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Having a flat stomach is on almost everyone’s mind these days.  Businesses capitalize on this seemingly endless search for the method or product that can magically transform your wiggly belly into flat washboard-looking abs.  Out there you will find all kinds of diets, diet pills, abdominal exercising machines and contraptions and abs exercise routines on video.  But do any of these really make you lose belly fat?  The truth is that there is no single method or product that you can use to get rid of a belly fat.  The road to a flatter stomach involves not just one diet or abs specific exercise but a combination of full body training and proper nutrition.

 Here are three of the most effective ways to lose belly fat forever:

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Medical experts believe that the risk of getting a heart attack increases as your belly size increases.  Wider waistlines are attributed to unhealthy consumption of fats and lack of physical exercise, both of which are major factors of heart disease.  Diet does play a very important role in your battle against the bulge.  But this does not necessarily mean that you have to starve yourself just to lose belly fat.  In fact, when working towards a leaner silhouette, your body will need the appropriate types of food to fuel exercise and support your body’s metabolism. 

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Fluid retention affects both men and women, and can be an indicator of more serious illnesses, particularly later in life. 

You may have edema, or fluid retention, if your face is puffy, while your hands, fingers, ankles, feet and stomach appear bloated.  

Fluid retention is usually associated with hormonal imbalance, emotional stress and excessive physical activity.  It may also be an indication of poor spleen and kidney function, according to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). 

The Quick Face Fix

You are what you eat.

Many people panic at the thought of looking great for a big event.     You worry about what you will wear, your hairstyle, your shape and your skin. 

Aside from  applying your  usual cream for moisturizing your skin, you can actually get a healthier, smoother complexion using a healthy diet. The key is in consuming plenty of non-insulin-promoting high-antioxidant foods while hydrating your skin. 

What then should you eat before a big event?    

Nutrition for Dry skin and Cracked Lips

Certain weather conditions can bring about changes in your skin’s texture.  When the air is dry, your skin can also turn dry all over. Your lips, too, may not be spared from dryness and may exhibit extreme symptoms like cracking, flaking or bleeding skin.

 Typically, people treat dry skin by applying moisturizers, creams or ointments regularly.  While these topical products may relieve dryness on the surface of your skin, they can only provide temporary relief.  Oftentimes, bad skin is an indication of poor nutrition.  To prevent or treat dry skin, try making some adjustments in the food you eat. You may notice that a dietary prescription for good skin is essentially the same for a healthy body. 

 If you suffer from dry skin, your diet should contain the following:

 1.  Water and fluids. 

One of the physical signs of dehydration is dry skin.  Being dehydrated means that you are not getting enough fluids.  The most basic of all fluids is water.  Ideally, your body needs at least 6 to 8 glasses of water a day.  Sugary drinks do not count.  While sodas and sweetened juices are considered liquids, their sugar content can rob you off much needed water as these act as diuretics.  The same is true for coffee, tea and alcohol.  Increase your water intake while cutting down on alcohol, caffeinated and sweetened drinks.

 2.  Fresh fruits and vegetables. 

Dry skin is damaged skin.  Raw foods like fruits and vegetables contain substantial amounts of vitamins A, B and C that your body needs to repair its cells. Eating more foods that are high in these vitamins will help your body to produce new and healthy skin cells.  A good guide in buying fruits and vegetables is colour.  Research shows that the presence of phytochemicals, disease-fighting substances, is responsible for giving fruits and vegetables their rich colours.  The deeper its colour, the more health-giving nutrients a fruit or vegetable has.

 3.  Foods high in Omega 3, 6 and 9.

Obesity and heart disease have given fat a bad name.  Most diets cut out fat entirely supposedly to promote slimmer and healthier bodies. Nutritionists, however, observed that people who avoid fat have dry skin, hair and nails, among other things.  What most people do not know is that not all fat is bad.  Your body needs a balance of “good” fat such as Omega 3, 6 and 9 to keep it healthy.  Good fat dissolves fat.  Omega 3, 6 and 9 are therefore essential to process and distribute fat-soluble and skin-saving vitamins like A, D, E and K all over your body.  You can get Omega 3 from salmon, tuna, mackerel and other cold-water fishes, walnuts, soybeans, flaxseed oil, sesame seeds and canola oil.  Good sources of Omega 6 are lean meats, organ meats, leafy greens, raw nuts, seeds and legumes.  Meanwhile, you can find Omega 9 in olive oil, olives, avocados, almonds, peanuts and sesame oil.

 4.  Sulfur-containing foods. 

 Foods high in sulfur such as eggs, asparagus and garlic help repair and renew the skin.

