About Fibromyalgia

By Sher Smith


Fibromyalgia often begins after an acute bout with the flu or some other prolonged viral condition. Fibromyalgia refers to recurrent aches and pains among other symptoms and is often accompanied by an inability to sleep and fatigue. The symptoms are varied and tend to come and go in intensity.

It is a cycle where the pain inhibits sleep and lack of sleep leads to increased pain leading to decreased mobility.

There is a long list of possible and probable symptoms that include sleep disturbances, poor memory, inability to focus and concentrate, anxiety, depression, headaches, irritable bowel syndrome, disruption to menses, morning stiffness, numbness, tingling, aches or pains, swollen lymph glands, and sensitivity to the weather. The pain comes and goes in intensity and duration.

When the nerves become oversensitive, the muscles can over react by remaining in a constant state of contraction and thus creating pain. These symptoms can last weeks, months, and sometimes years. Whenever this condition is suspected, it is advisable to consult with your doctor.

Diagnosis can be difficult. It has been found that people with Fibromyalgia have what are referred to as tender points in specific areas of the body such as behind the knees or the sides of the elbows. There are a total of 18 such tender points and people with Fibromyalgia usually have at least 11 of these 18 points.

This condition is also linked to stress and has become known as a condition prevalent among type A people. This refers to those people who are always on the go, know how to get things done but rarely take time out for themselves for rejuvenation. It has also been found to be more prevalent in women than in men since women more so tend to work inside and outside of the home.

Health professionals who deal with Fibromyalgia believe that inactivity is the worse response to the condition. The treatments are as varied as the symptoms with the best results occurring by the development of a program related to the specific needs of the individual. It is important to break the pain / fatigue / lack of sleep / pain cycle. Learning some useful relaxation techniques such as biofeedback, meditation, guided imagery: having bodywork sessions such as Polarity or Cranial Sacral Therapy and massage: or doing some gentle yoga, and a regular exercise program suited to your level of present capacity are all useful and helpful.

Vitamins that have been suggested as helpful are beta carotene, selenium, chelate zinc, and evening of primrose oil. Again it is wise to consult with your doctor before beginning any exercise program or the taking of vitamins.

There are a variety of things that have been found to be useful such as watching your posture, alternating tasks, exercising at your level of tolerance, swimming, walking, and applying heat. It is a case of trial and error to see which activities will bring relief to the particular individual, as some of the ideas will work for some of the people some of the time. It is a case of getting relief from pain by first getting the muscles to relax and second from getting them retrained so that they no longer over react. Using self-accupressure on the pain trigger sites helps reduce and then relieve pain. Learn to listen to your body and when the tension is felt to be building in the muscles, take the time and stretch it out slowly.

Herbs that some people have found to be helpful include Valerian, which helps with sleep, Skull Cap which helps to relax muscles, Feverfew which has been found to be helpful with headaches, Echinacea and Golden Seal which are thought to help the immune system, and chamomile tea which is thought to have a calming effect on the body.

Treating oneself to reading an uplifting, happy, funny, novel or watching such a movie has a positive effect on the body by stimulating the release of endorphins. Endorphins are the body's natural painkillers.

Other helpful ideas include:

* sitting in a very bright room (e.g. full spectrum lighting)

* listening to classical music

* putting forth the effort to get well

* walking in water

* slow stretching of the muscles

* alternate nostril breathing

* taking a warm bubble bath

* setting realistic goals

* maintaining social contacts. Do so to the degree manageable

* establishing a regular exercise and stretching program.

Increase activities gradually over a period of time-too much too soon can cause a flare up and reoccurrence of symptoms.

Sher Smith is a Registered Nurse, Registered Polarity Practitioner, Registered Cranial Sacral Therapist and Educational Kinesiology Instructor who has been involved in the holistic health field since 1979. As a metaphysical graduate, the ancient rituals, esoteric teachings and healing practices of the ages continue to be ongoing areas of study and interest. Her professional training is varied and comprehensive (including studies in Cranial Sacral Therapy with Franklyn Sills and the Upledger Institute), and certification in Neuro-Linguistic Programming, Educational Kinesiology, Reiki and Touch for Health.

For more on Sher and her classes and courses, plus private session visit: http://www.realizingyourpotential.ca

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Stop Spreading Your Germs!

Today I have spent the whole day at a downtown coffee shop watching sick people spreading their germs. No wonder there is so many sick people in this world!

It`s time that everyone took responsibility for their health and the health of others – and here are some tips to help do that.

1. If you work somewhere where you need gloves then wear them! - I have worked at many hospitals where the older women didn`t bother wearing gloves (too much work I suppose). Now that not only endangered themselves but also others.

I`ve been at hotels where the opposite situation was the case. The housekeep wore gloves nonstop until her break. This means she cleaned the room, bathroom, and made the bed without taking her gloves off.

If you work somewhere where you have to wear gloves to protect yourself then you should take some responsibility for other people’s health as well. Use your gloves responsibly!

