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Archived Articles
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X,Y Z
by Andrew Pacholyk, MS, L.Ac.
1. Grapefruit: In a 2004 study at the Scripps Clinic in La Jolla, California, researchers investigated the effect of grapefruit on weight loss and found that eating half a grapefruit before a meal can help us lose weight. The researchers studied the effect of grapefruit capsules, grapefruit juice and real grapefruit. All three seemed to help, but eating the real grapefruit got the best results. Grapefruits also contains cancer-fighting compounds like liminoids and lycopene, and red grapefruit has been shown to help lower triglycerides. Half a grapefruit has only 39 calories. This makes it a great breakfast food, a super snack between meals or make it a dessert!
2 Sardines: Sardines are high in protein, which helps stabilize blood sugar, making you feel full and helps stimulate metabolism. They're a great source of omega-3s, which not only strengthen the cardiovascular system but also are helpful in boosting mood. Sardines are also free of contaminants, such as mercury and heavy metals.
3. Pumpkin: is considered one of the greatest weight-loss foods ever. Canned pumpkin is absolutely loaded with fiber and has only 40 calories. Dozens of studies show that high fiber intake is associated with a many health benefits, including weight management. Pumpkin is also among the easiest food in the world to prepare. You can sweeten it with your favorite low or 0-calorie sweetener, sprinkle it with blood-sugar-lowering cinnamon and nutmeg for good measure, throw in some healthy almonds and make it one of the best tasting weight-loss treats around. It's filling and delicious. Makes a great dessert, snack or side dish.
4. High-protein diets are associated with weight loss for a variety of reasons: Protein stimulates metabolism, helps you feel full longer and helps decrease the desire to overeat. Protein is important because it allows the brain to synthesis the neurotransmitters dopamine and norepinephrine, which help keep your mind attentive and alert. Excessive protein levels make the organs of digestion work much harder to process this food and robs your energy stores. Find the balance for YOU. Listen to your body! It will tell you what makes you feel good and what does not. Especially in the long term. Consider these great protein foods such as lean beef, lean pork, chicken, turkey, salmon, tuna, and sardines.
5. Carbohydrates provide glucose for energy. Excessive carbohydrates can increase blood sugar levels to dangerous levels, which then makes your body shut down to protect itself. Again, find the balance that is right for YOU. Listen to your body! It will tell you what makes you feel good and what does not.
6. If you have issues with excess heat, (sweating, red face, red skin, inflammation) look at eating foods that have a cooling nature. If you have excess cold (cold fingers, toes, hands, feet, cold abdomen, especially below the navel), look at eating foods that have a warming nature. Neutral foods help to regulate our system.
7. Green Tea is a natural weight-loss stimulant and is a great slimming solution Green tea is rich in antioxidants, promotes heart health, assists digestion and regulates blood sugar and body temperature. It raises the metabolic rate and speeds up fat oxidation, and therefore helps people lose weight. Drink it daily to boost your metabolism. Some research has shown that five cups a day is the magic number for fat loss. As an added benefit, the theanine in green tea is also a great natural de-stressor.
8. Apples and Pears are both great foods for boosting metabolism and weight loss. Apples contain naturally-occurring chemical compounds known as phytochemicals, polyphenols, or flavonoids, some of which have been proven to have antioxidant activity that inhibits, or scavenges, the activity of free radicals in the body. Cell damage from free radicals can be a factor in certain cancers, heart disease, strokes, and other conditions. The major antioxidant components in apples are polyphenols contained mainly in the skin known as quercetin glycoside, phloretin glycoside, chlorogenic acid, and epicatechin. Water rich fresh fruits such as pears, will dilute the calories in your foods, so you can eat more and not overdue the calories. This high fiber fruits is nutritious and keeps the digestive system on track as well as helps to steady the insulin levels, which is going to prevent fat storage. Overweight women who ate the equivalent of three small apples or pears a day lost more weight on a low-calorie diet than women who didnt add fruit to their diet, according to researchers from the State University of Rio de Janeiro. Fruit eaters also ate fewer calories overall.
9. Soups are super! According to a Penn State University study, soup is a super appetite suppressant because its made up of a hunger-satisfying combination of liquids and solids. In the study, women chose one of three 270-calorie snacks before lunch. Women who had chicken and rice soup as a snack consumed an average of 100 fewer calories than those in the study who opted for a chicken and rice casserole or the casserole and a glass of water.
