Celebrate life!

We all look forward to celebrating the special events in our life. The birth of a baby, birthday, marriages, anniversary and so on. But why not just celebrate life. There is so much to be grateful for.

Our lives become so complex, but it is the simplest things that make our Life worth living. Our health is, without doubt, one of the most important. Without good health our power to enjoy our lives, to celebrate the love we share with others, to experience the pleasures in life, is seriously diminished.

The first step to good health has to be simply choosing to live healthy. What we choose to eat everyday, the environment we are in, the activity we choose all have an impact on our lives. This may sound simplistic, but do we make the right choices to be healthy? A healthy lifestyle brings the benefit of more energy, a clear mind, more positive outlook and the ability to cope with all the other things life throws at us. When you experience the natural high living can bring, with a healthy lifestyle, then you can truly appreciate the freedom you have to choose. When you make the unhealthy choices the body and mind have to compensate, leaving us drained and lacking vitality.

Once we have chosen a healthy lifestyle, we need to find the balance between all aspects of our lives, physical, spiritual, mental and emotional.

Let's start with physical. Exercise is an important part of our lives. There are many reasons and benefits to exercise, it keeps as flexible, gives us strength, endurance, firm body, glowing complexion, self-confidence and enhances our immunity. It also decreases the risk of many diseases, such as heart disease, anxiety, depression, hypertension and many, many more. Exercising can be simple. It doesn't have to involve heavy workouts at the gym, that's not for everyone. If you are not getting much exercise, start simple. Commit yourself to a walk everyday for a month. It doesn't have to be long to start with. Just make it a priority. Before breakfast, during your lunch break or before dinner. After a month, it will become a habit and you may want to extend the distance, or try another form of exercise. Make up your mind to take that first step to a healthy life.

Nutritional needs are always high on the list. Enjoying a variety of healthy foods is one of the most beneficial ways to stay healthy. You will be surprised at just how good you can feel when your diet is based of nutrient-rich foods. Try out the wonderful selection of grain breads available, or make your own! Make each meal a celebration of colour. When you choose a meal full of vibrant natural colours, you know that you are getting what you need. Select fresh organic fruits and vegies, where possible. Those who enjoy gardening get the extra benefit of tasty home grown vegies and time outdoors enjoying the fresh air. Nuts, legumes, grains, vegetable oils, fish, there are so many good foods out there to enjoy, why would we fill up with foods with no nutrients. A healthy diet will help prevent so many diseases I could go on forever. Do your body a favour and commit yourself to some good healthy foods.

Water is vital to our survival. We need water to cleanse our bodies, both inside and out. It helps to regulate our temperature, transport nutrients around the body, remove waste, cushion your joints and keep the blood flowing. We need it! Don't forget to drink plenty of it. Also enjoying time in water is healthy too. A nice relaxing bath or shower, a swim in the ocean.

Spirituality is an important aspect of good health that many people overlook. Believing in something can help bring you peace of mind and help you to reach your full potential. It involves taking time out, allowing yourself to be at one with the Universe. Searching and finding yourself, deep within. It gives one a purpose in life. Take time out, just to seek this inner guidance. Meditate. Reconnect with nature. Spirituality and belief sustains us through the tough times.

Taking time out is so vitally important. Working 7 days a week will soon run you down. Maybe you don't work 7 days, but on the weekends what do you do. Make sure that one day is for you, your family and friends. Rest, play and enjoy their company.

A good night's sleep is what we all need. Our bodies need to rest to be able to function correctly. Sleep rejuvenates our mind, body and soul for the next day. Make your bedtime peaceful; remember when you were a little child. You may have had a ritual that was followed every night to help prepare you for sleep. A bath, a story, your prayers. We seem to forget these, as we get older. But if you are having trouble sleeping maybe some new rituals will help.