2. Wash Your Hands – After sneezing, coughing, eating, going to the bathroom...come on, just wash your hands. I`ve seen doctors go to the bathroom and leave it not washing their hands. Disgusting! This is the most basic and decent thing you can do to protect yourself and others.

3. Cover Your Mouth – Today I`ve noticed taht about 1 in every 10 people cover their mouths when they cough. It should be 10 out of 10! Just because you are not worried about your own germs doesn`t mean you should spread them around to the people you don`t seem to care as much about. Just have some respect!


4. Don`t Spit On The Sidewalk – It`s so disgusting that I can barely stand it. My dogs have to walk through peoples spit and then possibly spread it to my family. If you have to spit then use a sink. Have some respect for other people!

These may seem like basic things to you and that`s because they are – but in my experience 90% of the population does not follow these rules and it`s making us (and me) sick. So chances are you are one of these people. Thinking about other people and their health makes you a better person. Just do it!

The Dash Diet - What Is It?

I've been reading a lot about the DASH diet lately and find it to be very similar to EATING HEALTHY! Surprise! They just seem to have labeled it the DASH diet. The principles of the diet are good - but really it's all about eating healthy and doing healthy things.

For me this is just another reason to be vegan! And I wouldn't call it a diet so much as a way of living. But if you need the structure of a diet to help you live well then you can check out the book at amazon --------->>>


Here is a good article I found on the DASH diet:


What is the DASH diet?

DASH stands for Dietary Approaches for Stopping Hypertension. It is a common term used by physicians all over the United States. Basically it involves a diet which consists of foods that have proven to lower high blood pressure, or hypertension. Of course, the DASH diet also calls for a minimization of foods that are well known to contribute to high blood pressure as well.

The DASH diet is not truly defined by any means, and therefore is broad in its various executions.

However, the guidelines that the DASH diet gives to people with hypertension have shown to enable them to lower their blood pressure in a matter of weeks, with drastic improvements for periods over six months of DASH dieting. This drastic improvement has led to its increased and continued usage of the DASH diet by physicians across the country.

The components of the DASH diet are very simple, and are easy to follow.

The major contributors to the lowering of participants' blood pressure are the fruits, vegetables, legumes, seeds, and nuts. The good cholesterol, fiber, and negative calories are all good components of a well balanced and healthy diet. Olive oil is also encouraged, and has shown to contribute lower blood pressures with studies throughout the Mediterranean countries and their inhabitants which use olive oil daily.

Another healthy change that the DASH diet brings to the average American diet are the low-fat items.

For instance, the DASH diet recommends low-fat dairy products and lean meats such as poultry and fish. Now, some fish contain more fats than others, so it is important for you to balance your intake between the two. Besides, the fattier fishes are actually more expensive on average! Finally, it is important for you to take in several whole grain products each day. Oatmeal for breakfast is a popular solution, as well as granola bars as between-meal snacks.

The most important step in the DASH diet is to minimize foods and items which contribute to high blood pressure.

The main contributors to hypertension are inactivity, excess sodium, excess alcohol, excess body weight, and inadequate magnesium, potassium, and calcium. If you also noticed, DASH diet foods are also foods that are recommended for weight loss diets. The reason that these foods are found in the DASH diet and in weight loss diets is due to the fact that most people with hypertension are usually overweight. The most effective treatment for hypertension, disclosed by most physicians, is weight loss.

One of the closest diets that you can compare to the DASH diet is the Vegan diet.

I was able to write an article recently, "Make The Vegetarian Diet Work For You", which explains the benefits and uses of Vegan foods towards your health. A lot of the foods that you see recommended in the DASH diet are also foods that are a part of the Vegan diet, which would explain the fact that Vegan's are very rarely diagnosed with hypertension.

Proper documentation on the DASH diet is available from your physician, as well as at several online dietary sources.

I would definitely recommend researching DASH diet foods and to start planning your daily diet around them immediately. The health benefits that you will see with the lowered blood pressure is important in the short term for better health and well-being, however it is critical in the long term. The DASH diet will help to extend your life due to your cardiovascular system's inability to operate for years under a higher pressure than what it is designed for. You also will be able to access dietary tips and extensive information at my website listed below. My free membership fitness tuning site focuses on dietary as well as fitness aspects in order to contribute towards a healthy lifestyle for people of all ages and body types.

Sebastian, John C. "Dash into the DASH Diet to Solve Hypertension." Dash into the DASH Diet to Solve Hypertension. 9 Jan. 2007 EzineArticles.com. 7 Jun. 2011 http://ezinearticles.com/?Dash-­into-­the-­DASH-­Diet-­to-­Solve-­Hypertension&id=413501

Secret of Happiness - Education and Self Improvement

There are certain factors that contribute to long term happiness. In this video Caroline discusses the factor of continuing to learn and grow as a person and remain active.

Caroline discusses points in her life where she lacked purposed, felt bored, lacked meaning and felt unfulfilled. Could these points in our life that lead to depression? How important is it to continue to study, learn, and acquire new knowledge. What role does self improvement have in happiness?

