I have just read a book that explains Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) clearly that you may find useful. The book is “Total Health, the Chinese Way” by Esther Ting PhD and Marianne Jas, MA. Here are some of the chapters: Understanding how your body works, Strengthen your defenses, Move and Breath…
Dr. Ting practices in West LA.
Your friend,
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We need a paradigm shift in “Medicine” just like the shift from the world is flat to the world is round. Medications, prescription drugs are killing us. These chemicals are fighting our body cries for water according to Freydoon Batmanghelidj, M.D, in his book, “Your Body’s Many Cries For Water”. His many case studies of patients bodies healing themselves should wake people up to simple things that help our bodies heal like: drinking 2 quarts of water per day, taking sea salt, exercise and watching what we eat.
My research has shown that people that are living a healthy and long life from the centurions of Okinawa to people that follow a simple lifestyle change. Things like daily hydration with 8-12 glasses of good water, diet of 85% plant based foods and 15% animal based foods, daily exercise like simply walking for 30 minutes, living a joyful and appreciative life, praying, breathing, daily bowel movements, and meditating.
Doctors and scientists like: Andrew Weil, MD, Gabriel Cousens MD, Dean Ornish, MD, Deepak Chopra, MD, Rustom Roy, Hiromi Shinya, MD, Norman Walker, MD, Jesus and many more have helped many people make simple lifestyle changes so that their bodies healed themselves from many degenerative diseases.
Dr Gabriel Cousins Tree Of Life Center showed Eating Simply Raw Reversed Diabetes in 30 days. Dr. Dean Ornish has shown the health insurance world that raw food and exercise reverses heart disease. Dr Freydoon Batmanghelidj has many patients that had their bodies heal by simply drinking 2 quarts of water.
Why is the medical practice debating stuff when they should be helping us as individual to get our bodies to heal itself. They do not heal us, our body does. God gave us an awesome body that tells us what is wrong and heals itself given what it cries for.
We are individuals that have bodies that react differently to what is given to us. Help us learn and take action on a healthy lifestyle change for our wellness.
We are people with health issues and want a cure, not a debate about which is better. The focus is not where it should be, on us as individuals. Help us find the cause and point us in a direction that helps our bodies heal itself.
Don’t tell us to have surgery, chemo, radiation and drugs that kill and cut out the symptoms. Don’t tell us to take this alternative drugs that “experts” and research (funded by the makers of the alternative drugs) proves it; just help us as individuals to have our bodies heal itself.
We are brain washed by government regulations, FDA, Drugs and surgery, environment, food companies and beverage companies that convince us that what they as experts tell us is good for us. Don’t poison our water with fluorides and chlorides. Don’t give us drugs and poisons that kill the symptoms and also our cells. Stop! Tell us the truth not what is best for your profit and politically correct.
I tell you this as a person on a wellness quest that has followed the medical “Experts” and did not get well, as a matter of fact got worst. There are many of us that has stories to tell on our wellness quest that “Medicine” has given up on us or told us we had incurable conditions, bull!
The “Conventional Medical Practice” applies trial and error on us in general that individually harms us and drains our financial resources. After a fortune is spent, we are told “Conventional Medical Practice” can do no more for us and writes us off. I do have to say that there are a few that actually care and work diligently to help our bodies heal itself. I say thank you to those who do care and help.
Want the resources I used, contact me.
Your wellness friend,
Asthma Winter Exercise Tips
Exercise doesn’t have to stop in the winter. It can actually help your body burn more fat because of the lower temperatures. But, if you have certain conditions like asthma, you might want to be more careful about how you approach your winter workouts.
Asthma sufferers deal with respiratory problems that can compromise their ability to breathe freely. Many conditions can trigger asthma attacks and cold weather is one of them. When the weather gets cold, it can constrict the blood vessels in an effort to maintain warmth.
In asthma sufferers this can bring about a host of symptoms. When exposed to cold dry air they may experience wheezing, shortness of breath, tightness in the chest and coughing spells. This can happen before exercise (if not properly warmed up) or after a particularly long and exhausting workout.
If you are alone, this can be a dangerous situation. Without proper medical attention, an asthma attack can turn very bad.
Here are some tips for those asthmatics who exercise in the winter to help keep them safe.
* Work out with a friend: If an asthma attack does occur, you will need attention. Someone with you can assist for faster treatment.
* Use your inhalers: Before you go out in the cold air, use your inhaler to open up respiratory passages for freer breathing.
* Stay hydrated: One trigger for an attack could be lack of moisture in your body. Drink plenty of water and electrolyte drinks before you go out in the air and while you are exercising. It keeps your airways moisturized. Dryness can lead to coughing.
* Wear a scarf or a mask: Introducing cold air into your lungs can be a shock. Wearing a scarf over your mouth can keep your breath from chilling up as you inhale the outside air. The mask will warm the air coming into your lungs and keep an asthma attack at bay.
* Exercise indoors: The air indoors is warmer and you can exercise without increasing the threat of asthma attacks. Even so, keep your asthma under control for strenuous sessions like basketball games, high impact aerobics and kickboxing.
* Use the pool: Swimming is a good overall exercise. It is easy on the joints and works just about every muscle group in the body. Swimming laps can increase circulation and lung capacity. For asthmatics it works best if the pool is heated.
* Layer your clothing: If you do go outside, stay as warm as you can. Cover all extremities to prevent the body from losing heat at those points.
Even with well-controlled asthma, exercising in winter can be dangerous. Take all precautions that can you to get the best out of your workouts and your lungs.
