Coffee reduces diabetes risk among pre-diabetics by over 60%, according to a new study from the University of California at San Diego. The study is the first to expand evidence on diabetes risk reduction to those already glucose intolerant, a precursor to full-blown diabetes.
Published in the November issue of Diabetes Care, the study revealed that coffee offered protection at the same, significant levels for those beginning the study with high fasting glucose levels, indicating pre-existing glucose intolerance, as it did for those with normal levels. In fact, those with elevated glucose levels showed a lower risk of developing diabetes than those starting out with normal glucose tolerance.
Reduced Risk
Past or current coffee drinking resulted in a diabetes risk factor of 0.38 on a scale where 1.0 is average risk in the general population. That means risk was reduced in coffee drinkers by 62%.
Uncovering the first evidence that coffee also reduces diabetes risk among pre-diabetics, the risk level came in even lower, at 0.31, for the subgroup with impaired glucose. That means pre-diabetics reduced their risk of developing the disease by almost 70%.
These results were independent of age, sex, exercise, body mass index, smoking status, daily alcohol intake, and hypertension. Unlike other studies, they were also independent of the number of cups of coffee consumed daily.
Methodology
The research team, led by Besa Smith, engaged a study design not used in prior research on coffee and diabetes. The team first separated those with impaired versus normal glucose levels using an Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT). In this way, coffee’s protective effect could be assessed separately for each group. The researchers concluded the study with a second OGTT to ensure accuracy in diagnosing those who had developed diabetes.
The study followed 910 non-diabetic adults for an average of eight years. Of that group, 593 had normal glucose at the beginning of the study and 317 had glucose intolerance. Coffee drinkers drank an average of 2.8 cups per day.
Click Here for some coffees that actually help with diabetes.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Drink to Your Health: Coffee as Health Food?
Antioxidant Powerhouse
Probably the best kept secret about coffee is that it delivers more antioxidants than even the latest antioxidant bellwether, green tea. Green coffee beans contain about 1,000 antioxidants, and the brewing process adds 300 more. The roasting process, by the way, creates its own set of healthful compounds which, like some antioxidants, are unique to coffee alone.
Coffee, in fact, has four times the antioxidant content of green tea, according to a study conducted in Switzerland by the Nestle Research Center and recently published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. The study found that coffee also outruns cocoa, herbal teas and red wine. Of course, precise antioxidant content varies from cup to cup, depending on the type of bean (Robustas have twice the antioxidants of Arabicas, although the difference is reduced in the roasting process) and the level of “solubles” in the cup, determined by the brewing method, time and amount of coffee used.
The health benefits of antioxidants are broad, since the compounds neutralize errant molecules known as “free radicals.” These electrically unbalanced cells kill healthy cells as they try to stabilize themselves by robbing sub-atomic particles. This process has been implicated in premature aging, cardiovascular disease, degenerative brain disorders, cancer, cataracts, the decline of the immune and nervous system, and other health problems.
Type 2 Diabetes
Three major, long-term studies, as well as numerous smaller studies, have confirmed coffee's properties for preventing type 2, or “adult-onset,” diabetes. A new Finnish study found that women who drank three to four cups of coffee a day reduced their diabetes risk by 29%. For men, the reduction was 27%. Those who drank more had higher risk reduction levels -- women who drank ten or more cups of coffee daily lowered their risk by 80%, while men had a 55% lower risk.
This study came on the heels of a study at Harvard University School of Public Health that found the risk of developing type 2 diabetes could be cut in half in men and reduced by 30% in women. Again, the protection proved to be directly proportional to the amount of coffee one drinks. Men who drank six or more cups a day reduced their diabetes risk by 54%, four to five cups by 29% and one to three by 7%. In women, the figures were, respectively, 29%, 30% and 1%. Results were adjusted to offset other risk factors such as age, weight and exercise, and so coffee drinking was isolated as the cause of the benefit. The Harvard study, in turn, confirmed an earlier Dutch study that reached the similarly dramatic conclusions.
Results also suggested that unique coffee compounds contribute to the beneficial effect. Other caffeinated beverages did not offer the same level of protection, and decaffeinated coffee provided lesser protection, while decaffeinated tea offered none.
Colon Cancer
Another coffee compound has been shown to reduce the risk of colon cancer. While scientists had long suspected a connection between coffee and cancer protection, last fall German researchers identified the link. A powerful antioxidant found almost exclusively in coffee, methylpyridinium, boosts blood enzymes widely believed to protect against colon cancer. Methylpyridinium is formed in the roasting process from a chemical found naturally in coffee beans. The stronger the coffee, the study also found, the higher the level of the compound, with darker roasts containing two to three times more than medium roasts.
Parkinson’s Disease
At least six independent studies have confirmed a link between coffee drinking and the prevention of Parkinson’s Disease. The research shows that people who drink coffee on a regular basis are 60 to 80% less likely to develop Parkinson’s. Three of the studies also show that the more they drink, the lower the risk.
Performance Booster
Research has also proved that, in addition to protecting against disease, coffee has a positive functional impact on an array of human activities. A study published in Current Sports Medicine Reports found that the caffeine in coffee improves performance and endurance during prolonged, exhaustive exercise. To a lesser extent, it also boosts short-term, high-intensity athletic performance, as well as enhances concentration, reduces fatigue and heightens alertness. The reason lies in caffeine’s effect on brain receptors, enabling better energy uptake.
A Brazilian study has determined that drinking a few cups of coffee a day will also increase male fertility. According to scientists at the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, the caffeine in coffee appears to increase sperm “motility,” that is, the speed at which they move. Since sperm “hyperactivity” is critical to fertilization, heightened motility increases the odds of pregnancy.
Other studies have shown that coffee and caffeine also have a positive influence on mental function. Coffee increases alertness and Improves performance on tests of mental function.
Try some of these healthy coffees that also contribute to helping you be healthier - Click Here
Probably the best kept secret about coffee is that it delivers more antioxidants than even the latest antioxidant bellwether, green tea. Green coffee beans contain about 1,000 antioxidants, and the brewing process adds 300 more. The roasting process, by the way, creates its own set of healthful compounds which, like some antioxidants, are unique to coffee alone.
Coffee, in fact, has four times the antioxidant content of green tea, according to a study conducted in Switzerland by the Nestle Research Center and recently published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. The study found that coffee also outruns cocoa, herbal teas and red wine. Of course, precise antioxidant content varies from cup to cup, depending on the type of bean (Robustas have twice the antioxidants of Arabicas, although the difference is reduced in the roasting process) and the level of “solubles” in the cup, determined by the brewing method, time and amount of coffee used.
The health benefits of antioxidants are broad, since the compounds neutralize errant molecules known as “free radicals.” These electrically unbalanced cells kill healthy cells as they try to stabilize themselves by robbing sub-atomic particles. This process has been implicated in premature aging, cardiovascular disease, degenerative brain disorders, cancer, cataracts, the decline of the immune and nervous system, and other health problems.
Type 2 Diabetes
Three major, long-term studies, as well as numerous smaller studies, have confirmed coffee's properties for preventing type 2, or “adult-onset,” diabetes. A new Finnish study found that women who drank three to four cups of coffee a day reduced their diabetes risk by 29%. For men, the reduction was 27%. Those who drank more had higher risk reduction levels -- women who drank ten or more cups of coffee daily lowered their risk by 80%, while men had a 55% lower risk.
This study came on the heels of a study at Harvard University School of Public Health that found the risk of developing type 2 diabetes could be cut in half in men and reduced by 30% in women. Again, the protection proved to be directly proportional to the amount of coffee one drinks. Men who drank six or more cups a day reduced their diabetes risk by 54%, four to five cups by 29% and one to three by 7%. In women, the figures were, respectively, 29%, 30% and 1%. Results were adjusted to offset other risk factors such as age, weight and exercise, and so coffee drinking was isolated as the cause of the benefit. The Harvard study, in turn, confirmed an earlier Dutch study that reached the similarly dramatic conclusions.
Results also suggested that unique coffee compounds contribute to the beneficial effect. Other caffeinated beverages did not offer the same level of protection, and decaffeinated coffee provided lesser protection, while decaffeinated tea offered none.
Colon Cancer
Another coffee compound has been shown to reduce the risk of colon cancer. While scientists had long suspected a connection between coffee and cancer protection, last fall German researchers identified the link. A powerful antioxidant found almost exclusively in coffee, methylpyridinium, boosts blood enzymes widely believed to protect against colon cancer. Methylpyridinium is formed in the roasting process from a chemical found naturally in coffee beans. The stronger the coffee, the study also found, the higher the level of the compound, with darker roasts containing two to three times more than medium roasts.
Parkinson’s Disease
At least six independent studies have confirmed a link between coffee drinking and the prevention of Parkinson’s Disease. The research shows that people who drink coffee on a regular basis are 60 to 80% less likely to develop Parkinson’s. Three of the studies also show that the more they drink, the lower the risk.
Performance Booster
Research has also proved that, in addition to protecting against disease, coffee has a positive functional impact on an array of human activities. A study published in Current Sports Medicine Reports found that the caffeine in coffee improves performance and endurance during prolonged, exhaustive exercise. To a lesser extent, it also boosts short-term, high-intensity athletic performance, as well as enhances concentration, reduces fatigue and heightens alertness. The reason lies in caffeine’s effect on brain receptors, enabling better energy uptake.
A Brazilian study has determined that drinking a few cups of coffee a day will also increase male fertility. According to scientists at the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, the caffeine in coffee appears to increase sperm “motility,” that is, the speed at which they move. Since sperm “hyperactivity” is critical to fertilization, heightened motility increases the odds of pregnancy.
Other studies have shown that coffee and caffeine also have a positive influence on mental function. Coffee increases alertness and Improves performance on tests of mental function.
Try some of these healthy coffees that also contribute to helping you be healthier - Click Here
Coffee of the Month Club
WHAT YOU GET EACH MONTH
Two different 12-oz. bags of rare gourmet coffee
Choice of whole-bean or ground
Fresh-roasted and delivered to your home or office
FREE personalized gift announcement
Current copy of "Coffee Expeditions" newsletter
Option to reorder at discounted prices
$25 Instant savings on all 12-month memberships
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COFFEE OF THE MONTH CLUB
DETAILS --------------------------------------------------------
Every day is special when it begins with a steaming cup of gourmet coffee from the Coffee Tasters Club. Our richly flavored, eye-opening fresh blends are hand-selected from exotic locales around the globe, custom-roasted and delivered to your door each month—for little more than you'd pay for premium domestic brands!
The distinctive character and flavor of each Coffee of the Month Club selection from Clubs of America makes this the ultimate gift for any coffee lover. And we send 24 ounces of premium coffee each month—50% more than most other coffee clubs—so you can enjoy it to the fullest every day, and still share a pot when friends drop over.
This is no ordinary cup of joe. Seldom will you find our monthly coffee club selections on a supermarket shelf, or even in a gourmet coffee boutique. Our experts search the far corners of the globe to bring you the finest, freshest coffee on earth…
• The world's best coffee. Handpicked, custom roasted and delivered fresh to your door each month.
