Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Recognize your need

The most often asked question these days is “how can I look better and feel better?”
Begin today

Asking yourself that question is a good start. The right beginning is when you acknowledge this need. To start your quest properly, you have to proceed with conviction.
Body right

A woman, 70 pounds overweight and looking helpless, asked me for advice. I gave her the easiest suggestion.

Seeing she was about to devour a hamburger, I gently removed the top of the bun. Reducing your carbohydrate intake is the easiest, most painless diet of all.

Cutting carbo intake by half and consuming high-fiber foods can trim you down gradually and easily. This, plus regular exercise, will guarantee a trimmer waistline in weeks.

See your nutritionist for a low-calorie meal plan.Fasting to lose weight is also a good cleansing habit. Eat no solids from sunrise to sunset.

Simply take liquids like water, coconut water, vegetable juices. Break your fast with a raw vegetable salad using olive oil/virgin coco oil and lemon.

Have a ready snack handy like fresh fruits and nuts.

Heart full of soul
Here is an exercise from Dr. Gary Zukav’s “The Heart of the Soul.” Opening your heart releases bitterness and anger. The result is healing.

Open your heart’s door
Think of a time in your life when you felt love from someone—your mother, child, grandchild, significant other. Remember that moment. Recall the feelings.

If you feel any chest pain, this means your heart is closed. Go ahead, experience the pain. Breathe deeply, then keep the loving memory alive until the pain goes away.

When the energy of regret leaves you, it also moves out of your chest. Then, all that remains is a loving, healing memory.

Remember, emotional pain can be physically damaging. If you refuse to look inside emotionally, your physical heart can also be damaged from within. This is because all emotions are physical.
Aromatherapy & medicine

An exasperated woman in her 30’s approached Shirley Ruiz of Cyberwalker Enterprises at her booth in the recent Beauty & Fitness Fair at the World Trade Center.

Sick and tired of popping tranquilizers to cure her depression, she appealed to Shirley for a natural solution to her persistent problem.

A potion called “Uplift” made of essential oils and applied on the pulse and temples was given to her. Within minutes, she felt relief.

A man in his 60s, wanting to get a good night’s sleep, was desperately looking for a safe way to end his sleepless nights. He was given “Deep Sleep” to rub on pulse points at bedtime.

Feeling triumphant and like a new man, he said he had not slept better in his life. He fell asleep within 15 minutes of applying the essential oils.

Aromatherapy has been around for ages. It is used by many practitioners of natural medicine.

Some popular oils are: tea tree for skin blemishes, rashes, irritations (athlete’s foot/sores); lavender—relaxes/soothes tired body and mind, eases blood pressure; peppermint—eases digestive problems, soothes headaches/migraine; rose—balances the nervous system, fights depression, regulates hormones.

From the pristine corner of Australia’s Southwest, where winter rains have been filtered by subterranean limestone in the Yarragadee aquifer for 30,000 years, come the main ingredients for Moonhaven essences and essential oils. It is now available in Manila, offering natural medicine. Call 8024503 or 0920-9523252

Affirm

“My body is one with my soul.”

Love and light!

http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/lifestyle/lifestyle/view_article.php?article_id=97577

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

The vanity checklist

Contrary to general belief, vanity is good.

In the realm of wellness, vanity has a broader, more expansive definition. It means caring enough about yourself to look after your body, mind and spirit better.

To work on yourself, you have to start with you. And it is all about love.

Love is…

A line from a song says, “Love isn’t love till you give it away.” How true.

Question is, how can you give love away if there is not enough love inside you to give away? In short, love yourself―better and better each day.

And when you have reached that level of satisfaction and confidence to say “I have so much of me to share with others,” then you are ready to give love away.

But until then, let us practice self-love by going through this checklist. See where you are and how much more you have to do to fulfill your commitment to yourself.

Know that…

1. You are the master of your own body. No matter what your doctor, gym trainer, husband/wife, boss/officemate tells you, you have to take responsibility for your own health. There is nobody else to blame for your success/failure except yourself. Understood?

2. Your body is mortal. In time, it can and will weaken and age. Abuse, neglect and ignorance can speed up the aging process.

3. It is never too late. A wellness lifestyle can successfully delay the aging process and, in many cases, reverse it to make you look 10 years younger.

