Healthy Holistic Living News and Information

What's the Skinny on Baking Soda and Body Fat?

Mon, 28 May 2007 16:02:24 -0400

The other day I was scrolling through a list of keywords that people use to find my website and I kept coming across "Baking Soda and body fat" so I decided to do some research. What I came up with was interesting.

As far as I can tell baking soda per say does not directly, affect body fat. But, what I did find was a correlation between baking soda, citric acid and metabolism. You see our bodies are like a chemistry set and they have to be balanced to run properly. And one of the things that needs to balanced is our body's pH.

So what's pH?

Well technically, it stands for potential of hydrogen. It is a measure of the degree of saturation of the hydrogen ion in a substance or solution.

"Potential of Hydrogen measures the degree of the acidity or the alkalinity of a solution as measured on a scale (pH scale) of 0 to 14. The midpoint of 7.0 on the pH scale represents neutrality, i.e., a "neutral" solution is neither acid nor alkaline. Numbers below 7.0 indicate acidity; numbers greater than 7.0 indicate alkalinity."

I have no idea what the heck all that means but what I do know is that by measuring your bodies pH level you can determine if your body is too alkaline or acidic. Healthy people are slightly alkaline. Sick and unhealthy people are linked to acidic body environments. Your body pH affects almost everything about you. Your pH level influences every biochemical process in your body including weight loss and body fat!

The pH of your blood must at all times be between 7.3 and 7.4. "In the human body a pH balancing act is continuously going on to maintain homeostasis." So a body that has achieved homeostasis is a body that is functioning optimally. An optimally running body is one with a high functioning metabolism, good stamina and an overall feeling of wellbeing.

If you want to get serious about measuring your bodies' pH, you need to purchase a meter. You can buy simple test strips but from my research, they are not very reliable. I would suggest investing in a quality meter you may want to take a look at the miniLab IQ120 ISFET pH Tester

Your bodies' pH factor can explain why you have not been able to lose body fat! For your body to maintain pH balance it stores any excess acid in your fat cells. You see in the acidic person, the body cannot afford to burn fat because it would release acid that is stored in your body fat, thereby putting your blood pH out of balance.

If your body's pH factor is out of balance it could also explain, why you may lack energy, stamina and just plain don't feel good.

So what in the world does all this have to do with baking soda?

Glad you asked...One method of balancing your bodies pH is by combining citric acid with baking soda!

"The Lime Bicarbonate Formula

Take one whole lime and squeeze into a glass, make sure you remove any seeds. Add very small amounts of baking soda slowly bit by bit until the fizz stops. Then add water until the glass is half way filled. Take twice a day on an empty stomach, once in the morning and once before bedtime."

If you are confused about amounts or if even if you should try it at all I would suggest going to the site listed below, Earthclinic.com and reading as much information as you can before you try it.

For more alkalizing formulas visit one of my all time favorite sites Earthclinic.com and read "Ted's Famous Alkalizing Formulas"

You may want to consider taking a few steps listed below to improve your body's pH before pulling out the chemistry set!

The first thing to consider is the food you are eating.

In an acidic environment, fat flourishes. So, alkaline producing foods will help improve the pH balance of the body. Below I listed a few foods that you should consider adding to your diet.

High Alkaline foods- Asparagus, Onions, Vegetable Juices, Parsley, Raw Spinach, Broccoli, Garlic, Barley Grass, Lemons, Watermelon, Limes, Grapefruit, Mangoes, Papayas, Olive Oil

Alkaline foods- Okra, Squash, Green Beans, Beets, Celery, Lettuce, Zucchini, Sweet Potato, Carob, Dates, Figs, Melons, Grapes, Papaya, Kiwi, Berries, Apples, Pears, Raisins, Almonds, Flax Seed Oil, Green Tea, Maple Syrup, Rice Syrup

If you are interested in learning more about what foods are acidic I recommend that you read this excellent article on "Balancing Acid/Alkaline Foods"

Let's not forget Water!

Drinking appropriate amounts of water is essential to body balance, weight loss and being healthy. A healthy diet and proper amounts of water will assist the body in gently removing acids. Make sure to especially drink after each meal to allow your food to be properly pH neutralized.

And the ever dreaded Exercise.

Regular exercise helps the body eliminate toxins. And we all know that ongoing exercise is essential to your overall health, and wellbeing.

I think that should be enough to get you started. I am going to start The Lime Bicarbonate Formula in 2 weeks. I am still in the process of testing the oil pulling technique. My golden rule is never try more than one technique at a time for obvious reasons how in the world will you know which one did what!

I have tried quite a few alternative techniques if you are interested in reading about my experiences both good and bad read my Alternative Medicine page.

Take the conscious road to authentic power!!!

Have a fantastic day!!

Should We Pull Oil?

Mon, 14 May 2007 06:39:45 -0400

OK so your first thought is that I must be writing an article on oil conservation right, Nope! I am talking about Oil Pulling, the age-old art of putting oil in your mouth to draw out the toxins in the body.

The official definition according to Wikepedia is, "Oil pulling or oil swishing, in alternative medicine, is a procedure in which the practitioner rinses their mouth with approximately one tablespoon of ordinary cooking oil for 3-20 minutes, then spits it out. This procedure is typically performed daily."

So as the theory goes, you take oil, preferable sunflower or sesame and put approximately 1 tablespoon in your mouth, tilt your chin up slightly and proceed to swish, squish, squirt and chomp the oil in your mouth for 20 minutes. Supposedly, you will begin to salivate uncontrollably and the oil will become like a foamy whitish liquid. Then you spit, rinse your mouth out really well with water and then brush your teeth. That's all there is to it.

