Times They Are a Changing

Just in case you weren't feeling too old today, this will certainly change things.

Each year the staff at Beloit College in Wisconsin puts together a list to try to give the faculty a sense of the mindset of this year's incoming freshmen.

Here's this year's list:
The people who are starting college this fall across the nation were born in 1990.

They are too young to remember the space shuttle blowing up.
Their lifetime has always included AIDS.
Bottle caps have always been screw off and plastic.
The CD was introduced the year they were born.
They have always had an answering machine
They have always had cable.
They cannot fathom not having a remote control.
Jay Leno has always been on the Tonight Show.
Popcorn has always been cooked in the microwave.
They never took a swim and thought about Jaws.
They can't imagine what hard contact lenses are.
They don't know who Mork was or where he was from.
They never heard: "Where's the Beef?", "I'd walk a mile for a Camel", or "de plane, Boss, de plane."
They do not care who shot J.R. and have no idea who J.R. even is.
McDonald's never came in Styrofoam containers.
They don't have a clue how to use a typewriter.
Do you feel old yet? Notice the larger type, that's for those of you who have trouble reading... So have a nice day!!!!!

Restaurant Information

Picking healthy restaurant foods not so easy: poll
Picking the healthiest item on a restaurant menu is not as easy as it seems, according to a new poll that found most respondents were unable to identify the dishes lowest in calories, salt and fat.
In the poll, which was commissioned by the California Center for Public Health Advocacy, 523 respondents were given a choice of four menu items from popular restaurant chains and asked to select which were lowest in fat, calories and salt.
The first question asked people to choose which Denny's dish was lowest in calories: a ham and cheddar omelet, country fried steak and eggs, three slices of French toast with syrup and margarine, or three pancakes with syrup and margarine.
The answer? Country fried steak and eggs.
The poll's other three questions asked respondents to make similar choices about menu items from Chili's and Macaroni Grill, both units of Dallas-based Brinker International Inc., and from No. 1 restaurant chain McDonald's.
None of the respondents answered all four questions correctly, and 68 percent failed all of them. Less than 1 percent answered three of four questions correctly, and education and income levels had no impact, the CCPHA said.
The CCPHA said the poll's results contrast with the restaurant industry's claims that eateries "offer plenty of healthy choices and people just need to order better."
"I have a doctorate in public health, and I failed this quiz," Dr. Harold Goldstein, executive director of the CCPHA, said. "Common sense does not help ... who would think that a large chocolate shake at McDonald's has more calories than two Big Macs?"
In recent years, many chains, including Denny's and McDonald's, have voluntarily posted the nutritional information of their foods online or in their restaurants.
source:http://uk.reuters.com/
Those moves came as restaurant chains faced increasing criticism from health advocates and others for contributing to the prevalence of obesity among U.S. adults and children.
Eighty-four percent of the CCPHA poll's respondents supported requiring restaurant chains to post nutritional information.
About two-thirds of U.S. adults and 17 percent of children and adolescents are considered to be overweight or obese, according to federal health officials.

Mental Focus for Success

Mind Power and Success
By Remez Sasson
The mind plays an important role in every success. In order to attain any kind of success, in any field, with minor everyday goals or with major goals, you need to exercise your mind power.
In minor or day-to-day desires, one usually knows what he wants to do or get, but when it comes to major goals, people often do not really know what they desire. They desire to do something big, but they don't know what. One might have a vague idea and some vague desire, but this is not enough. To accomplish anything, and to use your mind power, you have to know exactly what it is you want to do. To focus your mind power on a goal, you need to have a clear and well defined goal. How do you go about that
You have first to think or meditate, to find out what is it that you want to accomplish or gain. For this you need focused and clear thinking. This ability can be improved and strengthened by practice.
After discovering what you really want to accomplish, you need to come up with a plan for action. You need to know what you have to do first and how to proceed. All of this requires planning, which means using the power of the mind.
After deciding on a goal and coming up with a plan, you need to hold in your mind a clear mental image of your goal. You need to see it accomplished. This step requires that you use your imagination, which is another power of the mind. Not everyone can visualize clear mental images, but regular training of the imagination can do wonders. You may, for example, look at photos of what you want to achieve, and then close your eyes, and try to see it in your imagination. This will enhance your ability to visualize.
At this point you have to display patience, self-discipline and the power to persist in your efforts. This requires a one pointed mind.
Affirmations are another useful mental tool for you to use. What you affirm sinks into the subconscious mind, becomes part of the subconscious mind, and consequently affects your behavior and actions. If your affirmations are positive, they lead you to success.
Another important power of the mind is thought transference. You need to be able to transmit your thoughts to other people, who would aid you with your plans. Often, you have to persuade others to invest in your plans or to help you in other ways. It is not enough just to talk with them, you need to believe in what you are saying; you need to be enthusiastic and persuasive, otherwise they won't listen and won't care. You need to be able to reject your and their doubts. To be able to do so, you need concentration, control over your thoughts, willpower self-discipline and patience. All these are mental tools and skills.
Motivation is another mental and emotional power that you require. How can you achieve anything if you are not motivated enough? To increase your motivation and enthusiasm, think often of your goal, about its advantages and benefits, and how it will change your life. Doing so, will strengthen and your motivation.
Your thoughts, which are part of your mind, possess power. The thoughts that you most often think tend to come true. If you pour your mental energy into the same thoughts or mental images day after day, they will become stronger and stronger, and would consequently affect your attitude, expectations, behavior and actions. These thoughts and mental images can even be subconsciously perceived by other people, who would then offer you help or opportunities. Your thoughts can also create what is usually termed as coincidence. They can attract into your life corresponding events, situations and opportunities.
Not every thought turns into reality. A thought has to be repeated often, and be tinged with emotions, in order to come true. Doubts fears and worries tend to destroy what you build with the power of your mind. This means that you need to clear your mind of negative thoughts and doubts.

source:http://www.successconsciousness.com/

Pregnancy and Back Pain

Evolution Tips the Balance in Mom's Favor
By Serena Gordon (HealthDay News)

Given that a woman's abdominal mass increases by a third during pregnancy, it's a miracle that such a significant shift in gravity doesn't have her tipping over during her final trimester.
Now, a new study describes a surprising set of anatomical reasons why the delicate balancing act works.
According to researchers, the female spine has evolved differently, most likely to accommodate the tremendous demands of pregnancy. Without these evolutionary adaptations, women would probably experience even more back problems than they already do during the gestational period.

