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5 Positive Lifestyle Changes for the New Year (part 1)

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Are you in a rut? Are you feeling like you’re losing your “touch”? Is complacency becoming the norm? Maybe what you need are some basic lifestyle changes. In the coming days we will review five suggestions for the New Year to help improve your health and overall wellbeing – helpful advice that may also initiate a sense of self-renewal and give you more energy, which in turn will give you a whole new outlook on life. Here’s part 1 of 5…

1.    Go on a cleanse or detox diet.

Cleansing can be compared to a knife that cuts away much superficiality, getting right to the heart of the matter. Effectively, a cleanse works on deeper levels than most of us realize because it is able to break up our daily patterns, those patterns upon which we have become so dependent (our comfort zones). When those patterns of pleasure or selfish indulgence are disrupted, we are left with our own internal resources. If those resources are bankrupt, then during a cleanse, you may come face to face with a vacuum that only your inner self (Self) can fill.

A proper detoxification program also applies pressure to the physical body and we may be appalled at how much the body will squirm and resist. But it is high time that the body be put in perspective with the role of our own inner (spiritual/essential) self. Cleansing dethrones and places the body under the jurisdiction of our will. It is this creativity of a freed will which lifts us above our animal instincts and releases us from the cages of our monotonous and empty routine.

Cleansing accomplishes two purposes. First, it will reveal how much the physical appetites have taken control of our emotions. And secondly, it will serve in breaking the body’s habitual cravings and the power they hold upon the will.

An extended cleanse (a week or longer) will invariably bring to the surface deep seated fears which affect thinking and decision-making. It does this by challenging that complex human instinct called self-preservation. This instinct has been created in every living thing on earth, including us. But we are able to choose to “recreate” ourselves, building a new life not to be controlled by old habits and base instincts. Because of our ability to make these life changing choices, we will have the power to recreate ourselves into a radiant being of a higher and grander design than that of our former life.

Cleansing compels us to face the chaos of our addictions, compulsive behaviors, depression and internal pain. It’s like pressing the pause button of life, and quietly observing how crazy and detached we have become to who we really are.

So, IMHO, a deep bodily cleanse will do much more than help us to detox our bodies and lose those extra pounds, it also clears our mind, purifies our soul and frees our spirit for a better reception of the healthy, spiritual life intended for us. This blessing is our birthright and all we have to do is remove the obstacles we have placed in our own way.

Set aside a day, a weekend, a week or even longer to recharge, rejuvenate, and renew yourself. Everyone can benefit from a good cleansing, especially following the holiday season and all its delightful indulgences. It’s a great way to jump-start your body for a more active life, a healthier life.

Keep in mind our bodies are continuously and naturally detoxifying every day. Detoxification is the normal process of eliminating and/or neutralizing toxins through the colon, liver, kidneys, lungs, lymph glands, and even the skin. All the days of our lives our hearts beat nonstop and our lungs breathe in and out continuously; just so our metabolic processes also work continuously, attempting to dispose of wastes and toxic matter as fast as we accumulate it.

Despite all its efforts, the environmental toxins of modern-day life; the pollutants, chemicals, other synthetic substances, are more than the average body can handle. Whenever the body becomes overburdened and doesn’t know what to do with all these foreign substances, it will store them somewhere inaccessible to these regular elimination systems, and to keep us from getting poisoned those toxins start building up in our body fat.

It is common, at this time of the year to feel “congested” or “out of sorts” from too much food or the wrong kinds of food and you may want to consider a good detox program. If your energy seems low, if you’re feeling sluggish or maybe you’ve been taking some medications that have not yet been eliminated from your system, a detoxification regime will probably help you feel better, restoring your health and your sense of wellbeing.

 

Stay tuned for part 2. – “Improve your dietary choices.”

The Miracle of Oatmeal Water

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The “Oatmeal Water” remedy suggested in this article provides you with a great tool for quick relief and healing from from head and chest colds, sinus and ear infections, or practically anything involving your mucous membranes.

Oatmeal Water

  • 4 heaping Tbsp. (or more – I use a large handful) oatmeal
  • 4 quarts of water

Use organic rolled oats, (not instant; they lack the slippery smoothness that is so important here). Bring the water to a boil, add oatmeal, reduce heat to simmer and cook slowly for 20 minutes, remove from heat and let sit until almost cool, whisk mixture and strain out the oatmeal; the cloudy water that’s left is oatmeal water. Shake well before pouring into a glass. Feel free to drink copious quantities of this oatmeal water all day long; it produces clean, clear and healthy mucous that flushes out the old mucous that is contaminated with all sorts of stuff, including pus; this old mucus is a breeding ground for bacterial and viral infection. Keep yourself supplied with new batches of this oatmeal water until you are completely recovered and have no more symptoms.

