The Healing Power of Trees
Copyright (c) 2008 Karin Marcus
During fall, it almost becomes a national past time to appreciate trees, especially in the northeast where they fully display their glory in brilliant techno color. Personally, I’m a year round tree hugger and proud of it! There is something very special about walking in the woods, or entering the silent sanctuary of a pine grove, or just sitting in the cooling shade of a tree’s expansive branches. I find trees both majestic yet comforting, elegant yet solid, enduring yet ever changing. When I surround myself with trees, my breathing becomes deeper, all my senses are satiated, and I feel peaceful and grounded.
The Japanese have a special word for this feeling ‘shinrinyoku’ or ‘forest bathing.’ What a wonderful poetic image, ‘bathing’ in the refreshing atmosphere of the woods. The Japanese have also accumulated some hard scientific data on the physical benefits of ‘forest bathing.’
In 2004, Japan’s National Land Afforestation Promotion Organization conducted an experiment on the healing effects of forests. The study compared the physiological benefits of walking in the city with walking in one of Japan’s few remaining old leaf forest. They found concrete evidence that a forest stroll had beneficial effects on blood pressure, heart rate, and the immune system. Their findings also detected an increase in the intracellular anti-cancer proteins. This boost in activity of the natural killer cells that fight cancer sometimes lasted for as long as thirty days. They also discovered that walking in the forest decreased the blood glucose levels of diabetic patients. And that people who even just viewed forest scenery for twenty minutes had a 13% lower blood concentration of the stress hormone cortisol.
While this evidence of the physiological benefits of nature is ground breaking and exciting, the psychological benefits have also gained long over due recognition in recent years with the relatively new field of Eco- Psychology. The basic idea of Eco-Psychology is that humankind’s disconnect with nature and its renewing rhythms are a central contributing factor to most emotional woes. The mind which has been shaped by the modern world is readily comforted by the wider natural world from which it evolved.
Eco-psychology has three basic premises. First, there is a deep reciprocal relationship between humans and nature. Second, the separation of humans and nature leads to suffering for both the environment and for people. And third, realizing the connection between humans and nature is mutually healing.
As a Life Coach and Retreat Leader, I have always thought of nature as an essential partner. My preferred method of one on one coaching of “Walk and Talks” is done outdoors. And my retreats are held at eco-resorts, national parks, and arboretums. Being fully present in nature has a wonderful way of centering a person. And the natural world is always full of metaphors that help put life into perspective.
So,the point of all this information is to get outdoors! Enjoy this wonderful autumn weather. You will feel better physically and emotionally if you take the time to reconnect with nature. And you will probably become a better steward for the world because of it.
Karin Marcus, Certified Life Coach / Retreat Leader
“Let the beauty of what you love, be what you do” Rumi
Karin@Steppingoutcoaching.com 610-667-5247
http://www.SteppingOutCoaching.com
Download your complimentary “Walking with Intention: A Self-Guided Mini Retreat”
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A Healthy Whey of Life
Let’s not get it mistaken, protein supplements are not the most important ingredient in the muscle gaining recipe and they will not compensate for a poor diet or lack of training. There will never be a magic pill or an easy way to a lean muscular body. The truth is the entire equation consists of diet & nutrition, supplementing, training, and rest & recovery. Understanding and incorporating all of these elements into one bodybuilding program will maximize your results. Protein supplements are however essential in optimizing the body’s results and keeping it properly nourished to prevent deficiencies. There are many different advantages to using protein though and it is magical in many ways. Whey is an excellent protein choice for anyone in any walk of life and will not only help to gain muscle but will help maintain and improve general health.
In terms of physical performance, whey protein contains every essential amino acid required in a daily diet and will enhance athletic performance and body composition. It is known as the fast protein because of how quickly it is absorbed into the body and since it is a rich source of BCAA’s, whey will replenish and rebuild muscle tissue extremely well. Whether you are just getting into muscle training or increasing the intensity of previous workouts, the new increase in activity will cause the body to have a much higher demand for vitamins and minerals, protein in particular. The goal is to feed your muscles what they need to perform at their best and not supplementing can easily cause a deficiency which can even ruin muscle growth no matter how vigorous the training maybe. Whey Protein has the highest biological value of all proteins which means it is the most easily absorbed and utilized protein. In terms of weight management whey contains little to no carbohydrates or fats. It also takes more energy to digest whey protein than other foods, which will cause more calories to be burned after supplementing.