There is more to being happy than just taking an antidepressant. To be happy one has to organize their life, take responsibility for their life and do things which lead to happiness.

Caroline in a Ph.D. educator who has been training teachers how to teach as professor for many years.

Trying to Lose Weight? Here are Some Simple Truths

We look for the latest diet pill or diet craze to help us lose weight and after we have finished losing a few pounds on it we go back to life without the pill or diet - and guess what? We gain the weight back! Why?

Because hopping on board the latest craze is not affecting your entire life. It's simply affecting this moment right now.

If you want to lose weight and keep it off then you have to think long-term! There is no other way around it!

This means that you have to change your life.

Think about it. If you keep living the life you are now then you will not change your life. You have to take action and change the way you think about food and exercise and then start heading down that new path of discovery.

Three very simple truths about weight loss are this:

Exercise more - You have to get up and move around more to burn more calories.

Eat Less - You have to stop shoving a whole pizza into your stomach and start eating less of that pizza.

Eat Better - When you have the option to eat better - choose it. Even little changes can affect your weight and health.

Yes you've heard them before! That's because they are true. They are simple truths that we tend to overlook because actually noticing them and giving them the credit they deserve means we are going to have to change the way we go about life - and that takes a lot of effort.

But you will find that once you start exercising more, eating less, and eating better it will not take a lot of effort at all. It will just be the way it is.

So join a support group like the biggest loser, and start living your simple truths. 

Juicing Preservatives!

I’ve been off of my juicing kick for quite a while but today I decided to start incorporating some juicing into my diet again. Especially because the farmers market is start to inspire me to get creative with raw and fresh food.

Today I made a quick spinach drink with a bunch of spinach, an apple, and some pineapple. That’s all that went in but it was enough! Super sweet and good!

Spinach was my main concern for the drink as lately my husband and I have been trying to add more green leafy vegetables to our diet.

On doing some research into spinach I realized that it was reported as being one of the top 12 most heavily contaminated produce products. Yikes! This just warrants another reason to grow your own food or buy organic.

It’s so hard to know what to buy and what to avoid when it comes to pesticides and other chemicals. It’s almost like they don’t want us to know what is in or on our food ;)

In any case I found an article that I found pretty informative and may be of interest to you if you are trying to avoid chemicals, preservatives and such in your diet. The 7 foods Experts Won’t Eat.

The point is to be aware of your food and what you are putting in your body as often as possible. Even with the best intentions you can pick a food that is heavily contaminated with chemicals and preservatives.

I try to live by the rule that everything is okay in moderation, but I also try to live by the rule - if there is a healthier option then take it!

Root Chakra for Back Pain

Editors Note: This article written by Glen Wood

There are seven major chakras. In Sanskrit, Chakra means "wheel of light." The seven chakras serve as pathways for energies to enter into the body. Each seven chakras has specific color and connected to particular physical and emotional concerns.

The Root Chakra is one example of chakra. It is located at the base of the spine between the genitals and the anus. It anchors the body to the earth. The designated color of Root chakra is red. Its physical and emotional connections are earthy.

Responsible for the spiritual teachings of the material world, the root chakra governs the spinal column, the lower digestive tract, legs and feet, and the immune system. A body with imbalanced root chakra would usually feel painful at lower back, nerve in the legs (sciatica), varicose veins, as well as dysfunctions at immune related disorders and inflammatory bowel syndrome.

Meanwhile, the emotional connections of root chakra are survival, self-esteem, social order, security, family, superstition, loyalty, instinct, physical pain or pleasure, and touch.

The present state of chakra is identified through its clockwise or counter-clockwise motion.

The popular device use to increase root chakra is called the pendulum. This helps increase the body's sensitivities to the energy flow. A blockage called meridian clogs the pathways by which the chakras are designed to clear. The chakra system will not release energy from head to foot if meridian blockages are there.

Yoga exercise is another way to balance chakras. A yoga exercise requires a specific set of sequences suitable to a particular chakra.

For example, bridge is a good pose to begin to open up the first chakra. Then the cobra opens the second chakra. The bow is the next pose that opens the third chakra. The camel pose opens the fourth; the fish opens the fifth, the yoga mudra for the sixth, and head stand or meditation for the seventh chakra.

With your meditations you can also use chanting, this is a little more advanced for the novice but can easily be achieved. Using words like "Lam" for the Root chakra, "Vam" for Sacral chakra, "Ram" for the Solar Plexus, "Yam" for the Heart chakra, "Ham" for the Throat chakra. Using "Om" with the Third Eye Chakra and placing your hands in the prayer position. Using "NG" for the Crown chakra, place your hands in front of your stomach, ring fingers pointing forward touching the finger tips.

Interlace the rest of your fingers including your thumbs with your right thumb covering the left. Concentrate on your Crown chakra and chant the sound "NG". Using these techniques will help you to open up and balance these chakras.
ck pain


Glen Wood - The Yoga Teacher. Glen is a yoga expert whom loves to teach you how to lose your neck, shoulder and back pain with yoga.