The water from oats cooked this way is mucilaginous and offers a gentle slipperiness to our mucous membranes, aiding greatly in cleansing the tissues of the mouth, nose, sinus cavities, throat and lungs. It also detoxifys and eliminates the nasty, sticky and toxic mucous coating that is over-acidic and loaded with germs. Gone will be the days of dry, sore nostrils when you can’t keep from sneezing and blowing your nose. No scratchy throat either. You’ll cough up and expel large amounts of unhealthy mucous, replacing it with an uncontaminated, slippery and healthy mucous.

What do we need mucous for?

When the body needs to rid itself of bacteria, viruses or other intruders, white blood cells hunt them down and envelop them in mucous – just like the bees encase all hive invaders in wax to keep them contained. This mucous is then expelled by the strong forced ‘exhales’ called coughs and sneezes to help the contaminated mucous leave the body. It’s a very effective and self- sufficient system as long as we encourage it to follow its natural course. Whenever we suppress this function with anti-histamines and other medications (which may provide temporary relief from the symptoms), this unnatural treatment method will likely counter the body’s natural healing power allowing the actual ailment to linger for days – even weeks.

Furthermore, a clean, clear mucous is also necessary to coat the mucous membranes, soothing these sensitive tissues and keeping them from drying out, becoming sore, or even bleeding.

Testimonies to the effectiveness of this remedy…

Oatmeal water is mentioned by Jethro Kloss in his classic 70’s book “Back to Eden”.  He had read in a daily paper “…that the Great Northern Railroad had a very urgent piece of road to make. They hired a big crew of men and worked them fourteen hours a day. Instead of giving them ordinary water to drink, they gave them oatmeal water to drink, and the newspaper stated that not one man was off work on account of sickness, and it stated that never before has there been such a wonderful, healthy experience in the entire history of railroads.”

From an anonymous source…”When my daughter was 4 years old she had a very rare and deadly disease called Kawasaki’s which primarily affects only Japanese children (she is a blond and blue eyed Caucasian). She could not take anything by mouth, not even water and had a fever that ranged from 105 to 107 degrees. The doctors could not do any more for her and gave up telling me she would die. I started giving her eyedroppers full of oatmeal water, and within hours she could take teaspoon fulls, the next day she was able to drink the oatmeal water from a glass. Within 4 more days her body temperature was normal and she was released from the hospital. The doctors predicted she would suffer heart and brain defects as a result, and none of that happened. She is now 35 years old and the proud mother of my 3 year old granddaughter. IMHO, oatmeal water saved her life!”

Additional notes:

It is recommended you drink oatmeal water whenever you feel “out of sorts” or if you’re in the company of others who are sick, sneezing, coughing, etc. Keep in mind, this as much a preventative as a cure, it lubricates the whole system including the entire digestive track.

Oatmeal water can also be used in a multitude of other ways, including a soup base or an ingredient in a smoothie, so be creative.

How Diabetics Respond to a Vegan/Plant-based Diet

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When we look at the basic diets of people from around the world we find certain populations tend to be slim and have very little diabetes. Good examples are Japan and China, whose traditional diets were based primarily on rice and other carbohydrate-rich foods. But now, with the introduction of a “Western” diet, which includes an overabundance of animal products (meat, dairy, etc.) everything changed and obesity and diabetes (along with heart disease and other ailments) came roaring in. A strong plant-based diet reverses this scenario. People lose weight, cholesterol drops dramatically, and diabetes improves – and in many cases is reversed.

Physiologically, if you could follow a glucose molecule in your bloodstream, you’d quickly see that it and all the other glucose molecules are headed for the muscle cells. Glucose is what powers your muscles, along with most of the rest of your body. Now, if you could inspect your muscles’ tissues closely, you’d observe that globules of fat have taken up residence there. In medical terms those tiny droplets of fat are referred to as intramyocellular lipids (IMCLs), and they interfere with insulin’s ability to carry glucose into the cells. Once you begin to make the change to a plant-based diet, eliminating animal products and other fatty foods from your diet, those IMCLs begin to dissipate and health is generally restored.

A vegan or plant-based diet has many other advantages too. Most importantly perhaps is how good it for the heart, and how it lowers bad cholesterol (LDL) more than any other dietary approach. Many of the complications of diabetes relate directly to the heart and blood vessels, so there is much to be said for eliminating animal products and cholesterol producing fats from of your diet. A strong plant-based diet also helps bring down high blood pressure. And your kidneys will function much easier because avoiding animal proteins help maintain proper kidney function.

Many studies have shown that the overall nutritional response of the body is greatly improved on a vegan/plant-based diet compared to a meat/dairy-based diet. Fiber and vitamin intake increase, while fat and bad cholesterol go down. No need to worry about protein, you’ll get all you need from vegetables, beans and grains, plus you’ll find plenty of calcium and iron in green leafy vegetables and beans.