Our coffee club buyers won't be found on large commercial plantations. We specialize in acquiring rare, locally-grown coffee beans from little-known places, where the micro-climate and conditions combine to produce bean harvests of extraordinary quality and character. Once selected as our coffee of the month, the beans are handpicked, roasted and packaged to our specifications and, within weeks, sent to your doorstep.
• Coffee so rich, the aroma will fill every room of your home!
Kenya. Sumatra. Nicaragua. India. Your monthly coffee club selections (you'll receive not one, but two different kinds each month) almost always originate in exotic locales and are comprised of 100% pure Arabica beans to assure top flavor and brewing consistency. Your choice of whole bean or fresh-ground; we ship two different monthly selections in 12-oz. vacuum-sealed reclosable bags, to arrive during the 3rd or 4th week of each month.
• Enjoy our FREE newsletter, enclosed with your shipment.
Coffee Expeditions™, your monthly club newsletter, is filled with interesting facts about the world of fine coffee. Learn about your selections, review brewing tips, and receive exclusive discounts on your favorites—available only to our coffee club members.
• No minimums, no restrictions, no surprises.
Other monthly coffee clubs limit your options—but your Coffee Tasters Club membership can run for any length of time you specify. There are no minimum subscription requirements, and we offer flexible delivery and billing options to suit your needs. Your purchase even includes a FREE customizable gift announcement.
• Your satisfaction guaranteed, by a company you can trust.
As America's first and foremost gift club specialist, in business since 1994, Clubs of America absolutely guarantees your 100% satisfaction. All it takes is a quick toll-free call, and we'll make it right. We're committed to your happiness.
Come join us today!
Click Here
Monday, June 29, 2009
The 7 Keys To Living A Passionate Life
1. Commitment
Until you are committed, nothing will happen for you. There is nothing more important to creating your passionate life than your unshakable commitment to choosing in favor of your passions. Every day you will be asked to put other things ahead of the things you love most. Keep your passions where you can see them, and learn to say “no” lovingly. Here’s one line you can practice:
“I so appreciate your asking, and I’m not able to do that now.”
Be sure to use “and” rather than “but.” “And” connects you with the other person, while “but” separates.
Vary the words to make them appropriate. Just remember to first appreciate, love, understand, and value the other person, then state what you need.
Lastly, keep in mind point #4 below (Stay Open). What’s most important may shift temporarily in the light of urgent circumstances.
2. Clarity
“When you are clear, what you want will show up in your life, and only to the extent you are clear.” Fuzzy desires give fuzzy results. Gaining clarity is not a one-time experience, it’s an ongoing process. Take The Passion Test at least every six months and review your Markers and Passion Pages at least once a year.
3. Attention
What you put your attention on grows stronger in your life. Recognize every day and at every moment where you are putting your attention. You will attract all the people, places and things you need to create that which you give attention to. As you shift your focus to all the good which is flowing into your life, watch how your life is transformed.
4. Stay Open
Your greatest good may not be what you think it is. When you are open to whatever is appearing now, even if it’s different than the way you think it should be, you release your individual will and open to God’s will for you.
This is the path to living your highest purpose in life. This is also the secret to overcoming any obstacle which may arise in your life. When disaster strikes and you are open, you are able to take advantage of the opportunities which inevitably present themselves.
5. Integrity
Be as true to yourself as you are to others, and as true to others as you are to yourself. The biggest challenge most of us face is to meet our responsibilities to others while pursuing our passions at the same time.
When you make commitments to others, make sure those commitments are aligned with your passions. Once you make commitments, keep them. If something else comes up, talk to the other person and ask their permission to renegotiate your commitment.
If they aren’t willing or able to make the necessary change, then keep your commitment as you originally made it. Even if it is uncomfortable.
Do this a few times and you will become more careful about the commitments you make. And treat yourself with the same respect. When you make a commitment to yourself, treat it in the same way you would treat your commitment to another. That includes being willing to renegotiate your commitment when new circumstances arise.
6. Persistence
Many begin the journey. Those who finish it are the ones who achieve success and fulfillment in life. In his classic book, Think and Grow Rich, Napoleon Hill tells the story of the man who bought property with the intention of mining gold. He discovered what appeared to be a massive vein.
He went out and purchased the machinery to mine the gold, but before he made any significant profits, the vein dried up. He dug and dug, then finally, he gave up and sold the property and machinery for a few hundred dollars to a junk dealer.
That dealer consulted an expert who showed him the previous owner had failed because he didn’t understand the nature of fault lines. The expert told the new owner he would find the vein again, not far beyond where the digging had previously stopped.
The new owner followed this expert advice, and sure enough, found millions of dollars in gold, just three feet beyond where the previous owner had stopped digging.
When you’re living life truly aligned with your passions, persistence is not hard. You will find you can’t stop, even if you want to. Your deepest passions will drive you, in spite of yourself.
7. Follow Your Heart
From The Passion Test: “What you love and God’s will for you are one and the same.” When all else fails, listen to your heart. Passion emerges from the heart, not from the mind.
When you feel confused, or lost, or don’t know which direction to head, then just start walking and pay attention to what your heart tells you. Do what you love, follow your heart’s direction and the path to fulfillment in life will naturally unfold before you.
Above all else, remember the secret that guarantees a passionate life: “Whenever you are faced with a choice, a decision or an opportunity, choose in favor of your passions.”
This is the critical key. In a study of more than 200 of the most enduringly successful people in the world (each of them enjoyed great success in their field for more than 20 years) they all had this one characteristic in common: They based significant decisions in their life on what had the deepest meaning for them–their passions.
If you want to enjoy success in your own life, master this one secret of choosing in favor of your passions. You will be amazed by what shows up.
by Janet Attwood
Until you are committed, nothing will happen for you. There is nothing more important to creating your passionate life than your unshakable commitment to choosing in favor of your passions. Every day you will be asked to put other things ahead of the things you love most. Keep your passions where you can see them, and learn to say “no” lovingly. Here’s one line you can practice:
“I so appreciate your asking, and I’m not able to do that now.”
Be sure to use “and” rather than “but.” “And” connects you with the other person, while “but” separates.
Vary the words to make them appropriate. Just remember to first appreciate, love, understand, and value the other person, then state what you need.
Lastly, keep in mind point #4 below (Stay Open). What’s most important may shift temporarily in the light of urgent circumstances.
2. Clarity
“When you are clear, what you want will show up in your life, and only to the extent you are clear.” Fuzzy desires give fuzzy results. Gaining clarity is not a one-time experience, it’s an ongoing process. Take The Passion Test at least every six months and review your Markers and Passion Pages at least once a year.
3. Attention
What you put your attention on grows stronger in your life. Recognize every day and at every moment where you are putting your attention. You will attract all the people, places and things you need to create that which you give attention to. As you shift your focus to all the good which is flowing into your life, watch how your life is transformed.
4. Stay Open
Your greatest good may not be what you think it is. When you are open to whatever is appearing now, even if it’s different than the way you think it should be, you release your individual will and open to God’s will for you.
This is the path to living your highest purpose in life. This is also the secret to overcoming any obstacle which may arise in your life. When disaster strikes and you are open, you are able to take advantage of the opportunities which inevitably present themselves.
5. Integrity
Be as true to yourself as you are to others, and as true to others as you are to yourself. The biggest challenge most of us face is to meet our responsibilities to others while pursuing our passions at the same time.
When you make commitments to others, make sure those commitments are aligned with your passions. Once you make commitments, keep them. If something else comes up, talk to the other person and ask their permission to renegotiate your commitment.
If they aren’t willing or able to make the necessary change, then keep your commitment as you originally made it. Even if it is uncomfortable.
Do this a few times and you will become more careful about the commitments you make. And treat yourself with the same respect. When you make a commitment to yourself, treat it in the same way you would treat your commitment to another. That includes being willing to renegotiate your commitment when new circumstances arise.
6. Persistence
Many begin the journey. Those who finish it are the ones who achieve success and fulfillment in life. In his classic book, Think and Grow Rich, Napoleon Hill tells the story of the man who bought property with the intention of mining gold. He discovered what appeared to be a massive vein.
He went out and purchased the machinery to mine the gold, but before he made any significant profits, the vein dried up. He dug and dug, then finally, he gave up and sold the property and machinery for a few hundred dollars to a junk dealer.
That dealer consulted an expert who showed him the previous owner had failed because he didn’t understand the nature of fault lines. The expert told the new owner he would find the vein again, not far beyond where the digging had previously stopped.
The new owner followed this expert advice, and sure enough, found millions of dollars in gold, just three feet beyond where the previous owner had stopped digging.
When you’re living life truly aligned with your passions, persistence is not hard. You will find you can’t stop, even if you want to. Your deepest passions will drive you, in spite of yourself.
7. Follow Your Heart
From The Passion Test: “What you love and God’s will for you are one and the same.” When all else fails, listen to your heart. Passion emerges from the heart, not from the mind.
When you feel confused, or lost, or don’t know which direction to head, then just start walking and pay attention to what your heart tells you. Do what you love, follow your heart’s direction and the path to fulfillment in life will naturally unfold before you.
Above all else, remember the secret that guarantees a passionate life: “Whenever you are faced with a choice, a decision or an opportunity, choose in favor of your passions.”
This is the critical key. In a study of more than 200 of the most enduringly successful people in the world (each of them enjoyed great success in their field for more than 20 years) they all had this one characteristic in common: They based significant decisions in their life on what had the deepest meaning for them–their passions.
If you want to enjoy success in your own life, master this one secret of choosing in favor of your passions. You will be amazed by what shows up.
by Janet Attwood
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Death Upon Us All with Genetically Engineered Foods!
1.
Genetically Engineered Food — Global Issues
Sep 26, 2002 ... A potentially useful technology, genetically engineered or modified food has been pushed through the US and increasingly around the world ...
www.globalissues.org/issue/188/genetically-engineered-food - Cached - Similar
2.
Genetically Engineered (GE) foods - Safety problems.
May 3, 2009 ... The serious safety problems of GM foods are explained in a way laymen can understand by independent scienists.
www.psrast.org/ - Cached - Similar
3.
Genetically Engineered Food Alert
Advocates FDA-mandated testing and labeling of GE foods. Learning resources and activism information.
www.gefoodalert.org/ - Cached - Similar
4.
Image results for Engineered Food
- Report imagesReport the following images as offensive. Confirm CancelThank you for the feedback.
http://www.greenpeace.org/international/photosvideos/photos/genetically-engineered-food-byhttp://www.ebookee.com/Genetically-Engineered-Food-Methods-and-Detection-2nd-ed_107112.htmlhttp://hubpages.com/hub/biotechfoodhttp://www.cartoonstock.com/directory/g/genetically_engineered_gifts.asp
5.
The Center for Food Safety - Genetically Engineered Food
A number of studies over the past decade have revealed that genetically engineered foods can pose serious risks to humans, domesticated animals, ...
www.centerforfoodsafety.org/geneticall7.cfm - Cached - Similar
6.
Dangers of Genetic Engineering—Campaign for mandatory labeling of ...
