Benefits Of Walking

The human body is made to walk.

Walking 30 minutes a day cuts the rate of people becoming diabetic by more than half and it cuts the risk of people over 60 becoming diabetic by almost 70 percent.

Walking cuts the risk of stroke by more than 25 percent.

Walking reduces hypertension.  The body has over 100,000 miles of blood vessels.  Those blood vessels are more supple and healthier when we walk.

Walking cuts the risk of cancer as well as diabetes and stroke.

Women who walk have a 20 percent lower likelihood of getting breast cancer and a 31 percent lower risk of getting colon cancer.

Women with breast cancer who walk regularly can reduce their recurrence rate and their mortality rate by over 50 percent.

The human body works better when we walk.  The body resists diseases better when we walk, and the body heals faster when we walk.

We don’t have to walk a lot.  Thirty minutes a day has a huge impact on our health.

Men who walk thirty minutes a day have a significantly lower level of prostate cancer.  Men who walk regularly have a 60 percent lower risk of colon cancer.

For men with prostate cancer, studies have shown that walkers have a 46 percent lower mortality rate.

Walking also helps prevent depression, and people who walk regularly are more likely to see improvements in their depression.

In one study, people who walked and took medication scored twice as well in 30 days as the women who only took the medication. Another study showed that depressed people who walked regularly had a significantly higher level of not being depressed in a year compared to depressed people who did not walk.  The body generates endorphins when we walk. Endorphins help us feel good.

Walking strengthens the heart.  Walking strengthens bones.

Walking improves the circulatory system.

Walking generates positive neurochemicals.  Healthy eating is important but dieting can trigger negative neurochemicals and can be hard to do.

Walking generates positive neurochemicals.  People look forward to walking and enjoy walking.

And research shows that fit beats fat for many people.  Walking half an hour a day has health benefits that exceed the benefits of losing 20 pounds.

When we walk every day, our bodies are healthier and stronger.  A single 30 minute walk can reduce blood pressure by five points for over 20 hours.

Walking reduces the risk of blood clots in your legs.

People who walk regularly have much lower risk of deep vein thrombosis.

People who walk are less likely to catch colds, and when people get colds, walkers have a 46 percent shorter symptom time from their colds.

Walking improves the health of our blood, as well.  Walking is a good boost of high density cholesterol and people with high levels of HDL are less likely to have heart attacks and stroke.

Walking significantly diminishes the risk of hip fracture and the need for gallstone surgery is 20 to 31 percent lower for walkers.

Walking is the right thing to do. The best news is that the 30 minutes doesn’t have to be done in one lump of time. Two 15 minute walks achieve the same goals. Three 10 minute walks achieve most of those goals.

We can walk 15 minutes in the morning and 15 minutes at night and achieve our walking goals.

Walking feels good.  It helps the body heal.  It keeps the body healthy.  It improves our biological health, our physical health, our psychosocial health, and helps with our emotional health. Walking can literally add years entire years to your life.


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Did You Know

Drinking water at the correct time maximizes its effectiveness on the human body:

1 glass of water after waking up – helps activate internal organs

1 glass of water 30 minutes before a meal – helps digestion

1 glass of water before taking bath – helps lower blood pressure

1 glass of water before going to bed – avoids stroke or heart attack

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Foods For A Leaner Body

Summer’s approaching and we all want that lean body!
Guess what?!  Vegetables can help – along with a good amount of water intake, balanced lifestyle, exercise, meditation and a nutritious diet.
Here’s a list of foods you can eat to gain a lean body -

Kale – kale is high in vitamins A, C, and K; manganese, antioxidants and fiber

Lemons – increases bone strength

Almonds – great for the heart and blood sugar levels

Spinach – improves vision, bones, blood pressure, immunity, skin, brain and nervous system

Blueberries – high in antioxidants and helps reduce belly fat

Olive oil – improves skin, complexion and slows the aging process

Parsley – rich in vitamin C, folic acid, iron and beta-carotene

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Walnut = Brain

Did you ever take a walnut, remove it from its shell and notice that it looks like the human brain?!  Well, it does!

Did you know that just a handful of walnuts everyday helps reduce your chances of heart disease, diabetes and cancer?