And now, a few words about Dr. Gabriel Cousens…

Gabriel Cousens runs the Tree of Life Rejuvenation Center in Arizona, USA, where he has been treating type 2 diabetes for several decades now. In order to spread the word, his center created a documentary called Simply Raw: Reversing Diabetes in 30 Days (92 minutes, 2009). Six patients with diabetes were tracked for 30 days as they lived at the Tree of Life Center. They followed Dr. Cousens’ diet guidelines and daily exercise routines. Within days, all patients improved dramatically. All of them continued with their lifestyle changes beyond these 30 days. The documentary is uplifting because each patient showed remarkable improvement in health and spirit.

Gabriel Cousens stands out from other doctors who advocate plant based diets in two respects: he is highly spiritual and he advocates far more raw food than others. His writings tend to emphasize his personal experiences with treating patients instead of medical studies. He has written articles like Peace through a Sattvik Diet and Perspectives on Dairy where he explains why he advocates avoidance of dairy in the modern world even though it is advocated by ancient sattvik food guidelines. His response to Dr Mercola is a lengthy article showcasing his personal life journey and his personal experiences in treating patients for over 30 years. In addition, his spiritual leanings and writing style greatly appeal to like minded individuals.

*A few notes of caution for diabetics changing over to a plant-based diet.

Beginning this kind of diet, some people find that their blood sugars go up for the first few days. If you are very insulin resistant, it will take a little time for that to improve as those fat droplets gradually disappear from your muscle cells. Your blood sugars should soon start to improve noticeably.

Be sure to let your health-care provider know about your diet change. If you are on insulin or a sulfonylurea, you may well end up with symptoms of hypoglycemia, which is a sign that you have improved to the point that your drugs are now too strong for you. Work with your health-care provider to reduce (or eliminate) your medications when the time is right.

For people with type 1 diabetes, I would recommend the same diet changes. A plant-based menu will minimize the likelihood of cardiovascular and renal complications and may help you reduce your medications. It will not, however, eliminate the need for insulin for people with type 1 diabetes.

Whey Protein Supplements vs Plant-Based Proteins

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Whey protein products are regarded by most fitness enthusiasts as a supplemental staple for athletes and bodybuilders; claiming it’s the ultimate source of protein and they sometimes even go to the extreme of saying it’s the highest quality protein available.

On the other hand there are multiple studies which show that most athletes can easily meet their daily protein requirements from a plant-based diet alone. And for many people whey protein can cause bloating and stomach upset actually bogging them down.

It is unfortunate that most trainers, athletes and bodybuilders are persuaded by what they read in exercise and bodybuilding magazines. And, more times than not, this is worse than getting nutritional information from a comic book.

Americans, in general, are on a protein binge; brainwashed with misinformation that has been drilled into them since childhood. Ironically, most of the educational materials used in public schools have been provided (for free) by the meat, dairy, and egg industries, and this has been the case for more than seventy years. These industrial giants have successfully lobbied the government, resulting in favorable laws, subsidies, and advertising propaganda that generates huge corporate profits at the expense of our national health. As a result, Americans have been, and continue to be, programmed with dangerous information, and protein supplements (especially whey) are recommended for anyone who pursues any sort of athletic endeavor; this in addition to their recommended diet which already contains excessive amounts of meat, dairy, etc. Most of us were raised on tall glasses of milk, grilled chicken salads at restaurants, large omelets filled with cheese, and in some instances, whey protein shakes. (And that’s referring to the most nutritionally-conscious of us. Many folks still think vegetables mean French fries, or perhaps the single leaf of iceberg lettuce on a bacon double cheeseburger.)

One question that might be asked is just how many people don’t get very far in their athletic career because they spend much of their exercise time and energy burning off or eliminating all the toxic sludge they put in their body. Whey, which is the watery byproduct of cheese production used to be discarded and dumped into waterways until environmental concerns caused cheese manufacturers to take a second look at this practice. Once they discovered that they could actually profit by selling whey as a protein source, whey was no longer dumped, but became a food supplement and additive, backed by a massive ad campaign.

Plant-based eating is a relatively new and undiscovered territory for most North Americans. So, when deciding to add more veggies to their diet to be “healthier” or “more environmentally friendly”, that addition might include refined sugars and grains, highly processed soy-based meat substitutes, Twizzlers, pizza, beer and other unhealthy foodstuffs. While this kind of food substituting is beneficial for the animals, and (depending on how these pseudo-foods were produced) better for the planet, it might not be so helpful for our health, body composition and general wellbeing.

Many sincere, informed vegan and/or vegetarian’s diets include juicing and blending, primarily due to the nutritional density and ease of digestion of vegetables and fruits consumed in this way.

Other plant-based foods are also easily digested and absorbed, they consume less energy to produce more energy, and this allows for a healthier, more efficient gastrointestinal tract in the active athlete. Indeed, many athletes who switch to a plant-based diet report feeling an almost immediate surge in energy.