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You may have struggled with losing your belly fat for quite some time to no avail.  You may have even tried many techniques, abs exercises, diet pills, and watched one too many infomercials by now in search of a way to get a flat stomach.  Truth is, none of the methods popularized on TV do much for your abs, much less, make you lose weight.  Contrary to popular belief, doing hundreds of abs crunches and situps won’t make you lose belly fat.  What will work though is good old dieting and full body workouts, not just abs exercises.

Expert sites like “truthaboutabs” and boot camp fitness programs teach the same things: 

Food and Fitness Planner

It’s been proven that people who plan their meals and activities in advance are the most successful in achieving their weight and fitness goals.

I found an easy tool that can help you create a diet and fitness plan to help you reach your weight goals safely.  It’s backed by renowned health professionals and FREE. Click here to get started.

After planning your meals and exercise routine, keep an eye on your diet by recording what you eat daily using this printable Food Journal.

Studies Show Kids Piano Lessons Boost IQ

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I enjoyed playing the piano at an early age but never really liked the long hours of practice and became the nightmare of my piano teachers back then. The monotony of playing the same piece everyday made me impatient as I imagined myself doing a Liberace instead of my lame abridged version of Minuet in G. Had my teachers informed me back then that piano lessons could actually boost a child’s IQ, perhaps I would have been glued to my seat.

Math skills:  A growing number of studies are linking math skills and piano lessons especially when learned at a young age. It is believed that memorizing notes and sequences, expressing emotion while playing a piece and studying musical measures and beats, stimulate the same parts of the brain that are behind a child’s mathematical skills and spatial intelligence.

Communication skills:  Playing a musical instrument, especially the piano, uses the same brain processes that sharpens a person’s language skills. In fact, piano training is currently being used by special education programs for autistic children as early as age 3 or 4! 

In addition to increasing intelligence, piano training is also a great way to improve a child’s self esteem and instill cooperation in the classroom.

Dealing with Lactose tolerance

The average diet includes milk and dairy products. As good sources of calcium, dairy products help children develop good bones and adults fight bone loss and osteoporosis.   Not everyone, however, can digest milk sugar or lactose well. Often referred to as lactose intolerance, this condition can be uncomfortable and present unpleasant symptoms such as diarrhea and stomach gas.

Causes of lactose intolerance.

Your body produces lactase, an enzyme that breaks down milk sugar into simpler forms before they are absorbed in the bloodstream.  When there is an absence or insufficiency of lactase in your intestines, lactase deficiency may develop and may lead to lactose intolerance.  Not all cases of lactase deficiency result in lactose intolerance. Some races are more predisposed to lactase deficiency than others. Research also confirms a genetic link in lactase deficiency which increases one’s risk of developing lactose intolerance.  You may also develop lactase deficiency when Crohn’s disease, severe diarrhea or chemotherapy injures your small intestines. 

Signs and symptoms

Symptoms of lactose intolerance include abdominal cramps, bloating, passing of flatus or gas, diarrhea and nausea. These occur 30 minutes to 2 hours after ingestion of milk or dairy products. Mildness or severity of the symptoms may vary according to the degree of intolerance and the amount of lactose consumed.  Some people with lactose intolerance may still be able to consume milk or dairy products without showing digestive symptoms.

Management of Lactose Intolerance

Milk and dairy products remain your body’s best source of calcium to maintain healthy bones and prevent bone breakage. While you may not be able to alter the way your body produces lactase, you may still be able to prevent the symptoms of lactose intolerance with self help measures:

 Diet:   Reducing the amount of lactose-containing food in your diet is the most obvious way to avoid lactose intolerance.  Replace cow’s milk with non dairy choices like soy or rice milk. Other foods that are not strictly milk products may also contain lactose in any of its ingredients. These include breads, baked goods, processed breakfast products, donuts, waffles, candies, non-dairy coffee creamers and whipped toppings.   Always check the food label to ensure that for sources of hidden lactose such as whey, curds, milk by-products, dry milk solids and non-fat dry milk powder.    People with mild cases of lactose intolerance may still consume milk or dairy products albeit in small or limited quantities.  Consuming lactose food together with a meal may also increase its chances of being tolerated by your stomach as your meal may lessen the impact of an otherwise full load of lactose.

 You need not suffer from calcium loss if you are lactose intolerant as there are non milk products that are also good sources of calcium.  These include fish with soft bones like sardines and salmon and leafy greens like spinach. While limiting or avoiding milk products helps prevent lactose intolerance, yogurt containing live cultured bacteria may be safely taken and is an excellent source of calcium.  The healthy micro-organisms found in yogurt converts lactose into lactic acid which is well tolerated by your intestines. In fact, healthy bacteria are essential to a good digestive system. 