"The maternal center of mass shifts forward about three to five centimeters during pregnancy, so that it's no longer beautifully aligned with the hips and feet," said study author Katherine Whitcome, a postdoctoral researcher at Harvard University's department of anthropology who began the research as a graduate student at the University of Texas at Austin.
Whitcome explained that the female body compensates for this shift in several ways. One is to recruit more back muscles. Solely using these muscles, Whitcome said, would quickly cause muscle fatigue and make women more prone to injury. Instead, the female back has evolved to allow three lower vertebrae to form a larger curve to support the growing fetus. In men, only two vertebrae form this curve, called lordosis, she explained.
Females also have a key hip joint that is larger and can flare out further, according to the study, published in the Dec. 13 issue of Nature.

"It's a nifty little package of adaptations. We see it in modern humans, but it's also apparent from the little bit of vertebral anatomy we see in earlier hominids," said Whitcome. "It seems part and parcel of the challenges of bipedalism [walking on two feet rather than four]." These changes would have allowed women in prehistoric times to continue to forage for food, as well as quickly avoid predators, she said.
Whitcome's study included 19 pregnant women between the ages of 20 and 40. The researchers found that when the women were standing, they naturally increased their spine's lordosis, sometimes by as much as 60 percent. Even when the women extended their hips only slightly, their lower backs were extended by as much as 28 degrees.

However, despite what appear to be nature's best intentions, back pain is still a common complication during pregnancy.
"Women, by and large, make pregnancy look so easy, but there are very few women who have experienced pregnancy who haven't had some back pain," said Whitcome. But, she added, "without these adaptations, I think this back pain would be exceedingly worse. I think these adaptations mediate some of the intensity of back pain."
Dr. Miriam Greene, an obstetrician at New York University Medical Center, agreed that "there's plenty of back pain in pregnancy," but said she wasn't convinced that the differences in male and female spines account for the majority of a woman's pregnancy stability.

"I think the reason why pregnant women don't tip over is that the placenta produces relaxin, a hormone released in pregnancy that spreads your pelvis, making it wider, and giving you a wider stance. That's why you walk like a duck when you're pregnant," she said.
Greene said a pregnant woman's center of gravity starts to shift slowly as she gains weight, with the majority of the shift occurring in the third trimester.
To prevent falls and back strain, Greene recommends wearing flat shoes, ditching heavy bags, taking extra care anytime you lift objects, and perhaps wearing a pregnancy belt. Additionally, she said that pregnancy exercise classes can help maintain the strength in your back.
More information
To learn more about preventing back pain in pregnancy, visit the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

Indian Wisdom

A little bit of Indian Wisdom, emailed to me by a friend., but good advice for everyone.

CHEROKEE SEASONS
The following pictures are of the same place but taken in different seasons..!

Lessons on Life

There was an Indian Chief who had four sons. He wanted his sons to learn not to judge things too quickly. So he sent them each on a quest.., in turn.., to go and look at a pear tree that was a great distance away.

The first son went in the Winter, the second in the Spring, the third in Summer, and the youngest son in the Fall.

When they had all gone and come back, he called them together to describe what they had seen. The first son said that the tree was ugly, bent, and twisted.

The second son said "no" it was covered with green buds and full of promise.

The third son disagreed; he said it was laden with blossoms that smelled so sweet and looked so beautiful. It was the most graceful thing he had ever seen.

The last son disagreed with all of them; he said it was ripe and drooping with fruit, full of life and fulfillment..

The man then explained to his sons that they were all right, because they had each seen but only one season in the tree's life.He told them that you can not judge a tree, or a person, by only one season, and that the essence of who they are and the pleasure, joy, and love that come from that life can only be measured at the end, when all the seasons are up.

If you give up when it's Winter, you will miss the promise of your Spring, the beauty of your Summer, the fulfillment of your Fall.

Moral:Don't let the pain of one season destroy the joy of all the rest. Don't judge life by one difficult season.Persevere through the difficult patches and better times are sure to come.
Live Simply. Love Generously. Care Deeply. Speak Kindly.

Leave the Rest to God.

Happiness keeps You Sweet, Trials keep You Strong, Sorrows keep You Human, Failures keep You Humble, Success keeps You Glowing, But God keeps You Going!

Christmas Boot Camp

Santa told to slim down for Christmas to 'set a good example'

November 2007
Santa is being told to shift the pounds before Christmas - because the obese saint is failing to set a "good example" for children.
The traditional children's hero, best known for feasting on mince pies left out on Christmas eve, has always sported a bulging midriff.
But shopping centre bosses are giving the well-wisher his marching orders - to the nearest gym - to tackle the increasing problem of obesity.
The revelation comes after a medical report earlier this month stated that by 2050 more than 50 per cent of Brits will be obese.

Bluewater shopping centre in Greenhithe, Kent, has even gone one step further and set-up a Santa boot camp.
Fiona Campbell-Reilly, spokeswoman at the shopping centre, said: "Santa has been around for years, but society has changed and our Santa needs to reflect this.
"Bluewater's Santa Boot Camp is getting Santa in shape and setting a good example to children who idolise him.
"He will still be the same lovable jolly man, but will be fitter and healthier."
Despite Santa burning 600 calories an hour from delivering presents, the problem lies in the tasty mince pies left as a treat.

