Internal Cleansing for Better All Round Health

By Fiona R Robertson 
What does it mean to be clean? Well, in todays' society we usually think of being clean as showering, taking a bath or putting on fresh clothes. Being clean used to have a whole different meaning as far back as 1500 BC when the Egyptians were not only cleaning their bodies externally but internally too.

Early proponents
Colon hydrotherapy, more simply known as an enema, originated with the Egyptians around 1500 BC. They partook in the cleansing activity at least several times a month. Enemas used to be such a normal
part of life that kings and queens would actually discreetly engage in the process while socialising. While most of us probably don't want to take it that far, internal cleansing with enemas can be part of a regular health regime.

Over 2,000 years ago, Hippocrates, the well-known Greek physician, used enemas to treat fevers. His philosophy? Treat the whole body, not just the part that seems sick.

During the late 1800s and early 1900s, Dr. John Harvey Kellogg, best known for his societal contribution of Kellogg's Corn Flakes®, advocated the use of enemas on a grand scale. The doctor used proper nutrition, physical activity and enemas to treat illnesses associated with the GI tract.

What, how and when?

What are enemas and how do they work to benefit our health?

Enemas use nature's gift of pure, clean (warm) water to gently fill the colon. The water stays inside for a few minutes, facilitating the release of the mucoid plaque which lines our intestines. This plaque is indicative of all the toxins we have accumulated over the years. If you have ever seen an image of mucoid plaque, you will know it is a motivating sight. You will want to rid your body of this unsightly mass pretty quickly. In addition to its' unappealing aesthetic properties, the plaque inhibits the absorption of nutrients. No matter how well you might eat or how many nutrients you take in, if your body can't absorb them they are completely useless.

When is a good time to cleanse? Internal cleansing can be done whenever you find your digestion is sluggish, e.g. you have constipation, feel a cold coming on or you are lethargic and bloated. Cleansing with an enema carries away toxins, especially when accompanied by fasting or a diet regime that releases toxins into your bloodstream.

You may be wondering if this is a safe process. Enemas only engage the sigmoid colon or the part of the large intestine closest to the rectum, making it a totally safe practice.

What ails you?

Internal cleansing is credited with alleviating symptoms for hundreds of ailments. They range from severe migraines to high blood pressure, from colitis to lupus and from uterine fibroids to diabetes.

Being unclean bogs us down emotionally, physically and spiritually. Imagine what you can accomplish when you are set free from the waste and toxins that have accumulated in your body over your lifetime.

Benefits

Your energy level will soar, your cells will come alive, the unwanted weight you've never been able to get rid of will go and your overall strength will improve. Cleansing is the best skincare program I know about too.

Your complexion will shine and so will your eyes.

The yoga connection

"Walking is man's best medicine." Hippocrates prescription sounds like something from a modern-day healthcare provider. Clearly he advocated physical activity and exercise as a component of being healthy.

Where does the practice of yoga fit in to all this? In addition to all the other benefits derived from internal cleansing, the ability to practice yoga more effectively is another one. Whether your yoga preference is Hatha, Iyengar, Kundalini, Astanga or power yoga, cleansing will help you push past what you thought were your body's limits.

You are lighter, stronger and free! You have extra endurance, strength and flexibility.

Do you suffer from arthritis? Inflammation of the joints has become a common ailment in today's society, making even simple movements painful. This leads to inactivity and weight gain. Internal cleansing will release the calcium deposits on your joints making bending and stretching easier and more enjoyable. Your mobility will be greatly improved. In fact, any sport will benefit from internal cleansing.

1-2-3 Clean!

The Egyptians and Hippocrates also practiced fasting along with the use of enemas, with the earliest records of fasting dating back 10,000 years.

The complete internal cleansing process involves fasting, detoxing and enemas. Fasting means no food, allowing your body and your digestion to take a well-deserved break. Detoxing utilises psyllium fiber and bentonite. Psyllium pushes unwanted debris through and out, while bentonite takes on the toxins as if they were their very own with the enema completing the process. Cleansing the colon through the use of enemas, along with detoxing and fasting maximizes the benefits you will see and feel.

Hippocrates told us "Healing is a matter of time, but it is also a matter of opportunity." If we take the time and the opportunities made available to us in the form of knowledge and professional support, we will find renewed health. Internal cleansing leads to innate healing which frees the mind body and spirit. This enables the body to take its' natural course and find health again.

About Fiona

Fiona is the creator of the Home Detox Box, a 7 day DIY internal cleanse and detox program you can follow at home. Fiona runs regular cleanse retreats at Retreat Biarritz in France. She is a dynamic mom of 2, has incredible amounts of energy, passion and determination, and brings her huge heart into everything she does. She has poured her soul into this project - and it shows.

My Passion; Detoxing, fasting and choosing to cleanse the body are best done regularly, in the Spring and Autumn when we change our diet. It works best just after the full moon. However cleansing and eating raw food do not need to be seen as a strict or a religious activity, It is more beneficial to see it as a fun and a valuable way to keep you running on full steam all year.