Supplementation:   Lactose intolerance sufferers need not suffer from calcium deficiency because this important nutrient may be obtained from supplements and calcium-fortified orange drinks.   

As calcium levels drop, you may also suffer from Vitamin-D deficiency.  Your body may produce its own Vitamin-D by being exposed to early morning sunlight for a maximum of 15 minutes two or three times a week. Remember to apply some sunscreen.  Some orange juice suppliers also enrich their freshly squeezed juices with Vitamin-D and calcium for healthier bones.  Lactase enzymes are also available in supplement form but should only be taken with proper health advice.

Probiotics:  Beneficial micro-organisms such as acidophillus and bifidobacterium have been proven to reduce the symptoms and incidence of lactose intolerance by supplying the gastrointestinal tract with live bacteria cultures that overcrowd bad bacteria responsible for the uncomfortable stomach symptoms.  When mixed with certain foods, probiotics help the stomach tolerate lactose intolerance which is why these are increasingly being added to children’s food items such as powdered milk and snacks.

LED light therapy

The body is made up of cells that are generally capable of healing and reproducing on their own using naturally occurring cellular energy known as adenosine triphospate or ATP.  When the skin is damaged, ATP stimulates cell regeneration to heal and restore the injured area.  Factors such as poor nutrition, a person’s age, and the general condition of the skin determine how slow or how fast cells may heal. Scientific studies also found that light can stimulate the production of ATP for better cell renewal otherwise known as photo rejuvenation. Skin care specialists take advantage of the therapeutic effects of light by using LED (for Light Emitting Diode Technology) to heal skin conditions during a light therapy session.

Not just any light ray may be used to stimulate skin cells. There are harmful rays that can burn the skin or cause skin cancer.  LED is ideal for light therapy because it emits a low level power that does not irritate or burn the skin.  Photo rejuvenation devices may use visible red light, invisible infrared light or blue light. 

Visible red light can only penetrate a shallow portion of the skin.  This is effective for healing surface wounds and treating other skin conditions like psoriasis, eczema, fine lines and sun spots. 

On the other hand, infrared light has a deeper penetration of up to 30-40 mm and is ideal for relieving pain in bones, joints and repairing muscle tissue. 

Blue light is often used to kill bacteria that cause acne, tooth decay and other infections.

Benefits of LED light therapy

LED light therapy is the method of choice for most skin care patients because of the following advantages:

• Non invasive procedure:  The treatment involves application of light at various surfaces of the skin where it is needed.  This means no downtime for recovery and you may resume your normal chores after each session.  There is also no scarring associated with LED light therapy.
• Painless sessions:   Unlike other surface treatments involving dermabrasion and laser light, the procedure is comfortable and relaxing. 
• Diminished dark spots, lines and wrinkles:   The light rays emitted by the LED lamp stimulate the production of collagen and elastin which fill in lines and wrinkles, giving your face a smooth appearance.  As skin is renewed, old skin with dark spots will give way to new spotless skin. 
• Improved lymphatic system and circulation:   Light energy not only stimulates ATP but also blood vessels underneath the skin giving your face a healthy rosy glow.
•  No known side effects:   LED light therapy is a safe, painless procedure with no side effects. 

Session:  A trained skin care specialist may start a session with a microdermabrasion procedure to remove dead skin cells for more effective light penetration.  Specific lights are then beamed at areas to be treated for a few minutes. 

Depending on ones age, skin tone, diet, and lifestyle, results may be observed immediately or after a series of sessions held one week apart.  Some may need 6 to 8 sessions to see dramatic results on their skin.  In between sessions, the specialist may prescribe topical skin treatments or a skin care regimen to complement and boost the effects of the LED light therapy sessions.  Maintenance treatment may also follow at least once or twice a month.

Raspberries

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Nature has a way of providing most of man’s nutritional needs by producing a variety of superfoods.  Superfood refers to a fruit or vegetable that is fully loaded with phytonutrients or plant chemical compounds which provide superior heath benefits.  The nutrients found in superfoods make them natural alternatives to medicines and over-the-counter drugs.  Their rich and vibrant colors reflect their high phytonutrient content as these are the same compounds that give superfoods their wonderful colors.  Raspberries, which appear in deep red, are considered by nutrition experts as one of the top ten superfoods for their numerous health benefits.