10. Low-Fat Yogurt has shown to boost weight loss efforts, according to a study in the April 2006 issue of Obesity Research. People on a reduced-calorie diet who included three to four servings of dairy foods lost significantly more weight than those who ate a low-dairy diet containing the same number of calories. Low-fat yogurt is a rich source of weight-loss-friendly calcium, providing about 450 mg (about half the recommended daily allowance for women ages 19-50) per 8-ounce serving, as well as 12 grams of protein. It includes calcium, protein and a ton of other nutrients as well as good bacteria for you digestive tract.
excerpt from What's Your Heart Telling You? Finding Love and Romance - The Workbook and Journal
Our website readers, clients, patients and friends have all chimed in wanting to be apart of this Love Manual and workbook so I have given them a chance and have compiled an interesting list of gifts to romance with!
Make your love a gift from scratch; it is more meaningful and personal. - Submitted by Mark
Keep a scrapbook of memories (pictures, bus/plane tickets from when you visited your love, pressed flowers, etc.). Once it is full you can give it to your love. - Submitted by Lisa Wilson
For my boyfriend's birthday I went out and bought a ton of marbles, all different sizes, and sat down with a fine (FINE, FINE, FINE) permanent marker and wrote things on them. I wrote the day we meet, the funny sayings we have, I love you, our names, our silly nicknames, etc. He will look at them from time to time and he said that it really meant a lot to him to have me spend so much time on such small details for a gift. - Submitted by Jenny
Surprise her with an ankle bracelet. Sit her down, rub her feet, tell her you appreciate her, then put the bracelet on her ankle. - Submitted by Butch Pendleton
This year for Valentine's Day I'm writing a fairy tale based on our relationship. I'm going to draw pictures and make it into a book by attaching all of the pages with ribbon. - Submitted by Andrea
Last year I received the most romantic gift from my boyfriend. It was a sculpted heart that he ordered from the web site - a big red heart with his love message inside. - Submitted by Dana
Buy your sweetheart a teddy bear and leave it on their bed with a little note saying: "You can hug me when _____ (write your name here) isn't here." My boyfriend did this for me and I cuddle up to my bear every night, in fact I can't sleep without it! - Submitted by S. Kregs
My boyfriend bought me the cutest stuffed animal and put it in the driver's seat of my car with the seatbelt strapped around it. - Submitted by Princess Angel
For our anniversary, I made my boyfriend a book. I got a 1 inch, 3 ring binder (a photo album could also work) and I got clear plastic folders to stick in the binder. On 100 pieces of computer paper I wrote reasons why I love him. I had 100 reasons in all and on each page was a different reason and a picture of us. I decorated the front with stickers and little pictures of me. He loved it and looks at it all the time. Another idea is to put on the back of the pages quotes or song lyrics that fit your relationship. - Submitted by Jessica
Make ten envelopes with different things written on the outside (like "When You Miss Me" or "When You're Sad") and put something appropriate in each one. Then give them all at once to your boyfriend and make him wait until he's feeling those certain ways to open them. It's pretty funny to watch them get impatient! - Submitted by Sarah Anne
Make your own massage oil. Buy some sweet almond oil at the grocery store, and some of your favorite essential oils (recipes all over the internet). Mix them together and pour into a nifty little 4 oz bottle (preferably colored glass) and give your sweetie a homemade, edible massage. The effort will truly be appreciated! - Submitted by Jennifer Hauserman
A special friend of mine gave me a gift one Christmas that I will always remember. In the box was a velvet bag containing a beautiful wooden hand mirror. With the mirror was a note saying, "I wanted to give you the most beautiful thing in the world for Christmas. I looked and looked, but could not find anything more beautiful than you." Talk about heart melting romance! - Submitted by Britt
My wife and I have been married for three years. Every year I have followed the tradition of: 1 year = paper, 2 years = cotton, 3 years = leather, and so on. On our first anniversary I got her airplane tickets (paper) to a quiet beach in Florida. She had no clue we were going. At 7:00 in the morning on a Saturday I woke her up and gave her an anniversary card and in it was her gift. As you can imagine she was in shock, crying, and jumping up and down with joy. We only went for two days, but it was nice. For our second anniversary I did something a little more difficult. I got her cotton underwear. But I had to do more then give it to her in a gift box. So, I bought 8 blank cards and in each card I wrote a clue or a riddle or a puzzle for her. They all lead her to a store or a business in our town. The hard part was getting people in the store to play along. When she arrived at the store the person working had to give her the next clue. I also had a little gift waiting at each store (for example, a CD at the music store). She loved it! - Submitted by Matt C.
