How well do you know your Poop.....

Your poop gives good indication on the status of your body, from what you need to add to your diet, to whether you may be at risk for certain diseases.  Find out all about it here:

 

With its less than enticing scent, and unattractive physique, nobody wants to give their poop a second glance. The general rule when it comes to poop is – you do the deed quickly, and flush immediately.

While it’s no bed of roses, the next time you’re in the toilet doing the Number 2, take a look at your work of art before you flush. The brown blob in the toilet bowl can divulge little secrets about your health condition, since it’s the product of the waste from your body.

You might curse us for coming up with this cute little infographic, but you really should know your sh*t better. Enjoy:

How to Stop Absorbing Other People's Emotions

Emotions such as fear, anger, frustration, and immobility are energies. And you can potentially ‘catch’ these energies from people without realizing it. If you tend to be an emotional sponge, it’s vital to know how to avoid taking on an individual’s negative emotions, or even how to deflect the free-floating negativities in crowds.

Another twist is that chronic anxiety, depression, or stress can turn you into an emotional sponge by wearing down your defenses. Suddenly, you become hyper-attuned to others, especially suffering with similar pain. That’s how empathy works; we zero in on hot-button issues that are unresolved in ourselves.

From an energetic standpoint, negative emotions can originate from several sources: what you’re feeling may be your own; it may be someone else’s; or it may be a combination. Here is how to tell the difference and strategically bolster your positive emotions so you don’t shoulder negativity that doesn’t belong to you.

 

Stop Absorbing Other People’s Emotions

1. Identify whether you’re susceptible. The person most likely to be overwhelmed by negative energies surrounding you is an “empath”, someone who acts as an “emotional sponge”.  

Signs that you might be an empath include:

• People call you “hyper-sensitive”, “overly sensitive”, etc., and they don’t mean it as a compliment!
• You sense fear, anxiety, and stress from other people and draw this into your body, resolving them as your own physical pain and symptoms. It doesn’t have to be people you don’t know or don’t like; you’re also impacted by friends, family, and colleagues.
• You quickly feel exhausted, drained, and unhappy in the presence of crowds.
• Noise, smells, and excessive talking can set off your nerves and anxiety.
• You need to be alone to recharge your energy.
• You’re less likely to intellectualize what you’re feeling. Your feelings are easily hurt.
• You’re naturally giving, generous, spiritually inclined, and a good listener.
• You tend to ensure that you’ve got an escape plan, so that you can get away fast, such as bringing your own car to events, etc.
• The intimacy of close relationships can feel like suffocation or loss of your own self.

2. Seek the source. First, ask yourself whether the feeling is your own or someone else’s. It could be both. If the emotion such as fear or anger is yours, gently confront what’s causing it on your own or with professional help. If not, try to pinpoint the obvious generator.

• For instance, if you’ve just watched a comedy, yet you came home from the movie theater feeling blue, you may have incorporated the depression of the people sitting beside you; in close proximity, energy fields overlap.
• The same is true with going to a mall or a packed concert. If crowded places upset or overwhelm you, it may well be because you’re absorbing all the negative energy around you.

3. Distance yourself from the suspected source, where possible.Move at least twenty feet away; see if you feel relief. Don’t err on the side of not wanting to offend strangers. In a public place, don’t hesitate to change seats if you feel a sense of depression imposing on you.

4. Center yourself by concentrating on your breath. Doing this connects you to your essence. For a few minutes, keep exhaling negativity, inhaling calm. This helps to ground yourself and purify fear or other difficult emotions. Visualize negativity as gray fog lifting from your body, and hope as golden light entering. This can yield quick results.

5. Flush out the harm. Negative emotions such as fear frequently lodge in your emotional center at the solar plexus (celiac plexus).

• Place your palm on your solar plexus as you keep sending loving-kindness to that area to flush stress out.
• For longstanding depression or anxiety, use this method daily to strengthen this center. It’s comforting and it builds a sense of safety and optimism as it becomes a ritual.

6. Shield yourself. A handy form of protection many people use, including healers with trying patients, involves visualizing an envelope of white light (or any color you feel imparts power) around your entire body. Think of it as a shield that blocks out negativity or physical discomfort but allows what’s positive to filter in.