This form of alternative medicine according to Dr. Karach, who has done many studies on the efficacy of this treatment, is a miracle cure for almost any disease in the body. Now I use the word efficacy lightly because in reading over his findings it is difficult to find the science. Of course, this does not mean this is not a viable treatment.

According to Dr. Karach the list of diseases that are cured from Oil Pulling are endless. "The Oil-therapy heals totally headaches, bronchitis, tooth pain, thrombosis, eczema, ulcers, intestinal diseases, heart and kidney diseases, encephalitis and woman's diseases. Preventively the growth of malignant tumors is cut and healed. Chronic blood diseases, paralysis, diseases of nerves, stomach, lungs and liver and sleeplessness are cured."

You can read highlights of Dr. Karach's paper that he gave at a conference of the All Ukranische-Union of the Oncologists and Bacteriologists, a part of the Academy of Sciences of UDSSR

Deepak Chopra highlights this technique is his book Perfect Health: The Complete Mind/Body Guide. Although he suggests an Ayurvedic technique called oil gargling "to purify the taste-buds and the entire system." According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, the tongue and the pulse are two of the most import diagnostic tools. "The tongue is mapped by organ-locations - that is, each section of the tongue is connected to the kidneys, lungs, spleen, liver, heart, pancreas, small intestines, stomach, colon, and spine." "Thus, an oil-mouth-massage soothes and stimulates the key meridians where taste meets organ."

After reviewing several sites about Oil Pulling and reading results from individuals in various forums, I think it's worth a try. Why not? We are talking about a very simple, non-invasive technique that just might improve your health. Minimally, according to all the reports I will end up with whiter teeth!

Another article you may find interesting is in The Hindu Business on-line Oil gargle a day... by Bharat Savur

So here's the low down on what you need to do to try Oil Pulling and yes, I am going to try it myself for 30 days.

OIL PULLING INSTRUCTIONS:

Ok first thing in the morning, before brushing your teeth, eating or drinking, this really means first thing in the morning. Take 1 TBSP of either sesame or sunflower oil. "Put the oil in your mouth, tilt your chin up and slowly swish, suck, chomp and pull through the teeth. Do this for at least 10 minutes. 15 - 20 minutes is better. You want the oil to become a thin, white foam when you finally spit it out. If it's still yellow, you haven't done it long enough."

There seems to be a lot of people on the internet trying various oils, I can't say much about which oil you should or shouldn't use other than if you are going to try it you might as well go with what the experts say, sesame or sunflower oil! Once you find that it is an effective technique for you then, if you are curious you can try other oils such as coconut oil or maybe avocado oil.

Again, the idea being that the toxins are drawn out of your body and into the oil. So don't swallow the OIL!

"You can do this 2 more times during the day if you want to detox faster. Make sure you do it on an empty stomach." If you are going to do it more than once per day make sure that you have not eaten in the last 4 hours.

"Spit it out in the toilet when your mouth is full and rinse your mouth out well."

You need to make sure that you drink at least 1 full glass of water after you brush your teeth.

Let me say it one more time DO NOT SWALLOW THE OIL. It now contains parasites and bacteria! At least according to the theory. But I wouldn't swallow it anyway I would suspect your stomach would not like it.

"DO NOT GARGLE IN THE THROAT. THE OIL IS MEANT TO BE SWISHED IN THE MOUTH ONLY." I know Deepak Chopra said gargle but according to everything, I have read that's not safe so stick to swishing.

"DO IT SLOWLY."

HOW IT WORKS:

"The oil pulls all mucous, bacteria and toxins from your body through your saliva. According to Ayurvedic medicine, mucous is a poison that must be removed."

A worsening of symptoms and maybe even a few you never had before is an excellent indication that the disease/ailment is being cured. "Do not stop Oil Pulling if you feel aggravated symptoms or heightened side effects." Your body is healing.

If you would like to read more about Oil Pulling as well as read a ton of reader results, go to Earthclinic.com . This site is a fabulous site for tons of information on natural remedies. Make sure you bookmark it!

I will let you know the results to my little test on my website. I will include it as one of the alternative techniques I have tried. I will not write the results until the end of the 30 days. If you plan to try it drop back by to let me know your results!

Ok I just got back from doing my first Oil Pulling. I have to say it is not the most pleasant experience. Your first instinct is to spit it out! But, I stuck it out for the 20 minutes! So we shall see.......................

Want to read about my experience with Oil Pulling?

Good Luck and Good Swishing!

Take the conscious road to authentic power!!!

Have a fantastic day!!

What's all the hype about Baking Soda?

Wed, 11 Apr 2007 09:28:07 -0400

Baking Soda is a staple in just about every household. In some homes it's used strictly for baking in others, you will find the standard box in the refrigerator. In my home, it is used for just about everything. It is cheap, safe and actually does what it claims to do. What more could you ask for!

Baking Soda is sodium bicarbonate. It is found naturally in mineral deposits. Most of the baking soda in North America is mined in Wyoming. Not that it really matters all we have to do is buzz down to the local grocery store and grab a box.

If you go to the Arm & Hammer website you will find a great section on all the things you can do with baking soda.

You probably know by now that baking soda can be used for just about anything. It is one of the most multifaceted natural products you will ever find. There has been a resurgence in the use of baking soda over the last 20 years due to the increased interest in using environmentally friendly products. Studies show that baking soda is environmentally benign.

Check out this study at Pubmed, Safety and Efficacy of Baking Soda

There is a ton of information on the internet giving tips on the many uses of baking soda but chances are you've learned a few from your mom. You know it's a cleaning solution, that it neutralizes odors and cleans the drains with a bit of vinegar you probably know more than you think. Growing up, my mother used baking soda for everything. But it wasn't until I got sick that I went back to my roots and discovered that baking soda could really be used for everything!!