Dedicated to unlocking the Real Secrets of Back Pain.

Free Video Reveals No 1 Secret to Losing Your Back Pain with Yoga. Go here for more information:- http://www.goodbyetobackpain.com/secrets it has the tips and guides you need to be successful in losing your Back Pain, today tomorrow and whenever you have the need. Our guides are methods that work and are in use by many former Back Pain Sufferers. If you want to learn more, join us at http://www.yogateachingwithglen.com

Alternative Health Options At Home - Treating Migraines With Alternative Treatments!

Editors Note: This Article is Written By Annie Bower

If it seems that even traditional medication is not working to ease the pain of a migraine that you might have then you might want to consider alternative medicine or treatments to try and get yourself some relief. There is actually some medical research that does support the use of acupuncture and chiropractic treatments as good ways in which to fight your migraine headache. There are also nutritional items and herbs that may also be of help.

If you are diagnosed with migraines, you might want to try a more holistic approach that might include some lifestyle changes like changing your diet. Other things might be using reflexology, some physical therapy as well as homeopathic treatments that could give some relief. You can also combine the alternative methods with traditional methods as well.

It is still a mystery to this very day what really cause migraine headaches. There are different theories and different studies that have been done but no cold hard facts on what definitely causes them. Some things they do know is that about 28 million people get migraine headaches. These headaches are severely painful; they are recurrent and have other symptoms like visual disturbances and nausea. You can have either the common migraine which is a migraine with the visual disturbances or the classic migraine that has no visual disturbance.

If a migraine is not treated they can last anywhere from four to seventy-two hours. The person with the headache is going to experience throbbing pain on one side of the head, doesn't matter which side and it will get worse if they try to do any kind of exercise or physical activity. There is extreme sensitivity to light as well as to noise. They also become pale and sometimes feel like they are cold.

Some doctors will recommend that you go see a licensed chiropractor and or an acupuncturist. Having acupuncture done will restore normal body functions by getting the blood into the small intestines where 99% of the immune system is located. It will stimulate points of the body to help reduce the pain that a person is experiencing in their head and neck by balancing the body's meridian system. This has been studied for over 20 years now and the results in the people studied have been very effective.

A chiropractor will help manipulate the spine and this also has been known to be effective in relieving a lot of people's migraines. Sometimes the spinal manipulation is combined with a daily medicine called Elavil to help combat the migraine. The results have been very effective in alleviating the pain and getting the migraine to go away and there are very few side effects. The spinal manipulation restores the normal motion to the occipital area of the brain at the base of your head and will reduce the pressure of the nerves going to the head.

There are also some nutritional supplements that might help as well. Some of these would be 2,000 mg of calcium and 1,000 mg of magnesium each day along with 60 mg of Co-enzyme Q10 and Co-enzyme A can be wonderful treatments for migraine headaches. The calcium and the magnesium will help to regulate a person's muscle tone and will transmit nerve impulses through your body and to your brain. The co-enzymes will increase your blood flow to your brain and improves overall circulation.

You also might want to consider going on a diet that is low in the simple carbohydrates and high in protein. Almonds, parsley, fennel, cherries and fresh pineapple are some good foods to have on this diet. You need to avoid food with a lot of salt and foods that are acid forming like meat, cereal, grains and bread. Also it's best to avoid fatty, greasy or fried foods.

For more free Alternative Medicine Information download Annie's Free Alternative Medicine Information Pack at http://www.free-alternative-medicine-info.com and join thousands of other people who are taking control of their health issues.

For other free information on a variety of issues please visit http://www.free-info-site.com

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Dealing With Stress In a Stressful World

By Barry Draper


Our bodies are designed to provide us with the tools that we need to handle emergencies. If we are in a life threatening situation, our bodies produce and release a veritable cocktail of chemicals to help us cope. Among these are cortisol and adrenaline. These chemicals cause immediate changes in our bodies to help us deal with impending emergencies, such as; constricting the pupils of your eyes so you can focus on what's immediately before you; opening up your lungs to pump more oxygen into your blood; raising your blood pressure; and converting your stored energy reserves into strength and stamina.

Unfortunately, it is these same chemicals that are produced and released when we face everyday stresses. And, unfortunately, the long term consequences of these effects is not positive to our long term health outlook.
It has been said, "stress my not kill you, but it can make the things that will kill you much more deadly." For instance, while cortisol is crucial to your short term stress response, it can harm your body over the long term. A potent anti inflammatory, it actually lowers your immune response and leaves your body less prepared to fight off infections. Therefor, ongoing stress in your life can actually cause a chemically suppressed immune system.

Beyond that, chronic stress has been linked to depression, back pain, Alzheimer's disease, and heart attacks, among a host of other debilitating health conditions. People who endure stress on a continuing basis, according to many studies, have shorter lifespans and deal with more health problems during their lives.

One of the problems with stress is that the causes often are easily solved. Here are some of the causes of chronic stress: family problems, or relationship issues; major life changes such as the death of a loved one, or the loss of employment; conflicts over values or beliefs; financial difficulties; problems at work; physical or emotional illnesses or injury.

