New Year Resolutions - 2013

A New Year's resolution is a commitment that a person makes to one or more personal goals, projects, or the reforming of a habit. A key element to a New Year's Resolution that sets it apart from other resolutions is that it is made in anticipation of the New Year and new beginnings.

People committing themselves to a New Year's resolution generally plan to do so for the whole following year. This lifestyle change is generally interpreted as advantageous.

The ancient Babylonians made promises to their gods at the start of each year that they would return borrowed objects and pay their debts.

The Romans began each year by making promises to the god Janus, for whom the month of January is named.

In the Medieval era, the knights took the "peacock vow" at the end of the Christmas season each year to re-affirm their commitment to chivalry.

At watchnight services, many Christians prepare for the year ahead by praying and making these resolutions.
There are other religious parallels to this tradition. During Judaism's New Year, Rosh Hashanah, through the High Holidays and culminating in Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement), one is to reflect upon one's wrong-doings over the year and both seek and offer forgiveness.

The concept, regardless of creed, is to reflect upon self-improvement annually.

Popular goals include resolutions to:
Improve well-being: lose weight, exercise more, eat better, drink less alcohol, quit smoking.
Improve finances: get out of debt, save money
Improve career: get a better job
Improve education: improve grades, get a better education, learn something new (such as a foreign language or music)
Improve self: become more organized, reduce stress, be less grumpy, manage time, be more independent, perhaps watch less television, play fewer sitting-down video games.
Take a trip
Volunteer to help others, practice life skills, use civic virtue, give to charity
Get along better with people
Cutting down on drinking
Making new friends
Trying foreign foods
( excerpt from wikipedia)

Here are some resolutions that we can choose from to move towards a healthier lifestyle, reduce disease and suffering, and live energetic and happier lives.

Choose one of these and work on it until it becomes habit, or choose more..but make a realistic choice that will result in achievement and not giving up. Even if you fail the first 3-4 times, keep at it, and i promise you, it will become habit, just like every other behavior.

Write down your choice and practice it daily.

 - Eat Slow and Stop when full.

 - Quit or reduce smoking month on month, or week on week.

 - Drink in moderation. Don't let alcohol be your only source of enjoyment or happiness.

 - Refined sugar is poison and an addiction. Limit it. Switch to honey/jaggery/brown sugar/Stevia

 - Say no to artificial sweeteners. There are direct links to cancer/alzeihmers/dementia and depression

 - Exercise 5 to 6 times a week. Even if it's just a walk for 20 minutes. Consistency matters.

 - use the stairs as far as possible.

 - try and sleep 7 hours each night

 - Practice deep breathing and manage stress effectively

 - Choose long term health goals like a lifetsyle change, rather than than a short term goal like fitting into a dress for a wedding.

 - Limit packaged/processed foods

 - Invest in your childrens education and your own, when it comes to health and nutrition. Prevention is better than cure and knowledge is power.

 - Be patient with your body and weight loss. It took a long time to pile on weight, it will take some time and effort and sacrifice to burn it off. There are NO SHORTCUTS, if you want healthy and permanent results.

 - Drink your lemon water. I cannot emphazise how good this is for your liver and health

- Keep your liver clean. Detoox or do a ' only water' fast atleast once a month to cleanse your system.

 - Be aware or cancer, diabetes and cardiac diesease, that is slowly creeping into our everyday lives.Keep your immunity strong and respect the body.

 - Stop drinking aerated drinks. It's sweet poison.

 - Juice is full of sugar and devoid of fiber. It will create insulin issues and can make you fat. Eat whole fruits.

- Dates, nuts, potatoes do not make you fat, unless eaten irresponsibly. They are low fat foods.

 - Drink water and stay hydrated thru the year.

 - Use a food and exercise journal to track progress.

 - Burn 100 cals a day or eat 100 cal less every day for 35 days, and you can knock of a POUND of FAT. That's a lot of FAT.

 - Keep it simple....always keep it simple.

- No matter what, e thankful for your current health, the food you have to eat and the sleep you get each night. Gratitude can make us healthy.

Have a safe new year. I wish all of you health, happiness, peace and love, all through 2013.



 

Cancer And Our Future

Simple definition: Cancer is the growth of abnormal cells somewhere in our body.

Fact: Everyone has cancer cells in their body.

Cancer may be prevented.