Genetically engineered foods contain substances that have never been a part of the human food supply. They are not subjected to rigorous pre-market safety ... www.safe-food.org/ - Cached - Similar
7.
Campaign to Label Genetically Engineered Foods
The Campaign is a political advocacy non-profit organization that is leading a grassroots effort to persuade Congress to pass legislation that would require ...
www.thecampaign.org/ - Cached - Similar
8.
Genetically Engineered Food: Biotech, Biotechnology, gmo ...
largest collection of articles related to genetically engineered food! ... Genetically Engineered Food by Ronnie Cummins and Ben Lilliston ...
www.purefood.org/gelink.html - Cached - Similar
9.
OCA: Genetically Engineered Food, Biotechnology, and GMOs
Genetically Engineered Food Action and Research Page.
www.organicconsumers.org/gelink.cfm - Cached - Similar
10.
Genetically-Engineered Food Dangers
Detailed scientific and general documentation regarding the dangers of genetically-engineered foods and crops. Articles from independent scientists ...
www.holisticmed.com/ge/ - Cached - Similar
11.
Amazon.com: Genetically Engineered Food: Changing the Nature of ...
Amazon.com: Genetically Engineered Food: Changing the Nature of Nature: Martin Teitel Ph.D., Ralph Nader: Books.
www.amazon.com/...Engineered-Food...Nature/.../0892819480 - Cached - Similar
12.
Book results for Engineered Food
Genetically engineered food: a self-defense ... - by Ronnie Cummins, Ben Lilliston, Frances Moore Lappe - 240 pages
Genetically engineered food: changing the ... - by Martin Teitel, Kimberly Ann Wilson - 206 pages
Know your food! Know what you are eating!
Genetically Engineered Food — Global Issues
Sep 26, 2002 ... A potentially useful technology, genetically engineered or modified food has been pushed through the US and increasingly around the world ...
www.globalissues.org/issue/188/genetically-engineered-food - Cached - Similar
2.
Genetically Engineered (GE) foods - Safety problems.
May 3, 2009 ... The serious safety problems of GM foods are explained in a way laymen can understand by independent scienists.
www.psrast.org/ - Cached - Similar
3.
Genetically Engineered Food Alert
Advocates FDA-mandated testing and labeling of GE foods. Learning resources and activism information.
www.gefoodalert.org/ - Cached - Similar
4.
Image results for Engineered Food
- Report imagesReport the following images as offensive. Confirm CancelThank you for the feedback.
http://www.greenpeace.org/international/photosvideos/photos/genetically-engineered-food-byhttp://www.ebookee.com/Genetically-Engineered-Food-Methods-and-Detection-2nd-ed_107112.htmlhttp://hubpages.com/hub/biotechfoodhttp://www.cartoonstock.com/directory/g/genetically_engineered_gifts.asp
5.
The Center for Food Safety - Genetically Engineered Food
A number of studies over the past decade have revealed that genetically engineered foods can pose serious risks to humans, domesticated animals, ...
www.centerforfoodsafety.org/geneticall7.cfm - Cached - Similar
6.
Dangers of Genetic Engineering—Campaign for mandatory labeling of ...
Genetically engineered foods contain substances that have never been a part of the human food supply. They are not subjected to rigorous pre-market safety ... www.safe-food.org/ - Cached - Similar
7.
Campaign to Label Genetically Engineered Foods
The Campaign is a political advocacy non-profit organization that is leading a grassroots effort to persuade Congress to pass legislation that would require ...
www.thecampaign.org/ - Cached - Similar
8.
Genetically Engineered Food: Biotech, Biotechnology, gmo ...
largest collection of articles related to genetically engineered food! ... Genetically Engineered Food by Ronnie Cummins and Ben Lilliston ...
www.purefood.org/gelink.html - Cached - Similar
9.
OCA: Genetically Engineered Food, Biotechnology, and GMOs
Genetically Engineered Food Action and Research Page.
www.organicconsumers.org/gelink.cfm - Cached - Similar
10.
Genetically-Engineered Food Dangers
Detailed scientific and general documentation regarding the dangers of genetically-engineered foods and crops. Articles from independent scientists ...
www.holisticmed.com/ge/ - Cached - Similar
11.
Amazon.com: Genetically Engineered Food: Changing the Nature of ...
Amazon.com: Genetically Engineered Food: Changing the Nature of Nature: Martin Teitel Ph.D., Ralph Nader: Books.
www.amazon.com/...Engineered-Food...Nature/.../0892819480 - Cached - Similar
12.
Book results for Engineered Food
Genetically engineered food: a self-defense ... - by Ronnie Cummins, Ben Lilliston, Frances Moore Lappe - 240 pages
Genetically engineered food: changing the ... - by Martin Teitel, Kimberly Ann Wilson - 206 pages
Know your food! Know what you are eating!
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Avoiding Unhappiness
Don’t make the goal happiness.
If you make happiness the goal, then you will only find yourself futilely chasing it all the time, like chasing a butterfly. You will wear yourself out. You will become confused. You will become frustrated.
Instead, make the goal avoiding unhappiness.
Sit still long enough in a garden and a butterfly will come land on your shoulder. Avoiding unhappiness does that for you. It allows you to sit still long enough until a butterfly comes fluttering along.
Consider these two virtues:
Avoiding unhappiness is easy: We generally know and understand the things in our lives making us unhappy.
(Conversely, we rarely seem to know what might make us happy. For instance, we believe a relationship with a certain person will make us happy only to find out later to the contrary, or to find ourselves crushed by rejection.)
Avoiding unhappiness is humble: We don’t create any false expectations or place unrealistic demands upon ourselves. We stay within our means.
Important! Avoiding unhappiness does not mean running away. It is not a philosophy for the recluse or the cowardly. Rather, to avoid unhappiness, one must solve problems or improve conditions. One must mend fences.
Be humble. Start solving, improving, mending what you know and understand is causing you to be unhappy. Don’t make happiness the goal. Instead, let the butterfly come to you.
You can do it.
By Guest Writer
If you make happiness the goal, then you will only find yourself futilely chasing it all the time, like chasing a butterfly. You will wear yourself out. You will become confused. You will become frustrated.
Instead, make the goal avoiding unhappiness.
Sit still long enough in a garden and a butterfly will come land on your shoulder. Avoiding unhappiness does that for you. It allows you to sit still long enough until a butterfly comes fluttering along.
Consider these two virtues:
Avoiding unhappiness is easy: We generally know and understand the things in our lives making us unhappy.
(Conversely, we rarely seem to know what might make us happy. For instance, we believe a relationship with a certain person will make us happy only to find out later to the contrary, or to find ourselves crushed by rejection.)
Avoiding unhappiness is humble: We don’t create any false expectations or place unrealistic demands upon ourselves. We stay within our means.
Important! Avoiding unhappiness does not mean running away. It is not a philosophy for the recluse or the cowardly. Rather, to avoid unhappiness, one must solve problems or improve conditions. One must mend fences.
Be humble. Start solving, improving, mending what you know and understand is causing you to be unhappy. Don’t make happiness the goal. Instead, let the butterfly come to you.
You can do it.
By Guest Writer
Friday, June 26, 2009
Top 7 Foods You Should Eat Every Day
Here’s a list of the top 7 foods that have been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease, cancer, and a host of other illnesses. Best of all, you don’t have to change your current way of eating! Simply incorporate these foods into your daily diet and you’ll soon be well on your way to more vibrant health.
*Apples Can Lower Cholesterol Levels*
Whether Red Delicious, Granny Smith, or any other type, apples are a good source of pectin. This is a fiber that can lower bad cholesterol and balance glucose levels. They’re a good source of vitamin C, the antioxidant that helps to boost your immune system and keeps blood vessels healthy. They’re also good for your teeth, helping them to stay strong and remove surface stains.
*Beans Can Balance Blood Glucose Levels*
All beans are on the list of healthiest foods, but black beans are especially good. They’re loaded with fiber—about 60% of the recommended amount in just one-cup—which helps to keep blood glucose levels steady. They’re high in protein so you feel more energetic, and are also an excellent source of tryptophan—an amino acid that helps boost your mood and cut down on carb cravings. Beans have also been shown to reduce the risk of heart attack and colon cancer.
*Berries Can Help You See Better*
Blueberries come out on top here, but all berries offer tremendous health benefits. They’re packed with vitamin C, which helps to kill off free radicals, and they contain a good amount of fiber, manganese, and calcium. What this all means is that by adding berries to your daily food menu you can enjoy such benefits as better night vision, reduced risk of certain cancers, better heart health, and clearer thinking. Just a cup a day is all it takes!
*Green Vegetables Can Provide Mental Clarity*
This includes broccoli, Brussels sprouts, spinach, kale, and all other deep-green vegetables. Just one cup of cooked green vegetables, or two cups raw, can provide a good amount of vitamin C, folate, calcium, lutein, iron, and beta-carotene. They help strengthen the brain, blood, and immune system, and also have been shown to prevent cancer and even fight depression. Eat them raw to keep your digestive tract in shape. Since there are varying levels of vitamins, minerals, and fiber in these green vegetables, eat a wide variety of them to reap all of their benefits. Many people choose to have one type each day and rotate them.
*Nuts Can Boost Your Libido and Energy Levels*
Yes, nuts are good for you! Their protein and (good) fat content satisfies hunger and helps you to feel more energetic. They also contain fiber, magnesium, calcium, vitamin E, potassium, iron, selenium, thiamin, and zinc. They’re nearly a multi-vitamin in themselves and have been touted as a libido booster, probably due to their zinc content and the positive effect their good fats have on the brain and body. Almonds come out on top, but different nuts have different ratios of vitamins and minerals, so have a handful or two of raw mixed nuts daily to get their full benefits.
*Salmon Can Reduce Pain*
Just one serving of salmon or albacore tuna twice a week can provide enough Omega 3 fatty acids, tryptophan, protein, vitamins D, B12 and niacin that you may find you no longer need over-the-counter pain killers for inflammation, or high-caffeine drinks for sustained energy. Not only that, but you can reduce your cholesterol levels, lower your risk of heart attack, and increase heart health overall.
*Sweet Potatoes Can Reduce Inflammation*
Whether you suffer from asthma, arthritis, or any other type of inflammation, sweet potatoes and all orange vegetables such as carrots and pumpkin, can offer relief. They’re incredibly high in beta-carotene and vitamin C—two top vitamins that help combat free radical damage and boost your immune system. That’s not all these orange veggies can do though, their B6 content helps to ward off heart attacks and stroke, while the fiber aids in keeping your colon healthy.
No matter what diets come and go, Mother Nature’s foods are always best for optimum health, and they’re much cheaper than prepackaged and fast food meals. By adding these top 7 foods to your daily diet, you’ll know that you’re covering all the bases where your health is concerned.
By Kelly Wallace
*Apples Can Lower Cholesterol Levels*
Whether Red Delicious, Granny Smith, or any other type, apples are a good source of pectin. This is a fiber that can lower bad cholesterol and balance glucose levels. They’re a good source of vitamin C, the antioxidant that helps to boost your immune system and keeps blood vessels healthy. They’re also good for your teeth, helping them to stay strong and remove surface stains.