While these types of problems are often not easily solved, dealing with the stress that results is doable. Deciding to learn how to deal with stress can be one of the healthiest decisions a person can make for themselves.

Dealing with and facing stress head on can bring tremendously positive results. By learning how to do this, you may actually be contributing to a longer life with fewer health concerns. So, it's time to start dealing with stress in a positive healthy way. Start by:

1. Knowing what you are up against. Learn how to identify the stressors in your life.

• Recognize the symptoms of stress. Is your performance at work suffering? Are you more irritable than usual? Often, these negative changes are due to stress.

• Now, backtrack. When did you start feeling like this? Can you put your finger on what's perpetuating the negative feelings? Get out a calendar, look through your journal, and put a name on the cause. When was the last time the stress was not there, and you felt good?

• Resolve to take stress out of the equation. If you can pinpoint exactly what is making you feel stressed, you can figure out why as well. And once you know why a certain situation is causing you stress, you can take direct action to neutralize the stressfulness.

2. Guard your rest - get your sleep!

Sleep deprivation is a leading cause of chronic stress-as well as a common symptom. In fact, not getting enough sleep might be the only thing causing your chronic stress! By contrast, adequate sleep is a natural stress reliever and energizer, keeping you well-equipped to handle the everyday challenges of life.

• Make sleep a top priority-guard against things that make you stay up too late such as TV, web browsing, working late, and even reading. Set a regular bedtime and don't let anything get in the way of it.

• Get rid of the Caffeine! Caffeine keeps you up longer at night, which means you drink caffeine to stay awake during the day, which in turn keeps you up longer at night...so on and so on.

• Exercise! Exercising before bedtime and stretching out eases muscle tension and helps you sleep better.

• Pray or meditate. Relieve your mind of the cares of the day. Focus on spiritual things, restful things. Don't bring the day's work or activities to bed. When you get into bed, get in to go to sleep. Leave your day behind you. Make your bed a haven of relaxation.

3. Fight or flight? Choose flight! Do not go to bed angry.

The Bible teaches to "not let the sun go down on your wrath. Physical confrontations, or arguments can send stress levels skyrocketing. If you are unable to let go of your anger, your stress levels will stay activated, robbing you of precious sleep time.

• Don't escalate conflicts. It's easy to want to defend a point or get in the last word. But it's a lot more healthy to be silent, back away, apologize, and even forgive negative behavior directed at you. Once you're away from the fight, the stress can evaporate.

• Again, prayer and meditation can work wonders. It's a great way to calm your body and mind, let go of anger, clear your perspectives, and improve your mood. Even a short meditation session allows you to stop fixating on negative thoughts and focus on what needs to be done to solve a problem.

• Get counseling when you need it. When you are angry, your judgment may be clouded, and you might lack wisdom to make important decisions to resolve a conflict. A professional or a pastor/minister can provide crucial help and guidance when your anger or anxiety is too much for you to handle on your own.

4. Confront your fears.

Things that scare you become less scary if you face them head on. Write down the fear, then beneath it write several small steps you can take to actively conquer the fear. If necessary, involve someone else. You don't have to face fears alone.

• Write down the fear, then beneath it write several small steps you can take to actively conquer the fear. If necessary, involve someone else. You don't have to face fears alone.

Often this will turn a seemingly impossible roadblock into a manageable set of problems.

• Focus on the benefits. How could conquering a fear help you? Concentrate on what you will gain from the experience, not on the difficulty. Set goals and focus on achieving them.

• Separate fact from fiction. Our minds can literally make worry mountains out of mole hills. Ninety percent or more of the things we worry about never come to fruition, or are never really a factor in our lives. Are you imagining more negativity in what you fear than what is actually there? Take some of the teeth out of your fear by doing an honest assessment of what is really there.

5. Cultivate a Support Network.

One IS the loneliest number. Even the Lone Ranger had Tonto! Don't go it alone.

• Improve your serve. Build a network of people helpers that you can call on - but more than that be available to help others in areas of your own expertise. The act of giving is very therapeutic. Service can help take your mind off your own troubles, generates goodwill, and is very constructive.

• Develop friendships in good times. Cultivate relationships. There is nothing more valuable in life than true friends who are there for you when times are hard. Build trust with others and allow others into your life to help hold you accountable.

6. Take care of your own needs.

No one can look out for you better than you can look out for yourself. Making sure you have the right nutrition and exercise will not only help you physically, but will also help you have a more positive outlook.

• Eat better. Plan your meals to include foods that are good for you. Do away with processed foods, and sugary foods.

• Participate in the ounce of prevention. Treatment for diseases can further add to stress. It is far better to prevent the disease. Supplement fiber. Be sure you are getting at least 24 grams per day. Take daily supplements to insure your body is getting the proper balance and therapeutic doses of vitamins and minerals.

• Schedule a ROUTINE of daily exercise. This will ease muscle tension and give you more energy.

