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Thursday, January 15, 2009

Amazing Power of a Little Acai Berry

By Sue Thompson

Everyone wants to know, is the Acai berry for real or is it just another fad? There are hundreds of diet and supplements in the market, and it is difficult to know which ones really work. Now if that wasnt bad enough, theres also all the contradicting information that can really be overwhelming.

The Asai berry is the latest weight loss craze to hit the market. It is a small fruit from Brazil that contains omega-3 and omega 6 fatty acids. It also has lots of fiber and amino acids. All these ingredients do its weight loss work by increasing your metabolism enabling your body to burn tremendous amounts of calories.

The remarkable thing about the Acai berry is that it also offers a multitude of other health benefits. It has anti-aging properties which help in improving the appearance of your skin. It is also known to be an effective cure for different ailments. If you are not suffering from any medical problem or are already in great shape, including the Acai berry into your diet can still boost your overall health. You can enjoy all these benefits by taking Acai berry vitamins or pills. Or, if you prefer, you can mix an Acai berry powdered supplement with water and take it as a drink.

Acai berry and water is a very powerful weight loss tandem. You not only allow your body to enjoy the health benefits of the Acai, but you also harness the health giving and weight reducing powers of water. The result is amazing. Nothing is safer and works better for our bodies than something that is 100% natural. And there is probably nothing more natural and potent than water and Acai combined.

The verdict is out. The Acai berry is more than a fad. It is a revolution in health and weight loss for those of us who are just hearing about it for the first time. The Brazilians have been enjoying its weight loss and health benefits for a many years. This lowly fruit offers new hope for people who have been continually struggling with their weight problems. The Acai berry may even be the answer to our societys obesity problem which has reached epidemic proportions. You can be a success story yourself, if you want a natural and safe way to loose weight, then try the Acai berry.

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Clay Cooking for Healthier Meals

By Jana Banks

Recently our family enjoyed a delicious pot roast dinner served with steamed asparagus on the side and sweet baked bananas for dessert. And how were these scrumptious dishes prepared? In clay! Generally, when we plan on roasting a turkey, baking a fish, cooking a chicken or steaming fresh vegetables, we usually use cookware made of stainless steel, aluminum, copper, or ceramic. However many people around the world use cooking vessels made of clay. Even here in the United States there are many loyal clay pot users who imagine the only people who don't enjoy clay pot cooking are the ones that haven't tried it.

Clay pot cooking can trace its roots back thousands of years to a time when prepared meats were swaddled in mud and tossed into the hot embers of a fire. Then, as the clay dried in the heat, the food began cooking inside. Once the cooking was finished, the "pot" was broken open and the cooked and juicy meat was removed for eating.

Clay cooking is generally thought to be quite a healthy way to cook food because the food does not need any additional oils and fats added to create moist and tender results. Before cooking, the cookware should be soaked in water before placing the ingredients inside. This is done to allow the clay to absorb the moisture, which is a factor that helps to deliver such juicy results. If a pot is placed in a pre-heated oven it is likely to crack, so always be sure to set the filled clay pot inside a cold oven prior to setting the temperature at approximately 450 degrees. Check your recipe for the exact temperature recommended.

You'll find an array of recipes available that have been adapted for cooking in clay. One example of a tasty dish is Beggar's Chicken. You simply combine chicken legs with a few spices such as ginger, pepper, and garlic plus some flavoring sauces such as sherry and soy. After baking in your clay cooker, serve with a side of rice pilaf, pasta and a fresh salad or vegetable.

Clay pots also serve perfectly as slow cookers and stockpots too. You can make any number of your favorite soups, stocks, and casseroles in these versatile cookers. Whether you're in the mood for a rich pea soup, a creamy potato soup, a layered vegetarian casserole, or beef stew, the clay cookware cooks evenly and slowly producing perfectly flavorful foods your family is sure to enjoy.

I purchased Romertopf clay, starting with the medium clay baker, but I think I'll be adding to that soon. The cookware is quite attractive and can even be used as a serving dish. The pots come in different sizes and styles and range from garlic bakers to fish roasters, apple bakers, and more. If you enjoy cooking and are in the market for some new cookware, then be sure to check out the selection of clay cookware available. You're sure to love cooking in clay, and you'll probably get hooked like a lot of other clay cookware fans.