Cancer can  and may be controlled and cured, depending on how early it has been detected and what kind of treatment has been chosen.

Cancer can occur in the healthiest of people. You may not smoke, or drink,
you may exercise regularly, sleep 7 hours, but you can still get cancer. All
the bad things that you hear about, that cause cancer, contribute towards
the possible onset of cancer, but may not necessarily cause them.

It all comes down to the strength of your immune system. Your body’s defense mechanism, it’s ability to fight germs, parasites, bad cells (free
radicals), the ability to repair quickly and re-generate new healthy cells.

It’s all about cellular health. Your heart, kidneys, liver, hair, skin, finger nails, weight, everything. It’s all about the health of your cells.

You immune system is only as strong as your decision to eat the right foods sleep well and exercise regularly.

It is only as strong as our decision to make a lifestyle change today.


With changing climates, increasing pollution levels and the availability of strategically marketed junk food and processed food, we need to work all
the more harder to commit to a lifestyle change.

Supressed emotions, negative stress and depression are three possible causes and triggers that should not be side lined.

For people who are dealing with cancer, easier said then done, but belief in the statement that “everything that can be built up, can be torn down” can go miles in assisting positive improvement in the condition. Cancer and tumors are ‘built up’ abnormal cells.

People ask how they can help people dealing with cancer.

Money and emotional support helps, but  more than that we need to create a new culture. A culture where we educate our children, our families, ourselves, our friends, on the importance of a lifestyle shift.


We can choose to react to the present situation or we can choose to be proactive and inspire change.

In many of my counseling’s  and interactions with doctors and research resources, more than the medical complication itself , is the fact the peer pressure, ego, depression, lack of self control, insecurity and greed, design the lifestyles we choose.

It’s the little things we do that adds up to the larger result. A lifestyle change should not hit you hard. You need to do it step by step.

Instead of eating out thrice a week, cut down to twice.

Do you really really really need that dessert so many times a week? Cut down to twice or once.

Before you light that cigarette, ask yourself, is it worth it? Is this going to make me happy for a long time? Is it really going to relieve my stress?  Is it worth the suffering it may cause? Is it fair to my family and loved ones?

Before you pour yourself that 5^th or 6^th drink, ask yourself, do I really need this? Will it make me truly happy for a long time, or is it temporary? Can I find happiness only in alcohol or can I find it in relationships, hobbies, family, pets etc. Will my friends ridicule me if I don’t drink that much? If yes, are they my true frinds? Do I really need this next drink to help me ‘ fit in’ ? Or should I be accepted for who and how I am.

When it comes to smoking, the encouragement is to stop now.
When it comes to alcohol: Enjoy your drink in moderation. Go wild ONCE in a way, but compensate thru proper nutrition, exercise and rest.

The fact that a new cancer state of the art hospital has just opened or that another cancer treatment center just got the latest equipment from Germany, should not make us happy or relieved that we are advancing in the field of medicine.

It should infact  speak ill of the way our country is advancing,  and what each of us should be looking at is creating a healthy future and community for our children and generations to come by encouraging and making small lifestyle changes.

That future is a possibility for us and the next generation, if we want it to be.

Make that change today !!

Lowering cholesterol the natural way - A true Story

A true story:
Many people out there are battling with cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Not monitoring these levels puts you in the risk zone for cardio-vascular diseases.

Medication is usually selected as the best and most effective solution. The thing about medication is the side effects it has on your liver, which is one of the most important organs in the human body.

Medication brings down your levels and psychologically allows you to resort to the same lifestyle that caused cholesterol issues. Unfortunately it’s just the medication doing it’s job and it’s not curing you, instead slowly destroying vital organs in your body.

By making a minor shift in your lifestyle, you can control your triglyceride and cholesterol levels without medication, and that should be out goal. Going natural and staying healthy.

I got a call from Client ‘A ‘ who lives in Belgium, in December, 2011. He stated weight and cholesterol issues. His reports spoke of an unhealthy heart and clearly categorized him in a high risk zone for his heart health.

Between Dec 2011 and April 2012 here is how his figures changed.