If he ate every single mince pie left for him by eager children in the UK he would gain an astonishing 721,000 lbs.
Dr Charmaine Griffiths, spokesperson from the British Heart Foundation, said: "The bootcamp would encourage people to get a bit more active - it is a great idea.
"If you are budding santa or a hopeful elf, then we should all be taking steps to being fit and healthier at Christmas.
"Half an hour of exercise, three days a week could make your heart healthier. I think that like most of us, santa could be doing more to make himself that little bit fitter.
"He can have a pie every so often but try to squeeze in a few carrots as well."

source:http://www.dailymail.co.uk/

Christmas Guide

Found this one at Sparkpeople.com. A great little tool to help you get through the holidays.

31 daily tips that will each help you eat right, exercise more, and combat stress during the holiday season. Click here to download and print your December calendar. (You need Adobe Acrobat Reader to download this PDF.)

Make your holiday season the best yet.

Defining Your Own Limitations

He Did What He Had No Business Doing
The Story of Art Tatum
By Mike Kramer

Cheers to a boy who didn’t know any better.
Cheers to a man who didn’t let a little thing like reality stand in his way.
Cheers to a self-taught musician whose creativity and skill is the stuff of legend.
Cheers to Art Tatum, maybe the greatest jazz piano player who ever lived.
Art Tatum was remarkable before he was good. Blind in one eye, partially-sighted in the other, Art idolized Fats Waller like many boys did in the 1920’s. He wanted to play the piano, and he wanted to play like Fats.


That’s where he began. Where he ended up proves what you can do by shedding your self-imposed limits.
Born in Toledo, Ohio, Art stubbornly refused to close his dream off in fantasyland. He taught himself to play using Braille and piano rolls, and listening to the radio and phonograph. He imitated, he copied, he improved.
But here’s the really amazing part – Art didn’t know he was sometimes listening to two people playing. When he practiced, he was learning to play two parts of the same song at once! He had no idea, but he did it anyway. He learned it so well that years later, Oscar Peterson heard Art playing and thought ART was two people. He wasn’t the only one.
Art went on to star in the nightclub circuit that cruised through New York City, Chicago, Cleveland, Los Angeles and national radio. He created his own original and creative style that made great musical heads shake in awe and bow in homage.
Art took great pains to master his craft. He got so good at what he did that, over a two-day session, he cut 69 singles tracks – and only three needed more than one take.
Legends of Art’s skill seem almost plausible. One claimed that classical pianist Vladimir Horowitz was moved to tears upon hearing him play. It was also said that Art could identify the dominant note in a flushing toilet.

Limits – mostly false ones – can defeat us before we even start. Do you feel handicapped in some way? Does your knowledge that "there are two people playing" convince you that it’s not possible to do the same? Could your goals benefit from a little less knowledge and little more naïve faith?

Art learned that the "real world" is exactly where dreams belong. All the proof he needed came on a night when he visited a club where Fats Waller was playing. That’s when Fats – his hero, his idol, his main inspiration – told the crowd, "I just play the piano. But God is in the house tonight."
source:http://www.sparkpeople.com/

Odd Facts: Obesity

20 Things You Didn't Know About... Obesity
Money for getting squashed in your airplane seat, our country's fattest state, the Monster Thickburger, and more.

by Jason Stahl

1. Child-safety seat manufacturers are starting to make bigger models after a recent study showed that over 250,000 U.S. children age 6 and under are too fat to use them.
2. According to a study by the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity at Yale University, nearly half the 4,000 people responding to an online survey about obesity said they would give up a year of their life rather than be fat.
3. Between 15 percent and 30 percent also said they would rather walk away from their marriage, give up the possibility of having children, be depressed, or become alcoholic rather than be obese.
4. Five percent and 4 percent, respectively, said they would rather lose a limb or be blind than be overweight.
5. From 1991 to 2000, the average weight of Americans increased by 8.5 pounds.
6. In 2004, the Federal Aviation Administration increased its estimate of the weight of the average male from 170 to 184 pounds.
7. Airlines spent $275 million on 350 million additional gallons of fuel in 2000 to compensate for the additional weight of their passengers. Now we know why the peanuts are no longer free!
8. Stand by your man: More than a decade ago, Manuel Uribe, now weighing 1,200 pounds (the equivalent of five baby elephants) and bedridden for the past five years, was abandoned by his wife because she was frightened by his increasing size.
9. Virgin Atlantic paid Barbara Hewson from Wales the equivalent of US$24,100 in 2002 as compensation after she was squashed by an obese person sitting next to her on a transatlantic flight. Barbara suffered a blood clot in her chest, torn leg muscles, and acute sciatica and was bedridden for a month.
10. Duke University Medical Center found that women and men who lost 10 percent of their total body weight reported a significant improvement in their sexual quality of life.
11. Obesity ranks second among preventable causes of death. Tobacco use is number one.
12. According to the Department of Veteran Affairs, of the 7.5 million veterans who receive their health benefits from the agency, more than 70 percent are overweight and 20 percent have diabetes, which may lead to blindness, amputations, and kidney and heart problems.
13. Two years ago, the Hardee's fast-food chain introduced the 1,420-calorie 107-fat-gram "Monster Thickburger." It contains two 1/3-pound slabs of Angus beef, four strips of bacon, three slices of cheese, and mayonnaise on a buttered sesame-seed bun.
14. Mississippi is the home of the mud pie, Cajun fried pecans, sweet potato crunch, fried shrimp, and catfish. Mississippi is also home to the country's fattest people—more than 25 percent of adult Mississippians are obese. Coincidence?
15. Recent studies have shown that obesity can cause you to lose sleep.
16. On the other hand, a lack of sleep may result in obesity.
17. It's a vicious cycle.
18. Never forget your past: Aborigines and the Pima indians of Arizona developed obesity, type 2 diabetes, and hypertension after transitioning to a Western lifestyle.
19. If the entire morbidly obese population of the U.S. lived in one state, it would be the 12th highest-populated state, with more people than Virginia.
20. A 2003 study reported that 21 percent of all New York City elementary students from all income levels are obese.

