Discover Natural Ways to Reduce Anxiety

There are many natural ways to relieve anxiety. Most of these techniques are simply changing aspects of life that are not commonly thought of. By following these natural remedies for anxiety, one may feel an overall sense of well being, not just the freedom from anxiety attacks and chronic anxiety. It is through this freedom that one is able to enjoy life as it should be enjoyed, not as a worried person, but rather as a happy and healthy person.

There are a large number of ways to relieve anxiety. Most of the natural ways to reduce anxiety are not matters of putting something into one's body, but rather changing the environment that the body is in. These changes are all personal changes that can be achieved through time and effort.

One of the first anxiety solutions is to be sure to give the body what it needs to be healthy. This refers to the needs of sleep, food, and exercise. The human body needs between six to eight hours of sleep a day. This number varies greatly per individual, often with one needing more sleep, not less. This sleep should be obtained in a pitch-black room for the best rest possible. If one can see his or her hand in the dark, it is not dark enough. Try placing sheets over the windows to keep out the city lights and a towel over the clock to keep out the light from the clock. This can all help in getting the needed sleep without waking up to distractions.

Food is also a very important need for the human body--for anybody for that matter. Eating the right foods, healthy foods with plenty of fruits and vegetables, one can maintain the nutrition needs of the body. If these needs are not met, the body can suffer from an imbalance and that can cause hormone problems and anxiety issues. Stimulants, such as caffeine and nicotine, should be avoided if having difficulty with anxiety as they can increase the chances of a panic attack by changing the ways the brain chemicals interact with each other.

Exercise is often an over looked field of good mental health. Everyone knows the benefits of exercise for a healthy body, but science is just now placing the importance of exercise with the brain. Exercise gives one time to focus on the physicality of the body in a controlled setting. Exercise allows one to be in control of the environment and the situations. Exercising also provides the confidence needed to handle everyday stress. It is also a great way to vent the stress physically, as opposed to verbally.

Other natural ways to cure panic attacks and help with strategies to reduce anxiety are such things as relaxation and self-improvement techniques. Relaxation techniques often follow the pattern of meditation. Meditation is used to focus the mind elsewhere for a period and allowing the subconscious to handle problems that the conscious has been dealing with unsuccessfully. These mediation techniques can be used anywhere and are often used to cure panic attacks. Self-improvement techniques refer to the adoption of a positive life mantra. This mantra helps to build confidence and security, greatly reducing the levels of stress and anxiety in one's life.

By following these natural ways to reduce anxiety, one can hope for a normal life without the fear of panic attacks. After all, everyone is entitled to a life of freedom and fun. There is no reason to succumb to chronic anxiety and become a recluse with so many viable options on controlling the anxiety that plagues so many people.

Author: John Casement

Do you Play Games Online?

I often stop work to play games online. I am not picky. Everything from Bejeweled to Blackjack's. I usually go to the gaming sites where they compare the good sites and then link me to the better places.

One reason I do this is to avoid phishing sites or being mega-spammed after. When you play at a gambling site, it is very important to pick a good one. I am very wary before putting my Visa number into the computer.

Sites such as Bobgambling give you bonuses for signing up, and high payouts. I found that with games like blackjack it is important. I've been at a couple sites where the payout never covered the sign up fee.

I don't take long walks anymore when the weather is cold. Sometimes, it is fun just playing computer games.

Detoxification Can Bring Out the Beauty in you

You are what you eat. Or more aptly, you are what is inside your gut. This adage is true and it does not only talk about fatal diseases like diabetes or any form of cancer; it also applies to keeping up a more attractive appearance and youthful skin.

Studies show that appearances on your skin like age or liver spots and dark patches are not only caused by over-exposure to sunlight or the aging process itself. Toxins or metabolic wastes in the body can severely damage your skin and result to the growth of unwanted blotches on it. This means, avoiding the harmful rays of the sun or applying layers upon layers of sunscreen does not guarantee a spot-free skin.

On top of this, the continuous deterioration of the environment has degraded the purity of the food that you eat, water you drink and even the air you breathe. Also, the fast pace that almost everyone is living in at this age forces people to make poor choices in their lifestyles; these choices have deep impacts on one's health and quality of skin. In other words, no one is spared from the ill-effects of toxins.

Nevertheless, there are ways to eliminate harmful wastes in your body. So, if you want to be healthy and minimize or get rid of your age spots, you can strive to cleanse your system of harmful toxins. And there is only one way to go about it; and it is appropriately called detoxification. This process simply calls for a number of changes in your diet so that you will be able to clean the organs and tissues in your body.

