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New Age Bracelets for Long Lasting Health

Maintaining your health is one of the keys to long life. It’s a life-long process that requires constant exercise and eating the right foods. Even with your best efforts to maintain a healthy lifestyle, you may still struggle with illness and injuries; it’s a fact of life that no one is immune to. However, you have nothing to lose by turning to a higher power.

You may believe in supernatural forces or you may not. Even if you dismiss it as nothing but silly superstitions, it’s still good to have an open mind. If you are struggling with a malady, then there are bracelets endowed with charms that are said to bless the wearer with improved health and well-being.

MIZZE, an Israeli designer jewelry company, has released a new line of handmade charm jewelry that is fashionable, affordable and just might bring good fortune to the wearer.

The latest jewelry line comprises of bracelets with a red string, which symbolizes the Tomb of Rachel, a revered matriarch in Judaism, Christianity and Islam. The string is embedded inside woven cotton, which comes in multiple colors. Every bracelet comes with a charm or two; each trinket has a special spiritual function that blesses the person wearing it in some way.

The Hamsa hand, for instance, wards off the evil eye. For those who are looking to improve their health, they can get a bracelet with a King Solomon amulet, which is said to preserve and improve health. Bracelets with the Solomon seal are also recommended for expectant mothers as it is said to protect both the mother and her unborn child.

If you wish to improve your health or know someone who is not in the best physical condition, then try wearing a Kabbalah bracelet with a charm for long lasting health. Even if you don’t believe in good luck charms, the trinket will at least serve as a reminder to take care of your health for the sake of yourself and loved ones.

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Consumption of Berries may Help Retain Brain Capacity

Doctors and health physicians have been saying it for years: eat more fruits and vegetables. A new study now shows that there is another reason, especially for women, to stuff their mouths with berries.

Some fruits and veggies are more nutrient-dense than others. Berries, despite their petite size, are loaded with immune-fighting antioxidants. New research suggests that consumption of berries, whether it be blueberries, blackberries or strawberries, may help preserve vital brain function and delay cognitive aging by as much as 2.5 years.

The research was conducted by Elizabeth Devore, an instructor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. The findings were published in the Annals of Neurology report.

Berries along with a variety of other fruits and veggies contain a vitamin known as flavonoids, which protect the body’s cells and helps to reduce inflammation. Berries in particular, contain a special flavonoid known as anthocyanidins, which are believed to be responsible for preserving the brain’s ability to think, reason and remember. A separate study conducted at Harvard also found evidence that berries can help fight off Parkinson’s disease in men.

The study by Devore consisted of female participants all past the age of 70. The study showed that the women who consumed more than one serving of blueberries a week and more than two servings of strawberries a week exhibited better brain function.

Healthier brain activity appears to just be another bonus of eating a hearty serving of fruits. Man or women, old or young, it is common sense to eat the foods that health experts have been urging all along. There are simply no replacements for a plate of fresh and ripe fruits and vegetables. Not even vitamin supplements are a fitting substitute. If you want to retain brain power and have an immune system of steel, then don’t hold back on the greens.

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Whole Foods Puts a Halt to Sales of Unsustainable Fish


Picture by David Ooms

Studies have long confirmed the health benefits of fish. Fish is high in protein, low in saturated fat and rich in omega-3. Of course, there are occasional health scares associated with the consumption of fish, such as concerns over the mercury content found in some varieties. Even then, the rich nutritional content far outweighs any slim likelihood of there being any health risks.

If you are a fish lover, then you may be disturbed by some recent findings. A study by Greenpeace concluded that as high as 70 percent of the world’s fisheries are being over exploited. Commercial fishing vessels are catching fish faster than the population can replenish its numbers. This is causing a rapid decline in common fish varieties that most people enjoy, which includes swordfish, marlin, flounder and even the one fish that everyone enjoys right out of the can: tuna.

Whole Foods, one of the country’s premiere food manufacturing companies, recognized the problem and formed an alliance with the Monterey Bay Aquarium and the Blue Ocean Institute to release a new color coded system to determine the sustainability of different fish varieties. Fish listed under a green category, for instance, are in abundance and are caught in an environmentally sound way. By contrast, those listed in red are in danger from overfishing. Whole Foods have made the decision to put a halt to the sale of some of the seafood under the red category.