SOURCE: http://discovermagazine.com/

Health: Itching

Got an itch to scratch, itching for a chance, seven year itch, are all sayings that involve itching. But what is it that really is behind the action. Here is an interesting interview from NPR ( National Public Radio).

'Godfather of Itch' Tackles Sensitive Subject

All Things Considered, September 11, 2007 · Dr. Gil Yosipovitch is known as "the Godfather of Itch." The Wake Forest med school researcher and dermatologist is the founder of the International Forum for the Study of Itch. He talks about the continuing mystery of what makes people itch.

To listen to this interview go here.

Fitness Tips: Fitness Vacations

Afraid to interupt your fitness routine for a vacation? Just got it right and don't want to go backwards? How about a fitness vacation. Check out this article from mamashealth.com.

Exercise Retreat Vacations
Contrary to popular belief, you do not need to be a super jock to take and exercise retreat vacation. An active, fitness oriented vacation is a perfect choice for anyone who is seeking adventure, fitness training or both. Exercise retreats are also a great idea for anyone who needs to jump-start their fitness regimen. The staff members at these retreats are generally pretty knowledgeable. They can help you get your fitness regimen started on the right track. Additionally, these retreats often feature excellent information about nutrition. You can get great ideas about how to cook some healthy and delicious meals.
Another benefit of an exercise retreat vacation is that it gives you the opportunity to sample a variety of fitness methods. If you have been stuck in a fitness routine that is getting boring, trying a different form of workout can prevent exercise burn out. Varying your routines can also help rev up a workout regimen that is no longer giving you the same results.
There are two types of exercise retreat vacations:

the traditional spa and the adventure fitness vacation. Additionally, some spas focus more on pampering, while others offer a more down to earth experience. At Rancho La Puerto in Tecate, Mexico, guests are briefed on the Six Facets of Fitness. These include:
Aerobic Workouts, Strengthening and Toning Workouts, Stretching and Flexibility,Coordination and Balance, Relaxation, which includes steam room, sauna, etc., Personal Rewards, which includes massage and facials
If you are looking for an upscale exercise vacation retreat, Canyon Ranch, in Tucson Arizona and Lennox MA., is an excellent option. In addition to a variety of spa, hiking and fitness activities, Canyon Ranch has a number of specialized programs for wellness and longevity.
The New Age health Spa in Neversink, New York is an exercise retreat vacation with a spiritual slant. Their Cayuga Yoga and Meditation Center is used for spiritual practice. A variety of yoga and other healing art practices are taught at this retreat.
Some people may prefer an exercise retreat vacation that specializes in a specific type of sport. If you are an avid hiker, check out the Mountain Trek Fitness Retreat & Health Spa at Ainsworth Hot Springs on Kootenay Lake, British Columbia. In addition to daily treks throughout the mountains of B.C., they offer a unique weight loss program called Fitness Plan Plus. ™
If you are a skier who is interested in ski fitness, you may want to check out the annual Epicski Academy. The event, which features ski instruction by the top coaches in the country, changes location each year. Included in the fee is an emailed ski-fitness program, daily ski-fitness workshop, and foam roller stretch/massage after skiing.

Training Truths: Fat and Muscle

Can You Turn Fat Into Muscle?
by Joy Bauer, M.S., R.D., C.D.N.
You may have heard that by following a proper diet and exercise program, you can actually turn body fat into muscle.

Not true.

Fat and muscle are two separate entities. You must burn fat and build muscle. Here's how fat is burned: When you lose weight (by eating less and exercising more), an enzyme located in fat cells disassembles the fat compounds and sends the components into the bloodstream. Liver and muscle cells take up these components and disassemble them even further until what's left is a compound called acetyl-CoA. Acetyl-CoA then enters the Krebs cycle, a series of chemical reactions that takes place in the mitochondria -- the cell's "power plant."
The end product is made up of...
• Carbon dioxide, which is expelled when you exhale.• Water, which is lost as urine and perspiration.• Heat, which helps maintain body temperature.• ATP, the molecule that fuels cellular activities that require energy. On the flip side, to build muscle you need to work those muscles on a regular basis (no pain, no gain)...and eat appropriate amounts of dietary protein. Your protein grams for the day should total about 50% of your body weight in pounds, unless you're a serious athlete, in which case your protein requirements should total about 50-80% of your body weight in pounds

Source: Yahoo Health

Prevention: Avoiding Cancer

Found this list while scouring the net. Not everything may be a do-able for you, but there are some good hints contained within.
30 Things You Can Do To Avoid Cancer
bySimon Mitchell
1. Make sure you have a pure source of foodstuffs. Obtain fresh, organic produce regularly by joining a vegetable box scheme
2. Eliminate plastic storage containers from your kitchen and do not buy or store food in plastic or cling film
3. Try not to cook the life out of food. Steam vegetables such as brocolli or cauliflower to maintain their integrity and nutritional value
4. Eat wide from many sources for a balanced diet. Include nuts, herbs, lentils and fresh, organic, locally grown produce
5. Find different ways to give yourself a regular, yearly detox
6. Think about and act on your health in a preventative way. Try out some alternative therapies to help you switch on a health sense
7. Test your bodies PH rating. Cancer loves sugar and readily available proteins in an acid environment. Quit taking sugar as much as you can and eat foods that balance your PH
8. Throw your microwave away. Recent tests show 97% of flavonoids lost in brocolli by microwaving
9. Do a toxin stocktake on your household products and food sources. Throw away any harmful chemicals you are persuaded to put into your environment or yourself by advertisers
10. Make sure that your air and water supplies are as pure as possible. Exercise in a healthy, non-toxic environment
11. Find out more about your immune system and how to support it in thought, word and deed
12. Avoid known stressors such as alcohol, tobacco, coffee, extreme conditions and so on, as much as possible
13. Check your home and work for sources of harmful radiation
14. Avoid using deodorants and sun screens containing parabens
15. Avoid factory farmed products such as milk, eggs, fish or cheese. Animals are often fed large amounts of antibiotics as a precaution and live in very stressful conditions
16. Avoid genetically modified food (GMO)
17. Eat slowly and chew food properly. Enjoy eating as a special moment when you ingest new energy for your being
18. Avoid vexatious media intrusions. Just because they thrive on a diet of drama, conflict and spectacle, it doesn't mean you have to
19. Adapt a lifestyle that is in tune with what is around you. Find time to enjoy life and do things that you love
20. Get out into the countryside regularly
21. Carry out your own 'genetic counselling'. Write down the ailments suffered by your ancestors and look for genetic weaknesses in your physiology. Act to compensate for perceived weaknesses
22. Think about your health at physical, intellectual, emotional and energetic levels
23. Look out for ways to experience 'healing moments' in your everyday existance
24. Inform yourself about your medical condition and explore alternatives if you are prescribed medical drugs. All medical drugs have side effects
25. Practice creative visualisation and other methods of positive thinking
26. Find constructive outlets for negative energy
27. Do things that give your life personal meaning for you
28. Get a hair analysis done to see if you are missing any minerals in your diet. The human body needs: 90 nutrients, 60 minerals, 16 vitamins, 12 essential amino acids, 3 essential fatty acids - check them out !
29. Read the labels on food. Avoid trans fats (Hydrogenated Vegetable oils) in biscuits and cakes. Make your own - its fun !
30. Do things that make you laugh
About The Author
'Don't Get Cancer' is a new ebook available only at:http://www.simonthescribe.co.uk/don'tget1.html