Additionally, many athletes who have used whey protein supplements as a part of bodybuilding or other exercise regime have noted that the muscles they build are not maintained, and disappear quickly when the whey protein is discontinued.  Plant-based proteins are different.

If you feel the need to further supplement your plant-based diet with natural protein, here’s a couple alternatives to whey and/or other concentrated animal–based proteins…

Chlorella, Spirulina and blue-green algae are concentrated forms of plant-based proteins.  They are 100% whole food from the ocean/plant kingdom. This type of complete protein is 100% assimilated by the body, is nutritionally dense, full of minerals and chlorophyll. Additionally, you will gain the extra benefit of it assisting your body in detoxification, including the elimination of heavy metals and radiation. This type of protein will build extremely strong, dense and long lasting muscle tissue.

And another is hemp protein powder.  This concentrated supplement closely resembles the protein of the human body.  It is easy to digest and contains all of the essential amino acids that the body requires, including Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, acids that whey protein is lacking.

Many trainers and other fitness enthusiasts, especially those interested in bodybuilding love to make the claim that a plant-based protein simply cannot promote muscle growth as effectively as animal derived protein (like whey).  However, it’s not difficult to observe how herbivores like cows, horses and even gorillas possess lean, strong muscles.  In fact, many bodybuilders who have changed from whey to a plant-based protein have noted that the muscle tissue built from plant-based protein is more solid, very dense and resists deteriorating over time.

For more on America’s obsession with supplemental proteins please read the following, click on: 3 Myths About Protein and a Plant-Based Diet

Yoga & Body Detoxification…

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Did you know your body is designed in such a way that it will automatically engage in some form of detoxification every single day? Regular daily yoga practice is one of the best ways to insure that your body remains subtle and as toxin free as possible.

First let’s take a look at how the body actually accomplishes the task of detoxing…

The three main bodily systems employed to get rid of accumulated waste and toxic debris are the circulatory, digestive and lymph systems. Each one of these plays a crucial role in the process. The circulatory system pumps blood throughout the body, delivering oxygen to and carrying waste products away from cells. The digestive system processes the food we eat, separating nutrients from waste and eliminating anything the body doesn’t need. And the lymphatic system collects intracellular fluid from throughout the body and transports it to the lymph nodes where anything harmful (such as bacteria or other contaminants) is removed before the lymphatic fluid is returned back to the bloodstream.

Under optimal conditions, these are robust systems that work well on their own. However, in today’s world, the excessive exposure to both external and internal toxins, the many stresses that are often placed on our lives and an all too often, nutrient-poor diet place an undo demand on these systems, and yoga is an ideal solution to these problems.

How yoga facilitates cleansing

Some forms of vigorous exercise can stimulate all three of these systems of elimination to some extent. But yoga, with its focus on systematically and alternatively stretching and compressing every part of the body, is particularly well-suited to keeping the toxin/waste elimination on par and functioning well.

A well-rounded yoga practice session, engaging every part of the body, facilitates the removal of waste products, including carbon dioxide and lactic acid, and in turn stimulates lymphatic drainage in areas that traditional exercise just doesn’t reach.

Yogic breathing (pranayama) also plays an important role in promoting detoxification. Many people sit with poor posture which impedes the lungs from inflating fully, and our chronic state of low-grade stress often leads to a constricted diaphragm which further inhibits proper breathing. As a result, we aren’t able to take in as much life-sustaining oxygen when we inhale, or expel as much of the potentially hazardous carbon dioxide when we exhale.

Clear your body, clear your mind.

In addition to all the physical benefits of the poses (asanas), yoga aids in mental detoxification as well. Performing yoga helps to purge toxic thoughts by teaching you to move your awareness away from the constant “chatter of the mind” and back to the present “now” moment, a practice that’s not commonly found as a basic component of conventional fitness pursuits.

Furthermore, a regular daily yoga practice helps you to eliminate both the tangible and the intangible toxins that could otherwise keep you from feeling your best and maintaining a state of health and wellness.

 

How Inflammatory is Your Diet?

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Are you aware that the foods you eat every day may be the cause of chronic inflammation in the body and put you at risk for heart disease, cancer, diabetes, arthritis and even some forms of dementia?

Basically there are two types of inflammation that can be present in the human body: acute and chronic. Acute inflammation is most often useful, but chronic inflammation is the root cause of many diseases and ailments.

Inflammation is one of the common natural responses the body has to the healing process. Acute inflammation works great for healing a cut or a bruise. The body’s white blood cells and their chemicals get into the affected area, do their job and get out. But too much of a good thing leads to problems. Chronic inflammation will damage, rather than repair, healthy tissues and cells. When inflammation is too intense and/or prolonged, it produces sickness and disease instead of healing.

