Cory Quirino's Inside Out

How sweet can you get?

2008-01-21T17:34:00.000-08:00

This is the age of convenience, one that offers humankind an easy way, a faster way, a more time-efficient manner of living.

And one major component of living is food.

Easy food

Fast, as against slow, or quick food is cooked to meet the time demands of people in a hurry. Enzymes that would otherwise be preserved if food is prepared in low heat, are killed due to high cooking temperatures.

As a result, when a person relies mainly on processed, overcooked food, a low nutrition diet becomes his/her regular regimen. Over a period of time, a high-fat, high-sugar diet will result in obesity and high blood sugar levels.

Sugar = wrinkles

Sugar is vital to cell life and health but sugar in the body that is called glucose can become poison to the cells.

A person’s skin condition is affected by sugar, which attaches to the proteins of collagen. This results in stiffness and inflexibility leading to wrinkles. So to protect the skin, the intake of sugar has to be reduced.

To do

1. Replace white bread with high-fiber wheat or multi-grain bread.
2. Remove all potato chips in your cupboard. However, if you have the habit of munching on chips, choose the high-fiber variety. Also, do not eat chips on an empty stomach. This will send your sugar levels soaring. Instead, eat them only after you have had a snack or a meal.
3. Snack on items that are nutritious—nuts and fruits.
4. If you have a supply of carbonated drinks, have an equal supply of fruit juices and soy milk.
5. Add a new supplement to your daily menu—the antioxidant alpha-lipoic acid. It helps to keep vitamin C, E and glutathione longer inside the body thus providing the skin cells more protection.
If you also want to detoxify the system, especially the liver, consider metathione, a whitening pill if taken twice a day but is a detox pill if taken only once daily (available in Watsons & Mercury Drug).
Alpha-lipoic acid has more staying power than other antioxidants. Adding this to your supplement list is a wise choice. More than a health pill, it can also make your skin look younger.
6. Eat fish and more fish. It is lean and whatever fat it contains is omega 3. If you learn to eat more fish each day, you will find yourself losing weight gradually.
7. Reduce the carbohydrates. They add up to your sugar intake so go easy. Take a cup of ampalaya tea after meal time, especially after eating dessert.

Fatigue-buster

Did you know that maintaining a low insulin level guarantees you an energetic body? It also is a great fatigue fighter.

People on see-saw diets—over-eating then starving—will suffer from high-low sugar levels wreaking havoc on the body.

Keep your sugar level steady. If you are hungry, eat. But eat slowly.

You will find that your ability to concentrate will also improve. And you get a bonus—high levels of serotonin in your brain that will give you a sense of well-being.

Sweet nothings

Sweet nothings are made up of sweet things you do for yourself when you feel you are about to be in a foul or depressed mood.

Try to:

1. Keep your cool. Being in a sweet mood guarantees good health. Losing your temper will only quicken your breathing and make your heart race.
2. Keep a little love in your heart. It will make you smile not only at others but also at yourself.

Affirm: “My life is as sweet as my expectations.”

Love and light!

Reference: “The Wrinkle Cure” by Dr. Nicholas Perricone

Source: http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/lifestyle/lifestyle/view/20080121-113864/How-sweet-can-you-get

Time to clean out & clear out

2008-01-15T17:32:00.000-08:00

A random survey of people’s habits found that most refused to surrender them for a healthier lifestyle.

So why beat yourself up repeatedly for your inability to achieve your personal health and beauty goals if you are not willing to compromise or pay the price?

Odds in your favor

The physical body is designed to survive practically impossible odds. Pregnant women in the ghettos during World War II carried their babies to full term despite near dehydration and starvation.

Avalanche victims trapped in snow overcame the harsh environment despite frost bites, while some crash and accident victims miraculously survived even though badly bruised.

There are many stories of people who overcome. The conditions mentioned were not of their own making but they had no choice but to face the odds.

The basic difference between an average person and one trapped in an unforeseen circumstance is the exercise of freedom. The average person has it. You have it. So, if victims can survive, why can’t you, unless you are willing to gamble away your freedom.

Choose right

The challenge here is clear—whether to make the right or the wrong choices.

Moralists will say there is always a right or wrong choice, given a situation. So, let us ask ourselves the question: what stand will you take when it comes to your health and wellness. Do you take steps today or simply fall into the pit of helplessness?

Housekeeping tips

Steps to prepare your personal landscape:

1. Take a good look at yourself. See yourself in your ideal you—what you would like to be. Then get to work.

2. Now, make a strong sweeping assessment of your habitat. Your home—room, living space, kitchen—should reflect this new image. Is there anything that is out of synch? Example: You want to lose 10 pounds but your bedside table is full of junk foods. Obviously, this needs fixing. So, start cleaning out the mess or removing the temptation.

Next, your refrigerator should be purged of the following: leftovers from last Christmas like fruitcake, pastries and chocolates. Why are you hoarding them? Give them away now. The spirit of giving lives on in you, so it is a good excuse to gift a neighbor or office mate.

3. If birds of the same feather flock together and you would like to start over in a healthier way, make new friends who are like-minded. They make the best support group. They will see you to the completion of your wellness goals.

In fact, when choosing a mate, find someone who does not smoke, drink, or do drugs. He/she will make a great ally, friend and gym buddy.

4. Think light. If your bedroom/home is full of clutter (papers, boxes, files, outdated clothes, etc.) how can you breathe? Begin decongesting your physical living space. A clean and orderly environment has a direct connection to your own mental and emotional clarity. Donate your old clothes and shoes to charity.

5. Remove the cobwebs from your mind and heart—the fears (whether real or imagined), obsessions, hurts, worries. Stressing over the present and the future is counter productive to your well-being. Learn to trust God and yourself more.

Inner cleansing

Make it a habit to take two capsules of acidophilous (live nature bacteria) on an empty stomach to assure you of healthy flora in your intestines. This will improve your digestion. Note: A diet rich in fat and sweets can disrupt the normal balance in your gut.

Want a smaller waistline and flatter tummy? Have only vegetable juice and fruits for breakfast, plus a small serving of oatmeal or high fiber cereal.

Light as air

Being light on your feet is easy once you have embraced a wellness regimen. And the feeling is lighter when you fill your heart with love and faith.

Love and light!

Source: http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/lifestyle/lifestyle/view/20080115-112364/Time-to-clean-out--clear-out

Be good to yourself

2008-01-07T17:30:00.000-08:00

It is not about second chances, attempts at redemption or to ease a guilty conscience.

Abuse, neglect and ignorance may not justify your lamentations.

If you find yourself unattractive, unappealing and unhealthy, these are valid reasons to embark on a makeover mission.
The start of a new year should signal your own renewal.

Crush not crash

Instead of being dismayed upon stepping onto a weight scale, be challenged. Think and say to yourself, “It is only a number.”

Crush your defeatist attitude. Allowing yourself to panic only triggers your own defeat. Of course, the last thing you should do is to go on a crash diet. This will only guarantee one thing—whatever weight you lose will definitely come back with a vengeance.

Studies have shown that people on diets experience depression. Therefore, do not starve yourself. Pace yourself instead. And use your common sense.

Detox not destroy

It is fairly easy to self-destruct. Simply give in to all your physical and emotional cravings without limits. In short, eat all you can and allow yourself to be swept away by your unchecked feelings.

This way, the word extreme will rule your life. Once accomplished, you will find yourself overweight, overburdened and over-exhausted.

Detoxify now. And the promise of a higher and more energetic body is yours.

Detox to-do:

1. List down your cravings. These may include chocolates, pastries, peanuts, ice cream, wine/spirits, high-fat foods, etc.

Know your weaknesses. This way, you will be on guard each time you are faced with your temptations.

2. Do not deny yourself a craving. Instead, take a little piece or small amount. By tasting something you will not feel totally deprived.

3. Stop eating when you feel full. Sins against the belly begin when you have burped once. And if you are the type that does not burp following the feeling of fullness, your waistline will expand and a feeling of tightness is inevitable.

4. Do not prolong the gaps between meals. Waiting too long to eat will only rob you of much-needed vitamins and minerals. If you wait too long to eat, there is a chance that your blood sugar levels will be affected and, in fact, may even fail to return to its normal level. This will immediately cause fatigue and depression.

5. If you intend to fast, make sure you are fully hydrated with water and vegetable juices every 30 minutes. Fasting will cleanse your gut and colon.

Make sure when you end your fast that it is quickly followed by two tablespoons of virgin coco oil or two tablespoons extra virgin olive oil or a combination of both.

6. Try a lemon or organic coffee enema.

Lemon rinse

One lemon, juiced. Mix into one pint of warm, purified water. Use as an enema. Hold in the liquid for ten minutes. Then release. Take two capsules of acidophilous (bacteria) to replace the ones lost during the enema (great for colds, cough).

Coffee cleanse

One heaping tablespoon of organic coffee (Baraco, Batangas variety, is good), boiled for 10 minutes in one pint of purified water. Introduce into your colon in three installments. Hold in for 15 minutes (if possible), then release.

You will instantly feel light and able to breathe better (if you have sinusitis problems).

7. Think of colors—red, pink, orange, green, gold, silver, etc. Make this your emotional guide for the day—red, passion/love; pink, affection; blue, calm; green, healing; orange, energy; gold/silver, prosperity.
Adopt a color and watch your outlook change.

New year, new you

The possibility of a new you is within your reach but only if you have the determination to claim it—inside and out.

Love and light!

Source: http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/lifestyle/lifestyle/view/20080107-110930/Be-good-to-yourself

Grateful for everyone who has touched my life

2007-12-31T17:27:00.000-08:00

The goodness of God is manifested in all of creation.

Witnessing a magical sunrise and a majestic sunset give us many reasons why we should bless each day for being able to behold them.

We should be grateful for being alive and well and able to celebrate each moment as passionately and lovingly as the spirit moves us.

Each new day is a gift of life, so we should be thankful for new mornings, a gift of time borrowed to continue living, not just to make meaning of our own life but, more especially, to give meaning to others’.

For this day, I am grateful.

Every person is a work of near-perfection and everyone in our life, whether parent or sibling, husband, wife or beloved, teacher, friend or foe, has a pre-ordained purpose in our existence.

I question not who they are or were to me. They each contributed a feeling, memory or experience that brought me closer to my authentic self, that part of me that is stripped of ego and values only truth, honesty, justice and love.

For their presence that brought happiness and laughter, courage, stability and enlightenment... yes, even challenges and pain, I say thank you.

Grateful for being Pinoy

For the earth I walk on, this country I call home, which is the only one I have...

While the promise of a more exciting and sophisticated lifestyle in a foreign country may seem inviting, I am glad I am a Filipino, proud to be one.

There is no other home for me. Thanks are in order for this land brimming with beauty and warmth, music and culture, history and color. Rising above the Filipino ways that sometimes go to the extremes of politicking, pettiness and envy, Filipinos are still kind, generous and forgiving. So, thank you Philippines.

To celebrate life is not possible with a body plagued with illness, a spirit darkened by evil or a heart burdened with bitterness. Therefore, I value good health, a body responsive to a wellness lifestyle. I nurture a heart that is sustained by unconditional loving and that feeds an inquisitive mind open to the limitlessness of learning and transcendence.

Finally, I am grateful for you who are reading the musings of this soul in search of meaning. Through you, my thoughts and dreams may take root. As Deepak Chopra, MD, says in his book “Ageless Body Timeless Mind,” “From a seed is the promise of a forest.”

I know that if I am able to plant one seed in one heart today, then I will have a veritable forest of wellness in you.

It is said that gratitude should lie in the heart of all for peace to reign. A grateful heart never grows old but gets wiser. It unfolds like the thousand-petalled lotus with the passage of time.

Finally, thanks are in order for the miracles that occur after practicing the art of saying “Thank you, God.”

Truth is, for every thank you spoken, a miracle awaits.

Source: http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/lifestyle/lifestyle/view/20071231-109697/Grateful-for-everyone-who-has-touched-my-life

Saving grace

2007-12-24T17:13:00.000-08:00

it is time to rescue yourself from the onslaught of daily living.

Staying informed is paramount to staying ahead. Saving elements in your life that are part and parcel of who you are complete you in ways you cannot even imagine.

Perhaps you are guilty of ignorance, negligence or apathy. But fear not, here is a rescue list. So let’s get started on your mission to save yourself.

Energy-robbers

Actually, the more accurate term is energy vampires. These are real people that surround us and have the uncanny ability to steal our energy.

Example: You get regular phone calls from a friend who never stops complaining about the same thing or situation. Almost instinctively, s/he calls you, unloading all the hurts and pains accumulated over a lifetime.

Your boss’ irritable/angry nature can also get you down.

Or it may be someone you see every day, exposing you to his/her never-has-nothing-nice-to-say-about-anybody character? All these negatives take away energy from you.

Energy-saving tip: Distance yourself from people and/or situations that are negative. If this cannot be avoided, lessen your exposure immediately.

Or you can turn the situation around by simply saying, “Would your life change if you adopted a more positive attitude?”

Experts in natural health claim that if a negative person touches you, the negativity can transfer to you. The result? A feeling of debilitation or exhaustion.

Sure-shot energy boosters are daily moderate exercise, 6-8 hours of sleep and a balanced diet.