Fresh Air and Sunshine and their importance may easily be overlooked in our society. Just think how wonderful it feels when you step outside, when you're feeling cold. You walk into the sunshine; breathe the fresh air and your whole body just soaks up the warmth. It's so calming and relaxing. You need the sunshine; it provides us with vitamin D. Also when people are deprived from sunshine, such as in the most Northern countries where the see little or no sunshine during winter, depression sets in. Oxygen, we know we need this to breath. Our whole body relies on this continuous supply of oxygen. Without it the body will quickly die, starting with the brain. We cannot underestimate its importance. We don't all have the luxury of good clean country air, but when you get a chance to really breathe it in, do it.

Living in a healthy environment is what we all need. Taking care of the earth is something we all must do. Reducing waste, and pollution has to become a priority in our lives. Without clean air, atmosphere, soil and water we cannot survive. Let's enjoy our environment and protect it, for ourselves and for future generations.

We talk about our physical environment, but what about our emotional environment. We need to surround ourselves and our children with a supportive, loving environment. Support for who we are and what we do is something we all need. Support can make the difference in whether we fulfil our potential in life or not. Having someone to stand by you in good times and bad really is an enormous benefit to us all. Being that person for our family and friends is rewarding experience. Friendships are important and needed. Take time out to spend with a friend. Call someone you haven't seen for a while. Have a cuppa with a friend. And don't forget the wonderful friendship, love and companionship you receive from your pets. It's been proven that pet owners have better health and deal with stress easier.

Having a positive attitude in life can get us so much further. Allow laughter and fun to penetrate your life and enjoy yourself. Encourage others to play and laugh. This is the best medicine.

Celebrate each day and enjoy life.

Meditation

The other day on TV I saw a segment on meditation and how it is helping

ADD sufferers. The children and their parents have been taking meditation classes. This has been an enormous benefit to these families. The children are doing better in school, their concentration has improved and one of the greatest benefits is that their dependency on drugs has decreased dramatically.

This brought to my mind the importance for all of us to take a little time out and still our minds.

Many people have found the benefits of meditation. It improves health on all levels, physically, emotionally and spiritually. Making some time for ourselves to sit quietly and just clear our minds, can take a bit of discipline, but it is worth the effort. Some would say it is as important as our morning shower or brushing our teeth. It is apart of our personal care routine.

When you start out with meditation, you shouldn't expect too much from yourself.

It has taken some of the expects years to perfect and remain perfectly still.

Just finding within yourself a quiet moment can be of great benefit.

Start simply. For myself, I find taking a walk very meditative. I am fortunate in that I have native bushland directly behind my house and so it is easy to create a peaceful atmosphere. I treat this as meditation, not exercise, so I stroll along, taking in the environment. Half way, I find a quiet spot to sit, and close my eyes. This is a great way for me. It creates a quietness in my mind on the way and gradually on the way back things return. I know not everyone has this kind of environment to live in, but it can be recreated in your mind.

Find yourself a quiet spot within your home, or even outside, where you will not be disturbed.

Sit up, don't lie down, that's when you fall asleep.

Make sure you are warm and comfortable.

Close your eyes.

Concentrate on your breathing, in and out.

Remember a place that you find peaceful, it may be a park, a mountain, a beach or someplace you just create in your mind.

In your mind, take a walk, take in the sounds of the birds, the wind, the waves, whatever there may be.

Take in the sights, the colours, the trees, the flowers.

Enjoy it all.

Don't try to force other thoughts out of mind, just allow them to be and pass them over for later and focus on the beauty and the peace around you.

You may sit down for a while, you may meet someone along the way.

Listen to what they have to say and allow them to slip out of your mind.

Enjoy the scenery, the feeling of peace and safety.

Stay as long as you like.

When you return, take things slowly.

Gradually open your eyes and allow yourself to reawaken to the world.

This is a very simple way to start with meditation. Anyone can do this. It is about finding peace within yourself. Once you have enjoyed this experience and find stilling your mind is becoming easier, you may want to go further. Join a class, get some tapes. There is so many different methods to meditation, there is no right or wrong way. Whatever works for you.

Good news for Sweet Tooths

Well here's a topic to interest everyone. Now, I love sweet things. But we all know the evils of those little white crystals that taste just so good. So this month I'm giving you some information on a natural alternative which is safe and actually good for you rather than bad for you. "Bring on the cake!" I say.

