12 Natural Remedies for Anxiety and Stress

Whether you are upset over money, health, work, family, love or whatever, feelings of anxiety and stress are not just unpleasant their are a detriment to your mental, emotional and physical health as well as your spiritual development and a blockage to a higher state of consciousness. 

There are many safe non drug remedies, from mind-body techniques to supplements to calming teas.  Some start working right away, while others may help lessen anxiety and stress over time.

• Chamomile:  If you have a jittery moment, a cup of chamomile tea might help calm you down.  You can also take it as a supplement.  In medical studies, patients with generalized anxiety disorder who took chamomile supplements for eight weeks had a significant decrease in anxiety symptoms compared to patients taking a placebo.
• L-theanine (or green tea): L-theanine is an amino acid found in green tea which helps curb a rising heart rate and blood pressure.
• Hops: Yes, it's in beer, but you won't get the tranquilizing benefits of the bitter herb hops (Humulus lupulus) from a brew. The sedative compound in hops is a volatile oil, so you get it in extracts and tinctures—and as aromatherapy in hops pillows.
• Valerian: Some herbal supplements reduce anxiety without making you sleepy (such as L-theanine), while others are sedatives. Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) is squarely in the second category. It is a sleep aid, for insomnia. It contains sedative compounds; the German government has approved it as a treatment for sleep problems. Valerian smells kind of nasty, so most people take it as a capsule or tincture, rather than a tea. If you want to try it, take it in the evening—not before you go to work! Valerian is often combined with other sedative herbs such as hops, chamomile, and lemon balm. 
• Lemon Balm: Lemon balm has been used at least since the Middle Ages to reduce stress and anxiety as well as help with sleep.  While it is generally safe, be aware that some studies have found that taking too much can actually make you more anxious.  So follow the directions and start with the smallest dose.  Lemon balm is sold as a tea, capsule, and tincture.  It's often combined with other calming herbs such as hops, chamomile, and valerian.
• Exercise: Exercise is safe, good for the brain, and a powerful antidote to depression and anxiety, both immediately and in the long term.  If you exercise on a regular basis, you'll have more self-esteem and feel healthier.
• Passionflower: In spite of the name, this herb won't help you in love.  It's a sedative and some studies find that it can reduce symptoms of anxiety.  It is not recommended to take for longer than one month at a time.
• Lavender: The intoxicating (but safe) aroma of lavender may be an emotional anti-inflammatory.  In on study, Greek dental patients were less anxious if the waiting room was scented with lavender oil.  In a Florida study, students who inhaled lavender oil scent before an exam had less anxiety.
• Breathe!: Did you know that you can't breathe deeply and be anxious at the same time?  There are many different breathing exercises and meditations but here is a simple one that I use.  Breathe in through your nose for a count of 8...hold your breath for a count of 4...now exhale for a count of 8 and hold again for a count of 4...Repeat.
• Get Hot: Ever wonder why you feel so relaxed after a spell in the sauna or a steam room?  Heating up your body reduces muscle tension and anxiety.  Sensations of warmth may alter neural circuits that control mood, including those that affect the neurotransmitter serotonin.  Warming up may be one of the ways that exercise, not to mention curling up by a fire with a cozy sup of tea, boosts mood. Feeling stressed, try soaking in a hot bath.
• Get Out in Nature: The Japanese call it Shinrin-yoku, which means "forest bath".  You and I know it as a walk in the woods.  Japanese researchers measured body changes in people who walked for about 20 minutes in a beautiful forest, with the woodsy smells and the sounds of a running stream.  The forest bathers had lower stress hormone levels after their walk than they did after a comparable walk in an urban area.
• Meditation: Anxiety and stress are both caused by thinking about either he past or the future.  So stop thinking and focus on the present moment.  If you are new to meditation here are Two Simple Meditation Techniques That Anyone Can Do.

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We Rise by Lifting Others - a Misunderstood Concept

"We rise by lifting others." ~ Robert Ingersoll

This is a very simple concept but at the same time one of the most misunderstood concepts in today's world.

First, let's take a look at what "lifting others" actually means or more importantly what it does not mean.  It has become all to common in the modern world to think that you can lift someone else up out of a negative situation by providing them with a comparison to someone else who is in a worse situation.

How many times have you heard or maybe even said yourself, "Oh that's terrible, but don't feel bad because look over here at this other person who is in a worse situation than you are."?  This approach does nothing to lift that person up or address the situation they are in.  What is happening here is that the person who is in the negative situation is basically being told that they should add the feeling of guilt to their equation for feeling bad about their situation because someone else has it worse.