If you don't know the difference between baking soda and baking powder check out this article What Is the Difference Between Baking Soda & Baking Powder?

My Healthy Home Baking Soda Tips:

Quick note: I don't bake or cook so you won't find a single tip on using baking soda for cooking from me!

Kitchen

#1 Clean your cutting board weekly with baking soda. Spread baking soda over entire surface then pour some vinegar on it and let it bubble away all those nasty odors and bacteria.

#2 Put a good amount of baking soda in your kitchen drain pour a good amount of vinegar down the drain to clean out your pipes. It will kill the bacteria and get rid of that nasty lingering odor.

#3 Make a paste of baking soda and water to scrub your flat top range. Let it sit for about a half hour then scrub again using a cloth rag it will make your range sparkle like new!

#4 Put a teaspoon of baking soda in your blender with water and a drop of dish soap put the lid on and blend until clean.

#5 Just chopped onions and garlic for your famous salsa? Take baking soda and sprinkle into the palm of your hand add just a touch of water, enough to make a paste scrub and rinse!

#6 Want your stainless steel kitchen sink to shine? Sprinkle a liberal amount of baking soda all around your sink add just enough water to make a paste and scrub with a damp cleaning rag.

#7 Does your dishwasher have a bit of an odor? Next cycle sprinkle a good amount of baking soda in the bottom of the dishwasher and run the cycle as usual. Your dishwasher will smell as if new not to mention that load of dishes will come out a little cleaner!

#8 Make your tarnished silver sparkle! Take a bowl of baking soda, a damp rag and a cup of water and make a paste. Apply the paste to your silver using a rag, you may have to scrub a little but the baking soda should take the tarnish right off! No more nasty chemicals needed! Note if you do this outside do not pour your dirty water and baking soda in the grass it will kill it! We learned the hard way.

#9 To get hard water stains off kitchen faucets or any faucet for that matter, make a paste out of baking soda and toothpaste use an old toothbrush to get in those tiny crevices.

#10 Going out of town? Sprinkle some baking soda down your kitchen drains and in the bottom of your dishwasher (make sure you leave the dishwasher open just a crack.) You won't come home to those nasty lingering odors.

#11 Make a paste with baking soda and water and scrub your plastic storage containers nothing cleans plastic as well as baking soda. If you have lingering odors, sprinkle dry plastic container with baking soda, put the lid on and let it sit over night. That should take care of any lingering odors.

#12 Clean your coffee maker with 1-quart warm water and ¼ cup of baking soda, brew. Do this once a week and your coffee will taste great every time you brew a pot.

Want to learn more about Healthy Homes? Check out my website, Healthy Holistic Living for information on building a healthy home and more tips on healthy living

OK so maybe I didn't get all my tips from my Mom- check out Baking Soda: Over 500 Fabulous, Fun, and Frugal Uses You've Probably Never Thought Of (Lansky, Vicki)

Check back again next week when my baby, affectionately known as Baby Izzy brings you all her favorite baking soda tips for your baby!

I could go on forever baking soda is amazing stuff but I don't want to overload you…. Check back for more tips each week or Bookmark my Blog for easy reference.

Take the conscious road to authentic power!!!

Have a fantastic day!!

Excuse Me If I Don't Feel the Least Bit @#!%!@ Spiritual Today!

Fri, 6 Apr 2007 05:59:51 -0400

Yesterday I woke up on a spiritual high all was perfect in the world. I couldn't wait to start my day! I felt love for all other humans and I kept everything in perspective. Knowing what I know about the world I took nothing personally and found the humor in each encounter whether it was positive or negative. I went to bed with a feeling of gratitude and peace and was looking forward to another day on my wonderful journey.

Then today I woke up and the first thought that entered my mind was, @!%#% another day! I don't know where this feeling came from whether it's hormones, past life crap coming back to haunt me or childhood trauma and I don't care all I know is I am not happy and for some reason I prefer to feel this way! If someone was to look at me cross, I am quite prepared to rip his or her head off! I am reveling in my misery and seem to be loving it!

What happened and why am I embracing this misery as if it's my best friend?

This scenario is one we have all been through God only knows you can't keep that sense of spirituality for longer than a couple of days before you fall off the spiritual wagon and back into the tangible reality of this world! This usually occurs right at the moment that the person in the car next to you cuts you off and then proceeds to flip you the finger!!

So where does this leave us? Are we less spiritual or spiritually challenged if we can't seem to keep ourselves out of the occasional funk? Do Buddhist Monks ever wake up on the wrong side of the bed?

I am pretty sure that all of us experience a funk from time to time the key is how long does it last. A key determinate in the length of our "bad mood" depends on our personality and to what degree we have suppressed our emotions. Once an emotional situation has been relegated to the subconscious we no longer have choice over how, when or to what degree that emotion is going to be expressed. Our subconscious could have an emotional leak at any point in time and finding the source is about as easy as finding a water leak in your home!

Scott Hemenover, an assistant professor of psychology at K-State studied emotional suppression and personality. "Hemenover performed a study that found that people with different personality types have different rates of mood decay. People with neurotic tendencies hold on to a bad mood longer than other people. Extroverts tend to stay in a positive mood longer than average people.

Maintaining a negative mood for a long period of time is harmful to your health. People think that getting stressed and anxious is bad for you. The key isn't how stressed you are, but how long you are stressed," he said. "Staying stressed for a long time can impair your immune and cardiovascular functions." Hemenover said people who tend to stay in a bad mood for a long time can learn to use strategies that will help them snap out of it faster.

