Your Best Friend and Your Worst Enemy

    The ego, or individuated self-sense, is both your best friend and your worst enemy. It is your best friend because, in the most positive sense, it represents your capacity to individuate—to see yourself as a unique, autonomous entity and to bear witness to your own experience with some measure of objectivity. Individuation is what makes it possible for you to be a conscious agent of evolution, a vessel for Spirit in action. The more profound our individuation, the more powerfully Spirit can shine through us. However, ego is also our worst enemy. And this is because, for too many of us, over-identification with our separate individuality obscures the deeper and higher spiritual dimensions of our being. It is very important to understand this paradoxical nature of ego if you, as an individual, want to take responsibility for creating the future, as yourself.

3.    ~ Andrew Cohen

Did you know this about Olive Oil? (per EmpowHER.com)

The ancient civilizations that bordered the Mediterranean Sea treasured olive oil as a food, medicine, and an anti-aging product. Like the legendary Cleopatra, you can enjoy the benefits of olive oil for youthful skin and hair. Rich in antioxidants like vitamin E, olive oil promotes a smooth and radiant complexion,

Tips for a gluten free life, by Dr Weil

One in 133 Americans have celiac disease - if you are one of them, you should be following a gluten-free diet for life.

1. Avoid all foods containing wheat, oats, barley and rye.
2. Read labels carefully. Gluten can turn up in cold cuts, soups, candies and soy sauce. Be aware of ingredients such as starch, modified food starch, hydrolyzed vegetable protein (HVP), hydrolyzed plant protein (HPP), texturized vegetable protein (TVP), binders, fillers, excipients, extenders, malt and natural flavorings, all of which may indicate the presence of gluten.
3. Look for grocers that specialize in gluten-free products - mixes for pancakes, muffins, pizza dough and bread are available.
4. Know where gluten can be hidden in products we use every day, such as stamp and envelope adhesive, medicines and vitamins.

3 Reasons to Eat Broccoli

1.     Promotes a healthy nervous system. Broccoli is a good source of vitamin B2 (riboflavin), which can help calm and nourish nerve fibers.

2.     Supports bone health. Broccoli is a good source of vitamin K and calcium - both of which help keep bones strong and reduce the risk of osteoporosis.

3.     Can improve energy through its high levels of vitamin C, a micronutrient that supports the normal processes of cellular energy production.

4 Reasons for eating beans,

1. An excellent source of vegetarian protein, providing six to seven grams per half-cup serving.
2. High in folic acid, which may help to protect against cancers of the lung, colon and cervix, and prevent birth defects.
3. A great source of fiber, dishing up 25-30% of the Daily Value of dietary fiber, 75% of which is insoluble - the type that reduces the risk of colon cancer.
4. A low-glycemic-index food, making them a good option for diabetics.

Did you know?

this has been taken from the book FIT FOR LIFE, which teaches you the cycles of the body. Should we follow it, we won't have a weight problem. Ridding ourselves of all the toxins is the first necessity to losing weight.

I have just read and studied this wonderful knowledge and have been practicing it daily. (aside from situations that REQUIRE  a cheese crisp, or burger) as when my friend was visiting. Smile

As it says:     The Bodies Cycle:

noon-8PM.....Appropriation (eating & digesting)

8PM-4AM.....Assimilation (absorbing and using)

4AM-noon.....Elimination   (you know what dat' is)

Digestion uses more energy than anything we do. Really.

Fruit is pre digested. It passes thru the body in 20 minutes. (It uses the least energy) That's why it should be eaten in the AM, leaving the body to use the energy to start the day. The idea of a big breakfast to start the day is a fallacy. It takes too much energy to digest.

So is our need for meat. It is NOT the source of protein, we THINK it is.

The strongest animals on earth DO NOT eat other carnivores.

They eat plant eating animals and go for their "innards".  WHY?

Because plants make their own protein. What a concept, eh Virginia? And that's where they get THEIR protein.

Now, along with the facts about eating fruit on an empty stomach...comes the next issue of food combinations.

This is just as important for the digestive process.

The best combinations are as follows:

      Do NOT mix protein with starch! Note properly combined meals below.

