Algemarin

The Algemarin line of bath products contains Sea Algae, an
increasingly popular additive in skin-care products. Sea
Algae is considered to be the richest natural source of
minerals, trace minerals and rare earth elements. Sea
Algae contains some 77 elements found in sea water.
Because of their natural source, these elements are readily
absorbed through the skin. Negatively-charged ions help
attract toxins and heavy metals, allowing them to be
flushed out of the body. This can help protect against the
pollutions we are exposed to in food, water and air.

Sea Algae is known for stimulating the circulation of blood
and facilitating lymph flow. It aids in the transport of
nutrients at the cellular level, increasing the benefits of
the foods we eat and the supplements we may take. This
adds up to an improved feeling of health and well-being.

Sea Algae directly improves skin elasticity. This can be
especially helpful while on a weight-loss program, as it
can help to minimize the skin sagging often associated with
losing weight. Tighter, more resilient skin adds greatly
to a more youthful appearance.

Skin hydration is also improved by the use of Sea Algae
products on the skin. This is of great benefit in dry
climates. Anyone who is subject to the drying influence of
sun, wind and air pollution will appreciate the hydrating
effects of this product. That tight feeling will melt
away, making you look and feel younger and more attractive.

The ingredients that make up the Algemarin products
include: Wheat Germ: Improves the regeneration of the skin.

Jojoba Oil (Buxus chinensis): Protects the skin's moisture
balance and is especially beneficial for dry skin.

Allantoin: A plant agent that speeds up the skin's healing
process and gives the skin a soft, smooth and healthy
appearance.

Polypeptides and amino acids: Stimulates the replacement of
skin cells and maintains the natural moisture balance of
the skin.

Acacia Collagen: Covers the skin with a moisturizing film
and helps prevent the skin from drying.

Avocado Oil (Persea gratissima):. Improves the elasticity
of the skin.

Shea butter: Derived from the nuts of the Shea tree. Helps
the skin retain its moisture.

Marine algae extract (brown algae), trace elements:
Includes mineral salts with trace elements which help
counteract the skin's aging process with their protective
and moisturizing properties.

Hyaluronic acid: Helps the skin retain moisture.

Panthenol: Has an excellent moisturizing effect and helps
promote skin regeneration.

Vitamin A and Vitamin E: Increases the moisture-retention
ability of the skin and stimulates cell regeneration.

Algemarin is formulated in Germany. Incorporating the
benefits of Sea Algae, these foaming bath products and
shower gels give your bathing experience the glow of
luxurious regeneration. All are ph-balanced and tested by
dermatologists. The Sea Blue foaming bath products turn
your bath water a lovely dark blue. You'll feel nourished
and nurtured by the sea as you soak your cares away. The
clear shower gel comes in a variety of delightful scents
sure to please the whole family.

----------------------------------------------------
Jacqueline Dubowsky is a self-confessed bath product
enthusiast who has spent 12 years trying all the potions
and bath preparations the world has to offer. She
publishes a monthly Bath and Body Care newsletter available
at her website, TheSoapBar.com. To find out more about
Algemarin Sea Foam products, visit
http://www.thesoapbar.com/algemarin.html

Massage and Massage Therapy: The Body and Mind Overhaul

Let's cut to the chase.

What do you want to see when you look in the mirror? How do
you want to feel when you look in the mirror? Let me take a
stab at what you actually see and what you actually feel.

You think that the face looking back at you is
unattractive, and that your best years have long gone, or
even that the face looking back at you is downright ugly!

Why am I so sure? Because that is exactly what I said and
exactly how I felt on a daily basis about the face that
looked back at me from my own mirror.

Am I different from you… no way! I have spent far too much
money on beauty products and anti wrinkle creams, on age
reducing pills and potions and I've fallen for every 'Get
young and beautiful' new product that came my way with a
net result of not looking a day younger and not feeling any
better about myself.

That is, until my best friend gave me a gift certificate
for a facial massage. Without getting too dramatic, I can
say with hand on heart, that without knowing it, my friend
had given me a life changing gift. I had never considered
massage or massage therapy, because I had it in my mind
that it was an expensive luxury, and if there were any
benefits I certainly didn't think they would apply to me.

When the time came, my friend had to drag me along for my
facial, because I felt, uncomfortable, self conscious, and
I suppose unworthy of that kind of attention. I felt that I
was drawing attention to something that I'd been reluctant
to even think about, let alone discuss, which at the time
was an incredibly negative view I had of how I looked and
how I felt about myself.

This doesn't sound like a great start to my life changing
gift does it? Fortunately for me, my friend is made of
stronger stuff and despite her ulterior motive (the gift
certificate was for two!) she and I went ahead and had our
facial. The facial itself didn't turn me into a teenager
again, and nobody wolf whistled as we sat at a pavement
café, but something was definitely different.

I've come to understand that the reason I felt different
was because a couple of popular myths had been dispelled
during my facial. The first popular myth was that massage
was not for the likes of me. The second popular myth was
that the benefits of massage and massage therapy wouldn't
apply to me. The results of that facial massage and the
many that I've had since have been to give me a sense of
self appreciation. Massage and massage therapy is for the
likes of me and it is most definitely not just for the
benefit of a select few. Speaking of benefits, the list of
improvements that massage and massage therapy delivers goes
on and on, and as I've discovered for myself, the benefits
are not confined to physical improvements, but to
psychological improvements as well.