*Beans Can Balance Blood Glucose Levels*
All beans are on the list of healthiest foods, but black beans are especially good. They’re loaded with fiber—about 60% of the recommended amount in just one-cup—which helps to keep blood glucose levels steady. They’re high in protein so you feel more energetic, and are also an excellent source of tryptophan—an amino acid that helps boost your mood and cut down on carb cravings. Beans have also been shown to reduce the risk of heart attack and colon cancer.
*Berries Can Help You See Better*
Blueberries come out on top here, but all berries offer tremendous health benefits. They’re packed with vitamin C, which helps to kill off free radicals, and they contain a good amount of fiber, manganese, and calcium. What this all means is that by adding berries to your daily food menu you can enjoy such benefits as better night vision, reduced risk of certain cancers, better heart health, and clearer thinking. Just a cup a day is all it takes!
*Green Vegetables Can Provide Mental Clarity*
This includes broccoli, Brussels sprouts, spinach, kale, and all other deep-green vegetables. Just one cup of cooked green vegetables, or two cups raw, can provide a good amount of vitamin C, folate, calcium, lutein, iron, and beta-carotene. They help strengthen the brain, blood, and immune system, and also have been shown to prevent cancer and even fight depression. Eat them raw to keep your digestive tract in shape. Since there are varying levels of vitamins, minerals, and fiber in these green vegetables, eat a wide variety of them to reap all of their benefits. Many people choose to have one type each day and rotate them.
*Nuts Can Boost Your Libido and Energy Levels*
Yes, nuts are good for you! Their protein and (good) fat content satisfies hunger and helps you to feel more energetic. They also contain fiber, magnesium, calcium, vitamin E, potassium, iron, selenium, thiamin, and zinc. They’re nearly a multi-vitamin in themselves and have been touted as a libido booster, probably due to their zinc content and the positive effect their good fats have on the brain and body. Almonds come out on top, but different nuts have different ratios of vitamins and minerals, so have a handful or two of raw mixed nuts daily to get their full benefits.
*Salmon Can Reduce Pain*
Just one serving of salmon or albacore tuna twice a week can provide enough Omega 3 fatty acids, tryptophan, protein, vitamins D, B12 and niacin that you may find you no longer need over-the-counter pain killers for inflammation, or high-caffeine drinks for sustained energy. Not only that, but you can reduce your cholesterol levels, lower your risk of heart attack, and increase heart health overall.
*Sweet Potatoes Can Reduce Inflammation*
Whether you suffer from asthma, arthritis, or any other type of inflammation, sweet potatoes and all orange vegetables such as carrots and pumpkin, can offer relief. They’re incredibly high in beta-carotene and vitamin C—two top vitamins that help combat free radical damage and boost your immune system. That’s not all these orange veggies can do though, their B6 content helps to ward off heart attacks and stroke, while the fiber aids in keeping your colon healthy.
No matter what diets come and go, Mother Nature’s foods are always best for optimum health, and they’re much cheaper than prepackaged and fast food meals. By adding these top 7 foods to your daily diet, you’ll know that you’re covering all the bases where your health is concerned.
By Kelly Wallace
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
More Precious than Diamonds: Water and Its Blessed Healing Properties
I can’t begin to thank you enough for all the gratitude I feel every time I read all your wonderful messages.
The Angel Tribe is gathering and the road to wellness and higher consciousness seems to get clearer and closer. We can be the change we want to see, together!
It’s an exciting time, and I love to see the web of wellness growing.
Since I’ve already talked about the importance of good nutrition and avoiding sugary foods, here’s a list of facts you may or may not know about water. I gathered it using different sources.
1. Roughly 70 percent of an adult’s body is made up of water.
2. Without food, a person can live for weeks, but without water, you can only expect to live only a few days.
3. While the daily recommended amount of water is eight cups per day, not all of this water must be consumed in the liquid form. Nearly every food or drink item provides some water to the body.
4. Soft drinks, coffee, and tea, while made up almost entirely of water, also contain caffeine. Caffeine can act as a mild diuretic, preventing water from traveling to necessary locations in the body.
5. Somewhere between 70 and 75 percent of the earth’s surface is covered with water.
6. The earth is a closed system, similar to a terrarium, meaning that it rarely loses or gains extra matter. The same water that existed on the earth millions of years ago is still present today.
7. Water helps to maintain a healthy body weight by increasing metabolism and regulating appetite.
8. Water leads to increased energy levels. The most common cause of daytime fatigue is actually mild dehydration.
9. Drinking adequate amounts of water can decrease the risk of certain types of cancers, including colon cancer, bladder cancer, and breast cancer.
10. For a majority of sufferers, drinking water can significantly reduce joint and/or back pain.
11. Water leads to overall greater health by flushing out wastes and bacteria that can cause disease.
12. Water can prevent and alleviate headaches.
13. Water naturally moisturizes skin and ensures proper cellular formation underneath layers of skin to give it a healthy, glowing appearance.
14. Water aids in the digestion process and prevents constipation.
15. Water is the primary mode of transportation for all nutrients in the body and is essential for proper circulation.
16. Bottled water does not offer a viable alternative to tap water.
17. There are more than 2100 known drinking water contaminants that may be present in tap water, including several known poisons.
18. In order to capitalize on the health benefits of water, it is essential to draw from a clean source of water.
19. The only way to ensure pure, contaminant-free drinking water is through the use of a point-of-use filtration system.
20. Several types of cancer can be attributed to the presence of toxic materials in drinking water.
21. Clean, healthy drinking water is essential to a child’s proper mental and physical development.
22. According to the EPA, lead in drinking water contributes to 480,000 cases of learning disorders in children each year in the United States alone.
23. It is especially important for pregnant women to drink pure water as lead in drinking water can cause severe birth defects.
And besides all this, I will keep hailing the praises of Masaru Emoto!
His work and books are incredibly important and explain clearly the relevance of water and the relationship we need to have with it.
by Angelique
Healthy Water Starts At Home!
Sunday, June 14, 2009
The First Pre-Brewed Coffee Was Invented By George Washington?
Did you know…
Pre-brewed coffee was invented by George Washington? OK, not THAT George Washington – G. Constant Louis Washington, an American inventor who invented the process in the early-1900s and mass-marketed it as Red E Coffee. Or at least that’s what most history books tell you; current research indicates that Satori Kato, a Japanese-American scientist, actually invented the unique process that leads to delicious coffee house taste in a sachet!
One of the earliest advertisements for coffee is from 1657, announcing its arrival in London (click here to read an article on the ad)? This is what it looked like (not exactly a Super Bowl-quality, right?). The coolest part of the announcement comes a little later:
It is observed that in Turkey, where this [coffee] is generally drunk, that they are not trobled with the Stone, Gout, Dropsie, or Scurvey…
Recent medical research indicates the anonymous copywriter may be right – coffee might just help deal with some of these issues! Funny how history works, isn’t it?
We all know that ATLCoffeeHouse's Ganoderma products are Halal-Certified for the Islamic community, right? Well, the famous Middle Eastern philosopher Sheik Ansari Djezeri Hanball Abd-al-Kadir wrote one of the most stirring testimonies to coffee’s power way back in 1587. It goes:
Oh Coffee, you dispel the worries of the Great, you point the way to those who have wandered from the path of knowledge. Coffee is the drink of the friends of God, and of His servants who seek wisdom.
…No one can understand the truth until he drinks of its frothy goodness. Those who condemn coffee as causing man harm are fools in the eyes of God. Coffee is the common man’s gold, and like gold it brings to every man the feeling of luxury and nobility… Take time in your preparations of coffee and God will be with you and bless you and your table. Where coffee is served there is grace and splendor and friendship and happiness.
All cares vanish as the coffee cup is raised to the lips. Coffee flows through your body as freely as your life’s blood, refreshing all that it touches: look at the youth and vigor of those who drink it.
…Oh drink of God’s glory, your purity brings to man only well-being and nobility.
That’s a pretty stirring endorsement!
Happy Coffee Day!
Coffee Lowers Gout Risk
Coffee-Swilling Men Get Less Gout, Study Shows
May 25, 2007 - The more coffee men drink, the lower their risk of gout. At least four cups a day lower gout risk by 40%, a Canada/U.S. study shows.
Gout starts with a buildup of uric acid in the blood. This results in deposits of uric acid crystals in the joints and surrounding areas, causing swelling and intense pain.
The new study is based on data from nearly 46,000 male medical professionals enrolled in the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study. Over 12 years, 757 of these men developed gout, report Hyon K. Choi, MD, DrPH, of the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, and colleagues.
Because the men filled out detailed diet questionnaires, Choi's team was able to track the men's self-reported use of coffee and tea.
They found that the more coffee the men drank, the less likely they were to have gout.
Drinking one to three cups of coffee a day lowered gout risk by only 8%. But drinking four or five cups a day dropped gout risk by 40%. And true coffee addicts -- those who drank six cups a day or more -- had nearly a 60% lower risk of gout.
Caffeine, whether from coffee, tea, or both, was not related to gout risk. Tea, it turned out, did not decrease gout risk.
But decaffeinated coffee did have an effect, although it wasn't as large as the effect of the high-test brew. Men who drank one to three cups of decaf had a 33% lower risk of gout. Those who drank four cups of decaf a day -- or more -- had only a 27% lower gout risk.
It's not clear why coffee lowers gout risk. Choi and colleagues note that coffee is a major source of a strong antioxidant, phenol chlorogenic acid, that may affect gout risk.
"Our findings are most directly generalizable to men age 40 years and older (the most gout-prevalent population) with no history of gout," Choi and colleagues suggest.
It's not yet known whether women who drink coffee are at lower risk of gout.
The findings appear in the June 2007 issue of the journal Arthritis & Rheumatism.
Will this news make you think about having a few more cups of coffee? If so, try these all natural healthy blends - CLICK HERE!
By Daniel J. DeNoon
WebMD Health News
Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD
May 25, 2007 - The more coffee men drink, the lower their risk of gout. At least four cups a day lower gout risk by 40%, a Canada/U.S. study shows.
Gout starts with a buildup of uric acid in the blood. This results in deposits of uric acid crystals in the joints and surrounding areas, causing swelling and intense pain.
The new study is based on data from nearly 46,000 male medical professionals enrolled in the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study. Over 12 years, 757 of these men developed gout, report Hyon K. Choi, MD, DrPH, of the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, and colleagues.
Because the men filled out detailed diet questionnaires, Choi's team was able to track the men's self-reported use of coffee and tea.
They found that the more coffee the men drank, the less likely they were to have gout.
Drinking one to three cups of coffee a day lowered gout risk by only 8%. But drinking four or five cups a day dropped gout risk by 40%. And true coffee addicts -- those who drank six cups a day or more -- had nearly a 60% lower risk of gout.
Caffeine, whether from coffee, tea, or both, was not related to gout risk. Tea, it turned out, did not decrease gout risk.
