tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24841405264905873242024-03-18T21:11:58.297-07:00Steer Your Own CanoeAnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14073191701272292017noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2484140526490587324.post-8630385347552253562011-04-13T07:51:00.000-07:002011-04-13T11:45:05.504-07:00Who Do YOU Want to Be?<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#339999;">Here is a wonderful guiding principle from the Greek philosopher Epictetus, whose teachings were beautifully interpreted by Sharon Lebell, in her </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#339999;">A Manual for Living</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#339999;"> (HarperSanFrancisco):</span></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana; min-height: 15px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#339999;"><i></i><br /></span></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#339999;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">“Who exactly do you want to be? What kind of person do you want to be? What are your personal ideals? Whom do you admire? What are their special traits that you would make your own? </span></span></i></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana; min-height: 15px; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#339999;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><i></i></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#339999;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana; "><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#339999;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">“It’s time to stop being vague. </span></span></i></b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#339999;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">If you wish to be an extraordinary person, if you wish to be wise, then you should explicitly identify the kind of person you aspire to become. If you have a daybook, write down who you’re trying to be, so that you can refer to this self-definition. Precisely describe the demeanor you want to adopt so that you may preserve it when you are by yourself or with other people.” </span></span></i></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana; min-height: 15px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#339999;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#339999;">Action Steps:</span></b></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana; min-height: 15px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#339999;"><b></b><br /></span></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#339999;">Get out your journal and thoughtfully answer the questions that Epictetus poses in his essay. </span></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana; min-height: 15px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#339999;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#339999;">Work on your self like a work of art. Sculpt your character and your future. Set down who you want to be with clarity and intensity.</span></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana; min-height: 15px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#339999;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#339999;">Commit wholeheartedly to the New You.</span></p>Anahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14073191701272292017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2484140526490587324.post-87711444453660798372011-04-04T07:29:00.000-07:002011-04-04T07:35:58.480-07:00Get Comfortable With Your Dreams<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: center; font: 12.0px Verdana; color: #32939a"><i>“If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in uncommon hours.” </i></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: center; font: 12.0px Verdana; color: #32939a">Henry David Thoreau</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 9.0px Verdana; color: #32939a; min-height: 11.0px"><b><i></i></b><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana; color: #32939a">Something that I have been noticing during my seminars is how uncomfortable people are with talking about their dreams--especially OUT LOUD. Individuals are generally willing to share their dreams with me privately, but, then, only in a circumscribed manner; and I find virtually no one willing to go out on a limb and say out loud, in front of a group, what it is they want for themselves. But without being comfortable and open with our dreams, how can we expect to manifest them in our lives? </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana; color: #32939a; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana; color: #32939a">The Law of Attraction runs contrary to keeping our dreams under wraps or compromising them in any way. The Law of Attraction rests on the idea that whatever we focus our thoughts on expands. If you are focused on how rotten your life is, then that is what expands around you; likewise, if you are focused on how beautiful your life will be when your dreams are realized, then that’s what will expand in your life! So...how can we manifest our dreams if we aren’t comfortable thinking or talking about them? </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana; color: #32939a; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana; color: #32939a">Our culture seems to dictate that being open and unabashed about what we want for ourselves is taboo, as if we were too demanding or expecting too large a slice of the pie for the universe (or, at least, the people in it) to handle. We are taught to be self-deprecating and to deny ourselves the perfectly natural impulse of talking about our dreams. And yet, if we deny ourselves our dreams, we deny ourselves the ability to <i>act on</i> them!</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana; color: #32939a; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana; color: #32939a">It is important to get comfortable with our dreams--thinking about them, talking openly about them, and planning for them to show up in our life. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana; color: #32939a; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana; color: #32939a"><b>Forward Movement: </b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana; color: #32939a; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 18.0px; text-indent: -18.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana; color: #32939a">Make a personal commitment with yourself to get comfortable expressing your dreams. Write them down and post them in conspicuous places in your home and office. Get used to yourself AND others seeing them hang there out in the open. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana; color: #32939a; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 18.0px; text-indent: -18.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana; color: #32939a">Make friends with your dreams, relax into them, allow them a loving, active presence in your life. Review your dreams every morning when you arise and again at night before you retire. Keep them fresh in your mind, until in their absence they are missed. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana; color: #32939a; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 18.0px; text-indent: -18.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana; color: #32939a">Get comfortable telling others openly about what you want for yourself. Start with close friends or family members and tell them in frank, clear terms what you want. You will probably be pleasantly surprised at their responses! I will bet that they welcome whatever it is that you tell them--and don’t be surprised if they want to help you realize your dreams. Once you are comfortable discussing your dreams with close friends and family members, expand to others in your life. Continue doing this until it becomes quite natural for you to express your dreams openly and unabashedly to whomever you spend time with.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana; color: #32939a; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 18.0px; text-indent: -18.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana; color: #32939a">Remember, what you focus your thoughts on expands. If you suppress, compromise, or otherwise diminish the value of your dreams, you literally will cut off their lifeline!</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana; color: #32939a; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana; color: #32939a; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana; color: #32939a">For further reading: <i>You’ll See It When You Believe It, The Way to Your Personal Transformation</i>, by Dr. Wayne W. Dyer.</p>Anahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14073191701272292017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2484140526490587324.post-68140745480675694652009-03-05T05:56:00.000-08:002009-03-05T05:59:28.511-08:00Just Getting Back...Hi All!<div>Whew! I haven't posted in a LONG time! Life got in the way for sure. I just finished my studies and have been awarded my Ph.D in Natural Health and my H.D. (Hygienic Doctor) degree. Give me a chance to catch my breath and I'll be back shortly to begin posting again. Lots of stuff I want to share with you! Love, Ana </div>Anahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14073191701272292017noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2484140526490587324.post-40234807570269428432008-06-23T13:15:00.000-07:002008-06-23T14:38:21.811-07:00The Fat on Fats<div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">~Please note that some of what follows might be disturbing to some, due to its graphic nature~</span></div><div><br /></div>Have you viewed the DVD, called "Eating"? [There is another DVD, called "A Diet for All Reasons," which is equally compelling.] Well, it was enough to scare me away from overeating on fats! One part of this DVD dealt with a man who was in the process of having a heart attack. In the emergency room, the attending doctor drew this patient's blood for the usual battery of tests. Within a few minutes, the drawn blood in the beaker separated, and the excess blood fat floated to the top of the blood--just like the fat in, say, chicken broth separates and floats to the top of the broth. (I inquired about this phenomenon, called "lipemia," to a phlebotomist I knew, and she described how sickeningly disgusting and smelly this is!) One of the truly amazing things about this is that it occurs every time we overeat on fats! It isn't a slow, gradual occurrence. It happens EVERY time we overeat fats. <div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The DVD also showed an example of blood fat in the bloodstream. It looked just like melted butter swishing around in the arteries. Then it showed blood fat derived from animal fat, which had actually coagulated to form a rubbery coating on the walls of the blood vessels. This is known as "plaque," and it leads to atherosclerosis, commonly known as hardening of the arteries. The surgeon on the DVD very graphically pulled this rubbery tube-shaped plaque away from the vessel walls, using tweezers. It looked just like a yellow-colored vein! Although plaque is a rubbery consistency, it eventually literally hardens in the arteries, by transforming into a thick, stony wall inside the blood vessels; hence, the literal "hardening" of the arteries.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>It takes little stretch of the imagination to comprehend that, in the presence of fat swishing around in your blood, or the rubbery plaque, or stony walls of atherosclerosis, in your arteries, very little by way of oxygen, nutrients, hormones, enzymes, etc., are getting through these barriers to the cells, where they do their work. Moreover, the presence of excess blood fat can cause a backup in your blood of such things as toxins, leading to untold numbers of diseases and disorders. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Imagine this--or better--DO this as an object lesson: Scoop up some butter, margarine, shortening, lard, vegetable oil, or other "free" fat, like peanut butter, and massage the greasy goo into your hands. Experience its stickiness and the way it coats your skin; notice how it creates an actual barrier on your skin, preventing anything else you apply to your skin from penetrating it. Now, try to rinse the fat off with water. It won't budge, will it? In fact, it seems to get slimier and stickier! Well, that's what fat is doing, quite literally, in your blood stream!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>When you eat "free" (also known as, "overt") fats and eat fatty foods to excess, the greasy fat coats your blood vessel walls, enzymes, nutrients, and everything else in your blood--good and bad--and prevents their movement out of the blood to their ultimate destinations. The transfer of blood sugar and nutrients into your cells is inhibited; everything gets backed up in the bloodstream, and the proper functioning of every bodily process is thwarted. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Dr Graham describes the consequences of a high-fat diet in his book, "The 80/10/10 Diet." He writes, "A steady flow of research comes out regularly relating high-fat diets to almost every type of digestive disturbance, blood disorder, and degenerative disease. Much of this is caused by the body's reduced ability to uptake, transport, and deliver oxygen to our trillions of cells...In addition, too much fat reduces the actual number of viable red blood cells. Excessive fat consumption may be commonplace, but it is nothing short of a nutritional disaster." </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Have I put you off of eating excessively and inappropriately of fats? No? Well, read on. Here are some more facts about fats and the consequences of its excessive consumption, in no particular order:<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>1. There is a difference between food fat and body fat. Optimal body fat is derived from carbohydrates, whose excess is stored as body fat; in-optimal body fat is derived from food fat, which contributes no nutrients and can only add to your health problems.</div><div><br /></div><div>2. Although fats are important macronutrients for our bodies, we need exceptionally little dietary fat for the optimal functioning and health of our bodies--so little, in fact, that we don't have to eat any "free" fats whatsoever to get enough. ALL overeating of fats contribute nothing but problems for our bodies.</div><div><br /></div><div>3. Fats are extremely difficult for the body to digest. They require more time than carbohydrates and proteins to digest. So, when fats are eaten with other foods, the fats delay <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">their</span> digestion by 2-3 hours more that it would take them to digest when eaten without fats. Meanwhile, these carbohydrates and proteins ferment and putrefy in the stomach, becoming toxins in the body.