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Chakra Color Therapy For a Better Life

By Jonathan Benjem

The enlightened people have always advocated finding inner peace through internal energy reservoir. In other words, you can improve your life without any external aid, and by concentrating on improving the functioning of seven primary energy centers (chakras) within the body. Balancing the movement of these spinning energy vortexes (primary charkas) is the key to improving your life in all aspects " physical, emotional, and spiritual.

These seven Chakras each have a distinct color associated with them, which governs its movement " balanced or imbalanced. If there is an imbalance, you can correct it by employing Chakra Color Therapy to the relevant imbalanced Chakra.

A brief description of the primary chakras and their associated colors is enunciated below:

1. The Root Chakra, or Muladhara, is located at the base of the spine. This chakra is associated with our basic survival needs, vitality, and courage. The associated color is Red, which is known for its qualities of vitality, and provides energy on all levels.

2. The Sacral Chakra, or Svadhisthana, is located just below the navel. This chakra is associated with our sexual drive and emotions. The associated color is Orange, which is known for its qualities of success, self-confidence, and independence of thoughts.

3. The Solar Plexus Chakra, or Manipura, is located just above the navel. This chakra is associated with will, identity, and power. The associated color is Yellow, which is known for its qualities of self-worthiness, clarity of thought, and intellect.

4. The Heart Chakra, or Anahata, is located in the center of the chest. This chakra is associated with love, compassion, and self-expression. The associated color is Green, which is known for its qualities of intimacy and forgiveness.

5. The Throat Chakra (or Vishuddha), situated at the base of the throat, is associated with communication, creativity, and resonance. Blue is the color associated with this chakra, which empowers the body with the sense of self-identification and clarity in communication.

6. The Third Eye Chakra (Ajna) is situated between the eyebrows. This sixth chakra is associated with the sixth-sense feelings that are demonstrated through intuitions and apprehensions. The color associated with this chakra is Indigo. The attributes of Indigo color for the body include visualization, self-responsibility, and understanding.

7. The Crown Chakra (Sahasrara) is situated on top of the head. This seventh chakra is associated with knowledge and wisdom. The color associated with this Chakra is Violet. The attributes of Violet color for the body includes spiritual awareness and self-knowledge.

Chakra Color Therapy refers to simple practices of using and incorporating the relevant colors in our routine lives in order to correct the imbalanced Chakra. For this, the first obvious step is to identify the Chakra whose movements are disturbed and thereby, inviting an adverse reactions from the body.

The next step is Color Breathing. This is simple exercise of relaxation with all the seven (colored) cloth swatches besides you. After identifying the disturbed chakra by going through the events of the day, take the colored cloth swatch, and lay them on the body part associated with the affected chakra. Close your eyes, take deep breaths, and visualize the color being absorbed by the chakra. The constant practice of this process for 5-10 minutes should be enough for the balancing of the affected Chakra. If more than one Chakra is out of balance, repeat the process for the imbalanced Chakras.

This simple exercise daily for 5-10 minutes will help in maintaining the chakra balance in your body. So, if you are having any bodily, mental or spiritual problem, you know Chakra Color Therapy is the easiest way out of your misery.

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Get Yourself Covered By Health Insurance Today

By Ethan Kalvin

We are all aware of the political debates going on in Washington these days regarding the possibility of providing health care for all Americans. And though the discussions sometimes seem to take more attention than they should, there is one segment of the population that is overlooked in the debates, and that is unmarried young adults. Young single adults are more likely to be uninsured than other groups for many reasons.

Young single people today are often overlooked when it comes to providing health insurance coverage. Right after graduating college, they take their first jobs and usually end up in a entry level position. As insurance rates go up, companies are continually looking for ways to keep costs low, and excluding health insurance to employees in certain jobs is one way they do it.

Many young adults who don't have health care coverage, don't seem to be very worried about it. They've never felt better and are able to bounce back quickly after a cold or the flu. They are entering the prime of their lives as young adults and they are full of passion for life. Chronic disease is something for old people, certainly not the young.

So what options are available to young singles? There are three. The first is to not worry about your health and hope nothing goes wrong. In the event of a serious health issue, you can just let it go, ride it out, and hope it doesn't kill you. Not a very attractive option. Second, you can keep an eye on your health and pay out-of-pocket for preventative medicine. If something serious occurs, you can apply for government assistance. This is better than the first option, but still not the greatest.

The final option is clearly the best choice. It requires the young adult to get covered under an individual health insurance plan. The cost up front will likely hurt your pocketbook, but in the long run, it is the safest and wisest bet. It may seem very important to have the latest fashions and electronic gadgets, but without your health, you wouldn't be able to enjoy them anyway. Do yourself a favor and make yourself number one. Get some health insurance.