These are the categories:
Green (best choice): The species are abundant and caught in environmentally friendly ways.
Yellow (good alternative): Some concerns exist with the species’ status or catch methods.
Red (avoid): A species is suffering from overfishing or current fishing methods harm other marine life or habitats.

As a consumer, it is your free choice to consume whatever fish you like. However, you are encouraged to avoid fish listed in the red category. This will send a message to restaurants to remove them from their menu. By being more selective with the type of fish you order, you can contribute to the repopulation of fish that are on the brink of making it to the endangered species list.

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USA Yoga Competition Brings Smiles and Body Postures


Last month was the USA Yoga finales, lasting from Friday to Sunday evening, a full three days where hundreds of competitors from around the nation came up to compete, show off their Yoga stances, and try to win the big finale. Every style was represented, and everyone competed to their best abilities in front of the 700 theater seats at the Hudson Theatre in Manhattan. Everyone remained quiet and supported mentally the competitors, while they watched an endless number of poses and stances, people stretching their legs, arms, and standing in positions most people would think impossible. But this event was the culmination of a lot of preparations, including some unusual ones.

Michael Colwill is a 46 years old kindergarten teacher, and he decided to compete with just three years of Yoga experience, because there’s no entry requirement in the regional entries. Instead of spending his preparation time going over his routine again, he stood in front of the empty theatre bowing down, and smiling, convinced that presentation was as important as skill and performance. Indeed, he was one of those who went up to the National Yoga Asana Championship.

The event was hosted by the United States Yoga Federation, also called USA Yoga, and took place over three days. On Friday, everyone could compete, and people showed up a wide array of techniques and performances. By Saturday however, things had gotten serious, with competitors doing everything they could to win. The audience was silent, and a pin could be heard dropping. Many Yoga athletes find this type of competition hard to go through, since they can go from their calm, well illuminated studio, practicing in front of a mirror, to a scene where spotlights blinded their faces, and hundreds of people stare at them intently.

Even watching this competition was not an easy task, having to sit quietly through a long series of routines. In traditional Yoga, watching this type of event is said to prepare the mind and body for the act of meditation, and reducing external sensations to a maximum. Both adults and children competed, and were divided into special categories. By Sunday, the finals featured 10 men and 10 women, showing their own versions of Asana, along with two additional poses that were chosen by the athletes. The children section was dominated by girls, with only one boy competing at the end.

Backstage, the coaches would throw towels around the athlete’s necks in typical sports fashion, and it’s the hope of USA Yoga that this type of competition would one day be found in the Olympics. For now, even this national event can be exhausting for the professionals competing for the final prize. The woman’s first place went to Afton Carraway, a dancer from Orlando, and the man champion was Jared McCann, a teacher from New York.

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Improving Air Quality in Your Home

The air quality in your home is essential for breathing easy. If you have found that the air quality in your home is becoming stale, there are a few things that you can do for very little money. The toxins in your air can lead to severe health issues if you are not careful. Here are a few ways that you can easily improve the air quality in your home.

Vacuuming

Vacuuming twice a week is imperative to having good air quality. This is especially true if you have pets. Pet dander and hair can get trapped in your carpets. When you walk around it spreads into the air and can make the air quality poor. Set up a schedule for vacuuming the carpet in your house on a weekly basis. Wednesday and Sunday are the best times to do it because your carpets can usually get dirty in the span of about 3 days.

Change Air Filters Every Month

HVAC technicians will tell you to change out your air filters as needed, but it’s best to do it every month. Air filters are not the expensive and they can easily improve the air quality in your home. Check the air filters on a monthly basis and change them once they look brown. Many people choose to vacuum their air filters every week to keep them in good shape. Air filters are cheap enough to change monthly without breaking the bank.

Add Plants

Plants are a great way to improve the air quality in your home. Plants will replace the carbon dioxide in your air and allow more oxygen. Place some plants around your home and you should find the air quality better. Smaller trees and flowers work well and add to the décor. Make sure that your plants are getting enough sunlight. Your living room and your kitchen are great for plants, but placing a plant in your bedroom will also help the air quality.

Buy An Air Purifier

While this is not the cheapest idea, buying an air purifier is a great way to improve the air quality in your home. Changing out the air filters can only do so much. Having an air purifier in your home can easily get all of the dust particles out of the air and remove even more carbon dioxide than plants. You can find air purifiers at home improvement stores or through online retailers.