The real insanity of this belief that comparing yourself to someone worse off then you are is when you go out of your way to make someone else feel worse than you do so that you can see that comparison and somehow feel better about yourself.  This can take the form of someone who is having a bad day so they take it out on some teenage minimum wage part time cashier at the grocery story who likely has enough problems in their life as it is and then leave the store feeling superior about themselves with the knowledge that they just made some poor kid cry.  Or it might be the person who goes online to seek out conflict with a complete stranger believing that if they can insult someone enough that they will feel better about themselves.

Aside from the clear cruelty is this approach it has the complete opposite effect of what this concept is all about. By lifting others up you are helping to raise their vibrational frequency and in turn that very act will raise your own vibrational frequency.  If you go out of your way to break someone else down, the effect will only backfire on you and lower your vibrational frequency as well.

So let's take a look at a few ways that one might help lift someone else up:

• Be encouraging. Encouragement is an expression and assurance of one's hope and future in words, presence, and sincerity.
• Be understanding. Wisdom and understanding go hand in hand. Understanding starts by being an active listener (not planning a reply as one is speaking), asking intelligent questions to gain further insights, and being accepting of what the person is sharing.  Then answer without condemning. Or don't answer at all and decide to just be a listening ear.
• Share knowledge. Found an article or book that's useful?  Share it with your friends.  Sharing has been made easier thanks to the accessibility of sharing tools on the web, along with help from social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook.  Sharing knowledge helps us learn, discover, and understand things that are interesting.  They have immediate application for better results in our work and life, edifies our soul, and improves our daily conversations.
• Stay humble. Humility and maturity are synonymous. A dignified person accomplishes much, but brags little.  They are secure in their standing without the need to make noise, often treating everyone with tremendous respect, regardless of position.
• Be positive! Positive thinking goes beyond having the drive and motivation for personal success.  Positive thinking is explicit, definite, and outspoken.  It's contagious.  Build others up with your positiveness, allowing them to be open for better things to come.
• Love. “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails … And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13, NIV). Building up a person with any of the other ways mentioned is only made effective when done so together with love. Care for others how you would want to be cared for. Build up one another how you would like to be inspired. As a result, you will move up to a whole new level of breakthroughs in life.

Finally, I want to talk a little about the subject of giving financial help.

If you are someone who has been blessed with a financial abundance and you feel moved or motivated to give to help others less fortunate then please...Please...PLEASE do so directly do not give your money to some big box "charity" organization.   These so-called "charity" organizations are nothing but businesses and they do not help anyone who is truly in need.

Do you really believe that any of those big cancer research charities who take in billions of dollars a year in donations have the slightest interest in actually finding a cure for cancer that would eliminate the perceived need for their very existence?  There are countless numbers of natural and freely available cures for cancer available right now.  But these organizations never talk about them, they only talk about their next fundraiser and where you can send your check.

And I had to learn the hard way that the organizations that claim to help the poor do nothing of the sort.  I spent over 20 years of my life giving to organizations like the Salvation Army and then fell on hard times myself.   When I reached out to these organizations seeking only for help in preventing my electric from being turned off in the dead of a hard winter, I was told that since I had no income at the time I was not eligible for assistance.

So please if you truly want to help someone less fortunate than yourself then go out and find someone who needs that help and give it to them directly.  Believe me when I say they are not hard to find.  We live in a world where big corporations employ the majority of the population by paying them a less then poverty wage while at the same time taking billions of dollars of tax payer money to add to the insane amounts of money they are already squeezing from their own employees.  Then those very same employees are criticized by the masses when they have to sign up for food stamps so they can feed their children to keep them alive.


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Advice From a Shaolin Monk on How to Stay Young

Following in the footsteps of Shifu Yan Lei (Shaolin Monk) would of coarse take a life long commitment and dedication which in my opinion would be Awesome!  However, it is not something that is within everyone's grasp.

That does not mean that we can not learn something and benefit from his teachings or his example.

Ten Tips From A Shaolin Monk On How To Stay Young 

1) Don’t think too much. Thinking takes energy. Thinking can make you look old.

2) Don’t talk too much. Most people either talk or do. Better to do.

3) When you work, work for 40 minutes then stop for 10 minutes. When you look at something all the time, it can damage your eyes and also your internal organs and peace.

4) When you are happy, you need to control your happiness, if you lose control then you damage your lung energy.

5) Don’t worry too much or get angry because this damages your liver and your intestines.

