Now this is a big problem in a society. More and more people are being diagnosed with this insidious disease. This is not something to be taken lightly at all. It is the leading cause of kidney failure, limb amputations and new blindness in adults. It also contributes to heart disease and stroke.
It is easy to be a bit ho-hum about diabetes, as so many people now have it and they seem to mange quite alright. But it is a serious health problem that you are best to avoid.
If you have any family history of diabetes you need to be aware of this and keep it in the back of you mind. Don’t be complacent about. Avoiding diabetes is a case of keeping yourself fit and healthy. Studies have proven that regular exercise and a healthy diet will reduce your risk of contracting this by around 60%.
Exercising 3-5 times a week is a good goal. As we get older we do become a bit complacent about exercising. But we have to consider it a necessary part of life, just as we get up in the morning, have a shower, brush our teeth, we have to exercise. It has to become part of our daily routine.
A diet rich in fresh fruit and vegetables is a good basis for everyone. Of course that is not enough, but that needs to be the basis on what we eat. Think fruit and veg first, and then add to that, not the other way round. Fruit is an ideal way to satisfy that sweet tooth. Forget about the artificial sweeteners, you wouldn’t believe the long list of health problems they can cause. (If you feel you really need a sweetener, try Xylitol or Stevia, they are natural and actually have some health benefits. Research indicates that Stevia effectively regulates blood sugar and brings it toward a normal balance.)
Still have an insatiable desire for sweets?
There is an herb called Gymnema sylvestre that can really help eliminate your taste for sweets. (Email me for more info.) It also lowers fasting blood glucose levels and helps improve the health of the pancreas.
EFT offers helps for dealing with sugar cravings, click to learn more.
Now I’ve discussed before all the wonderful health properties of Essential Fatty Acids for just about everything. Here they seem to be important as well. It was noted that although Eskimos are essentially, to our standards, obese, these people do not suffer from heart disease or diabetes. Although their diet may be low in fresh fruit and veg, it is extremely high in Essential fatty acids, which they get from all the fish they eat. Studies have backed this up. It appears that the EFA’s work by improving sensitivity of insulin receptors.
There also appears to be some link between reduced insulin production and Alzheimer’s. Diabetes increases your risk of Alzheimer’s by 65%.
Now, I don’t want to freak people with diabetes out, but this is something that you must take very seriously. You must take care of your self. Don’t mess with this. There is a tendency for those on diabetes medication to use this to “prop” up their bad diet. If they eat some sugar laden food and their “sugars” go through the roof, they just take more medication. This is not good. If this is done of a regular basis, the situation is just going to get worse. The medication pushes the already struggling pancreas to produce more insulin. There is a limit to what it can do and eventually all the medication in the world won’t work. Please concentrate on keeping your condition under control with a good quality diet rich in healthy foods.
So, to summarise what you need to keep in mind, nutritionally:
Avoid simple sugars, refined carbohydrates, soft drinks, cordials, and milk products.
Avoid saturated fats and deep fried foods. Use good quality oils that are high in Omegas.
Increase foods such as oats, okra, mussels. Eat fish regularly e.g., cod, tuna, salmon, sardines.
Avoid nitrates which have been added to meats and sausages.
Pancreatic enzymes can help, or a dose of vinegar a day has been shown to be effective (make it into a salad dressing with a good quality oil, add some herbs and spices and Yummy!)
Chromium can be of benefit, so add foods such as brewer’s yeast, wheat germ, fruit s and vegies, esp. broccoli
Avoiding diabetes or keeping it under control should not be a battle. It’s about developing a sensible eating and exercise plan and sticking to it.
04 April 2006
09 March 2006
Let the Leaves Fall
As autumn gently rolls in I can’t help being remind that life is constantly changing. I suppose that is the way we like it. Life would get boring if it didn’t. No 2 days are a like, everyday something new and different.
Autumn is a time of introspection. It’s the time to find balance in our lives. Like the trees letting go of their leaves, it is time to let go of things that no longer serve us, of the things that aren’t working in our lives. Of course there are always some things that we just don’t want to let go of, but when the time comes, you just have to do it. Letting go, can free you up to new experiences. As they say as one door closes another opens. It is so easy to bog our lives down with what is past. The past we can’t change. So many people are hanging on to past hurts, past traumas, past longings. Besides not allowing you self to grow from the experience and open you life up to a state of joy and peace, it can also lead to physical symptoms and serious illnesses.