My aim is to make cleansing as accepted as eating a healthy diet, taking regular exercise and taking full responsibility for your health.

Fiona is the creator of the Home Detox Box, a 7 day DIY internal cleanse and detox program you can follow at home. Fiona runs regular cleanse retreats at Retreat Biarritz in France. She is a dynamic mom of 2, has incredible amounts of energy, passion and determination, and brings her huge heart into everything she does. She has poured her soul into this project - and it shows. http://www.homedetoxbox.com and http://www.retreatbiarritz.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Fiona_R_Robertson

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Green Tea Health Benefits - How the Green Tea Diet Can Help You Shed Pounds!

By Cornell Dayne 
If you watch television, listen to the radio or glance at billboards, you've noticed that everyone wants you to try some kind of diet. There are the fancy celebrity-endorsed diets, the expensive food-delivery diets and the rather unfulfilling liquid diets. Countless others spring up every year. Most of them fall into oblivion within months.

The green tea diet, however, has been used in one form or another for centuries. While ancient Chinese tea drinkers didn't think of their habits as a "diet," they enjoyed the amazing health benefits that green tea offers. Today, Western culture is catching on to what it can do.

Green tea differs from black tea in that it is made using fresh leaves. Black teas are fermented prior to use, but green teas are made by pan-firing, or steaming, the fresh leaves. This process results in the finished product carrying higher levels of epigallocatechin gallate, or EGCG.

EGCG is a chemical that is thought to slow down the aging process. It may even help to prevent certain conditions, such as cancer and cardiovascular disease. A study in China suggested that green teas may also help lower cholesterol. The controlled study showed that people on a green tea diet lowered their cholesterol by 16 percent in just three months.

While the scientific community is still debating the full extent of the chemical's benefits, people who drink it regularly report feeling a difference. They feel energetic and healthier overall.

One of the most often-noted benefits of drinking the green beverage daily is its reported effect on metabolism. Certain compounds in it are said to boost the amount of calories burned doing everyday activities. By helping you burn more calories during the day, believers say that it helps keep their waistlines trim.

Does it really work, or is it all hype? The jury is still out for the most part. It's hard to measure how much of an effect green tea might have on weight loss, making it challenging to prove any effect at all.

It's easy to assume that drinking it will have at least an incidental effect on the amount of calories you burn. It contains caffeine (though less than coffee or black tea), so it can increase energy. That in itself may be enough to spur some dieters to drop a few extra pounds. And for people who are sensitive to caffeine, green tea is a great way to get a small shot of energy without the jitteriness of coffee.

But some devotees say it is much more than an incidental effect. They believe that the antioxidant properties coupled with the increase in metabolism help the pounds come off much faster than with diet and exercise alone.

Dieters who are on medication should be aware that compounds in green tea may interfere with certain medications. Consulting your doctor before you start this tea diet (or any diet) is a good idea to avoid any unwelcome surprises.

While most people choose to sip a cup or two of green tea every day, it is also available in capsule form. Green tea pills vary in dosage and effectiveness, so you may need to experiment with several before finding one that works for you.

Overall, the it is worth a try for just about anyone looking to shed some weight. In essence, the green tea diet is simply a healthy diet with an emphasis on fresh foods and green tea. The extra energy that you get from the small amount of caffeine may be enough to spur you to exercise more.

However, just like with any dietary supplement, you can't expect the pounds to simply melt off. Losing weight takes hard work and dedication, and there is no magic potion. Green tea can help you get started on the path to a healthier life and a healthier weight, but it has to be backed up with a sound eating plan and regular exercise.

For more example on how tea can improve your health and life, feel FREE to visit our webpage at [http://www.japonicatafe.com]
And don't forget to sign up for our newsletter for your daily dose of delicious deals and tea drinking tips!
Again, visit us at [http://www.japonicatafe.com] NOW!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Cornell_Dayne

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Health Benefits of Eating Eel

By Lynne Evans

Eels may not appeal to you visually as they do look rather like black snakes, but they are nutritious, healthy, and taste very good - and you don't have to take my word for that! I love them and I didn't have to acquire a taste for them. I probably ate quite a few of the plastic cupfuls of
jellied eels before I realized what I was eating. My grandfather adored them and that was good enough for me. They are a meaty fishy thing as far as texture goes, but as they were in a jelly, they were also slippery.

London's East End is famous for its pie, mash and liquor, and its jellies or stewed eels. The working classes were eating them heartily in the 1800s and the tradition continues today. Tourists and locals alike can be found in the pie shops trying out the local 'delicacies' if you can call mashed potatoes and a meat pie covered in pea sauce which may have been made with the water leftover from cooking the eels.

Eels are good for you as they contain Omega-6 fatty acids, and so have all the benefits of other oily fish such as mackerel and salmon. They contain the minerals calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, potassium, sodium, selenium (the feel good mineral as I like to think of it), manganese, zinc and iron. As for minerals they are a very good source of vitamins A and B12 and also a very good source of protein. They contain no carbohydrates, but have 18 amino acids and vitamins A, C, E (in the form of Alpha-Tocopherol) k, The B-complex vitamins, B1, B2, B3, B6, folate, B5, B12 and choline. This means that they are heart healthy, protect the central nervous system, help vision, promote hair growth and help rejuvenate the skin, and of course there's selenium, good for the brain and a mood enhancer.