Aromatherapy Tips

Aromatherapy for the 21st century
By: Annalisa Zisman

Aromatherapy has become a very popular form of relaxation for many people. People find themselves under more and more stress in the 21st century than ever before. Many try to juggle a career, family, and still need to find time for themselves. Aromatherapy is a great method with which to relieve the stress of everyday life.

Aromatherapy is the use of essential oils which occur in nature and have the effect of altering our state of mind. It is believed that certain scents may not only affect just our mood, but also our health as well. While man may have used scents to cure themselves over the years, aromatherapy is a relatively new science in that presses out or distils out the volatile scent bearing parts of plants. The word aromatherapy was actually first used by French chemist Rene Maurice Gattefosse in the 1920s. He was working in a perfume lab when he accidentally burned himself. He put his burned hand into the closest liquid – lavender oil. He noticed that it seemed to help the pain and the burn healed very quickly. And so the art of aromatherapy was born.

The oils can be poured into bathwater, inhaled (when combined with water to make steam or in a diffuser), in a cold compress (especially to treat muscle injuries), or as a salve, cream or gel. You can use aromatherapy oils in a humidifier, but remember that only a few drops are needed. Most oils you can buy will last between six months to two years.

There are different materials that can be used to create different aromas. Many people like to use essential oils. These are obtained from plants through distillation or expression. Something like eucalyptus oil would be distilled while oil such as grapefruit would be expressed. Other types of oils that may be used are absolutes, infusions, and carrier oils.

There are different scents used for different things. For example, if you want to sharpen your concentration, you may want to use an oil that contains basil. It has a sweet and mildly spicy smell. Using oil that has basil may also help lift depression as well as relieve headaches. If you suffer from headaches, you may want to consider using peppermint. It is said to help relieve headaches and help indigestion.

Another popular type of oil used in aromatherapy is bergamot. Bergamot oil comes from the small, pear shaped citrus fruit. It is believed that bergamot can help your digestive and urinary tract. It can help relieve skin conditions caused by stress. Aromatherapists believe that lemon and citrus can also help heal wounds and infections. Another oil that heals wounds and infections is Chamomile. It will also relieve muscle aches and help with anxiety.

One of the most popular oils is eucalyptus. It can help with coughs, colds, and asthma. It is also believed that eucalyptus aromatherapy will help boost your immune system. Rosemary will also boost your immune system and help mental stimulation. Lavender not only has a great smell, but is also very relaxing and good for treating wounds and burns.

While aromatherapy can help many of your ailments, you should never ingest any type of essential oils. They should always be used only as directed by a qualified aromatherapist. The therapist can blend according to age, condition and skin sensitivity, which is important.

What better way to relieve your stress, help with various conditions and leave you smelling wonderful.
Annalisa Zisman, a proficient author and tutor, she is a leading practitioner for many massage courses. Annalisa specializes in Indian Head Massage, Thai Foot and Thai Herbal Compress Massage techniques.

Diets Debunked
Weight Watchers? Atkins? South Beach? You want to lose weight, but with so many diets out there, how do you choose?
Americans spend billions of dollars each year on diet plans and products. However, the number of Americans who are overweight or obese continues to rise. What are we doing wrong? For one thing, most diets involve cutting calories or certain foods to speed weight loss. Although you can see results quickly, it is hard to stick with the diet in the long term.
Another factor is that there is a long list of diets for us to choose from. Each diet offers different ways to lose weight and "keep it off!" However, while one diet may work for your best friend, it may do nothing for your waistline.
You can find a solution to the diet problem by looking at the Greek root of the word, "diatia", which means "manner of living." When you choose a diet, think about whether it will help you to work towards a healthier lifestyle.
To lose weight the healthy way, you must include daily physical activity in your diet plan. After all, weight loss is achieved by burning more calories than you take in from food. To burn more calories, add a daily walk and some light strength training two days each week. But remember, although you can get away with only 30 minutes of moderate physical activity each day for overall health, try working up to 60 minutes or more per day to not only lose weight but "keep it off!"
To help you in your diet comparison, we have chosen five popular diets and listed some brief comments about each of them below. You can find more information on these diets by visiting their websites or researching them at the local library.

Weight Watchers Turnaround Plans
Both plans encourage participation in weekly meetings that include weigh-ins and support from other dieters.
Flex Plan — Eat whatever you want; all foods are assigned a points value. Points are assigned to food to help you control what you choose and how much of it you eat.
Core Plan — Eat a balanced diet without counting points and enjoy occasional treats.
How Does It Work?