More and more it is becoming accepted that illness is brought on by emotional traumas and pent up anger and stress. No matter how many treatments you try, sometimes the conditions or illness keeps coming back. This is because the real “issues” have not been dealt with.
I’d like to introduce you to a method, which applies to just about every emotional and physical issue you can name and often works where nothing else will. Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT)
Based on impressive new discoveries involving the body's subtle energies, Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) has been clinically effective in thousands of cases for Trauma & Abuse, Stress & Anxiety, Fears & Phobias, Depression, Addictive Cravings, Children's Issues and hundreds of physical symptoms including headaches, body pains and breathing difficulties. Properly applied, over 80% achieve either noticeable improvement or complete cessation of the problem.
...Often works where nothing else will
....Usually rapid, long lasting and gentle
....No drugs or equipment involved
....Easily learned by anyone
....Can be self applied.
Take a look at this method, it is very simple to use and may be just what you have been looking for. Even better still, you can download a free manual which will teach you to use this technique yourself. It really is so simple young children can do it. Do it now while it is fresh on your mind – you will be glad you did. Emotional Freedom Techniques
Autumn is a time of introspection. It’s the time to find balance in our lives. Like the trees letting go of their leaves, it is time to let go of things that no longer serve us, of the things that aren’t working in our lives. Of course there are always some things that we just don’t want to let go of, but when the time comes, you just have to do it. Letting go, can free you up to new experiences. As they say as one door closes another opens. It is so easy to bog our lives down with what is past. The past we can’t change. So many people are hanging on to past hurts, past traumas, past longings. Besides not allowing you self to grow from the experience and open you life up to a state of joy and peace, it can also lead to physical symptoms and serious illnesses.
More and more it is becoming accepted that illness is brought on by emotional traumas and pent up anger and stress. No matter how many treatments you try, sometimes the conditions or illness keeps coming back. This is because the real “issues” have not been dealt with.
I’d like to introduce you to a method, which applies to just about every emotional and physical issue you can name and often works where nothing else will. Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT)
Based on impressive new discoveries involving the body's subtle energies, Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) has been clinically effective in thousands of cases for Trauma & Abuse, Stress & Anxiety, Fears & Phobias, Depression, Addictive Cravings, Children's Issues and hundreds of physical symptoms including headaches, body pains and breathing difficulties. Properly applied, over 80% achieve either noticeable improvement or complete cessation of the problem.
...Often works where nothing else will
....Usually rapid, long lasting and gentle
....No drugs or equipment involved
....Easily learned by anyone
....Can be self applied.
Take a look at this method, it is very simple to use and may be just what you have been looking for. Even better still, you can download a free manual which will teach you to use this technique yourself. It really is so simple young children can do it. Do it now while it is fresh on your mind – you will be glad you did. Emotional Freedom Techniques
06 March 2006
Avoiding Urinary Tract Infections
Urinary tract Infections (Cystitis) is a common health problem, which about 20% of all women will experience sometimes in their lives. Men can also suffer from it, but to a far less degree however the risk increases with age for them.
UTI’s are caused when bacteria enter the urinary tract and once inside, the bacteria thrive in the warm, moist environment. The bacteria eventually affect the urine production and the function of the bladder, resulting in sometimes extremely painful as well as frequent urination. Other symptoms include: back pain; blood in the urine; cloudy urine; inability to urinate, despite the urge; fever; and a general feeling of being unwell. If there is presence of fever, chills & low back pain it may indicate that the kidneys are also involved, so get it checked out.
So, if you feel any sign of infection coming on, what can you do to combat it? If you get in early, you have a good chance of fighting it off.
To start with I repeat what you’ve heard so many times before: “Drink 8 glasses of water a day”, to help prevent UTI’s. This helps to flush out bacteria (and keeps just about everything in your body working properly). At the first sign that you may have an infection coming on, increase your water in take, by another 4 glasses a day. (Around 3 litres a day).
Keeping your immune system healthy is important. An increased dosage of Vitamin C can be helpful. Keep up a higher dose for a few days after the symptoms have gone, then gradually reduce over a couple of weeks.