Red raspberries make an excellent food choice for weight watchers because of their low fat, low calorie and zero cholesterol content.  A single serving which consists of one cup of raspberries contains substantial amounts of the following phytochemicals and nutrients:

• Fibre:   Fibre promotes good digestion, regular bowel movement, and cardiovascular health.  It also lowers blood cholesterol and prevents bowel and rectal cancer.  When taken before meals, fibre has been proven to slow down the absorption of sugar in the blood stream making it an excellent regulator of blood sugar.  While you may obtain fibre from various sources, it is best taken from whole fruits such as raspberries rather than grains like wheat because too much grain fibre may interfere with the absorption of important minerals such as calcium, magnesium, iron and zinc.   
• Calcium, phosphorus and vitamin-K:   The calcium-phosphorous combination works well to promote bone health by increasing calcium absorption and decreasing calcium secretion in urine.  Calcium is also essential for brain function, muscle contractions, hormonal balance, low blood pressure and the prevention of colon cancer.  Calcium can also act as a nerve tranquilizer and has a mild sedative effect. On the other hand, Vitamin-K increases bone density.
• Magnesium:  Magnesium plays an important role in building and repairing cells, tissues and organs in the body.  It also reduces tremours, cramps and other muscular problems. Studies also show that magnesium may be helpful in lowering blood pressure and treating depression.
• Potassium:   A potassium deficiency may lead to fluid retention, chronic headaches and low energy levels.
• Vitamin-C:   This well known vitamin has antioxidant properties that help fight cancer and premature ageing.  It leads a list of nutrients that fight disease by boosting the immune system and speeding up the healing of wounds. 
• Ellagic acid:   Research has discovered that raspberries contain a powerful antioxidant known as ellagic acid.  Ellagic acid works by preventing damage to cells and DNA caused by free radicals.  More importantly, ellagic acid helps fight cancer by inhibiting the growth of cancerous cells.
• Anthocyanins:   Raspberries also contain anthocyanins, a phytonutrient that contains pigments which are responsible for giving raspberries their red colour.  Anthocyanins are powerful antioxidants that also exhibit excellent antimicrobial abilities which help prevent the overgrowth of bacteria and fungi such as the Candida albican fungi, which are the main culprits behind yeast infections.

Calcium importance

Calcium is generally associated with strong bones.  But it plays an important role as well in other important bodily processes such as:

•  blood clotting,
• cell division,
• muscle contractions,
• brain function,
• hormonal balance and
• a regular heartbeat. 

Research has also shown that calcium may lower blood pressure and decrease a person’s risk of developing colon cancer.

Your body stores calcium in the bones and maintains a certain level of it in the blood stream.  When blood calcium level drops, the body leaches calcium from your bones to restore your blood calcium to normal levels.  As your bones lose calcium, it can become brittle and susceptible to breakage. To prevent bone calcium from leaching into your blood stream, you need a daily supply of calcium from the food you eat or from supplementation.

While calcium is largely responsible for building and strengthening your bones, it is only effective when your body is able to absorb it and when it is not excreted in urine.

The following factors either prevent calcium absorption or promote the excretion of calcium:

• A diet with too much protein, fat and sodium.
• Calcium-phosphorous imbalance that may arise from consuming too much soft drinks, red meat and poultry.  The right balance between calcium and phosphorous is believed to be necessary in calcium absorption. When your body has too much phosphorous compared to calcium, your body may not be able to use the calcium that is found in your blood and may just excrete it in urine.
• Aluminum intake coming from the use of aluminum food wrap and antacids.
• Caffeine in coffee, tea and soft drinks that doubles the excretion of calcium in urine. 
• Cigarette smoking. 
• Consumption of high oxalate foods such as spinach, cocoa and asparagus.

On the other hand, the following factors, when combined with calcium supplementation, ensure good strong bones:   

• Vitamins C, D and K:  Vitamins C and D increase calcium absorption while Vitamin K increases bone density, making your bones strong.  
• Magnesium:  This mineral helps transport calcium into bones and soft tissue while preventing the formation of calcified deposits in your kidneys.
• Estrogen:  In women, estrogen hormones work by increasing calcium absorption and decreasing its secretion in urine.  This is why women who experience menopause usually suffer from osteoporosis or have thinner bones.  Aside from increasing your calcium intake, you should also avoid very low calorie diets and excessive exercise which lower estrogen levels and trigger bone loss.  
• Exercise:  Strong bones are not built overnight.  It takes many years of calcium banking to develop your bones before bone building completely stops when you reach the age of 35.  Ideally, you should start storing calcium in your bones at childhood and continue until adult age when bone loss starts.  In the meantime, you need to do weight bearing exercises to keep your bones from deteriorating.  Exercise not only builds muscle but it also strengthens your bones because of constant use.  A bone that is not being used will lose calcium and can become brittle.  As you exercise, you build and strengthen the muscles that surround your bones.  These muscles protect your bones from injury.  To complement your calcium intake, you need to exercise at least three times a week by doing any weight bearing activity such as brisk walking, jogging, running, tennis, skiing, lifting light weights, jumping rope, and aerobic dancing. 