Skin savers

Who says we have to age like our parents? Modern anti-aging approaches are here, so rejoice. But, before anything else, consider the view that to look good on the outside, you have to take care of the inside.

The antioxidant army is here to keep your skin and complexion young and supple. Consider these basics as part of your daily regimen:

Vitamin A - 5,000 IUs
Vitamin E - 400 IUs
Vitamin C - 1,000 mg, 2X daily
Grape seed extract - 1 tablet
Co-enzyme Q10 - 30mg
Alpha-lipoic acid - 50 mg

Note: If your protein intake is low (protein is essential to proper heart functioning), then take COQ10.

Another valuable tip is to stay away from the sun unless you are wearing a sunblock (SPF-30, minimum). When you notice that you have fine lines, wrinkles, sun-damaged and sagging skin due to loss of firmness, it is time to increase your Vitamin C supplements.

There are many forms of Vitamin C—ascorbic acid, sodium ascorbate and ester-C. Always take this antioxidant after a full meal.

Remember that, while animals can produce their own Vitamin C, humans cannot. Therefore, it is important that you include this as part of your vitamin regimen. Vitamin C boosts the immune system, is essential to the health of the nervous system and provides energy to the body.

Heart lift

That is right. Your heart needs a lift. Basic to your health is a physical heart that is cared for and an emotional heart that is nurtured.

Here is how to give your heart a lift. The mineral supplement magnesium and the antioxidant co-enzyme Q10 are two musts on your heart checklist.

Next, exercise via power walking daily for 30-45 minutes. Stay calm. Studies have shown that people with bad tempers and are constantly irritable put a heavy stress on the heart.

Practice the art of slow breathing anywhere you are and any chance you get. Whenever you feel the burden of stress bearing down on you, do this:

Calming affirmation and visualization:

Listen to relaxing music or just embrace your silence. Sometimes, tuning in to nature sounds (birds chirping, water running, etc.) can easily put you in a state of calm.

Repeat to yourself, “I am centered, focused and grounded. Nothing and no one can shake me.”

Now imagine you are a mighty and graceful narra tree. Your roots firmly settled in the Earth.

Love and light!

Reference: “The Wrinkle Cure” by Nicholas Perricone, MD

http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/lifestyle/lifestyle/view/20071224-108671/Saving-grace

Take charge of your health

2007-12-17T17:24:00.000-08:00

It is time for us all to exercise better control of our wellness. Here are a few nuggets of information to guide us.

Individual needs

When the food pyramid was designed to give people an idea of what good nutrition is, the advice was rather innovative―design your own.
Each person has different requirements depending on his/her lifestyle. Example: A stay-at-home mom would have her own unique needs different from that of an athlete, just as a student’s requirements will not be like a corporate executive’s.

Most people eat too little of the right kind of foods and too much of the wrong kind. While you may be at a loss about what to eat or drink, always remember anything that is overcooked has less nutrients. On the other hand, if it is green, leafy and raw, then it is packed with goodness.

People on the go are often guilty of the following:

1. Drinking less water.
2. Eating too much fatty foods.
3. Snacking on junk.
4. Skipping meals.
5. Overloading on sweets.

No-nonsense

If you are experiencing chronic fatigue, headaches, emotional ups and downs, these are signs that clearly point to a lifestyle not supportive of health.
Why not make no-nonsense part of your daily vocabulary? Each time you succumb to the temptation of excess, mentally insert the term into your subconscious and conscious mind. Your internal programming will then command your external reality.

Why wait?

Disease is defined as a gross imbalance of one’s normal body functions. The result of the imbalance will be expressed in symptoms. It is a sign that something has gone and is going wrong.

But is there a pre-disease stage? The answer is yes. Through a simple blood test one can already read the signs. Example: Heart disease begins many years before its onset. But why wait to get sick?

Here are a few preventive tips:

1. Be choosy with your food. Insist on your own food preference. Do not just eat what is in front of you.
2. Crash diets are out. Carbohydrates, animal fats, sugar, alcohol in moderation are best.
3. Just move it. Exercise is paramount in health management.

Tasty treats

While a low-fat diet is popularly followed by the health-conscious, there is some good news. Fat makes food tasty. Thus, people on low-fat diets may find their food tasteless.

Fat is good in that it can satisfy physical hunger. Without fat, the brain continues to send signals to the body―“you’re not full, therefore, eat more.” Balance your fat. You can indulge without overeating.

Shine

You shine with a whole variety of vegetable juices. Instead of carbonated drink, try to get into the habit of requesting for vegetable juice.

Power scrub

Mix ½ tbsp of virgin coco oil and ½ tbsp extra-virgin olive oil. Mix with 1 tbsp of pulverized raw rice grains. Rub gently all over your body (except eye area). Massage the oils into your skin. Leave on for five minutes. Your skin will become smooth as satin.

Affirm serenity

Inner peace begins with you. “I am serene now and forever.”

Source: http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/lifestyle/lifestyle/view/20071217-107392/Take-charge-of-your-health

Take charge of your health

2007-12-11T22:49:00.000-08:00

A new era is upon us. It puts you on center stage in caring for your own health.

There was a time when people would not take an active role in a plan to keep themselves healthy, leaving all the major decisions to their physicians.

The day of taking charge has arrived. And you are in control.

Change is good

Because a new season of change is upon you, there are changes to be made. Taking charge means the following:

1. Be clear about your health goals.

Do you want to have a stronger body, prolong and sustain your energy levels, boost your resilience against stress, or just simply refuse to catch a cold every three months? Whatever your goal is, assess, decide and act.

2. Seek advice/guidance from experts―your physician/nutritionist/gym trainer. Sometimes even your pastor/parish priest or best friend may have a recommendation or two.

3. No matter what the occasion, you should not be deterred or derailed from your goal.

4. Give yourself a workable timetable, something that is not an impossible dream, one that will not stress you out.

5. Listen to your body language. If your body talks to you in ways you cannot ignore, listen. Pretending that your symptoms will go away by ignoring them will not eliminate them. In fact, the next time around they will become more serious.

Human performance

In a casual, random survey, people were asked what they really wanted from their bodies. The answer was unanimous from the men―to be in tip-top performance level. Women, on the other hand, said they wished for strength and beauty.

Philip Maffetone, in “In Fitness and in Health,” said when health and fitness were balanced, the result was optimal human performance.

You do not have to win an Olympic gold medal to be fit and healthy. You just need to perform well in all aspects of life―personal, family, work and social.

So let us define the terms clearly:

Fitness―to perform a physical activity well
Health―the optimal balance of all the body systems, muscular, skeletal, nervous, digestive, lymphatic, hormonal, mental, emotional, and other systems

Dr. Maffetone does simple math: fitness + health = human performance.

Limitless energy

Your body requires energy to fulfill its physical needs. So we have to feed it energy. Nourish your body with the basic food requirements: carbohydrates (bread, pasta, fruits, rice), fats (oil, butter, cheese eggs), proteins (meat, fish, poultry).

If balance is the key, then eating moderate amounts from the different food groups mentioned should give you what you need.

Good nutrition also means good hydration―10-12 glasses of water daily, and vegetables. With these, you can only do the right thing.

Finally, balance includes enough time for work and play. When work takes the bulk of your time, sooner or later your health will suffer―both mentally and physically.

People who are naturally driven will not give importance to this. They are so focused on their work/money ambition to the detriment of their health.

But it is never too late to make adjustments. More on this next week.

Meanwhile, your affirmation today is: “Today I take charge of me.”

Love and light!

http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/lifestyle/lifestyle/view_article.php?article_id=106104

Glow this Christmas

2007-12-04T00:49:00.000-08:00

Unlock your true potential today. Release the radiant you that lies within.

Begin by adopting a new way of living. Its foundation should be a new way of seeing.

A second look
People habitually look at themselves in the mirror. It cannot be helped. If there is a mirror, you instinctively look.

The first time you look, the tendency is to simply check out the physical appearance—hair in place, necktie straight, makeup not over done, clothes well-pressed, etc.

When the first look is done and after going through a whole how-do-I-look checklist, you make a general sweep, right?

What if the second look has more depth, more intent than just looking at the physical?

Studies show that external changes only happen when you make internal changes. You have to do some internal housekeeping if you want the façade of your house to look good.

Keeping house

Weight loss, trimmed waistline, better complexion, etc. are all wonderful side effects of a healthy lifestyle.

Among the steps you can take to achieve these include inner cleansing, exercise, nutritious eating regimen, vitamin-mineral supplementation and a positive loving attitude.

Habits that are in direct conflict with your new health plan should be addressed.

If you have cravings you cannot seem to ignore, the objects of these cravings may need replacing, removing or managing.

They may be chocolates/sugar, salt, fatty meats, snack items like popcorn, chips and chicharon and other munchies, creamy/cheesy foods or alcohol.

Moderation is good. Bingeing is bad.

To-do list

Eat less of everything except vegetables. The answer is not starvation or deprivation but moderation. You will soon feel the effects of cutting back on quantities because quality is what you will get.

Start an exercise program. Brisk walking, spinning/biking or dancing, take your pick. But start today.

Change your “there’s always tomorrow attitude” to “there’s only today.” And, with this, you are well on your way.

Replace the old with the new. By adopting a philosophy of newness, you will soon erase the old you, including old lifestyles, old views, old fears, old problems.

Think young. When you see yourself as someone young, your outlook will become young as well.
Never more will you say to yourself “I’m too old for that.” Deepak Chopra, M.D., repeatedly says in “Ageless Body Timeless Mind” that your mind’s paradigm shifts once you say you will be young always. The attitude directly affects your body’s mechanism, making it operate as it once did in your youth. So, think young to become young.

Go light

Here is a nutritious meal plan guaranteed to keep the waistline trim, according to Michael Perricone, M.D., in “The Wrinkle Cure.”

Breakfast: two scrambled egg whites, 2-oz serving non-instant oatmeal, fresh strawberries
Lunch: 4-oz fish, fresh green salad with tomatoes, red bell pepper, onions, olive oil dressing, grilled salmon

Dinner: broiled chicken, fresh brocolli/cabbage, garbanzos beans

Snack: low-fat cottage cheese, one apple

Avoid if you can, for now, white rice/flour, pancakes, popcorn, potatoes (especially French fries), corn, peas and carrots as they elevate the blood pressure.

If you cannot avoid these, combine with complex carbohydrates like squash, green beans, eggplant, cauliflower and fruits such as apples, honeydew melon, berries (strawberries, blueberry, raspberry), kiwi.

Other meats you can have are turkey, chicken, lean beef/ham/pork.

For fish, alternates are tuna, salmon, snapper (lapu-lapu), cod, etc.

When in doubt, use olive oil or rice bran oil. Studies have shown that coconut oil and virgin coco oil have health benefits.

Holiday scrub

Use one capsule or tablet of Vitamin C, one capsule of Vitamin E and mix with freshly mashed apples (red or green). Rub throughout your body and face, avoiding the eye area.

Affirm: “I deserve the best therefore, I claim a new me.”

Love and light!

http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/lifestyle/lifestyle/view_article.php?article_id=104631

Junking the habit

2007-11-27T00:43:00.000-08:00

Steps to clear out and clean out promise only one gift—liberation. But to achieve this, you have to decide today to quit all habits that feed your dependency.

Addictions
It is true that people define their own way of living, their lifestyle revolving around their desires and dreams. Often, the stuff that makes life exciting can be addictive as reflected in the expression “if it isn’t sinful then it’s fattening.”

Here is a random list of popular addictions:

Love
Whether you are in a loving relationship, a marriage, a divorce/separation, an argument or a breakup, it is best to stop in the middle of your tracks and say: “It is all about me and where I want to be.”

In the need and search for love, there are certain tendencies—some aggressive, others self-destructive. At this point, it becomes a habit worth breaking.

If any situation/person is toxic to you, it is time to act. The question is how long do you intend to take your poison. Before making any move, try this exercise to know where your heart is.

Heart meditation
Sit quietly in the early morning. Close your eyes. Focus your breathing and attention to the middle of your chest. Find your spiritual heart directly behind your ribcage, in the center of your heart.

Do not listen to your heart beat, simply feel. Find that space where the heart is. Soon you will be aware of peace when you let your breath go into your heart center.

Now visualize soft pastel lights. If you sit and listen, your heart will release emotions you have long kept imprisoned—fears, wishes, feelings, memories.

It is okay if you fall asleep. Just go back to your meditation. Soon you will achieve purification. You have listened to your heart without judgment.

Sweets
A craving for sweets is not bad, but when you make it a daily habit to finish a whole box of chocolates or a plateful of pastries, then your craving has reached addictive levels.Though you may not have diabetes yet, you probably are already a borderline diabetic.

Managing your sweet tooth is possible if, you can:

Substitute a fruit for candy bar, delay the sugar craving when it hits, snack on something healthy before going for the cream puff, eat sweets only during the day, eat in the company of friends and not alone.

Why? Studies show that if you sugar binge alone, especially when you are depressed, you will exceed your limits.

Alcohol and more
The usual combination during celebrations is the explosive duo of alcohol and cigarettes. Any lung or cancer specialist will advise you to drop both habits.