Garlic is a great immune booster and fights of bacterial infections. Add it and onion to your diet.
Cranberry juice is a great treatment for UTI’s in around 73% of cases. It reduces the ability of bacteria to stick to lining of bladder & urethra. If it won’t stick, it will be washed away. (Sweetened cranberry juice is not recommended as sugar can be harmful to the immune system.) The recommended amount is about 2 glasses. (470 ml) A glass of cranberry juice daily has been shown to decrease the recurrence of UTI’s, so if you’re prone to these, it can be very helpful for you to make this apart of your day. Cranberry juice is also available in capsules. We have a great one on our site AIM CranVerry. It is an all-natural dried juice concentrate from raw cranberries and contains no added sugars, just the dried juice concentrate.
UTI’s are caused when bacteria enter the urinary tract and once inside, the bacteria thrive in the warm, moist environment. The bacteria eventually affect the urine production and the function of the bladder, resulting in sometimes extremely painful as well as frequent urination. Other symptoms include: back pain; blood in the urine; cloudy urine; inability to urinate, despite the urge; fever; and a general feeling of being unwell. If there is presence of fever, chills & low back pain it may indicate that the kidneys are also involved, so get it checked out.
So, if you feel any sign of infection coming on, what can you do to combat it? If you get in early, you have a good chance of fighting it off.
To start with I repeat what you’ve heard so many times before: “Drink 8 glasses of water a day”, to help prevent UTI’s. This helps to flush out bacteria (and keeps just about everything in your body working properly). At the first sign that you may have an infection coming on, increase your water in take, by another 4 glasses a day. (Around 3 litres a day).
Keeping your immune system healthy is important. An increased dosage of Vitamin C can be helpful. Keep up a higher dose for a few days after the symptoms have gone, then gradually reduce over a couple of weeks.
Garlic is a great immune booster and fights of bacterial infections. Add it and onion to your diet.
Cranberry juice is a great treatment for UTI’s in around 73% of cases. It reduces the ability of bacteria to stick to lining of bladder & urethra. If it won’t stick, it will be washed away. (Sweetened cranberry juice is not recommended as sugar can be harmful to the immune system.) The recommended amount is about 2 glasses. (470 ml) A glass of cranberry juice daily has been shown to decrease the recurrence of UTI’s, so if you’re prone to these, it can be very helpful for you to make this apart of your day. Cranberry juice is also available in capsules. We have a great one on our site AIM CranVerry. It is an all-natural dried juice concentrate from raw cranberries and contains no added sugars, just the dried juice concentrate.
27 February 2006
School Lunches
Well it’s back to school time and the endless battle of the packed lunch begins. I always hated packed lunches and still do, but when you’ve got kids going to school, you have to do it. A healthy nutritious lunch is vital if they are going to get through the day.
It's essential to keep your child's lunch balanced with healthy snacks in order to give your child proper nutrition, and yet still be healthy and tasty.
It's important to pack a lunch that you know they will eat. A good place to start is to ask your child what they would like. Now, let’s not leave this to the last minute. Sit down with your children and plan out some ideas. Grab some recipe books. There are some great little ones available on lunches and healthy snacks. Get some ideas from these on what they like and is practical to pack. Make of list of all the sandwich fillings they like, the fruit that they like. Ideas for some healthy bars, made from dried fruits and seeds or the like. Of course you can buy some of these too, but read the ingredients first, some of them are just laden with sugar and empty calories.
As you know, kids love to have fun. The same goes for their lunches. Try to use your imagination in creating a more appealing lunch. Even just a little touch, such as cutting their sandwiches into different shapes can be more satisfying than a plain piece of bread. Bite-sized pieces of fruits and vegetables, with a tasty, healthy dip makes the healthy stuff much easier and much more fun to eat. You can even create a "build-your-own" kit, where the child can make their own sandwiches. It becomes an opportunity for your child to be free to express themselves and they will actually enjoy their lunch.
Make a week-long lunch plan. Also remind your child not to swap or trade food at school. It defeats the purpose of everything you're working for.
Make sure your child has a suitable lunch box. Especially in the Australian Summer, we can get some very hot days when the kids go back to school. Try to find a box with some sort of insulation. You can freeze some water or fruit juice in a bottle to help keep the lunch cool. Some trial may be needed here, as the condensation from the bottle can cause a soaky lunch How about a small flask? Cold drinks for summer, soups for winter.