Although both diets involve cutting your daily caloric intake, both allow a great variety of foods to choose from. Therefore, you lose weight slowly and still enjoy the nutritional benefits of a balanced diet.
Positive Gains

You are encouraged to be physically active and can earn activity points which allow you to eat more of the foods you enjoy. You also learn to focus on eating healthier foods. Finally, you gain social support; in fact, participants who attend meetings lose 3 times more weight than those who don't attend!
Unnecessary Losses

Although you might lose weight by eating smaller portions of less healthy foods by watching their point value, you will miss out on the health benefits of using your points on more nutritious choices.
The Reality

Both diet plans are designed to decrease weight loss by two pounds per week; however, some people may lose more or lose nothing at all.

The Atkins Diet
The 4-phase plan is based on a low-carbohydrate (low-carb) lifestyle. The majority of what you eat comes from protein sources (poultry, beef & fish) and low-carb vegetables (broccoli, salad greens). Specific fruits, dairy products, and small amounts of whole grain foods are allowed once weight loss has started. The diet encourages vitamin, mineral, and fiber supplements, as well as regular exercise.
How Does It Work?

Because of severe carb restriction, the body goes into ketosis, which results in a decrease in blood sugar and appetite.
Positive Gains

You are discouraged from eating processed and refined foods which are typically high in added sugars or hydrogenated oils.
Unnecessary Losses

The lack of carbs in the body can cause dehydration, muscular fatigue and muscular loss. Because you naturally lose muscle as you age, any additional loss is harmful to your metabolism.
The Reality

Although you are restricted to 20 grams of carbs per day to lose weight in Phase 1 of the diet, the average American dieter (on any diet) still consumes 128 grams per day.

The South Beach Diet
A 3-phase plan, which begins with Phase 1 being the most restrictive. It's neither low-carb nor low-fat. Instead you are encouraged to eat the right carbs (whole grains, fruits & vegetables), the right fats (olive oil, lean meat and fish) and you are not limited by counting calories or measuring portions.
How Does It Work?

A large amount of weight is lost in the first 2 weeks because of severe carb restriction; further weight is lost by eating a balanced diet that is low in calories.
Positive Gains

You are encouraged to eat a balanced diet of healthy fats, lean proteins, and whole-grain carbs for the majority of the diet.
Unnecessary Losses

Lack of complex carbs for 14 days; the consumption of red wine is encouraged, which is a doubtful healthy recommendation for those at high-risk for certain cancers.
The Reality

It's a low-carb diet. You are limited to the amount of whole-grains you can consume, and it is recommended that you don't eat certain fruits and vegetables like bananas, watermelon, and potatoes. Therefore, you have to be mindful that you are getting enough fiber in your diet to keep your cholesterol levels in a healthy range.

The 2005 USDA Food Guide Pyramid
A science-based diet for all Americans over the age of 2 years which emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole-grains, and fat-free or low-fat milk products; includes lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, eggs, nuts, and is low in saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, salt, and added sugars. At least 30 minutes of moderate or vigorous physical activity is recommended each day.
How Does It Work?

The diet is based upon energy balance- calories in versus calories out, meaning that you are encouraged to balance what you eat (calories in) with physical activity (calories used). Because the diet is customized based upon your age, sex, and daily activity level, you can lose or maintain weight by eating within your recommended calorie range.
Positive Gains

You learn to balance physical activity with eating a wholesome diet based upon plant foods which provide the greatest nutritional benefit with the fewest calories.
Unnecessary LossesThe diet claims that it's okay to eat refined grains, as long as half of your grains are whole. However, this is an unhealthy recommendation because all refined grains behave like plain old sugar inside your body, and we all know that extra sugar equals extra pounds.
The Reality

The diet is based on eating specific servings of food from each food group to maintain weight and health. You might have to devote some of your time by learning what a serving size of each food looks like in order to successfully lose or maintain weight. Additionally, the great variety of food choices and the lack of pre-planned menus provide less structure than other diet plans.

The French Diet
Includes high-fat, rich foods which are enjoyed slowly and in smaller portions compared with U.S. meals. There is no snacking or eating in front of the television or computer; meals are typically eaten at a table and are prepared with fresh, whole foods (i.e., fruits, vegetables, fish, poultry, butter, cream). Very few meals are eaten outside the home. Daily physical activity is a natural part of the lifestyle and is usually unplanned.
How Does It Work?

Portion control and balance are the keys. Although the French eat a diet which is higher in fat, they consume fewer calories than Americans by eating smaller servings and balancing out their meals with daily physical activity.
Positive Gains

You learn to enjoy the experience of eating and get-over the food guilt, deprivation and occasional overeating that results from typical diets.
Unnecessary Losses

It's easy to get carried away and over-enjoy the pastries, cream sauces and cheeses that are staples of the French diet. Self-control is a must!
The Reality

Restaurants, supermarkets, and even recipes in France contain food in portions which are significantly smaller than the same food in America; in fact, the portions are 25% smaller! Therefore, the French don't have to work to resist the larger portions characteristic of the American culture.

Before you begin your quest for diet success, it is important to note that a healthy diet should support lifetime weight management. Therefore, choose a diet based on whether or not you can stick to it for life, rather than how quickly it will help you to fit into your "skinny jeans."
On a final note, you should know that you don't have to wait to find out what the magic pill is for weight loss; it already exists: exercise!