But decaffeinated coffee did have an effect, although it wasn't as large as the effect of the high-test brew. Men who drank one to three cups of decaf had a 33% lower risk of gout. Those who drank four cups of decaf a day -- or more -- had only a 27% lower gout risk.
It's not clear why coffee lowers gout risk. Choi and colleagues note that coffee is a major source of a strong antioxidant, phenol chlorogenic acid, that may affect gout risk.
"Our findings are most directly generalizable to men age 40 years and older (the most gout-prevalent population) with no history of gout," Choi and colleagues suggest.
It's not yet known whether women who drink coffee are at lower risk of gout.
The findings appear in the June 2007 issue of the journal Arthritis & Rheumatism.
Will this news make you think about having a few more cups of coffee? If so, try these all natural healthy blends - CLICK HERE!
By Daniel J. DeNoon
WebMD Health News
Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD
Saturday, June 13, 2009
The Bad Secrets About Energy & Diet Drinks
Originating in Japan in the early 1960s, energy drinks such as Red Bull are sold in 134 countries worldwide. Global sales have surpassed $5 billion a year and are projected to hit $10 billion by 2010. The popularity of diet soda continues to grow amid concerns about obesity, with 59% of Americans saying they drink diet soda and worldwide sales surpassing $20 billion a year. Sales of sports drinks, which originally were designed to help athletes rehydrate, total $3 billion a year. Each of these beverages offers some benefits, but all contribute to acidity in the body.
Energy drinks cause dehydration and increase bodily acid.
a. The key ingredient in most energy drinks is caffeine, often from guarana or yerba mate.
b. Caffeine is the source of much the energy boost, but it also causes dehydration.
c. To rehydrate, you need to drink two cups of water for every cup of energy drink consumed.
d. Energy drinks are extremely acidic. For example, Red Bull has a pH level of 3.26, almost 10,000 times more acidic than pH neutral water. 1
Diet soda has been linked to weight gains and acidity.
a. A 2008 study at Purdue University found that rats on diets containing the artificial sweetener saccharin gained more weight than rats given sugary food, 2 perhaps because the body does not receive a signal to "rev up" the metabolism. 3
b. An eight-year study with 1,550 participants conducted at University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, found that drinkers of diet soft drinks had a greater risk of gaining weight than drinkers of regular soft drinks. 4
c. Diet soda is even more acidic than energy drinks. Diet Coke has a pH level of 2.97, more than 10,000 times more acidic than pH neutral water. 5
Sports drinks are designed for athletes exercising more than two hours.
a. Sports drinks contain electrolytes, carbohydrates, and other nutrients burned up through extended periods of exercise.
b. Most sports drinks have between 13 and 19 grams sugar per eight ounce serving. c. Drinking sports drinks without working out increases caloric intake.
d. Sports drinks are even more acidic than energy drinks and diet soda. Gatorade has a pH level of 2.95, more than 10,000 times more acidic than pH neutral water. 6
Americans are spending billions of dollars each year on beverages that may provide a short-term boost but also increase the likelihood of gaining weight and increasing acidity in the body. A better solution is to hydrate frequently with ionized alkaline drinking water, which hydrates better than diet soda and energy drinks and helps to neutralize the acidity of the body.
1 Young, Dr. Robert O., The pH Miracle for Weight Loss. New York: Grand Central Publishing, 2005, p. 125.
2 "A Role for Sweet Taste: Calorie Predictive Relations in Energy Regulation by Rats," Susan E. Swithers, PhD and Terry L. Davidson, PhD, Purdue University; Behavioral Neuroscience, Vol. 122, No. 1.
3 American Psychological Association (2008, February 11). Artificial Sweeteners Linked To Weight Gain. ScienceDaily.
4 Abstract 1058-P. Sharon P. Fowler, MPH, University of Texas Health Science Center School of Medicine, San Antonio.
5 Young, Dr. Robert O., The pH Miracle for Weight Loss. New York: Grand Central Publishing, 2005, p. 125.
6 Young, Dr. Robert O., The pH Miracle for Weight Loss. New York: Grand Central Publishing, 2005, p. 125.
Live LONG! Live HEALTHY! Live HAPPY!
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Energy drinks cause dehydration and increase bodily acid.
a. The key ingredient in most energy drinks is caffeine, often from guarana or yerba mate.
b. Caffeine is the source of much the energy boost, but it also causes dehydration.
c. To rehydrate, you need to drink two cups of water for every cup of energy drink consumed.
d. Energy drinks are extremely acidic. For example, Red Bull has a pH level of 3.26, almost 10,000 times more acidic than pH neutral water. 1
Diet soda has been linked to weight gains and acidity.
a. A 2008 study at Purdue University found that rats on diets containing the artificial sweetener saccharin gained more weight than rats given sugary food, 2 perhaps because the body does not receive a signal to "rev up" the metabolism. 3
b. An eight-year study with 1,550 participants conducted at University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, found that drinkers of diet soft drinks had a greater risk of gaining weight than drinkers of regular soft drinks. 4
c. Diet soda is even more acidic than energy drinks. Diet Coke has a pH level of 2.97, more than 10,000 times more acidic than pH neutral water. 5
Sports drinks are designed for athletes exercising more than two hours.
a. Sports drinks contain electrolytes, carbohydrates, and other nutrients burned up through extended periods of exercise.
b. Most sports drinks have between 13 and 19 grams sugar per eight ounce serving. c. Drinking sports drinks without working out increases caloric intake.
d. Sports drinks are even more acidic than energy drinks and diet soda. Gatorade has a pH level of 2.95, more than 10,000 times more acidic than pH neutral water. 6
Americans are spending billions of dollars each year on beverages that may provide a short-term boost but also increase the likelihood of gaining weight and increasing acidity in the body. A better solution is to hydrate frequently with ionized alkaline drinking water, which hydrates better than diet soda and energy drinks and helps to neutralize the acidity of the body.
1 Young, Dr. Robert O., The pH Miracle for Weight Loss. New York: Grand Central Publishing, 2005, p. 125.
2 "A Role for Sweet Taste: Calorie Predictive Relations in Energy Regulation by Rats," Susan E. Swithers, PhD and Terry L. Davidson, PhD, Purdue University; Behavioral Neuroscience, Vol. 122, No. 1.
3 American Psychological Association (2008, February 11). Artificial Sweeteners Linked To Weight Gain. ScienceDaily.
4 Abstract 1058-P. Sharon P. Fowler, MPH, University of Texas Health Science Center School of Medicine, San Antonio.
5 Young, Dr. Robert O., The pH Miracle for Weight Loss. New York: Grand Central Publishing, 2005, p. 125.
6 Young, Dr. Robert O., The pH Miracle for Weight Loss. New York: Grand Central Publishing, 2005, p. 125.
Live LONG! Live HEALTHY! Live HAPPY!
Try a 5 day sample of Alkaline water for only .99¢!
Order Here!
Click Here for More Information
Friday, June 5, 2009
Exercise: One Size Does Not Fit All
We are brainwashed as a society that we need to join a gym, hammer out cardiovascular exercises daily, and do strength training. Well, we are here to tell you that this is not so. Being a nutrition and lifestyle coach I cannot tell you how many people walk into my office stating to me that they hate going to the gym. My response to them is, “Then why are you going?”
What everyone needs to understand is that your body requires movement daily and however you enjoy moving should be the choice of exercise for you. Picture this … you are leaving your house, getting in your car, and all that is on your mind is how much you don’t want to be going to the gym. You have just fed your body/mind negative thoughts. How can a body heal and re-energize if it is full of negative energy?
Generally, as a society everyone has behind the desk jobs, with little to no movement throughout the day, stuck in a cubicle with little to no natural sunlight. So, why not pick an exercise that you enjoy and fills you with positive healing energy and lifts your mood?
There are many forms of exercise that one can partake in. Explore and do your research, play around with exercises that you might not ever consider or think you can do. You just might be surprised how much you learn about yourself with trying something new. Explore cycling, skiing, yoga, mountain biking, swimming, tai chi, hiking, weight training, qi gong, tennis, golf, kick boxing/marital arts, or maybe even dancing.
Regardless of the exercise you pick there are some general guidelines to exercise that one should be aware of.
1. Have more than just one form of exercise. When you perform the same movements over and over this can lead to muscle imbalances, injury and pain. In addition having more than just one type of exercise gives your body the opportunity to not adapt to one single stimulus.
2. If you find that you are always catching colds or getting sick easily you should limit or postpone intense exercise/training. The reason being is that the adrenal glands are most likely stressed and further intense exercise will cause your body to break down further leading to a weakened immune system and possible injury.
3. “No Pain, No Gain” … if you have that mentality please get rid of it. Pain equals no gain the reason being is that your body gets stronger at rest not while exercising. The exercise is just the stimulus that triggers the growth and repair response that builds more muscle and increases metabolism.
4. Since you live in a society that is constant go, go, go, it is always a good idea to have one form of exercise that replenishes the body and helps it to heal. Exercises such as yoga, qi gong, and tai chi are great for repairing the Parasympathetic Nervous System (PNS)—this system is the rest and digest system. This is the system that helps us heal and prevent disease. Massages are also a great way to relax the body and help muscles heal and replenish after being active.
5. Explore circuit weight training; with circuit training you are not just getting the benefits of muscle tone and increasing your metabolic rate but you are also getting cardiovascular benefits. So this is a great way to get in your aerobic exercise without over taxing the body. And for you ladies reading this blog this form of exercise works well for us!
6. Do your research! If you would like to get started in a gym with the help of a personal trainer, make sure you interview her to know if she has a good understanding of the human body/Anatomy. Remember, strength training is not just about getting tone and fit it is also about correcting muscle imbalances. If you do not correct muscle imbalances or work with someone who understands the importance of correcting imbalances or how to look for them, you will end up in pain if not injured. Trust me on this, I am a physical therapist and have treated patients who became injured because their trainer not having appropriate proper education/training.
By: Replenishing Soul
What everyone needs to understand is that your body requires movement daily and however you enjoy moving should be the choice of exercise for you. Picture this … you are leaving your house, getting in your car, and all that is on your mind is how much you don’t want to be going to the gym. You have just fed your body/mind negative thoughts. How can a body heal and re-energize if it is full of negative energy?
Generally, as a society everyone has behind the desk jobs, with little to no movement throughout the day, stuck in a cubicle with little to no natural sunlight. So, why not pick an exercise that you enjoy and fills you with positive healing energy and lifts your mood?
There are many forms of exercise that one can partake in. Explore and do your research, play around with exercises that you might not ever consider or think you can do. You just might be surprised how much you learn about yourself with trying something new. Explore cycling, skiing, yoga, mountain biking, swimming, tai chi, hiking, weight training, qi gong, tennis, golf, kick boxing/marital arts, or maybe even dancing.
Regardless of the exercise you pick there are some general guidelines to exercise that one should be aware of.
1. Have more than just one form of exercise. When you perform the same movements over and over this can lead to muscle imbalances, injury and pain. In addition having more than just one type of exercise gives your body the opportunity to not adapt to one single stimulus.
2. If you find that you are always catching colds or getting sick easily you should limit or postpone intense exercise/training. The reason being is that the adrenal glands are most likely stressed and further intense exercise will cause your body to break down further leading to a weakened immune system and possible injury.