Do I look like a supermodel… well I never have and I never
will, but that's not the point. I'm now happy to look at
myself in the mirror and more to the point, I feel good
about what I see and I'm happy with how I feel. To keep me
feeling this way I give myself a thorough facial massage
every day and I make a big deal out of doing so. I put on
relaxing music and I burn essential oils to create a
completely enjoyable experience. A half hour is all it
takes and yes, I do believe I look younger, if I say so
myself.

I suppose the main point here is that you, me or anyone
else deserves to feel good about themselves, and for me,
the gift of a facial massage was the necessary trigger.
There are many things in life that can give you that much
needed lift and I hope you find them, but for now, giving
yourself a facial massage is as good a kick-start as any.

To your continued, outstanding health.

P.S. Don't be afraid to slap on some so called age-reducing
lotion or potion if that's what it takes and don't beat
yourself up either, after all, you're only human.

----------------------------------------------------
Vastly Improve your Health, Wellbeing & Self-esteem with
the most comprehensive Home Study Massage Program available.
Click here ==> http://www.holistic-facial-massage.com

Fish Oil and Heart Disease

According to National Statistics online, nearly 15% of the
population of the UK are suffering or have suffered from a
cardiac health event in their lifetimes. That means that
for every 100 people in the room, about 15 of them will
have a heart attack or suffer from a coronary disease.
Interestingly enough, this statistic includes both men and
women, with men only having a slight advantage over the
women in terms of number of cases. Even with all we know
about heart disease and how to prevent it, it seems that
there is so much more to learn.

What is Heart Disease?

The heart is the muscle in the body that allows for
transportation of materials throughout the body. When a
person takes in food, these meals are broken down by the
digestive system in order to be accessible for functions in
the body. As the food is broken down into nutrients, these
nutrients are then transported into the blood stream in
order to get to the right areas of the body. When the
heart pumps, it moves these blood cells around to the
extremities and then when it contracts, it pulls the blood
into itself by means of the veins in order to push that
blood into the body into the arteries. When the heart is
unable to function properly, this process can not take
place.

There are a number of reasons and names for the idea of
heart disease. At its simplest definition, heart disease
is when the heart is damaged or just unable to work as it
should. This can be a hereditary and congenital condition,
like in the instance of a valve problem. A patient can
have this from birth and never need to have anything done
to repair it, while other patients need to have this fixed
in order to make sure that heart works properly.

Heart disease can be grouped into being caused by heredity,
lifestyle or by a defect or injury. Hereditary factors
like a predisposition to high cholesterol can cause
troubles like heart attacks and myocardial infarction.
Then again, if a patient takes in too much cholesterol and
fat into their diet, they can also increase their risk for
heart disease.

The heart disease cases that cause troubles for patients
will have conditions like hardening of the arteries,
blockages of the vessels, and a narrowing/widening of these
passageways for the blood. When the vessels become too
blocked, blood can not get to the heart, resulting in heart
damage and death.

What are the Symptoms of Heart Disease?

The real concern when it comes to heart disease is that
there may be few, if any, symptoms at first. A patient may
have completely normal lab results as well as no noticeable
physical symptoms. In more advanced cases, the cholesterol
levels will be high, the LDL levels will be high, and HDL
levels will be low. Blood pressure readings may increase
and the patient may report mild chest pain and tightness.
Some patients even report troubles with breathing during
activity. The heart rate may be higher as has become more
difficult for the heart to do the same job on a lower
number of beats per minute.

In an emergent condition, the symptoms would be an
increased heart rate, crushing chest pain, and possibly
nausea. Others report that they had a raised temperature
and sweating, as well as left arm weakness.

How Can Fish Oil Help?

According to recent studies done at Harvard Medical
University, fish oil seems to be able to prevent heart
disease. With its anti-inflammatory properties, fish oil
seems to allow the body to repair smaller damage spots
before they become too problematic. There have also been
previous studies linking the idea of using fish oil and
lowering bad cholesterol as well as increasing good
cholesterol. The essential fatty acids in fish oil help
the body process the cholesterol and other toxins in the
body before they build up in the liver and cause damage.

Where Can You Find Fish Oil Sources?

Understandably so, fish oil can be found in its purest form
in oily fishes. Fish choices like salmon, herring, kipper,
and mackerel all contain high levels of Omega 3 fatty acids
that can help to protect the heart from heart disease. In
addition, there are studies being done now that indicate
that fish oil might be able to help in the repair of damage
from previous concerns with heart disease and heart
attacks. In countries with a high fish consumption, the
prevalence of heart disease is much lower, even with the
high smoking rates (as in Japan, for example).

Conclusion

While there are many studies that are questioning the use
of fish oil in the treatment and prevention of heart
disease, it's clear that there is some connection. Since
the body can not make this essential fatty acid on its own,
adding a supplement to the diet can not be a hard decision
to make.

----------------------------------------------------
Dave McEvoy is an expert in omega 3 fish oil EPA with over
20 years experience; for more information about fish oil
and how it can help come and visit.
http://www.mind1st.co.uk/fish-oil-heart-disease.asp

7 STEPS TO IMPROVING YOUR LIFE: Part 2. There's more to being healthy than eating lettuce

Here are the seven guidelines which will help you to change
your reaction to the past and regain the power to make
decisions to improve your life and lessen your stress.

