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Archive for January, 2011

Does Your Clothes Make You Feel & Look Younger?

January 28th, 2011 by Arlan Murata

Discover Simple Dressing Techniques That Will Help You Look Younger

Most people understand there is a wide range between dressing too young and dressing too old. But how exactly should a mature person dress in order to look and feel younger without dressing inappropriately? On the other hand, what are some mistakes people make in their clothing choices that make them look older than they are?

You won’t have to invest in expensive clothing or accessories to put a wardrobe together that makes you look younger. Check the things you have now in your closet and see if you can’t wear them in a new way. Let’s take a look:

Dress for your size

The most common mistake people make when choosing clothing as they get older is they buy clothes that are too big and ill constructed. Many people gain weight as they age and then cover their bodies in huge shirts and those awful formless frocks. When you catch a glimpse of yourself in one of those muumuus and think ‘frumpy and old’ it’s time to rethink your clothing choices.

Older women in particular have many choices now to buy well-fitted clothing in all sizes, even plus sizes. Many styles that more petite women can choose from are now offered across many sizes. The hardest hurdle to clear for many people is accepting that you are a different size now. Don’t stress about what the tag says. If the garment fits well and accentuates your positives then you are going to knock years off your appearance.

Choose vibrant colors

This goes for men and women alike. Don’t be afraid to wear a color that accentuates your skin tone. In fact, these colors can lend their glow to yours. Pair solids with prints containing a similar hue so you don’t feel overwhelmed by too much of a pattern.

Whatever you do, stay away from big grey t-shirts and sweats. There are very few older people who’s skin can handle a big dose of gray next to it. Adding a colorful scarf or other accessory can also help bring the color of your skin up a notch. Listen to what people say, too. If you get compliments every time you wear a certain color, wear more of it!

Throw out anything that doesn’t fit

Having a closet full of three different sizes just in case you lose a few pounds is not only space-wasting, but emotionally draining. Old clothing may have sentimental value but it could be holding you back. If it’s that important, pack it away, but don’t wear it.

If you insist on wearing clothing that doesn’t fit, you are not only going to be uncomfortable, but look out of date. If the buttons are about to pop off of that favorite blouse of yours from 20 years ago, you will not be giving the impression of someone who is vibrant and youthful. You’ll be giving the impression of someone who is losing the battle against age. If you can’t afford to replace your entire wardrobe, don’t. Start by buying one outfit that actually fits. You’ll soon see how good you look, and feel, stepping out in clothes that fit.

Accessorize

Have a long sweater dress? Give it some shape with a sassy belt. No matter what age you are, you can wrap a black dress with a red patent leather belt and look fabulous. If you’re thicker around the middle, drape the belt across the hips. Or maybe you’d like to try a fashionable new scarf. Check out the latest trends in accessories and give them a try.

There are very few clothes or accessories that say “teeny bopper” except those that are really and truly fads. Other than that, your field is wide open. Change handbags, earrings, sunglasses, and bracelets to get brand new updated looks to make you appear younger and more stylish. Don’t forget hats and shoes! Look lean

There are a couple tricks that really do make a person appear more slender and younger. One trick that most people know is to wear dark colors on the bottom. Save the light colors for the blouses, sweaters, wraps, and accessories. Simple, straight legged pants without pleats or puckers, and simple black skirts are the basis to any good wardrobe for the older set.

Another trick to appearing leaner and more slender is to wear shoes or boots with a little heel. You don’t have to go nuts and wear stilettos; you can choose a nice wedge heel or a two inch heel. Just that little lift will make your body appear longer and will give your step a little lift. As we age we fight gravity; we feel we’re drooping. When we do things to make us appear more slender, we feel ‘lifted.’ This will take the years off.

Avoid novelty sweaters

This tip is just for fun! Nothing says ‘old’ like novelty sweaters around the holidays. If you must wear one, wear it in the house. When you leave the house, leave the sweater. These sweaters are very often not made well, so not only are they instantly aging you, but the condition of the sweater will also scream OLD.