7. Plan your work, work your plan.

No one knows exactly what life will throw at them. But why increase the chances of bad things by poorly planning? Knowing what is ahead of you and knowing how you are going to face it - a day at a time - can be a tremendous stress reliever.

• Break down your daily, weekly, monthly schedules. The process of daily planning can turn huge problems into manageable tasks.

• Don't put it off. Get busy! The more you work at this and keep at it, the more empowered you will feel about your self, and the less stress will be involved.

• Reward yourself. As you accomplish goals, or complete tasks your body will release endorphins, helping you to feel better. Share your successes and celebrate them with family and friends.
Will life ever be free of stresses and challenges? That is most unlikely. But learning how to manage and deal with stress will in most cases turn even the greatest challenges into opportunities for success and a better life. The less stress, the happier and healthier you will be.


Barry Draper is a counselor, and founder of Make Life Good Enterprises. Make Life Good helps individuals and non profit organizations with wellness, and financial development. For more information on Make Life Good, visit http://mlg.realvu.com.

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The 14 Day Stress Cure: A New Approach for Dealing With Stress That Can Change Your Life

Anti Aging Cream Ingredients to Avoid

By Mich Ching

Anti aging creams are probably one of the most popular skin care products available in the market at present. It's cheap and readily available which makes it a very popular choice among women as well as men.

However, unknown to many, there are lots of skin care dangers you can get in such creams that promises remarkable anti aging results. Some of these creams in the market contain ingredients that can cause harm to the skin. Fortunately, you can avoid this from happening by knowing what ingredients to avoid when looking for an anti aging cream. Let me share to you some of them.

1. Alcohols

Alcohol are often used in most skin care and beauty products. When looking for an anti aging cream, avoid those which contain methanol, ethyl alcohol, benzyl alcohol and isopropyl alcohol. These alcohols can dry up and irritate the skin.

2. Paraben

Like alcohols, parabens are also commonly used in most skin care and beauty products. Anti aging creams, just like many products sold today are laden with preservatives. Paraben is used to help preserve the freshness and prolong the life of skin creams. However, this chemical can cause allergic reactions especially to those people who have sensitive skin. Aside from causing allergies, parabens are also known to disrupt the endocrine system which affects the hormone balance in the body. This ingredient has also been linked to fetal development interference and breast cancer.

3. Dioxane

Dioxane is a very harmful chemical that is used by skin care companies to make harsh ingedients milder. Avoid anti aging creams which contain this ingedient because according to studies, prolonged exposure to this chemical can cause cancer. This chemical is already banned by the State of California but it isn't banned by the FDA yet so it's still widely used.

4. Mineral Oil

Mineral oil is one of the most common ingredients of anti aging creams. It's best to avoid products that contain this because it can clog your pores and prevent toxins from being flushed away naturally. It can also cause acne and premature aging. How ironic isn't it?

5. Fragrance

Skin care products such as anti aging creams need to smell good for customers to buy it. This is the reason why most manufacturers include fragrances in their products to mask the unpleasant odors. Unknown to many, fragrances can cause damage to skin over time. Many kinds of fragrances are even known to be toxic and carcinogenic.

In search for the best anti aging solution in the market? The Facial Skincare Device (FSD) from Radiancy is a highly effective skin care device that targets the signs of aging on the skin such as wrinkles. It smoothens and evens out the skin tone making the skin look and feel healthier and younger. Furthermore, it increases the skin's elasticity and stimulates collagen production which improves the overall texture of the skin.

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Why Do I Like EA Sports Active On Wii?

The Wii Console on Amazon

We have a treadmill, an elliptical, a weight machine, countless free weights, a trampoline, a yoga station, and other gadgets and gizmo's for exercising. Yet, I don't use those very often - I'd rather use my Wii games instead!

We got a Wii in 2009 and to say it's been used is an understatement. We use it for family get togethers, for keeping records of our improvement physically, and mostly (especially in winter) - for extra exercise.

Lately we got the EA Sports Active in our collection and I love this game. It comes with a heart monitor in the form of an arm attachment, and a leg attachment that reads the movements you make during each exercise. This way it can literally tell you if you are doing the exercise right.

Of course in the beginning when I didn't do any of their exercises right I was barely moving on the TV screen as well. I figured out the twisting and turning while sitting on the couch the right way got the results I wanted without having to do the exercise.

The point is if you don't do it right you have to keep trying until you do finish the whole set the proper way. After 100 squats this can get quite exhausting if it doesn't consider you way the right way (and you were only supposed to do 10 squat).

But once you get the hang of it you can bang out those 10 squats with no problems and no hesitations.

You can set your own workouts which I haven't experimented with yet because you can also partake in a pre-programmed 9 week workout. The separate workout levels are easy, medium, and hard. I've of course chosen hard as I'm trying to get in shape here - sheesh.

Your instructor can be a woman or man (although I don't like the woman for some reason - I think she was mean to me!). And they do the exercises with you, as well as show you how to do them if you need an example. In fact, the first time around you will be taken through an example of the exercise no matter what.