Here are some more benefits-

• Promotes good health for the brain! 
• Make sure you eat the skin of the walnut because 90% of the nutrients are on the skin.
• Contains a great amount of omega 3.
• Relieves irritable bowel syndrome
• Lowers cholesterol
• Reduces blood pressure
• Anti-inflammatory
• Has a potent phytonutrient quinone juglone, which is abundant in walnuts that destroys cancer and precancerous cells leaving healthy tissue intact.
• Decreases LDL cholesterol
• Increases sperm health

Benefits of Avocados

Avocados are really good for you and have such great health benefits.

They're great on your cholesterol level
Blood sugar regulation
Blood pressure
Great on digestion
The heart
The brain
The eyes
Anti-inflammatory
Anti-cancer
High level of natural fiber
Anti-oxidant booster
Boosts immune system
Promotes healthy bones because of its Vitamin K contents

Wonders of Olive Oil

Olive oil is one of the most popular ingredients in the kitchen, but it can also be found in the medicine cabinet and even on a night stand.  In fact that it is rich in vitamin E and essential antioxidants, makes it one of the most efficient measures to balance blood pressure levels and cholesterol, to precent heart attacks, cancer and fight aging.  And if you thought that's where its benefits end, you are sorely mistaken.

Here are 25 more uses for this excellent material - the olive oil

1 - to precent snoring - swallow a spoon of olive oil before bed

2 - to reduce stretch marks - massage olive oil before bed

3 - to treat acne - prepare a mix made of 3 table spoons of olive oil with 4 table spoons of sea salt, put on your face for 1-2 minutes.  The mix will clean the pores and keep the moisture of your skin.  Wash with hot water and soap.

4 - to alleviate ear pain - spill one drop of warm olive oil in your ear

5 - to reduce stomach ulcers and pain - mix one table spoon of live oil with a 3/4 cup of citrus juice or vinegar and drink

6 - olive oil can serve as a substitute for shaving cream

7 - to strengthen your fingernails - soap them in a bowl of olive oil

8 - to rehabilitate your skin - to treat dry skin of the hands, elbows and knees, warm a few table spoons of olive oil (until it's luke warm) and smear on the relevant areas.

9 - to treat colds - warm a mixture of 1/3 cup of olive oil, 1/3 cup of sesame oil, 4 drops of thyme, 2 drops of rosemary oil and massage the warm mixture on the chest area 

10 - to treat dandruff - massage olive oil into your scalp and leave overnight.  Wash your hair in the mooring and wash with a regular shampoo.  Try this treatment for a week.

11 - to treat dry hair with split ends - warm the oil and smear on scalp for 45 minutes

12 - to treat after hair coloring - soak a soft cotton towel with olive oil and wipe the spotted skin, it may take some time but the color will come off the skin

13 - to prevent hair loss - mix 2 eggs with 2 table spoons of olive oil.  Smear on the scalp and hair for 40 minutes and then wash with cool or luke warm water.  It's recommended to repeat this 3 times a week.

14 - to treat lice - mix 1 table spoon of olive oil with 5 drops of the the tree oil and smear on the scalp for several minutes.  Then comp your hair with a live comb and wash with hot water.

15 - Relieve toothache - mix drops of clove oil with drops of olive oil, in about a ratio of 3:1 and use a cotton ball to put on the aching area.  Not recommended for children and pregnant or breastfeeding women. 

16 - remove mascara - drip a bit of olive oil on a cotton ball and wipe the make up from your eyes.

17 - relieve coughing - swallow a spoon of olive oil mixed with a spoon of honey.  Another option is to massage the upper back and chest with the oil at body temperature. 

18 - treating swollen/red gums - wash your mouth with a mix of olive oil and water.

19 - prevent diaper rash - mix 2 spoons of olive oil with a spoon of water and smear on baby's rear

20 - to polish furniture - mix olive oil and lemon juice at a ratio of 2:1.  Use a gentle towel soared in the mix to polish the furniture 

21 - to maintain garden tools - smear a bit of olive oil on garden tools to keep them from accumulating filth and corrosion.

22 - to prevent squeaks - smear some olive oil on screaming hinges to make them silent 

23 - for digestive problems - swallow a spoon of olive oil every morning on an empty stomach.  Another option is to drink a glass of water with a spoon of olive oil and spoon of lemon juice.