Read How to cure a bad mood Blast Away a Bad Mood With 11 Fast Fixes

Other studies are showing a link between low levels of omega-3 fatty acids and our overall moods. Sarah Conkin, PhD a researcher at the University Of Pittsburgh School Of Medicine says "People in our study who had low blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids were more likely to report mild to moderate symptoms of depression, more moodiness, and more impulsivity." Earlier studies appear to link low blood levels of omega-3s to a host of serious psychological conditions, including major depression, bipolar disorder, attention deficit disorder, and even schizophrenia.

Now new research suggests that omega-3s can have a significant impact on everyone's mental health. For an in-depth article that focuses on the link between depression and low levels of Omega-3 read Is My Brain Fat Enough?

So here is the bottom line it's OK to be in a bad mood from time to time but the longer, you stay in that bad mood the more detrimental it is to your overall health. Not to mention the whole Law of Attraction thing we all know how a bad day can spiral into a worse day. We attract what we are feeling so keep in mind if you want to feel better you have to make a conscious effort to shift your mood and like everything thing else once you take the first step it gets easier and easier. Alternatively, you can choose to revel in your bad mood it's entirely up to you!

Take the conscious road to authentic power!!!

Have a fantastic day!!

I Knew it All Along It's The Damned Plastic Making Me Fat Thank God I Don't Have to Give Up My McDonalds!

Tue, 3 Apr 2007 06:40:46 -0400

Ok so maybe that's not the whole story. If you lay around doing nothing all day but eating junk food and lounging on the couch then yes you're fat because of your own behavior.

BUT....

Scientists are finding that the infamous endocrine disrupting chemicals in well, most everything have a dramatic affect on human metabolism and appetite control. Some are even saying we are programmed for obesity!

According to Frederick vom Saal, professor of biological science at University of Missouri-Columbia, environmental chemicals found in everyday plastics and pesticides may very well influence obesity. Dr. vom Saal has found that when fetuses are exposed to these chemicals, the way their genes function may be altered to make them more prone to obesity and disease.

"Certain environmental substances called endocrine-disrupting chemicals can change the functioning of a fetus's genes, altering a baby's metabolic system and predisposing him or her to obesity. This individual could eat the same thing and exercise the same amount as someone with a normal metabolic system, but he or she would become obese, while the other person remained thin," vom Saal said. "This is a serious problem because obesity puts people at risk for other problems, including cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and hypertension," he added.

In an article in ODE magazine "Why Dieting Fails" by Kim Ridley, she explains, "The body typically stashes toxins absorbed from food, water, and other sources in fat cells. In the late 1990's, a research team led by Professor Angelo Tremblay of Laval University in Quebec began studying the effects of organochlorines like DDT, dioxins and PCBs on the metabolisms of people enrolled in weight-loss programs. Building on earlier work by Italian researchers, the Canadian team found that levels of industrial pollutants in the dieter's blood rose as they lost weight; fat cells shrink and release the contaminants back into the bloodstream.

Tremblay and his colleagues further reported that as these levels rose, the levels of thyroid hormones necessary to maintain an efficient metabolism plummeted. "If I were to put this in journalistic terms, I might say that the organochlorines essentially shut down the metabolic furnace that helps the body burn fat," Tremblay told The Ecologist. The Canadian team's research continues to confirm that these chemicals may be among the major contributors to rebound weight gain!"

"Adding to the evidence is research by Dr. Paula Baillie-Hamilton, author of The Detox Diet. After extensively examining the effects of various classes of chemical pollutants on the body's weight-control system, she made a surprising and counterintuitive discovery: Some of the same chemicals that cause weight loss in high doses can lead to weight gain at the very low levels which are exposes to them in everyday life."

Some researchers are suggesting that these chemicals are triggering obesity in other ways. For instance the chemical Bisphenol A, ummm, you know the stuff found in hard plastics like 99% of baby bottles, transform "baby" fat cells into full-fledged mature fat cells. "As these fat cells proliferate, it becomes more difficult to lose weight and keep it off."

So all those plastic baby bottles, we so nonchalantly use to feed our babies are leaching endocrine disrupting chemicals into there little systems! I just have to wonder what else is being altered in their little bodies.

If you are looking for another option try Born Free Baby bottles they are totally free of the hormone disrupting chemical called Bisphenol-A. Go to the Green Nest click on BABY and then on BABY ACCESSORIES.

I recall a study done on the wildlife in Lake Apopka in Florida. It showed a direct correlation between diminished penis sizes in alligators and the amount of endocrine disrupting chemicals stored in their body fat. They also found that male fish with minimal levels of endocrine disrupting chemicals in their body fat were mimicking the mating behaviors of the female fish. So, who knows what all these chemicals will do to us! Truthfully, only time will tell we are just starting to see the impact of the Chemical Revolution that came out of World War II.

Another study by David B. Allison, Ph.D., professor of biostatistics in the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Public Health hypothesizes that there may be 10 factors that contribute to obesity.

The 10 factors that may have contributed to the rise in obesity rates are:

Less sleep can cause increased body weight;
Endocrine disruptors, including DDT and PCBs can increase body fat;
Keeping ones home or office at one temperature year around promotes body fat;
Smoking cessation increases weight because nicotine has both thermogenic and appetite suppressant effects;
Certain pharmaceuticals, including antipsychotics, antidepressants, contraceptives and antihistamines increase weight;
Some age and ethnic groups that have a higher prevalence of obesity than others have increased as a proportion of the population;
Greater maternal age may increases risk of offspring obesity;
Obesity may perpetuate its own increase through a fetally-driven positive feedback loop;
Obesity has a genetic component and individuals with genetic predisposition toward obesity may be reproducing at a higher rate; and this can increase the number of offspring with high levels of adiposity.
The probability that two individuals will mate is related to how similar their body types in adiposity and this can increase the number of offspring with high levels of adiposity.

Check out the study above in the International Journal of Obesity. Putative contributors to the secular increase in obesity: exploring the roads less traveled.