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Health And Well-Being Plan For 2009

By Colon Bolden

Okay folks it's 2009 and you definately can do much more than any doctor to maintain your health and well-being. But you must have that mindset and get into the habit of health by starting a health plan.

At the age of 50, individuals with good health habits can be physically 30 years younger than those with poor health habits. In other words, at age 50 you can feel as if you're 65 years old or 35 years old. It's up to you to make it happen. If you make it happen, you'll feel better and accomplish more in the long run if you develop the habit of health.

The major health problems in the United States are chronic, long-term illness in middle age and later, trauma at young ages. These illnesses include heart disease, cancer, emphysema, and liver cirrhosis, and cause nearly 90% of all deaths. They also account for about 90% of all sickness in the United States.

Two-thirds of these cases of illnesses can be prevented. The illness and pain associated with disease, as well as the deaths can be greatly reduced by a good plan for health which should be done at all times.

Here are a few examples what a good health plan can do for you. Lets say only two years after our last cigarette you return to the normal risk level for heart attacks. Lets say after 10 years you're back to nearly normal risk level for lung cancer. Lets say in only a few weeks, exercise programs begin to contribute to your outstanding health and well-being.

As I might add, for most chronic diseases, not only can you show the rate of progression, but you can also reverse part of the damage.

As a bonus, your plan for good health and getting into a habit of health can prevent many nagging nonfatal health problems such as hernias, back pain, varicose veins, and osteoporosis.

To sum this article up and I hope you're getting what I'm trying to say, by developing the habit of health, you can reduce the amount of illness you'll have in your life. You will feel so much better and have so much energy because good health has its own rewards.

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Health Benefits with the Best Home Air Filters

By Marc Johnson

Air purification is a broadening market as more and more individuals realize the underlying benefits of taking in fresher air. With reasonable prices of around 100 bucks for several brands they can be afforded by most individuals.

When you take into account all of the health benefits you realize from using an air purifier in your home that looks to be a very moderate price. Nonetheless, there are some very real differences in air purifiers that you ought to be aware of before coming to a final determination about which model is correct for you. In fact, you might be surprised to discover that the most beneficial home air purifier isn't inevitably the most expensive version on the market.

New Engineering

Ionic purification functions by binding ions to contaminants and using a collection plate to to extract them right out of the air. It's a new technology that has good potential yet, and it will proceed to be developed as the years pass. Regrettably, some brands create ozone as a result.

While you might believe that ozone is advantageous for the environment if you think back to the big scare near the conclusion of the twentieth century with the huge hole in the ozone layer, ozone is not good to our health. Therefore, the most beneficial home air purifier is one that doesn't create ozone, which can worsen allergic reactions and even increase the danger of an asthma attack.

Rather, the most beneficial room air purifier normally utilizes HEPA filters (at least for now, until the processes of ionic air purification are bettered and healthy enough to be applied in the most effective home air purifiers). For those not familiar with the term, HEPA means high efficiency particulate air, and these filters have been reported to remove up to an impressive 99.7% of the drosses from the air you breathe. The term HEPA isn't any particular make or brand name instead it is the type of filter that numerous high end purifiers use. The government has set criteria for efficiency on these and you should make certain that the brand you are looking at meets these standards.

Using the best home air purifiers permits you to breathe more easily, which can give you more energy and allow you to sleep better at night. Many who suffer from allergies and pollen will observe a very quick improvement .

Pollen, dust, and other allergens will no longer have the same life stopping effects as before. As an added incentive they will make your house smell good and clean which is a real plus for those who have got pets or who smoke. Too often individuals become absorbed with pills, dieting, and exercise solely for good health, but healthy air is every bit as essential.

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Good Health and Vinegar

By Marie C Perrow

Vinegar has been used for more than ten thousand years and documented history tells us that vinegar has been an important condiment. Uses of vinegar range from beauty aides, effective germ fighter, preservative, antiseptic and general medicine. People have used vinegar to improve their health for decades. Vinegar is not a new idea as it has been used in worldwide cultural medicines for many years aiding the health of animals and humans alike.

Improving your health with vinegar is easy. Vinegar, when naturally fermented contains no fat, has low salt content and a rich source of trace elements, vitamins and minerals including sulphur, magnesium, iron, calcium, phosphorus plus enzymes. All in all a natural way to approach a feeling of wellness.