24 - to maintain knives - after washing thoroughly with water and soap, wipe the blades well and then use a small amount of olive oil and gentle rub it on the blades with a towel. 

25 - prevent wax from building up in the candlesticks - just drip a bit of olive oil and it won't stick. 

Benefits of Yoga

Now that you've familiarized yourself with yoga from the previous blog, here is some more information about its benefits -  

Scientific research validating the benefits of yoga:

Physical benefits:

• improved physical activity
• fitness
• lung functioning
• athletic performance
• greater physical endurance
• normalization of weight
• important mind and body coordination
• reversal of aging 
• improves heart functioning 
• improves digestion

Mental benefits:

• improves memory
• increased positivism
• restful alertness by increasing alpha brain wave patterns
• improves cognitive performance (thinking, reading, problem solving)
• reduces mental fatigue
• improves mental health
• reduces neuroticism

Prevention of disease:

• lowers blood pressure
• reduced obesity
• lower serum cholesterol level
• relief from constipation and gas
• reduced incidents of common cold
• decreased insomnia
• improved kidney functioning
• improved liver functioning
• decreased backache
• normalization of blood sugar level
• alleviation of asthma 

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How Yoga Changes Your Body, Starting The Day You Begin

A great read.
(Click on picture for larger view)

The Eastern practice of yoga has become a modern-day symbol of peace, serenity and well-being in the West. More than 20 million Americans practice yoga, according to the 2012 Yoga in America study, with practitioners spending more than $10 billion a year on yoga-related products and classes.

The mind-body practice is frequently touted for its ability to reduce stress and boost well-being, but it also offers wide-ranging physical health benefits that rival other forms of exercise. While the scientific research on yoga's health benefits is still young, here's what we know so far about its potential effects on the body. View the infographic below and scroll down for more detailed information.

After Class.

Improved Brain Function. 
Just 20 minutes of Hatha yoga -- an ancient form of the practice that emphasizes physical postures rather than flow or sequences -- can improve cognitive function, boosting focus and working memory. In a University of Illinois study, participants performed significantly better on tests of brain functioning after yoga, as compared to their performance after 20 minutes of vigorous aerobic exercise.

Lower Stress Levels. 
Yoga's stress-busting powers may come from its ability to lessen the activity of proteins that are known to play a role in inflammation, according to a study published last year from University of California, Los Angeles researchers.

Alter Gene Expression. 
A small Norwegian study suggested that yoga's many healthy benefits might come from its ability to alter gene expression in immune cells.

Increased Flexibility. 
A recent Colorado State University study found that Bikram yoga -- a form of yoga in which a series of 26 postures are performed for 90 minutes in a heated room -- is linked with increased shoulder, lower back and hamstring flexibility, as well as greater deadlift strength and decreased body fat, compared with a control group.

After A Few Months.

Lower Blood Pressure. 
People with mild to moderate hypertension might benefit from a yoga practice, as a study from University of Pennsylvania researchers found that it could help to lower their blood pressure levels. Researchers found that people who practiced yoga had greater drops in blood pressure compared with those who participated in a walking/nutrition/weight counseling program.

Improved Lung Capacity. 
A small 2000 Ball State University study found that practicing Hatha yoga for 15 weeks could significantly increase vital lung capacity, which is the maximum amount of air exhaled after taking a deep breath. Vital lung capacity is one of the components of lung capacity.

Improved Sexual Function. 
A 2009 Harvard study published in the The Journal of Sexual Medicine showed that yoga could boost arousal, desire, orgasm and general sexual satisfaction for women. Yoga can also improve women's sex lives by helping them to become more familiar with their own bodies, according to a review of studies published in the Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy, as reported by CNN. 

Reduced Chronic Neck Pain.

A German study published in The Journal of Pain showed that four weeks of practicing Iyengar yoga (a type of Hatha yoga that stresses proper alignment and the use of props) is effective in reducing pain intensity in adults suffering from chronic neck pain.

Anxiety Relief. 
A 2010 Boston University study showed that 12 weeks of yoga could help to reduce anxiety and increase gamma-aminobutyric (GABA) levels in the brain (low levels of GABA have been linked with depression and anxiety disorders).