Warm ups, cardio, strength, and cool down are all part of the workout and part of the time I'm hanging off the arms of my treadmill trying to catch my breath. So it's working well for me.

And with each workout I'm finding the my body is getting stronger and my endurance is getting better. They also allow you to set goals like calories burned, workouts achieved, and hours spent workout out. I love goals. I think it makes everything more fun and productive.

All in all I think it's a great tool for keeping in shape. It's fun, motivating, and let's you see how far you've come. What more can you ask for in an exercise game?

Now I haven't tried the other games they have as technology moves faster than my workouts, but I imagine that anything with an EA in front of it will be a good buy.

You can check some of them out below from amazon.


EA Sports Active 2


EA Sports Active NFL Training Camp


EA Sports Active: More Workouts


ea sports

11 Home Remedies For Your Cold.

Colds can have us on the couch not wanting to go anywhere, and it can be tempting to pick up the instant relief medicine from the drugstore and keep pushing on with our day. If we stay home and get better we reduce the chance of spreading our cold and symptoms to other people with low immune systems, and we take the time to treat our body with the respect it deserves by giving it a break!

The symptoms of a cold are sneezing with a runny nose, headache, coughing, sore throat, and a small fever.

Following are some home remedies for the common cold that will help you feel better and get better in no time. Remember that using these remedies even when you don't have a cold will help prevent any future colds from coming.

1. Try taking 4 tablespoons of coriander and browning them in a frying pan. Once they are brown then boil them with 4 cups of water and 4 slices of root ginger. This will reduce itself to about 2 cups of liquid. Strain the liquid out and drink.
   
   
2. Barley water with honey and some lemon can help to heal and shorten the duration of a cold.
   
   
3. Add cinnamon to your drinks, and as an oil in your vaporizer, as it is a warming herb that can be excelling for treating and preventing colds.
   
   
4. Eat your garlic! Garlic has antiseptic and antibacterial properties, and it will help to reduce any fever that may occur.
   
   
5. Add honey to your tea, and to the food that you eat. It will help you heal quicker and prevent any further infections from appearing.
   
   
6. Try a foot bath with mustard in it, or use a mustard poultice as a rub on the chest. This will act as a decongestant.
   
   
7. Eat ginger as it can help promote sweating, and it will help soothe your throat.
   
   
8. Peppermint can help to reduce the symptoms of a cold. You can use it as aromatherapy for the benefits.
   
   
9. Ginseng can be added to your tea as it will help boost your immune system and fight the infection occurring.
   
   
10. Take a bath with lavender oil in it to help you sleep and give you some relief from your cough. Tea tree oil and lemon oils can also do the trick.
    
    
11. Eat your citrus fruit like oranges and grapefruits as they contain vitamin c, which will help your body fight the infection.
    
    Try giving these 11 home remedies a try for your cold and then incorporate some of them into your life once you get better. You will find that your colds will be less and less. In fact, I haven't had a cold for about 3 years or so.
    
    There are home remedies for everything!
    
    The Doctors Book of Home Remedies: Quick Fixes, Clever Techniques, and Uncommon Cures to Get You Feeling Better Fast

Avocados Have Some Great Uses and Benefits

There are many foods that people are not sure about because of the reputation they get. Avocado has gotten a reputation for being very high in fat. While it is true that they have a high fat content, the fat content is monosaturated fats which can provide health benefits when eaten in moderation. Avocado's are so good for your health they are essentially considered to be a perfect and complete food.

Avocados are a fruit that grow in subtropical trees. They are rich in vitamins a, c, e, and some b-complex vitamins. Potassium is another great quality of this fruit. For the most part avocados have been used for skin problems because the pulp has antibacterial and antifungal properties. They have also been used as a staple for nachos and dip in guacamole.

Avocado has been known to be used for sexual problems. In fact the Aztecs name for the avocado was ahuacatl, which means testicle. They would use it as a sexual stimulant, and they really did believe that it had sexual nutrients - so much so that virgin women were not allowed to leave their house during harvest time!
Other uses include:

• A paste can be made and applied to rough skin and rashes to soothe the skin.
  
• Use as an aid in recovery from illness as it is an excellent restorative food.
• The pulp can be applied to cuts and covered with gauze to prevent infection from entering the body and to encourage healing.
• Aids in digestive and circulatory problems.
• The flesh of the avocado can soothe a sunburned skin.
• Use as a face mask by adding some olive oil with some mashed up avocado and leave on the face for about 15 minutes.

So as you can see, besides the nutritional benefit of avocado it is also a great healer food as well. Adding avocado to recipes is as easy as throwing it in your salad, making an avocado salsa filling for wraps, or substituting it for a mayonnaise spread.

You can also use avocado in many raw food desserts. I have used it as my chocolate icing on cake and it seriously tastes amazing! The book at Ani's Raw Food Desserts: 85 Easy, Delectable Sweets and Treats is amazing and has a chocolate fudge cake (that uses avocado as the icing) that will blow your mind!

