Easy Acupressure Tips for Relieving a Hangover
Photo By Kevin Briody
“I am never drinking again”. How many times have you uttered those words while heading into work after a night out on the town? It is a wise thought, but an idea that is often impossible to stick to. There is nothing worse than having your boss chew you out for a mistake while your head is pounding and your stomach is gurgling.
When you’ve partied a little too heartily, only time will completely clear your head and settle your stomach. That isn’t something you necessarily want to hear, but there is some good news. There are actually a few simple detox techniques can speed the process along and have you walking with a little extra kick in your step in no time. It will be a lot better than dragging through a 9 hour work day with a pounding headache, trust me.
Hangover Relief Through Acupressure Tip #1
To help relieve nausea and headaches, press your thumbs into the muscles and acupressure points along your skull and neck. Start by placing your thumbs at the base of your skull, one on each side of the upper spine. Press in for two breaths, release, and move outwards. Repeat until you’re 3 cm or so away from your ears. Return to the upper spine and press on each side again, inching your thumbs down your neck until you reach the top of the shoulders.
Hangover Relief Through Acupressure Tip #2
Lend your detoxification filters a hand by gently pummeling your kidneys, helping to break up toxic crystal deposits. Leaning over slightly, reach behind yourself and gently pound behind your ribs, about 12 times on each side, using comfortable pressure.
Hangover Relief Through Acupressure Tip #3
The acupressure point known as Spleen 16 is a classic target for relief from hangover symptoms. Using the fingertips of one hand, find the bottom of your rib cage and move your hand directly in line with your nipple. Feel for a slight indentation in the bone, and then press gently upwards into the ribs. Hold the point for a count of ten seconds. Repeat on the other side.
An Extra Tip for Hangover Relief
Drink plenty of water to rehydrate your body, adding a little lemon juice also helps the detoxification effect. Resuscitate yourself with a cool compress on which you’ve sprinkled three drops of lavender, peppermint or rosemary essential oil. If you’re nauseous, use rose or sandalwood oil instead. Take a vitamin B supplement before your binge as this will help you feel better the next morning.
Now these tips aren’t necesarily going to have you jumping around and screaming with joy, but they are going to ease the pain of a nasty hangover. This doesn’t mean that non stop tequila shots on a wednesday night are a good idea, but at least you won’t consider jumping out the window of your office before noon.
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The Importance of Vitamin D: Avoiding Vitamin D Deficiency with a Proper Diet and Supplements
Get Vitamin D from the Sun BY Chantrybee
Vitamins. We need them, our bodies crave them, and they are a vital part of life. They allow us to grow, maintain our health and function the way we were meant to. Yet even still many vitamins receive an ever growing lack of attention and can prove to be quite difficult to instill in our daily diet.
One such vitamin in particular is vitamin D. It is just as essential to your health as any other vitamin yet it seems many of us seem to forget about it. With all our attention on the importance to protecting ourselves from the sun and lathering up on sunscreen, too many of us have forgotten that 20 minutes of sunlight on our bodies a day can provide us with up to 90% of the vitamin D we need. While there are a number of foods that contain it, it usually comes in doses that are far too small to reap the real benefits.
Which Foods Contain Vitamin D?
The good news is that there are a few foods that you can incorporate into your diet that will help you consume a good dose of vitamin D. Sockeye salmon is in fact one of the best options, but not quite succulent enough that you would want to eat it every day. Other options include cod liver oil, herring, shrimp, butter, fortified milk and eggs. One of the added bonuses is that cooking and storage of these foods has no effect on the vitamin D levels.
Effects of Vitamin D Deficiency
A deficiency in terms of vitamin D for adults can lead to weakness of bones and muscles throughout the body. This is better known in medical terms as osteomalacia and can become quite serious over time. A deficiency of vitamin D can also lead to a weakened immune system and gum disease, which can lead to loss of teeth. Chronic gum disease affects a number of people over the age of 50, and that is why many doctors suggest that people up their vitamin D intake constantly as they age.
The reason that vitamin D deficiency affects so many people is in large part due to the lack of information and general knowledge there is about it. It is a very difficult vitamin to control the intake of, seeing as the sun shines brighter on different days and even when it is out we are all warned to hide out in the shade. So what can you do if the sun refuses to shine or if you are more comfortable indoors?