Alcohol is a mood drink. It alters the chemical makeup of the brain and allows you to feel relaxed/exhilarated. But the feeling is temporary. When the mood passes, there is a need to drink more or to raise the happiness level.

To do: Drink moderately. Have a full meal while drinking. It is best to drink with others, not alone. Drinking alone will only entice you to finish the bottle. Do not drink when sad unless you can limit yourself to just two drinks. Instead, be with people that can make you laugh.

Cigarette smoking, while accepted socially, has been found to pose health hazards. If you are intent on quitting, try this:

Change your friends if you want to change your habits. Peer pressure will keep you from quitting bad habits unless you all decide to stay clean. This also applies to drug-related habits.
Without the will to change, bad habits are hard to give up, according to Pfizer that conducted decades of research on the challenge of quitting smoking. Did you know that there are 4,000 chemicals in a cigarette? Some have been linked to cancer.

Within 20 minutes of quitting your heart rate normalizes. And within 12 hours, carbon monoxide levels in your body will drop to normal.

Quitting may be easier for others. Some have the power to go cold turkey. Others will require help. With Champix Varenicline Tartrate, there is about an 80-percent chance you could quit the habit.

The oral medication, that needs a doctor’s prescription, works on the brain to block an addiction. Though it produces such side effects as nausea and sleeplessness, it remains one of the most promising medications for cigarette smokers eager and willing to quit.

So if you were told you could have a healthier body within 12 weeks, would you not let yourself be converted?

Conversion = liberation

When you transcend your self-imposed limitations, you are literally granting yourself permission to convert to a new way of loving and living. Once you have conversion, then you can fly. Then and only then will you earn your wings.

Love and light!
Celebrate life with Cory Quirino, Nov. 30, at Megamall. Free admission.

http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/lifestyle/lifestyle/view_article.php?article_id=103263

Staying sane and sexy

2007-11-20T20:17:00.000-08:00

MANILA, Philippines—In this crazy world, the pace of living has become hectic. As a result, not only life, but also our sanity, spins out of our reach.

Managing madness

Believe it or not, this world is not what it appears to be. At first glance, life may seem to be static, stationery. But a closer look at subatomic space reveals a new reality—atoms seem to move randomly but there is order in this randomness.

Awareness of this truth can be liberating. If we follow this thinking, it is OK to be a little crazy. Question is, how far will you allow madness to rule your life?

If you feel that craziness has overtaken you, it is time to take control.

Welcome change

The daily grind of living can rob you of spontaneity. So try something different today. You could reinvent yourself, remodel your surroundings or simply change the color of your hair or your outlook.

Remember, life is about perception. If you see dark, dreary colors, then that is how you will paint your life. And that is exactly what you will attract.

Be comfortable with silence. Surrounding yourself with music/sounds, noise and the chatter of people may at first be appealing and fun. But nothing compares to the eloquence of silence.

Close your eyes. Be still. Shut out the noise. Breathe slowly, deliberately. Journey towards the waters of calm. There is a lake of placid stillness inside every heart. Find it and connect with the source of calm—God.

Grant yourself permission to be happy. A major stumbling block in achieving your goal is reluctance on your part.

Start now. Say to yourself, “Life’s blessings are mine because I deserve them. Not yesterday, not tomorrow but today.”

Change your inner clock by living your life “now.” Do not be anxious about tomorrow or regret the past. Let today be a glorious celebration.
Start by thanking the sun for rising, the stars for shining, the birds for chirping in St. Francis of Assisi style.

Take ownership. Instead of saying “I will be happy, healthy, wealthy” or whatever you wish, declare instead “I am happiness, health, wealth.” Assume your aspirations are reality in you.

Watching the waistline

Sure, it is challenging to fit into your favorite 10-year-old pair of jeans. But it is not impossible. To turn it into a possibility:

1. Eat everything you want but in small amounts. Studies show that restricting your calorie intake to five to eight small meals a day will lead to weight management and eventually weight less.
Also, do not eat close to bedtime. The additional calories will not be burned by your body.
2. Bulk up by adding more fiber to your meals. Increase vegetables/fruits intake. Or add fiber food supplements to your juice like coco opsylium.
3. Practice the law of balance. Declare no-sugar days. This allows you to have your sweets in a regulated regimen. Example: If you feel you overdid desserts today, then tomorrow take no sweets.
4. Raise your glass to toast life, but it should be a healthy beverage. If you begin your day with freshly made vegetable/fruit juice, your energy levels are boosted beyond measure. This is also a sure way to lose weight.
5. Burn whatever calories you can so keep moving. Remember it is better to run, dance, jog, climb/walk, stand rather than just sit and lie around.

6. Time management is vital. Reserve at least 30 minutes to one hour a day for any form of physical activity—even if it is just house cleaning, moving furniture, gardening, walking the dog or walking up the office building’s stairwell. Any activity is better than none.
7. Choose a favorite wall at home or office to do your push-ups and a chair to do your arm pushups.

Reward yourself

You are special, therefore consider yourself a very important person. Lift yourself up and let no one oppress, depress, repress you. You are not a victim but a victor.

So, today, reward yourself by doing something special for yourself. Buy yourself a gift, sing a favorite tune or simply soak in a bath with milk and rose petals, salt and coconut oil, beer and honey, orange peel.

Life is cause for celebration so stay sane and sexy.

Love and light!

http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/lifestyle/lifestyle/view_article.php?article_id=101941

Wellness begins today

2007-11-13T04:31:00.000-08:00

Repeat after me:

“Beginning today, I will pay more attention to my well-being.”

Almost 100 percent of the time, if you will recite this mantra, subtle changes will begin to happen to you in body, mind, heart and spirit.

Who’s making you sick?

It is easy to point an accusing finger at that luscious cheesecake or your uninspiring gym trainer or your workload in the office.

But, truth is, everything―and that means your time, effort or dedication―are all under your own control.

Points to ponder

1. Each time you postpone a trip to the gym or put off your exercise, you are allowing your body to slow down and age faster.

2. Every day you delay your workout, your metabolism slows down.

3. Every extra serving of gravy or cream or dessert you take adds inches to your waistline. So do not be surprised if you cannot zip up your favorite pair of jeans.

4. Mornings that begin with a complaint only attract more situations for you to complain about. This is a truth you must respect as gospel.

5. Skipping meals will only wreak havoc on your blood sugar. One of the secrets to good health is a steady blood sugar level.

6. Adding more and more processed food to your meal means more chemicals pumped into your bloodstream.

7. A heavy heart weighed down by hatred can only have room for more hatred―not peace of heart. What occupies your heart becomes its regular fare. It is what your heart feeds on.

8. The grab-what-you-can approach to eating is called the fast-food mentality. With no idea about what is good for your body, you simply eat what is available or within easy reach.

9. Talking nonsense to yourself is counter-productive. Replaying in your mind traumatic experiences in your life will only depress you further and cause you to be ill. In fact, talking about pain and grievances will create a huge ball of energy around you―one that is destructive.

Inspire yourself

1. If you think you are less than what you believe you can be, think again. People with a poor self-image cause their own miseries. Sure, not everyone can boast of a perfect childhood. But you are not a child anymore. So, get over it and start living.

2. Seek therapy if necessary.

3. If your self-confidence is low, enroll in a personality development course. Talk to your parish priest or pastor for guidance. Consult a parent or big brother/sister, or best friend for support.

4. Ask a nutritionist to design a health plan for you.

5. Go to a bookstore and spend the day reading self-help books.

6. Learn to laugh. When you lighten up, your world becomes brighter.

7. Make it a habit to take multivitamins after your heaviest meals. They will help keep you feeling better.

8. Learn to march to a mission of your own―a personal mission to rebuild your health, renew your heart and revise your spirit. All you need is to say to yourself: “I can and I will.”

Love and light!

http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/lifestyle/lifestyle/view_article.php?article_id=100497

Laxatives for body, mind and spirit

2007-11-06T01:48:00.000-08:00

Do you think you need to release all the junk from within by taking a laxative?

Truth is, you may be addicted to taking laxatives as a means of ridding your body of waste buildup. But more than just the body, how about removing all the toxins from your own mind and spirit? That’s also buildup of the highest order.

Relieve yourself

If you desperately seek out a laxative once a week for months, there is something wrong with your body/diet/lifestyle. This means that you are not OK. It will not harm your health to make some changes of the natural kind.

Body Flush―There are eight things you must do every day in order to prevent constipation:

• Drink 8-10 glasses of water in addition to your 3-4 glasses of beverages a day. Note that caffeine (coffee/tea), alcohol do not count because they actually cause you to lose water, being natural diuretics.
•Exercise regularly. Try 30 minutes of brisk walking daily or engage in some form of aerobic exercise. This assists food in moving through your body.
• Follow your urge―“If you gotta go, you gotta go.” Don’t hold it back or ignore it when you feel the urge. Ignoring the signals will harden your stools.

• Schedule yourself. Make it a habit to visit the toilet 20 minutes after meals in order to train yourself. Don’t worry. And don’t strain. After some time, your bowels will be trained.
• Use a foot rest in the bathroom. This is a practical tip or a neat trick. Stepping on a small stool can help you relax.
• Ask your doctor―Have a chat with him to see if there are any medications you are taking that may cause constipation like antihistamines, antidepressants, antacids, diuretics, anti-Parkinson-ism drugs. Find alternatives/substitutes.
• Eat high-fiber foods―oatmeal, barley, breakfast cereals, beans, berries, dates, pears, sweet potatoes.
• Drink prune juice before breakfast and/or 2 tablespoons of virgin coco oil.

Unloading the other half

Cleansing the other significant half of you, your mind and spirit may not be as easy as drinking a glass of water, but it will definitely ease the aches and pains of your thoughts and feelings. You have to develop an internal sonar. That’s right.

Sonar focus

When you are in a group of powerful negative emotion, like anger―stop what you are doing and what you are saying and what you are thinking. Focus your attention on what you are feeling.

Easier said than done? But it works. When you start feeling, you will immediately channel the full force of your anger into your consciousness. Choose not to act on an angry impulse. Remember that beneath all anger is pain. According to Dr. Gary Zukav (“The Heart of the Soul”) “anger is an anesthetic.” It is less painful than its actual root cause. In other words, angry people are people in pain. Because most people are afraid to face their own issues (hurts, bitterness, etc.), they naturally strike outward by shouting and doing destructive/cruel things.

• Write yourself a letter as though you were advising your own child. Honest feelings will naturally flow from you in order to release negative feelings.
•Use a punching bag or take up boxing. The physical act of hitting an inanimate object (rather than a person) can be very healing. Release your frustrations now.
•Pray and meditate. When you invoke the power of God, miracles can happen. Be secure in your own stillness. Silence is a friend.
•Forgive someone who has wronged you but, best of all, forgive yourself.

Bathe in beauty not in bitterness

Prepare a hot, relaxing bath. Mix with rose oil aromatherapy. Throw in white rose petals. Because white symbolizes cleansing, you must cover yourself in the purity of your own goodness while affirming “I bathe in beauty and the light.”

Love and light!

Reference: Inner Cleansing Cures

http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/lifestyle/lifestyle/view_article.php?article_id=99015

Recognize your need

2007-10-30T02:32:00.000-07:00

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

The vanity checklist

2007-10-23T07:52:00.000-07:00

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

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

2007-10-09T14:52:00.000-07:00

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

What pains you?

2007-10-02T07:07:00.000-07:00

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

Get a grip

2007-09-25T01:35:00.000-07:00

When you are doing nothing, feeling nothing, finding yourself at your wit’s end, and snapping at anyone or anything that comes your way, it is time to get a grip on yourself.

Be aware
Stress can come from pressure (internal and external), fear, guilt, anxiety, etc. Most people believe they are operating normally, acting out their life as though stress is an ordinary part of it.

But living on stress regularly, if unmanaged, can sooner or later take its heavy toll on your health and eventually compromise your lifestyle. So, if you want to know where you are, take this simple test.

Your self-discovery must take into account the stress level under which you operate. Look inside yourself. Consider the following stress-inducing situations to assess your stress levels.
1. Are you feeling inadequate at work?2. Are you feeling inadequate in your love life?3. Do you compare yourself unfavorably with your peers?4. Are you dissatisfied with your marriage?5. Are you having cash flow problems?6. Are you in danger of losing your job?7. Are you feeling bored?8. Are you desperately afraid of something?9. Have you made a promise you cannot fulfill?10. Do you feel stuck in a stress cycle?

Dissect the causes of stress in your life and you will come to recognize your level of stress tolerance. Different people have different levels of tolerance.

The causes of all stress can be grouped into three:
1. People in your work, or none.2. External life-changing events.3. Lifestyle-related issues that cause you to be psychologically pressured.

Take charge

Coping with pressure may not be easy but it can be done.

Here are six sure ways:
1. Try to slow down. Whatever your pace, slow things down a notch or two. If you operate on fifth gear, then take it down to third gear. This you can do by promising yourself—not your doctor, husband/wife or children, but yourself.2. Try to calm your mind. Practice slow breathing.3. List down all the positives in your life. Do not dwell on the negatives.4. Stop telling yourself you are superman or superwoman. Everyone has a limit. In short, do not make yourself the dumping ground of everyone’s problem. You cannot solve it for them. At least, not all the time.5. Take a class in yoga.6. Create powerful affirmations in your life.