</div><div><br /></div><div>4. It takes a full 24 hours for fat to clear from your bloodstream. On a high fat diet, more fat is coming in everyday, if not at every meal, so there is little chance of your bloodstream clearing <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">ever</span> of excess blood fat.</div><div><br /></div><div>5. Due to the difficulty of fat digestion, it is possible for fats to be only partially broken down by the body. Doctors can biopsy belly fat and tell you what animal or fat source it came from!</div><div><br /></div><div>6. Even on a "healthy" diet, tossing a vegetable salad with oil or salad dressing only serves to coat the greens and vegetables with a nasty, greasy layer of fat and prevents the breakdown and absorption of their nutrients until the fat clears. By then, fermentation has probably already occurred, so the salad ends up being a toxic mess. </div><div><br /></div><div>7. Food fats, in general, can be broken down into two basic categories--"fat-soluble" fats and "water-soluble" fats. Water-soluble fats are those fats found in whole, raw fruits and vegetables. You can detect water-soluble fats by the fact that they don't leave an oily residue on your hands and dishes, and they can by rinsed away easily with water (without the aid of soap). They are the optimal fats--the only fats our body uses effectively and efficiently. All other fats are fat-soluble and they only serve to wreck havoc on our bodies (not to mention dishes, dish towels, etc., without the aid of soap). </div><div><br /></div><div>8. Products of digestion are transported in a water medium. Since fat-soluble fats are not soluble in water and are incapable of being transported in water, they have to undergo special changes in order for these processes to occur, requiring extra metabolic steps--and hence, the waste of precious vital energy.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>9. There are 4 sources of fat in today's SAD diet. They are: water-soluble fats of whole, raw fruits and vegetables; free (overt) fats, as in concentrated oils and avocados, coconuts, nuts and seeds; animal fats; and the newest (and scariest) fat on the market: chemical fats. These are the most dangerous fats known. Chemical fats are petroleum by-products, which are found in ice cream, synthetic coffee cream, artificial butters and margarine, manufactured pastries and cookies, peanut butter, and junk foods. These fats are also known as "plastic" fats. They are dangerous because they aren't even recognized by the body as food. Additionally, since they have only been in existence for a decade or so, their effects on the body are completely unknown.</div><div><br /></div><div>10. Studies reveal that infants fed on artificial baby formula are shown to have large amounts of cholesterol already deposited in their arteries by their first year of life.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>11. Here is a non-exhaustive list of diseases and disorders associated with excess fat consumption: heart diseases, stroke, diabetes, cancers, obesity, auto-immune disease (arthritis, asthma, fibromyalgia, impaired circulation, hearing loss, mental disorders, loss of concentration, mental fogginess, baldness, hormonal disorders, shortness of breath, ageing, dizziness, tissue damage, candida, pancreatic fatigue, adrenal fatigue (aka chronic fatigue), insomnia, malnutrition...</div><div><br /></div><div>12. Humans cannot taste fat; they can only (sometimes) detect its texture.</div><div><br /></div><div>13. Because humans need so little fat, and because fat is found in every food known, we have no inherent craving capacity for fats; so, if you sense you crave fat, think again. It's impossible. (Although it is possible to miss the habit of feeling its greasy texture in your mouth) </div><div><br /></div><div>14. Because humans aren't designed to eat fats other than the water-soluble fats of whole fruits and vegetables, we have no natural mechanism for signaling we've eaten enough (water-soluble) fats.</div><div><br /></div><div>15. Contrary to popular belief, oils are not good for dry skin. Dry skin is due to impaired function of the sebaceous glands and not a lack of oil in the diet.</div><div><br /></div><div>16. Fat-soluble fats go rancid very, VERY quickly, and become carcinogenic. Due to the rapidity of rancidity, it would be difficult to find a concentrated oil or oily food at the market that hasn't already gone rancid.</div><div><br /></div><div>17. Cooked fats prevent the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Our bodies are designed to eat a low-fat diet. When we add extra fat to our diets we gum up our beautiful bodies, inhibit their natural, healthy functioning, and set ourselves up for practically every disease and disorder known. A high-fat diet will cause us absolutely nothing but trouble! This is true even for raw-foodists who feed on exorbitant amounts of so-called "good fats." The absolute best diet we can eat is one exclusively of fresh, raw, ripe organic fruits, supplemented with adequate amounts of leafy greens and vegetables. No raw seeds and nuts are needed. This diet provides us with the exact amounts and percentages of healthful, water-soluble fats, and it presents us with extremely little chance of overeating eating fats.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>But if, for whatever reason, you find yourself unable or unwilling to eat of such a diet, above all, make the first criterion of your alternate choice of diet LOW FAT. Do this as if your life depended on it!</div>Anahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14073191701272292017noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2484140526490587324.post-46990906098831809752008-06-14T09:23:00.000-07:002008-06-14T11:50:01.813-07:00Why, oh WHY??<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://openphoto.net/volumes/isabelmtirado/20080101/openphotonet_PC210011.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px;" src="http://openphoto.net/volumes/isabelmtirado/20080101/openphotonet_PC210011.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>My latest favorite word is "why?" Actually, it's sort of evolved now into a phrase of fascination, like "Oh really? <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Why?</span>" and the ever more probing, "Wow. What's your evidence for that?" My love affair with "why?" started right after a friend of ours recommended a movie for us to see. It was <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">awwwful</span>. I mean REALLY bad--loads of gratuitous sex, female bashing, violence...the works. So, later, when I ran into the guy who recommended it, I asked him why he recommended the movie, he replied, "Oh <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">wow</span>, man, cuz it was soooo raunchy!" Lessoned learned. Mental note: when someone tells you something, always ask <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">why?</span><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>So, a couple of days ago as I was buzzing through one of those warehouse superstores with my supersized grocery cart in tow, I passed one of the ladies who does the sampling of the foods they sell and had a chance to put my new word into action. She was handing a sample of soy bratwurst to one of her unwitting victims and said, "Soy is the healthiest food on the planet." <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Screech!</span> I brought my cart to a halt in front of her station and asked, "Oh really?.......<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">why?</span>" </div><div>The both of them stared at me for a moment and the guy chimed in, "Yeah, why?"<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>"Because it's a <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">fact</span>," she replied in total disbelief at my question, "<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">e</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">verybody</span> knows <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">that</span>!"</div><div><br /></div><div>"Yeah, but....<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">why?</span>" I continued my probing. </div><div><br /></div><div>"Cuz ever since I was I little girl, I was told that." She was getting irritated by now.</div><div><br /></div><div>"So what kind of health properties does soy provide?" I couldn't stop myself.</div><div><br /></div><div>"Huh." She took a deep breath and rolled her eyes. "<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Total</span> body benefits! Where have <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">you</span> been?" I think she wanted to add "you jerk" to the end of her explanation.</div><div><br /></div><div>"So it does everything good for you?" I was on a roll.</div><div><br /></div><div>"Yup." </div><div><br /></div><div>And here's the my zinger clincher question: ".....<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">What's your evidence for that?"</span></div><div><br /></div><div>End of discussion.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>With so much thrown at us these days, and with so much information available through the Internet, the TV, radio and so on, I think we've become very sensitized to the rot people heave on us and often times just take it in stride. We're too busy and overwhelmed to actually think about what's being said, much less insist that people back up their information with hard core facts. The really wrong part about it is that, eventually, mindless statements just get woven into our discourse so much that we begin to accept it as the truth. That's how this lady could so easily back up her "facts" with the blanket statement, "everybody knows that!" Well, honey, that don't make it fact...</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Intrigued, I spent some time in front of the TV really<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> listening</span> to what kind of baloney is being fed to us on an institutionalized level. Let me share with you some of the so-called statements of "fact" that came from the food channel and the Fit TV channel:</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>"A great way to get your kids to eat fruit is to put raisins in your cookie recipes."</div><div><br /></div><div>"Put salt in the water when you steam your vegetables to bring out their flavors and <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">nutrients</span>."</div><div><br /></div><div>"Drizzle with olive oil to make it heart-healthy."</div><div><br /></div><div>"To neutralize unhealthy excess salt [in your recipe], add some sugar."</div><div><br /></div><div>"Nuts are a high energy snack. Stick them in your purse and in kids' lunch boxes for a high energy pick-me-up anytime."</div><div><br /></div><div>"Ground chicken breast and extra lean ground pork are perfect protein sources and they have NO fat!"</div><div><br /></div><div>"For a healthy snack, only use egg whites (in your recipes) because egg white is where all the protein is; so they're REALLY good for you. It's the egg yolks that have all the bad stuff."</div><div><br /></div><div>"Add 1/2 cup sugar to the water when you make couscous, for the perfect healthy snack."</div><div><br /></div><div>"This [brand x] contains more vitamin C than a glass of <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">milk</span>."</div><div><br /></div><div>"To make your everyday hamburgers better for you, top with slices of tomato and lettuce, and swap out the processed cheese for <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">blue cheese</span>--this one's made from goat, cow <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">and</span> sheep's milk!"</div><div><br /></div><div>Don't give your kids nasty sodas, instead blend 1 2/2 cups pomegranate juice concentrate with 1 1/2 cups of cranberry juice and 1 1/2 cups sugar syrup and blend with club soda for a healthy beverage on those hot summer days."</div><div><br /></div><div>"To give your artichoke dip a healthy twist, substitute yogurt for the mayonnaise and use mozzarella cheese instead of cheddar cheese."</div><div><br /></div><div>"To make your indoors more natural and healthy, make your own picture frames out of twigs your kids collected..."</div><div><br /></div><div>"If you have arthritis or aching joints, drink this [brand x]. It goes straight to your joints and makes them really juicy." </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>With statements like these proliferating all over the TV and elsewhere, how's a girl (and guy) supposed to steer her own canoe?? How can we make good decisions when the information we're exposed to so clearly undermines clear, informed thinking? That's why I've started asking the "Why" and "What's your evidence for that?" questions. Even though I have yet to get a good answer for my queries--and I doubt I'll change the world by asking them--at least I can keep the ball in my court by empowering myself proactively, instead of just turning a blind eye. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Anahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14073191701272292017noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2484140526490587324.post-25902793764774745232008-05-10T09:10:00.000-07:002008-05-10T10:00:55.532-07:00My Unconscious Ritual<div>Last night, I discovered that I have been doing this unconscious ritual whenever I intend on embarking on something new, for example, ramping up my exercise routine, going raw, fasting, and doing tasks that I found to be stressful, like job hunting, traveling, etc. It's a 3-point process that goes like this:</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>1. I work on envisioning actually doing it and having it as a part of me. This isn't like visualization, but more like getting myself to the point that I can actually <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">identify</span> with it. It's "me." This can be quick or take a long time. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>2. I go into this hydration routine where I drink lots of water and, often, fresh juices. It seems to make me more alert and does something to my emotional energy levels. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>3. I sleep. I find that getting an abundance of sleep makes me more prepared to accept something new into my life. I think it, too, has something to do with mustering lots of vital energy to put toward the project. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>This process might take several days or weeks, even; I'm not sure. As a matter of fact, until last night, entirely aware that I was even doing it. Let me explain...</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>For the past couple of weeks, I've been thinking about refining my Natural Hygiene "practice" because I think I've been slacking a bit. I've only been partly aware I've been thinking about doing this. Thoughts pulling me in this direction have just been kind of mulling around in my head as I've been doing something else, like dusting or washing dishes or doing Sudoku puzzles or otherwise solving the world's problems. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Then, last night, when I was watching TV and my brain was in "incubation-mode," I suddenly got this urge to drink a whole bunch of freshly-squeezed orange juice. It wasn't a craving, but rather just a mental note to make a load of oj in the morning. Then, I <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">dreamed </span>making orange juice and drinking it. Why? I wondered. Well then it came to me: I'm in my (unconscious) ritual mode! </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Upon reflection, I realize that I've been doing this ritual for some time. I think it might have to do with summoning up lots of vital energy and preparing myself for the change of habit. Of course, I can't prove that any of this works. I just do it. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Do you have a similar ritual you go through? </div><div><br /></div>Anahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14073191701272292017noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2484140526490587324.post-50763182713852842002008-05-10T08:16:00.000-07:002008-05-10T09:10:07.605-07:00Question #1I'm in question-mode right now. Here's question #1: What are/were your (compelling) reasons for going raw? <div><br /></div>Anahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14073191701272292017noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2484140526490587324.post-37574228589415369982008-05-09T09:37:00.000-07:002008-05-09T13:59:06.423-07:00So It Appears Darwin (and Mom) Was RightRecently, there was a discussion of beauty and cosmetics usage, etc. on Sarah's blog, which I found really interesting. So I thought I would post some ideas on the subject today. I've been doing a bit of research on this subject myself, through literature on Natural Hygiene and a couple of lectures and books by genetic psychologists and researchers. I'll try to keep what I've learned fairly brief, with the hopes that I don't leave too much background information out that might hinder understanding. Cos, let me tell you, what I've learned has been surprising.<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Hygienically speaking, authorities on Natural Hygiene agree that one of the conditions of optimal health is aesthetic enjoyment--the love of beauty and being beautiful. Making ourselves beautiful and enjoying beauty around us IS delightful and natural to us. I personally believe that's why, as a society, we seem so preoccupied with diet, exercise, tanning, clothes, etc. I believe that deep down in we KNOW we should be the picture of health and beauty (even though we might go about this in really unhealthy and synthetic ways). </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>As it turns out, there is genetic evidence for our desire to be beautiful, and our species is pretty specific about what constitutes human beauty. In his book, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">The Moral Animal</span>, Robert Wright gives us a scholarly description of the criteria for human beauty, which, by the way,<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> is programmed right into our genes.</span> (Despite its intellectual density, this book is a stunner and very revealing. I plan to write more about what I'm learning later.) The findings in Wright's book are supported by some lectures I attended several months ago. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Before I proceed, I realize that the information I am sharing might be surprising and, in some ways, unsettling, owing to our current cultural values. I admit I was caught by surprise, since on the surface it seems so frighteningly retrogressive. But this is why I want to share it with you. However, this book is extremely well-researched and well-documented and is considered authoritative reading for students of evolutionary psychology. In fact, it's been required reading in universities. I do hope you'll read on and share your impressions. And if you're so inclined, pick up a copy of the book and read for yourself what genetic research has uncovered.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Since the fundamental objectives of all living species are survival and reproductive success, all species have adapted certain desirable traits to attract and, in certain cases retain, reproductive partners, as well as to ensure survival. (Whether we want to admit it or not, attractive members of society <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">do</span> get a bigger slice of the proverbial pie--genetics helps to ensure this.) We humans are no different, and as it turns out, we are quite specific about what we instinctively (and mostly unconsciously) prefer in a mate. The following are some highlights, beginning with physical characteristics and then touching on some emotional ones. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Please note that I am speaking in highly generalized and simplified terms and NOT about any one particular person or group of people here!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>While our species has specific ideas about human beauty and attractiveness, they are sexually differentiated; that is, men have their ideas about beauty and attractiveness and women have theirs. They are not alike, but they go hand-in-hand. So, I'll break each description down along gender lines. But, first, let's start with some common, universal principles. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">What both genders look for in mates</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div>All humans--male and female--are genetically attracted to people who <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">give the impression</span> of genetic fitness. (Apparently, the genes are receptive to being fooled--judicious deception genetically instilled as well.) We naturally incline toward mates who appear healthy and anatomically symmetrical and who seem up to the task of producing and raising healthy offspring. This is regardless of whether you want children or whether you are beyond childbearing years. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Likewise, we are universally repelled by any overt physical attributes that indicate genetic "unfitness" which might be passed on to offspring--acne and other skin conditions, disease, bad teeth, body odor, offensive bodily noises, deformity, etc. That "ick" response we sometimes feel toward certain people is genetically, not socially, driven.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Both males and females, too, are in search of lifelong mates, since we are a "pair-bonding" species; so genetically generated emotional and psychological elements come into play, too. Specifically, males look for faithful wives and females look for trustworthy husbands, and <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; ">both</span> genders look for respectability (for themselves and in each other); for these are what humans for millenia have found to ensure long term survival and reproductive success. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Women's Perspective: What constitutes male beauty and attractiveness?</span></div><div><br /></div><div>In general, women are attracted to men with shapely torsos--broad shoulders and chests and slim waists. Women are enormously attracted to--get this--a scruffy appearance (Dr McDreamy?), but <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">only</span> during ovulation; otherwise they want men to look well-groomed and respectable (how ever the society in which they live defines them). Women look for things that indicate a man's prowess, strength, and virility (ie, his ability to protect and provide in the literal sense), as well those things that amplify his "maleness"--thicker, coarser skin, face and body hair, the smell of pheromones, large hands, etc.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Now, an interesting thing about females is that they seem <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">only</span> to be sexually attracted to these traits in three-dimensional form--he's gotta be in person. Male beauty shown in two-dimensional form, as in magazines and photos, do nothing for females. Not so for males--they get excited for the female form in ANY medium they can get it! </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Another notable characteristic of female tastes is that she is very flexible with her man's physical appearance, because she's got many more things to concern herself with when choosing her mate. "Beauty," for a woman is also emotionally driven. Her #1 criterion is his <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">trustworthiness</span>. Is he really who he presents himself as? He is harboring unseen disease? Will he stick around? Male parental investment (MPI) is foremost in her mind. This can be explained by the very obvious fact that she only has one egg a year (contrast with billions of sperm a man has) that could possibly materialize as a child, followed by a lifetime of personal investment. So, she HAS to be choosy. This explains why, compared to men, women are more coy and less eager for sex (enjoyable as it is...). (The book has a lot to say about casual sex, but I'll save that for another time.)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Furthermore, a man has to do a LOT of convincing that he will not wander <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">emotionally</span>. While sexual infidelity is highly undesirable, woman tend to feel most threatened by emotional abandonment, which she rarely, if ever, can forgive. So--ingeniously--one adaptation females have accepted and encouraged in males is that of showing male emotional fidelity is by plying women with gifts and whispering sweet nothings into their ears. These, in fact, can override practically any physical "beauty" flaw a man might have. </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Male Perspective: What constitutes female beauty and attractiveness?</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div>Robert Wright describes the genetically driven preferences of males, too. He writes that men instinctively seek out women who are younger (longer reproductive potential), although the mere <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">appearance</span> of youth can overcome chronological age (Remember, genes--and humans, as it turns out--aren't averse to being fooled, so long as there's a pay-off); thus, providing strong incentive to, and justification for, women to persist in their quest for beauty no matter what age or circumstance.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Two physical features that indicate a woman's youth are large eyes and a small nose. Evidently, eyes appear smaller and the nose appears larger age we age. ...Didn't know that! I guess that explains the rush to makeup counters and plastic surgeons! </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Another potent reason to be tempted to rush to the cosmetics counter is this thing called "cryptic ovulation." Now, admittedly, this is pure deception at its best, but deception is not a no-no when it comes to attracting and retaining a mate, genetically speaking. Males are especially attracted to women when they are ovulating. This is apparent physically--the color of women's irises deepen, lips go plump, cheeks go rosy, breasts swell, etc. Well, women's genes impel women to "fool" men into thinking they are ovulating even when they aren't, by making women decorate themselves so they<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> appear</span> to be ovulating (hence the term, cryptic ovulation). After all, a guy doesn't consciously <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">know</span> a woman is ovulating unless she tells him! Women having been using this trick since time immemorial, and we're no different today. If you take a look at the types of cosmetics women use, you can readily see that what women are doing is emphasizing those very features that intensify during ovulation: mascara and eyeliner to enlarge and define the eyes, blush to, well, "blush" the cheeks, lipstick to plump and redden the lips, even push-up bras to make the bosom appear perky! So, apparently, there is some deeper genetic rationale going on here...</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The other enormous physical appeal is a woman's sensuality--that is, her ability to inspire a man's touch. It doesn't necessarily matter what a woman's weight or shape are (unless they're a gross indication of genetic unfitness), but whether she's "touchable." Especially appealing is touching the curve where her waist and hips meet, and the hips themselves (who knew?) and caressing her smooth, soft skin. (Mental note: pick up that new moisturizer at the store!)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>There are emotional and psychological aspects to male attraction as well. The absolutely essential requirement is a woman's demonstration of fidelity--that she won't screw around (and therefore confuse him as to which kids he's supposed to love and provide for). Like women have adapted "anti-deception" genes, men have adapted "anti-cuckholdry" genes that are VERY strong. They reflect on his status, power, and respectably, not to mention his parental role (again, genetically driven impulses). </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Studies show that for a man, an unfaithful mate is THE worst of all repulsion. So, in addition to physical beauty, a woman must demonstrate character traits that convince a man that she'll remain faithful. He looks for modesty and signs of complete, long term devotion to <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">him. </span>Extensive research reveals that dressing modestly and possessing a "delightful demeanor" toward the male, and to a certain extent toward others (since it is an indication of marital harmony and happiness), are the most potent signs of fidelity. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Now here's the rub: studies show that when a woman dresses provocatively and shows aggressive body language, males <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">will</span> be attracted, BUT they will moderate the amount of long term investment in the relationship. The same studies show that, when an entire society of women start dressing provocatively and behaving aggressively, they actually influence the amount of investment the men commit as a whole, sending the society into the vortex of increasingly casual sex and decreasingly male marital and parental investment, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">as well as</span> contributing to social violence. I'm not kidding! </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Of course, this appears to put the onus on women,; but on the flip-side, it shows how much practical influence and power they have in their society...</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>What I've included here are some specific features that humans find are associated with beauty and attractiveness. But, as you can see, there is a lot of room for cultural interpretation. For example, each society decides for itself what "dressy modestly," "behaving demurely," and "demonstrating trustworthiness" means. And each woman has to decide what devices she'll employ when nature calls cryptic ovulation into play. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>To these ends, as Natural Hygienists, this is where we center our discussions. It's not so much <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">should</span> we beautify and attract--nature already determined that for us; but rather what <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">methods </span>do we find acceptable? Is it "hygienic" to use synthetic makeup and grooming products? [Probably not, if we consider only aspects of physical health, but not so clear if we are suddenly faced with marital crisis...] Moreover, to what extent and frequency of usage do they contribute to our natural impulses <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">without becoming pathological </span>(this is where self-esteem issues come into play)? And how do we pass this delicate balance on to our children? </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>And this isn't just a topic for female hygienists, either. After all...how many male hygienists do you know who don't shave? </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>What I am coming to conclude is that what matters is highly personal and relative. Each of us arrives at what we find is conducive to our comfort and survival/thrival. And I suppose it will always be a sliding scale, being subtly adjusted as from circumstance to circumstance.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I would really love to hear your input on this topic. Please share with me your ideas! </div>Anahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14073191701272292017noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2484140526490587324.post-48477527803408826702008-04-18T08:38:00.000-07:002008-04-26T15:53:49.606-07:00Practical Matters: My Fasting FeetI've noticed a difference in the condition of my feet for some time now, and I'm wondering if anyone else has had a similar experience.<div><br /></div><div>My feet have always been a sore spot with me. They have always been dry and calloused, and I suffered from fissures (deep, dry cracked heels). Not a pretty site, if you ask me! I've worked hard keeping them looking and feeling good, in hopes of turning them into one of my "good" features. It was a lot of hard and constant work to get and keep them in good shape, and I met with some success. Uh...Don't get me wrong. My feet aren't, like, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">ugly</span>, washer-woman feet or anything. They're pretty decent, looking, except for the dryness and fissures, which I've had to work at to keep under control. (I've tried taking photos of them, so you can see what I mean. But for some reason the photos blacken my toenails. So, I don't have a photo to share yet.)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Well, then, about two years ago, I did my first ever 3-day fast. And I noticed afterward that the fissures had gone away. I concluded that it probably was due to the fact that I had pretty much stayed off my feet for three days and didn't wear shoes during that time. After several weeks, though, the fissures gradually returned. I experienced this same thing last year, when I did another 3-day fast: three-day fast = disappearing fissures (for a time).</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Then, this past November I did an extended fast (just shy of 30 days), and once again, the fissures disappeared. The difference is that this time <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">they haven't returned.</span> That's 5 months running with no fissures! My feet are smooth and soft and normal-looking! </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I could be wrong, but I think there's a pattern here. Somehow fasting is improving the condition of my feet. I read once that poor conditions of the feet are connected with the minerals we eat (or not). The explanation went: minerals are tied to our hormones, and our hormones are tied to the condition of our feet. Or something like that. I've searched for the article, but haven't been able to find it. This is all tied to fasting in that fasting, in addition to many other things, helps to restore the body's mineral balance. So that's how I've concluded that fasting is improving the condition of my feet.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>So, have any of you experienced anything like this? </div>Anahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14073191701272292017noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2484140526490587324.post-37837658543665921922008-04-16T09:52:00.000-07:002008-04-16T11:40:52.656-07:00One of those eureka moments<div>First off, it's been a while since I've posted. I think I've been incubating, a lot has been on my mind, lately. I think that's what Natural Hygiene does--it creates great awareness and, sometimes, some really incredible epiphanies--But I'm back and hopefully will be posting with greater frequency.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Secondly, thanks to everyone who has commented or emailed me privately. While I started this blog for my own benefit, it's nice to see that maybe it's helpful to others. For those of you who have been emailing me privately, I am doing my best to reply. So, if you haven't heard from me yet, please be patient. I've committed to getting caught up very soon.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Finally, I've had a bit of a eureka moment that I wanted to share with you. Maybe you'll be able to contribute your thoughts.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>I was introduced to Natural Hygiene in the 1990s and it didn't catch my attention at all. It wasn't until 2000 that I stumbled on it again and I was captivated. Sometimes I wish that I would have paid attention to it when I was first introduced to it, cos I fancy that I would be so much further along with it. My first rejection of it has been on my mind and I've been wondering why it didn't "take" with me the first time around. But I think I've realized why.<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>If you take a look at some of the Natural Hygiene websites, books, etc., the photos of the people look really <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">bad</span>. Most look emaciated and aged, and although they are smiling and seem to be happy, they don't present a very appealing endorsement for Natural Hygiene, in my opinion. These were among the first glimpses I had of Natural Hygiene and I didn't find it very appealing. I still don't. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>But these types of Hygienists, for the most part, I believe, are stuck in a particular phase of Natural Hygiene--the breaking down part, called catabolism. They seem to emphasize fasting, losing weight, and other aspects of ridding the body of ill-health, but they seem to ignore the building, or anabolic, aspects. So, they look weak, aged, thin, ashen, and really quite <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; ">un-</span>healthy. (Later, I discovered other equally unappealing off-shoot groups, so-called hygienists who have the "medical mentality" and prescribe supplements, super-foods, magical foods, like chocolate, etc., which I won't go into). After a little investigation, I learned that there are hygienists out there who believe the hallmark of Natural Hygiene is fasting and catabolism to almost the exclusion of everything else. Apparently, at some point in the evolution of Natural Hygiene, fasting was in vogue, so many people came to believe that the secret attaining was health was in fasting only. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Believe me, I think fasting is important. I've done a couple of beneficial fasts myself. But the beauty of 'true' Natural Hygiene is it's balanced approach to health, which includes not only fasting and the breaking down of ill-health but also (and more importantly?) health <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">building. </span>Sure, it's important to rid the body of toxins, inferior tissues, etc., but it's equally important to get to the stage of building the body up. To creating fitness and beauty. This is the part that captured my attention in my second introduction to Natural Hygiene and which really pulses with me. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>That's why I was glad when I came upon the teachings of Doug Graham in early 2000. (Excuse the huge plug, but Doug is who really turned me on to Natural Hygiene) Doug promotes a more balanced approach to health where both breaking down and building up play important roles. If you've read any of Doug's books or heard his presentations, you'll see that he works very hard to get people to the stage of <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">building</span> health. He's practically the only hygienist I know who does this. And if you look at him and the people he's coached, you'll readily see the difference. No emaciated people here! They are fit, well-muscled, and glowing--true examples of the hygienic way of life. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>It is so exciting to get up each day with great anticipation for<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> building</span> health. It's a lot more fun, too. I never thought I'd ask myself questions like, "How can I eat more (raw) calories, so I can exercise more?" And "How can I get fitter and stronger?" And "How can I get MORE sleep, and MORE relaxation, and MORE recreation and sunshine?" My former self was always looking for ways to better restrain myself and harness my natural impulses. Not so anymore! Yay!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>So, I can see why some people have been turned off by Natural Hygiene, like I was in the beginning. If all they know of it is fasting and denial, and so-called 'cures' and 'therapies', then they are bound to be disappointed and turned off. For me, the Natural Hygiene lightbulb turned on when I realized that true health isn't about denial, but about all this incredible, healthful abundance! (And the beautiful bodies didn't hurt, either!) </div><div><br /></div>Anahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14073191701272292017noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2484140526490587324.post-8347366532460214592008-04-03T10:54:00.000-07:002008-04-05T13:03:06.105-07:00Food for Water<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg9veVaBUq9JO7hXQfRdnkT8FRxkINay-F5beHmRXQZTcH2QqQzY4zKpxrdjNgQUrv9Jizmjt82aGSzbFkhV4okgiz3SvelA6tonJ1Wi4QocmfDnRIob9jlLv-1fp_F4SECG-_x9DrE_qM/s1600-h/dreamstimefree_147407.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg9veVaBUq9JO7hXQfRdnkT8FRxkINay-F5beHmRXQZTcH2QqQzY4zKpxrdjNgQUrv9Jizmjt82aGSzbFkhV4okgiz3SvelA6tonJ1Wi4QocmfDnRIob9jlLv-1fp_F4SECG-_x9DrE_qM/s320/dreamstimefree_147407.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5185852897110842210" /></a><br /><br />Recently, I went through a couple of days when I was so ravenous that it seemed I couldn't get enough food. All I wanted to do was eat. Even after a meal, I found myself mentally rifling through the kitchen...What can I eat? What can I <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">eat?</span> Finally, for some reason, instead of eating something, I chugged a large glass of water. And you know what? My body prompted me to drink more and more water! After about a liter in all, I was satisfied <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; ">and....</span>I wasn't hungry anymore! So, all long, what I thought was hunger was actually thirst. I had mistaken my thirst for hunger. <div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I doubt I am the only person who has ever done this. And I'm certain this wasn't the first time I ever did this either. So, it got me wondering why I could have confused the two impulses. I came up with a couple of theories about the correlation between thirst and hunger. Tell me what you think.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>First, even though we've been taught that hunger is a stomach sensation, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">true</span> hunger is experienced in the back of the throat near the thirst center; and both true hunger and thirst sensations are characterized by dull pangs. So it might be that we can easily mistake one for the other. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Oh, in case you're wondering, those sensations that we take as indications of hunger--stomach pangs, stomach grumblings, moodiness, lethargy, fatigue, thoughts of and cravings for food, etc., are actually impulses coming from food addictions, 'cause, if you notice, when your stomach growls and you decide to eat something, you seek out something <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">in particular</span>. Not just any old food will do. [Doesn't your inner dialog usually go something like this: Hungry, you say? Here eat some lettuce...No, I'm thinking maybe a brownie will do the trick.] </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Another reason is that, anatomically and biologically, humans aren't water drinkers, so, we're not 'programmed' to seek out water. I know this sounds strange, but it's true. If you consider our anatomy alone, you can see that we don't have the anatomy of water drinking creatures--no long textured tongue to lap water from a stream, and no ultra short legs to conveniently and safely put our mouths close to the natural water source. For humans to drink water safely and conveniently in nature, we need to have a cup or other vessel to gather the water and then drink it. And cups don't grow in nature. Or else, we could tip the dew collected on leaves into our mouths, but we'd have to tip an awful lot of leaves to get a decent amount of water.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Like other primates, humans in nature get their water from the foods they eat--fruits and leafy vegetation. No primate naturally drinks water. Fruits and leafy vegetation are something like 70-90% water, so it stands to reason that, in a natural setting and eating a diet of our biological adaptation, our thirst would be satisfied at the same time we're eating. So, could it be that when our bodies put out signals for thirst they prompt us to go seek out food, since that is where, for millions of years, we got our water? </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>These are just theories, but the next time you get hungry try experimenting with drinking a glass of water first. Maybe you're just thirsty. </div><div><br /></div>Anahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14073191701272292017noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2484140526490587324.post-32019090375079886432008-04-02T14:45:00.000-07:002008-04-04T16:56:52.814-07:00Words of EncouragementAlright, so from the start of this entry, it's gonna sound pretty cerebral. Just hang in there with me for a moment and, hopefully, all will make sense. <div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>One of the hallmarks of Western culture is its penchant for "individualism"--the conviction that by concentrating on developing the unique rights and talents of each individual, the outcome will be a healthy community. This idea is in contrast with "communal" societies, which believe that the way to a healthy individual is by promoting, first and foremost, the health of the collective group. [Whoa! Don't let your eyes glaze over just yet! Kinda complex, I know, but I won't get too technical.]