This year, the price of eels and elvers (baby eels) has sky-rocketed, partly because the populations in the Thames have decreased, and partly because people have woken up to the fact that eels are healthy and tasty too. In April 2012, American fishermen in Portland, Maine, were saying that a pound of eels could fetch more than $2,000. The season for elvers is short, being from February to May.

I will never forget the first time I saw these small, transparent, wriggling creatures crawling over the prawns and fish in Swansea market. I got over it though and ate them when we got home. You can still buy them there with the fresh cockles and laverbread (cooked seaweed). Jellied eels can be prepared at home, they are boiled in water and spices and the water is allowed to cool and then it becomes jelly as the eel is fatty, as I mentioned above. You can eat them hot or cold, and if you are in the East End of London, they will be served in a bowl, and you will be given them already chopped up as you traditionally eat them with a fork and spoon - no knife.

It seems as though they are not as cheap as they used to be- but they are just as tasty, so forget your prejudices and try them. They are good for you.

http://www.herbs-treatandtaste.blogspot.com If you found this article informative and liked the writing style, you might like this site which is all about the plants, herbs and spices which have health benefits for us. There are also recipes which are a fusion of Eastern and Western flavours.Why not click on the link and see what you think?

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lynne_Evans

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Home Workout Routines - Your Key to Health and Fitness

By John Rivers 
Home workout routines are becoming very popular. A WebMD article reported that "63% of American adults are overweight or obese" That means that there is a serious need to do something about our health and fitness. Busy work schedules and family life makes it very hard to find the time to go to a gym, so that's why finding good home workout routines
are important.

Everyone wants to be in shape and have a youthful looking body, but we all know that it takes time and effort. Let's get one thing straight from the beginning. We all know if we are honest with ourselves that there is no magic pill or quick fix to losing weight. It takes good nutrition and moving our bodies. That is the only way to properly lose weight and keep it off. We must feed our bodies with nutritious foods and find a good home fitness plan and make it a lifestyle. And that is what it must become a "Lifestyle".

Home workout routines, which ones right for you?

You can change your fitness level by simply taking a walk after dinner each evening or during your lunch break at work. But for some that just isn't possible. Most home workout programs can be done by using a good top notch DVD fitness workout. You have seen the infomercials for Insanity, P90X and 10 Minute Trainer. These are all good home workout routines, but which one is the right one for you? That's the most important thing to find out. You want a home workout routine that will keep you interested and that is fun. Because remember, it has to be a lifestyle in order to keep the changes in weight loss and fitness.

Do you like to dance or maybe you where a high school or college athlete. Maybe you have never done any type of exercise before and this is your first time. There are many home workout routines that can meet your needs. Maybe you have a busy schedule. Well there are home workout routines for you too. To put it simply, "There is no Excuse". It is time to think about yourself and take charge of your health and fitness.

One great thing about a good home workout is that they are economical. A gym membership will cost you hundreds of dollors a year. A good workout DVD will only cost you $40 - $120. The workout DVD's usually have different levels of intensity which will give you a great return on it's usabilty for many years.

3 Steps to Success

I believe there are 3 major steps you must take in order to have a successful home workout program.

1. Decide to do something about your health and fitness. If you don't see the importance in it no one else will.

Discover your "WHY". Why you want to make a change. It could be health reasons, frustration with your current lifestyle or any reason you can come back to when you are getting discouraged.

2. Commit to a program. There are many home workout routines to choose from to accomplish your goals.
Choose the right one for you.

3. Support - It is proven that a greater percentage of people that want to lose weight have a better chance to do so when they are supported or are in a support group.

Once these 3 steps are met you will be on your journey to good health and fitness. This will ultimately lead to you Success. No longer will you have to go to the gym or local fitness center to get into shape. You have the power to get a good workout right in the comfort of you own home. Make the decision to start your home workout routine today and you will not regret it.

John Rivers, an Independent Team Beachbody Coach, and his wife Beth enjoy helping individuals reach their health and fitness goals. Their unique support style through social media is a very integral part of their accountability model. Find more info on home workouts at HomeWorkoutsWork.com and sign up to Join their "private" Facebook group and start reaching "YOUR" goals today.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Rivers

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10 Ultimate Ways to Manifest Happiness, Health and Well-Being in the New Year

By Kevin Hufford 

Happiness, health and well-being are the "Ultimate Three Aspects of Life" that you need to manifest so that you can experience an awesome life, reality and world.
I would like to share with you 10 WAYS, 10 AFFIRMATIONS and 10 MIND POWER QIGONG breathing exercises that I have done and continue to do and that you can use to set yourself on your road to happiness, health and well-being.

1. Make a grateful list                                2. Define what happiness means to you
3. Make meaningful goals                          4. De-clutter
5. Laugh out loud                                      6. Mind power qigong
7. Meditate                                               8. Let more fresh air in
9. Spend some daytime outside                 10. Spend some nighttime outside

 These are 10 excellent ways to begin your journey in the new year but can also serve as your guiding principles to create and manifest happiness, health and well-being on a daily basis throughout the year and beyond.