There are, however, parties that require guests wear a novelty sweater. You’re among friends, so go right ahead and play it up. Just remember to take it off when you leave the party!

You’ve heard, “Do these jeans make my butt look fat?” Well, you should be asking, “Does my closet make me look old?” Don’t keep clothing around that ages you. Pitch those boxy shirts, tight pantsuits (I know you’ve got one!), baggy sweats, and frumpy muumuus. Buy one crisp, colorful, curvy, well-fitting outfit that makes you look and feel like you are 10 years younger… then buy another one!

If you want to learn more, check my wellness teaching blog out: http://muratasensei.com

Your wellness friend,

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Want To Rejuvenate Or Resurrect Your Memory?

January 24th, 2011 by Arlan Murata

Need Help With Your Memory?

Are we foggy when we wake up in the morning? Are we forgetting where we left our glasses? Sounds familiar?

There are ways to help clear our brains and improve our memory.

  • Getting more oxygen to our brain in the morning by drinking ionized alkaline water *Deep breathing
  • Some cardio activity will increase the flow of oxygen to your body and brain
  • Chinese exercise improves our memory – balance on one foot with eyes closed for 60 seconds, repeat on the other foot. Do this several times.
  • Super Brain Yoga  Try This

Want to learn more, send me an e-mail: arlan@muratasensei.com

Your wellness friend,

How To Stay Healthy During The Winter?

January 21st, 2011 by Arlan Murata

Increasing Healthy Fat Intake during Winter

Winter is the time of year when nature hibernates. It is cleansing itself to start again in the spring. We can take a page from that book by staying healthier this winter.

It’s the one time of year that you don’t have to worry about swimsuits or wearing shorts. You can cover up with sweatshirts and long pants and it is very acceptable. No one will see you properly until the spring so you can eat what you want, right? Wrong!

It is easy for the metabolism to slow down in the winter because we slow down. When you eat but don’t get a lot of activity, your metabolism adjusts. It’s like when you deprive yourself of food on a restrictive diet. The body holds onto stored fat because it doesn’t know where its next meal is coming from.

You don’t want that to happen to you this winter. Instead, find ways to boost your metabolism and stay healthy.

There is a catch-22 here. During the winter we celebrate many holidays that center on food. It is easy to get caught up in high-fat meals, calorie-laden desserts and sitting in front of the television.

Instead, try to incorporate healthy fats into your diet this winter. If you are health conscious, you might be saying why fats at all. Well, fats are a part of the make-up of the body right down to the cells. The body needs certain fats to create cellular membranes, produce certain hormones and also cushion the organs from injury.

Many of the healthy fats that we need can’t be produced in the body. They have to be obtained from food. These good fats are not what we usually see stored in our bodies. Most of that comes when we consume too many fats and do not expend enough energy to use them. They get stored and added to our body fat.

So, what are the healthy fats that the body needs? One that we always hear about is omega-3 fatty acids. They are instrumental in heart health and cellular repair. You can get them from supplements but it is better when they come from food.

Food Sources

Start with seafood and fish. Meat contains fats but there are more saturated fats and omega-6s which are not as healthy as omega-3s. Try salmon, mackerel, crab, shrimp, and other fishes.

Vegetables are also a good source of omega-3s. Opt for soybeans and leafy greens like cabbage and kale. Combining vegetables like these with fish will also boost your intake of healthier fats.

Oils are another excellent source. Consider flaxseed oil, walnut oil, soybean and corn oil. The seeds used to make these oils are also good to consume. You can add them to salads, and as add-ins for side dishes.

Fat is important but in the right ways and amounts. Without them, the body couldn’t produce hormones and maintain cellular integrity.

“The only way to keep your health is to eat what you don’t want, drink what you don’t like, and do what you’d druther not.”  Mark Twain.

Your Wellness Friend,

Want Sinus Relief?

January 17th, 2011 by Arlan Murata

How Do You Treat Blocked Sinuses at Home?