You know the saying: "If it is carved in stone it must be true". Find a stone and carve a little message in it such as: "I Love You Andrea" or "I love You Bob", and then give it to your honey.
- Submitted by Brian Stettler
My boyfriend had to go across the country to a speech competition, so I decided to make him a care package. I got a small box and put in a luv pop for him when "he needs a little loving", a penny "for good luck", a paper star I made because "no matter how he does, he'll always be my shining star", a stone with "love" on it so he will be reminded that he's loved, a picture of us together, a phone card, and a love letter for each day that he's gone. I sprayed the box with my perfume, taped it shut, and made him promise he wouldn't open it until he was on the plane. He loved it! - Submitted by Emily
For my boyfriend's birthday my friends and I blew up a bunch of balloons and I wrote something that I liked about him on each balloon. At 5:00 in the morning on the day of his birthday I put the balloons in the back seat of his car with his presents on the front! He loved it and said that no one has ever done anything that nice for him! - Submitted by Kylie
Gather pictures of your wife/girlfriend/boyfriend from the first day you saw them, to the now and make a card using a color copier. (Be sure to use at least one wedding picture if married.) Make sure the card is covered with pics inside and out. Inside the card write: "I'd do it ALL over again!". This would also work with a small photo album. - Submitted by Mr.Romance
Get a shoe box and leave it blank on the outside. Decorate the inside with whatever you want, but don't forget to put a picture of you on the bottom side of the lid so when he opens it she will see your picture. Then in the bottom write a note telling him that this box is full of blown kisses that he can take out and use when ever he feels blue. - Submitted by Shar Czerwonka
Make her a jigsaw puzzle. You will need to get a picture of the two of you enlarged, and a piece of 1/4" wood the same size as the picture. I downloaded a jigsaw puzzle creation program and used it to get a template for the pieces. Trace the pieces on the wood and cut them out on a jigsaw. Then glue the picture on and use a razor to cut the picture to match the pieces. - Submitted by QM
Buy her a teddy bear and spray it with your cologne, now she can be reminded of you whenever she smells it. - Submitted by Pauline
by Andrew Pacholyk, MS, L.Ac.
Making a sacred space of your own, whether it be an alter, meditation
space, area for your crystal treasures or just room for you to
breath, can be a fun and exciting choice.
1. First, find a space to use on a regular basis for "your" space.
Doing this,conditions your mind to become familiar and therefore feel
relaxed once you are in the space, as it allows you to ascend. In
time, just sitting in your space will immediately relax you.
Your space can be a small area in your home where you can sit with
your eyes closed for at least a few minutes each day. Choose a clean,
quiet place away from all distractions where you can sit on a chair
or on the floor. If you use a chair, choose one that allows you to
keep your back as straight as possible. If you sit on the floor, you
may want to lean your back against something so that you can keep it
straight.
2. Whatever area you choose to use, you first want to cleanse/clear
that space.
Space clearing can be done on a physical level by decluttering your
surroundings. It can also be done on a metaphysical level with such
tools as herbs, salts, crystals, incense, oils and yes, intention.
The power of (halite crystal) sea salt is a safe and effective way to
clear and cleanse any space of negative energy. Sea salt is obtained
by evaporating seawater. Energy in itself, is the vital source, which
radiates from everything and everyone around us. When we are ill,
emotionally upset, angered or imbalanced, our moods and of course,
our energy is altered. Coming in contact with energy that is negative
can often be sensed, even felt. The result is often a feeling of
uneasiness, confusion or an opposed feeling to our current state of
mind. Cleansing with sea salt or rock salt is preferred over iodized,
processed table salt.
Cleansing a room with salt can be done by placing salt in small bowls
and placing them in the 4 corners for 24 hours. Take two teaspoons of
sea salt and dissolve it into some warm water. Pour it into a mister
or spray bottle and spray it wherever you need cleansing.
Adding herbs or essential oils to sea salt can give an added bonus to
cleansing. Herbs such as lavender, sandalwood, tea tree, thyme, and
rosemary are all good compliments. When using herbs, place them in
the salt and shake the salt in a closed container. This bruises the
herbs and allows its essential oils to incorporate into the salt
matrix. When using essential oils, add a few drops to salt and then
stir or shake the salt in order to mix them well.
Misting yourself for an overall clearing can do cleansing of negative
vibes. Draw a bath. As the hot water is filling the tube, add two or
more tablespoons of sea salt to the running water and stir it so it
dissolves in the tube. Relax in your bath for 15-20 minutes.
3. For a few days just sit quietly in your space for five to ten
minutes. This will help establish your energy.