Happiness has been defined as a long-lasting and enduring enjoyment of life. It is simply really being in love with living. Happiness may be defined differently for you than for others. To me it is a state of being, reward for achieving good character and the pursuit of rational personal values. From my perspective some examples of important values are the positive and valued treatment of others, a creative and productive career, loving family relationships, successful friendships, positive social interactions and having fun things to do.

Health is of course the state of being where you are free from illness and injury. Health depends upon your positive success in each of your three planes of existence - the physical, the mental and the spiritual.

Well-being in popular usage usually relates to health. But, philosophically well-being is a much broader term that amounts to your notion of how well your life is going. The concept of well-being also includes what is "actually," truly, good for you and not what you may think is good for you. This obviously can vary greatly from person to person.

1. Make a grateful list

Get a pad of paper and a pencil and sit down in a quiet comfortable place. Focus on all the great things that you have and experience in your life that enhance your feelings of joy. Write these on your grateful list and place the list in a convenient location where you can read it each morning and new items to it at the end of the day.

Affirmation 1 - "gratitude is definitely the best way to attract more good things into my life."

Qigong Exercise 1 - Take a few abdominal breaths and relax. INHALE, imagine that you are standing outside on a beautiful night with a dark clear sky, stars shining bright everywhere and say to yourself, "gratitude is definitely the best way..." EXHALE, imagine that thousands of fine silvery threads emanate from your solar plexus and each connects to a star in the universe and say to yourself, "...to attract more good things into my life." REPEAT this for several minutes feeling your connection to the universe, the world and your reality.

2. Define what happiness means to you

Happiness is an attitude, not a physical state. It is a state of being. You need to make the decision to be happy and then go out and create the circumstances and find what makes you happy.

Affirmation 2 - "every atom of my being now resonates with joy and happiness."

Qigong Exercise 2 - Take a few abdominal breaths and relax. INHALE, imagine that warmth and happiness shines from you like the sun's golden rays and it lights up everything around you with positive happy golden energy and say to yourself, "every atom of my being now resonates..." EXHALE, imagine that everything that you lit up now reflects this warmth and happiness back to you and say to yourself, "...with joy and happiness." REPEAT this for several minutes and with each breath you feel warm and happy inside.

3. Make meaningful goals

You need a sense of purpose to thrive. It has been shown that people with dreams and aspirations are happier than those without. There are many areas of your life where you can create goals. Ask yourself, "What is my purpose in life?" "What do I really want to do in my life?" "What kind of life do I want to create for myself?" These questions will help you define yourself and your goals.

Affirmation 3 - "I focus completely on what I am doing and I am happy and grateful that my goal has been achieved."

Qigong Exercise 3 - Take a few abdominal breaths and relax. INHALE, imagine your goal in your mind's eye, see yourself performing the steps to achieve your goal and say to yourself, "I focus completely on what I am doing..." EXHALE, imagine that you have achieved your goal, create a really clear picture of your success and say to yourself, "...and I am happy and grateful that my goal has been achieved." Repeat this for several minutes and with each breath sense and feel the joy that completing your goal brings to you.

4. De-clutter

This is a really super concept and if you want a clear mind you need to de-clutter everything about your life. Specifically, and you may not even realize that this is affecting you, but a clean home is a clean mind and you really will feel better in an orderly environment.

Affirmation 4 - "I will not allow the space in my mind to be cluttered by things that add no value to my life."

Qigong Exercise 4 - Take a few abdominal breaths and relax. INHALE, imagine the cluttered areas of your home perhaps your cupboards, closets, bookcases, bathroom, kid's room and say to yourself, "I will not allow the space in my mind to be cluttered..." EXHALE, imagine what your home would look like all weeded out, clean and organized and say to yourself, "...and I have removed the things that do not add value to my life." Repeat this for several minutes and in the process sense how nice, how fresh your new organized life feels.

5. Laugh out loud

It has been shown through scientific research that laughing releases endorphins and lowers the levels of stress hormones that are circulating in your blood and body. Laughing is good for the soul and we all know how contagious it can be when in the company of friends and relatives.

Affirmation 5 - "I am lightening up, laughing more, playing more, and fully embracing all that's joyful in life.'

Qigong Exercise 5 - Take a few abdominal breaths and relax. INHALE, imagine yourself laughing, EXHALE and feel what it is like to be laughing and put a smile on your face. REPEAT this 6 times. Next place your right hand over your heart and gently place your left hand on top of it. INHALE as you press gently inward with both hands toward your heart, EXHALE as you softly vocalize, "haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa, ha, ha,ha,ha, haaaaaa" and focus on what you feel under your right hand, feel the stress leaving your body, feeling great.

6. Mind power and qigong

Through the use of mind power coupled with qigong you can create the Balance, Abundance and Flow that is necessary for stress-free living. You can manifest a higher, more positive state of being. Learning to control your breathing through qigong practice helps you manifest positive responses to the stresses, fears and anxieties that crop up during your day. Mindful breathing brings peace and contentment.