You have to remember that your body has its very own cleansing system; it is composed of the kidneys, lungs, liver and your bowels. However, due to the strain put on by unhealthy food choices and an increasingly polluted environment, your cleansing organs are having a hard time performing their functions. With detoxification, you are giving your system a big helping hand in taking out all the garbage in your body.

There are several ways or programs through which you can detoxify your body. But for the most basic detoxification, you have to begin incorporating changes to your diet. Eating raw vegetables and fruits for a few days is one of the more traditional types of cleansing your body.

As for your skin, your detoxification program should include certain items that promote the health of your skin. For instance, you can adopt a detoxification program that includes plenty of water or fresh and natural fruit juices. Since the quality of your skin depends a lot on the amount of moisture in it, drinking plenty of fluids during your detoxification is one way of ensuring a more radiant and youthful skin, minus blemishes.

Aside from being effective in flushing out toxins from the body, raw fruits and items like seaweeds are very abundant in minerals that can improve your skin. Just look at most women in Japan, where eating raw food is encouraged and seaweeds are a staple much like fries here in the US; you can hardly find a Japanese woman who does not have a silky and even-toned skin.

Truly, detoxification is important for the proper functioning of all the organs and tissues in the body. If you fail to flush out all the toxins in your system, you are risking your health and allowing unsightly spots to develop on your skin.

Indeed, maintaining supple and flawless skin should start from within. So, if you want to have that radiant skin no matter how old you are, you need to take a look at detoxification as a wise choice. You will also need the help of certified products like Lumnaderm to erase ugly blotches on your skin. For more details on how you can boost your chosen detoxification program in eliminating age spots, visit www.lumnaderm.com.

Author: Sharon Bell

Be Careful When Choosing Your Teeth Whitening Product

A glance around any supermarket or pharmacy shows that people spend big money on teeth whitening products. It is a huge market and there are plenty of companies looking to cash in on human vanity.

But not all teeth whitening dental kits are the same and neither are some of the homeopathic remedies that people utilize. A smart consumer does a little bit of research before plunking down that hard earned cash on a product that will not work for you or a remedy that could be dangerous.

The first rule of thumb for anyone, should be to "know thy mouth" and know that what you put into it will affect your appearance. The first step to having a nicer smile is to have good oral hygiene. Brushing your teeth should not be optional. It should be done at least twice a day with a good firm toothbrush, to not only clean them, but to stimulate the gums as well.

Also use a toothpaste that fights gingivitis and plaque. And don't forget to floss. Everyone has lied to their dental hygienist once or twice when he or she was asked if flossing occurs regularly. Most people do not floss on a regular basis, but remember, a toothbrush only gets so far between them.

Teeth whitening products help remove some of the daily stain that is the primary cause of tooth discoloration. Most people do not consider what goes into their mouths. Tobacco, coffee, tea and soda all stain the enamel.

You can always use the white cloth test to determine if a food or drink will discolor your teeth. Put some of the substance on a white cloth. If it colors the cloth a brown or tan, then you will know, without a doubt, that the same thing is going to happen to your teeth.

Once you know your mouth, you can begin the process of having whiter teeth. Start the process with good oral hygiene and follow it up with tooth whitening products that are easy to use.

Skip the complicated trays and a whitening gel until you develop a routine. Simple toothpaste that contains a whitening agent is a great way to lighten them by one or two shades. You can always try other methods later once you have a healthy mouth.

Teeth whitening products are out there and unless you have been living without a television for the past decade, you have seen the ads. Not all of them will work for you and some are dangerous. Never use concentrated, undiluted bleach in your mouth.

Do not leave a whitening strip on overnight in case you become choked. Practice some common sense and good oral hygiene, and your teeth will thank you for it later.




Author: MIKE SELVON

What Are The Causes Of Snoring?

Snoring is basically making unpleasing noises at night times during sleeping which is caused due to obstruction of the free flow in the air we breathe. The obstruction is caused in the passage, which is at the back of the mouth and the nose, which ultimately does not allow the proper flow of the air during breathing. The area where the flow of the air is not proper is the collapsible part of the airway where the upper throat and the tongue meet the uvula and the soft plate. Due to snoring these structures strike against each other, which results in vibrations.

Snoring cannot be taken as a light problem it is a very serious problem. Snoring causes many disorders, it affects the women during the pregnancy, it also causes sleepless nights and a person becomes very uncomfortable. Snoring also causes problems like sleep apnea.