Another benefit of supplementing with whey protein is the strengthening of the immune system. Athletes and individuals who suffer from diseases like cancer may be susceptible to infections and illnesses due to a reduced level of glutathione which causes a weakened immune system. Studies have shown that the amino acids in whey raise the body’s glutathione levels, giving the immune system a boost. Another amazing fact is whey protein is rich in the amino acid cysteine which may help lower the risk of breast cancer up to 56%, and helps to inhibit the growth of cancerous tumors.
Whey protein is widely known to benefit wound healing, infants, diabetics, dieters, and it promotes healthy aging. It is an excellent protein choice for people of all ages and more discoveries continue to be made for the application of the wonderful product.
Sweet Tea for Diabetic patient
Besides kick starting your morning, your cup of tea could be a defense against one of the biggest life-threatening diseases- diabetes. This is a piece of good news especially to those diabetics who are tea enthusiasts. Many research findings support the positive effect certain varieties of tea have on diabetic patients. If you are a diabetic who wants to control diabetes by drinking tea, black tea, herbal tea and herbal tea are the varieties of tea that must be seen on your kitchen shelves.
Green Tea and Diabetes: The positive effect of green tea on the health of a person has been much discussed of late. The goodness of green tea can benefit diabetes too. EGCG is the primary component in green tea. that can help prevent diabetes and reduce the effect of diabetes on the body. ECGC helps diabetics by breaking down glucose, which eventually lowers the blood glucose levels in the body. The catechins in green tea are known to balance the insulin levels in the body.
Black Tea and Diabetes: Here comes yet another natural way to combat diabetes. Aflavins and arubigins found in black tea mimic the action of insulin and help the body to covert sugar into energy. Drinking black tea regularly can benefit diabetes by regulating the blood sugar levels. It is also a good idea to make a black tea infusion be adding spices such as bay leaves, cinnamon and cloves which help the body use insulin more effectively.
Chamomile Tea and Diabetes: the flowers form the herb chamomile, when infused with water makes a soothing tea that is known to reduce the symptoms of diabetes. Drinking chamomile tea can prevent loss of vision, kidney damage, muscle anomalies and other complications associated with diabetes.
While it is true that drinking tea can help prevent and treat diabetes, the fact that tea cannot alleviate diabetes completely should be remembered. Using tea in addition to your doctor’s prescription can treat diabetic symptoms most effectively. The quality of tea used is also a chief determinant in how well tea works for a diabetic. However, there are no side effects associated with tea drinking, in fact tea drinking, especially the ones mentioned in the article are known to enhance the overall health of the body. So while you are enjoying your cup of tea, your body benefits by all the goodness in your tea.
Alex White- Being a Tea Enthusiast i have tasted almost an endless number of tea infusions till date. i drink tea, research tea varieties, write about tea and simply love everything about tea. Talbott Tea has been my most recent tea obsession, every tea infusion of theirs is a true .. Gourmet Tea.
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Tips On Skin Infections
Infection of skin is due to viruses, fungus, or bacteria. Also many diseases that affect other organs may be due to skin manifestation. To really understands skin infection, there is need to understands skin anatomy and physiology. The skin is divided into 3 major layers: the epidermis, the dermis and the fat layer. The skin is only sterile at birth, after that is inhabited by flora which includes both anaerobic and aerobic bacteria.
Two factors made the skin difficult to bacteria growth, exfoliation and dryness. The constant removal of the top layer (stratum corneum), removes many of the bacteria that stick to it. According to research, bacteria growths were higher in area of the skin that is moist. Also the pH of the skin also help in reducing the bacteria growth on the skin. The average pH of the skin is about 5.5, which is acidic. The low temperature of the skin (33 centigrade) as well as salty nature of the skin due to evaporation of sweat. But this saltiness may encourage the growth of certain bacteria that are salt resistant. Some organisms are affected by the lipid content of the skin.
Infections of the skin occurs in three main way: from the outside (exogenous infections) through cuts, wounds, insects bites, skin disease. The second way is through within (endogenous infections) the skin, from underlying tissue or carried by blood or lymph. The third way is by toxin, caused by toxin release at a distant site.