There is a safe substitute to refined sugar, a naturally occurring sweetener called xylitol.Pure xylitol is a white, crystalline, natural substance that looks and tastes like sugar. Its sweetness is equal to sugar, but contains 40% fewer calories and 75% fewer carbohydrates than sugar. Xylitol has been proven in clinical testing to dramatically reduce the incidence of cavities, plaque formation and kills the germs that cause bad breath. The positive effects of xylitol appear to long lasting.

Although xylitol tastes and looks exactly like sugar, that is where the similarities end. While sugar wreaks havoc on the body, xylitol heals and repairs. It also builds immunity, protects against chronic degenerative disease and has anti-aging benefits. Xylitol is considered a five-carbon sugar, which means it is an antimicrobial, preventing the growth of bacteria. While sugar is acid forming, xylitol is alkaline enhancing. All other forms of sugar, including sorbitol, another popular alternative sweetener, are six-carbon sugars which feed dangerous bacteria.

Xylitol is available as crystals and can be used instead of sugar in cooking and baking
Over 1500 scientific studies have found that the more you use xylitol, the more you can eliminate sugar cravings, reduce insulin levels and alkalinise your body. It's a great aid on the way to good health and long life. Alternatives like xylitol will help you free your mind and body from the tyranny of sugar and shake off the exhaustion, mental fogginess, and mood swings that sugar dependence causes.

Xylitol, as a sugar substitute, has the following advantages:

• Xylitol has a pleasant taste with refreshing cool sensation and no after-taste
• Xylitol has sweetness equal to that of sucrose.
• Xylitol is versatile and has good functional properties in many applications
• Xylitol reduces calorie utilisation by as much as 40% for the same sweetness and function. This helps to keep the overall diet within the guidelines of the expert panel
• With correct Xylitol dosage, carbohydrate tolerance is increased. This means that carbohydrate cravers are not as likely to go on a Xylitol binge. Xylitol has a very low glycemic index (which rates carbohydrates according to their impact on blood sugar). This means a slow, steady release of energy.
• Small Xylitol doses stabilize the metabolic situation in unstable diabetics.
• Xylitol has antiketogenic properties, i.e., it prevents or inhibits the formation of ketone bodies (serum free fatty acid levels).
• Xylitol is noncariogenic (i.e., prevents tooth decay) as well as anticariogenic (i.e., inhibits tooth decay).
• Xylitol is natural - our bodies produce up to 15 grams of Xylitol from other food sources using established energy pathways.
• Xylitol is safe and there are no known harmful effects on the central nervous system, hormones, or neurotransmitters.
• Xylitol increases the absorption of B-vitamins and calcium
• Xylitol is good for teeth - diabetes is often associated with higher rates of tooth loss

Studies show that 4 to 12 grams of Xylitol per day are very effective. It is not necessary to use more than 15 grams per day as higher intakes yield diminishing dental benefits. Xylitol needs to be used at least three, and preferably 5 times every day.

Spring Cleaning time. “Oh go away!!”

Cleaning with Aromatherapy.

Eucalyptus Essential Oil
Use in a vapouriser to repel or kill insects
Blend with Lemon and lavender Essential oils to create an invigorating air freshener
Use directly on stubborn stains such as sticky gum residue from price stickers

Lavender Essential Oil
When vapourised, makes an effective insect repellent
Wipe all internal cupboard surfaces with Lavender to deter moths and silverfish and act as a natural disinfectant
Combine 1 tablespoon of Lavender essential oil with 1 litre of water in a spray bottle to mist over carpets to quickly dispatch fleas
Wipe window frames and doorframes with Lavender to keep flies, moths and mosquitoes and ants away
Add a few drops of lavender to your final rinse when washing clothes

Lemon Essential Oil
Use in a vapouriser to remove strong cooking odours
Mix Lemon together with vinegar and water to clean window and glass
Add 1 drop of lemon to a warm water when washing out the fridge, freezer of oven for a natural deodoriser
Use I drop of lemon directly on a cloth when wiping down work surfaces, cupboards, sinks and tiles

Peppermint Essential Oil
Use a trail of Peppermint essential oil where ants appear, they detest the smell or if the surface is painted, put the oil on a cotton wool ball and place in an appropriate corner.
Use a few drops of peppermint essential oil in warm water to rinse out rubbish bins around the home, for a pleasant and anti bacterial aroma.