Affirmation 6 - "I use my breath and mind to increase my awareness of self."

Qigong Exercise 6 - Take a few abdominal breaths and relax. INHALE for a count 1-2-3-4, PAUSE your breath for a count of 1-2, EXHALE for a count of 1-2-3-4, PAUSE your breath for a count of 1-2. Repeat this 6 times. Now, INHALE for a count of 1-2-3-4 while saying to yourself, "I use my breath and mind..."

PAUSE for a count of 1-2, EXHALE for a count of 1-2-3-4 while saying to yourself, "...to increase my awareness of self...," PAUSE for a count of 1-2. REPEAT this 6 times. It is here that you can learn to control your body, mind and spirit.

7. Meditate

Through tons of scientific research, medical studies and according to the Dali Lama meditation not only decreases stress, but also triggers a neurological response that makes you happy.

Affirmation 7 - "focus and clearing my mind produces a healing stillness within me."

Qigong Exercise 7 - Take a few abdominal breaths and relax. Focus your eyes on the tip of your nose, INHALE slowly and feel the air as it flows past your nostrils, EXHALE slowly and again feel the air as it flows past your nostrils. REPEAT this 9 times making sure to feel the air as it brushes past your nostrils.

INHALE, feel the air and say to yourself, "focus and clearing my mind..." EXHALE, feel the air and say to yourself, "...produces a healing stillness within me." REPEAT this 9 times. When finished take a moment and reflect on how you are now feeling.

8. Let more fresh air inside

Very often the air inside your place of residence gets stuffy and stagnant. Open a window and let some fresh air in. Fresh air is invigorating and increases the levels of serotonin in your brain. Serotonin is a chemical that helps maintain a "happy feeling," and seems to help keep your mood under control by helping with sleep, calming anxiety, and relieving depression.

Affirmation 8 - "I am grateful for fresh air that comes through my window."

Qigong Exercise 8 - Sit near your open window where there is fresh air (do not sit directly in the draft and if it is chilly make sure you bundle up warmly), INHALE, expand your mind to feel and smell the fresh air and say to yourself, "I am grateful for the fresh air..." EXHALE and say to yourself, "...that comes through my window." REPEAT this for 5-10 minutes. Know that the fresh air is good for your health and mental well-being.

9. Spend some daytime outside

The outside, relative to the inside, is considered to be yang. Daytime is yang and therefore energizing. There is nothing like the bright outdoors, the air, the trees, nature and especially the daylight. Take a walk. Just taking a quick walk, even just down the street and back, can clear your mind and raise your mood.

Affirmation 9 - "Taking a walk in the daylight feels great. It gives me energy and lifts my mood.

Qigong Exercise 9 - Take a few abdominal breaths and relax. As you are walking INHALE to a count of your footsteps 1-2-3-4, then EXHALE to the count of your footsteps 1-2-3-4. REPEAT for several cycles until you have this pattern going nicely (adjust your breath or your walking speed if necessary). INHALE 1-2-3-4 while you say to yourself, "Taking a walk in the daylight feels great..." EXHALE 1-2-3-4- while you say to yourself, "...It gives me energy and lifts my mood." Make sure you smile at the end of each breath and repeat this for your entire walk.

10. Spend some nighttime outside

Nighttime is an awesome time to be outdoors. Compared to daytime it is Yin and thus it can have an immense calming and peaceful effect on your mind and spirit. You might try going stargazing. By looking out at the stars you can experience and really feel the limitless abundance of the Universe. Go out and find a spot relatively free of unnatural light and marvel at the beauty of the night sky and the wonders of the Universe.

Affirmation 10 - "I am being pulled by the infinite field of possibilities, to my true self and the life of my dreams."

Qigong Exercise 10 - Find a nice place outdoors at night where you can look at the sky with little or no extraneous light. Place your right hand on your abdomen so that your thumb covers your navel, then gently place your left hand on top of it. Breath normally, INHALE slowly, EXHALE slowly, as you imagine yourself surrounded by a blanket of universal energy. REPEAT this for 2 to 5 minutes. INHALE and say to yourself, "I am being pulled by the infinite field of possibilities..." EXHALE and say to your self, "...to my true self and the life of my dreams." REPEAT this for as long as you like. Enjoy the nighttime knowing that its peaceful Yin energy is soothing your body mind and spirit.

The above 10 ways are really awesome, inexpensive and in fact FREE ways to create and manifest happiness, health and well-being in your life. But, I think that an 11th and very beneficial way to manifest happiness, health and well-being is to share with others. To share with your family and friends by telling them, showing them and experiencing with them what makes you happy. Let them know the things that you are doing. Everyone can learn from each other so share your happiness, your health and your well-being with everyone that you meet. Together we can all move the universe and the world to a higher level of consciousness. Remember - It's Your health! Create It Now!