Control your Intake of Vitamin D
Your best bet is to alter your diet so that you ingest more foods that contain vitamin D. On top of this, especially if you are over the age of 50, you should probably look into supplements. Calcium supplements are an excellent example as they contain a large dose of vitamin D in order to allow your body to absorb more of the calcium itself.
More than a Well Balanced Diet
While we are always told that a well balanced diet will ensure our body stays healthy and that we get all the nutrition we need, this isn’t always the case with vitamin D. It is a much harder nutritional source to obtain through food and diet alone.
Have a good look at your current diet and think about how long you spend out on the sun on a regular basis, and you will get a good idea of how much vitamin D you are getting. Even though this vitamin doesn’t get its fair share of the spotlight, it is an essential part of life and your health. If you fear that you are not getting enough, then consider altering your diet and looking into vitamin D supplements, or calcium supplements that contain a healthy dose of vitamin D.
One last note. It is incredibly important to protect yourself from the sun and stock up on sunscreen when heading outside. However, we need to all do our best to remember that the sun is beneficial to our health and isn’t always the evil enemy that we make it out to be.
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Do Oral Sunscreens Prevent Sun Damage?
By: Richard S. Donovan
Do you worry that your sunscreen isn’t doing enough to protect you against sun damage? Well there’s now a whole new breed of sunscreen on the market designed to give you additional sun protection. It’s sun protection in an easy to swallow pill. These oral sunscreens are made up of an herbal extract with strong antioxidant properties.
It’s thought that the antioxidant potential of the sunscreen offsets the free radical damage caused by exposure to the sun. It’s this free radical damage that’s thought to contribute to everything from skin cancers to skin aging. Indeed, studies have shown that people were able to stay in the sun for longer periods of time without burning when they took one of these herbal extracts before exposure.
While the results of trials with these oral sunscreens are encouraging, they aren’t a suitable replacement for your topical sunscreen. A topically applied sunscreen is still necessary to shield against significant sun damage. The primary function of an oral sunscreen is to counteract any damage that might occur despite the application of a topical sunscreen. In a sense, it provides back up protection when your regular sunscreen fails. So don’t throw away your bottle of conventional sunscreen even if you’re tempted to try one of these new oral sunscreens.
Although oral sunscreens may serve a useful purpose if used in combination with a topically applied sunscreen, there are some important points to keep in mind to maximize their benefit and safety. They should not be used if you’re pregnant or planning on becoming pregnant in the near future. Cost may be a factor for some people. These pills average a little over $1.00 each in price, not a small cost to pay if you’re going to be out in the sun a lot.
What about the potential of oral sunscreens to prevent skin cancer? In a study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, nine volunteers were exposed to U.V. light without taking the extract and again after taking the extract. A biopsy performed on each volunteer showed less skin damage that might be associated with skin cancer in those taking the herbal extract.
How are these oral sunscreens marketed? Two popular brand names are Heliocare and SunPill which can be found online. It’s difficult to assess the popularity of these oral sunscreens as of yet but the high price and somewhat limited availability may make these pills somewhat less popular. If you decide to try them, be sure to continue to apply your topical sunscreen every time you go out in the sun and use oral sunscreens only as a back up for your proven sun protection. However, in this day and age you really can never be too careful when it comes to protecting your skin from the sun. So using both oral and topical sunscreen may prove to be an excellent choice.
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How to Lead a Happy Life
Appreciation, Love, Acceptance and Happiness
According to Psychology Today, there are four essential elements that are needed to produce a happy life. The four important traits needed for happiness are self-esteem, optimism, personal control, and extroversion. These four traits can help psychologists predict an individual’s happiness level.
One of the best ways to lead a happy life is to relax. Stress can wreak both psychological and physical havoc on the body. Stress produces a chemical in the body called Interleukin-6. In large doses, interleukin-6 can lead to diabetes, arthritis, osteoporosis and even some cancers. Stress management can benefit a person’s overall health and make them feel more relaxed which leads to a happier life.
According to the book Authentic Happiness, by Martin Seligman, a person can raise their level of happiness on a daily basis. To do this, an individual should make sure that their day is filled with humor, authenticity, and generosity. By leading a generous, fun, and authentic life, people connect better with others and themselves.