The ideas are endless, it just takes a little imagination and planning and your child will be enjoying their school lunches without all the unhealthy snacks.
It's essential to keep your child's lunch balanced with healthy snacks in order to give your child proper nutrition, and yet still be healthy and tasty.
It's important to pack a lunch that you know they will eat. A good place to start is to ask your child what they would like. Now, let’s not leave this to the last minute. Sit down with your children and plan out some ideas. Grab some recipe books. There are some great little ones available on lunches and healthy snacks. Get some ideas from these on what they like and is practical to pack. Make of list of all the sandwich fillings they like, the fruit that they like. Ideas for some healthy bars, made from dried fruits and seeds or the like. Of course you can buy some of these too, but read the ingredients first, some of them are just laden with sugar and empty calories.
As you know, kids love to have fun. The same goes for their lunches. Try to use your imagination in creating a more appealing lunch. Even just a little touch, such as cutting their sandwiches into different shapes can be more satisfying than a plain piece of bread. Bite-sized pieces of fruits and vegetables, with a tasty, healthy dip makes the healthy stuff much easier and much more fun to eat. You can even create a "build-your-own" kit, where the child can make their own sandwiches. It becomes an opportunity for your child to be free to express themselves and they will actually enjoy their lunch.
Make a week-long lunch plan. Also remind your child not to swap or trade food at school. It defeats the purpose of everything you're working for.
Make sure your child has a suitable lunch box. Especially in the Australian Summer, we can get some very hot days when the kids go back to school. Try to find a box with some sort of insulation. You can freeze some water or fruit juice in a bottle to help keep the lunch cool. Some trial may be needed here, as the condensation from the bottle can cause a soaky lunch How about a small flask? Cold drinks for summer, soups for winter.
The ideas are endless, it just takes a little imagination and planning and your child will be enjoying their school lunches without all the unhealthy snacks.
13 December 2005
It isn't just Christmas!
Another year is coming to an end. Well, I must say it has been an interesting one. Full of all varieties of experiences and emotions as life tends to be.
At this time of year, we all tend to be a bit reflective. Not just about our own lives, but also of the greater community, of life on Earth.
In our home we celebrate Christmas with its joy and stressors and the opportunity it brings us to share with our family. However as my children grew and were taking more interest in the world, I felt it important for them to know and understand that not everyone celebrates Christmas.
It certainly is the holiday season with Hanukkah, Ramadan, Litha (Yule in the North Hemisphere) and various other events. My children took great interest in the ways other people worship and celebrate. My son, Rick, took so much interest that he has just completed his University studies majoring in Religion and Peace. What we have learnt as a family and also in the communities we are involved with, is that one of the greatest paths to Peace on this Earth is through understanding and tolerance of other people’s views and ideas. It is about accepting others cultures and religious experiences and validating that they are just as important to them, as ours are to us.
This Christmas, take some time out to talk to someone of a different faith or a different culture. Find out what they do this time of year and try to understand the importance of it in their lives. This is a great way to receive the full blessings of the seasons, for you, your family and the people who you learn a little bit more about.
At this time of year, we all tend to be a bit reflective. Not just about our own lives, but also of the greater community, of life on Earth.
In our home we celebrate Christmas with its joy and stressors and the opportunity it brings us to share with our family. However as my children grew and were taking more interest in the world, I felt it important for them to know and understand that not everyone celebrates Christmas.
It certainly is the holiday season with Hanukkah, Ramadan, Litha (Yule in the North Hemisphere) and various other events. My children took great interest in the ways other people worship and celebrate. My son, Rick, took so much interest that he has just completed his University studies majoring in Religion and Peace. What we have learnt as a family and also in the communities we are involved with, is that one of the greatest paths to Peace on this Earth is through understanding and tolerance of other people’s views and ideas. It is about accepting others cultures and religious experiences and validating that they are just as important to them, as ours are to us.
This Christmas, take some time out to talk to someone of a different faith or a different culture. Find out what they do this time of year and try to understand the importance of it in their lives. This is a great way to receive the full blessings of the seasons, for you, your family and the people who you learn a little bit more about.