6) When you eat food don’t eat too much, always make sure you are not quite full as this can damage your spleen. When you feel a bit hungry then eat a little.

7) When you do things, take your time, don’t hurry too much. Remember the saying “Hasten slowly you will soon arrive.”

8) If you only do physical exercise all the time and you never do Qigong this makes you lose your balance and you will become impatient. You lose the Yin of your body. Exercise balances the Yin and the Yang.

9) If you never exercise, just peace, meditation, soft training, Qigong, then this doesn’t give you Yang energy so you use up your Yang energy.

10) Shaolin Gong Fu gives you everything. The purpose of our training is to balance our Yin and Yang. How many hours is not important. It’s down to knowing what your body needs.

If you would like to learn more about Shifu Yan Lei you can visit his website at shifuyanlei.co.uk where you can also purchase his books and DVD's.


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Law of Attraction and Weight Loss

This article is an extension to a previous article that I wrote entitled "Law of Attraction Wake Up Call, Why it May Not Be Working For You".  If you have not yet read that article then I suggest you do so before continuing on with this one.

Ok, so we all understand the concept of the Law of Attraction and we have our goals set and we meditate and visualize on those goals daily and mentally project the positive vibrational match to our goals out into the universe.  Now I want to talk a little bit about how to strengthen and reinforce those mentally projected positive vibrations with the actions that we take and with the daily habits that we have.

If the actions that we take are in conflict with the vibration that we are trying to form in our minds then the universe is getting mixed signals from us.  In this article I will focus on one of my goals as an example which is to lose weight.

First of all let us first address why someone would have the desire to lose weight in the first place.

If your only desire to lose weight is because of the idea that society or someone else has put into your head that you are somehow less of a person because you weigh more than someone else then stop right now.  The entire idea of trying to lose weight to please or impress someone else or the world around you is a strong negative frequency in and of itself.

If you are happy with your body the way it is then you don't need to focus on losing weight, you need to focus on letting go of the idea that what other people think of you has anything whatsoever to do with your happiness.

Now for me, my desire to lose weight is for me and me alone.  When I was younger I was an athlete and I couldn't gain weight if I tried.  But for a long period of time I let myself go mentally, emotionally and physically.  When I look in the mirror it is a reminder of how I let myself get distracted from the person I wanted to be.  And I want to lose weight to be more healthy and happier with myself.

So lets get back to how to use our actions and daily habits to reinforce the vibration that we are creating mentally.  For example, we may be doing a great job in visualizing ourselves being more skinny and more healthy but if we are doing so while sitting on the coach stuffing our faces with cookies and candy then our actions are projecting a much different vibration than that which we are projecting mentally and are in conflict.

I made the decision to lose weight about a month ago and of coarse I meditate and visualize daily on that goal which is very important.  Some people spend hours a day in rigorous exercise and starve themselves but never lose weight because they do not create the positive frequency for the goal of losing weight.

You do not have to work out like an Olympic athlete  or starve yourself on a bird's diet however changing your daily habits just enough to reinforce the mentally projected vibration for your goals is very important.

Now there is no magic formula that will work for everyone but I will tell you what I did to give you an idea of what works for me and why it works and you can decide from there what actions will work for you.

First of all I knew that I needed to make some changes in my diet.  I used to drink soda all day long.  So the first thing I did was replace the soda with bottled or filtered water.  And most of the time I add a slice of lemon to my water.  See my article entitled "18 of the Best Benefits of Drinking Lemon Water" for more information on why I do that.  I may still occasionally have a soda when I go out to eat and I also drink coffee in the morning but I drink mainly water throughout each day.

I also eat a salad and a bowl of soup almost every day.  And when I get a sweet tooth I go for some fresh cut pineapple or maybe an orange or a banana instead of cookies or candy.  I have not completely cut anything out of my diet.  I just make what I feel are more healthy choices more often.

Now as a result every time that I take a drink of water throughout the day and every time I eat something healthy I know that I am doing that because of the decision that I made and the desire I have to become more healthy and to lose weight.  And those actions throughout the day reinforce the mental vibration that I project during my meditation and visualizations.

In addition I have also commented to doing some sort of physical activity on a daily basis.  This may be going for a walk or doing some sort of light exercise around the house.  I usually put on some music that makes me feel good and may do some aerobic type dancing or other exercise that I feel good while doing.  And I only do this for a few minutes daily but by doing so, just like with the dietary changes, I know that I am doing these things because of my decision and desire to lose weight and further reinforces that vibrational frequency.