Some of the causes of snoring are mentioned below :
Structural cause: Snoring may be caused due to problems like narrow jaws, having large tongue, enlarged tonsils, adenoids which are enlarged, thick soft palate, crooked septum or even small nasals. Snoring is caused due to the tongue and the upper throat meet the uvula and the soft palate resulting in blockage of the air we breathe.

Outside causes: it includes all the factors, which affect the individual externally, however these are controllable. These factors include Allergies, consumption of alcohol, sedatives, and excessive and regular smoking, disruption of the normal sleep patterns, decrease in the lung capacities and irregular lifestyle.
However, there are remedies available, dental implants are available, drug and natural remedies are also available.

Sleep Apnea: When Snoring in a loud tone is broken up by frequent episodes, which totally obstruct the breathing, this kind of obstruction is known as Sleep Apnea. Some of the recorded serious episodes have lasted for hen seconds and these episodes occur more than seven times per hour. The people who are affected with Apnea experience such episodes 30 to 300 per nights. These episodes are very threat full for the individuals, these episodes create disorders, elevated blood pressures and even enlargement of heart may occur.

Muscle tine of the tongue: The muscle of the tongue and the soft palate tends to reduce during sleeping. These muscles of the tongue become more relaxed and which finally results in their collapse. This is a major cause, which contributes to snoring. The soft tissues like the tonsils and tongue, which produces sounds, that change as well as affect the quality of snoring. Snoring is also affected by the position of sleeping. When your laying on the back your tongue falls towards the throat and results in the blockage of the airway this too contributes to snoring.

Blockage of airway: Blocking of the airway results in obstruction, which ultimately leads to snoring. In children primary cause of snoring is enlargement of tonsils and adenoids.

Age and other factors: Age is also one of the factors, which contributes to snoring. In old age the muscles become weaker which results in more amount of snoring.

Author: Wolfgang Jaegel

Memory Foam: Not All Foams Are Created Equal

We've all seen the ads, and the hype, about memory foam and other types of foam bedding products. But, how much of this is simply Brand Name positioning and attempts to capture the bedding market? And, when you throw in proprietary and patented formulations, well, that is what makes brand names and creates a lot of options.

Most synthetic bedding foams are basically polyurethane-based foams of either an open or closed cell structure, produced from and with the aid of, other chemicals. Proprietary brand name foams favorably adjust the qualities of the foam by adding specific agents, and both the formulation and the specifically created features become identified with the brand name. Of course, the owners of these patents jealously protect both their name and what it represents in terms of products and quality.

Although durable closed-cell polyurethane foam was apparently a German creation during wartime, open-cell or 'memory' foam was originally developed by NASA scientists in the United States. That original formulation was further improved upon, initially, by a Swedish company now known as Tempur-Pedic, which also patented their formulation. First used commercially as a medical aid for certain difficult cases, this company later spearheaded the retail sale of memory foam bedding to households around the world.

Nowadays, high quality memory foam is also manufactured by numerous reputable companies in the United States and around the world. And, with its broad appeal in the marketplace, it's no wonder the Chinese have been working to take on the market by improving their products and offering them at prices American companies can't match.

Taken as a class, all memory foams have certain common and very desirable features. Specifically, the ability to recover gradually from body impressions, and more 'cradling' and 'cushioning' of body contours. And, if you ever doubted that little bit of 'sinking into the foam', be aware that the additional contact of the foam with more square inches of body surface results in greater distribution of body weight, and reduction of troublesome 'pressure points'.

In terms of the 'feel' of one specific brand of foam, combined with its perceived support and hardness, this is the domain of specific brands and models of foam. US foam manufacturers such as Foamex and Carpenter actually manufacture a variety of foam types (models) in a range of densities, while for many years the Swedish brand held fast to their flagship formulation.

And, what about all the claims and testimonials to the benefits of sleeping on memory foam? While memory foam is a great thing and does help many people find better and more comfortable sleep, it is very important to understand that you really shouldn't be expecting these products to solve all of your health and sleep issues. There are times when you should see a doctor, a chiropractor, or seek to address the actual cause of your particular issue from another angle. And, perhaps to do both at the same time!

If you happen to be one of those chemically sensitive individuals or an environmentalist, you might be more interested in natural (non-synthetic) foams such as Green Latex and Reflex Natural. Among other things, Natural or Green Latex is naturally hypoallergenic, anti-microbial, and dust and mite resistant. On the other hand, the term 'Talalay Latex', while it actually refers to the process for creating spongy latex foam, is frequently also used to refer to a hybrid blend of both natural and synthetic foams. We'll talk more in another article.