When buying vinegar to improve your health it is essential to steer clear of diluted, highly filtered, over processed and over heated brands. You can do this by reading the labels and looking for the words organic, pure, unfiltered, aged in wood. These varieties may not look as attractive and are more likely to be found in a health food shop rather than on the supermarket shelves, and will cost more.

There are many types of vinegar with different flavors and aromas and personally I prefer the taste of the sweet dark, expensive balsamic vinegars to those found in the supermarket. One of the most nutritious vinegars is apple cider vinegar, but vinegar can also be made from potatoes, melons, honey, molasses, beets, sorghum, maple syrup, cactus, grapes and coconuts.

Cave dwellers of the stone age used vinegar as a means of getting healthy. History tells us that the Greek and Roman soldiers used it as a source of power and strength, as did Japanese Samurai warriors. High protein meals and heavy foods are easily digested when vinegar is added and may explain why it is a favourite with "Fish and Chips" one of the most popular foods in our diet. Mint sauce, the accompaniment to Lamb also has that familiar tang.

Looking at other ways to improve your health with vinegar brings us to taking stock of a short list with more information in further articles to come: Effective fighter of bacterial and fungal infections Dandruff and flaky scalp rinse. Enzymes to help keep your gallbladder healthy Aides indigestion and liver stagnation Painful arthritis and osteoporosis even aides memory loss For the relief athlete's foot when used in a footbath Ear infections in children Blood pressure regulator Dietary aide in losing weight

If you are a keen gardener, you can also improve your health with vinegar by using it as a preventative measure against backache especially as vinegar will kill those prolific nuisance weeds like Clover, Dandelion, Thistle and Ragweed thus easing the strain on your back by not having to wrestle with stubborn weeds. The multiple health benefits abound when you use vinegar to get rid of weeds because the chemicals found in many synthetic weed killers can be extremely dangerous to our pets, the wildlife in our gardens, and not to forget, to us and our children.

If you are interested in organic gardening then vinegar is considered biodegradable and therefore comes into this category. I have it on good authority that there is no need to worry Worried about the PH levels in your soil when using vinegar? Well there is no need, because although vinegar decreases PH levels it is an organic substance and it will restore to its original PH within two days.

Therefore you can improve your health with vinegar, keep your garden weed free and thriving, without the backache of pulling each weed by hand

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Skincare Dangers: Stay Away from These Chemical

By Marilyn Etzel

There are so many skincare products on the market that it is hard to choose which ones to use. They all claim that they will beautify our skin but only using them will show us if they are right for us, right? Before you try every skincare product on the market, here is a list of chemicals that you should try to avoid in your skincare products.

1. Alcohol"Alcohols have a drying effect on the skin. When you blow on them, they disappear but they also take some moisture with them. shampoos containing alcohols dry the scalp and weaken the hair over time. Any listed ingredient that ends in the suffix, -ols is a dead giveaway.

2. Parabens"These substances are found in many beauty and skincare products. It is not a substance that people take the time to recognize but people do have allergies to them. the substance itself is added for shelf life-to avoid growth of bacteria in the product. With so many ingredients you wouldnt know if you were sensitive to parabens necessarily so try to stay away from them anyway.

3. Perfumes"Companies work hard to produce a new scent that people will like. Even though you may like the smell, it can cause skin irritations or allergies if the right chemicals are mixed together. A rule of thumb is to avoid skincare products that are scented. Look for words like hypoallergenic when buying skincare products.

4. Phthalates"This word is hard to pronounce and with good reason. It is normally found in plastic to increase its flexibility. A chemical like that doesnt belong in any substance that goes on your body. But, it does wind up in some lotions and even soap.

5. Dyes"We never wonder where the color comes from in our skincare products. It adds flare to the packaging to entice the consumer but it does more than that. Read your labels. Dyes can dry out your skin or cause rashes and other nasty skin irritations for those with sensitive skin or allergies.

Reading labels is important. The more that you know about what you are buying, the less likely you are to purchase a skincare product containing one of these chemicals. Since the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) doesnt regulate skincare products, it is up to us to police them.

We hope that manufacturers wouldnt sell us a bad bill of goods but it happensa lot. The only thing that these manufacturers are required to do is list ingredients on the label according to how much is included. Even with skincare products claiming to be all-natural, check the label to validate their claim.

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Pomegranate Blueberry and Acai Berry Juice

By Pete Roberts

Wholesome acai products come in many forms. You can usually get these acai berry products in capsules, or powder forms. The most common form is acai puree. Acai berry products are one of natures outstanding supplements to hit the market in the last couple years.