</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>One thing sociologists and psychologists agree on is that our version of individualism is becoming pathological (disease-inducing), because taken to the extreme, individualism is leading many to intense feelings of isolation. Our penchant for individual uniqueness has mistakenly led us to believe we're each in this life alone. Consequently, we feel uncomfortable admitting our own limitations and reluctant to ask others for help and encouragement. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>This type of pathological individualism fails to take two things into consideration: One is that, hands down, behind every successful individual is a host of people who has helped that person succeed. Successful people heartily acknowledge they freely depend on others to get them where they want to be. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Another is that, instinctively, humans are communal animals. By design, we are gregarious creatures <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">and, </span>not coincidentally, all of human culture is transmitted by teaching. What that means is that the tools necessary for humans to survive--and thrive--are taught to us by people around us. Without others passing on their knowledge, sharing their experiences and expertise, and offer themselves up as role models, human culture as we know it would come to a screeching halt. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>More than that, scholars are coming to identify what makes human beings uniquely human: it's our ability to <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">offer each other encouragement. </span>As it turns out, no other primate has this ability. So, if that is true, doesn't that smack in the face of pathological individualism? I mean, shouldn't we all be giving and receiving an awful lot more encouragement?</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I think this is all the more necessary for those of us who are attempting to forge a new and different path, who are opting out of the existing "SAD" way of life with hopes of creating a healthier way of life. With respect to the hygienic way of life, what I find so challenging is that there isn't an available social network in my immediate midst to encourage me onward, to lead by example, to inspire me and help me keep my canoe afloat. At this stage of the Natural Hygiene 'movement,' our social network is far-flung. There just isn't an established community of like-minded people right here that I can easily turn to. In fact, quite the opposite is true. At practically every moment, my social instincts are yanking me (and others, to be sure) back into the direction of unhealthful patterns of behavior. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>All of us, hygienists and not, want very much to be held in high regard; we want to show our affiliation to the group. But without a tangible like-minded group, how do we satisfy these needs? Opportunities to "see" healthful living in action, and to glean healthful behaviors by some kind of osmosis, too, are few and far between. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Of course, this predicament isn't true only for natural hygienists, but for anyone who is trying to forge something different for themselves in the midst of seeming protests and resistance from loving family and friends. This, added to pathological individualism, makes for quite a challenge, to say the least!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>So, what can we do? A solution came to me last night as I was falling off to sleep. We--each of us--have to play our 'encouragement' cards. We have to seek out opportunities to give and receive words of encouragement, so we all can feel much more secure, confident, and <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">connected</span>. It really doesn't matter if people are on the same path. That isn't a criterion. Only kind words of encouragement are. I'm not referring to that fluffy, candy-cotton junky kind of flattery that we're so used to hearing today. I'm talking about helping each other clarify our positive qualities and character traits: "Oh Debra, I really admire the discipline you bring to your karate practice." You can give that kind of approval without know a stitch about karate, can't you? You can solicit such encouragement from others, too...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">right?</span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Don't you see these abilities in yourself? When a friend or family member turns to you for advice or emotional support, doesn't your mind immediately go into overdrive thinking of ways you can help, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">even if you might not possibly understand fully what they're facing?</span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I consider this to be one of the essential steps to emotional poise. Each of us has to make it a priority to give and gracefully receive kind strokes and words of encouragement, regardless of the path each of us is on. I regard this as a basic human right and obligation. After all, it IS what makes us undeniably human. So, why deny each other something so basic?</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Yeah, it's hard to confide in someone our inner most fears and weaknesses, and our special dreams and aspirations. And it seems nearly impossible to solicit encouragement, doesn't it? We're putting our most vulnerable selves out there for the world to see. In addition, because most of us are so unpracticed, it might seem awkward just to walk up to someone and freely give them our approval. But, consider the alternative: How is NOT taking these steps helpful to anyone? Who benefits? No one, that's who!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>So, I'm a-thinkin' that...instead of single-mindedly steering my own canoe...it might not hurt if I take some time out of my day to give a little nudge to the canoes next to me. And, maybe, just maybe, some of the paddlers will give me a nudge in return, and on and on and on... </div><div> </div>Anahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14073191701272292017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2484140526490587324.post-12142593358851495652008-04-01T09:30:00.000-07:002008-04-04T11:07:37.641-07:00Whose in charge of the paddles??<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://openphoto.net/volumes/dkeats/20050705/openphotonet_baboons_grooming.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px;" src="http://openphoto.net/volumes/dkeats/20050705/openphotonet_baboons_grooming.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Okay, before I go off on this zeitgeist, imagine this: me and a hundred monkeys, like these fellas here, in my canoe, all fighting over control of the paddles... You know, sometimes it's just not clear whose steering my canoe...</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Oh, what a week I've had! I've been faced with challenges that I won't go into here, but suffice it to say, it has definitely steered my canoe to today's topic: emotional poise.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Emotional poise is what I consider to be one of the "biggies" of the conditions of optimum health, yet it is one of the less-defined, or should I say, less universally specific conditions of health. Each of us has our own unique challenges when it comes to emotional poise. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">In general, emotional poise deals with the way we respond to stressors in our lives and the amount and type of energy we bring to life's challenges. In a nutshell, it deals with one's mental/emotional outlook. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">For a long time, I believed that emotional poise was more or less an outcome of healthful living, and to a certain extent it is: Doing all the right outward things that lead to health--eating right, exercising, getting fresh air, sunshine, sleep, etc.--somehow do naturally lead to a more serene inner life. But then, I had a lightbulb moment. It occurred to me that the achievement of emotional poise is also an "end" in itself. It doesn't just magically happen as a consequence of healthful living, it is one of the oh-so-critical steps to <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">achieving</span> health. That is, just as I set aside time each day to plan my meals and exercise, I must also make time to hone my skills for handling stress and other mental/emotional aspects of my life.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">In fact, I will go so far as to say that I have an </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">obligation</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> to bring the healthiest emotional "me" to everything I do.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">I cringe when I think about the amount of time and energy I've wasted thinking the worst of myself and the burden it has put on myself (and others). I mean, what right did I have complaining to everyone around me about my unshapely thighs?? Or that I thought my boss was picking on me? Or ungraciously rejecting a compliment? Or--my specialty--subtly putting a damper on a potentially great time because I felt self-conscious in that particular situation?</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">If I had had a better handle on emotional poise, I would have realized that I had an absolute obligation to bring my supreme best to every situation I found myself in, and that by doing so, I could have effected much healthier and happier outcomes for all concerned.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Oh, believe me, I 'm still working on this one! But I'm seeing more clearly that I have complete control over the monkeys on my back. In fact, I'm just now realizing that I'm the one who put them there! Consequently, only "I" can turn circumstances around and work those monkeys to healthy advantage at every moment. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Not only that--and I'm going out on a limb here--I've come to the conclusion that it is </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">everyone's</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> duty to get whatever help they need to correct their shortcomings the moment they rear themselves. For example, if my poor body image is a roadblock to living the life I'm meant to live, then I should face it head-on and throw all my efforts to correcting it, so that it's no longer a barrier to my living fully and authentically. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Likewise, if I harbor resentments against people I believe are inhibiting my functioning fully, then I have to get at the bottom of it as quickly as I can, calling upon whatever resources are available to put a more positive, constructive bent on those relationships. Just as I throw myself (and my available resources) into discovering the best workout routine for my body type, and learning about the optimum diet, so, too, should I bring the same urgency and commitment to better handling my emotional stressors. For the sake of my health and the sanity of others, I am duty-bound to get those monkeys off my back. Well...at least get them to settle down so my canoe doesn't flip over...</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">To that end, I am currently re-reading a book, entitled "Feeling Good, The New Mood Therapy," by David D. Burns, MD (published in 1980, but recently reprinted). Dr. Burns, one of the developers of cognitive therapy, offers this very simple suggestion: Whenever you feel your mood shift into negativity, reflect back to the thoughts just prior to the shift and examine what you just mentality "said" to yourself. Dr. Burns contends that you'll find that it's not what just </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">happened</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">, but what you </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">told yourself</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> about what just happened, that caused your mood to shift into negativity. It's the defeatist spin you put on the thought or event that makes you feel out of control. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Today, for instance, I am faced with having to dispute a bill I just received, that is two years old and is completely incorrect (involving $1000). So, when the thought of it popped into my head this morning, I immediately felt the impatience and, yes, rage, welling up in me. My emotions told me to respond this way, and they threatened to make for a very tense morning. But upon reflection, I asked myself why I chose to react impatiently and ragefully? It's just a mistake, after all, and if I turn off the negativity tape that's playing in my head, I'll be able to bring the best "me" to the situation to effect a constructive, happy outcome. Intellectually, I know all will be well. It's just one of those lousy emotional monkeys rearing itself and attempting to finagle control...(hmmm, sorry if I'm mixing metaphors here!)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">But not today! From here forward, I am going to do my best to take each monkey as it comes, and one by one, I'm going to knock him out of commission, cos it's getting awfully crowded in my little ol' canoe. Can't you just see it? Me and a hundred monkeys in this poor little canoe, all trying to wrest control of MY paddles (LOL)!!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">I know I'll never get these blasted monkeys off my canoe, but I now realize that I have an obligation to do </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">whatever</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> it takes to hang on to the paddles!</span></div>Anahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14073191701272292017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2484140526490587324.post-58995610278064019742008-03-26T10:03:00.000-07:002008-03-29T10:20:12.236-07:00What's for Dinner?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDN5kUdgokhf9IUyWF_w_gtzXck9wJ2fQ4xIDw7bWrKvMcS3J6B5HbxbA-pbNYjIEsTBuhHrQtl5VwkrROr7jNdtbGbNQu3Xf9a57A8GBTYUTC3bi1tNUqNU6naW5XfnNzQxoFtFVjljH2/s1600-h/1_orange-slices.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDN5kUdgokhf9IUyWF_w_gtzXck9wJ2fQ4xIDw7bWrKvMcS3J6B5HbxbA-pbNYjIEsTBuhHrQtl5VwkrROr7jNdtbGbNQu3Xf9a57A8GBTYUTC3bi1tNUqNU6naW5XfnNzQxoFtFVjljH2/s320/1_orange-slices.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5183211522288573218" /></a><br /><div>Yum! I can't wait for dinner today. I'm having 5 oranges and 2 cucumbers. This has been one of my favorite meals this whole season. Oranges are soooo sweet right now, and the cucumbers are cooling.