Saturday, May 30, 2009

STRESS RELIEF



Sometimes we don't just need stress relief, but fast and easy relief.
A complicated relaxation technique or elaborate meditative practice would be just one more thing to be anxious about.
Here are ten much simpler solutions. Try them out, and keep in mind which ones work best for you, so you can use them regularly.

1. Deep breathing.
Try six or seven deep breaths through your nose, with your eyes closed. Pay attention only to your breathing while doing this. This is "mini-meditation," and possibly one the most effective of these stress relief techniques.
2. Interrupt you normal routines.
Talk to the crazy lady in the park, or eat your lunch outside. Doing anything that breaks you out of your habitual patterns can often relieve stress.
3. Give someone a hug.
Of course, giving a hug means getting one, and as long as it's from somebody you don't mind hugging, this can immediately reduce your level of stress.
4. Watch your mind.
Notice mental irritants lurking just below the surface and resolve them. Make the call that's on your mind, put things on a list so you can drop them, and generally let go of non-essential thoughts. Practice this mindfulness exercise, and it may become one of your favorite stress relief techniques.
5. Take a hot shower.
This relaxes your muscles, and any break from more stressful activities can help too. Some find that an alternating hot and cold shower is even more relaxing, but be careful with this one if you have a weak heart. I personally find this a good one.
6. Put on some relaxing music.
Have your favorite relaxation CDs in the car, in your office, or wherever you'll need them most.
7. Laugh at something.
Experience shows that this helps you relax, right? Find the person who knows all the best jokes, or look for something funny in front of you. Or join the laughter club.
8. Take a walk.
Walking is one of the best stress relief techniques if you have at least ten minutes. It is even better if you can find a pretty place to walk.
9. Get out of the room for a while.
Sometimes the things in the room or related to the room are triggering your stressful thoughts. Try getting out for a little while.
10. Have a cup of chamomile tea.
Chamomile seems to have a calming effect on the nerves, although any hot tea without caffeine may help relieve stress.

Of course, it might be nice if you can change yourself, so you're naturally more relaxed all of the time. Why not start with one or two of the fast and easy stress relief techniques above?

CANCER HEALER

I would like to share this article I received in my mail.
I find it very good and may even save lives.

NATURAL HEALER
How Dr Wu rid himself of cancer with a vegetarian diet
By: ANJIRA ASSAVANONDA
Published: 7/05/2009 at 12:00 AM