3. “No Pain, No Gain” … if you have that mentality please get rid of it. Pain equals no gain the reason being is that your body gets stronger at rest not while exercising. The exercise is just the stimulus that triggers the growth and repair response that builds more muscle and increases metabolism.
4. Since you live in a society that is constant go, go, go, it is always a good idea to have one form of exercise that replenishes the body and helps it to heal. Exercises such as yoga, qi gong, and tai chi are great for repairing the Parasympathetic Nervous System (PNS)—this system is the rest and digest system. This is the system that helps us heal and prevent disease. Massages are also a great way to relax the body and help muscles heal and replenish after being active.
5. Explore circuit weight training; with circuit training you are not just getting the benefits of muscle tone and increasing your metabolic rate but you are also getting cardiovascular benefits. So this is a great way to get in your aerobic exercise without over taxing the body. And for you ladies reading this blog this form of exercise works well for us!
6. Do your research! If you would like to get started in a gym with the help of a personal trainer, make sure you interview her to know if she has a good understanding of the human body/Anatomy. Remember, strength training is not just about getting tone and fit it is also about correcting muscle imbalances. If you do not correct muscle imbalances or work with someone who understands the importance of correcting imbalances or how to look for them, you will end up in pain if not injured. Trust me on this, I am a physical therapist and have treated patients who became injured because their trainer not having appropriate proper education/training.
By: Replenishing Soul
A Year In The Now Repost - I’M EXPECTING!
I’M EXPECTING!
"Why are you cast down, O my inner self? And why should you moan over me and be disquieted within me? Hope in God and wait EXPECTANTLY for Him, for I shall yet praise Him, Who is the help of my countenance, and my God." (Psalm 42:11 – AMP)
1. Today I will live in the now! I will live in the now because I have an attitude of expectancy that causes me to keep looking forward, no matter how many times I have experienced disappointment. I believe in the probable occurrence or appearance of something good today, because something good is due, and I have an eager anticipation for things to look up, get better, and turn out for the best!
2. Today I will create an atmosphere of expectancy by my words of life and faith, preparing to attract success to myself by my irresistible optimism. I will cultivate this attitude by using my life experiences to teach me as I practice positive responses to personal problems.
3. Today I will not walk in presumption, setting myself up for more disappointment. I will expect the best, prepare for the worst if necessary, and always look at my situation from God's perspective. No matter how things look right now, I will always have a happy ending, eventually.
4. Today I will get in touch with my heart's true desire, releasing my faith for what I really can believe for. Faith comes by hearing a RHEMA word, so I will meditate, listen to the still, small voice, be original in my praying, and ultimately be honest with myself about what I really want.
5. Today I will allow my sense of expectancy to create a feeling of enthusiasm for living. I will let God inspire me, as only He can do, and will not be afraid to be intensely excited about my future. I will be eager to live out this day, and I will do it with a zeal and a fervor that will wake up my potential, and cause me to go to the next level.
6. Today I will remember that I can only have significant success with something that is an obsession, so I will give 110% to those things that are conducive to the development of my destiny, and will withdraw from those things that I don't really have a passion for. I will follow my bliss into my blessing!
7. Today I will realize that enthusiasm is an emotion, optimism is an attitude, but faith is a substance – and that I have all three things working on my behalf. Today I say, "It's all good!" and today I will live in the now!
Father, thank You for always giving me something to look forward to. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Order Your Copy Today!
by Bishop Jim Swilley
Church In The Now - CITN
ChurchInTheNow.org
Covington, Ga
"Why are you cast down, O my inner self? And why should you moan over me and be disquieted within me? Hope in God and wait EXPECTANTLY for Him, for I shall yet praise Him, Who is the help of my countenance, and my God." (Psalm 42:11 – AMP)
1. Today I will live in the now! I will live in the now because I have an attitude of expectancy that causes me to keep looking forward, no matter how many times I have experienced disappointment. I believe in the probable occurrence or appearance of something good today, because something good is due, and I have an eager anticipation for things to look up, get better, and turn out for the best!
2. Today I will create an atmosphere of expectancy by my words of life and faith, preparing to attract success to myself by my irresistible optimism. I will cultivate this attitude by using my life experiences to teach me as I practice positive responses to personal problems.
3. Today I will not walk in presumption, setting myself up for more disappointment. I will expect the best, prepare for the worst if necessary, and always look at my situation from God's perspective. No matter how things look right now, I will always have a happy ending, eventually.
4. Today I will get in touch with my heart's true desire, releasing my faith for what I really can believe for. Faith comes by hearing a RHEMA word, so I will meditate, listen to the still, small voice, be original in my praying, and ultimately be honest with myself about what I really want.
5. Today I will allow my sense of expectancy to create a feeling of enthusiasm for living. I will let God inspire me, as only He can do, and will not be afraid to be intensely excited about my future. I will be eager to live out this day, and I will do it with a zeal and a fervor that will wake up my potential, and cause me to go to the next level.
6. Today I will remember that I can only have significant success with something that is an obsession, so I will give 110% to those things that are conducive to the development of my destiny, and will withdraw from those things that I don't really have a passion for. I will follow my bliss into my blessing!
7. Today I will realize that enthusiasm is an emotion, optimism is an attitude, but faith is a substance – and that I have all three things working on my behalf. Today I say, "It's all good!" and today I will live in the now!
Father, thank You for always giving me something to look forward to. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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by Bishop Jim Swilley
Church In The Now - CITN
ChurchInTheNow.org
Covington, Ga
Coffee: The last Bull Market?
We’ve told you the statistics before: the average coffee drinker consumes 3.1 cups a day, over 50% of Americans consume coffee on a daily basis, and Americans as a whole consume 400 million cups of coffee each day (source). Put together, that’s compelling evidence for you to consider making your own place in the coffee industry – surely one of the great, recession-proof bull markets.
Recent economic news indicates that now, more than ever, coffee is the soundest investment around. Chuck Kowalski, About.com’s Commodities expert, blogged that July coffee futures have closed at the highest prices since October 2008.
“Coffee prices,” Kowalski writes, “have been on a steady upward movement since mid-March.”
(That means more profit for coffee sellers, by the way!)
Of course, the good news doesn’t extend to every sector of the coffee industry. Starbucks stores are closing (those locations account for 5% of the chains’ total number of stores), and CNN reports that expensive, luxury coffee brands are feeling the pinch.
Wait, weird. So, alright: we've got two things going on at once -- coffee futures are up, and coffee shops are closing down. How can the coffee industry possibly be growing?
As we’ve reported before, it looks like some of this coffee bull market is due to cost-conscious consumers becoming their own baristas. The U.S. News and World Report tells us that despite the 69% profit crunch Starbucks felt, coffee is on the rise because of small companies that offer brew-at-home products to consumers.
This is all great news. Let’s give a round of applause to all us coffee sellers, pat each other on the back, and head home. Yup, we did it – we’re braving this recession and turning awesome profits while others struggle to keep their businesses solvent. Too bad you can’t get in on the action, right?
Well, wait a sec. – looks like you can! CLICK HERE!
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Top Tips for Opening a Coffee House
The coffee franchise industry is very diverse. Depending on how much capital a person has to invest, a prospective business person can operate one of a wide range of coffee businesses. A coffee drive thru franchise can be owned and operated for less than a stand alone coffee house. For example Cuppy’s Coffee and More Inc. offers franchises for a Cart Unit, Mobile Unit, Kiosk Unit, Drive-up, and Full Service Unit. The initial franchise fee can vary from $2,500 for a Cart Unit up to $25,000 for the Full Service Unit. This makes it possible for someone with low capital to start up and run a successful coffee business. The estimated initial investment for a Cart Unit is between $27,700 and $56,900 which includes the purchase of the actual cart.
There are many different aspects that need to be considered and researched before opening a coffee business. They will have a great impact on how successful the store is going to be. A sound business plan, marketing and location are a few examples of the things that will need to be researched before the opening of a new store.
Being part of a franchise system lets the franchisee bypass many of the initial hurdles associated with starting a business. The franchisee is provided access to a well-known and trusted brand name, trademarks, a proven operating system, on-going support, purchasing power and extensive training programs.
Here are some of the top points that will need to be considered when opening a coffee house:
Finish Reading This Article @ FranchiseDirect
Live LONG! Live HEALTHY! Live HAPPY!
Coffee Franchise Report 2009
Following an exhaustive study of more than 29 Franchise Disclosure Documents, Franchise Direct has learned that coffee franchises are poised to profit as other business models struggle to cope with the economic downturn.
Franchise Direct recently conducted an in-depth study of the coffee franchise sector. After thoroughly examining 29 Franchise Disclosure Documents, Franchise Direct has found that the coffee franchise sector is weathering the recession resiliently, bolstered by a product that is an integral part of American life.
Despite an early dip at the beginning of the recession, this $11 billion a year industry continues to grow and diversify, according to the Franchise Direct study. With coffee consumption remaining constant in this declining economic climate, coffee franchises continue to be a worthwhile investment.
According the study, the coffee franchise industry remains extremely competitive at the top and fragmented at the bottom. Starbucks is the industry’s leading coffee chain, with over 16,000 stores worldwide. Because of the accessibility and popularity of coffee, a franchised approach, boosted by an established brand identity, continues to be one of the most profitable options to profit on this product.
One of the most reassuring reasons to invest in a coffee franchise is the enduring success of the beverage. The Franchise Direct study quotes a recent poll that shows that coffee consumption actually increased last year among the lucrative 25-to-39-year old demographic, while it remained steady amongst 40-to-59-year-old’s. As the recession continues, we can safely assume that the popularity of coffee will continue unabated.
Coffee franchises are also flexibly adapting to new American consumer habits. For instance, in recent years, there has been greater demand for environmentally-friendly products that do not exploit workers in the production process. Coffee franchises have been at the cutting edge of the Fair Trade movement, and with a range of organic goods, they are perfectly positioned to thrive on this developing $1billion industry.
The Franchise Direct study shows that location is the most important factor in a coffee franchise’s success. At the same time, mobile units or kiosks give prospective franchisees a low-overhead, high footfall alternative to the standard franchise unit arrangement.
Underpinning the recent success of coffee franchises is the growing popular consensus that coffee has a number of health benefits for drinkers. While perhaps once seen as unhealthy, coffee, as illustrated by authoritative studies conducted by researchers at Harvard and UCLA, clearly has health incentives.
People exploring franchises for sale will find that coffee franchises sell a product with broad public appeal that is seamlessly adapting to American consumer trends towards healthiness, social responsibility, and environmental sustainability.
Editor
Franchise Direct (McGarry Internet)
Franchise Direct recently conducted an in-depth study of the coffee franchise sector. After thoroughly examining 29 Franchise Disclosure Documents, Franchise Direct has found that the coffee franchise sector is weathering the recession resiliently, bolstered by a product that is an integral part of American life.
Despite an early dip at the beginning of the recession, this $11 billion a year industry continues to grow and diversify, according to the Franchise Direct study. With coffee consumption remaining constant in this declining economic climate, coffee franchises continue to be a worthwhile investment.