Developing a non-materialistic attitude is also vital to leading a happy life. An article in USA Today featured psychologist, Ed Diener who explained that materialistic people have a difficult time leading a happy life. Materialism often breeds an attitude of more work, less relaxation and less personal enjoyment. People who care less about spending and getting things are more likely to be happy.
Oxford University Psychologist, Michael Argyle discovered that people who don’t manage their time effectively are generally less happy. Unhappy people don’t properly manage their time and usually postpone things and procrastinate. A person who manages their time is able to feel more in control and empowered which is a step towards leading a happy life.
One thing is for certain, depression is becoming epidemic and the overall happiness people experience continues to decline. The National Opinion Research Center surveyed thousands of Americas in 1957 and 35% of them claimed to be very happy. When the center surveyed Americans again in 1991, 31% claimed to be happy.
Social psychologists Jennifer Crocker and Brenda Major found that the following things have little or no impact on a person’s happiness level - gender, age, race, or income. Although people have debated for decades whether or not money could buy more happiness, individuals are slowly learning that rich people almost equally suffer from depression, addiction, and other mental health problems that make them as miserable as the less fortunate.
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The Power of Concentrative Meditation and How to Start Meditating
Fight Stress and Empower the Mind with Meditation
The nature of employment today, the economy, and life in general is such that every person tends to get stressed out over a period of time. It is necessary to relieve your body from all the negative energy that is holding you from being your normal self and one of the best ways to relieve the hyper-stress is to opt for concentrative meditation.
What is Concentrative Meditation?
Concentrative meditation is something that requires your mind to concentrate on a particular thought or even an object. That particular thing can be anything ranging from a physically existing object to some unique music. No matter what the focus of your concentration is going to be, you provide your entire concentration on just that object.
Some experienced practitioners of mediation opt for reciting a word over and over again to get them focused.
The constant repetition of the word gives them something to concentrate on. In addition, some people prefer to concentrate on their own breathing, through slowly inhaling and exhaling, rather than concentrating on a particular thought or object. The fact is that you can begin by concentrating on anything that you feel most comfortable with. The actual concentration and focus are the keys here, not the actual image, object or sound you choose to focus on.
Techniques for Relaxation
There are several techniques that ensure complete relaxation and also hypnosis. It is found that all these techniques have something in common to concentrative meditation. Irrespective of how tensed or stressed out you are, the peace that follows after a meditation session is simply amazing and something that often cannot be found through anything else.
In order to carry out this concentrative meditation, it is not always necessary to lie flat on the floor and shut your eyes, or even get into a praying position. In fact, some people find it easier to just concentrate their mind on simple things such as a candle flame and the way the flame keeps dancing on and on. You can also concentrate on how much heat is liberated from the flame. As you can see this is just an example of how simple it can be to begin concentrative meditation and calm the mind.
You could take anything for that matter. If a particular music appeals to you, listen to it intently. Imagine that you are in some fairytale land all alone. Imagine that you are listening to the music while you are treading a beautiful pathway that is leading to an elegantly decorated home. Again, this is all left to your imagination and pertains to personal preference and whatever keeps you calm.
The Power of Concentrative Mediation
We have seen some people do some unbelievable things through the power of concentration, such as lying on a bed of nails, bending a spoon by just looking at it, walking through fire, and several other things that are unreal to our naked eyes.
How can they manage to do those acts so skilfully while we just remain mere onlookers? It is the unlimited concentration that they have developed over years of practice? The power of concentration can control your mind, the way you see the world and empower you to do things you never thought imaginable.
In a nutshell, concentrative meditation can do wonders for all of us. If you are a student and are suffering with poor memory, then you could try a form meditation that helps in strengthening your memory. If you are a professional who is prone to stress and tension on a regular basis, this could be the only way out to achieve balance in your life. Too much stress can change the person you are, change your relationships with people, and change the way you look at life.
Meditation is no longer seen as a “hippie” ritual, a religious act for Buddhist monks, or an uncommon practice. It can truly unleash the power of your mind, bring calm into your life, negate anxiety and stress and lead you to a better life, mentally, physically and spiritually.
The best part is that it doesn’t take years of practice or a major shift in your lifestyle to utilize. Start slow, open your mind and get ready for the change that concentrative meditation can make in your life.