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Of course, lunch isn't so bad either. I'm having lots and lots of sweet, creamy bananas and a pound of celery. To many people, I suppose it doesn't seem like this would be appetizing at all, especially since it's not followed by a sandwich or something. But, until you've tried it, you'll never know the supreme satisfaction a lunch of bananas, or a dinner of oranges, brings...</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Every season I think Oh! this is my favorite season for fruit! This Winter my diet has been an combination of oranges, papayas, pineapple, bananas, and cucumbers, celery, and tomatoes (when I can get good ones). And I've loved every one of them that I've eaten. But then comes Spring with it's mangoes and strawberries and I get excited all over again.! You should have seen me at Christmastime with the tons and tons of persimmons I ate. Pure heaven.</div><div><br /></div><div>So, what are you having for dinner tonight? </div>Anahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14073191701272292017noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2484140526490587324.post-17415083669353380262008-03-25T08:26:00.000-07:002008-03-29T09:10:11.299-07:00I'm "It" Already (...And So Are You!)<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">Are you like this? Whenever I start a new project of any kind--diet, fitness, a new organization program--I fall into the old pattern of thinking that I can't wait until I'm "there." It's kind of like thinking that at this point in time I'm no-where, but at some future time I'm now-here, and when I finally get there, I can start living my<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> real</span> life. </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">Sometimes, it seems like I'm putting off living my (real) life until conditions are "just right." I think something like, " As soon as I get fit, I'll be more involved," or "As soon as I get organized I'll get back to writing my book." It seems I'm waiting for some magical moment when everything will come together and the conditions will be perfect to start living my life the way I want.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">But, it has occurred to me that I AM living my life right now, at this very moment. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">This IS it</span>. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">So, if I want to ensure my desired outcome, all I have to do is make sure that what I'm doing at this very moment--not tomorrow, not when I find the time, but right now--IS that outcome. If I envision myself to be a fit and healthy person, then what I should be doing at this moment is what a fit and healthy person does. If happiness is what I'm seeking, then I should be doing what a happy person does. It's simply change of mindset. I shouldn't be thinking about what's going to <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">l</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">ead</span> me there (someday), but what IS here--right now! As the saying goes, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Just DO it. </span>Or as Plato said, you're "it" already; just peel away what isn't "it," and the "it" will emerge.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">What a relief! No more worrying about tomorrow or that much anticipated future event, or waiting and wondering when I'll start seeing the benefits of my new program. All I have to concern myself with is this very moment. And if I'm living my moment the way I envision my life to be...I AM it! (And so are <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">you!</span>)</span></div></div>Anahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14073191701272292017noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2484140526490587324.post-6852032653680420212008-03-20T15:49:00.000-07:002008-03-22T17:53:25.160-07:00The Deadly Baker's Dozen<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">I've been thinking about reasons why people have a hard time accepting Natural Hygiene, and also why even we hygienists are sometime challenged to 'stay the course.' In the process, I came up with a list of 13 unhealthful patterns of thinking that are currently held by our culture, mostly for the benefit of food corporations and the much of the medical community. These patterns of thinking are so drilled into our heads that it is sometimes hard to think otherwise. In fact, many people are willing to </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">die</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"> (literally!) before they change their thinking about them! Can you think of more that I can add to this list? </span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"></span>Here are my 13 Deadly Baker's Dozen: <br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">1. Sick mentality: </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">Alleviating my symptoms of disease means I'm "cured." </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">Healthful mentality: </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">First, t</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">here is no such thing as a "cure." Secondly, the only way to true health is the elimination of the CAUSE of disease.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">2. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">Sick mentality: </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">Protein is a primary need--Where do you get your protein? </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">Healthful mentality: </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">Simple carbohydrates are our primary need. They always have been; they always will be. Protein is secondary and are supplied in just the right amounts in a diet of fruits and vegetables. Contrary to popular belief, protein does not build muscles; nor does it give you energy. In fact, eaten in excess and from improper sources, protein is linked to every degenerative disease known. The more important question is: How can I make sure I don't eat protein to excess? </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">3. Sick mentality: </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I'm totally cool with doctors injecting me with chemicals (I'm also cool with them cutting me open and yanking things out.).</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Healthful mentality:</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> Only the body heals. All I have to do is provide it with the right conditions.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">4. Sick mentality:</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> Herbs can restore health.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Healthful mentality:</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> Again...only the body heals. All I have to do is provide it with the right conditions.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">5. Sick mentality</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">: Fasting is dangerous.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Healthful mentality: </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Fasting is the most efficient and effective way of establishing ideal conditions for my body to heal itself.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">6. Sick mentality:</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> It's important to eat from the 4 Food Groups (or any variation of this dictum) daily, preferably at every meal.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Healthful mentality:</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> It's important to ONLY eat from the basic 2 Food Groups daily; these are fresh, ripe, raw fruits and vegetables. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">7. Sick mentality </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">It's important to incorporate great variety at every meal, to ensure I'm getting all the nutrients I need.</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Healthful mentality: </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">It's important to eat fewer than 3 or 4 different fruits and vegetables at each meal. It results in less digestive distress and allows my body to absorb nutrients efficiently. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">8. Sick mentality:</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> It's important to eat large quantities of food to ensure I'm getting enough nutrients, variety, etc.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Healthful mentality:</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> It's important to eat an ADEQUATE amount of food to ensure health. Both excess and deficiency are unhealthful.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">9. Sick mentality:</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> I should strive to eat 6 small meals a day; it keeps my system properly "stoked" all day.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Healthful mentality:</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> Ideally, 2-3 meals a day should be eaten, preferably two. Fewer meals means less digestive stress, and the extra vital energy can go toward extraordinary building and repairing.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">10. Sick mentality:</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> Everyone gets sick.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Healthful mentality:</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> Sickness is not inevitable; it's a consequence of straying from the foods and behaviors of our biological heritage. Sickness is the result of unhealthful living; health is the result of healthful living. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">11. Sick mentality: </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">We have to supplement our diets due to the depletion of the top soil. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Healthful mentality: </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Fruit--our primary fuel--is not topsoil dependent. Fruit trees get their nutrients through their roots, which reach deeply into the earth, beyond the topsoil, for their nutrients. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">12. Sick mentality:</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> The diet I use to lose weight ensures optimal health.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Healthful mentality:</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> The diet I use to ensure optimal health, not only brings my weight into its normal range, but makes me extraordinarily healthy and vibrant, unlike any reducing diet can.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">13. Sick mentality:</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> It's boring and monotonous to eat fruit all day long.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Healthful mentality:</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> Although eating is pleasurable, it is not my form of entertainment. Besides, with the plentiful array of luscious seasonal fruits, I eat freely of a variety of fruits everyday, unlike people who eat the same foods day after day on the Standard American Diet (SAD).</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div></div>Anahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14073191701272292017noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2484140526490587324.post-55179775317251592252008-03-17T13:14:00.000-07:002008-03-17T14:24:37.540-07:00Got Sleep?<div>Attaining health is much more than maintaining a healthful diet. There are many elements that go into the mix, one of them being getting adequate sleep. It's mainly during sleep that our bodies repair and build, and put all those great nutrients we're eating to work. So, if we're eating this really great diet and exercising, etc., but we're not getting sufficient sleep, we're really short changing our body's potentiality.</div><div> </div><div><br />Last summer, I read an article, entitled "The Importance of Rest in Disease," by Christopher Gian-Cursio, published in 1942. (You can read the full article at http:/naturalhygienesociety.org/articles/classics2.html). In it Gian-Cursio writes that one of the first things he recommends to his patients is to go home and get some sleep. He's found that when people sleep literally double the time that they normally sleep each night, they experience profound healing and physiological building and repair. That means, if you normally sleep, say, seven hours a night, Gian-Cursio recommends committing several days to staying in bed for a full seven hours longer, so your body can gain additional vital energy. You don't necessarily have to sleep this whole time, but you do have to turn off your senses as much as you can. That means, no noise, no light, no telephones or TVs, as well as no scented candles, etc. </div><div><br /><br /></div><div>He writes, "During this kind of rest not only is the musculature rested, but also all of the vital organs. By slowing the expenditure of energy the recruiting of energy is accelerated...Not only does a particular organ recuperate, but because it does, it decreases its demand upon other organs...In complete physiological rest the whole body profits..."</div><div><br /></div><div><br />Now, I'm a gggreat sleeper! My husband marvels at the way I can quickly fall off to sleep and stay asleep for a full ten hours night after night. But still, I was intrigued by Gian-Cursio's article. I wondered...if I could stay in bed even half the time Gian-Cursio recommended, would I gain even more vital energy? So, I decided to put it to the test. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I cancelled my appointments for the rest of the week and determined to stay in bed for as long as I could. According to Gian-Cursio's recommendation, that meant, for me, 20 hours! To give myself the best possible advantage, I bought an eye mask to give my eyes a complete rest, and I got some of those foamy earplugs to block out noise. Then, off to bed I went! </div><div><br /></div><div><br />I won't tell you that this experiment was a synch. The first couple of hours really tried my patience. I just lay there listening to my brain run a hundred miles an hour, but I was determined. And sure enough, I eventually drifted off into blissful, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">profound</span> sleep--deeper than I could ever recall--and I remained asleep until 4 PM. Then, after a short stroll to the mailbox, I returned to bed and immediately fell asleep again through the entire night. I repeated this process for three days and during that time I had really, really vivid, colorful dreams, I got a couple of headaches, and I was massively thirsty. But when I awoke after the third day, I felt amazingly well and energetic! I dropped seven pounds, healed a wound on my hand, as well as drained a swollen gland in my neck; and I swear the colors around me were more intense than I had ever remembered before my experiment. Oh, and I felt so<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">...happy</span>, too! </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I'm hooked on sleeping!