Wow so basically everything contributes to OBESITY! Actually, I am a big believer that there are many contributing factors to the increase of our waistlines around the world. And given the science I do believe that chemicals are playing a role in how our metabolism develops as well as our appetite. Although, it doesn't help that your fast food restaurants put yummy addicting chemicals flavors in there food!

Looking for alternatives? Check out this guide to Smart Plastics. The Smart Plastic Guide

Even though we have many contributing factors to Obesity, the bottom line is that it is our responsibility to educate ourselves about how and what we need to do to better take care of ourselves and our families.

To learn more about nutrition read my article Nutrition and a Healthier Life

And if your interested in learning more about organic foods read Is Organic Worth It?

Want to consider other options? This great site provides you with the facts and news on the global push to reduce plastic and paper bag consumption. Plus, simple actions you can take to help the cause. You can find a whole slew of alternatives for plastic this is where we get our reusable water bottles and sandwich wraps. ReusableBags.com

Take the conscious road to authentic power!!!

Have a fantastic day!!

A Blog a Day Keeps the Doctor Away

Wed, 28 Mar 2007 05:30:11 -0400

In the beginning Blogs were mainly a means of listing links to others sites or news articles with a bit of commentary. They have evolved into a whole new world of communication and social networking.

According to Wikipedia - "A blog is a user-generated website where entries are made in journal style and displayed in a reverse chronological order."

You can find almost any kind of blog on the web today. We have everything from professional blog sites to personal journals and diaries turned into blogs giving the world an opportunity to be voyeurs into other people's lives.

Blogs give everyone the opportunity to have their 15 minutes fame even if they only have 10 visitors a day. An interesting phenomenon happens when people use the internet it removes some of our inhibitions giving us the opportunity to express ourselves in ways we would never do face to face. It offers some sense of anonymity even if we share the most personal of details including our name.

So what in the world do blogs have to do with our health?

Dr James Pennebaker, professor of Psychology at the University of Texas in Austin, pioneered research into the links between writing and health.

Dr. Pennebaker's initial findings were interesting. His participants reported that writing about horrible experiences left them feeling horrible immediately after writing. Dr. Pennebaker writes in his book, Opening Up: The Healing Power of Expressing Emotions that "In analyzing the mood findings, it appeared that all we had succeeded in doing was inventing a new way to make people depressed," he writes Six months down the track, however, the picture changed. Pennebaker found that people who'd written revealing accounts of a personal trauma showed an "impressive drop" in visits to the doctor, compared with control groups who were assigned other writing topics."

And upon analyzing a follow-up questionnaire given to participates four months after the experiment it was reported, "Writing about their deepest thoughts and feelings about traumas resulted in improved moods, more positive outlook, and greater physical health."

In addition, according to author Stephanie Dowrick, who wrote "Living Words: Journal Writing for self-discovery, insight and creativity", there are many other less measurable benefits. According to Mrs. Dowrick, "Writing a journal can literally be life-changing. It is the key to discovering your own unique inner world it lets you "read" your own life and see the world around yourself more richly, more deeply."

This is a very cool article on Scrapathy, Journaling for Improved Mental Health

Ultimately self-expression whether it is through writing or actually verbalizing your feelings is one of the healthiest things you can do for yourself. We are finding out more and more about the impact our emotions have on our physical and mental health. Studies suggest that 50 - 75 percent of all visits to the doctor are primarily related to stress and 8 out of 10 of the most commonly prescribed medications in the U.S. are intended to treat problems directly related to stress! So a little journaling could do us all good!

If you are interested in learning more about the impact our emotions have on our body read Candice Pert's book Molecules Of Emotion: The Science Behind Mind-Body Medicine. This is an absolutely fabulous book one of my all time favorites! It gives great insight into the world of emotions and the true impact they have on our overall wellbeing.

One of the most effective tools I found during my illness was writing. I was so frustrated and angry and even hurt that without having taken the opportunity to use journaling to express myself I probably would have perpetuated my disorder and maybe even made it worse. Stress negatively impacts us all and the more with ignore our emotions the greater the health risk!

To learn more about my personal experience with a chronic illness and how I used writing to help process my emotions and support the healing of my body read Journal Writing for your Mind, Body and Spirit

A Blog a Day could really Keep the Doctor Away!!!

So Blog away...........!

Take the conscious road to authentic power!!!

Have a fantastic day!!

The Birth of Chronic Pain

Mon, 26 Mar 2007 06:08:25 -0400

Pain is a fascinating concept. I didn't think much about pain until I got sick about seven years ago. I experienced pain like no other I was pushed to points I thought were not possible that's when I started thinking more about the origin of pain, it's staying power and truly trying to understand the philosophy of pain.

A pain impulse usually starts its trip along the pain pathway when you suffer an injury or illness.

Let's take a look at an example: Let's say you cut your finger.

Have you ever noticed that when you cut your finger you first feel the sensation of being cut before you feel the pain from it? That happens because you have separate nerves for touch and for pain. And the touch nerves send signals much faster than pain nerves.

Your touch nerve signals travel to the brain as fast as 200 miles per hour while the pain signals travel at around 40 miles per hour and chronic pain signals travel as slow as 3 miles per hour.

Going back to our example, when you cut your finger you tend to instinctually rub it because it relieves some of the pain and makes your finger feel better. The reason it feels better is because those fast touch signals outrun the slower pain signals. By the time the pain signals reach the pain gates they are so overcrowded with touch signals that the pain signals have a hard time getting through.

I learned early on that you could outsmart pain. And one technique I used was exactly like the example above; I gave my "nervous system a competing source of input" one that was faster than the pain signal. That was one of the first anti-pain strategies I learned and I used it often.