Affirm
To affirm means to say “yes” to life. So grant yourself permission now. Do not hold yourself back.

Instead, say to yourself the following:
“I am loved, respected, wealthy, successful, happy, joyful, fulfilled, centered, sexy, healthy…”

Relax now
1. Close your eyes. Squint them tightly. Release. Open your eyes. Inhale.2. Open your mouth wide. Then form an O. Say, “oh.” Say “ah.” Exhale.3. Place your palms flat against the wall. As hard as you can, push. Release your inner pain/pressure. Then take your arms off the wall.4. Lie on your back. Hug a pillow.5. Form a fetal position. Visualize yourself in your mother’s womb. Remember how loved you were then.6. Stretch your arms as wide as you can as though hugging a giant tree. Then say: “I am ready to embrace life now.”

Love and light!

http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/entertainment/entertainment/view_article.php?article_id=90477

Get moving or else...

2007-09-11T00:33:00.001-07:00

You have heard this saying too often: “If you don’t use it, you’ll lose it.”

This goes for every single aspect of who you are and what you are. In short, if you do not want to move or make a move in your life you will stagnate.

Getting stuck

Bad habits die hard, many claim. But this is only because there is a lack of motivation in one’s life.
So, if your lifestyle contributes to your ever worsening health and well-being, wouldn’t the thought of illness be motivation enough?

Get moving or else

One of the integral support groups of our immune system is the lymph network. The human body has 400-700 lymph nodes, of which 70 percent are deep in the abdominal area. The rest are found in the neck.

Lymph nodes, ranging in size from a pin head to an olive, act like filters, purifying and screening fluids that run through our entire body, ridding them of bacteria, viruses and other impurities before they are reabsorbed by the body and returned to the blood stream.

The lymph system does not have any means to travel through the body. The only way to get it going is by moving the body, through muscular contractions beneath the skin. Therefore, the message is clear: “Get moving or get sick.”

Take the case of edema, or swelling of parts of the body. When this occurs, it is because there is too much water drawn by proteins into the system.

This only means that your lymph system is slow and needs to be drained.

Flush it out

Enter lymphatic drainage therapy. In 1936, Dr. Emil Vodder, who introduced manual lymph drainage through the use of physical manipulation, pressure, body contact and skin stretching, staged “Paris, a Health and Beauty Exhibition.”

He demonstrated the benefits of his approach in improving a person’s health. The idea was to empty the lymph capillaries so that new and fresh fluid could replace what was stale and old.

The benefits of lymphatic drainage through massage therapy include: detoxification of the body; pain and swelling reduction; relief of allergy, sinus/respiratory problems and migraine; prevention of breast and prostate ailments; glowing/radiant skin; reduction of wrinkles and cellulite; and improvement of uneven skin.

Simple remedies

Things you can do in a relaxed manner that will not impose on your regular regimen:

1. Jump out of bed. Or at least get up with energy and enthusiasm.
2. If you can do something yourself, do not ask somebody else to do it for you (examples: getting a cup of coffee/glass of water, picking up litter on the floor, carrying your own attaché case/papers).
3. Take the stairs, not the elevator. You heart will benefit from it, too.
4. Include weight-bearing exercises to your gym program.
5. Dance, run, jump, walk briskly.
6. Drink 10-12 glasses of clear, clean water.

Detox at home

Where deep-tissue and Swedish massages cannot go, lymphatic massage can penetrate. With well-trained therapists, you can enjoy the goodness of massage with the medicinal touch of lymphatic therapy, says Dr. Eric Tan, director of Beyond Medi-Spa at Delos Santos Medical (tel. 7230041 loc. 294) and Orange Home Spa (7237714).

Bright mornings

To make your morning look perfect, try this easy routine. If you wake up in the morning with puffy eyes, gently stroke your eye bags with your two fingers, index and middle. Massage across your eye bags from the nose area to the sides of your face. Watch the puffiness go away.

Today’s affirmation

“I drive out the bad to allow the good in.”

Love and light!

Celebrate Life with Cory Quirino at 2 p.m., Sept. 16, at SM South Mall. Admission is free.

http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/lifestyle/lifestyle/view_article.php?article_id=87776

Age is a result of who you are

2007-09-03T23:12:00.000-07:00

People who survive longest are those who have found balance in several aspects of their lives.
Psychiatrist George Vaillant (Harvard) says the best adapted to their psychological life live longer.

This situation is characterized by:
1. Stability in family life2. Satisfying marriage3. Hardly living alone4. Continued growth in career5. Absence of disabling mental illness6. Not an alcoholic7. Few chronic illnesses

Awareness
Is there a method to achieving satisfaction in one’s later years? Deepak Chopra in “Ageless Body, Timeless Mind” says, if you follow your instincts and what works for you, that should be enough.The way you age is truly a result of who you are. This has to do with awareness.
Example: If someone puts weights in your hands and lifts your arms up and down, your arm will not gain muscle strength. This is unwilled behavior.

But if you consciously lift the weights, then the brain, through willed behavior, will send signals to your biceps, heart and lungs. Willed behavior involves learning because you teach your body to be strong.

Take control
When you take control of your body, this becomes a holistic approach. It involves the mind-body system.

How does one take charge?
1. Tap into your deeper levels of information by tuning into your body talk. Listen well. Do not ignore the cues.
2. Focus on parts of your body that express pain, discomfort. Localize your awareness there. Just by focusing, you are already sending healing energy.
3. Activate your desire and intention by asking yourself what you feel you need in order to complete yourself. Be honest with yourself. Example: Whether it is simply getting out of bed in the morning in a good mood or winning that golf tourney, your intention will influence the outcome of your day.

Staying young
If you intend to stay on this earth for the longest time and in the most fulfilling way, then it is your mission to explore the landscape of longevity.

Aging is as much a part of conditioning as it is the natural deterioration of the body. It is imperative that you preempt the needs of your body. A little help from medical breakthroughs should be considered.

While still in its infancy, Autologus Stemcell Transplant introduced by Dr. Florencio Lucero has transformed the lives of many patients with debilitating health changes. Visit Stemcellphil.com or call 0917-5234912.

Testimonials
Since it was made available over a year ago, amazing testimonials have been accumulating. Grace Draper, a 49-year-old patient who had a hemorrhagic stroke in 1999, could not walk without a cane. She has since discarded it two weeks after her stem-cell therapy.

Jacob, a 6-year-old cerebral-palsy patient, who was born three months premature and has had 56 operations since birth, now has more interactive movement, improved speech and no surgery for over a year.

Tessie Cuevas, 80, heart patient; and Lourdes Barbero Ramos and Tinette Lucero feel the procedure turned back the clock for them by 10 years. A 78-year-old man of Swedish descent who suffered from the not-so-common Chlamydia pneumoniale, improved after two weeks. His lung capacity increased by 5-7 percent, much to the amazement of his doctors.

Dr. Lucero explains that the four-hour procedure involves the harvesting of 100cc of fat and peripheral blood from the patient’s body through a mini liposuction. The stem cells are then separated from the fat through a process done within the same surgery room, infused with a growth factor made up of proteins to wake dormant stem cells.

This is then infused back into the patient’s body intravenously. Stem cells are the building blocks of life, basic cells from which the human body is made.

With a little boost from this medical technology, one can easily delay aging and the arrival of degenerative diseases.

Be young
Your mind can age you or make you older. If you continuously see yourself as old, then you will become it. So, affirm as I do: “I am young forever.”
Love and light!

http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/lifestyle/lifestyle/view_article.php?article_id=86418

Options for beauty and wellness

2007-08-28T07:25:00.000-07:00

MANILA, Philippines—The questions are constant, the answers varied.

In the search for the exact, right approach to any given beauty or health challenge, your options are many. Here are some of them:

Q: I am suffering from regular swelling/bloating or manas. Are there any natural diuretics (drugs that increase the volume of urine) I can take?

A: Apart from the usual medication your doctor will prescribe, there are natural ways to manage this condition.

Alfalfa—Dubbed as the great healer by biologist Frank Bower, the leaves of this legume has eight essential enzymes. Rich in vitamins A, K, B6, E, and D; calcium, phosphorus and potassium, alfalfa is a good laxative and a natural diuretic and urinary tract infection fighter.

Take three tablespoons raw with your salad or consume one capsule daily. Caution: Not good for anyone with autoimmune disorder like lupus.

Sweat it out through exercise. This is the surest way to get rid of bloating.

Q: Is there any natural antibiotic I can take to boost my immune system?

A: Garlic—Rich in vitamins C and B, calcium, protein, potassium, and phosphorus, this amazing bulb is a natural antibiotic. It was dubbed the “Russian penicillin” when it was used by the Soviet Army.

It can lower cholesterol, especially LDL (bad) cholesterol and, as a blood purifier, it also has the ability to lower blood pressure.

Interestingly, the component DAS or diallyl sulfide may actually render carcinogens inactive and suppress the growth of cancerous tumors. The best way to take garlic is in the form of capsules. Buy the raw, aged, odorless kind. It will not leave you with bad breath.

If you insist on taking garlic fresh and raw, swallow four little pellets/teeth of garlic after a meal. Some with sensitive tummies may not be able to digest them. They can cause acidity and gas pains.

Q: How can I lose weight fast?

A: There is never a fast, easy solution to weight loss. But over a period of three weeks you can lose six pounds. Fair enough? Here’s how:

Morning regimen: Drink a warm cup of apple cider vinegar (organic, Bragg’s) with ¼ teaspoon of honey on an empty stomach. After ten minutes, take two tablespoons of virgin coconut oil with water. Wait another 10 minutes.

Then consume two capsules or two tablespoons of C-Lium fiber or any fiber drink you may have. If you want a high-end supplement to boost your energy and speed up fat-burning, consume a small packet of PXP (polysaccharide peptides) with warm water. You will feel less hungry because it is predigested food.

After 20-30 minutes, have a bowl of fresh fruits and a glass of vegetable juices. Possibly add a small bowl of high-fiber, low-sugar cereal like Fitness or a bowl of old-fashioned oatmeal. No sugar or milk.

Exercise three times a week. Do not take any sugar/dessert at night. Eat a bowl or plateful of fresh salad before every meal.

Q: My insomnia problem will not go away despite any medication.

A: Insomnia is largely a restless mind condition. You need to transfer your focus from problems to solutions. The more you think about your situation, the higher your stress level.

Take up a mind-development course. One of the most effective is Jimmy Licauco’s. By understanding how your brain works, you can manage your life by controlling your mind.

Another remedy is to take an after-dinner walk. A nighttime stroll can be so relaxing. There is also a new remedy in town called Brown Rice Tea. Not your ordinary tea, this one is organically grown in Thailand and manufactured in Singapore.

It is the only tea in the market that you can also eat as a healthy snack food. Its nutty, toasty flavor may just make it your favorite mini-snack.

Being highly nutritious, it directly benefits your health and has a balancing effect on the body. Low-sodium/caffeine and preservative-free, this tea, if taken during the day, is an energy booster. If taken at night, one hour before bedtime, it becomes a relaxant and sleep inducer.

For those with active bladders, it also controls nighttime urination. Call 7234460, Team Asia Corporation.

An affirmation a day drives the blues away. So today, affirm: “My heart is as radiant as the sun.”

Love and light!

Reference: Ear Mindell’s “Vitamin Bible for the 21st Century”

http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/lifestyle/lifestyle/view_article.php?article_id=85043

The cells, they are a-changin’

2007-08-07T06:45:00.000-07:00

Perhaps Solomon inspired these lines from the Old Testament: “Gladness of heart is life to a man, joy is what gives him length of days.”

Body speak

The human body is a free-flowing network of cells, each one able to communicate with the other. But what are the cells saying?

At this very moment, your body is functioning as it has been programmed to function—you are inhaling then exhaling hydrogen, oxygen, carbon and nitrogen.

And though your major organs look unchanged from months ago, you are wrong. Change happens on the cellular level.

Just like the skin that replaces itself once a month, the liver undergoes change every six weeks, the skeleton is completely renewed every three months. By year’s end, 98 percent of the atoms in your body will be replaced by new ones. Incredible but true.

All about science

Albert Einstein knew it all along. He shattered the age-old space time model of the universe by reassembling time and space into what is considered a new geometry.

This only means that space and time are relative—with no beginning and no end.

Everything in the universe is being made new. And your body is the sum of all its cells that are designed to keep changing.

Cell health and Dr. Navarro

In order to be alive and stay alive, your cells need to be nourished. Enter Doc Robin Navarro, who has introduced a fascinating approach to health and recovery called cellular balancing.

A doctor of medicine, honoris causa, awarded by the Oxford College of Applied Science, and chosen Outstanding Research Fellow in Cellular Medicine by the Newton Hall Foundation in England, Doc Robin has devoted his practice to revitalizing the body through a rapid defense.

Judging from the remarkable healing of his patients such as Joyce Po, a 10-year-old with multiple sclerosis; Joven Atienza, a 16-year-old with life-threatening encephalitis and epilepsy; and John Cunningham, a 70-year-old Canadian who suffered a near-fatal heart attack, his medicinal approach is both natural/alternative and remarkable.