Food Combining Can Help Your Digestive System Digest Food Easier

Digestive problems are very common. Heartburn, gas, and other digestive and bowel problem affect almost everyone. These problems are not only annoying to have, but they are also signs of poor digestion and eating habits. You can avoid these problems by chewing your food properly and using a food combining principle that will allow your body to digest the food easier.

Food combining is simply eating the right types of food together that make it easy for your body to digest it. Of course, eating a large variety of food is healthy for us to do, but it'srnot good for our digestive system to sit down and try to digest it all at one meal. We are under the impression that we have to have one of every food group on our plate at every meal and that's simply not true. In fact, it's not good for us.

Our digestive system has one of the most important jobs of our body. When you eat food according to what will be easiest to digest you are doing your digestive system a huge favor by allowing it to do its job properly.
For example, digesting proteins and starches have different digestive requirements. So if you eat them in one meal it becomes hard for your body to digest either one of them well. Proteins require an acid environment to digest properly while starches require an alkaline environment. You digestive system can accommodate both environments at one time, but it obviously cannot create both at the same time!

Fruit has very special requirements and should always be eaten by itself. Fruit is one of those lovely foods that quickly passes through your digestive system on its own. But if you eat fruit with starchy foods or with protein the fruit cannot just pass on through the digestive track like it should, as it gets mixed up with other food that doesn't have that privilege. The sugar will then ferment in your stomach and bring about bloating and gas.
Melons are even quicker at going through the digestive process and should be either eaten alone or with other melons. This will avoid sugar fermentation in the stomach.

Here are the basic rules for food combining:

1. Vegetables with starches are fine
   
2. Vegetables with proteins are fine
   
3. Protein and starch are a no-no - Think meat and potatoes!
   
4. Fruit is always eaten alone or with other fruit
   
5. Acid fruits with nuts and seeds are okay
   
6. Acid fruits with sweet fruits are okay
   
7. Melons are eaten alone
   

We have been living on the wrong food combinations for a while now thinking that they are normal. For instance, burger and fries are consumed daily by millions of people, but this combination of food is making their digestive systems work harder than they should, and they are possibly causing digestive problems just from that meal. Now pile on 3 meals a day like that, eaten every single day.

So the next time you sit down to eat, give your digestive system a break. Take it into consideration and make its job easier. Your body and health will thank you!

For more tips on eating right for optimal health visit Kari's website at Alternative Health Ideas.

SAD – Seasonal Affective Disorder Symptoms and Home Remedies

There are many things that can affect our days and the outlook we have on them. Rude people, unwanted situations, and too much stress can all shape our day and our outlook on it. But who would have thought we may have another thing working against us that is out of our hands completely! The reality is that the season change may be doing more damage to you and your emotions than you know.

Seasonal affective disorder affects millions of people each year, and the further you are away from the equator, the more likely you are to suffer from it. Most suffers get it during the winter months when the light become limited. But SAD can also happen when the weather changes to sunny and warmer weather.
Whether it's the warm weather or the darkness that gets you, you can recognize the disorder as a shift in mood when the season changes, and the weather and light follows suit.

Symptoms can look and feel a lot like depression and include:

• Isolating yourself from the world and the people in it 
• Loss of appetite
• Sleeping more than usual - SAD has been connected to the production of melatonin which is a sleep related hormone.
• Overeating
• Despair
• Lack of focus and concentration
• Anxiety
• Suicidal thoughts.

The causes of this disorder are not entirely known yet. The fact that some people are more prone to it than others may point towards the unique individual's chemical makeup, health conditions, outlook on life, and age.

Another cause could be the disruption of your body's natural rhythm. If you are a creature of habit then you are used to functioning in a certain amount of daylight, waking up to a certain amount of daylight, and the specific weather that allows you to do the stuff you love. When that all changes it can be hard on your body and your outlook.

Reduced sunlight can cause a drop in serotonin which is a chemical that affects your mood.

When you are trying to determine if you have SAD, look for patterns and tell-tale signs that may be occurring. Do you get sad every winter? Did you get sad when the season changed? Do you get depressed when the days start to shorten? Listen to your body and answer the questions honestly. This will help you understand why you are feeling the way you are.

Because the symptoms so closely mimic depression you may think you have you depression instead of SAD. But you may have SAD instead of outright depression. Make sure you note when it started and what was happening around the time it started. Any changes that took place when it started including the season, life, diet, medicine, exercise, drugs, or anything else that could have caused the feelings you are experiencing. This will help you determine if the depression came from a change in life or something else.

Some home remedies to help you with your seasonal affective disorder are:

• Make it a rule to spend more time in the light. (At least 30 minutes in the day)
• Get active and get your muscles moving! Exercise is a great mood lifter.
• Take a vacation somewhere sunny and warm! Hey - your health demands it!
• Do not drink or do drugs as this will only make you feel worse
• Buy a light box to use for at home light therapy
• Eat a healthy diet - avoid processed and junk food.
• Get enough sleep.
• Avoid stress

If you can't get rid of it on your own, get help. Go to your doctor or a mental health professional. Do not let it take over you life.