Nurture Your Own

1. Junk Food Addiction

Research has found that the brains of people who have a special craving or obsession with junk food  look similar to those of drug addicts.  They have fewer receptors for dopamine, which governs the brain’s pleasure centers. These  people might need to consume more of pleasurable, aka junk, food, to feel good.

2. Fat Addiction

People with a fat addiction are attracted to high-fat foods like dairy products and oily fast food like french fries and onion rings. According to research, this, unfortunately, is  a biochemical issue. It is not a case of a person lacking the will power to resist. Consuming fat affects the body’s brain chemistry, in much the same way as when alcohol or drugs are ingested.

3. Sugar Addiction

This is a little uncommon. However, there are indeed folks who felt high or  experienced a “sugar rush” after eating sweet stuff. There is scientific evidence to prove  that ingesting substantial sweet food or drinks  will affects the levels of dopamine, a neurotransmitter, in the brain. Without a regular and consistent supply of sugar, these folks will go through withdrawal symptoms too.

4. Caffeine Addiction

Caffeine is a socially acceptable addiction. However, that does not mean it is okay to have it . When anything becomes an addiction, it’s no good. Anyone who tried to adopt the  “cold turkey” way to eliminate  caffeine from his/her system will experience  withdrawal symptoms from irritability, headaches or even  fatigue and anxiety. These symptoms may take 7 days or more to go of . Some people might not have the will power to withstand the discomfort and choose to start drinking caffeinated beverages.

5. Chocolate Addiction

When we  are enjoying sucking and chewing on chocolates, our bodies release  serotonin. Serotonin produces a feeling of well-being. This may explain why we always celebrate with chocolate or to console ourselves to feel good again.  Of course, chocolate addiction might bring on dental problem.

When we over-consume anything and it becomes addiction, it’s no good – emotionally, physically and spiritually. When it comes to food, take a balance meal. Eat your cakes, have your chocolate but in moderation. P.S. Taraak, a Longivity Coach, who contributes articles here swears by sprouts, while others like Frederic Paternaude believes raw food is the way to healthy eating. There’s no right or wrong, you just have to choose a suitable way that fits your lifestyle. Whatever it is, more greens is good.

Additional Reading:

The Raw Secrets – The Raw Food in the Real World by Frederic Patenaude

Guide to Sprouting at Home by P S Taraak

If I’d known I was going to live so long, I’d have taken better care of myself.
~ Leon Eldred

Herpes is a taboo for many people who is suffering from it. Many chose to hide themselves far from the madding crowd, distancing themselves from their loved ones and closing their hearts to making new friends. The singles were especially affected. They lived in a shattered world, believing that they will forever live a single life, with no friends or life partner.

Must it be so?

It is interesting and inspiring to note that life goes on for celebrities who have herpes. Just look at David Beckham. He is still making headlines everywhere he goes, even though his halo effect seems to have dimmed quite a bit. Still, he is still making good money endorsing product besides kicking balls, and often seen dressed to the nine with that glamorous wife of his. That should be the way for all people with herpes. There is still life after herpes. LIFE GOES ON.

If you or someone whom you know have been keeping your own company and don’t know how to start a life because of herpes, don’t dismay. One quick solution, which I believed might also be the easiest way, is to get to know people who are in the same boat. An understanding friend who know your inconvenience and suffering is an excellent aid to help you rebuild life. Just think of the things you’re missing out if you go on victimizing yourself. Usually your doctor and medical adviser will recommend you to join as upport group.  If not, go online and find a herpes support group that suits you.

Live life to the fullest, don’t let a disease dis-ease you,

Additional Reading:

Stop Herpes Now & From Coming Back for Good by Dr David Hogg

In order to change we must be sick and tired of being sick and tired.
~Author Unknown

It is now proven that lack of sleep can lead to heart diseases.

According to the December issue of Journal of the American Medical Association, people who get 5 -7 hours of sleep nightly are almost twice as likely to develop early signs of blood vessel damage as those who get more rest. The research is led by Diane Lauderdale, an epodemiologist at the University of Chicago. The study involved 495 people aged 35 – 47 who did not have existing heart damage to see whether a lack of sleep might be a contributing factor to heart diseases.

The largest group of subjects received 5-7 hours of sleep a night. Over the 5 years of study, about 11% developed calcified arteries. With less than 5 hours of nightly sleep, the danger rose starkly with 27% developing blood vessel calcification during the study. In contrast, only 6% of those who received more than 7 hours of sleep showed signs of heart damage at the end of the study.

Earlier studies had shown that lack of sleep may contribute to obesity and diabetes.

Heart disease often occurs only after years of damage to the blood vessels that surround and support the cardiac muscle. A key step in the damage occurs when deposits of calcium build up on blood vessel wall, setting the stage for the growth of plaque laden with fat, clotted blood and immune cells.

Additional Reading:

Are these 7 mistakes killing your sleep?

(source: Mind Your Body, 1 Jan 2009)

Myth: Brown or Raw sugar are healthier than refined white sugar.

Truth: All sugars contain the same amount of calories. The only difference is that brown and raw sugar have more minerals than refined sugar. However, the mineral content is minimal and therefore insignificant. Just take note that your daily added sugar intake should be less than 10% of your daily total daily intake.

Types of Sugar:

Refined sugar is any sugar product treated to remove the molasses – the by-product presents itself in the form of brown sugar syrup.