Major hospitals have given up on these patients. But today, they live normal lives.

The best case of all is Rebecca Reyes, a 50-year-old housewife who became bedridden due to cardiac arrest. But after three days of the balancing treatment she was able to walk again. Today, she regularly attends ballroom dancing classes.

According to the good doctor, the common denominator of all disease is oxidative stress. If you reverse the stress, you revert back to good health.

Oxygen is essential to the human body for energy and metabolism. However, if it interacts with polyunsaturated fats in the body, free radical damage begins leading to cancer, diabetes, lupus, etc.

Through what he calls membrane stabilizing antioxidants using enzymes and co-enzymes (like flavonoids—catechin, silibinin and vitamins A, C, E and gluthatione coming from whey, plus a host of phenolic substances and minerals found in fruits, vegetables, red wine, cocoa, tea and grains), hopeless patients literally become hopeful.

And where once they were near-death, today they embrace life. But if you heal a sickly body, an ailing spirit should also be healed.

Hugging as medicine

Modern medicine has come to terms with one powerful truth—that the act of nurturing has immense value health-wise.

When newborn babies are touched, held and caressed, their own growth hormone levels increase and myelin, the protective coating of motor nerves, thickens.

Thus, when a mother lovingly embraces her baby, this very act causes biochemical reactions that sustain life.

Translated into practical terms, a hug = medicine. If a hug is good medicine, then it should be given and taken freely and frequently. It can only result in better health.

Never give up

It is never really over. The fight against disease through health management continues to evolve. When confronted with a debilitating illness, do not give up. The best time to stand up is when you are down. So, here is a quick tonic for you—a hug for you now.

Love and light!

Reference: Deepak Chopra, “Ageless Body, Timeless Mind”
Dr. Robin Navarro, 6367726/6367727

Celebrate Life with Cory Quirino on Aug. 18, 2-5 p.m., SM Sucat. Free admission to “A Wellness Day.”

Be 10 years younger

2007-07-31T15:46:00.000-07:00

If people approach you on the street and compliment you on your youthful looks, they are merely affirming what you may already know for yourself—that whatever it is you are doing, works!

But it does not end there. The story continues. At some point, after all the compliments, the questions begin.What is your secret? Will you share it with us? Will you teach us how?

Getting started
In the search for the regimen that best suits you, your lifestyle has to be taken into account. If you are…

Sedentary—A stay-at-home person with not much activity except supervision of the home and family can find plenty of time to devote to an active program.So, take a look at your schedule and set aside at least one hour a day for a visit to a gym or to enroll in dance class, yoga, pilates. If you wish to have private classes at home, there are personal trainers who can visit you.
Active—Career people often have to find time during their lunch break to visit a gym. While this may seem inconvenient at first, you will find it more comfortable for you as you go along. Promise.

Driven—There are people who are so driven that stress is their adrenaline. If you are one of those people, day-to-day pressure is familiar territory for you that, once removed from the regimen, you step out of your comfort zone.

The best prescription here is to find time at the end of the workday for light exercise and relaxation.

Pointers for age reversal
1. Detoxify the body—Make a list of all the things you do that you already know are not good for you like drowning yourself in alcohol, nonstop smoking, eating beyond your limit, sleeping later and later each night, downing too many pills (medication of any kind), bingeing on sweets.
Start cutting back on these bad habits. Better yet, try to break the habit today. Replace cravings with vegetables, fruits, herbal teas, nuts and grain.

2. Unload the mind—When your mind is constantly bombarded with worry, it goes on overload. A mind constantly fed with problems, fears, anxieties will also weigh down your own body.

3. Try to relax—Adopting a more positive attitude will instantly signal your body to be in a state of ease. Enroll in meditation classes. Or do mind-body exercises like Taichi or Qigong.
Meditation: Close your eyes. Imagine you are watching the sea, following the tides roll in and out. Feel at peace.

Catch your breath
No. Don’t hold your breath. Catch it. When you are in a hurry, you tend to breathe faster and take shallow breaths. This hastens oxidation in the body. Thus, it speeds up aging. Got it?If you stop rushing through the day, you will be kinder to your heart.Right now, do this: Breathe in, breathe out in slow counts of five. Keep practicing until it feels so natural to you. Now, smile. And keep smiling throughout the day and night.

Pampering tips
1. Go to a dermatologist. Have a facial and body scrub. If this is expensive for you, you can do it at home. Standard scrubs can use sugar or raw oatmeal—2 tbsp mixed with 1 tbsp virgin coconut or olive oil. Gently rub your body. A weekly ritual ought to give your skin its luster.

2. Always have a bottle of water by your side. Sip whenever you can. This will rehydrate your skin.

3. Avoid touching your face with your hands. Always use a tissue or cotton balls. If you have to touch your face, wash your hands first.

Affirmation

“I am ageless.”

Love and light!

“Celebrate Life With Cory Quirino” is on Aug. 18, 2-5 p.m., at SM Sucat. Free admission.

http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/lifestyle/lifestyle/view_article.php?article_id=79593

Follow the feeling

2007-07-24T03:20:00.000-07:00

“Surrender means letting go.” –Deepak Chopra, MD
Imagine a roller coaster. Who enjoys the ride the most? Those who clutch the railing tightly with fearful eyes or those who throw their arms up in the air with exhilaration on their faces?

Like clockwork
All human beings have an innate sense of the world. But more importantly, a sense of themselves. And yet somehow, in our “busy-ness,” this is forgotten.

Day in and day out, life churns out its routine. Waking up in the morning, rushing through breakfast, reporting for work or fulfilling our duties as members of the rat race, wining and dining, returning home, relating with family, finding time for community service and God—all this makes up the full spectrum of what we do.

And, in this regular regimen that we call a life, romance is lost. The clock continues to click and, in the midst of the living we do by rote, the magic is gone.

Reviving magic
It is said that the unknown, the wild and exciting are the territories of lovers. And rightly so for the sense of expectancy and the expectation of exhilaration are present.

What if we could look at the world like lovers once again? Would our lives be any different? Or would it turn out differently only in ways defined by our fantasies?

Romance is likened to a bud. It expects to unfold like a mystery waiting to be unraveled. Rule No. 1 then is paramount—maintain the mystery. And rule No. 2? Surrender.

Give in
The word surrender is not always associated with defeat. In another context it means to give in to what is deeply desired. Not necessarily to a person but to a feeling.

Most of our moments are focused on real needs based on bills, deadlines, schedules, etc. How about the real needs of the spirit? The heart? Don’t they manifest themselves in the form of dreams, fantasies, whisperings of the soul?

Explain why at your busiest time, you find yourself distracted, hearing all the noises around you, yet drowned by the voices inside of you saying one thing and one thing alone—escape.

Short list
Write down at this moment, all the adjectives that best describe you.

Then, write down beside it what action you did to deserve it. Example:
Adventurous - went white water raftingKind - donated to a Rotary street children projectLoving - hug my loved one each day
Now, write down the qualities you have that need addressing or that have not expressed themselves then the action that will fulfill them.
Passionate - three romantic nights in BoracayFunny - told jokes in a partyCourageous - tamed a lionMusical - sang in a concert
Magic is often found in the things we ought to do to complete ourselves. By rising above the ordinary, your uniqueness surfaces.

Listen to your urges
Supposing you could live this day as far away from your normal daily routine as possible. You would:
Not report for work but catch up on lost sleep.Go vegetarian for lunch instead of ordering your favorite steak or meat dish.Dance the night away instead of being glued to your computer.Read poetry to your beloved or to yourself.Visit Tibet or Egypt.Shake hands with a stranger.Smile at everyone you meet.Turn left and not right, hop and not walk, sing and not talk, praise and not grumble.

All about love
Your instincts are anchored in your heart. Between the brain and the heart, the wiser of the two is the organ that beats each day, pumping your very lifeblood.

When your heart says go, and the mind says no—go.

Love is not controlling the flow of life—for this is impossible. If you flow with the current of your feeling, you are being true to your being.

So, do not struggle over the what ifs. When you put your feelings over results, that is when real life begins. So, in celebration of life to mark the rainy season, why not dance in the rain with the one you love?

Love and light!
Reference: “The Path to Love” by Deepak Chopra, MD“Celebrate Life with Cory Quirino, SM,” a session on wellness and beauty, July 28, 1 p.m., at SM Bicutan. Open to the public, free admission.For inquiries, please call 3718197 or 6206834.

http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/lifestyle/lifestyle/view_article.php?article_id=78328

Keeping trim and fit need not be painful

2007-05-22T03:04:00.000-07:00

Do you want to put someone half your age to shame?If your answer is yes, then read on. It is not as difficult as it may seem. You can develop a healthy habit or two that will make you look and feel better.

Fit tummy
While your concern at this moment may be external, remember that the tummy “problem” can be better addressed internally.

In short, if your waistline needs trimming, you have to control your intake of food. That is all. Sounds simple, doesn’t it? Here’s how.Program your mind to eat less. Know that less is more. Less food, more sexy.

There is a fine line between food reduction and starvation. Food deprivation/denial is not a safe diet. This will eventually lead to malnutrition and illness.

Eating too much, however, presents problems, too, such as weight gain, obesity, diabetes, hypertension.

The best practice of all is to eat a little bit of everything and not plenty of only one food group, like carbohydrates. Diets high in refined flour, sugar and carbohydrates, with little vegetable intake, can produce an unfit tummy. Diets too high in protein may lead to kidney overload.
Digestive disorders can become prevalent such as indigestion, irritable bowel syndrome, gastritis, constipation, etc.

Brain enhancer
Most people who reduce carbo in their diets will notice an almost instant weight loss (especially when combined with exercise).However, total carbo removal is dangerous to brain health as glucose, the chief source of its food, comes from carbohydrates.

Eat good carbs instead of bad carbs. These include whole-grain foods and vegetables like squash, cauliflower, broccoli.

Limit intake of baked goods, sweets, pasta from white flour, white breads, etc.
Still hard-headed about this issue? You prefer to protect your waistline at the cost of your brain health?

Know that your abilities for concentration, creative thinking and overall balance of the mind will be hampered. That is the price you will pay.

Eventually, this kind of self-styled regimen will lead to a breakdown of your body, as well as your brain.

No-chemical regimen
Stop all chemical or drug-related diet plans. The fad these days is to drink prepared formulas that are high in caffeine, ephedrine, etc. as meal substitutes. This is tantamount to starvation or diet based on “speed.”

Sure, you get a boost of energy and your appetite is controlled but you are slowly wasting away. Besides, it is no fun to see a man or a woman sitting at a banquet and just staring at the food.If you want a quick trimming program, eat more vegetables and fruits and less meat and carbs. But absolutely do not drop a major food group.

Cleanse your system
A healthy colon is the secret to great skin, high energy and general good health.Do the following:
Increase water and non-chemical liquid intake.Fast once a month (hydrate with coconut water, water and fresh vegetable juice—carrot/apple, romaine lettuce, sugar bits).Sweat. It’s a great way to release toxins. Exercise regularly. Plain brisk walking for 30 minutes daily is good enough.Have a weekly organic coffee enema. For more information, call Dr. Omar Arabia at 4266363 or 9296090.

The timeless message of Hippocrates, father of medicine, bears repeating: “Let food be your medicine.”I ask: “If food is medicine for the body, what is the food for the heart?”
Happy choice

If you choose to be happy, then your choices in life will be happy as well.Here’s a simple technique: Work backward. In short, always see the result of your actions by the choices you make. This includes your choice of food for the body as well as food for the heart.
Love and light!

http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/lifestyle/lifestyle/view_article.php?article_id=67250

Rejuvenate your skin

2006-08-28T18:07:00.000-07:00

THE largest organ in the human body probably receives more punishment than any other part. Its job is to insulate and protect, as well as give the body its appealing package.
Can you imagine yourself without your skin? We would die without it. So let’s learn how we can improve, even rejuvenate, it.

Here are some helpful ideas from the Philippine Dermatological Society (PDS):

Basic truths
Eos. Oxygen to regenerate and rejuvenate skin has been around for over a century. The application of oxygen to the skin reverses aging almost instantly. A clinic called Eos (after the Greek goddess of air) in Laguna designed the EO2S rejuvenation oxygen therapy.

Some 300 million years ago the atmosphere was 21-percent oxygen. Today, the oxygen content of the air is 18 percent.Studies have shown that less oxygen makes cells sick. In skincare, oxygen therapy has anti-aging benefits.

Engineer Enrique Paradina, a gas specialist, developed a new system that could deliver 21-percent oxygen to the face and neck. The 45-minute procedure includes cleansing, massage and gentle air flow treatments.Results are visible after the first treatment, with the face looking rested and younger.

Call 5206701 or, in Biñan Laguna, (049)4112219.
Fact: Genetics determines 80 percent of skin quality. In short, thank your parents/grandparents if you have good skin. But blame yourself if it degenerates due to neglect and abuse because 20 percent of skin quality is influenced by diet, nutrition, exercise and stress.
Dr. Francisca C. Roa of PDS said in a Mirror Magazine interview that as we aged, it became more difficult to maintain a glowing skin due to stress, mental/emotional and environmental.
The good news is it’s never too late to start looking better.