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Now I go around telling my friends to go home and go to sleep! I'm convinced that in this life that we're all living, sleep deprivation is a chronic and detrimental circumstance. Many of us even revel in our lack of sleep, as if that were some kind of badge to display to the world. No, we could all use much more sleep than we're allowing. Interestingly, several people have protested over my enthusiasm for sleeping. "All I need is six hours of sleep and I'm fine," one insisted. I just kept my mouth shut, all the while as I looked into her sunken eyes and noting her dry, sallow skin, not to mention the argument she had just had with her husband on the phone... </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Still, what would it hurt to get more sleep? It's physiologically impossible for your body to sleep beyond its need, so you have nothing to lose. But you DO have a lot to gain! Don't wait until your body breaks down to try this out. Set aside time this weekend to get some sleep--do it as if your life depends on it!</div><div><br /></div><div> </div>Anahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14073191701272292017noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2484140526490587324.post-6203864343653688572008-03-06T08:05:00.000-08:002008-03-10T09:03:26.854-07:00WooHoo! I'm Cheap!!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Wow. I'm sooo happy! Over the last couple of weeks, I've been computing the cost of being "raw," because there are many people who come to Natural Hygiene or raw foods object that the cost of food is too high. My daily average, so far, hovers around $7.00 a day to nourish myself. That's really, REALLY cheap in my opinion. Before, when I was eating the Standard American Diet (SAD), I averaged around $15 per day, so I've cut my food budget by more than half.</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Until yesterday. Yesterday, I reached a new all-time low. It cost me $5.63 to eat! Yay! That means that, if I can continue at this rate (and we're not even in a good--cheap--season yet), my total food budget will be less than $40 per week!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Here's a breakdown of what I ate, what it cost me, and how it contributed to my health. I'm showing Cost, Calories, then Caloronutrient Breakdown (carbs/protein/fat), in that order.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre; font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre; font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Meal #1</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">2 lb. bananas</span></span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">$1.18</span></span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">800</span></span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">93/4/3</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">1 lb. papaya</span></span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">$1.26</span></span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">225</span></span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">88/9/3</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Total</span></span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">$2.44</span></span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">1024</span></span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">91/6/3</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Meal #2</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">2 lbs. oranges (5)</span></span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">$2.40</span></span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">424</span></span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">90/9/1</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">9.5 oz. pummelo</span></span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">$.29</span></span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">160</span></span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">91/8/1</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">1 cucumber</span></span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">$.50</span></span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">30</span></span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">88/10/2</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Total</span></span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">$3.38</span></span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">616</span></span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">90/9/1</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Grand total</span></span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> for the day: </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">$5.63</span></span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">1639</span></span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">90/8/2</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">That equates to 3 cents per calorie! YAY ME!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:18px;"><br /></span></div>Anahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14073191701272292017noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2484140526490587324.post-75185192090260017072008-03-05T15:02:00.000-08:002008-03-10T09:05:41.382-07:00The Red Hot Burner<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I've been trying to figure out a way to explain the difference between the medical mentality and the Natural Hygiene mentality. Here's a pretend scenario that helps me to understand it in very basic terms. Maybe it will help you too.</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Suppose you have your hand on a red hot burner. You scream with pain and complain on and on about how much your hand hurts. Perhaps you've had your hand on the burner for a very long time; so, for years you've complained about the pain in your hand, and maybe it has even caused you to forego enjoying your favorite activities.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">In effect, the solution of the medical mentality is to take drugs. "Here take this pill, it will get rid of your pain." So you take the pill and it </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">does</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> get rid of the pain. Now you can go on doing what you're doing, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">all the while keeping your hand on the red hot burner.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> You might be so satisfied with this solution that you tell all your friends about the pill! "Ooh! You </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">have</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> to get some of these pills! They took away all the pain in my hand and I can do everything I want to now," you might say. (We hear this all the time in the drug commercials, don't we?)</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">So, what's the Natural Hygiene solution? "</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Take your hand off the burner, silly!"</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Nuf said.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Okay, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">okay.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> Maybe this is a little bit too simplistic, but I find it helpful to remember just why I'm on this path. Medical science is important--if we keep it in perspective and put it to use only when necessary. My sister, Chris, broke her leg on Valentine's Day and really needed some serious help! I doubt she would have appreciated me telling her to bite the bullet and treat it naturally! That's when medical science comes in very, VERY handy. But we can't just run to the medicine cabinet with every little ache and pain.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Most of our daily problems are the result of bad living, and we can't keep up with thinking that medicine will solve our problems. It's far, far better to clean up our lives so that our own self-inflicted problems are kept at a minimum, and we can focus on our true health issues...</span></span></div>Anahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14073191701272292017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2484140526490587324.post-72375856660948828342008-03-04T08:41:00.000-08:002008-03-08T12:00:13.163-08:00Oops! There Goes Another Rubber Tree Plant!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><div> </div>Did you ever have this happen? You decide to adopt a new healthful habit, say, taking better care of your hair. So, you come up with a plan--you decide to give up chemical filled hair products and to massage your scalp every morning. Then, you put your plan to work. After a couple of days you actually begin to see positive results. Your hair is silky and more resilient; it's soft and appears to be thicker and more manageable. All is well, and you continue with your plan for 5...7...9 days. Then, suddenly, out of the blue you inexplicably drop your plan. First, one day is skipped...just. this. once. Then, two days are skipped. Eventually, you're not working your plan at all. Weeks later your plan is history, and you're right back where you started. </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">What <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">happened??</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Well, I've learned that this is an absolutely normal step in the quest for cultivating a new habit. It's called "rubber banding." You've snapped back to old habits, like a rubber band snaps back to its original state after being stretched. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">There are many reasons this happens. It could be psychological: you crave the familiar; it could be practically-oriented: your plan was too much, too soon; or it was too cumbersome, or too expensive (money-wise, time-wise). What ever the reason for your rubber banding, it's important to know that it's<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> perfectly normal</span>. It's a step in the process of change and, therefore, should not only be expected, but planned for, too.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">The solution? Do what that little old ant did: Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and start all over again!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;"> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;"> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:verdana;">Rubber banding shouldn't be viewed as failure, but rather, the opportunity to fine tune your plan to make it simpler and more effective, more <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">you. </span>It offers a chance for greater self-awareness and effectiveness. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">So, the next time you put a plan into practice, include time for rubber banding and a period of re-adjustment. Keep stretching your 'rubber band' again and again, until it snaps back less and less. Eventually, your new habit will take on a new shape and one day you'll find that it's natural to you. You can't imagine going back to your old ways!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">OoPs! tHeRe GoEs AnOtHeR rUbBeR tReE pLaNt....!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> </span></div></div>Anahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14073191701272292017noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2484140526490587324.post-26108173846727860262008-03-03T12:43:00.000-08:002008-03-07T13:13:11.946-08:00The Essential Things We Put Into Our Bodies<div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">We need to put very few things into our bodies to make them function optimally: (1) fresh, pure air, (2) pure water, and (3) foods that we're biologically adapted to (fruits and vegetables). Everything else that you could possibly put into your body is NOT needed and should be kept out, because they will only disrupt that finely tuned body of yours. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">Fresh air: This is first in importance, because, as you know, you'd die within minutes without fresh air. Outside air is best, preferably as far away from pollution as possible. Your body already knows how to breathe and how much air it needs. You don't need to do anything fancy here; just allow your body to breathe naturally. If it needs more air, it will automatically breathe deeper or more frequently. No need to do special breathing techniques, deep breathing exercises, etc. That just messes things up. Your breath is tied to your heartbeat; if you start artificially breathing, you mess up your heartbeat and all the functioning that is in sync with it (Remember the Law of Order?).</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">Pure water: This is second in importance, because you'd die within a couple of days without it. Your body needs pure water, as in H2O. Anything more than this is artificial and is NOT needed: no H2O <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">with electrolytes; </span>no H2O <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">with fructose added; </span>or with vitamins or minerals added; no H3O (is there such a thing?). Hopefully, you get my point...Pure H2O is exactly what your body needs and nothing more. That's what it's adapted to after all these millions of years. The distilled water contained in fruit is the absolute best you can get, but you might need to supplement with pure distilled water (you know, the kind in jugs), especially if you're new to the natural hygiene way of life, or else are very active. You know you need to boost your H2O intake if you're not peeing 8-12 times on average during each 24-hour period, if your pee is dark in color, or if your pee is wimpy in volume.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">Fresh, ripe raw, organic fruits, supplemented with leafy greens and vegetables (notice the emphasis on fruits) are third in importance. (The longest anyone has gone without food is something like 370 days, although I wouldn't try this!) Fruits and vegetables contain all the nutrients your body needs in the exact proportions and ratios your body needs them. How much easier can it get?? A friend of mine challenged me on this, making claims about the depleted topsoil, etc., and therefore, the need for supplementation. Well, her argument might be true--<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">if</span> you are relying on foods that are topsoil dependent, like vegetables, leafy greens, grains, legumes, root vegetables, etc. That's why it's so important to stoke your diet with fruits <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">over</span> vegetables. The roots of fruit trees are not topsoil dependent; they reach deeply into the earth, where nutrients are (still) rich and plentiful and unchanged since, like, the beginning of time. So, no problem here!