When your chosen lifestyle includes an unhealthy or poor diet, you’re setting the stage for chronic inflammation to damage your body, establishing a constant irritation, quite possibly throughout the whole body; damaging arteries, which can lead to heart disease or dementia, aggravating tissues and cells, which can lead to cancer, diabetes, or irritating joints and connective tissue resulting in rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.

The sad part is chronic inflammation is a silent condition; you may even have chronic inflammation and not know it.

Foods that commonly cause inflammation:

Are you wondering if your diet is high in inflammation-provoking foods yet? Dietary foods that trigger chronic inflammation in the body include many of the fats in meat and dairy products, refined sugars, saturated and hydrogenated oils, processed and fast foods, bleached and enriched grains, fried foods, pastries, plus processed meats like hot dogs and deli items. A specific omega-6 fat, called arachidonic acid, found in most meats, is a particularly potent inflammation promoter. Check your kitchen supplies and throw out these inflammatory foods, then eliminate them completely from your diet.

Additionally, those who are overweight have an increased risk of chronic inflammation. Most possibly this occurs because the body’s fatty tissues store arachidonic acid, increasing the supply of this damaging, inflammatory chemical.

The solution:

Make antioxidant-rich plant-based foods a staple in your diet and eat more vegetables and fruit. The more phytochemical-rich fruits and vegetables you eat, the more you boost your immune system which naturally defends the body against inflammation and disease. Once you develop an appetite for antioxidants, you’ll feel more energy and notice an almost immediate improvement in overall health. Antioxidants are the key to disease prevention and the reduction of inflammation. Extra-virgin olive oil, fruits, vegetables, mushrooms, nuts, whole grains, things like green tea and certain spices (e.g.; turmeric and ginger), prevent much of the tissue damage that would otherwise trigger an inflammatory response. Proper food selection insures that you’re getting the best dietary sources of antioxidants, like vitamin C, beta carotene, and thousands of essential phytonutrients. Antioxidants block free radicals (highly reactive oxygen fragments) that if allowed free reign, would damage the genetic code, cell membranes and proteins, leading to heart disease, cancer, dementia and more.

Additionally, you should also know that no amount of dieting will drastically improve your health unless you also adapt and maintain a healthy lifestyle. You’ll find it very helpful to exercise daily, cut back on stress and reduce your exposure to toxins as much as possible; if you do this, your body will repay you a thousand-fold.

So…What are you waiting for?

Health, Wellbeing & the “Little Known” Bindu Chakra

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Most yoga practitioners are familiar with the Seven Major Chakras mentioned in the Vedas. They are…

  1.  Sahasrara: The Crown Chakra
  2. Ajna: The Brow Chakra
  3. Vishuddha: The Throat Chakra
  4. Anahata: The Heart Chakra
  5. Manipura: The Solar Plexus Chakra
  6. Swadhisthana: The Sacral Chakra
  7. Muladhara: The Root Chakra

A Google search will provide an abundance of information on these subtle energy centers. But, there is one frequently overlooked chakra called the “Bindu” Chakra (also referred to as the “Moon” Chakra).

BINDU

Bindu is most often translated or interpreted as a ‘focus’, or ‘point’. (Bindi are the jeweled or painted ‘points’ that Indian women adorn their foreheads with). The Bindu Chakra is said to be placed approximately at the point on the back of the head just above where the spine would meet the skull. Anatomically it is located where the bones of the back and sides of the skull meet (the occiput and the parietal). It is where Indian holy men (Brahmin) would grow a single tuft of hair on the back of their heads to honor this chakra.

This chakra was considered a fairly prominent chakra in most Tantric traditions. In most Yoga books the Bindu Chakra is not generally even mentioned, but in Tantra Yoga great importance is attached to the healing and rejuvenating effects of this Chakra.

The most notable understanding of the effect of the Bindu Chakra lies in its production of the ”Nectar of Immortality” or contrarily, the “Poison of Death”. This designates the power of knowledge and wisdom this chakra offers to those who are able to comprehend. What can be derived from the meaning of these words is that knowledge is powerful, but Wisdom and Experience are Immortal. This is the Chakra that can synthesize our knowledge with our experiences. When that synthesis is successful, then we can achieve inspiration and true Wisdom. Whenever it’s not successful or misused, then we gain misunderstandings and misperceptions, transforming the potential wisdom into dogma and empty ritual, and then we are stuck, unable to progress and mature in our yoga practice.

The Bindu Chakra is an important energy centre for health and wellbeing, giving us the power to recuperate and regenerate both physical y and mentally. This Chakra benefits eyesight and quiets the emotions, promoting inner harmony, clarity and balance. Concentration on the Bindu Chakra relieves anxiety and depression, nervousness and also feelings of oppression in the heart.

With the help of this Chakra we are capable of controlling hunger and thirst and throughout history yogis have used it to assist in fasting, cleansing and internal purification, gaining the ability to overcome unhealthy eating habits. This occurs because the most outstanding effect of the Bindu Chakra is the production of Amrita, the nectar of immortality.