Best skin nourisher
Do you know that seven percent of the oxygen you take in is used and absorbed by the skin? So, breathe deeply and slowly. Breathing in will supply skin cells with oxygen. Breathing out removes carbon dioxide and toxic waste from the body.

Breathe right
As babies, we knew how to breathe—from the belly. It was deep, slow and long. As adults, we breathe shallowly without expelling fully.

Sit upright in a chair, feet and legs uncrossed, shoulders relaxed.Close your eyes.Breathe in six counts, hold two counts. Repeat.Think light, happy thoughts.

Best skin detox
Exercise is best for cleansing and toning the skin. It lets oxygen feed every cell of your body. You get more nutrients to feed your skin and promote collagen production.Try walking, running, jogging, cycling, dancing, swimming, playing badminton, bouncing on a trampoline, skipping rope, etc.—anything to get your system going. An added benefit: exercise is great for de-stressing.

Best skin nutrition
If you want a glowing complexion, eat right. Dermatologists and nutritionists agree that the best skin foods are fresh vegetables and fruits, rich sources of vitamin C and beta-carotene (vitamin A in its natural form). Make it a habit to drink juice every day, more practical when you’re on the go all the time.

Your skin is dependent upon the liver, which rids the body of toxic substances in alcohol, prescription drugs, viruses, bacteria. Kidneys filter/cleanse the body and eliminate waste while intestines process the food we eat to extract the nutrients needed by the body.

Skin rejuvenator
One of the best beautifiers is sleep. When we sleep skin cells regenerate. Growth hormones are also released while we sleep, stimulating collagen and keratin production.Notice how pale and dull skin becomes when you have lack sleep. To avoid getting lines, try sleeping on your back.
Don’t just sleep to rest, sleep to beautify. That’s why it is called “beauty sleep.”

Great moisturizer
Water isn’t just a lifer-saver. It’s a skin-saver, too. Drink 1.5 or more liters of water daily. That’s the open secret to beautiful, radiant skin. Experts agree that the temperature of water is important. Tepid is best.

Always bring a bottle of water, especially when you are going on long trips.
Skin waker-upper
Wrap an ice cube in a towelette and pat gently on your skin. Tired-looking, dull complexion will get back its pinkish glow. The regimen is great for closing pores and freshening makeup. Pat dry.

Anti-aging helper
Stress, whether emotional or mental, can make you age faster. Try to minimize stress by not thinking too intently about your problems. Keep busy and remain centered.Whenever possible, find a quiet moment for yourself. Close your eyes and listen to your slow breathing for 10 minutes. Have a massage.

Love and light!
Note: The telephone numbers of Dr. Cris Mancao, Mancao Myotheraphy Clinic, in last week’s column, “The Language of Pain,” are 6876174 and 6366848.

Previous columns:
The language of pain – 8/22/06
Dreams can become real – 8/15/06
Things you can live with or without – 8/08/06
Bitter medicine – 8/01/06 Just do it – now – 7/25/06
De-stressing tips for the weary – (7/18/2006)
Health and wellness matter - 07/11/2006
Emotions are messages - 07/04/2006
Tips for enhancing your well-being - 06/27/2006
Laugh, don’t cry - 06/19/2006

http://showbizandstyle.inq7.net/lifestyle/lifestyle/view_article.php?article_id=17698

The language of pain

2006-08-22T00:55:00.000-07:00

THE human condition is such that pain, as well as change, is inevitable.
But a special kind of doctor believes that pain in all its forms and degrees can be managed and overcome. In several encounters in various health summits, I have come to understand his world and his mission—and that is to remove pain.

Utopian as it may sound, Dr. Cris Mancao, chronic pain specialist who heads the Mancao Myotherapy Clinic, says, “It is possible to overcome pain by understanding its language.”He describes a typical situation. Dante is a 58-year-old businessman whose success is well-known.
Admired by many as a successful leader, he is as driven today when he is pushing 60 as he was in his 30s. But for the last five years, he has been bothered by a frozen shoulder, unable at times to bear the excruciating pain.

Pain speaks
“All pain is unexpressed emotion,” says Mancao. What aggravate this manifestation of emotional distress are lifestyle and ignorance. He said, if left unattended, the pain would increase or, worse, never go away.

Our bodies speak to us in ways we may not understand. They may be conveying messages from our subconscious, conversations we can hear if we listen…

“Attend to your emotions today. Do not postpone it.”
“You are totally overworked. Relieve yourself of the load.”
“Speak up. Express your hurts and frustrations to the person who causes you pain.”

Denial
The place where one runs to and hides is that comfort zone that refuses to be shaken by the truth of a situation. Not facing the same truth is Denial.

This, according to Mancao, is the inevitable place where people with chronic pain stay. For this same reason, the pain remains.

Mind-body conflict
If you were to synthesize the practice and philosophy of pain management, much is dependent on the connection of mind and body and their conflict (barring other causes of pain like arthritis, cancer, heart disease, etc.).

The mind plays such a major role in the birth, presence and disappearance of pain in our lives that makes us ask ourselves: “Can it be possible for me to have greater control over this condition?” The answer is a resounding “yes!”

Pain-free life
Chronic pain is a recurring, constant pain, one that may go away for a while but returns.
Saying yes to “no pain” can involve three steps: A, B, C.

Accept in your mind that all pain may be physical but it is triggered by a non-physical condition.
Believe that there is a solution to all your pain and, consequently, all your problems.

Care for yourself by saying, “I will only give myself the best so I can enjoy the best of life.”

The best
Wanting the best for yourself means not settling for second best. In the pursuit of our life’s goals and dreams, ultimately the choices we make and decisions we arrive at are entirely up to us.Amazing results happen almost overnight with this frame of mind. And, at Mancao’s clinic, this is visibly evident. His regimen includes several treatments, nutritional guidance and discipline.

Within seconds, through the use of hand manipulation and machines, patients who were once almost crippled by pain leave with a bouncy stride.Asked how he does what he does, the good doctor smiles and affirms, “The pain you have is the pain I have taken away.”

Affirmation

“Pain is just a thought away.”

Love and light!

http://showbizandstyle.inq7.net/lifestyle/lifestyle/view_article.php?article_id=16507

Dreams can become real

2006-08-15T00:57:00.000-07:00

LIFE WOULD BE BETTER IF…
There was a happy pill that would naturally remove worries from our minds, pain from our hearts and aches from our bodies.

There was a magic wand that could do a little nip and tuck in your least desirable places so you can have a perfect-10 figure without surgery.

You could dress fashionably in an instant without spending minutes, even hours, in front of the mirror.

Just one wish could transform your and other people’s outlook in life.

We could manage without sleep.
Our bodies would never get sick or age.
These are just some of the fantasies of people who cannot accept reality as it is. They have their own ideas of what reality should be.

Utopian dream
All of us dream of a perfect world, perfect people and perfect situations. As they say, dreams are free and dreamers have the freedom to dream on. However, in the search for the best that we can be, we have to begin with who we are.

Reality check
Truth is, one has to begin somewhere. So, let’s start.
Happy pill. There is a happy pill. But it’s an imaginary one. It is fashioned by the mind, fueled by the heart and sustained by their teamwork. Trust me, it works.Color it green for abundance, pink for perfection, blue for healing, orange for energy, red for passion and love.Whatever color you choose, know that it is your subconscious that is deciding. This prompts the mind to behave and feel in ways only you can control. So take it daily with no fear of an overdose. Smile!
Magic wand. Much like a happy pill, the wand is all yours to create. Visualize it as made of light. It is so powerful it can also influence your mind to do anything, placing the impossible in the realm of possibilities.

Once you accept it, know that you will make that expectation your own reality. Start pointing that wand at parts of you that require change.Maybe you’ve been irritable and bitter lately? Point it at your head. That’s a good place to start. The rest of you will need working on. And know that once your mind is made up, you will work toward your own improvement.

Ageless
The fountain of youth is already inside you. As Deepak Chopra says in “Ageless Body, Timeless Mind,” “Look to the land where no one is old. It is nowhere but in yourself.”Believing is paramount. And now, your regimen. You must have the basic essentials. Right diet, right attitude, right exercise, right sleep, right work, right rest, right time for prayer and worship.

Your affirmation
“Everyday is a birthday for I renew myself each day!”
Love and light!

http://showbizandstyle.inq7.net/lifestyle/lifestyle/view_article.php?article_id=15256

Things you can live with or without

2006-08-08T01:02:00.000-07:00

TO have is good but not to have may save your life. Habits, cravings and directions may lead to abuse, neglect, indifference and, eventually, illness.
Let’s start with things you can…

Live without
Sugar—A diet composed mainly of bread, jam, cakes and starchy food may lead to diabetes, heart disease and cancer.

John’s story: When his doctor told him he couldn’t be discharged from the hospital after a routine executive checkup, John panicked. He was a successful businessman who, at 55, did not look like a candidate for heart disease. John avoided fried foods and animal fat and, with no family history of heart problems, he believed that keeping his weight stable was enough to fight off any disease.

But he was proved wrong.
Recent studies put as high-risk a sedentary lifestyle marked by an excess in animal proteins and saturated fats and refined carbohydrates. In short, if you move less and eat more unhealthy food, then you are shortening your life. Clinician David Ludwig of the School of Medicine, Harvard University, recommends a return to “Paleolithic nutrition,” our prehistoric ancestors’ diet of berries, fruits and vegetables. Bad dietary choices contribute to peaks of insulin and the body, at some point, may become insulin-resistant.

Points to ponder “Sugar and sweet foods are not carcinogenic but could contribute to colon cancer in so far as they divert from a protective diet, favor obesity, and increase the glycemic load and the secretion of insulin,” said Dr. Edward Giovannucci of the School of Public Health, Harvard University.

For those with a sweet tooth, it is best to eat sweets after a meal than having them throughout the day.

Stress: In the past 20 years, it was found that women outlived men by a margin of 10 years, but the gap has started to close in recent years. Why? Because living an active life outside the home means exposure to factors that can hasten one’s demise—late nights, drinking, smoking and stress.

Stress floods the body with stress hormones that will put the constitution in an acidic state. Significant pressure is placed on heart musculatory and respiratory systems. Did you know that dealing with annoyances like traffic, deadlines, appointments, quotas, household and office routines can be as damaging to you as sudden stresses like accidents and changes like moving to a new house?

While stressors cannot be prevented, you can avoid, manage or transcend them. Here’s how: When confronted with a stressful situation, you can, a) talk to yourself in a calm, reassuring manner, saying, “I am in control, the situation is not in control of me”; b) allow your mind and not your heart to dictate your reactions; and c) sit quietly for two minutes to compose yourself.

Live with Good bacteria: There are many approaches to health. Exercise, diet, fresh air and clean water are better known, but there is another approach you can consider—probiotics bacteria. After all, the external environment is just as important as the internal environment.
Residing in our gut are millions of microorganisms. They assist in the breakdown of food waste and manufacture vitamins and nutrients. If the work of the gastrointestinal tract is disrupted, the following can happen: diarrhea, irritable bowl syndrome, constipation, hemorrhoids, gall bladder disease, pancreatic disease, yeast infection, indigestion. They may be caused by antibiotics, birth and control pills, sedentary lifestyle, and monotonous overuse of certain foods. Thus, the need for lactobacilli supplementation.

In 1951, Dr. Ivan Bogdenov in Sofia, Bulgaria, isolated a strain of lactobacillus bulgaricius that had anti-cancer/tumor activities. The finding was supported by research at Sloan Kettering Institute for Cancer Research.

By taking a supplement of live bacteria before meals, one can observe the following changes: improved complexion, digestion, bowel movement, general well-being. Now in Manila is OMX from Bio Bank Co. Japan, distributed by Ruche Corp. (tel. 7501713, 8447477).

Beauty treatment
Pierce a capsule of Vitamin E. Squeeze a few drops and apply around the eye area before sleeping to treat fine lines.
Affirmation for the day
“My life is as abundant as my expectation.”

While the list of things one can live with and without may be endless, there is one item that we cannot live without, love… The power that moves the sun, the moon and stars is the same one that runs through every fiber of your being. Allow it to move, inspire and heal you in all you do and, ultimately, all that you are and will become. So, love!
Love and light!

http://showbizandstyle.inq7.net/lifestyle/lifestyle/view_article.php?article_id=13981

Bitter medicine

2006-08-01T01:05:00.000-07:00

MOMORDICA Charantia Lina, better known as ampalaya, is a vegetable, fruit and herb.
Indigenous to Asia, it has 90 different names (bitter melon, bitter gourd). But though its name varies, its amazing healing benefits are recognized.

Momordicus is Latin for bitter. Ampalaya’s bitter taste is caused by momordicin. It is believed to have originated in Africa.

This plant is one of many used centuries ago as medicine. Historically, it is considered a natural drug. The Chinese use it for human immunovirus infection and tumors. It is also used as aphrodisiac, laxative and emetic (a substance that causes vomiting).

Ampalaya has many nutrients: vitamin A, 335 mg; vitamin B7, 0.06 mg; B2, 0.03 mg; B3, 0.3 mg; C, 55 mg; calcium, 3.2 percent by weight; iron, 0.9 mg; phosphorus, 3.2 percent by weight.
The humble, unattractive fruit contains amino acids, alkaloids, polypeptides (p-insulin), cytokins and others.