Protein should be eaten with veggies and/or salad  (wait 4hrs before having any fruit)

Starch should be eaten with veggies and/or salad   (wait 2hrs before having any fruit)

If you mix protein, starch & veggies (wait 8hrs for it to digest)

         Listen to why Milk/dairy is hard on the system. Cow’s milk is for cows, not humans. Note they don't drink human milk.

Cow milk contains 300 times more of the ingredient "Casein" than human milk does. They have 5 stomachs and digestive juice to deal with it.

It turns to thick GOO in our stomachs and lines our intestines, prohibitating nutrients from being absorbed.

And we think we take good care of our bodies.

Did you know there are different forms of dementia?

LBDA's Newest Educational Resource: Brain Imaging for LBD

Do you know the difference between a CT scan, an MRI, or SPECT or PET scans? LBDA has put together a helpful overview on the different types of brain imaging and how they help differentiate between forms of dementia. Click here to learn more about this valuable diagnostic and research tool.

Did you know?

>  

) Kiwi- Composed of high vitamin C amounts, kiwis help build collagen which firms skin.

Radiation...per Grace Grove Colonic & Health Retreat

Imagine

"IMAGINATION is EVERYTHING. It IS the Preview of Life's coming attractions." Albert Einstein   AKA  the law of attraction.

9 Cancer factors...

The World Health Organization has identified nine key risk factors for cancer that can be modified by lifestyle changes:
1. Tobacco use
2. Weight in the overweight and obese categories
3. Low fruit and vegetable intake
4. Physical inactivity
5. Alcohol consumption
6. Sexually transmitted human papilloma virus (HPV) infection
8. Indoor smoke from household use of solid fuels (more of a risk in less developed countries)
9. Exposure to ultraviolet light from sunlight or tanning lamps
These are risk factors we can change today, as we watch for more detailed research results.

4 Ways to Boost Metabolism...,by Dr. Weil

1. Eat small meals throughout the day. This encourages steady caloric burn and a consistent metabolism.
2. Choose healthy carbohydrates. Replace refined, high-glycemic-index carbs with unrefined, low-glycemic choices. The latter do not cause the spikes in blood glucose levels that encourage the storage of fat.
3. Use spices. Capsaicin (the compound that gives chili peppers their bite), black pepper and ginger all boost the generation of heat in the body, leading to more calories burned.
4. Drink green tea. The main antioxidant polyphenol in green tea, known as epigallocatechin gallate or EGCG, stimulates the body to help burn calories. Dr. Weil recommends drinking a few cups of quality green tea every day.

Sunscreens

Sunscreen is great, and it’s fantastic that you try to use it every time you go out in the sun. But one study mentioned in a Prevention online article stated that nine out of 10 people don’t do a good enough job when applying sunscreen.

Did you know this about cucumbers?

Phytochemicals in the cucumber cause the collagen in your skin to tighten, firming up the outer layer and reducing the visibility of cellulite. Works great on wrinkles too!!!

HOW DO RELATE TO FOOD?

Is Your Relationship with Food Causing Weight Gain?

Success with your fat loss and weight loss program will depend heavily on your compliance with your meal plan. It doesn’t do you much good to burn 600 calories during a workout and eat four snickers bars afterward. That would ruin a great workout. That example is a little exaggerated but I hope you get the point. It matters what and how much you eat.

It sounds strange to talk about a relationship with objects. There are many situations in life that trigger emotional eating. Some examples are depression, stress, transitions, confrontations, promotions, births, deaths, successes, failures, marriages and divorces. Its easy to use something that tastes good to help us feel better (even if for a short time). And, this could be a habit that starts early in life.

Research on Emotional Eating

There’s ample research which has studied how emotional eating is triggered by poor coping skills. In one study published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association in 2008, participants who said they were most likely to eat in response to their emotions (and least confident about being able to control their eating) were over 13 times more likely to be overweight or obese than those participants who reported the least emotional eating.

In the study, the participants’ perceptions of their ability to cope with emotions and stress were strongly linked to excess weight. The inadequate coping skills included lack of strategies to change stressful situations and manage emotions.

In my experience with clients, I have seen these two situations:

1. The client has had a lifelong problem with emotional eating. In one instance, a parent would unwittingly “help” the child feel better by giving her food. It appears that honest conversations about the situations is what was really needed. This habit followed her into adulthood and she still struggles with situational comfort eating.