Newspaper section: Mylife

At the age of 30, Chinese doctor Tom Wu was diagnosed with advanced stages of lung cancer, and was told he had only a few months to live.
However, Dr Wu, who recently spoke with Mylife, has already reached 70years old, and to our surprise, he still looks like a young and healthy man in his 50s.
Not only has he survived, but the doctor has maintained a healthy life. The cancer is all gone, and he said he's never caught a cold or other illnessfor 40 years. He has stopped going for blood tests.
"My body and feelings tell me I'm well, that I'm truly in good health,"says Dr Wu.
His secret lies in the power of natural healing. Dr Wu always says that no wonder drug can cure diseases. But our own internal healing power, our immune system, can. And what can strengthen our immune system are simple foods from Mother Nature, and a healthy lifestyle. In his view, diseases such as cancer, diabetes and heart disease can be overcome by changing the diet.
Dr Wu says people get sick because they eat the wrong foods. Fried food, for example, causes blockage in the arteries, bad circulation, cholesterol, and heart disease.
"Instead of taking a cholesterol lowering drug, I would urge them to stop eating greasy food. My suggestion is to eat clean food, which is high in phytochemicals," he says.
Phytochemicals are natural cleansing agents that will help rid plaque from your arteries. They come from natural foods such as vegetables, fruits with their seeds,and common garden herbs. Phytochemicals will nourish the body's cells so they can fight against any foreign substances that invade your body.
Dr Wu's outstanding contributions to the development of natural medicine earned him the "World Famous Doctor Award" from the UN in 2001, and the "Best Wellness Doctor of the World" award from India's World Wellness Open University in March.
The secrets of how he won the fight against lung cancer and maintains a healthy body are revealed in his first book, Dr Wu's Principle of Natural Cures,which has recently been translated from its original Chinese version into a Thai edition, Thammachart Chuay Chewit, published by Nanmee booksPublications. It was launched in Thailand in March.
Dr Wu says what's written in the book is unique and easy to understand because "the author is both the doctor and the patient himself". All the ideas and guidelines suggested in the book come from his own experience as well as what he has learned from his patients.
Dr Wu turns to natural medicine.
Dr Wu had first studied Western medicine in France, and then furthered his education in alternative therapy, earning a doctorate degree.
The turning point arrived when he was diagnosed with lung cancer at the ageof 30. Modern medicine gave him no hope; it was too latet o remove the damaged parts of the lung. The cancer had already spread to other organs, and the doctor told him he had only a few months left.
In his despair, Dr Wu picked up the Bible and prayed to God. Then the Bible fell to the floor, and he read the page it opened to carefully. The chapter talked about the days God created the Earth and everything needed for human beings. Then he created Adam and Eve, and told both of them that plants, vegetables and seeded fruits growing on Earth have been provided for them to eat.
"I thought about what I had eaten in the past - meat, fish, fried and grilled food, sweet cake, but God simply wanted us to eat vegetables and sour fruits. I was confused and doubted whether I would become weak if I ate too many vegetables and less meat," says Dr Wu.
Yet he decided to follow the Bible's guidance. He ate a lot of vegetables and fruits, drank clean water, and completely adjusted his lifestyle -his sleeping, breathing and exercise habits.
Nine months later, he went for a check-up, and surprisingly no cancer cellswere detected.
He advised people in his family and in the neighbourhood about his discovery, and studied natural medicine until he received a doctorate degree in naturopathy and nutrition from the US.
Dr Wu has been a frequent speaker at worldwide forums, spreading hisknowledge on natural cures and the use of organic food. He advises people to use the most simple foods in the most natural way inorder to fight illnesses and maintain good health.
Dr Wu's secrets to good healthPublished: 7/05/2009 at 12:00 AMNewspaper section: Mylife
The human body has the power to heal itself. The immune system has aself-defence mechanism to block and destroy bacteria or viruses that invade our bodies, while the self-healing mechanism will get us back on the road to recovery. When you have a cold and take medicine, the medication may kill the virus but your immune system will not fully function, and its efficiency will decrease. Asa result, your body will be more vulnerable to germs.
Dr Wu's principle is to strengthen the immune system, and avoid medicationas much as possible. In his book, he offers the following guidelines to good health:

1. Have at least three bowel movements a day.
Other health experts may advise one bowel movement a day, but Dr Wu says that's not enough. You need three to four bowel movements a day in order to excrete all the accumulated faeces from your intestine. Your liver will not be overburdened and it also helps reduce cholesterol in your body.

2. Drink at least three glasses of fruit or vegetable smoothies each day.
This is a way to ingest enough phytochemicals to strengthen the body'scells and immune system. Use not only the flesh, but also the skin and seeds of fruits and vegetables to make smoothies, as they are rich in phytochemicals.
Most of the fruit seeds have small amounts of cyanide which kill bacteria and viruses without damaging the body.
Actually the recommended smoothie diet is six glasses a day, two in the morning, one before lunch, two more in the afternoon, and one more before dinner. However, if that's too much, you may start with three glasses a day. Use a high powered blender (at least three horsepower) as it can release phytochemicals from the fibre. It's best to choose sour fruits like green or red apples, grapes, pineapples, kiwi and lime.