Clean Kitchen Bench: 8 drops of Lavender Essential oil, 10 drops of Lemon Essential oil, 5 drops of Eucalyptus essential oil. Keep in a dark bottle, stored away form light and heat. Great disinfectant and anti-bacterial and leaves a beautiful aroma. Use it diluted in water for all kitchen surfaces, including the floor, or just spray all around for a fresh clean kitchen

Window Cleaner: 100ml colourless vinegar, 100 ml water and 5 drops of Lemon Essential oil. Mix the water and vinegar in a mist bottle, add the Lemon oil. Spray the windows or glass with a fine mist then polish with a soft dry cloth.

Refreshing Spring Vapouriser blend: To help you get through those spring cleaning chores, vapourise the following blend in your oil vapouriser. 2 drop Eucalyptus Essential oil, 1 drop peppermint Essential oil, and 3 drops of lemon Essential oil

Skin cleansing for Spring:
Here some simple, natural, low cost and homemade cleaners, scrubs and masks. To make your own face/body scrub, try this ground some almonds or apricot kernels, mix with honey and your face cream). For a great masque to draw out impurities try mixing dry yeast with witch hazel and a couple of drops of peppermint extract or oil. Witch Hazel is a great natural toner. Almond oil or Apricot kernel oil can be used as gentle cleansers for your face as well as massage or adding to your bath to moisturise the skin.
Now, inside our bodies could do with a Spring Clean too. The best place and most important place to start is with the colon. Visit your Naturopath or local Health Food Store and ask for a quality fibre blend. This will aid in bowel regularity, scouring the intestinal walls, and ridding the body of toxins.
Acid foods

Some foods can cause the nerves to fire off and other foods help calm down the nervous system. You probably know of someone who is always fidgety, talks and thinks faster than most other s. They seem to try and get 16 things done at once and although they do get some done they often take on too much. They sleep on the edge of sleep and wake feeling unrefreshed. The speed at which they go and the stamina they seem to have can make you feel tired just watching them and in fact they get cranky because you’re too slow at the job. These people have a high level of acidity in the tissues of the body.

The pH of the blood has a very small range and the body will adjust it by buffering any change. But which foods affects the blood level is quite different from what you may expect through your taste buds.

A Pineapple taste acidic to the tongue and when it hits an empty stomach some people can really feel it burning. It digests and is taken by the blood to the cell, the cell takes the energy form the pineapple and throws the rubbish back into the bloodstream. Surprisingly the waste of pineapple is alkaline. On the other hand meat or porridge or cheese creates an acidic waste. In fact neatly all fruit and vegies have an alkaline effect and almost everything else has an acid effect. The problems come when the acid forming foods dominate the diet.

So check what you eat. If you have cereal, toast and coffee for breakfast, it’s all acid forming. A sandwich for lunch is a hoax for the body. Would you really be full on just the salad that is in between the 2 slices of bread? The bread is a filler, offers little nutrition and is acid-forming. Add a muesli bar or the like and at least 60% of lunch is acid. Look at the snacks you eat. Anything out of a package is acid-forming. Ideally we need 80% of what we eat to be fruit and veg and only 20% being everything else.

Start the day with vegetable juice such as carrots, beetroot and added barley grass powder. Make sure you daily diet includes 2 pieces of fruit. Have salad for lunch with a small amount of nuts or meat or soup with wholegrain or legumes. For dinner aim for vegies being 80% of all you eat. Do this and you will feel calmer and brighter, sleep better and have a lot more energy.

Coconut Oil, the healthy “fat”

Would you believe a fat that speeds up metabolism, helping weight loss, banishes infections and reduces heart disease and a whole lot more?