4. Stress is a major cause of illness. Do not disregard its damaging effects on the nervous system and the immune system.

5. You have a choice whether or not to succumb to temptation―physically, emotionally and spiritually. Example: overeating/bingeing, being angry and bitter, thinking ill of others, entertaining self-defeating and destructive thoughts.

Vanity class 101

Daily:

1. Wake up with a sense of adventure and conquest. Affirm to yourself: “Today is my victory.”

2. Drink two glasses of clean, purified water upon waking.

3. Take two tablespoons of virgin coconut oil on an empty stomach.

4. Take a brisk 30-minute walk daily. Use sun protection.

5. Have a hearty breakfast. Swear off oily/fried foods for your first meal of the day.

Note: Do not skip breakfast if you have a heavy agenda for the morning. You will need all the energy that nutritious food can give you. Try a platter of fruits: kiwi, banana, papaya, watermelon. Drink fresh vegetable juice (carrot/sugar beets, coconut water/romaine lettuce, bitter gourd/papaya)/coconut/cucumber). Make your own combination.

Snack on healthy food items: dried fruits, nuts, fresh fruit (apple, guava).

6. Make sure lunch and dinner consist of vegetables/salad for starters and a moderate amount of carbohydrate and protein. Never have a meal without a generous serving of vegetables. This is a rule.

7. Never leave the house without a smile on your face and never go home without that same smile.

8. Whistle a tune when a negative thought enters your head. Or, resurrect a happy time in your life when you feel down.

9. Pray/meditate by embracing your silence 10 minutes, twice daily.

Weekly:

1. Enroll in a gym. At least three times a week do your routine. Make it a combination of cardiovascular exercises and weight-training. You do not just want to lose weight―you want to have definition, right?

2. Have a relaxing massage.

3. Scrub down your body to polish it up.

Beauty polish

Get an old towel―the roughest you can find. Soak it in oil (virgin coco oil, olive oil, soya, etc.). Then rub it as hard as you can all over your body until all the grime peels off.

4. Have an organic coffee enema or a lemon flush.

Coffee Enema

One full serving spoon-size (or two tablespoons of organic coffee, barako/Batangas coffee is OK)

One pint of water

Boil coffee for 7-10 minutes.

Strain. Allow it to cool down.

Hold in an enema for 10-15 minutes, allowing 1/3 of the pint to enter your body each time.

Lemon Flush

Squeeze one whole lemon in a pint of warm water. Apply also in 1/3 portions each time. Great for people coming down with a cold/cough. After the session, take two capsules of acidophilous (live bacteria, available in health food stores and drugstores).

5. Make time for God. Go to Mass/prayer and worship.

Monthly

1. See your dermatologist for regular facials, hairdresser for hot oil treatment.

2. Go out of town or embrace the great outdoors. It is good to get out of the city.

3. Take a vacation from cell phones. You will find yourself less tied to sending text messages or
answering calls.

4. Do visit a charitable institution and make a generous donation to a worthy cause.

Yearly

1. Go on an extended vacation with family and loved ones.

2. Try not to give gifts to friends this Christmas. Instead, donate to a favorite charity and tell your friends you made a donation in their names.

3. Have an executive check up. Have a dental checkup every six months.

4. Forgive anyone who has wronged you or let you down so that you can live your life with a lighter heart.

Golden Rule: Give yourself a second and third look in the mirror before you leave the house and say to yourself “I am looking good.”

Love and light!

Philippine College of Alternative Medicine Seminar “Stop Smoking in 10 Days,” Oct. 25, Manila Polo Club; 0917-5306468


Tuesday, October 09, 2007

Q & A on the bitter, the sweet and the smooth

Of course, the truth can set you free. But more than that, it can also make you healthier and sexier.

Most often asked questions by men and women on the street take center stage now. So, maybe the answer to that question that has been nagging you for years is here.

Q: Is virgin coconut oil (VCO) fattening? If so, will it clog my arteries?

Perhaps you have tried nearly every possible diet. If none has worked for you, maybe it is time you gave the humble coconut a chance.

In her book “The Coconut Diet,” Cherie Calbom proclaims the wonders of a coconut diet that largely uses coconut oil for cooking and preparing meals.