Throughout my health journey, I learned that there were many techniques to providing competing sources of input to my nervous system. It can be done pharmacologically, mechanically, electrically and the most powerful tool of all it can be done with your thoughts.

When pain signals start there journey up your spinal cord working there way to your brain they automatically trigger the release of chemicals that help them travel to the brain. These are called neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters carry pain signals from one nerve cell to the next. These are the same neurotransmitters that your brain uses to carry all your thoughts and feelings.

"The three neurotransmitters that ship pain signals to the brain are substance P, NMDA (n-methyl-d-aspartate), and glutamate. Of these, substance P seems to be the most active, and most important. Without these three substances-especially substance P-pain signals have a much harder time reaching the brain. However, if there is an excess of any of these three substances, pain signals have a much easier time reaching the brain."

This is another technique to controlling or manipulating pain signals. Through the use of pharmaceuticals, over the counter medication and even acupuncture the production of neurotransmitters can be decreased therefore altering the pain pathway.

"Here's more good news: The body, in its natural, innate wisdom, has its own way of keeping these pain neurotransmitters from flooding the brain, and overwhelming us with pain. The body forces these pain chemicals to travel through a pain gate that sits near the back of the spinal cord. This pain gate is composed of a substance that has the consistency of jelly' it's called the substantia gelatinosa of the dorsal horn."

Thus another technique to controlling pain: supporting the health and function of this gate. To have a well-tuned, healthy and high functioning gate you have to have a healthy nervous system. If your nervous system is stressed, exhausted or is not getting the nourishment it needs this gate will lose its efficiency.

One way to achieve this goal is to do a daily workout for your nervous system, I use biofeedback. To learn more about my experience with biofeedback read Biofeedback the Path to Healing.

So the better your over all health the higher your pain threshold.

But NO matter what you do some of those annoying pain signals are going to make there way to the brain. And it's a good thing because without those signals we wouldn't know when we were in danger or if our bodies were suffering from disease.

So the pain signals have breached the gate where to next? The pain signals enter an area of the brain called the thalamus. This is kind of like a way station for all incoming physical signals.

Once the signal enters the thalamus it is then sent to two other areas of the brain, the cortex, which does all your thinking and your limbic system, which handles all your emotions.

Once these two areas have gotten the signals they have a bit of a chat, they compare notes and try to decide just how serious this pain is. They look at the intensity of the signal, the frequency and how long the signals have lasted.

The limbic system and cortex come to a conclusion, they decide either that the situation is not serious or they deem it a major emergency and sound the alarm. If it is determined that the situation is not serious then signals are sent to the body to relax and signals are sent to the neurotransmitters to start pumping out that all so relaxing chemical called serotonin. Soon the pain subsides and things go back to normal. But if the system decides it's a full-blown emergency things start hopping.

A red alert from the limbic system and cortex sends a signal to the neurotransmitters to start producing norepinephrine, which is a form of adrenaline. This sets of the classic symptoms of "fight or flight response." "Your blood vessels constrict, your heart pounds, your muscles tighten, and your nerves go "on edge," as they wait for further problems.

This is when things can really go wrong and it can be the beginning of Chronic Pain if your bodies counterattack does not work properly. "The bodies counterattack has to be just right, not too much and not too little. If the body over or under responds it can contribute to the malfunction of the nervous system leading to the creation of chronic pain."

You see during this "fight or flight response" your body must find a balance between the production of the stimulating effect of norepinephrine and the calming effect of serotonin. When your body is alarmed it badly needs the production of serotonin to help calm it down and close the pain gates. The problem comes in when you feel alarmed you tend to become more alarmed which in itself is alarming, leading to the overproduction of norepinephrine which leaves the pain gates open and at times even jams them open indefinitely.

So now more problems start to arise, the brain begins to closely monitor the injured area via the nervous system. The nerves around the injury then become more sensitive creating pain in areas that are not even injured. Now we have even more pain signals heading toward the brain and when the brain receives those signals it sensitizes the area even more contributing to the cycle of pain. To add to the problem pain signals can also jump from one nerve to another. Creating pain stimuli in a nerve that previously had no pain leading to more pain signals heading to the brain, which of course contributes to the perpetuation of the cycle of pain.

However the healthier your nervous system and the more you nurture your nervous system the less likely it is that this cycle will occur. A healthier nervous system creates thicker sheaths around your nerves; it's like a little insulated jacket, which helps prevent these "neurological leaks."

The more pain cycles that are created, sometimes millions of times per hour the more ingrained the cycle becomes. It is as if it becomes engraved in your nervous system. "Pain signals literally become a physical part of the anatomy of your nervous system, just like the memories that are engraved in your brain. Thus the Birth of Chronic Pain.

Many of the quotes and excerpts above are from The Pain Cure: The Proven Medical Program that Helps End Your Chronic Pain by Dharma Singh Khalsa, M.D. with Cameron Stauth.. In this book you will find an in-depth overview of how chronic pain is created and methods you can use to overcome pain.

To learn more about my health story go to My Journey.

Take the conscious road to authentic power!!!

Have a fantastic day!!

The Fundamentals of Happiness

Fri, 23 Mar 2007 08:58:30 -0400

How can we find happiness? Is their a tangible path to happiness or is it some illusive feeling that comes and goes according to what happens around us? According to the Dalai Lama, happiness can be cultivated like all other things. The structure of the human brain is optimally designed to allow us to affect our behaviors, personality and patterns. Ultimately giving us the power to lead either unhappy or unfulfilled lives or to live inspired, happy full lives. The choice is ours.