* Step One: It is not as great a problem as you might
think. Look at it as merely getting ride of a computer
virus or throwing out an out of date packet of oatmeal. It
is merely a matter of sorting out the infected memory
boxes, washing down the storage shelves, replacing the good
boxes and making a fresh start.Your commitment to making it
work is the key.

* Step Two: This is the most important step. You must
decide very firmly to change your relationship with your
past. Accept that everybody has a past and what many
experienced was far worse than whatever happened to you.
We hear daily of people with a difficult history who have
succeeded in life. That is because they changed their
relationship with what happened to them. Instead of
concentrating on the failings of others and how bad other
people's behaviour made them feel they concentrated on what
they could do in future to avoid itt happening again. They
kept hold of the power to decide what happened to them.
Sometimes they merely decided to show their 'opponents'
that whatever the criticism being flung at them was not
true: ie they could succeed, they were not feeble, they
could be rich, they could 'make it' in whatever they
decided to do. To have power to decide how anybody lives
their life is everybody's right. You too must take back the
power in your life so that you make the decisions from now
on, not your past. Imagine how this will free you by
opening new avenues in life, improving relationships and
offering new exciting adventures

* .Step Three: Now is the time to ask yourself several
questions which at first may seem difficult to answer.
However you must not shy away from really trying and be
honest. Let us tackle, as an example, some of those things
or people you say you hate for what they did to you. Try to
analyse why you feel hatred and question whether it really
is hatred, or could it be something else? What emotion do
you actually experience when you think of hem?

* Step Four: Now it is time to make a list of all the
emotions you can think of: envy, jealousy, fear,
resentment, shame, loneliness, feeling abandoned and so on.
Were any of these the actual emotions troubling you when
you decided you 'hated' something or somebody? When
something terrible happened to you how did you really feel?
Next stop blaming ourself feeling that in some way you
deserved what happened. Instead let go of the bad feelings
and concentrate on the fact that whatever happened was in
the past – and that you are now in charge of how you react
to that.

* Step Five: You might at this stage be imagining the way
ahead might be too difficult. That is quite
understandable. Old habits die hard and allowing our past
to have power over our present has probably become a
habit. Like most habits it might be one which is not
easily broken. Sometimes like a gambler, a smoker, or a
drinker, we find it easier to take the well defined road
even though we know it will not take us to where we want
to go. We can be mpted to choose to stay as we are, to
continue to cause unhappiness for hose who care for us as
well as for ourselves. We continue to lose friends and
lovers, never to find new ones, to never be at peace with
ourselves. We might find it easier, even though we are not
happy, to remain on our currentt path and not to strike out
and take a few well chosen and really thought out risks. We
may prefer to continue hoarding the 'past their use-by
weevil ridden boxes' or 'continue using that virus ridden
computer'. Let's hope not and that you will move on

* Step Six: Spend an evening imagining how you will feel
when you succeed in quitting your old habits. Imagine the
glow you will experience when you can look into your
weevil free store cupboard and find only goodies. No
longer will you look back with a jaundiced eye. You will be
able to recall the joyful memories, and ignore the bad
ones. You will now see your garden as full of beautiful
flowers and shrubs rather than invading weeds. To
misquote a cliché: you will see the glass flowing overl,
never mind half full, rather than half empty. Consider now
all the benefits of continuing along the new path. No
longer will you expect to find a maggot in all your apples,
a caterpillar in every rose, a dragon around every corner.
You will see a potential friend in everyone you meet rather
than labelling them as a potential enemy. You will not
feel threatened by those you see as better educated,
richer, stronger or different in any way. You will see
them as interesting and as a possible enrichment in you
rlife.

* Step Seven: At this stage you may come up against your
greatest hurdle; it is one you absolutely must cross. This
is the need to accept that everyone – whoever they may be
– has memory boxes; and that many of these could be
creating problems for them (and you) in the same way yours
do/did for you. Now will be the time, having worked so hard
on yourself and your memory boxes and having cleared out
all the infected ones, to make a new commitment never to
allow anything which happens to you in the future to become
infected.

Only then will YOU really have taken back THE POWER which
is your right; THE POWER to make decisions on how you will
run your life in future and how you will react to whatever
happens to you - whether it be good or bad.

Good luck

----------------------------------------------------
© Mollie Kay Smith
http://www.etribes.com/molliesmith
http://www.molliekaysmith.com

Get Medical Treatment Overseas: Medical Tourism Options

It's hard not to be keenly aware that health care costs
have skyrocketed - a week's stay in the hospital for a few
tests and treatment WITHOUT ANY PROCEDURES can cost $15,000
or more![1] So, it's not surprising that an increasing
number of people who need or want real treatment are
looking elsewhere for a solution.

That elsewhere is turning up in places like India,
Thailand, Panama, and Argentina - countries in which the
medical establishment has made significant investments in
training and equipment to provide the best in care and
treatment - second to none. And, they're places where the
economies are still emerging, which has a significant
impact on costs.

These services have fallen under the rubric, "Medical
Tourism" - the notion of combining the service of medical
treatments with an opportunity to expand one's travel
horizons.

And why not? In India (currently the best bang for buck in
medical treatment), laparascopic, prostate, hernia repair,
gastric banding, dental implantation, and other treatments
can go for a tenth to a fifth what they'd cost in the US.
And treatment is quick - once you've made arrangements, you
don't have to wait in interminable lines. Finances are
just as easy. In most cases, a comprehensive quote is
given before you even purchase your airline tickets.
Billing is also comprehensive and usually taken care of
with a credit card at the end of treatment.