Lipids	Ref value	Dec 2011 Values	April 2012 values
Total Cholesterol	desirable upto 200mg/dl	248.01	169.63
HDL	Major risk below 40mg/dl	35	38.65
LDL	Optimal below 100mg/dl	188	118.14
Triglycerides	Normal below 150mg/dl	129.84	64.18
VLDL	6-36 mg%	25.96	12.84
LDL/HDL ratio	2.5 to 3.5	5.37	3.06
Chol/HDL ratio	3.5 to 5	7.09	4.39
Vitamin D3	Insufficiency bet 10 - 30ng/Ml	12.2	28.4
Vitamin B12	211 to 911 pg/ml	184	472

All this was achieved without a single medication.

Here is what client ‘A ‘did during those few months –

• Began a regular exercise program. Nothing strenuous just walks.
• Intermittent liver cleanse days
• Ate balanced meals with no restriction on food quantities.
• Had a cheat day every week ( monitored portions and selections sensibly)
• Loaded up on natural cholesterol and triglyceride lowering foods
• Consumed healthy fats
• Increased his water and green tea intake
• Kept no more than 3 hours gap between each meal.
• Added natural spices and fiber to his food plan.

Client ‘A’ travels a lot, and to countries which did not offer healthy food options easily available.

He ate regular lounge and airplane food, but sensibly and in the right quantities.

Client ‘A’ approached the challenge with the right attitude and a strong goal, a lifestyle change.

Your weight and cholesterol are directly proportional to one and other. You decrease your body fat and you lower all heart ailments along with pressure and other medical conditions, including diabetes.

Client ‘A ‘ is currently in maintenance phase, which is nothing but his new lifestyle.

Balanced meals
Exercise
7 hours of sleep
The right attitude.

He did small things everyday for his health, that added up to his success. He is currently shopping for a new wardrobe.

The sum of little things add up to success and the achievement of your goal.


Check out: Eat Smart, Move More, Sleep Right - Your personal health coach

Another Friend Dies - Lung Cancer and Smoking

I was studying in Goa back then, a time when Hippies drove caravans and mobile homes from as far as Germany to Goa and pitched camp on a cliff overlooking the sea in Little Vagator, Anjuna, Goa. I first met Reinhard at my cousin restaurant, 'Alcove', where i used to wait tables on my days off from college. It was his 5th trip to Goa in his old but well maintained Mercedes truck, which he had modified and designed into a mobile home. We connected over our similar music likes and thoughts about the universe, the sun, moon and stars. It was Reinhard who took me on my first Hippie trail and i got exposed to the magic of nature, the solace in star gazing and the simple pleasures of life like camping on a beach, learning to mix music, talking about life and living,eating different cuisines and marvelling over functioning of the human mind.

I remember the the early morning when i would ride over to Anjuna to have breakfast with him and he would sit with his pouch of tobacco and smoking paper and expertly role a cigarette. never once did he offer me a drag, and when i did ask him once if i could roll one, he simply stated that 'you do know that this is a bad habit and can eventually kill you'. I tried it, didn't like it, it didn't appeal to me in anyway. If there were other ways to get high, i would definitely find those ways, cause nicotine surely didn't do the trick. So i settled down to rolling those cigarettes for him .

 Over the months , we spoke about marijuana, hashish, psychedelics, snake bites and other ways that the works used to get high. I remember how we would discuss why people would want to use substances to get high and we figured or some the reason was purely fun, for others it was to escape reality, the stress and troubles of the worlds, for some it was just peer pressure and the need to fit in and for some it was just out of boredom or depression, we did also talk about the type who wanted to experience stuff just out of curiosity and innocence.

Reinhard finally drove back and st up camp in Andalusia, Spain for a couple of years, before heading back to Germany. He always had a dream to right a book about his ideas and philosophy about the creation of the universe.

A few months ago, Reinhard called me up to tell me that he was diagnosed with lung cancer.Nothing could be done, and he chose not to undergo chemotherapy when his doctors told him it could not guarantee a complete recovery. He told me about how we was leaving it all up to nature to take its course and said he hoped that i not gotten into the habit of smoking tobacco. He spoke about how agonizing it was for such beautiful life to be wasted because of a habit. although he was excited about discovering a new world on the other side. That was Reinhard, always happy, peaceful, generous, patient and extremely positive about everything in life.

Since I'm completely involved in the field of nutrition and cancer, i probed Reinhard with questions like how could he link the cancer to smoking? What if it was pollution, or maybe just radon levels in some place he had been for too long.