Exogenous Infections
Once the skin barrier is broken, small numbers of bacteria is needed for infection to occur. These factors tends to predispose the skin to infections,
Excessive moisture: This may be as a result of occlusive dressing, wet diapers in babies. Also obese people accumulate water in their body folds.
Trauma: This the popular factor leading to skin and soft tissue infections. The major form of trauma that expose the skin to infection is surgery, gunshot, wounds, crush injuries, or burns, in which large areas of the skin damaged and left open. Any condition that infringes on the blood supply, exposes the skin to invasion by causing barrier breakdown and limiting defences. Blood supply infringement could occur as a result of peripheral vascular disease, as in diabetics, elderly parents as well as patients with vasculities. In diabetic patients, compromise of the blood supply often lead to peripheral sensory neuropathy, in which case they may not be aware of the damage to their skin.
Invasion From Within
This infection occurs as a result of microorganisms that spread form another infected sites. This could be direct form underlying focus or through blood stream. These type of secondary infection occurs in people whose immunity is strong as well as in those whose immunity is weak, but in different ways and degree.
Toxin-induced Skin Disease
The skin responds to toxin produced during infections that occur in another place at a distant site. Example is streptococci that produced toxin called erythrogenic factor, which spread through the blood stream. These toxin have been linked to red rash, strawberry tongue. Streptococci causes two main type of skin disease namely: scalded skin syndrome and toxic shock syndrome.
Scalded skin syndrome: is a disease of children, as a result of the action of toxin exfoliatin, which separate the epidermis by damaging the intracellular connections. The appearance looks like skin scalded with hot water.
Toxic shock syndrome: This disease is caused by an exotoxin release by a bacteria called staphylococcus aureus. This disease can be fatal if left untreated.
The skin responds to invading microorganisms in a three major ways:
Spreading infections: this is called impetigo when is limited to epidermis, erysipelas when confined to dermal lymphatics and cellulitis when found in the subcutaneous fat layer.
Abscess formation: This is known as folliculitis, boils (furuncles), and carbuncles.
Necrotising Infections: This includes fasciitis and gas gangrene (myonecrosis)
My first degree is in medical microbiology, and my second degree is in biomedical science.I have a vast knowledge on diseases,diagnosis and treatment. I work in the medical lab and this have widen my experience as the importance of antibiotic test to treatment of diseases.
Article from articlesbase.com
Categories: Articles Tags: Infections, skin, Tips
How to Make an Entree Salad with Shrimp, Romaine Lettuce, and Potatoes
Entree Salads can become a meal when you add a crusty bread, whole-grain crackers or even fresh fruit. If you love salads, need a quick meal s, and want something different for a change, give this entree salad recipe a try. This Shrimp, Potato, Romaine Salad is probably something different than the usual you serve and the flaxseed oil adds an even healthier touch. This recipe is only for two servings. To serve four, double the recipe, etc.
SHRIMP, ROMAINE LETTUCE, AND POTATO SALAD
1 potato cut into 1-inch cubes
1/2 tsp dried oregano
6 tsp lemon juice
2 tbsp olive oil
1/2 tsp flaxseed oil
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 lb peeled, deveined large shrimp, cooked
1/2 small cucumber, diced
1 cup grape or cherry tomatoes, halved
1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
3 cups shredded romaine lettuce
Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
Place potato pieces on a baking sheet that has sides. Sprinkle the oregano and 1 teaspoon of the lemon juice over the potatoes. Mist with a canola oil cooking spray and toss to coat. Bake at 425 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes or until tender, turning once.
In a bowl, whisk together olive oil, flaxseed oil, garlic, remaining oregano and the remaining lemon juice. Pour half of the dressing into another bowl. Add the shrimp to one bowl and toss to coat. In the other bowl, add the cucumber, tomatoes, and onion; toss to coat. Let stand for about 10 minutes. Divide the lettuce, evenly onto two salad serving plates. Top with the shrimp, vegetable mixture and the potatoes.