Author: C Simmons

Natural Pain Management: Exercise & Chronic Pain

Copyright 2005 Tanja Gardner

When you find yourself living with pain every minute of every hour of every day, just getting up in the morning can seem like too much to ask. When you find it hard to remember the last time you weren�t in pain, it�s not unusual for fear and depression to take hold and drag you into a downward spiral that makes the pain even worse. Even on good days, exercising can still be the last thing you feel like doing.

There�s evidence, however, that exercise may be one of the best things you can do to help manage chronic pain. A recent (2000) study by Martin Hoffman found that moderate exercise reduced the amount of pain people suffering from chronic back-ache perceived they felt. Other anecdotal studies and reports have confirmed that sometimes, activity can work wonders.


THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EXERCISE & PAIN RELIEF

Experts have suggested four possible reasons for the pain-reducing effect of activity. The first has to do with endorphins. These are chemicals your body produces naturally during exercise, which have the same kind of effect as opiates like morphine and codeine. Endorphins actually block the perception of pain, and create a general feeling of wellness, both of which are invaluable to someone with chronic pain.

A second reason is that regular activity helps to improve both the ease with which we fall asleep, and the quality of our rest once we do. Pain, can become more or less difficult to deal with depending on our resource levels. Most sufferers experience difficulty sleeping when the pain is bad, which can prompt another downward spiral. Something that helps us sleep better, means more energy and resources, which in turn, allows us to cope better with the pain we experience.

A third is that exercise helps release tension (see Exercise & Stress for an explanation of why). Tension, stress and frustration, as any sufferer of chronic pain will attest, increase pain levels. This means that anything that helps relax the body will also usually help reduce pain levels.

Finally, if the chronic pain occurs after an injury, targeted exercise can strengthen the muscles around the injury site, taking pressure off the injured tissue. Of course, the wrong kind of exercise can actually re-injure the area too, so it�s important to get professional guidance from a physiotherapist, or a personal trainer who specialises in rehabilitation work, rather than trying to go it alone.

USING EXERCISE TO HELP YOU MANAGE PAIN

An important disclaimer: this article is written assuming that, if you�re experiencing chronic pain, you�re already working with a healthcare professional to manage it (and if not, you need to be!) Check any suggestions you want to try with that professional, and follow their recommendations. Also, if an activity increases your pain levels, don�t do it. It�s OK to have muscles that are tired and slightly sore the day after. It�s not OK to experience any joint pain or sharp, stabbing pain during or after exercise, or anything that makes your chronic pain worse. If you experience any of these, seek advice from your healthcare professional as soon as possible.

That said, the most beneficial kind of exercise depends very much on the individual. One of Optimum Life�s key principles is that activity will always do more good if it�s something you enjoy. This is even more important when you experience chronic pain, when something you start dreading or tensing up about can quickly make your condition worse. Additionally, it helps if you choose activities that give you a good range of aerobic, strength, and flexibility exercises. Good potential choices to start with include walking, swimming, stationary cycling, yoga or t�ai chi.

Womens Heart Health - The Scary Truth About Womens Heart Health

Womens heart health is a subject that should be on the tip of everyone's tongue, but for some reason not too many people seem to be talking about it. Unlike other womens issues that have people mobilized and raising awareness, when it comes to the heart there doesn't seem to be too many people championing the cause. It seems as though I can't drive anywhere without seeing a car with a pink breast cancer awareness ribbon magnet attached to it, but where are the magnets for heart problems.

You'd think that there would be tons of soccer moms concerned with womens heart health, especially given the fact that heart disease is the number one cause of death today for American women. I'm constantly hearing about how men die of heart attacks, but more women than men die every year in the United States of cardiovascular disease. Additionally, 23 percent of women over the age of 40 who have heart attacks die within a year. When you compare that to the 18 percent of their male counterparts, it's hard to understand why this isn't more of a women's issue. Where are all of the specials on Oprah? Where are the races for cures?

Even scarier, 64 percent of women who have heart attacks and die suddenly have had no previous symptoms. It's truly a silent killer, striking otherwise healthy people when they least expect it. Also, after the age of 40 the lifetime risk for cardiovascular disease is more than 50 percent in women. The worst part is that diagnostic tests and procedures that work well for men don't work as well in women. This is particularly true of ECG tests, which is also known as the exercise stress test. All in all, more people need to be aware of womens heart health.