My own personal experience involved drinking up to four tablespoons of VCO on an empty stomach before breakfast, combined with a low carbohydrate diet.

Over the next 3-6 months, it may prove to be the best weight loss food regimen you can adopt. Add an active fitness lifestyle (exercise three times a week) and you will never gain a pound or add inches to your waistline.

Dr. Vermen Verallo, noted dermatologist who was written extensively on VCO, is a great admirer of this wondrous oil as skin moisturizer when used in moderate amounts.

Dr. Conrado Dayrit, considered the Father of VCO for championing and promoting its health benefits, swears by its efficacy. “It doesn’t clog the arteries. Instead, VCO is absorbed by the body within 20 minutes and converted into energy almost instantly. In short, it does not turn into fat because it is made up of MCTs—medium chain triglycerides.”

To do

Use coconut oil for cooking. It is the healthy choice and its smoking point is exceptional, allowing it to reach high temperature levels in cooking without turning toxic. It has a higher heat tolerance level than olive oil.

Q: How does VCO help burn fat?

It is called thermogenesis, the rate at which the human body burns fuel for energy. MCTs have a unique ability to increase the rate at which your own body burns fat for fuel. Therefore, it revs up the engine within you—your metabolism.

A tip

Want to detoxify and lose weight? Try eating coconuts for a day. Have salads using VCO and lemon. If you do this once a week for one month you will notice weight loss and a brighter complexion.

Q: Is it true the more bitter the food, the healthier?

In a sense, yes. In earlier medical practice, “bitters” were given to patients to increase appetite and stimulate circulation. Today, this belief holds true.

The Philippines abounds in ampalaya (bitter gourd), hailed as a diabetic’s natural medicine. The bitter taste of this fruit/vegetable/herb comes from momordicin. Using the dried leaves, fruits and seeds of ampalaya can help prevent or control types 1 and 2 diabetes when combined with a healthy lifestyle.

To lower blood sugar safely, you may consider adding ampalaya to your diet. Eating it fresh may also give you its many benefits such as stimulation of insulin release, renewal of cells, increased glucose uptake (the absorption of substance) in muscles, increased bowel movement, improvement of psoriasis/infertility and stronger resistance to infection.

Note: Consult you doctor if you are pregnant or have liver disease or are hypersensitive to cantaloupe/melon. Since preventive care is what we should adopt, if you have a history of diabetes in the family, consider making ampalaya a regular supplement.

Those who have the following symptoms should take a closer look at their health condition: frequent thirst and urination, sugar cravings, mood swings, constipation, fatigue.

A good friend, Louie Chincuanco, who was 35 pounds overweight, feverishly researched on the best way to lose weight while addressing his body aches/pains/fatigue.
His own miracle juice follows:

Wonder Juice

½ ampalaya, green bell pepper, cucumber
1-3 stalks celery
1 small tooth garlic
½ red apple
Blender all (remove skins of apple, pepper and cucumber).
Drink on an empty stomach (preferably twice a day). If you have a health challenge, take three times daily.

Suggestion: Complement this regimen with two cups of apple cider vinegar tea (2 teaspoons vinegar and a cup of warm water) twice daily to speed up your cleansing regimen.

Louie has not gotten sick for 11 years now and has lost his excess weight. For free handouts call 7111156 to 58 or visit www.wellnesscare.bravehost.com

Q: What is an effective home-made body scrub for glowing skin?

Cory’s Concoction

½ ampalaya (de-seeded)—place in blender till smooth
3 tbsp sugar, ½ coconut water, ½ lemon (juiced), 2 tbsp VCO
Mix all ingredients. Scrub your body from the neck down. Shower immediately. Rub VCO after shower.

Affirming joy

Repeat as often as you can today:

“Heaven’s door opens. And God laughs with me.”

Love and light!

“Forever Young,” the Filipino version, is available at National Bookstore/Powerbooks. Christmas orders accepted.

http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/lifestyle/lifestyle/view_article.php?article_id=93288



Tuesday, October 02, 2007

What pains you?

It is a race. And it becomes complicated with the passage of time.

Human history is the best example of this race. While life was lived simply before, with progress and technology the human condition has become more complex.