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">That's it! That's all you need to be putting <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">into </span>your body. Now, isn't <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">that</span> grrreat news!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></div>Anahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14073191701272292017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2484140526490587324.post-72251718017827204152008-03-02T12:09:00.000-08:002008-03-07T12:42:29.685-08:00An Essential Physiological Law of Life: The Law of Order<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;"><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>The "Law of Order" is one of the physiological laws of life, and it states that the body is completely self-constructing, self-maintaining, self-directing, self-repairing, self-defending, and self-healing. </span><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:verdana;">If you're like me, even thinking about "going raw" or delving into Natural Hygiene makes it essential that you wrap your brain around this very essential law of life. The fact of the matter is: our bodies are autonomous organisms which require absolutely no outside help. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Think about it: ever since the union of that ever so tiny egg with that ever so tinier sperm, your body has been able to grow a complete human being! It knew exactly what to do and how to do it and, except for some raw materials, like fuel and the replenishment of nutrients, it didn't need help from anything outside of itself to make you! <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">And it continues to know what to do now that you're a fully-grown human being. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:verdana;">Your trillions of cells are the result of literally <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">millions</span> of years of adaptation, so doesn't it seem kind of odd that suddenly in the last couple of hundred years it would need doctors and medicines and Chapstick? Or so-called vitamin water or superfoods, dietary aids, or animal protein? Or tanning beds or wrinkle cream or fluouride in your water? Or, or, or... </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">For me, the hardest part of reverting back to this way of life (that IS what we're doing after all--reverting back to what is natural and <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">normal</span>) is accepting and <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">allowing</span> the fact that my body doesn't need that kind of help from me; AND when I give it this kind of help, I am actually inhibiting my body from doing its work!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">This is especially true of those things that go <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">into</span> my body. If it's not of my biological adaptation, it's actually harming me and preventing my body from functioning fully. So, thinking that "just one" [aspirin, bite of meat, sip of tea, etc.] isn't going to hurt me...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">IS!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">If I sincerely desire optimal health, the most important thing I can do is to truly accept that my body can and MUST have the autonomy to do its thing without any second-guessing from me.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Daily, I work on comprehending this, and the more I "chink" away at it, the more astounding (and ridiculously<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> simple</span>) it all seems!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">(...Oh, and if you need more reminding of this law of life, just keep reading, because I'm sure it will keep popping up!)</span></div>Anahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14073191701272292017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2484140526490587324.post-73818512325547934722008-03-01T08:14:00.000-08:002008-03-04T09:34:04.231-08:00Primitive Man and His Food<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:verdana;font-size:medium;">Sorry this is such a long entry, but....I just couldn't stop myself!</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:medium;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Everyone says they want to be / get healthy. Some people even say they ARE healthy. So that has got me wondering what "healthy" really is. I mean, would we know it if we saw it? Well, if you know me, that can only mean one thing: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">research!</span> My favorite thing! As I was researching the definition of "healthy", I came upon a book, called "Primitive Man and His Food," by Dr. Arnold Devries, published in 1954. It's chock full of information about the health status of primitive people around the world, who were observed and studied by explorers and voyagers between the 16th and early 20th centuries. Dr. Devries compiled quotes from these travelers' diaries and journals about the health of the primitive people they encountered. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Oh my gosh! What I discovered from this book!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Now, it's usually the case today that we tend to view primitive humans as backward and worse off than we are, and that they were short-lived, diseased, and smaller, unhealthier--you know the drill--than us. (I could go into <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">why</span> we believe this, but that's a whole other topic!)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">What this book shows is that primitive humans were in MUCH better physical condition than we are today, and that they--all of them, without exception--were stop-in-your-tracks beautiful! Dr. Devries summed up the general appearance and health of these various groups of people, saying that their teeth were in near perfect condition (in spite of no dentists, toothbrushes, etc.), their bodies and faces were free from deformity, well-proportioned and symmetrical, there was a predominance of reproductive efficiency (no pain or difficulty in pregnancy and births, no pre-natal deformity, etc.), there was high resistance to disease and, if anyone ever did get sick, recovery was rapid. There were no degenerative diseases at all, even in old age--and it was common for people to live into their hundreds! Dr. Devries also mentioned that there were no mental impairments whatsoever (this would include depression, deviant behavior, moodiness, etc., too), and people lived in a state of happiness and contentment. It seems that, without exception, primitive people of every age were strong and vigorous, and they were quite tall (males being taller than 6 feet in most cases).</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">I want to share with you some quotes from this book, so you can see how far we've come from our "healthy" days, and also just in case you're looking for a health model to aspire to--I know I want some of what they had, for sure!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">This is from Chapter 9, "The Marquesas Islanders" (Polynesians):</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">"The Marquesas lived in their primitive state primarily upon tropical fruits and plants." [52 varieties of breadfruit, as well as many varieties of bananas, and coconut, root vegetables, moderate amounts of sugar cane, and wild plants--my note].</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">"The first explorers to arrive at the Marquesas Islands called the people the healthiest and most beautiful in the world. Never before or since has a racial group been so enthusiastically extolled for its excellence of physical development. Glowing accounts told of the natives' superb physiques, fine countenances, very attractive facial features, and vivacious, happy dispositions. Some of the men were said to display the torsos and arms of veritable giants; the women were smaller, of delicate development and matchless perfection of form. The Marquesan teeth were described as pearly-white, completely immune to decay, and of perfect regularity. The people were said to live to great age and were strong and vigorous in advanced years. Travelers wrote with almost poetic delight of this paradise of song, games, swimming, dancing, mirth and laughter. Some of the early navigators were so impressed by the health and happiness of the people that they reported the islands as the Garden of Eden."</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Dr. Devries goes on to quote, they were of "very graceful shape, well-formed, robust, good legs and feet, hands with long fingers, good eyes, mouth and teeth, and the same with the other features. Their skin was clear, showing them to be a strong and healthy race, and indeed robust."</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">The women: "had beautiful legs and hands, fine eyes, fair countenances, small waists and graceful forms..."</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">The men: "as large as giants, and of so great strength, that it has actually happened that one of them while standing on the ground, had laid hold of two Spaniards of good stature, seizing each of them by one foot with his hands and lifting them thus as if they were children."</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Of physical prowess and endurance: "The people were found to have extreme facility in climbing trees and steep rocks, but it was in the sea that they displayed the most incredible celerity. They learned to swim when mere infants, and many of the adults would spend half their waking hours in the water. A number swam about the ship for the greater part of the day without ever appearing tired. They would even eat meals in the water, having coconut, breadfruit and bananas tied on the end of a stick, which each would carry to sea...Some of the women swam with little children on their shoulders, and others would think nothing of throwing themselves from high rocks and cliffs into the water." </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Of their dispositions: "...they have a great regularity of countenance; and an air of real goodness which was not belied by their dealing with us."</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Of childbirth: "women experienced very easy delivery in childbirth, with labor usually lasting about a half-hour. The children were not weaned until they were able to speak or go about alone..."</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Of deformity: "Not a single deformed or ill-proportioned person was seen on the island; all were strong, well-limbed and remarkably active...and their bodies are besides free from hues and sores...We did not see a single cripple or deformed person, but such regularity of form that it greatly excited our astonishment."</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">These are quotes from only a small section of the book, but the rest reads just like this, describing primitive people from all over the world, from Africa to Alaska to China.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Do you want to know what Dr. Devries attributed these peoples' remarkable health and beauty?</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">(1) their use of simple, natural foods of the right kinds (right biological adaptation--my note);</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">(2) their vigorous outdoor life; and</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">(3) their full use and enjoyment of the climate they lived in.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">I don't know about you, but I want <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">whatever</span> they were doing!</span></div></div>Anahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14073191701272292017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2484140526490587324.post-28325733188511460602008-02-22T11:01:00.000-08:002008-02-27T20:12:32.145-08:00Lighten Your Load<span style="color:#336666;">Ever since we humans settled, amassing and storing wealth has become our primary preoccupation. It's true that before supermarkets, take out, and easy transportation, we needed to ensure that we had enough supplies and foodstuffs to last us the duration of the bleak, barren winter; so, hoarding was actually a matter of survival.<br /><br />But this hardly applies any longer. Today, we live in a sea of excess and waste; and it is only our deeply engrained belief that we <em>must possess</em> which keeps us enslaved to our excesses. If you take a look at a typical day or week, you will probably find that the bulk of it is devoted to managing and acquiring possessions! Laundry, dishes, groceries, tires for the car, taxes, boat, RV, payment on the second (or third...) car, getting a new outfit for the weekend, cleaning the garage, filing away the mail, stacking the magazines, did I say laundry?<br /><br />Like the cartoon character Foghorn Leghorn, I think it's important to "keep our feathers numbered." I am not talking about sacrificing our most prized possessions, or even saying that we have to live in a state of poverty. But, if we want to enhance the quality of our life, doesn't it just seem essential that we have to get rid of the clutter and excess around us? Clutter and excess weigh down your mind and your environment and prevent you from growing. They enslave you to your past and prevent you from effectively functioning in the present. They inhibit the future from presenting itself--after all, where are you going to <em>put</em> it?<br /><br />Eliminating clutter and excess also saves you a <em>lot</em> of money and, by virtue of all the money that is no longer seeping out of your life, that dream job that you thought you couldn't accept because it required a cut in salary, suddenly might seem appealing and realizable; or the house you have dreamed of buying can suddenly become a reality.<br /><br />That's why I want to "steer my own canoe." Instead of hanging on to what society seems to dictate I have, I've started by getting rid of everything that just no longer serves me and then taking onto my "canoe" only what will get me where I need to be--where that is I'm not sure.....yet! But I'm really excited about finding out.<br /><br />Oh, and I've taken on Natural Hygiene with a vengeance. It's become a major preoccupation of mine. The most major steps I've taken is changing my diet and many of my personal habits. I'm a raw-foodist, which has been a mind blowing experience. Almost daily I experience awesome insights about myself and the world around me. I did my first extended fast recently, and now I'm into keeping my insides clean and my body and mind strong.<br /><br />Maybe you would like to join me?<br /><br />So, welcome to my blog. I hope you will find it inspiring! I would really, really love to hear from you!<br /></span><span style="color:#ff6666;"></span>Anahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14073191701272292017noreply@blogger.com1