7. Manage the emotional overload. You don’t need to be beholden to your ability to absorb other’s emotions; turn the curse into a gift by practicing strategies that can free you:

• Learn to recognize people who can bring you down. People who are particularly difficult for emotional empaths include criticizer, the victim, the narcissist, and the controller. Judith Orloff terms these people “emotional vampires”. When you know how to spot these behaviors, you can protect yourself against them, including removing yourself from their presence, and telling yourself that “I respect the person you are within even though I don’t like what you’re doing.”
• Eat a high protein meal before entering stressful situations such as being part of a crowd. When in a crowd, find places of refuge, such as sitting on the edges, or standing apart.
• Ensure that you don’t have to rely on other people to get you out of difficult situations. Bring your own car or know how to get home easily when needed. Have sufficient funds to be able to make alternate arrangements if you start feeling overwhelmed.
• Set time limits. Knowing how much you can stand and obeying that limit is vital to ensure your mental well-being. Also set kind but meaningful boundaries with others who overwhelm you; don’t stand around listening to them talking for two hours when you can only cope with half an hour.
• Have your own private place in a home shared with others. Ask others to respect your downtime during which you can rejuvenate. This is especially important to prevent you from taking on your partner’s feelings too much. A study, man cave, sewing room, reading nook, etc., all offer your own space.
• Practice meditation and mindfulness.

8. Look for positive people and situations. Call a friend who sees the good in others. Spend time with a colleague who affirms the bright side of things. Listen to hopeful people. Hear the faith they have in themselves and others. Also relish hopeful words, songs, and art forms. Hope is contagious and it will lift your mood.

• Cultivate positive emotions that boost your inner strength. If you’re surrounded by peace and love, you’ll flourish as strongly as negative emotions cause you to wilt. Respecting your own needs through healthy self love will increase your ability to respect others.
• Learn to use compassion as a way to defend yourself against overwhelming emotions. Compassion allows you to be empathetic to the plight of other people but also requires that you are compassionate toward yourself. This means that you don’t need to feel guilty about seeking respite from being overwhelmed; doing so ensures that you can be more engaged with others in the long run, rather than less so. It also means that you keep yourself whole by not immersing yourself in the world of negative people.

9. Create and maintain a haven for disengagement. Leave many paths open that lead to communing with the resonance of nature. Returning to your rightful home as a creature of nature switches off your victim mentality and recharges you energetically and spiritually.

• Keep a picture of a waterfall or a lush forest with you and look at it when overwhelmed.
• Step onto the quiet of a forest path or absorb the coolness of a gently babbling brook from beneath a weeping willow.
• Maintain a your personal space of cozy retreat where you hook into your own personal power and energy.
• Practise Yoga and breathing techniques. These draw upon emotional centering and provide safe harbor in times of storm.

 

About the Author

Judith Orloff MD is the author of many self-help books including, The Ecstasy of Surrender: 12 Surprising Ways Letting Go Can Empower Your Life, Emotional Freedom: Liberate Yourself from Negative Emotions and Transform Your Life, and Positive Energy: 10 Extraordinary Prescriptions for Transforming Fatigue, Stress, and Fear into Vibrance, Strength, and Love. 

Source: http://themindunleashed.org/2014/06/stop-absorbing-peoples-emotions.html

7 Things You Never Knew Lemons Could Do

By Brianna Steinhiber

Put this zesty citrus fruit to good use with these unexpected tricks that take some of the hassle out of your cooking session. 

A slew of foods can benefit from a little lemony love in the kitchen.

 

1. Prevent Browning: A few squeezes of juice can do wonders for avocado, apples, bananas, and peeled raw potatoes, since lemon juice is just acidic enough to prevent the oxidation that turns produce brown.


2. Stop Rice From Sticking: Have a problem with clumpy rice? You’re in luck – adding a few drops of lemon to your cooking water helps prevent the rice from sticking together. Added plus? The lemon juice will also whiten your rice and keep it looking great on the dinner plate!

3. Keep Brown Sugar Soft: The juice isn’t the only useful part of the lemon; its super moist and flavorful peel can work wonders in the kitchen too. Add a slice of the skin (with the pulp completely removed) to your box of brown sugar to keep it from clumping and hardening.

4. Crisp Your Lettuce: No need to toss that limp lettuce! A little lemon juice and water can help bring your leaves back to life. To crisp up limp leaves, soak them in a bowl of cold water and ½ cup of lemon juice, then refrigerate for about an hour. The leaves will come out revived and ready for eating. Try it out on a simple green salad. 