Yield: 2 servings
Enjoy! Yum
For more of Linda’s recipes and diabetic information go to http://diabeticenjoyingfood.blogspot.com
Article from articlesbase.com
Gestational Diabetes Mellitus-The Gestational Diabetes
To compare the symptoms of type 1 diabetes and type 2,gestational diabetes symptoms are hardly recognized as signs of diabetes but thanks to the pregnant condition of a lady. Most often they manifest in the form of too much thirst and frequency in urination, however they are usually treated as a part of the child-bearing stage.
The major symptom of gestational diabetes is the increase of the blood sugar levels. Therefore, great care should be taken that high blood sugar levels ought to be treated with uttermost pressure to keep away from any complications that will affect the lady’s pregnant condition.
As you go into the 2nd and 3rd trimesters,the more hormones are secreted because your pregnant body require it so this however makes it difficult for the insulin to assist your cells take in glucose.
The pancreas effort to assist by producing more insulin to prevent the insulin resistance of the cells,on the other hand,there is now more production of insulin,which did not succeed in opening the cells to glucose absorption.The glucose in the blood then increases and the insulin level also increases still the body cells desire more glucose supplement due to its resistance to insulin.
Due to that you will experience unjustifiable thirstiness and you will repeatedly urinate in order to pass the excess glucose out of your system.
Who are prone to Gestational Diabetes?
1. The pregnant ladies who were by now oversized previous to the starting of the pregnancy.
2.Women with ancestral history may develop gestational diabetes from where she could have get the genetic shortage.
3.Women who have been pregnant and likewise developed gestational diabetes during the previous pregnancy.
4. Ladies who is 25 years old or more although some girls have bigger hazards..
5. For some mysterious reasons,statistics show that women who belonged to these groups of ethnicity like Yankee Indian,Hispanics,African or Asian are at risk to develop gestational diabetes through their pregnancies.
How to Handle Gestational Diabetes While Carrying a Child
You have to address your pregnancy with additional concern by making visiting more to your healthcare for pre-natal checkups.It is very imperative above all during the final a quarter of pregnancy for continual monitoring of your blood sugar level.
The specialist can assist you in every aspects to ensure that your diabetes disorder will not lead to any complications that may jeopardize your life and that of your child’s.
Maybe you are in the midst of those ladies who have got a risk of developing gestational diabetes,I advice you not wait for such symptoms to take place before taking the proper protective courses of action.
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For tips on controlling your diabetes.
Then grab the much talked about Diabetes Reversal Report Guide. A 100% safe, natural, and effective ways you can manage and even fully recover from your diabetes…. and so that you never have to take insulin again, or have to suffer painfully dull diets ever again!
Check this http://www.diabetes-reserval-report.blogspot.com for useful Diabetes Management Tips your doctor does not want you to know.
Article from articlesbase.com
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Categories: Articles Tags: Diabetes, Gestational, MellitusThe
Can Diabetics Get Life Insurance?
If you have diabetes, you probably are having a difficult time finding straightforward information about life insurance for diabetics. Can diabetics get life insurance? You sure can and you don’t have to settle for a policy that is less than what you really want.
You can save money on premiums, get a first day full benefit policy and have all of the same benefits that people that have perfect health enjoy. It’s not a matter of being dishonest on an application or anything that is underhanded. There is no trick. It’s simply a matter of finding the right company.
Different insurance companies have different requirements, plain and simple. While some companies are very, very strict about diabetes, whether pill or insulin dependent, there are some really good life insurance companies that ask fewer health questions and omit many of the commonly asked questions about diabetes.
For example, there is one insurer that asks not if you have diabetes… they only ask if you’ve ever had insulin shock, diabetic coma or an amputation due to the disease. Whether your a type 1 or type 2, insulin or pills, it doesn’t matter to this insurer. You get the same low premiums and first day death benefits that you would get if you didn’t have health problems at all.
You already have to pay extra money for glucose meters, strips and other things to help keep your blood sugar under control. You shouldn’t have to pay any extra money for life insurance coverage. It’s just a matter of choosing the right company.
http://www.LifeInsurance4All.com/ is a free tool that you can use to compare life insurance quotes if you suffer from diabetes or other health conditions. Enjoy the same low premiums that non-diabetics enjoy.
Christy Love is a Platinum Level Expert Author at EzineArticles.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Christy_Love
LifeInsurance4All.com is a free tool that allows you to check life insurance quotes without having to apply. Compare policy differences side by side and make a well-informed decision by comparing life insurance quotes online.
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