According the study, the coffee franchise industry remains extremely competitive at the top and fragmented at the bottom. Starbucks is the industry’s leading coffee chain, with over 16,000 stores worldwide. Because of the accessibility and popularity of coffee, a franchised approach, boosted by an established brand identity, continues to be one of the most profitable options to profit on this product.
One of the most reassuring reasons to invest in a coffee franchise is the enduring success of the beverage. The Franchise Direct study quotes a recent poll that shows that coffee consumption actually increased last year among the lucrative 25-to-39-year old demographic, while it remained steady amongst 40-to-59-year-old’s. As the recession continues, we can safely assume that the popularity of coffee will continue unabated.
Coffee franchises are also flexibly adapting to new American consumer habits. For instance, in recent years, there has been greater demand for environmentally-friendly products that do not exploit workers in the production process. Coffee franchises have been at the cutting edge of the Fair Trade movement, and with a range of organic goods, they are perfectly positioned to thrive on this developing $1billion industry.
The Franchise Direct study shows that location is the most important factor in a coffee franchise’s success. At the same time, mobile units or kiosks give prospective franchisees a low-overhead, high footfall alternative to the standard franchise unit arrangement.
Underpinning the recent success of coffee franchises is the growing popular consensus that coffee has a number of health benefits for drinkers. While perhaps once seen as unhealthy, coffee, as illustrated by authoritative studies conducted by researchers at Harvard and UCLA, clearly has health incentives.
People exploring franchises for sale will find that coffee franchises sell a product with broad public appeal that is seamlessly adapting to American consumer trends towards healthiness, social responsibility, and environmental sustainability.
Editor
Franchise Direct (McGarry Internet)
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Can Marketing And Spirituality Work In Harmony?
In this world of hard sales, pushy clerks, and media overload, it’s difficult to see how marketing can be something less than ferocious or harmful.
So for those working in the field of marketing or even for someone starting up their own business, how do you sell without selling out your customers? Well maybe there is a way, so long as you keep your customers’ needs in your intentions.
I want to introduce you to Judith Sherven, PhD and Jim Sniechowski, PhD. Here is a message from them that bridges the gap between spirituality and the fast-paced world of marketing.
by Gabrielle Lim
Judith Sherven, PhD and Jim Sniechowski, PhD
Making money on the Internet and marketing go hand in hand. But how do you create your online money without savaging your integrity? That’s the question most service providers and care-givers ask us.
And in answer to that question, there is a growing need, especially for the vast and growing number of service providers coming online, to understand selling as a spiritual service and the spiritual value of soft sell marketing.
Because in the face of so much rampant hard sell, combat-driven marketing online, that’s the only way you can be comfortable and proud selling your services, growing your business, and spreading the word about what you do – which we call “extending the prayer”. And it’s the only way you’ll be able to feel proud of the money you make doing so.
As fellow service providers, coming from our background as psychotherapists, we are deeply invested in wanting you to be successful making money on the Internet and offline as well. And when you create your own soft sell marketing mindset then you can stand proud behind your new marketing voice and your resulting online profits.
Now, no matter what you hear about marketing, even from us—remember that only you can really know the true value of what you do—and why you do it. Only you can create the specific marketing voice that comes from your heart and from your love for what you do.
And the heart of that knowing is the key to your best and most heart-felt marketing voice.
So:
Use Your Heart…
Use Your Love…
Use Your Soft Sell Marketing Voice…
To speak to your prospective customers so they can recognize that they are at home with you.
And when you do you extend the value, the deep spiritual prayer of what you do further out into the world! Because you will have found your own online money making marketing voice!
To build your success by expanding how you think about selling and marketing, be sure to get our new book The Heart of Marketing—Love Your Customers and They Will Love You Back (Morgan James Publishing, May 2009) and take advantage of their Amazon Book Launch sponsor Gifts still available when you go to http://TheHeartOfMarketing.com
Live LONG! Live Healthy! Live HAPPY!
Happiness Is Your Birthright, You Have To Reach Out And Claim It!
Imagine this: You wake up in the morning with your blood singing at the thought of being who you are and doing what you do. As you go through the day you come radiantly alive with a deep sense of purpose. There are many times when you feel like sinking to your knees in involuntary gratitude at the tremendous good fortune that has been bestowed on you. You know that you are doing exactly what you were set on earth to do and each day is joyous beyond measure.
Does this describe your situation? If it does not, can you clearly see that you are getting closer to it each week, each month, each year?
If your answer is “No”, I humbly suggest that you are wasting your life. And life is far too short to be wasted.
Are you happy?
We tend to use the word “happy” cavalierly and it has become debased. We are prone to say that trivial things make us “happy” – our favourite ice-cream or chocolate, a promotion, going on a vacation, getting a day off from work, winning at bridge, your mother-in-law deciding not to drop by after all.
I am not talking about a momentary rush of good feeling that we experience on such occasions. I am talking about a profound sense of well being that is with us all the time. A deep knowledge that our life is on track and cannot deviate.
This does not mean that we do not face challenges, some of them quite serious. It does mean that even as we do what we must we are still conscious that, fundamentally, we are fine and always will be. We cannot but be so.
So, defined this way, are you happy? If not, why not?
Unsettlement is the norm
I teach a deeply introspective course called Creativity and Personal Mastery at top business schools around the world and programs based on it to executives at well known companies. I have also been a contributing editor for major business magazines and have talked to thousands of persons, including many CEOs, about their inner lives. So I can make the statements I do with some confidence.
The vast majority of persons are not happy. Even those who seem to have it all – great career success, financial prosperity, picture perfect spouse and accomplished children, sterling reputation – are not happy. They are not brimming with joy. Anxiety is a frequent and unwelcome guest in their lives. There is always an undercurrent of stress and it overwhelms them all too often.
Many of the persons – perhaps most of them! – who attend my programs live in a world dominated by a giant to-do list and it fills up relentlessly no matter how many items they scratch out. There is a constant undercurrent of low-level anxiety, of a feeling that there is always too much to do and not enough time to do it.
Does this, perchance describe your situation too? It does not have to! You CAN escape into the realm described earlier and live there much of the time if not always.
What do you have to get to be happy?
That is a good question. What do you need to get to be happy? Say, like Aladdin, you were granted three wishes. What would you ask for and would it make you happy? Most persons have a wish list and vast wealth, trophy spouse, good health, close friends, stimulating job, lots of leisure, bright children etc figure in it along with stuff like fame, power and a body like Adonis (or Aphrodite.)
If you have such a list, throw it out. What I have to say may startle you.
There is NOTHING that you have to get, do or be in order to be happy.
I repeat, NOTHING. In fact, happiness is your innate nature. It is hard-wired into your being. It is part of your DNA. It is ALWAYS with you.
And the question that has probably popped up in your mind is, “If happiness is my innate nature, how come I am not experiencing it? How come I am experiencing ‘My life sucks’?”
And my answer will startle you even more. You do not experience the happiness that is your innate nature because YOU HAVE SPENT YOUR ENTIRE LIFE LEARNING TO BE UNHAPPY.
Alas, ‘tis true, ‘tis all too true!
It is absolutely true that we have spent our entire lives learning to be unhappy. And we have done it unconsciously and unknowingly. The way in which we do this is by accepting that we have to “get” something so we can “do” something so we can “be” something. Thus we feel that we have to get a lot of money so we can travel to exotic places so we can be happy. Or we have to get into a relationship with a beautiful partner so we can have great sex so we can be happy.
These are all modifications of the “if-then” model and this model tells us that “if” this happens, “then” I will be happy. And I have heard thousands of variations if this. I will be happy if…I get a high-paying job…I become CEO…I get married to a beautiful and loving spouse… my son gets into Harvard… my husband would show some interest in me and the house…my wife would not start nagging me the instant I turn on the game…I had children…my children would grow up and go to college…my in-laws moved to Australia…I lost twenty pounds…I didn’t have this nagging headache all the time…I got ten million dollars…and more and more and more.
Look at all the persons around you and in your life. The only way in which you are different is the particular “if” you are craving. Look backwards at your own life. You may have changed physically but the principal difference between you now and what you were ten years ago is the particular items that appear in your “if-then” list.
This is really important, so don’t rush on. Think of your life as it is right now, as you would describe it in your journal or to a close friend. It is an excellent idea to actually write it down and read it after a few days. You will notice that – explicitly or implicitly – you have a wish list in the document. “If” only this would happen, you will be happy. Or happier.
Think of the person you were ten years ago and what life was like then. Visualize it as clearly as you can. You had a wish list back in those days as well. Chances are good that many of the items in that long-ago list are now a regular part of your life. In programs I conduct, on average, about 80% of the participants acknowledge that they have received many of the items that they wanted a decade earlier. Despite this, their sense of well-being has not increased.
Quite a few are shocked to realize this. They wonder why.
The model itself is flawed
What we don’t realize is that the “if” I get this, “then” I will be happy model is fundamentally flawed. The model itself is fallacious. But, instead of recognizing this, we simply change the items we load on the “if” side of the equation.
I met a start-up entrepreneur who dreamed of cracking a million dollars in annual revenue. Five years later he was convinced that $100 million is the mark that separates the men from the boys and something magical would happen when he crossed that line. He is now chasing $1 billion and not far from it.
Don’t laugh. Variations of this are all around you and especially in your own life. Teenagers are ecstatic at the thought of getting their own set of wheels and a beat-up, 15 year old Dodge Dart is welcome. Two decades later it takes a new Lexus to get that same feeling and this one does not last either. What’s next? A Ferrari? Or a Ferrari AND a Rolls Royce? That won’t do it either. Nor will a hundred foot yacht or your own island off the coast of Greece.
Remember what I pointed out earlier. There is NOTHING that you have to get, do or be in order to be happy. The really pernicious effect of the “If…then” model is that it is supremely effective in preventing us from experiencing the happiness that is an inextricable part of us. The more we believe in that model and try to manipulate it to become happy, the more happiness eludes us.
That is how we learn to be unhappy and most of us never catch on that this is what we are unconsciously doing.
You have experienced freedom!
Have you ever come across a scene of such spectacular beauty that it took you outside of yourself into a place of profound serenity? A place of peace and healing calm?
Perhaps a brilliant rainbow after a sharp shower? Perhaps a snow-capped peak thrusting out of wispy clouds? Perhaps the rolling ocean with big waves crashing in a hypnotic metronome against pink, sandstone cliffs? Perhaps a jagged lightning flash in the midst of a storm of awesome, majestic power? Perhaps the aurora twisting in the sky changing colour and shape continuously in a never-ending dance?
You can recall such an occasion. Virtually everyone can. Have you ever wondered why you experienced what you did? It was not the place or the scene. The travel industry grows rich off persons who return to places of magical moments hoping to recapture them.
No! What happened was this: Somehow, inexplicably, at that instant, you accepted the world exactly as it was and you were OK with it. You did not think. “That is a great rainbow but it’s off to one side. If I could move it two hundred yards to the right it would be more symmetric and ever so much better.” Or, “That’s a beautiful valley but the tree in the foreground has too many crooked branches. If I had a chainsaw and twenty minutes I could make it more impressive.”