Before World War II, the use of coconut oil was popular for cooking and an ingredient for other food products. During the war, and long after, supplies of coconut oil was cut off, so manufacturers in the US developed alternatives sources of cooking oil – polyunsaturated oil. So much money had been poured into the production and promotion of these oils that they weren’t about to turn their back on them. These oils were soon promoted as being a healthy alternative to the more traditional “saturated fats” of butter and coconut oil. As happens time and time again, the mighty dollar and the all important profit win out. The poor nations who produce the coconut oil, simply couldn’t afford (and still can’t) to combat the publicity by the big multi-national companies.

The numerous health benefits of coconut oil are finally again becoming well-known.
Benefits like:

Reducing your risk of heart disease, reducing cholesterol,
Promoting weight loss when and if you need it
Supporting your immune system health
Reducing your risk of cancer and degenerative diseases
Supporting a healthy metabolism
Providing an immediate energy source for you
Helping to keep your skin healthy and prevent age-related damage
Supporting the proper functioning of your thyroid gland
Preventing infections due to harmful bacteria, viruses, yeasts and other micro-organisms.
Coconut oil is a stable oil which is not damage by heat, like other oils. Unsaturated oils are prone to damage when heated and it is these that are primarily involved in heart disease, not the saturated fats. In countries where they have a coconut-based diet they rarely have heart disease.

The unique health benefits of coconut oil are directly related to its chemical structure, or more precisely, the length of its fatty acid chains.
Vegetable or seeds oils have long chain fatty acids, which are
are difficult for the body to break down -- they must be packaged with lipoproteins or carrier proteins and require special enzymes for digestion;
put more strain on the pancreas, the liver and the entire digestive system
are predominantly stored in the body as fat.
can be deposited within arteries in lipid forms such as cholesterol.
Coconut oil has medium-chain fatty acids which are healthier, because:

they are smaller. They permeate cell membranes easily, and do not require lipoproteins or special enzymes to be utilized effectively by your body.
are easily digested, thus putting less strain on your digestive system. This is especially important for those of you with digestive or metabolic problems.
are sent directly to your liver, where they are immediately converted into energy rather than being stored as fat.
in coconut oil can actually stimulate your body's metabolism, leading to weight loss.
One of the best benefits of coconut oil lies in its ability to stimulate your metabolism. In the l940s, farmers attempted to use cheap coconut oil for fattening their animals, but they found that it made them lean, active and hungry. Animals which ate just a little pure unsaturated oil were fat, and animals which ate a lot of coconut oil were lean. Interesting!

So, by changing the fats in your diet from the unsaturated long-chain fatty acids found in vegetable or seed oils to the medium-chain fatty acids in coconut oil, you may find yourself gradually losing those unnecessary kilos with little or no effort.

Coconut oil has often been compared to carbohydrates in its ability to be "burned" for energy. However, since insulin is not involved in the process of digesting the coconut oil, you won't get those carb-related spikes in your blood sugar level. This is especially good news for those of you with diabetes or other blood sugar issues.

Additionally, research has demonstrated that, due to its metabolic effect, coconut oil increases the activity of the thyroid. Good news for those with a sluggish thyroid preventing them from losing weight.

There are other advantages to boosting your metabolic rate. The healing process accelerates. Cell regeneration increases to replace old, worn-out or damaged cells. And your immune system functions better overall.

Coconut milk contains the same compound that is in breast milk, lauric acid.
Lauric acid transforms when consumed into a substance called monolaurin, the actual compound responsible for fighting numerous types of infections. A lot of research has been done on the ability of lauric acid to fight dangerous micro-organisms, such as viruses, bacteria, yeasts, fungi, parasites and moulds. Researchers found that this medium-chain fatty acid derivative actually disrupts the lipid (or fatty) membranes of the offending organisms.

Numerous studies have also indicated that many viruses are inactivated by medium-chain fats -- viruses like influenza, measles, HIV, herpes and cytomegalovirus.
Bacteria like strep and staph, gonorrhoea, helicobacter pylori, salmonella and clostridium botulinum. Also other "badies" like the yeast Candida, and the ringworm fungus.

The medium chain fats in coconut oil are so nutritious that they have been used in baby formulas, and in hospitals to feed the critically ill, those on tube feeding, and those with digestive problems.