For more information on womens heart health, visit the Womens Health Forum. It's free to become a member, so visit http://www.WomensHealthForum.org/ and join today!

Have You Thought About Elderly Care

No one wants to think of this topic, especially as it is now 'our' parents who are starting to need help. I have a hard time thinking that my parents need help. My mom is okay, but it won't be long before my dad needs to be in a care home. I added this link because the website has real information and a forum that is helpful. The problem is the lack of information available.

I want to know what to do now, not when it is time to find help.

I think the most alarming thing is the fact that he is living evidence that life ends earlier if you do not take care of yourself. I've been looking around at different websites for information. One of the main concerns is that my father has remained idle, watching television, for about 10 years. That has created several complications, including violent outbursts.

It is a hard topic to face -

Stress and Debt: Is Credit Too Easy?

I found a website that offered 'on line' applications for payday loans from $100 - $1500. It let the user pick payment terms, amount, and even interest rates. It started me on the topic of credit.

Our parents dreamed of being out of debt by the time they retired. Most of our generation will be looking for ways to lower their monthly payments and interest rates. The stress of carrying debt is taking its toll on our health and our mental well being.

Faxless Payday Loans may not be the answer for everyone. But, we are so use to free and easy to obtain credit that it makes me wonder if we should fight the system - or learn how to benefit from it. Last year the USA had 70 banks close because of high debt loads. However, the UK is thriving under their debt mountain. They obviously learned something we haven't about carrying debt.

I am not sure if we will be out of debt when we retire, but I do hope that we will be able to manage the debt we do have without missing payments and struggling to make ends meet.

Look To The Internet For Emotional Wellness

My father was a 'walking dead man.' He retired about 10 years ago, and until this summer he did nothing but veg in front of the television. He worked as much as possible for friends, but for the most part, his depression robbed him of his vitality and interest in life.

This ended last summer when my son, in a most unusual way, 'woke him up.' How? I have parental control on my computer. My parents don't. So, my dad walked in on my son playing online casino. There was no cash involved, but my dad, in his 'guy' fashion decided to teach my son how to play.

Now, they are often visiting sites like pro360 looking for new poker sites. Of course, the rule is no cash involved. And, the rule is sticking. Even though my dad and son live so far apart they can only meet once a year, they meet every night on a different poker site.

Would I have chosen this venue? Never. But, it has worked for both of them. My son is learning how quickly lady luck turns, and my father is involved in his grandson's life.

Continue To Earn Money

One fundamental right of humans is to work for fair pay. It is so ingrained in us that when we stop earning money, we die. At least, many of us do. My grandfather did not live long after leaving the farm. My father walked more than 6 miles a day for 45 years, right up to his 65th birthday. Now, at 75 he has had major surgery, is couch bound, and has lost interest in life.

I have 20 years to go, but I am already looking for ways to keep active and make money when I retire. There are tons of opportunities on the Internet. Not the scams 'earn thousands while watching television.' I mean the sites that promise you will get paid to blog.

I was blogging for Google money for several years before I found the first one. However, the best is smorty. It is by far the easiest to get stared on, and the simplest to use. I was set up in less than 15 minutes. The blog advertising industry is a growing medium. It costs nothing to get started, except a little time. Just click the link and get started.

I am not promising that you will get rich. But, you will earn a little cash, continue to be a vital part of society, and build a business - all from your home computer.

Sleep Disorders

Today’s high stress world has been playing havoc with our sleep. Sleep Disorders increase as stress increases and as we age. Sleep comprises one third of our life, and controls everything from hormones to sell rejuvenation.

Stress and anxiety are not difficult to manage. Relaxation practices may not sound realistic or viable. Many people do not understand how sitting on the floor and raising the arms slowly will improve your health. However, you need to step back and understand the Pavlov effect.

This phenomenon is simply the power to train your brain to respond the way you want it to. Raising and lowering your arms while in the Lotus position have minimal medical benefits on its own, but its ability to train your body to respond the way you want it to is a proven medical fact. Relaxing mediation can reinforce your body’s natural sleep-wake cycle.

Insomnia – This results in difficulty falling asleep, waking up regularly in the night, and waking up tired.

Sleep apnia – you stop breathing during sleep that can result in mood and memory disorders. It is caused when muscles at the back of the mouth loose control and cannot keep the air passages open

Brockism – clenching and grinding teeth at night. Some people do this in the day, but others do it at night. This can cause ringing in the ear, headaches, lack of sleep, and pain.