Gold’s Cardio Workout and Workouts for Cardio: How “Wii” Can Use Technology to Workout
Get in Shape with Gold's Cardio Workout
It’s a wonderful time we live in isn’t it? Technology is ever enhancing our lives and making things quicker and easier. It’s even got to the point where critics were warning that all this “enhancing” technology was making us lazier and more out of shape. The developers of the Nintendo Wii have taken advantage of the world’s need to get up and go with sensor technology that engages the player like never before.
Not everyone likes going to the gym or has time to go for that matter. How about working up a sweat with workouts for cardio in the center of your living room? With cardio workouts for Wii, like Wii Fit and Gold’s Cardio Workout, people are presented with a wonderful opportunity to workout focusing on cardio with the fit board. The fit board senses your movement and calculates the pressure you exert on the pad, to ensure that you are doing the exercises correctly.
Get Fit at Home with Gold’s Cardio Workout
Let’s face it, some of us don’t really enjoy the idea of going to the gym and having others judge us based on our abilities. Even if you are out of shape you have to start somewhere, and the only person you have to impress on the Wii is your personal avatar trainer. There’s just something about the encouragement that these little guys can give that makes you want to press out one more squat or finish that stretching session when nobody is watching.
Both Gold’s Cardio Workout and Wii Fit offer great motivation in the form of keeping track of all of your personal stats. Knowing that you worked out longer or harder than you did last week is encouraging and let’s you track your personal improvements. As for a cardio workout, the Wii incorporates everything you need to build up quite the sweat. Endurance challenges push you to the limit to help you shed pounds, improve balance, and gain a healthier state of being.
Finally a Fun Workout for Cardio
Now, for the best part about these workouts. It actually makes cardio workouts fun! Cheer on your little avatar as they go through the paces with you working towards goals and winning prizes. Build up the experience to unlock options and new games that enrich the experience and keep things interesting. You don’t realize that you’re actually working out, that is until your sweating up a storm racing towards a virtual finish line. There’s nothing like leaving a bunch of virtual losers in your dust and knowing that you are getting a great cardio workout at the same time.
The Wii doesn’t stop there however, the game library for the Wii is extensive and ever growing. If you need to hide the purchase from your spouse just say it’s for the kids and join in the family fun. You really can set your weight loss goals in motion with the Wii and Gold’s Cardio Workout. Workout solo or invite some friends over to test each other’s strength and endurance so you can get in shape and have fun at the same time. Isn’t that just the exercise you have been looking for all along?
The best part of all is that you can get Gold’s Cardio Workout
Understanding Tai Chi and the Benefits of Tai Chi Chuan, Tai Chi Yang and Tai Chi Wu
“Students of the martial arts in the West feel that they must use their art to fight, or at least to compete, to show people how good they are. In tai chi, this is unacceptable, because that is against the principle of tai chi. ”
(Gabriel Chin)
Peace of Mind with Tai Chi
When it comes to exercise of the body, and the mind, so many of us have bought into the “no pain no gain” way of thinking. If exercise doesn’t wear us down or make us feel sore in the morning then it cannot be doing any good, right? We are often told that if our diet plan doesn’t leave us craving for more, then we need to eat even less. Is this really how we need to go about things or is there a more, natural and effective way?
There is and that is what Tai Chi, Tai Chi Wu and Tai Chi Yang try to teach us. Whether you choose to make Tai Chi a part of your every day life or just learn from the values and lessons within it, you will benefit.
How Can Something So Easy Be So Beneficial?
I already know the preconceptions that come with Tai Chi. People just assume that anything that looks so easy, and feels so easy, cannot possibly bring about a physical change. Of course it looks relaxing and feels refreshing but there cannot possibly be any health benefits, can there? I am tired of people using the phrase no pain, no gain. Some of the best things that have happened in my life have come about without any pain at all.
While some of the benefits of tai chi may be less than earth shattering they are there and as we all know, every little bit helps.
Healthy Benefits of Tai Chi
Many practitioners of Tai Chi have noted benefits including a resurgence of muscle control and even rapid recovery from illnesses, diseases and surgical operations. While the benefits are not always that spectacular or rewarding, the art of Tai Chi really does prove that some of the best things in life can be slow, calculated and peaceful. Some people have found it easier to walk, easier to do everyday things, and that they have more stamina and energy on an everyday basis thanks to Tai Chi. Others just have a more optimistic outlook and general appreciation of life through the philosophies of Tai Chi Chuan, Tai Chi Yang or any other Tai Chi form that they let into their lives.