Coconut oil is exceptionally helpful for pregnant women, nursing mothers, the elderly, those with digestive problems or metabolic diseases like diabetes, athletes, those who are fighting infectious or chronic degenerative diseases, those with thyroid disease, and those of you who just want to prevent disease.

Here are a few things you can do with coconut oil:
• Whenever you fry, stir-fry or sauté veggies, eggs, poultry, fish or whatever, use coconut oil for a healthy light flavour
• Toss some coconut oil into your smoothies or juiced drinks for a burst of lauric acid
• Make your own mayonnaise with coconut oil
• Use it on your salads for a tropical flair

Coconut oil is not just for cooking & eating, it’s good for the skin too!
Coconut oil is ideal for skin care. It prevents the formation of destructive free radicals, and can prevent your skin from developing skin blemishes caused by aging and overexposure to sunlight. It is ideal to use as a massage oil or in place of other lotions and creams.

So please, before you cook with oil again, don't pass up this way to improve your health by making one simple change in your diet.

Sleep Naturally

Tossing and turning all night? The clock is ticking over; minute after minute, hour after hour, but you just can't sleep. The only thing worse, is the feeling of being totally zonked the next day. Insomnia is a problem that affects most people at some time during their lives. It has many different causes and many different ways of being expressed. For some, it may be a case of a few restless nights or a lifetime of poor sleep. Sleep is an important part of our lives allowing us to regain strength, heal and grow. So when it is disturbed for any reason it can seriously affect our lives.

There is a large variation in the amount of sleep needed. Some only need a few hours sleep, while others may need up to 10 hours to feel refreshed. Insomnia is the condition where a person feels as if they are not getting adequate sleep on a regular basis. Their sleep is non-refreshing and their ability to function normally on a daily basis is affected.

Sleep patterns are different with different people, as too is the patterns for insomniacs. Some may fall asleep easily, but wake during the night and not be able to return to sleep. Others may lay awake for hours before being able to drift off to sleep. Some people wake hundreds of times during the night, without realising it. It has been found through electrical monitoring of insomniacs, while they sleep, that they don not change sleep stages very often. Normal sleep requires many stages and insomniacs may not reach the deep sleep known as 'REM'.

If you are suffering from sleep problems, it could be related to many different causes. A whole lifestyle check needs to be done. Are you eating right? Heavy meals in the evening can certainly affect sleep. Are you getting enough exercise and fresh air? One of the biggest issues with sleep problems is stress. What is happening in your life that is playing on your mind?

Have a look through the following suggestions; there may be something that will help you.  Most importantly, try not to be worried about not sleeping. Go to bed with the thoughts of a good nights rest, relax and sleep well

Suggestions to help you improve your sleep

* Try to get some regular exercise and fresh air.
* Allow time to relax before going to bed.
* Take up some form of meditation; if you find this difficult a class may help. Deep breathing techniques can also be helpful.
* Try reading before bedtime. Stick to something light and easy, maybe even boring, don’t read anything too exciting. Watching a stimulating television program should also be avoided. * Develop a regular bedtime relaxation routine. Try keeping your bedtime and getting up time regular.
* Relaxing in a warm bath or even a warm shower can be helpful.
* Make sure your bed and pillow are comfortable for you, not too hard or soft.
* If light or noise is a problem, use earplugs or eye-mask.
* Make sure you are warm enough, but not too hot and that the room is well ventilated.
* Try a warm drink before bed, such as a warm milk or chamomile tea.
* Keep a pen and paper beside your bed. If you have a lot of things on your mind, write them all down, if they are preventing you from sleeping. Similarly if you wake up and start to think about something, write it down and then you can forget it, until a more suitable time.
* Listen to relaxation music while preparing yourself for sleep.

* Put the clock out of sight, it doesn’t help to have a constant reminder of how long you’ve been awake.
* When you go to bed try some relaxation techniques. Relax your muscles individually and imagine yourself in a peaceful setting.

* Don’t take any stimulants in the evening. These include tea, coffee, cola and chocolate drinks, smoking and alcohol.

* It is best not to eat too close to going to bed and allow at least three ours to digest your evening meal before going to bed.

* If you are having difficulty sleeping, get up and do something