Now I have had the desire to lose weight for a long time and visualized that desire but never lost a single pound.

I made these changes to my daily habits and actions about one month ago and have lost 11 lbs so far.  And every time I step onto the scale and see any progress toward my goal I get excited and feel much better about myself.  The more excited I get about the last pound I lost, the easier it is to lose the next pound.

And never let yourself get depressed because you are not losing the weight as fast as you might like to.  Any progress is still progress.  Be excited each day that you are closer to your goal then you were yesterday.  You will be surprised at how the momentum picks up along the way and how your vibrational frequency continues to grows and get higher and higher each day instead of feeling like you are starting over from the bottom each day.

UPDATE (1/16/14):  Stepped on the scale yesterday morning and I am down to 220 lbs. (down from 236 lbs.) And I have had to tighten my belt by another notch to keep my pants from falling down....:)  Still have a ways to go but really excited about the progress so far!


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Feeling Awakened While Also in Despair

Yesterday, an article from our friends over at Expanded Consciousness caught my attention.  It was called What is Consciousness? Why do I feel 'Awakened' while Also in Despair? 

Now, the timing for this could not have been more perfect as I was having a really tough time yesterday.  So I decided to do a little more research on the subject and do a lot of meditating on it as well.  What I found was both liberating and encouraging.

Since one of the things I found out is that this is both common and one could say normal for many who have chosen a path to a higher consciousness or enlightenment, I wanted to share what I learned that it might help others who might be feeling what I was feeling.

First let me try to explain what I was feeling yesterday and why I was having such a hard time. 

Lately I have been making what I can only describe as an immeasurable amount of progress in my own spiritual awakening.  It is as though everything that I have been studying over the past 20 or so years are finally clicking and coming together like the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle forming a wondrous and awe inspiring picture of beauty, love and joy.  And more than just understanding the concepts and believing them to be true, I actually feel them in a way that I had not felt in the past. And at times I can literally feel my vibration shifting to a higher frequency.

And then comes along a day like yesterday where I felt like I had been dropped in a pit of despair.  Every little thing just rubs me the wrong way. And it causes a snowball effect and negative situations from my past resurface and worry about the future begins to roll in like never before.  And when I look at it and recognize it I feel even worse because I think that I am back sliding in my spiritual development. I feel all the negative energy and think that I must be failing in some way and losing all of the progress that I have been making.

Well I suppose that if I had remained in that belief that I was failing and losing all of the progress I had made, it would have likely kicked me down the spiritual ladder a bit.  Fortunately I learned and realized that this type of occurrence is what you might call a side effect along the path to enlightenment.

We have to remember that everything and everybody is energy with it's own vibration and it's own frequency. Now when you shift your vibration to a higher frequency, especially when you begin to make those shifts more quickly, you are for a time going to be surrounded by the things and people with the lower frequency that you previously had.  This is going to cause friction that can be very confusing.

Now for me I was able to identify the two main factors that began the snowball effect that I experienced yesterday. 

The first was when I had to go to Wal-Mart to pick up a few things we needed around the house.  For me this was to be a routine run to the store visit.  But given that we are in the height of the holiday shopping season it was anything but routine.  The traffic to and from was crazy.  Finding a parking space was more than a little troubling and getting out of that parking space was even worse.  And of coarse the store itself was packed full of all kinds of people with different vibrations and frequencies all confined to a relatively small area.  To say that it was uncomfortable would be the understatement of the century.

The second factor did not begin yesterday.  It has in fact been something that has been building in my mind for a while and it the hardest for me to face and accept.  And I would imagine that this is likely the hardest thing for anyone to deal with.

As we continue down our paths to a higher understanding of the universe and our vibrations shift into higher frequencies sooner or later we come to realize that where we are in our journey may be in conflict with where those we most care about are in their journey.  Whether it is a close friend or a family member whose path may have been so close to yours for a long time that is seemed like they were on the same path as you, we must remember that each person travels their own path.

Now there are literally hundreds if not thousands of different ways this can manifest in different peoples lives and situations.  For many it is in the form of ridicule from friends and family that do not understand the path you have taken or may not even have the desire to perceive your goals. They are perfectly content with the reality that they perceive and do not understand why your are not.  They may even think you are just plain crazy.

For me it is coming to terms with the fact that my daughter is grown up now and she is no longer holding onto daddy's hand with every step she takes in life like she did when she was a little girl.  And as much as I would like to imprint my 44 years of experience onto her in the hopes that it will guide her away from the obstacles and pitfalls in life that I had to go through, the fact is that she wants to experience those obstacles and pitfalls for herself.  And I have to accept that our paths are not ever going to be the side by side journey it once was.  Now does that mean she is no longer going to be in my life?  Of coarse not, but it does come with a feeling of distance and some separation that does hurt.