REM Behavior Disorder – people act out their dreams. They talk and move in their sleep. They lack the muscle paralysis that most people experience while sleeping. They often do not feel rested when they wake up in the morning.

RLS, Restless Leg Syndrome – burning, creeping, and tugging in the legs make you want to move them. No one is sure what causes RLS.

Narcolepsy – overwhelming fatigue and seizures can be mistaken for epilepsy and depression.

How Much Sleep Do You Need?

Finding the reason why you are having trouble sleeping is not always easy. One way is to go to bed a few nights without a clock. Sleep until you wake up. This will tell you how much sleep time your body needs. Everyone is different. Some people can experience a good night’s sleep in 4 hours. Others need six and even nine hours.

The old wives’ tale that people need eight hours sleep, and anything beyond that is laziness is a myth that has been proven several times by medical research.


Sleep Hygiene

Sleep Hygiene is important to a good night sleep. The first thing, only use your bed for sleep and sex. This helps your brain associate the brain with sleep only. There are some reports that claim that people who watch television prior to sleep do not go through all three stages of sleep, or sleep as well.

Avoid caffeine, nicotine and alcohol prior to sleep and do not exercise before bedtime. This can send the brain mixed signals

Train Your Brain to Shut Down

This is a Pavlo theory in practice. It can train your body to fall asleep at the same time every night. If you can’t fall asleep after 30 minutes, read a book or listen to music. Do not lay and stare at the wall.

Keeping a regular sleep routine starts before it is time to go to bed. The routine relaxes the body and alerts the brain to switch to sleep mode. This helps it prepare for sleep.

A hot bath can also relax the body and activate the part of the brain that controls the sleep functions.

Also, avoid the ‘jet lag syndrome.’ People who have sleep problems should not stay awake late to watch a movie or go out to a party. This can mess up their sleep routine, and put their natural sleep-wake routine out of sync.






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Chained To a Desk

Most of the people I work with live their lives behind a desk. No one needs to spend time repeating the health and emotional problems this can cause. The main thing we need to realize is that it only takes 10 minutes to remain healthy.

I am a full time, self employed, owner of three businesses. I do not expect to retire at 65. To me - that would feel like giving up on life. However, I want to be a part of the population expected to remain active until I am in my 80s, and even live past 100. I love life.

Ten minutes, that is all I need to invest, every day, for an extra 20 years worth of life. It is not much, but some days, it almost seems impossible. Everyone puts demands on my time, and some days, I collapse in bed after 15 hours behind the computer.

Motivation can be hard. But, it won't be as hard as quitting work because my body gave up on me.

Understanding the Benefits of Feng Shui

Many homeowners are toying with the idea of decorating their home in the Feng Shui style. They have basic misconceptions of the true Feng Shui style based on companies that were selling books, or a particular service.

The reality of Feng Shui is that is was used in all homes, poor and rich. Home decorators do not need to hire someone to create a true Feng Shui room. The first step to bringing the benefits of Feng Shui to your home is to understand exactly what it is.

Feng means "wind," and shui means "water" (pronounced fung-shway). In the Chinese culture, a gentle wind and smooth water is associated with having plenty and being healthy. As apposed to a harsh wind and stagnant water that are linked to famine and disease.

This is important to understand, because a few mistakes can actually cause you to create a negative atmosphere in a room. Good feng-shui means good livelihood and fortune. Bad feng-shui means hardship and misfortune.

However, from a pragmatic point of view, the colors and textures in the good style are relaxing and reduce stress. This is the most important benefit in our stressful culture. At least 80% of all our diseases are stress related, so the primary benefit of feng-shui is to reduce stress and promote health.

Feng-shui is not a superstitious set of decorating rules. It is the science of understanding the emotional impact the different forces of nature have on us, and using these to design houses and workplaces which create harmony instead of stress.

Feng-shui is loosely based in Chinese medicine. There is a standardized body of knowledge that takes years of formal training to master. However, the home decorator can use this decorating style in their own home with success, because they are responding to their personal needs and emotions. The master is trained to deal with different environments and people, the home decorator only needs to worry about their own environment.

Feng-shui is divided into two branches: the Landform (ti-li) branch and the Building Characteristics (chai-yun) branch.

The Landform Classification branch focuses on the flow of energy over, around, and through objects and the connection between that energy and nearby objects.
The Building Characteristics branch focuses on the flow of energy inside a building and how it affects people.