William D. Torres, Ph.D., University of the Philippines, says, “While most studies in vitro (in lab glassware) and in vivo (in humans and animals) would not pinpoint or identify the compound or compounds derived from the leaves and fruits of M. Charantia L. that are responsible for hypoglycemic activity, various studies support [its] use as an adjunct therapy for diabetes.”

A tip [generously given by Lito Abelarde, president of Charantia] is to use it right after taking your dessert so it can slow down the increase in glucose caused by eating sweets!
People with a history of diabetes in the family and are extra careful about taking simple sugars and refined carbohydrates, as opposed to complex carbohydrates, should take ampalaya tea to avoid feeling guilty about giving in to sweet cravings.

In her book “Diabetes Care,” Gloria Y. Yeh, MD, MPH, Harvard Medical School, reviewed results of 108 studies involving 565 people with Type 2 diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance. She found that the seven most promising substances for diabetics were aloe vera, American ginseng, ampalaya, chromium, coccinia indica (ivy gourd) pymnena sylvestre, nopal (Mexican/Central American) cactus and vanadium.

(Reference: “Ampalaya: Nature’s Remedy for Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes,” by Frank Murray)
The World Health Organization predicted a worldwide epidemic of diabetes among people aged 20 and older in 1995-2025. In the Philippines, it is among the top five diseases.
If you suspect you may have diabetes, see your physician immediately. If you do not have it, make this humble fruit a part of your daily life.

Juice up
1 ampalaya, medium-sized1 c buko juice/coco water1 carrot (1 sugar beet root)
Drink up for better health.

Bliss heaven
It isn’t vanity to want to be healthier. If you also become more attractive as a result of this, why not? There is a sanctuary tucked somewhere in Katipunan Road, White Plains, QC. It is more than just a spa. Called Amezcua, it offers a fusion of ancient and modern medicine and East-West relaxation therapies.

It guarantees a healthier body and peace of mind. Offering an intriguing menu of health packages like pain management, weight loss, women’s health and diabetes, detoxification and so on, this oasis lets the urban-weary resident relax and recharge.

But what is interesting is its medical spa services: live-blood analysis, iris analysis and body terrain assessment. With a combination of herbs, laser treatments and supplements, pain can be eased and managed.

Those who need to detoxify, there are the cleansing diet program, colonic hydrotherapy and massages, all supervised by medical director and doctor Edwin Bien, and general manager Renu Gidoomal (tel. 9131353).

Bliss
Treat yourself to a whole day of therapy. Have a healthy vegetarian breakfast then have yourself weighed. Undergo various painless tests to determine your state of health. Consult a nutritionist, join a yoga or belly-dancing class, undergo colonics, meditate, have a relaxing massage.

Indulge in organic foods all day for a change. That’s what you need to do now. You owe it to yourself.

Youthful hands and feet
You know what they say, you can tell a person’s age by her hands and feet. So, seek medically supervised sclerotherapy. Many who seek a more youthful look turn to dermatologists. In the case of unsightly (and potentially dangerous) varicose veins, you need a vascular surgeon to deal with the problem.

The Lauren Vein Center, the first in the Philippines (from the Australia-based Lauren International), located at Legazpi Village and St. Luke’s Medical Arts Building, offers a technique of sclerotherapy designed by Chinese Malaysian doctor Hoolin Saw.

At the local clinic, spider veins, varicose veins and even facial veins (which probably no other clinic will treat) are handled by doctors Serge Sumintac and Servando Semagen. Now, your vein problems can be fixed minus surgery. Call 8939771, 8942361, 7231023.

The before- and after-treatment results are amazing using the finest needles and a gentle but effective sclerosing solution. Good news is there is no downtime in your daily regimen or activities.

Tip
Whenever possible, keep your legs in a raised, upright position as often as you can. At the office or home, find a quiet corner to relax for 10 minutes, twice daily.

Life can be made better by knowing your options. Beginning today, make it a healthy one!
Love and light!

http://showbizandstyle.inq7.net/lifestyle/lifestyle/view_article.php?article_id=12747

Just do it -- now

2006-07-25T01:13:00.000-07:00

HOW DO you do it? I am often asked this question. About five out of the 10 who ask are women in their 20s or older who may or may not know how to get started on a health regimen. Three out of 10 are gays who wish to have glowing complexion while the rest are men who are generous with their praises.

True story
Many years ago, I saw almost everyday a group of women in aerobics class. After class, they would ask me for the latest dieting tips and I would generously share my lifestyle.
Conscious of their appearances (they were all overweight) they diligently took notes and listened with great intent. Months passed but I noticed no improvement among them.
Each one had to lose at least 10 lb. But, instead of losing, they actually gained. And yet, the ritual continued -- I would share lessons after each workout.

In truth, I was like a broken record saying the same things over and over again.
One day, after class, I decided to act out the role of good teacher. Giving them one hour lead time, I followed them to their favorite coffee shop for a “surprise” visit that was more like a police raid. I literally caught them in the act.

Their lunch consisted of lechon, bulalo and pasta, plus a platter of leche flan.
When I asked them why they chose those things, they proudly answered, “Look, you told us low fat, right? Well, see what we did to the lechon -- we only ate the skin!”

Dismayed, I simply smiled and turned around. It was because of these ladies that I decided to write my book “Forever Young” (in English and now Filipino editions). Once published, the same group of women, let’s call them the Indefatigable Five, asked me the same question, “How do you do it?” My answer was short and sweet: “Read my book.”

There is no other interpretation for a specific regimen -- you just have to take it at face value. Do not give it your own color. So, if it fails, you only have yourself to blame -- not the author or the dietician or even your doctor.

Get going
The tips:
1. Stop talking about what you plan to do. Just do it -- not yesterday, not tomorrow, but now. Give yourself a reasonable deadline and a schedule.
2. Set your doable targets today.
Obviously, a weight loss of 10 lb in one week may be achievable (assuming you avoid solids) but it isn’t safe unless supervised by your physician or a medical spa (like the Farm in San Benito). So don’t design your own program. Work with your doctor.
3. Follow strictly these general rules:
• Don’t overeat. Stop the minute you feel full.
• Avoid fatty, oily and fried foods.
• Don’t binge on junk food.
• No sweets after dinner. (Note: To slim down fast, declare a no-dessert/sugar week. It works!)
• Eat vegetables before any other viand. In fact, try to make your veggies the main meal.
• Train yourself to eat more veggies than meat.
• Drink 10 minutes after a meal (not during). Better yet, drink water before a meal. This helps digestion.
• Go easy on carbohydrates (especially white flour).
• Don’t give up ever. Disciplining the self takes time. After a month, when you see visible and dramatic results, make it your lifestyle.
• Take your daily vitamin/mineral supplements. It isn’t true they will make you gain weight. Don’t believe in hearsay.
• Buy a body brush from any health store. Daily stimulation of your lymphatic system by brushing from foot to neck will detoxify you.
• Put your favorite dress or pants (or buy a new one, two sizes smaller) in a prominent place to inspire you to achieve your slimming goals.
• Affirm with me: “I am what I want. It is done!”

Love and light!

http://showbizandstyle.inq7.net/lifestyle/lifestyle/view_article.php?article_id=11560

Keeping the Brain Young

2004-07-19T19:46:00.000-07:00

EATING anti-oxidants will protect your brain from rapid aging and disease.Considered the best defense against oxygen free radicals (highly active and damaging substances produced by disease, pollution, etc.), anti-oxidants can neutralize and disrupt free radical damage.

Bruce Ames of the University of California at Berkeley said the DNA of a single cell was attacked 10,000 times every day by a free radical.Imagine trillions of cells and you can figure out how the body is constantly being destroyed.With the help of anti-oxidants, your internal police force, 99 percent of free radical damage is repaired.

Nutrition firstDr. Denham Harman, professor emeritus, University of Nebraska, was able to demonstrate since the '50s that the brain's health and longevity were boosted by a healthy diet (including vitamins/minerals) during a woman's pregnancy. Research has also shown that a specific vitamin regimen can raise IQ scores of school children.

Middle-aged and elderly people can also benefit greatly from vitamin supplement, improving mental faculties and preventing intellectual deterioration, depression and dementia.So why aren't people making it a daily practice to take vitamins?

One reason is cost, and the other the mistaken notion that the brain is not adversely affected if the body is not suffering from severe malnutrition.It's time to correct this impression. Researchers believe the brain suffers from "subtle deficiencies" that leave it secretly impoverished long before any physical signs of conventional malnutrition appear.

IQ-boosting pillsDr. David Benton, a British psychologist, says vitamins can raise the non-verbal IQ scores of children (non-verbal intelligence is indicative of brain potential).For brain health, consume the following every day: 100 micrograms folic acid, 12 mg B6, 50 mg niacin, 50 mg pantothenic acid, 4 mg thiamin, 5 mg riboflavin, 500 mg vitamin C, 70 i.u. vitamin E, 200 micrograms chromium, 7 mg zinc, 70 mg choline, 50 mg bioflavonoids.

No need to get overwhelmed. The advice is to take any good quality daily vitamin/mineral supplement.Forever youngThe undisputed truth is out: "Older people with high blood levels of certain vitamins and anti-oxidants have better intellectual vitality." To protect your brain from aging, here is a recommended regimen:Folic acid-400 micrograms daily. The brain can't function at its best if you are deficient in this B vitamin.

Note: If you are often depressed or suffering from memory loss, you may be lacking in this vitamin. The nutrient can also prevent strokes and Alzheimer's disease. People with health problems will need 1 mg daily.B6-10-50 mg daily. A lack can cause fatigue, irritability, anger, memory loss.B12-3,000 micrograms. A lack can cause dementia, depression, disorientation.Thiamin-50 mg daily. Insufficient amount can affect brain function. Severe deficiency leads to brain damage.Niacin-125 mg daily. Considered the universal memory pill, it helps protect normal brain functions.Vitamin E-400-500 iu's daily in its natural form (D-Alphatocopherol), but not to be taken with blood thinners like Coumadin. It prevents the hardening of brain blood vessels.

Note: Now used in the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Many experts prefer natural Vitamin E but the synthetic form is also a potent anti-oxidant.Vitamin C-500-1,000 mg. Needed for optimal brain functioning, it is a strong anti-oxidant that prevents free radical damage in the brain.Selenium-200 micrograms daily. A lack can affect the mood and reduce anxiety.Lipoic Acid-10-50 mg/day. The brain protector is considered the anti-oxidant's anti-oxidant.Co Enzyme Q10-30 mg/day. The brain rejuvenator is also called "the cellular spark plug."Ginkgo biloba-120-240 mg/day. The powerful anti-oxidant increases blood circulation to the brain.PS or Phosphatidylserine-300 mg/day. It is a brain energizer.Choline-500 mg.

Best taken in the form of lecithin, it is the architect of the brain's memory. Taken before a child's birth, it is powerful enough to guard brain health till old age.(Consult your physician first before taking these regimens.)Love and light!Source: "The Miracle Brain" by: Jean Carper.

http://www.inq7.net/lif/2004/jul/20/lif_23-1.htm

Listening to your Inner Voice

2004-07-05T19:18:00.000-07:00

IT CAN get noisy inside our heads - very noisy. Growing up, we heard many voices in our minds - mother, father, teacher, priest, best friend ...

And all this time we listened to their beliefs, ways, judgment and feelings on countless issues - from chewing our food properly to attending church service to displaying behavior expected by society.

Each figure that mattered in our lives had a face, a body, and voice. The voices helped us form our own opinions, pass judgment, speak with conviction.Finding our own voice.

With all the voices talking to us and competing for our attention, which one should we really listen to?
Complex as it may seem, only one voice should prevail in the end -our own.To erase past recordings of other voices in our heads, we have to:
1. Tell the voices to keep silent.
2. Sit in a quiet corner and meditate.
3. Allow the real person to emerge, not the one dictated by, formed, and created by authority figures.
4. Let our own voice speak.A checklistTo find out if you are heeding your own true inner voice called your higher self, here's a checklist.

Choose the best and most honest answer.(Lifted from "The Path To Love" by Deepak Chopra, MD, here's another way to help you get in touch with your self.)1. I decided to go it alone on something that mattered to me.
2. I had a great new idea.
3. I came up with a way to solve a situation, out of nowhere.
4. I said, "I love you."
5. I got something off my chest I'd wanted to say for a while.
6. I swallowed my pride and admitted I was wrong.
7. I supported someone who was in doubt or wanted to make a difficult change.
8. Despite the evening news, I feel that life is good.
9. I didn't blame anyone.
10. I didn't complain.
11. I searched deep inside.
12. I made someone feel better about himself than he did before.
13. I saw something good in someone who made a bad impression before.
14. I trusted and it worked out.
15. My faith in God was justified.
16. I had a moment of insight.
17. I forgave myself or I was kind to myself.
18. I was tempted to jump to conclusion but didn't.
19. I was at peace.Give yourself a point for each statement chosen.0-5 pointsYour life is based on other values and not the spiritual.