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Winterizing Your Home

Winterizing your home can be one of the best ways to cut down on your power consumption and save a little money in the process. Since the winter months are here, there are a few ways that you can easily winterize your home. Saving money is great, but spending money to save money is counter-intuitive. If you’re looking for some very simple ways to winterize your home, there are a few things that you can do for very little money. Here are some suggestions to get you started.

Weather Stripping

Weather Stripping is a great way to keep the warm air inside your home. Over time your doors and windows can warp slightly. This allows the warm air inside your home to escape. Installing weather stripping to your home will trap the air inside and not allow it through the warps in your windows and doors. Rolls of weather stripping can be found at your local hardware shops for just a couple of dollars.

Clean Your Gutters

When your gutters are packed with leaves, snow and rain can easily form ice. Heavy amounts of ice can damage the gutters and even tear them off of your home. Get a ladder and clean your gutters completely. When the leaves fall during the autumn months the gutters can suffer. Remove the leaves to let the rain and the snow drain through the gutters with no resistance.

Have Your Heater Serviced

It’s always a rule of thumb to have your heater serviced prior to the winter months. October is the best time to have your heater serviced, but doing in around the holidays can also be good. The coldest months tend to be December-February so you still have time. When the winter hits, the heater will be working constantly to keep your home warm. If the heater is not serviced properly, it could break down. Keep your heater in good working order to get the winter months without an incident.

Reverse Your Ceiling Fan

Your ceiling fan is used in the summer to pull the hot air up to the ceiling. When you reverse it, the hot air in your room will be pushed down to you. This can keep your very warm on those chilly nights. Get up on a chair or your bed and look for the switch on the top of the ceiling fan. Push the switch to reverse the fan and start pushing your hot air downward.

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Green Your Room to Help You Sleep Better

Greening your room is a proven way to help you sleep better. When your room is filled with junk it can create anxiety and keep you up at night. If you’re having trouble falling asleep at night, you should green out your room. The environment that you sleep in has a lot to do with how you sleep. Here are a few things that you can do to green your room and help you sleep better.

Air Quality

The air quality in your home can have a lot to do with why you’re not sleeping very well. When the air quality is poor you will be breathing in dust and hair. To improve the air quality in your home, you can change out the air filters with green filters. These are made out of recycled materials. You can also dust the surfaces in your room weekly. This will cut down on the amount of dust and hair in your room. Vacuum the carpets in your room twice a week to remove the hair and dust. Wash your sheets weekly to cut down on ingesting dirt and make sure that you’re changing your pillowcases frequently.

Lighting

The lights in your bedroom can easily inhibit your sleeping. Lighting from your alarm clocks, computer monitors and other electronic devices can disrupt your sleep cycle. Turn off computer monitors and power down any electrical devices that you don’t need. Alarm clocks can show the time, but also provide a lot of light. Remove alarm clocks and use the alarm on your phone to cut down on the lighting in your room. If you can’t remove the alarm clock, use the dimmer feature to lower the lighting. Excessive lighting in your room can easily draw more power and waste electricity. Green your room by dimming or eliminating lighting all together and you should get to sleep much faster.

Remove The Clutter

The clutter in your room can affect your sleep patterns subconsciously. One of the best ways to green out your room is donate all of the junk that you’re not using. Clutter can also lead to dust and this affects the air quality. Go through all of your stuff and make a pile of everything that you don’t need. Donate the items to local shelters or you local community thrift store. This will give back to the community while helping you sleep a lot better.

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Buying Organic Herbs

Organic herbs can be a great compliment to chicken, pasta and variety of other meals. Even if you just want to use them as ornaments around your home, you can do so to give your house a nice aroma. Many people love organic herbs because they are are not treated with pesticides, chemicals or other preservatives. When you purchase organic herbs online, you have a massive selection. These herbs can be used with cooking, aromatherapy or even for medicinal purposes. Here is an overview of how to buy organic herbs online.

Buy your herbs from a trusted online distributor like Starwest Botanicals. Starwest is one of the best online resources for buying your herbs online. They offer over one hundred and thirty varieties of spices and herbs from trusted organic farms. Starwest also gives users recipes and therapeutic information for all of the spices or herbs purchased.

Buy your order in bulk. Buying online is great way to save money, but having to wait on your spices is different than being able to go out to a local shop and purchase herbs when you are out. If you buy orders in bulk, you could qualify for free shipping.