Slippery elm

Slippery elm (ulmus fulva) originated in North America where its inner bark was used by Native Americans for centuries as treatment for a wide range of illnesses. At present, the inner bark of the slippery elm is an ingredient in lung medications and is widely recommended as a topical treatment of skin diseases.

 Nutritional information

Slippery elm contains mucilage, complex carbohydrates, tannins, calcium, Vitamin-E, oxalate, flavonoids, salicylic acid, caprylic acid and other compounds that contribute to its therapeutic value.

 Properties and Uses

Emollient

When taken orally, mucilage in slippery elm coats the mouth, esophagus and gastrointestinal tract with a slick residue that can soothe sore throats, stomach ulcers, diarrhoea, inflammatory bowel conditions and other gastrointestinal problems. The antioxidants found in slippery elm are also helpful in relieving inflammatory bowel conditions.  As a topical application, slippery elm can be used to relieve minor skin injuries such as burns, cold sores, razor burns, scrapes and sunburn.

Expectorant

Slippery elm acts as an expectorant to ease cough, chest congestion and provide relief from bronchitis and asthma.

Astringent

Slippery elm also contains tannins which have astringent effects to help tighten and constrict tissue.  As such, it is used to treat weeping lesions, bleeding, open wounds, and abscesses.

Demulcent

Demulcent properties refer to the soothing, softening, buffering and poison-drawing qualities of slippery elm.  As such, it can be used to help neutralize stomach acids, boost the adrenal glands, draw out impurities and heal all parts of the body. It is also being used as a natural ingredient in herbal colon cleansing programs.

Other uses

Slippery elm can be used to treat a wide range of disease including:

• colitis
•    constipation
•    diaper rash
•    gastroesophogeal reflux diseases (GERD)
•    Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis

Precautions

In low dosages, slippery elm is non toxic. While slippery elm has not been associated with any serious side effects and is considered to be generally safe even for children for as long as it is administered in recommended doses. However, due to lack of scientific studies on its possible toxic effects, pregnant and breastfeeding women are advised to avoid slippery elm.  Note as well that the mucilage found in slippery elm that coats your stomach and intestine may slow down the absorption of other drugs or substances that you may be taking.  It is still best to consult your health professional for the proper dosage and method of taking slippery elm. 

Slippery elm may be taken orally or used as a salve.  Its inner bark is the main ingredient of teabags, loose bark, tablets, capsules, lozenges, fine and coarse powdered bark.  The coarse powdered bark may be dissolved in a small amount of water and applied as a poultice over open wounds, lesions and other skin infections.

Pau d’arco

Pau d’arco or Taheebo is an evergreen tree that grows in rain forests throughout Latin America.  Its inner bark is used by natives of Central and South America for medicinal purposes.

Nutritional information

Pau d’arco contains two primary active compounds (naphthaquinones) called Lapachol and beta-lapachone.  Laboratory tests have shown that these compounds possess anti-fungal properties which are as potent as or more so than ketaconazole, a common antifungal drug used for treating yeast infections.  Pau d’arco also contains high amounts of vitamins such as Vitamins-A, C, and B-complex and minerals like calcium, magnesium, selenium, zinc, cobalt and chromium.

Key uses of Pau d’arco

Immune support

Pau d’arco boosts energy levels and helps the body resist most chronic diseases. It also promotes healing and is an effective treatment for digestive problems such as diarrhoea and intestinal infections.  Pau d’arco may also prevent and cure ulcers, diabetes and rheumatism.

Antifungal and antibiotic

Taken as herbal tea, Pau d’arco has been proven to be helpful to many Candida sufferers.  It is also used in the treatment of skin diseases such eczema, psoriasis, and skin cancer, pyorrhea, athlete’s foot, herpes simplex infections and a variety of fungal and viral infections.

Analgesic

Pau d’arco is a natural pain reliever and is useful for treating migraine and dysmenorrhoea.

Decongestant

As a decongestant, Pau d’arco is helpful for treating the cold, flu, asthma and sinusitis.

Anti cancer

It has been noted that Pau d’arco promotes the production of healthy cells and there have been some claims of reduction of tumour sizes and cancer cures arising from the use of Pau d’arco.   As such, many naturopaths recommend it for those with goiter, hemorrhoids, abnormal cell growth and tumours.

 Wellness support

Pau d’arco promotes normal blood function, helps the body to replenish vital elements, stimulates appetite and helps detoxify the body.  As preventive medicine, it regulates blood sugar levels, lowers blood cholesterol and promotes better urine flow, reducing your risk of diabetes, hypertension and kidney dysfunction.

 Precautions

Pau d’arco has no known serious side effects but it may interact with other herbs, supplements and medications you may be taking.  Pau d’arco may affect the blood’s ability to clot and should be avoided if you are taking an anti coagulant or blood thinner.  It is also not recommended for young children, pregnant women and those who are breastfeeding.