Kevin Hufford is a respected qigong master and teaches classes, seminars and instructor certification in upstate New York, the USA and Internationally. He is the founder of a new and revolutionary system called Mind Power Qigong. For more information and to CLAIM YOUR COPY of "It's Your Health, Create It NOW!" please visit - http://mindpowerqigong.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kevin_Hufford

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Oolong Tea Weight Loss For Health And Beauty

By Marshall Ross 
For many centuries Oolong Tea has been used for weight loss and is one of my favorites that we westerners should pay attention to. This tea is taken from the ancient Chinese tea culture and is a holistic weight loss method we can take advantage of.

This highly prized tea originated in the Fujian Provence's Anxi County in the Wuyu mountain range. Oolong tea went into production for the Ming household in the 12th century and was consumed by the emperor and his guests. The original Wuyi strains grown in Fujian are the most expensive and it is called Shui Hsien tea.

There are currently many varieties of Oolong Tea grown in China, Africa, Nepal, Hawaii, and Southeast Asia. The original Oolong Teas have been cultivated into sub varieties and are suited to taste by different production styles and horticulture methods expanding the teas flavor and aroma from thick and Smokey like coffee to sweet and fruity with a floral aroma and given names like Vintage Wuyi, Iron Goddess, and Black Dragon. I personally like the Black Dragon tea for the taste.

The benefits of drinking Oolong Tea are substantial because of its properties. This tea contains caffeine that stimulates the metabolism without being as harsh as coffee and also doesn't dehydrate the body like the caffeine in coffee does.

Oolong Tea also contains a powerful antioxidant called Egcg that repairs damaged cells and reduces the risk of heart attack and stroke.

L-theanine is an amino acid that occurs in the tea that regulates serotonin and dopamine levels to keep you from feeling hungry.

The caffeine in the tea is not as strong as coffee has a calming effect helping with focus and concentration.

This tea also hydrates the cells and skin instead of dehydrating like coffee giving you a healthy and more beautiful appearance.

These tea elements together promote focus, weight loss, health and beauty.

Steeping methods vary from traditional to modern but still require a few steps to extract the oils from the tea leaves to get the best flavor.

Water: Spring water or distilled water is best for steeping. Water with a high mineral content will react with the tea and change the flavor. Heat your water to 200 degrees F. and do not let the water boil.

Prepare your steeping pot with 2 teaspoons of Oolong Tea per cup of water and steep for 5 to 10 minutes. Quality teas can be used 3 or more times and taste better after the first steeping.

In Chinese culture tea making is considered an art form and is one of the essential elements along with rice, salt, soy sauce, fire wood, oil and vinegar. Tea drinking is associated with affluence, art literature, philosophy and self cultivation.

In my opinion with all of the benefits of drinking Oolong Tea it has become one of my favorites and should be incorporated into any weight loss program.

To get more information on Oolong Tea visit http://www.vegetarian-weightlossplan.com/oolong-tea.html

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marshall_Ross

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How to Lose Weight Without Causing Health Issues

By Brent Cullen 

There are tons and tons of people out there who are trying to lose weight and this is a good thing, but many of them are looking for ways to lose it quickly and this is not always a good thing. It can lead to many kinds of health related issues. Some of these may include sleep difficulty, mood changes, low energy levels, dehydration, cardiovascular issues and even muscle loss. If you are going to lose weight, you should have a detailed weight loss program mapped out for yourself that you are comfortable with and you should progress into it gradually instead of jumping into it in high gear to prevent health issues down the line.


It is a natural instinct to want to lose weight quickly, but you must first take your health into consideration and know what limits you can put your body through and those that you can't and then you can work out a plan that will keep you from exceeding them.

The first thing that you need to do is to keep eating and do not starve yourself to death by going on starvation diets as they can be extremely dangerous. When it comes to exercise, do not overdue it by taking on some brutal exercise regime. You should also avoid harsh juice detoxification methods. Exercise in moderation an average of 1 hour a day and do not use laxatives and keep an eye on your calorie count as you should be consuming an average of no less than 1200 calories a day.

You should also combine strength training with cardio. If you are trying to lose weight, cardio is good, but you should not use it by itself. You need the strength training because as you lose weight, you lose fat and that needs to be replaced by muscle that you are building as you lose it.

Do not do the same old exercise routine day in and day out and do not go into it full force. You need to keep it varied and start out slow and ease yourself into the program and that way, you will not only prevent injury, you will make your diet program a lot smoother and make the effects last longer.

You also need to stay away from useless calories that you pick up from eating such things such as desserts, sodas, potato chips, popcorn and different kinds of juices. These foods have no nutritional value for you and they can have a huge negative effect on your weight loss efforts. The best thing that you can do if possible is to completely cut these foods out of your diet.

Another important element of weight loss is that of portion control. You must be able to reduce the size of your meal portions in order to be successful with your plan. At times it may seem that you are eating a ridiculously small amount of food and if this is the case you might want to chew your food a lot more slowly and drink plenty of water because this will give you a feeling of fullness and make you feel more satisfied.

Make sure that you drink at least 8 full glasses of water each and every day.

Last of all, you need to make sure that you do not cut carbohydrates completely out of your diet plan as your body needs them for energy. You can cut out the bad ones such as those found in white bread. Replace them by consuming more fresh fruits and vegetables as well as wholesome and natural carbs.

