Multi-tasking exercise

It's catching on- exercises that combine working upper and lower muscles and engaging more muscles, thus decreasing the length of time spent working out.  This is what happens when you play sports or do activities that involve lots of body movements- such as swimming, baseball, volleyball, jumping jacks, basketball, skating, dancing, rowing, cleaning house, and there are many others, (but not so much bicycling), as these activities include moving the arms and the legs at the same time for a period of time.  When working out with weights, it was isolating and focusing on one muscle group at a time.  That's old school now. And when you have limited time in your day to fit in exercise, it makes perfect sense to exercise using all the body, meaning working more muscle groups simultaneously.  It's okay to isolate muscles, but working more muscles gets your heart rate up and the additional benefits of doing that during your workouts gives you toning, strengthening muscles, heart strengthening, better lung capacity, fat burning, and increasing metabolism. All this in less time, too.

rowing engages the arms, shoulders, back, and  leg muscles

Photo credit: phestus from morguefile.com

Still my favorite is rebounding with resistance bands- for upper and lower body involvement. The bouncing also helps the lymphatic system and it's so easy on the joints, but it's a workout for sure with just 20 minutes. It's a gem of an exercise.  You'll be surprised to know how many calories you burn rebounding.(video). 

The gem here is it really doesn't require spending hundreds or thousands of dollars on exercise equipment to get a good workout.  Just move, include some resistance, and get your heart rate up.  For more on this go to my postings on 'Fitness'.

If you're goal is to get fit, there's nothing at all holding you back.

Pomegranate- a colorectal health gem

In a my posting on  what you can do to prevent and decrease colorectal cancer,  the Fruit of the Spirit health drink I referenced at the very end of the post, is a drink so fully loaded with super-nutrient fruit juices, plus, it's so concentrated, very tasty, and one small ounce gives five servings of fruit and vegetables! If you want to do your inners (colon, and everything else) some good, this drink is a winner. And see, pomegranate juice as one of many juices and ingredients in this juice. (I really enjoy recommending products that provide multiple benefits).

Pomegranate juice contains natural compounds that can possibly ward off cancer cells in the colon. In your digestive system, when metabolized, the anti-oxidant compounds of pomegranate juice are showing promise at slowing cancer cells from growing and dividing. That's great news! See source below.

Fresh fruits and vegetable are so darn good for health

Photo credit: lebewesen from morguefile.com

It's been shown just a few changes in your life- get a colorectal screening; being more physically active; decreasing the amount of fat you eat; and consuming more fresh fruits and vegetables, all can help fortify and build strong resistance for warding off a diagnosis of colorectal cancer.  And, if you've already dealt with colorectal cancer, then all the more to rebuild your health back and this juice has got the powerful nutrition to help you do that, too.

Back on natural2bhealthy.com check the links to 'Fruit of the Spirit' juice-for this unique and tasty anti-oxidant drink like non other. I say it definitely fills the bill! - including pomegranate juice nutrition for colorectal health benefits, and so much more!

It can't be easier-drink 1 ounce per day and get a load of anti-oxidants. And of course, because some is good, it doesn't necessarily mean to overdose on nutrition. So be wise and run this by your doctor. Pomegranate juice might be another gem in all the preventative actions you do for health of the colon and health in general.


Another health gem!

Bonus: fruits and vegetables can be costly to buy and they can get rotten and go bad.
Solution: the drink I've recommended will last in your refrigerator. It's quick to drink. Delicious. Not peeling required. Takes up less space than all the fruit and vegetables you'd have to store and keep buying to be fresh. 


Source: Colon cancer chemopreventive activities of pomegranate ellagitannins and urolithins. Kasimsetty, S. G. et al., Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry 2010 Feb 24;58(4):2180-2187.
 Source: Eur J Nutr.   August 2004
 Source: J Nutr.  October 2006

Purposefully preparing for older age

This posting is dedicated to Jack LaLanne for is lifetime of showing us age is nothing but a number.  He kept demonstrating and showing us that life can be active and strong even through age 95. I don't think he ever grew old. He was some man. He wasn't a big man, but powerful in all manner of manliness.  I watched a television interview of him late last year and there was no question of his love he had toward his wife and his love for mankind. That's a real man.  I was also thinking about growing old. You've got to purposely prepare for older age. Jack LaLanne did. He never stopped being physically active nor feeding his body nutrition for health in order to maintain health, strength and vitality. You're gonna need your legs to be strong for support you in getting up from a chair or the toilet, or climbing stairs, or walking in the park or playing with your grandchildren.  If you want to live an independent life in your elder years you must prepare now to have that blessing later. Yes, your leg muscles, and all joints for that matter have to be strong.  So work them now and keep on working them so your body is able to serve you all your life. This applies from head to toe, from your brain to your little toe.  What you invest in your health now, you can cash in for an independent life later. Keep physically active, keep your mind challenged by learning something new. Keep eating more fresh fruits and vegetables. Keep hydrated. Keep rested.  Keep your spine adjusted by getting regular chiropractic care. Keep getting massages. Keep your regular medical and dental check ups. Keep on exercising your faith in God. Keep a sense of humor and never stop keeping on doing the good things for yourself and others. It makes for a happy life in which you can touch others no matter how many birthdays you've celebrated. 


Those are gems that shine brilliantly.

Thank you Jack LaLanne for your long healthy life.  We'll miss you.

Photo credit: nazka2002 from morguefile.com


See my other posting on Jack LaLanne

How to clean your home without using the bad stuff

There is no limited supply of chemicals to clean your home. Walk down any store isle and you'll almost be knocked in the face with tidal wave of VOC's.  So, if you're wanting to limit and reduce subjecting yourself to breathing these chemicals into your lungs, you have some choices, and they really are good, healthy choices.