There are many varieties of the Pau d’arco tree but only one kind has been proven to be highly effective in treating diseases, which has the scientific name, Tabebuia Avellanedae.  Pau d’arco is available in tea bags or loose form, tablets, capsules and tincture. It is still best to consult a naturopath or health professional for the right amount or dosage of Pau d’arco that you can safely take everyday.

Wisdom tooth removal is easier than you think

You may have impacted wisdom teeth if your jawbone is not wide enough to accommodate third molars as they typically erupt after your late teens. This may cause pain, swelling, gum disease, crowding, decay, poor position and cysts in your mouth when the offending tooth is unable to emerge fully. If you suspect that an erupting molar is impacted, it is best to see your dentist who will examine your mouth and take a panoramic x-ray to determine the actual condition of your molars for possible wisdom tooth removal.

 Impacted wisdom teeth are best treated by early removal before they grow long and strong roots or cause serious infection in your mouth. The procedure can be done in your dentist’s clinic and under local anaesthesia when your mouth is completely numb. It may be necessary for your dentist to make a small cut in the gum over the tooth and to remove some of the bone to completely lift out the tooth.  The procedure ends with stitching the gums to stop the bleeding.

Following post removal care instructions within the next 24 hours promotes quick healing without complications. While some pain may be experienced after the anaesthesia wears off, it is easily managed with anti-inflammatory or pain medicine that your dentist may recommend. You won’t have the “chipmunk” or swollen cheeks if you apply ice packs on and off at 20-minute intervals in the first 12 hours after extraction. Gums usually heal after 7 days from wisdom tooth removal and you can resume your normal diet by this time.

Dealing with bipolar disorder

Bipolar disorder is a condition also known as manic depressive disorder.  It is characterised by extreme mood swings ranging from bouts of sadness and hopelessness to feelings of euphoria and high energy.  The mood shifts may strike only a few times in a year or as often as several times in a day.  When left untreated, bipolar disorder can be disruptive and cause serious problems in your life such as substance abuse, financial problems, poor work and school performance and relationship problems.  In extreme cases, it can also lead to self-injury, so that detection and appropriate treatment of bipolar disorder is crucial.

 Causes

 While the exact cause of bipolar disorder has yet to be determined, factors such as

Alpha Lipoic Acid- Nature’s Most Powerful Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory

“Imagine a substance so powerful that it can swiftly and painlessly move through the human body knitting together fissures, soothing inflammation, and pumping up the immune system.  Imagine that this substance performs these astonishing feats not only on the inside of the body, but also on the surface of the skin.  Alpha Lipoic Acid is such a substance.”  – The Wrinkle Cure by Dr. Nicholas Perricone, M.D.

Alpha lipoic acid is a unique antioxidant that naturally occurs in the body much like Vitamin C.  But over time, levels of this antioxidant can run low which is why older people need supplementation.  It is a super antioxidant that is 400 times stronger than vitamins C and E and raises the levels of these two vitamins in the body. 

Research showed that alpha lipoic acid when administered orally can increase the positive effects of other antioxidants such as Vitamins C and E, allowing them to do a better job of fighting free radicals that cause aging in the body.  And if you’re taking glutathione orally, alpha lipoic acid helps glutathione hang on longer, giving your skin cells extra protection.

Lines and wrinkles are actually caused by skin inflammation.  To prevent the problem of wrinkles, you need to fight it at its source– inflammation.  Alpha lipoic acid has superior anti inflammatory properties which is why Dr. Perricone has been using it in his line of skin care products with astounding effects.

For diabetics:   Alpha lipoic acid can also help regulate blood sugar and is recommended for people struggling with diabetes.   Lab studies confirm that alpha lipoic acid prevents the attachment of sugar to protein and can even reverse sugar damage that has already occurred.

Alpha Lipoic Acid also slows the onset of:

• Alzheimer’s disease
• heart disease
• arthritis

If you’re 40 or older, the recommended dosage for alpha lipoic acid is 100 milligrams a day.

Aura soma

Your subconscious mind stores a wealth of information about your self such as personal qualities, talents, values and desires. As these thoughts remain suppressed, you may often find yourself feeling malaise or unwell and unable to reach your goals no matter how you try. Some people use aura soma as a tool for discovering the self and for personal growth.