I could go on and on with never ending examples of why we go through periods of despair but the point in that our despair is a genuine aspect of our quest for higher consciousness and not an emotional illness.  It is a compassionate despair born from the feeling of separateness when our path begins to differ from those around us.  Once we realize that it is much easier to get through it and continue up the ladder.

And as a result you will find yourself becoming clearer and more loving in your daily life.  You will begin to develop a more cheerful and accepting attitude for the world and for others.  It will also give you greater insight into your own mind and heart.  You will find greater patience with yourself.  And ultimately, instead of separateness you will begin to feel a greater oneness with everything and everyone.


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14 Ways to Raise Your Vibration

Would you like to have a stronger connection to spirit, more positive thoughts, better emotional states and improved physical health? If so, then you need to raise your vibration.

Your ‘vibration’ is a fancy way of describing your overall state of being. Everything in the universe is made up of energy vibrating at different frequencies. Even things that look solid are made up of vibrational energy fields at the quantum level. This includes you.

When it comes to vibrations, there are higher frequencies and lower frequencies. This is true for vibrations of being too. Lower vibrations of being are associated with disempowering thoughts, negative emotions, poor health and little or no spiritual awareness.  Higher vibrations of being, on the other hand, are associated with empowering thoughts, positive emotions, good health and strong spiritual awareness.

What’s more, is that like attracts like. The lower your vibration of being is, the more likely you are to attract circumstances to you that mirror this. Frustrating situations…  difficult people… that sort of thing.

So what you want to do then, is raise your vibration. You’ll then start to attract more positive experiences, enjoy better health, experience more positive emotional states, think nicer thoughts and obtain a stronger sense of spiritual connection.

So, how do you raise your vibration? It all sounds well and good in theory, but how do we do it in practice? There are a multitude of ways and if you’re on the path of awakening and transformation, you’ll inevitably find the most effective methods for you. In the meantime, I’ve created a list of some of the things that work for me. Try them out for yourself, adapt them to suit your own needs and repeat over time.

1) Find an exercise you enjoy and slot it into your everyday routine so it’s easy for you to do.

Exercise keeps you fit and toned and the movement gets chi circulating around your body. It also helps you to ground and gives you an opportunity to clear mind chatter. You don’t have to visit the gym five nights a week or train like an Olympic athlete, just find a physical activity you enjoy and build it into your routine in doable, repeatable ways.

2) Meditate.

Meditation helps you become more conscious of your thoughts, which in turn helps you to break bad habits. It also creates space for inspiration and spiritual awareness to come through. Again, you don’t have to meditate like a yogi or a Zen monk, simply set aside five minutes (the length of a TV ad break) each day.  If you are new to meditation then check out my article on Two Simple Meditation Techniques That Anyone Can Do.

3) Be aware of what you watch, listen to and read.

Every form of media has a vibration. Does what you watch, listen to and read dramatise or glamorise a lower vibrational way of life? How does it make you feel whilst you’re engaging with it? What kind of an impression does it give of human beings and the world we live in? Include more higher vibrational forms of media in your life with inspirational, educational or transformational messages. Remember that everything is energy, so be mindful of the frequencies you’re submerging yourself in.

4) Drink lots of water.

Water is a form of energetic life force. Drinking plenty of it throughout the day (filtered, preferably) will help your body flush out toxins and keep your energy levels and vibration nice and high.  Adding a lemon wedge to your water is also a good idea,  see 18 of the Best Benefits of Drinking Lemon Water.

5) Spend some time in nature every day.

It’s easy to get caught up in today’s world of information and forget the natural world. Whether it’s a bush walk, a stroll along the beach or a quick half hour walk through the local park on your way home, getting out into nature each day will help you clear your mind, ground, become more present and remember you are part of a beautiful, living, interconnected planet.

6) Eat fresh, healthy, wholesome food.

Along with containing nutrients, food has an energetic vibration to it. Choosing healthy, fresh, whole foods over processed, frozen, stored or chemically altered will help you raise your vibration. If you can’t afford organic, at least buy free range. Swap junk food snacks for healthier alternatives. Always read the labels and know what you’re putting into your body.

7) Get some form of energy healing and re-balancing every couple of months.

