Thursday, April 27, 2006

A Good, Informative Site About Soy

I've just came across this site about soy. It is a very controversial subject, as there are pros and cons regarding soy consumption. I guess everyone has to make their own informed decision. This site might just help you make yours.

Soy Online Service

Sunday, April 23, 2006

The Power of Thoughts and Words

There is much evidence to support the idea that our thoughts and words are very powerful and go to make up our world reality.

'With our thoughts we make our world' - Gautama the Buddha.

'Energy follows thought' - Annie Besant - Thought Power: Its Control and Culture (1903/1979).

'We become what we behold' - William Blake.

'Man creates his own disharmony'- Hasrat Inyayat Khan.

With the above in mind let us have a closer look at some of the words we use and the deeper meaning of these.

We might begin with a phrase that is frequently heard when you state something to someone. This is, 'yes but.' This is their way of negating the opinion or idea that you have expressed. Listen to yourself as you speak. Do you use this? It is a communication blocker. The option for acknowledging what the other person says AND just stating your own opinion is to use 'yes and' instead. This will improve the energy of the communication. Firstly it acknowledges the persons point of view as valid for them and secondly it keeps the flow of the conversation in place.

There are empowering and disempowering words that most of us use a lot of the time. For instance 'got to', 'have to' and 'must' usually denote a feeling of no choice. Again, listen to your self talk and the speech of others to get a sense of what is going on at an inner level.

'Should' is a good one to be aware of, as there is usually some feelings of guilt behind it. Do you ever find yourself saying, 'I should go and do xyz'? At the back of this is the idea that if I do not I will feel bad.

We also have never, forever and always. These come under the heading of gross generalizations. The first thing that can be stated is they are generally 'never' true all the time. For example; 'She always gets that look on her face when I come home late' and 'you never buy me anything nice any more.' These statements are reflecting the perception of the person generalizing, not the reality of the matter. Again, use awareness with regard to what is going on in any given communication situation.

The word 'try' is another interesting little word. You may have seen a demonstration of this when someone is asked to try to pick up a pen. You do not 'try' to do something. You either do it or you do not. Another example would be if you ask someone to do something for you and they reply that they 'will try' to do whatever it is you have asked. You can be pretty sure with that sort of comeback your request will not be honored.

Be aware of what words and phrases you use. You will be surprised and delighted at what a difference changing your words can have on your communication with others and your life in general. This really can be quite transformational.

Go forth and have fun playing with words!

Friday, April 21, 2006

3 New Cacao Superfood Blends

If you enjoy raw cacao and superfoods as much as I do, then you'll love these new blends!

"Goji Manna"



A raw chocolate, honey and goji berry nutritional food with lots of antioxidants. Goji berries have quite a wonderful reputation and should, since they contain 18 different amino acids, over 20 trace minerals and are a rich source of antioxidant carotenoids (beta-carotene). Plus they are loaded with Vitamin C in a bioavailable form. Powerful stuff!
Ingredients: Raw Honey, Virgin Organic Coconut Oil, Organic Cacao Powder, Organic Cacao Butter, Organic Goji Berries, Organic Spices.




"Cacao-a-Menta"



A raw chocolate peppermint concentrate. Just for the kids (or your inner child), it is the combination of two great tastes: Chocolate AND Peppermint. Add to a little to a warm beverage
and it's enough to bring on a fit of ecstasy!
Ingredients: Raw Unfiltered Honey, Organic Cacao Powder, Organic Cacao Butter, Organic Cinnamon, Organic Vanilla Bean and Organic Peppermint Essential Oil.




"Cacao-a-Kava"



A raw chocolate and kava kava concentrate. Sometimes living in these fast paced times can bring added pressure and stress that are hard to step out of. Well, step into a cup of our kava kava enhanced chocolate beverage concentrate and you will feel the calming, opening feeling that will let your inner child out to play. You might even mix up some in advance and keep it cool in the fridge for those times when you have the desire to throw a tantrum.
Ingredients: Raw Unfiltered Honey, Organic Cacao Powder, Organic Cacao Butter, Hawaiian Kava Kava, Organic Cinnamon, Organic Nutmeg, Organic Vanilla Bean and Himalayan Salt.


Thursday, April 20, 2006

Healthier Ways to Top Your Salad

Synonymous with dieting, it’s the symbol for eating healthy. Piles with crisp romaine lettuce, spinach leaves, tomatoes, carrots, onions and all other kinds of veggies, what could spoil such a healthy dish? The infamous salad dressing, that's what. Although a very tasty condiment with flavors such as ranch and thousand island, salad dressing unfortunately hides excess fat and calories. For those of you who like and want that little addition of flavor, there are several choices to make a smart substitution for your dressing.

Read the full article here: SparkDiet Resource Center

Wednesday, April 19, 2006

The Meatrix 2

The Meatrix II - Revolting has recently been released. Great job, just as the first one. Watch the movie, and spread the word!

Monday, April 17, 2006

Treating Anxiety with EFT

Gary Craig developed Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) as a self-help tool for people with emotional difficulties that were unresponsive to conventional medical and psychological treatment. People suffering with anxiety disorders (including panic attacks) were quick to report their success using EFT to reduce or eliminate longstanding anxiety issues.

Read more information here:

Treat Anxiety With EFT

Friday, April 14, 2006

Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT)

Surprising Physical Healings

EFT was originally designed to overhaul the pshychotherapy profession.
That goal has been reached as EFT has dramatically reduced therapy time
from months or years to minutes and hours.
Along the way the creators of the system kept noticing physical healings
were also taking place. Vision improved, headaches disappeared, various pains
and symptoms subsided.
Western medicine pays very little attention to disruptions in the body's
energy meridians nor does it give much weight to emotional causes.
These causes are the centerpiece of EFT. Thus it is no wonder that EFT
produces benefits where the medical profession has thrown up its hands.