But how? But why? How can something so graceful and slow actually have a positive effect on our health and our bodies? Some people attribute it all the way back to traditional Chinese medicine while others believe it has a lot more to do actually body mechanics. The truth is that whatever opinion you choose to believe, you can enjoy the health benefits of Tai Chi as long as you have an open mind.
Traditional Chinese Medicine Philosophy
From this perspective of Tai Chi, it is believed that health benefits come about from your own personal energy and overall well being. Each Tai Chi form is built around the idea that the body consists of a sort of electric, energy system. This energy, or Qi, is carried throughout the body the same way that blood flows through the veins and any interruption of the flow of the Qi can lead to mental and physical illness. Thus, the movements that are the basis of all forms of Tai Chi are intended to stimulate the Qi to flow freely through the body and to the major organs. When the Qi can run freely through the body, people are well. While this idea is not generally accepted by Western philosophy, it is often very hard to argue with the results.
The Western Philosophy of Tai Chi
The idea that is more generally accepted in the Western World is that Tai Chi benefits the body and mind through mechanical effects. The repetition and focus on correct spinal alignment, body posture and the release and tension of pressure can relieve stress on joints, pain in the back, and even improve the digestive system.
The main movement that is consistent in all forms of Tai Chi is the shift of weight from joint to joint with a focus on proper balance. This allows for a natural flow of nutrients to the joints which makes it easier to move and stretch later on. While the exercises and positions of Tai Chi may look easy, you are actually incorporating a number of free flowing movements at once which increases your flexibility and overall range of motion.
It doesn’t feel like work and it doesn’t wear you down, yet you still get a number of invigorating and life changing benefits. That isn’t even to mention the psychological benefits that can come from slowing down, taking the time for yourself and screening out all distractions. You get a healthier, more flexible, and more in tune body, along with complete peace of mind. It doesn’t get much better than that.
How to Get Started and Learn Tai Chi
If you want to get started with Tai Chi you have a number of options available to you. You can learn from Tai Chi masters and look for local classes in your area or invest in Tai Chi DVD’s or books. If you want a first hand lesson then you might want to take a look at Taoist.org which can help you find local classes that are lead by experienced trainers. The best part about those classes is that the setting is very relaxed and easy going which cuts away any apprehensions you might have about entering a classroom setting.
While there are videos that can teach you Tai Chi form and the movements, books around often the best way to go about really getting in touch with the spirit of mind that Tai Chi teaches you to embrace. One of the best options on the market is “The Complete Book of Tai Chi Chuan” which is practical and comes complete with illustrations and step by step instructions. It isn’t overwhelming if you are just getting into the basics of movement, power and flexibility and is just in-depth enough to make a true impact on your life………mind, body and spirit.
“Tai chi does not mean oriental wisdom or something exotic. It is the wisdom of your own senses, your own mind and body together as one process. ” (Chungliang Al Huang)
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8 Ways to Burn More Calories without Hitting the Gym
We have all known the secret to weight loss for years. We need to burn away more calories than we ingest and it really can be as simple as that. It is easy to understand and reasonably easy to calculate but incredibly hard to pull of. Gathering the will power to jump up in the morning and get to the gym is a lot easier said than done.
I am not going to say anything unbelievable such as exercise isn’t important, but the good news is that there are other ways. It is important to exercise on a regular basis but there other little things that you can do to give yourself a weight loss boost.
Here are 8 excellent ways to burn more calories everyday that do not revolve around exercise
Burn Calories While you Eat
Eating properly is without a doubt one of the most important steps towards losing weight. Sure skipping out on junk food is a given, but did you know that there are a number of foods that can actually help your body burn calories rather than packing them on? The smarter you eat the more calories you can burn and the easier it will be to lose weight. So where do you begin? With foods such as celery, apples, lettuce, cucumber, zucchini and hot chili peppers. Just remember to stick to a balanced diet and utilize a variety of foods throughout the day.