His answer was simple. Anyone can get cancer. You don't have to have a bad habit. You could just have a weak immune system, which is not strong enough to fight out germs, toxins, viruses. And no matter how healthy you are, you live in a world where the person smoking next to you is enough to inject over a thousand carcinogens into your lungs. We live in a world where we have no control over the kind of food we eat ( pesticides), the air we breathe or the water we drink.

All this means only one thing. We have to work harder to improve our lifestyles and make our immune systems stronger. As crime gets more sophisticated, the law needs to keep abreast y upgrading and changing to the latest technologies in order to offer protection. Apply this same principle to the human body.

If there was anything Reinhard regretted in his action packed life, it was smoking tobacco. He was certain that tobacco was the cause of his cancer.

Reinhard died a month ago, another victim to cancer, another end of a beautiful life.

We need to ask ourselves is it worth it in the end. It's a difficult decision. Yes, if you take it, your social life will suffer. Your friends who smoke tend to either force you to start again, or slowly drift away, unless you have good friends who actually see the reason you make this decision, respect it and support you right thru your journey of quitting.

It's ironic how a habit like smoking can destroy your entire, life, your career, devastate your family and loved ones. I am exposed to business tycoons and CEOS earning millions and puffing on a ciggy while they plan strategies for the next huge business move,,,,hmmmm,,,

Maybe you will be lucky and escape every sickness while you puff on one at the age of 92 and maybe you won't. Numbers and stats sure seen to tip over into the ' won't direction. I guess the choice is ours and the kind of stand we take in society to support and assertively compel people to kick the butt is of prime importance.

Another way of giving back to society is encouraging and actually helping people get of smoking. It's a great feeling when you are actually able to do this successfully.You life is worth so much more than just a cigarette.

A Warm Cup Of Healing Ginger Tea

Ginger is native to India and China.

Ginger has been important in Chinese medicine for many centuries, and is mentioned in the writings of Confucius. It is also named in the Koran, the sacred book of the Muslims, indicating it was known in Arab countries as far back as 650 A.D. It was one of the earliest spice known in Western Europe, used since the ninth century. It became so popular in Europe that it was included in every table setting, like salt and pepper. A common article of medieval and Renaissance trade, it was one of the spices used against the plague. In English pubs and taverns in the nineteenth century, barkeepers put out small containers of ground ginger, for people to sprinkle into their beer — the origin of ginger ale. In order to ’gee up’ a lazy horse, it is the time honoured practice of Sussex farmers to apply a pinch of ginger to the animal’s backside..

Ginger has long been ascribed aphrodisiac powers, taken either internally or externally. It is mentioned in the Karma Sutra, and in the Melanesian Islands of the South Pacific it is employed ‘to gain the affection of a woman’. Conversely, in the Philippines it is chewed to expel evil spirits. Ginger is a known diaphoretic, meaning it causes one to sweat. It was recorded that Henry VIII instructed the mayor of London to use ginger’s diaphoretic qualities as a plague medicine.

I can go on about the amazing health benefits of this root. Over the last few years, i have used  and shared this remedy with so many clients and friends  for so many conditions, and it has never failed to produce the desired results.

Flu
Common cold and cough
Stomach pain
Menstrual cycle pain
PMS
Digestive disorders
Cancer ( building immunity and cellular health)
Headaches and migraine
Lowering cholesterol
Controlling high blood pressure
Boosting immunity and cellular health
Arthritis, joint and bone pain
Anti-ageing properties
Stimulates blood rush to sexual organs

You can use ginger in food or just have it plain. I like it best in a cup of warm herbal brew.

Try this simple and healing herbal brew -

1 inch piece of ginger washed and peeled.

Boil it in water for 10 minutes with 2 cloves
Add a slightly spilt cardamom

Optional: Fresh lemon grass / Fresh basil for flavor

Simmer for 15 minutes

Strain and pour out into a mug. Add 2 pinches of powdered cinnamon,1 tsp of organic raw honey or jaggery.

Sip hot.

This drink will boost your immunity and make you feel better almost instantly. Make it part of your lifestyle.