Physiologically this means that along with the awakening of the Bindu Chakra, the Pineal Gland, which is influenced by this centre, becomes active, emitting a hormone that has a “fountain of youth” influence on both the body and the mind. This is why the ancient Rishis gave it the name “Amrita” (nectar of immortality). The more the Bindu Chakra becomes activated, the more plentifully this precious nectar flows. The ancient scriptures claim that just one concentrated drop will prompt new shoots to begin growing on a piece of dry wood, bringing even a dead log back to life.

In Ayurveda this life-giving nectar is called “Sanjīvini Bhuti” and there are Yogis who eat no food for long periods of time, nourished exclusively by the nectar from the Bindu Chakra. If we become able to utilize this life-giving elixir, we would not only prolong our life but also enjoy optimal health for as long as we live. Unfortunately, this does not happen without effort, this precious nectar usually drips straight down into the fire of the Manipūra (Solar Plexus) Chakra and is consumed before its effects fully develop, leaving our body susceptible to illness while it continues to deteriorate with advancing age. Through specific yoga practices the yogi can succeed in catching these drops of nectar in the Vishuddhi (Throat) Chakra subsequently supplying and rejuvinating the entire body. The Vishuddhi Chakra is responsible for the purification and detoxification of the body if and when an imbalance occurs due to exposure to toxins or other harmful substances.

Additional Notes on Bindu…

The Bindu Chakra is connected with Sahasrara (Crown) Chakra providing its foundational support, and is often depicted in the center of Sahasrara. It is Bindu that is located at the top of the head when an animal is on its fours as we were in our sub-human times.  But it no more remains the top, and becomes the back of the head, as soon as the animal becomes upright and stands on two legs, thereby qualifying as a human.  Being on fours balanced our musculature in such a way as to naturally keep the Bindu Chakra open. The moment we became “homo-erectus”, we lost our natural connection with the Bindu Chakra. Many of the Rishis of old taught that until humanity regains this connection to the Bindu Chakra we will remain susceptible to disease (mental and physical) and constant turmoil. This is why human life at the present time is so replete with corruption and confusion in every walk of life; whether it’s politics, economics, business, sports, relationships or health.

One final but important point: Your nectar of immortality will likely differ from any other person’s. Everyone’s experience and understanding of spirit is unique and valuable to them, and wisdom doesn’t take the well worn paths. It happens in the shadowy un-forged path that a person ventures out on by themselves. And it is vital to remember that every path has value.

Serious Health Threat – Autointoxication

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A great reason to embark on a regular cleansing or detox program

People in North America are now beginning to realize that this is the very foundation for holistic nutrition and medicine which is increasingly being practiced here in the west and has been practiced in the orient for thousands of years.

Auto-Intoxication is epidemic in our society, and it has to do with the gastrointestinal diseases that we develop within us as a result of the amounts and types of food that we eat. The human suffering and the social, medical, and economic costs of gastrointestinal diseases and disorders that have become so common in the US and Canada are nothing short of gargantuan, representing a huge share of our annual health care expenditure, as well as being responsible for a large loss of productivity.

Up to 100 million North Americans suffer from intermittent forms of digestive diseases, and the estimated lost work, lost wages, and medical costs comes to over 50 billion dollars per year. It is also estimated that some 200,000 workers miss work every day due to digestive problems.

Let’s take a minute to discuss Autointoxication

When the eliminatory system of the human body is not in top-notch working order, particularly if it has become sluggish or clogged, it cannot properly process foods and eliminate food wastes and toxins. Medical science has finally acknowledged that 85% or more of all adult Americans suffer from some form of intestinal stasis (i.e., constipation, sluggish bowels, IBS, etc.). This virtually guarantees toxic build-up in the colon which, over time, inevitably results in one or more forms of serious illness or chronic degenerative disease. Intestinal stasis sooner or later causes the wastes and toxic by-products from the foods we eat to build up to such an extent that they start to become putrefactive. In turn, this putrefactive build-up in the colon becomes a veritable breeding ground, encouraging the rapid growth of huge colonies of toxin-producing, disease-causing bacteria (e-coli is one good example) along with a host of known toxic chemicals and waste products.

When the digestive and eliminative systems are not properly working to rid the body of this accumulating putrefactive build-up in the colon, the resulting toxins are then absorbed from the colon into the bloodstream, and are carried back into every part of the body. This process of self-poisoning is known as “auto-intoxication”. In a nutshell, because of intestinal stasis, the body ends up chronically poisoning itself with its own wastes and toxins instead of carrying out its designed purpose of eliminating them.