What about the doctors? Are they competent? Very. In
fact, the doctors you will see were very likely trained in
the US at some point in their careers, or they have worked
in the US, or they are participating very actively in the
international medical community. So, yes, the doctors are
quite competent - and they're up on the latest medical
technologies and treatment. In some cases, they are even
leading their respective fields.

Finally, when all is said and done and your treatment is
completed, you can visit the faraway places that most only
dream of or read about - hospital facilities typically have
connections with tour companies at discount rates to fill
or at least pique your wanderlust. It's a great
side-benefit!

So, is medical tourism right for you? If you're not
insured and the cost of a medical procedure is looming over
your head, or if your insurance won't cover a procedure you
need or want because it's classified as an 'elective'
procedure, you're a prime candidate for investigating
treatment overseas.

As always, you should investigate your options and
requirements as they apply to your situation. (One place
to do this is by participating in a forum we have set up
for just such a purpose - see the link in the resource box.
The forum is free to all, you just need to join to
participate.) Treatment overseas adds one more choice to
your set of options - an option that can greatly reduce
costs, and give you the opportunity to explore another part
of the world, while you're at it!

[1] Source: personal experience.

----------------------------------------------------
Garrick Berger is the managing director of Overseas Medical
Connection (http://www.overseasmc.com), a company dedicated
to assisting prospective patients evaluate their overseas
treatment/medical tourism options. The company also
maintains a forum (http://forum.overseasmc.com ) for those
wishing to exchange research and experiences on medical
treatment overseas.

Eyes and bones - health problems faced by office workers

If your job demands you to face the computer for long hours
on end, are you facing health problems like tired eyes,
extreme fatigue and backache?

These problems normally arise from poor diet. Therefore,
to solve the problems, you need to change your diet ie
choosing food that can protect your eyes, and provide
enough calcium for your body.

To keep eyes healthy, Vitamin A and beta carotene are the
two essential nutrients needed. Carrots are an excellent
source of both Vitamin A and beta carotene.

Research has shown that high intakes of beta carotene may
help to protect against damage caused by free radicals.
The body converts beta carotene into vitamin A which is
needed for healthy vision as well as the maintenance of
mucous membranes.

Other sources of beta carotene include tomato, spinach,
apricot and red sweet potatoes which are further analysed
below.

The level of Vitamin C in your eyes is much higher than in
your bloodstreams. However, this level decreases along
with age. Vitamin C protects the eyes by reducing ultra
violet damage. It acts to protect the lens from oxidative
damage and protect enzymes within the lens by removing
oxidation-damaged proteins. As a result, deficiency in
Vitamin C may lead to the formation of cataracts.

As your body does not store vitamin C for long, it is
important to replenish it by eating lots of vitamin C-rich
fruits and vegetables.

As a guide, you should include the following foods which
are essential for the healthy of your eyes:

1.Carrots contain more sugar than any other vegetables, and
as mentioned above, abundant supply of beta-carotene which
is good for your eyes as well as your skin.

2.Spinach contains protein, fats, carbohydrates, fiber,
calcium, phosphorus, iron, beta-carotene, riboflavin etc.

3.Tomatoes are a good source of vitamins, minerals,
carbohydrates, potassium and organic acid. Because of
their acidic nature, they protect the vitamin C from damage
or lost during high heat while cooking, thereby retaining
much of the important vitamin C.

4.Wolfberry has high concentration of beta-carotene,
vitamins A, B1, B2, C, calcium, iron etc. One very simple
but nourishing drink is the wolfberry-chrysanthemums tea
which is good for both your vision and liver.

5.Green peppers are rated the highest source of Vitamin C
among the vegetables. They are also a rich source of
fiber, calcium, phosphorus, iron and sugar.

6.Apricots are high in vitamin C, A, B1 & B2, sugar,
protein, fats, inorganic salt, thus are considered to be
nutritious fruits.

7.Chinese dates contain 14 amino acids that your body needs
and the vitamins are higher than that found in apples and
bananas.

Calcium is the most abundant mineral in your body. Of the
body's total calcium, about 99% is in the bones and teeth
where it functions to support their structure. The
remaining 1% is present throughout your body in blood,
tissues and fluids between the cells.

You need calcium for muscle contraction, blood vessel
contraction and expansion, blood clotting, the secretion of
hormones and enzymes, and sending messages through the
nervous system.

Your body maintains a constant level of calcium in body
fluid and tissues so that your vital body processes
function efficiently. If you suffer from calcium
deficiency, you are at risk of developing osteoporosis.
This involves loss of calcium from the bones and reduced
bone density which causes bones to be brittle and liable to
fracture.

Bone loss occurs with age in all individuals. But the loss
rate usually speeds up after 35-40 years and involves the
shrinking of the skeleton. Bone loss is greatest in women
following the menopause. This is due to reduced levels of
the hormone - estrogen. Postmenopausal women are
particularly at risk from osteoporosis.

Doctors' advice is to start storing up calcium in your body
since infancy so that you are able to delay the inevitable
gradual loss of bone loss in your later years.

If you have not been doing so, now it's time to start the
calcium buildup. The risk of osteoporosis may be altered by
factors other than diet. Lack of exercise, being
underweight, smoking and alcohol can all increase the risk.

Vitamin D is needed for absorption of dietary calcium. You
can obtain Vitamin D from food and when your skin is
exposed to sunlight. Thus, adequate vitamin D from food
intake and sun exposure is essential for bone health.