If you don’t want to go through the online route, find local co-ops or go to your local farmer’s market to find organic her bs. Local co-ops will work with farmers in your area to bring you the best organic herbs. Although these herbs may be a little pricier, the convenience of buying them locally might be what you’re looking for. Co-ops and local farmers could also give you a discount on buying in bulk.

Once you have your herbs, it’s best to store them properly. If you are buying bulk, you will need to keep the herbs and spices fresh through the seasons. One of the best ways to do this is by wrapping the herbs in loose plastic and storing them in the refrigerator. Allow the herbs to breath. If the herbs cannot breath, the moisture inside the plastic could cause them to mold.

Buying organic herbs online is a great way to save a little bit of money on your herbs. If you are going to buy your spices from an online outlet, you want to make sure that it’s a trusted site. Buying locally supports your local farmers can even give yo u a big discount on bulk items. Buying in bulk is the best way to keep your house stocked, but you need to store the herbs and spices properly to keep your investment. Follow these guidelines and you will never be without organic herbs.

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Soybean Soybean

The soybean industry is reportedly searching out government approval of a genetically modified soybean that produces oil lower in saturated fat, offer consumers a healthier alternative to foods containing trans fats and also increase demand for growers’ crops.

Demand for soybean oil has dropped sharply since 2005, when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration began requiring labels to list levels of trans fats that have largely been linked to coronary heart disease.

Agribusiness mogul Monsanto Co. says that oil from its new soybean will meet manufacturers’ requirements for baking and shelf life with no hydrogenation.

The FDA approved the new bean, called Vistive Gold and Monsanto and several state and national soybean groups are seeking approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

U.S. farmers harvested more than 3.3 billion bushels of soybeans valued at about $39 billion in 2010.The Iowa Soybean Association, however, said in a letter to APHIS that the industry’s share of the food oil market dropped from 83 percent to 68 percent after the FDA enacted the labeling requirements. The state of Iowa now grows more soybeans than any other state.

Industry officials believe Vistive Gold could speak for as much as 60 cents more per bushel than other soybeans, raising a farmer’s income by thousands of dollars.

Jim Andrew, who grows 625 acres of conventional soybeans near Jefferson, Iowa, says that he hopes Vistive Gold soybeans also will reduce consumers’ fears about biotech crops by providing a direct health benefit. Most genetically modified crops so far have been engineered to battle pests and increase harvests for farmers.

Back in 2005 the St. Louis-based Monsanto introduced the first generation of the bean known as Vistive to reduce or eliminate trans fats. Vistive Gold retains such qualities and offers lower levels of saturated fat and higher levels of monounsaturated fats.

Vistive Gold will make a huge difference in efforts to produce healthier foods. For example, he said it could produce French fries with more than 60 percent less saturated fat.

Vistive Gold and other engineered crops don’t face rigorous enough testing. No animal feeding trials were conducted on the new soybean to see what would happen when it was consumed, he said.

Monsanto said it extensively examined Vistive Gold finding it to be very safe. A notice posted in June on the website for
APHIS said its assessment of Vistive Gold indicated that the bean was not a risk to other plants.

The federal government has a stringent and effectual procedure for reviewing genetically modified crops.

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Cave Man Diet

In the quest for optimum weight and health, perhaps humans should think about looking back at what their ancestors consumed. Well at least according to the theory proposed by the “Paleo Diet” (aka, Caveman Diet), that recommends following cues from the age of hunters and gatherers and ditching some modern food groups.

Here’s what to do:
Eat a diet which is totally gluten-free, however rich in fish, organic meats, poultry, vegetables, eggs, fruit and nuts. Leave out all grains, dairy products, legumes, salt, refined sugar and processed oils – and make sure it is all locally sourced.

One dietician says: “Eating like this is good for maintaining a healthy metabolism, and reducing inflammation within the body. It’s been doing great things for my energy levels, body composition and performance in the gym. It also helps to minimize my risk for a whole host of lifestyle diseases and conditions, like diabetes, heart attack and stroke…People who eat diets high in whole grains, beans, and low-fat dairy tend to be healthier because these foods are nutrient-rich and there are mountains of research about the health benefits of diets that include, not exclude, these foods…”

Dietician Ben Harder told ABC News: “For the Paleo Diet, additional evidence is needed to show conclusively whether or not it is as effective as some people hypothesize…The most relevant studies have been small, as our published review of the Paleo Diet indicates. We hope researchers will publish more — and larger — studies on the Paleo Diet so that health experts, including our expert panel, have more evidence to consider in the future.”