This process of continued self-poisoning inevitably results in candidiasis and a dramatically weakened immune system, which can lead directly to such common ill-health conditions as chronic fatigue and body weakness, nervousness, depression and mood swings, skin disruptions such as acne, rashes and boils, ulcers and other gastro-intestinal disorders, headaches, arthritic joints, swelling of hands and feet, chronic allergies, bronchial problems, cardio-vascular irregularities (arrhythmias, high blood pressure, etc.), pathological changes in the breasts, premature senility, epilepsy, and many other serious and debilitating problems.

Health statistics also show that more North Americans are hospitalized due to diseases of the intestinal tract than for any other group of disorders. The medical costs of these diseases are estimated to be $20 billion or more per year.

The annual cost of prescription and over-the-counter drug products used for digestive tract diseases is approximately $2 – 2.5 billion dollars per year, and has grown at a steady rate of 10% over the last decade.

The following is an estimate of some of the most common costs, and adequately demonstrates the fact that these diseases present a significant public health problem, which contribute substantially to our overall health care costs:

  • Laxatives – $900 million per year.
  • Antacids – $1 billion per year.
  • Antihemorrhoidals – $250 million per year.
  • Anridiarrheals – $100 million per year.

Cancer of the colon and cancer of the rectum are the second most common forms of cancer in North America, exceeded only by lung cancer. This year alone there will be approximately 150,000 new cases diagnosed, and approximately 60,000 related deaths. Perhaps as many as one out of every 10 North Americans will die of these two diseases.

The following are some of the other very common diseases and disorders that are directly related to the Colon: Constipation, Appendicitis, Gastritis, Diverticular Disease, Hemorrhoids, Benign Tumors, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Ulcerative Colitis, and Crohn’s Disease.

Because the body is amazingly resilient, impaired digestion, poor absorption and a general deterioration of the intestinal tract can go for years without producing any definitive symptoms. When symptoms first appear they are usually general and non-specific and can include: decreased energy, headache, fatigue, reduced resistance to infections and minor digestive problems, such as bloating, gas, belching, indigestion and constipation. Most of us either ignore these early manifestations of bowel dysfunction or suppress them with antacids, gas relievers, laxatives and numerous other drugs peddled by the pharmaceutical industry.

As the bowel function continues to deteriorate, other serious (but seemingly unrelated) problems may appear. They range from asthma and allergic reactions to arthritis and cancer. They include auto-immune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma and lupus. Chronic skin conditions such as psoriasis, eczema and hives are also common.

In short, faulty digestion, poor absorption, altered intestinal permeability, bacterial imbalance and massive amounts of auto-intoxication can be traced to most chronic conditions known today. Some of us may not develop serious life-threatening diseases from the intestines, but almost all of us will suffer from auto-intoxication caused by fecal matter buildup. The risk increases with every passing year as we consume more meat, white flour, refined sugars, saturated fats, coffee, antibiotics and prescription drugs.

The Basics of Cleansing & Detoxification

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As a follow-up to the last blog post “Are You Addicted to Food?”  this article will focus on detoxification as a means to break that vicious cycle and embark on the path to optimal health and wellness. Note: In the following text the words detoxification (or detox) and cleansing are interchangeable.

Cleansing is like a knife that cuts away much superficiality, getting right to the heart of the matter. Effectively, any good detox program will work on deeper levels than most of us realize because they are able to break up our daily patterns; those patterns upon which we have become so dependent (our comfort zones). When those patterns of pleasure or selfish indulgence are disrupted, we are left with our own internal resources. If those resources are bankrupt during a cleanse you will come face to face with a vacuum that only your inner self (or Divine Providence) can fill.

Any of these detox programs will shake up the physical body, and we may be appalled at how much the body will squirm and resist. But it is high time that the body be put in perspective with the role of our own inner (spiritual/essential) self. Cleansing dethrones and places the body under the jurisdiction of our will. It is this creativity of a freed will which lifts us above our animal instincts and releases us from the cages of our monotonous and empty routines.

In addition to eliminating toxins from the body, cleansing accomplishes two purposes that many are unaware of. First, it will reveal how much the physical appetites have taken control of our emotions. And secondly, it will serve in breaking the body’s habitual cravings and the power they hold upon the will.

You may be surprised at how much your body can detoxify itself in only 24 hours, and a longer cleanse (of three days or more) will invariably bring to the surface deep seated fears which affect thinking and decision-making. It does this by challenging that complex human instinct called self-preservation. This instinct has been created in every living thing on earth, including us. But, we are able to choose to “recreate” ourselves, building a new life which will not be controlled by old habits and base instincts. Because of our ability to make these life changing choices, we will have the power to recreate ourselves into a radiant being of a higher and grander design than that of our former life.

Cleansing compels us to face the chaos of addictions, compulsive behaviors, depression and internal pain. It’s like pressing the pause button of life, and quietly observing how crazy and detached we have become to who we really are.