Such thoughts never crossed your mind! The off centre rainbow was perfect in its skewed position. The crooked branches of the tree had their own charm and were, likewise, perfect in their gnarled presence.
When you accepted the scene exactly as it was, when you did not crave for it to be something else or different in some way, your habitual ‘wanting’ self dropped away.
And, instantly, the happiness that is your inherent nature surfaced and you experienced its fullness. You did not have to do anything. It rose of its own accord and you felt it. And you know you felt it because you still remember this after all the years that have passed.
Your life is perfect!
Your life right now, with all of the trials and tribulations that you face, with all of the problems that weigh you down and cause you sleepless nights, is perfect. It is every bit as perfect as the scene you can recollect. And the only reason you do not experience that same well-being is that you do not accept this. You are busy rejecting one or more aspects of your life and striving with might and main to change it using the “if…then” model. And that model itself is flawed.
No wonder you don’t experience the joy, the sheer happiness that is your essential nature!
Does this mean that you stop striving? That you don’t try to achieve goals? That you don’t try with might and main to improve your lot or build your business or accomplish great things?
Of course not! You do all those things and with every fibre of your being. But you do it from the knowledge that whether or not you succeed has no iota of bearing on your essential wellbeing. If my entrepreneur friend achieves a billion dollars in sales, Great, Life is wonderful. If he does not, Great, Life is still wonderful.
The moment you sever that link in the “If…then” statement, the model drops dead. If it happens, fine. If it does not, still fine. And you discover that life is a blast and every day is full of wondrous surprises and all of life is a joyous journey of discovery.
And here is something strange, a wondrous paradox that many have discovered. When you drop your insistence that something happen in exactly the way you want it to, the chances of your getting what you desire increase greatly.
A learnable skill
Is it possible sever the link in the “if…then” model? To accept life exactly as it presents itself even while striving to achieve a vision? To live a life of great joy and fulfilment where each day brings many moments of radiant aliveness?
Absolutely it is. It is a skill. No different from learning to ride a bicycle.
by Srikumar S. Rao
Live Long! Live Healthy! Live Happy!
Does this describe your situation? If it does not, can you clearly see that you are getting closer to it each week, each month, each year?
If your answer is “No”, I humbly suggest that you are wasting your life. And life is far too short to be wasted.
Are you happy?
We tend to use the word “happy” cavalierly and it has become debased. We are prone to say that trivial things make us “happy” – our favourite ice-cream or chocolate, a promotion, going on a vacation, getting a day off from work, winning at bridge, your mother-in-law deciding not to drop by after all.
I am not talking about a momentary rush of good feeling that we experience on such occasions. I am talking about a profound sense of well being that is with us all the time. A deep knowledge that our life is on track and cannot deviate.
This does not mean that we do not face challenges, some of them quite serious. It does mean that even as we do what we must we are still conscious that, fundamentally, we are fine and always will be. We cannot but be so.
So, defined this way, are you happy? If not, why not?
Unsettlement is the norm
I teach a deeply introspective course called Creativity and Personal Mastery at top business schools around the world and programs based on it to executives at well known companies. I have also been a contributing editor for major business magazines and have talked to thousands of persons, including many CEOs, about their inner lives. So I can make the statements I do with some confidence.
The vast majority of persons are not happy. Even those who seem to have it all – great career success, financial prosperity, picture perfect spouse and accomplished children, sterling reputation – are not happy. They are not brimming with joy. Anxiety is a frequent and unwelcome guest in their lives. There is always an undercurrent of stress and it overwhelms them all too often.
Many of the persons – perhaps most of them! – who attend my programs live in a world dominated by a giant to-do list and it fills up relentlessly no matter how many items they scratch out. There is a constant undercurrent of low-level anxiety, of a feeling that there is always too much to do and not enough time to do it.
Does this, perchance describe your situation too? It does not have to! You CAN escape into the realm described earlier and live there much of the time if not always.
What do you have to get to be happy?
That is a good question. What do you need to get to be happy? Say, like Aladdin, you were granted three wishes. What would you ask for and would it make you happy? Most persons have a wish list and vast wealth, trophy spouse, good health, close friends, stimulating job, lots of leisure, bright children etc figure in it along with stuff like fame, power and a body like Adonis (or Aphrodite.)
If you have such a list, throw it out. What I have to say may startle you.
There is NOTHING that you have to get, do or be in order to be happy.
I repeat, NOTHING. In fact, happiness is your innate nature. It is hard-wired into your being. It is part of your DNA. It is ALWAYS with you.
And the question that has probably popped up in your mind is, “If happiness is my innate nature, how come I am not experiencing it? How come I am experiencing ‘My life sucks’?”
And my answer will startle you even more. You do not experience the happiness that is your innate nature because YOU HAVE SPENT YOUR ENTIRE LIFE LEARNING TO BE UNHAPPY.
Alas, ‘tis true, ‘tis all too true!
It is absolutely true that we have spent our entire lives learning to be unhappy. And we have done it unconsciously and unknowingly. The way in which we do this is by accepting that we have to “get” something so we can “do” something so we can “be” something. Thus we feel that we have to get a lot of money so we can travel to exotic places so we can be happy. Or we have to get into a relationship with a beautiful partner so we can have great sex so we can be happy.
These are all modifications of the “if-then” model and this model tells us that “if” this happens, “then” I will be happy. And I have heard thousands of variations if this. I will be happy if…I get a high-paying job…I become CEO…I get married to a beautiful and loving spouse… my son gets into Harvard… my husband would show some interest in me and the house…my wife would not start nagging me the instant I turn on the game…I had children…my children would grow up and go to college…my in-laws moved to Australia…I lost twenty pounds…I didn’t have this nagging headache all the time…I got ten million dollars…and more and more and more.
Look at all the persons around you and in your life. The only way in which you are different is the particular “if” you are craving. Look backwards at your own life. You may have changed physically but the principal difference between you now and what you were ten years ago is the particular items that appear in your “if-then” list.
This is really important, so don’t rush on. Think of your life as it is right now, as you would describe it in your journal or to a close friend. It is an excellent idea to actually write it down and read it after a few days. You will notice that – explicitly or implicitly – you have a wish list in the document. “If” only this would happen, you will be happy. Or happier.
Think of the person you were ten years ago and what life was like then. Visualize it as clearly as you can. You had a wish list back in those days as well. Chances are good that many of the items in that long-ago list are now a regular part of your life. In programs I conduct, on average, about 80% of the participants acknowledge that they have received many of the items that they wanted a decade earlier. Despite this, their sense of well-being has not increased.
Quite a few are shocked to realize this. They wonder why.
The model itself is flawed
What we don’t realize is that the “if” I get this, “then” I will be happy model is fundamentally flawed. The model itself is fallacious. But, instead of recognizing this, we simply change the items we load on the “if” side of the equation.
I met a start-up entrepreneur who dreamed of cracking a million dollars in annual revenue. Five years later he was convinced that $100 million is the mark that separates the men from the boys and something magical would happen when he crossed that line. He is now chasing $1 billion and not far from it.
Don’t laugh. Variations of this are all around you and especially in your own life. Teenagers are ecstatic at the thought of getting their own set of wheels and a beat-up, 15 year old Dodge Dart is welcome. Two decades later it takes a new Lexus to get that same feeling and this one does not last either. What’s next? A Ferrari? Or a Ferrari AND a Rolls Royce? That won’t do it either. Nor will a hundred foot yacht or your own island off the coast of Greece.
Remember what I pointed out earlier. There is NOTHING that you have to get, do or be in order to be happy. The really pernicious effect of the “If…then” model is that it is supremely effective in preventing us from experiencing the happiness that is an inextricable part of us. The more we believe in that model and try to manipulate it to become happy, the more happiness eludes us.
That is how we learn to be unhappy and most of us never catch on that this is what we are unconsciously doing.
You have experienced freedom!
Have you ever come across a scene of such spectacular beauty that it took you outside of yourself into a place of profound serenity? A place of peace and healing calm?
Perhaps a brilliant rainbow after a sharp shower? Perhaps a snow-capped peak thrusting out of wispy clouds? Perhaps the rolling ocean with big waves crashing in a hypnotic metronome against pink, sandstone cliffs? Perhaps a jagged lightning flash in the midst of a storm of awesome, majestic power? Perhaps the aurora twisting in the sky changing colour and shape continuously in a never-ending dance?
You can recall such an occasion. Virtually everyone can. Have you ever wondered why you experienced what you did? It was not the place or the scene. The travel industry grows rich off persons who return to places of magical moments hoping to recapture them.
No! What happened was this: Somehow, inexplicably, at that instant, you accepted the world exactly as it was and you were OK with it. You did not think. “That is a great rainbow but it’s off to one side. If I could move it two hundred yards to the right it would be more symmetric and ever so much better.” Or, “That’s a beautiful valley but the tree in the foreground has too many crooked branches. If I had a chainsaw and twenty minutes I could make it more impressive.”
Such thoughts never crossed your mind! The off centre rainbow was perfect in its skewed position. The crooked branches of the tree had their own charm and were, likewise, perfect in their gnarled presence.
When you accepted the scene exactly as it was, when you did not crave for it to be something else or different in some way, your habitual ‘wanting’ self dropped away.
And, instantly, the happiness that is your inherent nature surfaced and you experienced its fullness. You did not have to do anything. It rose of its own accord and you felt it. And you know you felt it because you still remember this after all the years that have passed.
Your life is perfect!
Your life right now, with all of the trials and tribulations that you face, with all of the problems that weigh you down and cause you sleepless nights, is perfect. It is every bit as perfect as the scene you can recollect. And the only reason you do not experience that same well-being is that you do not accept this. You are busy rejecting one or more aspects of your life and striving with might and main to change it using the “if…then” model. And that model itself is flawed.
No wonder you don’t experience the joy, the sheer happiness that is your essential nature!
Does this mean that you stop striving? That you don’t try to achieve goals? That you don’t try with might and main to improve your lot or build your business or accomplish great things?
Of course not! You do all those things and with every fibre of your being. But you do it from the knowledge that whether or not you succeed has no iota of bearing on your essential wellbeing. If my entrepreneur friend achieves a billion dollars in sales, Great, Life is wonderful. If he does not, Great, Life is still wonderful.
The moment you sever that link in the “If…then” statement, the model drops dead. If it happens, fine. If it does not, still fine. And you discover that life is a blast and every day is full of wondrous surprises and all of life is a joyous journey of discovery.
And here is something strange, a wondrous paradox that many have discovered. When you drop your insistence that something happen in exactly the way you want it to, the chances of your getting what you desire increase greatly.
A learnable skill
Is it possible sever the link in the “if…then” model? To accept life exactly as it presents itself even while striving to achieve a vision? To live a life of great joy and fulfilment where each day brings many moments of radiant aliveness?
Absolutely it is. It is a skill. No different from learning to ride a bicycle.
by Srikumar S. Rao
Live Long! Live Healthy! Live Happy!
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