Despite the goodness of calcium, excess calcium can be
harmful to health. Too much in the blood can cause nausea,
vomiting and calcium deposition in the heart and kidneys.
This usually results from excessive doses of vitamin D and
can be fatal in infants.

Some super calcium-rich foods are:

1.Milk is best known for its high calcium content, however,
many people cannot digest the lactose in milk (lactose
intolerance) resulting in nausea, bloating, gas, abdominal
cramping, diarrhea within two hours after milk is consumed.

2.For those who are lacto-intolerant and therefore cannot
drink milk, the next best alternative is to take soybeans
or its related products. Not only are soy beans high in
calcium, they are also rich in lysine and iron which are
readily absorbed by our bodies.

Lysine is classified as one of the nine "essential" amino
acids that the body needs for growth and tissue repair and
has to get from outside source ie the body can't produce
lysine on its own. A 150g of tofu contains at least 500 gm
of calcium.

3.Black sesame seeds are an extremely good source of
calcium; studies have shown that one gram of seeds contains
approximately 85 milligrams of calcium. Black sesame seeds
also have high amounts of protein, phosphorous, iron and
magnesium.

They are also said to cure constipation by regulating bowel
movements. Some Chinese sinsehs also believe black sesame
seeds can nourish our hair in keeping them looking rich and
dark.

4.Broccoli is chosen for its rich vitamin A, calcium,
vitamin B, vitamin C, folate, iron, beta carotene,
magnesium, potassium and zinc. The darker colours of the
florets, such as blue-green and purple-green contain more
beta carotene and vitamin C than those with lighter greens.

5.Celery contains proteins and several other active
compounds that promote health, including phalides, which
may help to lower cholesterol, and courmarins, that may
help to prevent cancer.

It is also a good source of calcium and phosphorus,
therefore it helps to stabilize and protect blood vessels
walls.

6.There's iodine, calcium, protein, vitamin A, B and
minerals in seaweed. It helps to rid of the cholesterol in
blood vessels, thereby preventing the vessels from clotting.

----------------------------------------------------
Laura Ng is passionate in providing quality nutritional
facts and health tips, plus recommending 100% toxic-free
vegan recipes to everyone who cares about his/her health.
She's willing to share with you
selflessly all her secrets at http://www.iOneHealth.com .
You'll gain plenty but lose nothing. Promised.

Zen and Your Sex

Zen can be your sex, and your sex can be Zen.

Zen is one of the many paths to attaining true wisdom.

By choice, Zen could play a critical role in your life; it
could serve as a beacon for your longevity living. Since
sex is a part of life, Zen could also have an impact on
your sex life.

Zen is not a religion; rather it is a pure spiritual
philosophy connecting you in the most basic way to the core
of your being, the source from which all things are
created, and thereby transcending the boundaries of time
and space.

Firstly, sex is sacred; it is the source of creation. Human
desire is natural and should not be denied.

You don't have to look outside of yourself for satisfaction
of that desire. In Zen, everything is within yourself.
Inward is where the key to happiness lies – the key to the
very meaning of existence, including the better sex that
you may crave.

Everyday life, including sex, is the path to Zen wisdom.
Just focus on the "experience" of life, including your
"experience" of sex.

According to Zen, you are of the very thing you are looking
for. Do not make sex a goal or even a big deal; instead,
let sex results naturally from the way you live your life.
That is, don't "try" to do it; you simply "do" it
naturally. This "doing without doing" is the essence of
Zen. This ultimate sublime wisdom of living is aptly
expressed in the following:

Therefore . . . . . The sage keeps to the beginning to
discover the end . . . . . And finds without seeking . . .
. . Arrives without leaving . . . . . Does without doing
. . . . . And knows without understanding.

Ponder on every word above, and intuit its meaning. The
wisdom of Zen underscores the "spontaneity" of things. The
wisdom is quite different from the Biblical wisdom of "seek
and you shall find." There is a saying: "If you seek the
Buddha, you will lose it."

The great challenge of Zen sex is to do what comes
naturally in every moment to express naturally in every
sexual act. In that way, sex never becomes a performance or
a means to satisfy your sexual pleasure or that of your
partner.

Sex is nothing more than an experience of discovery – the
discovery of the desires and needs of yourself and your
partner. Discovery brings in another aspect of Zen wisdom:
the need of "emptying" your mind to be receptive to new
experiences. You have to "empty" yourself of any
preconceived ideas before you can discover new ones.

Zen emphasizes "no expectations." That eliminates
frustration not uncommon in any sexual relationship. Just
enjoy the process, not mindful of the outcome. Zen focuses
on "the present moment." Let the moment come without
rushing into it. When you rush towards it, you may lose the
feeling of self-control. On the other hand, if you relax,
you recapture it. Do not focus on "doing it." If you do,
you may end up "desiring or wanting to do it" instead of
actually "doing it."

What is greater thing to make in this world than love? Love
is the true transcendent climax of sex, when you feel that
higher power of love. Just make love in sex. You can
discover the sublime truth of life in anything and
anywhere. The glory of creation abounds and surrounds each
and every one of us. Only you can capture its significance.
Just make love and enjoy it.