source:aarp.org American Association of Retired People

Life After Forty

Forty and Thriving
By: Will Praht
Turning forty is a mental fight for many people who believe this number is the first step toward the final resting grounds. Listen 40 is just a number and no matter how hard you try, 40 will still come. The first step in moving on is accepting this one inevitability.
Sure we have plenty of cosmetic fixes available to make us seem younger but nothing stops the aging process, the closest component to retarding the process is a regular and dedicated session of exercise. But even exercise can't stop the aging process.
Rather than dread these coming years, embrace them and understand that this is a new phase of your life, just as the previous decades of your 20's and 30's were. View the upcoming time in your life as a new adventure to embrace and enjoy. Sure as in every past part of your life, you will have some new challenges and some lows to overcome. Your attitude and resolve Can make the difference.
One weapon that is at your side, believe it or not, is your maturity. Through every phase of our life we have had challenges and obstacles to overcome. Many of these we conquered, other we failed miserably, but it is the cumulative experience of both that makes us so much better prepared for what is to come. Today we would not make the same mistakes we did at the age of 20, if we do we have not grown in our own existence.
With every day we have survived we have gained greater knowledge and wisdom, which you can now employ in not only your future but the future of the youth around you. You my friend can be a difference maker, not only in your existence but in the lives of the younger generation that surrounds you. You have the opportunity to influence and mold the youth around you into citizens everyone would be proud of. You can help them avoid the mistakes you made, while creating a new vision of the world they live in.
But your contributions don't just stop there. Now that the hectic lifestyle you lived in your 20's and 30's is past and you are beginning to get more settled in your own skin, you now have a chance to give back to those around you and make a difference. Think about helping the neighborhood or a particular cause that you find dear to your heart. I'm talking about more than just a monetary donation to a program or a cause. I'm talking about actually getting involved and using your cumulative knowledge to make a difference in an area you feel passionate about.
Now that you don't have as many time constrictions spread your wings out farther and help where you can and where it means the most to you.
Finally forget those worries about health otherwise they become self fulfilling prophecies. Take charge of your health and forget what others say about the inevitability of certain health problems. The common acceptance of many diseases and physical ailments as part of getting old, only reinforce the status quo. By paying more attention to what we eat, and either continuing or beginning a regimented workout program, you can live a quality of live just as good or better than the previous 39 years.
It's all in your approach and attitude. Study after study show that the active middle age individual shows less signs of aging and is less likely to succumb to many of the diseases attributed to middle age and older.
That doesn't mean you have to compete at the levels you did in the 20's or 30's, forget about those ideas of what you used to do and create a workout program that allows you to take care of yourself. The new main focus isn't winning as much as it is maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Compete with realistic goals, keeping health as the main focus.
So now you see it's a mental approach that will keep you ahead of the game and youthful til your 100 years young or more. Keep the right approach and you will be surprised how fulfilling life can be. Good luck in your journey and stay young in your mind.

Brain Food

Brain Food
A new study says smart children are more likely to be vegetarians as adults.
By Laurel Maury
If you don't eat meat, feel free to brag about it at your next family gathering: According to a 2007 study from the University of Southampton in England, smart children often grow up to be vegetarian. Researchers tested the IQs of 8,170 10-year-olds and checked in with them 20 years later to ask about their eating habits. Those who became vegetarian had scored an average of five points higher on their IQ tests than the omnivores. Study author Catharine Gale, Ph.D., says these findings might help explain why intelligent people have a lower risk of coronary heart disease. Pass the tofu, please

Source: Naturalhealthmag.com

Nutritional Information: Fast Food Values

An interesting battle beginning to brew in New York. For information on many of your favorite restaurants nutritional value, don't forget the folks at dietfacts.com have great information on all your favorite dishes.

Battle of the Bulge in NYC
by Simon Evans
Fast food chains are fighting a recent New York ruling that says restaurants must put calorie information on their menus. The city has given restaurants until October of this year before they will start handing out fines – but it looks like the battle lines are being drawn.

What have you got to hide?
A spokesperson for the fast food industry says the rules, which require calorie content displayed in type at least as large as the price, will create the need for huge menu boards and confuse the customers. I wonder if they are maybe concerned about something else – like revealing that a typical burger meal adds up to about 1200 calories in a single sitting.
The industry says that they have made calorie and nutrition information available for a long time, which is true. But putting it 10-clicks deep on your website versus in the face of the customer getting ready to place an indulgent order are two different things.
The American Medical Association is backing up the movement in New York. They are asking all fast food restaurants to add nutrition information to their menus everywhere, not just in the Big Apple (which may find more people eating apples after this law takes hold).
The bottom line is that most people have no idea how many calories they are taking in at their favorite fast food stop. Many single fast food meals contain about enough calories for a whole day – but without most of the required nutrition.

The health toll
New estimates from the US government predict that by 2050, when today's elementary school kids are in their mid 40s, we will have 48 million diabetics. Too many trips to the drive through are likely a big factor. Over the past 15 years, we have seen the number of new diabetic cases double per capita.
Diabetes carries with it increased risk of heart disease, blindness, deafness, loss of limbs and all kinds of other stuff you don't want yourself or your kids to deal with. But current trends suggest that 1 out of 3 of today's kids will face these problems. In the small town where I live, we have about 1500 kids in the school district. That's 500 future diabetics just from here, assuming we are an average American town.

The economic toll
Today we spend about $1 out of every $8 health care dollars on the treatment of diabetes or related conditions. The British Health System already predicts their own bankruptcy and collapse due to the increases in diabetes. What are we doing to ourselves? Why are we deliberately shooting ourselves in the foot?
Maybe in the next presidential debate we should encourage candidates to spend less time talking about how to pay for health care and more time talking about how to make it less necessary.
I applaud the movement in New York. I hope that eventually the mega fast food companies will come around to provide us with healthier food that can sustain us well into our old age instead of driving us into and early grave. Vote with your dollars and eventually you will get what you want.

Nutrition Tips:The Value of Milk

Food for thought on the value of processed milk sold in most retail grocery stores. Read and make your own evaluations.

Milk: Does It Do a Body Good?
By Nan Little

When I was growing up, one thing was always certain: my mother was going to serve me a glass of milk with dinner. It was clear that it wasn’t just about taste or having something to drink. She instructed me to drink all of it. It was the healthy thing to do.

Many of us were raised this way, drinking milk because it helped build strong bones and teeth and gave us essential nutrients our bodies needed. As we’ve gotten older, we’ve been instructed to drink milk for other reasons. It’s especially important for women who need calcium to keep osteoporosis at bay. At least, these are all the things we’ve been told.