The word “urgency” was introduced -- the need to do things faster, to get to where we want to go sooner. And so, as humans rush to work, to meet deadlines, to reach targets, life has become for everyone literally a human race.

Painfully late
If you wake up in the middle of the night with chest pains, you will be rushed to the hospital. If you find yourself spacing out in the middle of the skyway while driving, it is time to see your therapist. If a persistent pain radiating from your spine compromises your mobility, it is time to visit your chiropractor.

But why wait to feel pain before you seek medical help? Let us try to understand some of the pains of the body and the mind today.

In layman’s terms, if you feel pain, your brain is sending signals that there is some part of your body that needs attention. If you ignore it, you are not interested in your health. Lacking time only means your health is low in your priority list.

In his book “In Fitness and in Health,” Dr. Philip Maffetone describes disease as simply an imbalance in the body, more specifically “a gross imbalance of normal body function ... the end result of dysfunction expressed by signs and symptoms of something in the body that has gone wrong.”

Would it be considered suicidal to ignore a body signal like pain? You know the answer to that. Ignore the signal, ignore your health.

Build your pyramid

Maffetone said the universal pyramid of food groups was just a guide. You can build your own depending on your lifestyle needs.

He recommends, in this order, water as the base of the pyramid (this you should take more often), vegetables (5-6 servings, cooked/raw, daily), complex carbohydrates, proteins and healthy fats, refined carbo (breads, rolls, sweets, refined flour).

Pain watch
Anti-inflammatory foods should be high on your list such as sardines, mackerel kale, mustard greens, spinach, ampalaya (bitter gourd)), any green leafy vegetables, sprouts (bean, alfalfa, radish).

Make it a point to have a salad a day. This is a great start.

Migraine, headaches

Before taking that aspirin, drink two to three glasses of purified water and wait. You may just be dehydrated. See your doctor if pain persists. Try making it a habit to drink calming teas -- chamomile, St. John’s Wort, peppermint.

Backaches. Check your posture. Chances are you have been abusing your spine. Drink plenty of water (your kidney might be dehydrated).

Gout/arthritis. Being overweight can be a problem. Try to lose weight. Have a healthy meal plan. Do moderate exercise. Walk for better health. Try medication that will not cause side effects, like Celadrin Glucosamine Complex (Healthy Options).

Menstrual pain. Try to relax. Sip a cup of hot ginger tea for its antispasmodic effects. Raise your feet. Try a warm bath with lavender oil. Place a heating pad on your lower back and abdomen. Take an herbal supplement like evening primrose. Increase your B vitamin, zinc, calcium intake through nutritious foods such as seafood, eggs, veggies.

Muscle cramps/strain. Overworked muscles deserve a good stretch. Space your routine to every other day. Bad posture can cause muscles to stiffen. So be conscious of the way you sit or stand. Increase your magnesium, calcium and potassium intake. You may have mineral depletion.

Natural health

Studies have shown that when you are in pain, worrying about it can cause greater stress and inevitably increase the pain.

“Taking a pain killer,” Dr. Martin Camara of Intercare says, “will only cover up the pain and not its root cause.”’

Try these instead:
• Relaxation therapy like yoga• Mind therapy classes that teach meditation• Chiropractic care (at Intercare, tel. 8903378-79), massage, manipulation, ultrasound and acupuncture can alleviate chronic pain)

Heartache

The best cures for a broken heart are:
1. A serving of dark chocolates. Seriously, it boosts your serotonin levels thus producing relaxation. A glass of red wine (shiraz, merlot, margaux...)

2. Exercise like dancing, swimming, running, jogging, body-combat classes, brisk-walking. It releases endorphins, your feel-good hormones.

3. Laughter. It has the same relaxing effect. Watch funny movies.4. Company of loving friends5. Prayer and praise music

As tenor George Yang, chair of McDonalds Philippines, says: “Sing a happy tune to drive the blues away.”

Affirm with a song from the musical “Annie”:
“When I’m stuck with a day that’s gray and lonely, I just stick out my chin and grin and say, ‘Tomorrow, tomorrow, I love you tomorrow, you’re only a day away.’”

Love and light!

http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/lifestyle/lifestyle/view_article.php?article_id=91943