2. I have seen several situations with men and women where significant weight gain followed painful divorces.

Poor Meal Planning and Eating Patterns Contribute to Emotional Eating

According to Dana Angelo White, MS, RD, ATC, owner of Dana White Nutrition, Inc.

Just B Skin Care: OUR SKIN BECOMES WHAT WE EAT.

Just B Skin Care: OUR SKIN BECOMES WHAT WE EAT.: "“The Beauty Diet,” nutritionist Lisa Drayer, M.A., R.D., wrote, “I stand firmly behind the fact that what you put into your body- including ..."

OUR SKIN BECOMES WHAT WE EAT.

“The Beauty Diet,” nutritionist Lisa Drayer, M.A., R.D., wrote, “I stand firmly behind the fact that what you put into your body- including all of the food and beverages you consume on a daily basis- will come out through your physical appearance. When you eat a healthy, antiaging beauty diet, you exude confidence while looking your absolute best.” Applying makeup, cleansers, moisturizers and other skin products may improve skin, but the most beneficial and lasting skin aid is a diet full of rich “superfoods.”

10 Foods that Produce a Healthy Complexion

1) Blueberries: Filled with rich antioxidants, blueberries fight against aging while working as an anti-inflammatory on skin. Vitamins C and E in blueberries also help make skin appear younger by eliminating chemicals that damage skin from the body.

2) Omega-3 rich fish- Wild salmon, sardines, mackerel and herring contain omega-3 fatty acids that moisturize the skin and minimize redness, wrinkles and inflammation. The healthy fats and oils in fish have also been proven to protect skin from harmful UV rays of the sun.

3) Leafy Greens- Some examples of beneficial leafy greens include spinach, kale and Swiss chard. The vegetables are composed of several vitamins and minerals such as vitamins B, C and E, calcium, iron, potassium, magnesium and omega-3s. Such nutrients help heal skin blemishes. Because leafy greens are filled with water, they also hydrate skin and produce a glowing complexion.

4) Dark Chocolate- Many believe that desserts can make skin oily with acne, but dark chocolate serves as a healthy fat. Flavonoids in dark chocolate protect skin from the sun while also improving blood flow, which results in a clearer and smoother complexion. For best health results, make sure dark chocolate contains flavanol and at least 60 percent cacao.

5) Kiwi- Composed of high vitamin C amounts, kiwis help build collagen which firms skin.

The process prevents early aging and reduces wrinkles. Besides enhancing skin, kiwi’s antioxidants also build strong teeth, bones and eyes.

This Article

6) Whole grains- White flour foods clog pores and aggravate skin, whereas whole grains contain the B-vitamin biotin which helps moisturize skin. The vitamin also helps cells produce healthy fats which leave skin even and smooth.

7) Walnuts- In walnuts, omega-3 fatty acids help smooth out skin which results in a more radiant complexion. The healthy fats improve skin elasticity and replenish moisture from the inside out. In addition to soft skin, walnuts produce healthy hair and bones and bright eyes.

8) Yogurt- According to fitnessmagazine.com, one cup of low-fat yogurt contains more calcium than one cup of fat-free milk. Calcium strengthens bones, nails and teeth, and supports good posture. Yogurt is also comprised of B vitamins that promote cell production and replenish smooth, clear and radiant skin.

9) Sweet Potatoes- Beta carotene, an antioxidant in sweet potatoes, fights aging and maintains a young and nourished complexion. When eaten, the beta carotene also turns into vitamin A and repairs older skin cells by building new ones. New skin cells make skin appear and feel healthier.

10) Water- Water may not be considered a food, but it serves as the best hydrator for nourished and glowing skin. Drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day for a radiant and healthy shine.

In addition to the list, other fruits, vegetables and foods are beneficial to skin. When choosing fruits and vegetables to consume, pick ones that are colorful and natural to gain the most benefits and antioxidants. Adding healthy foods to one’s diet is an important step that can improve both skin and overall health.

IT'S NOT HOW YOU LOOK...it's how you FEEL.