3. Sunbathe 30 minutes daily.
We often hear that the Sun's UV rays will damage our skin, and many people apply sunblock before going out.
But Dr Wu says the opposite. He says the UV rays will help convert cholesterol underneath the skin into vitamin A which helps moisten the skin and prevent skin cancer, and also vitamin D that helps prevent colds, osteoporosis, and certain kinds of cancer.
"Therefore, use the Sun. Expose yourself to sunlight about one-half hour a day, at noon or another appropriate time based on your local climate. The Sun will make you healthier," says Dr Wu.

4. Exercise 30 minutes a day.
Don't exercise for more than 30 minutes. If you go beyond that, your body will be overworked.
"If you do it more than half an hour, that will become labour, not exercise. Your heart and your body will be working too hard," he says.

5. Shower with hot, then cold water.
Try an alternating cold and hot water shower: Three minutes of hot waterfollowed by 30 seconds of cold water, then repeat twice more.
This process will bring a rush of blood and energy to your body. It helps increase your immune system, blood circulation, and metabolism.

6. Drink a lot of water, in the correct way.
How much water you need to drink each day depends on your specific situation. If your office is air-conditioned, drinking six glasses of water a day is enough. If your work involves lots of walking, you have to drink 8-10 glasses aday. If you work under the hot sun, then 10-12 glasses of water are required.
The way you drink is also important. The correct way is to sip it little by little, to give your body cells time to absorb the water. If you drink the whole glass down at once, your cells can't absorb it all, and the water will be excreted as urine.

7. Eat according to your blood type.
Your blood type determines what you should eat. Eating the wrong foods will make you sick.
People with blood type O have to eat a certain amount of meat. If they eat only vegetables for a long time, their body won't absorb all the substances they need to strengthen their immune system. The recommended diet for this group is 75% vegetables, 10% fruits, 10% meat, seafood and goat's milk (avoid cow'smilk), and 5% grains.
People with blood type A, however should avoid milk and meat, while increasing grains and fruits.
People with blood type B should also avoid meat, while those with bloodtype AB should avoid chicken and beef.

8. Eat according to your biological clock.
Every human being has a biological clock that tells us when to eat, sleep, and wake up. If you don't follow your biological clock, the organs will lose their balance. Toxins and wastes won't be excreted from your body, and soon you'll get sick.
According to Dr Wu, the biological clock is divided into three phases.
From 4am to noon is the time for bowel movements, so in the morning you should eat foods with lots of fibre. Fruit and vegetable smoothies are recommended.
From noon to 8pm, your body will absorb food so lunch is the most important meal. A vegetable salad with grains is recommended.
Fish or boiled eggs can be added to your lunch. Avoid meat at dinner as the amino acids in the meat will disturb your sleep. Try to finish dinner by 6pm.
From 8pm to 4am, the nutrients and energy from food will be distributed throughout your body organs. The golden time for your sleep is between 10pm and 2am, as your immune and self-healing system will function at its best.

Friday, May 29, 2009

SMART HINTS

Here are some smart hints to try out when you need it.

Fixing greasy hair
Sprinkle some talcum powder onto your palm and smear it lightly with the other palm (catching some powder on the fingers) so you get a uniform layer of powder. Run fingers through hair, starting from the scalp. Don't overdo it as you may end up with dusty-looking hair. You can do this when you are in a hurry and do not have time to wash your hair and you dont like to go out with greasy hair.I do it during my confinement days when we are not suppose to wash our hair for a whole month. (This was practice by the chinese in olden days, I don't think the modern chinese practice this nowadays).




Fixing a headache
Wrap a hot damp towel around your neck, forehaed and shoulder. If heat does not work try cold pack instead. then drink a cup of warm chamomile tea. It will take the headache away.
















Wear cotton gloves
Wear a pair of cotton gloves under your rubber ones when doing heavy wash-up with hot water. that way, you won't feel the heat on your skin. It is alos good iadea for gardening as cotton gloves absorb perspiration.