"The systematic training of the mind- the cultivation of happiness, the genuine inner transformation by deliberately selecting and focusing on positive mental states and challenging negative mental states - is possible because of the very structure and function of the brain. We are born with brains that are genetically hardwired with certain instinctual behavior patterns; we are predisposes mentally, emotionally, and physically to respond to our environment in ways that enable us to survive. These basic sets of instructions are encoded in countless innate nerve cell activation patterns, specific combinations of brain cells fire in response to a given event experience or thought. But the wiring in our brains is not static, not irrevocably fixed. Our brains are also adaptable. Neuroscientists have documented the fact that the brain can design new patterns, new combinations of nerve cells and neurotransmitters (chemicals that transmit messages between nerve cells) in response to new input. In fact, our brains are malleable, ever changing, reconfiguring their wiring according to new thoughts and experiences. And as a result of learning, the function of individual neurons themselves change, allowing electrical signals to travel along them more readily. Scientists call the brain's inherent capacity to change "plasticity."

Simply put we may not be able to alter existing neuropath ways but we can develop new patterns or neuropath ways that are stronger and therefore become the dominant pattern.

"This is known as the practice of "Dharma." This is the constant battle within of replacing previous negative conditioning or habituation with new positive conditioning."

No matter what activity or practice we are perusing there is not anything that isn't made easier through constant familiarity and training. Through training, we can change; we can transform ourselves."

So I guess the saying practice makes perfect is true? So what do you practice to cultivate happiness?

OK you're not going to like this because you have heard it all before but here it goes!!

1.Make a Conscious Choice To Be Happy

Most things in life require that we make a conscious, deliberate choice to pursue them or they remain only an allusive dream just outside of our reach. Acknowledge you are not happy with your current self be honest with yourself and others. Commit from this day forward to live a happy, fulfilled life.

2.Cultivate a Sense of Connection With Yourself and Others

Foster friendships; we are here to experience all the joy the world has to offer and without other people to share the experience with we would not have the fulfillment and joy that we all desire. Let people in to your core to share in your vulnerability and your growth.

3.Focus on Forgiveness of Yourself and Others

Forgiveness is not always easy but the more we say the words "I am sorry" the easier and more natural they become. It does not take away from who we are as a person to forgive it is what makes us complete.

4.Cultivate Gratitude

Be grateful for every moment you have the good, the bad and the boring. Each moment is precious and provides us with a path to wholeness. Embrace each experience and say thanks at the end of each day for all that you have, all that you experienced and all the opportunities you will create.

5.Counteract Negative Thoughts and Feelings

This requires a conscious effort on your part to acknowledge negative thoughts and to replace them with positive feelings. To build positive neuropath ways that will dominate your thinking requires constant practice. If you have a tendency to be negative, it simply means you have focused on negative feelings or have practiced being negative more than positive. It is that simple! Practice positive feelings!

6.Shift your Focus

Focus only on YOU. Accept the fact that you cannot change another human being. And in fact, that is not your job or your place. You can only change yourself. Shift your focus to what it is you are doing and feeling. You may be surprised that you are in fact doing some of the same things that you are criticizing others for doing.

7.Engage in Meaningful Activities

If your life is filled with mundane, unsatisfying activities, attaining happiness will be an uphill battle. Are you living an inspired life? Are you engaging in activities that you desire, that make you happy? Engaging in activities that have meaning to your true, authentic self brings you tremendous joy. Find out what is meaningful to you and pursue those activities.

8.Cultivate physical, Mental and Spiritual Health

We are physical beings living in a physical world. We need to tend to our bodies, our minds as well as our spirits. Eating right, exercising and practicing our spiritual beliefs on a daily basis with help cultivate the seeds of happiness.

9.Pursue Pleasure

Do things that bring you total JOY. Things that inspire you, please you and provide you with a boundless sense of love and joy. We all know that feeling we just need to make it a priority to pursue pleasure!

Toolbox

We are human and we require structure and repetition to alter our behaviors and ultimately alter our lives. Creating a toolbox to support your goals is essential.

1.Meditation or Prayer

Find a meditation that works for you and practice it everyday! It is that simple giving yourself the time to release everything, to be in the moment change your life.

2.Movement

No matter what your situation or condition you must move your body! We are human and our bodies are required to be fluid to function properly. This functioning is not limited to the physical self it also influences your mental health and spiritual health. Remember we are a whole being.

3.Sleep

Proper sleep is essential for our physical and mental wellbeing. It is our time to regenerate and recover from the experiences of the day. With out the proper sleep your body will be running on a constant deficit and will always be compromised. Thus making it all that more difficult to obtain happiness and wellbeing.

4.Proper Nutrition

As with exercise, we must acknowledge we are human beings with basic needs to function properly. Eating right will provide you with the optimum resources necessary to attain your physical, mental and spiritual goals.

5.Breathing

Simple enough but most of us do not breathe deeply enough to engage our bodies and provide our cells with all the necessary nutrients to function properly. Practice deep breathing throughout the day whenever you remember.

6.Humor

Humor ultimately is the best medicine. From a physical perspective it releases endorphins in our body, which makes us feel better, and it releases pent up emotions that if not released become toxic to our body. The more we can laugh at ourselves the healthier and happier we will be.

7.Practice, Practice, Practice

The exerpts above are from one of my favorite books The Art of Happiness: A Handbook for Living by His Holiness The Dalai Lama and Howard C. Cutler MD.

Funny enough it really doesn't matter what your situation is the rules are the same read Tools for Dealing with a Chronic Illness to learn more about the tools and techniques you can use to live a happy and fullfilled life.

Take the conscious road to authentic power!!!

Have a fantastic day!!

Is Yoga still effective if you have a cat sitting on your face?

Wed, 21 Mar 2007 06:13:51 -0400

At around 6 am this morning, after working 2 hours on the computer, feeding a house full of cats and strategically avoiding baby bottle washing duty it was time to start my Yoga.