 The science behind colour energy

Aura (energy field) soma (body) is the practise of gaining insight about the self and healing the self using the colour that one chooses.  It is based on the principle that “you are the colours you choose”.  It finds support in scientific studies on the physiological and emotional effects of colour on humans.  In particular, a study published in the British Journal of Nursing in July 1999 suggests that the energy given off by a colour passes through the thalamus which is the part of the brain that either inhibits or enhances neurotransmitters that are linked to physiological aspects of stress.  These brain connectors are often responsible for regulating heart rate, muscle tension, blood pressure as well as other emotional and mental faculties of the body.  Cells communicate with each other using light energy. As the energy emitted by colour touches a cell, the cell responds by communicating the information transmitted by the colour’s energy to other cells often with physiological effects. Thus, colour is often used to heal the mind and the body.

 The energy of colours

Colour is light energy vibrating at different wavelengths and frequencies. As an example, in the colour spectrum, red has the longest wavelength and slowest frequency while violet has the shortest wavelength and fastest frequency. Following the natural law of attraction that “like attracts like”, the colour (light energy) that you are attracted to is similar to your personality (life energy). 

 Equilibrium bottles

The aura soma practitioner is guided by equilibrium bottles, each of which contains essential oils, herbal extracts, crystal energies and some colours.  Each bottle appears as a fraction with a top colour (oil content) and a bottom colour (water content).  The top oil fraction is a mixture of natural colouring, lotus oil, essential oils and crystal energies while the bottom water fraction has natural colouring, herbal extracts, crystal energies and water from the Chalice Well in Glastonbury.  

 Consultation

Aura soma starts with your choice of 4 equilibrium bottles.  Using your left hand, you will shake a bottle vigorously for 5 seconds to create an emulsion which also establishes an energetic link between you and the bottle. Consultation is an insightful experience that you may use to discover underlying emotional, mental and spiritual patterns on the basis of the colours you choose. These patterns influence how you perceive the world and can dictate your behaviour.  For some, a consultation is enough to help them work towards their goals or feel better about themselves. Others go further by applying the liquid from the chosen equilibrium bottle into the palm of a hand and massaging it onto the skin.

 Aura soma is best used as a tool for personal growth or change. As it does not involve any invasive or internal procedure, it is safe, painless and without side effects and ideal for those who find themselves in need of personal direction when at a crossroads in life or simply to gain additional insight about themselves.

Shirodhara

Most people treat common ailments like headaches and insomnia with medication for immediate relief.  For those who are looking for alternatives to medication, natural methods abound in the treatment of stress and anxiety.  These methods promote relaxation and help calm the mind using natural products such as essential oils and herbs.  

Ayurvedic medicine is backed by centuries of natural healing methods that have been widely practised in India. The philosophy behind Ayurveda is that all disease is caused by an imbalance of energy in the body. To treat illnesses, Ayurveda exercises purification therapy to cleanse the body and restore the balance of life energy.  Its shirodhara treatment is one such purification and rejuvenation therapy that is renowned for soothing and healing an agitated nervous system by applying heated essential oils.

 Benefits of shirodhara

From Sanskrit origins, Shiras (head) dhara (flow) or shirodhara is based on the principle that gentle but constant application of warm oil stimulates healthy blood circulation to the brain.  Herbs that are added to the heated oil provide further relief from symptoms such as headache and neuralgia.  The result of shirodhara is a deep state of relaxation making it an effective treatment for depression, migraine, visual difficulties, anxiety, insomnia, psychosis and scattered thought processes.  It is also used to treat disorders affecting parts of the head such as the eyes, nose, ears, neck and nervous system. Shirodhara is also used to reduce stress and relieve its effects on the nervous system such as tension, anxiety, anger and depression.

 Shirodhara method

You will be asked to lie on a massage table on your back, either fully or partially clothed. Warm oil, usually herbalised sesame or coconut oil, is poured across your forehead at a point that is said to be the location of your third eye.  A steady stream is applied on your forehead for about 20 to 40 minutes.  After the treatment, you will remain on the massage table for 15 to 30 minutes so that you can relax quietly.

Shirodhara is best performed in the morning.  Severe illnesses may require multiple treatments to obtain optimum results while minor conditions like insomnia may only take one session for you to sleep soundly at night. Your naturopath will determine how many treatments and how often your treatments will be to obtain lasting results. Most spas now offer Ayurvedic treatments like shirodhara, incorporating a foot bath, full relaxation massage, and oil pouring.  It is often capped by a scalp massage to further relieve other pressure points on the head.

Scientific studies backing shirodhara

A Japanese study on the effects of shirodhara revealed that its participants showed deep restfulness with less anxiety which were measured accurately by EEG and ECG equipment.  The results were also confirmed by monitoring blood pressure, heart rate and carbon dioxide (CO2) excretion while heated sesame oil was poured continuously by healing robots. The physiological changes during shirodhara were similar to those of meditation, which is somewhere between a person’s sleep and awake states (also known as altered state of consciousness).