Brown Sugar is refined white sugar but with added molasses.

Raw Sugar is sugar which has been minimally processed and has a higher molasses content.

Source: Mind Your Body, The Straits Times, 17 Dec 2009

“To feel ”fit as a fiddle” you must tone down your middle.”

We know obesity can cause people to have heart problems.

However, the latest finding who tracked the health of 21,094 male doctors for 2 decades confirmed that even those who were only modestly overweight had a higher risk.

In men who are 1.8m tall, for every 3.2 kg of excess body weight, their risk of heart failure rose on average by 11% over the next 2 years. This is reported in the journal, Circulation, by Reuters.

The average age of the men at the outset of the Physicians’ Health Studies was 53. During the study, 1109 of them developed heart failure.

Overall the risk of heart failure increased by 180% in men who met the definition of obesity according to their body mass index (BMI of 30 and higher) and by 49 % in men who met the definition of overweight (a BMI of 25-30)

So if you are even slightly over weight, you might want to change your diet and maintain a optimal weight. Eating more meals with smaller portions will help.  If you are grossly over weight, change diet, exercise and if necessary get professional help.

Recommended Reading:

Fat Loss for Idiots

Top Secret: Fat Loss Secret

The Truth about Six-Pack abs

The Advanced Guide to Fast Weight Loss for Busy Women

Burn the Fats Feed the Muscles

Fat Loss Secrets

(source: Mind Your Body, 1 Jan 2009)

According a report on WebMD, garlic has a mere 4 calories per clove, contains 5 mg of calcium, 12 mg of potassium and more than 100 sulfuric compounds. These properties made it powerful enough to wipe out bacteria and infection. This explained why garlic was used in both world wars to prevent gangrene.

Raw garlic, not cooked or dried is the most beneficial for health. In clinical trials, the toxin fighting staple seems to be able to lower blood pressure and cholesterol and kill parasites in the body.

Also, next time you serve your favorite Italian dish, consider ditching the bottled garlic and opt for fresh garlic instead. Fresh garlic may be better for you, according to new research published in the American Chemical Society’s Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.

Raw food is fine with me but chewing raw garlic on a stand alone basis is just too much for me. Raw food like vegetable in salad is fine, or fish like salmon, tuna, yellow tail as sashimi is yummy.  I rather eat cooked garlic. For those who don’t cook with garlic, click on the WebMD link on the first line to get some recipes with garlic in them. The Sesame Chicken Stir Fry is easy to do.

Additional Reading on Raw Food:

The Raw Secrets – The Raw Food in the Real World by Frederic Patenaude

“The health of the people is really the foundation upon which all their happiness and all their powers as a state depend.”

by Benjamin Disraeli (1804-1881), British politician and author.

You would have thought that when the economy is experiencing a downturn, smokers would smoke less to make sure they still can buy some bacon home.

Nope. The opposite is likely to happen for many smokers. Instead of smoking less, they actually puff even faster and harder.

Mindful of escalating prices, increasingly worries about losing job or suffering a pay cut plus the uncertainties of the future brought forth tremendous pressure, stress, frustration, anger, feeling of hopelessness and helplessness. Where can they get help and whom they can look towards for a helping hand? Not many. Most people are in the same boat too. So instead of lamenting and complaining like before, smokers kept their silence and sought solace in the rings of smokes.

Is it solace they got? The smokers chose not to see that they are actually damaging their physical and financial health further by puffing more.

Smoking is bad for health, especially detrimental to the throat and lungs. Smokers knew it but chose to believe such illnesses only happen on other people, not them.

Smoking is also bad for the pocket, it studs out money that can be better utilized elsewhere. Smokers knew it too but they justified that cigarettes are their only indulgence in this hard time.

Assuming a bloke spent a mere USD5 smoking, he would use at least USD150 a month for this addiction. That could have been a week’s worth of petrol or groceries, or it could be a treat to the theater with a date or even some great books from Borders or a financial workshop on your bottom line.

I guess the above is just wishful thinking. I would have thought there are less shoppers this Christmas, instead we saw sales soaring on Boxing Days all over the world – from troubled USA, UK, Australia to the orients like Singapore and Hong Kong.  People still rush for retail therapy when they knew they should be more prudent in their expenditure. The shoppers justified by saying that they were saving more in the long run. Really?

I wish smokers are wise like my pal. This 32-year guy gave up smoking in November, and he found that he was USD450 richer.  The money he would have used for cigarettes, cigars, menthol sweets and whatnot went to dressing up his house and buying presents for his wife and three kids last Christmas. He did not become any richer, but his physical and financial bottom line did look a lot healthier!

Additional Reading:

Up Your Bottom Line by Knowing Your Wealth Dynamics

Quit Smoking Painlessly Now.

Hypnosis To Change Your Life by Steve G Jones.

An apple keeps a doctor away may have some truth.

A report on health website WebMD said a natural antioxidant called quercetin found in red apples give an immunity boost.

Researchers found that a group of athletes taking quercetin supplement maintained better mental alertness and reaction time over another group who was given placebo.

Red apples are available all year round. So do take advantage of eating the fruit at least once a day and you may actually save lots on medical bills.

“You can set yourself up to be sick, or you can choose to stay.”

by Wayne Dyer (1940-?), American psychotherapist, author and lecturer.