However, your inner self is ruled by routine. Creativity and sensitivity don't rank high with you. Looking deep inside yourself isn't an easy task for you. You may describe yourself as an atheist or a skeptic.6-15 points.

You believe in God but don't have a strong link to a spiritual life. Money and success are not your greatest goals. You are safe in the middle ground but worry about your future.

Passion is not your asset.16-19 pointsYou are attuned to the spirit and follow your star wherever it might lead you. Your belief in God is based on your own personal experience. To you, love is a great force and you believe in its miraculous powers.

InterpretationIf you scored high in terms of your own sense of spirituality, you also scored low on fear, guilt and anger. The voices that tell you "this is what you better do or else" are recordings from the past.You have the power to choose what voice to heed, and the more often you listen to your true, higher self, the better.

You can decide what voice to obey - the one that holds you back in fear of failure or pain or the one that allows you to face life with hope and courage.Samples of negative voices"Don't do it, otherwise you will suffer the consequences.""If you jump you will hurt yourself.""It's good to go on a food or alcohol binge.""Even if it breaks you, do it.""Go ahead, pursue it till you're blue in the face.""Go for it - never mind who gets hurt in the process."

Practice listeningThe best way to practice the art of listening to the right voice is while you are in front of a buffet table. Stand before every dish. Stay for a few seconds.

Does a voice tell you to dump heaps of food on your plate or to go for moderate servings? Does it accept the food or reject it?
Remember, it's not the food calling to you - it's your inner voice communicating with the food.

The next test is after consuming the food. If you feel guilty, you listened to the wrong voice. But it's not too late. Avert any harmful effects by exercising. Hit the gym!Love and light!

http://www.inq7.net/lif/2004/jul/06/lif_23-1.htm

Go jump on a trampoline and Wake Up Your System

2004-03-16T20:00:00.000-08:00

MODERN men/women have to cope with lifestyle diseases like cancer, hypertension, diabetes, heart conditions. These illnesses are caused by a way of life that has a low regard for health due to ignorance, lack of information/education, apathy and negligence.Research has proven that the human body's cells have intelligence and are constantly linked to thoughts. Dr. Deepak Chopra describes it as "eavesdropping on thoughts and being changed by them."

It is common knowledge that depression can compromise the immune system while being in a state of love can restore it. Despair and sadness can cause heart attacks, even cancer, thus shortening one's life, but joy and a sense of fulfillment can add years.Stress as destroyerA single remembered thought about a stressful situation in our life can trigger a flood of stress hormones in the body.

It causes as much damage as the original situation.So does it make any sense to resurrect painful episodes from the past, knowing you are causing more damage to yourself? Geneticists believe that a person's life span is determined by his/her genes or DNA. Not much importance is given to a person's strong will to live or a lifestyle that is simple and healthy.Outside the laboratory, it is widely believed that DNA is definitely influenced by all your thoughts, feelings and actions.

Is DNA then your destiny, your death sentence?In his book "Ageless Body, Timeless Mind," Chopra says: "the stress hormones that play such a critical part in aging are regulated by RNA, which is a copy of DNA. When you make a lifestyle change that reduces stress, the RNA in your cells responds by churning out fewer stress hormones."Health tips from a friendOver a vegetarian lunch at Satya's (tel. 9203487 in Loyola Heights), Omar Arabia, holistic healer, explains the importance of the following:Balance. Life and work should be balanced. More work and no play can cause an overload on one's stress endurance. Pay attention to "not only what's eating you, but also to what you are eating."Diet. In the end, nothing replaces a good eating habit, one filled with as many greens, fruits and clean water.

Excesses in sugar, alcohol, salt and fat should be a thing of the past.Detoxification. The elimination system should be a major health concern. Any sluggishness in bowel movements should act like an early warning. The elimination system includes the liver, colon, lymphatics, kidneys, lungs and arteries.

Depending on the health problem, treatments given to patients include organic coffee enemas, kidney cleanings (using local herbal teas, cogon roots, lemon grass, cornsilk, etc.), skin brushing to stimulate the lymph. (Consider having C-lium Fiber in your juice daily, available at Mercury Drugstore.)Great juices that nourish and detoxify the body are fresh buko (coconut without meat), carrot, apple, leaf lettuce and red apple, singkamas (jicama).Exercise. Movement is good for the body, it can never be bad.

Brisk walking daily is good enough. The best way though to wake up your entire system is to, believe it or not, use the trampoline. Jumping on a trampoline for just 10 minutes is enough to perk up your lymph. (Consider Play Underground, Power Plant Mall Rockwell Center.)Prayer and meditation.

Inner peace is conducive to healing. Being in the right frame of mind and in a loving, calm state contributes to the prevention of illness. Practice regular meditation and have an active, prayerful life.Support group. Whatever support you might get -- emotional, artistic, spiritual, intellectual. It is vital that you belong to a group of like-minded people dedicated to helping one another achieve greater fulfillment in life.Preventive medicine.

To prolong the life and quality of life of a patient, the best wellness medicine is preventive intervention through a comprehensive approach that includes nutritional modification, systemic detoxification and the right perspective and frame of mind.Beauty tips to maintain one's youthful looks: adopt the right attitude in life, one that is loving and positive; try to have a nonviolent attitude toward yourself and others, be at peace, have a healthy diet, detoxify, exercise.

From cocoon to butterflyLifestyle change is impossible without a transformation in your deepest levels of consciousness. If you intend to make that giant leap, step into your cocoon. Imagine yourself enveloped in darkness. Embraced by your frustrations and weaknesses, invoke your inner strength and courage -- affirm: "I will emerge a butterfly, transformed and complete."Love and light!

http://www.inq7.net/lif/2004/mar/16/lif_23-1.htm

10 Keys to Mastering the Self

2004-02-04T19:27:00.000-08:00

EVERYONE has the power to heal himself or herself. While there is no easy way to achieve this, countless self-help books have been written on the subject.Here is a set of guidelines from one of my favorite gurus, Dr. Deepak Chopra:

Listen to your body. The human body has wisdom. Its means of expression is aches, pains and discomforts. Attend to your pain and see your physician soonest.Emotional pain is easily discerned, too.

When faced with a choice in behavior or action, ask your body, "What is your feeling about this?" If there is any sign of emotional or physical discomfort, hold back. If you get a pleasant feeling, then go ahead.Live in the now. The present is all you really have.

Pay attention to what you have and who you are now. Make every moment count. Let things be and allow them to flow naturally. Struggling against a situation will only cause stress. So trust in the wisdom of your present reality.Make time for silence.

Your inner life thrives in silence, not in noise. When you are guided by the spirit, your thinking is clearer and your attention more focused.Stop looking for external approval. Begin liberating yourself by relying on self-motivation. Seeking the approval of others may diminish your own inner power. When you rely on yourself, your inner worth will grow. When you rely more on others for approval, you weaken your inner worth.

Let go of your anger. Giving in to anger or acting in extreme opposition to someone weakens you. Anger is a struggle with emotions, which is a part of yourself. It means you have no power over yourself.What you most hate in someone is also what you most deny in yourself. What you love most is what you want most for yourself.

This is the mirror of relationships. When you have better self-knowledge, you will understand the depth of this message.Do not burden yourself by judging others--even yourself. All things can be understood and eventually forgiven. If you judge all the time, you cut off understanding.Your body, mind and spirit are not toxic waste dumpsites.

Don't contaminate your body with unhealthy diets. Do not pollute your mind and heart with negative emotions like fear and doubt. What is inside you will reflect on the outside.Behavior should be motivated by love not by fear. Fear results from memory that refuses to forget past hurts and disappointments. When you remember what hurt you before, you use your energy to protect yourself from getting hurt again.

But you cannot impose the past on the present, and this cannot insulate you from future pain. When you are secure about yourself, you are powered by love.The universe is moved by a force and intelligence called God. The more aligned you are to this power, the stronger you will be, and your life will be more directed.

Breath of lifeAn integral part of mastering the self is breathing. This is the way to control the energy of prana that enters and leaves our body. It is believed that changing our breathing pattern also alters the emotions.In one case, agitated hospital patients were asked to breathe slowly.

Almost immediately, they became calm.The breath of life can be conserved through fresh food, pure air and water, sunlight, moderate exercise, balanced refined breath, non-violent behavior and reverence for life, loving and positive emotions (and their free expression).

In India, various systems of yoga teach controlled breathing exercises or Pranayama aimed at releasing stress and letting the body find balance.Find out your emotion and its breathing patterns in a chart on this page.De-stress breathing exercisePlay soft, gentle music or, if you like, sit outdoors and listen to the wind, running water or birds.

Let the music flow in and out of your ears and exhale. Repeat, letting the music flow through your eyes, now your nostrils and mouth, then your entire body.Focus your attention on the chest. Breathe in and out through your heart. Now, be silent and become more aware of your body.

This exercise is great for relaxing the nervous system and it teaches harmony with nature.Coco milk bathIn a tub of warm water, mix one pail (about eight full glasses of coconut milk, fresh is better but powdered/canned will do). Add 10 drops of vanilla to sweeten your soak bath. Forget your cares... Relax, enjoy.Love and light!Reference: "Ageless Body, Timeless Mind" by Dr. Deepak Chopra

http://www.inq7.net/lif/2004/feb/03/lif_23-1.htm

Faith and Biology

2003-11-17T19:33:00.000-08:00

THE GAP is closing. Science and religion will soon merge. Rather than remain in opposite worlds, they will fuse to validate what sages have been espousing all along-that they are one.

There is no conflict here. Faith has become, and always will be, an intriguing and undeniable powerhouse for healing. In short, God is good medicine. In a stunning cover story titled "God and Health," Newsweek recently explored the world of churchgoing and spiritual individuals who meditate.

The results? A discovery that many of us already knew-faith heals. Scientific data reveal that "meditating nuns have increased activity in regions (of the brain) used for concentration and decreased activity in areas promoting a sense of self (or ego)."

The message here is, if you want to improve your health, pray and meditate. Assuming, of course, that you are religiously following a health regimen. Effects of faith on health Regular church and service attendance promotes a longer life. Being prayed for moderately improves physical recovery from acute illnesses. Religion and spirituality protect against moderate cardiovascular disease, cancer mortality and disability.

They also improve recovery and healing and slow down the progression of disease. The study's biggest discovery was that, yes, "churchgoers live longer than others."

Cited figures correlated churchgoing frequency with life expectancy as follows: Those who attended church more than weekly lived to 83 years of age and those who went once a week lived to age 82. Less than weekly churchgoers died at 80 years old and those who did not go to church died at age 75. Likelihood of life changes.

It was also observed that those who go to church with regularity eventually drop their bad habits, thereby adopting a healthier lifestyle. Among the findings: there was 131 percent likelihood for those who attended church to become less depressed; 78 percent likelihood that they would quit smoking; 54 percent that they had more exercise and 39 percent that they stopped drinking. Some might claim that these are anecdotal evidence.

One thing is clear, though. Science is not looking away from religion, but rather into it. How well do you pray? As Bible class and cell group teacher Diane Hernandez of New Life Church explains, "It's not the litany of prayers nor the length of time you pray, but your fervor that determines prayer power." It follows then that if you pray with enough humility, sincerity and trust, your prayers will be answered.

Therefore, how well or fervently you pray can also determine the extent and degree of healing you will get (an angle Newsweek did not explore). Because of the success of prayer warriors and religious rallies to effect spontaneous healing, many in the medical community have come to believe that "what happens in a person's mind can be as important to health as what happens on a cellular level."

This has led "many doctors to embrace the God they banished from the clinic long ago." Enlightened doctor French-born Dr. David Sevan Schreiber is a clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. It was he who wrote the best-selling book, "Guerir: The Instinct to Heal," which explored the connection between mind and body.

The book gave novel insights on how to treat chronic illnesses like depression. Schreiber said that close to 70 percent of primary-case health problems are actually stress-related, and that blood pressure medication, anti-depressants and anti-inflammatories are just temporary measures to ease the symptoms, but not the real cause of illness.

One therefore should not only treat the symptoms but heal the root cause of the illness. Believing that spirituality plays a major role in a patient's ability to heal, Schreiber says, "If prayer produces a state of calm, that correlates positively to our health."

However, there is also such a thing as unhealthy spirituality, which believes that God will perform miracles even if we continue to abuse our health.

Affirming the positive * Do not run away from yourself; rather, run to yourself. * Keep still. Stop running around in circles. Run toward the center of your own inner circle. * Close your eyes. * Visualize yourself smiling. Recall a time in your life when you were happiest. Bring back that same joy. * Recite this joyful affirmation: "I will be more and more joyful with each passing day." * Follow it up with this divine affirmation: "I embrace the divinity in me. I am one with God." This is great for the face and for improving one's disposition: In a bowl of boiling hot water, mix one drop of lavender, mint and patchouli with five drops of coco virgin oil/almond oil. Inhale the goodness from a distance of a foot (you might scald yourself).

Feel your own goodness. Love and light! (Sources: Newsweek; Andrew Newberg, MD, University of Pennsylvania; American Psychologist Journal; Ricxk Rogers, University of Colorado-Boulder; William Strawbridge, UCSF)

http://www.inq7.net/lif/2003/nov/18/lif_23-1.htm