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

STRESS = BAD SKIN



When we are stressed, we binge. I for one will look for food to fill my stomach when I am stressed. I ussually gain weight when I am stressed. So if you must stuff your your stomach to feel better, opt for food rich in tryptophan, as these help produce serotonin in the brain, a hormone that lightens your mood. The great news, chocolate is on the list. Also high in tryptophan are bananas and milk.
How we feel on the inside could be affecting how we look on the outside.
Stress, depression and anxiety increase our skin, hair or nail problems.
Stress can manifest itself on one's appearance in many ways, but primarily by making the skin more sensitive and more reactive.
Stress has been shown been shown to impair skin barrier function and dehydrate the skin — allowing more irritants, allergens, and infectious agents to penetrate the skin and cause problems.
Patients under stress also tend to neglect or abuse their skin. They often lack the energy and motivation to adhere to their skin care regimens, and there also might be signs of stress-related behaviors — such as scratching, pulling or rubbing — that can exacerbate problems.
When dermatologists treat both the skin and stress, the skin often clears more quickly and completely as the influences of stress are diminished. This, in turn, can help decrease a patient's overall anxiety level, and the patient may start to feel better about how they look and how they feel emotionally.
So try to relax to enjoy beautiful skin.
If you are stress try to enjoy some relaxing music or do some light excercise.

BEAUTY SLEEP



Here are some tips to get the best sleep for your skin.

Sleep on your back.
Some like to sleep pressing their face on the pillow...i.e. sleeping on your stomach. I like sleeping on my side, changing between left and right. How about you? Pressing your face on a pillow creates fold lines that eventually become permanent. Spending time on your back also helps counter the effects of gravity that accumulate during the day. So change your sleeping habit if dont want folds on your face.
Sleep like the above lady....so comfortable.

Sleep hydrated
Most, if not all of us, sleep in air-conditioned rooms and spend most of our day in air-conditioned offices and the result is very thirsty dry skin.
So if possible sleep with a humidifier - it helps avoid moisture loss from skin while you sleep.
If you dont have a humidifier, put a bowl of water next to your bed.
Moisture after bathing
Apply moisturiser to your skin after bath. This will seal in the moisture that your skin has absorbed from your shower.
Its not that difficult right?

Sleep right....sleep tight!!!

7 ALL-ROUND GREAT SKIN FOODS


These are the 7 great foods for our skin.

If you want to have great, smooth looking skin , take the following food.

Garlic is rich in sulphur-containing amino acids, which are vital in the formation of keratin, collagen and elastin for youthful looking skin. (For those who don't like the smell of garlic, you can take garlic supplement. Its not expensive. Amway Nutrilite Herbal Garlic come with licorice. A bottle of 150 tablest cost around RM38.00)

Brazil nuts are full of selenium - an antioxidant that neutralises toxins and prevent wrinkles.
Nobody likes wrinkles right ;-( so eat more brazil nuts.
Cherries are an excellent fruit for clearing up your skin, as it contains vitamins A, B and zinc and magnesium. :-) I loves cherries.

Grapefruit and melons act as cleansers in the body, flushing out unwanted wastes that would otherwise fester into skin ailments.

Brown rice contains lots of amino acids used in reparing skin cells. (I like Eco brown rice)

Brocolli and other vegetables high in fibre, such as bright green lettuce and watercress, keep your intestines healthy so that unwanted wastes are quickly removed.
Eggs are rich in Vitamins, which promotes healthy blood circulation to give skin a radiant glow and prevent dryness.

So you see its not that difficult to have great looking skin.

As we age, we age gracefully.

FRUIT JUICE


How many glasses of water do we need in a day?. The recomended is 8 glasses. Its not easy to drink 8 glasses cos water is tasteless and to get it all down can be chore.
As an alternative, choose fruit juices which won't just make up your water quota, but pump you full of nutrients too.
Here is a list of fruits and their water content, but remember to take it natural and unsweetened.

* Watermelon 95%
* Tomato 93%
* Orange 88%
* Pineapple 85%
* Apple 85%

For fruit juice recipes go to : www.fruitjuicefacts.org