Eat Less, More Often
Many experts are starting to note that eating more frequently can train your body to burn more calories and get into a healthy routine. If you eat 700 calories in one meal it is much harder for your body to break it down rather than eating 2 meals or a few snacks that equal out to 700 calories. When you begin a meal your body almost instantly burns some calories as it prepares itself to digest food. If you only eat 2 or 3 times a day then your body only has to do this a few times, however if you eat 5 or 6 times your digestive system will have to get geared up more often and thus burn more calories. Just keep your meals small and light and ensure you do not take in more calories than you normally do.
Love Breakfast
There are more than a few reasons why you should not skip breakfast. It isn’t even a subject of debate anymore as eating breakfast can get your digestion up and burning calories first thing in the morning. Skipping out on breakfast slows down your metabolism and ensures you are not burning as many calories as you could.
Power Up with Protein
Protein is one of the hardest things for your body to break down. Your digestive system has to go into overtime to digest protein which means that you are burning more calories while you consume it. Ingest certain proteins that are low in calories and better yet, eat them during breakfast and your weight loss goals are sure to benefit.
Put in Effort to Prepare your Meal
The little things that we do during the day can go along way towards burning extra calories and helping you look your best. Walk to the store to get ingredients for lunch and prepare it yourself. Ordering pizza for delivery or getting fast food through the drive thru is like a double whammy. You are ingesting lots of calories while losing an opportunity to burn some off. Incorporate ways to get moving while you prepare your meals and your body is sure to thank you.
Burn Calories while Drinking
Food isn’t the only thing that we consume that can help burn extra calories. If you make smart decisions and choose the right fluids you can also benefit from a number of things. If you are trying to burn the most calories possible then there are two important fluids you need; tea and water.
Water is one of our life lines and is really important for weight loss. The body has to work hard to absorb and use up the water that you drink, which means it is burning calories the entire time. Too many people do not consume enough water throughout the day and that is leading to their struggle to lose weight. Water really is a win-win as it helps burn calories without packing any on.
Green tea is another key for your weight loss goals. It has been proven by a number of sources to possess quite a few calorie burning properties. When you consume it your body will burn more calories than it brings in which can obviously boost weight loss. While green tea is a better choice you can also opt for black, caffeinated tea if you prefer the taste. Just be sure to avoid milk and sugar as they are unnecessary fillers that pack on the calories.
Burn Calories by Chewing Gum
The truth is that you will not be able to burn an incredible amount of calories by chewing gum, but every little bit helps. If you chew gum as often as you can, then the calories burned can definitely add up over time. The key is to choose a 0 calorie gum and to check in with your dentist before constantly chomping away. Your dentist will be able to steer you away from gum that can be bad for your teeth and help make sure you can take advantage of this calorie burning trick.
Move Around Often and Fast
Even putting the topic of exercise aside, you are still going to have to move around as much as possible to burn calories. Try to get yourself into the habit of doing normal activities with an extra little bit of oomph and speed. Simply walking to your car after work a bit faster and washing the dishes with a little extra vigor can prove to burn more calories than you might expect. Fitting in this type of movement can get you some much needed exercise without you feeling like you are overworking yourself. Get yourself a calorie counter that can show you how many calories you have burnt throughout the day from just moving around and doing what you have to do.
Losing weight can seem like an impossible goal, but just remember that every little bit helps. Keep moving, make smart choices and burn as many calories as you can throughout the day. Even if you do not want to lose weight the more calories you burn the more you can enjoy the foods you love, in moderation.
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Meditation for Beginners; Changing Your Life with Meditation is Easier Than You Think
Meditation
Hectic modern life brings with it a lot of stress and tension, which can easily lead you to being unhealthy and frustrated. The effects of stress can show up directly on your health and your medical bills. While it is true that stress can be relieved through exercise sometimes life simply becomes so busy that hitting the gym is just out of question. Other times exercise cannot always put your mind to ease they way you need it to. If this is the case then meditation can be a powerful tool. The good news is that meditation does not need to be intimidating either or always require a severe change in lifestyle.
Benefits of Meditation
Meditation is one of the most effective and proven ways to cut down on stress that has ever been known to mankind. Just 10-15 minutes of meditation a day can help you find inner peace and balance. If your mind is calm and peaceful, you will be tension free and experience happiness like never before. Regular meditation makes you calm and composed and as a result you become more focused and efficient in work. It’s like a savior from many of the common physical and mental health issues. In a nutshell, meditation is a path to true happiness in life.