What we haven’t heard about are all the possible negative effects that come from drinking milk. In fact, we may be drinking milk thinking that it prevents certain health issues while some studies show that it could possibly cause them. And very few of us have heard about what’s really in our milk.
We all think that pasteurizing milk makes it safer. Is this true? In all actuality, pasteurizing milk destroys enzymes and lowers the vitamin content in milk up to 50%. Studies have even shown that, if a calf is fed only pasteurized milk, it will die after a period of time, most likely from malnutrition.

Milk is pasteurized because the milk will then last longer on the shelf and in your refrigerator—which is better for business but not necessarily better for your body.

The big secret about milk, though, is the use of a bovine growth hormone known as recombinant bovine somatotropin, or RBST. This genetically engineered bovine growth hormone is given to the cows to increase milk production up to 25%. This hormone was approved for use by the FDA in 1994 and is manufactured by a company known as Monsanto. Monsanto has sought approval to sell their hormone in other countries, but its use is illegal everywhere but the United States.

Why won’t other countries approve the use of RBST? RBST increases the presence of insulin growth factor-1, a powerful growth hormone that has adverse effects on the human body. Because it’s such a powerful growth hormone, RBST has been shown to increase the risk of breast cancer in women up to 7 times and the risk of prostate cancer in men up to 4 times. Why? Because RBST encourages tumor growth.

Another issue with RBST is that it can lead to mastitis in the cows. This persistent infection of the udders requires treatment—and the antibiotics and drugs given to the cows end up in the milk (along with residual pus and blood from the infected udders).

If it has so many negative side effects, why has the FDA approved the use of RBST? The FDA is supposed to watch out for the public’s best interest, but the FDA is often suspiciously linked to the very companies that it is supposed to regulate.

Monsanto is one example:
A female researcher working for Monsanto prior to the approval of RBST was asked to write a report for the FDA about RBST. She then left Monsanto and went to work for the FDA, where she was given the job of approving her own report, eventually leading to the approval of RBST.
If you want to avoid RBST, you can purchase organic milk. The FDA is so heavily tied to Monsanto, though, that all organic milk must carry a label saying that very little difference has been found between the milk produced by cows given RBST and those that were not. Don’t be fooled. Studies have shown that the difference is hardly negligible.

In all reality, nutritional experts still agree that milk is mostly good for you. It is a complete source of protein and a great source of calcium. If you’re not willing to cut milk and other dairy products out of your diet altogether, purchase organically produced milk and dairy. This will cut the RBST, antibiotics as well as harmful pesticides out of the equation—making your milk and dairy a more wholesome part of your diet.
source:Insight Journal found here

Interesting Facts: Sleep

20 Things You Didn't Know About... Sleep
The official world record for staying awake, possible killers lurking in our mattresses, a continent's war against naps, and more.
by Jason Stahl

1 Chronic snoring can be treated by uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, a surgical procedure that tightens the tissues of the soft palate and throat. Possible side effects include changes in voice frequency.
2 Another option involves injecting the palate with a chemical to harden the soft tissue. This is called a snoroplasty, derived from the Greek word plastos, meaning molded, and somewhat lamely from the English word snore, meaning snore.
3 Baaaa'd idea: A 2002 study by Oxford University researchers concluded, brilliantly, that the traditional practice of counting sheep is an ineffective cure for insomnia. The mental activity is so boring that other problems and concerns inevitably surface.
4 Mattresses have an average life span of 8 to 10 years. They grow some nasty stuff in that time; one study links mattress bacteria to sudden infant death syndrome.
5 An adult bedbug can survive up to one year without feeding.
6 In 2004 Americans filled more than 35 million prescriptions for sleeping pills.The number of adults aged 20 to 44 taking pills to help them fall asleep has doubled in the last four years.
7 More than 100,000 car crashes in the United States each year result from drowsiness. Drivers talking on cell phones increase the rate by 6 percent, so don't call someone if you get tired.
8 Disco isn't dead, it's on the dashboard: In 2008 Volvo plans to unveil a system that will monitor a driver's eyes and head, along with the movement of the steering wheel. If a driver seems to be nodding off, interior lights will start to flash.
9 A six-year study of a million adults showed that people who get only six to seven hours of sleep a night have a lower death rate than those who get eight hours. Maybe it's those late nights watching QVC.
10 In 1964 17-year-old Randy Gardner stayed awake for 264 hours and 12 minutes, the world's record. He then slept for 15 hours—not a record, but not bad.
11 Let's sleep on it first: In a gesture of integration with the European Union, Spain has launched a campaign to eliminate the tradition of siestas, or afternoon naps.
12 Thanks in part to their afternoon naps, Spaniards sleep an average of 40 minutes less per night than other Europeans. Spain also has the highest rate of workplace accidents in the EU and the third lowest productivity rate.
13 Who knew it was that easy? A Muslim couple in India is being forced to split up after the husband uttered the word talaq, the Arabic word for divorce, three times in his sleep. According to Muslim law, the "triple talaq" is an actual divorce.
14 The idea that it is dangerous to wake a sleepwalker is a myth. Given the things sleepwalkers get up to do, like climbing roofs and fixing insanely large sandwiches, it is probably more risky not to wake them.
15 Whales and dolphins can literally fall half asleep. Their brain hemispheres alternate sleeping, so the animals can continue to surface and breathe.
16 Dreaming is connected to bursts of electrical activity that blow through the brain stem every 90 minutes during REM sleep. Over a lifetime, an average person spends more than six years dreaming, clocking more than 136,000 in all.
17 But nobody knows why we dream.
18 Hey, be glad she doesn't have a telethon: More than 5 million American children suffer from nocturnal enuresis, better known as bed-wetting. Actress Suzanne Somers used to be one of them, according to her autobiography.
19 Somniphobia is the fear of sleep.
20 So far, there are no known celebrity somniphobes
source: discovermagazine.com