5. Cook Perfect Hard-Boiled Eggs: Even if you’ve mastered perfectly hard-boiled eggs, try brushing the eggshells with lemon juice before adding them to the pot for a little added insurance. The lemon juice helps keep the shells from cracking while they cook, and it also makes them easier to peel once they’re ready to eat.

6. Tenderize Meat: Lemon juice is a great meat tenderizer; the acidity gently breaks down the fibers in meat, leaving it scrumptiously fork-tender.

7. Enhance Flavor: Last, but certainly not least, lemon’s yummy flavor can totally transform a meal. It brightens up creamier dishes, balances the flavor in seafood, and is a great sodium-free substitute for sprinkling on salt.

Source: http://www.everydayhealth.com/news/7-things-you-never-knew-lemons-could-do/?pos=1&xid=nl_EverydayHealthDietandNutrition_20140623

10 Mind Blowing REasons Why You Need Coconut Oil in Your Life

Sharing the best tips, tricks and ideas for living the healthiest, happiest life possible... NATURALLY!

June 19, 2014

Of all of the ‘super foods’ on the market, coconut oil may just be the reigning champion of them all.  Organic virgin coconut oil has positive effects for every system in the human body, many of which have been tested and confirmed by scientific research.  From skin care and weight loss to hormone balance and mental accuity, here we take a look at the top ten incredible health benefits of coconut oil.

1. Increased Energy

Unlike most other saturated fats, coconut oil is built primarily of medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs).  These fats metabolize much differently than their long-chain cousins which are found in abundance in meat and dairy products.  Digested MCTs are not stored as fat in the human body.  Instead, they are transported directly to the liver where they are quickly converted into energy.
Consuming approximately two tablespoons of coconut oil every morning has been shown to increase energy levels by an average 5% in a twenty-four hour period!

2. Fight Infection

Medium-chain triglyceride lauric acid makes up about 50% of the total fatty acid content of coconut oil and is the main ingredient that makes this oil so amazing.  Amongst all of its other myriad of health benefits, lauric acid is a powerful anti-microbial, killing viruses, bacteria, protozoa, and fungi by dissolving their cellular walls.  Adding a daily serving or two of coconut oil to your diet can increase your body’s resistance to illness, improve digestive health, and even help to heal ulcers of the stomach lining.

3. Normalize Brain Function

When digested, MCTs travel directly to the liver where they are synthesized into keytone bodies.  These chemical compounds have a positive effect on several brain disorders, most notably – epilepsy & Alzheimer’s (the most common form of dementia.)  High concentrations of keytone bodies in the blood have been shown to reduce seizures in children with drug-resistant epilepsy.  Keytone bodies also provide an alternate source of energy for cells in the brain which have lost the ability to process glucose, one of the main causes of Alzheimer’s.

4. Decrease Hunger

Keytone bodies formed by MCTs have the added benefit of reducing hunger and cravings.  When eaten every day, a serving or two of coconut oil is a proven effective tool to help you feel full faster, avoid overeating, and snack less between meals.

5. Weight Loss

Daily consumption of coconut oil has been shown to help with weight loss, particularly around the midsection.  By regulating appetite and improving digestion, coconut oil can make it much easier to reduce your daily caloric intake and lose weight at a healthy rate (around one to two pounds per week.)  Because it is a natural mood enhancer, coconut oil may help you to feel more motivated and energetic which can also assist with weight loss.  Coconut oil aids in balancing hormones that reduce stress and anxiety – two of the leading causes of excessive belly fat.
Just remember that coconut oil is high in calories.  Limit your intake to one or two tablespoons per day so as not to unwittingly sabotage your weight-loss efforts.

6. Reduce Risk of Heart Disease

Disregard the old myth that all saturated fats are bad for you and a leading cause of heart disease.  Coconut oil has been shown to improve overall cholesterol by simultaneously increasing HDL (good) and lowering LDL (bad) levels.  It does this by helping the body to convert cholesterol in the blood stream into a usable form, thus reducing plaque build-up in arteries.  MCTs in coconut oil may also work to reduce triglycerides, improve blood coagulation, and perform antioxidant functions in the blood stream, further diminishing the risk of heart disease.