Easy Meditation Techniques
If meditation sounds tough to you, the following techniques will show you how easily you can conquer your mind. With no pre-requisites at all, even beginners will find that meditation is not rocket science.
Concentrative Meditation
In this technique, the attention is focused on your breath or a sound,mantra, in order to still the mind and bring calmness inside. A simple exercise is to sit quietly and focus on the breath as you inhale and exhale, trying to make it regular and deep. There is a direct relation between your state of mind and your breath which means the key is to focus in on it. When you are disturbed and agitated, your breath tends to become irregular and shallow. On the contrary, when you are happy and calm, your breath becomes regular and deep. This technique is particularly for beginners and can be your first experience to the magic of meditation. It takes no change in lifestyle and no experience yet can effectively rid your mind of stress and allow you to relax.
Zen Based Meditation
This technique involves paying attention to the train of thoughts, feelings and images inside your mind without being involved with them. What you do is basically sit quietly while concentrating on the thoughts going on in the mind without reacting or getting involved with them. The objective is to attain concentration without being distracted with all of the thoughts. You allow the thoughts, images and feelings inside your mind to come out and you take control of them so they do not interfere with your concentration. You acknowledge they exist and you do not ignore the feelings but you take control and push them aside for the time being. Through this Zed based meditation you allow true peace to enter your mind and focus on positive energies that can warm your soul.
Mantra Meditation
In this kind of meditation, the main principle is to recite a mantra repeatedly without letting your thoughts wander. The mantra can be self-made or one which you might have read from another source. There are a number of positive reinforcement books that you can look into that can honestly change your life. The simple repetition of positive thoughts or something that inspires you allows your mind to focus on it and spurn negative thoughts aside. If you tell yourself something positive over and over again then the chances that it will happen are greatly increased.
While many people are unwilling to accept that simple meditation and positive thinking can have such an impact, it has changed the lives of many people. It is becoming more mainstream every day and for good reason. A positive mantra can provide you with a lot of positive energy to keep you vibrant throughout the day and get you that much closer to your goals and true happiness.
Meditation Posture and Timing
Although meditation has no time restrictions, there are many that discuss the benefits of meditating early on in the morning. This is the time when your mind is clearest to start off with, which makes it easier to get started and find a calm, peaceful feeling. On top of that, proper meditation can give you an energetic and revitalized feeling for the rest of the day.
The best posture for meditation is truly whatever makes you comfortable. The suggested and most appropriate position is to sit with your back straight and legs crossed in order to avoid sluggishness and sleepiness. However, if you are not able to obtain this posture, sit in the closest possible posture that you find comfortable. If you force yourself to sit cross legged even though it is not comfortable you will not be able to put your mind at ease the way you need to.
Meditation brings you peace and happiness which will reflect in your relationships and work. It is about far more than just stress relief as it truly can help you learn more about yourself, grow as a person and improve every faucet in your life. Open your mind and your soul and allow the positive change to enter your life. The only thing you need to do is be open to the positive that meditation can bring and be willing to give it a try. If you need a little push to get started then it is often recommended that you start with pre-written mantras that can be found in a number of books. Once you have experience and are more comfortable you can begin to write your own mantras and make an even bigger impact on your life, for the better.
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10 Best Foods to make you Look Better and Feel Younger Naturally
Who doesn’t want to look and feel younger these days? Even if people are completely happy with their appearance, deep down we are built to always want to try and take the next step and improve.
The problem is that major brands and their marketing plans have caused so many of us to turn to expensive, chemically produced, and overdone products. They play on our fears, our desires, our wants and our need to be better, look better and feel better in order for us to buy into their products.
Do a number of the high end products work? Most likely. Do they utilize some effective and useful ingredients? Absolutely.
Alternatives for Healthy Skin and a Healthy Body
Truth be told though, we cannot all afford those high end, luxurious products. The good news is that there are alternatives. There are a number of natural and healthy foods that can bring to fruition the many benefits offered by expensive products on the market, without the chemicals or the gut wrenching price tag.
I am not selling anything, I am not saying that cosmetic companies are the bane of existence or that all that makeup, all those creams or all of those lotions you have are a waste of money. All I am saying is we can all save a little bit of money and take advantage of these top 10 foods that will make you feel and look younger and better. And do you want to know the best part of them all?