----------------------------------------------------
Stephen Lau is a writer and researcher, writing synopses of
medical research. He has book publications on health,
Internet business, teaching children to read, and fiction.
He has created several websites, including "Longevity For
You" and "Healthy Lifestyle Is The Way Of Zen" on health,
and "Golfing Success Info" on playing golf.
http://www.longevityforyou.com
http://www.zenhealthylifestyle.com
http://www.golfingsuccessinfo.com

7 STEPS TO IMPROVING YOUR LIFE: Part 1: There's more to being healthy than eating lettuce!

Nowadays we can hardly open a magazine or a newspaper or
watch television without being told something about how to
get healthy. Eat less, exercise more, sleep more, drink
less and don't smoke. All very to the point, but is that
all there is to it?

Everybody knows that a healthy body is associated with
having a healthy mind; nevertheless we read little about
what we can do to improve things in that direction. If we
are unhappy we eat more, or drink more, or buy another
packet of cigarettes, or another bottle of alcohol. Our
sleep is interrupted and tomorrow we have no energy to
exercise or the will to do it. Then we get stressed out and
our world falls apart.

So what's the answer? Psychologists tell us that the
majority of problems in our lives develop because we have a
bad relationship with our past. In everyday terms this
means it is our reaction to what happened to us, sometimes
many years ago, that causes our problems now. That may be
difficult to believe, but it is true; to understand how
this works might help us to improve our lives now – and
hence our health!

Imagine the mind as a computer on which are stored
memories: smells, sounds, sights, events, conversations and
people. Some are happy memories, some are sad – and some
could even be labelled as viruses and better swept off the
mind's hard disc completely. Getting rid of memory viruses
is not quite as easy as getting rid of computer ones,
though it can be done. And here I hope to show you how.

Like a real computer, our mind has links which have an
uncanny knack of being able to transport us from, say, a
faintly smelled perfume in a restaurant to a quiet country
cottage garden we visited when we were scarcely five years
old. Or maybe it is the sight of the back of somebody's
head on a bus which brings back to our mind our first love
affai.

For those who are not addicted to computers, a different
way of visualising the mind may be to imagine it as a
store-cupboard, its many shelves overflowing with a
colourful array of packets and boxes.

Some of the boxes contain pleasurable items, reminders and
memories which every time we take the box down from the
shelf will enhance our current and future happiness. Others
store what can only be described as goods which have well
passed their use-by date. These are memories from our past
which have the ability to contaminate everything that
happens to us both now and in the future.

These boxes can be compared to bags of oatmeal or flour
which have been left too long in an unsuitable environment
and are now unfit for use. Imagine a bag of flour infested
by weevils, multiplying by the second, which will soon
invade anything which comes into contact with them.

The only way to rid the cupboard of its unwelcome
inhabitants is to give it a good clean out, taking care to
open every packet and box, and ensuring that only those
which have a good and useful life are kept. We must throw
out all those which are past their use-by date – as well as
those which merely find themselves in the wrong cupboard or
on the wrong shelf. Some may have been hidden behind other
boxes and ignored completely until they start moving of
their own accord like a box full of maggots. We need to
search these out and deal with them - exactly in the same
way as we would get rid of viruses and worms on our
computer.

The contents of infected memory boxes are events which at
the time they occurred made us unhappy or downright
miserable. Maybe they left us feeling inferior, neglected,
unloved, abandoned, powerless or stupid – whatever the
emotion at the time. Then as the hours, days, weeks,
months, years passed, the bad feelings (like the weevils)
multiplied and grew stronger.

The reason is that from time to time we have taken out
these memories, re-lived them, enlarged upon them,
fantasized about them in such a way that they have become
more concentrated and have bound together one on top of
another so that they have been transformed into one
seething bitterness

. Perhaps we were abandoned as a child so that when we open
that memory box something inside it does not allow us to
get close to anyone in case they too abandon us in their
turn.

Perhaps we were bullied at school and our self-confidence
was put to flight. Nowadays that memory can cause us to
imagine slights and threats where none exist, or to see
challenges around every corner. Other memory boxes might
carry a later sell-by date. We were governed by inflexible
authority in our youth, our lover left us for our best
friend, our boss promoted somebody over our head, or maybe
our children didn't show us the respect we thought we
deserved. And so on…

Like weevils the bitterness spreads into every corner of
our current life, it is picked at like an irritating sore,
so it turns into hatred and a need to blame somebody else
for our unhappiness.

Most of us know that bitterness and hatred are corrosive
emotions; emotions which can eat into our well-being in the
same way that an acid eats into metal. Yet we still give
them house-room; allow them to determine how we live our
lives. Why?

'But I can't help it, it wasn't my fault' I can hear many
of you whose shelves contain out-of-date weevil packed
boxes saying. 'It was them, they wronged me.'

That might well be true. But I would stress that it is
YOUR REACTION TO WHAT HAPPENED that is now causing you pain
– maybe 10,20,30,40 years later. YOUR PAST IS NOW MAKING
DECISIONS FOR YOU: you have given it that power.

Most of us would work very hard indeed to get rid of
weevils in our store cupboards or viruses on our computer.
So why not work hard to get rid of those in our minds
preventing us from living more happily and healthily in the
future. Maybe it is merely that we have no idea where to
start, or how to do it. In part 2 of this article you will
find seven steps to help you on your way. Good
luck.(continues in Part 2)

----------------------------------------------------
© Mollie Kay Smith
http://www.etribes.com/molliesmith
http://www.molliekaysmith.com

Sugar Feeds Cancer?