4. Before you sit, consider using the following "tools" to help
increase your intention for the space.
a.) You may light a candle or some incense, if you like. Eventually,
lighting the candle or incense will signal your brain that it's time
for "sacred time".
b.) Place in your space only items you absolutely love
unconditionally. Do not place it there just because you think it
belongs there. These "tools" should be items that empower you, give
you strength, energy and allow you to feel good.
c.) Add your most special crystals into your space. You can create a
border with them or design an area or "cluster" just for them.
d.) Remember, this is a living breathing space, so any items that
served you this day, may not serve you tomorrow. So feel free to
bring into your space different items (or crystals) that work for
your that day.
e.) Now, sprinkle with intention. Intention is a tool that can be
used to bring about change. With clear intent, we formulate a greater
deliberateness in order to achieve the end result.
The Map of Intention
When you break down the process of what true intention really is, you
will find a process that unfolds before you. By applying this
process, you create your intention. Here is how you map out your
intentions:
1. Have purpose : Your reason behind your intention is purpose.
Having a purpose infers a more determined path.
2. Design your intent : This suggests a more careful, laid out and
calculated plan of action. What, when, why where, how.
3. Improve your aim : By improving your aim, you add to your
implications or target effort directed toward attaining your
intention.
4. Gain your objective : Create a clear objective by aiming for
something tangible and immediately attainable.
5. Reach your goal : The goal is the result of your intention, put
into action and attaining it by thought out effort and un-waiving
focus.
You have now created your sacred space. Bring to it what you want.
Use it for what it is and allow it to remain sacred.
By Helen Thompson, IIHHT MICHT MIPTI
The holistic therapy of reflexology has been used over the years to promote physical health and wellbeing in many thousands of people from all walks of life, but there is also a subtler aspect to its benefits that can be applied to the more vulnerable amongst us, to expand awareness and enhance everyday living.
When a client of mine asked if she could bring her sister, who had learning disabilities, for a reflexology treatment with me, I was only too glad to concur. When the appointment day arrived, the young lady's mother accompanied her and explained to me that her daughter had been born with learning disabilities (she was now in her thirties) and that the only diagnosis that doctors had given her was that something probably went wrong during birth.
My client appeared in cheerful mood, did not appear nervous, but was unable to reply to my enquiries about her health and lifestyle. Her mother did this for me, telling me she was on the whole in good general health (apart from suffering from a condition called rosacea) and that one thing she constantly talked about was getting married! She loved to look at magazines where there were pictures of brides' dresses and related details and often imagined herself to be dressed in one. However, emotionally she was very detached from people, even her mother and two sisters.
During the treatment, she was unable to communicate to me any tender spots on her feet, which were very smooth & unlined, although I encountered several gritty areas especially on the head area and the pituitary and pineal glands. She did, however, say that she was enjoying it and loved the feeling of her feet being rubbed. I gave her an especially thorough post-treatment foot massage because of this. As they were about to leave, the young lady gave me a really big hug and thanked me for the time I had spent with her. I am quite used to this, but was a little surprised to see the look of astonishment on her mother's face.
The next day, her mother phoned me to say that she had never, ever, seen her daughter give anyone a hug - not even to her - and that was the reason for her amazement at her response to the treatment. She also told me that, during the evening, when her daughter had been sitting upstairs in her bedroom, dressed only in her underwear as she was accustomed to do every night, the mother had called up to her to let her know that she was going down to the shop to make a few purchases. Instead of the short OK that she expected, the girl called down to her to wait a moment while she got dressed, and she would accompany her on the walk to the shop. This was so unusual that the mother could hardly believe her ears. The daughter came downstairs fully dressed, and walked to the shop and back with her, lacing her arm in her mother's on the way back. This may sound like a very small breakthrough to many people, but the mother was moved to tears while recounting this to me.
Reflexology treats all the organs of the body through the feet, but not only this - it clears blocked energy pathways throughout the body enabling organs and glands to function properly and in a holistic way. When a blockage is removed from one area, this in turn promotes the free flow of energy to a related area, and so on. It can show benefits to the physical body or, as in this case, to the emotional body so that the heart can stimulate the brain into alternative ways of thinking or behaving. The fact that a client cannot tell us what is felt during a treatment is therefore no indication as to the level of benefit that the treatment can bestow upon the mind, body and spirit.
About the Author
Helen Thompson is a therapist, healer & facilitator based in the West Midlands, UK and who offers reflexology, many types of energy healing, workshops & reiki attunements, and meditation classes to private & corporate clients. Her website can be viewed at www.healingholistix.com
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