Relief from Chronic Back Pain. 
Researchers at West Virginia University found Iyengar Yoga to be more effective in reducing pain and improving mood than standard medical treatment among those with chronic lower back problems.

Steady Blood Sugar Levels in People with Diabetes.
Adding yoga to a typical diabetes care regimen could result in steady blood sugar levels, according to a 2011 Diabetes Care study. Reuters reported that just three months of yoga in addition to diabetes care resulted in a decrease in body mass index, as well as no increases in blood sugar levels.

Improved Sense of Balance. 
Practicing an Iyengar yoga program designed for older adults was found to improve balance and help prevent falls in women over 65, according to a 2008 Temple University study. 

After Years.

Stronger Bones.
A 2009 pilot  study by Dr. Loren Fishman showed that practicing yoga could improve bone density among older adults.

"We did a bone mineral density (DEXA) scan, then we taught half of them the yoga, waited two years, and did another scan,"Fishman previously told The Huffington Post." And not only did these people not lose bone, they gained bone. The ones who didn't do the yoga lost a little bone, as you would expect."

Healthy Weight.
Researchers from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle found an association between a regular yoga practice and decreased weight -- or at least a maintained weight -- among more than 15,000 healthy, middle-aged adults.

"Those practicing yoga who were overweight to start with lost about five pounds during the same time period those not practicing yoga gained 14 pounds," stud researcher Alan Kristal, DPH, MPH told WebMD. 

Lower Risk Of Heart Disease. 

As part of a healthy lifestyle, yoga may lower cardiovascular risk factors such as high blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar, according to Harvard Health Publications. 

Lemon Water

Drinking one tall glass of lemon water is very beneficial to the body.  And since Ayurveda likes to keep things rolling, purifying the channels of all toxins is very important.

Here are some reasons why drinking lemon water is important:

• purifies the liver
• stimulates the liver
• aids in digestion
• aids in bowels
• helps lower blood pressure
• maintains a higher pH balance in the body
• dilutes uric acid
• reduces phlegm 
• clears the skin
• helps with weight loss
• boosts the immune system
• freshens breath
• promotes energy
• helps with urinary tract infections

For better results - have a glass in the morning. 

Water

We wouldn't be able to live or exist on this planet without water.  Something so simple and essential like water … it is the miracle, natural drug.  

Here is a list of diseases that can be cured by just drinking 6 glasses of water (1.5 liters) everyday:

• blood pressure/hypertension
• anemia
• rheumatism
• general paralysis
• obesity
• arthritis
• sinusitis
• giddiness
• cough
• leukemia
• asthma
• bronchitis
• pulmonary tuberculosis
• meningitis
• kidney stones
• hyper acidity
• dysentery
• gastroenteritis
• constipation
• diabetes
• eye diseases
• redness of the eye
• headaches
• laryngitis
• headaches 

Healthy Fun Facts 2 - Chocolate

I love chocolate.
Who doesn't?
And I love putting things into my body that makes sense, serves a purpose, nourishes and heals.
* Please Note * - everything in moderation.

Health Benefits of Singing

Greetings.

I received an email today which I thought was interesting and I'd like to share it with you all.

Have you experienced any of these?

Health benefits of singing:

• Reduces stress 
• Improves mood
• Lowers blood pressure
• Boosts the immune system
• Improves breathing
• Reduces perceived pain
• Improves a sense of rhythm
• Promotes learning in children
• Forges comforting memories
• Promotes communal bonding
• Provides comfort
• Motivates 
• Empowers 

Sounds can influence brain wave frequencies and promote well being.  

We all have a specific kind of music or sound which brings chills throughout our entire bodies.  But is that music or sound triggering anything in your body?  Is that music or sound bringing you overall bliss?  

Gandharva Veda is part of the Forty Aspects of the Vedic Literature.  Gandharva Veda is the melodious expression of the self-referral mechanisms of the Unified Field of Natural Law.  It is the direct reflection of the cycles of rhythm in Nature, thus having the power to bring our physiology and environment in alignment with Natural Law and having direct effects to our psycho-physiology.  

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi says that Gandharva music is the music of the universe or Nature which governs the universe from point to infinity.  This melody is highly integrative with everything else in the universe.