Before starting to decorate your home, it is wise to take the time to study both branches. But, it is also important to determine what you need from the room. Do you sleep too much? Do you need to be energized? Then you will use different elements than someone who needs to relax and detoxify their system of stress, anger, and aggression.

The best thing about Feng-shui is that it can be incorporated into the most sophisticated and elegant home decorating style as easily as it is utilized in an open concept, modern home. The only thing limiting the home is the decorator’s imagination and willingness to learn how to turn their home into a healthy environment.

Take Control of Your Body to Reduce Stress

Approximately 80% of to day’s diseases are the direct result of stress. Stress can cause anything from insomnia and ringing in the ear as a result of tense neck muscles while you sleep, to cardiovascular problems.

Stress is a part of our daily lives, a fact-of-life that has never been faced on such a wide scale as it is faced now. However, the body is an amazing machine that can control itself and even heal itself. You can improve the quality of your life and your health by following a few basic


Breathing Exercises

Any athlete, dancer, or martial arts expert can accomplish extraordinary feats. Everything they can do filters down to breathing and diet. Without proper breathing, their muscles will lack oxygen and tear.

Breathing is the ultimate stress buster, when done right. Fear causes people to breathe erratically. People hold their breath and then repair oxygen deprivation with quick, shallow gasps for air.

Research proves that heart rate shallow breathing increases feelings of anxiety, something you don't need when facing danger, a job interview, or a date.

All it takes to lower your heart rate and create a state of calm is to practice slow, rhythmic belly breathing. Blow out all the breath in your lungs in a big sigh. Then put your finger on the point 2 inches below your navel. Inhale, as if you are filling up a bottle with liquid, letting the air fill the bottom and then slowly move up to the lungs. When your bottle is full, breathe out slowly starting at the navel and moving up. When done right, your belly will flatten. Ten breaths will relax your body.

This takes practice. You are not only relaxing your body, and learning how to relax, but you are training your body to take control and force itself to relax whenever you start to breath.

This way, as soon as your boss says ‘I need to talk to you, come to my office’ you can restore your calm within ten breaths.

Loosen Muscles

Many people have experienced one time in their lives where they were so tense that their muscles tightened uncontrollably. Most of those people can remember one time in their life when they woke up with their heads completely off the pillow, suspended in air, held there by tense muscles.

Many people hunch their shoulders, frown, tighten the muscles in the back of their necks, and tighten their jaw. Most do not know they are reacting this way until they hear a ringing in their ears, feel pain, develop a headache, or even have muscle spasms.

Worse than the pain, tension increases our feelings of stress and negative thinking. This creates a vicious cycle that can eventually lead to depression.

If this is a chronic problem in your life then you need to practice tightening and releasing muscles until you regain control over your own body. The problem is that it is hard to get started. It hurts to release the knots. If you touch parts on the back of your head or back and feel a sharp pain, then you should have Shiatsu treatments. Better – you should learn to treat yourself.

Start learning to control your muscles with three to five shoulder shrugs, Inhale while you tense your shoulders, using the above breathing method. Lift your shoulders toward your ears and exhale as they relax and move down.

Then lower your chin slowly to your chest for five breaths, letting your head relax and droop a little bit more with each exhalation.

If these cause pain, you need a Shiatsu treatment.

Exercise

Exercise relieves stress. It gives you a safe way to vent unhealthy emotions and teaches you to control your body. It improves your health and wellbeing, improves your digestive and cardiovascular system, and last, improves your self-esteem. All of these things decrease stress.

Be fair. Give yourself at least four months before you give up. These three things have the power to change your life forever.

Reducing stress can also reduce adult acne, and wrinkles.

Creating a New You

If you want to start a fitness plan, then you came to the right place.

Most people have a hard time starting a fitness plan. I would have to admit that I started and quit several fitness plans over the years. I usually jump in, full of energy and determination. Then I quit because I didn’t see results, it was too hard, or I couldn’t find the time to complete the plan’s requirements.

It was several years before I decided to learn how to do a fitness program properly.

Vitamins and Your Health

I didn’t realize that my high levels of fatigue and muscle pain are the result of a vitamin or calcium deficiency. Everyone should obtain a clean bill of health, and start a vitamin program.

Make Fitness a Part of Life

My main problem was my attitude toward fitness. I would go to a gym and sign up for a program. This turned fitness into an ‘interruption’ to my day, not a part of my life.

