the catch. You can’t just drink to replenish.
Healing power: Retaining water in our cells is vital
Many people believe drinking eight to ten glasses of water a day is the answer to hydration.
The Water Secret is not just about drinking water, it is about getting it into the cells and connective tissue and keeping it there so that every cell functions at full capacity.
If we want to make cell membranes stronger, encourage connective tissue regeneration and keep the immune response intact, we have to flood the body with nutrients.
in the idea that skin care can lead to overall health.
The skin, after all, is a microcosm of the entire body – it reflects what is going on inside.
The key to vibrant health from the inside out lies in maintaining strong cells that can retain water the way younger cells do.
If you can repair your cells’ membranes (from brain cells and heart cells to connective tissue and your outermost skin cells) while attracting water and nutrients to them, you can fight ageing and disease.
The future is organge: The water contained in carrots is surrounded by molecules that help it seep into cells easily, which slows down the ageing process
You can help your body to heal and rejuvenate itself, so you not only look fantastic but you also feel healthier and revitalised.
Most people I know accept signs of ageing such as weight gain, fatigue and familial patterns of disease as inevitable. The truth: upwards of 80 per cent of longevity is attributed to lifestyle, not genes.
WHY YOU’RE ONLY HALF WATERContrary to popular belief, you are not 75 to 80 per cent water. You were once – when you were fresh from your mother’s womb. But now you’re closer to 50 per cent water.
Since those early years, internal and external factors have damaged your cells and weakened their ability to retain water. This explains the signs of ageing that
probably emerged in your early 30s: your skin began to become drier, sleep
patterns changed, digestion slowed and your energy wavered.
WASTE WATER AND WELLNESS WATERThere are two types of water in your body – wellness water inside your cells, and waste water floating between your cells, the kind that will age you and make you feel fat and sluggish.
Puffy eyes, swollen ankles and a bloated stomach are all signs that the body is not
handling water efficiently. This damage can occur anywhere, including in the blood vessels, heart, skin and liver. Wellness water sustains cellular activity and allows you to remain healthy.
SO NOT ALL WATER IS EQUAL?Why is water from a berry better than plain water? The water in fruits and vegetables
is surrounded by molecules that help it get into cells easily. For this reason, I encourage patients to eat – not drink – water.
Fruit and vegetables are rich in healing antioxidants. They also contain trace
minerals and B vitamins your body uses to metabolise carbohydrates, fat and protein.
EAT TO KEEP HYDRATEDIt’s easy to get 2.5 litres of water a day without drinking copious amounts of water.
Almost all food has some water in it, but natural whole foods have the most. Colourful fruits and vegetables concentrate their water with nutrients – this is the best form of water for you, because it stays in your system long enough for you to put it to good use.
THE WATER TABLE● Watermelon, cucumbers, 97 per cent wate
● Tomatoes, 95 per cent
● Aubergine, 92 per cent
● Peaches, 87 per cent
● Carrots, 88 per cent
● Wholewheat bread, 33 per cent
● Cooked kidney beans, 77 per cent
● Roast chicken breast, 65 per cent
● Baked salmon, 62 per cent
● Cheddar and blue cheese, 40 per cent
GO RAWBoiling vegetables breaks down their cell membranes and allows water to leak out
from cells. This is why vegetables weigh less after being boiled and why I recommend eating as many raw vegetables as possible.
Most people get about 70 per cent of their calories from animal products, processed
food and junk food. Only about 30 per cent of their calories come from plants. Nearly
everyone in nutritional science believes that these percentages should be reversed.
MY CELLULAR WATER SECRET SMOOTHIE½ cup of pomegranate juice (unsweetened)
½ cup soy, non-fat milk
½ cup of blueberries (fresh or unsweetened frozen)
1 tablespoon lecithin granules
1 tablespoon ground flaxseed
2 tablespoons of dried goji berries
3-4 ice cubes or crushed ice (optional)
Combine all the ingredients in a blender until smooth. Every ingredient in this antiageing power smoothie contains the key nutrients and phytochemicals to optimise the water content in cells and strengthen connective tissue.
Amino acids, to encourage the formation of collagen and elastin tissue, are in the soy
milk. Lecithin maintains cell membranes. Antioxidants in the pomegranate juice,
blueberries and goji berries protect against free radical damage to cell walls.
Essential fatty acids in the flaxseed lock moisture into the cell. Anti-inflammatory
compounds in the ingredients of this smoothie soothe skin irritation.
This drink helps increase the water content of cells, reduce wrinkles and increase skin elasticity.
FAT FILEFat tissue is about 10-20 per cent water, while lean tissue (which includes muscle, bone and water outside muscles) averages 70-75 per cent water.
Because muscle is much heavier due to the water, those who gain muscle mass and
lose fat may not see the numbers tick down so fast on the scales, but their clothes
become much looser.
● www.murad.co.uk. The Water Secret, by Dr Howard Murad, is published by Wiley, priced £12.99. To order your copy at the special price of £10.49 with free p&p, call the Review Bookstore on 0845 155 0713 or visit MailLife.co.uk/Books
What is the water secret?When our cells are not fully hydrated they deteriorate and cannot function at their peak level. This leads to the tissue damage we refer to as ageing.
And as we age, we naturally lose water. It’s this water loss that makes it harder for our bodies to heal, to defend against invading bacteria and pathogens and keep the effects of hormonal imbalance in check.
But here’s the catch. You can’t just drink to replenish.
Healing power: Retaining water in our cells is vital
Many people believe drinking eight to ten glasses of water a day is the answer to hydration.
The Water Secret is not just about drinking water, it is about getting it into the cells and connective tissue and keeping it there so that every cell functions at full capacity.
If we want to make cell membranes stronger, encourage connective tissue regeneration and keep the immune response intact, we have to flood the body with nutrients.
Saturday 4 September 2010
Wise Words!
Keep your thoughts positive because your thoughts become your words. Keep your words positive because your words become your behaviours. Keep your behaviours positive because your behaviours become your habits. Keep your habits positive because your habits become your values. Keep your values positive because your values become your destiny. " Mahatma Gandhi
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