Christmas: A time of Peace, Love, Joy and Hope
The birth of a child is a special time. There is much celebration and thankfulness for the safe arrival of the child. The family and friends come together in awe of the baby, this precious new life. We wonder of the possibility and potential of the future. We all have great hopes of the differences this new life can make on the world.
Two thousand years ago, a special baby was born. When his mother held him in her arms, for the first time, she also felt the joy and wonder of new life. This child had great potential and she had great hopes for what difference he would make in the lives of people.
We still celebrate the birth of this baby. So great was his influence. We know what a difference Jesus has made, not just to his family and friends, but also to all he met and all who heard of him. He made such an impact that at this time of year millions of people rejoice in the memory of his birth.
Jesus brought with him a message. A message of HOPE. A hope for the future, for a better life. A hope that pulls us through the hard times and lifts us up to new heights. A hope that gives us strength to move beyond who we are and our circumstances. With Jesus we know that all things are possible.
Jesus brought with him a message of PEACE. He teaches us to live in harmony with all people. He teaches us to turn the other cheek. He also brings to us an inner peace that we only feel when we are in communion with him. He brings us comfort in our times of conflict and sorrow. He gives us a peace that so many of us need to get us through the daily hustle and bustle of our lives.
Jesus brought with him a message of LOVE. The love of a heavenly parent who cares for us and wants us to have a blessed life. The love that we share with each other as family and friends. The love that we extend beyond this circle, into the lives and hearts of people we met and even people we will never meet. At Christmas time, we share in giving of gifts to show how much we love each other. So many of you extend this past your family and friends and give generously to people you don’t even know, so that they too may share in this love. There is no thank you, just a knowledge that a child somewhere will light up when they receive your gift.
Jesus brought with him a message of JOY. This joy is beyond any other joy. It is this time of year we truly celebrate and feel this joy in our lives. We celebrate the blessings we have – our family, our friends. We celebrate the joy of our lives. We celebrate the joy Jesus brings to our world.
This year as we celebrate the birth of Christ, let’s not just celebrate the baby in the manger, but the full message of Christ. Let’s celebrate the life, the teachings, the Hope, the Peace, the Love and the Joy of his life and what he brings to us every day.
May the Hope, Peace, Love and Joy of Christ fill your Spirit this Christmas and all the days of your life.
Andrea Putting
Two thousand years ago, a special baby was born. When his mother held him in her arms, for the first time, she also felt the joy and wonder of new life. This child had great potential and she had great hopes for what difference he would make in the lives of people.
We still celebrate the birth of this baby. So great was his influence. We know what a difference Jesus has made, not just to his family and friends, but also to all he met and all who heard of him. He made such an impact that at this time of year millions of people rejoice in the memory of his birth.
Jesus brought with him a message. A message of HOPE. A hope for the future, for a better life. A hope that pulls us through the hard times and lifts us up to new heights. A hope that gives us strength to move beyond who we are and our circumstances. With Jesus we know that all things are possible.
Jesus brought with him a message of PEACE. He teaches us to live in harmony with all people. He teaches us to turn the other cheek. He also brings to us an inner peace that we only feel when we are in communion with him. He brings us comfort in our times of conflict and sorrow. He gives us a peace that so many of us need to get us through the daily hustle and bustle of our lives.
Jesus brought with him a message of LOVE. The love of a heavenly parent who cares for us and wants us to have a blessed life. The love that we share with each other as family and friends. The love that we extend beyond this circle, into the lives and hearts of people we met and even people we will never meet. At Christmas time, we share in giving of gifts to show how much we love each other. So many of you extend this past your family and friends and give generously to people you don’t even know, so that they too may share in this love. There is no thank you, just a knowledge that a child somewhere will light up when they receive your gift.
Jesus brought with him a message of JOY. This joy is beyond any other joy. It is this time of year we truly celebrate and feel this joy in our lives. We celebrate the blessings we have – our family, our friends. We celebrate the joy of our lives. We celebrate the joy Jesus brings to our world.
This year as we celebrate the birth of Christ, let’s not just celebrate the baby in the manger, but the full message of Christ. Let’s celebrate the life, the teachings, the Hope, the Peace, the Love and the Joy of his life and what he brings to us every day.
May the Hope, Peace, Love and Joy of Christ fill your Spirit this Christmas and all the days of your life.
Andrea Putting
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