( always check with your doctor especially if you are pregnant or have gall stone issues, before using ginger)

Disclaimer The information on this site is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. All content, including text, graphics, images and information, contained on or available through this web site is for general information purposes only.  My blog makes no representation and assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of information contained on or available through this web site, and such information is subject to change without notice. You are encouraged to confirm any information obtained from or through this blog site with other sources, and review all information regarding any medical condition or treatment with your physician.
NEVER DISREGARD PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL ADVICE OR DELAY SEEKING MEDICAL TREATMENT BECAUSE OF SOMETHING YOU HAVE READ ON OR ACCESSED THROUGH THIS WEB SITE|*

Back to Nature - Knee and Joint Pain Cure

Over the last few years I've come to learn so much from our elders. Facts, remedies and wisdom that we can find no where in school books or Harvard white papers. The universe is certainly progressing in the fields of science and technology, so much so, that sometimes we forget that going back to nature, can be a simple solution. Using remedies and wisdom passed down from generations can be a simple, inexpensive and extremely safe way to prevent and cure disease and suffering.

Complicated solutions can lead to complicated results.

I was consulting with an elderly lady in Mumbai and she shared with me how doctors wanted to perform a knee replacement on her 64 year old husband. The doctors advised her to get the operation performed with two weeks for best results.

For several years a simple combination of fenugreek seed powder, turmeric and dry ginger powder was used to prevent and cure the most severe cases of joint pain and arthritis.

On further probing, this kind woman shared with me the proportions of this elixir.

50 grams of fenugreek seeds ground into a powder.

2 tbsp of turmeric powder

1 tbsp of dry ginger powder.

All of this is mixed and stored in an airtight bottle.

1 tbsp of this powder, every day in the morning, on an empty stomach with organic honey or jaggery, or simply dissolve it in water and drink.

Her husband never got that knee replacement done. It's been 3 years now and he is free of pain and recently back from a trek in North India.

This mix is something that we can all prepare and keep ready for use. Pain or no pain, it's a great anti-inflammatory mix, excellent for general health.

I've been using this mix daily, and i surely don't feel the dull throb in my joints that i used to feel the day after i run an 8k.

Try this out and share your experience.Spread the word as this is an inexpensive way heal.

 Author of ' Eat Smart, Move More, Sleep Right' - Book Link

 

Disclaimer The information on this site is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. All content, including text, graphics, images and information, contained on or available through this web site is for general information purposes only.  My blog makes no representation and assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of information contained on or available through this web site, and such information is subject to change without notice. You are encouraged to confirm any information obtained from or through this blog site with other sources, and review all information regarding any medical condition or treatment with your physician.
NEVER DISREGARD PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL ADVICE OR DELAY SEEKING MEDICAL TREATMENT BECAUSE OF SOMETHING YOU HAVE READ ON OR ACCESSED THROUGH THIS WEB SITE.

Our Health And The Irony Of Life - Welcome to my Space

I

I strongly believe that man complicates things way too much.

We have more gyms, health clubs and health foods available and we have more disease and obesity.

We have more elaborate security systems and we have more crime.

We have strong and multiple education systems and we have more children taking to

drugs and other illegal activities.

We have more money and less time.

We must understand that our bodies are built differently. What works for someone

else, may not work for you. Fitness is a result of so many factors: Your lifestyle, genes,

the food you eat, the kind of exercise you choose, the amount of sleep you get, and

most importantly, your mental attitude and the kind of goals you shape for yourself.

The concept of fitness, health and living has gotten twisted and complicated by man and has become expensive over time.

It's ironic how we complicate our lives more and more everyday. We strive to earn more and we neglect our health which later becomes a liability for us and our loved ones.

I recently counselled a business man who has built an empire over the years, and he mentioned how he achieved success, fame and fortune, but neglected his health along the way. Today, his knees and back aches every morning and through the day. Simple enjoyments in life, like a walk in the park with his grandchildren or a game of ball with his nephew has become arduous. He regretfully spoke about his money being of no use at this stage in his life.

How many of us know someone like this?

It comes down to valuing and doing the simple things in life, like treating our bodies with respect. Without the use of our body and mind, we have little.

Do you know what your life goal is? You will be surprised at the amount of people who do not know what they want or what their life goal is. That's not a bad thing. If you have one, make sure that your health is one of the goals and if you don't have a goal, you can start of with 'your heatlh' being one of them.

 For whatever your life goal is, you need a healthy body, mind and soul to achieve it.

You need your health to live a complete and whole life.

Welcome to my space. My intention is to share and receive knowledge and wisdom that can help humans 'prevent' and 'cure' with food and nature.

Through this space, it is my desire to beable to motivate people to get fit, build healthy lifestyles and contribute towards a healthier planet.

If you wish to write and contribute knowledge and wisdom to this blog, please let me know.