Reiki and shiatsu are both great modalities for healing, rebalancing and promoting vibrational change in your life. Find a good practitioner and commit to going every couple of months. You’ll always feel better afterwards and be glad you did.

8) Take at least one step towards your goal or goals every day.

Even if you just get some ideas down or do some planning. Working towards your goal each day will help you feel happier, more fulfilled and content.

9) Create a higher vibrational home or sanctuary-like space for yourself.

It’s important to have a space where you can be peaceful and creative. If you live with others and can’t change the whole house, just focus on making one room your higher vibrational hangout. Buy some salt lamps, candles, plants or crystals and decorate your space so it feels peaceful, inspirational and supportive. You might even like to create an altar area that serves as a focal point for your spiritual awakening. Put some meaningful objects on it and light a candle now and then, setting an intention for what you want to create next upon your path.

10) Set goals and consciously plan your week ahead.

Take half an hour each week to consciously plan your week ahead. Set an overall intention and specific goals for each area of your life. Visualize yourself achieving your most important goals and play the images through your mind like a film. Then, break each goal down into doable steps and put the steps in your diary. Make sure you’re making the most of your life and doing the things that matter to you.

11) Heal and let go of the past.

Most people go their whole lives without ever clearing out the cobwebs and as a consequence prevent themselves from living a happy and fulfilled life.  I have some good information on recognizing and dealing with your past in my article entitled Law of Attraction Wake Up Call, Why it May Not Be Working For You.

12) Practice forgiveness and compassion.
 
You don’t ever have to allow people back into your life that you don’t want in it, but by remembering that everyone is only acting from their current vibration, you can find a way to let go of resentments or anger you might be carrying towards others.  The act of forgiveness is about healing yourself, it's not about saying that what someone else did to you was ok.

13) Don’t blame your circumstances for your vibrational shortcomings.

Sure, a home and job that supports and encourages a higher vibrational way of life is always preferable, but for a lot of people this just isn’t possible at the current moment. You must therefore take full responsibility for your awakening and transformation in the face of lower vibrational energies and triggers, and put strategies in place that support you.

14) Recognize each step as a success.

I know when we set a goal we want to see the finish line in achieving that goal right NOW!  But if the goal itself is the only thing we see as being a success then we run the risk of never reaching it.  Every day look at and focus on the step you took that day and see it for the success it is, a step that brought you closer to your goal then you were yesterday.  Be excited about that step, be excited about that success.  The more excited you are the larger the next days step will be.


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6 reasons Okinawans Live to Be Older than 100

by Christina Sarich
via: naturalsociety.com

Did you know that only 20-30% of our life expectancy can be determined through our genes? If you want to live to be 100, you may need more than just a sound set of X and Y chromosomes passed down from your parents. Lifestyle is the most important factor in determining not only how long you live, but the quality of your long life. It turns out the people from a small island off the coast of Japan, Okinawa, have figured out a secret recipe for living to be more than 100 years old.

Scientists researching for the U.S. National Institutes of Health and Japan’s Ministry of Health have been following Okinawan’s who are older than 100 since 1976 in the Okinawa Centenarian Study (OCS) and they’ve learned that there are some very typical traits for all those who live to be so vital at such an advanced age.

Want to know the Okinawan secret to living a long, productive life? Here it is broken down into easily digestible bits:

    1. Elderly Okinawans often exercise both physically and mentally.

    2. Their diets are low in salt, high in fruits and vegetables, and contain plenty of fiber and antioxidants that protect against the major diseases of the West, including heart attack and cancer.

    3. Although they consume more soy (60-120 grams daily) than almost any other population on earth, it is not GMO soy as grown in the US. Soy is high in flavanoids and is healthful when not genetically modified.

    4. Okinawans don’t overeat. They have a practice called hara hachi bu, which means “8 parts out of 10, full.” They never eat so that they are stuffed, but just mostly sated. This means their daily caloric intake is far lower than ours – around 1800 calories. We westerners sometimes scarf down twice that much in a day.

    5. Okinawans don’t suffer from dementia or senility as often, either, due to a diet high in vitamin E which helps keep the brain vital.

    6. Elderly Okinawans are respected and kept as an integral aspect of their overall communities. They feel valued as individuals even as their age progresses and this can only benefit their mental and physiological health. Elderly members of this society express a high satisfaction level with their lives.

 

It isn’t just something in the water in Okinawa, but when Okinawans move away from their island and take up the western diet and lifestyle, they no longer enjoy longer lives. Within one generation of taking on our bad habits, their life-spans shorten considerably. Cancer and hear-attack rates practically double.

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