I hope that you enjoyed this article and if you would like some great free information on eating healthy, than please visit my site where you will find some great tips to help you live a long and healthy life.

I am a 54 year old retired mill worker from Northern Maine. I am happily married with 3 wonderful boys. My main interests are my family and God. I own a eating healthy web site with great tips and information that is designed to help you live a healthier and longer life.
www.eatinghealthyhub.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brent_Cullen

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Free Foods List For Good Diabetic Health

By Kathi Jo Robinson 

Having the right foods available in your home or at work makes the job of preparation for your diabetic health a whole lot easier when you are trying to prepare a meal or snack.

Although no food (except pure water) is 100% free of all calories, fats, carbs, proteins, sodium, cholesterol etc., some foods are considered "free foods" if you maintain certain serving sizes on your daily diet plan.

These foods have earned the name free foods because they contain less than 20 calories per serving and less than 5 grams of carbohydrates.

 Most of the following items on this list is accompaniments. These are the ingredients you use to prepare a recipe. Many people forget to factor these items into their overall daily diet plan and end up eating way too much which can negate any of your good intentions.

So the following items, plus the allowed serving size permitted, can be utilized at 3 servings per day. These need to be spread out during the entire day though. If too much is used for just one meal, you have reduced the effectiveness of controlling your blood sugars. Any item with no serving size means it is allowed unlimited times per your choice.

Free Foods List

* Dairy Products

1. fat free cream cheese: 1 T.
2. fat free margarine: 4 T.
3. low fat margarine: 1 tsp.
4. fat free or low fat sour cream: 1 T.
5. fat free or low fat whipped topping: 2 T.

* Salad Dressings or Condiments

1. fat free salad dressing: 1 T.
2. fat free Italian salad dressing: 2 T.
3. salsa: 1/4 cup
4. fat free Miracle Whip: 1 T.
5. low fat Miracle Whip: 1 tsp.
6. fat free mayonnaise: 1 T.
7. low fat mayonnaise: 1 tsp.
8. ketchup: 1 T.
9. horseradish sauce
10. lemon juice
11. lime juice
12. mustard
13. vinegar

* Seasonings

1. flavoring extracts
2. spices * check sodium levels for added salt
3. garlic, fresh and powder (do not use garlic salt)
4. worcestershire sauce
5. tabasco sauce * check sodium levels for added salt
6. soy sauce, light: unlimited but check sodium levels
7. taco sauce: 1 T.
8. herbs, fresh or dried
9. pimento
10. cooking wines

* Miscellaneous

1. sugar free hard candy: 1 piece your choice of flavor
2. sugar free gelatin: 3 servings per whole day
3. sugar free chewing gum: 3 pieces total per day
4. all fruit jam or jelly: 2 tsp.
5. sugar free pancake syrup: 2 T.
6. sugar free sugar substitutes- unlimited, but preferably natural sweeteners, not man-made
7. non-dairy liquid creamer: 1 T.
8. non-dairy powdered creamer: 2 tsp.
9. non-stick pan cooking spray: unlimited
10. pickles: 1 piece (but check sodium level)

* Drinks

1. bouillon, low sodium only
2. carbonated or mineral water
3. cocoa powder, unsweetened: 1 T.
4. club soda
5. unsweetened coffee or tea: use extracts, lemon or lime juice or sugar substitutes
6. sugar free drink mixes or soft drinks- use sparingly, current research suggests the chemical sweeteners may lead to a toxic addiction which is poor for your health

So by carefully adding the above selections into your daily diet plan, you can effectively increase the flavor and variety of the foods you eat daily but still retain good diabetic health.

KJ Robinson
Being a member of a family of severe diabetics, I have often wished for a list of some of the everyday hints and tips which help us live an easier life. Therefore with this information and some other quick suggestions, please visit my website at http://www.allergy-and-diabetic-health.com/

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How To Tone Your Stomach:Health and fitness Advice Is Found Right Now!

By Leif Oakman

If you're going to embark on a muscle-building program, you might think you're looking at a long road ahead of you. There is more to building muscle than just working out, however. It is important to learn how you can efficiently build muscle in order to choose the right method that you can use in order to get the results you desire, quickly. These tips will help you learn how to build muscles.Visit here for How to flatten your stomach.

Never forget a pre-workout stretch. Your muscles should be warmed up prior to exercise, in order to avoid injury. Stretching after exercise can help, too, by relaxing your muscles while the start to recover from the workout. In addition to stretching, getting regular massages aids in muscle relaxation and recovery, a vital part of building muscle.

When working on muscle development, switch up the grip when lifting for the back. Perform deadlifts and rack pulls with a mixed or staged grip, in order to achieve more strength. A staggered grip will help you twist the bar in a singular direction, while at the same time, your underhand twists the bar in another direction. This will stop the bar when it starts to roll on your hands.

Your muscle building routine will make you stronger if it is effective. This means that you should gradually be able to lift heavier weights. If you are new to weight lifting, you should see an increase of approximately 5% in the weight you can lift every other workout session. If you consistently fall short of this goal, figure out what you might be doing wrong. If you find that you are weaker than your last session, it is possible that you were not fully recovered.