It also happened to be my time to watch our baby who is affectionately known as Baby Izzy. So in the bouncy chair Baby Izzy went. I began my Yoga as I usually do by lying down on my back, emptying my mind and trying to relax all the muscles in my body.

Just as I was starting to relax my body and move into the first stretch my 3 month old cat, Sydney tromps over and proceeds to find a nice cozy spot to sleep right on my neck. She then proceeds to rest her sweet little nose directly over my right nostril. Now, my breathing was slightly altered but nothing to be too concerned about. I had one available nostril.

At the same time, Baby Izzy starts squirming like a worm so I quick, trying not to lose my new found state of relaxation pop the pacifier in her mouth and lie down again. Little Izzy continues to squirm so with my left foot I reach over and start bouncing the bouncy chair. Now Sydney, who was displaced during the pacifier incident returns to claim her territory once again, blocking my right nostril. As I am bouncing, Baby Izzy with me left foot and trying to relax only the right side of my body I can't help but think is Yoga still effective with a cat sitting on your face?

Then I began to giggle, what a seen! Sydney starts rubbing her face all over mine and Baby Izzy starts practicing her cooing! Yes, indeed I do think I am still benefiting from my Yoga! What could be more relaxing than starting your day off with a great belly laugh!

All of which got me thinking.... What are the benefits of Laughter?

"Dr. Lee Berk and fellow researcher Dr. Stanley Tan of Loma Linda University in California have been studying the effects of laughter on the immune system. To date their published studies have shown that laughing lowers blood pressure, reduces stress hormones, increases muscle flexion, and boosts immune function by raising levels of infection-fighting T-cells, disease-fighting proteins called Gamma-interferon and B-cells, which produce disease-destroying antibodies. Laughter also triggers the release of endorphins, the body's natural painkillers, and produces a general sense of well-being."

Want to learn more about The Science Behind Laughter?

Sounds pretty good to me.....So what are the benefits of Yoga?

"The deep, steady breathing of yoga is believed to balance the nervous system and improve circulation," says Nicole Nisly, MD. "Combine that with visualization and relaxation, and yoga leads to a calm and focused state of mind."

The physical benefits of yoga are seen in a wide variety of health conditions. In mild cases of asthma and high blood pressure, yoga can reduce the need for medication. As well as reducing the production of stress hormones, it increases muscle tone, flexibility, and boosts immune function. Yoga also triggers the release of endorphins and produces a general sense of well-being.

Ummmm.......anybody see much difference?

I guess it comes down to everything else if I get frustrated and overwhelmed because I can't get what I want done then any possible health benefits with anything I do have pretty much been shot. But if I take things with a grain of salt and try to find the humor in them then I can only benefit whether I am doing Yoga or Laughing!

Talk a walk on the lighter side and enjoy the humor you find in everything you do!

Read Laughter the Cure for All that Ails You to learn more about how laughter can heal.

"The art of medicine consists of keeping the patient amused while nature heals the disease." Voltaire

Have a Great Day!!

Today it is My Intention to Manifest a 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid!

Tue, 20 Mar 2007 05:43:26 -0400

Today I am manifesting a 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid! That's right and for all you folks out there who feel like that might be a tad materialistic, well your right! Nevertheless, the truth is that we are born into the world to enjoy everything that is on this planet from love, to yes even a Toyota Camry Hybrid!

Wanting and desiring material items, in societies view has become a bad thing. We tend to place judgment on someone who desires material belongings. The problem is that so many of us suffer from a sense of powerlessness and lack of fulfillment in our lives that we desire external things to fill this void. That makes it unhealthy. But desiring material items can be apart of a healthy, happy and fulfilled existence if your desires are coming from a healthy perspective.

Like some of you, I have always believed that wanting or desiring material belongings was selfish, materialistic, and shallow and didn't align with my spiritual values. Truth is I don't know where I came up with that. I must of always felt that some how if you desire material items you were less spiritual?

The Universe is limitless. And with my new understanding, I embrace all that the world has to offer; including all of the wonderful inventions and glorious creations. Today I will manifest a Toyota Camry Hybrid and tomorrow I will manifest world peace!

Not to mention our new baby girl, Baby Izzy says she is tired of driving around in a beat up old Toyota truck. Just an FYI if you haven't read the story of how Baby Izzy came into our lives you may want to take a look at The Power of the Secret.

So sit down in a quiet spot and pick your fantasy vehicle, come on don't be shy you know you want it. You may want to get on the internet first and download a picture so you can capture it in your mind.

Invite the Universe to bless you by saying "Today I invite the Universe to bless me in my effort to align myself with my soul."

Visualize yourself sitting in your new car, fully loaded with all the toys you enjoy. Try to be very specific and picture each thing, feel it, experience it. For me beautiful leather heated seats are a must!

Let it bring a smile to your face. I can feel my soft leather seats and I see myself with my partner and my new baby girl in the back seat heading to the beach. We are all happy and excited about our great adventure! Have fun with this experience, literally believe that at this moment your are driving your car, feel your hands wrapped around the steering wheel.

Feel the sensation of yourself enjoying your new car doing the things you love. Capture that joyous feeling in your heart and keep that throughout your day. Take a deep breath and believe that every time you stop and take a breath throughout your day you will recapture that joyous feeling and at the same time allow the picture of yourself driving your new car to come into your mind!

Allow the Universe to work its magic and inspire you with thoughts, ideas or feelings don't concern yourself with "HOW" the Universe will work it's magic just keep manifesting!

You will find things will run much smoother and with less effort by taking the path of least resistance and opening yourself up to the true powers of the Universe.

If your interested in reading more about spiritual health go to my Healthy Spirit page and check out a few of the articles.

Take the conscious road to authentic power!!!

Have a fantastic day!!