They are easy to find, completely natural and can make you look and feel better inside and out. That is a lot more than that anti-aging cream on your night table can say, isn’t it?
Top Food to Look Better and Feel Younger #1- Firm up your Skin with Wild and Fatty Fish
Wild, fatty fish is an excellent food choice if you want to firm up your skin. The fish is extremely rich is omega-3 fatty acids, which is why wild fish is becoming known as a pretty powerful “beauty food”. Your skin can wrinkle and even dry up thanks to factors such as pollution and sun damage, but omega-3s have the ability to fight off those effects and protect the structure of your skin as well as the collagen.
Top Food to Look Better and Feel Younger #2- Empower your Teeth and Gums with Yogurt
A number of studies have come about that have cited dairy products as the reason for some skin problems. Accordingly, a number of people have been scared off from dairy. The good news is that low-fat yogurt is in fact the major exception in these studies, and the phosphorous and calcium within it can give the enamel on your tooth a big boost. Better enamel means less cavities and a more beautiful smile. Want an added bonus? The probiotics in yogurt can also help you digest your food which means fewer toxins can get comfortable and make a home out of your body.
Top Food to Look Better and Feel Younger #3- Better Skin, Nails and Hair with Oysters
Oysters have a very high zinc content which can promote healthy skin repair and renewal, as well as give your hair and nails that little extra power to grow in a healthier way. If you cannot stomach the thought of oysters then you can also turn to alternatives such as white beans or crab meat which can help bring the same benefits.
Top Food to Look Better and Feel Younger #4- Sweet, Smooth Skin with Sweet Potatoes
Not only are sweet potatoes a healthy alternative for a number of other food choices but they can also give your skin some much needed revitalization. They are packed with a variety of vitamins, protein, beta-carotene and even complex carbohydrates, which can all do wonders for the look and feel of your skin.
Top Food to Look Better and Feel Younger #5- Improve your Eyes with Blueberries
Blueberries have become known as one of the best superfoods available due to their powerful antioxidant punch and their ability to protect your body from enzymes. However, what you may not already know is that these wonder berries can help improve your skin’s elastin which can help decrease the damage done by UV light and even reverse the affects of brain aging.
Top Food to Look Better and Feel Younger #6-Spinach isn’t Just for Popeye
Leafy, dark vegetables, and most notably spinach, are rich in selenium and glutathion which can empower your body’s cells so that they can get rid of nasty toxins and hold on tightly to helpful nutrients. These kinds of vegetables act much in the same way as blueberries when it comes to the use of antioxidants and can reverse skin aging and protect your skin from normal aging issues that come over time.
Top Food to Look Better and Feel Younger #7- The Power of Processed Tomatoes
While we have always been told that eating fruits and vegetables in their natural form right when they are fresh is the best way, that isn’t always the case. In fact tomatoes that are processed in sauces and pastes actually are capable of absorbing more lycopene, which is the antioxidant that makes them so good for your skin. Recent studies are showing that lycopene may even prevent diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease and even macular degeneration.
Top Food to Look Better and Feel Younger #8- Your Skin will go Nuts for……Nuts
The alpha-linolenic acid and vitamin E that is found in nuts can do wonders for your skin. Keep in mind that too many nuts can pack on a bit of a caloric hike, but a few almonds or walnuts a day is a great idea. The alpha-linolenic acid is considered to be one of the essential fatty acids and can help ward off bone loss and heart disease. It also has the ability to keep your skin hydrated which means it looks younger, longer.
Top Food to Look Better and Feel Younger #9-Rejuvenate your Skin with Whole Grains
You have a lot of options when it comes to whole grains which can make it so much fun to fit them into your diet. Grains that are high in fibre such as quinoa, spelt, kasha and kamut all have the ability to keep our blood sugar in check. Increased blood sugar levels can devastate the collagen in your skin and lead to scaly and dry skin which can cause wrinkles.
Top Food to Look Better and Feel Younger #10- Go Cuckoo for Cacao
Isn’t this what everybody loves to hear? Chocolate can actually be good for you. It really doesn’t get much better than that. Cacao contains an incredible amount of antioxidants that are beneficial for your skin, but the key is to stick to high quality, dark chocolate. Obviously going overboard is never a good thing, so just try to sprinkle some dark chocolate on top of foods or into a smoothie for your skin to benefit from increased blood flow thanks to cacao.