Have you ever noticed when you are at your best? It's far more than your outfit, makeup or hair....'Dahlink', It's how you feel. It's your confident attitude. “Beauty - in projection and perceiving - is 99.9% attitude”. ~Grey Livingston
It's not how you look...it's your fabulous outgoing attitude.

Is Your Relationship with Food Causing Weight Gain?

There are many situations in life that trigger emotional eating. Some examples are depression, stress, transitions, confrontations, promotions, births, deaths, successes, failures, marriages and divorces. Its easy to use something that tastes good to help us feel better (even if for a short time). And, this could be a habit that starts early in life.

how emotional eating is triggered by poor coping skills. In one study published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association in 2008, participants who said they were most likely to eat in response to their emotions (and least confident about being able to control their eating) were over 13 times more likely to be overweight or obese than those participants who reported the least emotional eating.

Are you a HAPPY person?

"I am determined to be cheerful and happy in whatever situation I may find myself. For I have learned that the greater part of our misery or unhappiness is determined not by our circumstance but by our disposition." - Martha Washington

The founder of JustB Aloe Vera based moisturizers.

http://gcdwebdev.com/justb/company/our-founder

Did you know this about Aloe Vera?

http://www.justbskincare.com/whats-new/skincare-news

Elasticity

A property of collagen and elastin fibers in the dermis. Because of elasticity, our facial surface does not retain the contours and lines of every expression. It gives skin it's firmness and resiliency.

Remedies and reasons

DISSOLVE ANGER… hold the middle finger. Left, if mad at a woman, Right if mad at a man.

ADDICTIONS…fear, running  from self. Not know how to love the self.

ANXIETY…not trusting in the process of life/Universe

SEIZURES…running from family, self, or life.

ALCOHOLISM…feeling of futility, guilt, inadequacy, self rejection.

FAT…oversensitivity. Represents fear and maybe a cover up for anger. Resistance to forgive.

CONSTIPATION…Colon represents the ability to release, let go! A fear of letting go of ANYTHING: Painful relationships, stifling jobs, clothes that sit in closet for years and a resistance to forgive self and others.

CANCER…deep hurt, longstanding resentment. Deep secret, or grief eating away at the self. Carrying hatreds and feelings of futility.

BREAST CANCER…not nourishing self, only others.

Let the air out of Cancer.......EmpowHER yourself to beat it.

EmpowHer.com
Whether you are newly diagnosed with cancer or have been dealing with the disease for awhile, you can empower yourself with reliable tips to find the best of cancer care...
12 Tips for Cancer Patients to Survive and Thrive - EmpowHER.com 
Read a dozen tips that will help cancer patients get through their experience and not only survive but thrive.

How well do you measure up?

“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort, but where he stands at times of conflict and controversy”
- Martin Luther King Jr.

What makes YOU alive?

"Don't ask yourself what the world needs; ask yourself what makes you
come alive. Go and do that. What the world needs is people who have
come alive."
  ~ Harold Whitman

Are we prepared?

Listening to the news of a possible meltdown of the Nuclear Power Plant in Japan was more than unsettling. They said the "worse case scenario", would be if the reactor indeed melted down, it would fall into it's enclosure...if the enclosure didn't hold, it would leak out into the air, ground and water. My question is: if we are brilliant enough to build and harness Nuclear Activity, why are we not capable of anticipating a worst case scenario and build a structure THAT WOULD contain such a tragedy?  I wonder if we in the US and the countries that have Nuclear Plants are planning on fortifying these structures. A fail safe plan on something so dangerous should have been in place long before we write it off as... Hindside is 20/20.

What is your Dream?

What you see is what you get.
You’ll become as small as your controlling desire or as great as your dominant aspiration. The courage to follow your dreams is your first step towards destiny.
You can live your dreams.

Just B....