Consuming a sufficient amount of protein is a significant factor in building muscle. A wonderful way to get protein is by consuming protein supplements and shakes. Such beverages are especially useful following exercise and just prior to bedtime. To ensure that you shed pounds while building muscle, use a supplement daily. To gain muscle mass, try consuming around three per day.

It's important to limit working out to three or four times weekly. This can give your body time to recover. Over-training is a serious problem that can actually prevent you from getting effective results in the long run.

Keep track of your body fat during the muscle-building process. Don't just look at your weight, because you might be losing fat and gaining muscle. You may be disappointed if you focus on your weight, so it should not be used as a tool for charting your muscle-building progress, especially in the beginning.

A great way to keep your intensity and motivation level up when working out is to do it with friends. This could serve as positive encouragement, that could help you have the motivation needed in order to push yourself physically. This can ultimately help you build more muscle.

Working out muscles has several benefits that can help your life, despite not desiring bulkiness. It can give you a higher level of self-esteem, more strength, improve your joints, and even strengthen your lungs when combined with a light to medium cardio workout.

Do squats the smart way. Bring the bar down so that it rests near the middle of the traps. This places more demand upon your glutes, hamstrings, and hips, which can help you squat more weight than you originally could.

When training, try to do as many sets and reps as possible. Limit your breaks to less than one minute between each set of fifteen lifts or more. This can stimulate your lactic acids, which can help you build muscle. Doing this consistently while you train will optimize the amount of muscle built over time.

Developing a smart schedule for your muscle development workouts will keep your muscles growing and keep you from injury. Those new to muscle development should limit strenuous workouts to twice a week, while the more experienced and conditioned muscle builder should enjoy the workout around three times a week.

Perhaps you were willing to work hard at building your muscles before you read this article. Now, hopefully, you know the steps you need to take so you can efficiently and quickly build your muscles. Utilize the tips that you have read to assist you in achieving your goals of muscle growth.

About the Author:

In addition to these hints you are able to find out about Ways to a toned stomach and Toned stomach tips at www.tonedstomach.org

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Dangers Of Diet Soda Include Increased Heart Stroke Risk

Diet soda and salt, two mainstays of many diets have come under scrutiny by researchers who wonder what these things are doing to the body. A bit of unsettling new research suggests the dangers of diet soda may include boosting your heart stroke risk.

A separate study by the same team using data from the same source found that consuming high levels of salt was also associated with a higher stroke risk. In the US stroke comes third in the league table of leading causes of death (with heart disease and cancer in the first two spots) and kills over 137,000 a year.

The diet soda portion of the study saw a significantly increased risk for those who drank the diet versions of beverages, but not for those who drank regular soda.

Earlier work on soda intake found that people who had more than one of these beverages a day (either the regular or diet variety) had a greater chance of developing metabolic syndrome, which is a group of risk factors that up the chances of diabetes and heart disease according to experts.

To evaluate stroke risk in relation to diet soda, researchers looked at the soda drinking habits of just over 2,500 subjects. The participants completed food questionnaires that included information on how much soda they drank, what type it was, and how often they drank it.

During the nine years the participants were followed, 559 people had a vascular event, including both types of strokes - hemorrhagic and those brought on by clots (ischemic stroke).

The research team controlled for stroke risk factors like age, ethnicity, gender, levels of exercise, number of calories, smoking history and alcohol intake and still saw that participants who drank diets sodas every day had a 61% increased risk of stroke compared with those who didn't drink any soda daily. The team even controlled for metabolic syndrome, those suffering from hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis) and heart disease history and the link still was strong, though lower, at 48% increased risk of stroke.

The reason for the link between diet drinks and stroke risk remains unknown and the work did not show a cause and effect relationship. The research findings do suggest that drinking lots of diet soda every day might not be the best thing for the body... something to think about while waiting for more research to be done.

They also conducted a separate study that concluded a high level of salt intake was associated with a higher stroke risk. For this work the salt intake of 2,657 participants was examined, and followed for nearly a decade. During follow up, 187 ischemic strokes took place, with subjects who took in over 4,000 milligrams of sodium a day having twice the risk of stroke compared to participants who had less than 1,500 milligrams of salt daily.

The American Heart Association tells us that we should take in a maximum of 1,500 milligrams of sodium a day, while the current Dietary Guidelines for Americans call for intake under 2,300 milligrams daily, with those over 51 years old, or who are part of specific groups such as those who have high blood pressure, kidney disease, diabetes, or are African American advised to stick with 1,500 milligrams.

Your best bet, if you're concerned about heart stroke risk and the dangers of diet soda is to avoid all forms of soda on a daily basis and keep your salt intake under the recommended allowances. A slip once in a while won't hurt you, but high, regular daily intakes just might.

FREE Bonus Secret Health Reports - For a limited time you can grab 5 FREE essential health reports from the Daily Health Bulletin. Click through now to discover more about the health dangers of diet soda and why you should be avoiding drinking it.

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