When the weather turns cool there seem to be more incidents of sinus problems. Blocked sinuses can be a pain to deal with, especially if you are a busy person. Before you drive to the nearest pharmacy, the answer to your situation may be in your kitchen.

We as a society have lost touch with the “old ways” of healing. Before there was modern medicine there were its precursors: herbs, plants and other medicinal tools. Many of them you have in your home right now.

Aren’t sure? Well here are some treatment options you can use at home to unblock those sinuses.

* Steam: When nasal passages become irritated they can swell, blocking the flow of air through them. Steam can shrink those passages, allowing for freer breathing. Traditionally, boiling water is placed in a bowl. You may add a few drops of essential oils like eucalyptus or peppermint, which are known to facilitate better breathing. Lean over the bowl and cover it and your head with a towel. Slowly breathe in the vapors for about twenty minutes. Repeat several times a day as needed.

* Neti pot: These have been around for a while but have only recently gained popularity. This small teapot-looking tool can be filled with salt water and flushed through the sinuses to reduce inflammation and swelling. It also helps to keep the passages from drying out and becoming even more irritated.

With warmed salt water inside, lean your head to one side. Slowly pour the water into one nostril. It will naturally flow through to and out the other side, flushing both sides of the nose and sinuses. If you lean back the fluid may flow down the back of your throat leading to coughing.

* Humidifier: Nasal passages that are already blocked and swollen don’t fare well when the air is dry. Turning on your heat when it gets cold will produce just that effect. Using a humidifier returns moisture to the air to relieve the pain and discomfort in those blocked sinuses and hasten your recovery. Try a cool mist humidifier.

* Water: Drink lots of it. One sign of sinusitis is thickened mucous secretions. Besides the swelling of blocked sinuses, the mucus is unbearable too. Staying hydrated can thin these secretions out, allowing them to drain more readily.

* Apple cider vinegar: This vinegar has been used for centuries because of its medicinal properties which include antibiotic. Drink a spoonful several times a day or mix it in with a glass of water. It may reduce congestion from blocked sinuses and also help secretions thin and pass easier.

Are you dealing with a case of blocked sinuses due to sinusitis? The simplest way to combat your condition is to treat the symptoms when they first appear, using everyday items in your kitchen.

Your wellness friend,

How Do You Get Beautiful Skin?

January 14th, 2011 by Arlan Murata

The Benefits of Vitamin E for Beautiful Skin

The first thing most people notice is your skin. Is it healthy, shiny, beautiful or dull, lifeless and muted? Vitamin E can increase the suppleness of your skin. Keep reading to find out more.

What Is Vitamin E?

Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin that is important to the body. Because it is friendly to fat it can enter cells and work there. It contains components that enhance the immune system. This is what makes it an antioxidant.

In the body, antioxidants fight the effects of free radicals (by-products of cellular metabolism). Free radicals lead to signs of aging, cancers and other detrimental effects on the body. But, this is not the only source of free radicals. They enter the body through air pollution, smoking, UV radiation, toxins and stress. Vitamin E can help protect the body from free radical damage from outside sources.

What else does vitamin E do? It can help with anemia, sunburn, rheumatoid arthritis and increased immune function in older people.

So what does this mean for the skin? As an antioxidant it can help create a protective barrier on the skin to keep away the effects of the sun, pollution and other external sources.

Many lotions, creams and make-up contain vitamin E. This may help the skin to absorb more vitamin E and thus toughen it up for whatever may come against it. Vitamin E comes in two forms, an alcohol form and an acetate form. The alcohol form is more potent in protecting the skin.

Sources of Vitamin E

Not only do creams and other beauty products provide the skin with vitamin E, but it also comes from food sources. In fact, food sources are the best because they work from the inside out. The recommended daily allowance is only 15 mg, but we donít usually even get that much.

* Cereal: Look for cereals that are fortified. Read the label to see if they contain vitamin E. This includes oatmeal and cream of wheat.