Based on impressive new discoveries involving the body's subtle energies, Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) has been clinically effective in thousands of cases for Trauma & Abuse, Stress & Anxiety, Depression, Fears & Phobias, Addictions and hundreds of
physical symptoms, including headaches, body pains and breathing difficulties.
Properly applied, over 80% achieve either noticeable improvement or
complete cessation of the problem.

...Often works where nothing else will.
...Usually rapid, long lasting and gentle.
...No drugs or equipment involved.
...Easily learned by anyone.
...Can be self applied.


Click any of the links above to learn more about EFT.

Thursday, April 06, 2006

Synthetic Or Natural Vitamins - Do You Know The Difference?

The necessity of vitamin supplementation is a fact, but with the huge variety of vitamin products in the shops one starts to wonder... It is not easy to make your choice I know. Here is something that is vital to know (I found this information on Dr. Ben Kim's website):

- The majority of commercial vitamin supplements are made up of synthetic vitamins
- Synthetic vitamins do not perform the same functions in your body as vitamins found naturally in whole food
- Many synthetic vitamins deplete your body of other nutrients and tax your kidneys before being excreted through your urine.

Please read the whole article HERE.

Monday, April 03, 2006

Getting Rid Of Cellulite

It doesn't matter how thick or thin you are, most women are prone to deposits of cellulite. These are gender specific (that's right for women only!) deposits of dense fat that are caught in the network of fibers that make up the structure of the body.

To understand this you have to picture your body as being enclosed in a large network of tissue that looks like a fish net of interconnecting tissue. How much this tissue can expand is non negotiable. Since the connective tissue is not as elastic as the skin,it will only stretch so far while being acted on by the force of expanding fat cells. When fat deposits become trapped beneath this network, called the superficial fascia, the net is stretched and its fatty contents bulge out in an unattractive way that is often described as looking like cottage cheese, orange peel or gravel.

Why don't these stubborn deposits of fat just melt away like regular fat? The law of Mother Nature in this case is that the greater the area of fat concentration the harder it is to get rid of. The minute your total body fat exceeds 25% in a woman, you will develop cellulite.

Sometimes you can get rid of the fat but not the gnarly connective tissue that was created to accommodate the extra fat cells in the first place. Areas of the body that have a high ratio of fat to muscle (for example the thighs, hips and buttock area in women) are particularly hard to smooth out once they have become pocked with cellulite.

Getting rid of cellulite is not as easy as exercising and limiting your caloric intake. As many women know you can get extremely thin, almost skeletal and still have lumps of cellulite showing In fact, if you lose too much weight the cellulite bumps and dents can be even further highlighted.

Usually getting rid of cellulite requires a complete lifestyle overhaul. This usually starts with some kind of detoxifying or cleansing diet and then a permanent modification of your exercise and eating habits. Circuit training that involves an hour of aerobic exercise and weight training is thought to be the best cure for this common problem. Drinking tons of water and eating fruits and vegetables that are water dense may also help get rid of these stubborn deposits of fat.

If you do have cellulite you might just have to live with it. There are no pills, miracle creams or rubber garments that can correct cellulite. If the cellulite is going to go away it is going to go away on its own. The problem is that it is not just a matter of eliminating fat, it is a problem that involves the body's interconnecting tissue. Disappointing as it is you might have to resign yourself to the fact that there is no way of fixing connective tissue that has been distorted or twisted by excess weight gain from the past.

Sunday, April 02, 2006

Making Household Chores 'Count' when Losing Weight

You are a busy mom, juggling numerous responsibilities such as housework, child-care, cooking, laundry and more. There is not a moment to spare. How on earth can you still squeeze a workout into your hectic day? Do not despair! Fortunately there is a way to make ordinary household chores count in the battle against the bulge.

Here are some fantastic ways to get lean as you clean:

1. If you live in a split-level house, take the stairs two at a time. This is a great way to get your heart pumping.

2. Divide the laundry into smaller piles when you are putting it away. In this way you will increase the number of trips you have to make to and fro and this will help to burn more calories.

3. Intersperse chores with some spot toning exercises. For example, iron for ten minutes, then do 20 abdominal crunches, iron for another ten minutes then do 20 lunges and so on.

4. Vacuum/mop/sweep to music that has a lively beat. Do the task vigorously and work up a sweat.

5. Walk as fast as you can to take out the garbage, clean the yard or bring in the groceries.

6. Use the shopping bags filled with heavy groceries as weights. Do bicep curls with them as you bring them into the house.

7. Use cans as light weights and do a few strength training exercises as you pack them away.

8. Wear a pedometer and make it your goal to take 10,000 steps daily.

9. Try to make the bed as fast as possible. Time yourself and try to get faster each time.

10. If a store is within walking distance walk there daily to purchase your essential daily items.

Let us take a look at just how many calories you can burn doing your routine housework. Listed below is the approximate number of calories burned per minute by middle-aged women who perform these activities. Calculate how long you do each task to determine the total number of calories you burn. If you want to pump up the intensity, throw in some jumping jacks, squats, lunges and abdominal crunches. Before you know it you will be getting lean as your house is getting clean.

Changing bed sheets: 4 calories a minute

Mop floor: 3.5-4 calories a minute

Wash floor on hands and knees: 4-4.5 calories a minute

Sweep floor: 3.5-4 calories a minute

Vacuum Carpet: 3.5-4 calories a minute

Ironing: 2.4 calories a minute

Carrying laundry basket up a flight of stairs: 3.7 calories a minute

Washing dishes: 2.3 calories a minute

Unpacking groceries: 3-3.5 calories a minute

You do not have any excuse for staying unfit a moment longer. Start getting lean as you clean!