So, more than help us to detox our bodies and lose those extra pounds, a good cleansing also clears our mind, purifies our soul and frees our spirit for a better reception of the healthy, spiritual life intended for us. This blessing is our birthright and all we have to do is remove the obstacles we have placed in our own way.

*In conclusion: There are a lot of analogies that could be drawn in regard to cleansing and spirituality. We prune our trees, weed our gardens, separate the wheat from the chaff, etc., etc. Its human nature to think of getting “there” because we are “here” and “here” is not as good as “there”. So if we are overweight, we want to be slim. If we are profane, we want to be divine. We want an instant cure, an instant shapely body, an instant awakening. But, ask yourself, what about the enjoying the trip, what about rejoicing in the process? This is what cleansing AND spirituality both have in common.

Mother Nature and Divine Grace give us opportunity to learn from the simplest things. Take an apple tree for example, it lies barren for the winter, leaves and flowers appear in the spring, the flowers develop small fruits which grow until they’ve reached their optimal size…then they RIPEN! How cool is that?

Are we satisfied being mere trees? When cleansing our bodies we begin to flower; literally, we begin to give off a fragrance, a beauty, a radiant quality, and then if we continue to heal and nourish ourselves the way nature intended…we too will RIPEN! When fully ripe we are truly receiving our Creator’s blessing and then we become a blessing to others.

In summary, cleanse to heal, heal to nourish, nourish to grow, grow to ripen, ripen to receive our inherent blessing and then become an instrument of that blessing to help others. This is a way I see it possible to save ourselves, and in turn to save the world.

 

Are You Addicted to Food – Think Again

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The silent epidemic of food addiction has become a worldwide problem, and if you answered the title question “yes” and are indeed addicted to food, (as most of us are, or were at one time), the blame does not rest entirely on your shoulders but there is still much you can do about it.

A little research shows that food addiction is similar to drug and alcohol addiction.  Very often for a food addict, processed foods, refined sugars, factory farmed meats and saturated/trans fats become what alcohol is to the alcoholic, or cocaine to the cocaine addict.

When eating food in these groups, the addict sets the phenomenon of “craving” into motion.  Like the drug addict, the food addict experiences withdrawal when attempting to cut down on the foods that trigger cravings.  They can experience both physical and emotional withdrawal such as tremors, cramps, depression, teary periods and even self-hatred.

Food manufacturers have done an exquisite job of recognizing and tapping into our cravings, using persuasive ads and alluring packaging to keep their products tumbling into our shopping carts. These foods contain chemical compounds that stimulate the brain’s secretion of opiate-like, “feel-good” chemicals like dopamine and serotonin, which drive our cravings for them.

One way to end the dependence on these trigger foods is to complete a good Detox Program. Once the addictive substances are out of the body, the physical cravings leave and the struggle isn’t as bad as it once was. These physical cravings do subside and you will have a second chance; and a choice whether to reintroduce the foods that caused the problems in the first place back into your diet. The emotional and mental cravings will still be lurking in the background, but with the establishment of a healthy diet and a lifestyle committed to changing old habits they will eventually be overcome.

Food addiction is hard to break, and in addition to the lack of cooperation from the commercial food industry and our elected officials we have other issues to deal with. For one, food is socially acceptable and people reward themselves for almost every imaginable occasion by indulging. We are encouraged (at least here in the US) to show how much we appreciate a meal by the amount we eat. We are taught to “clean up our plates” at every meal. Fast foods are all too convenient in this busy world, but even if we go to a decent sit down restaurant, we can almost guarantee we will be over served; with the average main course totaling  1000 calories or more; and that does not count drinks, salad, appetizers or desert.

Just watch the movie “Woodstock” or any of the music videos from the early 70’s and it’s amazing, – you can’t find any obese people in the audiences; check out the average concert audience today! This is what is happening to America. Let’s get ourselves right, keep ourselves right and then help others to get a grip!

In conclusion: Habitual eating patterns are hard to break and like almost all addictions they’re based on some sort of association and this is often below the radar of our conscious attention. Food frequently reinforces our comfort zones and makes us feel good, so when we want to relax or break free of stress we often grab a bite to eat.

One of the best practices to break this trend is the Buddhist practice of “Mindfullness” or conscious attention. Bringing “Mindfulness” into play before we put anything in our mouths helps us to learn to attune to our bodies and distinguish between real physical hunger (where your stomach is rumbling and you physically need to eat) and psychological hunger (where cues such as emotions, settings, social occasions and sights and smells of food encourage you to eat). Physical hunger is a useful and appropriate cue to eat – psychological hunger is not.

“Mindfulness” also enables us to eat much slower, actually savoring and thoroughly enjoying each bite of food. Eating in this manner gives our brain time to register the sense of fullness. It is a proven fact that it takes about 20 – 30 minutes for our brains to register this sense of fullness, no matter how much we put in our stomachs during that time. People who eat slowly and mindfully are much less likely to overeat.