Is there a link between sugar consumption and cancer?
Seventy years ago, Otto Warburg won a Nobel Prize for his
discovery of glucose as the fuel that grows cancer cells.
In other words, sugar feeds cancer. Ok, this makes sense.
All of our body's tissues use glucose for fuel.

First, some boring stuff. A few new studies have followed
along these lines and have associated sugar consumption
with several types of cancer:

A study done on women in Mexico linked high carbohydrate
diets with breast cancer. The same link was made by a study
done on American women.

A small study at University of Southern California
identified a significant increase in risk for small bowel
cancer in people who consumed the most sugar in coffee, tea
and non-diet sodas. (Not the purpose of the study. It was
chance finding).

A Harvard School of Public Health study demonstrated that a
diet high in simple carbohydrate foods such as white rice,
white bread and white potatoes increased risk of pancreatic
cancer in overweight and sedentary women. Besides cigarette
smoking, this is the first risk factor identified with
pancreatic cancer. Colorectal cancer risk has been linked
to higher insulin levels, as well.

This pancreatic cancer study findings make sense. The
pancreas produces insulin – the hormone that helps the body
utilize blood glucose. Overweight people tend to be
"insulin resistant". This means the pancreas works harder
producing more insulin. It's a vicious cycle. Here's some
food for thought. Cancer rates have increased over the
last 100 years or so. Mostly, this is attributed to
increased cigarette smoking (there's no arguing that this
is the single most risk factor for many types of cancers,
not only lung), and arguably the presence of more
industrial chemicals and pollution.

Let's look at the consumption of sugar over the same
period. In 1815, the average per capita consumption of
sugar in Great Britain was 15 pounds per year. By 1974,
the consumption had risen to 120 pounds per year. Holy cow
– that's a lot of desserts!

Nowadays, in the US, the average per person yearly amount
is 150 pounds per year. This is NOT including corn syrup
and high fructose corn syrup which is the stuff that
sweetens soft drinks. The average American drinks 34
gallons of soft drinks per year. Ugly statistics.

It's also worthy to note that the use of refined white
flour started in the early 1800's in Europe. The rice that
is so popular in Southeast Asian cuisine (highly processed)
because of its color and quick cooking properties started
to be widely used after World War 2. Is there an increase
in cancers due to these dietary changes?

It would logically follow. Both white rice and white flour
cause a blood sugar spike similar to white sugar. Diets
high in white rice and white flour, known as refined
carbohydrates are associated with increased incidence of
Type II Diabetes. Not to mention the nutritional value is
very poor because of processing. It is known that the fiber
that is in brown rice and brown flour has protective effect
against certain cancers including pancreatic and…Type II
diabetes. Hmmm.

More and more, nutritionally oriented doctors are saying to
cancer patients that cutting down on sugar and refined
carbohydrates could slow the growth of the cancer (given
that "sugar fuels cancer"). But the real science is not
concrete enough for the medical community to say
unequivocally that carbs increase cancer cell
multiplication.

Since sugar gives you no nutrition (vitamins, minerals,
etc) makes the body fat and causes cavities, it can't be
good. Doctors, nutritionists and scientists may be divided
on the subject, but you can bet that I will be eating
"brown" and looking out for hidden sugar in food as much as
possible. It looks like "the writing is on the wall"….

Sources:

www.hsibaltimore.com/ealerts/ea200407/ea20040701.html

www.personalmd.com/news/a1997030601.shtml

www.cancerdecisions.com/082102_page.html

www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2002/09/020904073950.htm

----------------------------------------------------
About the Author:
Ainsley Laing, MSc. has been a Fitness Trainer for 25 years
and writes exclusively Body for Mind eZine. She holds
certifications in Group Exercise, Sports Nutrition and
Personal Fitness Training. To see more articles by Ainsley
visit http://www.bodyformind.com or the blog at
http://www.bodyformind.blogspot.com

Common Menopause Myths by Men

Hi Joel

Naturally as every woman gets older they are going to go
through the period time know as menopause. As most women
read and work to better understand the affects and symptoms
of menopause, what do men think? When talking to family
members and friends many women confide that the men in
their life either at home or at work no nothing about
menopause. Of course don't tells guys that because they
are so confident they are right.

Listed below are the top ten myths associated with
menopause and what the right answer and what do most men
think.

Menopause Lowers Your Sex Drive

Most men think that the woman's libido goes down during
menopause. They may say it goes down after marriage though
that myth is for another article. Research shows that the
hormone estrogen is not linked sex drive and that when
surveyed most women report no drop in sexual desire.

Menopause Makes You Gain Weight

Almost all men believe that women gain weight during
menopause. The reality is that weight gain or weight loss
is not associated with menopause. This myth probably
exists because Americans as a whole are getting fatter, so
many women will simply be gaining weight from poor
nutrition and exercise choices. Many women living a
healthy lifestyle lose weight during menopause.

Menopause Causes Huge Mood Swings

Men believe that menopause forces women into becoming an
emotional collapse. The truth is that menopause has
nothing to do with the ability to handle ones emotions.
Many women experience menopause quite placid. Coping
mechanisms, peer influences, and lifestyle play the role of
mood swings and emotional collapses, not just the presence
of menopause. One interesting stat the 46% of Americans
take hormone therapy during menopause while in Japan only
6% do.