In the beginning, your fitness plan should not be overly aggressive. One of the biggest problems most people encounter when starting a fitness program is rapidly depleted motivation after only a few weeks due to an overly ambitious fitness plan.

I also thought I needed to be at the gym daily to see any results. I should have learned a bit about fitness before starting. The most important thing to remember is to save your energy. Do not waste your time doing localized exercises that work one small set of muscles. This type of exercise offers very little fat reduction or fitness improvement benefits.

Eat

I know this sounds backward, but the less a person eats, the harder it is to loose weight. That is because the body’s metabolism slows down.

Tomorrow I’ll tell you what worked for me, and how I made fitness a part of my lifestyle.

It Takes Time to Repair The Body

The first thing to consider when you are starting a fitness program shouldn’t be weight loss. It should be body repair. Think of an overweight body as a car that has not had a tune up in several years. The oil is dirty, the engine is clogged, there is no washer fluid left, the transmission is out of fluid, and the tires are low, all making a very uncomfortable drive.

If you owned this car, and you wanted to go for a long drive, you would not expect to fill the tank with gas and take off. Instead you would repair what was broken, clean up the system, top up the fluids, and then head out for a long drive.

Heal The Body

Common sense dictates the same thing for your body. There are many supplements and foods that can help. Pepper and beats, or extract supplements, can help clean out the arteries. Other vitamins can make the muscles work more efficiently. Making sure the balance between calcium and vitamin D is correct is vital to healthy bones and muscles.

Think about it. How can you start jogging if the muscles in your calves and feet have not been strengthened enough to carry your weight and act as shock absorbers? Sooner or later something will give - and it is usually the fitness program.

When I finally got started I enrolled in Tia Chi. It was nice and calming. I could make my body follow the instructor as close as possible, without forcing it to over stretch or work too hard. I had fun. I made friends. I felt great about myself. It took almost a year before I was strong enough, and healthy enough, to turn the movements into real, muscle working exercises. That didn’t matter. I left the classes feeling good about myself. Even though I was over weight, I was keeping up with the class. I left class feeling good about myself and looking forward to the next week.

Burn Out Drinks

Burning out, also called Bonking, happens when you are exercising. It is like hitting the wall, but is caused when glycogen stores are depleted. Long distance runners load up on high calorie supplements like Gu Energy Gel

Bonking is a very rare condition, and usually only shows up during extreme exercise. I wanted to mention it so that people understand the effects of extreme exercise. While I understand the push to get fit fast - trying to undo years of abuse to the body in a few months - the effects of overworking can hurt your health.

Many people do try to overwork when they start a fitness campaign. This drives them to overeat, which can have the reverse effect, especially if the person eats a lot of carbs. Many of us do not drink these high calorie, sugary drinks, but we do use a poor cousin - Gatorade. This type of power drink may take away the feeling of exhaustion, but it just puts weight back on the body, and can reverse any positive health aspects of the exercise.

Consuming sugary goo is counter-productive to the goal of weight loss. If you have the determination to work out for more than one hour, this is great. Instead of grabbing a sugary drink, eat a half of a banana before working out. This will accomplish the same thing.

There is also some belief that doing extreme exercise before breakfast, when glycogen levels are low, burns more fat than exercising after eating. This hasn't been proven - but it does lead to dizzyness. Above all, listen to your body.

Reduce Stroke in Women

As the population ages their risk of heart disease and stroke increases causing alarm among the general population. Many people are looking for quick ways to improve their health. Harvard Medical School doctors suggest that women who eat more fish have a lower risk of stroke.

Their researchers examined the health records of almost 80 000 women from 1980-1994, using the Nurses' Health Study. This study collects information on lifestyle, diet, and medical history from female nurses in the USA.

The stroke-protective ingredient is thought to be Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty aside. Dark- fleshed fish such as mackerel, salmon or sardines contain the highest levels of Omega-3 acids.

To receive benefits a woman must eat fish one to three times a month, to reduce her risk seven percent more than women who eat fish sporadically. Women who eat fish once a week are in a category with 22 per cent lower risk. Eating fish more than once a week decreases the risk to 27 percent. Eating fish more than five times reduces the risk of a total stroke 52 per cent. These figures are according to Dr. Hiroyasu Iso, the lead investigator.

Like everything, eating fish must be balanced with other health factors. Changing a red meat diet can result in lowering the iron levels in the body. Here is a good article on Omega3 fish oils from the Mayo Clinic Here is some information from Puritan their fish oil products.