7. Skin Health / Anti-Aging

Full of antioxidant vitamin E, coconut oil is a wonderful natural moisturizer that can help to heal damaged skin, reduce signs of aging, strengthen the epidermis against cellulite, fade stretch marks, and eliminate keratosis pilaris.  Coconut oil offers natural protection from harmful UV radiation.  It can even be used to prevent or heal microbial and fungal skin infections such as those that cause or exacerbate cracked heels and acne.  Apply organic virgin coconut oil directly to skin for a soothing therapuetic experience that also smells fantastic.

8. Hair Health

Just as it does for skin, coconut oil can also protect hair from sun damage and dehydration.  Massage organic virgin coconut oil into scalp and work through hair before visiting the beach or swimming pool to shield skin and hair from harmful UV radiation and chemicals, and to seal in moisture.  When used regularly, coconut oil can also work to reduce or eliminate dandruff and other scalp irritations.  Remember, with coconut oil a little bit goes a long way.  Use about a tablespoon at a time until you get a feel for exactly how much you will need to moisturize your scalp and hair.

9. Better Nutrient Absorption

When ingested, coconut oil helps the digestive tract to better absorb fat-soluable vitamins A, D, E, and K.  If you take supplements for these nutrients, consider washing them down with a tablespoon of organic virgin coconut oil.  If the idea of swallowing a spoonful of oil makes you cringe, try using coconut oil in place of olive oil or butter when cooking or dressing your vitamin-rich veggies.  The unique flavor pairs well with many leafy greens and because of coconut oil’s medium-chain structure, it won’t break down when exposed to heat.  Coconut oil also makes a delicious addition to baked foods, smoothies, and desserts.

10. Stabilize Thyroid and Blood-sugar

MCTs in coconut oil assist in the conversion of cholesterol into pregnenolone – one of the building blocks for synthesis of human hormones such as those responsible for healthy thyroid function.  A daily serving of coconut oil can also help the body to use insulin more efficiently and stabilize blood-sugar levels.

Source: http://www.naturallivingideas.com/10-mind-blowing-reasons-why-you-need-coconut-oil-in-your-life/

Youthful looks .....anyone?

Superfoods are filled with antioxidants with supports health and vitality. This infographics explains those which are the most powerful in maintaining youthful looks......

Superfoods are filled with antioxidants which support health and vitality. This infographic explains those which are the most powerful for maintaing youthful looks… - See more at: http://tv.greenmedinfo.com/10-superfoods-will-make-look-younger/#sthash.y2SdAU8g.lwUkXaiM.dpuf

Superfoods are filled with antioxidants which support health and vitality. This infographic explains those which are the most powerful for maintaing youthful looks… - See more at: http://tv.greenmedinfo.com/10-superfoods-will-make-look-younger/#sthash.y2SdAU8g.lwUkXaiM.dpuf

Source: http://tv.greenmedinfo.com/10-superfoods-will-make-look-younger/

Lemon & Baking Soda shown to be POWERFUL healing combination

by Joe Martino

---

 

In an age where cancer rates are rising incredibly fast, the need for alternative treatments is becoming even more prominent. Research is being put into a number of different avenues with one supporting Dr. Marty Pagel, PhD, from the University of Arizona Cancer Center, who will test the effects of sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) on breast cancer patients. He is receiving a $ 2 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to find to perform the study.

An important note to understand right off the top- any treatment for cancer will react differently in various patients and also to various types of cancers. Traditional methods can work well on some cancers and terribly on others. The same can be said for various natural cures. On top of this fact, the state of the human body receiving treatment with either method also plays a big role. Do they have access to clean organic food? Clean water? Do they believe and feel they can overcome their disease? These are all important factors with any treatment.

A number of studies in the past have shown interesting in vivo results surrounding the use of sodium bi-carbonate on cancer tumors. While research is not fully complete on the matter, early results are already showing some powerful effects of tumor metastasis. This of course encourages funding for further research as early signs are looking good.

Dr. Robert J. Gillies and his colleagues have already demonstrated the effectiveness of baking soda in alkalinizing the area around tumors in mice. The same researchers found that bicarbonate increases tumor pH and also inhibits spontaneous metastases in mice with breast cancer. [3]

Lemon has shown to contain anti-carcinogenic properties as it contains limonoides which are phytochemicals found in a number of citrus fruits. [1] Lemon also has been shown to have strong anti-microbial effects which has been tested in research exploring the idea that cancer is very much like a fungus within the body. [2] When treating cancer as a fungus, various methods can be used and some have found that lemon and bicarbonate can help fight the fungus causing various types of cancer.