Your wellness friend,
Discover Real Foods That Are Essential In The Battle Against Aging
When it comes to fighting the signs of aging, the solution doesn’t always lie across the pharmacy counter or in the doctor’s office. Some of the best ways to grow old gracefully can be found right in your very own kitchen.
Most of the nutrients that the body needs everyday to survive are found in the foods that we eat. Unfortunately, many of us are not making the proper food choices to keep our bodies, and skin, healthy. Making a few changes to our diet can make a big difference in how we feel and look.
Antioxidants save the day
When talking about foods to eat we’re mainly talking about the general category of antioxidants in food. How does adding foods rich in antioxidants to your diet help your skin?
The body takes on a lot of stresses in a day. One byproduct of this stress, or cellular activity, is free radicals. Free radicals are unstable substances that lack an electron so they steal it from healthy cells throughout the body. This can lead to signs of aging, disease, and pain over time. Antioxidants are natural substances that are designed to neutralize the effects of free radicals. Eating foods that contain antioxidants will lower the free radical count in your body and lessen the damage they can do.
So, what should we be eating to improve our overall health and youthful appearance? Let’s take a look at some of the foods that contain nutrients essential to fighting off the aging process:
Berries
The mighty blueberry shines in this group, but other berries like blackberries, cranberries, and raspberries all play a part in neutralizing free radicals that damage your skin. You’ll notice a theme in these berries; they all are very colorful. Stick to dark colored berries for the best nutritional punch. Berries actually help the body make collagen, the substance that supports and plumps the skin, so adding a good portion of berries to your diet every day is a smart thing to do to battle wrinkles. Berries are also loaded with Vitamins C, E, and riboflavin, as well as being a good source of fiber.
Green Tea
Another powerhouse in the fight against free radicals, green tea has become the go-to beverage for everything from losing weight to lowering blood pressure. Green tea is known to have anti-inflammatory properties as well as antioxidants. Not only does drinking green tea improve your overall health, but many skin creams now contain green tea extract which allows you to rub it right into your skin. Green tea is also believed to help prevent some skin cancers caused by the sun’s damaging rays. Drinking green tea daily gives you a good source of Vitamins C, D, K, and riboflavin, calcium, and iron
Nuts
You need plenty of good fatty acids to help prevent skin dryness. Adding nuts to your daily diet will provide not only healthy fatty acids, but also Vitamins A, E, riboflavin, zinc, and selenium. The Brazil nut is an especially excellent source of selenium, which helps with the skin’s elasticity by producing glutathione which neutralizes free radicals in the body; the same free radicals that are destroying our skin’s collagen and elastin. Eat a variety of nuts, including almonds, walnuts, Brazil nuts, and pine nuts, every day to add good fatty acids to your diet along with a host of essential vitamins and minerals.
Avocados
At first glance, you may think you should stay away from avocados because they appear to be high in fat. But, most of the fat is monounsaturated and is considered a healthy fat. Avocados are rich in omega-9 fat, a powerful skin plumper which also improves dry skin, as well as Vitamin C and Vitamin E, which act together to form a strong anti-aging team. Vitamin B6 is another free radical warrior and is essential to your skin’s youthful look and healthy overall condition. Just one small avocado gives you enough B6 to meet your daily requirement.
Carrots
This may not often make the top of the skin-health list, but there are good reasons it should. Carrots are an excellent source of beta-carotene. What is beta-carotene? Beta-carotene converts to vitamin A inside the body. Vitamin A is crucial for skin cell health. You may have a Vitamin A deficiency if your skin is dry. If you have light skin, eating carrots can also provide a slight SPF sun protection. Carrots also are a good source of Vitamin C which fights free radicals and promotes the creation of collagen in the skin.
Sweet Potatoes
Another overlooked powerhouse in the battle against aging skin is sweet potatoes. Not only do these spuds deliver a healthy dose of beta-carotene and Vitamin C, but sweet potatoes also contain Vitamin E. What’s important about the combination of these two vitamins is that they work together. Vitamin E helps regenerate Vitamin C in the body, which maximizes the effectiveness of Vitamin C. This one-two punch becomes a very effective antioxidant and offers topnotch skin protection.
Whole Grains
Vitamins A, C, and E have taken center stage in the battle against aging skin, but there’s another player in town that’s just as important; that’s the B complex group. Eating breads and cereals that are made with whole grains, as opposed to refined grains, provide B complex vitamins which are essential for healthy skin. The B Vitamins are necessary for the growth of new cells which replace the dull, dead cells. This group of vitamins also helps protect skin against stress. A shortage of B Vitamins in your diet could result in dry, rough skin; even cracking and peeling.
Cold water fish
This group of fish includes salmon, sardines, mackerel, and fresh tuna. These may seem like a fatty bunch of fish, but the fat is the healthy kind containing omega-3 fatty acids. These fatty acids are responsible for healthy cell membranes. These stronger cell membranes are more able to keep water in which keeps the skin cells hydrated; and hydrated cells will give us skin that is supple and younger looking. Salmon is also another source that’s high in selenium, which we know helps the body in its ongoing battle against skin damaging free radicals.
All the wrinkle reducing potions in the world won’t help if you aren’t giving your skin a fighting chance from within. Start your anti-aging battle with a healthy diet filled with nutrient rich foods. These simple, and delicious, foods are some of the easiest things you can choose to fight the effects of aging.
Water
Ionized Alkaline Water is consider good water to drink. Want more information. Want to be enlightened check out this 9 minute video:
Want more information, send me an e-mail at Arlan@muratasensei.com
Your wellness friend,
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,
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.
Want to learn more, send me an e-mail: arlan@muratasensei.com
Your wellness friend,
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,
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,
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,
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,
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