Lifestyle Choices

Good health, which is the basis of a long and happy life, is a state of energy balance. Energy in its undifferentiated state or potential is known by the Chinese as Tao. Tao is manifest in all things through the dynamic interaction of the two polar energy forces, yin and yang. (more…)

Anything that increases the sticking of cells to the skin or the secretion of sebum can cause acne. The three main influences are hormones, diet (and medications), and the products you use on your skin.

Hormones

These are those magical chemicals that are secreted by your endocrine glands to regulate your metabolism, your sexuality, your growth, your cycles, your mood and your reaction to stress. The hormones that affect your skin come primarily from your sexual organs and from your adrenal glands, the latter of which become more active when you feel either excitement or anxiety. When the adrenals are stimulated they produce more hormones. (more…)

Diseases Carried by Rats and Other Rodents

Of all the enemies that man must contend with in the animal kingdom, the worst is the rat. Not only do these animals carry harmful germs, but if given a chance, they will also destroy our food supply. Rats invade stores, destroying fruits, vegetables, meats, grains, carpets, clothing, and innumerable other things.

Rats destroy ten times more by pollution than by what they eat. They burrow under houses and buildings, weakening foundations. On the farm they destroy more eggs and chickens than all the wild animals combined. (more…)

How should you cook in a healthy and conserving way and yet still be able to enjoy the results of your efforts? Consider in the first place whether the food, in fact, needs to be cooked for lengthy periods of time. A healthy diet depends to a large degree on foods that are as near to their natural state as possible, thus retaining their vitamin content and nutritional value.

Vegetables should be absolutely fresh, preferably young, and they should be prepared with the minimum of wastage. Fresh raw vegetables and fruit are highly nutritious and retain most of the minerals, vitamins, trace elements, and fibre often destroyed by cooking. They are also good for the teeth and digestion. You can eat the overwhelming majority of vegetables raw, after thorough preparation, which includes washing them thoroughly to remove any trace of possible pesticide residues. You should peel some vegetables, including commercially grown carrots, for the same reason. Raw root vegetables, potatoes apart, are excellent grated and have better, more distinct flavours than when cooked. Leaf and stem vegetables should always be perfectly fresh whether you intend to eat them raw or cook them, since the vitamin and mineral contents decline rapidly once they are harvested. (more…)

Like fingerprints, everyone has a complexion that is uniquely their own. Some people have facial skin that’s oily, others have skin that tends to be dry. And some people have skin that is dry in some places and oily in others. Your age, family history, and environment can all influence your skin type.

Knowing your skin type, and learning about the best products to cleanse, tone, and moisturize is important to having your skin look its very best. Products that make one type of skin look great can do nothing at all for another type of skin.

What’s your skin type? Check these profiles to find out:

Your skin type is oily if…

1. your skin frequently looks shiny
2. you have blackheads or blemishes frequently
3. you have few visible lines

(more…)

Traditional Chinese medicine focuses on the physical and emotional well-being of the patient and aims to increase your chi — your energy or life force. It integrates acupuncture, massage, herbs, breathing exercises and nutritional advice to help heal imbalances. The principle of balance (or tao as it is often referred to) is at the core of Chinese medicine: the two opposing yet complementary forces known as yin and yang help the therapist diagnose the conditions presented. The practitioner may analyse your pulse and look at your eyes and tongue to make his diagnosis.

(Some of the herbs a Chinese medicine doctor give you can smell and taste quite different to anything you may be used to! Most practitioners will give you the herbs in their dry form for you to take home and boil, then tell you to drink the infusion a certain number of times a day.)

Traditional Chinese medicine is known to treat all physical conditions such as infections and illness as well as psychological conditions like depression and anxiety. Chinese herbs can help with coughs and colds, eczema, acne, asthma, bronchitis, digestive complaints, high blood pressure, cystitis, insomnia, menstrual and menopausal problems, psoriasis and infections. The practitioner will usually combine the use of herbs with acupuncture and nutritional advice.

Aromatherapy is one of the most widely used alternative therapies and has been around for over 4000 years. It has Roman, Greek and Chinese history. In aromatherapy, pure plant extracts called essential oils are used, which can be absorbed into the body by the skin or inhaled through the nose (olfactory system). There are well over 400 essential oils, each with their individual aroma and therapeutic virtues. These are blended into a carrier oil for massage on the skin and can be used in a vaporiser, bath, spritzer bottle or as an inhalation. (more…)

Reflexology originated in China over 5000 years ago. It is based on the fact that many different points and areas on the hands and feet correspond to different glands, organs and other parts of the body. When the therapist applies pressure with their hands to the specific points or areas, they are trying to alleviate or help heal the conditions presented. Sometimes problems can also be found in this way before they present themselves as physical symptoms to the patient.

Conditions that may be assisted using reflexology include migraines, asthma, high blood pressure, back and neck pain, foot pain, headaches, dental pain, sinus, menstrual problems, irritable bowel syndrome, fluid retention, problems associated with pregnancy and many stress-related conditions.

(Some points on the feet can be quite tender when palpated. Usually the therapist will have a foot map in front of you during the treatment so you can see what each point is linked to. Each consultation ends with a good foot massage. You will feel you are walking on air after reflexology treatment!)

Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese system of healing. The practitioner inserts long thin needles into selected points on nerve or energy pathways called meridians. The key principle is that chi (energy) travels along these meridians and when they become blocked, pain or illness results. The needles are also manipulated by rotation, electric current or heat to stimulate points that increase or reduce energy flow, clear blocked pathways, tone and restore balance to the whole system. (more…)

(When sleeping women wake, mountains move. Chinese proverb)

Affirmations are a very effective way to use positive self-talk and to anchor it in your subconscious. They can even be a form of prayer. Affirmations are phrases you repeat to yourself on a daily basis. It is not important that you may not believe them at first. We all have an inner dialogue to contend with, which may not agree with our affirmation. The key is to master this nagging voice. Understand it is a normal part of reaching beyond your comfort zone. When you hear your inner dialogue speaking louder than your affirmation, acknowledge it, but be aware you have a choice. You can listen to it or choose not to. You have the power and ability to control it. It’s that simple. It is a good idea to write your statements on cards and place these around your environment where you will see them every day: on the fridge, bathroom mirror, beside your bed, in your car, in your diary, on your desk at work, etc.

Always formulate your affirmations in the present tense. ‘I have’ or ‘I am‘ is a good way to start. Your subconscious mind is so obedient that if you declare your affirmation in the future tense, such as ‘I want’ or ‘I will have: then it will always stay just out of your reach — in the future. Start to listen to yourself and others carefully. If you find that people say ‘You always say that: take heed. They may be revealing something about yourself you weren’t aware of. (more…)

Apart from helping in your daily skincare, natural ingredients can also help in healing specific skin problems you may have. Here is a list of helpful remedies for the whole family:

Acne

More than just a spot or blemish, acne is an inflammatory condition often brought about by a sensitivity to androgen (male) hormones in the body. In mild cases blackheads and blemishes are present and in more severe cases you find inflamed pustules and cysts. Acne sufferers often carry a higher bacterial content on their skin and experts suggest that it could be this bacteria and its reaction on sebum (oil) levels in the skin that are affected when you are under stress, as stress seems to be a contributing factor. (more…)

Soymilk is the dissolved liquid pressed from whole soybeans that have been soaked, cooked, and ground. The creamy milk can serve the same purposes as cow’s milk-but with added advantages. It is a boon for people who are lactose intolerant or allergic to cow’s milk You can buy soymilk in several flavors, including chocolate, carob, and vanilla, and in lower-fat versions. You also can make your own soymilk. Some brands of soymilk are fortified with calcium, vitamins, and minerals. They may also contain a natural sweetener, oil, and/or a thickener. Plain, regular soymilk by itself has a nutty flavor and is loaded with nutrients. Eight ounces has 10 grams of protein and 80 milligrams of calcium, plus iron, B vitamins, and complex carbohydrates. Street vendors in China and Japan sell soymilk made fresh daily. It is usually served sweetened as a beverage or flavored with soy sauce, onions, and vegetables as a savory soup. (more…)

Miso (pronounced meets) is produced when soybeans and a grain, usually rice or barley, are combined with salt and a mold culture, then fermented in wooden vats for up to three years. The resulting paste, which is rich in B vitamins and protein, is an essential condiment in Japan and China. Rather than starting their day with coffee, most Japanese get a nutritional boost from a cup of hot miss soup. Miss can be used to season and enrich all types of soups and stews, whether clear or creamed. It also can add nutrition and flavor to sauces, gravies, salad dressings, dips, sandwich spreads, casseroles, and vegetables. You can even marinate tofu in miso. Unpasteurized miso contains live cultures and has abundant lactic-acid-forming bacteria, protein, and enzymes that aid digestion. Also, the antioxidants in fermented soy foods-such as miso-are more easily absorbed than those in unfermented soybeans and soy products. (more…)

SOYBEAN NUTRITION

The soybean is a self-contained protein factory. Through the action of bacteria living in its roots, the soy plant can make its own nitrogen fertilizer to stimulate protein production. Research conducted at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology has shown that the soybean produces such high-quality protein that it can supply the essential amino acids the body needs daily. Soybean protein is high in quantity, as well; one-half cup of cooked soybeans contains 14 grams of protein. (more…)

There are different types of tofu, primarily distinguished from one another by their texture. Silken tofu, or Japanese-style tofu, ranges from the softest to medium-soft. Chinese-style, or hard-pressed tofu, is medium-firm to dense-firm.

The medium-firm tofu is good for slicing, freezing, and cubing. The softer form may be used the same way but it has to be drained and squeezed dry, and it does not hold its shape as well. It is best in recipes that require blending, such as mayonnaise and cheesecake. You can make tofu firmer by placing paper towels on the top and bottom of the tofu and placing a heavy chopping board on it for fifteen minutes or longer. (more…)

Taking a Dieter’s Tour of Restaurants

You may think that you must avoid certain types of restaurants or cuisine’s while you’re dieting. Not true. Keep reading if you want to be guided through various cuisine’s and food scenarios and find out what’s “safe” and what’s not.

Chinese

Depending on your order, you can get a healthy low-cal meal or a calorie nightmare in a Chinese restaurant; foods are either lean or fatty. Generally, the protein foods in Chinese cuisine - duck, spareribs, and pork-are extremely fatty, although you can also find chicken, shrimp, and lean beef.

Much of the food is deep fried - even items that may surprise you, such as vegetables in a simple stir-fry are sometimes blanched in hot oil instead of water. And the amount of oil in stir-fries can be staggeringly large. (more…)