1.  Don't walk down the cleaning isle in stores for starters.  Save your lungs.  There really should be a caution sign before entering that isle that your lungs are at risk.                               2.  Switch to products that don't have chemicals you can't pronounce. I like using products that makes my home smell wonderful, clean well, and aren't a health risk to use. I use a great product called Thieves® Household Cleaner. Those amazing essential oils to the rescue
I can even put my nose up to the bottle and take a big whiff and not pass out.  I couldn't do that with cleaners in the store isles.  Find this product on my website under "Links" on the right side column YoungLiving Essential Oils and Health products. Try it.


That's a real gem for ya. Short and sweet.

Raindrop and shingles

I have a good news report following a Raindrop therapy treatment by some good friends. Using first names here, my good friend, Gene, was soon to start a 5 week long medical treatment, and he was wise to want to get his body strengthen in advance. So, the week before his medical treatment was to begin, I assisted his wife in showing her the technique for giving her husband Raindrop. It's very easy and gentle, but also very, effective essential oil therapy.  7 single essential oils and two essential oil blends are dropped, layered and gently stroked on the back along the spine.  Click here for a discussion and info on Raindrop therapy. I traveled to Arizona to learn this technique from D.Gary Young, N.D., the founder of YoungLivingEssentialOils. It was awesome hearing and and seeing Dr. Young teach this technique.

Dr. Young incorporated in the Raindrop Technique a 'feathering up the spine' of the oils which he learned from a Lakota Indian. It about energy and any essential oils have high frequency energy.

American Indian

                                       Photo credit: kabir from morguefile.com

Little did anyone know, that a week later Gene was diagnosed with a case of shingles after he'd began his other treatment series.  Now, here's the good news. Shingles is painful when broken out. Gene got medical treatment for his shingles when he was diagnosed,  but the amazing thing he tells me is his doctor and nurses say they're amazed that his shingles break out is practically drying up before they even started to erupt. They've never seen anything like it.

It's the oils. This is not a promise essential oils will cure or prevent any condition. I'm just reporting my friend has a favorable experience with them and is doing quite well considering all he has going on right now.  And for anyone using essential oils, use with great care and caution, as these substances are highly concentrated and if used improperly, can cause harm, and I wouldn't want that to happen. Seek professional help with them so you have a favorable experience using them.



 Young Living Essential oils are another 'gem.'

Check out my aromatherapy page  and click on the links for accessing how you can get yourself and family in possession of these amazing natural substances, therapeutic, grade A quality essential oils, to keep on hand for receiving a host of benefits. I have and do.

You may also click on the Young Living Essential Oil and Oil Products link on the right hand column under 'Links' while you visit NaturalToBeHealthy

Update Jan 16, 2011 Gene continues his medical treatments and I think from stress he's had a shingles flair-up a couple days ago. He didn't have much pain, but shingles is a condition affecting the nerves. His wife says she could see he acted nervous.  Last night his wife mixed together four essential oils lavender, geranium, tea tree, and thyme, 10 drops each and applied to his outbreak sores.  She proudly reported her husband immediately said he felt more relax and he also slept exceptionally well last night. He said he wished he had had that applied from the beginning of his flair up.
So, again essential oils are well received.  Shining oil gems. I can't imagine being without.

Essential oils are a precious commodity like shiny gems

Photo credit: cohdra from morguefile.com

Is perfume fragrance good for your health?

I'm like every woman. I enjoy pleasant fragrances and beautiful scents. They make life more pleasurable . But there is a down side to using man-made fragrances, even if they're well known names and brands. These perfume chemicals can be irritating, and even toxic and aren't necessarily good for your health or brain.
Let me introduce you to beautiful fragrances that will please your nose and be pleasant to your health.These fragrances are organic and thus don't have the adverse affects on your health which synthetic, man-made chemical scents can have.
We need to reduce synthetic chemicals in all areas of life, and changing to using great organic perfumes and colognes is one very nice way to do that.
I recommend two sources - YoungLiving for quality essential oils and aromatherapy, and my Amazon OrganicBeautyShop. to get scented without the chemicals you can do without.

Find yourself some nice fragrances and be happy. These are some nice 'gems'. I like to smell nice and I'm pleased without the chemicals I don't need in my life.

Four ways to a smaller waist

I was looking at fashions from the 60's and 70's and the waist of dresses back then were so small. What's happened in four to five decades?  Have people gotten to be giants or what? The only people with waists that small today are models, who don't reflect the norm of the general population. The increase in the girth of our midsections, I think stems from four areas:
                                                                                     
 1.  Larger food portions- we're consuming more food at each meal. (Say supersize!)

 2.  Eating dinner in restaurants-we're dining out more often than in the 60s and 70s'

 3.  Less physically active- we're sitting more and biking, and walking less.

 4.  More processed food and food additives are available-these all have a 
      negative effect upon waist measurements. Click here for list of additives safe for
      consumption; list of non-toxic food additives; additives to cut back on; and additives
      to avoid due to health risks. Click here to a view a good food additive slide show .
    

What can a person do about this, and get back a smaller waistline? Simple. Eat smaller portions at mealtime.  Prepare meals at home so you have a better idea of what you're eating and can be more in control of the butter, cream, fat, milk, sodium that's added when cooking.  And increase daily physical activity. It's all common sense. And it's was the way life was forty-fifty years ago, and I think why they had smaller waist lines.

50 years ago, small waistlines were the norm

Photo credit: ecerroni from morguefile.com

Waistlines aren't as small as they used to be 40-50 years ago.

Photo credit: xenia from morguefile.com

 
For more tips, visit the nutrition and fitness pages on natural2bhealthy.com