* Nuts: While nuts are high in fat it is the healthier fats that the body needs for cellular function. Try hazelnuts to get a daily dose of vitamin E. Oils made from these nuts and even seeds (like sunflower seeds) are also a healthy source of vitamin E. Donít forget peanut butter.

* Vegetable oils: Add them to recipes or use them to sautÈ veggies to get some vitamin E into your system.

* Leafy greens: They contain not only vitamin E but also A, C, K and beta-carotene. They are antioxidant powerhouses that are great for increasing the health and appearance of your skin.

* Tomatoes: These are rich in antioxidant lycopene but also vitamin E. Try making fresh tomato paste or eating tomato soup.

Vitamin E helps protect the skin, using it as a moisture barrier but also giving it a protective barrier from outside damage from sun, pollution and chemicals.

How About Beauty Water Produced By Enagic’s Water Technology Machine?

Acidic Water with a 5.5pH helps tone and refresh the skin after a hot bath or shower and also works to close the pores after washing your face. This is the beauty water that you pay $100 at the department stores that have a smell added to the water. Your skin has a 5.5pH, which is how the beauty water works.

Your wellness friend,

Did God Give You A Defective Body?

January 11th, 2011 by Arlan Murata

You Were Given A Miraculous Body That Heals Itself

Pogo says, I have met the enemy and he is me.

Do you feed you mind and body poisons that are killing you?

Your body is an amazing creation of God. It never makes mistakes in the signals that it sends you to heal itself and survive.

What do you do when your body tells you it is tired? How about when it is hungry and Thirsty? The signals are there for you to listen to and stop killing yourself.

Victoria Boutenko, Author of “12 Steps To Raw Foods” tell the story of her two children. Her son, who was diabetic, craved for mangos and blueberries. He consumed all that he was given. Her daughter, who had asthma, craved for figs and olives, which she ate nonstop. She consulted and visited, Dr. Bernard Jensen, world famous clinical nutritionist. She asked him what should her son do for his diabetes and her daughter do for her asthma. After consulting with his notes and books, he told her that her son needed to eat mangos and blueberries. Her daughter needed to eat figs and olives. Is this an AHA moment?

What happens when you accidentally stick you right hand in hot water? Do you pull your left hand out? No, your body reacts immediately and pulls your right hand out of the hot water. Thinks about other situations where your body is put in harms way.

Dr. F. Batmanghelidj in his book, “Water Cures, Drug Kills” tells about body crisis signals that tells the body it is dehydrated. The newly understood regional thirst signals are: heartburn, rheumatoid join pain, back pain, migraine headache, colitis pain, fibromyalgic pains, and anginal pain.

Your wellness friend,

YES! Wellness Is Your Choice.

January 3rd, 2011 by Arlan Murata

Wellness Is Your Choice

God created you and given you a marvelous Body, Spirit and Soul. Please listen to it and your Body, Spirit and Soul will heal you. They will tell you many things, just listen. When your body is hungry and thirsty, one should listen. You will even be given signals of what to eat and drink.

Victoria Boutenko in her book, “12 Steps To Raw Foods, tells a story of her children. Her son kept asking her for blueberries and mangos, which she gave him and he ate and ate one after another. Her daughter had a craving for figs and olives, which she also, ate and ate. Victoria visited and discussed this with Dr. Bernard Jensen, a world famous clinical nutritionist. Dr. Jensen consulted his books and told her that her that the best things for diabetes was mangos and blueberries, which was her son’s health issue. He told her that that for asthma one needed figs and olives, which was her daughter’s health issue.

Dr. F. Batmanghelidj in his book, “Water Cures, Drugs Kill” says that the human body manifests its water shortage in four categories of conditions: perceptive feelings; drought-management programs; crisis calls; and complications of persistent dehydration.

Crisis Calls – The newly understood regional thirst signals are: heartburn, rheumatoid joint pain, back pain, migraine headaches, colitis pain, fibromyalgic pains, and anginal pain.

There are wellness alternatives, choices, other than surgery and drugs. If I can help you understand wellness, please visit my wellness teaching blog: http://muratasensei.com or send me an email.

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