Acai berry tastes comparable to blueberry's with a touch of chocolate or cinnamon. The powder normally combines with yoghurt or smoothies. Acai powder or puree mixes well with other juices like grape, pomegranate or blueberry and you may even be using it for an acai berry diet.

Acai berries has one of the highest ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity). This is a measure of antioxidant capacity of supplements or foods. Acai is higher than blueberries and pomegranates. Pure acai products should contain no fillers of course some will add organic sugar and boast a 100% organic product. Your acai product may have added refined sugars or fillers. Guarana is a sugar, stimulant and is sometimes utilized as a filler in acai products so that is something else to consider on the label.

Acai contains fiber, protein vitamins A and C and potassium. The other surprising property acai berry has it it also has essential fatty acids Omegas 3, 6 and 9 these good fats are essential for the overall wellness of our body. Acai products such as juice, powder or capsules are one of the highest antioxidants that also have omegas 3, 6 and 9 which is quite remarkable for a berry product.

If you are reviewing pure acai products or if you are on an acai diet look at products that do not incorporate sugar. If you are diabetic or need to eliminate sugar due to health issues you need pure acai berry products not ones that are loaded with sugar or fillers. You need a product that is kosher and certified Brazilian acai berry and it should be processed and refined at the source. Your finest acai products will be pure 100% organic and processed in a USDA certified facility.

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Anne's Chronic Fatigue Recovery - After 10 years of suffering

By Russell Stubbs

Anne was a Norwegian mother of two who was thirty nine years old. She suffered a virus in 1999 and never completely recovered. Initially Anne was diagnosed with post viral syndrome (PVFS). Over time this developed into M.E. (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis), sometimes known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. She developed a sensitivity to sound and light. She also suffered with extreme fatigue, IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) and Insomnia.

The years drifted by in a haze due to the brain fog she was suffering. Anne was tested for most other health conditions by the doctor, all results came back negative. She tried CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy), graded exercise and pacing. Nothing improved her condition or gave her any relief. Anne looked into alternative approaches and tried acupuncture, homeopathy, osteopathy, herbalism amongst others. She got some short term improvement but nothing lasted.

After suffering a lot of physical pain Anne was was diagnosed with fibromyalgia. The doctor offered her painkillers and anti-depressants. In year nine of the illness, Anne heard of a fellow sufferer from Norway who had traveled to the U.K. to be trained in a programme named the Phil Parker Lightning Process. She came across more stories on the Internet of ME/CFS sufferers who were now well. They had rapidly turned their health around after taking part in this training. The speed of recovery being reflected in the name -- The Lightning Process.

Anne couldn't believe that these people had been suffering in the same way as her. This physical illness was affecting most of her bodily systems - how could this be helped by a training programme? Throughout the year, more recovery stories appeared in the Norwegian papers. Anne decided to try The Lightning Process herself. She found that some U.K. practitioners were traveling to Norway to run Lightning Process courses. It was six weeks before the ME/CFS recovery course in Oslo when Anne contacted me.

I told Anne, that unlike other Lightning Process practitioners, I also included a number of other techniques within the recovery course. I explained to Anne that she could start straight away with some self-help resources. They are all designed to re-train the autonomic nervous system. Anne visited my website where she downloaded the necessary information along with the free relaxation recording.

The self-help included self-applied acu-pressure or tapping techniques along with focused breathing practices. By using these simple techniques, Anne was able to reduce the intensity of her symptoms and increase her energy levels. The guided relaxation assisted her to deeply relax which helped with her sleep. Although these alone weren't likely to be an ME/CFS cure, Anne felt hopeful as she learnt to improve her condition, when for so long she had felt helpless.

During The Optimum Energy Training Course Anne learnt The Lightning Process and EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique). The training was for four hours of each day over three days. There was a significant change on day one of the training when the brain fog that she was so used to had finally left her. It wasn't all easy for her and Anne realized that she had to put the work in to get the results she wanted. She spent time practicing all that she had been taught. By the end of the third day she knew that she had the tools and know-how to get 100% better.

After the course I followed up Anne with some telephone coaching. Anne had made great progress, her energy was increasing and symptoms fading as the days passed. She spent the next month working on her fitness and stamina until She was fully well. Anne's story might sound like a miraculous turn-around, but this type of outcome is common through applying these strategies. This approach isn't right for everyone. People have to be ready and prepared to put in the necessary short-term work. For those who are, the results of applying the training can be quite remarkable as they were for Anne.

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