Hypertension

Hypertension occurs when the force exerted by your blood against the blood vessel walls is too strong. This is also referred to as high blood pressure.  Hypertension or high blood pressure is dangerous to your health because it causes your heart to work harder to pump blood and your blood vessels to harden, leading to heart failure. This condition affects more men than women and is often diagnosed in people over the age of 65. 

 Causes of hypertension

Hypertension is often the result of a poor diet and a sedentary lifestyle. A diet that is high in salt or sodium often leads to hypertension. A recent Japanese study showed that persons who regularly ate very salty foods were more likely to be diagnosed with hypertension than those who consumed a no-salt diet.  Excessive consumption of deep fried, fatty and oily food also contributes to high blood pressure.  Drinking alcohol, smoking, not having enough potassium, magnesium and calcium, as well as lack of exercise, also increase your chances of developing hypertension.  Risk factors  that are linked to hypertension include stress, negative emotions and heredity.  

 Another type of hypertension referred to as secondary hypertension may be caused by an underlying health condition such as drug abuse, alcohol abuse, diabetes, hormonal imbalance and kidney failure. If left untreated, hypertension may lead to arteriosclerosis,  stroke or cardiac arrest.

 Symptoms of hypertension

Many people are unaware of their hypertension or simply ignore the warning signs until they develop more serious symptoms or worse, suddenly experience heart failure.  The following symptoms often indicate hypertension:

•  dizziness
•  headache
•  vision changes
•  noise or buzzing sound in the ears
•  insomnia
•  redness on the face
•  hot palms and feet
•  shortness of breath
•  fatigue
•  palpitations
•  nosebleed
•  anxiety attacks
•  chest pain

How to treat hypertension naturally

 Diet

Maintain a healthy and balanced diet by eating more whole fruits and vegetables instead of processed and refined foods.  Avoid deep-fried, fatty, oily, salty and sweetened food.  Consume moderate portions of lean meat which is a good source of important nutrients such as iron, zinc, potassium and calcium that help regulate your blood pressure. Omega-3 fatty acids obtained from fatty fish like salmon and tuna or a fish oil supplement may also prevent hypertension. Other supplements for hypertension include CoEnzyme Q10, garlic and gingko biloba which promote blood circulation.

 Lifestyle

Avoid the triggers of hypertension such as smoking and drinking alcohol. Exercise moderately for not more  than 40 minutes everyday to help shed excess weight and control diabetes, both of which are risk factors of hypertension. Practise relaxation techniques like yoga and mindful meditation to reduce stress, a known trigger of hypertension.  Maintaining a good disposition and avoiding negative emotions such as anger, jealousy and depression also prevent hypertension. 

 Natural therapies

A number of natural therapies have been used to successfully treat hypertension including acupuncture, autogenic training and biofeedback.

Acupuncture involves the insertion of very fine needles into the skin to restore the balance of energy in the body said to be the underlying cause of hypertension.  Autogenic training and biofeedback are effective treatment methods for hypertension that teach you how to control breathing, blood pressure, heart rate and body temperature.

Hypertension is potentially dangerous to your health but it is a disease that may be prevented with a healthy diet, regular exercise and lifestyle changes.

Massage Therapy for Colicky Babies

Colic refers to frequent crying spells, usually lasting for hours on most days of the week in healthy babies.  While the cause of colic remains unknown, it is increasingly being linked to:

• allergies
• lactose intolerance
• a weak digestive system
• maternal anxiety

Babies typically outgrow colic but it can be overwhelming for new moms who may also be undergoing postpartum depression.

Health professionals recommend massage therapy which can help stimulate the digestive process and calm the nervous system, for managing colic.
Several moves recommended by the Institute for Integrative Healthcare Studies are described below:

1. Direct Digestive Energy Down – Using a little massage oil or lotion on your hands, place your palm under the infant’s chin, with fingers pointing towards the child’s shoulder. Draw your hand downward along the chest, towards his or her diaper. Repeat with slow, gentle motions.

2. Breakup Abdominal Gas – Place the infant’s heel next to his or her bottom by bending the knee. With the leg still bent, move the thigh towards his or her stomach until it rests on the abdomen. Move the other leg to this position as well. Slowly and carefully move the legs in a bicycle pattern.

3. Move Food and Gas Stagnation – Using as much of your palm and fingers as possible, circle the baby’s belly button in a clockwise motion.

4. Induce Relaxation – Using only the thumbs, massage the sole of the baby’s feet before bedtime at least 100 times. Remember to keep an even and smooth rhythm to the massage to help the infant relax.

Because an infant’s body is much more responsive to touch than an adult’s, only five minutes of massage several times a day is sufficient to strengthen digestion and generate relaxation.

Source: Institute for Integrative Healthcare Studies