"Be yourself. Life is precious as it is. All the elements for your happiness are already here. There is no need to run, strive, search or struggle. Just Be."
- Thich Nhat Hanh

CARE GIVER FACTS

Last updated: March 08, 2011

5 Caregiving Rules You Can Break

By Paula Spencer, Caring.com senior editor

We all carry ideas in our heads about the way taking care of a loved one is “supposed to be.” These images can begin anywhere from old Waltons episodes to the ways we saw our elders care for their elders.
Are some of these cultural “rules” making you crazy, unnecessarily? Here are five such ideas that are showing their age:
Old rule: Nobody can provide care as well as family.
New rule: Caregiving takes a village.
Certainly nobody knows the person in need as well as a family member. But plenty of others can do a pretty competent job. From those with specialty training to those with way more experience than you in dealing with older adults, to the kid down the street who reads to your loved one after school, “outsiders” bring expertise and insights that enrich care. And by spreading the burden, these helping hands allow the primary caregiver to care better, longer.
Thankfully, local resources of many different forms are increasingly available to meet rising demand. And they don't have to cost a fortune. Why play the Lone Ranger when there’s a whole cavalry ready to watch your back?
Old rule: Adults deserve to drive until it’s an obvious problem.
New rule: Don’t wait until it’s too late.
Any of these sound familiar? “But she’s not going far.” “He’s driven that road every day of his life.” “She goes so slowly.” “He’ll shrivel up without the independence of his car!” We Americans love our wheels, and we’re loathe to crimp anybody else’s style, even to the point of making excuses for creeping evidence of crummy driving caused by low vision, arthritis, dementia, or other conditions.
Yet it’s this creeping evidence – those little signs of bad driving that should be the real red flags – not the can't-turn-back-the-clock tragedies, like a driver with dementia who got lost two states away or an older driver who injures – or, yes, kills. If you’re worried, it may already be too late.
Old rule: Don't talk about someone else's finances; it's private.
New rule: Money is a family matter.
We’re trained from childhood that an elder’s finances are his or her own business. But fraud against older adults is on the rise. It’s especially risky with people who have undiagnosed dementia; problems with writing checks, paying bills, giving to charity, and other money-related issues are a hallmark early sign of Alzheimer’s.
The truth: Staying alert for signs of financial trouble in loved ones is loving and protective, not nosy.
Old rule: Love means promising to never put your loved one in a care facility.
New rule: Every decision has implications for others; you need to consider them all.
“Good daughters” don’t, right? Loving mates don’t, right? (See the Caring.com poll: "Have you promised your parent you'd never put him or her in a nursing home?".) The problem with making a blanket decision to never have a sick older adult live outside your home is that other people are living in that home, too – your spouse, children, you!
And all of these affected parties need to be considered, too. Stories abound of marriages torpedoed, children neglected, and caregivers self-imploded by a caregiving situation spiraling out of control.
Fortunately the quality of and variety in alternative care situations continues to rise, which means there are nearly always options, often good ones. Sometimes the challenge is a matter of getting past the stereotypes in your head. You owe it to everyone involved (self included) to explore all options, with both heart and eyes wide open.
Old rule: Pursue every treatment possible.
New rule: Relieve pain and preserve quality of life.
Aggressive medical care for a loved one helps us feel like we’re doing something, even when there’s little left to be done. (Even doctors sometimes feel this way.) For most older adults with a chronic disease, unfortunately, there comes a point where the physical and emotional cost of continued treatments outweighs the benefits. Invasive tests may weaken the person or cause added discomfort, while creating uncertain or irrelevant results. Or treatments with a low likelihood of success may relegate to a hospital someone who’d prefer to spend the last days or months at home, without extending lifespan.
“Quality of life” is a great guiding principle for someone in late life, geriatricians often say. It's the idea behind palliative care, a growing option that remains open to curative measures while elevating the importance of preserving comfort and presence. Managing pain well, in particular, is one of the more overlooked aspects of late-life quality of life. Sometimes, a simple pain pill and your clear love can do more for your loved one than yet another complicated "cure" regimen.

Women's online Health Answers

EmpowHer.com is an award‐winning health media company for women. The website provides visitors access to one of the largest women's health and wellness content libraries on the web, as well as the largest online community of women discussing their health and wellness issues. EmpowHER promotes a "24 Hour Promise" to its visitors, who can come to the site, ask any health question and receive a response within 24 hours. Millions of women visit EmpowHER.com every year, making it one of the largest and fastest‐growing resources dedicated exclusively to women's health and wellness.

www.empowher.com

Cucumbers, more than edible.

Protect your garden, put a few slices of cucumber in a small aluminum pan.

chemicals in the cucumber react with the aluminum to give off a scent undetectable to humans but drive garden pests crazy and make them flee the area.