Lemons are also effective in helping the body detoxify. They are rich in vitamin C and help your body neutralize cell-damaging free radicals. Limonene, a substance found in lemons also helps to stimulate lymph flow which is important in removing carcinogens from the body. A weak or under performing lymph system is a big part of disease promotion.

Lemon is also used to help balance Ph. They are taken together as it is believed that lemon is one of the safest ways to introduce high alkaline substances into the system. These methods of treatment are able to approach carcinogenic cells and destroy them without destroying healthy cells. This is another key factor as chemotherapy destroys all cells which includes the healthy ones.

Together lemon and baking soda help to fight cancerous cells or diseases in the body while helping to increase the body’s ability to clean itself up of what may be causing the diseases in the first place. Having lemon as a part of your diet is certainly healthy and taking this combination as a detox can also be helpful even if you don’t have an illness.

One method I have found for introducing this into your body as a drink is to mix 1/2 a teaspoon of baking soda into 250ml of water with about 1 half of a lemon. Please check into more recipes that might work for you. I have personally taken this mixture if I ever had stomach issues or was feeling like I might be getting sick. It has been very successful each time I’ve used it. Of course, always do your own research and check with a health professional if you wish.

Source:
1. http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/bk-1994-0546.ch015
2. Researchers examined human DNA from a variety of tissues and organs to identify and quantify aflatoxin DNA-adducts. Such adducts are considered to be proof of the mycotoxin’s presence in a particular tissue. Their finding? “Tumor tissues had higher aflatoxin-adduct levels than did normal tissue from the same individual.”
3. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19276390
http://drsircus.com/medicine/sodium-bicarbonate-baking-soda/cancer-studies-ph-medicine
http://digitaljournal.com/article/323645

http://www.collective-evolution.com/2014/04/15/lemon-baking-soda-shown-to-be-powerful-healing-combination/

How Social Relationships Affect Our Physical, Mental and Emotional Health.

   June 3, 2014

 

 

By Reuben Chow for NaturalNews.com

The saying goes that “no man is an island.” While the fact that humans are social creatures is well-known and accepted, the effect that social relationships could have on physical, mental and emotional health could well be very much underestimated by most people.
Social relationships influence physical health in many ways

In the journal Science, dozens of studies were mentioned which revealed that supportive social relationships helped with various aspects of health. The former included spouses, family, friends and group membership, while the latter included healing from chronic and infectious diseases, post-surgery recovery, cardiovascular health and immunity.

On the flip side, lack of such social support elevated one’s risk of death.Broadly speaking, work and relationship satisfaction are crucial to good health and happiness. In healthy relationships, there is mutual giving and receiving, support and respect, as well as the working out of challenges and conflicts. The ability to share pain and suffering is another important part of healing, to help people realize they are not fighting their battles alone.

Family relationships, friendships, social groups and group therapy can all help to provide these supporting elements.

One study revealed that women suffering from breast cancer who took part in support group sessions once every week survived twice as long as those ladies who did not.

“There is overwhelming evidence that people who have few social contacts are more likely to get sick and less likely to recover from an illness,” said Erik Peper, PhD, Associate Director of the Institute for Holistic Healing Studies at San Francisco State University.

One long-term piece of research found that persons with the least social ties were twice to thrice more likely to die of all causes as compared to those with the highest social connectedness. “Isolation and loneliness have been shown to result in immune problems in bereaved individuals who have recently lost their loved ones,” said Steven Fahrion, PhD, co-founder of the Life Sciences Institute of Mind-Body Health, in Topeka, Kansas.

Social relationships affect mental and emotional health too
Social relationships also play a part in mental and emotional wellbeing, such as in the case of clinical depression. For example, in a 2013 study conducted at the University of Michigan which had looked at almost 5,000 American adults, it was found that a person’s risk of major depression disorder was affected by the quality of his or her relationships with a spouse, family and friends, and this was regardless of the frequency of their social interactions.

Different aspects of one’s social life – for example trusting and loving relationships, spending time with positive people, caring for pets, participating in group therapy and helping others – have all been found to help persons suffering from depression.

 

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/045340_social_relationships_physical_contact_healing_disease.html#ixzz33FIQtlfH

Read more at http://livinggreenmag.com/2014/06/03/lifestyle-choices/social-relationships-affect-physical-mental-emotional-health/#bWPk85jAJAwpBDi6.99