All Women have Terrible Menopause Symptoms

Men prepare themselves for the horrific symptoms the women
in their lives are going to go through. Not all women have
symptoms during menopause though most do. Intensity has a
tremendous amount to do with healthy lifestyle and
attitude. It is amazing how if we believe bad things are
going to happen they do. About 85% of all women will
experience hot flashes at some level.

Menopause Occurs at 50

This basic myth is true as the average age of women to
undergo menopause is 52. Many women though experience
menopause in their 40s and some a little later than 50.
The normal range for women is between 45-55 years of age.

Menopause Lasts a Year or Two

Most men thing menopause is something a woman goes through
for a couple of years and she is done with it. The true
answer is that menopause can last any where from 6 to 13
years. Menopause is a long natural process that takes time
and many of the changes don't disrupt any daily activity.

There is a Cure to Menopause

Menopause is a natural process not a disease so there is
not cure. Women in some cases use products or therapies to
cope with symptoms during menopause. A common natural
menopause symptom reducers is Femestra which many women
chose over hormone therapy.

Women's Hormones can be Fixed

Every guy always wants to fix things. Though for all the
guys that want to do their part, a healthy diet of soy
protein, cashews, peanuts, corn, apples, and almonds have
phytoestrogens and isoflavones that have been shown to
reduce the symptoms like hot flashes. This is one reason
why Femestra works so well as it is rice bran oil.

Menopause is a World Epidemic

Many men believe that this is a suffering time for women
around the world. The reality is that many cultures report
few or no symptoms during menopause. New research shows
that psychological factors influence symptoms of menopause
more than any physiological changes and issues.

Menopause Causes a Loss of Memory

Men believe that during menopause women lose some brain
tissue causing a loss of certain memories. One thing most
people don't know is that your brain starts to shrink after
the age of 30. So, all men and women lose a little brain
tissue as they age. Don't fret a 10% loss in brain tissue
may only lead to a difference in 1% of mental ability.
Your brain becomes more adept to deal with the loss of
tissue which I guess is where wisdom comes from.

----------------------------------------------------
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Mental Health Insurance

Despite public awareness campaigns highlighting the issues
facing people with mental health problems and the fact that
no one is immune to developing a mental illness, people
with mental health problems are still facing unfair
discrimination, prejudice and stigma every day of their
lives, not just from members of the public but also from
businesses, banks, employers and even when it comes to
taking out an insurance policy.

The truth is, any one of us can develop a mental illness,
regardless of our age, gender, location, occupation or
social status. Actually, the statistics show that at least
one in four of us will experience some kind of mental
health problem in the space of any one year. Mental health
problems can be hugely diverse in nature and can range from
mild cases of depression and anxiety to more serious cases
of bipolar depression and schizophrenia with the types of
symptoms and the degree of intensity of these symptoms
varying from person to person. However, there are problems
to face in the outside world too.

Possibly one of the most distressing aspects of mental
illness is the isolation and social exclusion often
experienced by the sufferer purely as a result of ignorance
and misunderstanding on the part of other people and it is
this that needs to change. If we consider insurance for
example, something that most people take for granted, but
not if you have had a mental illness in the past or are
suffering from a mental health problem at the moment.

The findings of a major report on discrimination against
the mentally ill showed that Insurance companies will often
deny insurance or place exemptions on an insurance policy
when there is a history of mental health problems, even if
those problems existed many years ago and are no longer an
issue. This applies to any type of insurance and not just
life insurance either, travel insurance, mortgage
insurance, employment insurance, payment protection
insurance, all become more difficult to obtain if you have
a mental health problem or a history of mental illness.

This would appear to suggest that insurance companies as
well as many others still do not understand the issues or
the facts surrounding mental illness or the information
just isn't getting through. For example, mental health
problems can occur as an isolated case in relation to a
specific set of circumstances and once treated, will never
happen again, some types of mental illness are episodic in
nature, and most people who seek help for mental health
problems do go on to lead full and normal lives. Probably
the most important point is that just because someone is
suffering from a mental health problem doesn't
automatically mean they pose a greater risk than anyone
else. Insurance companies calculate their insurance
premiums on the level of perceived risk, which is
supposedly based on medical evidence. Perhaps this is the
area that needs to be addressed.

So what can you do about it? Certainly, if there is a case
of unfair discrimination then it is possible to sue under
the Disability Discrimination Act but according to Mind,
the leading UK charity for mental health, only a small
number of cases are taken out under this Act and of these,
few are ever successful. Similarly, the Citizen's Advice
Bureau (CAB) report that most claims against payment
protection insurance fail when mental illness is involved
as it is a common exclusion in many insurance policies.

It isn't all doom and gloom though, people do seem to be
waking up to the fact that something has gone wrong
somewhere and that people with mental illness deserve to
have the same rights as anyone else. Over in the USA for
example, a study by the Mental Health America Association
found that the majority of Americans believe that people
with mental health problems should no longer be subjected
to discrimination by health insurance companies. In fact,
some 96% of Americans believe that health insurance should
also cover mental health. Here in the UK the government are
aware of the issues surrounding mental health and exclusion
and are tightening up legislation to protect people from
unfair discrimination.

In the meantime, we would all do well to remember that
mental health problems are not only common, they are
treatable, and can affect any one of us at any time. Until
we insist that people with mental health problems receive
the same rights in society as everyone else, the problem
with insurance will persist.

----------------------------------------------------
Depression and anxiety are serious mental health conditions
that can strike anyone at anytime. For more information
about depression and selp help come and visit
http://www.fightingdepression.co.uk